January 10, 2021 – 3:32 AM
Elsie Kirke — Played by Bee
December 31st, 1890 - Hogsmeade NYE Festivities
That all I wanna do is
Be alone with your brown eyes, all tangled up
Just holding, onto you tonight until mornin'
Baby, that's the damn truth
If home is where the heart is
I'm homesick for you
New Years had its ups and downs for them, but they could only hopefully be good from here on out. Another new year, another year closer to hopefully getting what they wanted. At least that had to count for something, right?
Harvey had been tasked with keeping an eye on her, which was excellent because he was pretty terrible at it. Bless him for being so easily distracted. Plus he wouldn't' think anything of them running into Tyb at this point. Harvey remembered them from school at least. Elsie hovered near where the outdoor stalls and booths were set up, Harvey already caught up in talking with somebody he knew.
Pulling her scarf tighter around her, Elsie rubbed her hands together, annoyed at the cold and more so at the fact that this was one of the only ways they got to see one another, unless she chanced a late night visit. It had to do for now though. She moved closer to one of the fires they had outside for the purpose of warming up just as she spotted him. "Hello stranger." She chuckled as she veered off course to come up beside him.
![[Image: Elsie-MJSig.png]](https://i.ibb.co/zFHDHQc/Elsie-MJSig.png)
MJ always makes her so pretty
January 24, 2021 – 10:01 PM
Tybalt Kirke — Played by MJ
Finally. He had been scanning the crowd fruitlessly, for it was hard to pick out people in the night air outside - even with the street lit up by lights, faces were cast in deep shadow.
Not quite in deep enough shadow to steal away and not be recognised for it, Tyb considered sadly. But maybe sometime after midnight. And it was not as though it wasn’t worth seeing Elsie, even when they had to filter themselves through public glances.
If he jolted in ‘surprise’ and nudged her gently, letting his arm brush past her as she came up beside him, that was inadvertent, excusable, and utterly unplanned. Obviously. “I was starting to think you’d been abducted on the way here,” he murmured, quiet tone matched by a louder grin that he hoped no one saw but her. “Or that I’d forgotten what you looked like.”
He tossed a glance over his shoulder, trying to spot whoever was with her tonight.
Her cheeks were flushed from the cold. Pity he couldn’t at the very least take her hand.
January 29, 2021 – 11:39 PM
Elsie Kirke — Played by Bee
It was nearly impossible not to reciprocate that grin of his, simply because it still made her melt a little every time, even after all these years. The fact that he'd managed to nonchalantly nudge her did not go unnoticed either. "What a travesty that would have been indeed." They certainly had a history of disastrous New Years plans, both bad and very good. It was highly amusing to her. Maybe next year they could spend it curled up on the couch together... in their own place. The new year meant her twenty-fifth birthday was looming a few months away and certainly that had to count for something in regards to their situation. She was practically a spinster anyway. With Lottie debuted and having much more success than Elsie could have ever had, something had to give.
"It has been a while." She sighed quietly. It was either sneak in to his place late at night or try and catch a few minutes in public. While the former was something she enjoyed, it was risky, especially if they got too bold too often; the latter was just plain frustrating, even if they got to spend a little innocent time together. "Harvey is chatting with an industry acquaintance." Elsie added as he looked over his shoulder. Harvey wouldn't even think twice about Elsie being in Tyb's company, though he'd be dense not to suspect anything. If he did, he hadn't said anything.
"Have you had a chance to look around?" She wasn't sure what this year's festival had to offer, but as long as she stayed off the ice rink, things would likely be fine.
MJ always makes her so pretty
February 4, 2021 – 10:05 PM
Tybalt Kirke — Played by MJ
Tyb cast Harvey a wave he probably wouldn’t see, for he seemed engrossed in his conversation, as if to say it’s fine, she’s safe with me. Well, maybe not safe in every way, but they were amongst a crowd, he was on his best behaviour, and he’d certainly make sure she didn’t die.
“I passed some of the booths,” Tybalt said with an airy shrug, “but I was too busy looking for you to see most of them. Have you? There’s ice skating, but you look a bit cold for that,” he put in with a grin, and to be honest he’d had his own mishaps on the ice before too, so didn’t mind if they stayed away tonight. He was, however, going to steal as much time with Elsie as he could before she had to go, so all the activities here paled beside the lure of her presence. Frankly, she could have brought a book and huddled up somewhere to read it and he was sure he would have found enough to amuse himself. He had used to be very good at that.
“So what’ll it be, food or games or finding somewhere warm to sit so you can figure out your resolutions before the fireworks start?” He teased, as if there was not plenty of time before the New Year actually struck.
February 4, 2021 – 11:57 PM
Elsie Kirke — Played by Bee
Blushing in the glow of the nearby fire, Elsie passed him a smile that said she didn't quite believe him, but the sentiment was still nice. "No, we just got here a few minutes before I found you. Lottie was supposed to come with us, but she wasn't feeling well." Meaning Elsie had been able to ditch Mrs. Haynes for the evening, as she was close enough to spinsterhood and had her brother in tow, even if it was unfortunate for Lottie.
She pulled a face at the mention of ice skating, thankful he recognized she likely wouldn't want to. Games would be fun, but as he brought up New Year's resolutions, Elsie's heartbeat quickened just a little. She wasn't sure she wanted to have this discussion here, but wasn't so sure they'd get home early enough tonight for her to be able to sneak over to his place either. "Funny you mention resolutions," She breathed out and looked over her shoulder at Harvey, who wore that expression he always did when he saw who she was with, but he also looked too engrossed in his conversation to pay her too much mind.
"I do have one," Elsie began, pausing to worry her bottom lip for a moment. It was a little reckless to have this particular conversation in public, but she supposed it would come around sooner rather than later, at least she hoped so. Somewhere warm, maybe with a smidge more privacy was probably a good idea. "So let's go with that last option?"
MJ always makes her so pretty
February 20, 2021 – 12:56 AM
Tybalt Kirke — Played by MJ
“Oh?” Tybalt murmured, his eyebrows arching slightly at her reaction to resolutions. He hadn’t made any - well, not properly, because he knew himself well enough to know they’d have flown out the window three days in; discipline was not his strong suit - but he did have... wishes. And it sounded like Elsie did too.
Already desperate to hear her say whatever was one her mind, he ignored the flip of his stomach and furtively tucked his hand around her arm to walk with her. They couldn’t leave, exactly, because even Harvey might get suspicious at that, but there was nothing inherently suspicious in talking, was there? There was warmth spilling out of the Three Broomsticks and hot drinks flowing, but Tybalt wasn’t sure the crush of people inside would be conducive to this conversation, so he inclined his head towards one of the side streets that looked a little more sheltered from the crowd and the elements, gaze catching on another of the fire braziers burning by an empty bench nearby.
He paused, glancing at Elsie and The Three Broomsticks again. “Do you want to go - inside?” Maybe this resolution of hers was nothing at all, some whim about how many books she wanted to read, but he didn’t think so. At least, his hopes for the coming year were a little more significant... but hopefully not as fanciful as they sounded.
February 20, 2021 – 2:36 AM
Elsie Kirke — Played by Bee
The chuckle that escaped was unavoidable; she'd piqued his interest, that was obvious, but she was also painfully aware that they had limited options for this conversation. Elsie registered their choices as Tyb did, considering the Broomsticks briefly, but dismissing it just as quickly. She'd have to tell Harvey where she was going and it was likely to be overcrowded and noisy, which would pick at her anxiety despite her best attempts at keeping herself calm. No, that wouldn't do.
She shook her head slowly as Tyb suggested it. The little spot off to the side that he'd nodded too would do the trick, she supposed. Privacy was a luxury they didn't really have at the moment, but since she'd already started the conversation, she couldn't exactly make him wait until she could sneak out to see him.
"Let's try over there," She indicated the same spot he had and with his hand on her arm, she started off in that direction casually. If she got her way, the two of them being seen in public together wasn't altogether a bad thing, they just had to keep it casual for now. The little bench was still within view of Harvey, but fortunately tucked off to the side just enough that she didn't think anybody would try to listen in.
Perching herself on the bench, she held one hand out to the fire nearby, warming up her always-frigid fingers. It didn't matter how many charms she put on her gloves, they were always cold. She watched the fire for a moment, piecing together what she wanted to say, but hadn't yet come up with a good way to say what was on her mind. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Tyb with a small smile. "I want to get married this year." She said quietly. "By this day next year." On this day, this summer, any time in between, but she wanted this to be the last New Year's they spent going back to separate beds.
MJ always makes her so pretty
February 20, 2021 – 5:25 PM
Tybalt Kirke — Played by MJ
Letting her take the spot closest to the fire, Tyb followed her lead and made himself comfortable on the bench, angling his knees and his attentions towards her without moving quite as near as he’d like.
There was something significant on her mind, he could tell, and he picked absently at a loose thread on one of his coat sleeves as she worked up to it. I want to get married this year, Elsie said, as though she had slid the thought right from his mind. Then let’s get married tonight, he could have exclaimed, even at the top of his lungs, but a little more time to work out how to go about this was probably for the best. But she wanted to - really wanted to, not just in the wait-for-the-future way they’d been working at for this long - and, as daunting as the thought would probably be in the daylight, all it felt like now was a triumphant finally.
“Oh, well,” Tyb said, doing his very best not to break out into a grin so bright it would probably start attracting moths, but a teasing gleam in his eye nonetheless, “that’s an excellent resolution. Fingers crossed that you can find a willing gentleman who’ll stick to that schedule for you, anyway.”
February 20, 2021 – 6:45 PM
Elsie Kirke — Played by Bee
A little oh of amusement lit up her features at his comment. "Harvey did always say his friend Mr. Lovegood kind of fancied me..." She trailed off, looking toward her brother for a moment before a nearly rolling her eyes at the absurdity of the notion. Andren and Harvey had been friends for more than half their lives at this point, she highly doubted she was anything more than an extra sister to her brother's best friend.
The teasing tint her smile faded, a more bashful one replacing it. They didn't often speak in certain terms, everything always up in the air, nor was she a particularly assertive person, but something had to give. "I meant it, I don't care how, when, where, doesn't matter," Growing up she had never put much thought into a wedding, assuming she would never actually get married and that still hadn't changed much; she hadn't dared to dream it up, lest something go wrong, but she was serious this time. A tiny backyard wedding this summer, eloping somewhere warm, the only thing she wasn't so sure she could stomach was some big, fancy, stuffy affair her mother might like for her. Adella's wedding had been nice, but far too big.
Truthfully she was tired of being a burden to her parents, it was time for her to move on and though she knew trying to find a roommate and a flat like Malou and Fallon would work, she rather thought this was a better solution. Knowing now what it was like to share a bed in its different ways, she wanted that to be their every night, to be able to fall asleep and not have to worry about anything the next morning or going home at some unholy hour just to wait and carefully craft another time to try it again.
MJ always makes her so pretty
February 21, 2021 – 12:44 AM
Tybalt Kirke — Played by MJ
“What a tease,” he put in with a lopsided grin, as if he hadn’t started it. That smile softened as hers did, as Elsie articulated the sentiment he had been harbouring for years now himself, grateful that they were still on the same page at the same time.
He couldn’t help himself; he had to shift a little closer to her, though he restrained himself from taking her hands, let alone trying to sneak a kiss. “You know I’d marry you on the moon tomorrow, if I could,” Tyb said. The moon, this bench, the bottom of the black lake or in bloody Knockturn Alley if it came to that; like she said, the details didn’t matter.
What he wasn’t sure was whether she meant it completely unconditionally - she said she didn’t care how or when, but running off to elope tonight was hardly the ideal, and he didn’t know if Elsie would feel the same if things went badly with her family or got complicated some other way... but they could cross that bridge if and when they came to it, because he was not inclined to give the prospect up, however it had to come about.
“I want that too,” he echoed, as if he hadn’t already made that plain. “Whatever it takes.” It wasn’t as if they hadn’t been patient enough already, but now that he had heard the words in her mouth properly even a year to the day sounded an unforgivably long time to wait. But he supposed there were things about making a life together that deserved a little preparation: they would have to find the right cottage, after all, the right garden for the swing and the apple tree. And... “Do you think it... might be time we talked to your parents?”
February 21, 2021 – 2:37 PM
Elsie Kirke — Played by Bee
There was an undeniable rush that came with saying this all out loud and Elsie finally felt like they were going to start moving at a normal pace rather then the slow creep they'd been keeping. "Tomorrow on the moon is perfect, I'll be there." Els chuckled quietly. If only tonight or tomorrow were real options. Elsie was not above eloping at this stage in the game.
She had said before that she wouldn't be able to leave her family behind if it came to it, but now she wasn't so sure. Would she hate to be a disappointment? Yes. Could she live with it so that she could finally have just the one thing, one person, she wanted in life? Also a yes. When it came down to it, in the end, all she wanted was Tyb and the life they'd envisioned together.
"Whatever it takes," She echoed with a smile, just barely containing the urge to reach out for his hand. "I think it's time we did. Father has left on business again, but maybe tea with Mother to start?" If she were being honest, it was a Stella they had to win over anyway, Vincent Beauregard was a bit of a pushover when it came to his children, especially his girls.
MJ always makes her so pretty
February 23, 2021 – 12:25 AM
Tybalt Kirke — Played by MJ
“Sounds like a plan,” he teased, laughing a little under his breath at how lightly they were taking this change. Not that it was much of a change, more just a plainer statement of where they had always been going; but it was ridiculous and magical and a little bit hilarious to think about, all the same.
He nodded, blowing out a breath - it was cold enough to see it in the air - to try and settle the burst of nerves. She had agreed that they ought to, which was some assurance that he wouldn’t be barging in like a bull in a china shop to break the delicate balance they had - and Tybalt certainly wasn’t going in without her. He knew her family from a distance, Harvey and Owen probably best, but Mrs. Beauregard was a little beyond his comfort zone and he already knew the more he thought about meeting her concretely the more he was going to panic.
(If he was not good enough for his own parents - and he was lucky if his muggle father still took enough of an interest in his magical offspring to send a letter once in a while with the (dwindling) allowance; well, not even lucky, because he was beyond caring there - Tybalt was not entirely certain that he would be good enough for anyone else’s, either.)
Still, he grinned again, trying not to let anything dampen the lightness he felt at the rest of the prospect here. “And that sounds delightful,” he said, quirking an eyebrow to admit a little irony in it. “But you might have to coach me on what we’re going to say.” Usually he was happy to improvise, but for this? What were they going to mention, what were they going to leave out about their history? (Besides the obvious already-having-been-sneaking-around, of course.) What was going to sell it best to her? Elsie would know how to get through to her, he hoped, and Tyb was very determined to come off well.
February 23, 2021 – 12:42 AM
Elsie Kirke — Played by Bee
It was a mildly terrifying prospect, a semi-official sit down with her mother, but it was necessary if they wanted to try and do things the more traditional way. Elsie doubted her mother would truly have strong objections to Tybalt as a potential suitor, but Elsie could never really be sure of be Stella's opinions on anyone really. She cared deeply for her children, that was obvious, but how far did that go on decisions like this.
"Maybe I could see you... Another night and we could draft some sort of plan." Another night, in another space where they could speak a little more freely, a little more plainly. Perhaps maybe after she was able to speak with Adella for some insight. It would have to be a carefully constructed conversation in which they had some coordinated answers for her mother.
"We'll manage, she's not as scary as I make her out to be." Elsie hoped anyway. No, they were going to be just fine, they could handle this of all things, she knew it. And well, if things went poorly, they'd have to revisit the elopement option.
MJ always makes her so pretty
February 26, 2021 – 12:52 PM
Tybalt Kirke — Played by MJ
He eyed her as she spoke, nodding at the coded meaning of the words. Another night at his, somewhere they could speak in the open and their plans would not get picked up by the gossip mill and carried back to Mrs. Beauregard before they could approach her themselves. If they only had one shot at this, they had to do it right, time everything perfectly, know what they were going to say.
“I’d like that,” he said vaguely, feeling the nerves pitching about inside him again. “I’d really like that,” he added fervently, smiling well enough at Elsie’s addition of not as scary as I make her out to be but not particularly believing it. Because Elsie, given her whole character, had no doubt done very little in her life that would get her in trouble with her mother (about which her mother knew, at any rate). Tyb had had enough practice getting in trouble with Hogwarts professors to discern the scary from the less-scary, and he fancied he would reserve his judgement on this fact until he’d faced her. Maybe Mrs. Beauregard was perfectly lovely, a bundle of pansies, but at present Tybalt thought he’d almost rather single-handedly take on a dragon.
“This is ridiculous,” he murmured with a slight laugh, leaning briefly in and fighting the urge to bury his face in her shoulder. “I’ve never been more worried than you.” Elsie did the worrying; that was supposed to be her thing.
February 28, 2021 – 3:01 AM
Elsie Kirke — Played by Bee
"Perfect," She exhaled slowly. It would be much easier to discuss their choices curled up in his bed without anyone else to listen in or Harvey watching her with that eyebrow raised constantly. Then if they played their cards right, by this time next year they wouldn't have to worry about anyone keeping an eye on them or being covert about their affections.
She chuckled quietly, standing slowly as she got the nod from Harvey. "We'll figure it out, don't worry." She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "For now we need to go be social and not cause anyone to be suspect." It was ironic that he was more worried than she was, but honestly, it was to be expected. They would make a solid plan to meet with her mother, who would no doubt ask Harvey's opinion, as the oldest male, but she doubted he would say anything negative. It would be fine. Just fine.
MJ always makes her so pretty
