carewyncromwell

[carewyncromwell]

deleted the game like a year and a half ago but dear god this woman has me on a chokehold

[carewyncromwell]

the weasleys, circa 1995

[carewyncromwell]

Hey, just wanted to ask if you had any plans for MerMay month this year? And also, May the 4th be with you. ^.^

Nothing really, honestly! Except for working on sending my novel featuring a mermaid out to publishers and agents and also coloring the illustrations I originally sketched for the first draft in my spare time. But it's fun to dip my toes into everyone else's work around this time of year. ^.^ And thank you!! May the Force be with you too! (It's been a lot of fun seeing all the Star Wars merch and Disneybound outfits among my guests at work this week.)

[carewyncromwell]

Does your oc have a special nickname given to them by someone?

[carewyncromwell]

GOD BLESS IT, Tumblr, where are my notifs, why didn't I see this --

Honey! HONEEEY! This is so lovely I can't even, just look at our precious ones!! Roxy would honestly be the only one Erik would let actively touch his neck scars given how self-conscious he is about them, and I just love that, because honestly, Erik may be all snarky and logical so much of the time, but I love that he has someone like Roxy who can take care of him emotionally when he needs it. :') Also LOL on the kinky, Erik may be the type to top, but he would be totes smirking from ear to ear if his bad-ass wife turned the tables on him now and again. (Hey, one of his first fictional crushes was Leia Organa, he likes a forceful woman. XDD) And YAS, sun and moon, I love it!! I could so see Erik getting Roxy a moonstone necklace or something for an anniversary. Alongside a meticulously planned date at a nice restaurant because Erik is a planner to the nth degree and wants everything to be perfect damn it.

Thank you so much for this, darling!! It really made my whole day!! *huge virtual huggles* 🩵🩵🩵

"I like it when you hold me tight You make me feel nice The green in your eyes Makes me feel warm inside."

@carewyncromwell just our resident sour patch and his girlfriend having a soft moment <3

[carewyncromwell]

10 for Carewyn and Jacob? [ellie-e-marcovitz 😊]

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? (or just felt really good afterwards)

[Carewyn can't stop herself from grinning, but she tries to cover it up with a poised hand.]

Carewyn: "Erik isn't going to be happy that I brought this up...but when he first arranged for him, Roxanni @mira-shard and me to go out for a dinner to get better acquainted, Erik was so uptight and determined to make sure everything was perfect for our dinner that he'd completely lost sight of the fact that the day he'd chosen was St. Patrick's Day. And considering he'd chosen the location in part for their fine wine selections...as one can expect, a good chunk of the patrons around us were rather drunk by the time we arrived that evening."

[Carewyn bowed her head in an attempt to obscure her large grin as she shook her head.]

Carewyn: "We ended up right by a table of elderly Irish men who were part of a polka band, who proceeded to loudly sing and play love songs to celebrate the 'young feek and his sweet little bird.' Erik was keeping his eyes averted and trying hard to ignore them -- "

While flushing to the shade of a ripe tomato.

" -- but everyone else in the restaurant thought it was quite cute. Roxy thought it was actually quite sweet and laughed it off, and even though I kept it together at the time since I knew Erik was rather thrown off by it, I couldn't keep myself from laughing afterwards."

Jacob: "(laughs) Oh, definitely when this dumb blood purist broad tried to fire me from a school I don't even work at.

"Okay, so here's the skinny. I was abroad, visiting the Salem Witches' Institute, right? I'd come to visit after the Headmistress asked me to give a lecture to their 'senior' class -- basically, their version of NEWT students -- about my methods of developing magical creature anti-venoms. And I decided -- after some discussion with that very Headmistress -- that the class would benefit from some 'in-the-field' learning -- so I took the girls to the local zoo so we could visit the reptile house and discuss the ways that Muggle doctors treat those non-magical reptiles' venoms. While there, we had to use Muggle dollars and cents to buy food and souvenirs -- I helped with that part, so everyone could buy at least one small treat -- overall, it was a brilliant day! The girls were all super jazzed. At least until she popped up -- Mrs. Buzzkill. She was the mum of one of the girls, this one really shy little thing, and I gotta say, I can see why the girl barely talked, if she lives with an obnoxious chatterbox like that woman. But yeah, that broad thought it was outrageous that I'd bring her daughter to such an unsafe, low-brow place, where Muggle boys could 'have their way with such impressionable young girls.' She wouldn't listen to a single word anyone said -- all she could do was point her manicured claw at me and scream at the Headmistress how I was unfit to teach children and she should fire me straightaway and how she was going to sue me for everything I owned and make sure I ended up out on the streets."

[Jacob bursts out laughing just remembering the encounter.]

Jacob: "When I finally got a word in, I told the lady that I'm a traveling wizard who's already quite comfortable on the streets, so maybe she should find another method of attack. Preferably not on the Dueling Field, because I don't want to embarrass her further.''

[Jacob laughs harder.]

Jacob: "Old banshee nearly turned purple, hearing that. Poor Headmistress had to threaten to stun her, just to get her to back down and take a chill pill."

Soft Asks!

[carewyncromwell]

✨soft asks✨

What song makes you feel better?

What is your go to comfort show?

Reading or writing? Why?

Whats your favorite feeling?

How do you like to take care of yourself?

What’s your favorite candle scent?

Who do you feel most like yourself around?

Whats a fabric/texture that’s nostalgic for you?

Best childhood moment?

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? (or just felt really good afterwards)

Do you have a comfort item? Tell us about it!

What calms you down?

Bath or shower to relax?

Whats something upcoming that you’re excited for?

Comfort food?

What’s something you want to create soon?

How do you feel best loved?

What age in life do you think you’ll feel most yourself at?

Have you ever written or received a love letter?

Tell us about a memory you hold close to your heart.

Tea, Coffee, or hot cocoa?

Name of your favorite playlist?

Have you ever received flowers?

Who is your bestfriend?

If your soul was a color, what would it be?

If you could live anywhere with anyone you want, where would it be and who would you bring?

Do you like to garden? Have you ever grown something?

What are you proudest of?

Are you a kind person?

What do your hobbies look like?

[carewyncromwell]

How many pets does your OC have?

[carewyncromwell]

1, 10, 19 and 20 for Lane : )

Who was the last person you held hands with?

Lane: "(considers this) Hmm...I suppose it would have to be Judy. She used to drag me along by the hand a lot at school, and even now she likes holding my hands while we're talking or when we meet back up after a long time. Even when we go walking together, it's often arm-in-arm since Judy has had to start walking with a cane -- "

Much to her displeasure.

Lane: " -- and she likes when she can lean against me instead."

Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?

Lane: "(smiles wryly) Well, depending on what you mean by 'conversation,' I'd guess it'd have to be Kingsley Shacklebolt. The Minister sent me a letter asking for some historical insight into the dementors of Azkaban, and before long, we ended up discussing the creatures themselves and the...morality of their position at the prison."

[Lane's lips knit together very seriously.]

Lane: "(more quietly) Given how much my Winnie's ward Erik in particular suffered at such creatures' hands, I told him we at least would support him if he chose to remove them from Azkaban. Only a person akin to my own father I think is wicked enough to deserve cohabitating with such creatures for any period of time...and fortunately people as cruel and irredeemable as him are quite rare."

[Lane's expression clears ever-so-slightly.]

Lane: "...If you mean an actual verbal conversation, then that would have to be my heart-to-heart with Winnie's boyfriend Orion, after I finally met him."

Do you like bubble baths?

Lane: "(actually giggles) Not for myself, no -- but oh, being able to watch my wee bairns play with bubbles in the tub? That brings back such good memories..."

Do you like your neighbors?

Lane: "At present I actually live rather remotely, so I don't have neighbors...but I guess I can talk about the ones I had when Jay and Winnie were little. In Westminster, I spoke to only two of our neighbors casually -- the family on our left, headed by a woman who entered and won just about every lawn competition in existence, and an elderly couple across the street who went to our church. That couple would look after our cat Ella, if we ever needed to go out of town. I actively tried to avoid the neighbor on the right -- their son was in the same class as Jay, and both he and his parents were actively antagonistic toward him. Once the father of the boy even had the audacity to ask Evan on his way out the door for work if he needed a good paddle to use on Jay, to punish him for his school behavior."

[However quiet and level Lane's voice is saying this, her eyes are smoldering with icy, Charles-Cromwell-worthy hatred just remembering this. Something a bit more like a smirk then briefly flickers over her face as she adds,]

Lane: "...Evan actually shot back with some temper that day. He told the man the only people who deserve to get hit are parents who think that violence is an appropriate way to discipline children."

[As much as Lane's relationship with Evan is fractured beyond repair, it's clear that Lane is still so unbelievably proud of her ex-husband's reaction.]

Lane: "In Liverpool, we had a lot of neighbors in our complex, but Jay, Winnie, and I didn't talk to them all that much, since at that time, I really had no time for socializing around my long hours at work. I did speak to the owner of the building and a woman who owned an ice cream parlor between our building and Winnie's school named Mrs. Sackett, however, and they became Winnie's main emergency contacts while I was at work, in case she'd ever needed to get a hold of me or in case anything happened. They'd always let me know the moment that Winnie passed by them on her way home from primary school, when she had to walk home on her own. Mrs. Sackett in particular was always very kind...she was alone so much of the time, but she always so appreciated whenever Winnie would stop in to visit, especially when Jacob was with her."

Number Ask!

[carewyncromwell]

“PUT A NUMBER IN MY ASK ;)”

— 1. Who was the last person you held hands with? 2. Are you outgoing or shy? 3. Who are you looking forward to seeing? 4. Are you easy to get along with? 5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you? 6. What kind of people are you attracted to? 7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now? 8. Who from the opposite gender is on your mind? 9. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable? 10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with? 11. What does the most recent text that you sent say? 12. What are your 5 favorite songs right now? 13. Do you like it when people play with your hair? 14. Do you believe in luck and miracles? 15. What good thing happened this summer? 16. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? 17. Do you think there is life on other planets? 18. Do you still talk to your first crush? 19. Do you like bubble baths? 20. Do you like your neighbors? 21. What are you bad habits? 22. Where would you like to travel? 23. Do you have trust issues? 24. Favorite part of your daily routine? 25. What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with? 26. What do you do when you wake up? 27. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker? 28. Who are you most comfortable around? 29. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up? 30. Do you ever want to get married? 31. If your hair long enough for a pony tail? 32. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with? 33. Spell your name with your chin. 34. Do you play sports? What sports? 35. Would you rather live without TV or music? 36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them? 37. What do you say during awkward silences? 38. Describe your dream girl/guy? 39. What are your favorite stores to shop in? 40. What do you want to do after high school? 41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance? 42. If your being extremely quiet what does it mean? 43. Do you smile at strangers? 44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean? 45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning? 46. What are you paranoid about? 47. Have you ever been high? 48. Have you ever been drunk? 49. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about? 50. What was the colour of the last hoodie you wore? 51. Ever wished you were someone else? 52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself? 53. Favourite makeup brand? 54. Favourite store? 55. Favourite blog? 56. Favourite colour? 57. Favourite food? 58. Last thing you ate? 59. First thing you ate this morning? 60. Ever won a competition? For what? 61. Been suspended/expelled? For what? 62. Been arrested? For what? 63. Ever been in love? 64. Tell us the story of your first kiss? 65. Are you hungry right now? 66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends? 67. Facebook or Twitter? 68. Twitter or Tumblr? 69. Are you watching tv right now? 70. Names of your bestfriends? 71. Craving something? What? 72. What colour are your towels? 72. How many pillows do you sleep with? 73. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? 74. How many stuffed animals do you think you have? 75. Favourite animal? 76. What colour is your underwear? 77. Chocolate or Vanilla? 78. Favourite ice cream flavour? 79. What colour shirt are you wearing? 80. What colour pants? 81. Favourite tv show? 82. Favourite movie? 83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2? 84. Mean Girls or 21 Jump Street? 85. Favourite character from Mean Girls? 86. Favourite character from Finding Nemo? 87. First person you talked to today? 88. Last person you talked to today? 89. Name a person you hate? 90. Name a person you love? 91. Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now? 92. In a fight with someone? 93. How many sweatpants do you have? 94. How many sweaters/hoodies do you have? 95. Last movie you watched? 96. Favourite actress? 97. Favourite actor? 98. Do you tan a lot? 99. Have any pets? 100. How are you feeling? 101. Do you type fast? 102. Do you regret anything from your past? 103. Can you spell well? 104. Do you miss anyone from your past? 105. Ever been to a bonfire party? 106. Ever broken someone’s heart? 107. Have you ever been on a horse? 108. What should you be doing? 109. Is something irritating you right now? 110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt? 111. Do you have trust issues? 112. Who was the last person you cried in front of? 113. What was your childhood nickname? 114. Have you ever been out of your province/state? 115. Do you play the Wii? 116. Are you listening to music right now? 117. Do you like chicken noodle soup? 118. Do you like Chinese food? 119. Favourite book? 120. Are you afraid of the dark? 121. Are you mean? 122. Is cheating ever okay? 123. Can you keep white shoes clean? 124. Do you believe in love at first sight? 125. Do you believe in true love? 126. Are you currently bored? 127. What makes you happy? 128. Would you change your name? 129. What your zodiac sign? 130. Do you like subway? 131. Your bestfriend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do? 132. Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with? 133. Favourite lyrics right now? 134. Can you count to one million? 135. Dumbest lie you ever told? 136. Do you sleep with your doors open or closed? 137. How tall are you? 138. Curly or Straight hair? 139. Brunette or Blonde? 140. Summer or Winter? 141. Night or Day? 142. Favourite month? 143. Are you a vegetarian? 144. Dark, milk or white chocolate? 145. Tea or Coffee? 146. Was today a good day? 147. Mars or Snickers? 148. What’s your favourite quote? 149. Do you believe in ghosts? 150. Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first line on that page? Source - catscuddlingandyou.tumblr.com (via catscuddlingandyou)

[carewyncromwell]

[carewyncromwell]

"Lift me up and lead me to the garden, Where life begins anew -- Where I'll find you, And I'll find you love me too..."

~"Come to My Garden/Lift Me Up" from The Secret Garden (musical)

x~x~x~x

Jackson Knightly's profile! // more about Jackson's parents // fancasting Alec Guinness as Everard Knightly and Mia Wasikowska as Cassandra Knightly

x~x~x~x

Everard Knightly had always been a reserved, upright gentleman, by reputation. He and his wife Viola were both active in Wizarding World high society, with Viola advocating for new safety rules for the International Quidditch League and Everard working as a well-respected Ministry Apparition instructor. Even most of their daughters followed their parents' example by making good marriage matches or pursuing their own respectable careers -- Selene was married to a well-respected Hitwizard with five daughters of her own; Ariadne had opened a new clothing shop in Diagon Alley with her business partner Eden Twilfitt; even private magical tutor Circe had married late in life to a wealthy widower and now had both a stepdaughter and a new baby on the way.

The black sheep of the Knightly family, therefore, was youngest daughter Cassandra.

Cassandra, contrary to her name, quite frankly never looked that far past the present. She was emotional and impulsive, prone to jump first and ask questions later, and that got her into trouble more than once. The most significant trouble it got her into, though, was her failed marriage with Muggle conman John Eglinton. It was such a big mistake, in fact, that it even alienated Cassandra from her parents, since Everard detested and distrusted the hell out of his new son-in-law and refused to have any contact with him. The rift was only bridged when Cassandra Apparated home to her parents one cold, rainy Monday night, her hair and clothes soaked through and covered with mud and her tear-stained face paler and more desperate than her family had ever seen.

"He took him," she sobbed to her parents. "John, he -- he took my Jackie!"

Viola sat on the chaise longue in the parlor with her youngest daughter's head in her lap all night as Cassandra broke down and told them the whole story -- how her nine-year-old son Jackson had used underage magic in front of both of his parents; how, after seeing how happy John had looked, Cassandra told him about both Jackson's and her magic; how John had wanted to use their talents to get them out of their financial trouble and how Cassandra herself had put her foot down; and finally, how John did the unimaginable -- kidnapping his own son and disappearing to who knows where.

Everard himself didn't sit down. Instead he stood by the window the whole time, looking out but listening to every word his youngest daughter said. When she was finished, the senior wizard immediately strode across the room, telling Viola in a terse voice to tend to Cassandra, and headed straight to his office. He spent the next hour sending as many letters as he could to every Ministry employee and contact he could think of, from the Head of Magical Transportation all the way to a old Muggle-born school friend who Everard thought might know more about how a Muggle might try to go into hiding. Everard threw himself into finding his grandson, and he didn't rest until Jackson was finally brought back to England three years later.

When twelve-year-old Jackson caught sight of his mother at the dock, his face was akin to a sunbeam. He ran at top speed, ducking and dodging dozens of people to reach her, and when they finally came together, he threw both of his arms around Cassandra, his mouth spread into the biggest, brightest smile, even as she sobbed tears of joy and petted his hair over and over like he was a little puppy.

The sight was enough to make Viola dab at her eyes with her handkerchief -- Everard, however, remained quiet and only spoke when he approached his grandson.

Quite a scrawny little cosset, the old wizard thought as he appraised the boy. Jackson definitely resembled his Muggle father. The blue eyes were different, though -- rather like his own, actually.

Jackson noticed Everard looking at him much more quickly than his mother did. It made him gently try to pry himself from the still-crying Cassandra's arms.

"There, there, Mother dear," he said, smiling as kindly as he could, "I'm all right -- we're all right, aren't we now...?"

He tried to smile at Everard and Viola as he bowed as respectfully as a man would to a proper stranger.

"Good day, sir -- madam," he said politely. "I thank you kindly for accompanying my mother here...I know she likely claimed no desire for an escort, nor does she need one, really, but thank you all the same!"

Everard blinked slowly. Well -- at least the boy had manners. That was more than could be said for his father.

Viola smiled indulgently. "Why, of course, Jackson. It's only natural, for family to support one another..."

Jackson blinked in surprise. "Family?"

He looked at his mother for explanation. Cassandra looked a bit chagrined.

"Jackie," she said lowly, "this is your grandmother, Viola, and grandfather, Everard. ...They're my parents."

Jackson gave an even wider, more dramatic double-blink. His mouth then fell open in the biggest smile.

"Wait, then -- then -- " he looked from Viola to Everard back excitedly. " -- does that mean you're -- that you have -- ?"

He pretended to wave a wand in his hand. Cassandra nodded, but Jackson barely saw the faint discomfort in her expression. His blue eyes were positively alight with glee: an expression that made him remind Everard all the more of his mother when she was young, examining Muggle trinkets and talking out loud about how she might try to fix them.

They did not need to have Jackson start babbling on about magic and wizards out in public. So Everard cleared his throat pointedly.

"We can talk plenty more on the matter when we get home," he said, his eyes rather pointed on Jackson as he guided Viola around in a turn. "Come along now."

Cassandra could feel Everard's muted reproach and pursed her lips slightly. Jackson, however, wasn't the least bit offended or put-out -- he was too high on cloud nine to care, and he beamed at his mother, holding out his arm like a gentleman for her to take.

Cassandra couldn't bite back a small smile as she brought both arms around her son's, squeezing the preteen boy affectionately to her side.

Maybe her father had to be as stiff and cold as ever, but she wouldn't be. She wanted Jackson to know just how happy she was, to have him home at last.

x~x~x~x~x

The next few days, Cassandra helped Jackson get settled at the Knightly family home in Wiltshire. Everard had noticed how much of that "settling," though, involved her getting him out of the house -- she took him to Diagon Alley to get his shopping done and showed him how to use Floo Powder and the Knight Bus to get around London. Admittedly these were useful things for the boy to know, but Everard could also sense his daughter was restless being back in her old family home and, now that she had her son back, was happy to use him as an excuse to leave it.

She'd always been such a rebellious child. It frustrated Everard to no end that she never channeled that rebelliousness toward any meaningful ambition, rather than taking it out on him.

One day after Cassandra and Jackson returned from London, however, Everard noticed Jackson leave his mother in the front yard, rather than escort her in. The boy acted as smiley and affable as ever, but even from a distance, Everard sensed something was off. Perhaps it was just how quickly Jackson strode away and how much he was avoiding his mother's eye. That feeling Everard had only persisted when Jackson did not join his mother and grandmother for tea that afternoon.

"Now, Cassandra, where is your Jack?" asked Viola. "Is he not feeling well?"

"He said he had some reading to catch up on," Cassandra muttered.

Her body language was evasive as she looked away out the window. Everard immediately sensed deception, and it made his own blue eyes narrow over the newspaper in his hands.

"Hmm -- well, it is good that the boy's studying hard," Viola said conversationally as she sipped her own tea. "He'll have his work cut out for him, catching up with his fellow second years in time for the start of term...why, even just having lived as a Muggle for so long will already put him at a great disadvantage, when it comes to wand care and proper etiquette -- "

"My Jackie is as proper a gentleman as any boy his age," Cassandra bit back hotly. "Likely more, judging by the kinds of dumb meaters I knew at Hogwarts -- "

"Mind your volume, Cassandra," said Everard lowly.

"I'll mind my volume when my mother learns to bites her tongue," Cassandra spat. "I know you two always hated John, and yes, you had good reason, but I will not have you acting like Jackson being raised in the Muggle World or having Muggle ancestry is somehow a problem -- "

"Cassandra," Everard reproached a bit more sternly. After a moment, he glanced at Viola pointedly as he murmured, "We think nothing of the sort. Your mother is merely concerned about Jackson's well-being...and how very much he still has to learn. Don't forget that your choices will affect his reputation in our World, whether you like it or not -- and that he might be the one to have to face the true brunt of those choices."

Cassandra's dark eyes burned with both guilt and righteous anger as she turned away, looking back out the window with a huff. Everard himself slowly found himself looking out the window too, contemplating his next words.

"...What happened in London today?"

Cassandra and Viola both looked startled.

"Your boy seemed oddly quiet when you both returned home," said Everard. "He didn't even walk with you inside."

Cassandra averted her eyes again.

"...You wouldn't understand."

Everard cocked his eyebrows. "Oh?"

The cool, daring edge to his level tone annoyed Cassandra enough that she whirled on him.

"We visited our old neighborhood, if you must know," she said harshly. "Jackie wanted to see his old apple tree, and...well..."

She trailed off.

"His old apple tree?" said Viola, surprised. "I didn't know you'd owned enough land to have an orchard."

"We didn't," Cassandra said exasperatedly, "it wasn't -- it wasn't ours, it...was a tree in the neighborhood, down the road from our house. Jackie liked to read under it, when he was younger. It was sort of his...special place."

Something sadder passed over Cassandra's face.

"But it looks like sometime after we left, the tree got cut down. Jackie tried to act like he wasn't upset, but..."

She trailed off again with another sigh, her gaze again drifting out the window.

Everard looked down at his paper, thought percolating over his face. Then he glanced at Viola, who looked back at him sadly before putting down her teacup on the side table.

"The poor thing...perhaps I can see about making a special dessert with supper tonight, to cheer the boy up. How about a nice plum pudding? Perhaps some fruitcake?"

Cassandra's lip twitched. None of the Knightlys were as keen on fruitcake as Viola was.

"...Jackie likes strawberries best," she said after a moment to herself. "I'll go out and pick him up some strawberry ice cream. That will go plenty well with some shortbread."

With this, she put down her untouched tea on the side table and headed out of the parlor with only a firm, yet dismissive "I'll be back soon," as farewell. Viola deflated visibly.

"She really is still angry with us, isn't she?" the witch said gloomily. "For cutting her off, after she married that horrid man...?"

"No, dearest -- the willful child just doesn't like being here and she's taking it out on us," Everard said curtly, his eyes returning to his paper.

"But why? I mean -- we've done everything we could to try to make her comfortable, to support her after what happened. Yes, of course Cassandra used to act out when she was younger sometimes, but we were still happy before..." Viola looked like she was grasping at straws. "...I just don't understand why we can't go back to how we were before."

"Because we can't. And we shouldn't expect us to."

Everard looked up from his paper again. He regarded his wife with a detached, but slightly sadder eye as he slid his thick-framed glasses off his nose.

"...Cassandra has plenty of vices," he said softly, "but the most prominent one she inherited from me is pride. I'm quite sure she liked feeling independent and self-sufficient, even if it was while she was under the sway and roof of someone like John Eglinton. There, at least, she could pretend that she had a say over how her home was run and how she and her son lived. Living under our roof, however...well, she knows what we say goes. However much she came to us out of desperation, it doesn't undo everything that's happened between us. And not unlike me, Cassandra's not as prone to forgive and forget as you are, my dear."

Viola looked down sadly into her tea.

"Don't worry, dearest -- Cassandra's ire is undoubtedly directed more toward me than you," Everard said dryly as he put his glasses back on. "Notice that she didn't outright slap down your idea of fruitcake when you suggested it."

Viola puffed up her cheeks in faint irritation. "Oh, Everard!" She gave a loud sigh. "Why is it that I'm the only one in this family who appreciates a good fruitcake? Is it really so much to ask that I might enjoy my favorite treat with just one grandchild of mine?"

The very faintest smirk brushed over Everard's face as he returned his focus to his newspaper. Rather than finish reading it, though, he found himself slowly losing focus, his gaze again drifting out to the window. It was only this time, at long last, that he finally caught side of the tiny frame of Jackson, hiding behind a bush with a book in his hands and an oddly sad expression on his face.

The young boy was huddled up in a ball -- almost like he wanted to be completely hidden from view, safe in his own little world, as he read all by himself.

Everard looked away from the window and turned back to his paper...but the gears in his brain were still moving.

x~x~x~x

The next day Everard actually went to go find Jackson out in the back garden. The young boy was surprised when the older man approached him, and even more so when he came levitating what looked like a small sapling in a pot at his side.

"Ah...good afternoon, Grandfather," said Jackson. He tried to put on his best, polite smile.

"Good afternoon," Everard said curtly.

He saw Jackson's eyes dart to the sapling in his hands curiously. With a quick clearing of his throat, Everard adjusted his wand arm so that the pot at his side hovered a bit closer.

"Your mother informed me that you used to have an apple tree, near your old residence," he said stiffly.

Jackson blinked twice. "...Oh! Yes, sir." He forced the brightest smile he could despite the sadness he clearly felt. "It was really quite a lovely thing...beautiful blossoms in the spring, the most lovely red delicious in the fall...I wish you could've seen it. I'm sure you would've liked it."

"Hm..."

Everard regarded Jackson with his usual detached eye. Unlike most children he'd ever encountered, including Selene's grandchildren, Jackson seemed unperturbed by the silent scrutiny. If anything, he only seemed to smile and talk more.

"Did you purchase that for your garden?" he asked. "Would you like me to help you plant it? That is, if you don't intend to do it with magic. I'm no expert on such things, but I did help Mother in our small garden back home...carry tools and the like, you know."

Everard was actually a bit startled by how willing Jackson was to plant the sapling, right off the bat. It actually made his expression open slightly, becoming more plain and frank than usual.

"...That actually was exactly my intention," he admitted.

Jackson beamed. "Great!"

He put down his book on the grass -- the title The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe gleamed in faded gold on the worn black cover. Then the boy leapt to his feet and moved to take the pot out of the air and into his arms

"Ugh...where would you like it?" he asked brightly. "By the gate? Or perhaps near the back door, so as to greet visitors?"

Everard watched Jackson strain just a bit under the weight of the small tree. "...That actually will be all up to you."

Jackson looked startled. Everard crossed his arms.

"That is a dwarf apple tree. It's still but a sapling -- even with magic helping it along, it shan't grow into a full tree for at least a year, and it won't bear fruit until at least another year or two after that."

He regarded Jackson with his usual piercing eye over his glasses, yet something in his expression seemed oddly apprehensive...almost curious to see how the boy would respond.

"If I give you this sapling, young Jackson, and you decide to plant it in our garden and put in the work needed to take care of it...then by the time you return home for summer break, at the end of spring term, you should ideally have a new reading spot here in our garden that you may use to your heart's content."

Jackson didn't answer -- all he could do at first was stare down at the little tree as he put it down in front of him. A sad smile flickered over the boy's face, and Everard for a brief moment thought he was going to reject the suggestion. But...

"...Sir...it truly is a wonderful...generous gift," said Jackson. "But as soon as I go off to school, I would have no way to tend to it as I should. Is there a spell I could cast, to make sure my tree gets watered while I'm away?"

Everard blinked. Then, amazingly, his wrinkled expression actually seemed to soften.

"No," he said. "But I will keep an eye on how well you tend to your tree. And I will give you my word as a gentleman and wizard that I shall tend to your tree in your absence with however much diligence you put in. Do I make myself clear?"

Jackson's whole face seemed to light up again. Before Everard knew what was happening, the boy had actually flung himself forward and thrown his arms around his grandfather's chest in a squeezing hug.

"Yes, sir!" he said delightedly. He then cleared his throat quickly as he let go of Everard and stepped back, still grinning from ear to ear as he bowed. "Ahem -- that is -- yes, Grandfather, I do understand. I'll take care of it the very best that I can -- that way you have to do the same for me, whenever I'm gone! Then when it's full-grown, we'll have to sit under the tree together! At least once. Can't let you do so much work with none of the reward, now can we?"

The twelve-year-old boy grinned, his blue eyes sparkling with both happiness and a bit of mischief.

Everard was taken aback by his grandson's enthusiasm -- understandable, of course. But the thing that startled him almost more was how much he took Everard's original idea -- a test of sorts, meant to encourage a good work ethic in the boy to earn what he wanted rather than have it handed to him -- and turned it around, making it something that connected them. Like links of a chain Jackson was trying to forge between them.

Everard had always been a rather detached, aloof sort of parent who was faint with praise and physical affection. But despite himself, he found himself the faintest wry smile prickling at his features as he regarded the small boy.

"...Hm. No, I suppose not."

His eyes sparkling the same shade as his grandfather's, Jackson immediately put down the potted sapling and rolled up his sleeves.

"Do you have a shovel, Grandfather? A wheelbarrow would come in handy too, to hold the dirt until we're ready to plant it."

Everard actually smirked. "A shovel? Son -- I think it's high time we go over the principles of Vanishing and Conjuring."

Jackson's eyes lit up. "Oh, I know about that! I used to conjure flowers sometimes..." His expression faltered at the memory, before he slapped his usual smile back on, "...back in New York, you know."

Everard raised his eyebrows. Conjuring wandlessly, while still only a boy?

"Well, all the more reason for us to host a properly supervised Vanishing lesson for you. Come -- take out your wand."

x~x~x~x

And so over that next half-hour, Jackson and Everard Knightly magically planted the new apple tree sapling in the garden together. And over the course of their lives, Grandson and Grandfather only grew closer, not only forging a strong bond themselves, but also mending the bonds that had been ripped apart within the rest of the Knightly family. By the time Jackson married the love of his life, Montelimar Bloom @cursebreakerfarrier, many years later, the Knightlys were overall much happier -- as full of life and color as the small apple tree still flourishing in the Knightly family garden.

[carewyncromwell]

[carewyncromwell]

"Lift me up and lead me to the garden, Where life begins anew -- Where I'll find you, And I'll find you love me too..."

~"Come to My Garden/Lift Me Up" from The Secret Garden (musical)

x~x~x~x

Jackson Knightly's profile! // more about Jackson's parents // fancasting Alec Guinness as Everard Knightly and Mia Wasikowska as Cassandra Knightly

x~x~x~x

Everard Knightly had always been a reserved, upright gentleman, by reputation. He and his wife Viola were both active in Wizarding World high society, with Viola advocating for new safety rules for the International Quidditch League and Everard working as a well-respected Ministry Apparition instructor. Even most of their daughters followed their parents' example by making good marriage matches or pursuing their own respectable careers -- Selene was married to a well-respected Hitwizard with five daughters of her own; Ariadne had opened a new clothing shop in Diagon Alley with her business partner Eden Twilfitt; even private magical tutor Circe had married late in life to a wealthy widower and now had both a stepdaughter and a new baby on the way.

The black sheep of the Knightly family, therefore, was youngest daughter Cassandra.

Cassandra, contrary to her name, quite frankly never looked that far past the present. She was emotional and impulsive, prone to jump first and ask questions later, and that got her into trouble more than once. The most significant trouble it got her into, though, was her failed marriage with Muggle conman John Eglinton. It was such a big mistake, in fact, that it even alienated Cassandra from her parents, since Everard detested and distrusted the hell out of his new son-in-law and refused to have any contact with him. The rift was only bridged when Cassandra Apparated home to her parents one cold, rainy Monday night, her hair and clothes soaked through and covered with mud and her tear-stained face paler and more desperate than her family had ever seen.

"He took him," she sobbed to her parents. "John, he -- he took my Jackie!"

Viola sat on the chaise longue in the parlor with her youngest daughter's head in her lap all night as Cassandra broke down and told them the whole story -- how her nine-year-old son Jackson had used underage magic in front of both of his parents; how, after seeing how happy John had looked, Cassandra told him about both Jackson's and her magic; how John had wanted to use their talents to get them out of their financial trouble and how Cassandra herself had put her foot down; and finally, how John did the unimaginable -- kidnapping his own son and disappearing to who knows where.

Everard himself didn't sit down. Instead he stood by the window the whole time, looking out but listening to every word his youngest daughter said. When she was finished, the senior wizard immediately strode across the room, telling Viola in a terse voice to tend to Cassandra, and headed straight to his office. He spent the next hour sending as many letters as he could to every Ministry employee and contact he could think of, from the Head of Magical Transportation all the way to a old Muggle-born school friend who Everard thought might know more about how a Muggle might try to go into hiding. Everard threw himself into finding his grandson, and he didn't rest until Jackson was finally brought back to England three years later.

When twelve-year-old Jackson caught sight of his mother at the dock, his face was akin to a sunbeam. He ran at top speed, ducking and dodging dozens of people to reach her, and when they finally came together, he threw both of his arms around Cassandra, his mouth spread into the biggest, brightest smile, even as she sobbed tears of joy and petted his hair over and over like he was a little puppy.

The sight was enough to make Viola dab at her eyes with her handkerchief -- Everard, however, remained quiet and only spoke when he approached his grandson.

Quite a scrawny little cosset, the old wizard thought as he appraised the boy. Jackson definitely resembled his Muggle father. The blue eyes were different, though -- rather like his own, actually.

Jackson noticed Everard looking at him much more quickly than his mother did. It made him gently try to pry himself from the still-crying Cassandra's arms.

"There, there, Mother dear," he said, smiling as kindly as he could, "I'm all right -- we're all right, aren't we now...?"

He tried to smile at Everard and Viola as he bowed as respectfully as a man would to a proper stranger.

"Good day, sir -- madam," he said politely. "I thank you kindly for accompanying my mother here...I know she likely claimed no desire for an escort, nor does she need one, really, but thank you all the same!"

Everard blinked slowly. Well -- at least the boy had manners. That was more than could be said for his father.

Viola smiled indulgently. "Why, of course, Jackson. It's only natural, for family to support one another..."

Jackson blinked in surprise. "Family?"

He looked at his mother for explanation. Cassandra looked a bit chagrined.

"Jackie," she said lowly, "this is your grandmother, Viola, and grandfather, Everard. ...They're my parents."

Jackson gave an even wider, more dramatic double-blink. His mouth then fell open in the biggest smile.

"Wait, then -- then -- " he looked from Viola to Everard back excitedly. " -- does that mean you're -- that you have -- ?"

He pretended to wave a wand in his hand. Cassandra nodded, but Jackson barely saw the faint discomfort in her expression. His blue eyes were positively alight with glee: an expression that made him remind Everard all the more of his mother when she was young, examining Muggle trinkets and talking out loud about how she might try to fix them.

They did not need to have Jackson start babbling on about magic and wizards out in public. So Everard cleared his throat pointedly.

"We can talk plenty more on the matter when we get home," he said, his eyes rather pointed on Jackson as he guided Viola around in a turn. "Come along now."

Cassandra could feel Everard's muted reproach and pursed her lips slightly. Jackson, however, wasn't the least bit offended or put-out -- he was too high on cloud nine to care, and he beamed at his mother, holding out his arm like a gentleman for her to take.

Cassandra couldn't bite back a small smile as she brought both arms around her son's, squeezing the preteen boy affectionately to her side.

Maybe her father had to be as stiff and cold as ever, but she wouldn't be. She wanted Jackson to know just how happy she was, to have him home at last.

x~x~x~x~x

The next few days, Cassandra helped Jackson get settled at the Knightly family home in Wiltshire. Everard had noticed how much of that "settling," though, involved her getting him out of the house -- she took him to Diagon Alley to get his shopping done and showed him how to use Floo Powder and the Knight Bus to get around London. Admittedly these were useful things for the boy to know, but Everard could also sense his daughter was restless being back in her old family home and, now that she had her son back, was happy to use him as an excuse to leave it.

She'd always been such a rebellious child. It frustrated Everard to no end that she never channeled that rebelliousness toward any meaningful ambition, rather than taking it out on him.

One day after Cassandra and Jackson returned from London, however, Everard noticed Jackson leave his mother in the front yard, rather than escort her in. The boy acted as smiley and affable as ever, but even from a distance, Everard sensed something was off. Perhaps it was just how quickly Jackson strode away and how much he was avoiding his mother's eye. That feeling Everard had only persisted when Jackson did not join his mother and grandmother for tea that afternoon.

"Now, Cassandra, where is your Jack?" asked Viola. "Is he not feeling well?"

"He said he had some reading to catch up on," Cassandra muttered.

Her body language was evasive as she looked away out the window. Everard immediately sensed deception, and it made his own blue eyes narrow over the newspaper in his hands.

"Hmm -- well, it is good that the boy's studying hard," Viola said conversationally as she sipped her own tea. "He'll have his work cut out for him, catching up with his fellow second years in time for the start of term...why, even just having lived as a Muggle for so long will already put him at a great disadvantage, when it comes to wand care and proper etiquette -- "

"My Jackie is as proper a gentleman as any boy his age," Cassandra bit back hotly. "Likely more, judging by the kinds of dumb meaters I knew at Hogwarts -- "

"Mind your volume, Cassandra," said Everard lowly.

"I'll mind my volume when my mother learns to bites her tongue," Cassandra spat. "I know you two always hated John, and yes, you had good reason, but I will not have you acting like Jackson being raised in the Muggle World or having Muggle ancestry is somehow a problem -- "

"Cassandra," Everard reproached a bit more sternly. After a moment, he glanced at Viola pointedly as he murmured, "We think nothing of the sort. Your mother is merely concerned about Jackson's well-being...and how very much he still has to learn. Don't forget that your choices will affect his reputation in our World, whether you like it or not -- and that he might be the one to have to face the true brunt of those choices."

Cassandra's dark eyes burned with both guilt and righteous anger as she turned away, looking back out the window with a huff. Everard himself slowly found himself looking out the window too, contemplating his next words.

"...What happened in London today?"

Cassandra and Viola both looked startled.

"Your boy seemed oddly quiet when you both returned home," said Everard. "He didn't even walk with you inside."

Cassandra averted her eyes again.

"...You wouldn't understand."

Everard cocked his eyebrows. "Oh?"

The cool, daring edge to his level tone annoyed Cassandra enough that she whirled on him.

"We visited our old neighborhood, if you must know," she said harshly. "Jackie wanted to see his old apple tree, and...well..."

She trailed off.

"His old apple tree?" said Viola, surprised. "I didn't know you'd owned enough land to have an orchard."

"We didn't," Cassandra said exasperatedly, "it wasn't -- it wasn't ours, it...was a tree in the neighborhood, down the road from our house. Jackie liked to read under it, when he was younger. It was sort of his...special place."

Something sadder passed over Cassandra's face.

"But it looks like sometime after we left, the tree got cut down. Jackie tried to act like he wasn't upset, but..."

She trailed off again with another sigh, her gaze again drifting out the window.

Everard looked down at his paper, thought percolating over his face. Then he glanced at Viola, who looked back at him sadly before putting down her teacup on the side table.

"The poor thing...perhaps I can see about making a special dessert with supper tonight, to cheer the boy up. How about a nice plum pudding? Perhaps some fruitcake?"

Cassandra's lip twitched. None of the Knightlys were as keen on fruitcake as Viola was.

"...Jackie likes strawberries best," she said after a moment to herself. "I'll go out and pick him up some strawberry ice cream. That will go plenty well with some shortbread."

With this, she put down her untouched tea on the side table and headed out of the parlor with only a firm, yet dismissive "I'll be back soon," as farewell. Viola deflated visibly.

"She really is still angry with us, isn't she?" the witch said gloomily. "For cutting her off, after she married that horrid man...?"

"No, dearest -- the willful child just doesn't like being here and she's taking it out on us," Everard said curtly, his eyes returning to his paper.

"But why? I mean -- we've done everything we could to try to make her comfortable, to support her after what happened. Yes, of course Cassandra used to act out when she was younger sometimes, but we were still happy before..." Viola looked like she was grasping at straws. "...I just don't understand why we can't go back to how we were before."

"Because we can't. And we shouldn't expect us to."

Everard looked up from his paper again. He regarded his wife with a detached, but slightly sadder eye as he slid his thick-framed glasses off his nose.

"...Cassandra has plenty of vices," he said softly, "but the most prominent one she inherited from me is pride. I'm quite sure she liked feeling independent and self-sufficient, even if it was while she was under the sway and roof of someone like John Eglinton. There, at least, she could pretend that she had a say over how her home was run and how she and her son lived. Living under our roof, however...well, she knows what we say goes. However much she came to us out of desperation, it doesn't undo everything that's happened between us. And not unlike me, Cassandra's not as prone to forgive and forget as you are, my dear."

Viola looked down sadly into her tea.

"Don't worry, dearest -- Cassandra's ire is undoubtedly directed more toward me than you," Everard said dryly as he put his glasses back on. "Notice that she didn't outright slap down your idea of fruitcake when you suggested it."

Viola puffed up her cheeks in faint irritation. "Oh, Everard!" She gave a loud sigh. "Why is it that I'm the only one in this family who appreciates a good fruitcake? Is it really so much to ask that I might enjoy my favorite treat with just one grandchild of mine?"

The very faintest smirk brushed over Everard's face as he returned his focus to his newspaper. Rather than finish reading it, though, he found himself slowly losing focus, his gaze again drifting out to the window. It was only this time, at long last, that he finally caught side of the tiny frame of Jackson, hiding behind a bush with a book in his hands and an oddly sad expression on his face.

The young boy was huddled up in a ball -- almost like he wanted to be completely hidden from view, safe in his own little world, as he read all by himself.

Everard looked away from the window and turned back to his paper...but the gears in his brain were still moving.

x~x~x~x

The next day Everard actually went to go find Jackson out in the back garden. The young boy was surprised when the older man approached him, and even more so when he came levitating what looked like a small sapling in a pot at his side.

"Ah...good afternoon, Grandfather," said Jackson. He tried to put on his best, polite smile.

"Good afternoon," Everard said curtly.

He saw Jackson's eyes dart to the sapling in his hands curiously. With a quick clearing of his throat, Everard adjusted his wand arm so that the pot at his side hovered a bit closer.

"Your mother informed me that you used to have an apple tree, near your old residence," he said stiffly.

Jackson blinked twice. "...Oh! Yes, sir." He forced the brightest smile he could despite the sadness he clearly felt. "It was really quite a lovely thing...beautiful blossoms in the spring, the most lovely red delicious in the fall...I wish you could've seen it. I'm sure you would've liked it."

"Hm..."

Everard regarded Jackson with his usual detached eye. Unlike most children he'd ever encountered, including Selene's grandchildren, Jackson seemed unperturbed by the silent scrutiny. If anything, he only seemed to smile and talk more.

"Did you purchase that for your garden?" he asked. "Would you like me to help you plant it? That is, if you don't intend to do it with magic. I'm no expert on such things, but I did help Mother in our small garden back home...carry tools and the like, you know."

Everard was actually a bit startled by how willing Jackson was to plant the sapling, right off the bat. It actually made his expression open slightly, becoming more plain and frank than usual.

"...That actually was exactly my intention," he admitted.

Jackson beamed. "Great!"

He put down his book on the grass -- the title The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe gleamed in faded gold on the worn black cover. Then the boy leapt to his feet and moved to take the pot out of the air and into his arms

"Ugh...where would you like it?" he asked brightly. "By the gate? Or perhaps near the back door, so as to greet visitors?"

Everard watched Jackson strain just a bit under the weight of the small tree. "...That actually will be all up to you."

Jackson looked startled. Everard crossed his arms.

"That is a dwarf apple tree. It's still but a sapling -- even with magic helping it along, it shan't grow into a full tree for at least a year, and it won't bear fruit until at least another year or two after that."

He regarded Jackson with his usual piercing eye over his glasses, yet something in his expression seemed oddly apprehensive...almost curious to see how the boy would respond.

"If I give you this sapling, young Jackson, and you decide to plant it in our garden and put in the work needed to take care of it...then by the time you return home for summer break, at the end of spring term, you should ideally have a new reading spot here in our garden that you may use to your heart's content."

Jackson didn't answer -- all he could do at first was stare down at the little tree as he put it down in front of him. A sad smile flickered over the boy's face, and Everard for a brief moment thought he was going to reject the suggestion. But...

"...Sir...it truly is a wonderful...generous gift," said Jackson. "But as soon as I go off to school, I would have no way to tend to it as I should. Is there a spell I could cast, to make sure my tree gets watered while I'm away?"

Everard blinked. Then, amazingly, his wrinkled expression actually seemed to soften.

"No," he said. "But I will keep an eye on how well you tend to your tree. And I will give you my word as a gentleman and wizard that I shall tend to your tree in your absence with however much diligence you put in. Do I make myself clear?"

Jackson's whole face seemed to light up again. Before Everard knew what was happening, the boy had actually flung himself forward and thrown his arms around his grandfather's chest in a squeezing hug.

"Yes, sir!" he said delightedly. He then cleared his throat quickly as he let go of Everard and stepped back, still grinning from ear to ear as he bowed. "Ahem -- that is -- yes, Grandfather, I do understand. I'll take care of it the very best that I can -- that way you have to do the same for me, whenever I'm gone! Then when it's full-grown, we'll have to sit under the tree together! At least once. Can't let you do so much work with none of the reward, now can we?"

The twelve-year-old boy grinned, his blue eyes sparkling with both happiness and a bit of mischief.

Everard was taken aback by his grandson's enthusiasm -- understandable, of course. But the thing that startled him almost more was how much he took Everard's original idea -- a test of sorts, meant to encourage a good work ethic in the boy to earn what he wanted rather than have it handed to him -- and turned it around, making it something that connected them. Like links of a chain Jackson was trying to forge between them.

Everard had always been a rather detached, aloof sort of parent who was faint with praise and physical affection. But despite himself, he found himself the faintest wry smile prickling at his features as he regarded the small boy.

"...Hm. No, I suppose not."

His eyes sparkling the same shade as his grandfather's, Jackson immediately put down the potted sapling and rolled up his sleeves.

"Do you have a shovel, Grandfather? A wheelbarrow would come in handy too, to hold the dirt until we're ready to plant it."

Everard actually smirked. "A shovel? Son -- I think it's high time we go over the principles of Vanishing and Conjuring."

Jackson's eyes lit up. "Oh, I know about that! I used to conjure flowers sometimes..." His expression faltered at the memory, before he slapped his usual smile back on, "...back in New York, you know."

Everard raised his eyebrows. Conjuring wandlessly, while still only a boy?

"Well, all the more reason for us to host a properly supervised Vanishing lesson for you. Come -- take out your wand."

x~x~x~x

And so over that next half-hour, Jackson and Everard Knightly magically planted the new apple tree sapling in the garden together. And over the course of their lives, Grandson and Grandfather only grew closer, not only forging a strong bond themselves, but also mending the bonds that had been ripped apart within the rest of the Knightly family. By the time Jackson married the love of his life, Montelimar Bloom @cursebreakerfarrier, many years later, the Knightlys were overall much happier -- as full of life and color as the small apple tree still flourishing in the Knightly family garden.

[carewyncromwell]

The bigger and scarier the better 🙂‍↕️

[carewyncromwell]

I've been subscribed to this channel for a while, but...OHMYGOD, this is so the Cromwell Clan in a nutshell, especially while under Charles Cromwell's control. My Lane Cromwell muse was sitting on my shoulder the whole time while I watched this.

[carewyncromwell]

Lovey ask: #10 for Carewyn and Jacob? [ellie-e-marcovitz 😊]

♥ (10) What is your OC’s favorite big way to show their love?

Carewyn and Jacob are both prone to showing love through acts of service, so that's probably their "favorite" way. They like being able to help their loved ones with their problems and hate feeling useless in the face of their suffering. After the Second Wizarding War, for instance, Carewyn put in months of work into solidifying Orion's guardianship of his daughter Eos from a legal standpoint so that Orion's ex's family (who abandoned them both during the War) would have no avenue to seek custody. Another big way the two siblings show love -- though it's one done a bit less happily -- is through vulnerability. Carewyn, of course, is well-known for having a very stoic, pretty face on at all times, but Jacob generally comes across as a geeky, cheerful, fearless, reckless, ridiculously talented and occasionally violent daredevil who can hex you a million ways and punch you hard in the face while lecturing you about your dueling form. Neither of them like crying in front of people or confiding in anyone about their respective traumas -- it's a level of trust they show to very few people outside of each other. If Carewyn or Jacob ever talks seriously to you about the people they've lost -- especially Rowan and Duncan -- or if Jacob ever talks to you about his father or Carewyn talks to you about Patricia Rakepick, then you know they love you deeply.

Lovey Dovey Ask!