Bonabelle Row
July 08, 2020 10:53 PM
Tea for Two [Valentine] by Bonabelle Row
Bonabelle wished very much that she could see her friend over the holidays. She wished that she could invite Valentine home with her for part of the break. Sure, she was excited to see her dad, but she also wasn't sure exactly what state he'd be in and she didn't want to see that. It sounded like they were going to be spending most of the break at grandma and grandpa's with Uncle Killian, so that was good; the wider family would help keep an eye on dad.Before that, however, there was a girl who needed to be taught about a proper Christmas tea party. This was, of course, not something Bonabelle knew anything about herself, as she'd never had one. However, she could make a good cup of tea and she had pretty clothes (from which she had lent Valentine anything she wanted for this occasion) and a tea party seemed like the perfect thing to wrap up the year.
With a lacy, crocheted blanket and a basket of pretty china cups and saucers, a teapot, cream and sugar (she wasn't sure what Val would want), and some biscuits, Bonabelle found a nice spot with an ample mix of sunshine and shade in the Gardens. It was getting on in the year and it was a bit cold out, so her own outfit consisted of thick stockings, a soft pink dress and a matching pink overcoat lined with fake fur, and a fancy hood with a satin bow on it. It all looked very expensive, even Bonabelle can see that, which made her wonder how her father had ever afforded it, but she didn't think about it. They were magic - surely he could have made it, or . . . something, right? She'd offered similar attire to Val but made it clear that there was no pressure to wear any of it if she didn't want to.
She began preparing the tea as she waited for her friend, grateful that it was only chilly and not wet outside. Once that process was to a point that it could go on without her, she set up the small sign she'd made for them, propping it up on the blanket, against the side of the basket. In fancy, swirling letters on an old tea platter painted over with chalkboard paint, it read:
Satisfied that everything was ready, she settled in to wait for the other half of her party to arrive.
22
Bonabelle Row
Tea for Two [Valentine]
1488
1
5
Valentine Duell
July 10, 2020 5:55 PM
Oooo..... fancy! by Valentine Duell
Valentine was ecstatic! She was going to a tea party, a real, honest-to-goodness, real tea party! Naturally she'd been to many, many tea parties before. However, this one was going to actually have real tea, and it wasn't going to be with Mama, Papa, Aunt Paige, Grandpa or... a memory tickled the back of her mind of someone else? and as many stuffed animals as she could fit around the toy table. It was going to be with Bonabelle! Her friend had even offered to share some fancy clothes for the occasion!Well, that just wasn't necessary. Val had come prepared for just such an occasion. Almost. She did borrow a fancy violet coat that would match perfectly with the fancy dress she had packed 'just in case'. It was a long, slightly puffy dress that swirled nicely when she spun around. However, the sleeves weren't made of the warmest materials and Bonabelle's coat would cover that minor deficiency quite nicely. That just left her hair. How did one wear their hair to a fancy tea party? Maybe some sort of bun? Nope. After fighting for more than a few minutes, she realized she was not particularly gifted at arranging her own hair. This is why she normally kept to just combing it straight or a simple braid.
She looked around her empty room again, devoid of a roommate and sighed. If only Lavender were here. She probably knew all sorts of exciting ways to make hair do beautiful things. Oh well, it was to late now for such things. She picked up her purse, even though she really didn't have anything to put it in, it was more the principle of the matter. Then she grabbed her wand, not that she though she would need that either, but Professor Brooding-Hawthorne of Defense class had ingrained it into their heads to never leave it out of arms reach.
She looked at the two items and sighed disgustedly. The purse was obviously to small to hold the wand. Stupid designers... it didn't even have a shoulder strap that she could maybe attach it to, it was just something to be carried. That was.... really inconvenient. The dress didn't have any pockets either, naturally. The coat did... but she didn't want to put her wand there and then forget about it when she gave it back to Bonabelle. This was just preposterous! How was a girl supposed to look nice and be ready to fight off the forces of darkness at the same time? Then an idea struck her, in a moment she was ready and out the door and on her way to the gardens.
Valentine found Bonabelle's party and it looked magnificent. She gaped in awe for a moment at her friend's handiwork. Then she smiled wide and brushed a wisp of hair from her face. Apparently she had missed some when she balled her hair up into a very crude bun and stabbed her wand through it. Casting the defigito charm that Bonabelle had helped her learn would ensure it stayed in place... unless she needed it.
She giggled and clapped when she saw the sign, "Bonabelle, it's wonderful! And you look beautiful!" She looked over everything that Bonabelle had carefully placed. Were those actual china teacups? It was just so perfect! She turned back to her friend, eyes gleaming, "How does this work?"
2
Valentine Duell
Oooo..... fancy!
1490
0
5
Bonabelle Row
July 10, 2020 7:32 PM
That's good? by Bonabelle Row
Bonabelle grinned in pleased surprise when Valentine arrived to tea looking like a million galleons. It was sweet of her friend to really go for it and she was glad she wasn't the only one excited for this. She stood up to hug her friend, surprised to find a wand sticking out of her hair, and pulled her gently by the hand so they could take a seat opposite each other. "You look beautiful, too," she beamed. "I love your hair. It's very you. And you'd look super cool if you had to pull out your wand to fight someone or something!"Valentine looked excited and Bonabelle took a moment to revel in that before nodding, happy to begin. "Basically," she said, as if she were about to say something really intense. "We drink tea," she laughed. "Do you want cream and sugar?" she asked, reaching for the pot, which had been steeping long enough that it should be perfect now. She was proud of herself for timing that one. "I'll be mother," she added as she poured some for her friend and then for herself, adding whatever Valentine wanted in hers and adding only a small bit of cream to her own.
She settled in to her seat and took a big breath in over her tea, enjoying the smell. "This is my favorite one," she said. "At least right now." It was Assam and it felt fancy to Bonabelle even though it wasn't really that fancy. It was rich and full-bodied and made her fingers and toes feel warm. Taking a sip, she looked at Valentine and couldn't help smiling. This was really nice. This was everything she'd ever wanted and never had, and it was perfect. "I'm going to miss you terribly over break, you know," she said softly, smiling a little sadly.
22
Bonabelle Row
That's good?
1488
0
5
Valentine Duell
July 11, 2020 9:40 AM
It's wonderful! by Valentine Duell
Valentine smiled and blushed at Bonabelle's compliment, "Thanks." she murmured. Then she giggled as her friend commented on her hair. "Yeah!" She reached up to tug her wand out and flourish it dramatically while her hair spilled all around her head, also very dramatically. It had been easy enough to do, she could fix it again quickly enough.However, her wand didn't slip free as she had intended with the first gentle pull. Uh-oh, what was the unsticking bit of that charm? No matter, she'd figure it out later. She couldn't let this minor problem spoil Bonabelle's tea party. So, she nonchalantly lowered her hand, "But, I don't want to mess it up now for the party." Yeah, she'd got that covered. Bonabelle would never suspect that her wand was stuck.
Val took her seat across from Bonabelle and smiled as she poured the tea. "You're mother? Is that an official tea party title?" She considered the tea that sat before her. "I'm not sure what to add. Maybe I'll just start with it plain and add things?" She suggested. Then she watched Bonabelle and followed her lead. She breathed in the tea aroma and felt the warm scented air infuse her being, it felt good against the cooler air of the gardens. She'd always been more of a 'hot chocolate' girl in the warm beverages department, but she could maybe see some of the allure of this tea.
She took a sip and almost immediately winced. It wasn't bad, but it was potent. "You put some cream in yours? Maybe I'll try some as well." A bit was added and she tried again, it was better, but still... "What does sugar do to it?" A bit of that was added, and after some more experimentation, she approved of the drink.
Bonabelle was smiling at her, and she had to smile back. This was fun. Then her tea mate, heh, and teammate from Quidditch, said words that nearly made Val break out into tears. Still, she screwed up her face to hold onto her smile even if there was the hint of tears in her eyes, "I'm going to miss you too. But, we'll be back again soon." She added hopefully. "Do you have fun plans for break?"
2
Valentine Duell
It's wonderful!
1490
0
5
Bonabelle Row
July 17, 2020 10:42 PM
Oh, good! by Bonabelle Row
OOC - Calling it milk and sugar instead of cream and sugar, per feedback from Ness' lovely British author! But editing past posts seemed like a bit much. BIC -Bonabelle grinned, understanding well the idea that it was sometimes best to leave your hair as it was. Her own bows were often just clipping the front of her hair back, but she wouldn't want to risk it falling apart, either. Valentine took a seat and Bonabelle laughed at her question about tea party titles. "It means I'm pouring your tea for you and I'd add milk and sugar if you wanted."
Bonabelle watched, amused, as Valentine doctored her tea until it was perfect. She wondered a bit what it was like to be drinking tea like this for the first time. It was homey and comforting to her, but from Valentine's face, she thought that probably it wasn't that way for her friend. Valentine had seemed to be happy. Like she had a normal family. Bonabelle would give her weight in tea for that, although she loved her own family too.
"My dad and I are going to stay with my grandparents I think. And my uncle." She'd gotten a letter recently fro her father explaining that he'd had to leave their flat again. He hadn't been able to pay the bill. Bonabelle knew what that meant and wasn't excited for break. She bit her lip. "So no, nothing too fun," she said lightly, forcing a small smile. "How about you?" Another thought crossed her mind and she cocked her head. "Would you . . . want to visit? We'll be in Ireland."
22
Bonabelle Row
Oh, good!
1488
0
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Valentine Duell
July 18, 2020 8:53 AM
Wonderful, just like you. by Valentine Duell
Val felt an empty place in her heart as Bonabelle talked about her plans for the break. Family would naturally be a topic of conversation of 'going home' plans. "That sounds.. nice?" Valentine ventured. There was something in Bonabelle's voice that hinted that it might not actually be great. "I only have one grandparent right now, Pop. Papa's parents... haven't been around for a long time and Mama's Mama died when I was about four. That was why we came back from Greece." She suddenly realized that this might not be the most uplifting and happy topic of conversation for a proper tea party."But," she perked up, "while I don't have an uncle, I have an Aunt Paige and an Aunt Jhonice that we will get to see." Aunt Jhonice was a witch that apperated all around the country for her news stories. She was known for just randomly dropping in some times. Aunt Paige was a muggle and had moved away from home. She'd never been really close, but she'd be home again for Christmas.
Valentine considered Bonabelle's question carefully. Did she have any plans? Mama and Papa's letters had gotten a little odd. She wasn't quite sure what it was, they were normal enough letters, but there was something about them that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Apparently she wasn't going to Ness' big party thing. 'Another time', 'we want to see you again', 'maybe when you are a little older and we've met some of these other people'. She hadn't been surprised to see the phrases in the response letter, actually she would have been shocked to actually have gotten permission, but it still made her feel sad that she was missing out.
"We'll have our traditional Christmas I guess. Mama, Papa, Pop and Aunt Paige at our house. Then we'll go up to Aladren to visit Aunt Jhonice and her family." She smiled remembering past Christmases. They were warm and good, even if they were small affairs. Hopefully nothing concerning was going on at home. Was Pop doing okay?
She took anther sip of her tea and sampled one of the biscuits. When Bonabelle asked if she wanted to come visit her over the break (in Ireland!) she nearly jumped up to hug her friend. However, that probably wasn't proper decorum at a fancy tea party so she restrained herself to an enormous smile and a squeal of delight. "That would be fantastic!" Then she remembered the response she had gotten about going to Ness' party and her countenance fell. "But... I probably won't be allowed to." Then she grinned, "That's not going to stop me from asking though."
2
Valentine Duell
Wonderful, just like you.
1490
0
5