Nik/Piper ]] you gotta be bad

[TABITHA JANE WINTERS]

OUTFIT

It was the day of her fake date with Piper, but she couldn't help trying to dress cute. Laid back and not overly flashy, but cute. She wore heels, of course, she loved heels. Tabby regarded herself in the mirror, wondering if maybe she should have gone more flirty or something, but hopefully this was good enough. The shirt and vest, and jeans even, worked her curves in a good but not overstated way, so... so far so good.

They were meeting at Madame Puddifoots, and awfully cushy date location to meet Piper's parents and the boy they were going to set her up with. Tabitha was meeting Piper there slightly ahead of time so they could be there, holding hands and such when her parents arrived. This way, they could easily throw the lot of them into the deep end of their fake relationship.

Tabby couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the boy, but really, he was being set up with a lesbian. He never had a chance.


ooc- bobbie next as piper and then ali i'm guessing

[PIPER OPHELIA KIRKE]

outfit

Piper was horrible with dresses. Maybe that was why she felt so uncomfortable as she stared at herself in the mirror. She probably owned a grand total of four dresses, each of which had been purchased by her mother and sent to her by owl to prepare her for a date she didn't want to go on. If it weren't for the fact that she knew her parents would be there to introduce he to whatever guy they'd deemed fit for her, she might have changed her clothes, but she was about to cause plenty of trouble anyway. Wearing the dress her mother had sent might help keep things from getting too bad. Sighing, she pulled a denim jacket over her shoulders and a knit cap onto her head. At least that way she looked a little more like her self. Slipping her feet into the shoes her mother had sent along with the dress, she said a silent prayer that she'd make it through the night without falling on her face, and headed out the door.

She was meeting Tabitha early so that the could iron out the details of their plan and so that they could already appear to be quite cozy by the time that her parents arrived. Flying would have been the fastest way to get to Madame Puddifoots, but flying in a dress wasn't exactly something Piper was fond of, so she settled for walking. Halfway there, she pulled her shoes off of her feet and continued. By the time she made it to the cafe, her feet were visibly dirty, but she figured that was better than falling on her face. She slipped her shoes back on and headed inside.

Tabby had gotten there before her, which wasn't much of a surprise considering the fact that Piper was running late due to her inability to walk in these stupid shoes, but Piper couldn't help feeling a little guilty for making her wait. She hurried across the room as quickly as she dared, grinning as she approached her friend. "Well don't you look nice," she told her a little more loudly than was necessary, just in case the guy had arrived already, as well.

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[NIKOLAS RAPHAEL MERCIER]

Nik bit his finger nails in anxiety. He really didn't want to go into Madam Pudifoots. It was the kind of place he didn't frequent. It didn't help that he was nervous about this blind date his mother had set up for him. All he knew was that she was - in his mothers words - pretty. When he pushed the door open, he looked around. How on earth was he meant to pick out his blind date, if he didn't know who she was. He wasn't about to walk up to a table and ramble off an introduction to the nearest girl who was sat alone. That would be terribly impolite. So he loitered awkwardly near the door. But his parents had told him to wait for the girls parents for some reason. So he guessed they would introduce him. He didn't usually do this. He liked to get to know people first, but he'd agreed to do it to make his mother happy. He bit at his nails, till they were at the nail bed, it was a horrid habit of his. He hated waiting for people. When a middle aged couple approached him, he assumed they were her parents and went to greet them. He opened the door for them and allowed them to walk him over to Piper and Tabitha. Nik became a little less nervous when he realised that he knew them - well he knew Tabitha and knew of Piper. It wasn't like he knew Tabitha very well either - Nik smiled at the two, he was a little confused now. Was he supposed to be meeting Tabitha? or Piper? he had kind of assumed he wouldn't know his blind date.

[TABITHA JANE WINTERS]

Tabby laughed brightly at Piper's loud entrance. "Thanks, you look adorable." She said. It was true, Piper wasn't very girly and it was sweet to see her try. Tabby really did want to give her a make over one day, just for fun. So far, no one had rushed over so she peered around, looking for anyone that could possibly be Piper's date.

Nikolas and a middle aged couple caught her eye and she nodded to them, indicating to Piper that her parents and date were here. She couldn't believe it was Nikolas, the other puff 7th year prefect, one she didn't much like. He was listless and nervous. Tabby liked to talk straight. Nik didn't know she was a lesbian, and she'd been imagining it was some boy neither of them knew and she wouldn't have to deal with again, but this was a peer. Great.

"He's here."

[PIPER OPHELIA KIRKE]

Even if this was a fake date, Tabitha's compliment had a blush flooding Piper's cheeks in a matter of moments. She grinned and thanked the girl, suddenly wishing there wasn't a guy planning to show up as well. That hope was dashed just a couple of seconds later, though, when Tabitha indicated that Piper's parents and whoever they'd decided to set her up with had arrived. Piper felt a flutter of panic and took a deep breath before reaching for Tabitha's hand. When she turned around, though, she very nearly released her grasp. They couldn't have picked a student she'd never have to see again?! Piper fought the urge to frown. It wasn't Nik's fault that their parents had conspired to set them up on a date. And Piper didn't know him exceptionally well. In fact, she only knew him from classes and from seeing him around the common room. Even so, she wasn't sure she wanted to share this detail with him. But she'd already made a plan, and Tabby didn't seem to be inclined to run away, so Piper headed toward her parents and her date, fingers still laced with Tabitha's.

"Mum... Dad...Nik," she greeted them all in turn. "This is... my... uh... my girlfriend, Tabitha." Piper offered them all a smile, hoping they'd believe her. It seemed convincing enough. Piper's mother looked panicked. Her father, on the other hand, looked as if he'd expected something like this. "This is nonsense. Our Piper's just a bit of a joker," he assured Nikolas. "Besides, that Tabitha is far too pretty to settle for a girl like our Piper. Or any girl, for that matter," he added, his eyes running over the girl's body.


ooc -- for the record, anyone is more than welcome to godmode the parents.

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[NIKOLAS RAPHAEL MERCIER]

Nik smiled at Piper, though he was a little confused. Piper was here with a girl? - and he was being set up with Piper? "Piper, Tabby" he greeted them both. He turned to Piper's father. "Are you sure it's nonsense?" he questioned, "Looks pretty serious to me" he added lightly. What kind of father would say that? that his own daughter isn't pretty enough for Tabby? If he were a dad he would think that no one was good enough for his daughter not that someone else was too 'good'. He was getting the feeling that he didn't like Piper's father. Nik wasn't going to judge them for wanting to be together. "Are you two okay with this?" he asked gently. Scratching at his forehead he restrained from saying 'well this is awkward' although the words were on his tongue. Nik twiddled his fingers anxiously. At least today he'd gotten a good night sleep and wasn't about to fall asleep in his food - something his sister had once actually done although he wasn't sure if she was simply just bored of their parent's idle chatter and had decided she'd rather a face full of food. Needless to say it made the whole family laugh, and to this day (Holly and Nik were 8 at the time) they still tease her for it. "So..." he began and couldn't really come up with anything other than "How are you?" to say, Nik wished that he were smarter - Holly was the smart twin, whereas he usually came off as the stupid one.

[TABITHA JANE WINTERS]

Tabitha knew she should have held back but her father was just such a pig, to look over a woman like that in front of his wife, a lesbian no less, and say she was too pretty to be a skirt chaser. Her hand reached out and she slapped him hard across the face, her face almost sickened by him. He was stunned and then chuckled. "Feisty, I like that." He said.Tabby was almost too stunned to say anything back, but was glad he was rubbing his cheek, obviously in some pain. Her own hand stung as well, but it was worth it.

Nik was taking it better than expected however, he didn't seem to care much that his date with a lesbian was falling apart. Frankly, it was better he knew it was going nowhere. He was trying to be helpful by way of making small talk but things were happening here and Tabby couldn't let it go so easily.

"Thanks Nik," She offered him a little smile. He might have been a little dim, but he was a nice guy. Nikolas was really proving himself here.

Turning to Piper's father she added, "And you have a beautiful daughter you asshole." Tabby all but spat, gripping Piper's hand now. "And its just downright insulting to suggest only ugly women are lesbians."

[PIPER OPHELIA KIRKE]

Piper was floundering.  She knew she was.  Telling her parents she was gay had been one thing.  Using someone else to help prove it was completely different.  Especially now that someone else was involved.  Nik didn't seem to be angry, at least, which was more than Piper could say for her parents.  Her mother's lips pressed together in a thin line, but the woman was too composed to say anything harsh in public.  Her father, though, had never been one to hold back, so she shouldn't have been surprised by his comments.  Even so, they stung, and Piper felt tears prick at her eyes.  She was just about to avert her gaze when Tabitha's palm met Piper's father's face.  Unexpected as the action was, Piper wasn't sure how to react.  Fortunately, Nik decided to ask a question, and Piper was given reason to stop staring at her dad.  She offered him a watery smile, glad that her parents had at least picked a nice guy this time.  If she wasn't gay, she really might have been interested in him.  "Sure... Unless you're opposed to spending the evening with us," she offered.  Truthfully, she wasn't sure if that was the best plan, but she wasn't going to send him away.  He'd come for dinner, and there was no reason the three of them couldn't eat together. 
 
Before she'd completely processed what was going on, Tabitha had turned her attention toward Piper's father.  Piper's eyes widened and her cheeks reddened.  She wasn't sure whether she was more surprised or embarrassed.  She'd never heard anyone call her father such a thing before, though she knew he'd deserved it many times.  Piper's mother looked shocked, as well.  Her father, not willing to sacrifice any more of his pride, glared at the three students before barking out, "We'll talk about this next time you're home." before ushering his wife out the door.  Piper shuddered at the thought and made a mental note to avoid home for as long as possible.
 
"I'm so sorry about that," Piper mumbled.  "Nik, you don't have to stay... I didn't mean for you to get tangled up in all this.  Not that you can't stay.  It's just dinner. But just so we're clear, I really am gay.  I mean, Tabitha isn't really my girlfriend.  She's just my friend.  Not that I wouldn't like her to be my girlfriend or anything.  We just... you know... Just... Could you... maybe not tell people?" she rambled.   Piper was horrible at tense situations.  She never could quite seem to control her rambling. When she'd finished rambling at Nik, she turned to Tabitha.  "Do you really think I'm beautiful?" she asked softly, a little surprised that the words had come out of her mouth.  It was a bit too late to reel them back in, though.

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[NIKOLAS RAPHAEL MERCIER]

He hadn't been watching when Tabby slapped Piper's father, but he'd heard the sound and seen the results. Nik had been staring off into space. Nik frowned at Piper's father. He was almost wanted to jump up and cheer Tabby on. But that was a little immature, and in the situation would only get himself stared at. He was a little surprised that Piper's mother did nothing? Surely she should be angry with her husband for being disrespectful to Tabby. He felt sorry for Piper though. "S'okay" he replied to Tabby. When her parent's left, he felt himself relax a little. At least it was just them now. He rubbed at his hair awkwardly. "I don't mind staying, I mean I'd like to eat dinner" he paused to smile for a moment, "but if you two want to be alone I can leave, it's no big deal" if they wanted him to leave he hoped he'd get back to the castle in time to grab some food there. "I won't tell anyone. I swear" he added rapidly, Nik wasn't someone who'd go and gossip. He sometimes mindlessly said things, but if he had been told not to tell someone, then he was pretty good at not telling. He felt a little like a third wheel when Piper asked if Tabby really thought she was beautiful. He wasn't sure whethere to leave or stay. So he stood awkwardly by the chair.

[TABITHA JANE WINTERS]

Tabitha was amused that Nik seemed to miss all the action, but she had a new found respect for him now. Maybe he was a bit slow and uninteresting, but he was nice and taking this awkward situation very well indeed. Tabitha was very please when piper's parents left and mentally decided Piper should never have to see them ever again. "Of course you can stay," She said, cutting off Piper's rambling words about being gay and not telling and wanting to date Tabby--which made her grin. Tabitha was being polite by inviting him to stay really, she wasn't a huge fan of Nikolas, but he'd been through this with them, so it only seemed fair.

Piper, however, seemed to not be sure who her audience was. And it was weird for the three of them to eat at such a romantic place... "Yes, I do." Tabby smiled at Piper brightly. However, she didn't want to make things more awkward, so she didn't say anything more.

"Why don't we go over to the Three Broomsticks?" She suggested. The lack of pink and fluffy for be better for this type of meal.