Cause I'm gonna make this place your home [Clo]

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Cullen fidgeted as he waited inside the tea shop. They had agreed to meet at the Rosa Lee Teabag inside Diagon Alley. Cullen tried his best to avoid Diagon. Even from where he was sitting, he could see the gaudy, ostentatious display in front of Weasley Wheezes. As a boy, he had loved the site, now it just made him sick. Quickly, he rose and switched seats away from the window. Tapping his leg against the worn tile, he waited. 

Clodagh always was his favorite. She understood him. Her warm face, and kind eyes. She was gentle where everyone else was harsh and burned too bright. It had been too long. He'd find a way to convince her to stay this time. It was only fair that she had a turn at adventuring. He suspected not too much of that was done behind the caged walls of Hogwarts. Long ago when they were younger, he tried to make her see that. Letters came and went, and the years went on. He hoped the world hadn't changed her too much. 

The waitress stopped by the table again, asking if he was ready to order. Cullen shook his head no, his eyes fixed on the door. Too excited for when it would open. 

Tag:@clodagh

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@cullen

Clodagh was meeting her brother, Cullen, today. She was, to no surprise, very excited. Out of all her siblings, and she obviously had many, Cullen was the closest in age to her, and the closest in personality. She'd always gotten along with him the best. He just got her in a way that none of the others had.. or did. Even after being away from her family for the past several years, she was most excited to see Cullen again.

It wasn't far from where she was staying, thankfully. She was currently renting a room in the Leaky Cauldron as she tried to figure out her living arrangements.... Or to be specific tried to find an flat that she could actually afford. That was quite the challenge when you couldn't try and find a flat mate. That was totally out of the question. She wouldn't be able to hide certain things about herself if she shared a space with someone, and didn't want the awkward questions that would follow. So, walking quickly, she made her way to the small tea shop, a small pep in her step from excitement. When she opened the door, the bell above it chimed softly, and the first thing she noticed was, of course, Cullen. Sitting there, staring quite intently at the door as he waited. Immediately a giant smile appeared. '"Cullen!" She voice happily, not caring who heard in that moment. Immediately she made her way to the table he was sitting at.

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His eyes followed as customers walked in and out through the door. Every time the bell above the jingled, Cullen's eyes shot up to see if it was her. Suddenly, he saw the familiar tinge of brunette whipping in the wind, and the bell above the tea shop gave a chime. Cullen's heart slammed against his chest as his stomach fell crashing to the floor below.

Home. A happy grin curled into Cullen’s dimples, widening to show a toothy smile and laughter. The lines around his mouth creased, it had been some time since they were used so readily. "Clodagh!" He shouted, knocking his chair back as he shot out of his seat. Immediately he wrapped his arms around her, squeezing with all his being. "Where you been, Clo?" His voice muffled from burying his head in hair. Giving one last squeeze, he let go with a sigh and took a good look at his sister. "So. You made it out alive? Go on, give us a turn then. Let's see how much you've changed." He crossed his arms against his chest and gave cheeky smirk.

Tag:@clodagh

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@cullen

Cullen was on his feet immediately and grinning like an absolute lunatic. It only made her own grin widen even more. God, how she'd missed that crazy smile! She flung her arms around him as he met her halfway and gave her a tight hug. She was laughing, and would have told him he was hugging her a little to tightly but she didn't care right now. It'd been so long since she'd seen him! "Where haven't I been?" She correctly breathlessly, because really that'd be easier. She'd traveled so much over the years, it was hard keeping straight all the places. Thankfully she'd kept a map, but hadn't unpacked it quite yet. As he finally pulled away, Clo reluctantly released her brother, but still grinned up at him ecstatically. He wasn't too much taller then her, which was always a blessing, she didn't have to crane her head back to look at him. As he requested her to 'turn', she laughed, and shook her head. "I haven't changed that much!" None the less she obliged, twirling slowly where she stood. "Of course I made it out alive! Why are you surprised?!" Okay... Maybe it was surprising. She wasn't the most... skilled at social skills. Growing up, she'd always been the one accidentally offending the natives.

"What about you though! Zonkos joke shop! How is that going?"

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Tilting his head back, Cullen let out a great, belly laugh. In an odd way, he felt as if he had a twin connection with his sister. Now that she was back, he felt as if he was once again whole. Warmth spread through Cullen as the realization hit him that nothing between them had changed. No awkward pauses or weirdness as some might get as years pass. She was still his Clo'. 

He gave a slow clap as she gave a turn for him. "Wow. Look at that. My sister everybody. Even got two arms, this one." He said jokingly, catching the eyes of a few less than enthused patrons. He turned back to fuss at his sister, "Go on and sit before the wind blows in and decides to take you." Picking up his fallen chair, he set it up right eased himself down. He scratched his head absentmindedly as Clodaugh accused him of being surprised at how long she lasted. "Errr...well...no...but, yes" he said with a grin, laughing. Leaning in close, he whispered, "But come off, you really traveled the whole world and didn't get a single scratch? Where were you last, the America's? You're really going to tell me that you spent all that time there and didn't even catch the diabetus? Remarkable, you are dear. That's what you are." Leaning back, he smiled with a cheeky, school boy grin, before frowning at the mention of Zonko's, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Yeaah, shop's fine. Still selling dung bombs to ickle first years. But enough about me, where are you staying? Say, we should have a party, a little get together, up at the castle. You can show me all the secret passage ways so I can finally filch Karney's good fire whiskey."

Tag:@clodagh

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@cullen

Clodagh'd cheeks flushed bright red in a blush at his comment about having two arms. She playful swatted at his clapping hands. "And I've got to legs to match, thank you very much!" She joked back as she laughed softly. Finally though, and probably from the flicker of her brother's gaze, she realized how much attention they were drawing, and that blush deepened. Clo was just fine being flamboyant social with people she was close to, but strangers? Not so much. She just got shy and socially awkward. Hence the social blundering that ended in unintentional offense. She took the seat across from him, propped her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands.

Her grin, left from laughing, vanished as he spoke. Not getting a single scratch? Not exactly a scratch... Though she'd been scratched plenty the past few months. Cats didn't like her much now, even in human form. And she'd lost count of the times they'd tried to chase her down at night. She hadn't been planning on telling anyone about the... Well, situation. But if she did tell someone? It'd be Cullen. She forced that smile back before it was gone too long to be too suspicious. "Okay, maybe not a scratch. You know me, always getting into trouble. But nothing too serious." She answered. It wasn't a lie technically. She nodded as he continued. "North America, mostly. I spent some time in Louisiana before coming back home." She shrugged, as if trying to make her time in the Southern state less important then it really was.

Clodagh heard that sudden change in his voice and raised an eyebrow. He didn't leave her much opening to question it further, throwing the conversation back in her direction. She laughed. "Leaky Cauldron for now, nothing fancy. I'm thinking about finding a flat in London somewhere." Finding a flat meant she was planning on staying for a while. "Doesn't that still make your head spin, Karney teaching? And the twins! Students! When did Karney get so old?" Technically, they were all getting older, but Karney was the only one with kids so far. "What about Emma? Have you seen her lately? I haven't had a chance yet. Mum and dad told me she moved in with some boy?" She sounded concerned there. Emma was the youngest of all the kids. Freshly graduated, barely 18 years old. Clodagh didn't know anything about this 'boy' Emma had moved in with, and it didn't sound like her parents knew much either...

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"What a catch! Legs and arms? How do you manage them from beating your door down?" He matched his sister by propping his elbows up and his chin in his hand to make complete mirrors of one another. Tilting his hand, he found Clo's expression odd. Was she hiding something from him? Perhaps something that was better left in the Americas. Bad breakup, most likely. Cullen shook the thought from his mind, chalking it up to that assumption. "Trouble?", he said, "That is hard to imagine. Let me guess? You forgot to return a library book?" He laughed and reached over to squeeze her hand. "You know I am only teasing, love. I am just so unbelievably happy to see you."

Cullen scratched the back of his neck nervously, "Lousiana? Would have never pictured that. Isn't it a swamp?....I hope you don't mind, but I already ordered. I thought to get you something reminding you of the States. I am sure you must miss it after all this time." Motioning over to the girl behind the counter, she quickly hurried over to two steaming mugs. Cullen shot out his arms and exclaimed, "Pumpkin Spice Lattes!!!" He looked her up and down to gauge her reaction to his fine gift and thoughtfulness. 

"In London? You sure you don't want to be closer to your brothers?", he asked with a smirk playing with his pippin' hot cup. "Karney is not old. I refuse to believe it. The children are just...well playmates. I am not old yet." Cullen stated with a sour face and pout. "You know, I have not seen our dear sister in some time, we really should dinner soon. I am sure she's fine, Clo. Emma's a smart girl. She's just having an adventure of her own." Cullen perked up a smile. He was far too self involved to play the role of over-protective brother. That's what Karney and Mannix were for. And besides, if Clo could go gallivanting across the world then certainly Emmaline could live with a friend.

Tag:@clodagh

EDIT: OCT/NOV THREAD CHALLENGE: Cullen shot out his arms and exclaimed, "Pumpkin Spice Lattes!!!" He looked her up and down to gauge her reaction to his fine gift and thoughtfulness.

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@cullen

Clodagh couldn't help but grin as her brother mirrored her current position. "Well, it helps that I have limbs to beat them back." She joked back. She wasn't nearly as big of a jokster as Cullen, but that didn't mean she had no sense of humor. Then, as he commented on forgetting to return a library book she chuckles. "More then once, probably! But not on this trip." Squeezing his hand back, the smile formed by her chuckle softened. "You're always teasing, Cullen. You wouldn't be you if you weren't. As exciting as the last few years have been, I've always missed you and everyone else dearly." Cullen especially though.

Oh, Louisiana was indeed a swamp. With plenty of critters that she'd grown a strong dislike for. But that tended to happen when you spent half your time lower on the food chain then them. Rather then mention that though, she just shrugged. "It is. I figured I'd spend some time there since we hadn't had the opportunity growing up." There weren't many Magical creatures unique to the state. Not only that, the regular creatures were unusually dangerous. And, as she had experienced first hand, Voodoo. You didn't mess with Voodoo. Her parents had been smart not to introduce her and her siblings to it growing up. Ass he motioned for the waitress to bring his order over, going on about it being something she must be missing, she raised an eyebrow. Then she smelled it. Pumpkin spice latte. Pumpkin had a very distinct smell. Immediately she felt her mouse instincts the ones that she relied on during the night but rarely felt during the day, leap for joy. "I love Pumpkin spice!" She gleefully answered as she accepted the mug, flashing a brilliant smile at her brother and the waitress.

"Well, London flats are cheaper then Hogsmeade houses." That and she didn't want her brothers accidentally seeing the forced transformation. They'd probably think it was funny, until they reasoned just how dangerous it was and how many times she'd almost gotten eaten by a cat. "No, you aren't old. Not yet. You will next month though when you turn 30." She teased with a small grin. Cullen was a Christmas eve baby. Then... dinner. "What about lunch sometime?" She quickly, very quickly suggested instead. Dinner wasn't possible. She did hope Emma was okay though. As she mulled over that though, she raised the mug to her lips softly blowing on it a bit to cool it off and tentatively take a small sip. Still piping hot, enough to burn her tongue just a bit, but not the worse. "Mmm. Pumpkin."

@cullen