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deemoyzaTitle: A Token of Appreciation (2,458 words)
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Blue Castle
Rating/Warnings: General Audiences / No Warnings Apply
Characters: Barney Snaith, Valancy Stirling
Summary: He hadn't been thinking of Valancy during that trip to the Port, not really. At least, not until he saw the little boxes of chocolates in the window of the confectionery and decided then and there that Valancy simply must have one--as a friendly gift, a token of appreciation, nothing more. Definitely nothing more.
Notes: Happy Valentine's Day! :D
He hadn't been thinking of Valancy during that trip to the Port, not really. He hadn't been thinking about her warm smile or the way she drew herself up, brow furrowed and slender shoulders pulled back, to lecture Abel for tracking in mud again. He hadn't been thinking about the gentle dignity she afforded Cissy while tending to her, or how that delightful laugh of hers rang through the house whenever she and Cissy engaged in girlish conversation. He hadn't been thinking about the mischievous glint in her eyes that preceded some unconventional remark or observation, and he certainly hadn't been thinking about the way she sat on the steps of the back veranda on those evenings he and Abel exchanged stories, her hands clasped about her knees, a dreamy smile on her lips, her eyes resting on nothing and no one in particular, but rather, fixed on a point far in the distance, as if admiring something or some place only she could see.
No, he hadn't been thinking of Valancy that day. Not at all.
At least, not until he walked past the confectionery, a crate of oranges in his arms, and saw the little boxes of chocolates on display in the window, made of gold foil and done up with dark blue ribbon. And then, Valancy did not so much come to mind as she overtook it. He imagined her as clearly as if she were standing before him—the look of delighted surprise on her face as she took the box of candy from his outstretched hand—followed immediately by the quizzical lift of an eyebrow. He smiled to himself, unsure what he would say to that, but confident that he could think of something during the drive back to Abel's—something friendly and fitting and unencumbered by the overwrought sentimentality that had a habit of creeping into his language whenever he found himself in the presence of something exquisite or remarkable—a habit that seemed to have become more frequent and aggressive as of late.
Whether or not he ever found the right words, the fact remained that Valancy must have these chocolates. If anyone deserved something so lovely, it was she. She deserved much more, quite honestly, for the kindness she’d shown both Cissy and Abel, for the warmth and life she’d brought back into their home. She deserved all the chocolates in the window, in the world, for giving him, the cynical and reclusive Barney Snaith, one more reason to leave his Mistawis shack every day.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Blue Castle
Rating/Warnings: General Audiences / No Warnings Apply
Characters: Barney Snaith, Valancy Stirling
Summary: He hadn't been thinking of Valancy during that trip to the Port, not really. At least, not until he saw the little boxes of chocolates in the window of the confectionery and decided then and there that Valancy simply must have one--as a friendly gift, a token of appreciation, nothing more. Definitely nothing more.
Notes: Happy Valentine's Day! :D
He hadn't been thinking of Valancy during that trip to the Port, not really. He hadn't been thinking about her warm smile or the way she drew herself up, brow furrowed and slender shoulders pulled back, to lecture Abel for tracking in mud again. He hadn't been thinking about the gentle dignity she afforded Cissy while tending to her, or how that delightful laugh of hers rang through the house whenever she and Cissy engaged in girlish conversation. He hadn't been thinking about the mischievous glint in her eyes that preceded some unconventional remark or observation, and he certainly hadn't been thinking about the way she sat on the steps of the back veranda on those evenings he and Abel exchanged stories, her hands clasped about her knees, a dreamy smile on her lips, her eyes resting on nothing and no one in particular, but rather, fixed on a point far in the distance, as if admiring something or some place only she could see.
No, he hadn't been thinking of Valancy that day. Not at all.
At least, not until he walked past the confectionery, a crate of oranges in his arms, and saw the little boxes of chocolates on display in the window, made of gold foil and done up with dark blue ribbon. And then, Valancy did not so much come to mind as she overtook it. He imagined her as clearly as if she were standing before him—the look of delighted surprise on her face as she took the box of candy from his outstretched hand—followed immediately by the quizzical lift of an eyebrow. He smiled to himself, unsure what he would say to that, but confident that he could think of something during the drive back to Abel's—something friendly and fitting and unencumbered by the overwrought sentimentality that had a habit of creeping into his language whenever he found himself in the presence of something exquisite or remarkable—a habit that seemed to have become more frequent and aggressive as of late.
Whether or not he ever found the right words, the fact remained that Valancy must have these chocolates. If anyone deserved something so lovely, it was she. She deserved much more, quite honestly, for the kindness she’d shown both Cissy and Abel, for the warmth and life she’d brought back into their home. She deserved all the chocolates in the window, in the world, for giving him, the cynical and reclusive Barney Snaith, one more reason to leave his Mistawis shack every day.
