Post by Rowena Jones on Mar 7, 2020 10:23:37 GMT -5
Rowena fiddled with her fork as he talked. She’d tried. Honestly, she had. Her hair was brushed and twisted up into a bun, soft tendrils escaping to frame her face in delicate curls. She’d picked a deep green woolen dress that fitted the curves of her body flatteringly and she’d even swiped on some brown eyeshadow that brought out the golden hue of her eyes. She’d smiled gracefully as he’d pulled out a chair for her and laughed at his attempt to break the awkwardness of a first date. She was putting herself out there, moving on with her life and all that other bullshit people kept telling her she was supposed to do.
The only problem was, it felt all wrong. Chocolate brown hair was immaculately styled to accentuate a sharp jawline and his eyes were soft and grey. Innocent eyes, she’d noted, ones that hadn’t been hardened by pain and disappointment. Once upon a time, Rowena would have said he was exactly her type. Smart, well-educated, proud of his appearance and accomplishments, self-assured. Merlin… was she trying to date a male version of her past self? A small chuckle escaped her before she could stop it and the talking paused.
“Rowena?”
Fuck. He’d been talking about his work with orphans of War, not exactly a laughing matter… She should be paying attention. He wasn’t a bad man. Indeed, he might even be one of the better ones she’d encountered. They’d first met a fundraiser she’d organized for Mungos. Somehow, miraculously, she’d kept the place afloat and functioning. It wasn’t a long-term solution by any means, but it turned out that the Wizarding public felt very strongly about the hospital and through various means she’d managed to secure enough funds for a couple of years. Enough time for her to find a more permanent solution.
Her date, Thomas Charles Kingston, was a man with a lot of money and a big heart. His fortune came from his non magical side, a Muggle father who’d invented some sort of app. He’d been one of the first to offer help when she’d gone public with the truth about Mungos finances. They’d barely interacted, just a thank you and a shake of hands, but since that moment, a few months ago, he’d kept popping up.
Their eyes had met as he’d been talking to a senior board member while she walked to her office. Then they’d had a meeting about a humanitarian effort in the Middle East. The next time she’d found him with a Healer after he’d unknowingly ingested a poisonous plant on one of his expeditions.
And then finally, only a couple of weeks ago, he’d been the Board’s chosen spokesperson to unveil the recently upgraded ward, a ward that had been subject to the Shadowloved’s attack. He’d found her after the ceremony, gazing at the plaque that shone brightly behind the nurse’s station. He hadn’t said anything, but he’d passed her a tissue to wipe the tears that had slipped silently down her cheeks as she read the words engraved upon it.
He’d left her without saying a word, but when he’d sent her an owl asking to take her to dinner, she remembered the kind gesture and accepted the invitation… with a little encouragement from a glass (or two) of wine and a nudge from Eoin.
“I’m sorry,” she said truthfully returning her attention to him. Rowena sighed, “Thomas… I’m not good at th-“
“Call me Tom,” he interrupted, “As I was saying, the Ministry have agreed to assist me in the endeavor. There might even be an Order of Merlin in it for me if I play my cards right… ”
Rowena hid her annoyance behind a soft nod as she picked up her fork and took another bite of her meal while he continued to regale her with tales of his recent exploits. The food was cold and she thought it rather fitting. It felt as if everything in her life lately had lost its warmth. At almost 30, she was not where she’d thought she’d be. It didn’t really feel like her life at all, more that she was floating through the motions expected of her. Managing a hospital but unable to treat anyone or even continue the research that she’d once considered her life’s work. Dating but knowing deep down there was only one person who could make her heart skip a beat.
“Have you finished eating?” Tom asked when he’d finished his story. Rowena nodded pushing the cold plate away. Perhaps dessert would make the day end a little better. She’d been eyeing those little chocolate tarts in the display counter since they’d arrived.
“Ok, let’s go then.”
Rowena had half a mind to call it there and then, tell him to leave without her so that she could enjoy that indulgent pastry in peace… but so far, she’d manage to avoid any attention and she really didn’t want to make a scene. Tom was already holding out her coat for her to step into, so she once again bit her tongue and diligently followed him out into the cool evening air. He wasn’t a bad man, she reminded herself as he took her hand.
A small movement caught her eye and she turned, frowning. Was that…? She shook her head, before returning her attention to her date. She didn’t have to look up at him, they were of similar height… wrong her heart screamed at her.
“Where are we going?” she asked. Max wasn’t an option anymore. She had to stop comparing everyone to him.
“Just around this corner…”
Before she had time to process what was happening, he was spinning her into him, pulling her close and kissing her. A bright flash and then excitable voices had her anger rising and her skin sparked as her magic reacted to her emotions.
She pushed away, even as the air crackled and several people yelped before rushing away.
“What the fuck?!” she asked Thomas, not even waiting for an answer as she whirled around to berate the reporter she knew she’d find. But they were already turning around the corner and Rowena groaned. The photos would be everywhere the next day. She had thought, she’d hoped that part of her life was over. Waking up and seeing her face staring back at her, reading things about her life that she’d wanted buried and gone. Watching her relationship be built up into something that it couldn’t possibly measure up to be and the subsequent fall out of that overwhelming pressure.
“This is over.” She said, her golden gaze flashing in fury as she turned back to her date.
“Oh come on Rowena, it’s just a bit of free publicity!”
Rowena scowled, taking another step back. “I don’t want it. And I don’t appreciate you using me to further your own goals.” She said angrily.
“My goals?” Tom sputtered. “I’m talking about the hospital. Think of the team we make. Rowena Jones, Light Against the Shadows, Hero of the Shadow Wars and me, Philanthropist, Saviour of the Forgotten, Dashing Explorer. People would throw money at us; you wouldn’t have to worry about Mungos. It’s the perfect solution.”
Rowena bit her tongue so hard she could taste the coppery tang of blood as she swallowed down her furious retort. By mentioning Mungos, he’d effectively reminded her that as much as she currently hated it, she couldn’t afford to lose his support.
“Don’t insult me by insinuating that this is of no benefit to you Thomas,” she said finally.
“I apologise. I wouldn’t dream of insulting your intelligence sweetheart. It would, of course, be helpful in getting certain people’s attention, but it’s all for the greater good. Think of the orphans, the people we could save.”
Merlin, what she wouldn’t give for a large glass of wine, a book and her cats right now. Anything that would get her out of this ridiculous, awful situation. Did he not hear what he was saying? How utterly condescending and boringly practical he sounded? What a mess. One more to add to the car crash she currently called her life.
“The orphans. Of course.” Rowena replied dimly. “Yes, well, either way, I think I need to go home now. That was more than enough excitement for one evening.”
“Understandable. I’ll owl you. There’s a Ministry Benefit coming up. You'll come with me.”
And once again, before she had a chance to process, he’d leaned forward and pressed his lips to her cheek. It took all her resolve not to hex him right there, but instead Rowena spun on her heel and returned back the way she came.
She definitely needed some chocolate now.
The only problem was, it felt all wrong. Chocolate brown hair was immaculately styled to accentuate a sharp jawline and his eyes were soft and grey. Innocent eyes, she’d noted, ones that hadn’t been hardened by pain and disappointment. Once upon a time, Rowena would have said he was exactly her type. Smart, well-educated, proud of his appearance and accomplishments, self-assured. Merlin… was she trying to date a male version of her past self? A small chuckle escaped her before she could stop it and the talking paused.
“Rowena?”
Fuck. He’d been talking about his work with orphans of War, not exactly a laughing matter… She should be paying attention. He wasn’t a bad man. Indeed, he might even be one of the better ones she’d encountered. They’d first met a fundraiser she’d organized for Mungos. Somehow, miraculously, she’d kept the place afloat and functioning. It wasn’t a long-term solution by any means, but it turned out that the Wizarding public felt very strongly about the hospital and through various means she’d managed to secure enough funds for a couple of years. Enough time for her to find a more permanent solution.
Her date, Thomas Charles Kingston, was a man with a lot of money and a big heart. His fortune came from his non magical side, a Muggle father who’d invented some sort of app. He’d been one of the first to offer help when she’d gone public with the truth about Mungos finances. They’d barely interacted, just a thank you and a shake of hands, but since that moment, a few months ago, he’d kept popping up.
Their eyes had met as he’d been talking to a senior board member while she walked to her office. Then they’d had a meeting about a humanitarian effort in the Middle East. The next time she’d found him with a Healer after he’d unknowingly ingested a poisonous plant on one of his expeditions.
And then finally, only a couple of weeks ago, he’d been the Board’s chosen spokesperson to unveil the recently upgraded ward, a ward that had been subject to the Shadowloved’s attack. He’d found her after the ceremony, gazing at the plaque that shone brightly behind the nurse’s station. He hadn’t said anything, but he’d passed her a tissue to wipe the tears that had slipped silently down her cheeks as she read the words engraved upon it.
In memorium.
Alice Howells, Lucas Brown, Henri DuChamps, Bryn Chauders.
May you always guide us in the Light.
He’d left her without saying a word, but when he’d sent her an owl asking to take her to dinner, she remembered the kind gesture and accepted the invitation… with a little encouragement from a glass (or two) of wine and a nudge from Eoin.
“I’m sorry,” she said truthfully returning her attention to him. Rowena sighed, “Thomas… I’m not good at th-“
“Call me Tom,” he interrupted, “As I was saying, the Ministry have agreed to assist me in the endeavor. There might even be an Order of Merlin in it for me if I play my cards right… ”
Rowena hid her annoyance behind a soft nod as she picked up her fork and took another bite of her meal while he continued to regale her with tales of his recent exploits. The food was cold and she thought it rather fitting. It felt as if everything in her life lately had lost its warmth. At almost 30, she was not where she’d thought she’d be. It didn’t really feel like her life at all, more that she was floating through the motions expected of her. Managing a hospital but unable to treat anyone or even continue the research that she’d once considered her life’s work. Dating but knowing deep down there was only one person who could make her heart skip a beat.
“Have you finished eating?” Tom asked when he’d finished his story. Rowena nodded pushing the cold plate away. Perhaps dessert would make the day end a little better. She’d been eyeing those little chocolate tarts in the display counter since they’d arrived.
“Ok, let’s go then.”
Rowena had half a mind to call it there and then, tell him to leave without her so that she could enjoy that indulgent pastry in peace… but so far, she’d manage to avoid any attention and she really didn’t want to make a scene. Tom was already holding out her coat for her to step into, so she once again bit her tongue and diligently followed him out into the cool evening air. He wasn’t a bad man, she reminded herself as he took her hand.
A small movement caught her eye and she turned, frowning. Was that…? She shook her head, before returning her attention to her date. She didn’t have to look up at him, they were of similar height… wrong her heart screamed at her.
“Where are we going?” she asked. Max wasn’t an option anymore. She had to stop comparing everyone to him.
“Just around this corner…”
Before she had time to process what was happening, he was spinning her into him, pulling her close and kissing her. A bright flash and then excitable voices had her anger rising and her skin sparked as her magic reacted to her emotions.
She pushed away, even as the air crackled and several people yelped before rushing away.
“What the fuck?!” she asked Thomas, not even waiting for an answer as she whirled around to berate the reporter she knew she’d find. But they were already turning around the corner and Rowena groaned. The photos would be everywhere the next day. She had thought, she’d hoped that part of her life was over. Waking up and seeing her face staring back at her, reading things about her life that she’d wanted buried and gone. Watching her relationship be built up into something that it couldn’t possibly measure up to be and the subsequent fall out of that overwhelming pressure.
“This is over.” She said, her golden gaze flashing in fury as she turned back to her date.
“Oh come on Rowena, it’s just a bit of free publicity!”
Rowena scowled, taking another step back. “I don’t want it. And I don’t appreciate you using me to further your own goals.” She said angrily.
“My goals?” Tom sputtered. “I’m talking about the hospital. Think of the team we make. Rowena Jones, Light Against the Shadows, Hero of the Shadow Wars and me, Philanthropist, Saviour of the Forgotten, Dashing Explorer. People would throw money at us; you wouldn’t have to worry about Mungos. It’s the perfect solution.”
Rowena bit her tongue so hard she could taste the coppery tang of blood as she swallowed down her furious retort. By mentioning Mungos, he’d effectively reminded her that as much as she currently hated it, she couldn’t afford to lose his support.
“Don’t insult me by insinuating that this is of no benefit to you Thomas,” she said finally.
“I apologise. I wouldn’t dream of insulting your intelligence sweetheart. It would, of course, be helpful in getting certain people’s attention, but it’s all for the greater good. Think of the orphans, the people we could save.”
Merlin, what she wouldn’t give for a large glass of wine, a book and her cats right now. Anything that would get her out of this ridiculous, awful situation. Did he not hear what he was saying? How utterly condescending and boringly practical he sounded? What a mess. One more to add to the car crash she currently called her life.
“The orphans. Of course.” Rowena replied dimly. “Yes, well, either way, I think I need to go home now. That was more than enough excitement for one evening.”
“Understandable. I’ll owl you. There’s a Ministry Benefit coming up. You'll come with me.”
And once again, before she had a chance to process, he’d leaned forward and pressed his lips to her cheek. It took all her resolve not to hex him right there, but instead Rowena spun on her heel and returned back the way she came.
She definitely needed some chocolate now.
