#Philip Crane could never....

[viscountessevie]

Back to Marrying Winterborn for a bit cos I wanted to rest my eyes from screens:

Why is she literally me 😭😭 buying books with her pin money (she's also such a plant nerd I love her

[dairymistress05]

Colin: A Search For Purpose in the Wrong Places

Colin Bridgerton is both handsome and charming so why is he often grasping for his place in the world?

From the beginning there is a common thread of insecurity attached to Colins character. He seems to struggle to know exactly where he fits, to find his purpose.

So where do these insecurities come from? Well to start, he is sort of the “forgotten middle child” in a way, he is the 3rd son after which are 2 daughters. While he and Daphne seem close, as they were close as young children, now that they are older Daphne is having her debut and becoming a woman in society. All while Colin is also there but there’s no significance for him becoming an adult. Daphne is often treated like a first child as she is the first girl after 3 boys and the first to debut in the marriage mart.

First he tries to find his place in becoming a husband, in parallel to Daphne. It’s possible he feels unseen while she is emerging into adulthood. He doesn’t know where he fits but if he vows to take care of someone, he will fit in, right?!

He is intrigued and infatuated with and Wants to “rescue” Miss Thompson from her older admirers and be her saviour, this is all before he knows about her “condition”. AND when he finds out he only wishes that she had been truthful with him. “You wish to know the cruelest part of your deception? If you had simply come to me and told me of your situation, I would have married you without a second thought. That is how In Love I believe myself to be. But I see now that was all a lie.” Read — Fixer! He wants to be the Hero, to be needed.

Following this betrayal Colin is once again set adrift and begins his travels. He has also sworn off women, as he later admits to Pen and is attempting to know himself better. This interaction is very telling to his feelings towards Pen because she says “I am a woman” to which he responds with “You are Pen, you are my friend, you do not count”. — yes this seems to some as not regarding her as worthy — but actually this hints at something else entirely. It’s an effort to separate her because in his recent context “a woman” lied to him and betrayed him and Pen would surely never do to him what Marina did.

At this point it is extremely telling that Colin is beginning to find his true self. However, part of that self is directly intertwined with his connection to Pen. “If Penelope can see me this way, then surely I can too”. She is arguably his most valued and influential female relationship outside of his family. Colin here is struggling to understand himself and his place in society and to contextualise what Pen means to him. All of this at a time in his life when he is struggling to keep afloat.

He visits Marina he seems awkward and is once again reminded of his “out of placeness”. He makes an adorable olive joke (He is such a dork!) and nerds out about plants with Sir Philip. He is more interested in their conversation than he was with anything he was talking to Marina about. Furthermore, while visiting he seems surprised and almost disappointed that Marina is well. Like what did you think was going to happen? You were you going to save her from her life? Babies and all? Honestly, Marina isn’t wrong when she calls him “a boy caught up in his own fantasies.”

His visit with Marian was a wake up call hut he is still left without the purpose he was seeking.

“After all, everyone else is finding some purpose to their lives…and here I am feeding the ducks.” This leads him to his interaction with Jack and culminates in his “saving” the Featherington ladies which leaves him feeling like a hero.

In all his following interactions with Pen in the second part seem to hint at his feelings, (whether he knows it himself or not) he loves her.

“…Our relationship has taken shape so naturally over the years, one could take it for granted. (Hint at season 3)

You have been so constant and loyal Pen”. And his “Lady Crane was right about you…” He very clearly doesn’t understand his friendship with her but it is important to him.

Outside of his family, Colin doesn’t seem to have strong relationships. This becomes even more apparent when he is spending time with his “society buds”. All along while he seems to be able to navigate society with ease, he has often always been on the fringes and his relationship with those guys just exaggerates this fact. One comment made at Lady Danbury‘s ball saying “you are much much more fun this season”. It’s unclear clear if Colin ever really socialised with the “society buds” prior to the end of season 2 much at all. He likely didn’t though, because had he spent much time with them in season 1, he wouldn’t have jumped into proposing to Marina so quickly. So his comment about “never dream of courting Penelope Featherington”, a misguided last ditch effort at fitting in? Maybe!

It is Colin going away again, only for Pen not answer his letters this time that helps to highlight his feelings of isolation. Imagine, writing to the one person you most want to feel connected yo and getting nothing in return, heartbreaking. It’s not a wonder he “puts on armour”. When Penelope was answering his letters, he held onto the pieces of himself that she most appreciated. When she wasn’t answering his letters, he lost himself trying to find his identity apart from her. This resulted in him trying on a persona that no one recognised. When she tells him it’s been vexing to see him back into society if you watch his face in that moment, it’s almost like she slapped him and you can see his facade cracking for a second before he offers to help her.

Each time he was home, regardless of feeling without a purpose, he was constantly finding comfort in Pen. We see it in the way he goes to her “like a moth to a flame” at every possible opportunity. Colin has always been at ease when speaking with Pen. He appreciates her humour, he enjoys her mind and tries to make her laugh. There is even an example of this in season 2 where philosophising and Eloise is like do not encourage him (but not only does Pen enjoy encouraging him because they match wits very well) Colin also genuinely seems to be hanging on her every word. Until he was no longer afforded those words.

Finally it was those very words that led him to realise that he didn’t need to be useful in order to be loved. That by being truly himself, He. Was. Enough. All this time she had always loved him AND he had loved her, he just didn’t see it. Colin found that seeing himself the way that Pen had always seen him was how to find where he belonged.

In this way, he found his purpose. It was to love assuredly, fervently, loudly. That true love is Not about being needed, but about being Chosen by his best friend, the only one who truly saw him and loved him exactly as he always had been.

[drjemmanugent]

NEW FIC ALERT: i'll see your true colors

author: drjemmanugent (april) platform: ao3 posted on: 13 september 2024 fandom: bridgerton pairing: penelope/colin (polin) rating: E status: completed chapters: 3/3 summary: “Why did you not tell me?”   Penelope’s heart tenses in quick defense but she promptly realizes his tone isn’t accusatory or pointed, but rather even toned. It’s a vague question, one she wasn’t expecting out of his mouth tonight, but one she had expected to receive again for some time, at least since the night before their wedding.  – or, the one which, in the aftermath of the Season’s events, Colin and Penelope have a long overdue conversation about their past.

STORY PREVIEW UNDER THE BREAK

" Even though her cousin’s husband is a gentleman stepping up in his brother’s stead, Penelope knew Marina’s true heart was too traipsed on after the loss of her true love and Whistledown’s —Penelope’s— denouncement unto the Ton to find love again so soon. Penelope had often hoped there would ever be room in her relationship with Sir Philip for the love Marina deserved, admittedly in a selfishly feeble attempt to assuage her own part in Marina’s outcome.    Such admittance is what drove Penelope, when she revealed herself as Whistledown in her letters to the Queen and Lady Bridgerton, to also send a letter to Marina explaining everything she could, expecting Whistledown’s imminent demise. She had to explain her part in the mess, at least for some sense of resolution, should everything fall to ruin.     Penelope hasn’t received her reply, and by this point, she isn’t sure she ever will. Not that she blames her cousin; Penelope had caused her unpardonable harm, no matter how well intentioned she wished the outcome to have been, for her andfor Colin.     She had planned to tell Colin of her letter, but after the flurry of events at the end of the season, she realizes now she never in fact did. Once again, her intentions did not come to fruition as they should. Now that she’s recalled her letter to her cousin, she decides to bare out her actions.    “So, you have been in communication recently?” Penelope asks, glancing down at her fingers, trying to piece his words together.    “No, I have not written to the Crane residence since….” Colin reviewed the postmark on one of Sir Philip’s notes, “late last summer, before my trip.”   “I have.” Penelope says quietly.   

[girllookingoutwindow]

I could understand that Marina was hurting. She first thought George Crane abandoned her and their baby but then learned that he died in the war. But yeah, she could have been more receptive of the help she got from Daphne. It was through Daphne that they found out what happened to George and alerting Philip that his brother left someone he loved with child. Did she even thank Daphne properly? I can understand if she behaved badly at that time because the love of her life is dead. But after a year or so, her behavior when Colin visited her once she married Philip and had her babies was also appalling. Like seriously, she was the one who hurt and tricked him and she had the nerve to be the one still angry and bitter? Colin went there for closure and just wanted to see if Marina is doing alright. She never actually apologized for what she did to him as well, she was still high and mighty about it. She talked about putting the past behind them and she failed to realize that that’s exactly what Colin was doing in that visit. He needed to see her to have closure.

Marina is a narcissist. That's the reason because she chose Colin. Because he has empathy and that is the kind of people narcissist search for and chose like their victims.

Colin was there to understand what went wrong. He was difficult to him to understand that Marina just was mean, because he can't be mean.

The only one thing good she did in that visit was saying to him: you know you don't see it but Pen, she really cares about you. Because he wasn't allowing himself to see it, and he started to believe it there. That maybe existed that possibility. Because he never considered the idea of Pen having feelings for him, not because he didn't have them, because how she will?

The only reason why she did it, it was because she was trying to make him feel like a child. Colin never loved Marina, he just thought he did. Marina, for the contrary, she doesn't know what love is. I don't think she even can love.

She really loved George Crane?

[mariesstudying]

My thoughts on Benedict's possible queer storyline, Francesca's expected queer storyline and Eloise's hoped for queer storyline. Sorry, it's going to be a long one.

With Benedict, it's now been confirmed that he is bisexual in Season 3 Part 2. This doesn't actually confirm the gender of his love interest. The only hint we really got about his storyline next season is the mention of a masquerade ball, which is how he meets Sophie in the books. It's entirely possible that he could end up with a man as we know he is bisexual but it's still possible for him to end up with a woman, so I don't really want to speculate before any casting announcements are made for his season (which I think will be season 4). It's entirely possible the writers will think it's "too much" (which is a bullshit reason but I digress) to have more than one main character end up in a queer relationship and decide to just leave it at Francesca, but like I said, who knows.

For Francesca, I think part of the issue I think people have with Micheala is the fact that for years, but especially this season, people have been speculating that Eloise is queer, not Francesca, so I think it's disappointment from that. I've also seen people say that they are worried about Francesca's infertility storyline, but as I've mentioned in a previous post, Francesca later on being in a sapphic relationship after a heterosexual one doesn't take away from the infertility storyline, queer women can struggle with infertility too. I understand some may be disappointed due to seeing themselves in Micheal, but overall, I don't think the main plot points of Francesca's story will change simply because a woman is involved. People say it’s because part of her whole thing is that she wanted a baby, so why can’t she be torn between her feelings for Micheala and her desire to marry a man for a baby? I think people are forgetting that we're going to get 1-2 seasons with John before we reach Micheala so it's not like we're not going to get any storyline involving infertility issues in a heterosexual couple. Her season is happening for a long while so we've got time to just chill out.

Eloise is the character everyone's been saying is queer for years at this point and with season 3, everyone's expecting it to be Cressida. Just because there isn't anyone queer set up with Eloise in season 3, doesn't mean it may never happen. Yes, it's entirely possible that she could still end up with Phillip Crane, but she could still end up with Cressida. Cressida's moved to the countryside and will likely marry and have children with a man of the landed gentry and have children with him. Maybe he passes away young from a sudden illness, and she's now a widow, like Philip in Eloise's book. They strike up a correspondence because Eloise was Cressida's first real friend, maybe only friend, and she wants to reconcile and rekindle their friendship. Eventually, like in Eloise's book, Eloise runs off to Cressida's estate. Just because we don't know now, doesn't mean it may never happen in the future. I fully believe that Eloise is season 5 so there's time to set it up.

Overall, I don't think it's worth speculating too much as to whether Benedict and Eloise will have queer storyline's in their season's, though I do love good theories, because it's still totally up in the air which way things will go. For Francesca, I think we should all just chill out because her season is for ages and I bet that by the time we hit it, we'll all have seen a great storyline between her and John plus some good set up with her and Micheala and be totally chill with it when the time comes.

[lunaroceanic]

GIVE ME THE LIST

MY OWL HOUSE X CRANE WIVES THESIS, JUST FOR YOU MY FRIEND!

(in reference to my tags on this post)

ok ok so i haven't listened to *every* crane wives song yet but i have listened through Foxlore, Coyote Stories, and The Fool In Her Wedding Gown and these are the ones that stuck out to me as owl house amv material/just generally really fitting/relevant:

Down The River: "I've been wishing that you'd prove me wrong / That you'd come clean and rue the damage done / Restore my faith in you / But you've got no reason to"

This could be either Wittebane brother addressing the other (in Philip's case much more hypocritically), feeling hurt by the other's desertion and betrayal and wishing things hadn't changed between them.

Ribs: "Time has changed the metaphor / Now, dust is not the origin of bone / Little girl, don't let them sell you any armor / All your ribs are still your own"

I'm in love with @justmagicalgirl's analysis on how this one applies to Hunter, and I also like to interpret it as the Titan's POV about having been used by Philip to further his conquest of the Isles, addressing Luz and/or King about how he wishes better for both of them.

Curses: "This house says my name like an elegy / Echoing where my ghosts all used to be / There's still cobwebs in the corners / And the backyard's full of bones / Won't you stay with me, my darling / When this house don't feel like home?"

Eda-centric, specifically about her curse and how it's affected her relationships and her reputation. There's room for Philip's curse in contrast to hers in there too, especially in the third verse.

Keep You Safe: "My daddy always said / “Nothing worth doing comes easy” / Time is not your friend / Time is not your remedy / No amount of waiting will make you / Make you brave / No amount of fear will keep you / No amount of fear will keep you safe"

This is a total Willow song, focusing on her self-confidence issues.

The Moon Will Sing: "The moon will sing a song for me / I loved you like the sun / Bore the shadows that you made / With no light of my own / I shine only with the light you gave me"

This could fit as either an Amity or Lilith song, in Amity's case being about how she feels like she's not a person outside of what her mother made her to be, and in Lilith's case about being constantly outshone by her sister and not knowing who she is outside of the authority granted to her by Belos.

Allies or Enemies: "Remember when I could tell you not to smile when you were mad? / And you would always crack / And we’d both be laughing in the end / Now you’re not so quick to forget / Are we allies or enemies? / This will be the death of me"

Ohhhhh the song about wanting to mend broken relationships, not knowing if things can go back to how they used to be. This could fit Amity and Willow's relationship, Eda and Lilith, or Eda and Raine </3

Sleeping Giants: "I feel the mountains, I feel the mountains / Shifting under me / The sleeping giants are finally waking / Waking finally / My pulse is clear, rushing in my ears / I hear something calling me"

Listen to this song and tell me it doesn't fit the final battle scene. I DARE you.

Show Your Fangs: "With malice, beasts will show their fangs / They’re in for a surprise / Bravely I will wield my weapon / I made from fangs of those that died / I'm not your highness / A damsel left helpless by fright / I am a lioness / Fierce as I walk through the night"

This song fits Luz being resurrected by the Titan, inheriting their titan traits, and going into the final battle absolved of the guilt from being manipulated by Belos. Also fitting for harpy!Eda post-reconciliation with the Owl Beast.

Never Love An Anchor is already a Raeda AMV and you are legally required to go watch it one million billion time please and thanks <3

That's all I have so far!!! I'm sure upon re-listening through their discography I could come up with more but these were my gut reaction ideas, anyone please feel free to reblog with your own thoughts/analysis!!

[stars-and-birds]

guess who just finished harrow the ninth (i’m gonna kms)

AHHHHHHDHSJNSJSHGWJSJHEBSUHSBE

anyway here are my chronological thoughts from earlier

god. rereading parts of the book, you can see she almost never says ortus/gideon’s name aloud. jesus. tasmyn muir u are insane

i have no caption i just love gideon 

hot 

THEM. god.

all these characters are so fun to read about. i’m glad we got to see more of abigail this book 

PRO NOOOO

something about harrow having no one growing up but then have all these people willing to risk their lives again to exorcise a ghost from her body is just. goddamn. 

OH GOD MAGNUS

one thing about gideon nav is she will be injured and in a foreign body and alone on a god’s spaceship-house and still keep a kill count 

something something love triangle 

oh this is so juicy 

SHE KEPT THE SUNGLASSES. (not to sound like a broken record but. god.)

oh. ow

i am going to cry on this fucking train 

absolutely amazing how this book can make me go from internally sobbing to cackling 

oh shit. ortus. no don’t die dude. (he was growing on me. and he means so much to harrow)

quick break to say that i noticed anastasia’s cav was named samael novenary, and wasn’t that the name of the chain or whatever that harrow nova had?

oh???? who is this????

MATTHIAS NONUIS????

okay not to bring up toh but the sleeper saying “i killed wizard’s filth like you all my life” is giving philip wittebane idk (also makes me think that the sleeper is maybe someone from before the ressurection?)

god, the way harrow thinks of gideon even when she’s not there, how she’d act, what she’d say…

LMFAO great callback

i think i forgot to post this but btw when corona came back i grinned so hard i missed her sm

oh no. noooooo. 

abigail saying she feels responsible for harrow is sO—

god this is all too much i’m gonna cry 

commander wake— who’s that again? the dude from the blood of eden? or someone else?

what the FUCK is going on?? mercy was working for wake??? huh????

gideons mom is WAKE?! (not confirmed yet but. that’s what i’m getting. right? bc it was nineteen years ago??)

“the woman i was pretty sure was actually my mother—wearing the body of a woman i’d had a crush on, who in turn had been wearing the identity of a woman she’d murdered, until i fell on a spike so that my boss could kill her—craned her head around in her bonds” well. that’s one hell of a sentence.

oh my god. oh my god.

ALECTO?????????

OH ALECTO IS HARROWS FREEZER MEAT GIRLFRIEND 

wait is she???? i’m confused 

oh. god is dead. holy fuck

oh. god is no longer dead. what the fuck 

how the hell do you even pronounce pyrrah dve

does gideon have three fathers (god gideon the prequel and pyrrah dve fucking apparently)

IS IANTHE DEAD

IS GIDEON DEAD

IS HARROW DEAD?!???

okay okay whoever that is in the epilogue (who i’m guessing is nona) is being cared for by judith corona and cam right??

WHY DOES IT ONLY SAY GIDEON WILL RETURN HARROWS NOT DEAD RIGHT

SHHHHEJSBAKMS

[sea-owl]

Okay here's a new one for the Penelope and Phillip friendship tag: step-siblings Philip and Penelope. Portia's husband dies when Penelope is just a baby and she is in dire straights. By some marvelous coincidence, Lord Crane is looking for a wife to help raise his sons as he is far to busy. So when the two enter a marriage of convenience. Philip and Penelope instantly click and are basically joined at the hip. Since their parents aren't to interested in them, they both lean on each other heavily. Penelope is also able to delay her debut since George's wife Marina fall pregnant just before while George is off in the war and she volunteers to stay behind and look after her. George passing away, Sir Crane dying of grief with Marina not to long after lead to a further delay in Penelope's presentation as her and Philip work on raising the twins together while Portia works on getting her two eldest married. At last though it can no longer be avoided and she drags Philip along with Penelope to London with the twins to find Philip a wife (Penelope is 26 and is a hopeless case in her mind. At least she can work for Philip as the children's governess). Cue Colin and Eloise meeting and falling in love with Penelope and Philip but they think Penelope and Philip are married to each other given that they have the same last name.

I want to adjust this a little to have Felicity being the baby when Lord Featherinton dies. Mainly because I'm giggling at the thought of shotgun!Felicity going to bat for her favorite sister and step-brother as the introvert protector. Then she turns around and teaches the twins bad behavior. She teaches Oliver and Amanda how to shoot a shotgun while Eloise will later teach them how to shoot pistols. 

When Penelope was seven her father died. When she was eight her mama moved them out to Gloucestershire where she was told her new father and brothers lived in their new home.

Penelope liked her new home in Romney Hall. She did not like Sir Crane, but she did like George and Phillip. Thankfully Sir Crane was not all around that much and Phillip liked books like her!

Practically glued to the hip Penelope and Phillip would explore the countryside together studying different plants they came across and reading their books. As the rest of their family tended to ignore them the duo could be gone for hours before they were needed for lessons. Felicity joined them as she got older, much preferring to be outside with them and practicing her shooting. 

The two of them were never really apart until Phillip was seventeen and Penelope was fifteen. That was the year Phillip had gone off to university to study Botany.  The two kept in contact with letters, but despite her best friend and favorite sibling being so far away Penlope wasn’t lonely. George had recently become engaged to a young debutant named Marina. She was the same age as Phillip, and she was quite beautiful. She seemed to carry a deep sadness though. 

Penelope’s stepfather still mostly ignored all the children in his house, while her mama had gone back to London with her two older sisters to try to find them husbands for them. Her mama said if all goes well then Penelope’s turn will come when she is seventeen. 

Penelope scrunched up her nose as she read over the letter. She didn’t know how she felt about moving all the way to London to look for a husband. Could she not find one here in Gloucestershire? Like how Marina found George? 

Penelope never got to go to London when she was seventeen. When Penelope was seventeen her family had received a letter that George had been killed in battle, and then they had discovered that Marina was with child. Sir Crane had left that same morning to drag Phillip home as the new heir to Romney Hall. 

Phillip and Penelope comforted each other that night as the mourned their lost brother. 

Two weeks later Sir Crane died while yelling at Phillip and threatening to whip him. The old Sir Crane fell over, and Phillip was officially the new lord of Romney Hall. Penelope and Felicity helped gather the kindling needed for Phillip to burn that forsaken whip. 

Phillip and Marina married something Portia agreed with. 

“Your future child will be legitimized this way,” Portia explained to Marina. “If born a boy he will be Phillip’s heir and there will be no need for either of you to share a marriage bed.”

No one talked about the twins being eight-month babies, but there were whispers of how the Lady Crane never left her rooms. In order to help her brother Penelope took up the role of Lady of the house. 

Marina never got over her heartbreak, and Felicity did not like how that heartbreak manifested in their home. 

Nineteen year old Penelope was walking towards Marina’s room looking for Felicity when the most unexpected thing happened. She heard yelling. 

“Keep quiet! I cannot remember if you don’t keep quiet!” Marina shouted from the doorway.

Twelve year old Felicity glared. It was clear she was getting ready for her lessons based on the materials in her hands. “Remember what?” Felicity spat back. “That you are Lady Crane and the lady of this house? Remember that you have children?” 

“I am not the lady of this freak house,” Marina said coldly. “I am Lady Crane to Sir George Crane.” She turned towards Penelope, pointing at her. “That is the lady of the house, the sister wife to Sir Phillip Crane.��� 

Penelope doesn’t flinch. It has not the first time Marina has said something like that to her due to her sadness, nor is it the first time she has heard someone whisper about her and Phillip’s close bond. It does not help that some truly believe her to be the lady of the house instead of her position of acting lady. 

Felicity opens her mouth to say something else when Penelope interrupts her. “Felicity, wait for me down in the drawing room.”

Felicity looks back from Penelope to Marina before taking her leave, giving her sister a quick hug before darting down the stairs.

With Felicity gone and the silence back Marina burst into tears. 

“Do you wish to lay down?” Penelope asked her. Sleeping was something Marina did a lot of these days. 

Marina nodded and Penelope led her back to her bed. Once tucked in Marina herself became silent. 

When Penelope got to the drawing room Felicity was not there, but Phillip was. “Felicity told you?” 

Phillip nodded, and then sunk down into his seat. “Marina is right. George should be the one here right now.”

“Well, if we’re going by should be, then my father, Lord Featherington should be alive, and I should be in London. We should have never met.” Penelope said, leaning her head on Phillip’s shoulder. 

Phillip let out a nervous laugh. “Could you imagine us right now without one another?”

“We’d be miserable.” Penelope replied. “We’ll get through this.”

“Hopefully.”

The two sat in silence for a moment then Penelope looked up. “Where is Felicity by the way?”

“I told her she could go destress by practicing her shooting.”

“How she loves noise.”

When Penelope was twenty-four Marina had passed away from a sickness that she didn’t even try to fight. The family went into mourning. 

Phillip and Penelope were answering condolences letters. Penelope hands one to Phillip that is only addressed to him. 

“Who is it from?” Penelope asked.

“A Miss Eloise Bridgerton,” Phillip said. 

Penelope looked over the list of relatives. Her mama managed to keep a meticulous record of the Featherington family tree and the Crane family tree. Ah there it is, Bridgerton.”It appears she is one of Marina’s distant cousins.”

Phillip nodded and started his reply. 

When Penelope was twenty-five and Phillip twenty-seven Portia had put her foot down.

“You two, and Felicity are to come to London this season to look for spouses,” Portia said, leaving no room for argument. Before either of them can get out a word Portia stops them. “No buts. Penelope we should have brought you earlier, instead of relying on someone finding you out here in Gloucestershire. Maybe if we had we could have had the Featherington grandson by now and Phillip, the children need a mother. As for Felicity it is time for her debut, and she won’t go if you two don’t.” 

Phillip and Penelope glanced at each other. As much as they don’t want to admit it, they knew Portia had a point. The Featherington estate needed an heir, Portia managed to secure it so that the first grandson would get the estate but to give themselves their best chances of that they needed as many as the daughters married as possible. Also, Romney Hall deserved a proper mistress, and the twins a proper mother. 

You deserve a wife who will love you, Penelope thought to herself as she watched her brother think it over. 

Phillip eventually nodded, looking pained as he said his next words. “I see you point Mother; we shall join in London for the next social season.” 

“Good,” Portia nodded. “Now when we are there you two must make sure to act like you are looking for spouses, and not like a couple who married for convivence.”

“We don’t act like that,” Phillip and Penelope said at the same time.

Portia sent them a look, “I know that and anyone who lives or works in this house knows that you two are nothing more than siblings. But rumors do travel, and often times leads others to see things that are not there.” 

A week later two carriages rode off towards London, one bearing the Featherington crest, while the other bared the Crane crest. 

Phillip and Penelope sat in the Crane carriage, each of them had one of the twins sleeping on their laps. 

Penelope looked down at her lap and then back at her brother. “Pip.”

Phillip looked up; Penelope hasn’t been called that since George died. “Yes Penny?”

‘When you marry-”

“If I marry-”

“When you marry,” Penelope said, “I think I should like to find a cottage nearby. To give you and your new wife some space.” 

Phillip smirked. “You just don’t want her to find out you write dirty novels, and ask barmaids about female pleasure, Lady Whistledown.

"I figured if anyone knew about female pleasure it would be Lucy. She certainly has the bossom for it. And I was right!" Penelope then made a face. “I still say it is your fault everyone calls me Lady Crane.”

Phillip had been teasing her about seeing so many reading her novels in public once and had called her my lady. He had meant it as Lady Whistledown, Penelope suspected others thought it meant Lady Crane. 

“Whatever you wish Penny I will help,” Phillip promised. “But who knows, maybe you will find your own match in London.”

Penelope rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right Pip, no serious offers would be made to a spinster.” 

As was tradition with the London social season Lady Agatha Danbury’s ball opened up the festivities. Everything was set up in a beautiful garden, with lanterns organized just so to give a romantic lighting. 

Penelope grabbed hold her Phillip’s arm. With her luck her brother would spot a plant he found interesting, get distracted, and then she never sees him again. Yeah no, she’s not about to explain Amanda and Oliver about how they lost their daddy over a plant. The Featherington estate would not survive the chaos.

Portia leads their group over to their host, who was standing with a middle-aged woman, and what looks like could be her children. 

The woman was Lady Violet Bridgerton, and her children with her were Colin, Eloise, and Hyacinth. Felicity liked Hyacinth, but Felicity had to do a double take at her older siblings.

Oh no, Felicity does not like that look Colin is giving her sister. He looked hungry and only Penelope could satisfy his hunger. Also why is Eloise sizing her brother Phillip up like that?

Thankfully Penelope is still holding Phillip in place. She does not want to see what those Bridgertons would do if she wasn't.

A few more words were passed between the the four and then Penelope detaches herself from Phillip to dance with Colin. Eloise takes Penelope's place and begins a walk around the room with Phillip.

Oh no, Felicity is gonna need her shotgun, and the twins.

[thesevenstarfoxes]

Eloise, the patron of scholars, is known for her disdain for love and marriage.There is Rumor that she has taken an oath of virginity, but Eloise has certainly never done such nonsense - she has lovers, thank you very much. She corresponds with many scholars around the world about their research topics, and one day, when she gets tired of the world of gods, she decides to randomly choose one of her pen pals and live with him for a while. None of them have a reason to object, do they? She appears on the doorstep of Philip Crane, a talented botanist full of passion for learning, with whom she has corresponded since his studies at Cambridge. But in none of their letters did he mention that he got married, or had twins, or was widowed. But Eloise stays, because it's still a change from the world of the gods, and Philip's twins are quite bright and will be excellent scholars in the future, and Philip himself… Suddenly, Eloise begins to understand why her other brothers (well, not including Anthony) talk so much about love…

John and Michael are the two young princes of a small, rainy island called Kilmartin, which is known for its music. The islanders have always told stories of gods and monsters, but as befits an island of musicians, most of their stories revolved around the elusive patroness of music, Francesca, who is featured in so many artworks on the island, with her long chestnut hair, beautiful blue eyes and mysterious smile. Michael never thought they'd actually meet her, and he certainly didn't expect her and John to fall in love with each other. When John died unexpectedly, Francesca's grief washed over the island with songs full of pain and grief for months, but only after Michael begged her to return his cousin and best friend for life, not understanding that even powerful beings like her could not do such a thing, she returned to the world of gods. After four years with no sign of her, Michael, now King of Kilmartin in place of John, had already given up hope of seeing her again. But one day as he was wandering in the fields, he heard music, and there she was, sitting on the side of a hill, just as the first day he had seen her, playing a sweet tune to John who looked at her adoringly.

part2/3

[bingbxng]

@coolrpblog | Frank Morrison

{ Philip’s head cranes to the side, a mud covered brow bone cocking in curiosity. Before him stood a child and a killer in one. Suddenly, he’s thrown into a series of violent flashbacks, triggering memories of his childhood he could never quite fully forget outside of a trial. He’s just a kid.

{ BING.... BONG….

{ He emerges from his cloak, curiosity etched into his face, though it’s difficult to tell with all the mud painted over horrifically disfigured features. The Wraith just stares at the youth in silence. He's not big on talking, but the quiet chitter in his throat vibrates with curiosity, nonetheless.

[sugaakookiee]

To Theo Sharpe, With Love | one |

Paring: Eloise Bridgerton x Theo Sharpe

Genre: Regency

Word Count: 2.3K

(it's pretty much the same as it was when uploaded before, just edited here and there)

Lots had occurred during the season of 1814. From Eloise's debut to the Viscount's wedding, the season was eventful for the Bridgertons. But the season wasn't as eventful as Eloise's journeys to see the printer's apprentice, Theo Sharpe.

Eloise met him while searching for information on Lady Whistledown in Chancery Lane. She had found the printer shop where her scandal sheets came from and met with a boy near her age.

"Tell me what you know of her." She said to the boy, who was trying to do his job.

"I think you might be lost." 

"I think you're evading my question."

"You never asked me a question."

Is this boy challenging her? How dare he?

"Has it never occurred to you that I'm here to find the writer to discuss intellectual matters? Like the rights of a woman, the exploration of her mind."

Theo was unable to do anything but let her speak her piece.

So, it's women's rights that she wants. Theo could help her with that.

"This is not-"

"If women's rights are what you're after, then perhaps that is what you need to be reading."

He left Eloise flabbergasted. She even had to give him a second look when he entered his shop. This was one of, if not the only, time someone had an interest the same as hers.

Eloise was so enthralled with the pamphlet he let her have, much so that she attended a radical event noted on the sheet and had no problem approaching him, rather than rejecting his hand as she did to many other men.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Eloise. I'm Theo Sharpe."

"I know."

"You know?"

The pair had no problem sharing their feminist ideologies and seemingly enjoyed each other's company. Sometimes, the two would read to each other no matter if it was novels, short stories, or radical pamphlets. It did not matter to them.

The unimagined came when Eloise ended their friendship because the woman she praised ruined it. Her best friend, Penelope, as Lady Whistledown turned on Eloise and shared her meetings with her friend, Theo.

The last words Theo told Eloise were, "You can go back to your life, and I can go back to mine...best of luck." It made it seem like the boy never wanted to see her again.

"I ended my friendship with Theo because of you!" She yelled at her backstabbing friend, "One of the only good things in my life! Because of your self-serving manipulation!"

Even though she didn't feel like it was, Eloise carried the melancholy of heartbreak.

Why would it be heartbreak if there wasn't a heart to break?

Three years had passed by, though, as they were nothing. From the marriage of Colin and Penelope and the marriage of Benedict and Sophie, Eloise started to feel lonely.

Her best friend, who she had reconciled with, was off living the married life, and her favorite brother, Benedict, was starting to live it. Eloise felt like she had nobody to talk to, as nobody would give her the time to listen to her political beliefs or stories she liked.

Then news came that Penelope's cousin, Marina, had passed away due to an aggressive illness. As far as Eloise knew, Marina left behind a child, and her husband, Sir Philip Crane. 

Despite not knowing Marina or Sir Philip well, Eloise thought it wouldn't hurt to send her condolences through a letter. She knew how depressing it was to lose someone, just as her mother lost her father. 

That one letter turned into many within a few months. Eloise could never think of a person who could talk about plants more than Philip, a botanist. Though if she needed to be honest, all the plant talk bored her sometimes and made her question if she wanted to continue replying to his letters.

Her mama, Violet, insisted she should, "A grieving person always needs a friend." She told her daughter.

Eloise thought the correspondence would be like any other but soon was shocked. The letter was about how much Sir Philip wanted to meet Eloise, despite writing to each other for a few short months.

Eloise shared with her mama about the letter, and Lady Bridgerton thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get her daughter a suitor, as she had been reluctant to have one.

Eloise and her mother immediately got on a carriage and saw Sir Philip.

"Go on, Eloise. Let me know how it goes when you return." Her mother said. 

Her coachman, John, opened the carriage door for Eloise, and she hopped down to the ground.

Eloise faced back to her mother, shaking her head, hoping she would have a change of mind, but she didn't. Her mother motioned her to go on to the front door.

"Mama, don't you think it would be wise for you to accompany me? I don't want to be perceived as scandalous." Eloise would do whatever she could so she wouldn't have to go inside.

"I'm sure there are many a maid to be a chaperone. I trust you respect yourself. I'll be here when you return." Violet, Lady Bridgerton, finished with a small smile and motioned her to go to the door.

Finally, she gave in. She approached the front door and knocked on it. It didn't take long for a maid to open the door, "Yes, Miss?" She said.

"I'm here to see Sir Philip. I’m Eloise Bridgerton.” 

The maid moves aside to open to door wider to let Eloise in, "I will let him know that you're here." She says before she runs off.

She felt nervous. This is the first time she meets Philip, and she is alone, without her mother's support or surveillance. 

"Miss Bridgerton," She heard. There he was, with a smile on his face, as if he had been waiting his whole life to meet her. "You're here."

"Yes. My mama thought today would be the perfect day for me to meet you, so…" she trailed off.

"Let me show you around, yes?" Philip said, stretching out his arm towards her.

Eloise walks to him and, very uncomfortably, lets him rest his hand on her back, guiding her.

It all seemed normal until they entered a room where Philip's two children resided. Eloise was aware that Marina was with a child before she left, no thanks to Lady Whistledown, but she did not know they had two children.

"Miss Bridgerton, these are my children, Oliver and Amanda. It's been hard to raise them now that Marina has passed. They still needed a mother in their life. They're still so young."

"Yes, that is very unfortunate," Eloise said. She was a bit confused as to why Philip wanted to meet her and why he was showing her around and telling her that his children still needed a mother.

They had returned to the main room, and Philip had suggested Eloise stay just a little longer for tea, but Eloise thought the opposite.

"You see, Sir Philip, my mama is waiting outside, and I think I should-" 

"Before you go, I'd like to ask you something." Philip interrupted her, "You see, you are getting older and-"

"I'm one and 20. I do not consider that old."

"And you are not getting any younger." Philip stepped before Eloise, a little too close for comfort, "And I would like to ask you if you would marry me." He went into his coat pocket and pulled out a diamond ring.

"Wait, you asked me to come to your house just to ask me to marry you?"

"Well, yes. I thought with our letters we made a connection."

"You thought. If you read what I wrote, you would know I have no interest in marriage. And you thought using your children would make me think otherwise. To speak truthfully, sometimes I got bored with your letters and wondered if I should respond. I feel sorry for you and your children, but the life you want me to live isn't for me. I do wish you the best, Sir Philip."

Eloise was on her way to the front door, but she had to leave Philip with one more comment before she could leave.

"And by the way, I hate diamonds." With that, she left his home and went to the carriage her mother was in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So, what did Sir Philip tell you, my dear? You seemed quiet on the way back." Violet asked Eloise. She had not spoken in the carriage, which worried her mother.

"Nothing, mama," Eloise said without looking up from her book. "Nothing of importance."

"When do you plan on seeing him again?" Violet said with a smile, hoping her daughter would reciprocate it.

"Never. I don't want to see him ever again." The smile on Violet's face slowly faded away.

"What happened, Eloise? What did he say to make you so upset?"

In frustration, Eloise put her book down. "Sir Philip asked me to marry him. He assumed that I would agree with no issue. He wanted me to marry, so I cared for his children. That is not me, mama. I do not wish for that kind of life."

Her mother's face softened, "Oh, I know, my lovely." Violet went to her daughter's side and hugged her. "You know I've always told you if you are going to marry, marry only for love and nothing else."

But there was nobody there who Eloise loved enough to potentially marry, well, nobody that was part of the Ton.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eloise found herself in her favorite spot of the house, the swings. As a child, whenever she felt upset about something, she would sit on one of the swings and ponder, and she never grew out of the habit. Sometimes it was her place to have a secret smoke or two.

Today, she needed a well-deserved smoke, not caring if anybody saw her.

It wasn't long before she could feel a presence behind her, and she knew exactly who it was.

"Please, Benedict, I'm getting too old to be disciplined."

A chuckle is heard, "Can't get you anymore, can I?" It wasn't long before he sat in the swing next to Eloise.

"Mother told me about what happened. You almost fell into the bizarre world of marriage." Benedict was pulling her leg, as he never thought his marriage was dreadful, but Eloise was not in the mood.

"What are you even doing here, Benedict? Shouldn't you be off enjoying your marriage?"

"Well, of course, but who would I be if I didn't visit my favorite sister."

Benedict reached out his hand, clearly wanting the box of cigarettes Eloise had in her hand, which she had given him.

He lit his cigarette, inhaling and exhaling the smoke, before talking again, "And you wouldn't mind telling your favorite brother about what's wrong with his little sister?"

Eloise sighed, annoyed, "Perhaps my sympathy does not get far, Ben. That's all that I felt for that man. I felt sorry that Miss Thompson died. It reminded me of how mother was when papa died."

"Are you sure that's all you felt?"

"What?"

"If I remember correctly, sister, you looked completely heartbroken for a while." 

Not this again 

"Whatever happened three years ago, you were not you for months. You were always in bed. You always wanted to be alone. Sometimes, you only ate part of the day. Please tell me why, sister."

"Do you wish to know?" 

"Would I ask if I didn't want to know?" 

Damn, he's right 

Eloise sighs, "He was called Theo Sharpe. He worked as an apprentice at a print shop in Bloomsbury."

"He?" Benedict said in a surprised tone.

"Yes, he. At that time, I considered him a friend, one of the few things I considered good. He listened to me, as many others have, rather than throwing my concerns aside. Do you recall when Lady Whistledown wrote that I was conspiring with political radicals? That was Theo."

"And how did this Theo break your heart exactly?"

"He believed that someone like me couldn't know someone like him. That I was too privileged to understand his difficulties. He said I was only friends with him so I could better about my unending advantages. Which is fair since I hurt him. I told him we couldn't meet after he," She took a pause, "tried to kiss me."

This set Benedict off, "He tried to kiss you?!"

"Hush, Benedict! Someone will hear you. Yes, he did, but what would you think of me if I also said I wanted to? Would you think of me as scandalous or impure?"

"No." Benedict says, "I wouldn't think of you in such a way. I'd think if have asked yourself if you ever felt in love?"

"In love?" She shakes her head, "don't be ridiculous."

"Sister, I know what being in love feels like when I see it. Were you in love with this apprentice?"

"I've had enough of this," Eloise gets off the swing she was sitting on and throws her cigarette on the floor, stepping on it.

"Eloise, there is no shame in admitting you have fallen for someone, even if it is someone with less conventional means. Even if you admit it to yourself, it is another thing to do something about it, so do it."

A moment of silence occurs before Eloise pats Benedict on his shoulder, "You are getting wiser in your old age, brother." She said before leaving her brother.

"Wait, did you call me old?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eloise had spent the last 10 minutes circling in her room, trying to figure out what to do.

It had been three years since she talked to Theo, and it would put them in an uncomfortable situation. She considered visiting him, but it was very late, and he might be out of the shop now.

"Eloise, there is no shame in admitting you have fallen for someone, even someone with less fortunate means."

Is that what she felt? Did she fall in love with Theo despite not seeing him for three years?

If she is not ready to see him in person, she does the only thing she can. She grabbed a sheet of paper, a quill, and some ink, sat on her desk and started to write.

To Theo Sharpe, With Love.

[hopepaigeturner]

in the umbrella academy au, has it ever happened that some of the members had to face their relatives or someone from their past, who was maybe tormenting them?

like i imagine, Lucy’s uncle, maybe wanting her back to sell her to some scientific company that wants to do experiments on them (this could sound totally stupid, but i haven’t see the show, im just very curious in regards of the bridgerton universe)

This isn't a stupid question nonny!!!! It's not in the UA show, but that's mainly because the real 'tormentor' of the Umbrellas is their 'father' Hargreeves. As this is a different AU we can have a bit of a play around 😉.

To answer your question I think in different ways...

Phillip and Sophie faced their demons when she helped Philip escape from his father's laboratory, after finding Simon, Kate and Lady Danbury who were investigating Crane Cosmetics due to its suspect testing policies. All that was left was a burning building and they've never heard of Araminta or Sir Crane since...

And yes, Lucy's uncle did try and get Lucy back, turning up day after day, banging on the windows, trying to blackmail Lady Danbury. And Lady Danbury brushed it off and instructed that the other children did not need to worry.

But then one day someone breaks into the Umbrella Academy and tries to steal Lucy. They are onlyThwarted by Lucy screaming and obliterating the man with her powers.

Two nights later and Abernathy is swaying down an alley after a late night whiskey. Suddenly there is a whistle, a little clunk, and the alley light goes out.

"What the?" He spins around, at a rush of wind.

"Who goes there?" he cries as he hears a patter, like feet, on the rooves above him.

His skin prickles, his breath becomes laboured.

"If you want my money come out stop being cowards!"

The softest of winds, a caress--but one that makes his blood run cold.

"We're not the cowards," is whispered in his ear, petrifying him. The cold bite of steel making him tremble "We're retribution."

He doesn't have time to scream.

Two days later, the newspaper reports that a half crazed Mr Abernathy is signed into a mental health ward after raving about flying metal, shapeshifting people, a gorilla who spoke and rats that swarmed in military formations.

Lady Danbury throws the newspaper on the table in front of Simon, Kate, Sophie and Phillip.

"We don't need to worry about Abernathy anymore."

"It seems not." Simon says sipping his second cup of coffee that morning. Sophie continues to munch on her toast.

"Indeed..." Lady Danbury's eye rake over them all. Kate smiles as does the monkey on her shoulder. Lady Danbury sighs "Well, I seem awfully tired so I think we will take a break from training today. It seems you all need a little more rest." With one final pointed look she walks away.

"She's so pissed," Phillip muttered.

"I'm not so sure," Simon says, catching the little smirk on Danbury;s face as she leaves. "And anyway," he looks over his shoulder to where John is sat crossed legged with five year old Lucy, patiently helping her learn how to control her powers. "no one messes with this family. Right?"

The others nod, a solemn vow that has never been broken.

[pichipeachy]

Sharing again some headcanons during the Bridgerton Triple Wedding Bonanza of 1824. I posted part 1 about Colin and Penelope here.

Part 2: Eloise and Philip

Anthony and Violet were quite delighted to watch Colin whisk Penelope away after their surprise revelation of Lady Whistledown. The ball continued on merrily to the wee hours of dawn, and everyone enjoyed the festivities to their heart's content, most especially the Bridgertons.

Little did they know how Eloise could turn their worlds upside down the next day.

Violet woke up late (and slightly hungover) from the previous night's festivities. She went about her usual routine before checking in on her children.

Violet goes into Eloise's room, which was strangely untouched. She did not think much of it at first until the maid informs her of Eloise's absence. Alarm bells rang in Violet's head.

Violet and the staff frantically search for Eloise, to no avail. She ran to the bank with her solicitor, trying to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Violet only lost her composure when Anthony rushed to her side at the bank.

Anthony brought her back to Number Five, where she breaks down in front of her children.

"I cannot lose her Anthony," Violet said in between sobs.

Kate and Hyacinth comfort the matriarch while Anthony looked on with troubled features. Determination floods his features as he spoke.

"I will find her, Mother. I promise."

Anthony went on a mission possessed. He enlisted Gregory's help to search for their sister. It was not until the entire day passed that Gregory raised a pertinent question.

"I know we do not want to disturb the newlyweds, but don't you think we should involve Colin and Penelope in this?"

Colin and Penelope join them the next day. The Bridgerton siblings helped Penelope as she scoured through Eloise's personal effects for any morsel of information. It wasn't until they moved furnitures that Penelope noticed a letter wedged behind a desk.

The Bridgerton men surround Penelope as she frantically scanned the letter.

"Oh, Eloise..." Penelope whispered as her eyes scanned the letter, picking up the pressed flower inside it and holding it for everyone to see.

"This is a letter from a Mr. Philip Crane, from Gloucestershire."

The implications sank into everyone's heads. Gregory swore to himself. Colin said nothing and sighed in disappointment, though anger emanated in his green eyes.

Anthony took the note from Penelope's hands. Fury rolled off him in waves as he memorized the address of this Crane fellow.

"Send a missive for Benedict. Brothers, we ride for Romney Hall."

--

Anthony walked Eloise back to the dining room in Romney Hall. All of the four Bridgerton brothers were worried and furious about their sister recklessly going to this place alone. Anthony would never admit it out loud, but he knew Sir Philip Crane and Eloise would make a perfect match. He saw how Sir Crane and Eloise defended each other earlier (even after the fact that he and his brothers almost killed the man).

Anthony knows love can blossom between the two. It happened to him and his other siblings, it could happen to Eloise too. He can only hope Eloise would be receptive to love once it comes.

--

Violet lets out a sigh of relief as the priest declared Sir Philip and Eloise husband and wife. She wished the circumstances were better, but overall Violet was happy to see her daughter marry someone who seemed to match her.

Violet had been hesitant at first, after hearing the entire truth from her sons. She did not want to marry Eloise off to some unknown gentleman. Anthony assuaged her fears though, telling her there was nothing to fret about.

"I have high hopes for them, Mother. You will see it once you see them together."

True enough, Anthony was right. Violet observed the couple during the ceremony, and during the reception on the lawns of Romney Hall. Something brewed between Sir Philip and Eloise as they interact with each other. Violet saw the potential Anthony talked about, but she still could not help but worry. Eloise, out of all her children, is the most headstrong, even compared to Anthony. Her daughter charges head-on, expecting everything to fall into place as she sees fit and just.

Violet could only hope that Eloise does not charge into her marriage with that fervor, so she advised her daughter to take their time.

It took some time, but Anthony and Violet saw how Eloise's marriage to Sir Philip bloomed into the love match it was meant to be, and both of them couldn't be happier.

Now only if the remaining single Bridgertons do not go into scandalous matches... Life would be great.

--

Bonus: A headcanon of the Bridgerton Brothers at My Cottage, after fetching Eloise from Romney Hall

In Benedict's study...

Benedict: So, what do you think of Sir Philip Crane?

Gregory: Meh, the chap's all right. Wish I'd hit him once more though, just to warn him not to mess up anymore with Eloise.

Colin (munching on something God knows what): Sod off, Gregory, do not traumatize the man lest he runs away from his upcoming nuptials with our sister.

Benedict: I think he seems like a studious type of fellow. Eloise would like that.

Colin: He displayed immediate loyalty to Eloise, despite the circumstances. He got my vote there.

Anthony: I agree. Sir Crane will be a fine match for Eloise. We'll make sure of that. *cracks his knuckles*

Gregory: *grins*

[solariaperegrine]

Colin Bridgerton maintains that love at first sight is insanity. That one had to be a particularly teeth grinding cringe kind of stupid to fall in love without knowing jack shit about the other person.

He took a sip of beer before continuing  his rant to Philip Crane, who, on second thought must be the last person he should have vented on.

The guy lost his wife just a year ago.

"It's  madness I tell you!  It's  so unrealistic and the way they portray it in movies makes me want to gag--"

These were the exact words that left his mouth when he saw her . The same exact words he now swallowed because the beautiful girl in sage green dress sat across their table and smiled at her  very obviously gay friend. 

And there it was, like a bolt of lighting.

It must have been what it felt like to witness the birth of Venus. This must be what Orpheus felt when  he met Eurydice. 

Love

How stupid it was to believe it could be possible. Yet...there was not another  word for this.

Was it mere infatuation?  

But he did not feel the least bit turned on.  Not that she is not sexy. 

And not like he is not like any hot blooded male.

Somehow this felt different. He felt like he was a goblet, overflowing.  In the few seconds he glanced at her, his mind filled with visions.

Of himself waiting at the altar. 

Of red haired children dancing in a meadow.

He heard church bells ringing and also heard himself swearing libations to her name.

What is her name?

He wondered if he knew her from another plane of existence. If this had happened  before and he was repeating some Sisyphean task from the universe.  Because  what else could it be, there was no worldly explanation  for the pull he felt in his bones.

The compulsion which made him shift  his entire  body to her direction

He must have heard Philip's attempt to pull him back to earth but somehow his mind won't  register  reason.

Love at first sight.

It doesn't  make the least bit of sense

But there he was walking towards her table .

The beating of his own heart loud against his ears.

...it was love

***

Philip Crane has had enough.

His  best friend and work colleague Colin Bridgerton  kept gawking at the pretty redhead across them.

His mouth hanging open like some idiot.

"You wanna talk to her?"

He said, snapping fingers in front of his face.  

"Y-yes!" Colin replied nervously.  This baffled Philip. Colin has never been the type to lack confidence.

"Go on then!" Philip said, tapping his shoulder.Did he even need to encourage him. The git had already stood from the table. 

"Colin" Philip called again. 

"Yes?" Colin said. 

"Play it cool mate. Don't come on too strong"

Philip held his own breath while Colin sauntered to her table. 

The redhead and her gay friend started noticing Colin  and both turned their eyes to the broad shouldered  man who loomed above them.

"Come home with me" 

Philip just about died. Of all the fucking pick-up lines. That's what he went  with?

"Who are you?" The redhead said,  incredulous, understably.  If  Philip was in her shoes, he would have decked Colin.

"The man who's gonna marry you"

Must this torture never end?

"I'm Colin"

Philip had to do something. He stood from the table and followed Colin, keeping a close enough  distance.

"Is he always like this?" She asked him, when she noticed the look of retreat he was trying to communicate  to Colin. 

"Yes" Philip answered, placing a palm on his forehead. As if being a single father of two isn't enough headache for one botanist. Now he had to provide parental guidance to his friend too? Fucking hell the man himself is an adult who spoke sense just minutes  ago. 

"Not really" Philip tried denying. But he remembered  the way Colin waxed poetics about Penelope, the wife of Odysseus. Sometimes being friends with a literature professor becomes too unbearable, especially  when said professor spent a sabbatical year in Greece then comes back to teach a semester of classical Greek epic romances to a group of youngsters about  half of them, horny young women.

Didn't  help Colin was apparently  very physically  attractive ( how else would he have known. They were classmates in an all male boarding school)

Thus, Philip's last semester  was spent dodging underage girls who kept pretending they have a class with him just to get Colin's  number. 

Is this now an opportunity  for revenge? He'll take it.

"But also kind of yes. I mean to say. He is not really the type to be this bold. He means no harm."

"I'm Penelope " 

Fuck.

"Your name is like a melody" Colin said, almost singing.

Philip felt his eyes roll back inside his head. Of all the names in the known world why did it have to be Penelope? Why Penelope? Why? That will just reinforce Colin's  delusions.

"A singer, is that what you are?"  The  redhead quipped.

"I also play the lyre" bragged Colin, a sheepish smile pulling his lips.

"Oh, a liar , and a player too! I've met too many men like you!" Said Penelope.

"'I am not like that"  Colin said.

"They all say that" she said. With a sad smile.

"I'm sorry" Colin heaved a dejected sigh.

"He's not like any man you've met" Still Philip  cannot help come to his friend's rescue.

"How  come?"  She asked.

"He's actually a classissist"  Philip said. Colin really owes him. Bigtime

"A classist?" She said, smirking.

"Well, he IS a Bridgerton"   Everyone knows the last name. As one would know a Vanderbilt or in the same vein, a Featherington.

"A narcissist?" Penelope  quipped.

" You could say--" Philip began.

"Philip!" Colin snapped.

"Fine. Tell her what you're working on. Orpheus "

To his relief, Penelope  seemed less weary of them.

Actually, is she enjoying  this?

Colin explained his craft. "I'm working on a song. It isn't finished yet. But when it's done and when I'll sing it. Spring will come again."

"Come again?" Penelope  asked.

"Figuratively"  Colin clarified. "Um. Let me show you"

Colin borrowed the guitar from Theo, the bartender who also had on his face, a shit eating  grin.

They were regulars. Now Philip  wondered if he can ever come again to this bar.

Soon however, Colin plucked the strings  and sang. Despite the strangeness of it all, Colin did have a wonderful voice and affinity to music.

The entire bar turned to watched him 

Great. More unsolicited  attention. But when Colin's  voice rang through the air, Philip cannot help be enthralled himself.

Spring will come That's what I'm workin' on A song to fix what's wrong Take what's broken, make it whole A song so beautiful It brings the world back into tune Back into time And all the flowers will bloom When you become my wife

"Oh, he's crazy!" she said.  "Why would I become his wife?"

"Erm Freudian Slip. He means can he buy you a drink" Philip said, getting in between them.

Colin gave him a look of gratitude.

"And why should I say yes to that?"  She said. She did not look weirded out or surprised, but actually  looked like she was teasing for fun.

"Maybe because he'll make you feel alive? " Philip said then wondered how Colin could pay him back for this.

"How do you know that?" She asked.

"He helped me when I lost my wife" Something  flickered in Penelope's  eyes then.

Something warm and wonderful.

"Fine. Mister Colin Bridgerton. Buy me a drink" Penelope said  to the fool, finally. 

Colin looked like a dog who had just been told he will spend the entire day at the park.

The gay friend who just watched everything  unfold with benign amusement suddenly  then took Philip's hand and took them back to their table, leaving Penelope to talk with  Colin.

"My friend just spent an entire weekend crying because of a bad breakup"  He said to Philip, whispering. 

"Let's  leave them be, shall we? What did you say your name was again?"

"Philip"

"Hi Philip! That's funny, My name is Dodi"

Philip let out a laugh.  An involuntary little laugh. He took a long swig of his Long Island Iced Tea and wondered  if he was a side character to some badly written RomCom novel.

[girllookingoutwindow]

Marina in her marriage with Philip Crane is still mean. Like the guy saved her and her kids. He even sacrificed his own chances at love by marrying her. He loved his brother that much. I mean, he could have just kept Marina and his brother's kids as a ward and maybe made Marina their governess. But he married her so she has a place in society. Like I get it, her baby daddy died. Be grateful that his brother wifed her, treats her well. Sure, they may not love each other but they could at least be friends. He at least wanted that but Marina is cold to him. So many women in the ton have cruel men as husbands she's lucky Philip isn't. Portia gave her good advice that one finds love even in loveless marriages, their children. Focus on being the best mum for them and at least try to be friends with Philip.

I agree with this.

. The things Portia said to her made me love Portia more, and her character. Marina was ruining the Featherington's reputation.

I want to add something: if Colin would've married her. He was going to be one of the most saddest person ever. Crane, I'm sure, can survive the Marina cruelty, Colin can't.

He was going to marry her believing that it was the right thing, just to discover she didn't care a shit about him. She was going to be hard and he was never going to have a connection with her.

She was going to be cheated. Pen possible would married another man, Devlin or whatever. And him would be a bunch of sadness. Melting every time he saw her. He would armour himself very deep. But the feelings still will be there hide.

Specially because Marina is the opposite of Pen. Marina is cruel, when Pen is kind and sweet. He would be desperate just for a smile of her.

That's what is was really: what made him being away of Pen in the first place. The fear of not deserving the kind of love that Pen could give to him.

Colin and Marina was the most wrong you can find.

[apinchofm]

See You Again

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@spitefularmand @angel-starbeam @vaimperial @lizzibennet @kathonysbee @datsusara84 @queenaryastark @livingonfanficseyra @alrightsnaps @jeanvanjer @viscountessevie

Two Summers Ago...

George feigned being unable to catch up with Marina. She was shorter and in her long flowing gown, she had to hold onto it to run.

Her curls were freed from her ribbons, as he finally caught her, tickling her to soft grass. She shrieked her submission, hitting at his broad shoulders as he finally let her down. They lay down next to each other.

"So, my dear Lord Crane."

"My dear Miss Thompson."

He frowned,"My father has taken to berating servants. Philip is at university and I am his heir. Striking me would not help anyone."

Marina nodded. Lord Crane had always been a hardworking man. He seemed to have a permanent frown, though she rarely saw him outside of the long and tedious church services.

"Well, my father is threatening to send me to London." She announced.

"I thought he hated London? The city?"

Biting her lip, Marina fiddled with her hands, "He wishes for me to marry. I told you of my uncle Archibald, yes? Well, his daughters are coming out - whatever the hell that means - and my father asked if I could join them."

George could not help the snort that escaped his mouth. He knew Marina had been under the tuition of a governess since her mother's death but the images of his blunt darling in the Ton was amusing.

"What if you are matched to a man who has false teeth?"

"Ew!-"

"-Or a twelve year old - lords are getting younger by the day!"

"I despise you."

"You could always marry me."

"You are not funny, George."

He suddenly looked seriously at her, "Correct. No woman wishes to risk being a widow so young. I suppose that is why mother only married when father returned from America."

"My father purchased a commission for me." He announced, "In Spain."

"Spain?" Marina frowned. There was a war in Spain. She read her father's newspapers, and she would get suspicious looks from others. She was half French, the blood of the enemy. A ridiculous thing.

"You can't! You can't go to war!"

"Every man in my family has done-" The Cranes were a military family. Since the day Henry bloody Tudor was crowned on Bosworth field, every first born son had fought for England. They were lucky to have survived for so long, mastering strategy and fighting vigour.

"Luck runs out!" Marina protested.

"Marina..." He tried to make a joke, "If you weep for me, I shall send word to London that you are seeking an old man. With no teeth specifically."

She shook her head, sniffling, "I'm not weeping for you. Those poor soldiers you'll be commanding; they have little clue what an idiot you are."

"Marina, I shall not pretend to be the most poetic of men."

"That is an understatement-"

"May I finish?"

She smirked, leaning forward and resting her head on her hands, "Go on."

"When I return, we would marry and run away from our fathers." He vowed, "Mine should be dead. Because as far as I am concerned, I have always been yours."

Marina sighed, leaning forward and rubbing her nose against his, "And I am yours. Under two conditions."

"Name them." George whispered, quickly nipping her bottom lip. She slapped him lightly on the arm.

"A house in the country!" Marina laughed, "The children will speak French first!"

They both laughed, kissing each other as they dreamed of a life they hoped for.

Reality, however, would never be as sweet.

At Hastings House, Marina was enjoying the festivities. It seemed like her mother, Daphne enjoyed a garden party.

"I was so glad you could make it", Daphne greeted her, taking her away from Portia. "Colin is here - I know the two of you have been spending time together."

"Is this when you tell me to be careful with

"No - well, yes - but Colin can look after himself. Sometimes." Daphne chuckled, "But if the two of you make one another happy, I truly would be so excited to welcome you as my sister."

The talk of marriage reassured Marina. Perhaps Colin was planning to propose, and then she could escape London, George, and her dreams. She would have a husband to focus on, and a family to build.

Daphne led her inside, wanting to show her some art Marina had expressed interest in.

"I hear your father owns Chattlebourne Manor. A rather beautiful pace in Somerset."

"He does." She said, "It is a rather beautiful place to grow up in."

In the same hall, stood George and Simon, the two chatting in front of

"Hello." Marina curtsied. He bowed. As if they were nothing but strangers.

"Hello," George said. Marina looked at her friends, who gave her innocent looks.

"Mrs Coulson, may you chaperone?" Daphne asked her housekeeper, who nodded and stood in the corner to give them privacy. Simon escorted his wife out and Marina silently cursed him in her mind. She would try to kick him in the shin.

"You look lovely." He complimented. Her soft pink gown and curls are styled in a simple updo. If it was not for the string of diamonds on her neck, he would have believed she was that same girl who ran around in fields all day.

"Does it hurt?" She asked curiously, indicating his cane.

"Sometimes." He said honestly, "Mostly at night."

"Well, there are women you can pay for that, my Lord."

He could not help the laugh that escaped him. She looked at him before succumbing to her own giggles.

"Still so... you." He mused, smiling. But she faltered at that.

"I am not. We are both changed, and that is fine. One cannot live in the past."

"Very true." He turned to her, "So, in that spirit, might I call to Featherington House?

"Why not? Penelope would like to meet you." She said. Her cousin was such a believer in romance. One night, Marina showed her some of the letters she and George had exchanged over the years - when he was at Cambridge.

"Oh, the two of you would be perfect!" Penelope had squealed one night as they sat in Marina's bedroom, sharing a plate of biscuits.

She shook her head, "Never chase after a man who does not want you in the same way, Pen. It is a waste of energy."

"I meant to see you." George said.

"I am courting Colin Bridgerton." She said firmly, "You know that. He is a good man. And he will be a good father to any children we have." Marina said defensively, "He is reliable and kind."

"Don't marry him." He pleaded. Their eyes met in an understanding made years ago when the most difficult part of their lives was how he would sneak her biscuits in church.

"No..."

"Yes..." He stepped forward, "Marina, why else would I be in London?"

"No, George. You are being mean." She protested, shaking her head and backing away.

"I know me going away-"

"You did not go away! You did not go on some Grand Tour," She snapped, annoyed, "You went to war. I'm not some delicate little debutante who cannot handle the idea that you went to war. What I couldn't take was you..." She stopped, swallowing, "You..."

She threw her gloves to the ground in frustration. He reached out to touch her, but she stopped him, her face flushed with anger and hurt.

"Not when I have loved you all this time and you..." Her voice broke and she turned away from him, unwilling to give him her tears.

George too was upset, confused as to why she was so hurt.

"I have loved you too." He said earnestly.

"No, George. You forsook me."