|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:29:19 GMT -5
Taranis threw his hands up in frustration when she poked him, but it was humorous frustration. "Merlin! Not both of you now! Stop with the poking or I have to start tickling again..." he taunted, flexing his fingers while his eyes laughed. Moving them to his sides though he was surprised at her boldness at getting her hands in his pockets though. Apparently she didn't realize how close the front pockets were too real trouble for a guy... Her blush on her face as they walked around the barns however was worth every moment of time the tunnels had been and he regretfully released her before they got back. Hearing his girlfriend (he had gotten his head wrapped around that word, it was the other which was going to be hard to do) fall into easy conversation with his oldest sister made him feel ever better about the merging possibility of their families. Knowing his sisters, he wouldn't have ever been really happy if they hadn't been able to like whoever he ended up with. Rosalie might not realize it but she was being tested in a way. So far she had passed with flying colors as Aimid certainly felt safe asking her questions already. Of course, they were both imagining romances in their heads, silly ones. Her comment about him being otherwise occupied stunned him with her boldness at even mentioning it. The idea of kids, and considering it would be a good four years probably before Aimid might be getting married, had only pinged at the edge of his mind so far. Mind you, to have the kids to play with he had to... As he closed the door behind them, no one in the room had any idea that the blush in his cheeks was anything more then the wind and he hung both Rosalie's coat and Aimid's up for them, glad for the excuse to turn his eyes away a moment. His mother stood with a smile and a welcoming wave from the table. "Of course darling child, come right over here and I'll let you smell some." Standing she headed to the stove and removed the top on a large pot, the smell of cloves and oranges and lemons and tea all mixing together in wonderful harmony. She waved the smell over to Rosalie saying "It does smell wonderful, doesn't it? A cousin brought me the recipe from the Americas, odd that they call it Russian. But it has good feeling going across the tongue as well!" Using a ladle she scooped some hot fragrant tea into a cup (showing the words "O'Malley's Finest Plaids") on it and said to Taranis "Pull up a few pillows near the tree and you all sit and warm up. You too, Aimid."She poured four mugs actually as Boann went over and begged some, Taranis carrying it for her over to the four pillows he pulled out for sitting on the floor. The tree had no shiny decorations or lights beyond candles, but dozens of woven ornaments, natural wooden ones and baked cookies, and strings of popcorn all over it. It was a very countrified tree which fit the setting well enough. As the girls settled he put the mug in front of Boann and said "Watch it now, it's really hot. Remember to blow," and touched her head with affection as he sat on a pillow next to Rosalie, setting his back against the wall with a satisfied sigh.
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:31:09 GMT -5
Rosalie was warmed by his mother's reception. The woman was clearly everything Taranis had described and more. Rose took an instant liking to her. While she loved her own mother dearly and with her whole heart, there was an innate warmth to Taranis' mum that her own mother lacked, a feeling of homecoming swept Rosalie so completely that she was montarily thrown off-balance. Here in this place where she had never been, surrounded by his family and her parents, Rosalie felt safe, far-removed from the coming trouble at home, she felt like she could breathe, and she hadn't felt that in a very long time. She found it odd that she felt more at home here when she was so accustomed to houses like Gran's and the one she'd grown up in. She thought perhaps it was because she had always secretly thought that a home was more about the people who lived there than the things contained within it.
Whatever the case, she happily accepted his mother's invitation. Inhaling the heavenly aroma deeply. She listened as his mother spoke, then addressed both her and Taranis. "If it tastes half as good as it smells I might have to beg the recipe." Her expression conveyed that she was seriously considering the idea. She watched as Taranis arranged pillows near a lovely tree full of homemade ornamates. She snuggled next to him, mug in hand. She blew on it hesitanty before taking a sip. "It tastes even better!" she exclaimed, looking as though she couldn't quite believe it. "Oh please Mrs. Summerby, it could be an early Christmas present." She took another sip, "actually, it could be the only Christmas present...for the next ten years, please?" Her mother shot her a look that very clearly said 'enough', which she pointedly ignored. "But mum its so good!" She did, at that point, take her mother's feelings to heart however as she fell into silence, blushing.
Rose took in her surroundings, while she coud see why Taranis might have been worried, she foudn everything about his home absolutely perfect. She knew it might be a bit different to live there, but still, he had every reason to be proud of this place, and she resolved to tell him so the next time they were alone. He deserved to take pride in the home he'd helped to make, it was one of the many things she liked about him, his determination, she now understood just how he'd acquired it. She laid her head on Taranis shoulder, which gave her a rather good view of the tree. She pointed to one of the ornamates with an impressed expression. "These are wonderful, Taranis, did you make them?"
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:32:10 GMT -5
He had known his mother would like Rosalie and vice versa and it was clear he had been right. Mom had that hufflepuff-mothering thing down pat in his mind, always having been the reason the slytherin in his father's genes hadn't come out more in all of her kids. He smiled warmly as she sent him after pillows, noting that the adults fell right back into conversations, but mostly political he thought. That was why she was making a point of creating a separate line between the groups. He wasn't fooled about that, knowing she would be paying close attention to how the DiAngelos were dealing with things at the Ministry. Taranis didn't mind much at the moment, preferring to be considered a child for the moment to avoid stepping across that line a few more moments. The coming responsibilities for his family alone, not just the farm were daunting even though he yearned to make his mother relax even if just for a short while. Like his mother though, he was a Hufflepuff and hard work was in their nature. His sisters were more likely to speak first before remembering to watch out they didn't take shortcuts. With Rosalie snuggling up to him and Aimid watching him with calculating eyes while Boann blew like a madman trying to start a forest fire from flint and steel. He leaned over and said softly "I know it, Rosalie, no worries. That one I learned early on. And I'm glad to hear you like it so much." Aimid gave him a grin and he stuck his tongue out at her, but not really bothered which you could tell she knew. She leaned over and whispered in Boann's ear which had her stop blowing on her drink and look up at them with a grin. Waggling a finger in their direction, he was distracted by her question and looked at the tree. He smiled and said "That's cheating. Did someone tell you to pick that one? There are only three on the tree and they are the only ones I made. Seriously, you didn't get told?" He chuckled softly and pointed out three types of ornaments. "Like any good irish family we like green and knots worked into our decorations. I happen to be the family talent when it comes to knots, not sewing or stitch so much. These really nicely done ones are mom's, these green knot balls the girls made for this year's tree," he said with a head bow to the two watching, even if not quite close enough to hear what he was telling her, "and these are mine except for the tassels." He took a sip of his drink and saw Boann waving her hand in front of her mouth where she had gotten to hot a sip.
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:34:26 GMT -5
Rosalie gave Taranis a thoroughly satisfied look and had to resist shooting her mother one as well. Aware of their younger audience, Rosalie straightened slightly, now resting more on thet pillow than on Taranis. As she watched the girls' antics, Rose felt the familiar pang of wishing she'd had siblings growing up. She understood her parents' reasons of course, but she had still wished. She was surprised to see her mother doing the same thing, her eyes looked oddly said, and then they met Rosalie's. A look of understanding passed between them, something that was happening more and more often these days. While both of her parents tried to let her be a child as often as possible, their involvememnt with the ministry meant she knew more than the average person about what was going on by default. Like Taranis, she couldn't tell them about her involvement in the DA, at least, not yet. After everything settled maybe, then they'd be proud of her for standing up for what she knew to be right, but until then Rosalie carried the secret with her, like a badge of courage no one could see.
She shrugged, smiling, "I just had a feeling", she told him honestly. She ran her fingertips over the knots delicately, before returning her attention to his face again. "Could you teach me to do this?" she asked him after a moment. "To make these I mean?" She motioned to the green knot balls and then addressed the girls. "These are so cute, but they look a bit complicated, are they very hard to make?" She smiled then, "Concerto might get a bit too much fun out of these if we had them on our tree." But then she looked at them again, thoughtfully. Actually, they might make a good Christmas present for him, if she could talk the girls into teaching her how to make some of course. She looked at the ones his mother had made, "so pretty", she said sincerely, "but how in the world do you make them like that?" She was looking at the three with a curious expression. She had never seen homemade ornamants before, but didn't think that fact needed stating. "And to think, I thought sewing and knitting were complicated."
She shrugged her shoulders, grinning in a mildly self-depreciating way as she addressed Taranis. "Gran used to make me practice for hours when I was a kid. I think I tangled twice as much as I actually sewed back then. It took me forever to get the hang of it." She smiled fondly at the memories. She hadn't thought so then, but learning to sew turned out to result in some of her favorite memories of Gran. The woman had sat for hours, telling Rosalie how to manage a new skill, untangling her mistakes, and showering her with praise when she finally mastered something. That seemed like so long ago now, and the thought saddened her some. She hoped to have memories like that with her own children some day, she hoped to teach them things she wished someone had taught her...like how to make these really pretty knots for example. The thought did a wonderful job of returning her to the present. She noticed the adults were deep in conversation again, but she'd had enough of ministry politics to last a lifetime. She chose instead to try talking to his sisters.
She gave them a shy smile, and made it clear she was addressing them both. "So, how do you like Hogwarts so far?" She resisted the urge to hold her breath, of everyone she'd probably ever meet in Taranis' life, she was probably most concerned about being able to relate to his sisters, next to his mum of course.
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:36:24 GMT -5
Clearly she liked them which felt good to him. He knew most people bought theirs, but making them on their own had proved to be a good family thing and they were all tickled when they could make things and point to them with pride. Many of the ornaments were on there from past years, but every year or so adding a few new ones was a nice feeling. His would go along with him, of course, to wherever he set up house next but he would leave one of each kind behind for his mom and sisters to enjoy too. Okay, maybe two of each so there wouldn't be any fights later on. He nodded at what she said. "We can see if you can learn it. I work with knots a lot in working on the farm so I get lots of practice.So for me these are challenging, but not very hard. Mom can't do them though and Aimid and Boann are still working on simpler sewing stuff so far." This time Boann answered first since Aimid was sipping carefully. "Nope, they are easy. Mom is teaching us sewing, but it's much harder. We made these out of scraps and mom fixed them so they'd stay for us." She 'stood' on her knees as many children did to show off what they had accomplished and pulled one out of the tree and handed it to her. "You have to wrap each side the same number of times," she said with enthusiasm, "and then use a spell to make them stay together. I can make you some for him and Taranus can bring them to you when he goes to see you! " Boann like any girl liked to show off her skill and knowing her ornaments would be in two different houses as well as toys for a cat made her feel good. "I can do some too. Do you think he'd like them different colors?" After a minute Taranis said softly "Well, I don't know how mom does them besides sticth work, but none of us know those tricks. I suspect these two will learn them eventually if they keep at it."He shrugged at the tree and pointed out a few his mother had made other years. "It's nothing fancy, it's just old craft. People used to make all their own ornaments and then started buying them from stores eventually I guess." He had never thought about making them for sale, it wasn't something you could turn out fast after all. Could you maybe work on a bunch all year and then sell them through a store come Christmas time? That idea seemed reasonable to him. While he thought about it and sipped his tea, she spoke to his sisters softly so as to not draw attention from the adult's conversation. "Well of course! Though it was weird at first to not share a bed or see Boann or Taranus everyday. But the spells are fun to learn and cool.""He tries to see us when he can, but it's harder there. So we don't see him as much as holidays which is much better like this. Did you know our common room has the Lake in it? It's so cool!" Taranis watched them with a bit of pride in his own right; both girls were deliberately being friendly and not talking as much about themselves, something they always kidded each other about whenever possible. No, they were trying their best to be on good behavior and he half-suspected mom had been talking to them about how important it was they support him with Rosalie and try to make her feel at home. With her tea about half finished, Boann stood and came over and sat in Taranis's lap like she did normally, as he held her cup for her and put an arm around her middle protectively. He didn't see Rosalie's mother watching him with a slight smile.
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:40:44 GMT -5
Rosalie nodded, looking somewhat excited by the prospect. "I'd like to try at least", she answered Taranis before turning her attention to his sister's response. She accepted the proffererred ornamant. The girls were obviously proud of them, and Rose knew without asking that she should make it apparent how much she liked them. She turned the ornament around in her hand, admiring it from every angle. "These are very very nice." She wondered what sort of spell their mother used as an adhesive, and resolved to ask if she got the chance before she left. "Sewing isn't easy", she agreed. "I had so many needle pricks on my fingers when I first started learning, my cousins said they looked like swiss cheese." Rosalie shook her head at the memory. "They exaggerated of course, but it was still hard."
Rose nodded to Boann's instruction as though it was the most important thing she'd hear all day. She knew how nice it was for little girls to feel special, having been one herself once. "That would be perfect!" she answered Boann smiling. "You woudn't mind?" Though she didn't want to be overzealous, Rosalie was thrilled to have found something on which to connect with his sisters. She had worried that she would face the same barriers with them she had originally faced with Taranis. When Aimid spoke, she nodded. "I think he would, and so would we. Our tree is usually done in red and gold." She shrugged, "mum and dad were both Gryffindors too, old habits die hard I guess." Rosalie nodded, "and keep it up they should. It's always a good thing to have special skills, never know when they might come in handy."
Rose nodded to Aimid's estimation of Hogwarts. "I know what you mean, it took me a while during my first year to remember where I was when I woke up in the morning. It was a big adjustment." While she didn't have any siblings to miss, she had found it difficult being without her parents during her early years at Hogwarts. The three of them had always been very very close, and while she had been excited to go off to school, being without them had hit her rather hard at the time. Rose immediately felt guilty, knowing she was part of the reason he was 'so busy'. She resolved to get to know his sisters better, so that maybe she and Taranis could spend time with them during school term. The mention of the lake startled Rosalie. While she'd heard that the Slytherins did indeed have a lake in their commonroom, she had forgotten that the two girls in front of her were Slytherins. The thought made her smile. Taranis had warned her that they weren't your typical Slytherins, and he was entirely correct. Rose was somewhat grateful for that fact. If they'd been typical, after all, they might have hated her on sight.
When Boann came to sit in Taranis' lap, Rosalie smiled at the younger girl. She appreciated how much his sisters obviously loved him, and it boded well for her future too. She took another sip from her mug. "Oh!" she said suddenly. "I almost forgot!" Gran had insisted that it simply wasn't appropriate to go into someone's home for the first time without a gift of some kind. Rosalie was smarter than to buy something and risk making his mother and sisters uncomfortable, so rather, she'd made them, which had only barely appeased Gran's sensibilities, but she hoped they'd be better recieved that way. She reached into her bag and pulled out two bracelets. "These are for Aimid and Boann, they're about the only weaving I can do." She pointed to the clover, "for luck", she explained. To his mother she said, "they've also got a basic protection spell." She smiled apologetically, "the best one I could do anyway."
She leaned into Taranis for a moment, hoping to look as though she were simply leaning on his shoulder. She whispered, "I hope that's all right. Gran wouldn't hear of my coming without them. I did my best to find something acceptable."
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:41:46 GMT -5
As she examined the ornament she had been handy he said to her "It's some family variant on the sticking spell. Holds things together instead of sticking them to another object I think is how it works according to mom." There were quite a few "minor" household spells they didn't seem to teach at Hogwarts, particularly in the ways of running a household and other tiny effects that for whatever reason the Ministry felt not important enough. He assumed most girls learned them at home, but probably every family had their differences in charms. When she shook her hand in memory, he craddled it saying "Poor thing. Mom gave them needles to work with, but they aren't as sharp as hers, kind of blunted on the ends which makes it harder to use I suspect, but safer." Fortunately he didn't have to learn those types of things, though if he had asked mom would have showed him as well. Somehow he had just naturally gravitated into the main worker for the farm and hadn't had the energy to ask much more, though the knots were clearly a small minor talent for him. "Aimid, would you get me a piece of string so I can show her a knot?"Aimid nodded, set her drink down with exaggerated care, and went into the store room, coming back in a minute with about a two foot long piece of colored yarn. Taking it, he wondered if she noticed Aimid moved much closer as she sat almost touching knees with Rosalie to watch him do his knot. Fortunately Rosalie had just mentioned her tree had a lot of red in it, but he had a brown country yarn in his hand at the moment. No problem, mom could fix that afterward. "Okay, here we go," he said as he took the yarn and with both arms around Boann (who sat still and watched with excited eyes) as he began twisting and doing it, fingers moving with a dexterity he didn't often show. In about five minutes he had the finished knot, which was different then the one on the tree, and handed it to Aimid saying "Take that to mom and tell her a red and green one please Aimid?" As his sister took it he said to his girlfriend "Mom does a stiffening charm to it, adds the bow to hold it, and colors each since I'm not allowed to do my own yet. I just have the knack for tieing them. Probably only farmer around who fancy-fies his holding twine."He chuckled and a minute later Aimid was back with the finished ornament handing it to Rosalie before sitting back down. "Isn't it pretty? Taranis does our hair bows for us when we beg him enough at school," she said pride at her brother's skill warring with pride at how awesome she looked and got compliment for it at Hogwarts. "Yes," he said with a nod in Rosalie's direction, "They don't need the help at being pretty I keep telling them cause they are already adorable" he said giving Boann a squeeze while she giggled and both colored a touch, "but don't be fooled, they've turned their tempers on me before. Big brothers don't stand a chance with these two around!"Aimid colored more, but there was a small flash of emotion in her eyes. "Taranus! Don't make us look bad!" as little Boann elbowed him. His eyes danced mischievously as he grinned and the anger clearly wasn't long lasting in either girl for being slightly, if only a touch. "Oh come on, you two, you know I'd do anything to make you look your best," he said blowing Aimid a kiss. The mention of gifts got both girls completely distracted of course and they both took the bracelets eagerly and with bright eyes. "Oooo! Look at that! House colors!" Boann struggled out of Taranis's arms to go run and show mom saying "Mom! Look how pretty these are!" Out of the corner of his mouth Taranis whispered "Oh nice move! You sure you haven't been practicing on someone with an ego...?"He chuckled and took a sip of his drink as he heard his mother say "Very nice, girls, did you say thanks?" Both girls turned wearing their new bracelets saying Thank you across the room at the same time bring a smile of amusement to all three adults.
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:44:02 GMT -5
Rosalie nodded to Taranis' explanation. "Mum has one she uses to keep Concerto off the counters. He gets stuck to them if he tries climbing up." Rosalie laughed remembering the last time she'd had to pry him loose from the woodwork. "Taranis is better than me in charms", she admitted to his sisters. "I used to have to bribe him into helping me with my homework." Well, bribe might have been a bit strong, she'd actually only had to plead once or twice before he normally gave in, but bribe sounded better, she thought. "I had to be pried off of my desk the first time I tried a sticking charm" she confessed. "Someone who shall remain nameless wasn't in class that day." She gave Taranis a look that made it very clear who the someone was. She shook her head, "My dormmates made sticky Rosalie jokes all day." She was blushing, but the memory made her smile. "Which subject do you like best?" she addressed his sisters again, curious.
Normally, Rose didn't take to being petted very well, but she didn't think it would hurt anything this once. "That's very clever, I wish Gran had thought of something like that." But then, knowing Gran, even if she had, she'd have still given Rosalie the real ones. 'Sink or swim' she'd always said, be the best. As Aimid scurried off, Rose found herself excited at the prospect of actually getting to see Taranis make something. It was new to her, but then, there were few opprotunities for any sort of crafts at Hogwarts. She watched avidly as he worked, following his fingers as they moved. It was obvious he'd had plenty of practice, and she was impressed. Yes, she would have to learn how to do this, or at least she'd have to give it her best try. While Aimid took the knot to their mother, Rosalie decided a bit of fawning was in order. "That's so cool!" she was grinning. "How long did it take you to learn?" If he said less than a week she wasn't even going to try it, knowing her, it would take months to learn how to do something like what he'd just shown her.
When he said the word fancifies, she could resist giggling. Despite his upbringing, he very rarely said anything that gave any impression he'd grown up on a farm. She wondered if it was intentional or not. Nonetheless, she found it endearing, but couldn't resist teasing him. "Fancifies? Can I get a definition for that word please?" She wrinkled her nose at him, eyes sparkling with mischeivous mirth. "You have to beg?" She widened her eyes at Taranis as though the idea were shocking. "Shame on you Taran!" there was no doubt the dramatics in her voice were put on. Her eyes smiled the entire time, and it wasn't long before her entire expression melted. She turned to his sisters, her tone conspirational. "Maybe if I ask really nicely, he'll do mine too!" She shot Taranis a teasing grin as she said it. Rosalie couldn't remember the last time she'd had this much fun, having been so stressed over everything else.
The Gryffindor in her took to that statement thoroughly. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with having a temper!" She was well aware Gryffindors were known for theirs. "So long as you know how and when to use it." Like when Hermione Granger had slapped Draco Malfoy across the face, the stuff of Gryffindor legend. Rosalie flushed with pleasure, glad the girls liked their gifts. She had had some difficulty with using Slytherin colors, but had eventually decided she'd have to get used to it. Besides, green was also a patently Irish color, so she'd paid some homage to their home as well. She laughed softly when Taranis spoke. "I'm sure", she assured him. When both girls thanked her, she smiled radiantly. "I'm so glad you like them", and she was, she'd spent a fair amount of time worrying about how they'd be recieved, and was glad to have her worries rendered needless. "And glad I went with green too", she whispered to Taranis. "Somehow I don't think red or gold would have been recieved as well."
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:46:01 GMT -5
He pretended total innocence about the sticking charm issue, one she had mentioned several times before. "Hey now don't blame me for that, not my fault the Professor had an assignment for me to be off doing. I didn't ask for an extra research paper just cause I have some talent at the subject..." She asked them about subjects and both girls looked at each other for a second as if wondering how much to say. "I guess I like Astronomy and Charms both pretty much, I can see both being useful," she said eyeing Rosalie to see if she reacted to the thought of Astronomy being useful as most people laughed, "and Boann likes both Potions and Transfig which is just weird." "Is not! It's cool!"Taranis' line about getting the yarn was clearly a good break of a growing argument and long practiced. He didn't blush over the praise though it was a near thing, he did raise his chin up a bit and tried to pretend he was brushing it off as no big thing, but you could tell he was pleased. "Oh it's not much, just got tired of doing the same old knot to hold stuff when I was working and started trying other things. I've done chinese knots too, but these seem more appropriate around the farm." He stuck his tongue out at her over the kidding of his word; he was often more careful to hide his background but it hardly seemed worth it when they were here. "Yeah yeah, I know. I slip up at home. I've always been more careful to hide it at school." Couldn't talk to country folk all summer and not really, though mom made sure his sisters got English drilling as well as their celts to keep it from getting too far off. "Ah Merlin, trying to turn me into a hair stylist or something?" The humor in his eyes was clear. "All right, but you have to say that they did it, that's the secret." The delight of his sisters was mostly due to the fact that anything which they thought made them look prettier was a plus and worthy of their praising it and the maker. They buttered mom up whenever possible as well. "Girls, why don't you come give me a hand here and show them how well you serve?" his mother said as she stepped into the kitchen and reached for the trays of cookies she had made. He whispered back "Gold and silver do well by themselves of course, but yeah green fits everything here well. Nice choice, briber." He chuckled and finished off his drink as he watched his sisters offering the adult guests a choice of snacks and cookies and refills on their drinks (though he noted they were not drinking Russian tea but something else). "You know, I understand your father too well, Rosalie, growing up surrounded by women I sometimes feel like the token male. You think he might like me just for being around to talk about something else?" As the girls brought over other stuff for them and then set their own places at the table with cookies as well, Taranis moved to get up and said "You can stay here if you like, do you want me to get you a refill as well?"He took the girl's mugs to his mom for refilling placing them at their spots at the table (which filled all but one chair of course) and got refills for them while he was at it, bringing them back. Sitting with her again he snuggled a bit closer to her taking advantage of the fact they now had a quiet moment, even if visibly under watch. "So, what do you think so far? I'd show you my space but I think that would be frowned on at the moment. Clearly you've already made good strides with mom by being polite and pretty and the girls have been sufficiently br--- ah, charmed up that you are good there. Think your parents like us?"
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:49:02 GMT -5
Rosalie laughed, and poked him lightly in the side. "Sure you didn't!" She was still grinning. She turned her attention to Aimid. She didn't want to seem fake, but she really did love Astronomy. "Astronomy's one of my favorites as well", she leaned closer to Aimid and whispered softly. "Sometimes I sneak up to the seventh floor tower after curfew to watch the stars", she confessed, "but keep that between us okay?" She shrugged at the mention of Boann's favorite classes. "I like potions as a subject too, but Snape hating all Gryffindors kind of puts a damper on it for me." She hoped the girls weren't offended, but it was the truth. Proffessor McGonagal tried to balance how many points the Lions lost in Snape's class by granting them for any remotely rewardable aspect of her own, but it was still nerve wracking. "I don't think Transfiguration is weird either Boanna, it comes in pretty handy in a tight spot."
She winked at the younger girl before turning to Aimid, "for example, what if you're stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere? Being able to turn a sapling into a tent might be pretty useful then." Pretty bloody hard too, but she wasn't going to mention that part. She heard Taranis voice, and turned her head. "How is a Chinese knot different, Taran?" She gave him a curious look. Rose tilted her head, an amused look on her face. "I was only teasing, I think its kind of cute actually." She kissed his cheek, knowing his sisters would probably react, but not particularly caring. Surely the adults wouldn't think anything of a small display of affection, besides, she needed to be more comfortable with this sort of thing. Rosalie could just picture that conversation with one of her dormmates, some of them were a bit narrow minded when it came to house relations, especially with Slytherins.
When Taranis' mum called the girls away, Rosalie laid her head on Taranis' shoulder. "They're sweethearts, your sisters", she said softly. "You're very lucky." She blushed at his teasing. "I wasn't bribing anyone!" she insisted in a whisper. "I just thought it was a nice idea." She stuck her tongue out at him petulantly. "See if I ever make you one!" She was smiling again, she never could frown, even jokingly, for very long. She nodded when he spoke of her father. "I think its very possible", she answered. "Though dad doesn't seem to mind, he probably gets quite a bit of guy time at work", she paused, "when things aren't so tense I mean." She agreed to stay put, wanting to get a better look at the Christmas tree. Plus, Taranis needed some face time with her parents without her input. She'd give him an opprotunity to make an impression on his own, though she didn't think he'd need much help in the first place. "If you dont' mind that'd be great", she profferred her mug with a grateful smile firmly in place.
When he returned, she laughed. "I didn't bribe them!" She was glaring at him playfully, before her expression melted into a more thoughtful one. "I think so", she answered. Then, after a moment, "I think it helps that you're so close to your sisters, and that you and your mum get on so well. That will earn you major points with everyone", she informed, "including me." For the first time since they'd made this arrangement, Rosalie was more intrigued than intimdated by their differences. She wanted very much to be a part of this world, even if it was only temporary. She glanced back to the kitchen. "Do you really think I made a good impression?"
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:50:52 GMT -5
He watched Rosalie whisper to Aimid and tried not to listen though it was tempting. He wanted to protect his family always and he had to relax that reaction when he saw her bonding with his sisters. A hug around Boann's middle again before she got called away may not have caught her attention much, but it reminded him of growing up too. Pretty soon they would be bigger, wouldn't be interested as much as playing with their big brother and it was a bit of a pang to realize that. He saw Aimid concede the point, but she responded "If you were carrying around a charmed tent in the first place, it's just as good." "A chinese knot has a different pattern. I'll make one before you leave and show you the difference in them, though I like the celtic ones better of course." And then she kissed him on the cheek which he liked, but he felt the light blush as both his sisters started to giggle, though Boann at least put her hands over her mouth. Maybe that was what caught his mom's attention and got her to call them away, but Taranis knew he'd be hearing it tonight. He sighed and said softly "I really like when you do that, Rosalie, but they are going to tease me for days on that one. Little sisters are both awesome and terrible at the same time..."When she stuck her tongue out at him he laughed and added "I'll trade you then. You make me one sometime and I'll make one of these you can wear in your hair. What's your favorite color for your hair?" Taranis did feel better hearing her say how he was scoring points. It wasn't that he had been nervous about that, but about the simpler lifestyle they had then he was sure most did. He gave her a disbelieivng look at her question for a moment and then he put his arm over her shoulder and pulled her a bit closer in a one armed hug. "Rosalie, Morgana's mustache! Of course you make a good impression, let me count the ways..."He cleared his throat and dropped his voice as he spoke, not whispering, but keeping it down anyway as he took a cookie from his plate. "One, she already said you were an eye catcher, two, you were polite. Three, you are clearly not stuck up or looking down your nose and any of us or this," he motioned with the cookie and took a bite off the end as he broke for a moment before continuing. "Four, you are getting along with my sisters, five, you loved her tea, six, I suspect she thinks you are her best chance of getting grandkids quickly to spoil." He grinned as his voice turned teasing, knowing she would get him back later anyway, but he wanted her to relax for a bit. "Seven, your parents seem to be comfortable and enjoying the visit, eight, the loan is going to save us and that takes a load off her mind, nine, you seem competent which means you probably will do a decent job of taking care of her only son, ten, did I mention how she wants grandkids as soon as possible?" Watching her as he ate the rest of the cookie he grinned, seeing her blush. "I should be sure and point out to her later how cute you are when you blush, she'd like that...There's eleven already."
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:53:19 GMT -5
Rosalie laughed, it seemed Taranis’ sisters were just as stubborn as he was. “I agree”, she conceded smiling, “but how often do you, personally, carry around a charmed tent?” She was enjoying herself immensely, never in her own home had there been so many different things going on at once, unless there was a family event of some kind, but those were rare, and getting more so these days. It seemed like no one had the time or the energy to spend time together anymore. They were all too concerned with keeping themselves and their immediate families safe. They didn’t love each other any less, mind, but the isolation wore on Rosalie’s nerves. At the sound of Taranis’ voice, she turned her head. “Of course”, she answered, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Rosalie winked playfully at him once the girls had been called away. “I know”, she told him, eyes full of mischief. She shrugged, “I wouldn’t know, but yours don’t seem terrible to me, maybe that means they like me.” She smiled at the thought. She thought about the offered deal. “Done!” she agreed. Her expression became thoughtful. “Well, I like red, but I also have a tone of it, gold maybe?” She looked to be considering it. “That way I can wear it with my uniforms.” His reaction to her question about impressions startled her a bit, and she jumped. The first thing on his list had her protesting immediately. “Being attractive and making a good impression are not the same thing”, she pointed out rather adamantly. But she allowed him to continue, and by the time he finished speaking, she was blushing.
She frowned, what would it be like to be with someone for two years and then break it off? She couldn’t imagine it felt good, no matter the circumstances. Gran would be outraged, and if she found a place with Taranis’ family, how could she tell them at the end of two years of memories that she no longer wanted to marry him? The thought sent her reeling, even if things calmed down and they could break the engagement without life-altering ramifications, how would they break it to their families? Especially to her parents who thought the two were in love in the first place? It made her head hurt, and she realized, not for the first time, just how deeply complicated a web they were weaving. Two whole years they’d spend getting to know each other, in every sense of the word, building a story, building a relationship, and then in two years if everything went according to plan they’d simply change their minds and act like it never happened?
Who in the name of Merlin had come up with that idea? Oh…right…she had. She realized he hadn’t finished speaking after all. She shook her head to clear it, and grinned at him, but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. What were they getting themselves into? What were they forcing their families into? They, after all, had very little choice in the matter. His family because the engagement gave them means to survive financially, and her own simply because they were completely ignorant of the situation. Was that right? “Do it and I’ll tell her why exactly I’m blushing half the time”, Rose threatened with a wicked sort of grin. “I’m sure she’d enjoy that particular story.”
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:54:23 GMT -5
Aimid was also enjoying the argument and shot back quickly "Ah, but I can have a tent now without being allowed to cast the magic yet and carry it shrunk down in a purse when I go anywhere.And yes, if I plan on ever adventuring I'd get one to carry all the time, but I like hotels." Her head was lifted a bit as if challenging Rosalie to find a hole in her logic before she realized she was supposed to be treating her guest a bit nicer. She pulled herself down a bit sheepishly and then said "Well, anyway you can buy a lot of wizarding items which do the same things as spells is my point."Taranis rolled his eyes at her comments about his sisters. "Tonight I'll be lying there trying to fall asleep because of missed opportunities" he had not forgotten her starting to kiss him earlier "and they will be giggling and whispering. Every few minutes I'll hear stuff like 'Oh! My dear Taran!' and other stuff they will be teasing me about." He glanced at her, his eyes light, but serious. "That's the thing about siblings you don't realize; they feel they have the license to poke fun at each other at any opportunity."As he would of them in return when one of them had a boyfriend of course. Fair is fair. Gold. Of course, and how appropriate to her situation as well. He didn't show that on his face though and responded quickly "Certainly, gold it is then. I'll bring it when I come to visit you. I'll need a vacation away by then." It struck him then that it would be the first time away from his family since his first few years at Hogwarts. They didn't have the money for vacations and they lived on a farm where you always had work to do to stay ahead of things. He'd heard of people going on vacations and had always thought it sounded nice, but stressful. Wouldn't you spend all the time worrying about how far behind you would be when you returned? Her comment about looks was not missed however. "Oh yes it is! The more attractive you are the more she thinks I'll be attracted to you thus upping the chance of early grandkids. Also means you stand a better chance of keeping me focused on you, keeping the marriage strong. You have to remember, all parents want grandkids, it's a fact of life." She blushed nicely and he enjoyed the fact that she did. Mind you, he knew he was still innocent about some things as well probably, but the fact he had a leg up on her meant teasing that same innocence in her was rather gratifying. "Well you are good at blushing, you know. I didn't realize you were thinking of that when you said red was your color..."He got another cookie off his plate (he, like his sisters, had taken exactly three, a long trained thing from mom) and dipped it in his tea this time before eating it, his eyes scanning the table where the adults were talking to the girls now, her parents getting to find out what the sisters were like. He hoped they were behaving still, though even from here he could see Boann swinging her legs back and forth from side to side. Even as he watched, he saw Aimid trying to kick her to stop and missing several times before contact - - and it was clear all the adults could see what was happening. Taranis tried not to smile by hiding it behind his mug as he looked at his girlfriend-soon-to-be-more and asked "Out of curiosity, do you have a nervous habit?"
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:56:31 GMT -5
Rosalie smiled, smart girl. Deciding it would be better to concede rather than to get Aimid in trouble, she nodded. “That’s true, I didn’t think about that.” Her eyes twinkled. “I like hotels too”, she agreed. Then, with a pointed look in Taranis direction, “but I can’t say I mind adventuring either.” Rosalie was impressed with Aimid’s ability to win gracefully. “And it’s a good point”, Rosalie assured the younger girl. “I might just start carrying an enchanted tent in my purse now”, she grinned. When the girls were called away, Rose turned her full attention to Taranis once more. ‘Missed opportunities’? What did he mean by…oh. Rosalie blushed, what had gotten into her down at the manor house she wasn’t exactly sure. She’d no doubt be laying awake at home tonight as well, wondering that very thing.
She giggled softly at the image he painted. “It’s all in good fun Taran, and don’t worry, if you go with me to the wedding this summer, there will be plenty of payback to go around. No one felt the need to inform my cousins that they aren’t my older brothers.” As they spoke about colors and ribbons she was reminded what a unique person Taranis was. She knew she had his mother and his sisters to thank for that fact. How many guys after all knew how to make hair ribbons, much less volunteered to do it for their girlfriends? Rosalie knew he spoke the truth, he was awfully stressed for someone their age, though now that she’d met his family she understood better. He was the man of the house, and being a brother, a father figure, and helping his mum to provide for them all could not have weighed very lightly. She felt a renewed sense of determination. If she did nothing else for his family, she wanted to ease the burden, so that his sisters could enjoy their childhood and coming of age as nothing more than what it was.
She widened her eyes at him in disbelief, not comprehending at first what he’d said, or rather, what he’d meant. It hit her a few seconds later, and she couldn’t help herself, though she’d resolved not to while visiting his mum, she swatted him on the shoulder. “Must you always twist what I say?” she asked him with an air of scolding in her tone. “Imagine if I did that to you all the time”, she paused for only a moment, then amended her statement. “On second thought, don’t.” She tried to stay stern; she really did, but the next thing she knew she was laughing. When he asked her about a nervous habit, she glanced up, surprised. She bit her lip, and then smiled when she realized she had. Rather than answer him, she diverted, “why do you ask?”
|
|
|
Post by Shava on Feb 6, 2016 17:58:16 GMT -5
Taranis gave Aimid a sharp look as she mentioned hotels; she had never been in one in her life, though she had poked her head in a bed and breakfast in the next town south. Aimid liked to think ahead and make plans and she had decided being taken care of in a hotel would be the way to go. She ignored him, trying to make the impression she wanted and he rolled his eyes at her. As soon as Rosalie glanced his way Aimid flashed him a triumphant smile. He was going to have to warn Rosalie about her habits later apparently. She mentioned the wedding this summer and he blinked, having almost forgotten about it entirely. By then he should have the ring maybe? "Um...Rosalie, do you know when that wedding will be? Mid summer, later, earlier?" He was going to need a few weeks to arrange things after school, probably through the family lawyer if he could manage it. He'd heard the companies were very security tight for even muggles so he would need an adult's help to pull off the family tradition. In any case, she then reacted rather nicely to his comment by smacking him on the arm which caused him to lift his arm defensively and chuckles out loud, unaware of the adults all watching with smiles in their eyes. Maybe it was because they were clearly comfortable with each other or maybe because they she felt safe enough to hit him to keep him in line, but all three adults funny enough saw it as a good sign. Taranis was too busy responding to notice their looks. He laughed with her as well, saying "But I really like your reactions..."Hands out defensively he said "Hang on, I have just the thing for this, wait here." Hopping up he exited the room going through a door and pulled down the hidden stairs leading upstairs. In the craft room he found three long sections of cord, one far longer then the others, and a pair of silly goggly eyes (a muggle thing). Back downstairs he went and asked his mother for the colors white, gold and crimson red which she did simply enough. Her parents looked curious and he said to Rosalie "Wait there just a minute and I'll be over there since they have not seen this yet."Holding up the three completed threads for her to see and then he stood next to her mother and began doing something with all three of them. It took maybe two minutes and you could see her father watching curious and her mother looking gradually more impressed. His sisters of course were all eyes as they always were. When he finished, all three adults exclaimed, though his mother clearly had seen this trick before. Bringing it over after his mother wanded the eyes on for him, he handed the character to her and pointed out the chinese symbol it was made out of saying "Here, maybe this little turtle good luck charm will make up for my naughtiness?"
|
|