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nikolas vaisey doesn't need a broom to fly (besserwisser) wrote in wished,
@ 2009-12-26 23:10:00

Entry tags:

!1997: 12, !incomplete, daphne greengrass, npc

Characters: Daphne Greengrass and Astrid Vaisey
Setting: December 26, 1997 at Flygt Manor, about an hour after breakfast
Status: Incomplete
Summary: During the Vaisey trip to Sweden, Astrid decides to investigate her potentially future sister-in-law.

If there was one thing Astrid Vaisey was not known for, it was subtlety. Even for a nine-year-old girl, she was markedly precocious and tended to speak her mind on matters of all kinds. This morning, she had eaten breakfast with the family (and their special visitor, who she had been observing with uncharacteristic silence these past three days) in a strange bout of aloofness, very intent on eating the hot buns, bacon, and fruit set before her. As soon as her parents had permitted her departure, she'd run out to the stables and spent a good forty-five minutes watching some of the reindeer grazing. She'd wondered if she ought to throw something in there to cause them to start and, maybe, fly around a bit.

Knowing that if she did such a thing her mother would be furious, Astrid had instead wandered back into the manor, cheeks and nose reddened from the cold. She supposed Nikolas must be off with Daphne. Daphne. Astrid wasn't sure how she felt about the older girl yet, but was certain she'd have to form some opinion, whether for better or worse. Today, preferably. If there was one thing Astrid knew, it was that opinions of others must be formed quickly - and three days had been far too long. Although, she certainly admired the girl's looks and style, and Daphne had gotten her the most lovely gifts for Christmas.

After properly disposing of her outdoor clothing and snatching an orange from the kitchen, Astrid sauntered down the corridor that led to the guest quarters, listening for any signs of life. Maybe she'd catch her brother and Daphne snogging, or something else amusingly exciting. As she was shooing away one of the remaining wolfhound puppies that had begun trailing her, she heard a small noise from the guest room she knew Daphne to be staying in. Ah hah. Didn't sound like snogging, perhaps (although, what did snogging sound like, anyway?), but at least there was someone there.

With little regard for the guest's privacy, Astrid walked right up to the door, open just barely a crack. She pushed it open and barged in, a look of curiosity on her face.

"Oops! Hello! Fancy you being here." She raised an eyebrow and picked at the orange peel absently. "Alone."

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besserwisser
2009-12-27 06:25 am UTC (link)

"No, nothing wrong. I just haven't talked to you much at all and I can't very well come home from this with out an opinion," Astrid said matter of factly.

She gave Daphne a sly grin and chuckled briefly. Astrid was observant, and read the surprise in Daphne's face. If anything, she found it amusing. Instead of stringing that out, she returned to the topic of gifts. It seemed safe...for now.

"Our mother said the same thing, about them being a weird gift, but only once. I was the one that kept pestering him, yet he did it anyway. It's not as though you could really have much use for them back in England anyway, it doesn't get that cold there." She stroked her chin. "At least the Christmas gifts were better. I think, anyway."

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daphne__g
2009-12-29 05:16 am UTC (link)

"Good enough," Daphne nodded. Astrid was certainly more... outspoken than Astoria, and that sly grin made Daphne smirk. Nikolas only spoke briefly about his younger sister before, so Daphne didn't really know what to expect. In the back of her mind she was picturing the girl to be an obnoxious, whiny, nine year old - luckily, that was not the case.

"Merlin, no." Shaking her head, she pushed the box off her lap, "And when we're not in England, we're in Greece or Marseilles. Two very warm, Mediterranean locations. So, there is really no need for them..." Her voice trailed off briefly as she looked at the boots in the wardrobe, "Though, it seems I might start spending more time here." Daphne wanted to say 'because of the marriage' but she couldn't pull herself together enough to say the M word.

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besserwisser
2009-12-29 05:33 am UTC (link)

Astrid's eyes widened in interest and childish curiosity.

"Ooh, Greece and Marseilles? How exciting!" she said, the pitch in her voice just short of a squeal. "I've only been to France twice, and it was Amiens. Greece sounds so amazing though."

Needing a change in position, Astrid folded the leg that had been dangling off the side of mattress neatly beneath her. She narrowed her eyes shrewdly and studied Daphne's expression. The older girl seemed suddenly uncomfortable, and Astrid didn't take long to figure out why. She knew that Nikolas wasn't very fond of the marriage idea, and imagined that Daphne must not be either.

"Perhaps," she began, looking down at the bedspread and picking at a single loose thread. "You know, I thought it was silly they had you come with us to Sweden. Our home in England is much less...well, it's probably closer to what you would be used to."

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daphne__g
2009-12-29 05:48 am UTC (link)

Daphne had to smile as Astrid's eyes widened, "It is. My father is Greek, and my mother is French, it's only expected that we have homes there. Perhaps, one of these days you can come visit our home in Greece. After all, your family was gracious enough to invite me." Daphne did wonder if that was proper etiquette. She wasn't sure what was considered to a proper courtship. Was this even considered "courting"?

Daphne's gaze followed Astrid's to the bedspread, watching closely as the girl picked at a loose thread. "I don't mind," That was a lie, inside, Daphne was steaming mad. She was mad her parents for accepting the invitation, she was mad at them for forcing her into this entire mess. "I suppose, this is just giving me some insight into what my parents are getting me into."

Clearing her throat, she glanced over over to window, "So, tell me, Miss Astrid, what do you do for fun around here?" Daphne was dying to change the subject to something other than her predicament.

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besserwisser
2009-12-29 05:59 am UTC (link)

"Well," Astrid said, her eyes moving up and to the right, as though the thought may suddenly appear in midair above her, "I suppose it depends on your idea of fun."

She gave Daphne a very serious look, suggesting a gravity that this conversation didn't otherwise appear to have. "I like to spend a lot of my time outdoors with the animals, or exploring the grounds. Shopping in the towns and city is a lot of fun, as well. Especially now, when everything is lit up. But, you don't seem very keen on the animals, or the weather, really, so I can't say that any of the things I tend to do here would strike you as enjoyable."

Perhaps this had been a bit blunt and, well, rude. It was rare that Astrid saw much point in sugar coating things, but just after she finished speaking, she looked a bit embarrassed. It wasn't Daphne's fault that this wasn't her cup of tea, and Astrid supposed she'd sounded rather accusatory just not. For someone who hadn't been raised in this sort of environment, this trip would seem downright bizarre. Daphne had been dealing with it quite well, all things considered.

"But, er," Astrid added quickly, looking back down at her hands, "There's other things. Indoor things." She searched desperately for something. "Cliche, maybe, but I do enjoy chess."

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daphne__g
2009-12-29 06:32 am UTC (link)

Daphne could appreciate honesty, she wasn't very fond of sugar coated answers. It wasn't like Astrid's observations were very off, either. Daphne wasn't much of an outdoors type of girl, she hated animals... at least all the drooling, biting, clawing, loud types. Especially the kinds that insisted she be their friend and attempt to drag her into freezing lake water. Yes, the squid incident was still very fresh in her memory, and likely left her traumatized and wary of animals for the rest of her life. It was a mystery how she was dealing with all the animals at the Vaisey's home.

Fixing her wool skirt over her knees, fingers smoothed out invisible creases. "You are correct," An amused smirk curled on her lips, "I'm not very keen on animals, or the weather." Nodding in agreement, Daphne wasn't very fond of shopping either. Most of her time at home was spent playing the violin, or spending time with Astoria, or Audrina, or Blaise. She wasn't a very social person, and would prefer to spend her time curled up by a warm fire reading a book rather than shopping.

"Well," Daphne reached for the gorgeous chess set the Vaisey's got her, "I have yet to try out my new chess set. Perhaps you could like to play a round?" Arching a finely sculpted brow towards the girl, a challenging smirk curled on her lips.

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besserwisser
2009-12-29 07:45 pm UTC (link)

A small, more reserved smile spread across Astrid's face, and she nodded.

"I'd like that," she consented, "I'm decent enough at it, but Nikolas tends to beat me."

She reached over to where the set was resting and took one of the black rooks in her hand. Holding it up to examine it more closely, she admired the craftsmanship, and wondered if perhaps she ought to ask for something similar the next time an occasion arose. Astrid already had one, but she'd been with her parents when they had purchased this one, and had been secretly coveting it since. Still, she liked gobstones more at the moment - something she may eventually outgrow, her father had implied (perhaps more hopefully than he'd intended).

Waiting for Daphne to set up, Astrid inquired, "Have you ever played him?"

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