#scroogeverses

The idea of Wolf being so good at keeping his impulsive thoughts to himself, but something about Bess just completely shatters that mental barrier.

Like, the first time they spend time together, he can't help but think, "Bloody hell, you're pretty," and instead of staying in his head it just slips right out his mouth. Cue both of them freezing and staring in shock at each other as they both blush.

Wolf clears his throat and goes on to rush, "My apologies, Ms. Sullivan. That was inappropriate. I have no idea where that came from. Please forgive my sudden slip in decorum."

"Oh, that... that's okay. Um, thank you? I-I can't remember the last time a man called me 'pretty'. Especially not one that I accidentally verbally assaulted because I mistook him for his ghosting jerk twin."

"Well, that's truly a shame because your loveliness is undeniable."

More stunned silence, hotter blushes.

Oof, I've considered this question for a while, but I think I've finally revealed some answers.

Eggs are finicky for Bess. Frying them, poaching them, soft-boiling them, separating whites from yolks for certain recipes. Anything that requires some precise, fine skill with eggs so they don't turn out completely cooked through instead of those delicious runny/jammy states is just something she forever struggles with. Wolf actually cooks and separates the eggs in their house. He's very good and has an innate skill for preciseness.

Addie is not good at making soups. Soups, stews, chowders, chilis, ramen, hotpots--she has a tendency to badly scorch everything when she uses a big pot with a lot of ingredients, which you need to do when making soup for more than just yourself. But that's okay, there are two other girls in the house capable of making some bomb soups, so she'll handle some other things instead.

Gal? Um... This is hard, because girl is literally a professional cook.😂 I think, with Gal, it's more like she's not particularly fond of the results of some things she makes, even when everyone else enjoys them. I see her loving kimchi, so she's probably tried to save some money by learning how to make it on her own, but the results are just never the same as the real deal. So she foregoes saving money and just bites the bullet to get real kimchi, because if it's not the real deal, it's not worth it to her.

Then he meets the Cratchits, Bess and Wolf, Connie, and obviously begins to set up a life there. Takes over the manor. Marries, settles down.

Do you think there’s ever any intervention or magic that comes up where some mage is like, “Good news! We can send you back to your own universe. One Ebenezer here, the other Ebenezer there! Just let me know when.”

I’m sure it’s somewhat of a choice. I mean, he was ripped away from the life he knew. But also, leaving his new found-family? Leaving Connie?

And if this conversation came up while Connie was already secretly pregnant, I imagine she hasn’t told him, so she goes to Bess that night and just sobs about losing him.

“I can’t keep him here, Bess! He should go home … if he wants. I shouldn’t be selfish, but gods preserve me, my heart will break without him. How could I go on? How could our baby go on?”

This is such an interesting topic, and I have thought about it. Can he go back? Would he go back? Who would offer to send him back? Would Connie go with him back to his world if he went?

Interestingly enough, I actually see the Queen of the gods being the one to offer to send him back. She approaches him somehow, somewhere, someway, and tries to tempt him into returning to his home. "We both know you don't belong here. You weren't born of this world; what does it have to offer you, child?" She tries to play it off as benevolent mercy. What it is, really, is her own self-interest and self-preservation, because he's part of the group destined to end her reign. Without him, the prophecy doesn't come true. Of course, nobody knows that yet. But they do know, via the moon goddess at the very least, that the high goddess is not to be trusted.

However, after she's defeated, and they can find someone powerful enough to do the magic to send him back, is a different story.

Does Adonis consider it? I mean, who wouldn't really? Yes, the world he came from was harsh and cruel, and he was alone and friendless in it, but that was the only home he'd ever known before being sent here. And I'm sure he wonders what's happening there without him. Is Harry all right? Does he miss him? Is he looking for him? Is anybody? Do they even know he's gone? And he probably has regrets about being so cruel and not making amends back in that world, now that he's a changed man here. Going back is not something to jump into or brush off so quickly; it's too complicated for that. He has to think.

Funnily enough, while Bess is consoling Connie, I can see Wolf being the one to go to Adonis to have a chat. I think that brotherly relationship from other worlds just kinda... carries over here. The two of them have a long talk about home and what it really means and about what's really important in life. They've both learned a lot since their... change of situations.

"I've travelled all over this land at least twice, in my time," Wolf says. (Due to his lycanthropy, I imagine Wolf is even... older in this world. lol) "I've even explored a few others. Even before I was bitten and forced into that life, when I had a roof fit for a lord over my head and money overflowing and then some in my coffers, I've never experienced what home was until I met my Brightness.

"Whenever I think of home, I don't think of four walls and a door post, or a roaring fire under a solid roof in a rainstorm, or a comfortable bed in the dead of winter, or even a table stocked with a feast at the end of a long day--I think of Bess. Her smile, her laugh, her kisses, her arms, her scent, her warmth, her heartbeat. Everything else about home comes from her; she's the foundation. Without her, I'd have none of it at all.

"So, let me ask you this, Brother: when you think about home, who do you see?"

Imagine the wifeys thrifting, and they find some true, vintage, 1950s rayon dresses? Fit and flare, adorable patterns and everything!

Instead of immediately showing the hubbies, they buy them, go to their respective homes, and slip them on while prepping a simple dinner? Then, when hubbies return, they get the delightful surprise? 🥰 I imagine Bess finding a perfect, 1950s hair scarf to match.

Not that the men only see their wife as a housewife (FAR from it, they’re their own women and both hubbies would be worries sick if all they did was cook and clean all day) but something about the whole image, especially as older gents, I imagine is … very nice. 😏

A) I love this.

B) This is just so on brand for these two! Bess already loves these kinds of dresses, first of all, so she'd probably actually make these dresses a staple in her wardrobe. And Connie would look GORGEOUS. Have her do some luxurious waves and curls in her hair too? She'd be a knockout!

I can just see their hubbies' expressions. The looks of delighted surprise at first followed by playful appraisal and then heated mischief. As if these ladies already didn't have an entire armory of things to use on their men to get them going. lol

Some choice picks to consider for each lady:

Bess:

Connie:

All I envision is Pack members getting specifically timed calls asking them to come to the Wolves' and when they get there, there are at least two other members seated in chairs, having their hair and faces turned into... unique creations, and Bess or Wolf just being like. "Ah, right on time for your appointment! Have a seat and one of our talented stylists will be with you shortly." I can see Bess also getting play makeup, press-on nails, clip-in extensions maybe even some cheap, child-friendly, wash-out hair dye, face stickers, fake tattoos ("Because ve do EVERYT'INK at de Fantabumazing Hair Prettying-Up Place, Da'link.")--girl just collects a whole trunkful of stuff to enrich the experience.

They come back, and they find Bess and Connie in the clinch snoozing. They’ve fallen asleep in the middle of a movie, and are bundled under a blanket. 💕

Aww, this is so cute! I can just see the girls snuggled under a couple big, cozy blankets, resting against each other as they sleep. It's a position they've fallen asleep in many times over the years. The Twins watch for a minute in silence, smiling at how sweet and angelic the soul-sisters look before exchanging the glance. The glance that says they still can't believe how lucky they both are.