#V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/717799379187138560/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

“...Um...”

Shyly, Randall paused in his seat, briefly lost in thought as he tried to think of how to explain it to her. Still thinking, he leaned back against his chair, briefly staring off into space before, finally, he began:

“Uh, w-well, courting is, um...i-it’s like a, uh...a-a mating ritual?” Did sirens even have such a thing? He wasn’t sure if they did, but it seemed like the closest comparison he could think of, and so he pressed on, saying, “It’s, um...w-well, it’s where two people who have feelings for one another, th-they...spend time together!”

Further elaborating, he explained, “Um...my parents, uh, when they were courting, u-um, they went on walks to the market together, they spent time having picnic lunches in the park, my pa would play music for my ma on his autoharp, my ma would teach my pa some little things like...gardening and cooking, and he would share recipes with her that he brought from Ireland, a-and they’d go out for meals and go dancing...”

I hope that all makes sense! he thought to himself, shyly rubbing the back of his neck as he smiled to her, saying, “Um, i-it’s a way of...getting to know one another, t-to see if you like each other enough to...stay together, t-to, uh, maybe...get married someday.” He wondered if sirens mated for life...

#((i love that idea too! and i could totally see them doing it!)) #((they're looking down from the heavens; watching over their boy; wanting to help; to help brighten his life up a little)) #((and they see this lovely young woman who feels similarly stifled and ignored and is in need of someone to brighten up her life too)) #((and so they look at each other and think 'yeah; they'd make a good pair!')) #((and so they set about subtly pulling the strings; gently nudging the pair together!)) #((i love that idea; that in the process of trying to make their son happy; the paces too fall in love with emily themselves)) #((and become equally invested in her happiness as well; as is always the case with the paces; they love emily just as much!)) #((it's such a sweet and wholesome notion!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[filiacaelum-archive]

“See? I told you. He’s fine. Now come on Aleks. let’s go.” Jasmine wasn’t sure how her brother had known she had been in contact with the oldest. But he was a human lie detector too. It was something all three of them shared. 

“He doesn’t want anyone to know that he’s here. Before you scare him off...Let’s go!” Now she grabbed ahold of his arm and tried to stand him up. It didn’t work. She really didn’t want Edmund to catch them. 

“Please Aleksander...” Edmund was going to hate her. 

#ofvengeance #idek #She ran away with words #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/717384985381863424/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

Deciding to take a moment to give her a lesson himself, Randall explained, “Well, uh, if you do get cold, or you just want some fresh water, what you gotta do is pull the stopper down there...”

Rolling up his sleeve, he reached into the water to point out the stopper, before pulling out and gesturing back to the knobs, explaining, “And once the tub is empty, you can put it back and then refill it-this one, with the H on it? That stands for hot, and the one with the C here stands for cold.”

As he explained this to her, a curious question crossed his mind: What colors could Emily see? Could she see all the colors he could, or did sirens have a different way of seeing them? Was she colorblind? To be completely honest, he wasn’t even sure what kinds of colors fish could see, and he found himself briefly frowning in thought-maybe after dinner, he’d show her some of his color swatches and tell her what each one was.

“Randall! Soup’s on, come and get it!”

“Coming, Ma!” he called back, before smiling back to Emily, saying, “I’ll be back up after dinner!” before hustling out of the room, eager to get himself a big bowl of hot potato soup and spend a little time with his folks before he had to get back to work.

#((oh man; if constance so much as looks at the paces funny there's gonna be hell to pay!)) #((constance has already done emily harm; beating her and leaving her for dead; and the pace family's kindness that saved her)) #((and between that; the bond she's formed with all of them; and her love for randall; she won't let ANYTHING happen to them)) #((so she'll be getting some serious payback when she returns to the bayou! and i feel the paces wouldn't let emily face her alone)) #((and would do whatever they could to help emily: they've heard about her; they all know what she's done to emily)) #((and her wanton cruelty in general; and will no doubt help take her down for good!)) #((i think emily should be the one to deal the killing blow but i don't think the paces will sit idly by and watch the fight go down!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/716259973868486656/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

“It’s okay,” Randall assured her gently, seeing how unsettled she was by all the attention being on her all the sudden, while Wilhelm found himself smiling as he looked between his wife and son, saying, “That’s...that’s incredible! She must have the memory of an elephant-better than an elephant, even! A-And that sound, it’s...it’s...!”

“Beautiful,” June finished, trying to settle down her excitable husband so as not to ruffle their guest’s feathers (or scales, perhaps, would be the better comparison) too much, her too noticing how nervous she was at having an audience-to try and calm her, she gave her an honest applause, saying, “You have a very lovely voice, Emily.”

“Y-Yes, you-you do!” Wilhelm stuttered out, smiling to her as he paid her this compliment, saying, “I, uh, I’m not much of a singer myself, I just play this...”

“Oh, Wil, you’re a lovely singer!” June replied, kissing his cheek as Randall, smiling as well, encouraged, “Why don’t you show her your voice, Pa, I’m sure she’d like to hear it!”

Although Wilhelm good-naturedly protested, he just couldn’t say no to his family, and so, he smiled lightly to Emily as he once again began to play, his low, warm voice filling the room as his fingers ran along the strings:

“…Well, I'm sorry for the things that I told you, but words only go so far, and if I had my way, I would reach into Heaven and I'd pull you down a star  For a present, and I'd make you a chain out of diamonds, and pearls from a summer sea, But all I can give you is a kiss in the morning and a sweet apology...”

#((it would; and rightfully so!! one of the most iconic and beloved musicals of all time; being instantly recognizable)) #((from the logo to the music itself to the costume design; one of the big musicals that is associated strongly with broadway/nyc as a whole) #((its departure has already been highly publicized; so its return would be even more celebrated i feel!)) #((and true; it is VERY good that emily isn't trying to lure them in; randall in particular would be VERY easy pickings right about now!)) #((but instead i think this'll be a nice ice-breaking moment; so to speak! i think music would be an interesting proverbial bridge)) #((for emily and wilhelm; even though a siren's biggest weapon is in many ways their voice; and wilhelm knows that)) #((he can't help but be delighted by her memory skills and ability to echo melodies!)) #((i think it'll be a nice way for the two to warm up to one another!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/715982883154755584/beatingheart-bride-theheadlessgroom

@beatingheart-bride

Despite the somewhat unsettling nature of her being able to bite through the tough shell of the crawdad (causing him to wonder briefly just how strong her teeth were, and what else she could possibly bite through), Randall didn’t let that dampen his appetite, as he took a crawdad himself, digging in to its soft, flavorful flesh beneath the shell. He smiled and gave a hum of approval, commenting, “There’s not much better than a good crawfish boil!” 

It was easily one of his favorite dishes his mother made: Sure, it took a little effort, what with him and his father catching the little suckers down by the water (and trying not to get pinched in the process, which was no easy feat), but it was all worth it in the end, in his opinion, to get a plate full of flavorful crawdad, accompanied by some potatoes and corn, to feast on after a long, hard day. A small, quick lunch (usually a sandwich and little else) wasn’t super-filling, but he knew he could look forward to a good dinner, at least.

And he was happy to share with Emily, as he grabbed the small cob of corn to dig into it as well: He and Pa had gotten pretty lucky with their crawdad haul that day they caught her, luckier than they had the last couple of times they’d been out (”they’re biting today!” Wilhelm had exclaimed cheerfully, only to be caught by the critter’s little pincers, causing him to curse under his breath a little, before joking to his son, “or pinching!”), so why not share the spoils with her, he thought? There was plenty more downstairs, fortunately, so if they wanted more, they could get more (again, a nice change of pace from the last few attempts to catch some dinner).

#((she's really been through a lot in the last; what; two days?)) #((she gets beaten and left to die by constance; she's then pulled out of the bayou by two humans)) #((who she's unsure of what they'll do with her; they then bring her to their home and put her in a tub and tend to her)) #((helping patch up her wounds; and now she's recovering; trying (along with randall) to get past the language barrier)) #((and understand what this goofy human is trying to tell her; so i can see how even a small thing like a familiar plant)) #((would mean a lot to her! her future no doubt seems unclear now; even though the paces have been kind to her)) #((she no doubt still isn't sure of what they want; and doesn't know if she'll ever return to the bayou again)) #((so a little reminder of home has to be refreshing!)) #((also: what will you be seeing on broadway this summer? :Oc)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/715188115494617088/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

The smell of frying fish was wafting up the stairs by the time June arrived with the remedy, a natural blend she’d picked up out of an old book at the library many moons ago, and always kept around on the off-chance she might need it. She never imagined she’d be making it to apply to a siren of all creatures, admittedly, but still, she had it, and was going to put it to good use anyhow.

“Alright, so I’m going to need to put this over her wounds, and redress her bandages,” she explained to Randall, who then tried to convey this to Emily, saying, “My mother needs to take off your bandages,” gesturing to said wrappings, making a wrap gesture before repeating the rub gesture, saying, “and then she can put this on, which will make you not hurt.”

He then turned back to June, asking, “It won’t hurt her to put that stuff on her, will it, Ma?”

“It might sting a bit, but not for long,” she shrugged lightly, at which Randall turned back to her, saying, “It might, um...sting a little...” He was unsure of how to convey that feeling to her other than making a buzzing sound and jabbing his palm, before saying, “But it will help to make you feel better, i-it won’t last long, I promise!” To punctuate this, June showed Emily the little bowl containing the blend, hoping it might make her feel more comfortable with the notion of putting it on her.

#((honestly erik's idea of taking up residence beneath the theater sounds more and more appealing every day!)) #((and you can't hardly do better than the majestic; which really does live up to the name honestly; it truly is stunning!)) #((it really does feel like it was made to be home of the phantom-it just feels appropriately grandiose for it!)) #((and i KNOW! i'm so bummed that he wasn't able to be there; i'm really glad that sarah brightman was there)) #((but michael should've been there too! i know it was just how the chips fell but he really did bring the phantom to life)) #((alw may have been the one to write the score but it really was michael who brought the character to life)) #((embodying the character so fantastically; and i wish he could've been there to be appropriately celebrated!)) #((truly; if only i were rich as well; because i would've loved to see it myself in person!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/715079132382380032/beatingheart-bride-theheadlessgroom

@beatingheart-bride

There was something inhumanly beautiful about her, the more he gazed upon her: The way her scales glittered iridescently, even in the dim light of the room; the way her eyes seemed to glow, a pirate’s treasure in the bottom of a sunny bay; the way her blonde curls hung so elegantly, framing her face. She may not look the way the way all the old paintings and illustrations portrayed sirens, but Randall couldn’t deny that she was beautiful nonetheless, in her own way.

Seeing she was watching him (and was no doubt getting nervous), he tried to break the tension by gesturing to himself, saying, “My name is Randall.” To emphasize it, he repeated the gesture, saying, “Randall. I am Randall.” They hadn’t exactly been properly introduced yet, so it seemed only right to him that he try to amend that, hoping that, if she got to know him a little better, she might not be so nervous around him.

A light went off in Randall’s head, and he darted from the room, only to return with a small blackboard and a piece of chalk, tools his mother used to teach him when he was a boy. In spidery scrawl, he jotted down “R A N D A L L” and held it out for her to read (could she even read?), before pointing to himself again, just to hammer the point home. When he noticed his parents peering in shyly from the door, he coaxed them in (at least to stand beside him, so as not to crowd her), introducing, “This is my mother, June...”

He then scrawled out “J U N E” on the board, pointing between it and his mother, before doing the same with his father, writing down “W I L H E L M” and introducing, “And this is my father, Wilhelm!” Perhaps, if she knew the names of the people around her, it would help her settle down-maybe, if he was lucky, she’d be able to help him put a name to her face too...

#((it does! i also know what that song is about; 'the day the music died'; and it really does feel apropos honestly!)) #((it really does feel in its own right like another 'day the music died'; i get it! i have a big soft spot for the musical as well)) #((and so for it to be gone now after all these decades; it really doesn't feel real! it's so surreal honestly!)) #((and y'know; in regards to randall and emily; y'know how they say 'she would find him in any universe' when it comes to fictional couples?) #((that's absolutely the case with randall and emily-in every universe; any time; anywhere; they really would find each other!)) #((they're star-crossed lovers and are bound to one another for all eternity: no matter what they're always destined to be together!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/714920998619824128/part-of-your-world

@beatingheart-bride

It wasn’t long after she awoke that Randall returned to the bathroom, carrying with him a small plate of fish-raw, he’d thought about it while he was downstairs in the kitchen, and figured she’d probably prefer that to something cooked (he didn’t want to make her ill by feeding her spices and seasonings she’d never had before), and so he rushed down to the market, buying a couple of nice cuts with his allowance just for her, so that he wouldn’t be taking food out of the mouths of himself and his parents.

So he laid them out on the plate and carried them back upstairs, surprised when he saw her sitting up already-he had sort of expected her to continue resting for a good while after his mother finished patching her up, but maybe sirens healed faster than humans? Maybe they had a higher pain tolerance than humans did?

At any rate, he was sure she was hungry, and so he slowly crossed the room, trying to make himself seem as unthreatening as possible, gingerly setting the plate on the corner of the tub before giving her a wide berth, before saying, in a low and gentle voice, “I...I brought you some f-food, i-if you’re hungry, um...i-it’s not much, I know, b-but if you want any more, I-I can get you more...”

Can she even understand me? he wondered, cheeks pink as he looked down, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly: Here he was, rambling on and on to a mythical creature recovering in his tub, who may not understand a word he said...

#((poor june! she expects her husband and son to have brought home some fish for supper that night)) #((and instead she finds a banged-up siren bleeding out in her bathtub! all in all she takes it very well but...still!)) #((and you KNOW randall's gonna be staying by emily's side every chance he gets! he knows he should be afraid of her)) #((and keep his distance; especially since; whether she's in a little tub or not; she could still possibly try to drown him)) #((and yet he can't stay away! he's just too enraptured not to!)) #((i can't wait to see them bond too! i can't wait to see emily warm up to the paces and come to care for them)) #((and especially bond with randall the more time he spends with her!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/716365729459503104/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

Randall immediately lit up upon hearing Emily’s sweet voice, and so he gladly hopped off his seat and rushed to the kitchen, figuring she was likely hungry by now. A little more fish, a little more crawdad, other meats he figured she would appreciate...and some strawberries with a little cream, not only for himself, but to share with Emily, just to see if she might like them as well.

Happily taking his seat by the tub and passing her the plate of meats and fish in the hopes that that would help to tide her over (he was beginning to catch onto the notion that a siren’s appetite was much, much bigger than that of a humans), he began to dig into his strawberries-though he paused to explain what they were, elaborating, “They are plants, so they grow from the ground!”

He did his best to explain that, lifting his hand and letting his fingers splay out, a bit like a flower blooming (the best demonstration he could possibly think of), before lifting up the little bowl, asking as he gestured to his mouth, “Do you want to try one? They’re my favorite fruit!” 

Had she ever had anything that wasn’t meat before, he wondered? He wasn’t sure what sorts of fruits and vegetables, if any, might grow in the bayou, let alone anything edible to humans or sirens, anything that might interest her, but he supposed he would find out.

#((that IS such an adorable idea and i absolutely want to make it happen!)) #((y'know at first he sees her as a mythological monster; but now that he's seen a bit more of a 'human' side of her)) #((for lack of a better word; he's starting to see her in a new light; and starts to see a bit of himself in her:)) #((someone adjusting to a new environment; learning about a new culture/language; just as he did once!)) #((i love the idea of him helping her learn english; showing her the tricks he used; as well as the cultural exchange between them)) #((learning more about human and siren life/culture; i think that'd be super-sweet!!)) #((here wilhelm thought there'd be nothing in common between him and a siren of all creatures)) #((and now he's coming to see that they have a whole lot more in common than he ever expected!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/720608029029089280/beatingheart-bride-theheadlessgroom

@beatingheart-bride

“Me? Oh, no, no,” he replied, once more stifling a yawn (who said he yawned, he didn’t yawn, no sirree!), as he rolled his shoulders a little, his head resting on his arms, propped up on the tub as he smiled at her, insisting, “I’m not tired, I could go for hours...!”

Who cared if it was a work night? To blazes with Minnie and her rotten haberdashery, with its snooty clientele and obnoxious employees and Minnie herself cracking the whip day and night! He would enjoy his evening, thank you very much, he would enjoy his night in the company of his lovely siren, and would stay with her until the wee hours if he so pleased, thank you very much! He wasn’t tired, far from it, he was wide awake and ready...ready to party...

With that, he was out like a light, dozing off right there up against the tub, a content little smile on his face, his head swimming with dreamy images of life beneath the waves of the bayou, and what it would be like to swim alongside the fishes, the alligators, to explore the depths and find underwater flora and deep, buried treasure... …all of this and more, with Emily by his side.

#((exactly! randall's childhood wasn't exactly the happiest it could have been; be it in canon or in an au)) #((but there were a few moments of happiness and sweetness sprinkled in there; and it really is refreshing to highlight them!)) #((plus it's just such a cute image; wilhelm carrying tiny tot randall; his head resting on his father's shoulder as they head home!)) #((and i love the idea!! not only would emily EXCEL at capturing big mona and be so happy to repay the pace's kindness)) #((by capturing such an elusive catfish for them; but the paces would be so excited to share in the spoils with her)) #((because there is NO way they wouldn't share in a catfish feast with her!!)) #((it just puts such a sweet image in my head; the paces all gathered round the table; a catfish dinner in front of them)) #((all enjoying it together; and wilhelm taking a moment to raise a toast to emily for a job well done!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/719907654842056704/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

“Ah, thank you, lass,” Wilhelm chuckled bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck as her gratitude-he wasn’t exactly sure how good of a teacher he was (particularly when it came to language), but he was glad that could be a help to Emily as she practiced her English, just as June had been such a help to him.

And besides, he never missed an opportunity to share his fables with anyone, always loving the chance to share the many great legends and stories he had been raised on with a new audience, and so he was happy to share them with Emily now, both as a learning tool and as a means of entertainment, allowing her a better look into Irish culture, and the stories told from generation to generation.

“Y’know, this was Randall’s favorite story when he was a wee lad,” he added with a smile, as he leaned forward, resting his head on his chin, saying, “He used to ask Junie and I to read it to him all the time, and he used to just sit and look at the pictures just as often. I think it was part of what made him want to get into tailoring and millinery-he loved the beautiful dresses Trembling wore, and I think he wanted to make something like them.”

Well, that, and he had a feeling the beautiful, golden-haired Trembling had something to do with his boy’s affection for blonde-haired young ladies...glancing at Emily’s own flaxen locks, he supposed he shouldn’t have been so surprised that Randall had become so smitten with the siren...

#((exactly; she could NEVER be a burden to them! they would be more than happy to have her there as a part of their home and family)) #((and any adjustments they had to make as a result of moving her in? worth it!)) #((they'd make it work! doing a little more fishing; working on the guest room to install a new tub; all of it they would do)) #((if it meant emily got to stay! and like you said; she could go out into the bayou too; do her own fishing)) #((and she could totally pitch in; since she can be out of the water for a bit! she could come out and help june around the house)) #((and would no doubt be happy to do so; and hey; maybe she could also be able to come out of the tub for a bit)) #((and socialize with the paces; being able to come into the living room to visit; or she could even have dinner with them!)) #((emily really is a part of the family; and doing what they can to accommodate her needs would never be a burden to the paces!)) #((it'd all be worth it in their eyes!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/719087746046705664/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

Well, at least she accepted his apology...though he still felt a nagging bit of guilt in his stomach all the same; though it had lessened significantly, it still hung in there a little. After all, he hadn’t just been cold and standoffish with her, he’d done it while she was recovery from a horrible attack, one she could’ve died from were it not for June’s help...she had been in pain, she was healing, and she was in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people whose language she could not speak, nor could she understand, unsure of what they might do to her...

Still, he tried to put that feeling out of his mind, reminding himself that that was all water under the bridge now. He couldn’t change the past, that he knew (and was trying to accept), but he at least knew he could change today, tomorrow, the day after, and so on. He and Emily had long since brought down that communication barrier, having gotten along quite well since then, and he was glad for it. Whatever prejudices, whatever judgments, whatever conclusions he unfairly drew about her before, they no longer mattered, him having been able to put those aside and befriend the siren his son loved so much.

(Now if only he could do that with his fellow man...)

Putting that thought out of his mind, he mirrored her smile, saying, “Well...it still wasn’t fair of me, and again, I’m sorry for it.” Again, he knew what it was like to be unfairly judged before anyone got to know him, and he hated to think he’d done it to someone else, and he knew he would’ve be able to sleep until he made things right-which he was very, very glad that he did.

#((i think it is too!)) #((and honestly; i think once emily mentions a future in which all of them are dead is gonna be a major turning point)) #((in getting dorian to believe her; because considering all these nightmares he's been having about dying lately)) #((that's defidently gonna catch his attention; at least once he settles down from the initial heart attack of:)) #(('oh my god somebody outside of my VERY tiny inner circle knows about my feelings for elizabeth oh CRAP!')) #((that alone will give him a start; but emily will assure him that she won't tell anyone else!)) #((but i digress! i think that'll be a big turning point in him believing her; the combination of what emily's telling him)) #((along with his recurring nightmares; he's inclined to believe what she's saying; and is willing to do anything)) #((if it means A) everyone lives and B) emily gets to be with randall and he gets to be with elizabeth!)) #((still: it's gonna be a LOT to take on for him; honestly i think he and emily are going to be in a similar boat)) #((of grappling with the weirdness going on in their lives right now and trying to make it through!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/718188057244942336/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

Randall was still in something of a flurry as he put away his groceries, his heart pounding excitedly as he went over the plan in his head: Tonight, he’d set up his little table right up against the tub so that he and Emily could sit across from one another, he’d bring out that little set of candlesticks that used to belong to his maternal grandparents, maybe he’d use those good plates Pa brought with him from Ireland...

“Making plans for tonight?”

Randall very nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard his father’s voice, having been so wrapped up in his mental checklist that he didn’t hear the Pace patriarch enter the kitchen, smiling from ear to ear as his son, taking a moment to catch his breath before answering, “Y-Yeah, I, uh...I-I’m gonna do something special f-for Emily tonight, I-I, uh, I bought some redfish and I know we got plenty of rice and peppers around, and so I-I thought...”

“You might make your girl a new, romantic seafood dinner, I get it!” “Pa! I-It’s not...!”

Upon seeing the knowing look on his father’s face, however, any protests Randall had died in his throat, and so, he sighed, saying, “Y-Yes...yes, i-it’s is...romantic. W-We, w-well...we’ve started to court, a-and I...I wanna take her out on a date, but of course I can’t do that, a-at least not out in the town, so...I thought I’d bring the date to her.”

I knew it! Wilhelm thought to himself proudly, before saying, “Well, I think that’s quite sweet of you to do, lad; reminds me of some of the dates your ma and I went on when we were courting, we used to take turns making dinner for each other and eat out on the terrace of her old apartment building, watch the sunset and listen to the music up the street...she introduced me to a lot of good Creole cooking that way, and I introduced her to a lot of good Irish dishes...it’s nice to see our boy doing something similar.”

Randall’s pale cheeks turned a soft pink at that, as Wilhelm clapped a firm hand on his shoulder, saying, “Well, if you should ever like any pointers on how to make your date night real special, you just come to me, alright? I’ll teach you how to be a real Romeo, just like your old man!”

“Pa...” “Say, you haven’t worn that old kilt of yours in a little while, have you? That one used to be mine, y’know; I actually wore it to my first date with your ma! She thought I looked quite good in it, and maybe Emily will too!” “Pa!”

#((i know right? it really is such a perfect song that encapsulates randall's journey; he goes from cynical and jaded)) #((to lovesick and optimistic! and you know the only woman in the world who could be the cause of this change IS emily!)) #((no other woman could bring that out in him; as soon as he sees her; he truly does become a believer!)) #((and i know; same!! he's so determined to show her a good time; he really wants to sweep her off her feet)) #((and both june and wilhelm are going to be so amused and endeared watching it all go down)) #((BUT that being said the teasing WILL be relentless nevertheless; and i for one look forward to it too!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/717528183240540160/beatingheart-bride-theheadlessgroom

@beatingheart-bride

At the gentle murmur of the word, Randall was briefly captivated by her gaze, finding himself lost in the strange beauty of her face: Not just the golden glow of her eyes, but the glittering scales, seeming to shimmer in the dim light of the room, the sheen of her flaxen locks framing her face, the angular nature of her fins...it was all so beautiful, and it reminded him that he needed to add some color to that drawing he’d done of her the night before...

…but he eventually snapped himself out of his reverie, blinking a little as he touched his cheek, saying, “U-Uh, yes, p-pink, yes, uh, w-we humans, um, we sometimes t-turn pink, you know, um, it’s just, uh...something we do...i-it’s not a bad thing, just something we...we do...”

He smiled at her, his cheeks turning from pink to red at the notion of her noticing this change (which, again, only served to make him blush harder), wondering to himself if sirens ever did anything similar...did their cheeks ever warm upon looking up at someone they were enamored by, he wondered?

And if so, would her cheeks ever warm when she looked at him, the way his did when he looked at her?

#((she will! she'll go in completely underestimating them; their strength as a team; and their love and loyalty to emily)) #((which is so unshakeable that they'll gladly square up with constance herself if they can help defend emily)) #((and ensure that she doesn't land on death's door again like she did during the last confrontation she had with constance!)) #((she is a part of their family now; and a family as tightly-knit and loyal as the paces won't let one of their own)) #((go into that fight alone; and their combined efforts will be what takes constance out for good!)) #((and i'm glad you like the cameo; though i admit i'm not sure who he'd be with here; it wouldn't be emily...or constance...)) #((a very good question!)) #((speaking of that; i had the silly idea of randall going to visit dorian after the big fight with constance)) #((reconnecting with him; and as they're talking he says 'you're not gonna believe me when i say this but i'm dating a siren')) #((and dorian's like 'hey that's really funny because uh...')) #((and it turns out that elizabeth is a supernatural being too!)) #((it's a completely silly idea that popped into my head but i just couldn't help but share it!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/716981896530247680/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride​

After bringing Emily a little more fish and meat (partly to make sure she got enough to eat, and partly as a sort of unspoken apology for potentially upsetting her earlier), June decided to put off her chores for a moment and return to the bathroom, putting her hand in the pocket of her apron as she approached.

“I have something for you,” she smiled, as she pulled out a small, slender hairbrush, worn and faded, but no less useful. It was one she’d chiefly used on the dolls she had when she was a bit younger and happened to dig up again, and thought she might bring it to Emily, saying, “You have very pretty hair!”

She gestured to her own black locks (now streaked with threads of silver), before gesturing to Emily’s, as a means of communicating her compliment, before held out the comb to her, saying, “And I thought you might like something to use in order to brush it out!”

Uncertain if she had ever seen or used such a tool, she turned back and grabbed her own brush from its spot on the edge of the sink, returning to the stool by the tub and giving her hair a few little strokes, her curls bouncing a little as she smiled to Emily, wondering if she had such a tool back in the bayou-perhaps something she made?

#((there really is something so poignant about wilhelm being the one to do it! while i don't doubt that randall and june will pitch in)) #((there really is something so special about wilhelm; the one who grew up in ireland and heard so many stories)) #((warning of the dangers of sirens and to be watchful as he sails/fishes and therefore grew up absolutely TERRIFIED of them)) #((pushing aside his own prejudices and coming to trust her; even helping her learn how to speak english)) #((and learning that there's nothing to fear; finding a kinship with her being a fish-no pun intended-out of water being among humans)) #((and knowing how she feels and wanting to help her find her footing; it's really; really sweet!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/716822866656706560/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

Randall smiled, his heart swelling with pride and joy upon seeing her reaction: Was this the first time she had ever seen herself outside of the waters of the bayou, he wondered? Was this the first time she beheld her visage in all her life? The notion made his heart ache, but still he smiled to her, so touched by her reaction.

“You’re beautiful,” he sighed softly, and with those words of praise, he fell asleep.

When he awoke, it was morning. At least, it seemed to be morning, judging by the weak, warm light shining in through the window, as he pushed himself up, rubbing his sore neck as he noted the table with the hat still on it, as well as his notebook, still open to last night’s page, resting on his lap. He groaned as he sat up, barely noticing his father’s voice calling, “He’s in here!”

“Oh, Randall,” June sighed as the Pace parents rushed into the room, saying, “We were so worried when you didn’t come down for breakfast and you weren’t in your room!”

“Sorry to worry you, Ma,” he sighed with a small smile, saying, “I guess I just, uh...stayed up a bit too late. Err, what time is it?”

“Time for breakfast, at least,” Wilhelm replied, as he helped his boy up, saying, “You’ve got to get downstairs and get some food and coffee in you before you go out the door, I don’t want Minnie yelling at you just because you were a minute or two late!”

#((oh this poor man is gonna be SO tired and sore come morning when he wakes up; he fell asleep on a hard bathroom floor)) #((after staying up for hours not only to work on a hat BUT to also draw the siren he's currently infatuated with)) #((chilling in his bathtub! true; it is VERY much like canon in which randall would stay up late not only to work on projects)) #((but to spend time with emily after hours; but still; poor randall is gonna have a hard time staying awake when he gets to work!)) #((granted to him he'll consider it all worth it since he got to spend time with emily but still!)) #((this man's middle name really SHOULD be 'sleep-deprived'!)) #((again he feels it's worth it because he got to stay up with emily and had some good company while he worked on a project)) #((but still! no wonder he looks perpetually tired-because he does things like this!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Part of Your World