By Random Scribbles
This story was inspired by Sealgirl’s idea of doing Alternative Episodes. I was hit with the concept of what would have happened had the others not gone back after Eric in B&TB – how he’d get by in the Realm truly alone, and it span into this story. I was writing ‘The Lost’ at the same time, and the one became a counter to the other – Hank is alone in the Realm in one, Eric in the other – they pursue the lost boy in one story, run from him in the other – and one has an ending full of light, happiness and love whereas the other ends on a wretched, lonely, miserable note.
You’ll notice that after a chapter or two the story slowly melds into an alternative episode of CatEoM. Why? I’m not sure. I always liked Rhamoud, I thought he made a very positive father figure to all the kids, especially Eric. His affection prompts such lovely, melancholy moments in Eric, and I think if Eric were to find a father in the Realm, one who would help him lead a happy life, it would be Rhamoud. I certainly don’t ship Eric/Ayeisha (all of Diana’s moping? That’s me saying what I’ve done ain’t really fair!) but it fit my plan for that story to have them marry. I didn’t notice the Frog-To-Prince pattern until Bobby mentioned it. In fact, the story didn’t even have a title until quite near the end. The image of them collapsing in the desert and being picked up and rescued using giant land birds was one I’d wanted to use for a while. The cyclical nature of LiB meant I got to do it twice! Yay!
Recurring Themes:
Ah, my E/D shipping! Even when he spends 15 years in the Realm and has a family without her, I’ve got to include some! This one was fun to turn on its head, because my fic usually has more of E moping after D than t’other way round. Too slow, sister! And his writing about her in his journal is from the New Adventures. I threw a smidgeon of H/S in there, too. I always do. Just because I think it’s a bit boring doesn’t mean I can ignore that it exists.
P/E friendship – I think that almost fraternal bond P&E have is adorable. I love exploring that weird unconditional affection they have for each other, and LiB was no exception. In most of my fic, Presto is the only one that Eric actually tells about Diana, and here at least Presto’s determined loyalty is rewarded with Eric’s firstborn. In my mind, they all stay on in the Realm after the battle, and Presto and Rose eventually marry. I love the idea of Eric having to put up with being Presto’s Father In Law! By the way, originally Rose was going to be about 9, and the little cutesie romance was going to be with Bobby, but it just worked better with Presto. Besides, we get little hints that Eric’s worried about the bad influence Bobby might be having over Charlie.
Julie Klein – a little injoke I keep sticking in my fics – whenever Eric refers to a hot girl at school, it’s always Julie Klein! She sounds like a bit of a monster, actually, she’s quite a bully, but he still thinks she’s great.
Names & Backgrounds – In my ficland, I took the fandom’s generally accepted surnames of O’Brian for Sheila & Bobby, and Montgomery for Eric – Diana’s is Jones (Indie ref), Hank’s is Van Walwyk, although I hadn’t decided that when writing LiB, and Presto’s real name is Arthur (from some notes I found on the DVD extras) Greene (um… because he wears a lot of green). Eric’s dad is named Charles Montgomery after Mr Burns from the Simpsons. Hank has always lived in the house opposite to Sheila and Bobby, and I always thought that, apart from Presto, none of the gang ever really hung out with Eric before the day of the Funfair. I decided when writing the New Adventures that Eric’s mum had walked out on her husband years ago and at the time of the toon was living in Britain with a twat called Roger. The big Background decision I made in LiB was making Presto Jewish. I think it suits him.
Unicorn abuse – OK, so I don’t hurt her as such in this one, but she does get humiliated a lot. Ha!
Stripping Eric – I do this a lot. This isn’t because losing his armour makes him physically more vulnerable, and it’s not because stripping away his many layers of impenetrable, shiny, cold metal to expose an awkward young man beneath is any kind of metaphor, no way. It is done for purely Pervy reasons!And, by the way – Hot Adult Eric is based on a cross between Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn, Jack Sparrow and the Prince of Persia. Rrrrrrrrr!
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Fanart
"Daddy's Girl" By Random Scribbles
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