AW, Chapter 15, Stepping Stones (and other things)

[rthstewart]

So, the whopping (and I do mean whopping) Chapter 15 is up.  I thought of splitting it, but once you read it, I think you'll see why I didn't.  No historical notes, really.  It pretty much speaks for itself.

The first 4,000 words of Chapter 15 (with a notable exception in the first couple of paragraphs) repeats Chapter 1 of Rat and Sword Go To War.  Then, it goes off in a different direction.   I had really wanted to get this chapter up before Rat and Sword as they are so closely aligned and this is how I'd intended it -- the AW update first and then Rat and Sword.  I'll start posting Rat and Sword later in the week on ff.net so they can all be read together in one place.

I'll take this opportunity to signal boost the writers and artists of the Narnia Big Bang stories. They are wonderful and please check them out.  Every one is a wonderful, original contribution.  I've so enjoyed them all and tomorrow is the last one!  A huge thanks to snacky for running a wonderful Big Bang and to heverus for my beautiful art.

Also, REMIX.  I didn't do the official one, but musesfool has open season Remix Madness 2012!  Post if you are willing to have your stories Remixed and then pick a story from those who have signed up!  No word limit!  No assignments!  No pressure! (and if you've ever had the urge to fix anything I've done, HAVE AT IT).  I have signed up and I noticed that snacky edenfalling therck and vialethe have as well as others whose work I know and love. 

Errr, right, signing off now and it's what you were expecting.  I think this fleshes out a lot of Rat and Sword, plus stands on its own.

Comments

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

The absent parent and partner (whether by choice or not) and the unconventional family appear over and over -- Edmund from his Narnian family, Lucy from hers, John estranged from his children and wife, the widow Mrs. Goodwin, Richard who won't see his children and Africa wife again, Kwong Lee's separation from her Hong Kong family and her son's separation from his wife and child, Tom Clark's absent wife, George's distance from his wife and daughter. At this point, I actually need a proper, traditional family, I suppose -- which Kwong Lee and Lin Kun probably best exemplify. As I mention in the beginning of AW 15, from Walker Smythe's perspective, they might win the war, the battle for the family is probably lost. John's journey will take some time -- the war's not even over yet so it's going to drag on a while longer. I do need to think about what his reaction is to Susan in the SOE. I think he's probably been very, "Oh that can't be right. She's just a pretty little girl" and Edmund may be the one to deliver the message as Edmund is in a position to do so. I'll n eed to think about that. I've not intended a huge full blown subplot of Edmund in DC. There are a couple of things that will be fun, there's a person or two I want him to meet, and there's the conflict I can set up. I also need to look at some biographies and figure out who is in DC in 1943.

Anyway, thank you again for gifting soem of your precious time!

[h-dash-h.livejournal.com]

I must admit, I'm kind of hoping for at least a glancing encounter between Edmund and his father, even if nothing is resolved. Or even if John himself barely appears. It would give us the first direct look at what John's doing. But as always, I trust your choice of scenes in the end.

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

Teal Deer
There needs to be a scene. It's funny -- I wrote this before. There are particular scenes that have been in my head for a very, very long time. Mary and Asim on the platform, Edmund declaring himself at Conclave and Susan gatecrashing moments later, and now, another, Lucy falling from a tree on to Asim. I've been putting her in trees since at least Palace Guard in anticipation of this. It's WHY I put her in trees. And so it is here with John and Edmund. There first is a dinner scene in 1948 where it all begins, where Peter is late and the others are delivering some bad news and Helen and John are clueless about it all. There are Chinese noodles. There are stern words and a draft article. Then there is a pub and then there are scenes after. Lines from throughout the story, "Do you desire the truth or the lie?" and other things will happen there.

I've given very little thought at all to what to do with John before 1948. So, I know where he ends up and I need to think about how he gets there. What does he think of Susan? What does he think of Edmund? is Edmund really so sanguine about this? Just how angry is John with Peter?

So, yes, I do need to start that arc. I know where it ends. I just need to get there.