RP: Primrose Pink and Priests Who: Genevieve and Quin When: Tuesday, November 14, 2009 Where: Quin & Lance's house What: Catching up and delving into wedding plans. Warnings: None
Life had been unbelievably busy lately, and though Gen was enjoying every minute of it, she felt guilty for neglecting one of her best friends. Quin was experiencing some amazing changes in her life too, and Gen wanted to be there for her through them. And so, she'd let Coop know that he didn't get her after the morning's practice, determined to set aside an afternoon for her friend. Besides, it would give him time to go pester Fitz at the bar or any of his other friends. Maybe even make some new ones--he did seem to have a habit of doing so, which she adored.
And so, after practice was over, she showered and stopped by the cottage for the bag full of wedding ideas she'd gathered together for Quin, grinning despite herself at the signs that it truly was becoming more Addi's home than her own, including the What to Expect When You're Expecting book that sat on the coffee table. That had been a massive surprise, and though she felt a twinge of envy, she was thrilled that her sister was getting to experience this, even if Addi wasn't as confident she was ready for this development.
Once she was at Quin's and had been let inside, she pulled her friend into an enthusiastic, warm hug. "I've missed you so much!" she told her before pulling back and tossing her bag onto the couch. They would get to that soon, but first she wanted to catch up a bit. "How have you been, mon amie?"
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Quin didn't hold any of the busyness against her friend. She'd expected her to be wrapped up in both her husband and Quidditch in the time after the wedding. She was never a demanding friend, if anything, she was the exact opposite. Almost too considerate of the other person's needs and wants. She was a little lonely, perhaps, for the girl time she wasn't getting much of with both her closest friends in intense, busy relationships, but she had the children and of course her darling Lancelot, and her work. And Nancy, of course, who was one of her good friends these days as well, though that was nothing truly new.
But when Vieve had suggested coming over, she'd been excited and enthusiastic, in her way, and arranged an outing for the children with Nancy so that they wouldn't be mobbed the entire time. They'd probably come home while Vieve was still here though, since she knew that her friend loved the children and they regarded her as an aunty of sorts since they didn't really have any, aside from Tate as a brother/uncle sort of figure, given the age difference between them.
So she leaned into the embarce and smiled happily. "I've missed you too! But all those practices, they are paying off on the field!" she said, pleased at the Magpie's success this season. "Oh, all right. Busy with the children, you know. Getting this place moved into properly -- still there are things, it seems at times, that need to be moved or unpacked or aren't in the place I think they need to be!"
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The hug was wonderful and reassured Gen that no matter how much time passed between their get-togethers, Quin was still one of her dearest friends. She laughed appreciatively at the compliment, nodding her head as she stepped back to slip her shoes off and sit on the couch, bringing her legs up to tuck underneath her. "They really are! We're having such a fantastic season so far." She was hoping it would lead to a Cup win at the end of the season, as she was planning it to be her last on the team. While she knew she could juggle the team with growing her family, she didn't want to split her focus that way.
"Of course," she agreed easily. "Though the place looks fantastic!" And she was so happy that Quin and Lance had a place now that was theirs. She couldn't wait for the same for her and Coop. "And I think it makes sense for it to take a while to figure out the right places for things." There was so much she wanted to ask and talk about, but she didn't want to overwhelm her friend with it all at once. "Coop and I finally got the plans approved for the house. I think they're going to break ground next week."
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"I'm almost afraid to actually attend a game now lest the luck go away," she half joked. She was so proud of her friend and the team. She knew it was hard work all around. She made herself comfortable on the couch as well,legs and feet hidden under her colourful shirt as always.
"I've been trying," she said, cheeks faintly pink as she wasn't able to hide her pleasure at the compliment. She'd been working really hard on decorating and redoing some of the rooms. She was a tasteful decorate and tended for elegance and hominess rather than ostentatiousness.
She clapped softly to show her excitement. "Oh my, you must be so pleased!" she said. "So you finally settled on plans?"
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Gen let out a scoffing sound at that, waving her hand. No, she didn't think her friend going to one of her games would affect them poorly. "You should come to our next one," she urged with a smile. She always loved having people she cared about in the stands cheering her on.
"Well, it's paying off," she assured Quin with a smile. But then, Quin's home had always been lovely and put together; Gen had often marveled at it, though her own had never been terribly unkempt. It was just amazing that Quin was able to keep up with it all with two small children.
"I am, oui! And we did, and it's positively gorgeous," she gushed lightly. "A bit of a Victorian feel with a modern flair. It's got the wraparound porch I wanted and a room in a sort of turret for a quasi-atrium. And it's so big! I almost can't believe how big it is, but you know we're hoping for a large family. And how about you, love? You've got the house, the fiance. Next is the wedding and, dare I say, more children?" Quin was a wonderful mother, and she could only imagine how special it might be for her to have children with Lance, though she wasn't sure it was what her friend wanted.
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"I'll make sure Lancelot is free and come." She didn't like going amid crowds alone. She was stlil a bit of a mouse, despite everything, and crowds could frighten her. And also she had the worst luck, running into the worst people amid such places, and still had trouble telling anyone off for doing something to her. Other people? Sure. But herself? Not really. So she'd take Lance. He would enjoy it anyway.
Quin worked very hard to make a good home. Neatness had been instilled in her as a child, when she had to keep everything neat as a pin. It wasn't quite so now, of course, not with two small children, but she managed with Nancy's help to keep it presentable.
"Mmm, I cannot wait to see it!" she said. It was so exciting. Building was exciting,t hough honestly she was happy with the home they'd bought. She didn't feel the need to build, especially anything quite so large and impressive as she didn't have the outward urge to impress on that kind of level. "As you know, I'm partial to Victorian!" A favorite style of course.
She flushed a bit, as she always did at the mention of such things. "Perhaps," she said. "I know Lancelot thinks he is too old, but I do not think he is." He wasn't that much older than her, and if they compared to a regular witch and wizard, they were young indeed. Though she didn't expect the same lifespan, though it was possible. "Of course, I must start with setting a date, and that has not happened yet."
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"I will hold you to that," she teased lightly. Gen knew how much Quin struggled with crowds at times, but she hoped that being treated to VIP tickets helped. If nothing else, it was a little less crowded, but she really would never force Quin to go to her games. It had to be her friend's choice.
She couldn't seem to keep the broad smile off her face, though she did try not to gloat when she had good things in her life, but sharing the good things with her loved ones wasn't the same as gloating, she thought, and she was just as interested in and excited for the good things in Quin's life. It had always been important to her that her friends knew they were cared about as well, that her friendships truly were two-way streets. "I do know that!" she agreed with a light laugh. Coop had told her some of what Hyperion and ZJ had planned, and while it sounded like their house would be amazing, Gen had a feeling Quin would prefer the aesthetics of her and Coop's new home. She could be wrong, but that was her theory.
Gen couldn't help but wonder if there would come a time when these sorts of topics didn't embarrass her friend, though she didn't poke at them to embarrass her. "Oh, he hardly is!" she agreed, rolling her eyes in amusement at the mere thought of it. Even if Lance were a muggle, he wouldn't necessarily be too old. "Well, even if you don't have any more children, though I hope you will if you both want them, you'll still be a wonderful family together." She tilted her head slightly at the mention of setting a wedding date, wondering what was holding Quin back from doing so. "Well, we should probably start there then. Do you have any ideas on when you want it to be? Even just a time of year?" She was determined to help Quin come up with some plans for it, otherwise she worried she might drag her feet indefinitely, plagued by her indecision.
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Vieve would be right -- Quin would like her style much better. Her own new home was in a Victorian sort, a style she and Lancelot both enjoyed and which took to spell work remarkably well, on top of it. But everyone had a right to their own styles. She just was a bit olf fashioned, though in the magical world it was practically forward thinking, if you really thought aobut it.
"I keep telling him, but I suppose the only way to prove it to him is to actually get pregnant." Quin rolled her eyes, ever so slightly, obviously amused. "I would like more kids, honestly. It's not a have-to, but I... would like to have his child." Because the thought made her melt, and she loved children anyway.
Quin hesitated, chewing at her lower lip in the habitual manner she had at times. It wasn't a lack of desire to be married, but mostly knowing that so many others, like her cousin, were also headed that way, and she had the urge to place everyone before herself as she'd always done. It was very difficult for the squib to prioritise herself. "I'm not sure. I was thinking maybe sometime next year? Late spring, early summer?" she ventured. "But that might be too soon, I just don't know."
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Strange as it might seem, Gen wanted that for her friend, wanted Quin to have the full experience with the love of her life. She knew that Quin's first husband hadn't been terrible to her, and she was glad for that, but it was far different from the more passionate love she shared with Lance now. "Well then, perhaps you'll have to get pregnant," she quipped teasingly. She didn't think Quin would ever do something like that intentionally, without talking to and agreeing with Lance that they wanted to try for a baby, but it was still an amusing thing to tease her with.
"Oh, that would be a lovely time! Maybe a June bride?" she suggested with smile. "And it wouldn't be soon at all! If I can plan a wedding in a month, you can certainly plan one in seven months!" Plus she still had plenty of times to get save the date cards out and still have a more traditional timeline for it all.
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Quin laughed. Yes, just what she needed, to kill Lance with a heart attack by getting pregnant out of the blue. "Yes, and then he'd faint, or have a heart attack, and I'd be a pregnant widow and they'd start comparing me unfavorable to the Zabini matriarch!" she joked back, finally after all this time able to do so at least a little bit. It was progress considering many things, and the fact she had mourned her previous husband.
"June would be good," she said. "Maybe... hm. When does school let out again? Should it be before or after that, to make it easier for people who might have children?" she said, ever thoughtful of such things. "I..." she bit her lower lip and worried at it. "I don't want my day to get in the way of anyone else's plans."
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"Oh, come now, he's made of stronger stuff than that!" Gen insisted with a laugh. Although, she really didn't want Quin to end up a widow again. She'd been through enough pain, she deserved for things with Lance to go well and to have a long, fruitful relationship with him. "But just imagine if you and I both manage to get pregnant over the summer! How wonderful would that be, to go through it together this time?" She adored that idea probably more than she ought to.
At the question, Gen's nose wrinkled a bit as she thought. "I'm not sure. Probably early in the month, though, if it is June." She had no idea if Hogwarts had the same schedule as Beauxbatons. "But you shouldn't worry about it getting in the way of anyone's plans! This is your day, and it is beautiful and special and important. Besides, that's what the save the date cards are for, so people know well in advance not to make other plans for that day," she reminded her gently, though she was determined to keep reminding Quin that her wedding mattered, that she mattered. "Do you have a favorite number?" Considering how much Quin enjoyed Arithmancy, she would be surprised if she didn't have a favorite. Or at least one that jumped out at her.
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"He is," she said with a loving smile. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with Lance. She had no interest in anything otherwise. "Well, so far I've avoided being significantly pregnant during the summer, so you never know," she joked. "I'd like to keep that record up, since i hear it's very uncomfortable." Both of her children were born early in the year, after all.
It would be nice to share that with Gen, though.
"Seven," she said promptly. For someone into numbers, and who was something of an academic and dreamer herself, it made perfect sense numerologically. "Or maybe six..." Which as a strongly hufflepuff personality with a large heart, it also made sense, though she didn't think of it in those terms.
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"See, it would time out perfectly!" Because they wouldn't be miserably pregnant during the summer, so they'd avoid the worst of it. Even though they were joking about it, she thought she might continue to encourage Quin in that direction.
Gen pulled out her phone and went to the calendar in it, looking at next June. "Hmm, the sixth and seventh are in the middle of the week, but the sixteenth is a Saturday," she commented. It wasn't the same, she knew, but it was what they had to work with. Out of curiosity, she flipped over to July, her eyebrows raising a bit. "Although July seventh is a Saturday." If the number mattered more to her than the month. Plus it would be 7/7, and Quin might like that, she thought.
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"Yes, though I suppose I'd have to make it for the month before or after the others," she laughed, going with the joke. Vieve was one of the few who could get her to do stuff like that.
"... 7/7, huh..." she mused. The idea had obviously caught her somehow. "You don't think it's too late?" But Vieve had chosen the right tact and appealed to the brainy side of herself. She leaned back and gently tapped a finger on her arm. "You don't think it's too silly?"
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Gen seemed to have caught her attention with the idea of 7/7, and she smiled encouragingly as Quin thought about it. "Not at all! It's a preferable time, I'd think, as people will have time to adjust to their children being home from Hogwarts and others will have likely taken their holidays or be waiting until August. Honestly, I think it's a lovely date to marry on." There'd been no significance to the date she'd chosen for her and Coop aside from their group vacation having already been set for those dates.
"It's not silly in the least, love," she assured Quin before clapping her hands together with a soft, excited sound. "I think you just chose your wedding date!" she gushed lightly.
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"I have, haven't I?!" she said, a spark of pleased excitement in her eyes. "Oh, I do think Lancelot will be pleased by that. I've just been at a loss for it all, really." She'd not planned her first wedding, after all, and now having this one... there were so many options, and so much to do...
"I do... would you be all right if I also had a beach wedding?" she asked shyly. It was one thing the two of them had strongly in common, a love of the beach and the water. Quin had always wanted to do something like that, though if Vieve didn't like it, she wouldn't do it, of course.
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Oh but Gen loved to see that look in Quin's eyes! Her friend didn't spend near enough time tending to her own needs and embracing her own wants, that she was thrilled to see her doing so now, even if it was by her prodding. "Well, that's what you've got me for," she pointed out with a wide smile. She was determined to help Quin sort out as much as they could today so that she might feel more confident in going through the rest of planning her wedding.
Gen's brows furrowed at the question, not understanding at all why she was asking her that, as if she had the monopoly on beach weddings just because that was what she'd chosen! "Of course I would be," she answered immediately, her expression still a bit perplexed that it might even be an issue. "Where else would you get married?" she added, lightly teasing. "Have you got a beach in mind?"
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"And I'm ever so glad I do," Quin said, leaning over and hugging her friend tightly. At least her friends usually remembered she could be bad at this stuff when it came to herself. She needed the little push to do these things sometimes. She'd always been taught that focussing on herself was selfish and so she tried not to, most of the time.
Her smile was a little rueful. "I just don't want you to think I'm copying," she confided quietly. She bit her lip at the question, her mind instantly flitting to the beach she'd pretty much grown up on, in Cornwall. But she sighed and shook her head minutely. No, that would never happen. "Perhaps somewhere outside of Ys?" she suggested, naming the magical French city. "There's some lovely beaches there, and I'm sure Lancelot could arrange the port keys."
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Gen couldn't help rolling her eyes at that, though she knew it was a genuine concern for Quin. "No one will think you're copying, least of all me," she retorted firmly though not unkindly. The last thing she wanted was for Quin to worry herself out of having the wedding of her dreams, and so she was going to do what she could to make sure Quin didn't deny herself the things she wanted most.
There was a look on her friends face, one that told Gen she'd thought of something but then dismissed it, and she gave a mental sigh. Was this whole process going to go this way? With Quin dismissing what she wanted before even giving it a chance? She hoped not. "Hmm, yes, it would be lovely, but what did you have in mind first? Even if you don't think it's possible, I'd still like to know." And she would do whatever was in her power to make it possible. Quin deserved that and so much more.
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Vieve at least knew how to handle her idiosyncrasies with both firmness and kindness. Her smile was a bit sad when she replied. "Oh, I was only thinking of the beach where I grew up," she said. "But it's not really a possibility. My parents are not going to be a part of this, and I have a feeling if I go back there again, they will not let me come back out again." She was a tool for her parents and she knew this. She would be a usefl tool, again, if she were there to do what they wished instead of following her heart. There was no way they would approve of Lancelot. To them she would only be further degenerating the timeline.
"So I think it should be Ys, then, yes. Not everyone has been there, and I did spend some of my youth in that area." And she technically have family there, but not family who would judge her. "I know this priest, who is a wizard. He will likely agree to do the ceremony if I talk to him."
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When Quin explained what she'd been thinking off, Gen sighed and wrinkled her nose. Of course Quin's parents would ruin this possibility, and she wished that there was some way she could make it happen anyway. But Quin's childhood family was simply an area she didn't touch; they wouldn't care for the things she would say and do. "As long as Ys doesn't feel like a compromise but rather a place that excites you to think of getting married in," Gen conceded with a warm smile. She didn't want Quin to feel like she was sacrificing what she really wanted.
"If a priest is what you'd like," she said with a small nod. She knew of at least three people who were qualified to officiate marriage ceremonies if the priest route didn't pan out for her, but if that was what Quin really wanted then she wasn't going to suggest it now. "Have you thought about colors?" It was a small detail, but an important one, in her opinion, as it would help Quin make a lot of the other decisions.
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She did give it a moment's thought. "It's not my first choice, but it's definitely a good choice," she said with a surprisingly firm nod. It wasn't close enough to where she'd lived with Ambrose for it to be a problem, but it was a place she'd definitely enjoyed frequently enough, both as a girl and as a woman. It would be a good choice. "I think it'll do wonderfully."
She smiled. "I'll write to him and ask. It's not the religion, it's just him. He was such a dear friend when I lived in France, but I don't think you two ever really met? He's very sweet. Lancelot met him when we were down there visiting you all and we went out for a day. They seemed to get along all right." Which wasn't always a given, after all.
"Oooh. I was thinking something bright and cheerful. Pinks, maybe? I don't want to wear white, I don't think it would be right for this at all, but I want something all pretty and upbeat beause I really want this. I'm hoping Lancelot won't mind it's not perfectly traditional, but it's really more suitable this way, I think."
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After years of friendship, Gen had definitely learned to read when Quin was compromising to make things easier on others or to make others happy, and this didn't feel like one of those times. She seemed sure of her decision, and so Gen would back her 100% on it. "I don't think I've met him, but I'd be happy to." Though it probably wasn't necessary for her to help Quin plan the wedding. "Will he have any premarital requirements? I know some religious leaders won't officiate unless they see the couple for premarital counseling first." Though she wasn't sure what sort of priest this man was, if he would require such a thing. She just wanted Quin to be prepared.
"Oh, pinks would be lovely!" And so very Quin, honestly. "Are you thinking perhaps a cream-coloured gown with pink accents? I think it would be honoring tradition while still being respectful of your first marriage." She wasn't a first-time bride, even if the circumstances of it had been far from ideal, and if she didn't feel comfortable wearing white, then that should be respected, but Gen also wanted to make sure Quin did, in fact, feel like a bride on her wedding day.
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"I'm not sure. I'll have to write him and ask. Even if he doesn't do the ceremony, maybe he can do a blessing or something." She was secure in the idea of marrying Lancelot. She wasn't going into it blind. She'd taken a lot of time and a lot of thought, and her friends knew the man now too, and no one thought anything bad or thye'd have said so, she knew. "It's a good thought, thanks for reminding me." She'd just been eager to include him in, no matter how she did it.
"Something like that. Maybe blush? Nothing pinker than a primrose, though, I think. I'm sort of seeing like... the inside of a seashell?" she said, sketching shapes in the air with her hands as she tried to explain. She was certain on the fact that white wouldn't be fitting. So she was definitely open to alternatives. "But I want something ... sort of princessy, not clinging or anything like some of them. I don't look good in those sorts of gowns." Or at least as good as some of the others. "But I'm not sure about a train or anything. So we'll just have to look around, I think."
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Gen waved a hand, not necessarily dismissing the topic but somewhat tabling it for the moment. "Do let me know what he says," she urged with a smile. She hoped that this priest of hers would be willing to officiate and give her that little thing she wanted for her wedding.
"I think we'll definitely be able to make that work." Though the color her dress would end up being wasn't a detail they needed to settle right at this moment. She was just excited for Quin to finally be talking wedding plans. Still, she scoffed at Quin's assessment of the style of dresses that would look good on her, shaking her head. "You are delusional if you think you wouldn't look good in those sorts of gowns. You would look amazing. I think what you meant is you wouldn't be comfortable, and that is definitely okay. I deserve to be a princess on your wedding day." And she got the feeling that Quin hadn't had that the first time around. "But we will definitely look around and find you the perfect dress!"