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Juliet Nott ([info]nottyjules) wrote in [info]20somethings,
@ 2021-07-10 12:58:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:c: addison davies, c: albus potter, c: aldrich reynolds, c: athena montgomery, c: beau rosier, c: celestina knottingley, c: charlie weasley, c: clarissa sayre, c: coira montague, c: daani johal, c: fiona reynolds, c: hailey montgomery, c: jaimeson fitzgerald, c: james potter, c: juliet nott, c: kenzie montgomery, c: liam pucey, c: lucy weasley, c: miguel pena-griffiths, c: penelope ahuja, c: peter nott, c: phoenix ortega, c: rachel turpin-davies, c: rori milburn, c: scarlett mclaggen, c: thad nott, c: violet nott, c: wes warrington, d: 2027 07, Ω: rp

RP: The Literacy Flourishes Charity Gala
Who: Everyone! Please add your tags!
What: The Literacy Flourishes charity gala and celebrity date auction.
When: 10 July 2027
Where: Fairgrounds outside Cardiff
Warnings: TBD, please include in individual scene headers
Completion Status: Ongoing!
Notes: To bid in either auction, click the link in the auction header and bid on that page, comments are screened there. Please feel free to have individual scenes throughout the evening and make sure to label your headers accordingly!


LAYOUT OF THE GALA
Dining/seating There are 100 tables configured in a U-shape around a large dancefloor/stage.
Stage/dance floor The dance floor shrinks during presentations and the celebrity auction and expands during dinner and dancing.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
6:00 Welcome Pansy Nott welcomes all attendees, goes over the schedule for the evening, and explains the mission of the charity.
6:30 Dinner A four course meal appears intermittently over the half hour.
7:00 Orchestra/Dancing As the last course--dessert--is served, the orchestra picks up and the dance floor expands for dancing.
7:30 Celebrity Auction The music dims to a soft accent as Pansy Nott and Demo Finnigan-Thomas take the stage to begin the celebrity date auction.
8:30 Concert/Dancing Several musical guests begin performing, kicked off with a duet featuring Wes Carlisle and Violet Nott, and the dance floor expands.
10:00 Function Ends Pansy Nott takes the stage to announce the end of the silent auction. Results will be tallied and winners will receive their goods by 13 July. She announces the end of the gala, though the concert continues until midnight.

CELEBRITY AUCTION

Bid
Beau Rosier "To kick off our celebrity date auction is our favorite child actor all grown up! Beau Rosier first caught our eye as a cheeky lad on WeeVee's Merlin-under-Hangtree, but he's certainly proved himself a man of many talents, coming in second last year in the reality competition Let's Dance. I know I can't wait to see what role he takes on next! And so, I'd love to cast the opening bid at thirty galleons..."
Blaise Zabini "Our next celebrity hardly needs an introduction, but I do so love talking about him. Blaise Zabini, owner and editor of the Daily Prophet and perpetual bachelor, has set many a heart a-flutter, though none have managed to usurp the love he has for the paper. Win the bid for a date with him, and perhaps you'll have that special something he can't resist..."
Gareth Wagtail "Although our next celebrity is best known for a drunken fly over a muggle village last winter, Gareth Wagtail is a fantastic retired Chaser and current trainer for the Montrose Magpies. Outbid everyone else for a date with him, and I'd bet you'll be in for a wild ride..."
Gavin Montgomery "The Montrose Magpies have taken the league by storm this season with the help of our next celebrity. Gavin Montgomery, one of the best Beaters we've seen on the pitch since Cooper Reynolds' days on a broom, has quite the reputation of disappointing anyone who wants to snare his attention for more than a night, but just imagine all that intensity focused on only you for that single night! Who will start the bidding..."
Ginny Weasley "Everyone knows our favorite red-headed spitfire war hero! Ginny Weasley is Harpies Chaser turned Daily Prophet sports writer and editor, but don't be fooled. A desk job has done nothing to tame the spunk out of her, and a little birdie tells me she's hoping you lovely ladies will join in the bidding for a date with her..."
Harry Potter "I think you'll all agree that heartbroken is not a good look for our most famous of celebrities. Harry Potter, Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, is single and ready to mingle again--at least for a good cause. So ladies, here he is, get him with the winning bid..."
Rachel Turpin-Davies "Our next celebrity is up and coming Holyhead Harpies Chaser, Rachel Turpin-Davis. Quick as a snitch with an instinct for banter, the only thing this flying ace chases is the Quaffle, so you better keep up, cause she won't be chasing you..."
Thad Nott "We do love our Magpies, don't we? Next up is Montrose Magpies Seeker, and my second son, Thad Nott. I know, I know, him being my son doesn't make him famous, but his impressive flying and seeking certainly does! Don't let his bachelor reputation fool you, his dad and I have raised him to appreciate and value relationships, and don't those usually start with a first date? Who will start the bidding..."
Victoire Weasley "If you find it almost impossible to look away from our next stunning celebrity, that's because Victoire Weasley is part veela via the Delacour family and a world-renowned fashion model. Although she enjoys the jet set life, she's no Beauxbaton airhead. Fluent in several languages and quick-witted, you'll think you're in love by the end of the night..."
Wes Carlisle "Our final celebrity of the night has been charming us through the radio and on the stage for a decade. Wes Carlisle relishes sensuality and luxury, and is sure to show the woman--or man--who wins a date with him the best of times. I'm told there may even be a private concert in it for the lucky bidder. And if you're particularly clever, maybe you'll get a sneak peak at this new project Wes has hinted at..."

SILENT AUCTION

Bid

A set of Albus Dumbledore’s spectacles and tube socks

Opening bid: 20 galleons

A field journal that once belonged to Newt Scamander

Opening bid: 25 galleons

Box seats for two to the 2027 Quidditch playoffs

Opening bid: 50 galleons

Signed original pressing of Wes Carlisle’s second record

Opening bid: 40 galleons

Original Kit Higgs sculpture sized medium

Opening bid: 35 galleons

Potions bottle from Snape’s personal collection

Opening bid: 25 galleons

An original Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes in original packaging

Opening bid: 20 galleons

Original Harry Potter wanted poster from the second war

Opening bid: 30 galleons

Gilderoy Lockhart’s autographed book “Who Am I?” with promotional poster

Opening bid: 20 galleons

Ginny Weasley Harpies robes complete with photo of her in them

Opening bid: 30 galleons
CODING

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-13 03:03 pm UTC (link)
Even though something in the woman's tone was a little off Daani was too distracted to register it properly. She winced in sympathy, even though her own cycle didn't tend towards painful, there were definitely months that had been uncomfortable enough. In addition to her miscarriage, which had been physically painful as well as the emotional pain. "Oh, yeah, those can be terrible," she said automatically, her own voice slightly stilted.

Not wanting to tower over the woman Daani took a seat too, sitting slightly awkwardly for a moment before dance training took over and she returned to her usual excellent posture. "I'm well enough," she said. "Enjoying the evening so far. I had been planning to make it to the silent auction table, but something caught me off guard and I wobbled on a heel," she said with a gesture to encompass their current situation. It was a smooth misdirection around the truth, and not particularly a lie. "How did you hear about the event?" she asked.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-14 09:32 pm UTC (link)
It should have been easy to just go along with her lie when the woman accepted it without even the barest of stutters. Jules was usually such a terrible liar that no one believed her when she tried, even if they didn't know her, but it would seem that this woman was still distracted enough by her own grief to really notice.

But then the woman lied in turn, and Jules cringed without meaning to. It wouldn't be kind to call her out on it, and when it came to her Senses, Jules always did try to be kind. Thankfully, she was asked a question a moment later, and that was a great distraction.

"Oh, umm, well my mum is actually the organizer and host?" she admitted, her cheeks tinging a bit. "I'm Juliet Nott," she introduced herself, though she pointedly did not offer her hand. She wasn't sure she could handle another forceful transfer of psychic energy tonight.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-15 01:07 am UTC (link)
Daani knew, just knew that this conversation would only keep her distracted from her realisation for a small amount of time. It was pulsing insistently in the back of her mind. And the training of ignoring distractions while translating helped, but this was an insistent pulse of distress.

"Ah, wonderful," she said brightly, the tone ever so slightly overenthusiastic, and she almost winced as she pulled herself back. "Pleasure to meet you, Daani Johal," she returned, placing her palms together and bowing ever so slightly when she realised further contact seemed unwelcome. "I found out via both work and my parents," she said. "Unfortunately Mum had to work and Dad took it as an excuse to worm out of the event since they work better as a duo," she said. Then she swallowed and recalled how she and Manny had attended some of these types of events together when they could be dragged away from their respective jobs.

Carefully Daani pushed her wayward thoughts into just enough order. "If this is the calibre of events your mum runs I'm impressed. Although does that require or absolve you from bidding on either a person or object?" She could easily see it running in either direction.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-15 02:40 am UTC (link)
When Daani introduced herself and gave that slight bow with her hands pressed together in front of her, Jules had this moment of utterly awkward internal panic. Was it appropriate to do the little motion back? Or would it seem culturally insensitive or like cultural appropriation? Would it be offensive if she didn't do it? It was all a bit much for the introvert, and she wished briefly that she were back in the safe, quiet, isolated safety of her cottage. But she mentally shook it off, managing a small nod of acknowledgment before Daani was continuing on explaining how she'd ended up here.

"Oh, are you not here with anyone then?" she asked, somehow both gentle and blunt. For some reason, she'd though that with what the woman had gone through, her partner would be with her, that she would have that support, but she should have known better than to assume anything.

The smile that spread on her face at that was rather proud, not that she'd ever doubted her mother's ability to throw an epic event such as this. There was, perhaps, a small twinge of pride that she'd helped. "Hah! Oh, it absolves me, absolutely," she answered. She couldn't imagine bidding on any of the celebrities, and though she was enamored with that dragon statue, she'd already met with the artist when she'd sought the donation and had worked out a trade for a custom piece for herself. She had a lot of respect for the artist, first hearing of Kit Higgs in the muggle world when she'd gone to university and only discovering later that he was a wizard. "Have you had a chance to look at any of the items yet? Have any caught your eye?" she asked curiously.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-15 08:32 pm UTC (link)
Despite her distraction Daani did recognise the hesitancy in Juliet's manner when she bowed to her, but she didn't mind that. It wasn't generally something she did outside of either the temple or when she visited India. The little nod she got in return worked out in the end.

She sighed and swallowed as discreetly as possible before shaking her head. "No, I'm currently unattached so I have no specific companion, although there are a few colleagues around." She waved a negligent hand. "Translators tend to be pretty enthusiastic about language related causes," she explained.

Daani couldn't help but smile a little when Juliet said she had been absolved of any bidding. "Lucky you. It doesn't work when my family is hosting things," she said. She realised suddenly that if her parents had been here they would have been looking to see if there was a nice boy she could go on a date with. They had never been all that pushy in that direction, but a combination of charitable giving and setting up their daughter likely wouldn't be an ignored opportunity. Which thought stuck like a stab to her guts. Again. She dragged her thoughts back just in time to be able to answer. "I haven't made it to the items yet. I was over there when I saw that p-" she cut herself off with a shudder and took a deep breath as her words caught up with her. Suddenly she was fighting back tears again. "Sorry, I...I can't."

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-16 03:09 pm UTC (link)
Juliet winced minutely at Daani's answer, feeling terrible for having asked, it being impossible for her to not notice that it was a sore spot for the other woman. "I suppose that makes sense," she agreed, though she couldn't imagine being a translator. Languages were not her forte, but they didn't have to be. Emotions transcended language, after all.

"My sympathies," she murmured, thinking she was quite relieved to have been expected to be heavily involved in the prep for the event rather than during the event. When Daani answered her other question, Jules reached out automatically, though her hand hesitated halfway between them for a moment before she steeled herself and rested it lightly on Daani's forearm. The onslaught of emotions was easier absorbed this time, as she'd been expecting it.

"Daani," she began gently. "You need to talk to someone about it. These sorts of things are only taboo to an extent still because we don't talk about them. I know I'm a stranger, but... if you ever need someone to talk to, fully judgement free, you can always come to me," she offered, though she knew it could give a bit of herself away, her ability to Know things she shouldn't. But the woman's pain was too much, and she couldn't resist wanting to help in whatever way she could.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-16 07:44 pm UTC (link)
"Oh I mostly enjoy it," she returned casually. Any big events family or community wise were a thing she mostly enjoyed. Yes, it could be hard work if she was specifically helping out in some way, but she liked interacting with people so it wasn't a chore. And she'd never been all that scared of hard work.

"I-" Daani started making a denial, even as the wave of feeling started to overwhelm her, but she was knocked off guard by the fact Juliet seemed to know something. She frowned slightly, her mind not managing to connect the pieces in her distressed state. "What do you mean?" she asked quiet hesitance. She knew she'd not said the words and all she could feel right now was delicate and ready to fall over at the slightest provocation. Part of her wanted to leave, get out of this, but there was something about Juliet's manner that was making her hesitate.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-16 08:35 pm UTC (link)
It was always a delicate balance, trying to help people without letting on that she had that ethereal Knowing. Sometimes she didn't hide it at all, but that was typically only with her closest of friends and family. Besides, Juliet could never be sure if her Knowing would freak people out more if they knew she wasn't just making assumptions.

She tried to read Daani to figure out where she would fall on the spectrum, but as happened more often than not, it was quite fuzzy, and she sighed softly, pulling her hand back and curling it in her lap. "Sometimes I get these flashes with physical contact," she admitted softly, definitely downplaying the extent of her Senses. "I can't really control what I see or feel and it's usually when someone's feeling something quite intensely. But I would never tell anyone! That would be a grossly intentional violation of privacy," she rushed to reassure Daani, hoping that the other woman wasn't about to completely freak out on her.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-16 10:03 pm UTC (link)
As the realisation of what Juliet meant Daani's eyes widened and her hand came to her mouth briefly. "You mean you know..." her hand drifted down to her belly as she curled forwards protectively and started crying.

Part of her heard and understood that Juliet had no plans to share the information she had learned but it wasn't on a particularly conscious level. For now at least she had just been holding her emotions at bay for too long and they were starting to spill over. At least it was quiet and she hopefully wouldn't attract too much attention.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-16 11:46 pm UTC (link)
Juliet nodded slowly, though she didn't say anything, Sensing the moment when Daani realized just what Jules Knew even without physical contact. And then Daani was crying, and Jules leaned over to wrap an arm around her, wishing there were an easy way to get her to the outskirts of things, but there wasn't, so she just stayed close, ensuring Daani knew she wasn't alone.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-17 12:36 am UTC (link)
The warmth of the arm around her was a great comfort, and even though it made her breath hitch and her eyes burn even more she was incredibly thankful for the support. The sheet of her long hair covered her from one angle, but it might still be obvious to some that she was crying bordering on sobbing. She needed to leave, there was no way she could stay at the event any longer. She knew that this realisation would hit her far too hard to allow her any prolonged composure any time soon.

It took a few minutes, but she managed to pull herself together enough for the tears to slow. She sniffed as quietly as she could and started looking for a handkerchief to dry her eyes somewhat. How well her make up setting spells had held up remained to be seen. She gave Juliet a deeply grateful look. "I should go," she said quietly. The first round of tears was already beginning to make its effects known on her body and her head and she'd far prefer more tears to involve her own bedroom and less fancy clothing.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-17 02:00 am UTC (link)
Twisting without taking her arm away from her, Jules reached for a napkin on the table with her free hand, then twisted back and handed it to Daani. She nodded in understanding at her words, hesitating only briefly. "Would you like company?" she offered. "It's just... mum knew I might duck out early. Big crowds like this can be unbearably overwhelming for me at times, and I get the feeling you shouldn't be alone right now." But she would, of course, respect Danni's wishes if she didn't want company.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-17 10:21 am UTC (link)
"Thanks," Daani murmured and started to blot her face, using the cloth to block her slight sniffles. Her eyes darting around a little to see if she'd been seen by anyone who knew her better. Then her eyes fluttered to the napkin, relieved to see it was mostly clean so her face probably wasn't too obviously out of place.

At the offer she hesitated for a few moments, mildly uncomfortable about the idea of someone she didn't know seeing her like this. However she immediately realised that Juliet already knew, or seemed to know, about the one thing she was trying to keep very quiet. "Umm, you know what, I really wouldn't mind that, if you're sure," she said. She sucked in a big breath and straightened up and schooled her face so they could leave. She gave a decisive nod.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-17 04:07 pm UTC (link)
Having been sure that Daani would not be comfortable with company, when she actually paused to give it thought, Jules was utterly surprised when Daani took her up on it. Her lips parted briefly before settling in a soft smile. "Of course I'm sure," she said confidently, touched that she'd made enough of a positive impression for this stranger to allow her to be there for her.

"Do you feel centered enough to apparate? If not, I can get us to my cottage, and we can floo from there if you'd like to be in familiar territory," she offered, honestly only wanting Daani to feel as comfortable as she could considering the circumstances.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-17 08:01 pm UTC (link)
Taking a careful breath Daani considered her mental state. She thought she could probably apparate herself, but she wasn't so sure about taking Juliet as well. She was, at least, connected to the Floo network now, so they could cross that way.

"I'll be better at home, but I don't think I can get you there as well as me," she said. "You can floo to 'Seaside Salt' though," she said. The name was ridiculous, but adding things to the network was apparently a strange art. It was also pretty hard to guess at as an address, which she appreciated. "Bring comfy clothes, or I can lend you some." She stood up and automatically twitched the folds of fabric surrounding her into place. "I love a saree, but this isn't a soft one so I'm changing. That work?" Her face was schooled, but probably betrayed her unbalanced state a little.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-18 12:33 am UTC (link)
Jules nodded when Daani explained how to get to her place, perfectly willing to respect how she wanted to go about this. "I'll change and meet you there," she promised, filing the floo name away. She wasn't about to abandon the woman.

She waited, watching until Daani was gone, and then she went to let her mum know she was leaving. Fortunately, Pansy had been anticipating something like this happening and didn't give her a hard time for it. She apparated home, changed into a comfy pair of yoga pants and t-shirt, pulling her hair back in a low ponytail and washing her face before grabbing a few snacks and stepping through the floo.

"Daani?" she called out, stepping just out of the floo and hesitating. She pulled out her wand and cast a murmured spell to clean the little bit of soot and powder from her, then tucked it back away.

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Re: RP: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-18 11:07 am UTC (link)
Having moved to a quieter corner Daani managed to apparate back to her small home in Saltdown and set about changing her clothes and removing her makeup. There was a minor instinct to wear white, knowing that Juliet probably wouldn't know what it meant, but she didn't think she was ready for that yet. She pulled on a pair of soft pyjama trousers and a top that was somewhere between sports bra and cami vest.

She headed for the kitchen and began to make chai, the routine comforting. There was a minor instinct to try and tidy up, but she knew that the place wasn't actually messy. While she was waiting for the tea to steep she plaited her hair and went on a hunt for what treats she'd got around.

She heard the woosh of the floo. "In the kitchen, round to the left," she called when Juliet asked. "I'm making tea, well chai," she said. She gestured to the fridge and counter. "I've got other options too, coffee if you want it, and juice I think." She didn't generally drink or keep alcohol in the house, so that wasn't an option, but there were various other types of drinks around.

"Thanks for coming," she said softly when Juliet appeared. Then sighed deeply, poking the hourglass that was timing the steeping of the tea. She couldn't see the sea from this angle, and she really wanted to see it right now. "I hadn't realised I should have been, well, bloody massive right now." She glanced down at her stomach again and sighed a little sadly.

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Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-18 03:17 pm UTC (link)
At the directly, Jules wandered that way. "Tea sounds lovely," she replied, not minding chai in the least, and she wasn't interested in alcohol. This wasn't likely going to Holly's for a wine and snacks catchup evening, after all.

Juliet was quiet while Daani sorted through her thoughts and then finally spoke. Her lips parted, but she caught herself in time, biting her tongue on the question she wanted to ask: Should Daani have been massively pregnant right now? It was one thing for her to have Sensed the miscarriage, she realized, it was another altogether for her to Know that Daani had intended to abort. But the mix of emotions and memories Daani had experienced in that moment she'd first made physical contact with Jules had translated so much more than Jules could usually read with a touch.

"I know I was able to sense the pain of it all, but I can't imagine experiencing it first hand. I'm so sorry you had to go through that," she said gently instead.

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Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-18 04:49 pm UTC (link)
After pushing a large plate of mixed Indian style sweets and various British style biscuits and sweets over towards Juliet she turned her back to get a little privacy and pour the chai, the hourglass having just run out. "If you don't mind hearing it too, I think I'd like to share the story. It's been too long," she said. She had been silently mulling it since the two of them had parted at the gala.

"You were right about talking, it would probably do me good," she said. "And I probably haven't talked about it as much as I should have," she said. She knew that, she really did, but taking the first step to get therapy or something of the kind had been far too hard. Just like telling Manny about what had happened.

She poured out the cups of tea and left the pot under a tea cosy on a mat to stop it marking the surface. There was enough for at least one more round there.

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Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-18 05:02 pm UTC (link)
Without a word, Juliet set the couple of snacks she'd brought along on the counter next to the plate Daani nudged over, plucking up a biscuit for now. She wasn't terribly hungry, but having the treat would give her a reason to take her time in the conversation, minimizing the risk of saying something she shouldn't or pushing Daani beyond what she was comfortable with.

"Of course I'll listen to your story," she answered. She wasn't going to criticize Daani for holding it in all this time. How could she? There was so much she'd internalized for so long, and even she often struggled to express her feelings and struggles. It was much easier to be supportive to someone else doing so.

"Should we sit somewhere?" she suggested, hands going to the edges of the plate of treats, ready to carry it wherever Daani would be most comfortable.

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Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-18 06:02 pm UTC (link)
She couldn't help but smile when she saw Juliet had brought snacks too. It was exactly the sort of thing she would have done.

"Yeah, c'mon we can look at the sea while we talk," she said. She led Juliet and their food and drinks back into the main living space and over to a cosy corner that was set at a weird angle with two mis-matched chairs she had picked up at a charity shop. One was green, the other purple, with a gold-edged table between them. It was a sort of squashed space, but Daani had come to love curling up there looking out at the sea. The view was part of the reason she had chosen the flat.

As they sat she curled her feet up and cupped her chai in her hands protectively. "I used to live in London with my partner. We were really happy," she said, choosing her words carefully and taking sips of her drink from time to time. "He was doing healer training, I was finishing up my translator training. We had some sort of contraception hiccup," she said. It was something she couldn't fully explain still, since they were both very careful. That was the problem when even perfect use held a small chance of pregnancy.

"I've always been regular so I actually worked out I was probably pregnant early on," she explained. "The thing is I was already starting to feel like I wanted children with him, to marry him, but I wasn't ready," she said with a sniffle. She shook her head softly and reached for one of the sticky treats to munch on.

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Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-19 03:26 pm UTC (link)
Jules followed Daani to the chairs, sitting and bringing her legs up to curl around. Then she picked up her cuppa, wrapping her hands around it and letting the warmth seep into her fingers for a minute before taking a sip.

As Daani talked, Jules simply listened quietly, though when she mentioned her partner having been in healer training, she did nearly blurt out that her brother was a healer. She managed to bite her tongue in time, not wanting to interrupt Daani's flow of thoughts. This wasn't about her, it was about helping Daani through the trauma she experienced.

"There's no shame in not having been ready," she said gently when Daani paused to grab one of the treats. "Did you... did you talk to him about it?" she asked, already sure she knew the answer, but a part of her rather thought Daani needed to say it out loud, needed to face her choices from that time.

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Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-19 04:53 pm UTC (link)
She was profoundly thankful that Juliet mostly just listened. It was a lot easier to weigh and formulate her words without too many interruptions. Still, she had to take in some tea, nibble at her sticky ball of ground rice and nuts and the words she heard actually helped remind her that she had made the right decision for her.

"I didn't tell him. I wanted to be sure what I wanted first. Then I didn't want to put pressure on him," she said. "He was so busy. Maybe I didn't want him to talk me out of it." She sighed and looked askance at her tea before shaking her head. "It's more complicated because I'm a Sikh." She drew a few patterns on her leg idly. "He is too, but I've always been the more devoted one. We believe life is sacred, right from conception, but honestly that also means that my body is mine to control. I struggled with that and what I wanted to do for a while. Like, to be sure."

She was talking in a somewhat dispassionate, detached way at this point in her story, but she had a feel that she wouldn't be able to stay that way for very long.

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Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]nottyjules
2021-07-19 09:15 pm UTC (link)
Not being familiar with the faith, Jules was relieved that Daani explained a bit why being Sikh made considering abortion somewhat complicated. In theory, she couldn't imagine not leaning on the person with whom she was sharing her life to make such a huge decision, but since she'd never had more than a few snogging/groping sessions and had never had a true romantic relationship, she supposed her perspective was a bit incomplete.

"I don't think it's so surprising to have been conflicted. Women have fought for centuries to have control over our own bodies, and whatever your choice was, it was important for it to be yours," she said, hopefully encouragingly. She didn't think any woman should ever feel guilty for weighing the options of continuing an unplanned pregnancy.

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Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy
[info]princessdaani
2021-07-19 10:33 pm UTC (link)
Daani sighed again. "You know, in retrospect I don't know why I didn't tell him. He wouldn't have demanded one way or another, he's a good man," she said with a brittleness which belay what was still to come in her story. She swallowed hard and stared mostly into nothing as she sipped some more tea.

"Even though it doesn't fit with the faith really I didn't grow up in a house shunning abortion. My mum's a Healer, and she's always been an advocate of people deciding for their own bodies after sound medical advice. Bringing a life into the world that I wasn't ready to give my all to caring for wouldn't have been right," she said quietly. There was conviction in her words, but they were tinged with sadness as tears started to prick at her eyes again.

"I went to a private clinic so I didn't have to see anyone who might tell someone I knew at St Mungo's and it was all arranged. I had to go back a few days later because I needed to stay because nobody would be around to keep an eye on me after.

"I'd told my best friend, and she was really supportive, but it was my decision. And then...and then it got taken away from me," she said, her breath hitching again. "Two days before...before I was going to-" the tears began to fall. "I'd decided, but I knew when... I was ready to say goodbye and then I started bleeding." She was muffled, crying into her tea, as the tears turned to sobs and she curled further in on herself.

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Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy - [info]nottyjules, 2021-07-20 12:36 am UTC
Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy - [info]princessdaani, 2021-07-20 05:52 pm UTC
Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy - [info]nottyjules, 2021-07-24 09:19 pm UTC
Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy - [info]princessdaani, 2021-07-26 08:02 pm UTC
Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy - [info]nottyjules, 2021-08-01 10:01 pm UTC
Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy - [info]princessdaani, 2021-08-02 03:26 pm UTC
Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy - [info]nottyjules, 2021-08-02 07:12 pm UTC
Re: Jules and Daani, 7pm Potential CW: miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy - [info]princessdaani, 2021-08-02 09:59 pm UTC

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