DVD Commentary
Mar. 19th, 2009 07:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eastofthemoonSince ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
secondlina asked
The commentary "On A Tight Leash"
“Um…Zel?”
The chimera glanced up from his book, ignoring the puzzled expression on Lina’s face. “Shouldn’t you be at the shop? It’s rather busy after lunch isn’t?”
The sorceress continued to stare downward. “It’s been a quiet day so Gourry said he would mind the shop and the kids are taking a nap. I figured it was a good time to come to the library and do some research I’ve been meaning to get around to.”
Okay I need to think of an excuse of why Lina would be at the library. She and Gourry run a store and not to mention her own kids would still be young at this point. So, since I always insist on having logic in my stories, I gave Lina this excuse and let Gourry baby-sit.
“Oh, I see,” Zelgadis replied as he turned the page.
There was a brief silence and then Lina cleared her throat. “Um…Zel?”
“What?”
Lina titlted her head. “Mind telling me why your son is on a leash?”
I like when I can find good moments to put in jokes.
“It’s not a leash, it’s a harness.” Zelgadis felt a sudden tug from the rope tied to his belt. He stared at the toddler as Zack gave another hard tug. “Out! Out!” the boy exclaimed.
“Zack, behave.” Zelgadis turned back to Lina who now had her arms folded, waiting for an explanation.
“It’s the only way I can bring him with me without worrying about him getting into trouble.”
“What are you talking about? You’ve brought him here plenty of times.”
Zelgadis sighed. It had become regular routine for him to have Zack tag along with him to the library. Before Zack was born, at least a couple times a week, Amelia would help her father with the paperwork. Since there wasn’t much he could do to help, Zelgadis often went to the library for research. Then Zack came along. Zelgadis had assumed he and Amelia would get a nanny for Zack for during those times. It was at that point that Amelia reveals that she never planned on hiring a nanny.
“My mother didn’t like the idea of passing us off to a nanny when she was capable of doing it herself” she had said. This left Zelgadis with few options. Amelia wouldn’t be able to get her work done if Zack was with her. They occasionally got a baby-sitter for Zack, and it was often a toss-up between Lina and Gourry or Sylphiel.
Before I started writing this, I realize that I needed some reason as to why Zel keeps bring Zack to the library. Really, the easier solution would be to leave Zack home so Zel can do his research in peace. However, if I did that it wouldn't be nearly as fun and I wouldn't have a story. Again, I had to put in logic and thought of this reason.
However, neither Zelgadis or Amelia thought it would be fair to ask them to
baby-sit every week and he wasn’t comfortable with the idea of asking a servant to look after his son.
This left Zelgadis to do it, so he began to take Zack to the library. It wasn’t hard at first. Zack slept most of the time and as long as he was quiet the librarian was fine with it. She even had a little play area set up for Zack where Zelgadis could keep his eye on him.
It was a perfect solution. Unfortunately, Zack learned how to walk.
“Zel?” Lina asked again.
The chimera broke out of his thoughts and resumed his explanation. “Since Zack started walking he’s wanted to explore everywhere.”
Lina looked to Zack. The boy was now pulling at the small vest the rope was tied to. It reminded her of when puppies would bite their leashes in frustration.
Dog owner reference. For those of you who have ever own a puppy, or have seen someone try to give their puppy their first walk, you know how funny it is to watch a puppy bite its' leash until it accepts it's not going away. It always make me chuckle.
“So, just keep him in the play area.”
Zelgadis twitched. “He’s figured out how to open it and get out.”
“Oh.”
A reference to "Rugrats" and to all the times those babies managed to escape their playpen.
“And no matter how many times I fix the darn thing, he keeps finding ways to free himself.”
As Zack gave another tug, Zelgadis scooped him up and placed him in his lap. “With that said, Zack has discovered he can pull books off shelves and almost get himself flattened if ‘Daddy’ hadn’t been there to save him.”
“Oh I see-“
“He’s also discovered to his delight that he can spin the globes to the point of knocking them over and breaking on the floor.”
I could have ended this joke here, but I kept going.
“Okay sure but-“
“Oh, but the most fun he has is tearing pages out of books.”
“Zel, okay I get the point-“
“Including ruining a 2,000 year old text.” As he said this, he closely watched Zack touch the pages of the book.
“I was lucky that it was just an old recipe book, but I swear, if we weren’t members of the royal family, I’m positive the librarian would have banned us until Zack turn 40.”
Originally, I had Zel say the librarian would have banned them until Zack was 4, but then my editor akagullwhacker suggested I change it to 40.
Lina raised an eyebrow. “And thus you put him on a leash.”
“Harness,” Zelgadis corrected.
“Did you tell Amelia about this?”
“Yes and the best solution we could come up with was this.” Zack began to wiggle in his lap and Zelgadis placed him back on the floor. “It was either a harness or try strapping him to my back and frankly I thought this wasn’t quite as embarrassing.”
I was SSSOOO tempted of having Zack strapped to Zel's back, since that was my original mental image for this story, but I decided to give Zel a break. XD
Lina frowned. “I see your point, but had you considered of just not coming to the library?”
“I wouldn’t be able to get any work done.” Zack began once again began to tug at his harness. “Out, out!”
With a sigh, Zelgadis reached into his pocket and brought out a small ring of keys. The toddler’s eyes widened as soon as Zelgadis dangled them in front of his eyes. With glee, Zack took the keys and happily shook them.
“My best plan at the moment is to keep him close and distract him so he doesn’t want to wander off.”
I blame my early childhood education course on this. One of the best strategies of getting a toddler to behave is to distract them.
“And the librarian is alright with Zack making noise like that?” Lina asked as she watched the boy.
“After he almost ruining a 2,000 year old book, I don’t think she cares what he does as long as he doesn’t wreck anything else.”
Lina nodded and perched on the edge of the table. “If you want Zel, you can borrow Rowan’s blocks. They’re easy to carry and they keep Rowan and Lori busy for hours.”
Zelgadis pondered. “Actually, that would be a big help. Thank you.”
“Although,” Lina drummed her fingers on the table. “You do realize you can’t keep him on a leash forever.”
“Harness,” Zelgadis corrected. “And this is temporary. It’s only until Zack is able to be in a library without destroying it.”
I was originally planned on ending it here, but I wasn't happy with the ending. So then, I thought of having a time jump.
9 Years Later…
“Dad, I’m going to check out the atlases at the other end of the library.”
Zelgadis glanced up from his notes. “That’s fine son, just make sure you don’t cause any trouble.”
Zack rolled his eyes and tucked his hands behind his head. “Dad, why do you always say that? I never cause trouble in here.”
Zelgadis smirked. “Oh really? Wasn’t it only last week you tried climbing the bookshelves again?”
Zack blushed. “I was just putting a book back,” he muttered. “And I only went up two shelves.”
Oh Zack, you crazy little monkey. XD
The chimera sighed. “Maybe you need to go back on a leash. I mean harness.”
Zack stared baffled. “Huh?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Zack's probably better off not knowing. Just think of the blackmail material Rowan and Lori could have if they found out. ^_~
secondlina askedThe commentary "On A Tight Leash"
“Um…Zel?”
The chimera glanced up from his book, ignoring the puzzled expression on Lina’s face. “Shouldn’t you be at the shop? It’s rather busy after lunch isn’t?”
The sorceress continued to stare downward. “It’s been a quiet day so Gourry said he would mind the shop and the kids are taking a nap. I figured it was a good time to come to the library and do some research I’ve been meaning to get around to.”
Okay I need to think of an excuse of why Lina would be at the library. She and Gourry run a store and not to mention her own kids would still be young at this point. So, since I always insist on having logic in my stories, I gave Lina this excuse and let Gourry baby-sit.
“Oh, I see,” Zelgadis replied as he turned the page.
There was a brief silence and then Lina cleared her throat. “Um…Zel?”
“What?”
Lina titlted her head. “Mind telling me why your son is on a leash?”
I like when I can find good moments to put in jokes.
“It’s not a leash, it’s a harness.” Zelgadis felt a sudden tug from the rope tied to his belt. He stared at the toddler as Zack gave another hard tug. “Out! Out!” the boy exclaimed.
“Zack, behave.” Zelgadis turned back to Lina who now had her arms folded, waiting for an explanation.
“It’s the only way I can bring him with me without worrying about him getting into trouble.”
“What are you talking about? You’ve brought him here plenty of times.”
Zelgadis sighed. It had become regular routine for him to have Zack tag along with him to the library. Before Zack was born, at least a couple times a week, Amelia would help her father with the paperwork. Since there wasn’t much he could do to help, Zelgadis often went to the library for research. Then Zack came along. Zelgadis had assumed he and Amelia would get a nanny for Zack for during those times. It was at that point that Amelia reveals that she never planned on hiring a nanny.
“My mother didn’t like the idea of passing us off to a nanny when she was capable of doing it herself” she had said. This left Zelgadis with few options. Amelia wouldn’t be able to get her work done if Zack was with her. They occasionally got a baby-sitter for Zack, and it was often a toss-up between Lina and Gourry or Sylphiel.
Before I started writing this, I realize that I needed some reason as to why Zel keeps bring Zack to the library. Really, the easier solution would be to leave Zack home so Zel can do his research in peace. However, if I did that it wouldn't be nearly as fun and I wouldn't have a story. Again, I had to put in logic and thought of this reason.
However, neither Zelgadis or Amelia thought it would be fair to ask them to
baby-sit every week and he wasn’t comfortable with the idea of asking a servant to look after his son.
This left Zelgadis to do it, so he began to take Zack to the library. It wasn’t hard at first. Zack slept most of the time and as long as he was quiet the librarian was fine with it. She even had a little play area set up for Zack where Zelgadis could keep his eye on him.
It was a perfect solution. Unfortunately, Zack learned how to walk.
“Zel?” Lina asked again.
The chimera broke out of his thoughts and resumed his explanation. “Since Zack started walking he’s wanted to explore everywhere.”
Lina looked to Zack. The boy was now pulling at the small vest the rope was tied to. It reminded her of when puppies would bite their leashes in frustration.
Dog owner reference. For those of you who have ever own a puppy, or have seen someone try to give their puppy their first walk, you know how funny it is to watch a puppy bite its' leash until it accepts it's not going away. It always make me chuckle.
“So, just keep him in the play area.”
Zelgadis twitched. “He’s figured out how to open it and get out.”
“Oh.”
A reference to "Rugrats" and to all the times those babies managed to escape their playpen.
“And no matter how many times I fix the darn thing, he keeps finding ways to free himself.”
As Zack gave another tug, Zelgadis scooped him up and placed him in his lap. “With that said, Zack has discovered he can pull books off shelves and almost get himself flattened if ‘Daddy’ hadn’t been there to save him.”
“Oh I see-“
“He’s also discovered to his delight that he can spin the globes to the point of knocking them over and breaking on the floor.”
I could have ended this joke here, but I kept going.
“Okay sure but-“
“Oh, but the most fun he has is tearing pages out of books.”
“Zel, okay I get the point-“
“Including ruining a 2,000 year old text.” As he said this, he closely watched Zack touch the pages of the book.
“I was lucky that it was just an old recipe book, but I swear, if we weren’t members of the royal family, I’m positive the librarian would have banned us until Zack turn 40.”
Originally, I had Zel say the librarian would have banned them until Zack was 4, but then my editor aka
gullwhacker suggested I change it to 40.Lina raised an eyebrow. “And thus you put him on a leash.”
“Harness,” Zelgadis corrected.
“Did you tell Amelia about this?”
“Yes and the best solution we could come up with was this.” Zack began to wiggle in his lap and Zelgadis placed him back on the floor. “It was either a harness or try strapping him to my back and frankly I thought this wasn’t quite as embarrassing.”
I was SSSOOO tempted of having Zack strapped to Zel's back, since that was my original mental image for this story, but I decided to give Zel a break. XD
Lina frowned. “I see your point, but had you considered of just not coming to the library?”
“I wouldn’t be able to get any work done.” Zack began once again began to tug at his harness. “Out, out!”
With a sigh, Zelgadis reached into his pocket and brought out a small ring of keys. The toddler’s eyes widened as soon as Zelgadis dangled them in front of his eyes. With glee, Zack took the keys and happily shook them.
“My best plan at the moment is to keep him close and distract him so he doesn’t want to wander off.”
I blame my early childhood education course on this. One of the best strategies of getting a toddler to behave is to distract them.
“And the librarian is alright with Zack making noise like that?” Lina asked as she watched the boy.
“After he almost ruining a 2,000 year old book, I don’t think she cares what he does as long as he doesn’t wreck anything else.”
Lina nodded and perched on the edge of the table. “If you want Zel, you can borrow Rowan’s blocks. They’re easy to carry and they keep Rowan and Lori busy for hours.”
Zelgadis pondered. “Actually, that would be a big help. Thank you.”
“Although,” Lina drummed her fingers on the table. “You do realize you can’t keep him on a leash forever.”
“Harness,” Zelgadis corrected. “And this is temporary. It’s only until Zack is able to be in a library without destroying it.”
I was originally planned on ending it here, but I wasn't happy with the ending. So then, I thought of having a time jump.
9 Years Later…
“Dad, I’m going to check out the atlases at the other end of the library.”
Zelgadis glanced up from his notes. “That’s fine son, just make sure you don’t cause any trouble.”
Zack rolled his eyes and tucked his hands behind his head. “Dad, why do you always say that? I never cause trouble in here.”
Zelgadis smirked. “Oh really? Wasn’t it only last week you tried climbing the bookshelves again?”
Zack blushed. “I was just putting a book back,” he muttered. “And I only went up two shelves.”
Oh Zack, you crazy little monkey. XD
The chimera sighed. “Maybe you need to go back on a leash. I mean harness.”
Zack stared baffled. “Huh?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Zack's probably better off not knowing. Just think of the blackmail material Rowan and Lori could have if they found out. ^_~
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-03-20 02:42 am (UTC)I'd never thought about Zack climbing, but it makes sense. Like mother, like son, right? ^_-
no subject
Date: 2009-03-20 03:52 am (UTC)