Alternate RP Weeping Roses

[Carine Vale]

Set during the summer break of 2060.

Carine couldn't help but cling onto the moments Astraea was still very much her baby; when she could guide and dote on her daughter in the way she always had and always would. One of these priceless moments being the one Carine was currently in; where she was tending to the garden with Astraea by her side in one of the rare pockets of tranquility among their household chaos. It had become increasingly clear to Carine how much Astraea had grown since she had started school at Hogwarts, a feeling festering in her heart like a wound, and while Carine loved to see her daughter blossom into a rose with many thorns like the ones they had gathering, and creep as she grew like the ivy on the brickwork of their home, she still wanted to hold onto the times when her daughter was still a child while she still could. One day, Carine knew Astraea would fly from the nest and she would be tearful but overjoyed to see her daughter create and live a life of wonder and independence, but she knew it would not be that day and she was thankful there was still time left. Time to linger and simmer in the life and family Carine had built with her husband, quality time with her eldest child and time to maintain the garden Carine very much loved.

"Darling, place the basket here." Carine mused, kneeling on the ground next to the planter with her favorite black rose bush. It had been a wonderful summer so far that had truly allowed her prized roses to flourish and Carine had noticed her favorite rose bush had an abundance of blooms she could decorate the house with. Moving to pick up her pruning shears, Carine reached to the first rose she could find, mindlessly humming a somber tune to herself while chopping off the head of the rose and cutting the base of the stem; placing the rose in two parts into the basket. The petals would make an ideal potpourri and the stems perfect for the vases in her office and entryway. Carine simply could not wait to pick the roses she had nurtured and see them all around her home where she could appreciate their piercing beauty. ​

 

[Astraea Vale]

Having spent two years at Hogwarts, Astraea's independence had only doubled in size. Apart from the occasions that she spent with Horror, the Slytherin student felt at ease being alone - in fact, it was her preference. Besides Horror, there were only two other people with whom she felt comfortable spending her time; her parents.
It was somewhat uncomfortable for her to feel so at ease with someone other than her parents. Her mind often wandered, dwelling on thoughts of her friend Horror, wondering what he was up to and what his family was like. She couldn't help but wonder if he was thinking about her.
She despised thinking in such a manner and was relieved when her mother's words snapped her out of her daydream. Astraea knelt down next to her mother, placing the basket between them and adjusting her black parasol to shield both of them. To avoid revealing her true thoughts, Astraea settled on asking a question that had been on her mind. "Mother," She started, picking up one of the stems, poking her finger with the thorn. "How long with Aunt Sylvie be staying with us?"

 

[Carine Vale]

There was a contented silence that always fell between Carine and her eldest daughter, a silence she believed formed by warmth and understanding and the promise they were comfortable simply existing while next to one another. A silence Carine knew would linger for as long as either of them wanted it to, and a silence she knew would return even when broken by a gentle question. Carine paused her somber song, retreating her hands from the next rose she had been attempting to slice as she turned her attention to Astraea, eyes searching her daughter's face for reasoning of the question in itself as she had to admit it was unexpected at first. Though as she paused to allow the silence to return while forming her answer she realised it wholly made sense, after all Sylvie was for the most part a stranger to Astraea and the woman dwelled in the guest room next to hers. It had been an unexpected change to the dynamic in their home and of course it was justified her daughter would wonder how long her aunt's stay would last.

"My dear, she will stay as long as she needs. In this time she needs our support as grand mama and grand papa are no longer happy with her." Carine attempted to explain, understanding that while it had been over a year, her parents cutting Sylvie off had been more or less throwing her to the wolves with no where else to go. There would be no time frame on healing and building a life back together for such things, at least from what Carine felt about the situation. Returning her attention back to her roses, Carine moved to cut the head from another one, idly moving her hands to cut the stem as well in a practiced motion. "Is her presence less than unsettling darling?" She asked gently, in an attempt to understand Astrea's perspective further. "Has she been too kind?" She added, thinking that if Sylvie had been both social and friendly to her daughter it may have caused her to feel uncomfortable. ​

 

[Astraea Vale]

Astraea maintained a steady gaze as her mother paused before replying, relaxing her arms and the rose stem on her lap. Eye contact was never something of an issue for Astraea; in fact she assumed that if someone couldn't look the other in the eye, they had something to hide; whether it be a lie or their own lack of self confidence. It wasn't an attractive trait.
The young Slytherin couldn't help but let out a small sigh of discontent when her mother replied. She struggled to comprehend her parents' willingness to welcome someone into their home who did not entirely belong. Sylvie was not a member of their household and lacked a rightful place there. Nevertheless, her mother and father appeared more than happy to have her presence. Astraea did not want to support her Aunt; perhaps her grandparents had perfectly valid reasons. Astraea watched as her mother returned to the roses, Astraea carefully arranged her own stem back in the basket, ensuring a clear distinction between the two piles before she replied. "No. We have not spoken." Astraea responded with a small shake of her head. "I only wish to practice some potions of my own and I have doubts that I am allowed to make such noise with her next door to me."

 

[Carine Vale]

Astraea's emotions were akin to that of an iceberg, a trait Carine had observed early on and one she entirely appreciated and encouraged in her daughter. Being vulnerable with obvious emotion shown so outwardly was in most cases a sign of weakness. Astraea's reality of allowing only certain emotions to show, if any at all while the truth lingered below the surface of her expression was a sign of both maturity and intelligence. It was a sign that by nature Astraea was headstrong and composed and entirely her child to raise and one sign among many that Astraea knew how to protect herself and show her true feelings only those who deserved her trust. Lastly it was a sign she had a sense of self control many others failed to gather over a lifetime. Having mastered such a trait at her young age only cemented how proud Carine was of the way her daughter was growing up. She thought this to herself as she reached for various large roses on the rose bush, selecting to cut only the blooms that were entirely thriving so the budding flowers had a chance to follow in their footsteps.

Carine turned her attention back to Astraea at her daughter's confession Sylvie's presence had kept her from wanting to experiment with her potion brewing. She felt her heart sink at the admission, gently reaching to move her hand to Astraea's in an attempt to comfort her. "Darling, if she minds your brewing then she is hardly one of us." Carine uttered, sure that Sylvie would not mind such a disruption and knowing this would be a sign it was time for Sylvie's stay to end if she so did. It had been a defining experience in both hers and Sylvie's childhoods to experiment with the knowledge of magic they had gained from their studies, experimenting with potion brewing a hobby of Carine's she maintained even into her adulthood. If Sylvie so much as showed disdain, Carine with all the love she had for her younger sister, would not hesitate to remind Sylvie of the family they had both grown up in. "I say, brew away and if she so much as raises an eyebrow, send her to me." Carine assured, not hiding that this was a potential threat to her sister as she nodded gently and smiled at her beloved daughter.​