Pansy Parkinson (shouldbeme) wrote in reduxpitch, @ 2016-08-14 13:29:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: edward carmichael, character: pansy parkinson |
Who: Pansy, Eddie, and NPC Parkinson!Parents
Where: Wisteria Manor
When: July 17th (I know. I know. SEVERELY backdated.)
What: Meeting The Parents, DUN DUN DAAAAAAH
Status: Closed/Complete
Warnings: None. Except Pansy's mum being a git.
No matter how much Pansy reassured him that it would be fine, Eddie was still trembling ever so slightly as he prepared to disapparate from his flat. There was an undeniable truth in the moment - that this was, as they said, it - and the time he'd taken to win Pansy back over to him, and even to win her round in the first place, would all be for nothing if Pansy’s parents took a dislike to him. How on earth his girlfriend was so nonchalant about this, he would never know.
With a sigh and a loud ‘pop’, Eddie vanished from his living room and arrived just outside the entrance to Wisteria Manor, where Pansy had said she'd meet him. As he looked up at the property, he swallowed heavily. He'd been here before, when Mr and Mrs Parkinson had not, of course. However, he only seemed to notice the property’s imposing nature now. Would two wealthy purebloods really think he was good enough for their only daughter?
Pansy’s nonchalance was something of an act; she knew how much it meant that her father had asked to have dinner with Eddie. The only other boyfriend that had ever met her parents had been Draco, and that hardly meant anything considering they were friends as children. She’d dressed...almost demurely, for her. An outfit that she knew her father would approve of. She met Eddie at the entrance to the Manor, smiling when she spotted him.
“Now, don’t you look handsome,” she murmured, taking advantage of the fact that they were alone to kiss him.
Eddie responded to the kiss with a gentle, tender kiss on hers. He knew she was trying to help him relax, he really did. Merlin did he appreciate that now… but his heart still thumped in his chest as she stepped close into him.
He sagged, leaning back a little to smooth down his tie. “Does this look alright? I wasn’t sure how formal to go…” he sighed, still doubting himself even down to the presentation. Pansy, on the other hand, looked stunning as always. If her parents focused on that, then they might get away with this.
“You look perfect,” she assured him, smoothing a hand down his tie. His eyes looked so blue...and she knew her father would appreciate the effort he’d gone to. “Very handsome, and very presentable. Now.” Taking his hand, she waved her wand at the gates and watched them swing open. “Shall we?” He’d be familiar with the grounds at least...Merlin knew he’d visited her there often enough. She had rather fond memories of a particular bench in her own private garden - but it was best not to think of that just now. Not when they were about to have dinner with her parents.
“If we must” he muttered, loud enough for Pansy to hear but not enough for her parents, should they be lingering anywhere. It was not meant to be rude, but an expression of how freaking terrified he was at this point. He was not great with parents, and he wasn’t quite sure that Pansy understood just why he was so nervous he was about this particular meeting. Oh well… it was now or never.
As they approached the Manor through the extensive grounds, Eddie realised he had no clue where they actually were. “Um, Pansy? Where are we actually going?”
Pansy laughed lightly, squeezing his hand. “The patio outside the dining room,” she murmured. “You’ve seen it from afar in the past...” Her smile was a little wicked for a moment there, and then she grew more sombre. “It’s going to be fine, I promise. Daddy will love you.” And her mother...well Pansy didn’t overly care what her mother thought.
Pansy seemed so confident, he almost smiled. He’d noticed the lack of mention of her mother, though. That worried him. He and Pansy had never really talked about her parents before, only his - and they’d been sort of together a year at the previous count, nearly six months at this one.
He could see two blurred shapes in the distance - one seated, one standing.
Eddie gulped.
Leaning in a little closer, Pansy wrapped her hand around his arm, just above the elbow, setting her head against his shoulder in a quiet gesture of comfort. She straightened as they neared her parents though she kept her hand in his.
“Daddy, mother, I’d like you to meet Edward Carmichael,” she said, gesturing between her parents and her boyfriend. “Eddie, my parents.”
Pansy’s father was only a couple of inches taller than Pansy herself, a hint of a paunch disguised by well-tailored robes. His cheeks and nose were ruddy, red wine sloshing gently in his glass as he stood.
“Ah, Mr Carmichael. Kind of you to join us.” He gestured wordlessly to the seat opposite him at the table, the look in his eyes far more steely than would be expected, given his jovial appearance. “I heard your debut on the wireless....rather impressive....for a beginner.”
Eddie was not stupid. He noted the look in Mr Parkinson’s eyes and resolved not to relax. Not yet. Clearly, deference and traditional manners were the way to go. Thusly, he pulled back the other available seat at the table for Pansy, not seating himself in the seat her father indicated until she was comfortable. One show of proper behaviour down, at least.
“I am grateful for the invitation, Mr Parkinson” Eddie demurred. Pansy had told him that he listened to the wireless, but that comment, when it came, was still something of a surprise. Assuming it was a test, Eddie assumed honesty without too much false modesty would be the best. He wanted to show that he had good prospects, after all.
“...and, thank you. It was quite challenging, I'll admit, but rewarding. Pansy tells me it came over well in the studio…”
Pansy’s mother had remained silent so far; she sat at her husband’s elbow, watching Eddie coolly over the rim of her wineglass. She watched approvingly as Eddie settled Pansy in her seat before taking his own, and sipped at her wine before joining the conversation.
“Your parents must be very proud,” she said, overly-carefully. “To have a son who’s voice is going to be known to all of Wizarding Britain.” She blinked languidly, setting her half-empty glass down and looking round for the house elves, clearly not interested in any answer that Eddie might be prepared to give.
Well, arse. Mrs Parkinson had to go and mention his parents, didn’t she? Eddie glanced at Pansy for help - after all, she’d helped him run interference often enough - before he looked at her mother for his reply.
“My parents are more used to running things from behind the scenes rather than being out front” he replied simply (this was the truth, after all, being business owners), “but they’re pleased we made a good start. My sister is the most excited, though. She’ll hardly shush about it, actually” he added as an afterthought, smiling a little.
Pansy set her hand on Eddie’s knee and squeezed gently. It was a test, as just about everything her mother did was. Pansy was used to it after so many years but dealing with her mother wasn’t something most people were ready to do. She didn’t blame Eddie for looking slightly startled.
“They all came to Eddie’s first show,” she said, smiling brightly at her mother, brittle and tense around the edges. She was doing her best to smooth over any cracks, awkward gaps in the conversation, but she suspected her mother planned on making the dinner as difficult as possible. At least her father just wanted to make sure he was good enough for his only daughter; Pansy’s mother seemed determined to search out all his weaknesses and poke at them.
“I’m sure,” her mother purred, looking him up and down in a way that made it clear she found him wanting.
“You were in Pansy’s year at school, were you?” Mr Carmichael asked, holding out his empty glass and not even looking as a house elf scurried over to fill it for him.
Well, this was really awkward. And frankly, he already disliked Pansy’s mother - something Pansy would be able to figure out, knowing his tells, but being an actor he would be able to keep this particular feeling under his hat. How she had managed to produce a daughter like Pansy, who actually cared about his feelings, he wasn't quite sure. Eddie made a mental note to ask his girlfriend later about how her parents met and got together. At least then Pansy’s father asked a question, and he could focus on giving an answer.
“No, sir, the year above.” Eddie paused for a moment, glancing over at Pansy, trying to glean any information he could about how much he should be talking in his responses. “I was friends with some of her housemates in the 1997 class, though.”
“Ravenclaw and Slytherin have always been a little closer than any of the other houses,” she pointed out, hoping to smooth things over at least a little. She knew her mother hated the idea that she wasn’t dating someone in Slytherin, one of her childhood friends. She didn’t think her mother would ever forgive her for not marrying Draco. As if the two of them would have been able to stand each other, as anything other than friends.
“You didn’t mention Edward at school though, poppet,” her father pointed out, his demeanour visibly softening as he turned to his daughter. “I believe your mother had all but planned your wedding to the Malfoy boy.”
Pansy hid a wince, leaning in just a little to Eddie’s side. “Draco and I are very good friends,” she said firmly. “We were silly to think we could be more; I rather think half the reason we did was to please our mothers.” Barb delivered, she picked up her glass of wine and took a delicate sip.
Eddie turned a little at that - not quickly enough to catch parental attention, but enough of an angle to catch Pansy’s eye. Now he was definitely starting to get anxious, wondering what on earth her parents were playing at now, and definitely needing context on the Malfoy thing. As if he hadn't had enough to stress about with people having linked her to Marcus.
Finally picking up his own glass, he took a small and polite sip, not really knowing what to say and thinking it would probably be rude to interrupt Pansy and her father anyway. Thank goodness he'd been brought up how to drink wine in more elegant manner anyway.
Pansy’s father snorted gently. He could well imagine that was why the two friends had tried dating; both his own wife and Narcissa Malfoy were forces to be reckoned with.
“But darling,” Pansy’s mother interjected. “Draco would be so much better suited to you.” She turned to Eddie, a simpering smile on her face. “No offence intended of course, Mr Carmichael.”
“Mother,” Pansy said sharply, setting her glass down firmly enough to make the silverware rattle. “At least Eddie has manners, unlike some people at this table. And yes, offence absolutely intended. I invited Eddie here to meet you, not to be cross-examined and judged. I rather foolishly hoped that you could put your own prejudices aside and accept the choices I’ve made. Was I wrong?”
Pansy’s father cleared his throat, reaching across the table and setting his meaty hand over Pansy’s, patting it gently. “Your mother just worries,” he said, trying to downplay the way Mrs Parkinson had spoken. “I think you’ve chosen rather well. Edward seems like a fine young man,” he turned his gaze to Eddie, assessing, considering. “You seem to have a sensible head on your shoulders. And-” he turned as Pansy’s mother wordlessly stood up from the table, walking away, glass in hand. “-well, anyone who Pansy will go toe-to-toe against her mother for....” There was a hint of a proud smile there. “It’s clear she cares deeply for you.”
Eddie’s face was still and silent as Mrs Parkinson spoke. He wasn't going to buy that simpering ‘no offence’ for a moment, not from a woman who didn't know him or who appeared to be attempting to piss him off on purpose. That was not the sort of woman with real class. As Pansy spoke, completely stung, however, he immediately reached over to put his hand on hers, concern written over his face. “It's alright, really” he said softly, knowing both parents would be able to hear him but clearly speaking only to her. “I’m an adult, and I've heard worse criticism in my time”. He squeezed her hand before sitting up, allowing Mr Parkinson his paternal fussing. He smiled a little, for it seemed that Pansy’s father adored her as he should, at least.
“Thank you, sir” Eddie said reverently, watching Mrs Parkinson depart with a hint of that concern remaining on his face. “I'm sorry if my coming has been the cause of any kind of upset, because that is never my intention. But doing what I do… you get a thick skin. So I'm sorry if your wife does not approve, but I'm more than prepared to do what it takes to make sure I keep Pansy happy.”
Pansy was still visibly fuming, glaring daggers at her mother’s retreating back. It wasn’t the first dinner that her mother had walked away from; it was the first where Pansy hadn’t stormed away in turn. Forcing herself to look away, she sighed.
“Oh, if there’s an upset,” Mr Parkinson pointed out, “it was entirely deserved on my wife’s part. And you have my approval, at least.” Which was certainly the more important - to Pansy, at least.
“I think I feel a headache coming on,” she muttered, pushing her wineglass away. “Daddy, can we finish dinner another time? I’m not sure I’m really in the mood.” All she wanted to do was take Eddie back to his and curl up with him. And, of course, properly show her gratitude for how well he’d handled things.
Pansy’s father just laughed knowingly. “Mmmm. Why don’t you make sure Mr Carmichael gets home safe. I’ll pop my head round the door of your room later to see how you’re feeling.” An unspoken warning that she wouldn’t be staying with Eddie all night - at least not with her father’s actual consent. It was clear Mr Parkinson would rather believe his daughter had never had any sort of intimacy with a man.
Well, it hadn't exactly gone beautifully well, but thank Merlin Pansy’s father had verbalised his approval. Eddie looked visibly relieved at that, nor did he miss the note of warning in Mr Parkinson’s voice for what he clearly wasn't yet prepared to give approval for.
Eddie stood in order to give his host a proper salutation before departing, holding out his hand to shake Mr Parkinson’s. “Thank you for the invitation nonetheless, sir. And I promise your approval will not be misplaced.” His face was serious, his blue eyes looking right at Pansy’s father. He was serious, and he meant every word.