So many ideas, so little time, so limited an attention span for research...

[thrillingdetectivetales]

Kidnapped fic I will never write, a list:

1. AU where Davie joins the church instead of looking into the stuff about his mysterious uncle and is deployed to the Highlands as a missionary catechist on behalf of the Scottish Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge who has a down and dirty affair with an Alan Breck Stewart who's in town recruiting. I'd have to fudge timelines a bit, probably having the stuff with Davie's parents happening when he's 16/17 as in the book but keeping the play setting of him and Alan meeting around 19 and 25, respectively. Anyway it would require way too much research, so it'll never happen, but just for the musing of those who might be interested. (Also I'm not up to resolving the issues between someone working on behalf of the Reformed Church and a local attempting to hang onto his own religion, but whatever. Handwavey historical romance with heavy religious overtones, I throw myself upon thy mercy.)

More to come as I think of them, which certainly won't be an issue as every song I hear and new tidbit of historical information I learn makes my brain go "but what if applied to your favorite little guys, eh?" /melting smiley face emoji

Comments

[muccamukk]

Oh man, I know SO LITTLE about the religious side of things, though I do think/hope Davie would come down with the Moderate movement that was happening with the Presbyterians at the time. Rather than the THERE IS NO BUTTER IN HELL! people.

[thrillingdetectivetales]

Yeah, I feel like Davie's not quite dour enough to come down too hard. Plus I figure he's in it more for the steady paycheck and the opportunity to have an adventure when he thought his adventuring days might've already passed, anyway, so even if he were a "no butter in hell" type I don't think he'd be super concerned with raining on everyone else's parade.

If only I knew enough to be able to speak to the nuance of the situation, I would consider writing it. Though honestly between the two mid-to-long fic I've got on my list and the deleted scene that's probably going to end up at least 5k if not more it's not like I need to add more to the plate.

[regshoe]

Ooh, there's an idea! Yeah, definitely a lot of historical issues there... For that matter I don't think we actually know which denomination Alan belongs to. The book sort of implies he might be Catholic, but IIRC the Appin Stewarts were historically mostly Episcopalian, and James of the Glens was definitely an Episcopalian (as he says in his dying speech) so I imagine his foster-son would be too.

every song I hear and new tidbit of historical information I learn makes my brain go "but what if applied to your favorite little guys, eh?"

Aww :D

[muccamukk]

Is there anything other than Alan crossing himself? I assumed that was kind of "old habits die hard" more than anything.

[sanguinity]

Here from the friending meme, where I recognized the Kidnapped NTS icon and thought, Halloa! We have overlapping interests! <3

[regshoe]

I don't think so, and yeah, probably. I can imagine that personal religious faith is probably not hugely important to Alan (not as much as it is to Davie), but belonging to one group or another (in the context of all the other Highland/Lowland Jacobite/Whig stuff that goes along with it) would be more so.

[thrillingdetectivetales]

That's great to know about the Episcopalianism!

I was definitely considering that for Alan it has more to do with what certain religious affiliations mean in terms of his status/identity as a Jacobite, more than his personal feelings on the matter. At least at the start of the story. Which I am still not writing! Definitely! Absolutely not writing!

[thrillingdetectivetales]

Hello, new friend from the friending meme!

I am so submerged in Kidnapped NTS (and just Kidnapped in general if I'm being honest) stuff right now, you picked a great time to introduce yourself. xD It's a total pleasure to meet you!

I've got a couple of Kidnapped NTS icon posts up and am in the process of poking at a short fic while I do research for the first of what I hope to be several...if not long then at least medium length fic exploring some alt-history stuff and a few of my favorite fic tropes, lol.

Anyway, welcome! It's very good to have you! :D

[regshoe]

Which I am still not writing! Definitely! Absolutely not writing!

:D :D

[thrillingdetectivetales]

I mean, I don't know who I'm kidding. Might as well just add it to my ever-expanding WIP list now. xD

[luzula]

Hey, I also saw you at the friending meme! *follows*

I am not actually writing Kidnapped fic (at least not yet), but I am in the, uh, Jacobite Extended Universe fandom, starting with Flight of the Heron, and I am definitely here for your Kidnapped thoughts and fic! : )

[thrillingdetectivetales]

Hello!

It's nice to meet you! Any fellow Jacobite Extended Universe participant is welcome, haha.

I haven't done Flight of the Heron yet but I've got the PDF downloaded and ready to go, so hopefully will get to it pretty soon. With any luck I'll be able to finish some shorter Kidnapped fic and start digging into some longer format stuff in the meantime. xD

Anyway thanks for the follow! I look forward to squealing about 18th century Scotsmen and the like with you!

[muccamukk]

I'm an idiot. Alan of course cannot have been Catholic. He was in the English army.

[thrillingdetectivetales]

If you're an idiot, I'm also an idiot lol. And hey, we learned something! Go us!

[muccamukk]

Yeah, but I've been in 18th century military fandoms before, and actually DID already know that.

[thrillingdetectivetales]

Well, in that case, I can't help you, lol. But still! Good to know, in case I ever do write the silly fic.

[regshoe]

Wait, were Catholics barred from enlisting, rather than just from being officers? (Or was Alan an officer in the British army? I can't keep track of all his different ranks...) I had been assuming the rank and file of the Irish regiments at least would inevitably have been mostly Catholic.

[muccamukk]

This paper I was just reading said to ENLIST as a private in the English Army, you had to be Protestant, 5'6" and in good physical health (no open sores, all your limbs, etc). They could wave the height thing in time of troop shortages, but not the religion.

Another book mentioned that it was one reason so many Catholic Scots went into French service.

ETA: I'm assuming they changed this by the time Sharpe rolled around.

[regshoe]

Huh—well, that is interesting to learn, thank you!

(I suppose they must have waived the height requirement in book!Alan's case :D )