Madeline Lancaster

@mad-lancaster

84 posts

"Rude. No." She counters quickly, "-truthfully I don't know when I'll be able to see him...we made jokes about it, but who knows. Summer tends to be different for everyone. Plus it is one thing to bring you, it would be another to bring a boy. My mother would probably get us engaged before school starts."

"Maybe not if you bring us both. It'll have your mum too distracted to wed you off. You know I wouldn't mind if you did, right? Just keep throwing hot cousins at me and I'll make myself busy," Theo teases.

Mads mentally toys with the idea -but in the end she shakes her head. She just can't see her mother being accepting with having a boy staying that wasn't outright Alexis's guest (she knew enough about her children to know they were wildly different creatures) and it would be too much to get her brother to play around. "No. I don't think it will happen or if it does, it will by chance. Oh, how I wish I could. Sadly I only have a handful and not all are as charming as Henri. Still I will try my best."

"Doubtful. Most men can't button their own pants without help." Mads dismisses, "You're a beautiful smart woman. They're most likely too scared to even speak to you more than anything. I could introduce you to someone perhaps?" It's nothing she hasn't offered before, but now that she really thinks of it, maybe she should try harder. "Actually...if you're up for it, maybe I can get my cousin Henri to take you out. No pressure to date of course, but he's a handsome man who isn't a bastard. You deserve to have someone take you on a few dates this summer."

"Maybe." It probably isn't the worst idea for her to try and put herself out there at some point. This summer was already going to be about five million other new experiences, why not one more? "Are you only offering to make sure I'm willing to be distracted for a few nights so you can meet up with August?"

"Rude. No." She counters quickly, "-truthfully I don't know when I'll be able to see him...we made jokes about it, but who knows. Summer tends to be different for everyone. Plus it is one thing to bring you, it would be another to bring a boy. My mother would probably get us engaged before school starts."

It takes a second to register, distracted by a delicate necklace that she ultimately puts down like the rest. "No, not really." And that's the truth. Whatever odd one sided feelings she may or may not have for Alexis are...probably nothing. They'll fade off before summer even begins and it'll be some fever dream. "I'm not good at the dating thing and I think guys sense that. Smart of them really."

"Doubtful. Most men can't button their own pants without help." Mads dismisses, "You're a beautiful smart woman. They're most likely too scared to even speak to you more than anything. I could introduce you to someone perhaps?" It's nothing she hasn't offered before, but now that she really thinks of it, maybe she should try harder. "Actually...if you're up for it, maybe I can get my cousin Henri to take you out. No pressure to date of course, but he's a handsome man who isn't a bastard. You deserve to have someone take you on a few dates this summer."

"Yes, yes, you're perfection." She agrees, rolling her eyes playfully and joining at the jewelry. Picking up a few pieces, she eyes them all carefully before putting them back, unable to decide if she really likes any of them.

Mads plays with a few more pieces, very cute but frankly a little too cheap for her tastes. She eyes her friend instead, "So, outside of my perfection. Is there anyone else?"

"You know, I think I might be a little bit in love with you right now." Theo says with an easy laugh, grabbing another dress off of a nearby hanger.

Mads flips her long dark hair dramatically over her shoulder, "Everyone is always a little bit in love with me. As they should be." She declares before spying a table full of trinkets and jewelry. "Look at this so cute!" She picks up a ring that has perfectly green snake curling around the silver metal.

"So what you're saying is I could potentially spend the summer eating bread by a pool in the sun, instead of having to be up before the sun to do chores and training every day of what is supposed to be vacation?"

Mads looks at her friend with clear worry, "Gods no. Chores? Over the summer? What would you even...?" She is baffled by the mere idea. Her mother would probably smack a sponge out of her hand. She would bet good money that Alexis had never even used a broom in other sense but flying. "Darling, if you're awake before noon we will assume you're sick and call the doctor."

#chat theo #Mama Lancaster is like CHORES #MY CHILDREN ARE NOT HOUSE ELVES #Alexis does not know brooms are meant for anything more than flying #once saw someone clean with one and assumed that person was a squib

The idea of being spoiled by any kind of parent is strange to her. Of course she's seen the spoils of her friends. It's not that she doesn't understand it happens. But she doesn't know how she's going to experience it, for even a summer, and then return properly to her own reality. Shaking off the thought, Theo forces herself back to the present and grabs the dress, as well as a few others that catch her eye as they walk around. "So besides a few shopping trips, what else should I expect this summer?"

Mads shrugs, "Depends really. Alexis and I usually fight about where to go and what to do, mother usually plays peace keeper or finds away to pacify us both, but with you coming I think we might actually be able to do without that. I'll see what plans that idiot has up his empty head and go from there. Other than that we keep it simple. France for a few weeks, Italy to visit the cousins and uncle for a bit. No need to worry there, that's mostly a visit for mama. My cousins are older and therefore usually busy."

"A bit much maybe, but you didn't say it was wrong." Theo takes her friends hand and heads to a store that's window is filled with sundresses. One of them is such a beautiful shade of marigold and for a second she finds herself wondering if it's a color Alexis would like. If he would like it on her. And then she tries to quickly the banish the thought on the off chance Mads can read her mind in any way shape or form. "It's so weird to be looking for something cute instead of practical...god what if I don't actually know how to dress myself..."

Mads snorts, "I think you'll manage. And if not. I'm here and I'm fantastic at shopping. You should get that." She points the dress Theo had been eyeing. "I'll get it in a dark color and if you don't like it, we can switch." She offers, but knows in her heart that it won't come to that. "Plus Mama will want to spoil you in shopping trips as well. It's normal for her to take me and Alexis on a few during summer."

"Reasons." Mads throws back, but does take the time to slow down a bit. Enough anyways that it no longer looks like she is fleeing the scene of a crime. "He was just being..." She struggles to think of a word, "He was just being him. Come on, we have what we need where do want to go to first?"

Theo requests Rodeo Drive in California. She'd been one time with a cousin who loved shopping more than breathing. It was sunny and bright and seems like the best place to find a proper summer wardrobe.

Before she knows it, they're actually there. Standing in the sun. Away from the damp and dreary castle walls. It's jarring but entirely welcome. "Tell your boyfriend I said thank you," Theo teases with a cheesy grin as she tries to decide where to go first.

Mads makes a mulish little pout at the words, but can't find it in herself to actually comment back or denounce Theo. For one, the grin on her face makes it hard to be mean (even in jest) and for another she finds herself thankful of the boy in question. "I will but it's not...we haven't...boyfriend is a bit much." Is all she manages to stutter out in the end. Cheeks heated in a way that has nothing to do with the California sun on her fair skin. "I would like to shop now please."

"Thank you." She manages to squeak out before running away and grabbing Theo. Hauling her out of the chair and out of the common room. "Come on, lets go!"

Theo goes willing, trying not to laugh as she gets pulled along by the mad woman who has clearly replaced her best friend. "Is there a reason we're leaving to rapidly?"

"Reasons." Mads throws back, but does take the time to slow down a bit. Enough anyways that it no longer looks like she is fleeing the scene of a crime. "He was just being..." She struggles to think of a word, "He was just being him. Come on, we have what we need where do want to go to first?"

#chat theo #time skip to where-ever she wants to be?

Mads looks at the ring, "Usually I like diamonds but this will do." She jokes lightly. "Thank you...I mean it. Theo got some dreadful news about her family today. This will help cheer her up." She dithers a little on her next move before gathering herself and leaning up to kiss him on the cheek as a final thank you.

"Blood oaths for the second date, diamonds for the third," he promises with an easy laugh. A simple kiss on the cheek has got him blushing and honestly, even if they lose the match tonight, he'll be feeling like a winner for the rest of the day. "I'll see you at the match later. Have fun shopping."

"Thank you." She manages to squeak out before running away and grabbing Theo. Hauling her out of the chair and out of the common room. "Come on, lets go!"

"I've got quidditch practice soon otherwise I would. I don't mind telling you though." August digs through a drawer and pulls out a delicate silver ring and a parchment. "This map'll get you there pretty easy, mostly just stay on the trail. But to be extra safe," he holds out the ring to her, "this'll get warm when you're in the right spot."

Mads looks at the ring, "Usually I like diamonds but this will do." She jokes lightly. "Thank you...I mean it. Theo got some dreadful news about her family today. This will help cheer her up." She dithers a little on her next move before gathering herself and leaning up to kiss him on the cheek as a final thank you.

#chat theo #chat august

"Oh yeah, no problem. Come to my room with me? I'd rather not talk too much about it down here." While the common room isn't exactly full, it's not empty and this really isn't the kind of thing he wants getting out.

"I'll just wait down here," Theo offers with a cheeky grin, settling into one of the plush couches.

Mads sticks out her tongue at her friend over her shoulder before following August into his room. Trying not be sucha bloody idiot about it. It's just a boy's room. It was the middle of the day. Not like was dragging her in here for a quick make out session.

"Are you sure you want to just tell me? I figured you could tag along if you'd like. I'm sure Theo won't mind."

August turns and his smile widens at the very pleasant surprise. "Hey gorgeous, what are you doing here?" He nods a greeting to Theo before turning his full attention back to Mads. Theo for her part stands and observes, trying not to starting singing something about k-i-s-s-i-n-g in a tree.

Mad's can feel Theo's intense gaze -nothing sharp, just...there and teasing. She bites her lower lip and attempts to look up at August with imploringly, "I need a favor...we want to go shopping. Or rather need to. Desperately. The shops in the village are dreadful and everyone knows it. So I was thinking...perhaps, we can use that old family secret?"

#chat theo #chat august

"Anywhere would be fun...and honestly better than Hogsmeade. He's probably still in the common room, lets go."

Mads agrees, there was really only a handful of decent shops in Hogsmeade these days and few still that would have anything cute enough for summer. Together they go down to the common room, and find August with his back to them, talking to some first years. Mads gently taps his shoulder to get his attention. Doing her best not to look awkward or nervous with Theo watching.

Mad's shrugs, indifferent to the made-up toad's plight. "I don't like toads and he hates them. Once when I was little I put one in his bed and he refused to sleep alone for a week. Kept having nightmares about them." She says with a grin, remembering the girlish shrieks too. "Enough about that lanky fool. What would you like to do today? I say we skip classes and go shopping or explore the castle?"

"Shopping would be good. I'll need actual summer clothes now since I won't be stuck in the worlds dreariest estate. Ooh and we could skip the dining hall and have a lunch without the chaos."

"Sounds fantastic. We can head down to Hogsmeade or..." She tilts her head in thought. "Well...maybe I can bully August into showing me that family secret again. Then we could go anywhere if you'd like?"

"Why would you do that to the poor toad?" Theo says in her best attempt to thwart the idea. She wants to ask why he's so happy, to dig a little and see if maybe it was something to do with her. That would be the dumbest thing she could do and it shouldn't matter anyway. She shouldn't want to be the reason he's happy.

Mad's shrugs, indifferent to the made-up toad's plight. "I don't like toads and he hates them. Once when I was little I put one in his bed and he refused to sleep alone for a week. Kept having nightmares about them." She says with a grin, remembering the girlish shrieks too. "Enough about that lanky fool. What would you like to do today? I say we skip classes and go shopping or explore the castle?"

Madeline Lancaster @mad-lancaster - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag