June 19, 1891 - Delaney Townhouse @ the Delaney -Darrow Wedding Brunch

Evander was a fine chap, Percy had often thought, the two got along rather well at the Ministry and it logically made sense that they had become friends over the years. So when Percy had recieved the invitation the wedding brunch he had suggested a weekend in London for Annabeth and they had agreed to attend. After having greeted the bride and groom Percy introduced Annabeth to a circle of Ministry workers and their wives and then offered to find her some lemonade.

He was just turning around with a glass of lemonade in both hands when he found himself face to face with a woman he had once asked to court. Miss Beauregard. He had not seen her since then, had actively avoided her at the social events they had both attended, and somehow had managed to forget her for the most part. But now here she was. Percy swallowed and found himself at a loss for words looking rather like a fish out of water. It was not so much that it was her, but rather that he had not had the least idea that she might even be here.

Elsie Kirke

  

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Elsie had accepted at Tyb's insistence. They had to get the awkwardness of facing public scrutiny sometime, but she would hate to put any kind of negative light on Caroline's wedding. So far only a few scrutinizing glances had been cast her way and thankfully nobody had been bold enough to say anything to her. However, with a wedding band on her finger and her arm securely wrapped around Tyb's for most of the event, she felt far more confident than she had in the past.

She had greeted and chatted with Caroline and left her friend to enjoy her day with her new husband. Elsie was in search of Tyb, running low on energy as usual. She was feeling much better now, no more sickness in the morning and she wasn't quite as tired as she had been, but after a lot of socializing she was worn out. Tyb we very much in his element, but it took so much out of her. She was thankful the baby bump she was now sporting was only visible at home, still hidden by the bulk of her dresses when she was out and about.

She rounded a group of people, catching sight of Tyb briefly, but was interrupted by the clearly surprised face of Mr. Adlard. Well that was unexpected. "Mr. Adlard, lovely to see you. Congratulations on your recent nuptials." Elsie had heard through the grapevine naturally, and it wasn't so recent, but she hadn't thought it appropriate to reach out before this.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

And of course she seemed perfectly natural and here Percy felt entirely flustered. "Miss Beauregard." He greeted her with a half bow, trying to keep the lemonades from spilling. Thankfully that actually worked. "Ah, thank you." Had he heard anything of her recently? He didn't think he had. Had he? Why would he have? Unless Cat had been brattling on about something but he had gotten use to letting Annabeth field most of the gossip even if Annabeth didn't know half the people involved.

  

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Elsie smiled knowingly, though slightly self-consciously. Bless him for not being tuned into the gossip mill. They had always had that in common. "It's um, Mrs. Kirke now, actually." A faint blush crossed her cheeks, but it had to be done. Telling him was awkward, certainly, but the fact that she was actually, truly married, still gave her butterflies, even now, a month in.

Toying with her wedding band idly, Elsie just barely fought of the urge to place her free hand on her growing stomach. She was being very conscious about that. Soon enough there would be no hiding it, but until it was obvious, she didn't want to draw attention to it. "How do you know the bride and groom?" Elsie had no idea if prolonging this conversation was a bad idea or not, but he had obviously moved on and she had too, both had a solid place in life, there was no reason to let things continue to be awkward. Still, she would ask only a question or two and then could part ways, hopefully amicably.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Finally a blush spread on her lips too and Percy could feel warmth creeping into his ears as well. Surely he would have heard if - But he hadn't. "Oh, um, congratulations are in order!" He tripped over the words. "I hope you are very happy." He added sincerely, and truly he did. Elsie deserved every happiness in life, regardless of her role in his.

"Oh, Mr. Darrow and I work together, at the Ministry." He added on, feeling like a hopeless fool. Clearly she would know where they both worked. Although if she were here it was likely because she had a closer relation to the bride and groom than he and it made him feel like he should justify it and say Evander and himself were friends - but it was much to late to say that now. "And how do you know them?" He found himself asking blandly.

  

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"Thank you," Elsie's smile softened into something more genuine. "It's been a long time coming." She said by way of just a little explanation, but didn't elaborate any further. She still felt horrible that she had somehow gotten him caught up in her disaster of a life, but at least they just both been able to move on accordingly. She really did wish the best for him.

"Ah, that's an interesting story," Elsie wouldn't go into the full details about how Tyb had met Caroline, but the thought did amuse her. "My husband meet Mrs. Darrow first," She chuckled. "But after we were introduced, she and I were caught in that shipwreck together, along with another friend." Nothing created a bond like life threatening situations.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Her words brought to mind the whole situation and his impression that there was someone else - much in the vein that Maggie had always been that someone else for him. Mr. Kirke must have been that someone else, he understood now, surely that was what she was trying to say between the lines. Percy may be a bit oblivious at times, but he could understand a bit of nuance.

Percy couldn't help but feel the quirk of his lips at her answer.. He was sure it was probably a good story too, like when he had met Miss - no - Mrs. Kirke. Although perhaps good wasn't the best way to describe it. But then she elaborated and he felt his eyebrows draw close together in concern.

He had known that the now Mrs. Darrow had been missing at sea, had spoken with Evander when it had happened and had offered his services to the Minister to go out and try to help with the rescue efforts (not just for the former Miss Delaney's sake, in fact this whole thing had taken place before he had known she was among the missing) but had been told he was better able to serve in London. But that Elsie had been on the boat, his heart sunk. "I did not realize you had been on the ship." He found himself admitting. "I am glad you are well. I am sure it was a horrible ordeal."

  

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"It was supposed to be one last adventure before settling down, just turned it to be a very different kind of adventure altogether." It had been scary and at times she'd felt hopeless, but they'd survived with minimal issue. She wouldn't be going on a boat any time in the near future and there would be no adventuring at all for a long time, but that was alright too. They were on a different sort now.

"We're quite alright as you can see, no worse for the wear." Elsie still had nightmares about it, but everything was a little askew given the pregnancy and everything else she couldn't tell which way was up sometimes. Thankfully now she had someone to snuggle into when they happened and they dissipated quickly.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

One last adventure, yes, he could see that. It was different for women than from men, it was part of the reason he had insisted on traveling with Annabeth following their wedding, giving her a chance to see a bit of the world before settling her life into Irvingly and marriage to him. Felicity and Cat would have had the same sentinments toward the voyage as well.

"And thank Merlin for that." Percy agreed fervently, not even aware that suddenly it seemed easier to talk to Elsie now than only a moment before. "I don't suppose cruises will be very popular among our set for some time now." He added thoughtfully, thinking of the amount of socitey women who had been on the ship.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

Their conversation had relaxed to something more akin to what they once had and Elsie was thankful for that. Mr. Adlard had always been a life preserver in a sea of people at events like this. Now what they were both happily married, there didn't need to be any tension between them, or so she hoped.

"No, I don't suppose they will be." Elsie chuckled in agreement. "There will be no adventuring whatsoever for a long while anyway." She hadn't been afforded the luxury of a honeymoon (at her own fault) but it certainly would not have included a boat of any kind.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

"I suspect adventuring will be back in vogue soon enough." Percy remarked with a half shrug. "I vaguely remember Mrs. Devine and several others getting stranded in the east, what was it, last year?" Which he had heard of n part because of is job and in part because of Cat. A bemused smile crossed his lips and shook his head. "I for one shall be quite content to adventure through my books." Even if he did get bored at how that translated in his life. He'd never been one to seek adventure but sitting behind his desk after years in the field proved that maybe he had grown more adventurous than he had thought at first.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

"I too shall stick to novels for my adventures." Not to mention raising this baby would be quite the adventure as well. One she was sincerely looking forward to with each passing day. There would be more dirty looks coming her way, she was sure, but she wasn't going to let anyone ruin this for her.

"Did you and Mrs. Adlard get to do some traveling?" Hearing about others travels was fine by her too. It was completely acceptable to live vicariously through those she knew as well. "My apologies, am I keeping you from finding her?" She said as she gestured to the lemonades he had in his hands that they both must have forgotten about in their surprise.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Percy smiled that knowing smile he had often found himself with when talking to the former Miss Beauregard. She had always been such an agreeable companion at events, reliable in her love of books. He was glad, despite it all, that this had not changed.

"We - oh! How rude of me." He glanced Annabeth's way, she was chatting with a smile on her face, clearly more comfortable than he was in such a social gathering. "Would you like some lemonade?" He offered her the glass with a smile. Finding it almost surprising that he wasn't trying to rush away. But he had forgotten how much he enjoyed the now Mrs. Kirke's company.

"We did some. I wanted to make sure she had a proper honeymoon before we settled down in Irvingly." He wasn't sure if Elsie had heard the gossip about his own marriage to a muggle, but he felt no need to highlight that here when he'd brough a muggle right into the midst of a magical event.

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   Elsie Kirke

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Pretties from Lady <3

It hadn't been her intention to keep Mr. Adlard from his wife. When faced with something unexpected she tended to default to overtly polite. That defense mechanism was especially prevalent here.

"No, no, I don't want to keep you." Elsie briefly followed his line of sight to a pretty brunette who appeared to be enjoying herself. "It's very kind of you, but I'm alright." Elsie was afraid the lemonade would upset her stomach, truthfully and that was the last thing she wanted right now. "I'm glad you were able to enjoy a trip. I wish I could say the same." She was prolonging the conversation unnecessarily, but it was nice to have a friendly face in the crowd.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

She had politely given him the chance to leave and yet here they still were. "[b]Perhaps one day you will have a trip more than enjoyable." Percy truly hoped she did have that chance one day. He had not realized how much traveling was something a person who enjoy before they settle down until it was too late. Now that he had he found himself longing to visit other foreign places. He could still remember letters from an American magizooligist speaking of the American west. What a fascinating place that would be to travel to. Perhaps one day.

"I shouldn't keep you, though, I'm sure your husband is looking for you." Indeed he really ought to get back to Annabeth, internally he found himself smiling. Yes, things had turned out well - however bumpy getting there. "Good day Mrs. Kirke." He bowed and headed back toward his wife and away from the woman he had once considered might fill her shoes. How good to know that he had not imagined their friendship when he had sought out courtship - he had only imagined a deeper affection than what had been there. But he had found it with Annabeth, who complimented him in the very fact that she was so very different from him.

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   Elsie Kirke

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