#she hadn't found anyone with enough talent yet along someone she could spend all that time with

[septimus-heap]

Okay okay wait I know I talk abt this all the time but I am once again thinking abt how marcia was the one to offer septimus a home. She offered him an apprenticeship when hed spoken like 3 sentences total to her and I am INSANE over it

[martieshub]

Fingertips played with hers as a means to keep busy when his mind ran rampant. He was now realizing why as a child he'd always have someone's hand to hold whenever he received news whether good or bad. His mind never calmed unless it was made to. While, that'd been a thing with family, that changed now with Liz. It was the weirdest yet made the most sense. Emerald hues glanced up and almost like he was watching a favorite movie or reading a favorite book, the tight lipped line from her made him softly smile. This was something that hadn't gotten better as time went on and he could tell that bothered her. He gave her a curious look as he waited for her to finish her thought. He'd seen that look on her face before. Now, it was memory but he still saw it clear as day in his mind. It was the same look she gave him when she wondered why he didn't just leave her behind after she'd helped him finish a task. It was the same look that made him wonder if anyone had actually given her anything other than their backs as they walked away and left her behind.

❛What would make me happy, is spending my life with you. Bonus would be actually catching Celina in a lie and eliminating her as a threat. But really, you make me happy. I'd give it all up, all of that, if it meant spending my life with you. ❜ He stated honestly as nothing he ever did tell her was a lie. She just hadn't quite grasped the fact that she was more than enough for him and that her flighty nature wasn't a deal breaker.He grabbed her hand and sighed into it. ❛Funny because that's exactly what I want for you. For you to be happy. I mean, I know this wasn't exactly in your plans but this is where I wanna be. ❜

His thumb caressed her jaw gently and made her look at him. ❛Hey, we made it through. I'm sure that she will want to talk your ear off over your missed week as if nothing had happened. You're still her second favorite. ❜ He tried to bring some levity to her, if he had to guess she would take this one and feel guilty about it. He also wanted to let her know that he didn't blame her and if he had known why she freezed him out, he still would have thought the same. She needed to do this for her. He'd always support that.

Along with that trademark smirk of his, came a curious look. His expression was hopeful, despite the trainwreck of his week, there was hope in his eyes, light in his features as he laid here with her. She already had an open door to his life, he knew that he'd always be an open book for her. Just would take time for her to truly get into the crevices of his mind. ❛The important thing is that we got here and we're gonna figure it out together. I'm no expert but I know one thing. I believe in us. ❜

He smiled as she stretched out in front of him and couldn't believe he'd get to love her. What he once thought nothing could make him love anyone more, he clearly was wrong. He'd found his person who made loving easy. Easily he put his hand in hers and pulled her into his side. He could close his eyes and know the way to her room. He could draw it if he knew how to draw and had that talent. A small laugh escaped him as the thought of kittens posed a tough answer. The fact she had named the cat made him tilt his head in that way of him thinking she was cute. "Truthfully? We could foster them until someone adopta them? Shelters are pretty packed and always look for foster parents to help with the overcrowding. Also, I know Annie and Sarah would go nuts over taking care of kittens since their cat is now an old lady. We'd find a way." But the thought was overwhelming. Though, Wally did love chaos. "Did you try leaving treats on the floor for her to follow?"

He rolled onto the side he had usually claimed whenever he'd slept over and stretched out his neck. "I don't think she even realizes I've been gone. That's a bit surprising since when I see her she pretends like she doesn't care." He laughed, thinking back to the times he'd accidentally gotten between her food and her. "You know, maybe it's Dolly she's scared of? Have you tried coaxing her when Dolly is here?" Wally looked up and chewed the inside of his cheek. "Seriously, do you wanna adopt her? She does have a pretty cool name."

❝ I know, ❞ The words were soft to convey her empathy at the situation, having come to know just how close the siblings were she knew was probably having a rough go of it. Especially a twin. Not that she would understand their connection, they had grown up together. Her fingers continued to stroke through his hair softly as they spoke. Lips pursed in a tight line as he spoke about his career, she wanted to be able to take that concern from him, she knew how hard he worked at it, what good he wanted to do with what he could. The fact she was being included in this choice of his put a weight she didn't quite understand on her. While she could admit that she was in love with him, she also held the idea that sooner or later, he'd tire of her, her past, her issues, and her flightiness, and eventually he would move on to someone better. This decision would affect his life, not hers, right? She didn't want to say the wrong thing, was there a right thing to say? ❝ I think,❞ she chose her words carefully as she looked off for a moment before looking back at him. ❝ That you are amazing at what you do, but you also need to do what makes you happy. What would make you happy? If putting work second or third makes you happy, then do it. That's all I want for you, is to be happy, you deserve it Wallaby. Whatever form that takes, I support it. ❞

There was that guilt, she felt horrible for not being there when she could be needed, a lot happened in that week. There was also anger at the woman that made his life miserable. Many thoughts and plots had occurred to her, but she would never do any of it without his wanting it. It would also mean reaching out to people she had left in her past long ago. The people she would be willing to do that for, she was able to count on one hand, and he was on it.

Times like this made her wish she could read his mind. Know what he was thinking, see things as he saw them. She had spent so much of her life always reading others and giving them what they wanted most, with him it was different. He always seemed to see the best in things, draw her out of her shadows to see the light in things, like he had seen her. ❝ Yeah, slow and steady. ❞ She echoed, a small smile at the thought of how she was finally catching up to things that she should have realized ages ago. Habibi, the term of endearment brought a blush to her cheeks, never being one for such things, there was something about it coming from him that seemed to mean the world. ❝ You weren't and I was just blind. ❞

❝ You have a deal, ❞ she stood up to stretch for a moment, not wanting to admit how much she missed him coming over and being there when she couldn't sleep. Or just being in her space period. There seemed to be a calmness to things whenever he was around. The casual way he dropped we, made her heart skip a beat. How did a word so small and simple make her feel like this? A part of something, something loving and whole, and part of her wanted to run from it, but that was what she was working on wasn't it? Letting it in. Letting him in. Accepting love that was being given.

❝ Maybe. Might be. ❞ Tilting her head as she thought about it, she held her hand out for him to take and lead him down the hall to her room as if he hadn't been there before. ❝ I might just be feeding her a lot. I usually spot her in the mornings around seven and then sometimes I'll hear howling around eleven so I go out and feed her again.❞ The thought of one cat was adorable, the thought of so many was a little overwhelming but also adorable. She couldn't bear the thought of separating her from her kittens if she was pregnant, that sounded evil. It was a bit of a catch-22 at this point for her. ❝ I might, but if she is pregnant, what are we going to do with a litter of kittens? Also, Antares, that's what I've been calling her, doesn't seem like a house cat. I haven't coaxed her back in here. I would leave the door open and waited a bit to see if she'd come in a couple of times. Once, she spent the night downstairs in the office, but besides that never came up. I think she might have been looking for you, seeing as you were the one that brought her here to begin with. Maybe she comes back looking for you. ❞

[themousefromfantasyland]

The Yule Man (3/7)

As told by ME

This was meant to be a short story, but it became too big, so I separated it in seven parts. I want to turn my blog in a space where I can share my writting every once and a while.

This is the first time I post one of my stories on a public space. This is the first time anyone besides my sister will be able to read, so I'm pretty exciting and anxious. I want honest criticism. I hope you all enjoy it.

In the next year, Chris opened his bag earlier, near the old bridge. News came that the Yule Man had already arrived in Arnsberg. Mia stepped into her carriage and ordered the coachman to lead her to him.

She found him sitting in a wooden bench next to the clocktower. He hadn't changed a thing. The same dirty clothes. The same enormous fur coat. The same shaggy red beard. The same tender boyish face.

His whole mood lighted up pretty quick as soon as he caught her in his sight. She waved to him, and not containing himself with excitement, he waved back to her.

They stopped the carriage near him, and she opened the door to him.

He grinned with all the mischievousness of a boy:

"You changed."

She nudged his shoulder.

"It passed only a year. How can I have changed?" She played with his beard.

"Everyone always changes." He spoke.

During the course to the Hayek Mansion, everything felt different. The coachman looked tired and in a bad state of mind. Even Mia herself seamed exhausted, yet they tried their best to stay the same. The way to Hayek home had changed too. Less trees, more buildings, the town expanded itself again.

"How is your father?"

The coachman looked behind his shoulder.

She grew quiet. Chris would not dare to ask more questions; he knew that feeling all too well.

At the Hayek Mansion things continued to change. The Yule Log had been launched in the fireplace far later than it should. The decorations this year looked poorer and simpler, as if something had sucked all joy and life out of them. The living room was a shell of what it once was. No Yule Goats this year. Silver bells now accompanied the typical decks of holly hanged by the walls. He saw statues of the Silver God near the Yule Tree in the living room.

"I didn't know you were religious." Chris said surprised.

Mrs. Hayek stormed in the room.

Mia expressed defeat.

"Oh, you brought him again." She said with more resentment in her voice than usual. "Without telling me anything."

Mia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Mother, please..."

"Oh, shut up." She snarled. "I believe we already ran out of things to say to each other."

There was only one table this year, set more by a sense of duty than by any real intent. Less charm, less sweets, less delights. The feeling in the house was way different. The Yule Festival now felt more like an accessory, a decoration, than anything real.

The Solstice Eve ball felt different too, less guests, less presents, and less joy. A sense of uneasy filled the air, with the townspeople unsure if they were welcome there. St. Nicholas was now exactly as how the holiday cards portrayed him.

The gigantic Yule Tree has disappeared this year. Along with many Yule things, it had been brought along with Mr. Hayek when he went to his final destination.

Mia stood in a corner, trying to stay out of sight, what Chris thought as a shame. She dressed even more beautiful than in the last year. She wore a sleeveless ivy-green gown with a bright red sash around her waist.

He went to talk with her, still carrying a plate full of cookies and other sweets, all those he could find.

"Are you alright? Can I do something to help?" He asked with a deep fear of invading someone else's business. He tested the ground to know if it was safe to step on it.

She saw how he carried the plate.

"Thanks."

She picked one. He released a quick nervous laughter.

"Oh, they were not for you... "

She gave him a judgmental stare.

"I mean, you can get them if you..."

She laughed.

"I missed you, silly." She hugged him and rested her face on his shoulder.

"What happened here?" He asked.

"My relationship with my mother is worse than ever." She placed a huge emphasis on the word "ever".

Mrs. Hayek approached them with as kindness as it was possible from her.

"Mia, I wanted to talk with you." She began saying by putting her best "mother voice". "Remember Mr. Evans. Well, he has a son your age. He has been having troubles finding a bride for his son. I agreed to talk about marriage proposals tomorrow. The old man is unsure with you as a good bride for his soon, so I want you to go there..."

Mia had enough. That was the final stroke that broke the camel's back.

"Mother, I'm sorry, but no!"

"What?"

Mrs. Hayek had trouble digesting that word. "No" wasn't a term she was familiarized with.

"I thought the problem was you not getting any suitors."

Mia tried her best to be diplomatic on that moment.

"Mother, I'm very thankful for what you're doing, but I'm not want to be married. Not like that."

"So, what do you want Mia." She raised her voice.

Everyone stopped and stared at them. Chris saw the sparks starting to fly between the two.

"The money of your father will not last forever. I'm trying my best to hold this family together, but you're refusing to help."

Mia kept her best poker face.

"His partners are almost taking over the company. We are almost losing our income." She continued.

Mia exhaled.

"Mother, I know, and I don't want to bring you any more trouble, but please..."

"You have been useless." She yelled.

Mia raised her voice.

"You can say that to my face."

"I can't?" She smiled with disdain. "At your age I was already married, because that's why women of our class do, we help our family." She paused to breathe. "I didn't like your father at first, he was very older than me, but this is real life." She lowered her tone. "We don't have much time."

Mia shouted back.

"What do you know about love?"

Not even Chris recognized her when she said that. She got careless. Mia spilled a kind of bitterness that she didn't know she had. Whatever that thing was, it came from way within her.

"A gold-digging shrew. Nothing is never good enough. Not even my father was good enough. You only married him because of his money. You yourself told how the fact he been black turned you off at first."

By the look of Mrs. Hayek’s expression, it was as if she had been hit in the face. A sure slap that hurt nothing more than her ego.

"I want you out." She went straight to kill.

Mrs. Hayek stopped looking into her daughter's face.

"Mother, please." Mia tried to fix the whole situation, to salvage their relationship. Mia implored for all reason she hoped still lasted in her.

Everyone continued watching.

"I will not send you away because it would be a sin against my god. You can spend Yule with us, but after that I want you out." Her mother growled

She walked away. Mia tried to reach her.

"Mother."

She immediately shot her down.

"You father already left half of his inheritance to you. This house is mine and from your siblings. It's ours."

"What is happening here" Sophia asked, followed close by her brothers.

"Nothing." Mrs. Hayek smiled as perfectly as a china doll.

Mia rushed back inside. Chris followed her.

In her anger she threw a the statue of the Silver God over the stairs and broke down in tears. She sat upon the staircase and kept crying. When Chris entered the room, she made sure to wipe her tears away. Too late.

"Father loved the Yule Festival. Mother not so much." She started. "He never liked the Church. He always told how the church appropriate the Winter Solstice festival to themselves. How they plastered their stupid god everywhere to make the holiday theirs."

She smiled, trying her hardest to lighten the mood. "Now that he's gone, mother did the same, and things are worse than ever." She hid her face in her hands.

Chris stepped up the stairs and sat by her side, remaining quiet.

"You don't know what to say!"

He nodded in shame. She gave him a half-smile.

"During this year I couldn't stop thinking about you. You never change, you never ages. I wish to be like you sometimes."

"You don't." He broke the silence.

The way he said that surprised her.

"You have an immortal lifetime."

He raised his voice.

"You have a lifetime." His lips trembled "I got only moments."

"You don't die." She was quick to point out.

"What's the point of not dying, if you never lived?" He shook his arms in frustration.

He lowered his head and his tone.

"During most of the year I cease to be, and just to think about it makes me terrified." His lips quivered. He struggled not to spill any tears. "For all the purposes I'm dead. There's no such thing as an afterlife for me. I just disappear. Boom. Nothing."

He failed. He got emotional.

"I wished I could exist. I wish I could form real relationships with people. People remember me the same way their remember a snowy day."

She closed her eyes.

"For how has it been like that."

"For as much as I can remember." He said in deep mournful tone. "I'm part of the landscape, not of the people who go through it."

"Father was the only one who understood me." She continued.

"My mother raised me to sit still and be pretty. My father raised me to be a tomboy. I'm scared. I'm a woman now, and I don't have talents or skills. I don't know what to do now, where to go. I just don't want to be like my mother. My mother comes from those types who married earlier and with much older men. I don't want to be like her."

She caught him gazing at her with care.

"You don't need to be"

She pulled his hands.

"You either."

She continued.

"Let's live the moment, here and now. As my mother said, we don't have much time."

"I really want that, but..."

"Why are you always so afraid?" She shook her head.

He stayed quiet for a couple of seconds.

"The North Wind, for as far as I remember has been one of few things that acknowledges me. He doesn't like that I'm too close to mortals. He can't punish me. He isn't my boss. But he cares, really cares. He fears for me."

Mia drew his hands to her lap.

"Promise me you won't be afraid anymore. You can be yourself. I will not punish you. I will not run away."

He smirked.

"But you have to promise me you will try to write. You told me you wanted to be a writer last year.

She raised up.

"Were you really listening?"

He got up near her.

"It's one of the few things I can do in this world." He continued. "I want to see if you are good on that. I don't change, but I think I can change you."

He realized how that sentence could be interpreted. "I mean, I don't want you to change, I mean..."

She took off his fur hood and kissed his cheek, and for a moment the whole world changed for him.