Oliver Wood (olliewood_) wrote in vrrpg, @ 2017-04-12 15:31:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, char: oliver wood, char: romilda vane, location: residence, time: 2009 04 |
RP: Family Dinner
Who: Oliver, Romilda, Angus Wood (NPC), Penelope Wood (NPC), Edwardine Wood (NPC)
What: Romilda is meeting the family
When: Sunday, April 9th
Where: Scottish Highlands
Warnings: Lots of fluff, light swearing because Scotland ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Oliver hadn't entirely thought out his plan to take Romi to meet his family beyond the initial burst of excitement upon receiving the text from his mum with the suggestion. It was also convenient as Eddie also would be in attendance minus the husband and kids owing to her work bringing her back to the UK for a week. Everyone in the immediate Wood family (minus Logan) would meet Romilda; a fact that terrified and elated him.
He'd nervously told Romi - several times - what to expect and all the little quirks that she might run into: Angus' loud, booming voice and tendencies to get fired up over the seemingly smallest thing. Penelope's good natured but busy-body gossipy habits and Eddie's dry, biting sarcasm. There were other facts peppered through out that Oliver talked until the last minute but his words were lost when the Portkey activated.
The appeared on a wind swept hill far in the outer Hebrides. If it weren't for the surprisingly modest cottage<\a> the land would have been empty. Oliver smiled at his childhood home, looked to Romilda and nodded.
"Ready?"
***
Romilda had been relieved to find that Logan wouldn't be in attendance. He knew her as 'Victoria Aderyn', the writer on the set of Confessions, not as 'Romilda Vane', and she preferred to keep it that way for now. It was one more thing she didn't need to deal with tonight, at least. Of course, that didn't stop her from being nervous about absolutely ~everything else. Romilda had never met the parents before. Never. Not once. She'd never had a relationship - with the exception of Franklin, she supposed, though his parents had already passed - last long enough for this to even be a question. But here she was. She nodded to herself before the Portkey took them.
Stepping back slightly when they'd landed, she smoothed the front of her dress, having opted to keep things simple today. She swallowed, "I'm nervous, if I'm honest? Are you sure you want them to meet me?" Other than having never done this before, she was worried about her age - she was younger than Oliver, after all, her race - she'd had more than one person object to her dating white wizards before, her career - she knew they didn't approve of Logan leaving Quidditch to act... There was so much that could go wrong.
***
"I'm nervous too," Oliver confided, looking down to her with a soft grin. "But we have each other. It'll be alright." Sliding his hand over hers with a soft squeeze, he shrugged, adding, "Besides, mum is the one who invited you. The hardest part is over." He omitted the fact Penelope Wood had extended this offer to every potential partner her children were possibly linked to since their Hogwarts days; Romilda didn't need to know that.
This would make the third time he'd brought over a date to meet the family. Fourth if Katie coming over during the summers (mostly for Quidditch) counted. This time however the relationship wasn't something out of convenience or the result of a smart PR move. Everything with Romilda felt so simple and free. And Merlin did she look cute. With a nod and another grin, Oliver marched up the garden path - at the moment bare from the winter but a riot of color in the summer - and opened the door.
"Hey, we're here!" He bellowed, receiving an answer from a woman somewhere near the back of the long hall. The inside of the large cottage reflected the rustic exterior in the way one would expect of a home on the moor.
"Och Ollie!" Penelope emerged from what was obviously the kitchen, drying her hands on a forest green apron crossed with blue and a single line of red running through the middle of the blue crosses: the Wood clan's tartan. "Welcome home, love. And hello Romilda, I'm Oliver's mother: Penny." It was incredible just how much Oliver looked like her: they sharedthe same buttery yellow hair, blue eyes and smile. Her voice, while thick with a broad Scottish accent, held low, raspy notes of sophistication. "Love, I made rosemary shortbread cookies. The ones you like."
"Yeah?" Oliver peered eagerly around his mother.
"Your Da and Eddie are in the kitchen as well, then. Romilda, do you need anything?"
***
Romi was surprised by his admission, but grateful for it, too, and so she gave him a small smile and nodded. Oliver's family home was... perfectly Oliver. And his family also seemed just uniquely, rightly, him. There seemed to be a warmth and love in the home. Romilda's childhood had been very pleasant, her parents loved each other, they were fairly well off by muggle upper-middle-class standards, but she'd been very much their child. Separate from them, somehow. They were loving and affection to each other, clearly still mad about one another, but with her there was a bit of distance, still now. Here, that clearly wasn't the case.
When Penelope greeted her so easily, Romilda smiled, though she was still nervous. "You have such a lovely home, thank you for the invitation," she said, sincerely, though her voice was a little higher than it might be otherwise. Romilda was a people person, she didn't tend to have trouble making new friends - but she was also a drug user and (former?) slut with a list of ex lovers as long as Oliver's leg. Meeting the parents was bound to be nerve wracking.
Shaking her head she said, "Oh, no, thank you, I'm fine," she said with an nod.
***
The instinct to bound down the hall much like an excited puppy ready for a treat overtook Oliver to the point he'd moved a few steps forward and paused; he couldn't leave Romilda behind. She'd confessed her feelings on meeting the family and leaving her alone with his mother (no matter how nice a person she might be) would be a selfish, stupid move. His last relationships failed due to this one-track-mindedness and Oliver wouldn't let the same thing happen again... Not with Romilda.
"Och, this auld hoose." Penny beamed at the compliment of her home. It certainly wasn't there stylish Glasgow flat she'd had in her youth but it was her home. "Cheers. It's easier to keep it neat without the wee barra cutting about all day." Her deep blue eyes lingered appreciatively over Romilda's outfit and she sighed. "Such a lovely lass. I remember when I wore clothes like that." Despite her subtle longing Penelope maintained a fashionable wardrobe for a Scottish housewife in her upper fifties. "Well, cummoan, to the kitchen!"
Oliver nodded, excited to see Eddie and eat the short bread cookies.
***
Romilda was proud to have seemingly said the right thing. She wondered what the Woods would think if they really knew her. If they saw beyond the cute, appropriate dress and sweet smile. She wondered for a brief moment what Oliver would think. But that was a worry for another time, and so she smiled and followed him and his mother into the kitchen, laying eyes on his father for the first time, and recognizing his sister from photos she'd seen in her former work, but not letting on as much.
***
Upon entering the kitchen Angus stood up to his impressive height of 6'6", a wide smile shining through the dark blond beard that matched his hair.
"There they are!" He roared expectantly, moving forward to hug his son. Angus looked every bit the classic Scottish male should: wide but sturdy, with a majestic beard and a kind but weather beaten face. Oliver looked a lot like his father as well in the shape of his face and sturdy body; it appeared as though Oliver had been created using the absolute best traits from his parents. "Hello, hen." Angus smiled down to Romi, moving to hug her as well.
"Da," Eddie drawled from the kitchen table, pushing back a lock of riotously curly hair. "You're gonna frighten her. Not everyone likes hugs, we've talked about this." Looking put out, Angus lumbered back to the table before heading over to talk with his son. "You can sit with me, it's safer on this side." She winked a dark blue eye at Romi as Penny bustled about the kitchen. "Besides," she added in an undertone, "once they get into the food it's all over."
Oliver, who had been rooting around for the promised cookies, looked over at his sister. "I dinnae dae that!" His Scottish accent slipping through the practiced London accent.
Eddie smiled, rolled her eyes and looked back to Romilda. "So, Oliver says you're an assistant?"
***
Romi was fully expected to be folded into the oncoming hug but was grateful nonetheless when Eddie came to her rescue. She gave a sigh of thanks and a smile toward Oliver's sister and nodded as she headed to sit where Eddie had indicated. "Hi," She said, putting out a hand in greeting, "It's so nice to finally meet you, Oliver talks about you and the family all the time," she said honestly.
She laughed at Oliver's outburst, and nodded, "Yes, you do," she got out between giggles. At Eddie's question she calmed a bit, "Used to be. I was at the Prophet for a few years, but I recently left. I'm working on Confessions, now," she said with a small bit of pride, but hoping Eddie wouldn't ask too many questions -- she was still writing under a fake name, after all.
***
Eddie seized the offered hand, her own warm and very soft. She had no doubt Oliver spoke of them often given just how family oriented he - and the rest of them - were.
"Oo the Prophet," Eddie smiled mischievously. "Is that where you met Oliver?" Some days, especially during the season, it seemed as though her brother lived at the Prophet given how often he seemed to appear in their paper for interviews and photoshoots. Upon the mention of 'Confessions' Eddie's smile flickered. "Listen," she added in a hushed tone. "Let's talk about that later." Her watery blue eyes focused on the back of Angus as the happily chatted away with Oliver.
"So the Prophet!" Penny set down two steaming mugs of hot toddies for the girls. "You must have many stories "
Again, Eddie rolled her eyes, looking at Romilda. "Ma loves her gossip."
"Och, Ed, nothin' wrong with being a wee bit informed." Penny countered, sitting across from the two. "Besides it's so glamorous: a pretty lass in the big city working for the paper. Ollie said you do a bit of writing. Anything for them?"
***
Romilda watched Eddie's eyes flit to Mr. Wood and her own widened in understanding, she nodded in a small, unobtrusive way and mentally kicked herself for bringing it up. Of course, Logan.
She laughed along with Eddie's rolled eyes, trying to downplay everything, "Not for the paper, I never did, I was an assistant. I'm surprised Oliver would mention my writing, I don't often let him see any of it..." she said, sending him a look that asked why?
***
"Everyone underestimates the assistant, they always let on more than they know. Hear things, they do." Penelope nodded sagely while Eddie burst into laughter.
"Mum you have got to stop reading those ridiculous novels!"
Penelope paid her daughter no mind, instead remaining focused on Romilda. "Och he's talked a great deal about you. He's a bit warm on you, afterall." She smiled, so pleased her son found a nice - normal - girl to bring home. "Dinnae get cross though, he's just told us the basics."
***
Romilda couldn't help the small blush that came over her cheeks at hearing that Oliver had talked about her to his family. She knew how important his family was to him, and to know that he'd told them about her warmed and embarrassed her at once. "The basics are pretty much the whole story." She lied through her teeth, "We actually met at the Inaugural Ball, I helped him properly pair his cupcakes with a glass of wine."
***
Both mother and daughter laughed so hard at Romilda's admission to her and Oliver's meeting the two men paused in their conversation.
"Wot?" Angus eyed the table mischievously, a grin spreading behind the beard.
"That's so Oliver. Always rootin' for snacks." Eddie giggled. "You didn't tell us cupcakes brought you two together." Immediately Oliver's face flushed red and he grinned in an embarrassed sort of way.
"Ah, well, they were Mel's cupcakes..." His voice trailed off, not needing any further explanation. Eddie sighed in a long-suffering sort of way, holding up her hand in defeat.
"Yah, say no more. Merlin I hope my boys don't pick up the Wood gene for eating." Penny nodded in agreement.
"You'll never be able to afford it. The boys were nightmares to keep fed." The red hue in Oliver's cheeks deepened and his hissed for her to stop. "Oh Merlin, Oliver, I'm sure Romilda has long ken your favorite hobby is food."
***
Romilda laughed at the last comment as well, a biting remark about food not being his only favorite hobby just at the tip of her tongue but she swallowed it back. "It works out pretty well, cupcakes are probably his favorite part of the story, but I can hardly shut up when I'm talking wine, so I'm sure he found me insufferably boring right off the bat," she joked, giving him a fond look.
She could do this, right? She could have evenings like this? Sitting around with family joking warmly and lovingly and all with Oliver. Forever?
***
"Yeah you were awful," Oliver joked, peering hopefully into a wooden cabinet for his cookies. "All I wany dae is eat cupcakes and she won' stop going oan and oan about the notes of this wine and where it came from and how it'll pair so nicely with this cupcake because of this flavor in it." He smiled warmly to her, feeling the intense rush of a run away imagination of the many nights ahead of them that could be just like this. "I guess it was worth it."
Penelope excused herself from the table to resume her cooking, though not before fishing out the still warm shortbread from the oven. Oliver gave a whoop of delight, hurried to the table and eagerly plopped down the treats while excitedly telling Romilda how much she's going to love the cookies.
"I'm a wine girl myself," Eddie nodded, looking at her barely touched toddie. "Living in Spain has absolutely ruined me. So, go on then, Romilda. What's your poison?"
***
Romi's eyes lit up at Eddie's question, "Shiraz, definitely, I believe I sent Oliver with one not long after your youngest was born..." She thought that's where he'd headed after their second one-night-stand. "But anything dark red, pinot noir is an easy pick," she laughed at herself, "gods, there I go... Sorry. What's your favorite?"
***
Oh gods a girl she could nerd out with over wine. So many of the Spaniards, having drank it all their lives, were not as excited when it came to wine. Eddie herself had never really enjoyed it (having only access to cheap imports) until living abroad in Spain. It was as though she'd been woken from a long sleep comprised of overly harsh alcohol and ales.
"Oh so you're the one!" Her smile widened. "Yes thank you, I needed that. Miguel is so fussy and I hadn't the time to find a good wine." Indeed, she loved her children but she couldn't pretend this extended work trip wasn't something she looked forward to. "Me? I'm like a good Prosecco lately, especially as spring approaches. A nice Cab is always welcome too. I'm also really big into Sangria and always have some I've made - generally on Saturday mornings when everyone is still asleep. If you ever visit you should have some."
Oliver, happily munching on the rosemary and sea salt cookies, looked to the small basket curiously.
"Well, what would these pair with?"
***
Romi leaned over and sniffed at his cookie. "Rosemary?" she thought for a moment, "Riesling for a white, not one that's too sweet though, and for a red... Sangiovese?" She asked, turning to Eddie for confirmation.
She turned to look more fully at Oliver, "Your sister has good taste," she gave him a smile.
***
"Riesling, absolutely." Eddie agreed. "Those are very savory." She picked up a cookie and bit into it, making an offer to Romilda.
On the other edge of the kitchen, Angus hovered around his wife, trying too hard to look casual. Now and again he'd make idle chatter, all while eying a delicious looking white sauce. After a few turns of Penny's back, he seized the moment and launched a hidden spoon at the pan. A loud crack and a yelp of pain followed.
"Fookin' dafty div," Penny rounded on her husband, brandishing a wooden spoon. "You were never a Seeker. Your speed is shite." Her glare matched Angus'. "Now goan, oan yer trolley," she pointed to the table, frown deepening. before I hex you to the hall. Dobber." She muttered the last word under her breath as a dejected looking Angus lumbered to the table.
"Rotten luck, da." Oliver scooted over. "She's right though, you were a Beater. Plus mum Ken yer ways like." Angus sighed, looked to the untouched toddie, and sighed again. Eddie caught Romilda's eye as though to say 'all the men in this family are overdramatic', and handed over the drink.
***
Romilda watched the scene play out in delight. She'd never seen a family this... comfortable with each other. Her parents had always been in their own little love bubble. Not much room in there for a child. To see it in person she wondered what it might have been like to grow up like this... Would she had turned to self-medication and meaningless sex to make herself feel better? But that was a thought for another time...
"What was it you were trying to sneak?" She asked, the food smelled incredible, even if she didn't have nearly the appetite of the Wood men.
***
At least they had delicious hot toddies to the raise the spirits. Angus thanked his daughter and took a long drink. "Ah," he sighed again almost morosely. "Penny's making a sauce for the lamb." Eddie looked up curiously.
"Oh, one of our lambs?" She knew they were getting up there in years but hadn't realized just how long it had been since her last visit.
"Yeh, nearly a week ago. Jezebel."
"Jings," Oliver muttered. "I thought the auld biddie would never die. Absolutely rotten, she was." Eddie nodded in agreement, having too many memories of Jezebel and looked to Romilda.
"Erm, if it's too awkward we don't have to talk about her. It was a bit of shock to my husband when mum mentioned we were having chicken: one of our own chickens he'd seen the day before." Despite herself a grin cracked her serious expression; that had been such a hilarious event.
***
Romilda couldn't hide the slight look of shock on her face but she smiled at Eddie's explanation to cover, "I never had pets, so don't worry about an emotional attachment from me," she joked, but the truth of the statement - no emotional attachments for her, thank you! - hit her a little close to home.
"You raise your own? Just lamb and chicken?" She wasn't sure what else there was - did they have cows outside, too?
***
"Their ma always wanted a farm," Angus explained. "After Eddie was born I retired from my Quidditch position and helped Pen run a bakery in town. Once Oliver came about she decided she no wan tae focus on the family, so we stepped down from the bakery - stayed on as silent owners - and I returned to Quidditch as a coach for Portree. It helped pay for the farm and raise the bairn right."
"We used to have cows. Not had them since Logan was wee." Eddie nodded, wishing she had a bottle of wine: both her and Romilda clearly needed it. "It's just lambs and chickens these days. Couple of cats too, but we don't eat those." She added with a wink.
***
Romilda couldn't help it - she laughed out loud at Eddie's last night. She looked up at Oliver with a sparkle in her eyes and joked, "I don't know Oliver, I think I may have met the only person in all of the UK who could steal me from you," she joked, but immediately thought back to the illicit messages she and Blaise had sent just last week.
Of course, Penny's attention seemed to be peaked at that and she turned, looking for Romilda with a question in her eyes.
***
"I wish we still had dogs," Oliver pouted, thinking fondly of the two herding dogs from his childhood: Aussie and Shellie. If it were up to him and things were different Oliver absolutely would have a lovable mutt to call his own. But, given his schedule, maintaining human relationships were difficult enough.
Penny had turned to look curiously at Romilda and Oliver. They were a great looking couple, and their affection obvious. Still, her son had unlucky with romantic endeavors and his status she wanted to make sure this pretty little witch who'd captured her son's heart was in it for the right reasons. She spelled the bread to rise a little more quickly and hurried over to the table.
"So. Romilda. Just how serious are you with Oliver?" Her voice, politely casual, held a sharp hint of danger.
"Mum!" Both Oliver and Eddie protested, only to be waved off by Penny's free hand.
"Och, it's a valid question. You might not have seen it, Ed, but he took her as a date on a red carpet event. That's very serious."
"Mum, Romilda and I are fine." Oliver groaned, shooting an apologetic look to his girlfriend. "Honestly. Things are good, mum, I promise."
***
Romilda was taken back by Penny's direct question, and she honestly didn't know what to say at first but as Oliver tried to calm the questioning down she reached out and took his hand. "I've never known anyone like your son, Mrs. Wood. He's an incredible man and I've been very lucky to get to know him these several months," she looked at Oliver with all she felt for him, "I don't know if that's quite what you were wondering, but... It's the truth." She shrugged a little bit, but didn't let go over Oliver's hand.
***
There were parts of Oliver that, based on experience, feared Romilda would go away. He worked so carefully to make it right this time, to make sure she wouldn't feel neglected like Melinda, coerced like Lisbeth, or simply convenient like Katie. No, this time he should do it right and make sure Romilda felt every bit as cherished and appreciated as she deserved to be.
Romilda's hand slipped into his and the nervousness faded away. Merlin he loved - no, strongly felt affection for - this hand. She had so much power over him in that a simple glance could level Oliver.
There wasn't anything else to say. Oliver simply stared at Romilda with a rush of pride and adoration. The answer seemed good enough for Penny, who nodded.
"Mum you're so crass." Eddie facepalmed, thinking of spelling wine into existence.
***
Gods, when had Romilda really began to feel this way? When had she started putting Oliver above The Birdie? She had, she knew it, and just the thought of how strongly she felt for him sent her chest into a vice of fear and anxiety and she wouldn't think of that now... She wouldn't imagine him learning her truths and leaving her, hating her, feeling nothing for her at all anymore...
She looked to Eddie, grateful for the light interruption and she laughed. "Crass has it's purpose," she added, sending Penny a smile.
***
"See, she's a tough burdie." Penny smiled back satisfactorily, and strode off to her stove with a spring in b walk. If things went well she'd have more grandbabies before too long. Eddie, however, sighed and shook her head while making a mental note to never harass her children's partners like that.
"Pen is just protective of her bairn." Angus shrugged, surveying Romilda fondly. "Yeh do well here, hen. I can see why Oliver has taken a shine to you." A small pop caught his and a Oliver's attention; Eddie had magicked a nice red Shiraz into existence with only two glasses.
"For the girls." She smirked. "We're gonna need it." Angus scoffed, and stood up to find himself and Oliver a nice ale. The girls could have their silly wine.
***
Romilda thanked Angus for the compliment - she was pretty sure it was a compliment, anyway - and laughed with Eddie as they poured themselves wine. "This is perfect," she admired the bottle, "Like I said, Oliver, she's got good taste."
She was suddenly much more comfortable - whether the break in the tension or the wine, she couldn't tell - and dinner was served soon after. The meal passed as Romi was treated to stories of young Oliver and quidditch glory from Angus and Penny and she laughed right along with them the whole evening. This was nice. This was something she could do. She might have to keep reminding herself of that, but... it was something she could do.
***
Dinner passed in a blur of lamb chops covered in a thick, buttery garlic-and-rosemary sauce served with crisp forfar bridies, black pudding, mince and tatties, various berries and Scotch eggs. Plenty of wine and ale filled their cups as Oliver heard various recounted stories ("oo and the time you cried so hard because Eddie pretended she'd hexed you invisible and we all played along!"; "Remember when we'd kip to Glasgae and Da convinced you the ice cream trolley only played music when it was out of ice cream?").
Overall the night had been a complete success: they were well fed, sufficiently watered and Oliver's family absolutely loved Romilda. Whatever reservations had crept across his mind as this day drew near were long laid to rest.
"Well," Oliver sighed, stretching to look at his watch. "It's after nine. We should get going." Merlin he felt like an old man saying that, but practice came early and he wanted to spend ample amount of time kissing all over his fabulous girlfriend.
***
Romilda looked up surprised, "Is it really? I hadn't realized," She slumped a little, "I have to be on set at 5, I'm so sorry," she had really had a good time, and knew Eddie wasn't in country very often, so hated to cut things short. She looked to Oliver, "What time is your first practice tomorrow?" Would he come home with her? The opposite? Was this the end of their evening? Or could she make this warm, totally undeserved feeling of happiness last just a bit longer?
***
Eddie stifled a yawn, glancing out the window. "We're so far north that the sun is up longer, it really messes with you. It was awful in the summer, the sun almost doesn't set for a few weeks."
Penny, hurriedly preparing Romilda and Oliver a care package, nodded. "Yes, and opposite in the winter too. Can get a wee depressing like." She sighed, looking at the dark purple sky fading into a navy hue. Despite her cosmopolitan tastes Penelope would never want to live anywhere than the Highlands.
Oliver stood, stretched, and gathered a large pot containing floo powder; it was less glamorous than a portkey but he didn't feel like waiting for the necessary charm and permission from the Ministry.
"Five? Oh hen." Oliver frowned, feeling guilty. His plans to cuddle her until he couldn't tell where he stopped and she began would have to wait. "You should have told me. I need to be on the pitch at eight." He looked curiously at Romilda. "I mean, if you want to go home..."
***
Romilda sent an innocent look at Penny and then laughed, "I'm used to it, it's better than the all-night shoots were doing," and she shrugged, giving Oliver a look that said 'are you really inviting me over with your parents standing right here?!'
She took a pinch of the floo powder, though, after thanking all three Woods for a wonderful night and telling Penny again how gorgeous their home was and how happy she was to have met them all. She looked up at Oliver and asked, "All set then?" With a smile before stepping into the floo and calling out Oliver's address.
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