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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Sept 26, 2017 11:19:22 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2017 11:19:22 GMT -7
This was a stupid, stupid, idea! Clodagh didn't even know what had possessed her to think of the idea in the first place, let alone make her so idiotically stupid as to actually go through with it. She must have been dropped on her head as a child. Multiple times. Actually, she could name a few times when she'd landed on her head.... either way. Brain damage was the only logical answer to how Clodagh had found herself going to Club Indigo bright and early in the morning. She'd transformed back into human only half an hour ago and gotten ready quickly to be here on time, and that was taking into account the few minutes she took every so often to talk herself out of this.
She and Aerick had... gone on a few dates by now. Enough for her to know she was actually starting to like the gorgeous man, but that still didn't help her understand his interest in her. She was genuinely far below his social status, so why did he keep asking her out? Today seemed to be the day she'd plucked up enough courage (stupidity) to initiate things. Sort of. Hey, her being here was initiative! She knew what his schedule was like and knew he'd be leaving any minute to head home. So she'd.... wanted to walk him home.
It was a truly stupid idea. She didn't even know what possessed her to think of it. He'd just seemed so... off lately. Like something was going on that he wasn't sharing. She didn't want to know what it was, sometimes you had to keep secrets (like her current dilemma with turning into a mouse against her will) so he deserved to have his own. She just.... wanted to do something nice.
She was leaning against the wall of the club, not wanting to enter because that was a terrifying idea of its own, nervously picking at the sleeves of her hoody as she waited. The more time passed the more nervous she got, growing more and more positive she'd gotten the day wrong and he hadn't actually been working last night. Or maybe he'd Apparated?! Oh Merlin's beard she forgot about that. She was a pathetic excuse of a witch. He must have Apparated. He was probably already home in bed, and here she was waiting like some lost puppy.
@aerick (Put the poor nervous girl out of her misery)
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Sept 30, 2017 19:50:12 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2017 19:50:12 GMT -7
Another day, another shift at the Club. It was Aerick's fifth day in a row working, and he wasn't too happy about it. He liked the money of course, and as long as he wore the tight white tee he was currently wearing he got excellent tips. He did miss having somewhat of a social life though; he was way too tired after busy nights at the Club to want to do anything but pour himself a glass of bourbon and pass out for ten hours before getting up to do it all over again. He wanted to spend time with Clodagh; he was surprised with how much he had enjoyed her company the last few times they'd gone out. It was always something different, and he'd learned something new every date. Clo wasn't like the girls he normally dated; she was awkward, and shy, and a bit of a klutz. But he found that those characteristics accentuated his attraction to her, instead of the opposite. She did have a weird quirk though; she seemed to never want to be around at night. Typically, that worked for Aerick since he had to work the night shift at Club Indigo; he wouldn't have time at night anyway. But it was like clockwork, thrity minutes before sundown and she was gone. Usually by this point, Aerick had spent the night with a girl, but with Clo that obviously hadn't happened yet. He wondered if she was just nervious about intimacy; that kind of talk would wait for another few dates though. He didn't want to seem like he was pressuring her in any way. On top of it all, Elaine had found his father for him. Aerick had thought that the moment he found his father would result in his pulling out his wand and killing him instantly. But...his father had two young children. Aerick, though she didn't know it, was the father of a four year old, and he found himself relating to his father more than he had...ever. He was nervous that Elaine sensed this, hence the thousand and one night shifts in a row. She was punishing him for not taking her gift and enacting his revenge, he knew it. Rubbing his eyes,Aerick yawned sleepily as he moved to leave behind the bar. He pushed open the door and, blinking in the sunlight, he noticed a dark haired figure waiting by the door. "Clo?" he asked, sounding surprised. He quickly found himself smiling as he took a step closer to her, reaching down to kiss the side of her head. "How are you? Sorry I haven't been around, I've been doing shift after shift, I barely have any time to myself," he admitted, clearly glad to see her. @clodagh
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 2, 2017 13:57:17 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2017 13:57:17 GMT -7
Clodagh was almost at the point of a nervous meltdown and fleeing before anyone saw her waiting so awkwardly when the door opened... and she heard her name in that heavenly voice. Oh, she's recognize Aerick's voice anywhere, and everytime she heard him say her name she had a mini heart attack. Was she smitten? Quite thoroughly. Smitten as a kitten. Only she had no idea how to cope with the feelings. Which only made her more nervous. Because what if she ruined everything?!
Either way, he approaches and she pushed away from the wall. She had to act natural! As if she wasn't a nervous wreck right now. Confident! She turned towards him just in time to notice and feel that kiss against the side of her head. Well, so much for trying to stay composed. Her cheeked turned as red as the rising sun. "Morning." she managed to squeak out, mentally face palming at her lame greeting and inability to speak properly. Especially when she realize he had actually asked a question and her greeting had blurted out right after his word. "Oh! Uh, good! You know, usual. Not as busy as you, probably. But I uh.... I knew you had a lot going on. I thought you could use a break. Well not really a break. I should have sent you an owl and asked first.." she was rambling. RAMBLING. Clodagh just wanted to curl up under a rock and never come out. She swallowed the next blurb of words and looked away as she nervously tugged on one of her dark locks of hair.
Clodagh always had a problem controlling her tongue. She knew she was shy. But she was also quite social awkward. So, she took a moment to take a slow and deep breath, as if to compose herself and rebuild what little courage (stupidity) she had before looking back at Aerick. "I wanted to walk you home." well... she probably could have worded it differently, or been more smooth about it but she'd said it. Coherently. No stumbling of words, talking to fast, nothing. A totally normal human sentence. Clodagh was quite proud of this sudden proof that she could sound normal.
@aerick
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 2, 2017 15:41:16 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2017 15:41:16 GMT -7
Aerick chuckled as he wrapped his arm around Clodaghs shoulders. More than a few dates in and she still got horribly flustered. He still didn’t quite understand why he found it so endearing, but he didn’t question it anymore. Clo had his attention. “I couldn’t get tired of you Clo, so don’t think that I need a break,” he said teasingly, knowing the comment would make her blush even more. He couldn’t help it, he found it adorable, and it was SO easy! When she was able to formulate why she was there, Aerick blinked in pleasant surprise. “Walk me home?” he asked. It sounded like it came from a time long gone, in the mid 1950s when boys asked girls they liked if they could walk them home, but the other way around. Ilvermorny had done a type of dance where the girls asked the boys, but he couldn’t remember what it was called. Figuring he’d let Clo fret enough during his musing silence, Aerick grinned. “I’d love to let you walk me home, but with the slight amendment that we get breakfast first,” he told her, rubbing his hands together as his stomach began to grumble. “I know a great diner a few blocks from here, serves the best pancakes in all of London, on my honor,” he said, raising his right hand. He took a few steps away from the entrance of Club Indigo, then turned to face Clodagh. He held out his hand for her to take. “Come on now, I’m starving,” he chided. @clodagh
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 3, 2017 8:06:19 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 8:06:19 GMT -7
Of course Clodagh blushed at his words! She seemed to spend half of her time around him blushing! It was a miracle her cheeks weren't permanently rosy. "No, no! I meant a break from work!" of course she wouldn't be too surprised if he did need a break from her. She was a bit... pathetic at times. Only after speaking did she realize that he might have understood what she meant and was teasing her...
He repeated her remark back questioningly.... and then a long silence. To no surprise his silence did little to reassure her. It made her quite twitchy in fact, nervously tugging on that lock of hair again. Despite having gone on several dates she still seemed absolutely sure she'd be rejected. But considering they hadn't really... discussed what this was or what they really were or wasn't too surprising. She was an oblivious fool that still struggled with believing he actually liked her. Of course she'd be confused about this until it was actually defined!
Eventually Aerick did speak, not only agreeing but slightly changing the terms to including breakfast as well. She opened her mouth, to say something but words failed her for a moment. She hadn't been prepared for that. His saying yes or no, yes, but more? Finally though he was holding out a hand to her and urging her to come. Well, it looked like it was decided, before she could even muster a response. She was smiling at last, all those crazy nerves melting away to let her relax now that he'd actually agreed. "Okay!" she answered and immediately stepped forward and took his offered hand. It hadn't been the first time they'd held hands, so the act didn't increase her anxiety level. "Busy night?" she asked him as they began to walk down the street.
@aerick
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 3, 2017 9:04:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 9:04:42 GMT -7
Aerick chuckled a little as Clodagh accepted and held his hand as they began to walk. “Oh that’s an understatement,” he told her, making a face as he was reminded of the night. “We had another bachelorette party come in, I think you Brits call it a ‘hen party’? Anyway, why on a Monday night is beyond me, but turns out the bride is marrying one of her bridesmaids ex boyfriends, who is the brother of the maid of honor. Oh but it didn’t stop there - turns out that the bride and her future groom cheated together on said bridesmaid, and she didn’t know about it until last night! At least, that’s what the bridesmaid said through her sobs as she knocked back shot after shot.” Aerick shook his head. He had felt bad for the girl, finding out her ex had cheated on her with a girl she was supposed to stand with at the altar in a few months time, but not bad enough to rebuke the advances she made after those six tequila shots. Aerick had had his fair share of going home with women under the intention of it being a one night only thing, but since he’d met Clodagh, he had stopped all that. He had been a gentleman though and made sure her friends took her home, and not the creepy older man who had been eyeing the hen party like a hawk the whole night. “Drama man, I tell you,” he said, then chuckled. “You would be amazed at some of the stuff that happens at the club,” he added casually. He was insinuating she should come to the club one night, but if she wasn’t into that scene (which he didn’t think she was) he wouldn’t be offended. Changing the subject, Aerick nodded ahead of them. “There it is,” he told her. He opened the door for Clo and ushered her inside the diner. It wasn’t too busy, and a large busted woman showed them to an open booth and set down menus in front of them. Aerick thanked her and waited for Clodagh to sit before seating himself. “Now, I want to hear about your past few days, but first we should decide what sort of drinks we’ll have,” Aerick told her. He knew he wanted some coffee, but he actually didn’t know what Clo was partial to. @clodagh
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 3, 2017 10:22:56 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 10:22:56 GMT -7
Clodagh knew that Aerick always had a crazy story each night from work. He worked at a Nightclub after all, specifically at the bar. He was bound to overhear and see plenty. So as he shared his tale from the night before she couldn't help her eyes widened a bit and glancing at at him as they walked. "That's terrible!" she exclaimed in the same almost squeaky way she always did when surprised. She personally had never been to a hen party, but that wasn't really shocking considering her personality. Drama indeed though, drama Clo could definitely do without! His almost suggestion that she come to the night club made her glance away with a shy smile. Were it possible... she would. Just to see him. But it wasn't. Not with her condition. A condition that Aerick still didn't know about because of her inability to tell him and her fear of how he might react to finding out. It wasn't exactly normal to be forced into the form of a mouse the moment the sun set after all. "probably..." she quietly agreed instead, avoiding the insinuated suggestion entirely.
The diner was much closer than she excepted and soon they were already seated and the topic shifted from him to her. Great. Something she risked rambling about. She had a small save though in deciding what to drink first. Her stomach had mostly settled from her transformation at this point so her appetite and thirst were slowly returning. "I'll go with orange juice." she answered quickly. Coffee would be good but she didn't beed extra energy in fear of losing control of her words once more. "I don't think my past few days is that interesting compared to just your night alone. " aside from the obvious nightmare of every night. "Just... worked changes for my editor." story of her life. Having little social life meant she was able to focus quite a bit on her writing. Though she still refused to tell most people what name she wrote under.
@aerick
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 3, 2017 10:52:53 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 10:52:53 GMT -7
Aerick nodded in agreement; it was terrible. In his honest opinion he felt that the bride should have been more forthcoming with her relationships start date so they could work things out. Not keep that big of a secret and still have the gall to ask the poor girl to be a bridesmaid, seriously what’s wrong with people? “I give that couple five years tops,” he commented with a dry chuckle. From his experience, once a cheater always a cheater. It was the same way with liars; Aerick’s dad was obviously so good at it that he just continued lying to everyone when he took off for Europe six years ago, going so far as to dupe some Spanish woman into marrying him. Just the thought of his dad made his blood boil, so Aerick focused in on Clodagh. Though she didn’t answer his question about the club, she didn’t outright say no, so he’d continue to hold out hope that she’d visit sometime. “Coffee please,” he ordered as Clodagh decided on orange juice. Perhaps she didn’t need the caffeine like he did; Aerick was pretty certain that if he sliced open a vein coffee would pour out. Or bourbon, or both, which was an interesting combination. The waitress returned quickly with their drinks and said she’d give them a minute to decide on food. “Well, books are interesting,” he told her, looking at her to continue. “So...what’s the new book about?” he asked when she didn’t say anything. Out of the corney of his eye, he noticed an elderly couple being seated near them. "Hey," he said, nodding towards them. "What do you think their story is?"@clodagh
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 3, 2017 14:12:23 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 14:12:23 GMT -7
"I can't imagine doing that to someone you care about..." Clodagh breathed in disbelief. Maybe she had been a tad sheltered growing up in the sense that her parents had been faithful and devoted to each other. Still were. They had their spats of course but no divorce, no living apart, nothing. Did her upbringing give her an unrealistic view on love an marriage? Quite possibly.
The drinks came out quickly and they were left alone for a few moments. She lifted her glass of orange juice to take a small sip... and choked when he asked about the book she was working on. Clo got anxious when talking about her writing with her own family, let alone handsome men! Her cheeks had flushed red again, though this time in embarrassment as she set the glass down and looked out the window. "its... well its one i promised my editor... about Cajun voodoo..." she hadn't gone to New Orleans for nothing after all! But getting cursed by exactly what she was studying had been an unfortunate consequence.
The elderly couple was a great and welcome distraction. She followed his gesture and gaze to the pair and started to smile. They were adorable. "Childhood sweethearts. See the way he looks at her? He's been in love with her most his life, but she took some convincing-" she stopped herself. She was always seeing a story behind things. She didn't even know this couple and yet she'd started to piece together something whimsical. She didn't blush this time but immediately looked down at the menu. "Just an idea." she tried bush off her first comment but it was already out. There wasn't any way to take back the comment.
@aerick
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 3, 2017 14:33:00 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 14:33:00 GMT -7
Aerick couldn’t help but grin widely as Clodagh went into a rather descriptive hypothetical storyline that had the basis of a childhood romance. It sounded sugary sweet, but Aerick, despite his hardened state of being, did like the idea that that sort of story could actually exist outside of stories. He watched for a few moments as the couple leaned in towards each other, like they were conspiring, and he decided he wanted to find out. “Excuse me, but we were just noticing how in love and happy the two of you looked,” Aerick started as they looked up at him, surprised seemingly to realize they weren’t alone in the diner. Aerick prepared for a variety of responses, but before anything could be said, the waitress came back. “Oh, I’ll have a triple stack of your chocolate chip pancakes please,” he ordered. He waited for Clodagh to order, and just as she finished speaking he heard the woman speak. “Oh you two are sweet to think that; it’s the funniest story. We’ve known each other since we were five! Arnold here said he always knew I was the one, but I needed some time to spread my wings. He did convince me eventually though, and we’ve been together fifty years today.” Aerick thanked the woman and congratulated them on their milestone before turning back to Clo. “See? You can read people, perceive things that plenty of other people can’t, or won’t. It’s one of the things that makes you so amazing,” he told her sincerely. Not missing a beat, Aerick turned the subject back to her book. “New Orleans voodoo? That was why you were in the States then right?” he asked, trying to remember correctly. @clodagh
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 3, 2017 21:20:43 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 21:20:43 GMT -7
Oh Merlin's beard. Aerick was focusing in on the elderly couple. This was bad. Almost like Clodagh knew what he was about to do. She opened her mouth to try, desperately, to stop him, bu he was speaking before she could get out a single word. Instant panic attack. Her eyes went wide as saucers, and her heart leapt into her throat, cutting off all breathing. Of course he was speaking to them. He was a social person, speaking to complete strangers at a diner was a piece of cake. For her though? Well it was absolutely horrifying and mind cripplingly terrifying. Even worse how he used 'we', as in drawing her into his social moment. If she didn't already have a deer in headlights look, she most certainly did now. She was momentarily saved by the return of the waitress to take their order. "The same.... Only double." No way would be be able to down three pancakes!
But then the elderly woman was speaking and she looked back at the woman with those same wide eyes. Wait.... she'd... been rigtht? She'd just been making something up. The very notion made her blush and look away. "I... No.... I just.... made it up. It's nothing special..." she tried to put up a defense, but it wasn't that great of one.... But when did she ever have good defenses? As for New Orleans... She slowly nodded. "To learn more about the culture. Voodoo.... Just accidentally became the focus." You know, being cursed by it in all. Hard not to focus on it.
@aerick
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 4, 2017 13:44:12 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2017 13:44:12 GMT -7
Aerick had to admit, it amused him greatly how embarrassed Clodagh seemed when he had chatted up the couple next to them. Clearly she didn’t see what he saw in her, which was this beautifully intuitive woman who cared about what people thought and perceived in the world. “Only two? Well don’t ask me for any of my third one,” he said teasingly, making a face at her. He took a sip of his coffee and listened to Clo talk about her book. “Very descriptive,” Aerick said dryly, then chuckled. “I want to know more, I never got to go down to New Orleans while I lived in the US. My mother was always busy with MACUSA so the vacations we went on were her business trips she let me tag along on.” He had visited some pretty interesting places with her, such as Egypt, Dubai, Moscow and Tokyo, but he hadn’t been in each city long enough to truly immerse in the culture. The pancakes arrived and Aerick rubbed his hands, excited for Clo to try the pancakes. He added butter and maple syrup to his own and carved himself a big bite of pancake from the stack. He closed his eyes and chewed happily. “Amazing,” he proclaimed after he swallowed. He cut himself another bite, watching Clo this time as he ate it to see her reaction. @clodagh
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 10, 2017 11:05:31 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2017 11:05:31 GMT -7
Aerick was a very flamboyant and charismatic person, the absolute opposite of Clodagh. Yet despite that fact they actually got along. It brought the saying of opposites attract to mind but the thought freaked her out simply because it insinuated he was attracted to her. That was absolutely preposterous! And yet here they were getting breakfast together. Maybe it wasn't as absurd as she thought. She smiled at his tease. It grew as he continued to comment on her cage answer. "If I tell you too much you'll be able to find it though." she wuite seriously explained. She was a very secretive writer after all. He didn't even know what name she wrote under. "I think it's one of those places that is best experienced for yourself. But it's very... loud. Something always seemed to be going on." she intentionally left out her encounters with voodoo. She didn't need the reminder of how terrifying they could be when mad.
The food had come out and Aerick was on his food immediately. It must have been a long night. Hisbreaction nsde her chuckle softly before turning to her own pancakes and starting to eat. Stopping only to raise an eyebrow when he leaves Ike's at her expectantly. After swallowing the bite she'd been working on she smiled. "Its really good!"
@aerick
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 10, 2017 13:15:20 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2017 13:15:20 GMT -7
Aerick pouted for a moment when Clodagh didn’t actually tell him any more about her book. “I want to find it though!” he protested. He really did; he wanted to read what she wrote. He thought it would give him a better sense to the author side of her. He saw a glimmer of it when she analyzed the couple just now, but he could tell there was quite the armor built up around her. He was of course curious as to why; perhaps there was a bad breakup in her past. She was a good, sweet and beautiful woman, in his eyes at least. Aerick was resolved to chink away at her armor piece by piece until he knew everything about her. Aerick knew internally he was being a bit of a hypocrite; Clodagh didn’t know he was an Animagus or a Purifier. The second detail he didn’t know if he could ever reveal to her. Not even if he wanted to; he was sure Elaine could use her as leverage or even worse, bait if she found out about Clo. The Animagus thing might be a little bit easier to broach conversation wise, but it would wait for another time. “ Well I suppose I’ll have to read every book about voodoo and New Orleans to figure out your pen name,” he said teasingly, taking another big bite out of his pancakes. His eyes sparkled with delight as Clo declared the pancakes were really good. “I’d say better than really good,” he declared, sitting back and patting his stomach contentedly. “So then tell me about a place that you can describe without me going to experience it,” he challenged, raising an eyebrow and smirking at her. @clodagh
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last online Mar 28, 2024 14:36:52 GMT -7
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Oct 27, 2017 9:58:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2017 9:58:42 GMT -7
Clodagh couldn't fight the smile at his word. Wanting to find the book without any hesitation. She believed him. "I don't publish under my name." she reminded him, which effectively lowered the chances of him finding her books. But there probably wasn't a whole ton of fiction being published in the U.K. that involved voodoo... okay. Now she was worried he might actually find it.
Aerick seemed to realize it too, decided he'd just read everything on the subject and the woman twitched nervously and she actually paled just a little. She didn't even like her own siblings reading her work! The idea of Aerick, the man she was slightly infatuated by, was positively nerve wracking and made her even more self conscious (if that was possible.). "You don't need to do that! It's boring and dull-" well if that was true it never would have been published. Her weak defense was absolutely shattered so she just looked away, cheeks hot and turning red.
At his next request, or challenge, she stopped eating to think. What could she describe? She'd travelled the world most of her life. And many of the places she'd seen deserved to be visited personally. The only place she could think of was.... "There's a small village in New Guinea that you can only get to by boating up river through dense and humid jungle. It takes two days to get to and there are only a handful of huts." it was a bit of a vague description, to start. "My brothers told ghost stories of how they still practices canibalism for the two days it took to travel. I was only eight, and couldn't bring myself to eat anything they offered because I thought they were trying to fatten me up." the stories, as far as she knew now had been false but still..
@aerick
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