Teetered date (Merry & Rister)

[Leandra Graas R3]

Leandra raised her head from the parchment she had been scribbling on and peered at the clock. It was nearing 5 PM. Too late for Rister to come up with something clever to hinder her plans. Early enough for her to change at her pleasure and then convince her brother to take her to the cinema. Sure, her other brothers were in town as well, but Damon had muttered something about being busy, before walking out in the morning with a bunch of letters, Gabriel had a photoshoot, and she could hear the faint sound of Jared playing his guitar. Besides, out of his brothers Rister was the one who minded Disney movies least. Stashing the scribble she had been working between the pages of a heavy tome about the royal heritage of Scotland, Leandra stood and changed. A pair of white cotton pants that felt comfortable around her long feet and a thin green jumper that brought out her eyes. Comfortable and casual enough to serve in the cinema and warm enough too. The sky was cloudy and it obviously wasn’t too warm outside, despite it being the beginning of August. And Rister would undoubtedly take her somewhere to eat quickly after the movie, so it would be even more chillier when they got back.

Leandra ran a brush through her hair quickly and then deemed herself ready. Going down the staircase that united the two stories of the apartment, she seated herself on the armrest of the couch Rister was lounging on and covered his eyes with his palms, even though his eyes had been closed. Rister chuckled and Leandra grinned triumphantly. He seemed patient enough today to be convinced to come to the cinema. “My Scottish prince kidnapped the English princess. The English were outraged but the princesses reputation had been soiled so a wedding was carried through and when the son was born, my prince declared war on England if it doesn’t bow to him as the regent and father of the legal king of England,” she told Rister, removing her hands from his eyes, “But I couldn’t decide what the cardinals would say about the legal inheritance rights of the child, as the English had had sons themselves as well, even if the sons had been younger than the princess that was kidnapped. My head just got stuffy. Will you come and walk with me?” One of Rister’s eyes cracked open as he peered at her and Leandra felt a tell-tale blush on her cheeks as she was too slow in hiding her victorious smile. “And possibly we could go and see the latest Disney movie in the cinema. It’s cloudy outside so being in the cinema would mean you wouldn’t get wet,” Leandra admitted obediently but knew she had won as Rister rose to sit, even while he was grumbling.

“Why are you taking the jacket? It’s not that cold outside?” Leandra questioned absent-mindedly, tugging on Rister’s hand, barely giving him enough time to even pull on his shoes. Holding onto Rister’s arm so as not to loose him in the crowd, Leandra settled in to enjoy the evening. Chattering cheerfully, she pointed at different window displays and nodded towards strangers on the street, dreaming up histories for them for the amusement of herself as well as Rister. The cinema wasn’t too far. They reached it easily after 20 minutes of walking and still had some time left to buy the tickets. Rister had just paid for the tickets when Leandra noticed the most intriguing sight in the cinema today. At least for them it would be. Perhaps. Grabbing onto Rister’s hands Leandra pulled her forcefully over towards the familiar girl, even if she didn’t know the crowd she was there with. “Merry!” Leandra called loudly, catching the attention of the older girl as well as some random passer-bys. Even Rister raised his head now with curiosity Leandra noticed with a smug grin.

“Hei, Merry, I didn’t think you would be here,” Leandra claimed with a wide smile to the older girl, before wrapping his fingers around Rister’s hand – left, so as not to hinder him should a fast reaction be needed – and peered up at her brother, who understood the wordless request easily. Leandra peered at the girl and the boy with Merry – Rosalind and Philip, Pip for short, Merry’s sister and brother – for a moment, before a slight squeeze on his hand reminded her where she was. “I’m Leandra,” she told the two, “I’m Rister’s sister. We’re going to go and see the latest Disney movie. I liked the commercial. What about you? I hope you’ll enjoy whatever you’ll be seeing.” Leandra tilted her head and smiled at the large poster of the movie they were going to see on a near-by wall, before averting her eyes back to Merry and the guy she was with. She studied the boy for a few moments, taking in his attire and looks and what she could read from them and his posture and his silence before tilting her head back and glancing up towards Rister face for a moment. Reaching a conclusion, Leandra raised her chain defiantly, squared her shoulders, and curtly informed Merry: “My brother looks better than your date.”

[Rister Graas S6]

Rister knew that Leandra wanted something the moment he saw her outfit. But in reality lounging on a couch wasn’t his ideal way of spending time anyway, so he didn’t really even make the girl work that hard to get him to agree to go to the cinema. He was sure he wouldn’t care about the movie, but Leandra would like it so it wasn’t like it would take a piece out of him to go. He had barely enough time to grab his jacket and shove his feet in shoes before Leandra was already pulling him out. “I never said I’d be the one cold,” Rister murmured back to Leandra, knowing fully well that his black turtleneck was enough to keep him warm even in the chill of the night. The thin material of Leandra’s sweater, however, wouldn’t be enough to keep warm. He kept pace with Leandra easily, looking at windows when she pointed out something, replying when he was expected to, ran over the road with her when the traffic light flickered, about to go red. It wasn’t the first time they went to the cinema so they knew the way and Rister wasn’t confused before the counter either, buying two tickets to the movie Leandra had desired to see. He had just paid when Leandra gave a sharp yank on his arm, nearly pulling him out of balance in her rush. Rister grabbed the tickets from the counter, taking a step or two backward in order to satiate Leandra. It did catch his attention though, when Leandra called out Merry.

Turning around, Rister tilted his head towards the girl wordlessly. He hadn’t entirely expected to even see her again. At least not before Hogwarts. He supposed that Merry had figured the same, as she looked mildly disorientated by Leandra’s sudden greeting as she dragged Rister over. She probably wasn’t in much of a mood to see him either, after the two ‘Rumor Has It...’ columns they had starred in. A meeting in a park was one thing, but a supposed planned marriage? Well, he had been claimed to be in some before, but never to someone who accused him of being rich. Well, he looked slightly more the part today. Black tailored silk trousers, black shoes, a black turtleneck sweater, his jacket made of dragon scales – even though most muggles just considers it to be a cool design on the leather - with the soft padding of silver-fox fur. Even most wizards didn’t realise the jacket for what it was as they weren’t widely known due to the sheer price. This one had been a birthday present from his parents and served him well, as it could keep even double-digit negative colds out. “Doubt she expected to see us either. These are Merry’s younger sister and brother. Fair Rosalind – I’m nearly partial to the hair-do you had the last time we met – and Philip, Pip for short as I recall. Haven’t had a chance to meet the last party present yet,” Rister introduced amicably enough as Leandra wrapped her hands around his.

Rister inched his eye-brows higher by the tiniest fraction as he felt Leandra’s searching gaze on his face. But when Leandra blurted out her opinion about Merry’s date, even Rister was taken aback mentally. Even as he reacted immediately, almost out of instinct. Taking a half-step forward so that he was positioned directly between Leandra and Merry’s date, Rister shifted the focus of attention of the man from his little sister to him with that minuscule subdued movement. “A matter of taste, I’d rather say. I hope you enjoy your show, whereas our movie is about to start in a moment. If you’ll excuse us,” Rister stated pleasantly, with a slight inclination of his head, “Fair Rosalind. Merry. Pip.” His hand protectively on Leandra’s shoulder, Rister turned them both as they headed towards where their movie would be screened. Incredulously asking, once they were out of earshot: “My brother looks better than your date?” Leandra simply smiled, wrapped her arm around his waist and they headed in to see the movie.

------------------------------

As he had guessed, Leandra loved the movie. He? He had found it a bit cliché and predictable, but he got his enjoyment from watching Leandra bounce up and down, recite lines from the movie and recall the brightest theme-moments, even though they were just stepping out of the room where the movie was screened. One of his lip-corners curved upwards by the tiniest bit as he observed Leandra, when a tug on his arm came. Glancing downwards, Rister arched his eyebrows at Rosalind but obediently crouched as she signalled for him to do so. Pip was standing a couple of paces backwards, obviously torn between having to side which sister needed to have an eye kept on her right now more. Leandra observing him curiously, Rister’s thoughts got distracted, as Rosalind wrapped her palms around his ear and whispered quietly in his ear: “I like you more than him and I also think you’re prettier.” For a moment, Rister didn’t know how to react as the words repeated themselves in his ear. Laugh or admonish the two kids for hindering their sister’s date? The last option would sound a bit hypocritical, as he would hinder his sister’s dates as well. His mouth twitching somewhere in-between laughter, Rister finally settled on saying: “I’m glad you think that. But your sister is probably worried about you, so I suppose I shouldn’t offer dinner right now. Maybe you better head back to her and her date, no matter the case with him?” Even if Rister wondered what leverage exactly had been used to make Merry take her little sister and brother along to the date, as the fellow had seemed quite indifferent towards them.


((*giggles shyly* Sorry about these. but Leandra demanded that she could inform Merry of Rister's looks))

[Merry Garwin H6]

“My one rule, Mum!” Merry shouted furiously, frustrated tears sparking in her eyes as she crossed her arms stubbornly. Their father peeked around the door, grimaced when he saw the two females arguing and instantly disappeared. Despite her anger, Merry laughed quietly with her mum. It was just such a typical action for her dad; he kept far away from magic and arguments. The second the door closed again, Merry dropped her smile and glared at her mother. “No,” she refused firmly. “I don’t date during the summer. You know that I don’t. It’s the only time that I don’t date and you know that too. So why are you suddenly so concerned about my love-life?” Or lack thereof, Merry added silently. She wasn’t quite as active as Kali had been in the dating aspect, or as active as Reid still was, but it wasn’t like she hadn’t had a date before. To be truthful, during the school year Merry dated more than even her laid-back dad approved of simply because she knew that she wouldn’t date during the summer and wanted to make the most of the opposite gender while she could. It simply made things less complicated. Summers were already hard without adding boys into the equation. She had to work – in three different places! – babysit her younger siblings, keep Reid out of trouble, practice archery and enter any competition that was running, help Kali with wedding details and, whenever she got a spare moment, do the homework that the Professors set during the summer. “He’s a nice boy, dear. Just give him a chance.” Her mum arched an eyebrow at her sternly and Merry reluctantly gave in. When she was in one of her meddling moods, Charisse Garwin would not be deterred, and all of her children and her husband knew that.

Her bedroom door clicked as someone opened it and Merry turned away from her wardrobe, looking surprised when she saw her little brother. “Kali said Jake doesn’t like him,” was the only explanation that the black-haired boy offered but it was enough to make Merry frown. Her sister’s fiancé was a great judge of character but he guarded Merry like she was his own sister so there was a chance that Jake was just being overprotective. She didn’t even want to go on the date anyway, Merry complained unhappily as she took a seat on her bed and let Rosa cuddle up in her lap. She hadn’t even noticed the youngest child enter the room but it was pretty much inevitable; wherever Pip was, Rosa was sure to be and vice versa. Her hair was back to its normal colour, so much like Merry’s own, and Merry curled her fingers through it gently, resting her chin on her little sister’s head as she sank into thought. Pip’s serious, dark eyes watched his two sisters wordlessly as he leaned back against the wall and slid down to sit on the floor. His older sister would think of something, he knew, especially when she was just as eager to get out of the date as Jake and Pip were.

An hour later, Merry was grinning at Rosa proudly. It had been the young girl who had given Merry and Pip the idea for the plan by asking if they would take her to see that new Disney movie at the cinema. Pip crossed his arms and scowled at his older sister, earning a silently curious look. She knew better than to press him when he was undoubtedly going to tell her what was wrong anyway. “You look too pretty. It’s only a movie. Go change.” Merry laughed, ruffling Pip’s hair affectionately before ushering the two children out the house. “It’s only jeans and a blouse,” she remarked with a shrug, tapping her heel-clad foot pointedly until Pip mimicked his younger sister and smiled pleasantly as they approached the cinema. The boy – Merry bit her lip worriedly, belatedly realising that she had been annoyed enough with her mother and then too busy plotting to even ask for the boy’s name – was waiting outside for her and his smile faltered when he saw three people approaching him instead of one. “Edward,” Pip hissed to her through a smile. Merry nodded her head minutely before flashing a bright grin at Edward. “I don’t want to be here,” she informed him cheerfully, in the same tone that she would use to tell someone what a great time she was having. “But my mother insisted so I decided to bring my little brother and sister along so that you don’t think this is a proper date.” Rosa stifled a giggle and Pip rolled his eyes at the cheery bluntness that they had both come to expect from the middle child but Edward looked absolutely relieved, much to Merry’s shock and slight offense. “I didn’t want to come either,” he confided as he bought four tickets. Pip opened his mouth, obviously ready to be offended on his sister’s behalf, but closed it again at Merry’s warning glance. “I just broke up with my girlfriend and my parents are trying to set me up with someone they think more suitable than my ex-girlfriend. I guess you’re her.” Now it was Rosa’s turn to look annoyed and Merry could guess why. It wasn’t a very romantic situation and her little sister was feeling disillusioned.

A loud voice called her name and Merry glanced around in surprise, smiling at Leandra as she bounded up to them. “Hello Leandra, Rister,” she greeted them, flicking her eyes toward Edward discreetly to check if he was going to be patient. He seemed content to firmly avoid Pip’s glares so Merry hid a smile and turned her full attention back to the conversation. “We’re going to see the Disney movie too,” Rosa chirped excitedly, her grip on Merry’s hand loosening slightly. Leandra informed them of what she thought of her date and silence fell for a second before Pip started laughing quietly, his eyes lit up with amusement. Rosa glanced at her older brother disapprovingly, though it was evident that she felt the same way as her gaze returned to Rister almost instantly, equally as star-struck as she had been when they had first met. Edward looked away awkwardly and Merry spared him a sympathetic glance as she shifted guiltily, unable to deny that she whole-heartedly agreed with Leandra’s sentiment. Edward was silent and stiff and awkward; not at all her type of guy in the slightest. The tension remained even after Rister and Leandra had left so Merry offered an uneasy smile to Edward, feeling gratified when he sighed and shrugged it off with a wry smile. Rosa had somehow managed to force her brother into silence so Merry resisted the urge to just bury her head in her hands and instead led them to their movie.

Rosa thoroughly enjoyed the movie and Pip, though not really a Disney fan, was content to watch his little sister squirm excitedly and shoot glares at Edward when he thought that the older male was getting too comfortable. Merry’s flustered blush only faded after the movie was half-over. She felt guilty for not defending Edward to Leandra and Rister even though she neither really knew nor cared for him and she felt even guiltier for silently agreeing with Leandra’s assessment of Rister and Edward. It was only when Pip tugged on her sleeve that Merry realised the movie was over and she smiled at him sheepishly as she rose to her feet. His gaze was knowing as his eyes rested on her face and Merry frowned at him before transferring the frown to Rosa when she rushed ahead and out of their vision. Sharing an alarmed glance, both Pip and Merry hurried after her swiftly. Pip stepped forward even after Merry came to a halt but glanced between his two sisters unsurely. Neither of them could hear what Rosa was murmuring to Rister, which made Pip scowl discontentedly, and the brown-haired girl cheerfully grinned at them but refused to say anything even after she returned to Pip’s side for a moment before tugging Merry forward to Rister’s side. “I told him he was pretty and I don’t think he believed me,” Rosa explained, her eyes innocent as she stared up at Merry. Pip, still a few paces behind them, instantly appeared at Rosa’s side, glaring at Rister mutinously. “So you have to make him believe me. Don’t you think he’s pretty, Merry?” Pip’s glare transferred to his younger sister but gentled slightly, not holding the same harshness that it had when he glared at Rister or Edward. “She doesn’t have to answer that,” he informed everyone abruptly. “Rosa, stop asking ridiculous questions or I’ll tell Tyler what you did to his room,” he threatened quietly, feeling satisfied when she gasped and then fell silent. Rosa was the only Garwin child left who responded to insincere threats from her siblings; the rest of them held out for bribes.

[Leandra Graas R3]

It had been a good movie, Leandra reflected as she skipped forward, in order to keep up with Rister’s languid strider. He walked slowly for her so it wasn’t hard. A slight pull on Rister’s hand on hers, made Leandra stop immediately and she turned and took a step closer as she curiously watched the girl from before whisper into Rister’s ear. For others, he was barely smiling. But Leandra knew him far better. There was laughter dancing in his eyes and were they in the security of home without strangers around, Rister would be laughing out loud right now at whatever the girl – Rosalind – had told him. Rosalind returned to her brother and then Merry, as Leandra stepped forward and pressed herself into Rister’s side, wrapping an arm around his neck as her brother was still crouching, even if he had turned half-way to watch the Garwin’s approach them, Merry’s nearly abandoned date trailing almost forlornly after them. She didn’t like the fact Merry was here with a stranger for a date, Leandra decided as he tilted her head to the side and observed the small party, but her brother did look better than the stranger so maybe things would still work out.

Hearing what Rosalind had whispered to Rister, Leandra’s smile lighted up the whole of her face. “I know,” she told Rosalind merrily, even as Pip started to protest. Turning her bright green eyes towards Pip Leandra opened her mouth to retort to his comment, when Rister’s hand covered her mouth effectively. Tilting her head back as Rister had stood, she stared at his brother for a moment and after a wordless admonishing from him as he tapped her finger with his smallest finger, sighed, lowered her head and eyes and felt Rister’s palm lift from her face. The smallest finger, reminder that the slightest thing was what mattered at times. Lesson taught to them all by dad. “It would have still been more fun to have Merry respond honestly,” Leandra muttered almost dejectedly under her breath, even as she was passing Merry after a demanding nudge on her back from Rister. Stopping before Merry’s date, Leandra tilted her head back and gazed at the boy for a moment. “I’m Leandra Graas. And I’m sorry about being impolite before. I didn’t mean to be, but it sometimes just happened and I didn’t want to make you feel down. What’s your name?” Leandra told the boy softly, as she shook his hand quickly, “You will have to pardon me, because if you don’t Rister is going to lecture me and won’t take me along for a romp in the Forest for ages.”

A sudden idea flashed in her head, and Leandra turned swiftly and smiled at Rister’s, whose eyes narrowed at her, even before she could say anything: “Rister, could we all go to that barbeque place we were at last time? I liked the juke-box and they had a small space for dancing. No one can stay mad while dancing, so I’m sure I could make up my previous comment to him if we danced together?” Letting go off Edward’s hand Leandra pounced forward, linking her arm with Rosalind and after a moment’s of hesitation, her other arm with Pip’s. “It was an absolutely adorable place. I’m sure you’ll love it. Do you think Merry will dance with my brother while I dance with Edward? And what did you do to Tyler’s room? It’s so hard to come up with proper threats that have an effect on brothers when they’re being over-bearing. Will you tell me? I promise I won’t tell Tyler,” Leandra chattered merrily, as she started to pull Rosa and Pip towards the cinema door, knowing that if she escaped with them safely now, Rister and Merry and thereby also Edward most likely were bound to follow. Only to be forced to stop after merely a couple of steps by the warning in Rister's tone. "Oh, please Rister. I promise to behave," Leandra pleaded as she turned around and look at Rister, before turning her wide eyes towards Merry, knowing she would probably sway her brother easiest currently, "It's not late yet and everyone eats. And Rosa hasn't told me about the movie and she thought yet. Will you all come?"

[Rister Graas S6]

Rister smothered his laughter as he twisted himself lightly on spot in order to watch Rosalind retreat to first Pip and then to drag Merry over. It was an intriguing situation to say the least. Merry out with a date and her two younger siblings. Rister and Leandra running into them in the muggle movie theatre, a couple of weeks after they were speculated to be dating and even in an arranged marriage in yellow gutter press. Absent-mindedly wrapping his arm around Leandra’s waist as she pressed herself close to him, Rister couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen as Leandra and Rosalind both seemed to be in a match-making mood. “Well, to be literate a male should be told that he’s handsome rather than pretty, so you two are wrong about calling me pretty either way,” Rister told Leandra and Rosalind firmly, even though he had been called handsome before. He made do, Rister supposed, his dark hair and arrogance giving him a sort-of bad boy aura. Having a fit body from training and romps and riding and swimming probably didn’t hurt either though. “Ah, but you are pretty, young man. You’d do well to keep an eye on this one,” and elderly woman with a cane told Rister and Merry in passing. “Well, despite my dashing looks, you’ve still been already snatched away so I’m doomed for heartbreak anyway,” Rister replied with a charming smile at the old couple nearing her 80’s by the looks of it. The woman smiled back, even as her husband patted her hand proudly: “My Betsy could turn any head. I’ve been proud every day of my life to have snatched her up before anyone else.” The old couple smiled fondly at each other before moving on.

Meeting Pip’s glare quite confidently Rister straightened himself up slowly, slipping his hand over Leandra’s mouth. He knew his little sister well enough to know that if he allowed her to retort, things would truly get out of hands. Tapping her nose with his smallest finger, Rister wordlessly reminded Leandra of where they were and what good manners dictated. When Leandra lowered her eyes, Rister removed his hand and gave a light shove to Leandra’s back. Hearing Leandra grumble – as most likely did the rest of them as she hadn't been entirely quiet – Rister threw his most mischievous grin at Merry before averting his attention to Leandra and her acknowledgement of her previous words being slightly out of order. Not that Rister believed for a second that she was sincerely sorry or up to any good. She was better than most in manipulating people, but Rister had mastered the art far better. He was the one who had to fend of attempts to be manipulated more often than Leandra as well anyway. His eyes narrowed at the slight smugness gracing her features, even before she laid out a simple scheme that would meet her purpose. At least she had the sense of not driving things too complicated when it wasn’t necessary, Rister grudgingly admitted.

“Leandra,” Rister stated with a soft purr, halting the progression of Leandra and the younger Garwin siblings mid-step. Leandra knew that a purr was more dangerous and a normal tone anyway, as Rister didn’t raise his tone. Leandra turned her pleading eyes towards him, but Rister merely returned the look stonily. Merry and her date would probably be wanting to spend time on their own. And even so, dinner together wouldn’t be a decision he or Leandra could make. Apparently Leandra understood it too as her eyes turned pleadingly towards Merry. Rister shrugged lightly at Merry and Edward: “I blame my parents for telling Leandra to prod until she gets what she wants. She can be a bit…” It probably wouldn’t be best practice to call her little sister manipulative, Rister mused. “…persistent, even though you probably don’t need us intruding on your evening. But the place was nice and cosy and the food was good. The honey cake was delicious,” Rister added with a wink to Rosalind, who dissolved into giggles, muttering something about ‘Bee Prince’. “So if you feel like eating, you’re all very welcomed to join us. The more the merrier – and that wasn’t even intended to be a bad pun. My treat.” Arching his eye-brows questioningly at Merry, Rister waited for a response.

[Merry Garwin H6]

“You’re pretty.” Rosa glared at Rister stubbornly and Merry bit back a laugh. Her little sister had never offered such a weak glare to anyone before and she took it to mean that Rosa was still quite dazzled by Rister. Idly, Merry wondered if Reid and Tyler should have been warning Rister (or, to be more precise, his father) away on Rosa’s behalf rather than her own. “I can honestly tell you that I don’t think your brother is pretty,” Merry informed Leandra with a quick grin before her eyes turned to Edward warily. Even if their parents hadn’t pushed them together Merry wouldn’t have been interested in him and, although he had assured her that he felt the same way, she still felt concerned and a bit guilty. It had been a thoroughly awful date and she didn’t want him to be so tense that he snapped at Leandra. Thankfully, Edward smiled warmly when Leandra tilted her head to look at him. “Edward Hautore,” he answered quietly. “And I suppose I will pardon you since I’m not exactly Merry’s date anyway.” He glanced at Merry cautiously and smiled as he offered her his hand. “Friends?” He questioned with a wry smile. Slowly, Merry nodded, lacing their fingers together for a moment before letting her hand drop back to her side. The tension that had been almost tangible between them dissipated with that simple action and Merry could see the change in Edward just as easily as she could feel it in herself. Rosa still eyed Edward with wary distaste but Pip made a sound of approval. As long as they were agreed to be just friends, Pip would allow him to stay. For now.

Pip edged closer to her while Leandra was apologising to Edward and Merry glanced down, her eyebrow raised questioningly. “She’s up to something. I know it,” he murmured quietly, tilting his head toward Rosa discreetly. Merry looked doubtful – Rosa was the sister least prone to plotting and scheming, not to mention that she was only six years old – but kept his warning in her mind. Pip and Rosa were together all year round so he would know if his sister was planning anything better than she would. “Merry loves dancing,” Rosa responded eagerly, “so I’m sure she’d love to dance with your brother.” Her expression turned guilty and Rosa shifted uncomfortably, her cheeks flushed. “I, ah, I think it would be best if as few people as possible knew about Tyler’s room, if you don’t mind,” she replied hesitantly, her eyes watching Leandra nervously to see if she was offended at the withholding of information. Merry kept only a small part of her mind focused on Rosa, knowing that Pip, though only a year older, would be ready for an awkward moment that he would have to smooth over. Not only could Rosa be wary and nervous at times but it also seemed that she was trying, in the best way that her childish mind could come up with, to match Rister and Merry up. Knowing Pip as she did, Merry knew that he would put a stop to any match-making ideas without fail.

Two pairs of begging eyes turned to her and Merry bit her lip unsurely, casting her eyes toward Pip to see what he thought of the idea. Naturally, due to Rosa’s evident approval of the plan, Pip sighed and shrugged resignedly. Such a lot of help in making a decision, Merry thought darkly before turning her gaze to Edward. “It sounds like a good idea,” he answered after a moment’s thought. “I guess we’re all going to eat then,” Merry affirmed, gesturing for Rosa and Pip to walk ahead when Edward laid a restraining hand on her arm. He waited until everyone was out of sight before using two fingers to tip her chin up and then pressed his mouth to hers. It took a moment for her mind to register the kiss but Merry pushed him away as soon as she realised what he was doing, purely outraged. “I thought we agreed to be friends.” Edward looked abashed by her words and actions and Merry forced herself to take a deep breath. “I think you had better leave,” she told him stiffly, wishing that her self-control wasn’t quite good enough to keep herself from slapping him. He had been out of line and they both knew it as they caught up to the others in silence. Merry fell into step with Rister, her eyes dark with discontent and irritation as she watched Edward make his excuses to Leandra, offering apologies for not being able to dance with her after all, before leaving. Pip turned his head to arch a dark eyebrow at her and Merry shook her head wordlessly, telling him to forget about it for now. She would give him and Rosa an excuse for Edward’s hurried departure later, one that didn’t involve the truth in any way.

[Leandra Graas R3]

Leandra smiled almost coyly at Edward when he accepted her apology. She had apologized because Rister demanded it. But she wasn’t going to lie and say she enjoyed doing it. And it wasn’t that much of a pleasure to meet him either. So Leandra tilted her nose upwards and gave a regal little nod at the man. “I’m glad you pardoned me then,” she informed her curtly, before sulking towards Merry. But Rister had a point too. “Not pretty? But do you think he is handsome then?” Leandra questioned cheerfully before returning to Rosa and Pip. Leandra didn’t pay much attention to Rister’s words. She could guess the point and Rister had always been able to bend words to sound polite, without ever loosing his arrogance anyway. Rosalind’s muttered words were far more intriguing after all. “Bee Prince? How come Rister is Bee Prince? Being the head of the family one day, he and dad are most often compared to wolves. I think I would rather call Damon – another brother of ours – bee. He’s always busy, even though usually with boring economy reports and things,” Leandra mused merrily, for herself as much as for Rosa.

“Rister can dance too so I think they’ll look nice,” Leandra tilted her head and peered at Pip, “Do you dance as well? You’ll have to learn if you don’t. Are you a fast learner? I’m not sure I’m a very good teacher, but I do want to dance. I like dancing. It’s fun and active and neat and mainly just fun!” Leandra simply shrugged as Rosa didn’t seem too inclined to share the information. “No matter. I’m sure it was fun anyway. Brothers are a pain sometimes. I have four of them myself too. They’re all older though so they like to bother me and Morgana. Morgana’s my sister. There’s six of us altogether. Rister is the oldest. Then come Damon, Jared, and Gabriel, then me and then Morgana. I adore them all the pieces, but sometimes they’re annoying. Especially my brothers. They’re slightly paranoid about any other guys who even look towards me or Morgana too. It’s silly, but it’s amusing too at the same time.” Noticing Pip’s quite unenthusiastic reaction, Leandra smacked him lightly. “It’s food! And company! And dancing! Cheer up, old grumpy, or you’ll look like a snuffy hedgehog soon.”

But when Merry gave the final agreement, Leandra let out a whoop of joy and started skipping towards the cinema door again. The air that greeted her on the street was far colder than before though, Leandra discovered with a shudder. She hadn’t even had time to think that she would be cold, though, before a weight settled on her shoulders, engulfing her in its warmth. Leandra smiled shyly upwards at Rister, as she tugged his jacket tighter around her shoulders, her arms sinking into the piece of clothing as she hide her nose in the silver-fox fur at the collar for a moment to inhale deeply. The jacket smelled like Rister – slightly rainy and fresh and dusky like a forest. “How come your brother’s clothes are always far more comforting always?” Leandra questioned thoughtfully, before blinking at Edward as he said he wouldn’t be able to dance. “It’s not that great of a loss,” Leandra told Edward quite calmly as he said good byes. Not bothered by the man’s abrupt leaving the least bit, Leandra wandered down the street towards where she remembered the barbeque place being.

[Rister Graas S6]

Rister kept a firm eye on Leandra as she apologized, hovering quite behind him. She had been out of line with her statement. But that didn’t mean Rister would let anyone else admonish his little sister over it. But Edward seemed relatively calm so Rister relaxed about one strand of hair once Leandra had retreated from the fellow. Even though when Merry was looking down on her and Edwards hands with their fingers laced together, Rister looked at Edward’s face. It took a small amount of self-control and a mental reminder that it wasn’t his business to not ask if they were sure they defined friendship the same way. “Leandra, be nice,” Rister remarked lazily, dropping his hand on Leandra’s head and messing up her hair absently. He was far more occupied making his saddest face towards Rosa. As if the entire world had kicked his puppy and then told them they did it because Rosa told them do. “But I don’t like being pretty. Could we compromise? On attractive or something else, if you don’t like handsome?” Rister stuck his lower lip out towards Rosalind in a perfect pout.

“Just because I can dance doesn’t mean I will,” Rister correct the two young match-makers lazily, “A free tip. If you scheme before the people you scheme about and let them hear all your plans, it won’t work out very well. And Pip isn’t one of your so overly annoying brothers, so you can smack him at will.” Rister’s movement was fluid and swift, as Leandra suddenly found herself tipped over the floor, Rister’s fingers gliding over her ribcage, as the young girl dissolved in helpless giggles, until Rister helped her out a moment later. As Merry gave an agreement to join them for dinner, Rister threw a curious glance at the couple, even as he set off behind the three kids, holding the door politely open for them all. Positioning his jacket on Leandra’s shoulders as they stepped out, Rister returned Leandra’s grateful smile easily with one of his own.

It didn’t take long for Merry and Edward to catch up to them, even though Edward took his leave soon afterwards. As the party started moving again, Merry fell into step next to him. Rister observed the girl wordlessly, noticing the swirl of emotions in her eyes but didn’t comment. The firm shake of her word – even if aimed towards Pip – was a hint that wasn’t even needed to let everyone know that she wasn’t planning on talking. Rister didn’t ask. He hadn’t entirely seen what had happened, but as he observed Merry, he was sure he could make a damn good guess as to why Edward had left. “The lipstick in your left lip-corner is slightly smudged,” Rister commented almost off-handedly, even as he raised his hand and placed it right under Merry’s neck, applying light pressure for a moment, “If I notice you’re tense then your siblings will even more so. It’s about five minute walk, so loosen up. I hope none of you are vegetarians. I’m sure there are appropriate foods at the barbeque, but it does still mainly focus of meat foods. There were plenty of pictures of animals on the walls, but no furs or stuffed ones. Though if wanted, we can always go somewhere else as well.” Raising his voice lightly, so that it would also carry to the trio before them, Rister questioned: “How did you like the movie you saw, fair Rosalind? You seemed to be expecting it quite cheerfully before the movie.”