Daisy {has a lot of feelings} Rosier (thornflower) wrote in reduxpitch, @ 2016-08-30 22:52:00 |
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Entry tags: | !game plot, character: daisy potter, character: neville longbottom |
WHO: Daisy Potter and Neville Longbottom
WHEN: evening, Wednesday 24 August 2002 (backdated)
WHERE: Daisy's flat
WHAT: Neville drops in. They do the equivalent of Netflix and chill. Except Neville is a gentleman.
RATING: Safe for work
STATUS: Completed in Docs
Neville wasn't sure what reason he had bought the flowers for Daisy, but he wanted to and that was as good a reason as he felt he needed. He liked doing nice things for the people that he cared about and he really cared about Daisy. He knew that it was more than that, really. More than just caring by leaps and bounds. He didn't want to admit it aloud just yet, though, because he didn't want to scare her off. Truth be told, though, Neville knew he'd loved Daisy Potter since they were kids. He was sure most people knew that, really, considering how little people were surprised by their budding relationship.
Bouquet in hand, he headed over to her flat, hoping that she was there and not out with friends. He supposed he should have owled her first to be sure, but then it wouldn't be a surprise that he was coming over and he wanted to surprise her because surprises were fun. So he reached her flat, said a little prayer that she'd actually be home, and reached up to knock on the door. He waited, mostly patiently, for her to answer.
--
On any other given day Daisy might have been out with friends or coworkers, but she had just spent the day working through increasingly complex puzzle boxes only they weren't normal puzzle boxes. Instead of remaining locked when one got the combination locked, one got affected by some unknown curse, which the team of fellow baby cursebreakers needed to remove from you. Needlessly to say, she was a bit singed around the edges. Oh well, she fared better than some of her teammates. She was pretty sure at least one person lost an eyebrow.
Freshly showered, Daisy had just gotten redressed when she heard the knock at the door. She dropped her wet towel into the hamper and went to answer it, grinning when she saw Neville standing on the other side, flowers in hand. "Ooh, presents."
--
Neville tried not to think about the fact that Daisy had obviously just finished a shower. Her hair was still damp and if he thought too much on that, his brain would go to very ungentlemanly places. Instead, he smiled at her. "Yes," he told her, offering the flowers to her. "Presents for you." They hadn't gotten to spend that much time together, unfortunately. Between his work and hers, they squeezed in time when they could, but he didn't have to work the following day and he hoped that she didn't either.
"I have the night off and nothing to do tomorrow at all so I figured it was reason enough to celebrate," he smiled. "Are you busy?"
--
Daisy took the flowers easily, giving them the obligatory sniff, before kissing Neville on the cheek. It still seemed a little odd to be so free with the displays of affection, but she had to remind herself that they had nothing to be ashamed of, even if it was a little annoying that he wouldn't sleep with her. She sort of understood that he wanted to respect her and show that he cared, but sometimes a girl had needs. "I meant you, silly, but the flowers are a nice touch."
She led him into the kitchen where she added a bit more water to the vase and fixed the ribbon slightly before giving a place of honor on the window sill. "So what do I owe the honor of your visit? Not that I'm complaining, of course." Turning to face him, Daisy pulled her damp hair up into a bun to get it off the back of her neck, giving Neville another smile. "It's a nice end to an otherwise exhausting day."
--
Neville grinned, cheeks heating up when her lips touched them. He was fairly certain that once they got to the point of sleeping together that his whole body would be nothing but covered with that same flush that his cheeks had now, but all in due time. He wanted her to know that he cared and that he wasn't just trying to get into her pants. Not that getting into her pants would be a bad place to be, but he was sure she knew what he meant. He smiled even more when she commented about him being the present.
He followed her through to the kitchen and leaned against the countertop. "I just wanted to see you," he told her honestly. "Missed your face."
--
It was a mark towards Neville's character that Daisy still found the blushing adorable. So adorable, in fact, that she just had to kiss him again. What a hardship. "What a coincidence. I missed your face too." Leaning back against the counter, she smiled at Neville, feeling a little bit ridiculous, but not minding in the slightest. Maybe that was the trick, finding the person you didn't mind looking ridiculous in front of and sticking to that person. Hopefully Neville didn't mind being stuck.
"I don't have any plans tonight, no. Work tomorrow, but…" Daisy shrugged her shoulders. She could fake an illness and take a sick day. "I can worry about that tomorrow."
--
Neville didn't think he'd ever get tired of getting kisses from Daisy. Everytime he got one, he wanted another one. Evan had commented about the Gryffindor trap and how kissing a Gryffindor was addictive, but Neville was pretty sure that there was at least one Slytherin whose kisses were way more addictive than his could ever be. He was still grinning even after she'd pulled away and leaned against the counter again.
"Well, I definitely want to try to weasel my way into you making plans tonight," he smiled. "Since you're not busy and all. Can't have that."
--
"I feel like there's a joke in there somewhere to be made about weasels and snakes, but I'm not going to make it. Instead I'm going to be a proper hostess and ask if you've eaten yet." Daisy had thought about supper during her shower, but cooking for one was never that much fun. Now that Neville was here, she was willing to put in a lot more effort than spaghetti bolognese.
There was a new episode of Madame Murray's Case Files on the wireless tonight and the show was entertaining enough to listen with another to try and guess who committed the crime. Plus, who didn't like a little murder over dessert?
"Any preferences?"
--
He blushed a little deeper at her words about snakes and weasels. He focused more on the mention of dinner instead. "I haven't," he said. "I figured we could maybe go out or you could teach me how to make something that doesn't taste like chalk," he smiled. A cooking lesson with Daisy involved sounded like a fine time, honestly. She was a wonderful cook and he was definitely lacking when it came to the kitchen. He could get by but it certainly wasn't going to be with anything that taste very nice.
"I'm not picky," he told her. "Especially if it's your cooking." Who didn't like Daisy's food? He certainly never had any complaints about it.
--
Daisy almost snorted when he suggested something she made would taste like chalk. Not on her watch…. And if it did, she had ways to dispose of it so nobody would ever be the wiser. Only practically perfect confections came out of her kitchen.
Well that didn't narrow things down at all. Wrinkling her nose at him, Daisy checked to see what she had in her cupboards and refrigerator. Chicken breasts were versatile enough. Those were pulled along with items to build a sauce. "Chicken and pasta alright then?" Neville said he wasn't picky, but in Daisy's experience when people said that they often were. Or maybe that was just her.
It was easy enough to get into the rhythm of cooking and telling Neville what to do or grab for her when she needed the garlic press or fresh basil leaves. It was all very adorably domestic.
--
Daisy's food would never taste like chalk. Neville's, on the other hand, was more likely to taste worse than chalk on a good day. He envied Daisy's ability to make things that tasted good. He envied anyone who could make anything that wasn't just barely passing like his own cuisine.
He watched her move about checking the cabinets and the refrigerator. When she mentioned chicken and pasta, he nodded. Who didn't like chicken and pasta? "Sounds great," he agreed easily. He'd told her that he would help, so when she asked him to do little things or collect things for the pasta, he gladly did as he was told. Before long, the kitchen smelled absolutely delicious and he was surprised that he hadn't somehow mucked it up yet.
"Okay, you're definitely one of a kind," he commented. "I would have totally messed this up if it weren't for you. I will be the first to say, though, that the chances of me ever being able to recreate any of this on my own are very slim," he laughed.
--
Daisy waved away the compliments. While she liked that she made it look easy and effortless, all it really took was some practice and a fearlessness to try something new or to not bother with a recipe. Not that recipes weren't useful at times, but sometimes they were far too restrictive. "Hang about here long enough and you'll pick something up," she told him assuredly.
Daisy found that she LIKED having him in the kitchen when she worked, which was different from the norm. Usually she hated sharing the space unless the other person knew what she was doing (Ginny).
"Dinner is served," she said simply as she played up two servings, directing Neville to where he could find utensils. "So since you've decided to take over my utterly open evening, what were your plans?" She hoped it was a little wicked and that it brought Neville's blush back.
--
He smiled at her assurances, but he wasn't so sure that even someone as good at cooking as Daisy could teach him anything when it came to the kitchen. She might surprise him, though, he figured. He certainly couldn't get any worse at it. "Well, I would have the best teacher," he told her, grinning crookedly at her.
He moved to the drawer where she pointed out the cutlery and he retrieved enough for the both of them, moving to set both sets of utensils on the table. "Lots of kissing," he told her honestly, flashing her another wide smile. "I hadn't done much thinking past that point," he admitted, the flush flaring up again on his cheeks. "I just wanted to spend some time with you. Doesn't matter what we're doing."
--
Daisy paused, a forkful of pasta in hand. Right now she could think of several different activities to occupy their evening. The question would be if Neville felt like getting over that particular hurdle. "Well, I was thinking about listening to Madam Murray's Casefiles, but I don't think I'll be able to concentrate." Thankfully she'd been able to convince Ginny to get a television and a license to go with it. If anything it gave Daisy a chance to catch up with some of her favorite films.
"What do you think about an evening of muggle films?" Daisy proposed. "And kissing, of course." She would have to figure out what film she could show him without scaring him for life Probably not Little Shop of Horrors. Did she own that on DVD? Daisy didn't think so, but that was the only plant film she could think of off the top her her head.
--
He smiled when she said she wouldn't be able to concentrate. He hoped that had a lot to do with his presence. And distracting kisses. Neville wanted a lot more than kisses, but he was trying to be respectful. A gentleman. He'd had girlfriends before, sure, but none of them were ever very serious. Daisy was the first woman that he really felt could turn into something. Maybe it was because he'd known her so long and because he genuinely cared about keeping their friendship as well as letting it grow into a relationship. Whatever the reason, he wanted to be sure that Daisy knew he wasn't just trying to get into her pants like the rest of the idiots that she usually went for.
Her idea of watching muggle films sounded pretty interesting and he nodded. "That sounds good," he told her. He'd seen some muggle things, of course, but not a great deal. He doubted, honestly, that he was going to be watching much of the movies anyway because Daisy was plenty distracting herself. The thought of sitting close with her and being able to touch her and kiss her, well, that was pure bliss right there without even considering the movies.
--
If Daisy could have read Neville's thoughts she would have smacked him because she wasn't some Madonna to be put up on a pedestal. She was just a regular girl with regular needs. She didn't doubt that he cared about her and she hoped her feelings were just as transparent. And as far as she was concerned sex was a regular part of a relationship, but she didn't want to be accused of pressuring Neville so she held back, trying to read the signs and hopefully interpreting them correctly.
"I have cake," she offered, "in case that makes a difference." Maybe she was buying his affections with food, but Daisy didn't care. If the system worked why change it?
--
Neville couldn't help but laugh at her mention of cake. "You know, Hermione might be right," he teased. "Maybe you will give me diabetes." He was teasing, of course, and he made sure she was aware of that with a wide smile and a gentle nudge under the table with his foot. She could keep feeding him all of the sweets she wanted and he would be perfectly happy with that.
Taking another bite of his food, he smiled again. "This is really great, by the way," he said. He'd told her it smelled good while it was being cooked, but it tasted even better than it smelled. "And I think you might have spoiled me and Hermione on that tiramisu you brought over the other day."
--
Daisy blushed. "It really wasn't all that difficult." Really, the hardest part was narrowing down which recipe she thought he like. Since the berry pie and the berry tiramisu were both hits, she would keep that in mind for future. "But I'm glad you enjoyed it." Though she cared little about what Hermione had to think of it for the moment, Daisy knew better than to say that aloud.
They finished their meal with companionable conversation, talking of nothing terribly important save maybe for her upcoming trip to Crete. She was excited for it, of course, but there was too little information on what they'd be doing for her to be truly comfortable. It was one thing to do things spontaneously with little information, to know some facts ahead of time and not know everything was maddening.
She didn't have anything prepared specifically for dessert, but like she said there was cake. That would have to do.
--
He found that he quite liked that blush on her cheeks. He didn't think he'd ever see Daisy Potter blush, but he really thought it made her eyes look even more pretty than they did usually. How that happened, he wasn't sure.
He spent most of the meal trying not to stare at her prettiness. By the time they finished, he definitely wasn't ready to leave, so he picked up the dishes and moved to put them into the sink. "I can help with clean up," he offered. "Since you were nice enough to make me food. Or, I can save the help for later and just kiss you instead," he smiled. The flush was unable to be hidden, though, as he turned his attention to her again. "Lady's choice."
--
Well that sounded simple enough and with a quick flick of her wand, Daisy made the decision for them both. Satisfied with the charm in place that would wash and dry the dishes before stacking them neatly on the counter. They could be put away later. "Not much of choice, really," she murmured, beckoning him closer with a crook of a finger.
"There are quite a few movies to choose from," Daisy offered, despite the fact that she was pretty sure that Neville would have her choose. He was going to further convince her that her opinion was always right if he wasn't careful. "I'm going to assume horror isn't your cup of tea." Nor was it Daisy's, but she thought it was best to double check. "How do you feel about comedy?" That was usually a safe choice. Far better than a drama that would just make her cry or sci-fi that might confuse the both of them.
--
Apparently cleaning the dishes wasn't on his list of things to do that night and he certainly wasn't complaining. Especially not when she was beckoning him the way that she was. He doubted any man with a brain would have refused that beckoning finger.
"You'd be assuming right," he agreed as he stepped closer. "Unless you're going to hold my hand, of course, then I might brave my way through it. I wouldn't get any sleep, though," he laughed. "I'd need a nightlight or a sleeping buddy." He was exaggerating, of course, but horror wasn't really his favorite genre. Comedy was better, so he nodded. "Comedy is good. Means I get to hear your pretty laugh and I approve of this."
--
Daisy looked at him askance. "You are going to make my ego three times bigger than it already is with all these compliments." Still, she took his hand and led him into the living room where she began to sort through her movies. "Kind Hearts and Coronets or Arsenic and Old Lace?" Upon looking at her choices, she realized the might have been a bit grimmer in tone than she was hoping to set, but both movies weren't particularly violent or gory. Plus, both gave her an excuse to cuddle up to Neville.
--
"I can't help it," he told her. "I don't have to hold them all in and they've been building up for years now, remember," Neville said. He'd spent so much time trying not to let out little compliments in the time he'd known Daisy that they all slipped out now without much prodding. Especially when she smiled at him or when she flushed the way she sometimes did.
When she posed the options, he'd never heard of either movie. "Hmm," he commented. "Arsenic and Old Lace because it sounds… interesting. Guess we'll see, yeah?" He wasn't sure it sounded much like a comedy, but he didn't really care. To be perfectly honest, he knew that he was going to be far more interested in snuggling up with Daisy than with paying much attention to the movie.
--
Daisy queued up the film and settled back against Neville as she pressed play. Idly, she realized that she forgot the cake she'd promised him, but there was enough time to do that later. Maybe they could have an old fashioned intermission. She forgot all about dessert, however, when the story fully got underway. Plus, Neville was a pretty good distraction himself.
As the credits began to roll, Daisy's hair had long fallen out of it's bun and she was beginning to think of herself as thoroughly snogged, which was a step in the right direction. "So…." Daisy trailed off as she turned off the DVD player with a click of the remote, "...you have no plans for tomorrow, yeah? What do you think about staying over?"
--
Neville really wasn't sure what half of the movie was about or really anything that had happened during it. What he did know was how sweet Daisy's kisses were and how warm her skin was against his own. He also knew how nice her hair felt between his fingertips and a variety of lovely little sounds that she made in between kisses. Yes, movies were spectacular for snogging, he realized.
His attention was on her as she flipped the DVD player off and mentioned the offer of staying over. The thought of getting to sleep beside her was definitely a nice one. It wasn't like he hadn't thought about being in the same bed with Daisy a million times over the last few years especially. The majority of his less than PG dreams had involved her. That was when she'd been absolutely unobtainable. Not like now when she was actually interested in him.
"I think that I'd be an idiot to say no," he told her honestly. "So, if you're inviting me to stay then I'm definitely gonna say yes."
--
Taking his hand, Daisy led him into her bedroom, where it was awash with deep jewel colors, several pillows piled high on her bed. A critical eye told her that nothing was too out of place and if Neville couldn't deal with a little bit of mess they might have a problem. "You're hardly an idiot, Neville," she told him as she poked around her drawers for something to sleep in. Another night she might have just opened for a loose shirt and some undies, but she wasn't sure if that was fair to Neville.
Of course, if she really wanted to be unfair there were the bits of lace and satin that she purchased with Astoria. She would split the difference, Daisy decided as she picked out a matching pair of shorts and a camisole. "Do you mind if I change here?" she asked him.
--
Neville followed her into her bedroom. He didn't mind the little bit of mess. Honestly he wasn't sure that he'd really call any of it mess anyway. His own room was littered with plants and was likely far more difficult to navigate through than Daisy's room was. He watched her as she looked through her things for something to sleep in and when she asked that question, he shook his head.
"No," he told her, biting his bottom lip. "I can turn around if you want some privacy." There wasn't a point in leaving the room really when he could just turn around after all. If she wanted him to.
--
Daisy waved her hand, dismissing his concerns. The whole idea was to convince him to bed her and she saw no problem in hiding her body. Without waiting for Neville to give some sort of token protest, she began to change right then and there, kicking and tossing her clothes off into the vague direction of the hamper.
"I'm not sure, but I think we may have something that will fit you." If Neville didn't mind wearing something left there by Marcus Flint.
--
Neville was distracted by her undressing. He'd opened his mouth to protest that he wanted to be a gentleman and that gentlemen didn't watch ladies undress without offering them privacy, but apparently Daisy was fine with him watching. And she was beautiful. Not that he didn't know that already, of course. Seeing her with less clothing, though, made his brain flicker a few times. He almost didn't catch her words and had to blink a couple of times just to reset his thoughts and allow himself a moment to remember how to speak.
"That's okay," he told her, shaking his head. "I've got an undershirt. And boxers. It's cool. Right?" It wasn't much different than shorts, after all. She'd seen him in shorts before. He usually slept in his boxers anyway so that wasn't much of a change.
--
Daisy had to bite back her smile at Neville's look. Alright, maybe that was a bit underhanded of her, but she was glad to see that she had some sort of effect on him. She pretended to fuss with the pillows as Neville got undressed, though she watched out of the corner of her eye. "Do you have a preference when it comes to side o the bed? I have a tendency to monopolize and will likely end up on your half no matter what." Daisy gave him a cheery smile.
There was a small voice in the back of her head telling her that she was really trying too hard and pressuring Neville where he didn't want to be pressured. Maybe he didn't want to spend the night. Maybe he didn't want to sleep with her. Daisy did her best to ignore it.
--
Neville got rid of his socks and shoes, then his pants and the shirt he'd been wearing. He warred with whether or not to leave the undershirt on or take it off, but left it in place for now because he'd mentioned it to her and figured that was the right thing to do. He didn't want Daisy to think that he only wanted to be with her for one thing. No matter how much he might have been fine with being on the receiving end of that one thing, he didn't only want that. Neville was content just to have her company. And her kisses. Those he certainly wasn't going to refuse.
"I don't have a preference," he told her, giving her a smile. "And you're welcome to take over my half too," he assured her. He'd be an idiot to not want her close. The thought of it was enough to make his face turn a little red. He tried not to think too much on that, though. "Never thought I'd be in your bedroom about to have a sleepover," he commented. That probably made it sound like a little kid sort of thing and Neville's face reddened more. "I mean, not a sleepover, but…," he shrugged. "I never thought I'd be getting the chance to sleep in the same bed with you."
--
By then Daisy was already in bed and she was grinning at him. "Sure. We can have a sleepover." Patting the area beside her, she wondered if she should add a comment about not biting, but decided against it. She didn't want to be accused of lying. Seductress maybe, but that depended if Neville relaxed or not.
She would never admit it, but it would be slightly strange to sleep next to Neville. She couldn't remember the last time she slept next to someone else. Maybe Evan? But that was a while ago. And in previous.... engagements, she rarely slept over. To sleep in the same bed... well, she would just fake it until she made it.