#ughtred anstruthers

[kazoosandfannypacks]

"Ice Cream"

The Shuttle drabble for @monthly-challenge day 14!

Since the shuttle first began its weaving, families have always been families. Little boys have always been little boys, and grandfathers have always sought to spoil them.

Reuben Vanderpoel was no exception to this rule, and on his visits to England, he would dote on his grandson. An annual trip would be taken into town together— just Ughtred and his grandpa Reuben— to see a show, to the toy store and the pet store with all the weasels and dogs.

And at the end of the day, they would always stop and get ice cream.

Grandfathers have always been grandfathers.

[kazoosandfannypacks]

For WIP Wednesday!

🎮 gamergirl sabezra fic

🧡 no order 66 au, but with sabezra and a surprise kanera twist thrown in later

👨‍👦sobering reflections

Absolutely!

🎮 gamergirl sabezra fic

 Ezra stumbled into class a couple minutes late, but he was sure his professor would understand. It wasn't his fault that spectre_pheonix had been streaming late last night, right? As long as he quietly slipped into the back of the classroom, no one would notice anyways.  "Mr. Bridger," Professor Syndulla called to him as he tried in vain to hide his late entry, "so glad you've decided to join us this morning."  Ezra turned around and tried to hide his guilty expression.  "Of course, ma'am," Ezra said, with a dramatic salute, "I'd never miss out on one of my favorite teacher's classes."  "Flattery gets you nowhere in my class," the professor said, "take a seat, and we'll continue."  "Yes ma'am," Ezra said. He took a seat as close to the back of the room as he could and pulled out his laptop to take notes.  Ezra tried his best to pay attention, but the lack of sleep was getting the better of him as Professor Syndulla's lesson dragged on.

🧡 no order 66 au, but with sabezra and a surprise kanera twist thrown in later

 After almost a standard hour's ride, the speeder bike stopped at the base of a nearby mountain.  "Here we are," the younger voice behind her said, "home sweet home, for the time being anyways."  Sabine stared at the mountain face in front of them as her "kidnappers" both helped her off the speeder bike, each of them holding onto one of her arms, probably so she wouldn't run off— which was excellent foresight, because that's exactly what she wanted to do.

👨‍👦sobering reflections

 Ughtred was too young to be told all the details of that stormy night, but ever wise beyond his years, he'd pieced most of it together on his own. His father had tried to hurt Aunt Betty. Lord Mount Dunstan had saved her. Ughtred had been sent to his room before his father returned a week later, but he'd always been a light sleeper, heard enough to know that his father was ill, somehow beaten and injured to the point that he could scarcely move, and would be confined to a bed in the farthest wing of the estate for the rest of his miserable days.  No one ever spoke of what had happened to Sir Nigel, but in some unspoken way the whole household knew anyways, and Ughtred held his soon-to-be uncle in higher respect ever since.

Thanks for the asks!

✍ WIP Wednesday ask game!

[kazoosandfannypacks]

There once was a boy named Ughtred Anstruthers, and he did absolutely nothing to deserve it

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"Flowers" The Shuttle ficlet for @monthly-challenge day 4!

Whenever Bettina visited Stornham, she'd spend as much time as possible in the garden. Something about it reminded Betty of herself, in a way. A garden was a busy place, with the lives of thousands of plants that couldn't grow without a consistent hand to help, and Bettina could naught but help it. While Kedgers and his team were more than fit for the job, Bettina couldn't forget how he had responded those months ago when she spoke of her return to America.

"Not here, miss! You, not here? Things wouldn't grow, miss!"

She knew that didn't make sense scientifically, but it was a lovely thought to dwell on, and if her presence made the gardeners believe their plants could survive, who was she to say otherwise? Maybe the power of their belief in her led to a diligent work at their tasks, and if that was the case, then, given the state of the gardens, it was paying off.

Acacia bordered and carnation and ambrosia. Crocuses and zinnia and everything in between gave forth their colors. Near a fountain toward the center of the garden was a patch of bluebells, which brought a smile to Bettina's face along with a precious memory.

She stopped and took a seat on the edge of the fountain, catching a glimmer of her eyes reflected in its blue. She then produced a notebook and jotted down a few names of flowers. The gardens at Dunstanwolde didn't rank high on the list of restorations necessary in light of the crumbling state of the rest of the estate, but she was ever a planner, and she knew it wouldn't be an eternity before she found herself tromping about Dunstanwolde's sprawling lawns with her husband once again, this time to see them flecked with a glory of color and life none had seen for generations.

And as silly and sentimental as it sounded, the first flower on her list for the gardens was bluebells.

Her schemes and dreams were interrupted by a lone visitor: her nephew, Ughtred, emerging from a path on the other side of the garden.

"I didn't expect to see you out here, Aunt Betty," he said, quickly hiding his hands behind his back.

"Oh?" Bettina asked, "then may I ask what you're doing?"

He hung his head a little and held out his hands, an assortment of flowers curled up in each fist, their stems bent and some of thier roots still clinging to the earth. Any other adult with a knowledge of plants such as Betty had might've scolded him at once for picking flowers from the garden, but Betty was unlike most adults. She also knew that Ughtred was unlike most kids, and little he did was without reason.

"What are those?" Bettina asked.

"Flowers," he said, "I picked them from the garden. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't, but I..."

His hasty excuse made it clear he expected a harsh rebuke, but instead his aunt rose, then knelt before him and took the flowers from his hands.

"Don't worry, Ughtred," Bettina said, rearranging the bouquet in her hands as she spoke, "you're not in trouble. Who are these for?"

"For mother," he said.

"All of the garden is yours and your mother's," Bettina said.

"I know," Ughtred said, "but I wanted to give her some flowers anyways."

This would be a normal notion around Mother's day, or a birthday, or anniversary, or Christmas, but this week held no such day.

"May I ask why?" Bettina asked.

Ughtred nodded. "Sometimes Grandpa Rueben gives Grandma Annie flowers. Uncle Dunstan gives you flowers, and Lord Alanby gives flowers to Lady Jane. Mother doesn't have anyone to give flowers to her, and she never has."

A wave of emotion overtook Bettina. She could recall a time in her sister's youthful days of courtship in New York when her room overflowed with the colors and fragrance of dozens of flowers from dozens of hopeful admirers, but there was much doubt that in twelve years of marriage Nigel had ever cared enough to waste her money on such a wonderful trinket of affection as even a singular daisy.

"She does," Bettina said, brushing a few clumps of dirt from the root of some of the flowers before handing them back to Ughtred, "she has you."

She kissed her nephew's forehead and stood up.

"Come with me," she said, holding her hand to him.

"Where are we going?" Ughtred asked, taking his aunt's hand in his empty one.

"First, we're going to apologize to Mr. Kedger's for tearing a few flowers from his garden," Bettina said, "then, we're gonna ask him for a special favor."

"What's that?" Ughtred asked, eyes wide with wonder, having grown quite fond in the last year of Aunt Betty's "special favors."

"A bit of earth," Bettina said, and she met his inquisitive expression with an inquisition of her own: "Ughtred, how would you like your own little garden, where you can grow whatever flowers for your mother you'd like to?"

"You mean it?" Ughtred asked.

"Now, it is a responsibility," she said, "you must make sure to check on it, every day, and follow Mr. Kedgers' instructions on anything he tells you."

"Of course," Ughtred said.

Someday, Bettina knew, Ughtred would have a garden to himself the size of Stornham estate. Someday, he'd have a responsibility to check on land much larger than a few yards of earth. It was too soon to tell how the land might flourish under his rule, but Bettina could be sure of one thing.

For as long as Ughtred lived, his mother would always have flowers.

[kazoosandfannypacks]

Incorrect Quote Generator meets The Shuttle, pt 1

Selden: If history repeats itself, I’m so getting a dinosaur!

~

Nigel: I was arrested for being too cool.

Rosalie: The charges were dropped due to a lack of supporting evidence.

~

Bettina: You know, it’s fine to admit you were wrong.

Dunstan: *Sipping their drink after accidentally adding salt* I just like the way it tastes.

~

Ughtred: *on the phone with Bettina* I can’t talk right now, I’m doing hot girl stuff.

Bettina: You’re pulling Oreos apart and saving off the frosting to make a mega Oreo, aren’t you.

Ughtred: Maybe.

~

Bettina: This can’t get any worse. Can it?

Dunstan: Sure it can - just give me a minute.

~

Rosalie: I can't believe there's a cat somewhere in my house. Amazing feeling. Love cats. And he's here, in my house! Somewhere! And I may encounter him! What a treat.

~

Nigel: I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.

~

Penzance : Oh shoot!

Penzance : Excuse my vulgarity.

Ughtred: I’ll let it slide.

~

Rosalie: I've got a weapon, and I'm... admittedly VERY afraid to use it!

~

Ughtred: Does anyone know how to relax? Asking for a friend.

~

Rosalie: I met this person on tinder and asked for their last name. They sent it to me and went “Doing a little background check? You might find out I’m a murderer, just ignore that” with a kissy wink emoji. Alright so I good sense of humour.

Rosalie: I looked them up, they were a murderer.

~

Ughtred: You have Crayons?

Dunstan: Yes, I have—

Ughtred: You're— how old are you?

Dunstan: YES I AM AN ADULT AND I HAVE CRAYONS, I HAVE A BOX OF EMERGENCY CRAYONS IN THE CABINET UNDER THE TV BECAUSE EVERYBODY NEEDS CRAYONS SOMETIMES, OKAY? EVERYBODY NEEDS CRAYONS.

~

Dunstan: You read my diary?

Reuben: At first I did not know it was your diary. I thought it was a very sad handwritten book.

~

Ughtred: Can we get a birthday cake?

Dunstan: It’s not your birthday.

Ughtred: The cake won’t know!

~

Nigel: When surrendering, Bettina is to hand the sword over HILT first.

~

Rosalie: Why are we friends?

Nigel: Poor decisions on your part.

~

Rosalie: My expectations are low, but they can always go lower.

~

Nigel: You treat an outside wound with rubbing alcohol. You treat an inside wound with drinking alcohol.

~

Dunstan, to the Squad: The real secret to immortality? Not dying. You want to be immortal? Okay, that’s easy. Just don’t die. That’s it. Refuse to die. There you go.

Penzance : But how-

Dunstan, ignoring them: “But how”, you may ask. Well, easy. Just don’t do it. Refuse to. Say “no thanks”.

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Incorrect Quote Generator meets The Shuttle, pt 2

Rosalie: Nigel is not a morning person. Or a night person. There’s really only about seven minutes a day you are fun to be around. Nigel: The best part is you never know when they’re coming. ~ Bettina: Oh, my Gosh. Do you know what this is? Penzance: It’s a book. There’s a lot of those in here, this is a library. ~ Ughtred: If I had to describe my life in a movie scene, It's be the part in Elf when he gets hit by the taxi and then thanks them. ~ Bettina: Are you having another depressive episode? Rosalie: A depressive episode? Rosalie: I'm having a depressive series and we're just on season one. ~ Dunstan: Looked up my symptoms on WebMD and it turns out I have an ancient ancestral curse that has been passed down my bloodline for generations. Rosalie: ...? Dunstan: Okay, fine. It was a hereditary mental illness. I just wanted to sound cool so I made something up. Are you mad at me? ~ Penzance: Dracula had it right, sleep all day, live alone in a castle, and explode into bats to get out of all social situations. ~ Dunstan: You disgust me. Nigel: *eating a kitkat sideways* I realize this and don’t care. ~ Dunstan: You know what’s funny about Bettina? They’re my best friend, and anyone who’d hurt them is someone I’d murder, probably. ~ Nigel: I scare people a lot because I walk very softly and they don't hear me enter rooms. So when they turn around, I'm just kind of there and their fear fuels me. ~ Dunstan: I have yet to encounter a problem where a sword didn't factor into the solution at least in some way.

[kazoosandfannypacks]

Oooh! 14 for the ask game! (That’s the snippet one, right? If not, that’s the one I meant)

14. Give us a sneak peek of one of your upcoming works!

here's a rough draft of the opening paragraphs for my next fic for The Shuttle

 There once was a boy named Ughtred Anstruthers, and he didn't do a thing to deserve it. It wasn't his fault that his father was a rotten old man named Nigel Anstruthers, and that there was no one else in the world to protect mother from him besides Ughtred.  That is, until Aunt Betty came to London. In his eleven-year-old eyes, she was like the hero in all of the storybooks, a rescuer and restorer who'd jumped off the pages and into his world to save him and his mother from that horrible monster who scarcely claimed to be his father.  Ughtred was too young to be told all the details of that stormy night, but ever wise beyond his years, he'd pieced most of it together on his own. His father had tried to hurt Aunt Betty. Lord Mount Dunstan had saved her. Ughtred had been sent to his room before his father returned a week later, but he'd always been a light sleeper, heard enough to know that his father was ill, somehow beaten and injured to the point that he could scarcely move, and would be confined to a bed in the farthest wing of the estate for the rest of his miserable days.  No one ever spoke of what had happened to Sir Nigel, but in some unspoken way the whole household knew anyways, and Ughtred held his soon-to-be uncle in higher respect ever since.

thanks for the ask!

[kazoosandfannypacks]

🎄 + a character from The Shuttle!!

Ughtred wrapped Aunt Betty's Christmas present all by himself!!! ❤️💚

🎄Send me a character and a christmas emoji and I'll draw you a christmas fanart

[kazoosandfannypacks]

The Shuttle Headcanons from @melliabee and I (contains spoilers!)

• You best believe Mrs. Vanderpoel got a summer house built exactly in between Stornham and Dunstanwolde, regardless of how close her daughters' estates are to each other.

• She doesn't usually stay at the summer cottage though- she spends most of her time with Rosalie at Stornham and eventually moves across the Atlantic to be with her daughters. Rueben visits much more frequently after that, sometimes even spending entire summers across the Atlantic.

• Since he's the vicar for Dunstanwolde, Penzance has the honor of officiating Dunstan and Bettina's wedding, and christening each of their children. Every time something like this happens, Dunstan is met with something along the lines of "I told you so," but after he leaves Penzance in on the verge of very proud tears.

• G. Selden is invited to Dunstan and Betty's wedding, which should be obvious, but can you imagine how excited "little willie" is to recieve a paid vacation to England! To go to Rueben Vanderpoel's Daughter's wedding as an honored guest! The boys at Ol' Shandy's are never gonna hear the end of it.

• Tommy and Jane stay close with Bettina long after the end of the book. Eventually, one of Tommy's sons marries on of the Dunstans' daughters.

• ^When one of Tommy's sons comes to him for advice on how to propose to her, Tommy immediately goes "Oh, how lovely! Have I ever told you about the time I proposed to her mother?" and his son is like "WHAT???"

• The Dunstans name one of their daughters "Robin," after the robin that James and Selden met through, because that interaction led to James and Bettina's courtship and later marriage.

• Ughtred inprints on any positive male influence on his life, especially uncle Dunstan, who sees a lot of himself in the boy, especially in terms of trying to grow into a promising member of society when your dad is just really horrible.

• When James and Bettina have kids, Ughtred is very protective over them, and all his little cousins look up to him.

feel free to add more if you come up with any!!!

[kazoosandfannypacks]

🎄 kazzy’s christmas fanarts 2022 masterpost🎄

🎅 Zeb Orrelios

🎄 Alice Jones

🎁 Ughtred Anstruthers

🍪 Sabine Wren

💚 Jyn Erso

☀ Rapunzel

❤️ Killian Jones (and Emma Swan)

⭐ Chell

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"as the sun rose and seasons changed" ch 2/2

Summary: Having asked her father's blessing, Lord Mount Dunstan is ready to propose to Bettina.

a/n: "Magnificent- that is the word. To go to her on equal grounds to take her hands and speak one's passion as one would- as her eyes answered. Oh, one would know! To bring her home to this place- having made it as it once was- to live with her here- to be WITH her as the sun rose and set and the seasons changed- with the joy of life filling each of them. SHE is the joy of Life- the very heart of it. You see where I am- you see!" -Lord Mount Dunstan, The Shuttle, ch. 35

taglist: @melliabee @accidental-spice @kanerallels [if you’ve read the shuttle, shoot me a dm or ask, and I’ll add you to the taglist!]

Also on Ao3!

Part 2: "TWO STRONG FORCES DRAWING TOGETHER"

 Though the sun seldom cast its warm rays in late autumn, the pale glow through the window of Dunstanwolde's master bedroom may have been the golden beams of summer for how they touched the heart of the lord as he woke. This cheerful wakeup was one of many new additions to his daily routine. You've no idea how good it feels to wake up happy unless you've woken up miserable every morning leading up to it. He opened the window and stood in front of it for a spell, breathing in the crisp chill of the late autumn air.

 Today was the day. Now that he had her father's blessing, there was nothing stopping Dunstan from proposing to Bettina– except, of course, for his own self doubt. Maybe now that Lord Anstruthers was tucked away for life on bedrest and the heroism of Dunstan's rescue had faded, reality might crash in at any moment. Would Bettina really settle for "the ducal bargain counter–" for a beggar Lord like Mount Dunstan? She could have any man in the world– all the men in the world could never measure up to her– how foolish must he be to assume she'd take just him.

 But before he could let the doubt creep in further, Dunstan remembered how tightly she'd clung to him after he'd returned to her on that night he'd seemed lost, and how desperate her voice had called to him, and how longingly her eyes had met his. Surely, she had to see something more in him than just the surface level squalor he claimed his own. Surely, some part of her seemed to like him too.

 And if anything could prove that, it would be this day.

—

 Bettina had been at Dunstanwolde more frequently each week. While the Vanderpoels never sought to impose upon Lord Mount Dunstan, they often would come around the estate for lunch, usually bringing food with them enough to share, citing such occasions as "Rosalie needed to get out today and you're our nearest neighbors" and recently "you men have been tramping about the estate all morning and must be famished, so we brought around a meal," and on one occasion, "we've received a letter from Selden and knew that Reverend Penzance would enjoy reading it."

 Today's occasion was arranged by her father– they'd finished going over the estate yesterday, so why not come around to celebrate? Perhaps they might even show Ughtred some of the lovely old stories and relics of the former Mount Dunstans, and of course the women might enjoy a tour of some of the rooms that were in better condition, and a few that had lovely views of the acres and acres of land.

 And yet, Bettina knew there was more to this day than a simple celebration of the completion of a mere weeks' survey. Her father had never been able to keep a secret from her, and though he made no mention of it, something special twinkled in his eye when he'd returned that night– something Bettina didn't even need to ask about. If he'd wanted to tell her, she reasoned, he would've immediately– and only one piece of news could be so beautiful while still necessitating secrecy. It was, after all, why her father had gone over the estate with him, wasn't it? There was no disguising the truth: Lord Mount Dunstan had finally asked her father's blessing for her hand in marriage, and he had granted it.

 Still, they'd apparently wanted to keep it a secret, so Bettina played along, acting as though nothing was out of the ordinary as the cab drove them to his estate, and as Lord Mount Dunstan greeted her with a smile– one that they both knew would've been a hug if her family hadn't been watching them– and all throughout their stolen glances at the luncheon table.

 "Would you care to join me for a walk?" Dunstan asked Bettina after they'd eaten.

 "It's a bit cool outside this afternoon," Bettina said, making calculations of his expression as it fell, and as it rose again when she said, "but I shouldn't mind the weather, in such warm company as yours."

 Truly, their company must've been warm, for neither party noticed the damp chill in the air as they wandered the pathways of the estate together, saying everything and nothing as they walked.

 "Do you remember our second meeting?" Dunstan asked.

 "When we walked these same paths?" Bettina smiled, "and I thought you were the gamekeeper?"

 "I didn't know one of my most sacred memories was forming." He shook his head.

 "Oh?" Bettina asked, "which one was that?"

 "It was right in that clearing," Dunstan said, and he took her by the hand to the exact spot, "right here, where you whispered six words: 'but oh, if it were mine!'"

 "I recall that moment," Bettina said, "the whole were almost as though a dream. I never could stand to see broken things go to ruin, not when there was still a soul who loved them."

 "There's a reason I brought you out here today, Betty," he smiled, "you've always been clever, so I know you know what I'm going to ask you, but I'm going to ask it anyways, and it's going to be the most terrifying moment of my life."

 "You've no reason to be afraid, James." She rarely called him by his first name rather than his title, but now it felt proper to do so.

 "You've no idea what I fear to lose, Miss Vanderpoel," he said, "I know of your love for Dunstanwolde, and your disdain for its condition– and of my love for it as well. If all I were offering was my land and my title, to watch from the sides as you touch all around me with your life, I'd give even that. But what I ask is something deeper. I do not ask you to love a sullied name or a crumbled ruin. I ask you to love the man who holds nothing besides them," and here he took her hand and said, "I'm asking you to love me."

 Still holding her hand, he knelt before her, one knee supporting him on the damp earth his ancestors had killed for and died on. Out of his pocket he pulled a ring, and held it before her.

 "Bettina Vanderpoel," he asked, "will you marry me?"

 He wasn't the first man who'd proposed to her– but somehow she'd hoped all along that he would be the last.

 "Yes," Bettina said, and his smile when she said it forced a willing laugh from her lips, "I will– and not for the ruins or title you offer, but for you. I love you, Lord James of Mount Dunstan."

 "I love you as well," he said, as he slid the ring onto her finger, "I love you as madly and truly as any man ever has loved a woman– and I'll continue to love you more every moment you stand by my side."

 "And I shall stand by your side forever," Bettina said.

 He stood up, his eyes fixed on hers until the very moment he pulled her into his embrace, his arms strong and tight around her, her head close to his heart. His breath warmed her hair as he kissed the top of her head.

 He pulled her away from him as she turned to look up at him– only far enough that they could look at each other, still close enough that she could hear him whisper, "I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you how much I love you."

 "Don't worry," she whispered back,"we have our whole lives to figure it out."

 They smiled at each other, then leaned closer, stealing one little kiss before they had to return to her family.  And so it was that what Bettina had wished to be hers came to her, how something broken became new, how she saved what was great from coming to despair, all because one soul loved it– all because her soul loved him.