RP: Meet the Family

[rar_stephen]

Date: Tuesday, 21 November 1999 | Evening
Characters: Stephen Cornfoot, Cho Chang; Richard, Joan, Liam, Gretchen, and Joshua Cornfoot (NPCs)
Location: London
Status: Private
Summary: Stephen takes Cho to her first Cornfoot family dinner.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[rar_cho]

Cho knew Stephen was nervous. He had a habit of rubbing the back of his neck when he was uncertain about something. She was a little nervous herself. This dinner was more than just meeting his parents. She knew Stephen's unresolved issues with his parents could make this evening an unpredictable one. She also knew he was doing this for her.

She looked up at him when he asked if she was ready. "It's going to be okay, Stephen." She grinned when he reminded her about the signal for leaving early. "Yeah, either way though, maybe I can try some of that bourbon of yours as a nightcap when we get home." Hopefully the dinner would go well but she also looked forward to spending some time alone with Stephen later in the evening.

[rar_stephen]

Stephen inhaled slowly and tried to concentrate on his breathing. In and out. In and out. His mind was racing until Cho mentioned having a nightcap with him when they got back to their flats. He grinned at her. "I'd like that," he said, and his stomach flip flopped at the idea of having her over at his place for a nightcap, which instantly made his mind veer down inappropriate alleyways. He cleared his throat. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

Then the door was flung open and his mother stood on the other side, smiling at them. Stephen could see his father standing the foyer just behind her. He set his jaw and tried to look somewhat pleased to be there.

[rar_stephen]

"Stephen," Joan said and reached out to hug him. She didn't miss the fact that he stiffened in her arms. She wished it didn't disappoint her so greatly. When would her youngest son ever be like he was before? Stephen had never been affectionate, but he also had never been so cold.

She pulled away and took a look at his date. Joan hadn't known what to except when Stephen said he was bringing a date. Her first thought was that he was bringing a colleague not a date. But she could instantly tell from their body language that Stephen and young woman were definitely more than colleagues. Joan was surprised. She'd never known Stephen to take an interest in females, and this female was quite lovely.

She reached out her hands for the young woman and leaned to kiss her cheeks. "My, aren't you a lovely, tiny thing," she said. "Come in. Everyone is here. I'm Joan," she said to the young woman. "I'll introduce you to the family."

[rar_cho]

Cho noticed Stephen's reaction to his mother's hug and felt for both of them. Their relationship had a long way to go towards healing, if it was even possible. While his mother looked her over, she darted a quick glance at Stephen to make sure he was okay.

She turned her attention to Stephen's mother who was cordial and gracious as she welcomed Cho. "Hello, Mrs. Cornfoot." She smiled at the compliment and nodded as Mrs. Cornfoot invited her inside. "Thank you for including me tonight." Cho hesitated to mention she had already met Stephen's sister and brothers. She thought it best just to wait for the formal introductions.

[rar_stephen]

Richard stepped up behind his wife and held out his hand to the young woman. "Cho, isn't it?" he asked. "I'm Richard Cornfoot. We're happy to include you tonight. Stephen knows he is always welcome--whether he accepts the invitation is purely his decision.

"Come in the living room," he said. Joan followed behind them, and he noticed that Stephen wasn't willing to leave Cho's side. Interesting, he thought. I wonder if the relationship affects his work.

"This is my oldest son, Liam, my daughter Gretchen, and my older son, Joshua. This is Cho Chang."

[rar_cho]

Stephen's father then approached them and introduced himself. She shook his hand as she smiled, "Hello, Mr. Cornfoot." She noted his comment about Stephen which included an unnecessary remark, in her opinion. She directed a reassuring smile at Stephen and hoped his father didn't intend to keep directing such comments at his son.

They followed Stephen's father into the living room where Gretchen, Liam and Joshua were waiting. Cho smiled at Stephen's siblings, glad she had already met each of them. That did make her feel slightly more comfortable about being here tonight. "Hello, it's good to see everyone again."

[rar_stephen]

Stephen squeezed Cho's hand. She was the only reason he wasn't saying something back to his father. Stephen was going to try and be on his best behaviour. The evening was already going to be slightly unpleasant--no sense in making it worse. He clenched his jaw.

Joshua walked over and gave Cho a one-armed hug. "Good to see you again. We're glad you're here. It's always fun to mix things up a bit," he said with a smile. Liam waved, and Gretchen merely nodded from her spot on the sofa. Stephen could tell her smile was a bit forced. What was her problem?

[rar_stephen]

Joan returned to the living room with a bottle of wine and two glasses--one for Stephen and one for Cho. She smiled at the young woman. "Would you like some wine? Dinner should be ready soon, but I thought we might chat for a little bit longer. We don't get to see Stephen as much," she said and cast a glance at her youngest son. He wasn't even looking at her. She just hoped Stephen didn't irritate Richard tonight. The two of them had been at odds for months now.

Joan filled the glasses and gave them to Cho and Stephen. Then she refilled her own glass before sitting in a wing back chair. "So, Cho, tell us what you do? Are you a Hit Wizard, too?"

[rar_cho]

Cho held onto Stephen's hand, sensing how hard it was for him to refrain from responding to his father's comment. It was no wonder he dreaded spending time with his parents if this was how it always went.

She hugged Joshua and waved to both Liam and Gretchen. Cho nodded at Mrs. Cornfoot's offer of wine. "Yes, please." She noticed Stephen was remaining quiet, which wasn't unusual, but she hoped this wasn't too uncomfortable for him.

His mother wanted to chat with them but Cho knew his mother probably wanted to find out more about her. She murmured her thanks when passed a glass of wine and smiled when Mrs. Cornfoot inquired about her profession. "No, I've seen enough of that kind of action to last me a lifetime." She also knew Defense wasn't one of her strengths. She shook her head, "I'm a trainee at St. Mungo's, in the Healer program. I've been there seven months now."

[rar_stephen]

Joan sipped her wine. "Oh, how interesting," Joan said. "Gretchen is a Healer at St. Mungo's." She turned to her daughter. "Perhaps you've seen each other." Joan was surprised when Gretchen nodded.

"We accidentally had lunch together one day," Gretchen said, and Joan raised her eyebrows.

"Oh," she said and turned back to Cho. "That's a good, solid choice for a career. We always encouraged the children to strive for excellence. Clearly, your parents did the same." Something dinged in the kitchen and Joan smiled. "Dinner's ready. I'll call you in shortly."

[rar_stephen]

Stephen sniffed the wine before taking a sip. It was a bit too dry for his liking, but he didn't to be rude, so he held the glass and listened to his mother try and get information out of Cho. He was amazed at how kind his mother was being--not that she had ever been mean before, but his mother knew she wouldn't get any information out of him.

"Actually," Stephen said to his mother, "Cho's parents were supportive of their children's desires. They didn't exactly push them in any specific direction. Cho chose being a Healer because that's what she wanted to pursue." He stopped talking and looked at Cho. He hadn't meant to speak for her; he hoped she didn't find that irritating. It just slipped out.

His mother smiled at him before she rose and went to the kitchen to finish the preparation for the meal.

[rar_cho]

Cho watched the exchange between Stephen's mother and sister with great interest. She thought Gretchen was acting strange but remembered Stephen's sister had seemed very protective of him when they first met or as Gretchen had put it, accidentally had lunch together.

Stephen's mother seemed to approve of her career choice, or rather striving for excellence. Stephen finally spoke up, mentioning Cho's parents had been supportive of their children's choices. Cho caught the subtle inflections Stephen made as he directed his comments at his mother. Mrs. Cornfoot just smiled as she excused herself to go get their dinner ready.

Everyone looked uncomfortable in the silence immediately following. Cho's focus was on Stephen though and she gave him a quick smile, hoping he knew she understood how hard this was for him.

She took a sip of her wine as she looked around the room. She smiled hesitantly at Stephen's father. "I understand you're a lawyer, Mr. Cornfoot. Do you practice law here in London?"

[rar_stephen]

Richard sipped his bourbon as he watched Joan leave the room. Couldn't Stephen be civil for one bloody dinner? Did he always have to be so patronizing?

Richard glanced over at Cho when she spoke to him. She seemed like a nice woman. What was she doing with his cold son? "Yes, I do," he answered her. "I practiced here before we moved, and then I returned to my practice when we came back. Joan didn't care for living so far from her children. Are you from London then?" he asked, though her accent was definitely not local.

[rar_cho]

Cho nodded as Stephen's father explained he worked in London both before and after their move. She was surprised he had referenced the family's time spent away from London.

He then asked where she was from and Cho smiled as she explained, "No, I'm from Glasgow. My parents are both Potion Masters and have an apothecary there. The rest of my family are there as well but I see them as often as possible."

She took another sip of her wine as she noticed the effect being around Mr. Cornfoot had on his children. She had met each of Stephen's siblings before and they seemed more subdued tonight in this setting. Cho was used to her family gatherings which were quite different than this quiet atmosphere.

She looked at Liam and Joshua, smiling as she asked, "How have you two been? I haven't seen either of you around lately." The last time she had seen them had probably been that night everyone had gathered at Utopia.

[rar_stephen]

When Cho turned her attention to him and Liam, Richard smiled at Cho, acknowledged her parents' professions with a nod of acceptance, and excused himself from the room to help in the kitchen.

Joshua smiled at Cho. "Doing well," he said. "Working mostly. And Liam," he said with a nod in his brother's direction, "has been dating. We were surprised to know you were going to be here. Did Stephen drug you first?" he asked playfully.

[rar_cho]

When Stephen's father left the room, Joshua was the first to answer her question. She nodded, "Work and studying seem to be what I do most these days." When Joshua mentioned Liam had been dating, she smiled at Liam. "Yes, I've heard a little about that." She hoped things had gone well for Millie and Liam.

She grinned as Joshua teased about her surprise appearance at a family dinner. "No, I thought it best to keep my head clear this evening." She caught Stephen's eye and smiled at him. "Although I was promised a stiff drink afterward."

She noticed Gretchen still hadn't said anything and Cho didn't know her well enough to know whether she was normally so quiet. She hoped her presence this evening wasn't a problem for Stephen's sister. She smiled as she spoke to Gretchen, "I'm enjoying working at St. Mungo's. I'm sure at some point I'll be training in your department as part of the program. Since Potions are one of my interests, I'm really looking forward to learning more about the procedures done in Potions and Plant Poisoning."