Happy Sunday everyone! I’m really hoping to get some writing done this week when I’m in Alabama, because after that I suspect I’m going to be insanely burnt out for a week or two. Thank you for tagging me today @aroace-genderfluid-sheep, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @confused-bi-queer, @shutup-andletme-go, @forabeatofadrum, @tender-ministrations, and @valeffelees!
Here’s a bit of Snow POV from my AU:
“Hey,” I say, standing up. “What’s this?” There’s initials carved into the trunk—in many cases, burned in—most in hearts but some by themselves or in a circle. The tree’s completely covered in them, like an extremely involved tattoo sleeve.
Climbing to his feet, Baz sighs and traces the shape of one of the hearts. The initials inside read NP+MG, just above his head and burned in deep. “It’s a Pitch tradition,” he says. “It goes back generations, long before the manor was ever built. My mother’s family lived on this land going all the way back to the very first Pitches.” The smallest shadow of a smile tugs at his lips. “We’re fire mages, Pitches. Grimms too, come to that. That’s why so many of these seem burned into the bark.”
“But…what are they? Couples?”
Baz looks at me. “Yes. Crucible bonded pairs, love matches mostly. Pitches tend to defy expectation that way.”
I don’t ask if the hearts are for love matches, or what exactly he means by defying expectation. Looking at his family—well, I suppose Fiona is the only other Pitch who lives here, but Mr. Grimm was married to Baz’s mother—I can see where it might be easy to assume their relationships would be based on practicality. It’s hard to picture Baz’s aunt head over heels, or his father. “Oh!” I say, taking a harder look at the heart Baz is tracing. “That one’s your parents, isn’t it?” He nods a bit wistfully, so I give him a nudge with my elbow. “Didn’t know your family was a pack of raging vandals, did I.”
Baz laughs. “Dealbreaker, Snow?”
“Not hardly. Let’s get ours up here, Baz.”
A look of surprise comes over his face, but he’s snapped his wand out of his sleeve already. “Hmmm,” he murmurs, inspecting the trunk. “Help me choose a spot, Snow.”
I walk around the tree until I meet up with him again, then slip behind Baz and wind my arms around his waist. “Do you trust me?”
He looks back over his shoulder and frowns. “I mean…some. What are you going to do, Snow?” I point at a spot about seven metres up; there aren’t too many branches that might impede flight in this spot. Baz scoffs. “Always have to be different, don’t you?—all right, but if you drop me, I’ll put a moratorium on Vera’s scone making for the rest of your life.”
And that’s that for another week. Wishing you all the best for the month ahead! ❤️
Tagging: @cutestkilla, @larkral, @facewithoutheart, @fatalfangirl, @raenestee, @ileadacharmedlife, @bazzybelle, @aceumbrellaheroes, @supercutedinosaurs, @asocialpessimist, @palimpsessed, @alleycat0306, @ninemagicks, @bookish-bogwitch, and @hertragedyconnoisseur 😘
