Stopping in to say hello...

[prof_stargazer]

Date: Saturday August 11, 2001
Time: around noon
Location: The Imp's Inn, Edinburgh
Rating: PG
Characters Involved: Stella Sinistra, Caleb Moore, and Stephen Stebbins

Caleb and Stella had slept in this morning, having returned to Caleb's flat after the party at the Malfoy's.  When they finally managed to get out of bed, Caleb had offered to make

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[barmaid_matilda]

Matilda Murray preferred to check in on the pub midday. She had never understood how her elder brother had found the sort of person who frequented pubs an enjoyable type to be around every evening, and things around lunchtime were inevitably (and thankfully) quieter. She did enjoy it, in a way- her brother wouldn't have wanted it handed over to the highest bidder, and she did find Stephen to be a charming young man

[wolf_caleb]

"Thanks," Caleb said, smiling at Stephen. He took a sip of his drink before returning his attention back to Matilda. "Yes, that's them," he said, nodding, "and I hope it will be."

Caleb looked at Stella and squeezed her hand gently. "So you design jewelry too?" he asked Matilda. Caleb made a mental note to himself to speak with her sometime when Stella wasn't present. "Sounds like you keep busy."

[prof_stargazer]

Stella nodded her thanks to Stephen, sipping at her Butterbeer as Caleb turned back towards Matilda.

"Oh, yes, I was just about to ask about that," Stella smiled at Caleb's question. "What sort of jewelry?"

Stella always enjoyed finding nice pieces of jewelry- bracelets, earrings and the like. Lately, though, her collection had become a bit limited, specifically because she'd put away anything made of silver, for fear of hurting Caleb. The only thing she wore everyday was the sapphire necklace Aurin had given her as a portkey for Caleb.

[barmaid_matilda]

Matilda flicked her wrist, and a small rectangle of paper flew out of her robe sleeve to hover in front of Stella. "Gold, silver, gems, the usual," she said with a modest shrug, "My designs do favour a natural motif, however." Indeed, aside from a charmed script that first wrote 'Matilda Murray', then faded and wrote 'Natural designs for the discerning witch', there was a picture of a silver leaf inlaid with sparkling emeralds. The card's border was a thin line where, if one looked close enough, one would see a blue sky with passing clouds. "Our most popular line involves jewelry which changes to reflect the weather."

[stebbinsthescot]

"Mine and Kell's weddin' rings are her design," Stephen chimed in, holding up his left hand. On the third finger was what appeared to be a simple gold band, except that there was, resting on top, a point of light like a tiny sun, and every so often something in the gold itself would wink like a star.

He and Kelly had gotten married close after the end of the war, and the rings had practically been a donation. Stephen still couldn't say he had properly thanked Matilda for her kindness, especially after the loss of her brother.

[wolf_caleb]

"Wow, that's brilliant," Caleb said, looking at Stephen's ring. "Well done," he added, grinning at Matilda. He considered asking for a card for himself, but decided he could always come back alone and get one from Matilda.

"How long have you been married?" Caleb asked Stephen curiously. The fact that he had marriage on the brain should have disturbed him, but Caleb couldn't seem to help but think about it lately.

[prof_stargazer]

"Beautiful," Stella agreed, looking at Stephen's ring before smiling up at Matilda.

He had mentioned Kelly earlier in the conversation, but Stella hadn't realized that Stephen was married. It was a bit depressing, really, that a student she had taught all the way through Hogwarts was married already. Still, Stella thought, running her thumb over the back of Caleb's hand. Perhaps it just took me longer to find the right person.

[stebbinsthescot]

"Year this summer," Stephen said, twisting the ring around his finger and looking down to keep from turning red. He cleared his throat and looked up again, rattling off the explanation with the air of someone who'd done this several times before. "I know it's unusual, but we'd been together since we were both 15; it kind of reached the point where we both saw it as inevitable." Not to mention we kept on through some pretty hard times, he added silently.

[barmaid_matilda]

Matilda gave a smirk in her employee's direction. "All the worse for the young lasses who come into this place, I'm sure."

[stebbinsthescot]

"Now you shut it," Stephen shot back with a wagging finger.