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Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 25, 2009 22:16:00 GMT -5
Whenever he needed time away from his family, Justin would take a room at the Avalon Hotel. Since his current assignment with the Dark Lord had him rather busy in London, it really only made sense for him to stay close by, rather than to go home. And besides, this whole business of Gwen's arranged marriage gave him kind of a bitter feeling. It was better if he had some time alone.
The hotel was one of the most luxurious in London, but that wasn't why Justin liked it. He liked it because the owners and employees were discreet and didn't care what sort of activities their guests might happen to engage in.
Being a regular client, he had a room held on standby, so he only had to go to the front desk and tell them that he would be staying for about a week. They charged his account immediately and handed him the key.
With a quick word of thanks and a smile, he walked briskly toward the lift.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Oct 26, 2009 13:41:02 GMT -5
The bell tinged and Natasha knew that the lift had reached it's destination. Her eyes fluttered upward and she was startled to see Justin there.
Her mother was remodeling their home and Natasha was sick of workers and the noise. She decided to stay at the Avalon where she knew her brother had taken more than one paramour. But at least the place had style and class. She was impressed with their hotel more than any others at least. Room service was nothing to sneer at. She was pretty sure that if she called to have them fluff her pillows they'd be up in a heart beat. Yes overall she was happy to be staying there.
Well that was until she ran into Justin. It wasn't that she didn't like the man...he just got to her in a way that she wasn't always certain around him...and she didn't like not being certain.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 26, 2009 21:50:27 GMT -5
A slow smile spread across Justin's face as the elevator opened to reveal Natasha Davenport. She was lovely, as always, and more than a little taken aback to see him there. Well, well... lt looked like his stay at the Avalon was going to be more enjoyable than he'd thought.
"Miss Davenport," he said pleasantly. "I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised to see you here. I take it you don't find the Slytherin dorm rooms much to your liking?"
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Oct 27, 2009 0:45:34 GMT -5
"Extended Holiday." she said, startled enough to give him an honest answer. Then she clarified, "My parents thought it would be best if I took a vacation, what with all the recent happenings."
There were simply too many dangerous things going on, first a student was killed, then Hogsmeade was attacked, and another body had showed up behind a club. Since her parents didn't really care what she did so long as she upheld the family name she decided to take a vacation of her own to get away from things. She was still looking at him as if in a daze wondering what he could possibly be doing there.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 27, 2009 22:13:16 GMT -5
"Ah," Justin said simply as the elevator closed behind her, leaving them both standing in the lobby.
"I do understand that; after all, my parents have been keeping my younger siblings home, at least on weekends, lately. We had a death in the family, you see. My dear aunt was killed in Hogsmeade. Still... it's odd that your parents are having you take time off, and yet, you're staying here and not at home. I hope all is well with your family?"
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Oct 28, 2009 16:00:34 GMT -5
"I heard." she informed him with a proper solemn tone, " My condolences.", she thought back to the attack and the strange masked man who had saved her. She thought about him often, and that kiss she thought about even more, but she still didn't know his identity so it was best forgotten...if only she could forget.
With his question she cleared her mind of the past and returned, " My mother is decorating the east wing. She suggested I stay here instead if I wished for peace and quiet."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 28, 2009 22:11:18 GMT -5
Of course, that kiss was on Justin's mind as well, but unlike her, he had no questions or doubts. She had no idea who she had kissed, but he knew. And he wasn't about to enlighten her. Yet he wondered.... did she think about that kiss? Did she wonder who it was?
"Thank you," he said, bowing his head, but keeping his eyes on her. "That was a tragic day... Far too many people were hurt and killed. I'm quite relieved to see that you made it through unscathed."
He grinned lightly as she explained her reasons for being at the hotel. It amused him, like she was making excuses.... yet she really owed him no explanations at all. Why, then, was she so quick to provide them? "Ah, that explains it. Well, I am sure the staff here will see to your comfort."
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Oct 29, 2009 3:41:23 GMT -5
She was wondering that very thing. He had simply startled her, and she hadn't gained her equilibrium yet. She was usually so cool and calm and in control but for some reason she wasn't when he was around. Perhaps it was his eyes, they teased her with some secret that she ached to know.
She thought about it for a moment then a smile was secretly drawn to her lips as her eyes fluttered downward. She was thinking of him at that moment, " I was...very fortunate."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 3, 2009 16:43:54 GMT -5
He could have made a comment about being there as well, or even hinted that he had been the one to lead her out of the battle. But he enjoyed teasing her with it, letting her wonder. He didn’t doubt that she would do the same if their situations were reversed. She was not the innocent girl she pretended to be; there was something else behind those eyes. And he wanted to find out what it was.
“Where were you going just now?” he asked. “I don’t mean to detain you, but if you were on your way to dinner, perhaps I could escort you.”
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 10, 2009 11:53:07 GMT -5
Her mother would kill her if she turned down an offer from the illustrious Justin Scotts, and that was the excuse she needed to lower her pretty eyes to the floor in an act of overt innocence and meekness before replying, " You are ever kind Mr. Scotts." she said using his formal title.
If she had the slightest clue that he suspected her to be anything but the proper school girl she might have turned tail and run, she would not have liked to have known that he knew more about her than what she had allowed him to see.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 13, 2009 6:54:49 GMT -5
Justin barely resisted the urge to smirk. He had been called many things, most of them deserved, but "kind" was generally not a word used to describe him, unless it was by one of his siblings. And even then, he suspected they knew better.
But, since Natasha was pretending to be sweet and demure, he could certainly play along and be whatever she wanted him to be. At least until he could figure out how to make her drop the act.
He held out his arm to her. "Very good, then," he said formally. "It will be my pleasure to escort you."
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 20, 2009 2:15:54 GMT -5
She nodded and placed her arm in his allowing him to escort her. While he may have been better looking than your average prospect, richer as well, Natasha would still have to toss him into the boring category. Not that, that was a bad thing, no not at all. Boring meant safe, she would have to marry one day into that elite crowd, and since she could never have her brother, neither his heart nor would her reputation allow her to marry him, then someone like Justin would be ideal.
Then again she didn't know the first real thing about him.
It was most peculiar how her heartbeat rose with his touch, with his piercing eyes perhaps he wasn't boring after all.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 25, 2009 19:54:36 GMT -5
Justin probably would have laughed out loud if she had told him that she thought him "boring." Admittedly, that had been his first thought about her, too, but it hadn't lasted. It was funny how both of their true personalities came out when only one of them was wearing a mask.
Without even asking her for her preference, he led her to the hotel's restaurant, which was a very fancy, four-star restaurant. A hotel like the Avalon would settle for nothing less than the best.
There was a waiting list to get in, but Justin approached the maitre d' and gave the man his name, along with a 20 pound bill. He often carried muggle money for just such an occasion.
"Right this way," the maitre d' replied, and led them to a table near the back.
Justin politely pulled a chair out for Natasha and waited for her to sit.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 27, 2009 8:38:01 GMT -5
It was parlor tricks like that, that would have had her mother swooning easily enough, not to mention most girls her age. Natasha feigned being flattered very well and allowed him to lead them to the table.
She had one here to use at any time since her family was on familiar terms with the owner of the hotel, and what with Natasha staying at the hotel they had tried to make her comfortable.
Still it was rather kind of him to escort her and make sure they got seating, but it didn't move her at all compared to how she felt when he had rescued her before. That kind of excitement, the thrill and danger of the moment even now set her blood on fire though she didn't know why.
"That was impressive Mr. Scotts."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 29, 2009 1:25:16 GMT -5
Justin shrugged. It really was no big deal, and he honestly didn't particularly expect her to be impressed with it. After all, they were both of the privileged class, and he imagined that she was used to getting advantages just for being who she was.
But this "Mr. Scotts" business simply had to go.
Unfolding his napkin and placing it on his lap, he quirked his lip up in a half-smile. "Please, call me Justin. And may I call you Natasha?"
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Dec 5, 2009 23:25:05 GMT -5
"Justin." she nodded giving him her consent to call her by her given name. He really was attractive up close. A large part of her was being drawn in although she wasn't quite sure why, or what it was about him. Some mystery in his eyes kept her attention.
"I don't believe you told me why you're staying at the hotel...that is if you don't mind me asking."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Dec 7, 2009 0:25:52 GMT -5
Her question, though perfectly reasonable, was a bit of a problem for him. He couldn't very well tell her the truth, that he was here while he worked on a mission from the Dark Lord. But instead of freezing up on her, he smiled even more broadly, while he raised an eyebrow at her playfully. "Let's just say I've had a little too much family togetherness lately," he said smoothly. "I needed a break."
The waiter came to the table to take their drink orders, and he looked over at Natasha. "A bottle of wine for the table?" he asked, bowing his head politely.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Dec 7, 2009 19:18:59 GMT -5
Natasha wanted to ask for something stronger but she couldn't forsake her image so she politely shook her head no, "Water please." Good girls didn't drink alcohol, and for all intents and purposes Natasha was a good girl.
When she turned back to Justin she smiled lightly, "Your family is rather...large."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Dec 8, 2009 13:49:36 GMT -5
Justin raised an eyebrow at her. There she was again, playing the “good girl.” It amused and fascinated him, and he wondered just what he had to do to get her to drop that act. How far would the game take him? And what was the prize?
“We’ll have a bottle of chardonnay,” Justin replied to the waiter. “And a glass of water,” he added with a teasing smile. If need be, he’d drink the wine himself, but he wasn’t going to let her get away with the demure act.
“Yes, I do have a large family,” he replied, affecting a bored tone. “And although we have lost my dear Aunt, my uncle Zachary has recently returned from abroad. Of course, knowing him, he’ll be gone again soon.”
Leaning forward then, he gave her a piercing look. “But you don’t really want to discuss my family, do you? Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?”
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Dec 9, 2009 5:39:11 GMT -5
She was a little unnerved by his sudden piercing look. He was looking right through the shell she usually showed people as if he knew something else about her, something real. It immediately made her defensive but she bit back the urge to withdraw and simply deflected by lightly shrugging, " There isn't much to tell. I'd rather talk about you."
Most men loved to talk about themselves, and they were even happier to tell an attractive woman all about their money and status. She was hoping rather than sincerely believing that Justin was that kind of man.
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