MAES 7: Family Ties

[renaiya880727]

AN: O’Brian never gives us a definitive description of Jack’s father. The one I include in this tale is how I always pictured him when I read the books. Nor does he mention much about Jack’s mother. Therefore, the details I have included are largely extrapolation from the various clues spread throughout the series, or plain invention. I chose

Comments

[esteven]

Oh, you described Jack's father perfectly. That is exactly how I'd picture him from the few things O'Brian lets us know.

I am so glad Jack and Stephen were together.
*hugs them both*

I also found the mention of Uncle Fisher interesting and wrote two little fic under the title of Chaconne/No Chaconne. *slinks away*

[renaiya880727]

I was a little worried about including Jack's father as a major character in a fic, because on the one hand I didn't want to go against what little POB did say about him, and on the other I knew people would have their own mental images. I'm glad my version pleased at least one person!
BTW, I have your Chaconne fics on my favorite links list!

[esteven]

General Aubrey has never been known for tact, but was rather described as a blunderbuss, so you were perfectly in keeping in your description. So was your mention that the second Mrs Aubrey liked to keep to her bed until midday. :D

Awwwwwww *blushe*

[gairid]

I do so enjoy when someone fills in missing bits of treasured literature and in this you have done a particularly fine job. Though we know from Mr. O'Brian that Jacks father was a disagreeable sort, you filled in the blanks admirably. I also liked the use of portraits as a way for Stephen to examine the past and in seeing it, understand Jack that much better.

Very well done!

[renaiya880727]

I'm glad you think these appropriate fill-ins. Considering the knowledgeable fans this community has, I was more than a little worried that I would step on a few toes by daring to add to anything POB wrote.

[alltoseek]

We are always happy to have characters that POB only sketched more fully drawn for us - though now I am thinking I'm rather glad we did not see more of the General - Mrs Williams was bad enough, we did not need more horrible old parents! *shudders*

Both Jack and Stephen are captured perfectly here - Stephen was taking quite a chance with his French; most gentlemen and ladies of the time learned to speak it (sort of) but I expect Stephen didn't care if he was understood - rather relieved his spleen a bit, I'm sure!

Jacks' simile is very fitting (or not, ha ha ha! :-) and about the bed - I think at one point we hear of Jack sleeping in a standard-sized cot aboard ship, even though he was too big for it and couldn't lay down flat; he stayed in the usual size because it was what he was used to and you know about Navy sailors and change - they don't like it! But it still makes perfect sense for him to offer the bed to Stephen, in any case.

Thank you for writing this - excellent work!

[rifleman_s]

”Stephen laughed too. “She must have been an uncommon woman Jack. The sort of person everybody would be better off knowing.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, you certainly don’t take after your father.”

This series just gets better and better - and this was so imaginative and thoughtful. Jack obviously has very fond memories of his mother, even though he speaks of Queenie rather more, but yes as you say, the General was always quite remote.

I’ve always imagined General Aubrey looking (and sounding!) like Nigel Davenport . . . (ignoring the shirt and tie, of course, and imagining the red uniform!).

[renaiya880727]

Oh my goodnees. That picture is almost spot-on with how the general appears in my head, only the general has longer hair and is a little chubbier.

[rifleman_s]

Great minds think alike!!