dollsome: (gg;; jess + rory)
dollsome ([personal profile] dollsome) wrote2010-07-16 06:02 pm

Did My Heart Love 'Til Now (Rory/Jess)

Title: Did My Heart Love 'Til Now (Or, Bookworms Who Love Bookworms Are The Luckiest Bookworms)
Pairing: Rory/Jess
Word Count: 707
Spoilers: set during season 3
Rating: G
Summary: A book sale, banter, and one of those rare moments where Jess Mariano seems like the world's actual greatest boyfriend.
Author's Note: Heh, I am supposed to be vacationing right now, but every girl needs the occasional writing break! Especially when the alternative is sunshine. (How ghastly!) This is in response to [livejournal.com profile] lalumena's prompt 'Rory/Jess, Juliet.' :)

Also, a moment of disclaiming: I think I stole one of Jess's lines from Xander Harris. It happens.




+

Rory always gets giddy when the library book sale rolls around, but she's not sure she's ever enjoyed one quite this much. After two hours and fifteen minutes of guilt-free browsing, she and Jess head over to check out each carrying a pile so high that it would make Cheech and Chong feel pretty lame in comparison, if, you know, it was the same kind of high. Maybe an Empire State Building reference would have worked better. Anyway, they even get an awed "Whoa" from Morey, who lowers his sunglasses to look at them and their findings. Rory feels pretty proud.

She buys an old copy of Romeo and Juliet when it catches her eye at the last minute because -- because it's sunny out and she has a new boyfriend she's crazy about and that's the kind of stuff that you get to do when you're young and happy and madly in like.

She forgets sometimes how much Jess isn't Dean. (Poor, dutiful Dean, who sat for longer than she wants to remember on the library steps waiting for her last time and tried so valiantly not to look bored.) But in a good way.

"Kids are stupid," Jess says as they walk back toward Luke's, his bag of books in his left hand and Rory's bag in his right. Little acts of one hundred percent unexpected chivalry sneak up on her sometimes, with him. "And then, 'cause humans are stupid, they make it into some big love story, when really, the moral of the whole thing is: people are dumbasses."

"When Paris and I did it," Rory acknowledges, her lips quirking at the memory, at the animation in his voice, "we were pretty stupid. Or maybe that was just Paris's Romeo wig. No," she decides, "it was us."

"Man," Jess says, "I'm sure bummed I missed that." Rory sends a scrutinizing glance his way. "What??"

"I can't tell whether you're being sarcastic or not."

"Yeah, me either," he admits. He makes a little face. Makes her laugh.

"I don't know," Rory sighs, "if you aren't willing to die for me, I may have to rethink this relationship, mister."

"I might die from you," Jess points out. "Especially if I have to keep lugging all your books around. Does that count?"

"Nope," she says brightly.

"Damn," he mock-mutters.

"Besides, half of those are yours, and I'm not the one who went for the hardcover Ulysses."

"It was a quarter," Jess protests.

"I'm not complaining," Rory tells him, holding up her (unburdened-by-bags-o'-books) hands in defense. "I'm looking forward," she adds happily, "to when you try to put it in your back pocket so you can carry it around town with you."

"Ha ha, very funny," Jess says, in this tone that sounds grumpy but (Rory is beginning to find out) means I think you're swell, in its own special Jess way.

"Back to the subject," she orders.

He nods, fake-obedient. "Yes ma'am."

"What's your Shakespeare of choice, then? It's Hamlet, isn't it? You broody boys have to stick together."

"I'm not broody," Jess retorts, offended.

Rory scrunches her face up, contemplating. "You're a little broody."

"Hey, Dean's way more broody than I am."

"I dunno. Dean was pretty cheery for a way-more-broody-than-you guy."

"A Midsummer Night's Dream," Jess says defiantly.

"What?"

"You want Shakespearean dumbasses in love, that's leaps and bounds better than all that Romeo, Romeo crap."

"You like A Midsummer Night's Dream," Rory tests.

"Sure."

"It has fairies."

"Yup."

"My boyfriend loves fairies," Rory declares, because it's not like she's going to pass up on that opportunity. (My boyfriend, my boyfriend.)

"What fools these mortals be," Jess accuses, elbowing her lightly.

"Fairies, fairies, fairies," Rory sing-songs.

"You're kinda nuts," Jess declares.

"You're kinda sweet," Rory returns.

"I won't tell anyone if you won't," he proposes. Warmly, for him.

"Deal," she says, pulling the door to Luke's open and holding it, in the name of equal-opportunity chivalry. Jess gives her this quiet little smile as he slips past, his body brushing hers for a second, and it's not like she's going to o happy dagger! it up anytime soon, but she kind of gets how Juliet felt. At least in the first few acts.

[identity profile] svgurl.livejournal.com 2010-07-16 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I love this! The idea of Rory and Jess going to a book fair is just so perfect and totally them. You have a great grasp on their characters. The dialogue made me smile and I could easily picture this entire scenario in my head. :)

Fantastic job! :D

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 01:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! :D I can never resist the fluffy lure of Rory and Jess and books.

[identity profile] uptheapples.livejournal.com 2010-07-16 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
LSDKJFOGIJASDF THIS IS WONDERFUL. (I always seem to use allcaps when responding to your fic.) And your/their banter is fantastic. And Jess loving Midsummer and Rory being so giddy and all of it being so wonderful = a very happy me.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 01:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you! :D I am honored by your caps lock!!

[identity profile] ozmissage.livejournal.com 2010-07-16 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
This is so lovely. Jess and Rory book shopping together makes me incredibly happy. Their banter was perfect here. <3

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 01:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank youuu! ♥

[identity profile] mrsfjl66.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
This is wildly perfect. The dialogue is spot on and guh, makes me miss this pairing so much!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 01:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much! :) They were a wonderful pair if there ever was one.

[identity profile] callarose.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
I loved your narrative. There are tiny moments you include that are very observant and revealing. "[Jess'] bag of books in his left hand and Rory's bag in his right." Lovely!

Your characterization of Jess is great as well ("I can't tell whether you're being sarcastic or not." "Yeah, me either.") and Rory's dialogue is very much... Rory. The banter is adorable.

More incoherent thoughts: "... in its own special Jess way." Very much in character. and it's really nice that they discussed R+J, which in some ways reflects Jess/Rory's relationship as they're just kids here... Young, untainted and naive. I love how you've echoed this towards the start as well. ("...when you're young and happy and madly in like.") Great writing! I loved this! Keep up the fantastic work.

[identity profile] callarose.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Lovely title, by the way. Adorable!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you very much! I wrote this in a bit of a hurry, so I'm really glad that you could still find "observant and revealing" nuances in it, hehe. (Like, I did not even realize that 'Romeo & Juliet' and 'Rory & Jess' start with the same letters until you typed "R+J" and I was like, Wait a minute.... Whoops!) ♥ And I'm glad you like the title! That was totally me just spewing out random silly nonsense; titles are my downfall.

[identity profile] airie-fairy.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 10:40 am (UTC)(link)
This was adorable. It's been so long since I've read Rory/Jess fic and you got their dorky, snarky sweetness and Jess' nonchalant white knight moments down so well, I'm so glad I read this.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much! :) I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[identity profile] ranger-girl0301.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 11:48 am (UTC)(link)
Wonderful job!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-17 01:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! :)
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-18 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you very much! :) I don't write Gilmore Girls fic super often, but I did write one other Rory/Jess fic awhile back, and very well may again in the future!
ibonekoen: (Jess and Rory)

[personal profile] ibonekoen 2010-07-18 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
This fic is perfect! Your banter between Jess and Rory is so perfectly them, it makes me squee. I could see this being a deleted scene in the series :D

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-18 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you so much! :)

[identity profile] lalumena.livejournal.com 2010-07-18 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, I friggin' loved this.

"Ha ha, very funny," Jess says, in this tone that sounds grumpy but (Rory is beginning to find out) means I think you're swell, in its own special Jess way.
This was so true - very Jess.

And this, I liked this too:
"What's your Shakespeare of choice, then? It's Hamlet, isn't it? You broody boys have to stick together."
"I'm not broody," Jess retorts, offended.

Shakespeare ref + Rory/Jess banter = win win win. :)

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-20 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, buddy, I'm glad you liked it! :D (Oh, your icon! My heart still pitter-patters.)

[identity profile] amelia-petkova.livejournal.com 2010-07-28 02:34 pm (UTC)(link)
This fic helped remind me that Rory+Jess+books is one of my OTPs. (I completely understand how they feel about book sales.) I adore that Jess likes A Midsummer Night's Dream but the part that sticks with me the most is the Little acts of one hundred percent unexpected chivalry because you really hit that nail on the head with Jess.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-07-28 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! ♥ Aw, Jess. I will always remember you holding that umbrella over Rory's head while chunks of the ceiling are falling down 'cause Luke's apartment is being remodeled!
ext_22293: (Default)

[identity profile] anjali-organna.livejournal.com 2010-08-02 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
Aww, one of my earliest ships! Oh show, why'd you have to ruin that? They were so perfect for each other!

&hearts this.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-08-03 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! ♥ AH, Rory and Jess, they are a classic. I like, at least, that the show ended at a point where it is not that hard to imagine them getting together in the future. Suck it, Logan Huntzberger!

[identity profile] mik100.livejournal.com 2010-08-30 06:02 pm (UTC)(link)
This is wonderful! Rory and Jess and books! Thanks!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-08-30 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! :)

[identity profile] teh-bug.livejournal.com 2011-12-14 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh you guys! So young and in love and in love with the word "boyfriend" and awwwww!

*giggles happily* ♥!