SSRP: Of Spicy Cider and Cozy Cocoa: A First Date

[AlwaysSnapesGirl]

With what one might call a swish and flick of fate, Diamond Marchbanks and Tristan Rivers were matched together for a date at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Is this the beginning of a love story right out of a cozy winter romance novel for our two protagonists, or is this story destined for an unhappy ending?

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Text Cut: the date thus far, in the 2115-2116 Hogwarts term

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

The winter air nipped at Diamond’s cheeks, but she remained poised, standing tall at the entrance of The Three Broomsticks like she was meant to be there—because she was. This was her game, after all. Her pairings. Her brilliant setup. And she was dressed to devastate - but not in a dramatic, overdone - just tailored enough to look polished without screaming she’d tried. Diamond had chosen a cinnamon-brown turtleneck that hugged her frame just right, tucked into high-waisted black trousers that flared slightly at the ankles. Over it, she wore a cropped wool coat in deep, warm ochre, a color that made her skin glow even in the chilly afternoon light. Her boots, laced up to mid-calf, gave her just enough height to balance out her smaller frame—not that most people noticed. With a personality as larger-than-life as hers, she never felt small in a room.

Her hair was her crowning glory tonight. Styled into long, thick twists that cascaded down past her shoulders and midway down her back, a few pulled back with golden hair cuffs to frame her face just right. The winter chill had her applying an extra layer of gloss to her lips (flavor tested and approved as per her Witch Weekly column the Carat Cut, Pucker Up, Buttercup: The Top 10 Lip Gloss Flavors That’ll Make You Totally Kissable) but that was fine - hydrated, plump, and undeniably kissable was the goal here, after all.

Diamond exhaled, a small plume of mist escaping her lips as she flicked her eyes toward the street looking out for the artful dishevelment burnished bronze curls of Tristan Rivers. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaany moment now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSnapesGirl

Tristan had been experiencing a roller coaster of emotions ever since he had signed himself up for the Witch Weekly event. He nearly hadn't even done so in the first place, but after remembering the Halloween party...

Maybe it had been a lingering effect of the strange and still unexplained confidence he had experienced that night, or maybe it was just remembering how that had resulted in him asking people to dance and not only had they said yes, but it had also been fun! Though there had been that one girl who had said no - and remembering that was deeply mortifying - but, er, everyone else that had agreed to dance with him had been very nice, and he thought they had had fun as well.

And so with that in mind, in a burst of impulsive confidence, he had signed his name and information on the sheet.

And that was when the fear hit. And then he would brush it off and reassure himself that everything would be fine. Playing on the piano in the music room usually helped.

And then the nerves came back twice as hard.

Back and forth, up and down, until one day the note had finally arrived, and the fear was back in full force because now it was real.

He was...going on a date.

He was somewhat familiar with who Diamond Marchbanks was, at least in passing, but he wasn't as social as his sister Lyla nor did he read magazines like Witch Weekly, so he didn't know enough to gauge how this might go. But maybe that was...good? Maybe it was better to not have something concrete to spiral over and overthink about? Even if he was doing plenty of that anyway...

Either way, Tristan would see it through. His loyalty or integrity or whatever one wanted to call it would never let him back out at this point.

It would all turn out fine...hopefully. And if not? Well, he could always find a hole to crawl into and hide for the next five years.

The Hufflepuff spent much longer than usual getting ready that day. He looked a little pale from nerves, but there wasn't much he could do about that, and aside from that, he thought he looked fine. He could only hope that once they got to talking, he could relax more.

Tristan had hoped to arrive early and arrive first, but some students apparently thought they owned the pathway to Hogsmeade, and they and their friends walked side-by-side to block the entire path the whole way down. They didn't even bother to heed his attempts to politely excuse himself through or around them. Trailing off the path risked getting mud and/or snow all over himself as well, so he was stuck behind the rude, path-hogging students. Merlin's beard.

But at last, he made it to Hogsmeade, and it was easy enough to spot Diamond once he neared The Three Broomsticks.

Managing a smile, he approached her. "Hi, Diamond. You- um, you look great." He...wasn't sure if that was too forward, but it was true either way. She was pretty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Diamond had seen him coming before he’d even spotted her, which gave her ample time to enjoy the view and analyze his behaviors without knowing he was under the magnifying glass - so to speak. Tristan Rivers was adorable in that fresh-faced, boy-next-door-who-had-no-idea-he-was-charming kind of way. The kind that made girls want to ruffle his hair just to watch him get flustered. But what she really liked - what had her already envisioning the highlight reel of this date in her mind - was the way he looked nervous, but still walked right up to her anyway. A gentle display of eagerness, like how he had weaved his way through the crowded streets. Very different to her own go-to style of elbows out and it was your own fault if you got in their way.

When he complimented her, she let a slow, pleased smile spread across her lips, tilting her head just slightly while considering just how overbearing she was going to be. "I know," she said breezily, brushing an imaginary speck of dust off her coat for emphasis. Then, after letting that settle for just a beat, she gave him a once-over, openly, appreciatively. "And so do you. Glad to see you cleaned up for me. I like the way your hair does that messy, effortless thing...makes you look like you just walked out of some tragic, heartthrob romance novel."

Take notes, Tristan. Cite your sources when giving compliments. It's okay. He could try again later.

Without giving him much time to fumble through a response, she took the initiative, slipping her arm through his as if they had done this a thousand times before. "Come on, pretty boy. If I stand out here any longer, some other poor soul is going to try and flirt with me, and I’d hate to break any more hearts today."

She shot him a playful side glance, squeezing his arm lightly before leading them toward the door. "Now, tell me...are you a butterbeer guy or in the mood for something more cozy like hot cocoa?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSnapesGirl

The relief was instant when Diamond smiled, a welcome indication that he hadn't been too forward in complimenting her, and he smiled in turn.

It was immediately replaced by surprise when she turned a compliment back at him. A...detailed one at that. Tristan blinked, heat rushing to his face, his mind racing to process.

His hair, messy yet somehow effortless? A tragic heartthrob from a romance novel?? Him???

It was all very nice and poetic and flattering, of course, but he couldn't reconcile such an image with how he saw himself.

"Oh, I- Um..." was all he managed to stammer out before she had looped her arm with his. Perhaps that was for the best, because he hadn't been certain how to respond anyway, outside of saying thanks. Which seemed like it would've been a boring way to reply, but he didn't have the guts to respond with his own confident "I know."

He also didn't know what to say in response to others flirting with her and breaking their hearts and all that, but at least he managed a, "Oh, right, of course."

Mercifully, though, as he walked with her (and tried not to think about how close they were with an arm intertwined), the subject again changed and turned to something Tristan felt he could answer. It briefly occurred to him that there might be a right or wrong answer to it. But maybe he was overthinking again. Either way, he couldn't do anything except answer honestly. "I enjoy both, but I think I'd prefer a hot cocoa right now. What about you?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Text Cut: innocent pure boy who should not have to suffer the whirlwind that is Diamond

XD

Diamond beamed at his flustered response, clearly relishing every second of it. Oh, this was fuuuuuuuuuuun. He was the perfect mix of adorable and oblivious, and Merlin help her, she did love a challenge. "Hot cocoa, interesting?" she mused, giving him a very obvious once-over. "Yeah, I can see that. You've got that whole cozy, soft-spoken, winter romance protagonist thing going for you too. Very let me warm your hands with mine energy." She grinned, giving his arm a tiny squeeze for emphasis. "But little ol' moi?" Her free hand came up to flick a loose curl of his, the picture of playful confidence. "Nether. I'm a mulled cider kind of girl. A little heat, a little spice...you know, a drink that keeps you on your toes."

She let that linger for a second and surveyed their possible seating options. "Buuuuuut..." she added, voice dropping slightly, "I'm not opposed to stealing a sip of yours. You know, just for comparison." It was hard to not be a fan of chocolate but it was possible to have poor taste in which chocolates one indulged in. "After we find our seats, of course. So, where'll it be, Prince Charming?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSnapesGirl

Tristan's face was so warm, he hardly noticed the warmth from the Three Broomsticks embracing him as they entered from the cold outside. The date had barely begun, and he already felt like he was in over his head already, floundering in the middle of the sea when a storm was brewing.

Er, not in a negative way though. It wasn't bad, it was simply...overwhelming for his overthinking mind.

Fortunately, he didn't have much time to dwell on the romance protagonist and holding hands comments, because he - unsurprisingly - didn't know how to respond to that. Cider was an excellent choice too, and it did seem...fitting, like she said.

He was, indeed, being kept on his toes.

Um. "I do like cider too." Even if it wasn't a drink he was immediately drawn too, it was still good and a nice change of pace. "The cocoa here is quite good though. I think you'll like it. And he didn't mind letting her have a sip, or more than a sip, of his if she wanted.

As for seating...Tristan scanned the room for an unoccupied table. "How about over there?" He pointed with his free hand toward a booth in the corner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Good thing this girl was an excellent captain - experienced in navigating stormy waters, completely unbothered by a little fabricated turbulence, and, most importantly, well-stocked with life preservers. So incredibly considerate of her, wouldn't you agree?

She was also a master at outwardly keeping her cool. But inside? Oh, she was delighting in every last bit of Tristan's adorable flustered energy. It was almost too easy, but there was something especially satisfying about teasing someone who clearly didn’t know just how attractive they were. Like a beautifully wrapped gift just waiting to be appreciated. Plus the way he was obviously overwhelmed from the intensity of her shine upon him.

"Mmm, good call," she hummed, letting her fingers briefly skim over the back of his hand before giving his arm a light squeeze. "A booth means I get to sit next to you instead of across from you. Cozy and strategic. You're really are so considerate and attract―oops, I mean attententive." With that, she let her arm stay linked with his as she led the way over to the booth and slide in first with a little persistent tug on his fingers to join her - immediately, like.

Diamond turned slightly, letting one knee bend up onto the seat so she could face him a little better, and folded her hands in her lap - he could lean in if he wanted, by the way - and offered him a little coy smile hidden behind a shoulder shrug. "So," she mused, tapping her chin as if she were deep in thought. "I'm getting a cider, you're getting cocoa," she noted with a cursory glance at the menu, "Oh, tragedy! No cider?" Diamond sighed, all dramatic lament and playful pout. "What a devastating oversight. I might never recover." Then, with a sly smile, she leaned in just a touch closer and playfully bopped his nose. "Guess that means I’ll have to settle for your drink of choice this time. And on our second date, you’ll just have to make sure we go somewhere that does have cider."

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSnapesGirl

At this rate, Tristan was bound to need an entire ship's worth of life-preservers.

And not for the first time, he wondered if he should have asked Lyla, or written to one of his older siblings, for advice on how to handle this. But then again, that wouldn't have granted him any of the confidence that Diamond seemed to possess, and that was what he actually needed but didn't have. Maybe he'd feel less like he was drowning if he did.

A pleasant shiver raced up his spine when her fingers skimmed his hand. And, of course, it hadn't even occurred to him that their seating arrangements would be anything other than sitting across from each other. He couldn't say that though - or say much of anything for another moment with all those compliments she had once again bestowed upon him. All he could do was nod silently and follow her leading, carefully seating himself next to her.

Tristan didn't copy her seated posture, keeping his feet on the ground, but he did turn to face her a little better. No leaning in yet though.

It was unfortunate they didn't sell cider here at the Three Broomsticks. He thought they had, but perhaps he was thinking of somewhere else. The Leaky Cauldron, perhaps?

He was jolted from that thought when she mentioned a second date.

It was so surprising that his response sort of spilled from his lips before he had fully thought it through. "I think the Leaky Cauldron might have cider. But we won't be able to go there until summer, and that seems like a long time to wait for our second date."

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Watching Tristan get all flustered and flushed under her attention was like a snowfall on Christmas morning: cooooooooompletely predictable yet somehow enchanting every single time. She knew what was coming, knew he’d flush and fumble, and yet the sight of it still sent a thrill straight through her, as if it were the first time. The way his ears burned pink, the way he stumbled over his words like a first-year trying to mount a broom for the first time...it was pure magic, the kind that made her want to push just a little further, juuuuuuuust to see how deep her natural Confundo would sink in.

What was a little less predictable was the way he volleyed back when she mentioned the date - and her lips curled into a delighted little smirk. "Weeeeell, we certainly can’t have that," she purred, tilting her head slightly as if weighing the gravity of this front page great dilemma - Romance on Layaway: Ciderless Sweethearts Forced to Postpone Romance Until Summer. "A long, tragic wait until summer? Simply unacceptable." Her fingers drummed lazily against the table before she leaned in just a hair more and fluttered her long lashes. Her long, fluttering lashes, brought to you by Lash Blast Potion by Madame Poppy, guaranteed to add just the right amount of drama to every well-timed flutter. Now with 36-hour smudge-proof charm resistance, because who had time for flaking when there were unsuspecting boys like Tristan to make weak in the knees? Use code DIAMONDGLARE15 for 15% off your first bottle during your next visit to Madam Primpernelle's, because stunning lashes should be as effortless as making 'em blush! "Looks like we’ll have to fit in a few more dates before then," she mused, as if it were the most logical conclusion in the world. "To tide us over, of course, and make the most of the time we have left. Finding all the best cozy nooks and crannies in the castle before you're off being far too interesting elsewhere as a graduate. Can’t be suffering for months on end without a good snog, now can we?”

Oops? Had she said too much?

this is a closed roleplay

characters ::
Diamond Marchbanks (sweetpinkpixie)
Tristan Rivers (AlwaysSnapesGirl)

[AlwaysSnapesGirl]

Tristan himself was surprised by the words that had just left his lips. He’d been so flustered he hadn’t had time to really think through his reply, and now…well, now that was out there. At least she had been the one to bring up a second date first, so his reply wasn't that forward or presumptuous, but even so, it felt like he'd said too much.

If his face could get any more warm, it would.

Diamond seemed to take it in stride though, which, well, he supposed wasn't a surprise. She appeared ready for anything, quick-witted and confident as she was.

His eyes glanced briefly at her fingers as they drummed on the table, before returning to her face and pretty eyes.

Merlin.

It was very fortunate that they hadn't ordered drinks yet, because if he had taken a drink at the end of her reply there, he would have looked like one of those characters in a Muggle cartoon where the drink spewed out of their nose. Very fortunate indeed. Because snogging? He wasn't opposed to it obviously, but, well...he had never even kissed someone before.

Luckily, he didn't let that admission slip out unawares. Instead he managed, "O- Oh, yeah, we can't have that," which wasn't a particularly witty reply, but at least it was something. "I'm sure there are a number of nice places around the castle to have a date."

[sweetpinkpixie]

Diamond didn’t miss a beat—if anything, the stammer only made her smile sharpen with that glossy-lipped, knowing curve that said she clocked everything and liked what she saw. Her signatureーwell, ONE of her signatures. Her fingers, still idly tapping the table, came to a smooth stop as she leaned in just slightly. Close enough to make it clear she had no problem blurring lines, but not so close as to startle him. Yet. Hopefully? He was just so insufferably adorable it was a little hard to tell when her dazzling personality would become too much for him to handle.

"Glad we are in agreement," she teased with a wink. "I know a few," she continued, voice silkier than her favorite pair of dress robesーdesigned by Candela, for the record, and bedazzled to the heavens and back with embroidery and rhinestones. "Some cozy spots perfect for something fleeting or impromptu have caught my eye and as long as you are not escorting me on glorified field trips to the greenhouses proclaiming a walk in nature to be oh-so-romantic, I am sure we will have a good time. I'm easy to please."

She wasn't but she was also a girl of simple needs. Simple needs with high standards but, well, he would learn.

She tilted her head and tapped her cheek. "Still," she added, giving him yet another once-over, playful but assessing, "you’re cute." A pause, then a sly smile. "Don’t worry, I’ll let you pick next time. Just... maybe somewhere with less risk of Professor Cole stumbling past at the wrong moment."

And with that, she leaned back a bit in her seat but kept a bit of flirtatious contact with her foot brushing against his shin. "So, Hufflepuff Heartthrob. You want to order us those drinks or shall I do the honors so you can watch me walk away? Or maybe even get them to go?"