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Post by Alex Kameren on Oct 1, 2011 21:43:19 GMT -5
Alex leaned against the fence, it was worn and battered by weather, but was sturdily built and had stood for decades. It wasn’t bothered with a lanky Kameren who had chosen it as his resting space. It was a high stone fence, meant to keep livestock in and predators out. It was too bad then, that the pasture was overgrown and the fence hadn’t provided much trouble at all for an agile shepherd. Rasputin raced about, tail up as he investigated interesting smells.
Some parts of the fence had been knocked down, and all sorts of wild animals had moved into the territory. Rasp found the trail of one such and was off like a shot. Alex laughed, amused by the dog. He hadn’t been too enthusiastic about him originally, true, but the puppy had grown on him. Now he wouldn’t get rid of the dog for anything.
It was mid-September and autumn was arriving in the English countryside. Alex Kameren watched his dog hunt rabbits and waited for Elle to arrive.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Oct 2, 2011 13:01:40 GMT -5
Nervous excitement raced through Elle causing her toes to tap in her boots. Alex Kameren had invited her to his estate! While it was not the most romantic place in the world it was a start to something. Elle was sure of it. Over the last few weeks, Alex and Elle had bonded, slowly moving past just friends and into something else. They weren't dating but they were closer. The fact that Alex hadn't been prodded by their mutual friend Cain to invite her somewhere was proof. Finally. She'd only been crushing on him for a decade.
With a quick twist Elle disappeared from her living room only to reappear in a country lane. Rich male laughter assaulted her ears and Elle grinned. It was a rare treat to hear the deep nerve tingling laughter of Alex Kameren. Too bad she hadn't been the source...
"As requested, one small healer," She teased giving the taller man a swift one armed hug. It was a very fast, brief touch as Elle was very much aware he was uncomfortable with human contact and probably still sore from his last major injury.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Oct 2, 2011 15:52:31 GMT -5
In addition to being poisoned, Alex had managed to gain quite the lump on his head and a few cracked ribs from slamming into the barrier around Curse’s house. His head had healed swiftly, but his ribs had been deemed fine to heal on their own with no magical assistance. His side was still slightly tender at times, but they had healed for the most part.
He turned as he heard the familiar sound of Apparition behind him. They weren’t actually on the Estate, Alex having to give her coordinates outside the Kameren castle’s Anti-Apparition field. Sure he could have apparated them, but he wasn’t confident enough to perform side-along apparition again yet.
"As requested, one small healer,"
He lifted his arm, returning the contact awkwardly. He still wasn’t used to it, but she seemed determined to give him a hug every time they met, and he had given up resisting it. He actually found himself looking forward to it now.
“Hey Elle,” He greeted, smiling. A sharp whistle brought Rasp running over, scrambling over the stone of the fence to dance around his humans.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Oct 2, 2011 19:14:21 GMT -5
A laugh, a touch and a hug. Fall was bringing knew things into Alex's life. Elle's heart gave a little flip as he hugged her back. So what if it was a bit awkward and they became tangled a bit in the release. He wasn't cringing or pulling a face. Secretly, he might even be enjoying it.
Elle hid her pink cheeks as she wrapped her arms around the large dog. For several seconds she showed the lovable dog her sole attention.
"What is Alex feeding you? Any bigger and you'll be a pony. I promise I won't ask for rides," She said with a teasing smile, before standing up to face the man.
"Thank you for the invitation. It's been a while since I've been away from the city, but I'm curious. Why here?"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Oct 2, 2011 19:47:57 GMT -5
"What is Alex feeding you? Any bigger and you'll be a pony. I promise I won't ask for rides," She said with a teasing smile, before standing up to face the man.
“Whuff.” Rasputin agreed, panting and wiggling as he greeted the woman. Alex might be his master, but it was Elle he would be silly for. She scratched his ears and he showed his approval with a big doggy grin. He stuck close to the diminutive woman as she stood, his tail wagging.
“He’s a fool.” Alex said fondly, hands in his pockets. It was quite the sight, the big dog sticking so close to Elle, like a lovesick puppy. He was nearly three years old and acted like a pup around her.
"Thank you for the invitation. It's been a while since I've been away from the city, but I'm curious. Why here?"
He shrugged as they turned and walked up the long road. “I’m finding I’m enjoying this more than ever, now that he’s gone.” He motioned at the Estate in the distance, at the top of a hill. The road curved out of sight in front of them. “Besides, I thought you-- ah, might like to get out of the city.” He focused his gaze determinedly on a low-hanging branch in front of them. Rasputin barked and took off into the brush.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Oct 12, 2011 17:47:44 GMT -5
There was something about the countryside. Fresh air and clouds. Elle had missed it without even realizing it. It had been along time since she had been in the countryside. Years. Even before she graduated from Hogwarts. Funny how the city sucked you in. Elle had roamed grounds similar to the Kameren Estate as a child, abet on a much smaller scale.
Despite the obvious size difference, Elle and Alex walked side by side in a nearly perfect stride. If one discounted the fact that she took two and a half steps for his everyone. But she didn't notice. Elle always took quick long steps.
"I’m finding I’m enjoying this more than ever, now that he’s gone.”
Elle cocked her head to one side, leaning back a bit to glance at Alex's face. Which of course held only a hint of emotion. The man had a talent for keeping a blank face. Even in agony he only showed a flicker of emotion. Just how he was made. But even a flicker was expressive. Especially on him.
"Good. It's much to good to go to waste," Elle pointed out as her attention was snatched by a group of flowers. She had a passion for wildlife. As a child she collected flowers and herbs, pressing them into a book and then researched them. She still had several volumes filled with her research and a great many with nothing written underneath them. If she hadn't been a healer she'd have been a herbolgist.
“Besides, I thought you-- ah, might like to get out of the city.”
So he was thinking of her? And not in a doctor capacity? A tiny thrill vibrated through Elle as she glanced at Alex. It grew bigger when she saw him pointedly not looking at her. This was a sign. It had to be right? Or maybe not. Even if he wasn't into her the way she was in to him. This thinking of women and their likes was a growing thing. He was maturing. Maybe one day he'll lose his virgin status...
"I think he's found something," She commented, abrading herself for her mundane statement. Who cared that the dog was barking? It was most likely some rabbit or something. Maybe even a gnome. Really original. She was reeling him with her wit.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Oct 13, 2011 19:49:53 GMT -5
"Good. It's much too good to go to waste,"
He sighed, his feet sending up small puffs of dust. The country spread around them, crops waving in the breeze as they emerged from the small wood. It wasn’t necessarily a happy sigh, but it was content. He found it peaceful out here and had wanted to share that peace with someone. And Elle had come to mind most easily. Her job was hard, stressful and annoying. Who else would need some peace?
“Besides, I thought you-- ah, might like to get out of the city.”
"I think he's found something,"
“He’s a dork.” Alex said fondly as the dog rushed off. It wasn’t the most intellectual of conversations but who cared? They passed another pasture, this one with rail fencing, also overgrown. For the first time they were on Estate property. Soon the dirt road turned into a graveled drive as the castle loomed on the crest of the hill.
“Wait until you see the library.” Did she like libraries?
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Post by Elle Callahan on Oct 13, 2011 20:02:56 GMT -5
This was another side of Alex that rarely anyone knew of. Curse most definitely saw it the most. Or maybe Max. It was sweet and very much evident that Alex was not as cold hearted as people claimed. Several of Elle's coworkers knew of her old crush, warned her that this kind of man was not good. Nice to look at but cold to touch. Elle didn't think so. To survive Alex buried his emotions and only now was he coming out of his cocoon, showing glimpses of his true self.
“He’s a dork.”
"Even dorks can be smart and useful," She said playfully in the dog's defense as she went to investigate what it was that the dog had uncovered.
"Ewww it's a turd," Elle said half laughing, as she backed away, drawing the dog with her.
They were near. Unless people had gravel drives in the middle of their corn fields.
“Wait until you see the library.”
Elle flashed Alex a very excited smile. "I take it it's huge? It's been a while since I've read for pleasure. As a child my grandfather would read obscure stories to me. Mostly legends. Not all fit for a young lady," She ended with a wicked grin.
"I get my overbearing demanding attitude from him," and he was just as short as she was to boot.
"Is the library your favorite place?"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Oct 13, 2011 21:26:33 GMT -5
"I take it it's huge? It's been a while since I've read for pleasure. As a child my grandfather would read obscure stories to me. Mostly legends. Not all fit for a young lady," She ended with a wicked grin.
"I get my overbearing demanding attitude from him," and he was just as short as she was to boot.
“Is that where you learned… to make your patients stay in.. the hospital?” He teased, his mouth forming into its habitual smirk. Rasputin raced up the drive, spraying gravel in his wake. A swift turn and the shepherd was barreling back towards them, tongue lolling and tail wagging. Clearly he was enjoying himself, even if his master was more reserved.
"Is the library your favorite place?"
“Yes.” He reached around her to open the door, holding it for Elle and following her inside. Rasp entered almost sedately, nails clicking across the wood. “To the left.” Alex directed, closing the door.
The library was indeed huge. A huge fireplace took pride of place on one wall, and all the walls were covered with bookcases. There were standing shelves forming ranks in both ends of the room, but the middle was open, with windows forming alcoves and a desk and table providing workspace while chairs and a couch huddled cosily before the dead fireplace. And it didn't hold just books.
(I WANT this library.)
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Post by Elle Callahan on Oct 14, 2011 22:42:35 GMT -5
“Is that where you learned… to make your patients stay in.. the hospital?”
A slow smile teased the corners of Elle's lips, a smile of remembrance. Her grandfather had been only small in stature in everything else he was quite over the top but it suited him. Only one volume for a Callahan and that was loud and louder. Most of the time. It was only when he was deadly serious did he ever go quieter and it was all the more effective because of it's rarity.
"Of course, I took his lessons very seriously, see height does not matter when asserting authority or in my case helping people. The smallest of things can do the most damage. You should meet him. His ghost still haunts his favorite pub. Never forgave em for not serving him his last drink before his death," She was only half teasing. There were probably more serious matters as to why her grandfather had become a ghost but he was a friendly one. Sometimes he still thought him self alive, very much so like the old history of magic's professor.
"Is the library your favorite place?"
“Yes.” Ahh they had something in common. Elle smiled sweetly at Alex as he held the door open for her. Manners, check. At least he knew some things. Maybe he was more aware of girls than anyone previously thought. He was not unattractive, many women were caught by his quite charm. Brooding was nice, sometimes.
The entrance hall was a bit dusty, outdated and rather hallow but it was still a very pretty place. Perhaps too pretty. It was like living in a museum. Elle was afraid of touching anything for fear of breaking some priceless artifact. There was a haunting quality about the house, something that called out it her. This was not a home. Had Alex grew up here in this cool place? It wasn't until they were in the library that she found warmth. A small gasp of awww escaped Elle. Huge was an inadequate word to describe what she was seeing.
"I'm jealous. If this were mine I'd never leave. How far back does the collection go?" She asked as she meandered over to a shelf filled with old books. A few shelves contained magical artifacts, pieces of old cultures, wands, etc.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Oct 15, 2011 15:39:00 GMT -5
"I'm jealous. If this were mine I'd never leave. How far back does the collection go?"
“Probably as far as the Kamerens.” Alex shrugged, straightening a shelf. He’d just finished cleaning and dusting, that had taken a full week. Just cleaning the chimney had taken nearly a day, and everything on a shelf had needed to be taken down and dusted. More than a decade’s worth of abandonment had left everything static, with nothing to do but acquire dust.
“There are hundreds, maybe thousands of books here. It would take forever to go through them all.” Alex moved to a glass case, closing it before Rasp’s curious nose could intrude on the contents. The big dog gave a whuff, meandering over to lean against Elle. He sat at her side, leaning on her leg and wagging his tail lazily. He was an energetic dog, but he was housetrained and knew better than to tear around indoors.
“I try and t-tell myself that its ok to have good memories of this place.” It was something about sharing this place that he’d worked so hard to avoid, something that made words he never considered saying to anyone spill out. What was wrong with him? It was getting harder to maintain his distance from the world. Alex tapped his fingers on the glass, watching some Kameren matron march into the painting of another and start berating the woman. It was all silent, of course, one of the first spells he had cast when he started working here, unable to stand the clatter of voices.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Oct 15, 2011 16:25:54 GMT -5
"I'm jealous. If this were mine I'd never leave. How far back does the collection go?"
“Probably as far as the Kamerens.”
That wasn't an answer not really. It didn't give her a date. The Kamerens could be minutes or thousands of years old. How was she to know the exact date they spilled out of the womb and into society? Elle stared at Alex one eyebrow arched to show how amused she was by his answer and then she went back to looking around.
“There are hundreds, maybe thousands of books here. It would take forever to go through them all.”
"So stop wasting valuable time," She said with an arched smile as she began to scan the books searching thru the titles. She paused in examination as Rasp leaned against her.
"Ahhh you are a cutie," She said softly as she scratched his ears.
“I try and t-tell myself that its ok to have good memories of this place.”
Elle paused in mid scratch, glancing up at Alex. What could she say to that, something that wouldn't scare him.
" It is okay, but how's that working for you?" She asked softly. No matter how hard you try and convince yourself of a truth didn't mean you believed it.
Elle glanced at Alex her heart catching on the view of his profile. She wondered if he knew how lovely he truly was. Not just on the outside either. Would this complicated man ever see her the way she saw him? Quickly Elle glanced away afraid that even a man that was socially inept would see her heart floating in her eyes. It was as she looked away that her attention was caught by a trinket on a shelf. It reminded Elle about the gift she had received at the hospital. Since it hadn't come from her coworkers or a thankful patient she had assumed it had been from Alex, or rather from Cain on behalf of Alex.
"I meant to thank you for the Flowers after the ball and the little sculptor was sweet. Cain has excellent taste,"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Oct 23, 2011 23:18:40 GMT -5
"Ahhh you are a cutie," She said softly as she scratched his ears.
“You and… Cain both spoil him.” Alex said, moving along an aisle and straightening up the shelves. Rasputin showed his utter approval of this type of treatment by closing his eyes and wagging his tail in doggy bliss. Alex hid his amusement by straightening a pile of books, standing them up properly on the shelf. Perhaps this hadn’t been the best idea. He was already out of conversational topics, unless they were to talk about the dog. And honestly, he couldn’t think of anything much to say. Rasputin is a incorrigible suck-up,maybe, or He got into a fight with a doxie last week and it bit him on the nose.
Conversation was overrated. He paused, long fingers tracing the spine of a heavy green book. He didn’t want to talk about this… why had he brought it up? This place was his own personal shame, the looming shadow that had shaped his life, his hatreds and likes. He remained silent on the subject.
"I meant to thank you for the Flowers after the ball and the little sculptor was sweet. Cain has excellent taste,"
“Cain… what?” Sculpture? He frowned, turning to face Elle again. “What sculpture? Cain promised he wouldn’t… “ Cain had seemed unusually enthusiastic about Alex and Elle’s interactions and had done everything but hire a band, carriage and parade to ensure the evening went well. Alex, recognizing his friend on one of his projects, had wrung the promise to behave out of the enthusiastic cursebreaker. “Besides, he’s been eyebrow-deep in his latest project with Echo.”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Nov 21, 2011 20:51:17 GMT -5
“You and… Cain both spoil him.”
Elle arched an eyebrow at Alex, "And you don't?" She teased, her voice laced with humor and disbelief. The man was a softie and might as well give up trying to fool her. It was evident that beneath his gruff exterior he loved his animal.
Silence stretched between them. At first it was awkward, and Alex looked like he was about to say something but he turned to straighten another stack of books. Would things always be like this between them? One minute they were chatting and the next nothing. Elle didn't mind not saying something, silence could be nice, what she minded was when nothing was said when something needed to be said.
Elle glanced away from Alex and paid attention to Rasp.
"I meant to thank you for the Flowers after the ball and the little sculptor was sweet. Cain has excellent taste,"
“Cain… what?”
His surprise shocked her at first, and Elle searched his face. The man had no idea what she had referred to. Not a clue. She should have known they hadn't come from him. No matter the needling from Cain....then his words about Cain's distraction sent a fission of worry down her spine. If it hadn't been Cain then who? The gifts had been personal, tailored to her and no one she knew had sent them to her.
"Oh, I wonder who they could be from then...there was no note," Elle hugged herself as a thought entered her head. What if someone she didn't know left them? She had thought she'd been followed...
"I know this might be silly and you hadn't any evidence that someone had been following me....but could you take a look at them? I mean...if they aren't from Cain...or someone else I know...they could be from... I dunno the person who I thought was following me?"
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