One Gigantic Joke.

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

My first Hugh/Stephen RPS! Quite short, just kind of getting a feel for the pairing and audience, I suppose. It's dedicated to peak_in_darien because she writes awesome H/S RPS and so inspired this fic.

TITLE: One Gigantic Joke
AUTHOR: Cuddlyfruit
FANDOM: Real life!
PAIRING: Hugh Laurie/Stephen Fry
RATING: PG-13, though not -that- bad, I don't think.
WARNINGS: RPS! Real person slash!
SUMMARY: They pass it off as one gigantic joke to the world.
DISCLAIMER: This is fiction, it never happened. I don't own Hugh Laurie or Stephen Fry, though I'd love it if I did. Never even met them.
NOTES: 382 words. This and my other fics can be found in my journal. Written while listening to Tainted Love by Soft Cell and Candy Man by Aqua. So any oddities are entirely their fault, because they caused the odd hysteria in the first place!


It wasn't as if the tension had gone unnoticed. It wasn't as if they were oblivious. It was obvious they felt it because they played off that tension, that attraction, all the time. In private, in public, on television. They flirted shamelessly then passed it off as one Gigantic Joke.

One Gigantic Joke.

Sometimes he wished it really was. He wasn't as good an actor as that, though, to simulate such relaxation and attraction where there was none. Stephen once said that his eyes revealed it all, told his secrets, professed his lies to the world. He sometimes wondered if Stephen could read that secret in his eyes, but it wasn't really even a question because they both knew the answer.

The whole world knew the answer to that question, even if it was one Gigantic Joke to them.

So when Stephen swept in and pinned him down to the couch, Hugh figured it was just another branch from the Gigantic Joke tree. When Stephen harshly pressed their lips together, Hugh figured that in a moment they'd fall apart. Emma would be standing stunned in the doorway and they'd wheeze with laughter at the ingenuity of their little Gigantic Joke.

It soon became apparent, however, that Stephen had no plans of drawing back. A quick peek proved that there was no one standing shocked in the doorway, because the door was firmly closed. At which point it sank in that there was a tongue at his lips. A quick gasp and the tongue was quite firmly in his mouth.

When Stephen finally did draw back, Hugh was feeling distinctly light-headed.

"Hullo, Stephen," Hugh finally managed to wheeze out, though the wheezing was most definitely not due to laughing. Proof of which was the sweet, vaguely Stephenesque taste on his tongue and lips.

"Hullo, Hugh." Stephen was looking very pleased with himself.

"Any hidden cameras around?"

"None that I know of."

"People hiding behind couches, chairs, randomly distributed trees?"

"If there are, then they would be exceptional players at Hide and Seek."

"So that kiss, Stephen. It was just for us."

"Indeed it was, Hugh."

A moment later, it was Stephen pressed down to the couch with Hugh quite firmly perched on top, and it was most definitely no joke, large or small.

Posted:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/cuddlyfruit/8015.html
http://www.livejournal.com/community/indeedsir/76084.html

Comments

[sydni-64.livejournal.com]

::applauds::

I really enjoy the way you deal with the issue that homoeroticism in a comic medium is usually played for laughs, and therefore does not often read as "slashy" in the way that homoeroticism in say, a drama or science fiction show does. Am I right in thinking this fic is set circa their work on ABOF&L?

I think this is my favorite line: It was obvious they felt it because they played off that tension, that attraction, all the time. It neatly encapsulates the take-home lesson of the fic, and also ties in really nicely with what we see of their on-screen relationship. And the way you repeat the "One Gigantic Joke" phrase is just great--I love that you tackle it head on. It's so easy to just say, Oh, ABOF&L isn't slashy, because they are just gay jokes. This fic is really plausible and more than that, really hot and really fun. Bravo!

Thank you for writing and posting!

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

You have no idea how happy your comment made me! I literally let out a little squeal when I finished and clasped my hands tight together. XD Thank you so much! I'm so glad I didn't bomb the whole thing.

Yes! You got the setting exactly right. I decided it would be set during or after A Bit Of, and that was that.

I am just speechless with happiness. Normally I try to address all the subjects brought up. But right now, I'll just bathe in the happy happy glow. *beams*

[sydni-64.livejournal.com]

:) Well, if my comment made you even a fraction as happy as your fic made me, then Yay! hehe

I will be awaiting your next F/L fic very impatiently as patiently as possible. lol

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

Wahaha, thanks. XD

I'd like to know, the more I write the braver I'll get. I still haven't written anything very explicit in any fandom, but what do you think of the idea of it going a bit farther? I mean, the most I've ever done is heavy kissing and basically making it known that "THESE PEOPLE HAVE SEX NEXT BUT I'M GOING TO FADE OUT NOW", and I don't see that changing any time soon. XD

Also, considering writing Hugh Laurie/Robert Sean Leonard and Stephen Fry/Alan Davies. XD Would you be interested in either of those pairings?

I'm just curious about the reception these types of fics will have.

[doomynic.livejournal.com]

take it further ;) yay!

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, I'll see if I can manage it next fic I write. I'm horribly shy, though. You prolly wouldn't believe it if you only knew me from LJ, but it's quite the truth. ^^;;

[sydni-64.livejournal.com]

what do you think of the idea of it going a bit farther?
I think it is a Damn Fine Idea. mwaahaha.

Also, considering writing Hugh Laurie/Robert Sean Leonard and Stephen Fry/Alan Davies. XD Would you be interested in either of those pairings?

What I find so irresistible about the F/L RPS is the train of thought peak_in_darien makes note of below: the two are *such* good friends, have known eachother for *such* a great while, and one of them is *just* as gay as the day is long. And you wanna tell me that nothing ever happened? And then the mind invariably wanders to what, if anything, might have been. The RPS is just there in the aether, waiting to be written. That, I think, isn't true of say, HL/RSL or SF/AD. But this is all from the perspective of someone who is not much of an RPSer in general. I like this pairing, and the specific fics I've read. You might get a different response from someone who was more a fan of the genre at large.

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your opinions! ^__^

I'm not actually a big RPS person either. In fact, this is the first RPS I've dabbled in, I think. For some reason, though, there's something about Hugh and Stephen. The inevitable draw towards seeing the possibilities between them. With the Stephen/Alan, though, I watch QI and I just see something. I mean, sometimes it seems like Stephen is really very fond of Alan, and vice versa. (Course, sometimes it seems like they'd be perfectly happy to punch each other in the face. XD) Hugh/RSL, well, I'm not sure where that came from.

Anyway, thank you very very much! ^__^

[peak-in-darien.livejournal.com]

*squeal*

YAAAAAY!

I love this! I love it I love it I love it. So. Much. Love.

1. You dealt with the joke thing. Wheeee.
2. Emma would be standing stunned in the doorway SHE WOULD TOO!!!
3. the sweet, vaguely Stephenesque taste on his tongue and lips. ...Ahhh, lovely.

*throws a party*

We now have multiple H/S writers! We have a fandom!

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

XD XD XD XD XD

I'm so glad you like it! It's not as good as yours, and shorter as well, but I was so afraid that I'd screw it up horribly and I'd just ruin the fandom completely!

1. They are The Slashy Jokers, so it was inevitable for me to drag that in somehow. ^^;
2. Emma would then run off to squeal and fantasize in private! Secret slasher, she is!
3. I really enjoyed writing that line. XD I thought about tasting that, and just kinda melted myself. So I included it. :P

FANDOM! Yay! XD

[peak-in-darien.livejournal.com]

Hee. Enjoy the warm fuzzy glow of love for your fic. (I love this community so much I could marry it...)

Secret slasher, she is!
*nods sagely*
I always suspected her. But after watching The Crystal Cube it was like dsjkhgsdjklhgfdsjklhgdsf!!11!

I thought about tasting that, and just kinda melted myself.
Ha! Love it!

*rereads*

*throws a Fandom party*

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

The glow is so wonderful. XD I've never felt a glow like this for my Housefic. Which is odd. I feel especially glowy for this one, though. XD

I threw Emma in my fic, actually, because I remembered your fic. I just looked because I forgot the name. It is called Choke. I was trying to find a way to express that Hugh figured it was just a joke still, and that came to mind. XD

I haven't seen the Crystal Cube yet! I have it. I should watch.

XD XD

[peak-in-darien.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's because there's something special about H/S. Like the fact that's it's SO DAMN TRUE...

Ohmygosh, Emma Thompson is their friend from Cambridge days. She was actually Hugh's girlfriend in their first year of Uni. Then she married Kenneth Branagh and I lost all respect for her. But seriously, she introduced them to each other. During one scene in the Crystal Cube (as shown in my icon), Stephen "kisses" Hugh, and Emma stands there watching them!
< /rant>

Eeeee I do so love this fic!!!
*throws you a bunch of roses*

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

Hahaha. Hugh had to have gotten curious at some point, right? XD

I knew a little about Emma Thompson. Who is Kenneth Branagh? Why is he bad?

Mm, Stephen kisses Hugh, or appears to at least. I -will- watch the Crystal Cube. XD

Hee, I really am very very very happy you like this. So relieved I could die. ^^; For a long time there no one commented, and suddenly I am attack with wonderful comments. XD

BTW, about the RPS comm!
(In a chat with tropigalia)
cuddlyfruit: well, frylaurierps, hughstephen, stephenhugh, getthatarse, queer_idea
cuddlyfruit: hrm, lots of choices

Turns out tropigalia and I are dreadful slackers when it comes to choosing names. XD Perhaps you could choose one? *dies laughing* You don't have to, of course. Also, we'd very muchly like you to be a mod. You wouldn't have to do anything there if you're busy, but we just wanted to give you the status. ^^

[peak-in-darien.livejournal.com]

Hee. Well, it's all in good fun and it never happened, right... BUT... *ggg*... I was talking to someone just the other day about how Hugh and Stephen do spend so much time together, and Stephen's gay, and they do so much gay humour in their show......... so maybe........

Kenneth Branagh is a Shakespearean actor - quite a good actor. :D If you see "Peter's Friends" (in which Hugh and Stephen both feature - great movie), you'll definitely notice him. But I just personally don't like him because my friend and I had this war - she liked Kenneth, I liked Hugh, and we'd argue with each other about it. *g*

^____________^ Well I do! I ♥ the fic very much!

Ooh, I would be honoured to be a mod! That's be so, so awesome. And I'd love to get involved, if you'll let me. :)

The name... well I still love getthatarse, but I think hughstephen or stephenhugh are also good ideas, but then perhaps you might want something less specific, as you said, to allow more pairings.

If you're not in a hurry, we could read/watch ABOF&L to look for more names. (Any excuse, heh.)

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

You know, maybe in real life Hugh wanted to experiment a little. I mean, Stephen would be the obvious choice, because he -knows- he likes men. XD

Ooh. I really want to see Peter's Friends! I've no clue what it's about, but I hear it's good. Course, I hear this from the Hugh and Stephen fans, who might be just the littlest bit biased. Still. Must see! XD

If I'll let you! XD I was just saying that you didn't have to if you didn't want to. We'd love it if you got involved, as well, though!

I do like getthatarse, but people might have no idea what we're talking about. XD As for hughstephen (or swap the names, whichever). If we decide on that, we could put an OR between them. XD *dies laughing* For some reason that idea reallllyyy amuses me.

I kinda wanted to get the comm started up this weekend, but there really is no rush. I have two months off at the end of next week, but I leave for California on June 1. Once in CA, I won't be able to spend -as much- time as usual. I don't know. We could certainly watch ABOF&L for ideas, of course. Purely business. XD

[peak-in-darien.livejournal.com]

I'm going to email you (very briefly) with an idea. ^____^

Heh, not only does he know that Stephen likes men... but Stephen's a trusted, close friend who might possibly have a crush on him to begin with.
Have you read Stephen's book "The Liar"? There's slash in it, and there's a fangirl theory that there are also sekkrit Hugh references. ^^ It's a great read, too.

Ah, Peter's Friends is a lovely sort of drama-comedy. And the opening scene features Hugh and Stephen in women's fishnet stockings. (I wasn't warned, and when I saw it I nearly had heart palpitations.)

Yay! Cool. I'd love to be a mod. ^___^

Haha, what about fryandorlaurie? (*snicker*) Heh. Then you could say "we always knew there was something between them"...

This weekend sounds like a good idea. Do you want help with writing the userinfo or anything like that too?

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

You are officially a genius for your idea. XD

Wahaha. XD Unfortunately, though, I haven't read The Liar. :/ I read Moab is My Washpot, though, and am hoping to get my hands on all the others. ^^ Now I reeeaally want to read them, especially The Liar!

Hahaha, I can imagine Hugh and Stephen in women's fishnet stockings. XD Prolly not nearly as well as the movie, though. I must see! Well, as soon as I acquire a bit of money. ^^;

You accept! There are no more modly positions left. *looks out her window to the large crowd* I'M SORRY, BUT THE POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED. GO HOME. *head back in* The pay isn't very good, but you choose your own hours and the work is fun. ;P

HAHAHA, fryandorlaurie, we -have- always known that there's something between them. We know it, even if Hugh and Stephen don't know about it themselves. XD XD I'll tell tropigalia about fryandorlaurie as well. XD

Ooh, that would be good, userinfo help. I made two comms in GJ, but there aren't many House peoples on GJ, so there really isn't much use for the userinfo there. So I don't have much experience with them and could use the help. ^^

Do you have AIM or IRC or anything? When the comm is created it'd be helpful to communicate easier. ^^

[peak-in-darien.livejournal.com]

MOAB! Yee, so glad you've read it. Another book with occasional Stephen/Hugh subtext. "Hugh Laurie says that"... "Hugh Laurie and I did..." ... "Hugh Laurie used to do a hilarious impression of a snob" ... XD

The pay isn't very good
*ggg* Well then, there's only one thing for it - rob a bank do it out of love...
*snicker*

I have MSN messenger - do you use that? I have several accounts but it's best to reach me at my private one, runestone_tombraider(at)hotmail.com

<3

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

I really liked the picture of Stephen and Hugh playing chess in the middle of the book. That's what inspired your chess fic, isn't it? I really liked the book, though. XD

Wahaha. XD Yes, do it out of love, of course. I bet Stephen, in all his genius, could help us plan the robbery out

Just added you to MSN messenger! I'm cuddlyfruits@hotmail.com, cuddlyfruit with an s because cuddlyfruit was already taken. ;.; I don't usually go on MSN, but I'll be on while I'm here today, at least. ^^

[peak-in-darien.livejournal.com]

Heh, yep, that's what inspired the fic, although it was tootsiemuppet's idea. *g* And the fact that Stephen said he always beat Hugh at chess. I mean, there must have been an exception...

He could too, if he could just keep his hands off Hugh for one second to think about it...

Yay, will add you on MSN when I get home tonight. ^____^

xxx

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

Wahaha, well, you've very efficiently revealed that exception. ;P YES, I KNOW YOUR SECRET! I know that this is a true story! You cannot hide it from me! I don't want you to hide it! I won't let you hide it! Deliciously Scandalous!

(Mmm, strike-out is fun to play with, yes? ^^;)

I shall be here! Probably. >.>; I might wander away, but prolly not for long. Computer is my lifeline. :P

[peak-in-darien.livejournal.com]

Damn. Secret's out.

Well... I camped out behind their holiday home in the south of France, videotaping watching the action for a while, until it occured to me that I had a pen and paper in my hand...

*giggle*

Oh, and yours is a hundred times more plausible than mine. Just so you know.

[xaxres.livejournal.com]

Fantastic. That was so sweet.

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

*Glee!* Thank you! ^__^

[wordy.livejournal.com]

Well. After picking myself up off the floor and rearranging my clothing so it doesn't, in fact, look like I passed out from the sheer fangirlish glee of it all, I'd just like to say that this is brilliant. Brilliant!, actually, with the capital and the exclamation point and everything.

I love Hugh's confusion, the adorability of it all, and your style of writing. Thanks muchly for sharing! ::wanders off to re-read::

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

WAHAHA. XD I'm glad you liked it so much. ^^ Thanks for reading!

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Hee! So cute. I second what sydni_64 said about homoeroticism being played for jokes.

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. ^^

[doomynic.livejournal.com]

whoa!! man, i loooove you so much *kneels at your feet* you've got yourself a slave for a day (read: stalker)

this fic was so good, just... gah i'm no good at reviews *joins the fic love bath*

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

XD I'm glad you liked it!

I've got a slave for the day! Do you bathe dogs? Because my puppy needs a bath, needed one yesterday but I wrote the fic instead. XD

BTW, I don't think I mentioned before, but I like your icon. XD *drool's over Stephen*

Thanks for reading, reviewing, and enjoying! ^^

[doomynic.livejournal.com]

hahaha i'll bathe your dog if you write another fic! :D *hint hint*

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

XD I'm hoping to write another fic at some point, hopefully soon. I might try a different pairing, though. Hugh/Robert Sean Leonard (RSL in my icon) or Stephen/Alan Davies. Would you like those pairings as well, do you think?

[doomynic.livejournal.com]

yess, esp stephen/alan davies.

[tpusen.livejournal.com]

awww...don't stop now.. ;)

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

I didn't want to stop, but Hugh was giving me funny looks when I wanted to write more. XD

[hj2.livejournal.com]

Yay! This was wonderful. Just the right tone...they do seem to be teetering on the edge of something, and I love the way you pushed them off.

p.s. Love your House fic, too! Would you really write H/RSL? PLEASE? I've only read one other and it made me crave more.

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really like beginning relationships with something there, building up. Just a little breeze and POOF, there they go!

Indeed, I will write H/RSL, I hope soon! If you like RPS, you might be interested in fryandorlaurie, which is a very new community that [Unknown site tag], tropigalia, and I just opened. It's for slash that includes Stephen Fry and/or Hugh Laurie. We'll be promoting it maybe later today. I hope you'll join. ^^

[tootsiemuppet.livejournal.com]

Love!

Very much love.

Ack, got to run!

WILL come back for a larger comment, dammit.

[cuddlyfruit.livejournal.com]

Glad you like! XD