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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Apr 10, 2019 17:11:33 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2019 17:11:33 GMT -7
December 31st 2024
The next night was New Years Eve and she had agreed to go out to dinner and catch up with her long distance best friend, whom she had just found out was a wizard like she was when she ran into him in Diagon Alley yesterday. It was incredible that they had both kept it from one another without catching on for 28 years. But now they both knew the truth and were in the same place of the world again. Lee had agreed to meet Rory at a little park near the palace in London, she wasn’t sure where they were going or whether or not he had even thought of a place. She’d honestly be fine if they stopped into a little cafe or whatever, it didn’t take much to impress Lee, and she wasn’t a girl who always required a fancy outing. She couldn’t help but thinking, as she got dressed for the evening, that it felt so much like a date. She had to suppose that he was single still, since he hadn’t had other plans already on New Years Eve. She made her way from her new apartment out to the park just a few blocks away. The sun was already down, but the street lamps lit the way well, and the lights from the city reflecting in the little lake beautifully.
@rory
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Apr 10, 2019 19:21:17 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2019 19:21:17 GMT -7
Rory was very excited to meet up with Alyra. In fact, part of him wasn't sure that this was actually going to happen. Maybe he'd invented his reunion with her the day before. It just seemed so improbable that they were both wizards and ran into one another by happenstance like that. Still, he was going to pretend like it did happen. He'd meet her for dinner like he said he would, and if she never showed up ... well then he'd have to start taking some kind of potion to stop hallucinations or something. He dressed nicely, wanting to make sure that he made a good impression. They hadn't seen one another for years! Well, other than yesterday, but that almost didn't count. It was an accident. He made his way to the park they'd decided on the previous day. "Hey Alyra," he greeted when he saw her up ahead. She looked beautiful, as always. He grinned as he approached, "I wasn't actually sure that I ran into you yesterday. Thought I might have made it up," he commented, shoving his hands in his pockets as he reached her. Why did he still feel like a young kid with her around.
@alyra
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Apr 13, 2019 9:47:27 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2019 9:47:27 GMT -7
Lee had only waited a few minutes alone before her friend arrived at the park also. He was dressed nicely, probably better so than she was. She had worn a dress, even though dresses worn during freezing temperatures seemed weird and counterproductive to her. It was New Years Eve and she wanted to look nice. Just today she had finally been able to buy a wardrobe fit for the winter months, or at least a start of one, and she finally had a coat that was warmer than the cropped hoodie that was a California staple for those chilly 60 degree mornings. She laughed when he admitted that he had thought that he made up seeing her. “Do you imagine seeing me a lot then?” she teased. He looked really good and there was a little spark in her chest when she thought about it.
@rory
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Apr 17, 2019 20:25:37 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2019 20:25:37 GMT -7
Rory rolled his eyes at Alyra's teasing. "No ... I mean, maybe when I get your letters, but other than that ..." he trailed off, though he was joking. Really, he just wanted to make her laugh. He didn't really hallucinate at all, much less hallucinate seeing his best friend. The fact that she was here was surreal though. He still wasn't sure it was true, even seeing her standing right in front of him. "So, what made you decide to come to England?" he asked her, curious about how long she was going to be staying here. Was he going to have to say goodbye again soon?
@alyra
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Apr 29, 2019 15:00:46 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 15:00:46 GMT -7
Honestly, Lee wasn’t sure that she would have minded if Rory said that he did imagine seeing her sometimes. It might have been a little weird, but, he was cute and she had missed being with him way more than she even remembered. It felt so natural even after 20 years. But she was glad to hear that he apparently wasn’t some crazy stalker. He asked why she was here in England now and she realized that she had never told him. She was surprised that it hadn’t come up yesterday. “I’m here for work. I got sent here, actually. I’m a private investigator for the MACUSA and they sent a few of us here to help with the recent breakout.” she explained. She had no idea how long she would be here. At first she hadn’t even wanted to come, now she didn’t really want to think about leaving.
@rory
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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May 2, 2019 8:10:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2019 8:10:05 GMT -7
It was a little awkward, being with Alyra for the first time in years, but Rory didn't really mind. He'd missed her, and the idea of spending a few hours together had him more excited than he'd been in a long time. He nodded as she explained that she was here for work and then explained what she did. He knew that she was an investigator. That had come up in their letters, though he'd never known she was a magical one. "Oh, so are you already following a bunch of leads?" he asked, trying not to think about it too hard. He had lots of work this last week, after the breakouts. Many of the Azkaban people were attacking innocents, or anyone they came across. Mungos had their hands full, as did many other departments in the ministry. He was a little nervous about Alyra chasing after them, but he didn't want to show that. "So, is there anything specific you want to do tonight?" he asked with a smile.
@alyra
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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May 2, 2019 10:31:34 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2019 10:31:34 GMT -7
He asked if she was already chasing after a bunch of leads and she gave a sort of half hearted shrug. “Well I’ve only been here for 2 days, so there’s a lot to do but the ministry took a half day today, so it was impossible to get anyone to take work seriously this morning.” she admitted. Everyone was preoccupied with their new years plans, she was almost no different. Once the holiday was over, she knew, they’d get serious into their search. Lee was here to investigate why the break out happened, she was also trying to help with the capture of the escaped convicts, but, she’d be going a lot more than hunting criminals. That was why she had aurors. He asked if there was anything that she wanted to do tonight and she shrugged. “What would you usually do on New Years Eve?” she questioned. “Maybe we can go and get dinner somewhere, or a drink? And then find a place to watch the fireworks at midnight?” she suggested.
@rory
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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May 4, 2019 13:02:38 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 4, 2019 13:02:38 GMT -7
Rory nodded as Alyra explained why they hadn’t done much. It made sense. First of all, there were likely quite a few of the escapees who were hiding, not wanting to be caught so soon after their escape. Those were probably hiding and the others … well, once the ministry wasn’t preoccupied with their break hopefully they’d be able to find as many as possible. He smiled, “Yeah, I can understand that. Every year the people at St. Mungo’s hope for a nice and quiet New Year’s so they can enjoy themselves.” Of course, someone had to be on duty. This was one of the first years since he started that Rory wasn’t actually on duty New Year’s Eve. It was worth it, doing all those shifts so he could be able to spend tonight with Alyra.
He laughed a little when she asked what he normally did on New Year’s Eve. “Well, I’m normally working a shift or two at Mungo’s, but I have it off this year.” He was obviously quite proud of this fact. Rory nodded at her suggestion. “I think that sounds great. Do you have anywhere in mind or do you want me to show you somewhere new?” Sure, she’d only been here a few days, but she might have heard about some place from people at work. Rory was all too happy to take her anywhere she wanted to go. “And I know of a great spot to watch the fireworks from.” Honestly, any rooftop or park would do, but he had one in mind and he was excited to show it to her, after their dinner of course.
@alyra
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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May 5, 2019 13:18:18 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 5, 2019 13:18:18 GMT -7
Rory explained that he usually spent his New Years Eve at St. Mungos, working. She nodded, but a little thought crossed her mind: had he taken the day off just for her? Or did he already have it off when he met her the other day in the alley? If he had taken it off last minute for her, she was impressed, and also she wasn’t sure anything had ever made her feel more important to anyone. “Well I’m glad that you get to be here with me tonight.” she decided, smiling up at him softly. He then nodded to her suggestions and asked if there was anywhere that she wanted to go or if she wanted him to show her somewhere new. She laughed, “Everywhere is new for me.” she admitted. The only places she had eaten over the last few days were in Diagon Alley. She didn’t know a thing about muggle London. “The night is in your hands.” she challenged.
@rory
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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May 15, 2019 19:24:28 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2019 19:24:28 GMT -7
Rory smiled when Alyra said she was glad that he could be with her tonight. "Me too," Rory agreed. "It's been ages. I ... wasn't quite sure if I'd ever see you again, or if we'd just be eternal pen pals." He chuckled at his own joke, sure that she'd get it. He thought for a moment about where to take her for food, trying to think of some place that wouldn't be too crowded this late at night. "I think I know a place that shouldn't be too busy," he said, reaching over to grab her hand like he did when they were kids. "It's this way, come on." He smiled, thinking she would definitely like this place. "So how's your family? Mazie and your parents?" he asked politely. He'd never actually met Mazie, but that wasn't a bad thing. He just wanted to talk with Alyra.
@alyra
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Jun 1, 2019 12:18:58 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 12:18:58 GMT -7
He said that he thought they might just be eternal penpals and she nodded along, she had thought so too. Never in her life did she see herself coming back to London. But she was glad that she did. He said that he knew a good place and that it shouldn’t be too busy. She wondered what kind of place wouldn’t be too busy on New Years eve, but she trusted him and went along with him anyway. As they walked, he asked about her family. “Everyone is pretty good. Mazie’s here at Hogwarts now, mom and dad wouldn’t let her come until they got word that I was coming. They were worried about all the attacks.” she explained.
@rory
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Jun 1, 2019 18:42:02 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 18:42:02 GMT -7
At least Rory wasn't alone in thinking that he and Alyra were going to be pen pals forever. She nodded when he mentioned it and he felt a small sigh of relief. He wasn't entirely sure why, but he was starting to get a little nervous. Maybe it was because he hadn't seen her in so long, other than their run-in the other day. What if things weren't easy like they were all those years ago? He continued to lead her toward the small hole-in-the-wall pub. He'd never seen it full before now and he was hoping that tonight wouldn't be the first night it would be. He smiled as she started talking about her family, mentioning Mazie. "Mazie is ... the youngest, right? The one with all the energy?" He thought he remembered her mentioning that in their letters. Alyra explained that her sister was in Hogwarts now and he nodded understandingly. Then he frowned, "Wait, so she wasn't there all year long ... you just barely came over here right?" That's what he understood the other day anyway. "So your parents changed their minds just because you were coming. I bet she's glad to be with her friends."
@alyra
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Jun 1, 2019 19:37:45 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 19:37:45 GMT -7
Rory asked if Mazie was the youngest and Lee nodded enthusiastically, “More energy than I think should be humanly possible.” she agreed. Lee loved her little sister, a lot. Mazie was quite possibly one of her best friends, despite the age difference between the two of them. “Yeah, they were homeschooling her back in California rather than send her over. Honestly I’m surprised they let her come over with me anyway after the outbreak.” she admitted. But she knew her parents trusted her with Mazie and she was glad that they did. Lee was an investigator and former Auror after all, she was someone in a position of power and someone who has experience protecting other. Though she and mazie weren’t in the same place, but at least they were close enough. “Yeah she’s thrilled. She’s be home alone with our parents all last term.” Lee smirked. Poor thing. “How’s your family?” she asked.
@rory
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Jun 1, 2019 20:10:57 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 20:10:57 GMT -7
Rory laughed when Alyra explained a little more about her sister. "Doesn't everyone that age just have a ton of energy though?" He was kind of defending Mazie, but really he was just probing for more information. He just liked getting Alyra to talk. He lifted his eyebrows when she explained that her sister was being homeschooled before. That would be hard, after going to school with others for years. "Did you have to convince them to or did they just decide to send her when they heard you were coming over?" He smiled and nodded when she mentioned that her sister was excited to be here. "Well, maybe I'll be able to meet her sometime." He wouldn't push it, but he wanted to know more about Alyra and her family. Meeting her youngest sister would help with that, wouldn't it? He shrugged at her question. "Dad's good. Loving his gardening. He's basically retired as a landscaper now, but sometimes he goes out to do jobs still." Rory didn't have any brothers or sisters, and his mom passed away when he was little. He'd met Alyra right after that happened, actually. She'd been his light, the person that helped him see things could still be happy.
@alyra
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last online Mar 28, 2024 5:34:38 GMT -7
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Jun 1, 2019 20:57:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 20:57:49 GMT -7
Lee nodded, “I definitely did. My parents were always having to tell me, ‘Lee, you’re being too impulsive. Slow down and think’.” she laughed at the thought, and at her own impression of the way her parents would tell her off. She wasn’t sure she’d be a good parent. She wasn’t sure she could be strict enough. She’d encourage her children to make mistakes and learn on their own. Maybe that wasn’t how a parent should be. “I’m sure she would love to meet...my friends.” she nodded. Rory was just a friend, after all. He explained that his dad was doing well and had taken to gardening now that he was retired from landscaping. “Is he still in London?” she asked. “I’d love to pay him a visit, maybe. If he even remembers me.” It had been 20 years.
@rory
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