Trail Mix and Guava

[ninablues]

Story: Timeless { backstory | index }

Title: Hands

Rating: G/PG, warning: casual racism, related to the time period

Challenge: Trail Mix #7: hallway, Guava #28: kiss and make it better

Toppings/Extras: none

Wordcount: 815

Summary: Edward and Verity Ashdown’s turbulent marriage falls into a temporary lull.

Notes: Pre-abduction, and the first time posting

Comments

[ninablues]

Thanks! When it doesn't work between them it's awful, but when it does it's quite sweet. XD

[shayna611]

While their conversation was a bit disturbing (I mean it sounds like they're talking as if they're getting a pet, when they're intending to enslave another human being), it works with the period. I love the contrast you have going between the two times, and I just keep thinking what shock Ashdown must have in the future.

[ninablues]

Yes, I wanted to show a little bit more of cruel-from-the-past Ashdown instead of quaint-from-the-past Ashdown; a conversation like this (somewhat unfortunately) is also the best way to introduce Verity, because she's like this almost all of the time.

Thanks for reading. :)

[bookblather]

Ooooh, I really like this. It's a great little snapshot of their marriage; both why it's troublesome and why they stayed married. I especially like the description of Verity as being sort of instantly stylish no matter what. Nice job.

[ninablues]

I was going to introduce them as totally hating each other (which they do most of the time) but it ended up with a little bit of sweetness. Ah, never mind, it worked for the prompt and I got to show that they do kinda love each other. Thanks for reading!

[smoothiegarten]

Yeeeeeah seems I was right. Ashdown's choice of wife is definitely not helping him be at all at ease with his sexuality. I feel bad for him. I do kind of like Verity despite her attitude, though.

[ninablues]

I like Queen-of-the-world Verity too; she's really awful to other people (especially Ashdown) sometimes but she's not 100% of a bitch, either. Anyway, she's just permanently mad at him because she thinks he doesn't find her attractive (which is true, but not for the reasons she expects).

Thanks for reading!

[nathskywalker]

You seem to have fun writing Verity. That's the impression I got from reading this. She is spoiled but there is something fun about reading her and her imaginations of the young slave.

[ninablues]

Yep, I find her really entertaining, but I want to get the like/hate border just right because although she has a lot of bad qualities I don't want her to be hated by the reader 'cause she's not really that bad, just shallow and ignorant sometimes. Thanks. :)