#in a house like that i'd imagine either a normal fireplace or a wood burning stove to be more common

[meneatyoghurt]

Decided to watch very cheesy The Holiday Exchange (basically The Holiday made gay) because it's on ITVx. I didn't think about the fact that it would have half set in "England".

Somehow Brilfax is the most American-sounding made up English place ever. I know we have Halifax, but Brilfax sounds more like a sleepy American skiing resort than a little English village.

Also, we don't say attorney. And Americans also say lawyer, right? So why not say lawyer, which we both understand, and then you don't have to use attorney or solicitor.

Even the British actors somehow sounded like their accents were fake. I think because they were poshing it up a bit? And the guy behind the bar at the pub made me very confused.

[shebeafancyflapjack]

Gaslight, Girlkeep

(Follow-up to @idiotwithanipad 's AU fic The Parents, from Gore Silver's pov where she confronts Gore Mary)

Mummy did not loosen her iron grip on my shoulder until we were back in our home.

When I say 'home', I don't mean a house, for we had none. Sometimes when I smell burning wood and hear the crackle of flames, I imagine there being a fireplace nearby, especially when Mummy likes me to sit with her and comb my hair with her fingers while I tell her about my dreams. But there is no cosy witches cottage. The forest is our home, and though I have my pretty bed of flowers where I take my big sleep, every rock and log and low branch is my chair and settee. The lake is my pool where the mermaids and nyads dwell beneath the sparkling surface, illuminated by the moon and fae lights hovering all around.

My home is incredible. The fantasy paradise of my dreams back when I was lost with my false family in the boring world. I've been here many cycles now, many years, time having lost its meaning long ago. All that time, I've wanted for nothing.

Until tonight.

Meeting the Fizzy Girl - Amy - had awakened something within me. For the first time, the magic and animals and Mummy's love and our silly furry companion, was no longer enough.

I wanted....more.

A shuffle came nearby, followed by a shameful grunt.

"Why dids you take your eyes off her?! I ask of you this one thing, to protect my precious little'en and you lefts her alone and vulnerables!"

The beast whimpered. Even I flinched, despite her words not being directed at me. Mummy so rarely raised her voice at either of us. Even now, it was less so out of anger and more she was upset. Disappointed.

Which was always worse.

"Don't be mad at him, Mummy. I snuck away while he was distracted by a squirrel." I said, reaching to touch Mr. Floof's shoulder. "It were only for a moment so I could practice preparing my dance for you. Then I started smelling all these sweets and thought you'd left them out for me. I followed my nose and found...her. Amy the Fizzy Girl!" I giggled, a remnant of that sugar still in my sinus.

"Best you not say that name aloud, my darling." Mummy's voice softened back to its normal tember; "T'will make it easier for you to forget about her, as you shall not be seeing her again. Now, how's abouts you show me that dance you said you be practicing? That will make Mummy ever so happy."

Subject change. Instant forgiveness. Moving on, as if my meeting with the Fizzy Girl had been nothing but another of my fantastic dreams.

Make Mummy happy. Yes, that's what I wanted to do. I began to smile and sway before something else she had said tugged at my chest.

Forget.

"I....don't want to...." I spoke, the words having to wrestle their way out of my mouth.

A pause.

"Beg your pardon, little'en?"

Mummy didn't sound angry, in fact I could see in my mind's eye the loving smile still on her face. But she was hoping she'd misheard me or that I would take them back, that I'd say it didn't matter and do my dance for her. Like a good girl.

But I'd been a good girl for so many years now. Had I not earned the right for this one moment to assert myself? Just a little bit.

I took a deep breath; "I don't want to forget her, Mummy. I want to see her again. Amy. I...I want her to be my friend..."

A longer pause.

Mummy tutted; "You've had such a long day, my lovely, you're exhausted-."

"No I'm not!" It was only the second night. Luna was shining at Her fullest strength. If anything, I was at the peak of my energy for this cycle.

Still, I did not like talking back to my mother.

"Mummy, I...She seemed really nice. Don't you think? With her squishy cheeks and big eyes! I know I didn't spend too much time with her...but I think she liked me too." I giggled again, fingering my pentacle; "She didn't run, Mummy. She didn't try to hurt me. She...gave me her name. A - M - Y."

Did that mean that Mummy had lied to me? No, of course not. So many times I've approached that big house and sensed those walking past the windows. They ignored me or, at worse, called me mean names.

Hippie weirdo. Shameful harlot. Mad she-demon.

Amy hadn't thrown any insults me, even after I accidentally poked her in the eyes. Perhaps that had been because she couldn't speak. But then, she could have written a rude word on my palm when I asked. She didn't. She wanted me to know her...

"Can't we go back and call for her to come out and play again, Mummy? I do so want a friend."

"You has our sweet beast."

"He hates me."

"No, he doth not." Mummy snapped. But the beast hardly did more than give a weak grunt, whether in agreement or otherwise, it was impossible to tell. "That just be his way, you knows that."

Most of the time, I did, I could believe that every time I wrapped my arms around Mr. Floof and squeezed his neck, his grizzles were little more than purring. But the more I seemed to assert myself to Mummy, the more the pink fog in my head cleared, and I became less of a silly fool.

"I want a friend of my own, Mummy. A friend my own age. Why is that so bad?" There. I dared to ask it.

My nose caught the rising scent of burning. Oh dear. No, stand your ground, Silver. You're a big girl and all you did was ask a question.

"You barely know this maiden, child." Mummy answered; "She did not even speak but a word. There coulds have been all sorts of unspoken intentions she kept hidden. Trust Mummy, darling girl, someone may pretend to be your friend but they just be looking for an opportunity to turn on you! She will turn on you, as all have turned on our kind."

"You don't know that!" I protested.

"YES I DO!"

Smoke billowed out from Mummy's dress and and sleeves. At the rare volume of her voice, I fell to my knees, hearing Mr. Floof cower nearby with me. I wanted to whimper too but all my stupid body would let me do is giggle.

Black, whispy tendrils slithered along the ground and coiled around my wrists, tightening the more I attempted to pull away from them, pulsing as they sent violent, harrowing images into my brain.

"They wilst call themselves your neighbour one day, then the next they shall be leading an angry mob to your door!" Mummy hissed, so bitter that I could taste her words on my tongue, "They wilst stand before God and proclaim that they witnessed you dancing with the devil at the bloody sacrament! They wilst laugh as you be dragged, naked, through the streets and the village pelts you with rotten fruit before you are to be lashed at the stocks! Does that sound good, dear Daughter? Does it?!"

Tears drenched my cheeks as I saw it all flash before me, the sight of Mummy being put through such awful torment, the jeering of the crowd surrounding me, the smell of mouldy apples...the smell of burning flesh...

"No more, please! Mummy, I'm sorry, I'll be good, just make it stop, please!" I begged through my tears and gods damned giggles.

The smoke released me. Mummy stepped forwards, the awful scents retreating.

"Oh, my darling. My precious babe. Forgive Mummy, please." Her voice was back to normal. Soft and sweet Mummy. Her hand rested upon my head; "I dids not mean to upset you so....Mummy just gets ever so scared at the thought of losing you again."

Sniffling, I nodded. It was tough enough for me growing up where I knew I didn't belong. But it was so much worse for Mummy. She grieved for me, thinking the winter fae had killed me when they stole me from my crib and replaced me with a corpse. Then she mourned for hundreds of years until I finally found my way back to her.

The math is a bit weird...but I tried not to worry about silly things like that. I always did hate math anyway.

Mummy lifted my chin with her bony finger. Somehow I knew she was smiling.

"Come on, little'en, up you get. Give Mummy a big cuddle." She coaxed.

"Cuddles hurt you." I pointed out. That's why I usually hugged Mr. Floof instead.

"They're worth it."

She helped lift me to my feet and then gathered me into her arms. I wrapped mine around her middle, finding very little to cling to, as if I were hugging a hat stand. Strange, because I knew Mummy was bigger than me. Not just taller but big and strong. Warm and cosy. I still lean into what I find, hands stroking over the frayed patches of cotton clinging to her form. I breathe in her scent and imagine we're sat beside our outdoors fireplace again, especially as her hand strokes through my hair.

Mummy says my hair is so pretty. But sometimes we pretend it's longer so that she can braid and plait it. Mummy is ever so good at playing pretend, nearly as good as me.

"I really am sorry." I whisper after she's held me for a while, my head just reaching her chest.

"There's nothing to forgive, little one. Yous can do no wrong in my eyes."

If that were the case....

I took a deep breath; "I just thought....because the girl was all alone in the woods, as I was...perhaps I could...claim her? As you did me?" Another giggle; "Not like a mummy, hehe, that would be silly as we're the same age. But just as a friend. So I coulds keep her with me and look after her...Like a sister?"

There had been a sister in my false family. That didn't count. Sisters were meant to be lovely. A best friend but more.

"You has such a loving heart, darling. Is hate for it to be trampled upon." Mummy sighed; "But you saws. The girl already be claimed by the cloaked man."

A petulant huff left me then; "That's not fair! He keeps her trapped like a....princess in a tower! Can't we rescue her, Mummy?"

"I woulds reign fire 'pon that house till they released her to us, if I thought he were bein' cruel to her, love. But you heard him, as well as I. He may be strict and scardey but he adores the child. T'is not right to take a girl from her home unless she wishes it."

It still wasn't fair. Part of me wanted to stamp my foot like a three year old denied a game at Toys R Us.

"But what kinda dad locks his kid away like a prisoner? That's not a parent, that's a monster."

Mummy's hand stilled on my hair.

I looked up at her.

"Mummy? You okay?"

"Hmm...Yes, darling girl. I be all good." She assured me. In my mind's eye, her face was glowing, those ebony curls bouncing down her shoulders; "But you are not a prisoner, are you, my sweet girl?"

"Aren't I?"

Sometimes, when I had a fleeting moment of clarity, I did wonder-

"No." Mummy stroked my cheek; "You are a princess."

"P...Princess?" I blinked, stunned by the idea.

"That's right. Princess of this here Enchanted Forest, remember?"

Frowning, everything seemed to blur in my memories. Letting out a giggle, hoping to use my honed skills to sense the world around me, the sound seemed to bounce off nothing. Thank the gods Mummy was with me or else I'd feel very lost right now.

Those tendrils were back on my head, except they didn't hurt this time, their scent not as putrid. It made me dizzy but a good dizzy. My senses were cut off but I had Mummy to tell me what was happening around me. Every word she began to speak became my reality, the images forming tangibly in my head.

My home was clear as day around me, though it be past midnight. The stars shimmering above on the sky, the moon larger than normal, shining and gorgeous. Fae lights illuminated the forest as they floated through the air. Sprites fluttered all around, keeping Mummy's forest nice and clean, deer and foxes roaming in peace and safety. My beautiful home.

"And tonight be a very important night. We are hosting a grand ball. All the elves and high fae and other magical creatures has gathered in our lands. That is why you were practising your dance, remember?" Mummy said.

Was that why I was dancing? For a ball?

"I hear one of the visitors tonight be one of the princess of the Nymph queendom." Mummy sounded a little coy, "Rumour has it she's eager for a dance with thee."

A beautiful Nymph princess wants to dance with me? Sweet Aphrodite. How lucky am I!

"And, mmm, there be a great banquet prepared all full of luxurious food prepared by the fairies themselves! Roasted potatoes in herbs, every type of cheese, and many, many...cakes."

"Cakes?" Drool was threatening to leak now. It felt like I hadn't eaten in decades.

"Mmm. Double chocolate, lemon, carrot, raspberry sponge-"

"Red velvet?!"

"....Sure." I had explained to Mummy a while back that it wasn't literally made of velvet fabric, that it was just a name. But it were my favourite and I'd only got to eat it once before Mummy brought me here.

Giggling, bouncing on my toes with excitement, I padded myself down.

"Oh but I'm not dressed for a ball, Mummy."

"We'll have to fix that then, shan't we." She said, poking my nose; "Twirl around now...Let's dress you in a gown of flowing ebony and pink, just like your lovely hair...And, oh, must not forget your tiara. Mustn't have anyone forgetting how important you be."

Her hands touched my head. My fingers seemed to numb as I felt myself down again and was unable to detect if my clothes had changed. Mummy must have dressed me, using her magic. I giggled and spun around, imagining my skirts twirling with me, like Cinderella.

"May I have a cool cloak as well? And a staff?" That way I wouldn't just be a princess, I'd be the daughter of the forest Enchantress. Also a witch.

"Whatever you want, darling girl. Always." She put her hand to mine and I visualised a wand of twisted oak topped with a rose quartz crystal.

Then she placed my cloak upon my shoulders and turned me around.

"Off you go now. Have lots of fun and remember that Mummy is right here, watching."

Smiling, I saw them all before me. The court of fantasy humanoids gathered in our spacious courtyard. They chatted amongst themselves, high fae and elves, nyads and dryads, pixies and sprites, ogres and dwarves, even some vampires - but they would not dare to cause trouble, not with Mummy present.

There, next to the red velvet cake, I saw her. The Nymph princess, with sapphire hair cascading down to the base of her spine. Damn!

I took a step forward. Then I turned back.

"Mummy?"

"Yes, little'en?"

"...I'd like to bring Amy to the next ball we host. If that's okay...."

Another pause.

"...I promise to thinks on it." She replied.

My heart soared. A result! Or the hope of one at least. That was better than nothing.

"I love you, Mummy." I grinned.

"Mummy loves you bunches. Now run along. I's be watching you dance for me."

With a final giggle, one of true excitement thrumming through me this time, I sprinted to join the party and flirt with a fellow princess. What more could any girl desire?

Moonah girl skip off into empty field. Finally. She take annoying laugh bit farther away. Now only left with noise in ear that never go away, but worse with her. Me sigh. Me rest head against Mistress' leg.

She stroke my mane. She forgive me for losing Moonah girl. Me good boy.

Only for her.

"Am I doin' the right thing, dear friend? Should I keep her withs me for her own good? Or doth keeping her my prisoner make me a monster?"

She was asking me?

Me nothing but dumb animal. What understand about being parent or what best for irritating, clingy teenage girls?!

Maybe...once upon a time...

No. No. That man....Man, not beast. That man was long dead.

Grunting, me scratched at ear, pain in head soaring. Not again. Whimper. Lean into Mistress and she sooth me.

Mistress not monster. Mistress good. Mistress saviour.

Mistress...only want what's best for cub.

Pin. Kya. Pek. Daddy lived through the night. Bear gone now. Daddy coming home.

AAAH!

Dead.

Growl and thump at the ground. Somewhere deep inside was man who would know what to say to Mistress. A man who could understand the desire to protect little ones from harm but understanding they needed to fly free at the some point. Make new friends. Learn from mistakes. Mummy and Daddy just be there to pick them up when they fall and get back on the feet.

A shame that man dead. He be big help right now.

Watching the silly Moonah girl twirl, me wish me could go dance with her. Laugh with her. Have fun. Talk. Do more than sit with and follow and act as big pillow. She say me hate her. Not true.

Me hate her laugh. Me hate her stupid nickname she give. Me hate how she too clingy. Me hate how her big sleep make Mistress sad.

But me no hate her. Just hate that heart too old and stony to love again. Like one she remind me of.

First Moonah girl. Little sister. Nah. Sweet Nah.

Fail Nah. Let Nah get taken away. Make sure no one take new Moonah girl from Mistress, no matter who. Will protect. Will be good boy.

Mistress sits upon a log to watch her daughter dance and twirl on the field, her hand still stroking hair as me rest head on her knee. Land bleak and misty, few stars out tonight, lot of cloud. But pink haired cub think she in pretty magic land. That how Mistress want it, so it be.

At least if Moonah girl make friends, she annoy less. Hmm. Maybe that good thing.