Auld Lang Syne [OPEN to all]

[sabin]

Not one to use practical magic on a daily basis, Sabin watched in rapt admiration as Ralin expertly spelled his slumbering men to the third floor. He followed mere steps behind, the floating forms of Yvgeny and Mikhail resting on his shoulders, and upon entering the small space, his eyes grew wide as cots flew to greet their charges. Sabin darted around his men like a spry mother hen and found blankets to keep them warm. He even went so far as to reposition Vlad's neck so that he wouldn't wake up with a kink. When he could dote no more, the slight Russian came face to face with Ralin O'Faerlun and gave him a not so slight hug.

"Spaseeba, Comrade Ralin. Spaseeba. You are like bear!" Sabin held the Irishman by his arms and squeezed tightly in gratitude. "Now, thees place is safe for them? I sit by door for night to be sure but you think...of course. You vouldn't have brought us to thees room eef no, izvineetya. Please, have seat and stay vhile." Volstok pointed to where two wingback chairs sat on the other side of the room, offering one to Ralin. He then silently glided to the window, where he opened a pane to let a bit of the frosty night air in. Finally, he set about starting a small fire.

"So, Comrade Irish, tell me your story. You are famous player of game Quidditch, dah? I see you in moving pictures on walls around England. Big happy face. Makes me smile every time. You must love eet wery much."

[Alecsander]

Alex was mostly ignoring the other occupants of the table. His current attention was focused on the witches and wizards who were throwing themselves at pillars. The barmaids and bartender held up scores, and the winners of each round got a drink. Elle was leaning into his side, he was pleasantly drunk, and he didn’t need to report to work tomorrow. So he could sit here and order another drink and smirk as yet another wizard came away from the pillar with stoneware marked on his forehead.

He looked down at Elle and smiled. He was so lucky to have her, she was amazing. Did he tell her that enough? “Elle… I love you.” His words were distinct, he always put in the extra effort to be understood when things were important. This was very important. He leaned down and kissed her.

“’Ey, no kissin’ till new years!” some random, drunken passerby interjected.

“Then what should we do?” Alex asked Elle.

[Elle Callahan]

It was a nice change being out with adults. Elle could just relax and not have to worry about what one child was doing to another, or why suddenly everyone was quiet. Or have to play mediator to an argument. She loved her children dearly it was just sometimes it was nice to talk about grown up things. Or just have a drink. Elle nestled into Alex's side, content to just sit there with him, his arm around her.

She glanced up when she felt the familiar jolt of electricity that tingled through her body when his raptor gaze landed on her. She returned his smile with one of her own. "hmm?"

“Elle… I love you.”

Her brown eyes widened in pleasurable surprise. She knew very well that her husband loved her. He showed her everyday and told her often, but it was rare that Alex said those words in public. He was a private individual and love was something between him and her. And their children.

Then he kissed her. Another strange thing for him to do in public but Elle was not complaining. She slipped her arm around his neck and kissed him back. She wanted to hex the drunkard who had interrupted her kiss. Bloody sod was just jealous that he had to wait for the excuse of new years.

“Then what should we do?”

A wicked gleam danced in Elle's eyes as she leaned close and whispered in Alex's ear.

"Hold me close while we dance," He'd kissed her in public, professed his love for the world to hear, and asked what she wanted to do. He was obviously toasted and well she wasn't quite sober either so she took a chance and asked him to dance. Which a sober Alex Kameren would have thought akin to torture.

[Ralin O'Faerlun]

Ralin was still trying to catch his breath after the bigger man grabbed him in a Russian bear hug. It reminded him of his big brother Dash, who's hugs were like his personality, bursting with energy and love - to the point of making the smaller Irishman see stars sometimes.

The Russian man (Ralin was having the darndest time trying to remember his name) was very kind and grateful, and Ralin was touched at the affection he showed to his men. Not the typical man-from-a-wealthy-family type then.

"So, Comrade Irish, tell me your story. You are famous player of game Quidditch, dah? I see you in moving pictures on walls around England. Big happy face. Makes me smile every time. You must love eet wery much."

Ralin had yet to get used to the fact that he was actually famous, and part of such a well-loved team. The England Squad was like a family to him, but he still had that little brother-ish awe of the veterans on the team. "Well, my story? Oh haha, I'm glad it makes you smile," See? Already he was blushing a little at the fact that a famous ballet dancer recognized him, little ole Ralin. "Aye, I love Quidditch, I was on the Hogwarts Gryffindor team, an' knew that it was what I wanted to do after school too. D'ye like Quidditch at all?"

Ralin looked around at the room, at the empty coffee table between the chairs, and then pulled out his wand. "I think we need some treats for a night like this, what d'ye think?"

He waved his wand and a plate of house-elf speciality pumpkin chocolate chips appeared, along with a pitcher of milk. "Tis from th' house elves at Hogwarts. They like t'keep a plate o'my favorite cookies on hand."

He bit into one and closed his eyes, savoring the sweet taste mingling with hints of applesauce, nutmeg, and pumpkin [[OOC: GOSH NOW I WANT ONE]].

"So, now tis yer turn. How long 'ave ye been dancin'? Anythin' else ye like to do?"

[sabin]

Ralin's modesty touched Sabin and he listened with rapt attention as the young man spoke briefly of his past in Quidditch. Sabin actually knew very little about the game, but he was aware of its importance in the hearts of witches and wizards around the world. It was truly a universal game. A place on a national team was so much more than a career in magical sports. It was practically a spiritual calling. Volstok knew that Lucky O'Faerlun had more weight on his shoulders than he shared.

Before long, a plate of cookies and a pitcher of milk found their way to the small table between them. It was rather humorous to see Ralin dive in with reckless abandon. His cooing sounds around the wee morsels made Sabin's stomach clench and he looked longingly to the steaming plate of sweets. If only. He hadn't the heart to tell Ralin that he was lactose intolerant and counting calories and prayed he would not take offence to his light eating. Sabin took the smallest cookie on the plate and broke off a tiny corner. It was infinitesimal but heavenly.

"Most incredible, Comrade Irish. Spaseeba! Please say thank you to elves of house for me."

The duo sat in silence through their chewing.

"So, now tis yer turn. How long 'ave ye been dancin'? Anythin' else ye like to do?"

Sabin smiled, feeling a bit nostalgic and perhaps secretly lonely. His eyes burned bright in the reflection of the fire.

"Since age of three. I vas wery lucky to have the opportunity. And really, eet's all I know. I live for dance. I vake to eet, live eet and then sleep in between. You could say I dream of sugarplums, without sounding, how you say, like a girl. But ees great honour, you see, een family to do thees. And in truth, I love wery much. Dance ees music in motion. Wery organic, wery...wery real. Sorry, I go on sometimes."

The sound of a loud cacophony of smashing plates erupted below, followed by an exuberant "OPA!" and a less than harmonic version of "Auld Lang Syne."

"Ah. Ees New Years! S'Noyvom Godom, Ralin O'Faerlun. S'Noyvom Godom."

[Max Kameren]

“Elle… I love you.”

Max groggily wrinkled his nose. They kissed, and he stuck out his tongue, covering his eyes with Rowena's hand. She giggled, taking another long gulp of champagne. Watching Alex and Elle all over each other was like watching his parents with his step-parents.

“’Ey, no kissin’ till new years!” some random, drunken passerby interjected.

“Then what should we do?” Alex asked Elle.

Across the table their nephew nearly wretched at the thought. He took a deep swig of his brandy. The two stood up, and at the table all that was left was Max and Rowena. He sat up, looking down at her round eyes. Before he could speak, the large clock flashed brightly and a loud bell struck midnight.

Cheers erupted all around them, everyone standing from their seats with their drinks in the air. Glowing confetti fell from the ceiling and the whole bar erupted in a rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne. Max raised his brandy glass, clinking it with his girlfriend with a wide grin. "Happy New Year, Ro."

Before she could reply Max pulled her in close and kissed her. He felt a smile stretch her lips and she nestled her hands in his brown hair, kissing back with double the energy.

[Eden Fletcher]

It was official. Eden Fletcher was turning into Alex, afraid of social situations, Kameren. Eden had said she'd be out the door a few minutes after him. But she hadn't left the office until much later. She was actually dreading going to the pub because she'd be there. The evil twit of a witch that had snared her best friend after POISONING him. Really Eden was still confused by the whole thing. But she had promised that she'd make a showing so after completing her paper work for the night Eden had stopped off at her temporary room to change, run a brush through her curls.

But she'd missed calculated and she walked in at the stroke of midnight to find her family completely sotted. Not only was her boss sucking the life out of his wife, and dancing too, her best friend was in the middle of a snog fest with the evil one.

Eden glared down at the couple as she reached the table.
"
"Please, get a room, this place is not nearly drunk enough for this sight," She called out not entirely joking. Out of all of the girls Max had dated this chick was the worst. Eden sat down next to Max, ignoring the sharp glare from Ro.

"What ya drinking?"

[Alecsander]

It was true, Alex was drunk. But he also wanted to dance with his wife so, ignoring Max’s disgusted wrinkled face, he stood up and took Elle out to the dance floor. It was crowded but Alex held Elle close and they didn’t run into too many people. It helped that he was tall and intimidating, even drunk he cast quite a large shadow.

The next hour went by pleasantly, with Alex and Elle taking the occasional break back at the table. Alex had just finished another firewhisky when the clock, which had been getting proceedinly brighter (enough to hurt the eyes of all the drunks in the place) flashed even brighter and a loud bang sounded as confetti rained down on the crowd. The shrunken heads started up a chorus and soon the entire bar was singing. Even Alex Kameren had his arm around his wife and was singing to the new year. After, of course, giving Elle a kiss for good luck.

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone

[Max Kameren]

Max was caught up in Rowena's embrace; the two were practically on top of each other with the force of their snogging. They didn't notice the party around them. The only thing pulling Max up for air was the sudden appearance of a familiar aura, seeping in through the haze of lust and drunkenness. "Eden!"

"Please, get a room, this place is not nearly drunk enough for this sight," She called out not entirely joking.

"Sounds good to me." Rowena smirked, leaning in to Max and laying her head on his shoulder. She kissed his neck, her hand slipping on to his knee. The appearance of Max's best friend seemed to whip Rowena into a competitive frenzy. She was marking Max as her territory: mine.

Max took her hand and kissed her on the cheek, trying to affectionately turn her away. There was a difference between snogging and straight foreplay in a public place, and Rowena was flirting with that line. Max wasn't nearly drunk enough for that.

"What ya drinking?"

"Brandy." He downed the brandy in one gulp, kissing Rowena once again before standing. "What d'you want to drink? On me. Happy New Year." He grinned, leading his friend toward the bar. He ordered himself another brandy, letting Eden order for herself. He looked over his shoulder at Rowena. If looks could kill, he and Eden would be melting right now. "Rowena's mad at me now." He laughed. "Livid."

Their drinks arrived and he sipped his whiskey with a smile. "She thinks I love you more than her. Which's true, in her defense." He shrugged, turning and leaning on the bar as he watched Alex belt out a verse of Auld Lang Syne.

[Eden Fletcher]

"Sounds good to me." Rowena smirked, leaning in to Max and laying her head on his shoulder. She kissed his neck, her hand slipping on to his knee. The appearance of Max's best friend seemed to whip Rowena into a competitive frenzy. She was marking Max as her territory: mine.

Eden stared her nose wrinkling involuntarily as she watched the twit "lay claim" to Max Kameren. One of these days she prayed Max found a woman that didn't feel threatened by their relationship. She really did. Eden wanted Max to be happy. Hell she wanted him married off as soon as possible so his grandbaby hungry relations would stop salivating over her. Just not to the wicked witch of the west wing of st mungos. Serious the more Eden saw of Rowena the more she was convinced the woman was a psychopath.

The temptation to make a snide remark was so strong that Eden had to bite her lip. It was not good form to compare your best friends girl friend to a doberman. No mater how much Eden despised her Max saw something useful in the relationship for the moment. So she kept quiet. But merlin she really was doing a good impersonation as she slobbered on his neck.

"What ya drinking?"

"Brandy." He downed the brandy in one gulp, kissing Rowena once again before standing. "What d'you want to drink? On me. Happy New Year."

Thank god they were leaving the table. If she had to watch the how low can i go game any longer she'd puke. And Eden had excellent aim. Eden ordered herself a firewhiskey with extra fire and a twist. She had a lot of catching up to do if she was going to reach Max's level of toxicity.

"Rowena's mad at me now." He laughed. "Livid."

Eden grinned wickedly enjoying Max's laugh. Ha! So he did enjoy vexing the woman. A bit of the guilt eased out of Eden's shoulders. Now she didn't feel as guilty for trying to vex the woman since her boyfriend was doing the same. Although Eden hadn't helped the matter by actually coming to the bar in a little black dress. She'd chosen the outfit with Rowena in mind.

"She thinks I love you more than her. Which's true, in her defense."

"She's insane to think otherwise. We've known each other for fifteen years, you've been dating her for a couple of weeks." Eden said with a shake of her head. Women. They all thought they could replace Eden in a matter of weeks. Actually that was the problem with all of Max's relationships. They thought they could replace her instead of forging their own position.

"When you find a girl who isn't completely jealous about our relationship. Marry that one. She's a keeper," Eden said as she took a sip of her drink. She nearly spit it out when she spotted her boss. Was he singing?

"What is Alex drinking and where can I get one?" Eden exclaimed highly amused. "hmmm I think the more kids Alex has the more relax he becomes,"

[Max Kameren]

"When you find a girl who isn't completely jealous about our relationship. Marry that one. She's a keeper," Eden said as she took a sip of her drink. She nearly spit it out when she spotted her boss. Was he singing?

"The more I date, the more I doubt that woman exists." Max took a generous gulp of his new brandy, sighing. "Rowena's fun though, for all her trouble." In reality, they didn't have a whole lot in common outside of their physical chemistry. Rowena wasn't really very interested in healing, and her firey temper left him constantly on his toes, but he still enjoyed her company enough that he wasn't willing to break up with her. Not because of Eden's loathing, at least. Speaking of Eden...

"You're dressed up all pretty tonight," Max looked her up and down with a half smile; everyone else was dressed essentially in their clothes from work, Max included, but Eden was dolled up in a little black dress that he rarely saw. She was here to impress someone. "Did you hear 'bout the fancy ballet dancer too? Dunno where he went off to, somewhere with Ralin."

"What is Alex drinking and where can I get one?" Eden exclaimed highly amused. "hmmm I think the more kids Alex has the more relax he becomes,"

Max laughed. "Poor Elle. They'll have to have another ten kids before he's at the level of a normal bloke."

[Elle Callahan]

If this night was a preview for the year to come it would be a good one. Elle smiled at her husband. Merlin, how in the world had she snagged him? Awakened him? Sometimes it still felt like a dream. One day she would wake up to find it all had been a dream. Alex Kameren was just a patient, systematically blocking emotions and saving the world. She would be a workaholic healer running her own department. But that wasn't their life. It was a dream but also reality. And she was dancing with Alex Kameren. They had definitely come a long way.

When the clock announced the new years, Elle laughed as Alex sang. It was brilliantly awful. She was more than a bit tipsy and had never felt better. She sang out a few words in between laughs. Afterwards she kissed him again, long and hard.

"I love you, Alex Kameren, Best thing you ever did was to 'ccept my proposal,"

[Eden Fletcher]

Fun was not the word Eden would have used to describe the she devil. Neurotic. Yes that was the word. The more Eden sipped the harder it was for her to keep that tight grip on her feelings about HER. But she was the best friend. She did not publicly berate the despised girlfriend. Nope, she'd just sit there sip her drink and wait. Rowena was bound to have a jealous rage. Or temper tantrum or something. She wasn't happy if she wasn't making a scene. Or slipping potions into drinks.

"Rowena's fun though, for all her trouble."

"When she goes psycho after the breakup I'll protect your back," Eden offered helpfully as she finished her drink and ordered another. Tonight was all about letting lose and celebrating.

"You're dressed up all pretty tonight,"

Eden shrugged her shoulders as if to brush it off. It was nothing. Which wasn't true. Eden had the terrible habit of going to almost anything under dressed, often with blood or other bodily fluids staining her clothes. It was considered a minor miracle when she wasn't sporting a rip or a singed hole.

"It's a holiday. I decided to be a girl." She said as she picked up her new drink. She could feel the warmth of the first spreading through her body.

"Did you hear 'bout the fancy ballet dancer too? Dunno where he went off to, somewhere with Ralin."

Eden just raised an eyebrow at Max. Did he really think that she'd go for a Ballerina? Now that was too much drama.

"Nope. I bet we bat for the same team." She commented offhandedly as she searched the crowd for Ral and his new friend. 'Side's Ballerina's were something her grandmother would have thought she'd date. Eden had met more than a few of them in her life. In fact her grandmother was a benefactor for that Russian Ballet here. Hell, Eden been forced to go to more ballets when she was a kid than Qudditch matches. Sacrilegious.

"What is Alex drinking and where can I get one?" Eden exclaimed highly amused. "hmmm I think the more kids Alex has the more relax he becomes,"

Max laughed. "Poor Elle. They'll have to have another ten kids before he's at the level of a normal bloke."

"Well he's a hell of a lot better than he use to be,"