Nothing like ...
With an armload of French children's books balanced on one hip, almost the last of her own collection that Jack had yet to devour, Regan appeared in the entryway of Percy's new row-house and started for the stairs. He was still at the Archives, she imagined, and Jack at school, but she was restless sitting at White Chapel with Tess off with Gwen, and even leaving one empty house for another was something.
Climbing her way to the attic library, she laid the brightly-colored selection out in Jack's little corner, smiling at the neat stack he'd left for her to take back with her. Settled on a cushion, she retrieved parchment and quill from her bag to write a note to leave for him, knowing he'd be able to read it, if not necessarily to write a complete reply in his budding new language.
Eyes browsing over her favorite passage from the last book she'd temporarily liberated from Percy's collection, Lavender climbed the stairs towards the library. She'd had her eyes on another book, something Percy had droned on and on about her liking, but she hadn't wanted to encourage him.
Sighing, she closed the book, eyes coming level with the library as she ascended the stairs. She paused, hand going for her wand when her gaze landed on a blonde that was definitely not Reese.
Startled by the appearance of another person in the attic, especially a non-ginger armed with a wand, Regan squeaked and held up her free hand, palm out. Eyes wide, she managed, "I do beg your pardon, I was not aware that anyone was at home. I was only leaving books and a note for Jack, for his arrival home from school."
It must be the woman named Lavender, who Percy had mentioned was staying with him in somewhat the same way Rose was staying at Gwen's; displacement after the unfortunate events of All Hallow's Eve. Regan hadn't the faintest idea why the woman was so jumpy, but she stayed quite still all the same, waiting.
Lavender's heart was racing as she looked at the blonde, fingers still clutching her wand. "You're Regan?" she asked, not sure but betting it was the truth. She lowered her wand to her side, but didn't completely shield it. She knew it was Percy's home and he could invite anyone into the wards he wanted to, but Lavender still found herself wary around new people she didn't know.
Rising very slowly and setting her quill aside, Regan nodded, offering an empty hand for Lavender to take, if she chose. "Regan Bole. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss ...?" She was unaccustomed to having to introduce herself to people, though she was learning out of necessity, not to mention that it would be intolerably rude to avoid someone who was obviously a friend of Percy's.
"Lavender, no 'miss'," Lavender answered, hand reaching out to clasp Regan's smaller one. "Sorry about... that," she said, sheathing her wand back in her pocket. "I just didn't know Percy... Sorry."
Venturing a hesitant smile, Regan ducked her head, explaining, "He'd said I might bring another several books over for Jack to read, and I didn't think that the timing would matter... I wanted to leave him a surprise for after school." It amused her to no end, in fact, that the boy's French was already more solid than his father's.
"No, no, it's fine," Lavender said, finally climbing the last steps so she was fully in the attic. "Just a surprise is all," she added, smiling softly. "He's been devouring the books. Makes me read a bit to him before bed as a treat for taking his bath without complaining. It doesn't happen every night," she finished, a wry grin turning her lips. The boy loved baths once he was in them, but hated getting to that point.
The news brought a proper smile to Regan's lips, and she stepped back to allow Lavender some space in the room, returning to her cushion and the short letter she'd begun. "So you're his secret tutor, then. I was quite sure Percy wasn't causing the bounding leaps of improvement in his French grammar, as his is only just creeping above completely atrocious."
Lavender laughed as she put the book she'd borrowed back in its proper place. "Percy's French is horrible," she said, still smiling as she crossed to the other shelf. "But I think he's trying to improve."
"His Bulgarian is lovely, though, and he is, I believe, albeit slowly. Perhaps Jack's influence will prove beneficial." Her eyes flicked to Lavender between words as she wrote, trying to choose vocabulary appropriate to Jack's reading level, especially given that it was his second language. "...And I'd not call it horrible... He simply understands a great deal more than he speaks clearly."
"I haven't heard his Bulgarian," Lavender said, fingers pulling the book she'd been looking for.
Not entirely sure whether she'd stepped onto a subject she ought not, Regan edged around it, volunteering, "He was teaching me, a bit... we're both quite fond of the folklore of our respective preferred cultures, and the original text is always better."
"It would have gone over my head. I only learned French out of necessity. I'm not even that good with English when I'm not trying." She turned toward Regan, nodding at the books she'd brought. "What'd you bring him?"
Curious, though not bold enough to inquire as to the circumstances of Lavender's unintentional acquisition of her birth language, Regan nudged a few books out of the stack she'd laid out among the cushions. "Max Et Le Maximontres, Bonsoir Lune... Devine Combien Je T'aime. This is Tess' favorite, in English," she added fondly, indicating the last book. "She follows Gwen around chirping 'Je t'aime, je t'aime!' if I let her look at this one."
Lavender nodded. She thought the books were a little young for Jack, but if they were simple, they'd be easier to learn in a new language. "He'll like them," she said, smiling slightly.
"I imagine he's read them already, when he was littler, but he ought to be able to manage these on his own, and that should please him." A tiny smirk appeared as an image presented itself to Regan, and she conjectured, "Or, if nothing else, it will give him something to lord over Percy, and that does please him. He can nearly recite Le Petit Prince, and has likely been using his new vocabulary to cheat at Scrabble."
"Mmm," Lavender hummed, hazel eyes flicking to look at the small blonde. "Usually he just wants me to read to him about pirates."
It was fitting, for Jack, though save for his costume at the Fall Festival, she'd not noted it as a particular area of interest. Thus far, Regan could create no overall sense of this woman, and the effort was beginning to wear, as she was generally terrible at conversing with new people. She signed the note she'd finally finished, tucking it partially under the cover of the top book in the pile, and tidied away her writing things, wondering at the best way to excuse herself politely.
"I am terribly sorry to have startled you; it was not my intention, and I shall endeavor not to do so in future," she tried, rising from the cushions she'd been perched among.
"No, I'm sorry I pulled my wand on you. New house and all, you know?" Lavender didn't want to make Percy's girlfriend feel uneasy, but felt like she'd done something to have the girl running from the house. "Jack'll appreciate the books."
Nodding and trying another smile, Regan said, "I do hope so, and there's no need to apologize. For all you knew, I might have been here unasked. I think I'm rather glad to know there's someone else around for Jack, just in case."
"In short order, I'm sure he'll be the one protecting my honor, and not the other way around," Lavender said, smiling. "Did you want me to give Percy a message when he gets home?"
Unsuccessfully attempting to quash a tinge of envy that Lavender would be there to give Percy a message when he arrived home, Regan considered the question for a moment, eventually declining. "I know he's quite busy, still, with the house and Jack and the Archives... I imagine he remembers how to find me, should he wish to do so."
Her eyes wandered to the chaise, remembering the last time she'd been in the room, and heat tinted her cheeks despite all efforts to the contrary. She hoped Percy might want her company again soon, but he was busy, and had far more pressing obligations.
"Alright," Lavender nodded, not certain why Regan was blushing, but fairly sure it would be rude to ask. "You don't have to go. You could wait for him, if you wanted to."
Regan shook her head, though she supposed it was something that Lavender had mentioned it, rather than wishing rid of her. "They'll be hours, yet, and I'd not want to intrude. Thank you, though."
"Sure," Lavender said, smiling slightly.
Summary: Regan calls at Percy's new abode and ends up accidentally meeting Lavender.
Climbing her way to the attic library, she laid the brightly-colored selection out in Jack's little corner, smiling at the neat stack he'd left for her to take back with her. Settled on a cushion, she retrieved parchment and quill from her bag to write a note to leave for him, knowing he'd be able to read it, if not necessarily to write a complete reply in his budding new language.
Eyes browsing over her favorite passage from the last book she'd temporarily liberated from Percy's collection, Lavender climbed the stairs towards the library. She'd had her eyes on another book, something Percy had droned on and on about her liking, but she hadn't wanted to encourage him.
Sighing, she closed the book, eyes coming level with the library as she ascended the stairs. She paused, hand going for her wand when her gaze landed on a blonde that was definitely not Reese.
Startled by the appearance of another person in the attic, especially a non-ginger armed with a wand, Regan squeaked and held up her free hand, palm out. Eyes wide, she managed, "I do beg your pardon, I was not aware that anyone was at home. I was only leaving books and a note for Jack, for his arrival home from school."
It must be the woman named Lavender, who Percy had mentioned was staying with him in somewhat the same way Rose was staying at Gwen's; displacement after the unfortunate events of All Hallow's Eve. Regan hadn't the faintest idea why the woman was so jumpy, but she stayed quite still all the same, waiting.
Lavender's heart was racing as she looked at the blonde, fingers still clutching her wand. "You're Regan?" she asked, not sure but betting it was the truth. She lowered her wand to her side, but didn't completely shield it. She knew it was Percy's home and he could invite anyone into the wards he wanted to, but Lavender still found herself wary around new people she didn't know.
Rising very slowly and setting her quill aside, Regan nodded, offering an empty hand for Lavender to take, if she chose. "Regan Bole. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss ...?" She was unaccustomed to having to introduce herself to people, though she was learning out of necessity, not to mention that it would be intolerably rude to avoid someone who was obviously a friend of Percy's.
"Lavender, no 'miss'," Lavender answered, hand reaching out to clasp Regan's smaller one. "Sorry about... that," she said, sheathing her wand back in her pocket. "I just didn't know Percy... Sorry."
Venturing a hesitant smile, Regan ducked her head, explaining, "He'd said I might bring another several books over for Jack to read, and I didn't think that the timing would matter... I wanted to leave him a surprise for after school." It amused her to no end, in fact, that the boy's French was already more solid than his father's.
"No, no, it's fine," Lavender said, finally climbing the last steps so she was fully in the attic. "Just a surprise is all," she added, smiling softly. "He's been devouring the books. Makes me read a bit to him before bed as a treat for taking his bath without complaining. It doesn't happen every night," she finished, a wry grin turning her lips. The boy loved baths once he was in them, but hated getting to that point.
The news brought a proper smile to Regan's lips, and she stepped back to allow Lavender some space in the room, returning to her cushion and the short letter she'd begun. "So you're his secret tutor, then. I was quite sure Percy wasn't causing the bounding leaps of improvement in his French grammar, as his is only just creeping above completely atrocious."
Lavender laughed as she put the book she'd borrowed back in its proper place. "Percy's French is horrible," she said, still smiling as she crossed to the other shelf. "But I think he's trying to improve."
"His Bulgarian is lovely, though, and he is, I believe, albeit slowly. Perhaps Jack's influence will prove beneficial." Her eyes flicked to Lavender between words as she wrote, trying to choose vocabulary appropriate to Jack's reading level, especially given that it was his second language. "...And I'd not call it horrible... He simply understands a great deal more than he speaks clearly."
"I haven't heard his Bulgarian," Lavender said, fingers pulling the book she'd been looking for.
Not entirely sure whether she'd stepped onto a subject she ought not, Regan edged around it, volunteering, "He was teaching me, a bit... we're both quite fond of the folklore of our respective preferred cultures, and the original text is always better."
"It would have gone over my head. I only learned French out of necessity. I'm not even that good with English when I'm not trying." She turned toward Regan, nodding at the books she'd brought. "What'd you bring him?"
Curious, though not bold enough to inquire as to the circumstances of Lavender's unintentional acquisition of her birth language, Regan nudged a few books out of the stack she'd laid out among the cushions. "Max Et Le Maximontres, Bonsoir Lune... Devine Combien Je T'aime. This is Tess' favorite, in English," she added fondly, indicating the last book. "She follows Gwen around chirping 'Je t'aime, je t'aime!' if I let her look at this one."
Lavender nodded. She thought the books were a little young for Jack, but if they were simple, they'd be easier to learn in a new language. "He'll like them," she said, smiling slightly.
"I imagine he's read them already, when he was littler, but he ought to be able to manage these on his own, and that should please him." A tiny smirk appeared as an image presented itself to Regan, and she conjectured, "Or, if nothing else, it will give him something to lord over Percy, and that does please him. He can nearly recite Le Petit Prince, and has likely been using his new vocabulary to cheat at Scrabble."
"Mmm," Lavender hummed, hazel eyes flicking to look at the small blonde. "Usually he just wants me to read to him about pirates."
It was fitting, for Jack, though save for his costume at the Fall Festival, she'd not noted it as a particular area of interest. Thus far, Regan could create no overall sense of this woman, and the effort was beginning to wear, as she was generally terrible at conversing with new people. She signed the note she'd finally finished, tucking it partially under the cover of the top book in the pile, and tidied away her writing things, wondering at the best way to excuse herself politely.
"I am terribly sorry to have startled you; it was not my intention, and I shall endeavor not to do so in future," she tried, rising from the cushions she'd been perched among.
"No, I'm sorry I pulled my wand on you. New house and all, you know?" Lavender didn't want to make Percy's girlfriend feel uneasy, but felt like she'd done something to have the girl running from the house. "Jack'll appreciate the books."
Nodding and trying another smile, Regan said, "I do hope so, and there's no need to apologize. For all you knew, I might have been here unasked. I think I'm rather glad to know there's someone else around for Jack, just in case."
"In short order, I'm sure he'll be the one protecting my honor, and not the other way around," Lavender said, smiling. "Did you want me to give Percy a message when he gets home?"
Unsuccessfully attempting to quash a tinge of envy that Lavender would be there to give Percy a message when he arrived home, Regan considered the question for a moment, eventually declining. "I know he's quite busy, still, with the house and Jack and the Archives... I imagine he remembers how to find me, should he wish to do so."
Her eyes wandered to the chaise, remembering the last time she'd been in the room, and heat tinted her cheeks despite all efforts to the contrary. She hoped Percy might want her company again soon, but he was busy, and had far more pressing obligations.
"Alright," Lavender nodded, not certain why Regan was blushing, but fairly sure it would be rude to ask. "You don't have to go. You could wait for him, if you wanted to."
Regan shook her head, though she supposed it was something that Lavender had mentioned it, rather than wishing rid of her. "They'll be hours, yet, and I'd not want to intrude. Thank you, though."
"Sure," Lavender said, smiling slightly.
Summary: Regan calls at Percy's new abode and ends up accidentally meeting Lavender.