This Wasn't Planned [Addie]

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Cassie hadn't actually signed herself up for this blind date thing, honestly it wasn't even something she had considered - dating had kind of all together just fallen to the side lines after her parents died. Between working on her career and raising her younger brother and sister - the mere idea of dates was something she didn't have time for. She hadn't even been in England all that long, so this - Blishwick Matchmaking Services - was something she hadn't even heard of before the owl arrived with a letter for her. So when she ended up receiving the letter with the time and place of her arranged 'blind date' she honestly thought it was a practical joke of some kind. But it wasn't and it took only a moment of thinking about how the heck it could have happened before it hit her - her siblings. Her brother and sister had set her up - quite literally - with a blind date. She debated not going, but clearly her siblings had planned this out for her - probably for a reason. And then  - there was also the thought of someone else showing up for her blind date and waiting around only for her not to show - that thought made her stomach sink. No, she couldn't do that.

Instead she was going on a blind date. Apparently.

So - here she was, a little early as she waited for her date to show up. She had debated what even to wear before deciding on something nice - but fairly casual, with her hair done simply back in a single braid. At least if all else went wrong, it was a nice place she thought - as she gazed over the roof top. Honestly it was simply beautiful here - a roof top garden and there was a picnic planned for them as well - according to the letter - so, a nice free meal. She just hoped that her 'date' would be nice enough, and well - she paused to glance at her watch as her other hand played with the stem of a flower, perhaps she was also hoping that it wasn't going to be her that was stood up. She had no idea who she was even waiting for, just that she was fairly sure it'd be a woman - her siblings were well aware of the fact that she liked girls, still - she had no idea who this woman would be or what she would look like. Planned or not, she was going to make the most of this little blind date, romance might not be something ahead - but who said the blind date had to go that way at all.

@addie

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This was her fault really. She'd let herself get roped into the silly nonsense and she'd forgotten it had even happened. Addie's work like was significantly better now that she was somewhere she didn't feel like her brain was being wasted. the Improper Use Of Magic office was lively and, while it could be stressful and triggering at times, she enjoyed the work much more than she ever could have enjoyed being in the Public Information Services office. She even made a few friends in the office. One particular friend, who had happiness bleeding from their pores and didn't understand the fact that Claire Stuart didn't, was a bit meddlesome and had wanted to try and make her happy. A bunch of Daily Prophets had come into the office and attached the paper had been an ad for Blishwick Matchmaking. She'd thought it a good idea for Addie and so she filled the ad out from across the room while yelling out each question to her. She'd sent it off and Addie had forgotten about it because a letter hadn't arrived for weeks. A few days ago, the letter arrived stamped with the time and place for her 'blind date'. She couldn't just leave whoever had been matched to her alone at the rooftop garden hall, so she decided she would go to let them know that it had been a mistake. She was dressed as she always dressed, hoodie and a pair of jeans, as she made her way to the meeting spot. The building with the garden was large but it wasn't uncomfortably high up. When she finally reached the top, she noticed a blonde woman waiting. Was she waiting on her? She waited a few moments and watched as the woman checked her watch. She was definitely waiting on someone. Addie decided that approaching and asking wouldn't do any harm. "Blishwick Matchmaking?" she asked as soon as she got closer.

Tag; @cassiopeia

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She hadn't been waiting for too long really, a little longer than she expected maybe - but then again she had arrived a little bit early after all. At least she wasn't bored - it was rather interesting to look around, and it was nice up here. She'd have to remember to come back at some point again. Her fingers continued to gently move back and forth, playing with the stem of the flower she had been holding when she heard someone approach and then speak up. As she heard the voice she glanced up, offering a small grin as she looked at the woman who had spoken, "I take it you are my date then?" she asked calmly, offering her hand out when she spoke again, "Cassiopeia - but, please call me Cassie." 

Cassie offered another small smile, she was honestly feeling a little relieved that her date had even shown up, but she felt that she should be honest. "Not to be rude or anything - but I feel I should be honest. I didn't sign myself up at all." she paused here, offering a small shrug, "I have meddling siblings who decided to sign me up  - I only found out when I got the letter telling me where to be and that I had a date set up."

[ @addie ]

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The woman started out by asking if Addie was supposed to be her date and she winced just a little bit before taking her offered hand in greeting. "Claire," she responded afterwards. The woman, Cassie, was obviously older than she was, though she didn't look old by any means. It was in her demeanor that Addie picked it up. She was curious how much older and, if she was much older, why Blishwick would pair her with someone older. She'd heard much about the matchmaking services because it held renown in all circles of the wizarding world. Many went to try and get a glimpse of who they may end up with or if the person that they were currently with was someone they were meant to be with. It was something she'd never had any interest in. She wanted to meet someone naturally, at least that was how she'd felt before everything had happened. Now she had other things to worry about. Yet here she was.

The woman then divulged that she hadn't signed herself up for the blind date and Addie let out a snort, scratching her head curiously. "Me neither, actually. A coworker of mine signed me up weeks ago and I'd forgotten to owl them to cancel." She actually had taken her nerve calming potion before she'd come so the relief that should have washed over her was dull. Maybe she hadn't been looking forward to it? "So, does that mean you don't want to do the date thing?" She looked around the rooftop garden after she spoke. It was actually rather calming. Even if Cassie left she thought about sticking around for a few minutes to take a look at everything. Her day was pretty empty anyway so she had time.

Tag; @cassiopeia

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Cassie was feeling absolutely out of her element, dating had been something she had not allowed much of any thought, at all for a rather long awhile. The last date she had even been on had been just a few days before she had someone showing up to tell her that her parents were gone. The memory alone was something she honestly did not wish to think much on right now - she was awkward enough right now without adding on those feelings. Instead she offers a small smile at the other woman, glad to at least have a name now - although she was wondering how old Claire was, she appeared young but Cassie wasn't one to judge really how a person looked to how old they might be. Age was just a number after all.

Admitting that she hadn't actually signed herself up for this was something she thought that she had to be honest about, she did not want to disappoint someone or make anyone feel anymore awkward than they already were feeling. "So - in a way we both have ended up a little set up without knowing it." the blonde gave a slight chuckle before shaking her head slightly, "Honestly I do not mind it, I mean - as long as you are okay with continuing it. It's... really nice here after all - and it's been awhile since I went out with anyone at all." While the idea of a blind date had never before crossed her mind, she was not utterly opposed to it now that she was here and actually had a name and face to go with her arranged date.


[@addie ]

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It was strange to her that she was paired with someone who had also not willingly signed up for the blind dating services considering the odds of an event like that happening where both people actually showed up. How many people were out there signing their friends and family members up for blind dating services without their knowledge? Either way, she had to admit that the rooftop was a lovely sight so she didn’t mind staying a while longer. Maybe she’d have as interesting a conversation as she’d had the last time she’d ended up talking with a stranger. ”Sure, why not. I don’t have anything to do today anyway and I do want to check out this place. I’d never even heard of it before today,” she replied placing her hands in her hoodie pockets. Without thinking about it, she turned and began a slow stroll around the garden. The smell of the flowers on the air made her shut her eyes for just a moment and breath in deep because she liked the way it smelled. ”So I’m guessing that’s the reason your siblings signed you up for this? Because you haven’t been out in a while?” She’d said it herself. Her siblings must have saw that and wanted her to go out and have some fun or something. It wasn’t as if Addie didn’t go out. Her outings just weren’t anything wild. She went to the bookstore. She went to work. She did what she needed to do and then she was back in the solace of her room. Her psych healer had told her that what she was doing was more so existence or survival rather than living. That she needed to do more things that made her happy. She’d rather read.

Tag; @cassiopeia

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Of all the chances, the odds of her ending up on a blind date with someone else who had been signed up by someone else. It wasn't very likely even by magical standards she was sure. Still, at least her date - Claire, understood and wasn't holding it against her at least. Plus they would both be sticking around regardless, which as Cassie glanced around again - she couldn't help but be a little pleased about that. "Pretty much the same for me, all I really have to do today is a bit of unpacking. I have to admit.. I kind of like it here. By far one of my favorite places I have seen here." She gave a small smile, breathing in the mixture of wonderfull smells once more before moving to slowly walk along with Claire. She had been on far worse 'dates' than this at least. 

Cassie let out a small laugh, offering a slight shrug as she answers the question, "I wouldn't be surprised if that was their main reason. But if I had to guess it was probably for a few reasons." she paused here for a moment before deciding it couldn't hurt to talk a little more, "I'm also - along with my siblings, from the states. My siblings are transfering to Hogwarts for the coming year and I'm taking on a teaching position there as well. None of us really know anyone here yet other than a few of their school friends. Perhaps they thought I should know someone as well, its sweet in a odd way I guess." Cassie hadn't been too much of a social person outside of work - as soon as the loss of their parents she had changed her priorities. Perhaps she did need to get out a bit more.

[@addie ]

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Her non-British accent hadn't slipped past Addie but it didn't occur to her that she was brand new to the UK until she mentioned unpacking. ”Did you just get here? How long have you been in the country now?” she asked casually. It was possible that she was an Ilvermorny transfer. Too young to be a student obviously so she must have been a professor that they sent over. Or it was quite possible that she just moved over from the States because she needed a change of pace. People did that too. It was casual conversation to make too, talking about her and how she got here. That was typical date conversation. She'd much rather talk about her anyway. Talking about her meant less having to think and make up answers to questions she didn't want to answer. When the woman laughed, Addie's gave a small smile in amusement just before she got answers to her previous questions. She was supposed to be a new professor at Hogwarts as well as the fact that she had siblings who were going to be attending Hogwarts. All from Ilvermorny. "Welcome to the UK then. Hogwarts is sure to bring you some interesting times," she commented as she continued her slow stroll. She wasn't sure if she meant that in a more positive or negative way. "What subject will you be teaching at Hogwarts?" She didn't even know what position, if any, were open at Hogwarts. After she'd graduated, she hadn't kept up with Hogwarts unless they'd been in the news. And even still she only kept up with news for the sake of seeing anything that may be related to Elaine. She wondered if any of her favorite professors had left the school.

Tag; @cassiopeia

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Honestly Cassie was glad that she didn't have to fully explain her situation, she offered a small smile to the other and nodded slightly, "Pretty much just got her." she spoke easily, shifting a little before continuing, "We arrived a little over two weeks ago I believe, it's still a bit of a struggle to get used to everything - but also a bit of an adventure." she had always enjoyed a bit of a good adventure growing up, so honestly this was probably the biggest one of all she had experienced. At the other woman welcoming her she offered a bit of a brighter smile, "Thank you - you're actually the first to do that, so honestly - thank you." her hand reached up, adjusting the frames of her glasses, "Did you attend Hogwarts? Or somewhere else?" It was an innocent question, Cassie herself had attended Ilvermorny up until graduating herself.

"Oh, nothing all that magical - Life Skills, a bit of Home Ec - magic or not, important lessons I suppose." The blonde moved her hand as she spoke, she had heard both good and bad remarks about her choice of subject to teach. But the subject had been important to her  - more so after her parents deaths - suddenly raising her younger siblings on her own. 

[@addie ]

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Two weeks wasn’t long at all to have been in the country. Sure there were people who took vacations for shorter times but for someone who was supposed to be living there permanently that wasn’t enough time at all to get used to the country. Addie herself hadn’t been to the states often, maybe once or twice in her lifetime, but she didn’t think the countries were different enough that the woman would go through a huge culture shock. ”It make take some getting used to but I’m sure you’ll be fine,” she commented quietly with a shrug. Her input was pretty useless on the matter but the words fell out of her mouth before she could catch them, thrown off just a little bit by her heartfelt thank you. She hadn’t really felt like it was necessary, most people would have taken her welcome with a grain of salt. Addie looked up and around at the scenery the garden made just as the blonde asked her if she had attended Hogwarts. The question shouldn’t have felt as heavy as it did but Addie nodded anyway. ”Graduated last year,” she said, testing the waters just a bit. Maybe this would get the woman to indirectly tell her age without Addie having to bluntly ask for it. The woman then proceeded to tell her that the class she would be teaching was more Life Skills based class with Home Economics. That was rather interesting. ”Is it a brand new course they’ve come up with? They didn’t have that when I attended.” It was a practical course, something that people needed to survive day to day life. Very interesting. She wondered why they were suddenly deciding to add the course now.

Tag; @cassiopeia

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It was still a bit of an adjustment for her, but she was managing - slowly but surely at least. She gave a small nod and offered a smile, her fingers twisting and twirling around the stem of the single flower she had been playing with, "I'm sure I will, it's still a slight struggle - certain things are a little odd to me still but, hopefully by the time school starts it'll be a lot easier. I have heard many stories about Hogwarts." Cassie hummed slightly, she was enjoying herself more than she thought she would and they hadn't really done anything but spoken and walked a little around. She was a little surprised that Claire was only just a recent graduate but her surprise wasn't too obvious, at least she was a graduate at least - that would make her... eighteen or nineteen she'd guess? She shook her head slightly but nodded quickly at the mention of it being a newer course, "To Hogwarts it is a new course - but it's not as new at Ilvermorny, I am curious to see how the course will go over with the Hogwarts students at least. I believe there will be a few courses that are new this year as a few teachers from Ilvermorny are transfering along with their courses - mine just being one of them." 

[@addie ]

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Addie continued her slow stroll through the garden alongside her date, trying not to pay too much attention to the fact that she was fixating on the flower in her hand. Was she nervous for some reason? She didn't know her so she couldn't say for certain if the intent focus on the object was a nervous habit but she was trying not to get distracted by it herself. The woman conveyed her feelings about hoping to be used to everything by the time the Hogwarts school year began and Addie could do nothing but nod in understanding. It would probably take a bit longer than that to get used to everything but Addie figured that since she would, for the most part, be at Hogwarts it wouldn't matter too much. As long as she was a good professor she would be fine. ”I think it's a very practical course for students of all ages,” she added her input in after it was explained that the course had been taught at Ilvermorny regularly but was being brought to Hogwarts this year. She also added that there were a few professors coming over from Ilvermorny and Addie began wondering if this move was more permanent than she'd previously believe. She figured that everything at Ilvermorny would be back to normal at the very least by the beginning of next year. Sure there was some rebuilding that needed to happen at the school but with magic it wouldn't take nearly as long. They would be back up and running in no time as long as there were people actively working on getting the American school back in working order. "Is it permanent? Your position I mean. Do you plan on staying in London for a while?" Addie questioned casually, her head turning to Cassie as she asked before she turned back and looked at the path they were traveling.

Tag; @cassiopeia

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It was an odd little thing for her to play with the flower - she was perhaps a little nervous, but she also was a little facinated with the flower itself. Flowers were so small - so delicate really, but they were everywhere - each unique and different, but each you wouldn't expect to last long. She carefully shook her head, trying to focus herself - she didn't want to seem rude and she didn't wish to ignore her date. 

Her lips curled into a little smile, pleased by what the other woman said, "I agree honestly, although - I have had many say differently - stating that its more of a No-Maj type of class rather than something that should be taught at a magical school." Her eyes rolled a little at the reminder, she had fought hard to defend her teaching, and while she did teach some magical sides - a lot of it was purely practical, there were many important things taught in her class room. Things she wish had been taught to herself as a student rather than for her to learn by being forced to learn after graduating. The question that followed made Cassie pause for a moment, "Honestly - I'm not sure if it is permanant for everyone.. but, I have no intention on not sticking around for awhile - my siblings and I, we could probably use the change more than I'd care to fully admit." Her thoughts almost drifted to their parents before she shook her head with a small smile, as much as she missed home - she was enjoying being in London.

@addie

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From the corner of her eye, Addie saw the way the woman’s face lightened a bit with the appearance of a smile. She cleared her throat just a little bit out of embarrassment. She thought it was a little silly that she’d had an issue with people concerning the subject of Life Skills and practical magic of the sort, though she wasn’t necessarily surprised. It was important for people to learn how to take care of themselves and having practical spells in your repertoire made living and surviving much easier than living without them. ”I didn’t know muggles were the only ones who took care of themselves,” the words came out as dry as she could make them, sliding her hands in the pocket of her hoodie and shaking her head. Maybe that belief would explain some of the smells she came into contact with on a daily basis. Addie gave a slow nod at Cassiopeia’s answer to her permanence question. She could relate, she could use a change of scenery. That would mean abandoning her goal though and she was not prepared to do that yet. She needed to see it through, needed to see Elaine captured. For Abby. ”London may just be the perfect place for that then.” She looked around at the scenery the gardens created. A variety of flowery plants lined their pathway and while Addie could admit they were beautiful, she couldn’t feel the spark of genuine enjoyment because of the nerve calming potion. She was practically numb but she reminded herself it was better this way. She didn’t want to chance a mental breakdown in public and especially not in front of someone she’d just met. Too many questions she didn’t want to answer. I’m not quite certain where we’re supposed to be going for the picnic portion. Are you? she turned and asked curiously.

Tag; @cassiopeia

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Honestly, it was a bit of a relief to be able to speak with someone who didn't seem to have an issue with her choice of subject she chose to teach. It was utterly stupid in a way the amount of people who had complained or raised questions regarding the idea of practical Life skills and magic, but Cassie knew personally just how much those kind of things can help in real life - away from school. Being suddenly responsible and raising her younger siblings had thrust the need for her to know many of those kind of things. And if she could help just a few students in not being as lost and overwhelmed as she had been outside of school and suddenly being a responsible adult - well her job would certainly have been worth it.

Cassie found her lips curling into another small grin as she gave a soft laugh at the dry spoken words, "See - I can't disagree with that. Despite what some people think - we need to take care of ourselves too, magic or non-magic." Still it would be far from the last time she'd have to speak about that to someone. She gave a small nod, she agreed with that for certain, "I'm certainly hoping so - so far it's been a refreshing experience, although perhaps a little curious as well." Her eyes glanced around before once more landing on her date, a slight curiousity bubbling. Something felt off, a little strange - although she mostly put it down to a nervousness she was begining to question if she had said something wrong. Her date didn't seem to be enjoying herself and that - well that was bugging her a little. "Oh, I'm not sure - that note didn't really say much." she moved and pulled the neatly folded letter from her pocket, glancing over what was written once again, "It doesn't say too much but, maybe we can find out - surely there is someone who has to know - after all, someone has to prepare the picnic right?" She offered a small smile, she was still wondering why something was feeling off - was Claire just not wanting to be here?

@addie