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Description

-Home- A Penny Dreadful story
by deafield

Ophelia had always liked winter. She could layer up all she desired to cover up her particular ‘condition’. And she always imagined using the cold as an excuse to pull herself into the arms of a dear companion. And her thoughts as of late turned to her friend, Mr. Clare, who skin might have been as cold as winter snow but his heart felt like a warm fireplace which she couldn’t help but move towards its flickering light.

Today was a glorious day for her plans, serene new fallen snow layering over the usual gray, bitter streets. It seemed the final touch to the tizzy of cleaning her and her brother Aron, had been doing the last week in preparation for her friend’s visit. It was still early morning, when she got out of bed to meet her friend knowing his preference for moving about the city in darkness which she more than understood. Looking outside her window she saw hardly a soul and felt glad. She dressed in her warmest wool dress and cloak knowing the chill as soon as she left the small flat and its smell of burnt maple logs in their small fireplace.

She was glad she liked the mornings, though Aron once he awoke was like a burning sunlight streaming through curtains that couldn’t be shut out. He was already stirring as she left to gather her friend from the dank refuge he now stayed in. The closer she moved to her friends location, the less affected by the cold she felt much to her own surprise, and a giddiness started welling within her.

Mr. Clare she could see as she walked closer to the entrance, standing with a book in hand and as always seemingly ignorant of the weather. His bag was heavy on his shoulder, the weight of it making a dent in his coat, though Ophelia doubted he noticed it. As she got closer she couldn’t help but notice his tallness and strong limbs noticeable even with all the layers. But she noticed the most right now that he was lost in the words and didn’t see her approach and she had a mighty, terrible thought.Inching closer, slightly behind him she slowly reached her arms forward fingers extended and took a breath before rushing forward her fingers pushing into his side as she said,

“Morning!” To her surprise, the man’s reaction was not as she expected. As he stiffly recoiled, his head whipping in her direction with pained yet predatory eyes. His hair dragged forward over his face, his eyes met hers and in a flash his expression changed to grief and finally transforming into pleasant surprise. And somehow in all this he managed to not drop his book, swiftly closing it and placing it in his already stuffed bag.
“Good morning Miss Broderick,” he replied in recovery, his breaths short and one hand clenched over the strap of his bag. Ophelia found herself taking John’s free hand in hers and putting a hand to his cheek.

“I am sorry if I hurt you.” He forced a smile it seemed, his hand grasping back at hers.

“You could do no such thing,” She felt herself force a smile as well, berating herself for her stupidity, but also feeling curiosity about his reaction. Yet the woman couldn’t find it within herself to invade his privacy. He would tell her such things in his own time. So instead she found a more appropriate question.

“ You have everything you wish to bring?” The woman moved her hand from her friend’s cheek to grasp his arm and lightly tug them back towards the street and he started moving with her. He nodded in response and dropped back into his thoughts.Ophelia thought she might try to cheer him up. It was the least she could do.

“Onto tea then! Our grand morning adventure awaits,” she started as they made their way down the edge of the street which was rapidly piling with snow. She could feel it crushing into the crook of her heeled boots which meant it would be perfect later for building snowmen if there was such a place to do it. There were few people to pass as they walked the darkened streets, sunlight creeping through the cracks of other buildings up ahead. It took a few moments but her friend’s breathing returned to a comforting pace, and she found herself watching the plumes of heated air against the cold air emitting from his lips. He looked forward letting her arm lead him and asked in a low voice,

“Are you sure this is well? I dare not be a burden to you or your kin,” he readjusted his heavy bag, filled with things he would be leaving at their flat, mainly books of course. Ophelia used her free hand to swat at his arm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to read the rest of the first chap?
They feel free to check out hers here:: Home - A PennyDreadful Story

Description

-Home- A Penny Dreadful story
by deafield

Ophelia had always liked winter. She could layer up all she desired to cover up her particular ‘condition’. And she always imagined using the cold as an excuse to pull herself into the arms of a dear companion. And her thoughts as of late turned to her friend, Mr. Clare, who skin might have been as cold as winter snow but his heart felt like a warm fireplace which she couldn’t help but move towards its flickering light.

Today was a glorious day for her plans, serene new fallen snow layering over the usual gray, bitter streets. It seemed the final touch to the tizzy of cleaning her and her brother Aron, had been doing the last week in preparation for her friend’s visit. It was still early morning, when she got out of bed to meet her friend knowing his preference for moving about the city in darkness which she more than understood. Looking outside her window she saw hardly a soul and felt glad. She dressed in her warmest wool dress and cloak knowing the chill as soon as she left the small flat and its smell of burnt maple logs in their small fireplace.

She was glad she liked the mornings, though Aron once he awoke was like a burning sunlight streaming through curtains that couldn’t be shut out. He was already stirring as she left to gather her friend from the dank refuge he now stayed in. The closer she moved to her friends location, the less affected by the cold she felt much to her own surprise, and a giddiness started welling within her.

Mr. Clare she could see as she walked closer to the entrance, standing with a book in hand and as always seemingly ignorant of the weather. His bag was heavy on his shoulder, the weight of it making a dent in his coat, though Ophelia doubted he noticed it. As she got closer she couldn’t help but notice his tallness and strong limbs noticeable even with all the layers. But she noticed the most right now that he was lost in the words and didn’t see her approach and she had a mighty, terrible thought.Inching closer, slightly behind him she slowly reached her arms forward fingers extended and took a breath before rushing forward her fingers pushing into his side as she said,

“Morning!” To her surprise, the man’s reaction was not as she expected. As he stiffly recoiled, his head whipping in her direction with pained yet predatory eyes. His hair dragged forward over his face, his eyes met hers and in a flash his expression changed to grief and finally transforming into pleasant surprise. And somehow in all this he managed to not drop his book, swiftly closing it and placing it in his already stuffed bag.
“Good morning Miss Broderick,” he replied in recovery, his breaths short and one hand clenched over the strap of his bag. Ophelia found herself taking John’s free hand in hers and putting a hand to his cheek.

“I am sorry if I hurt you.” He forced a smile it seemed, his hand grasping back at hers.

“You could do no such thing,” She felt herself force a smile as well, berating herself for her stupidity, but also feeling curiosity about his reaction. Yet the woman couldn’t find it within herself to invade his privacy. He would tell her such things in his own time. So instead she found a more appropriate question.

“ You have everything you wish to bring?” The woman moved her hand from her friend’s cheek to grasp his arm and lightly tug them back towards the street and he started moving with her. He nodded in response and dropped back into his thoughts.Ophelia thought she might try to cheer him up. It was the least she could do.

“Onto tea then! Our grand morning adventure awaits,” she started as they made their way down the edge of the street which was rapidly piling with snow. She could feel it crushing into the crook of her heeled boots which meant it would be perfect later for building snowmen if there was such a place to do it. There were few people to pass as they walked the darkened streets, sunlight creeping through the cracks of other buildings up ahead. It took a few moments but her friend’s breathing returned to a comforting pace, and she found herself watching the plumes of heated air against the cold air emitting from his lips. He looked forward letting her arm lead him and asked in a low voice,

“Are you sure this is well? I dare not be a burden to you or your kin,” he readjusted his heavy bag, filled with things he would be leaving at their flat, mainly books of course. Ophelia used her free hand to swat at his arm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to read the rest of the first chap?
They feel free to check out hers here:: Home - A PennyDreadful Story