Writing Home

[eglantine_br]

Title: Writing Home

Author Eglantine_br

Rating G

Word Count 375

Pre-Cannon Edrington

Writing Home

'Dear Mama,'

Percy paused a moment to taste the butter yellow of the words. The words for her on the page were the same as her voice, her presence. This was not the case with everyone. But his mother was always the same-- yellow and butter.

Comments

[rikibeth]

Interesting. I definitely agree, about the things he knows, and can't put in a letter to his mother.

Of course I'm curious, now, about what year it is, and where he's stationed. I have my own thoughts about that, given the conflicting evidence of book and movie. I know more about where he'll be, given the regiments that get named.

But yes. There are things he knows, under that cool exterior, that he doesn't choose to speak about very often.

It'll be worse for some descendant of his, a hundred years and some hence. :(

[eglantine_br]

I am not sure where he is. But it is hot. India, maybe? I find the Army rather confusing, and the 95th foot especially so. But it seems that they got around, in those days more than we might expect. The travel time did not deter them.

Edrington seems to have had plenty of experience before we meet him. And his attitude to war seems to be almost one of resignation. He is going to do a good job, but he has few illusions.

As for the next century, men like Edrington, and Pellew, would have never fallen for the 'home by Christmas' idiocy.

[rikibeth]

Best I can tell, there WASN'T a 95th Foot as such before 1800. Book has him in the 43rd Foot. Neither of which, of course, was anywhere near Quiberon.

Interestingly enough, the 43rd was merged with the 95th Light Infantry around 1803. So there's every reason to expect that he'd have had a chance to meet a certain badass rifleman by the name of Sharpe!

I wasn't even thinking so much of "home by Christmas" as I was of the sheer horror of poison gas and "over the top."

[eglantine_br]

Yeah, I got that about 95th foot too. And had the same thought about Sharpe. I do not think Sharpe would warm to him right off, but they might come to understand each other in time. Two badass guys of few words!

[anteros_lmc]

This is a lovely little vignette that speaks volumes about Edrington. I wonder what war felt and tasted and sounded like to him? He must have learned to shut it out. I agree that there is something particularly resigned about Edrington's attitude in The Frogs and the Lobsters. He expects ridiculous orders, incompetence and betrayal. Archie shares that resignation too, but at this stage I think it's still utterly foreign to Horatio.

[eglantine_br]

I think he shuts a lot out. You would have to learn to do that, with his condition, even a happy crowd would be overwhelming.

And you are right, of course about his resignation. I keep seeing him say: 'whatever he is, he is no soldier.'

Horatio is innocent as a puppy in comparison. Percy and Archie each like Horatio better than they like each other.

[anteros_lmc]

I keep seeing him say: 'whatever he is, he is no soldier.'
Gosh yes I'd forgotten that line.

Percy and Archie each like Horatio better than they like each other.
Perhaps they recognise that they both know the truth about war? After all he's seen and all he's suffered, I've often wondered if Archie felt that continuing to fight for "King and country" was a betrayal of that truth? Poor Horatio learns the truth about war by the end of the Quiberon campaign too.