rthstewart (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rthstewart) wrote2010-10-14 10:46 pm
rthstewart) wrote2010-10-14 10:46 pm
Entry tags:
Birthday fic for Autumnia!
So, the following is 800 words of birthday fic for Autumnia! Who is yet another totally awesome person born in the month of October.
Yes, indeed, this is an excerpt from the 7,000 plus words and growing Chapter 1 of Part 3 of TSG, Apostolic Way. The chapter is entitled, The Other End of the Varsity Line.
Peter and Edmund are at Radcliffe Hospital and have just run a gauntlet by the Nurses’ Station and a very flirtatious Nurse Hawkins. Immovable Object (Peter) meets Irresistible Force (Nurse Hawkins) with snarky Edmund providing snarky running commentary.
“Sixteen, remember?” Peter said with a grumble. The age differential did not stop him from looking. She knew it too, for she tossed Peter a saucy look and a wink before turning a corner. “School boy?”
“Nurse Hawkins seems to have no objection.”
“I would not even know how to make a proper overture to a woman without you first negotiating a thirty page contract covering a simple drink at a pub.”
Now it was Edmund’s turn for the guffaw and chest clearing slap to Peter’s shoulder blades. “I knew the day would come when you would see I had the right of it! She is a nurse so I would not even offend her purported virtue with impertinent questions! Great Scott! I could use a typewriter! But, how shall we ever manage precautionary measures without consulting a Hound!”
Peter shot him a venomous look and stalked down the corridor to knock on the door of room 23. A voice bellowed from inside, “If you are in the healthcare profession, go to hell!”
“Then I may come in?” Peter asked, pushing open the door.
For a sick man, Richard Russell did not seem to be dying just yet. He looked so peevishly irritable, Edmund was reminded of Sir Leszi laid up – furious, more than pained.
“Peter! Finally! A sane person who is not going to mollycoddle me to an even earlier grave.” Dr. Russell snarled from his hospital bed. “That had better not be the nurse skulking behind you. I’ll throw a bed pan at her.”
To the man sitting quietly in the chair next to the bed, Peter said, “Hello, Asim. It’s good to see you again.” He spoke so easily, Edmund was certain his brother had been reviewing how precisely to proceed with this awkward beginning.
“And you as well, Peter. Digory said we should expect you today.”
“And as for Nurse Hawkins, Richard, you are quite safe from her for the moment.”
“But you are not, which means I’m not so long as you’re here. And don’t say another word about her, or I’ll need an aspirin.” Dr. Russell craned his neck and Edmund emerged from behind Peter obscuring bulk.
“Richard, Asim, this is my brother, Edmund.”
Even knowing that Asim was in the room, he was still not fully prepared for just how different this man was from the Major in the Cambridge pub – bearded and glowering, belted knife, long robes. He made for an unnerving, very dangerous figure and Edmund found his hand automatically moving for the sword that was not strapped to his back. Asim was of a type Edmund instinctively recognized, just as Peter had when they had first met. Edmund found he was automatically sizing up the man and examining what might be used offensively and defensively in the room. He fervently wished for something more than his pocketknife.
Asim saw him as clearly and did Edmund the courtesy of not provoking his instinctive unease further. He rose slowly from his seat, carefully keeping his hands loose, open, and at his sides, palms out. “It is very good to meet you, Edmund.”
Edmund stepped forward to shake Asim and Richard’s hands. “It’s a pleasure, Dr. Russell, Mr. bin Kalil. Peter has spoken of you often.” Richard's hand was shaky and clammy; Asim's was firm and cool.
“There are too damn many of you for last names, Edward.”
Edmund did as Peter and Asim, and ignored Richard’s error.
“Very well, Richard,” Edmund replied with a nod.
“Is all well with your family?” Asim asked. “We have of course been concerned.”
“Yes, fine,” Peter responded. “Thank you for asking. There was a family matter that has resolved itself. Which reminds me, Asim.” Peter shrugged off the pack. “Thank you also for seeing to my provisioning. I was able to replace the candle and matches. Lucy could not find any nuts to replace what she ate, and so has substituted a sugar ration and a note of apology.”
“Thank you, Peter. I would say not to worry about the provisions as they are meant to be consumed, but Lee will make good use of an additional ration.” He looked passed them, toward the door. “Is Lucy with you?”
“She and our cousin, Eustace, have gone with Polly and the Professor to the Museum. We are staying with the Professor for a day or two, and then it is back to Cambridge.”
“Edmund!” Richard suddenly barked. “Where’s your cricket bat?”
Edmund looked to Peter and Asim, but neither seemed any wiser than he. This did seem more intentional jesting than forgetful belligerence.
“Cricket bat, Sir?”
“Or do you use a farmer’s cudgel? Bag of bricks? Hammer?”
“I might use any or all of them, at need. For what purpose, Richard?”
“The blunt force you apply to your brother’s thick skull. What’s your weapon of choice?”
So Richard had experienced some of Peter’s obstinacy first hand? Edmund wondered what the context was for Peter had never intimated that there had been any conflict at all between them. This was, like Peter’s apparent uncertainty regarding University, yet one more thing his brother had omitted from his letters.
To Richard, Edmund said, “I prefer a Mace for close-in application of force. A Quarterstaff is my weapon of choice for longer range whacking.”
“Medieval savagery then? You and Asim should get on quite well. Asim, take Edmund somewhere and teach him how to kill things with his bare hands. I want to talk to Peter.”
no subject
Imagine my glee when I opened my inbox to see this sitting there. GLEE, I tell you. GLEE. And it is so very wonderful to read! Richard, in all his cranky Richard-ness. Asim! Edmund meeting Asim (again)!
Asim, take Edmund somewhere and teach him how to kill things with his bare hands. I want to talk to Peter.” This line is just made of WIN.
no subject
no subject
OH MY GOD, SO MUCH WIN. Edmund and Asim and blunt force trauma, oh my.
no subject
no subject
no subject
And Edmund, thrilled about the idea of using a typewriter! Love, love, love!
no subject
no subject
Love love love Edmund meeting Asi versus the Major, and blunt force! Oh Peter, oh obstinacy, oh Richard!
Really, very very incredibly excited to see some of the start of Part 3!!!!!! :DDDD <3333333 *other emoticons of glee and love*
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
This whole chapter has bits and pieces from across all the stories as I look back and forward. After this segment I just posted, there is another short one with Edmund and Asim alone with the two of them being, predictably, very elliptical, but no hand to hand combat -- yet. At almost 7,000 words, I've then wondered if I should end it there as I then switch to Peter's POV -- Peter and Richard, Peter and Narnia flashback, and Peter and Asim. Even as I type that, the second part is easily going to be over 5,000 words alone, so I guess I'll wrap up this first chapter all from Edmund's pov, and then use Chapter 2 for Peter. Chapter 3, we return to the Museum with Lucy and Eustace and Mary finally finds an interested audience for her discussion of ichthyosaurs.
no subject
Oh, do write more, ASAP!
I love it.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
This is totally what I was hoping to see in the elusive Part 3! I can probably write at least a page of comments on this little excerpt alone.
Peter, Edmund, the nurse and a thirty-page contract! Oh, the love I have for this little reminder of Edmund's contracting skills.
Richard looking like Sir Leszi -- that's quite a formidable picture there. And Edmund finally meeting Richard and (properly) Asim. And oh, Richard. Asking Edmund about how to deal with Peter's stubbornness. You seem to have learned much about the High King over the summer, haven't you? That last line of Richard's is priceless. Why yes, I *would* love to see Asim and Edmund discuss medieval weapons and killing techniques.
And soon, Asim will meet Lucy and Eustace too!
If all these comments aren't motivation for you, rth, then I don't know what is. :-) This is just absolutely wonderful. Thank you again!
no subject
The need for Edmund's exercise of contracting skills to manage his brother's irresistibly to Nurse Hawkins is expanded upon a bit earlier in the scene.
She smiled, all dimples and ringlets of blonde hair, and took a step closer, blocking Peter’s way down the hall to room 23. Seeing how this was going to unfold, Edmund performed the good brother maneuver and wandered back a few paces, pretending to intently study a lifeless watercolor landscape on the corridor wall. He did not want to interfere, for he would be able to rib Peter about it until his brother pummeled him senseless. Not that it was a particular hardship for Peter other than the obvious. Nurse Hawkins had a nicely curved, trim figure that her uniform showed off to brilliant advantage. She did not giggle.
As for the weaponry and combat, yes, I know that's been on your wish list for a while. It's in the outline for sometime in 1946 or 1947, I think.
no subject
no subject
You just about made my day! Looking forward to the chapter :)
no subject
no subject
I'll probably be hitting the refresh button every 15 minutes or so for the next few days :)
no subject
no subject
And I'd love to do the friends thing :)
no subject
Oh, Ruth. Just, you have no idea how happy this little bit of story has made me. Deliriously happy, I might venture to say. Everything that I love rolled into a tiny bit of glee- Asim and snark and Edmund and Richard and Peter and blunt force trauma... this comment lacks thesis, coherency, or sanity, but suffice it to say that I loved this. Bravo!
no subject
And judging by this exerpt, it's going to be every time as good as Parts 1 and 2!
Edmund meeting Asim - officially for the first time - is great. They recognize the other as types immediately, and Asim makes a point of not seeming needlessly threatening - I like it!
Even Richard seems to get the right impression of Edmund right away - both his management of his brother, and the expectation of what of Asim's skills may interest him. Not just 'go away and talk about something, I want to talk to Peter', but 'teach him how to kill things with his bare hands.' I suspect that Edmund already knows a few techniques for that, but I'm sure that he's willing to learn some more. And that Asim can teach him some that he has yet to learn.
And I'd like my new chapters in two portions of 7 and 5 thousand words each, please. Without sugar.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2010-10-16 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)In case I haven't stressed it enough previously: I love your Pevensies.
- Gillian
no subject
no subject
The nurse! Grumpy Richard! Edmund getting excited about typewriter technology! LOLOLZ love -- all the important contracts were written in Edmund's gorgeous flowing scrawl! And now I am SO FULL of questions and excitement! What will Peter and Richard talk about?! The cat! His king! Edmund and Asim are sent outside to go bond LOLOLZ. WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO TALK ABOUT/OMG THAT IS GOING TO BE SUCH AN AWESOME TENSION/I WANT TO SEE ASIM'S POV!!
Asim. He is awesome. Edmund is also awesome. Those instincts! I cannot wait to see how Asim will perceive Peter and Edmund together because of course the dynamic duo compliment each other OMG!! Also, LOLZ his Lucy hinting. Love love!
EDMUND THINKS PETER WAS REHEARSING HIS HELLO. LOLOLOLOLZ!!!! OH HOW WE HAVE MISSED THEM!! 7,000 WORDS IS MUSIC TO MY EARS!
P.S. When you told me to check your LJ, I got superexcited and thought the day had finally come where you wrote an post extolling the glory and beauty of Dean. Alas. But this was almost as good, and I suppose some things are beyond realistic hope anyway.
no subject