[Fic] "Come Close to Your Own World" -- Chronicles of Narnia

Summary: The Pevensies can only take one child with them to America. Mary is the logical choice -- she's the eldest, and the only one who has any interest in Father's work -- but she's not sure that's a good idea. (Part of the As the Morning and the Night genderswap AU)

Note: This fic was written for Cotton Candy Bingo Round One in incredibly belated response to the prompt: unexpected love. It's also in response to a prompt from asphodelimago: Narnia, Peter finds a hobby. Seems like his characterization is all about duty and great earthshaking deeds, especially in Narnia. It’d be neat to see him back in England, finding something quiet and ordinary that still matters, even after all those great deeds. (I am admittedly still smitten with As The Morning and the Night, and Mary or Stephen would also be fascinating for this, but I know you haven’t been back to that AU for a while. It got stuck in my head so hard, and it’s never quite left.) (4,200 words)

[ETA: The notably revised and slightly extended final version is now up on AO3! Please go read that one instead.]

( Come Close to Your Own World )

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This story is very rough! I am posting it now because I have been working on it too long to retain any sense of perspective, and I doubt that stepping away for a couple days would do anything to help. I think my mechanics (spelling, grammar, etc.) are probably okay, but I am very unsure of the thematic arc here, I suspect the points where I got utterly lost and did a subdued version of "and then ninjas break down the door!" narrative focus shift trick are not hidden very well, and I kind of threw up my hands in despair when it came to period-accuracy.

If you have any suggestions for improvements, please tell me.

wherein Liz has company!

I have a dog!

...For the next two weeks, that is. I am dogsitting Dottie while my parents are off in Cambridge and Casablanca. Dad is giving a paper in Cambridge (he's only mostly retired, you know, and historians can keep on writing without formal jobs), and Casablanca is the site of this year's Meteoritical Society meeting, which of course includes the presentation of the award Ardis established in my Grandpa's name.

Mom drove up with the dog and her supplies -- food, toys, bed, leash, toothbrush, etc. -- and left after what was either a belated lunch or a very early dinner. I am typing this post with Dottie on my lap, which is slightly awkward but very warm and companionable. She's a little confused, and a little sad, but I think we will get on well together, as we have in past dogsitting incidents.

And hey, it will be nice to have an external structure imposed on my life, since I'm demonstrably bad at imposing one of my own volition. Plus, I'm getting paid. That is always a bonus. :-)

...

Maybe someday I will be able to afford a dog of my own. *wistful*