geri_chan (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} geri_chan) wrote,@ 2008-08-15 15:48:00 |
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| Entry tags: | fanfiction, petshop |
FIC: Fragaria Vesca
Title: Fragaria Vesca
Rating: PG
Word Count: 457
Pairing: Vesca/Papa D (University age)
Characters involved: Vesca, Papa D
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Matsuri Akino. No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Summary: This story grew out of a discussion on the ds_petshop LJ and the Petshop Yahoo Group about Tokyopop's decision to write Howell's first name as "Weskar" instead of "Vesca" in the second series.
Author's note: Much thanks to kayirowling, whose comment inspired me to research the meaning of Vesca's name, and for added clarification on the Fragaria Vesca.
***
"Happy birthday, Vesca!" D sang out as he walked into Vesca's open dorm room.
Vesca gazed suspiciously at the Count, noticing that he had his hands hidden behind his back, and wondered if he should have locked the door. Not that locks would stop a determined D, he suspected.
"Thanks, you shouldn't have," Vesca said, not very enthusiastically.
D pouted, his lower lip protruding in a childish and yet endearing manner; Vesca had to fight back the sudden, inexplicable urge to kiss it.
"That's not very gracious of you, but happy birthday, anyway," D said in a slightly miffed voice, bringing his hands forward to reveal his gift, a small potted plant.
Vesca goggled in shock at the familiar sight of green leaves and small red berries dangling from a thin, spindly stem. "That's...that's..."
D giggled, apparently mollified by Vesca's reaction. "A Fragaria Vesca," he finished sweetly. "Commonly known as the Woodland Strawberry. Smaller and more strongly flavored than the Garden Strawberries that are commonly sold in supermarkets these days."
Vesca felt his face grow hot and, no doubt, as red as the strawberries. People always asked about the origins of his unusual name, and he always evaded them with vague lies about it being an old family name. After all, it was mortifying for a grown man to admit that essentially, his name was "Strawberry"!
"How did you know?" he asked in a resigned voice.
"Come now, dear Vesca, I am a biologist, after all!" D laughed.
"A biologist, not a botanist," Vesca grumbled. "I thought you were into animals, not plants."
"Ah, but you might say that my family has a special affinity for plant life," D said with an enigmatic smirk.
"Well, thanks, I guess," Vesca said gruffly, taking the pot from D. He plucked a berry and ate it, savoring the sweet, slightly tart taste that brought back memories of his childhood. "These used to grow wild in the woods where my mom grew up. She loved them so much that she named me after them, much to my embarrassment."
D gave him a smile that seemed warmer and more sincere than usual. "I think that's very sweet, Vesca. It's certainly nothing to be ashamed of."
"Thanks for the gift," Vesca said, a little more graciously this time. "Would you like to have some tea and try some of these strawberries?"
"Thank you, I would," D replied, and Vesca got up to fix the tea, but D intercepted him and pressed his mouth against Vesca's, his tongue darting between Vesca's lips for an all too brief moment before he stepped back, leaving Vesca flushed and confused and breathless.
"Yes, those strawberries are certainly delicious!" D said cheerfully. "Now how about that tea?"
Vesca gazed suspiciously at the Count, noticing that he had his hands hidden behind his back, and wondered if he should have locked the door. Not that locks would stop a determined D, he suspected.
"Thanks, you shouldn't have," Vesca said, not very enthusiastically.
D pouted, his lower lip protruding in a childish and yet endearing manner; Vesca had to fight back the sudden, inexplicable urge to kiss it.
"That's not very gracious of you, but happy birthday, anyway," D said in a slightly miffed voice, bringing his hands forward to reveal his gift, a small potted plant.
Vesca goggled in shock at the familiar sight of green leaves and small red berries dangling from a thin, spindly stem. "That's...that's..."
D giggled, apparently mollified by Vesca's reaction. "A Fragaria Vesca," he finished sweetly. "Commonly known as the Woodland Strawberry. Smaller and more strongly flavored than the Garden Strawberries that are commonly sold in supermarkets these days."
Vesca felt his face grow hot and, no doubt, as red as the strawberries. People always asked about the origins of his unusual name, and he always evaded them with vague lies about it being an old family name. After all, it was mortifying for a grown man to admit that essentially, his name was "Strawberry"!
"How did you know?" he asked in a resigned voice.
"Come now, dear Vesca, I am a biologist, after all!" D laughed.
"A biologist, not a botanist," Vesca grumbled. "I thought you were into animals, not plants."
"Ah, but you might say that my family has a special affinity for plant life," D said with an enigmatic smirk.
"Well, thanks, I guess," Vesca said gruffly, taking the pot from D. He plucked a berry and ate it, savoring the sweet, slightly tart taste that brought back memories of his childhood. "These used to grow wild in the woods where my mom grew up. She loved them so much that she named me after them, much to my embarrassment."
D gave him a smile that seemed warmer and more sincere than usual. "I think that's very sweet, Vesca. It's certainly nothing to be ashamed of."
"Thanks for the gift," Vesca said, a little more graciously this time. "Would you like to have some tea and try some of these strawberries?"
"Thank you, I would," D replied, and Vesca got up to fix the tea, but D intercepted him and pressed his mouth against Vesca's, his tongue darting between Vesca's lips for an all too brief moment before he stepped back, leaving Vesca flushed and confused and breathless.
"Yes, those strawberries are certainly delicious!" D said cheerfully. "Now how about that tea?"
***
Afterword: Yay, my first drabble! I tend to be long-winded, so I have a hard time keeping a story to 500 words or less! There's more information here on Wikipedia on the Fragaria Vesca, if you're interested.
Heh heh, it just occurred to me as I was writing this that my Vesca has the same problem as Ichigo in Bleach! ("Ichigo" means "strawberry" in Japanese, although Ichigo is always protesting that it's written with a different kanji character. Not that anyone really listens. ^_^)
EDIT: I've been reminded by a reader, that technically, "Fragaria" is the word that means "strawberry," and "Vesca" means "edible". I'll claim poetic license, and say that an edible Vesca is still a good thing! ;)
Heh heh, it just occurred to me as I was writing this that my Vesca has the same problem as Ichigo in Bleach! ("Ichigo" means "strawberry" in Japanese, although Ichigo is always protesting that it's written with a different kanji character. Not that anyone really listens. ^_^)
EDIT: I've been reminded by a reader, that technically, "Fragaria" is the word that means "strawberry," and "Vesca" means "edible". I'll claim poetic license, and say that an edible Vesca is still a good thing! ;)