#also there are two canon refs to their Rose Manor lives; see if you can spot them~

[alexandriteobscuraarchive]

(( @guardianofyesod​ you get a lil thing because ilu and I want you to come back to nice stuff!))

The door is thrown open mid knock and the white haired male is suddenly thrown under the perilous? scrutiny of Nellie standing in the doorway. Her appraising glance is brief---no more than an up and down of her eyes as her mouth thins into a short-lived frown. He was almost painful to look at, best keep it quick.

“Did you get dressed in the dark or what?! Between you and my brother I don’t know who’s worse!” Her tone holds no real CRUELTY and the hand that takes hold of the other to lead him inside is just as warm as the smile now forming across her lips. “Thankfully I’m here! You two would be so lost without me!”

Nellie was clearly excited and nothing---absolutely nothing---was going to ruin it. The tickets had been hard to get after all, nevermind how expensive it was for all three of them to go. “Meeelllll!! Gab is here!! Are you decent my dearest brother~?”

Nellie’s yell directed up a small flight of stairs is immediately answered in the form of Mell poking his head briefly out of the bathroom door, his hand mid brush through damp hair.

“I can hear you without you yelling, Nellie. And hi Gabriel! Please don’t let Nellie push you around too much, okay...?”

“I don’t push anyone around! I’m HELPING! Gab needs a new outfit before the play tonight and I’m the best person for the job!” Cue the young girl turning to Gabriel and giving him an even brighter smile. “Right? Right! We won’t be at the store long so make sure you’re ready by the time we get back! I want you in your nicest clothes----and no, not the ones you wore earlier today!”

“Okay mom. You act like we’re going to the actual Globe theater to see a Shakespeare play rather than a place in town.” Her enthusiasm was quite adorable. Would Mell tell her that though? Not a chance. “Should we wear appropriate dress? I’m afraid I don’t have the proper attire to look like I’m from the 17th Century.”

“Yeah yeah, laugh it up in there Mr ‘I have the ugliest pajamas in the history of the world’. We need to look our best! We need to look CLASSY! If I have to custom sew you some pantaloons I’ll do it!!” She’s kidding of course, and this ‘argument’ was as comfortable as anything. A testing of previous tumultuous and confusing waters. “And who knows! One day I’ll be able to go to the real Globe theater...”

“Well if that opportunity comes up I’ll take you myself....if only to fall asleep inside a building rooted within history.” This last part was wholly playful; even with Mell’s penchant for falling asleep during long plays he’d still appreciate and marvel at the history of his surroundings. It was a special interest for him, after all, just as theater was for Nellie.

“Bahhh! My brother is a heathen, isn’t he Gab?! So uncultured!!” Now Nellie turns the other away as if they were both offended, her slender hands winding around one of his arms and propelling him back towards the front door. “Come on, let’s go pick you out a nice outfit! We’ve still got some time before we need to start heading towards the theater!” Her directive chatter turns idle as she leads the male outside into the faintly snowy night and down the street, her hands still wrapped around his arm as if he were escorting her like a proper gentleman.

“Have you seen much of Shakespeare, Gabriel? I’ve read all of his work!! Romeo and Juliet is my favorite although that’s not what we’re going to see tonight. We’ll be watching a recital of some of his sonnets---I hope I don’t cry!---and then a performance of The Winter’s Tale! I hear the acting company doing the performing is really impressive but I’ve never heard of them before so I hope it’s a good performance---”

And on and on, her voice filling the steadily encroaching evening between them with a brightness as if it were no latter than early morning. Even the shop lights lining the streets paled in comparison and Nellie seemed perfectly content in leading her friend along past said shops until, rather suddenly, her steps slowed with a telltale precision.

It wasn’t the tailor but an antique shop that Nellie stopped in front of. Her hands unwind themselves from around Gabriel’s person and she walks around him to peer in through the large window. She executed this motion in absolute silence and with an almost worried tread---as if she’d stopped in front of this very shop window many, many times. She had, in fact. Gone was her smile as she peered through the lightly frosted window, her honey colored eyes moving with precision as a faint tinge of worry began to suffuse both her expression and movements.

Had someone bought it? Surely not! It had to be there, it had to--

“Ah!..Aha...thank goodness...” Her softened tone is framed with a sigh of relief as she visibly relaxes. Nellie stood so that the lights from the shop framed her perfectly and if one were to gaze through the window while standing behind her they could perhaps imagine the art she was looking at being worn upon her person. Inside the window was a small case and inside said case was a perfectly crafted ROSE. It was an accessory that could be worn in multiple ways; be it as a choker, hair accessory, a brooch, and so forth. The item had a small stand set up next to it with important information, such as it being made of forged silver, actual gemstones and other such precious things, as well as the year of its forging: 1603. So not only was the piece EXQUISITELY BEAUTIFUL it was also HISTORICAL. It belonged in a museum rather than an antique store---as evident by the hefty price tag.

Nellie stood in front of the handcrafted accessory with a look of unabashed wonder, as if she were mesmerized by her daydreams concerning it. She was---she had been for days now. Her hands moved with a dreamy slowness only to clasp together and press against her breastbone just underneath her throat. That rose should be there, at her throat. It was made for her, it just had to be!

“One day I’ll buy it....somehow.....” She spoke in a mere whisper---perhaps thinking that if she spoke at a normal volume both the glass surrounding it and the piece itself would break. It took her a few moments to remember just what she was doing, not to mention the fact that she wasn’t alone. Crap. Nellie turns back to Gab almost reluctantly, her genteel reverie being dispelled with a noticeable effort. “Uhm--sorry Gab! I--it’s cold, right? Let’s keep going, the tailor is just down this way!” Her hands reach for him again as she resumes leading the way.

“So...Gab do you like Sh---oh wait no I asked you that, uh...” Now she sounded like Mell! The thought ought to bring her some COMFORT given their closeness but it only seemed to fluster her more. “Ah--...what...what colors are you favorite? I think you’d look nice in darker colors! The tailor has lots of nice dress shirts....”