madame librarian

It wasn’t every day that one saw a twenty seven year old woman pulling a wagon through town, but that was exactly what was happening that day. The squeaking of the old wheels and the rhythmic thump of the wheels as they passed over the seams in the sidewalk followed Eloise Goddard down the main street through town.

“Where are you off too, Miss Eloise Goddard?”

Eloise stopped at the corner of East Street and Maple Drive, a small grin slowly growing on her face as Theo Byron approached her from the crosswalk.

“I have pumpkins to protect,” Eloise explained as Theo made a move to poke around the contents of the wagon she was currently pulling behind her. 

“First... this wagon has my name on it. Did you steal my wagon?” he asked, pointing to the side where his name was indeed scrawled in a childish font, including a backwards “e” in his name.

“And secondly, I’m not entirely sure what you’re referring to, Miss Goddard... Especially since I think I spy your famous pumpkin roll in that tin and baking a pumpkin seems like the exact opposite of protecting it.”

“Well, first, yes this is your wagon but no, I did not steal it. If you remember, I won it fair and square riding it down Penn Hill without crashing it when we were eleven,” Eloise began, having reminded him of this event at least once a year when she pulled the old wagon out of her garden shed for any number of reasons. 

“Right! Of course. How could I have forgotten that historic moment in our town’s history?” Theo proclaimed dramatically.

 “And I”m not on some mission to protect all pumpkins,” Eloise continued. “Just the jack-o-lanterns the children carved today from the--”

“Fenton Brothers,” the pair said in unison. 

Fall, as anyone might expect in a town such as Fate, was a busy time of the year. The lead up to Halloween was peppered with events and many of those were organized by Eloise herself. The second Saturday afternoon in October was when she hosted a pumpkin carving event on the front lawn of the library. As dusk approached, the pumpkins would be lit and decorate the front of the library for the remainder of the autumn season. At least, that is what Eloise had hoped would be their fate.

The second Saturday evening in October is also when the Fenton Brothers, two terrible teenage boys with no manners (in Eloise’s opinion) would come smash the recently carved gourds, leaving a mess of orange carnage in their wake that would have begun to turn an unsightly brown by the time Eloise arrived to unlock the library the next morning. She’d hoped the pair would grow out of these childish antics, but it seemed as if age only further their resolved to bash the hard work of Fate’s young pumpkin artists into the gutters.

“I’m planning a stake out,” Eloise explained, pulling back the blanket that covered the contents of the wagon so that Theo might examine it more thoroughly. “Hot chocolate. Flashlights. A pumpkin roll-- well spotted!”

“I am known for identifying baked goods from miles away,” Theo interjected.

“Blankets. This camping lantern my mother sent in case the power ever goes out.... a deck of cards to amuse myself with solitaire. Assorted other items for eating... silly string.”

“....silly string?”

“For giving those Fenton Brother’s a taste of their own medicine should they dare to step foot on the library lawn!”

Theo was silent then, observing her supplies and Eloise waited for what she assumed would be a harsh dose of reality. Yes, she was well aware that even if her stake out deterred the Fenton Brothers for one evening, it was just as likely they’d be back the next night to wreck havoc as always. But even so, just letting the creations have one night would be enough for her.

“Have you supplies enough for two, or should I make a quick trip home?” Theo asked. The tension she realized she’d been holding in her shoulders waiting to be told her plan was silly was suddenly released. Of all her friends, she should’ve known that Theo would be the most ready to accompany her on an evening such as this.

“I think I’ve got more than enough for the pair of us,” Eloise held out the handle towards him. “I’ll even give you the honor of pulling the wagon.”

“Oh yes, what an honor to pull my wagon that was stolen from me!” Theo laughed, but took it from her anyway as the pair headed down East Street towards the twinkling lights of the (yet undisturbed) jack o’ lanterns at the library building.”

“I won fair and square, Theo Byron, so stop trying to make it seem otherwise!” 

“I’ll play you for it. Round of poker, winner takes all... any by all, I mean the wagon,” Theo proposed. 

“I’ve no earthly idea how to play poker,” Eloise countered.

“What about Spades?”

“Nope.”

“Euchre?”

“Nope.”

“Go Fish.”

“Good morning!”

It was 12:01 am and a very tired looking Theo Byron was staring at his screen door at Eloise Goddard.

“It’s... its the middle of the night.”

“I think there’s an argument to be made that since it is now technically a new day, we can call it the morning.”

“There’s also an argument to be made that when one can still see the moon, its night time,” Theo replied, followed by a yawn that accompanied him pushing open the screen door so Eloise could come inside.

“I just wanted to make sure I was the first one to telll you Happy Birthday,” Eloise said, holding out the small white box she’d been carrying since her arrival.

Still half asleep, it took Theo a moment before he took the box out of her hand. He paused and pulled out the flower tucked into the baker twine that kept the box closed.

“Marigold. Your favorite,” he commented with a grin as he pulled at the twine and opened the box.

“Blackberry lemon. Your favorite,” she informed him as he broke into a grin.

“Thanks, Ellie,” he closed the lid of the box. “I suppose I’ll have breakfast now.”

“You’re welcome, Theo,” she replied. There was a moment of silence between the pair.

“I should go. I have to get to your sister’s before anyone beats me to wishing her happy birthday first, too!” Eloise turned and pulled open the door.

“Are you in competition with someone?” Theo called as she made her way down the steps and onto the sidewalk. “Should I expect more visitors?”

“No,” she called back. “I just don’t want to take any chances!”

“See you tomorrow, Eloise,” Theo called as he stepped back inside.

Name(s): Marigold (Mari) Francine & Asher James Goddard-Bryon

Gender: Female/Male (fraternal twins!)

General Appearance: Both have light brown hair. Marigold constantly has a dreamy look about her. Asher is a bit more grounded and is always focused on the world around him. 

Personality: Both kids are huge daydreamers, though Asher starts to grow out of it as they get older. Mari retains more of the world around her than people realize but Asher definitely keeps her from wandering off lost in thought. Asher is focused and throws himself wholeheartedly into all tasks. Mari is the sort who things come to naturally and without much trying. 

Special Talents: Mari can identify any plant on sight in her father’s shop by the age of six. Asher has an affinity for potion making.  

Who they like better: Both!

Who they take after more: Honestly I think both would have equal parts of both their parents? But I think Asher is perhaps a bit more like his mother and Mari like her father. 

Personal Head canon: The pair (along with their local neighborhood kid gang) built a tree house kingdom in the woods behind the Goddard-Byron home. Even through college they could often be found with their friends hiding out back there. Also, Marigold is the older twin by 3 minutes.

Face Claim: Sasha Mason & Sam Taylor Buck

Maxim is actually a Victorian and he still loves books and paper and he 100% thinks that libraries are awesome institutions!!  Plus, I can deF see where, whether for him job or personal reasons, he’s had lots of occasional to dig through the Fate history files archives at the library so…my main point is, I feel like these two probs see lots of each other!!  I also feel like Maxim would be quite fond of Eloise.  He also loves humans lots but she’s also such a genuine and king person and he’s like ‘this is what ppl ~should be like in an ideal world’ and I feel like he admires her quite a lot.  As a result, he’s probs more likely to drop the sass w her than w others.  How do you think she’d react to him?

omG can they please bond over a mutual dislike for e-readers? XD

i totally agree that they probably run into one another quite often! i think she’s probably over the moon whenever any one is like “can i see hard copies?” or “is it possible to use the microfiche?” (because you know she’s taking FOREVER to digitize the things in the library!) so if he’s in there doing research in the archives, he’s one of her favorite people XD PROBABLY to the point where she can have a tendency to be a little TOO helpful. research is something she LOVES to do but doesn’t get a chance to do that often!

akljflkdsjfkjsd I LOVE YOU, KATE <333333 That’s hilarious!!

Eep!  What cuties I can 100% imagine them running around like little hellions, wreaking terror throughout Fate!! that is, on the days Theo had his way sdkajflkasjdf they got into lots of trouble those days, probs being much better citizens when anyone else had theirs hahah  GOING ON ADVENTURES AND PLAYING PRETEND <3333333  You know they had such fun!!  dslkjfaklsdjfjkds I love these lil cuties <3  Now I’m picturing a convo w their old friendgroup like

theo: eloise, let’s set the date!

eloise: *joking* its been 23 years, are you still stuck on me

theo:

their entire friend group:

theo:

their entire friend group: omG

jk jk ;DDDDD  Also, [ this ] lksdfjlkajdf he’s such a dumB alksdfsdkjflksdjf

IM CRYIN!!!!!!  I love that she’s contemplated a relationship w him!!!! lkasjfalksjaf and he’s instantly ruined it (by accident)!!!!!  Honestly also a lil background, I think I mentioned this somewhere but I’m not positive hahaha  So the coven has strict rules about who witches can marry (i.e., they MUST marry other witches otherwise they and their non-witch partner get cursed which is…fun).  They even often have arranged marriages set up so it’s a whole thing haha  

Anyway, getting hexed obv isn’t something Theo wants for either of them but he also doesn’t want to start something w her only to have to break it off and go marry someone else so that’s a big reason he’s hesitated to say anything and also…bc he’s a dumbass hahaha in actuality there’s every chance even if there weren’t that whole complication that he ~still wouldn’t have said anything hahaha but he likes to think he would have ;D

Also, the flirtation thing has absolutely happened before!!  He enjoys flirting and actually does it a lot and rn it’s Jasmine bc she’s new and exciting but there have def been others before her and probs are others even now too hahaha  I also feel like he occasionally dates ppl but you just sort of…never know he has zero plan ever hahaha

KATE!!  I love that they’re both kinda idiots <333333  They honestly are perfect alsdfjlksdjfjsd <33333  I CAN SAVE HIM re: Rex byEEEE poor bb!!  No, but that makes perfect sense and Theo is just about as opposite from the bad boy/byronic hero vibe as you can get hahaha and unknowing living a girl-next-door-friends-in-love thing aklsdjfkalsdjfkjsdkjfskdjf LOVE!!  Speaking of Rex, tho, do you think Theo knows she’s stuck on him or anything?  If so, he’s 100% insanely jealous and handles ~that w all his usual sense, decorum, and maturity ;D

BOTH UR NAMES HAVE THE LETTER ‘E’ IN THEM Theo laughing like ‘so does yours’ hahaha  FOND OF FREE PEANUTS ALKSJDFLKJSDKFJ  Theo’s internally screaming the whole time but also hearteyes like ‘whY is she so hilariously adorable does God hate me’ <3333333  SHE AGREES TO THE PRACTICE DATE!!!!!  lakdsjfkljdsfkjsd aka Theo’s happiest day!!!!  Also, cue unrelenting teasing about her trying to play Jasmine alksdjfkklsdfj he’s such a big dork i s2g  He 100% asks her lots of questions about NYC once he notices that purely bc he’s amused asdfdsflkj 

Also, since they grew up together, I 100% feel like he has some pet nickname for her but I can’t figure out what would be the best one???  Elle?  Ellie?  Ella?  E?  Lou?  Ise?????? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So many cute options!!  hahahaha

omg i love itttt! they were probably just a group of kiddos that like EVERYONE in town knew so they basically just ran around and some adult always knew where they were and what they got up to and just ashuohasofshof so fun! AND THEY’RE ALL STILL FRIENDS. and their friends are just face palming at them ALL THE TIME because eloise is a clueless idiot and they can’t get it together! i feel like that interaction happens ALL THE TIME. just like constant groans from the peanut gallery of their friends!

i knew there were ~reasons~ witches and humans couldn’t marry but obvs thats so intense and of course he’s a good guy and wouldn’t want that for them!! (side note like most of eloise’s friends are supernaturals... is she their token human friend?!? XD) and since she has no idea about all that & he’s just generally kind of a flirt, she just writes off any teasing from her directed towards her. i feel like if/when she finds out about all this spn business ( @bmtfinn​ i’m looking at you for potentially somehow managing to blab everyone’s secrets? XD) she’d be like “a hex can’t be that bad, right?” because, again, kinda an idiot. 

so, re: rex.... i think it may be kind of obvious because eloise isn’t that good at hiding emotions? i feel like their relationship was probably a whirlwind thing that maybe she interpreted as more than it actually was? i don’t think she’d proably be openly TELLING people but i can imagine when they’re in a group, she pays rex more attention that probably he wants/is necessary. she’s just created this situation in her head surrounding him and its never going to work out that way.

eloise wil 100% be like “okay, we’re going to a, b, and c restaurants to try those out and i have a list of factors to consider which will be the perfect first date location for when you finally ask out jasmine-- should you maybe do that?” and then it just turns into the pair of them laughing about her being terribly uninformed about how people from nyc act i s2g i love them. 

kate is eloise more leslie knope or ann perkins?? i was just thinking human!finn used to be ben and now vamp!finn is more tom lmao jafoijwofjw anyway!!!!!!! yes!!!!!!!!!! i’m pree sure the abbott boyz have lived in fate all their lives (maybe even for generations?) and while eloise is closer in age to finn’s lil bro luke i’m sure they know each other quite well as well!! esp. if she’s known theo since they were kids? cos i haven’t replied to kate’s comment yet but those two have defs known each other since diapers. as theo’s bff and (now literal!! eternal!!) thorn in his side, finn is 100% going to know theo’s got a thing for eloise lmao. also finn being the thirdwheel pls in all things theo/eloise aoeiwjfow as kids…as adults now…gimme lol

honestly this is finn:

is he sorry about it? no. am i sorry about it? absolutely.

Gah! that’s a hard one? probbly more leslie knope w/o as much neuroses? but then also kinda anne perkins when it comes to other people’s lives? like she mothers some people but is a personal disaster in many ways? i don’t know. all i know is she is probably staring at finn like “wtf” now that he’s tom haverford-ing all over the place. 

CAN THEY PLEASE HAVE GROWN UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AS THE GODDARDS/BYRONS? because this town NEEDS a childhood gang of kids running around who have now grown up into (semi) functional adults! ALSO I AM DYING AT THOSE PICTURES because honestly eloise will just be like... “no... theo loves you! you’re so silly, finn!” because even hitting her over the head with it does nothing?! (also cue Theo probably flailing about in the corner over things as well xD)