Post by newwwwusername on Dec 17, 2023 20:43:07 GMT
Warnings : Period-typical sexism, referenced death
Chronology : Pre-canon
Background relationship : Martin/Mrs. Vanderhof (mentioned)
Martin knew it wasn't uncommon for husbands to beat their wives, but he'd never agreed with it.
Mrs. Vanderhof, before she passed, was a remarkable woman and he'd never even dream about laying an unkind hand on her. The thought hurt his heart too much.
He took a similar approach to his parenting. When Penny was young, he'd never hit her. Any consequences to any wrongdoings were either natural consequences (if she drew on the walls, she'd have to clean them), or other forms of discipline, like taking away a toy for a few days. The last thing he ever wanted was for her to be afraid of him.
And she turned out pretty well. Before he even knew it, he was a single parent of a full-grown adult who was now looking for a husband.
Martin told her that she could have any man that caught her eye, regardless of his job or social status. His only rule was that he must be kind to her. Never hit her. Never manipulate her. Whoever he was, he would need to treat her with the same respect she showed him.
This admittedly made things a fair bit tricky at first. Most guys she found were not too keen on the idea of having a wife that he couldn't discipline like an insolent child, but she remembered what her dad told her and kept looking. Truthfully, she agreed with his terms wholeheartedly. She didn't want a husband who would hurt her and treat her unkindly. That didn't sound like a happy marriage at all and, should she have kids, she didn't want them to see that either.
But then she met Paul. It was at Palisades Park and he had been putting on a fireworks show about the last days of Pompeii. He was such a nice man, and Penny absolutely adored him, though she was still a bit skeptical. Plenty of the guys she'd met had been nice, at least at first.
When he called on her, she told him her rule. She was so sure he'd have the same reaction that every other guy had that she nearly missed him hugging her and telling her he'd never dream of hurting her like that.
Martin heard the conversation from the other room and just smiled.
Chronology : Pre-canon
Background relationship : Martin/Mrs. Vanderhof (mentioned)
Martin knew it wasn't uncommon for husbands to beat their wives, but he'd never agreed with it.
Mrs. Vanderhof, before she passed, was a remarkable woman and he'd never even dream about laying an unkind hand on her. The thought hurt his heart too much.
He took a similar approach to his parenting. When Penny was young, he'd never hit her. Any consequences to any wrongdoings were either natural consequences (if she drew on the walls, she'd have to clean them), or other forms of discipline, like taking away a toy for a few days. The last thing he ever wanted was for her to be afraid of him.
And she turned out pretty well. Before he even knew it, he was a single parent of a full-grown adult who was now looking for a husband.
Martin told her that she could have any man that caught her eye, regardless of his job or social status. His only rule was that he must be kind to her. Never hit her. Never manipulate her. Whoever he was, he would need to treat her with the same respect she showed him.
This admittedly made things a fair bit tricky at first. Most guys she found were not too keen on the idea of having a wife that he couldn't discipline like an insolent child, but she remembered what her dad told her and kept looking. Truthfully, she agreed with his terms wholeheartedly. She didn't want a husband who would hurt her and treat her unkindly. That didn't sound like a happy marriage at all and, should she have kids, she didn't want them to see that either.
But then she met Paul. It was at Palisades Park and he had been putting on a fireworks show about the last days of Pompeii. He was such a nice man, and Penny absolutely adored him, though she was still a bit skeptical. Plenty of the guys she'd met had been nice, at least at first.
When he called on her, she told him her rule. She was so sure he'd have the same reaction that every other guy had that she nearly missed him hugging her and telling her he'd never dream of hurting her like that.
Martin heard the conversation from the other room and just smiled.