Trust a Brandybuck and a Took! by Grey Wonderer
Stormscrystal · 10 July 2005 · Chapter 37: Strike While the Iron is Hot
That was awesome. I loved it. I had a vague idea where it was going at a little past halfway through. It was hilarious and Freddy is correct, Pippin is deeper than he lets on. The goats. Oh man so funny.
Author's reply
For some reason I always find goats amusing. Glad you did too. Thanks for reading this and leaving a lovely review. I think Pippin is much deeper than most believe him to be.
eiluj · 10 July 2005 · Chapter 37: Strike While the Iron is Hot
Incredibly convoluted! And a very good characterization of Freddy.
Author's reply
My life is rather convoluted so that was the 'simple' part for me. LOL Glad you liked this version of Freddy. I have always enjoyed him as a character. Thank you for the review!
Andrea · 10 July 2005 · Chapter 37: Strike While the Iron is Hot
That was great, G.W.! Freddy was obviously too much engaged in "mental back patting" to see this coming ;-) And I just loved this statement: “See if Merry does something to me before I do something to him then the something that I am planning to do will be spoiled,” Pippin said rapidly. “If I do my something first then Merry might think again before he does his something and if Merry is doing something to someone else then what I am doing to Merry might spoil Merry’s plan and I don’t want to do that. Do you see?” That's just Pippin! Thank you!
Author's reply
Thank you! I sometimes wonder what it would be like to write an entire story in the sort of Pippin-speak (Pippish) but then I am very sure that no one could read something written that way. LOL Thanks for reviewing!
Mum's the Word · 10 July 2005 · Chapter 37: Strike While the Iron is Hot
I must say, it's about time Freddy got his comeuppance. There's only so long that he could continue without someone getting wise to his ways. Good for the cousins to cooperate in this prank! And Saradoc's putting a stop to it all was, shall we say, Masterful. Well done again, Grey Wonderer! Blessings, Mum
Author's reply
Saradoc had to step in before I ran out of pranks. LOL Freddy finally got what was coming to him. You just can't play both ends against the middle and get away with it for very long. I guess Freddy has the satisfaction of knowing that it took three of them to take him down. Thanks for the review and take care!
SlightlyTookish · 10 July 2005 · Chapter 37: Strike While the Iron is Hot
What a prank! Fredregar really did have it coming. I love all the incredible details you put in here, from the elaborate plans to poor Freddy smelling like goat, and then Pippin trying to talk Saradoc out of the signed agreement at the end. I laughed so much while reading this. Great work, GW! :)
Author's reply
Glad you enjoyed it. It was longer than I meant for it to be when I first started it but it took some time to set up the prank. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I am always happy when someone gets a laugh out of one of these.
Dreamflower · 10 July 2005 · Chapter 37: Strike While the Iron is Hot
Oh, thank you so much GW!!! This was beyond all my expectations. I was laughing till I had tears in my eyes! You pulled one over on me, too, for I thought that what was happening was Freddy leading the same one goat in and out of the window all day! It never occurred to me that they would put them in the Master's study. I just adore the way Freddy fell for Pippin's seeming guilelessness, and for Merry's distraction. And I really love that Frodo knew at a glance just what had really happened. I do believe that Freddy has learned at least *one* lesson: never to try and play off Pippin against Merry, or vice versa. It can't really be done, can it? What wonderful distraction from the storm!!!
Author's reply
So glad that you enjoyed what I did with your bunny. I am afraid that the coins didn't figure into things for very long but I did get them in there. I just needed to write a story about goats. LOL Freddy got all that he deserved and a bit more for his trouble. The entire time I was writing the bit about the goats being led into the room, I kept hearing Julie Andrews singing the "Little Goat Herd" from "The Sound of Music". It is the first time that I have truly wished that one of my stories had a sound track. Take care and thank you again for Pooka and the plot for this story.
Larner · 8 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
I have been laughing all through the fight in the frog pond, and truly empathize with those young lads who found themselves watching the current Mad Baggins and his cousins having a good old time mucking one another up. One night my husband, who had had too much to drink at a staff picnic, made the mistake of calling me boring one too many times. The rest of the evening was quite lively, particularly after I dumped his cup of sugar and tea over his head. Afterwards we could style his hair with all the sugar in it. Thanks for the laughs.
Author's reply
Sometimes you just have to get down in the muck. Sometimes it's even fun. Glad you liked this. Would have loved to have seen you dump your tea on your husband! That is just too funny! I am glad that you got a laugh out of this one and your story about the tea gave me a laugh so everyone is happy!
Lindelea · 7 July 2005 · Chapter 35: The Garden Gate
I thought I had reviewed this the day you posted it! But what probably happened is I read it through, started to write a review, and got interrupted. I love this story; it makes so much sense that one of the things that would motivate Merry to choose good would be his father's good name, and another would be Pippin looking up to him and emulating his actions. Very well done! And thanks for bringing this bunny to life, and putting up with my nit-picking, too.
Author's reply
Not a cornfield in sight! LOL I do thank you for the Beta and the Bunny. Next time I adopt a bunny I will have to stick with it and post it sooner. This little rabbit had to wait a bit too long for me to get it finished. In the end, it was the nit-picking that made the story come out the way that it did.
pathvain_aelien · 5 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
Aw, that is too cute and funny. I adore pre-quest stories. :)
Author's reply
I like pre-quest too. It is so much easier because you have less to factor in and everyone can be silly and happy. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Andrea · 5 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
Merry sighed and shook his damp curls. “I guess I am getting old. I just don’t understand children anymore.” And children don't understand adults behaving like 10-year-olds! Although, the only *real* adult present is Frodo, but he seems to have forgotten about his age just when he tasted the mud in his mouth ;-) Thank you G.W. for this funny story!
Author's reply
Thank you for reviewing. I like to have Frodo lose his serious side from time to time and this was one of those times. LOL Glad you enjoyed it!
Baggins Babe · 5 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
This had me in hysterics! I could just see Merry and Frodo throwing Pip into the pond, and imagine the resulting shrieks. It was so nice to see Frodo joining in the mayhem for a change, and the comments from the bank were priceless. Thank you for a wonderful tale.
Author's reply
Thank you for this wonderful review! I always enjoy including Frodo in these whenever possible. Thanks so much for reviewing and I am glad to know that you enjoyed it.
pipinheart · 5 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
Very lovely... Pippin was just asking for it when he compared them to old cows... And then they thew him in the pond and then war broke loose... A mud fight... Very funny indeed.... Nice work...
Author's reply
Thank you! I am very glad that you enjoyed it and thought it was funny. I appreciate the review and I thanks for reading this one.
melilot hill · 5 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
Lol, this is really funny.I remember my cousin and I trowing mud, and anything else, really, at each other :-) But of course we were both young then :-P
Author's reply
Seems that these lads haven't got to old yet for mud fights. LOL Aren't you glad that you outgrew that sort of behavior? Thanks for the review and I am glad that this made you laugh.
GamgeeFest · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
Oh dear, I'm laughing so hard, I'm crying! This has to be my favorite yet. Unsuspecting Pippin, riling up his dried out brittle older cousins, the mud fight and the children watching in fear and "Run! They've seen us!" ROTFLMAO! This is classic.
Author's reply
Why thank you! So glad you liked it. I thought the children might be a bit frightened to see three 'adults' fighting in the mud, especially if one of them was the infamous 'Mad Baggins'. I put the children in at the last minute because I just knew that their had to be witnesses to this madness. Pip got more than he was counting on this time, but in the end, so did everyone else. Thanks for the review!
GamgeeFest · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 35: The Garden Gate
I'm glad Merry owed up to his word and that he convinced the other lads of Brandy Hall to stop their raiding. And Pippin was as adorable as ever, coming to his Merry's defense. I especially loved this part: “You needed lookin’ after,” Pippin said. “You’re a lot of trouble, you know that?” “I know,” Merry said, grinning. “Good thing I’m so responsible or we’d both be in trouble,” Pippin said, teasingly. “You’d better keep me around until you grow up a bit.” Merry laughed. “And then what will I do with you?” “Finish helping me grow up, of course,” Pippin smiled, and Merry put an arm around his little cousin. Those two are just too precious.
Author's reply
I believe that even though he is younger, Pippin tries his best to look out for Merry though most of the time, Merry winds up doing the looking out for Pippin. In this case, Pippin got a chance to be the responsible one, though he would have rather been included in the raid. LOL Thanks for reading and I am very glad that you liked it.
Stormscrystal · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
You know,I have a feeling Pippin knew exactly what he was doing. He may be known by his cousins, but I believe he knows them just as well and knew exactly what to say to goad them into moving even if, in the end, he paid the price.
Author's reply
Oh, I think that he knew what he was doing but I doubt he was suspecting the results that he got. LOL I think he was hoping to get them to walk into town, but you don't always get the results that you hope for even when dealing with those that you know best. Pip got a bit of a surprise this time. He does know their weak points, he just pressed his luck a bit too much. Thanks for reading and for the review.
shirebound · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
“You can read any time,” Pippin sighed. “How many days are there as fine as this one for just being out of doors?” LOL! One of my cousins used to say the exact same thing to me! I used to come visit her, and she would hide any book I had brought with me so I would play with her and not go off and read. This is adorable. Poor Pippin, at the mercy of his old, deaf, boring cousins! *grins*
Author's reply
It isn't nice to hide someone's books. LOL I agree with you and Frodo on this one. Pippin found out that his boring older cousins were still a match for him in spite of their 'advanced ages'. LOL Thanks for revieiwing!
PIppinfan1988 · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
MUDFIGHT!! Ahhhh....the sweet taste of pond mud! Hmmm! Hehehe...loved Merry's little rhymes. ;-) I'll have to tell you in a PM, but I can see that we are still thinking alike! I really do love your Pippin and Merry--and yes, definitely Old Frodo, too. Thank you for the update! :-) Pippinfan
Author's reply
Glad you enjoyed it. It came to me late on Thursday but I didn't get the chance to write it until last night. All I had was an idea for Merry and Frodo tossing Pippin into a pond or the Brandywine or something and it grew into this little chapter. I look forward to your pm. Thanks for the review!
Bodkin · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
I don't blame the lads for running from three very wet, very muddy adult-sized hobbits, wallowing like hippos in a pond. It's hardly expected behaviour! It's hardly dignified! I'm not surprised the mutter 'Mad Baggins' spread among them. Not to mention 'daft as a Brandybuck' and 'nutty as a Took'. So Merry doesn't understand children any more? That's remarkable - considering!
Author's reply
I believe that Merry fails to recognize childish behavior in himself now that he is so very 'mature'. LOL We seldom see ourselves as others see us. Poor Frodo is just too well-known near Hobbiton to hide his actions. So, the 'Mad Baggins' legend continues to grow with a little help from Pippin and Merry. Thanks for reading.
Dreamflower · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
Silly Took just doesn't know when to quit, does he? *grin* I could just *see* that one coming all along; this was hilarious, and it was so much fun to see Frodo included. You do him well, and should include him more often! The funniest part was the audience of children commenting at the end. I was wiping tears of laughter away by that point. And I can just imagine the talk as the three muddy forms trekked their way back up to Bag End afterwards...
Author's reply
Pippin say more than was wise in this case, but he did get everyone moving, didn't he? LOL The children almost weren't even in the story but they were a last-minute idea and I decided to use them. I did think that someone should witness this brawl. I guess it is things like this that helped Frodo keep up the 'mad Baggins' name. Glad you enjoyed this one!
Anso the Hobbit · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 35: The Garden Gate
I loved this! Farmer Maggot is a wise farmer and knew that talking sense to Merry would make the other Brandybuck lands behave too! A very nice glimpse of how the friendshiop between Maggot and Merry was. :D
Author's reply
Thank you. Lindelea donated this plot bunny and she also did the Beta for me. I enjoyed writing this one very much and I am glad that you liked it.
SlightlyTookish · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
I love cousin fics! And this one was so funny! The little audience of Hal and Nipper and the rest were great; I loved their running commentary as well as Pippin's. This is the perfect story for the summer :D
Author's reply
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this one. The children on the bank were a last minute idea and so it is very nice to know that they worked out well. I love it when people use the word 'perfect' in a review! LOL Thank you for the 'perfect' review and for reading! You always say such nice things!
Anso the Hobbit · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
Lol! Cousins! :) You never know what a day might bring on with those three. It`s a dangerous thing calling your not-so-old cousins old and lazy!
Author's reply
Pippin just can't keep his mouth shut, can he? I do believe that the lazy, older cousins got even though. Thanks for reading and for reviewing. Glad to have given you a laugh.
MaidenofValinor · 4 July 2005 · Chapter 36: The View From the Bank
I think I just wet my pants. It is a quarter to four in the morning and I think I woke the entire house, I am laughing so hard. ^___^ Pippin, Pippin, Pippin....When are you ever going to learn? I did enjoy his carrying on. Made me chuckle. I love Merry's rhyme. I envy his cleverness with my entire being. *grumbles* Wish I had thought of that.... I hope Pippin doesn't get in too much trouble for his pants.....though I would like to see him in Pervinca's clothes... Very nice chapter, indeed. Good work.
Author's reply
Thank you. I do believe you are the only one who has ever enjoyed one of my stories enough to actually wet your pants. I do hope that Pippin's mom doesn't find out about this or you'll be in trouble too. LOL Thanks for reading this and for saying such nice things!
Bodkin · 30 June 2005 · Chapter 35: The Garden Gate
I reckon it's a good thing that Merry was caught on his first time out. And that he is an honest decent hobbit, who is bright enough to realise why this is a dirty game - once it is pointed out to him. And I love the way Pippin supports him and proves, by his confession to Otis, that he does take note of the way Merry behaves and imitates him. What better way to make Merry realise that he must be an honourable Brandybuck and an upright, honest example for his cousin. Good story. Like it a lot.
Author's reply
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. I do think that by the age of 23 Merry would be responsible enough to know that Pippin was following his every move. I also think that folks in the general area of Buckland would be expecting him to live up to the family responsibilities whether he was ready to do so or not. Thank you for the lovely review.