canon: byzantium

[fountainpen]

It's not twisted. It's a form of kindness. They've earned the right to choose when and how they die — when you're that age, when you're sick and slow and all the people you love have died or feel unreachable, you'll feel the same. You'll want the mercy I can give. But you won't get it from me.

I don't want to talk to you. I want Frank.

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[pearlescence]

Where you got your taste in men, I will never know.

[fountainpen]

[ Muuuuum. But she's less aggravated than she might have been, weeks ago. Days ago, in fact. The hint of sulk is for show. ]

It's not "taste." I like him.

[pearlescence]

[ Clara has many feelings on the subject of Frank, and few if any of them could be called charitable or even non-hostile, but-- Eleanor is a big girl now, etcetera, and also she got off on exactly the right foot with Frank, what with having firmly established ability and willingness to kill him. ]

I guess that makes me the in-laws, then, don't it? Exciting. I've seen loads about how that works.

[ clara stop watching terrible movies. ]

[fountainpen]

[ Stop watching terrible movies is exactly the sentiment in Eleanor's expression. ... Not that she hadn't been avidly watching as well, that night. ]

He's like us now.

[ Her voice is quieter, resisting the inflection which asks for approval. ]

He had leukemia.

[pearlescence]

Proper in-laws, then. [ welp; she can't and doesn't pretend to be surprised, but. ]

Is that why he's not too bright? [ CLARA ] You two be smart from here out, yeah? Because I don't want to hear the little ginger twit strolled out of safety to meet the Brotherhood and got you into trouble.

[ LOOK HE KNEW ENOUGH NOT TO INVITE HER IN, BUT THEN HE CAME OUTSIDE??? LIKE A DUMBASS??? HE WAS TOTALLY GOING TO DIE IF SAVELLA HADN'T INTERRUPTED HER??? ]

[fountainpen]

[ MUUUUUUM ]

He's very smart, but I hadn't told him everything. So he didn't know to be afraid.

[ Her look is half defiance, half shame, because, well. ]

[pearlescence]

I reckon he had a fair idea, love.

[ but fine. kid's a little tosser, though, mum's just saying. ]

So we might see you about sometime, yeah?

[fountainpen]

[ As she's done so often before, she exhales her frustration and it goes away. ]

I'd like that.

[ Christmas, right? Awkward sweaters and merry tunes for all. ]

[pearlescence]

[ awkward sweater for darvell, rudolph nose and antlers for frank, an inappropriate mrs claus costume for clara. ]

Me, too.

[ex_reverency375]

[ With a smile, softly: ] Ever the stubborn few, aren't they?

[fountainpen]

[ She watches him with big-eyed solemnity. ]

They will need stubbornness, if they want me to do anything.

[ex_reverency375]

[ He nods, just once, understanding. ] Have they premeditated intentions?

[fountainpen]

Only that I might meet others like me — women from other times and places, where there was no law against making them so.

[ex_reverency375]

A seemingly selfless request. What are your thoughts on such a notion?

[fountainpen]

I think I'm meant to learn bad manners.

[ex_reverency375]

Is that so? [ He speaks low, avoiding any lingering gazes the writers may have to offer. ] They mustn't know you at all.

[fountainpen]

[ Her smile is restrained yet amused; she is simultaneously a little old lady in a teenager's body, and very much a teenager. ]

Two hundred years with Clara and it hasn't yet taken.

[ex_reverency375]

[ Amusement passes through his features and he appears as young as he is not. ]

I expect it shan't for some time.

[pearlescence]

You know a thing or two 'bout stubborn, I'd say.

[ex_reverency375]

A trait, I fear, I have only honed over our many decades.

[pearlescence]

I guess that makes you the old dog, then, don't it? I bet you can learn a new trick or two.

[ex_reverency375]

Yes, I suppose it does. [ With a low chuckle: ] Though, I should hope so. It would seem I have much to learn.

[pearlescence]

It's like you said. We got time.

[fountainpen]

[ gross, mom, and pseudodad

gross ]

[pearlescence]

[ NOT LIKE ... nah, look at him, probably like that, too. ]

[ex_reverency375]

[ yes, definitely probably. sorry, Ella. ]

[ex_reverency375]

Where might you suggest we begin?