exsiliumlogs | A Very Merry (Un) Birthday

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A Very Merry (Un) Birthday

Date & Time: May 4th, afternoon
Location: Apartment 103, deserted
Characters: Cedric Diggory and Flora
Summary:Cedric has a birthday. Sort of. The dating of it is a little complicated. Flora comes to visit with a surprise.
Warnings:Nothing so far!

Cedric doesn't know quite how to feel. He estimates that today is his 18th birthday, and he's spending it alone. No family, his friends are all doing their own things, and the apartment is once again empty as his new roommates make other arrangements.

But he won't be alone today, he realizes. Flora remembers, and she's coming here to spend some time with him. He ought to make things presentable for her! In a flurry of magic, he races around the room, blasting away dust and preparing tea and biscuits. When everything smells warm and welcoming, he lights the lanterns to fill the room with warm light. He'll make this as cosy and comfortable as he can.

When he hears her arrival, he hurries to the door. "Uh...hey," he grins. "I'm glad you could make it."

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"I've seen some great cakes in my time," Cedric said wistfully, bending over the table to serve her tea. He looked intrigued. "But I'm sure yours is perfect. Let's eat, hmm?"

With that, he carefully unravels the box with a spell. It wouldn't do to squish the icing.

Her smile brightened a little more hearing that. Flattery will get you everywhere, Cedric. "That's really so sweet of you. But at least wait until you've had some of it, first."

Opening the box would reveal something akin to a colour wheel, but three-dimensional, much more tastefully done, and, hopefully, infinitely more appetizing. The cake had a few different kinds and colours of icing, with each of the segments having its own different toppings, as well: dark and white chocolate curls, strawberries, nuts, and raspberries. There were two of each kind, all alternating, naturally, but on the whole, the cake read: Happy Birthday Cedric in an elaborate script done in icing. There was also a little broom done in the same underneath the writing.

Flora couldn't help but look a little sheepish, even as she smiled. "...I probably should have asked you first, but since I didn't know what flavours you liked, I tried to cover my bases to make up for it. There're chocolate raspberry, chocolate fudge, vanilla, red velvet, and butter pecan. Um, if you don't like any of those, I can make another, no problem." She really hoped she liked something of what she'd done if only because everyone should get cake they like on their birthday. Or honourary birthday.

There was no question about it. This was the most magnificent cake Cedric had ever seen in his life. He leaned closer to take a look at each slice, marveling at all the different flavours.

"This is honestly the best cake I've ever seen," he said simply, just a fact. "Come on---how about we split each slice in half and try little bites?"

"Really? You think so?" Flora said, at first looking surprised, but then finding herself unable to resist beaming at the compliment. "That's so very sweet of you to say, Cedric! And sure, I'd love to share with you." She scratched her cheek, sheepishly, but still smiled widely "If I'd asked what you liked beforehand, I'd have been able to concentrate my efforts a bit more on the one flavour, but I tried to make it look nice, anyway."

"But presentation isn't everything, even if they really help things along. I don't know about you, but I know I'm always disappointed when a cake doesn't taste half as great as it looks."

"Let's try it together," Cedric suggested, picking out a nice raspberry slice. "And maybe I'll discover something new. That's the best, isn't it?"

He happily summoned the forks and plates, passing a set to her as well. "Go on, dig in."

And he did. There was a clear smile on his face.

"Well, it's the best when things work out nicely, anyway. Not so much when they don't."

It was nothing new for her, but that was exactly why she appreciated the casual use of magic. It was familiar. She didn'tt have anything against doing things with her own hands, she quite enjoyed it, in fact, but it was those little things that made everything feel more normal.

She delicately cut into her cake with her fork as she began to eat it. Flora's tried her own cake, naturally. The fact that the whole thing had mismatched slices made that an easier endeavour. It was pretty good, if she did say so herself--better, now that she had company--but her opinion wasn't the one that mattered here.

"It's alright then, I hope?" She could see the smile, and smiled in kind. Seemed to be a success!

"Better than alright. Perfect," Cedric said enthusiastically, taking a sliver of another. He would restrain himself from eating everything, but only just. "Wow. Thank you."

"You're really too kind!" she replied, smiling brightly. There are few things that could get her going like that than someone who enjoyed what she did. It was a relief, but more than that, it was very nice to hear.

"Just try to restrain yourself from eating the whole thing at once, alright? Even if it might be hard."

"I'm patient," Cedric reassured her, pausing to wipe the mess from his face. He got most of it, anyway.

"But you make it difficult with your fantastic cooking, I have to say."

She laughed delicately behind a hand. "There's probably some sort of lesson in that." Flora's expression sobered and she gave a most grave nod, as if agreeing with her own point. "Having patience in the face of adversity or temptation, or all things in moderation." She had another forkful of cake, still with that same overly-thoughtful expression, before breaking into a grin, unable to maintain it any longer.

"Or something."

Because cake is totally serious business.

"Look a gift cake in the mouth?"

Cedric looked genuinely puzzled as he wrapped things up. "I'm sorry, I'm not really up to thinking at the moment. You've stolen my words with cake."

Flora couldn't help but chuckle again, before she raised her hands and made a sweeping, gracious gesture of deference.

"That's alright. I wouldn't be so mean as to deny you the right not to think on your birthday."

"I appreciate it," he grinned, settling down onto the couch. "For...well, I thought my birthday would be lonelier than this. It's still not the best situation, but...you've been wonderful. Thank you so much."

Cedric looks grateful indeed. Flora's the best.

"It's not, no," she shook her head in agreement, "but things can't be doom and gloom all the time."

"Don't thank me, yet. I still have your gift to give you! But you're quite welcome." Flora snapped her fingers. and a rather tiny, but wonderfully decorated box appeared. When he opened it, he'd find a mound of gold glitter in it.

Cedric opens it with a gleeful expression, though it quickly turns to quiet wonder as he contemplates the glitter in his hand. He knows magic well enough to know there's probably more than he's seeing.

"What's it for? Decoration?"

Flora's trying very hard to contain her excitement, as well as her nervousness. This should work. It would work. It was magic, and you had to believe in it to be real, and she did.

"Give it a toss and see!"

Cedric rolls the dust in his hand with a small smile. Whatever it is...he expects something, even just a little dusting.

He tosses a handful---part covering himself, and part covering the room. And he hopes.

The dust swirls on a wind that blows just for it until it begins to roll off a shape, unseen, but certainly there by the way it falls off at strange angles in front of him. It's not long before instead of falling, the little specs and motes of light begin to fill the space, giving it form, texture, colour. The shaft is wooden, smooth and sturdy, the head, extremely neat, regal even. It's everything just like he'd remember of it. The feel, the shine, the weight, all of it.

A broom.

Flora is silent for many moments as she eyes it curiously. She honestly didn't know what would come of the magic that she used--it was all dependent on him--but she could look later, she needed to know that this was it. Nervously, she asks. "Is that right?"

Cedric watches the magic, absolutely transfixed. It's lovely, whatever it is, pulling together into...

He reaches out to grasp a familiar but new handle, eyes wide. When he sees that it was indeed real and he felt the vibration of magic under his fingertips, he shows her his biggest smile.

"It's perfect, absolutely perfect."

And before he can help himself, he shoots across the room with his arms outspread. "Thank you...gosh, thank you...can't thank you enough...am I just repeating myself?"

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A Very Merry (Un) Birthday

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/SLIPS BACK IN HERE! 8D

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omg i actually forgot to ask 8( so just let me know if this is ok, if not I'M TOTALLY CHANGING IT.

it is more than all right :D