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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Oct 31, 2017 12:32:06 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2017 12:32:06 GMT -7
Aerick saw the smile and his heartbeat quickened by a few paces. He loved seeing Clodagh smile; she was usually pretty withdrawn and shy, and sometimes awkward around him, though she had started to seem more comfortable lately. He took that as a good sign; he wondered if part of it was because he was a foreigner and a bartender that gave off this intimidation. He had after all met her when he was coming off a shift and an assignment from Elaine so he hadn’t been at his best, but they had gone on plenty of dates after that. “Well, guess I’ll be reading a lot about voodoo then won’t I?” he said teasingly, cocking his head to one side and grinning at her. She got nervous about him reading her work and he reached over the table with both hands and took hers in his. “Clo. I like you. I want to read your books, because they’re important to you,” he told her pointedly. He squeezed her hands and let go. “So… I will be reading your books, whether I have to reach the entire voodoo section of Flourish and Blotts or not,” he said with an air of finality. He cut into his pancakes and took another big bite as Clodagh began to speak, listening as he chewed. “Sounds mysterious,” he commented after he swallowed. Cutting another bite off, he snorted as she told him how her brothers made up ghost stories about cannibalism, and how she had been afraid to eat due to thinking they’d be fattening her up. “See, if I were you I’d be more nervous about eating anything they offered because of what was IN the food,” he pointed out. He could understand why an eight year old would think they’d fatten her up like that old Muggle childrens’ story - the one where the witch cooked children after luring them into her candy house - but his mind went to what he was being fed. He pictured biting into a pie and finding a toenail or something. He shuddered and pushed his plate away. “What did you think?” he asked, nodding towards her plate. @clodagh
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Nov 1, 2017 22:00:11 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2017 22:00:11 GMT -7
Aerick was holding her hands. Not just one. Both. squeezing them from across the table and so casually expressing his feelings. If words could make a heart stop... Oh wait, they could, because Clodagh literally felt her heart had stop beating, only restarting when he squeezed her hands once more, as if jump starting her heart once more. She probably looked absolutely absurd in those moments, her cheeks a rosy pink and her mouth slightly gaping in stunned silence. Clodagh wasn't used to that sort of... display. Or response. He liked her? Did he just mean like her as a friend or someone to hang out with or like her? Why did like even have to have two definitions anyway?! All it did was confuse her, because it got her hopes up. That maybe, just maybe, he might like her instead of just like. Because she was pretty sure she was starting to really like him. And all of these like's were just confusing her. She needed to get her thoughts somewhere else! Oh, right, him, holding her hands, wanting to read her books. Making her blush like a crazy. Again. "I...." She started to say, but stop, unsure exactly what she was trying to say here. After taking a moment to compose her thoughts into actual English sentences she smiled shyly and looked down at her hands, the same hands he'd let go of a moment before. "Someday. I'll tell you the name." She offered, almost surprising herself by it. Would she really? Well.. she sort of had to now that she'd offered it to him! But the question was when...
Why did she keep telling Aerick these things about her past? Stories about growing up that were... embarrassing. And yes for some reason they just came out so naturally when she was talking to him. Almost as if they weren't embarrassing anymore, or that he wouldn't make fun of her... unusualness as a child (probably because he didn't make fun of her unusualness now.) It was easy to talk to him, and the more often they spoke the easier it became. She'd just taken the last bite of her food, a rather large one at that, when he mentioned being worried about what had been in the food, and she choked. She hadn't even considered that! And now she was thinking far to intently about that trip and trying to remember if anything questionable had been fed to them. First order of business though, swallow that mouthful that was currently trying to strangle her. Swallowing hard, she forced it down, before taking a gulp of her drink to try and make it easier... That breath after managing to swallow was heavenly. And then... she laughed. Not hard, but it was genuine, and for once she wasn't blushing profusely. "If I ever go back I'll make sure to double check." She finally offered back, though she definitely was never going back to that village, that was for sure! One traumatic experience was enough!
The next smile, like that laugh, was genuine and lacking her usual embarrassment. She actually looked... Well happy. He usually looked happy, to be honest but this was more open. Less worried about everything else in the world and not nearly so convinced that something terrible was about to happen. "It was delicious!" she answered sincerely and honestly. Though she wished she'd thought of something like this when she'd asked to walk him home... She was glad he'd offered.
@aerick
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Nov 2, 2017 11:28:31 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2017 11:28:31 GMT -7
Aerick laughed. “Come to think of it, either way maybe you shouldn’t return to that village,” he said teasingly. “Don’t want you to get eaten, not when I’m just getting to know you after all,” he added, casually reaching up and running his hand through his hair. “Unless of course, there’s a voodoo ritual going on and you need to research it,” he corrected. He was glad she had relented and would eventually tell him her pen name so he didn't need to read every single book on voodoo. Truth was, Aerick wasn’t much of a reader, at least not unless it was about wandlore. He found himself wanting to read Clodagh’s books though, to reveal a different side of her. They had gone out several times now, and they talked about plenty of things. Sooner or later though, they’d have to get to some of the deeper aspects of their lives. Like why he was in England in the first place, and why he never saw her at night. Smiling, Aerick stood and walked over to her place, gently pulling out her chair so she could rise as well. “My lady,” he said, offering out his arm to her. “At little places like this, we pay the check up front,” he explained as they walked towards the front register. Aerick paid the bill without any hesitation and led Clodagh out into the sunlight. It was a nice day out, but he knew he needed to get SOME sleep at least before he went over to the Club again. At least after tonight he had a few days off; he needed them to gather more intel on his father, but more importantly catch up on sleep. “Let’s take a walk through the Victoria Gardens, they always look nice this time of year,” he suggested. They walked along in silence until they got to the garden. Aerick led her to a semi-secluded spot near the River Thames, and turned to face her with a small smile. “So...Clodagh Fitzpatrick,” he began, taking a step closer. “I fear that I may have been causing you some confusion when I said I liked you. I could see it in your eyes; does he mean as a friend, or something more. I think it’s high time I clarified things.” He stopped talking and moved a hand to her face. He pushed a strand of her dark hair behind her ear and let his hand rest on her cheek, before closing the distance between the two of them and pressing his lips gently against her own. Kissing Clodagh was...unlike kissing anyone Aerick had before, and there had been a fair few. It gave him a warm feeling, that spread from his chest down to his toes. It felt right. He broke apart a few moments after to get some air. “Have I made myself clear or could you use some more clarification?” he whispered, tracing his thumb under her chin. @clodagh
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Nov 2, 2017 12:45:51 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2017 12:45:51 GMT -7
Clodagh laughed as well. She'd been quite convinced they'd eat her when she was a child. Now though... well she knew better. Or at least knew that that particular village had stopped the practice at least ten years before their visit. "I don't want to get eaten either!" She intentionally avoided addressing his comment of just getting to know her. The mention of voodoo rituals going on though almost made her jump. Somehow she managed to maintain her composure despite the hiccup of her heart. She wasn't messing with any voodoo rituals any time soon. Thankfully his rising to his feet saved her from responding because she was blushing. He was perfect, she decided. Handsome, funny, and had manners to boot. Basically she was screwed, and didn't understand how she could have caught his interest. Because logically she shouldn't have. She'd be forever convinced that he was out of her league and this was all done elaborate and beautiful daydream.
Taking that offered arm and trying to keep her blushing under control she opened her mouth to protest when he payed so quickly. She'd been the one to initiate this... date? Okay she hadn't intended it to turn out this way, but still! She could have paid! No words came out though, probably because she realized at the last second that complaining about wanting to pay wasn't a classy thing to do. But it wasn't like Clodagh knew the first thing about 'class'. "You don't have to, your probably t-" Clodagh shut herself up somehow, though half her protest had gotten out. So, having to do some damage control she nodded. "Okay." she agreed. She shouldn't complain about a handsome man wanting to go for a walk with her!
The gardens were, as he mentioned, beautiful this time of year. And though there was a silence between them it was quite comfortable. She was smiling vibrantly as they walked, taking in the beautiful and peaceful atmosphere. Until she realized that they were now in a particularly quiet and isolated spot. He turned to her, saying her first and last name and her whole body tensed up. Out of surprise, trying to piece together just what was happening- and what was that he said? Oh Merlin he was moving closer. She skipped a breath. He was saying something about clarifying things and his hand was on her cheek. She stopped breathing.
And when he kissed her she forgot how to breath entirely.
If she wasn't so shocked she would have probably thought about how nice the kiss was. Or how she liked the way his hand was resting on her cheek still. And by the time she recovered enough to think 'oh my god, he's kissing me!' He was breaking the kiss. Not pulling away as he whispered and she stared up at him with such a surprised look you'd think she might have turned to stone. She felt like she'd turned to stone. Finally though her heart, breathing and thoughts restarted.
Amazingly, she wasn't blushing, and those unusual eyes of her's returned to a normal size as she started to smile. To really smile, no hint of her usual awkwardness. "I think I need more clarification." she whispered back. She'd been to surprised to kiss him back before, she needed a do-over.
@aerick
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Nov 6, 2017 14:10:35 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 14:10:35 GMT -7
Aerick grinned down at her as she said she needed a do-over. “Gladly,” he said, and then he was kissing her again. He ran his hands through her hair as he brought her closer to him. The world around them simply melted away; there were no gardens, no joggers passing by them, some perhaps pausing with a double take for a couple to be so brazenly snogging in the middle of the day. Clodagh was the only thing in this little bubble of Aericks’ at the present moment, and kissing her made all his problems go away. His father, his double life as a Purifiers agent, trying to keep his daughter and her mother safe from Elaine’s grasp, all of it was driven from his mind. He broke away from her with the sole reason that he needed air, and leaned forward to kiss her forehead tenderly. The sun seemed to shine a little brighter, the air a little warmer, the flowers smelling a little sweeter. He reached down and entwined one of his hands in hers. “Perhaps we should take this to a bit more of a private setting?” he suggested, eyebrow raised and his voice husky. He gently tugged on her hand as he began to lead her in the direction of his apartment. He wasn’t going to pressure her into anything; if he was being honest with himself, all he wanted was to kiss her some more in the privacy of his own place. Besides, he had a little surprise he had bought the day before, after taking a look at her Apparition license when she was in the loo a few weeks ago when they were out to dinner. “By the way, how has your birthday been so far?” Aerick asked casually, not hiding his grin as he looked back over at her. @clodagh
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Nov 6, 2017 18:43:44 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 18:43:44 GMT -7
Sure, Clodagh was still.... nervous about all this. About what Aerick was thinking about her. But he'd put most her worries to rest for the moment. She knew now that maybe, just maybe, she had a chance here. And that... Well he might just want to see where this went too. Plus, he was happy to oblige her request for a 'do-over', and was kissing her again in no time at all. This time Clodagh was ready (as if kissing was something she had to mentally prepare for.) and rose a little on her toes to kiss him back, her hands finally moving to carefully rest on his shoulders. Now that she could actually enjoy the kiss and not worry about oxygen intact it was absolutely amazing. Clodagh, to no surprise, was very innocent and naive in the ways or romance. She'd dated.... a bit. But the longest a relationship had lasted was a month, and never gotten past kissing and hand holding. Even then, there was only one relationship that had gotten that far. Most of the time.... Well, considering her shy and awkward personality it wasn't too surprising that she wasn't well versed in the art. But, being a writer she at least knew the logistics of it. Still. knowing the logistics didn't prepare her for the reality much and she was caught up and swept away by just how... amazing it was. For once she didn't care, or even realize that she might have a reason to be embarrassed or nervous. She felt free of her anxieties and able to, by kissing him back, finally express herself and her budding feelings for him.
Alas, it wasn't unending, and eventually Aerick pulled away, leaving Clodagh a little flushed. But not from blushing for once. She was (unsurprisingly) okay with this new reason behind her reddened cheeks. And Merlin's beard, she couldn't stop smiling, even when he kissed her forehead like that! Clodagh did managed to unclasp her hands from his shoulders though, just in time for him to catch a hand and entangle their fingers. Clo immediately squeezed their entwined hands just a little.
Clodagh's eyes widened at his suggestion. Somewhere more private? Just like that she realized just how exposed they were at their current location and that people had probably seen them snogging like that. But the way he's suggested the idea... She knew he was suggesting it in more then just an innocent "it's crowded here" way. She took in a small breath, her heart racing just a little as a few ideas of what he was suggesting started to come to mind. "O-okay." She manged to get out, not exactly sounding that confident about it but she'd be blushing a lot more if she was uncomfortable with the situation. Sure, she and Aerick were 'alone' when they went out, but in the sense that they always just went on dates just the two of them. But they'd never been totally alone. At least, not in the sense that he was suggesting. Despite being nervous though, she was... also a little excited.
The woman was doing quite well (for her) handling all of this up until he mentioned her birthday. She'd managed to kiss him back, she wasn't a blushing monster, she'd actually formed a coherent couple words in the shock of being kissed. It was great progress! But the birthday.... Clodagh didn't actually tell many people when her birthday actually was. In part because the attention it brought made her even more nervous than usual. So him bringing it up? She tripped mid step and choked on the breath she'd been trying to take in. Their entwined hands helped keep her up right, and she regained her footing quickly. A few coughs and her ability to breath returned too. But he'd definitely shocked her, and probably crashed all that built up confidence she'd mustered. "What?' The word came out very squeaky, her shock and disbelief just as plain in her voice as it was in her expression as she looked up at him.
@aerick
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Nov 8, 2017 14:28:30 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2017 14:28:30 GMT -7
Aerick could tell that Clodagh understood that he wanted privacy for more than one reason, but if he had to eventually reiterate he didn’t want to push her into anything she didn’t want to do, he would. He kind of got the impression that Clo might think she said the wrong thing, or something of similar awkwardness, but he was...rather well trained in the verse of wooing in his personal opinion. He could read the signs perfectly well, and right now she was both nervous and excited, which was positive. Aerick reached out and wrapped his other hand around her forearm as she stumbled forward, chuckling as he helped her get upright. “What?” he asked innocently, not hiding the grin that formed as she squeaked. “It was a lucky guess,” he said airily, reaching his now free other hand and rumpling his hair. “Or, I peeked at your Apparition license the other night while you were in the bathroom at dinner, and saw your birthday was coming up,” he finally relented. He squeezed her hand. “I got the impression that you weren’t one to make much fuss about your birthday in public, but I do have one little thing for you. Which is why I want you to come back to my apartment with me,” he told her, not bothering to add that it wasn’t the only reason why. Clodagh was smart she knew it was implied. He walked with her hand in hand towards his apartment, the tiny one bedroom flat he had gotten off the owner of Club Indigo for a steal. He had the impression Elaine had something to do with the pricing, but he didn’t ask. He opened the door and seated her on the brown leather couch. “Okay, close your eyes,” he said. Aerick waited for Clo’s eyes to be closed before whisking off to the kitchenette and taking something out of the fridge. He pulled out a birthday cake dressed like Mardi Gras, complete with the green, purple and gold, masks and beads - all edible - and lit the candles that he had put on top. “One two three, open them!” he exclaimed, setting the cake down before her with a small flourish. @clodagh cake!
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Jan 7, 2018 13:58:48 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 13:58:48 GMT -7
Clodagh stared at him wide eyed as he explained how he'd known it was her birthday, of course first joking that he'd been guessing. There was a fraction of a moment when she believed that and thought that she'd just given away when her birthday was but he soon clarified that he'd already known. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came to mind so she quickly shut it. He was right to assume she didn't like making her birthay a fuss. But his adding that he had something for her... HEr eyes finally returned to a normal size. "When is your birthday?" She finally blurted out, because trying to turn the attention to him instead of herself was a normal tactic of hers. That, and if he got to know when her birthday was, then dammit, she got to know when his was!
It was nice, walking down the street holding hands like this. Like a.... couple? Were they one? He'd kissed her as way of making his intentions clear to her but that didn't really define the relationship. But it sort of did? You didn't kiss people you only wanted to be friends with. Or was that just her own naive way of thinking talking? Now she was confused, but she'd put off thse thoughts for now and instead just focus on the fact that his hand was warm and she liked it. Soon they were at his apartment, a place she'd never actually been before. And for some reason she felt a little nervous but also calm at the same time. Nervous because she was in a guy's place but calm because this was not just some guy. It was Aerick. And she really liked said guy, and he liked her. "What?" She asked immediately when he led her to the couch and told her to close her eyes. She blinked rapidly, confusion written all over her face, but she soon let out a breath and listed, closing her eyes. She could hear him moving around, opening and closing the fridge. What was he doing? It was so temping to just open her eyes and peak but she managed to restrain herself until she heard him moving back and counting up, anouncing to open her eyes finally.
She opened her eyes... And gasped. Her hands covered her mouth, as if afraid her gasp was too loud, before looking up at him with those wide eyes. "You didn't have to." Was her muffled and surprised words before behind her hands. One, that was an incredibly decorated cake. But two, he'd done it for her, and she didn't know just how to handle that realization.
@aerick
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Jan 8, 2018 9:26:12 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2018 9:26:12 GMT -7
Aerick chuckled lightly at Clodagh’s outburst. “September 8th, I’ll be twenty-four,” he told he compliantly. That gave her several months to mentally prepare herself for anything she wanted to do. Well, that was strange; he was planning several months into the future with Clo so naturally he didn’t even bother to overthink it. He had never done that with anyone before, not even Angela, who was the mother of his only child. They sometimes planned ahead, like for Olive’s birthday, but other than that their meetings were pretty spontaneous. Aerick had always prided himself on being able to separate emotion from physical attraction; it kept him focused in on finding his father and extracting his revenge for lying and destroying his mother when he was just seventeen years old. His mother of course, had advised against it, even though she was more broken hearted than he was about it. He never told her that he’d woken to the sound of her sobbing in the middle of the night. It was moments like those that kept his passion for revenge alive. Clodagh, however, threw an unexpected but beautiful wrench into these plans. He knew that if he killed his father, there would be consequences. He could commit the actual murder without being caught of course; being a python Animagus had its benefits. But if Clo….if she ever found out he had committed murder, she’d never look at him the same way again. That was why he hadn’t killed him yet, even though he knew exactly what he was. He would not be able to hide the deed from Clo forever, and he didn’t want to think of the idea of losing her. But Aerick was not going to think about that today; today was Clo’s birthday, and it was going to be all about her. “I didn’t but I wanted to,” he declared, pressing his lips against her cheek gently. He slung his arm around her shoulders and waved his wand to light the candles. “Make a wish,” he whispered into her ear. @clodagh
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Feb 4, 2018 18:29:37 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2018 18:29:37 GMT -7
Septbember 8th. Clodagh would remember that date. She'd come up with something great to do for him! Whatever that was... Well, she didn't actuall know. She'd never been good at that sort of thing. She'd figure it out though, right? After all, it was several months away. It was odd to think that he was younger then her, but she refused to ever actually mention it. Nodding as she committed the date to memory, she decided she'd think about what to do later. Maybe Ophelia could help her come up with something.
Clodagh, despite her surprise, was blushing again. At the affectionate gesture and admittance of his wanting to. "But why..?" She muttered quietely under her breath. She wasn't looking for an answer, but she couldn't help but wonder. Obviously she liked him, and the feeling was mutual. But why did he like her enough to want to do this for her? You know what? It was best not to ask questions you didn't want the answer to. Instinctively she leaned a little into him when he put an arm around her and lit the candles. Now to think. What to wish for. There were plenty of things she wanted in life. To not be so shy. To be more coordinated. To break the curse that was on her right now. But those weren't really what she wanted right now. What she did want...
Clodagh leaned forward and blew the candles out.
Only once the candles were out did she speak. She didn't look at him though. "Your next day off. I wished that we will do something." She wasn't 'exactly' asking him out. But it was about as close as you would get with Clodagh. She probably wouldn't have even managed to get the request out if she'd been looking at him when she spoke.
@aerick
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last online Apr 19, 2024 3:58:52 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2018 10:40:33 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2018 10:40:33 GMT -7
Aerick heard her question, even though he was pretty sure it was half to herself. He stretched his arm over Clo’s shoulders and let his hand rest gently on her far shoulder. “Because I like you,” he stated, looking her directly in the eyes. It was a simple statement, but meant a lot coming from the elusive Aerick Adler. His whole life he had spent with casual flings and one night stands. There had only been two times before that he had even considered a relationship; once when Angela told him she was pregnant, and once when he had met Madelina before her untimely end via bus. This felt different though; this felt natural, like it was meant to happen instead of being forced by circumstances. Not that he hadn’t liked Angie well enough, but they just weren’t as compatible without all the booze and the partying atmosphere. Clodagh and he however had almost nothing in common, but there was just something about her that made Aerick feel connected in a way he never had before. Aerick’s smile widened as Clodagh expressed her wish; to do something on his next day off. “I actually have a few days off coming up next week, we could do something then?” he suggested, raising a brow at her. He was working an earlier shift with an overnight the next day, but he’d need to sleep in between, not leaving much time to actually hang out. Three full days of no work though would work out perfectly for the two of them. “Anything in particular you wanted to do?” he asked, curious to see what she could come up with. @clodagh
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