Jamie Lannister (celticpride) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-03-19 18:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, oliver wood, verity |
RP: New Habits
Who: Oliver Wood and Verity
When: Backdated to Valentine’s Day
Where: Wood Estate
Rating: Low
Status: Complete
Verity had plans later to hang out with Fred. He was going to be her Valentine this year, if Oliver didn’t want to. She’d spend Friday with her niece and nephew, as she did most Fridays. Her brother and sister-in-law didn’t have anything special planned for Valentine’s Day proper, so Verity was off the hook as far as babysitting went.
She was absolutely convinced that Oliver didn’t put much stock in the holiday, which was why she’d asked Fred in the first place. He’d told her to. Besides, it wasn’t like she bought into it, either. Verity didn’t expect roses and chocolates. It was just another day out of the year, really, though a nice excuse to be a little romantic. It would be fun to hang out with her Weasley Twin and have a good time this afternoon or tonight.
But for now, it was brunch time with her favorite person in the whole world. She was polished, wearing a super cute outfit, hair fixed perfectly, makeup flawless. Verity was a bit of a girly girl, though she could, on occasion, get into the mud like the best tomboys. She rang the bell, standing on Oli’s doorstep, and waited for him to answer.
As usual, it took several minutes for Oliver to open (or just reach) the door but when he finally did, he made it worth her wait.
‘Happy Valentines!’ Oliver said, though Verity could not see his face. It was hidden behind an enormous bouquet of red velvet roses which Oliver balanced carefully in one hand. The other was clutching his cane for support, arm sling done away with for the day. It meant a little more pain but the freedom was irreplaceable in that given moment.
Today, Oliver wanted to feel like a normal bloke spending a special morning with his lovely lady.
Verity had not been expecting the roses at all. That was a very pleasant surprise. She went a little pink and her grin brightened, stretching from ear to ear. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” she repeated, then leaned in to smell them. They were absolutely perfect, absolutely beautiful. She reached forward with both hands to take hold of the vase, wanting to bury her face in the wonderful flowers.
‘Beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman.’ He said, stepping aside to let Verity into the foyer.
The smells of brunch had already permeated through the house along with some smooth, light jazz filling the background. Nothing too fancy, but he was trying. Valentines Day had never been his holiday of choice but he could tell it meant something to Verity and he didn’t want to disappoint. Especially after everything he had confided in her, dumping a lifetime’s worth of proverbial rubbish right into her otherwise pristine lap.
‘Come on in. Brekkie’s at the kitchen bar today.’
“You didn’t have to go to the trouble,” Verity said of the flowers, though it was obvious in her voice and how she still had her face pressed into the flowers that she very much appreciated the trouble. She stepped in, pausing for just a moment to tap a kiss against his lips, then headed further into his home, headed to the kitchen bar. It smelled amazing. She was glad she hadn’t had that cup of coffee before she left her place, as much as she’d wanted it.
“What did you make for breakfast?” She loved his cooking. Anything from his kitchen was bound to be fantastic. “...is Alice at home today?”
The line of questioning did not go unnoticed but Oliver bit his tongue in the hopes that his sensitivity on the subject was purely that. ‘No, nae this morning. I believe she left to deliver a gift basket to Grace,’ Oliver explained as he hobbled after Verity through the house. Walking without the flowers was easier, but still a terribly slow progress.
By the time they reached the table, there was no need to explain the menu.
Brunch was a simple spinach and mushroom frittata, nothing too extravagant or heavy in the wake of Tuesday’s pancake celebration. The dish was paired with a medley of fruits, apples, cantaloupe, strawberries and blueberries, as well as fresh squeezed orange juice and French press coffee. All the major food groups: fruit, dairy, vegetable, and caffeine; Oliver existed these days on little else.
However, there was a small surprise at the place setting to which the limitations on extravagance did not apply; the main course already plated. A tiny red box with a satin silver bow carefully centered on a dish clearly intended for Verity.
Oliver said nothing, only took his seat at the counter and began pouring drinks.
“That’s sweet.” Verity said, quite honestly. After talking with Alice at the pancake supper, she knew how much the little girl meant to Alice. She didn’t quite understand the ‘love at first sight’ thing that Alice was talking about, or the ‘meet someone and know you’re meant to be with them,’ because she’d never felt that way about anyone. Except possibly when she met Fred and George Weasley. She was meant to work with them at the shop--they’d become her family away from her family. But everything else in her life seemed to take time to develop. Honestly, she almost felt a little jealous of Alice’s feelings toward Jefferson and Grace. There was a lot about Alice she felt strange feelings about. Verity simply chose to ignore her feelings toward Alice until she could sort them all out.
“You really didn’t have to go to the trouble,” she repeated, finding her seat. And the little box there. She blinked at it, then up to Oliver. “..is this for me?” She asked. She assumed so, since it was at her place, but it was polite to ask before opening it. Though, she didn’t wait for him to answer formally, she pulled it open to find the necklace inside.
It took her breath away.
From the corner of his vision, Oliver caught sight of Verity’s expression and bit back a knowing smirk.
He had picked out the necklace with Alice’s help. Being a cripple meant Oliver did a lot of contemporary window shopping, leaving Alice of The Two Legs to do the running around and actual shopping bits, confirming that the jewelry he picked out was as beautiful and unique in person as it had been in the photographs.
This piece, in particular, he had been especially fond of. If Verity’s speechlessness was anything to go by, she felt the same way.
‘Would you like coffee, orange juice or both?’
“What? Oh.” Verity asked, gently, finally tearing her eyes away from the necklace to look up at him. It was beautiful. He was so thoughtful. So handsome. It was absolutely perfect, the perfect gift.
“Both, please.” She said, giving him a smile. She couldn’t seem to take her hands off the little box with her present in it. She wanted to put it on and never take it off.
Pouring a glass of each, Oliver slid them over to Verity.
“This is really, really beautiful.” Verity said, meaning the necklace. She lifted the box a little and fiddled with it until she could get the necklace out of the packaging. “Can I put it on now?”
She might have asked him to help her with it, but she didn’t want him to have to get up and move around her chair.
Naturally, he did so anyway, slowly and blatantly ignoring her protests. ‘Shove it, it’s all of four steps,’ he dismissed, using the counter and chair to steady himself until he was standing behind Verity. Oliver held his hand out for the necklace and carefully pulled her hair out of the way with the other. As gentle as he was loving, showing her in the only way he knew how that she meant something to him. That she was special.
That she wasn’t just another pair of breasts.
The tiny golden clasp was delicate but Oliver’s fingers were dexterous and he made quick work of threading one through the other, securing the heart pendant over Verity’s chest. ‘Wasn’t about to let you be one of those lassies with a beau and nae something to show for it,’ he said, hobbling back to his seat. ‘If it’s nae your style, ye can take it back and exchange it for something that is.’
“Oh, hush.” Verity said, lifting her fingers to run gently over the gold heart now strung around her neck. She was already in love with the pendant, and wished that she could never take it off. Of course, that was a silly notion. She’d probably have to take it off every once in awhile. “I love it.”
She reached for his collar, leaning over and careful not to knock into anything pulled him in toward her so she could steal a kiss from his lips. “Thank you.” She said, settling back down in her seat. “Though you’ve made me feel a bit guilty. I didn’t get you anything special.”
‘Yes you did,’ Oliver corrected.
Not all gifts were tangible or typically purchased. And yet the presents that Verity gave Oliver on a daily basis were longer lasting and more priceless than the pendant he’d purchased with petty cash.
Since his accident, the value of material items in Oliver’s life had depreciated A typical response to life-threatening situations and one that Oliver had not been able to avoid.
Still, there were worse repercussions than a mentality which forced a person to be grateful for the little things in life.
‘For instance, your smile today,’ he said, dishing food out to both plates from the cast iron skillet. ‘I quite enjoy seeing you smile again...’ They had been through so many terrible traumas, one after the next both physically and emotionally. Not at all the sorts of barriers typical to new couples.
Infant relationships were supposed to stumble over difficulties like blanket hogging, morning breath and who liked it better on top. Their arguments should have been over who was meant to hang up first, not whether or to cut off a limb and chose life, or allow fate to decide.
There were too many aspects which had dampened Verity’s bright smile over the last four months which was why Oliver had strived to file today under the positive influence column.
Thus far, everything was to plan.
Verity blushed deeply at his words, but the smile stayed on her face. If he liked it that much, she’d just keep it on. Besides, lots of things about Oliver made her smile. Now-a-days they didn’t have too many things to smile about. He was recovering from a terrible, terrible accident, and there was a chance he’d never play football again. The little things, like breakfast together or a movie in the afternoons would have to be enough for the two of them for the time being.
Especially since they couldn’t enjoy each other in a sexual, romantic way. Not yet. Doctor’s orders.
She gave a nod, trying her best not to feel guilty about not having something physical for him in return. It wasn’t exactly traditional for women to get something for their men on Valentine’s Day, but Verity wasn’t much for tradition, anyway. If she’d known he was going to get her something so beautiful, she would have tried to show her appreciation to him in a more tangible way. Her hand lifted to rest her fingers against the necklace around her neck, feeling the cool metal grow warmer every second she wore it.
"Still. I thought you didn't like Valentine's Day, or else I would have been better prepared." Even if she didn't bring him a physical present, she could have done more preparations for what else--non physical--to give him. It was nearly the end of his medically sanctioned abstinence, wasn't it? She could have given him a night of love to celebrate the holiday.
'I donnae care for it, no,' Oliver admitted. Why reserve one day for affection above the other equally deserving three hundred and sixty four?
On one level, the same could be said for all bank holidays and feast days. Why one day for mothers and fathers? Twenty-four hours to celebrate Hogmanay or offer prayers of intercession to the dead on All Soul's Day? By Oliver's reckoning, the only proper holidays were bonfire week and Christmas, both traditionally seasonal affairs made shorter and shorter by contemporary social restrictions.
Still, there were a few holidays he loved even within a dawn to dusk setting. Burn's Night, Pancake Day, St. Paddy's, May Day, St. Andrew's Day, all quite cultural, to be fair. If Valentine's was important to Verity, as it seemed to be to most American's, he would learn to like it as well for as long as he called the United States his home.
Only took a bit of training to create a habit.
Reaching across the table, Oliver took Verity’s hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He was trying to be better about communicating everything to her, not just the dark and twisty. 'But you do, so I’m learning to enjoy it.'
They might not be spending the evening together but brunch was a good start.