Presents make everything better (Mari)

Helen looked at the pile of unopened envelopes over her cup of coffee. She knew what they were and she couldn't give less of a fuck. She had absolutely no desire whatsoever to attend any Pureblood ball or dinner or whatever and she had even less desire to read the letters from her parents.

They were furious with her for not "siding with the right people" during the short war. She never replied to any of their letters and had stopped opening them a long time ago. There was a slight chance they might have seen that the Pureblood supremacists have been wrong and were writing to Helen to apologize. That chance, however, was as big as being hit by a meteor or being killed by a shark while on land.

The only interaction she's had with her parents since she came back from Spain was through their lawyer, so she was able to get her part of the money. She needed it to buy Hog's Head, otherwise she wouldn't have bothered.

Christmastime was always so bloody important to them, as well. They wanted to use the holidays to climb the ladder, to get invited to more lunches and dinners, to get the rich snobby heirs to marry Helen. That was another thing her parents wanted to discuss. They always hoped she would marry Theo and produce perfect little Pureblood Grandchildren, heirs to the Capulet inheritance.  

Now that Theo was missing, they wanted Helen to get a different husband and were prepared to throw her at men if that would work. Not that she'd mind sleeping with them, if they were attractive, but she really, really didn't want to settle down. The business with Idella was occupying her mind at the moment and she had no plans to marry some rich prick just because her parents wanted her to.

It wasn't just her parents, though, that were stressing Helen out. She missed Theo, and she even missed the spoiled little Rhea. She knew that if they weren't missing, that they'd be there with her right now, already getting pissed. Or they'd still be here, still drunk from last night. And they'd spend Christmas together, because Merlin knew they wouldn't spend it with their family. They would all get each other extravagant presents that cost way too much, make fun out of the presents they got from other people, they'd talk about who they wanted to sleep with, rank every barista they knew. They'd be the little dysfunctional, alcoholic group they always were.

Fuck this.

Helen refused to feel sad.

Because it was till technically morning and drinking alone when it's not even noon yet on Christmas felt incredibly sad and pathetic, Helen got dressed and quickly made plans in her head. She really hoped Mari was free that day, or at least that she wasn't in the midst of banging that Quidditch player at the moment.

After pulling on some jeans, a Ramones T-shirt, a hoodie and some boots, she grabbed a bunch of Christmas decorated gift bags and then Disapparated.

When she opened her eyes, she was standing in an empty hallway of a familiar building and she just stood there for a few moments. Apparating always made her feel sick and she needed to just breathe for a bit. Then, when she felt better, the witch knocked on the door in the special manner Mari and her had discussed. That way, the Auror-In-Training wouldn't hex her before even opening the door.

Well, hopefully.

It was around noon, Jake had already left to be with his family and Marilyn had told him she'd join later. Now the frail statured witch was dressed in a silver dress that hung from her frame, her long hair open and undone, her house shoes were black heels and she was picking at some sushi she'd had a house elf bring (just because she wasn't at the Caldwell Manor didn't mean she couldn't command the staff), staring at an unopened cigarette box and and with her free hand she was fiddling with the strands of pearly dangling from her neck, her dark lips pursed together in thought. Despite being in some state of disarray she still exuded the grace and poise one could expect from an heiress, a fascinating and odd combination.

A knock brought her out of her contemplative reverie; Helen's knock. Opening the door Marilyn smiled and hugged her friend, "Hel! Merry Christmas, come on in!" She held the door open and closed it after her friend. She wouldn't need to tell Helen to make herself at home she was pretty sure Helen knew to do just that. Jagger, who had been trying to get the cigarette packet to throw out, but in his largeness it was difficult to pick up smaller, flat objects, thus causing his struggle and bounded up to greet his owners friend with a friendly nuzzle before going back to growling at the packet on the table.

Mari frowned at her beloved guardian and absentmindedly played with the delicate bracelet around her right arm; Louis' gift to her, it was still ice cold just as it was when Jake was around. Jake who would be most unhappy if he saw the pack.

(Mari)

Helen hugged Mari back, subconsciously patting her on the back, because while she loved her best friend, she did not like hugging. She pulled back, saw what Mari was wearing and her jaw dropped.

"Woah. You look gorgeous! For me?" she smiled sweetly and batted her eyes. Flirting came natural to her and she would do it even if her friend wouldn't have been so hot. Mari being beautiful just made things easier.

She nodded at the dog and gave him a quick pat and was sort of relieved when he went back to doing whatever dogs do. She was never really a dog person, they required too much attention. Now, cats were amazing. They wanted attention, yes, but not as often as dogs and they were alright with just going away by themselves and hunt some mice or something. Also, they mastered the level of shade Helen was looking for in a pet. Lucifer was incredibly weary of people and hissed at them most of the time and they left Helen alone in turn. It was perfect.

"I've got preseeeeents!" Helen said in a sing-song voice, holding up the bags and rattling them. She couldn't wait for Mari to open them, she put a lot of effort in them. Shopping for them was incredibly fun and she was quite proud of the result.

She plopped down on the couch, set the cheery looking bags by her feet and then picked out one of the bigger bags, giving it to her friend. It had a bondage kit inside. She only waited a few seconds for Mari to look in the bag and then handed her the second one.

"Like it?" she asked with a bright grin. "Here you go." Helen passed a rather small bag that had a picture of a happy snowman on it. The next one was one of her favourites and her eyes twinkled with excitement when she gave the bag to Mari.

There were two more bags on the floor and Helen took the bigger one, handing it to Mari. It contained two presents and Helen was so, so excited about both of them. This last bag for Mari also included three huge packets of condoms, a bottle of lube that smelled and tasted like chocolate and another one that smelled and tasted like blueberries. There was a little note attached that said:

'Safety first, kids! Remember to always have a safe word prepared! xoxo'

"Aaaannnd this one's for Jake. While I'd love to see the expression on his face, I think it'd be best if I wasn't in the room when he gets it." Helen said cheerfully, gesturing to the last bag that had a picture of a family singing carols on it.

"Woah. You look gorgeous! For me?"

"Of course, all for you, always, you know you're my main squeeze." Mari smirked in response, used to her flirtatious friend by now, and all her antics. And this was just her morning outfit; a Caldwell always looked to die for or like they were about to kill you. Usually both, to be honest.  At the news of presents Mari sat at the other end of the couch, smiling at her best friend.

At the first bag Marilyn burst out laughing, half from shock and half from 'what was I expecting I don't really know why I expected anything else it's Helen'. "Oh God, Helen-" but bags kept coming and with each bag the witch's laughter renewed until she was in a situation she'd never anticipated: on Christmas Day surrounded by sex toys.

"Helen- Hel-" Mari managed through shaking laughter, "You're- You're the best. Thank you. We're...we're gonna have a lot of fun," Marilyn pressed her palm to her forehead and tried to stop laughing, but it was such an amusing situation it knocked most of her worries straight out of her head.

Still giggling Marilyn levitated two boxes over, one held an entire set of Cuban Cigars (no one needed to know how she got those) and one held a 200 year old magical Whisky. Both she knew her best friend would appreciate. With a grin she set them in front of Helen to open, wrapped in silver paper.