Spontaneous combustion [Aerick]

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@aerick

The Christmas holidays had passed quietly. Due to all their different work schedules and their parents being abroad the Fitzpatricks hadn't really done anything for it but that was alright. Clodagh would have opted out of anything to begin with. She couldn't stay out that late after all and she'd made Mannix swear not to tell any of their siblings about her... condition. Oh he thought it was absolutely brilliant and that being a mouse was positively the best thing in existence. If she didn't love her brother so much she might have smacked him. Ophelia, the only other person that knew, was thankfully more understanding as to how this situation was a curse. But with Ophelia's help she'd at least gotten out of the Leaky Cauldron and into a more secure environment. As long as she made it back before the sun set she didn't have to worry about anything trying to eat her. Definitely a plus.

Clodagh had just left the publisher, to approve the illustrations for the children's book they were publishing of hers, when she spotted.... him. Oh how could she not recognize him? He was still singlehandedly one of the most handsome people she'd ever met with eyes so blue she felt like she was staring into the sea. So handsome in fact that just the sight of him made her blush and feel completely unworthy just to look upon him. And Knowing his name? It was complete blasphemy, and she was shocked she didn't spontaneously combust. No. Someone like him was so many leagues above her that he shouldn't even be aware of her existence.

So, because obviously this was the most logical decision to make(it really wasn't), the woman immediately tried to duck out of sight, to blend in with the crowd and pretend to be absorbed in window shopping.

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Aerick was blissfully happy to have finally achieved three days in a row off from Club Indigo, though outwardly he remained as passively apathetic as ever. He’d been able to sleep on a normal schedule last night, and had woken up at a relatively decent hour. He had decided to wander aimlessly around London for the day; the city still held a curiosity of sorts for him, having grown up in New York City. It was so like the Big Apple with its variety of different neighborhoods, each with its own different vibe or flair. There were a lot of differences too though, some he liked and some he didn’t particularly care for. He knew that his father was still somewhere in the city as Elaine’s sources told her so, and yet he was still eluding Aerick’s predatory hunt. He shook his head to clear his head; today he wouldn’t think about that. He needed to have a day that was good, and even maybe fun, if he remembered how to have that.

Suddenly, he spotted a rather familiar dark head of hair with a familiar faced attached to it. Aerick couldn’t help but smile a little as Clodagh Fitzpatrick ducked meekly out of sight; he wondered if it was because she had spotted him. Wanting to find out, he made his way over to where she had disappeared to and found her unconvincingly staring at a window of a shop. He came to a stop next to her. “See anything worth buying?” he asked, still smiling but not looking at her.

@clodagh

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@aerick

At least Clodagh had chosen a good shop to stop in front of. This whole situation could have been immensely more embarrassing had she stopped anywhere else. Thankfully this shop in particular was a book store. It wasn't uncharacteristic for her to stop here. But her attempt to be invisible and go unnoticed was an epic failure. Because only a few moments later she sensed someone take up the spot next to her... Followed by that voice. Even though she couldn't see him his voice radiated his gorgeousness. Heaven above, why did he have to sound handsome too?! Because just hearing him as that simply question was enough to bring a hint of pink to her cheeks. Of course he'd seen her. She'd tried, definitely tried, to fly under the radar. To be just as inconspicuous as a mouse. And yet somehow he'd still spotted her. And followed her. He had said he'd like to see her again before but... well after he'd left she'd convinced herself that he'd just been polite. There was no way he could ever have genuine interest in her.... Right? "I... No..... Not yet." She managed to get out, only stumbling a moment.

Despite her sheer inferiority Clodagh found herself turning her head and tilting it back just enough to look up at him. He was smiling. That only made her feel even more unworthy, and immediately looked back at the display, her own smile faintly appearing.

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Aericks’ grin widened despite his best efforts as Clodagh spoke. She had this nervous, awkward way about her, and usually he found that sort of demeanor irritating and boring. For some reason though Clodagh had the opposite effect; he actually sort of enjoyed watching her squirm (in the nicest way possible of course). He was silent, looking over the titles the bookshop had decided to proudly display in their window; all of them titles that must have been Muggle authors as Aerick did not recognize any of them. His interest of course, was more in the lovely, if not slightly awkward woman standing next to him.

Finally, after an appropriately deemed amount of comfortable silence, Aerick turned to face her. “I was thinking that today was a perfect day to go ice skating,” he said casually, making a statement more than a request. His eyes never left her as he paused before continuing to speak. “I don’t really want to go on my own though, a twenty-three year old man ice skating solo could seem a little off to some people. You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who likes ice skating, do you?” Now he was asking, and he waited to see how she’d respond.

@clodagh

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@aerick

Honestly Clodagh didn't understand how someone like him could possibly be interested in someone like her. He shouldn't even notice her. But here he was, turning to face her and saying something about... ice skating..? If she could stop herself she would have, alas she couldn't stop her gaze from turning back to him. "It would be off. Ice skating alone." she found herself answering before she could stop herself. Only after speaking, and she realized that he was waiting for an answer did she realize what he must be asking. Her eyes widened. "Are you... Are you asking if... I do?" she hesitantly asked. She could be completely wrong, and totally making a fool of herself right now. She was pretty good at that so it really wouldn't be a surprise.

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Aerick couldn’t help the smile on his face as Clo registered the fact that he was in fact asking her to go ice skating with him. “Well, it’s either stand here staring at the book store for the next few hours, or get some cardio in skating around in a circle dodging little kids who like to pretend they’re world class figure skaters,” he said casually. With a chuckle, he turned around and jerked his head towards a lane; he knew that there was a rink a few blocks away that had rental skates for just two pounds a person. When they reached the rink he was glad to see there weren’t a ton of children skating around already, so he paid for the rental skates and laced them up quickly. “When I was home for winter holidays in the states, my mom would take me to Rockefeller Center every Christmas to ice skate. I haven’t done it in a few years, but the weather reminded me of the memory so, here I am,” he told her as he stood up on his skates. He held out his hands to her. “Shall we?” he asked.
@clodagh

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@aerick

Clodagh's mouth practically hung open when he spoke, not answering her question directly but basically answering it in a roundabout way. Aerick was really unlike anything she was expecting. Why he'd want to spend time with her. Why he was so interested in someone as awkward as her... Rather then answer though, she managed a nod. She hadn't agreed to go with him after all, so in her own awkward way that was her agreement.

He led the way to the ice rink as well as paid for the rental skates (a fact that made her smile and blush at the same time). To her surprise though, while they were lacing up their skates he spoke, talking about going ice staking with his mother around winter holidays. Family had been something Clo had spoken far to much about the first time and when she'd realized that his father hadn't been in the picture it'd made her feel extremely selfish. Obviously she hadn't left a bad impression. "That sounds amazing. Why did you stop?" She smiled softly. It was a lovely idea, ice skating with your family each winter.

For once, Clodagh didn't blush when he stood up in front of her hand held out his hands, offering to help her up. Why she didn't blush... who knew. But instead of blushing she actually smiled brightly. "Yes!" She sounded almost... excited. It'd been a while since she'd gone ice skating. Reaching out to take his hands she hobbled to her feet. Who knew if she'd be any good at this, it'd been so long.

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Clodagh’s shyness was entertaining to Aerick. Not in a bad way, not like a snake watching its mouselike prey before devouring it whole. It was more...charming, in a good way. She was easily flustered and blushed quickly, but it made him smile rather than scoff. It was strange, since that was not typically how he reacted to girls like her, but she was...special. He didn’t know when he had realized that; probably when he found her long-winded talk about her family more interesting than dull. “I moved to London,” he told her with a small smile when asked why they had stopped. He hardly had been home since he moved across the pond to track down his miserable excuse of a father, but his mother had come over twice to visit him. Her schedule with MACUSA was very busy, so Aerick knew he was overdue for a trip home. She seemed to understand though what his mission was and what he felt like he had to do, and she had no interest in stopping him.

Aerick smiled as she accepted his hands and hobbled out with him towards the ice. “Careful now,” he said as he slowly began to skate backwards, maintaining a firm grip on Clo’s hands. “You’re not doing so bad,” he commented with a small laugh. “So what about you, any ice skating stories from your youth?” he asked, finding himself curious about the woman in front of him and the life she led. Nobody had a life similar to Aericks, and Clo’s was almost complete opposite with her vast amount of siblings and seemingly happy parents. He often wondered what his life would be like if he had different parents, well different father more like, but knew he couldn’t go back in time and change that. So he had to press on with what life had given him, and go from there.

@clodagh

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@aerick

"Oh." Not being back home would definitely make it difficult to continue such traditions. Though it was a little sad too. "Do you visit, or no?" That question came out before she could control her tongue. After it came out she forced her mouth shut, before any other questions decided to leap out in her moment of weakness. Despite his interest in her being made obvious she still remained constantly on guard, waiting for one of her wayward comments to offend him. It wouldn't be that hard, offending people accidentally happened to be an unfortunate skill she'd developed.

Maintaining her balance on the ice skates was made remarkably easier by his hands, He held her hands firmly, bracing whenever she wobbled a little too much. Between that, and his requesting she be careful, her cheeks her once again a nice rosy pink but there was a smile there as well. It wasn't just her usual awkward embarrassment that was causing her cheeks to change color it seemed. "If you let go we'll find out just how well, or poorly I am." She answered, though from the way he was holding her hands and she is, it was clear that was not a request to let go and find out. She'd probably end up flat on her face or butt in moments. Her gaze was darting between the ice, to watch her own attempt to skate, and then back up to Aerick who was still skating backwards. "Of ice skating? I suppose there was the time I fell through the ice and right into a mermaid colony-" She had completely forgotten about that blunder right until it started coming out. Her cheeks were bright red at the memory. One because she never would have dreamed of telling someone that story, but two it'd come out so quickly she hadn't been able to stop it.

@aerick

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Aerick gave Clodagh a sad little smile as she asked if he ever got back to visit. "No, not since I left four years ago," he said a little wistfully.  His mother knew why he was not planning on coming home anytime soon; he had to find his father and settle everything between them once and for all.  He had her full support, now all he had to do was find him.  "London reminds me a lot of New York, though more..history here.  You can still sense what this place was like hundreds of years ago, with the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.  But then there are buildings like the Shard which represent the newness."  He paused, chuckling a little.  "Maybe one day I'll get home to visit, but I have a job to do first," he said, giving her hand a tiny squeeze.

He laughed as she commented on her less than stellar ice skating skills.  "Well let's try this way then," he said, skating so that they were side by side and tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow snugly.  Her hand was so tiny, he noticed with a small smile.  "Ready?" he said, pushing off so they could continue to skate, side by side now.  His head jerked over towards her as she made that mermaid colony comment.  "Wait, hold up," he said, slowing down so he could look at her properly without getting run over by other skaters.  "Mermaid colony?  Now you've got to tell me this story," he told her, starting to skate again as he looked at her imploringly.


@clodagh

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@aerick

Clodagh had been in New York several months ago, when she'd been returning to be closer to her family. As he mentioned the two cities similarity but London having more history she nodded in agreement. Many European cities had a very historial feel to them. "Well, it'll still be there when you do have the chance to visit." she answered absentmindedly. Obviously she didn't know what this 'job' was he mentioned, nor its importance. But... it sounded important and personal to him and for once she managed to hold her tongue.

Clodagh almost face planted it when he switch positions, but somehow managed to stay on her skates, if only barely. But then his body was next to hers, her hand linked through his arm. Immediately she noticed just how close they were, could feel just the slightest amount of heating off him. If she hadn't already been embarrassed about almost falling she would have been down right feverish. Instead though she just held onto his arm a little tighter so she didn't fall, hoping that she didn't take him down with her. "Yes... maybe just a little slow at first?" she answered awkwardly to his asking if she was ready. She got her wish though because he'd slowed down enough to properly look at her after her admittance. Cheeks still bright red Clodagh did her best to try and not smile. But the corners of her lips were twitching upward. "I was six. And we were in Denmark. The ice wasn't as thick as we thought." she started to explain, though stopping so she could look away before the next part. "I fell in right in the middle of a huge gathering. A festival or something. Once they fished me out my father kept having to apologize for me." Clo's entire childhood was filled with awkward encounters like that. She'd just always been the unlucky one growing up.

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Aerick chuckled and smiled down as Clodagh, somewhat awkwardly, mentioned New York would be waiting for him whenever he got the chance to go back. “Hopefully,” he agreed. He did miss many aspects of the city; for instance he couldn’t find a decent bagel anywhere in London, but it would be an odd request to ask his mother to send him some. His stomach grumbled at the thought of food; pastrami sandwiches from the deli in the Lower East Side, street food from the Brooklyn food trucks festival. London was not exactly known for its cuisine, but it was halfway decent most of the time. Still, it didn’t hold a candle to New York food.

“We can go slow, then perhaps you’d join me for a bite to eat before we try for round two?” he suggested, raising a brow as his stomach grumbled again. A few minutes of skating side by side with the dark haired girl and Aerick recognized she needed a bit of a break. “Come on,” he said, gently leading her off to the side and towards a cleared bench for them to sit on and remove their skates. “Why was your father apologizing for you? It’s not like it was your fault the ice was too thin,” he asked curiously, not being able to hold the bite back when he said the word father. He would have to work on that; nobody but Elaine and Uriah knew about his real reasons for coming to London, and he doubted Clo would be a huge fan of the idea, from the little he knew about her.

@clodagh

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@aerick

Clodagh completely lost her balance when he spoke, asking her if she'd join him for a bite to eat. If hadn't been for her arm being looped through his own she would have gone down immediately (and maybe taken him with her.) Thankfully though his grip offered just enough support to find her balance once more. She didn't look up at him, focusing her gaze downward on her ice skates to try and not slip up again but also to hide the intense red cheeks. This was feeling more and more like a.... a date. Clodagh had never actually been on a date before. Not too surprising considering her social awkwardness. Why would someone like him be even the slightest bit interested in her? It just didn't make any sense... "I... Sure." She softly stammered out, she still had a few hours until she had to be back at the apartment after all. Why not... Why not see where this went..?

Back on solid (well... the ice was solid...) ground, Clodagh almost lost her balance... again. As if her feet couldn't decide what to expect or not. Thankfully maintaining her footing she plopped down on the bench next to him and started to undo the laces of the skates. At his question she glanced up at him in surprise. Her cheeks were still quite rosy but she'd blame the chill in the air if confronted about the blush. "Because I didn't speak Mermish then." She answered straightforward, taking the question far to literally then she probably should have. "Even if I had spoken it then, I was so cold I couldn't even stutter out an apology in English." Falling in a frozen lake wasn't exactly the warmest of experiences. Again. She was taking this far to literally, and entirely missing the point of the question. Which was more around why they'd apologize for a simple mistake. Shrugging just a little she looked away and pulled off the skates and started to slip her own shoes back on. "I've a knack for... offending people. My parents were always having to apologize for me." She whispered, finally getting on the same page as him. Obviously this was a trait that she was definitely not proud of, nor did she sound like she liked to admit it. Heaven above, she didn't even know why she was admitting it to him! She was trying to make a good impression! The last thing he'd want to hear about was her inability to function normally! So, forcing herself to smile she glanced back at him. "Did you have anything in mind for food?"

@aerick

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The slip did not go unnoticed by Aerick, but he decided to refrain from saying anything; he could tell she felt somewhat mortified by the coloring of her cheeks. It was adorable...wait, was he thinking something she was doing was adorable? He barely knew her after all, and he took pride in himself not really attaching himself to anyone so as to not lose focus on why he was in London in the first place. Sarah was purely physical, which was a mutual understanding between them and a suitable arrangement. Clo however was not a Purifier, and though he had thought of a few things he'd like to do, Aerick felt himself wanting to get to know her better before even considering that route. He didn't know if he cared for this newfound feeling in his gut, but he couldn't help but smile as she stammered out that she'd like to get something to eat. He helped her off the ice and led her to a bench so they could take off the skates. “Then? So you speak Mermish now?” he asked interestedly. It was because Elaine would find someone speaking Mermish interesting, that was all, he told himself at least.

A dark shadow crossed over his face as Clodagh mentioned other people kept having to apologize for her. “They shouldn't feel the need to do that; they should accept their children as they are and not make excuses or lie to them. That's just setting people up for failure,” Aerick said somewhat bitterly, then shook his head. “My apologies; I did not mean to insinuate anything. I just don't like the idea of someone always apologizing for me being who I am,” he told her, standing up and extending his hand to her. “Actually, I do. There's this great place for German food around the corner that happens to be one of my favorites,” he told her, the smile returning to his face. There was such a variety of German food that he was sure she could find something suitable to eat; this way he could also indulge in some much needed German beer.

@clodagh

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@aerick

Aerick kept giving her this... look. Like he was actually enjoying being with her. As if.... well he liked spending time with her. But that couldn't be possible! Of course not, who enjoyed spending time with people like her? Despite how preposterous that sounded... it wa nice. That blush wasn't just embarrassment now it was also that warm feeling of... actually enjoying herself too. This beautiful fantasy would eventually come to and end, but she could enjoy it for now. "Yes... I haven't in a while so I'm rusty but... I can hold a conversation."

Clodagh most definitely didn't feel offended by his words. In fact, she looked positively surprised, as if she'd never heard such a thing. She'd always felt so.... out of place. So awkward that she didn't belong in a world with people like Aerick. People so superior to herself. Not only was she here on a sort of date with such an individual through, but it sounded as if he were saying she shouldn't apologize for being who she was. "Why would anyone need to for you? You're-" perfect. That was what she stopped herself from saying. Immediately she faked a cough and looked away to try and hide her sudden embarrassment, before taking his hand and rising to her feet. "I love German food." okay, to be fair she liked most foods. But German was particularly good.