Gotham’s Writing Workshop: Week 33
A/N: Inspired by the recent Jocasta featurette that’s going around, I felt compelled to delve into her character and her relationship with her elder sister, Ellen.
October 1718
The silence was perfect.
The moorland stretches out before her in a great autumnal tapestry of green and brown and gold that weaves its’ way up to the craggy pile that is Leoch staring out over the glen.
It is a pile of stones and little else to her now, with the loss of her sister to the hands of Brian Dhu and the wilds of Lallybroch.
A pile of stones that echo with the ripple of Ellen’s laughter, of her brothers and their constant squabbling that is now little more than a memory with Colum’s body maimed beyond repair, now closeted away in his chambers with his books and the healers who, despite all their best efforts, could not seem to make him whole again.
Ellen could, she knows that.
She could because out of all of them, it was Ellen who knew how to make Colum laugh, with an easy, breathless, beautiful sound that Jocasta loved before all things.
Ellen had laughed like that on the night before the gathering, she remembers now.
It had been a laughter that had spoken of things that she did not understand.
Things that were hidden from her by the great expanse of childhood that still stretches out before her that her sister has crossed for good, never to return.
‘Ye’ll learn about it someday, a phiuthar,’ she had murmured when Jocasta had come to her one night, woken by the thud of bedsprings and the barely concealed gasps for breath that had bubbled into husky laughter through the bedroom walls. Her sister’s door had been left ajar, the mattress still warm with unknown heat, a candle guttering on the windowsill.
‘An’ tae tell ye the truth, it’s no’ better than what the bull does when he sees a kine on heat, ye ken?’
And Ellen had smiled a hateful, secretive smile, her eyes glittering maddeningly as she had tucked an escaped curl back behind Jocasta’s ear, brushing her lips in a soft, breath of a kiss against her sister’s cheek.
Overhead the long, mournful cry of a curlew sweeps across the soft, grey sky, the shadows long and dusky as they spin out over the glen.
Her skirt fans out around her, the hem sodden with mud and grass stains, the remnants of a forgotten daisy chain lying limp in her lap.
Somewhere amongst the coarse stubble of heather, bracken and broon, she can hear one of the dogs stalking for grouse, the crack of leaf litter loud in the stillness.
Ellen would often take her up here with their easels and paper to sketch the landscape, the shifting colours and tones of the season caught in the swipe of a pencil or the smudge of charcoal as the thunderheads boiled over the glen. These excursions would often descend into discarding their drawing materials and making daisy chains and flower crowns of primroses and harebells whilst Jocasta filled Ellen in on snippets of servants’ gossip that she had snuck out from the kitchen.
Those days are gone now, no matter how much she wants them back.
Gone in the heat of the gathering, gone in Brian Dhu’s gleaming dark eyes as they had appraised her sister over his wine glass across the top table, sat at the right hand of their father as befitted a guest of honour.
Gone in the faint clattering of horses’ hooves that had thudded through her dreams that night as the visiting party had clattered out of the kailyard and which she, foolish child that she had been, had thought nothing of.
Instead of rushing to the window and crying out her farewell, or better still, trying to stop them with all the might that her eleven-year-old self could muster, she had rolled over in bed and tried to capture her ever elusive sleep, oblivious to all but the hush of her own breathing.
Those days are gone now and Ellen; dear, sweet Ellen with her sharp Mackenzie eyes that could cut through men like they were sheathes of corn, but always softened for her, has gone with them.
Smoothing down her skirts, she watches the soft, dead petals of her daisy chain tumble back into the grass and, readjusting the clasp of her cloak, whistles for the dog.
Fin
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𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒, 𝑰𝑻𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑪𝑰𝒁𝑬 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒, character aesthetics.
BODY. long legs, short legs, average legs / slender thighs, thick thighs, muscular thighs / skinny arms, soft arms, muscular arms / toned stomach, flat stomach, flabby stomach, soft stomach, six pack, beer belly / lean frame, slender frame, muscular frame, voluptuous frame, petite frame, lanky frame / short nails, long nails, manicured-clean nails, dirty nails / flat butt, toned butt, bubble butt, thick butt / small waist, thick waist / narrow hips, average hips, wide hips / big feet, average feet, small feet, soft feet, slender feet, calloused feet / calloused hands, soft hands, big hands, average hands, small hands / long fingers, short fingers, average fingers, broad shoulders / underweight, average weight, overweight.
HEIGHT. shorter than 140 cm, 14 cm - 150 cm, 151 cm - 160 cm, 161 cm - 170 cm, 171 cm - 180 cm, 181 cm - 190 cm, 191 cm - 2m, taller than tm.
SKIN. pale, fair, rosy, olive, dark, tanned, blotchy, smooth, acne, dry, greasy, freckled, scarred.
EYES. small, large, average / grey, brown, black, blue, red, green, gold, amber, hazel, violet, doe-eyed, almond / wide-set, squinty, monolid, heavy eyes / upturned, downturned.
HAIR. thin, thick, fine, normal / greasy, dry, soft, shiny, scruffy, frizzy, curly, kinky, wild, unruly, straight, smooth, wavy, floppy, shoulder length, pixie-cut, bald, jaw length, mohawk / vermillion, white, platinum, blonde, golden blonde, dirty blonde, ombre, light brown, mouse brown, chestnut brown, golden brown, chocolate brown, dark brown, jet black, ginger, grey, auburn, dyed red, dyed any ‘ unnatural ‘ color, streaked / thin eyebrows, average eyebrows, thick eyebrows.
TATTOOS & PIERCINGS. full sleeve, thigh tattoo, shin tattoo, wrist tattoo, lower back tattoo, hand or finger tattoo, foot tattoo, neck tattoo, hip tattoo, face tattoo, chest tattoo / one tattoo, a few here & there, multiple, no tattoo / monroe piercing, nose piercing, septum piercing, nipple piercing, genital piercing, industrial piercings, earlobe piercing, prince albert piercing, eyebrow piercing, tongue piercing, lip piercing, tragus piercing, angel bites, stretched out ears, navel piercing, inverse navel piercing, cheek piercing, smiley, nape piercing, no piercings.
MAKE UP. light eyeliner, cat eyes, mascara, fake eyelashes / matte lipstick, regular lipstick, lip gloss, red lips, pink lips / bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow, neutral eyeshadow, smoky eyes, colorful eyeshadow / blush, lip liner, light contouring, heavy contouring / powder, matte foundation, shiny foundation, concealer / wears make up regularly, wears make up from time to time, never wears make up.
SCENT. floral, perfumes, aftershave, cocoa, moisturizer, natural soap, shampoo, cigarettes, leather, sweat, food, incense, marijuana, cheap deodorant, cologne, whiskey, wine, fried food, blood, fire, metal, rain, grass, ocean, autumn leaves, baked bread, freshly baked cookies, smoke, campfire, lavender, trees, pumpkin pie, musk, rose, gingerbread, peppermint, oak, honey, lemon, vanilla, coffee, mint, raw hide, chemicals.
HEADDRESS & CLOTHES. bonnet, cap, hat, hairnet, beanie, beret, fez, fedora, kippah, kufi, summer hat, top hat, wide-brimmed hat, helmet, turban, veil, kerchief, head wrap, wig / knee-high socks, tights, leggings / jeans, tight pants, jean shorts, yoga pants, sweatpants, khaki pants, suit, harem pants, basketball shorts / pencil skirt, tight skirt, loose skirt, formfitting dress, long skirt, miniskirt, maxidress, sundress / cardigans, blouse, button up shirt, band t shirt, sports t shirt, tank top, cut off t shirt / designer, high street, online stores, thrift, handmade / tie, tuxedo, ballgown, cocktail dress, high slit dress, skirt / loose clothing, tight clothing / sweater, sweater vest, hoodie / boxers, boxer briefs, thong, hot pants, hipster panties, bra, sports bra, crop top, corset, ballerina skirt, leotard / polka dot, stripes, glitter, silk, lace, leather, velvet, chemise, cotton, wool, patterns, florals / neon colors, pastels, neutral colours, plaid, black, dark colours / fur, faux fur.
SHOES. sneakers, slip ons, athletic slides, slippers, sandals, high heels, kitten heels, ankle boots, combat boots, boots, cowboy boots, knee-high platforms, bare feet, loafers.
JEWELLERY. hairpin, hair stick, barrette, tiara, crown, diadem, circlet / earrings, stud earrings, hoop earrings, dangle earrings, small earrings, large earrings, ear thread, non-pierced earrings / necklace, choker, medium-length necklace, long necklace, looped necklace, cross necklace, pendant, locket, medallion / brooch, large brooch, medium-sized brooch, small brooch, pendant brooch, locket brooch / bracelet, bangle, beaded bracelet, charm bracelet, friendship bracelet, link bracelet, slap bracelet, anklet, armband / ring, carving ring, ecclesiastical ring, engagement ring, mood ring, mourning ring, multi-finger ring, poison ring, portrait ring, puzzle ring, rosary ring, signet ring, thumb ring, toe ring, wedding ring / neck rings, body chains, cufflinks, genital jewellery / gold, silver, platinum, glass, porcelain enamel, shells, bone, ivory, hemp, twine, wood,diamond, amber, amethyst, aquamarine, emerald, jade, jasper, quartz, ruby, sapphire, turquoise, pearls, jet, watches.
stolen from: @nolabred
tagging: @prettytragcdies @icebitxh @wxldchxld @minimclistx @flyingupward @moonlitalbatross @tigereyesmuse
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