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Post by Elle Callahan on Nov 25, 2011 1:26:28 GMT -5
The noon hour was a busy time for many. The one time where the working class had a second to relax, replenish strength and ready themselves for the last half of the work day. It was a scared time. At the start of the hour it was a madhouse in the entry hall of the Ministry. Hundreds of people were rushing out eager to be finished with the ministry, others were mad with hunger and had only scant minutes to appease it. Either way it was a dodgy time with frayed tempers in abundance. A bright smile never wavered on Elle Callahan's face as she waited patiently in line to check in. Nothing would destroy her happiness. The night before Alex Kameren told her that he loved her and agreed to marry her. She was also carrying his child. Everything seemed like a dream and several times Elle thought she'd wake up to find out that it was not 2024 but actually 2021, she had yet to take her finales to become a full fledged healer and she never dated Alex Kameren. But it was reality. She was now engaged to the man she had loved for several years. Merlin she'd dreamed of marrying him as a teenager. Pictured him as the groom when she plotted her dream wedding. At the time it had been only girlish fantasy. She hadn't thought it possible. Not with stoic Alex Kameren. Merlin, a few years ago he hadn't even known what the difference between a man and a woman was. Not really. Nor had he cared.
One man though had faith, constantly pushing Alex. Cain had been a good friend for them both and Elle had faced the crowd to thank him in person. Once passed the wand check in, Elle snatched her badge, pinned it on her chest and made her way to the department of law enforcement. It was not difficult for her to find where Cain was stationed, she'd been there before. Elle treated many of the aurors and more than once had been called in to hone her skills after a raid.
Elle grinned as she spotted Cain's name beside a door. She knocked then let herself inside, holding flowers in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other.
"I come bearing gifts, Master of love," She said with a teasing smile. "And gratitude."
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Post by Cain on Nov 26, 2011 23:49:41 GMT -5
Cain didn’t have a proper office, and a cubicle would not be safe in his line of work. He wasn’t a paper-pusher or a junior auror. He was a cursebreaker, and he required almost a lab for his work. He was writing, his ballpoint scratching deep lines into the unlined notepaper. Counters ran around the room, crowded with different artifacts and objects both mundane and arcane.
"I come bearing gifts, Master of love," She said with a teasing smile. "And gratitude."
He scribbled another line then pressed a button. A white-silver bubble formed around the object he was studying, protecting those around it as he turned to greet his guest. A grin tugged at his mouth, his eyes were creased with mirth. He was more solemn, more serious than he had been. But eventually, slowly, surely, he was bouncing back with his old mirth.
“Elle!” He came with wide arms to greet the healer with warmth. Pulling back from the embrace, he held her shoulders and looked her over. “Well, don’t you look all glowing with happiness. What happened?”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Nov 27, 2011 0:03:41 GMT -5
The first thing Elle did after she announced her presence was to study Cain. Avidly she gazed at him as he protected the object he was working on so intently. The healer in her couldn't help but wonder if he was sleeping any better, eating. Her fears though were brushed aside as he turned to her and smiled. It reached his eyes. That was something that hadn't happened in a long time. Progress. Elle's beam widened.
Elle hugged him, careful not to crush the flowers or food she clutched. She wiggled her eyebrows when Cain asked her what had happened.
re
"Something truly marvelous has happened. I can hardly comprehend it myself. It's like I'm in a waking dream..." She paused, "Sorry, I'm very verbose today. Alex and I are engaged to be married. I really do have you to thank. If you hadn't pushed him, challenged him I'd doubt we'd be having this conversation," She said her voice becoming a little strained as a lump formed in her throat.
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Post by Cain on Nov 30, 2011 0:30:58 GMT -5
"Something truly marvelous has happened. I can hardly comprehend it myself. It's like I'm in a waking dream..." She paused, "Sorry, I'm very verbose today. Alex and I are engaged to be married. I really do have you to thank. If you hadn't pushed him, challenged him I'd doubt we'd be having this conversation," She said her voice becoming a little strained as a lump formed in her throat.
Cain plucked the food and flowers from Elle’s hands, placing them gingerly down in a clear spot. His smile was wider than before as he beckoned a stool over, it scraped across the floor to stop by Elle’s side. “Sit, and tell me!” He commanded, pulling up his own stool.
He brushed his dark gold hair out of his eyes. Although it was streaked with white, it no longer resembled grey straw. Years had passed and he’d regained his color, the life energy the Stone had stolen from him. Cain’s head tilted as perceptive eyes trained themselves on his friend, soon to be his sister. “Something bothers you, though.” He left the statement open, not yet a question.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Dec 5, 2011 0:02:33 GMT -5
The fact that independent Elle was commanded to do something was lost in the excitement. She quickly took her seat, a large smile still on her face. Years of dreaming had finally come true and this man before her had played a part. He emboldened her and Alex. Really, she wasn't entirely sure how far his part actually went. He was Alex's best friend next to his brother. He'd known Alex the longest, the closest.
Sit, and tell me!”
"It happened yesterday. Cain, I nearly blew it. I asked him to marry me in the morning, very causal like, it just spilled out of me. No emotion really...before he answered...I was saved by an owl from work. Coward that I am I dashed off without his response. Nearly didn't return last night but I did and when I got home he purposed. Got down on one knee. Alex Kameren got down on a knee, told me he loved me. I...never ...I hoped but i never did think I'd hear those words, or be the last to say them," She said with a grin and a shake of her head.
Then she quieted, her thoughts turning inward. Yes, she as marrying Alex, but if she told him that she said yes after she knew she was with child would he doubt her love? Think that she said yes so they did not bring a bastard into the world?
“Something bothers you, though.”
A sardonic smile tugged at her lips. The ever knowing Cain. Should she tell him? He did give good advice...
"I'm worried about something, not sure how to handle it really... Ugh, I might as well tell you. I'm pregnant."
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Post by Cain on Jan 22, 2012 0:29:21 GMT -5
Cain’s grin only grew as she spilled out her tale. Alex got down on his knee? He laughed, finding it hard to believe, even at the same time he found no trouble believing it. He knew Alex better than anyone, perhaps even than Curse. Alex and Curse shared blood, but Cain had known him longer. He had even known him briefly before the failure of his belief in his father. Cain knew of Alex’s struggles in school, of his withdrawal and refusal to fully trust even the family that took him in.
“That’s great. I can’t wait for the wedding. When is it?” But instead she rushed on, eager to rid herself of the words. He leaned back on the stool, his grin fading and becoming more contemplative. His brow furrowed.
"I'm worried about something, not sure how to handle it really... Ugh, I might as well tell you. I'm pregnant."
“Ugh?” He asked cautiously. Was she saying she didn’t want the baby? “You sound like that’s a hardship.” He cautiously probed.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jan 22, 2012 22:57:49 GMT -5
A blush spread like fire on Elle's face. She really was doing a stupendous job explaining her feelings. Ugh? Was she insane? Probably. Actually more than a few people thought she was a bit crazy and news of her impending nuptials probably would just solidify that impression. She was after all marrying the ice man. More than a few people had wondered if he was gay, or asexual. Even Elle once thought that he might be unable to tap face certain emotions, but that had been a long time ago. Now she had proof that Alex Kameren was a normal human being with urges.
“Ugh?” He asked cautiously. Was she saying she didn’t want the baby? “You sound like that’s a hardship.”
"It isn't!" She exclaimed as she jumped up no longer able to keep still.
"There is just so much going on. Marriage and now a baby? What if he get's overwhelmed and emotionally shuts down? Or what if we won't be good parents? Not that i don't think Alex will be anything like his father, but he does work a lot. Then again so do I. I'm talking to much aren't I?" She said sheepishly, stopping in mid stride.
"How do I tell him? He might think I proposed or only agree to marry him because of the baby and then he might question this...."
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Post by Cain on Feb 12, 2012 17:45:51 GMT -5
“I see… “ Cain said slowly, eyes narrowing as he thought. It was a legitimate concern on her part, and she didn’t know Alex as he did. Sometimes Cain surprised himself with how well he knew his friend. He thought it might well just surprise Alex. The silence stretched on for long moments before the Cursebreaker spoke.
“Even now, you two don’t know each other.” He shifted a few items, the movement helping his thoughts organize. “I doubt Alex knows it himself, at least, explicitly. After I brought him home, he held himself apart, but he was glad to be with us all the same. I don’t think he ever really admitted it to himself, but one thing he’s always been searching for is a family. Someone to be there, someone he could be there for.
“Alex hides a lot of himself, and not just from others, from himself as well.” He looked Elle in the eyes. “You know that as well as anyone.” Cain let the words and meaning speak for themselves in the small silence that followed.
“I think that’s why he and Curse formed such a close bond, even when they struggled to make sense of their relation. Curse had the upper hand there, he had been raised by a family, he had foster parents who he loved and who loved him. He had a basis, Alex got thrown into the mix with no real idea how family worked, just a few happy memories and all the teachings of his pureblood childhood.” Cain chuckled a little, he’d had a pureblood’s education as well, even if a little less fanatical.
“I could go on, but really all that matters is that you two are engaged, and you’re carrying his child.” Cain stopped, letting her draw the necessary conclusion.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Feb 20, 2012 14:43:25 GMT -5
She was being foolish and a worrywart. It couldn't be helped. This was all happening so fast. Slowly, the panic that had nearly taken over her body was forced down. Mutiny over. Cain was right. There was much to learn about each other but they had a life time to do it.
“Alex hides a lot of himself, and not just from others, from himself as well.” He looked Elle in the eyes. “You know that as well as anyone.”
Perhaps she knew that more than most. It had taken an attack by a crazy nutjob to get Alex to admit that he had feelings for her. Alright, it took the same event for her to have the courage to show him how much she had actually cared. Even then there was a distance between them. Hell they hadn't even talked about their relationship until they proposed to each other. They were both chicken.
“I could go on, but really all that matters is that you two are engaged, and you’re carrying his child.”
Elle smiled, giving Cain a quick hug.
"Thank you. You're right of course. He'll be happy, shocked, terrified and more than a little scared but it's our family and we never do anything easy," She said grinning. She wouldn't want it any other way.
"Hmmm i think I'll tell him now. At work. Just to annoy him. You've been a great help, you're first official act as Godfather," She said with another hug before pulling away.
"I should let you get back to work..."
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Post by Alex Kameren on Feb 25, 2012 2:54:00 GMT -5
"Great, just great." Alex enthused, not-so-subtle sarcasm dripping from his words to crash and burn against the not-impressed-whatsoever-Kameren look his partner was giving him. He leaned back in his chair in exasperation. Theodore was so bloody stubborn! The older man was as easy to persuade onto a separate path as a mule being led into a burning building. That is, impossible.
Theodore was leaning back in his own chair, his expression making clear he found Alex's efforts amusing, and that he was enjoying watching his frustration. Sometimes people needed to be taken down a peg, his young partner definitely included. He chuckled a little, unrelenting in his stance on the matter.
"Its not my turn, and you know it." He drawled, watching with interest as Alex turned pale, then purple, and even a vague green, by degrees. Just then a knock at their shared office door distracted the both of them, Alex from his red-faced apoplectic contemplations of which rock to bury Theodore under, and Theodore from his amused study of this fact.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Mar 24, 2012 18:55:12 GMT -5
"I should let you get back to work..."
One last wave and she was gone leaving the sandwich and flowers behind to brighten the room. Elle dashed through the halls of Magical law enforcement, making her way to Alex's little cubby hole. She paused a couple of times to exchange quick greetings but she was on a mission and no one was going to stop her. Hopefully. If she came across a ghastly wound she'd be honor bound to help. Luckily she made it to the shared office without being waylaid. Sharply, she rapped on the door, hearing grumbling voices coming from inside. Good they were home. Without bothering for approval, Elle opened the door and glided in. Brown eyes glanced between the two men, assessing. Alex was looking like a molted Christmas tree, obviously upset about something. Theodore was smirking and wallowing in pleasure. Yes, he certainly looked like a cat who had eaten both cream and a canary.
"Torturing my fiance are we, Theodore?" Elle teased in greeting. Fiance. A tiny thrill traveled down her spine and she grinned at the idea. She would not grow tired of saying that.
"Please don't drive him insane before the wedding."
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Post by Cain on Apr 28, 2012 23:40:15 GMT -5
Cain hummed, his pen scratching sharp curves into the notepad. He was close to discovering the neutralizer for this particular curse. It was a knotted one, a complicated curse that involved a nasty potion, several modified jinxes, a hex, three charms and a rune that seemed to involve fire. He wasn’t quite sure, it was a little obscured and not quite… correct. He needed to have Ari take a look at it…
He lifted a slender wand of beech and drew a sign over the silver dome. Not a true wizard’s wand, it was only a tool in his workings. A gentle depression of the button and the dome disappeared, showing the object he was working on. It had started pulsing slowly, he noted. So far, so good. He shaped another sign, this one not so elaborate, but his mind was not as focused as it should be. The pulsing sped up, accompanied by a flashing light. In less than seconds, an explosion rocked the lab. Fire burst into being, roaring along the counter. Cain hit the counter in the center of the room, sliding along it before dropping to the floor, dazed and nearly unconscious.
--
"Torturing my fiance are we, Theodore?" Elle teased in greeting. Fiance. A tiny thrill traveled down her spine and she grinned at the idea. She would not grow tired of saying that.
"Please don't drive him insane before the wedding."
Alex’s mood lifted at the sight of Elle, but at a choked sound from Theodore directed his gaze at his partner. He was about to say something sharp as a sharp, reverberating boom rocked the offices. Both aurors were up in a flash, Alex taking a moment to gently move Elle out of the way by the fastest method possible: Simply lifting the healer and setting her to the side. He knew she would follow them. An explosion like that would likely have casualties. Theodore disappeared out the door and Alex was close on his heels.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Apr 28, 2012 23:58:46 GMT -5
The dependable, stout Thedore was gaping like a fish and struggling to breath. Strange chocking sounds gurgled out of his throat. A giggle escaped Elle as she watched the nonverbal exchange. Alex had turned to his partner, eyeing him as if he had suddenly turned into a muggle.
Then all hell broke lose. Elle jumped at the explosion, her head whipping towards the direction. What the hell was that? Smoke. She smell smoke. Fire. Burning. Injuries. Shit , shit shit. Elle was pulling out her wand, about to conjure bandages and water when strong hands clamped down around her and she was in the air.
"WHHHa, ALEX!" She managed to cry out as he moved her out of the doorway. Her eyes narrowed at him. Oh he would pay later for his callous treatment of her. Just because he was big bad auror and a foot or so taller than her did not give him the right to set her aside. A healer was needed more than another badge. Shoving aside her pique, Elle dashed after the aurors and into the mess.
Elle sprinted down the hall, avoiding the people who were still shocked. Things like this did not happen inside of the auror office. Despite his superior height, Elle managed to catch up to Alex. She was after all much lighter than he was, and had cleaner air closer to the ground. By now, fear was rolling inside of Elle's stomach. She had a bad feeling that what ever had happened had come from Cain's offices. Shit.
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Post by Alex Kameren on May 5, 2012 20:00:16 GMT -5
“Ss-stop the fire!”
Someone shouted, coughing in the heavy green and purple smoke. Black sparks jumped and cracked in the room, leaping from fire to smoke and back. The fire itself was an unnatural blue-streaked black as it consumed the magical and cursed objects in the room. The fire was not natural, and posed a danger to both the occupant of the room and the responding aurors. Three aurors, the first on the scene, already had their wands out and casting shielding and neutralizing spells. Theodore joined them as Alex held out his arm to block Elle’s path.
“Wait!” It was too dangerous to enter the room. The smoke and fire posed a serious risk by themselves, but with the addition of the spells and curses that had to be unleashed by the flame…
“Stay here!” He ran forward to add fire suppressant spells to the battle, removing oxygen from the shielded portions of the room, slowly they worked their way around, until finally smoke and char was the only remaining indicator of the destructive explosion. Alex ran into the room, Theodore’s shield around Cain flickering out as he reached his friend. The two didn’t take time to conjure a stretcher, instead carrying the injured Cursebreaker from the room by hand before the rest of the aurors contained the entire space in a strong shielding spell.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jun 8, 2012 21:23:01 GMT -5
Lady Fate had struck again. Of course she couldn't let everything be all jolly good. There had to be balance in the world. New life created, an old one taken. It just wasn't fair that both the new and the old life were connected. A nervous energy rushed through Elle as she followed after Alex. It became obvious that the magical fire had started in Cain's office. Merlin, it was a death trap with all of those magical objects. What had Cain been thinking? Well he hadn't and now he'd gone and blown himself up on one of the happiest days of her life. If he died she'd never forgive him because now Alex would feel even more uncomfortable with a wedding...Merlin she was selfish for thinking about such a thing when he could be dying.
“Stay here!”
"Like Hell," Elle blurted out, ready to dash after her love. Then she stopped. If it had just been her that would have been harmed by her rash action she'd have barged into the room without a qualm. That wasn't the case though. She was pregnant. It wouldn't just be her that could get hurt. So Elle restrained herself and waited impatiently.
Finally, Alex and Theo emerged carrying a battered Cain. Elle bit her lip in an effort to keep her emotion inside. She had to put it all aside. Focus on the patient. Having conjured a stretcher while she waited, Elle floated it towards the rescuers.
"Place him on it," She said briskly, "we'll move him down the hall a few yards. DO you know what exploded?"
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