Owl to Daisy (closed RP)
Severus writes the note very carefully in his patriotic green ink, with additional flourishes and thin double lines on the major stanchions of the letters. He pauses several times to ensure it is worded properly.
Dearest Daisy ( Read more... )
Dearest Daisy ( Read more... )
His clothing is all good quality. It is also all the same, essentially. Wool for winter and silk and broadcloth for summer. So he dresses as always.
Though he carries the sweets and butterbeer, he puts in the order for the picnic to the House-elves. How does she take her coffee, he wonders. What is her favourite colour and what does she like to drink? He thinks of the nervous emptiness she bears. He will fill it with magic and ideas.
At four exactly he enters the common room, almost shyly though he does not show it, hoping she has not changed her mind. There is something strangely humbling about preparing for someone else - an anticipation of being appreciated that he should not allow to disappoint him. And there is a feeling of pride that he ought to hide and at which he is tempted to smile.
He is willing to put 'dearest' in a letter, but here in Slytherin and not even in the warm private personal bed, it seems presumptive. "Good afternoon, Daisy. How wonderful to see you again. You look beautiful, as you always do." He falls back easily into what he imagines to be his best Malfoy manners again.
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Daisy turns in her chair, happier now that Severus is present and not strictly in her thoughts; it makes thinking much clearer. "Thank you, Sev." She stands up and kisses his cheek, "You look rather handsome today as well." She smiles widely and squeezes his arm gently.
"I'll just grab my cloak and be right back." In a matter of seconds she's back and ready to leave. "Ready then? I'm excited about this picnic!"
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"I am excited as well. I am looking forward to showing you the tree, what I saw as a boy, looking at the trees and the lake, quiet." There is a quality of motion running through him and he waits by the door for her, lacing his fingers together and separating them. Once he had carried a coin to run over his knuckles to distract him from chewing his nails.
When she returns he talks a little nervously. "I've ordered a lovely lunch. Mineral water, cucumber sandwiches, chicken salad, a sweet tomato salad, sponge cake with melon and white chocolate." He had thought of Narcissa, the things she had once liked. What might a purebred Lady enjoy? Light and refreshing foods. "And of course the butterbeer and sweets."
"I had thought to apparate. May I?" He offers his arm and gestures his willingness to enfold her safe for the journey if she desires. It is a negation of presumption, elegant, almost a dance step and again a Malfoy emulation. They are deeply ingrained.
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"Oh my, that never gets any better," she huffs, reluctantly loosening her grip on Severus. She still keeps her hand on his chest and her body next to his. "But I'm glad you kept me safe," she presses a kiss to his cheek.
Taking a small step away from him, she glances around the area. "So show me everything there is to know about the boy named Severus." She giggles to herself, spinning childishly in an area, "Maybe I'll tell you about the girl Daisy."
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He is not sure he is ready to show her the boy he had been, wary, solemn, still proud, concealing pain, hate, wells of strength and determination, and worst of all, hope. And that destructive hunger. There are the things he saw, however, the things he liked, the things he wanted - his external reality. Here is the tree, the lake, the quiet solitude where he had studied alone, almost free for those brief times. The leaves are turning, the light gold and rosy beneath them. Here is the hollow in the roots that had cradled him. He will let Daisy sit there.
He tells her what he sees, "A girl dancing on the lawns where she belonged, bright eyes, light hair, little happinesses that were almost improprieties."
She has told him to be daring. He cannot dance, is no musician, possesses no rhythm or grace, but there were the awkward lessons he had undertaken, the instruction at the Malfoys'. And he knows he must lead. A waltz? Stepping towards her, he offers his arms and hands to hold her so they might move over the grass together. "May I have this dance, Daisy?"
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She admitted to herself that she missed the formality of a loving dance, and also of a ball in general, but this dance in the woods would certainly suffice her. Solidarity fit her and Severus, especially with all the students mocking him so freely. She makes it a point to snap at them when they do in front of her. But dancing here, they are away from all of that, and it seems Severus is more confident in himself, even more confident with her. Maybe he'll show her something different today.
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But the tree waits, with the blankets and food. He pictures it already. He wants to show her. He wants to dance. He closes his eyes and holds her so close against him. "I can't wait to show you the tree. But I love dancing, and I've had an idea..."
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"And what is your idea?" she rests her chin on his chest, awaiting an answer, still swaying with her hips.
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"That is for after we dine. Because I also want to show you my tree, and the lake. It's a new idea..." He begins to feel excited at it, feels so young. He cannot help smiling as he thinks of it. Even his eyes smile.
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"Show me what you must, but don't think I won't forget to remind you, after all is done." She smirks at Severus and places her arms on his chest, leaning into him, feeling his warmth and safety.
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He remembers her uncomfortable walking in this area the first time. There is no one to see, and he lifts her in his arms. For all their boniness, his arms are covered in thin smooth muscle. He will not allow himself weakness of mind, or body either. It feels good. He feels strong and responsible.
"Our picnic awaits!"
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"And doing what for someone they loved? You can't keep tricking me into thinking about the surprise, or else I shall want to do nothing else!" She smiles, her tone of voice joking.
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It seems so much smaller now, but it is large enough for an adult to sit more than comfortably and he crouches, setting Daisy there to watch the sun set over the lake. Her skin glows in the light. Though he had wanted her to sit here, he is now not sure where to place himself. "Isn't it beautiful?" She is beautiful there against the green blankets.
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She pulls back and keeps her eyes closed, everything could not be more perfect, but when she opens her eyes she finds it is. Everything is covered in that golden yellow sunset and it even ads an air of handsomeness to Severus' bedraggled face. She leans into the knot of the tree and smiles. "So, what have we to eat?"
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He carefully arrays for her: the white dishes, the salads, the packets of sandwiches wrapped in paper, white bread with the crusts removed, watercress and cucumber, cool and fresh. There are small sandwiches with the bread cut thin spread with filling, rolled and sliced - egg salad and salmon. The sponge cake he places slightly further away. All the food is light and clean, pristine for her.
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"Severus, this is lovely. Thank you," she says between nibbles. When she finishes her sandwich, she sips from her glass, looking over the rim at Severus. A butterfly wakes up and flies around in her stomach; a feeling she hasn't had since she had first seen Jay Gatsby in their youth. She leans back, resting her head on a spot of the tree, looking up through it's branches. SHe hasn't enjoyed nature in some time either. It's as if Severus is reminding her of everything she loves about herself, and forgetting some of the formality she had drilled into her.
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