Lost fic: The Puppeteer Smiled
Jun. 14th, 2009 09:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alliecat8Title: The Puppeteer Smiled
Fandom: Lost
Characters: Charles Widmore, Libby, Desmond, Eloise
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 927
Disclaimer: Only mine in my dreams
A/N: 1) I don't know what made me write this. Where's my Sawyer??? 2) Set before Penny rescued Desmond (end of S4?).
The Puppeteer Smiled
He sold the boat to David because the man was obviously on his last legs. He wouldn’t last eight months, Charles was sure. The man had a dream of sailing around the Mediterranian, and Charles hoped he’d do it – it would no doubt hasten his death.
The man’s wife, Libby, seemed to be undone by her husband’s plight and therefore pliable; she’d be putty in Charles’ hands in the days after her husband departed this life. He was content to wait for the right time, just so long as it happened in the eight months before Desmond left on his fool’s journey.
David died with plenty of time to spare. Charles immediately planted recording devices in hidden places throughout Libby’s house. They played whispers to her in the night, subliminal messages that caused strange and disturbing dreams, and made her wake in the night to search for people who weren’t there. It all merged with the stress and strain, the toll that David’s death had taken on her, and he watched her fall apart from his covert distance. She was all his, now.
He made her dream about the boat, and in her condition those dreams were nightmares. He let it go on for long enough to put her in a constant low-grade state of phobia, then he invited her out for coffee and a chat. Thinking he was going to repossess the boat, she complied. Instead, he took her hands in a sympathetic, fatherly gesture. “I know David was paying installments on the boat,” he said gently. “And I know that he fell behind after the medical bills began to pile up. When he bought the boat, I think that somehow he thought it could save him. Maybe he hoped that following his dream would cure him – that dreams can make wishes come true. I admire him for taking a leap of faith, even though it failed. His bravery touched me, my dear, and because of that I want to waive the rest of the payments on the Elizabeth. Let’s call it even, shall we?”
Libby wanted to protest – she was an honest young lady, after all – but then in a kindly voice, Charles told her the catch. He knew that Libby wasn’t a sailor, but perhaps she could help someone who was: all she had to do was give the Elizabeth to a certain young man, a man who was trying to follow his own dream, a man whom he’d make sure was in this coffee shop at a certain time on a certain day. All Libby had to do was show up and pretend that their meeting was an accident. A stroke of fate. It was absurdly easy to convince her; the look of relief in her eyes was almost comical, knowing as he did that he’d made her frightened to death of that boat. Knowing how much she wanted to get rid of it, he knew that she’d show up and play her part to the hilt to make sure this stranger took the Elizabeth far, far away from her. It was almost too perfect, his plan. As he walked away, Charles smiled.
********
Everything fell into place. The cab driver Charles had hired was waiting to deliver Desmond from the airport to the coffee shop, and Charles had told Libby what time to meet him there. The exchange was smooth as silk.
Soon Desmond was lost because Charles had made sure of it. It was no trouble at all to find professionals who could program the Elizabeth to go astray without Desmond’s knowledge, and Charles himself programmed it with the coordinates for the island. Coordinates that he knew Desmond would never discover so he could escape. He’d be trapped forever, just as Charles wanted. The storm at sea and Inman’s involvement had been a fortunate twist of fate, only convincing him more that the angels were on his side. He sipped his McCutcheon and thought about Penny, and how he’d saved her. Now she was his, just as it should be.
********
No one but Charles knew that David hadn’t named the boat “Elizabeth” after his wife, Libby. David hadn’t named the boat at all; he’d only claimed that because he knew it would please her. No, she had been christened the Elizabeth the day she was “born,” the day Charles had acquired her, brand new and shining and innocent. He’d named her after his own Elizabeth, the wild and beautiful girl he’d called Ellie all those years ago, and the single-minded woman who was still beautiful, and now called herself Eloise.
Charles had never been able to claim the woman Elizabeth for his own. She was like soft sand, sliding through his fingers no matter how tightly he held them together. She was both ethereal and sly, uncatchable and impossible to possess. But Charles liked to show her, every now and then, that in spite of her elusiveness, she was an open book to him. No one else knew that her real name was Elizabeth, and he knew she’d gotten his message when he’d named his boat after her. He used it, his Elizabeth, and she’d done exactly what he wanted her to do.
Someday he’d have the real Elizabeth in his power just as surely as her namesake was. She’d see how he’d saved her secret daughter, their lovely and spirited Penelope, and she’d be indebted to him. His plan could not have worked out more ideally.
One day, she’d be his.
The End
Fandom: Lost
Characters: Charles Widmore, Libby, Desmond, Eloise
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 927
Disclaimer: Only mine in my dreams
A/N: 1) I don't know what made me write this. Where's my Sawyer??? 2) Set before Penny rescued Desmond (end of S4?).
The Puppeteer Smiled
He sold the boat to David because the man was obviously on his last legs. He wouldn’t last eight months, Charles was sure. The man had a dream of sailing around the Mediterranian, and Charles hoped he’d do it – it would no doubt hasten his death.
The man’s wife, Libby, seemed to be undone by her husband’s plight and therefore pliable; she’d be putty in Charles’ hands in the days after her husband departed this life. He was content to wait for the right time, just so long as it happened in the eight months before Desmond left on his fool’s journey.
David died with plenty of time to spare. Charles immediately planted recording devices in hidden places throughout Libby’s house. They played whispers to her in the night, subliminal messages that caused strange and disturbing dreams, and made her wake in the night to search for people who weren’t there. It all merged with the stress and strain, the toll that David’s death had taken on her, and he watched her fall apart from his covert distance. She was all his, now.
He made her dream about the boat, and in her condition those dreams were nightmares. He let it go on for long enough to put her in a constant low-grade state of phobia, then he invited her out for coffee and a chat. Thinking he was going to repossess the boat, she complied. Instead, he took her hands in a sympathetic, fatherly gesture. “I know David was paying installments on the boat,” he said gently. “And I know that he fell behind after the medical bills began to pile up. When he bought the boat, I think that somehow he thought it could save him. Maybe he hoped that following his dream would cure him – that dreams can make wishes come true. I admire him for taking a leap of faith, even though it failed. His bravery touched me, my dear, and because of that I want to waive the rest of the payments on the Elizabeth. Let’s call it even, shall we?”
Libby wanted to protest – she was an honest young lady, after all – but then in a kindly voice, Charles told her the catch. He knew that Libby wasn’t a sailor, but perhaps she could help someone who was: all she had to do was give the Elizabeth to a certain young man, a man who was trying to follow his own dream, a man whom he’d make sure was in this coffee shop at a certain time on a certain day. All Libby had to do was show up and pretend that their meeting was an accident. A stroke of fate. It was absurdly easy to convince her; the look of relief in her eyes was almost comical, knowing as he did that he’d made her frightened to death of that boat. Knowing how much she wanted to get rid of it, he knew that she’d show up and play her part to the hilt to make sure this stranger took the Elizabeth far, far away from her. It was almost too perfect, his plan. As he walked away, Charles smiled.
********
Everything fell into place. The cab driver Charles had hired was waiting to deliver Desmond from the airport to the coffee shop, and Charles had told Libby what time to meet him there. The exchange was smooth as silk.
Soon Desmond was lost because Charles had made sure of it. It was no trouble at all to find professionals who could program the Elizabeth to go astray without Desmond’s knowledge, and Charles himself programmed it with the coordinates for the island. Coordinates that he knew Desmond would never discover so he could escape. He’d be trapped forever, just as Charles wanted. The storm at sea and Inman’s involvement had been a fortunate twist of fate, only convincing him more that the angels were on his side. He sipped his McCutcheon and thought about Penny, and how he’d saved her. Now she was his, just as it should be.
********
No one but Charles knew that David hadn’t named the boat “Elizabeth” after his wife, Libby. David hadn’t named the boat at all; he’d only claimed that because he knew it would please her. No, she had been christened the Elizabeth the day she was “born,” the day Charles had acquired her, brand new and shining and innocent. He’d named her after his own Elizabeth, the wild and beautiful girl he’d called Ellie all those years ago, and the single-minded woman who was still beautiful, and now called herself Eloise.
Charles had never been able to claim the woman Elizabeth for his own. She was like soft sand, sliding through his fingers no matter how tightly he held them together. She was both ethereal and sly, uncatchable and impossible to possess. But Charles liked to show her, every now and then, that in spite of her elusiveness, she was an open book to him. No one else knew that her real name was Elizabeth, and he knew she’d gotten his message when he’d named his boat after her. He used it, his Elizabeth, and she’d done exactly what he wanted her to do.
Someday he’d have the real Elizabeth in his power just as surely as her namesake was. She’d see how he’d saved her secret daughter, their lovely and spirited Penelope, and she’d be indebted to him. His plan could not have worked out more ideally.
One day, she’d be his.
The End
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-06-15 03:48 am (UTC)It brings up more questions for me, though -- hasn't Widmore been trying to get back to the island? Or did I misunderstand? Because if Eloise knew how to get back...Lost confuses me.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-15 03:55 am (UTC)Maybe that's one of the secrets she's keeping to herself, to prove she's her own woman. Maybe, fic-wise, that's why Charles is so desperate to control her.
Thank you for reading, and especially for saying that about Charles' voice. I always worry about getting the voice right when I'm writing a new (for me) character. Thank you for always reassuring me about my fics while still being thoughtful and honest. ♥
no subject
Date: 2009-06-16 12:23 am (UTC)There, did I answer your question better this time? Maybe now I can stop obsessing over it. ;)
no subject
Date: 2009-06-16 01:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-15 09:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-15 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-17 09:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-17 11:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-17 11:21 pm (UTC)This is what I believe triggered it - Desmond's disappearance quite possibly making matters worse!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-17 01:05 am (UTC)Anyway, I love this! I love, love the idea that Charles was behind this the whole time. It's pretty plausible if you ask me, given the lengths he's taken to keep Desmond and Penny apart. I love his possessiveness of Penny and of Ellie - it's very much in character for him. I'd really love to learn more about the Charles/Eloise relationship.
Also, whether you intended to or not, I think you kind of answered the question of how Libby ended up in the mental institution. At least, I read that into it anyway. :P
Great work! ♥
no subject
Date: 2009-06-17 04:07 am (UTC)I think the writers have done a good job with making Ellie's and Charles' relationship interesting in just a few glimpses. I hope we will learn more. I'm SO glad you picked up on the hint about how Libby's mental breakdown might've happened; I hate it that we haven't seen her backstory and I can imagine it being something like her being a normal and happy clinical psychologist until tragedy strikes her life, and then one of the evil island meddlers comes along and breaks her down completely.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for the lovely feedback! ♥