Frederick the Great, discussion post 16

[cahn]

We have slowed down a lot, but are still (sporadically) going! And somehow filled up the last post while I wasn't looking!

...I was asked to start a new thread so that STDs could be discussed. Really! :D

Comments

Rokoko Babysitting

[mildred_of_midgard]

I was updating the chronology this evening with some AW material, and what should I find but this:

May 2: "There stands one who will avenge me."
May 6: Babysitting adventures commence.

So either FW was in Ruppin checking on Fritz, or Fritz had been summoned to Berlin and then sent back to his regiment, but either way: Fritz's number one complaint at Ruppin to Suhm is that his regimental duties don't leave him with enough time to study, which is why he's giving up sleep. Then he's with Dad, which means he's not allowed to read. Then he finally escapes FW, but he's still overwhelmed with his regiment, and then--surprise babysitting! With hardly a day's break between family responsibilities. I can see why he was so frustrated.

Also, if he *was* in Berlin (it was only for a short period, because his previous letter is dated April 27, also from Ruppin), that means that hardly a couple of days passed between when Fritz left Berlin for Ruppin and when his brother left Berlin for Ruppin. Which makes it extremely likely that something during that Berlin visit triggered the surprise babysitting adventures.

Not that you have to stick to the strict chronology--you could have him babysitting at Rheinsberg! But just fyi, in case that sequence of events inspires you or anything. :)

Re: Rokoko Babysitting

[selenak]

That timing is extremely intriguing. Maybe the fact that Fritz, now reclassified by FW as a Dad avenger in spe, is for the moment in FW's good graces causes SD to decide to build up that good will by showing her fave is now also a responsible caretaker of his younger siblings, and thus she dumps one of the kids on him?

Or: FW is in a bad mood due to Austrian treachery (from his pov) and on general health principle, and kid Heinrich has done something (what?) which, if discovered, could make him FW's next target. It's therefore decided to bundle him off to Big Bro for some weeks by which time whatever it was will have been forgotten/been disappeared. (Only Heinrich was a brat and SD therefore makes him send Fritz cheese as a present.)