There are indeed a number of things that could do a number on a young man (or nation in young man’s form). Among those few things would be finding himself stark naked and dripping water while subject to the intent scrutiny of a plump woman with a certain wealth in years.
America cleared his throat and fought the urge to flee back to the river. The woman didn’t smile but a certain hint of amusement warmed her eyes.
“Good morning, Mrs. Royall,” said Mr. Adams from right behind him. “Your reason for taking residence atop my coat? And my aide’s too.”
“Good morning, Mr. President,” returned the woman pleasantly. “If I could have a moment of your time?”
“This is hardly modest of a woman,” grumbled Mr. Adams.
This time the woman did smile and it had a certain gleam that had America definitely stepping backwards in the direction of the river (yes, definitely moving backwards- strategic retreat sometimes better part of valor). “At this moment, modesty would not be my problem, Mr. President.”
Mr. Adams ‘harrumphed,’ folding his arms across his chest. “And if I remove you in pursuit of that goal?”
“You may try.”
Man and woman stared at each other and America didn’t quite recover the nerve to perhaps nudge the not actually imposing figure from her seat to get their clothes. He contemplated the long walk back. The long, drafty walk back.
“Madam, you are a gadfly,” Mr. Adams said and there just may have been what America later realized was grudging admiration.
Her smile never stopped gleaming. “Only a few moments, Mr. President.”
“At the least give the poor boy some dignity,” said Mr. Adams and both gazes swiveling to him made America blush to the roots of his hair.
“So tomorrow you will take clothed walks in the morning like any normal gentleman?” asked America brightly once that horrible woman had scurried off, her notes held tight to her breast.
“And why on earth would I wish to do that?” asked Mr. Adams testily.
America didn’t quite sputter but he did look up to the heavens, which were currently streaked with late dawn light. “Because it is sensible for a man of- gravitas?” he suggested hopefully.
“Only to gain more of such without a brisk morning swim,” snorted Mr. Adams.
“You could take the alligator with you.”
Mr. Adams snorted again. “And ‘lose’ it in the river, hm?”
“It’s not fair to keep it in the West bathroom forever…”
“Maybe I’ll send Lafayette a pair of alligator boots in the near future then.”
“Mr. Adams!”
…
“What’s taking you so long, boy?” came the bellow. “The water’s waiting!”
Historical notes: -And yes, I know the bloody notes are longer than the fic! -John Quincy Adams is a fairly mild example, no matter what TvTropes says. But I couldn’t resist based on the man’s naked swims… and the trouble that resulted from them. Then again, would YOU try to snag an interview by sitting on Theodore Roosevelt’s clothes after his morning swim? I don’t think so. -I was bending history ever so slightly because it’s never stated exactly WHEN Ann Royall’s interview took place (or if it took place at all, some historians argue). As a side bar, please check her out if you get the opportunity. She’s an absolutely fascinating figure of American history and American journalism and literature. -Swimming nude in a river in the earlier part of the 1800s was considered completely unremarkable. At least for men. Women still had to wear bathing costumes of some sort. I think America was more freaked out about his boss having a very calm interview with a woman while stark naked – in that way that your parents embarrass you with EVERYTHING they do when you’re at a certain point in adolescence. America probably got a bit better about not worrying about being seen as weird/crazy as he got older. -Gadfly – a term first used in the Classical period, now defined as an individual who asks probing questions that disrupts the status quo. It’s both a compliment and an insult and a term that John Quincy Adams would be well-acquainted with as a Classical scholar. -Also bending history: While John Quincy Adams did have the pet alligator gifted to him by the Marquis de Lafayette that he kept in the West Room of the White House, reports that he used it to freak out visitors are not completely substantiated (or that he kept it in the bathtub). But knowing his personality (a bit too dour for his own good, like his father) and his self-reported misery of being in office and dealing with antagonistic parties on a regular basis, he probably would be the sort to get a kick out of scaring people with the alligator. -Alligator boots were indeed being made as early as the 1800s. Louisiana and Florida both had brisk businesses selling tanned alligator leather. -Insert history squeeing from history/law nerd: I rather like the two Adamses, father and son. John and Abigail Adams’ correspondence is just heart-meltingly adorable and astonishingly erudite. But both father and son are very underrated leaders who did the best they could under the circumstances but really were better off in other roles. Brilliant lawyers, both of them – John Adams defended the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre and John Quincy Adams defended the slaves on the ship the Amistad.
Nakedness and presidents is a neverending source of amusement for me. And embarrassment for America, I imagine. I hear that Winston Churchill received people while in his bathtub occasionally, including FDR once, and I have always wondered how awkward *that* was.
My one question is, why did LaFayette have a pet alligator to give?
I'm fairly sure that FDR was able to take it in stride, or at least much better than John Adams walking in on Benjamin Franklin and a French lady playing naked chess in a bathtub. America would have found that funny - because it was happening to someone else.
You know, the story never says how LaFayette got that alligator in the first place. Maybe it was a souvenir from a visit to New Orleans? The story also never says why on earth someone would consider an alligator an acceptable present for a president.
Funnily enough... that was NOT the last time an alligator graced the White House. Calvin Coolidge's son had a pair of alligators, though they weren't kept in the West Room.
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Aversions [1/1]
(Anonymous) 2013-03-01 05:39 am (UTC)(link)America cleared his throat and fought the urge to flee back to the river. The woman didn’t smile but a certain hint of amusement warmed her eyes.
“Good morning, Mrs. Royall,” said Mr. Adams from right behind him. “Your reason for taking residence atop my coat? And my aide’s too.”
“Good morning, Mr. President,” returned the woman pleasantly. “If I could have a moment of your time?”
“This is hardly modest of a woman,” grumbled Mr. Adams.
This time the woman did smile and it had a certain gleam that had America definitely stepping backwards in the direction of the river (yes, definitely moving backwards- strategic retreat sometimes better part of valor). “At this moment, modesty would not be my problem, Mr. President.”
Mr. Adams ‘harrumphed,’ folding his arms across his chest. “And if I remove you in pursuit of that goal?”
“You may try.”
Man and woman stared at each other and America didn’t quite recover the nerve to perhaps nudge the not actually imposing figure from her seat to get their clothes. He contemplated the long walk back. The long, drafty walk back.
“Madam, you are a gadfly,” Mr. Adams said and there just may have been what America later realized was grudging admiration.
Her smile never stopped gleaming. “Only a few moments, Mr. President.”
“At the least give the poor boy some dignity,” said Mr. Adams and both gazes swiveling to him made America blush to the roots of his hair.
“So tomorrow you will take clothed walks in the morning like any normal gentleman?” asked America brightly once that horrible woman had scurried off, her notes held tight to her breast.
“And why on earth would I wish to do that?” asked Mr. Adams testily.
America didn’t quite sputter but he did look up to the heavens, which were currently streaked with late dawn light. “Because it is sensible for a man of- gravitas?” he suggested hopefully.
“Only to gain more of such without a brisk morning swim,” snorted Mr. Adams.
“You could take the alligator with you.”
Mr. Adams snorted again. “And ‘lose’ it in the river, hm?”
“It’s not fair to keep it in the West bathroom forever…”
“Maybe I’ll send Lafayette a pair of alligator boots in the near future then.”
“Mr. Adams!”
…
“What’s taking you so long, boy?” came the bellow. “The water’s waiting!”
“Averting nosy lady reporters, Mr. Roosevelt!”
Aversions [ooc]
(Anonymous) 2013-03-01 05:39 am (UTC)(link)-And yes, I know the bloody notes are longer than the fic!
-John Quincy Adams is a fairly mild example, no matter what TvTropes says. But I couldn’t resist based on the man’s naked swims… and the trouble that resulted from them. Then again, would YOU try to snag an interview by sitting on Theodore Roosevelt’s clothes after his morning swim? I don’t think so.
-I was bending history ever so slightly because it’s never stated exactly WHEN Ann Royall’s interview took place (or if it took place at all, some historians argue). As a side bar, please check her out if you get the opportunity. She’s an absolutely fascinating figure of American history and American journalism and literature.
-Swimming nude in a river in the earlier part of the 1800s was considered completely unremarkable. At least for men. Women still had to wear bathing costumes of some sort. I think America was more freaked out about his boss having a very calm interview with a woman while stark naked – in that way that your parents embarrass you with EVERYTHING they do when you’re at a certain point in adolescence. America probably got a bit better about not worrying about being seen as weird/crazy as he got older.
-Gadfly – a term first used in the Classical period, now defined as an individual who asks probing questions that disrupts the status quo. It’s both a compliment and an insult and a term that John Quincy Adams would be well-acquainted with as a Classical scholar.
-Also bending history: While John Quincy Adams did have the pet alligator gifted to him by the Marquis de Lafayette that he kept in the West Room of the White House, reports that he used it to freak out visitors are not completely substantiated (or that he kept it in the bathtub). But knowing his personality (a bit too dour for his own good, like his father) and his self-reported misery of being in office and dealing with antagonistic parties on a regular basis, he probably would be the sort to get a kick out of scaring people with the alligator.
-Alligator boots were indeed being made as early as the 1800s. Louisiana and Florida both had brisk businesses selling tanned alligator leather.
-Insert history squeeing from history/law nerd: I rather like the two Adamses, father and son. John and Abigail Adams’ correspondence is just heart-meltingly adorable and astonishingly erudite. But both father and son are very underrated leaders who did the best they could under the circumstances but really were better off in other roles. Brilliant lawyers, both of them – John Adams defended the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre and John Quincy Adams defended the slaves on the ship the Amistad.
Re: Aversions [ooc]
(Anonymous) 2013-03-01 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)My one question is, why did LaFayette have a pet alligator to give?
Re: Aversions [ooc]
(Anonymous) 2013-03-01 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)You know, the story never says how LaFayette got that alligator in the first place. Maybe it was a souvenir from a visit to New Orleans? The story also never says why on earth someone would consider an alligator an acceptable present for a president.
Funnily enough... that was NOT the last time an alligator graced the White House. Calvin Coolidge's son had a pair of alligators, though they weren't kept in the West Room.