0 Kudo
Cat-Tales 59: Do No Harm
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 Chris Dee |
Cat-Tales 59: Do No Harm |
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Posts: 796 11/06/09 13:35 |
--Chris Dee
Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Superpowers corrupts - superbly. --Identity Element |
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 ichigenka.gothampm |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 265 11/06/09 15:50 |
Absolutely loved it. Some really classic Alfred in this especially his 1st reactions to Selina. One question, why chocolate chip scones and not the famous
double dip double chip cookies?
Also loved how Selina worked through her first talk with Alfred. She was probably in shock the whole time, meeting Alfred would have only made "Bruce" all that more real. Really can't wait for the next chap, in the mean while gotta go back and brush up on book 1 so all the details have context. |
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nikitee.gothampm |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 14 11/06/09 17:23 |
Superb and me-ow! This is exactly what I've been wishing for since I started reading CatTales. And Alfred and Miss Nutmeg? Yum.
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The Wilder |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 261 11/06/09 18:05 Gothamite |
I was really excited for this story and it's been very satisfying so far. I love the nod to the clip show format, which feels very appropriate here. Should
be interesting to see Bruce and Selina's reception to Tim's assignment, though perhaps he should wait until after this breakthrough with
Scarecrow's fear toxins has settled down.
You've captured Selina and Alfred wonderfully. The present-day scenes offset the flashbacks very nicely, which shows how far they've all come since those early days. They're starting off on the right foot with some needed clarifications about topics such as the fop and stealing. I was a little surprised to see Selina use the word "love" at the end of the conversation. I can't remember which story it was in, but I'm sure there was a big ordeal when Bruce used it when there was questions about the seriousness of their relationship. Can't wait to see where things go from here. I'd love to see Dick, Tim, and perhaps Whiskers & Nutmeg make a Book 1 appearance. |
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timmopussycat |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 9 11/06/09 18:40 |
Oh...
my... word.... Ms. Dee, you have done something that I feared might lie beyond the compass of even your immense skills. Faced with walking a tightrope consisting of the highest demands of your readers, you have spun one of your most enchanting tales, elucidating one of the most emotionally weighted events in the lives of all three characters, without even the slightest hint of a false note. After reading it, I am in shock at the understated wisdom with which Alfred negotiated his first encounters with Selina. And I am equally shocked (literally, I am actually in physical shock) at how masterfully you have captured the incident. I have never seen a comparable example of character development in any forn of fiction. This chapter is, quite simply, perfect.
Last Edited By: timmopussycat 11/06/09 19:23.
Edited 5 times.
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stephensmat2 |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 1182 11/07/09 06:50 |
I like Selina's shyness with Alfred early on. Selina wouldn't be intimidated by money, but the notion of having someone who knows you so well to the
point of near-telepathy just being…. There, always there, and forever
there, with just the right food or drink, or phone, or suggestion or service being right there always on call is jarring to the independent mind at the best of times.
Quote: "…For the record, my heart can break too." "Perhaps that is the quality I did not expect, miss." End Quote I defy anyone to encapsulate the entire point of the Alfred/Selina dynamic better than those two sentences. I have heard stories, in the past, of these high society homes. The society man has no family to speak of; the only people in the house are the servants. And then the lone billionaire gets a girlfriend. A whirlwind romance, a stunning woman… Often in these stories, there is friction… even intense dislike between the ones who have dedicated themselves to nothing but the care and running of a man they place higher than themselves, and the sudden outsider who is valued almost without warning beyond years of devoted loyalty. Chris has been building this relationship slowly, but the first few stories in the series were a whirlwind. It rang true because Catwoman and Batman had years of history and love where Selina and Bruce did not, so it wasn't exactly a whirlwind, but they went from technically enemies to "I love you and my name is Bruce" in the space of two chapters. Other butlers have to be on the lookout for self-destructive behavior in their Masters; as well as gold digging social climbers and the malicious intent of those who suddenly insert themselves into their Master's circle. As with so much in Alfred's case, the rules have not changed just because he is majordomo to Batman, but his service simply has to be taken to another degree. And as always, Miss Dee delivers nicely. Meeting Alfred is good. Meeting Robin will be fun. Meeting the rest of the heroes… I think the JLA will go easier than everyone thinks. They'll see it as the natural Progression of the stage show. Diana will say that she has fully embraced… how did WW put it? "Walking the path of righteousness." Cant wait to find out. |
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Chris Dee |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 796 11/07/09 08:48 |
Hey Everybody, Good morning and Happy Weekend.
I wanted to thank all the early responders. I have to say, I was a little nervous about this chapter. Alfred and Selina deserved the best I could give them, and I'm relieved the effort has been received so generously. Timmo, been a long time since anyone made me blush like that. Thank you so very much. Stephensmat, that exchange is my favorite as well. And so beautifully unpacked. Kudos. Wilder, as soon as I read your remarks, Whiskers and Nutmeg snapped to attention in my head - those of you who have cats, it's like when they see you have CHICKEN. They have been full of ideas on how they can make an appearance in chapter 2. We'll have to see though. I don't think we want THE STALKING JUNGLE CAT OF DEATH (and a few other things that happened to the lady that fills the waterbowl). *waves to nikitee and ichigenka* Thanks guys. I'm so glad you like what you're seeing. Meow meow, everybody.
--Chris Dee
Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Superpowers corrupts - superbly. --Identity Element |
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SteelBlaidd |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 65 11/08/09 21:35 |
Ahhh a perfect combination.
This morning as I was on my way to church I caught the last little bit of Weekend Edition on NPR which was a story on one of their "calling all chefs" competitions. The ingredient was ginger, and the winner was A Candied Ginger Martini. Upon the first opportunity I rush to the forums to share this discovery and behold there is a new Chapter for me to enjoy. And such a chapter, Alfred is always one of my favorite PoVs and here he was supurb. One of the bst things about coming to this set of stories late is that we don't have to be in side Selina's head to know what she's thiking. Reproduced below is is the Martini recipe. As it is from a Sushi Bar in Chicago I think it should be Clark that introduces Selina to this particular recipe. Ginger Candied Martini by Jessica Riley, Chicago, IL Ginger Candied Martini I am a bartender at a sushi bar here in Chicago called Mizu. I've been informed by a few customers that I should submit my ginger martini recipe for your ginger contest, because it's simply amazing. We use: * 1 ounce fresh-squeezed ginger juice * 1 ounce triple sec * 3 ounces Grey Goose vodka * 1 ounce pineapple juice * 1 ounce Rose's lime juice Please drink responsibly!
"If ever you find yor self looking down the wong end of an arrow. Hope that it's an evil man. a good man will kill you with hardly a word."
- Sam Vimes |
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Glitch2 |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 15 11/08/09 21:48 |
Wow, an unexpected gift. But most welcome. A nice little nod to the readers with Tim's assignment setting the tone of this work, Ms. Dee. But more than
that, what I really enjoyed was the uncertainty on all sides. You push the human angle, something that some writers of Batman either don't hit, ignore, or
worse of all, deny. Having Alfred worry that he may have gotten his wish was an especially good touch. You approach Alfred's dilemma of wanting to help his
master while disapproving of 'the Mission' so very well. But it's interesting to see him wondering if Bruce being 'normal' is so good after
all.
Bravo to laying the foundation of what looks to be another excellent tale. 
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Random Equinox |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 292 11/08/09 23:45 |
I also find the parallels between Tim trying to explain a "clip show" to Alfred and this Cat-Tales. At the same time, though, many of the
"old scenes" for us readers are brand new. Maybe hinted at, but effectively brand new. So it is a clip show, but yet it isn't.
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chipsnopotatoes |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 11 11/09/09 09:51 |
I especially liked the scene with little Bruce dissecting the facts about Santa Claus to ascertain if he's real or not
The Selina/Alfred interaction was really good too -- that little twist to their conversation in Hush and the Berk sweater (nothing but the finest Scottish cashmere for our dear Alfred). It's nice to see that he's really earned her affection and vice versa. Here's hoping for similar scenes with Dick and Clark/JLA. |
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ichigenka.gothampm |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 265 11/09/09 10:35 |
Actually this is a Book 2 thing, but I'd love to see Leslie's (Dr. Thompson) 1st time reaction to Selina. Alfred is one thing, but Selina has tons of
experience dealing with stoic barely movable men.
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tm80401 |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 3 11/09/09 11:00 |
Now that's service.
Great Story. Great Characterization. Great Everything. more, more, more, more...... Sorry, I came late to the CatTales story and got spoiled by catching up. I'm still adjusting to waiting for the next installment.. 
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Digger |
Thanks!! | #13 | ||
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Posts: 3 11/09/09 11:01 |
Chris,
Thank you for this chapter. A long time ago you asked us as readers what stories we might want to hear. I asked for the first meeting between Selina and Alfred, and I'm sure I wasn't alone. So you can imagine my joy when I logged on and began to read "Do No Harm", and suddenly realized that it was the tale I had hoped for. More than thanking you for this story, which moved me significantly, I wanted to thank you for caring about the characters you have created. Yes, created. I know you didn't come up with Bruce, Alfred and Selina (and the others), but you have "created" who they are within the Cat tales universe as surely as if they were your own. And quite frankly, I like these people far better than any other characterizations of them that I have read elsewhere (well, I'm in love with Selina, but that's another story). I had always wondered what would be the key, the act that would convince Alfred that this woman was the one, the one he would champion to Bruce as opposed to the others (whom he tolerated, but never actively protected and made into a member of the family). That moment was presented here as personally and poignant as I could have hoped for. Thank you. |
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DorothyTRose |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 219 11/11/09 15:45 |
Random Equinox wrote:I concur. That is probably what I liked most about this chapter, especially since the last story left me wondering what you would do with Tim's new class. I love all the sections from Alfred's pov. He is such an interesting and overlooked character, that it's very good to hear from him from time to time. However, the very nature of this story brings out a comparison between the old Bruce and Selina and the new Bruce and Selina. When compaired side-by-side like that, I'm not sure what to make of it. It almost leaves me feeling uneasy. I love Selina-the-Thief so much, yet here we have her totally ignoring all the jewellery. And I like an occasional Bruce-the-Fop, but he's gone now, too. I'm not complaining. Just observing. It's a natural change. I'm just not sure what to make of it. Guess I'll have to read the next chapter. ~_^ So few people really appreciate the cache of an unanswered question. --Cat-Tales: Something Borrowed |
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timmopussycat |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 9 11/12/09 13:00 |
The shock that this chapter gave me on first reading has returned upon each rereading for almost a week. This morning I finally figured out why. Alfred's
reaction to Selena's revelation to the loss of her parents not only reveals the heart of love that animates Alfred's service to first Bruce and from
now on Selena, it does so in a deeply understated way that maintains Alfred's reserve.
If anyone has established an award for the single finest literary achievment in the CatTales universe, I nominate the following lines: ****************************************************************************8******************** As a butler, it was not his place to be so inquisitive. But he had left the role of butler in the kitchen. "Your parents, miss…" he said gently. She nodded. "Like his. He was ten, I was twelve. Not violent, but it hurts just as much." "I am very sorry, miss." That was that. On her next visit, Alfred would have some estate reserve Darjeeling. ************************************************************************ |
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Chris Dee |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 796 11/13/09 13:01 |
--Chris Dee
Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Superpowers corrupts - superbly. --Identity Element
Last Edited By: Chris Dee 11/13/09 15:13.
Edited 1 time.
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Glitch2 |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 15 11/13/09 21:03 |
 Wow, that was quick. You're going to spoil us at this rate, Chris.
Ah, the control freak, protocol making, 'You didn't tell ME?!' PsychoBat. It was almost jarring to see him again. And very nice to get into Barb's mind. In some ways, she's much like Selina: refusing to let tragedy control them, they forge their own form of control and 'independence'. The reaction to the 'hacker pen' is not much different from Selina's minor freak out re: Mrs. Wayne. Just minus the drinking binge with the girls. 
And I can't let a review go without mentioning Whiskers and Nutmeg. I fear the Stalking Jungle Cat of Death might divebomb me if I didn't.  The simple, yet complex lives of cats, as they try to understand us poor Two-Foots.
Well done.
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chipsnopotatoes |
#18 | |||
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Posts: 11 11/13/09 21:13 |
oh excellent! really liked babs & selina's little caper. wish there were more of those in the future.
but my favorite line will have to be: ºº Put her down, put her down! She commands the can opener! ºº sadly, Selina's now been replaced by Alfred in that regard. |
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Random Equinox |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 292 11/14/09 00:45 |
And we silly two-foots think Friday the 13th brings nothing but bad luck and misery!
I can't tell you how much I love this chapter. Not because of Tim getting Babs to help him research superheroes as a freshman. Not because Batman got into a tizzy when he learned that Babs foresaw a spot of trouble, got Catwoman to help her out, revealed her secret identity to her, AND BATMAN DIDN'T KNOW! I love this chapter because of this prior job/association between Barbara/Oracle and Selina/Catwoman that's been revealed. See, this is why and how you do a retcon: to develop and enrich the established storyline, not cover up your screwups under the guise of "we meant to do this all along. Really." I love the interplay of professionalism between them: - Babs needs someone outside Team Bat, so she goes to someone who's professional and reliable--Catwoman. - She provides as much advance intel as she can, Catwoman reciprocates by reducing her standard fee. - Oracle is willing to emphasize just how important this job is, appearances of weaknesses be damned, Catwoman responds by giving all the gory details... right down to the Twinkies (are they really that bad?). - Catwoman senses something's hinky, makes a recommendation to Oracle, and is fully willing to go above and beyond to set up that recommendation without charging outrageous "extra fees," Oracle reciprocates by revealing her secret identity, which Selina reciprocates by not saying "OMG, I know you, you're the gal Joker paralyzed and took photos of in a failed attempt to make the Commish go bonkers!" - And when Catwoman figured out what was really going on... she set a few wheels of her own in motion. I can't wait to see what she did and how it all worked out (and what Selina thought ! In the meantime, I'll have to be content with this chapter, and glorious lines like: "Put her down, put her down! She commands the can opener!" AND "Oh, that's just not right." AND "You sensing a theme here?" "That you're as cautious-slash-paranoid as Batman? Yes, Catwoman, I get that..."
Last Edited By: Random Equinox 11/14/09 00:51.
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stephensmat2 |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 1182 11/14/09 06:04 |
I remember a Cat Tales story... maybe a JLAint, not quite sure, where Luthor as President decided to show the world what a great guy he was and who was in
charge, by having Superman destroy a few nuclear warheads for a photo op. This sat badly with Smallville, who decided that if a few hundred more warheads went,
then what could Luthor do about it?
Without wanting to start another 'crimefighting' argument, I still want to point out that this little clip show demonstrates how Selina has always followed the path of... justice. Not laws, but True Justice. Natural Justice. A five year old kid seems something on the news and says "That's Not Fair!" It's hardwired into us. Selina would gladly swipe milloions from Penthouses, even work for her actual opponents, but never steal money from Orphans. (Even if Miller wrote that book) All the talk about how Selina broke ranks, the fact is that none of them have ever been 'By The Rules' kinds people. The masks should probably have tipped that off. Barbra was happy to break even Bat-Rules, going to Catwoman with her problem, and then leaving the mask off for the face-to-face because it just felt... right. Like it was only Fair. It kinda feels like Selina was being introduced to facets of Bruce's life and not just his circle. This is Alfred (And by extension Dick), father and family. This is Barbra, how my operation goes; my brain at work. Tim will be the well-adjusted soul of the family, and thus the one that will likely flip out the most; and The JLA are the friends you hide your girlfriend from so they won't fight. I like how you kept the continuity right; going from CD-ROM to the mini-USB. Good grief, has it really been that long? Whiskers and nutmeg. Always fun and cuddly. I also have to grin just a little at the irony. If you had asked Selina what her 'Stuffed-Dilbert-Cubicle-Nightmare' was back then, she probably would have said 'Being caged by Team Bat.' |
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