Snow, Glass, and Apples

Once upon a time in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow were falling like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window sewing, and the frame of the window was made of black ebony. And whilst she was sewing and looking out of the window at the snow, she pricked her finger with the needle, and three drops of blood fell upon the snow. And the red looked pretty upon the white snow, and she thought to herself, "Would that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window-frame."

[thewintercoffin]

“Are you…are you making some kind of magic potion?” Snow laughed the words, not with mocking but genuine affection. “No. I don’t have any here. But I do have some at my home. I love making tinctures and flowery drinks, so I’ve made a few vials of flower essence myself? Really though, may I ask what you’re making?

[alchemicalpixie-blog]

“Well, not a potion per se,” Linnea replied, her smile genuine. She lowered her voice, inching closer to the other in order to ensure that no one else could overhear. “To be honest, I’m making a few different types of pixie dust. I don’t know what kinds I might need in this strange world and I’d like to be prepared.”

[thewintercoffin]

Snow smiled, though she felt a bit thrown by her potential customer’s strange words. Pixie dust? Strange world? Her heart fluttered with hope. She’d heard of pixies before, even knew of people who’d met them. But here? “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean...”

[intimidatingspecimaan-blog]

What are your thoughts on social justice?

Social justice? Seems like people who are either too lazy or too poor to do anything for themselves looking for handouts. 

[thewintercoffin]

No. I’m not. Why do you ask?

[sweetcollins]

[justagoodboy-blog]

“No one will reject my investment offer this time.”

[thewintercoffin]

“I believe in you!”

[intimidatingspecimaan-blog]

What are your thoughts on social justice?

Social justice? Seems like people who are either too lazy or too poor to do anything for themselves looking for handouts. 

[thewintercoffin]

..........................

[thewintercoffin]

[thewintercoffin]

[intimidatingspecimaan-blog]

I dare you to play leap frog with someone!

You may have to teach me… this Leap Frog- is it a game?

[thewintercoffin]

Well, it’s very fun! Or at least it was when I was little. It’s a game where at least two people kneel, then try to hop over the other person. 

[intimidatingspecimaan-blog]

DARE ME. 

[thewintercoffin]

“Wow. You must be really good at leap frog.”

[send-me-to-another-dimension-de]

[thewintercoffin]

[thewintercoffin]

Snow was so familiar with each expression Grimhilde made. She remembered endlessly looking up at that face, studying it every time she was near. Being able to predict the action that followed the expression was a survival tactic. Snow was slipping. She drew a breath and straightened her posture, pulling herself from the memories before they choked her. “I’m too old for these games, Grimhilde. Do not play them with me.” Another command. 

Innocence didn’t look good on Grimhilde. Like an ill-fitting suit tugging at all the wrong edges, or a dress that made the skin look sallow. But still the smallest inch of Snow, something hidden in a dusty corner of her heart, wanted hope for Grimhilde’s goodness. “I don’t want to hurt you. But I will not let you hurt anyone else. Ever.” 

[thewintercoffin]

“Oh I’m sorry! I was asleep. How may I help you?”

[fairest-queen-of-all-blog]

“Apparently you can’t,” Grimhilde stated but paused. Well, what a pretty girl. “I was looking for someone else.”

[thewintercoffin]

Snow had been waiting to see that face in every crowd, behind every door, in each reflective surface. She’d been waiting, her whole body knotted up tight with the dread of it. Now that Grimhilde was here it felt like the moment right after falling but before you hit the ground, a moment where you can hardly think of anything but the anticipation of pain. Snow just stared. Her hands gripped the door frame too tight for fear her shaking legs would fail her. She’d thought of this moment and seen it in nightmares over and over, but still she was not prepared. She felt weak for that. 

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know me.” She managed to make her words steady and firm. She wanted to hold the command of a queen. This was an order. “You’ve found me, Grimhilde. Weren’t you looking for Snow White?” 

[thewintercoffin]

“Oh I’m sorry! I was asleep. How may I help you?”

[thewintercoffin]

Snow saw his tension ease gradually and was glad of it. She couldn’t bare to see him like that. Didn’t want to see him like that. Even if Grimhilde came and their lives spiraled back down again to that painful place, she wanted at least this moment with him. She felt greedy suddenly. Greedy to steal away as many glimmering moments with him as she could. If they were to ever be prisoner to her again, if they had these memories to draw upon they would be stronger. 

She feigned an offended gasp and pinched his side. “I’ve aged…some. Perhaps aging isn’t my strong suit. You’ll have to teach me how, old man. She laughed again against his chest, and was so glad to be there. Glad he still had affection to give her. She held him too, wanting to be as close to him as possible now that they could do so without fear of consequences.

[mirrorslave-blog-deactivated202]

Sterling rolled his eyes at Snow’s jesting. She could do that to him when no one else could- break the ice of his anxieties, his tensions, and melt him into laughter. Something akin to reckless abandon floated through Sterling’s heart, giving him the courage to relax for now- even it was just a moment. 

“Well then,” He started, picking her up by the small of her waist and lifting her into the air. Sterling looked up at her, a small smile playing at the line of his lips, “What now?” 

[thewintercoffin]

Snow grinned widely as Sterling lifted her up, the gesture pushing any lingering inches of worry from her mind. She leaned her head forward so that their foreheads were touching and closed her eyes. Snow felt so at peace in that moment. That happy ease was everything she craved, everything she strove for in each action. Just to be content and make others feel the same. “Oh...” She sighed. “Whatever you want, Sterling.” 

She moved her head away again to look in his eyes. “Everything you’ve made here is so beautiful. Remnants. Everything. It’s so incredibly you. I love it.” 

[dailyactress]

Lily Collins – 2016 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Mountain View

[thewintercoffin]

“Are you...are you making  some kind of magic potion?” Snow laughed the words, not with mocking but genuine affection. “No. I don’t have any here. But I do have some at my home. I love making tinctures and flowery drinks, so I’ve made a few vials of flower essence myself? Really though, may I ask what you’re making?