rthstewart (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rthstewart) wrote2015-04-07 09:21 pm
rthstewart) wrote2015-04-07 09:21 pm
Entry tags:
Culinary Diplomacy, the 2d course
So, a couple of things.First, the last two stories mark the first time that feedback on AO3 exceeded feedback on fanfiction.net. There's a message there, I think.
As people pointed out, I was very much influenced in Culinary Diplomacy by my recent dinner party adventures. By the way, I found the Cornell University Dept of Animal Science very useful.
heliopausa pointed out that Peter is very supportive of this whole culinary diplomacy. I was thrilled that she commented upon this. In part, it was AHEM a contrast to my own recent dinner party experience But second, I originally had a line about Susan at first being frustrated with Peter for being obtuse and depressingly male about it all. I decided I wasn't going to go there. I've not been wholly consistent because in some ways Peter, as I've written him, can be a bit oblivious. But I've also written him before as being concerned with Narnia prestige and with being conscious of and concerned with representing their country well. Peter is very much identified AS Narnia. He enjoys playing host and showing off his Country. He does see it as important and so shares in this with Susan. He's a very social person and I've written that he and Susan both enjoy throwing big parties and events, though I think they are probably more stressful for Susan.
Also, if you compare this to the Llama story, and noted that Dalia was Peter's guard, you'll realize that this is much earlier. Susan is less confident here than the woman we see in Alpaca Bag. In Alpaca Bag she's probably over 30. She is much younger here, still a teen, and much closer to the more tentative, cautious character in the early chapters of Palace Guard and I love not man the less.
I think that Susan and Peter were very much confidants to one another in the earlier years until Lucy and Edmund got older and were able to assume more responsibilities. The chart in the cookbook room always has many, many duties for Peter and Susan. Peter would be very concerned if someone was injured during a visit and if Susan tells him, they might die at our dinner table, Peter's going to be as involved in that as Susan is to prevent a problem. Later, Edmund would be doing more of those treaties and contracts but for now, in this story, I think it made sense to have it be the two of them.
Another reader, psyche29, pointed out that Cook, like Mrs. Furner and Mr. Hoberry, clearly knows her job and her business. I commented to Psyche and have said before that the Cair Paravel staff are modeled in a way upon the Vorkosigan staff in Bujold's books. They are, first and foremost, very good at their jobs. In Civil Campaign, I think (OMG THE SPOILERS ABOUT THE NEW CORDELIA BOOK ) by Bujold Simon Illyan says that Miles has always had an eye for talent. I think that the Pevensies develop an eye for talent, especially Susan and Edmund. Susan is a superior manager in part because she is able to recruit and keep people who are very good at what they do. This was something that was really important to me way back in By Royal Decree -- I consciously made her a manager, and not micro-manager. So many fics have Susan obsessing over stupid details like flowers, food, and clothing and it would drive me crazy. She's always dismissed as a silly frivolous woman thing. First, things like food, as this story shows, can be hugely important and I deliberately wrote Peter counter to fandom convention, as also being aware of it. Second is that in BRD, I didn't have Susan obsessing over the missing roast and unanticipated house guests. She locks her very competent and trustworthy staff in a room until they decide how to handle it and they make a recommendation, which she accepts, and then she goes out for a ride. Susan isn't quite there yet in this story. But she's getting there. And really, if this was what was waiting for me in the kitchens, I'd be hesitant too:
I wish someone could photoshop a dainty white cap and frilly apron on to this minotaur: (Also her tears are obviously acid)
Thanks so much for reading. Now what?
As people pointed out, I was very much influenced in Culinary Diplomacy by my recent dinner party adventures. By the way, I found the Cornell University Dept of Animal Science very useful.
heliopausa pointed out that Peter is very supportive of this whole culinary diplomacy. I was thrilled that she commented upon this. In part, it was AHEM a contrast to my own recent dinner party experience But second, I originally had a line about Susan at first being frustrated with Peter for being obtuse and depressingly male about it all. I decided I wasn't going to go there. I've not been wholly consistent because in some ways Peter, as I've written him, can be a bit oblivious. But I've also written him before as being concerned with Narnia prestige and with being conscious of and concerned with representing their country well. Peter is very much identified AS Narnia. He enjoys playing host and showing off his Country. He does see it as important and so shares in this with Susan. He's a very social person and I've written that he and Susan both enjoy throwing big parties and events, though I think they are probably more stressful for Susan. Also, if you compare this to the Llama story, and noted that Dalia was Peter's guard, you'll realize that this is much earlier. Susan is less confident here than the woman we see in Alpaca Bag. In Alpaca Bag she's probably over 30. She is much younger here, still a teen, and much closer to the more tentative, cautious character in the early chapters of Palace Guard and I love not man the less.
I think that Susan and Peter were very much confidants to one another in the earlier years until Lucy and Edmund got older and were able to assume more responsibilities. The chart in the cookbook room always has many, many duties for Peter and Susan. Peter would be very concerned if someone was injured during a visit and if Susan tells him, they might die at our dinner table, Peter's going to be as involved in that as Susan is to prevent a problem. Later, Edmund would be doing more of those treaties and contracts but for now, in this story, I think it made sense to have it be the two of them.
Another reader, psyche29, pointed out that Cook, like Mrs. Furner and Mr. Hoberry, clearly knows her job and her business. I commented to Psyche and have said before that the Cair Paravel staff are modeled in a way upon the Vorkosigan staff in Bujold's books. They are, first and foremost, very good at their jobs. In Civil Campaign, I think (OMG THE SPOILERS ABOUT THE NEW CORDELIA BOOK ) by Bujold Simon Illyan says that Miles has always had an eye for talent. I think that the Pevensies develop an eye for talent, especially Susan and Edmund. Susan is a superior manager in part because she is able to recruit and keep people who are very good at what they do. This was something that was really important to me way back in By Royal Decree -- I consciously made her a manager, and not micro-manager. So many fics have Susan obsessing over stupid details like flowers, food, and clothing and it would drive me crazy. She's always dismissed as a silly frivolous woman thing. First, things like food, as this story shows, can be hugely important and I deliberately wrote Peter counter to fandom convention, as also being aware of it. Second is that in BRD, I didn't have Susan obsessing over the missing roast and unanticipated house guests. She locks her very competent and trustworthy staff in a room until they decide how to handle it and they make a recommendation, which she accepts, and then she goes out for a ride. Susan isn't quite there yet in this story. But she's getting there. And really, if this was what was waiting for me in the kitchens, I'd be hesitant too:
I wish someone could photoshop a dainty white cap and frilly apron on to this minotaur: (Also her tears are obviously acid)
Thanks so much for reading. Now what?
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