How to Tie a Cravat, and 13 Thermidor

[simply_kelp]

I just found this comm tonight. I do so adore the Scarlet Pimpernel (despite chère Margot, and the Baroness’ dodgy writing…). I come bringing two fanfiction:

Title: How to Tie a Cravat: or how the Scarlet Pimpernel was successfully able to seduce Armand Chauvelin in one-hundred words exactly.
Author: Simply Kelp
Pairing: hinted Pimpernel/Chauvelin

Comments

[madeleinestjust]

Welcome! As posted on ff.net, I really like your style - it's very blunt! - but why do you hate Marguerite? Not that everyone must like her, of course, but is it because she is surplus to your AU, or is it her character? How did you first discover the fandom?

I'll stop with the survey now, just curious!

[simply_kelp]

Hm, I suppose it's mostly the Baroness' incessant attempts to try to convince us that Margeurite's a good character. I don't really like being told which characters I should like (since I generally like the ones you shouldn't like...). I like her in the movies, &etc. well enough. I guess it's just the fact that I get the impression from her prose that the Baroness is making Margeurite as an author-insertion... And why are all the male characters (and maybe Suzanne...) in love with her, anyway? *shrugs

[madeleinestjust]

I don't really like being told which characters I should like (since I generally like the ones you shouldn't like...)

Do you know, I'm usually like that, too - I fight against 'worthy' characters, and refuse to read 'cult' titles (like The Da Vinci Code) - but I have never had any issues with Marguerite. I probably should have - she is definitely a proto-Mary Sue - but perhaps I also like her because she is everything I'm not, as well as everything that the Baroness wanted to be. I love her, really - she's beautiful, popular ... French ... and married to a wealthy man who loves her, and is also her romantic hero! I would probably have found it more realistic if she wasn't so universally well liked - I can imagine that there would have been some bitching behind her back! - but I do appreciate how she is also very flawed. She did denounce the Marquis de St Cyr, despite what the films insist to the contrary, and did so out of spite - he embarrassed her family, and she nursed a grudge for four years until she could get her revenge! She

[simply_kelp]

My brother says that I have a pathological obsession with hating main characters; which isn't exactly true... I like Dantes from Count of Monte Cristo (but he's not your average goody-goody MC)... So that probably explains part of why I'm not fond of Margot.

I didn't remember that she denounced St. Cyr four years later... Maybe I should reread the book; I'm very fuzzy on the details (and that would probably help me to get more ideas for writing!). And I'll have to check out Eldorado. (Is that the one I've heard about where Armand mysteriously ages backward?)
<3Kelp

[nitrusoxide]

I loved them both, great stories, I was surprised by the writing style at first but ultimately I really enjoyed it. I must admit though, it leaves me wanting for more. I've had trouble tracking down any good Percy/Chauvelin...