InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Ooooh, Yanni "

Mandy Brocklehurst (bl_mandy) wrote in bloodlines_rp,
@ 2017-09-20 14:01:00

Entry tags:

!retcon, dec 2002, loc: private residence (blackthorn), mandy brocklehurst, neville longbottom, type: rp

Post-Holiday plans.
Date & Time: 28 December, not quite dark out.
Post Type: RP
Status: Complete
Character(s): Neville and Mandy
Location: Neville's flat
Summary: There are plans that need to be made.

The floors were cold; Mandy rummaged for a pair of Neville's thick socks and pulled them on before adding warm leggings and a jumper. The knit hugged her figure and she turned, examining the shape of her reflection in the mirror. What was barely noticeable the other day seemed very pronounced to her today and she felt a thrill of terrified excitement. It was barely the size of her palm, but huge at the same time.

"Can you see this?" She walked out into the sitting room and turned sideways, looking down at herself, then over at Neville where he sat, cozily wrapped in quilts on the sofa. "This wasn't here just a week ago!" Mandy pressed her hand to the little bulge again. "I'm going to be an Orca, aren't I? Not that it matters, a healthy Prawn matters. Still... my dress will be marquee-sized if we don't act soon."

(Post a new comment)

neville_long
2017-09-30 10:14 pm UTC (link)

Even though it seemed like he was always exhausted, because of the Muggle medicine that they'd given him to control some of his symptoms, Neville was so happy to be home and at least feeling a little better than he had a couple of days ago that he couldn't find it in himself to complain. His head had dropped back against the couch and his eyes had closed when he heard Mandy's distinctive footsteps, bringing him back to mostly-alertness again. He smiled up at her, and then his eyes automatically drifted down her figure, even before she turned to show him the little curve of stomach—a curve that was definitely there now.

"I can see it," he said with a nod as he unwound a hand from his quilts and reached for hers. He kept expecting that the reality of their situation would stop being surprising and terrifying and exciting all at once, but every stage seemed to bring up those feelings again. Now he had the added strain of being sick, and wondering what that would mean for the little family they'd created...but he'd tried his best to suppress those worries for now. Worrying wouldn't change anything, and he didn't want to add his own fears to Mandy's. She had enough about which to be anxious already.

Neville tugged on her hand until Mandy was on the couch next to him. "You're beautiful, and you're going to be beautiful." He leaned in and kissed her cheek, then laughed a little as he slid his hand over her waist. "Though I guess this means we should finally get around to planning a wedding, huh? And telling everyone about this."

(Reply to this) (Thread)

bl_mandy
2017-09-30 10:57 pm UTC (link)

"I think it might be the smartest thing." Mandy tugged at one of the quilts and burrowed under it until her head rested on Neville's shoulder. "A baby's not a secret long-kept, really. They make their existence very well known after a bit." And couldn't really be persuaded to wait...

She'd dreamed since she was a little girl of weddings, white flowers and blue ribbons leading to babies, a family. But now... she couldn't imagine that the reality would be anything like the dreams of that little girl she'd been. "I'm not sure how to plan one," she admitted after a moment. "I know what the little-girl-me thought was important, but it seems silly now. Like, all the blue ribbons there could be, and every white flower in the country, and every bit of taffeta in the world in my dress."

Of course, that had all hinged on her mother doing most of the planning, and being the doting parent every bride dreams of.

"So, I suppose there can be blue ribbons and flowers, without all the fuss, right?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

neville_long
2017-09-30 11:51 pm UTC (link)

Neville hummed agreement at her statement as he pulled her in a little closer. "Better to tell everyone while it's still our secret to tell, then, instead of letting your belly steal our thunder, hrm?"

He listened in silence for a little while, paying attention, but also wondering what Gran's reaction would be when they told her about the baby. She'd been happy for him so far, but he couldn't be sure that the knowledge of Mandy's pregnancy wouldn't skew her perception of it, no matter that he'd been planning to ask her to marry him well before either of them knew. "I can say with certainty that I know nothing about planning a wedding. Well, except maybe that there's supposed to be a white dress and some flowers. Does it have to be harder than pulling together any other event?"

Neville knew that weddings always seemed to be a lot more stressful for everyone involved than seemed necessary, and that was the last thing either of them needed right now. He mostly wanted to make it through a ceremony without any particular illness-related incidents. "I mean, I can handle the flowers. That's sort of my speciality." He grinned over at her. Even if he wasn't quite up to spending hours in the garden to cultivate what they'd need, he certainly knew enough people to make it happen somehow. "And blue ribbons don't sound too hard. Mostly, we have to figure out how to keep Gran from inviting everyone she knows. And figure out who we need to invite."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bl_mandy
2017-10-01 01:47 am UTC (link)

"Steal our thunder? Is that what we're calling the point in time when I turn into an Orca? When my wedding dress needs to be stitched up by Omar the Tentmaker?" She stifled a little snort of laughter, shaking her head. "I agree, we should tell some people. My father. Gran..." She pondered for a moment, wondering who else really needed to know. "I suppose my mother..."

A quick shake of her head cleared away that thought and she turned her attention to event. "Like... a party. We can do that. A dress. Flowers are your department. I bet Rachel would be all over making the cake; she bakes like a fiend. Oh! She sent chocolate cake for later. And half a chicken pie."

Mandy found his hand in the cuddle of quilts and linked their fingers together. "I don't mind if she invites the whole countryside. I just want my parents, if Mum will come. Dad, if she won't. Gran. Do we really need anyone else?"

Mandy closed her eyes and sighed, trying not to think about who she'd ask to give her away if her father couldn't do it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

neville_long
2017-10-01 02:09 am UTC (link)

"Hush, you," he said, dipping his head to brush his lips across hers. "That's my son or daughter you're talking about." A little thrill went through him at the words, though it wasn't the first time he'd uttered them. It hadn't gotten old. "I'd like to tell some friends. Seamus, Dean, maybe Ginny? If we pick the right people, we won't have to worry about telling everyone else."

Neville nodded as she picked up on his train of thought, glad that she seemed to like the approach. He'd be glad to have at least something be easy for a little while, and if that something ended with him being married to Mandy, even better. "Don't say that in front of her. Maybe if we say we want to keep it small, she'll only invite half the countryside." Though, now that he started trying to think of people, his own list was larger than he might have expected. It made him sadder—and angrier—that Mandy's small list was in doubt. He knew that his own meeting with her parents hadn't gone so well, but the fact that Mandy would even doubt her mother's attendance at her wedding was ridiculous.

"I need you and Gran." And it was the truth. There were friends he wouldn't mind inviting, but he could easily imagine the event with only a few attendees, and he didn't like the idea any less. "How soon do you think we can pull it together?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bl_mandy
2017-10-01 03:00 am UTC (link)

"I don't think it would take long," she said thoughtfully. "Somewhere to have the thing, I suppose, is the biggest question. I don't know if Gran's garden is such a good idea, with it being soon and cold." And with you being sick loomed large in her mind, but she managed to keep it from coming out of her mouth. "Maybe warming charms would work?"

She ticked off on her fingers. "Gran's garden. I need a dress. You have dress robes. Flowers - that's you, by the way. Blue ribbons and Rachel baking cake. I think that could happen in a few weeks? And I'll send an owl to Dad."

After all, someone had to give her away, right?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

neville_long
2017-10-07 07:43 pm UTC (link)

Neville had just assumed that they would have the wedding at Gran's, since she'd offered, so he could only frown slightly as Mandy brought it up, considering. He hadn't exactly been to a lot of weddings, and the last one had been outdoors, too. "If we keep it small enough, we could probably do it inside," he suggested, mostly for lack of other ideas. Though, now that he thought about it, indoors did seem preferable right now, no matter how much he liked being surrounded by nature. "Or is there somewhere you'd rather? Somewhere that goes with the blue ribbons and taffy-whatsit?"

He couldn't think of anything other than what she listed, but it was hard to tell whether that was because there was truly nothing missing, or because his head was still too fuzzy sometimes to track things like that. He started to say as much, but then another thing occurred to him, despite his unpredictable memory. "Someone to perform the ceremony?" Neville turned and raised an inquiring eyebrow. "And I suppose there's paperwork to be done at the Ministry. I seem to remember someone mentioning that."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bl_mandy
2017-10-07 08:21 pm UTC (link)

"I'd rather Gran's," she said softly. "Her garden is so lovely. Maybe... maybe we could set warming charms? Just to take the chill off?" She'd rather have that, than stuffy indoors, even Gran's lovely indoors. "And blue ribbons and taffy-whatsit would be beautiful against all the winter greenery."

So there. Mandy yawned and nestled deeper into the quilt, rubbing absently at her belly as she admitted, "I picked up the paperwork yesterday, so that we could fill it in and not be rushed, and then it can just go by owl. They have a list of people that could actually do the marrying, unless we know someone. Which I don't. Maybe Gran knows someone from the list? We'll have her look, maybe..."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

neville_long
2017-10-08 03:29 pm UTC (link)

Neville almost laughed as Mandy flipped back to wanting an outdoor wedding, just as he'd started considering the opposite. He didn't, though, because his reply spoke of his ongoing frustration with being sick. "With plenty of strategically placed chairs," he said, and it was an effort to keep that frustration from his tone. "Though, that's a couple of weeks from now. Maybe this will keep improving."

Not needing to go to the Ministry washed away that tiny bit of resentment he had for his situation, for now. "Always prepared," he teased, and he breathed out a sigh of contentment as she snuggled warmly into his side. "I'm sure Gran will probably know at least half of the people on the list. I'd be good with her picking one. I definitely don't know anyone."

Neville found her hand under the blankets, intertwining their fingers over her belly. He kissed her temple. "So, wedding. Check. Now...names? I think we talked about that a little at the hospital, didn't we?" That whole day was rather fuzzy, but parts of it stuck out to him. "Did we come up with anything good?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bl_mandy
2017-10-09 01:40 am UTC (link)

"I was thinking in that little corner near the french doors -- right where she's got the archway, and that little bench? I bet we could put some roses among the ivy, and we could both sit to do our vows." And it was only a few steps from the doors to the bench, with space on the sides for a few other seats for their guests. "And it's so lovely and green, that we wouldn't need to add anything but a few pretty bows and some roses."

So there. As far as she was concerned, the matter was settled. She'd call on Gran with her list, and write out a pretty invitation card to duplicate. Done, really. Who needed complicated?

She sighed at the warmth of his kiss and settled with their hands combining to cradle the little bump of belly.

"Names," she said mournfully. "Are you sure we can't just stick with Prawn? I mean, it's a bit bigger now, but still..." She snickered softly, knowing how he hated the silly nickname, then tapped the fingers of her other hand on his wrist. "We never really did. We've eliminated a few horrible options, like Hortense and Phillipe, though. And nothing that was any name of any teacher we had. Or Dumbledore."

There were so many good names, but they weren't coming to mind. "Are you sure we couldn't just call him Neville? Or call her Mandy? Then we don't have to come up with anything new."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

neville_long
2017-10-09 02:06 am UTC (link)

"I don't see why not," he said with a little shrug. It was hard to think of any area in the house he'd grown up in as being particular special, or at least enough to narrow it down to a wedding location, but the area she described was nice enough. He wondered if he could manage to do a little of the work on the roses himself, if he took it slow and took a lot of breaks. Maybe he'd ask the healers when he went in for a check-up, rather than worry Mandy with it at the moment. "Maybe we can drop in on Gran for tea tomorrow and talk through it all?"

All. Neville swallowed hard as he realised that could mean telling her about the baby, too. He wanted to tell her, but he couldn't help it if it was also rather terrifying.

He made a face at her, even though she was teasing him about the nickname. He knew he was an easy target for that one. "Or my parents," he added, the words coming out softer than he'd intended. Neville swallowed down that little twinge of sadness and forced himself to smile at her continued teasing. It would fade soon enough, and he would feel the amusement again. "I'd rather let Seamus choose. And for the record, we do not want to let Seamus choose." He considered silently for a moment. So many wizards he knew had family names or names that at least hinted at their magical heritage. Longbottom was going to make that obvious enough, so he definitely preferred that they didn't go crazy with the given names. "I think something simple would be best. Nothing too weighty. Something that would fit in the wizarding world or the Muggle world without raised eyebrows."

After all, he wanted her parents to be able to talk about their grandchild without worrying the name would seem strange.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bl_mandy
2017-10-09 02:47 am UTC (link)

She laughed delightedly, shaking her head. "We are so not letting Seamus choose. Or Rachel, because she's favouring Hepzibah and that's just right out.

"If it's a boy, we could sort of name him after you. I mean, if you wanted. I like Christopher..." A family name without being one that belonged to one of their parents, or some long-forgotten relative with the name everyone wanted. "If you think it's okay? We could give him his own middle name. Call him Chris..."

She tried to imagine her mother holding this baby, whispering to him-or-her, rocking them gently.

"If it's a girl... I don't even know. I can't seem to think of any girl names. Maybe that means it's a boy?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

neville_long
2017-10-09 03:00 am UTC (link)

Neville rolled that around in his head for a moment before answering. "I guess if you're going to insist on naming him after someone, then I could stand Christopher. I kind of like Andrew, or maybe Nicholas?" He paused and shook his head. "Scratch that. Almost forgot Susan got there before us." She was one of the few of his former classmates who already had a child. Maybe they should invite her to dinner sometime soon, see what sort of advice she might have. Well, when they'd told everyone, anyway.

"Jane?" he suggested, going with the first name that popped into his head. "I've always thought Ava was pretty. I think I met someone when I was younger named that, though I can't remember who she was. Some friend of Gran's from the theatre, probably." Neville couldn't say he would mind if it was a boy, but mostly because he figured he at least knew what it was like to be a young boy. That took a little of the mystery out of parenting, theoretically. "How long until we can know for sure? I know you've got a chart around here somewhere," he teased.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bl_mandy
2017-10-11 03:34 am UTC (link)

"Maybe Andrew Christopher? Andy... Chris?" She shook her head. "Not Jane though. Ava? Ava Lynne..." She sighed. "Maybe we need one of those books with names and what they mean. Otherwise we might just keep saying things until we find something amazing, and the poor kid will be three."

Probably not, but why did all the names sound so blah? Surely something would strike them as perfect. Hopefully before the baby was born.

She pondered a chart, knowing that he was teasing, but surely it was a good idea? Just to supplement the books she'd been reading... "We're fifteen weeks and some days, and we have an appointment at the Healers just after the new year. She said sixteen weeks was as early as she could reliably tell anyway. Then we can start deciding how to decorate. What colours to paint, and what kind of furniture to pick. I'm so glad you ended up with a two-bedroom flat. Otherwise we might have to look at moving, too, and I'm just not sure how much more excitement I'm ready to tackle here."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

neville_long
2017-10-15 12:24 am UTC (link)

Neville screwed up his face at the shortened versions of the names. Not that he wanted his son or daughter to sound all stuffy and formal, but both of those versions seemed to take all of the appeal out of the names. "I think a book's a good idea, before this kid ends up with another name I can't make you stop using." He laughed and kissed the side of her head.

He felt like he'd only really just settled into this new place, so he was glad for not needing to move, too. "Maybe we can tell Gran this week, but hold off on telling anyone else until after we know."

Neville yawned widely, despite his best effort to stay alert. The combination of the Muggle medicine and actually being warm was too much. "What would you say to an afternoon nap?" he asked, already shifting to get more comfortable, and tugging her with him.

(Reply to this) (Parent)