Just to make it clear, I did say I had a Maxmerica high-school fic. Yes, it's finished and ready to publish. However, I currently have four fics in-progress as of right now. I do have a date when I will publish it and when that day comes, I will post a small sneak peek here. It's going to be soon, not in like a year.
Photo #57: The Name Game
Coming from someone whose name is Princess Princess, Eadlyn knows a little something when it comes to names.
Her family had a weird knack when it came to names. Eadlyn has guessed that it came from the idea of easily being remembered in Illéan history. It would be easier to remember a Maxon rather than just another John. The same goes for her mother. People will remember a queen who was named after the country's former name rather than just another Sarah.
Her parents most likely didn't follow that mindset but it was interesting to think about since it does make sense.
Eadlyn never really asked why she was named Eadlyn. It just that one question she never saw a point in asking. It was her name. For as long as she was alive, she's always been Eadlyn Helena Margarete Schreave and she didn't have a problem with that.
The next photo has her mother and Miss. Marlee, both of them pregnant but at different stages - Miss. Marlee being further into her pregnancy. They're sitting on a couch in the Women's Room and the table in front of them has multiple books listing many options for naming children.
Eadlyn closes her eyes, putting her forehead against the photo. She prays for her mother to be alright so she can ask why her name is Eadlyn.
-o-
"How about Victoria?" America suggests to Marlee. She glances at the book in her hands. "It means victory or triumphant. That sounds elegant."
Marlee hesitates on that name as she rubs her baby bump. She eventually scrunches her nose and shakes her head.
Since the two women were both expecting, they decided to spend the afternoon in the Women's Room. Their agenda for the day was to relax and discuss their babies, specifically their possible baby names. It was remarkable that they were both pregnant at the same time (Marlee being closer to delivery and America just starting to show).
"Victoria sounds too serious," Marlee says. "It also reminds me of the word vicious. I want something that sounds happy and cheerful."
"Happy and cheerful..." America mutters, flipping through the baby book in her hands. Marlee had one of her own and the table set in front of them had even more. "Happy and cheerful..."
America ends up reaching for another book of names. She begins browsing through that one as well.
"What about Jolie?" America questions. Marlee lights up at that name. "It literally means cheerful and pretty. I think it comes from the French."
Marlee claps happily. "I love that name!" Her smile slowly fades. "There's just one problem."
"What is it?"
"I want to name my baby girl something that I can make a nickname out of, you know?" Marlee says. "I've always wanted a nickname growing up but what nickname can you derive from Marlee? Mar? Lee? Marls? No, those are ridiculous. I can't give Carter or Kile a nickname either so I want my daughter to have one."
America nods, understanding the importance of that. "I'm sure we'll find a name that can be happy and also have potential nicknames."
Marlee grins. "Let's take a break from my baby and focus on yours for a bit."
Marlee picks up a bunch of the name books and sets them on her lap. She takes the one on top of the pile and opens it to the middle before eyeing America.
"So..." Marlee starts, leafing through the pages. "What kind of name do you want for your baby boy?"
America lightly giggles before resting her hands on her lap. She sits back and looks up at the ceiling, wondering what kind of name she would actually want for her third child. She continues to ponder, putting a hand on her bump in hopes that it would help.
"A strong and powerful name," America says, holding up a bold fist to emphasize her point.
Marlee nods, interested in finding the perfect name. She begins browsing through the books.
"What about Maxon?" Another voice says.
America and Marlee turn to the door and see Maxon and Carter peeking their heads in the door of the Women's Room (since they were still not allowed in, despite Maxon's title).
"Really?" America questions her husband. "You want to name our son Maxon Calix Schreave Jr?"
"It sounds even better when you say it."
Maxon beams in pride as America playfully rolls her eyes.
"Oh!" Marlee exclaims.
"Oh my god," Carter says, breaking all the rules and running into the Women's Room. "Did your water break?!"
"What? No, it didn't." Marlee playfully slaps his chest as Carter slides down to sit on the floor beside his wife. "How about the name Caspian?"
America gasps. "That name sounds so whimsical yet striking."
Maxon cringes a little. "You like that name?"
America looks at him. "You don't?"
Maxon invites himself into the Women's Room. Despite him living in the palace his whole life, he still felt weird and uncomfortable about walking into this certain room uninvited. He sits on the arm of the couch on America's side and begins looking through the book of names. Carter does the same.
"What about Axel?" Maxon asks. "Axel Schreave."
He waves a hand across the air, as if it was going to illuminate that name in neon lights. America doesn't see anything lighting up for her in relation to that name.
"What about Madison?" Carter asks. "Madison Woodwork."
He waves his hand the same way Maxon did for the same effect. Marlee only stares back, not phased by whatever point Carter was going for.
America and Marlee look at each other, asking with their eyes for their opinions on the names their husbands suggested. They tilt their heads at each other, as if they were sharing their thoughts with one another. Carter and Maxon look at each other and even though they have no idea what the other is thinking, they are spooked by whatever the hell their wives were doing telepathically.
"No," their wives state in sync.
"What? Why?" The husbands ask in sync (unintentionally, unlike their wives).
America only shrugs. Maxon tries his best not to roll his eyes at his wife's vague and wordless response.
"A nickname for Madison would be Maddie," Marlee tells Carter. "The first syllable of Maddie is 'Mad' and I told you that I wanted a happy name."
Carter blinks, not understanding how his wife was able to come up with that idea for that name. America feels the same way when Marlee pointed out the word vicious with the name Victoria. They had to give Marlee credit for being able to analyze those characteristics.
"Don't worry," America says to them, "we'll narrow down all the good names to choose from."
"Good names?" Maxon repeats, that phrase almost winding him. "Dear, we don't necessarily agree on what constitutes a good name."
"I think the one name we can agree on is Women's Room," Marlee says, smiling brightly almost to the point of it being diabolical. "So scoot."
Marlee uses her hands in almost a sweeping motion towards the doors. Maxon and Carter look at each other, getting the message. The two men stand up and make their way back to the hallway.
"We tried..." Maxon mutters to Carter.
"You'd think they'd give us more credit considering that we helped make the baby," Carter whispers back.
"Carter!" Marlee yells.
Marlee whips a pillow right at the back at his head. Maxon and America laugh loudly. Carter turns around again and gives his wife another one of his cute, crooked smiles.
"Let's leave quickly," Carter says, pushing Maxon out of the Women's Room. "They have ears everywhere."
I'm being honest here: I just googled unique girl names and Jolie showed up. I just had to use it since Jolie and Josie sound so similar.
If your name was mentioned and you got offended by the way it was portrayed, I am deeply sorry from the bottom of my heart. I didn't mean it.
On that note, I have a list of names I would use for my own kids and they're all after fictional characters.
Stay Tuned - it will be the sneak peek of said Maxmerica fanfic
