InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I bent my Wookiee."

Bryony Capper (goodlight) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-09-29 09:06:00

Entry tags:

character: bryony capper, character: marcus flint

Backdated: Sunday Lunch
Who: Bryony and Marcus
What: Sunday lunch
Where: Marcus's flat
When: Sunday (backadated)
Rating: SFW - With these two? The very safest.

Bryony didn't like lying directly, if she could help it. She knew keeping secrets and lying by omission wasn't really better on a moral scale, but being completely honest had never been an option in her life. She had to keep up the image of the perfect daughter. Or at least, the perfectly obedient daughter, since 'perfect' and 'Bryony' had never seemed an achievable pairing in her mother's eyes. So though she presented herself at her aunt Hecuba's door with her painting bag and sketchbook, she didn't say she was going to the studio. She just said she'd be out until after lunch and not to worry.

Then she apparated straight to Marcus's flat. Aunt Hecuba was better than her mother - less critical - but she still had very traditional values and spending an afternoon alone with an unmarried man was not something she would have accepted. Bryony might even have agreed, if it hadn't been Marcus. Getting to see more of her best friend was one of several amazing things about living in London and away from her parents - things which even made up for getting to fly less often. "Marcus?" she called as she deposited her painting supplies somewhere she'd remember to pick them up before she went home. She knew he'd be around somewhere, she was right on time as usual, so she went looking for him in the kitchen.

(Post a new comment)

marcedflint
2014-09-30 12:57 am UTC (link)

"In the kitchen," Marcus answered, pitching his voice to carry through the flat. He knew that Bryony had entered, the wards had chimed at him to announce the arrival of someone who had been keyed to be able to get past them, and Bryony was the only one whom had the privilege of being able to get in at any time, whether Marcus himself was home or not.

After a little more than a week, the new tattoo on his arm was almost completely healed, and although he hadn't quite worked up to courage to let it show in public yet, he'd started getting used to having it exposed when he was at home. Even he was still surprised on occasion when he caught sight of the arm that was no longer marred with the Mark that signified the worst choice he'd ever made, no matter than the alternative would have been painful and possibly deadly. Marcus had debated on telling Bryony about it before she came over, but in the end hadn't been sure how to say anything, so he was letting her see it instead, his shirt sleeves rolled up passed his elbows.

Setting down the knife he was using to slice up carrots and zucchini, he met her half way across the room, bending down to press a kiss to her cheek before stepping away again. "How are you, love?" he asked with a smile, because Bryony had always been the brightest part of his life, and he genuinely enjoyed her company. It had been easier to see her since she'd moved to London - something he was happy to have heard about, if only to get her away from the negative influence that was Iris Capper - though they still didn't get quite as much time as they used to. So it was nice to be able to have his best friend around, and to actually be able to have a conversation. "How's London life treating you?"

(Reply to this) (Thread)

goodlight
2014-09-30 03:30 pm UTC (link)

Bryony smiled as he kissed her, the contact so familiar it barely registered beyond the general happiness that was getting to see Marcus. "I'm fine, thank you. You?" She didn't really need to ask. "Happy you won yesterday? Aunt Hecuba was out, so I listened to the whole match!" She beamed at him, happy that he'd won, happy that she'd had the freedom to listen - and to sketch at the same time. Short of actually getting to see a match in person she could think of little better. And that more or less answered his second question too. London life was being very good to her, giving her time and space to do - more or less - things she actually wanted to do. There was still her aunt, but Bryony would have found living without any kind of chaperone rather alarming.

"You started without me," she said, spotting the sliced vegetables and pulling her wand from her sleeve. With a flick, she tied her hair back into bunches (less unflattering to her round face than a single ponytail) and stepped closer to the counter. "What are we having and how can I help?" Though there had always been elves to cook at home, all three Capper girls had been taught the basics of cooking. Bryony wasn't exactly confident in her skills, but she could follow instructions. As she turned towards him she noticed his arms by his sides, sleeves rolled up. Unusual, but she wasn't going to make a fuss about it. Marcus had never needed to hide the Mark from her, she'd known only too well that he hadn't truly wanted it, or any of the things it brought.

Perhaps someone without an artist's attention to detail wouldn't have noticed, but even in that quick glance Bryony could tell something was different. The Mark had never been so large. "Marcus?" There was worry evident in her voice as she stepped back towards him, taking his arm and turning it so she could see. Her first thought had been either that he'd burned himself or that - somehow - the Mark had spread. Had it started to disintegrate somehow? What would that mean if it had? But as she looked down it was obvious this was no random dispersal. This didn't even look like the Mark. It was an entirely new pattern. She touched her fingertips to it curious, as if expecting to find wet ink or paint. But Marcus' skin just felt like skin. "Is this permanent?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

marcedflint
2014-10-01 12:59 am UTC (link)

"I'm always happy when we win, you know that," Marcus teased lightly, smiling as he said it. "I'm glad you got to hear it." It will still amazing to think that even after all these years, Bryony had never actually seen him play a real match. That reminded him of something he'd been planning. and he stated, "We've got an off week next month, and I thought you might be interested in going to see Rowan play, so I have tickets for the Magpies' match against Wigtown." He'd have never even tried to offer that if she'd still been under her mother's thumb, but since things were different now, he figured it was at least worth the try to get Bryony to see an actual game, especially one of her brother's.

Chuckling, he answered, "I was just slicing vegetables." Marcus preferred to cook by hand, even if magic would have made the process faster. "Pasta primavera, and if you insist on helping," which she would, he was sure, "then you can slice the squash and peppers while I cut the onion and tomatoes."

The worried note in Bryony's voice immediately put him on edge, ready to take on whatever had made her nervous, a protective instinct he'd had for almost as long as he could remember. That feeling dissipated as she took a hold of his arm, and Marcus smiled a little shyly at her inspection of the tattoo that was now there instead of the Mark. He couldn't be sure if she would recognize the drawing - it had been one of the first that had arrived with her letters while he'd still be in Azkaban, and had been one of the things that had helped to keep him from completely losing his mind during his imprisonment. "Yeah," he answered quietly to her question.

"It's a Muggle tattoo." Further explanation seemed to momentarily escape him, but Bryony knew him better than anyone else, and he was confident that she would be able to read between the lines all the things he wasn't actually saying.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

goodlight
2014-10-01 01:46 am UTC (link)

"Tickets... for us?" It was obviously what Marcus was implying, but Bryony still felt the need to check because - Quidditch tickets, to a real match, to watch Rowan play. She'd never been to a match. Had never even watched the House matches at school. Quidditch stadiums were no place for a lady, according to Iris Capper. Not even when one's 'intended' was a professional Quidditch player. Bryony had begged and begged to be allowed to go, before the war, before Marcus was taken away to Azkaban. Could she really go now? She'd have to lie to her Aunt. Hecuba didn't report to Bryony's mother, but she did gossip with Ephron who was far too distracted to be relied upon not to let it slip. She looked up at him, obviously desperate to go. "Really? You'll take me?" If she went with Marcus she needn't be afraid of the crowds. He'd protect her, just like he always had. Before he had a chance to change his mind, she beamed at him and nodded. "Yes, please. Marcus, you're amazing, thank you." She didn't even feel embarrassed at the way all her words seemed to tumble out at once. If she'd been as light on her feet physically as she felt in that moment, she'd have danced.

Even focusing on where she knew the Mark had been, Bryony couldn't see even a faint outline of it, it was too thickly covered over with new layers of ink. She knew how much he had hated it, and for it to be so completely gone was - there weren't words. "Oh, it's amazing," she breathed. She turned his arm over again to see how the scene wrapped all the way around. Her fingertips continued to trace trees and birds, a casual intimate touch she would never dared share with anyone else and yet thought nothing of with Marcus.

The more she looked, the more certain she was that she had seen the scene before. It took a moment to register, the different medium and the fact she'd never actually seen a tattoo up close before distracting her until she drew in a breath and looked quickly up at him. "I-" She'd drawn this for him. It was the scene from the window at Pineview Hall. She was certain of it now, but it still seemed too arrogant to say. He hadn't - couldn't have - had something she'd drawn for him permanently etched onto his body. "It looks like something I drew for you once," she said instead, blinking as her gaze flitted between his arm and his face.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

marcedflint
2014-10-01 10:41 pm UTC (link)

Marcus couldn't help chuckling at her reaction - it was pretty much exactly what he would have expected. He was well aware of Bryony's love for all things Quidditch, had probably helped to feed it over the years with his constant ramblings about it. "I certainly wouldn't let anyone else take you to your first match," he answered with a grin, pleased by her excitement.

Letting her turn his arm this way and that, examining the tattoo from every angle, Marcus smiled at her words, because really, amazing was the perfect description. He never would have thought to cover the Mark with more ink on his own, and certainly wouldn't have been able to think of anything as fitting as the drawing Bryony had done. But now that the new image was there, he felt freer than he had since the day he'd been released from Azkaban. Sure, there would still be people heard his name and associated it only with 'convicted Death Eater', but at least he was no longer carrying the symbol of that title with him everywhere he went. Bryony's fingers weren't intrusive or awkward, and Marcus didn't tense under her touch, the way he might have with anyone else - she was too familiar and comforting of a presence for him to feel strange about the gesture.

He almost laughed again at her comment, because that was such a typical Bryony response - he could tell she recognized the work as her own, but didn't want to admit to it, even though they were both well aware of the fact. Her modesty still managed astounded him sometimes. "You did," he said quietly, because he wouldn't hide that truth from her, or anyone else, should it ever come up. "Draw it, that is." Marcus shrugged, not meaning to downplay the importance of his choice, but because he couldn't have imagined choosing anything else. "Sorry I didn't ask your permission first."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

goodlight
2014-10-01 11:55 pm UTC (link)

Bryony had to agree, it would have felt wrong for anyone else to take her to her first ever Quidditch match - or if not wrong at least less special. Unless, of course, she'd been going to see Marcus fly. Then she supposed she would have to content herself with an alternative chaperone. She was going to see him fly someday. If worst came to worst and he was on the verge of retiring she would go alone and ruining her reputation would be worth it.

When Marcus confirmed that she had drawn it, Bryony looked down at the tattoo with new awe. "But... It's permanent." She still couldn't wrap her mind around the idea that he would voluntarily choose something she had drawn when he could have had anything he wanted. When he apologised for not asking her permission Bryony gave a breathy laugh. "Oh, Marcus." Her eyes were suddenly wet with tears, blurring the tattoo she was still trying to study. "It's-" It was completely overwhelming. Even though she worked with Braith now, the list of people who'd actually seen her art was fairly small and Bryony was never truly convinced anyone actually thought it any good. To have someone willingly make it a permanent part of themselves was -

She leaned into him, hiding her face against his arm. After a moment she recovered enough to at least speak, though she didn't move away. "It's an honour." And one she wasn't at all sure she really merited.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

marcedflint
2014-10-05 02:04 am UTC (link)

Marcus smiled slightly at her observation, because that really was the point. "Yeah, it it," he confirmed, and then frowned when he saw her tears, even if they hadn't quite fallen yet. Without knowing what had caused that reaction - and unsure if asking for an explanation would make it worse - he silently wrapped his free arm around her shoulders, pressing a brief kiss to her curls.

"Trust me, the honour is mine," he muttered back. After all, it had been Bryony's letters and drawings that had helped him from succumbing to the darkness of his own mind in Azkaban, and to be able to carry that reminder around with him at all times, especially while removing the Mark and its bad associations, was an absolute blessing.

"C'mon, lunch won't make itself," he said lightly after a moment, pulling back slightly to smile down at her.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

goodlight
2014-10-05 08:14 am UTC (link)

The weight of Marcus' arm around her shoulders was always comforting and after delicately dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, Bryony felt recovered enough to resume normal activities. Despite still feeling like Marcus had just turned her world on its axis, she gave him as bright a smile as she had when he'd told her about the Quidditch tickets.

"You wanted me to slice the squash and the peppers," she remembered, giving one last look at his arm. It was still amazing, to see something other than the Mark. Even more so now she realised it was her own sketch... She knew he preferred to cook by hand, so she found a knife and set to slicing the squash into neat chunks.

She tried to think of another topic which was sometimes a struggle for her, even with Marcus. It was just hard to believe anyone could be interested in her life. "Braith finished another piece for the show yesterday," she offered.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

marcedflint
2014-10-05 07:32 pm UTC (link)

Returning her smile with one of his own, Marcus nodded at her statement, glad to see her eyes dry once more. Without knowing what had made those tears appear in the first place, he couldn't quite make up for it, but he could concentrate on things that most likely weren't the source, like lunch. "Yes, please," he added, before moving to stand next to her and began slicing the onion and tomatoes, a small spell in place to help the smell from being too overwhelming.

"Really? That's exciting, I'm sure," he commented, knowing how much the apprenticeship meant to Bryony. "Are you going to have anything on display?" He would still come to support her even if the answer was no, but he certainly hoped that that wouldn't be the case.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

goodlight
2014-10-07 01:42 pm UTC (link)

"I don't think so," Bryony said as she pushed the squash to one side to make a little more room. "Braith said they do show apprentice work sometimes, but I'm so new, still..." Having seen everyone else's work, Bryony was quite sure her own pieces weren't yet good enough for anyone to consider buying. At the very least, not anyone who didn't know her personally. She had a feeling that if she would let him, Marcus would probably buy something despite the fact he already had dozens of her early sketches.

She continued her neat slicing, moving on to the various peppers. "I sort of accidentally sketched Hermione Granger on Thursday," she told him, a slight flush rising to her cheeks again. She'd felt awful about it at first, but Hermione had been really very nice and complimentary. "Just her hands, I didn't realise who she was."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

marcedflint
2014-10-19 02:29 am UTC (link)

He couldn't quite read between the lines of what Bryony was saying, though he hoped it wasn't yet another instance of her doubting her own abilities. "Well, I'd still be more than happy to accompany you, if you'd like," he said sincerely, finishing up the onion he was slicing and then moving onto the tomatoes.

He felt one of his eyebrows raise at the comment, and his first reaction, as always with her, was concern and protection. "Did everything work out alright?" he asked, though he felt that it must have, since she hadn't gone into any further details. And it had probably been some sort of public space, so it seemed unlikely that there had been any real issue, but he still had to ask.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

goodlight
2014-10-19 11:03 am UTC (link)

Smiling up at him, Bryony nodded. "I'd like that." She thought her father would probably come, too, but unlike Iris he hadn't completely changed his opinion of Marcus since his arrest. Even if he hadn't allowed them to marry - something Bryony would never understand or completely forgive - he was still polite.

She pushed her diced vegetables to the edge of her chopping board and cleaned off her knife, all ready to move on to the next step - if only Marcus would tell her what it was. "She was very nice about it, actually," Bryony said, then sighed a little. "I know I should ask people before I sketch them but..." She actually hated sketching people who knew she was sketching them. It made her feel so much more self-conscious, unable to melt into the background.

(Reply to this) (Parent)