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last online May 6, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -7
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Nov 20, 2023 22:05:30 GMT -7
Post by shawn lesley ashcroft on Nov 20, 2023 22:05:30 GMT -7
Alora teased for a moment that her couch would probably be too small for even him in dog form. He laughed for a moment. "Well, I hope you have more seating than just the couch, or we’ll both just be squeezed into it.” Shawn teased back equally. "Granted, I’m comfortable with the floor.” He added, both serious and trying to avoid just the thought of them up against each other. Things were getting less and less awkward as they were talking, but some things still bordered on being a little too much for his own thoughts. "Now, I didn’t say that; I was just saying to do whatever you want. Don’t hold back on my account. You want to just have two drinks, go for it; you want to not drink, which is also good. You want to go break into Gringotts; count me in.”
With a quick no, Alora explained she wasn’t showing off. He hadn’t thought she was; he was just messing with her. Still, she went into more detail about her own magical abilities. "Yeah, but that’s not just a ‘you’ thing. The magic I use every day comes so naturally and quickly that I can look like an expert. Yet you tell me to use some spell I haven’t even thought of since I was a student. I’d probably blow up the object, my wand, and who knows what else?" Which was an exaggeration at the end, but he had made his point. "That's not being lazy; it’s just being a human. We can’t remember them all, spell name, wand movement, what day of the week you need to bring thinking off to make it work.” He teased near the end, but still, magic was funny like that.
Shawn smirked as Alora played along with his sarcastic remarks about getting comfortable. Even going so far as to admit it wasn’t like she hadn’t seen him before in such a state. He was almost surprised she was willing to acknowledge it had happened. "Well, sorry to disappoint, but I have my clothes on underneath. If I knew I’d be giving a show, I would have worn something more impressive or nothing." There was still some redness in both of their faces. He could feel it on his and see it on hers, he could barely make it out with the clouds now dimming the sky. As she waited for him to follow her, she commented that his tail was still hanging out, jokingly. With a wave, his robes disappeared. He grabbed his stack of exams and followed suit, "Well, duh, how else will you know if I’m happy or not?” They replied as they now made their way down the stairs toward Professor Spillane’s office. For a moment, his thoughts actually moved to something else unrelated to the gorgeous woman near him. He wondered who might have his class exams, and he probably had a number of stacks just like this one in his hands waiting at his desk. A thought he wasn’t excited about.
As they walked step by step down the tower, side by side, Alora asked what he was going to get from the kitchen before asking about his favorite food. Calling him Shawny once more. He couldn’t help himself for a moment and leaned closer toward her. “Shh, what if there’s still a student around?" He teased her with a whisper, for using her pet name. With a momentary bump from his elbow, he just laughed, done teasing. “Honestly, it’s hard to have a favorite for me. At least when it comes to food. Probably a good chicken parm. Or just about any Italian dish.” It was the closest he could come to narrowing down one favorite food. “What about you? What kind of elegant meal will Ms. be having tonight?”
Alora Veda Astor
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last online Apr 23, 2024 13:32:13 GMT -7
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Nov 21, 2023 10:16:33 GMT -7
Post by Alora Veda Astor on Nov 21, 2023 10:16:33 GMT -7
"I have an armchair thing, but it's boxy and not very comfortable. So we'll be comfier squashed on the couch together I guess. Unless you don't wanna be squashed into me, which I wouldn't blame for either..." turning slightly more red, she trailed off, mouth still open, before she snapped it shut and started talking again "I Can take the arm chair, it's big enough for me.." The ease with which he spoke, made her smile. Whatever they did, he was good with. That, by default put her at ease. That was until his further explanation on rusty magic came out, then her smile faltered and turned to a slight frown. "If you knew me at school you wouldn't be so confident with that explanation, but I'll take your word for it Shawny.." regardless, she began to carefully move down the stairs, making a more conscious effort with her movements. In his presence she wanted to just sort of float along, and really that would be easy. But it would likely end in head trauma from when she inevitably missed a step and fell. A concussion wouldn't make a great addition to their impromptu not-a-date date night. Pursing her lips she moved and continued to listen to him. Was she disappointed? Yes actually. Not that she'd ever admit it. That was a thought she well and truly had to push down out of her mind, or at least to a darker nook where she could hide it better. But still, the tail comment made her laugh. The thought of it was somewhat cute, even if borderline odd. Stopping outside Prof Spillane's office, she frowned and checked her watch. She assumed they were a night owl, most Astronomers were by default. But still, the polite side of her thought it was too late to be knocking. Plus, it might invite unwanted conversation. Prolonged conversation that would delay here getting back to her couch with Shawn. Pressing a finger to her lips, motioning him to be quiet she took the envelope from his hands, and shoved the two under the crack in the door. Good enough. Then she casually straightened up like she hadn't done anything wrong and raised an eyebrow at Shawn. "I'm not in the mood to start a conversation with them at this hour of the night. My couch is calling.." aka don't ask. Lets just go. Though her smile was still warm and invite, it had waned slightly, the tiredness starting to show. A few steps along the corridor she stopped to eye him, half just her ridiculous fix, half to actually answer him. For a moment though, a thought crossed her mind; here they were sneaking around after curfew. As dumb as it was, they were teachers now, curfew didn't apply to them, but still; it gave her sort of a thrill to think that they were living up to their previous agreement of an after hours date. He teased her for a second, and she merely stuck her tongue out at him in response. When she did eventually answer him, she paused, twisting her lips into a pout. "Well, I had been debating a stir fry of some sort, but, now you've put the idea of creamy carby cheesy goodness of Pasta in my head I might need to go for that..." they continued moving to the kitchens to get the food before she could drag him to a floo spot. ____________________________________________ It wasn't really long before they reached her flat anyway almost like magic. The Floo took them as far as the Three Broomsticks, only a few doors up from Madam Puddifoots. A nondescript door between the side of the shop and another that opened onto a set of stairs up to her flat above. It didn't take her long to lift her wand and lift the wards, and use her muggle style key to get them in and up the stairs. Another almost lazy swish of her wand caused the candles all over the flat (strategically placed away from plants that covered pretty much every surface) to come to life. Well that and the few lamps she had scattered around. She had always been more of a mood lighting person. She didn't like the harshness of overhead lights; the only illumination here was fairy lights, or warm lamps, or candles scattered about. the place was neat, but cosy. Small, but everything she needed. Despite the bare windows (she was a fan of all the natural light that flood in during the day), there was a warmth held in the flat that was just nice. Her wand moved again and the light curtains drew over the windows, adding another level of comfort; they blocked out the outside world. Setting her bag & the food down on the small round dining table, she shrugged out of her coat and turned to give Shawn a small smile. "Well, this is it I guess, my inner sanctum" she was almost sheepish as she pulled off her hat and set it in a closet near the door with her coat. "At the risk of sounding that cliche, I need to get out of these jeans so do excuse me while I do actually go slip into something more comfortable" her eyes rolled and she laughed as she repeated his earlier sentiment before she slipped away into her room to try find something to change into that was still cute, but comfortable enough to chill in as well. Her stomach let out a ridiculously large, almost comical growl as she moved "Oh excuse me, I'm hungrier than I thought I guess.." she muttered, fleeing to try and hide her embarrassment. The door to her bedroom snapped shut behind her with a click and she began to sort herself out, and try to filter out the panicked thoughts that were screaming at her that bringing Shawn here was a bad idea. shawn lesley ashcroft
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last online May 6, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -7
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Nov 21, 2023 19:16:39 GMT -7
Post by shawn lesley ashcroft on Nov 21, 2023 19:16:39 GMT -7
Alora explained her flat's seating arrangements a little more. It seems they could both fit on her couch just barely, or she had a more uncomfortable chair if he didn’t want to be squished in next to her. She paused before claiming she would take the arm chair, and Shawn shook his head. “Who said I didn’t want to be squished up next to you on your lovely-sounding couch?” Shawn teased for a moment perfectly fine, with the couch being the excuse they were so close to one another once more. “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather share a small couch with than you right now.” It was meant to come out more jokingly, but it felt like something more after he said it. Yet, in this moment, he wasn’t about to backtrack himself. He was fine with what he said and how it could be perceived. “It might be for the best that we didn’t know each other during school, but not for those reasons. Merlin knows how hard your grades might have tanked with me being around constantly and being annoying.”
Making their wait down the stairwell, they eventually came to the astronomy professor's door. He figured they would just go in and drop off what they needed. Alora had other plans. She motioned with a finger to her soft lips that they should be quiet. She slipped their papers under the door and proceeded to explain that she wasn’t in the mood for a conversation about the exams or with Professor Spillane. Her couch was calling. Something Shawn was completely onboard with as she proceeded to start walking down the stairs to the nearby corridors.
They would be out of sight in just a few feet, which gave Shawn a terrible idea. “Hey Alora," she called for her in a low tone, just enough so she would hear him as she proceeded to keep walking. “You know, us muggleborns have this thing we like to do as kids.” Shawn explained partially before putting his terrible idea into motion. Shawn proceeded to knock on the door a couple of times, just a few noise levels below what banging on it might have sounded like. He made a brisk pace for the corridor. “Now we move fast.” He said he was passing the redhead and reaching the corridor, stifling his juvenile laughter. It was dumb and wasn’t something an adult should be doing, much less a professor. Which is probably why the idea had called to Shawn so much.
Alora’s response to his teasing was met with a cute expression of her sticking out her tongue at him. All he could do was just laugh a little, which was fine; she began speaking after it. She spoke of her food of choice before claiming he had put the idea of pasta in her head as well. “Excuse me for coming up with tempting ideas. Next time, I’ll just talk about a nice plate for plain white rice.”
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The journey to her flat wasn’t actually that long; he didn’t know why he thought they would just floo into her home. It was rare that people had their homes connected to the network. It was much smarter to just appear in some public place near their home. Which is what Alora had done. They exited at the three broomsticks. A few familiar faces were sitting at the bar this night, but none of them from the school staff. Shawn had spent a more than a few nights here in the past, getting a little too drunk. These were the regulars. He gave a quick wave as he followed Alora out and down the Hogsmeade Street. Madam Puddifoots was close by—the bright pink building he had avoided like the plague as a student. This was a place your school-year girlfriend made you go, but if that person had been his friend, they were teased mercilessly for it. He couldn’t help but have a silent chuckle as the thought of those times as Alora undid the locks and wards, keeping them out. “This is why I have a doggy door at home; it’s just so much easier than dealing with locks.” Shawn jested as he didn’t actually have a doggy door but the idea had crossed his mind.
Once inside, Shawn looked over the flat as it gently lit up slowly. If he had to give it an adjective, he would say the place was very Alora. It was neat, clean, cute, and had more plants than he felt some greenhouses might have had. This was a herbology professor's home, if he had ever seen one. Which he hadn't, but he felt his point still stood up well. She set her bag and food down before turning toward him with a smile. She called this her inner sanctum, and Shawn offered up a small smirk. “I thought we were going to your flat, not a secret green house.” He teased for a moment but spoke again quickly. “It’s lovely.”
Alora explained that she needed to get into something more comfortable, and he didn’t blame her. Once home, there wasn’t anything better than finally getting to be comfortable and relax. Before he could say anything, her stomach made a noise, obviously showing just how long it had been since she last ate. She apologized for it. “It’s fine. Go get comfortable so we can do it. Granted, just like you said, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” Shawn was willing to steal her line here with a small smirk and a little redness to his face. She left and being alone in her flat was more awkward than he had thought. He hadn’t really thought about it to begin with. Shawn questioned where to sit and what he was allowed to touch or not touch. He pretty much just stood there as he weighted his options, which didn’t really matter, but he was putting way too much thought into it.
Finding the couch she had spoken of, he decided to sit down. It wasn’t bad, but it was indeed on the small side. Looking at how neat her place was reminded him just how much he probably needed to clean his place. He went home probably once or twice a week during the school year, unless it was a break, just to make sure it hadn’t gone to ruin. Besides that, he just lived in his office.
Alora Veda Astor
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last online Apr 23, 2024 13:32:13 GMT -7
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Nov 22, 2023 15:03:09 GMT -7
Post by Alora Veda Astor on Nov 22, 2023 15:03:09 GMT -7
After shutting the door behind her, she had to pause and take a breath. This evening had been a completely unplanned success, but she needed to take a minute just to breathe and process. There was all sorts of emotions churning in her gut, and that fluttering tightness in her chest every time she turned to look at Shawn and realised he was already looking at her. There was still pangs of regret that she had left him back in February after what had been a quite excellent night; all because she couldn't deal with her own feelings on the matter. But then there was the light and free feeling he roused in her. The way she caught herself thinking of what an idiot he was, but then she realised what a dopey smile covered her face at the thoughts of it, and how much she actually liked it. Shawn brought a side out in her that she long thought she had lost a long time ago. As she moved to her small wardrobe, and began sifting through it to pull out a comfier set of leggings and a hoodie; she actually laughed quietly again remembering the way he had knocked on Spillane's door and made them run. She was sure it would be obvious who did it, and if not, then they surely heard her peal of giggles as she ran away with Shawn. Her cheeks flushed just slightly, pulling her sweater over her head, remembering the way she had pressed in against him in an alcove just up the corridor to hide for a second before the had moved on to the kitchens. The disappointment at the loss of the feeling as they hurriedly stepped away from each other once they realised how close they were, had struck her as well, but it was easier not to dwell on that. It didn't take her long to change. She did toy with the idea of taking her make up off when she piled her red locks up on top of her head messily, but her confidence simply didn't stretch that far. As she came back into the living are, padding along in her comfy socks, she gave Shawn a small smile and continued on their conversation like there hadn't been a few minutes of interruption. "Have to keep my plant babies somewhere. To be honest when I first rented here, I didn't plan to spend all that much time here but it's become more of a home. My Hogwarts office is literally in a greenhouse, one of the older ones at the back. More privacy but not quite enough for it to be like your office where you can sleep there and stuff I guess..." she trailed off as her cheeks went red, thinking of the 'and stuff' they had gotten up to in the privacy of said office. But it was enough to busy herself getting a couple of plates from the mostly unused kitchenette and bring them over to where he sat, handing Shawn one with the onus of sorting his own food onto it. She clasped two forks in her hand as well, ready to hand him one as he needed it. For a moment though, she stood in front of the loveseat couch, hesitating. She wasn't sure if it was crossing the line to squash herself in beside him, and it was obvious she was thinking it over for a minute; her head and heart battling. Eventually though, her heart won out and she did squeeze in with him, even if she did blush as she did so. Folding one leg up under her, she started sorting out her food quietly. Eventually she realised it had gone a little quiet, so she decided to dig just a little deeper into Shawn's world. "Do you just stay at the castle, or do you go...somewhere else? Where's home for Shawny?" with a curious eyebrow raise, she finally looked up to him, holding out his fork. shawn lesley ashcroft
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last online May 6, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -7
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Nov 23, 2023 1:46:15 GMT -7
Post by shawn lesley ashcroft on Nov 23, 2023 1:46:15 GMT -7
Shawn kept looking around the flat, attempting to find something—anything—to preoccupy his time. She wouldn’t be gone long, but he didn’t want to just be standing in the same spot looking around when she returned. There was a brief moment where Shawn wondered what her bedroom looked like as well. Did it also have a number of plants? How big was the bed? He shook his head after the last thought. Shawn didn’t need to be thinking about any of that right now. Shawn took a seat on the couch and just continued to look around the room, his food placed on the table before him.
Thankfully, it didn’t take Alora long to change, and with a smile, Shawn turned to her as she returned. They quickly resumed their conversation about her flat before she went to get changed. She explained just why she spent so much time here rather than in her office in one of the greenhouses. He noticed her face get a few shades brighter as she slowly stopped speaking. Shawn was aware of what she was getting as she had trailed off about his office. The idea to push a little more on the topic did cross his mind, yet he allowed her to escape that moment. “That’s just because I don’t require much, and anything I do need, I’ll just change something into. Also, unlike a greenhouse, my office does have nice walls where no one can see what people are doing inside of it.” Okay, so he didn’t entirely allow her to get away with how she had trailed off. Yet he didn’t flat-out bring it up.
Alora left for the kitchen to prepare for dinner, he assumed. Coming back with utensils. She took a moment to think about the living room and where to sit before finally sitting next to him on the couch. She had been correct; it was quite a close seating arrangement as she squished up next to him. Still, he wouldn’t have had it any other way. Even if nothing happened, he enjoyed being this close to her. There was a momentary redness to his face as they sat there in silence. Finally, Alora spoke up, asking about where he lived. Looking over to Alora, she was also handing him a fork, which he accepted. “I have a little place outside London, but during the school year I spend much of my time at the castle. There isn’t much need to go home, like you’ve seen my office can double as just about whatever I need it too.” It wasn’t hard to change his office into whatever he needed, which oftentimes was just a place to crash for the night. “I do go back a few times a week just to make sure it’s still standing. It’s certainly not as tastefully decorated as this place. Maybe you can come over sometime and make it look half as nice as here.” Shawn jokingly suggested with a laugh before realizing he was basically inviting her into his home as well. Which he was in hers at the moment. It would be only fair.
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last online Apr 23, 2024 13:32:13 GMT -7
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Nov 23, 2023 8:49:34 GMT -7
Post by Alora Veda Astor on Nov 23, 2023 8:49:34 GMT -7
A small smirk played on her lips "Exactly Shawny" The flush in her cheeks deepened just slightly as she dipped her head and instead concentrated on twisting some pasta around her fork. "I love my greenhouse office, the plants and the lights I have up, I've made it a little cozier and it doesn't get cold or anything thanks to spells put on it, but it doesn't offer much privacy" Even if they were squished up together on the couch, she found she actually quite liked it that way. Every time she moved just slightly her side pressed up against his again and made that feeling in her chest flutter a little bit more. Trying to push that thought down for a moment, she concentrated on wolfing down her pasta. Usually she was a lot more self conscious when eating, more careful about her manners. Maybe it was how ravenous she was, or just that she didn't care, but she found it wasn't the case. Still, she was scrupulous that none of the creamy carbonara sauce clung to the sides of her mouth. Here and there her tongue darted out and licked them away; she had forgotten a napkin and was too settled and comfortable to go and get one. Alora listened quietly to him, still picking at her pasta, glancing up at him here and there. She threw in a nod for good measure at times. "That makes sense. Is that home home where you're from, or where you've made your home?" her head tilted the side momentarily, surveying him, and a lock of red hair misplaced from her messy bun. At his compliment she gave a half laugh, glancing around. "I do like it here. Most of the furniture was here when I moved in, but not the other bits I suppose" ie. the throw on the couch, the pillows, the mountains of candles & mood lights, the hangings on the walls, the fairy lights. Anything that had made it feel more like her. "I have a house in London. Well, my family home. A big townhouse I inherited, I was raised there. It's basically the complete opposite to here. I only rent here, but sometimes I've thought about trying to buy it. I feel way more at home here than I do in London strangely enough. No where's ever felt like home..." she gave him a more sad smile and averted her gaze again. Now the conversation danced dangerously close to the reason she had actually invited him back to her place. Really it had been in a moment of courageousness she had originally offered, but now she wasn't so sure if she could bare all to him. She tried to divert just slightly, and laughed, giving him a sideward glance. "I mean, I won't say no to a visit to your place now you've been in my sanctuary. But it wouldn't make a lot of sense. Maybe I'll just come to your office and add a load of soft furnishings there. Though..." now a fresh set of giggles ripped out of her and her head tilted back at the thought. "I don't know how scary and serious Professor Ashcroft can be then. I can see it now 'No Davis get in and sit down so we can talk about your terrible homework...no not there don't upset my throw pillows....don't fall over my comfy rug...don't upset Alora's plants'" the last part made her blush again just slightly. It had been added in an off hand way, but then, why would she have plants in his office? Her laughter died down and she took a breath in, quiet for a second, before lamely she asked "How's your food?" God what a fool, talking about the weather would have even been better than this. She didn’t wait for him to answer before she turned her eyes to watch him again, now curiosity shone there. ”What do you do in the summer, Where do you go then?” Alora had always had a healthy curiosity, even if it had been beaten out of her by her Grandmother, or at the very least she had trained out the urge to ever act on it. This unfiltered nosiness was surely out of character for her, but when around Shawn she couldn’t help it, she just wanted to know these things shawn lesley ashcroft
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last online May 6, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -7
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Nov 24, 2023 0:12:29 GMT -7
Post by shawn lesley ashcroft on Nov 24, 2023 0:12:29 GMT -7
Alora went into a little more detail about her greenhouse office. She could make some adjustments, but privacy was still an issue, no matter what she had done. As they sat right next to each other, he could feel every little movement either one of them made. Which just sent his heart racing a little more. It was hard not to think about this woman touching him, even if it was just her shoulder and in the most innocent of ways. There was a thought that if he put his arm around the back of the couch and around her, it would offer them more room. Yet he wasn’t about to do that. At least not just yet. “One could call this a greenhouse office too.” Shawn teased her for a moment, looking back at her with a smile.
Taking a break from the conversation, they both attempted to eat some of their meal. The house elves always made everything perfectly he felt. His chicken parmesan tasted amazing as always when he got it from the kitchen, and they didn’t even make this for meals in the great hall. This was just something they did when requested. Yet, it was like they had years of practice. He continued to eat for a moment until Alora started asking about his own home.
“It’s where I made my home. I was born in London, but in a much different place. It was this awful, run-down flat. I honestly doubt if it’s still there.” Shawn genuinely hoped it had been torn down and replaced by now. He had nothing but bad memories of that flat. Shawn also hadn’t been looking to own a place; it just felt so adult to him. It just felt appropriate after getting a long-term job as a professor. He couldn’t keep crashing on couches when it wasn't the school year. It wasn’t much on the outside, but it was in a nice little muggle neighborhood. Also, with magic, so much more could be contained inside if he wanted it too. The conversation dipped into getting deeper as Alora explained she also owned the place she grew up in but how it never truly felt like home. How she liked her flat more but truly no where felt like home to her. “I know that feeling. If any place felt like home to me, it would eventually be Hogwarts. Next might have been that old magical tent I had. It was just two rooms—nothing like the fancy magical tents today. Some of them are like their own homes. Still, with how much time I spent in it, it was like a home.”
He laughed for a moment as Alora explained that it would make more sense to redecorate his office. Adding furniture and plants would make it warmer and softer inside. Even going into detail about what it would be like if he had to talk to a student in his office. She stopped after bringing up having her plants in his office. With them this close, he could see the momentary redness in her face. “See, all of that sounds very unbelievable, and I just can’t see it happening.” He paused for the briefest of moments, just for dramatic effect in his teasing. “No one has ever found me scary or serious. Let alone both, for that matter.” Which was partly true; maybe there was one person who found him scary, but that was long ago, and he wished they had forgotten. “Amazing as always, I’d give the house elves money for these meals if they didn’t get so offended by the idea. How’s your food? Regretting me tempting you with pasta yet?”
As he was eating, Alora asked about his summers and what he would do during them. He attempted to chew and swallow a little quicker than normal so he could finally speak again. It did allow him time to think about how his last summer had been shaped in a way by this woman. Or at least an attempt to not think about her or what they had done. “Just about anything, really,” Shawn finally got out. “Having the summers off is amazing, but that just means everyone else I know is working. So I’m left just trying to entertain myself. Sometimes I travel. I have a muggle motorcycle, which is terribly impractical but so much fun to ride. I’ve thought about getting all the charms to have it fly, but I like it the way it is.” He explained, as he had been debating it for awhile now with himself. He did laugh for a moment as he remembered one thing he did during the summer. “I took a muggle magic camp just on a whim to see what magic was to them. I was the oldest one there by about ten years.” That had been an awkward few days for him. Thankfully, it wasn’t some overnight camp; they called it a camp, but really, it was more like just a few afternoon classes. “Magic to them was mostly just misdirection. What about you? What do you do during your summers? Do keep in mind that I will be judging you if they are boring.” Shawn said this while obviously joking about any judgment. Most people had normal summers; Shawn was just an exception.
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last online Apr 23, 2024 13:32:13 GMT -7
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Nov 24, 2023 4:28:48 GMT -7
Post by Alora Veda Astor on Nov 24, 2023 4:28:48 GMT -7
Her amiable smile didn't falter, even if her cheeks stayed as flush as they had been. Every little touch she felt him, a heat on her skin, the little twist in her chest. If she thought about it too much it vexed her; she felt like a silly little school girl for letting it effect her so much, and yet she couldn't help it. Hoping the colour in her cheeks would simply leech away soon, she glanced at him and smiled again "I mean I guess, even if the kitchen table is my desk while I'm here.." She finished the dregs of her dinner as Shawn spoke. His tone was low, but there was only the two of them in the room. There was a closeness they shared over their differing trauma. Just being there and listening to the other speak was important. They shared what they wanted with the other, but every little detail Shawn gave her, Alora treasured. She set her empty plate and fork down on the coffee table in front of them and settled back into listening to him with a slightly heightened intensity. She nodded slowly in agreement and understanding. She let the particulars of what he said settled without a direct response. Eventually another moment of pluckiness struck her and she gave him a side eye again "I've never slept in a tent. Do you still have it? Maybe we could go out in it during the summer..." The offer hung in the air, before she reached for a glass of water that sat on the coffee table by her empty plate. It had appeared there as if by magic. After a long few gulps she set it down again and looked at him with more of a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Hm maybe not scary then, but I can see you being serious when you need to be. Maybe not with me, but sometimes with students...maybe?" an eyebrow raised before she let her head fall to the side, onto his shoulder now and nudged him just slightly with her elbow. There was another low rumble of a laugh before she lifted her head again and shook it. "No, Pasta was a good choice. I have a full, happy belly now.."He was still eating, so Alora was more patient. There was slightly longer stretches of silence and he chewed, but they were content ones. Sitting back against him now she was satisfied with how things were going, even if there was still regret hanging around her neck like a noose. There was fleeting thoughts that crossed her mind, wondering if she should bring up how they left things. She pondered it, wondering if she did explain it all, would things change. Or would it just give her the peace she raved. In reality it wasn't something she felt she deserved. Still, she listened to him with a small smile still on her face. At the mention of a motorbike, her brow furrowed in confusion. It was something that she couldn't imagine, yet she still found herself having to stop herself asking for him to bring her along for a ride. Instead she just settled for remarking "That sounds sort of fun. I've not been on one of those before, or seen them up close, but I've heard of them" Sometimes her immersion in Muggle Culture wasn't as good as she thought it was, and she had to admit there were holes in her ideas. Magic Camp was one of them. Her brow creased again as she looked to him "What's that? I thought Muggles weren't meant to know about Magic, do you not get in trouble?" her genuine puzzlement made her feel like an idiot, but she knew Shawn wouldn't truly judge her for it. Even if he might poke slight fun at her. Her face relaxed some when he turned the question back on her; now it was more of a blank expression as she thought over her own past summers. It was clear she was ruminating for a moment as a short silence settled over them, wondering where she should start. "Well, traditionally with my Grandmother we visited European relatives. And then we have a cottage in the south of France that we used to go for. I still have that, even if I don't spend much time there. So sometimes I still go there when I want to hide away. Summers for me have varied a lot in the past few years." her brow creased again, wondering how much she should tell him. However, her heart reminded her how open he had been with her and that made her decide she should probably do the same. "Since I started working at Hogwarts I mostly just volunteered on Herbology research trips as a way to fill my time and keep me busy. Most of the time I base myself in London. Sometimes like I said, short stays in the south of France. when I moved back to the UK the first summer, before I started here wasn't....great." she searched for a fitting word and when she couldn't find one that was the one she settled on. It was vague enough without being explanatory. It still left it open enough that f he felt the need to ask she could answer. "I wasn't in a great place...stuff had happened and I sort of just became a shut in I guess..." she trailed off, looking away from him. Though then her face changed, a smaller smile broke out. "This years was a little different. I spent time with my sister I didn't know existed till this year. So I did the other stuff I already did, but I wasn't alone and I enjoyed them a little more. Plus more shopping trips in London, lunches, that sort of thing. Not as exciting of you on a motorbike with a tent, but getting to know AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW has been nice I guess..." going quiet again her cheeks flushed and she busied herself by reaching forward for her glass again, not really sure what else to say on the subject. Maybe it would be enough to introduce…well everything else she said she’d let him in on. shawn lesley ashcroft
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last online May 6, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -7
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Nov 24, 2023 10:44:31 GMT -7
Post by shawn lesley ashcroft on Nov 24, 2023 10:44:31 GMT -7
As they spoke of homes Shawn had to mention the tent he had lived in off and on for a few years while he traveled. It was homey and unlike a normal muggle tent, it was very roomy inside. He couldn’t imagine doing what he had in a normal muggle tent with almost no room. Yet, they somehow did such things. Muggles always did find a way to get things done. Alora asked if he still had the tent before suggesting they could use it over the summer together. His face was already a little red just from the constant touching of them on the small couch together. The idea of them sharing a tent for an extended period didn’t help. Which was silly as it was pretty much what they were doing now and no more intimate than what they had already done last school year. “Sounds like fun but do you think you’ll survive roughing out in the wild, camping?” Shawn teased knowing it wouldn’t be anything like his traveling had been. “And you can only bring three plants, tops.”
Shawn laughed for a moment as even Alora began to question him being scary or even serious, at least with her. “Oh, do you want me to get serious with you? I was having fun joking around but I can attempt to be as serious as possible if you want.” He joked unable to imagine himself being able to hold the serious act for longer than a few minutes. He enjoyed talking and being around Alora too much to be serious for too long. She was fun to be around and he could remain himself without having to reign in too much of his crazy ideas. Also even if he was trying to ignore it, there were obvious feelings for her there. Feelings that continually came to the surface.
Alora had finished eating, which was made more noticeable as he could feel her sitting back and pushing up against him. Shawn was just about done himself, with a few more bites left as the continued to talk. The motorcycle had possibly been one of his silliest uses of money. He was a wizard, muggle travel took longer and required fuel. By all accounts, it was impractical which was partly why it spoke to Shawn. It was solely just for fun. “It’s kind of like a broom. It requires balance and steering with your hands. It just stays on the ground. We can take it for a spin sometime if you want.” Shawn offered, it wasn’t often someone from the magical world found it fun. “It’s not real magic.” Shawn remarked for a moment with a laugh as Alora questioned muggles doing ‘magic’. “They use props and misdirection to make it seem like magic. A lot of stuff with mirrors. It was interesting but in no way was any real magic used.”
As he asked about her summers, Alora went into detail slowly. Explaining the multiple places she had to live. It was a life he could have only looked into from the outside as a kid. He was a poor Muggleborn and while some of it seemed like it sounded amazing, he could also hear the faint sadness in her voice as she further explained. The conversation got deeper once more as she explained how she hadn’t been in the greatest of places over her summers. Thankfully Shawn had already finished eating and pushing his dish further up the table. He could give Alora his full attention without seeming rude. He would have stopped eating anyway. It was hard to imagine having a sibling he didn’t know about like she had. Granted it was possible. He hadn’t seen his parents since he was sixteen. They might have a whole different life by this point. “I feel like I should apologize. If I had gotten to know you better sooner I could have saved you from all those herbology trips during the summer.” Shawn smiled as he was genuine in his apology even if it was an attempt to cheer her up from the rougher part of her summer stories. “Still I suppose it’s nice to have a surprise sibling in some ways, you had someone to hang out with. You shouldn’t try to compare your summers to mine. It’s a chaotic mess of bouncing from one activity to another on nothing more than a whim. We crazy people will do anything to keep ourselves entertained.” It was the best explanation he could come up with to help others make sense of his random summers.
She had reached forward for her glass and Shawn finally put the arm that was between them around the back of the chair now that he had space. Partly to allow more room between the two he thought to himself. He also didn’t mind and welcomed the idea of having an arm around Alora. Even if it wasn’t touching her and just around the couch. “I’ll be sure you’re include you in the chaos of my summers from now on, at least til you get sick of them or me,” Shawn said only truly joking at the end, hoping there wasn’t a point where Alora got sick of him. Yet, it had happened with others.
Alora Veda Astor
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last online Apr 23, 2024 13:32:13 GMT -7
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Nov 24, 2023 11:44:23 GMT -7
Post by Alora Veda Astor on Nov 24, 2023 11:44:23 GMT -7
Alora’s lips pursed: she thought she had stayed in some rough places on some of her research expeditions, but they were always huts of some sort, never a tent. ”I might not survive, but I am willing to try. I mean I don’t have to bring plants if we’re going out in the wild, they sort of live there right?” letting her head flop onto his shoulder again she shrugged slightly ”I’ll bring some fairy lights and comfy blankets though to make it all nice and cozy”When he did question if she actually wanted him to be serious. A frown cut her forehead again, creasing it as she thought it over ”No” she answered very firmly, head shaking just slightly ”No you’re not serious. And I like that. People always say I’m too serious. You make me laugh Shawny, I like that. Don’t stop” her cheeks flared just ever so slightly more at her admission, but she took a breath, puffing her chest up ever so slightly and decided to own that fact. She did like it. She had always taken life too seriously, or rather she’d had to. Shawn brought out the lighter side to her and so far she was enjoying it. It was something she hadn’t known she’d ever needed till now. Though at his talk of a motorbike being ‘like a Broom’ she blanched, her face becoming quite pale now. If she was ever faced with a Boggart, she knew it would likely be a Broom. Her fear of heights wasn’t so much a fear but a stern dislike. Her real fear lay in brooms. Having to fly, being up off the ground on a flimsy piece of wood with very little protection. She met his eyes, obviously uncomfortable. It was becoming impossible to be able to hide stuff from him and quietly she cursed herself for it ”I don’t like brooms. No. But if it stays on the ground fine. That will be fine” she hadn’t wanted to admit that little tidbit right now, but in context it has been difficult not to. With a quiet sigh she reached up to brush back some of her red hair, hoping that they could both forget she’d said that. ”I’d be happy to try it as long as it stays on the ground” a curt nod wndws that statement as if that was enough on the matter and instead she slipped back into her own mind. She couldn’t even comment on the muggle magic; the idea of brooms had thrown her too much. Thoughts of her bizzare family set up surfaced again and another small frown crossed her face and she shuffled slightly, attempting to put some distance between them, but at the same time she hadn’t noticed he had draped his arm over the back of the couch. Classic textbook move that in theory shouldn’t have surprised her, if she had been focused enough to notice. Even his joke about her herbology expeditions went over her head. ”It’s not just her. I have two brothers as well apparently, I’ve not met them yet. It’s all a bit…weird”” she finished lamely taking a breath she locked eyes with him for a moment before letting her gaze drop away again. It was easier than looking at him. They were far too close, too intimate for her to bar her soul as well as let him into her mind through her eyes all at once. ”I didn’t know any of them existed until she barrelled into my greenhouse last year. She’s the youngest. A little crazy, very brave. She had relocated from america to learn Alchemy at life, all to meet me.” another shaky breath left her in some effort to gather herself before she spoke again. She supposed she had started the story now, she owed him the whole thing at least. ”I’ve never met my mother, or my father. My Grandmother never spoke about it, how I came to be. Except to tell me what a vile dissapointment my mum was. That she had let some man take advantage of her and I was the product. I assumed she was just so ashamed she left me behind after whatever guy dumped her and she went off to start a new life. I never knew if she was dead or alive, I assumed dead the way my grandmother spoke about her. At least, she’d probably be better off that way. I think that’s why she was always so adamant I needed to find a good little Pureblood boy and marry into that well respected family and have more pureblood babies. I wasn't going to repeat her mistakes. Ironic that I ended up with Sam, that would have made her really happy. But that obviously didn’t end well” her sigh was almost angry, bitter. But she regained her composure, or at least tried her best to before carrying on. ”Whatever, that’s a whole other story. Anyway I never gave either parent much thought until Amy showed up saying she was my sister, and she had come to find me. I thought surely not, what a load of bullshit. Except it was true” her body betrayed her and angry tears began to well at the corner of her eyes. She let her head hang, making sure Shawn wouldn’t see them ”They met at Uni in Scotland. He’s a muggle. They've been together happily ever since. They moved to the states. They’ve been married for 29 years. They went on to have three more children. They’re apparently quite prominent in the muggle film world. He’s a big shot producer and she does something in post production. And they’ve never given me a second thought. Never come back for me. Never visited me, nothing. Even when my Grandmother died. It was a month after my seventeenth birthday so I was deemed an adult, but whatever ministry rule, they had to inform my mother because she was down as her next of kin in St Mungos. I was well and truly alone then, and had everything to deal with and I’ve still never heard from them” she swallowed and swiped furiously at her cheeks with the wrist of her sweatshirt, cupped over her hand. She was angry at herself for still crying about it, but she still had such pent up complicated emotions over it all. She still didn’t know how to deal with it. ”I get on really well with Amy. We’re like eleven years apart in age, but we’re quite similar. There’s two boys between us. She keeps trying to get me to agree to meet everyone but, I don’t know it’s really hard….” closing her eyes she forced herself to try and regulate her breathing with slow forceful breaths, counting them as she went. After a minute she finally looked at him. She had stopped crying now and her breathing was settled, her chest no longer heaving ”I’m sorry, I blew up there. I’ve just never spoken about it out loud before and it all came up once. I couldn’t help it” she was sheepish, watching him almost hesitantly. She wouldn’t blame him if he called her a crazy bitch and ran out the door right this minute, she hoped he wouldn’t of course, but it wasn’t outside the realms of possibility that she had freaked him out. shawn lesley ashcroft
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last online May 6, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -7
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Nov 24, 2023 14:43:32 GMT -7
Post by shawn lesley ashcroft on Nov 24, 2023 14:43:32 GMT -7
Alora explained she was willing to try the camping and tent life for a couple of nights even if she might not survive. They would be fine, they wouldn’t be going into the heart of some wilderness if they did camp. Just a scenic campground away from muggles would be fitting. She also explained she didn’t need to bring any plants if they were going to be out where plants already were. “You say that but you have greenhouses full of plants not even minutes away with Floo travel. Yet I’m looking at a mini greenhouse right now.” Shawn teased, nudging her with his shoulder. Alora did comment about bringing lighting and comfy blankets. “I don’t know, I’ve worked pretty hard to get the bachelor aesthetic going inside of it. Fairy lights and comfy blankets might throw off the whole thing.” He had no problem with her brining whatever she wanted, he was just having fun with Alora.
As they spoke of Shawn being serious, Alora denied the idea, claiming she liked him just the way he was. That and she liked that he could make her laugh. Saying that too many people have claimed she was too serious anyway. “Really? I suppose we need to have a staff party and get you a few glasses of wine. We can change their opinion pretty quickly.“ From the mind of Shawn, it wasn’t the worst idea. Not based on changing people's opinions but a staff get-together might be nice. Even if he was probably going to just attempt to spend more time with Alora rather than everyone else.
It would appear that Alora wasn’t comfortable with the idea of brooms or to be more exact the idea of being in the air. Either a fear of flying or heights it seemed. He wasn’t going to push the issue and ask what her fear might be. It just didn’t seem like the right time to just blurt out, “Hey, What are you afraid of?” There was a brief moment when a strange thought popped into the transfiguration professor's mind. They had talked about Animagi before and joked about what Alora might turn into. Hopefully, it wouldn’t have been a bird. “Sounds like a deal, I’ll keep both wheels on the ground for the entire ride.”
Shawn listened and nodded showing he was paying attention which it was hard not to do while Alora spoke. Firstly because it was her and this woman had found her way into his thoughts and feelings so deeply. Secondly, she indeed was going through quite a lot. He wouldn’t even attempt to joke that his life could have been harder than hers. It felt like it hadn’t been. His had been more physically dramatic which partially made it not as bad. It was quick, only a portion of his childhood he had to bear with. She had been dealing with this all her life. Not to mention the new additions to the drama that had happened within the last year. There was a moment he thought of commenting how her grandmother would have hated him but this wasn’t the time for it.
This poor woman sounded like she was on the brink of tears. She wasn’t even looking at him, so it was hard to tell. Just from her voice alone, it sounded like she might be. Eventually, as she swiped at her face it became obvious she was indeed crying. Which sounded completely reasonable given what Alora woman had been through. She went from being alone after dealing with someone like her grandmother to finding out a whole other side of her family that had seemed to abandon her. She attempted to calm herself and her breathing and Shawn allowed her all the time she needed.
Eventually looking back at him, Alora apologized for letting it all out. How she hadn’t ever told someone what she was going through so it all just came to the surface. Shawn shook his head. “You have no reason to apologize. It’s a lot to take in that’s for sure but that just proves how much you’ve been going through. I’d say it takes a pretty strong person to deal with that and still be this amazing.” Shawn finally spoke being genuine. She was an amazing person not just on the outside but also on the inside. She had been through so much and it was still going on. Shawn used the arm that was around the couch to go around Alora and pull her closer for a makeshift hug, Shawn kissed her on top of her head. Leaving his head near hers for the moment. “Anytime you want someone to talk to, I’ll be there. Also not to kill the amazing mood we have set here I’d just like to say, you’ve won for the evening,” Shawn explained and near the end referring to their inside joke about who had it worse.
Alora Veda Astor
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last online Apr 23, 2024 13:32:13 GMT -7
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Nov 25, 2023 4:10:05 GMT -7
Post by Alora Veda Astor on Nov 25, 2023 4:10:05 GMT -7
Everything he said before her blow out was a blur. The main reason being yes her verbal diarrhoea of her own lonely story has been awful, but it was his response that had completely thrown her for a loop. He didn’t look at her like a crazy woman, or pity her. He didn’t check his watch and decided it was too late and he simply had to get back to the castle. He just listened and was there for her and that was perfect. He didn’t comment on her angry crying or do the stupid thing most people did and ask if she was okay when she clearly wasn’t. He gave her an appropriate amount of time to gather herself after speaking out. He was right in his thinking, yes Amelia would have hated him, but mostly for the fact that he was a decent human being who didn’t trample all over Alora, instead he let her flourish. The Muggleborn blood status would only cement her opinion. As he spoke, he didn’t know it; but it was exactly the right words she needed to hear. He eyes locked onto him and she watched him, her face still a little crumpled, but somewhat lit up by his words. Some small beacon of hope and resilience shone through. What he did next was even less expected, he’d pulled her into him in a quite warm and comforting hug. He didn’t mean it to be quite so likely, but Alora leaned into it, likely a little more than a she should have. It took her only a few seconds to shift slight and extend her arms around him the best she could. This was definitely not what Shawn had thought he initiated but now she hung onto him and gleefully cuddled into his chest and it was surprisingly better than anything else he could have said. Instead she uttered a mumble of ”Thank you”When she felt the kiss he pressed on her hairline, she was glad she was hiding her face in his chest, that way he didn’t see how red her face went. Or how her eyes closed and despite the heat on her face, how wide her blissful smile was. She stayed there for a few moments in content silence; Shawn surely hadn’t expected that when he had proffered a hug, but she didn’t want to pull away. This was the most at ease she’d felt since…well since the last night she’d spent with him back in February. The little tight flutter in her chest had died down to a more comfortable buzz now. But there was something so delicious about it, she didn’t question it. Even when Shawn broke the silence to make a joke about her winning the competition, she didn’t move. Instead she smiled against his T-shirt and laughed in a low rumble again ”Told you I would. And you want to know the best part?” she avoided moving, she didn’t want to pull away from him, she should have really looked up at him, addressed him. But then she was far too comfortable. ”That’s not even the whole sad story I didn’t even tell you how I don’t really like Americans and why I was so irritated by Amy when she first turned up, why I actually took the job here…” she gave a small yawn, now she was comfortable it was hard not to give in to her body’s natural instinct to give in to the tiredness and curl up and sleep here, but she half laughed the, teasing him ”Wow, That will really sell me to you as the girl everyone wants Shawny”shawn lesley ashcroft
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last online May 6, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -7
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Nov 26, 2023 22:16:19 GMT -7
Post by shawn lesley ashcroft on Nov 26, 2023 22:16:19 GMT -7
The hug that Shawn had started eventually turned into Alora cuddling next to him. which he had no problem with at all. If anything, it caused him to blush just a little more while smiling. This wasn’t really the topic to have a smile on his face, but if she couldn’t see it, he wasn’t about to try and fight it. He was perfectly content if this lasted the rest of the night. At this moment his only fear would be an itch or his arm or leg falling asleep, which would cause him to want to move. To possibly ruin this perfect position they had found. Being like this brought back memories from the night they had spent together in February. He had remembered most of it, but there were holes from just how much they had drunk. It was the comforting feeling of just lying next to her while still feeling the excitement in his heart of being this close. He just didn’t let it show outwardly, as the topic wasn’t one to have such feelings.
Alora agreed with her winning this round and even added that there was even more. She hadn’t even told him all of it yet. Giving some examples of what she had left, a whole other sad story for possibly another time. “You really are trying to secure that win, aren’t you?” Shawn lowly replied, his head still near hers, so he didn’t have to be all too loud for her to hear him. There was a moment where Alora let out a small, cute yawn before laughing and speaking. Shawn just laughed quietly, "Please, I've been sold for sometime now.” Shawn replied truthfully and a little absentmindedly. He was more focused on the beautiful woman curling up next to him than on the words he probably should have kept to himself. He realized what he had said but didn’t intend to take it back. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear about it. Sadly, I might be running out of material to stay in the competition."
Alora Veda Astor
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last online Apr 23, 2024 13:32:13 GMT -7
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Nov 27, 2023 3:15:12 GMT -7
Post by Alora Veda Astor on Nov 27, 2023 3:15:12 GMT -7
Alora settled into him with an almost weird ease. It shouldn’t have been this easy, it had certainly never been this easy with anyone else. Nothing in her life had made her quite this relaxed, except maybe that night back in february. But then that was all a little fuzzy. That, her drunk head had initiated on behalf of what her heart wanted. This time her mind was clear and although it was risky, the reward was now worth it for sure. Even if her chest was doing a little pitter patter, totally unsure of itself. Shawn hadn’t pushed her away, if anything he actually embraced her. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but after she settled herself in, it felt like he held onto her a little tighter. The thought of it made her cheeks flare with heat again. ”Maybe..” she mumbled against the cotton of his tee shirt with a small smile. ”Maybe I’m just laying it all out on the table now so you can decide upfront that I’m too…” pausing to search for a word, she frowned ”Damaged? Yeah I guess that’s the right word. Even now there’s too much going on. Complicated maybe? I wouldn’t blame you for high-tailing it before…I don’t know…” Before what? She wasn’t quite sure what she was even getting at. Before they got too involved maybe? Maybe it was too late for that. But then she didn’t even know what this really was. This was a thawing of whatever she had put between them by walking out on him in February. A creeping doubt had started to seep into her mind though. Shawn was a nice guy. Maybe this was him just being his nice guy self. Too kind to push her away as she bared her sad life to him. "Please, I've been sold for sometime now.”But there it was, the tiny little piece of reassurance she needed. It had been unexpected to say the least. The idea of it catching in the back of her throat, her mouth falling open. She probably actually let out a small gasp, except her brain was so addled by his casual admission it had likely gone into a form of shellshock. She couldn’t bring herself to speak any words in response, only she eventually nodded, rubbing her cheek on his t-shirt. After a moment she was eventually able to murmur ”Oh, well that’s okay then…”They sat like that for another minute or so, Alora deciding that this was quite definitely one of her new favorites. Favorite what she wasn’t quite sure, she still hadn’t decided what exactly this was. But it was fairly high up there. She had decided though, that this would have been much easier to go through as a teenage girl. Right now she just felt like a lovesick idiot. That sorry state was likely a bit more excusable as a fifth year in Madam Puddifoots. In an effort to try and steady her brain, she had allowed her fingers to drift up to trace the outline of the design on the front of his tee and was forcing her breaths in and out at a controlled pace. His little blasé statement had thrown her slightly. Down came the wall around her that protected her from the outside world, from any unknowns. Here, in her teeny flat amongst the plants and cosy lighting there was just her and Shawn. She felt a lot smaller; she was for sure more vulnerable, and she knew that. It was almost reflected in her physical demeanor. She was a little quieter, more withdrawn and careful. But it still didn’t stop herself laying it all out in front of him. ”I’d like to tell you what happened, to explain it I guess. If you want to know, that is..” she was still speaking in a much quieter tone, even if there were just the two of them, it was a delicate moment. She was still glad he couldn’t really see her face at this angle, well not enough to properly meet her gaze at least. Her admissions so far were waying heavy on her, even if ultimately they did make her feel lighter; if he was all that sold on her, her past was something he needed to know about. shawn lesley ashcroft
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last online May 6, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -7
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Nov 27, 2023 12:41:53 GMT -7
Post by shawn lesley ashcroft on Nov 27, 2023 12:41:53 GMT -7
They both sat there, Alora more leaning into him as he hugged her. The feeling of her warmth against his chest. For a while, he had just held her but as the embrace continued Shawn found himself occasionally hugging just a little tighter or stroking her shoulder or back. He told himself it was just to continue to comfort her. Part of him knew that even with this topic going on between them about sad times. He still couldn’t get enough of touching this woman. While his heart wasn’t racing as fast as it had been, it still hadn’t reached a normal pace. He just hoped it wasn’t loud enough for Alora to notice just how much of an effect she had on him. At least not right now.
Alora spoke almost into his chest about how she was possibly just getting all this out now so he could judge for himself if he still wanted to be around her. How she might just be too damaged, Shawn shook his head for a moment before speaking. “It’s not like I’m all that put together either and even if I was, you aren’t going to scare me away. My tail isn’t going anywhere, besides maybe wagging when you enter the room.” Yes, it was a goofy comment at a more serious time but he did have a tail at times. If he couldn’t comment about high-tailing it, what was the point of even being able to turn into a dog?
Shawn waited for any amount of response to what he had said about being sold on her already. She hadn’t said anything yet but also didn’t move from her position with her head on his chest. He thought he heard something but wasn’t exactly sure, she only nodded slightly as time went by. Muttering that it was okay then, which at least seemed like a positive response to him. He didn’t know what to exactly expect but this was perfect for the moment they were in. His chest was still a welcome pillow for her head and soft red locks of hair.
There was another moment of silence as they just enjoyed each other's embrace, neither with any intention of moving. He wondered just how long they could be like this. He didn’t want it to end but it would have to eventually. Would they just end up falling asleep like this? His neck may regret it but besides that, he would survive. Alora spoke up, saying she would like to explain the rest. If he wanted to hear it that was. “I’m ready to listen. Tell me as much as you want to but you don’t have to push yourself to say it all in one night. I have no problem being a pillow for as long or as many days as it takes.”
Alora Veda Astor
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