Ficlet: The Scourge Does Titipu
Nov. 2nd, 2008 12:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rebcakeTitle: The Scourge Does Titipu
Characters: Darla, Angelus, Drusilla, William
Prompt: Nekid Country – Japan (for the![[info]](https://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif)
nekid_spike community)
Word count: 776
Rating: PG
Warnings: Musical comedy
Summary: After a pleasant evening at the theatre, the Scourge of Europe talks about broadening its horizons.
Now nominated at the Fang Fetish Awards!
London
March 15, 1885
For once, the entertainment was interesting enough that a bored family member hadn’t thought to start a bloodbath. In any case, the one usher during intermission had been plenty to tide them over until a late supper. They walked through the park afterward, unwilling, just yet, to disturb the convivial atmosphere and split up for hunting.
“I enjoyed the one about the little list. I can think of quite a few other things that never would be missed,” mused Darla, with a pointed look at the youngsters. In truth, she was feeling unusually beneficent, but there was no need to let them know that. “Which part did you like best, Angelus?”
“The ‘Three Little Maids’ appealed to me, most certainly. You know me and little maids, Darla,’ he teased. “All done up like cakes, they were. Very pretty morsels.”
Darla murmured her agreement, “Indeed they were. Those silks . . . ”
Drusilla twirled along the path, calling, “William! Do you think I am sufficiently decayed?”
William strode after her, laughing. “You are aged to perfection, as you well know, my wicked petal. I adore both of your elbows, and everything else besides.”
Drusilla giggled coyly, “Oh, fool! To shun delights that never cloy!”
“I shall not shun any delights at all that you’ve got on offer,” he promised, catching her round the waist and spinning with her for a few turns, before leaning in for a kiss.
Darla smiled indulgently. “They really aren’t so bad, at times.”
Angelus regarded her with amusement. “You will not condemn them to the chopper for their profligate flirting, then? Magnanimous of you.”
Darla smiled and shrugged. She walked in silence for a while, then abruptly spoke, “I think we should take a trip, the four of us. Shake off the filth of London.”
“And pick up the filth of someplace else, then?” Angelus responded with a grin. “As you wish. Did you have a particular destination in mind? As if I need to ask.”
“You know me so well, sweet boy. I admit it: I find I’ve a wish to see the Orient. There, I said it.” She sighed. “It’s just a silly impulse, I suppose. You know I loathe traveling by cargo ship.”
Angelus tucked her gloved hand into the crook of his arm. “I propose a pact between you and I, that we’ll be on the first passenger ship to the Far East. What do you say to that?”
“I say that is a wonderful thing to look forward to. I do hate waiting, though.”
William and Drusilla strolled up. Drusilla cocked her head toward Darla speculatively.
“What’s this, Grandmum? You wish to sail to exotic shores?” Drusilla began to hum the march from the play. “It will be a great adventure, you know.”
“Yes,” replied Angelus. “Darla has got a bee in her bonnet to see the eastern lands. But not if she’s to travel with swine, and I don’t mean present company.”
“I hear they’ve got an exhibition of a Japanese village, just over in Knightsbridge,” offered William. “Would you like to investigate there, first? They have kites and fans, and all sorts of interesting things, I believe. There’s real Japanese tea and real Japanese people.”
“I wonder if they taste the same as Englishmen?” wondered Drusilla. The others looked at her with raised eyebrows, instantly just as curious as she.
Angelus knew a brilliant plan when he heard one, even from the mouth of his youngest. “Willie, m’boy, that sounds a treat! Will that do you for now, then Darla? An excursion to mysterious Knightsbridge, to gather intelligence for the journey to come?”
“Why, yes Angelus. I believe that will be just the thing,” she replied with mock primness
With the prospect of so exciting an outing, the youngsters gleefully began, once again, to act out their favorite bits of the evening’s play. William leapt atop a statue (it might’ve been Apollo) and began to belt out the ingénue’s solo:
The sun, whose rays are all ablaze
With ever-living glory,
Does not deny his majesty —
He scorns to tell a story!
He don't exclaim, "I blush for shame,
So kindly be indulgent."
But, fierce and bold, in fiery gold,
He glories all effulgent!
He was in fine voice, and only made it a little comical. He bowed deeply at the applause from his family, who soon split up to find their dinners.
When he was alone, he realized he envied the sun of the song. He yet lacked its boldness and fierceness, but felt sure those things would come. Someday, he vowed, he too would blaze with ever-living glory.
FIN
A/N: Once again, I find myself doing some things I swore I never would. 1) A song!fic. 2) The “effulgent” thing. At the same time. Which, really, should reinforce the “never say never” rule that I’ve tried to live by. Also, this fic doesn't feature Spike, per se. William has been turned, but he hasn't yet assumed the "Spike" persona, which he will in the very near future, before the 1888 mineshaft sojurn in Yorkshire. Feel free to disagree.
For those of you who are not familiar with The Mikado, which this fic heavily references, here is a little background:
The Mikado is widely believed to be the greatest of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas, and is a comic masterpiece. It debuted at the Savoy Theatre on March 14, 1885, and was set in the fictional town of Titipu, Japan. It was an immediate sensation. Its sets, costumes, and even its sprinkling of authentic Japanese music and song were fuel for a miniature Japan-craze that swept London. It has been accused through the years of being racist and, conversely, not about Japan at all, but rather a metaphor for British society. See Mike Leigh’s Topsy Turvy (available on DVD) to get a fascinating (fictional) picture of the creation of this amazing work.
Characters: Darla, Angelus, Drusilla, William
Prompt: Nekid Country – Japan (for the
nekid_spike community)Word count: 776
Rating: PG
Warnings: Musical comedy
Summary: After a pleasant evening at the theatre, the Scourge of Europe talks about broadening its horizons.
Now nominated at the Fang Fetish Awards!
London
March 15, 1885
For once, the entertainment was interesting enough that a bored family member hadn’t thought to start a bloodbath. In any case, the one usher during intermission had been plenty to tide them over until a late supper. They walked through the park afterward, unwilling, just yet, to disturb the convivial atmosphere and split up for hunting.
“I enjoyed the one about the little list. I can think of quite a few other things that never would be missed,” mused Darla, with a pointed look at the youngsters. In truth, she was feeling unusually beneficent, but there was no need to let them know that. “Which part did you like best, Angelus?”
“The ‘Three Little Maids’ appealed to me, most certainly. You know me and little maids, Darla,’ he teased. “All done up like cakes, they were. Very pretty morsels.”
Darla murmured her agreement, “Indeed they were. Those silks . . . ”
Drusilla twirled along the path, calling, “William! Do you think I am sufficiently decayed?”
William strode after her, laughing. “You are aged to perfection, as you well know, my wicked petal. I adore both of your elbows, and everything else besides.”
Drusilla giggled coyly, “Oh, fool! To shun delights that never cloy!”
“I shall not shun any delights at all that you’ve got on offer,” he promised, catching her round the waist and spinning with her for a few turns, before leaning in for a kiss.
Darla smiled indulgently. “They really aren’t so bad, at times.”
Angelus regarded her with amusement. “You will not condemn them to the chopper for their profligate flirting, then? Magnanimous of you.”
Darla smiled and shrugged. She walked in silence for a while, then abruptly spoke, “I think we should take a trip, the four of us. Shake off the filth of London.”
“And pick up the filth of someplace else, then?” Angelus responded with a grin. “As you wish. Did you have a particular destination in mind? As if I need to ask.”
“You know me so well, sweet boy. I admit it: I find I’ve a wish to see the Orient. There, I said it.” She sighed. “It’s just a silly impulse, I suppose. You know I loathe traveling by cargo ship.”
Angelus tucked her gloved hand into the crook of his arm. “I propose a pact between you and I, that we’ll be on the first passenger ship to the Far East. What do you say to that?”
“I say that is a wonderful thing to look forward to. I do hate waiting, though.”
William and Drusilla strolled up. Drusilla cocked her head toward Darla speculatively.
“What’s this, Grandmum? You wish to sail to exotic shores?” Drusilla began to hum the march from the play. “It will be a great adventure, you know.”
“Yes,” replied Angelus. “Darla has got a bee in her bonnet to see the eastern lands. But not if she’s to travel with swine, and I don’t mean present company.”
“I hear they’ve got an exhibition of a Japanese village, just over in Knightsbridge,” offered William. “Would you like to investigate there, first? They have kites and fans, and all sorts of interesting things, I believe. There’s real Japanese tea and real Japanese people.”
“I wonder if they taste the same as Englishmen?” wondered Drusilla. The others looked at her with raised eyebrows, instantly just as curious as she.
Angelus knew a brilliant plan when he heard one, even from the mouth of his youngest. “Willie, m’boy, that sounds a treat! Will that do you for now, then Darla? An excursion to mysterious Knightsbridge, to gather intelligence for the journey to come?”
“Why, yes Angelus. I believe that will be just the thing,” she replied with mock primness
With the prospect of so exciting an outing, the youngsters gleefully began, once again, to act out their favorite bits of the evening’s play. William leapt atop a statue (it might’ve been Apollo) and began to belt out the ingénue’s solo:
The sun, whose rays are all ablaze
With ever-living glory,
Does not deny his majesty —
He scorns to tell a story!
He don't exclaim, "I blush for shame,
So kindly be indulgent."
But, fierce and bold, in fiery gold,
He glories all effulgent!
He was in fine voice, and only made it a little comical. He bowed deeply at the applause from his family, who soon split up to find their dinners.
When he was alone, he realized he envied the sun of the song. He yet lacked its boldness and fierceness, but felt sure those things would come. Someday, he vowed, he too would blaze with ever-living glory.
FIN
A/N: Once again, I find myself doing some things I swore I never would. 1) A song!fic. 2) The “effulgent” thing. At the same time. Which, really, should reinforce the “never say never” rule that I’ve tried to live by. Also, this fic doesn't feature Spike, per se. William has been turned, but he hasn't yet assumed the "Spike" persona, which he will in the very near future, before the 1888 mineshaft sojurn in Yorkshire. Feel free to disagree.
For those of you who are not familiar with The Mikado, which this fic heavily references, here is a little background:
The Mikado is widely believed to be the greatest of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas, and is a comic masterpiece. It debuted at the Savoy Theatre on March 14, 1885, and was set in the fictional town of Titipu, Japan. It was an immediate sensation. Its sets, costumes, and even its sprinkling of authentic Japanese music and song were fuel for a miniature Japan-craze that swept London. It has been accused through the years of being racist and, conversely, not about Japan at all, but rather a metaphor for British society. See Mike Leigh’s Topsy Turvy (available on DVD) to get a fascinating (fictional) picture of the creation of this amazing work.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-15 05:40 am (UTC)Yes, definitely my favorite of your historicals.
Incidentally, did you realize you've been nommed over at the Fang Fetish Awards?
no subject
Date: 2009-01-15 05:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-15 08:03 pm (UTC)Alas, I must credit Mr. Gilbert for the "sufficiently decayed" line. It's straight from The Mikado, although perfect for Dru, I think. Once again, I have to say that Gilbert & Sullivan (but especially The Mikado) is so very Whedonesque, in its mix of humor, horror, death, romance, politics and wordplay. Check it out.
I'm always looking for things that might motivate Spike to change, as change seems to be his modus operandi, whatever he says to Angel in School Hard. Lots of people think it was Angel's early torture that made him so fierce, but I think he's more complex than that. He clearly retained/expanded his interests in art, culture, and technology, despite the image he attempts to project. It seems to me that those things would have provided inspiration, and not just once the Sex Pistols showed up. This reply is turning into a meta, so I'll just stop there.
Thanks so much for the kind words. And hey, I notice we share a birthday! What are the chances? One out of 365?
no subject
Date: 2009-01-16 01:09 am (UTC)Have you seen Marina Frants' The Geekado? It purports to explain the structural weirdnesses of S4 with words that (I believe) go to songs from The Mikado. It's great fun although, again, I say this as a G&S outsider...
Thank you for saying that evil Spike isn't All Angel's Fault. Although I'm willing to buy that Angel warped him some, even if he hadn't Spike would still be an evil vampire. Ahem. And yes, he clearly is fairly flexible in his interests - he's devoted to Passions, after all, and the TV hadn't even been invented when he was turned...
I think, though, that capturing that flexibility and range of interests is really hard in any fic set pre-series. I've always been a bit cautious of reading Spike/Dru fic, because a) they always came across to me as sort of a static couple, largely because it doesn't look as though Dru has ever changed much, post-turning, and b) much as I enjoy them together in S2, I really don't have much taste for whole stories of watching them eat people. But on the other hand, you can hardly write Spike without Dru, pre-series... At any rate, I admire your willingness to tackle them while they're both still evilevilevil. *g*
This reply is turning into a meta, so I'll just stop there.
You... say that as though it's a bad thing. *g*
And hey, I notice we share a birthday!
Hey, cool!
no subject
Date: 2009-01-16 06:21 am (UTC)Very good point about Dru not changing much. Or, at all. That's certainly my take on her, but I like to contrast that against Spike's extreme flexibility. He's got to be a heckuva contortionist to fit with her. Heh.
I'm also with you on not wanting to sit at the table while they sift through the entrails. I seem to deal with that by making it incidental to their activities. I usually hate novels (you know, the published kind) that detail every mundane thing that goes on. So, yeah, I mention in passing here that they eat an usher, but there's no detail. Since I am writing their perspective, my feeling is that it would mean the same as, "we grabbed a burger during intermission". I know there were particular kills that were about more than food (Darla and Angelus particularly, but also Spike's Slayers), but I think evil may be too strong a word for the vast majority. I prefer "ruthless". The opposite point can certainly be made, as well, which is why we're having so much fun with this stuff.
The Geekado is quite amazing, and yes I had seen it.
Any road, I just posted yet another "historical", which I doubt will be your new favorite. Still: no entrails! Check it out.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-17 09:17 pm (UTC)*snerk*
As for entrails, I've always thought "eat" was a really odd choice of words for their activities, as I can't remember a single time when they even talked about consuming anything other than the blood - which I, personally, would call drinking. Oh, well.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-18 12:11 am (UTC)