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Tweak says, "fear is the mind killer"

Bryony Capper (goodlight) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2015-03-16 09:09:00

Entry tags:

character: bryony capper, character: marcus flint

Mothering Sunday
Who: Bryony and Marcus
What: Post-Mother's Day Comfort
Where: Pineview Hall (briefly), Marcus's flat
When: Sunday March 15th, late afternoon
Rating: SFW

As the youngest child, Bryony's present was the last to be opened. The whole family had moved from the dining room after their Sunday lunch and were sitting in the living room with tea and biscuits - or just tea, in Bryony's case. Iris unfolded the black-and-white infinity scarf and pursed her lips slightly. Bryony knew better than to mention that it was in Montrose Magpie colours - let Iris reach that conclusion for herself, or not. "It's lovely," Iris said, putting the scarf immediately to one side. "A pity it's not really scarf weather anymore, and by next year that monochrome look will be so out of fashion." There was silence for a moment; Bryony uncertain what to say and no one else apparently willing to jump in for her. Conversation returned slowly, though Bryony kept out of it until Rowan stood. "Happy Mother's Day," he said, moving across the room to kiss Iris's cheek, "but I've got to go." He made no excuses, offered no explanation. No one expected him to. Bryony put her teacup aside and got to her feet. "Me too." She brushed imagined crumbs from her robes, until a sharp look from her mother stilled her hands. "You're not going to stay for dinner, Bryony? Surely you've got no reason to rush back?" Bryony looked between Iris and Ephron, knowing she had to leave but not willing to give the true reason why. "Uh," she stammered. "Aunt Hecuba - she needs me to make dinner. I promised." Iris looked as though she wasn't going to fall for it, Aunt Hecuba was more than recovered enough to make her own meals by now, but Shauna cut in. "Let her go. Allegra and I have a nice surprise for you." Bryony wasn't even insulted, only grateful to be able to leave.

After polite, but rather cold, kisses all around, she slipped out to the kitchen. "Miss Capper!" squeaked Tilly, the senior house-elf. "We has not seen you in a long time. Was lunch acceptable?" Bryony smiled, glad that at least one being in the house was glad to see her. "It was delicious, Tilly, but I need some food for dinner - for me and Mr Flint." Grinning, Tilly nodded and immediately set to work making up a picnic basket. Bryony didn't need to remind her not to mention it - Iris had made it clear all on her own after the engagement 'fell through' that she didn't want Marcus's name mentioned in her house.

A handful of minutes later, Bryony apparated straight to Marcus's flat, still in formal robes but picnic basket in hand. "Marcus?" she called, as the wards shivered around her. She wasn't sure if he'd be back from St Mungo's already, but if not she could wait. Maybe even apparate to Hecuba's and change into something more comfortable. "I think Tilly made us a feast." The house-elf always did whenever Bryony used Marcus's name - apparently she was convinced he was still 'a growing boy'.

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marcedflint
2015-04-14 02:22 am UTC (link)

Marcus was glad for Bryony's company, especially after a day like the one he'd had, and he was certain that she was just as happy not be alone as he was. It probably spoke to the depth of their friendship over the years that he could take comfort from the smallest gesture, or offer in return in a likewise manner. The pie was wonderful, just as he'd expected, though he was more concentrated on her words than the food, a rare occurrence but one that happened most frequently when she was the one speaking.

"Why not?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing. While he was aware that Bryony wasn't as sure of her own brilliance as he was, Marcus couldn't see any reason why that should impede her work. Perhaps it stemmed from becoming accustomed to the limelight, what with his Quidditch career, that he no longer balked at seeing his own face plastered across magazines or newspapers. "I think it sounds like a wonderful idea."

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goodlight
2015-04-14 12:58 pm UTC (link)

Bryony shrugged slightly. "I like painting beautiful things." The words were simply honest, without Bryony even thinking about what they might reveal about her thought processes. If she'd been speaking to anyone but Marcus she wouldn't have said it - but then, she probably wouldn't have been discussing it with anyone but Marcus in the first place. "And I don't know if I want to look at myself in a mirror for that long." More or less unconsciously, Bryony had been avoiding mirrors for much of her life. There was one on the landing by her room at Aunt Hecuba's, and she looked in it before she left the house each day to make sure her robes and hair looked presentable, but after that, if she encountered a mirror going about her life she would stand with her back to it, though she rarely realised she was doing so.

It was true that the painting would lose much of its potential impact if it wasn't her, though, which was why she was still dithering over her decision. "I need to try a few sketches first, before I put any of it on canvas. It might not even work."

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marcedflint
2015-04-16 12:13 pm UTC (link)

Marcus had to close his eyes briefly and take a deep breath to keep a check on the anger that built up in his chest at Bryony's words. He wasn't sure she even realized what she'd implied, and while he knew to blame her mother's influence for all the things unspoken in that statement, he couldn't sit by and just let the entire thing go. It felt too much like a silent agreement, and that was something he couldn't bring himself to do. Ignoring the comment about the mirror - because really, he barely glanced at his own reflection most days himself - he let out a small sigh before stating, "You're the most beautiful person I've ever known."

He may not have known very much about art, but he did know exactly how smart Bryony was, and he had every faith in her abilities, so it was easy to be perfectly honest as he said, "I'm sure you'll figure it out."

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goodlight
2015-04-20 03:25 pm UTC (link)

"Don't," Bryony said quickly, an uncharacteristic annoyance and tension in her voice before she took a breath. When she spoke next, her tone was softer. "You don't have to lie to me." Marcus meant well, Bryony knew that, but pretending she was beautiful wasn't going to fix anything. Even if he meant inwardly - inwardly didn't matter for painting. Sometimes, Bryony worried she was just as shallow as her mother and sisters. Her sketches were of beautiful people, as well as her landscapes being of beautiful scenery. In her case, it was hypocritical as well as superficial.

She wished she could tell Marcus that it didn't matter - but it did. For her, success and happiness were all tied up with thinness, and she'd never be thin and beautiful like Shauna and Allegra. She tried - and she failed. Looking down at the bowl of pie and ice cream in her lap she briefly considered pushing it away, then cut her spoon through the pastry and into the apple filling with a small sigh. "It will all be fine," she agreed, wanting to move on. "If it doesn't work out, no one ever has to see it."

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marcedflint
2015-06-19 10:17 pm UTC (link)

Marcus was a little taken aback by the vehemence of Bryony's words, mostly because she was almost never sharp with him.

"When have I ever lied to you," he responded quietly after a moment, more of a statement than a question. There were plenty of things he had never told her, but that had been in order to protect her from any possible repercussions, but he didn't consider those to have been lying, per se.

Sensing her desire to move away from the topic, Marcus nodded slightly as he agreed, "I'm sure it will be wonderful."

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