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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 8, 2016 22:10:09 GMT -5
Lyra NewburyAfter their night together Julian woke up feeling the most peaceful he had in years. It quickly shifted into one of the worst mornings he could remember. He was eaten up with guilt over what he had done to his friend, to Lyra. They weren't friends, they were something caught between lovers and who the hell knew what else. He had wanted to be casual with her the next morning, pretend things had gone back to normal but he felt too much guilt to allow that. It was an awkward goodbye unworthy of him. Not soon after he had left he got Sam's angry patronus, and two days later an irate Sam in person. She had ripped him a new one, called him a few inventive names and left. But she didn't tell him anything he didn't know already. He had hurt Lyra and he had to make it up to her, only he wasn't sure he was up to the task. Finally he sent her an owl and asked her to meet him at Ambrosia, it was a start though he wasn't entirely sure what he was going to say when he saw her.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 8, 2016 22:32:25 GMT -5
It was becoming a common sensation for Lyra, but as she read his letter her heart both soared and sank in harmonious discord. She considered asking Samantha what she should do, but decided against it knowing that Sam would only chastise Julian further and insist that Lyra get herself a proper gentleman who didn't play with her heart so. Instead, she replied to his owl stating that she would join him. Lyra decided that the best course of action would be to act as they had before, minus the innocent flirting that in hindsight hadn't been innocent at all.
After a full day of living as a drunk, and a second day of pretending the outside world didn't exist (despite Samantha gently reminding her that she had agreed to only one day of sorrow over "that cad") Lyra needed some help to look presentable. She made an impromptu visit to the spa at Enchanted and got a massage and had her hair done. She wore a low cut purple dress that hugged her curves, but fell almost to her knees so she felt rather covered up, and black heels.
Standing outside Ambrosia, Lyra began to have second thoughts. What if she couldn't control herself again? She didn't want to hurt Julian further, she'd done enough of that for a lifetime. She almost turned back and left, but caught sight of Julian through the window. Her feet carried her inside before she could reason her way out.
"Hello," she said tentatively.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 8, 2016 22:36:52 GMT -5
She looked good. Damned good. And the thoughts that ran through Julian's mind were not entirely innocent.
He on the other hand looked like a mess. Nicolas had come to see if he needed anything, but he was busy soothing Sam's feathers and Julian understood. He wanted his guilt, it was supposed to keep him from doing something stupid, but his guilt warred against the low cut purple dress Lyra wore.
"Hello." he replied, still a little shocked at the affect she had on him.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 8, 2016 23:09:50 GMT -5
She stood in the awkwardness of their greeting for a moment, then forced a smile and sat down. She played nervously with her hands in her lap, not knowing what to say or how to say it. She bit her lower lip. "So..." She had hoped if she said something, that more somethings would follow. But nothing came and she turned her eyes to her hands.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 8, 2016 23:13:23 GMT -5
His head cleared, "Yes." he said acknowledging the awkwardness wand wanting to crush it, but nothing he said would work toward that end. So it was best to bite the bullet.
"Lyra...I'm-"
"May I get your drinks?" a bubbly waitress asked interrupting the moment.
"Wine." Champagne was for celebrating, and a martini was what led to this current predicament.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 8, 2016 23:32:57 GMT -5
She looked up eagerly awaiting a break in the unpleasantness, only for him to be interrupted by the waitress. Daggers shot from Lyra's eyes but went unnoticed by the waitress who had her attention focused on Julian as he ordered wine. The day that Julian left her flat she had finished three bottles of wine by herself as Samantha looked on without judgement. Thank Merlin for Ashton's hangover potion.
Lyra waited until the waitress had gone and then looked expectantly back to Julian. He was about to say something and if one of them didn't speak soon Lyra's heart would burst from her chest.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 8, 2016 23:36:29 GMT -5
The moment was gone and he wasn't quite sure how to continue.
He sighed, "I hate this." he confessed, "You're the one person I've been able to talk to since..." he shook his head and ran his hand through his hair appearing more disheveled.
"I'm sorry Lyra. I really am."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 8, 2016 23:59:35 GMT -5
As he ran his hand through his hair, Lyra's heart skipped a beat. He looked handsome, even if he looked a mess. He was always handsome. She squeezed her hands tightly under the table to distract her.
"Please don't apologize." She leaned over the table and placed her hand on his. He was warm. Her chest rose as she heaved a sigh that never came. She held the air in her lungs as she looked at his beautiful face.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 9, 2016 0:06:29 GMT -5
He grabbed her hand like a lifeline, "How can I not apologize?" he asked, "I hurt you. You're the last person in this world that I'd want to hurt." his sincerity was heartbreaking.
"I'm making it worse now aren't I?"
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 9, 2016 0:34:01 GMT -5
"Julian..." She wanted to explain that he hadn't hurt her. She had hurt herself knowing full well he was in love with someone else when she pounced on him. She'd tried to explain it to Samantha, but her thoughts never made it past her lips correctly. Being quite inebriated might have had something to do with that.
She inhaled deeply and pulled her hand back from him. "I'm fine, Julian. Really. No need to worry about me." She gave the most convincing smile she could muster, but it fell flat. Just pretend everything is fine, it will hurt him less, she reminded herself.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 9, 2016 0:40:37 GMT -5
He knew her, he could read her perfectly well and almost would have preferred her anger. The bravado she was exhibiting made him feel worse.
He wished he had the answers, he wished things could go back but they couldn't. They would have to find a new normal.
"I'll always worry about you." he told her fondly.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 9, 2016 1:08:58 GMT -5
"That's sweet, but-"
The waitress had returned. This time Lyra was happy for the interruption. It gave a few more moments to figure out when she was going to say. A wine glass was placed in front of her and another in front of Julian. Lyra stared at it. She was almost certain she'd drunk all the wine in Britain only two days ago.
"I told Sam," she confessed, almost apologetically. "I know I probably shouldn't have..."
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 9, 2016 1:17:10 GMT -5
Julian didn't seem particularly surprised that she had told Sam. And he wasn't of course, he knew she told Sam, and Sam had confronted him, but it was no less than his due.
"It doesn't matter." he told her easily, and it didn't, "I'm glad you were able to talk to someone." though he might have wished that someone wasn't a pissed off little army.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 9, 2016 1:35:20 GMT -5
She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled more sincerely than she had before. "Have you told anyone? ...No, I don't suppose men share things like that. Not men like you. Boys mainly..." Lyra had overheard a number of Slytherin boys discuss their conquests in common room. She couldn't picture Julian bragging about their tryst to his mates.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 9, 2016 1:47:04 GMT -5
"Of course not..." he said reassuringly, " Not like that. I wouldn't."
Maybe he should have waited longer before contacting her. That would have been the safe thing to do, the easy thing, but he had to see how she was doing for himself. Now that he saw her however, he wished he hadn't.
The guilt was too sharp.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 9, 2016 2:01:52 GMT -5
This made her feel better. She didn't like being a story. If anything, she had preferred to be the storyteller, at least she used to.
"How badly did Sam yell at you? I didn't ask her to," she added hastily.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 9, 2016 2:12:34 GMT -5
Julian smiled faintly, "She might be small, but I wouldn't underestimate her." he answered.
"It's no more than I deserved. I deserved far worse for getting carried away. I admit the temptation was more than any mortal I think could refuse."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 9, 2016 2:23:22 GMT -5
Lyra's cheeks flushed and she began to fidget with her fingers in her lap again. "Don't talk like that," she cautioned softly. She looked at her untouched wine glass. The combination of alcohol and his compliments could be deadly. She mustn't abide them.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 9, 2016 2:28:26 GMT -5
Julian flushed at her words. He hadn't intended to make her uncomfortable, but flirtation came easily to him, to them. He realized that things would have to change, and she was right to chastise him.
"I apologize. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 9, 2016 2:41:45 GMT -5
"Of course it was a good idea. We can't just not see each other. I can't not see you!" She realized too late that her voice was louder than she intended. But the though of not seeing him anymore hurt too badly. She had to be selfish with something. She would keep her heart as her own and she wouldn't interfere as he pined over his lost love. She would do those things for him. But she needed this one thing for herself. She needed to see him, to see that he was okay. And to one day see him happy.
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