Two Jolly Comrades in Crime | Beautiful People

source

Hello friends! I have something a little different for you all today :). If the title is anything to by, I'm going to talk about my writing! True, I've not written anything in months, as you all know, and these days with school and all, I barely have time to even think about my poor characters. But every now and again I remember a few bits and bobs about them, and my heart aches just a little, I sniffle a few tears, stifle my wistful sighs, or chuckle at the ridiculousness of one of my beloved character-friends :D. 

So today, I am going to join in a Beautiful People #12 edition interview hosted by Cait from Paper Fury and today's questions feature the Friendship theme, which makes it rather exciting. I'm going to talk about Jane Wilson from my WW2 historical novel, A Love that Never Fails, and her childhood friend Cynthia Oldacre, who I am not sure I've ever mentioned on this blog before. If you're all rather unfamiliar with the premise of my novel, you can read more about it on my "Stories-in-Progress" stage, and in my previous posts through this link: A Love that Never Fails. 

1. How long have they known each other, and how close are they?

Jane and Cynthia have known each other since Jane was seven and Cynthia was ten, and despite the few years age gap, they are incredibly close - like salt and pepper, they are rarely seen apart :). 

Cynthia

2. What’s their earliest memory of being best friends?

The day they first met. It was Jane's first day of school when she moved to London; her lunch pail had got scuffled in a fight, and when Cynthia found her sobbing bitterly in the gym, she gave her a handkerchief and offered to share her cucumber sandwich with her - their friendship was born from that moment onwards :). 

3. Do they fight? How long do they typically fight for?

They argue sometimes, but never really outright fight; Cynthia has too much common-sense, and Jane has all the sensibility to make it anything more than a few minutes' quibbling. They do like to banter a lot with each other though. 

4. Are their personalities similar or do they compliment each other?

They are rather opposite, so yes, their friendship compliments the other person.

5. Who is the leader of their friendship (if anyone)?

They rather alternate, but I think Cynthia leads their friendship somewhat because of the age experience? However, as Jane is the more spontaneous and out-going of the two, she's responsible for most of their adventures and scrapes! 

6. Do they have any secrets from each other?

Those two girls are quite open with each other, but there are a few things that they'd rather they didn't admit to anyone, not  even to each other. Jane has a girlish admiration/crush for Cynthia's brother, Colin, which she never would dare admit to her friend, while Cynthia is mortally afraid of dying, a fear she desperately tries to hide from her young friend. 

Jane

7. How well do they know each other’s quirks and habits?

With the amount of time they spend in each other's company, they're quite familiar with each other's habits and quirks. Cynthia eats her apples rather noisily (which bothers Jane to no end!), wears a beanie scarf at all times and in all places outside of school and church (a comfort thing), and becomes very quiet when she's upset (which makes Jane look rather like the chatterbox sometimes). Meanwhile, Jane is quite apt to burst into tears for the mildest causes (if she is very happy, she can cry, and if she is livid with anger, her first response is to start sobbing); she starts sniffing the edges of her curls if she's nervous, and pulls out her worn copy of The Secret Garden and sits by the family's old Grandfather Clock whenever she has to do any serious thinking - Cynthia treads the ground around her very carefully on such occasions. 

8. What kind of things do they like to do together?

The two of them share a great love of music - Jane plays the violin and Cynthia plays the guitar, so they accompany each other with duets and swap new songs they love with each other; Cynthia draws and loves to illustrate, while Jane is fond of reading and writing stories, so they create little magazines and booklets together and distribute them at their school and with their parents' friends. They also like to write plays and perform them with Cynthia's brothers and Jane's cousin Phyllis. 

9. Describe each character’s fashion style (use pictures if you’d like!) How are their styles different/similar?

Jane's fashion style would be very pretty, well-tailored, simple 1940s styles: polka dots, bows, pretty little dress, knitted cardigans and comfy pinafores are her favourites. 

How Jane could look during Christmas. . . 

When Jane is dressed up for church,
and a little older

Cynthia's is quite pretty and vintage, a bit plainer than Jane's, but also a little more queer with odd bits and bobs in her accessories, colour-choices, etc. On the whole, she likes it to be rather plain and simple:

How Cynthia would look on a regular  Monday during the summer vacation

Cynthia, dressed up for church

10. How would their lives be different without each other?

This question hurts, but I won't tell you why. I'll only say they each make the other person grow and mature and love and laugh and be kind in ways they never quite realize. Without their friendship, Cynthia would be more reserved and afraid, and Jane would be more self-conscience and naive. 

As for Cynthia–hers’ was a heart of gold; Jane's dearest friend. Between them it was more the intimacy of sisters. They did all sorts of things together, especially during the summer months – surprising Jane’s grandmother with a special birthday dinner scrapped from a month’s rations, reciting a play for school theatre in the musty attic of a deserted barn, playing "the Adagio" from Winter on the violin and guitar by the Thames to cheer the people. They were quite the jolly comrades in crime.

- A Love that Never Fails

The curly crop of ginger hair, and the steel in Cynthia's grey eyes made Jane think of her as a vixen sometimes, fierce and pretty. . . but it was also the fire that made her a warm and kind friend. 

- A Love that Never Fails