Solstice Present

[rix_scaedu]

I was reading aldersprig's story Secret Santa when I got the idea for this.  I think it must all have to do with the importance of rings.

Skeld was the only other staff member who’d stayed at entry level as long as she had but in his case it was because his grandfather had made a big, public song and dance about there would be no undue influence on his career

Comments

[aldersprig]

Wow. O_O

[rix_scaedu]

Which bit? Or just the general idea?

[aldersprig]

The whole thing! WOOOOOW!

(sorry, um, let's try that again.)

The mood is so well set that the direction-switch feels as whiplashy as it must feel to Rune. It's very well done.

[rix_scaedu]

Thank you.
Outfitting hands out props and new identity papers all the time, why would she think they were 'real'?

[lilfluff]

Who knows, she's short a family and Agent Graymalk is short a daughter. She might well get more invitations to brunch and the like even if the tests come back negative.

[kelkyag]

!!!

Is this the same universe as the one with the young woman who tried to stop an enemy agent/noble/officer from jumping over an airship railing, and the (a couple of generations later) all-female "support unit" with the unexpected snipers?

The Admiral's hesitation about his brother's "beloved" is interesting. One of their families disapproved? Inappropriate fooling around?

Interesting that Rune wound up in the same branch of the service ...

[rix_scaedu]

I don't think it's the same universe, unless it's a completely different country and possibly a different timeframe again...
You may have started something.

[kelkyag]

Is starting someting a good thing or a bad thing?

There's been no mention of House rings in the other stories, that I've noticed, and they are made much of here. War and noble houses and expectations of patriotic service at personal cost run through both, but those are all common enough themes that often show up together.

[rix_scaedu]

No mention of House rings in the other stories and them being a big deal here is why I think it would have to be a completely different country if it was the same universe.