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Looking down at the name on the top of her paper, Red felt like she didn't want to write the name Heart on her paper.
In Wonderland nobody had a last name, sometimes they would create their own, but it wasn't something passed down. The only family whose last name passed down was the royal family, which meant unlike everyone else she was stuck with her mother's last name.
Also, unlike Wonderland, nobody knew her last name, which is why she was able to get away with just putting Red on her papers. Her teachers assuming it was a 'Wonderland' thing. Which it sort of was, most Wonders didn't give themselves a last name until they were eighteen.
A last name in Wonderland could be a defining feature, a nickname given by friends, or in some Wonders case; Something that you lovingly took from a friend or partner.
And well... While Red had made good acquaintances after Chloe had signed her up for art club, she didn't like any of their last names enough to go through a name thieving ritual.
Chloe's was nice though; she doubts the girl wouldn't mind joining her for a cup of tea as well... A smirk slowly lit up her face as she kept her name blank on the paper, she had some tea from home all she would need was clocks and the girl.
After all, it was better to do something and ask for forgiveness later, wasn't it?
Red's finger slowly turns the handle back on the final clock, hand pushing it off into the air with a soft smile, she hadn't had a tea party since she arrived in Auradon and this one would be especially special.
Carefully lifting the pot out of the emergency tea bag Maddox had given her, she places a kiss on the spout, red lipstick staining the pot as the ceramic begins to purr lovingly, smiling sweetly she places it on the table directly on the heart matt made especially for her beloved pot.
Her hand slides to her favorite teacup next, furrowing her eyebrows in thought she leans forward whispering into the brim, "be nice to her for me, ok?" The cup's handle droops slightly and Red rolls her eyes.
Twirling him in her hands, Red tosses him up in the air for a long second, catching the cup and immediately juggling him, finishing the routine with a toss she watches it twist before the teacup lands upside down on her hand. Leaning forward to place a soft kiss onto the drooped handle.
"This is important to me." Red softly runs her finger along the brim, begging him to for once be good to her guest.
The handle perks up, handle wagging up and down to ask for the girl to throw him again, slightly shaking him with an amused smile she places the cup in Chloe's spot for the evening, grabbing for the next one.
While, not her favorite, she had a sweet personality and didn't have the tendency to change the flavoring to something horrible like celery as her own did.
Sending a look at her favorite she saw that the cup seemed more than willing to serve her attendee. With a smile Red caresses the gentlewoman in her hands, putting her handle at exactly 143 degrees as the teacup preferred.
Picking up the jar of tea she unscrews the cap, her pots lid comes off softly falling to its side. Grinning she begins humming a tune at the jar in her hand, watching as the tea leaves began to dance up into the air heading towards the open pot.
With a creak the door opens, and she watches as the leaves swiftly run back into the jar, shaking lightly and rustling in fear.
"Oh, wow." Red's anger slowly fades, it wasn't one of Chloe's teammates who often had the audacity to walk in just to talk with her roommate, but instead her roommate herself. Turning towards the good she couldn't help but describe the look on her face as wonder.
"What's..." Chloe almost seemed afraid to ask, "What's this for? Did you get detention?" The again floats silently in the air and Red almost cackles because, really, she should've been the one to think of using tea to get the blue haired girls' forgiveness.
Slowly moving the jar in her hands left and right she smiles sweetly at the other girl, "I should have thought of that. But no, we've both just been so busy lately, so I thought I should host a tea party." Chloe stares at her suspiciously as she moves into the room, eyes looking up at the floating clocks.
Red tries to keep the adoration off her face as the girl takes in the sight with amazement, going towards her cup and softly moving her finger across the ream, taking her hand off in almost a flinch before curiously continuing.
"Oh, good, he likes you." Chloe's head turns towards her quickly.
"He likes me?" Confusion clouds her voice as she stares down at the cup again eyebrows furrowed as she tries to figure... something out.
Red wasn't sure what, sure, the cups here were quiet but they whisper at night away from the prying ears of the usual students. The princess was acting like she'd never seen a teacup before.
"He does! A rare achievement, I know. You should probably stop before you spoil him, he's already intolerable." The teacup swiftly turns towards her clattering up and down and Chloe jumps back, falling on her back with a panicked look.
Putting the jar in her hand down as gently as possible Red rushes forward to help the other girl up, "he's actually alive." Chloe breathes out, eyes staring straight into the teacup.
Red rolls her eyes, "of course he's alive silly, all things are! Some of them are just quieter than others." Grabbing her hand she practically drags her up onto her feet, going back to the jar she picks it up, she needs to finish the tea now before they get into any talking.
"Now, let me finish," Sarcastically Red tacks on a "please." Chloe stands still, eyes turning to her with a slow nod she politely taps thrice on the jar. One of the tea leaves goes to the top of the jar, humming softly she clicks her tongue three times.
The tea leaf shakes, and she tilts her head, tapping the side with a raised eyebrow. The tea leaf zips up to her before they combine to make an arrow at Chloe. Shaking her head with a miffed laugh she taps her hand against the table, "she's a guest."
The leaves for a question mark, clearly asking her if this was a name thieving ceremony. "Yes, aren't you lot ever so observant." They perk up with pride before gathering in a line.
Rolling her eyes again Red begins humming a tune, watching as the tea leaves jig their way into the teacup. They shake rhythmically before encircling the opening start to form a spiral downward.
Screwing on the lid she places it back into the tea bag, grabbing the jar of water she steps towards the pot, hand lightly touching the kiss on her spout the pot leans towards her allowing her to pour for the two of them. "Thank you, lovely."
The ceramic vibrates and she watches as the water starts steaming the colour going from purple to red to... blue. Clearly, they'd taken a liking to Chloe's colour scheme, cute.
Clapping her hands rhythmically she hears Chloe start to awkwardly join her, head shooting up to beam at the other girl who was still exactly where she'd been earlier, eyes following the tea leaves as they bob up and down towards the trash.
The girl looks at her, asking if she can speak and Red holds a finger up until the last one drops into the can, nodding at the blue girl with a beaming smile.
"This is... amazing," she sounds speechless her eyes taking in the clattering teacups and the pot stirring the tea in a whirlpool.
The jarred tea and all of the ceramics preen at her words, shaking her head with fondness she speaks to the other girl, "don't compliment them too much they may just start acting up for attention."
Chloe's eyes widen, "I see..." clicking her heal three times she sits down giving the other girl a jovial grin.
"I meant for this to be done before you got back from practice, but the clocks needed a while to warm up to me." The princess nods, looking like she hadn't a clue what Red was talking about but going along with it anyways.
"I'm glad you didn't that was... incredible!" Chloe taps her heal three times mimicking her before taking a seat, her hands starting to reach for the cup Red grabs for her hand, shaking her head before letting go and using a teacup to tap a tune against the cup before her.
Looking focused Chloe takes her clumsily mimicking her, looks like they took their tea the same way, perfect.
The cups start to clatter up and down creating a beat, teacups bobbing to the side as they began dancing in, the cream slightly splashing as it pours itself into each cup as the pot lifts up into the air pouring tea into both cups.
The spoons levitate out of their hands Chloe looking panicked as it leaves her grip before staring as they begin to fight each other. The girl in front of hers winning as her own spoon bows gently going back onto its place on the table, Red smiles clapping her hands together at the show they'd all put on, her favorite cups handle wagging while the one in her hand shivers in her hand attempting to feign a stoic reaction.
Always the adorable gentlewoman, it was why she'd kept the teacup if she were honest. Chloe vibrates in a similar manner to the ceramics before them, looking absolutely thrilled as she used two fingers to... high five the spoon with a whispered good job, chuckling to the cup in her hand Red uses her other hand to gesture at Chloe.
"You take the first sip." It was needed for the ceremony to be complete after all. While it was fun to drink with her friend, she still had a goal to follow through with.
maybe we should do this some other time, tea with Chloe would be a fun tradition, it couldn't be every noon like her, and Maddox had done, but perhaps once every few weeks would do. Nodding to herself, Red decided she liked that idea, maybe she could even teach the other girl how to set up eventually.
Chloe takes a sip, eyebrows shooting up, "wow," the girl giggles, "I've been saying that a lot, haven't I?"
Smirking Red hums, "just a little bit, boo." Amusement growing as red starts dusting the other girls face, this had been a wonderful idea.
She could feel Wonderlands acceptance at her thievery, a little mischievous tingle at her backhandedness, the taste of chaotic magic sticking to her tongue as she evilly sips her tea.
"Thank you for this Red, it's been... a while since we've had one on one time." Chloe gives her this weird look of fondness, and she feels slightly guilty for tricking her but mischievously grins back at her as she takes another taste of her tea, mmm chocolate peppermint.
"I'm glad you like it, what sort of tea did he give you?" the girl tilts her head before taking another sip eyebrows furrowing adorably as she seemed to try and pinpoint the taste.
"Rose and... I think some lavender?" Chloe hums in confirmation, "yeah, lavender. It's good! Why do you ask, though? Is yours different? I swear they were all the same tea leaves though." She rambles, as curious as always.
"Chocolate peppermint," laughing as she takes another sip, "the cups like to change the flavoring so he may mix it up, he definitely likes you since it doesn't take like veggies."
"Veggies?"
The handle wraps itself closely to Chloe's finger as she can see him silently vibrating.
They both talked throughout the night until the tea was gone and with a clap everything slowly started to clean itself before putting itself away. Red thanking them as she locks the case closed.
"I'll clean it up in the morning, sleepover?" Opening an arm for the other girl, she's quickly dragged by an excited Chloe who quickly bounces over wrapping her arm around Red and dragging her to fall on the bed.
"I always love a good sleepover!"
Curling into Chloe's embrace Red smiled softly, she'd definitely made the right decision choosing to steal from Chloe; the other girl was soft, warm, and comfortable. Eyes drifting close she mumbles to herself, "so comfortable."
The first time she wrote it down the teacher had looked confused, quickly checking the attendance list, looking back at her, and going pale.
This happens in almost every class and with each talking to she got about whatever 'elopement' was she felt even more emboldened.
Random people were congratulating her, and she was slightly confused since a name thievery was generally seen as a small celebration where only those closest would acknowledge it, she went along with it.
Maddox had apparently seen it as well, sending her a congratulation letter after it had changed through the banner at home that upheld all of the royal families' names.
Her phone had been ringing for a while, the new version of her mom trying to contact her, it was weird having a mom that cared enough for this.
The old Bridget would have just sent a guard for her, already having the dungeon prepared for daring to change 'centuries of tradition.'
This one though was sending her voicemails, she knows she should pick up or listen to them, it had been... rough building a connection with her little by little but she was getting there.
For now, her mom had just assumed it to be teenage angst, which fit her well enough if Red were honest.
Looking at the voice mails piling it up she sighs to herself, turning the device off and shoving it into a random pocket.
Chloe was confused, for the past week she'd been getting congratulations, and her teammates had been staying out of the way of her room no longer bursting in to talk to her.
Sometimes they'd call ahead, usually they would knock really loudly looking as if they'd hoped that something wasn't being interrupted, Chloe just couldn't tell what.
They always looked at Red first though as if using her to figure it out, maybe it was because the last time someone had come in Red threatened to toss them off a balcony for messing up her brush stroke?
That could make sense if it weren't for all of the pats on the back she had been getting as of recent, the whispers that followed down the halls and random girls coming up to her before running away crying.
All of them seemed to be talking about a gloomy and opposites attract?
Was there a rumor her and Red were fighting? It was the only thing she could think of that made sense, her teammates had always been a bit on edge around the rebellious girl she called her best friend.
Her phone starts buzzing in her hand, excitement welling up in her name at the ID clearly stating it was Mom.
She picks up and prepares to great her mom when her mother speaks up, words filling her with dread.
"Chloe Estrella Charming, if you don't explain yourself right now I don't care about your little wife I am sending your butt back home! And tell her to pick up her mom's call, she's been calling me non-stop all day in worry."
Chloe's voice comes out in a questioning whimper, "Wife?"
Walking into their dorm room her eyes fall on Chloe, the other girl looking in all words, pissed.
"When did you do it? No better question," hand moving to pinch the bridge of her nose, "how did you do it without me noticing?"
Eyebrows furrowed in confusion, Red tilts her head, "what are you talking about?"
"My name! My last name, why is it on all of your paperwork, "
"Ohhhh..." Red breathes out slowly, thinking her next words out before shrugging, "I liked your last name so by Wonderland laws I took it."
"Except, you can't take my last name, that's not how it works here Red!" Chloe shouts at her looking like she was seconds away from jumping the distance to strangle her.
"Then why does the attendance show me as Red Charming?"
"It shows me as Chloe charming too! So, clearly, whatever stealing you thought you did, didn't go through!"
"No, that's how it works, you get to keep yours. I'm just stealing a piece of it off you." She shakes her head, the girl in front of her was just being silly now.
Chloe throws her hands up in the air, startling Red as she began to grow even more frustrated at the exchanged. "Then give it back!"
Red pouts, "but I like sharing last names with you."
"My parents think I eloped and didn't invite them Red! My brother called me to ask why he wasn't my best man!"
Red tilts her head, so, whatever this 'elopement' thing was it wasn't seen as platonic. Perhaps name sharing also wasn't seen as a platonic thing in Auradon? Maybe she should have looked before she jumped, but there wouldn't be any fun in that if she were honest. Plus, she'd never seen Chloe look like this.
It was an interesting new emotion, and she couldn't help but study it, despite the fact it scared her to see her best friend like this, she couldn't stop the intrigue from growing.
Awkwardly opening her arms her arms she gives a clumsy smile, "would you like a hug?"
Chloe levels her with a glare that could kill a thousand men before taking a deep breathe in and tightly hug her, lips leaning forward to whisper in her ear. "Do something like this again without asking me and I'll show you what my sword can actually do, Boo."
Gulping in slight fear, Red robotically moves her arm to pat Chloe on the back, "got it."
The other woman coos in her ears before dragging her to her bed using her as a plushy when she flops down, Chloe cooing softly in her ear. "You owe me Red, I had to tell your mom that you were just not used to Auradon culture and did it by accident."
"Did what by accident? I knew what I was doing," she mumbles feeling Chloe's hand slide up towards her throat brushing over it before going back wrapping around her mid waist.
"So, you meant to get us married Red, if so, you could have just asked." A voice whispers in her ear and Red starts to match her name, as she feels that smug smile that she knows so well against the skin of her neck.
"That's not-"
The girl huffs in laughter behind her, "not what you meant to do, right? But it's what you did."
"You see," a hand starts to rub up and down her arm, "in Auradon the only one who shares a name with you outside immediately family, is your wife."
Face turning pale, she breathes out a quiet "Oh."
"Yeah, oh."
Red thought about it for a second. "I can't change it back," she could but it would be difficult, and Wonderland was hard to get too.
"I figured." Hot breathe mumbles beside her ears, "which is why, I'm not demanding you to fix it right now."
"Cool" Red mumbles as the girl pulls her closer, she liked cuddling with Chloe but, clock, she was surprised the other girl wasn't strangling her.
"Yeah, cool."
Pausing for a moment she felt a kiss against her left temple, "I wouldn't mind being married to you Red, just next time, let me do the asking and you don't do the officiating."
Nodding she tries to ignore how flushed her face felt, "Will do Clover."
The girl hums, practically purring in her ear, "glad we agree, Red Charming."