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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 11, 2009 17:01:35 GMT -5
Allaire found herself in the common room whenever it was empty. She liked the idea that she had fairly decent timing to have time to herself without having to go too far from the common room.
The news of Ophelia being in the midst of an arranged marriage while she had a boyfriend filled Allaire's thoughts. It was awful. She wasn't sure what she could do to help Ophelia. After all, she hated to see her sister so down. It just wasn't right. Ophelia was supposed to the bubbly one who daydreamed all the time. There had to be a way that Allaire could help her older sister.
She looked through her nearly worn out copy of Pride and Prejudice. She wasn't looking through it to read it. She was trying to figure out a way she could help Fee.
Sighing, Allaire closed the book and placed it in her lap as she leaned back against the couch. What could she do? What would Elizabeth Bennet have done? Or even Jane Eyre? No ideas were coming to mind. Sure, she had about a year to actually come up with a plan because she was sure that her father wouldn't make Fee marry while she was still in school. He wouldn't do that, right?
She rested her elbow on the couch arm and placed her chin in her hand. There had to be something done way before then, but she wasn't sure what, at least for the moment.
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 24, 2009 0:31:06 GMT -5
"You're adorable when you're pensive." he said from some dark corner of the room. He had slipped in quietly as was his nature and had been pleasantly surprised to see her there. She did look rather pensive, but for the life of him he didn't know what she was thinking about, he liked that about her. He wanted to help, he wasn't sure he liked that about himself.
Regardless he sauntered closer and laid his hands at her shoulders and began to rub them with something of a magic touch, as if he could ease her problems away.
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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 24, 2009 7:50:50 GMT -5
She could never mistake his voice. It stopped her thoughts abruptly as she turned in his direction. "Thanks," said Alliare with a light teasing smile on her face even though her thoughts at the time wouldn't ever warrant a smile.
Allaire let out a sigh as he started to walk over. She could tell him what was going on. It wasn't as if he would go tell anyone about it and she trusted him. Plus, Allaire couldn't really go to Kassia or Fee to talk about it. She wasn't even sure what Kassia' s reaction would have been.
Her eyes closed as Ashton started to rub her shoulders. "It's been a tough weekend," she finally said.
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 24, 2009 21:23:32 GMT -5
"Has it?" he asked, concentrating on not getting overheated. Even touching her in this platonic way killed him. He reminded himself that she was still young, that she had a life ahead of her that in all likelihood did not include himself. He reminded himself that she was above him, and then in one breath he released most of that tension and asked, " Want to tell me about it?"
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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 24, 2009 21:58:13 GMT -5
"Now that's a loaded question," Allaire said opening her eyes and tilted her head back to look up at him. She moved back so that she was looking straight ahead again. "I have never seen father go the way he did. Fee fought against him but father is far to hard-headed." Allaire sighed. "He told Fee that she was engaged," she finally got out after a long moment's pause. "Of course, she doesn't want an arranged marriage. She wants to pick her own husband and everything, but of course father doesn't want that to happen. He wants to pick. Fee stood up against him. After all, she does have a boyfriend and she wants him, not this guy she is supposed to be marrying. Father hasn't budged from his decision no matter how hard she fights against him."
She stopped for a moment. It made her angry and sad at the same time. "There is something that has to be done. She can't marry that guy, and I don't even know what I can do to help her."
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 24, 2009 22:03:22 GMT -5
Ashton's brow furrowed, "You mean she wasn't expecting it...?" he asked. That was cruel on her father's part. Ashton understood arranged marriages, they weren't for happiness, they were made for good alliances, and most children of well bred families knew that at a young age. Sometimes it was good to be poor, at least for the most part you could choose who your husband would be.
He sighed.
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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 24, 2009 22:13:32 GMT -5
"Well, she knew that it would come, but none of us thought that Father would already try to put her up on the shelf." Allaire closed her eyes and used one of her hands to rub her eyes. That was the part of her world that she hated. She hated the fact that they had to do whatever society expected of them. Although, there were a few people who fought against that. Both Allaire and Ophelia were included in it.
"There has to be something, right? Something that could get her out of it?"
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 24, 2009 22:20:35 GMT -5
Ashton didn't have any answers for her. He gave her a sympathetic look, but really that was the way of the world, her world anyway. Ophelia was young and in love, that may or may not change, but perhaps it was best that she did learn of her betrothal sooner rather than later. If it was going to happen then it was easier knowing it was going to happen earlier than later.
"I'm not sure love."
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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 24, 2009 22:30:47 GMT -5
Allaire let out a frustrated sigh. "I can't see her like this. I have to think of something. Anything is possible." Maybe there was a way she could help her father see a change of heart, or maybe there was a way she could talk to Axis and explain to him that Ophelia couldn't marry him. Like she said, anything was possible. She just had to put her mind to it.
Deciding to change the subject, Allaire put her hand over top of Ashton's and then motioned for him to take a seat beside her. "How was your weekend?"
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 24, 2009 22:35:52 GMT -5
His weekend? Fraught with addicts and ugliness that was too coarse for her ears...same old, same old.
"Fine...rather boring actually." he said sensing that she probably wanted to change the subject he strayed to something that was easy, something that might make her happy, "I got something for you though."
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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 24, 2009 22:47:19 GMT -5
"You're weekend sounds a lot better to be honest."
Ashton's last words made Allaire's eyes brighten a little more. She gave him a curious kind of look. "You got me something?" She wasn't expecting to receive anything. "You know that you didn't have to do anything like that." He had her full attention. Curiosity had hit her and she had to know whatever it was.
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 24, 2009 22:55:46 GMT -5
He smiled, "That's why I enjoy doing it."
He actually meant that. He enjoyed doing things for her to see that curiosity light in her eyes, and he knew that no matter what he got her she'd be pleased. She was generous that way, still he was hoping she would like what he did get her.
Pulling his before unseen bag to his side he opened the flap and reached inside, "Close your eyes."
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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 24, 2009 23:41:05 GMT -5
She let out a laugh and closed her eyes. Allaire's curiosity started to get the best of her. She was excited to see what he had gotten her. Whatever it was, she was sure that she would like it. Plus, it was the thought that counted.
"Okay, okay, my eyes are closed," she said in an excited voice.
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 24, 2009 23:43:30 GMT -5
A corner of his mouth rose in a slight smile while watching her. Feeling inside for his gift it was easy to find. He withdrew the item and held it gently.
"Hold out your hands." he told her, his voice softening with the semi-intimacy of the moment.
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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 24, 2009 23:56:10 GMT -5
She did as she was told and held out her hands. Allaire never asked for many things. She would always get it herself with any money she had herself, or if it was something she really and truly needed, she would get it from her parents.
The idea of getting a gift was exciting, especially if it was completely unexpected.
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 25, 2009 0:08:49 GMT -5
He didn't realize that he too was holding his breath as he set his gift into her hands. It was a book, an older book as evidenced by the worn appearance. Jane Eyre.
"I saw it in London." he admitted with a certain amount of sheepishness in his tone. "I thought of you."
It was a muggle book, one she probably had if her father had allowed it. He knew she read Pride and Prejudice. He thought that remarkably progressive for her, reading muggle text, but he would be the first to admit that there was something magical in a muggle's imagination, and that he enjoyed muggle books as well.
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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 25, 2009 0:13:48 GMT -5
Once the gift touched her hands, Allaire opened her eyes. She felt her breath catch as she saw the title. "One of my favorites," she said as her hand ran over the cover. It was an older book to be sure.
A wide smile became fixated on her face and she looked to him. Allaire moved and hugged him. "Thank you," she said as she pulled back from him. "I love it."
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 25, 2009 0:22:21 GMT -5
He felt the embrace all throughout his body and struggled to remain impassive but happy. It was hard being around her, she was innocent, and she was something he wanted to protect, though he was the last person who should have felt that way.
"I'm glad you liked it."
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Post by Allaire Burke on Oct 25, 2009 9:03:11 GMT -5
Allaire was unaware of any kind of feeling that she could have caused. She looked back down at the book. She never received books as gifts, unless it was from Jadon but even then she was the one to ask him if he would keep an eye out for a book.
Even if it was something else, she would have liked it. "I'll have to go to the place you found it to see if I can find anything else. Do you think you could take me one day?"
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Post by Ashton Lane on Oct 25, 2009 14:53:53 GMT -5
With his control back he found it easiest to tease her, " Maybe. If you're good." he smiled. Little did she know that she had but needed to ask how high and he would jump. Were he to know of that as well he'd probably tease himself mercilessly, but crushes did stupid things to people, and he couldn't place just what it was about Allaire that had him acting this way, but he knew it was beyond his control to stop.
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