Crossroads (Aidan)

[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

21 October 2029

Brígh had always been curious about Druid culture, more so when she had met Aidan. The issue was, the druids didn’t seem to be very keen on involving her in their culture at all. Though she had met Aidan’s parents and extended family a handful of times, they still viewed her as temporary, and thus treated her with disdain. It was disheartening to say the least, considering the pair had been together for years by this point. No matter what she did or said, no matter what she tried, she couldn’t convince them. Brígh resolved herself to live without approval, though she hated the idea of it. It seemed there was nothing she could do to win the hearts of Aidan’s family, but at least she had won his.

Despite these debilitating challenges, Brígh soldiered on. She loved Aidan, and she wouldn’t let some traditionalists break her heart. It didn’t seem like Aidan would either. They simply worked together - both wide eyed wanderers, easily delighted by the world around them. When Brígh had found out that there would be a plum cake eating contest at this festival in Hogsmeade, she’d insisted that they had to go. The first night too - because if they liked the cakes enough, they could come back each subsequent night and compete again. Thank goodness for magic, so she wouldn’t weigh twenty stone by the end of it.

The pair had agreed to meet just before dark, but it appeared that Brígh was the more timely one for the first time ever. It was a chilly evening, and Brígh had wound a plaid scarf around her neck and tucked it into the collar of her cloak. She was hoping Aidan would be warming her up later, once they had their fill of cakes. She smiled to herself, keen to see her boyfriend and hear all the wonderful tales of creatures he’d come across recently.

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

21 October 2029

As usual, Aidan felt rather torn in two. Physically, he was in Hogsmeade – bundled up in warm clothes, feet stomping over red and gold leaves on the cobblestone streets while a wind tore through the sleepy village. There weren’t many other people on the street, but he could already hear the sounds of music and laughing voices up ahead at the festival. The thought of standing close to a warm fire, scarfing down an unhealthy amount of plum cakes and seeing Brígh again kept him moving at a brisk pace. But despite being physically at the entrance to the festival, all his attention was on the two-way mirror that he clutched tightly in one hand -- since his ma had been lecturing him for the entire trip over and he didn’t have the courage to tell her that he’d have to hang up soon.

All because he’d casually mentioned to her that it didn’t seem likely he’d go home before the start of Samhain in another couple weeks. And honestly, how could he do that to his family? Since he knew that the harvest was almost over and everybody was needed to ensure they finished before the first frost killed the last of the carrots, and because preparations for their own festival would complicate everything and they had to send some of the cousins to help there too. So his ma had pointed out a few times already in her usual sharp tone. Aidan hadn’t managed to get a word in for the last several minutes (and he usually didn’t try too hard), but he abruptly interrupted his ma to point out that he had to go now and he’d check with Brígh about leaving a bit earlier than planned.

He was left wondering if that was the right thing to say as she rolled her eyes and huffily broke the connection between their mirrors. Still, Aidan was never one to dwell on the negative and he pocketed his mirror so he could refocus his attention on the crowd. He didn’t really get what the problem was, but he’d ask Brígh later (since she was so much better at reading between the lines). Speaking of…his eyes caught on her brilliant red hair first, and he waved excitedly at her until he could approach and pick her up in a big bear hug. “I missed you,” he whispered into her hair as he finally set her down again, and his face brightened at the thought that he hadn’t come empty-handed. “And I have a surprise. In one pocket.” He waved his hand to show the mystery of the many pockets on his coat, only one of which wasn’t empty.

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

Brígh did her best not to think about the less than lukewarm reception she'd received from Aidan's family, instead focusing on their relationship. It felt so easy and right, though Brígh couldn't help but wonder if something bad was going to happen. Blinking, Brígh shook her head, dispelling the spiral she'd fallen into many times before. It would be okay. They'd chosen one another for years now.

Brígh leaned against the stone wall that marked the boundary between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, amused by the fact that for once, she was the punctual one. They'd agreed to meet just before dark, and the sun was setting rapidly. After a few minutes of waiting, Brígh spotted Aidan's vibrant hair from a distance, and straightened. He was bowed over, seemingly talking rapidly into the two way mirror. Brígh assumed he was speaking to his mum, and her smile faltered. Aidan waved at her, full of energy as always, and scooped he into a bear hug. With that act, Brígh felt her worries slide away. How could she ever doubt someone who clearly loved her?

Planting a kiss on Aidan's lips, Brígh beamed at him. "I missed you too. I can't wait to hear about everything you've been up to the past few months," she said brightly. She tilted her head slightly at Aidan's announcement that he had a surprise for her in one of his many pockets. "A scavenger hunt?" she chirped. She started patting Aidan down, pausing at some of her favourite areas - namely his bum and over his chest where his heart beat steadily. When she finally located the occupied pocket, she reached in, withdrawing the gift. She glanced between Aidan and the box, practically vibrating with excitement. "You didn't have to, of course. Your presence is present enough," she said with a smirk. "Can I open it now?"

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

Aidan took a moment to admire how the setting sun set off the different reds in Brígh’s hair, but he quickly lost his thread of thought as she leaned in to kiss him. He pulled her tight and let the kiss go on for a few more seconds before they broke apart, although he kept smiling widely at her. He enjoyed these moments they could share alone, since they were relatively rare these days. She traveled a lot for the bank, going to distant places with her mentor and sometimes being out-of-touch while they retrieved artifacts or kept a low profile to avoid local attention. It was hard to go so long without seeing her, but that just made their reunions so much better – and Aidan always wanted to maximize that stolen time together.

“We have two phoenixes in the reserve now! Remember Burning Day last year, the fire with Eli? There is him, and another—” Aidan broke off to laugh as Brígh’s hands wandered over his sides – because she knew he was ticklish, but her impressive ability to find valuables anywhere kept her focused on the main goal and he squirmed while trying to hold in more laughs. “Not hidden there,” he breathed as her hands continued to travel down, although he didn’t protest any further. Instead he groaned slightly and pulled her closer as her gaze continued to be pulled down while his stayed fixated on her face and re-memorizing all her features. Thankfully, she skipped over the pocket he’d forgotten was filled with sunflower seeds (which were for the Golden Snidgets, not for her) and the half-empty tube of healing paste he’d been steadily applying to an injured murtlap. Finally she found the box, and he grinned at her as she looked it over excitedly.

“Yes I do,” he teased, “Shiny objects bring you home.” Still, these gifts were mostly spontaneous decisions. He spent most of his time thinking about Brígh, one way or another, so it was inevitable that he’d see things that reminded him of her too. He could almost match her level of excitement in showing her, so he flipped the box open without further ado and let her see the necklace within. “The sapphires, from a Fire Crab shell. This one is old, she loses jewels always whenever she leaves her nest. And the necklace, a family friend made for me.” He’d chosen a Celtic knot design to match the one he always wore, and he pulled his own chain out so she could see the matching pattern. He’d been wearing it since his grandfather had given him his, and it was a strong daily reminder of home whenever the homesickness struck particularly hard. He grinned widely and waited to see what Brígh thought.

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

"Two! Brígh echoed with delight. "Can I come see them soon? I've not got to travel for two months now, just lots of nasty paperwork. But, it means I can see you more. Swings and roundabouts," she added with a smile. Brígh, impatient as ever, started patting Aidan down, her hands wandering around the planes of his chest and dwelling a little longer than necessary in some places than others. Aidan's arms around her tightened, and Brígh grinned to herself at the reaction she still elicited from him. Even after all this time, her heart thudded a little extra faster, her breath caught in her throat, and her body responded to Aidan like no one else before.

At last, Brígh located the box and paused before opening it, reminding Aidan that he didn't have to get her anything because she was just happy to see him. But... she would admit she loved receiving gifts, especially shiny ones. "Maybe. But really, it's you I come home for," said Brígh, surprisingly tender. She touched his cheek gently, before returning her attention to the box and opening it.

For the first time in her life (recent memory at the very least), Brígh was rendered speechless. With her lips slightly parted, she appraised the necklace within. It was a Celtic knot, and something about the whole thing felt symbolic. Like Aidan was effortlessly twining their two families together with one object. Her heritage, mixed with druid craftsmanship, topped with a gem that Aidan had known she would love. Wordlessly, she lifted the necklace from the box and held it out to Aidan. She lifted her hair and turned around, indicating he should loop it around her neck. Afterwards, Brígh turned back to him. "I love it," she managed. "And I love you."

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn