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(no subject)
Jun. 15th, 2017 10:03 amOne of the very best things about working at Green Gardens, Demelza has discovered, is how good Simon and Baz are about her own children being present when it becomes necessary. For the most part, she and Ross are able to balance their care, and they still have Abby to help them, but she likes that Ross can come by Green Gardens and drop both children off for the last hour or so of her shift and that no one really minds.
Two additional children, after all, are hardly adding to the number. Jeremy is still small enough that he's content to stay strapped to Demelza as she goes about her final duties and Julia is big enough now, over two years already, that she loves to chase after other children her own age, laughing and shrieking in delight.
They're all out on the grounds now, Demelza assigned to watch a small group of the younger children for a little while longer and while she is particularly happy to do hard, physical work, having grown up in such a world, she has to admit, this is one of her favourite tasks. The children are so sweet and so happy and there's truly nothing better than watching them run to and fro, falling from time to time and looking at her to see if they should cry. She'd learned with her brothers that the best reaction to a fallen child is to simply urge them to have more fun instead of rushing forward to ask if they're alright, therefore inciting the tears to begin, and she avoids most fits this way.
"You're alright, love, just keep running," she encourages when Julia falls down in the grass. At the same time, Jeremy reaches for someone over her shoulder and she turns to find Grantaire approaching across the grounds. Lighting up in a smile, Demelza waves for him to join her, at least for a time.
Two additional children, after all, are hardly adding to the number. Jeremy is still small enough that he's content to stay strapped to Demelza as she goes about her final duties and Julia is big enough now, over two years already, that she loves to chase after other children her own age, laughing and shrieking in delight.
They're all out on the grounds now, Demelza assigned to watch a small group of the younger children for a little while longer and while she is particularly happy to do hard, physical work, having grown up in such a world, she has to admit, this is one of her favourite tasks. The children are so sweet and so happy and there's truly nothing better than watching them run to and fro, falling from time to time and looking at her to see if they should cry. She'd learned with her brothers that the best reaction to a fallen child is to simply urge them to have more fun instead of rushing forward to ask if they're alright, therefore inciting the tears to begin, and she avoids most fits this way.
"You're alright, love, just keep running," she encourages when Julia falls down in the grass. At the same time, Jeremy reaches for someone over her shoulder and she turns to find Grantaire approaching across the grounds. Lighting up in a smile, Demelza waves for him to join her, at least for a time.
(no subject)
Jun. 10th, 2017 02:22 pmIt's a beautiful day and Demelza is pleased to be spending it outside at the market, even if it is a bit crowded, made all the more difficult by Jeremy strapped to her chest. He's nine months old now, squirming and crowing with as much excitement as anyone and it's not terrible in the market, people are excited to see such a sweet face and they give Demelza room whenever she's trying to move, but after a bit of time, she finds she's too warm in the crowd.
Thus far she's managed not to change her dress too terribly much since arriving in Darrow, but this summer has begun to test her patience. Her dresses are still made of rather heavy material, long both in skirt and sleeve, and she can see the appeal of the shorter dresses other women in Darrow are prone to wearing. She's sweating and her hair is sticking to her forehead in curls and Jeremy is beginning to fuss in his carrier, so she quickly picks up a few more apples, then begins to make her way toward the exit, stopping only to buy a lemonade, which is cold and tart, and exactly what she needs.
It's on her way out that she treads on someone's foot and she nearly jumps in surprise, having not seen them there.
"Oh, Judas, I'm that sorry," she blurts out. "I were distracted, I didn't see you and now I've walked all over 'ee." She's only just stepped on his foot, but she knows she should have been paying more mind instead of sipping her drink and talking directly to her baby. Jeremy is hardly a good conversationalist, after all.
Thus far she's managed not to change her dress too terribly much since arriving in Darrow, but this summer has begun to test her patience. Her dresses are still made of rather heavy material, long both in skirt and sleeve, and she can see the appeal of the shorter dresses other women in Darrow are prone to wearing. She's sweating and her hair is sticking to her forehead in curls and Jeremy is beginning to fuss in his carrier, so she quickly picks up a few more apples, then begins to make her way toward the exit, stopping only to buy a lemonade, which is cold and tart, and exactly what she needs.
It's on her way out that she treads on someone's foot and she nearly jumps in surprise, having not seen them there.
"Oh, Judas, I'm that sorry," she blurts out. "I were distracted, I didn't see you and now I've walked all over 'ee." She's only just stepped on his foot, but she knows she should have been paying more mind instead of sipping her drink and talking directly to her baby. Jeremy is hardly a good conversationalist, after all.
(no subject)
Jan. 13th, 2017 01:24 pmBaking sweets is not something Demelza has had much practice in and is very much something she would like to learn, for even when she is mildly cross with Ross for not talking to her as he should, she is still the sort who wants to make him happy. And to be able to bake him a fresh, sweet pie would be lovely.
Given her abilities in the kitchen, Demelza is of the mind she'd be able to accomplish such a thing with little effort and few mistakes, but it seems truly silly not to take advantage of having met a woman like Greta, with whom she'd felt a sort of kinship regardless of what she can do. Perhaps she would manage on her own, but some things, she knows, are simply better done with friends, and Greta knows more than Demelza does in this regard.
It's not proper custom in Darrow, to show up unannounced, but Demelza does it anyway, not yet used to her telephone except in emergency situations. The problem Demelza faces now is that she does not yet know where Greta lives and so she cannot simply arrive at her door. Instead, knowing Greta to be a baker, Demelza leaves her children and Garrick with Abby one morning, then goes to the market where she has found some the freshest and most wonderful tasting pastries and it seems as though it might be just the place where Greta would be.
She's perusing a small selection of croissants when she sees a familiar figure and Demelza bursts into a smile, then lifts her skirts, hurrying through the crowd.
"Hello!" she calls. "Greta!"
Given her abilities in the kitchen, Demelza is of the mind she'd be able to accomplish such a thing with little effort and few mistakes, but it seems truly silly not to take advantage of having met a woman like Greta, with whom she'd felt a sort of kinship regardless of what she can do. Perhaps she would manage on her own, but some things, she knows, are simply better done with friends, and Greta knows more than Demelza does in this regard.
It's not proper custom in Darrow, to show up unannounced, but Demelza does it anyway, not yet used to her telephone except in emergency situations. The problem Demelza faces now is that she does not yet know where Greta lives and so she cannot simply arrive at her door. Instead, knowing Greta to be a baker, Demelza leaves her children and Garrick with Abby one morning, then goes to the market where she has found some the freshest and most wonderful tasting pastries and it seems as though it might be just the place where Greta would be.
She's perusing a small selection of croissants when she sees a familiar figure and Demelza bursts into a smile, then lifts her skirts, hurrying through the crowd.
"Hello!" she calls. "Greta!"
(no subject)
Jan. 2nd, 2017 05:36 pmThe last time Demelza had run into Molly she had been in a terrible state and still pregnant. It's a testament to how busy she's been in Darrow that she realizes she hadn't baked anything for her or brought over anything for her child, but only at the sight of Molly now, walking ahead of her in a beautiful coat the likes of which Demelza knows she'll never be able to wear, does she realize she should have done something.
Molly has had the baby now, of course, and it seems as though she must be back to work, but when Demelza checks the time she assumes Molly must be finished for the day. She would love to be back at work herself, but she still has several weeks to go before her agreed return to Tintern Abbey and she's doing her best to follow their arrangement. They'd urged her to take an entire year, but she's nearing four months now and feels absolutely stir crazy already, so five will have to be enough for Demelza Poldark.
If Molly is back at work already, though, she must have a much more understanding employer -- though the management at Tintern is lovely and she'd never say a word against them -- and Demelza hurries to catch up with her, glad the children are with Abby for the day.
"Molly," she calls when she's close enough, slipping between a few people to fall in step beside the other woman. "Hello. I'm that sorry, I just saw you and I wanted to apologize for not having come to visit after your baby was born."
Molly has had the baby now, of course, and it seems as though she must be back to work, but when Demelza checks the time she assumes Molly must be finished for the day. She would love to be back at work herself, but she still has several weeks to go before her agreed return to Tintern Abbey and she's doing her best to follow their arrangement. They'd urged her to take an entire year, but she's nearing four months now and feels absolutely stir crazy already, so five will have to be enough for Demelza Poldark.
If Molly is back at work already, though, she must have a much more understanding employer -- though the management at Tintern is lovely and she'd never say a word against them -- and Demelza hurries to catch up with her, glad the children are with Abby for the day.
"Molly," she calls when she's close enough, slipping between a few people to fall in step beside the other woman. "Hello. I'm that sorry, I just saw you and I wanted to apologize for not having come to visit after your baby was born."
(no subject)
Jan. 2nd, 2017 05:18 pmRoss has been terribly secretive of late and Demelza doesn't like to admit it, but it's made her rather cross.
She's still not back to work and so she has a good amount of free time and while Demelza knows she's supposed to be grateful for the time she's able to spend with her children, she also finds herself terribly bored and in dire need of something else to do. So she's come to look forward to Ross' arrival home with great anticipation. Abby is lovely company, but she is technically Demelza's employee, as strange as that may be, and since Demelza herself is home so often now, they don't need Abby's help as often as they will once she's back at work and so she finds herself alone a good amount of time. Waiting for Ross to come home and fill her time with something more interesting than diapers and colouring on paper is perhaps unfair of her, but she can't seem to help herself.
So when he begins to spend more and more time away from home, Demelza notices.
At first he denies it, claims it must be traffic making him later than usual. Then he tells her he's taken on a few extra lessons to make a bit more money after the holiday season. He says people buy their children riding lessons for Christmas and there's need for more work, which she supposes must be true, but she just doesn't believe it.
Still she trusts Ross. She trusts that whatever he's doing, it isn't going to harm her or their family in any way. She's merely annoyed he can't share it with her, but she's doing her best not to let that show. Darrow is a strange place for the both of them and they have to get by as best they can.
Even so, she'd brought out her new books tonight for when he arrives home. She had saved money from small side jobs she's done in the apartment building -- sewing mostly, but also caring for children here and there when their parents needed some time away -- and had bought what she knows are GED study books. She hasn't yet told Ross, so perhaps having them out and revealing a secret of her own will prompt him into telling her what's going on.
More likely not, but that doesn't stop her from sitting at the table with one of the books open, Jeremy chirping and cooing away on her lap.
She's still not back to work and so she has a good amount of free time and while Demelza knows she's supposed to be grateful for the time she's able to spend with her children, she also finds herself terribly bored and in dire need of something else to do. So she's come to look forward to Ross' arrival home with great anticipation. Abby is lovely company, but she is technically Demelza's employee, as strange as that may be, and since Demelza herself is home so often now, they don't need Abby's help as often as they will once she's back at work and so she finds herself alone a good amount of time. Waiting for Ross to come home and fill her time with something more interesting than diapers and colouring on paper is perhaps unfair of her, but she can't seem to help herself.
So when he begins to spend more and more time away from home, Demelza notices.
At first he denies it, claims it must be traffic making him later than usual. Then he tells her he's taken on a few extra lessons to make a bit more money after the holiday season. He says people buy their children riding lessons for Christmas and there's need for more work, which she supposes must be true, but she just doesn't believe it.
Still she trusts Ross. She trusts that whatever he's doing, it isn't going to harm her or their family in any way. She's merely annoyed he can't share it with her, but she's doing her best not to let that show. Darrow is a strange place for the both of them and they have to get by as best they can.
Even so, she'd brought out her new books tonight for when he arrives home. She had saved money from small side jobs she's done in the apartment building -- sewing mostly, but also caring for children here and there when their parents needed some time away -- and had bought what she knows are GED study books. She hasn't yet told Ross, so perhaps having them out and revealing a secret of her own will prompt him into telling her what's going on.
More likely not, but that doesn't stop her from sitting at the table with one of the books open, Jeremy chirping and cooing away on her lap.
(no subject)
Nov. 19th, 2016 06:37 pmUpon meeting Katie under such terrible circumstances, Demelza had meant every last word of support she'd offered, knowing it was the least she can do. Tintern Abbey won't let her return to work until mid-January at the very earliest, a request to which she had very reluctantly agreed, and so now she has nearly two months to fill with nothing but her children.
She loves them terribly, she absolutely does, but Demelza is a woman used to working. She had perhaps gone from being a miner's daughter to a gentleman's wife, but she'd married a wonderful and peculiar gentleman in that he had engaged in just as much work -- and often, considering Jud and Prudie, a good deal more -- as did his servants. Demelza had fallen into that life easily, first as his hardworking scullery maid and than as his equally hardworking wife.
Life in Darrow is easy by comparison. She certainly doesn't dislike it, she finds this place to be quite lovely in every aspect, but she does miss the work of the homestead.
And so she must fill her times in other ways. For this afternoon, that is meeting Katie and her young son at the park with Julia and Jeremy in tow. Jeremy is far too young to play, just barely over two months old himself now, but Demelza hopes Julia is enough to help entertain Katie's son. She speaks a fair bit, though some of it is still nonsense, and she's quite active, running and jumping, but Demelza knows there are many abilities she's not yet mastered that Katie's son will have long since learned.
But if he's as kind as his mother, Demelza is certain all shall get along well.
She's pushing her stroller along carefully, both her children dressed warm against the chill, the stockings under her own long dress now ones made of warm wool, and she smiles when she enters the park and catches sight of Katie.
"Hello," she calls, pushing the children in her direction.
She loves them terribly, she absolutely does, but Demelza is a woman used to working. She had perhaps gone from being a miner's daughter to a gentleman's wife, but she'd married a wonderful and peculiar gentleman in that he had engaged in just as much work -- and often, considering Jud and Prudie, a good deal more -- as did his servants. Demelza had fallen into that life easily, first as his hardworking scullery maid and than as his equally hardworking wife.
Life in Darrow is easy by comparison. She certainly doesn't dislike it, she finds this place to be quite lovely in every aspect, but she does miss the work of the homestead.
And so she must fill her times in other ways. For this afternoon, that is meeting Katie and her young son at the park with Julia and Jeremy in tow. Jeremy is far too young to play, just barely over two months old himself now, but Demelza hopes Julia is enough to help entertain Katie's son. She speaks a fair bit, though some of it is still nonsense, and she's quite active, running and jumping, but Demelza knows there are many abilities she's not yet mastered that Katie's son will have long since learned.
But if he's as kind as his mother, Demelza is certain all shall get along well.
She's pushing her stroller along carefully, both her children dressed warm against the chill, the stockings under her own long dress now ones made of warm wool, and she smiles when she enters the park and catches sight of Katie.
"Hello," she calls, pushing the children in her direction.
(no subject)
Nov. 2nd, 2016 07:18 pmIt's only as she walks into Tintern that she considers perhaps she shouldn't be here with her infant child.
No one has told her specifically not to come back to work and no one has said a word about whether or not she might bring Jeremy with her, but now that she's walked through the doors with her son strapped carefully to her chest in his soft carrier, she realizes there is a specific age one must be in order to drink at Tintern. And it isn't as if she plans on drinking or has any intention of giving anything to her child, but she is very aware that Jeremy is a good, long way from being eighteen.
Still, just the atmosphere does wonders to improve her mood. Demelza misses being at work. After Julia was born, she'd had barely a day before she returned to the chores and not because Ross had rushed her, but because she knew if she didn't return to them. Jud and Prudie would let the house fall to shambles. More than that, Demelza likes being busy. She likes being useful and although Tintern is still paying a fraction of what she was making before as part of maternity leave, she doesn't particularly feel comfortable with it, taking their money without doing any of the work.
So while she's technically just here to visit, she's also here to ask about returning to work. Perhaps not full time, but if she can come back even two or three times a week, she thinks she'll be much happier. And perhaps they'll be more inclined to let her if she offers to allow them to hold an adorable baby in return.
No one has told her specifically not to come back to work and no one has said a word about whether or not she might bring Jeremy with her, but now that she's walked through the doors with her son strapped carefully to her chest in his soft carrier, she realizes there is a specific age one must be in order to drink at Tintern. And it isn't as if she plans on drinking or has any intention of giving anything to her child, but she is very aware that Jeremy is a good, long way from being eighteen.
Still, just the atmosphere does wonders to improve her mood. Demelza misses being at work. After Julia was born, she'd had barely a day before she returned to the chores and not because Ross had rushed her, but because she knew if she didn't return to them. Jud and Prudie would let the house fall to shambles. More than that, Demelza likes being busy. She likes being useful and although Tintern is still paying a fraction of what she was making before as part of maternity leave, she doesn't particularly feel comfortable with it, taking their money without doing any of the work.
So while she's technically just here to visit, she's also here to ask about returning to work. Perhaps not full time, but if she can come back even two or three times a week, she thinks she'll be much happier. And perhaps they'll be more inclined to let her if she offers to allow them to hold an adorable baby in return.
(no subject)
Oct. 31st, 2016 11:43 amIn truth, there are days when Ross returns home and Demelza is very aware how different a life they lead here in Darrow based simply on the smell of him.
In Cornwall, she'd have never noticed. They both spent the day hard at work, down in the mine or in the barn or the fields, both of them sweating under the hot sun, moving among the animals without thought, both with callouses on their hands from their work. Demelza would insist they both work equally as hard in Darrow, though she less so at the moment, which is another issue entirely. It's different, though.
With limited warm water, bathing in Cornwall had been something of an event. For the most part everyone had splashed themselves with some water from the basin or gone down to the ocean for a dip in warmer weather, but Darrow is something else. In Darrow there exists showers, an invention for which Demelza is terribly grateful, and there are softly scented soaps that smell like their fields after a rain, or soaps that are bright and sharp, carrying the tang of citrus fruits, or soaps that smell of flowers or cucumbers or all sorts of things she'd have never imagined. The world is very different and so, in some of the strangest ways, she's terribly aware of it.
Such as the scent Ross carries with him when he comes in the door at the end of a very long day.
It's Julia, though, who lets out a shriek of laughter and runs for her mother's legs, toddling dangerously on the way. "Papa," she says, still laughing. "Papa smells."
Demelza can't help but laugh as well, looking at Ross with bright eyes as Abby comes into the room and scoops Julia up from behind Demelza's legs.
"Yes, love," she agrees with a smile. "Yes, tis true, he does."
"You both ought to be kinder to Ross," Abby scolds as she takes Julia from the room, the little girl still laughing and kicking her legs.
"Ought I?" Demelza asks, looking at Ross, her eyes still lit up in amusement. "Am I not kind, Ross?"
Ross is the serious sort, she'd seen it in him for a very long time, since he brought her to Nampara to live and to work for him, but for just a long she's been working at breaking that down bit by bit. Her husband will perhaps always be serious and Demelza will always love him for it, but they do have fun now and again, and he's long since learned how to respond to her gentle teasing.
In Cornwall, she'd have never noticed. They both spent the day hard at work, down in the mine or in the barn or the fields, both of them sweating under the hot sun, moving among the animals without thought, both with callouses on their hands from their work. Demelza would insist they both work equally as hard in Darrow, though she less so at the moment, which is another issue entirely. It's different, though.
With limited warm water, bathing in Cornwall had been something of an event. For the most part everyone had splashed themselves with some water from the basin or gone down to the ocean for a dip in warmer weather, but Darrow is something else. In Darrow there exists showers, an invention for which Demelza is terribly grateful, and there are softly scented soaps that smell like their fields after a rain, or soaps that are bright and sharp, carrying the tang of citrus fruits, or soaps that smell of flowers or cucumbers or all sorts of things she'd have never imagined. The world is very different and so, in some of the strangest ways, she's terribly aware of it.
Such as the scent Ross carries with him when he comes in the door at the end of a very long day.
It's Julia, though, who lets out a shriek of laughter and runs for her mother's legs, toddling dangerously on the way. "Papa," she says, still laughing. "Papa smells."
Demelza can't help but laugh as well, looking at Ross with bright eyes as Abby comes into the room and scoops Julia up from behind Demelza's legs.
"Yes, love," she agrees with a smile. "Yes, tis true, he does."
"You both ought to be kinder to Ross," Abby scolds as she takes Julia from the room, the little girl still laughing and kicking her legs.
"Ought I?" Demelza asks, looking at Ross, her eyes still lit up in amusement. "Am I not kind, Ross?"
Ross is the serious sort, she'd seen it in him for a very long time, since he brought her to Nampara to live and to work for him, but for just a long she's been working at breaking that down bit by bit. Her husband will perhaps always be serious and Demelza will always love him for it, but they do have fun now and again, and he's long since learned how to respond to her gentle teasing.
[september 4]
Aug. 17th, 2016 03:08 pmIt's likely there are those who would find the habit strange, but Demelza has discovered a certain peace in visiting the cemetery on particularly quiet days.
She'd first come out here months ago while exploring, having found the place purely by chance, and now she comes to visit once or twice a month, usually bringing flowers along with her. There are so many graves here, so many more than she's ever seen before in her life, and there are far too many of them without flowers. It makes her wonder who mourns for these people, if perhaps they had no one in their life or if their own family and friends are long dead and gone as well. There are times when she creates stories for them all, imagining them as people other than who they might have been, but for the most part she just leaves them flowers and then walks on.
It's a fair distance from home, even from the city proper, but she's never had cause to worry about it before today. The cemetery grounds stretch far and wide, but she enjoys the walk, and it's as she's headed toward one particularly lovely monument near the back that she feels a painful sort of tugging down near the tops of her thighs. She pauses for a moment, then continues on, seeing no reason not to keep walking. The pain comes again a few moments later and Demelza stops again, one hand atop a gravestone.
She wishes suddenly she'd brought Garrick with her, if only to have someone to speak with.
Once she feels well enough to continue, she makes her way to the stone angel, lays a few bluebells at its feet, then gives it a gentle pat and turns to go back the way she's come, which is when the worst of the pain rips through her. It's the worst sort of cramping she's ever felt, worse even than when Julia had been born, and she cries out, clutching at the angel's foot in an attempt to keep herself upright.
It's a long walk back to the entrance of the cemetery, longer still to get back into the city and she is suddenly deeply afraid.
"Judas," she curses, then sucks in a few deep breaths and remembers her portable telephone. For the most part Demelza doesn't use it, but she fumbles it out of her dress pocket now, using the button and the screen as Abby had taught her, then pressing the button that will call Ross.
"Oh, Ross, please pick up," she begs softly as the telephone rings. "Please, please pick- Judas God!" she curses again as another contraction tears through her.
She'd first come out here months ago while exploring, having found the place purely by chance, and now she comes to visit once or twice a month, usually bringing flowers along with her. There are so many graves here, so many more than she's ever seen before in her life, and there are far too many of them without flowers. It makes her wonder who mourns for these people, if perhaps they had no one in their life or if their own family and friends are long dead and gone as well. There are times when she creates stories for them all, imagining them as people other than who they might have been, but for the most part she just leaves them flowers and then walks on.
It's a fair distance from home, even from the city proper, but she's never had cause to worry about it before today. The cemetery grounds stretch far and wide, but she enjoys the walk, and it's as she's headed toward one particularly lovely monument near the back that she feels a painful sort of tugging down near the tops of her thighs. She pauses for a moment, then continues on, seeing no reason not to keep walking. The pain comes again a few moments later and Demelza stops again, one hand atop a gravestone.
She wishes suddenly she'd brought Garrick with her, if only to have someone to speak with.
Once she feels well enough to continue, she makes her way to the stone angel, lays a few bluebells at its feet, then gives it a gentle pat and turns to go back the way she's come, which is when the worst of the pain rips through her. It's the worst sort of cramping she's ever felt, worse even than when Julia had been born, and she cries out, clutching at the angel's foot in an attempt to keep herself upright.
It's a long walk back to the entrance of the cemetery, longer still to get back into the city and she is suddenly deeply afraid.
"Judas," she curses, then sucks in a few deep breaths and remembers her portable telephone. For the most part Demelza doesn't use it, but she fumbles it out of her dress pocket now, using the button and the screen as Abby had taught her, then pressing the button that will call Ross.
"Oh, Ross, please pick up," she begs softly as the telephone rings. "Please, please pick- Judas God!" she curses again as another contraction tears through her.
(no subject)
Jul. 8th, 2016 01:41 pmDemelza deeply dislikes being pregnant.
With just under two months left, if the doctor's predictions are accurate, she feels as if she's gotten as large as she possibly can, and she knows all at once that isn't the case at all. There will be more weight added to her frame in the coming weeks, she'll grow rounder still, more uncomfortable, and until their child is born, there isn't the slightest thing she can do about it.
But she dislikes it all the same. She dislikes it even more when those around her are rude regarding her state, though at least in such a case she can turn her anger outward.
Shopping in the grocery stores has become unbearable for her with the lack of space and the cool, strange smelling air pumping from the metal holes in the ceiling, so she's taken to enjoying what are called farmer's markets. They remind her a little of shopping at home and the open space gives her more freedom to move her cumbersome frame around without worrying she may be getting in someone's way, though apparently she's still too wide for the likes of some.
"Jesus, could you waddle a little faster," someone mutters from behind her and Demelza turns with a frown, catching sight of a man not much taller than she is. Even after all these years, in situations such as these, it's her instinct to size the other person up and see whether she might best them in a physical confrontation. In this case she's quite confident she can.
"I'm that sorry," she answers in a voice that makes it clear she's anything but. "I'm with child, you see, and-"
"Like I care if you made the dumb mistake of getting knocked up," the guy snaps in response. "Get out of my way before I knock you down."
That, as far as Demelza is concerned, is a threat toward her baby, and she feels a cold curtain of rage descend over her. Planting her feet in the dirt, she shifts her basket from her right hand to her left, freeing her dominant hand to curl into a tight fist at her side.
"Just you try it," she says, her voice low with anger. Demelza is willing to fight right in this farmer's market, seven months pregnant or not. "I'm certain you'll regret it."
With just under two months left, if the doctor's predictions are accurate, she feels as if she's gotten as large as she possibly can, and she knows all at once that isn't the case at all. There will be more weight added to her frame in the coming weeks, she'll grow rounder still, more uncomfortable, and until their child is born, there isn't the slightest thing she can do about it.
But she dislikes it all the same. She dislikes it even more when those around her are rude regarding her state, though at least in such a case she can turn her anger outward.
Shopping in the grocery stores has become unbearable for her with the lack of space and the cool, strange smelling air pumping from the metal holes in the ceiling, so she's taken to enjoying what are called farmer's markets. They remind her a little of shopping at home and the open space gives her more freedom to move her cumbersome frame around without worrying she may be getting in someone's way, though apparently she's still too wide for the likes of some.
"Jesus, could you waddle a little faster," someone mutters from behind her and Demelza turns with a frown, catching sight of a man not much taller than she is. Even after all these years, in situations such as these, it's her instinct to size the other person up and see whether she might best them in a physical confrontation. In this case she's quite confident she can.
"I'm that sorry," she answers in a voice that makes it clear she's anything but. "I'm with child, you see, and-"
"Like I care if you made the dumb mistake of getting knocked up," the guy snaps in response. "Get out of my way before I knock you down."
That, as far as Demelza is concerned, is a threat toward her baby, and she feels a cold curtain of rage descend over her. Planting her feet in the dirt, she shifts her basket from her right hand to her left, freeing her dominant hand to curl into a tight fist at her side.
"Just you try it," she says, her voice low with anger. Demelza is willing to fight right in this farmer's market, seven months pregnant or not. "I'm certain you'll regret it."
It's not that Demelza doesn't love her husband or that she seriously entertains thoughts of straying, but she's an eye for attractive men, and there are days when one may cross her path that is truly difficult not to look at. Given Ross and his lingering affection for Elizabeth, which Demelza doesn't exactly like, but has perhaps grown to understand, given how lovely Elizabeth truly is, how beautiful and genteel and wonderfully kind, she doesn't think he'd fault her a glance or two.
For that's all it is. A glance.
Yet the problem arises when a glance becomes a distraction and Demelza, now quite visibly and uncomfortably pregnant and nearly into her third trimester, has not the balance or grace she usually possesses. All it takes is a lingering look that lasts perhaps a touch too long -- though she can hardly be blamed, she's never before seen a man with such a thick beard and is imagining what she might have to do in order to convince Ross to grow one -- and she's stumbling her way around a corner she hadn't realized was there. Stumbling straight into someone she's never met before.
"Judas God," she curses, reaching for his arms to steady herself. It wouldn't do to fall all over herself with the baby having grown so much in recent weeks.
"I'm that sorry, sir, I weren't-" But her words trail off abruptly when she glances up, finding she's wandered directly into another terribly handsome man.
For that's all it is. A glance.
Yet the problem arises when a glance becomes a distraction and Demelza, now quite visibly and uncomfortably pregnant and nearly into her third trimester, has not the balance or grace she usually possesses. All it takes is a lingering look that lasts perhaps a touch too long -- though she can hardly be blamed, she's never before seen a man with such a thick beard and is imagining what she might have to do in order to convince Ross to grow one -- and she's stumbling her way around a corner she hadn't realized was there. Stumbling straight into someone she's never met before.
"Judas God," she curses, reaching for his arms to steady herself. It wouldn't do to fall all over herself with the baby having grown so much in recent weeks.
"I'm that sorry, sir, I weren't-" But her words trail off abruptly when she glances up, finding she's wandered directly into another terribly handsome man.
(backdated - may)
May. 6th, 2016 11:27 amPeople have things written on them.
Demelza doesn't rightly understand and she's checked her own back repeatedly, but found it bare each time, whether her clothes or her skin. There's nothing written on her at all and she wonders if perhaps she should be grateful, as some of the things that have been written on the people she sees about town are not of a particularly positive nature. In Tintern Abbey just the night before there had been something of a scene, a woman with the words I'm in love with my best friend written on her back trying to tearfully explain to a man that she wasn't really in love with her best friend.
He'd wanted nothing to do with her, though, and had left her crying at a table. Demelza had heard her on the phone moments later, whispering the story, but leaving out a few important details. She'd walked away with a feeling the woman's best friend had been on the other side of that telephone call.
Thus far she's yet to run into anyone she knows and so Demelza does her best to mind her own business about the entire affair. It seems as though many lives are falling apart as a result and that hurts her heart, even if she doesn't know the people who are so affected. She keeps her head down, offers gentle comfort when necessary, but does her best not to get involved.
That is, of course, until the moment she catches sight of Galen. Upon his back is a word she doesn't know how to pronounce, let alone the definition of, and she squints at it for a moment before she crosses the street and falls into step beside him.
"Hello," she says, as cheerful as ever, though aware he may not be pleased himself. "What do it mean?"
Demelza doesn't rightly understand and she's checked her own back repeatedly, but found it bare each time, whether her clothes or her skin. There's nothing written on her at all and she wonders if perhaps she should be grateful, as some of the things that have been written on the people she sees about town are not of a particularly positive nature. In Tintern Abbey just the night before there had been something of a scene, a woman with the words I'm in love with my best friend written on her back trying to tearfully explain to a man that she wasn't really in love with her best friend.
He'd wanted nothing to do with her, though, and had left her crying at a table. Demelza had heard her on the phone moments later, whispering the story, but leaving out a few important details. She'd walked away with a feeling the woman's best friend had been on the other side of that telephone call.
Thus far she's yet to run into anyone she knows and so Demelza does her best to mind her own business about the entire affair. It seems as though many lives are falling apart as a result and that hurts her heart, even if she doesn't know the people who are so affected. She keeps her head down, offers gentle comfort when necessary, but does her best not to get involved.
That is, of course, until the moment she catches sight of Galen. Upon his back is a word she doesn't know how to pronounce, let alone the definition of, and she squints at it for a moment before she crosses the street and falls into step beside him.
"Hello," she says, as cheerful as ever, though aware he may not be pleased himself. "What do it mean?"
It's far too early for the baby to come. Far too early, but it's the middle of the night and Demelza is awake with a pain all the same.
It had begun several hours earlier, before they had even gone to bed, but she hadn't mentioned it to Ross then, seeing little reason to worry him. She had fallen asleep easily enough, as she usually does when Ross is beside her, but they'd woken her an hour ago, the pain coming in waves through her belly, and she had pressed her fingers down gently on the baby and willed him or her to move.
But the baby was still.
Demelza knows that's no reason to worry, that the baby won't always be moving, and yet there is panic beginning to claw at the back of her throat. Something is wrong. There's a terrible voice hissing low in the back of her mind, telling her she's going to suffer some horrible loss here tonight. Something is very wrong. Wake Ross.
Eventually she can no longer stand it and she sits on the edge of their bed and gently shakes Ross's shoulder.
"Ross," she whispers. "I've a pain."
It had begun several hours earlier, before they had even gone to bed, but she hadn't mentioned it to Ross then, seeing little reason to worry him. She had fallen asleep easily enough, as she usually does when Ross is beside her, but they'd woken her an hour ago, the pain coming in waves through her belly, and she had pressed her fingers down gently on the baby and willed him or her to move.
But the baby was still.
Demelza knows that's no reason to worry, that the baby won't always be moving, and yet there is panic beginning to claw at the back of her throat. Something is wrong. There's a terrible voice hissing low in the back of her mind, telling her she's going to suffer some horrible loss here tonight. Something is very wrong. Wake Ross.
Eventually she can no longer stand it and she sits on the edge of their bed and gently shakes Ross's shoulder.
"Ross," she whispers. "I've a pain."
Were she willing to admit to such things, Demelza would have to acknowledge she's just the slightest bit nervous about having Baz over.
It isn't that she doesn't trust Baz or that she thinks he might judge her, but that she wants terribly to please him. He's been so kind to her right from the start and she's come to carry quite the affection for him, thinking of him almost as she'd thought of Jinny, someone to care for, someone who perhaps might be taken under her wing. It's that strange to think of anyone in such a manner, especially when there's so much for her to learn herself, but if there's one thing Demelza knows, it's her own mind, and she knows what she feels.
She's a mother, after all, soon to be a mother of two, and she can feel when people are in need of someone like her. Jinny had wanted for a little guidance, especially after Jim's arrest and his awful, preventable death, and Demelza hadn't thought herself fit to give it, but perhaps she'd been wrong. Perhaps there are those who might take to her simply because her feelings are so free, so unconstrained.
Whatever it is, she's invited Baz over to repay him for all he's done. She's preparing a lunch and Julia is content on the floor beside Demelza, sitting comfortably and chewing on some of her toys. There are still come teeth coming in and Demelza ducks down to check on her daughter every so often, though her growing belly has begun to make that difficult, and she kisses Julia's soft hair gently.
"Soon you shall meet Baz," she says to her daughter. "He's very sweet and I think you shall love him."
It isn't that she doesn't trust Baz or that she thinks he might judge her, but that she wants terribly to please him. He's been so kind to her right from the start and she's come to carry quite the affection for him, thinking of him almost as she'd thought of Jinny, someone to care for, someone who perhaps might be taken under her wing. It's that strange to think of anyone in such a manner, especially when there's so much for her to learn herself, but if there's one thing Demelza knows, it's her own mind, and she knows what she feels.
She's a mother, after all, soon to be a mother of two, and she can feel when people are in need of someone like her. Jinny had wanted for a little guidance, especially after Jim's arrest and his awful, preventable death, and Demelza hadn't thought herself fit to give it, but perhaps she'd been wrong. Perhaps there are those who might take to her simply because her feelings are so free, so unconstrained.
Whatever it is, she's invited Baz over to repay him for all he's done. She's preparing a lunch and Julia is content on the floor beside Demelza, sitting comfortably and chewing on some of her toys. There are still come teeth coming in and Demelza ducks down to check on her daughter every so often, though her growing belly has begun to make that difficult, and she kisses Julia's soft hair gently.
"Soon you shall meet Baz," she says to her daughter. "He's very sweet and I think you shall love him."
Jeremy -- or Verity, Demelza reminds herself -- has gotten rather active of late, which has resulted in a distinct lack of sleep on Demelza's part. Though twenty-six weeks closer to the end than the beginning, she feels as though she still has far too long left to be with child and has found herself cursing the little one whenever he or she wakes her up in the middle of the night.
It isn't fair to the child, she knows that, and once the baby is born Demelza knows she'll be as completely in love with him or her as she was with Julia Grace when she had first arrived, but she'd not enjoyed being pregnant with Julia and she's not particularly enjoying this either. The difference in time does mean some things are a fair bit easier, but she dislikes how often she's meant to see her doctor, feels as though it cuts into what limited free time she has and she sees no reason for it.
That she has a free afternoon now is cause for celebration, however, and she's made plans to see Julie, which she's very much looking forward to. There's no possible way for anyone to fill the hole Verity has left in Demelza's life, not when Ross's cousin has become so important to her in such a short period of time, but Julie has also become incredibly special to her. Demelza values each and every one of her friendships and is terribly excited to spend the afternoon with Julie.
Even if she is terribly and uncomfortably round.
It isn't fair to the child, she knows that, and once the baby is born Demelza knows she'll be as completely in love with him or her as she was with Julia Grace when she had first arrived, but she'd not enjoyed being pregnant with Julia and she's not particularly enjoying this either. The difference in time does mean some things are a fair bit easier, but she dislikes how often she's meant to see her doctor, feels as though it cuts into what limited free time she has and she sees no reason for it.
That she has a free afternoon now is cause for celebration, however, and she's made plans to see Julie, which she's very much looking forward to. There's no possible way for anyone to fill the hole Verity has left in Demelza's life, not when Ross's cousin has become so important to her in such a short period of time, but Julie has also become incredibly special to her. Demelza values each and every one of her friendships and is terribly excited to spend the afternoon with Julie.
Even if she is terribly and uncomfortably round.
(no subject)
Mar. 10th, 2016 01:20 pmEven now, after months in Darrow, there's so much Demelza has never seen before. She does her best to learn, looking things up in books at the library and even on the computer in the apartment she and Ross share, though she's still terribly clumsy with that and prefers the atmosphere of the library at the end of it all. So she's learning and she thinks she might one day soon ask Mr Solo for more information regarding the GED he had so kindly told her about, but there are still thinks that shock her.
Ross is at work and Julia is at home with Abby. Demelza had taken Garrick and simply gone out to get some groceries and she had meant to stop by the library as well, but instead she'd gotten caught up on the street, staring openly at the shop she's seen before, but has never truly paid much mind to until now. The windows are papered with illustrations, intricate and beautiful, but there's one open window and through it she can see a young woman, not much older than she is herself, and she's bent over a man at least twice her age, drawing on his arm with a buzzing instrument.
Garrick whines and pulls at his leash, but Demelza can't look away. As she watches, blood and ink bloom on the man's skin, and although he winces once, it doesn't seem as if he's in much pain. She's never seen anything like it and her interest is only drawn away once, when she watches a middle aged man with a long needle that he puts through a woman's nose.
Leaning back, she peers up at the sign, squinting in an attempt to read it.
"Tat... oohs," she pronounces slowly. "And piercings." She rather wants to go inside, but thinks they might frown upon her dog and may not be too happy answering her questions, so she glances around, hoping to spot someone who may be willing to help her. It's only luck she catches sight of Baz and she brightens, waving at him.
"Baz, hello! Do 'ee have some time for me?"
Ross is at work and Julia is at home with Abby. Demelza had taken Garrick and simply gone out to get some groceries and she had meant to stop by the library as well, but instead she'd gotten caught up on the street, staring openly at the shop she's seen before, but has never truly paid much mind to until now. The windows are papered with illustrations, intricate and beautiful, but there's one open window and through it she can see a young woman, not much older than she is herself, and she's bent over a man at least twice her age, drawing on his arm with a buzzing instrument.
Garrick whines and pulls at his leash, but Demelza can't look away. As she watches, blood and ink bloom on the man's skin, and although he winces once, it doesn't seem as if he's in much pain. She's never seen anything like it and her interest is only drawn away once, when she watches a middle aged man with a long needle that he puts through a woman's nose.
Leaning back, she peers up at the sign, squinting in an attempt to read it.
"Tat... oohs," she pronounces slowly. "And piercings." She rather wants to go inside, but thinks they might frown upon her dog and may not be too happy answering her questions, so she glances around, hoping to spot someone who may be willing to help her. It's only luck she catches sight of Baz and she brightens, waving at him.
"Baz, hello! Do 'ee have some time for me?"
(no subject)
Feb. 28th, 2016 02:56 pmDemelza rather feels as if her head is spinning.
Earlier in the day, she and Ross had attended the doctor's office at the suggestion of Mindy, who had been so kind as to show Demelza the pregnancy tests back when she had been sick on the street on her very first day of work. She had been told that seeing a doctor would be necessary, that they would want to take a picture of the baby so as to know for certain when it would be due and that they would want to check on the health of the baby, too, but it's all so strange to Demelza that the appointment had been a bit overwhelming. Ross had done his best to help, of course, as he always will, but now that he's kissed her and gone back to work, Demelza finds she doesn't want to go home quite yet.
She has so many questions and she knows of one person who's had a child before. Perhaps his world is not quite like Darrow either, but she suspects it's more like Darrow than her own.
She uses her portable telephone to call Abby and ask if she'll stay with Julia a little while longer, then changes the direction of her course toward Candlewood Apartments. It's only once she's nearly there that she realizes Galen may not be at home, but now that she's come this far, she figures she might as well try. If he isn't, then she'll go home to her daughter and put her questions to bed, at least for now.
As she stands in front of his building and presses the buzzer for his flat, she places her free hand against her stomach. She's so slight that the roundness has become noticeable to her already, though Ross insists she's as small as ever. It's there, however, that first indication she's with child and although Demelza hates the way her body changes with pregnancy, she can't help but smile just a little. Soon enough this child will make him or herself known in much more obvious ways, but for now it's still quiet. Still just for her.
Earlier in the day, she and Ross had attended the doctor's office at the suggestion of Mindy, who had been so kind as to show Demelza the pregnancy tests back when she had been sick on the street on her very first day of work. She had been told that seeing a doctor would be necessary, that they would want to take a picture of the baby so as to know for certain when it would be due and that they would want to check on the health of the baby, too, but it's all so strange to Demelza that the appointment had been a bit overwhelming. Ross had done his best to help, of course, as he always will, but now that he's kissed her and gone back to work, Demelza finds she doesn't want to go home quite yet.
She has so many questions and she knows of one person who's had a child before. Perhaps his world is not quite like Darrow either, but she suspects it's more like Darrow than her own.
She uses her portable telephone to call Abby and ask if she'll stay with Julia a little while longer, then changes the direction of her course toward Candlewood Apartments. It's only once she's nearly there that she realizes Galen may not be at home, but now that she's come this far, she figures she might as well try. If he isn't, then she'll go home to her daughter and put her questions to bed, at least for now.
As she stands in front of his building and presses the buzzer for his flat, she places her free hand against her stomach. She's so slight that the roundness has become noticeable to her already, though Ross insists she's as small as ever. It's there, however, that first indication she's with child and although Demelza hates the way her body changes with pregnancy, she can't help but smile just a little. Soon enough this child will make him or herself known in much more obvious ways, but for now it's still quiet. Still just for her.
