ORDER ONLY: Private Message to George and Fred

[alt_pansy]

The Prophet ad for the Valentine's run turned out very well. I especially liked the heart-firework. Very appropriate all round.

And the quarterly report looked quite solid, too. I wonder if it'd be worth your while to swing by Zonko's, bring him some complimentary samples, remind him what he's missing out on this Hogsmeade weekend?

I had a random idea for a floral line that could be developed for Easter -- hair clips and earrings -- I'll send you a write-up. I think if we come up with four different models, that'd work rather nicely. Bluebells and snowdrops and daffodils and crocuses, for instance. We could put them in eggs, or if you wanted to get extra tricky with the spellwork, make them look like they're growing out of pots. And have you sorted out a safe dye for the Pygmys? I can always work on it on my end of things, but I can't guarantee to have it done in time.

How've things been going with Powell's and Kelpington's? Any wedding fireworks? This isn't really the season for it, but I'd bet things will pick up in Spring, once they get absolutely swamped and have weddings every weekend.

Hitty wrote that she's bought herself a new chair and footstool, and that she'd put up some curtains in the kitchen she'd picked out. Well, she claims they're 'the house's', and seems rather insistent on calling it a 'home improvement allowance' rather than a salary, but she seemed quite chuffed all the same. I'm sure if you ask after it, she'd be thrilled to show you her improvements. She also was very keen on sending along a birthday present as well, which was quite sweet of her. (The card and chocs from the two of you were also quite sweet, especially since you were kind enough to make sure none of them were joke ones. Thanks very much.)

I'm sorry I haven't been more on top of things. It looks as though you're managing to limp along without my help, though. Barely. It's so very brave of you to continue on as you have -- quite a testament to your collective stubbornness, I'm sure.

I really

This entire thing is quite silly, you know. Trying one's hardest to look as loyal as possible, but not quite good enough. I don't think I like trying to lose. It's rather frustrating at times.

Enough of my blathering on. I'll send on what I'm thinking about the flowers, and maybe I'll get a chance to see you this weekend.

Comments

Private Message to George

[alt_pansy]

I just realised

When I asked if you'd want to come down for the weekend

I'm not angling for a grand Valentine's, you know. A dozen roses and all that nonsense. Although snogging you silly would be incredibly pleasant, and very nice, I'd probably snog you no matter which weekend it happened to fall on.

Anyways.

If you can make it down, that'd be nice. I'd like to see you.

Although on second thought, you might not want to come to Hogsmeade, only because Hitty'll be passing out the books and we don't want anyone to even think it could've been you for a moment, because someone might see you and think it's this really incredibly bold (and stupid) prank you're pulling.

So it's probably not a good idea for you to come to Hogsmeade proper.

Which isn't to say we can't go off and snog in one of those caves or something. The one Sirius is fond of using.

You know. If you're not busy or anything.

Re: Private Message to George

[alt_george]

Surely you're not underestimating the ingenuity of a Weasley, are you? Particularly a Weasley hoping for a snog or two himself? I've even inked it into my business calendar so that I won't forget. (The special one you sent along, to help give everyone the impression that Fred and me are rising young entrepreneurs.)

And if you will deign to grant me some time alone for the aforementioned snogging, well, something's sure gonna be rising, anyway.

All teasing aside...has it been really awful? Of course you have to have mixed feelings, trying to dampen down your scores when you're just bloody good at everything you turn you do. I'd be happy to lend an ear if you just want to chunter on about it a bit.

So yes, I won't be noble and say it'd be best if we don't see each other. Bollocks to that. You deserve a decent Valentine's Day, both because you've done so much to make the business a success, and certainly to make up for this ruddy contest. You're right that it's probably best if we're not seen, though. All you need to do is to step outside the Three Broomsticks and go around to the back, by that stand of three fir trees. It's out of sight of the road, and we can meet there and decide where to go to be private. Say about 1:00?

Re: Private Message to George

[alt_pansy]

You're brilliant, and that sounds perfect.

It's a bit like CCF, really. Which means that parts of it are actually sort of fun, and parts are challenging, but in a good way, but other parts leave a bad taste in my mouth. And I keep anticipating for it to only get worse, and wonder what else they'll ask us to do, which is nerve-wracking.

And then there's the whole reason for the bloody contest in the first place, too.

Ugh.

Honestly, the thing I really want is to forget about the contest for a while, and have a cute, funny boy make me laugh. And distract me. Thoroughly.

[alt_pansy]

Just realised Hogsmeade might not be the best place to show your delightful faces as we're passing out contraband. Still, you can send along a rather nice sample basket to Mr Zonko with your compliments.

[alt_gredforge]

We have the basket already planned, and it's scheduled to be delivered to the shop on the morning of Valentine's Day. We're hoping he'll put it down on a counter somewhere. If he does, a sticking charm will activate on the bottom, and he won't be able to remove it until the end of the day. So EVERYONE who comes into the shop will see it and can ask about it. Sneaky, but we hope he'll have a sense of humour about it.

[alt_pansy]

Perfect.

[alt_gredforge]

Thanks! We had some advice on the ad graphics from Demeter Freesia so that they'd complement the catalogue.

Oh, you know, we quite like the idea of a floral line, but what do you think of developing it as something quite distinct--different packaging, we mean--and go back to Hermes Tamblyn for the design? His work might be rather pleasing for capturing more delicate details, and since his experience is in illustration of potion ingredients, he has loads of experience rendering botanicals. He liked Demeter Freesia's work when we showed it to him, and even had some suggestions on how they could be incorporated into one 'look,' and he wasn't at all put out that we went with her instead. D'ye think she'd be willing to work with him, and between the two of them they could come up with a Weasley Wizarding Whizbang 'look' that could incorporate his quill-and-ink look while still recognizeably part of our brand, sort of a hybrid, for this new line?

No luck on the dye for the Pygmy, although we could ask Our Mutual Friend Who Knows About Potions. Except we sort of hate to do so because he has a lot on his plate and is likely to say something extremely cutting, even if we keep trying to turn him up sweet by sending him all the odd things for his potions cabinet that we find on the black grey market.
Powell's more interested in working with us than Kelpington's. Maybe because their management is younger, and tend to worry less about stuff like will-we-blow-up-their-wedding-cakes-by-mistake. If we can land just one wedding, though we'll give it our all, and we bet we can make both of them sit up and take notice. Those two have enough rivalry between them that we hope to lure them both in.

Hitty's happy as a Niffler with a pot of gold. Hell, she's as happy with a Niffler with a key to a Gringott's vault. We've tried to give her some privacy, but since you say she wouldn't mind showing off her domain a bit, we'll ask her about it.

Hey, don't worry about being on top of things. We've been too busy to write much ourselves.

(Imagine our surprise hearing how much you hate to lose. Joking aside, we're wondering if we've just been insulted. If you didn't hate to lose, we'd wonder why you'd involved yourself in our business dealings!)

We have the floral line sketches; love them, definitely. We'll talk more this weekend.

Ah. We'll take care to allot some of the time so that at least certain parties can have separate time with you.

[alt_pansy]

Oooh. We could re-package some of the other things that'd work for party favours for girls, and use it on the wedding line, and some of the other things that aren't as jokey but people might want to get for presents for co-workers or their parents or something.

I like it.