Two by Two (Max/Elle)

[Nuriko]

Nuri was dressed to kill in her short plum dress, stiletto leather boots and lipstick and hair shaded just the color of her dress. Or rather, she'd cheated and just changed the color of her lips. Saved a fortune in lipstick and didn't rub off. Convienent when kissing someone. Nothing worse than kissing a girl and your lipsticks clashed, or a lad and you left marks all over.

"Ready to goooo?" she popped her head into her small bath, looking Elle up and down with approval. It was time to go, Max would be waiting. She linked her arm with Elle's, already feeling the beat of the club. Elle needed a girl's night, and well, Max just needed a night out.

It couldn't change the situation, but perhaps escorting them to the dance club could give him a short respite. He was really being very gracious in agreeing, Nuri knew how crowds tended to treat her friend and was determined to keep the actual interactions short. Perhaps an hour or so before heading somewhere quieter, a muggle club since they seemed to have less affect. And music was the same anywhere.

"Lets go!" she spun them, apparating to the place they'd agreed to meet Max in muggle London.

[Elle Callahan]

Nuri could be quite persuasive which is why Elle found herself in Nuri's little bathroom changing into a flouncy dress that skimmed mid thigh. It was the color of a sun flower and the skirt flowed like petals when she twirled. It had called her name in the shop even though it was totally inappropriate for late autumn. Elle didn't care. she loved the dress. She pared it with dark leggings and leather boots. She kept her makeup simple and her hair in messy curls. Alex wouldn't be with them tonight and while she liked to dress for herself she saw no need to be dressed to kill.

Ready to goooo?" she popped her head into her small bath, looking Elle up and down with approval. It was time to go, Max would be waiting. She linked her arm with Elle's, already feeling the beat of the club. Elle needed a girl's night, and well, Max just needed a night out.

Elle giggled at her friend and waved her hands in a look at me gesture.

"This is crazy," She said as her friend dragged her out of the room and they disappeared. Would Max actually come? The club scene didn't seem to be his style.

[Max Kameren]

Max wasn’t built for this type of thing. He couldn’t go out; not in the way that he didn’t like it, but it clinically, physically hurt him to go to clubs like the one Nuriko had badgered him into. He was tall, gawky, and now had enough noticeable scars that strangers felt compelled to remark upon them in casual conversation. Max was quickly growing tired of detailing a non-existent dog attack to cover up the real story. Max had no ‘going out’ clothes, and instead opted to wear all black. If he got lucky he could be mistaken for a bouncer, and therefore not have to make small talk with strangers into the wee hours of the morning. 

But most of all, Max didn’t want to go out. With Rowena still missing he didn’t want to do much of anything. He’d fixed the mess of her townhome in his off time and since he’d spent any hours away from the Ministry or his search for her in his apartment, reading and keeping Pumpkin company. Max didn’t want to relax, dance, or socialize. The love of his life was gone, and he spent most of his waking hours putting up his wards and putting on a brave face, after a while it got tiring.

But Nuriko had saved his life once, and in moments she wanted to force him into something she thought good for him she would use it. Max stood at a discontinued bus shelter that now served as an apparition point for London magical folk, running a hand through his hair as he checked his watch. How long could he wait before he headed home, claiming he didn’t think they were coming?

His question was rendered void, as his two tiny companions appeared with a quiet pop inside the shelter, skipping out arm-in-arm to meet him with wide grins. Max tried to reflect the enthusiasm they exhibited back at them with limited success; it was obvious he wasn’t thrilled with the night’s plans for them.

“Hey, you both look great!” The tall healer managed to envelop both girls in one hug under each arm, trying to use the enthusiasm within their auras to fuel his own. “Where are we going?”

[Nuriko]

“Hey, you both look great!” The tall healer managed to envelop both girls in one hug under each arm, trying to use the enthusiasm within their auras to fuel his own. “Where are we going?”

Nuri managed to crush her old friend with a one-armed hug. It wasn't too difficult, the lad was still skinny as a bean pole. She grinned up at him. "Whatever they're feeding you isn't enough!" she teased, an old joke between them.

"Ace of Spades," she stretched up, and up, until she was on a level with Max's face, looking him in the eye as she tapped him on the nose before shrinking to her normal height. "Its a muggle club, and no worries Max, we won't stay too long."

"Its only a couple blocks down." she indicated the way with her chin, then started walking, glancing over her shoulder with merry eyes. "C'mon!"

[Elle Callahan]

It was a quite part of Muggle London but Elle was still curious. Elle wasn't really one to adventure out of the wizarding world. She looked around wide eyed at the abandoned bus stop. An advertisement for perfume was faded and half peeled off. Distant sounds of traffic could be heard down the street. Elle had seen cars before but they were still cool. Why did muggles box themselves up in tin cans? Wasn't it lonely traveling alone?

Hey, you both look great!” The tall healer managed to envelop both girls in one hug under each arm, trying to use the enthusiasm within their auras to fuel his own. “Where are we going?

Elle hugged Max, trying to gauge his feelings. She really owed him for coming out. Alex had begged her not to go without protection because of the stalker. Max was her protection.

"Ace of Spades," she stretched up, and up, until she was on a level with Max's face, looking him in the eye as she tapped him on the nose before shrinking to her normal height. "Its a muggle club, and no worries Max, we won't stay too long."

"Its only a couple blocks down." she indicated the way with her chin, then started walking, glancing over her shoulder with merry eyes. "C'mon!"

Elle smiled softly as Nuri ploughed a head so full of energy. Elle walked beside Max, well a little behind him because she was so small. "Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it. You being here makes Alex less worried about the whole stalker thing," Elle said softly as they made their way into the muggle world. The street was rather empty of pedestrians but there were a ton of cars. Elle was fascinated by the stop light. Such a simple thing ruled everyone. The walk sign turned on and Nuri and Max crossed into the street. Elle followed a long afew steps behind. She was in the middle of the street when her heel got stuck a in a crack. Elle cursed as she struggled to pull it out. Suddenly bright lights were flashing in her face and a horn was blaring. Elle looked up startled, eyes blinded by the light to see a car speeding towards her running the red light.

[Max Kameren]

The giddy, reassuring presence of his friends helped somewhat and he was able to relax into their wide grins and electric auras, letting a sheepish smile reflect theirs. Max was well past his comfort zone, but with the support of good friends perhaps the night wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“Where are we going?”

"Ace of Spades," she stretched up, and up, until she was on a level with Max's face, looking him in the eye as she tapped him on the nose before shrinking to her normal height. "Its a muggle club, and no worries Max, we won't stay too long."

“Oi! None of that, you’re on my turf now.” Max smirked as he put his hand atop Nuriko’s head to mime pushing her as she shrunk back down. “Mustn’t scare the locals Nuri!”

"Its only a couple blocks down." she indicated the way with her chin, then started walking, glancing over her shoulder with merry eyes. "C'mon!"

Nuriko bounded ahead, followed by Elle and Max. The tall healer shortened his stride to stay in pace with his small friend, clasping his hands behind him and smiling faintly over his shoulder at her. Poor Elle; she’d been in more trouble even than Max had been in the last month. It seemed every time Elle turned around there was another accident or disaster exploding around her. Though Nuriko’s guilt trip did its usual wonders on Max, it was Elle’s bad luck that really pushed Max to join them. He hadn’t been able to help Rowena, maybe he could at least chaperone Elle successfully for a night.

"Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it. You being here makes Alex less worried about the whole stalker thing."

“’Course, anything for you two.” Max smiled down at her reassuringly. Max hadn’t had many interactions with Elle outside Rowena, family gatherings, or St. Mungo’s, but any woman who could warm his uncle’s heart in such a way must be special. Her aura had a bright music to it that made her personality infectious, he could see how she’d charmed his uncle and his girlfriend. “Even if that means going into the lion’s den – Elle?” Max turned his head in time to see Elle struggle with her heel in the pavement, then a flash of light and sound.

Ah, the city. A tense moment of chaos in the middle of an intersection was hardly a first for the largely London-raised wizard, and his reaction was immediate and involuntary. Max stepped backwards between Elle and the car and put a hand out, smacking down on the hood of the car, green eyes blazing with anger. “Oi what’s your fucking problem mate! Pull yer head out of yer arse ‘fore you drive that fucking box!” His voice swung easily into the Scottish accent reminiscent of his mum’s, one he fell into only when drunk or angry. The driver stuck his head out the window to retort but Max cursed over him, reaching backwards to give Elle a steady arm to pull herself out of the crack. When she was stable and across the street Max’s string of expletives finally ceased, sending the car off with two fingers for good measure.

When they were finally back onto the sidewalk Max flipped easily back to his quiet self, taking a step backwards to look his friend up and down. “You alright, Elle? Sorry about that…”

[Nuriko]

“Oi! None of that, you’re on my turf now.” Max smirked as he put his hand atop Nuriko’s head to mime pushing her as she shrunk back down. “Mustn’t scare the locals Nuri!”

Nuriko only laughed up at him, sticking her tongue out before sweeping up her stray ducklings and pulling them in her wake.

"Its only a couple blocks down." she indicated the way with her chin, then started walking, glancing over her shoulder with merry eyes. "C'mon!"

London, both magical and muggle, was so different from back home. All mountains and valleys, it was quiet. Hogsmeade was nearly the same, edge of civilization in the Scottish hills, but her town in Tennessee had been mixed, magic and non. She spun, arms out as she crossed through the cross walk.

She reached the other side and looked back for her ducklings. Mustn't lose them... The bright light and screech of brakes happened quickly, Nuri advancing into the crosswalk in fury to match Max's, all concentrated in tiny form. She took great satisfaction in mixing her American and British curses.

"Elle!" she nearly shouted once they reached the sidewalk, reaching to grab her friend's arm, lowering her voice upon realizing she was shouting. "What is wrong!? You've had the...worst...luck. Lately." she slowed to a stop, eyes widening as she looked over her shorter friend's head at Max.

[Elle Callahan]

The heel was well and truly stuck. Elle rotated her foot frantically trying to get it out as the light got closer and the horn louder. Merlin's balls. Why did she wear knee high heeled boots? She couldn't easily kick off the damn thing and jump out of the way. For a second there Elle was sure she was a goner. Didn't cars kill muggleS? An image of Elle flying through the air or turning into a bloody pancake under the tires flashed through her mind. Elle started to unzip her shoe when Max rushed in cursing like a sailor. Suddenly he was between her and the car. He thumped angrily on the hood and Elle couldn't help but grin as his Scottosh broag came out. She forgot sometimes that he was a Scot. Elle took his offered arm and her shoe easily slid out of the crack.

When they were finally back onto the sidewalk Max flipped easily back to his quiet self, taking a step backwards to look his friend up and down. “You alright, Elle? Sorry about that…”

"Elle!" she nearly shouted once they reached the sidewalk, reaching to grab her friend's arm, lowering her voice upon realizing she was shouting. "What is wrong!? You've had the...worst...luck. Lately." she slowed to a stop, eyes widening as she looked over her shorter friend's head at Max.

"I'm fine. My heel got stuck tight in a crack. It was the oddest thing. I couldn't tug it free but when Max was there giving me his arm my foot came out easily. It was like whatever was holding my heel released me." Elle said puzzled.

"I thought surly i was a goner. I mean how many near death experiences can one have before it finally takes you?" Elle said with a shakey laugh.

[Max Kameren]

What was the number? How many near-death scenarios could a diminutive healer handle over the course of a few weeks? When the fiascos weren’t magical she was here, nearly getting mowed down by cars in unusually speedy London traffic. How was this happening?

“You alright, Elle? Sorry about that…”

"Elle!" Nuriko doubled back to join them, huddling with the tall Healer around their friend. "What is wrong!? You've had the...worst...luck. Lately."

Max met Nuri’s glance with a spark of inspiration pulsing from her aura; was she thinking what he was thinking? His green eyes searched Elle for any sign as he guided her to a bus stop bench to sit and inspect her ankle.

"I'm fine. My heel got stuck tight in a crack. It was the oddest thing. I couldn't tug it free but when Max was there giving me his arm my foot came out easily. It was like whatever was holding my heel released me."

Max kneeled to meet Elle’s sitting height, taking in the fainter auras of their crowded muggle surroundings. It was too busy here for him to try any sort of spell confirming his suspicions. For her own good, they needed to get out of here for him to inspect her.

"I thought surly i was a goner. I mean how many near death experiences can one have before it finally takes you?" Elle said with a shakey laugh.

“It’s almost as if you’re cursed.” The cheerfulness of Max’s reply died in his expression as he met Elle’s eyes. He didn’t have access at Mungo’s anymore, Milton had revoked his access to prevent him from working off-hours during his forced sabbatical. The apartment would have to do.

“Mind if we make a detour?” The Potions Master pushed himself up to his full height, cocking his head down their path. Max and Eden’s apartment was a mere ten blocks away. If Elle really was cursed, what could happen in that trip?