gwendolyn vane. (gwrach) wrote in disorderic, @ 2018-04-01 16:23:00 |
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Entry tags: | cai vane, gwendolyn vane |
WHO: Cai, Gwendolyn and Romilda Vane
WHAT: Being a certain type of nerds for Easter
WHERE: Vane home, Wales
WHEN: Saturday 31st March
The Vane home had been readied for Easter in Violet Vane’s usual, haphazard way: there were a few Easter ornaments out, a lot of Creme Egg wrappers lying around, and a hamper on the kitchen table which bore a large note saying “DO NOT TOUCH UNTIL EASTER SUNDAY.” The cellophane covering had been opened at one side and a packet of hot cross buns had been sneaked out. Romilda was very unsubtly eating one of them when Gwen arrived, butter nearly dripping off the end. “You could use a plate,” Gwen said, instead of hello, but Romilda smiled at her and darted forward. “Where would be the fun in that?” she asked, reaching out to hug her. The hug was a little longer than strictly necessary, but they both allowed it, stopping only when the door opened again. “CAI, QUICK,” Romilda thundered, practically in Gwen’s ear. “This looks like a hug but she’s trying to steal my bun! Help me!” Cai was laughing as soon as he stepped through the door, so happy to have both his sisters in he one, safe place again. Instead of helping as directed, Cai crossed the room and wrapped his arms around both of them, joining the hug. “I don’t know, Gwen might share it with me if I help her get it.” Gwen’s smile was huge and just slightly tinged with relief as she hugged both of her siblings, letting the joy and gratitude wash over her. Romilda had looked only partly wretched at the train station, hadn’t yet bombarded everyone with awful stories from Hogwarts. There may have been attacks and Death Eaters everywhere but her family was safe now. She squeezed both Cai and Romilda’s arms before the hug dropped. “Sharing? That’s never really been my forte. I’d steal that bun so quick even your hitwizard reflexes wouldn’t be able to stop me.” “I take it back,” he said, still grinning even as he took a moment to look Romilda over, checking that she was still in one piece. ”How about we team up?” he directed at Romilda, “You get to keep the bun and we take all of Gwen’s Easter eggs.” Romilda’s smile was delighted, spreading across her face as she nodded at Cai. “I think I deserve a lot of chocolate! I’ve had a very trying year!” It was true, of course, and a large part of it had been thoroughly horrible but Romilda didn’t feel right in herself unless she was exploiting her circumstances for some kind of personal gain. Gwen wrinkled her nose. “Are we going to play who’s had a worse year because that game is very depressing.” Cai would never actually work to deprive Gwen of all her chocolate, but he was more than happy to pretend to see Romilda smile after what he’d heard about Hogwarts. “If we are going to play that game, we should at least wait until after Easter,” Cai decided, not wanting to ruin the holiday with any of the many depressing thoughts and memories he knew they all had. “Unless you need to talk about it,” he added hastily, not wanting Romilda to feel like they wouldn’t listen to her concerns. Even if they were likely to be embellished with extra drama. “But until then, are there other buns or did you eat them all already?” “Of course I didn’t eat them all,” Romilda said, her nose scrunching at the thought. She popped the last bit of her bun into her mouth, promptly licking a bit of melted butter off her fingertips. “I had to leave at least a pack in the hamper because I didn’t want Mum absolutely flipping her lid.” A mischievous grin slanted across her face as she said, “But if her two darling older adult children with a disposable income just bought more I’m sure her lid would stay firmly on!” Romilda even batted her eyelashes, as if she was an innocent suggesting some brilliant new idea. Gwen struggled not to laugh, catching Cai’s eye as she fought to keep the corners of her mouth clmaped down firmly in place. “I guess one of us could get some hot cross buns. I mean, look at Cai. He’s gagging for one.” Gwen gestured to him and Romilda studied Cai with a tilted head and then nodded, obviously accepting Gwen’s assessment. “Do they starve you in the DMLE?” “Yes,” Cai answered, cheeks already starting to hurt from trying to keep a straight face. It was nice though, he didn’t think he’d smiled this much since he’d heard the news about Keaton. “Most people left in the office live on a diet of misery and unprofessionalism so there’s no need for lunch breaks anymore.” That was a little close to being true so he quickly continued, spotting the colourful foil wrappers lying around. “But I’ll survive if I can have a Creme Egg.” “Oh, please take one,” Romilda said, springing on the opportunity. She turned and rushed to the cupboard, throwing open one of the doors to reveal a stash of boxes. “Honestly, I’ve been eating so many and Michael Corner is even hotter now and I can’t believe he hasn’t fallen madly in love with me.” She lifted out a box and thrust it at Cai. “And I simply can’t face him and say that I spent my entire Easter break eating creme eggs and he’ll be like ‘oh I ran some of my feelings out because I’m so stoic and handsome’ and I’ll just die.” She looked entirely frazzled and truthful, earnestness rolling off her in waves. Gwen pushed her chin into her chest and laughed. Cai laughed along as he took out an egg and unwrapped it, biting the top off so he could get to the creamy filling. “Honestly, if Michael Corner is spending his entire break running instead of eating chocolate then he’s the one missing out. And not just because he hasn’t realised his love for you yet.” Which, as much as he loved Romilda, was a smart move on Michael’s part in Cai’s opinion. “If you ever want to run your feelings out you can join me and Grace, but this,” he popped the now-empty chocolate shell into his mouth, already reaching for a second egg while the chocolate melted on his tongue, “is much more enjoyable.” “Ugh.” Romilda pulled a face which was practically a work of art in its twisted disgust. “Why would I want to go running? The two of you can keep it.” “Yeah, Cai,” Gwen echoed, elbowing him. “You can keep it. Not all of us can be fitness freaks.” Gwen’s preferred activities were less like running and much more like hiking and, eyeing the two people in front of her, she decided now was the perfect time to advocate for the Easter activity being a lovely hike. It had been a while. It was good for all of them. If they wanted to talk about anything and leave their Mum and Donald behind for a little bit, they could. “But, I mean, if the two of you wanted maybe we could go for a little hike on Easter Sunday! It’s been a while since I’ve been to Brecon.” Cai nodded enthusiastically at that idea. It had been far too long since they’d been on a hike together. “I’m in,” he agreed, so glad he’d remembered to ask for Easter off before almost everyone else in his office had quit or been fired. “A nice hike, then home for toasted hot cross buns and a movie?” Before Gwen had a chance to say anything, Romilda was throwing her hands up in the air, a deeply aggrieved expression on her face. “Ugh! Why is everyone around me such activity nerds????” She gave both of them pointed looks as her hands settled on her hips. A laugh tugged at Gwen and she couldn’t suppress it as she said, “You know I don’t think an activity nerd is a real thing.” “It’s a thing if I say it’s a thing,” Romilda said, chin up. Maybe she looked thinner, more stressed than usual, maybe she acted less certain of herself than the sister they were used to but looking at her then, Gwen couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Romilda was still very much herself. Romilda was still clinging onto what made her her. Gwen turned her head towards Cai, smiling slightly, a warmth in her chest. She reached out to link her arm through his. “I can’t believe this young whippersnapper thinks we’re gonna give her such power.” “I can’t believe she called us activity nerds,” Cai laughed, emphasising the words as if it was a common concept used to insult people and not something so uniquely Romilda. “She’s obviously been away from us for too long and have forgotten how cool her older siblings, and all their activities, are.” With his free arm he reached out to pull Romilda towards them. “We’ll have to make sure we get her back to being as cool as us as quickly as we can.” “Ugh, whatever,” Romilda said, but the derisive tone barely lasted, melting as she started to smile. “I’m just gonna come to bring some much needed coolness to the whole outing.” Gwen laughed. “That’s very kind of you, Ro. Thanks.” Romilda waved a hand through the air regally. “You’re all very welcome.” “We’re so lucky the she’ll grace us with her presence, Gwen,” Cai said, tone dry. But then, because it was Easter, and the last few months had really sucked, and he so rarely got to see both his sisters at once because of Hogwarts, he gave them an overly-fond smile. “I love you both.” “Awww,” Gwen said, nose wrinkling as she grinned at Cai. “We love you too.” Romilda’s voice joined in; Gwen let herself enjoy how uncomplicated everything was, in the moment. |