elrhiarhodan: (Peter - On A Horse)
elrhiarhodan ([personal profile] elrhiarhodan) wrote2011-01-24 01:37 pm

White Collar Ficlet - A Knight on Horseback

Title: A Knight on Horseback
Author: [livejournal.com profile] elrhiarhodan
Fandom: White Collar
Rating: G
Characters: Peter Burke (wee)
Spoilers: Inspired by Burke’s Seven, but no plot spoilers
Warnings/Enticements/Triggers: None
Word Count: ~ 400
Summary: Young Peter dreams of defending the weak and wielding a sword of justice. From the back of a horse.

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When Peter Burke was growing up, his heroes weren't The Lone Ranger or any of the other dudes in the westerns that littered early evening television. He didn't want to be Shane or The Rifleman or any of the Cartwright boys. When his classmates were playing Cowboys and Indians, Peter was dreaming about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. His grandfather, the man he was named for, had given him a beautifully illustrated copy of Howard Pyle's version of the tales (he later learned that this was a first edition, and the artwork was done by Wyeth).

Peter loved the stories - not so much for the simple derring-do, but for the hints of moral ambiguity and ultimately the triumph of good over evil. His favorite passage was about the vows that the Knights took:

"And this was the covenant of their Knighthood of the Round Table: That they would be gentle unto the weak; that they would be courageous unto the strong; that they would be terrible unto the wicked and the evil-doer that they would defend the helpless who should call upon them for aid; that all women should be held unto them sacred; that they would stand unto the defence of one another whensoever such defence should be required; that they would be merciful unto all men; that they would be gentle of deed, true in friendship, and faithful in love. This was their covenant, and unto it each knight sware upon the cross of his sword, and in witness thereof did kiss the hilt thereof."

Even at twelve years old, Peter knew that he wanted to use his life like this - to defend the weak, be true in friendship and be terrible to those who committed evil.

He just wondered if it would be possible to do it from horseback. With shining armor. And a really long sword.
FIN



Originally written for [livejournal.com profile] jrosemary for her prompt, Peter on a Horse and originally published for Promptfest IV.

[identity profile] monkeyonthelam.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"really long sword " **giggles**

My immaturity aside, this was a beautifully realistic glimpse into the character's backstory that fits perfectly with what we know about him.

The promptfest looks so fun, but I can only read for now. I am working on my own promptfest; Its called grad school and it isn't nearly as exciting. At least I have lovely fic to read to break up all the academic journals and articles.

[identity profile] monkeyonthelam.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course. I am so excited about it. I am in my second semester of a 2 year program to get my Master's degree in Library and Information Science. Although personally, I am studying the information science part more. Right now I am taking a class about the digitization of information and how all the world's information can be accessed by any person anywhere. I am also taking a class about interface design and how users use computers and digital gadgets to optimize their information seeking experience. I really like it. And if you are wondering where all the dorks are, they are in the library science department. I have met a few other fan-people in my program. We talk about the proper way to tag fanfic during the class breaks. So exciting. Sorry is that response was longer than you expected.

[identity profile] monkeyonthelam.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
It is. But it is also really relevant. There are so many things to consider like syntax, word choice, mutual exclusivity, specificity, representation.... I could go on and on. I usually write fanfic as a release when i get really stressed out, so there is a chance I might write some more later in the semester.

[identity profile] monkeyonthelam.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you watch Psych? Gus talked about Dewey decimal subject headings and I almost died.

I could write that. But, I really don't don't think anyone would recognize my library jargon. Plus I doubt Neal has ever been in a actually library without scouting the place out for a possible future hostage exchange.

And nitpick: it is just LC for library of congress. We have lots of acronyms. Lots.

[identity profile] monkeyonthelam.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you a lawyer? That is something people would find fascinating. There would never be a tv show about the times and experiences one has at library school. After the initial chaos that the beginning of the semester provides subsides, I will seriously consider it. Although I may meed to provide a glossary.

[identity profile] monkeyonthelam.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh? I started watching the show after watching two grown men making fools of themselves in public while dancing to Tik Tok. Any legalese or NYCisms go right over my head cause I am busy looking at the pretty. I live in NJ, and I have been to the city many, many times but I know very little about it. I remember getting upset at the episode of Chuck where they used a call number that wasn't a call number. These are the limited things I know. I watch many shows at once.

[identity profile] coffeethyme4me.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
This is lovely! That passage does say so much about canon!Peter! Particularly his mercy, especiallly for Neal, coming to someone's defense, being gentle of deed (except for BDSM scenes, but extremely gentle after!)

I loved this! :-)

[identity profile] coffeethyme4me.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
You knew about the horse back in October? Cool. ;-) I probably would have squeeed it everywhere.

By all means, repost! There can never be too much fic out there.

I'm such a Virgo about posting. I realized that I created this organized little system: post the first ficlet to my journal, wait a day, then post that to caffrey_burke and post the second ficlet to my journal, wait a day, post the second to caffrey_burke and the third ficlet to my journal.... I'm like a fic accountant.

[identity profile] ultracape.livejournal.com 2011-01-25 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
When I was in second grade, I still couldn't read because what no one realized was that I had a slight case of dyslexia (I still can't spell). But my mother, who luckily was a remedial reading teacher, sat me down that summer and we figured out what was wrong and within a week I was reading. It was soon after that I found myself reading Ivanhoe. Ahhhhhh. Just a minute while I dream again, Ahhhhhhh.
Anyway, I saw the white suit of armor which Sir Peter of Burke donned upon mounting yon steed. (That was one nice looking horse too.)
Loved the ficlet.
ladygray99: (Default)

[personal profile] ladygray99 2011-01-25 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
This is so Peter in every possible way.

[identity profile] secretsolitaire.livejournal.com 2011-01-25 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, Peter! I can imagine him as this child. :-)

[identity profile] ursula4x.livejournal.com 2011-01-25 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
I love this glimpse of Peter's more than FBI issue imagination!

[identity profile] cross-morph.livejournal.com 2011-02-02 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
My god... that is *so* Peter. The morals and the way he carries himself - I've heard the shining armor cliche with him before, but never teased out like this until it really rings. Perfect!