Her face was in her hand as she laughed. Croissant-wrapped pickles had been quite delicious, if not a terribly messy endeavor, but reenacting the actual making of them was nearly too hysterical to discuss.

"Okay---okay, enough about the pickle drenched croissants," she let out, slightly short of breath as they moved down the lunch line. Bianca was glad for Heathcliff; he was a friend around the ministry that she'd been completely lacking. The boys in the hitwizard department were all lost in their own depressing little worlds, and while she had once had her own bubble of angst, she'd managed to burst out if it these past few months. It didn't mean she was suddenly Miss. Popular around the offices of the Ministry, but she was glad to have someone to have lunch with and not have to go home and rummage around her usually empty fridge.

Well...she'd had a boyfriend to go on lunch dates with up until recently, so it was nice to once again have something to do.

And he was nice! And smart, Heathcliff was really smart. Rather respected around the offices, too, so it wasn't as if she was just clinging to the first bloke/person who showed her some attention. Some part of her was slightly uneasy about spending time with a man who was not Bertram, therefore not the father of her unborn child, but a much bigger part told her that they were both adults and could have an adult relationship without any consequence. They absolutely could!

Bianca stared up at the ever changing menu, "All right, your pick." She hoped he managed to spot something that was both sugary and salty.

Who: Mira Jasper & Seth Wadcock with an appearance by Bianca Vaisey
What: Oh noes! The truth comes out.
Where: Apartment! Hallway!
When: Now!

( So, Seth! What do you do for a living? You’re a strapping young fellow )

WHO: Bertram Aubrey and Bianca Vaisey
WHAT: A fight about their future?
WHERE: Her & Mira's flat!
WHEN: Tonight!

( Ah, hell. She was crying - he couldn’t see her like this for long. )

This was going to be fine. They were going to be fine. If Bertram didn't want to go along with everything, then okay! She was an independent woman, she'd be able to raise this baby by herself. And, honestly! He was a single dad! He would definitely understand that things like this just happen, and she didn't go and get herself pregnant like some crazy love-struck wench to keep him tied to her----

---oh, God, would he think that? She hadn't pressured him into saying 'I love you,' or anything like that! Hell, she'd recoiled at Mira's not-so-happy joke about Bertram basically living at their flat. They weren't serious enough to have a baby together, but what was she supposed to do? It was--she wanted this baby, she did, that wasn't the question, it was just the fact that wanting this baby might ruin the best relationship she'd had in years--or, ever, really--

She'd been sitting on the edge of the Ministry's fountain inside the Atrium and jumped when Bertram's face appeared in her line of vision. Bianca smiled up at him weakly and remained seated, her hands wrung together tightly. She'd picked the latest break to go on lunch because the Atrium was usually empty (ministry workers tended to take their breaks early, not very many morning people around here, like Bianca), and she had made up her mind that she could not go another day without telling Bertram. She'd already known for two weeks!

"Right on time!"

WHO: Bianca Vaisey and Bertram Aubrey
WHAT: ;D
WHERE: Bianca's flat!
WHEN: Right after her journal post!

( That’s...not terrible? )

Gabriel was silently wording his opening lines for the next segment of news when the lights dropped. He lifted his head in a curious manner, having been standing away from the news desk and wondering if it was just a backdrop thing. It wasn't exactly peculiar, there had been men working on the spells earlier this week which had caused the lighting charms to flicker and crackle. He let out a breath and stood where he was, watching as nearly everyone around him performed lumos with their wands. Gabriel supposed he should as well, and wondered if this sort of incident would mess up the wireless airwaves. He didn't know much about the magic behind the WWN, but he supposed those who did would fix things.

He muttered to his assistant that he was going to go into the corridor to see if it was only their studio that had gone out, and she quickly skittered away to find the snack trays. Gabriel let out a breath, sighing at the thought of having to stay at work later because of this delay. He had dinner plans for Rachel and the children, he did not need the annoyance of pushing back reservations. As he pushed out into the hallway, he let out a groan at the darkness. His wand was soon out and he felt awfully tired, frustrated that his day was going to be spent in near darkness.

"Do you have light?" he called out to a figure down the hall, noticing a brighter light than that of a normal lit wand. "The spells have gone out over here, it's pitch---"

Why had he been so languid in his movements just now? Darkness overcoming the WWN studios? In the middle of Diagon Alley? Diagon Alley, which was the near breeding ground for death eater attacks. Gabriel wished he had the mindset to jump to the worst possible conclusion, but the spell the cloaked death eater shot off sliced him across the side of the head, knocking him out cold and to the ground.

If he didn't die today, right now, Rachel was going to kill him.


( OOC! )

WHO: Bianca Vaisey and Bertram Aubrey
WHAT: Bianca's late to a date and Bertram's...up to his old ways?
WHERE: Random restaurant!
WHEN: Tonight

( You'd better have rescued some adorable kitten from a tree, missy, or I am going to have to call bullshit on you breaking our date plans )

"Ex--cuse, me---move, move, move!"

Didn't people know how to act in a time of crisis? You didn't stand around screaming bloody murder, staring at the rays of hexes and jinxes while you waited to get hit by one of them. You moved, you hid, you did whatever you could to stop the bloody death eaters that were interrupting the peace. You didn't become a distraction or something that could cause even more harm. Emmeline jumped and twisted and forced herself through the crowd of people surging in every which direction. This was going to be such a disaster.

Emmeline wished she hadn't offered to take the package to Flourish and Blotts. The package was too delicate to let an owl deliver it, Patrick had to head home early because of his daughter, and seeing as it was only a five minute walk, hey! Get some sun, earn some brownie points from the cousin who was constantly harassing her to do stuff other than ogle at her nerdy boyfriend! Haa. She wished she'd just refused and taken on the extra paperwork, but that meant that Edward would have probably taken the walk to Flourish and Blotts and Emmeline knew for a fact that he would have either frozen in terror or with his bad luck been shot in the head once the first death eaters showed up.

Okay, stop the morbid thoughts.

The door of Calliope's jingled pleasantly, completely ignorant of the chaos that was going on just down the block. Emmeline knew it wouldn't be long before they reached the publisher. "Edward! We've got to go!" she shouted, trying to keep her voice from sounding too stressed. "Come on!"

WHO: Bianca Vaisey and Bertram Aubrey
WHAT: Nice walk through the park!
WHERE: ....the park!
WHEN: Tonight!

( 'You look like you're about to ram me into a tree.' And not in the sexy way like he was hoping, he was fairly sure. )

Getting married was absolutely terrifying. No matter how smoothly Gabriel proceeded through the planning, the discussions, and the actual event, he was holding back getting sick the second he could catch a moment to himself. He knew he didn't love Rachel yet, which might be the reason why he was finding himself so nervous as they sat at the head table of their reception, but he did honestly---he did honestly believe that he could fall in love with this woman. She was fiery with a mind of her own, and though some people might be irritated by it, Gabriel actually appreciated the way she took control of things. He had always been a bit of a follower, and it was easy to agree with Rachel because her reasoning simply made sense.

The reception did look fantastic. Gabriel couldn't believe it was all put together within two short months, but then again he was learning that Rachel was a woman who set her goals and refused to leave them unfinished. Maybe he should look at that as a good thing; surely someone who did not want to get married would not have put so much effort into the ceremony? Or she simply wanted to throw the most beautiful wedding of them all, simply because she could. He didn't know, and didn't mind not finding out as long as they remained content with each other.

He did find her very interesting, however, and that was the first thing a Ravenclaw looked for in a spouse. Maybe all of his concerns were for naught, and it was simply wedding day jitters. His parents had been arranged in a similar manner, and they were still quite happily married (and sometimes nauseatingly sweet about it, too). Gabriel turned and smiled at Rachel, pushing his chair out and offering his hand, "Would you like to dance?"

A chorus of glasses clinging supported Gabriel, and he flushed slightly at all the attention that was on them, once again.


ooc: guest list! We did our best, but if we missed someone let us know!

Don't forget to breathe.  Don't forget to breathe.  Do not forget to breathe.

The mantra repeated in Franziska's head ever since she arrived at Eastnor.  There was a small scare in the dressing room when she did forget to breathe and then she almost fainted.  She was then order to sit in front of the vanity and just focus on breathing while her bridesmaids took care of everything else. 

The next biggest step was actually making it down the aisle.  She really didn't expect that many people to show up. She supposed that's what happens when you marry a rockstar.  At least it was a more relaxed setting than most traditional weddings.   Franzy walked down the center of tables that were scattered about, the cakes set up on the far right and the band on the far left.  That way once the wedding was over the party could start right off.

Everything was gorgous.  Just the way she planned.  Franzy looked stunning in her gown (as she knew she would).  Miranda and other bridesmaids looked amazing in their dresses.  And Darwin.  Franzy let out an uncounsious sigh when she first saw him.  And now that she was standing there holding his hands waiting to repeat her vow she didn't worry as much about this working.  Because it was going to work.  After all her freaking out and everything, he still looked at her like she was the most amazing thing in the world.  She was going to say her vows and everything was going to be just perfect.


( OOC )

Bertram Aubrey had decided that perhaps dressing up a little wouldn't be a bad idea, so he'd tossed on a white shirt and a tie before he'd shrugged on his jacket. It wasn't as if he -- no, all right, that was a lie, he always hoped that something was going to happen with Emmeline, but really -- the girl had seemed down in the journals for some time now and he never said no to someone with as fine an ass as Emmeline had.

He apparated off the spot where he'd been standing and glanced up at the address scribbled down on the torn bit of parchment. All right, this was supposed to be the place. He lifted his hand hastily and gave a knock on the door, taking a breath.

Not that he was nervous.