InsaneJournal

Who: Vanessa and Tessa
When: Recently
Where: Much Ado About Books
What: Catching Up with a friend
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Completed gdoc



While Vanessa regularly held readings at the bookshop both she and Tessa were busy so they were not always able to have a full conversation. After speaking with Capable Vanessa had found a day where Tessa did not have meetings or deliveries and decided to stop by for a proper talk with her friend.

Entering the store she greeted the staff, handing out coffee and cookies before making her way to Tessa’s office and knocking on the door.

Having finally found a day to herself, Tessa had retreated to her office on her lunch break to get some reading in. She’d been so busy lately that she had really struggled to fit any quality reading time in. Curled up on her comfy sofa with Hobson’s Choice, there was a new tv series airing in the UK that she wanted to watch and that it would be good to read it before then.

Looking up as the door to her office opened, she smiled at Vanessa as she knocked and entered. “Vanessa! Hi! What brings you around here?” she asked, popping her bookmark in as she closed the book, put it to one side and went to greet her friend.

“Hi, I hope I’m not disturbing you. Capable told me today would be a quiet day so I thought it might be nice to stop by and catch up. We don’t get a lot of time to do that, even though I’m here regularly” Vanessa said, “I bring coffee and cake” she added.

“Oh no, not at all! I was just taking some time to catch up on my reading,” Tessa smiled, offering her friend a seat. “Coffee and cake is, as always, much appreciated but not a necessity. Thank you,” she said. “How have you been?”

Vanessa smiled as she moved into the room and sat down, “I won’t take up all of your day, I promise” she said with a mischievous grin, “I’ve been well. I think Presto and I have found a buyer for the house and our own is coming along well. How are you?”

“That’s fantastic news! Congratulations!” Tessa clapped her hands together joyously. “You should have some kind of soiree for your friends to show it off when it’s finished,” she suggested. “I’m doing well thanks, really busy these days, as I’m sure you know,” she laughed, knowing how long it had been since she’d seen her friend due to her work schedule. “Will, Jem and I are thinking of going to the UK for Christmas. I’ll be meeting their families for the first time,” she looked at Vanessa with a slightly worried expression.

“That’s a lovely idea, maybe even a Victorian themed party. I think that could be fun, a little play on my dreams. Yours too if I remember rightly” she smiled at Tessa, “Oh how exciting. That will be wonderful. Don’t look so worried, I am positive that both sets of parents will adore you” she reassured her.

“Indeed it is, and Jem, Will and I still have our Victorian costumes from Halloween too,” Tessa winked at her friend. “I’m sure meeting them will be fine. I just...I’m worried that hearing about our relationship and seeing it, well...it might be a different story if you know what I mean…”

“Oh I see. Of course” Vanessa nodded, “I imagine William’s parents will be a little more...open minded perhaps?” she asked, they did after all know exactly what Will was like whereas Jem always seemed quieter and a little more reserved. At least he appeared so to Vanessa whenever they had met.

Tessa sighed and nodded as she pushed some hair back from her face. “I hope so. I’m probably worrying about absolutely nothing and everything will be fine, it’s just something I’ve been worrying about. I wasn’t sure I could talk about it with Will or Jem,” she bit her lip.

“I’m sure they would like to know your concerns, even if all they do is reassure you” Vanessa said, “Worrying alone will only make it seem that much worse, especially when you are there. Ideally you need to be as relaxed and yourself as possible”

Nodding at her friend’s sagely advice. “You’re right, you’re absolutely right,” she nodded, smiling at Vanessa. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring the mood down. Tell me more about your house and everything,” she asked, patting her friend’s knee and reaching for a coffee.

“Not at all, I’m glad you told me” Vanessa said, “I’d hate for you to be worrying about it all alone” she assured her friend. “Oh well at the moment there isn’t much to tell, we’ve designed it all together and it’s been built to our specifications. I’m rather excited”

“I’ll say! Oh! Are you going to have your own study? Where you can do readings and have all your books around you?” Tessa asked before taking a sip of her coffee.

“I am indeed. That was one of the things I definitely wanted. I’m hoping to focus my abilities a little more and having a space of my own will be perfect. I’ve also planned a small library too since Presto and I love to read and learn” Vanessa admitted. She knew not everybody could afford to build a home with such a room.

“Oh that sounds idyllic, I’m so envious!” Tessa bit her lip as she imagined what the room would look like and what books she’d fill it with. “You must be so looking forward to it!”

Vanessa smiled, “We are. It’ll be nice to have somewhere that we can say is entirely ours, it’s something we’re both looking forward to. I’ll be sure to invite you over as soon as it’s done, I’d like to see if you approve of how I organise the books” she grinned.

“Oh I wouldn’t dream of commenting on one’s organisation of books! It’s such a personal thing,” Tessa smiled. “I know people who organise it by author, by genre or by colour,” she said with a little laugh before taking a sip.

Vanessa laughed, “I would still value your opinion, though I’m afraid you won’t find any rainbow shelves in my home, I cannot abide the thought of splitting up books in a series” she grinned.

“Then I will come and give you my opinion, but you are free to ignore it entirely if you so wish,” Tessa smiled. “Now, tell me some more about what’s been happening with you” she took a sip of her drink, looking forward to hearing more about her friend’s news.