Passionfruit 21, Papaya 30 [Divide and Rule]

[lost_spook]

Title: House/Home
Author: lost_spook
Story: Heroes of the Revolution (Divide & Rule)
Flavor(s): Passionfruit #21 (Once I spoke the language of the flowers), Papaya #30 (are you thinking what I’m thinking?)
Toppings/Extras: Gummy Bunny (500themes: #193 Calling you home) + Brownie + Malt - Birthday prompt ("Experience suggests it doesn't matter so much how you got here

Comments

[fachefaucheux]

Let your pieces run long! Long pieces are the best! Not that I'd be biased or anything about that. XD

This was full of so many nice little details--the exchange about the paint and the ink, changing the curtains in revenge, Harding being more alluring than Julia--you manage to work in humor so well without making the whole thing seem too throw-away, if that makes any sense. On the serious side, I especially liked the section about tempting fate; you conveyed Julia's fears/hopes just right.

Also--thanks for including the link to that book! I will have to remember it's there when I inevitably want to know what a flower means again and don't feel like digging through a million poorly designed websites looking for the answer.

[lost_spook]

Aw, thank you! :-)

I do default to long in my natural state (or orig fic state), but it's not terribly good for me at the moment. My stamina is improving again, though, both reading and writing, but it's very much a work in progress and I would help myself a lot if I managed to be shorter! (I do notice, via RaTs, though, that I've improved in both hugely just since last autumn, so it is something.)

Also I'm sorry, but I finally managed a pocky chain, so... ;-p

There were several Language of Flowers books on Google Books, but the others I found were US/French and I wanted to make sure I got something Victorian & British. Otherwise, this website seemed fairly reliable and comprehensive (it seems to have combined a lot of those book sources). It is fun, isn't it? They'd make a nice source for prompts in themselves, really.

[fachefaucheux]

Heh, if I managed to be shorter, I might be able to write more than 1 piece every other week...I get what you mean, though. Your shorts are also delightful. And no need to apologize for the pocky chain--those things are hard. I've been vainly poking at one for weeks. Buh.

I agree! I think there are some flower-themed prompt lists on the comm...knowing the meaning of them would probably make it easier to come up with pieces for them. XD

[roisin_farrell]

and she’d try everything else but words until she was ready.

That is so the story of their whole relationship in one little nutshell.

Great piece. :)

[lost_spook]

Aw, thank you! ♥

[oonaseckar]

It's odd that it's taken so long, but it occurred to me halfway through how insulated they both are, from what must be fairly repressive political and social conditions. Even Julia, as a revolutionary or co-traveller, by virtue of her association with Edward and the life they live. I don't mean it as a criticism of them: actually I think it's pretty realistic. It's easy to gloss over other people's discomfort or suffering when we're having a pleasant time ourselves.

They are very sweet, and she felt sure it was tempting fate: the roof would have fallen in on them. was damn funny. And I got caught up in their story and as I say it took me forever for it to occur to me that there are more things in life - and behind this story, in the background society - than thrilling emotional entanglements and social awkwardness.

So I can scarcely criticise them for it, especially when Edward's actually doing an important job and Julia's (quietly) fighting for truth and justice. Pot, meet kettle.

[lost_spook]

Thank you

[flowsoffire]

My runaway-OTP! :D And I'm very much loving the long pieces, btw. ♥ There's always more to explore about these two, always room for more lovely moments. I just love the way you handle them. The awkwardness on both sides and the confusion about their feelings was very moving here; I love Julia's nervousness about Mrs. Crosbie, and about doing changes in the house. Their conversations are always delightful, sensitive and witty (as your style typically is ;)), I love Julia's request of Edward ending rationing for her. And the awkwardness of his having lived in the house with Caroline before, of course. His wariness about her meeting Harding was also very interesting and rather moving. I love the scene in which Julia came to try and seduce him and it was the worst timing, poor thing, fate really was against her! Her anxiety when he returned ever so late, and the slight tension in the following morning's encounter, all that dancing around each other, were also very nice. I love the way you handled Julia's uncle and how terrible he was to

[lost_spook]

Thank you! (I was saving this comment up to reply to for ages, because it was so nice. ♥) I'm so very glad that you're still enjoying the fics & liking these two, as I'm also very fond of them too by now (as you can tell).

[flowsoffire]

I can tell indeed! :D They're wonderful! ♥