Post by Shava on Jan 27, 2016 23:16:02 GMT -5
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/ff/fd/71/fffd71cab34a99226d9a41283a7ad105.jpg
s1169.photobucket.com/user/shava4/media/Hall/exp/apt/x_zps37e9039b.jpg.html
27 Jan 16, 10:58 PM
Ally: Ally was actually a little early for her weekly lunch with Aiden's mother. She had kept her promise to him and dropped in fairly regularly to see his parents and to check in on Celeste. His sister was at school now however, so they mostly owl'd. It had taken a few weeks, but Ally finally felt comfortable with Arabelle, her knowledge of dance was a gold mine for Ally who was just starting out. She knocked, waiting for the older woman to appear at the door.
27 Jan 16, 11:01 PM
[×] Asher: Asher answered the door, giving a brief smile at his son's friend before waving her in through the kitchen. "Ara is running late, had some stuff to finish up and said I could keep you entertained for a bit." He seemed to have been doing something like a workout as he wiped his forehead with a towel saying "Sorry, been working on a bar tap and the time got away."
27 Jan 16, 11:07 PM
Ally: She found herself staring into the very blue eyes of his father instead. Stepping inside, she studied him a moment, and it was easy to tell what he had likely been doing. 'Merlin' thought Ally. She couldn't recall ever being alone with his father for more than a moment or two. She had nurtured a massive crush on him when she was younger, and looking at him now she decided if Aiden aged half as well he might come home from China married to someone else. The thought made her stomach lurch. She nodded understanding a moment or so late. "I don't know how she does it, our company leader always seems like she's one breath away from hexing the next person who missteps." She smiled, "No worries, I'm used to it. Aiden was always working on his stuff too." Another similarity it seemed between father and son, hmm.
27 Jan 16, 11:11 PM
Asher: He nodded and led the way down two flights and up three at a good clip as he said "Knowing her it will take a bit, but I figure it's good since we never talk. Does Aiden ever write you by the way? He always tells us it's hard to put his head in a letter while hes out there." In the sitting room whee he stopped there were two barrels and a number of tools around in the middle of the floor he had clearly been working on.
27 Jan 16, 11:17 PM
Ally: She followed him easily through the house, glad she had opted out of the heels she had almost worn. Ally didn't often wear flats, but she made a personal exception for the sheer amount of stairs here. She almost snorted. Never was right, and she wasn't exactly sure what to say now, which was rare for her. A nod, though she realized he couldn't see her. "Every other week" she answered. "I usually write him two or three a week and then send them together." She liked telling him about all the people she was meeting and the places she had gone. It made her miss him a bit less. She had even told him about her date with Cameron, though she had called it 'Dinner with a guy from school'. She glanced around the room curiously, "What's all this?" she asked, as curiosity won out over her hesitation.
27 Jan 16, 11:20 PM
[×] Asher: He nearly stopped, but it became a hesitation before he finished the stairs and walked in the room. "Ah. Well that answers that question then." he dropped into a sitting position which showed he was still supremely in good shape before he picked up a tool again. "It's a bad tap. Someone screwed it in in some weird new way and it won't come out. I'd rather do it by hand then use power tools or magic on it though."
27 Jan 16, 11:24 PM
Ally: She noted that he hesitated and when he spoke she couldn't help herself. "What question?" she wanted to know. She watched him drop to the floor and couldn't keep a trace of admiration out of her expression. Still, when he mentioned the tap she studied the barrels anew and nodded. Some things were just better without magic. Cooking for example. The corners of her lips turned up. "So this is what bar owners spend their time on, fixing bad taps?" With a start, she realized that could have come across as flirtation. She almost sighed. She had never been around someone she shouldn't flirt with before. Well, that wasn't entirely true, she flirted with everyone whether she should or not, but this was different.
27 Jan 16, 11:29 PM
Asher: Looking up at her he could tell she had no idea which was rather amusing. "He writes home about once every other...month. And you tell me the first day he was back from China you were the first one to run into him, hum?" Well. He had suspected his son was fixated, but not quite that bad. "Interesting, when I first met Ara there was a lot of tension for us ton of electricity, I take it you were too young on the train..." Ha. He glanced back up at her, hearing th e tone of her words. "I did raise two sons here so yes you could say that."
27 Jan 16, 11:34 PM
Ally: She looked up at him suddenly with her eyes widened slightly, colored suddenly bright orange in her surprise. "He...um...really...?" She was at a loss, she was never at a loss. Merlin. "I...yes...that was...an accident really. He was at the bakery when I left rehearsal and..." She realized she was rambling. What the hell? Brighter orange if such a thing were possible when he mentioned Arabelle. She blushed, much to her own amazement. "Definitely too young" she agreed, unsure what else to say. She bit her lip, her eyes shifting colors as if she couldn't settle on one emotion in particular. "Haha" she managed.
27 Jan 16, 11:39 PM
Asher: A nod as Asher watched her surprise with some satisfaction he had awakened someone up to realism so easily. "Well, I knew he liked you. We'd wondered why his letters were so thick." He mused on that. His boy was getting multiple letters rom his dream girl between each letter he sent home. "Explains why you get mentioned so much. I'll try not to be the father who shows the naked baby pictures of my boy. His mother can keep that a secret for now." Another thought as he realized he still had another tap to work on after this. A sigh of 'father's-work-never-done', Picking up the tools, he settled them against the tap, hesitated in thought, glanced at her, then shook his head with a smile and began slowly tapping the metal to try and get it turned.
27 Jan 16, 11:44 PM
Ally: She calmed a bit, back in familiar territory, though still a little uncomfortable. She shrugged, "its strange not having him to talk to all the time" she admitted. "So I pack as much as I can into the letters." She hadn't realized he wrote his parents about her, wasn't sure how to feel about it. She laughed softly. "Mum threatened me with that when he came at Christmas last year" she answered. "He said it wasn't worth worrying about." The memory caused a soft, nostalgic pang. Merlin she missed him. He looked so much like her own father when the expression crossed his face that she almost laughed. When he glanced at her, she knew she should have let it pass, but she couldn't resist it. "What?"
27 Jan 16, 11:52 PM
Asher: "I bet. I miss having him around the house too. When they first leave home it's a real strike to the chest, but when they don't come back it feels like your life is a bit more empty." He stopped tapping tolook up at the wall, clearly seeing something not there. "You miss being part of every minute of their lives, seeing how they discover the world and how it changes them. Being a parent is d@mn hard. Not that I got a lot of warning, mine parents were pretty awful examples." He chuckled as he tapped, shaking his head. "Yes, every parent ends up with a few of them I think. Why it's so hard to keep kids in clothes for the first few years is hard to understand." Her question brought his eyes back to her. "As a parent you see things your kids don't see. Bad and good, people, situations, and...futures." He studied her for a minute before he added "Young people think they are facing situations no one else has, but it's all so familiar to us. And because they are your kids you try and help as much as you can, but they stop listening after a point."
27 Jan 16, 11:57 PM
Ally: She curled up on the sofa as she listened to him speak about Aiden. It was nice to talk to his parents, they understood what it was like to miss him, though in a different way than she did. He spoke of parenting and she wondered if her parents felt the same way about her being gone all the time. It was a new thought, and she looked contemplative for a moment. Then he started speaking of seeing things and of futures and for the first time she wondered if he knew more about the situation she and Aiden were in than she wanted his parents to be aware of. It raised the question, which did he think she was? A good future or a bad one? She hesitated, bit her lip in a rare show of something she had picked up from her mother, unaware of looking every inch a vulnerable kid for a span of moments. There was no way she could ask him what she should do about her feelings for his son, were there? "Did you not want him to go?" she asked, mostly for something to say while she continued considering the new information.
28 Jan 16, 12:03 AM
[×] Asher: She asked one of the difficult questions and he sighed again, his head dipping down slightly. "Yes and no." He laid the tools down and turned to face her still sitting on the floor to match her eyes directly. "When your child goes out into the world, you can't protect them anymore. You want them to live and fly and become everything they want to be, but at the same time it's your heart. A par of you goes out the door every time, leaving you wondering if it will be the last time. You never stop being a parent, even when the child is an adult. You worry for every worry they have, hurt with every pain, cry for every heartbreak." His face didn't show the emotions, but you could hear them in the words. "I was as afraid to let him and his brother go as I was for Celeste to go to school. Fortunately, my hair doesn't show it yet."
28 Jan 16, 12:09 AM
Ally: She looked thoughtful again. "I didn't realize how hard it was" she said softly, thinking of her own parents. "My parents have always traveled a lot. I didn't think it would bother them if I did some of it myself." She smiled at the hair comment. "Dad can't go gray, and mum dyes hers." She met his eyes, hesitated, glanced down, met his eyes again. "Mr. Urquart...can I ask you something?"
28 Jan 16, 12:14 AM
[×] Asher: He laughed and waggled a finger at her. "No one does. When you're young it's hard to get it. And we traveled a lot while also having kids. It's quite possible, but it's the heart which takes the real hits. But you know what Ally? Here's the most important thing. Even knowing it all, I wouldn't hesitate to do it all again for them and neither would your parents. It's the best adventure in the world, totally unpredictable." He smiled a tiny bit, fondly before adding "Nothing about children is predictable." A shake of his head as his arms laid on the top of his knees for a moment. "Write them a lot more is all I can say. It helps." She hesitated and he knew in a moment it was going to be one of those big life questions, something she was hung up on. Praying it wasn't about his son, he nodded once, quite seriously. "Yes. But be warned, I don't pull punches when it comes to advice. My kids know that, I won't have you surprised."
28 Jan 16, 12:18 AM
Ally: She smiled, "I went home for a couple of weeks, just got back actually." He spoke of his kids and she nodded. "Never heard it put quite like that" she told him. She opened her mouth, closed it again, took a deep breath and then: "If you know you're not good for someone, is it better to let them go so they'll be better off?" She wasn't looking at him now, knowing he'd know exactly what she meant. Asher probably understood his son the best of anyone, and this might be her only chance to ask a question like this.
28 Jan 16, 12:25 AM
Asher: Ah of course. d@mn the child just had to ask that one didn't she? Asher closed his eyes a moment and sought for the best way to speak. "Depends. Are you sure the other isn't thinking the same thing, that they might be wrong for you? And that you might be better off without them? I suspect someone has been worrying about that a very long time. But I think it's only fair to talk to them about that. It's not a decision that effects just your life, after all is it?" He debated adding the last part then stood and walked over to her, sitting down beside her on the couch where she was curled up and set a hand on her half-bare shoulder. "Ally. I know you have to choose for yourself and what you want for a future, but are you sure your life isn't improved by the other, whether it's bad for them or not? That's what you need to think about the most I think." Holding up a hand he whispered something and from down the hallway a book sailed to smack into his hand. He flipped through a dozen or so p ages before he said "Here, I need to show you something." The picture was badly made of a dark room with little Asher all done up in a suit. It was hard not to notice how much Aiden resembled his father. The house behind the boy was scary dark and spooky looking.
28 Jan 16, 12:31 AM
Ally: She knew by the way he reacted that he wasn't exactly happy to be answering her. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him nevermind before he began speaking. She sighed, "Enough with the pronouns already" she spoke more to herself than to him. He laid a hand on her shoulder and it was a testament to how mixed up she was that she didn't react to it. "I know having Aiden in my life is good for me" she said in a small voice. "I don't know if having me in his life is good for Aiden." It was hard for her to say, and that much was obvious. She watched the book and then her eyes fell on the picture and she smiled. "He looks a lot like you" she observed with an edge of tenderness in her voice. "Whose house is this?"
28 Jan 16, 12:37 AM
[×] Asher: he admired her for the bravery of eliminating the mystery. "I know. It was easy to see. But unless you admit it to yourself there's no point to trying to fix it. Now that you have said it out loud it's easier to think about." He was silent for a moment before he added "My son has never been one to go out on his own, nor to explore the world. He knows what he wants or at least thinks he does. You have certainly made him braver, more open, and willing to be spontaneous. I think those all count as good things, Ally." A nod, and he pointed out another with a hard older man in the face. "I was forced to go back to my grandfather since my father was dead and aurors killed my Deatheater mother in front of me. He didn't do well with kids. And his house he put me in a room overlooking a graveyard."
28 Jan 16, 12:44 AM
Ally: "Not so much" she mumbled. It was still an immensely hard thing to face. She brightened somewhat when he spoke of all the ways she had helped. "I made him take risks" she sighed. "But risks aren't always good and I..." She bit her lip again, "I don't always know the difference." She was nervous, another rarity. "When we were little, my twin brother and I went on an 'adventure' on the island where my family lives." Another deep breath, "He got hurt pretty badly because of me." She seemed to slouch a bit, "I know Aiden is afraid he won't be able to keep up with me. I"m afraid too. I'm afraid he'll get hurt trying." She finally met his eyes again. "Sorry" she mumbled. "I've just never really had anyone to talk to about all this. My parents don't really know Aiden very well except for what I've told them." She looked horrified at his revelations about his grandfather and his parents."That's...wow...that's terrible" was all she could think to say.
28 Jan 16, 12:50 AM
Asher: He agreed. "No, risks aren't always good, that's why t's important to think about them first, but taking no risks is bad too. Aiden never took risks before you came along I know." he sighed and moved the hand back as he leaned in the couch backwards. "I suspect Aiden already knows this, and yet he choose to follow you anyway. Have you seen him stop and try to think about those times first?" Her eyes told him he truth. "Then he's afraid for you as well and is trying to think for both of you." He met her eyes again as he said "And in exchange for that, you have not thought about slowing down just a bit so he can keep up? Is there really no way to meet him halfway to make it work for you both? I know he would probably do anything for you from what I've seen." Or did she think it had to be all or nothing? Poor child didn't know how to compromise. "It was. I was miserable, but stuck, and he didn't like kids so I couldn't have anyone over either. Finally one of my classmates made an effort to help me get out of the house and saved me from either an early grave or a early prison. I married her, despite the fact it meant we would live on the streets and eat what we could earn because she transformed my entire life." He set his hand on her leg again and added seriously in a somehow different voice "I would do anything for her because she changed everything I knew about the world. She made it better in every single way. Does that sound familiar to you Ally?"
28 Jan 16, 12:57 AM
Ally: She considered everything he was saying. "He's not particularly fond of me scaling Hogwarts after curfew" she answered after a moment with a small smile at the memory, "but he did come with me onc--" She broke off, wondered if he could still get in trouble for something that had happened last year. She almost laughed. "He does do that, I used to call it his 'zen'." She worried her lip again. "Of course I have, but..." She wasn't sure she could, at least not long term sure. "I know I could try, but..." But what if she failed? She didn't say it. "He would" she answered without hesitation. That she was certain of. He spoke of his past and Ally knew he was speaking of Arabelle even before he confirmed it for her. He asked if it sounded familiar and she smiled oddly. "Its how Aiden talks about me" she admitted, "and how I..." and how she felt about him. His hand on her leg was a bit more of a jolt than the touch on her shoulder, but she was still wrapped up in her thoughts of Aiden. "He's
28 Jan 16, 12:58 AM
Ally: got your eyes too" she realized when she looked up at him again, then she sighed. "Sorry, all this talking about him..." She frowned, "and it'll be at least another year..." That was the hardest part at the moment, the waiting.
28 Jan 16, 01:04 AM
Asher: He made a motion which said they weren't there now so it didn't matter, but his eyes were for a moment a touch concerned for them both. he could almost here 'but what if I can't.' 'Ally, has he ever told you he loves you?" He listened then added "And you say it so sure. That's how he's been telling you, without words. He's willing to take the chance because he believes in you, but more so because I think he loves you very much. And he wants to do what you want more then what he wants. I think that's the best definition of love you will ever find in real life. Trust someone's actions more then their words." Another nod as she worked it out for herself. "I'm betting you led hi throughout the years in Hogwarts into everything am I right? And he was always there for you, any way you needed him? Ally, he may be my son, but after all these years of him at your back if you hesitate now, think then of what he would do without you. Knowing what you know now, do you actually believe he would be be better off with out you or you without him?"
28 Jan 16, 01:09 AM
Ally: "Yes" she answered. "When he came home" she clarified, and she had said it back for the first time to someone not family in her entire life. He didn't need to know that part. Rather than answer his question at the end, she said something else. "You just said it though, he wants me to do what I want. We're very very different, and I don't see how we both can." She sighed, "I know he'd go with me anywhere, but that's not his dream." She looked heavily conflicted. "Knowing that, I'm really not sure."
28 Jan 16, 01:15 AM
[×] Asher: Asher actually chuckled, maybe seeing something she did not. "I know you want to travel, right? Well I think I can vouch for Aiden not only being supremely trained in traveling, bu how to survive in rougher situations then most have. He has first hand experience in raising a family while on the road. I doubt he sees that as a complication. As to his dream..." he looked off at the wall for a minute before he spoke. "I don't think he's ever say in the last year a dream which has a particular place to it now that i think about it. His dreams seem suspiciously mobile." A glance at her before he asked "Has he ever told you a specific dream he has?"
28 Jan 16, 01:18 AM
Ally: He chuckled, surprising her, and she made a face at him before she could stop herself. "Right" she said slowly, not sure where this was going. "I know" she smiled. "I'm jealous." The word family though brought her up short and caused her eyes to widen. Kids with Aiden, now that was a step too far for her to contemplate today. "Not really" she answered after a long moment, "but he's always been so focused on the martial arts, I assumed that's what he wanted."
28 Jan 16, 01:22 AM
[×] Asher: He smiled. "Aiden has his mind wrapped around what he wants, for sure, but he learned with us to not fix it to a place. We've always traveled to be with his mother so she could have her dream. And she's very very good at it as you know." Asher didn't consider what he had done a sacrifice. "Nope. He chose that to make himself into a particular kind of person, to gain a skill. he's never mentioned teaching it." He brushed that one off with a sure sound. "I know you are bothered about it being a year still, but maybe you need to write him and find out what his dream really is. I don't think he can answer you. And if he can't give you something concrete, then he may have built his dreams around you. Please, try to keep his heart in mind when you write him. For me at least?""
28 Jan 16, 01:27 AM
Ally: She nodded. "She is" in agreement. Her time had been invaluable to Ally in particular. She studied Asher for a long moment. Maybe that was why Aiden had never seen a problem with following her to the ends of the earth. He had grown up watching his father do the same. She paused for a long moment as though having a major realization. "He's never said anything about it to me either" she acknowledged. The thought of writing him with a question like that didn't sit well with her, but she wasn't sure how to ask him in person. She would have to give that some thought. His father's request, however, caught her attention. "Mr. Urquart" she spoke softly in a rare, serious voice. "I always have his heart in mind."
28 Jan 16, 01:31 AM
[×] Asher: Asher knew from her words she had listened and that had to be good. "I as serious when I said judge a person by their actions more then their words and promises. Aiden doesn't do things with half-@ssed preparation. When he sets his sights on soemthing, he doesn't speak about it lightly." He frowned at her and looked closer leaning in to her face. "Have you? I get the distinct impression that you were contemplating ending things with him for his own good. And I didn't miss you didn't answer my question of what he would do without you in his life. Do you think his heart is not tied up in that answer?" he watched her, expecting her to flinch away or hesitate so let the silence draw out.
28 Jan 16, 01:36 AM
Ally: She nodded. "I"ve always done that" she agreed, "and no, he definitely doesn't." She thought about this, and wondered how it was his father knew it. He leaned closer, getting into her personal space, and though she had the urge to back away, she didn't. d@mn it, "So the perception thing is genetic then" she observed. His question though, and she took a deep breath. "I was still thinking about what was best for his heart" she argued. "I didn't think I was it."
28 Jan 16, 01:40 AM
Asher: He smiled grimly. "No, I think Celeste is the one who missed it in our kids. It's saved my life once in particular and i've trusted it ever since. Picking out the person who has your best interests in heart is a life changing skill to my mind." A frown much deeper as if she had been found wanting a bit. "I suspect the breaking of his heart will be more then just knocking a support out from under him. I don't know what he would do after that. I don't really think either his mother or I could know."
28 Jan 16, 01:43 AM
Ally: Her expression softened when he spoke of Celeste. "Maybe not" she argued though she knew she had no right to do so. "Things happen" She sighed, still smiling, but then a thought occurred to her. "Are you...going to tell him? About all this I mean?" He frowned at her and she did nearly blanch this time. "I..." she looked lost for a moment. "I guess I never realized I had that much power."
28 Jan 16, 01:46 AM
[×] Asher: He judged her for a long moment before he answered. "Not right now. Depends on how things go." A fragile laugh and he patted her leg before he stood. "Ally Silver, the women always have that much power. Men are fragile things when you hit the right spot." And he walked back over to sit down at the taps, still turned her way. It wasn't something he liked admitting, but it was a very strong truth.
28 Jan 16, 01:50 AM
Ally: She didn't comment on his next statement, though she smiled when he patter her leg. She thought about that for a long moment, wondered if it was true of everyone. "Aiden always seems like he knows exactly who he is and has everything under control" she answered. "I guess I never thought he could be broken.
28 Jan 16, 01:51 AM
Ally: broken." It was a revelation to her. There was something else she wanted to ask him while she had his attention. "Do you remember my dad?" Arabelle hadn't gone to Hogwarts, and she had never met another adult outside those in her family she felt comfortable asking. He always told her of how different he had been. She wanted to know more about him.
28 Jan 16, 08:14 AM
[×] Asher: Softly. "Anyone can be broken. It just takes the right action at the right moment. My mother was apparently good at that, breaking people. Especially the heart." He picked up the hand tools once more as he continued. "Aiden is a good boy, knows what he wants and goes after it. But if what i suspect os true, he's been building a good part of his hopes on you and the future without trying to think of 'what ifs.' That's why I suspect you backing out would leave him at a bad spot. Part of my payment for talking to you right now is you have to owl me with what happens WHEN it happens in case I need to be there. You got it?" He met her eyes steadily. "I remember him from the dorm, was aware he was there. I wasn't exactly social after the way I grew up so I didn't have him as a friend, but yes."
28 Jan 16, 08:48 AM
Ally: She frowned when he spoke of his mother. It was obvious there were a lot of feelings there that weren't positive. "All Aiden ever told me was that you and Arabelle were orphans" she said softly. "Did you...how long were you with her?" She arched a brow at him. "/Part/ of your payment?" she repeated questioningly. She hesitated. "I might go see him" she said finally, a plan just forming in her mind. "After the tour ends in a couple of months." She looked disappointed by his response about her father. "Do you remember anything?"
28 Jan 16, 09:30 AM
[×] Asher: Eh, she deserved to know that Aiden didn't have the best feelings about the DE and where that came from. "She was killed in front of me by aurors when I was six. I doubt he wanted to go much into detail." His face didn't grow hard or frustrated or even change. It as the past, after all and he had finally come to terms with it. "Yes, part of it." He looked at her. "The other part is giving yourself some value. If you think he'd be better off without you I think you need to think more about your own worth first, Ally. I see a fine young woman who is clearly charming and spontaneous. Doesn't sound like what you said a few minutes ago." Oh Ara was going to find this conversation very interesting no doubt. "To China, huh?" And if she was thinking that she was already rethinking her position. Good. A nod of satisfaction to himself before he added "Well let's just say if you can be a troublemaker and a prefect at the same time, he managed it quite well. "
28 Jan 16, 09:55 AM
Ally: She looked hesitant for a moment, not sure if she should admit what immediately came to mind. After a long beat, she finally spoke. "My grandfather was a Death Eater, sort of. He spied for the order, eventually." She looked embarrassed. "Ma, that is, my grandmother, says she turned him around. " She couldn't imagine her grandfather with his tendency for pranks and laughing eyes as anything like what she understood Death Eaters to be..But, there had been a time when things were different, she knew. Her face tightened when he spoke of his mother's death. "No, I guess he probably wouldn't." She didn't want to linger on the subject, it was a strange one for her to fathom. He mentioned her worth and she pulled a face. She knew her worth didnt she? Or did she? 'Merlin' she thought silently. She was surprised by his praise, and it showed briefly. "Well" she answered with a small grin, "this is our first conversation after all" she pointed out. Still, if that was how he saw her, that was
28 Jan 16, 09:59 AM
Ally: something. A nod when he mentioned China. "I might need Aunt Brier's help since its an international portkey, and that will take some time" she explained. She beamed suddenly at his description of her father. "Sounds like dad" she seemed enthused by the idea. "He's always talking about stuff he got into in school. Mum says he was trouble from the moment she met him."
28 Jan 16, 10:01 AM
[×] Asher: He didn't say anything, just listened. There had been no converting his mother. Nor did he respond to her comment about his son, letting her think on as he listened. "Well at least I know you are paying attention. Yes, Ally, since you have come to our attention, Ara and I have talked about you. And we knew if you ever started paying attention more to those around you you would be a force no one could reckon with. I can only hope that's what I'm seeing happen in your mind now." He had no way of helping with her transportation and knew she would know that. "I remember your mother was trying to avoid him for a long time, like most of year I think before their first date. I have no idea why."
28 Jan 16, 10:14 AM
Ally: She flushed for the third time that day. They had talked about her? She guessed it shouldn't have surprised her, but it did. She looked pleased by their conclusion, though a bit confused as to what he meant by 'paying attention'. She wasn't quite sure what to say in response. "I honestly can't tell you. There's a lot going on up here right now. " There always was, but this was admittedly different. He mentioned her mother's avoidance of hr father, and she laughed. She couldn't help it. "Because Aunt Brier told her he was a player along with every rumor she had ever heard about him. It took him a year to convince her he was serious. "
28 Jan 16, 10:24 AM
[×] Asher: A chuckle, finally. "Good thing." She told him why her mother had and he nodded without comment. "I do seem to remember something of an uproar about him seducing another house's quidditch player and sabotaging a game or something. Never did hear the whole story."
28 Jan 16, 10:30 AM
Ally: "Might have been mum" Ally answered thoughtfully, "but I doubt it. She's very serious about quidditch. I doubt she'd have thrown one, even for dad." She decided to ask her father about it later. After a moment, she added: "What was it like when you both were young? " She couldn't imagine living on the streets of Paris, but it sounded like an adventure to her.
28 Jan 16, 12:44 PM
Asher: He thought as he spoke, his brow furrowing. "Think it was before they dated." A twist of the lips. "Paris was as it is now really. She was living in a hostel during her days out of school as she had basically escaped the orphanage. I was stuck at home awhile before I got out of school then I was with her forever after. I got a job working in a bar."
28 Jan 16, 12:48 PM
Ally: She listened as he spoke, looking thoughtful. They had been together almost as long as her parents, longer in some ways even. She sighed after a long moment. "I guess its probably not as romantic as it sounds" she finally acknowledged. "How did you end up in Paris?"
28 Jan 16, 12:56 PM
Asher: Now he laughed at her. "Romance? Oh it was terribly romantic. Shoved up in a tight closet with a single bed, all our things on it with us, working to get enough money to afford food and such. Then I inherited the train from my grandfather and were trying to keep that afloat and moved into it -- and then an old ex dumped my first boy on me and left. Yes, terribly romantic." He began tapping away at the tap again which moved with great difficulty as he added "That was where she wanted to be. I went where she wanted to be."
28 Jan 16, 01:05 PM
Ally: When he laughed at her, she wrinkled her nose at him childishly, but her expression softened as he continued. It was clear by the way he spoke that he loved his wife very much. Ally thought of Aiden. The similarities between fathe and son were becoming more and more obvious. "Max" she said softly when he mentioned the ex. "Aiden toldme a few years ago." She tried to picture it and found it difficult. Something struck her, "That's why he's so sensitive about..." she broke off, realizing she had said the words out loud. She didn't consider money an issue, but she knew Aiden did.
28 Jan 16, 01:07 PM
Asher: "Good. Max had a rough start." And then she hesitated and somehow he knew it was something big. "About what?"
28 Jan 16, 01:13 PM
Ally: She flushed even as she met his eyes. She had never been embarrassed to be well off before, but the realization that she had only ever worked for her dancing career struck a nerve. "About money" she finally answered. "He was always so weird about his Christmas presents, and I never understood why."
28 Jan 16, 01:17 PM
Asher: Realization after she said money and he just watched her. After she finished h nodded once. "He asked me for help making every present he gave you. We only had this house because we rented it out the rest of the year and only lived in Paris in the winter. Rest of the time we lived out of the train. I'm sure he was worried people would think he wanted to date you for money." Asher pursed his lips adding after a moment "I doubt you will ever be able to get him to use money you give him. Now I suspect he only wants to earn what he uses."
28 Jan 16, 01:23 PM
Ally: She shook her head, slightly exasperated. "But what good is having it if I can't use it to help the people I love?" She seemed very frustrated by the concept. "Besides" she continued, "if we..." she hesitated only a fraction of a second. "If we actually got married, it would be his too." She just couldn't understand. "It doesn't matter to me if he has money or not. Why does it matter to him that I do? Who cares what anyone thinks?" She had worked herself up a bit by this point, and her eyes had begun to tinge red.
28 Jan 16, 01:31 PM
Asher: There really wasn't one answer to what she asked, and he couldn't really tell her the tricks she could try. He had done enough. "For that, Ally, you will need to find your own way. Not everything has an easy answer, but being aware of the problem and not shoving it in his face will help you loads. The two of you need to work through that together."
28 Jan 16, 01:38 PM
Ally: Her lips twitched. "You sound like mum" she observed, and then wondered if all parents used the same set of answers for things. Speaking of, where in Merlin's name was his mother? She needed to show up before his father had finished reading her soul. "You were a Slytherin weren't you?"
28 Jan 16, 01:42 PM
Asher: A sudden slight twist of the tap and he stopped to exaimine it with his fingers. A shrug. "It's the way it is no matter what parent it is I think. Somethings you learn better by doing rather then hearing about." A nod, then he looked at her for several long seconds. "Why?"
28 Jan 16, 01:52 PM
Ally: She shrugged, "I just had a feeling. My family's full of them, and talking to you reminds me of dad a bit. Plus you seem good at reading people, and I've never met a Slytherin who was bad at that."
28 Jan 16, 01:54 PM
Asher: He snorted. "Most parents are good at reading their children. Those who their kids spend their lives with also become easier to read. Ergo, whether I am from a particular type of person or not, you are easier to read because I know my son."
28 Jan 16, 01:59 PM
Ally: Intrigued, she looked up at him with curiosity burning in her eyes. "What does knowing Aiden have to do with me being easier to read?"
28 Jan 16, 02:18 PM
Asher: Putting the tools down and gripping the tap with his bare hands, he said quickly. "Come now, Ally, you'e not dumb. He does write and talk about you." And turned it with sheer strength, causing his muscles to show detailed as he strained for a bout ten seconds before suddenly the tap broke free of the wood and came loose in his hand. He gasped as it came undone and after a second glanced down in the cask before trying to see how it had gotten stuck in there.
28 Jan 16, 02:22 PM
Ally: Her eyes widened almost comically as she wondered exactly how much Aiden had told his parents, and what's more, how much more they had been able to guess at. She would have given a lot to see those letters. "I guess I never really thought about it " she answered. "What...does he say exactly?" The look on her face as she studied the definition of his muscles was pure appreciation, and she was grateful he was focused on his work and not her for the moment
28 Jan 16, 02:24 PM
[×] Asher: Hearing Ara coming up the stairs he turned and glanced that way before answering "And on that I think I'll be keeping my son's secrets, Ally. I guess you will have to ask him yourself." Standing he kissed his wife as she entered, hands around her waist before he said "She was very bored watching me fix taps. I told her I was quite experienced with their problems."
28 Jan 16, 02:31 PM
Ally: Ally's mouth snapped shut just in time for Arabelle to glance her way. Taking in the girl's flushed face and wide eyes in addition to her husband's appearance, she kissed him back before she winked at Ally. "I'm sure it wasn't so bad, right Ally?" An embarrassed nod and she turned back to her husband. "One of the girls is out for the season " she told him. "I'll have to find a replacement for the spring. "
28 Jan 16, 02:37 PM
Asher: Asher ignored or didn't see his wife's wink as he kissed her and then made a face for her. "Oh that hurts. Well Ally as just telling me about how she's going to visit Aiden in China soon. Won't that be nice surprise for him?"
28 Jan 16, 02:45 PM
Ally: Ally was still recovering, but she managed a nod when her name was mentioned. For her part, Ara arched a curious brow at her husband as though asking what he had been up to while she was away. "That is quite a surprise " she agreed, studying them both. "Im sure he will be thrilled, do you know where you're going?" Ally shook her head. "I was hoping you could tell me?"
28 Jan 16, 02:48 PM
[×] Asher: A look of 'later' to his wife, that common body language between spouses and he answered for them both. "It's a particular village, let me go get it for you." Kissing his wife again and ruffling Ally's hair as he passed her he stepped through the other doorway and was gone possibly two minutes.
28 Jan 16, 02:54 PM
Ally: In Asher'sabsence, she grinned at Ally. "So, bored were you? "Ally smiled ruefully back at her. "Not exactly, no." Arabelle laughed outright. "It's allright Alky. I understand. " Still blushing, but less embarrassed, Ally nodded. "So, what happened to your dancer?" Arabelle sghed. "She landed incorrectly out of a leap. It is unlikely she will return. " Ally winced, knowing that was a risk all dancers took.
28 Jan 16, 02:56 PM
Asher: Returning ith a piece of paper with the address scribbled on it, Asher handed it to Ally saying "It's way out in nowhere, he said, so you may want a guide to find it without getting lost on the road. When you get ready to go let us know and we'll send along a care package for him if you don't mind..."
28 Jan 16, 02:59 PM
Ally: Asher returned and Ally nodded. ""I'll come get it before I leave " she promised. Ara nodded, looking pleased. She could hardly wait to get Asher alone to find out what he had done.
s1169.photobucket.com/user/shava4/media/Hall/exp/apt/x_zps37e9039b.jpg.html
27 Jan 16, 10:58 PM
Ally: Ally was actually a little early for her weekly lunch with Aiden's mother. She had kept her promise to him and dropped in fairly regularly to see his parents and to check in on Celeste. His sister was at school now however, so they mostly owl'd. It had taken a few weeks, but Ally finally felt comfortable with Arabelle, her knowledge of dance was a gold mine for Ally who was just starting out. She knocked, waiting for the older woman to appear at the door.
27 Jan 16, 11:01 PM
[×] Asher: Asher answered the door, giving a brief smile at his son's friend before waving her in through the kitchen. "Ara is running late, had some stuff to finish up and said I could keep you entertained for a bit." He seemed to have been doing something like a workout as he wiped his forehead with a towel saying "Sorry, been working on a bar tap and the time got away."
27 Jan 16, 11:07 PM
Ally: She found herself staring into the very blue eyes of his father instead. Stepping inside, she studied him a moment, and it was easy to tell what he had likely been doing. 'Merlin' thought Ally. She couldn't recall ever being alone with his father for more than a moment or two. She had nurtured a massive crush on him when she was younger, and looking at him now she decided if Aiden aged half as well he might come home from China married to someone else. The thought made her stomach lurch. She nodded understanding a moment or so late. "I don't know how she does it, our company leader always seems like she's one breath away from hexing the next person who missteps." She smiled, "No worries, I'm used to it. Aiden was always working on his stuff too." Another similarity it seemed between father and son, hmm.
27 Jan 16, 11:11 PM
Asher: He nodded and led the way down two flights and up three at a good clip as he said "Knowing her it will take a bit, but I figure it's good since we never talk. Does Aiden ever write you by the way? He always tells us it's hard to put his head in a letter while hes out there." In the sitting room whee he stopped there were two barrels and a number of tools around in the middle of the floor he had clearly been working on.
27 Jan 16, 11:17 PM
Ally: She followed him easily through the house, glad she had opted out of the heels she had almost worn. Ally didn't often wear flats, but she made a personal exception for the sheer amount of stairs here. She almost snorted. Never was right, and she wasn't exactly sure what to say now, which was rare for her. A nod, though she realized he couldn't see her. "Every other week" she answered. "I usually write him two or three a week and then send them together." She liked telling him about all the people she was meeting and the places she had gone. It made her miss him a bit less. She had even told him about her date with Cameron, though she had called it 'Dinner with a guy from school'. She glanced around the room curiously, "What's all this?" she asked, as curiosity won out over her hesitation.
27 Jan 16, 11:20 PM
[×] Asher: He nearly stopped, but it became a hesitation before he finished the stairs and walked in the room. "Ah. Well that answers that question then." he dropped into a sitting position which showed he was still supremely in good shape before he picked up a tool again. "It's a bad tap. Someone screwed it in in some weird new way and it won't come out. I'd rather do it by hand then use power tools or magic on it though."
27 Jan 16, 11:24 PM
Ally: She noted that he hesitated and when he spoke she couldn't help herself. "What question?" she wanted to know. She watched him drop to the floor and couldn't keep a trace of admiration out of her expression. Still, when he mentioned the tap she studied the barrels anew and nodded. Some things were just better without magic. Cooking for example. The corners of her lips turned up. "So this is what bar owners spend their time on, fixing bad taps?" With a start, she realized that could have come across as flirtation. She almost sighed. She had never been around someone she shouldn't flirt with before. Well, that wasn't entirely true, she flirted with everyone whether she should or not, but this was different.
27 Jan 16, 11:29 PM
Asher: Looking up at her he could tell she had no idea which was rather amusing. "He writes home about once every other...month. And you tell me the first day he was back from China you were the first one to run into him, hum?" Well. He had suspected his son was fixated, but not quite that bad. "Interesting, when I first met Ara there was a lot of tension for us ton of electricity, I take it you were too young on the train..." Ha. He glanced back up at her, hearing th e tone of her words. "I did raise two sons here so yes you could say that."
27 Jan 16, 11:34 PM
Ally: She looked up at him suddenly with her eyes widened slightly, colored suddenly bright orange in her surprise. "He...um...really...?" She was at a loss, she was never at a loss. Merlin. "I...yes...that was...an accident really. He was at the bakery when I left rehearsal and..." She realized she was rambling. What the hell? Brighter orange if such a thing were possible when he mentioned Arabelle. She blushed, much to her own amazement. "Definitely too young" she agreed, unsure what else to say. She bit her lip, her eyes shifting colors as if she couldn't settle on one emotion in particular. "Haha" she managed.
27 Jan 16, 11:39 PM
Asher: A nod as Asher watched her surprise with some satisfaction he had awakened someone up to realism so easily. "Well, I knew he liked you. We'd wondered why his letters were so thick." He mused on that. His boy was getting multiple letters rom his dream girl between each letter he sent home. "Explains why you get mentioned so much. I'll try not to be the father who shows the naked baby pictures of my boy. His mother can keep that a secret for now." Another thought as he realized he still had another tap to work on after this. A sigh of 'father's-work-never-done', Picking up the tools, he settled them against the tap, hesitated in thought, glanced at her, then shook his head with a smile and began slowly tapping the metal to try and get it turned.
27 Jan 16, 11:44 PM
Ally: She calmed a bit, back in familiar territory, though still a little uncomfortable. She shrugged, "its strange not having him to talk to all the time" she admitted. "So I pack as much as I can into the letters." She hadn't realized he wrote his parents about her, wasn't sure how to feel about it. She laughed softly. "Mum threatened me with that when he came at Christmas last year" she answered. "He said it wasn't worth worrying about." The memory caused a soft, nostalgic pang. Merlin she missed him. He looked so much like her own father when the expression crossed his face that she almost laughed. When he glanced at her, she knew she should have let it pass, but she couldn't resist it. "What?"
27 Jan 16, 11:52 PM
Asher: "I bet. I miss having him around the house too. When they first leave home it's a real strike to the chest, but when they don't come back it feels like your life is a bit more empty." He stopped tapping tolook up at the wall, clearly seeing something not there. "You miss being part of every minute of their lives, seeing how they discover the world and how it changes them. Being a parent is d@mn hard. Not that I got a lot of warning, mine parents were pretty awful examples." He chuckled as he tapped, shaking his head. "Yes, every parent ends up with a few of them I think. Why it's so hard to keep kids in clothes for the first few years is hard to understand." Her question brought his eyes back to her. "As a parent you see things your kids don't see. Bad and good, people, situations, and...futures." He studied her for a minute before he added "Young people think they are facing situations no one else has, but it's all so familiar to us. And because they are your kids you try and help as much as you can, but they stop listening after a point."
27 Jan 16, 11:57 PM
Ally: She curled up on the sofa as she listened to him speak about Aiden. It was nice to talk to his parents, they understood what it was like to miss him, though in a different way than she did. He spoke of parenting and she wondered if her parents felt the same way about her being gone all the time. It was a new thought, and she looked contemplative for a moment. Then he started speaking of seeing things and of futures and for the first time she wondered if he knew more about the situation she and Aiden were in than she wanted his parents to be aware of. It raised the question, which did he think she was? A good future or a bad one? She hesitated, bit her lip in a rare show of something she had picked up from her mother, unaware of looking every inch a vulnerable kid for a span of moments. There was no way she could ask him what she should do about her feelings for his son, were there? "Did you not want him to go?" she asked, mostly for something to say while she continued considering the new information.
28 Jan 16, 12:03 AM
[×] Asher: She asked one of the difficult questions and he sighed again, his head dipping down slightly. "Yes and no." He laid the tools down and turned to face her still sitting on the floor to match her eyes directly. "When your child goes out into the world, you can't protect them anymore. You want them to live and fly and become everything they want to be, but at the same time it's your heart. A par of you goes out the door every time, leaving you wondering if it will be the last time. You never stop being a parent, even when the child is an adult. You worry for every worry they have, hurt with every pain, cry for every heartbreak." His face didn't show the emotions, but you could hear them in the words. "I was as afraid to let him and his brother go as I was for Celeste to go to school. Fortunately, my hair doesn't show it yet."
28 Jan 16, 12:09 AM
Ally: She looked thoughtful again. "I didn't realize how hard it was" she said softly, thinking of her own parents. "My parents have always traveled a lot. I didn't think it would bother them if I did some of it myself." She smiled at the hair comment. "Dad can't go gray, and mum dyes hers." She met his eyes, hesitated, glanced down, met his eyes again. "Mr. Urquart...can I ask you something?"
28 Jan 16, 12:14 AM
[×] Asher: He laughed and waggled a finger at her. "No one does. When you're young it's hard to get it. And we traveled a lot while also having kids. It's quite possible, but it's the heart which takes the real hits. But you know what Ally? Here's the most important thing. Even knowing it all, I wouldn't hesitate to do it all again for them and neither would your parents. It's the best adventure in the world, totally unpredictable." He smiled a tiny bit, fondly before adding "Nothing about children is predictable." A shake of his head as his arms laid on the top of his knees for a moment. "Write them a lot more is all I can say. It helps." She hesitated and he knew in a moment it was going to be one of those big life questions, something she was hung up on. Praying it wasn't about his son, he nodded once, quite seriously. "Yes. But be warned, I don't pull punches when it comes to advice. My kids know that, I won't have you surprised."
28 Jan 16, 12:18 AM
Ally: She smiled, "I went home for a couple of weeks, just got back actually." He spoke of his kids and she nodded. "Never heard it put quite like that" she told him. She opened her mouth, closed it again, took a deep breath and then: "If you know you're not good for someone, is it better to let them go so they'll be better off?" She wasn't looking at him now, knowing he'd know exactly what she meant. Asher probably understood his son the best of anyone, and this might be her only chance to ask a question like this.
28 Jan 16, 12:25 AM
Asher: Ah of course. d@mn the child just had to ask that one didn't she? Asher closed his eyes a moment and sought for the best way to speak. "Depends. Are you sure the other isn't thinking the same thing, that they might be wrong for you? And that you might be better off without them? I suspect someone has been worrying about that a very long time. But I think it's only fair to talk to them about that. It's not a decision that effects just your life, after all is it?" He debated adding the last part then stood and walked over to her, sitting down beside her on the couch where she was curled up and set a hand on her half-bare shoulder. "Ally. I know you have to choose for yourself and what you want for a future, but are you sure your life isn't improved by the other, whether it's bad for them or not? That's what you need to think about the most I think." Holding up a hand he whispered something and from down the hallway a book sailed to smack into his hand. He flipped through a dozen or so p ages before he said "Here, I need to show you something." The picture was badly made of a dark room with little Asher all done up in a suit. It was hard not to notice how much Aiden resembled his father. The house behind the boy was scary dark and spooky looking.
28 Jan 16, 12:31 AM
Ally: She knew by the way he reacted that he wasn't exactly happy to be answering her. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him nevermind before he began speaking. She sighed, "Enough with the pronouns already" she spoke more to herself than to him. He laid a hand on her shoulder and it was a testament to how mixed up she was that she didn't react to it. "I know having Aiden in my life is good for me" she said in a small voice. "I don't know if having me in his life is good for Aiden." It was hard for her to say, and that much was obvious. She watched the book and then her eyes fell on the picture and she smiled. "He looks a lot like you" she observed with an edge of tenderness in her voice. "Whose house is this?"
28 Jan 16, 12:37 AM
[×] Asher: he admired her for the bravery of eliminating the mystery. "I know. It was easy to see. But unless you admit it to yourself there's no point to trying to fix it. Now that you have said it out loud it's easier to think about." He was silent for a moment before he added "My son has never been one to go out on his own, nor to explore the world. He knows what he wants or at least thinks he does. You have certainly made him braver, more open, and willing to be spontaneous. I think those all count as good things, Ally." A nod, and he pointed out another with a hard older man in the face. "I was forced to go back to my grandfather since my father was dead and aurors killed my Deatheater mother in front of me. He didn't do well with kids. And his house he put me in a room overlooking a graveyard."
28 Jan 16, 12:44 AM
Ally: "Not so much" she mumbled. It was still an immensely hard thing to face. She brightened somewhat when he spoke of all the ways she had helped. "I made him take risks" she sighed. "But risks aren't always good and I..." She bit her lip again, "I don't always know the difference." She was nervous, another rarity. "When we were little, my twin brother and I went on an 'adventure' on the island where my family lives." Another deep breath, "He got hurt pretty badly because of me." She seemed to slouch a bit, "I know Aiden is afraid he won't be able to keep up with me. I"m afraid too. I'm afraid he'll get hurt trying." She finally met his eyes again. "Sorry" she mumbled. "I've just never really had anyone to talk to about all this. My parents don't really know Aiden very well except for what I've told them." She looked horrified at his revelations about his grandfather and his parents."That's...wow...that's terrible" was all she could think to say.
28 Jan 16, 12:50 AM
Asher: He agreed. "No, risks aren't always good, that's why t's important to think about them first, but taking no risks is bad too. Aiden never took risks before you came along I know." he sighed and moved the hand back as he leaned in the couch backwards. "I suspect Aiden already knows this, and yet he choose to follow you anyway. Have you seen him stop and try to think about those times first?" Her eyes told him he truth. "Then he's afraid for you as well and is trying to think for both of you." He met her eyes again as he said "And in exchange for that, you have not thought about slowing down just a bit so he can keep up? Is there really no way to meet him halfway to make it work for you both? I know he would probably do anything for you from what I've seen." Or did she think it had to be all or nothing? Poor child didn't know how to compromise. "It was. I was miserable, but stuck, and he didn't like kids so I couldn't have anyone over either. Finally one of my classmates made an effort to help me get out of the house and saved me from either an early grave or a early prison. I married her, despite the fact it meant we would live on the streets and eat what we could earn because she transformed my entire life." He set his hand on her leg again and added seriously in a somehow different voice "I would do anything for her because she changed everything I knew about the world. She made it better in every single way. Does that sound familiar to you Ally?"
28 Jan 16, 12:57 AM
Ally: She considered everything he was saying. "He's not particularly fond of me scaling Hogwarts after curfew" she answered after a moment with a small smile at the memory, "but he did come with me onc--" She broke off, wondered if he could still get in trouble for something that had happened last year. She almost laughed. "He does do that, I used to call it his 'zen'." She worried her lip again. "Of course I have, but..." She wasn't sure she could, at least not long term sure. "I know I could try, but..." But what if she failed? She didn't say it. "He would" she answered without hesitation. That she was certain of. He spoke of his past and Ally knew he was speaking of Arabelle even before he confirmed it for her. He asked if it sounded familiar and she smiled oddly. "Its how Aiden talks about me" she admitted, "and how I..." and how she felt about him. His hand on her leg was a bit more of a jolt than the touch on her shoulder, but she was still wrapped up in her thoughts of Aiden. "He's
28 Jan 16, 12:58 AM
Ally: got your eyes too" she realized when she looked up at him again, then she sighed. "Sorry, all this talking about him..." She frowned, "and it'll be at least another year..." That was the hardest part at the moment, the waiting.
28 Jan 16, 01:04 AM
Asher: He made a motion which said they weren't there now so it didn't matter, but his eyes were for a moment a touch concerned for them both. he could almost here 'but what if I can't.' 'Ally, has he ever told you he loves you?" He listened then added "And you say it so sure. That's how he's been telling you, without words. He's willing to take the chance because he believes in you, but more so because I think he loves you very much. And he wants to do what you want more then what he wants. I think that's the best definition of love you will ever find in real life. Trust someone's actions more then their words." Another nod as she worked it out for herself. "I'm betting you led hi throughout the years in Hogwarts into everything am I right? And he was always there for you, any way you needed him? Ally, he may be my son, but after all these years of him at your back if you hesitate now, think then of what he would do without you. Knowing what you know now, do you actually believe he would be be better off with out you or you without him?"
28 Jan 16, 01:09 AM
Ally: "Yes" she answered. "When he came home" she clarified, and she had said it back for the first time to someone not family in her entire life. He didn't need to know that part. Rather than answer his question at the end, she said something else. "You just said it though, he wants me to do what I want. We're very very different, and I don't see how we both can." She sighed, "I know he'd go with me anywhere, but that's not his dream." She looked heavily conflicted. "Knowing that, I'm really not sure."
28 Jan 16, 01:15 AM
[×] Asher: Asher actually chuckled, maybe seeing something she did not. "I know you want to travel, right? Well I think I can vouch for Aiden not only being supremely trained in traveling, bu how to survive in rougher situations then most have. He has first hand experience in raising a family while on the road. I doubt he sees that as a complication. As to his dream..." he looked off at the wall for a minute before he spoke. "I don't think he's ever say in the last year a dream which has a particular place to it now that i think about it. His dreams seem suspiciously mobile." A glance at her before he asked "Has he ever told you a specific dream he has?"
28 Jan 16, 01:18 AM
Ally: He chuckled, surprising her, and she made a face at him before she could stop herself. "Right" she said slowly, not sure where this was going. "I know" she smiled. "I'm jealous." The word family though brought her up short and caused her eyes to widen. Kids with Aiden, now that was a step too far for her to contemplate today. "Not really" she answered after a long moment, "but he's always been so focused on the martial arts, I assumed that's what he wanted."
28 Jan 16, 01:22 AM
[×] Asher: He smiled. "Aiden has his mind wrapped around what he wants, for sure, but he learned with us to not fix it to a place. We've always traveled to be with his mother so she could have her dream. And she's very very good at it as you know." Asher didn't consider what he had done a sacrifice. "Nope. He chose that to make himself into a particular kind of person, to gain a skill. he's never mentioned teaching it." He brushed that one off with a sure sound. "I know you are bothered about it being a year still, but maybe you need to write him and find out what his dream really is. I don't think he can answer you. And if he can't give you something concrete, then he may have built his dreams around you. Please, try to keep his heart in mind when you write him. For me at least?""
28 Jan 16, 01:27 AM
Ally: She nodded. "She is" in agreement. Her time had been invaluable to Ally in particular. She studied Asher for a long moment. Maybe that was why Aiden had never seen a problem with following her to the ends of the earth. He had grown up watching his father do the same. She paused for a long moment as though having a major realization. "He's never said anything about it to me either" she acknowledged. The thought of writing him with a question like that didn't sit well with her, but she wasn't sure how to ask him in person. She would have to give that some thought. His father's request, however, caught her attention. "Mr. Urquart" she spoke softly in a rare, serious voice. "I always have his heart in mind."
28 Jan 16, 01:31 AM
[×] Asher: Asher knew from her words she had listened and that had to be good. "I as serious when I said judge a person by their actions more then their words and promises. Aiden doesn't do things with half-@ssed preparation. When he sets his sights on soemthing, he doesn't speak about it lightly." He frowned at her and looked closer leaning in to her face. "Have you? I get the distinct impression that you were contemplating ending things with him for his own good. And I didn't miss you didn't answer my question of what he would do without you in his life. Do you think his heart is not tied up in that answer?" he watched her, expecting her to flinch away or hesitate so let the silence draw out.
28 Jan 16, 01:36 AM
Ally: She nodded. "I"ve always done that" she agreed, "and no, he definitely doesn't." She thought about this, and wondered how it was his father knew it. He leaned closer, getting into her personal space, and though she had the urge to back away, she didn't. d@mn it, "So the perception thing is genetic then" she observed. His question though, and she took a deep breath. "I was still thinking about what was best for his heart" she argued. "I didn't think I was it."
28 Jan 16, 01:40 AM
Asher: He smiled grimly. "No, I think Celeste is the one who missed it in our kids. It's saved my life once in particular and i've trusted it ever since. Picking out the person who has your best interests in heart is a life changing skill to my mind." A frown much deeper as if she had been found wanting a bit. "I suspect the breaking of his heart will be more then just knocking a support out from under him. I don't know what he would do after that. I don't really think either his mother or I could know."
28 Jan 16, 01:43 AM
Ally: Her expression softened when he spoke of Celeste. "Maybe not" she argued though she knew she had no right to do so. "Things happen" She sighed, still smiling, but then a thought occurred to her. "Are you...going to tell him? About all this I mean?" He frowned at her and she did nearly blanch this time. "I..." she looked lost for a moment. "I guess I never realized I had that much power."
28 Jan 16, 01:46 AM
[×] Asher: He judged her for a long moment before he answered. "Not right now. Depends on how things go." A fragile laugh and he patted her leg before he stood. "Ally Silver, the women always have that much power. Men are fragile things when you hit the right spot." And he walked back over to sit down at the taps, still turned her way. It wasn't something he liked admitting, but it was a very strong truth.
28 Jan 16, 01:50 AM
Ally: She didn't comment on his next statement, though she smiled when he patter her leg. She thought about that for a long moment, wondered if it was true of everyone. "Aiden always seems like he knows exactly who he is and has everything under control" she answered. "I guess I never thought he could be broken.
28 Jan 16, 01:51 AM
Ally: broken." It was a revelation to her. There was something else she wanted to ask him while she had his attention. "Do you remember my dad?" Arabelle hadn't gone to Hogwarts, and she had never met another adult outside those in her family she felt comfortable asking. He always told her of how different he had been. She wanted to know more about him.
28 Jan 16, 08:14 AM
[×] Asher: Softly. "Anyone can be broken. It just takes the right action at the right moment. My mother was apparently good at that, breaking people. Especially the heart." He picked up the hand tools once more as he continued. "Aiden is a good boy, knows what he wants and goes after it. But if what i suspect os true, he's been building a good part of his hopes on you and the future without trying to think of 'what ifs.' That's why I suspect you backing out would leave him at a bad spot. Part of my payment for talking to you right now is you have to owl me with what happens WHEN it happens in case I need to be there. You got it?" He met her eyes steadily. "I remember him from the dorm, was aware he was there. I wasn't exactly social after the way I grew up so I didn't have him as a friend, but yes."
28 Jan 16, 08:48 AM
Ally: She frowned when he spoke of his mother. It was obvious there were a lot of feelings there that weren't positive. "All Aiden ever told me was that you and Arabelle were orphans" she said softly. "Did you...how long were you with her?" She arched a brow at him. "/Part/ of your payment?" she repeated questioningly. She hesitated. "I might go see him" she said finally, a plan just forming in her mind. "After the tour ends in a couple of months." She looked disappointed by his response about her father. "Do you remember anything?"
28 Jan 16, 09:30 AM
[×] Asher: Eh, she deserved to know that Aiden didn't have the best feelings about the DE and where that came from. "She was killed in front of me by aurors when I was six. I doubt he wanted to go much into detail." His face didn't grow hard or frustrated or even change. It as the past, after all and he had finally come to terms with it. "Yes, part of it." He looked at her. "The other part is giving yourself some value. If you think he'd be better off without you I think you need to think more about your own worth first, Ally. I see a fine young woman who is clearly charming and spontaneous. Doesn't sound like what you said a few minutes ago." Oh Ara was going to find this conversation very interesting no doubt. "To China, huh?" And if she was thinking that she was already rethinking her position. Good. A nod of satisfaction to himself before he added "Well let's just say if you can be a troublemaker and a prefect at the same time, he managed it quite well. "
28 Jan 16, 09:55 AM
Ally: She looked hesitant for a moment, not sure if she should admit what immediately came to mind. After a long beat, she finally spoke. "My grandfather was a Death Eater, sort of. He spied for the order, eventually." She looked embarrassed. "Ma, that is, my grandmother, says she turned him around. " She couldn't imagine her grandfather with his tendency for pranks and laughing eyes as anything like what she understood Death Eaters to be..But, there had been a time when things were different, she knew. Her face tightened when he spoke of his mother's death. "No, I guess he probably wouldn't." She didn't want to linger on the subject, it was a strange one for her to fathom. He mentioned her worth and she pulled a face. She knew her worth didnt she? Or did she? 'Merlin' she thought silently. She was surprised by his praise, and it showed briefly. "Well" she answered with a small grin, "this is our first conversation after all" she pointed out. Still, if that was how he saw her, that was
28 Jan 16, 09:59 AM
Ally: something. A nod when he mentioned China. "I might need Aunt Brier's help since its an international portkey, and that will take some time" she explained. She beamed suddenly at his description of her father. "Sounds like dad" she seemed enthused by the idea. "He's always talking about stuff he got into in school. Mum says he was trouble from the moment she met him."
28 Jan 16, 10:01 AM
[×] Asher: He didn't say anything, just listened. There had been no converting his mother. Nor did he respond to her comment about his son, letting her think on as he listened. "Well at least I know you are paying attention. Yes, Ally, since you have come to our attention, Ara and I have talked about you. And we knew if you ever started paying attention more to those around you you would be a force no one could reckon with. I can only hope that's what I'm seeing happen in your mind now." He had no way of helping with her transportation and knew she would know that. "I remember your mother was trying to avoid him for a long time, like most of year I think before their first date. I have no idea why."
28 Jan 16, 10:14 AM
Ally: She flushed for the third time that day. They had talked about her? She guessed it shouldn't have surprised her, but it did. She looked pleased by their conclusion, though a bit confused as to what he meant by 'paying attention'. She wasn't quite sure what to say in response. "I honestly can't tell you. There's a lot going on up here right now. " There always was, but this was admittedly different. He mentioned her mother's avoidance of hr father, and she laughed. She couldn't help it. "Because Aunt Brier told her he was a player along with every rumor she had ever heard about him. It took him a year to convince her he was serious. "
28 Jan 16, 10:24 AM
[×] Asher: A chuckle, finally. "Good thing." She told him why her mother had and he nodded without comment. "I do seem to remember something of an uproar about him seducing another house's quidditch player and sabotaging a game or something. Never did hear the whole story."
28 Jan 16, 10:30 AM
Ally: "Might have been mum" Ally answered thoughtfully, "but I doubt it. She's very serious about quidditch. I doubt she'd have thrown one, even for dad." She decided to ask her father about it later. After a moment, she added: "What was it like when you both were young? " She couldn't imagine living on the streets of Paris, but it sounded like an adventure to her.
28 Jan 16, 12:44 PM
Asher: He thought as he spoke, his brow furrowing. "Think it was before they dated." A twist of the lips. "Paris was as it is now really. She was living in a hostel during her days out of school as she had basically escaped the orphanage. I was stuck at home awhile before I got out of school then I was with her forever after. I got a job working in a bar."
28 Jan 16, 12:48 PM
Ally: She listened as he spoke, looking thoughtful. They had been together almost as long as her parents, longer in some ways even. She sighed after a long moment. "I guess its probably not as romantic as it sounds" she finally acknowledged. "How did you end up in Paris?"
28 Jan 16, 12:56 PM
Asher: Now he laughed at her. "Romance? Oh it was terribly romantic. Shoved up in a tight closet with a single bed, all our things on it with us, working to get enough money to afford food and such. Then I inherited the train from my grandfather and were trying to keep that afloat and moved into it -- and then an old ex dumped my first boy on me and left. Yes, terribly romantic." He began tapping away at the tap again which moved with great difficulty as he added "That was where she wanted to be. I went where she wanted to be."
28 Jan 16, 01:05 PM
Ally: When he laughed at her, she wrinkled her nose at him childishly, but her expression softened as he continued. It was clear by the way he spoke that he loved his wife very much. Ally thought of Aiden. The similarities between fathe and son were becoming more and more obvious. "Max" she said softly when he mentioned the ex. "Aiden toldme a few years ago." She tried to picture it and found it difficult. Something struck her, "That's why he's so sensitive about..." she broke off, realizing she had said the words out loud. She didn't consider money an issue, but she knew Aiden did.
28 Jan 16, 01:07 PM
Asher: "Good. Max had a rough start." And then she hesitated and somehow he knew it was something big. "About what?"
28 Jan 16, 01:13 PM
Ally: She flushed even as she met his eyes. She had never been embarrassed to be well off before, but the realization that she had only ever worked for her dancing career struck a nerve. "About money" she finally answered. "He was always so weird about his Christmas presents, and I never understood why."
28 Jan 16, 01:17 PM
Asher: Realization after she said money and he just watched her. After she finished h nodded once. "He asked me for help making every present he gave you. We only had this house because we rented it out the rest of the year and only lived in Paris in the winter. Rest of the time we lived out of the train. I'm sure he was worried people would think he wanted to date you for money." Asher pursed his lips adding after a moment "I doubt you will ever be able to get him to use money you give him. Now I suspect he only wants to earn what he uses."
28 Jan 16, 01:23 PM
Ally: She shook her head, slightly exasperated. "But what good is having it if I can't use it to help the people I love?" She seemed very frustrated by the concept. "Besides" she continued, "if we..." she hesitated only a fraction of a second. "If we actually got married, it would be his too." She just couldn't understand. "It doesn't matter to me if he has money or not. Why does it matter to him that I do? Who cares what anyone thinks?" She had worked herself up a bit by this point, and her eyes had begun to tinge red.
28 Jan 16, 01:31 PM
Asher: There really wasn't one answer to what she asked, and he couldn't really tell her the tricks she could try. He had done enough. "For that, Ally, you will need to find your own way. Not everything has an easy answer, but being aware of the problem and not shoving it in his face will help you loads. The two of you need to work through that together."
28 Jan 16, 01:38 PM
Ally: Her lips twitched. "You sound like mum" she observed, and then wondered if all parents used the same set of answers for things. Speaking of, where in Merlin's name was his mother? She needed to show up before his father had finished reading her soul. "You were a Slytherin weren't you?"
28 Jan 16, 01:42 PM
Asher: A sudden slight twist of the tap and he stopped to exaimine it with his fingers. A shrug. "It's the way it is no matter what parent it is I think. Somethings you learn better by doing rather then hearing about." A nod, then he looked at her for several long seconds. "Why?"
28 Jan 16, 01:52 PM
Ally: She shrugged, "I just had a feeling. My family's full of them, and talking to you reminds me of dad a bit. Plus you seem good at reading people, and I've never met a Slytherin who was bad at that."
28 Jan 16, 01:54 PM
Asher: He snorted. "Most parents are good at reading their children. Those who their kids spend their lives with also become easier to read. Ergo, whether I am from a particular type of person or not, you are easier to read because I know my son."
28 Jan 16, 01:59 PM
Ally: Intrigued, she looked up at him with curiosity burning in her eyes. "What does knowing Aiden have to do with me being easier to read?"
28 Jan 16, 02:18 PM
Asher: Putting the tools down and gripping the tap with his bare hands, he said quickly. "Come now, Ally, you'e not dumb. He does write and talk about you." And turned it with sheer strength, causing his muscles to show detailed as he strained for a bout ten seconds before suddenly the tap broke free of the wood and came loose in his hand. He gasped as it came undone and after a second glanced down in the cask before trying to see how it had gotten stuck in there.
28 Jan 16, 02:22 PM
Ally: Her eyes widened almost comically as she wondered exactly how much Aiden had told his parents, and what's more, how much more they had been able to guess at. She would have given a lot to see those letters. "I guess I never really thought about it " she answered. "What...does he say exactly?" The look on her face as she studied the definition of his muscles was pure appreciation, and she was grateful he was focused on his work and not her for the moment
28 Jan 16, 02:24 PM
[×] Asher: Hearing Ara coming up the stairs he turned and glanced that way before answering "And on that I think I'll be keeping my son's secrets, Ally. I guess you will have to ask him yourself." Standing he kissed his wife as she entered, hands around her waist before he said "She was very bored watching me fix taps. I told her I was quite experienced with their problems."
28 Jan 16, 02:31 PM
Ally: Ally's mouth snapped shut just in time for Arabelle to glance her way. Taking in the girl's flushed face and wide eyes in addition to her husband's appearance, she kissed him back before she winked at Ally. "I'm sure it wasn't so bad, right Ally?" An embarrassed nod and she turned back to her husband. "One of the girls is out for the season " she told him. "I'll have to find a replacement for the spring. "
28 Jan 16, 02:37 PM
Asher: Asher ignored or didn't see his wife's wink as he kissed her and then made a face for her. "Oh that hurts. Well Ally as just telling me about how she's going to visit Aiden in China soon. Won't that be nice surprise for him?"
28 Jan 16, 02:45 PM
Ally: Ally was still recovering, but she managed a nod when her name was mentioned. For her part, Ara arched a curious brow at her husband as though asking what he had been up to while she was away. "That is quite a surprise " she agreed, studying them both. "Im sure he will be thrilled, do you know where you're going?" Ally shook her head. "I was hoping you could tell me?"
28 Jan 16, 02:48 PM
[×] Asher: A look of 'later' to his wife, that common body language between spouses and he answered for them both. "It's a particular village, let me go get it for you." Kissing his wife again and ruffling Ally's hair as he passed her he stepped through the other doorway and was gone possibly two minutes.
28 Jan 16, 02:54 PM
Ally: In Asher'sabsence, she grinned at Ally. "So, bored were you? "Ally smiled ruefully back at her. "Not exactly, no." Arabelle laughed outright. "It's allright Alky. I understand. " Still blushing, but less embarrassed, Ally nodded. "So, what happened to your dancer?" Arabelle sghed. "She landed incorrectly out of a leap. It is unlikely she will return. " Ally winced, knowing that was a risk all dancers took.
28 Jan 16, 02:56 PM
Asher: Returning ith a piece of paper with the address scribbled on it, Asher handed it to Ally saying "It's way out in nowhere, he said, so you may want a guide to find it without getting lost on the road. When you get ready to go let us know and we'll send along a care package for him if you don't mind..."
28 Jan 16, 02:59 PM
Ally: Asher returned and Ally nodded. ""I'll come get it before I leave " she promised. Ara nodded, looking pleased. She could hardly wait to get Asher alone to find out what he had done.
<3
It's the only way I can distract myself from the real world issues I have to deal with daily so I NEED to.