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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:15:28 GMT -5
Vincent was in a better then expected mood. Finally having gotten Keela to give in and let him take her out, they had settled on a magic possibility since they were still in school. Thus the Room of Requirement would be their stage, their chance to show the other their imagination and creativity. It seemed a really good opportunity to shine! So with bathing suit on underneath, Vin came dressed for the occasion. Having stopped at the Hufflepuff dorm (well okay near it; no reason to make them all paranoid that he knew how to find them) to pick her up, they had headed upstairs to find the room itself.
As always she was attractive in anything she wore, but she did best in white he knew. "Ready for surprises darling one? I bet I've been some places you will like. Tell me you've been thinking up some good ones for me! Tease me a bit," he chuckled, arm in arm with her as they went. "You know, my little sister has been messing with me, trying to make me afraid she would go and tell you a whole bunch of lies and feed them to make you run away to get at me for telling Dad on her. She's blackmailing me based on the idea you'll believe her more then me." He sighed and shook his head. Ash was a chip off the old block in his family, but he knew Keela was smart.
"I'm only telling you so you know there's other things going on. You're smart enough to make your own decisions on who is right and who is wrong." He shrugged; that was as close as he could get to insurance against his little sister.
Outside the room in the hallway now, he stopped and flashed her a smile. Holding out his hand he showed her a pirate doubloon, one his mother had given him along with a couple others years back. It was...special. Flipping it in the air, twice, he said "Mom gave me this once a long time ago. I figured we could flip it to see who gets to show first. Seems like we should do that before we enter, right? How does that sound, or did you just want to go ahead first?" He grinned and flipped the coin again, wondering which she would choose.
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:16:21 GMT -5
The concept of having to fake confidence was entirely foreign to Keela Summerby. Yet, as she thumbed through her trunk searching for something to wear, she knew her nerves would find their way through unless she miraculously discovered a spell to banish them in the next...hour or so. She'd been tossing clothing at random for several minutes, dissatisfied with everything she came across until that moment. "here it is!" she exclaimed. Then, realizing she'd drawn the attention of one of her more nosy dorm mates, she lowered her voice. The dress had been a gift from her mother, under the promise that she tell neither father nor brothers of its existence. Her mother had come to her room, dress in hand, with a conspiratorial smile on her face. Keela had stared at the dress in confused awe. It wasn't scant by any means, but it was certainly the most risque thing Keela owned. She and her mother had packed it at the bottom of her trunk. She wondered if her mother, who had always seemed more intuitive than most, had known she might need something like it, or if she'd simply been keen on having a harmless mother-daughter secret. Regardless, in a streak of boldness that was half revenge on her brother for his own secretiveness and half a need to level the scales between she and Vin, she slipped into the dress. Shrinking her suit into her purse, she eyed herself in the mirror. Unwilling to overdo, she left her hair mostly alone, save to darken it a few shades to the color she'd used for the dance the previous year, after recalling his reaction. She kept her make up simple, going bold only in the splash of red she brushed across her lips. Surveying the effect critically, she smiled. If her brother caught her on her way out, she was dead and then some, but he should have been in the library with Lilli if she remembered correctly, and, after slipping on a long overcoat, she decided to chance it. She took to the stairs under the notion that if she walked quickly enough, maybe no one would notice her passing. Luckily, the room was fairly deserted. She knew Cern would likely get a report from some well-meaning friend of his, but wasn't especially worried. After all, it would be hypocritical of him to chastise her now. When she found Vincent, she noticed his attire immediately, and was glad she'd decided to dress up a bit. "I think I've said it before, but you clean up very very well, Vin." She smiled at him, and the term of endearment that fell off of his lips made her blush despite her resolve not to do so. "Well", she obliged him, "I've seen pretty much all their is to see of Europe. I thought maybe we'd start with my favorites and work our way out, taking turns of course." When he mentioned his sister, she grinned. "Sounds like something a little sister would do." Her tone was light, but she felt compelled to point out the obvious. "If I haven't run away from the accounts of my dorm mates, I doubt anything your sister might try would scare me too much." Still, she made a note to be careful where the younger girl was concerned. While she considered herself warned, she also didn't want to alienate his sister, since that might be counter productive later on. Glancing at the coin thoughtfully, she grinned. Never one to back down from a challenge, even a small one, she said softly "Heads, whichever side that is."
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:17:10 GMT -5
At her appearance, Vincent had to admit extreme surprise. A quiet wolf whistle escaped him as his eyebrows arched, never having expected anything like this in an outfit from her! Bold, risqué, it showed a side of her he had not known she would show. He found it difficult not to keep glancing at her shoulders and form as they walked and could not help but put the first mark up on the board for her in his mind. He did think her point about Europe was certainly reasonable; beginning with favorites made a lot of sense to him. After all, whatever had made an impression on her would surely get him as well.
Of course she began by giving his ego a polish which he certainly didn't object to. In fact, he saw it as well deserved. "Sounds good then! I'm sure we both have a different eye on things in any case, makes it more interesting." It seemed his insurance would help him out then, at least he hoped so in the long run. "Yeah, she was pretty miffed about me threatening to tell dad about her being only fifteen and already with corsets in front of boys, but she really flaunts way too much for my comfort..."
In fact, he was fairly sure she had already trapped some boys; she did like taking after mum a bit too much.
Showing her both sides, he said "Oh we decided long ago the Mountain is heads and the bird is tails. Agreed?" he tossed it up extra high, nearly to the ceiling and had to move to catch it below. Catching and slapping it on the back of his hand he looked up at her before pulling his hand away and then glancing. "Ha! Heads it is, you win!" Showing her the coin on the back of his hand, he flipped it again and then stashed it in an inside pocket before bowing to let her go first to the door and do the walk thing.
And as she did he got a nice good long look at her in that dress. Keela he had thought of as more fitting the white outfits that added to the innocent side of her, but this... Well! Let's just say he could see her far more the pirate's girl, bad girl type then before and he liked the fact she hinted both ways! Finding his own heat rising a tad, he ran a finger around his collar as she walked and then led them inside...
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:17:53 GMT -5
Vincent's feelings about his sister reminded Keela of her issues with her own younger sibling. Though Cern was older, and his status as a male in their society meant his dalliances were more socially acceptable, she was still uncomfortable thinking of him as anything more than the best friend who had learned to dance and play quidditch with her. Shaking her head to clear it, she nodded. "I sort of understand", she agreed. "Cern's growing up too fast for my liking too", she admitted. "He has a girlfriend now, but I haven't met her yet. At least, not officially." She tilted her head, "have you thought about being straight with her? Explaining that guys her age make unfair assumptions about girls who dress that way?" Even Keela admitted it was a long shot, but it might be worth a try. She understood the notion of resenting an over-protective brother all too well, but then, she wasn't fifteen, and she certainly wasn't going to dress up in corsets for anyone. She was a bit surprised to have won, but she wasn't all together certain why. Maybe she'd expected Vincent to maintain control over the flow of the evening, it seemed like something that came easily to him. She tilted her head, thinking carefully over what she might like to show him first. Her mind flew over the scenes of tropical locations, architectural wonders, until she settled on something that suited. Suspicious at once of his chivalry, she smiled none the less, concentrating carefully on the image in her mind as she passed him. Sure enough, and much to Keela's relief, the room had obliged, though how far the magic went she couldn't be certain. Surrounded by blue sky and crumbled stone in every direction, their view was somewhat obscured by the towering columns that had survived the test of centuries. The room had even granted a warm breeze, typical of the locale and season for which she'd been hoping. The whistling sound as the breeze wove in and out of the massive structure made Keela smile. They were standing in the center of the ruins of the Parthenon. "Well, what do you think?" It was one of the first places she could remember going with her parents, a tourist stop on one of their many see voyages, just after Cern had turned two. "Its one of the first I remember", she said out loud. "I always thought it was sort of interesting, the way these sorts of places survived all these years." She motioned around them, "I thought it was sort of mind blowing that I was walking across the same stones as the people who lived here when the place was first built." She hadn't been old enough to understand the majesty of the place at the time, but seeing it now brought a new sense of wonder. "That and I fell up the steps getting here...twice." She blushed, smiling self-depreciatively.
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:18:46 GMT -5
Listening to her felt natural, her opinions important to hear though he doubted she would change his mind on many subjects with it; you never knew though, she could surprise him. And the more she learned about him the more chance she stood actually, even he knew that. "Not quite the same thing, actually. Mom is still like that, she kind of...flirts automatically, without thinking."
"Ash...well she really looks up to mom so it's more imitation then realization I think. If I told her that she'd probably be happy about it. And yeah I figured since I was there when it happened..." No point in hiding that tidbit anyway; she'd probably be more interested in hearing about it then what he had done. That thought was thrown off when she took the room to a level he had never seen before for sure. "Circe's T1ts!" he swore as the place's size was evident even in the ROR. It was huge and ancient and rather fascinating really!
"Where the heck is this place? And what was it? I have to say it's pretty amazing!" He smiled but did not comment on the falling part; the fact she felt safe telling him meant loads already. He stepped to the edge and looked out, whistling at the long view. "Okay, very nice choice, I approve. I do want to go there someday." Tilting his head he thought of a place she would probably enjoy for the same reason. "Okay, my turn." He closed his eyes for a second, fixing it in his mind as he whispered to the room, quietly knowing somehow it would know what he wanted.
In front of them the Kom Ombo Temple at night appeared. "Now it's cool in the day too, but come here and I'll show you why it sticks out to me." Capturing her hand he took her inside and right and pointed up through the temple itself. "There. Four thousand years old and that image still jumps out at me. Dad's brought me here a few times, it's obviously in Egypt."
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:20:00 GMT -5
"Natural flirt? Must run in your family then." The comment was out before she had time to process it, and she blushed. "Sorry, wasn't thinking." She tilted her head so that her eyes were mostly covered by her bangs. "Still, she's just a kid, maybe she'll figure it out sooner than you think." At least, that's what Keela hoped, for both their sakes. It bothered Keela to think that his sister might be in danger of biting off more than she could chew, simply because she didn't know any better. She thought of Cern's lectures prior to this moment, and almost laughed to herself. Apparently, it was the failing with all brothers to be hopelessly overprotective of their sisters. His next admission stopped her train of thought. "You were...there?" Her tone was incredulous. "Why didn't you tell me?" The question came out sharper than she'd intended. "Sorry, it's just...Cern and I haven't really been seeing eye to eye about anything lately. I had to hear about his girlfriend through the grapevine." She smirked at him, blushing as she did so. "Athens, Greece", she answered softly. "This is the Parthenon. It was built as a tribute to the goddess Athena back during the Greco-Roman enlightenment. What you're seeing now is what's left." She laughed as he whistled. "Yeah, its quite a climb, worth it though." She motioned to the air around them. "I like to think about walking over the same spots as people from hundreds of years ago", she confided. "Its like...being able to go back in time...without magic." She smiled, "make sure you take a guide, mum and dad almost got lost, even with the ability to appartate." He claimed his turn, and the scene around them shifted, like the melting and rebuilding of a priceless painting. In awe of the building in front of her, Keela was no less affected by his touch. The heat of the contact shot through her arm, like the moment before you snuffed out a candle with your fingers. He pulled, but didn't have to drag her as her own curiosity peaked. She stared, first at the columns and then at the inscriptions covering the ancient walls. It took a few moments before she caught sigh of the moon through the small hole near the ceiling. "Vin this is....this is incredible." She glanced around, trying to take in everything at once. "What is it though? Where are we? Besides being in Egypt I mean", she clarified. She listened to his explanation, still trying to take in as much of the image as possible. She smiled, "I believe its my turn", she informed him, thinking hard about where she'd like to take him next. With sudden clarity, it came to her, and she closed her eyes. Trying not to be overly specific, she sought the image in her mind. Opening her eyes, she sighed, relieved by the scene in front of her. The sun was only just beginning to set, just as Keela remembered it. "This is the Trevi fountain", she informed him softly. "We're in Rome now." She smiled cheekily at him, "bonus points if you know the legend."
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:21:18 GMT -5
When she called him a natural flirt he guffawed, then caught her hand and spoke much more seriously. "Keela, understand me. I used to be like that, flirting with all the girls. Maybe I still do some of that unconsciously, but not since you came along. Serious. I want this to work, enough so I've made a point of stopping myself from some things I used to do without thinking. You mean more to me then you realize I think..." As to his little sister, ah, there wasn't much he could manage to change there with her. Fortunately his little bombshell took that thought out of her mind.
"Well, I thought he should be the one to tell you, not me. If I had known he would take this long to tell his sister I would have told you sooner. Want me to tell you how it happened?" He certainly thought it was amusing, though he wasn't sure if she would or not. And while his reaction to her first site might have been fantastic, he felt well-rewarded for her reaction to his first place. "It's down the nile just near Aswan. That's the thing about Egypt. So many of their best sites are as amazing in the dark as with the sun. Makes you wish everyone built that way." A temple for a temple now compared, she chose to take him elsewhere. This time they went to a fountain.
"Nifty! Somewhere in Rome huh?" He shook his head, disappointed he didn't remember as much about Italy as some places. "I remember reading a book about how far the aqueducts stretch and that a hundred miles to the North you can drop something in one and it will show up in Rome three days later, but nothing on the fountain sorry. What's the story?" After hearing the story he nodded, interested. "I bet you know a lot of stories about this country from your parents. I suppose you've explored all of it practically?"
When she finished he smiled and said "Okay, well my next one is going to take longer then this I think. You have a bathing suit, right? I'm not sure how the room will do this one but we'll see." So saying this, he took her hand and focused, concentrating. It took a moment before things started to change, but they did! The room went grey as if from a long distance away and then began descending like a super jet fighter towards a point on the surface. First it came into view and then got rapidly closer till they were standing on the edge of this huge hole. "It's called the Great Blue Hole. Inventive name, right?" He chuckled and then stripped off his clothes fairly quickly leaving himself in his trunks shortly.
"The muggles say it's famous for deep water diving, but we can do better then that in the shallows. This is the first place mom brought me to learn about the ocean away from Europe." Turning and holding out his hand to her, he gave her a pleased but excited smile.
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:22:49 GMT -5
She stared at him, willing him to continue but not knowing quite how to say so. She thought about her talk with Cern, when she'd told him she really had no idea how Vincent Silver-Moon felt about her. It was true, even still. They were friends, they liked each other, but beyond that she had very little idea what was actually going on in his head, much less in his heart. Her brother's concern combined with the gossip that followed her around in the halls was enough to make her cautious. He was good at getting what he wanted. He'd told her as much and she'd had it confirmed by no less than half a dozen of her classmates. She needed a way to be sure he wasn't on some well-thought-out conquest, but she hadn't the slightest idea how to go about reassuring herself. Looking up, she met his eyes. "Do I?" she responded simply, playing slightly coy. In silence, she willed him to say something that would lay both hers and her brother's fears to rest, she was tired of fighting him, but fighting herself was exhausting.
Keela nodded, frowning. It was a valid point, but it drove home the hurt she'd felt at being left out of the loop so long. "We didn't get around to discussing it", she told him. "The last time we got into our respective love lives...it didn't go very well." She hesitated, wondering if this could be considered an invasion of her brother's privacy. "Sure", she smiled softly, noting the amused look on his face. "Was it bad?" She nodded without actually looking at him, still absorbed in the sights around her. "I don't know, there's something to be said for things that look better in certain lights, makes them more of a challenge to capture right." Knowing she'd jumped from architecture to photography, she grinned. "Sorry, photography on the brain", she tapped the side of her head. As the seen melted away, she opened her eyes as it shifted. Instead of watching the process this time, she found herself studying Vin. He seemed totally at ease, and she envied his confidence. Maybe one day she'd have enough experience with life to feel that way about everything, but she doubted it.
She grinned, nodding, "good guess." She turned to the fountain. "According to legend, Marco Vespasiano Agrippa decides to construct a long canal to feed the springs he developed near the Pantheon. Soldiers were sent to research the water springs closest to Rome, who, while on assignment, met a young girl that led them to the pure springs. It is from this legend that the water is gets its name the "Virgin Water".During antiquity, a glass of the fresh, thirst quenching water from the Trevi Fountain was said to ensure good fortune and a fast return to Rome. As time passed, this practice was replaced with the tossing of a coin in the fountain. The actual tradition calls for you to throw the coin over your's left shoulder while standing with your back to the fountain." Feeling a bit like a tour guide, she closed her mouth, and blushed. "I read up on it later", she said by way of explanation. "I don't remember what I wished the first time, but I'd be game to try again." Picking up her bag from where it still sat close by, she took two knuts from one of the inner pockets. "Want to make a wish with me?"
She wasn't sure it actually counted, since they weren't actually at the fountain, but it would be fun to try anyway. Clutching the knut, she closed her eyes tightly and turned. I wish...I wish he'd hurry up and kiss me already Tossing the knut over the correct shoulder, she opened her eyes and turned to face him. "So...what did you wish for?" As the conversation drifted, she nodded. "Mostly, there's still more I'd like to go back to, so that I can appreciate it better." Becoming accustomed to the room's method of changing scenes, she focused on the look in Vin's eyes as the scenery shifted, wondering if he was having a good time. Realizing they were in a decidedly beachy locale, she was glad she'd thought to bring her suit. She hadn't, however, thought about where she might change. She flushed scarlet. "Yes, I have one...its in my bag, but..." Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a booth, similar to the ones seen on most tourist beaches.
"I need to change", she draped her bag over her shoulder, and went as quickly as she could on her tall heels, disappearing a few seconds after. However, a moment later, she poked her head out, wrapped in the drapery in front of the booth. "No peeking!" When she resurfaced in a cream-colored bikini, she couldn't help feeling decidedly exposed. A bit self-conscious, she took his hand cautiously. "So if we're not going diving, what are we doing?"
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:25:10 GMT -5
Her quiet response was a clear enough signal to him that she wasn't sure yet. A challenge indeed as he knew she would be, but so worth the success later on! "I would think you've already asked around. Let me point out what people don't say. I've never spent more then a month before on any girl except you. I've been far more a gentleman with you then with the others I've dated, not that there have been that many, but people talk about a casual glance like you're sleeping with someone." He rolled his eyes at that in particular. Gossip, a tool to either side depending on how you spun it.
"Mostly I've been waiting on you to make your decision about any possibilities for us. Can you imagine any guy doing that for someone they don't personally care about? I think we could be amazing together, I really do, but I want a partner, Keela, not someone who follows along because I got them to. If I want someone I can depend on it can only be your decision to take that step." Let her think on that; this was no casual dating he had been doing, but an active campaign to seduce someone for a lifetime. You simply can not treat dating and wooing as the same thing! Her interest in hearing about her brother's first meeting amused him.
"Well I don't know why she walked up to him in the stacks, but it was clear from even the other side of the shelves that neither of them had a clue the other was about to fall over to be next to them. I had a hard time not grinning as I was looking for the books I needed. Then they started painfully talking about other stuff, too afraid to look into each other's faces and I kind of gave them a push." He grinned, wondering if she would like or dislike what he did. Still, it showed as a good deed cause her little brother was head over heels about the girl; ah, the innocent were so much fun.
Taking them to their next spot, Vin admired the fact she could recall information so well. "Color me impressed with your memory!" as he made some applause with his hands with a cheerful smile. "Funny how almost all the old places have traditions with them. Sure, I will do that with you!" Taking the knut from her hand he turned his back and thought about the wish he had. 'I wish Keela would learn to have more confidence to take those leaps of faith...' Of course if he was dating her he'd be working on that as well. He found himself answering her easily enough. "Ah, but I was raised to believe telling keeps them from coming true," with a wink.
'And yes, love, it was about you, now you have to wonder what...'
When they arrived at the spot he spoke softly in response, images of the past in his eyes. "Ah! Okay, I'll wait here," he said, giving her a wink again when she threatened him about peeking. When she came out he admired the color choice on her skin as wel las what it didn't actually conceal. bathing suits on a woman, he had already noticed, blurred the edges for society's interest, but didn't actually hide as much as you were supposed to believe. "Well I did say deep diving. Obviously we're still going in the water, but we don't need to dive down."
Leading the way into the water, he watched his feet as they went, pointing to where she ought to step behind him to protect her feet. When they were waist high he pulled out his wand and did a bubble-head charm for each of them (he suspected this was an actual pool they were stepping into that the room used, but still it payed to be careful) and then went down in the water so he was under the surface, still holding her hand. Immediately the view changed, showing the great expanse under their feet and nearby. The views were pretty with lots of fish and other creatures all around. He showed her how to do a soft paddle with her feet and they circled the edge some as he pointed out pretties and spoke some. Conversation wasn't the best underwater with this particular charm, but it did work some.
After a hundred yards they had a cheerfully curious visitor and Vincent laughed, bubbly sounding. "Used to diver's," he managed which was clear enough. There weren't many places where mankind was still considered non-threatening, but it was a good thing to remember. Along the way Vin kept an eye open for sharks, but continued explaining what he knew about basic undersea life and how it survived, the mix of creatures in their habitat. While he didn't know a huge depth of detail, he explained enough to show he was a good general guide for what she was curious about. When they circled back, he found a clear spot for walking back up to the shore again and as they broke the surface he used his grip on her hand to help her over the rough spots easily.
"Keela, thanks for trusting me on this today. Mom brought me out here a long time ago to teach me what she knew about the ocean which is a powerfully important part of the world. Being able to share with you what I know about it is...well, very nice." His hand tightened on hers for a moment and he leaned over and kissed her, not a long paralyzing kiss, but a soft, appreciative and suggestive one that there were plenty more any time she wanted one. Vin hadn't planned on giving her one so early on in the date, but it was a place he felt a personal attachment too and had wanted to share with her. Doing so made him feel even more right about where she could fit in his life!
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:27:39 GMT -5
Keel a listened intently until he’d finished speaking. Her lips pulled slowly upward at the corners until she was smiling, a soft, contemplative sort of smile. Unable to resist bringing at least a few of her brother’s concerns to light before they drove her crazy, she spoke up. “Cern thinks that’s because I’m the first girl who ever told you no and managed to stick with it.” The thought had occurred to Keela as well, but she didn’t mind using her brother as a scape goat in this case. To the end of his statement, she answered: “I guess that’s true, there are people who assume we’re sleeping together after all.” She’d heard the rumors in fragments, in passing. It didn’t take a genius to piece together what was going around. It amused her on some level, to think that her life was so interesting that people felt the need to analyze it.
Well, that was one of Cern’s suspicions debunked. At least, she hoped so. He had a point after all, and it was the same one she’d made to her brother when she’d defended Vin. He had spent almost a year trying to convince her to give him a shot. At first, the attention had confused her, then she’d been flattered, but now? Now she wasn’t sure how she felt about the idea of pursuing something real with him, something beyond subtle hints in letters and flirtatious glances. She knew only one thing she could reassure him of at the moment. “You can depend on me”, she said, devoid of its normally challenging edge where he was concerned. “Regardless of how this plays out, you can do that.” She paused, biting her lip thoughtfully. “As for the rest, why don’t we take it a day at a time? See what happens?” It was the best she could do. The warning voice of her brother, the stories from friends and enemies alike still swarmed like angry hornets in the cautionary side of her brain, but she wanted to give him a chance, wanted to let him try and convince her he was for real.
Keela laughed, both relieved by the subject change and easily able to picture the scene Vincent painted. She saw her brother clearly, that thoughtful expression he always got when he was trying to figure out how to accomplish something he wanted. She empathized with the nerves that must have made him hesitate, she was feeling them now. Keela gave him a reproachful look, but she was still smiling. “You didn’t!” The statement was half question half exclamation. Keela wasn’t sure how she felt about him aiding and abetting her brother’s love life. On the one hand, it endeared him to her that he’d do something selfless for her younger brother, on the other, it rankled slightly that he had played a part in this memory and she had not. “What did you do?”
Their transition to the fountain, and his resulting compliments, had her blushing, but she felt warmed by his praise. “I’m a never-ending fount of useless information…or so Cern will tell you anyway.” She nodded in agreement to his observation. “Yeah, tricky things, legends, almost always based in some sort of superstition.” She eyed the coin a moment before she tossed it. “I don’t know if I believe in wishing, but it’s fun to try anyway.” She eyed him, only slightly disappointed that he wouldn’t tell her. “I’ve heard that too”, she admitted. “Still, can’t blame a girl for trying.” She shrugged, still wondering. “Well, maybe you could.” She gave him a cheeky sort of teasing look.
Keela felt nerves of an entirely different sort as they neared the water. While she was excited by the prospect of trying something new, she couldn’t help the dash of uncertainty that accompanied the adrenaline. When he ducked, she went with him, holding tightly to his hand. What she saw awed her. The fish swam about both in schools and alone. All sorts of shapes, sizes and colors flashed as their scales caught the light and glinted. Some were so close she could have reached out and touched them, if she could have found the nerve that is. Eyes wide, she took everything in, all the while trying to concentrate well enough on what Vin was saying so that she could understand him. She’d seen sea turtles in pictures before and this one’s appearance delighted her. She laughed, glad for the charm that allowed her the luxury.
The stingray, however, was another matter. Startled, Keela tightened her grip on Vin’s hand and tensed. It was cute, she supposed, but she knew better than to touch it. A second later, however, Vincent laughed, whether at her or at the curiously cheerful expression on the stingray’s face, she couldn’t be sure. The sound was so light and care-free, she found herself smiling, bolstered. She’d never heard him laugh that way before. His assurance served to further relax her reservations, and she loosened her grip. “Seems like it”, she answered in agreement, watching the creature more closely. She was impressed by his knowledge, even more impressed by his taste in destinations. Maybe…just maybe, they weren’t so different after all. When they returned to the surface, she felt a slight pang of disappointment, she hadn’t enjoyed anything that much since her last trip with her parents, it made her miss them and traveling in general.
Keela got the impression she was seeing a side of him few got to experience, which only served to affirm the warm bubbly feelings that were coursing through her already hormone-addled brain. “If…” she began. “IF”, she emphasized again “we did decide to go traveling…together…could we do this…for real?” It was the first time she’d acknowledged that she’d considered the idea since he mentioned it on the train. The truth was, she’d thought about it often, how nice it might be to have someone to share that sort of journey with. She heard his response, but wasn’t given proper time to process it. A second later, his hand tightened on hers, her only indication before he granted her wish and his lips found hers. It wasn’t the sort of kiss she would have expected from him. It hinted, much like they’d been doing all this time, at the possibility of more to come. She got the impression that once again, he was waiting on her go ahead, giving her a choice to accept him, all of him, or not. It was the first time he’d kissed her since the scene at the lake the previous year, and she realized now how odd that must be for him. Maybe I do believe in wishing after all was her last intellectually discernible thought before she shut everything out for once and simply kissed him back.
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:29:40 GMT -5
Her statement was more question then fact, something that amused him greatly! He didn't think it was valid, because in his view the campaign had not been stopped successfully on her end yet, but he had been refused before. Twice, actually. "Logical, though wrong. I have been refused before by girls who prejudged me. If figure it was their loss. No, there are two things about you which got me the most. One was the skipping stones and the other the look in your eyes just before you kissed me back then." Vin could recall most of that day as he knew on some level it was a life-turning moment. He'd even written down most of it that night in his journal so he could recall the memory better and during his pursuit of her he had read it many many times over. "You set the hook well before you left and I thought I was supposed to be the pirate..."
A smile at her interest in the story; good thing he had been there! Pulling out a piece of paper he ripped a straight line off it, wrote on it with a charm, rolled it up and then held it up rolled. "I stuck it up between the books behind her where he would see it and waited till they were both fumbling at words and he was stuttering. It was clear they were going to get too embarrassed and part so I did this..." Saying the charm for the party favors, the paper unrolled rapidly, holding out in a straight line for about three seconds, then rolling back up. The words 'Well I like you a lot maybe we can go out this weekend...' He chuckled softly as the paper rerolled; it had been kind of clever. "He was so nervous he read out loud and then had to cover for it by going with it. So you could say I'm the reason they are dating now I guess, but probably better not to tell him who it was."
Oh no, the way he had been going after her about Vincent? That might back fire in all kinds of ways! He didn't have to mention that he had done it to get her relief, but she might interpret it as if he was watching out for her brother as well who though he would refuse it could depend on Vincent. But at the time he'd only been thinking to lock the boy into his own romance to get him to shut up about Keela's. "Moi? No, I don't blame you for wanting to know, though if things go well you could probably ask later and I'd tell you. I'd like to see if my wish comes true first." His eyes on her surely conveyed it was something about her in some way. Not that she could not have guessed that! Later on as things did progress well he wondered if there had been some magic there as she surely felt a bit more bold then normally.
He noted her love of the sea turtle and the tightening hand on his when the sting ray came up; he felt a bit touched too that she was trusting in him about it as well. Rays were, to the most part, extremely curious about familiar things like divers. Everytime he had been here in all four trips he had been checked out and he loved that they felt so comfortable with him. "It's the hair," he joked, hoping to keep her happy mood continuing. as they stepped out of the water (and he saw the pool edge, tricky room, but he'd been alert for it this time) his hair was as always completely dry and non-salty as others might have been though he doubted the pool had been salt water. Her acceptance of her own enjoyment came in her words and she might have detected his hand tightening on hers as well. "As you wish," he said with every meaning of enjoyment at her words in his eyes and excitement at what that might mean clear in his face.
The kiss was far better then he had meant it to be. He had been thinking to let her respond, just to let her know how much he appreciated her being here and going along with this all, but she took it into another direction by kissing back! As soon as she did that he went into it with her, more then happy to oblige her in a slightly deeper kiss, sliding his hands around her to hold her close, letting her feel his pleasure at her enthusiasm! It was no where as good as their first kiss (though he still gave her the pleasure he knew how to give) but the first had also held a magic of it's own which was echoed in this one. When they broke eventually, he found she had leaned back against his arms and he was holding her up as if she had almost been about to be dipped! Straightening her slowly he whispered huskily "Thank you for that, Keela..."
There was a light in his eyes not there earlier.
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:31:38 GMT -5
She listened, filing the information away for a later date. If she and Cern ever fought over Vincent again, and it was almost certain they would if things got serious, she wanted to be prepared. She smiled to herself when he mentioned the scene by the lake, so Cern had been at least partially right about one thing after all. However, the other of his points confused her. "The skipping stones? What impact did that have?" She couldn't understand how skipping rocks across the water (and the muggle way no less!) could have caught his attention. She laughed at his eupemism before she could stop herself. The image of him in his pirate costume came rushing back. "So that would make me what? The treasure chest, or the helpless maiden?" Her tone held a note of teasing. Pirates were known for desire to attain both, though by far different means and for far different reasons to each. She had to acknowledge that she hadn't done a very good job of truly rejecting him. If truth be told it could possibly be said the she was stringing him along, at least until she was sure of what she wanted. The thought was daunting, but she realized it was true. She had been displaying just enough interest to keep him pursuing her until she could figure things out, and if that was the case, wasn't she more apt to be considered the dishonest one in this equation? She frowned, thoughtfully. Keela listened, fairly certain she knew where this was headed, when he was finished, she laughed. She couldn't help it, brother aside, the whole thing was just too classic. To Vin, she answered: "Probably, I don't think he'd break up with Lilli by this point, but it would probably drive him crazy if he knew you'd had anyhing to do with their relationship." The thought, however, amused Keela very much. She eyed him speculatively. "Why did you do it though?" she asked curiously; "Your good deed for the day?" She had to admit herself a bit flumoxed, while Cern was open in his dislike for Vincent, he didn't seem terribly fond of her brother either. Not that she blamed him, if someone was trying that hard to defame her character to someone she was interested in, she probably wouldn't have been terribly fond of them either. She shrugged, still managing a small smile. "Now I know I guess", was all she could say. She'd been fighting her SAD all week since the weather had started turning cold. It hadn't hit fully yet, but she knew it would come the next time something really upset her. She eyed him warily, fully aware that his wish had likely had something to do with her. She thought about it the entire time they were swimming, it stuck somewhere in the back of her mind, wondering what he might have wished about her. Though she was incapable of coherant thought as they kissed, the thought permeated still, a side-effect of being naturally curious. However, as she pulled back, feeling distinctly as though the strength in her legs had evaporated, she almost giggled. So that's what all the fuss is about... She couldn't help thinking. She'd always thought the stories she read played things up for dramatic effect. Taking in the light in Vincent's eyes, she knew that some things were less for drama and more plausible than she'd realized. The rush of clarity, however, also had her blushing. "M-my pleasure", she tried to smile, but expression felt softer, more wistful than she'd meant it to be. It had been her pleasure, she knew, but she also felt the sensation of having passed the point of no return. There was no denying it now, to him or to herself. She was falling for Vincent, likely just as hard if not moreso than her brother had fallen for Lilli. The two of them, after all, were making it up as they went, both trying to navigate their romance blindly with very little direction to go by. Keela on the other hand could see that with this first indication that she might be willing to pursue something deeper, the light in Vincent's eyes was warm, but also knowing, as if he understood how to proceed with things. She supposed one of them ought to, they only had a year after all before their age difference would create a distance of several continents. "Vin...I..." she let the statement trail rather than say something rash in a moment of blissful confusion. I think I'm falling for you...I'm scared to death of you.... Rather than admit any of that, she settled with "I guess its my turn." She paused, however, to gather her thoughts, wondering where she might take him that communicated what she couldn't actually say. Biting her lip, wondering at her choice, she closed her eyes and whispered softly. When she opened them again, it was to glance at him nervously. They were standing in front of a door to a large building a few stories high, the echo of the waves crashing on the rocks below could be heard above the noise of the local wildlife. Though deserted since the room couldn't actually transport them anywhere, the structure none the less afforded Keela a measure of comfort in this foreign situation. "This is...welcome to my home."
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:33:47 GMT -5
Her confusion about the stones made him smiile a bit wider; it was a subtle one. "Well think about it. I was a stranger who asked a question about it and without any distrust you showed me and accepted me. Sure, it's a muggle skill and nothing big, but you didn't question my interest in it, just showed me how. What kind of heart does that, Keela? Not many. You have shined in my eyes for a lot more then your pretty face..." And the intensity in her eyes before she kissed him showed him more depth to her then she might have realized she had. Yes, he remembered it very well. Leaning in a touch close he whispered "You're the pirate, love." And had she ever set her hook in him!
Watching her wake up to the fact she had been the real instigator of all this was quite revealing at how she had totally missed some of what had happened; likely she had thought herself a victim through most of his last year. He nodded at the look in her eyes, confirming for her the realizations running through her mind. She had indeed been playing him a long time, but he had been patient seeing her innocence on what was really happening. "I'd like to think of myself as the handsome first mate not a treasure chest though," he laughed, amused at the very idea. When she laughed about his side of the story about her brother's romance, it didn't take long for her to question him on his meaning behind it either.
Tilting his head at her he shook it slightly and became more serious. "No, Keela, not a good deed, a necessity. I was being totally selfish in my own unique way. If he was at ease and distracted he wouldn't be still jumping all over you because of our planned date and you would have an open mind without pressure to judge for yourself my intentions." He shrugged, it was the truth whether she believed it or not. The fact it had done her brother some very good deed was entirely on the side of the issue. "I understand why he doesn't trust me, but it doesn't mean I hate his guts. He's a part of your life, Keela, and probably as much a balance in your life as my sisters and brother are for me. I couldn't purposefully hurt him because it would be hurting you."
Vincent turned one hand over as if to show the other side of what he said. "By the same token, anything I do which makes his life more pleasant should make things better for you as well, right? He doesn't need to know I did it because he might reject what is apparently good for his mind. Last I saw he looked pretty content and happy with his life right now." He shrugged. "I was only a little push when needed. He can take it from there." He doubted she would ever be able to return the favor so truthfully it was a good deed in a way. Selfish motives maybe, but still good. When they stepped from the water though things finally reached the point that Vin had been waiting all the last year for, the realization in her eyes as she had an epiphany. The light in his eyes was partly from seeing her realization and partly from his own exaltation inside!
"I wouldn't have it another way, I promise. Helping you stay happy, comforting your bad times, and having you near me seems more then I deserve some days..." Sappy? well yes, but girls liked things like that more then guys did. best to say it hear then somewhere in school in front of others. She tried to say something, but he could see it wasn't something she could admit yet whatever it was in her mind. Cupping one of her cheeks with his hand, his eyes were understanding, telling her it was all right that she couldn't say what she wanted to yet. A part of his mind grinned and anticipated when he could get her to go much MUCH farther, but Vin pushed that part aside for the time being. This was like feeding a chipmunk; first you got them used to eating near you before they would crawl in your hand to feed. But she did find a way to communicate and it surprised him with her words alone.
Looking at her, eyes wider, he noted her tension and guessed at a reason, not really knowing. "Keela, really? Are you sure about this?" Entering someone's home could be so personal, showing them more about you and he was surprised if she felt that comfortable with him! he turned his eyes to the house, tall and white and found himself very impressed. turning around once he looked at the ocean and then over the edge seeing the rocks below. "Okay, I'm very impressed, this is much larger and closer to the sea then I thought when you described it! Where's the farm?" A glance up the cliff face and he could see this was an unusual place in many ways. As he stood there waiting to see what she would show him next he added "I can see what you mean about needing magical fires to heat it, this place would be damn cold with the ocean breeze all the time." He breathed in the air missing the ocean scent; the ROR couldn't do everything of course.
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:35:03 GMT -5
Keela warmed, it was one of only a handful of times she could remember his being openly complimentary of something besides her looks. The wall she'd built to ward him away from her heart began to crumble to dust under effect his gaze was having. He leaned close and her body reacted, quick, shooting tingles causing her to flush bright crimson even as she grinned. "Maybe I can borrow dad's boat...you need a boat to be a pirate right?" It was a weak attempt at diverting the intensity in the room. The air was charged with something almost tangible, it felt to Keela as if she might implode simply from the anticipation. The longer she analyzed, the more unsettled she became, and seeing him nod in confirmation to her train of thought only served to unsettle her further. What had he called her? Love..., he'd never called her anything like that before. Her confidence mounting from his earlier praise, she smiled in what she hoped was a flirtatious manner. "Well, you are quite handsome, and you're probably better at navigating a ship's course than I am. Sure, you can be first mate." The pirate metaphor lightened the previously tense atmosphere. "What do you like better", she asked, suddenly curious, "boats or motorcycles?" She knew he was trying to learn to build a bike with magical ramifications, and it left her wondering.
She tiltled her head, listening intently as he spoke. "So you played cupid for my brother as a means of distracting him from mettling in my love life?" Secretly, she thought it was a rather clever idea. Out loud, she said, "Doesn't that seem a bit overkill?" She wasn't sure how she felt about it, his mettling. Sure, Cern was happy, and that was great, but what if something happened to her brother? Should she blame Vincent for aiding in the whole process in the first place? She looked thoughtful. "That makes sense I guess, though I can't promise he'd be reasonable if we ever..." She searched for words and settled for "if we ever got serious."
His next statement baffled her, because it seemed so at odds with his usual confidence. Hazzarding a look into his eyes, she managed: "What do you mean more than you deserve?" It he had any skeletons hanging out in his emotional closet, she wanted them out in the open now. Never mind that she hadn't told him about her own emotional turmoils, those would become obvious soon enough anyway. It seemed out of character for him, she wasn't accustomed to him baring his soul, and she fought the knee jerk urge to be suspicious. Vincent did everything with a practiced grace that Keela generally considered intimidating. Searching for a way to lighten the mood, she rallied. "Is that why you used to hang out in the corridors near the 'Puff common room, trying to be near me?" She'd meant the question to be light, teasing, but in the face of his admission, it came out more sincere than she'd intended.
Keela nodded, attempting to appear more certain than she felt. She had no intention of showing him everything. He wouldn't get the full effect anyway, but there was one spot in particular she wanted to show him. She'd grown up in this house, but there was one spot in which she'd done most of her writing, including the letters she'd written him last summer, most of her thinking, and most of her daydreaming through the years. "I'm sure, there's something I want to show you." When he asked about the farm,she motioned vaguely as she led him up the stairs. "Up the way a bit, I'll show you...if you ever visit." She caught herself and left the out, intent on taking nothing for granted. She smiled when he mentioned the flames. "Yeah, don't ask me what we'd do if one of them ever went out." When they had made it to the third floor of the empty house, she stopped climbing stairs and crossed to a window seat, which to her surprise held not only a remake of the large cushion she generally lounged on, but her blanket as well. The sun in the image had begun setting, washing the scene in golden light.
She settled into the ledge, motioning for him to settle beside her. Propping herself so that she was leaning back, but still partially upright, she turned her attention back to him. "This is my favorite spot in the whole house", she admitted. "Its where I go to think, and sometimes to not think. Its...its my spot." She had wanted to share something personal, something uniquely hers. She couldn't admit to anything yet, couldn't tell him how she felt or what she wanted with him, but she could do this. She could show him. "I have to admit, the room did an excellent job of recreating the view, what do you think?"
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Post by Shava on Mar 26, 2013 12:36:51 GMT -5
Grinning at her reaction, Vin answered her simply. "Usually. Or at least based near one. I usually consider my bike to be an extension..." Being told he could be her first mate just made the grin wider; she was starting to act naughty! "Well, mom had me taught about boats cause she wanted a pirate, something we have a few of in our family line, but I personally love a motorbike! They are so much better then brooms for feeling the speed..." Talking about motorbikes alone made him feel the urge to ride, feel the wind streaming across his face. "Don't get me wrong, you can feel the wind on a broom and they might feel more free, but there is something about riding a bike which beats the heck out of them..." Since he had already promised her a ride one day if she was interested he didn't see the need to offer again; it wasn't something she was likely to forget.
"Well...he had already been interfering from what you said, trying to get at you about me all summer. It seemed justifiable to distract him. Hasn't it been more peaceful for you the last week or so?" He debated pushing the subject with her a bit more but decided to let it drop with a little last comment. "Oh I doubt he will ever feel good about me, something just tells me that, but since they were fumbling through a relationship and I gave him a little push to get him on track I at least feel like I have the moral high ground, whether he ever knows of not." Her concentration on his slip of the tongue reminded him this was still very much tenuous and he'd better watch what he said. "Isn't that what you are supposed to say whenever you find someone you think is better then you?"
He ran his hand up her arm, caressingly so as if considering her precious which in some ways he did. "Because even when you are a pirate I find it a good thing." Her comment about the Hufflepuff area had him laugh softly. "No, that would be back during the time you seemed to be avoiding me as much as you could. I was trying to be around in case I caught you somewhere I could try and speak to you. Besides, can you really blame me for trying to catch a glimpse of someone so sweet?" He certainly wouldn't be getting a toothache off her! As she showed him around the house taking him up the stairs after waving in the direction of the farm he spoke about his impression of the place. "You really have a great view out of this house having it so high up!"
"What happens when you have a big storm coming in? Does the spray ever get up to the windows or is it high enough to be safe? I bet storms here are pretty amazing..." He thought a moment before he mentioned his own home. "We have been surrounded by flooding before during a major storm, but never in danger. That's mostly cause we're at sea level." Somewhere up above the front door she turned to a large window seat in the bend of the stairs and settled on it, patting the spot beside her which he didn't hesitate to fill. As she spoke, he listened, hearing her talk about the place with affection and knew it was important to her. Sliding up against her, he motioned for her to lean forward and slid in behind her so she was leaning back against him and he could slide his arms around her, supporting her as they looked out the window at the setting sun.
"Yeah, this room has some pretty amazing tricks up it's proverbial sleeves. I had to concentrate to spot the swimming pool edge when we were in it earlier. I prefer the real world, but it can give you a good glimpse at what's out there. I can see why you like this spot, Keela, it's pretty special. You father knew what he was doing here..." He was thinking he had heard her say something about her ancestors before with this place but he couldn't remember the details that well. "You've got the view no doubt, though I think I have you on the privacy end and the activity inside. Ours has been finished for a few centuries though, it would be hard to add or change it, but the house does that for you. I'll see if the room can manage to give you an idea of that cause it's one of the coolest parts..." The only special spot to him he could imagine wasn't so special he thought to another, but he could try and show it to her. He doubted that one would come across though so he was inclined to ignore it.
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