RP: Going for a visit

[shh_millicent]

Date: November 16, 2004
Character(s): Ella, Millicent, Gilderoy, Julian
Location: House on G-street, the Five Alarm
Status: Private
Summary: While Mummy is sleeping, Ella decides to go and visit Mr Bunny Man
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_gilderoy]

Gilderoy chuckled under his breath. "Oh, nothing wrong here, he said, tossing a crooked smile at his two companions. "Lead on, you two, I think I'll just take my time in... "

His eyes started to glaze over, and it hurt to focus. Swallowing hard, Gilderoy forced himself back into full consciousness and nodded to Avery and Ella. Leaning hard on the railing, he made his way downstairs, one. Step. At. A. Time. It wouldn't do to go tumbling down the stairs in front of witnesses.

When he reached the base of the stairs, he turned to look up at the other two, choking back the accompanying vertigo. He needed food. He needed to entertain. And the latter was most definitely more important than the former to someone such as to Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Mer... Merlin f-firs...

Slumping against the wall downstairs, Gilderoy began to realize just how foolish he had been. Using all kinds of magic to cast wards on an empty stomach, depressed and dehydrated body was just silly.

He glanced into the kitchen and saw a plate of sandwiches on the table with a card on top of them.

When Avery reached his side, he smiled up at him sweetly, although slightly dazed. "I wonder if you might be willing to bring me one of those. I don't think it'd be the most brilliant idea of mine to accio one of them at the moment."

[shh_avery]

He'd nearly started cursing aloud when that damn fool tried to put on a brave show. But he still had a child in his arms and manners in his head. Sighing, Julian lit down the stairs quickly with Ella. "Thank you, darling, that was very helpful. You did a very good, very grown up job. I believe you're correct about needing some food. What say we have a bit of lunch, then? Do you think that's a good plan, Miss Ella?" The grin on her face was a nice distraction from his annoyance with Gilderoy. He sat her down gently as he asked, "Would you do me another favour then, pet? We shall need a place to sit for a moment. Would you please find us a nice, clean table to sit at? I'll bring the food." Julian then turned his attention to Mr. Bunny Man.

"As for you, stop being a magnificent tit about things. You're obviously not well. I will get you something to eat, but we are going to sit down and rest a moment. Is that understood? Now do behave and let me help." Against protests, Julian laid two hands on the man now, putting an arm around Gilden's waist to get him over to whichever table Ella found them.

Heroes these days.

[shh_millicent]

Ella grinned widely at the praise and nodded eagerly when Mr Muffin Man started to talk about lunch. Now that she thought about it, she was rather hungry. Mummy had fallen asleep before she could make her lunch and it had been long since breakfast.

Naughty Mummy!

'I'm a big girl,' she said proudly to Mr Muffin Man when he asked her to find a table, grinning before she turned and ran off, running straight to the table where Mr Bunny Man had given her and Mummy stew before.

Climbing up onto the chair, she sat down, waiting for Mr Bunny Man and Mr Muffin Man to come join her.

[shh_gilderoy]

"My mother died, Marcel. She's gone," Gilderoy said as Julian helped him across the room to one of the tables there by the window. "I have her cloak. Do you remember the one I told you about? And there's a photo and a note."

He settled in and looked over at little Ella sitting across from him. Her elbows were on the table, cradling her smiling face, and her legs were swinging back and forth under the table. "You take care of your mummy, okay, Ella? When we're finished with the bunnies, I'm going to give you some sandwiches to take home to your mummy, and I want you to make sure she eats every bit of it and doesn't leave the crusts behind," Gilderoy told her. He spoke to her as if she were the mum, and he were the dad, and Millicent was the stubborn little girl.

Really, he might not be too far off in that...

[shh_avery]

"What? Oh... Oh, Gilden, I'm so sorry." The arm around Gilderoy's waist tightened momentarily. "When did this happen, pet?" Julian took the offered note and photograph, looking upon the latter to find an image of a lovely woman and darling little boy. The two of them greatly resembled each other.

"Yes, I remember your tales about your mother." Both the ones Gilderoy used to tell everyone of adventure and danger as an auror mother, and the one he told Julian in the secrecy of his bed, about a seamstress. Julian had never bothered, however, to sort out one set from another. Nor did he ever cross stories. It was his gift to Gilderoy, from one boy who wished his parent was someone different to another. "We can talk more on this in a moment, love. Right now, we need to get you some nourishment," he mumurred before helping Gilderoy into his seat next to Ella.

As he made his way over to the counter, Julian took a moment to glance at the note that had accompanied the photograph. He stopped abruptly, looking at the small assembly of words. "I'm sorry. I did what had to be done." Oh gods, what a horrible note, what a sad goodbye. No wonder the man was ill and sombre.

Julian resumed his march back to the counter, having made up his mind. He drew forth a bottomless pouch which he always carried with him. He opened it enough to bury his arm inside, rummaging around for something of value. He hadn't emptied it in a couple of days - he'd been so busy, he hadn't time to scavenge - so there was bound to be something in there. He found some candles and pulled them forth. They were broken in a few places, but a quick Warming charm, then smoothing over the welded joints with his thumb, had them looking serviceable enough. Putting on his best smile, Julian politely asked for as much food as he could buy with them. He thought it should be enough for at least a small child and a starved man.

"Oh, and by chance, do you have any... m-muffins?"

They say the road to Olympia was lit by sacrifices and challenge, after all.

[shh_millicent]

Ella nodded solemnly when Mr Bunny Man told her to take care of Mummy. She knew Mummy sometimes forgot to eat and became tired. Maybe that was why Mummy was tired today?

'I promise I make Mummy eat,' she said feeling very important.

She grinned widely as she saw Mr Muffin Man coming back to the table - with muffins! She'd known Mr Muffin Man would buy her muffins!

[shh_gilderoy]

Even though he couldn't quite focus his eyes, Gilderoy looked up at Marcel and could see there was something special about the man's face.

And he brought muffins. The gesture was not lost on him. "Thank you, Marcel," Gilderoy said graciously. He motioned to the seat across from him, grateful that they could all have a little to eat before going out to take care of the rabbits.

"Oh, Ella, he must like you. Why else would he be so thoughtful as to bring our favorite thing to eat? It's funny, I've really been in the mood to have muffins lately."

He took one of the muffins and buttered half of it with some of Rosie's honey butter, and on the other half he spread some lingonberry jelly. "The thing I like most about muffins," Gilderoy said, raising his gaze to look directly into Julian's eyes, "Is that they're warm and toasty, and are absolutely delicious when smothered with honey and jam."

[shh_avery]

Julian nearly dropped his crumpet upon hearing that. Good Lords, that was almost blatant enough for Ella. Very carefully, he steadied - his hand was not shaking, no it wasn't - it so as to butter it generously and pour some - gods, help him - honey over the bread. Staring at it with his throat a bit constricted, Julian wondered if he would ever look at baking the same again.

It was highly unlikely, a vivid imagination being what it was, and some sort of devil possessing Gilderoy.

"Of course," he paused to clear his throat, "I like such a fine young lady. Miss Ella is so sensible and wise, what is there not to love? And it's only natural that you would enjoy muffins. They're so... filling, a right pleasure to eat." What in the moons of Jupiter was he saying? "Yes... makes mouths happy, and all... that." Julian took several large swallows of tea in order to get his mouth to shut up.

When he felt some sense return to him, he reminded softly, "Now Ella, darling, do remember to leave a couple of muffins for your mummy. I'm sure she'd like some apples as well." Julian was unsure if he knew this woman Millicent, but he got the impression the little family was in dire straits. Who wasn't, actually, but perhaps they'd had it worse than some. Julian studied the little girl a moment, unwittingly wondering if he had a daughter as lovely somewhere, and if she and her mother were also as desperate.

Julian quickly changed the subject.

"How are you enjoying your meal, dear? And you, Gilderoy, how are you feeling now?" Before he had time to think better on it, his hand reached across the table to rest on the other man's.

[shh_millicent]

Grown ups were strange, Ella thought as she listened to them talk of muffins. They were really funny to listen too. Ella giggled.

She nodded happily at Mr Muffin Man's question. She chewed quickly and swallowed.

'I take two muffins home to Mummy,' she said with a wide grin, feeling like a very big girl today.

'Are we feeding the bunnies later?' she then asked, another wide grin spreading on her face at the thought of the bunnies.

[shh_gilderoy]

Gilderoy looked down at Julian's hand on top of his own, then up into Julian's face. Then he looked over at Ella's face, raised his eyebrows and gave her a smile and a knowing wink.

He looked back over at Marcel and pursed his lips slightly, then turned his hand and grasped Marcel's fingers. "Of course we're going to feed the bunnies. We'll go feed the bunnies, then go feed your mummy. I think it would be best if we walked home with you. After all, you have to carry your dragon back with you, and with the muffins and apples and sandwiches - well, that's a lot to carry."

The food was helping him significantly. He could finally think clearly and his eyes were focusing properly, as well. "I think we should leave your knitting here, though. Whenever you want to work on it, you just come by to my room. Perhaps you can get your scarf done and give it to you mummy for Christmas? After you're finished knitting it, I'll show you how to make tassels."

[shh_avery]

He hadn't quite meant to hold Gilden's hand in front of Ella. Even amongst Wizards there were prejudicial attitudes about orientation. But before he could pull away, Gilded's fingers curled around his and, well, it had felt quite nice. His grasp was warm, confident and strong, all the things that Julian admired the most in a lover.

... Not that this implied anything, of course.

Actions and intentions were two different things, however. Despite what he had intended, Julian grew content to lazily entwine his fingers with Gilden's as he watched the man interact with the little girl. On occasion, he had to hide a smile in his cup of tea. Death Eaters weren't supposed to be the jovial sort, after all. Once everyone was done with their meal, and Gilderoy appeared restored, Julian nodded and stood. It was then that he realised he'd forgotten about their joined hands, which for a moment seemed resistant to release one another.

This time Julian had no teacup in which to stow his smile.

[shh_millicent]

They were holding hands.

Ella giggled. She wasn't used to seeing people hold hands and she'd never seen two men hold hands before. Mr Bunny Man and Mr Muffing Man were funny, and Mr Muffin man kept smiling (and trying to hide it behind his teacup).

Ella liked this game.

Not as much as feeding the bunnies though, and as soon as they had eaten she climbed down her chair and ran straight out to where the bunnies were, waiting for Mr Bunny Man and Mr Muffin Man to join her.

[shh_gilderoy]

Milkweed was already up against his cage, sniffing in anticipation as Ella wiggled her fingers inside his cage, trying to pet him. Gilderoy would have to let go of Marcel's hand to open the cage and get the celery ends and alfalfa for the rabbits.

He looked up at the man and smiled, then kissed the back of his hand and released it to go get the rabbit's dinner.

"Alright, let's feed them quickly so we can go and take the food to your Mummy. If we don't go soon, then she might wake up and start to worry about you."

They spent a good ten minutes feeding and petting the rabbits before going back inside, packing up the food (while Ella ran upstairs and fetched her dragon), and heading out toward Ella's house. As they walked down the street, Gilderoy held onto Ella's hand, and laced his pinky finger with Marcel's.