Marissa Duell
August 05, 2020 3:20 PM
Making requests of Lavender and Bonabelle. by Marissa Duell
The holidays had been unusual this year, even more than Marissa would have expected in light of it being the first holiday after Val had gone off to school, but in the midst of it all, she had still managed to hear and comprehend things that Val had told her about her first term at school. Two other little girls’ names had stuck out in particular, repeated enough that Marissa assumed they were friends of Valentine’s: Bonabelle and Lavender. Pretty names, and unusual enough that they stuck out clearly.Over the past few months, a lot of things had happened, and Marissa hadn’t liked many of them very much at all. In some ways, it felt as though their family had, in coming out from under the spells which made them forget so much about their time in Greece, stepped into a new reality, a much harsher and more dangerous one than the one she had brought her daughter up in. Regardless of all that, though, Valentine’s twelfth birthday was coming up, her first away from home, and Marissa was determined to make it at least a somewhat happy occasion.
Part of this, of course, involved wrapping up gifts – several new books, some pretty headbands, a fresh stock of pretty writing paper and a set of small bottles of different-colored inks for writing letters home to them, and a little silver necklace with a heart-shaped amethyst pendant on it, because that wasn’t a cringeworthy gift at all, given Valentine’s name and birthday; Andrew, had been given orders to seek any gaming supplies Val might like, as though Marissa played with the rest and enjoyed it thoroughly, she thought her husband had a better grasp of the subject. Another part had involved finding a magical florist and a magical baker – a Muggle bakery could make equally tasty baked goods and a Muggle florist could arrange flowers equally prettily, but their packaging might not survive the owl flight to Arizona – to order a bouquet of flowers and a box of cupcakes (So you can share with your friends, if you want to, the accompanying letter would explain) to be delivered on the fourteenth. And then there had been one last part, which was recruiting some proxies.
She knew it wouldn’t be the same, but still – she couldn’t really stomach the thought of Valentine spending her first birthday away from home all by herself, without anyone even knowing it was her birthday. With this in mind, she took up her pen and wrote two polite little notes, each identical except for the salutations:
We haven’t had the pleasure to meet yet, but I’m Valentine Duell’s mother, and she’s told me a lot about you. February fourteenth will be her twelfth birthday, so she’ll be spending it away from home. I’m writing to a couple of her friends to see if you would mind having a little get-together or girls' afternoon with her outside of class time. I’m sending cupcakes, and unless the elves have changed a lot since I was at Sonora, they should be happy to provide some drinks.
Thank you,
Marissa Duell.
She had thought about it a good deal, worried she might create more problems than good for Valentine with her scheme – it was difficult, having a plan work best only if people without faces did what Marissa wanted them to do, without promises to assure her it would be done – but she had decided it was worth a try anyway, especially with Bonabelle. Val liked Bonabelle so well that she had wanted to go to Ireland (!) with her, and Marissa remembered things about tea parties. Once those were dispatched, she got to work on a more formal letter to Nathan Xavier, inquiring about the possibility of the elves transferring Val’s birthday presents to her dormitory while she was sleeping, so she woke up to them – both because the surprise might delight Val, and because it was risky, sending presents to the breakfast table with the regular post; it could draw unfriendly attention from any students whose minds bent that way, and Marissa refused absolutely to allow anyone any chance to ruin Valentine’s birthday which it lay in Marissa’s power to withhold from that person.
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Marissa Duell
Making requests of Lavender and Bonabelle.
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Bonabelle Row
August 06, 2020 10:47 AM
Yours, Bonabelle. by Bonabelle Row
Bonabelle had received a letter from Valentine's mother and about lost her mind. Valentine had never said anything! In retrospect, it shouldn't have been terribly hard to figure out, but still. Valentine's day was here - and it really was Valentine's day - and Bonabelle had done everything she could. She'd even been brave and taken over a spot at the Teppenpaw table for breakfast, complete with a sign for "birthday girl" in the nicest, loopiest handwriting she could manage. While Bonabelle herself generally preferred not to be the center of attention, she suspected Valentine was the opposite. As such, she wanted to make sure everyone in the school knew it was the girl's birthday, and so she'd also acquired balloons and flowers to adorn a spot at the table. A birthday cake with twelve flaming candles was set up in the middle, surrounded by pancakes, bacon, eggs, and whichever else of the breakfast dishes Val might want to take from.Bonabelle's own birthdays used to be really nice. She and her father would spend the day together, getting ice cream, walking along the Thames, or else just enjoying a day outside. It was just the two of them against the world every autumn. It hadn't been for her own twelfth birthday of course, because she'd been at school. Her birthday had come just before her father had lost his flat, so she'd only received a letter and an envelope of dehydrated ice cream, which she thought was very sweet. It was gross, but it was sweet. Now, though, she wasn't sure what birthdays would look like in the future. She wasn't even sure grandma, grandpa, or Uncle Killian knew when her birthday was, although the latter probably had access to a file that would tell him.
Today, however, was Valentine's day, not Bonabelle's day. She pushed thoughts of herself aside and stood beside her creation, waiting for Valentine to arrive to Cascade Hall for breakfast and wringing her hands with anxiety at the thought of finding out her friend hated her efforts. When she finally did arrive, Bonabelle grinned at the look on her friend's face and practically ran to her.
"Happy birthday, beautiful," she said in her ear. "I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything," she added to preempt any expectations on that front. "Except cake. Cake is very important."
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Bonabelle Row
Yours, Bonabelle.
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Valentine Duell
August 06, 2020 6:24 PM
*Gasps* by Valentine Duell
Late! Late, late, late! Valentine charged through the school towards the hall as fast as she thought she could get away with. She was still reeling from the surprise that she had gotten when she had woken up. Her room had been filled with her birthday presents and flowers and a box of cupcakes! Cupcakes that she had to share with her friends! Which means she needed to meet those friends and make cupcake eating arrangements. She also needed to find Professor Xavier and give him a big hug for scheming with Mama.The problem was that she had spent a little more time in her room this morning than she should have. Charms was going to be starting soonish and she still needed to get some breakfast, and find her friends. Arguably she could do that in class, but sometimes the professors frowned upon important discussions between the students.
She burst into the hall and nearly skidded to a halt as she neared the Teppenpaw table. Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped. Balloons? Flowers? A cake with candles? How? Had Mama done more? Bonabelle was at her side almost instantly, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. She had done this! Val flushed at the greeting and compliment. "Cake is..." she started to agree, but other words tossed the rest aside and forced their way out, "How? How did you know? How did you...?" She gestured a little helplessly at the display on the table before them.
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Valentine Duell
*Gasps*
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Bonabelle Row
August 08, 2020 12:52 PM
Happy you day, birthday girl. by Bonabelle Row
If Bonabelle could've grinned broader, she would have. Valentine was just so . . . she was like a soft little bunny that hopped about being soft and huggable. That was an unfamiliar feeling to Bonabelle, who wasn't usually one to give in to such displays of affection with . . . literally anyone else. That hadn't always been the case, and she was generally a happy enough person, but she didn't twirl through life the way that Valentine did."Your name is 'Valentine'," Bonabelle pointed out, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. "It wouldn't have been a big leap. But also, your mom wrote to some people." She grinned again and retrieved the letter from her pocket, holding it far enough away that Val couldn't read it if she wanted to. "She was worried that you wouldn't have a good time and you hadn't told me! So I'm glad someone did." She smirked a little as she put the letter back in her pocket.
"You like cake, right?" she asked as they walked back to the full display. Then, feeling a bit like bursting, she gave Val another hug. "Hey, thanks for being my friend. I don't know what I'd do without you."
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Bonabelle Row
Happy you day, birthday girl.
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Valentine Duell
August 08, 2020 1:23 PM
Thanks! You're the best! by Valentine Duell
Bonabelle looked so happy right now. It was a much, much better look on her than the sadness that had plagued her upon their meeting when break was over. That version of Bonabelle had been sticking with Val and it had made her sad. Now she was doing everything in her power to replace that version with this one. This would be a fantastic way to remember her friend!Still smiling, she rolled her eyes at Bonabelle's first line of reasoning, "That doesn't mean..." then her friend continued and pulled out Mama's letter. Mama was simply awesome! Valentine just nodded, everything was just to perfect. She should take a picture. She could take a picture! She'd put her new camera in her bag to show Professor Brooding-Hawthorne to see if she could help with developing the pictures! But first.... she gave a Bonabelle a playfully challenging look. "I didn't tell you... you didn't tell me either. When is your birthday?" She looked back at the display on the table meaningfully.
"Who doesn't like cake?" She responded as the moved towards the table. It was a fantastic display that needed to be memorialized, and recorded for Mama. Mama would want do see what her handiwork has wrought. Suddenly she found herself wrapped up in a hug, and Val returned it with interest. "Thanks for being my friend as well. She pulled away a little and looked her friend in the eyes, "I know what you would be doing without me." She paused, and let a grin slip out, "You'd be doing better in all of your classes."
"Come on," She pulled Bonabelle by the hand, "Sit there next to your work." Val fished the camera out of her bag. "I'll have to show you what Mama arranged for me this morning already, once I figure out how to get the pictures out of this thing. But for now, I'm going to need to get a picture of you and your handiwork to send home. Mama will want do see this."
She paused just a moment, "Oh, and you still haven't told me where you got a cake and balloons and flowers and all that stuff from." She winked at Bonabelle, "I may need to know that for sometime later."
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Valentine Duell
Thanks! You're the best!
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Bonabelle Row
August 10, 2020 7:02 PM
You really think so? by Bonabelle Row
Bonabelle grinned. For a moment, she thought about chocking it up to a secret and refusing to tell Valentine her birthday. But then . . . who would celebrate it? It would be nice if maybe she had a friend to do something. She didn't want to put that on Valentine but she did seem the sort to do something like that. "October," she said mischievously. "You missed it!" she added with mock pain before continuing. "It's the thirteenth. So I'm your elder." She smirked a little, appreciating the chance to play.Valentine's pause made Bonabelle's stomach squirm but she laughed at her friend's joke. "Maybe," she admitted. "But I wouldn't be enjoying them half so much. And honestly, nothing will stop me from doing my homework, even you," she smiled. She was surprised to find that she was being pulled to sit by the load of it. She squirmed uncomfortably, not liking the idea of being in a picture. It always creeped her out to think of some small piece of her, even just her likeness, existing independently as a moving thing. "Can't we be in it together?" she asked, grimacing. "Someone else can take it, or we can probably set it off with magic, or you can just hold it out?" She sounded a bit more pleading than she would have liked but . . . well there was nothing to be done for that.
There weren't many pictures of Bonabelle in existence, in part because there was nowhere and nothing consistent enough in her life to warrant taking any beforehand, but more than that, there weren't any of her mother. Somehow, it seemed cruel that her own likeness be captured and preserved when she never got to see where that likeness came from. "I don't want it to just be me," she added, in case that wasn't clear. Then she patted the spot next to her and smiled at Val, forcing her tension to go away; this was not the day for tension.
Picture done, Bonabelle smirked, basking a little in the pride of her handiwork that wasn't really hers. "Mostly Professor Wright," she said, proud of herself for going after resources. "But also Uncle Killian. They both helped me." She wondered whether Uncle Killian did know her birthday then, whether he'd looked it up after that encounter. "Uncle Killian bakes, so he made the cake."
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Bonabelle Row
You really think so?
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Valentine Duell
August 11, 2020 3:35 PM
Without a doubt. by Valentine Duell
Valentine put on an exaggerated pout. "October!" She exclaimed, "And you have the nerve to chastise me for not telling you." Then she grinned wickedly. "I'll just have to make up for it next time." She rubbed her chin and tapped her finger on her cheek in a mock thinking pose, "I wonder if I could hire a birthday clown..."She nodded in acceding the point of elder to Bonabelle, "I knew you were smarter, I guess that makes you wiser as well. That leaves me with..." She couldn't think of anything that didn't sound horribly self-centered and a slight to Bonabelle. Aha! "learning from the best." She grinned, mildly pleased with the way she had gotten out of that one.
"I'm glad I've got you to make sure I get mine done." She shrugged, "I mean, I probably would, but like you said. It wouldn't be near as much fun." Bonabelle didn't seem all that excited about the picture idea and she sounded... scared? Worried? Valentine smiled at Bonabelle, "That's an even better idea!" They got the camera arranged and Val sat next to Bonabelle, flung her arm around her and pulled her close for the shot. "Say, Hi Mama!" she called out as the camera clicked.
Collecting the camera again and tucking it safely away, she turned back to the table finally. "That's great! The professors here are awesome, aren't they? Professor Xavier must have cleared it with Mama for my surprise this morning." She inspected her uncle's cake, "It's beautiful! He's really talented! Did he make you one back in October?"
She remembered she was technically still a bit behind schedule so started filling up her plate with breakfast food. It was so awesome! "Hmm.. we should eat normal food before cake I guess, but do you think I should blow out the candles now?"
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Valentine Duell
Without a doubt.
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