Meine Liebe fic: Expectedly Unexpected
May. 25th, 2007 07:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
narcasse2180 words. PG for implication and shounen-ai. Post-Rosenstolz, during the Whitsun parliamentary recess.
Eduard and Orpherus talk around the matter of understanding once again and Orpherus confesses the obvious.
Expectedly Unexpected
Disclaimer: Meine Liebe belongs to Konami, Yuki Kaori and others.
++++++++++
Making tea in the mornings can sometimes be a hazardous affair in Orpherus’ household. Having searched the kitchens twice Eduard discovers that there simply isn’t any milk to be had, since Orpherus has been away the week prior and simply gave the household staff the appropriate time off. Even this morning, now that Orpherus has returned and Eduard has spent the night, there are no servants to be found.
“Orphe?”
Orpherus shuffles into the kitchens, rubbing his eyes and makes some slight sound of acknowledgement.
“How long did you dismiss the servants for?”
Orpherus holds up two fingers.
“Two more days?”
He shakes his head.
“Two… weeks?”
A wide smile followed by a cough.
“Oh, Orphe. How are you going to cope?” Eduard sighs.
“What’s for breakfast, Ed?”
Another sigh. “I could poach an egg if you like and there appears to be some bread and ham.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, ‘oh’. What are you going to do for the rest of the week? I can’t just stay here and make sure you’re fed, you know.” Eduard turns his attention back to the tea.
“You could stay with me always.” Orpherus wraps his arms round Eduard’s waist from behind.
Eduard can’t help but laugh. “As your lover; certainly but not as your scullery maid.”
Once Orpherus is settled in his bed with a breakfast tray on his lap, Eduard sets about opening some of the windows. Orpherus frowns in puzzlement.
“Airing the room out, Orphe. It reeks of cigarettes.”
The previous night they’d returned from a rather obscure performance of the Lohengrin tale. Orpherus had been rather taken by the drama of the entire swan knight legend until Eduard had slyly pointed out during the interval that it was the same story that Orpherus was constantly objecting to in operatic format, simply because it was Ludwig’s favourite. And they’d spent the rest of the night curled up in bed drinking and smoking their way through all of Orpherus’ objections.
“Tristan and Isolde is better.” Orpherus mumbles into his tea as if anticipating Eduard’s memory of the night before.
“Orphe.”
Orpherus mutters something unintelligible into his cup.
“We reached the conclusion that ‘better’ isn’t a quantifiable descriptor last night, didn’t we.”
Blue eyes stare mournfully at Eduard over the edge of the teacup that Orpherus seems to be holding up right in front of his face for no discernable reason.
“You’re just objecting to be petulant anyway. We both know that.” Eduard turns back to adjusting the drapes around the window he’s just opened.
“Which one do you like then, Ed?” Orpherus seems to be generally curious.
Coming back to the bed, Eduard grins wickedly as he seats himself on the coverlet, facing Orpherus. “That’s obvious, isn’t it? The Flying Dutchman.”
Orpherus can’t help laughing as Eduard winks and reaches for a slice of bread.
It takes a little while for Orpherus’ mirth to die down and they eat in a peaceable silence for some time following. Finally, breakfast tray set aside, Orpherus reaches for his cigarettes, smiling to himself absently.
Eduard takes the proffered cigarette and watches Orpherus with a bemused expression.
“What?” But Orpherus is already grinning.
“’What’ he says. You’re already up to something, I can tell.”
“I; am the perfect picture of innocence.” Orpherus responds archly.
“As long as you’re not the model of a modern Major-General I’m sure I can cope with that.”
A puzzled look.
“Gilbert & Sullivan, Orphe. English comic opera.”
“Dreadful man, do not profane my ears.”
Eduard chuckles. “Tannhäuser? This early in the morning?”
“You only know that because of Camus.”
“Yes, yes. But if Camus will get into battles of quotations with Lui, it’s a little difficult to avoid.”
“Camus doesn’t play fair anyway.”
“Orphe…”
“He doesn’t. He never sticks to one language when he plays.”
“Neither do you. No, don’t even think about arguing that with me. You use Latin and Italian quotations just as much as German ones.”
“Naoji quotes in Japanese though and nobody really knows if they’re actual quotations or if he’s just making things up.”
“Lui knows.”
“How?”
“Because he’s Lui and Naoji’s actions exceed the capacities of all men, save only those that are hourly versed in managing them.”
Orpherus sniggers. “Oh, Ed, I do think that I must love you.”
“And all its taken is nine years and a handful of quotations for you to realise that.”
Appearing to consider the matter seriously, Orpherus frowns slightly. “I suppose it may have taken some tea as well.”
Just then the telephone rings disrupting the relative quiet.
“Orphe?”
“No, don’t answer it. I can’t be bothered with anything today, Ed.”
“I’ll go answer it for you.” Eduard ignores Orpherus’ protests.
The voice on the other end of the line is instantly familiar.
“Lui?”
“How are you this fine morning, Eduard?”
“Good, Lui. You sound rather cheery. Did something happen?”
“Yes and no. Naoji has a habit of happening at the most unaccountable times but that’s beside the point. He does want to go shooting things later this week though, if you’re at all interested.”
“Oh?”
“Ducks apparently have taken to offending him so he’s after a couple of them. I know Orpherus has just come back from visiting Camus but the Lüneburg estates do have some rather beautiful lakes and so on where the- Excuse me a moment.”
Eduard has to stifle a laugh when he hears Ludwig seemingly admonishing someone, most likely Naoji, for referring to the supposedly offensive fowl as ‘little buggers’.
“I am sorry about that but as I was saying, Camus is quite happy to host a shooting party by Thursday really. He did also mention that you have some new English novel that he’d be delighted to hear about.”
“I know which one he’s talking about, I’ll be done with it by then so I’ll lend it to him on Thursday.”
“Marvellous, I’ll let my cousin know that both yourself and Orpherus will be attending.”
And it’s only when Eduard is halfway up the main staircase that it occurs to him that Ludwig hadn’t even thought to ask if Orpherus wanted to attend separately.
“Of course I’ll go. That’s a given.” Orpherus equally doesn’t seem to find that fact perturbing.
“Of course it is.”
“Oh, Ed, don’t be like that. I have nothing better to do for the rest of the week and it’s Lui and I haven’t seen Lui for a week anyway and-“
Eduard places a finger against Orpherus’ lips to silence him. “I know. Don’t frown like that either, I do understand.”
They then sit in silence as Eduard stares out of the windows for long moments.
“I do love you, Ed.”
“I know.”
“And I love Lui too.”
“I noticed.”
“Don’t joke. I’m being serious for once. I can love both of you, you know. My heart isn’t so small or shrivelled that there’s only space for one. I love you both and that will never change. Oh, I get angry and melancholy and foolish just like any other man but that doesn’t mean that I’ve ever stopped loving you.” Orpherus turns away too, jaw set in hard lines.
Eduard stares, more than a little surprised then he quietly reaches out to take hold of Orpherus’ hand. “You always amaze me.”
Orpherus glances at him from the corner of his eyes, suspiciously.
“I mean it. Every single time I think that I know you exactly, completely, you always surprise me with something wonderful and new.”
This time Orpherus looks vaguely confused. “That’s just how I feel, Ed. It isn’t any different from the way things were before.”
Eduard gently squeezes Orpherus’ fingers. “You… you just never said anything like that before. And the silence used to be so loud that I thought… I… I don’t know what I thought.”
Orpherus stubs out his cigarette and moves over towards Eduard and Eduard is surprised once against to feel himself pulled into Orpherus’ arms.
“Orphe…”
“Don’t you dare leave me, Ed. Don’t you dare even think it. I need you more than anything. I can’t do this without you. I won’t. And if you leave me… oh, Ed, if you leave me I’ll become everything that I’ve ever fought against!” It’s a harsh whisper.
“I won’t leave you, I love you.” Eduard holds Orpherus tight.
Suddenly Eduard laughs softly.
“Ed?”
Eduard brushes a hand across his face realising that the dampness against his cheek is his own tears. “Better to reign in Hell…”
“No.”
“Orphe?”
“You can just throw that idea out right now, Eduard. I refuse to give in to melodrama and cliché. Besides, that just doesn’t work in the real world. We can’t all be sinners or saints and most of us have to walk the fine line in between. Not absolutely good but not unrepentantly evil either. We are… just human and we have to do the best we can.”
This time Eduard’s smile is soft as he studies Orpherus’ serious expression. He won’t say it aloud but this is why he chose to follow Orpherus from the start, when their journey began. This strength and determination so that no matter how long it may take, no matter how many missteps may muddle the way; Orpherus will still be continually moving forwards unrepentantly. It is of course why he can’t help but love Ludwig too. Ludwig who cares not for the path laid out before him but continually, determinedly walks the road less travelled.
“Ed?”
“Yes, Orphe?”
“My tea’s dead.” Orpherus stares mournfully into his teacup.
“I’ll get us some more then.”
“Ed…”
Eduard smiles at Orpherus before he exits the room.
It’s not that Eduard himself lacks direction of course, only that somewhere along the way he began to confuse the necessity of withdrawal from external and material things from time to time, as retreat for other purposes. Eclipsed by Orpherus’ blinding light, he forgot the necessity of resting one’s eyes in the dark and forging on beneath the sun’s harsh rays was hardly a sensible tactic. Even seeking sanctuary in the eternal darkness of night wasn’t really a sensible choice. The only creatures who can navigate without light are those blinded by the dark, whose strength lies in what isn’t said. Naoji of course needs no light to find guidance by. But Eduard needs at least some little shade. He needs the light upon the horizon to see his own footsteps but he needs the darkness in which to make that journey. And he can never seem to find the right words to explain it to Orpherus without couching it in the terms of elaborate esotericism.
Upstairs, Orpherus shuffles a deck of cards idly having moved to sit at a side table. He tips one over absently and smiles wickedly.
“Trickster or wise advisor. I can’t decide, Ed but maybe… I think you might be both.”
It’s only as he pours the tea carefully to test it in the kitchens that Eduard realises that while he’s been worried about the perception of himself, he’s also confused his perceptions of others because Orpherus isn’t the sun anymore than Ludwig is the moon. He laughs. Because it’s all in reverse. It is Ludwig who is unrepentant and uncaring of those who receive illumination or are withered by his unfaltering light and Orpherus who reflects that light softly; granting peace or madness. He’s been wrong all along.
“Ed, I’m still hungry.” Orpherus’ complaint is the first thing Eduard hears on re-entering the bedroom.
“I brought crumpets this time.”
Sitting on the bed, sipping his tea, Eduard considers just how to phase his revelation. “Orphe?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you ever think, if we were relating people to astral bodies that… well, Lui might actually be the sun?”
Orpherus sticks a finger in his ear.
“Orphe, that’s disgusting.”
“Yes.”
“I’m glad you realise- oh, you meant Lui.”
“Yes, Ed, of course Lui is the sun. What else would he be?”
Eduard doesn’t reply and instead resorts to his tea once more as a distraction for long moments. “Promise me something?”
“Oh?”
“Promise me you’ll actually tell me this sort of thing when you figure it out for a change.”
“But you knew it already! It’s not as if I’ll help anything by just repeating the obvious.”
This time Eduard gives up the conversation in bemused exasperation because as far as Orpherus’ insight is concerned, or rather as far as Orpherus is conserved about his own insight; it’s just so obvious that Orpherus wouldn’t dream of sharing it and boring everyone with the repetition. All of which seems like it should be a good idea, if only Eduard could manage to figure out what Ludwig and Orpherus’ established common knowledge is on any given day.
“Just you wait, Orphe. One day I’ll have this all figured out and then there’ll be trouble.”
“Hmm, I don’t know. It might be dire but it might also be… well, an awfully big adventure.” Orpherus winks and goes back to finishing the rest of the crumpets, leaving Eduard attempting not to splutter his laughter into his teacup.
++++++++++
A scullery maid was the lowest class of female servant and acted as assistant to the kitchen maids.
Der Fliegende Holländer is Wagner’s rendition of the famous tale. Though there appear to be several versions of the story the Wagner version actually features the Dutchman finding salvation in the faithfulness of a bride.
Eduard makes reference to The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert & Sullivan and in particular to the famous Major-General’s song of Act 1.
Orpherus quotes his line of “Entsetzlicher. Entweihe nicht mein Ohr.” from Act 3, Scene 3 of Tannhäuser.
Eduard paraphrases:
”The causes and ends of the greatest politic actions and motions of state dazzle the eyes and exceed the capacities of all men, save only those that are hourly versed in managing public affairs."
- Filmer, R., ([1991] 2004), Patriarcha and Other Writings, p. 4, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Eduard’s ‘English novel’ is in fact the short story collection published in 1914 and titled Dracula’s Guest.
”Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.”
- Milton, J., ([1667] 1996), Paradise Lost, p. 14, London, Penguin Books.
There’s of course a reference to Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken in there.
Orpherus is likely using his seemingly normal deck of playing cards that possesses an extra court card per suit. He may even have been looking at the King of Spades.
”To die will be an awfully big adventure.”
- Barrie, J. M., (1995), Peter Pan, p. 99, London, Penguin Books.
While the dates for some of the Wagner operas mentioned may be a little out of sync by a handful of years, perhaps Kuchen distorts the time-space continuum enough that in that reality said operas were in fact written and premiered slightly earlier.
Eduard and Orpherus talk around the matter of understanding once again and Orpherus confesses the obvious.
Expectedly Unexpected
Disclaimer: Meine Liebe belongs to Konami, Yuki Kaori and others.
++++++++++
Making tea in the mornings can sometimes be a hazardous affair in Orpherus’ household. Having searched the kitchens twice Eduard discovers that there simply isn’t any milk to be had, since Orpherus has been away the week prior and simply gave the household staff the appropriate time off. Even this morning, now that Orpherus has returned and Eduard has spent the night, there are no servants to be found.
“Orphe?”
Orpherus shuffles into the kitchens, rubbing his eyes and makes some slight sound of acknowledgement.
“How long did you dismiss the servants for?”
Orpherus holds up two fingers.
“Two more days?”
He shakes his head.
“Two… weeks?”
A wide smile followed by a cough.
“Oh, Orphe. How are you going to cope?” Eduard sighs.
“What’s for breakfast, Ed?”
Another sigh. “I could poach an egg if you like and there appears to be some bread and ham.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, ‘oh’. What are you going to do for the rest of the week? I can’t just stay here and make sure you’re fed, you know.” Eduard turns his attention back to the tea.
“You could stay with me always.” Orpherus wraps his arms round Eduard’s waist from behind.
Eduard can’t help but laugh. “As your lover; certainly but not as your scullery maid.”
Once Orpherus is settled in his bed with a breakfast tray on his lap, Eduard sets about opening some of the windows. Orpherus frowns in puzzlement.
“Airing the room out, Orphe. It reeks of cigarettes.”
The previous night they’d returned from a rather obscure performance of the Lohengrin tale. Orpherus had been rather taken by the drama of the entire swan knight legend until Eduard had slyly pointed out during the interval that it was the same story that Orpherus was constantly objecting to in operatic format, simply because it was Ludwig’s favourite. And they’d spent the rest of the night curled up in bed drinking and smoking their way through all of Orpherus’ objections.
“Tristan and Isolde is better.” Orpherus mumbles into his tea as if anticipating Eduard’s memory of the night before.
“Orphe.”
Orpherus mutters something unintelligible into his cup.
“We reached the conclusion that ‘better’ isn’t a quantifiable descriptor last night, didn’t we.”
Blue eyes stare mournfully at Eduard over the edge of the teacup that Orpherus seems to be holding up right in front of his face for no discernable reason.
“You’re just objecting to be petulant anyway. We both know that.” Eduard turns back to adjusting the drapes around the window he’s just opened.
“Which one do you like then, Ed?” Orpherus seems to be generally curious.
Coming back to the bed, Eduard grins wickedly as he seats himself on the coverlet, facing Orpherus. “That’s obvious, isn’t it? The Flying Dutchman.”
Orpherus can’t help laughing as Eduard winks and reaches for a slice of bread.
It takes a little while for Orpherus’ mirth to die down and they eat in a peaceable silence for some time following. Finally, breakfast tray set aside, Orpherus reaches for his cigarettes, smiling to himself absently.
Eduard takes the proffered cigarette and watches Orpherus with a bemused expression.
“What?” But Orpherus is already grinning.
“’What’ he says. You’re already up to something, I can tell.”
“I; am the perfect picture of innocence.” Orpherus responds archly.
“As long as you’re not the model of a modern Major-General I’m sure I can cope with that.”
A puzzled look.
“Gilbert & Sullivan, Orphe. English comic opera.”
“Dreadful man, do not profane my ears.”
Eduard chuckles. “Tannhäuser? This early in the morning?”
“You only know that because of Camus.”
“Yes, yes. But if Camus will get into battles of quotations with Lui, it’s a little difficult to avoid.”
“Camus doesn’t play fair anyway.”
“Orphe…”
“He doesn’t. He never sticks to one language when he plays.”
“Neither do you. No, don’t even think about arguing that with me. You use Latin and Italian quotations just as much as German ones.”
“Naoji quotes in Japanese though and nobody really knows if they’re actual quotations or if he’s just making things up.”
“Lui knows.”
“How?”
“Because he’s Lui and Naoji’s actions exceed the capacities of all men, save only those that are hourly versed in managing them.”
Orpherus sniggers. “Oh, Ed, I do think that I must love you.”
“And all its taken is nine years and a handful of quotations for you to realise that.”
Appearing to consider the matter seriously, Orpherus frowns slightly. “I suppose it may have taken some tea as well.”
Just then the telephone rings disrupting the relative quiet.
“Orphe?”
“No, don’t answer it. I can’t be bothered with anything today, Ed.”
“I’ll go answer it for you.” Eduard ignores Orpherus’ protests.
The voice on the other end of the line is instantly familiar.
“Lui?”
“How are you this fine morning, Eduard?”
“Good, Lui. You sound rather cheery. Did something happen?”
“Yes and no. Naoji has a habit of happening at the most unaccountable times but that’s beside the point. He does want to go shooting things later this week though, if you’re at all interested.”
“Oh?”
“Ducks apparently have taken to offending him so he’s after a couple of them. I know Orpherus has just come back from visiting Camus but the Lüneburg estates do have some rather beautiful lakes and so on where the- Excuse me a moment.”
Eduard has to stifle a laugh when he hears Ludwig seemingly admonishing someone, most likely Naoji, for referring to the supposedly offensive fowl as ‘little buggers’.
“I am sorry about that but as I was saying, Camus is quite happy to host a shooting party by Thursday really. He did also mention that you have some new English novel that he’d be delighted to hear about.”
“I know which one he’s talking about, I’ll be done with it by then so I’ll lend it to him on Thursday.”
“Marvellous, I’ll let my cousin know that both yourself and Orpherus will be attending.”
And it’s only when Eduard is halfway up the main staircase that it occurs to him that Ludwig hadn’t even thought to ask if Orpherus wanted to attend separately.
“Of course I’ll go. That’s a given.” Orpherus equally doesn’t seem to find that fact perturbing.
“Of course it is.”
“Oh, Ed, don’t be like that. I have nothing better to do for the rest of the week and it’s Lui and I haven’t seen Lui for a week anyway and-“
Eduard places a finger against Orpherus’ lips to silence him. “I know. Don’t frown like that either, I do understand.”
They then sit in silence as Eduard stares out of the windows for long moments.
“I do love you, Ed.”
“I know.”
“And I love Lui too.”
“I noticed.”
“Don’t joke. I’m being serious for once. I can love both of you, you know. My heart isn’t so small or shrivelled that there’s only space for one. I love you both and that will never change. Oh, I get angry and melancholy and foolish just like any other man but that doesn’t mean that I’ve ever stopped loving you.” Orpherus turns away too, jaw set in hard lines.
Eduard stares, more than a little surprised then he quietly reaches out to take hold of Orpherus’ hand. “You always amaze me.”
Orpherus glances at him from the corner of his eyes, suspiciously.
“I mean it. Every single time I think that I know you exactly, completely, you always surprise me with something wonderful and new.”
This time Orpherus looks vaguely confused. “That’s just how I feel, Ed. It isn’t any different from the way things were before.”
Eduard gently squeezes Orpherus’ fingers. “You… you just never said anything like that before. And the silence used to be so loud that I thought… I… I don’t know what I thought.”
Orpherus stubs out his cigarette and moves over towards Eduard and Eduard is surprised once against to feel himself pulled into Orpherus’ arms.
“Orphe…”
“Don’t you dare leave me, Ed. Don’t you dare even think it. I need you more than anything. I can’t do this without you. I won’t. And if you leave me… oh, Ed, if you leave me I’ll become everything that I’ve ever fought against!” It’s a harsh whisper.
“I won’t leave you, I love you.” Eduard holds Orpherus tight.
Suddenly Eduard laughs softly.
“Ed?”
Eduard brushes a hand across his face realising that the dampness against his cheek is his own tears. “Better to reign in Hell…”
“No.”
“Orphe?”
“You can just throw that idea out right now, Eduard. I refuse to give in to melodrama and cliché. Besides, that just doesn’t work in the real world. We can’t all be sinners or saints and most of us have to walk the fine line in between. Not absolutely good but not unrepentantly evil either. We are… just human and we have to do the best we can.”
This time Eduard’s smile is soft as he studies Orpherus’ serious expression. He won’t say it aloud but this is why he chose to follow Orpherus from the start, when their journey began. This strength and determination so that no matter how long it may take, no matter how many missteps may muddle the way; Orpherus will still be continually moving forwards unrepentantly. It is of course why he can’t help but love Ludwig too. Ludwig who cares not for the path laid out before him but continually, determinedly walks the road less travelled.
“Ed?”
“Yes, Orphe?”
“My tea’s dead.” Orpherus stares mournfully into his teacup.
“I’ll get us some more then.”
“Ed…”
Eduard smiles at Orpherus before he exits the room.
It’s not that Eduard himself lacks direction of course, only that somewhere along the way he began to confuse the necessity of withdrawal from external and material things from time to time, as retreat for other purposes. Eclipsed by Orpherus’ blinding light, he forgot the necessity of resting one’s eyes in the dark and forging on beneath the sun’s harsh rays was hardly a sensible tactic. Even seeking sanctuary in the eternal darkness of night wasn’t really a sensible choice. The only creatures who can navigate without light are those blinded by the dark, whose strength lies in what isn’t said. Naoji of course needs no light to find guidance by. But Eduard needs at least some little shade. He needs the light upon the horizon to see his own footsteps but he needs the darkness in which to make that journey. And he can never seem to find the right words to explain it to Orpherus without couching it in the terms of elaborate esotericism.
Upstairs, Orpherus shuffles a deck of cards idly having moved to sit at a side table. He tips one over absently and smiles wickedly.
“Trickster or wise advisor. I can’t decide, Ed but maybe… I think you might be both.”
It’s only as he pours the tea carefully to test it in the kitchens that Eduard realises that while he’s been worried about the perception of himself, he’s also confused his perceptions of others because Orpherus isn’t the sun anymore than Ludwig is the moon. He laughs. Because it’s all in reverse. It is Ludwig who is unrepentant and uncaring of those who receive illumination or are withered by his unfaltering light and Orpherus who reflects that light softly; granting peace or madness. He’s been wrong all along.
“Ed, I’m still hungry.” Orpherus’ complaint is the first thing Eduard hears on re-entering the bedroom.
“I brought crumpets this time.”
Sitting on the bed, sipping his tea, Eduard considers just how to phase his revelation. “Orphe?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you ever think, if we were relating people to astral bodies that… well, Lui might actually be the sun?”
Orpherus sticks a finger in his ear.
“Orphe, that’s disgusting.”
“Yes.”
“I’m glad you realise- oh, you meant Lui.”
“Yes, Ed, of course Lui is the sun. What else would he be?”
Eduard doesn’t reply and instead resorts to his tea once more as a distraction for long moments. “Promise me something?”
“Oh?”
“Promise me you’ll actually tell me this sort of thing when you figure it out for a change.”
“But you knew it already! It’s not as if I’ll help anything by just repeating the obvious.”
This time Eduard gives up the conversation in bemused exasperation because as far as Orpherus’ insight is concerned, or rather as far as Orpherus is conserved about his own insight; it’s just so obvious that Orpherus wouldn’t dream of sharing it and boring everyone with the repetition. All of which seems like it should be a good idea, if only Eduard could manage to figure out what Ludwig and Orpherus’ established common knowledge is on any given day.
“Just you wait, Orphe. One day I’ll have this all figured out and then there’ll be trouble.”
“Hmm, I don’t know. It might be dire but it might also be… well, an awfully big adventure.” Orpherus winks and goes back to finishing the rest of the crumpets, leaving Eduard attempting not to splutter his laughter into his teacup.
++++++++++
A scullery maid was the lowest class of female servant and acted as assistant to the kitchen maids.
Der Fliegende Holländer is Wagner’s rendition of the famous tale. Though there appear to be several versions of the story the Wagner version actually features the Dutchman finding salvation in the faithfulness of a bride.
Eduard makes reference to The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert & Sullivan and in particular to the famous Major-General’s song of Act 1.
Orpherus quotes his line of “Entsetzlicher. Entweihe nicht mein Ohr.” from Act 3, Scene 3 of Tannhäuser.
Eduard paraphrases:
”The causes and ends of the greatest politic actions and motions of state dazzle the eyes and exceed the capacities of all men, save only those that are hourly versed in managing public affairs."
- Filmer, R., ([1991] 2004), Patriarcha and Other Writings, p. 4, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Eduard’s ‘English novel’ is in fact the short story collection published in 1914 and titled Dracula’s Guest.
”Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.”
- Milton, J., ([1667] 1996), Paradise Lost, p. 14, London, Penguin Books.
There’s of course a reference to Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken in there.
Orpherus is likely using his seemingly normal deck of playing cards that possesses an extra court card per suit. He may even have been looking at the King of Spades.
”To die will be an awfully big adventure.”
- Barrie, J. M., (1995), Peter Pan, p. 99, London, Penguin Books.
While the dates for some of the Wagner operas mentioned may be a little out of sync by a handful of years, perhaps Kuchen distorts the time-space continuum enough that in that reality said operas were in fact written and premiered slightly earlier.
