#reading: slow horses

[spookstreet]

“They could have Commandments,” River told her. “It wouldn’t tear him from his garden. Is it his money you’re after?”

“No, darling. I just want him to be unhappy.”

And

“River, I’ve told you. Mummy has to go away. It’s important. You want Mummy to be happy, don’t you?”

He didn’t answer. He didn’t want Mummy to be happy. He wanted Mummy to be there. That was important.

Slow Horses, Mick Herron.

These Cartwrights. River in this chapter noticeably refutes his grandfather’s belief that he takes after Isobel. (And David doesn’t really consider their shared traits to be a bad thing - he’s somewhat bemused, all things considered).

[sincerelyrf]

been rewatching S4 and thinking about the fact when River was probably at his most terrified, trying to figure out why someone was trying to kill his grandfather and how to protect him, the logical conclusion he came to was Standish. Standish is safe. he can go to France and not be preoccupied with how his ailing grandfather is faring because Catherine Standish is looking after him.

and then I start thinking how proud Standish must have felt when River turned up at her door with the most important person in his life and said "please look after him". Catherine Standish, who for so long was seen as a risk because of her addiction - someone unreliable and not to be trusted, trusted with someone that precious. no wonder she took it so seriously when Lamb turned up on her doorstep. "River asked me to look after him", and by god was she going to

[brotherconstant]

Louisa Guy in every episode (9/24) Slow Horses | 3.03 "Negotiating with Tigers"

[bobfloydpilled]

my copy of the first sh book arrived today, and i'm ecstatic to report:

THEY ARE EVEN MORE INSUFFERABLE

[thebeigelunatics]

it warms me a lot to imagine that the first few years of river's life, he maybe received cards that said something like 'happy birthday, young lad! best wishes, charles partner' or 'happy christmas! yours warmly, charles partner' in tandem with expensive gifts such as a toy spyglass or detective kit that were likely elegantly signed or chosen with care by catherine standish. 🥺

[hr-twink]

The Timeline ™️

ok i made notes when reading the books to make a timeline because… i had to

just note that the show moved the TL up like 2 years

Book TL:

Pre Book 1:

Black mountains training Spider was 24

Year before book 1 Spider and River inseparable.

@saulbetter addition: river and spider are the same age. the 'inseparable' for a year doesn't specify if that was in training or already working at the Park (the training exercise was an 'upgrade assessment'). spider took a 'graduate route' to become Mi5 which is mentioned to take two years (I assume this includes all of training). in book 1 spider is described as 'under 30', so mid-late twenties?

Book 1: October. evidence: Sid joined “2 months ago in august”. River has been at SH for 8months 2weeks and 4 days. Making Kings Cross february ish.

Book 2: early to end April, a “few months after” last book. River is in Upshott for 3 weeks.

Book 3: August, a year since the last book. Heavily implied to be 2015 from Donovans timeline.

Book 4: January 2-6th. A “few months” since last book.

———

SHOW TL:

Pre season 1:

Spiders Monitor in 1x01 of the fiasco training exercise says July 20- if we go by the books “8 months in SH” thing Stansted was probably in June 2015

Season 1- February 2016

“Its February!”-Struan

Season 2- Late August 2016

Summer vibes (ice cream/fans)

Dickie's Coroners report say 22nd August 2016

Min’s plaque says 2016

Season 3- August 16-17th 2017

CCTV in 3x02 says 2017-08-17

River's watch shows the date as 17

"Waste and Recycling info 2017/18" Flyer on Louisa's fridge 3x01

Season 4- January 2-6 2018

January 2nd: Westacres

The Incident happens the night of the 4th

False ID, Les Arbes, Return journey, all happen on 5th

Cold Bodies were created “28 years ago”. River is born in 1990–making him 27/8.

[snowfallnight]

My new fav photo of them, ty mama gisele 😭

[azertyrobaz]

"Working with you has been the lowest point in a disappointing career."

[oh-jackothy]

Absolutely incapable of adhering to this sign

[thealdersgateoffice]

Catherine Standish in every episode of Slow Horses

4.03 Penny for Your Thoughts 🐌🐎

[spookstreet]

Catherine cast her mind briefly through the last few days’ activity; found nothing in her memory but the usual list-assembly, the data-sift. “Don’t tell me,” she said. “Cartwright’s blown a fuse, and we all burn down with him.”

“Not a million miles off,” Lamb admitted.

Slow Horses, Mick Herron.

I think what I enjoy most about these two together is their shared perceptiveness. If I had to describe it: Lamb reads the situation; Standish considers the people. And both land on a very good understanding of the circumstances.

(River was probably designated a problem from his very first day in Slough House)

[ghost-woods]

beard or hair

thank you! por qu�� no los dos?

"beard" appears 5 times so far. "hair" appears 35 times.

here's a (long, both for context and for fun) excerpt that includes both:

James rolls his eyes, but River continues. “Besides, you don’t think me wearing your clothes around is the equivalent of a neon sign saying ‘hey, check it out, we just fucked’?” “My god, River, just find something basic.” James gives him a little shove toward the drawers that his casualwear resides in. “I really don’t think people are paying that much attention to your wardrobe.” After deeming the jeans “too stuck-up” with a shake of his head and the joggers “too dangerous” with a pointed glance up and down James’s half-dressed body, River ends up wearing his own jeans from the day before (“They’re mostly clean,” he says with a shrug in response to James’s raised eyebrows) and borrowing a pair of trunks and socks as well as a black shirt and jumper. He finishes dressing first and sits on the bed, watching James as he knots his tie.  Since River is looking at him with an open, fascinated expression that make James sort of want to climb into his lap, sort of want to hit him for no reason, James lets himself study the man in front of him in the morning light: the thin lines that have just started settling more permanently into his forehead and between his brows; the darker, reddish-gold colour his hair has started to favour as he’s gotten older that’s even more pronounced in his beard. He’s changed and aged since they were in training, of course, but James finds it suits him. 

Not very long ago, he had firmly believed aging to be a horrible and sad thing. He’d resented that it would eventually become an uphill battle he himself would have to fight, one he was resigned to but unimpressed with the inevitability of all the same. Having learned suddenly and as intimately as possible that it was not, in fact, inevitable, and that the alternative was far less flattering or interesting has left James with a new plan: he’s going to age, and he’s going to enjoy doing it, and he’s going to look really fucking good as he does. There’s an intriguing thrill in the idea of having someone beside him, with him, doing the same. And an unexpected but satisfying sense of victory in the idea of that someone being River Cartwright. He’d once assumed their lives would run on parallel lines, but maybe that isn’t quite right; maybe their lives aren’t lines but something more like coherent waves, finally shifting from destructive to constructive interference.  Christ, dying has made him soft; he feels almost optimistic.  “If you look at me like that in the office, you might as well be wearing that neon sign I mentioned,” River tells him. His smile is lopsided and bright.   “This is how I always look at you,” James says. River gets off the bed and reaches for his tie, pulling him closer. “No, it’s really not.”

send a word, get... so many words

[bobfloydpilled]

BEHOLD!!!! a new fic, slow horses edition! featuring river whump, river comfort, and lamb-typical snark! enjoy :D

[mariathechosen1]

I love the idea of River crushing on Louisa next season actually.

First things first: Louisa is pulling away from the kiss. Like- I feel like that, combined with the fact that she rejected River earlier this season, is a sign that she’s probably not interested in anything beyond platonic with River ? I don’t know why people are freaking out so much over this scene ??

Despite this, I do think that River liking her has some genuine potential:

Maybe he’s just such a hot mess after going through, let’s be honest, the world’s longest fucking trauma conga line that he confuses his own feelings of trust and appreciation as romantic attraction, leading to the most awkward kiss of all time. This could be a really nice way to explore the value of their relationship as well as solidify their friendship

Ooooor alternatively: River is actually down bad. Like- c’mon! Louisa is literally the person he trusts the most (judging by the fact that he called her when he was with Harkness). They’ve been through tons of shit together, she saved his life and she’s Louisa fucking Guy!! (And frankly out of his league imo). I wouldn’t blame the guy if he actually fell for her.

I get it! I’m also tired of romance being ‘forced’ on male-female friendships, but romantic attraction can be interesting! It can bring out new sides of characters, it can make friendships more complex, it can lead to new and interesting plot lines, etc

I think no matter what happens (and I honestly think it’s just a spoof and not a real kiss), I trust that the writers know what they’re doing and that it’ll be done in a way that does both the characters justice.

(…but also it’s weird how many people are ‘grossed out’ at the idea that River might kiss Louisa idk)

[hr-twink]

young River | sorry seems to be the hardest word- elton john

[too-many-rooks]

Slow Horses, S4, E2; A Stranger comes to town.