it's oh so quiet | addilynn

[Claire Evangeline Slater]

never enough.

25TH OF DEC 2024

WITH CHRISTMAS DINNER FINALLY OVER AN ODD quiet fell across the Slater home. Claire had broken in to the mulled wine and eggnog and was constantly nursing one or the other whenever her parents weren't looking. When they were, she simply pretended to be sipping some tea from a chipped mug and smiled lazily at them. They'd finally run out of questions for her, the very last being the very worst - when was she going to be promoted? No matter that she was one of the most promising aurors in her age range, or that she tireless worked to take down terrorist after terrorist. It was just never enough, hence the wine and the disgusting egg concoction.

By the time that their parents had gone off to bed, Claire was more than a little tipsy. She kept giggling at the comic book open in her lap, but she was starting to lose track of what she was reading and she lowered it. Conspiratorially, she checked to make sure their parent's were definitely out of the room before she looked over at her little sister. "Mum and dad in bed?" She asked, her eyes glossy, as if she didn't already know. Uncurling her legs from under her she scooted to the edge of the seat and grinned at her sister wildly. "I've got a present for you."

Rising from the sofa, Claire tip toed out of the living room and in to the hallway, carefully opening the coat closet by the front door. Inside, she retrieved her severe looking satchel and tucked it under her arm. She eyed the stairs as she crept past, afraid that her mum would be a looming shadow at the top. Just like when they were children. It wasn't particularly secretive, but Claire had worried that her gift would be confiscated by their parents. That it might be deemed a 'distraction' or 'too frivolous' for Addilynn. It certainly didn't encourage their preferred career path. She sat back down on the sofa and cradled the bag to her chest. "It really not that big of a deal..." She teased her sister, withholding. 

@addilyn

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Addi liked when the family was all together, even if it meant their mom and dad pestering Grey and Claire relentlessly. Whether it was the annoyance that Grey had left the auror program or the expectation for Claire to get promoted. It kind of left Addi on the sidelines at times, which was nice in it's own way. Addi did like chiming in to tell her family about her new inventions whenever she got the chance inbetween beratments. Her parents didn't exactly expect her to be an auror like her siblings, though. Probably because she had made it very clear from a young age that she had potential elsewhere and was at least following through with it. At least that's what her mother would say. But they still would occasionally bring it up, especially when Claire was home.

Addi was just happy to be NEAR Claire, in all honesty. She looked up to her so much that she subconciously thought that if she was near her sister she would absorb some of her fantastic skills and personality. Addi didn't lack confidence, usually, but she could use more of it and Claire always seemed to have some. At least around her. She was sitting comfortably, a blanket on her lap and a very large book on top of that. She looked up when Claire spoke, turning her eyes toward the door and back to her sister, nodding to confirm that she was sure their parents were in bed.

At Claire's words about a present, Addi perked up, shutting her book and setting it aside, "ooh! What is it?" she leaned forward, tucking her legs underneath her so she was kneeling on the couch. She watched her sister leave the room but stayed up, waiting for Claire to return from the closet with a satchel. She sat up straighter on her legs, trying not to squeal with excitment. "Come onnn, I'm sure it's wonderful," she countered, holding out both of her hands, ready to accept the gift that Claire was holding close to her chest.

Claire Evangeline Slater

[Claire Evangeline Slater]

never enough.

PRETENDING TO DELIBERATE FOR SOME TIME more, Claire kept the bag close to her chest as Addilynn leaned dangerously off of her armchair, hands gripping the armrests. "I thought for a long time about what you might like," Claire said, drawing out the reveal as she carefully unzipped her satchel, peering inside before dipping her arm in all the way up to the elbow. She seemed to strain to reach it, her face screwed up in concentration before she pulled out a medium sized gift bag with fluffy white tissue paper poking out of the top. She set her satchel aside to cradle the gift bag instead.

"Okay, but if you don't like it..." Claire said as she gripped the bag at the top and held it out for her sister. "The receipt is inside." Inside the bag, beneath the pristine layers of white tissue paper and the glittering gold gift bag was a little peach coloured toolbox. Tools of all different sizes that Claire didn't really understand, but had asked the shopkeeper at length about. Apparently it was perfect for budding inventors. "It's a tinkering tool box," Claire explained, feeling a little silly as a witch giving another witch something a little too muggle for her tastes. "I know you like taking things apart," She pressed her hands between her thighs, her skin still buzzing from the booze. "I thought maybe you'd like something to help you put them back together again." 

@addilyn

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Claire was torturing her! Deliberatly! Addi faux glared at her sister as she held the present, but relaxed as Claire said she had been thinking for a long time about what Addilyn might like. Addi smiled, looking down at Claire's hands unzipping the satchel and reaching in. Addi groaned impatiently, bouncing in her seat a little. Addi was usually high energy, but she was known for reverting back to a child like hyper active kid when the occasion called for it, and this definitely called for it. 

A gift bag was revealed, but still not offered to her. Claire said the receipt was inside and Addi released the armchair to wave a hand dismissively, "I'm sure there will be no need for that," she said confidently. She took the bag, now suddenly careful not to seem too eager. She opened it, and as she reviewed it Claire explained what it waas. Addi's jaw dropped a little, and she opened the peach box to reveal the tools inside. There was even a watch repair kit section! Those tools were so tiny, Addi loved them.

Addi looked up at Claire, a grin growing on her face. "I suppose putting things back together is also important," she joked. Then her gaze softened and she held the toolbox in one hand, resting on her lap, and reached the other across to touch Claire's knee. "Thank you so much. This is truly wonderful," after taking that serious moment, her mischevious grinned returned, "now I just have to practice on everything in the house."

Claire Evangeline Slater

[Claire Evangeline Slater]

never enough.

DESPITE HER SISTER'S BEST EFFORTS. CLAIRE could tell that she was excited. The childlike eagerness fuelled Claire as much as compliments did. She liked pleasing people, maybe a little too much. But, she especially liked to make her little sister happy on holiday's. Having always taken a very high pride in being an example for Addilyn, finding the perfect gift had become a challenge she set for herself - she took it as seriously as she took everything.

"Well, in the event that you do..." Claire said primly, crossing her legs at the ankle as she watched Addilyn pull through the soft tissue paper and in to the gift inside the gift bag. Her eyes were pinned to her sister's face, searching for disappointment but finding none as they lit up instead. Claire sighed in relief, leaning back slightly, her spine relaxing as Addilyn examined every little compartment and assortment of tools with a gleaming fascination.

"Yes, it is!" Claire declared with a slight laugh, her head still spinning slightly from the booze. She hiccuped behind the back of her hand before grinning at Addilyn, patting her hand when she reached out to touch her knee in thanks. "You're welcome." She muttered, before curling her feet up under her and continuing to watch her pour over the tiny little tools, shiny and new. "Well, when you do," Addilyn said with a soft smile, but there was caution in her hard green eyes. "Don't tell mum and dad where you got those little tools."

She'd had the box engraved with Addilyn's name, and had gone to a great effort to make it perfect, but their parent's probably wouldn't approve. Anything that distracted from studies tended to be 'a waste of time'. That was perhaps one of the only subjects Claire disagreed with her mother about. There was joy in a great many things, as long as a person gave their all, as far as she was concerned. 

@addilyn

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Addi didn't make any further comment about the receipt inside, but she didn't destroy it right away. She didn't need to make a 'scene' about how much she liked the gift. Claire agreed that putting things back together was important and Addi chuckled a little at that. Addilyn kept surveying the gift, pulling the tools out one by one and examining them closely. She closed the lid to look at her name on the top, running her fingers over the engraving. 

She frowned, looking back to Claire, "I don't have your present wrapped yet, but I promise its not as good as this anyway," she suggested. She gently set the box aside on the table, lifting her feet up onto the couch again. "Did you get Grey anything? I wasn't even sure what to do, I just got him a nice pen," she grimaced.

Claire Evangeline Slater

[Claire Evangeline Slater]

never enough.

IT WAS ODD THAT IT PLEASED CLAIRE TO HEAR that she had bested her little sister this Christmas. She didn't want a present of equal value. Claire wanted to best the very essence of life. That she'd impressed her sister with something as simple as a thoughtful gift shouldn't have been such a big deal, and she tried not to let it show that it was. But, she was so competitive in life and work that it was difficult for her not to feel such a way.

"Oh, that's alright," She beamed at Addilyn, waving her off as if it was no matter at all. "I don't really care about those things." She did. Claire wanted Addilyn to know that she thought about these things without actively telling her so. "Yes and no." Claire shrugged, sitting back in her seat as her nose scrunched. "You know he gets all knotted up at the holidays." She thought about how quickly he'd tried to flee after dinner. How much it mattered to him that he spent as little time with their parents as possible. As little time with her as possible. She tried not to take it personally.

"A pen is good," Claire smiled encouragingly at her sister. "At least he'll use that." She snorted once and then shook her head. "Remember that time mum and dad got him a tailored suit?" She rolled her eyes skyward. "Gosh, he looked so ridiculous." She laughed again, openly. It felt good to simply giggle, muffling it with one hand. "He looked like a stiff little house elf in it." 

@addilyn

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Claire said that it wasn't a big deal, that she didn't care about presents that much. Addi wasn't sure if she believed that, but she didn't argue. "Well, I'm sure you'll be happy with it anyway," she suggested. Then Claire talked of Grey, saying how he got all 'knotted up' at the holidays. Addi laughed, that was very true. He generally got like that at any family function. He liked his space, at home or otherwise, but especially at home. 

Claire said the pen was good, then started to talk of the suit that their parents had gotten Grey one year. Addi laughed too. "I feel like a traditional suit isn't Grey's style. If he could pick something out himself he'd look very nice," she added, her laughter continuing. "And what do you mean 'yes and no' as far as getting him a gift? Did you write him a poem or something that you'll be performing at the Christmas party?" she smirked, obviously joking.

Claire Evangeline Slater