Times Like This

[Elsie Beauregard]

The Library in Irvingly was something Elsie had been excited to investigate ever since she'd heard of it. Of course Meri was now living in Irvingly too, so what better excuse than to visit her friend and drag her to the library! Els also had a handful (and by a handful she meant nearly 30 books) to donate that she no longer needed. It had been far too long in Elsie's opinion since she'd seen her friend and that needed to change. She was fortunate that Mary was staying with them for the time being while she interned at the hospital. It was a pity she couldn't join them today, the hospital was keeping her so busy! She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it though, which was all that mattered. Stella certainly enjoyed having Mary around the house, though it was probably because she thought the Ravenclaw to be a good influence on Elsie.

After picking Meri up at her house, Mrs. Haynes strolling along behind them, they made their way down through the Square to the recently erected Library. It was small, probably smaller than Whizzhard's but Elsie had always known never to judge things by what was on the outside. Who knew, it could be huge inside thanks to magic.

"What a beautiful little building." She breathed out. Places that housed books, whether they were old, ramshackle buildings or brand new ones like this, always became automatically endearing to Elsie. Perhaps it was because she knew they housed one of her favorite things on the planet. Even Elsie didn't really know herself, but she could feel the little butterflies of excitement bubbling up and she couldn't wait to get inside.

Of course, she had more than one reason, other than seeing her friend, to ask Meri out today. Elsie was getting tired of thinking and over-thinking her situation with Tyb and she was about to break down and tell somebody. She had the feeling that Mary already knew something was amiss, but she hadn't wanted to trouble her friend with anything that would distract her from her work. Telling Mary was inevitable, but she was also such a romantic that she wondered if she would be of any help. Mary's situation was not entirely unlike the one Elsie was finding herself in, but she also didn't have to deal with Stella breathing down her neck and Els though Meri might have a more practical opinion on this whole matter. "I'm so happy we could make time to get together." She said, for probably the third time today, but it was true. Real friends were few and far between for Elsie and she cherished the ones she did have.

@Temerita Reid

  

[Temerita Reid]

Temerita smiled widely and slipped her arm around Elsie's. "We should do this more often." She declared though they hadn't even really begun to do anything quite yet. It just felt good to be out, with out her mother, for a reason other than work. She knew the chaperone was only a few paces away and they were only strolling through Irvingly but it was still exciting and it threatened to leave her giddy.

The summer hadn't been anything like what it was supposed to have been. She was meant to have attended balls and socials and met people of the future husband variety. She wondered if debutantes her age would have this year held against them. There were apparently people to kept track of girl's seasons like that. At least she had some perspective; she was just glad to be alive.

"This is actually perfect because I've been meaning to look something up." Se disguised her glance back at their chaperone as merely turning to look at her friend. She was out of earshot if Meri was careful with her volume. "But I'd rather no one else know."

  

[Elsie Beauregard]

Nodding enthusiastically, Elsie couldn't agree more. "We really should." Els perhaps took having Mary around for granted; she didn't need to leave the house to see her friends, but getting out with Meri was very pleasant. She should get out of the house more, aside from going to work. Thankfully there had only been a handful of social events to endure or escape lately, though she was sure the upcoming holiday season would change that and she didn't have the heart to argue with her mother around that time. Losing Bentley always seemed to hit harder around his birthday and subsequently the holidays.

Accommodating her friend's arm easily, Elsie passed a casual glance at Mrs. Haynes as Meri did. Thankfully, the chaperon had a tendency to zone out when it was just the girls. Unfortunately she paid far too much attention when it wasn't and that made seeing Tyb without anybody getting any bright ideas pretty difficult. Thankfully her mother hadn't mentioned anything to Elsie, so she was hoping Mrs. Haynes either hadn't noticed just how she and Tyb interacted or had kept it to herself if she did.

Those thoughts caused her to almost miss Meri's statement and Elsie couldn't help but to quirk a curious eyebrow at her friend. Now that was something different! Her immediate curiosity piqued her interest and sent her brain pondering on various different possibilities. Knowing Meri though, it could be anything and Elsie suspected they were going to have to do a little covert operation to get enough away from their shadow for Els to learn more about it. Truthfully though, they were going to be in a library it wasn't a place they could get into any trouble so the woman would no doubt give them so breathing room. "I'm sure I can help with that." She said vaguely so that Mrs. Haynes was none-the-wiser, though if anybody could find something in a library, it was probably Elsie.

  

[Temerita Reid]

"And of course you will have to tell me everything you've been up to." She announced, as she reached for the door and held it open for Elsie. Despite the whole getting locked out of Hogsmeade, living in England for a while, getting sick, and working in London she still felt like she'd done next to nothing over the summer. Maybe it seemed that way because the last few weeks had fallen into a very mid-life crisis sort of pattern.

Theoretically libraries were terrible places for socializing however in practice it was perfect. Hushed tones and whispers there would not be seen as conspiratorial but respectful. They could talk about anything the wanted with out being heard and with out seeming evasive.

  

[Elsie Beauregard]

Smiling, mostly to herself, Elsie was glad to hear her friend was interested in hearing about what she had been up to lately. Little did Meri know that was part of the reason she wanted to see her friend today. Of course it wasn't the only reason, but still an integral part of it; if she could come up with the nerve to bring up what she wanted to discuss. Thankfully the library would provide them with a little shelter for such a conversation, if Elsie could muster it.

She pulled open the door to the little building, to find that it certainly was anything but little on the inside. It was warm and cozy, but clearly packed with all kinds of things. For such a new establishment, they had done very well with donations as far as Elsie could tell. Of course her own additions would find a home somewhere inside, she had no doubt. After dropping those off at the desk, Elsie was pleased to find Mrs. Haynes already distracted by a book so she and Meri could wander a bit away without feeling guilty.

"Why don't you tell me first? How's London?" Meri had a mission and so did Elsie, she supposed, but that didn't mean they couldn't at least do a little bit of the normal catching up first.

  

[Temerita Reid]

"London is big and quite lively. It makes you feel like you could get swallowed up in it." The short time they'd lived in London was enough to satisfy her curiosity for big cities. "I wouldn't mind visiting again but I am glad to be home." Irvingly certainly had its issues but it was quaint and having lived there two years now it was starting to feel like an intimate sort of place. "Mum likes Diagon Alley. Since, you know... She can't really get into Hogsmeade. And of course Diagon Alley is much bigger than Hogsmeade." She finished with a smile, even though she felt like she hadn't really done it justice.

"You'll just have to come see it! You could meet me one day after work... with Mrs Haynes? I've only been able to do a little exploring." Though she worked on her own she was always accompanied when it came to recreational outings and her mother had simply been too busy to be able to aimlessly wander Diagon Alley with her.

  

[Elsie Beauregard]

With not particular goal in mind now that they were inside, Els began to wander slowly and aimlessly through the magically expanded library. The tiny building outside surely hadn't been everything. The inside was vast and cozy and Elsie felt instantly at home. Listening intently as Meri described London, Els perked at the thought of going to visit. It would be lovely to go see the city, especially now with somebody who lived there and it had been ages since she'd been to Diagon alley and she certainly wouldn't mind a visit.

"I'd enjoy that." Even if big crowds made her a little nervous, she'd be alright. Diagon Alley wasn't all that bad and there were so many little shops to investigate. She liked to think Mrs. Haynes would like a change of scenery as well. "It's been so long since I've been." Elsie paused at a title that caught her eye, casually looking over her shoulder for their chaperon. Thankfully Mrs. Haynes was currently occupied with a book in hand and a look of concentration on her face.

Sighing in silent relief, Elsie figured she was due to add something legitimate to the conversation. "Not much has changed in town either. The bookstore is ever the same, but it's a lovely distraction from trying to escape events." Elsie's life-long goal of avoiding social events was tricky at times, but she thought she was doing fairly well. Really! Her mother should be focused on Adella!

  

[Temerita Reid]

Meri belatedly stiffed her giggle, ducking her head in case anyone looked over at the little eruption of sound. Of course, a book shelf is a terrible place to try and stop a gigglefit. At least the leather bound spines on the shelf in front of her waited very patiently, if not disapprovingly.

"Sorry!" She whispered, still smiling. "I was just struck with the image of you lifting your skirts to climb out a window at a ball." She never knew if these images were simply from her imagination or true Visions so she was careful to phrase it neutrally. Of course when people knew she was a Seer they tended to take her 'images' differently. "Events are better when you go with friends. I hate nothing more than going to an event where you know a few people but not well. That's worse than not knowing anyone at all."

"I bet -" she said, raising up on her toes in a sudden swell of inspiration. "- Events are more fun when you are married! There's none of that hidden agenda business. No one is sizing anyone up for wife or husband material."

  

[Elsie Beauregard]

Elsie chuckled quietly; sad part was she often envisioned herself escaping through a window or something of the like while attending quite a few events. Despite her general distaste for the functions her mother sent her to, Els did always at least know one person. Thankfully Della was most often her partner in crime at things like that. Unfortunately, despite the fact that she and Tyb joked about making sure to have a friend at any events, nothing seemed to ever work in their favor.

"I agree though, they're so much more bearable with friendly company." Of course Elsie knew her mother's goal was for Els to meet new company, but that was what she actively avoided if she could and the reason why her jumping out a window was not as far-fetched as it could be.

Meri's next thought had also struck Elsie a time or two and she nodded in agreement. "It must be nice, without the pressure." Not that Elsie planned to subject herself to anything of the sort should she ever get married, but that was beside the point. Large groups of people made her nervous, no matter the reason they were gathered. "Tell me what that's like after you marry." She joked, still positive she would be a spinster before anything else.

  

[Temerita Reid]

"You're going to marry!" Meri said in something of a sympathetic scolding. "Certainly before I do." She squeezed her friend's arm before setting off down a different row of books. They were of course catching up and would continue to do so but she also had a mission. A mission she was still a little nervous to complete.

She was not surprised to find an entire book on pirates but, as she plucked it from the shelf and opened it to the table of contents, she was surprised to find Mary Read was in there. Meri had come across a rather scandalous pamphlet, one she assumed was circulated by feminists, and her interest had been instantly sparked. She'd been treating it as contraband ever since. Some how she thought it might look bad to be interested in such things.

"Look," she whispered. "A bit like my name, right? Mary Read. Meri Reid." She held the book open for Elsie to see. "A Lady Pirate! Her and her friend Anne Bonny."

  

[Elsie Beauregard]

Elsie scoffed softly and made a face at her friend. Everybody else had the idea she would marry, but Elsie was not so sure. They called her a pessimist, she called herself a realist. She didn't even know what was really going on Tyb for Merlin's sake! At this point she would much rather hold her breath for that than worry about anything else. As it was, she would most likely become a spinster, quietly dissuading and rebuffing any advance made her way. Els liked to hope her mother wouldn't make her marry, but she never knew.

Happy to change the subject, it seemed Meri had found a book of interest, though Elsie would have never guessed the subject matter! It only made sense that Meri be interested though, what with one of them having such a similar name to hers! Scanning the page Meri held open, Elsie looked impressed. "Lady pirates, who knew!" She smiled. Living as a pirate, aside from the conditions of a ship (and the minor fact it was illegal), must have been exhilarating. Certainly not a life Elsie would choose for herself, but her father sailed frequently, managing a large merchant company as he did and she had always wondered what it was like.