#ofteaandmagic

[x]

Zora didn't seem to mind the cold too much. But sometimes, they were even a little bit surprised by the briskness that they faced while walking with Mellie. They had been interested in seeing something she wanted to share with them. And figured if it wasn't too far, maybe the walk would be worth it.

They have since learned their lesson about being too optimistic about the walking distance of it all.

Nessa blinked the rain from her lashes, cheeks rosy from the cold, utterly drenched despite having brought the “biggest umbrella she owned.” In true Nessa fashion, it was cute, pastel, and absolutely overwhelmed by real-deal British rain.

She hugged it close as they ducked into the covered alleyway, exhaling in relief when Mellie finally wrangled her own into submission.

“Goodness if this rain had opinions, it’d be yelling at us,” she murmured, brushing damp strands of bobbed hair behind her ear. “I swear it wasn’t this dramatic on the walk over.”

But the moment Mellie perked up at the word spell, Nessa went still then lit up like a little lantern.

“Oh! Yes yes, I did....gods, I did.” A quick laugh, soft and breathy. “It’s nothing flashy, I promise. I’m… not really a ‘flashy’ witch anyway.” A tiny shrug. “But it’s one of those cozy little things that gets you through days like this.”

She knelt down, rummaging in her satchel old leather, worn nice, smelling faintly of herbs and chamomile. From it she pulled a tiny tin.

“Here,” she said, opening it to reveal a pinch of dried marigold, lavender, and one small river pebble that glowed faintly like moonlight remembered. “This is a Hearth-Glow charm. My auntie taught me when I was little.”

She cupped the herbs and pebble between her palms. The alleyway dimmed around them, but Nessa’s voice stayed steady and warm.

“It’s for warmth,” she explained. “Just a simple ritual breath and a kind word. Works best in miserable weather with someone you like.”

She smiled shy, a little conspiratorial.

“Want to try it with me? We can warm the air in here, just enough so we don’t feel like soggy socks while the sky throws its tantrum.”

She extended her hands toward Mellie, palms open, herbs glowing faintly between them.

“Here put your hands over mine. Match your breath to mine. And then we say: ‘Be kind to cold bones, be gentle to weary hearts. Light, stay with us.’”

A faint glimmer golden, soft as candlelight began to swell between their palms, warming the space around their shoulders.

ㅤㅤ  ❝𝓢o, I've gotta ask, what did you think about meetin' the boys?❞ Of course, they could be a little rowdy and chaotic at times, but Ringo bringing a woman that he fancied around to meet them was a big achievement. Mostly because the others jokingly poked fun at him half the time. But they meant it in good fun. Walking along the sidewalk from the studio, he hoped that the evening lighting would help keep him a bit hidden from the public eye. He also couldn't resist walking Mellie home to make sure that she, too, was safe and sound. ❝—Hope they haven't scared ya off too much.❞

"Think fast idiot!" Wade yells throwing something suddenly towards them with very very little warning.

"It reminded me of fairies." A soft smile curves across Alena's lips as she runs her fingers along the ceramic pink petals forming the teapot, marveling at the uniqueness of it for a moment before meeting her friend's gaze. "I know summer's almost over, but I thought it would be perfect for tea parties."