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Jan. 11th, 2005 10:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoney321Told ya I needed some schmoop. And so? I give you my favorite romance of all time, Gilbert and Anne. Can't help it. Gilbert was my first crush... ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
inlovewithnight - you mentioned there was nothing from Gilbert's POV. Got me to thinking...
Subject: ficlets, one from Anne's POV, one from Gilbert
Setting: Queen's College, Anne; Avonlea, Gilbert
Rating: G
Spoilers: are you kidding me? Last few chapters of Anne of Green Gables
Not beta'd - just wishful thoughts and fancies on my part
Anne
Anne never knew what love was until she moved to Green Gables. She had never heard of people speak of it, describe it, or express it before Marilla and Matthew took her in and loved her. The day Diana Barry said she loved her, Anne felt her heart swell and her feet lighten. The burden of sorrow she had carried all her lonely 13 years was lifted. Friends do that - help carry the load.
When she realized Matthew loved her, her eyes pricked with tears, her cheeks hurt from smiling, and she was able to look at herself in the mirror and just see Anne. No Katie, no imagining away the red hair or freckles, just Anne. The day she discovered that Marilla loved her, she finally felt like she was good enough. She felt safe and protected.
Knowing Gilbert loved her was an entirely different set of feelings. In all of her imaginings of a dark-haired ideal man, she expected the feelings of love to feel safe. Her heart would swell, her eyes would prick with tears of joy, and she would feel safe and protected. She knew she wasn't in love with Gilbert due to the fact that every time she was near him, her stomach plummetted, her hands would sweat, and she became completely irrational. The imagined thrill of finding love was not what she expected. It was all she could do to keep herself from biting Gilbert's nose. Or kissing it.
The thought of kissing that...that...Gilbert made her heart race and her hands shake. She was determined to shroud her feelings in the deepest of oblivion.
"Nonsense. I'd as soon as kiss a snake. When I become a lady and wear my hair piled up on my head, I'll wait until I'm seventeen, of course, and am dripping in jewels, a handsome stranger will approach me on Lovers Lane, with my latest book clutched in his hands, ask me for an autograph, to which I shall sign, With All Affection, Cordelia Shirley and he will beg me on the spot to marry him. Which I shall. And in our house of dreams I shall have the sparest of spare rooms and Diana will come to visit and we'll attend concerts and have long rambles in the woods."
Anne dreamed of her perfect future in her room at Queen's College, pale face pressed against the window, not seeing the crowds meander on the lawns, and certainly not looking for a head of dark curls.
~~~~
Gilbert
It became the most memorable day in his life. Well, the happiest of memorable days. He certainly wouldn't forget the look of green fire after the unfortunate "carrots" incident. He had rubbed the bump on his skull nightly as a reminder of wrong-doing and failed attmepts at friend-making. He would never forget the feeling of satisfaction and hope at finding a wet and frightened girl trapped under the bridge over Barry's Pond. Nor would he soon forget the feeling of rejection when his offer of penitence and friendship was scorned.
Gilbert had finished an errand and had chosen to take the long way home around the Lake of Shining Waters. He thought of all the Avonlea landmarks in Anne's terms. He had adopted them into his consciousness without a second thought. He knew Anne was staying in Avonlea to teach. He had seen to that. She needed to stay close to home now that Marilla was all alone. If he got to see her in town on occasion, well, that would just be a happy circumstance. In his satisfaction, he began to whistle a tune.
The sun was setting marking the fields with red and orange and purple. And in the midst of nature's majesty was its queen - Anne Shirley. The song died on his lips. She was dreaming, he could tell, and it was maddening to him. Would she ever dream of him? The fading light softend the glare he imagined was coming. With a tilt of his hat he cautiously made his way past her, afraid her wrath would spoil his dreams that day.
She was speaking to him. She was taking his hand. His whole being felt suffused with light.
"Are we going to be friends after this? Have you really forgiven me my old fault?"
She was trying to take her hand back, but her soft laughter took the sting away. Besides, he would have sooner jumped off a cliff than release the delicate hand in his grasp. They spoke cautiously, then eagerly as Gilbert walked Anne to her gate, her hand tucked under his arm for safe-keeping. Reluctantly he let her go. He stayed at the gate for several minutes taking in the smell of the sea, the sound of the wind in the grasses, her lingering perfume of lilac...
He walked home and thought, "'God's in his heaven, all's right with the world.'"
inlovewithnight - you mentioned there was nothing from Gilbert's POV. Got me to thinking...Subject: ficlets, one from Anne's POV, one from Gilbert
Setting: Queen's College, Anne; Avonlea, Gilbert
Rating: G
Spoilers: are you kidding me? Last few chapters of Anne of Green Gables
Not beta'd - just wishful thoughts and fancies on my part
Anne
Anne never knew what love was until she moved to Green Gables. She had never heard of people speak of it, describe it, or express it before Marilla and Matthew took her in and loved her. The day Diana Barry said she loved her, Anne felt her heart swell and her feet lighten. The burden of sorrow she had carried all her lonely 13 years was lifted. Friends do that - help carry the load.
When she realized Matthew loved her, her eyes pricked with tears, her cheeks hurt from smiling, and she was able to look at herself in the mirror and just see Anne. No Katie, no imagining away the red hair or freckles, just Anne. The day she discovered that Marilla loved her, she finally felt like she was good enough. She felt safe and protected.
Knowing Gilbert loved her was an entirely different set of feelings. In all of her imaginings of a dark-haired ideal man, she expected the feelings of love to feel safe. Her heart would swell, her eyes would prick with tears of joy, and she would feel safe and protected. She knew she wasn't in love with Gilbert due to the fact that every time she was near him, her stomach plummetted, her hands would sweat, and she became completely irrational. The imagined thrill of finding love was not what she expected. It was all she could do to keep herself from biting Gilbert's nose. Or kissing it.
The thought of kissing that...that...Gilbert made her heart race and her hands shake. She was determined to shroud her feelings in the deepest of oblivion.
"Nonsense. I'd as soon as kiss a snake. When I become a lady and wear my hair piled up on my head, I'll wait until I'm seventeen, of course, and am dripping in jewels, a handsome stranger will approach me on Lovers Lane, with my latest book clutched in his hands, ask me for an autograph, to which I shall sign, With All Affection, Cordelia Shirley and he will beg me on the spot to marry him. Which I shall. And in our house of dreams I shall have the sparest of spare rooms and Diana will come to visit and we'll attend concerts and have long rambles in the woods."
Anne dreamed of her perfect future in her room at Queen's College, pale face pressed against the window, not seeing the crowds meander on the lawns, and certainly not looking for a head of dark curls.
~~~~
Gilbert
It became the most memorable day in his life. Well, the happiest of memorable days. He certainly wouldn't forget the look of green fire after the unfortunate "carrots" incident. He had rubbed the bump on his skull nightly as a reminder of wrong-doing and failed attmepts at friend-making. He would never forget the feeling of satisfaction and hope at finding a wet and frightened girl trapped under the bridge over Barry's Pond. Nor would he soon forget the feeling of rejection when his offer of penitence and friendship was scorned.
Gilbert had finished an errand and had chosen to take the long way home around the Lake of Shining Waters. He thought of all the Avonlea landmarks in Anne's terms. He had adopted them into his consciousness without a second thought. He knew Anne was staying in Avonlea to teach. He had seen to that. She needed to stay close to home now that Marilla was all alone. If he got to see her in town on occasion, well, that would just be a happy circumstance. In his satisfaction, he began to whistle a tune.
The sun was setting marking the fields with red and orange and purple. And in the midst of nature's majesty was its queen - Anne Shirley. The song died on his lips. She was dreaming, he could tell, and it was maddening to him. Would she ever dream of him? The fading light softend the glare he imagined was coming. With a tilt of his hat he cautiously made his way past her, afraid her wrath would spoil his dreams that day.
She was speaking to him. She was taking his hand. His whole being felt suffused with light.
"Are we going to be friends after this? Have you really forgiven me my old fault?"
She was trying to take her hand back, but her soft laughter took the sting away. Besides, he would have sooner jumped off a cliff than release the delicate hand in his grasp. They spoke cautiously, then eagerly as Gilbert walked Anne to her gate, her hand tucked under his arm for safe-keeping. Reluctantly he let her go. He stayed at the gate for several minutes taking in the smell of the sea, the sound of the wind in the grasses, her lingering perfume of lilac...
He walked home and thought, "'God's in his heaven, all's right with the world.'"
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-01-11 09:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-11 09:15 am (UTC)I love Gilbert still...
*hugs you back*
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Date: 2005-01-11 09:40 am (UTC)These are so beautiful. And so them. Ahhhh, Anne and Gilbert...::dies a little::
The imagined thrill of finding love was not what she expected. It was all she could do to keep herself from biting Gilbert's nose.
That in particular just made me nuts. So perfect, and that's how it FEELS, LOL.
He thought of all the Avonlea landmarks in Anne's terms. He had adopted them into his consciousness without a second thought. He knew Anne was staying in Avonlea to teach.
And that just seems like...yeah, that's what Gilbert would do. Awwww.
::loves you madly::
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Date: 2005-01-11 09:51 am (UTC)I have to believe that's true, or the world will spin off its axis.
**loves you back for loving Anne/Gilbert**
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Date: 2005-01-11 10:06 am (UTC)There is more to come. I heart Gilbert. I want to watch the movies later, but I have no working VCR! Boo. Need to get the series on DVD.
"Aboot that, Anne, I'm sooory."
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Date: 2005-01-11 10:08 am (UTC)You made me all fuzzy feelin'. :)
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Date: 2005-01-11 12:27 pm (UTC)I haven't encountered Anne/Gilbert fic before, and I really loved this. Thank you for writing it.
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Date: 2005-01-11 12:33 pm (UTC)(Hope the move/license/etc. is coming along with more luck today!)
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Date: 2005-01-11 12:35 pm (UTC)I have a few more ficlets I want to post later today, and thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it, Kimberly!
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Date: 2005-01-11 12:37 pm (UTC)Damn, I wish my books were here and not in Michigan. Because then I could find the parts that I in particular wanted to rewrite for Gilbert...
(Oh, and I see down in the comments that you've promised "more to come." I am so totally holding you to that.)
I've never seen any of the screen versions of the stories. Is there any one in particular you recommend, or should I just stick with my mental images...;)
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Date: 2005-01-11 12:45 pm (UTC)The TV version is by far the best. They change somethings around to make it work for 8 episodes, but Megan Followes IS Anne. And Gilbert? *swoon* SO wonderful, and my VCR is busted and I don't have them on DVD. I would NOT recommend the third installment in that series, however. They took elements of Rilla of Ingleside and mixed it up so Anne is looking for Gilbert before they get married while both are serving in the army. Huh? ANd there is a hint at a married affair, and it is just TERRIBLE. But the first two are rock solid fantastic.
More later!!!
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Date: 2005-01-11 12:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-11 01:49 pm (UTC)I've never read the books. You've just reminded me how much I loved the TV series, though. That was really lovely.
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Date: 2005-01-11 02:12 pm (UTC)Needed a break from all the angst and pain in fics lately.
(Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your feedback and the thumbs up icon!! Whee!)
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Date: 2005-01-11 02:13 pm (UTC)I love the books, but I know they aren't for everyone. (Just posted the second one, BTW....)
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Date: 2005-01-11 04:03 pm (UTC)I am an avid reader. As a child I could be counted on to have a book either in my hand or within easy reach - and generally it would be either Little Women, What Katy Did, Huckleberry Finn or Pride and Prejudice.
I have never ever read the Anne of Green Gables books. Or seen the films.
Doesn't stop me from liking this, so sweet and cute and I just want to hug it. Kinda wish I knew the backstory now.
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Date: 2005-01-11 04:13 pm (UTC)If you are in the mood for post-Victorian love and laugh, this is it.
And thank you for reading it even though you don't know the context. (Basically, Gilbert falls in love with her on her first day to the new school at 11 and persues her ever since.)
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Date: 2005-01-11 05:23 pm (UTC)From the first time I read Little Women I knew that I wanted to be Jo. Without the terrible romantic choices, coz Amy should never have got her claws into Laurie. Plus the fact that Katherine Hepburn is my most favourite actress. Ever.
Anyway, I decided there and then that what I wanted to do was write. Be nice to be good enough to be published, but I'm happy doing what I do right now.
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Date: 2005-01-11 08:21 pm (UTC)The imagined thrill of finding love was not what she expected. It was all she could do to keep herself from biting Gilbert's nose.
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Date: 2005-01-11 09:26 pm (UTC)I really put this up for about three people. Says a lot about my flist that y'all will read G rated het. With Canadians. :-D
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Date: 2005-01-13 08:24 pm (UTC)I thought only Canadians and Japanese tourists "got" the whole Anne of Green Gables thing. This was so wonderful. *sigh* I'm all swoony about this. You're freakin' amazing. Much love, much love.
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Date: 2005-01-14 08:21 am (UTC)*off to read part 2*
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Date: 2006-01-24 01:18 pm (UTC)When she realized Matthew loved her, her eyes pricked with tears, her cheeks hurt from smiling, and she was able to look at herself in the mirror and just see Anne. No Katie, no imagining away the red hair or freckles, just Anne.
This was my favorite part. I never even thought about how seeing Katie instead was about not seeing herself--a self she never quite found good enough.
Cordelia Shirley
When I first started watching BtVS I sporfled almost every time Cordelia's name was said. I kept waiting for it to be revealed her name was really Maud and she just wanted to be called Cordelia. Cause a rose just couldn't smell as sweet if it was a thistle or a skunk cabbage.
He thought of all the Avonlea landmarks in Anne's terms.
I love that to death. Sometimes I wonder what would've happened if he'd never begun by him insulting her. Were they doomed to fight as younglings? Or would he've participated in her crazy imaginings with her? I smell an AU fic.
He stayed at the gate for several minutes taking in the smell of the sea, the sound of the wind in the grasses, her lingering perfume of lilac...
This is so beautiful. I have to go watch my movies now. Thank you for this fic.
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Date: 2006-01-24 01:28 pm (UTC)I STILL cry over Matthew. Still. I still ache and sigh over those books and the movie, you know?
You know, I think it is just simply in Gilbert's nature - no matter what, he would have HAD to be impudent to that cute red-haired girl. If not carrots, then something else, because he just HAD to. I mean, come on. That nose? Those freckles??
*scootches over on the sofa to make room, pops the movies in*
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Date: 2006-01-24 03:05 pm (UTC)Well, I haven't read much of your fic, but with a fic like this, it's not the writing, obviously. If you just like Anne, you can say oh that's nice. But if you love Anne, you're more likely to notice that a fic like this is filled with little hidden insights.
I STILL cry over Matthew. Still. I still ache and sigh over those books and the movie, you know?
I know! When I was little, I used to never know when the Matthew part was coming up (in the movies, obviously), so what I'd do is watch for that sweater she's wearing (it's kinda fugly. But very comfortable looking) and start preparing myself.
You know, I think it is just simply in Gilbert's nature
Yeah, you're right. He's such a boy. He makes fun of her because he like her and then doesn't get why she hates him. Aw, Anne.
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Date: 2006-03-04 12:25 am (UTC)OMG this is awesome!!! I'm a huge Anne of Green Gables/L.M.Montgomery fan so this made me very happy!!
Such a great articulation of Anne's dismissal of/issue with Gilbert as a love interest:
The imagined thrill of finding love was not what she expected. It was all she could do to keep herself from biting Gilbert's nose. Or kissing it.
Your Gilbert POV is great, and I love that he's adopted Anne's view of Avonlea!
He walked home and thought, "'God's in his heaven, all's right with the world.'" I love that you had him thinking the same thing that Anne does at the end of the book!!! They are such kindred spirits! *loves Anne & Gilbert*