thisbluespirit (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thisbluespirit) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
rainbowfic2021-02-06 09:02 pm
thisbluespirit) wrote in rainbowfic2021-02-06 09:02 pm
Acanthus #14, Ecru #17 [Divide and Rule]
Name: Light the Fuse
Story: Divide & Rule/Heroes of the Revolution
Colors: Acanthus #14 (gunpowder); Ecru #17 (dictate)
Supplies and Styles: Charcoal
Word Count: 392
Rating: PG
Warnings: Bombs, a coup, a dictator in waiting. (I feel I should say that I actually wrote this up in December; the rough draft before that!)
Notes: 1932, 1940, 1960. Thomas Hallam.
Summary: There’s always a powder keg burning in Tom’s life.
***
1932
After Father goes away, exploding their safe old life, Tom’s left in the ashes with only Mother and his frail Great-Aunt Lucy. Someone’s got to step up and look after them, and if Father’s not here, who else can it be but Tom?
He runs errands, earns money, helps them get by. He leaves school as soon as he can, at fourteen, never mind Mother’s protests. He becomes a clerk in a shipping firm and studies in the evening.
Tom’s doing what needs to be done – that’s good enough, isn’t it? It’s right, so he doesn’t listen if Mother sighs and says, if only and wishes he could have the education she’d like for him.
He’s getting the one that he needs.
*
1940
Mr Rennison who owns the firm is impressed by Tom and his determination to study, to rise in the world. He advances through the ranks, pursues an evening course with a promise of a managerial role to come, but there’s another explosion that throws him from the path. That autumn the Germans bomb London for fifty-six days and Rennison & Cooper is left a broken shell of itself, a gaping hole remaining that used to be the cellar. War tears everything apart, but it also gives purpose, a reason to fight; a way to change the world.
It just shows, though: Tom can’t live his life waiting for other people to keep their promises. He knows now he’s got to make things happen himself if he wants them.
*
1960
Cabinet meetings are a trial. He’s constantly restraining himself; reigning in anger at the things nobody seems willing to do. The country is in crisis and Fields will always stop short of any real action. The man’s got no imagination. Harding is untrustworthy – Iveson is weak – they’re all talking and talking while a raging fire gathers across the Channel. Tom presses his pen down so hard on the paper in front of him he bends the nib out of shape.
Someone damn well has to do something, and he’s learned his life lessons well. He must do it himself. He’s the one to light the fuse this time. He’ll topple parliament itself to save the country if it’s the only way to do it. He’ll protect the people from their leaders’ folly.
Time to get things done.
***
Story: Divide & Rule/Heroes of the Revolution
Colors: Acanthus #14 (gunpowder); Ecru #17 (dictate)
Supplies and Styles: Charcoal
Word Count: 392
Rating: PG
Warnings: Bombs, a coup, a dictator in waiting. (I feel I should say that I actually wrote this up in December; the rough draft before that!)
Notes: 1932, 1940, 1960. Thomas Hallam.
Summary: There’s always a powder keg burning in Tom’s life.
***
1932
After Father goes away, exploding their safe old life, Tom’s left in the ashes with only Mother and his frail Great-Aunt Lucy. Someone’s got to step up and look after them, and if Father’s not here, who else can it be but Tom?
He runs errands, earns money, helps them get by. He leaves school as soon as he can, at fourteen, never mind Mother’s protests. He becomes a clerk in a shipping firm and studies in the evening.
Tom’s doing what needs to be done – that’s good enough, isn’t it? It’s right, so he doesn’t listen if Mother sighs and says, if only and wishes he could have the education she’d like for him.
He’s getting the one that he needs.
*
1940
Mr Rennison who owns the firm is impressed by Tom and his determination to study, to rise in the world. He advances through the ranks, pursues an evening course with a promise of a managerial role to come, but there’s another explosion that throws him from the path. That autumn the Germans bomb London for fifty-six days and Rennison & Cooper is left a broken shell of itself, a gaping hole remaining that used to be the cellar. War tears everything apart, but it also gives purpose, a reason to fight; a way to change the world.
It just shows, though: Tom can’t live his life waiting for other people to keep their promises. He knows now he’s got to make things happen himself if he wants them.
*
1960
Cabinet meetings are a trial. He’s constantly restraining himself; reigning in anger at the things nobody seems willing to do. The country is in crisis and Fields will always stop short of any real action. The man’s got no imagination. Harding is untrustworthy – Iveson is weak – they’re all talking and talking while a raging fire gathers across the Channel. Tom presses his pen down so hard on the paper in front of him he bends the nib out of shape.
Someone damn well has to do something, and he’s learned his life lessons well. He must do it himself. He’s the one to light the fuse this time. He’ll topple parliament itself to save the country if it’s the only way to do it. He’ll protect the people from their leaders’ folly.
Time to get things done.
***
no subject
no subject