April 25th, 1890 — The Painted Lady

The time was coming fast for Clarissa to finally debut into society. She had enjoyed her time as a Pendergast Rose but she was looking forward to joining her friends that were already out in society. Such as Eloquence! She had owled the other young lady that she would be home in Hogsmeade on Saturday. Her parents had signed her out for the weekend and she would have to go back Sunday Night. They had only done this so that she could attend her fitting for her Coming Out gown at Lyttons. The affair was planned for June so the gown was going to be a light, summery thing.

But she had April and May to get through yet. For now, she was just glad for this little bit of stolen time with a friend that her parents didn't wholly approve of. Not that she had ever shared that fact with Eloquence for Clarissa was the sort that did not want her friends feeling badly for things that could not be helped.

Eloquence Higgs - hope you don't mind a surprise!thread XD

  

Eloquence arrived at the Painted Lady only moments after Clarissa, already clad in a fond smile — for she saw Clarissa rather less than her other friends on account of the stringent restrictions at Pendergast. The two had met during their first jaunt on the Hogwarts Express nearly ten years ago, and although they had been separated at Sorting they'd become part of a life-long group of friends — nicknamed the Gillyweeds.

"Please tell me you haven't already had your fitting done", she narrowed her eyes suspiciously as they sat down. For Eloquence had every intention of attending Clarrisa's fitting for her Coming Out gown. It was one of many coming-of-age moments she had to look forward to; and these moments were always best savoured with a good friend.

  

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"I have not but we have time for some tea and a chat before I must attend to it," Clarissa assured brightly. So far, she was quite pleased with how the dress was coming along. The design she had been presented with was beautiful with little rosettes along the bodice to commemorate her time as a Pendergast Rose. "I don't think you would forgive me if I hadn't had you come along with me."

  

Loq nodded her approval with a smile, and ordered them some tea and warm scones.

"You must be so excited", she mused as she recalled the months before her own coming out. "Not just to finally be free but also to debut... The Dress."

  

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"I loved it there but I am ready to be able to go about to all the fun events you all chatter to me about," Clarissa said in agreement. She would remember her time at the Pendergast School of Young Roses fondly but all girls eventually did have to grow up, she supposed. "The dress is looking to be a work of art. As one would expect of a Lytton gown, of course."

---

  

Loq beamed at the thought of it; one of her oldest friends dressing however she wished (within reason) and dancing wherever she wanted (within reason). It would be the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

"So, Cici", she began a new train of thought as their teas arrived, and helped herself to a sugar cube. "What are your greatest memories from Pendergast's?"

Eloquence and her mother had agreed she'd be Finished privately, and although she'd been sad to miss out on Pendergast's when some of her friends had attended, ultimately she'd been able to enjoy much more freedom, and was perpetually grateful for it.

  

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Clarissa smiled in response to the question asked. "I loved being with the other girls. Our outings, our sewing circle, learning to dance. It was a lot more than the etiquette class we're all required to take at Hogwarts." It had been Clarissas best class and it was a shame they didn't take OWLS and NEWTs for it as she surely would have gotten Outstandings. "And now I have a lot more social connections."

---

  

Eloquence nodded fairly, understanding and appreciating the joys and advantages of Cici's experience. But privately, Loq didn't regret being finished at home — it had given her a lot more time for reading and writing, speculating and investigating. And speaking of which...

"So were there any strange happenings at Pendergast's? Any curious legends, any secretive ghosts, any lurkers in the night?"

  

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"Not in particular. It was only established in 1884 so it hardly has any ghosts occupying it," Clarissa said with a mild shrug of her dainty shoulders. "Lurkers in the night, however, were plenty. Secret lovers being the usual suspects." Not that they had much luck. Pendergasts School was fairly protected from intruders.

---

  

Eloquence peered at Clarissa curiously, privately wondering if there was a chance she had garnered one of these secret lovers of Pendergast...

But no. Loq felt she would know if her friend was such a girl.

"Did you ever catch any clandestine lovers at play?" she asked cheekily, imagining young men scaling turrets and leaping out of windows.

  

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Clarissas fair cheeks turned crimson in response to the cheeky question. But it just so happened.. "Not one that had snuck into the school. But a beau that had paid the chaperone to look the other way so that he might kiss his sweetheart. I walked into the garden they were in and it was quite shocking to witness in such a setting." She had been kissed before but even so, that had been quite the sight.

---

  

"Really", Eloquence enthused with hushed amusement. Clarissa painted quite the picture — a (literally) stolen moment in a garden, witnessed by a shocked Rose who, presumably, hadn't said a word about it until now.

"If word spread at Pendergast that there's a bribeable chaperone, I imagine that chaperone must be really quite popular. And wealthy, at that!" she added jokingly.

  

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Clarissa had known that out of all her acquaintances, Eloquence would be the most interested to hear about a stolen garden moment. "Oh, I'm certain! I bet she isn't the only chaperone of the type." Unfortunately for her, her father tended to hire only the most straitlaced of chaperones for her. Not that she had ever needed cause to bribe a chaperone. Yet. "Would you bribe a chaperone?" She asked with a teasing giggle.

---

  

Eloquence would've liked to have faked a scandalised expression at Clarissa's question, but instead she couldn't help but laugh. "No, no..." And it was not because she was too well-behaved; it was because... "that would be far too easy. If one feels the need to break the rules, surely it's not worth it unless there's a little challenge involved."

  

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"Really, Loq. Sometimes you make me feel that I will one day see your name in the Daily about some scandal you were involved in," Clarissa could not help but say with a girlish giggle. Such had happened to her before and for the most part, it had been the other party that chose not to continue contact.

---

  

"Not a scandal, no", she mused back thoughtfully, stirring sugar into her tea. As much as Loq enjoyed a bout of good gossip, she drew the line at getting herself into true mischief, for she didn't want to disappoint her father. But she was dangerously curious. Her friends, like Clarissa, knew that about her.

"Unless I'm solving a sensational murder mystery, of course", she added cheekily.

OOC: Happy to fade out whenever. <3

  

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