angelesdeluna:

Sculptures …

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gownegirl:

NORMAL PEOPLE – S01E01

outlawarya:

NORMAL PEOPLE (2020-)

inkblotdemon:

gifset of Fred stimming/flapping because she’s so deeply autistic coded in the beginning (and then they kind of ease it off getting to season 4 and it makes me sad) and I NEVER SEE ANYONE TALKING ABOUT IT

look at this autistic sweetheart I love her so fcking much

Brian and Ellen AU

“Are ye sure ye’ve got that, lass?”

Six-year-old Faith Fraser nodded fiercely, carefully
balancing the tray as she crested the attic stairs. “Aye, Grannie. Can ye knock
on the door? Let Da know we’re here?”

Ellen Fraser did – six quick knocks, followed by two
quicker knocks. They felt Jamie’s footsteps on the floorboards before he cracked
open the door – then opened it wider, to accommodate his eldest daughter.

“Is that supper?”

Slowly Faith crossed the threshold of Jamie’s attic hideaway
and set the tray down on the simple table Ian and Robert had made.

“Aye – a bit early today if ye dinna mind. Mrs. Crook just
put a new roast over the fire, and yer Da and Robert are up at the far field to
supervise the planting, and – ”

Gently Jamie bent to kiss his mother’s cheek. “I dinna
mind, Mam. I ken weel how everyone is busy this time of year.”

“Mama had to stich up two of the men yesterday – and she
let me help her!” Faith exclaimed excitedly as Jamie sat down at the table.
Ellen sank to the foot of Jamie’s cot, smoothing out the creases in the quilt,
and Jamie hoisted Faith onto his lap.

“And I suppose ye did a fine job of it, hmm?”

She nodded. “I disinfected the sutures wi’ whisky, and
told the men to stop yelling, because William was sleeping.”

“She’s in charge, this one,” Ellen smiled. “Can’t imagine
where she gets that from.”

Jamie chewed on a hunk of bread. “Do ye want to be a
healer like yer Mam, when you’re older?”

“Aye. Mama says I can have my own wee basket for herbs
this year, and that I can be her assistant when she goes out to forage!”

Jamie swallowed and kissed his daughter’s forehead, warm
with joy. “I’m sure she’ll be happy to have such a dedicated assistant.”

Just then, Faith sat up a bit straighter. She scooted off
of Jamie’s knee and scampered to the window.

“Someone’s here,” she announced.

Immediately Ellen crossed the room. “Stay away from the
window, Jamie.”

Hands shaking, he set down his spoon. “Is there a man in
the house?”

“Ian is downstairs, in the study. Fergus, too. And Claire
and Jenny, of course – and all the bairns.”

“Look – someone’s getting out of the carriage,” Faith
remarked, nose pressed up against the window. “He’s old.”

“Redcoats?” Jamie whispered.

Ellen’s hand flew to her mouth.

Jamie stood, alert. Waiting to pounce. “Mam?”

“A Dhia,”
she gasped. “It’s Ned Gowan.”

–

“May I thank you again for your hospitality, Mistress
Fraser?”

“Ellen, please, Ned – I’ve known you all my life!” Ellen
re-filled Ned’s tumbler of whisky, still smiling ear-to-ear. “How long has it
been since we’ve seen each other?”

“Oh, my.” He scratched his head. “It must have been when
Jamie was at Leoch, that first time.”

“I was sixteen,” Jamie added, squeezing Claire’s hand as
she sat on the settee beside him. “It was when you and Da took me to Leoch.”

“My first time back since Brian had stolen me away,”
Ellen smiled. “Aye – it was quite the memorable experience.”

The door to the sitting room opened – Fergus entered,
followed quickly by Brian and Robert. Ned stood to greet the Fraser men.

“Oh, I’m so sorry to have intruded on your day – ”

“Nonsense.” Brian warmly clasped Ned’s weathered hand. “The
potatoes can wait another day to be planted. It’s not every day we have visitors
such as yourself here!”

Brian sat next to Ellen, while Robert squeezed in beside
Jenny and Ian on the other settee. The fire crackled – Fergus added another
log, then sat on the floor next to his sisters and cousins. Rapt with
attention.

“This is a long way to come for a social visit, Ned.”
Claire shifted her sleeping eight-month-old son to her other shoulder. “And it’s
been more than three years since Culloden. Are you well?”

In an instant, Ned’s face seemed to get even older – the lines
cut deeper – and his shoulders slumped.

“Truth be told, my dear – I’ve lived quite the ragtag
existence since we lost Leoch.”

They knew it had happened, of course – had heard tell of
how the castle and its contents had been ransacked in the wake of Culloden,
with the redcoats in power and no living MacKenzie brother to stop them. But
now to hear Ned speak of it –

“For a while I eked out a living in Cranesmuir. I’ll have
you know, Mrs. Fitz and her kitchen lads saved almost all of Collum’s library –
it’s in a safe house in the village, if I can ever figure out what to do with
it.”

“That was my father’s library,” Ellen breathed. “My sons have
good heads on their shoulders – they can figure something out.”

“Anyway,” Ned continued, “I was able to practice law in
the village, for a time. That’s how Roddie MacKenzie, my driver, came into my
employ.”

“Mrs. Crook is feeding him in the kitchen right now.”
Jenny turned to her father, gesturing to the back rooms. “Puir man looked
half-starved.”

“It’s been a meager existence, I’ll tell you that. This
land is different now – far fewer people. The soldiers don’t begrudge me for my
service to the MacKenzies, given that I’m a man of letters – so I’ve been a bit
of a roving solicitor. Adjudicating disputes, writing marriage contracts, and
the like.”

“He did write a good one for us,” Jamie mused. Claire
smiled.

Brian shifted forward in his seat. “Do ye need a place to
stay for a while, then? Because we’ve room enough here – if ye dinna mind
bunking wi’ Rob.”

“He’s more than welcome,” Robert piped up. “I’ll take
care of him.”

Ned sniffed and wiped at his eyes. “I – I would be most
grateful.” He swallowed, blinking harshly from behind his spectacles. “You see,
I’ve been in service to the MacKenzies for so long – and I don’t have any
family of my own…”

Ellen leaned forward and took Ned’s hand. “You’re wi’ family
now, Ned. Ye can stay as long as ye like.”

Ned looked around, at the smiling faces surrounding him.
He sat up a bit straighter.

“It would be my honor.”

–

Sometime later – supper, and at least three whiskys later
– Ned and Brian and Jamie and Claire sat in Brian’s study. Footsteps thundered
overhead as Ellen and Ian and Jenny and Robert tried to get the Fraser/Murray
children – still excited by the new houseguest – into bed.

“If ye say ‘thank you’ one more time, Ned, I may have to
turn ye out into the dooryard,” Brian smiled.

Ned set down his empty tumbler of whisky. “Well then –
until I find my feet, of course I’m happy to consult on any legal matters for
which I can assist.”

Brian scratched his chin. “There’s all the deeds to the
house and the land – we registered them with a magistrate before the Rising, so
that there would be no dispute as to ownership of the land.”

“And I presume you still have a copy of yours and Ellen’s
marriage contract?”

Brian smiled and patted the thick, dark wood of his desk.
“I do indeed – you wrote it very well. Clearly laid out the terms of Ellen and
my ownership of this land.”

“Good. I’d be happy to take a fresh look.” Ned turned to
Jamie. “As far as I know, young man, you’re still an outlaw.”

“Red Jamie, to be exact. And I am.”

“Don’t forget, I’m the Stuart Witch,” Claire smiled. “Though
that all seems to have been forgotten now.”

“And may I presume that the Crown doesn’t know you’re
here?”

“They don’t – and they won’t, if we keep it that way.” Jamie
slung an arm around Claire’s shoulders. “I lived in the far cottage for a time,
and moved upstairs into the attic a few months back. My children have never
known their father to live out in the open.”

Ned pursed his lips. “I presume you haven’t attempted to
petition the Crown.”

Jamie sighed. “For what? The penalty for treason is death.
You and I both know that.”

Ned tilted his head, thinking. “If I could find a way for
you to be pardoned – for you to live openly – would you be open to that?”

Jamie looked at Claire. She looked back at him, silently
supportive.

“Yes,” he replied, eyes still fixed on Claire’s. “There’s
nobody else I would trust.”

Ned’s beaming smile was positively infectious. “Well then.
I have work to do.”