Challenge 17: Lovesick

[epea_pteroenta]

Title: Perfect Health
Author: Silvestria
Rating: G
Character/s: Richard Carlisle; implied Richard/Mary
Word count: 300 exactly!

First time writing from Richard's POV so we'll see how this goes!

Comments

[bsg_aussiegirl]

I can so hear Richard's voice as I read this. And yes, I totally think he's in love with Mary, not just her title.

For all his faults I like him a lot. I think because he's such a strong character with a strong personality. Perfect for fanfic! (Says a girl who has never written him!)

[epea_pteroenta]

Oh thank you! I'm glad you could hear Richard coming across here.

And I agree. I do think he was in love with Mary and he is a very appealing character (as a character to explore).

Thank you for commenting!

[mrstater]

This is lovely! You've really captured here what I think was Richard's fatal error, believing Mary (or perhaps women like her, in generally) didn't want romantic platitudes, so he held his cards too close to his chest when he might have gotten very different results if he'd played them. *weeps for what might have been*

[epea_pteroenta]

Oh thank you so much! As the queen of Richard/Mary your support means a lot to me! I agree completely with your comment on that aspect of Richard's character and I think to a certain extent he's right. I don't think Mary is the kind of girl to fall to romantic platitudes - she must have heard a lot of them from men who just want to marry an Earl's daughter and not her. But where he goes wrong is in thinking that this means no romance at all is preferable. And I think if Mary hadn't been so utterly devoted to Matthew throughout their acquaintance she might have bothered to encourage him to meet him half way which is, after all, where the fun is to be had.

(I'm with Richard - dialogue about the moon and June and that kind of romantic sensibility is boring. But with a little compromise on both sides, as you say, how much there could have been!)

(Also, if my icon was facing the other way then our icons could be having a rather entertaining conversation together!)

[mrstater]

where he goes wrong is in thinking that this means no romance at all is preferable.

And I think the real tragedy in that is when we get that little reveal in the end that Richard has been in love with her the whole time (or almost the whole time) and probably isn't averse to a bit of non-cliched romance, himself. It's right there in how stiff and awkward they can be with each other at times, as if he's holding himself back from acting on impulse. A LITTLE KISS, SIR, WOULD NOT HAVE GONE AMISS.

[epea_pteroenta]

PREFERABLY NOT ACCOMPANIED WITH THREATS. Because that was just not romantic and neither enjoyed it at all. (I can't believe Richard did either because it was all about exerting power.)

But the more he saw he was losing Mary, the worse his technique was getting as he used all the wrong means in an effort to regain control and influence over her in a kind of panic. Whereas if he had put his cards on the table and allowed himself to open up to her a bit then... Well, there'd always have been Matthew but maybe - oh well; there's an AU in there somewhere I'm sure!

[northeto]

This does feel very much in character for Richard Carlisle. He has that certain type of determination of character and directness which comes through strongly in this.

Your icon seems apt as well, if a bit alarming (but that's part of the Richard/Mary interaction, their personalities are both so strong one is never entirely sure that an alarming situation will not arise).

I do like the mental image of Carlisle overcoming illness through sheer force of will. I'd believe it.

[epea_pteroenta]

Thank you so much for you comment! And I did have to think hard about what icon to use because I don't have a Richard one. I thought an ambiguous and slightly menacing one but which had hints of love in it would be a good one! :)