#artful dodger fanfiction

[pentopaper23]

Our own form of courting: Chapter One - Dinner with a final course of courting.

Jealous was not a feeling that Jack was familiar with. As child he would simply take whatever he wanted and maybe deal with the consequences if he was caught.

So, sitting here now he was confused as to why he felt the way he did. He had been invited to yet another dinner at the Governor’s house and was fully expecting it to just be the usual attendees. But when he arrived there was an extra place around the table and a clearly rich man sitting at it. The man was engaging Belle in conversation and from the way she was looking at him Jack knew that she was bored. Jack's hold on his fork tightened when the man patted Belle's hand and she pulled away in annoyance her eyes flicking to his for a second and then returning to the other man.

Jack didn’t really know what their relationship was. Talks of congress and stolen kisses in the hospital storeroom had given him the impression that she was open to further engagement, but the unmoving judgement that was the class system stood in their way. A marriage or really any form of relationship between a Lady and a penniless Doctor was unheard off and not approved of. But the draw to her was unavoidable and they found themselves often tangle together in the storeroom each time she attends the hospital.

He thought about her morning, noon, and night. She was the first thing he thought of in the morning and the last thing at night when he struggled his way up to his room. Thoughts of her filled his head during the day when he was meant to be tending to people and her face filled his mind when he reached for himself at night to stem the ever-growing feeling of want and desire for her. She had frozen the first time she had felt him press hard up against her lower stomach during one of their stolen moments and blushed unable to meet his eyes, when Jack pulled away with stammered apologies. But as time went on, she had grown more assertive in her actions and started to drag moans from Jack when she moved against him as they kissed. One such moment had ended with her legs wrapped around his waist and their hips thrusting together in primal need, Jack had pulled away just in time to avoid spilling in his pants and Belle was left panting and flushed leaning up against the storeroom shelves rubbing her legs together to chase the unknown feeling that was flooding her body. Jack would remember said legs as he stoked himself to completion that night and gasped out her name at the memory of her hips moving against his.

“What say you Dr Dawkins?" Belle said trying to get Jack's attention to avoid speaking to Mr Glendale, "Jack!" she called again when he did not reply. Jack jolted and almost dropped his fork and looked at Belle in confusion. She looked back widening her eyes as if to say, 'save me for the love of god'.

"I’m sorry?" Jack said placing down his knife and fork trying to work out the question that was ask. "I said what do say you about the recent outbreak of flu that is sweeping across the city?" Belle asked again.

"Um, yes very bad indeed. Far too many cases are coming into the hospital, beds are starting to run low my Lady”.

"Father might it be time to talk about the hospital extension? I’m sure Dr Dawkins would be happy to make some recommendations." Belle said looking at her father who was in no way listening to the conversation. He like Jack too struggled to find an answer for a question that he hadn't listened to.

"Yes. Yes, that could be arranged." He said taking a deep sip of his wine really having no idea what he had agreed to. Belle rolled her eyes and looked at Jack with a faint smile. He returned it, that was until Mr Glendale took it upon himself to brush his hand over Belle's arm to garner her attention again. This time Belle didn’t try to hide her annoyance and moved her chair noisily to the side to place some distance between the two. Jack's anger flared up when Mr Glendale tried to hide a look annoyed at her action. Not that he was one to talk given their daily storeroom romps, but at least said romps were away from the public eye and didn’t make her uncomfortable.

Belle was very much over this dinner and the man sitting next to her. If he wasn’t boring her with talk of his “rather large estate” then his hands were wandering. First it was a pat on the hand and next a brush on her arm. She had noticed that Jack seemed to not be able to take his eyes off the man’s hand and she could see he was starting to get annoyed at the man. It wasn’t until Mr Glendale placed a rather firm hand on her upper leg that Belle did something. With a quick slip her knife sliced across the palm of her hand leaving what she thought was a shallow cut.

"Oh, silly me!" Belle gasped holding her bleeding hand in a fist, "I seem to have cut myself. Dr Dawkins if you could be of assistance" she said ignoring her mother disapproval and giving Jack a pointed look. "Yes of course" Jack said getting up and rounding the table to assist Belle with leaving the room. He held his arm out for her, and she took it immediately wishing nothing more then to leave the table.

"Belle, I don’t think..." her mother started but was cut off by her father when Belle let a drop of blood escape her fingers, "Now dear Dawkins can attend her." With a nod to the Governor Jack led her form the room and up to her bedroom.

Belle didn’t think the cut was deep enough to warrant a doctor's attention, but she was sick of being pawned over by Mr Glendale and had needed an exit before Jack leapt over the table and assaulted the man. She had been watching his movements ever since they sat down and knew he was on a wire's edge when she saw his jaw twitch and his hand tighten around his cutlery.

When they reached her bedroom Jack lead her over to her bed and sat her down on the edge. He knelt before her to and began to examine her hand. Contrary to what Belle had thought before it actually was quite a deep cut and would require a bandage of some sort. Jack rose and walked over to her supplies and began searching in silence. Belle could see that he was put out and it wasn’t just his normal annoyance at having to attend a dinner at the estate. She stopped her musing when he knelt back down in front of her and began cleaning the cut. He worked in silence meticulously cleaning cut and she couldn’t help but winced at random intervals when he had to dig in the fabric of the cloth into her broken skin. Blood was still slowly dripping down her palm and he put pressure on the pulse at her wrist to slow down the blood flow.

"I don’t like him touching you," Jack said quietly as he was bent over her hand. Belle bit her lip trying not to laugh, her sweet man was jealous. "Really? I hadn't noticed" she replied with a teasing tone. Jacks jaw twitched in annoyance again and his fingers had started to stoke the inside of her wrist lightly. "He shouldn’t be touching you like that in public" he continued without looking up at her. Wanting to see how far she could push him Belle teased again, "as opposed to how you touch me" she said biting her lip and slowly opening her legs so that he came to rest between them. Jack's fingers paused and she watched how he swallowed deeply, his eyes flicked to the closed door and then back to her hand before he stood up gathered her in his arms and kissing her deeply. Belle reacted in kind by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in closer to rest against her between her parted legs.

He placed rough kisses down her neck that made her head roll back and she moan deeply. Hands began to franticly grab at each other's clothing and their hips were starting to roll against each other. Soon Jack's jacket had been discarded onto the floor and his necktie was somewhere over Belle’s shoulder where she had thrown it. In-kind the buttons on the front of her dress were undone, as was the under shirt beneath. Jack had pulled them open, and they were revealing her chemise and corset, her skirts was up bunched up around her waist showing a improper amount of leg and a thin sneak peak of her hips. "I don’t want him touching me either" Belle breathed out while Jack was attacking her neck with nursing sucks, and she felt him harden against her stomach in reaction to her words. She could feel that he was tense and not in the normal way he was when they stole kisses, and he was worried about being found or pushing too far into her space. His was tense in a way that made her think he was about to steal her away in the night and never let her out of his sight. Tense in a way she had never seen him before and the only thing she could think of was jealously. Bone deep, soul burning jealously. "I only want you" she confessed grabbing his face between his hands to make him look at her.

"I only want you, Jack. Only you." she continued, and Jack searched her face for any word of a lie. When he found none his shoulders relaxed and kissed her softly. Belle moaned when Jack hitched her legs up around his hips and started to grind against her. A chorus of moans and whimpers echoed in Belle’s room as the pair thrusted against each other. Jack could feel her warm wet heat against his hard length and could feel himself weeping into the inside of his pants. Groaning at the thought of having to reappear downstairs with a wet patch on his pant Jack pulled away and held Belle from him with a firm hand in the middle of her chest.

“What?” Belle panted still slightly moving her hips back and forth, Jack looked down at his erection and blushed when Belles eyes followed, “Oh,” she said. Jack swallowed, “If we go any further, I won’t be able to hide the effects of our actions on the fabric of my pants”. Belle looked confused for a moment and then her eyes widened in understanding, “Can’t you just…take it out?” she asked shyly. Jack pulled her back into his arms, “I could. But we haven’t…” his words faded off hoping she would understand. She did and nodded in understanding, “I want you to. Want to see you” she whispered against his lips before gently biting them. Jack shuddered when he felt her soft hands start to unbutton his pants and buried his head in her neck and moaned when he felt her pulled out his hard cock from its fabric coverings. She timidly stoked him a few times before he had to pull away with a harsh cut off moan of pleasure. He reached down quickly and gripped the base tightly hoping to stop his orgasm. He succeeded and pulled her against him again, returning her legs to high on his hips. He felt her jolt when his warm length brush against her wet womanhood.

He began to slowly thrust against her, and she tightened her arms around him. Their lips slipped together with want and Belle groaning against Jack’s tongue as he licked feverishly into her mouth. She gasped against his kiss as his fingers dug harder into her soft legs and her gasp turned to a needy whine for more when his cock slide over her clit. He groaned desperately; his arms moved to wrap around the small of Belle’s back to pull her in closer as the other hand weaved through the back of her hair. She cried out as he gripped her hair with a sharp but subdued tug, the new position allowing his hard cock to hit her clit harder.

"Goddammit." Jack growled out, his eyes wild with heat and absolute want. His hips were starting to jerk uncontrollably, and Belle was starting to feel a deep pulsating tightening in her stomach. With each rut, Belle could feel the rolling arousal come closer and closer to the edge until she was whimpering into his scathing kiss.

"I...I'm gonna...,” She breathed out against his lips, sharp pangs of ecstasy shooting through her clit as Jack continued to snap his hips against her. He growled low and raw as he let go of her hair and gripped her hips tightly and started to thrust harder into her. Belle cried out and moaned against his tongue as her hands ran through his hair. A few long moments passed before Belle’s hands gripped his hair with a cry, her back arching as she felt her orgasm completely wreck her and made her vision blur around the edges. She heard Jack let out a strangled groan and felt the erratic and final thrust of his hips against her before he stilled, his cock twitching against her still pulsing heat and he buried his face in her neck, his mouth opens in a silent cry of pleasure against her slick skin.

There was silence, the only sound being the panting between the pair and Belle’s soft whimpering as Jack rocked slowly against her trying to draw out every last beat of pleasure form the both of them. Guiding his lips to hers she groaned a final “Jack” into him, and he stilled with his own moan of contentment. They stayed like that for a moment, wrapped up in each other breathing deeply.

“That was…”

“One of many?” Belle jokes pushing him away gently so she would clean herself up. Their mixture releases were coating her mound and inner thighs, and she could feel them sliding down towards the inside of her knees. Jake laughed at her joke as she bent to pick up one of the cloths he had brought over. He lifted her again and began to wipe the insides of her legs and smirked when he brushed over her womanhood, and she jerked with a deep moan.

“Never one of many” he said placing a kiss under her jaw. Before she had time to repay his kindness and clean his now soft cock, there was a sharp knock at the door that had them scrambling to redress and once Jack tad tucked himself back into his pants, he was frantically trying to gather all the medical supplies that had ended up on the floor and hide the cloth that was covered in their releases. He tucked said cloth into his jacket pocket and grabbed a now dressed Belle's hand just in time for the door to open to reveal her mother standing there.

"It should be fine now my Lady. It won’t need stitches." he said patting her hand gently. Lady Jane eyed him suspiciously as he walked past her running a hand through his now messy hair and he threw an apologetic look over his shoulder to the now cornered Belle. They had definitely lost track of time and been upstairs for far too long.

Belle looked away from the retreating form of Jack and played with her well tied bandage trying to not meet her mother’s eye line "Belle...," her mother started in a disapproving tone. "Mama don’t start please," she said knowing what her mother was going to say and she didn’t want to hear it.  

"You may think me unkind Belle, but no relationship with a man of his background can end well and we both know it."

"I love him," Belle said determinedly jumping off the bed and squaring her shoulders to face her mother. Lady Jane took in her daughters flushed complexion, rumbled clothes, and sighed. She closed the door softly and walked closer to her daughter.

"My dear, I know that it may seem like that now. But once reality sets in and you see that he cannot provide for you, the world will snap into a sharp and harsh focus." She said taking her daughters injured hand gently.

"He is a good man Mama and I truly believe he would make happy, and I will want for nothing that I desire" Belle said. Her mother scoffed at this, and Belle ripped her hands from hers and spaced in anger, tears forming in her eyes.

"I don’t care that we won’t live in a house like this!" Belle said waving her hands around her room, "and I don’t care that he has no title. I love him. I love him Mama and I won’t be made to feel bad about that. He is kind, so much kinder than any of the men you have thrown in my path, and he is smart Mama, oh you have no idea how smart he is. At last, I am on equal footing with a man that doesn’t make me feel silly or inadequate. We spend hours talking about a world of things and he listen to me Mama, he really listens to me and cares about my thoughts. He is gentle and when he...and when he kisses me, I never want him to stop. But he always does and there is never any pressure from him to fully ruin myself and by god I want him to ruin me, if just to stop other man from thinking they can have me." Belle said throwing herself at her mother's feet and grasping at her hands, "Mama I am begging you, please give us you’re blessing. I want for no one else and there will be no one else but him" Belle begged again pleading for her mother to understand.

Lady Jane looked at her daughter in shock, she could have sworn that the pasting flash in the pan between the two of them was just that, passing and would burn out once the doctor had had his fill. Never did she think for a second the connect between the two ran this deep. She noted the terrified look in her daughters eyes and the tears that were rolling down her cheeks, she was also trying to ignore the hastily button dress and dark bruises forming low on her neck. She felt Belle's hands tighten in hers and was drawn back to her daughters pleading face and concluded that there was no hope in fighting this connection. She knew that Dr Dawkins gentlemen like ways would not hold out forever and not to mention her daughters own apparent wants and a child born out of wedlock was more of a scandal then her titled daughter marrying a man of a lower station.

Lady Jane had to admit the one thing that Jack Dawkins had his in corner was an unblemished military recorded and an officer title to his name. Military titles and battle born bravely went along way for untitled men in their family's circles and she knew that her husband held Mr Dawkin’s navel career in the highest regard. The truth of the matter was that her daughter could do better, but she could do worse then Naval doctor with no title or family.

"Mama?" Belle asked breaking the silence that had fallen over the two. "We shall speak to you father. Ask your good doctor to stay behind tonight once dinner has concluded." Belle let out a sob and threw herself into her mother's arms, "Thank you Mama! Thank you!"

The rest of dinner passed without issue and easy conversation. Lady Jane now in full understanding of her daughter’s heart was now privy to the small looks the pair shared over the table and the cold looks that Jack sent Mr Glendale each time he spoke to Belle. She had to give it to them, if you didn’t know they were in love you wouldn’t have noticed the slight blush on the doctors face when Belle smiled at him or the slight shake of her daughters hands when Jack smiled back. Lady Jane was trying to think back on the all the dinners the Doctor has attended and was trying to remember if she had noticed the looks before. She couldn’t remember a time and now was even more convinced that they were at least equally paired in their skills of deception if not in their love for each other.

Jack was almost at the front door when he was pulled into the Governer's study and felt lips connected with his. His hands held Belle's face to his and he chuckled as he gently pushed her away, "You will be the death of me" Belle smiled and kissed him again. Jack’s hands started to wander, and she found herself slowly slipping into his warm arms and forgetting why she had pulled him in there. Voices from the hallway brought her back to her senses and she pulled herself away from Jack with a groan. She laughed when Jacks lips tried to follow her, and his eyes were still closed in bliss.

"Mama has given us permission to court" she said quickly and laughed again when is eyes snapped opened. He didn’t say anything and was just looking at her in confusion. Her smiled faded the longer he just stood there in silence. "Jack?" she said confused at his reaction and wondering why he wasn’t more excited at the idea of being with her. Oh god, what is her mother was right Belle thought and the cold feeling of dread began to settle in her flipping stomach. What I he did indeed have no plans of marrying her and what if he lied about their time together and the plan all along was to make her one of his many. She was going to be sick, and she felt a look of disgust forming on her face.

"You said I wasn’t one of many," she said sadly as tears began to form in the corner of her eyes, "You never planned on marrying me did?" she asked his still silent form. Jack on the other hand was reeling, his thought bouncing around his mind faster than he could think about them and all he wanted was to kiss her.

"Jesus Jack!" Belle yelled angrily, "I can't...," But she was cut short by Jack slamming their lips together in a harsh kiss. She lost her footing slightly and stumbled back against the bookcase. Jack was pressed tightly against her and was driving his tongue into her mouth with passionate abandonment. Belle had whiplash and her brain was foggy, his lips were the only thing she could think about.

"What’s the meaning of this?" Her father thundered making the pair break apart as if they had been yank by invisible strings. Jack wiped his mouth his thumb and looked at Belle for help, but Belle was looking at him for the same. Silence fell over the study as the group just stood there, Belle and Jack in slight embarrassment, her mother in shocked annoyance and her father in anger.

"Father," Belle said, but was cut off by her father holding up a finger to silence her. He turned to Jack with a look of fury, "I invite you into this house and this is how you repay me! Taking advantage of my daughter!" He yelled striding towards Jack. Jack had just enough time to duck under her father’s hands and come to stand beside her, Belle took his shaking hand in hers not knowing what else to do.

"My dear calm is needed," He mother said moving to take her father's hand, "Belle and I have spoken on this and I have given my blessing. Perhaps we should speak on this".

"Blessing! What blessing? There is nothing to blessing!" He father continued to yell.

"Father I love him!" Belle yelled back and this silenced the Governor. He looked between the two of them and his eyes fell to their entwined hands. "Love? You barely know him, Isabelle!" He yelled. If Belle was startled by the use of her full name, she didn’t show it, she turned into Jack and wrapped her other hand across her body to hold his forearm, "Yes Father. I love him and he returns my love" she said looking up at Jack with all but stars in her eyes, he returned her look tenfold and rubbed his thumb over their joined hands.

"Why don’t we sit?" Her mother pressed leading her father over to his desk and stood beside him when he sat down. When the pair didn’t move she snapped, "Sit. Now." Belle and Jack rushed to take their place on the chairs opposite her father.

"Explain." the Governor said sharply. Belle started but was cut off again and the Governor spoke to Jack. "Now Lieutenant"

Jack sat up straight as if his rank was an invisible string through the top of his head and held his head high. "I love your daughter Sir. More than I can put into words. I know that my station is of a concern, but I am Gentleman Officer and know what circles my rank provides me entry into. With respect Sir I will love her with or without your permission. If she will have me," Jack said looking towards Belle. She again has tears in her eyes and reached over to hold his hand again. "Belle?" Her father asked, and without looking away from Jack she nodded, "Yes. I return Doctor Dawkins’ feelings and affections whole heartedly."

Her father sighed and slumped back into his chair, "You must know that people will not understand”.

"I don’t care," Belle said quickly looking at her father, "He is a Naval Lieutenant, an Officer and a Doctor. He is not so far beneath my rank to cause gossip and even than we should not listen to it." The Governor nodded and like the military man was he knew when a battle was lost and by the looks of couple sitting before him, he was well and truly beaten.

"Marriage?" He asked Jack plainly. "Eventually with your blessing Sir" Jack answered back with well-rehearsed soldiers’ quickness. The Governor nodded in acceptance and turned to his wife, "My dear?".

"I see no other option, as our daughter has made it bluntly clear there will be no severing of this relationship. Marriage will be the end goal, but six months of courting should temper down any rumours of any...impropriety." Jack and Belle both blushed at her mother insinuation and her father was trying to look anywhere but the couple or the abused bookcase.

"I take it you understand the rules of courting Doctor Dawkins?" Lady Jane asked. "Yes, my Lady," Jack lied and Belle tried to not laugh. Of course, he didn’t know the rules of courting, where he came from courting was a non-issue. Normally pregnancy was the motivation for marriage and many a woman had been forced into an unhappy situation due to a moment of starvation or lust.

"Very well. You have our blessing to court Lady Belle Doctor Dawkins," The Governor said standing up from his desk. He held out his hand for Jack to shake and pulled him in close to speak quietly to him, "Just know Dawkins if any word reaches my ears that you have been improper with Lady Belle or caused her any harm, know that laws don’t cover everything in this place and a father can be far more dangerous than a governor when pushed." He let go of Jack's hand and placed a gentle kiss on Belle cheek before leaving the room.

"You will not embarrass this family do you understand" Lady Jane said to both of them, "No children shall come from this partnership until you are marriage, no untoward public shows of affection and for the love of god Doctor Dawkins no more sneaking into my daughter’s bedroom. We have a front door!" She yelled before following her husband from the room.

Jack let out a sigh and fell back into his chair, Belle moved to sit on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jack relaxed into her hold and wrapped his own arms around her. "You lied" Bell whispered against his neck. Jack shrugged, "Just a small one" he confessed. "You have no idea about the rules of courting" Belle laughed as his hand moved down to fondle her ass. "This isn’t one of them?" Jack asked against her lips as his hands now wandered up to cup her breasts. Belle groaned into their kiss and could feel his equal excitement against her leg.

"Holly hell, we're in trouble" Belle said breaking their kiss to rest their foreheads together. They were both panting and not at all concerned with the fact that they were breaking many of the seemingly unknown courting rules.

"So much trouble," Jack replied before pulling her face back towards his and joining their lips again in a heated kiss.

[soup-is-nice-sometimes]

okay okay hear me iut

newtmas "the artful dodger" au.... but they're lesbians (so we still have the "girls can't be surgeons" plotline)

'Jack' (aka newt obviously) has short hair and pretends to be a man when doing surgery so a lot higher stakes if she gets caught

Fagin is either ratman or ava

Charlie is Chuck

obviously our dear Belle is Thomas (and Fanny is Teresa)

and for shits and gigs Hetty is Minho (maybe gender swapped too?)

not to toot my own horn but if anyone wants to write this just give a credit that'd be great 🫶

[thedepthsoffandomminds]

Episode one - the Yankee Dodge

Loved the the middle daughter oneshot.

can i request Jack Dawkins x Belle's older sister!Reader story (I have not seen any sister!reader) same thing as the oneshot instead of Belle being sick, the reader is. Reader is strong-willed, smart and stubborn as Belle, and Belle being a concerned sister to Reader, almost mothering her. Of course, Jack being an overprotective lover. I just want the story to stay the same way as the The Artful Dodger series is, just following the story only replacing Belle with Reader

A/n: I will do this as a long series following each episode per part. ❤️❤️

You follow your youngest sister into Belle's bedroom, Fanny jumped seeing her in the plague mask.

"Don't do that!" She gasped. You laugh from behind her.

"What?" Belle took the mask off and dropped it on her desk.

"Whatever that is." Fanny huffed, you passed behind her and slid onto the chaise lounge.

"You stormed in on me." Belle reminded her sister.

"What's that ungovernable stench?" Fanny scrunched up her nose. You started to lose interest in their conversation, a tightening of your chest took your attention.

"Your perfume?" Belle joked, "No, it's ether. The new Lancet reports the most extraordinary thing. You can give the patient ether, and they don't feel a thing. I mean, you can perform surgery without pain. It means we could finally help-" she had turned to face you finally seeing you clutch at your chest. Both of your younger sisters came darting to your side.

"y/n, what is it? Do you need a doctor?" Fanny scrambled.

"No, no I'm fine. I just need to lie down." You rest back against the couch and close your eyes. Belle reaches behind you to loosen your blouse and corset. You breathed slowly as Fanny once more tried to get Belle to meet a suitor. She had long given up with you, at six and twenty you were already considered a spinster.

The afternoon was spent much the same. Your mother insisted you take a small walk around the gardens. That would clear your lungs and head in her opinion. It only formed to make your legs ache if anything.

Soon after Fanny had you all standing outside the door waiting for the suitor she had found for Belle. The pompous dandy slid out of the carriage and started resiting awful poetry. You had to stifle my laugh.

You walked down the staircase that afternoon daydreaming to yourself.

"Belle?" You whisper. She shushes you and pulls you against the wall to listen. Your mother was talking about a surgeon, a navel man. Belle had that hopeful look in her eyes that always made you feel sad. She wanted so much to help you, had dedicated her life to finding a cure for you. Even when the numerous doctors told you it was nothing and you'd be healthy soon you both knew different. The strange pumping of your heart kept Belle's nose in the medical texts. A plan was forming in her mind, you could see it.

Your mother and father ushered you both into the parlour were Mr Smales was sat reading. Fanny followed you all in. Lady Jane all but shoved Belle to the chair beside Smales and he began reciting more poetry to her. He asked if she'd like to play the harp, little did he know that it was only you who played the harp amongst your sisters. Belle had once played the violin but it had been years since she had picked it up.

My sister huffed and marched across the room. Your mother stopping her.

"talk to him about hospitals." She hissed.

This finally peaked her interest.

"Come, we're going to see the hospital. I've never been, and I've always wanted to. We should take Y/n as a chaperone." She sent you a grin. You followed her out to the carriage with Smales tottering along behind you both.

"Belle, what are you playing at?" You whisper to her.

"I just want to look at it." She grinned once more

As we rode along Smales kept trying to talk with her.

"do you like to dance?" He asked.

"No." Belle's voice was flat.

"Croquet?"

"Snore."

"Fox hunting?"

"Very much, no!"

"Oh. Why?"

"It's mindless, barbaric, and cruel." You interject. Smales turns up his lips at you.

"What about you? Chemistry? Geology?" Belle asks.

"Oh, yes. With the maps." Smales said animatedly.

"No, the rocks, but close."

You hear the Carriage rider urging the horse.

" Anatomy?" Belle continued.

"Poetry?" She suggested in a tired tone.

"Yes!"

"Yes! Anyone other than yourself and Wordsworth?" She groaned.

"Such as?"

The Carriage Rider shouts for someone to Move aside, but you all feel the tell tail bumping of someone going under the carriage.

Both you and Belle are quick to jump out. A young boy is on the ground his leg broken open with the bone protruding from his skin. The poor lad was screaming. As Belle checked the wound you kneel behind him and place his head in your lap, attempting to comfort him.

"Help! We need a doctor!" Belle called out.

"Okay. Um, you're okay. You'll be all right. You're doing great." You hold the boy's hand.

"Coming through, coming through! Here." A tall, thin man came rushing up with a leather bag.

"Thank God. I've put a tourniquet on." Belle explained.

" It's not tight enough. I need something to tighten it with. Um... " he looked around, Charlie, the boy whimpered. The doctor put a hand on his face, his fingers brushing yours.

" It's all right. I'm gonna sort you right out."

"Can you fix it?" You ask.

"I'll need to amputate."

" What about Bircher's procedure to save it?" Belle pulled his attention

"Miss, please."

"M'lady." She corrected him.

"To do that, I would need to drill into his leg bones, and insert pegs to knit them back together again. He would die of shock and pain." The doctor explained hurriedly

"Not if you take the pain with ether." Belle said. You shot your eyes between them.

"The Yankee Dodge? That is unproven." He bit back at her. As they argue you quickly run to your driver and speak with him before going back to the doctor.

"lift him into the carriage, he cannot stay in the street." You command him. The doctor looks up at you and nods. He scoops Charlie into his arms and you help get the child into the carriage. Your sister climbs in after you both and the carriage pulled away. The pair continued to argue with each other as Charlie squirmed on your lap.

"for goodness sake, will both stop your squabbling. This child will not be losing his leg today. You are the surgeon we have heard about and as such I assume you will be able to do the operation." You say commandingly.

"the prof does not allow it." The doctor finally admitted.

"well, we aren't going to the hospital." You smile as the carriage pulls to a stop.

"Why? He doesn't have much time." He looked out the door, "What are we doing here, you ridiculous woman?"

" This is the Governor's residence." You say.

"Oh, God. You're the Governor's daughters aren't you."

"yes. Belle go in and make sure the way is cleared." You tell your sister. She nods and runs off to the house.

"This is completely arrogant of you both." The doctor growled. "I can't perform an operation here. I need surgical equipment."

You turn round to him, causing the doctor to retreat back toward the carriage.

"there is no need to threat, Doctor. My sister has all the supplies you could need." You say with a finger in the middle of his chest.

"oh, hello looks like we're good to go." Fagin said pointing behind you.

The doctor and Fagin grabbed the boy by his legs and arms, carrying him into the house. Belle had her arms full of her equipment. You can hear your father and his guests beginning to descend the staircase.

"There's no time. We're gonna have to do it here. Set him down." The Doctor said.

" What?" You and Belle said together.

"It's not ideal... Fagin, clear that table. It's all right, Charlie. Okay, all right. It's all right."

In a moment of panic you stepped away from the doctor and addressed your father's guests.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The entertainment. For our main event, I have a very special treat for you." You look over your shoulder at the trio, "Dr. Dawkins will perform an operation, never been done before. Where an inferior cowardly surgeon might just simply remove the leg, Dr. Dawkins will make a thousand years of history by trialling surgery with no pain. The Yankee Dodge!"

A murmur of adoration waved through the crowd. The Doctor's eyes locked with yours for a moment. You nodded to him and he began his work. Fagin, the older man with him, tiptoed away from you all, up the stairs. You step closer to the table stroking Charlie's hair as he whimpers again. Dawkins lent closer to you and Belle.

"If I get hanged for this I'll haunt your every waking moment. I'll be that face you see in your nightmares and trust me, you will only have nightmares."

You can't help but smile.

"Do shut up and ether the patient." Belle quips. You stay at Charlie's head letting your sister address the crowd.

"Watch closely, everyone. As Dr. Dawkins anaesthetises the boy, takes his pain..."

"You're fine." Dawkins reassured the boy.

" ...and then operates with no sensation." Belle had a flare for the dramatics you thought to yourself.

Holding the either mask in his hand Dawkins spoke once more to Charlie, "Now, just breathe. There, we go. That's it. Good lad. Right."

The operation began

Belle was able to find an ivory stick to use as the pin for the bones. You had to admit he was impressive in his work. The crowd oohed and ahhed at his every movement. When he was done and the wound stitched Dawkins reached up to Charlie's face, " Now, ladies and gentlemen, can we rouse him from living death? Charlie? Come on, Charlie. Charlie. Come on, Charlie. Come on. Charlie. Charlie. Come on, Charlie boy."

You were all beginning to panic, your eyes flicking to your father's disapproving face.

"Don't cut me, Doc! I need me leg!" Charlie called out. You released the breath you were holding and smiled at the Doctor.

There is a moment where the room is in awe, every man and woman there thought to congratulate the Doctor until one woman spoke up. Her ruby necklace had been stolen from around her neck. You sighed, knowing instantly what had become of it. Captain Gaines began searching people. Your chest tightened and you put a hand on the table to steady yourself. The Doctor took hold of your arm.

"You all right?" He asked his professional concern showing.

"Yeah. Yes, it's just the ether fumes. Take me upstairs?" You say leaning into him.

" I've got you." He says beginning to lead you away.

"All right. I'm sure you won't mind if I search you?" Gaines says to Dawkins.

Belle steps between them, "Captain Gaines, move aside. My sister is not well. Move aside."

You pant and rest more of your weight on Dawkins. Gains reluctantly stepped aside allowing Dawkins to escort you upstairs to your room. Belle hot on your heels.

"Are you well? Who's your doctor?" Dawkins asked once in your room.

"Prof." Belle answered.

"Has he ever examined you?" He helped you to sit in a chair.

"He's too scared of my father to get it wrong." You say, your hand is still in his. Dawkins glances back at Belle.

"Take off your dress. I need to listen to your back. Take off your dress."

Belle comes over to help you remove your clothing until you were in only your bloomers and chemise. She grabbed a stethoscope from your table and handed it to Dawkins. The doctor sat behind you on the lounge sofa, placing the cold metal to your back.

"Now, just breathe steady. Just breathe with me. In," his voice is low and soft, his breath fanning over the back of your neck, "And out. Good. Again. In. Out. Okay. Gonna come around the front. Once again. In. Good, and out. In. Out."

Belle frowned, she knew what he was hearing.

"You're a common thief. Shall I call Captain Gaines now or later?" You say glancing back at him.

Dawkins drops the stethoscopes "No. No, no. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait." He runs to stop Belle from leaving the room, "Darius cheated me at cards. He's gonna take my hand if I don't pay him a ludicrous debt."

"Then pay him with your own money!" Belle argues.

"With what money? I get paid in pennies and thimbles." He is almost begging.

Footsteps can be heard down the corridor.

"You've got two options. I yell "guards" and you get hanged." You begin.

"Not ideal."

"Or you make my sister the first female surgeon and we keep your secret. That or the noose." The door knocks. "Well?"

" I'm thinking."

Part two soon.

@fandomfan-102

[maybankiara]

ok but the way I want to write a dodgerfox dark academia rivals to lovers au... I don't have the time I don't have the time I don't have the time but the concept is so goooooood

(that being said if it already exists pls let me know so I can get my fix)

[cordelia-noir]

Opinions wanted

So I’m nearing the end of my novella-length fic, Halcyon Days, and trying to decide what to write next. I’ve got like a million WIPs demanding my attention (and honestly I do just write where the vibes take me most of the time) but I’m interested in which of these sound the most appealing to you guys as readers.

Options include:

Halcyon Days short sequel: set 10-12 years in the future with Heartstopper characters putting in an appearance (not started yet)

Family Ties: exploring the boys’ relationships with their families including the Payne family tree I keep hinting at. (about 1/3 done maybe?)

Kid Fic: a Simon Snow and Dead Boy Detective cross over with SnowBaz as adoptive parents and adorable 5 year old Charles and Edwin (not started yet)

Deadboyween: prompts I keep putting off for later (1.5/14 completed)

You make me Glow sequel: Niko and Crystal's soulmate love story (Not started)

I'm here from The Artful Dodger fandom. When are you going to finish that fic?

[princess-dani]

3 times Jack felt something-After the Kiss

This is inspired by another artful dodger fanfic called About You by KayleyRose14 on Ao3 and the song ICU by Phoebe Bridgers.

Lady Belle strides into the hospital, boots clicking on the wooden floors. Jack looks up as she walks through the open double doors, and he feels his breath hitch against his will. He hadn't seen her since the night before, when she had unexpectedly appeared outside the Cat and Bagpipes in her nightgown. And pushed me up against the wall, Jack thought with a hint of pride. His mind wandered back to that dark alley, remembering the feeling of her in his arms, her lips, her breath, the hungry way they had clung to each other. Moments feeling like hours, time warping and stretching until one of them, Jack could not remember who, had the good sense to pull back. And now as she stands at a patient's bedside, head bent over a medical chart, warm sunlight painting her face golden, Jack feels something stirring inside him. An unstoppable longing for her had made a home for itself in his bones, and every moment he was not with her made his chest ache. 

You can find the full fic on my Ao3 (which is linked on my tumblr page), but it won't be posted for a few days, so sit tight, lovely.

[mynameisdotty]

Primum Non Nocere: Prologue

Fandoms: The Artful Dodger | Assassins' Creed Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence | Major Character Death Relationship: Jack "Artful Dodger" Dawkins/Belle Fox Characters: Jack "Artful Dodger" Dawkins, Belle Fox, Norbert Fagin, Captain Lucien Gaines Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence | Alternate Universe - Assassins Creed Fusion | Crossover | Canon-Typical Violence | Blood and Injury | Blood and Gore | Surgery | Victorian | Victorian Attitudes | Angst and Romance | POV Jack "Artful Dodger" Dawkins | Not Canon Compliant | Canon Rewrite Summary: Dr Jack Dawkins is a surgeon in Australia, at least, that’s what his cover is. The truth is that he is a member of the Assassins, a secretive group who operate in the shadows. 15 years ago he was recruited to join their ranks and now he has been entrusted with a mission: go to Australia and observe Templar activity there. Unfortunately, Jack’s past has come back to haunt him in the form of Fagin. Also there is a young lady who is determined that he teach her to become the first female surgeon. This mission just got very complicated.

London, England 1841 ~ Fifteen Years Ago ~

Prison is damp, dark, hole where you get sent to rot. At least, that was what Fagin had always said it was like.

Being in the place itself, it was certainly living up to those words. The first thing that hit was the smell: dampness, dirt, and decay mixed into a potent combination that overwhelmed and churned the stomach. Then there were the sounds: the desperate noise of humanity crowded together in a box and left to be forgotten. Moans and wails bounced off the stone walls and echoed queerly from several angles all at once. It sounded like someone was right beside you when in reality you had passed by their tiny cell and were further down the corridor. Hands reached out and grabbed at whatever happened past the iron bars.

Despite that, Dodger felt confident.

He wasn’t just anyone. He was The Artful Dodger. He was the best pickpocket in London. His hands were the fastest, his fingers the nimblest, and Fagin had promised him that together the two of them would rule the sordid underbelly of London. He was the heir to the King. He had everything he ever wanted and what he didn’t have he could easily take. He had never been caught because the first rule of running in Fagin’s gang was this: always look out for number one.

And then that wet lettuce Oliver Twist had happened. He should have left the snivelling little git where he had found him. Instead he’d taken pity on him, with his big wet eyes and sniffling, and took him to Fagin. Everything had gone straight to Hell immediately after.

Now he was due to serve fifteen years in prison all for a silver snuff box that he’d filched from some toff’s pocket.

But the other option was a noose. At least you had to be alive to rot in a jail.

Continue Reading on AO3

[bogfiction]

the fic!!

[gayerthebetter]

Looking for other fanfic writers!!!

If you are a part of the fandoms below (can be one fandom or more)

Merlin

Dan and Phil

Doctor Who

The Artful Dodger

Spideypool

Poolverine 

And you write fanfic and would like a writing friend to talk about all things fanfic and writing (also the fandom of course lol) and you have discord plz comment on this post or send me a ask with your discord @

[steadymilkshakeking]

 

“By the way, there’s... news. A replacement for Gains.”

Jack raised an eyebrow, tossing the towel onto a nearby chair. “Oh? And what’s this replacement like?”

Belle avoided his gaze, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve. “Young. Wealthy. A perfect match…”

“For what?” Jack’s tone sharpened, though he already knew the answer.

“For me,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mother’s invited him to dinner tonight. She’s making it very clear what she expects.”

Jack snorted, crossing his arms. “Well, that sounds like it’ll be a delightful evening.”

Belle scowled. “Delightful for Fanny, maybe. But I’ll hate every second of it. It feels like I’m being auctioned off, and tonight’s dinner is Mother’s way of closing the deal.”

He smirked, shaking his head. “Must be tough, being so desirable.”

She shot him a glare, but her lips twitched. “You wouldn’t survive one of these dinners. They’re insufferably dull.”

“Charlie’ll be there, won’t she?” Jack asked, leaning casually against the counter. “She’s bound to make it more... entertaining.”

“She will, but it doesn’t change the fact that Mother’s determined.” Belle folded her arms, her voice softening. “She wants me to settle.”

Jack straightened, his teasing demeanor giving way to something more serious. He stepped closer, the space between them narrowing. “Belle, a woman like you shouldn’t have to settle.”

Her breath hitched at the intensity of his gaze. “And what should I do, then?” she asked, her voice quiet but defiant.

“You should fight for what you want,” Jack said, his tone firm, his eyes unwavering. “Not what someone else thinks you should have.”

Belle stared at him, her heart pounding. His words echoed in her mind, wrapping around the unspoken truth she wasn’t ready to voice. “You make it sound so simple.”

“Maybe it is,” Jack said with a shrug, though his gaze softened. “You just need to ask yourself what do you truly want. Not what your mother, your father, society, ...me think you want.”

The room felt impossibly still, the air between them charged. Belle wanted to say something, anything, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she studied his face, every detail committing itself to memory—the determination in his eyes, the faint curve of his smirk, the tension in his jaw.

“I...” she began, but the echo of footsteps in the corridor broke the moment like a snapped thread.

“We should clean up,” Jack said abruptly, turning away to gather the remaining instruments. His movements were efficient, but his posture was rigid.

“Yes, of course,” Belle replied, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. But her thoughts were far from the patient they’d just operated on. Jack’s words lingered, their meaning sinking deeper with every passing second. What do I want?.

They worked in silence, the rhythm of their cleanup oddly soothing yet tense. As Belle rinsed the last of the tools, she found herself glancing at Jack, her chest tightening.

What do I want? she thought again.

Jack, of course, hadn’t waited for her to decide. He was already moving forward, his long strides carrying him swiftly to the door before she could say anything more. He hesitated briefly at the threshold, his hand gripping the frame as if he might turn back...but he didn’t. Without another glance, he disappeared into the corridor, leaving her alone in the now quiet room.

The air felt heavier without him, the faint scent of antiseptic and carbolic acid mingling with the lingering warmth of his presence. Belle stood frozen, her heart aching as the weight of his absence settled over her. She clutched the edge of the counter for support, staring at the spot where he had stood just moments ago.

“I want you,” she whispered into the stillness, her voice trembling with the admission.

[cinemacrypt]

Writing Charles Dickens fanfiction for an English final fuck my stupid gay baka life

[pentopaper23]

His Fingers. Her Pulse.

Often Belle wakes up to Jack fingers at one of her pulse points. Gentle fingers searching for her pulse on her wrist, neck or under her breast. His warm fingers would be pressed firmly against one of these when she woke in the morning, and she felt him search for them just before she drifted off to the sleep.

His favourite pulse point seemed to the one hidden under her breast.. She would wake to the feel of his hand tucked under her breast, pushed tight against the skin to feel her heartbeat against it. She knew that he still worried, more than ever after they engage in congress. During sex she could feel her heart trying to beat out of her chest and she knew he could feel it too. But no matter how many times she told him she was fine she still fell asleep to the feeling of his fingers searching her skin.

Her heart truly was fine, the whooshing sound had disappeared, and she had not had an attacked since he operated on her. But she could tell that he was scared, with every glance towards her when she made a sound of discomfort to the searching look he gave her after she climaxed and her heart was beating in her chest at a rapid rate. She could see the fear in his eyes, and she hated it. Gone was the carefree love they had shared before her operation. Gone was the laugher they shared in her bed after sex. It was now replaced with him silently counting and her trying to not look annoyed when he did.

She had tried to speak to him about it but it was no use. He brushed away her concerns and they ended up in fight. He had stormed away with the slam of her bedroom door, and she had thrown a book at him.

“You need to stop!” She had yelled roughly wrapping her dressing gown around her naked body.

“I can’t!” He had yelled back, “I can’t…I won’t lose you again”.

“I’m not going anywhere…but I will if you don’t stop”.

She will remember the heartbroken look on his face when she had said those words forever. His eyes tearing up as he grabbed his clothes and started to dress. Anger was rolling off him in wave and she just stood there watching him not sure how to take back her words.

“Fine. Fine” he said roughly pulling on his shirt and tucking it into his pants, “Sorry if me wanting to keep you alive is an inconvenience!”

“You’re being ridiculous.” She scoffed, annoyed with the tone he was taking with her.

“Ridiculous!? If my love for you is ridiculous then I don’t know what we are doing here!”

“Neither do I!” She had yelled back. They both stared at each other for a moment, then he had left slamming the door behind him. She had picked up the closest book and thrown it at the door with a shout of rage, the hard covered corner leaving a dent in the wood.

They didn’t speak for days after that and each time they saw each other at the hospital no words were shared. It wasn’t until Jack was summoned to the estate by her mother that any words were spoken. Belle had caught a cold and had been bedridden with a fever for days before she allowed her mother to call for Jack.

“You stupid women!” he had yelled rushing into her room with his medical bag swinging in his hand. “You stupid, stupid, women” he said again as he pulled her into a sitting position. He reached for the ties of her nightdress, and she sighed when she felt his cold fingers on the pulse point on her neck, her fever had robbed her of any normal temperature. He sighed in relief when he felt that her pulse was fine and that it was just a cold.

“I’m sorry” she sobbed out, her fever taking away any form of censorship from her mouth.

“My darling” he soothed as he laid her back down and reached for the bowl of water and cloth that was by her bed. He gently wiped her brow and settled in to doctor her through the night. It was touch and go that night, her fever has worsened, and she started to thrash and groan. He ended up striping her of her nightdress and lowering her into a cold bath pouring water over her as the night grew dark. Come daybreak she was asleep, and he was exhausted. Her fever has broken just before sunrise, and she fell into a fitful sleep with Jack lying beside her.

That's how she found herself now, her head throbbing with a post fever headache and Jack tucked beside her with his hand cupping her breast, his fingertips against the beating of her heart. She could see that this was a battle she would not win, not against him and his panic. She reached over to brush the hair from his eyes, he groaned and his hold on her breast tightened. He didn’t wake and his hand relaxed slightly, Belle smiled and moved herself closer to him tucking herself under his chin and falling back to sleep.

[djosstyles]

this is so niche and i’m so happy to understand it

Dodger saying "do you want to come do a very dangerous surgery with me" is so James Potter saying "want to go to a protest?" coded.

[thedepthsoffandomminds]

REQUESTS closed

Hi everyone, requests are now closed on my page so I can catch up. 😘

Starwars

All characters

The Artful Dodger

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Dean Winchester

Castiel

Maze runner

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Thomas

Gally

Minho

The last of us

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You may request other fandoms and characters and I will let you know if I know them enough to write the requests.

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If you wish to be part of my tag lists please use the request button and give me your username and fandoms.

If I see you liking a series I will add you to the tag list for that story.

Thanks everyone!

[cordelia-noir]

Call for prompts!

Hey all, I'm sick and my WIPs feel too daunting to work on at the moment, but I do want to write something. So I'm asking you guys if you have any requests for short fics in the following fandoms

Dead Boy Detectives (Gen or Charles/Edwin)

Carry On / Simon Snow Tillage (Gen, SnowBaz or other cannon couples)

The Artful Dodger (Belle/Jack or Gen)

I'm not promising to do all the requests I receive (if I get any), but I'd like to write some short stuff while I'm sick (think like a scene rather than a novel, ~1k-3k).

Some Ideas of what you could send me:

An idea for a small story you don't want to write yourself

Fan Art that you think deserves a story

General vibes that fit the characters

A soulmate universe idea (We all know I love those)

I don't write smut, but beyond that I'm open to anything. So let me know if you have any ideas!

[princess-dani]

Planning on writing an artful dodger fic that will be my dream season 2 plot with a happy ending and heeps of family drama, historical acurracy (or as accurate as I can get it) and Jack/Belle fluff. Feel free to send me any request for things to add into the story or any helpful writing critiques.