Prompts, please!

[nineveh_uk]

I have an ominous "coming down with a cold" feeling (please, please no; I've actually managed to be healthy so far this term), and the current WIP* is sulking in a corner, and I think I need something to stir my brain. So...

Tell me what you want a drabble on, and I shall endeavour to provide. You know the usual fandoms, though I am willing to have a go at something else if that's what you fancy**.

*The current WIP I am trying to write, I mean, as distinct from the many other WIPs waiting more-or-less patiently in a queue.

**NB This offer does not include the Aubrey/Maturin books. That is definitely Never Going To Happen, although I would like to read the Star Trek crossover in which Captain Kirk meets Diana Villiers, if anyone fancies writing it.

[ETA: That is a quite marvellous selection of prompts! Thank you (late-comers are still welcome). We kick off with Zombie Honeymoon.

Now added: Re-enacting Doctor Who, Alleyn and Troy's first date, Crookshanks/Ahasuerus, Harriet's advice to Josephine M. Bettany, Peter, Harriet, Troy and Alleyn, Peter and Lucius Malfoy, Andromeda and Tonks, Peter, Jack Maynard, and hot milk, Captain Kirk meets the Dowager Duchess of Denver, Bunter and young Saint-George, Peter, Harriet, and their brood visit Duke's Denver, and Kenton chatting up Harriet.]

Comments

[research-girl.livejournal.com]

Wonderful!!

Thank you so, so much

Just what I needed after a bad week

Julia

Re: Domestic Trials

[lyras.livejournal.com]

Aw, kiddie Tonks is fab. Poor Andromeda - Tonks must have led her a dance, all right. I like the idea of her being good at Potions, too.

Cheers!

[lyras.livejournal.com]

Hee! This makes me want to reread The Chalet Girls Grow Up.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

‘If you had been born in 1865 and lived to see your daughter a Communist, your daughter-in-law a university-educated novelist, and your own legs in short skirts, you’d know that it will take a lot more than a spaceman in tight trousers to shock me.’

Suddenly, the herbaceous border erupted into flame as a battalion of Klingons fled across the lawns, followed by Federation troops. The Dowager Duchess watched them flee.

‘Excuse me, Captain. I think I must sit down.’

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Bunter, guarding the bedroom door as Horatio had guarded the bridge, considered the merits of a horde of Visigoths against an insistent six year-old. He was not sure he would not have preferred the Visigoths.

‘But I want to see Uncle Peter!’

With a sigh that sounded uncommonly like Give me strength uttered through clenched teeth, Bunter advanced on the Viscount Saint-George.

‘His lordship is tired. You may see him tomorrow, if you are good.’

‘Snot fair. Nanny said I could see him.’

‘Nanny said you could see him if his lordship were recovered from the journey. His lordship is not recovered from the journey, and he will see you tomorrow.’

‘But I wanted to see him today! He’s got to help me with my book!’

‘Your book?’

‘I’m making a book, but it’s not working. Uncle Peter needs to help.’ This plaintive utterance was followed by an unhappy sniff; an ominous sign.

Bunter crouched down and put his hand on his young lordship’s shoulder.

‘Now listen to me. I know you want to see your uncle, and I’m going to tell you why you can’t because I think you’re old enough to be trusted. All right?’ Saint-George nodded solemnly. ‘His lordship has come down from London for a bit because he hasn’t been very well. So he can’t see you today because he’s in bed.’

‘But it’s two o’clock!’ Saint-George, who like most small boys could be kept in his bed only by measles, saw a new gravity in the situation. ‘He isn’t going to die, is he?’

‘No, and he’ll be quite all right tomorrow, and I’m sure he’ll help you with your book. If you leave him in peace for now.’

‘All right.’

‘Thank-you. Now off you go.’

‘Bunter?’ Bunter, who had just been about to congratulate himself, turned round stifling a groan. ‘Would you like to come to tea this afternoon with me and Nanny?’

‘I should like that very much.’ He watched the blond head bobbing away down the hall before silently turning down the door handle and returning to the dim and silent room.

Re: From "Zombie Honeymoon"

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

You could always try, although there is probably a queue.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Bunter, lying in the narrow bedroom under the eaves that Freudesheim alloted to visiting domestics, reflected upon the inscrutable talents of Anna. he knew that one woman could not possibly run so large a household single-handed (the mother's help in the nursery notwithstanding). Something was up. What it was, however, seemed fated to remain unknown.

*

It was midnight in the kitchen. A bell rang, and from the cupboards emerged a veritable army, elf upon elf, summoned to do its mistress' bidding. The Freudesheim house-elves bent to their nightly tasks.

[aunty_marion]

Ditto. In spades.

Re: From "Zombie Honeymoon"

[azdak.livejournal.com]

The zombie attack might have reduced the numbers a bit, though. And in times like these what every girl needs is a man who's handy with a zombie.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

There are plans. There are even scenes and a rationale. The willpower, time, and effort may take a little marshalling, though!

Re: From "Zombie Honeymoon"

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

And in times like these what every girl needs is a man who's handy with a zombie.

It occurs to me that this is a perfect explanation for Bunter's sudden romance in Thrones, Dominations. Indeed that everything that happens in T,D makes a great deal more sense if one puts zombies into it.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

‘Thank God for that,’ said Peter, as Bredon, released from his increasingly fractious imprisonment on Nanny’s knee, set off at pace to conquer the Dower House steps. ‘Why I ever agreed to give you children I can’t think.’

Harriet, still seated in the car, held out a contentedly gurgling Roger. ‘Take this one for me and try to remember.’

Roger’s father bounced him gently in his arms. ‘They have their good points,’ he conceded, dropping a kiss on the small nose, ‘But they’ve given me new respect for my mother’s energy. Of course, it could be her fault, hereditary and all that – I did warn you you’d be getting my children.’

‘I shouldn’t have wanted them if they weren’t yours. Besides, I think they’re rather nice.’

‘They’re very nice. Only rather exhausting sometimes. Come on, let’s go and hand them over to their doting grandmother, and settle in for a holiday.’

‘Let’s. And I warn you now, Peter, that on Christmas morning I shall remind you that that tricycle was your idea.’

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Double First is both Cambridge and Oxford, being code for "this person did well in her first year exams as well".

I always liked the staff room scenes at the Chalet School - Joey aside, they all seemed so grown-up and believeable. Naturally they would all have been great fans of Harriet's work. Oh dear, that's another damn plotbunny.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I love that book. I also love the fact that the CS rights' holders were happy for it to be published.

Hmm, I think I must go an order the unexpurgated "New Mistress".

[white_hart]

I have an embryonic bunny about Harriet's trip to the Continent which is mentioned in Gaudy Night, and whether she might have gone to the Tyrol and met with a young schoolmistress and fan of her novels who sent her a rather lovely letter of support while she was in prison.

Possibly not so embryonic, in fact, now I come to look at it!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I think you definitely need to write that!

Re: From "Zombie Honeymoon"

[azdak.livejournal.com]

makes a great deal more sense if one puts zombies into it.

Especially if the zombie is the author ;-)

[white_hart]

Ah, had we but world enough and time...

*adds to list of Things She Must Write At Some Point*

[missfoxie.livejournal.com]

Extremely adorable. This has made my day! Thank you! And that last line is an utter delight.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Oh my ears and whiskers!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry - meant to reply to this much sooner!

I loved the indomitable first paragraph, while at the same time enjoying the domitable ending (if that's a word). Good to know there are some cracks in the Duchess's armour, even if it takes Klingons to bring them out!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

‘Call me Kenton,’ he had said, pushing a drink into Harriet’s hand and himself into a corner of the battered sofa. ‘Yeah, I mean I don’t like to be tied down, and my brother and the rest of the family, they just don’t get that. They’re so square, always on about the farm. They don’t know what it’s like to live. Now me, I want to see the world, relax, just enjoy life, you know?’

Harriet, behind her glass, mouthed ‘Get me out of here’ to Eilunedd across the room, and wondered how she had managed to meet a man even more self-absorbed that Phillip Boyes.

[tree_and_leaf]

Oh my God. Is that going where that dark hint leads me to suspect it's going?

*hides in terror*

[tree_and_leaf]

Oh, poor Harriet!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

It could be...