[OPEN] She's just the girl for me;

[exceedinglybright]

Who: Lily Evans & you!
Where: All over the mansion and grounds.
When: February 14th, all day!
Rating: PG
Summary: James put together a clever scavenger hunt for Lily and has requested that people do their best to distract her! Care to do your part?
The Story:

[She had almost missed the envelope tied to her doorknob this morning, as a matter of fact, having been eager to make her way downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast and tea, but it had brushed against her hand in the process of her closing the door behind her, catching her attention. She’d been unable to keep from smiling while reading through the initial note; of course James would do something sweepingly romantic for their first Valentine’s Day together, and a scavenger hunt seems just like him, a lover of both pranks and riddles.

The first clue is simple enough, and she tucks the note away in her pocket before making her way down to the kitchen.]

CLUE ONE - KITCHEN

[At first, she almost considers using magic to help her find whatever it is that James has hidden in the kitchen, but she decides that that takes all of the fun out of things, and so anyone who happens to be in the kitchen around breakfast is likely to see Lily dragging a chair from place to place, using it to hoist herself up and try to get a better look at the tops of cupboards, though a few of her attempts to look end up with her very precariously standing on tip-toe, doing her best to balance.

Before too long, she finds the box of chocolate atop the fridge, along with the second clue.]

CLUE TWO - THE WOODS

[This one is a bit trickier, since Lily had met with Harry within the mansion itself after his arrival, but she has a general idea of where James had found him, and so she heads out to the grounds, making for the edge of the woods. It's a bit dimmer within the trees, and so, bundled up in her winter coat and Gryffindor scarf, she winds her way through using her wand to illuminate the darker areas.

The tree in question catches her eye from a good distance away when she finds it, decorated brightly with red-and-pink streamers and hearts. Upon opening the package, she grins broadly and quickly discards her plain black gloves for the Gryffindor set included inside, then goes about reading the next clue.]

CLUE THREE - THE MAZE

[The maze is a place that Lily is intimately familiar with, having arrived in Wonderland at the center of it and visited it several times since. It's never been the same twice, but she finds her way to the center without too much trouble, a long and winding but methodical path. The flowers that begin to appear as she nears it are as good a clue as any, and she smiles when she finds the bouquet waiting for her amid the rest of the flowers.

Letting the bouquet come to rest in one arm, she takes a moment to cast a charm on her bag to expand the insides, making room for the other items she's begin to collect since starting. Once that's done, she reads over the note before heading back towards the mansion, rubbing the tip of her nose with one gloved hand when she finally emerges from the maze.]

CLUE FOUR - THE LIBRARY

[So far, nearly every clue has been both cute and clever. That's come to an end here in the library.

She finds herself stuck here for no less than two hours. The trouble about finding the book she loves from home is that she loves a great number of books, something she knows James is well-aware of and seems to be using to his advantage. To keep her busy? She's not sure, but frustrated begins to rear its ugly head as she hunts through the stacks. The fact that the library itself is different on any given day doesn't help her much, she feels, but eventually she collects a number of favored books from home and hefts the entire stack over to one of the tables, where she sits, sighs heavily, and begins to leaf through each and every one of them.

She'll find the next clue -- eventually.]

CLUE FIVE - THE DINER

[After the library, she's glad to have been given a much simpler task. The mention of stalling in the note itself is enough to make her let out a brief, irate growl, but the rest of this is so charming and so well put-together that she doesn't have it within her to be annoyed for more than a moment. When she makes her way to the diner, she's not quite sure who to seek out-- but once she approaches the counter and leans over it to see if she can catch a glimpse of who's working, she's pretty sure she can guess who the one responsible will be.]

Hello? Anyone milling about back there?

[Sooner or later, she'll have to get that clue, and that means progress.]

CLUE SIX - THE ROOF (CLOSED TO JAMES)

[Before heading to the roof-- because of course that's where he is-- she takes the time to return to her room and go through all the notes all over again. The marked letters are eye-catching, and though it takes her a few moments, she guesses at the cipher he's hinted at. She only gets partway through solving it before she decides otherwise-- if she's found the last clue, then he's waiting for her somewhere, and if he really is where she thinks he is, then he must be freezing.

Besides. Given how the rest of this scavenger hunt of his went, she has to chide herself concerning the cipher. It couldn't be as straightforward as she'd guessed, of course not, and she tucks the notes away in her pocket, all neatly folded together, including her attempts at solving the cipher itself. She's sure that when she finds James, he'll understand why she rushed-- she's been at this all day at this point, and she's eager to see just what he has waiting for her.

It's roughly half an hour after she leaves the diner that she makes her way to the roof, leaning out to get a good look at the area before stepping onto it properly, pulling her new gloves back on in the process.]

James...?

Comments

THE ROOF

[pottershotter]

[She won't need the gloves at all. When she steps onto the roof, she'll find it's just as warm as the inside of the mansion. There's not a speck of snow anywhere in sight, and if she didn't look over the railing to the grounds, it could even pass for spring. James doesn't even have a coat. Truthfully, she made it just in time. It's only just starting to get dark, and it really shows off James' handiwork.

Most of his more elaborate decorating tricks were already used earlier or trees and in the hedge maze or even in books. The roof is much simpler - dozens and dozens of white candles, artfully arranged and floating in the air around them, giving everything around them a soft glow. There are also white streamers everywhere, hanging up from nothing as though James strung them from the stars. Everything needed to be white.

And there he is, where he always is, leaning against the railing - except this time, it seems he's been (nervously) watching the door, waiting for her. He's slightly more dressed up than usual (at Brittany's insistence, with her recommendations) in a blue jumper with a collared shirt beneath and khakis and black trainers. As expected, his hair is as much of a mess as ever, but it seems like he at least attempted to make it look like it happened on purpose.

As soon as Lily appears though, James smiles wide and stops fussing with the contents of his pocket. Instead, he moves to meet her halfway across the roof, and opens his arms for a hug and kiss in greeting. The biggest downside to this plan is that he's spent far too much of this Valentine's Day not kissing her, honestly.]

Lily! Happy Valentine's! [Then he looks up around them, encouraging her to do the same.] You like it?

[He hopes so. It's been killing him to not watch her go through each step, even the frustrating ones. He'd have loved to see her face, so he's very glad he finally gets to now.]

[exceedinglybright]

[The warmth surprises her first off, and she pulls the gloves back off again as she wonders, just for a moment, how long he's been waiting for her here. It's as she's tucking them away that she takes in her surroundings, a slow smile starting and then steadily growing as she looks to each detail. Candles, streamers, all suspended by nothing more than magic, everything as white as the snow she'd been tromping through from clue to clue earlier in the day.

He'd put a lot of time into this. The roof, the scavenger hunt, each clever clue and the gifts he left behind-- it's almost overwhelming, but she's beaming by the time she looks to him directly, smiling from ear to ear as she walks forward to meet him, her frustration forgotten entirely. She wraps her arms around him easily, hugging him tightly before leaning in for that kiss, warm and firm and lingering perhaps a few more moments than it really needs to-- but she's been chasing after him all day, and now that she's finally seeing him, seeing what he's put together as a whole rather than in pieces, her heart feels full to bursting.]

Happy Valentine's Day. [She looks a little winded as she echoes him, and she's afraid that anything she has for him isn't anywhere near as grand as what he's done for her.] Of course I do-- I love it. When did you have the time to do all of this?

[pottershotter]

[No matter how long he's waited, he's more than happy to let that kiss linger as long as they can get away with, but eventually they do break away from each other. She loves it, and it tugs a relieved laugh from James as he answers.]

Ah, well-- been planning it for a while, but I've been a couple clues ahead of you most of the day, actually. I had plenty of time.

[He gives a gentle nod toward the railing, where his invisibility cloak is draped over it. He'd taken it on the off chance they might pass each other along the way, but it never happened. When she was searching for chocolate, he was long past the tree and already charming the maze. When she first came outside, he was in the library, searching for the first book he could find that he knew she adored (a task in which he had the upper hand since he could pick any book she loved rather than search out a specific one). Then, in a rush, he delivered the last clue to Souji and made it up to the roof. The library clue had been so long specifically so that he would have time to clear off the roof and to put up all of the decorations. If she had still been outside, she would have seen them.]

So...did you solve all the puzzles?

[If she did then she knows what this is all really about, and if not then he'll just have to tell her.]

[exceedinglybright]

So all day, I've been just a few steps behind you?

['A couple of clues' isn't all that much, given how straighforward some of them were -- but the library comes to mind and she lets out another huff of frustration, though she laughs through it all the same. It had been clever, and a good way to buy himself time, if that was his aim. She looks towards the cloak, her smile pulling one corner of her mouth a little higher.]

Glad to see the cloak is getting some use.

[She turns her attention back to him, biting at her lower lip.]

Most of them. The last, I got halfway through, but-- I wanted to see you.

[She's been without him all day.]

Serves me right, I suppose. I'm the one who's always teasing you about being impatient.

[pottershotter]

Just about. If I'd done it too soon, the surprise would've gotten ruined, and someone definitely would've run off with your chocolate.

[It had to be set up all at once like that, and James is glad to see that it's all gone exactly as planned so far. Now there's just the rest, and for once he can actually feel a knot in his throat. He's nervous, but when she says why the last puzzle went unsolved, he can't help smiling.]

Suppose I can't blame you for that.

[He's missed her too. It's been an awfully long Valentine's Day without her.]

You got half way though, and that's good! Any wild guesses, then?

[exceedinglybright]

Well, we can't have that. Stolen chocolate would have been no good for anyone-- except the thief, I suppose.

[But the chocolate isn't really the thing, and she smiles fondly at him. There's a tight feeling in her chest when he asks if she wants to take a wild guess; there's something at the back of her mind that suspects, and yet it's so big that she's not sure she wants to say it, not guess and risk being wrong.

She shakes her head, but her eyes never leave him.]

I think-- I think I'd like it if you just showed me.

[Either confirm or deny her suspicions, but her tone is enough to imply that she very well may have guessed correctly.]

[pottershotter]

[He catches how she says it and the look on her face, and suddenly he knows everything has gone right. This feeling brewing in him must be what people talk about when they say they just knew exactly when to ask. The last of his nerves begin to melt away, and he smiles.]

Well...I've been thinking a lot about this place, and about time. About how people can get stuck here for years and then just be gone one morning, like they were never here at all. And...and, I've been thinking about us. We both know what's supposed to happen, and how long we'll have if things don't change.

[They've talked about it before, and gone over it countless times in their research. It haunts both of them now, and it's a burden they carry together. Over and over he's sworn that they'll change things, but he's never allowed them to dwell on what they'll do if they can't. There was nothing to dwell on - if they can't change it, it means they won't remember any of it.]

We could be here for years, or one of us could be gone tomorrow, and if we don't succeed we'll be going back to...maybe two years of marriage, if that? That's not long at all, and who knows how long we'd have to wait here before we'd get to be together?

[James doesn't sound sad though. Actually, he's never looked happier than he does right now. He takes both of her hands and squeezes them in his.]

Lily, I want us to be together in holy matrimony for as long as we possibly can. Here, at home, anywhere as long as we're there together. So, if you'll have me a few years early...

[He lets go of her, and reaches into his pocket. His heart is pounding harder than it ever has, but he still sinks down on one knee before her. With trembling hands, he opens a tiny box to reveal a ring.]

...Lily, will you marry me?

Just outside the maze

[wer]

[ James, in his infinite wisdom and somehow even more infinite nervousness, had enlisted Remus' help when it seemed like Lily was breezing through the clues, not leaving him enough time to get the big finale ready. And so Remus bundles up and apparates outside to meet Lily as she leaves the hedge maze. He's been briefed on the vague outline of James' plan, but he doesn't know the exact details, so (sorry Lily!) he'll be no help in answering your riddles.

As she exits the maze, he walks towards her, rubbing his hands together for warmth. ]

Cheers, Lily!

[exceedinglybright]

[To be fair, the clues thus far have been rather straightforward -- something that, unbeknownst to her, is about to change when she enters the library -- but she doesn't mind being derailed by a friend in the least, and offers a smile and a wave as Remus approaches, refusing to let the cold dampen her spirits.]

Cheers! A little cold for a walk, isn't it?

[As though she's one to talk at the moment.]

[wer]

[ And the look Remus gives her says just that. ]

I dunno, the maze seems to have done itself up rather nice today.

[exceedinglybright]

It does, doesn't it.

[She gives him a knowing look, tilting her head to one side.]

You wouldn't happen to know anything about this scavenger hunt James put together, now, would you?

[She knows how you Marauders do.]

[wer]

[ Why Lily! How dare you accuse him like that?

But he knows she'll see through any lie he gives. So after he makes a show of looking offended by the accusation, he smiles and puts up his hands in innocence. ]

Only the gist of it, I'm afraid. So if you're looking to use my help to cheat, I'm afraid you're out of luck.

[exceedinglybright]

[She huffs. That figures.]

Well, I'm not sure I need to cheat, regardless-- [She's solving the clues with ease so far, but...] A hint wouldn't be terrible, though. He's got some grand finale planned, doesn't he?

The Diner (natch)

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji was amused when James really did go through with the scavenger hunt idea, but is pretty pleased--honored, even--that he was asked to help with part of it. James is a good friend of his, so he's glad he gets the chance to be part of something that's important to him. He likes Lily well, too, and--not least importantly--he's quite curious to know what her reaction to these shenanigans will be. Since his clue is at the tail end of things, he'll likely get to find out.

Until she arrives, though, he's got plenty to do, and is in the back cleaning off the grill carefully. Too many cheeseburgers and not enough cleaning has left it a bit...gunky. He's happy to leave it alone for a bit when he hears Lily calling, and comes up to the counter, wiping his hands on his apron. He's a bit grimy from the work, but at least he can make sure he doesn't grease up the envelope he has for her when he hands it over.]

Hey, Lily. [Like normal, he's just the pleasant side of neutral. He can play dumb for a minute or two, he thinks.] Can I make something for you?

<3

[exceedinglybright]

[Souji is right -- his clue being the last one means she's been all over Wonderland already, in and out of the cold and spending numerous frustrating hours in the library. She looks exhausted by the time she walks into the diner, but no less determined as a result, hands braced against the counter as she leans forward, eagerly waiting for someone to answer her. She looks relieved, at least, when Souji turns up, and still manages to offer him a smile.]

I can't say I'm not hungry, but-- I have a feeling that I shouldn't let what I'm doing wait too long.

[Whether the sense of urgency is to have it over and done with or to spare James having to wait, well, she's not entirely sure.]

Do you know anything about James' plans for today?

[eatsyourscience]

A little. I don't know where he is, though.

[Though he can tell she's pretty much over the game part of this process, he's purposely being a bit obtuse about why she's here. His slight smile probably gives him away, though.]

curses hiatus

[exceedinglybright]

A little.

[She suspects he knows more than that, but of course James would have asked him not to say if that's the case -- and of course, Souji has never struck her as the type to spill secrets to begin with.]

I think you do know.

[Accusation aside, she's still smiling, however tiresome the game has become.]

Are you supposed to be offering me riddles, then?

[eatsyourscience]

No. I'm just supposed to stall you a little.

[Souji shakes his head and retrieves an envelope from under the counter. He holds it up, then sets it on the counter and slides it across to her.]

And give you this.

[exceedinglybright]

This surprise of his requires stalling?

[Well, naturally. Of course it does. That's what all of this has been, hasn't it? She gives him a suspicious look before taking the envelope, turning it over in her hands before going to open the flap with her thumb.]

Well, if he's wanted me to be distracted, he's done a good job. I've been running around all day.

Library

[goodwoofjames]

[Sirius had considered asking James for his cloak in order to better spy on Lily as she completed this part of her task, but as it turns out she's so absorbed in her search that she doesn't even notice his approach as it is. He flings himself into a chair across from her and makes himself comfortable. One edge of his lips curves up in a smirk-- he can't help it.]

Evans, my dear, that is quite the stack. Don't tell me you've gotten that bored of this place already.

[exceedinglybright]

[Of course Sirius would turn up while she's in the middle of the most frustrating part of this search, and she sighs once he has her attention, leveling him with a weary look.]

This has nothing to do with boredom, Sirius. I'm on a mission.

[Sort of. A quest?]

What are you doing here, then?

[goodwoofjames]

[Sirius plays up offense, scowling dramatically.]

What, do I look out of place? Is it totally unheard of that I might open a book and perhaps look at its pages?

Tsk. You really need to get to know me better, Evans. The library is practically my favorite place. Don't even need missions to bring me here.

[He tilts his head.]

Speaking of-- how is yours going?

[exceedinglybright]

Not quite so much that as I thought James might have sent you.

[But this back-and-forth is normal for them, and so she smiles, even if she does put in a little effort to look rather put-out.]

Well enough, although this part of it seems a little-- overwhelming. I figured you must be in on it, seeing as you're you.

[goodwoofjames]

And what has me being me got to do with anything?

[Sirius grins broadly, though, clearly not offended. He takes one of the books and flips through it, nimble fingers stroking through the pages. He knows it isn't the one, so he's safe to mess with it as he likes.]

Do I overwhelm you on a regular basis, Evans?

[exceedinglybright]

No.

[Of course he would interpret it that way.]

I just meant that he includes you in everything! I'm sure he's told you every bloody detail of this plan of his.