Birds Do It, Bees Do It

[Eva Sleptova]

8 January 1886

Eva had been in a sickeningly good mood since the Fourth. She and her Frederick were courting now, and thus nothing was wrong in the world. After he'd left on that wonderful day, she'd headed straight to her bedroom, where she'd collapsed on her bed, cried some tears of joy, smiled at the ceiling and then sang the first love song that had come to mind for good measure. 

Later that day, when one of the maids had come to inform her that Great Aunt Yuliya was calling her for luncheon, Eva had gone to her vanity, found some trinket (she'd frankly not miss) and handed it to the rather baffled maid. 'I insist Anna. Take it!' Eva had told the rather bewildered maid. 

That day was no different. Even when one of the maids dropped the jug with her morning coffee, something that would have earned her a scolding from Eva, she merely received a 'Oh, it's quite alright - mistakes happen! And magic can make the stain go away. See, just like this!'

Needless to say that the staff thought Eva ought to be asked to be courted more often.


Victoria was coming over that afternoon, and Eva was excited. They'd arranged for this meeting since before Frederick's visit, so Eva had waited until today to tell her the good news. Oh, Victoria would be so excited! 

When her friend was admitted to the sitting room (the same Frederick had asked to court her only four days ago!), Eva practically jumped from her seat and grabbed her friend's arm. "Oh, Victoria, the best thing has happened!"

@'Victoria Rochereau'

  

[Victoria Rochereau]

Word Count: 153 | Tag: @'Ellory Pendergast'
Though it was ladylike to arrive exactly on time, Victoria enjoyed being fashionably late. Plus she'd gotten a late start in finding the gloves that matched her outfit, so it took her longer than usual. Eva wouldn't mind though, so Victoria took her time in adjusting her hat before ringing the doorbell. After the usual courteous nod to whomever showed her in, she was shown into the parlor. As soon as she walked in, Eva was up as if she'd sat on a pin cushon. Victoria's eyes widened, startled by her friend's energy. What ever had happened?

After taking off her hat and handing it to the maid, she reached forward and grasped her friend's hands. "Well don't leave me in suspense, Eva dear!" she responded, searching Eva's face for signs of a clue. "Tell me what's gotten you so happy, you look like you slept with a coat hanger in your mouth!"

table by stef <3

  

[Eva Sleptova]

Victoria always had such a way with words! Eva burst into laughter at the coat-hanger description, although the news she was about to tell Victoria would have probably had the same effect.

If Eva managed to utter them out. 

"Lord Corcrest paid me a call on the Fourth!" Eva started. "And now--now we're courting, Victoria!"

  

[Victoria Rochereau]

Word Count: 186 | Tag: @'Ellory Pendergast'
With the first two words at the beginning of her explanation, Victoria knew exactly what had happened, but her eyes widened nonetheless in anticipation. Indeed, a bright smile lit up her entire expression and she gasped. "Courting!" she repeated, not bothering to hide her excitement. "Oh, Eva how marvelous!!"

Of course as expected, Victoria found herself positively envious of the fact that Eva had started courting before her, but surprisingly she discovered that the envy came without any ill will towards her best friend. Of course they'd known each other since before they were sorted at Hogwarts, and discussed in detail what it would be like for both to be courted, engaged & married, but they always knew that it might happen to one of them before the other. She just always figured that, along with the happiness for each other, jealousy would accompany it with a bit of resentment.

Surprisingly, Victoria found herself merely envious and nothing more. "Oh do tell me about how it happened, and don't you dare leave a drop of information out!" she gushed, leading Eva to the couch and sitting.

table by stef <3

  

[Eva Sleptova]

Date: 8 Jan 1886 | Outfit: This | Tag: @'Victoria Rochereau'

A few girlish giggles escaped Eva at Vi's reaction. She'd never get tired of telling people that she and Frederick were courting - well, until they were engaged, at least. Truth be told, Eva would get impatient of courting by February. Freddie didn't need to court her, really, he'd already won her over! But etiquette was etiquette, and she they didn't need to give her father more reason to dislike their relationship.

"Well, he came in the morning," Eva started, as if she was about to tell the most exciting tale in the world. And, in a way, she was. "He was dressed to the nines-" She'd gush more over how handsome he'd looked, but that would probably not be very proper. And besides, there were more important things to talk about now. "He came in here, and sat right in this armchair I'm now sitting in. And he was so courteous and polite, he did not dive in to the topic straight away, like a proper gentleman! And then he told me there was a question he wanted to ask me for a long time and-" At this, Eva broke into a gushy sort of laughter.

  

[Victoria Rochereau]

Word Count: 186 | Tag: @'Ellory Pendergast'
Vi listened in rapt attention, her eyes widening. Oh how romantic it all sounded! The shocked and awed look on her face didn't fade as she nodded in agreement with what Eva was saying. Of course he was a true gentleman, and as such he took his time – if she was being honest with herself, Victoria didn't understand why men couldn't just dive right in, but that was social convention, so she didn't question it too much.

"Oh, how marvelous!" she gushed again, thinking about how handsome he might have looked. Of course she didn't let her mind wander too far, for this was Eva's man and not hers. Still, a faint blush creeped across her cheeks thinking about how Eva might have felt seeing the love of her life dressed so. A stab of a feeling she didn't recognize hit her in the stomach; with her complicated courting history, she envied Eva for the relative (and this was using the term lightly, seeing as Vi could probably guess how Eva's father was taking this) simplicity of it all. "How absolutely romantic this sounds! What did Pet say when you told her?" She inquired, wondering if the shy, adorable Pet would have found this as terribly sweet as she did.

table by stef <3

  

[Eva Sleptova]

Date: 8 Jan 1886 | Outfit: This | Tag: @'Victoria Rochereau'

"She took it well!" Pet was a darling. She was happy for Eva's happiness, unlike their father. Then again, she'd also not met Frederick yet. Eva sure hoped that her sister wouldn't find some fault in him as well. She couldn't care less what her father thought of Freddie, but if Pet disliked him as well... That would hurt her.

"I've arranged for her to meet him on her next Hogsmeade weekend. Which I am very excited about, of course I am, but if I am also being completely honest..." Eva paused at that, trying to think of the best way to express herself without showing any signs of anxiety. "I suppose I hope she likes him."

  

[Victoria Rochereau]

Tag: @'Ellory Pendergast' | Notes:I suck, I'm so sorry <3
"Oh lovely!" Vi chirped, clasping her hands together. Pet was sure to adore Lord Corcrest! They were sure to have a lovely time meeting. Knowing Pet & Eva's father though...Victoria wondered how Lord Corcrest asking Professor Sleptov went like. It was sure to have send beads of sweat rippling down the Lord's back!

She was laughing inwardly at the scenario when Eva's change of tone caught her attention. Tilting her head, she peered at her friend inquisitively. "I'm certain she will," she said reassuringly, patting Eva's hand.

table by stef <3

  

[Eva Sleptova]

Eva smiled to her friend; less excitedly than before. "I hope she does! I don't want to estrange myself from my family by marrying him but I also can't bear the thought of not marrying him!" She couldn't pick between the two... Well, she was leaning towards Freddie, wasn't she? "At least Great Aunt Yuliya seems to like him!" The elderly woman let out a 'mmm' from her corner.