My Wandering Mind

Do you think og!Penelope and Layla (from Cry, or Better Yet, Beg) would have been friends if they were in the same universe and timeline?

I imagine that they would. I see it taking place in Layla's time period where it's more modern but nobility and status is still prominent.

Duke Eckhart and the Duchess of Herhardt would be siblings, which makes Penelope and Matthias cousins technically.

The girls met when they are 12-13. Layla would have been with uncle Bill for a few weeks already and has already befriended Kyle when Penelope arrives at the Herhardt estate. The Duke sends Penelope to his sister so she can teach Penelope how to behave like a proper noble lady. A feat that several tutors have failed to do.

They meet in a tree since both like climbing. (Can you imagine their surprise to see another girl casually hanging off a tree? I think it would be cute) Penelope is a bit wary but only for a few minutes. Whoever this blonde girl was, Penelope thought she seemed kind, and Penelope wanted to have someone kind to be around. Layla may be a bit uncertain at first, but when the idea having a girl friend entered her mind, she got really excited at that thought.

The girls become close friends, and Layla is one of the reasons why Penelope keeps coming every summer since.

Matthias would at first would be polite but overall indifferent to Penelope. She was his mother's responsibility more than she was his. It's not until he notices how much time Penelope and Layla spend together that he makes an effort to actually talk to Penelope outside of brief pleasantries. She would be useful in keeping tabs on Layla.

Evntually, Penelope notices how intensely Matthias stares at Layla. She sees a certain glint in his eyes that she misinterpret.

"Why don't you like Layla?"

"Why do you assume I don't like her?"

"You look at her like my brother Derrick looks at me. And he doesn't like me."

Matthias raises an eyebrow at that but smoothly steers the conversation to another topic.

Sure, Penelope's reputation would have deterred some suitors, but she's still the daughter of a Duke. She was one of the highest noblewoman in terms of status, second only to the queen. Penelope is literally the closest thing to a princess in their empire. Also, despite all the problems and ridicule that arose that Penelope supposedly caused, the Eckharts kept her within the ducky instead of simply kicking her out. I felt like this would have implied that they wouldn't have severed ties with her after she married into another family. Considering how there is to gain from a marriage with Penelope, her infamous temper seems like an inconvenience more than anything.

With both having nefarious reputations and less than ideal 'family' situation, I feel like there would be a certain understanding between them that they find comforting. At first, they'd be wary of each other because they've learned to be suspicious of everyone around them. Then they'd gradually warm up to each other because they appreciate how honest the other person is. Callisto is blunt and doesn't hide his true thoughts behind flowery words or fake smiles. OG!Penelope seems like the type who feels emotions deeply which she typically expresses openly because she never quite learned how to hide it. They'd empathize with each other over losing their mothers who were the only person they could say truly loved them. Befriending each other males them feel a little less lonely (though Callisto would never admit it).

I like the idea that fashion was more than just a common interest for girls to Penelope. Penelope's childhood as a beggar was a gray, miserable life. She's seen how ugly and colorless the world can be when she was surviving on the streets. I can see how that could spur on her inclination towards pretty, shiny things. I can see little Penelope, dressed in rags and dirt, staring through the window of a dress shop, looking in complete awe of all the beautiful dresses and jewels that came in so many different lovely colors and styles. She’d become almost entranced because it felt like it was a whole other world from what she knew. Her being a designer/ seamstress is like her way of trying to escape her ugly reality by creating something beautiful.

In a modern setting, I also like the idea of Penelope being a famous singer or actress(after running way I guess. I don’t have all the details.) Her violent outbursts were caused by the neglect and abuse of the Eckharts and their servants. How angry, helpless, and trapped she must have felt. Her voice was ignored no matter how loud she screamed. Everyone around her made her feel unlovable and worthless. As a singer, she uses music as a healthier way of coping with her feeling and her trauma. She pours all her hurt and heartbreak into her songs. As an actress, she gets to escape even if it's only for a time. When she acts, she isn’t Penelope anymore. She wasn’t an orphan or beggar. She wasn't the adopted daughter of the Duke. She wasn't the replacement that no one wanted or accepted. As she gains more fans, Penelope realizes that for once her voice is being heard, she was being seen, and there were people who actually seem to love it.