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oh-for-fic-sake · 4 years

Text

No Boyfriend’s

Masterlist

Henry comes home to find out his three year old princess has a boyfriend, whats a dad to do?

Warnings: swearing, fluff

A/n: so I had so much fun wrighting this fluff piece! Thank you to @jessevans for requesting it.

No Boyfriend's

You walked up to the preschool to pick up your daughter from her afternoon session. You had to admit when Henry had first sugested moving out of the city You had been a little skeptical. He had been adamant that he wanted your child to have a childhood much like his. Out of the hustle and bustle moving out into 'the sticks' as many londoners would call it. You'd settled in a quaint picturesque little village near Canterbury in Kent the location was perfect for henry's work with the port of dover thirty minutes away and the center of london with all the airports around an hours drive in the opposite direction it was ideal. And best of all it was out of the way and had all the amenities within the village itself a post office, shop,pub, Doctors surgery and pharmacy the local primary school and pre school was literally a five minute walk from your house and the closest secondary schools were a ten minute bus ride into canterbury itself and when the time came you had six to choose from.

The reason for the move? Your now three year old Daughter the apple of her daddies eye. You remebered the day you'd told your boyfriend you were pregnant, you'd been terrified as much as he said he wanted a family you couldnt help that twinge of doubt. But he was exstatic within moments he had darted out of the room when he returned he was clumsily trying to dial his mothers number with shaking hands tears streaming down his face as he kept asking if you were sure even when his mother picked up, you could here her laughs of joy as he told her. He paced the room leaving you to sit on the bed giggling as he refused to sit down whilst on the phone with his family every time he walked past you he move his hand pressing on Your flat tummy asif trying to feel the child already that or he was trying to imagine you with a bump and that grin? You'd never seen him smile like that before it truly melted your heart seeing him so happy. He was always and attentive boyfriend but once you was pregnant he was..Incredible always by your side when he was at home tending to your every need and he somehow managed not to be over bearing.

It was when you went to the first scan that he had proposed some might say it wasn't the most romantic but for you it was perfect! Leaving with the first photos of your little jellybean and a fiance. Fuck yes! You thought that you couldnt get any happier but then came the gender scan. You knew he didnt mind what they were but you also knew deep deep down you both wanted a little girl to coddle over and buhe wanted a daddies girl someone who he could be their knight in shining armour. He could bearly keep still beside you holding your hand tight watching the screen trying to get a look at your little 'nugget' as he had called them he couldn't keep quiet either with every swipe of the ultrasound wand he was changing his mind.

"Girl? Is that? I can see? nope Boy definatly boy"

"Henry babe...dont get to excited that's the umbilical cord...I think?" They were being a little bugger crossing their legs making the sonographer work hard to move them around as you had to move again and again trying to get the little one to move. Finally they spoke.

"And you two are about to have... Little....Princess! You have a baby girl on the way congratulations" you both froze looking at the screen seeing your baby...your daughter. Immediately you both burst into tears.

"A-a girl your sure?" Henry asked in a quiet shaky voice the woman smiled nodding handing you both tissues then moved slower over the child showing you exactly what she saw then printed off some of the photos for you. Once home Henry began refering to her as 'little lady' on account of her 'protecting her modesty' by crossing her legs.

It wasnt long after youd began talking about moving seroiusly, the house was big enough sure but now you knew the baby was a girl it all seemed much more real. Sure you'd both spoke about buying a house together on and off as youd moved in to his place earlier in the relationship but this time it was more feasible the idea of raising your precious little girl in the middle of london didn't bode well for Henry he was also concerned about haveing photos of her taken he was an actor hell your relationship was posted all over social media by your third date! He didn't want that attention on his daughter so you both started seriously looking. It only took another nine weeks to find a place you both fell in love with the Georgian detached house it looked like a mini manor with its decorative columns and tall windows had a huge garden to for kal it was perfect.

At six months you had a small private wedding and it was then that he anounced your marriage and baby Cavill, potsing your favourite wedding photo of you in you and Henry facing each other laughing witb your foreheads together, you were wrapped around each other as close as ou could get considering the bumb that had seemingly grown overnight his hand resting on the cute bump you were laughing because she had just kicked him when he had told you he loved you. Almost like 'dont forget about me!', Kal had photo bombed to his head poking out between your an Henry's legs smiling , a part of your flowy dress caught up on the bears ear head tilted the only one looking at the camera and in the same post he added an ultrasound of your baby girl. You got congratulations from many of yours freinds and family. And Henry's freinds and costars each wondering the same thing 'how the fuck did Henry keep it quiet?'. You wondered that as well, the hole pregnancy was just memory after memory. Henry made sure you did everything you could to document your daughters creation, you did the photo of your bump once a week the last one being you in the hospital in the middle of slow labour holding the gown tight around you a mere half hour before she was born. He had made sure you did the belly casting which had been tidied up and trimmed painted pink and was in the cupboard, then the 4d scans expensive tho they were nothing and you mean nothing compared to seeing her little face for the first time, it was then you realised she looked nothing like you! She was all her father although a slightly more feminine and less sharp and it was also there you were told she had lots od hair...Curls you felt like you'd hit the jackpot. At the birth he had been incredibly supportive until he wasn't, well you disagreed he wanted to film it and not just your face he wanted to film it you said no but regretted it after as it would have been solid proof of what happened. You see one moment he was there then mid contraction....you heard quiet 'nope' a huge thump is what alerted you to his fall.... there was an alarm pressed and nurses came running in each giggleing, it was rare now days to have a fainter.

"Are you FUCKING KIDING ME?! HENRY?! OI! HERNY? CAVILL GET YOUR ASS UP!" You had to stop shouting and started breathing heavy as another contraction pulled at you once over you began barking orders to the nurses.

"KICK HIM...KICK HIM IN THE NUTS! DONT WORRY ABOUT STERILISING SUPERMAN HERE! NEVER AGAIN! HE WONT THEM TRUST ME... HENRY GET UP! ARE YOU LISTENING? STOP BEING A LITTLE BITCH! I AM NOT DOING THIS AGAIN COS HE FUCKING MISSED IT! LOOKING WHEN I TOLD HIM NOT TO!" The nurses didn't know what to do it took three of them to place im in the chair each trying desperately not to laugh as you had a melt down screaming at him to 'wake the fuck up' You swore you even heard laugher from outside signaling that his family had heard. Yes your wonderfully supportive husband had fainted through stress? Excitment? Anxiety? Low blood sugar? Each time you asked him it had been different answer but and to quote him 'it was definitely not because I looked' which neither you or his brothers will ever believe or let him forget. Luckily he came to as you finally birthed his daughter. A stunning screaming little dark haired bundle. He sobbed when he held her for the first time leaning over her cradeling her so gently leaning over her kissing her as many time he possibly could he was the first one to hold her, hug her kiss her and change her. The photo of his first cuddle hung proudly in the hallway ,you will never forget that moment, the moment when Henry's whole world changed you could see then just how much he had wanted this. Your daughter was going to be the luckiest little girl in the world.

Paige had grown into a daddies girl, through and through which made today much better. Henry was coming home from filming man from u.n.c.l.e he had been away for months and you had kept his arrival home a secret. Henry was going to make it home in about twenty five minutes. You stopped just before the colourfull gates unable to go in with Kal, you could see the kids lining up in twos underneath the oak tree in the small garden. You smile moving to stroke Kals ears hushing him as he barked loudly vibrating with exciment his tail thumping on the floor as he sat like the good boy he was. At his bark you could hear the kids all squeal with excitment, they loved it when you brought the 'wolf' to the preschool. It was funny hearing Paige whine to them that 'his name is Kal and he's a bear'. He was quite the spoilt pup when he helped you pick up his sister getting hugs and kisses of all the Paige's class mates. Finally the small class was walked out of the garden one of the teachers holding the gate lettjng them leave to their parents. Paige waited in line pointing to you then was let out you ducked down hugging her kissing between her her curly little pigtails.

"Hey baby! Have a good day?" She nodded passing you her small bag and a small potted plant? You looked at her confused but said nothing. She turned and giggled hugging kal smoshing her face in his chest making him stand up she pulled back and squealed as he latherd her with kisses three hours away from her was apparently to long!

"Oh no Kal! Stop it silly bear!" You laughed watching her push weakly at kal who began to settle down now that his 'pup' was with him. You noticed the other parents hovering there kids all pulljng itching to come get Kal cuddles. You smiled to them nodding suddenly they came over all giving him pets and love which he lapped up. You also used it as a sort of lesson the do's and donts of petting dogs, which did some of the other parents a favour. Kal wagged his tail and droped to the floor he couldnt roll over fast enough directing the tiny hands to scratch his belly mouth open tongue lolling about as he panted one happy little bear. After you were sure all the kids got there cuddles you moved calling kal he huffed at you ignoring you instead wanting more love. You smirked down at him sighing as the children giggled. Finally after much coaxing from the other parents you and Paige managed to heave kal away with promises of chicken and snuggles at home. Soon you was on your way home kal padding beside you happy as can be.

Paige took he spot beside you holding his lead with you she was talking about her 'boyfriend' a little boy who she had taken a shine to. It was really sweet he had just moved to the area a little asian boy who paige had bonded with quickly. Really they were just best freinds but he was the first boy she had made freinds with hence she had opted to call him her boyfriend.

"So then Micah played let me play and-and he let me be a knight!" You smiled at her as she beamed excited.

"Really? A knight?" She stopped at the road with you looking both ways then crossed quickly.

"Yeah! Like in daddy's games!! And he gave me some of the bany tomatoes in his lunch...did you he grew them in his own garden!!" You gasped sown at her.

"Really? Oh my, sound like a little dream boat!" she scrunched up her nose lookjng up at you placing a tiny hand to he forehed sheildjngnher eyea from the afternoon sun

"Wha?" You chuckled shaking your head at her.

"Never mind jummy is just being silly" nodded to you her lightl blue eyes sparkling at you then Continued talking about her day mostly about Micah and the games they played.

When you reached home you watched as kal began barking and whining which could only mean one thing. Henry was home already, you unlocked the gate and released the dog with a quiet 'go get daddy' he tore off whining running to the door scratching and pouncing barking the whole time.

"Mummy whats wrong with kal?" You looked down at her knowingly"I'm not sure why don't you go see to him?" She nodded her head biting her lip then licking it, she looked so much like her father doing that. Then she was off running to the house just as Henry opened the door. She froze then screamed for him quickly falling to pieces with grabby hands wantjng her daddy. You watched all choked up as always she was bawling her eyes out by the time he had jumped the steps to the house scooping her up in his huge arms. He clutched her to his chest shushing and rocking her as she cried into him fisting her small hands in his shirt just calling him over and over. He moved his head kissing her trying to calm her, he hated and loved this. He hated her getting so upset when her returned but secretly loved that she missed him. The first few times he left he was worried she wouldnt remember him but juste as youd promised him she had.

The first time he came home you’d taken her to the airport to meet him...He had ended hup having to sit in the back with her as she refused to let him go getting hysterical each time he tried to pry her off of him. She had gotten better as she got older understanding that daddy had to work and now she was older she could speak to him on the phone and video chat. Each time after the initial crying and snuggles she would stay stuck to his side weather she was sitting on the sofa between his legs when he was playing games or in the makeshift gym with him useing his reps to practice her counting...even if in five mineuts he managed two hundred by her count they were always together. Hell sometimes he even read a new script as a bed time story, which not even you were privvy to!

You laughed walking up to him winding your arms around them both cuddling your daughter between you he leaned in kissing ou on the lips.

"God its good to be home" you smiled smoothing one of paiges high pigtails she whined calming down kicking her little legs wrapping an arm around his neck and moved suckling her thumb a little. He moved you all into the house patting her bottom lightly somthing he had done since she was born it always soothed her. You moved to the kitchen opening the back door letting air in it was to hot, you placed the small plant on the windosill by the sinck giving it a tiny bit of water as you noticed the siol had dried out. Henry stayed close behind you wanting to be around you, you moved to the slow cooker flicking it on to warm up the already cooked casserole. He came up behinde you movijng to have Paige on one hip still rocking her slightly even tho she had calmed down.

"Ohh look baby chicken casserole...Did you help mummy with that today before school? " She giggled peering over the pot.

"Yes daddy! I putted in the veggies! And tatoes! Daddy!" He smiled at her gasping.

"You did the veggies and the potatoes?! Such a clever girl making daddies favourite dinner" she giggled at the praise nodding.

"And-and I tasted it to!" he gasped at her as she got all excited

"And what do you think?" She grinned and 'whispered'

"Needed salt" you spun round and gasped at her offended.

"You little!" You chased her and Henry around the kitchen island wriggling your fingers as if to tickle her.

"AHH HAHAHa NOOO! DADDY RUN RUN!" you giggled as he scarperd out of the kitchen hovering by the door and moved all you saw was the tops of their heads peering into the kitchen. You rolled your eyes as they made a 'plan of attack' you turned back to the pit placeing the lid back on.

Suddeny Henry had you, arms pinning yours to the sides as Paige 'tickled' you making you laugh.

"Oh my god! Stop I give I give!" Finally Paige relented koala climbing Henry who quickly scooped her up to his hip.You moved in kissing her cheek then henry as he wrapped his free arm around you nuzzling in to your neck giving a quick nip before licking at your skin.You giggled trying to escape yet all he did was grab you around your waist and hoist you up.

"HAHA! I have you both now!" You laughed and Paige squealed as he spun around holding you both before making his way to the living room you wriggled free pretendingnto run from him making paige call out to you for help as he threw her up in the air holding her with 'slam dunking' paige to the sofa making her laugh and scream as he followed lifting her littl tshirt blowing rasberries on her tummy makeing her squeal and laugh louder. You smiled at the two, this is what you missed when he was away, the laughter of a full house. You sat down in Henry's armchair as he and Paige 'wrestled' soon attracting kals attention who like the loyal steed he was came to paiges aid pouncing henry making him groan and roll off her givingnher and kal the chance to escape to the garden, you both let them the garden was safe and having kal around was like a live in nanny he wont let anything happen to her.

Henry rolled over on the sofa lounging back panting crooking a finger at you. You crept over moving to sit in his lap, he tugged you down to him pressing a gentle kiss to your lips. He moved sitting up more cupping your ass smirking.

"Soo? Did you think about what I mentioned?" You grinned and pretended to think for a second making him groan leaning in leaving kisses on your neck and jaw.

"I did" you finally replied, you felt him hold his breath as his nose ghosted your ear.

"I stopped them that night~ all back to normal now" he pulled back staring at you

"Really? You mean it?" You nodded them brought you forward for a deep kiss. He had mentioned trying for another child when he came back, youd always intended to give Paige a sibling but not when she aas still a baby baby. Now that Paige was older and going to be in school next year you had felt ready to try again and had be over the moon whne henry had suggested it in a video chat instantly stopping your contraception so eveything would be back to normal and you could start trying asap asfterall you knly had him home for a few months then he was off to play superman again. He smiled lunging forward pinning you below him devouring your mouth you moaned as things got heated.

You felt them. Eyes. Blue eyes to be exact. You both sighed and turned to Paige who was staring unblinking at the two of you from the door. You moved pushing him up.

"Mummy? Wheres my plant I wana show daddy what I grew!" He looked at you and sighed a little, you could tell he was a bit dissapointed but you waved him off as he stood pulling you up with him you moved in whispering.

"Tonight love" he grinned and jumped up a bounce in his step holding his hand out to paige who took it.

"Its on the windowsill in the kitchen" Henry nodded left the room letting you relax for a while already knowing you were picking up your kindle to read. Once in the kitchen he lifted Paige placing her on the counter and pulled over the small plant.

"So whats this then?" She smiled touchingnthe leaves softly

"Its a strawberry plant daddy...I did it from a tiny seed!" He smiled at her looking to the plant it wasnt half bad small but alive which is more then he could say for his when he tried.

"Oh you did this? At school?" She nodded at him and moved the leaves about.

"Yes and it will get bigger and grow pretty flowers...And the flowers will grow a strawberry! Miss bou said we cant pick em till they are a bright red like in the shops... and we can take pictures in to show em off!" He nodded to her

"So your gardening at school now? Is it fun?" She giggled putting the plant down

"Yeah we got lots in our vegetable patch...we got some lettuce and peppers and spinach and and tomatoes! But they not ready yet...Micahs is! Micah grows the at home... can we grow some veggies daddy?" He smiled at her

"We certainly can...Besides we will need to plant your strawberries in the garden...I will make your ownn little growing patch amd we can grow anything you want how does that sound?" She squealed and bounced on her bottom making him smile.

"Lets make a list and we can go get them tomorrow" she nodded in agreement. You walked in the kitchen as henry and Paige leaned over the counter making a list

"Whats going on here then?" Paige quickly riped the paper from under Henry's nose.

"List mummy! Of palnts for my veggie patch! Daddy wants to help!" You smiled peaking over the paper seeing two halves one side had strange 'paige writing' the other a list Henry had written. Compost, tools, string, pots then lots of different fruit and veg. You chuckled shaking your head.

"You missed watering can...maybe we could get a waterbutt? And one of thows plastice green houses to start the seedling off?" He smiled nodding addjng them to the list as you went and checked dinner. You nodded then turned to the other two."Right you tow dinners done wash up then go wait at the table...Had it in the slow cooker all day just needed to be heated up" he leaned over kissing you once again thanking you then helped Paige was her hands leaving to the dining room with Paige.

You did this everytime he came home early dinner meant an early bedtime for Paige and then You could give Henry a proper homecoming. You dished up the dinner home made chicken casserole you moved quickly with the three bowles placing them on the table then sat down ready to eat as Henry began talking about work. you smiled letting him gush about his work, you loved seeing him like this he blushed slightly.

"Any way enough about that, how have my two girls been?" You watched at Paige grinned across the table to him.

"I made a new friend daddy!" You swallowed your mouthfull choosing to keep quiet you knew where this was going you grinned into you bowl. He smiled at her leaning over to wipe her mouth quickly making her giggle at him as he stuck his tongue out at her.

"Oh really? And whats her name?"

"Haha nooo! Daddy its not a girl...I've got a boyfriend!" Henry choked onhis mouthfull paiges face dropped and she looked to you worriedly you smiled reassuringly at her. Henry hit his chest coughing finally getting himslef under control, he looked at you shocked and terrified you nodded at him chuckling.

"A-a boyfriend? Poppet dont you think your a bit err young for that?" She frowned at him shaking her head.

"No daddy! He is really nice! He lets me be a knight! And today we had lunch together and he fed-ed me his tomatoes."

"Gave paige he gave you his tomatoes" you corrected as Henry gaped at her unsure what to make of it.

"So he is just a friend?....he better be" he grumbled the last part under his breath.

"He is a friend...My boyfriend I love him daddy... he gives me hugs! And Kal likes him to! He's my hero" You giggled as Henry was panicked and at a loss.

"Really....love I thought daddy was your hero?" Creased up he actually looked a bit hurt from her words she gave him a sympathetic look.

"Yes daddy you are...But Micah is to! He is soo pretty and fun and he don't make me be the princess all the time...And he shares his colours"

"Okay so you love this boy Micah?" She nodded pushing her food around in her bowl.

"What do you love about him?"

"His hair! Its black and shiney! And and he is cute!"

"Aha but you do know he isnt your boy friend right? Your not aloud boyfriends yet....No boyfriends untill your older." He said she looked at him wide eyed then you her bottom lip quivering.

"What? But but I love him!" Henry crossed his arms at her she mimicked him scowling

"No absolutly not baby" .she whined and smaked the table in a huff

"NOOO! MY BOYFRIEND!" He raised a brow at her as she had a paddy.

"No boyfreinds untill your 21 and thats final ittle lady"

"No! Micah is mine! My boyfriend! A-and you cant stop us from playing! So there!" Henry rose a brow trying to ignor your quiet chuckles as Paige made huffed and stuck her nose in the air being a right little madame. You watched givjng Henry the stink eye as a grin crawled across his face. Here we go.

"Its illegal...he could get in trouble, daddy could get in trouble" Henry tilted his head at her as she gasped trying to read him, you could see her mind trying to work him out. Is he lying? Or not? but her father was an actor...And a damn good one he had a poker face like no other. You knew where this was going, you knew you should stop it but his was gold! You had a feeling that henry was not gojng to ckme out on top.as she opend her mouth.

"W-well we wont tell..Keep it a secret!" She said holding a finger to her lips Henry tutted shaking his head.

"Oh poppet...Do you know where daddy has been these past months?" You squinted at him trying to see exactly where this was going knowing you were going to have to pick up the pieces. She nodded then shook her head no. He smiled devilishly at her. Oh shit here he goes.

"Daddy has been to spy school" you gasped at him oh hell no he wouldnt...yes he fucking would you could see the twinkle in his deep blues.

"Spy school?" She spoke in a small voice then turned to you looking fro one to the other he nodded at he

"Y-your a spy?" He nodded and she gave him a sa look.

"Yes, and I made friends with lots of spies" she twitched slightly shaking her head.

"And they told me that the spy rules says that a spy's little girl isn't allowed a boyfriend until they are twenty one....If they did find out daddy could get in trouble...You dont want daddy to be in trouble do you?" She shook her head bottom lip trembling as she was torn. She looked like she would explode as she tried weighting up her 'options'.

Suddenly Henry dropped his smug look and looked more like a deer in the headlights as Paige began wailing moving her arms making grabby hands to you. You sighed and hoisted her into your arms rocking her trying so hard not to laugh.

"W-why is da-daddy mean?....I ju-just want to pl-play with my boyfreind!" You patted her back rocking her.

"No-now D-daddy will get i-in trouble! But I-I just w-wana plaayy!" She cried harder hicupping between her words.

"Oh sweety come here shh shh" you gave Henry a look as he leaned back in his chair crossing his arms at you shaking his head. Stubborn and protective of his little lady.

"Nope..Not having it" you hissed at him knowing you had to spell this one out for the big idiot.

"Daddy didn't mean it,he wont get in trouble at all baby girl"

"Yes I did"

"HENRY!" he shut up at your hiss

"Bu-but d-daddy said-"

"Hey look at me...Dont listen to daddy he is an idiot and just jealous of Micah" she sniffled an nodded

"Y-yeah cos he-he's got pretty Shiney hair... D-daddies just got stupid curls!" You giggled as Henry looked aghast at her not believing wht ha was hearing

"Exactly daddy is just being a grump! you can still play with Micah...He is your best friend isn't he?" She nodded sniffling

"and you love his like a friend right?" Henry now realised his mistake blinked at you as you rolled your eyes shaking your head at him like 'what the fuck? Really? Shes three' .oh. She pulled away wipinng her eyes looking to henry's matching blues.

"Really daddy? C-can I still play w-with micah?"

"Yes of course...I'm sorry baby...you and mummy was right I just got jealous...daddy is used to being your only hero." Smooth cavill real smooth. She bought it tho nodding he tilted his head down.

"Yo-you wont be in tr-trouble" he shook his head at her

"A-and Micah wo-wont be in t-trouble?" Again he shook his head and reached for her.

"No baby daddy was just being silly...Come here Can you forgive me poppet?" She thlught about it then nodded lunging for him cuddling him he mouthed a sorry to you but you just rolled your eyes at him. Idiot.

It was later that night when Henry returned to your bedroom after reading Paige to sleep,. You both flitted about one another getting ready for bed ou was brushing your teeth when he brought it up.

"So who is this micah then?" You rolled your eyes still hearing a little hostility there...To a fucking three year old. You spat out the toothpaste and looked to henry leaning on the door.

"A little boy...He moved to the village just after you left...Paige was instantly taken with him, he is asian so was avoided by the other kids...you know what she's like with hair and shes never seen straight pitch black hair before... she gushed about him for a few days then they became best freinds....And she call's him her boyfriend because he is the first male friend shes made! God henry really shes three! There none of that shit yet...not for a good few years!" You turned away from your sheepish husband.

"So? nothing i need to know? theres nothing going on? whats his parents like?" You blinked at him..

"Seriously? Like are you being serious now? Ok well fuck it his dad has taken over the doctors surgery and is actually your and my doctor now that dr marsh has retired! His mother is a stay at home wife, they have a cat called fuji; cos he is fat and a gold fish called mino because its a mino...he is a sweet polite boy ...his favourite colour is green he grows fruit and veg in his garden and you know what Henry he fucking loves batman! and whne he batman versus superman comes out he is gonna want batman to kick your ass! there you happy Jesus fucking christ almighty!" Henry smirked moving towards you slowly stalking towards you really.

"Fuck off" he just chuckled quickly wrappjng himself around you.

"God your so sexy when our mad come here~" you blinked at him

"Oh hell no You did not get me riled up to have rough sex.....Henry I!....you little shit!" He laughed knowing you’d caught onto him making you more irritated and dragged you to the bed kissing at your neck along the way.

"Come on love time for number two...A boy to keep and eye on Paige for me when I'm away!" You chuckled relenting as he laid you down on your bed.

#henry cavill x reader #henry cavill fic #henry cavill imagine #henry cavill #henry cavill x daughter #henry cavill x child

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babybackstage · 3 years

Text

someone like you..

{wrote a fanfic after ages, im rusty so its average}

‘I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited.

but I couldn’t stay away, I couldn’t fight it,

I had hoped you’d see my face and that

you’d be reminded that for me,

it wasn’t over’.

-----

I opened the door to a drunk Simon.

For 6/7 years we hadn’t had a proper conversation and suddenly here he was, at my doorstep. I let him in and led him to the couch. He looked like he had just come from an event – AGT auditions had started, he must’ve come from there. His Tom Ford perfume brought back memories from what feels like a lifetime ago.

I gave him a cup of coffee and sat down next to him. As I sat down, I found myself shifting - aware that the spot next to him was no longer mine. He drank slowly and looked around my apartment, it was his first time here.

I didn’t know what to say, it was so like him to show up like this, well it was so like the Simon I once knew. I snapped out of my nostalgia as he put his cup on the table and started to lie down on the sofa, I suddenly realised that she must be wondering where he is.

‘Si, shouldn’t you go home? Lauren must be wondering where you are.’

‘She won’t be wondering’. He mumbled; it was barely audible but I was sure of what I heard.

It took a moment for me to register that he and Lauren may have broken up. Finally. Not finally. What am I thinking? What would happen to Eric? Surely Simon wouldn’t do that to him, that little boy means the world to him. All these years of knowing that he was going home to her and now here he is, in my house, falling asleep on my sofa once again causing a storm in my life.

I realised that a part of me was happy that he was here, on my sofa.

It was not that we hadn't communicated in the past few years, we would talk every now and then - birthdays, holiday wishes etc but over the years our communication gradually became more and more formal.

we hadn’t gone many to the same parties – if I knew there was even a possibility of him being at the same place as me, I wouldn’t go. I couldn't bear seeing him with her. Its how I’ve managed for the past few years and yes I know it sounds pathetic.

It’s not that I completely stopped living my life – a lot has happened in my life. Both my parents passed away, I had barely started processing my mother’s death when my father passed away and since then my heart has been broken in a way that it’s never been broken before.

I’ve had relationships here and there. John Caprio and I briefly got together again. He is a total gentleman but I never deserved him. If I told him to wait 5 or even 10 years, he would wait for me but it wouldn’t be fair on him. I was never prepared for the kind of relationship he offered. John is a mature and solid man but I never felt quite solid with him.

I always felt solid with Simon, the 5 years we spent together – even if it was on and off, were honestly the best 5 years of my life. He was centred and affectionate both physically and emotionally, he knew that I didn’t like to be spoilt with materialistic items but made me feel like a princess anyway. I know that I was the only woman that he willingly introduced to his family, we weren’t even official when he introduced me to his mother and dare I say I was his mother’s favourite.

I moved to a new neighbourhood recently. After my father passed away, I thought a new home would give me the perspective I needed. I had gone on holiday but it hadn’t helped and instead of dealing with my emotions I decided to buy a new home. It’s not like me to splurge without really thinking about it but I didn’t want people to worry about me and buying a new home would make it seem like I’m doing okay.

Simon had come to the funeral of both my parents and both times he stayed till the end of the service. I still remember the hug he gave me at my father’s funeral. I melted into his chest, he smelt like the woody perfume he likes to wear when he gets tired of the orangey smelling one. From a distance, he had hovered around me. We didn’t talk about it but we both knew it wouldn’t have been appropriate if we interacted, I knew Lauren wouldn't have been agreed to him coming to the funeral. I’ve never asked Simon if he told her our history but I’m pretty sure she knows - everyone knows, people I’ve never met know our history. Our pda was never for publicity - we never discussed that we would hold hands or kiss or cuddle when we went out to a show or to dinner and neither was there anyone telling us to do so. He’s always been protective of me and I always reach out to him when I need someone to lean on. I just haven’t done it recently.

I’m not trying to be a saint with this ‘keeping distance’ thing, I’ve just been trying to do the right thing. Simon’s health and lifestyle has improved and I’m happy that it has. The past few years haven’t been easy for him either. I remember telling him some 10 years ago that he needed to give his health serious thought but I didn’t make that conversation as serious as I should have as given his working hours I didn’t want whatever time we had to be tainted by conversations about health and calories.

The beautiful thing about us was that when we were together it was because we chose to be together. Not because we had to be. We both had an even playing ground. To set the record, Simon never cheated on me. After he let me go from x factor – which is a story for another time, I had ceased contact with him and didn’t want him to contact me unless I said so and it was during that time that he well, got another woman pregnant. Did I ever think or expect that to happen, no. Lauren getting pregnant and seeing him have the happy family that I always wanted with him hurt more then I explain. In a way it hurt like a death. I tried to seem as if it didn’t bother me by keeping busy – I went on tour and kept working but in reality, I worked so much because I didn’t want to have time to think or feel anything. I made out enough time to be with my family and that was it.

Moving houses meant I met Tim. A tall stud of a gentleman who offered me a solid relationship that was tempting but he saw me and Simon together at my mother’s funeral and understood that I still had feelings for Simon. I could never really commit to anyone else after Si. As much as I tried I just couldn’t and it would feel fake when I tried. With Simon I didn’t have to try so hard, it was natural. Sure, I would make an effort for him but making an effort for Simon came easy and I know it came easy for him to make an effort for me. It was wholly organic. He was fire and I was ice.

'You know how the time flies,

only yesterday was the time of our lives

we were born and raised in a summer haze

bound by the surprise of our glory days’.

I came down to see Simon on the balcony, looking at the view. His coat neatly folded on the sofa, his once crisp white shirt now wrinkled with the sleeves rolled up. He seems to have washed up in the guest bathroom, typical of him to make himself at home without being given an invite. He looked sad and I wanted to go hug him from behind and comfort him, cup his scruffy face in my hands and tell him everything will be okay but I still wasn’t sure if it was my place. I need to ascertain what he remembered from last nite.

‘Hey you.’

‘Hey you too.’ He turned and smiled fondly at me but I could still see the sadness in his eyes.

‘Slept well?’

‘Like a log. Thanks for letting me crash here last night, I know it wasn’t right of me to show up the way I did, I didn’t realise I even showed up here..’

I smiled, nodded and looked into the distance, not wanting to say it was okay because I didn’t know if it was.

‘You have a nice place here, cosy but spacious. Very you’.

‘Thank you, I needed the change after dad passed away.’

‘How have you been doing?’

‘How have you been doing Simon?’ I said as gently as I could, I could tell from his body language that he’s broken and he wasn’t hiding it with his usual energetic demeanour and egoic boosts.

He sighed. ‘I’m guessing I said something last night?’ He looked at me and it filled me up in such a strange yet familiar way that I had to look away. ‘What did I say?’

I took a sip of my coffee and gripped my cup a little harder. ‘You basically said Lauren wouldn’t be waiting for you at home.’

‘Ah.’ He looked down at his hands and clasped them together. He still hadn’t touched his coffee.

‘We don’t have to talk about it but I am worried about you.’ He looked at me, questioning me with his eyes. ‘It’s been a while since you’ve done something like this..shown up at my place unannounced. I didn’t mind it then but now things are different.’

‘How are they different? Things are the same now. I’m single again unsurprisingly.’

‘Eric..?’

‘With Lauren.’ He looked away but I saw the flash of disappointment in his eyes.

‘Are you okay?’

He sighed and took a sip of coffee. ‘As fine as I can be, I guess. I think you and I both knew this was gonna happen. I genuinely tried to make it work but I never felt much for her. Eric is everything to me but he happened.. suddenly, and what me and Lauren had was well..a one-night stand that I didn’t think much of. She almost begged me not to tell her husband.’

‘She’s the mother of your child’.

‘And she’s a brilliant mother. I'll always be in Eric’s life – he’ll never have to worry about anything but the past few years have been tiring. I’m tired of putting up this act of a happy family when we've been sleeping in different rooms for the past few years.’

I didn’t know how to respond and looked into the distance. He turned to me, leaning on the railing. ‘Won’t you say something Paula?’

I combed my hair with my fingers. ‘I don’t know what to say Si. I’m sad for you, you know I always wanted you to have a family of your own.’

‘And maybe I always wanted to have a family with you.’

‘And you know I could never give you that.’

‘I want you to be in Eric’s life.’

‘As what Simon? As the woman you once used to work with and fired from your show because you didn’t have the guts to stick up for me or as the woman you left him and your mother for?’ It all came blurting out and I instantly regretted it. I walked inside and pretended to be busy tidying up the kitchen though it was already spotless. He put his cup down on the counter and watched me as I pretended to tidy up.

'Just tell me what you want Si. I'm really sorry that you’re hurting right now but you can’t just rock up here and expect me to take care of you while you wallow. Its not my place anymore.’

‘Paula, I've made a lot of bad decisions but there are two things I don’t regret, Eric and you. Those 10 years that we spent sitting next to each other on Idol then the 5 we spent together as a couple were the best Goddamn years in my life and I've always regretted hurting you and not standing up for you. I know no matter what I do, you won’t forgive me and neither can I undo the hurt I’ve done. I’m not sure what I want, Paula. I was upset and drunk and my house hasn’t felt like home in a really long time and the one person that feels like home is you.’

If he had said that to me 10 years ago, I would’ve kissed him straight away but I’m a different woman now. The pain he caused me has changed me.

‘What do you want Simon?’ I asked him again.

‘I don’t know. I guess I need to know if you’re still in my life.’

‘I’m here, where I’ve always been - at the fringes of your life when you’ve always been at the centre of mine even when I don’t feel comfortable with you being the centre. Every relationship I’ve had hasn’t worked because every guy I date just knows I still have feelings for you even after all these years. I gave you everything and you treated me like shit. You don’t own me.’

He looked surprised. Surprised that I could say something like that to him. I know he’s heard it from other women but I don’t think he ever expected to hear it from me.

‘Would you like me to leave’?

---

‘Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead...’

#saula #paula abdul #paula #abdul #simon cowell #simon #cowell #american idol #adele #someone like you

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itsafanficthing · 5 years

Text

The Paper Boy - Chapter Three

This has maybe two of my favourite exchanges that I think I've ever written in this chapter. I hope that it comes off as funny as I think it is, and I hope that you continue to enjoy this as much as I enjoy writing it. Your comments/likes/reblogs inspire me to continue, so thank you so much for that.

As always - Un-beta'd, spellchecked and delivered.

And on A03 if that is more your style: Here

Chapter Two

Jamie exited his room with his heart still pounding heavily in his chest. Claire didn't hate him after all. Friends- it was a good starting point. They could be friends.

Jamie shuddered to think of what his mates would say when they saw her. They often didn’t have the self control that Jamie did and would say whatever was on their minds. If they catcalled her even once, Jamie was sure that he would knock them to the ground. Defend her honour and all that. Though he was sure that Claire could stand up for herself- and maybe she wouldn’t want him standing up for her. Maybe she wanted to fight her own battles… the hypothetical battles that Jamie was imagining for her anyway. But Jamie knew what both Angus and Rupert would say when they saw her. No doubt there would be some comment about the way that she spoke, or the shape of her arse. Christ- if any of the lads at school made a comment about the shape of Claire's arse to Jamie, he wasn’t sure he would be able to hold back hitting them, even if Claire wanted to defend her own honour.

Jamie could hear his father’s deep voice as he moved through the house, no doubt giving Lamb a tour. Jamie moved quietly trying to find where Claire had gone when he heard Jenny’s voice coming from the kitchen.

“We lost our Ma a few years ago and our younger brother, Robert, a year before that,” Jenny said matter-a-factly. Jamie stopped and hid out of sight behind the wall, listening.

“I’m so sorry.” Claire’s voice wobbled as if she was holding back tears. Jamie swallowed heavily, surprised as how she could be so caring for a family she barely knew.

“It was difficult at the time, but you learn to keep living,” Jenny answered. She sounded so detached from the emotion of it and Jamie knew it was because she needed to be.

Jenny had picked up the mantle of mother in the household when Brian been unable to be a father. So overcome with grief over the loss of his son and then his wife, he didn’t move from the couch for almost a month. When Rob died, Brian at least had Ellen to help him and they made it through the grief together. When Ellen passed, Jenny and Jamie were ill-equipped to deal with the heaviness of grief that clouded Brian. Eventually, after weeks of Brian almost comatose on their living room couch, something changed and he started going through the motions again. But Jenny and Jamie knew that something had changed. Brian had lost a part of himself.

Jamie knew that his parents loved each other. He was particularly grossed out by it when he was younger, but he never doubted how much they loved each other. In fact, the kind of love that Ellen and Brian Fraser had terrified Jamie. To love someone so much and then to lose them- was it really worth it? Jamie didn’t know if he would be able to stomach loving someone so much, only to lose them.

Speaking of- Jamie’s stomach clenched at the thought of not seeing Claire again. He’d only known her for two days and he was already attached. Bound to her. Bound to protect her. Bound to- dare he say it- love her. But perhaps it was only a crush. Maybe it would pass the more friendly they became with each other. At least, that’s what Jamie told himself anyway.

“She taught me to cook, so ye can thank my Ma for the roast. Taught me all her secrets, ye ken,” Jenny continued jovially, as Claire laughed in response.

“I’m afraid I’m not much of a cook at all. I can boil and egg and or make beans on toast, but that’s about it.”

“It just takes practise and a wee bit of experimenting,” Jenny answered kindly. “The best way to learn is to make mistakes, that’s what Mam always said. Ye should come 'round and I’ll teach ye some of the things she taught me. Is yer Ma a good cook or does yer Da do most of it? My Da could’na cook to save his life when he first met Ma, or at least that what he tells Jamie and me. She said to him “Brian Fraser, I am’na yer mother, I’m yer wife and ye’ll learn to cook or ye’ll be findin’ yerself with a verra cold and lonely bed.” He says it was the best decision he ever made, short of marrying' her. Still Mam did most of the cooking' anyway. I remember one night, Mam had to work late or somethin’ or other, she wrote down recipe- some rice dish. Da says that he followed the recipe word for word, though Mam had hand written the instructions and Da saw the ‘T-S-P’, ye ken- teaspoon, for salt as short-hand for tablespoon. Dinna ken how, but he served it up to Jamie and I, and it was like tryin’ to eat solid grains of sea water.” Jenny snorted with laughter at the memory and Jamie heard Claire chuckle in return. The sound brought a smile to his face while the memory made him shake his head at his clueless father.

“Weel, Jamie and I refused to eat another bite and he threw such a stramash. Tellin’ us we were spoilt and that we would eat what he provided for us, then he took a bite. I’ll never forget the look on his face. Christ. Still bring tears to my eyes to think about.” Both Jenny and Claire’s laughter echoed around the kitchen and Jamie felt his body warm further at the sound.

“Still, he’s always been good to us, and he learnt to cook his own meals and no’ have to rely on Ma’s recipes. But she made sure that as soon as I could, I’d be in the kitchen helpin’ her out. Jamie too. He’ll never admit it, but he’s quite a good cook.”

Jamie felt his cheeks and his ears heat up at the compliment from his sister.

“But that was special between my Ma and me, as I’m sure ye ken. Just time between us, we did’na even need to chat most of the time. Jus' happy to be doin' something' together.”

There was silence in the kitchen for a moment as Jenny continued her meal preparation, before she turned back to Claire.

“Christ- Claire, are ye alright?” Jenny asked in alarm and Jamie nearly ran into the kitchen to see what was wrong. “Did ye hurt yerself? No? Did I say something?”

Claire was crying. Jamie was sure of it as he heard a sniffle and Jenny saying words of comfort. He was about to leave his spot behind the wall to go and comfort her himself when a large hand clapped him on the shoulder making him flinch in surprise.

“What are ye doin’, lad?” His godfather asked steering him toward the living room.

“I was just goin’ to see if Jen needed any help,” Jamie lied as Murtagh led him further away from the kitchen.

“Aye, sure ye were. Let them be for a moment,” Murtagh said carefully.

“When did ye get here?” Jamie asked curiously.

“‘Bout half an hour ago. Been chatting with Quentin,” Murtagh answered gruffly.

“Who’s Quentin?” Jamie asked. Was someone else coming to dinner? Were they already here?

“Claire’s uncle.”

“Who?”

“Quentin,” Murtagh repeated gruffly.

“Quentin who? Why is Claire’s uncle here?”

“Ye invited him to dinner,” Murtagh replied, rolling his eyes.

“No I did’na.”

“Aye ye did,” Murtagh answered stubbornly. “Else who is sitting in the living room, talking with yer Da?”

“Claire’s father.”

“Uncle.” Murtagh corrected.

“Who’s uncle?”

“Claire’s uncle, ye dafty.”

“Claire’s uncle?” Jamie repeated. “Since when?”

“Since she was born I would think,” Murtagh said curtly.

“But then… where’s her Da?”

“How should I ken?” Murtagh replied with exasperation. “Perhaps ye should ask the lass.”

Jamie nodded, not really listening to what Murtagh was saying as his mind tried to catch up with the knowledge that Claire lived with her uncle (whose name was apparently Quentin and not Lamb) and not, as he had assumed, with her father.

“Why do ye keep calling him Quentin?” Jamie asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he slowly connected the dots.

“That’s his name, numpty.”

“No, his name is Lamb,” Jamie replied cautiously.

“Lamb?” Murtagh asked in disbelief, “Ye really think a grown man is called ‘Lamb’?”

“That’s what Claire calls him,” Jamie defended. “That’s how she introduced me.”

“And ye dinna think that it could just be a name between the two of them?”

“Aye, but I dinna introduce my Da and ‘Da’, I call him Brian,” Jamie reasoned.

“Well, I dinna know what to tell ye. The man’s name is Quentin,” Murtagh said abruptly ending the argument.

Murtagh left Jamie standing confused in the hallway until Jenny’s voice called loudly from the dining room that dinner was ready.

Jamie stood awkwardly at the doorway as people took their seats. Lam- Quentin sat next to Jamie’s father at the head of the table with Murtagh on the other side of Brian. Claire looked quickly between the spot next to her Uncle and Murtagh (with his permanent scowl) and hurried to sit next to her Uncle. Jamie was about to take the seat next to Claire when Jenny blocked him and sat down. His shoulders dropped in disappointment at not being able to sit next to Claire as he had planned, although, by sitting across from her, he did get to look at her all night, so really it wasn’t all bad.

“Shall we say a prayer?” Brian asked and Jamie looked up in surprise at his father. They hadn’t said anything of the sort since Jamie’s mother had died.

“Of course,” Lam- Quentin said excitedly, clapping his hands together.

Eccentric. That was the word to describe Claire’s uncle. The man sounded like he could get excited about just about anything.

“Jamie, would ye mind?” Brian directed his gaze at his son, who felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment, though he wasn’t sure why.

“Aye- Yes, Da.” Jamie bowed his head and closed his eyes, feeling his heart beating rapidly in his chest and his palms start to sweat. It had been years since he’d said a prayer over his food. How religious was Claire and her Uncle? Would something short and simple be better? What if they expected a well rehearsed blessing over their food, as if the Frasers prayed over every meal? Or worse- what if they expected something completely original. Jamie was unprepared to say the least.

Clearing his throat, he began, “Dear-” Jamie’s voice broke with a terrible sound, somewhere between a crack and a screech and his cheeks flooded with embarrassment. Clearing his throat a second time, with his eyes firmly squeezed shut so as to not look at his guests or the grins that his own family would undoubtedly be throwing him, he began again.

“Dear Lord,” his voice remained in tact, no breaking to be found and Jamie was flooded with relief, now he just had to get through the rest of it. “We thank ye for the meal that we are about to…. Eat. Thank ye to Jen… thank ye for Jen- who cooked it. Thank ye for the… opportunity to welcome Claire-,” Jamie felt his voice waver over Claire’s name and he plowed on, hoping that it wouldn’t break again. “And Lam- Quen… Mr Beauchamp to our neighbourhood. Erm. Thank ye for Murtagh being able to join us for dinner. We ask that ye bless this food, that we are about to eat, that Jen made, and that ye… continue to… bless our lives and this meal that we are about to eat. Amen.” Jamie finished the last bit quickly feeling that he had probably rambled on long enough. He opened his eyes to see Claire staring at him with a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth.

“Thank ye, Jamie,” Brian said, trying to suppress a laugh.

“Yes, thank you Jamie. That was very… thorough,” Quentin said, openly grinning at Jamie. “Though, please, call me Lamb.”

“Lamb?” Murtagh grunted as Jenny started to dish out the food. “I thought yer name was Quentin.”

“It is,” Quen-Lam-Mr Beacham- Claire’s Uncle replied simply. “Quentin Lambert Beauchamp. Although Quentin is such a god-awful name, that I can never thank my parents enough for, that I have always gone by Lambert. However, when Claire was born, she couldn’t quite get the “Bert” of “Lambert”, could you Bumblebee?” He paused to look at Claire who blushed prettily and shook her head. “So I’ve been Lamb every since.”

Jamie looked at Murtagh with a pointed look that said not to subtly “See I told you”.

“So ye prefer Lamb?” Brian asked as Jenny handed the now overflowing with food plates around the table.

Lamb nodded in response before he looked down at the mountain of food that Jenny had placed in front of him. “Jesus. H. Roosevelt. Christ!” He exclaimed making Jamie snort into his roast potato and everyone else at the table jump in their seats. “Jenny, my dear, you could feed an army with this amount of food. It looks sensational.”

“Uh, thank you Mr Beauchamp,” Jenny answered nervously, obviously unaware of how to handle Lambert’s enthusiasm for anything and everything.

“Lamb, please,” he said kindly before they all started to eat.

—

The rest of dinner was rather uneventful. Jamie’s father and Murtagh discussed the neighbouring farms, Lamb listening with rapt attention (forgetting about his dinner almost entirely as he asked question after question about farm life and the locals), Jenny and Claire became fast friends and Jamie… well Jamie watched Claire.

She seemed happier than she was before. Perhaps it was finding another friend in Jenny- a female friend or maybe she was starting to relax and enjoy herself.

She had a sharp tongue and quick wit to match Jenny’s no nonsense demeanour- one that Jenny had adopted since their mother had passed away. It was nice for Jamie to see his sister laughing again and talking about things that weren’t so adult, like the bills or groceries.

Jamie and Jenny had both grown up much faster than either of them expected when their mother had died. Brian and Ellen had protected them both as much as they could through the death of their younger brother, Robert, but the death of parent was something for which they were all unprepared.

For a while it felt like a death of both parents as Brian Fraser started to waste away on the couch. Jenny took the responsibility of becoming a second parent to Jamie and he was ashamed to admit that sometimes he resented her for it. She was his sister, not his mother.

He was, of course at the end of the day, thankful to Jenny for being there and for taking care of him. She made sure he got to school on time, ate properly and got a good night's sleep. But he hated when she tried to discipline him. She was not his mother, as much as she tried to be.

It was nice to see her drop some of the parental bravado that she had adopted and simply act like herself again.

Claire.

Claire was the difference in Jenny. Maybe it was just that she was someone new that didn’t know every single detail of their grief, but Jamie could see Jenny relax around her.

Claire glanced across the table at Jamie, smiling as Jenny continued to talk about something- Jamie wasn’t listening. Jamie couldn’t help smiling back at her. She was addictive. It was as if their own conversation was happening between them as they smiled at each other.

“Sorry for my family.”

“No need to apologise.”

“She’s talking yer ear off.”

“I’m happy to make a new friend.”

“I’ll rescue you after dinner.”

“Thank you.”

Of course, that was just what Jamie had imagined was happening between them. In reality Claire smiled at Jamie and looked back to Jenny, nodding along to whatever she was saying. But when she looked back to Jamie a moment later, she smiled again and he was pleased to see a faint blush on her cheeks.

—

After dinner the men (Brian, Murtagh and Lamb) decided to take a tour around the house and then the stables. Jenny had shut herself in the kitchen, waving away Jamie and Claire as they tried to help her clean up and so it was just Jamie and Claire standing awkwardly in the living room together.

“I’m sorry about my family,” Jamie began, carrying on from his earlier imagined conversation with her. “I ken they can be a wee bit overwhelming.”

“It’s fine,” Claire replied smiling and shaking her head. Jamie watched the curly brown locks jump about and she moved, like they had a life of their own. “It was nice to make another friend.”

“Aye- yeah, but, I dunno,” Jamie shrugged, “they can be a bit full on sometimes.”

“You’ve met Lamb right? He doesn’t half-ass anything. It’s full ass, or nothing,” Claire laughed lightly. “So really, there’s no need to apologise.” Claire smiled up at him shyly and Jamie was sure that his heart actually skipped a beat. Christ. She was so lovely.

“So, err, what did ye want to do?” Jamie asked with another shrug. “I can show ye ‘round the house, or… it’s a wee bit dark to see any of the farm, or we could watch the telly?”

“Whatever you like,” Claire answered with a shrug of her own. “What would you usually be doing if I wasn’t here?”

“Erm, maybe reading,” Jamie blushed as he looked down at his feet. “Or, ye ken, watching a game or something. Sometimes both at the same time.”

“What are you reading?” Claire asked brightly.

“At the moment?” Jamie clarified as he ran his hand through his hair with nerves. “Harry Potter. Well. I’m rereading it. I like the movies. But the books are better.”

Claire looked at him blankly. “Henry Porter? Never heard of it. Is it good?”

Jamie’s jaw fell open in shock. “Harry- Yer jokin’ right? Ye dinna ken Harry Potter? Harry Potter?” He repeated in disbelief.

There was a second when Jamie was sure a pin drop could have been heard, even on the carpeted floors they were standing on before Claire burst out laughing.

“Of course I’ve heard of Harry Potter. I haven’t been living under a rock. You should have seen your face though.” Claire took a deep breath and fanned her face as she continued to chuckle at the face Jamie was making. “Never heard of Harry Potter. What do you take me for?”

“Aye- ye got me. Good one. I was beginnin’ to think that we could’na be friends after all.”

“Really? That’s all it would take?” Claire asked as Jamie led them from the sitting room towards his bedroom.

“Well I dinna ken ye all that well yet,” Jamie explained sarcastically as Claire followed him.

“I see, and not knowing a popular book is all it would take to end it?” She asked with amusement as Jamie pushed open his bedroom door, glad that he had thought to clean it up when he was getting dressed.

“Aye- Yes,” Jamie nodded seriously.

“Well. I’d better be on my best behaviour then, hadn’t I?”

“Aye Sassenach. Yer on thin ice,” Jamie grinned at her as she smiled back at him once more before jumping and landing on his bed.

—

“Which one are you reading?” Claire sat cross legged on Jamie’s bed and watched him with wide eyes. To have her alone in his room, Christ, she had no idea the effect that she had on him. He glanced back to the doorway, making sure it was wide open so that they couldn’t be accused of any “funny business”. Not that they would partake in that kind of thing- they had only just met after all.

“I’m up to Order of the Phoenix,” Jamie answered turning back to Claire, who had well and truly made herself at home on his bed. “I read the books once a year if I can. I remember,” Jamie huffed a laugh at the memory, “the first time I ever read them, a wee lad, it took me weeks to get through the books. Well, maybe not weeks, but a few days and some allnighters.”

Claire smiled back at him, her own grin widening as he spoke.

“Now, I can read Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets in one sitting.” Jamie shook his head. “Order of the Phoenix though, jesus, I always forget how much I hate Umbridge until I read it again. What about ye? What do you read?” Jamie tentatively joined Claire on his bed as she shuffled over for him.

“A bit of anything really. I love Harry Potter obviously, but I don’t read it every year like some people.” Claire shrugged casually. “I’m reading a lot of Scottish history books at the moment. Trying to prepare for school.”

“Prepare for school? Ye think that their goin’ to quiz ye on Bonnie Prince Charlie on yer first day?” Jamie snorted.

“No.” Claire answered pointedly as she rolled her eyes at him. “I just like to be prepared. I don’t like to be on the back foot of things and this helps me feel at least a little bit more prepared for a brand new school that I know nothing about.”

“What do ye want to know? I’ve lived here all my life. I can answer anything ye need.” Jamie day up a little straighter.

“Well… nothing in particular,” Claire answered slightly taken aback by Jamie’s excitement. “And I guess everything,” she continued with a defeated sigh. “I don’t know… what I’m supposed to know..”

“Isn’t that everyone’s struggle, Sassenach?” Jamie said with a chuckle. “We’re meant to know everything but know nothing at all?”

Claire shrugged half heartedly at him.

“That’s what my Da’s always telling me. ‘Jamie ye should know better than that’, ‘Jamie ye canna be talkin’ like that, yer only 15’.” Jamie lowered his voice to mimic his fathers and Claire snorted in laughter.

“Well, one thing you can clear up…” Claire said as she shook her head at him as Jamie nodded for her to go. “Sass-en-ack? What does that mean?”

“Oh,” Jamie felt his cheeks and his ears heat up with embarrassment. “It’s only… well yer English.” He tried to explain.

“It means I’m English?”

“Well no. Not really. But aye- yes to a point.” Jamie stumbled over his explanation. How on earth he was going to tell (what he thought was the love of his life) Claire that it was derogatory term for an English person, but that he meant it as a term of endearment?

“It doesn’t mean I’m English?” Claire asked in confusion.

“Nay- ye are English. It’s just… it’s a Gaelic word for English,” Jamie finished somewhat poorly.

“Oh, is it an insult?” Claire asked, trying to figure out Jamie’s hesitancies.

“Well, aye, some would use it as an insult. But no’ me-” Jamie said quickly seeing Claire open her mouth to reply. “-I mean it as a… it’s a good thing. Yer… Sassenach. I dinna mean offence by it. I’ll stop callin’ ye it. Sorry. I did’na mean to upset ye.”

“No… it’s erm… it’s alright. I… I sort of like it.” Claire said as her cheeks flushed with colour. “I mean… I like the way that it sounds when you say it.”

“Oh,” Jamie felt his own cheeks heat up. “Well, then… Sassenach it is.”

“I play rugby, football, I swim- when it’s warm enough, I do the long distance run at the carnival and….” Jamie paused as he tried to think of the other sports he played at school. “I ride the horses, but that’s not for school or anything.”

“You do all of that, and run a farm?” Claire asked in disbelief.

“Help run a farm. I dinna do it all myself,” Jamie corrected as Claire laid back on his pillows, well and truly making herself comfortable. “What about ye? What’d yer school like look like a’fore ye moved?” Jamie stayed sitting up. The temptation to lie next to her and simply pull her towards him to kiss her was far too strong.

“I studied a lot. Played tennis for a while, but I’m… more of an academic I suppose.” Claire scrunched up her face as she thought about her previous school. “My father wanted me to play the piano, but I couldn’t quite… He loved it a lot and I think it was something that he wanted us to share, but I suppose I didn’t have the discipline… or the patience… or the passion to do it…. And now.... Now I feel like it’s too late and I’m just going to keep letting him down somehow.” Claire paused and Jamie swallowed heavily.

Claire hadn’t spoken about her parents before to Jamie and until dinner that night, he had assumed that Lamb was her father. He was curious about where her parents were, but after the death of his own mother and brother he knew better than to simply blurt it out and ask.

“Which I know is silly,” Claire continued, unaware of Jamie looking at her intently. “I couldn’t let him down if I tried- he always said that. But it just seems like it was something that we were meant to do together, and so now I shouldn’t do it at all.”

“That does’na sound silly, Sassenach. I think we all… I think we always want to live up to some kind of expectation that our parents have for us, and it makes it harder when they aren’t there to ask them just how ye go about doing that. Ye just have to take comfort in knowing that yer doin’ the best that ye can. Even on the days when simply gettin’ out of bed is yer best.”

“Your mum?” Claire’s voice was soft and she reached out and squeezed Jamie’s forearm softly.

“Aye, Jenny told ye?”

Claire nodded in response and Jamie continued. Maybe if he could talk to her about his parents, she might want to open up about her own.

“My Mam was an artist. She loved paintin’. She also loved sculptin’, ye ken- wi’ clay, but she was rubbish at it. But paintin’- she was brilliant. Jen got that from her. She can paint just as well. Mam always was tryin’ to get me into her studio, get me to pick up a paintbrush to see if I was any good. But I just did’na have time for it. I wanted to be with the horses, be with my Da on the tractor- anything that was outdoors.” Jamie paused as he felt an unexpected wave of grief wash over him and he had to swallow a few times to get his voice back. “When she died I would’na go near her studio, fearin’ that she’d be disappointed in me and … I dinna ken, her ghost would saddle me with some unresolved guilt that I should’ha’ spent more time wi’ her when she was alive.” Jamie had never told anyone this- not even Jenny and yet here he was sitting on his bed, next to a lass that he’d known for less than two days, telling her all the secrets of his soul. Secrets he had sworn to himself that he would take to the grave.

He was expecting Claire to laugh at him or roll her eyes. It was a stupid thought- the ghost of his mother, haunting her art studio to make him feel guilty for not wanting to paint. Rather, Claire was looking at him with a soft kindness and there were tears in her whisky eyes, which only made them shine like gold after she blinked away the salty water.

“Anyway,” Jamie said gruffly, feeling his shoulder twitch uncomfortably, “as it turns out, I canna draw or paint to save my life, so maybe it was just my own intuition stopping me from wasting both of our time.” He tried to make a joke of it, tried to laugh it off, but Claire wasn’t laughing.

She sat up from the bed quickly and put her arm around his shoulders and pulled him against her. She was hugging him and Jamie felt the tension in his body leave in a huff. It felt good to be in her arms. Not in the way of male anatomy betrayal on the horizon (though surely that wouldn’t be far off), it was comforting, it was warm- it was something that he had missed since his mother had died.

“Thank you for telling me that Jamie. Really. Thank you for trusting me.”

“Yer welcome, Sassenach. After all, we’re friends, aren’t we?”

#Outlander #outlander fanfic #the paper boy #jamie x claire #jamie fraser #Claire beauchamp #Murtagh fiztgibbons #Brian fraser #Lambert Beauchamp #fanfic #outlander fanfiction #paper boy au #teenager au

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aleteia-ff · 5 years

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Chasing the Western Wind | Post-HTTYD3 One-shot

Inspired by the many Hiccstrid-kid drabbles I’ve read throughout the past weeks, here is my own! Instead of focusing on their birth or on them as little kids, this short is about Zephyr turning 18 and how Hiccup deals with that, as her father. And likewise, how Zephyr deals with being next-in-line to the Viking who created peace with the dragons. Spent a lot of time listening to Stoick’s Ship while writing this, and my heart isn’t much better because of it.

Chasing the Western Wind

Out of all the adventures Hiccup had been on throughout the years, being a father was certainly the most difficult and most rewarding one. He still remembered the day on which he first held his new-born daughter in his arms like it was yesterday. It’s the kind of moment that changes your life forever. As chief, he was already very aware that the village depended on him. But this was different. That little girl had nothing but Astrid and him, along with their family and friends, to keep her safe from the dangers of the world. And after many years, in which her and her brother had been his pride and joy, his most dreaded day had finally come. Zephyr had turned eighteen.

Most Viking girls would have spent that day drinking, only to come back out of bed when they really had to. But not her. Not that the party had been a dull affair. On the contrary; he and Nuffink had been busy dragging guests back to their homes until deep into the night, after Astrid’s scolding hadn’t done the trick. Especially Snotlout had gotten so drunk he’d completely blacked out – and Tuffnut had totally been responsible for it. He often wondered if the two were a good influence on his kids, but he figured two guys giving them an example of how not to do things could be just as helpful.

Zephyr herself had been distracted throughout the day however, her eyes often staring into the void in front of her. And it didn’t surprise him that he found her on the day after, just past dawn, sitting in her usual spot, on her favourite cliff. It was a place he would’ve picked himself if his daughter hadn’t pretty much claimed it, as it was absolutely gorgeous. It didn’t provide its visitors with any scenery of New Berk itself, which was a shame as the island’s nature was stunning in its own right. Instead, it gave you a beautiful look at the ocean, spread out in front of you and reaching as far as the human eye could see. He had his own spot just like that; it was the one where he’d said goodbye to Toothless so many years ago. This cliff however, faced the other way and belonged to his daughter.

It was still hard for him to look at Zephyr as the woman she’d become instead of as the little child she’d been for so many years. She was slender and although she was taller than her mother, she still didn’t quite reach her father’s height. Her long auburn hair was neatly braided on her back, its style clearly inspired by her mother’s – she even wore one of Astrid’s leather bands around her head – and its length was close to his own mother’s. Valka was luckily still around to inspire both of her grandchildren, although he did feel like she spoilt them way too much.

Zephyr’s other features were mostly Astrid’s as well. From her round face, to her nose, to the way she dressed, to her beautiful blue eyes which made it almost impossible for him to tell her no. But the look in her eyes had always been his. Astrid had first pointed that out when Zephyr was only fifteen. It was the look she had had to deal with as his friend and fiancé. And the look his dad had undoubtedly had to make peace with as his father. And she felt that, as Zephyr’s parents, they should probably start preparing themselves for the same.

It had taken him a while to see it as well. As much as he loved his children and as much as they had clung to him over the years, Astrid had always been the once to notice those little things first. A combination of a mother’s instincts and the fact that she’d spent so many years looking at Hiccup himself, she’d said. And indeed, as he now watched his only daughter gaze towards the horizon, her eyes fixated on the sea, he understood what Astrid had meant. His daughter was just like him. They had named her after the western wind. And it was calling for her.

“Hey, Zeffie,” he greeted her as he sat down next to her, supressing a groan as he did. His body had started to tell him he was getting old, and his prosthetic certainly wasn’t doing him any favours. Still, he was positive he had many years left in him. He would make it so.

Zephyr heaved her shoulders, rolling her eyes and looking at him with an irritated expression on her face. “Dad, we talked about this. I’m not a child anymore, so you can’t keep calling me Zeffie.”

He smiled at her. He knew that all too well, but he enjoyed watching the expression on her face as she once again decided that her dad was totally not cool. “Alright, Zeph.”

That was what her friends usually called her, and he had to supress a chuckle as he could see his daughter visibly cringe. She probably thought her dad was outright lame.

Taking in her clearly unamused face with a smile, he continued. “So, did you like your party yesterday?”

“Yeah,” she answered, plucking the grass next to her. “It was nice. Although we should really prevent Uncle Tuff and Uncle Snot from sitting together.”

“Well, you know that the two are basically inseparable,” he agreed. Tuff and Snot were basically like an old married couple at this point.

“They’re great though,” Zephyr smiled, her voice trailing off into the distance. She was still distracted by whatever was weighing on her.

“What’s on your mind?” he prodded, knowing that he usually just had to pull things like this out of her.

“Nothing,” she shrugged, pleading innocence with her blue eyes. He pulled up his eyebrow at her, scolding her with his best dad-look. And soon enough, she caved. “It’s just…” She gestured with her hands, a trait she’d undoubtedly gotten from him. “I’m eighteen, dad.”

“What about it? It’s just a number,” he simply responded.

Annoying Zephyr was usually the best way to get her to talk. “No, dad, that’s not it. It’s not just a number, it’s… I don’t know, everything.” She frowned, crossing her legs and putting her hands in her lap. “I’m an adult, for all I know I could be Chief in a few years, marry, have kids, just… everything.”

“Hey, I don’t plan on dying for a long time. So don’t consider yourself lucky just yet,” he teased, poking her shoulder. Then he turned more serious. “Are you afraid of becoming Chief?”

Zephyr bit her lower lip. “Yes.”

“Why?” He could think of a lot of reasons – he’d had his own when he was her age, after all – but he needed to know hers.

She averted her gaze, looking at her hands instead of at him. “Because of you.”

He frowned. That hadn’t exactly been the answer he’d been expecting. “What do you mean?”

“Because I can never live up to you, dad!” she almost yelled, her sudden outburst taking him by surprise. She had to have been dealing with this for a long time.

As she looked at him again, he could see the tears in her eyes. “You’re Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. You created peace between dragons and Vikings, you killed the Red Death, you battled I don’t know how many dragon hunters as I have no idea which of Uncle Tuff’s stories are made up and which ones are true.” She scoffed, wildly gesturing as a tear made its way down her cheek. “You saved Berk from Drago, avenged your dad, became chief at twenty. You led everyone here, prevented the dragons from being captured by Grimmel the Grisly, built this place up from the ground and yet you still somehow find the time to look after the Hidden World and the village!”

Zephyr was visibly panting and had outright started sobbing as the words left her mouth. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer as she cried against his chest. He softly stroked her back and her hair as her shoulders shook against him.

“I just don’t know if I can do it, dad,” Zephyr sobbed. “I’m not like you. I’m not as great, or brave, or selfless. I could never live up to your legacy.”

He exhaled audibly, pulling his little girl even closer to his chest. Gods, she was so much like him it almost hurt. It felt like just yesterday that he’d had the same doubts, the same insecurities, the feeling that he’d never be able to live up to his own father. But she’d never seen that. Zephyr didn’t know the journey he’d gone through to get to where he was now.

She’d only known him as her dad, one of the people she looked up to. She’d never seen him as the scrawny boy from Berk, terribly insecure until Toothless gave him some self-worth. How hard it had been for him to lose his dad, having to step up to become chief when he hadn’t been ready yet. The way he’d doubted himself throughout all those years he’d spent on the backs of dragons and how incredibly long it had taken him to get over their separation from them. To this day, he still missed not having Toothless around all the time, even though they now saw each other as often as their duties and middle-aged bodies allowed them to.

But those weren’t the stories people told about him. His friends, his mother, Gobber and especially Astrid knew them, but the hardships they’d all gone through wasn’t what was being carried over to the next generation.

“Hey,” he called, still trying to calm his daughter down. “You don’t have to be like me.”

“As if I ever could,” Zephyr remarked sarcastically, her voice hoarse from the tears she’d shed. “You spent six years flying around on a fire-breathing dragon.”

He laughed softly. “That’s not what I mean. Yes, I flew a dragon. So what? So did everyone else on Berk.”

“But you were the first,” she pointed out, looking at him with those blue eyes he loved so much.

“Ruffnut and Tuffnut were the first to try stacking fifty yaks on top of one another. Doesn’t necessarily mean they were good at it,” he smiled.

That arguably terrible joke did get him a chuckle from his daughter. But her face soon clouded again. “But you were. Even mom says you were better than she was.”

“But that doesn’t have anything to do with you,” he told her. “Yes, I flew a Night Fury, but the time of Berkians flying around on the backs of dragons has passed. It allowed me to do things you will simply never get the chance to. And that’s not your fault, and it doesn’t have anything to do with who you are. So don’t compare yourself to me. It’s not fair.”

Zephyr sulked, not completely accepting his words. He put his finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Look at me, okay?” He waited until she slightly nodded before continuing. “You are brave. And you are selfless. You are stubborn, strong-willed, and full of perseverance. And you will become great. In your own way. But that doesn’t happen just like that.” He snapped his fingers. “It takes years. It took me years to get to where I am now. I have been a teenager too, and I have been insecure too, feeling like I could never live up to your grandpa.” He’d told her enough stories about the great Stoick the Vast for her to understand how much he’d meant to him. And to all of Berk. “But you will find your own way to be great. And no matter how you do that, your mother and I will always be incredibly proud of you.”

A smile appeared on Zephyr’s face, and she started to wipe away the tears that were still on her cheeks. “You might be right,” she finally conceded.

“Come on,” he told her, getting up and dragging her to her feet. “I’ve got something for you.”

“But we already did presents yesterday,” Zephyr frowned before following him to the forge. He had a small room there, where he could usually be found if he wasn’t at home or out chiefing.

He looked through his drawers, eventually finding what he was looking for. He put the little brown sketchbook on his desk, carefully opening it and folding out the papers, which had become more fragile throughout the years. It was the map he’d been working on throughout his years with Toothless. He’d completed it to show the location of New Berk and the few islands close to it, but had left the location of the Hidden World undocumented on purpose. Only those who needed to know knew where it was, and they’d share that secret with those who were worthy.

He’d made several copies tidied up copies of the map to aid New Berk’s sailors and traders, but this version had always stayed with him. Since they’d settled on New Berk, he’d only ever used it to illustrate the stories he’d told Zephyr and Nuffink about the time they’d spent on Dragon’s Edge. Especially Zephyr had always loved those tales. So had Fin, but he was more like his mother, practical and focused on what was right in front of him.

Zephyr had, just like Hiccup himself, always looked beyond that, finding herself trapped in the pitfall of overthinking things. The two siblings balanced each other out nicely in that sense; Fin was always quick to pull Zephyr back to earth when she had another outlandish idea about fixing one of the island’s issues that honestly didn’t need any fixing.

“What are you pulling that out for?” Zephyr wondered as she came to stand next to him, dragging her fingers across the decades old map.

“I’m giving it to you,” he told her with utter confidence and pride.

Her eyes visibly grew bigger as she looked from the map to her father. “But why, I –”

He gave her a gentle smile. “It’s up to you to decide what to do with it. It’s still not finished, after all.”

“But Berk, the dragons, you, mom, Fin –” Zephyr stuttered.

“Will always be here,” he reassured her. “Although I can’t speak for your brother of course.”

What appeared on Zephyr’s face then had been the happiest and most determined smile he’d seen from her in ages. She hugged him, squeezing him tightly. “Thanks, dad.”

The two months that passed from that day onwards had been some of the hardest Hiccup had had to live through thus far. He’d suspected for a while that things were going to unfold like this, and Astrid had seen it for years. Which did not mean that she hadn’t scolded him for sort-of convincing Zephyr to go through with it, but he knew her well enough not to take that personal. They both had to deal with it in their own way, after all.

He hadn’t been surprised either when one day, two weeks in, Ruffnut and Fishlegs had practically burst into the Haddock home. Asking him what exactly his daughter was dragging their oldest son into. But he hadn’t needed to do much explaining. After all, they’d experienced it too. It would only be a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Their spark was their children’s too.

So now he found himself standing in New Berk’s harbour, watching as Zephyr handed out orders to her friends. She would make a great chief one day, if she’d choose to take on the position herself instead of handing it to her brother. Who would be great at it too.

Throughout his years as a father, he had often wondered how his own dad had felt watching him go through life. Only now, years later, he could somewhat begin to understand what his father had gone through. How he might have felt when he’d thought his son had died at the hands of the Red Death, or how worried he’d been during all those years Hiccup had flown through the Archipelago, making both incredible friends and terrible enemies. And now, too, he was watching his child prepare to head into the Great Beyond. And gods, did it hurt. But he could never stop her. And his dad had known the same had been true for him.

He tightened his arm around Astrid, who was keeping an eye on Nuffink in return. The boy had had his own way with dealing with his sister’s impending departure. Somewhere last week, Astrid had pulled him out of the forest after someone had caught him kissing a girl who was distantly related to the Jorgenson family; and Hoffersons mingling with Jorgensons was out of the question. Fin had aptly responded that technically, he was a Haddock, not a Hofferson, which hadn’t exactly appeased his mother. But it had reassured Hiccup once again that he, too, would be fine.

He swallowed away the lump forming in his throat as Zephyr walked up to them, saying goodbye to her grandma before eventually turning to her brother.

“Don’t think you’re going to be chief just because I’m going to be gone for a while, Nuffie,” she teased, ruffling her brother’s blonde mop. She was still taller than him and knew all too well her little brother resented it.

“Just don’t try to become like dad by losing a limb along the way,” Fin bit back, sticking his tongue out at his sister, which earnt him an elbow in his side from Astrid. Of course the two siblings were never going to say they’d miss each other, even though Hiccup was sure they would. Zephyr had even asked her brother to go with her, but he’d decided not to, eager to seize the opportunity to take on the responsibilities his sister had had instead.

Zephyr then turned to her parents, a lopsided smile appearing on her face. “I love you.”

She hugged her mother first, Astrid going over some last-minute practicalities as she hugged Zephyr back. To prevent herself from crying right there and then, Hiccup knew. Lastly, his daughter faced him.

“So west it is, I’ve heard?” he asked, smiling away tears of pride.

She nodded. “Chasing the western wind you named me after. After all, there’s still a lot missing on your map.” She patted the satchel that was flung around her shoulder, Berk’s crest proudly painted on it. Ever since he’d given it to her, she hadn’t let it out of her sight.

She spotted the tears welling up in his eyes as she spoke and she moved up on her toes to hug him, her arms around his neck. “I’m going to be great, dad,” she whispered.

He wrapped his arms around her once more, holding his daughter as tight as he could, not knowing when he would see her again. Just like it’d been with Toothless so many years ago. “I know.”

They separated, smiling at each other once more before Zephyr drew herself away from her family, nodding towards them once more before determinedly walking towards the boat they’d been readying. “Alright guys, let’s get going before we all go crying back to mommy,” she commanded, flashing bright smiles at the friends who’d chosen to go with her. “And yes, Fishnut, I do mean you.”

The teens pushed off, their boat slowly drifting away from New Berk’s docks as the ocean took a hold of it. Hiccup could see Zephyr inhale deeply, closing her eyes as the wind caught her hair, ruffling her bangs. He imagined the way she felt right now was much like how he’d felt flying out on Toothless when they’d first headed out towards the Edge. The world she’d been staring at for so long, finally within her reach.

She held on to one of the boat’s ropes, letting herself hang over the side of the vessel, smiling and waving towards the people who’d gathered to see them leave. She would be fine. Her mother had taught her how to fight, and she had her friends with her. And he, of all people, could never keep this feeling from her. She was an explorer, just like he’d been. So there she went. Into the Great Beyond.

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tothewaterhq · 5 years

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ACCEPTED // HOLIDAY TRUEHART

capitol → stylist (in training) → Dianna Agron fc

positive traits: creative, considerate, charismatic negative traits: sheltered, distrustful, spoilt

tw: exploitation, sexulisation

what made your character decide to become a stylist? As a child, she was always fascinated by makeup. Now that she’s older, experimenting with it is when she feels most like herself.

describe their style. what are their designs like? any particular colours/fabrics/ideas they’re drawn to? Old Hollywood. Red lipstick. Bold black eyeliner. Sequins. Long trains on dresses. Soft wavy hair.

bio:

Born to leading Capitol actress Lorelai Lovelace and her award-winning director of a husband Claudius Truehart, one could say that Holiday had no choice but to be in the spotlight. She was given her first role when she was less than a year old, playing the newborn daughter of a rival politician in the President’s official biopic Vote Snow.

Her childhood was a busy one. Mommy or Daddy or both were always working, and when Holiday wasn’t on a job she was still on set; sitting on her father’s lap as he yelled orders over her head, or trying on wigs in her mother’s dressing room. When Holiday experimented with make-up, it was professional product that was quickly snatched out of her fingers by disapproving stylists and make-up artists.

She continued to borrow it and experiment anyway.

After years of roles in movies such as Safe and Sound for Candlenights and Babysitting an Angel, in which Holiday always played the adorable little sister or the charming daughter of the leading character, the Capitol’s favourite child actress hit puberty.

Her parents panicked. An army of stylists were hired to keep her looking youthful for as long as possible. Her wardrobe was switched out with a new one comprising entirely of polka dots and tutus and other garments deemed too funky or cute to be sexualised, all modestly cut and youthful in style.

It only worked for a year or two. After a speculative article in a tabloid about her role as Revel Revlon’s kid sister in her father’s latest family movie (Can Claudius Truehart’s little princess really pass for ten years old these days?), Holiday was plucked out of the spotlight at the age of fourteen. She was forbidden from leaving the family mansion, forbidden to talk to anyone besides her parents and their household staff.

She was unused to the quiet.

Her parents bought her an easel and she took up painting. And when her pictures grew good enough to hang on the wall in the entrance to their mansion, they agreed to buy her some makeup to play with.

They also made her learn to play the violin. Because a lady never knew when that might come in useful.

Holiday’s style gravitated towards the looks she’d grown up watching stylists create on her mother; red lips, bold black eyeliner, hair in soft gentle waves.

Sitting in the dining room one night for dinner, Lorelai and Claudius realised they’d been coddling their daughter for too long. Across the table from them, with bold red lips and curled blonde hair; she had her mother’s looks, that much was plain.

She could be the next movie bombshell.

Holiday Truehart was given a whole new image and brought out of exile. Her first role as a new woman was the love interest in a sweet little rom-com called Plenty of Fish in Four. Holiday spoke to her make-up artists more than she ever had as a child, eager to learn any tips and tricks they could teach her.

Her first role in an R-rated film came two years later. My Night With a Victor featured Holiday’s very first nude scene, and it quickly became a selling point for the movie. Aged twenty, Holiday found her scantily-clad image on billboards and in magazines. It was a far cry from the adorable little photoshoots she’d been asked to do as a child.

Her head was spinning with the shock of it all, and to add to the confusion she caught wind of a rumour; My Night With a Victor was based on a true story. Of course, it had been romanticised, and any traces of unhappiness on the part of her handsome co-star’s character had been removed. But people were spending nights with victors.

She wondered if, maybe, they were being exploited too.

Her name was down for a second role with nude scenes, at her parents’ request, when her father unexpectedly dropped down dead. The coroner came to the conclusion that a lavish lifestyle full of rich food had finally caught up with him. The film industry mourned.

Holiday mourned, too- she’d loved her father dearly. But she mourned whilst hiring a lawyer to get her out of her latest project, and using her inheritance to buy an apartment as far away from the family mansion as possible.

She spent months trying to fade back into obscurity, but the public didn’t want to lose her a second time. Someone leaked her new address, and Holiday found herself the recipient of unwanted fan-mail. She realised quickly that her father had been sifting through it all her life, only passing on the less explicit messages to her in recent years.

Her life and her body no longer felt like her own. Holiday wondered if they ever truly had been. But how could she reclaim something that might never have been her own to begin with?

Remembering how happy she’d always been whilst playing with makeup, she signed up for a role training to be a stylist for the hunger games. It was public enough to keep her fans satisfied, but maybe it would help sway her reputation back into a more tasteful area. Maybe she’d be surrounded by people who got it.

PLAYED BY // DAISY

#accepted #holiday

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diveronarpg · 6 years

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Congratulations, BECKY! You’ve been accepted for the role of GONERIL with an approved FC change to URSULA CORBERO. Admin Jen: Truly, Becky, you have left us speechless with this wonderful application! Your take on Grace was a bit unusual, and certainly not what I was expecting as I had established her in my mind as very cold and clinical. But the way you integrated emotions into her portrayal was brilliant -- it gave her a touch of volatility and extremism that accentuated the terror that Grace embodies so perfectly. I loved your future plots especially the evil scheme that you elaborated on and your writing sample left me trembling in both fear and admiration; everything just came together so intricately! I can’t wait to watch as she burns Verona to the ground! Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within 24 hours.

WELCOME TO THE MOB.

Out of Character

Alias | Becky

Age | 22

Preferred Pronouns | she/her

Activity Level | I’ve sold my soul to you now, I can’t ever leave

Timezone | Ok so I wrote BST on Odessa’s app but the rest of the UK gang put GMT (time is a social construct and I’m actually a cosmic entity floating around the globe giving u all forehead kisses)

Current/Past RP Accounts | x x

In Character

Ok so I know you didn’t exactly accept her as an FC for Grace but I’m hoping you warm to edgy-looking neo-noir Úrsula Corberó once you’ve read the app. I admit that my idea of Grace may not be quite what you’re looking for but I wanted to give applying for her a shot because I love me Hot Mess of a character! (but I am also happy to come up with alternatives if not)

Is evil something you are? Or is it something you do?

Character | Grace ‘Goneril’ Daly

What drew you to this character? | So like any good prophecy/vision/intervention of fate, I woke up one morning with a mighty need to play a character who is Odessa’s opposite, the black fur coat leather skirt cigarette ash psycho babe to my honey sweet lace and silk angel of retribution, so I’ve sort of been slyly waiting for Grace’s bio to be released.

It’s her contrast to Odessa that initially drew me in with the chance to explore another character whose existence and presence in Verona revolves around her father’s ties to a mob, but resulting in a drastically alternate result. It will be very different playing a character who doesn’t particularly have a motive for killing (beyond self-preservation and power-lust) and is loyal to only herself.

Whilst I would usually play a character like Grace as being a cold-hearted, emotionless ice queen, I feel as though Grace is better suited to burning. She is a slave to her emotions, the rise and fall of them dictating her mood, all while highly strung and fuelled by a chaotic form of energy. You can very much tell when she is happy and when she is not. She’ll cry in front of you just as gladly as she’ll laugh and kiss you. She’s unkind, ruthless, impulsive, emotional, and she’s ready to antagonise people to her tar-black heart’s content.

Character inspo: Azula from Avatar, Jennifer Check from Jennifer’s Body, Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter, War from Good Omens. Trope inspo Alpha Bitch, Ambiguous Disorder, Blatant Lies, Daddy’s Little Villain, Go-Getter Girl, Hair-Trigger Temper, Improbable Weapon User, Jerkass, Sadist, Spoiled Brat, Virtue is Weakness.

What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character? |

i. A masterplan;

Step One: Grow to become an important part of the mob you were all but born into. Turn yourself into the perfect player, capable with weapons and unblinking in the face of danger. Step Two: Leave them. Join their rivals. Prove yourself to them by dispatching of a few former associates, low hanging fruit. Become just as relevant within their ranks. Step Three: Collate what you have learnt about the two mobs. Their strengths, their weaknesses. Make a few friends with similar goals to yourself. Corrupt them. Step Four: Start your own mob. You now know your enemies intimately. You know what it takes to break them. Bit by bit, steal Verona out from under their noses. Laugh at their mistakes and dance in the ashes of their burning empires as you build your own. Step Five: Be remembered forever.

ii. The double agent;

Traitor. Grace wears the title with pride, her smile sharp when she comes face to face with both Capulets and Montagues alike. Slinking from one mob to the other was a seemingly effortless transition, welcomed by none other than Damiano himself. She fed him information about Cosimo and his crew, spilling secrets around the end of her lipstick-stained cigarette. It was an easy way in, but now that she’s settled amongst her new comrades she finds herself looking back across the bridge with interest. Power is power but information is advantageous – Grace isn’t above feeding Montague-whispers back to her old associates, not if it means she wins friends on both sides of Verona. That way, it’s impossible for her not to win this war.

iii. Sisters, sisters

Regina and Catherine. Both are equally as disgraceful to the Daly name – one can’t even bring herself to be enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie, shiny and golden, before them, and the other flutters her lashes and talks of peace, of all things. Grace has never paid them much attention, but now that she’s sided with the Montagues she’s realised that the Capulets could do with having their numbers thinned. Whether she’ll try to convince them to switch sides with her for the Montague brownie-points or simply wipe her sister off of the face of the earth forever remains to be seen, but if Regina and Catherine think they can keep their heads down and get away with making the Dalys seem anything less than destined for greatness, they’ve got one hell of a storm coming.

Are you comfortable with killing off your character? | I sure am, same goes for Odessa now, it’s time to make like Grace and embrace reckless abandon

In Depth

In-Character Para Sample:

She is the thing watching you from the edge of the road, where long grass shivers with the motion of something far more alive than it has any right to be; a pair of eyes that glint in the final rays of the sunlight’s reaches, bleached white enamel teeth ready to sink themselves into those who mistake the night’s cloak as a thing to hide under rather than be consumed by.

She is fresh fruit in the heat, a slow rotting taking place at the centre disguised by mouth-watering scents and a flesh that glistens under the sheen of morning dew. Decay is a dance, slow and tantalising, the heart turning to a sticky dark mess that slides through the fingers of anyone who dares to try and save it.

She is a doctor who has never been able to stop her hands from shaking at the prospect of a new body, eager to pick up the scalpel and press it down into soft flesh, revealing a mass of life clinging to the bones. Her favourite colour is red, the sort that looks black in the evening, droplets turning to pools that spread through pressed shirts and silk pyjamas like tears on pillows. There’s blood on her hands, not always metaphorical. She licks it off, rarely quite satisfied.

Grace fucks like the meeting of hips will reveal the monster that lies beneath her, as though touching there and there and there will unlock ribcages and unleash what’s trapped inside of hearts. But to understand why, you must crawl inside her skull and make sense of what lurks there beneath the smoke of burning houses and vultures picking at once-satisfied things–

“Please take a seat,” Damiano says, and Grace lingers before lowering herself onto the chair, her gaze gliding over the mahogany desk between them before raising to study the man himself.

He smells like her father. That’s the first thing she notices, the faint cologne. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes and the signet ring on his finger keeps catching on things, releasing a dull metallic sound each time. His presence is more regal than Cosimo’s and yet she finds herself thinking the exact same thing – you aren’t worthy.

These men had all inherited their empires, passed down like heirlooms, and as a result they had become lazy. Content. Uninspiring.

“I’m very happy to be here,” she chimes pleasantly. “However… unexpected it may be.” She doesn’t tell him how much she wants this. Doesn’t explain that being welcomed into the inner sanctum of the Montagues is as pleasing as a night of post-murder hot sex. “I’ve always been a huge fan of your work.”

Damiano doesn’t laugh, but he doesn’t need to. Grace is well aware that she wouldn’t have gotten this far if he didn’t intend to offer her something. “I have a proposition.”

I bet you do, she thinks, her well-orchestrated plan playing out like the sweetest of songs. Black-nail-polished fingers press to her chest, feigning surprise. “For me? Damiano, you’re spoiling me.” The words curl up from her lips like tendrils of cigarette smoke. She punctuates them with a light laugh.

The deal is a simple one: information for protection. Spill some secrets to join the ranks. Grace does so without blinking, switching silver for gold, and slowly the pieces begin to fall into place. As with any self-proclaimed god, she grazes her knees on carpet to say thanks to Damiano, sacrifices those she’s left behind, and fills her head with only the loveliest visions of tearing his and Cosimo’s empires to the ground.

Extras:

Pinterest board

Time for more of ‘Becky attempts to write headcanons’:

Her parent’s little angel turned little devil. Spoilt from a young age, she soon learnt that she could get away with near enough anything provided she smiled sweetly to her parents and told them just how much she loved them. When her sisters were born, the attention that had been on her drifted and Grace found that she had to work harder and harder to hear her name on her parent’s lips.

Grace grew up restless. Her ambitions would flit like moths around a lightbulb, becoming half-planned dreams and broken things. It wasn’t until she was rushed to hospital following a road traffic accident* (which resulted in the removal of a kidney) that she decided to train to become a paramedic. *Her parents later suggested that it was no accident and had in fact been planned by the Montagues,

As a paramedic, she always manages to be first on the scene when an incident linked to the mobs is called in. Strategically, if someone fails to complete a murder she can finish the job herself, or silence any witnesses. Similarly, it also gives her the opportunity to plant fake evidence or remove weapons from the scene. For those evading the eyes of the authorities, she can also help those who have been hurt and can’t risk a trip to the hospital.

She is resourceful and will use whatever is to hand as a weapon. Has been known to dish out the odd black eye, broken nose, crushed windpipe, and acrylic nail scratches. Her father himself trained her to use a pistol and rifle under the guise that he was teaching her to hunt (which, technically, wasn’t a lie – they just never specified the quarry).

She lives by 3 important rules. One: trust only those you would die for. Two: protect what is yours. Three: if something is boring or unimportant, do not waste time on it.

Grace needs to be needed and wants to be wanted. She can’t stand shrinking into shadows and being forgotten. No, she must remain the life of the party and attract the attention (be it good or bad) of everyone.

She was once arrested and fined for drunk and disorderly behaviour on whilst on holiday in England. She slept it off in a cell and was released the next morning with a hefty fine.

She is a big fan of piercings and has a stick n poke shark on her ribs.

Inspo quotes:

“I’m a slave to my emotions, to my likes, to my hatred of boredom, to most of my desires.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise.

“Her mood is cruel, her nature dangerous. Her will fierce and intractable” – Euripides (translated by Philip Vellacott), Medea

“But if these years have taught me anything it is this: you can never run away. Not ever. The only way out is in.” – Junot Diaz, The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao

#accepted: goneril #accepted

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qvietwhispers · 3 years

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INTRODUCING; CELIA ÁLVAREZ

Age: 33

Gender: Cis Woman

Pronouns: She/Her

Occupation: Guidance Counsellor

Trigger Warnings: death

background;

Celia was born to Yanet and Raul Álvarez. Celia was never her parent's favourite. Yanet preferred her youngest daughter, Ramira, while Raul favoured her older Brother, Elian. She got along best with her Abuelo, who was easily her favourite family member.

The Álvarez's were wealthy, and her parents lived a fairly lavish lifestyle. They were strict on their children, and while Elian fit into their expectations with ease, Celia and Ramira struggled.

Celia was raised to be "ladylike", a term she utterly despises. She learned to sew and was taught ballet from a young age. They didn't teach her to cook or clean, they had people for that.

They wanted the picture perfect family, scolding Celia and her siblings if they ever stepped out of line. Every flaw was pointed out, until Celia began to do it herself. It made her very self critical.

The Álvarez's were spoilt, and their parents had them homeschooled. Mostly, their company was with their family, and their neighbours, the Navarro's.

Stefan was Celia's best friend from day one. Their families were old friends, and being the same age, the two bonded easily. He has, and always will be, her closest friend and she would trust him with her life.

Celia hated being homeschooled, so when it came the time for her to be in high school, she tried to convince her parents to let her go. They refused at first, until she got her Abuelo involved.

She stuck out like a sore thumb at first, too prim, too proper and not really knowing how to talk to people who weren't Stefan. She came across as rather rude and cold at first, but eventually, Celia made her way in the school.

At this point, Elian had graduated and had gone to business school, before returning to help with the family business. Ramira began to rebel, and Celia worried for her sister. Their father was furious, but their mother claimed it was just a "phase" and made it clear if Celia got any ideas, she would be reprimanded. It didn't seem fair, no matter how hard she worked, she never seemed good enough in her parents eyes.

Celia longed to travel and leave the small town, but her parents had other ideas. She was to follow in the same footsteps as her brother, but she refused. They told her they wouldn't fund her schooling if she was to leave, and while she didn't care about the money as much as she did when she was younger, her Abuelo grew sick. Celia stayed, but using money her Abuelo had given her, got her degree online.

Her parents were furious that she had gone behind their back, but as she was helping with her Abuelo, they didn't say much. They did begin to nitpick at everything she did, however.

During this time, when Celia was 22, she had a boyfriend. She had a few before, but this one she was head over heels in love with. She adored him, but no matter how good he was to her, her parents went out of their way to find flaws. Eventually, it dissolved into arguments between the two, and they called it off, Celia being heartbroken.

Her parents set her up with a family friend's son. They didn't really see eye to eye on things, and he was rather stuck up in Celia's opinion, but her parents seemed to love him, so Celia started to date him.

Shortly after, her Abuelo passed, and her parents became even worse, as he was no longer there as a buffer. Everything she did was wrong, and Celia was so determined to get them off her back, the only thing they didn't seem to pick at was the boyfriend they'd basically chosen for her.

They got married when Celia was 25, and while it was a loveless marriage, her parents had seemed to back off, allowing Celia to work as a guidance counsellor in peace.

Things changed three years into the marriage, when Celia fell pregnant. She was overjoyed, having always wanted a family, determined to be better than her own parents. However, her husband seemed less enthralled, and paid the two of them no attention still.

It was when her son, Osvaldo, turned two that Celia realised she didn't want the boy to grow up watching his parents in a loveless marriage, he deserved better than that. He also didn't deserve a father that barely paid him any attention. So, Celia handed him divorce papers. He argued, at first, for being married to an Álvarez had it's perks, but he soon backed off. He'd had multiple affairs, and Celia had know about them, but not really cared enough to confront him before. With this knowledge, he left, and told Celia he wanted nothing to do with Os before leaving town.

Celia was furious for her son, but knew they were better off without him. He'd been lazy, arrogant and just generally a pretentious asshole.

Her sister, who had left the minute she turned 18, came back a year later. Celia doesn't know where the girl when, they barely kept in contact but Ramira refused to go back to their parents house so she's been living with Celia. The two don't always see eye to eye, and it can be tense between them at times, but at the end of the day, it was her sister so Celia wasn't going to make her leave. It helped that Ramira would often help out with Os when Celia needed it.

Celia has a very strained relationship with her parents, and her older brother. Elian was borderline cruel at times, and Celia tends to avoid him at all costs. However, her family insists of having dinner together every Sunday, and so while she often makes excuses, she does go. She doesn't want to completely cut Os off from his Abuelo and Abuela, as the boy seems to adore his Abuela. Her mother has lightened up a little with Celia ever since she had him, but will stick pick out the flaws in her parenting, much to Celia's annoyance.

wanted connections;

Her ex from when she was 22. Dated for a year, maybe longer, but her parents didn’t approve, and nit-pick at the relationship. It drove them both crazy, and caused arguments that eventually caused them to call the relationship off. Celia tends to avoid the other, acting as though she’s annoyed with them, but in reality, she’s more annoyed at herself for not sticking up for them.

Best friend - After Stefan left, Celia felt pretty lonely. The two may have known each other before, but became closer after this. They’re one of her closest friends next to Stefan.

Babysitter - Celia doesn’t trust most people with Os, but this person has been babysitting for her for years, and she’s built up a trust with them.

Family friends - People that maybe she was pressured to be friends with, so they’d have to be fairly wealthy. Could have also been friends with her ex.

Not everyone will get along with her, so I’d love people that clashes with her.

Up for brainstorming!

FAMILY;

Yenifer Álvarez (Abuela - NPC - 87 )

Yanet Álvarez (Mother- NPC - 61 )

Raul Álvarez (Father - NPC - 63 )

Elian Álvarez (Brother - NPC - 36 - Owner of White Oak Distillery - Pretentious Asshole )

Ramira Álvarez (Sister - WANTED CONNECTION - 28/29 )

Osvaldo Álvarez (Son - NPC - 5 )

#muse; celia alvarez #wakefieldtask #wakefieldtask01

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the-kool-kyle · 5 years

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Avengers Endgame Review

Well, this is it ... Avengers Endgame. The film we've all been waiting for ever since the shocking ending to Avengers Infinity War and the end of the MCU's Infinity Saga. Well, I can say without a doubt that Avengers Endgame does more than a perfect job in finishing up 10 years worth of movies in one epic conclusion. Endgame is an emotional, shocking, heartbreaking but best of all epic movie that is a must watch for every human on earth! The movie takes place right after Avengers Infinity War and is during the fallout of “The Snap” when Thanos attached all six infinity stones to the infinity gauntlet then with a snap of his fingers single handily wiped out half of all life in the universe (including some of our favourite heroes) to create what he sees as “balance”. This movie takes place right after that where heroes and other characters are now dead thanks to “The Mad Titan” (Thanos) and now the only ones left are the original six Avengers introduced in phase 1 and a few others. Which consists of Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye (who is Ronin now), Black Widow and War-Machine who are also getting help from Rocket Raccoon, Captain Marvel, Nebula and Ant-Man. If there's one thing Infinity War taught us it's that movies' with a large number of characters can be great and while Endgame's roster is as bigger as Infinity War it does an excellent job on focusing on the original six Avengers and the newcomers to the team and really convinces us this team can save the universe.

Endgame's plot is very complex, long and very hard to describe without seeing all of the previous MCU movies since the first Iron Man or spoiling the movie. Basically, it's unique, emotional, tear-jerking but is still epic, funny and awesome as any MCU movie should be. Its tone is dark and dead serious and really shows us that these are dark days for the MCU with their defeat and half the universe being dead. Ok now apart from the scenes from the teaser, the fact that this takes place right after Infinity War I can't really take about the plot because everyone wants to find out themselves. What I can say is that Endgame more than earns it's 3 hr runtime as it ties up more than a decade of movies very well which has become known as the infinity saga. It deepens the importance of the previous movies and makes them feel a whole lot more important than they already were to us. The movie's runtime gives each of the characters their own moments to tie up any loose ends or unanswered questions. Its story feels like it was written for fans by fans which is just the way we wanted it to be. This movie, however, has few laugh moments as this is a dark time for the Avengers and almost everyone has lost hope. Endgame has some of the darkest, most emotional and shocking scenes and moments in the MCU's history as well as tear-jerking moments we never thought we'd see in a Marvel movie. This movie's plot is without a doubt the perfect way to end the infinity saga.

The heroes and villains are the heart of and soul of this movie and at moments really feel like a family and makes this version of the Avengers more realistic and unique.

Robert Downey Jr returns for the 9th time as Iron Man (Tony Stark). The first hero ever introduced in the MCU and the iconic armoured hero who has always been a fun loving, smooth talking, badass looking engineer genius and playboy has unfortunately become an angry and cold man after the events of Infinity War. During which he fought Thanos one on one and only drew a drop of blood from the Mad Titan after throwing literally everything he had at him and completely getting his armour destroyed in the process. Then after seeing Peter (Spider-Man) die in his arms from The Snap he now feels like a failure as both a hero and a father figure. While he does still have his iconic sarcasm and funny personality he's a more dead serious and darker version of himself and has made it clear that he's had enough. Robert Downey Jr is the perfect match between actor and role for the golden avenger and does an excellent performance that is definitely one for the ages.

Chris Evans returns as Captain America (Steve Rogers) The First Avenger. He wins our hearts and our respect by being a total badass who cares more about his country but also his team, his friends and all of the world. Throughout the movie even though his best friend and partner were killed he still never stops fighting, never backs down and never gives up to complete his mission. Proving that no matter what the universe throws at him and no matter how many times he gets knocked down he always gets back up because it's what he was raised to believe. As we all know he can do this all day. Chris Evans was born to play Captain America and I can't see anyone else playing as this legendary hero. P.S he's my personal favourite Avenger. Plus throughout the movie, he dawns a whole bunch of awesome suits that are both old and new like his stealth suit from “The Winter Solider” Suit (seen in the first teaser) and his new white suit (seen in the other trailer).

Chris Hemsworth lights up the screen as Thor God of Thunder. The son of Odin has really evolved from a spoilt arrogant prince to a funny heroic warrior that will do to protect the people of Asgard. However in Endgame Thor struggles to remain a strong hero and king of Asgard after feeling a sense of failure and defeat after almost dying to forge Stormbreaker and still fail to stop Thanos in Infinity War, save the remainder of his people and the rest of the universe. So while he is still the lovable bad boy, the fallout of the snap has transformed the once mighty hero into a shadow of his former self.

Jeremy Renner returns as Hawkeye (Clint Barton). The somewhat underappreciated and not very well loved archer that has beenovershadowed by the other members of the team. But in Age of Ultron became everyone's 4th or 5th favourite Avenger and after Civil War is now an official favourite to everyone. Now driven by the snap he has become the deadly vigilante Ronin. Armed with a sword and awesome new hooded suit Clint has become a darker and more dead serious character that isn't messing around this time cause he missed out on Infinity War but suffered as much as everyone else has. Oh man I feel bad for this guy first he wasn't anyone's favourite Avenger, he missed out on Infinity War and now he's gone mad from the snap. BTW this was all seen in the trailer so these aren't spoilers.

Mark Ruffalo returns to the MCU as Dr Bruce Banner and The Hulk. The big angry monster that does only one thing ... SMASH! He stole the show back in Thor Ragnarok as the closest thing we'll ever get to the “Planet Hulk” version of the character. However, he only appears once in Infinity War to fight Thanos but immediately gets his ass kicked and for the rest of the movie refuses to come out of Banner. Forcing Bruce to use the Hulk-Buster Iron Man suit to fight. Kinda Ironic if you ask me The Hulk is piloting the Hulk-Buster armour. While he isn't as awesome as he was in Ragnarok and felt underused most of the time he still melts our hearts by being a brainy kind-hearted scientist that would do anything for the team. Best of all Mark Ruffalo really put Edward Norton and Erica Bana to shame or as I call him....Mark Ruffa-Hulk.

Don Cheadle returns as Iron Man's partner War-Machine (Rhodey). Who pilots a similar but badass looking, heavily armoured, well equipped and high tech Iron Man suit. He's a decorated soldier that's just as patriotic as Captain America. While he felt a littleunderused in the last few movies like Iron Man 2, Age of Ultron, Civil War and Infinity War in Endgame he makes a much larger impact and really contributes well to the plot and has earned to the recognition he deserves. Best of all his War-Machine suit his more tactical, high tech and looks more badass than ever even more than Tony's suit.

Scarlet Johansson is back once again as the highly trained super spy Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff). Despite not getting her own movie she has appeared regularly in other MCU movies and has become one of the best, oldest and most recognisablemembers of the team. She is something of a mystery to most people as she never knew her parents, was raised to be the perfect agent, has never had a real family and at times has forced to choose between duty and what's right as was shown in Civil War. However, since the fallout of Infinity War she has become a depressed and alone as she never got to fight alongside her partner Hawkeye during the fight against Thanos and hasn't heard from him since the events of Civil War. But she is still a strong independent woman that many women and girls can look up to as they can be just as awesome and badass as many male comic book heroes. But there is one thing I didn't like about her in Infinity War and Endgame....her hair cut. She has ditched her iconic long redhead look for a short Mark Hamill styled her cut that looks horrid. But other than that she still and always will be an awesome character. Paul Rudd explodes onto the screen as the fun-loving, energetic and awesome Ant-Man (Scott Lang). After making 2 successful movies and giving us the best scene in Civil War he has quickly become a fan favourite especially for me. After the ending in “Ant-Man and The Wasp” he became trapped in the “Quantum Realm” just before The Snap. Since the Quantum Realm is a completely different part of existence he survived...unfortunately the same can not be said for his Mentor and his predecessor Hank Pym or Scott's love interest Hope Van Dyne aka The Wasp who were killed when Thanos snapped his fingers. Because of this he has really evolved as a character and makes a really major impact through the movie and really feels important as he should be. He has been driven to fight after and do something about the fallout of The Snap since he has lost everything. While Paul Rudd is still a fun comedic character he has really developed into a more serious and focused character. He has earned to right to be called an Avenger.

Josh Brolin steals the show as the movie's or more importantly the whole MCU's primary villain ... The Mad Titan Thanos. He has been seen in many of the MCU's previous movies building up as the universe's greatest and most powerful villain. His plan was to gather all six of the Infinity stones, attach them to the Infinity Gauntlet and use it to wipe out half of all living creatures in the universe to create what he see's as “balance”. Thanos is a whole lot more menacing and evil in Endgame than he was in Infinity War and feels a lot more like his comic book counterpart with his smirking evil look and epic armour that makes him look even more badass. Josh Brolin does an amazing job in voicing and doing the motion capture for this legendary and truly evil villain making it feel like the real Thanos leap right off the pages of the Infinity comic books and into the movies. This is definitely the MCU's greatest villain and one of the best movie villains of all time.

Now, what would this film be without....action! This movie has some of the best moments ever pulled from the comics that no one saw coming and only true Marvel fans will recognise. Their epic, fun, memorable and unforgettable plus the special effects and CGI were amazing and really blended well with the practical effects. While it is frowned upon, there were moments that made everybody including me stand up and cheer as the scenes are so epic and awesome they get us super excited. This is some of the best action ever see in a movie is really gonna be loved by everyone for years to come.

Final Verdict:Avengers Endgame is the perfect Marvel movie which brilliantly ties up a decade of movies, gives us a finale worthy of winning awards, and is gonna be loved for generations to come. It more than earns its three-hour runtime by tying up all loose ends, giving each of the characters their own chance to shine, and reminding us how much we love them. In the end, it's emotional, epic, unique, heartbreaking, shocking, entertaining, fun and most importantly makes fans cry, fans cheer and say ... what!? Especially with the moments that were pulled straight from the comics. It is a must watch for every human being on earth and will be loved by all fans old and young.Final Score: 10/10

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magtitude · 5 years

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re: Chris’ family’s backstory. very long post, my apologies.

CW: child & medical/psychiatric abuse, ableism, suicide/suicide attempt, dodgy age gap relationship ( 17 year old and 21 year old ), alcoholism, stalking

Gabriela Maximiliane Dane, nee Foerstner. Born on the 8th of July, 1948. An only child to strict, distant parents – a pastor and a housewife – she sneaks easily, fooling around with whoever she wants. It’s how she gets into a mess with Robert Davis Dane: catching pregnant with William, then getting married at the young age of eighteen. She gives birth to her firstborn soon after the honeymoon, but barely holds him, and grows to hate his being – he is her millstone, as is her husband, the knocker-upper.

Robert Davis Dane, son of a businessman and heiress, was a rowdy boy, and had been born wailing good and loud on the 18th of November, 1947. His own father saw the mess as a chance to set his son straight. All it did was build up an angry young man into an angry, older man with each passing year and two more children – daughters – and a wife he never wanted to get hitched to.

Anything for the social image.

Gabriela withheld love ( except from her deliberate favourite ), preferring to drown in drink and smoke by the window, sat on the cushioned sills and pretending to look like a movie star she wished she was. Robert was a working man, worked to fatigue and lowered thresholds and vein-red temper.

William Davis Dane was born on the 1st of April, 1966. No-one laughed during the early hours of the morning. He grows up physically strong, howling for attention, but the volatile temper that is his father’s being beats him down – broken noses, broken cheekbones, broken leg. And mother never comforts him.

But he takes care of his sisters, much younger and much more defenseless than himself. He takes on the hammering blows when Diane pulls at the kitchen table’s cloth cover, tipping everything over, spilling milk. He soothes the crying Angela when mother isn’t hoarding her, telling her she’s the cutest little thing she’s ever seen. It’s these things – his sisters – that’re comforting, worth staying around for.

Until William rebels too much and he’s taken away during the summer of 1978. Doctors are paid to keep him sedated, nurses are paid to keep him quiet, orderlies are paid to keep him under control.

He’s much quieter when he comes home. No response when Diane begs, screams, punches for his attention.

He leaves as soon as he legally can – 18, adult and free. Free to live, free to die.

Diane Dorthe Dane was born on the 2nd of April, 1972. She is unruly and volatile and icy. She is the mixture of both her parents, and she frightens them both. No-one admits to fear in their household.

Her brother is her hero, even when he’s useless when he comes back from a long holiday with ugly-looking doctors ( she thinks they’re ugly, anyway; she can only guess ). Her sister is annoying, but at least she’s cute, and Diane does actually like her sister, for the most part.

Then William leaves like a coward, zipping away from Casper, Wyoming on his fuck-ugly motorbike, and Diane has to bear the brunt of Robert’s fury when she questions too much. She only questions more, berates more, screams more, fights more, hates more.

Can only fight it all with hate. Until things build and something – is it related to all this? is it the by-product of her home? – snaps in half and she jumps in the river. She’s scooped out by factory workers as she screams all banshee. She’s not even thirteen yet.

So she thinks: she’ll win. She won’t make that mistake again, she promises herself. She’ll outlive her parents.

She’ll make sure of it.

Angela Katarine Dane was born on the 4th of April, 1976. She gurgles all blissfully ignorant: her mother’s favourite, first and only. Mother shields her, humming all the while, from her father’s presence. Angela only knows being spoilt, never being denied a wish. Loved by her mother, her brother, and her sister – never needed a father, even when he did, on the odd occasion, dote on her.

Then William leaves, and Angela is fussing. But she gets over it; she’s 8, after all, and children are incredibly, fascinatingly resilient.

Ryan James Farnham was born on the 27th of November, 1971. Boys will be boys: tug on pretty girls’ pretty braids and flip their skirts. He’s his mother’s golden boy, his father’s pride and joy, his sister’s designated guardian.

He likes Diane. Diane doesn’t like him. But she will. Until he gets the message – three whole teeth! missing! from a single punch! – and turns to pay attention to Angela when she tugs on his sleeve. Pretty blondie, even if she is a little younger. She’s 17. He’s going to be 22. It’s summer. It’ll end before the new year. Even when William drops by – rare! – and takes a lunge, going for the eyes, beating, scratching, kicking. It causes a rift between Angela – sweet, pretty blondie – and her bitter-bitter siblings. Besides, Angela’s old enough to do what she wants.

A year and a bit passes by and he is enamoured with her, and she with him, and then it turns out, in September of 1994, that she’s pregnant. She wants to marry, quickly – no bastards in this family. So they move on a whim, throwing a dart on a map ( cheating, and choosing ), and they move to a showlight city.

They’re miserable. They’re alone.

Then William, having reached the end of his rope, throws himself from his fuck-ugly motorbike and into a river. Angela hears of it, and cries, heart knotting with regret, and Diane hears of it, not crying, heart icing over. The difference in and of itself makes the conflict over the phone an explosive one. The sisters don’t talk for near 9 years.

Christopher Davis Farnham is born on the 5th of April, 1995. His father is a half-way alcoholic working at a poxy garage, and his mother is a lonesome young lady and she does not trust doctors. Angela, after Chris’ 2nd birthday, take to drinking.

Fights happen all the time – mother asks father where’s the money for Chris’ needs, then father asks mother where’s the money for Chris’ needs. Never on the same page. Violent, even in dreams.

Even when they leave, Ryan rethinks his decision to let them go. If nothing else, he wants his boy back.

Gabriela comes from an intermarriage between a Protestant pastor, Phillip Foerstner, and a Jewish Orthodox midwife-then-housewife, Adara Foerstner nee Morgenstern. She was raised primarily as a Protestant, although her own mother would try teach her about her Jewish roots.

Robert came from another intermarriage – Baptist father, Leonard Dane, and Reform Jewish mother, Agnes Dane nee Sheinfeld. Like Gabriela, he was raised the way his father wanted, groomed for succession in the business, and his mother taught him about his Jewish heritage.

Neither Robert nor Gabriela gave much thought to raising their children in any particular religion, if at all. Until Angela was born, and Gabriela had grown attached, seeing Angela as her favourite and taught Angela as her own mother taught her. Angela took it in, although didn’t particularly commit herself to it religiously, instead choosing a more secular approach to her Jewishness while appreciating the Orthodoxy. William and Diane, while not as involved or feeling as close to it, do have ( and appreciate ) their roots through connecting with other Jewish people and their own research.

While growing up in Las Vegas, Angela is invested in imparting her understanding of Jewish culture, more through a secular lens than in a religious stream.

Angela isn’t necessarily the “Better Parent” out of her and Ryan.

Because of her own experiences with witnessing her siblings being abused at the hands of her parents and their neglect ( and while she was the favoured child of her mother, her father did have a loud voice ), she is on the “lookout” for characteristics of abusers of children.

That said, it didn’t stop her from pursuing Ryan – although he didn’t particularly possess any traits that Angela would perceive as abusive at the time – and became pregnant, and moved with him to Las Vegas.

In the eight or so years of living together, and raising Chris – and fighting with each other both verbally and physically, and drinking to excess – Angela doesn’t think of Ryan as abusive. Or not “abusive enough” until he ( accidentally ) slaps Chris after one of the couple’s fights.

It doesn’t matter, then, that it was an accident; Angela sees it as a potential for further, intended abuse. And along with both her son and her dead brother sharing the same middle name, that’s enough to motivate her to move with her son, threatening Ryan that if he so much as tries to get in contact, or seek custody, she’ll have him thrown in prison using any method she chooses.

After moving out, Angela drops her opinion every now and then, saying that Ryan would’ve only hurt Chris if they stayed, and it was obvious now that he wasn’t a good man, and never would be, and is, in fact, very dangerous.

In her mind, this is true, and not a means of indoctrination.

Chris is, at least partly, sceptical – it was an accident.

When Ryan starts stalking them after Angela’s second wedding – phone calls, driving down from Vegas – it only fuels Angela’s point, and solidifies Chris’ unsteady opinion of him.

#💻 chris: about.#abuse mention cw #child abuse mention cw #medical abuse cw #ableism cw #suicide mention cw #suicide attempt cw #age gap relationship cw #alcoholism mention cw #stalking mention cw #long post cw #🐧 ooc: queue.

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onlyjokesherebro · 7 years

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( headcanon 38. )

{{ about the adult relatives. read the warning tags, please.

Gabriela Maximiliane Dane, nee Foerstner. Born on the 8th of July, 1948. An only child to strict, distant parents -- a pastor and a housewife -- she sneaks easily, fooling around with whoever she wants. It’s how she gets into a mess with Robert Davis Dane: catching pregnant with William, then getting married at the young age of eighteen. She gives birth to her firstborn soon after the honeymoon, but barely holds him, and grows to hate his being -- he is her millstone, as is her husband, the knocker-upper.

Robert Davis Dane, son of a businessman and heiress, was a rowdy boy, and had been born wailing good and loud on the 18th of November, 1947. His own father saw the mess as a chance to set his son straight. All it did was build up an angry young man into an angry, older man with each passing year and two more children -- daughters -- and a wife he never wanted to get hitched to.

Anything for the social image.

William Davis Dane was born on the 1st of April, 1966. No-one laughed during the early hours of the morning. He grows up physically strong, howling for attention, but the volatile temper that is his father’s being beats him down -- broken noses, broken cheekbones, broken leg. And mother never comforts him.

But he takes care of his sisters, much younger and much more defenseless than himself. He takes on the hammering blows when Diane pulls at the kitchen table’s cloth cover, tipping everything over, spilling milk. He soothes the crying Angela when mother isn’t hoarding her, telling her she’s the cutest little thing she’s ever seen. It’s these things -- his sisters -- that’re comforting, worth staying around for.

Until William rebels too much and he’s taken away during the summer of 1978. Doctors are paid to keep him sedated, nurses are paid to keep him quiet, orderlies are paid to keep him under control.

He’s much quieter when he comes home. No response when Diane begs, screams, punches for his attention.

He leaves as soon as he legally can -- 18, adult and free. Free to live, free to die.

Can only fight it all with hate. Until things build and something -- is it related to all this? is it the by-product of her home? -- snaps in half and she jumps in the river. She’s scooped out by factory workers as she screams all banshee. She’s not even thirteen yet.

So she thinks: she’ll win. She won’t make that mistake again, she promises herself. She’ll outlive her parents.

She’ll make sure of it.

Angela Katarina Dane was born on the 4th of April, 1976. She gurgles all blissfully ignorant: her mother’s favourite, first and only. Mother shields her, humming all the while, from her father’s presence. Angela only knows being spoilt, never being denied a wish. Loved by her mother, her brother, and her sister -- never needed a father, even when he did, on the odd occasion, dote on her.

Then William leaves, and Angela is fussing. But she gets over it; she’s 8, after all, and children are incredibly, fascinatingly resilient.

He likes Diane. Diane doesn’t like him. But she will. Until he gets the message -- three whole teeth! missing! from a single punch! -- and turns to pay attention to Angela when she tugs on his sleeve. Pretty blondie, even if she is a little younger. She’s 17. He’s going to be 22. It’s summer. It’ll end before the new year. Even when William drops by -- rare! -- and takes a lunge, going for the eyes, beating, scratching, kicking. It causes a rift between Angela -- sweet, pretty blondie -- and her bitter-bitter siblings. Besides, Angela’s old enough to do what she wants.

A year and a bit passes by and he is enamoured with her, and she with him, and then it turns out, in September of 1994, that she’s pregnant. She wants to marry, quickly -- no bastards in this family. So they move on a whim, throwing a dart on a map ( cheating, and choosing ), and they move to a showlight city.

They’re miserable. They’re alone.

Fights happen all the time -- mother asks father where’s the money for Chris’ needs, then father asks mother where’s the money for Chris’ needs. Never on the same page. Violent, even in dreams.

Even when they leave, Ryan rethinks his decision to let them go. If nothing else, he wants his boy back.

#abuse //#child abuse //#medical abuse //#injuries //#ableism //#suicide //#suicide attempt //#age gap //#alcoholism mention //#long post //#( 𝘉𝘜𝘐𝘓𝘋𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘉𝘓𝘖𝘊𝘒𝘚 𝘈𝘕𝘋 𝘓𝘐𝘛𝘛𝘓𝘌 𝘘𝘜𝘐𝘙𝘒𝘚 | HEADCANON )#{{ background }}#{{ anyway i hope this? explains things? even t h o.... yi ke e s }}

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bridport-bookaneers-blog · 6 years

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Lorna Recommends | Spring Reads

Spring is, for me, the best time of the year. Now, I'm not averse to the winter months: evenings sitting by the fire with a hot chocolate and a good book on the go is what life is all about. But eventually, I do begin to tire of the layers upon layers I have to wear (my body doesn't seem to be able to cope with even mildly extreme - oxymoron alert! - temperatures), the common cold I don't seem to be able to go one winter without picking up, and the complete lack of sunlight! I don't need to be sitting in it all the time, but it would be nice if it would make more of an effort.

So when spring finally puts in an appearance, I'm ready for it. Today felt like the first day of spring proper, at least in the lands I reside. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and I found myself sitting in the garden, gazing at the bright celandines which have burst forth from the earth, listening to the cheerful birdsong and the buzzing of bees. Book in hand, of course!

In honour of my favourite season's overdue arrival, I've put together a list of some books I think you'll enjoy this time of year.

Stonewylde by Kit Berry

I stumbled upon the Stonewylde series completely by accident. Browsing an independent bookshop in Lyme Regis, I was taken in by the cover of the second book in the series: the silhouette of a girl dancing before the moon. Completely taken in by the synopsis, I decided to pick up the first book and give it a go.

Magus Of Stonewylde begins in London. Sylvie has been sickly all her life, and her mum has tenaciously looked for something, anything, to make her better. As a last resort, they get in contact with an unusual man. He says that Sylvie is a girl out of her natural habitat, and offers her mother and herself a place at Stonewylde, a community cut off from the rest of the world in rural Dorset. He claims that the simple approach of getting back to nature will completely cure her. Out of any other options, they accept.

But Stonewylde is a community of two halves, and secrets. As Sylvie discovers, nothing is at all as it seems ...

Stonewylde is the perfect spring read. From Sylvie's perspective, it is very much a tale of rebirth and coming into one's own. From the perspective of a few other characters, we see the ins and outs of this beautiful and strange community, the way the working class folk farm the land and celebrate their very real connection with the earth. There is some magic, and some mystery involved, and I think you'll love it!

The Strange And Beautiful Sorrows Of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

You've probably heard of this book. When I came across it in the bookshop, I'd already seen great reviews and 5-star ratings; but it didn't matter, because the cover was so beautiful, I would have picked it up anyway (I know, we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but come on).

This story follows three generations of women: Ava's grandmother, Ava's mother, and Ava herself. And Ava, well - she's something else entirely. A girl born, inexplicably, with wings.

The writing is to die for. Leslye Walton is one of those authors: you read her writing, and wish you could write as she does, weave stories as she does. Every paragraph seems to pack a punch, and I made so many notes of quotes that I couldn't possibly single out my favourite.

With the arrival of each new generation, I was worried that I would begin to lose interest; on the contrary, though, I become more and more invested with each chapter. The characters are incredibly well-rounded and interesting, and as I've already said, I couldn't get enough of the prose.

I think I'll leave it at that - I don't want to spoil anything for you lucky folks who may yet have the pleasure of reading this book for the first time. I don't know why, but stories woven with magical realism seem perfect for the springtime. What do you think?

The Girl Of Ink And Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

I was pleasantly surprised by The Girl Of Ink And Stars. Not because I was expecting it to be bad, quite the opposite: the cover is gorgeous, the plot sounded great, and Emma Carroll was telling me to go for it. I suppose I wasn't expecting to become so invested in the characters and the plot of such a short book - and yet ...

The story centres around Isabella, who has grown up with her cartographer father on the island of Joya. They live in a town flanked on one side by the sea, and the other dense woodland. Under the thumb of the Governor, everyone is forbidden to enter the forest. But all of that changes when Isabella's best friend - and the Governor's daughter - Lupe disappears. They have reason to believe she may have gone into the trees, and so they must set out to get her back. Disguised as a boy, Isabella uses her mapmaking skills to navigate the little-known realm of the forest and the lands beyond.

Isabella is such a strong character, and her friendship with Lupe - though sometimes imperfect - is heart-warming. The world-building, the myths and legends of the island, are all fascinating and add a glorious dimension to the plot. And to top it off, the writing is beautiful!

Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

One of my favourite books of all time, and my standout favourite classic (although there are lots of classics that I love, this one just ...)

Far From The Madding Crowd is one of Thomas Hardy's best-known works. Set in the late 1800s in Dorset, we follow the fortunes of Bathsheba Everdene, a rather vain but headstrong woman, ahead of her time. At the beginning of the novel, she is staying with her aunt and helping her with the farm through the winter. Here she meets the shepherd, Gabriel Oak. Steadfast, Oak has a deep connection to the earth and the Dorset landscape, and is the embodiment of strength and resilience. When Bathsheba's uncle suddenly dies, she inherits his farm and moves away to run it. Soon after, Gabriel loses his livestock and his land, and - in rather a reversal of fortunes - finds himself in Bathsheba's employ.

There's such a strong sense of place in Far From The Madding Crowd. I read it for the first time before I ever moved to Dorset, and even then I could picture vividly the landscape Hardy was trying to evoke, the rolling hills and the country in springtime. Then there are the characters of the local farm hands, and Sergeant Troy, and Mr Boldwood. As someone who lives in the countryside, with its fair share of interesting characters and glorious sunsets, I love this story more and more each time I read it.

The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

Maybe it's because I read The Sin Eater's Daughter for the first time in the spring. Maybe it's to do with all the potions and herbs and flowers, that make me think of spring. Maybe it's the cover giving off those spring vibes. I just know I really wanted it on this list.

The Sin Eater's Daughter is the first in a fantasy series, following a girl named Twylla whose touch is deadly. She's engaged to the prince of Lormere - whose royal blood makes him immune to her touch - and resides in his castle, under the careful watch of his mother, the queen, and the king ... who is also the queen's cousin. Yeah.

Twylla is said to be the goddess-embodiment, and executioner, and as such is escorted to the prisons place her hands upon the convicted, ending their lives. It's not a job she relishes, and is made worse by the fact that nobody talks to her - even her betrothed. No one at all, until a new guard is assigned to watch over her: a young man named Lief who sports a charming smile and exceptional swordsmanship. As he and Twylla grow closer, so too does war between the kingdoms.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Last but not least, the ultimate spring read. The Secret Garden is a children's classic, and an all-round beautiful book. It begins with Mary Lennox, as a young girl born to English parents in India. Entrusted solely to the care of servants, she grows up without the love of her mother and father, and becomes something of a selfish and spoilt child.

One day, the lives of her parents are borne away in the clutches of a cholera epidemic. With no family left to care for her in India, she is sent back to England, to the only remaining relatives she has. There, she finds herself in the care of her elusive uncle, and beneath the roof of the echoing Misselthwaite Manor, with its host of secrets, on the bleak Yorkshire moors.

Sent to explore the grounds, Mary stumbles across an old door - the door to a walled and secret garden.

The Secret Garden is full of lush depictions of an English garden through all seasons. But as Mary comes to know her true self, and grows beyond what she thought she could be, spring is the season I think of, when I think of The Secret Garden.

"Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?" "It is the sun shining on the rain, and the rain falling on the sunshine." - Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

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