So we've been out numbered (Edmund)

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Edmunds older siblings Susan and Will had decided to throw a holiday adoption event for the animal shelters in London on the grounds of Windsor Castle in a big fancy tent. Addi had decided to come hang out with Edmund during the event, plus there was nothing wrong with visiting a few cute cats and dogs.

It was a muggle event too, which was nice because sometimes Addi liked just having a break from magical life. Not that she could really do magic outside of school anyway. She was seventeen, but she still was nervous about it because she had spent so long not being allowed to do it. Plus, it was always fun to do stuff with the Royal family. It did kind of feel like there was a lot of pressure on her in those situations, but she did well under pressure.

She arrived at the castle and was led by the staff around back to the lawns and into the tent where the event was happening. There were a lot of people there, and even more animals. She tried to catch sight of Edmund, standing up on her tiptoes to look around.

@edmund

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As a general rule, Ed hated all the events that went on in the castle. Yes, he knew most of them were either tradition or for a good cause, but a very large part of him wanted things to be peaceful when he was at home. Granted, he should know better with Susan and Will as his older siblings. Both of them liked big, fancy events. 

Today they were doing a charity event with animal shelters. It wasn't the worst kind of event since Ed did like animals, but he still wasn't particularly looking forward to it, which was part of the reason why he wanted Addi to join him. Okay, he really wanted her to join him with most everything now-a-days, but he couldn't help it. They hadn't talked about their feelings or anything, but ever since Halloween the two spent much more time together and he enjoyed it. 

He was waiting outside, where the main event was taking place. Of course, many people approached him and Edmund was trying to be as polite as possible. A few nobles asked about his boarding school and his health and such. He answered them, but kept an eye out for Addi. Finally, he spotted her, trying to see him above the crowd. He excused himself and made his way over to her. "Ahh, look at who I've found," he muttered with a smile as he drew near. "How are you doing today?" 

@addilyn

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Addi turned when she heard his voice, "hi," she greeted. "I'm good, good. Glad to see you," she leaned forward and kissed him quickly on the lips. "This is an exciting event, isn't it? How many of these dogs is your family adopting?" she laughed. She took his hand and starting to walk backwards, toward the crowd, "come on, show me the ones you like best," she suggested. She wasn't a crazy dog lover or anything but they were cute and all. All animals were in their own right.

@edmund

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Ed couldn't help but grin when Addi noticed him and smiled. She said she was glad to see him, giving him a quick kiss and his smile widened even more. "Me too. I'm pretty sure I would have died of boredom if you hadn't been able to make it here," he teased, reaching up to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. Then he looked around himself a moment as she started to talk about the event. He nodded. "It is. Lots of people come here for this." At her second question, he shrugged and chuckled. "Who knows? As many as they fall in love with?" He loved dogs, as did much of the royal family. Any they liked would likely stay at the castle. He smiled as she took his hand and followed her easily. "Okay," he answered when she started pulling him towards everyone. "Let's go look at the puppies first," he suggested, leading her to a little pen. "I always like these the most, even though they're not trained or anything." He lifted a small beagle out of the pen, nuzzling it with his face before holding it out to her. "What do you think of this little guy?" Ed asked, holding it out so she could take it if she wanted.

@addilyn

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Ed said he would have died of boredom if she didn't make it, reaching up to move her hair from her face. She smiled at that, her cheeks feeling a little warm. He agreed it was an exciting event and that his family would take as many dogs as they fell in love with. She laughed, "you wouldn't be bored with all these dogs to play with. I mean, I'm not as cute as any of them," she suggested. He agreed to show her around and pulled her along, suggesting they go to a puppy pen first. She grinned, leaning forward to take the puppy he held out to her, "oh my gosh!!! That is the cutest puppy I have ever seen," she chuckled, nuzzling the puppy with her nose. "There's something special about the untrained pups. They've got their whole life ahead of him with all the mistakes and whatnot," she paused, turning to look at Edmund. "I'm rambling."

@edmund

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Addi was laughing at Ed's comments, teasing him about getting bored with so many dogs to play with. He shrugged a little, not arguing the point until she said she wasn't as cute as them. "Different kind of cute," her argued with a smirk, "and I'd choose you every time, if you must know." There was no contest. As much as he liked dogs and puppies, Ed wanted Addi around always. Even if that wasn't possible right now, it was what he wanted. He couldn't help but grin back at Addi as she took the puppy he held out, saying it was the cutest. He knew this event would be perfect for her. He chuckled as she nuzzled it, nodding at her comments that came afterward. "No, you're fine. It makes total sense. I just like how much fun they are, exploring the world for the first time. They just want to check everything and everyone out." Puppies were basically adorable. They were one of the few things that could make Ed smile, no matter what kind of a mood he was in. "You see any others that are standing out to you, or do you just want to walk around with that one?" he teased, nudging her side a little with his elbow.

@addilyn

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He said she was a different kind of cute and she scrunched her nose at him, even as he added that he'd choose her any time. "Am I allowed to kiss you at a royal event? Or will like... a crossbow dart go through my heart from an unseen location?" she asked, her eyes darting around for a moment in jest.

As she nuzzled the puppies he talked about what he liked about puppies too and she grinned, nodding. She stood as he asked if any others were standing out to her. "Someday we should get a puppy," she said casually, then her eyes widened, "you know, I mean, like," she paused, clearing her throat. "Yeah, yeah there are some rottweilers over there. Always liked them," he nodded toward the group, then moved forward toward them.

@edmund

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Edmund smirked when he saw the look that covered Addi's face at his words. Then he laughed, "You can kiss me anytime you want. Anyone trying to get to you for it would have to go through me," he muttered, leaning close. He was kind of teasing her, but he was curious whether she actually wanted to kiss him or if she was just messing around. 

Edmund knew that he should be looking at all the surrounding puppies and dogs as they looked at them, but he was honestly having a hard time pulling his gaze from Addi. They weren't officially anything yet, but they kissed and he felt confident in their feelings for one another. When she spoke, Ed grinned. He almost laughed as she started trying to correct herself, but he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. He took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "I wouldn't mind getting a puppy with you someday," Ed said softly. He knew it was a serious thing to say, but he meant it. He loved her. 

Her mention of rottweilers was obviously trying to change the subject, but Ed didn't fight it. "Then let's go have a look," he answered, tugging her hand as he moved faster than her. He could let her go, but he really didn't want to yet. 

@addilyn

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He muttered she could kiss him anything she wanted and that anything bad would have to go through him first. That low tone, volume and resonance in his voice honestly made the hair on her arms stand up - in a good way. She giggled breathlessly as he leaned closer, scrunching her nose a little while trying to focus on him. "Go through you first, huh? That's a risk I guess I'm willing to take," she leaned forward to close the gap, kissing him not too quickly - but not too lengthy either. She pulled away a litle, "worth it."

He took her hand after her awkward offer to buy a puppy with him and he squeezed it, agreeing to the idea in a soft voice. What was with him being so freaking charming right now? She nodded, but didn't say anything in return about it. She was a little stunned. Again, in a good way.

He moved ahead of her toward the Rotts and she held on tight. When they reached the puppies she squealed happily, "they are so cute!" she bent down to get a better look, and one jumped to the edge of the playpan to lick her face. She laughed, turning her chin upward so it didn't get her mouth. "Nothing better than sloppy puppy kisses," she exclaimed.

She looked toward Edmund and tugged on his hand so she could keep holding on as she kneeled down next to the cage.

@edmund

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Edmund wasn’t really surprised when Addi kissed him. It was what he wanted, after all, and he kissed her back. When she pulled away, saying it was worth it, he laughed. “Which is why anyone would have to go through me. Believe me, Addilyn Slater, you are entirely safe when I’m around.” Yeah, he was teasing, but he also wasn’t. If anyone wanted to hurt her, Ed didn’t want to let them.

She seemed to be lost for words, but Ed didn’t really mind that as he led her over to the Rottweilers. Sometimes he preferred the silence, though he knew lots of people didn’t. He laughed at her response to the puppies, watching her with a sappy grin on his face. Addi was always beautiful to him, but when she was so happy- like she was now- it was just so entrancing. When the little puppies started licking her, he couldn’t help but squat down beside her, especially when she tugged on his hand. He didn’t care if dogs licked him. He actually kind of liked it, especially if he was with Addi. Everything was better with her. “I can’t argue with that,” he said, chuckling as the puppies started jumping up on him as well. “I never knew Rottweilers were your favorite,” he commented, rubbing one of their tummies.

@addilyn

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He said that she was entirely safe when he was around, agreeing that being with her was worth any danger and that he'd protect her and all that. Even though Addilyn Slater was very apt to taking care of herself it was very hard not to love the idea of having a knight in shining armor. She was a book lover, after all, and a hopeless romantic in her own right because of that.

While with the puppies he bent next to her and agreed, which made her smile wider. She always felt like he was different with her than with other people, even before the were... More than friends. That was special to her. "I just like that they're so freaking cute but also tough. They can be intimidating but so incredibly loveable. Kind of like you," she joked with a wrinkle of her nose.

@edmund

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Addi's smile was amazing. Just like always, it made Edmund feel lucky that she gave him the time of day. When they were younger and first met, he didn't think someone as cheerful as her would want anything to do with him. He was the opposite of her in that regard, he knew, but somehow it still worked. He loved how happy and supportive and cheerful she was. Even more so now that they ... were whatever they were. Unofficially dating? He wasn't sure, but he loved it. 

He chuckled as she described the dogs, and then went on to say that they were similar to him. Of course they were. He tilted his head to the side, "Did I ever intimidate you?" He couldn't imagine having done so, she was so composed and in control, but he was curious to find out what she would say. "Or did we become friends because of how cute I am?" he smirked, unable to help it. Most people he knew would not label him as cute, but with her he liked it. 

@addilyn

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"No, of course you never intimidated me," she backtracked. "You just intimidate everyone else," she assured him, with a little chuckle, sticking her tongue out. He asked if they only became friends because he was cute, emphasis on the cute and she narrowed her eyes. "No, I'm pretty sure we only became friends because I'M cute," she countered. It was fun to mess with him a little, but in reality she had always thought he was cute, good-looking, but she did have other relationships going on and what not. Somehow she didn't really realize that she had romantic feelings for him until recently, but that was okay. She kind of liked that their friendship had built up so strongly beforehand.

Suddenly she felt dizzy, blinking her eyes hard she reached out and grabbed and events arm. Oh no, her blackouts. Not again. She felt one coming on and she turned him with wide eyes, "can we go inside for a moment?" She asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

@edmund

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Ed smirked when Addi insisted that he never intimidated her, just everyone else. He was okay with that. Ed knew he wasn't the most approachable of people. Most of the time, that didn't bother him at all, and especially not when he was around Addilyn Slater. She made up for everyone else. He laughed outright when she said they became friends because she was cute. "Well, I definitely can't argue with that. You're cute, and the only person who didn't back off when I got grouchy." Which was most of the time, when he was younger. Ed liked to think that he'd mellowed out a bit since then. 

He was glancing back down to the puppies, still smiling when she suddenly grabbed his arm. Ed looked down at Addi, smiling at first, but the smile quickly left his face. Something was wrong. "Addi? Are you okay?" He was already doing as she asked, leading her toward the castle. What was wrong with her. "Is something going on? Do you need water?" Yes, he was asking lots of questions, Ed couldn't help it. What was up with her?

@addilyn

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He said he couldn't argue with the fact that she was cute and didn't back off when he got grouchy. "That's because I'm stubborn," she admitted, her smiling growing at the site of him and the memory of their earlier years together in school. He had definitely mellowed out since then and she didn't want to take all the credit but she was sure she had something to do with that. She liked to think her friendship eased his mind a little bit.

His smiled vanished at her motion and he took her way, the sweet moment gone. He asked her a few questions in a row but he only heard bits and pieces. She could see her vision going black, spots swimming across her eyes and then suddenly everything was black.

She straightened up once they were in the castle, looking around in a smooth circular motion of her head. So this is what a muggle castle looked like. It was useful to know the inner workings of the Royalties home. If the time ever came to bring them down it would be a useful thing to report to Elaine, right? She looked down at her hand which was clasped onto.... Edmund. She released him, "water would be fine," she said calmly.


@edmund
(the italics are to indicate possessed Addi XD)