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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 19, 2017 4:00:34 GMT -5
Dorian had spent the night with Maxine at her apartment and stayed for breakfast. It was nearly 9 am by the time he managed to escape with all of his clothes on. Considering his trip home was technically a "walk of shame" Dorian looked surprisingly well put together. Or, perhaps it wasn't so surprising to someone who knew him.
He had charmed away the wrinkles that had gathered on his suit jacket after it had been abandoned on Maxine's floor for several hours. He was clean (enough), perfectly dressed, with his hair combed back. He looked dapper as always and the only real hints to his whereabouts the night before was the fact that he was wearing the same suit as the previous day, and that he was coming home so early in the morning on a weekend.
Dorian strolled down the hallway toward his apartment, a satisfied look on his face and a mild skip in his step. He wondered if his new neighbors across the hall had settled in enough that he should make an effort to introduce himself - after a proper shower of course. He just needed to get inside and possibly take a nap, the new couple hadn't done much sleeping the previous night.
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Christine Montgomery
 
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 19, 2017 13:41:37 GMT -5
Contrary to Dorian, Christine did not have a pep in her step. She did. But it had vanished, and this morning she was downright surly. She had left Alek's a week ago, the Raun should have only been three days, that left four days in which he could have called and at least told her that he wasn't injured.
She knew he hadn't been injured because of Lex, whom she had called and not so subtly asked if he was alright. But Alek should have called her. And she was going mad trying not to feel brushed off - which wasn't working.
But today she wasn't going to focus on that. Today she was going to go shopping. Since moving out had been a rather hurried affair, she didn't have much time to decorate her new space or even have much furniture besides a mattress and some basic comforts. She had additionally put off decorating out of worry for Alek, but now she needed to take her mind off of things. She wrote her cousin - since Sam was a professional - and invited her and Lyra for drinks and to go over some designs.
She was just stepping out of the door when she bumped into someone. A familiar someone.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't see...Dorian?"
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 19, 2017 15:20:15 GMT -5
Dorian was pulling his keys out of his pocket when the door across the hall opened and then shut. He began to turn for an impromptu introduction with his new neighbor when the woman bumped into him, causing him to drop his keys on the floor. He stooped to pick them up and as he looked up he realized it was Christine standing in the hallway. She had clearly recognized him as well as she halted her apology mid-sentence.
Dorian inhaled to speak but wasn't sure what to say. He rose slowly into a standing position, a moderately perplexed look on his handsome face. "Christine, I - I wasn't expecting you."
Their affair had been confined to the hotel suite and the safe house, and ended at her home. He had never been granted the opportunity to give her his address or bring her by his flat for a quiet evening. How did she know where he lived? And more importantly, why was she here now?
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 19, 2017 15:26:57 GMT -5
She hadn't seen him since he scolded her, then nearly f*cked her literally at the doorway of her ancestral home. Heat warmed her cheeks when she thought of the encounter, but the cold dose of reality came quickly on its heels. She was seeing someone else now...in theory.
"What are you doing here?" she asked suddenly with a frown, "Did the ministry send you? I told them I was done hiding, I meant it." she said with a tone of finality in her voice.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 19, 2017 15:54:27 GMT -5
His jaw tensed as he looked at her, trying to figure out how best to respond to her statements. She standing at his door asking him what he was doing there. Awareness came all too quickly then and Dorian took a step back in surprise.
"You live in 508 now," he stated, rather than asked. Did she really accidentally rent the flat across the hall from him? Merlin's beard, he could see her door through his peephole! What were the fates playing at by bringing them so close?
Another dose of realization swiftly followed. His face grew stern, yet concerned. His voice was calm but there was an underlying urgency in his words. "Who's monitoring you? Where are your guards?" M was still on the loose and Christine had moved out of her family's estate. Was this the reason she opted for an apartment so near him? For protection? He didn't know how to respond.
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 19, 2017 16:06:57 GMT -5
It was the sternness she caught more than the concern, she was well aware that he was concerned for her. But the patronizing manner in his speech goaded her beyond anger.
"No one. No Guards." she said almost smugly. Perhaps it was a bit childish, but it was the only response he allowed her. If he was going to treat her like a child, then she'd behave like one.
"Why are you here? The Ministry has no business butting into my affairs. Neither do you."
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 19, 2017 16:14:34 GMT -5
No guards. The news sent his stomach sinking. Certainly the Montgomerys didn't allow her to move out without some protection. He reminded himself that she was an adult - not a child, an adult. He repeated it silently to himself as he straightened his posture and put his hands in the pockets of his suit.
"I'm not here on Ministry orders, Christine. You live in 508. I live in 509. This is my home." He turned slightly to indicate the door which they were standing in front of then turned back. His jaw tensed again.
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 19, 2017 16:29:24 GMT -5
She laughed. It was not possible that the fates would do that to her on top of everything else. "No." she said simply with another little laugh.
But he didn't laugh with her.
"No..." she said again with a frown. She knew her brother lived in the building, and that was bad enough, but she couldn't have possibly moved in right across the hall from her ex. Was ex the right term? Could they be exes if they were never technically committed together? Or could they be exes when she still felt such a deep magnetic pull toward him?
"You've got to be f*cking kidding me." she said under her breath.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 19, 2017 17:10:08 GMT -5
"Apparently it's true," he stated with as little emotion as he could manage given that he now lived only a few feet from the woman he was still hopelessly in love with. He couldn't think on his feelings for her now. It was already so inappropriate, they were so completely different from each other and she was seeing Alek now. He, too, had a new relationship. Merlin, this was a horrible situation.
Forcing himself to ignore the awkwardness, Dorian leapt into professional mode. "I expect you've had the proper enchantments and safeguards installed on your new home?"
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 19, 2017 17:49:53 GMT -5
"Ever the auror." she said with a sigh. She was still dealing with the shock of seeing him, trying hopelessly not to melt into a puddle on the floor, and he casually asked about enchantments on her home. It wasn't fair. Why was she the only one affected by their closeness? But if he could act casually so could she. Well she could try.
"I've taken the proper precautions, yes. And with the Ministry's best and brightest right next door, how can I worry?" she asked with a thin smile and feigned confidence.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 19, 2017 18:51:50 GMT -5
Perhaps their proximity made Christine feel safe but it had the opposite effect on Dorian. So many times he had talked himself out of calling her or showing up on her doorstep. It was wrong, they were from two different worlds, she was so young, and his job was so dangerous. There were several different angles Dorian could take to talk himself out of seeing Christine but what could he possibly tell himself if she were literally at his doorstep?
"Good," he said of her protection charms. "Of course, should you need anything..." What the hell was he doing? He was opening a door to which he could not possibly close. Shut up. Shut up.
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 19, 2017 19:38:40 GMT -5
"What? A cup of sugar? Help moving the furniture?" she asked him sarcastically.
"I appreciate neighborly concern as much as the next person, but are we really supposed to act like nothing happened?" she shook her head at him.
"How do you do that Dorian? How do you act like it didn't mean anything?" she asked a little more emotional than she wanted to be. She growled in frustration.
"Never mind. This isn't going to work. I'll put in for a new apartment tomorrow."
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 19, 2017 20:01:57 GMT -5
The sarcasm she used to cover up her pain was one of the reasons Dorian tried to always think through what he was going to say before speaking. He wanted to ensure his words and intentions were not misunderstood. But the shock of Christine's appearance in the complex, not to mention the confusing, tormented feelings he got simply from being around Christine, made his speak more carelessly.
"Of course it meant something, Christine, but what is it you would prefer me to do? I can't wallow in it any longer. I am simply trying to make the best with what I've been given."
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 19, 2017 22:06:23 GMT -5
"You? Wallow?" she couldn't help but laugh. She was the one who wallowed, who drowned rather, in the tears she had cried over him. She was the one who called his name out when she slept and had nightmares about M. She was the one who was dumped.
"Yes it must have been horrible all that cutting me out of your life you did."
Her stance was hard. He had walked out of her life. He didn't even try to make things work. He claimed to love her, but he gave up on her. She had lied about the money, and yes about her age. But they were consenting adults, and the money shouldn't have mattered. She was still the same woman, and he had rejected her.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 20, 2017 0:25:48 GMT -5
Dorian pursed his lips and looked to the ground, mildly annoyed at the laughter and sarcastic tone she was taking with him. He was a private man and he kept his feelings well hidden. Or tried to, anyway. When he was given the news that the Ministry believed Christine to be dead, Kate nearly witnessed his breakdown and did in fact return to the office to see the aftermath of his emotions. Lex was privy to the whole ordeal as she barged in, in true Lex fashion, on one of his weaker moments as he attempted to drink himself into a stupor over the longing he had for the girl who now stood before him and claimed he wasn't bothered by "cutting her out" of his life.
"As a matter of fact, it was. And still is." He looked at her with all sincerity and a tiny glimmer of sadness in his eyes. Not only had she lied to him and betrayed his trust, clearly she hadn't learned a thing about him in their time confined to the same hotel suite. Dorian kept himself buttoned up, but it didn't mean there wasn't a full range of passionate emotions just below the surface.
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 20, 2017 0:47:59 GMT -5
For all her maturity she was still a girl. She loved Dorian with a passion that defied sanity. When he left it broke her. In the time since she had tried to heal, she tried to move on, and she was successful in some ways, but in others Dorian still held her heart. She didn't want a tantrum or tears, but anything to show her that he had loved her as much as him, any hint of that emotion would have sufficed. But then she reasoned that if he loved her like he claimed to, he would have stayed with her. He wouldn't have left her right when she needed him the most.
"Then maybe you should have fought harder to keep me any of the times I begged you not to go." She averted her eyes determined not to become the emotional mess she was threatening to become.
"I can't do this with you Dorian. I can't live across the hall from you. It would be torture."
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 20, 2017 1:03:56 GMT -5
And there was the crux of the problem. Dorian couldn't give her what she wanted. He couldn't give a little hint here or there in attempt to ease her pain and unburden her with the thought that he never really loved her. Because he loved her too much, a frightening amount considering how very little they both knew of each other's everyday lives. He didn't know her last name until after she'd been kidnapped. She didn't know where he lived until 15 minutes ago. They were strangers in love.
He tried to hide his feelings, believing it would be easier for her to move on. But they popped up anyway, manifesting as concern for her safety and of course for her happiness. He loved her enough to let her be with Alek without chasing after her. He loved her so much that his first thoughts when he found out she had moved out on her own was to her safety and protection. Ever the Auror, she claimed. Ever the lovesick fool was more like it.
"I can't change the past, Christine. And what does it matter now? You're with Alek. You're moving on."
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 20, 2017 1:14:58 GMT -5
"Who said I was..." she shut her mouth tightly and nodded, as the answer came to her "Lex." She shook her head irritated at the lack of privacy, "Of course."
Finally she looked at him, "You made it very clear there was no hope for us. I told you I wouldn't wait for you. Doesn't mean I've moved on. It just means that I'd rather be with someone who wants me, rather than pine after someone who only sees me as a mistake."
She couldn't change the past. She couldn't erase the fact that she had withheld the truth from him. But even if she could she wouldn't trade her time with him for the world.
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Post by Dorian Humbert on Jan 20, 2017 1:22:31 GMT -5
At least they could agree on that. It took a while but Dorian was finally able to move past the jarring information that she was still a student, despite being legally of age. Once the realization set in that Christine was an adult he was able to look back on their time together. He longed for it again. But it wasn't in the cards.
The muscles in his face and shoulders tensed at her words. "You weren't a mistake." He didn't add anything else. No excuses for how he had handled it. No reasons why he felt justified in his actions at the time. There were aspects he wanted to change about how their relationship developed but Christine was not a mistake.
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jan 20, 2017 1:29:58 GMT -5
"I was three weeks ago." she replied crossing her arms over her chest. It was the reason she had stopped their almost affair. She couldn't bear to look in his eyes afterward and see the regret as he realized he had made another mistake. For him to say that she wasn't was almost painful as it was jarring. She knew he wasn't the type to lie, but he would do and say almost anything to soothe her. She used to find it endearing how well he would take care of her, but now it was just a reminder that he didn't think she was capable of taking care of herself.
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