Dec. 22: Sit Still, Look Pretty?: Mere, Winnie

[Lydia Avery]

"I would never allow that for myself either, no need for concern," Lydia replied swiftly, doing what she could to simmer the smirk she felt tugging at her full lips while fixing up her scone daintily. "I'll take cleaning up blood over spilled ale any day." It was not often that talk amongst their group turned on one of their own, even less often that Winnie would engage in it - but the two had been off lately, and Lydia had said some not-so-kind things about her betrothed during tiffs in the past, so she could understand. And if Cordelia didn’t think she was still talk of their circle for her absurdity? You know better than that, Corry. However - it was her choice to make, just as the rest of them were making their own. You can still choose to do better, my love. Meredith was quick to dismiss their deviation and the brunette sent her a small smile - for whatever else he was, Rabastan Lestrange was a proper man for allowing Cordelia space for her to stretch her wings. Her brows did disappear beneath her fringe as her best friend went on, and they stayed up while Meredith sent a slight retraction. At least she had the grace to include a look of apology. Bronwyn could hardly contain her laughter, and Lydia found herself sitting taller in response to the pair of them. He was at home in Ravenclaw, need I remind you? He has a strong mind behind his...impulses.

With her friends bringing up her parents, though, Lydia felt the need to set her cutlery down, push her plate away from her a tad. This was the pickle, wasn't it? She'd never been the rebellious sort with her parents. True, she had strayed from her betrothal in secret with Lucius Malfoy, and she'd gotten in some trouble at Hogwarts for instigating fights. But to defy their expectations in this public way? If you have the stomach for surviving in a hospital without losing your tea, you have the stomach to stand up to them. "I think...Girls, I think I'm going to do this whether or not they initially agree." Her dark eyes flitted between the two and, catching herself in a nervous worrying of her lip, Lydia let out a slow exhale before continuing in confidence. "I'll be going to Nicky next to alert him and to ensure that his voice will be with mine. I deserve that much for getting his life back on track after he all but ruined everything with Violet." Additionally, his convincing their parents to allow her to learn to fence in her youth had been an unknowing step in this direction; her elder brother was loyal to her in his way, and he had pull over their parents that she didn't. Oh, to be born a privileged male. "And you aren't wrong. I'll convince Charlie easily enough. All it'll take is some negotiating on when we'll start working on producing our heir," she said with a slightly scoffing laugh. "Once that is agreed upon, we can all go to Mother and Father. I'll make my case, have the show of support from Nicky and Charlie, and...if they don't believe in me now, then in time, I'll prove I'm right about this."

Her usual genial tone had shifted into an icy sharpness she didn't recognize, a cold fire igniting behind her eyes, and she leaned into it quietly. "They will come to me in need, and I will be there to save them. Our mothers may have accepted their fates without a whisper of dissent. But...we are made of different stuff. I won't sit back and let my world turn without me giving it a shove, not anymore." I’ve lived in your shadows since first year. I’m hardly content there. If I don’t make this change now, I’ll just be lost in Charlie’s shadow next.

[Meredith Mulciber]

And who would allow that of themselves, no-one who truly valued her worth, surly? Lydia obviously did and the blonde sent her a satisfied smirk, as she spoke of blood over booze. She could tell Lydia thought as lowly of Cordelia's decisions as she did. She could tell Lydia didn't much like her insulting Charlie so harshly either. Meredith held her breath and waited for the deserved reprimand -not that she wouldn't defend herself anyway. But...it never came. Her best friend diverted admirably to the question posed by Bronwyn in regards to what to do about the Avery's girl parents and Meredith focused back on the conversation easily, eagerly even. At her friend's starting line, she sat up straighter at the strong decision in Lydia's tone. There you are. Mere thought proudly. But she kept the comment to herself while her friend spoke, exchanging glances with Winnie the whole time.

"He so owes you for that." Mere interjected, thinking Nik would owe her for a long time for saving his engagement. Violet Fudge was a gorgeous woman and a proper lady and the lud was an idiot for ever mucking it up in the first place. Yes, he would need to be with her and he had best be amiable to it, or, Meredith would make him answer for it. But Lydia did not seem to be worried about the support of her brother, or her betrothed. Mere made a face when the darker girl mentioned how she would convince Charles but she refrained from making any wretching sounds. Then her best friend's voice changed and the blondes back straightened in response. It was very rare if ever, that she heard her friend this way, had seen the dangerous determination behind her eyes. Of course, she had always know Lydia was capable of this but it felt so good to see it.

Mere raised her hand to summon their server and proceeded to order three shots of espresso and a piece of chocolate cake. "This is cause for celebration," she said by way of explanation to her roommates when they were alone again. "Lydie, I am here for you, whatever you need." she promised. Including murder and espionage. She thought to herself but refrained from saying aloud. Avery might take that as a threat to her family, which....it was, but only if she wanted. Mere would never kill Lydia's family without permission, she was a good friend! "Okay so you seem like convincing them is all planned out in your head,  we should focus now on a. an escape plan in case they try taking you hostage, and b. a backup plan for housing in case they turn you out."

[Bronwyn Nott]

She was glad to know that everyone here was on the same page when it came to Cordelia’s job. If she wanted to play bartender, there were plenty of reputable bars she could work at instead. To work at a place as lowly as the Leaky Cauldron made them look bad, didn’t she get that? That was the kind of place the Marauders went for a drink, not their kind of people. Nevertheless, Cordelia would do whatever she wanted to do apparently, and they all had to stick by her. At least to her face. Bronwyn was quite glad that Lydia’s desire to rebel against her parents wishes was a good plan, and not something they’d have to talk about behind her back. (Although, they definitely would. For Lydia’s safety, of course. Just like they talked about what a buffon Charlie was, it was all in Lydia’s best interests.) Winnie wasn’t surprised that her dear friend was put off by Meredith’s comment about her betrothed, but really, it was warranted.

But talk was moving away from that of Charlie, and to talk of Lydia’s parents. Yes, the Avery’s were going to be the biggest obstacle they would have to overcome. But Lydia had a plan for them too - You’ve really thought this through. - and Bronwyn listened carefully as her friend spoke. Getting Nicky on her side was a good plan, especially considering how Lydia had saved his relationship with Violet Fudge. There had been plenty of damage done there, so Winnie was surprised that the relationship had even been saved. Her plan seemed solid, and Bronwyn would be there to back her up no matter what happened. But then there was a change in their friend’s voice, and Winnie looked up from her scone to Lydia. She was right, the three of them were made of different stuff. And each one of them would prove it, in their own way.

Meredith was suddenly ordering cake, and Bronwyn waited with an amused smirk on her face to see what that was about. Cause for celebration indeed. But at Meredith’s words, Winnie leaned in and nodded, looking between her two friends. “She’s right, you know. They could take you hostage, so we should have some sort of code word you can owl us without raising suspicion. And a plan to bust you out of that house. And if they kick you out? Well you can come and stay with me, the Nott Manor is big enough for that. I’m sure my father wouldn’t mind.”

[Lydia Avery]

Before this meeting, Lydia hadn't known just how much the support of her friends in this venture would mean. But as she spoke and they listened, hanging onto her words for once, seeing acknowledgement and confirmation in their bright eyes - she found that it was meaning the world to her. That these women she loved so dearly would stand with her as she moved to change her future for the better, even going as far to continue assisting with contingency planning, it was doing something wonderfully warming to her usually carefully guarded heart. And while Meredith's hazel eyes shone with a gleam she'd shied away from just a few months ago, Lydia found she didn't mind it so much this time around. You really would do anything for me, if I asked. To have the backing of witches as powerful as these...she felt even more unstoppable, and half wanted to cut their tea short to storm home in a fury of demands.

No, no - first things first. You've got them, but you need Nicky and Charlie too. A united front, a combined effort, a show of strength...

Lydia let out a sigh of contentment and took her friends' hands in her own for a brief moment, eager to continue scheming. "I can't even say how grateful I am, ladies," she said quickly, "but thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I am blessed to have you both by my side, truly I am. If I write to you of...Rapunzel, or if the boys come to you with a message of the like, you'll know I'm being kept at the house." For perhaps the first time, her continued attendance of Muggle Studies was coming in handy, and she had a little laugh to herself about being the princess in the tower before continuing. "And if such drastic times do come our way, I'm more than certain that Charlie will work with you to spring me from their hold. He would not be pleased with them, not at all." Hopefully it would not get to that point, for she didn't want anything to sour the relationship he had with her family, but Charlie...he would come for her, she knew he would. Even if he wasn't initially on board with her plan either, he wouldn't allow her to be subjected to such degradation. "I would be delighted to stay with your family Winnie, thank you, my darling," she rather purred in her delight at things coming together so neatly.

Spine straight not from years of etiquette but from renewed purpose, Lydia looked between them with glee, basking in the success of the day. "Will I see either of you at the Ministry Holiday Party this year? Assuming that all goes as planned, the lot of us will be in attendance."

[Meredith Mulciber]

Schemes and planning were two of her favorite pastimes, and now that they had pushed through Lydia’s confidence in approaching the subject to her parents, they could get on the better things. This was her happy place, she loved nothing more than a good plan and she had never been accused of not being thorough. With some work, she was sure she could foresee every possibility and complication. Lydia was right, she was lucky to have her on her side of this. Who else would be willing to go to extremes to get Lydia what she wanted? Winnie maybe, but Mere was loath to admit the other girl held a candle to her single-minded determination.

However, Bronwyn did have something to offer that she did not. It was not something within her control though, so she tried not to feel too miffed about it. Her father was unlikely to take lightly harboring a fugitive. Not that Meredith wasn’t ready to duel him over it, it was just that, she wasn’t sure she would win. And then where would that leave Lydia, and her? “It might be nice having you both in one place, easier for visits.” She said, squishing down the feeling of being left out like an annoying bug. She had always been alone, and she would not start letting it bother her now. Especially when her best friend was speaking such kind words. Kind, but true, she was very lucky to have them.

At Lydia’s suggestion her nose wrinkled, looking to Winnie. She despised anything remotely muggle, really Rapunzel? Meredith could not deny the logic of it though, it was unlikely any of their kind would catch the code, as they despised anything muggle as much, if not more than she did. So nodded, showing that despite her aversion, she was game for this idea, it was a smart one after all. “I’ll send a letter to Charles, inviting him to communicate with me openly. Best to have our allies in place, just in case.” Lydia’s older betrothed had never been her favorite person, but he wasn’t that bad, not really. And if he was willing to help them in this, then Meredith was willing to make better on their friendship. "I'll also put my mind to thinking up any unforeseen issues as well, I don't like being surprised." 

The mention of the upcoming Ministry ball, a drastic change to their conversation, made Meredith’s spine stiffen. It wasn’t that she was opposed to the affair, only that it seemed to mean something different now. As children it had been about having fun and getting up to trouble, getting to spend time together in a different place. “Of course, I’ll be there, aren’t I always?” She wanted to say more, and after a moment of consideration, she sighed. “I’ll need to find a date. It would be unseemly to show up alone at my age.”