hello and welcome to Marigold Reacts. 1000-word drabbles based on my reactions to scenes/stories i’ve read. mostly inspired by @darkhawkflying’s work on AO3. in fact, almost entirely inspired by that.
the following is a moment that popped into my head after reading Ch.13 of From the Darkness We Come. some SPOILERS for those who haven’t read it yet! all of this mutated out of control when the words, “i’ma kill ‘im!!” sprung to mind ... so ... yeah.
all you need to know is Harold is my anthropomorphic-goose-servant.
now, on with the nonsense!
HARD NO
They laughed and chatted as they climbed out the van and made their way up the drive. It had been another long day of shooting From the Darkness We Come. Successful though; nobody was coming home sore or injured (well, except Ross who was still recovering from an incident with a window and not actually sugar-glass that didn't break when it was supposed to; the bruise on his shoulder still nasty and practically black).
Harold greeted them as they entered the foyer, taking their coats and scarves. Demelza and Elizabeth immediately retreated to their rooms for a much talked-about soak; something Jim would have done had the girls not been so quick to choose the two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, both housing the largest, most luxurious tubs a person could wish for. That's what you get when you're late arriving to the rental because your boyfriend decides it's a fantastic time to have sex in the men's after a six-hour flight and a botched attempt at joining the Mile High Club.
Harold: (ᵕ ▽ ᵕ) – "Sirs," His tone was dry and expression that of resigned exasperation as it always was in regards to Marigold who – hang on – … was usually there to welcome them … so this was … suspicious.
Ross: "Harold, where's – " But as he went to say more words, Francis walked through the door and suddenly there was a loud, earth-shattering, WHAMP. "What the hell!?"
They whipped around to see Francis unconscious and face-down on the floor. Standing above him was Marigold … wielding an oversized mallet and the fiercest look any of them had ever seen on her.
Marigold: (╬⓪益⓪) – "surprise motherfucker" she growled to the unresponsive lump that was Francis and then grit out, "that is a hard no!" as if scolding a child who tried to sneak a cookie before supper.
Ross: ((((；゜Д゜))) – "Mari, what the fuck!?"
But she was already gone, muttering and gesturing angrily as she stomped down the hall, a dark shadow looming over her.
Jim and Ross continued to stare at poor Francis – Ross nudging him with his toe in an effort to wake him – and tried to figure out what the fuck Marigold was so pissed ab –
– oooh.
The tragedy that was Francis and Elizabeth came to a head in the episode which aired the evening before. She'd likely recorded it to watch (uninterrupted by the running commentary they gave when home and able to watch with her) that morning after they'd left to set. To say it had been brutal would be an understatement.
Jim: "I sometimes wonder if she remembers we're acting."
His brow furrowed as he watched Harold deliver a bottle of whiskey to the room Marigold had stomped off to. The dark shadow seemed to spill out when the door was opened, vanishing again when Harold closed it behind him.
Ross continued to nudge Francis but the man remained still.
Francis: ((( +д+)
Jim: "I would hate to see what happens when she finds out you're scripted to get shot. Again."
Ross' head shot up, a look of panic on his face.
Promises were made during Land and Sea when Ross had received a pretty severe wound to the leg after refusing to let the stunties do their job (I'm perfectly capable of doing this myself! were his last words, ever …). Still, he'd opted to try and do his own stunts again this time 'round seeing as FtDWC didn't call for the same kind of violent pyrotechnics or fancy gymnastics Land and Sea had. Looking at it now, thaaat probably wasn't the smartest idea.
Ross: "Oh Christ."
Jim: "I don't think even he can save you … "
Francis finally stirred, bleary-eyed and unsteady, and pushed himself up on his elbows. "What happened?"
Jim opened his mouth to explain but the boom-crack of a door being blown from its hinges erupted from where Marigold had holed herself away, the woman charging down the hall and back to Francis, whacking him into unconsciousness once more. She leaned over him, finger jabbing the air as she barked out a command as one would to a dog that chewed up a new pair of slippers.
Marigold: (╬ﾟ◥益◤ﾟ) – "NO."
Ross: "We are absolutely not telling her about what happens to me, are we clear?" He whispered, watching Marigold tromp away again.
Jim: (ʘᗩʘ’) – he could only nod frantically in response.
