Another day (open)

[Alecsander]

Another day, another dollar. The tired voice that trickled into Alex's subconscious was old, worn. Familiar. They didn't have dollars. Two countries, two worlds away... an anachronism that was well worn, lips quirking in a crooked smile. Another sickle. He shot back, amused, fond. Alex covered his face with his hands, sighing. They had been so young. So free, and yet, shackled by their past, their fear. He wished. He wished, that he had known then what he knew now. That they both had known. 

He sighed and picked up the quill again, brushing his thumb over the smear of ink on the parchment, causing it to vanish. He scratched out a line here, a line there. Made notes. Finally, the pile of "to-do" shrank, bowing to his determined pen and focus. Shaking the last parchment to dry, Alex rang the bell by his desk. It was a rare day now when he could shout the way he'd used to, when he could command a room at a moment's notice, bring order into chaos. Or even call into the next room for his aide to come take the reports.

A young man bustled into the room, sweeping up the pile that he'd let pile up for the last week, sorting them with ease and snatching the last parchment from the Head Auror. "Kameren, I know you don't like paperwork but c'mon." he shook his head in fond admonishment. "Anything for the 'pen?"

No. Wait. Yes. Tell Christians and Potter I expect better reporting from them. And I need the results from the vandalism in East District. Alex signed, punctuating his last words with an annoyed look and a sigh. Two of his best aurors, and they couldn't let go of a petty grudge long enough to report more than the bare-bones of their investigations. At least they were no longer actively antagonistic. The young man nodded, shifting his burden to swipe for Alex's coffee cup, sniffing suspiciously at its rim before giving him a razor smile. 

"Unusual for you to be so reserved about that pair," he returned in response to Alex's lifted brow. "Just checking." He skipped lightly out of the way of a half-hearted throw Alex aimed his way. "Just making sure you're not on the juice," he shot back, gaining the safety of the door and exiting with a grin. 

Your nephew, Alex growled, pointing accusingly at the ghost who floated lazily in the corner.

[Elle Callahan]

The auror’s bull pen was a hive of activity. Paper owls were darting around like flies on a pig in summer. Victims were wailing. Potter was complaining. An informant was declaring how unfair things were as he was hauled off to Merlin’s knew where. Elle just paused for a minute taking it all in. It was amusing watching how everything paused for a minute as the smell of baked goods wafted into the chaos. It was like a freezing spell had been uttered. For just a moment everything stood still and then suddenly everyone was looking at her.


“Greetings warriors, anyone want a pastry?” Elle offered with a cheerful smile. She had learned early on that food would make it easier for her to gain entry into the head auror’s office. A few would put up a bit of a fight as they mumbled half hearted questions around mouthfuls of sausage rolls. Elle would play along as she made her way through the pen and upstairs to Alex’s office. She’d decided to take her lunch break away from Hogwarts and surprise Alex. She doubted he had eaten anything and it was more an early dinner than Lunch but it didn’t matter. She squared her shoulders, determined to make him take a break. They’d both been busy. It seemed like forever since she’d seen him and she really only just needed a moment.


His assistant wasn’t at the desk, so Elle put his bribe on his desk and headed towards Alex’s open door. She grinned when she heard the assistant tease Alex as he headed out the door.


“Just making sure you’re not on the juice,”


“Is hell frozen over?” Elle said as she smiled at the young assistant, slipping past him.


“Alex Darling are you confusing your people with niceness again? I hear politeness is catching,” She teased. She held up a bag of food.


“Can I tempt you to eat with me for 15 minutes?” She said biting her lip. She hoped he would say yes. His assistant seemed to be in a good mood and had left with a stack of papers so maybe Alex could take a break. Or maybe this was a bad idea and she should wait for a better moment. But there hadn’t been any real moments in a while and she didn’t want to wait. What if there weren’t as many moments left?

[Alecsander]

“Alex Darling are you confusing your people with niceness again? I hear politeness is catching,” She teased. She held up a bag of food.

"Fine." Alex glowered as Cain laughed, rolling into a silver ball and disappearing into the wall in a flash of light. i just didn't ask for Potter's head on a pike, his lips quirked in an amused smirk. He got up, moving stiffly as the blood flowed back into his muscles. How long had he been sitting in one spot? His movements became easier as he came around the large desk and bent to brush a kiss across her upturned cheek. He inhaled deeply, a spark of hunger igniting in his stomach. He eyed the bag with mock suspicion.

"Y-youu, didn't? he teased, eyes amused.

“Can I tempt you to eat with me for 15 minutes?”

Depends. Did you? he countered, dodging her smack with a chuckle.

[Elle Callahan]

Elle grinned as Cain disappeared his laughter floating in the air. She liked the ghost but was glad he left them alone for a bit. Elle wasn’t sure if she could do this with an audience.


“I just didn’t ask for Potter’s head on a pike,”


“Pitty, you should redecorate your office. Spiked heads are all the rage,” Elle said in mock seriousness. Her heart flipped a beat at Alex’s smirk. Just a twitch of his lips made her feel all loopy. She couldn’t help but smile. He seemed to be in a good mood. Even if he was a bit sore. Elle watched as he got out of his chair stiffy. He really should move more. He was likely at his desk for hours so focused that he didn’t he twitch. Maybe she should give him a reminder clock that threatened him if he didn’t stand up at least once an hour. But not today.


She leaned into his chaste kiss, wishing for more but knew it wouldn’t happen here.


“Depends did you?”


“Did I what?” She asked innocently. “Buy your favorite sandwich or give your team baked goods? Or maybe I did both.” She said laughing. She handed him the bag, eager for him to open it and find what else was in side it.


“You’re just going to have to look inside and see for yourself,”

[Cain the Scorched]

“Did I what?” She asked innocently. “Buy your favorite sandwich or give your team baked goods? Or maybe I did both.” She said laughing. She handed him the bag, eager for him to open it and find what else was in side it.

'You know what,' he said, surprised at the weight as he took the bag from his partner, lacing his free fingers through hers as he led her over to the corner where two old, worn chairs formed a snug corner near the bookshelves. Making sure she was settled comfortably,  he floating over a couple of steaming mugs, handing one to Elle and settling into his own chair. The chair was comfortably familiar. 

“You’re just going to have to look inside and see for yourself,”

Paper rustled as he unrolled the top of the bag, shooting a surprised look at Elle when he spotted not a delicious, cheesy roast beef with special sauce and sauteed vegetables, but a profusion of color. He lifted the flowers out, feeling a rush of warmth though his chest. Elle loved flowers. Recieving... and giving them. Alex had found he liked it too,the little gifts she gave him, giving her little gifts in return. Far gone were the days where he worried that she wouldn't love a man like him, too old, too worn and torn by life in all its forms. Past was the feeling of being unworthy of love from anyone. 

It was her doing. He thought, fingering the small bouquet gently before working one gently free from the bundle, tucking it behind her ear, fingers glowing slightly green as he ordered the stem to weave into her hair. 

"Thank... you."

[Elle Callahan]

Elle had thought long and hard about the flowers she would give him that day. Most she had grown herself. The four leaf clover had been hard to come by but she had managed to find one in the Hogwart’s green house by chance. She’d taken the herbs from the Kameren estate.


“Don’t worry you’re not eating flowers for lunch. But before we eat. I wanted to ask you something and I didn’t know how to do it properly. So I thought I’d tell you with plants. This is our story in the language of flowers,” Elle said smiling as Alex wove a pelony into her hair.


“There’s thyme for young love and deep friendship. I was half in love with you in school and then we became friends and it was wonderful. Baby’s breath for everlasting love. Even if life separates us we will always love each other. Red tulips as a declaration of our love. a four leaf clover for luck.” She said leaning closer so she could reach into the center of the bouquet and pull out the sprigs of basil in the center. She held it out to him her hand enclosed around the stem.


“And basil because there’s this folklore in Moldavia that if a man accepts basil from a woman he’s destined to fall in love and marry her. So Alexander Kameren. Will you accept this basil and marry me?” She asked in a rush, opening the palm of her hand to reveal a ring with the celtic knot.

[Cain the Scorched]

“And basil because there’s this folklore in Moldavia that if a man accepts basil from a woman he’s destined to fall in love and marry her. So Alexander Kameren. Will you accept this basil and marry me?”

He leaned forward, hand coming up to cup her cheek in his rough, scarred palm. He was always in awe of this woman. So immensely kind and caring, blindingly intelligent, a brilliant healer. He covered her hand holding the basil with his other hand, squeezing gently as he lay his forehead against hers. Light, how he loved this woman. What had he done to deserve her in his life?

'It would be the greatest honor and privilege.' He removed his hand from her face to sign. He didn't want to spoil the moment with his stuttered, mis-shappen words. He leaned in again, kissing her deeply to emphasize his feeling, trying to say what he couldn't put into words.

[Alecsander]

“And basil because there’s this folklore in Moldavia that if a man accepts basil from a woman he’s destined to fall in love and marry her. So Alexander Kameren. Will you accept this basil and marry me?”

He leaned forward, hand coming up to cup her cheek in his rough, scarred palm. He was always in awe of this woman. So immensely kind and caring, blindingly intelligent, a brilliant healer. He covered her hand holding the basil with his other hand, squeezing gently as he lay his forehead against hers. Light, how he loved this woman. What had he done to deserve her in his life?

'It would be the greatest honor and privilege.' He removed his hand from her face to sign. He didn't want to spoil the moment with his stuttered, mis-shappen words. He leaned in again, kissing her deeply to emphasize his feeling, trying to say what he couldn't put into words.