meridian_rose: pen on letter background  with text  saying 'writer' (robin hood: guy)
[personal profile] meridian_rose
Title: Second Best
Fandom: Robin Hood (BBC)
Pairing/Characters: Guy/Marian
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 344
Prompt: For the darkship prompt meme, prompt "second choice"
Summary: . AU. At the end of season one, Marion married Guy, but the happiness he thought this would bring eludes him.
Warnings: None

She never refused him.

It ought to have pleased him but it didn't. Guy didn't want her to be passive, didn't want her acquiescence, her surrender. He wanted her to respond to his touch, to return it eagerly. He wanted her to want him, as he wanted her. He wanted her to initiate their lovemaking.

She never did.

"Marian," he moaned as he moved above her. But she was silent, eyes devoid of passion, lips closed against his name.

Afterwards, he rose from the crumpled sheets. He pulled on his robe and went to the table, taking up his cup and draining the last dregs of wine.

"Do I displease you?" he asked at last.

"No."

Guy threw the goblet across the room. Marian jumped at the sudden violence but said nothing, and regarded him coolly.

"Do you hate me?"

"No."

Guy strode over to the bed and leant over her. "Do you love me"?

She swallowed, brushing at the creases of her nightgown. "It is a wife's duty to love her husband."

He grabbed for her, restraining his anger enough to catch her chin in his hand without bruising her tender flesh.

"That is no answer, Marian."

Tears welled up in her eyes, her self-control finally gave, and she began to weep. Defeated, Guy released her. He moved away and sat in the chair by the fire, staring at the flames, letting her cry. He could offer her no comfort, for it was Robin she cried for, the man she truly loved with all her heart.

Eventually her sobs ceased. She padded over to him and knelt at his feet, hands on his knees.

"Forgive me."

He nodded curtly, unwilling to meet her gaze.

"I do care about you." She sounded sincere enough.

When she pressed one cheek to his thigh, Guy relented, stroking the long dark tresses of her hair. It might even be true, he thought, maybe she did care.

Still, the fact remained that he would always be her second choice, and that knowledge soured every tender moment they shared.

Date: 2010-12-13 05:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jagnikjen.livejournal.com
Awesome--

Date: 2010-12-13 07:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thymelady.livejournal.com
Equally beautiful and painful... (Don't give up, Guy! *fangirling*)

Um, crosspost and spam? :-) [livejournal.com profile] guyxmarian and [livejournal.com profile] lordgisborne?
Edited Date: 2010-12-13 07:19 pm (UTC)

Date: 2010-12-13 08:03 pm (UTC)
jadey36: (guy4)
From: [personal profile] jadey36
Touching little piece; beautifully written.

Date: 2010-12-13 08:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladykate63.livejournal.com
Aww, that's lovely and very poignant. :-( Poor Guy. Well, and poor Marian, too...

I'm not sure she would have been able to remain that indifferent to him sexually, though.

Date: 2010-12-14 02:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hulamoth.livejournal.com
hmm, I think it depends. The piece is largely from his POV, and so what he would consider passionate response may not be what she might, under the circumstances (if it's still early on in their relationship, I think it fits - at least in the first season, she kinda had to force herself to touch him)

Date: 2010-12-14 04:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladykate63.livejournal.com
Ah, you're right! I probably have too sunny a picture of how stirred she is by him. ;)

Date: 2010-12-14 12:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] karen747.livejournal.com
Ahhh, so very sad for them both. Beautifuly written.

However, I have to agree with Ladykate. I think he would grown on her, as she herself became more experienced. Then again, I never understood her virtual insanity in physically preferring Robin to Guy, so... I mean come on...

Date: 2010-12-14 08:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladykate63.livejournal.com
I actually don't think that Marian physically prefers Robin to Guy. She responds physically to Guy in a way she never does to Robin, IMO (though only in Season 2, starting with Childhood); it's more a question of where her emotions and her loyalties are.

However, I have to say that I don't think it would be insane to prefer Robin to Guy. For the record, my mom, who's seen bits of the show when I was watching it, thinks Robin is more attractive. :D

Date: 2010-12-14 02:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hulamoth.livejournal.com
woot! saw this posted at gxm :D

how very very sad, for both of them. I wonder if this is early in their relationship (I hope it is, for both their sakes). There's some dark foreshadowing going on here as well, and deep emotion; what a wonderful piece!

Date: 2010-12-14 02:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] heron-advocate.livejournal.com
Aww, this is so nice. And exactly how I imagine their relationship at the beginning.

Date: 2010-12-14 04:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] twinkling-moon.livejournal.com
wow! really well written! i think you got their emotions down. any more of the story to come?

Date: 2010-12-14 05:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jesuispigro.livejournal.com
amazing!!!!!!

Great!

Date: 2010-12-14 06:34 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Lovely. Poor, poor Guy and Marian. Will you be continuing it? I think it has great potential for more ;)

Date: 2010-12-14 10:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] whatcatydidnext.livejournal.com
Loved it, but I think ladykate is right, she responds to Guy physically and Robin emotionally. Still BH she must be mad!

Date: 2010-12-14 02:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] perteltote.livejournal.com
I'm so sad :( but it's so true. I do wish Marian didn't always have to be the conciliatory one. It's not her fault!

Date: 2010-12-15 10:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hulamoth.livejournal.com
it's true, but I think (and maybe I'm just speaking for myself) that writing from her perspective can be oppressive, for that reason. When watching the show I want so much to believe that there's something between them, but I feel like maybe I'm just taking Guy's side in things too much. Putting myself in her position, she gives him more chances than I would, and with greater ease (political games of survival, or no). I wonder about how that makes her feel, and how she would deal with a long-term committed relationship. What was so interesting about their relationship in season 1 is that she's actively trying to get herself used to that scenario, and making overtures to him that I think are, largely, more sincere than some of the more dramatic overtures she makes to him in season 2.

(and ack, sorry for trolling your thread! it's just fun reading)

Date: 2010-12-14 05:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] corrielle.livejournal.com
Well that was a beautifully written punch in the gut... I think the part that really broke me was Marian asking for forgiveness after crying. That was just... wow. It hurt SO good.

Can't leave us hanging!

Date: 2010-12-16 05:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] twinkling-moon.livejournal.com
Based on the number of comments and thoughts, looks like there is a definite interest in seeing this story continue! So you can't leave us hanging, you've got to give us more :)

and I think you're right, this makes sense for a S1 relationship between the 2 of them. But I think by the end of S1 she does have some feelings for Guy. Before she marries him she lists his qualities for Robin and then asks why Robin can't show him some compassion by recognizing that Guy has been deprived of love. So on some level marian does care for Guy by this point I think, I don't believe that it's all about manipulation as might be the case in S2.

Re: Can't leave us hanging!

Date: 2010-12-18 05:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] twinkling-moon.livejournal.com
I'm right on all counts? now, if only everyone else in my life would get that, LOL!

Seriously, you "promise us nothing" when it comes to a sequel, awh, boo! hoo! Consider it encouragement to write a sequel, you have a great fanbase! But I totally understand if you can't commit to one, for whatever reason. Thanks for allowing us to enjoy the story you've already written though :)

Date: 2010-12-19 04:05 pm (UTC)
novindalf: ([misc]; waterfall)
From: [personal profile] novindalf
Oh, very nice. Poignant and touching indeed. =)

Date: 2010-12-24 04:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] annie-lucas.livejournal.com
very nicely done, sad and tragic...they are each doomed to lonely lives..

lovely

Date: 2011-01-06 06:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] holylibrarian.livejournal.com
This was very well written, you captured a very wonderful moment that is actually pretty sad. Absolutely lovely, good job!

Date: 2011-02-27 12:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] piphilosophy.livejournal.com
A little late to the party, but wanted to compliment you on an incredibly touching story. I keenly felt their pain here in the early days of marriage. Felt Guy's more keenly, can't help it- I'm a besotted Guy fangirl :) Hope you write more in the future, you capture emotion so poignantly in your writing!

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