Horatio
WoW, sometimes I'm baffled by the size of some people's ego. I don't know how they not notice that the world is not revolving around them, but well. I'll just stay attached to reality the way I want.
I wanted to post a cute romantic photoshoot with Ezra and Li Pong, but a few days ago I found this old sequence, inspired by the genius writings of NotTasha. So here - have a little dose of baby Ezra:
It was a beautiful little animal, tightly sewed and stuffed with sawdust.
Little claws had been stitched on its paws to attest to its might.
Its ‘fur’ was impressively short and bristled under the stroking fingers.
Its little triangle nose was carefully stitched at the end of its muzzle.
Its little eyes had an intensity to them, as if the toy was staring down some other creature, but its mouth had a funny crook to it.
Perhaps it was a mistake by the person who stitched it - perhaps the one who sewed its mouth had a sense of humor - but the mouth was uneven, as if the little bear was amused by something, smiling at some secret joke.
Later the bear had become mashed down when he slept with it, and its pretty little face had become disfigured, its muzzle bent from his perpetual petting. Horatio’s fur wore away from being clutched tightly on the bad days, had become matted and ruined by being held close to his face.
Twenty years later Ezra held the little sawdust filled animal he had found on the shelves of the little shop. He remembered 'Horatio', the bear he had owned as a child.
“You like bear?” Mrs. Lee called from behind counter.
“Yes, very much,” Ezra said, still cradling the creature.
“There is child somewhere? A child somewhere who would like?”
“Yes,” Ezra said softly, “Somewhere…”
Aww, how much little Peyton changed since I took these pictures. Now he has different eyes, and a different wig (because I accidentally hot glued the one in these pictures). And yes, in my headcanon, Ezra's full name is 'Ezra Peyton Standish'. So. It seemed easier to call the kid version by his middle name - avoids confusion in conversations.
As I said this is a tribute to the wonderful NotTasha's story, Ephemeral - all the words are quoted from there, though I altered a few lines slightly. I love all her stories and am eternally sad that she isn't writing in the Mag7 fandom anymore...