AND NOW THE ENDLESS LINKS; and a Gen/Costis summary of the King of Attolia
In which there is massive linkspam and much talk of BOOKS and works by people who write them.
1. Now that demoerin and also amandes have read the Queen's Thief series (glee), I can talk about The King of Attolia! To protect everyone else who wishes to avoid spoilers, I'm going to talk about it in the last point on this post.
2. Most of the fanfiction for the Thief series out there revolves around the main pairing (which is sadly not my cup of tea), but the works I do like are all gen (ha ha) and are:
a. (Spoilers for the first book only) rosalui's The Nature of a Thief: Gen backstory. Gen's first riding lesson is HILARIOUS.
b. (Spoilers to the third book) Ten Gold Cups: Costis makes good on his promise.
c. (AU, spoilers to third book, major character death) cast me gently into morning: AU, major character death, Attolia POV, heartbreaking. I do not think this is a story fervent canon fans will like (I can hear the cries of omg never!!! from here), but I liked it well enough.
3. This is from way back when, but I keep forgetting this is the reason I started reading Temeraire in the first place, so: naominovik held The Ultimate Genre Crossover Challenge, and lacewood won it (and an autographed copy of His Majesty's Dragon) with a long way to sangre. I might not even have read the book had she not lent it to me (I know, the horror, the horror). Now I own my own set and have bought it to gift it to others on grounds of YOU MUST READ THIS, HERE, HAVE IT I KNOW YOU WILL LIKE IT (I have not been wrong there).
4. sarahtales posted a short story set during The Demon's Covenant, Nick and Jamie Go To The Movies (Part 1) and Part 2. I love these two interacting. The second book really made me a very, very happy Nick/Jamie shipper (in this regard, the first book made me happy, second made me happier still). She also has a post on visiting Egypt, which is hilarious, and tells you how ancient Egyptian pharaohs were all about the if you like it, you should('ve) put a plaque on it.
5. SPOILERS for The King of Attolia BEHIND CUT.
The Summary of My Favourite Scenes in The King of Attolia; also known as:
The Tale of the Tsundere Bodyguard and his Apparently-Clueless Boss
I can tell you that I really, really love the apparently-clueless boss / tsundere bodyguard pairing in The King of Attolia (third book). (I am so predictable!) I do not care in the least if no one I know IRL ships it, I know I am not alone.
ANYWAY. I may have mixed up the order of some dialogue within scenes, as my books are not with me - I have lent them out to inflict them upon others.
Gen: *is full of apparent fail*
Costis: What is my life. I punch the King in a moment of OUTRAGE and I am sentenced to be his bodyguard. He is a clown and a fool and HE DOESN'T EVEN ACT LIKE A KING. Also, have I mentioned he has USURPED THE THRONE AND THE KINGDOM by COERCING our Queen into marrying him?
Gen: *is full of even MORE apparent FAIL*
Many things happen; in which Costis starts to realise that Gen is human too, and almost against his will starts to sympathise with him.
Also, in the background, Something There (That Wasn't There Before) is playing.
And then there is an Assassination Plot against Gen, and Costis is the only one who realises it - when Gen has been isolated and in a perfect position to be attacked.
Costis: Everybody knows he is full of fail and could be disarmed with a child with a butter knife! EVERYBODY! TO THE KING! TO THE KING!
Costis: *runs to Gen, praying Please let him be okay. Please let the little bastard be all right. Let me be wrong, let me look like a fool, but keep him safe, ten cups on your altar if he is safe.*
Costis: *gets to Gen, who is safe*
Gen: lol Costis
Assassins: *STEP INTO VIEW, OUTNUMBERING GEN*
Gen: *KILLS THEM ALL, but is stabbed*
Costis: *thinks about how he will take his entire life to pay for the ten cups*
Gen: *is bleeding*
Costis: I'LL GET THE TEN CUPS I PROMISE
Gen: ... Costis I just need some help getting up the stairs.
Gen: Silver? (re. the cups)
Costis: *obstinate* Gold.
Gen: I thought you hated me.
Costis: I DO.
Costis: *muses Odd how you can hate someone so much, yet be so devoted to them at the same time*
Gen: So what did you ask for? Was it to keep me from getting hurt? Because this hurts.
Costis: I'm not sure. I think I prayed you would be safe, your Majesty.
Gen: ... that's more difficult. I'll have to die for you to be free of your promise.
Gen: ... I'll get the treasury to cover that.
Costis: *is really kind of overwhelmed* Thank you.
Palace Retinue and Many Hangers-On, Noble and Otherwise: *CROWD AROUND GEN AND COSTIS*
Costis: GET OUT OF THE WAY
Palace Retinue and Many Hangers-On, Noble and Otherwise: *CROWD CLOSER*
Costis: *shoves some-person-or-other out of the way to clear space for Gen*
Gen: lol did you know that was the Baron such-and-such you shoved into the flowerbeds.
Costis: I DO NOT CARE!
Gen: lols
Costis: OH MY GOD COULD YOU AT LEAST ACT LIKE A KING; WHAT IS MY LIFE
Gen: lol your FACE
Gen: *is patched up, and goes to sleep*
The Queen (a.k.a. Gen's wife): Costis, watch him.
Costis: *watches Gen sleeping*
Gen: *wakes up, looks around, peers at Costis*
Costis: Go back to sleep.
Gen: *does so*
Palace maid: ... It's the first time I've ever seen him do as he's told.
Costis: I just told him to do what he would have done anyway.
Palace maid: That would be the trick.
And then, the morning after, Gen dismisses Costis from his service and sends him back to his original post.
Costis: D: *obeys*
Costis: *is the subject of several assassination attempts, but is oblivious*
And then one night, Gen decides to go parkour-ing about the palace rooftops while he is drinking.
Costis: *is shaken awake*
Gen's attendants: Please save us! We will be eternally grateful.
Costis: GO TO HELL; HE IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS.
Guard on duty: Costis, please, if he falls off the roof we will all hang.
Costis: ... All right. But I name my price.
Gen's attendants: Anything! Everything! Just get him off the roof!
Costis: *approaches rooftop!Gen gingerly*
Gen: Ah, Costis. I was just thinking of you, and here you are. I should have known they'd drag you out of bed.
Costis: Could you please come down, your Majesty.
Gen: Costis, do you want to know what I'm thinking?
Costis: Only if you are thinking about coming down.
Gen: Is that a sense of humour, Costis?
Costis: ...
Gen: I had thought that being dropped like a used glove would protect you, but it seems it has not.
Costis: *is deeply confused*
Gen: It is dangerous to be seen as the confidante of the King. So tell me, had any fun assassination attempts lately? Seen any falling roof tiles lately?
Costis: ... How did you know?
Gen: It's a really common method of assassination. Stray arrow at the water-butts? Fights breaking out when you're in the tavern?
Costis: ... you really are all-knowing!
Gen: No, I had two trustworthy men follow you around. But they can't protect you all the time.
Gen: *leaps from rooftop to rooftop, DEFYING GRAVITY*
Costis: Oh, my God.
Gen: Oh, my God. You should call on the God appropriate to the occasion.
Anyway, Gen nearly falls off the roof and is saved by his God. I suppose you could call it a deus ex machina moment.
Gen: *falls towards Costis*
Costis: *catches him*
And for one moment:
Costis: *doesn't let go*
Gen: *doesn't push him away*
- THE END OF MY Gen/Costis SUMMARY of King of Attolia -
And also, hee.
1. Now that demoerin and also amandes have read the Queen's Thief series (glee), I can talk about The King of Attolia! To protect everyone else who wishes to avoid spoilers, I'm going to talk about it in the last point on this post.
2. Most of the fanfiction for the Thief series out there revolves around the main pairing (which is sadly not my cup of tea), but the works I do like are all gen (ha ha) and are:
a. (Spoilers for the first book only) rosalui's The Nature of a Thief: Gen backstory. Gen's first riding lesson is HILARIOUS.
b. (Spoilers to the third book) Ten Gold Cups: Costis makes good on his promise.
c. (AU, spoilers to third book, major character death) cast me gently into morning: AU, major character death, Attolia POV, heartbreaking. I do not think this is a story fervent canon fans will like (I can hear the cries of omg never!!! from here), but I liked it well enough.
3. This is from way back when, but I keep forgetting this is the reason I started reading Temeraire in the first place, so: naominovik held The Ultimate Genre Crossover Challenge, and lacewood won it (and an autographed copy of His Majesty's Dragon) with a long way to sangre. I might not even have read the book had she not lent it to me (I know, the horror, the horror). Now I own my own set and have bought it to gift it to others on grounds of YOU MUST READ THIS, HERE, HAVE IT I KNOW YOU WILL LIKE IT (I have not been wrong there).
4. sarahtales posted a short story set during The Demon's Covenant, Nick and Jamie Go To The Movies (Part 1) and Part 2. I love these two interacting. The second book really made me a very, very happy Nick/Jamie shipper (in this regard, the first book made me happy, second made me happier still). She also has a post on visiting Egypt, which is hilarious, and tells you how ancient Egyptian pharaohs were all about the if you like it, you should('ve) put a plaque on it.
5. SPOILERS for The King of Attolia BEHIND CUT.
The Summary of My Favourite Scenes in The King of Attolia; also known as:
The Tale of the Tsundere Bodyguard and his Apparently-Clueless Boss
I can tell you that I really, really love the apparently-clueless boss / tsundere bodyguard pairing in The King of Attolia (third book). (I am so predictable!) I do not care in the least if no one I know IRL ships it, I know I am not alone.
ANYWAY. I may have mixed up the order of some dialogue within scenes, as my books are not with me - I have lent them out to inflict them upon others.
Gen: *is full of apparent fail*
Costis: What is my life. I punch the King in a moment of OUTRAGE and I am sentenced to be his bodyguard. He is a clown and a fool and HE DOESN'T EVEN ACT LIKE A KING. Also, have I mentioned he has USURPED THE THRONE AND THE KINGDOM by COERCING our Queen into marrying him?
Gen: *is full of even MORE apparent FAIL*
Many things happen; in which Costis starts to realise that Gen is human too, and almost against his will starts to sympathise with him.
Also, in the background, Something There (That Wasn't There Before) is playing.
And then there is an Assassination Plot against Gen, and Costis is the only one who realises it - when Gen has been isolated and in a perfect position to be attacked.
Costis: Everybody knows he is full of fail and could be disarmed with a child with a butter knife! EVERYBODY! TO THE KING! TO THE KING!
Costis: *runs to Gen, praying Please let him be okay. Please let the little bastard be all right. Let me be wrong, let me look like a fool, but keep him safe, ten cups on your altar if he is safe.*
Costis: *gets to Gen, who is safe*
Gen: lol Costis
Assassins: *STEP INTO VIEW, OUTNUMBERING GEN*
Gen: *KILLS THEM ALL, but is stabbed*
Costis: *thinks about how he will take his entire life to pay for the ten cups*
Gen: *is bleeding*
Costis: I'LL GET THE TEN CUPS I PROMISE
Gen: ... Costis I just need some help getting up the stairs.
Gen: Silver? (re. the cups)
Costis: *obstinate* Gold.
Gen: I thought you hated me.
Costis: I DO.
Costis: *muses Odd how you can hate someone so much, yet be so devoted to them at the same time*
Gen: So what did you ask for? Was it to keep me from getting hurt? Because this hurts.
Costis: I'm not sure. I think I prayed you would be safe, your Majesty.
Gen: ... that's more difficult. I'll have to die for you to be free of your promise.
Gen: ... I'll get the treasury to cover that.
Costis: *is really kind of overwhelmed* Thank you.
Palace Retinue and Many Hangers-On, Noble and Otherwise: *CROWD AROUND GEN AND COSTIS*
Costis: GET OUT OF THE WAY
Palace Retinue and Many Hangers-On, Noble and Otherwise: *CROWD CLOSER*
Costis: *shoves some-person-or-other out of the way to clear space for Gen*
Gen: lol did you know that was the Baron such-and-such you shoved into the flowerbeds.
Costis: I DO NOT CARE!
Gen: lols
Costis: OH MY GOD COULD YOU AT LEAST ACT LIKE A KING; WHAT IS MY LIFE
Gen: lol your FACE
Gen: *is patched up, and goes to sleep*
The Queen (a.k.a. Gen's wife): Costis, watch him.
Costis: *watches Gen sleeping*
Gen: *wakes up, looks around, peers at Costis*
Costis: Go back to sleep.
Gen: *does so*
Palace maid: ... It's the first time I've ever seen him do as he's told.
Costis: I just told him to do what he would have done anyway.
Palace maid: That would be the trick.
And then, the morning after, Gen dismisses Costis from his service and sends him back to his original post.
Costis: D: *obeys*
Costis: *is the subject of several assassination attempts, but is oblivious*
And then one night, Gen decides to go parkour-ing about the palace rooftops while he is drinking.
Costis: *is shaken awake*
Gen's attendants: Please save us! We will be eternally grateful.
Costis: GO TO HELL; HE IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS.
Guard on duty: Costis, please, if he falls off the roof we will all hang.
Costis: ... All right. But I name my price.
Gen's attendants: Anything! Everything! Just get him off the roof!
Costis: *approaches rooftop!Gen gingerly*
Gen: Ah, Costis. I was just thinking of you, and here you are. I should have known they'd drag you out of bed.
Costis: Could you please come down, your Majesty.
Gen: Costis, do you want to know what I'm thinking?
Costis: Only if you are thinking about coming down.
Gen: Is that a sense of humour, Costis?
Costis: ...
Gen: I had thought that being dropped like a used glove would protect you, but it seems it has not.
Costis: *is deeply confused*
Gen: It is dangerous to be seen as the confidante of the King. So tell me, had any fun assassination attempts lately? Seen any falling roof tiles lately?
Costis: ... How did you know?
Gen: It's a really common method of assassination. Stray arrow at the water-butts? Fights breaking out when you're in the tavern?
Costis: ... you really are all-knowing!
Gen: No, I had two trustworthy men follow you around. But they can't protect you all the time.
Gen: *leaps from rooftop to rooftop, DEFYING GRAVITY*
Costis: Oh, my God.
Gen: Oh, my God. You should call on the God appropriate to the occasion.
Anyway, Gen nearly falls off the roof and is saved by his God. I suppose you could call it a deus ex machina moment.
Gen: *falls towards Costis*
Costis: *catches him*
And for one moment:
Costis: *doesn't let go*
Gen: *doesn't push him away*
- THE END OF MY Gen/Costis SUMMARY of King of Attolia -
And also, hee.