10 [Report This]Date: May 19, 2007 01:54 am Title: Chapter 12 - James the Reever's tale
I can't believe I found my self getting "dreamy" right along with Philomena at his story. lol. beautifuly written, as always.
Date: May 18, 2007 05:32 am Title: Chapter 11 - The tale of Progney and Philomene
You must away to Scotland where none should harm your pretty tongue.
Oh, that James is a sweet-talker. I'm enjoying this sooo much.
10 [Report This]Date: May 18, 2007 05:04 am Title: Chapter 7 - A meal amongst the savages
Ooh this is interesting. I have to admit (to my embarassment) that it's taken me several times re-reading things to fully understand what you mean, but I'm loving it it nontheless. Seriously, kind of feel a little smarter with each chapter. LOL. I am having a hard time distinguishing some of the characters. At first I thought Aethelinda was Angela (don't as me why, lol) but now with the Ki-wren I'm guessing Karen.
Also, I was amused to no end with the "Big Trout" joke in the previous chapter. It took me a moment, then I connected it. Andy-Jim-Big Trout -- duh,me. LOL.
Okay, I'm back to reading. Also, I would love a copy of the original chapter from Jim's perspective. Please? Pretty please?
justifiable_h0micide@yahoo.com <- (the "O" in homicide is a zero. sorry if that sounds like I don't think you could see that, but you'd be surprised at the people who don't. lol)
Date: May 17, 2007 08:08 am Title: Chapter 10 - Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages
squee! it's funny how in this context something so innocent produces the same reaction as flirting in other fics :) i love love love this and it's going great places. FINALLY they're alone together!!!
Author's Response: The medieval period is interesting because the concept of chivalry and the theory of love were just developing under the tutelage of that extraordinary 12th century woman, Eleanor of Aquitaine. I like the concept of knights on the fringe of society entering barbarous country and trying to mesh their code with the older codes of previous times. Flirting really only occurs when self-control is exhibited.... self-control was definitely not a virtue until the age of chivalry. Fascinating stuff.
Date: May 13, 2007 06:03 pm Title: Chapter 1 - A plague drove him forth
I wasn't saying that MTT readers aren't great, I was just saying that I was surprised that you don't have one of those little ribbion thingys (red or blue?) for this story. While I agree that you're getting a lot of praise. . .you should be getting so much more. And that's saying something. I meant that people who don't understand the middle ages, or are only on here for quick fluff/smut fixes probably wouldn't take the time to read this story, which is a real shame, because they're missing out.
Author's Response:
Oh, the ribbony things, LOL! I can't tell you how unenviable the job must be to work the MTT site, they get roughly 20 stories a day, 5 or 6 of which are DAMN good and they only give out the ribbon things like every 4 or 5 days. How they decide, I will never know. I know I couldn't do it.
Thank you for such the complements though. Like I said earlier I'm surprised at the number of people who are reading it and it makes me happy to know that there are people out there, like me, who find this stuff interesting. I think people who watch the Office are just more literate than the normal television viewer.
Date: May 13, 2007 11:17 am Title: Chapter 10 - Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages
He followed wishing to pledge his strong left arm, his good right eye, his bewitched heart, whatever part that she might have need of. Yeah, that's our boy, all right. *Swoon*
To answer your previous question, I specialized in Shakespeare (my favorite!), but I also adored my King Arthur class.
Author's Response:
Gah! Shakespeare! There's a field I could never do. Everyone and their mother has opinions on Shakespeare. I like stuff where everyone goes "Huh? 12th Century Hermetic Women's prophecies and axioms? Uh...have you read the Da Vinci Code? I think it mentions something about that."
I remember in college, I did this AWFUL paper on the theory that someone else wrote Shakespeare's stuff and I kind of drifted off into a mini-research paper on the Fairie Queene by Spenser and I realized that I didn't care who wrote Shakespeare's stuff because it's just plain good and that's an absolutely AWFUL conclusion for a research paper. My teacher was less than thrilled.
I have not read any of the Histories except against my will. But King Lear. Oh. My. God. And love, love all the comedies especially the dumb ones. Favorite - 12th Night. Makes me snort. OH! Taming of the Shrew.... so awesome. Wait! MacBeth and the ghost of Banquo scene....AAAAAH! Favorite line - Much Ado "The world MUST be peopled!" Best argument for sexin' up the local girls ever!
Date: May 13, 2007 12:51 am Title: Chapter 10 - Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages
In the 1st and 7th paragraphs and in the following "with hair in cloud ", you seem to be missing a lot of 'thes' and a 'her' and an 'a'. Some of this may be to give it more of an authentic feel, but then it's not consistent; there are a number of times you use 'the', and many you don't. I'm sure you haven't been doing this all along; (10 chapters in?) I would have noticed. (I'm really good at English; I know a lot of words. A lot.)
Does twould need to be 'twould?
His armor, as all could see, did gleam and showed well his prowess. Ooh. Prowess. (I don't know why that's affecting me that way.)
Merriam's lists reaver as a robber, not reever. No reever there.
He was on road to Balsall with the fairest daughter of Warborough and he knew not why. Because he has to find some way to take her back to his own town for some reason which you're going to tell me very soon. And he knows it's her because... Muggins, you look like you have something really important to say and you just can't for some reason.
I'm really enjoying this story, and how different your stories are from each other.
Author's Response:
I reread those paragraphs and I think you're right. Let's say I had low blood sugar and call it a day!
Reever is a spelling variant of the word Reeve. It's the person who keeps the peace for the local lord. The most important Reeves policed entire Shires from which we get the another spelling variant of Reeve - Sheriff. The nice thing about pre-dictionary days is that there are a lot of spelling variants. I love words. Love them!
Oooh, but REAVER!!! I forgot reaver... hmmm.... maybe I should change it, but no why would James father, a Reever of Aberfoyle name his son after a robber? But there's a crappy pun there waiting to be done.
"and he knew not why" I'll have to think of a way to make this more clear. He knows why she has to go on the road with him but he has NO idea why she is on the road with him. He thought he was going to have to abduct her and instead, like manna from heaven, here she is. And yes....I do have something really important to say but unfortunately the rules of jinx are unflinchingly rigid and so....
Date: May 13, 2007 12:20 am Title: Chapter 9 - An Irish knight amongst the cinders
...she spied James, son of Halpert astir, watching her. Um... I'll bet Jim has been astir many a time, watching Pam. (Quiet, you!)
The Scottish knight had donned not his armor. Only leggings he wore. The man upon the ground would have heard neither chink of armor nor trod of shoe.
I see that you've given us the description of James' partial nakedness so we will understand why he was so stealthy. I'm sure there was no other thought in mind. Well, maybe a few thoughts. Totally pure ones.
He was fair short and without the meat necessary to handle heavy lance. Okay, I could TWSS this, but I'd rather just say that I loved this turn of phrase. We'd never hear "without the meat necessary" in our current times - it just fits this story so beautifully.
What conniving question for a man who is found lost in forest like a babe. Wouldst the Lady truly wish a son-in-law who canna find the road home? Love this. And hey, I don't even have to ask you: I already knew about "canna".
“My family be the Howards of Kilkenny and I am not wed.” Are Dinkin Flicka and Bailey08 reading this? Because they should be now.
Now we have Scottish, English, and Irish, right? We need a nice Welshman to even things out. I'm enjoying this so much. I'm going to catch up on my reading on Mother's Day, I think, when I don't have to do any mothering (that's my present).
Author's Response:
One of my goals is to see how many times I can get James undressed. Seriously. For purely altruistic reasons. I can't think what they are at the moment....
Dinkin Flicka and Bailey08 may be a tad upset that I called Ryan short and low on 'meat'... hopefully the 'shiny armor' makes up for it. The ladies love them some nice 'shiny armor'.
There will be tons of Welshmen but then chi dalt fymryn bach, so just assume all the people talking jibberish in the background are Welsh. Especially the tenors.
10 [Report This]Date: May 13, 2007 12:08 am Title: Chapter 10 - Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages
Ya know, I find it a real shame that you aren't getting the praise you should for this story. Wow. I mean, Wow! As I've read over the last few chapters, I am amazed that you've been able to write like this. I don't think people realize how hard writing in this language is, and they probably shy away from it because they can't understand it ( I can bearly understand it). I'm still in awe.
Author's Response:
I am getting so much more praise for this story than I expected! Fact: MTT readers are great.That ANY of them are reading this astounds me. I think the majority of the people come here for light, fluffy pieces and nice, smutty stuff... I'm willing to bet no one has ever come to MTT thinking 'hmm, I wonder if there's anything about the Office but set in Middle Ages Britain!' This is definitely one of those things that I'm writing completely for my own pleasure.
10 [Report This]Date: May 10, 2007 11:11 am Title: Chapter 1 - A plague drove him forth
My boss would be sore distressed if she knew how much time I just spent reading this straight-through instead of working. My days as an English major are far behind me, but this brought them screaming back in a good way. Can't wait to see where you are heading!
Author's Response: Ooooh! English major! What was your speciality? Who are your favorite authors? I hope your boss has a sense of humor...
Date: May 09, 2007 09:41 pm Title: Chapter 9 - An Irish knight amongst the cinders
Hah! I like Lady Beesly--she reminds me of Mrs. Bennet of Pride and Prejudice.
So, Ryan cometh for his Kellieth...
Author's Response: Well, she and Mrs. Bennet certainly have a lot of things in common, five daughters who have no dowry, a husband who is not trying to find husbands for them, and an English country house! I adore Mrs. Bennet in all her hideous glory!
10 [Report This]Date: May 09, 2007 08:52 pm Title: Chapter 9 - An Irish knight amongst the cinders
A story that never should have worked, but in the right hands seems perfect. Thank you for writing this. I look forward to more.
Author's Response:
Thank you! I had been mulling over this for weeks and finally figured out where I wanted to set it in Britain and then everything came together!
Date: May 09, 2007 07:42 pm Title: Chapter 9 - An Irish knight amongst the cinders
Ryan!!! (not short, average, check your almanac!) Muggins, we are so lucky you have so many boring meetings!
Author's Response:
Actually if Ryan lived in Medieval England he'd be a giant. I just wanted to show that Philomena is comparing him negatively to James. Plus I love that Ryan is so sensitive about his height!
Oh god, I just got out of a meeting this morning where we discussed for an HOUR whether we should change the color of our Departmental Memos to make them look more historic. So no more white paper, now it's beige! Yeah. That was really necessary for me to sit through.
Date: May 08, 2007 06:20 am Title: Chapter 8 - They liest down to dream
This is so sweet and angsty--hey, just like seasons one and two!
Cultural Note: I had heard of the all-lying-down-together thing, but I had no idea that it was done naked! (Not doubting you, but just surprised.)
Author's Response: It is surprising and something that is glossed over. Another fun fact that they don't teach in school, rape was very, very common. There's a reason James is keeping his eye on Roy that night. That's also why he's worried about how well Lord Beasley keeps the peace in the town.... a stranger in town might be killed if they suspected he was fiddling with the local girls, and James is planning on fiddling with one of the local girls.
Date: May 07, 2007 09:01 pm Title: Chapter 8 - They liest down to dream
Did everyone really just strip and bed down in one big room? (And let the fornicating commence?) Wow.
So I was right that he wants to spirit her away. Go Philomena! Go James! Escape the drunken sot Roy. James had a horse, didn't he? Ride like the wind, to... Jamelot! Jamelot!
Author's Response: Yes they did. There's the cutest series of Illuminated Pages showing the artist's version of the King and Queen bedding down for the night and they're naked but still wearing their crowns! So cute! It's hard to realize but the majority of these people owned only one set of clothing. They wore it day in and day out. At night they would take off all their clothes so that they could 'air'. Laundry day was (at most) once a week and for the women that was when they also took their weekly bath. Clothing was worn as protection against the elements, not out of modesty. Modesty was an issue that came into its own much much later. Oh, and women and men didn't wear underwear (panties or BVD's) so rape was a huge, huge issue.
Date: May 07, 2007 07:26 am Title: Chapter 7 - A meal amongst the savages
Jim from Scotland?!?!?!?I love it!!!! This is awesome!!!!! Please continue!!!!!
Author's Response: More chapters are on their way!
10 [Report This]Date: May 06, 2007 06:39 pm Title: Chapter 7 - A meal amongst the savages
I really like this story. It's very well done. I am in awe that you are so good with making this story sound as if it really took place back in the middle ages. How did you do that, if I may ask? Did you read a lot of King Arthur? This is wonderful, and I am impressed.
I would also love the "Jim" chapter if you would be so kind.
gl_towers@yahoo.com
Author's Response: My real life job is. or that is used to be (I recently got promoted to a management position), writing reviews of new publications in the Medieval History field. So I read a lot of stuff.
Date: May 06, 2007 05:08 pm Title: Chapter 7 - A meal amongst the savages
aww! that last line is so sweet! i love how you've managed to bring in so many characters, and hold on to their personalities at least a little. this is really great fic! good job!
Author's Response: I'm fighting tooth and nail to keep some semblence of their personality. The one I'm dreading is Michael Scott. Honestly, he wouldn't have made it to adulthood in Medieval England... I'm going to have to make him super-rich and possibly mentally retarded to make it all jive. But at least I have a couple more chapters before I have to introduce him....
Date: May 06, 2007 03:22 pm Title: Chapter 7 - A meal amongst the savages
Is Anne the servant taking the food to Dwide Schruude? Whoever she's taking it to, she was pleased... hm. I'm intrigued.
I loved this line:
The connection between prayer at the Shrine of the Saint and a dessert of Damson plums was a difficult one to find, but they were willing to believe it be there.
You mean then, not than in the following line. I'm going to write something soon, and you're going to painstakingly search my stuff for errors, aren't you?
For all things are interconnected and if the monk's prayer had not happened than surely the plums would neither.
I love the line about Stanley not liking Aethelinda, and how he brings attention to Pam instead. In your face, Ki-wren!
The last line is so adorable. I love how James, son of Halpert has a soft spot (TWSS, but in a bad way!) for Philomena.
What are his intentions toward the fair lady? Could he please, please get her to run away with him? That Roy's a much bigger jerk than our Roy. I'd bet his beard is scruffy, too. He probably never bathes. Philomena, get thee to James' side!
Author's Response: I mix up 'than' and 'then' all the time when I'm typing fast. Thank you for catching that! All guys in the Middle Ages were bigger jerks comparatively. New age, enlightened guys would have been skewered by their mothers at birth.
10 [Report This]Date: May 06, 2007 10:32 am Title: Chapter 7 - A meal amongst the savages
Very clever and unique - good work!!
Author's Response: Thank you!
Date: May 06, 2007 10:08 am Title: Chapter 7 - A meal amongst the savages
I LOVE this story! You do such a good job of interweaving the themes of the show with the Middle Ages language and plot.
Author's Response: Thank you! It's really fun! I can't wait to get to the tournament!!
Date: May 06, 2007 05:28 am Title: Chapter 6 - To the health of Big Trout
You? are awe-some (Katy)
I think I like this even more than girly girl, which is saying a lot! I love your stories :-)
Author's Response: Wow! Thank you!
Date: May 05, 2007 08:21 pm Title: Chapter 6 - To the health of Big Trout
BIG TUNA!!
Author's Response: BIG TROUT!!
Date: May 05, 2007 03:12 pm Title: Chapter 6 - To the health of Big Trout
csme --> came
Okay, Roy's a big jerk. Did the word meathead come from mead? Roy's a meadhead.
James son of Halpert needs to get Pam away from that lunkhead. Forthwith.
Pam's mom is kind of a jerk too. This is not the mom from Sexual Harassment (Kevin: "MILF").
Author's Response:
Unfortunately, try as I might I can not make Pam's mom of today fit in with the Mothers of Medieval Time. I've given a lot of Pam's Mom from Sexual Harassment to Lord Beasley. That's the closest I can get.
Take into account this woman is facing serious, serious trouble. She has 5 daughters and no dowry for any of them. Her village is about to die from starvation. Historically the town of Warborough, seat of the Beasley family, disappeared during Victorian times when the last of Arden Forest was cut down to feed the growing Industrial Revolution. So you know (because you did the research right?) that I'm not going to kill off Warborough now.
Lady Beasley must get rid of her daughters who are nothing but a burden to the village. Once she has got JUST ONE married to someone important than she can quickly start getting her sons married off. She needs her sons to marry well and they'll only do that if they have important familial connections to make up for their lack of material wealth. Pam's mom is in severe panic. She is not evil. She is a victim of circumstance. As were most people in the Medieval age.
Date: May 05, 2007 03:00 pm Title: Chapter 5 - An unexpected bathing
This is so good. I love that they're talking, and it's so natural (every once and a while, I get to say that about the real show, too).
I found a few errors...
You have a little floating 'f' for a chapter note.
It was surely a griffon he fought. Some poor landsman’s guard dog. Do you mean not a griffon? (Do you want to fight a no griffin, because that's what we have.)
This may just be an old english usage, not an error. "Halpert willing gave him"
With "he said quietly with as little dignity", did you mean as much dignity?
"had now removed themselves and we’re drying by the cook fires" we're ---> were
“Oh, she is not so bossy as all." Do you mean 'at all', or do you really mean 'as all' like 'as all the rest'? Or is that an old English thing?
Okay, end of errors/error possibilities.
"Very well, I revoke that I called her bossy". So, I'll redact it then. So... no one will know who said it.
I liked Lord Beasley's "each has a place" speech.
Why does Brother Tobias not want Pam to be "the one"? I just realized Tobias = Toby. Duh. He's even got the tonsure. Ah, later he calls her a strumpet. So, she's a hussy. If James starts his lanky leaning, she's a goner.
And in the last 3 lines, we have the best/worst date at Cugino's all over again.
I'm really enjoying this. Does Pam perchance draw?
Author's Response:
Okay you are now officially my beta for all things non-girly girl!
The whole griffon-griffin-gryphon thing is a pun. Yep. That's right. A pun. Because those Medieval wags loved their puns. And so I had to do one little homage to the dying art of lameness. A griffon is an evil, little cur of a watchdog that was very popular at the time. Think of a black bulldog with blood on its mind. A griffin is an Assyrian ÐGreek/Latin/British mythical creature that has a lion (or tiger or leopard) body and a bird's wings and head (hawk or falcon or rooster or roc). The gryphon is the symbol used in heraldry specifically on the King of Scotland's coat of arms. It is a griffin but with a very specific, always the same, head. Gryffindor in Harry Potter is named after the Griffin. Griffin and gryphon are pretty much interchangeable now because no one gives a crap, but in Medieval times, a Gryphon was a very specific type of griffin. See ain't that hilarious? That's why I'm only doing it once.
with as little dignity That's what I originally had and then I changed it because of the nuance that I wanted to get across that he had few shreds of dignity to bring to bear with these women. He was humiliated to be undressed by strange women. It would be like a strange woman coming up and cutting his hair. Not done.
not so bossy as all is similar in meaning to your second suggestion: as bossy as all the rest. It's a medieval way of saying she is not as bossy as compared to all the women I have met, nor all the women that you have probably met, I wager. They pack a lot into a sentence but they had to. The entire old english catalogue of words is actually quite small and almost 90% of them are one-syllabled. Nuance and word order added a lot. And of course a lot of that is not translatable.
Brother Tobias does not want Pam (or any of the women who 'stole' his clothes without his leave) to be the girl that will accompany them for the next few weeks. He wants a nice, mild, quiet girl who won't make a fuss when she's abducted to go God knows where.
Pam would not have drawn. She would not have ready access to the materials to do that. She would not have paper or pen or pencil. There was no chance that she could read or write. I gave her an equivelant Medieval talent. She makes tapestries. This is actually one of the higher art forms of the period. Order of art durig medieval times - Gold and precious metalwork, gemwork and cameo cutting, stain glass, stone sculpture, ivory work, weaving tapestry, stained glass, illuminated manuscripts, wood inlay, frescoes, mosaics, wood sculpture, advanced needlepoint, wood panel painting, lace making, canvas painting, knitting, sketching and drawing. Give me an hour and I'll tell you why pressing flowers was considered more artistic than painting on canvas. It wasn't until the Renaissance that Canvas Painting became popular. Prior to that the only way a church would commission for a painting was if the painting would have LOTS of gold encrusted on it or if the church in question was really, really poor. Drawing has never really been popular. Respected & admired, sure... but there's never been a huge fad where EVERYONE is talking about it. Famous sketchers... Durer... Van Gogh a little... uh da Vinci's notebooks.... uh.... flipbooks?