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ways_back_room2004-09-08 06:58 pm
pjpettigrew.livejournal.com) wrote in ways_back_room2004-09-08 06:58 pm
Peter and James Mess--Part II
Section Five: James's Conversation With Crowley
Tonks and Crowley are talking about ways to get in to see Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic who is, according to Kassandra's prophecy (and Peter's nightmares), a Death Eater. Peter suggests using Harry's Invisibility Cloak and a Severing Charm. Tonks says that Fudge's Hit Wizards have equipment which enable them to see Invisibility Cloaks, then asks Peter if he isn't expecting a bit much from James. Peter is bitter. Tonks says she can't fault James for reacting as he did. Peter repeats that he didn't really expect James to forgive him; he just wanted truce between his victim and himself.
At this point, James walks in. Peter makes his excuses and leaves.
Crowley wants to know how James knows "Peadar Lamh-Airgead". (Which means "Peter Silverhand," and which an archetypal serpent in the Dream Quest called Peter.) James describes Peter as "an old friend who betrayed and murdered me." Crowley states calmly that "Peadar's not stopped beating himself about the head about you since he got here." James retorts that Peter is a liar. And a willing servant of Voldemort. (Proving conclusively that James really wasn't listening to Peter.) Crowley says, in essence, "Hey--demon. I know evil. Peter ain't it."
In reaction to Crowley's words, James experiences a furious "BZUH?!" moment. Crowley proceeds to give James the rundown on some good things that Peter has done, then blandly offers James a drink of Atlantean. James collapses into a chair and proceeds to act like a sulky five-year-old. Crowley says that Peter definitely has a backbone these days, and cites Peter's defiance of Nyarlathotep as an example. James's reaction: "Quest? Nyarlathotep? GIRLFRIEND?" Crowley's cheerful remark that yep, Peter's actually engaged now provokes a "Why would anyone want HIM?" comment from James. Crowley gets pissed off in an icy way, and notifies James that being a nice guy counts for more than looks, money or pedigree.
James is confused. None of this sounds like the Pettigrew he remembers. Crowley points out that James himself would have changed if he'd lived to be Peter's age, instead of dying young. James asks if Crowley has the power to tell if someone is lying.. Crowley says yes, he does, and that Peter isn't lying. He really has changed. James, completely at sea, wanders upstairs to think about this.
Section Six: Austenian Snark--James's Conversation With Liz
This actually started before the Crowley thread, but the thread went into slowtime and finished after the Crowley thread. So this happened the night following the Crowley conversation. Fnar.
As the curtain rises on this scene, Liz is not feeling herself--which is a perfectly reasonable explanation after you turn into a dove, change back, and subsequently discover that you are apparently permanently mindlinked with Morpheus. Matthew, Dream's raven, hasn't helped matters by telling her that she sounds exactly like "his boss." It does not occur to Liz that she ALWAYS sounds exactly like Matthew's boss.
James enters this emotional maelstrom, essentially because he is irritated and looking for a pretty girl for distraction. Liz, who recognises James as the man who was threatening Peter a few days before, decides that she'd like to learn more about James, as she hasn't had a challenge in some time.
James proceeds to alienate Liz almost immediately by describing Peter as "an unpleasant being that should be squashed." This does much to endear him to Liz. Except not.
James's response is to try to sling an arm over Liz's shoulders and to tell her that she's undoubtedly a very sweet girl . Translation: "Don't you worry your pretty little head about such things!" He then depicts Peter in a truly monstrous light. Liz brings on the Austenian snark. Go Liz!
Only two sentences get through to Jimbo: that he is deficient in perception and that he is very lucky not to have killed Peter. It probably says something about James that the mention of a deficiency is the first thing that bothers him, and not the barbed threat.
Liz informs James that yes, he's not the perceptive soul he thinks he is--but at least he has some limited powers of comprehension. She says it far more eloquently than this, however. She also tells him that everyone comes to Milliways for a purpose, and all are changed by the experience. Like so many other things that have been said to James, this goes right over his head.
James makes excuses for his lack of perception. Liz is spectacularly unimpressed. She informs him crisply that he has been behaving somewhat worse than her Gardiner cousins have on occasion--though they have some excuse, as they are all under the age of ten. She then relates tales of change at Milliways: Tom Riddle, Moiraine, Peter, herself, the Endless. James is humiliated, ashamed and confused. He expresses considerable doubt about Tom Riddle's reformation before saying that the Peter he remembers and the Peter of Milliways are like two entirely different men who happen to share the same name.
Liz summarises the alterations in Tom, Moiraine, herself and the Endless before delivering a formal and erudite smackdown on the subject of Peter.
James admits to messing up and asks Liz what he should do. Liz tells him that at this point, Peter would just as soon avoid James. She does volunteer to intercede with Peter on James's behalf, however. James doesn't even notice this offer, because James is an idiot.
James decides not to talk to Peter, at least for a while. He also belatedly figures out that Liz is Peter's fiancee. Liz's reaction to this is a more eloquent version of "DUH!" She also tells James that, given Peter's present mood, James could easily find out if someone can die twice. She also gives a rather broad hint that if James approaches Peter hostilely again, James will be learning that lesson from her. James, now thoroughly discombobulated, babbles a bit before making the extravagent gesture of surrendering his wand to Liz on the grounds that if he doesn't have it, he can't hurt anyone with it. He then wanders away. Liz meditates on James's infuriating arrogance and egotism, and resolves NOT to give him his wand back for quite some time. She then departs for the House of Arch, taking the wand with her.
Section Seven: James's Meeting with Desire and Dream
That section has been summarised here.
Tonks and Crowley are talking about ways to get in to see Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic who is, according to Kassandra's prophecy (and Peter's nightmares), a Death Eater. Peter suggests using Harry's Invisibility Cloak and a Severing Charm. Tonks says that Fudge's Hit Wizards have equipment which enable them to see Invisibility Cloaks, then asks Peter if he isn't expecting a bit much from James. Peter is bitter. Tonks says she can't fault James for reacting as he did. Peter repeats that he didn't really expect James to forgive him; he just wanted truce between his victim and himself.
At this point, James walks in. Peter makes his excuses and leaves.
Crowley wants to know how James knows "Peadar Lamh-Airgead". (Which means "Peter Silverhand," and which an archetypal serpent in the Dream Quest called Peter.) James describes Peter as "an old friend who betrayed and murdered me." Crowley states calmly that "Peadar's not stopped beating himself about the head about you since he got here." James retorts that Peter is a liar. And a willing servant of Voldemort. (Proving conclusively that James really wasn't listening to Peter.) Crowley says, in essence, "Hey--demon. I know evil. Peter ain't it."
In reaction to Crowley's words, James experiences a furious "BZUH?!" moment. Crowley proceeds to give James the rundown on some good things that Peter has done, then blandly offers James a drink of Atlantean. James collapses into a chair and proceeds to act like a sulky five-year-old. Crowley says that Peter definitely has a backbone these days, and cites Peter's defiance of Nyarlathotep as an example. James's reaction: "Quest? Nyarlathotep? GIRLFRIEND?" Crowley's cheerful remark that yep, Peter's actually engaged now provokes a "Why would anyone want HIM?" comment from James. Crowley gets pissed off in an icy way, and notifies James that being a nice guy counts for more than looks, money or pedigree.
James is confused. None of this sounds like the Pettigrew he remembers. Crowley points out that James himself would have changed if he'd lived to be Peter's age, instead of dying young. James asks if Crowley has the power to tell if someone is lying.. Crowley says yes, he does, and that Peter isn't lying. He really has changed. James, completely at sea, wanders upstairs to think about this.
Section Six: Austenian Snark--James's Conversation With Liz
This actually started before the Crowley thread, but the thread went into slowtime and finished after the Crowley thread. So this happened the night following the Crowley conversation. Fnar.
As the curtain rises on this scene, Liz is not feeling herself--which is a perfectly reasonable explanation after you turn into a dove, change back, and subsequently discover that you are apparently permanently mindlinked with Morpheus. Matthew, Dream's raven, hasn't helped matters by telling her that she sounds exactly like "his boss." It does not occur to Liz that she ALWAYS sounds exactly like Matthew's boss.
James enters this emotional maelstrom, essentially because he is irritated and looking for a pretty girl for distraction. Liz, who recognises James as the man who was threatening Peter a few days before, decides that she'd like to learn more about James, as she hasn't had a challenge in some time.
James proceeds to alienate Liz almost immediately by describing Peter as "an unpleasant being that should be squashed." This does much to endear him to Liz. Except not.
James's response is to try to sling an arm over Liz's shoulders and to tell her that she's undoubtedly a very sweet girl . Translation: "Don't you worry your pretty little head about such things!" He then depicts Peter in a truly monstrous light. Liz brings on the Austenian snark. Go Liz!
Only two sentences get through to Jimbo: that he is deficient in perception and that he is very lucky not to have killed Peter. It probably says something about James that the mention of a deficiency is the first thing that bothers him, and not the barbed threat.
Liz informs James that yes, he's not the perceptive soul he thinks he is--but at least he has some limited powers of comprehension. She says it far more eloquently than this, however. She also tells him that everyone comes to Milliways for a purpose, and all are changed by the experience. Like so many other things that have been said to James, this goes right over his head.
James makes excuses for his lack of perception. Liz is spectacularly unimpressed. She informs him crisply that he has been behaving somewhat worse than her Gardiner cousins have on occasion--though they have some excuse, as they are all under the age of ten. She then relates tales of change at Milliways: Tom Riddle, Moiraine, Peter, herself, the Endless. James is humiliated, ashamed and confused. He expresses considerable doubt about Tom Riddle's reformation before saying that the Peter he remembers and the Peter of Milliways are like two entirely different men who happen to share the same name.
Liz summarises the alterations in Tom, Moiraine, herself and the Endless before delivering a formal and erudite smackdown on the subject of Peter.
James admits to messing up and asks Liz what he should do. Liz tells him that at this point, Peter would just as soon avoid James. She does volunteer to intercede with Peter on James's behalf, however. James doesn't even notice this offer, because James is an idiot.
James decides not to talk to Peter, at least for a while. He also belatedly figures out that Liz is Peter's fiancee. Liz's reaction to this is a more eloquent version of "DUH!" She also tells James that, given Peter's present mood, James could easily find out if someone can die twice. She also gives a rather broad hint that if James approaches Peter hostilely again, James will be learning that lesson from her. James, now thoroughly discombobulated, babbles a bit before making the extravagent gesture of surrendering his wand to Liz on the grounds that if he doesn't have it, he can't hurt anyone with it. He then wanders away. Liz meditates on James's infuriating arrogance and egotism, and resolves NOT to give him his wand back for quite some time. She then departs for the House of Arch, taking the wand with her.
Section Seven: James's Meeting with Desire and Dream
That section has been summarised here.
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