[Majestic Bird] Jaunty Giggles and Laughs

[Trisha Baldwin]

This most auspicious occasion only came on Saturday. Which auspicious occasion, you ask. Trish had sent Jac an owl, using Warren’s, on the Thursday she had arrived on, telling her sister that she was in Hogsmeade and wanted to see her ickle Jackal. Trish had though the letter had sounded a tad condescending but Jac’s reply [[ which she only came across on Friday evening, sitting on her bed in the Hog’s Head ]] had been so full of jokes and teasing that Trish knew that when they finally did get together it would be explosive.

Saturday came and their decision to have lunch seemed to be a good idea, as bout had to eat, and loved to eat, so it was the perfect idea. Having made the arrangement to meet Jac just outside of the village, Trish made her way there slowly, looking into the restaurants as she passed them. They all seemed very full. The streets were packed with students and other people too, naturally, so Trish came to the painfully clear conclusion that it was another one of those days out to Hogsmeade. Not that Trisha minded any, it just made manoeuvring tricky, yet an adventure all in of itself.

Finally, she reached their usual spot and Trish waited. As she stood, looking into the window of the quidditch supply shop, Trish thought about where the best place would be to eat. Her blue eyes past over the broom sticks as she buried her hands in her pockets. Her hair was loose today, her curls hanging freely on her shoulders. She had not been inclined to tie it up as of yet however it the need arose she was prepared. At this thought, a smile came to the young witch’s pale face.

Trish looked up and down the street again, searching for Jac. She knew her sister did not own a device called a watch and so was constantly late for everything, a family trait Trish was afraid because Lon was exactly the same, though only when it came to important family stuff, like wedding arranging get-togethers and Christmases. Trish shook her head, her hair flowing with the motion, at the thought of her twin. How did they get to the place they were, Trish wondered. How did they become so estranged?

When her name was called out, Trish put thoughts of her twin out of her mind and turned to see just the person she had been wanting to see: Jac.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac had no excuses, she was late, as usual. Her mother always teased that she would be late for her own wedding and her own funeral. Of course the latter she had no control over, being dead of course, but this did not matter to her mother, she was convinced and there was little anyone could do to change Mrs Biggerstall’s mind once it was set. Jac chuckled to herself as she made her way at a quick paced walk towards Hogsmeade.

When she had received the letter from her sister, Jac had shrieked with happiness, nearly knocking poor Leon off the bench at breakfast. She had become so excited that she had not been able to say anything other then “oh my!” for five minutes. Her hair had gone through an array of colours but she had not minded the disco on her head, she was going to see Trish and that was the most exciting thing. Plus Trisha was staying in Hogsmeade for a while, could the month have been any better? Jac doubted it.

She quickly came to Hogsmeade, breath coming in quick draws and chest heaving a little. She had run the better part of the way. Spotting the dark haired head, Jac called Trish’s name out over the crowds of people and pushed her way unceremoniously through the people. When she was in range, Jac threw her arms around Trish’s neck and hugged her sister tightly. It had been nearing four months since the two had seen each other and by Jac’s mind that was too long.

“Hiya,” Jac said with a giggled once she had let Trish go. “Where are we going then?”
“Not sure,” Trish replied with a shrug. “Any preferences?”
“You’re paying right?”
Trish laughed. “Yeah sure, why?”
“Because then I know exactly where we must go.”

Jac took hold of Trish’s hand and began to drag her through the thick knot of people who were mulling around. Jac loved how Trish had her hair, curly and loose. Looking back occasionally, Jac smiled at her sister who was looking at all the people they passed, smiling at everyone just because she could. The last time Jac had seen Trish she had been so worried about the shop, so stressed about all the things that needed doing that Jac had scarcely recognised her. Now, as the two sisters pushed their way through all the people Jac knew that this break was exactly what her sister needed.

Coming to a white washed door, Jac pushed it open, the bell tinkling above their heads as the two Biggerstalls walked into the Majestic Bird. It was a weekend so Grace would be in, Jac thought as she looked around at the few couples that were scattered around the small shop. Looking for Sigh, Jac spotted her helping an elderly couple. Smiling at the sight, Jac pulled Trish on and walked to Sianna. “Hey Sigh,” Jac greeted as the tall woman turned to walk into her. She nearly did and Jac giggled. “We’ll be sitting over by the window.”

Not waiting for a reply, Jac pulled Trish between the tables towards the large window, the table in front of it bathed in sunlight. Letting go of Trisha’s hand, Jac took a seat and watched Sianna for a moment, smiling.

[Sianna Book]

Sianna had been working well, getting into the rhythm of only having her manager around over weekends. If Grace couldn’t come on weekend, she would write to Si and inform her. The shy woman appreciated this more then she would ever say as it meant she would be the one in charge, as Andie had her own place to manage on only came in four or five times a week. Si didn’t mind, she had cook to keep her company during down times, and her books that lay under the top of the lecture by the door.

For now, those books remained untouched, as there were a number of tables occupied today.
“A pot of tea would be lovely, dear,” the old woman said whom Si was serving at the moment.
“And the cucumber and kipper sandwiches sounds delicious, don’t they Milly?” the old gentleman asked Milly.
“Indeed they do, dear,” she replied before looking up at Si and adding, “and two cucumber and kipper sandwiches.”
“Very well,” Sianna said and was about to turn and leave when the woman’s hand went up questioningly. Si smiled at her, her dark eyes gazing down at the elderly woman. The raised hand motioned for her to come closer and Si leant close to her. It was a good thing she had fastened her braids behind her head at the beginning of the day.
“Can you cut the sandwiches into bit sides pieces for my husband?” she asked softly. “He’s been struggling recently to bite things but won’t go see someone about it.”

Sianna smiled and nodded, “not a problem,” she said and turned to go to the door, as the bell had sounded the arrival of new customers, when suddenly Jac was in front of her. The surprise of having the changeling being right in front of her made her squeak with surprise and jump. Jac seemed to laugh at it but shrugged it off and said where she was going to sit. Sigh watched the two move to the table before quickly crossing the room and fishing two menus out of the lecturn’s front compartment.

Walking to where Jac and her friend had taken a seat, Sian gave them each their menus and smiled. Pulling out her note book, Si wrote on the top right corner !Jac! before looking back to the two. “What can I get you two to drink?” Sigh asked, looking from the dark haired woman to the bright red haired girl.

[Trisha Baldwin]

Before Jac even went through the motions, Trish knew that she would get a back breaking hug from the small girl who she was constantly surprised was so strong. She braced herself for the hug and a good thing too. She hugged her sister back with just as much gusto but was happy when it was done, it saved her neck a great deal of strain. Still, Trish rubbed her neck, stretching her head to one side and hearing it click.

Next thing, Jac had her hand tightly in her own and was pulling her along. Trish knew better then to fight it, after all, Jac knew her strength and knew Trish knew it too. So Trish quite happily allowed Jac to drag her through the crowds of people and in through the door of the little restaurant she had come to the previous morning. It was a most charming little place and she indeed liked it much, the food was divine too. Trish stood behind Jac as she spoke to the waitress, looking around her at everything in the room.

Jac was dragging her again and it came as a surprise so Jac more jerked Trish towards the table she wanted. “Oy,” Trish moaned, her blue eyes going wide with surprise but followed all the same. Finally she got her hand back and she stood for a moment, while Jac sat down right away, shaking the feeling back into her hand. When the waitress Jac called Sigh came over with their menus, Trish took her own and sat down, laying it down for the moment. Drinks were more important then food right now.

Trish looked at Jac for her order but she seemed deep in thought so Trish looked up at the waitress and smiled. “I’ll have a double Firewhiskey and lemonade please.” The waitress nodded and scribbled something down on her little note book. “And Jac will have a cup of tea, won’t you?” Trish looked at Jac keenly, knowing her sister’s hands were cold and that it was the sign tea was right. Jac nodded and the waitress left.

“Thanks,” Jac said with a broad smile.
“No problem.”

[Prof Grace Marks]

There were a good many customers this Saturday and Grace had decided to help cook in the back preparing food. Her hair was tied up and out of her face, her gloves were on and she was shaking a pan when Sianna came in and told her who was at her normal table. A large smile graced her pink lips and Grace blinked puppy eyes at Cook.

The large, dark chocolate skinned man inclined his head to the side and a skew smile crept in. "You should not leave those potato skins unchecked for more then two minutes, m'dear."
Grace sauntered over to him quickly and pushed herself up on her toes, giving the big man a small kiss on the cheek. "So you'll take care of it then," she teased and before he could argue was out the swinging door of the kitchen and rounding the corner behind the mural wall, pulling off her gloves as she went.

Looking around the crowded room, full of tables and people, Grace spotted Jac very quickly. It was easily enough done, Jac's fire red hair was so like a beacon that it was hard to miss. When Grace saw who was with Jac, the young woman's whole face lit up all the more for seeing her nearly sister.

"Jac! Trish!" she said, surprise and pure happiness pouring from her like a waterfall. She quickly rounded the tables between them and joined them by their table. "How good to see you both." Grace could not remember the last time she had seen these two people, two of her favourite people together. It must have been a long time. "How have you both been?"