Prompt: Marshmallows

From: Wordwielder

A/N: I did some research on marshmallows before writing this prompt, and they were invented by the French in the 1800s, so...enjoy! This might not be historically accurate

I own Cassiopeia and Pollux. (From Mrs. Hudson's Xmas Collection, 2016) I also own Mr. Henry Angel.

...

17 year old Pollux Holmes had a bad habit of letting time fly by without his notice.

His mother had warned him to be careful, and head home before dark, as had his elder brother, Siger. But he had disregarded those warnings, and now he was stranded out in London's streets in a blizzard, in the dark.

Worse, he had his beloved Cassiopeia out with him, and she was supposed to have been home hours ago, as threatened by her father.

He cursed as he tried to fish out his compass; but only succeeded in dropping it onto the street with a 'crack!'

Cassiopeia strained her eyes against the blizzard as he bent down to retrieve what was left of it. "Over there, Pollux!" She exclaimed, pointing ahead. "There's a light on in that shop down there! We could ask the owner if we can shelter from the storm for a while!"

"Very well, Cass!" He replied in defeat, getting to his feet, wincing as his legs stiffened under him. He didn't like the idea of stopping when it was already so dark, but he knew seeking shelter from the storm was the sensible thing to do until they could get home again.

Cassiopeia had grabbed his hand and was running down the street as fast as her boots would carry her. Her skirts whirled and whipped against her ankles, getting underfoot, causing multiple trips and near misses with the ground.

But she kept going, determined to get in and out from the blizzard swirling round them.

Pollux had to admire her feisty nature and her determination to keep marching on, no matter how dire the situation.

...

The owner of the shop was an older man named Mr. Angel. He had been about to go home for the night, but then, his bespectacled eyes saw two figures running out of the darkness towards him. At first, he tensed, fearing that the shadows would morph into muggers and rob him blind of his money.

But as they got closer, he swore he heard a woman's voice. Confused, he opened his eyes; under the barely seen street lamp stood a handsome muscular man with a dark-blonde moustache the size of his small finger, and hair the same colour swept under a top hat. His dark blue suit had mud round the trouser cuffs, and snowflakes and wet patches patterned the fabric. His nose had a very distinctive aquiline shape.

His companion was a beautiful dark haired lady, with pale skin, hair running down to her shoulders, a dark green dress emphasising her paleness and black boots. Like her companion, she was also somewhat muddy.

"Sir, please, we're lost and we cannot get home in this storm. Mightn't we take shelter in your shop?" She asked politely but desperately.

Mr. Angel knew he ought to be getting home, but he was not altogether keen to see his wife; she had never admired his career decision and they argued a lot.

Plus, he was a kind man, and these young people did need somewhere to stay, lest they perish in the cold. And they seemed like nice young people as well...

"Very well, you ca stay," he announced, fishing out the key. "I have some work to finish up in the shop, anyway, so you can stay here until the storm passes."

"Thank you gratefully," Said the man. "I'm Pollux Holmes, by the way, and this is my love, Cassiopeia Plum."

"Who might you be, good sir?" Cassiopeia asked curiously.

"Mr. Henry Angel, my dear." He replied nervously, unlocking the door and shoving it open, before waving his unexpected guests inside. "Do come in and warm yourselves."

...

"We didn't, did we...?" Pollux asked Cassiopeia, as the two huddled in blankets provided by Mr. Angel in front of a small fire. They listened to the winds howling and whistling round the small brick building keeping them warm and safe.

"We did!" Her eyes were wide open. "We're in a sweet shop!" She beamed broadly.

"Yes- Angel's Delights is just a small business I own, but I'm very proud of it," Mr. Angel told them, pushing his spectacles up his nose.

"You know, Po, I don't think I've ever been here," Mused Cassiopeia thoughtfully.

"Nor have I, Cass," Added Pollux.

Mr. Angel handed them some piping hot tea. "Here you are." He said, kindly.

"Thank you," They said together, allowing the tea to warm their frozen fingers. Mr. Angel hadn't known them long, but he liked them; they were an unconventional couple in love, despite their differences.

Mr. Angel hesitated, wondering whether to ask why they were out so late. He felt his hand play with his shirt sleeve again.

"So, what were you two doing out on a night like this?" He asked at last, wondering if he had spoken out of turn.

"We- well, I- lost track of time when we were out walking, old chap." Pollux replied sheepishly. "I was supposed to have taken Cassiopeia home hours ago, but I forgot the time and she and I ended up caught in the blizzard. So she suggested we seek shelter here."

"Yes, and we're frightfully sorry if we're keeping you from your wife." Cassiopeia added. "I...we...well, one of us should have asked if you had to get home so urgently. How selfish of us!"

"No, no, it is quite alright," Replied Mr. Angel. "I am not at all keen to get home tonight."

"How?" Pollux asked.

"I don't get on with my wife very much," Mr Angel mumbled, ashamed. "I won't go into any details, but I am glad at putting off my departure for a little while longer."

"You poor man." Cassiopeia murmured.

"But don't worry about me," the shy shopkeeper added, and he had a sudden thought. "Here," he said, and reached for a jar of some fluffy white clumps. "Would you care to have some of my marshmallows?" He offered, unscrewing the jar lid.

"What are they?" Asked Cassiopeia curiously.

"We've not had them before." Pollux explained to the older man.

"Ah!" Mr Angel exclaimed in sudden glee. "Then, please, as my humble guests, do try some!" He offered the jar to them. "They are very sweet." He added with a wink.

Cassiopeia's eyes flashed with the same determined fire she so often displayed whenever she was in a feisty or challenged mood, and a delicate, gloved hand dove straight into the jar, plucking out two marshmallows. She popped one into her mouth, and began to chew...

...and the two men swore she made a noise resembling a cat in comfy contentment at the new sensation. Her eyes were suddenly overcome with a dreamy look, and her chewing begun to slow down, as though savouring the strange confection. She seemed almost mournful when she finally swallowed it.

With the same deftness she had demonstrated before, she shoved the other marshmallow at Pollux.

"Eat it, or else," She threatened with a quirky smile. Pollux smirked, and obeyed. His eyes widened at the sweetness exploded in his mouth. It felt like he was eating a piece of cloud.

"Mmm... this is good." He said in delight.

"Good? I feel like I just ate something from Heaven!" She exclaimed.

"SO, you like them, then?" Mr. Angel asked.

"Pollux, should we get married, I would love a cake made of marshmallows."

Mr. Angel chuckled at the lady's stubbornness. "Well, I might be able to try something of the sort." He promised. "When he proposes to you, my dear, let me know and I'll get started."

"Thank you Mr. Angel." Cassiopeia smiled.

...

At last, the storm cleared, and Mr. Angel watched them leave.

"Goodbye, Mr. Angel! Thank you for your kind hospitality!" Pollux called.

"Yes- and thank you for the marshmallows!" Cassiopeia added. "It would be a grand thing to look forward to when I get pregnant!"

"Darling! You can't go around saying that in public!"

"Why not? Besides, craving marshmallows for nine months sounds like a dream..." she added dreamily.

"Wait until you live on them for nine months." Pollux grumbled. But he couldn't stay mad for long. She was fiery, feisty and yet sweet and tender at the same time. That was why he loved her.

Mr. Angel was torn between feeling some justified sense of scandal and laughing at the strange couple who had stormed into his life.

Ever since, they came into Mr. Angel's shop often, and tried many of his wares- but marshmallows was a firm, lifelong favourite.

And Mr. Angel became a lifelong friend to the couple, even after they got married two years after their first encounter with Angel's Delights.