Hiding fandom in the underwear drawer since 1977

Susan does not like surprises. Tebbitt does not like spiders. Anansi does not care.


And then, my anon, for my main story, has written an 18,000 word war story set between The Queen Susan in Tashbaan and Rat and Sword Go To War. Queen Susan Caspian is sent to North Africa as part of the deception build up to Operation Mincemeat. I've just started and have already run into Susan Caspian and Tebbitt, Asim, and Colonel Walker-Smythe. I don't know the other verse it's crossed with, Rat Patrol, but I'm not worried about that. There are notes at the beginning and if you do love Rat Patrol, well that's an added bonus.   It's wonderful.  It's amazing and I'm already in love. 

The Rat Patrol's mission is "to attack, harass and wreak havoc on Field Marshal Rommel's vaunted Afrika Korps." Susan's mission is a bit more complicated, as is her relationship with the desert. A story of daring and deception and of loyalties built on shifting sands.

So, let’s see…

Big Bang is at 41,000 words (including a glossary and cast of characters so that you can keep track of how a Sten is different from a Bren).  I’m guessing maybe 10,000 words left?  Granted, that's a BIG bit to do in a week for a rough draft but I actually have a pretty coherent outline and as I’m following an order of battle, it’s not, as things go, a huge challenge.  So I say now.  Gawd.  A war story.  I'm such an idiot.

I’m assuming that the H&M update got hit by ff.net being down or something -- possibly something.  Thanks so much to those who did persevere against the site problems and comment!  In less chipper news, I have been called out in two separate things on ff.net for harassment and flaming.  I responded to one and didn’t bother with the other.  My thanks to those who have assisted/weighed in/provided moral support.

A burning question.  Why is my world not full of the new Upstairs Downstairs and the promised relationship between Alex Kingston/Emilia Fox  aka River Song/Morgause?  Why?  Why?  Where is the fic?  Where are the gifs?  WHERE WHERE?  Show me NOW.  Cross over madness I tell you.  This is the sort of thing that drives me to the sort of infringing conduct that is not age appropriate.

intrikate88 has been doing some terrific Once Upon A Time Fic  exploring Belle and Rumpelstiltskin so do check that out.

Which brings me to the related issue that I have finally seen Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.  It was a typical and very grown up sort of thing – a late matinee with Important People in the audience and no one under the age of 30.   I dearly love Le Carre’s book and it and Conant’s The Irregulars inspired a lot of TQSiT and my TSG AU.  I enjoyed the film and Oldman plays a very, very cold Smiley.  It’s a good adaptation in a 2 hour film.  The challenge is that so much of Smiley is internal and he reveals practically nothing to others.  That can get dull in film.  Le Carre is not great with his women characters and the film I thought provided a critique of that – we never see Lady Ann’s face.  She could be anyone.

It seemed every respected British male actor working was in the film, except maybe Alan Rickman and Jim Broadbent.  So the eye candy was excellent.

Some spoilers – if you don’t know who the mole is, you might not want to read.

 He summoned Major al-Masri from Bletchley Park and the man arrived so promptly, George concluded the impatience to meet was mutual.  He’d sent Tebbitt off to Thame Park for a refresher in wireless training and that would keep him occupied for a week – two if the latest agents there for training were attractive, which they invariably were.  He did have to wonder if striking looks and trim figure where on the intake sheets Selwyn Jepson used when interviewing female candidates for insertion into France.

Instead of "he," could/should it be George?  Or Walker-Smythe?  Same thing with Tebbitt:

Tebbitt knew the origins of Jean-Louise.  The Shoemaker, the master forger at the British Embassy in Washington, had gifted her with two beautiful sets of shoes – fake identities.  She had lived one of them, assuming the identity of Mrs. Susan Caspian, for the last year.  The other she would trot out and take for a spin occasionally and so he’d come to know Mrs. Jane Louise Ellis pretty well.  Mrs. Ellis was from Leeds, younger than Mrs. Caspian, and her dress – usually red –cut low.  She was a flirt and looked smashing on a man’s arm.    Jane Louise Ellis had become Jean-Louise Lambert.

Where the surname Lambert had come from, he didn’t know, but as Colonel Walker-Smythe was fond of saying, the Queen of Pentacles that was Mrs. Susan Caspian knew how to keep her own counsel.

If not "he," should it be "Tebbitt"  or "Reg?"  This has really stumped me.

Last there has been an update in the vanity project, Girl Falls Into rth-verse Narnia story that greaves is undertaking and she had Jalur make a wonderful, wry appearance here.