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Tweak says, "You Say!"

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
2015-04-01 02:53 am UTC (link)

"True," Marcus agreed, because there was at least that to hold onto. Better late than never, he supposed, even if the thought conflicted with his upbringing of 'five minutes early is late' - though the concepts probably weren't referencing the same sorts of things. Recognizing that that thought process didn't even make sense in his own mind, he tried to concentrate on the present, not things he couldn't change. Bryony's presence, as always, helped with that, and he squeezed her shoulders lightly for a brief moment, a wordless appreciation for everything she had done and continued to do for him.

Even with the careful way Bryony sidestepped the subject - for which Marcus was grateful - the thought that his mother's time could be coming to an end hung heavily on his mind. That wasn't particularly unusual these days, what with her still declining health and the lack of information even after her admittance to St. Mungo's. "I am glad to know," he admitted. "Even if she doesn't know that I do."

Feeling as though he'd expended more than enough time and energy on this topic today, Marcus kissed the top of Bryony's head before beginning to pull away, saying, "So tell me, did Tilly include desert that can be eaten before dinner?" He offered her a small smile, the same slightly conspiring one from when he would take her flying as a child and they'd had to work to keep that secret from the world. "I think we both deserve that treat after today."

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goodlight
2015-04-01 01:31 pm UTC (link)

Not wanting to speak for Philipa, Bryony just nodded and said, "I'm glad you know too. And I'm glad you told me." More for his sake than for hers, but that didn't matter. If it helped him to tell someone else she was only too happy to be that person. She wanted to believe that Philipa would be glad Marcus knew, but there was just no guarantee of that.

She smiled back at him and pulled away to rummage in the picnic basket. "Of course she did," she said while she examined the few objects Tilly had managed to sneak in without Bryony seeing them. "You know Tilly. Apple pies and No Melt Ice Cream." She said the last words as she laid the items in question out on the table. "Plates, please, and spoons." Her tone was an even mix of polite request and mock-imperious command, playful in a way she only ever was with Marcus.

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marcedflint
2015-04-02 12:00 pm UTC (link)

Nodding his head, Marcus offered her a smile, reminded once more of just how lucky he was to have Bryony in his life, something he was eternally thankful for.

Marcus grinned at the request and her mock-seriousness, crossing the kitchen to grab the items out of cabinets and drawers. "Anything for you, love," he told her with a joking half-bow as he handed over the items. There was a far deeper truth to those words than something as simple as dishes, though he kept his tone light. After everything that had happened today, it was best to just focus on the good things, small as they might be at present. And apple pie with ice cream was definitely a good thing in his book, as was Bryony's company. "Thank you," he said quietly as he set the dishes on the counter between them.

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goodlight
2015-04-02 01:50 pm UTC (link)

In response to his half-bow, Bryony dropped a polite curtsy before she turned to set the pies out on the dishes and scoop out a portion of ice cream for them both. "You don't have to thank me," she told him, not sure whether he was grateful for the food, the company, her attempt to comfort him through his shock or all three. It didn't really matter. "You've very welcome, as always." She picked up a plate in each hand and stood uncertainly in place. "Kitchen table or the living room?" she asked. Her mother would be scandalised, but many snacks received from the house-elves in her early years meant Bryony was less formal about where she ate than she really should be.

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marcedflint
2015-04-02 11:43 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, I do," Marcus answered quietly, smiling softly at her. Not just because of the manner in which they were raised, but because he was so grateful for her continued presence in his life.

"The living room is fine," he said with a small shrug, reaching out to help her carry things, even though it didn't seem as though she actually needed help at the moment.

He led the way and settled himself on one end of the sofa, taking a bite before asking, "How's your painting going?"

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goodlight
2015-04-05 09:14 am UTC (link)

Bryony settled near him on the sofa, no longer sure whether she tried to offer him comfort or take it in his presence. Probably both, it tended to work that way. She allowed herself the first mouthful of warm pie and cold ice cream before replying. "I still haven't started anything on the big canvas I told you about," she admitted. "But I think I have an idea..." It hadn't full formed yet, but elements of it were definitely there.

"It's sort of a portrait," she added, "so Braith will be pleased, I guess, since that's what I'm supposed to be working on." The longer she spent with Braith, the more Bryony realised she was always going to prefer landscapes - but she also understood why she needed to be proficient in both forms, and she had done some sketches of people she wasn't altogether disgusted by. "Or a self portrait, but I don't know if I want to paint me..."

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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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