knitekat: (Lester: down but not out)
knitekat ([personal profile] knitekat) wrote2012-11-24 05:41 pm
Entry tags:

Primeval fic: Lessons In Life - birthday fic for Lsellersfic

Title: Lessons In Life
Author: knitekat
Word Count: ~590
Characters: James Lester
Rating: 12
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N 1: For lsellersfic birthday and her prompt: Lester – The Road was a Ribbon of Moonlight. An angsty companion piece of sorts to Just The Two Of Us. Hope you are having a good birthday.
A/N 2: Thanks go to the ever-wonderful hound amongst hounds, Fred. Cheers m'dear.


James gazed out of the window and smiled as his thoughts wandered. The rain-slicked road shone silver and he glanced up at the full moon. In this mind, the road was a ribbon of moonlight down which the fae marched to do battle with their foes. Or maybe it was the mice warriors his uncle teased him about, running down to Earth to pinch all the cheese.

A noise from the room next to his had James' head turning towards it, every sense strained to the utmost to see if he was needed. Slowly he relaxed and returned his attention to the world outside, the world he saw little of, but it was how it had to be.

His imagination sustained him, it was his only friend and the only escape from his life, but James wouldn't have had it differently. He was needed and for now he had to be the man of the house, but soon... soon James hoped his mother would be well and life would return to normal.

Not that James was sure what normal was any more. Everything had changed when his father left, although the absence of shouting and fear had felt so good to start with. Like he could breathe once more without the world ending, but it hadn't lasted. His mother had... he wasn't sure what, but once his father had left it seemed there was nothing holding her together any more and she'd crumbled without the need to be perfect, to obey orders and do as she was told.

It had been left to James to pick up the pieces and he knew enough not to tell anyone, knowing he'd be taken from his mother and she'd never recover. He couldn't let that happen and the weight of responsibility grew heavier with each passing day that she didn't improve, but he had to hope she would. That she would be happy once more and he could return to being a child.

James sighed softly. He could hope for the first but he was certain he no longer knew what being a child felt like. He'd had to grow up so much over the past few months that he didn't think he could return to the carefree life, not having to worry about having enough food in the house or that his mother needed more of her special medicine or half a dozen details a child should never have to think of but he did. Every day he had to plan to perfection to ensure he got everything right, he couldn't afford to make a mistake, too much depended on him and he couldn't fail.

James shook his head. He could worry about that tomorrow. For now, he could look out of the window at the world he wasn't really part of any more and let his imagination take him to happier times. That the road was a ribbon of moonlight and if only he could follow it to its end it would take him back to happier times. Before his father found someone else and left them behind, before his mother's heart broke and before he had to grow up too quickly.

James closed his eyes and turned away from the window. It was pointless to want what could never be. The road was just a road, turned silver by rain and moonlight, it didn't lead anywhere but into town. The real world was a harsh place and James vowed he would never let anyone see how much it had hurt him

[identity profile] aunteeneenah.livejournal.com 2012-11-24 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"The real world was a harsh place and James vowed he would never let anyone see how much it had hurt him" Explains so much. No one has ever done a background on Lester (at least that I've seen) and this is really lovely. Well done.

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm, it definitely does. Poor Lester learnt early to protect himself from life.

Glad you liked it and thanks for reading.

[identity profile] lukadreaming.livejournal.com 2012-11-24 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Very sad and very beautiful.

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 03:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad you liked it, sorry for the sad but young James wanted to tell more of his story.

Thanks for reading.

[identity profile] deinonychus-1.livejournal.com 2012-11-24 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, poor James *huggles him*

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
*nods* I'm mean to him when he's a child too ;) Young James is slightly unsure of the being huggled.

Thanks for reading.
clea2011: (Lester suit)

[personal profile] clea2011 2012-11-24 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh poor James. That's gorgeous.

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sure James will be fine.

Glad you liked it and thanks for reading.

[identity profile] freddiejoey.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
Nicely done. great fic

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Good to know you think so and thanks for reading.

[identity profile] joshinator.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
A pleasure to read. :)

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:02 pm (UTC)(link)
*bows* Glad you liked it and thanks for reading.
celeste9: (primeval: lester)

[personal profile] celeste9 2012-11-25 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, poor wee James! This is so, so lovely, beautifully written. *dabs delicately with a tissue*

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
*nods* Poor wee James wanted to tell more of the story.

*blushes* Glad you think so and thanks for reading. *hugs*

[identity profile] rodlox.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
*sniffle*

this was a very moving fic. you've outdone yourself; bravo.

*sends care packages to Lester*

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
*offers a tissue*

Glad you think so. *blushes* Thank you.

*Lester and his mum will appreciate them*
goldarrow: (Default)

[personal profile] goldarrow 2012-11-25 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, that was sad!
*heart breaks for young James*

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry, young James just wanted to tell more of his story.

*oops. James will be fine*

Thanks for reading.

[identity profile] judithjohn.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Such strong real emotions.

Bravo!

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Good to know it came over OK.

*bows* Thank you for reading.

[identity profile] natchris.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
Wow! Fabulous job!

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
*blushes* Thanks, glad you liked it.
ext_27141: (Lester Phone)

[identity profile] telperion-15.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 11:40 am (UTC)(link)
Awwwwwwww, poor little James... *hugs him* He's got a great imagination though!

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee, glad you liked litte James. He needs the hugs. *nods* Good to know you think so.

Thanks for reading.
fredbassett: (Default)

[personal profile] fredbassett 2012-11-25 12:13 pm (UTC)(link)
A sad fic, but with some beautiful imagery.

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry, my Young James muse bit hard and wanted to tell his story. Good to know the imagery worked.

Thanks for the beta and for reading.

[identity profile] raptor-moon.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 12:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Very sad, but intriguing backstory. So often Connor is depicted with the absent father (through death or abandonment) trying to take care of an ill mom. A similar childhood (which Lester could know about from security checks/personnel files) goes a long way in explaining him opening his home to Connor in season 3. Nicely done.

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry for the sad, my James muse wanted to tell the story. Hmm, *watches bunnlet hop off into warren* will have to see if anything happens with it

Glad you liked it and thanks for reading.

[identity profile] flaccidduck.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
It's sad but very moving. Lovely.

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry about the sad but good to know it worked.

Thanks for reading.

[identity profile] reggietate.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
*meep* Poor James. A hard road indeed it is, without a little moonlight to shine on it.

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry. James wanted to tell his story and he says it was hard, but worth it.

Thanks for reading.

[identity profile] lsellersfic.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Poor Lester! But it does help explain how he grew up with so much armour. Really impressed with what you've done with my prompt!

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
*nods* That type of childhood would certainly have given James his armour.

*blushes* I'm very happy you like it. I meeped for a while before this bunny ambushed me.

[identity profile] nietie.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
O wow, very poignant.

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, good to know it worked.

Thanks for reading.

[identity profile] eriah211.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Very sad, but sweet too *crushes little James in a bear hug*

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-25 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry, little James wanted to continue his story. *James isn't totally convinced about the bear hug* ;)

Glad you liked it and thanks for reading.

[identity profile] dreamer-98.livejournal.com 2012-11-26 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
Aww, heartbreaking. Poor wee!James. Love the descriptions in the opening paragraph especially.

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-26 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry, poor wee!James just wanted to tell his story. Hee, glad you liked the first paragraph - not quite sure where the mice warriors came from ;)

Thanks for reading.
fififolle: (Primeval - Becker eyes animated)

[personal profile] fififolle 2012-11-27 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, that's quite special. Poor James!

[identity profile] knitekat.livejournal.com 2012-11-27 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee, glad you liked it. *nods* Poor James wasn't having a good time.

Thanks for reading.