Review – Bribery
Bribery fills in a storyline gap.
Background
After writing Reversal, I got to thinking about a missing piece of information.
Before Days
Just how – and why – did Yimar and Treve go along with everything? And how did Polloria insinuate herself into the family?
Plot
As a prelude story, the information given about the Calafans is pretty sketchy. Chawev, the First Minister, plays a guessing game with his three children, Treve, Yimar, and Chelben. He wants them to guess who’s coming to dinner, quite literally. Bits of background information flow in, that Yipran is comatose, and is being cared for by a Dr. Baden. Baden has helpers, but only one is female. And that’s who’s on her way to join them.
Adding to the background information, their home is filled with the smell of cooking prako. Treve explains that it’s an expensive dish, and Chawev counters that their guest has generously provided it. Further, he tells them that things are going to be different, and they’re going to eat better from then on. This rather neatly conforms to what Doug and Lili are eventually told during Local Flavor.
When Polloria, the guest of honor, arrives, she comes bearing gifts. There’s a pretty stylus for Treve, who is still, at that point in the timeline, destined for a diplomatic career. Yimar is given a small bracelet, prefiguring the Cuff of Lo gift in Friday Visit, Together, and Temper, and the bracelet for Melissa in Fortune. Chelben, who is still a rather small child, is given a stuffed linfep toy. Treve and Yimar, at least, see through Polloria, at least in her efforts to insinuate herself into the family. As for her ambition to become the new High Priestess, that part is mentioned but they don’t seem to realize just how far she will go, or how far she has already gone.
Story Postings
- Bribery on Ad Astra’s forums
- Bribery on Fanfiction.net
- In addition, Bribery on Fictionpad
- Bribery on Wattpad
- Bribery on G & T Show forums
- Also, Bribery in context
Rating
The story is Rated K.
Upshot
I like the little glimpse into Calafan life, including the use of a fork, which prefigures a small plot point in Reversal.
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