princess sickness

The word compliment seemed to soften him up a tad bit, but not entirely. “It sounds more like you called me a teenager or preteen or some shit like that,” Pete’s words were slightly muffled by his ego. “Don’t see how it’s much of a compliment.”

Hestia pulled her bottom lip over her top lip as she was saddened by his words and what he thought she was saying. “Oh, Peter, no, I simply was trying to give you a compliment.” She paused, wondering how she had managed to upset Peter when she would never, ever want to upset him. “And it is a compliment! You’ll be looking fresh-faced when you’re older and then you’ll see me hobbling over to you, covered in wrinkles and missing teeth. And that’s when you’ll realise it’s a compliment.” 

“Ah.” Clark nodded, like everything was sliding into place. “That makes sense.” Clark thought back to the joke with a laugh. As kids, he made the same joke with his friends. It was weird to think they weren’t kids anymore. He adjusted his quidditch bag. “My parents never let me have a dog. My dad was always too busy to even think about caring for one. I think I may have a soft spot for cats, though.”

Hestia’s eyes first widened in surprise before narrowing at his statement. “You prefer cats to dogs?” She asked, extremely slowly, still trying to wrap her head around this idea. “Maybe you just need to spend more time with a dog and then you’ll change your mind. You can have a playdate with my dogs.” 

“Ooh I’m so glad you could come!” Hestia gushed. “What’s your favourite tea? We can get it prepared for you right now with the help of our magical assistants! I mean they’re just waiters that parents for the day, but, you know, magical.” 

“Wait, hold up – do you want to tell me what Red Velvet is? No, do you imply you haven’t even TRIED it? I am personally offended and slightly disappointed. Scratch that, MASSIVELY disappointed.“ Gideon stuck his nose in the air, acting like he was mad. “Yeah, well, understand ‘drinking everything that’s in the house’ under partying. I’ve been staying at home mostly.“ Hestia’s bubbly personality brought a grin on his face, one that wasn’t planned nor anticipated. “Hestia Jones partying? That’s such a wild concept. Where’s it gonna be?“

“Tried it? Oh, so it’s a food then? What an awfully strange name for a food. What is it?” She scrunched up her nose,still confused. “Honestly Gideon you can’t pretend to be disappointed in me otherwise I’ll take it seriously and get very upset. You know I will.” Even though she was joking, just saying those words was a soft reminder to herself of how upset she was when he didn’t want her around that day at St. Mungo’s. “I thought partying required other people present? I guess you have to teach me a lot about that whole concept.” She nudged his arm at his tease, but grinned up at him all the same. “It’s going to be at my house. You have to come! You haven’t even answered my question about coming! Please, please, please.”

Peter made a face, attempting to suppress the awful feeling he had in his gut when she called him that. Why the fuck did she think she had the right? He had no babyface, he was just as much a man as anyone else his age. “Can I ask why that name?” His physical demeanor gave none of his hurt away, but inside he truly did not want to talk to Hestia anymore. “I’m the best of the best? How can Sir Babyface, as you said it, be apart of the best of the best?” There was a hint of bitterness in his tone now. “I uh, I guess.”

“What?” She asked, a small giggle erupting from her out of nerves as she wondered why he didn’t seem to understand the joke or her logic. “You have one of those faces I know will age very well and you will look young forever. It was a compliment really, Peter.” 

“You hardly know me,” He replied, rolling his eyes at her enthusiasm. He didn’t much care about coming off as rude and what he said was true enough. He gave a small shrug in reply to her question. Evan scoffed, “Who the fuck knows, they’ll probably take ages to arrange everything, making sure it’s perfect.” 

Hestia visibly flinched at his harsh way of speaking. She came to the conclusion he wasn’t a fan of his coming wedding, but... that made no sense? “Oh, I... I am just a wedding enthusiast!” She was always taught to remain polite even under terrible circumstances. “Who are they? Will it not be you and Anastasia arranging your own wedding?”

Raising an eyebrow, his grin continued. “A new name? Alright, well, let’s hear it.” Peter gestured to her, expecting something like waffle. “I– uh, oh fuck. I don’t own animals, Hestia, really I don’t fucking know anything. My shop specializes in magical animals, so dogs and the such aren’t usually there. I know absolutely nothing about poodles and their aspirations, which are apparently quite high?”

Hestia cocked her head to the side, squinting as she tried to come up with a name for him. “Hmm... I pronounce you Sir Babyface, ruler of all the men with endearingly soft faces of youth. It’s quite a long title, but I am a fan.” She nodded enthusiastically at the point about poodles having high aspirations. “Yes, they want to be seen with the best of the best, but Pancakes seems to like you, so you must be a part of that circle... see, she’s very forgiving! And yes, magical animals - you must be very familiar with dragons then?” 

“When is it again?” Remus smiled at her. Hestia was always very nice and he was happy she was sharing her tea with him. He held out his hand and examined the satchel. “Thanks.” He sniffed it. “Smells good.”

“It is the 17th of October! You haven’t said if you’re coming or not yet though! It’s a very important affair.” She beamed at him, hoping her smile would be convincing enough that he should be joining her. “Well now that we can confirm you are interested in tea, tell me all that is new with you!”

Remus nodded, feeling better that she seemed to care. The full moon was approaching and Remus always felt a ball in the pit of his stomach grow larger and larger as the night drew closer. “Wow.” He looked at the sachet and nodded excitedly. “That does sound good. Mint tea is my favorite.”

Hestia grinned with triumph due to the fact that Remus was excited about her tea. “It’s your favourite? I’ll remember that for when you come to my birthday party! You will be coming won’t you?” She placed the tea in front of him. “And here, this one is all yours.”