You know, I wonder how Archie acted when he got it (at the dinner table I think), and I wonder how they give Christmas gifts--I mean what do you get a genius? Or a chef? Does Theodore give anybody presents? What about Saul? And what do they give Archie?
I suspect that the Christmas presents are one-way-- it struck me in "League" when Archie says "and I didn't even know he knew when my birthday was!" so clearly that was Archie's first *birthday* present from Wolfe. And that's after *seven years*, and after he already mentioned in the previous book that he gets Christmas presents (the dressing gown) from Wolfe and treats it like no big deal.
What I think is that this is one of those employer-employee/class-related quirks in the way Wolfe and Archie relate. I think Wolfe gives out Christmas presents to his staff the way that bosses traditionally give Christmas bonuses, or the way people give presents to other people who don't work directly *for* them, but still provide an appreciated service, like the doorman or superintendent of their building, or the mail delivery person, or their kids' teachers. It's all very formal, I bet, very "lord of the manor"-- Wolfe lines up Archie and Theodore and Fritz and hands out his largesse for the year, and doesn't expect anything in return, because he's the boss, you know?
But a *birthday* present is personal-- it shows that you cared enough to find out when someone's birthday *is*, and mark the occasion, you know? Christmas bonuses may be a boss-employee thing, but birthday presents aren't. That's why I think Stout made a point of making the present that Archie really cares about a birthday present. <3
we see Wolfe worry about women luring Archie away, but what about another man, another genius etc? (as mentioned in that recipe fic)
Yeah, really! I wonder if Wolfe was ever concerned, say, about Archie leaving him to partner up with Saul. I mean, Saul respects Wolfe way too much to ever steal Archie away, so it's kind of an irrational fear, but then, so is Archie's fear that Wolfe will replace him with Orrie or Johnny Keems, etc.
I wish we could get more people in the NW fandom somehow, and have more fic/art production.
I'm working on it! I have found that one of the best scenes to paste at people in chat windows is that one from "Too Many Cooks" where Archie threatens to leave Wolfe and marry Constanza Berin, and Wolfe is like "YOU LIE." *G*
no subject
I suspect that the Christmas presents are one-way-- it struck me in "League" when Archie says "and I didn't even know he knew when my birthday was!" so clearly that was Archie's first *birthday* present from Wolfe. And that's after *seven years*, and after he already mentioned in the previous book that he gets Christmas presents (the dressing gown) from Wolfe and treats it like no big deal.
What I think is that this is one of those employer-employee/class-related quirks in the way Wolfe and Archie relate. I think Wolfe gives out Christmas presents to his staff the way that bosses traditionally give Christmas bonuses, or the way people give presents to other people who don't work directly *for* them, but still provide an appreciated service, like the doorman or superintendent of their building, or the mail delivery person, or their kids' teachers. It's all very formal, I bet, very "lord of the manor"-- Wolfe lines up Archie and Theodore and Fritz and hands out his largesse for the year, and doesn't expect anything in return, because he's the boss, you know?
But a *birthday* present is personal-- it shows that you cared enough to find out when someone's birthday *is*, and mark the occasion, you know? Christmas bonuses may be a boss-employee thing, but birthday presents aren't. That's why I think Stout made a point of making the present that Archie really cares about a birthday present. <3
we see Wolfe worry about women luring Archie away, but what about another man, another genius etc? (as mentioned in that recipe fic)
Yeah, really! I wonder if Wolfe was ever concerned, say, about Archie leaving him to partner up with Saul. I mean, Saul respects Wolfe way too much to ever steal Archie away, so it's kind of an irrational fear, but then, so is Archie's fear that Wolfe will replace him with Orrie or Johnny Keems, etc.
I wish we could get more people in the NW fandom somehow, and have more fic/art production.
I'm working on it! I have found that one of the best scenes to paste at people in chat windows is that one from "Too Many Cooks" where Archie threatens to leave Wolfe and marry Constanza Berin, and Wolfe is like "YOU LIE." *G*