That was of coarse until Lavinia Crochet skidded into the staffroom in a whirligig of excitement and inspiration. A Lavinia who'd had decided they'd be having a School Pantomime!
A panto that was involve half of the girls in some way shape or another. As well as to be performed in Yule time; causing the holiday season to arrive in more of a rush that most certainly seemed quicker than three weeks. Especially with Constance being volunteered as Fairy godmother, and the Camelot boys getting roped in. To add to kafuffle, at the last minute of curtain going down, the chief Wizard Hellebore to hold impromptu Santa's grotto over supper to hand out the girl's presents.
Once she'd dealt with a rogue Cinderella and Drusilla, Constance had slipped away during the fuss. Imogen only managed to escape sometime later by a great amount of beseeching to Amelia. She still felt guilty about the near domestic she and Constance had had in front of the girls about the blooming pumpkin and the fosters effect. Imogen checked back stage and the potions lab first, jingling all the way. But their was no sign of the Christmas fairy. Imogen was about to head up to the staff quarters when she saw a light on in the staff room.
"Hello? Constance? It's only me. I just-" Imogen started, poking her head round the door. And stopped as she found her girlfriend.
"In here my sweet." Constance replied not looking up. My dear and such that only came when they were alone but so naturally fell off her tongue. Unaware she'd left Imogen momentarily speechless. And not just with the Pet names.
The staff room looked lovely.
They were having pasta bake for tea, same as the girls. but who ever had decorated the hall had gone to the same effort to make the staff room look just as special. Not as quite as glittery and mad on the greenery and tinsel as the students would have gone, but it was nice. The big table had been pulled into the middle of the room to fit everyone about it and the armchairs pushed around the fire perfect for a cosy cup of tea afterwards. a small tidy potted tree sat on top of the little desk with a pile of presents nestled underneath it, brightening up a normally forgotten corner of the room. The mantel piece and edge of the standing furniture tastefully decorated with Yuletide and Christmas wreaths.
it looked lovely. but that wasn't what had made Imogen forget how to breath.
Gone was the fairy outfit, thick stage makeup and the plastic tiara. back in black, Constance looked more like herself again. Sort of.
Fresh faced after her trial with the Grease paint, the eyeliner and a deep red lip rather than her normal burgundy gave her glowing touch of glamour. Constance's hair redone in its trade mark bun, only low at the nape of her neck and she'd not quite been able to get all the glitter out. She also tied it with little ribbon enchanted to look like a sprig of holly for the occasion.
Then there was the dress. There was nothing too ostentatious about it. Imogen had seen the dress in the witch's wardrobe, but had never seen Constance wear it. Till now. It was black and not too dissimilar to the Constance's many other long black dresses. Only this was longer with a fuller skirt; with a thin delicate dark green trim on the hems and threaded with a hint of gold. But best of all it moved with the witch where many others seemed to constrict her body. This one had been poured over every line and curve.
Imogen had liked it when she'd seen it in the wardrobe. It looked even better on.
All this combined with the fire and candle light, softer. And more importantly a lot more relaxed. Or as at least as relaxed as Constance allowed herself to be, and in a much better mood then she had been at the start of the day, the afternoon and the entire of the panto.
The staff room looked lovely, Constance looked magical.
"Just wanted to check you were okay?" Imogen trailed off staring at her girlfriend, as the witch straightened up and gently blew out the taper she'd been lighting the candles with. She grinned stupidly at Constance's little smile at her, head over heels again.
Which was great. Until the smile became bemused, and Constance's eyebrows knitted together, taking in Imogen.
"And what, Imogen, are you supposed to be?"
Imogen snapped her mouth shut remembering striped socks curly shoes, and a green felt tunic. There was Constance looking so glamourous it would have others rolling out the red carpet, while Imogen looked as if she'd been rolled through a costume shop.
"An elf." She sighed putting the door too behind her. She pulled off the fluffy hat and sat down to wrestle with her shoes.
"Helliboring decided he needed more helpers for his sleigh and 'Poof! Abracadabra'!"
"Poof? That's not a real- One moment. He's playing Santa? Tonight, not Mr. Blossom on Friday?" Constance frowned, both at Imogen's use of wording and the information.
"Good grief He's not going to try and get anyone to sit on his lap is he?"
"He better not, or it won't be Rudolph with the red nose." Imogen huffed and gave up on the shoe.
"Can you help me get this kit off?"
"Don't I always?" Constance snorted and came around the table with a slow mocking predatory stalk. Imogen scrambled up.
"Okay let me rephrase that, can you help me change this back? Without stripping me in the staffroom."
"Shame." Constance said.
"And you say I'm naughty!" Imogen laughed. "Maybe later-! But seriously I need to go and get changed for dinner. Only I can't find any buttons or a zip and it's like the shoes are stuck on."
"Ah. I see. Well there's a reason for that. I'm afraid that's because Wizard Helibore's transformed what you were wearing." Constance said and an experimental tug where the dungaree strap should have been.
"That is to say, you are still wearing what you had on, buttons and all. it just looks different. And, I'm sorry my dear, I can't undo his sort of magic."
She explained the basic difference been transformed and charmed fabric and that Imogen was effectively stuck like that till either the spell wore off.; "I'm sure he'll reverse it if you ask him. but I fear it might mean him trying you to sit on his lap after all."
"Bollocks. I'll ask when he gets here then, I don't fancy going back. I don't suppose you could stop the bells at least?" Imogen asked. Constance raised an eyebrow. "Please? I keep thinking one of the cats is behind me."
"Well, seeing as you asked so Nicely and have been such a good girl this year." Constance said. She stepped more into Imogen's space and with a flic of her fingers sent shiver of magic and a silencing spell over her girlfriend's costume.
"there. Bells, stopped." She smirked, straightening Imogen's collar. Imogen thanked her, and Wrapped her arms around her to pull Constance down a bit to steal a kiss.
"hello you."
"Hello yourself, elf." Constance said and stole a kiss herself.
Imogen returned it, smiling, and said, "You look beautiful."
Constance could never take a compliment that wasn't academic. She blushed and ducking her head.
"And you look ridiculous! I think I preferred those paint covered overalls."
"Gee thanks. shame you didn't keep you fairy outfit on, we'd have made quite a pair."
"We already do." Constance reminded her, the gestured at her own dress. "This- it's not too much, is it? Especially if the rest of you are in fancy dress?"
"No. I mean it," Imogen insisted pulling her closer. "Constance, you look gorgeous. The dress too."
Constance rolled her eyes. Someday she'd believe Imogen. For now, she was more concerned about the lack of fellow elves.
"Aren't the others with you?"
"Amelia might have conned Lavinia into being a stand in for Santa's little helper while she plays Mrs Claus. She and Frank are also going to see the end of supper and tidying up the hall, while Miss Cackle deals with the wizards." Imogen grinned, sliding her arms up around the witch's neck.
"So, we're alone for long enough for a bit of a cuddle in front of the fire side, don't you think?"
"Oh good." Constance said, well practically Purred.
"So I've time for … This?"
'This' suddenly involved flick of her finger that snapped the door closed and locking it, as well as putting the tea urn to boil. But more importantly 'This' also included pulling Imogen tight to her; one arm around her waist and the other cradling Imogen's shoulders, and tipping her backward into a sizzling kiss that made Imogen's head spin and sparks fly. even after they surfaced for air. Constance pulled her up back out of the dip and then pulled her close.
"Wow…" Imogen said, more into Constance's shoulder. "You really needed that, huh?"
"I did. And several more besides." Constance hummed against her hair, relaxing a little. Imogen felt her loose a little more tension in her shoulders so encouraged it, rubbing and stroked wherever her hands trailed. Constance's magic was prickly at first under her touch, before soothing a little as it accepted Imogen was friend not threat, becoming more a irritated but soft fuzz.
Constance indulged in the cuddle a little more before pulling back to look Imogen in the face. Though not in the eye.
"When I snapped at you earlier." Constance said, squirming a little and adjusting Imogen's collar again, this time in annoyance. At herself. "I- I shouldn't have done. Particularly about magic, and especially around the gals. It was unfair."
"It was. But I forgive you." Imogen sighed, squeezing her arms. Constance wasn't good at vocal apologies, and Imogen wasn't about to drag one of her that wasn't needed.
"Can you forgive me for being in bad mood too? You weren't the biggest diva or drama queen backstage, not by a long shot. I think even I took that role a few times during the show, and I wasn't even part of the cast!"
"There's still no excuse for the way I spoke. Just because today's been-! And the show-" Constance stalled, unable to find the right word.
"Shh. The show went great in the end. A couple more hours than you can curl up with a book while the rest of us do lights out?" Imogen soothed kissing her cheek.
"We can always cook up an excuse if you need a break before then. Besides first, I think there's something else you need…"
"Oh…? AH-! No!"
Constance caught Imogen's arms as the gym mistress attempted to jam the abandoned Christmas Elf hat with fake ears on HB's head.
"Worth a try." Imogen said, and stole a kiss, despite being stood on tip toe with her hands trapped. Constance glowered at her.
"I think it'd really suit you."
"I thought you were going to do something pleasant!" Constance huffed.
Imogen shrugged and risked another peck at Constance's pain of death scowl. another kiss, and another followed. Constance melted into them. And favoured letting go of Imogen's wrists to walk them both backward, holding her girlfriend close as Imogen's tongue flicked across her lower lip…
In the distraction, the elf hat did end up on HB's head. Imogen got it there for a second. before it was flung across the room and Imogen was turned around and pushed down into a seat.
"How much sugar have the girls had? If they're as keyed up as you are, we'll never get them to sleep." Constance said getting her breath back a few minutes later, as she tidied up their faces.
The cheery red circles that were almost painted Imogen's cheeks had smudged on Constance's face. Almost as much as Constance's lippy had smudged around Imogen's mouth, jaw, forehead and neck. It was fixed in a flicker but it was still thrilling to have made such a mess.
"You're positively giddy!"
Any other time Imogen might have taken giddy as a dig. Now she didn't even bother to deny it. Not while they cozied up on the single armchair, Constance's arms around her waist and Imogen's legs across Constance's knees.
"Can you blame me? You looking like you do, the panto was a success and a whole four days with only supervision and marking to do and letting the girls play in the snow once it's settled? And look at this place!" Imogen grinned. "It's brilliant. Was this your doing?"
"No, Amelia. It's…tasteful, isn't it? Not to over top." Constance said with a smile; Before rounding on Imogen. "Speaking of over the top, which have one of you has also been putting extra presents under the tree?"
"What do you mean 'Also'?" Imogen frowned. "Wait, have you been peeking?"
"No I have not! I can just count and read." Constance shot back. "There should only be six and instead there's two alchemist's dozen."
"I've no idea how many that is. But okay…It's for not all secret Santa. Some are from the girls. And Davina's sent everyone a little care package. The ones in Halloween paper."
"But Halloween was a month and a half ago."
"Davina sent them in September. you know what post is like." Imogen said.
Then under Constance's scrutiny admitted, "And, well. I know there's at least two extra ones addressed to you; one's from Amelia and another's from me..."
They'd planned it between them, to avoid giving her two copies of the same book or two diaries and the like. Amelia had helped Imogen secure the book she'd been after for Constance, before getting a few of books from herself. One was on history of the Cauldronites, and another was witching who-done-it that she thought might appeal. As well as a Mindfulness diary with reminders to relax in that she knew Constance would neither like or appreciate, but hopefully would use.
Meanwhile along with the book, pens, and a new work bag, Imogen had also gotten Constance other things. She'd opted for lots of little treats rather than one large and possibly over whelming gift:
There was some lavender sleepy time body lotion.
And a big jar of rose hip seeds, because she knew they were common potions ingredient and grew in abundance about the castle grounds; but Constance hated collecting them. and having done so herself Imogen could see why!
some other seeds but these were to plant.
There was eyeliner, some scented candles.
a toy mouse for morgana.
Broom wax (Frank might have been pulling her leg about that one but she included it anyway).
and a little poster map of the constellations in winter she hoped would fall into the both pretty and useful category.
all packed up into a large shoe box and tied with a bow.
Not that Constance knew this yet. She sat quiet and frowning, Imogen still trying to gauge her reaction. She wasn't angry at least? She seemed to take in her stride without any annoyance. Actually… Constance appeared more confused as to what she done to deserve not one, but four presents. Possibly more.
"You didn't have to get me anything. Either of you." Constance said eventually, glancing at the pile of gifts. "Especially anything big. I mean… thank you. Really. But the Secret Santa was more than sufficient? There was no need to be extravagant on my behalf."
And again, it made Imogen's chest ache; and had her wishing she had a time machine to go give a certain little witch a hug.