History Funny / Temeraire

"[[INeedToIronMyDog I beg your pardon, I think I see Purbeck looking for me]]," said Riley, very hastily, and escaped at a speed remarkable, Laurence thought somewhat resentfully, in a man who had lately consumed nearly a quarter of his own weight again in food.

"I beg your pardon, I think I see Purbeck looking for me," said Riley, very hastily, and escaped at a speed remarkable, Laurence thought somewhat resentfully, in a man who had lately consumed nearly a quarter of his own weight again in food.

* No one was ready for Ning, Temeraire's and Iskierka's offspring, as not only does she have a combination of Temeraire's divine wind and Iskierka's fire (in the form of a white bolt that explodes on contact, not unlike [[Movie/HowToTrainYourDragon a Night Fury's breath weapon]]), but she seems to have a combination of her progenitors' personalities (being both self-centered and impulsive yet analytical and farsighted with a developed if somewhat inhuman moral code). Laurence is almost sorry to foist her onto Prince Mianning ''should she choose him''.

--> '''Harcourt:''' ...when I was sixteen... a dreadful fellow sat next to me and whispered impolite remarks until I poured a pot of coffee into his lap... he went away straight after.

* The short story ''[[http://www.temeraire.org/feast-or-famine/ Feast or Famine]]'' (set between the first two books) that has been made available on her website, all of it. Opening the cattle pen at the covert? Simple enough for a dragon that bothers to examine the mechanism and has enough fine dexterity in his foreclaws to lift the bar holding the gate closed. Keeping the cattle therein from stampeding out? Or barring that herding them back in? Less so.

* When Harcourt confesses to being pregnant, Laurence rather dramatically contemplates how all the dragon-captains will be suspect as the father in this dreadful situation--indeed he finds himself performing the mental calculus, trying to puzzle out which of the captains it was--and how there is nothing to possibly be done but endure "the curiosity of the world"...whereupon Berkley casually asks who the father is, and Harcourt just as casually answers.

* Midway through the book, Laurence's father becomes convinced that Emily Roland, a young girl, daughter to Captain Jane Roland, and part of Temeraire's crew, is actually Laurence's illegitimate daughter. Because both are [[QuintessentialBritishGentleman proper gentlemen]], Lord Allendale never directly asks his son, and Laurence never directly dissuades him. Cue Laurnece receiving letters from [[IWantGrandkids his mother]] asking about Emily's well being and sending the girl family jewelry.

* Kulingile is a runt dragon born of two heavy-weights. Initially his survival is in question, and no one expects much of him, until a few weeks later when we get the signs that he'll not only live, but be one of the biggest dragons in the world: His air sacs inflate while he's sleeping and he ''becomes lighter than air and starts bouncing away!''
--> Kulingile, as he's rotating himself mid air by flapping only one wing, like a hovering dragon-beach-ball: Look, Demane, look at me!

* Jane Roland's letters. Especially where she explains differences that came with her new rank; and notes that if, due to accident or ungovernable impulse, something terminal should ''hypothetically'' happen to Rankin...well, Laurence has already been banished to a remote penal colony the better part of a year's travel from Britain, so if nothing else he probably wouldn't be able to be properly sentenced for a good eighteen months.

-->We will certainly manage it (getting the French army out of Spain) in the spring, even if everyone is lazing in winter quarters at present. I do not suppose you will have got them out of Germany by then, however. It is a great pity you have let Napoleon get away.

-->'' It was not that she didn’t like the captain, but he had much to answer for.''

** When Temeraire received the following message from an exhausted, injured, and at least slightly loopy due to a head injury Laurence shortly afterwards, he becomes understandably concerned.
---> ''Never fear; I am going; the Son of Heaven will not tolerate delays, and Barham gives me leave. Allegiance will carry us! Pray eat something.''

* And then she kisses him "heartily", according to the narration, and then casually walks with him to the Dover covert making small talk, apparently giving no further thought to the fact that Laurence had proposed to her just minutes ago. Laurence is bemused, to say the least.

* Captain Riley's discovery of Emily Roland's gender forces Laurence to explain the [[TheSquadette Longwing handling requirements]], which becomes a discussion about (and attempt to explain to Temeraire) the general taboo concerning (human) women serving in the military, leading to....
-->'''Laurence''': "It is different for dragons than for people. Among other things, women must bear children, and care for them through childhood, where your kind lay eggs and hatch ready to look to your own needs."
--> '''Temeraire''': (surprised and fascinated) "You do not hatch out of eggs? How then–"
--> '''Riley''': "I beg your pardon, I think I see Purbeck looking for me." (unceremoniously flees the dragon-deck, to Laurence's resentment)

* Upon being warned against offending Prince Yongxing or the Chinese embassy in general at the start of the voyage.
-->'''Temeraire''': ''[resentfully]'' "I do not care if they do not like me, maybe then they will let me alone, and I will not have to stay in China." ''[visibly perking up]'' "If I were very offensive, do you suppose they would go away now? Laurence, what would be particularly insulting?"

* Kulingile is a runt dragon born of two heavy-weights. Initially his survival is in question, and no one expects much of him, until a few weeks later when we get the signs that he'll not only live, but be one of the biggest dragons in the world: [[spoiler: His air sacs inflate while he's sleeping and he ''becomes lighter than air and starts bouncing away!'']]
--> Kulingile, as he's [[spoiler: rotating himself mid air by flapping only one wing, like a hovering dragon-beach-ball]]: Look, Demane, look at me!

-->'''Jane''' *utterly perplexed*: Why no, dear fellow. It would be a puzzle to give you orders, you know, if I had vowed to obey; it could hardly be comfortable. But it is very handsome of you to have offered.”