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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 5, 2010 14:49:08 GMT -5
"only because we haven't really talked about how we're going to officially announce it," Riley added, explaining briefly. "But I really want to tell someone... you may not be surprised, but Roland and I are engaged."
Her smile widened, and she held up her left hand, as if Arthur would need the proof that she was telling the truth. It was plain to see how happy she was, and if Roland ever doubted that she loved him, this should have put those doubts to rest. And he only had to ask her three times, she joked to herself inwardly.
"You've seen the worst of our fights, so I thought you'd like to know we won't be having yelling matches in the hallway anymore."
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Jan 5, 2010 16:14:18 GMT -5
Arthur had stood aside, watching as the two of them reunited with Phoenix. As much as he had enjoyed having the dog around, he was glad to return him to his owners. Phoenix seemed happy to see them as well.
He quickly waved off Riley's words of thanks, but before he could say anything, Roland and Riley were exchanging mysterious glances. Arthur couldn't help but smile, already suspecting what was about to come next.
"Wow, you sure don't waste any time, do you, Roland?" he teased. It was funny how just a few months ago, Roland had sworn that he wasn't even going to try for Riley. And now they were engaged. "Congratulations, both of you. I'm really happy for the both of you. And really glad to hear there won't be anymore fights in the hall..."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 5, 2010 19:33:18 GMT -5
Roland's expression was somewhat sheepish, but still overwelmingly happy. It was true that everything was happening quickly, but that was just how he was... when he was sure about something, he jumped in with both feet and didn't look back. He was sure about Riley. Sometimes he swore he could see the future shining in her eyes.
"Yeah, well... I had to make sure she wasn't going to change her mind," he joked, leaning in to kiss her. The look on her face nearly floored him, and he had to stop just to look at her. Any doubt he might have ever had that she loved him just as deeply and passionately as he loved her was erased in that moment. He could see it all in her eyes, and in her smile.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 6, 2010 14:13:15 GMT -5
"Thanks, Arthur," Riley said, her smile not as shy as she thought it would have been. She was sure about Roland, and when she was sure of something, much like Roland, she was bold about it. She just wasn't so sure that she wasn't dreaming half the time.
"Yeah... I thought you might appreciate that there wouldn't be any more fights. Babies crying, perhaps." A baby crying, a dog barking... in her head, it just all seemed so beautifully chaotic. But they would really need to look into a house. The apartment just seemed smaller and smaller. Between them, they would have enough. She wanted to sit Roland down and just talk all of this through with him, very business like, but they had a date to consider first.
"Well, Arthur, thank you again. I'm going to have to go get ready soon, or I'll be late," she said, her eyes flicking to Roland.
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Jan 6, 2010 23:26:18 GMT -5
"You're welcome," Arthur said. "It really was no trouble... he's a great dog. I really had fun watching him. If you ever need someone to look after him for a while, don't hesitate to give me a call, OK?"
He handed over the leash to Roland, then moved past them to get to his door. "Hang on just a second and I'll go get his food and everything, OK? I thought it'd be easier if I just kept him over here."
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 8, 2010 15:21:11 GMT -5
Riley looked at Roland as Arthur left, checking the time. It was later afternoon already. They took their time leaving Portugal that day, visiting the beach once more.
"Can you take care of Phoenix? I want to go get a shower and get ready... do you mind? Tell Arthur I said thank you again."
She leaned up and kissed him, then pet the dog's head. "You have the keys to your place, right?"
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 9, 2010 0:45:42 GMT -5
He didn't let go of her right away. There was a little over two hours before their "date," and Roland had no idea how he was going to fill that time. It wouldn't take him nearly as long to get ready as it would apparently take her.
"I can take care of Phoenix," he said. He kissed her once more before releasing her. "Hey... have I told you lately that I love you?"
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 9, 2010 13:44:56 GMT -5
He would have to find something to entertain him, though. Riley fully intended to use every minute getting ready. Their courtship had been largely unconventional, and if she thought about it, there were only two times he would have seen her even remotely dressed up- his family's Christmas dinner and the party at the Auror office. Even then, she hadn't put a lot of effort into her appearance. Besides those events, especially for the time he was in the safe house, he'd mostly seen her at her worst.
So she wanted to go all out tonight. Make up, hair, a dress... she wanted to stun him, and, being a girl, she needed time to do that.
"Yeah, you have. But you can keep saying it," she told him, smiling as she kissed him once more. She was obviously excited. "And I love you, too, future husband."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 9, 2010 15:47:25 GMT -5
He gave a little start when she called him that, but it was a good one. He had never been so excited about the future before. Marrying Riley, becoming a husband and a father... these were things he had never really pictured happening to him before, but now it seemed like the future had opened up into so many bright and beautiful possibilities. He had always sought adventure, but it seemed that his greatest adventure was falling in love with Riley.
"You're killing me, you know," he said, still smiling. "I really would love to take you straight to bed... but I promised you a date. So, go before I can't take it anymore."
He kissed her one last time, then, with a great amount of effort, pulled away.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 9, 2010 15:52:13 GMT -5
Riley gave him a wicked little smile. Merlin, she wanted to impress him. She knew she didn't have to, and she knew that he would think she was pretty anyway, but sometimes it would feel good to have him look at her like he was seeing her for the first time. That was her goal tonight.
"Later. We have all the time in the world," she told him. "I'll see you when you come pick me up," she added with a little laugh. And then, she was gone, slipped inside her apartment.
(You can jump ahead however you like... I just thought I'd give him room for another post)
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 9, 2010 16:32:17 GMT -5
Roland watched her go, a sort of dazed smile on his face. If only she knew just what a powerful effect she had on him. All she had to do was smile at him and he was putty in her hands.
He was still smiling when Arthur returned with the dog's food and other supplies. They talked for a little while, mostly small talk, and when Phoenix seemed to be getting impatient, Roland thanked Arthur once again and went back to his own apartment.
It was strange how his apartment no longer felt like home. Not unless Riley was in it. He had loved this apartment, but it now seemed empty. His real home was next door...Riley was his home.
He quickly went about making some preparations for the date, including owling the restaurant for a reservation, and ordering some flowers from the florist around the corner. Then he took the dog for a walk, to get the flowers.
The time passed more quickly than he had expected, and pretty soon he was showered and dressed and it was nearly time to pick up Riley.
"Well," said to the dog, only half expecting an answer, "how do I look?"
He looked very good, if he did say so himself. He was not wearing robes, having decided that they wouold only be for work from now on. Instead, he was wearing a pair of nicely-pressed black pants and a well-tailored jacket to match. Underneath the jacket he wore a white shirt with the collar folded over casually. Next to the perfect tailoring of the jacket and pants, the shirt sort of created an air of casual elegance.
"Well, here goes nothing," he said to the dog. "Don't wait up."
Was it odd that he was actually nervous about picking her up for a date? They were engaged.... a date should be no big deal. But something about the ceremony of the whole thing was causing his stomach to flutter nervously.
He picked up the flowers (a bouquet of different colored lilies) and left the apartment, walking to hers. He took a deep breath and knocked.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 9, 2010 16:59:01 GMT -5
Riley was a ball of nerves as well, and she felt like a giddy school girl while she was getting ready. She used the body soap that smelled really good, that she only used when she wanted to feel pretty, while she was in the shower, and then spent every minute she had dolling herself up.
She didn't go over the top, knowing that there was such a thing as too much, and that certainly wasnt her goal.
She slipped into a deep red dress that looked like it belonged in the 40's era of America (the world's best period for fashion, in Riley's opinion) and set out a pair of black high heels to go with it.
Then she did her make up and curled her hair. She left it down, since that's how Roland liked it, but it was all set in loose, bouncing curls.
She was a girl, after all, and she knew how to do all of this, she just so rarely got the oppertunity.
She was just finishing the strap on her second shoe when Roland knocked, and she took a deep breath, just looking at the door for a moment. She wished she had Phoenix here so she could ask how she looked, or Geoffrey, or Roland... but he, at least, would have defeated the purpose.
She walked to the door, the carpet muffling the sounds of her shoes, and pressed her lips together before she opened the door.
She saw him, something of a smirk on her lips as she couldn't help but think just how good he looked, and then her smile turned almost shy. "Hi."
She wanted to tell him that the suit looked great on him... but she wanted him to say it first.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 9, 2010 22:02:42 GMT -5
When she opened the door, it was like everything stopped. She was just so beautiful that he could barely breathe for a moment. He just stood there, staring at her, with a crooked grin on his face. He always thought she looked beautiful... even when she first woke up in the morning. But it hadn't prepared him for how stunning she could really look if she tried.
"Wow," he said at last. "You look... wow."
He wasn't sure he had ever blushed in his life, but his cheeks actually felt warm. Somehow it didn't seem like enough to just say that she looked beautiful, and he couldn't quite find the right words.
"You're incredible," he said softly.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 10, 2010 3:39:30 GMT -5
Riley laughed, softly, and her cheeks flushed. Merlin, she was sixteen again... just without a lot of the anger issues. "You think so?" she asked softly, her eyes downcast until she met his again.
"Thanks. You look very handsome, Roland. I haven't seen that jacket before." She bit her lip, looking at the flowers that he hadn't mentioned or handed to her yet. She loved him so much for even thinking of getting her flowers.
"I'd invite you in," she said, looking over her shoulder. "But I think we both know where that would end up."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 10, 2010 12:36:42 GMT -5
He never wanted to lose this feeling. He felt almost giddy as he looked at her blushing and smiling at him. This was crazy... they were adults and they were acting like teenagers. "Thank you," he said. "I think I only wore it once."
He let out a laugh and held out the flowers. "Yeah, it probably will. But there'll be plenty of time for that later. But I owe you a night out on the town. And you look so beautiful that I really want to show you off. But... you should probably go put these in some water or something."
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 10, 2010 12:43:37 GMT -5
Barely adults. They were still young, and that was the important part. Perhaps they needed just a time or two that they could behave like this.
"Thank you for the flowers," she said. "They're beautiful. Stay here. I'll be right back." She really couldn't let him in because she wanted to kiss him so badly, and that would just lead to more.
When she came back, she grabbed her coat and had it over her arm as she closed the door behind her. "No one's ever wanted to show me off before," she commented. "It's kind of nice."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 10, 2010 15:15:09 GMT -5
It wouldn't be very long before they would have to be responsible for another person, and Roland had to keep reminding himself of that fact. They deserved to take a little time to be young and carefree and madly in love.
When she came back with her coat, he took it from her and helped her put it on. He wanted to prove that he could be a perfect gentleman, even though he would have much preferred to be taking clothes off of her instead of putting them on.
"You really do look beautiful," he said to her, pressing a chaste kiss on her cheek. "But don't think you have to dress up like this for me all the time. I always think you look beautiful. You know that, right?"
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 10, 2010 22:57:59 GMT -5
While they were both acting like teenagers, there was something very grown up about it, too. The way he put her coat her for her... it was one of those little things that just struck her. She could see him doing the same thing for her in twenty, thirty years.
"I know you think I'm pretty," Riley told him, nodding. "But you like the extra effort too, right? You've never seen me all dressed up."
She couldn't help that her cheeks still felt warm, or that his approval of the 'extra effort' meant the world to her. It didn't matter what anyone else said or thought... as long as he liked it.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 10, 2010 23:34:49 GMT -5
"Yes... I like it," he said, smiling down at her. "I like it a lot. That dress looks incredible on you. It makes you look like some kind of old-time movie star, from the 40s or something. And you know I love you in red."
He kissed her very lightly on the lips, then took her arm. "I hope you don't mind... I made a reservation at Galligan's. I thought about that fancy French place in Hogsmeade, but I heard the ambiance is very pretentious. Galligan's is nice... and you know how I love Italian food."
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 10, 2010 23:42:25 GMT -5
"Funny, old time movie star is what I was going for," Riley said, pleased that she at least pulled it off. "Like Rita Hayworth... do you know her? She was beautiful. Very much the kind of woman I wanted to be when I grew up."
She just nodded when Roland told her where they were going, assuring him that it was fine. Though she was pretty sure it was a supposed to be a surprise, she didn't mind that he told her. It was a nice restaurant, with friendly staff, though she'd never been in La Repas to make a comparison.
Arms linked lightly, She tilted her chin up. "I like when you dress up for me too," she told him, half teasingly.
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