Adelaide Thornton loved the sun but it didn't much like her. The auburn haired young girl had gone out for a short walk along the shore near the shared summer home of the Baines-Thornton clan, and in that short time her lovely pale skin had turned a slight pink and was a itching like mad.

Sunscreen, she knew she had forgotten something when she'd ventured out earlier and now her poor, usually clear skin was paying for it. With a small sigh the young woman started to make her way back up to the house. Hopefully her mother would have ointment, cream or balm that would soothe this unpleasant feeling... And maybe get rid of this pink tinge too.

Ah, quiet. Thornton had gathered his supplies and taken up a spot near the edge of the garden, within view of the beach. Setting up his easel and his paints, he scanned the scene in front of him for something to paint.

He was pretty sure he'd seen Adelaide head down that way earlier, and who knew where Nowell was, so Thornton figured he would occupy his alone time with some art. Music was for later, once Addie was back. Eyes resting on a section of beach peppered with umbrellas, Thornton began work on his canvas.

Nowell had grabbed a book, a bucket, and some sunglasses as he finished off his breakfast, chattered to his Mama about how he wanted her to bring him to the water soon, and then emerged into the fresh sunlight of outside.

"Yes, Mama--I'll put on sunblock--" he shouted at her, in French, before spotting Thornton at the edge of the garden.

THOOOOOORNTON!

Nowell ran, pellmell, at his cousin, grinning broadly as he skidded to a halt next to the canvas. "PAINT ME PAINT ME, THORNTON!" he was excited, very much so, and he slipped his sunglasses onto his face. "OH or maybe we can dig a hole--I DON'T KNOW--" he didn't know WHAT he wanted to do first!

He set the bucket down and stood on his tippy-toes, closed his eyes, and held out his arms to keep his balance. "I have some ballet exercises to practice. I start soon...next week, Thornton!" the instructor had told him that his slender build and pliable limbs were a good fit for ballet...he just needed to catch up to the others his age. It would not be easy, but..Nowell really was willing to try.

Addie couldn't exactly see who the two figures were as such approached them ( the sun was just behind them and made it quite difficult to distinguish any real details aside from their heights), but judging by the enthusiastic movies of the slightly thinner, small form and the dignified way the other held itself she could hazard a good guess.

"Ahoy!" Adelaide jokingly called out, a delicate smile slipping across her face, despite the discomfort that she was still very much in. She didn't fully reach the two in time to hear the whole conversation (one sided as it seemed to be) of her brother and dear cousin, but she caught the tail end. "You're still going on about lessons, Nowell?" Adelaide fondly teased. She would have reached out to ruffle her brother's hair, but she suspected he might fuss at her.

"Am I very pink?" She asked the boys, she felt the answer was yes judging by the slight ache and the itchiness, but she still felt the need to ask.

Thornton simply raised an eyebrow. Nowell was... so much more excitable than Mairwen and he was unaccustomed to having a younger family member around. When the younger students got this... excitable, Thornton could just walk away. But not right now.

"A painting of you, Nowell, or actually paint on you?" Thornton recalled that that was a thing that some people liked to do, apparently. He was certain that Aunt Melisandre would not like that one bit, and Mother would fuss about paint being dragged into the house. Because Thornton knew that Nowell would rush inside at some point to show it off. But if the younger boy wanted to, well, what else was summer for but a bit of fun?

He was distracted, though, by Adelaide's voice carrying toward them. Smiling at his cousin, he peered around his canvas. He squinted a bit as he considered her shoulders and face. "A bit pink, yes. Did you forget your sunblock?" That looked at least moderately uncomfortable. "I'm sure there's some salve inside, though. Ask Seren if you don't want to tell your mother...."

Nowell snooorted. "Paint?! ON ME? NO WAY!" he twirled around. "No gross, Thornton--" he stuck out his tongue and tilted his head to look closely at the thing Thornton was painting. Hmm.

Hmm.

HMMM.

"Your picture looks very NICE, Thorn!" he smiled and clapped appreciatively at his cousin. His entire family...they were all so good at the arts. Nowell LOVED it. He could even paint decently if he felt like...but he just didn't possess the patience for it.

ADELAAAAAAIDE! Nowell bounced towards his sister upon hearing her beautifully sing-song voice. "Well, I am EXCITED, Addie--" he beamed and rushed over to her, peering at her face in such an up close and personal way, sweeping his hand across her cheek gently. "You're certainly PINK, Adelaide--did you NOT wear sunscreen?! You'll get BURNT! And you know what happens when you get burnt-" Nowell shuddered dramatically...

"...You peel."

"I couldn't tell." Adelaide laughed at her brother, sometimes he tended to drive her a bit mad with his exuberance and rash decisions, but more than anything he always managed to make her giggle and that was something the young girl loved about Nono.

Though, she could have done without the close up. She glanced at both boys, a sheepish look on her pinked features. "Yes, I sort of... Forgot.. And by the time I was at the water, well, I didn't want to walk all the way back." She explained. Now, she never very well that neither boy was about to admonish her, but Addie still feared some kind of telling off. "Oh! Yes, that's a good idea, thank you, Thorn." He was always full of good ideas, her cousin he was so clever and clear headed, she'd always thought herself to be cut from the same cloth.

But lately...

Lately she'd felt so fuzzy headed, especially in the presence of certain people...

One of whom would be here soon-ish, merlin, she hoped the pink wore off by then. "Peeling.. " Adelaide made a little face of disgust. no, no peeling, she refused to let that happen, because peeling skin was just disgusting.

Thornton simply laughed at Nowell and his immediate reaction to the idea of paint on skin. "A friend of mine at school has edible paints," he added, wondering if it would weird out the younger boy just as it had confused Thornton the first time. It wasn't mean-spirited, the jesting, but it was somehow a bit... enjoyable.

Dabbing some white into the sky of his painting to mimic the clouds that were full in the sky, he glanced at Nowell again. "Thank you." He returned to his canvas, letting the siblings banter and idly wondering how they would get along with his friends. They'd be visiting soon.

He simply nodded at Addie's response, his focus still on his art. "You're welcome. She's probably with Mairwen upstairs."

Nowell couldn't help but feel a bit ...out of the loop when Adelaide and Thornton were together. He knew they were closer, and he knew they told each other things they didn't care to disclose with him. He didn't like it ONE BIT...but he wasn't about to say anything just yet.

"Adelaide--you should go get the salve this instant!" He cried dramatically. "Do you want me to fetch it for you? I'm quicker!" he chirped as he put his feet in first position...his arms at his waist, held in a certain elegant way. MHMM. Ballerina...? That was a feminine ending. Nowell wondered if it was meant to be ballerinO or something.

Edible...paints? Nowell made a scrunched up face. "...Why would anyone want to eat PAINT? That sounds appalling--Merlin, Thornton--what kind of friends do you HAVE?" edible PAINT. Barbaric, that was. Nowell thought paint belonged on paper and assorted buildings and pretty much nowhere else. Too messy, too...blegh.

"I put on sunscreen already because I care about my skin and looking fresh when people arrive." He was teasing his sister, smirking as he moved into second position with ease and grace.

Adelaide's doe eyes widened. "Edible paint? How funny." She didn't mean humorous, no, she meant odd, weird, strange, Adelaide couldn't think how that would be enjoyable... Paint that you could eat... No, absolute nonsense, not that she was judging, no, to each their own and all, but really this just seemed impractical.

"No, thank you, but I'm headed in anyway, I'd like to wash my face and change out of this bathing suit." She'd put it on earlier in case she decided to go for a dip, but after getting sunburnt she was much more interested in that lovely sounding salve and her bed. "I'd stay with you two but I really must get inside, yes." Addie said, agreeing with Nowell's words.

She scoffed at her brother, smiled at her cousin and then promptly dashed inside, eager for the soothing relief of the sunburn treatment and the cool, shaded corridors of their summer home.

Sigh. What an unpleasant way to start summer vacation.

Thornton simply nodded. "Don't forget that guests are coming soon," he added before she dashed inside. Likely tomorrow, but he supposed it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for one to show up today. They had been... loose on the arrangements, and it was likely that the first ones would be sharing space with Adelaide.

Not that he thought she didn't keep her room absolutely pristine on her own. But just in case she wanted to tidy up.

And with that he went back to his painting, barely sparing a glance at Nowell and not at all responding to his reaction to the paint. "My friends are my friends and you'll be nice to them, Nowell. Please." It wasn't actually a request, and Thornton just quickly glanced at his cousin out of the corner of his eye.

He planned to finish this painting before dinner.

Nowell watched her go. Adelaide was never so foolhardy, and he was a bit worried about her as of late. She seemed preoccupied and also a little...well, distracted. Not to mention he could tell she and Thornton were...getting to a point where they were into.....

The opposite sex.

The boy didn't UNDERSTAND why it was sooooo important to pay attention to those things, but then again, he didn't understand his own feelings towards anyone, not fully, and he didn't like to think about any of the crushes he'd had thus far in his life for reasons unbeknownst to him; he just knew he should avoid having crushes....probably forever, mhmm.

He siiiiiiighed at Thornton's words. "I'll be NICE don't you worry, cousin. I'll be the best little prince I can be--I do hope they're as cool as you always SAY they are, Thornton." He smiled as he stepped closer to his cousin. "But...I bet none of them are as cool as you..." and he patted his shoulder. "I'm gonna' get mama' to take me to the beach--see you later--"

Nowell scampered off to drag his very unamused mother onto the beach...you know, AFTER putting on amble amounts of sunscreen to protect his delightful and youthful SKIN. take notes Adelaide

-END SCENE-

This really could have been an extremely uncomfortable summer giving what her circumstances at home were like, but Paige had somehow been able to see the silver lining through it all. Best of all was that she had plans to get her through the summer. A few camps here and there, hopefully a journalism class if her application went through, and of course visiting friends.

Friends like Thornton...and whoever else may be dropping by.

She felt a little selfish inconveniencing his family for an entire week, but with her mum and stepdad going away on vacation and daddy in St. Mungo's she felt safest staying with a friend and not at home with her sisters as supervisors. There was too big of an age gap in pastimes.

Approaching the home alone after arriving by portkey with her step father who had taken the day off work to make sure she traveled safely, Paige clutched on to her basket of berries with such nervous force her knuckles were turning white. Breathing into her free hand for a few moments, and distracting herself by adjusting the straps on her owl shaped backpack, the Hufflepuff gave three gentle raps on the door.

Were those loud enough? Had anyone heard her?

Adelaide was never a late raiser, even on nights when she had slept late, she was always the first person up in her dorms and at home, but today she had actually slept in and it was leaving the auburn haired girl feeling fuzzy headed and drowsy as she made her way downstairs into the main parlor of the house. She had a book held loosely in her hand, her intention being to step out to the beach and get in some reading and quiet time before Thornton's friends possibly swamped the place.

Not that she wasn't keen to meet them, one friend in particular, but she needed alone time, a few moments of quiet reflection to gather herself together, but as Addie reached out for the door to step out, someone on the other side just happened to knock.

Well.
So much for that idea.

Adelaide peered through the keyhole, seeing the shape of a petite girl with adorable curls, before opening the door to the visitor. She cleared her throat and smiled softly. "Hello, you must be Paige," She said, her voice was a softly accented french that was clearly very english inspired. She moved aside, looking behind the young girl to check for luggage of any sort. "Please come in, we've been expecting you." Really, it was a bit more like curiously awaiting your arrival, or at least it was in Adelaide's case. She had heard quite a bit about Paige Skeeter from her cousin... All of it very favorable, but there was a question that needed to be answered and Addie was going to politely, gently, try and coax it out.

But not right now. "I'm Adelaide Thornton, it's very nice to meet you," she reached out to offer her hand for the girl to shake, all the while, trying not to peer too closely at her.

Sneaky, she had to be sneaky.

Thornton was upstairs. He risen early and had been... perhaps a bit fretfully pacing on the first floor waiting for Paige's arrival when his mother had requested that he go check that everything was set upstairs for his guest's arrival.

As if he hadn't check on those things a half dozen times already.

But when he'd tried to protest that he had already done so, his mother had fixed him with one of her stern gazes, truthfully rare, and had simply pointed toward the stairs. And so Thornton was dutifully making sure that bedding, spare toiletries, towels, laundry bags for wet swimwear, and more were all set out as they should be.

All this meant that the Ravenclaw never heard the knock. Thornton had no idea that his friend had already arrived, nor that she was currently being greeted by Adelaide. While it was certainly better than being pounced upon by Nowell first thing, if he'd known it was happening, Thornton would have worried at Paige's comfort.

Making his way down the stairs, still completely oblivious, he simply called out "Everything is as it should be, Mother."

PRINCE NOWELL had gone for a swim already, showered, and cleaned up and was devouring some simply buttered croissants when he heard the door. As much as he wanted to RACE TO THE DOOR to get there first, he knew Addie or Thorn should, since they were the ones with friends coming over.

Sigh.

Nowell wished HE had been allowed friends...but alas, he was too young to invite any companions over. It was such a pity. He peeked around the doorway, though, at Paige's arrival. She had really bouncy hair that Nowell wanted to tie bows in, and her eyes were really friendly to him. As he managed to shove (gracefully) the last of the croissant into his mouth, he skidded to a halt next to his sister and BEAMED up at Paige.

"And I'M Nowell Thornton, prince of the castle, brother to Adelaide and COUSIN of dear Thornton. It is a PLEASURE to meet you, Miss Paige!" he was bouncing in EXCITEMENT BECAUSE LOOK IT WAS PAIGE. THORNTON HAD WRITTEN TO HIM ABOUT PAIGE! Sweeping his brownish hair away from his forehead, Nowell held out his hand for her to shake.

He reaaaaaaally hoped Adelaide didn't shoo him off because he was dying of utter CURIOSITY.

Needing to readjust the hold on her basket, Paige's thin arms really only being good for holding quill and parchment for an extended period of time, her eyes widened and eyebrows arched in anticipation as the door slowly began to creak open. Inhaling, and entirely forgetting to exhale, she forced her lips upwards in a soft smile.

And was greeted by someone she did not recognize apart from a description given to her by Thornton.

"I --" she replied, eyes softening just a little. "I am." She nervously looked down at the basket before looking up at the girl again. "I'm terribly sorry I can't shake your hand properly on account of these berries...." THE BERRIES! "...which are a for you. Well, for everybody really."

Lost of fresh raspberries and blackberries to use in various things. Like dipping sauces for crisps.

Adelaide Thornton. Right. She had been warned that that could be a little confusing.

But before she could repeat Adelaide's name to commit it to memory, someone else appeared. A very BOUNCY someone who brought her smile from cute and tight lip to a toothy one.

Miss Paige made her blush a little. Okay, a lot.

"It's lovely to meet you both," she said, somehow managing a wobbling curtsy without spilling any berries. Could she come in now? Set this down? She did not want to impose its weight on anyone else, so she did not ask for assistance. But before making all sorts of cruppy eyes to imply this, she had a question.

"Is...Thornton here?"

Oh. Oh. OH. The berries, the basket of berries clearly held in the young girl's arms, Adelaide had somehow totally missed them, she blamed it entirely on her fuzzy mind and lack of sleep. "Oh no, don't apologize, I hadn't even noticed, I'm sorry-" Addie softly rambled, withdrawing her hand and tucking back a lock of her long hair. She was feeling flustered now, but trying not to show it. "That was so sweet of you, thank you." Adelaide was about to offer to take them off her hands when Nowell suddenly slid into the equation.

Addie sighed with a bit of relief, Nowell was.. Loud, charming and (if she was being honest) a little obnoxious, but his presence was a comforting one, especially right then.

"Miss Paige, I can take those for you and put them away if you like?" Adelaide said after Nowell had properly introduced himself, much to her vexation. She shook her head little at her brother before turning back to Paige with a smile. "Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you too... "

She had been waiting for the girl to ask after her cousin, but unfortunately there wasn't much to gather from Paige's question other than the obvious desire to see her friend. "I believe so, Nowell, have you seen Thornton this morning? I slept in and I must have missed him."

Perhaps he was upstairs playing cello... Strange that he hadn't appeared yet.

This was... not at all how he'd have wanted Paige to be greeted. Still in the doorway, straining with a basket of berries while Nowell... well, was Nowell. It was the younger boy's enthusiasm that alerted Thornton, who was still on the other side of the house, that there was someone at the door.

Merlin. Thornton resisted the urge to curse under his breath that his mother's insistence had meant that he was not there to be the first greeter. He hoped that his gentle friend was not overwhelmed. He trusted Addie. Nowell.... maybe not so much.

Hurrying over, eyes a little wide, he smiled, before reaching out to take the berries and hand them to.. well, whichever cousin took them first. He wasn't picky. Though, it should probably be Nowell since Adelaide should probably be present to show Paige to their room. And so Thornton leaned that way just a little. "Get these to Mipsey. She can put some out later with cream."

The berries taken care of, his full attention was on Paige. With a big grin, he finally addressed her. "You're here." Obviously. "Come in come in."

The girl with the bouncy hair seemed really nice. Paige. Nowell had to remember her name because it would so impolite if he just called her 'bouncy hair girl.' Paige.

"Ooooh! Those look really tasty--" he smiled and peered into the bowl of the berries. He wanted to eat one right now--but Adelaide would probably fuss at him and tell him off in front of Paige, so he just stood up straight and kept his hands behind his back. Less of a temptation that way.

"He's around--I--" he turned at the sound of Thornton's voice and nodded. Yep. He was here. Well, wasn't this all so EXCITING. VISITORS. Their FIRST ONE. But like--he was being shoved the bowl of berries and told to find Mipsey?! Nowell glowered at his cousin. Merlin, Nowell KNEW it was because Thornton was trying to keep him too busy from hanging out with the three of them. That was clearly what was happening here!

"Well if you didn't wanna' hang out with me--you could have SAID that--" he glared at Thornton, snatched the bowl, and rushed off to find the STUPID elf. HMPH.

He mumbled the entire way.

"Oh no, I didn't mean that ---" Paige wanted to squish her checks in and cover her face with her fingers from embarrassment. She hadn't meant to imply that she was disappointed in a lack off offer to take her basket, but rather to convey her lament for not being able to properly greet one of her hosts during her stay.

Nowell's cheerfulness helped ease some of the stomach knotting going on. Sort of.

Soon enough, her stomach was back to doing back flips. Smile broadening a bit at the familiar face and she took a step to greet Thornton in the usual way - with a hug - but there was still the basket in her hands. The basket that was causing a bit of a dispute between the three of...oh wait basket gone now.

"Thank you," she called after Nowell as he went. "And please give me regards to Mipsey." She was still in awe that Thornton's family owned house elves and wished her family could afford one. Just an added reason as to why she enjoyed spending so much time in the kitchens at Hogwarts.

Arms available now, she stepped inside and immediately threw her arms around Thornton. "Thank you for having me," she smiled, pulling away and finally offering her hand to Adelaide. "Will he be...alright?" she asked, peering in the direction that Nowell had disappeared in. "He seemed rather upset..."

Oh dear, there was... Such an awful lot happening in the space of such a short amount of time, Adelaide was feeling just a tad bit overwhelmed by it all, still, she did her best to keep her resolve and not to show her discomfort or anxiety. "They do look lovely, yes," Addie said in agreement with her brother, watching him with a slightly warning look. It would be very improper for him to snatch one up just then and also a very Nowell thing to do.

Bless. Thornton had arrived and solved all the silliness of the berries, he'd even sent off a very... dramatically displeased Nowell (she would have to go and speak with him, soon, after showing miss paige to their joint room).

"He might be a little... I''ll check up on him shortly, don't worry." Addie said reassuringly, turning away from watching her brother's fleeting form to watch the two friends as they embraced.

She had to stifle a smile. Thornton's large grin, Paige's just as large smile were a matching set that led her brain to all kinds of happy little conclusions. Addie softly cleared her throat, riding herself of the obvious look on her face and shook Paige's hand. "Do you want a tour of the place? Or would you like to settle in our room first?" Adelaide didn't mind ether way, she simply wanted their guest to be comfortable and have a good time, and from the little things Thornton had mentioned it seemed like the young girl was going through a bit of a rough time.

No better way to get through it then time with a good friend.

Right. Thornton would have to deal with Nowell later. Rather than call after him, he simply sighed, nodding at Adelaide's assertion that Nowell would be fine. The younger boy was awfully sensitive, wasn't he, though Thornton supposed he shouldn't be terribly surprised. He, himself, often felt the sting, rational or not, of being excluded. He would apologize later.

But now? There was a Paige. Broad grin apparent as he embraced her, holding tight perhaps a little longer than he would with others, Thornton was so glad she was here. "Of course," he said as she pulled away, resisting the urge to let the hug shift to clasped hands. Instead, he watched Paige greet his cousin. Only six months older, Adelaide sometimes seemed to be just the slightest bit ahead of him. More practiced manners. Milestones. Perhaps it was that extra year of schooling by virtue of their birthdays.

"You're sharing with Addie," he said, eyes trailing to her backpack. "I can take your bag for you, if you want." It was only polite. But there was this flippy little feeling in his stomach as he wondered whether he should let Adelaide and Paige head off on their own. His cousin was going to... do some investigating... after all.

D'you know what was better than being allowed to visit her friends AND getting away from her horrible horrible dance teacher? NOTHING. There was literally nothing that Dot wanted more in the world than to be here with her friend Thornton.

Well, maybe some Kyroh kisses, but he was busy right now.

Dot rang the bell and bounced around on the stoop before deciding that since she could hear people right in THERE on the other side of the door, it was okay to open the door and make herself known. OH. PAIGE WAS HERE. AND A GIRL WHO MUST BE RELATED TO THORNTON. EXCITING. "You should let me in so I don't take to a life of crime after my first successful breaking and entering. My mum would cry if I had to wear orange all the time."