those ghastly little traps
Dec. 19th, 2007 10:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Harbormaster: Going to be the next Sir Lancelot, are you?
An Editor A damsel in distress: I like this book but I could use help, but not yours just now, even though Sir Lancelot has made knights of the Round Table so much more popular these days.
Librarian Lady Enid: How are you getting along in Camelot?
Mordred: I’m doing quite well, actually. Arthur’s acknowledged me as his son and he’s going to make me regent if he has to go abroad.
Lady Enid: Oh, you're going to be the next--I can’t think of the name. Something to do with a lake--
Mordred: Spare me, sweet lady, DON’T SAY IT! Really, I'm not anything like him. Different style, different ambitions--I'm not well known as a knight yet, but I'm doing well at the moment, and I'm so tired of people saying it!
Lady Enid (laughing): All right, I understand. No names mentioned. [librarian’s husband Sir Geraint enters] Why, Geraint, have you heard Mordred’s news? Arthur has acknowledged him as his own son, and is going to make him regent.
Sir Geraint: Going to be the next Sir Lancelot, are you?
Mordred: yes. no. well.
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To each of these jovial remarks, I--who am I, anyway?--I answer in my head: If I woke up one morning and discovered that I had turned into Sir Lancelot I would have to POISON MYSELF.
No, seriously, seriously now, I ask myself this question. I ask it again and again, when I am most consumed with envy and thwarted ambition. Would you rather be Sir Lancelot, or Arthur’s own son? And I swear, if I die in ignominy and hatred and no one remembers me or cares, if I never accomplish another deed in my life, the answer is always, and forever, I would rather be Arthur’s son.
Am I going to be the next Lancelot? No. But I would sell my soul to be the next Arthur.
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Date: 2007-12-19 11:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 12:08 am (UTC)And--yes. It is unbelievably true that you are Arthur's son. Something that buoys me up in looking at your covers assures me.
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Date: 2007-12-20 12:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 12:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 12:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 12:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 12:24 am (UTC)I heart you lots. And your alter ego. :D
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Date: 2007-12-20 12:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 12:52 am (UTC)I seriously don't think I 'd want to be JK Rowling or Philip Pullman....
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Date: 2007-12-20 12:56 am (UTC)But I think JKR must live a very strange and sequestered life. Pullman I envy somewhat in that he lives in Oxford...
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Date: 2007-12-20 01:02 am (UTC)Oxford might be nice....now that I think about it. ;o)
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Date: 2007-12-20 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 01:35 am (UTC)J. K. RowlingLancelot, but they do anyway.I really do think I'd rather be Mordred, though. I always loved him best, even before I read The Winter Prince.
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Date: 2007-12-20 02:12 am (UTC)In any case, I think the question needs to be at least moderately rephrased, as you are a great writer.
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Date: 2007-12-20 02:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 03:05 am (UTC)But I understand. I would rather produce fantastic art than flash in the pan pop-art.
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Date: 2007-12-20 06:28 am (UTC)"I cannot wait to rush in where angels fear to go."
Am I going to be the next Lancelot? No. But I would sell my soul to be the next Arthur.
I think you have your priorities on straight.
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Date: 2007-12-20 09:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 09:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 09:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 09:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-20 09:11 am (UTC)"I cannot wait to rush in where angels fear to go."
that was the other quotation I nearly used...
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Date: 2007-12-20 09:14 am (UTC)just... I'm not Lancelot.
(But thank you. ♥)