![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
marysuevirusSurprised? Yeah? I am too. This idea invaded my brain and wouldn't let go. So with much help and support from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ladydeathfaerie, I embarked on this VERY AU endeavor. So, things to note; I am not an expert in any kind of military, so I'm doing my best. In this version of the MSV universe, there are NO POWERS. That's not really an important point to the story, but I figured I'd save you the trouble of asking. ;) Oh, and throughout you can play "Spot the Cameo". LOL
PS if anyone hasn't heard it before, here's a link to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.
Title: Letters Home
Fandom: Marvel Universe (seriously AU though...)
Rating: 18+
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognizable characters here. They and the world this is set in are the property of Marvel Entertainment. The Purple Team is the property ofginevrasm (Morgan), ladydeathfaerie (Dare), sessys_fangirl (Jehnna), nanaeanaven (Roxxy) and dazzledfirestar (Haley). They are not to be used without permission. I make no money from this, and it is simply a form of entertainment.
Warnings: M/F sexual situations, violence (lots of it), World War 2 AU (yes, that's a warning)
September 1, 1943
Dear Madam,
Very soon, your husband will embark on the adventure he has been training for with the US Army Airborne division; dropping from the sky to engage America’s enemies. Your letters of love and support and memories of home will no doubt bolster him in his efforts, as will your thoughts and prayers for him, his fellow soldiers and their well being.
I have no doubt he strives to make you proud of him.
Sincerely,
Captain Frank Castle
101 US Airborne
Jehnna looked around the cramped cabin and tried to ignore the definite pitch of the boat. Her cabin mates seemed fairly content, or had gotten used to the movement in the last few days. She moved to tuck the small piece of paper in her hands back into its envelope and then back into her bag. “Jen?”
“Yeah Haley?”
“Could I… take a look at that?”
Jehnna smiled and handed the piece of paper up to the woman in the bunk above her. “Sure thing.” She threw a smile over to the other girl in the room. Roxxy Stewart was sitting on her bed, reading by the sadly dim light in the room. “How can you read like that?”
“The better question is how our Miss Stewart there isn’t puking her guts out yet?”
Jehnna smiled again. Haley Stone was nothing if not direct.
“Some of us actually have things to do when we get there, Haley.” Roxxy looked up with a small smirk on her face. “Not everyone is lucky enough to sing and dance their way to Europe.”
“Hey, that’s not why I’m doing this.” Haley’s voice was calm and her eyes still skimmed the note Jehnna had passed her. The tall redhead envied Jehnna Parker and part of her regretted not getting married before her fiancé had shipped out instead of just getting engaged. If something happened to Jehnna’s husband, she’d hear about it, but if something… She nearly shook her head. She wouldn’t think that way. Besides, she’d be in England in a few days and with any luck, back in his arms before the week was out. “The singing is just to get me out of coffee and donut duty.” She pulled a face.
Roxxy chuckled and set down her book, shaking her head when Haley held Captain Castle’s note out to her. She had no interest in it. She didn’t have a husband in the Airborne. She had a fiancé, yes. A man she loved. But well, she’d learned early on that military communications had nothing to do with love and everything to do with title and perception. Besides, if something happened she’d hear about it through his family. Haley though… Roxxy knew she didn’t have that kind of back up. But Haley’s fiancé was in the same company as Jehnna’s husband, so surely, if they all managed to stick together, she’d get news if she needed to.
In fact, all the men in their lives were stationed together. It had been a happy coincidence when they’d boarded this ship in New York, and it had been somewhere to start forming some kind of friendship, despite the differences between them.
Jehnna had signed up with the Womens Army Corps shortly after her husband, Peter, had enlisted with the Airborne. She had been studying to be a radio operator and had been thrilled to be stationed at the same base in England that Peter was training at. The three years they’d been married, they’d only actually spent a year and a half together. The rest of the time had been spent in training for both of them. The thought that they might get a little more time together before he jumped (literally) into Europe was a comfort to them both.
Haley had been about ready to quit her opera courses at Julliard when what she referred to as ‘this whole big mess’ had started. She’d been flunking out simply because she had no interest in arias and movements. She’d have rather spent her time with the Andrews Sisters and Count Basie than Wagner and Stravinsky, but there was no place in the world to study that kind of music. Her parents had been so reluctant to let her go in the first place. It had taken her nearly two years to talk them into letting her apply for the school in the first place, so quitting wasn’t really an option until the war started. The USO had been a saving grace. No only did it get her to England and near the man she loved, but she got to sing what she wanted to. If it wasn’t for the damn war, life would be lovely.
The girls had asked Roxxy why she’d decided to be a nurse. She’d shrugged and said it was what she would have done even without the war. It was the truth. She’d planned on being a nurse even after her marriage, and her fiancé had been more than supportive of her. So when he signed up, she had finished her courses and done the same. Part of her had wanted a station closer to the front; somewhere she could do the most good; help the people that really truly needed the most help. She’d ended up on a base in England. There were upsides of course. It helped that the 101st was training there. But part of her still felt she could have done more good else where.
Despite all this, the three women had bonded quickly and the normally unpleasant prospect of almost two weeks on a cramped boat in the middle of the north Atlantic was a little brighter. Roxxy picked up her book again, letting the sound of Haley humming to herself in the top bunk filter through from time to time. “I know that song…”
“Miracle of miracles.” The redhead smiled down at her. She laughed for a moment when Roxxy returned her smile. Her voice filled the room a moment later.
“He puts the boys asleep with boogie every night
And wakes 'em up the same way in the early bright
They clap their hands and stamp their feet
Because they know how he plays when someone gives him a beat
He really breaks it up when he plays reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B”
“It’s not the same without the trumpet.”
“Thanks Rox.”
She chuckled a little and closed her book again. “I’m going for a walk.”
“I told you reading in here would make you sick.” Jehnna cracked her eyes open and looked up at Roxxy.
“I’m not sick. I just want to stretch my legs. There’s no need to be mother hen to us, Jehnna.” The door closed behind her a moment later.
“Haley?”
“Yeah?”
“Is it actually possible for me to be a mother hen when you’re both older than I am?”
“Jen,” Haley smirked at the ceiling, “stop being a silly old married woman.”
“But I’m not…”
“I’m teasing you, Mrs. Parker. Go to sleep.”
~*~*~*~
Roxxy stared out over the water. It was, after all the only thing to be seen in all directions. She felt something brush her arm a moment later, startling her out of her haze. “You forgot your jacket.” Haley smiled at her and handed it over.
“Thanks.”
“What’s got you all mopey?” Haley leaned on the rail next to her. When Roxxy didn’t give a more complete answer than a shrug, she changed the subject. “I swear, after this if I never step foot on another ship, it’ll be too soon.”
Roxxy smiled. “You’ll have to get home.”
Haley pulled a face. “I’ll live in England for the rest of my life.” Both women laughed before each slipping into their own thoughts. “Just a few more days.”
“So they say.”
Roxxy heard Haley sigh heavily. “I can’t wait.”
“I think it might still be quite the swim if you jump overboard now.”
Haley smiled. “You know what I mean.”
Roxxy nodded but she wondered. The things she’d seen in her friend reminded her of the movies. The way her eyes lit up when she spoke of her fiancé, it was the kind of thing you’d expect from Bogart and Bergman, and she was curious to see if it went both ways. Something told her it would.
“Roxxy?”
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
“I was just asking about your fiancé. You…” Haley bit back a frown. “You don’t talk about him a lot.”
Roxxy smiled. “He’s a good man.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a but there.”
“But,” Roxxy conceded with a smile. “We can’t all be Rick and Ilsa, Haley.”
“I don’t think I like the implication there, Roxxy.” The redhead smiled again.
“You know what I mean.”
Haley nodded slowly. “It’s not really like that though.”
Roxxy cocked an eyebrow at her. “Whatever you say, Ilsa.”
“Stop it.”
“I’m just saying it doesn’t have to be grand gestures and fireworks to be love.”
“Who said anything about grand gestures?” Haley laughed. The thought of her man making any kind of grand gesture made her smile. Even his proposal had been… well, he’d simply turned to her and said ‘I think we should get married… after all this’. Yeah, very grand. Roxxy looked at her as if she would believe nothing less than constant poetic declarations of undying love and devotions; another idea that made her laugh a little. She figured dropping the subject would do nothing to break the illusion, but she didn’t know what else to say. “Five more days, you think?”
“Four, maybe.”
“Good, the sooner the better.” Haley smiled and turned to head back to the cabin. “Anything more than five more days on this boat is going to kill me.”
Roxxy’s laugh followed her along the deck.
~*~*~*~
Bloody yanks… Alasdare Scott bit back the venomous thought, but only for a moment as the sound of more loud obnoxious behavior reached her at the bar. Good God! Whatever the Germans don’t blow up, this lot will finish off! She wiped the glass in her hand clean with a little more vehemence than was really necessary.
Her father was coming over, no doubt inspired by the sour look on her face to tell her how the customer is always right and not to take her mood out on the patrons. He opened his mouth just as the sound of shattering glass echoed through the room.
“Oh for…”
Before she could let the curse she had planned on fly, her father cut her off. “Alasdare.”
“Alright, alright.” She rolled her eyes and moved to go clean up after the horde in the pub. As she swept up the glass, she heard a bit of what had them so excited. Something about women from America. Nurses, secretaries, all the support staff an army would need. And in skirts no less. She rolled her eyes again. She already knew about the new USO people. Her father had volunteered some space in the pub as a stage for whatever kinds of shows they’d be putting on. This didn’t seem to be common knowledge though, and she was in no hurry to get them even more excited.
She sighed and walked away, muttering to herself. “Maybe these girls of yours can get you to behave yourselves for half a moment.”
One of the more rambunctious lot seemed to have heard her. “Not likely, sweetheart. But I’m more than willing to let ‘em try.” This got a laugh from most of his table, a few smiles and shaken heads and the married one, or at least, the one wearing a wedding ring, blushed like mad.
She didn’t actually acknowledge the comment. She just walked away vowing to herself that the next time she walked by, a pint would find its way down the back of his shirt. She’d have preferred the broken glass she carried at the moment, but the pint would be easier to write off as an accident in a crowded pub. She spotted the smile on the face of the only woman sitting alone at the bar. “Think that was entertaining?”
“No, not really.” Morgan LeFavre smiled at her friend. “They aren’t all that bad, you know.”
“I’ve met men from many countries that I would classify as ‘not that bad’.” Alasdare pulled a face. “Not a one of them have been American. I think your country is sorely lacking in that department.”
Morgan laughed a little and waved her hand behind her. “I don’t think that bunch there is the height of American men.”
“Thank God for that.”
“Dare, you are impossible to convince.”
“Morgan, it’ll take a bit more than your word on the virtues of American men to convince me.”
“I’ll remember that.” She smiled and took a sip of her drink.
“I hope you do, luv. I really hope you do.”
ladydeathfaerie, I embarked on this VERY AU endeavor. So, things to note; I am not an expert in any kind of military, so I'm doing my best. In this version of the MSV universe, there are NO POWERS. That's not really an important point to the story, but I figured I'd save you the trouble of asking. ;) Oh, and throughout you can play "Spot the Cameo". LOLPS if anyone hasn't heard it before, here's a link to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.
Title: Letters Home
Fandom: Marvel Universe (seriously AU though...)
Rating: 18+
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognizable characters here. They and the world this is set in are the property of Marvel Entertainment. The Purple Team is the property of
ginevrasm (Morgan), ladydeathfaerie (Dare), sessys_fangirl (Jehnna), nanaeanaven (Roxxy) and dazzledfirestar (Haley). They are not to be used without permission. I make no money from this, and it is simply a form of entertainment. Warnings: M/F sexual situations, violence (lots of it), World War 2 AU (yes, that's a warning)
September 1, 1943
Dear Madam,
Very soon, your husband will embark on the adventure he has been training for with the US Army Airborne division; dropping from the sky to engage America’s enemies. Your letters of love and support and memories of home will no doubt bolster him in his efforts, as will your thoughts and prayers for him, his fellow soldiers and their well being.
I have no doubt he strives to make you proud of him.
Sincerely,
Captain Frank Castle
101 US Airborne
Jehnna looked around the cramped cabin and tried to ignore the definite pitch of the boat. Her cabin mates seemed fairly content, or had gotten used to the movement in the last few days. She moved to tuck the small piece of paper in her hands back into its envelope and then back into her bag. “Jen?”
“Yeah Haley?”
“Could I… take a look at that?”
Jehnna smiled and handed the piece of paper up to the woman in the bunk above her. “Sure thing.” She threw a smile over to the other girl in the room. Roxxy Stewart was sitting on her bed, reading by the sadly dim light in the room. “How can you read like that?”
“The better question is how our Miss Stewart there isn’t puking her guts out yet?”
Jehnna smiled again. Haley Stone was nothing if not direct.
“Some of us actually have things to do when we get there, Haley.” Roxxy looked up with a small smirk on her face. “Not everyone is lucky enough to sing and dance their way to Europe.”
“Hey, that’s not why I’m doing this.” Haley’s voice was calm and her eyes still skimmed the note Jehnna had passed her. The tall redhead envied Jehnna Parker and part of her regretted not getting married before her fiancé had shipped out instead of just getting engaged. If something happened to Jehnna’s husband, she’d hear about it, but if something… She nearly shook her head. She wouldn’t think that way. Besides, she’d be in England in a few days and with any luck, back in his arms before the week was out. “The singing is just to get me out of coffee and donut duty.” She pulled a face.
Roxxy chuckled and set down her book, shaking her head when Haley held Captain Castle’s note out to her. She had no interest in it. She didn’t have a husband in the Airborne. She had a fiancé, yes. A man she loved. But well, she’d learned early on that military communications had nothing to do with love and everything to do with title and perception. Besides, if something happened she’d hear about it through his family. Haley though… Roxxy knew she didn’t have that kind of back up. But Haley’s fiancé was in the same company as Jehnna’s husband, so surely, if they all managed to stick together, she’d get news if she needed to.
In fact, all the men in their lives were stationed together. It had been a happy coincidence when they’d boarded this ship in New York, and it had been somewhere to start forming some kind of friendship, despite the differences between them.
Jehnna had signed up with the Womens Army Corps shortly after her husband, Peter, had enlisted with the Airborne. She had been studying to be a radio operator and had been thrilled to be stationed at the same base in England that Peter was training at. The three years they’d been married, they’d only actually spent a year and a half together. The rest of the time had been spent in training for both of them. The thought that they might get a little more time together before he jumped (literally) into Europe was a comfort to them both.
Haley had been about ready to quit her opera courses at Julliard when what she referred to as ‘this whole big mess’ had started. She’d been flunking out simply because she had no interest in arias and movements. She’d have rather spent her time with the Andrews Sisters and Count Basie than Wagner and Stravinsky, but there was no place in the world to study that kind of music. Her parents had been so reluctant to let her go in the first place. It had taken her nearly two years to talk them into letting her apply for the school in the first place, so quitting wasn’t really an option until the war started. The USO had been a saving grace. No only did it get her to England and near the man she loved, but she got to sing what she wanted to. If it wasn’t for the damn war, life would be lovely.
The girls had asked Roxxy why she’d decided to be a nurse. She’d shrugged and said it was what she would have done even without the war. It was the truth. She’d planned on being a nurse even after her marriage, and her fiancé had been more than supportive of her. So when he signed up, she had finished her courses and done the same. Part of her had wanted a station closer to the front; somewhere she could do the most good; help the people that really truly needed the most help. She’d ended up on a base in England. There were upsides of course. It helped that the 101st was training there. But part of her still felt she could have done more good else where.
Despite all this, the three women had bonded quickly and the normally unpleasant prospect of almost two weeks on a cramped boat in the middle of the north Atlantic was a little brighter. Roxxy picked up her book again, letting the sound of Haley humming to herself in the top bunk filter through from time to time. “I know that song…”
“Miracle of miracles.” The redhead smiled down at her. She laughed for a moment when Roxxy returned her smile. Her voice filled the room a moment later.
“He puts the boys asleep with boogie every night
And wakes 'em up the same way in the early bright
They clap their hands and stamp their feet
Because they know how he plays when someone gives him a beat
He really breaks it up when he plays reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B”
“It’s not the same without the trumpet.”
“Thanks Rox.”
She chuckled a little and closed her book again. “I’m going for a walk.”
“I told you reading in here would make you sick.” Jehnna cracked her eyes open and looked up at Roxxy.
“I’m not sick. I just want to stretch my legs. There’s no need to be mother hen to us, Jehnna.” The door closed behind her a moment later.
“Haley?”
“Yeah?”
“Is it actually possible for me to be a mother hen when you’re both older than I am?”
“Jen,” Haley smirked at the ceiling, “stop being a silly old married woman.”
“But I’m not…”
“I’m teasing you, Mrs. Parker. Go to sleep.”
Roxxy stared out over the water. It was, after all the only thing to be seen in all directions. She felt something brush her arm a moment later, startling her out of her haze. “You forgot your jacket.” Haley smiled at her and handed it over.
“Thanks.”
“What’s got you all mopey?” Haley leaned on the rail next to her. When Roxxy didn’t give a more complete answer than a shrug, she changed the subject. “I swear, after this if I never step foot on another ship, it’ll be too soon.”
Roxxy smiled. “You’ll have to get home.”
Haley pulled a face. “I’ll live in England for the rest of my life.” Both women laughed before each slipping into their own thoughts. “Just a few more days.”
“So they say.”
Roxxy heard Haley sigh heavily. “I can’t wait.”
“I think it might still be quite the swim if you jump overboard now.”
Haley smiled. “You know what I mean.”
Roxxy nodded but she wondered. The things she’d seen in her friend reminded her of the movies. The way her eyes lit up when she spoke of her fiancé, it was the kind of thing you’d expect from Bogart and Bergman, and she was curious to see if it went both ways. Something told her it would.
“Roxxy?”
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
“I was just asking about your fiancé. You…” Haley bit back a frown. “You don’t talk about him a lot.”
Roxxy smiled. “He’s a good man.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a but there.”
“But,” Roxxy conceded with a smile. “We can’t all be Rick and Ilsa, Haley.”
“I don’t think I like the implication there, Roxxy.” The redhead smiled again.
“You know what I mean.”
Haley nodded slowly. “It’s not really like that though.”
Roxxy cocked an eyebrow at her. “Whatever you say, Ilsa.”
“Stop it.”
“I’m just saying it doesn’t have to be grand gestures and fireworks to be love.”
“Who said anything about grand gestures?” Haley laughed. The thought of her man making any kind of grand gesture made her smile. Even his proposal had been… well, he’d simply turned to her and said ‘I think we should get married… after all this’. Yeah, very grand. Roxxy looked at her as if she would believe nothing less than constant poetic declarations of undying love and devotions; another idea that made her laugh a little. She figured dropping the subject would do nothing to break the illusion, but she didn’t know what else to say. “Five more days, you think?”
“Four, maybe.”
“Good, the sooner the better.” Haley smiled and turned to head back to the cabin. “Anything more than five more days on this boat is going to kill me.”
Roxxy’s laugh followed her along the deck.
Bloody yanks… Alasdare Scott bit back the venomous thought, but only for a moment as the sound of more loud obnoxious behavior reached her at the bar. Good God! Whatever the Germans don’t blow up, this lot will finish off! She wiped the glass in her hand clean with a little more vehemence than was really necessary.
Her father was coming over, no doubt inspired by the sour look on her face to tell her how the customer is always right and not to take her mood out on the patrons. He opened his mouth just as the sound of shattering glass echoed through the room.
“Oh for…”
Before she could let the curse she had planned on fly, her father cut her off. “Alasdare.”
“Alright, alright.” She rolled her eyes and moved to go clean up after the horde in the pub. As she swept up the glass, she heard a bit of what had them so excited. Something about women from America. Nurses, secretaries, all the support staff an army would need. And in skirts no less. She rolled her eyes again. She already knew about the new USO people. Her father had volunteered some space in the pub as a stage for whatever kinds of shows they’d be putting on. This didn’t seem to be common knowledge though, and she was in no hurry to get them even more excited.
She sighed and walked away, muttering to herself. “Maybe these girls of yours can get you to behave yourselves for half a moment.”
One of the more rambunctious lot seemed to have heard her. “Not likely, sweetheart. But I’m more than willing to let ‘em try.” This got a laugh from most of his table, a few smiles and shaken heads and the married one, or at least, the one wearing a wedding ring, blushed like mad.
She didn’t actually acknowledge the comment. She just walked away vowing to herself that the next time she walked by, a pint would find its way down the back of his shirt. She’d have preferred the broken glass she carried at the moment, but the pint would be easier to write off as an accident in a crowded pub. She spotted the smile on the face of the only woman sitting alone at the bar. “Think that was entertaining?”
“No, not really.” Morgan LeFavre smiled at her friend. “They aren’t all that bad, you know.”
“I’ve met men from many countries that I would classify as ‘not that bad’.” Alasdare pulled a face. “Not a one of them have been American. I think your country is sorely lacking in that department.”
Morgan laughed a little and waved her hand behind her. “I don’t think that bunch there is the height of American men.”
“Thank God for that.”
“Dare, you are impossible to convince.”
“Morgan, it’ll take a bit more than your word on the virtues of American men to convince me.”
“I’ll remember that.” She smiled and took a sip of her drink.
“I hope you do, luv. I really hope you do.”
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-09 03:42 am (UTC)I liked it, I really did. Nice start. Going to take a while to get used to seeing 'Parker' instead of 'Worthington'. ^_^
This is going to be awesome. I have a good feeling about it! I can't wait to see what how our Sues are going to fare in the WWII era.
Great chapter Daz! I eagerly await more!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-09 03:45 am (UTC)I hope I can live up to that. They're in for a lot, I fear, but I'm sure they'll pull through. :)
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-09 03:53 am (UTC)Jehnna Parker... now that's shaking things up. LOL.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-09 03:55 am (UTC)If you think that's shaking thing up, just wait. *evil grin*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-09 04:07 am (UTC)looking forward to more. but you know how i am. seriously, though. good work, doll. this one should be fun.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-09 04:10 am (UTC)I think it's going to be intense at some points, but yeah, fun too, I hope. I'm on the rest of it, I promise. LOL
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-10 06:29 pm (UTC)Such a tease, not letting us find out who Roxxy & Haley's fiancé's are. You know it's going to drive me nuts until I find out. lol!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-10 06:34 pm (UTC)You'll find out who Roxxy's engaged to very early on in the next chapter... and the identity of Haley's fiancé should show up about half way through that same chapter. I can't keep a secret for long. You know that. LOL
(no subject)
Date: 2011-01-24 01:20 am (UTC)