#poor fred

[the-sassy-shell]

[scooby-doo-where-are-you69]

[genesisgrey]

Silly story about Halo fanfic for April Fool's Day. College AU.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64348390

[too-antigonish]

They come at you through what you love...Pt. 2

Last Thursday Thursday I wrote about how “They come at you through what you love,” and the three times that phrase is used in Endeavour—starting back in S1...

*long post*

I talked a little bit about Morse and @astridcontramundam, @thewatcher98, and @fanficrocks had some great insights about about how Morse never seems to see himself as included within anyone's circle of love.

I don’t think though, that I was very clear about the last point I tried to make. I said:

“every once and a while it strikes me again that so much of this show is about a very simple premise: It explores the idea that love and connection are what make you most vulnerable to the evils of this world. At the same time, they are also the things that make life worth living and that give us strength.  So how do you live that terrible paradox—with both of these things being true at the same time?  And how do you respond when your love is used against you?”

The person I was actually thinking about most there was not Morse, but Thursday.

This is a man who at his core is a guardian. His primary mission in life is to take care of the people he’s supposed to take care of. He wants to love and protect. Especially these people...

But from the very beginning, his love is weaponized against him. His relationship with Mickey Carter and his desire to protect his family are used initially to drive him out of London.

Oxford is hardly more safe. Everyone seems to realize that threatening Thursday himself is pointless. You have to get at him through what he loves. And so they threaten his family and they threaten Morse.

And then they secure further leverage via his loan to Charlie which places both his job and his marriage--the very foundations of his identity--at risk.

What makes it all the more difficult for him is that he is constantly navigating between worlds--often opposing worlds.

He grew up as an East End barrow boy with an alcoholic father. He was raised to watch out for his own.  Now he’s a fairly well-off suburban father in academic Oxford with a job that in some sense makes him responsible for the entire community.

He was raised with violence, and by all accounts was involved in brutal campaigns and resistance work in WWII.  Fists were an accepted part of the game when he started policing. It’s not his first resort, but it’s a tool he uses.

Now Morse is trying to pull him away from that. Morse says he’s better than that--but he’s genuinely torn. What happens if the bad guy gets away with it because they didn’t have the nerve to “do what had to be done?”

One of the most poignant examples to me is when Charlie asks for the loan. While Win and Fred’s marriage looks dated to contemporary eyes, it’s notable for the time to see them making decisions mutually as a couple and to see them being fairly open in talking to one another.

But when Charlie asks for the money, there’s a sense that Fred’s immediately back in the world where he grew up—a world where consulting your wife about anything is akin to asking her “permission.”  It's also a world where saying no and refusing generosity to your brother would make you seem less of a man.

So which rules does he follow? The ones he and Win currently live with or the ones he and Charlie grew up with? Well, unfortunately, we know the answer.

S9 is I think the hardest example. So much of it is centered around the question of who Thursday is supposed to be taking care of—the victims of crime and the people of Oxford that he’s sworn to protect as a policeman? His immediate family—Win, Sam, Joan—and now Jim? His extended family—Charlie and the rest? His...whatever Morse is?

The bad guys are using everything he cares about to manipulate him and the cruelest twist of all is that he must seemingly choose one of his worlds to save and sacrifice the others. Which will he put first?

And then suddenly, he's not given anymore time to decide...

[grbambi63]

[helenvader]

Quote for today. I actually think with Jingo, the whole book is one very long delightful quote . :-)

--

Sergeant Colon knew he was facing one of the most dangerous moments in his career. There was nothing for it. He was out of options. ‘Er … if I add this A and this O and this I and this D,’ he said, the sweat pouring down his pink cheeks, ‘then I can use that V to make “avoid”. Er … and that gets me, er, a … what d’you call these blue squares, Len?’

‘A “Three Times Ye Value of Thee Letter” score,’ said Leonard of Quirm.

‘Well done, sergeant,’ said Lord Vetinari. ‘I do believe that puts you in the lead.’

‘Er … I do believe it does, sir,’ squeaked Sergeant Colon.

‘However, I find that you have left me the use of my U, N and A, B, L, E,’ the Patrician went on, ‘which incidentally lands me on this Three Times the Whole Worde square and, I rather suspect, wins me the game.’

Sergeant Colon sagged with relief.

‘A capital game, Leonard,’ said Vetinari. ‘What did you say it was called?’

‘I call it the “Make Words With Letters That Have All Been Mixed Up Game”, my lord.’

‘Ah. Yes. Obviously. Well done.’

‘Huh, an’ I got three points,’ mumbled Nobby. ‘They was perfectly good words that you wouldn’t let me have, too.’

‘I’m sure the gentlemen don’t want to know those words,’ said Colon severely.

‘I’d have got ten points for that X.’

[alonsoings]

théo liking this post 😭😭

[theodoradevlin]

"Mrs. Devlin, h-hello, sorry to bother you, you probably don't even know me, I'm Fred... I've overheard from M a reliable source that you produce some... Salves... For ni tender sore spots? I've had a cupboard encounter recently that left me with some, uh, battle scars that need special attention."

Fred makes no eye contact while talking mumbling this to you, his ears as red as the unseen and unspoken tender areas under his shirt.

Theo listens to Fred patiently, wondering why in Merlin's name he was so nervous.

"Ohhhh, Fred..."

She nods sympathetically, to encourage him to continue.

Then her brow raises. Salves? Hm. The only salves she had made lately was one for Montrose's poorly protected pecks....and then she freezes when she hears Fred say 'cupboard.' She blushes right in return.

"Oh, Fred."

This time, her statement is said very knowingly.

Obviously, Halloween approaching did NOT mean Theo was safe from unforeseen jump scares before then, including meeting a very unexpected close acquaintance.

But Theo always did pride herself on playing well with others.

She tries to clear her throat, "Erm...I'm sadly out of salves for the moment. Oddly enough, they've been in high demand. Or maybe it isn't odd? I'm not even sure anymore." Her words trail off as unwelcome mental images start flooding her brain of what in Merlin's name was happening to everyone's 'tender areas'.

Such grabby, grabby paws.

"Anyway" She clears her throat again, "...I'll try and whip up some more for you next time I'm in potions! In the meantime, perhaps wear more layers if you plan on getting back in that broom cupboard? I know that's usually the OPPOSITE goal of broom cupboards...but ..I mean.....y-you know what I mean!!!!" Theo is aware she is rambling like a crazy person to keep herself from a fit of laughter she may never recover from.

She trains her face back to concern, and drops her voice to a whisper, "...And um....well, nifflers can be very proud creatures sometimes, you know? Not saying I know there's a niffler involved. BUT. If there was....perhaps if you tried to call him little lord in the broom cupboard..? Not that I know much about that. Educated guess, of course."

At this point, Theo accepts there is no point in trying to save face any longer. Just nips.