Dark Shadows: Fragments of the Sun
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prose_alchemistTitle: Fragments of the Sun
Author:jordannamorgan
Archive Rights: Please request the author’s consent.
Rating/Warnings: G.
Characters: Barnabas, Carolyn, Julia.
Setting: General.
Summary: Barnabas receives an unexpected gift.
Disclaimer: They belong to Dan Curtis Productions. I’m just playing with them.
Notes: Written for the prompts of “Basket” atfan_flashworks, and “Birthdays” at genprompt_bingo.
One evening in spring, just as Barnabas Collins was emerging from the basement of the Old House at sunset, there came a knock at the front door. He answered it to find Cousin Carolyn outside, smiling radiantly and holding a large basket that nearly overflowed with fresh-cut flowers.
“Happy birthday, Barnabas!”
For an instant, Barnabas was taken aback; but then he remembered that during a conversation some months before, Carolyn had asked when his birthday was. Out of an abundance of caution, he’d been unwilling to give even the true month and day of his birth, lest anyone should be enterprising enough to look at the family histories and compare it to that of the “original” Barnabas of the 18th century. So he had given her a date he made up off the top of his head, and thought no more about it.
Now he smiled at her as smoothly and warmly as if he had felt no surprise at all, accepting the offered flowers. “How thoughtful of you to remember, Carolyn! Thank you.”
Her cheeks grew rosy at his appreciation of her gift. “I picked them from the garden myself this afternoon. I waited to bring them here because I know how busy you are, always being away all day.”
“…Yes, indeed. As a matter of fact, I just came home.” Barnabas moved as if to step back from the doorway. “Won’t you come in?”
The girl’s blush deepened, rather more awkwardly this time. “I’d love to, but I’m sorry. I have a date tonight. I agreed to go out before I remembered it was your birthday.”
Barnabas raised an eyebrow at that. He’d heard nothing of Carolyn having a new suitor. Mentally he made a note to inquire of Elizabeth about the young man’s character. If there was any question of his treating Carolyn well, perhaps Barnabas himself would have to give the matter a bit of… personal attention.
“It’s quite alright,” he replied simply. “I fully expected to spend a quiet evening at home, so think nothing of it. I do hope you enjoy your evening.”
After Carolyn had said her goodbyes, Barnabas closed the door and retreated to his sitting room—where Julia sat waiting to greet him.
“A lovely gift, isn’t it?” he mused to her, placing the basket of flowers on an end table beside his chair. Even if his night-adapted vision made the bright yellows and oranges of the daffodils and tulips appear somewhat washed out, their colors still reflected the daylight long lost to him. “Like small fragments of the sun that nourished them with its light and warmth…”
He saw the pained way Julia was looking at him, and smiled thinly as he sat down.
“Don’t worry, Julia. I’m not sad.” He reached out to caress the petals of the flowers. “On the contrary, now and then, it’s good to be reminded that the world is not always shrouded in the darkness I know.”
“I suppose I can understand that.” Julia returned the smile ruefully. “Being reminded of what we’re striving for can be very motivating.”
Although he wasn’t sure if she meant it in that way, Barnabas’ smile warmed at the phrasing that included herself. She was still doing all she could to find a way to cure him, and give him the freedom of daylight once more. He didn’t know whether her science truly had any power to overcome the supernatural evils of a curse; but if anyone could succeed in the task, it would be her.
“Yes,” he agreed quietly. “Someday I will see the gardens of Collinwood beneath the sun again… and it’s a sight I look forward to sharing with you, who has fought so hard to make it possible.”
It was not lost upon him that Julia’s blush at those words was every bit as bright as Carolyn’s.
© 2021 Jordanna Morgan
Author:
jordannamorganArchive Rights: Please request the author’s consent.
Rating/Warnings: G.
Characters: Barnabas, Carolyn, Julia.
Setting: General.
Summary: Barnabas receives an unexpected gift.
Disclaimer: They belong to Dan Curtis Productions. I’m just playing with them.
Notes: Written for the prompts of “Basket” at
fan_flashworks, and “Birthdays” at genprompt_bingo.One evening in spring, just as Barnabas Collins was emerging from the basement of the Old House at sunset, there came a knock at the front door. He answered it to find Cousin Carolyn outside, smiling radiantly and holding a large basket that nearly overflowed with fresh-cut flowers.
“Happy birthday, Barnabas!”
For an instant, Barnabas was taken aback; but then he remembered that during a conversation some months before, Carolyn had asked when his birthday was. Out of an abundance of caution, he’d been unwilling to give even the true month and day of his birth, lest anyone should be enterprising enough to look at the family histories and compare it to that of the “original” Barnabas of the 18th century. So he had given her a date he made up off the top of his head, and thought no more about it.
Now he smiled at her as smoothly and warmly as if he had felt no surprise at all, accepting the offered flowers. “How thoughtful of you to remember, Carolyn! Thank you.”
Her cheeks grew rosy at his appreciation of her gift. “I picked them from the garden myself this afternoon. I waited to bring them here because I know how busy you are, always being away all day.”
“…Yes, indeed. As a matter of fact, I just came home.” Barnabas moved as if to step back from the doorway. “Won’t you come in?”
The girl’s blush deepened, rather more awkwardly this time. “I’d love to, but I’m sorry. I have a date tonight. I agreed to go out before I remembered it was your birthday.”
Barnabas raised an eyebrow at that. He’d heard nothing of Carolyn having a new suitor. Mentally he made a note to inquire of Elizabeth about the young man’s character. If there was any question of his treating Carolyn well, perhaps Barnabas himself would have to give the matter a bit of… personal attention.
“It’s quite alright,” he replied simply. “I fully expected to spend a quiet evening at home, so think nothing of it. I do hope you enjoy your evening.”
After Carolyn had said her goodbyes, Barnabas closed the door and retreated to his sitting room—where Julia sat waiting to greet him.
“A lovely gift, isn’t it?” he mused to her, placing the basket of flowers on an end table beside his chair. Even if his night-adapted vision made the bright yellows and oranges of the daffodils and tulips appear somewhat washed out, their colors still reflected the daylight long lost to him. “Like small fragments of the sun that nourished them with its light and warmth…”
He saw the pained way Julia was looking at him, and smiled thinly as he sat down.
“Don’t worry, Julia. I’m not sad.” He reached out to caress the petals of the flowers. “On the contrary, now and then, it’s good to be reminded that the world is not always shrouded in the darkness I know.”
“I suppose I can understand that.” Julia returned the smile ruefully. “Being reminded of what we’re striving for can be very motivating.”
Although he wasn’t sure if she meant it in that way, Barnabas’ smile warmed at the phrasing that included herself. She was still doing all she could to find a way to cure him, and give him the freedom of daylight once more. He didn’t know whether her science truly had any power to overcome the supernatural evils of a curse; but if anyone could succeed in the task, it would be her.
“Yes,” he agreed quietly. “Someday I will see the gardens of Collinwood beneath the sun again… and it’s a sight I look forward to sharing with you, who has fought so hard to make it possible.”
It was not lost upon him that Julia’s blush at those words was every bit as bright as Carolyn’s.
© 2021 Jordanna Morgan