RP: Welcome To The Dollhouse

[pb_npc2]

Characters: Kathryn Bell, Antonin Bell, Adan Bell, Elladora Bell, Tiberius Ogden, Katie Bell, Mary McDonald, Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Gwenog Jones, Augusta Longbottom, Neville Longbottom, Percy Weasley, Cho Chang, Athena McGonagall, Charlie Weasley, Roger Davies, Alicia Spinnet, Mafalda Hopkirk, Connor Hopkirk, Felipe Hopkirk, Leanne Barber

Comments

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_percy]

Although Percy hated the concept, he arrived fashionably late in the main foyer with Cho on his arm after having to explain to the hostess he was attending in place of Alistair. She was more than amenable once he'd procured the invitation and now that they were inside he had to admit he was impressed.

There was a reason the name Bell was synonymous with ridiculously up scale. The house itself was more of a palace in miniature, all stone and glass and light. To his side, Cho was bright and beaming, more beautiful than he had words for. His eyes moved to sweep over the crowd to see how many people he recognized. Conner Hopkirk he remembered from a share of rather scandalous stories in The Prophet some time back, his mother was speaking to the elder Bells, and brooding in a corner was none other than Theodore. Brightening a little, Percy made his way over, whispering to Cho as they went; naming as many people as he could.

"...And this is Theodore Nott," Percy said, nodding at the young man. "He's been helping SOF out a little. Theodore, how are you? I'd like you to meet Cho Chang." He let them dispense with introductions then commented off-handedly, "For something to homor the Minister this seems a little tame still, shouldn't we call be getting pissed?"

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_cho]

The Bells' house was unimaginably gorgeous, and being surrounded by beauty was the perfect remedy for unhappiness. Within moments of arriving, thoughts of the Corps were firmly out of her head; she was resolved to enjoy the evening as if nothing had happened at all, in fact. And it was very easy to forget, with Percy looking the way he did - handsome in a completely unexpected way. Looking at him she was reminded of how he'd seemed to her at Hogwarts: so uptight, but relatable in a strange way. If anyone had told her that this would be happening one day, she would never have believed it - but maybe, in a corner of her mind, she might have wondered. Thoughts like this made her almost nostalgic; more than that, they made her feel good, as if her actions were close to finally meaning something.

Besides, it was difficult to be unhappy in formal dress, even if it was horribly typical of her; she'd elected to wear the silk qipao, teetering in her most expensive shoes. She'd pinned her hair back with a golden comb, and the tightness at her temples made her feel somehow like an adult; but in the most childish of ways, Cho loved getting dressed up. It always meant the very best kind of attention.

And it's not as if anyone else could pull this off.

Holding Percy's arm, she grinned merrily up at him, and at the sight of Theodore gave a polite nod. "Good evening."

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_theo]

Theodore nodded at them both, clutching a glass of champagne that had been given to him by a passing waiter. He abhorred the stuff, but appearances need be.

"Good evening, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Chang." He gave Percy a considering look. He hadn't expected him to be able to pull such a lovely and intelligent Ravenclaw. Though she was coming up in the world after dating Potter.

"I imagine that will come later, after we hear the man wax eloquent on how he plans on legislating all of the wizarding world." Theo said acerbically.

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_percy]

"Hopefully later enough that we can actually manage to enjoy ourselves." In reality the minister was the furthest thing from his mind. While at some point he knew it would do well to detach from Cho and mingle, there was more than enough evening left to attempt that. "Your aunt and sister aren't here?" Percy asked, not missing the way Theodore's eyes swept over them. "I would have thought they'd be thrilled at the chance."

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_theo]

Theodore shook his head. "I rather wasn't interested in attending myself, but my aunt insisted on sponsoring me to it. She doesn't care to try and navigate current politics, and Anastasia hasn't been well enough for me to expose her to this many people, some of whom will likely have derogatory things to say about children of known Death Eaters." He took a sip, feeling himself tense at having to make excuses. Truthfully, he wouldn't have exposed either of them to this sort of nonsense at all, no matter if they wanted to or not. It was his job as the head of house, and fortunately, Aunt Margaret deferred to him in that.

he felt Purple lurch in his pocket, and without missing a beat, snagged an hors d'ouerves and dropped it into his pocket, all the while not changing his expression.

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_cho]

Cho listened politely. She could sympathise, but for the most part had only a vague grasp of exactly what Percy's job entailed, let alone how Theodore's difficulties tied in. It was a strange position, really; in matters of this nature she usually found herself firmly neutral, but couldn't help but scoff at how unfair things really were. Sins of the father, indeed.

Auror's training did kick in, however, at the movement of Theodore placing food in his pocket. She squinted, amused, but elected to say nothing.

"People really ought to mind their own business."

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_percy]

"If it were as simple as all that," Percy rejoined, "I'm sure many would be glad to. But it was minding their own business that allowed certain things to happen that very well may not have otherwise." Percy caught Cho's look but chose to ignore the fact that Theodore all but palmed a hors d'ouerves into his front pocket. No doubt the young man could write a book on the trials and tribulations of pygmy puff ownership by now.

The sense that there were more than one set of eyes burning holes in the back of his skull made Percy do another cursory sweep of the room and he pin-pointed the cause as none other than Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy.

Getting Theodore's attention with a slight nod, he said, "Should we get the formalities over with then?"

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_cho]

Cho smiled shyly. "Yes, yes. Of course you're right -- but a girl's got a right to be idealistic sometimes. Hard not to be, in such beautiful settings."

As Percy surveyed the room, she did a bit of her own looking - and so far, there was nobody in the room she had any interest in conversing with, apart from him and perhaps Theodore. When he spoke she only vaguely wondered what he could mean; any and all formalities were perfectly fine in Cho's book, after all. Following his gaze, the sight of the Malfoys gave her some idea: they were standing there looking completely unapproachable, and if she remembered correctly Percy had some business with Lucius. Maybe. The day she'd bought Tamarind they'd run into him, of all people -- and she remembered very well how nervous that had made poor Percy.

Cho sighed.

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_percy]

Percy smiled and slipped his hand into Cho's, masking the need for reassurance as a simple loving gesture. He couldn't afford to be nervous here, and Cho's very presence was going miles towards that goal.

Oddly enough, the Malfoys at that moment we a kind of inspiration as well. As tenuous as their position was on many levels, here they were, arm-in-arm, supporting each other as a single force. Percy consciously straighted a little. "I suppose," he conceded.
"Idealism serves it's purpose in giving something to work towards, but it's the small victories that provide the real motivation, don't you think?"

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_cho]

"Yes. Even the very smallest."

Like this one. Cho squeezed his hand, leaning just slightly into his arm. "A person has to try to find goodness in the world; if you aren't looking, you may never see it. ... And it's difficult to be positive at times, naturally, but we've all got to try. Even with this Tiberius in charge."

This was ironic, considering how much she'd indulged in her own negativity the past few days. She hadn't really gotten a chance to mention it to Percy... but then, he wouldn't be feeling sorry for her, of course. He'd probably congratulate her, if anything.

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_percy]

"Even the smallest." Percy agreed, taking the last bit of strength he needed from Cho's tiny squeeze of his fingers. "We really should mingle a little though--it's only polite. Theodore," Percy nodded and waited a moment for Cho to say her farewell. "see you again."

They wove through the crowd, passing the Malfoys with proper deference and respectable girth. Percy was nowhere near bold enough to approach him just yet and something told him that if he deemed it that important, Lucius would find him at some point in the evening. A head turned here and there as they went, first to look at him--that patented two-second assessment--but some lingered on Cho, if just for a moment as they left the main foyer.

"Looks like my good luck charm is paying off." He whispered to Cho, his head leaned towards her, a bright smile playing on his lips.

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_cho]

"Bye!" Cho flashed Theodore a grin, following Percy carefully into the crowd.

It really was fun, this. She'd been looking forward to it, of course, but hadn't honestly expected for the setting to be so grand. Nobody had ever told her that Katie Bell was so well off; it was a pleasant surprise. Anyway, the last time she'd ever had reason to dress up had been the Yule Ball, and this was far more... Well, far more adult. It did give her the strangest feeling of nostalgia; she found herself almost starry-eyed, and when Percy whispered to her she blushed like a girl.

Cho was used to being stared at, sometimes more openly than others -- but she was never so accustomed to it that it didn't affect her, and tonight it only made her feel more beautiful. Of course, it only really mattered if Percy thought she was pretty; she knew this, in her heart of hearts. It was just a very good feeling, to know that other people might be wondering how they had found each other.

"I do try," she giggled. "And oh, I meant to say... thank you for bringing me, Percy."

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_percy]

"Who else would I bring, Ginny? She'd be bored to tears and probably end up doing something embarrassing and potentially career ending for me!" The thought almost made him shudder, but he repressed it. To see that Cho was enjoying herself so much was encouraging enough for Percy to shake the most persistent of his nerves. He relaxed visibly, walking slower, meeting people's eyes as they saw him.

"I ran into Charlie earlier and he mentioned there was a grotto around here somewhere with a pool and music," he told Cho, stopping a waiter to procure two glasses of champange. "So why don't we leave this lot to their gossip and wine and enjoy ourselves?"

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_cho]

"Yes, please," said Cho, taking her glass.

Though it was true: she didn't much mind gossip, and wine could be tolerable. She didn't really drink outside of social occasions, times when she couldn't quite help it -- like their dinner in the park weeks ago -- but all the same, alcohol made her mildly nervous. The idea of a drink being able to lower her carefully built inhibitions was a little much for Cho. She took a sip of the champagne, and then seemed to forget it was in her hand.

"This really isn't so bad, though! And look, Percy, you're handling yourself quite well," she teased, prodding him with her free hand.

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_percy]

"Having a gorgeous woman at my arm helps," Percy said earnestly. He took another, less experimental sip of this glass and found a tray to set it down. He was marveling at the house still. Outside, a deep twilight had settled over the world, but inside was a sanctuary of golden light--crystal lamps and other fixtures broke and shattered the light into a millions warm, glittering fragments. Finally, they passed the conservatory and found the entrance to the grotto, where the dim of the evening and the light leeching from the house merged. The pool reflected both the first stars and light from the house.

Re: Main Foyer/Sitting Room

[pb_charlie]

Professor McGonagall had pulled Athena off for a moment so Charlie took the opportunity to visit the facilities. On his way back through the main area of the house he spied one of his brothers.

"Look what the cat dragged in," he teased lightly. "Good evening, Percy."