"It throws the entire system off. Dragons seem to be ranked by age/skill and also ability. He's a fire-breather, so he gets a big boost, and he's also an experienced captain and distinguished serviceman." That would be what they eventually determine, but there will probably still be debates about it and I'm sure Laurence is anxious and depressed about the subject.
"He manages to convince them that he likes simplicity (and the dragons: ???)" Quick non-spoilery bit, in the future of the series! At one point later in the books Laurence is all but forced to dress as a prince of China in a fancy robe with lots of jewels and feels REALLY SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT IT. He looks over at this other British guy at the feast in jealousy because the man has managed to be so very elegant: his cravat is nicely starched, boots polished, tiny little medal of valour on his jacket and a small tasteful stick of gold in the cravat... and then Temeraire leans over and whispers at Laurence with satisfaction: "Oh, look how ~plain~ [he] looks!" and all of the dragons present agree with Temeraire and Laurence is MORTIFIED. XD Yeah, so this reaction is canon.
"It reminds me of a story where all the crows on an island were bribed into helping with the fight (they could turn into humans to really help) with an incredibly gaudy sparkly rock each." That sounds like an awesome story and I really want to read it now. >_> MOAR SUMMER READING FOR BEBOOTS!
"She doesn't start joking again until he's a bit more settled, unless it's at her own expense, or Tem's when he's being a bother." Yeah, Jane is really good to the people she likes. The people she DOESN'T like, on the other hand...
"Laurence needs to accept himself as a dragon before he can realize that it's not all that bad. At all. Actually... well, kind of nice, and he did think long ago he couldn't marry anyone so long as Tem would be first." I imagine a lot of the fic will be Laurence coming to terms with what he has become... with lots of emotional fumbling along the way. But once he fully accepts what he is... >:D
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Date: 2011-02-28 12:47 am (UTC)"He manages to convince them that he likes simplicity (and the dragons: ???)"
Quick non-spoilery bit, in the future of the series! At one point later in the books Laurence is all but forced to dress as a prince of China in a fancy robe with lots of jewels and feels REALLY SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT IT. He looks over at this other British guy at the feast in jealousy because the man has managed to be so very elegant: his cravat is nicely starched, boots polished, tiny little medal of valour on his jacket and a small tasteful stick of gold in the cravat... and then Temeraire leans over and whispers at Laurence with satisfaction: "Oh, look how ~plain~ [he] looks!" and all of the dragons present agree with Temeraire and Laurence is MORTIFIED. XD Yeah, so this reaction is canon.
"It reminds me of a story where all the crows on an island were bribed into helping with the fight (they could turn into humans to really help) with an incredibly gaudy sparkly rock each." That sounds like an awesome story and I really want to read it now. >_> MOAR SUMMER READING FOR BEBOOTS!
"She doesn't start joking again until he's a bit more settled, unless it's at her own expense, or Tem's when he's being a bother." Yeah, Jane is really good to the people she likes. The people she DOESN'T like, on the other hand...
"Laurence needs to accept himself as a dragon before he can realize that it's not all that bad. At all. Actually... well, kind of nice, and he did think long ago he couldn't marry anyone so long as Tem would be first." I imagine a lot of the fic will be Laurence coming to terms with what he has become... with lots of emotional fumbling along the way. But once he fully accepts what he is... >:D