Celeritas' Birthday Bash 2009 by Celeritas
Periantari · 31 July 2009 · Chapter 1: Chivalry - for Mysterious Jedi
Very interesting perspective--it *is interesting to see how seeing Gondorian women come back to Gondor affects Pippin's mood. :)
Author's reply
Pippin's had to do a good deal of growing up so I imagine that he was able to see the presence of women in a new light.
Larner · 31 July 2009 · Chapter 0: Author's Notes and Prompts
I haven't time to read them all tonight, so look forward to reading more tomorrow! Lovely!
Author's reply
Great; I hope they all please!
Larner · 31 July 2009 · Chapter 4: Native Speakers and Elvish Spiders - for Larner
Ooh--wonderful! A most interesting argument here, and quite natural, it seems to me, for both of them! Thank you so very much! Now--have you seen your birthday gift TO you? Heh! Sorry it took longer to finish than I'd planned on!
Author's reply
I checked my email first thing, so no, I haven't seen it yet but I'll take a look shortly! *briefly considers lecturing on how really, presents to the byrding need to show up on noon of the day of at the very latest* I'm glad the argument seemed natural to you; I knew I was taking a bit of a risk as soon as I portrayed Frodo as anything less than an eager student!
Lindelea · 30 July 2009 · Chapter 10: Historical Preservation - for Lindelea
Oh what a treat! Gerontius wouldn't like it if things were changed about--he didn't like change... and "respectful renovation" --lovely turn of phrase! I love the idea of Pippin having a respectfully renovated retreat where he can go and think when he needs some quiet. Thanks!
Author's reply
I rather like the idea of the room getting some rebirth as well. I'm hoping I can get it to make its way into some of my other fiction, when Pippin's reign is as old as Gerontius' was to him.
Cairistiona · 30 July 2009 · Chapter 2: Patience - for Linda Hoyland
Lovely conversation between Sam and the new King. I enjoyed Sam's reflections on the changes in Strider, and how Sam still thinks of him as Strider and not King Elessar. Sam has always been my favorite of the Hobbits, and of course, Aragorn is my favorite character over all, so it was nice seeing a bit of interaction between them. Linda received a lovely gift in this!
Author's reply
Thank you! I had a lot of fun writing about it (and I really cannot think of any of the hobbits as thinking in private about the King as anyone but "Strider". This probably came from a 4th-Age fic I came across a while back in which hobbits generally referred to him as "Good King Strider", which was so incredibly hobbity that the idea rather stuck, though I've never outright stolen it!). I am glad this pleased.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 30 July 2009 · Chapter 5: Grand Arrival - for Kaylee
*hugs Celeritas* This is lovely, thank you so much! Well done mellon-nin! I think my favorite here is Gimli being surprised...finding Olorin is Gandalf and meeting Mahal aka Aule...effectively his multiple-too-many-times-to-count great-grandfather, for Aule created the Dwarven race though Iluvatar granted them Life. I wonder how the Noldor will feel about Gimli...I think Celebrimbor grandson of Feanor (assuming he was Reborn, since his father, uncles and grandfather must wait until the Remaking of Arda...hmmm...) would love to meet Gimli, since Celebrimbor was especial friends of the Dwarf Narvi. (Remember the Doors of Durin? :) ) Thanks again and happy birthday! Kaylee
Author's reply
I think Aule must have been as excited as a Vala's allowed to get at the prospect of welcoming one of his own to the West. And yeah, if Celebrimbor's back I think he'll get along just fine with Gimli--pretty much anyone from Eregion, actually. It's a fun idea to think about! Thanks for the prompt! ~Celeritas
Anonymous · 30 July 2009 · Chapter 14: Sea-Longing - for Sally
Yes, yes, I love this very much. I may not understand the verse too much but this was lovely, and the imagery was very nice. Thanks, little one! --You know who--
Author's reply
Well, no matter what universe there's always something touching about the lonely little boy who's just a bit off and who's already having strange things happen to him that he can't quite understand. *squishes a Frodo*
Pearl Took · 30 July 2009 · Chapter 12: Time Tourist - for Pearl Took
I love it! I will have it be my favorite Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah Jane. I can imagine her liking the hobbits and wanting to see them. Thank you so much, Celeritas! :-)
Author's reply
I almost considered giving the Doctor a long scarf but decided to leave it a little more open-ended. And you are most welcome! Thanks for giving me a prompt where I could get away with this sort of fun!
Vilwarin · 30 July 2009 · Chapter 8: Best Wishes - for Raksha the Demon
LOL. I like this a lot. This gives a nice mental image of the little hobbit threatening the tall man. And I'm sure that Faramir would never break Éowyn's heart. Cheers, Vilwarin.
Author's reply
I'm sure he wouldn't, either, but some things have to be said. Thank you!
Mysterious Jedi · 30 July 2009 · Chapter 1: Chivalry - for Mysterious Jedi
Beautiful! Thank you. I'm glad Pippin finds joy in seeing women, and in being chivalrous.
Author's reply
You're welcome. I got the general idea for this from a longer and mostly frivolous tale I'm working on in which (among other things) Pippin gets stuck with looking after a ward of the City for a few hours, takes her to play with some of the lads he met during the siege, and ends up having to go in full-blown "Knight of Gondor" mode and teach them all dancing. A bit too long to stick in here but I like the idea of Pippin being gallant.
Raksha The Demon · 30 July 2009 · Chapter 15: The Sandbox: Frodo's Visions - for all
Awwww; a glimpse of Kira, isn't it? Nice dialogue between Frodo and Merry; good to see they're keeping an eye on things 'down below'.
Author's reply
Yes, it is! I thought these two hobbits in particular would feel a responsibility for events in the Shire after their passing.
Raksha The Demon · 30 July 2009 · Chapter 8: Best Wishes - for Raksha the Demon
Squeeeeeeeeeeeee! Thanx for my birthday mathom! There are precious little Merry/Faramir conversations in Tolkien fanfic; and this one is delightful. I can imagine Faramir rather surprised (maybe secretly tickled) that not only the hobbit but all of Minas Tirith knows about his love for Eowyn. And of course Merry would be protective of his sword-sister in terms of future heartbreak from Faramir.
Author's reply
You are most welcome! In one sense Faramir is closest to Merry out of all the hobbits because they had to wait for news of the war together--plus there was that interesting discreet conversation about Eowyn herself... With that in mind I really can't see this conversation not happening!
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 15: The Sandbox: Frodo's Visions - for all
*grin* The perfect ending to this little set of delightful ficlets! I love Frodo's fascination with his little "talent" and Merry's interest in it. And how hobbity of them to spot the family resemblances at once! Love to see more of this one! Maybe as little interludes or sidebars to a certain longer story?
Author's reply
I have a few more Sandbox pieces drummed up (honestly they started out because I wanted to write about Kira and Frodo interacting but couldn't do it till both of them were dead) but they're sitting on the back burner because there are spoilers in them. Frodo does not recognize the family resemblance immediately with Kira, because she's so far removed and I've deliberately said a number of times that she does not look particularly like her greatsire (no "you look just like your dad except for your eyes" here!). But Merry ought to know his descendants a little better. I, too, love the idea that Frodo would take a certain scholarly wonder in the development of his gifts! Thanks!
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 14: Sea-Longing - for Sally
So young, and yet his prescience is already working on him! Water is such a double-edged motif in LotR, and this depicts so well the dichotomy of it: the element which sunders is also the element which sustains!
Author's reply
Good, I'm glad you're getting some good analysis out of this. I couldn't for the life of me, and I'm the one who wrote it!
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 13: The Start of a Beautiful Friendship - for Antane
Such a hobbity response. I love the very polite and matter-of-fact expression of gratitude, which while so very, very proper, is also clearly so very, very heartfelt. His Aunt Dora would have been proud. I'm so glad to see him a hobbit still, for all his time among the Elves.
Author's reply
This is also set fairly early on in Eressea. The note was, aside from its polite hobbitousness, a way of him letting him know that he had figured out who exactly was helping him, and how much he realized that meant! Oh, and--honestly, a godlike angelic being comes out of her reclusive home and helps little pathetic you on your first step of healing--of course you're going to respond by the book, because you don't see any other way how!
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 12: Time Tourist - for Pearl Took
Oh! I almost forgot to say: Love the Tookish way that Pippin ran *toward* the mysterious box, and not *away* from it!
Author's reply
Pippin especially would want to find out more about the situation! (And I also think he'd be the most likely out of the Travellers to remember the situation and possibly even puzzle together what exactly was going on.)
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 12: Time Tourist - for Pearl Took
Oh my word! I am just giggling my heart out! You don't specify either the Doctor *or* the Companion--I'm imagining Four and Sarah Jane, but I suppose it could be Ten and Donna (I see her as a the sort who'd collect autographs...) *chortles* This was just brilliant.
Author's reply
Gosh, now I'm stuck with this mental picture of Donna outgabbing a young Pippin!! And you know that Middle-earth has to be real in the Who-verse, and that at least one of the Doctor's companions would want to go there...
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 11: Blushing Talks - for Elanor Winterflowers
Perfect! This is *exactly* the way I like to see this sort of thing dealt with in hobbit-fic-- with innuendo and euphemism and noting actually *said*, but everyone understanding perfectly all of the things that are *not* said. And the parents showing good hobbit-sense to boot! Pippin's embarrassment was fun, but Eglantine's was even funnier. (And I find myself wondering if Pippin doesn't already *know* the answer to his last question, and is just getting a weensy bit of his own back by embarrassing his mother, LOL!)
Author's reply
I think he already has some idea (with three sisters who've hit puberty before him, he's got to), but he's rather curious as to the details and what exactly it means. Plus, yes, I imagine that Pippin loves embarrassing his parents and is incredibly good at it. *grin*
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 10: Historical Preservation - for Lindelea
What a wonderful idea, that it was Bilbo himself who showed Pippin the Old Took's study! “Now, Pippin, how old would you say that I am?” “I don’t know,” said Pippin. “At least sixty-five.” Bilbo laughed. “No, my lad, I’m much older than that, though I don’t look it. I am,” he paused for effect, “eleventy years old.” “That’s very old,” said Pippin. Indeed. I can easily imagine Bilbo being so proud of his long years, and the fact that he is exactly a hundred years older than this little Took! And who knows, perhaps Bilbo *did* live long enough to get that letter!
Author's reply
Yeah, I went back to the original quote and realized that nothing said that that old room had been completely abandoned or anything (and I honestly could not see the Took letting it go the way of Miss Havisham's wedding feast), so I thought I'd put a twist on the original takes on the idea by letting Bilbo show it to him. I don't know if he lived long enough to get the letter but I thought it would be nice to leave open the possibility!
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 9: Memories of Anticipation - for Rhyselle
Oh, this really is just so romantic! I do love a good Rosie/Sam moment, and this one is beautiful.
Author's reply
*bows* I'm getting increasingly fond of the pairing myself, to the point that I find them slipping in at the most incredible places! (See Linda's fic)
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 8: Best Wishes - for Raksha the Demon
This was a conversation that just had to happen, wasn't it? Yep. Merry would be just that protective of his sword-sister. Such a gem of dialogue! I loved this bit: “Heavens! You were kissing her in full daylight in the gardens, and you think news hasn’t gotten around?” “I try,” said Faramir mildly, “to have faith in the decorum of the people of Minas Tirith.” Merry chuckled. “It must be faith, for it isn’t placed on any reason that I can see. *grin* That sounded so much like Merry! As did the conclusion; having delivered his message, he'd never bring it up again without need. (And I'm trying to imagine Faramir with this line in front of him-- an irate Eowyn, with her brother and Merry standing right behind her, thumbing their swords. Not that Faramir would ever have any reason to face such a gauntlet! He's far too honorable and intelligent.)
Author's reply
I know; such warnings seem a little ridiculous when you consider that it's Faramir involved. But they'd have to happen anyway, and I'm sure that Eomer has already threatened Faramir with war against Gondor should he mess things up. No pressure or anything... *grin*
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 7: Mourning - for my Resident Numenorean
Oh, so poignant! Such a beautiful show of love and friendship.
Author's reply
*sniffle* I always have fun writing of the strange customs of dwarves, even in such sorrowful circumstances.
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 6: Underground Scholarship - for Dreamflower
Oh, *Squee!* This one's Mine!! *grin* I love all of this, how Kira just automatically gravitates to the library; and how Kerry is so unsurprised to see her there. Her encounter with the great Meriadoc's writings was delightful "a round, running hand... just as I've always imagined it! This meets all my expectations and then some! Thank you dear, for this mathom!
Author's reply
Thanks for your input on the handwriting--I try to intuit these things so I can never be certain if what I have actually fits with other people's perceptions of the character. Kerry, of course, knew that Kira was going to be there for the wedding (since they have kept up a limited correspondence and he's supposed to know about such things anyway); I wouldn't be surprised if he banked on her coming to the library at some point and planned to be there! (These sly Brandybucks...)
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 5: Grand Arrival - for Kaylee
How delightful! Yes, it's just the sort of reception that Gimli (and Legolas) deserved when they arrived! I love it, and I love Gimli getting to meet Mahal himself!
Author's reply
I'm glad you think so! And I really like the idea of Aule getting as excited as a Vala is allowed to be over the arrival of a Dwarf!
Dreamflower · 29 July 2009 · Chapter 4: Native Speakers and Elvish Spiders - for Larner
Ah, you are tweaking the fanon tails again! *grin* It's fun to see a Frodo who is not an enthusiastic and diligent scholar, and who does not get on perfectly with his beloved Bilbo. Bilbo is also delightful here, being a stern parent, rather than an indulgent cousin. And that last line is a good reason for paying attention to lessons. Lovely bit of chilling irony!
Author's reply
Tweaking fanon? Moi? I began to be suspicious of the idea that Frodo was such a great scholar as soon as I realized that he was completely ignorant on the matter of Cirith Ungol. And Bilbo chides him for not getting "Dunadan," and really, if you paid any attention during your early language lessons, you ought to know the words for "west" and "man"! So naturally I had to put this sort of thing into the recipe for an argument that Larner so kindly requested.