Thaddeus "Teddy" Butterfield the First and Only (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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gooseberryhigh2018-01-29 03:35 pm
butterbear) wrote in gooseberryhigh2018-01-29 03:35 pm
Entry tags:
Butterbatch Cumberbear
Who: Thaddeus ‘Teddy’ Butterfield and Isabelle Sargent
When: A few days before the talent show (randomly)
Where: Ebonhide junior cabins, then to the Lodge
What: Teddy is trying new art and Issy is not stopping him like she should
Warnings: None, it’s cute
It wasn't the coldest it had been, but the threat of snow and the fact that the sun was hiding behind a thick layer of fog had left Isabelle feeling a bit chilly. In cases like this, she'd usually sit curled up in a blanket next to the fireplace in her cabin for the whole day. That was definitely her plan right now, anyway. In her lap she had a book, next to her a cup of coffee, and she was on the chair closest to the fireplace, curled up in her favorite blanket and reading. The cabin was nice and quiet, something she always appreciated - Ari was almost never there, Liberty had Prefect duties, and Ginger was loud but was busy doing something fun. Ophelia was... somewhere, but she didn't really notice her presence missing in the cabin.
"This is how it should always be huh, Mr. Toad?" Isabelle said to her familiar, a little toad literally called Mr. Toad because she was not super witty person who thought of funnier or better names for their pets. He was just a toad, but she loved him a lot and he ribbited at her from his spot on her desk. She laughed, marking the page in her book to close it for a minute, sipping her coffee and staring out the window. A single snowflake fell, and she thought briefly about heading outside to enjoy the minor snowfall but decided against it. Instead, she finished her cup of coffee and set it down on the table in front of her, re-adjusting her position and hunkering down to finish this book.
There’s a knock at the door; short, precise, to the point. Teddy suspected he’d find Issy there; he tended to know her schedule as well as the other people he spent the most time with. And if she had nothing pressing, she would be holed up. A brief spasm of guilt passed through him as if it was actually going to try and stay, but he shrugged it off. She could sit and read any day. And probably would for that matter. He’d deal with the fallout from taking her from her self-imposed exile.
“Issy,” he called through the door, a tinge of impatience coloring his tone. “Put the book down and open the door. I promise the book won’t have it’s feelings hurt.” Another pause. ‘Or Mr. Toad.”
Hearing the knock, Isabelle startled for half a second. She made no noise, waiting to hear who it might be first. When he spoke and it sounded like Teddy and she started to get up. However, with the strangers business going on she hesitated. “Prove its you first.”
“What do you-” came the first gruff but vaguely amused tone, before it trailed off. “Ah. Right. My apologies.” He sounded honestly contrite; a moment later, an entry appeared in her journal, warded just for her.
Issy, would you please come with me to the lodge? I'm waiting outside.
His voice sounded again at the door. “Better?”
Isabelle picked up her journal - seeing the message go through she snorted a little laugh and got up to open the door. “Come in for a second.” She offered. “I need to put shoes on.”
Taking a seat on her bed, she pulled out a little box of all her shoes - nearly color coded and perfectly lined up. Sneakers for this cold weather, she grabbed her best pair and put them on. “Why are you interrupting my me time? What's going on in the lodge?”
“The only time you have is ‘me' time,” Teddy pointed out, slanting her a dry look as he came inside. He glanced around the space more out of habit; he preferred to know who was around him at any given moment. “And I don't know if anything is going on, per se. I wanted to get a book.” Pause. “On origami.” Pause. “Maybe two books. And some paper.”
“It's totally rude to point out I have no friends and all my time is spent alone.” She said with a very serious look on her face - but she ended up smiling. This was both because she preferred being alone and because she had very few friends here.
“Wanna take all that to the art room so I can paint while you origami?”
“I would like that.” Teddy visibly relaxed once she agreed to accompany him on this latest art endeavor, without pointing out that it would likely be as much a failure as his previous attempts. “And it's not rude, it's factual that you like to read alone.” He smiled just a little. “There's a difference. Besides, you have friends.” He didn't elaborate and did not feel the need. Why would Issy need him to make a list of her friends?
“Cool.” Grabbing a jacket, she finally stands and throws a scarf around her neck before heading to the door. “Alright let's do this. And duh I read alone, you can't focus on a book and people at the same time.” It was just not possible. Not that she's ever tried - Isabelle was fully engrossed in whatever she was reading, it was very hard to get her attention.
“I know I do. I was just teasing.” She added, waving her hand towards the door so he could exit before she shut it behind her.
“You do get very into them, yes.” Teddy ruffled her hair, although it was as much as factor of the difference in their heights as anything else. “I feel you. I hate when someone tries to start a conversation when I’m clearly in the middle of reading.” He smiled down at her as they walked. “You know, exactly how I just came and interrupted you. Really, you need to call me out on my double standards, Issy. How can you ever expect me to change?”
Isabelle visibly stiffened - she hated when people touched her hair, but did get best to just smooth it down and move on. Not reacting to these kinds of things was something she was really working on. “Teddy, you have horrible double standards and its really rude and unfair. What are you going to do about that?” She replied, smirk on her lips and in a sing song voice. “I don't mind you interrupting me, anyway. You can get lectured by someone else for being so insufferably demanding.”
“I am insufferably demanding. I don’t know that a lecture would help.” He said that with the same straight face as always, although he looked back down at her again as she fussed with her hair. “I’m sorry for touching your hair,” he offered, genuinely. He never saw a reason not to apologize when he was in the wrong. “I forgot that you don’t like it. I will remember next time.” Maybe a promise a little harder kept; he could be very absent about his mannerisms, and tended to touch his friends. But he would try, just as he put his attention to everything else.
"It's okay, it's good for me to do things I don't like sometimes." Obviously, she didn't want him to feel bad for touching her hair. Although most girls found it mildly irritating because they actually put effort into doing their hair, Isabelle's was far more related to her OCD than to any particularly girly reasonings. "So is your new thing going to be Origami or are you just trying to find a way to make better paper airplanes?"
Teddy made a face, half-chagrin and half-determination. “It’s my new thing. You know.” He sighed. “Mom suggested it. It’s either this or I go back to studying potions six hours a day until I figure out why I can’t master that.” Mastery was a long shot; he was doing okay but Teddy never liked okay. That was far, far short of the goal. He ran his fingers through his hair, combing it back from his face. “She said that if nothing else, it would make my hands more nimble. Could it be that?” He shrugged, but he was obviously contemplating it. He would worry at the issue until it was fixed.
"Interesting." She replied, thinking about Origami being a thing, like a thing thing. "Well she's not wrong, I guess? Origami is really intricate, especially if you want to try and make very small origami animals and things." Isabelle shrugged, kicking a little bit of snow out of her way as they walked towards the lodge. "But you can't give up on it just because you aren't immediately great at it. I still think you should give painting another try, you really weren't that bad."
“I was that bad.” He said it without shame, long used to his lack of skill in the arts. “But I agree. I don’t want to necessarily give up too soon. Still, what’s too soon?” He slanted an amused look at her. “How long do you want to be responsible for my paint-by-numbers creations? Chloe is willing to tag in now and then if it becomes too much.”
He was pretty bad, she had to admit though she would never do so out loud. Suppressing a smile, Isabelle looked at him with the most innocent ‘whatever do you mean?’ face she could muster. “Am I not a good enough teacher? Ouch, Teddy bear.” Frowning, she nudged him a little as they walked. “I like trying out art stuff with you, it won't be too much. If you want to hang with Chloe though, feel free.” Isabelle didn't want to hog all his time, she already felt like she took up too much and he was just placating her. She didn't want to seek ungrateful though, either. It was nice to have a friend to hang out with, especially one who was so laid back. “Honestly, I don't mind.”
“You know I will spend time with you as long as you will have me, Issy.” He smiled at feigned outrage, as always charmed by the teasing. “Let's not ruin it by having me paint again, that's all. A man knows his limitations.” And was unbothered by them. Teddy would always strive to learn more but he knew when to accept that a wall would not be overcome. “You like Chloe, right? Perhaps you should should try spending time with her? Get outside your shell, Issy. It would do you good.”
“Well then you're in luck, I have no intention of kicking you to the curb.” Finally reaching the lodge, Isabelle opened the door for him and ushered them both inside. She didn't immediately take her jacket off, savoring the instant warmth for a few moments as they made their way to the art room. “Sure, Chloe is nice.” Agreeing carefully - she knew where this was headed. Another talk about stepping outside of her comfort zone, making more friends. Isabelle groaned. “What's the point? She'll graduate in a few months and I'll have to start all over again. For the third time in three years.” First, leaving Ilvermorny and starting Gooseberry a year late. Then after Laurel and Ivy graduated. “I've got you and Solo. I don't see why that's not enough.”
“Of course it’s enough,” Teddy replied, immediately soothing. “You know I am a supporter of quality over quantity. You aren’t lacking anything, in my opinion.” He shrugged off his own jacket and held out his hand for hers when she was ready, so he could hang both up in the art room. “However, you pointed out earlier that you were trying to be better about the things outside your comfort zone. Is this not one of them?” Teddy, logical to the last.
“Using my own words against me.” She sighed dramatically, but he was right. “Okay. Maybe I'll join you and Chloe for something artsy or, something.” Isabelle agreed, opening the door to the art room and turning on the lights. “I think there's actually origami paper in here somewhere but I'm not sure. Any paper will probably work as long as it's the right shape.”
“And if it’s not, there is this fantastic No-maj invention called ‘scissors’,” Teddy pointed out, with a hint of a smile. “Or perhaps I’ll simply intimidate it into compliance, as is our reputation.” He didn’t quite roll his eyes, but the implication was there. “Still, thank you for indulging me, Issy. You’re a good friend.”
Isabelle stuck her tongue out at Teddy playfully. “I know what scissors are, I just meant the paper needed to be the right shape or - oh forget it!” She smacked his arm again, started getting the painting supplies out and something she had been working on for a while. “That's really sweet of you to say. You're a really good friend too.”
When: A few days before the talent show (randomly)
Where: Ebonhide junior cabins, then to the Lodge
What: Teddy is trying new art and Issy is not stopping him like she should
Warnings: None, it’s cute
It wasn't the coldest it had been, but the threat of snow and the fact that the sun was hiding behind a thick layer of fog had left Isabelle feeling a bit chilly. In cases like this, she'd usually sit curled up in a blanket next to the fireplace in her cabin for the whole day. That was definitely her plan right now, anyway. In her lap she had a book, next to her a cup of coffee, and she was on the chair closest to the fireplace, curled up in her favorite blanket and reading. The cabin was nice and quiet, something she always appreciated - Ari was almost never there, Liberty had Prefect duties, and Ginger was loud but was busy doing something fun. Ophelia was... somewhere, but she didn't really notice her presence missing in the cabin.
"This is how it should always be huh, Mr. Toad?" Isabelle said to her familiar, a little toad literally called Mr. Toad because she was not super witty person who thought of funnier or better names for their pets. He was just a toad, but she loved him a lot and he ribbited at her from his spot on her desk. She laughed, marking the page in her book to close it for a minute, sipping her coffee and staring out the window. A single snowflake fell, and she thought briefly about heading outside to enjoy the minor snowfall but decided against it. Instead, she finished her cup of coffee and set it down on the table in front of her, re-adjusting her position and hunkering down to finish this book.
There’s a knock at the door; short, precise, to the point. Teddy suspected he’d find Issy there; he tended to know her schedule as well as the other people he spent the most time with. And if she had nothing pressing, she would be holed up. A brief spasm of guilt passed through him as if it was actually going to try and stay, but he shrugged it off. She could sit and read any day. And probably would for that matter. He’d deal with the fallout from taking her from her self-imposed exile.
“Issy,” he called through the door, a tinge of impatience coloring his tone. “Put the book down and open the door. I promise the book won’t have it’s feelings hurt.” Another pause. ‘Or Mr. Toad.”
Hearing the knock, Isabelle startled for half a second. She made no noise, waiting to hear who it might be first. When he spoke and it sounded like Teddy and she started to get up. However, with the strangers business going on she hesitated. “Prove its you first.”
“What do you-” came the first gruff but vaguely amused tone, before it trailed off. “Ah. Right. My apologies.” He sounded honestly contrite; a moment later, an entry appeared in her journal, warded just for her.
Issy, would you please come with me to the lodge? I'm waiting outside.
His voice sounded again at the door. “Better?”
Isabelle picked up her journal - seeing the message go through she snorted a little laugh and got up to open the door. “Come in for a second.” She offered. “I need to put shoes on.”
Taking a seat on her bed, she pulled out a little box of all her shoes - nearly color coded and perfectly lined up. Sneakers for this cold weather, she grabbed her best pair and put them on. “Why are you interrupting my me time? What's going on in the lodge?”
“The only time you have is ‘me' time,” Teddy pointed out, slanting her a dry look as he came inside. He glanced around the space more out of habit; he preferred to know who was around him at any given moment. “And I don't know if anything is going on, per se. I wanted to get a book.” Pause. “On origami.” Pause. “Maybe two books. And some paper.”
“It's totally rude to point out I have no friends and all my time is spent alone.” She said with a very serious look on her face - but she ended up smiling. This was both because she preferred being alone and because she had very few friends here.
“Wanna take all that to the art room so I can paint while you origami?”
“I would like that.” Teddy visibly relaxed once she agreed to accompany him on this latest art endeavor, without pointing out that it would likely be as much a failure as his previous attempts. “And it's not rude, it's factual that you like to read alone.” He smiled just a little. “There's a difference. Besides, you have friends.” He didn't elaborate and did not feel the need. Why would Issy need him to make a list of her friends?
“Cool.” Grabbing a jacket, she finally stands and throws a scarf around her neck before heading to the door. “Alright let's do this. And duh I read alone, you can't focus on a book and people at the same time.” It was just not possible. Not that she's ever tried - Isabelle was fully engrossed in whatever she was reading, it was very hard to get her attention.
“I know I do. I was just teasing.” She added, waving her hand towards the door so he could exit before she shut it behind her.
“You do get very into them, yes.” Teddy ruffled her hair, although it was as much as factor of the difference in their heights as anything else. “I feel you. I hate when someone tries to start a conversation when I’m clearly in the middle of reading.” He smiled down at her as they walked. “You know, exactly how I just came and interrupted you. Really, you need to call me out on my double standards, Issy. How can you ever expect me to change?”
Isabelle visibly stiffened - she hated when people touched her hair, but did get best to just smooth it down and move on. Not reacting to these kinds of things was something she was really working on. “Teddy, you have horrible double standards and its really rude and unfair. What are you going to do about that?” She replied, smirk on her lips and in a sing song voice. “I don't mind you interrupting me, anyway. You can get lectured by someone else for being so insufferably demanding.”
“I am insufferably demanding. I don’t know that a lecture would help.” He said that with the same straight face as always, although he looked back down at her again as she fussed with her hair. “I’m sorry for touching your hair,” he offered, genuinely. He never saw a reason not to apologize when he was in the wrong. “I forgot that you don’t like it. I will remember next time.” Maybe a promise a little harder kept; he could be very absent about his mannerisms, and tended to touch his friends. But he would try, just as he put his attention to everything else.
"It's okay, it's good for me to do things I don't like sometimes." Obviously, she didn't want him to feel bad for touching her hair. Although most girls found it mildly irritating because they actually put effort into doing their hair, Isabelle's was far more related to her OCD than to any particularly girly reasonings. "So is your new thing going to be Origami or are you just trying to find a way to make better paper airplanes?"
Teddy made a face, half-chagrin and half-determination. “It’s my new thing. You know.” He sighed. “Mom suggested it. It’s either this or I go back to studying potions six hours a day until I figure out why I can’t master that.” Mastery was a long shot; he was doing okay but Teddy never liked okay. That was far, far short of the goal. He ran his fingers through his hair, combing it back from his face. “She said that if nothing else, it would make my hands more nimble. Could it be that?” He shrugged, but he was obviously contemplating it. He would worry at the issue until it was fixed.
"Interesting." She replied, thinking about Origami being a thing, like a thing thing. "Well she's not wrong, I guess? Origami is really intricate, especially if you want to try and make very small origami animals and things." Isabelle shrugged, kicking a little bit of snow out of her way as they walked towards the lodge. "But you can't give up on it just because you aren't immediately great at it. I still think you should give painting another try, you really weren't that bad."
“I was that bad.” He said it without shame, long used to his lack of skill in the arts. “But I agree. I don’t want to necessarily give up too soon. Still, what’s too soon?” He slanted an amused look at her. “How long do you want to be responsible for my paint-by-numbers creations? Chloe is willing to tag in now and then if it becomes too much.”
He was pretty bad, she had to admit though she would never do so out loud. Suppressing a smile, Isabelle looked at him with the most innocent ‘whatever do you mean?’ face she could muster. “Am I not a good enough teacher? Ouch, Teddy bear.” Frowning, she nudged him a little as they walked. “I like trying out art stuff with you, it won't be too much. If you want to hang with Chloe though, feel free.” Isabelle didn't want to hog all his time, she already felt like she took up too much and he was just placating her. She didn't want to seek ungrateful though, either. It was nice to have a friend to hang out with, especially one who was so laid back. “Honestly, I don't mind.”
“You know I will spend time with you as long as you will have me, Issy.” He smiled at feigned outrage, as always charmed by the teasing. “Let's not ruin it by having me paint again, that's all. A man knows his limitations.” And was unbothered by them. Teddy would always strive to learn more but he knew when to accept that a wall would not be overcome. “You like Chloe, right? Perhaps you should should try spending time with her? Get outside your shell, Issy. It would do you good.”
“Well then you're in luck, I have no intention of kicking you to the curb.” Finally reaching the lodge, Isabelle opened the door for him and ushered them both inside. She didn't immediately take her jacket off, savoring the instant warmth for a few moments as they made their way to the art room. “Sure, Chloe is nice.” Agreeing carefully - she knew where this was headed. Another talk about stepping outside of her comfort zone, making more friends. Isabelle groaned. “What's the point? She'll graduate in a few months and I'll have to start all over again. For the third time in three years.” First, leaving Ilvermorny and starting Gooseberry a year late. Then after Laurel and Ivy graduated. “I've got you and Solo. I don't see why that's not enough.”
“Of course it’s enough,” Teddy replied, immediately soothing. “You know I am a supporter of quality over quantity. You aren’t lacking anything, in my opinion.” He shrugged off his own jacket and held out his hand for hers when she was ready, so he could hang both up in the art room. “However, you pointed out earlier that you were trying to be better about the things outside your comfort zone. Is this not one of them?” Teddy, logical to the last.
“Using my own words against me.” She sighed dramatically, but he was right. “Okay. Maybe I'll join you and Chloe for something artsy or, something.” Isabelle agreed, opening the door to the art room and turning on the lights. “I think there's actually origami paper in here somewhere but I'm not sure. Any paper will probably work as long as it's the right shape.”
“And if it’s not, there is this fantastic No-maj invention called ‘scissors’,” Teddy pointed out, with a hint of a smile. “Or perhaps I’ll simply intimidate it into compliance, as is our reputation.” He didn’t quite roll his eyes, but the implication was there. “Still, thank you for indulging me, Issy. You’re a good friend.”
Isabelle stuck her tongue out at Teddy playfully. “I know what scissors are, I just meant the paper needed to be the right shape or - oh forget it!” She smacked his arm again, started getting the painting supplies out and something she had been working on for a while. “That's really sweet of you to say. You're a really good friend too.”