January 30th, 1888 - Cavanaugh Quidditch Cup Party

Lucinda certainly knew how to throw a party. Her house was jam packed with quidditch players and everybody else who could ever possibly be connected to the sport. of course that meant that Elsie felt entirely out of her element  among the rowdy crowd. Not that Luce would suffer anyone getting out of control, but with one team celebrating winning the cup and a lot of free-flowing champagne, people were, for the most part, in chipper spirits. Well, everybody except the team that had just lost, they weren't too hard to spot either.

Adella had managed to modify yet another one of her dresses to fit Elsie perfectly, but with the bare arms and exquisite beading, Elsie was starting to think Dell was making them more and more noticeable on purpose. It was gorgeous of course, but not something Elsie would have picked out for herself if given the chance. It was a pretty gold though, that she did like. Honestly Els wasn't even sure why she was invited either, though she supposed just being family counted, but in this instance she was certainly not going to complain. Quidditch meant that Tyb would also be invited and that meant they might be able to steal a few minutes to themselves.

Unfortunately so far, she had yet to be able to find him, which was odd, considering they were usually pretty good at wading through the crowd to "run into" one another. What she needed first though, was a little break. Elsie, though she liked to dance, was not the best at it when she didn't know her partner (thank Merlin for Seb saving her more often that was probably appropriate) and with so many people around and trying not to be awkward or shy was not only hard, it was positively draining. After her last dance in which she'd managed to make it through with a lot of concentration, as soon as it ended and she could feasibly make a quiet exit, she booked it to the hallway. A little air outside of the event itself, just a quick walk to gather her thoughts.

Of course her feet carried her to the library, where else would she wind up? It was blissfully quiet and as she closed the door softly behind her with a little click, Elsie leaned against the door and closed her eyes; she finally felt at ease and could catch her breath.

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Tybalt Kirke

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   Tybalt Kirke

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Tybalt expected this party would feel resoundingly different if he were a Puddlemere player, or if the Howlers had won the playoff finals but a few hours ago - as it was, the Howlers had been out (they'd lost to flipping Falmouth, because their beaters were obviously too thick to recall a single rule!) for weeks now, so there had been plenty of time for the disappointment to sink in.

Not that he had any intentions of being a bad sport about it tonight! There had been, equally, plenty of time for the sting to fade, and now all that was left was the desire to make the most of this party and the end of this year's league; he'd happily toast the current champions, and cross his fingers that next season might finally be Hogsmeade's.

The crowd here was as quidditch as they came, which meant no end of familiar faces, and so Tyb had not been in want of diverting company or conversation. True as that was, time was ticking and there was still one familiar face he hadn't seen, and once he had finished the dregs of his champagne, he lowered his current glass and set about another survey of the room. Brown hair, blue eyes; she shouldn't be too hard to find - perhaps there were just too many broad shoulders at this party, getting in the way. Surely she had come, though: the company might be heartier than the species commonly found at the library, but her very own cousin was the hostess tonight! Family had to be able to successfully bully Elsie into these things, else what were they for?

A dance had ended just about now, and amidst the sudden migration to and from the dancefloor, Tybalt's eyes alighted, quite unexpectedly, on just who he'd been trying to see. His eyes widened in delight, but it didn't look as though Elsie had seen him, and by the time he'd woven around the crowd, the hem of her dress had stolen out of sight around the doorway.

He suppressed a smile, left his empty glass on a mantel, and slipped out into the hallway. There was no sign of her here - Merlin, she better not have left without saying hello! - but, undeterred, Tyb skirted along the hall, glancing in at a door or two that were slightly ajar. Deserted. He continued on until he came to a closed door, and paused in front of it. There was a slight risk here - but if Elsie had come in, no doubt she'd have closed the door behind her to find enough peace and quiet to sneak out a book or something, wouldn't she?

Well, he could always scarper if he were wrong. Quietly, quizzically, he knocked on the door.

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   Elsie Kirke

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Letting out a long sigh of relief, Elsie felt instantly more at ease in the dim light of the library. Clearly her cousin wasn't expecting anyone to be in here, though a fire roared cheerfully in the hearth, it was the only light in the room. The crackling of the logs was the only sound aside from her own breathing and it served its intended purpose of giving her the time and space she needed- away from the crowded ballroom. She had to wonder just  how many of these she would attend in the long run; would it be more than she could actually avoid? Something told her that her mother would indeed win this battle, but Elsie had every intention of winning the war so to speak.

With her eyes closed she could feel all the anxious energy dissipate and she generally just felt lighter. She was about to push off the door to find a book- just for a few minutes, when a knock sounded behind her that startled her so much that she yelped in surprise. Quickly she covered her mouth and turned to stare at the large wooden door. There was no possible way that went unnoticed. Drat! Her quiet time was coming to a close far too soon for her liking.

"He-hello?" She called finally, moving toward the door. Elsie sincerely hoped it was just one of the staff making sure there was nobody wandering where they shouldn't be. She may be able to sweet talk her way into getting to stay if that were the case. Otherwise, she had no idea who might have been on the other side. Certainly somebody hadn't seen her, had they? She'd checked to make sure she was alone in the hallway whens he'd ducked in. Sighing, this time in resignation, Elsie moved to open the door and figure out just how she could finagle a few more quiet minutes to herself.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Well, well, well.

The yelp told him quite a lot. Tybalt listened at the door for a moment more, before concluding that there had only been the one yelp, which meant there was likely only one person in the room (thankfully; he didn't want to walk in on... anything) - and what was more, it had definitely been a female yelp.

And then there came the hello, which confirmed his suspicions entirely. Success! He didn't bother replying and didn't wait for the doorknob to turn fully, just edged the door open himself and slipped around it without further ado. "It is you!" He exclaimed in a low voice, tossing Elsie a beam as he closed the door behind him with a breezy flourish.

The beam settled into a satisfied smirk as he awaited Elsie's inevitable shock and exultation at his appearance, sure she hadn't been expecting him (and hoping mildly that she wouldn't mind the intrusion, in this case). His gaze, however, drifted off before he could enjoy it, raking the rest of the room Elsie had found herself in.

"Oh, of course you're in here," Tyb interjected, eyes landing back on Elsie with a knowing glint. "I knew it'd be the library," he informed her, forcing himself to keep to something near a whisper to avoid drawing anyone else here so soon. He raised an eyebrow, folded his arms and added, pretending to chide her, "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" He was still grinning a little too much for it to have much effect.

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   Elsie Kirke

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Elsie had no idea what to expect from this, but of all the scenarios that ran through her mind, this was the best possible outcome! Even before he stepped all of the way through the door, Elsie felt the wave of relief wash over her. Of all the people that could have interrupted her quite moment, clearly Tyb was the exception.

Though her cheeks were already flushed, the pink grew deeper at being caught in the library. Honestly though, it had been the only place she could think of to find solace for a few minutes. She shrugged sheepishly in response, fidgeting a little, though she wasn't really all that sorry about it. Clearly it had worked in her favor!

"I'm happy to see you?" Elsie tried, passing him a smile and raised eyebrows. It was obvious he was just teasing her, but this was an easy way to kind of schmooze around the situation.  Look at how well this had ended up working in her favor! Keeping her own voice low, as it seemed appropriate in the setting, she glanced around the room again. "I just need a few minutes of quiet." She sighed. Though the event itself was quite lovely, no matter how well she thought she was doing, she inevitably hit the wall and needed a break.

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   Tybalt Kirke

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MJ always makes her so pretty

His arms unfolded in dramatic helplessness, giving up the pretence far too fast as she talked her way right out of that. "Mmmhmm," Tyb mumbled in response, mostly meaning I'm happy to see you too, and then merely shook his head at her, more in fondness than exasperation.

"All those rowdy quidditch players too much for you?" He guessed-but-also-teased, mimicking her hushed tone as he took a pace or two closer, a corner of his mouth upturned. All those quidditch players in one room might be too much for anyone, really, and that was before one even accounted for the end-of-the-season feeling. Merlin, Elsie's cousin and her husband were rather miraculous beings to even be hosting such a thing. Of course, he supposed if anyone had earned the respect of the entire professional league, it really ought to be Mr. Cavanaugh, for being in charge of all the sports administration there was. Also, they seemed rather good at throwing parties.

Fun as the party was, Tybalt couldn't say he was finding himself particularly torn about where to spend the next part of the night - party, what party? Disappointed as he would be if Elsie decided to use this breather to crack open a book as she had probably planned, he had already resigned himself to collapsing into a chair himself and perhaps riffling through one himself while she did. But, on the other hand... "Good thing I can be quiet," he pronounced proudly, looking down at her through his eyelashes in feigned innocence, though the next moment he flicked at some of the beading on the bodice of her dress, because he just couldn't resist. That said, it was a pretty dress. A terribly pretty dress.

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Pleased to see that she'd been able to sweet talk her way through that and it worked exactly like she'd hoped it would, Elsie could only smile at his response. It was a cheesy little grin that rarely made its way onto her features; though there was something to be said about the fact that he was the only one who could get her to do that.

Elsie could only nod in response to the comment about too many quidditch players. Too many people in general. "You know I'm only partial to certain quidditch players." She nearly started to feign finding a book, but he moved in closer and all thoughts of moving vanished quickly. Curse his ability to do that to her! Turn about was apparently fair play!

Casting a skeptical glance up at him, she had to cover her laugh to stifle the sound though quickly moved to swat his hand playfully. "You are the loudest person I've ever met, aside from Owen. I highly doubt that." It wasn't a bad thing! He had that commanding, amiable personality that attracted people to him, but could barely sit still in class or long enough for her to tutor him in school, she highly doubted it was much different now!

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   Tybalt Kirke

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Strange that the feeling never quite faded, being here with her. They had known each other long enough, through enough, had been stealing around enough, that he really oughtn't need the affirmation any more that she did like him. (Not that Elsie was the sort of person to say, when she didn't, but even Tybalt would have caught a hint by now, and even the stretches of Elsie's politeness couldn't extend that far, if she didn't). But, as secure as the knowledge was, he couldn't lie that it wasn't always a burst of warmth to hear... Easy and natural and honest, like coming home, or something.

Sincerity of any of that kind was always more of an undercurrent, somewhere below the tide of teasing that was just too much fun to forgo: Elsie had her turn at it now, though he supposed he'd asked for it.

"Hey!" Tybalt protested, withdrawing his hand in mirth. "That can't be true..." he exclaimed, but he trailed off rather hastily as he realised his volume had also increased considerably in that one sentence of indignation. He clamped his own hand over his mouth in melodramatic apology, but that motion only brought on a laugh that he was thus forced to muffle, just as Elsie had a moment before.

She was right, of course. Being quiet was horribly difficult, as unrewarding an exercise as any, and that had made it rather effortless to get along with her little brother, since Owen evidently shared that opinion. Usually unrewarding, that was: here, it was a sacrifice he was willing to make for Elsie's company - and it would be a noble pursuit, especially if they could keep this golden privacy. (Fortunately, he could think of an activity or two that could be even quieter than conversation.)

"Well, I can try to be quiet," Tyb allowed, with another small grin, "just for you. That's how much I love you."

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   Elsie Kirke

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The laugh that bubbled up would have no doubt been just as loud as Tyb's exclamation and so Elsie bit her lip in order to prevent it from escaping. She nearly rolled her eyes at his protests, but couldn't take him seriously. He knew he was loud, it was one of the things she admired about him. To be that confident and self-assured so as not to worry about what other people were thinking of you; it must have been some level of freeing, really.

She watched him carefully, so close together in the quiet, the roar of the party just a dull hum on the other side of the door almost forgotten. This was far more her speed and she knew that; he knew that and he also certainly knew how to make her heart skip a beat without trying. They didn't get these moments often, so few and far between, but the driving force between trying to make them work wasn't something they brought up often. Elsie knew, obviously she knew how he felt, otherwise they would never find themselves in situations like this, but it was nice to hear it aloud every now and then.

"Oh you could, hmm?" She breathed out, meaning it to sound far more teasing than breathless, but Elsie was not exactly very good at being coy when needed. She had an idea as to what he might be thinking, and that thought still gave her butterflies and made her breath catch in her throat.

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   Tybalt Kirke

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Her bitten lip was evidence enough to know that he'd made her laugh, even inwardly - and that was as satisfying a feeling as any could be. Tybalt knew, certainly, that he couldn't be quiet, at least not naturally... but in fact, it was something he admired about her. That she - could bear to be in her own company, in her own head. That she didn't need all the recognition, attention, applause that so many Gryffindors did; her bravery had never been the affected kind, put-on and postured, but something more innate. He didn't think confidence was a thing she could be coached into - knew as well as anyone that her lack of it was downright charming - but he wished she might realise someday that she had far more to be confident about, with all her compassion and caring and cleverness, than most people did.  

Not that she didn't sound entirely comfortable, entirely confident, in her next comment. The teasing could be a challenge, but judging by her tone, they both knew he wasn't above cheating that challenge, if they took conversation off the table.  

So Tyb just beamed at her, bright and knowing. Already pointedly silent, he brushed his hand over her collarbone, coming to rest it at the nape of her neck to better tilt his head towards her and close the distance. (The temptation, with his fingers as close as they were, to weave his fingers into her hair and free it from its more formal style than usual, was extreme.) For that matter, the very moment he kissed her - as much as they had done it before - he always wondered why he hadn't done it sooner; why had they wasted time with teasing and pleasantries when they could have been making out?

(He did want to just talk to her too, he swore. But this - this was also good, this was great, he couldn't complain about this. Conversation could wait.)

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   Elsie Kirke

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These stolen moments always ended up going the same way; and Elsie was not complaining in the slightest. Casual banter and teasing to start, followed by getting a little too bold, especially considering they were at a social event! Anyone could walk in! That was part of the thrill, she supposed, part of the risk, but she was more than willing to take the chance.

Elsie softened into the kiss easily, finally used to the sensation, though it still made her a little lightheaded  (would it ever not be that way?). It was far too easy to get caught up in the moment, in the quiet of the library, in just forgetting about everything else outside of just the two of them. Els steadied herself by sliding her hand over his shoulders, closing any gap they may have had between them. She no longer felt so out of depth here, but still wasn't entirely comfortable either. Not that she was worried about what he would think really, but Elsie had never been good at dealing with things she didn't know the answer to; like what exactly to do with her hands. Though, the more she got wrapped up in him, the easier it was to just kind of go with the flow.

Leaning back for a moment, if only to catch her breath, she smiled slowly, cheeks flushed as usual. "Funny how we always find ourselves here." She chuckled.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Lucinda was, actually, looking for her cousin. Elsie had absconded, and Luce had given her more than enough time to regain her social graces - it was time for Elsie to come out and find herself a husband. A cute, Quidditch playing husband - but preferably a rich one, as the middle class players tended not to have enough money to buy themselves an extra pair of shoes. She knew where Elsie was probably hiding, too. It was the library. It was always the library.

Lucinda slipped through the door as quietly as she could, intending fully on scaring her younger cousin. (Because that was funny.) Instead she found herself faced with a pair. Tybalt Kirke, beater for the Howlers, pretty good but no Lock was making out with her baby cousin.

Or he had been a moment ago. It took Lucinda thirty seconds of shock, and the pair stopping, to fully process.

"ELSIE VIOLETTE BEAUREGARD," Lucinda screeched, glad that the door was closed behind her. She couldn't deal with the boy yet, but would get there eventually.

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   Declan Wood, Elsie Kirke, Tybalt Kirke

Tybalt grinned. “We should probably -” be less predictable, he had begun to murmur in jest, once she’d pulled back. His other hand had come to rest on her hip, and he hadn’t had any intention of removing it, not until -

His head snapped around to the doorway at the shrieked sound of Elsie’s name (her full name) courtesy of the blonde woman standing there who could only be Elsie’s cousin.

Oh, shiiiit. Eyes wide, Tyb sprang back in haste, disentangling himself from her as fast as he possibly could and then freezing a few feet away, even the respectable amount of distance not lending any less an air of guilt. How long had Elsie’s cousin been standing there???

So he really ought to have been better at keeping quiet.

Though he was doing his best not to glance sidelong at Elsie in panic, Tybalt swiftly came to the conclusion that if he was feeling like it would be preferable to fade into invisibility or to quietly sink into the floor right about now, Elsie would likely be hurtling towards having a stroke.

So he cleared his throat with the vague intent to deflect some of the impending wrath his way (had Elsie ever been screeched at before in her life?), even if his brain was ticking much, much slower than his body had been. As such, he hadn’t the foggiest idea what he was going to say to explain this, even as he opened his mouth. “Elsie was just, er, showing me... the library,” he tried, in what was - well, not his finest moment of improvisation. Calling her Elsie instead of Miss Beauregard had been yet another mistake, Tyb realised a fraction of a second later; though he supposed that was not the most glaring issue here. “...It’s a great library?”

(On the bright side, at least Mrs. Cavanaugh probably didn’t know his full name to yell it at him like that.)

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   Bella Scrimgeour, Declan Wood, Elsie Kirke, Ophelia Devine

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Elsie saw Lucinda a fraction of a second before her cousin was screeching her name and Tyb was jumping away from her as if he'd been burned.

Oh, not good. Not good, not good at all.

Visibly paled, Elsie stood in shock, eyes wide as her mind raced for words to explain something- anything. Tyb seemed to come to his senses a little faster than she did (no surprise there!) but what he managed to come up with was not going to convince Luce it was that innocent. Elsie winced a little and dared a glance in his direction. Her expression clearly said stop talking.

What was she supposed to say, "It's not what it looks like."? Lucinda was no fool and Elsie was not a liar; they'd taken a gamble a gotten caught after a long streak of luck. It had always been a possibility, maybe they'd gotten a little daring after being so lucky, but so far it had been worth it! Getting caught by her cousin wasn't the worst by far, it could have been her mother, or a complete stranger, but she could already kind of tell Lucinda did not approve. Now Elsie just had to see how far she was willing to go to get Luce to keep this to herself.

First she had to know what Luce was thinking beyond screeching her name into the previously quiet library and she had no doubt that was coming next.

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   Elias Grimstone

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Elsie was dead silent - although she had not dropped dead yet, which was mildly surprising - and Lucinda listened to the boy's excuses as her facial expression became increasingly less amused. When he was done, Lucinda fixed him with what could best be described as a Look: narrowed eyebrows, flat mouth, a temperamental tapping of her foot against the carpeted library floor.

She put her hands on her hips. "Did I ask you for an explanation, Mr. Kirke?" she said in her driest tone.

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   Elsie Kirke, Ophelia Devine

He could read Elsie's urgent look perfectly, possibly because it was exactly what he had been telling himself at that precise moment, too. He shot her a hasty look of wide-eyed apology. She hadn't said a word yet; she would know better how to field this situation. He hoped. Merlin, he hoped.

And Mrs. Cavanaugh couldn't be more than a few years older than the two of them, Tybalt was reasoning mentally, could hardly be more ridiculously sensible than Elsie (usually) was, could not possibly be as damning a judge as Elsie's mother might be... but she was also now giving him the full force of a look that he could only class as Not Amused, and that was enough to give him pause.

"Er, no," Tybalt admitted, although he wasn't sure if he'd sound stupid for it, if it had been meant as a rhetorical question. "Sorry." He scratched sheepishly at the back of his neck, ducking his head slightly to better display this contrition. Was it too late to rescue this and make a good impression? It was too late, wasn't it?

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   Elsie Kirke

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