The walls grew fatter here than any in the land

[sovay]

It is not my norm that all of my completed fiction so far this year has been fanfiction, but on the other hand I could be not writing fiction at all. Most lately, for thisbluespirit: "The Debt of Centuries."

I wanted to write them reciprocal casefic for Sapphire & Steel (1979–82), so I threw their catalogue of original and other elements into the Ersatz Genremixer to see if I got any useful prompts. Among others, I received "Arsenic / Zinc - Awkward moment & tradition & Lending a coat in the cold," which was technically no crackier than the rest except that Arsenic and Zinc are fancast with Caroline Blakiston and Alec McCowen, last seen by me in Mr. Palfrey of Westminster (1984–85). I could not resist.

The title is a mondegreen left over from hearing Dave Goulder's "These Dry Stone Walls" (since I can't find a link to his own recording, here performed by Gordon Bok) decades before I saw the official lyrics. It seemed to suit. I do not think I am one of nature's tag-users.

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

Now I'm trying to figure out the kind of character that Martin Jarvis would have been in an episode of Danger UXB. David Collings would probably have been blown up.

I don't know what Danger UXB is like enough to say, but clearly this may be the approach to take! I can watch it and tell you what JM and Martin Jarvis would have been in it. XD I know enough about David Collings to agree that he would unquestionably have died and exploding is a fairly safe bet for him - probably in the process of trying to blow up other people as well, because he's just like that.

I assume you saw this interview in which an action sequence from Breakaway featured as his choice of worst job he's ever done?

The only person I really look hard for interviews with is JM, so no, I hadn't, and thanks! I really did laugh aloud reading that bit because the first thing I thought when I saw that sequence was that the actor was NOT enjoying himself at all and clearly I was not wrong.

I'm very glad he didn't get poisoned by his gas fire before making it in the 60s, though. (I wouldn't have made gas leak comments in my fic if I'd read that!!)

To the Old Vic in the 1950s to work with Gielgud, Olivier, Richardson and the great director Tyrone Guthrie.

But also: he would like to swap places with James Maxwell for a bit. XD

[sovay]

I don't know what Danger UXB is like enough to say, but clearly this may be the approach to take! I can watch it and tell you what JM and Martin Jarvis would have been in it.

I mean, I think that would be delightful. And it does have Judy Geeson.

I know enough about David Collings to agree that he would unquestionably have died and exploding is a fairly safe bet for him - probably in the process of trying to blow up other people as well, because he's just like that.

He could always have been traumatized and frozen up while defusing a bomb and gone that way!

The only person I really look hard for interviews with is JM, so no, I hadn't, and thanks!

Of course! It turned up looking for information about The Forsyte Saga. "And I do love them both."

I really did laugh aloud reading that bit because the first thing I thought when I saw that sequence was that the actor was NOT enjoying himself at all and clearly I was not wrong.

The behind-the-scenes for Breakaway so far are really something so far.

I'm very glad he didn't get poisoned by his gas fire before making it in the 60s, though. (I wouldn't have made gas leak comments in my fic if I'd read that!!)

That's like everyone's clocks stopping when they watch Sapphire & Steel.

But also: he would like to swap places with James Maxwell for a bit.

An understandable ambition.

[thisbluespirit]

He could always have been traumatized and frozen up while defusing a bomb and gone that way!

He's very murdery as well, though. (He started out as Raskolnikov. He murders and breaks down; it's what he does! XD)

Of course! It turned up looking for information about The Forsyte Saga. "And I do love them both."

Aw, yes. And it was very nice, too! (And also I do look for other people; it's just only been JM lately because he is interesting and tantalisingly elusive but not so elusive as to make a person give up.)

Martin Jarvis has a whole autobiography, so by my standards that's just cheating and too much information! XD

[sovay]

He started out as Raskolnikov. He murders and breaks down; it's what he does!

Clearly I just haven't seen him in enough murdery parts, beyond that one terrorist who got a bucket of water thrown over him.