inlimis: Who: Andromeda, Bellatrix, Cygnus and Na

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black. (

cygnus) wrote in

inlimis,
@ 2008-06-26 15:19:00

Entry tags:

1972, character: andromeda, character: bellatrix, character: cygnus, character: narcissa, type: group

Who: Andromeda, Bellatrix, Cygnus and Narcissa Black
What: Shopping!
When: December 1972
Where: The wizarding area of King's Road, London
Rating: PG

Over the years, it'd become a tradition of sorts for father and daughters to abandon Leverer House to the coolly frenzied ministrations of Druella, who, along with a small army of house elves, took it upon herself to transform the family house into something appropriately festive as the holiday drew near. As with everything, she accomplished the task seemingly without effort, but past experience had taught Cygnus that home was the last place he wanted to linger in when wreathes had to strung across bannisters, cards addressed and sent to the myriad of people -- some friends, most acquaintances, and a handful of people Cygnus quietly detested, yet for one reason or another were included in the Blacks' holiday greetings -- and trees procured, set up, and decorated. All of this, of course, had to be accomplished before the actual Christmas dinner -- and as Druella needed to finalize the menu for that too, Cygnus had decided that today was as good a day as any to accompany his three daughters on the annual holiday shopping expedition that would leave a noticeable dip in the accounts.

His shopping having long since been taken care of, Cygnus arrived at King's Road with none of the anxiety that could be seen etched on the faces of many passers-by. Diagon Alley certainly boasted shops to satisfy every customer, even the most discerning ones, but both the Muggle and magical sections of King's Road catered to a clientele of an entirely different sort, and the people here meandered calmly as compared to the ruckus of the crowds thronging in Diagon; it was quieter here, which was just the way Cygnus liked it. Holiday shopping was already stressful enough; why suffer the addition a headache and rude shoppers?

A quiet crack accompanied his apparition, and with the edge of his over-cloak brushing against the pant-legs of his trousers, Cygnus stepped out from a corner street onto the main road, where he'd agreed with Narcissa to meet. Bellatrix was usually his partner in supposed crime whenever family outings were arranged, but in this, his youngest daughter was the master planner, and he trusted her to have alerted Andromeda and (the probably rather reluctant) Bellatrix to the when and where of their meeting. Typically, he was early; nonetheless, he consulted his pocket-watch, then let it drop back into the folds of his cloak as he turned to survey the area.

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narcissism
2008-06-27 03:15 pm UTC (link)

It had taken Narcissa far longer than she would have wished to escape the clutches of Druella at Leverer House. It seemed that every young lady needed to learn the proper way to plan a Christmas dinner, and while normally Narcissa would have been perfectly content to follow Druella around and order elves to hang up garland, this shopping trip was sacred. Besides, Narcissa had informed her mother with a pleading look perfected as baby of the family, she was shopping for people other than herself. Somewhat.

She was the first to reach King's Road, a surprise in itself, as Narcissa was notorious for her lack of punctuality. Perhaps the novelty of apparation had not quite worn off yet. "Father," she smiled brightly upon seeing him and then glanced around for her sisters. "Am I honestly the first one to reach? I did tell Bella and Meda the time; surely they haven't forgotten." Shopping was important.

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meda
2008-06-27 08:57 pm UTC (link)

“I did not forget,” Andromeda smiled as she came up behind her father and younger sister. “But I did get sidetracked.”

Sidetracked here meaning she had been lounging on Ted’s sofa and playing with his overweight cat, thereby losing track of time, but she pretended it meant that she had been passing by a boutique when an amazing pair of shoes caught her eye. Narcissa would never question the power of shoes, and Andromeda doubted her reasons (re: excuses) would be incredibly important to her father, so long as he was not back at the house. She stood properly at her sister’s side and allowed her eyes to roam up and down the street. She wasn’t much of a shopper, but she was one for tradition. Besides, it was always nice to go out with her sisters and her father, just them. It was almost like they were young girls again- Daddy’s girls, if you will – not well on their way to being adults themselves…a tangible reminder of which was sitting on her left ring finger, courtesy of Rabastan Lestrange. Glancing down at her hand was enough to make her stomach turn, so Andromeda pulled a pair of gloves from her clutch and wiggled her fingers into them. It looked like it may snow, anyhow.

“I do hope Bella hurries along,” Andromeda commented to no one in particularl. “We look a bit mad just standing here in the cold, don’t we?”

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fervently
2008-06-28 08:30 am UTC (link)

Well, that's embarrasing, Bellatrix thought, coming upon the trio standing and waiting for her, idle in inclement weather and all.

She fell naturally to her father's side, gripping his arm and lifting her head just slightly to place a kiss on his cheek. "Sorry," she said quickly, with a smile just as brief, "I didn't mean to make you lot look ridiculous standing out here waiting for me." Her eyes darted sheepishly up to her father, and down at the ground. That was when her smile faded just as swiftly as it had come. In spite of the occasion (a simple pleasure, it was true, and not one she would have chosen, really, but that was besides the point; family was all that mattered, she would put up with the rest), Bellatrix was not feeling particularly amicable just then. Haunting her was the scar on her arm, burning in a most unagreeable fashion, stinging and searing as the cold air hit it, even through the thick fabric of her cloak. Her eyes were tired and so was she; the meeting she had attended with the Dark Lord had not gone particularly well; he had been irate, and many of the meeting's attendees had paid the price. In fact, she should have been grateful, really, when she thought back upon the wrath that others had suffered.

But none of that need be present in her mind now. Now was time for things that mattered just as much (if not more, though she dare not admit it to herself). So she smiled again, small and reserved, and spoke. "Shall we?"

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cygnus
2008-06-29 12:55 am UTC (link)

That Narcissa was the first to arrive was and was not a complete surprise to Cygnus. Turning upon hearing his youngest daughter's voice, he then closed the space between them, a hand coming out to briefly touch her shoulder as he pressed an equally brief -- but by no means frosty, like the ones he gave to Druella while in the public's eye -- kiss on her forehead. "Honestly, Narcissa," he said, repeating her words in a tone of calm amusement. Narcissa's over-cloak was, of course, perfectly fitted, all the buttons in place, but he indulged a need to absolutely make sure that she stayed warm in this cool weather by giving the topmost fastening a small adjustment. "Although I'm sure you'll be the last one to finish here today, hm?" he added -- again, not unkindly, as he and Narcissa both knew that of the four, she was probably the most excited about this little tradition of theirs.

He was about to ask whether perhaps she'd forgotten to tell them where they'd meet when the familiar voice of another daughter -- Andromeda -- emerged suddenly from behind them. "Andromeda," he greeted as she came before them. The same ring that just then had briefly held her attention caught his eye -- a reminder to both of them that adulthood was fast approaching for her -- and then he blinked as she slid on her gloves, sending the overcast sky a fleeting glance before focusing once more on his second daughter. "Darling, Bella will --"

-- arrive, he could have said, because a moment later, there she was, and their little quartet was complete. As she spoke, he tucked the hand she'd gripped him with under his arm, while his expression, which was always muted, both amusement or disapproval expressed by the slightest shift in the tightness of his jaw and squint of his eyes, tightened a barely perceptible degree as he noted the exhaustion that, to him, was so plainly evident on Bellatrix's face. "We shall," he said, and after a moment, looked to Andromeda and Narcissa. "Direct us, girls," he said, making a gesture with his free hand that vaguely encompassed the shops that stretched out before them. "I'll follow. Remember, charge everything to the family account -- but nothing too frivolous, please. Andromeda, your mother asked me to remind you to pick out gifts for the Lestranges, if you haven't already."

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narcissism
2008-06-29 02:57 pm UTC (link)

Narcissa greeted Andromeda with a smile and a comment of "Well, that's quite a relief" as she arrived, but did not pay any particular attention to Andromeda's ring or the gloves that quickly covered it. It did look like snow, after all. Good thing she had brought a pair of gloves herself in case of such a thing.

She did, however, slightly notice Bellatrix's apparent weariness, but reasoned to herself that it was probably holiday stress or some such thing. After all, who really ever knew what Bella was up to?

"That sounds lovely," Narcissa replied innocently to her father, taking a few steps towards the first of the many boutiques lining the road. She stopped to share a look of amusement somewhat hidden from Cygnus with each of her sisters as he reminded them not to purchase anything too 'frivolous.' A comment like this was made nearly every year, and disregarded nearly every year. After all, what was Christmas shopping if not frivolous?

"Oooh, what are you planning to get for Rabastan?" She asked Andromeda as the four stepped inside. Despite the fact that there seemed to be no affection between the two, having a fiance had to be quite exciting.

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meda
2008-06-29 07:01 pm UTC (link)

The initial smile Andromeda’s face held at her older sister’s arrival diminished slightly as she took in the sight of her. One would be hard pressed to ever say that Bellatrix (or any of the Blacks, to be perfectly and slightly arrogantly honest) ever looked bad, but the wear and tear of something was evident on her face. Andromeda did not approve of her sister’s direct involvement with the Dark Lord and hadn’t since the day Bellatrix told her about it; it troubled her and kept her awake at night, and seeing her sister’s tired face did not help matters. She didn’t particularly feel like herself anymore, what with the fact that she was marrying a Lestrange and Bella was so regularly off doing God only knows what. It seemed like the only one who hadn’t changed was Narcissa.

So it was alongside Narcissa that Andromeda fell into step as they began to navigate the street. Her lips twitched almost imperceptibly for the quickest of moments as her father (or her mother, rather) reminded her to pick something up for the Lestranges. But rather than stomp her foot and whine like the child she wanted to be at the moment, she glanced at her father with a small smile and nodded with all the conviction she could muster. “Of course,” she said casually, “I know just what I’ll get them.” Well, she knew just what she’d like to get them.

She thought that would be the end of the conversation, but Narcissa’s cooing made it evident that she wasn’t done just yet. Andromeda actually hadn’t given any thought as to what she’d buy for Rabastan, but she couldn’t very well say that now after having said she knew exactly what she’d get them all. “I thought about getting him some new dress robes,” she replied coolly. “I don’t know what he does to them, but they never stay in one piece very long.” Dress robes were a completely impersonal gift, but Andromeda hadn’t figured out the inner workings or desires of Rabastan Lestrange, so impersonal was going to have to do for a while. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Rabastan – she could tolerate him, perhaps even more than other possible suitors – but she certain didn’t love him, nor was she ready to marry anyone. It hardly seemed fair, especially since Bellatrix was the oldest. Eager to turn the talk elsewhere, Andromeda smiled and looked at her sisters and her father. “But nevermind him,” she laughed, “You lot are more important. What shall I get you?”

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fervently
2008-07-01 04:28 am UTC (link)

It would have been utter stupidity to think that her weariness would go unnoticed by her father and younger sister. Narcissa would, of course, be distracted by the task at hand, and would not be as responsive to facial nuances as the other two; that was simply her youngest sibling's disposition, and though in the past she had found it a bit insufferable at times, Bellatrix found herself grateful for it now, grateful for one less person staring at her - if even for a moment - with deep concern. It was more than she could bear on top of everything else the day had dumped so mercilessly upon her.

She wanted to be strong. She was strong. Bellatrix tried valiantly to be attentive to what her sisters ahead of her were saying, and to put on a brave face for her father, somewhat absent (as walkers and shoppers and browsers usually sport) but content, nonetheless. She failed at both these things, though not miserably. A last ditch effort had her look up to Cygnus with the last bit of life she could find within her and spread her lips wide, revealing teeth in spite of the tired dullness in her eyes. Had Andromeda not spoken up when she did, Bellatrix might have collapsed from the effort of keeping that expression up.

"You've given gifts to us for twenty years, don't worry too much about it," Bellatrix snarked at her sister, mustering a wan grin to show her jest, "In case you've forgotten, we're required to like whatever it will be, regardless."

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cygnus
2008-07-10 04:55 pm UTC (link)

Cygnus became quiet as the girls began to speak amongst each other and had fallen a step behind them once Narcissa directed them into a small shop. A quick sweep of his eyes across the establishment assured him that there was nothing here to interest him, and so, as his daughters began to drift around and examine the wares, he turned toward the owner of the boutique and instructed her briefly to charge anything the three picked to the account of Cygnus and Druella Black. The woman, accustomed to the patronage of members of the higher tiers of society, nonetheless smiled a Chesire-cat-smile as she saw the open interest on Narcissa's face and announced that she was very much at their service as Cygnus retreated to one of the full-length windows.

"Your mother has been taken by an increased interest in hats," he suddenly remarked, directing a meaningful glance at both Narcissa and Andromeda; his youngest, he was certain, would know precisely what sort of hats Druella'd been droppings hints about. "And Andromeda, if you're to purchase the boy dress robes, we should visit Savile Row. There is nothing here as good as the work of the tailors there."

He drifted into silence again, before glancing at Bellatrix, the distress her state caused him neatly masked by an expression of curiosity, although Bella would certainly see that it was not as composed as it usually was. "I take it that you're working hard?" he asked, although there was a light tone of an accusing too hard beneath the words.

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