College AU but it's 2002
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William the Pot Dealer by j9ac9k
Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types, The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
06 Mar 2023
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Summary
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“We’re not babysitting an undergraduate,” said Frodo definitively, “by which I mean I’m not babysitting - you can, if you want.”
“We don’t have to babysit, just provide a y’know,” Merry waved his hands vaguely, “steadying influence.”
“I’m just minuting it,” said Frodo dryly, “MB to provide steadying influence.”
“FB to teach him what a plain clothes officer looks like,” added Merry.
“That,” said Frodo, “is an important skill for any young man to have. But does he have to live here to learn it?”
----College AU but also it’s 2002. Frodo and Merry are postgraduate students, sharing a flat in some medium sized university town in the north of England. Frodo is in the 4th year of a PhD in something like “comparative mediaeval European literature” with no plans to finish any time soon, Merry is in the first year of a PhD in electrical engineering.
My intention is that this will be part of a larger series, each reading like an episode in a sit-com. In this, the pilot episode, Merry's happy-go-lucky cousin moves into the flat (under less than ideal circumstances) but what trouble is he bringing with him?
Series
- Part 1 of College AU but it's 2002
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Tasteful Floral Arrangements by j9ac9k
Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
16 Apr 2023
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Summary
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“Well, there you go,” Sam handed the flowers across to him.
Frodo stood there in front of the till for a long moment clasping the bouquet across his chest like the most awkward ever winner of Miss Universe.
What’s your number? What time d’you get off? Come here often? Every line that had ever been used on him, or he’d simply had the misfortune of overhearing, flashed through his head and all of them seemed so horribly tawdry to say to this nice young man in his workplace. The moment clearly ran on for too long because Sam raised his eyebrows slightly.
“Was there anything else I can help you with?”
Frodo shook his head vigorously, “No! Nothing, thank you, you’ve been a great help,” he almost sprinted for the door.
“Bye?” Sam raised his hand to wave but was met with the jingle of the wind chimes as Frodo bolted from the shop.
----College AU but also it's 2002: Frodo develops a slightly obsessive crush on the shop assistant at the florist on the high street. Pippin gets banned from the pub. Merry finds himself called upon to resolve both of these situations.
Series
- Part 2 of College AU but it's 2002
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First Dates and Fish Suppers by j9ac9k
Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
12 Jun 2023
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Summary
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“And of course,” she continued with the slightest of grins, “Venus in its second house would indicate a tall dark stranger in your future.”
“Now you’re having me on,” Sam said with a wry smile, “I’m going on a date, although I suppose you already know that?”
“I had made an educated guess.”
“Oh?”
Galadriel smiled knowingly, “We haven’t seen quite as much of that nice young man with the striking eyes this week.”
Sam coughed and flushed red, not expecting her to have worked out quite that much.
“It’s a shame really,” she sighed, resting her cheek on her hand, “he did buy an awful lot of flowers.”
----College AU but it’s 2002: exactly as the title suggests Frodo finally works up the nerve to ask Sam out for dinner. But, y’know, the course of true love and all that. Will Frodo sleep in for a 5 p.m. rendezvous? Will Sam manage to organise his love life without his little sister sticking her nose in? Will Merry get to read his goddamn book in peace?
Series
- Part 3 of College AU but it's 2002
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Nothing more romantic than Christmas shopping by j9ac9k
Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
19 Jul 2023
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Summary
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“There’s something I probably should tell you,” said Sam.
He took a deep breath and was just about to open his mouth when he saw Marigold stick her head through the cafe door. Their eyes met and he felt himself go through the seven stages of grief in the five seconds it took for her to cross the room.
“What’s the matter?” asked Frodo, noticing the expression on his face.
“Sam! Oh my goodness,” Marigold gushed, coming up to their table, “fancy seeing you here!”
Sam rolled his eyes at her extremely poor excuse for acting, “Hullo Mari.”
Frodo turned around in his chair and smiled at her.
“I’m Marigold,” she said, not waiting to be introduced, “Sam’s sister.”
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College AU but it's 2002: Sam has something he needs to get of his chest, but will circumstances allow it? And why's Gandalf so grumpy?Series
- Part 4 of College AU but it's 2002
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A Very Christmas Special by j9ac9k
Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
23 Sep 2023
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Summary
Bilbo smiled, “Frodo, put the kettle on.”
Frodo, who had been expecting this and had not bothered to start reading his book again, now stood up, wondering if they even had enough mugs in the house for everyone.
Saruman cleared his throat, “Do you have coffee?”
Frodo looked up from where he was filling the kettle, “Only instant,” he said.
There was the soft sound of hushed gasps from the bridge players and the temperature in the room seemed to drop by several degrees. Frodo looked away from six eyebrows raised at him in warning to where, in the corners of the room, he thought he saw strange, eldritch things stirring in the darkness.
“I shall have a tea,” said Saruman levelly, at which the eyebrows lowered and the eldritch stirrings dispersed.
Biting his tongue with some effort, Frodo put the kettle on and wondered how Sam was doing, and if his Christmas Eve was going any better.
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It’s Christmas Eve and you still can’t pick your family, or your uncle’s friends for that matter. Sam’s perfectly capable of hosting Christmas lunch, thank you very much. And whether he likes it or not, Frodo ends up hosting Bilbo, Gandalf, and Gandalf’s dysfunctional bridge club at the flat.Series
- Part 5 of College AU but it's 2002
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Bank Holiday Monday by j9ac9k
Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
23 Dec 2023
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Summary
College AU but it’s 2003 now. Frodo is in year 4/? of a PhD in history. Merry is in the first year of an electrical engineering PhD and Pippin is in the first year of a BA, planning to major in Pokémon with a minor in weed. They all live together in a down-at-heel student flat. Sam works as a landscape gardener while moonlighting at the florist and is Frodo’s boyfriend of two months. This is at least one month longer than all of Frodo’s previous boyfriends (lots) and two months longer than all of Sam’s (nil).
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After a certain amount of misunderstanding, Sam spends the night. Frodo doesn't want to come on too strong, Sam doesn't want to make a fool of himself, and Merry and Pip want to know the juicy details.Series
- Part 6 of College AU but it's 2002
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Hidden Depths by j9ac9k
Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
26 Feb 2024
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Summary
“Right, I’m off out,” Sam stood as he finished his last mouthful of casserole and picked up his plate, “you’re on dishes Mari.”
“Oo shaid? ”
“Marigold, don’t talk with your mouth full. Where you off to then?” said his dad, looking up from his own plate which he had barely had time to touch.
"My boyfriend’s place," Sam imagined saying and saw three reactions play themselves out simultaneously in his mind’s eye:
Oh, jolly good, when d’you yourself get one of those, then?
You trying out the comedy act Samwise? Stick to gardening.
Or his dad said nothing, frozen with his fork halfway to his mouth, and then keeled over sideways, killed by the shock.
“Just out with some mates,” said Sam, aloud.
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College AU but it's 2003 now: Sam discovers the downside of having a secret boyfriend is that you can’t tell anyone about it. Meanwhile, Merry learns an important lesson about assuming things about peopleSeries
- Part 7 of College AU but it's 2002
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Friend of Dorothy by j9ac9k
Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
26 May 2024
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Summary
“Hullo,” said Sam, picking up the phone, “Sam Gamgee speaking.”
“Yes, that’s right,” the expression on his face fell from confusion to shock as he listened, “She’s done what ?” he hissed into the phone, glancing over his shoulder to check that this hadn’t been heard in the living room. "Yes, I understand,” he swallowed hard, “I’ll be over right away.”
He hurried back through the living room, tugging his car keys out of his pocket.
“Dad, that was the school,” he said as he stood in the hall pulling his coat back on, “I need to go get Marigold.”
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College AU but it's 2003 now: Pippin is trying to finish an assignment at the last minute, Merry is trying to use up ten kilos of onions he got on the cheap, Frodo is still trying to finish his thesis, and Sam is trying to hold it all together (with mixed results).Series
- Part 8 of College AU but it's 2002