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Post by Alex Kameren on Jul 18, 2011 0:04:15 GMT -5
"Alright?"
“Fine.” He tried not to lean on her, both because he hated appearing weak and because he was more than a foot taller than the petite healer. It was one of the rare times he felt subconscious about his height. He looked up at the building in front of them. It was worn down and his apartment wasn’t much better. It was liveable, but he hadn’t made many changes to it, even though he’d lived here for years. Work took up much of his time.
Luckily they’d come right to his door. “I’m three floors up.” His flat was one of the bigger ones, but it barely escaped being cramped anyway. They made it to his door, Alex getting up their by sheer stubbornness, and he proceeded to unlock the door and the magical traps he’d set. Curse’s paranoia had rubbed off on him, only increasing after the Minister decided to broadcast every detail about his life.
He kept the traps secret. “Watch out for Rasputin.” He warned as they entered, the traps reactivating on the door as it closed behind him. Alex leaned against the wall as Rasp left his spot next to the tired couch and came to greet them.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jul 18, 2011 12:20:31 GMT -5
In her element, dashing around St. Mungos, Elle could forget about her little height problem. At four foot ten many considered her tiny. Ironic then that she had a crush on a person more than a foot taller than her? Maybe not. Still, inside the hospital it was easy to forget that most of her patients were towering giants. they were after all typically lying down. Out here in the open with a teetering Alex Kameren was a different story. She had wrapped an arm around his hips, to steady him and if he needed extra support it would be easier if he place his hand on her head. Elle came to terms with her height. She rather liked being small. It wasn't like she was the size of a goblin or a house elf, she nearly towered over them! There were many uses for being small...
The curious Elle glanced around the neighborhood as they made their way into the apartment building. She laughed when she saw the stairs. "Makes you wish they moved eh?" She joked as she tried her best to help Alex up the stairs. If she had known how taxing it would have been to get him home, she'd have never agreed to the plan, the rotter.
“Watch out for Rasputin.”
Elle frowned slightly as she tried to think of who Rasputin could be. Then she saw the dog. wait, didn't the Kameren's exchange pets to annoy each other?
"Why did you name your dog something that sounds like an illness?" She asked looking around the rather cramped apartment. It looked a bit like her place, someone to sleep.
"You should sit, and don't make me prod you with my wand," She said hands on her hips as she glared up at him, in attempt to get him to do as she said. Height didn't matter, there were other ways to get what she wanted.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jul 18, 2011 19:26:05 GMT -5
"Why did you name your dog something that sounds like an illness?" She asked looking around the rather cramped apartment. It looked a bit like her place, someone to sleep.
“Rasputin was an eccentric Russian wizard in the late 1800’s.” Alex explained, giving the dog a scratch in his favourite spot behind the ears. The shepard wagged his tail, coming perilously close to whacking anyone unfortunate enough to stand in the general vicinity. Alex gently nudged the dog away, directing him back to his bed by the couch. It wasn’t anything more than an old worn blanket on the floor, but what more did one dog need? "He healed the Czar's son. The muggles called him a mystic, but he was actually just an ordinary Mediwizard." Out of habit, he used the title healers held in the department of law enforcement.
"You should sit, and don't make me prod you with my wand,"
“The faster I get my foot back, the better.” Alex agreed, hopping over to the lone chair in the room. The only other place to sit was the couch, and that was a good five feet away, across the room. He looked quite comical, like a large raven who had traded his grace in flight for ungainly travel across the land.
He sat in the chair, looking up at the healer. “I think, if we can make this chair move, I can cook while we wait for the foot to grow.”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jul 19, 2011 16:47:22 GMT -5
As soon as he said the words Russian wizard, she felt a bit foolish. She should have known that he' named the dog after someone magical. Her face flushed a bit as he went on to describe that the namesake had been a healer. Merlin, she actually knew that fact but she hadn't thought he did. Most people tended to ignore history if it didn't pertain directly to them. Elle was impressed.
“The faster I get my foot back, the better.”
Well that was easy. Elle followed him, wand at th ready to catch him if he began to fall. Physically she probably wouldn't have been able to prevent them both from toppling to the ground but with magic a flick of the wrist was all she needed.
“I think, if we can make this chair move, I can cook while we wait for the foot to grow.”
"Won't be a problem, but you should take the skelogrow first." She pointed out as she rummaged in her magically expanded bag for the small bottle and dispensing cup. she poured a generous amount into the small cup and handed it to him.
"Be warned, it tastes horrible," She said with a slight half apologetic smile.
"So, how has work been? Things seemed pretty light when I went in the other day. " She said not very good at small talk.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jul 19, 2011 18:14:09 GMT -5
"Won't be a problem, but you should take the skelogrow first."
He grimaced as she mentioned the potion, rooting around in her tiny bag before finally producing some. This wouldn’t be the first time he’d taken the potion, there had been several incidents when he was Curse’s apprentice and one when Cain had knocked him from his broom with a bludger. It had only been a pick-up game in the Pierce’s back yard, but the boy had a hell of a backswing.
"Be warned, it tastes horrible," She said with a slight half apologetic smile.
Alex took the glass and knocked back the contents in a single gulp. He couldn’t hold back the shudder as the taste hit.
"So, how has work been? Things seemed pretty light when I went in the other day. "
“This week has been slow.” He admitted, going through possible spells he could use. Levitation? No, a mobilization spell might be best. Wait.
“Why were you in the department?” He asked, curious. Alex pulled his wand from the sheath on his arm, tapping the arm of the chair as he said the spell. The chair jerked, sprouting wheels. “The kitchen’s this way.” He led the way, leaning forward to give direction to the chair.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jul 20, 2011 20:09:34 GMT -5
Elle watched, trying not to hover over Alex, as he took the potion. The urge to sooth was strong when he shuddered as the medicine poured down his throat. She managed to restrain herself. She had learned from her time healing the Kameren's, especially Alex, gestures that resembled pitting or mothering should be avoided. They were after all big strong, macho aurors and did not need to be cuddled. Directness was the best way to get to them, point out how their actions could hurt them and the reason why they had to do as she said. It generally worked.
“Why were you in the department?”
Oops. She hadn't meant to let that slip. He'd think she was a goosehead scared of her own shadow. Come to think of it, she had been pretty silly. There was no reason for someone to follow her. She hadn't any proof and after the aurors had someone watch her for a few days they could find nothing either. No tracking spells either. She was paranoid.
She avoided looking at him as she followed him into the kitchen. "It was nothing... So what are we making for dinner?" She asked, again looking anywhere but at him.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jul 23, 2011 1:44:32 GMT -5
She avoided looking at him as she followed him into the kitchen. "It was nothing... So what are we making for dinner?" She asked, again looking anywhere but at him.
He narrowed his eyes at her but remained silent on the matter for the time being. He moved towards the cupboard. The narrow door creaked in protest as it folded open. He picked out a few boxes and headed towards the sink. As he set them on the counter, he remarked without turning around,
“You know I can find out just by asking.” He hooked his fingers under the box flap and tore it off. “Get me a pan and the strainer from under the counter, please?” The pasta rattled into the empty pot.
“Its nothing fancy, just pasta. I think I have broccoli left over as well.” He filled the pot with water, then set it on the stove, leaning over and turning the knob to the appropriate temperature. “So?”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jul 25, 2011 10:33:23 GMT -5
It was silly, even naive of her to think that any Kameren and especially this one would let anything that sparked their interest just drop. Why didn't she just tell him? It wasn't a big deal. She hadn't been arrested, but it was embarrassing. He would probably think her paranoid and he already had to deal with Curse. Alex didn't need to worry about someone else constantly looking over their shoulder. There was no proof, just feelings. Besides, who would want to follow her? She's just a simple healer.
“You know I can find out just by asking.” Elle flinched as a mental image flashed in her brain. Oh she could see it now. A bunch of aurors on beak gossiping like school girls. Alex causally asks why a young healer was in the office. Loud laughter ensues as they tell the story of the scared healer who is slightly batty. Oh, he'd really see her romantically after that.
. “Get me a pan and the strainer from under the counter, please?”
"Sure," She said hunching down in front of the counter. What did a strainer look like? Elle opened the door and easily spotted a pan. She pulled the biggest one out, she liked the size, and then tried to find the strainer. Hmmm strain...er holes? She found a weird looking bowl with tiny punched out holes. Bounty in hand she stood up holding them aloft so Alex could approve.
“Its nothing fancy, just pasta. I think I have broccoli left over as well.” A loud grumble issued from her stomach in approval. she hadn't had homecooked pasta in a while.
“So?”
"It's nothing really. I thought someone was following me for the last couple of months. When I saw the same person in a window reflection twice I thought I was right and I went to report it. A hitwizard watched my back for a week...nothing. No tracking spells, or anything just my overactive imagination. Besides, who would want to follow me anyways?"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jul 27, 2011 22:52:01 GMT -5
"It's nothing really. I thought someone was following me for the last couple of months. When I saw the same person in a window reflection twice I thought I was right and I went to report it. A hitwizard watched my back for a week...nothing. No tracking spells, or anything just my overactive imagination. Besides, who would want to follow me anyways?"
Alex frowned as he reheated marinara sauce from a previous meal. Once the container was circling around the microwave, he sat back in his chair, shifting his foot as the movement sent a twinge of discomfort to the regrowing appendage.
“That’s… what Avy thought too.” he stirred the noodles as the water began to bubble slowly. “And… Cedric nearly going away with… kidnapping her.” It was one of his early cases, his first without Curse, something that started out with helping Emmi’s friend, and ended with an undercover sting, recapturing his father and trading him for Curse in Azkaban.
It turned out healers weren’t as under the radar as they might like.
“Hitwizards wouldn’t know a proper tracking spell if it bit them on the nose.” He said brusquely, giving the pasta one last stir. “Can you lift this?” The pot wasn’t too full, it was more than large enough for the small portion of noodles. He was sitting a little low in the chair to lift and pour properly. He set the strainer in the sink, indicating she should pour the water out.
“Its an old trick.” He talked more confidently, with fewer mistakes. This was his field of expertise. It was what he knew best. “When the victim,” he paused on the word, but continued, “goes to the law, ease up for a few days. The law loses interest, the victim is discredited, and the stalker continues on.” He brought out the sauce and broccoli.
“Plates in that cupboard.” He indicated one to the left of the sink. “I’ll keep an eye out.” He gave her a small grin as he prepared the plates. “After all, we can’t have anyone kidnapping you, now can we?”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jul 27, 2011 23:18:26 GMT -5
Uh oh there was that frown again. Did the man have any other facial expression? It was like all he knew to do was frown and he had different ones to. This seemed to be his thinking worried disgruntled frown. Or maybe it was his exasperated silly woman frown. He gave that one to her a lot. Maybe one day it would be renamed the oh dear Elle did something again frown.
“That’s… what Avy thought too.”
Avy? Who was Avy? His girl friend? Wait. This was Alex. He didn't know females had different body parts and that they were of notice to the opposite sex. Even Elle, who had been pining for this Kameren since third year, knew that Alex didn't notice girls. Merlin he didn't notice anyone. More than a few people had questioned his manhood. There was no evidence that Kameren swung the other direction...there was little evidence that he swung in either direction to be truthful. Did he mean Ari, Curse's well secret love interest...
“And… Cedric nearly going away with… kidnapping her.”
His father was a violent criminal. He kidnapped someone who thought she was being followed then didn't. A shiver tumbled down her spine. Was she right? Could there be someone hunting her, tracking her movements waiting for the prime moment to strike. If there were no witnesses could anyone find her? Would anyone really miss her? The Kamerens were her friends but she rarely saw them outside of work. If they didn't come to the hospital they probably would assume she was working. Work would be worried after a few days, it depended if she was taken at the start of her week or the end. If they took her at the start of her days off, they'd have a wonderful head start....
Best not to think about it.
“Hitwizards wouldn’t know a proper tracking spell if it bit them on the nose.”
Elle wasn't so sure that was true. Surely, they wouldn't be responsible for checking those things out if they were horrible at performing the necessary actions. It was no secret that the aurors and the hitwizards were like quarreling siblings trying to one up the other. This could just be Alex's auror prejudice. It was practically required upon joining the department.
“Can you lift this?”
"My height is not proportional to my weightlifting abilities." She pointed out dryly as she easily lifted the pot and poured it's contents into the strainer. Her very hungry and often neglected stomach practically keeled over at the smell of the cooked pasta. her mouth was practically drooling even without the sauce. She needed a cook. Hmmm Would Alex be up to cooking for her more often...
“Its an old trick.”
“When the victim,” he paused on the word, but continued, “goes to the law, ease up for a few days. The law loses interest, the victim is discredited, and the stalker continues on.”
It made sense. "Doesn't the law enforcement know that? And check for it...."
“Plates in that cupboard.”
Right. Elle reached up to open the cupboard but used her wand to gently summon to plates from the top of the stack. She could have reached them by going on her toes but she didn't want to go tot he trouble....or remind the very tall Kameren that she was short.
“I’ll keep an eye out.”
Gratitude washed over her making her have to fight the urge to hug him. Alex Kameren was adverse to hugs. They were his pox.
“After all, we can’t have anyone kidnapping you, now can we?”
Was that a flirty comment? Did he actually care about her? Why couldn't they not have anyone kidnap her?
"Nope. Bad for business...." She said cheekily, only if someone else would wish to kidnap her....
"So, how are you umm going to make sure no one is following me? I have things to do and well you're a busy person and I doubt you can follow me everywhere and wouldn't who ever might be following me know you're law enforcement?" She said as she carried the plates to the small table.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jul 28, 2011 0:03:39 GMT -5
It made sense. "Doesn't the law enforcement know that? And check for it...."
“Not always.” He said shortly, floating the plates over to the counter. He didn’t have a table. What was the point, when he was the only one who lived in the apartment? He transferred from armchair to stool, choosing the shorter stool. There were three at the counter, his favorite was the short one because he didn’t need to bend too much to reach his plate. The other two were taller, a fine example of mismatched furniture.
"Nope. Bad for business...." She said cheekily, only if someone else would wish to kidnap her....
Alex took a bite of his pasta, watching to be sure that Elle ate. She’d sounded famished earlier, by the sounds her stomach had been making, but she’d never eaten anything he’d cooked before. And it was a well-known fact that at least one of the Kameren brothers couldn’t cook worth a damn.
"So, how are you umm going to make sure no one is following me? I have things to do and well you're a busy person and I doubt you can follow me everywhere and wouldn't who ever might be following me know you're law enforcement?" She said as she carried the plates to the small table.
“I’m tricky.” This time it was a full smile and even almost a little predatory as he changed a few of his facial features and then became normal again. Being an auror was what he did best. There really wasn‘t anything else that he found as interesting, or challenging. “Don’t worry Elle, I’ll do my job, You’ll be safe.”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jul 29, 2011 17:41:09 GMT -5
This law enforcement business was silly but Elle was grateful for Alex helping her out. A part of her hoped that this was a sign that he actually cared for her in a slightly more than friends way. Alex wasn't the most emotional person so maybe this was Alex's way of showing someone he cared. They were friends of sorts and he seemed to listen to her more than anyone else. He was practically insolent to all of the other staff at St. Mungos from the healers to the cleaning staff.
Elle followed the floating pasta, sniffing the aroma as she went. Food. It was difficult to focus on the conversation when her entire body was tense with anticipation. She hadn't the chance to eat for several hours. Bah, she had skipped lunch that day and hadn't a chance to make it up until now. Besides decent meals were hard to come by.
Eagerly she climbed up onto the tall stool, her elbows resting on the counter her legs barely skimming the foot rest. There would be none of her feet touching the floor...Elle quickly shoved into the pasta, barely chewing the first couple of bites. It was like watching a teenage boy eat.
After a while she became aware of a pair of eyes on her. Opps, she had forgotten that conversation was required and it was often expected that one chew their food and did not shovel it into their mouth. Half way done, she paused to slow down as her initial hunger was lowered.
"This is very good. I can't cook and take out can get very tiresome. Thank you. How's the foot?" she asked being launching into her tirade about someone following her.
“I’m tricky.” that you are. Elle thought as a small shiver trickled down her spine at his smile. It was rare that he showed such strong emotion and it was a little unnerving.
“Don’t worry Elle, I’ll do my job, You’ll be safe.”
"I'm not worried. You're an amazing auror. Are you sure this isn't beneath you? Or take up too much of your time. I know i spend most of my life in the hospital but these next few weeks I'm going to be running around town quite a bit. The ball you know..." Was he going with anyone? It was far too much to think he'd ask her. Well or anyone actually. This was Alex. He might not even go unless required. He did work in the building.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jul 30, 2011 23:34:36 GMT -5
Elle tucked in like she was facing a ten year famine. For a moment Alex sat and watched with wide eyes as food disappeared at an alarming rate. And then he started to chuckle. It started out small, barely a noise, but it grew to be a full-throated laugh. It had been far too long since he’d had to prepare a meal for anyone other than himself, it was gratifying to see someone enjoy it so much.
"This is very good. I can't cook and take out can get very tiresome. Thank you. How's the foot?" she asked being launching into her tirade about someone following her.
Alex stopped chuckling, taking a few bites of his own meal before he spoke. He mixed the steamed broccoli in with the pasta as he talked. “You’re w.. welcome.” He looked down, lifting his leg so he could see it. It looked like a stump, the bone bulging out and covered with skin. It shifted as he watched, sprouting five long projections that would eventually merge and form the bones of his foot. His heel was already growing in. At least the process was going rapidly.
"I'm not worried. You're an amazing auror. Are you sure this isn't beneath you? Or take up too much of your time. I know i spend most of my life in the hospital but these next few weeks I'm going to be running around town quite a bit. The ball you know..."
He ate some sauce covered broccoli as he considered. “It won’t be a problem, Elle.” He caught her eyes with his green ones, serious and determined. The matter was closed. He would look into her stalker, and if there was one, he’d make that person very, very sorry. Alex was fiercely protective of his small circle of friends and family.
The ball. An idea formed in his mind. He had to attend anyway, she was most likely going, and if he didn’t have a date then Theodore would set him up with another of Lyra’s friends. Not a fate he wanted. And he could keep an eye on Elle. The words slipped out without any problem.
“Would you like to go with me?”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jul 31, 2011 17:09:23 GMT -5
At first Elle was a little self conscious. Who wouldn't wonder what was going on when a man laughed heartily as one was eating food. It was rare though to hear Alex laugh so freely and Elle paused in her consumption to watch him. He was a very beautiful man but even more so when he laughed. Something in his bearing relaxed and he looked younger. It was heartening to see that he could enjoy himself.
He stopped laughing when she complimented him. Elle hadn't meant to ruin his mirth.
“You’re w.. welcome.”
Elle remained smiling as she wondered how Alex was feeling. Was he stuttering because he was worn out? Or was something else wrong? Or was he just stuttering because he couldn't help it. The young nurse had noticed that sometimes Alex seemed to struggle with words due to emotional stress or fatigue. And other times it was because the tongue just wouldn't move. There were some words Elle had difficulty saying correctly and she'd often stumble over them. I the word cerebral palsy and specific.
"I'm not worried. You're an amazing auror. Are you sure this isn't beneath you? Or take up too much of your time. I know i spend most of my life in the hospital but these next few weeks I'm going to be running around town quite a bit. The ball you know..."
He ate some sauce covered broccoli as he considered. “It won’t be a problem, Elle.”
Elle nodded, returning to her meal. It was very generous of Alex to follow her around and well it felt nice to have someone looking out for her. Elle had no family. Or at least none that she knew of. She was an only child whose mother died when she'd been a small child and her father had disappeared, presumed dead when she was at Hogwarts. Her paternal grandfather raised her and he passed away a few years ago. It was just Elle. She didn't even have a pet for fear that it would die.
Elle had just sipped from her cup when out of no where Alex suprised her. Never in a million years did she expect, or even dare hope to hear that question out of this man's mouth. Who would have thought that Alex KAmeren would ever ask little Elle Calahan to do anything remotely like a date. It wasn't that Elle didn't think herself worthy, she just thought that Alex did not notice her like that. Surprised, she gasped causing the water to flow down the wrong pipe. Sputtering, water flying out of her mouth, Elle blushed as she coughed trying to get the water out of her windpipe.
"Me?" She croaked, still suprised. Be clam, she thought. Don't spook the boy. "Yeah. It'll be fun. ummm pick me up?"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Aug 21, 2011 22:04:27 GMT -5
"Me?" She croaked, still suprised. Be clam, she thought. Don't spook the boy. "Yeah. It'll be fun. ummm pick me up?"
Alex hadn’t expected that reaction when he asked his friend if she’d like to go with him. His face was slightly puzzled as he patted her roughly on the back a few times. Finally she stopped coughing, and he reached over, taking advantage of his longer arms to clean up the mess.
“Sure.” He pushed his empty plate away, leaning back on the stool. Rasp stood from his place sprawled by the couch and slouched over, wedging his body between the two stools. Alex smiled slightly and scratched the dog’s ears.
“When can I stand on it?” He asked Elle, glad that the words came easily this time. Ever since the coma, he had found it hard to say even simple words at times, or he would substitute an unrelated word entirely.
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