Tweak

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Tweak says, "MEEP!"

Mandy Brocklehurst (_broccoli) wrote in veritaserum_rp,
@ 2011-06-30 21:29:00

Who: Mandy Brocklehurst, Alicia Spinnet, maybe Fred?
Where: Ali's place
When: June 30th 2006
What: Checking on Ali's violets when the other girl comes home unexpectedly early.

Mandy's weekend had become decidedly harried when she agreed to check on Alicia's plants. It was only a few days after she had promised, surely they couldn't have been dried to death. If the flowers were still alive, they were save-able. She was Mandy Brocklehurst, Ravenclaw-graduate with a knowledge and knack for greenery that far surpassed just a thumb.

Having sneaked the spare key as Alicia had instructed her, she stood, lips pursed, in front of the violets she had been sent to check on. They were wilted for sure, slumping over the pot as if depressed. Pulling a pouch from her purse, she set it near the poor plant and searched for a cup or jug to refresh with water.

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ali_spinnet
2011-07-01 04:54 am UTC (link)

Although Alicia hadn't been due home until Friday evening, her coach had surprisingly let the team have their leave a day early. Perhaps it was because they had won their game earlier that week against the Wimbourne Wasps. Personally, Ali thought maybe he was coming down with a fever and not in his right mind. Whatever the reason, she wasn't going to complain. She loved being home and seeing her friends.

Trudging up her front walk, still very sore from practices and games, she unlocked her front door with a flick of her wand. As she stepped inside, she heard a sound and was immediately on her guard. With her wand out and ready to hex any unwanted intruders, she peered around the corner and nearly sighed in relief when she saw it was just Mandy. "I'm home early!" she called out, before covering her eyes and shuffling into the room. "Tell me, did my plants make it or have they gone to the greenhouse in the sky?"

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_broccoli
2011-07-01 05:18 am UTC (link)

Busied with running water and proper measurements flashing through her head, the blonde jumped when a voice broke through her thinking. Her gaze shot up, shocked slightly upon seeing Alicia around the corner with her eyes covered.

Relaxing her shoulders and giving them a slight roll, Mandy shut off the faucet.

"Well," she stated, sounding rather grim, "They're certainly clinging to their garden death beds, but as soon as I administer this feed and some water, they should very well live to see another week or so."

"Welcome back!" she added in a much cheerful tone.

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ali_spinnet
2011-07-01 05:26 am UTC (link)

With a grin spreading across her face, Ali uncovered her eyes and ran to give Mandy a hug. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed, examining her precious violets. Yes, they did look a little bedraggled, but she had full confidence in Mandy's ability to restore them to health.

Turning back towards the front door, she charmed her bags to float up to her room, before collapsing on the couch. "I feel like it's been ages since I last saw you, but it can't have been more than a few weeks. What's new?"

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_broccoli
2011-07-01 05:40 am UTC (link)

Mandy squeezed the other girl with about as much force as she could muster with one arm, the other still clinging to the handle of a small jug, "It's no problem, you know that," she smiled.

Blowing her bangs out of her face, she gave a small wave, "Oh, nothing of ringing importance. Business is steady, broke up with that bloke, Alan, while you were gone.." she trailed as if talking about casual things like a new blouse or change in weather. Alan had been a rather intelligent bloke Mandy met through a set up blind date. They lasted about a month before she couldn't take his clinginess much longer.

"Oh! Brilliant with the last game by the way. Your lot really mucked up those Wasps." Mandy wasn't a big fan of Quidditch, but she followed along to support Alicia.

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ali_spinnet
2011-07-01 05:56 am UTC (link)

"What happened with Alan?" Alicia asked, tucking her legs under her and leaning forward so her arms were resting on the arm of the couch. "He seemed like a nice enough bloke." She'd only met him once, maybe twice, though, so it wasn't really enough time for her to form a proper opinion of him.

Laughing, Alicia nodded enthusiastically. "Didn't we? It was so intense, I think both teams combined used up at least a tonne of bruise paste," she joked.

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_broccoli
2011-07-01 06:05 am UTC (link)

Mandy gave a shrug as she grasped the pouch of feed and sprinkled it into the pot of violets before poking it deeper into the dirt with her fingers.

"Dunno, well.." she trailed, "he was a clingy sort. After two weeks he wanted to talk every lunch time and before bed and having dinner every night and I'm really busy, y'know? I don't have nearly as much free time as I did before." Mandy was as dedicated to her work as anyone could be.

She plucked up the jug and poured water over the dehydrated plants. In mere seconds they began to perk from the edge of their pot. Mandy smiled.

"At least no serious injuries for you this time. That's good."

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ali_spinnet
2011-07-01 06:25 am UTC (link)

Making a face, Alicia repeated, "All that after only two weeks? That is a bit intense." She picked at the fabric of the couch and frowned, "It's too bad it didn't work out."

"Speaking of your store, I'm planning on stopping by and visiting it sometime this weekend." Holding up a hand, just in case Mandy was about to comment, she quickly added, "But I solemnly swear not to purchase any more plants while I'm there. I just like looking at them."

"Yeah," she nodded, her tone a little sad, almost as if she wished she had been injured. She sort of liked her battle scars, truthfully, and wore her bruises proudly, though it probably was for the best that she hadn't broken ribs. Again. "Just bruises. Want to see?" she offered.

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_broccoli
2011-07-01 06:34 am UTC (link)

"I thought so too. He was brilliant though. If only he focused more on that," she shook her head, "Well, blokes come and go, don't they?"

Mandy pursed her lips and stared at Alicia questionably, "I'm going to leave this pouch of feed here with you. These plants need a bit more care and will only last about a month or so longer unless you plant them outside, but if you happen to get a healthy new plant and bring it home, this will strengthen it's roots and give it longevity. Which, I'm sure it'll need with your radical schedule."

Making her way to the couch, Mandy sat across from Alicia, "Are they black and blue terrible or thwacked with a broom edge bad?"

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ali_spinnet
2011-07-02 03:00 am UTC (link)

"They do," Alicia nodded in agreement, flashing Mandy a smile. "You'll find someone else soon enough. I mean, if you want to. Really, most blokes are nothing but trouble."

Pretending to look hurt that Mandy didn't seem to believe she wouldn't buy a new plant, Alicia sighed, "Okay, fine. I'll baby my violets and feed them that and plant them out front before I leave next Wednesday."

"Well, they were black and blue, but now they're sort of greenish-purple." She rolled up her sleeve and showed Mandy a bruise on her upper arm. "This is what getting hit by a speeding Bludger looks like."

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_broccoli
2011-07-04 09:24 pm UTC (link)

Mandy waved a hand dismissively, "I won't be actively looking, that's for sure." If anything, others did the looking part for her.

Looking pleased as Alicia seemed to concede, Mandy smiled, "You still need someone to water them. Just getting some sun won't do them any good."

The blonde bit her lip in reaction to seeing the discoloration spread across the other girl's arm. Never having been close to anything resembling a fight, Mandy couldn't imagine it felt very nice but at least Alicia was strong enough to take it. "Still looks painful," she commented.

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ali_spinnet
2011-07-06 12:28 am UTC (link)

Alicia nodded knowingly. "Smart move. Let them come to you. Let them come to you."

"Oh, I suppose I could find someone to sweet-talk into watering them," she smirked. "How often would they need watered? A few times a week?"

"It was, but it's nothing compared to this," Alicia shrugged, lifting the edge of her shirt so Mandy could see the large, nasty-looking bruise on her side. "Got that from a Beater's bat. Stupid bloke was on the opposing team. Said he 'missed'. A likely story. He gave me a couple of broken ribs with that swing."

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_broccoli
2011-07-06 01:01 am UTC (link)

A laugh escaped Mandy's lips, "Right, so..hopefully traffic is lessened enough with that sort of method."

"I have no doubts that you couldn't," she said, tapping her fingers on her knees, "watering is tricky with violets. It really depends on if the tops of the soil is drying out or not."

Mandy's face contorted into a slight grimace at the even larger bruise that appeared next, "Criminy, were they even penalized for such a thing?" she asked.

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ali_spinnet
2011-07-06 01:22 am UTC (link)

"Exactly," Alicia agreed with a firm nod. "Unless you've got a rather clueless bloke. Then you might have to go after him."

Staring at Mandy, she replied, "So what you're saying is, someone should probably stop by at least every other day just to check?"

"Bloody right, he was!" she laughed. "I got a penalty shot and they were docked points. Should have been tossed out of the game, in my opinion, but I don't make the rules." Rolling her sleeve and shirt back down, she stood up. "Want to go out and do something?"

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_broccoli
2011-07-06 11:59 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, I despise the clueless ones..they never quite get it," Mandy moaned with a shake of her head.

"Yes, or you should switch to plastic plants," she said, meaning it for the best as she tucked a stand of hair behind her ear.

Mandy never quite understood all the rules to Quidditch; she was more immersed in her Herbology books when she was dragged to the games by her peers.

"Well, that's good at least," she commented before switching topics, "Sure! Have you had lunch yet? Hungry at all?" The blonde rambled before staring down at the time on her watch.

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ali_spinnet
2011-07-07 11:20 pm UTC (link)

"I've never really understood why people would want plastic plants," Alicia commented as she searched for where she'd dropped her purse. "I mean, all they do is collect dust. They don't have a nice smell or... provide oxygen or whatever it is they're supposed to do."

Finally spotting it in the entryway, she grabbed it and slung it over her shoulder. "Lunch sounds fabulous!" She took a quick look at what she was wearing, debated changing into something nicer, then shrugged. It was Veritas, not London. "I'm ready!" she told Mandy.

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_broccoli
2011-07-08 02:03 am UTC (link)

"Not that I like plastic plants either, but to point out, they do also sell those garden fresh plants down in a shoppe at Diagon Alley. You know, the ones that emit a pleasant scent akin to the plant you buy?" Mandy thought they were much like decorative air fresheners but she saw the need for them for those who enjoyed plants but couldn't take care of them.

Mandy sat up from the couch and grabbed her own purse off the kitchen counter, "Anything in particular you feel like eating?" she asked as she joined Alicia at the front door.

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ali_spinnet
2011-07-08 02:32 am UTC (link)

Alicia raised her eyebrows in thought. "Really? I might have to check those out." She opened the door and took a step outside, trying to determine if a jacket would be needed. It was a lovely afternoon, though, so she decided to go without.

Locking the door behind them, she set off down the little cobblestone path from her house to the street. "Not really. Want to go to that little pub on the corner? It has a nice variety."

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	_broccoli 2011-07-12 01:29 am UTC (link)
	"Perhaps you should. You don't want your home smelling stale when you get back to it," Mandy quipped. "The Red Lion?" the blonde questioned back with a tilt of her head, "Sure, I suppose. It's not too early that we couldn't celebrate your return with a drink too," she said brightly. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ali_spinnet
2011-07-13 02:07 am UTC (link)

She scrunched her nose and made a face at Mandy. "My home wouldn't smell stale anyway. Mum has supplied me with enough potpourri baskets to tide me over until next Christmas."

"And the drinks are on me!" Alicia insisted, linking her arm through Mandy's as they rounded the gate at the edge of her property and headed down the street toward the pub. "I promise we won't get tipsy, though."

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