Oo I see your point re: the inequality but also closeness. I partly thought the respect/formality was there because of Wolfe's age, status as fee earner/breadwinner, and the fact that he's a genius. I also can see the three household members asking Wolfe to use their first names, without Wolfe saying the same in return. In terms of Archie giving presents, I see what you mean, your argument is pretty compelling. I thought about it and realized that 'my' answer to the 2 questions (of 'does Archie give presents' and 'if so what would they be?') are in direct relation to his key trait (imho): insouciance (and insolence.) So therefore presents from him would be probably: mocking, humorous, ironic, sweet or silly.
Before (while supporting the present activity idea) I had been confused as to 'what' exactly Archie would give. This realization of the silly/mocking/sweet triad that he embodies has solved it for me LOL (This cuts out the potential problems of 'how do you buy a genius a present'/wouldn't it have to be super expensive, don't presents have to be meaningful etc.) I like to think that Archie's emphasis on the case is a result of the un-personalization of his previous gifts, ie. let's say Wolfe only bought him clothes (which would explain his extreme response to Lily's purple shirts for Archie), or books (the dictionary) etc.
In terms of the 1st birthday present in 7 years I have to hold my position of not believing it--that it takes 7 years for any acknowledgement that Wolfe knows his birthday is unsupportable to me I guess. However I do have one scenario I can get behind: if when Archie first comes to Wolfe he is seriously/severely suffering from ptsd etc/or having severe (ie. painful/upsetting) relapses then I can see that the focus would always be on Wolfe, all the time, because the situation was clearly extreme/serious. But if Wolfe is 'from the start' the basically ok guy with a few mild relapses (that consist only of food related activities), then I'm stuck.
As per Saul, I wish I knew his backstory--it would perhaps decide the present question for him =)!!
Re: The rival genius idea, it just kills me that we never get that in the books, because we get lots of other 'what if xyz happened?' scenes. Ie. What if Marko was killed, would Wolfe go to Mtgro. to find his killer? What if Archie seemed to be actually getting married? What if Archie was outside of NYC and had to stay for a while because of a case? etc
We get to see a lot of these questions answered, but the rival genius one would be so amazing! And LOL at the Archie/Marko, my mind is too simple to handle that idea--but Archie as his secretary etc, or Marko putting the moves on Archie only for Wolfe to be like 'no way' (& Lily too potentially) I could see. I think the rival would have to have genius for it to work, because interestingly that seems to be the only thing Archie really respects and/or responds to. Obviously we have to decide what his reasons are for working for Wolfe, but I think the genius aspect is a huge part of it, a kind of infallible faith and certainty in Wolfe's powers of genius. I often see Wolfe as a brilliant eccentric in the style of great divas, so it is interesting to me to think how and if Wolfe is 'performing' for Archie. In the sense that he likes the adulation and attention.
I wonder what other situations Archie went !!!!!!! at! =) I wish there was more of an exploration of the huge culture/age/class clash that is the relationship of NW & AG. I mean there must have been comments about Archie's milk obsession, and the palate work the two gourmets in the house must have done on Archie would be hysterical/fun to read. I would also like to see Archie react to what people must inevitably say about him re being a stereotypical jokester/fool/talk back to power person who is young and pretty and charismatic enough to be a potential catamite. Does he get angry, or does he realize how many times he's going to hear it and not care? We do see him often be blase about being called' NW's Archie Goodwin.
I laughed out loud at your 'superpowers', I liked that. And at least if I'm wrong you can have the consolation that I would put you up there in the NW senate chamber, definitely. Pick your state. I always think of fandom like a government with positions LOL! =)!
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So therefore presents from him would be probably: mocking, humorous, ironic, sweet or silly.
Before (while supporting the present activity idea) I had been confused as to 'what' exactly Archie would give. This realization of the silly/mocking/sweet triad that he embodies has solved it for me LOL (This cuts out the potential problems of 'how do you buy a genius a present'/wouldn't it have to be super expensive, don't presents have to be meaningful etc.) I like to think that Archie's emphasis on the case is a result of the un-personalization of his previous gifts, ie. let's say Wolfe only bought him clothes (which would explain his extreme response to Lily's purple shirts for Archie), or books (the dictionary) etc.
In terms of the 1st birthday present in 7 years I have to hold my position of not believing it--that it takes 7 years for any acknowledgement that Wolfe knows his birthday is unsupportable to me I guess. However I do have one scenario I can get behind: if when Archie first comes to Wolfe he is seriously/severely suffering from ptsd etc/or having severe (ie. painful/upsetting) relapses then I can see that the focus would always be on Wolfe, all the time, because the situation was clearly extreme/serious. But if Wolfe is 'from the start' the basically ok guy with a few mild relapses (that consist only of food related activities), then I'm stuck.
As per Saul, I wish I knew his backstory--it would perhaps decide the present question for him
=)!!
Re: The rival genius idea, it just kills me that we never get that in the books, because we get lots of other 'what if xyz happened?' scenes. Ie. What if Marko was killed, would Wolfe go to Mtgro. to find his killer? What if Archie seemed to be actually getting married? What if Archie was outside of NYC and had to stay for a while because of a case? etc
We get to see a lot of these questions answered, but the rival genius one would be so amazing! And LOL at the Archie/Marko, my mind is too simple to handle that idea--but Archie as his secretary etc, or Marko putting the moves on Archie only for Wolfe to be like 'no way' (& Lily too potentially) I could see. I think the rival would have to have genius for it to work, because interestingly that seems to be the only thing Archie really respects and/or responds to. Obviously we have to decide what his reasons are for working for Wolfe, but I think the genius aspect is a huge part of it, a kind of infallible faith and certainty in Wolfe's powers of genius. I often see Wolfe as a brilliant eccentric in the style of great divas, so it is interesting to me to think how and if Wolfe is 'performing' for Archie. In the sense that he likes the adulation and attention.
I wonder what other situations Archie went !!!!!!! at! =) I wish there was more of an exploration of the huge culture/age/class clash that is the relationship of NW & AG. I mean there must have been comments about Archie's milk obsession, and the palate work the two gourmets in the house must have done on Archie would be hysterical/fun to read. I would also like to see Archie react to what people must inevitably say about him re being a stereotypical jokester/fool/talk back to power person who is young and pretty and charismatic enough to be a potential catamite. Does he get angry, or does he realize how many times he's going to hear it and not care? We do see him often be blase about being called' NW's Archie Goodwin.
I laughed out loud at your 'superpowers', I liked that. And at least if I'm wrong you can have the consolation that I would put you up there in the NW senate chamber, definitely. Pick your state. I always think of fandom like a government with positions LOL! =)!