I mean, whatever you're comfortable writing! You're the one actually writing it. (thaaaank you)
If you're specifically going for a less socially isolated, less physically deprived, less end-of-his-rope desperate Fritz (and it's as much the social isolation as the physical deprivation I was going for in my view), I think it's still perfectly possible to use his emotional situation to convey why Fredersdorf despite all the odds. Now that I know you're setting it later, I kind of like the idea of Fredersdorf as Fritz's silent, defiant alternative to marriage.
To be clear: yes, I think Fritz is wearing this coat when he has better things to wear. What I was trying to say is that if it's the only shabby, falling-apart thing he owns, and you offer to mend his clothes, you are specifically targeting this coat. Whereas if everything he owns is a bit the worse for wear, then you aren't. And in that case, he might voluntarily go, "Well, maybe I could wear this one extra-special raggedy thing longer if it were mended [like, maybe it's even fallen apart to the point where it's not wearable, but he still clings to it as a security blanket], but I wouldn't trust it to just anyone." I have a feeling Fritz deals better with things that are *his* idea. But if you want to have Fredersdorf offer to have Mom mend it, and Fritz accept because there's that much trust and Fredersdorf is just that deft, then sure! Not one person is going to read this and go, "Fritz would never do that!"
Alternatively, now that I know you have this early scene written, maybe it starts with Fredersdorf going, "Omg, wtf is that, let me get you something better," Fritz reacting badly...and then at the end, when Fredersdorf is casually commenting that Mom is going to be mending his clothes and looking ruefully down at the state of his uniform, maybe Fritz signals their changed relationship by asking Fredersdorf if maybe surrogate-Mom can mend the Katte coat so he can keep wearing it? And maybe Fredersdorf is absolutely floored by the amount of trust, now that he understands the significance, and signals that he will treat it like gold?
I am laughing so hard and also mentally high-fiving myself
HIGH FIVE TO YOU! I love that feeling. It's the same feeling I had when he fell off his horse and I said, "Nobody say anything!" and then, whaddaya know but all his most veteran generals were like, "Nobody say anything!"
Also, see, you are getting to know the ways of the Fritz. :P I absolutely think much of his making people feel attacked out of the blue was when he himself felt attacked. Fritz's motto in my head is 100% "The best defense is a good offense."
Re: The emails
Sent: Dec 6
I mean, whatever you're comfortable writing! You're the one actually writing it. (thaaaank you)
If you're specifically going for a less socially isolated, less physically deprived, less end-of-his-rope desperate Fritz (and it's as much the social isolation as the physical deprivation I was going for in my view), I think it's still perfectly possible to use his emotional situation to convey why Fredersdorf despite all the odds. Now that I know you're setting it later, I kind of like the idea of Fredersdorf as Fritz's silent, defiant alternative to marriage.
To be clear: yes, I think Fritz is wearing this coat when he has better things to wear. What I was trying to say is that if it's the only shabby, falling-apart thing he owns, and you offer to mend his clothes, you are specifically targeting this coat. Whereas if everything he owns is a bit the worse for wear, then you aren't. And in that case, he might voluntarily go, "Well, maybe I could wear this one extra-special raggedy thing longer if it were mended [like, maybe it's even fallen apart to the point where it's not wearable, but he still clings to it as a security blanket], but I wouldn't trust it to just anyone." I have a feeling Fritz deals better with things that are *his* idea. But if you want to have Fredersdorf offer to have Mom mend it, and Fritz accept because there's that much trust and Fredersdorf is just that deft, then sure! Not one person is going to read this and go, "Fritz would never do that!"
Alternatively, now that I know you have this early scene written, maybe it starts with Fredersdorf going, "Omg, wtf is that, let me get you something better," Fritz reacting badly...and then at the end, when Fredersdorf is casually commenting that Mom is going to be mending his clothes and looking ruefully down at the state of his uniform, maybe Fritz signals their changed relationship by asking Fredersdorf if maybe surrogate-Mom can mend the Katte coat so he can keep wearing it? And maybe Fredersdorf is absolutely floored by the amount of trust, now that he understands the significance, and signals that he will treat it like gold?
I am laughing so hard and also mentally high-fiving myself
HIGH FIVE TO YOU! I love that feeling. It's the same feeling I had when he fell off his horse and I said, "Nobody say anything!" and then, whaddaya know but all his most veteran generals were like, "Nobody say anything!"
Also, see, you are getting to know the ways of the Fritz. :P I absolutely think much of his making people feel attacked out of the blue was when he himself felt attacked. Fritz's motto in my head is 100% "The best defense is a good offense."