More than kisses, letters mingle souls - for rthstewart

[nfe_gremlin]

Title: More than kisses, letters mingle souls
Author: athousandwinds
Recipient: rthstewart
Rating: PG
Possible Spoilers/Warnings: The Magician's Nephew
Summary: Digory comes home from the war, but Polly is still fighting hers.

Comments

[rthstewart]

This is amazing. You are amazing. First off, I adore the fake telegrams. However did you manage that?

You capture Lewis’ voice beautifully from the very beginning. In the first paragraph, with that narrative, omniscient point of view, it wonderfully captures the spirit, tone, and writing of the Chronicles.

And then, oh Polly. In prison. Again. I cannot tell you how much I adore this. It is perfect and historical and wonderfully researched and for a young woman who has stared down Jadis and seen a world born, Polly would indeed take very, very strongly to women’s suffrage. She would feel it acutely and embrace it as her cause. And, Digory, well, if Uncle Andrew could vote, he would, as you say, have issues with the sensible women about him who could not.

So you must understand that he was much nettled by the prospect of waiting more than a month to see his greatest friend, when he had only just come home from the war (and with a commendation!). This is what I mean about the brilliant voice. It is wonderful.

And so much love for Letty as well, who sides with Polly. “good for her” indeed (even if she does end up going in the wrong direction in her article).

Oh, the pig reference. So very, very perfect. His whole visit to her in prison, and really, Digory as the sort of befuddled pursuer - he likes her better than anyone else, but nowhere is the mention of romance and squishiness. I don’t “ship” Polly and Digory except precisely in this way - as coming to some understanding simply because of expectation and that no other person could possibly do except the other and other some extraordinary terms that could make no sense to anyone else except to them.

I adore how Polly and Digory are both so scandalously modern that she writes to him of birth control in 1919! In a letter from prison! But there’s a certain poignancy too. He has asked her to marry him; she has refused. And somewhere it must hurt, a little. They are so smart and so clever and so honest, and I love them both, and they love each and really aren't quite sure if they can love each other in that way.

Digory gets out of a jam!!!! Down his shirt! You are brilliant!
Digory, with the self-consciousness of impending humiliation, felt the sticky scone begin to work its way slowly down his spine. <3 so much love for their poor, awkward, painful fumbling not-a-romance.

And at least Digory is able to say something in writing that he could not quite manage in person. Polly’s response, via telegram is the topper to a brilliant piece. She objects to marriage on political grounds!! She is "fond" of him, but signs it Love Polly.

This is brilliant and I adored it and I am so fortunate and grateful that you wrote this, whoever you are. Thank you for a lovely, lovely piece.