Valentines Day stuff! Also, BRAND NEW EXPERIMENTAL HISTORY MEME!

[beboots]

 Good evening, everyone! Happy Valentines day, for those of you who celebrate it! 

First, a brief link recommendation. If you've never heard of Postsecrets, you should definitely check them out: essentially, people send in anonymous postcards with their secrets on them. Some are sad, some are quirky, some are touching, and all are absolutely awesome. This week they have a Valentine-themed series of postcard secrets for you to look at. This one was my favourite: 


Furthermore, the Edmonton Journal (which, along with the National Post, I read almost every day to keep up with news about the world) apparently held a contest for the best Edmonton-themed Valentines cards, most of them poking fun at the city. This particular one was my absolute favourite, mostly because I had to cross that bridge five days a week to get to Fort Edmonton this past summer. It was murder during rush hour when it was down to one lane. >_<; It's been under construction for at least two and half years.

For more, see here!

As a side note, I did celebrate this Valentine's Day as a single person. Here's hoping that I shall find my true love in the coming year! :) I should mention that I mostly enjoy Valentine's Day because it also doubles as my dearest mother's birthday! We have flowers and chocolate about the house, then, regardless of the state of our personal lives. :) Happy birthday, mother mine! Now, tomorrow is the holiday I look forward to even more than the events of St. Valentine... Cheap Chocolate Day! Celebrated: wherever chocolate is sold!

On a final note... I actually began writing this post in response to the lovely surprise left for me at atla_valentine. I hadn't realized that people would leave me messages! :)  They made me smile. Therefore, my original plan had been, in response to people writing lovely flattering things about the history dorkery that goes on in this journal, to write a post about some of the crazy little tidbits I've been learning about in my History of Translation class... which just so happens to be what I'm studying for at the moment (even as I procrastinate reviewing for the midterm to write this post). I'll get around to that very soon! It will still happen!

I did, however, just have a thought. Maybe I could do something completely and utterly crazy and unprecedented. I could... do a history meme. I want to share the love with you guys. I love telling historical anecdotes; I like to think I got quite good at it while working at Fort Edmonton. Maybe no-one will want to play with me. I will still tell crazy history stories to the world! Just give me a direction, guys. :) What do you want to hear?

It shall be a shameless effort at trying to emulate the cool kids (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE), only instead of fanfic, it will be random history tidbits, in the style of the posts that have appeared in this journal before.

THEREFORE, what I resolve to do is ask you, the readers, for history prompts! Ask me a historical question: anything you like. For instance: "who is your favourite member of European royalty and what was the most interesting thing they ever did?" "What do you think is the silliest reason a war ever started?" "What is the most unusual historical artifact you have ever seen in person?" "What can you tell me about Canada's participation in such-and-such a war?" It can even be something like "tell me the craziest thing you know about the 17th century/the bubonic plague/aboriginal history/etc., etc., ad nauseam." I shall even search for an appropriate image to accompany the historical blather! 

If I don't know the answer to your question, I resolve to use my research skills and access to university databases to find the answer! You may get more coherent history squee if I've heard of the topic before, though. I have studied European history across the ages, some East Asian history, and lots of Canadian and American history, but still, don't let that limit your selection! I suspect that if you ask me something about the history of medicine or the French or English languages you will get extra-long anecdotes. Indulge your curiosity, and I will try to be interesting in return! :) 

Comments

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"So did you know that your snake was pregnant before she gave birth? Did you buy her pregnant?" My bad! That was at camp. I picked her up out of the woods. Garter snakes have live birth and a long gestation period, those babies come out ready to eat. My absolute favorite was named Severus Snake. He was a freaking newborn that lunged at my thumb when I was trying to release him in the woods. I set him down, he /chased me out of his woods/ by snapping at my tennis shoes. He was about the size of a pencil.

"HERE, YOU MUST READ IT. http://novembersmith.livejournal.com/36445.html This author's portrayal of human!Temeraire is adorable and incredibly in-character, in my opinion." READING NOW.

"Oh man, human-turned-dragon!Laurence would be SO stoic. He's still be all about doing his duty to his country, but he'd miss opposable thumbs and the ability to write and being treated like a human being TERRIBLY, although he still has that stiff-upper-lip mentality..." I think I just might write it. Laurence is too damn much of a woobie for it NOT to happen, now, and he'd be trying so hard to not upset Temeraire. I'd have to put it early, though, well before Granby has a dragon, but maybe after the trip to China. I think Laurence's crew instantly splits themselves between the two dragon, and Granby asks if he can still serve as lieutenant on /Laurence/. "You're my captain, sir" or something to that effect, and then Temeraire spoils the ecstasy of non-reactions by nuzzling them both. (Laurence is pretty numb to his father freaking out, and relieved when his mother immediately sends a letter asking permission to visit the covert, but the reaction to Jane would be hard. I think she'd get her arms around as much neck as she could and just stay there for a while, nobody else around.

Screw it, I have spring break. I might need to wait on the other books, though. My mom is SO damn happy when she can buy a book that she knew I wanted, and I wouldn't want to know precisely what was coming next, I could ask general questions and look up the history of the wars. Laurence is amazingly adept at flying, I'd think (he was giving lessons to Temeraire) and comes up with entirely revolutionary things. He also sprains ligaments a few times because certain motions are not possible with wings, but his crew quickly learns when to sing out a warning.

Laurence is all about duty, so he'll go to war the instant he can fight properly. He tries to brush it off as yet another change in duty. I can't decide just what type of dragon he'd be, but it's not a Longwing or a fire-breather or a Celestial. He might be an Imperial, to get the size in the right kind of range.

"OMG that would be a brilliant idea! VERY WELL-SUITED TO RANKIN'S PERSONALITY, Y/Y." Rankin's such an ass.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Severus Snake" - I AM IRRATIONALLY AMUSED BY PUNS! <3 "I set him down, he /chased me out of his woods/ by snapping at my tennis shoes. He was about the size of a pencil." He's a badass, straight up. He's probably out there intimidating something RIGHT NOW. ;)

PLEASE WRITE IT. THERE IS A SAD LACK OF DRAGON!LAURENCE OUT THERE.

"I think Laurence's crew instantly splits themselves between the two dragon, and Granby asks if he can still serve as lieutenant on /Laurence/. "You're my captain, sir" or something to that effect, and then Temeraire spoils the ecstasy of non-reactions by nuzzling them both." YES PLZ. And if anybody in the admiralty tries to assign Laurence a captain Temeraire will obviously have to get all indignant and they will both start thinking that it's a silly thing, really, to require a dragon to have a captain when they're fully sentient beings themselves... and hey, weren't there dragon generals in China? Couldn't they do the same in England? Etc., etc..

Also, maybe they could compromise and have Tharkay be acting captain. Or something. >_> Like how Granby is acting captain of Temeraire, because Temeraire will accept no substitute for Laurence.

...That idea you have for Jane and Laurence. ;_; TRAGIC. Gah. Please write it.

"He also sprains ligaments a few times because certain motions are not possible with wings, but his crew quickly learns when to sing out a warning." Oh yes. I imagine he has some dragony instincts but still thinks a LOT like the human he used to be and so sometimes the two sets of instincts don't really combine well. ;)

Also, now they HAVE to bring a Chinese cook along because there's NO WAY that Laurence will eat raw meat.

The only other fic I've read with dragon!Laurence (which was, admittedly, a dream sequence) had Laurence as a Flamme-de-Gloire because of his French ancestry. (In this one scribbled fic outline I wrote which involved dragon!Laurence I made him a Flamme-de-Gloire, too, because that involved additional misunderstandings in people thinking he was on the other side. Oh wait, come to think of it... I actually wrote out quite a bit of that one! ... Unfortunately, I can't send it to you yet because it contains spoilers of books three through five. >_> ) But yeah, I think that it would make more sense to have him be some sort of French or British dragon if you want his new body to reflect the old.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

""Severus Snake" He's a badass, straight up. He's probably out there intimidating something RIGHT NOW. ;)" Oh yeah. I loved that little guy, he was too damn cute trying to lunge for me while balanced on my palm. I have tiny hands.

"PLEASE WRITE IT. THERE IS A SAD LACK OF DRAGON!LAURENCE OUT THERE." I'm trying to make it happen AFTER I study for my exam at 8am tomorrow. It's not working yet. Dragon!!Laurence is too damn noble and self-sacrificing and quiet and desperate to not inconvenience anybody else. I can work in a Chinese folk tale I skim off something real, Old Mysterious Magic-maker, Laurence was polite and the Magic-maker did it because (reason to be decided later). He spends all of the first day coiled in on himself in shock, with Temeraire wrapped all around him and Lily and Maximus bringing food to them--pre-killed, in deference to flying it over and people being squeamish about eating still-living things. (They'd start cooking food for Laurence, and Temeraire wants some too) Laurence ends up dictating a letter to his mother, and hang the rest of the world.

"YES PLZ. And if anybody in the admiralty tries to assign Laurence a captain Temeraire will obviously have to get all indignant and they will both start thinking that it's a silly thing, really, to require a dragon to have a captain when they're fully sentient beings themselves... and hey, weren't there dragon generals in China? Couldn't they do the same in England? Etc., etc.." Right! Temeraire stone-cold refuses to accept any captain but Laurence. He will accept a lieutenant, as Laurence has, and he will fight, but they will NOT give him a captain. He would even accept "principal rider." Several of Tem's reforms start up accidentally. Laurence is rather devastated that he can't read to Temeraire anymore, or buy him things, but Roland might volunteer herself for that. Laurence said she needed to pay more mind to her schooling. (Emily is aghast to realize she will be reading math books.)

"Also, maybe they could compromise and have Tharkay be acting captain. Or something. >_> Like how Granby is acting captain of Temeraire, because Temeraire will accept no substitute for Laurence." Right! I think Granby steps up as Laurence's acting captain, to keep the two of them together, but Temeraire decides that Laurence is well enough. If it sets up earlier than I thought, I'll find a good alternate.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"! Temeraire stone-cold refuses to accept any captain but Laurence. He will accept a lieutenant, as Laurence has, and he will fight, but they will NOT give him a captain. He would even accept "principal rider." Several of Tem's reforms start up accidentally." OH YES. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Also, Laurence will totally still have some money in his accounts, y/y? So he's the first dragon to really own property aside from jewelry. They'll probably need to be property reforms in England based on the Chinese model... and I'm sure that Jane could help browbeat some politicians into that. ;) Maybe Lord Allendale (reluctantly, at his wife's behest) could help out too? It IS his son, after all, even if he's not his eldest...

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

Laurence does own property! They have some issues with that, but in the end, the aviators probably forge a few things with Laurence's full permission and let Granby run errands. Laurence never quite develops the taste for shiny things, I think, but somebody can make him a very, very happy dragon if they bring in a jeweler and let Laurence talk through exactly what they'll be making for Temeraire.

Lord Allendale is immensely reluctant to admit his son is still alive (and a dragon). His wife visits as often as she can, which is every two or three months, and her main concern is that they're looking after him and that he's eating enough and if he needs her to set the ladies of the town at their husbands' ears.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"They have some issues with that, but in the end, the aviators probably forge a few things with Laurence's full permission and let Granby run errands." Lol yes. Perhaps on paper Laurence is on "medical furlough", because legally it's difficult to acknowledge the existence of human-into-dragon-transforming-magic. Officially, Laurence was birthed off of a captured French egg, perhaps? Nobody has to know besides, well, those IN the know, about the fact that this dragon used to be a person?

"Laurence never quite develops the taste for shiny things, I think, but somebody can make him a very, very happy dragon if they bring in a jeweler and let Laurence talk through exactly what they'll be making for Temeraire." Oh yes. :) I'm sure that the other dragons, especially Temeraire, look in askance at him when he's all like "but gold and silver clash! And wouldn't look good against the yellow of my scales anyway! And it's too expensive!" They try to convince him of the virtues of shiny things but he still doesn't quite get it. His form of dressing up is giving his scales a good scrub and perhaps put on a few relatively plain chinese claw covers that Temeraire finally managed to push on him.

"Lord Allendale is immensely reluctant to admit his son is still alive (and a dragon). His wife visits as often as she can, which is every two or three months, and her main concern is that they're looking after him and that he's eating enough and if he needs her to set the ladies of the town at their husbands' ears." I <3 Laurence's mum. You should also see this image:
http://temeraire.org/wiki/Image:Majestys_dragon_02_72dpi.jpg

Also these other, non-spoilery images:
http://temeraire.org/wiki/Image:Hatchling.jpg
http://temeraire.org/wiki/Image:Life-changed-anke.jpg
http://temeraire.org/wiki/Image:Majestys_dragon_01_72dpi.jpg
http://temeraire.org/wiki/Image:First-flight-anke.jpg
http://temeraire.org/wiki/Image:Shelter-anke.jpg

There are lots of other lovely images by this artist and others on the wiki, too, but unfortunately they're all in one category and many of them are spoilers.
Oh, here's one more, because Laurence and Temeraire cuddling is love:
http://temeraire.org/wiki/Image:Toj_01_reunion_72dpi.jpg

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Lol yes. Perhaps on paper Laurence is on "medical furlough", because legally it's difficult to acknowledge the existence of human-into-dragon-transforming-magic. Officially, Laurence was birthed off of a captured French egg, perhaps? Nobody has to know besides, well, those IN the know, about the fact that this dragon used to be a person?" Right!!! It's quite quiet, and Laurence can't go near cities anymore. No more society for him, rather like a permanent sailing expedition he finally decides. He did like the sea better, and it's for the best that he didn't marry that girl after all.

"Oh yes. :) I'm sure that the other dragons, especially Temeraire, look in askance at him when he's all like "but gold and silver clash! And wouldn't look good against the yellow of my scales anyway! And it's too expensive!" They try to convince him of the virtues of shiny things but he still doesn't quite get it. His form of dressing up is giving his scales a good scrub and perhaps put on a few relatively plain chinese claw covers that Temeraire finally managed to push on him." OMG yes, and he only accepted the claw covers because they were easy enough to remove. He'd be mortified if (when) Jane noticed them, but she'd understand. I think she's gentler on several things, because Laurence is so far out of his element it would be cruel to tease him so much as usual.

I don't think dragons have a set mating season, but it is rather traditional to have extra stirrings in the spring. When I finally know enough canon to slide this in somewhere, I can use that as a starting point for Tem, and then a huge leap forward for Laurence.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"and it's for the best that he didn't marry that girl after all." Yeah, that would be awkward. >_>

I'm sure that Laurence has all sorts of problems now with seniority. Should he be treated as a young dragon, which he is in skill? According to his experience in the aerial corps? As a member of a branch of the military/navy? His actual age? Does he have an actual rank anymore OH NOEZ

"OMG yes, and he only accepted the claw covers because they were easy enough to remove." Exactly. Temeraire wanted to give him a present because he loves him and also because the last present didn't work out so well, but it still took a lot of convincing. They do look rather nice, though, and all of the dragons agree, although they could use more giant jewels and elaborate carvings. Possible of dragons. JEWELED DRAGONS.

It's also a strictly dragon-type thing to wear, and so Laurence can have additional qualms about that. He SLOWLY slides into dragondom, feeling uncomfortable the entire way.

Oh yes, Jane would lay off most of the teasing. Perhaps the first time she tried it didn't go over well? A joke in poor taste because it almost made Laurence cry but Laurence CAN'T cry anymore and that makes him even more sad? But I'm sure that as Laurence grows more comfortable with things she will start to break out a few more jokes.

"I can use that as a starting point for Tem, and then a huge leap forward for Laurence." I look forward to see how you'll approach this. XD

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure that Laurence has all sorts of problems now with seniority. Should he be treated as a young dragon, which he is in skill? According to his experience in the aerial corps? As a member of a branch of the military/navy? His actual age? Does he have an actual rank anymore OH NOEZ"

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.

"Exactly. Temeraire wanted to give him a present because he loves him and also because the last present didn't work out so well, but it still took a lot of convincing. They do look rather nice, though, and all of the dragons agree, although they could use more giant jewels and elaborate carvings. Possible of dragons. JEWELED DRAGONS." Laurence: (face-forefoot) There doesn't seem to be a universal term for reptile feet, except FEET, but that doesn't always seem accurate. He manages to convince them that he likes simplicity (and the dragons: ???)

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.

"It's also a strictly dragon-type thing to wear, and so Laurence can have additional qualms about that. He SLOWLY slides into dragondom, feeling uncomfortable the entire way." That's precisely it-- they're made for CLAWS. People don't wear those, he's not a person anymore, exactly... it's hard, but Tem was fussing so.

"Oh yes, Jane would lay off most of the teasing. Perhaps the first time she tried it didn't go over well? A joke in poor taste because it almost made Laurence cry but Laurence CAN'T cry anymore and that makes him even more sad? But I'm sure that as Laurence grows more comfortable with things she will start to break out a few more jokes." Oh, yes, I can see that. Nothing beyond the usual, but it HURTS and he's too damn polite to make her stop, so it takes a few seconds of realizing that she's wounded him, badly, but he lets her apologize and she stays with him for a long time. 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.

"I look forward to see how you'll approach this. XD" 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.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"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

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"...That idea you have for Jane and Laurence. ;_; TRAGIC. Gah. Please write it." I really wish I could draw it. She's out there with him for hours on end and neither has said a word, and finally she asks if it would be wrong to suggest that they can fly together. Excidium has already promised to not be jealous, and she'd rather not deal with the rest of the covert for a while. This story is turning LONG, but if I really wanted drama, then Jane is rather unexpectedly pregnant. (Again.) She would have told him if she'd stopped the herbs, but it seems that the last batch the aviator women bought up was ineffective. I'm not sure if that would be too much of a distraction, but it would take Jane out of the picture for a while in a way that battles alone couldn't. (Their kid eventually would end up on Temeraire, I think, quite happy to be Flight Officer or whatever title they like-- in charge of the men aboard the dragon and yelling the signals.)

Laurence sketches out adaptations to the battle plans with his claws in soft earth. His suggestions are MUCH better now that he can see for himself where the weak points develop.

"Oh yes. I imagine he has some dragony instincts but still thinks a LOT like the human he used to be and so sometimes the two sets of instincts don't really combine well. ;)" Oh yes. It takes half of forever for him to work out the dragon instincts for attraction--Temeraire is the only dragon he could ever feel that way about, and he wastes a few minutes fussing over ethics before realizing that Tem has NEVER had an issue with knowing what he wants.

"Also, now they HAVE to bring a Chinese cook along because there's NO WAY that Laurence will eat raw meat." I think it becomes necessary, at least once. It's harder than almost anything else--harder than missing thumbs, not as hard as losing Jane utterly. Granby would wipe him down personally, hang anybody that tried to help, and promise that Laurence is the most unnaturally neat dragon he's ever met. (At that point, all are quite used to Tem entirely curling around Laurence at night, and no one ventures close enough to eavesdrop when Tem's up at least two hours talking like Laurence used to do.) The crew is rather terrible cooks, but several manage to learn so that they can occasionally convince the Chinese fellow to cook for one so that Laurence can have a proper English meal.

It might even happen in China, just for the full "what do we do now?" effect, maybe as they're leaving. Lien could swing it, I think, and she's exactly the type of character to think that's a reasonable option to "the emperor adopted that creature? I'll show THEM."

"The only other fic I've read with dragon!Laurence (which was, admittedly, a dream sequence) had Laurence as a Flamme-de-Gloire because of his French ancestry. (In this one scribbled fic outline I wrote which involved dragon!Laurence I made him a Flamme-de-Gloire, too, because that involved additional misunderstandings in people thinking he was on the other side. Oh wait, come to think of it... I actually wrote out quite a bit of that one! ... Unfortunately, I can't send it to you yet because it contains spoilers of books three through five. >_> ) But yeah, I think that it would make more sense to have him be some sort of French or British dragon if you want his new body to reflect the old."

Any details I should know about Flamme-de-Gloire? I need to read through a second time for details, there's a whole lot to remember in this series. I'd like a midweight, definitely, and it would be nice if I had a shot at keeping Laurence's eyes and maybe a lighter tone--there's not much dark on or in the man.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"and finally she asks if it would be wrong to suggest that they can fly together. Excidium has already promised to not be jealous." Aww... Yeah, this would make an excellent piece of fanart, too, but I really like the idea of Jane flying with him.

Also - another child? Laurence has a human son? ;_; (PROOF THAT HE ONCE WAS HUMAN) But yeah, I like this idea. A bit more drama, does take her conveniently out of the picture for a bit, and I like your idea of the kid captaining Temeraire. (You could even make the baby a girl? Because women should be able to captain badass dragons beyond the few breeds that only accept women?)

"Flight Officer or whatever title they like-- in charge of the men aboard the dragon and yelling the signals." Ooh... I like this idea! A compromise that Temeraire and Laurence come up with, because nobody will be captaining THEM...

"Laurence sketches out adaptations to the battle plans with his claws in soft earth. His suggestions are MUCH better now that he can see for himself where the weak points develop." Aww yeah. Perhaps he and Temeraire, both the only literate dragons in Europe, could also come up with an alternate writing system that works better with claws? It could just be a different alphabet "font" that is less curvy and more spiky and thus easier to write... and for other dragons to learn? They could teach the others! Literacy is a useful skill. ;)

"It takes half of forever for him to work out the dragon instincts for attraction--Temeraire is the only dragon he could ever feel that way about, and he wastes a few minutes fussing over ethics before realizing that Tem has NEVER had an issue with knowing what he wants." Aww... :D (Male dragons in a relationship! I'm sure that if anybody (human) objects, Temeraire could just squash them. What are you going to do? Laurence isn't really a part of society anymore ANYWAY, and I think that the vast majority of the aviators could be brought around to the idea...)

"I think it becomes necessary, at least once. It's harder than almost anything else--harder than missing thumbs, not as hard as losing Jane utterly. Granby would wipe him down personally, hang anybody that tried to help, and promise that Laurence is the most unnaturally neat dragon he's ever met." Aww, yes please... <3 I'm sure that when the transformation first occurred (presumably in China? Where there are more supplies?) and Laurence was still adapting, he ate cooked food, but I suppose once they have to make their way across Asia and Europe privations/lack of supplies/lack of ability to make a cook fire because they're in enemy territory will force Laurence to eat raw meat and I'm sure it's quite traumatizing for him because it's like giving up something that was still HUMAN, one of the few things he has left... It feels like a defeat.

"At that point, all are quite used to Tem entirely curling around Laurence at night" ;_; Aww, yes, please! That would ALSO make an excellent piece of fanart.

"The crew is rather terrible cooks, but several manage to learn so that they can occasionally convince the Chinese fellow to cook for one so that Laurence can have a proper English meal." YES PLZ. I'm sure that Laurence appreciates any efforts that they make.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

It's an entirely unusual circumstance, and Excidium didn't seem quite so possessive of his captain. He's probably rather approving of the sailor-human that made Jane happy, and quite aware enough to know that it would be difficult to belatedly become a dragon. (New thought-- do NOT try separating Tem and Laurence in formations, Tem will NOT approve.)

Pregnant!Jane is also out of the war after a certain point, which means that it's all the more urgent that Laurence get trained up even faster than Temeraire-- Laurence has seen all the formations and has the general sense, and he was a captain of a ship. He can manage to be a very, very fast learner, even if he never will keep up with Tem's languages.

Plus, "your daddy is that dragon over there. It's a long story." I do think it would be freaking adorable if they had another little girl, and they could name her after Laurence's mum because the woman was awesome (and would again travel up with a proper escort to go visit son and grandchild.) Plus, if they have a girl, and Tem will only accept Laurence's child... they'll lose a Celestial if they don't give in, and Tem has already utterly destroyed the idea that seniority always means first shot. The dragons can mind the little one at first, and then the dragon will have an array of options that the human and dragon leadership approve of-- Rankin and his ilk will not be allowed near a dragon, hang the nobility.

The types to accept "Flight Officer" care about the DRAGON, not the rank. They're much better fighters. I think Laurence might have been able to force himself to take a captain (instant demotion, to the military mind), but Tem won't hear of it. (Tem because typing out the full name every time makes me run out of characters.)

"Perhaps he and Temeraire, both the only literate dragons in Europe, could also come up with an alternate writing system that works better with claws? It could just be a different alphabet "font" that is less curvy and more spiky and thus easier to write... and for other dragons to learn? They could teach the others! Literacy is a useful skill. ;)" I do think Tem will invent it, with frequent contributions from Laurence-- it starts as a rather fast plan to give Laurence SOMETHING to do besides sit quietly and try to not look unhappy.

The aviators are rather disappointed to not have eggs from either of them, I'd think, but... huh. Animal husbandry might kick up a few notches, if they could do a bit of artificial insemination. There are a few awkward points (the lucky human in charge of gathering the-er- sample from Tem, probably with Laurence right there, the lucky people in charge of inseminating the quite obliging female dragon), but... my friend's done AI with stallions, if I wanted to be way too accurate I could ask.

I do think he's changed in China, on his way out. Lien's revenge, she's cold enough for it to fit.

";_; Aww, yes, please! That would ALSO make an excellent piece of fanart." Nobody dares make a comment about it, even if Lily laughs when nobody's around to gossip about lovesick young ones.

"YES PLZ. I'm sure that Laurence appreciates any efforts that they make." Laurence tells them to not be silly, he can eat burned meat. He ate burned meat quite often as a human, thank you, and his digestion is much more hardy now.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"(New thought-- do NOT try separating Tem and Laurence in formations, Tem will NOT approve.)" Oh yes. I'm sure that someone will try at some point, probably because Temeraire and Laurence would both have firepower (divine wind and FLAMES respectively), and so by rights they should both be split up into different formations... but of course they won't have ANY of that. They fly surprisingly well together considering Laurence's messed up human instincts.

"Pregnant!Jane is also out of the war after a certain point, which means that it's all the more urgent that Laurence get trained up even faster than Temeraire-- Laurence has seen all the formations and has the general sense, and he was a captain of a ship. He can manage to be a very, very fast learner" Oh yes! (Although I'm sure that this isn't the first time this has happened to the captain of a Longwing, so perhaps they have a system of acting captains in place for maternity leave?)

Also, yeah, Laurence would be the only Flamme-de-Gloire in existence who can't really speak French. Or can only mangle it.

"Plus, "your daddy is that dragon over there. It's a long story."" XDD VERY long story. On the plus side, this kid will grow up believing in magic?

"ild.) Plus, if they have a girl, and Tem will only accept Laurence's child... they'll lose a Celestial if they don't give in, and Tem has already utterly destroyed the idea that seniority always means first shot." EXACTLY. And like you said, now they have a check-and-balance system so the Rankins of the world will never again get near dragons.

"hang the nobility." OR SQUASH THEM. I'M SURE THAT TEMERAIRE WOULD VOLUNTEER TO DO THE SQUASHING.

"The types to accept "Flight Officer" care about the DRAGON, not the rank." VERY TRUE. Also, Flight Officers would get valuable experience in a possibly not-so-permanent position, so they're poised, like Granby, to take a dragon's egg.

"I think Laurence might have been able to force himself to take a captain (instant demotion, to the military mind), but Tem won't hear of it." Oh yes, Laurence is just the type to martyr himself, but Temeraire and others work hard to break him of his harmful self-sacrificing tendencies. THEY HAVE TO STICK TO THEIR GUNS. NO CAPTAINS FOR THEM.

"I do think Tem will invent it, with frequent contributions from Laurence-- it starts as a rather fast plan to give Laurence SOMETHING to do besides sit quietly and try to not look unhappy." And sighing every so often. (Possibly his sighs involve some smoke, so you can see his melancholy in manifested physical form drifting above the treeline in the covert.) He needs to stop moping and take some action!

"my friend's done AI with stallions, if I wanted to be way too accurate I could ask." Woah, really? How far back does this kind of thing go? /morbidly curious.

"Laurence tells them to not be silly, he can eat burned meat. He ate burned meat quite often as a human, thank you, and his digestion is much more hardy now." Oh yes, they should stop being so silly. He does miss potatoes, a bit, because trying to actually cook up enough to actually give him more of a taste is a bit of a ridiculous undertaking.

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[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

Found a spoiler. I just wanted a couple details, but... Jane WAS.

"Oh yes. I'm sure that someone will try at some point, probably because Temeraire and Laurence would both have firepower (divine wind and FLAMES respectively), and so by rights they should both be split up into different formations... but of course they won't have ANY of that. They fly surprisingly well together considering Laurence's messed up human instincts." Temeraire is brilliant at compensating for Laurence's odd behaviors, and Laurence knows just which ideas Tem will get in his head. They'd be much, much less effective if apart.

" Oh yes! (Although I'm sure that this isn't the first time this has happened to the captain of a Longwing, so perhaps they have a system of acting captains in place for maternity leave?)" I would imagine so, yes--Excidium will accept her lieutenant as acting captain, so long as all understand that he WILL be having his proper captain back in time. I'll still get Jane to meet his mother, even if I will have to name Lady Allendale unless she has a Christian name anywhere. Probably Margaret.

"Also, yeah, Laurence would be the only Flamme-de-Gloire in existence who can't really speak French. Or can only mangle it." OMG yes!! It pains Tem a little ("really, Laurence, this is one language that we should spend time on"), but Laurence simply has no interest in that sort of thing.

"XDD VERY long story. On the plus side, this kid will grow up believing in magic?" That kid has the oddest habit of checking through her meal as if there'll be something that isn't meat or vegetables, nobody gets it.

"EXACTLY. And like you said, now they have a check-and-balance system so the Rankins of the world will never again get near dragons." The dragons quite like this new plan, even the little ones like Volly agree to help enforce it.

"OR SQUASH THEM. I'M SURE THAT TEMERAIRE WOULD VOLUNTEER TO DO THE SQUASHING." THEN HE'D MAKE QUESTIONABLE-LOOKING OFFICERS CLEAN OFF HIS FOOT.

"VERY TRUE. Also, Flight Officers would get valuable experience in a possibly not-so-permanent position, so they're poised, like Granby, to take a dragon's egg." Right! They're used to changing companies, and later they'll be quite familiar with several types of dragons. (The older dragons have a conference about just which fellows are suitable for guiding a young dragon. Some should only be posted when the dragon is fully mature, some are fine at any age.)

"Oh yes, Laurence is just the type to martyr himself, but Temeraire and others work hard to break him of his harmful self-sacrificing tendencies. THEY HAVE TO STICK TO THEIR GUNS. NO CAPTAINS FOR THEM." Tem has it down, and Jane is quite sharp on the subject. 'Of course we shan't subject Captain Laurence to a demotion for circumstances quite beyond his control. Lieutenant Granby has quite correctly offered to continue his work as Laurence's superior officer, and you cannot deny they have been effective together. Now, let's spend our time finding someone suitable for Temeraire.'

"And sighing every so often. (Possibly his sighs involve some smoke, so you can see his melancholy in manifested physical form drifting above the treeline in the covert.) He needs to stop moping and take some action!" OMG YES, and he only does that when he thinks he's alone-- Jane says it. 'You were sighing again, Laurence, and it's... well, you exhale smoke as you do, so it's no use hiding about in the woods. Then we know that you're unhappy and too noble by half to inflict the emotion on us as a friend ought.'

"Woah, really? How far back does this kind of thing go? /morbidly curious." Um... not sure on the full history, but I'd bet they had it in the 1800s? /just checked. First recorded thing in Western history was in the 1400s. It was in medical literature in 1790, and we have a winner.

"Oh yes, they should stop being so silly. He does miss potatoes, a bit, because trying to actually cook up enough to actually give him more of a taste is a bit of a ridiculous undertaking." They'll do it back at the covert in an absolutely massive pot. It takes the better part of two days to heat that much water, but asking Laurence to do it would spoil the surprise.

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[beboots.livejournal.com]

Clearly you must read faster so that there will no longer BE any spoilers! ;) (I read the first four books in like eight or nine days. >_> Didn't get much else done during that time. D: )

"Temeraire is brilliant at compensating for Laurence's odd behaviors, and Laurence knows just which ideas Tem will get in his head. They'd be much, much less effective if apart." Precisely. They already know each other really well.

"Excidium will accept her lieutenant as acting captain, so long as all understand that he WILL be having his proper captain back in time." Perhaps this can also be the germ of the idea of using a different term, like "Flight Officer", for a person who has slightly different responsibilities?

I really, REALLY want Jane to meet Lady Allendale, now. >_> It would be a clash of cultures, I think, but still epic.

"It pains Tem a little ("really, Laurence, this is one language that we should spend time on"), but Laurence simply has no interest in that sort of thing."
It's kind of in vogue to disdain French things. During the Napoleonic wars it was considered unpatriotic in Britain to drink Champagne or French wines, so everyone drank port from Portugal and such instead. On some level it can be the same kind of attitude with Laurence. ;)

"That kid has the oddest habit of checking through her meal as if there'll be something that isn't meat or vegetables, nobody gets it." XD OMG YES. Perhaps someone pranks her at some point and actually puts something in it...?

(I also have an idea for where you can begin the timeline so they're in England, but you'll have to get to the end of book four, first. >_> )

"THEN HE'D MAKE QUESTIONABLE-LOOKING OFFICERS CLEAN OFF HIS FOOT." AS A WARNING TO THE OTHERS.

"'Of course we shan't subject Captain Laurence to a demotion for circumstances quite beyond his control." And then Jane would stare them down until they agreed. And I'm sure that because it's the family honour at stake they can perhaps bring in Lord Allendale to help with this. This is a political thing! No son of his will be demoted for something like this!

MOPEY LAURENCE IS A SMOKING LAURENCE. I'm sure he's mortified about it.

"It takes the better part of two days to heat that much water, but asking Laurence to do it would spoil the surprise." Aww... perhaps he was feeling particularly down about something and Temeraire, Granby and Jane organized it for him to cheer him up?

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[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

Spring break is next week. No classes, no tests, and all I need to do is be sure to see my friends at some point. Sean especially needs minding, FAR too many near-death medical experiences.

"Perhaps this can also be the germ of the idea of using a different term, like "Flight Officer", for a person who has slightly different responsibilities?" Quite probably. Jane has no patience for all this nonsense about demoting a man back down, which would show in his record no matter the cause, so she appoints him flight officer on her way in to see Laurence. Tem immediately adopts the term.

"I really, REALLY want Jane to meet Lady Allendale, now. >_> It would be a clash of cultures, I think, but still epic." I think they're headed up in the same transport. Lady Allendale heard a lady was being escorted up and hopped right in, it takes Jane ages to work out what's going on, and "Christ in heaven I am pregnant with this woman's illegitimate grandchild." Laurence hears first, of course, and then his mother is quite surprised but then immensely pleased she'll get a grandchild from him after all. (She expected his life to be odd and a little lonely, and Ms. Roland was good conversation.)

"It's kind of in vogue to disdain French things. During the Napoleonic wars it was considered unpatriotic in Britain to drink Champagne or French wines, so everyone drank port from Portugal and such instead. On some level it can be the same kind of attitude with Laurence. ;)" Right! He speaks it out of necessity, but will NOT see any beauty in the language. (In time, Tem will despair and teach him Latin instead, so he can at least understand more French.)

"XD OMG YES. Perhaps someone pranks her at some point and actually puts something in it...?" Something like a rock. She freaks out, and then the unfortunate miscreant has BOTH Tem and Laurence cornering him/her and explaining (politely, with many teeth showing) that they are to leave Maggie be. She checks her food carefully because her father was lost to them that way. (It's a closely-guarded secret then that Laurence used to be human, and even more that he's Maggie's father. She's blond, I think, like her dad.)

End of book four, got it. I do have a good opening scene, I think-- Laurence wakes up feeling like every single muscle and sinew hurts, with Tem around him, but something is WRONG and it all falls out from there. That might be a quick prologue to keep people interested through the bit of exposition necessary to establish setting.

"AS A WARNING TO THE OTHERS." HE HAS NOT EXCLUDED TRYING TO EAT LATER MISCREANTS-- "TRYING" BECAUSE THEY ARE LIKELY ROTTEN TO THE CORE.

"And then Jane would stare them down until they agreed. And I'm sure that because it's the family honour at stake they can perhaps bring in Lord Allendale to help with this. This is a political thing! No son of his will be demoted for something like this!" His son's official status might be very questionable, but he will NOT see his boy demoted for some attack by the French.

"MOPEY LAURENCE IS A SMOKING LAURENCE. I'm sure he's mortified about it." That might be Jane's joke, that he's blowing smoke and how can a bright yellow dragon expect to be subtle, but... oh dear, the poor man is badly hurt by that, so she soothes him.

"Aww... perhaps he was feeling particularly down about something and Temeraire, Granby and Jane organized it for him to cheer him up?" I think so. They turn into the triumvirate of people most likely to be around Laurence. Emily's rather cute about it, and spends a week learning how to tie a cravat so that she can sneak it into drying him one day-- they got her a nice great long towel, she ties it up as a neckcloth, and he probably laughs for the first time in ages. (Emily is the envy of all of Laurence's admirers for that, and Jane takes her out for a celebratory dinner after Tem's taken charge of Laurence again.)

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[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Quite probably. Jane has no patience for all this nonsense about demoting a man back down, which would show in his record no matter the cause, so she appoints him flight officer on her way in to see Laurence. Tem immediately adopts the term." Quite possibly she just throws up her hands at any objection and is like "Whatever! We just have to call them SOMETHING!"

"Lady Allendale heard a lady was being escorted up and hopped right in, it takes Jane ages to work out what's going on, and "Christ in heaven I am pregnant with this woman's illegitimate grandchild."" XDD It is difficult to get Jane stunned wordless, but I think this would do that, for at least an instant or two.

And Jane I'm sure makes very INTERESTING conversation. XD

"(In time, Tem will despair and teach him Latin instead, so he can at least understand more French.)" OMG yes. Although wasn't it Laurence who taught Temeraire Latin in the first place? Not that Laurence was very good at it, but he did try so that they could read the Principia Mathematica together, did they not? Maybe Spanish. Or Italian?

"It's a closely-guarded secret then that Laurence used to be human, and even more that he's Maggie's father." Nobody tends to ask questions about natural-born children in the aerial corps. Few people seem to make inquiries about Emily's father, anyway, so why should Maggie by any different?

"That might be a quick prologue to keep people interested through the bit of exposition necessary to establish setting." Ooh, good plan: start in media res, then go back and explain things. Too much exposition too fast can turn some readers off.

"That might be Jane's joke, that he's blowing smoke and how can a bright yellow dragon expect to be subtle, but... oh dear, the poor man is badly hurt by that, so she soothes him." XD I laughed. LAURENCE YOU MUST ACQUIRE A SENSE OF HUMOUR OR GROW A THICKER SKIN. It will take a long while, I think.

"they got her a nice great long towel, she ties it up as a neckcloth, and he probably laughs for the first time in ages." Aww... what a nice image! XD

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"It might even happen in China, just for the full "what do we do now?" effect, maybe as they're leaving. Lien could swing it, I think, and she's exactly the type of character to think that's a reasonable option to "the emperor adopted that creature? I'll show THEM."" How are you thinking of managing it? I had a thought - because it'll probably have to be some sort of magical object, perhaps that gift that Temeraire picks out for Laurence from among his mother's hoard? It could be a giant pearl, because Temeraire remembered that story told in canon about the human who was turned into a dragon by swallowing a pearl, only IT ACTUALLY IS THAT PEARL or something?

...And in this situation, of course, Temeraire could have the actual guilt of being the cause of his captain's distressful situation, and Laurence, KNOWING THIS, tries to act less miserable than he actually is, and, well, misunderstandings all around? Until someone like Jane smacks some sense into them both? (Because there are still a limited number of human beings in the world who would physically assault a dragon. Jane is one of the rare few.)

As for details about this particular breed... There is a Temeraire wiki, probably sanctioned by the author, because there's a link on her website). You can see the wiki here: http://temeraire.org/wiki/Main_Page
And the website here: http://temeraire.org/
There is a beautiful drawing of a Flamme-de-Gloire on its page (third one down): http://temeraire.org/wiki/Flamme-de-Gloire

The wiki does a good job at breaking down all of the breeds, with images, known members of the breed, etc. Be warned, though, because there will be spoilers on this site. Not on the page for this particular dragon breed, though. It only has a brief blurb on common tactics used by the French to disguise them because of their value.

The advantage of the Flamme-de-Gloire is that they are yellow (and Laurence is blond?) so there's a similarity there... and I'm sure you can just wave your hand and make his eyes blue. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"How are you thinking of managing it? I had a thought - because it'll probably have to be some sort of magical object, perhaps that gift that Temeraire picks out for Laurence from among his mother's hoard? It could be a giant pearl, because Temeraire remembered that story told in canon about the human who was turned into a dragon by swallowing a pearl, only IT ACTUALLY IS THAT PEARL or something?" I was thinking a forced transformation thanks to Lien, but using the pearl would be quite nice. Maybe the hired cook that they lost.

I have not at ALL settled on a timeline. I want to start it much, much closer to England, to not be reinventing the wheel by writing the entire cross-Asian journey with an extra dragon.

"...And in this situation, of course, Temeraire could have the actual guilt of being the cause of his captain's distressful situation, and Laurence, KNOWING THIS, tries to act less miserable than he actually is, and, well, misunderstandings all around? Until someone like Jane smacks some sense into them both? (Because there are still a limited number of human beings in the world who would physically assault a dragon. Jane is one of the rare few.)"

Jane would beat a dragon into submission without breaking a sweat, easy, because she'd Look at them as she did it. Temeraire would feel terrible, and Laurence would try even harder to not show that he's at all upset, and it would take Jane AND Granby to sort it out again. (Granby hasn't been able to fix it. He takes the matter to Jane, and is quite mortified to break his captain's confidence.)

Wikis are fun, fun things to have around.

"The wiki does a good job at breaking down all of the breeds, with images, known members of the breed, etc. Be warned, though, because there will be spoilers on this site. Not on the page for this particular dragon breed, though. It only has a brief blurb on common tactics used by the French to disguise them because of their value." Fine with me, I can skim around suspicious-looking spoilers.

"The advantage of the Flamme-de-Gloire is that they are yellow (and Laurence is blond?) so there's a similarity there... and I'm sure you can just wave your hand and make his eyes blue. ;)" Laurence is quite blond, and I love him enough to put blue on a yellow dragon. (Blue and yellow are the colors of rather despised university rivals. My uni has green and white.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Lien is quite villainous. She could perhaps be involved somehow... perhaps planting the idea of giving the pearl in Temeraire's mind, or ensuring through the cook that it gets swallowed?

"I have not at ALL settled on a timeline. I want to start it much, much closer to England, to not be reinventing the wheel by writing the entire cross-Asian journey with an extra dragon." That's a good point. It could happen closer to Turkey or something. ;) That way you can have Tharkay there too! ...Also, read faster. ;) There may be other options later on for the timeline. ... Also, if you want the Jane-is-pregnant storyline it may have to happen in England itself because they were gone an awful long time in China...

"it would take Jane AND Granby to sort it out again. (Granby hasn't been able to fix it. He takes the matter to Jane, and is quite mortified to break his captain's confidence.)" Aww yeah. Granby tried very hard, but he's brave enough to admit defeat and seek help. The combined stubbornness of Temeraire AND Laurence is a high mountain to climb.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Lien is quite villainous. She could perhaps be involved somehow... perhaps planting the idea of giving the pearl in Temeraire's mind, or ensuring through the cook that it gets swallowed?" I think it happens back in England to make my life easier, and I can tweak events as necessary-- at least NEAR England, maybe even partway through Black Powder War. Laurence flies unharnessed for that fight, they pretend he's one of the promised dragons, and Tem might need to stage "losing" his captain on a flight so that the Prussians don't get it.

"That's a good point. It could happen closer to Turkey or something. ;) That way you can have Tharkay there too! ...Also, read faster. ;) There may be other options later on for the timeline. ... Also, if you want the Jane-is-pregnant storyline it may have to happen in England itself because they were gone an awful long time in China..." I'm working on reading faster, I have three exams this week and was at a dance half of yesterday and once in a while I sleep. Not often, though, I've been an insomniac most of this month. I read 85% of the first book overnight when I couldn't sleep at all.

"Aww yeah. Granby tried very hard, but he's brave enough to admit defeat and seek help. The combined stubbornness of Temeraire AND Laurence is a high mountain to climb." Especially since they're so desperate for the other to be happy. Jane can badger Laurence into 'manning up' (purposely chosen to make him snap into a reaction) and admitting that it's disappointing to not have thumbs and to miss out on all the pleasures of being human, even in exchange for the new fun of having wings. Tem can stop thinking it's his fault whenever Lien does something particularly nasty or it will be a VERY long war.

(Also, all of Tem's tendrils... Laurence just might have forgotten. Tem's the bigger dragon, which makes it quite easier for Laurence to curl under him again, and Laurence might not realize that he has an... effect. Quite early on, but Tem is patient for once in his life, because Laurence would be upset and confused and still thinks of himself as a person. Tem decides to wait until being a dragon in the morning isn't a surprise, and also because Jane firmly told him that if he pursued his interests now, he would force Laurence to run from him, or WORSE, to not run because he'd do anything to make Tem happy. That makes Tem behave himself quite well, because that would be a horrible thing to do.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Laurence flies unharnessed for that fight, they pretend he's one of the promised dragons, and Tem might need to stage "losing" his captain on a flight so that the Prussians don't get it." Oh yeah, that would probably work... :3 (I want to ask a question but I have to wait until you've finished the third book. Curses!)

I totally know how you feel about too much stuff going on. I'm starting to feel a BIT panicky about my papers... stuff is steadily getting done, but the due dates are approaching fast...

"Tem decides to wait until being a dragon in the morning isn't a surprise" What a lovely way to put it! :) I also like the tendril idea... :3 Laurence has a lot on his mind and it wouldn't be COMPLETELY unreasonable for him to have forgotten...

"WORSE, to not run because he'd do anything to make Tem happy. That makes Tem behave himself quite well, because that would be a horrible thing to do." Oh god that would be heartbreaking. T_T I'm sure even Temeraire's reaction to Jane's suggesting that would be horrifying, too.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah, that would probably work... :3 (I want to ask a question but I have to wait until you've finished the third book. Curses!)" I'll let you know when I get to the end of the third/random point of the later books.

"What a lovely way to put it! :) I also like the tendril idea... :3 Laurence has a lot on his mind and it wouldn't be COMPLETELY unreasonable for him to have forgotten..." Especially as Tem's head is OVER his, and reptile anatomy isn't immediately as obvious as mammalian, and Laurence isn't thinking much of it. He's rubbing the top of his head on Tem's chin, and it isn't as if Temeraire minds. (Tem will just need some nice rocks. Laurence would be mortified beyond measure if (anyone knew that) he needed the same thing.)

"Oh god that would be heartbreaking. T_T I'm sure even Temeraire's reaction to Jane's suggesting that would be horrifying, too." I think Tem might lash out at first, because he would NOT harm Laurence and how could she say such things, but Jane stands her ground and THEN Temeraire is absolutely horrified that he might have harmed Laurence so badly and had no idea of what he'd done.

That would be the hyper-depressing outtake. "If Jane had been gone/had died here/something had happened that she couldn't talk sense into them." Lily and Max are lovely, but they're not nearly so perceptive, and Tem's a bit clouded by "MY captain" and "what a lovely dragon" and "odd, I used to think Mei was quite pretty, but he is a wonderful color." Laurence is a martyr until it is bodily forced out of him, and they're rather exhausting to live with.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Aww... yeah, Laurence would be just in it for the platonic comforting huggles... and then we can see the tables being turned and having TEMERAIRE act stoic and knowing more about the situation and trying to act with propriety, not the other way around for once. ;)

" I think Tem might lash out at first, because he would NOT harm Laurence and how could she say such things, but Jane stands her ground and THEN Temeraire is absolutely horrified that he might have harmed Laurence so badly and had no idea of what he'd done." Yeah, I can see Temeraire being defensive about it because of COURSE he would NEVER harm Laurence... but Jane is telling the truth.

"odd, I used to think Mei was quite pretty, but he is a wonderful color." I love this thought. Please include it at some point. What does Temeraire find particularly attractive about this dragon!Laurence? ;)