[fic] don't want to see the end (a choose your own adventure)

(From page one)

Page Sixteen:

The sounds of hoofbeats, and Tumnus crests the rise.

Edmund laughs. "Tumnus, reduced to messenger?" and Lucy worries he will strain himself.

"I am not so elderly yet," Tumnus says, outraged.

"Mister Tumnus." Susan smiles.

"King Peter requests your presence."

"He cannot have her," says Edmund. "We are having a picnic."

"He requires you all. The envoy from Calormen is here."

Edmund scoffs. "Days early! They can wait."

Lucy protests. "They always bring the most exciting gifts."

Susan rests a hand on Tumnus' arm. "Tell my brother we shall return soon. Have him meet us in my rooms."

Tumnus nods.



If Lucy and Edmund sulk about leaving, turn to page forty.
If we see what Peter is doing, turn to page six.
If there is a party going on, turn to page twelve.

[fic] don't want to see the end (a choose your own adventure)

(from page one)

Page Thirty Two:

Susan holds at full draw. Her hold is not quite right, and she lets down, arrow still in the bow. She strokes the bow once, twice, and gently places it on the ground.

She tires of this game, and follows the path the water creates, Lucy's giggles fading behind her.

Away from her siblings, the air is cool and silent, and she can hear nothing but the water lapping at her feet. Susan sits, her skirts arranged around her, and watches as the water creeps steadily forward.

In the distance, she hears the roar of a tiger, and she shivers.

If the tiger Becomes A Problem, turn to page fifty-one.
If we see what Lucy and Edmund are doing, turn to page forty-two.
If Susan gets to meet merpeople, turn to page eight.

[fic] don't want to see the end (a choose your own adventure)

(from page one)


Page Five:

Susan holds at full draw. Her hold is not quite right, and she lets down, arrow still in the bow. A rustle to her left, but before she can turn, there is a hand on her shoulder. "Your shoulder is too high," says Peter, and squeezes the muscle under his hand.

Susan closes her eyes. Breathes out.

"I know," she says.

Peter leans closer. "You must be perfect, Sister.”

She opens her eyes again. “I know.” She lifts her bow and draws back, and does not look at her brother, though his hand his warm.

A squeal breaks the silence.



If Lucy is in danger, turn to page ten.
If Edmund is being a bit of a prig, turn to page twenty-one.
If Lucy is pleased about something, turn to page two.

[fic] don't want to see the end (a choose your own adventure)

(from page sixteen)

Page Six:

Peter sits forward on his throne, palm open on the arm. He listens to supplicants and requests, and makes decisions as he can. He kills time waiting for his siblings by ruling Narnia. The Calormenes wait impatiently half a castle over, and he thinks about abdicating his throne.

"Your Majesty," says a Dryad, "The desert encroaches on our plains, and we cannot breathe."

They hope for a miracle, but he is Peter, not Aslan, and he shakes his head.

After the last of them, he waits for his siblings in Susan's rooms, and tries not to fiddle with her things.


If there is A Party, turn to page twelve.
If Susan, Lucy and Edmund arrive, turn to page twenty-three.
If there is A Commotion, turn to page thirty-six.

[fic] don't want to see the end (a choose your own adventure)

Page Twelve:

As they approach the walls of Cair Paravel, the flags fly high and the trumpets sound. Through the gates they are surrounded by the colour and fanfare of a parade.

Lucy laughs. "I didn't know we were having a party today!"

Susan shakes her head. A little mouse waves so hard Susan thinks he might fall over, and when she smiles he blushes until all his fur is pink. "We're not."

Tumnus is offered a handful of sweets from the crowd, and sucks on one delicately. "Too juicy to be Narnian," he says. "I think we're greeting our Calormene guests."


If they get distracted by gifts, turn to page thirteen.
If they go to meet Peter, turn to page twenty-three.
If there is an assassination attempt, turn to page thirty-nine.

[fic] don't want to see the end (a choose your own adventure)

Page Forty:

Lucy crosses her arms. "Must we go now?”

"I thought you wanted to go," says Susan.

"I do. But surely the ambassador can wait an hour. We're reached a very exciting spot in the book!”

"I don't want to go at all," says Edmund. "Last time, the Calormenes were five days late, and this visit they're two days early. It is not to be tolerated."

"We must be kind to our neighbours, Edmund," says Susan.

"We must be nothing of the sort. We Narnians could take those Calormenes in a fight any day."

"There shall be no fighting,” said Susan.


If Susan, Edmund and Lucy get distracted, turn to page seven.
If they return to Cair Paravel, turn to page twelve.
If Something Untoward happens, turn to page forty-nine.

fandom, careful, or you'll be sleeping on the couch

OKAY WAIT NO.

Things About Fandom, Part Two (you can find part one here):


1. If you want me to read something you've written, or (in the context of me being an editor of a fandom newsletter) you want me to link to something you've written, you have to give me the link. When you say, "I've posted DY in my journal, if you're interested," then you'll find I'm really not that interested. WHEN I SAY LINK ME, LINK ME.
   
   
2. Manips are, for the most part, ugly. I hate them.
   
   
3. Number three today is the same as number three last time, to whit: I wonder if some people are watching the same show as me. How can I be watching the same show as people whose reaction to the THING in Scar was to be pissed off at Lee for not holding Kara, who clearly needed a cuddle? Because apparently Kara would have fought with him, but eventually she would have settled down and if he'd just have held her, he could have held her gently and then maybe they could have had soft loving sex HELLO I'M SORRY WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU WHEN YOU MUMBLE AROUND THE CRACK PIPE IN YOUR MOUTH.
   
   
4. Fen are capable of producing some really ugly things. And I feel like, when I link to things at galacticanews, much as I have to say "warning for spoilers" or "not safe for work," I should also have to say," warning for ugliness." But I can't, and that's annoying.
   
   
5. New fen in Narnia fandom. I'm not going to get all, "I have been here for years, bitches," or anything like that, because that's not what this is about. This is about how, NOBODY NEEDS TO READ YOUR WILLIAM MOSELEY/OC FIC, HOKAY? and also about how the Pevenscest used to be awesome when it was understated and nobody ever, ever actually wrote about it obviously. And now it's all, "and Peter's mouth sought hers" and I actually, literally cringe. I can't stop. BUT YOU CAN. STOP, FANDOM, STOP.
   
   
6. Koalas ARE NOT BEARS, OKAY? koalathebear, this is not directed at you. I JUST NOW read someone talking "a koala bear" and then I was hesitant and shy when I was pointing it out. Why was I shy? PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THESE THINGS.
   
   
7. Why should I be shy? If I've done something wrong, tell me, okay? And if you've done something wrong, I'll tell you, and we'll all be happy together. Or something.
   
   
8. Anonymous comments. FUCK YOU, ANONYMOUS COMMENTERS. If you can't say it to my face, then you suck. SUCK.

OKAY WHATEVER.


PS I'M TOTALLY NOT SORRY FOR SPAMMING YOU TODAY.

[fic] don't want to see the end (a choose your own adventure)

A tingle in her toes, and the bubbles that rise to the surface are filled with songs. She drops her head down to her knees, and the tide is high enough that she can rest both ears below the water. Come follow me, they sing, and though the tunes are beautiful she resists their lure. From a distance, she watches as the merpeople dance and play together.

A merwoman floats forward. You should come closer, she says. You would love to dance with us.

Susan smiles sadly, and lifts her head from the water.

She will not run to sea.



If the merpeople kidnap Susan, turn to page nineteen.
If Susan goes to find Lucy and Edmund, turn to page twenty-six.
For A Surprise, turn to page three.