April 5th, 1890 — An Enchanted Easter Brunch: Croquet and Egg Hunt

Oh to be a child again! January had watched almost longingly as the children partook in the Easter Egg Hunt. What fun it looked to chase after the eggs and not have a care in the world. Instead, she was taking part in the croquet bit which was happily almost as much fun with its little flourishes. She had managed to advance pretty well and was genuinely enjoying herself.

On this turn of hers, her ball - a little chick shaped one - went running off... and rightcup the leg of a gentleman which made January's cheeks flush red.

Hurling; 24+, acab

  

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set by stefanie!

Jack had been enjoying the croquet, it was a little slow for his liking, but then what was to be expected from someone who flashed around a field as fast as possible for a living. He had been leaning on his mallet waiting for his turn and trying to look very interested in the widowed mother of a young debuntate who had clearly decided that he was worth an assessment, when there was something tickling his leg and it was making a bee line up his trouser leg!

At first he tried subtly to be rid of it, shaking his leg below the knee but as whatever it was reached the ticklier flesh of his thigh he couldn't stop the little jig that the tickles caused his leg to twitch. 'Ex...CUSE me.' he managed to half laugh out in the general direction of the widow as he dropped his mallet and moved away from her. He spotted the young lady behind him, looking a tad sheepish. 'Are you be..HIND this...' he laiughed out as the tickles over took him. It didn't feel like a tickling charm! It was far too localised.

He was now ridiculously hopping on one leg trying to cause the little object to come back down the way it came. 'WhAT have you DONE to me?!' he laughed good naturedly, now reasonably sure the lady was responsible!

  

January watched as the man began shaking his leg. She couldn't help it - she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling. He just looked so funny trying to shake the animal-ball off without being obvious about it.

She didn't know what to say when he seemed to realize that she was the reason that he was currently dancing around from leg to leg. "Not intentionally," she said, unable to help laughing a bit since he seemed to be in good humor about it. "My croquet ball ran off and right up your.. well, I think you know where it is now better than I do." All that was visible to her was just the slightest little bump moving up and down his leg.

  

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set by stefanie!

Jack slapped his thigh hard, hoping to pin the little ball in place but he missed and it skirted down his trouser leg and took off towards the garden. He laughed heartily, and indicated with his thumb towards the garden. ’I suppose it would be rude of me to not retrieve it.’ He could see the bushes closest to them shudder and shake as the ball ran blind through the groves of bushes.

’I’d appreciate your help’ he took a step or two in the direction the ball ran, ’especially since I don’t really know what it looks like…feels like certainly. ’ He offered a lop sided smile

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January was glad that the man seemed willing to help her get the ball back. It seemed like it would have been quite a feat to do it on her own. The bushes were shuddering with movement and January was mildly embarrassed that her ball seemed to be the most lively one in play thus far.

"It was shaped like a very round chick," January explained. "And it was yellow." Probably to be on theme. Now that she was looking at him without him jumping around, she realized she recognized him. It was Jack Cardew, Captain of the Cannons! Oh, how thrilling!

  

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set by stefanie!

'Come on then!' he offered smiling and heading towards low columnaid that separated the green from the flower beds. He was already half way down the first pathway when the flowers starting spitting at him, powdery puffs of pale green, blue and pink. 'Oh Merlin' he exclaimed, having forgotten entirely about the blasted flowers and their 'charming' trick of spitting those insipid colours at them!

He was trying as best as he could to defend himself the onslaught of the flowers with the broad palms of his hands, with a laugh he looked over at his companion and raised an joking eyebrow. 'Now look what you've got us into!' he exclaimed his voice full of laughter at the harmless powders affronting the fabric of his previously pristine morning suit.

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January followed after the man and gasped when the flowers began spitting at him. She could not help but cover her mouth to hide that she wanted to laugh. At least it seemed so far that he probably would not have minded even if he knew. His suit was now an array of Easter related colors which made for quite the colorful sight indeed.

"You look quite festive, at least," she said with a chuckle as she walked a bit closer and allowed for the flowers to spray her skirts as well. "And now, you are not alone in it."

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Jack Cardew

  

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set by stefanie!

Jack couldn't help but stand like a statue in the midst of the flowerbed, involuntarily wincing as each puff made contact with him. His dark suit now a patch work of pinks, blues, purples yellows and pale greens. He looked like a child's drawing of a man in a suit.

'I shall have to watch myself' Jack said, his face suddenly stern, 'Or Mister Lytton will be copying our style.' he dissolved into laughter, before noticing she was laughing at his misfortune. 'Hey!' he exclaimed 'This is all your fault! you and your ball!' he accused teasingly. 'Not content to accost me at croquet!' he laughed, 'And is Mrs. Rosier has me thrown out for vagrancy I shall tell her who to blame!' With Quidditch quick reflexes he turned one of the flower heads just as it drew 'breath' to spit another puff and aimed it at her.

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Despite the fact that this was her first time personally interacting with Mister Cardew, January already knew better than to take his stern expression too seriously. "Oh, I am quite sure," she said in a mock-serious tone. Though she knew Mister Lytton was likely to be more horrified at their current appearance.

She squealed in girlish amusement as he aimed a flower at her. "And I would do it again!" She said teasingly even though the entire thing had been an accident.  It could not be helped, the mans playful nature only served to call forth her own.

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set by stefanie!

Jack laughed at her teasing taunt. their gambol through the flowers was proving to be more fun than the croquet had been. He wasn't a particularly good player, and the pace of the game bored him to tears usually. Running off on their own adventure was much more his speed than daintly knocking little balls through small metal arches.

'Miss Lynch I should hate for us to be enemies, arch nemesis even but I am a competitive man, I cannot possibly allow something like this to go unavenged.' he joked, and with large hands, he slapped the front of his dark suit sending puffs of loose pigment into the air causing him to end his joke in a cough.

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January would probably be getting a stern talking to by Mama Lynch but she could not bring herself to care. Things had been tense since Februarys elopement and it was nice to just have fun. It was a little out of character for her usual shy nature but the man was charismatic.

January laughed and shielded her face from the puffs of pigment. "Are you all right?" She asked in concern when he began to cough, ignoring the bit of blue now resting on the ends of her hair.

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set by stefanie!

'I'm sure I'll live Miss Lynch' he joked, 'I'm made of sterner stuff than that. ' he said, his voice a little rasping as the powdery pigment seemed to adhere to every drop of moisture in his mouth and nose as soon as he drew breath. 'Although a spot of tea might be in order' he had to admit that the colour in her hair, and on her clothing, although not natural were becoming, especially when coupled with the young lady's energy and vitality. He was an outgoing man himself, and finding someone who could match him in silliness and good humour was a rarity. Many ladies of their particular class where either so over awed with his position or tarred him with the brush that Fitz Prewett had dipped, as the man who had taken up the mantle of the Cannons captain. 'Would you care to join me for tea Miss Lynch? I will let you pour as penance for your ghastly attack!' he joked.

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"I shall be glad to," January said when Mister Cardew asked if she would join him for tea.  The brunette was quite pleased with her luck  as she followed the man back to the tables where some other event attendees were having tea and snacks.

  

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set by stefanie!