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adventdrabblesTitle: Confessions by Candlelight
Universe: The Worst Witch
Character(s): Mildred Hubble/Esmeralda Hallow, Tabby
Rating: U
Warnings: N/A
Summary: Mildred awakens to find herself in the care and company of Ethel's older, more gracious sister.
Length: 469 words
Author's Notes: One day, when I say I'm going to write a drabble, I will actually just write a drabble. For Prompt 03. also: external link.
Confessions by Candlelight
She awoke with Tabby close by, pushing his cold nose against her, the flickering flames of candles dimly lighting the room, and, for a moment, Mildred was unsure where she was, remembering the near-accident on her broomstick, remembering how Ethel had crowed with delight upon rescuing her from what surely would have been a fatal fall, but other than that, she remembered nothing.
It took a moment for her to realise that her head was resting in someone’s lap, that she had fallen asleep half on, half off the bed, and hastily, and embarrassingly brushing the tortoiseshell cat back from her nose, she sat up, and found Ethel’s older, wiser, more caring sister sitting at her side.
“Oh!” Mildred said, uncertain of what to say, but sure she should be apologising.
Across from her, Esmerelda Hallow smiled gently, her lips softly rising, her expression one of kindness and patience, so distinct from that which often graced her younger sister’s face.
“I thought I should stay with you, just to make sure you were all right,” the older girl said, her voice so full kind that it made Mildred feel almost ashamed of how clumsy she was.
What was this, she thought, this strange feeling in her chest, this warmth she felt. Sometimes, she would catch a glimpse Griselda and Fenella in the corridor, she would see the way that Fenella, when she thought no one was looking, would reach out her hand for Griselda’s, would steal a kiss away, and Mildred ached for someone to show her that same kind of affection, that same kind of warmth.
14-years-old, shy and awkward, she wanted so much, and knew so little of how to ask for it.
On the bed at her side, Tabby mewled plaintively, turning back and forth, uncertain as to who he might receive the most attention from, his mistress, or her visitor.
“Well,” Esmerelda said softly, “I should leave.”
Mildred’s face flushed red.
“You don’t have to!” she said with uncertainty and embarrassment. “You could stay! We could talk!”
“What would you like to talk about, Mildred?” Esme asked, running her hand along the soft fur of the cat’s back.
Mildred’s blush deepened, and she left her heart swell in her chest. This was it, she realised, when she older, this would be the moment she looked back upon, the moment in which she finally said something honest.
“Feelings,” she blurted out awkwardly. “W-We could talk about our feelings!”
Esmeralda’s smile seemed to broaden, Tabby purring at her touch, folding himself up in her lap and looking up at her adoringly. We’re not so different, Tabby, you and I, Mildred caught herself thinking.
“I’d like that,” Esmeralda said quietly, and for a moment Mildred imagined there was relief on her face. “I should like that very much.”
Universe: The Worst Witch
Character(s): Mildred Hubble/Esmeralda Hallow, Tabby
Rating: U
Warnings: N/A
Summary: Mildred awakens to find herself in the care and company of Ethel's older, more gracious sister.
Length: 469 words
Author's Notes: One day, when I say I'm going to write a drabble, I will actually just write a drabble. For Prompt 03. also: external link.
Confessions by Candlelight
She awoke with Tabby close by, pushing his cold nose against her, the flickering flames of candles dimly lighting the room, and, for a moment, Mildred was unsure where she was, remembering the near-accident on her broomstick, remembering how Ethel had crowed with delight upon rescuing her from what surely would have been a fatal fall, but other than that, she remembered nothing.
It took a moment for her to realise that her head was resting in someone’s lap, that she had fallen asleep half on, half off the bed, and hastily, and embarrassingly brushing the tortoiseshell cat back from her nose, she sat up, and found Ethel’s older, wiser, more caring sister sitting at her side.
“Oh!” Mildred said, uncertain of what to say, but sure she should be apologising.
Across from her, Esmerelda Hallow smiled gently, her lips softly rising, her expression one of kindness and patience, so distinct from that which often graced her younger sister’s face.
“I thought I should stay with you, just to make sure you were all right,” the older girl said, her voice so full kind that it made Mildred feel almost ashamed of how clumsy she was.
What was this, she thought, this strange feeling in her chest, this warmth she felt. Sometimes, she would catch a glimpse Griselda and Fenella in the corridor, she would see the way that Fenella, when she thought no one was looking, would reach out her hand for Griselda’s, would steal a kiss away, and Mildred ached for someone to show her that same kind of affection, that same kind of warmth.
14-years-old, shy and awkward, she wanted so much, and knew so little of how to ask for it.
On the bed at her side, Tabby mewled plaintively, turning back and forth, uncertain as to who he might receive the most attention from, his mistress, or her visitor.
“Well,” Esmerelda said softly, “I should leave.”
Mildred’s face flushed red.
“You don’t have to!” she said with uncertainty and embarrassment. “You could stay! We could talk!”
“What would you like to talk about, Mildred?” Esme asked, running her hand along the soft fur of the cat’s back.
Mildred’s blush deepened, and she left her heart swell in her chest. This was it, she realised, when she older, this would be the moment she looked back upon, the moment in which she finally said something honest.
“Feelings,” she blurted out awkwardly. “W-We could talk about our feelings!”
Esmeralda’s smile seemed to broaden, Tabby purring at her touch, folding himself up in her lap and looking up at her adoringly. We’re not so different, Tabby, you and I, Mildred caught herself thinking.
“I’d like that,” Esmeralda said quietly, and for a moment Mildred imagined there was relief on her face. “I should like that very much.”
