To Take is Not to Give (3/?)

[lareinenoire]

Title: To Take is Not to Give (Part III of ?)
Author: lareinenoire
Play: 3 Henry VI / Richard III
Characters / Pairings: The York family, the Neville family, eventual Richard/Anne, Edward/Elizabeth
Rating: PG13
Wordcount: 4236 (Part III only)
Warnings: Violence (mostly offstage), character deaths, profanity. In this section, excessive quotation of Machiavelli

Comments

[17catherines]

Oh, I do *love* this.

[lareinenoire]

Thank you! I'm having a great time writing it (even when timeline issues tie my brain in knots). :)

[assimbya]

This section is just a delight to read - it moves so smoothly and easily, yet still each corner of it seems full with intriguing details. You're doing a wonderful job developing Anne and Richard's relationship slowly, with care, which keeps it completely believable (I particularly love Anne not blushing, and her face turning to a 'shuttered mask'). In this part, your characterization of Warwick stood out particularly - you do a lot with a character who woucld easily become a mere tool for the plot's advancement. Wonderful job.

[lareinenoire]

I am so relieved the pacing came out properly -- it felt as I was writing it that everything I write consists of people having long, involved conversations with one another and nothing actually happening.

Warwick is incredibly fascinating to me -- I honestly believe that, despite everything Richard says and despite everything everyone says about him, Warwick is probably the closest thing to a true Machiavellian in the entire tetralogy. He's completely amoral, switches sides whenever he wants, and really seems to be in it for the power and self-aggrandizement, unlike Richard, whose reasons are a lot murkier (at least I think so). And he fits shockingly well into this particular time period.

Thank you so much!

[elviaprose]

This is just wonderful! I can't wait for more. I think I'm a little bit in love with Dickon...

[lareinenoire]

::evil grin:: Um. If it's any consolation, I've had a rather shameful crush on his Shakespearean incarnation for years now...

Very glad you're enjoying! He's a blast to write.

[speak_me_fair]

*purrs like a cat on catnip*

Mmmmmm. Oh, the imagery! Elizabeth's frown, Ned's dryness, the whole fest of idiocy that is the shooting party, Anne's furred collar (I want!) and this in particular:

"It certainly does not seem so. Margaret Lancaster," he paused, gauging the other man's reaction and finding disappointingly little, "is many things, but tractable is not one of them."

"Dickon, do stop dancing about."

"But it's the only way for me to dance."

HEE. You win.

[lareinenoire]

::grin:: The shooting party really is on par with one of Baldrick's Cunning Plans, isn't it?

Very glad you enjoyed it (and also, yes, 1930s fashion is FULL of win).

[gileonnen]

Finally had a chance to read this, and goodness, it's perfect--the lot of it, perfect. It reads like original fiction, all sharp detail and careful spinning-out of plot and character. Excellent work.

Additionally, your language is just gorgeous here. All of Richard's sharp little puns and your careful adoption of the language of the place and the period, and the way you couch observations of people as though they can be at once detached and deeply personal.

[lareinenoire]

observations of people as though they can be at once detached and deeply personal.

That's one of the things I've found really fascinating about Shakespeare's Richard -- he's so good at hitting people where it hurts, and the reason he's good at it is his ability to regard them, flaws and all, with detachment. The only exception, as far as I can see, is Elizabeth, who he continually underestimates because he's too busy condemning her as a parvenu.

Thank you so much!