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Post by Mirabelle Miette on Sept 29, 2006 10:16:13 GMT -5
It was one of those days. The sky was gray, the clouds were purple, and air as cold. It had just started to rain, great big drops falling from their cozy homes in the clouds, and Mirabelle Miette, always equipped for any situation, quickly put up her blue umbrella.
In one hand she carried a couple of shopping bags, one with a few tins of cat food from the lively, bright pet shop and the other a couple of dark jumpers and a pair of jeans, and a handbag with her room keys, purse and lip gloss. It did seem to be getting colder, after all, which was why she'd decided to buy the warmer clothes. The Ice Pass would be unbearable, soon.
At that moment, Belle had chosen to wear her dark jeans, held up by a thick red belt, and flat, black leather boots. On her top half she had a short-sleeved, deep red T-shirt, covered with a black jacket and a red scarf. She wore a red hair band in her hair, pushing it back to leave just a single strand across her face.
She had previously been with Roxie, who she had bid goodbye when the younger girl desperately wanted to go into a clothes shop that she herself could afford, but Belle couldn't. So, they had separated, and here Belle was, preparing to head back up to school and wandering vaguely down the street amid several other chatting people. Everyone held an umbrella.
A glittering display caught her eye. Turning her head, she saw a set of dark wood brooms set in the window of the broom shop, their dark green handles decorated with red tinsel and little bits of mistletoe. It seemed to be decorated for Christmas, which was coming up in a few months, and had a sparkly banner screaming out words of persuasion to buy.
Stepping a little closer, Belle laid a hand on the glass of the window, staring in longingly at the brooms. They each had price tags of hundreds and hundreds of galleons; there was no way in hell she could afford it herself. Sighing, she promised herself that it would be the first thing she would buy once she left school and got a job. Still, until then... she'd just look at the gorgeous things from a distance, remembering the last time she rode a broom.
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Post by Caliban Leandros on Oct 1, 2006 13:47:21 GMT -5
Cal had been in Baril de Balais looking for something to do. He wasn't in the mood to read, and he was feeling pretty restless. What with Adam working more and more at Shaded Nights, he was often left to himself. He knew Ana had her own things to do, and he was starting to want to distance himself from her. She was getting crankier and crankier, it seemed. He sighed. That girl was just asking for trouble...
It was then that he spotted none other than Mirabelle Miette looking in the front window, holding lots of shopping bags. She was eyeing the broomsticks in the display window. He had an idea, and, smiling, he turned to look in the shop a bit more. He wondered what his brother was up to at this time of year. Probably training still, for Nik rarely ever had any "lady friends". In fact, almost never.
Next thing, he was stepping out of the shop. He walked over to Mirabelle and smiled. "Beautiful, aren't they?" he asked softly, coming to stand beside her, looking at the brooms. He looked down at her, smiling. "Shopping, huh? What'd you get?" Conversation sounded great to him right about now...
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Post by Mirabelle Miette on Oct 1, 2006 14:21:55 GMT -5
Caliban's sudden, familiar voice popping out in the sea of chatter around her didn't make Mirabelle jump. She knew who it was, which helped quite a bit with not startling her. "Merlin, yes. The most beautiful things I've ever seen, I've just decided," she replied, sighing again. With one more look of longing at the sparkling set of broomsticks, she turned to face Cal, a smile now on her face.
"You could say I'd been shopping, I suppose," she said, grinning. "But I didn't get much. Just some kitty-cat stuff." She held up one bag. "And some clothes." She held up the other, larger bag, looking up at him happily. At least she'd bought something.
"What did you come out for on such a dreary day?" Belle asked, gesturing awkwardly with the umbrella at the rain. "I would have stayed in, curled up warm in front of the common room fire if I hadn't had to get the cat some food. Plus, I did have to get clothes." She paused, and added, "No, really, I did! I actually had nothing to wear!"
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Post by Caliban Leandros on Oct 1, 2006 14:28:39 GMT -5
He laughed and said,"Nothing to wear? Sheesh. That's amazingly odd for a girl, huh?" He grinned, glancing at the brooms. "Almost Christmas, huh? I guess they're starting a bit early, but... You can never be too early for Christmas. It's a wonderful holiday..." He looked at her and smiled. "I was just Christmas shopping. Yes, this early. Getting a head start, you know?"
He then pulled out his wand, setting something down and tapping it with his wand. It expanded to its full size, and a large box was revealed. He grinned at her. "What if I said I got you an early Christmas present?" He pointed at the box, smiling, and crossed his arms, waiting to see her reaction. He had been shopping for Christmas presents for all of his friends and family, and she had just happened to make his job much easier for her...
((It's da broomstick. The most expensive one in the window. xD Whichever one that is. Because Cal's a sweetie like that. ^^))
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Post by Mirabelle Miette on Oct 1, 2006 14:46:07 GMT -5
"Yeah, well, I'm different," Mirabelle laughed, following his gaze back to the display. "It's the best holiday. I can't wait 'till they start putting up all the decorations. You know, the un-meltable icicles, the glittery stars, the mistletoe... It's lovely. I want to buy a mini tree, just for my dorm room, and enchant it to glisten..." Oh dear. She was rambling again, eye glazed over.
But then Cal mentioned Christmas presents. God, Belle hadn't even thought about buying presents for people. She supposed she'd do it a little nearer the time. Maybe that'd give her time to actually decide on presents...
"Well... I know I'd first ask, 'are you crazy'..." Mirabelle said, grinning, placing her hand with all the bags in on her hip. "... then I'd have to ask 'what is it'?" Judging by the size of the box, Belle had already dared to guess what it was... but it was dangerous to just assume. Her heart was swelling with happiness after every word said, though.
{HOMG, THAT'S SO LOVELY. I WANT YOU, CAL. xD -licks-}
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Post by Caliban Leandros on Oct 4, 2006 15:48:42 GMT -5
Cal laughed and said,"Yeah, the decorations always make it that much more beautiful at Christmas. I convinced Adam to let me add a small tree to our room. I told him it just wasn't Christmas without one, and that where else were we going to put the presents?" He grinned at her.
"Well, then I'd have to say 'maybe'..." He grinned and flicked his wand to let the box slide in front of her and stop. "Then I'd have to say 'open it and see.'" He smiled and waited, leaning back against the window. He couldn't wait to see her face when she opened it. He'd spent a lot of money on it, but to him, it was nothing. It would have been worth any price just to see her smile. That's what counted.
((Cal: O.O *inches away and shoves Matt in front* Matt: HEY! Cal: *hiding behind Matt* Me: xDDDDDD))
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Post by Mirabelle Miette on Oct 7, 2006 8:01:17 GMT -5
"Mmm," Belle agreed. "They do. I wish I had a room-mate." She paused thoughtfully, then laughed. "My friends are in Fina, though. I don't think it's allowed. But I think I will get a tree. Not to put presents under, though..." That made her think. "God knows how I'm gonna give friends their gifts. Got to buy them first, though, so I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." She shrugged.
"Okay, then. I will open it," she said, smiling at his secrecy. Obviously a guy who liked to surprise, then. She raised her wand, touched the tip of it to the top of the box. Then she bought it down smoothly the entire length of the box and murmured, "Diffindo!" The spell had smoothly cut the top of the box open, and, stuffing her wand back into her bag, Mirabelle slowly opened the two flaps, revealing what was inside.
A broomstick. A long, slim item with wood so dark that it was almost black. The handle was the same dark green color as the ones in the window, and was decorated with the same tinsel and tiny bits of mistletoe. Glancing up at the display, she noticed one of the brooms from it was missing. The one with the huge price tag. The one she had been staring in at with such longing before...
"... Cal..." His name left her lips quietly, and she tore her eyes away from the present and they focused on him instead. "This can't be a present for me." She shook her head sadly. He couldn't get this for her. It cost too much, she couldn't take it... but she wanted it so bad. "I can't even ride very well," she said apologetically. "This should be bought for someone really good. Not me." This gave her yet another problem, which she voiced worriedly. "What... what am I going to get you?"
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Post by Caliban Leandros on Oct 8, 2006 17:31:40 GMT -5
He laughed and said,"I guess I got lucky, then. But I bet the Christmas tree would be pretty if it was decorated, and I think we could figure out a way to get their presents there." He smiled at her.
He watched as she opened it, smiling. "Yes, it is. And there is no possible way I am taking that back or giving it to anyone else. Besides, I told them that there was to be no refunds. You're stuck with it." There was a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"What are you going to get me? I believe you've already given me a good enough present... You've given me a friend. This is what friends do, and it's something I wanted to do for you. It's been years since I've had friends other than Adam and Ana... Besides, what else was I going to spend the money on? They gave my brother a bonus, and he told me to spend the money. He didn't want it, and neither did I, so what better way to spend it?" He smiled, looking even more determined not to take it back than in the beginning.
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Post by Mirabelle Miette on Oct 8, 2006 18:17:30 GMT -5
"Stuck with it? You make it sound like a rodent or bug or something..." Belle gave him a small smile, but her eyes kept darting nervously back to the box, as if she thought the broom was going to jump at her and bite her head off or something. Lovingly, though, of course.
"I don't believe that," she scoffed, when he mentioned the friends. "You just bought me like a million galleon broomstick, after being nicer to me than most people I've met put together, and you're telling me you only have two friends?" She looked back at the box. "Something you wanted to do? Spend your money?" She sounded as if spending a lot of money was something forbidden, or something.
"It's so beautiful..." she remarked with a sigh, glancing down again. "Wouldn't you rather keep it for yourself?" Maybe this was the reason people didn't buy her presents so often...
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Post by Caliban Leandros on Oct 9, 2006 15:31:29 GMT -5
Cal laughed, watching her with a smile. "Sadly, yes. I've never really been the one to... socialize with everyone. I was always the quiet boy who sat in the corner. Only Adam or Ana managed to get me away from my books or Niko..." He glanced at the broom before looking back at her. "Yeah. We're not... Well, we don't set much by money. We prefer to use it for a good cause than keep it... We've always lived day to day, and now that Nik has a good-paying job, it hasn't changed anything..."
He smiled and said,"And to answer your last question, no. I like quidditch well enough, but I have a broom already. It's much older than this one, and far less expensive or such a beauty, but I've had it for a few years. I don't think I'll trade it in unless something happens to it. Such as, I don't know, getting burned to ashes or something... I like it too much to replace it, and I'd rather not hurt its feelings." He grinned at her. "Well? Aren't you going to take a closer look at it? I mean, it is yours, after all..."
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Post by Mirabelle Miette on Oct 9, 2006 15:49:53 GMT -5
"So you're not the 'wittering, demented owl-person' that we discussed before in the school grounds, huh?" she asked when he mentioned his quietness. "Well, it's good to have it, for a start..." Mirabelle said with a small smile, replying to his talk of money. "That always helps. And I suppose you're right. I'm going to be an Auror, - at least I hope I am - so... I should get some money in once I graduate."
"A closer look?" Belle did indeed move a little closer to the box, and stared in at the broom, delicately stroking the handle as if she was scared it would shatter into a million pieces if she touched it too hard or roughly. "Mine..." she whispered fondly, before her gaze turned once more to Caliban. Throwing caution to the wind, she flung her arms around his neck in a hug, and murmured happily, "Thank you, thank you, thankyouthankyouthankyou."
{Bleh.}
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Post by Caliban Leandros on Oct 11, 2006 6:43:23 GMT -5
He laughed and said,"Not particularly. Maybe on occasion if I have a drink or two and relax, but otherwise, I'm still rather quiet, even with Adam. He's now banned me reading while he's talking to me." He gave a sly smile. It was fun to tease him...
"Yeah, it's a lot better than where we used to be. It used to be hard enough to get by for a day, much less a week. We would end up starving or working at the age of 10 just to get by..." He shook his head slightly. "It taught us both so many things, but neither of us like money. It's the reason our mother was so messed up, and the reason both of us were born... She needed money, slept with a few guys, and poof! In 5 years, she had two sons, and that certainly ruined her life, but Nik and I made it on our own, and that's what counts..."
He grinned and said,"Yes. It's yours." Then she flung her arms around his neck, which took him by surprise for a split second, before he simply wrapped his arms around her and held her, smiling. "You're welcome. Just seeing you happy like this is enough of a thank you, really."
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Post by Mirabelle Miette on Oct 11, 2006 14:39:23 GMT -5
One eyebrow raised, Mirabelle commented, "Really now? Well, you seem pretty talkative to me. I've met shyer people, honestly..." She nodded thoughtfully, and mentioned vaguely, "Hmm. I like to read." She listened to him talk, head tipped a little to one side. "You sound like you had quite a hard life," she said. "And, yes; that's what counts." She smiled.
"Stop being so nice, you!" Belle exclaimed, still hugging him and smiling happily and a little tearfully. "I might hug you to death, or something." After a few more seconds, she hugged him a little tighter briefly then let go, still grinning. "Thank you..." she whispered one more time. "For the broom. And everything else..."
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