Joyeux 21 eme Anniversaire (Kelenore)

Subject: Joyeux 21 eme Anniversaire (Kelenore) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:24 pm

Christmas in New York was a beautiful thing, the Harrington male reflected as he drank from a Styrofoam coffee cup, waiting in line at a women's boutique storefront of all places. The man would have been the first to admit this kind of shopping was not up his alley but he had been told this was where to go so here he was, on the night of the thirteenth, dressed in three layers of sweaters and jumpers with his gloves hands tying to seek warmth from the hot cup of coffee.

The cold weather had not fettered shoppers though, nor had what the government was melodramatically calling "war times". By no means was he redhead the only one outside the closed store, a small crowd of women had gathered, from ages thirty to fifty and two looking at him with more interest than he liked.

The young man tried not to make eye contact as he held his place in line, people were crazy this time of year and he had no wish to add to that.

***

These days, there were scarce times when he couldn't be found with Elenore Clement. They had made a habit of going to school together, leaving together and even siting in on each other's practices, rehearses and workshops. Kevin had no qualms admitting his companion worked harder than him, leading to longer hours on campus but he'd found himself minding it less and less. Especially when afterwords, they would go out for dinner, indulging in one of favorite and her least favorite activities, trying new places to eat in New York. Despite the change that had come over the witch in the past few months, she still remained a traditionalist at heart and Kevin wouldn't change that for the world.

He would however, not say no to seeing her in more urban clothes.

***

Tuesday had cleared he semester with a four point one GPA, a result Kevin hand't even known was possible. And on top of that, she had managed to do what few students had done before graduation - produce a musical number that had sold. The final showcase before the end oft he semester had been rifle with VIPs and record execs and after hearing Elenore's piece, the record labels had wasted no time. Three offers had came in with competing price tags, overwhelming witch until Kevin had explained to her what it all meant.

In the end, the witch had picked a label she personally thought incorporated her identity and donated the proceeds to a children's music charity, soemthing that had earned her yet another award. Kevin could not have been prouder of her if he'd tried. When classes had ended for Christmas, they had both gone to celebrate, Kevin taking her to an evening that was more up her speed. A river cruise around New York with all the fine dining trimmings she was used to.

Today, he hoped to top that.

***

Having collected the package from the boutique, he made his way to Tuesday's building. It as past midnight and he knew better than to call on her a this hour. Leaving the parcel with her doorman, the redhead added the instructions. he would get it when sh woke up tomorrow and hopefully, hopefully she would be prepared.

Smiling idiotically to himself, the man started for his hole in the wall.

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Joyeux 21 eme Anniversaire (Kelenore) Rsz_rs12

Subject: Re: Joyeux 21 eme Anniversaire (Kelenore) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:25 pm

Since the summer, everything had returned to how it had been before her brother had arrived in the country. With the exception that now Kevin knew more than she'd previously allowed him to. It had been a worry of the witch's that it would push him away, but if anything... it had brought them closer than before. Their time together had only increased, in and out of classes. Kevin could always be found at her recitals and practices, and he was never short on praise when they had finished.

Elenore had returned the action by going to Kevin's own engagements with his class, and when they were done... the man had shown her some truly terrible dining, but also some very interesting new places to eat, too. It would never cease to amaze the witch just what the man believed to be 'normal' when it came to food, but with each trial run with new cuisines, she found herself growing more comfortable, and trying whatever Kevin suggested.

The promise of moving together at the end of the school year had kept the witch with an underlying feeling of excitement, one that could have distracted the witch entirely had her love for music not been greater. But it was there, and it was the extra time promised away from France that had made the witch gravitate more and more to Kevin Harrington in the coming months.

Elenore had barely acknowledged the achievement she'd made in the studies, only realising the gravity of the achievement when Kevin had taken her to celebrate the achievement. The dinner that had followed had been enjoyable, and solified just how well she had done through the semester, the smile upon her features had shown just how much she appreciated Kevin's companionship, and support through everything.

December had rolled around once more, and with it her twenty first birthday. Everyone at university was excited to celebrate the milestone which allowed Elenore to legally be able to drink in the country -- something that amused the witch entirely. They had all forgotten their own promises to head home for the winter break though, which meant very few of their college friends were still around on the day of her birthday.

Elenore hadn't expected anything else, though.

The only person she had needed was the one who had already promised he was staying for the winter break.

The morning of the witch's birthday had come with a dusting of snow across New York. The phone on her bedside had been softly humming with messages from her friends, and notifications from her social media following. Elenore's eyes had been looking for only one name to pop up on the screen, though, and that name was not there. Perhaps, she reasoned even as the pang of displeasure swept up from the depths of her stomach, Kevin wasn't awake yet.

The door to her bedroom opened very gently, and the scampering feet of three puppies made themselves known. The bed dipped on the right hand side with the weight of the black Labrador as she jumped effortlessly up on to the bed, and quickly pressed a wet nose in to Elenore's face.

"Bonjour," the witch greeted happily, cuddling the Labrador close. From the left, the bed dipped with the weight of the golden retriever, and a fuss was equally welcomed by the animal. A dissatisfied grumble echoed from the end of the bed a moment later, before the head of the Bassett hound emerged at the top of the steps up to the bed, and then the happy cuddles were insisted upon. The four of them took their time, Elenore talking to them each softly in French about how she had had them each for a year now, and where had that time gone.

Elenore had not noticed the appearance of her lady's maid until she had softly cleared her throat, and then announced that she had a package.

The box had been brought to the witch where she sat, and after a couple of attempts to move the dogs away, Elenore turned her attention back to the object. The lady's maid had been dismissed without another look, and then, the witch had carefully opened it.

At the top of the box was a card. The witch had gently lifted it from the top, turning it over to find... the collage of pictures at the front of the card were of her. Carefully cut and placed all over the card, with a twenty one in the middle. Elenore's eyes roamed from picture to picture, admiring the craftmanship of each picture upon the card with the eye Kevin had slowly explained to her in the months since he'd first shown her his home. The smile upon the witch's lips blossomed as she took it in, and only after she was sure she'd looked at all of them had she opened the card.

Understand, I'll slip quietly
away from the noisy crowd
when I see the pale
stars rising, blooming, over the oaks.

I'll pursue solitary pathways
through the pale twilit meadows,
with only this one dream:
You come too.

The witch had contemplated the words within the card carefully, trying to decipher what they might mean. A clue, perhaps? Or was it something Kevin had written for her? The witch was left in the realms of the unknown as she read through them again, wondering what the man had planned.

As the witch moved to close the card, careful in her movements, another piece of paper dislodged itself from the middle of the card. With careful fingers, Elenore had reached for that piece, and found herself looking back at the paper with the hint of tears in her eyes:

Monsieur Harrington voudrait solliciter le plaisir de votre compagnie, à l'occasion de votre anniversaire.

Voulez-vous le rejoindre?

The witch smiled at the paper, nodding despite the fact Kevin could not see her in that moment. Whatever he had planned, she would always join him, that much was no longer a question he needed to ask. But he had, in French. Something Elenore had not known Kevin could do, and yet... he had.

Elenore's attention turned back to the box, though, reaching in to the depths and retrieving... a black dress. Elenore had moved carefully from her bed, across the floor to stand before the mirror with the dress, holding it up, it was clear that Kevin... had wanted to push boundaries, it was not in a style the witch would usually have chosen, and yet... she liked it.

Turning from side to side, Elenore wondered how it might look upon her person, but she couldn't decide.

Not yet.

Instead, she had turned back to the box, and found black shoes that had been chosen to accompany the dress, and diamonds that would compliment the whole ensemble. At the bottom of the box was a note to say he would pick her up at five, ever the one to be confident in himself, today had been no different for Kevin.

Elenore had contemplated all of the gifts with an air of curiosity about her. Wondering what the redhead was up to, whilst also... not wanting to know either. She'd simply sent a text to the man instead, saying that she would see him at five o'clock.

The rest of the day had been spent at home with the puppies and her piano. Whilst many of their peers might have gone home to spend time with their families, Elenore did not give up on her dreams. Which had been a welcome blessing as the first few phases of a spirited composition came to her. After lunch, though, Elenore had forgone the restful morning's activities in favour of getting ready for the evening. A bath had been drawn for the witch to thoroughly soak herself in, and then she had turned her attention to getting ready for the evening. Her lady's maid had spent the afternoon aiding her in the process, from the delicately soft hints of makeup upon her cheeks, and around her eyes, to the fresh French manicure to perfect the nails that were never out of place. Her hair had been pulled up from her shoulders and fastened with a comb that complimented the jewellery Kevin had brought for her.

The dress had been easy to get in to, and the heels were comfortable despite their height. The reflection that looked back at the witch in the mirror, though, was one that Elenore had not seen before. The bare shoulders, and the bold cut of the dress low at her sides was one that she would never have chosen for herself. The back dipped low enough to mean her usual wardrobe had to be altered, but she looked...

"Belle fille," the lady's maid complimented when they caught one another's eyes in the mirror. Elenore looked back at herself in the mirror uncertainly despite the compliment. The only person who could assure her of that much was not yet here.

Time was on her side, though, and with the final sweeping glance, Elenore retreated from the mirror, and towards the elevator. The jacket that had been picked out to compliment the sat waiting by the elevator, leaving Elenore to pick it up on her way before she entered the elevator to make her way downstairs.

Kevin would likely already be in the lobby waiting for the doors to open.

Waiting for her.

As he always was.

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Subject: Re: Joyeux 21 eme Anniversaire (Kelenore) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:26 pm

As principally opposed as he was to letting someone else drive him around, Kevin Harrington had swallowed the tough pill as he stepped into the back of the hired limousine. Today was not about him. The bouquet of flowers rested beside the mini fridge containing chilled Champaign as the redhead fussed with his bow tie which would just not sit still. Normally at ease in formal wear, the years in New York as a student had not done the man's sense of fashion any good.

Still, today warranted every annoyance he could ever face because it would be worth it. The silly smile that had started on his face the night before had yet to let up and the wizard couldn't muster the will to make it. Her last birthday had been special but he was going to top it this year.

It didn't take the car long to weave its way stealthily through traffic, delivering the Harrington male to Tuesday's building. Despite it being only five, the sun was dim and there was a chill in the air, a chill he only noticed once he was out of the limo and being greeted by her doorman.

Kevin stepped into the warmly lit lobby in full ensemble, black and white tuxedo tailor fitted to has frame, auburn hair gelled back to a more distinguished peak and a large bouquet of white peonies held in his hands. Even the bow tie had agreed to stay put for this moment. As he rounded the corner, Kevin saw her reflection in the lobby mirrored before he actually saw her.

And stopped dead in his tracks.

The French brunette looked nothing short of stunning as she waited, not sitting but not pacing either, a vision in black and diamonds with tendrils of her shimmering brown looks framing her face. If the man had ever thought that his painfully selected dressings would be the thing that would make Elenore look good, he was proven very, very wrong.

Using his free hand, the man reached for his phone swiping the shortcut to the camera with a single thumb. Framing the mirror nd the reflection within, the man clicked once, twice, thrice.

But it was no good.

No device or artists eye in the world could capture her beauty in this moment. To even try was sheer hubris.

Putting away his phone, the Harrington male composed himself before stepping fort;h, a brilliant grin lighting his face.

"Bonne Soiree, belle," he greeted moving towards her purposefully until he was close enough, his eyes twinkling with appreciation. "Joyeux, Anniversaire," he added, leaning forwards to kiss her cheek lightly before handing her the bouquet. Before she got the wrong idea though, he continued.

"That's about the extent of my french right now." He hoped she understood the sentiment behind the joke. He was trying to learn. "Shall we?", the redhead offered her an arm, escorting her through the lobby and towards the waiting limousine. Should the witch ask where they were hooded, Kevin would simply give her a knowing grin, assuring her she would find out soon enough.

Once they were both comfortable seated in the car, Kevin reached for the bottle of champagne . Along with it, two glass flutes had also been left to chill nd now he frosted exterior glistened in his hands as he passed her one. "To you," he stated simply as he poured a small measure in each glass. "And your everlasting happiness." The toast may have been cheesy but he couldn't think of anything he wanted more in the world right now then to keep the witch smiling for the rest of eternity.

The driver had his instructions, he drove in silence as the passengers chatted softy in the back, the divider giving them privacy and the Champaign working its magic, the next time the vehicle stopped, it would be at a special valet parking slot in front of the Lincoln Center.

Elenore's eyes lit up as the saw the signs. The witch was understandably assuming they were here for a concert. And to be fair to her, they were.

She just didn't now it would be her very first one.

Leading her through the lavish entrance, Kevin threw her off slightly as he made for the side rooms instead of the hall. The posters they passed on their way proudly proclaimed a performance at eight by the prestigious Los Angeles Philharmonic. Of course, Juliard students didn't need the posters, they had known of the LAP's schedule for months and he himself had made plans to see it with her at a later showing to throw her off. All candidates serious about music knew the routine by heart and his companion of the evening knew it even better.

Which made it the perfect opportunity to have her test her hand at a live concert with the pros.

He could see the confusion spreading on her face but along with it shimmered the look of flushed surprise and expectation. Leading her through to the backstage area, he stopped in frnot of a podium where a women was looking through several papers. A name tag on her own black dress identified her as "Christee, Stage Manager."

"Hi Christee, its Kevin Harrington, we spoke on the phone."

Christee looked up at them as if they were a godsend. "Oh God, you're here. I was worried we were going to have to do a sound test without out pianist."

"No you won't," the redhead confirmed, stepping back to give Elenore room to shine. "May I present Elenore Harrington, your lead pianist for the night. Can she go get acquainted with her instrument.?"

"Of course, lovely to meet you Elenore," Christee replied in the same hurried manner with which she was shuffling through her papers. Elenore's real surname would have made the woman pause, feel obligated to give her special treatment. It was precisely for this reason that he had chosen to amend the brunette's name slightly for the occasion.

Today's victories and accolades would be Elenore's own.

"Gina will take you," Christee continued handing the young French which a name tag with her own name and designation for the evening. "Gina! Gina! The pianist is here, take her in back before the conductor has a heart attack!"

"Good luck," Kevin whispered as a blonde stage hand appeared out of nowhere, clipboard and pen in hand and a forced smile on her lips. "I'll be the one sitting in front, cheering the loudest for you."

And then, with another kiss to her cheek, Kevin melted into the background confident that he was leaving her in her element.

It was Elenore's show now. And he couldn't wait to see what she did with it.

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Subject: Re: Joyeux 21 eme Anniversaire (Kelenore) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:26 pm

It hadn't been a surprise that Kevin had pulled his phone from his pocket when he'd seen her. It came almost expected of the man when they were together. Never far from a camera, the redhead had effortlessly tried to capture her in the moment she'd appeared from the elevator. Still uncertain in her attire, the witch had kept her eyes away from Kevin's in the mirror, not wanting to find that she might not have been enough in the reflection.

"Bonne Soiree, belle,"

The French, spoken this time, brought a smile to the witch's lips that lit up her features beatifically in that moment. Being away from France for so long had reduced the amount of interactions the witch could use her native language, and it meant more to her than she could have said in that moment to hear Kevin using it, for her. It let her forget that she had been uncertain in her attire that he'd picked out for her, instead enjoying the moment as he wished her happy birthday.

"Merci," the witch started, only to be paused in her French as Kevin admitted that that was the extent of his French and that he couldn't say anything more. Even still, the witch couldn't have been happier as his lips gently touched her cheek, her own reciprocating in the act without a second thought. "You're looking very élégant too." Elenore replied, not knowing her cheeks had flushed in that moment, nor realising she'd slipped in to French in her compliment by accident.

They wasted no time in getting out of the building, and as the man motioned to a limousine for their mode of transport, she couldn't help but be curious of where they might be going. Her question of that effect was not answered, though, instead softly responded to with a 'you'll see' that left her guessing.

The Champagne was a nice touch to their drive, chilled perfectly for them to enjoy. The conversation had been easy, as it always was. What had she done that day, what had he seen that day that he'd captured in his phone? The questions were enough to make small conversation as the car drove effortlessly across New York to their destination.

The Lincoln Centre.

The witch's features had lit up in that moment, the realisation that they would be going to see the LA Philharmonic orchestra made her almost giddy. It was not because they were on their recommended list of orchestras to attend whilst they were in New York that Elenore had wanted to see them, it was because they were one of the best in the world. "I thought we weren't coming until later in the month!" Elenore breathed, peeling her eyes from the signs at the front of the building and back to the man beside her. "Thank you!" She added, squeezing his hand gently before her eyes moved back to the sign before the building.

Their driver had appeared at the door only a moment later, helping Elenore from the car whilst Kevin made his own way around from the street side of the vehicle. Once again, his hand had been offered to her, and the witch had gratefully taken it as he led her in to the theatre.

Elenore has not expected to take such a sharp turn away from the hall, though, as they entered the building. Instead of heading towards seats for the concert... they were heading elsewhere. The confusion would had touched her delicate features as she followed the man beside her without questioning what they were doing. Kevin must have... managed to get them an audience with the orchestra, perhaps? It was the only logical explanation she could think of in that moment, and the swell in her chest denoted just how that made her feel towards the redhead in that moment.

"Hi Christee, its Kevin Harrington, we spoke on the phone."

Elenore still didn't know what was going on in that moment, but she trusted Kevin more than she could ever put in to words. They were going to be shown through to the orchestra.

"Oh God, you're here. I was worried we were going to have to do a sound test without out pianist."

Confusion replaced itself in milliseconds with the look of surprise that escaped through the witch's body. Surprise, with the underlying look of uncertainty. Kevin couldn't possibly...

"May I present Elenore Harrington, your lead pianist for the night. Can she go get acquainted with her instrument.?"

She'd already put the two pieces of the puzzle together, but the introduction had sealed the deal. They were not here to see the Los Angeles Philharmonic. They were here for her play with the LAP. The fact Kevin had given her his last name in that moment hadn't even sounded odd, or out of place.
It had felt right, and at another moment in time, the French witch would deal with those emotions.

As instructions were given, Elenore's eyes had turned from the stage manager back to her companion, softened by the gift he'd given her the underlying tone in them, but the pure excitement won out.

"Good luck,"

"Non, it's 'break a leg'." Elenore corrected softly, the soft laugh that escaped her lips showing that she was almost giddy with anticipation in that moment.

"I'll be the one sitting in front, cheering the loudest for you."

"Tu es toujours..." Elenore replied as his lips brushed against her cheek once more.

If you'd like to follow me, Elenore." Gina's voice cut across in that moment, Kevin had already stepped back away, and the Clement witch turned back towards the stage hand, following along quickly to the backstage area as she'd been asked.

Time would feel slow then, moving in to the room filled with musicians already practicing for the concert ahead, the witch had felt like she'd come home as she stepped in to the room. The introduction to the conductor was quick before she was shown to the grand piano to practice. The song list that was put before her was more than familiar in nature, songs she had practiced from a young age, songs she could play without needing the music sheets before her as a prompt. Whether Kevin had fed these through to the orchestra, or whether it was purely luck, the witch would not be able to say. As she practiced, the conductor's eyes moved to watch as he took in the melody that came from the piano, a small smile moving across his features.

But it was not the practicing that made the witch feel alive.

Nor would it be watching on from the side as the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra opened the evening with the first song. The applause was almost deafening as the last note from Swan Lake finished. The orchestra was quick to continue on their way, though, Morning Mood following on from the first, if the crowd had thought that it would be similar from there, though, they would be wrong.

Instead, as the conductor turned to the crowd, Elenore's stomach fluttered gently.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight's concert comes with a special addition." He explained, the crowd looking to the side of the stage and back to the conductor with expectation. "May I ask you all to welcome our special guest of honour for this evening. A pianist from The Juliard School, Elenore Harrington will be joining us this evening." His hand moved up to present her, and Elenore stepped lightly on to the stage to the polite applause that would be given to any as yet unknown musician joining the stage. The witch was not deterred, though, as she took up her seat at the grand piano before the rest of the orchestra at centre stage.

Silence greeted them.

The light tap of the conductors baton was all that could be heard for the three heartbeats before...

Elenore's slender fingers moved with their usual grace across the keys in the first couple bars of Beethoven's Fur Elise. The pianist would always be the main part to this song, and audience were captivated in that moment as the French witch played.

It was easy to get swept up in the music and Elenore would not be an exception as she played through the song the smile blossoming across her features as she continued through the piece, enjoying the sound of the whole orchestra backing her up throughout.

It was only as she lifted her fingers from the last note of the song that she remembered the crowd on her right hand side. The applause that followed bringing her back to reality as she looked out across the many faces before her. It only took a moment to find Kevin, the only one on his feet as he joined the clapping with a grin that only made her beam back at him.

The conductor's baton counting them back in brought her eyes to the piano, and before everyone had quietened, the Moonlight Sonata had begun, Elenore once again leading from the front.

It continued for an hour in the same manner, each song followed by the eruption of applause from the audience. Adoring every piece they played until the interval came. The second was a blur of the same, it was only as they played the last song of the evening, and the witch was joining the rest of the orchestra in a bow that she realised just how much adrenaline had been rushing through her veins, and the tremor in her hands began to show.

As the stage emptied, Elenore remained by the grand piano for a moment longer, taking in the dispersing crowd and how much... how much they had appreciated her work. It was only the hushed sound of her name that had brought the witch back in that moment, making her follow them all off the side of the stage.

Backstage, everyone was abuzz, and the witch was more than at home drinking in the congratulations, and swapping contact details with the members of the orchestra who came to speak with her. The witch had thanked them all for allowing her to play with them, but it had been waved away as if it was nothing. By the time Kevin had made his way backstage, the witch was mid-conversation with the other members about the remainder of the performances they had here in New York, and then their next performances in Barcelona after the winter break.

Her arm had slid in to his without a second thought, her fingers linking between his still showing the after effects of the adrenaline that was slowly easing.

The orchestra were soon dispersing, though, heading back to their hotel for the evening. The mention of where they were going was left as an open invitation. Elenore, though, had turned to her companion in that moment with the soft request that they go somewhere for food, the evening had grown late, and Elenore had not eaten before the concert as she hadn't known the plans of the redhead beside her.

Kevin had agreed, as he always did, and as they moved from the backstage area, the witch finally had the chance to speak with him. "I don't know how you managed to get them agree to letting me join them on stage... but I can never thank you enough for... that." Elenore motioned behind them, not knowing how else to sum up everything he'd done for her birthday. Once again making her feel like the most important person in the world.

tu es toujours ~~ you always are.

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Subject: Re: Joyeux 21 eme Anniversaire (Kelenore) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:27 pm

With Tuesday safely sequestered away backstage getting to know her piano for the evening, the Harrington male found himself a quiet corner. There were still a good three hours before the show was to begin but in those three hours, he was not sat idle. Bringing up his phone, the man quickly found Elenore's Instagram page and began posting messages and tagging the Lincoln Center, the LAP, their school as well as taking artsy photos of the surroundings. The impressive would begin later, when she was on center stage.

The fruits of his labors paid off two hours later when, he had increased the French witch's followings from a meager few hundred to almost a thousand, most fo them their teachers and cohorts at Juliard but some reps from companies very interested in the bright young pianist who was slated to play with the LAP tonight. A base player from the LAP itself had also started to follow Elenore, much to Kevin's delight. The man was well aware of how much Elenore craved adulation and he would give ehr as much of it tonight as he could.

When the show finally began, the redheaded male was seated - as promised - in the front row, a discreet camera streaming life while being out of sight. Bootleg laws didn't really apply to witches and wizards and at any rate, he was only recording very specific portions for her social media fans.

Like Beethoven's Fur Elise.

And the Moonlight Sonata.

Not once did her fingers hesitate, gliding across the keys so smoothly it was impossible to believe no magic was employed. If he had thought her otherworldly before, Elenore Clement positively beamed with ethereal light right here in her element, showing the world how she performed magic without a wand.

The concert lasted the full three hours entertaining all those who watched. At the end though, there was only one breakout star and there was no doubt in anyone's mind who it was. As the orchestra took their bows, Elenore emerged with a bouquet of flowers in her hand, a backstage rule of best in show. The LAP had unanimously agreed their guest pianist had been the best in show.

It took another forty minutes for her to clear the backstage crowds but finally she was exiting from a side entrance, her jacket back on and her face aglow with the pure serotonin of the night. As he greeted her, Kevin could feel her success emanating off of her. At the request to take her to dinner, the man only grinned, taking her arm confidently and leading her back to the limo.

The limo ride to the little Italian restaurant they hadn't tried until now was mostly spend with Kevin encouraging the young brunette to check her social media, which had blown up properly over the last few hours. Someone had even found the updated program for the night's performance to include the name "Elenore Harrington" with the hashtag "bfffame" while someone else had commented with the ever versatile "O" face and a wedding ring emoji, followed by ten to fifteen question marks. The user had tagged both Kevin and Elenore respectively.

"I bet you'll have lots more "BFF"s once term starts again," he teased sightly as they glided noiselessly through the streets, their sound proof vehicle keeping them safe from the noises of new York traffic. "And I'm pretty sure you could get a pass on end of year showcase if you were so inclined," he added, knowing full well she would never try to do that. She had been working on something special to finish out her degree and if there was anything Elenore loved more than her puppies in the world, it was to perform.

They arrived at the restaurant in just over twenty minutes, this time Kevin helping her from the car and dismising the driver for the evening. The venue had not been chosen for its price tag or ocation but rather the twinkling lights that glimmered at the door and the fact that the entryway declared in bold loopy script "Happy Birthday, Elenore!"

Ushering her in, Kevin would show off the near empty moderately sized room with a big table in the middle set for only two. A multi tiered cake rested to one side with a customized cake topper of a girl on a piano while soft music played in the background. The walls were decorated with a semi chaotic mixture of flowers, garlands, fairy lights photographs of Elenore from various points of her life in the states and sheet music from her more important works, both professionally and personally.

"Shall we," he asked again, holding out a hand to lead her to the table that came to life with candlelight as soon as they approached. "I thought you might enjoy something a little more private after the performance," he admitted, pulling out her chair for her before taking his own seat. "Though if you like, we can still ditch and head to the Plaza, I know that's more your speed," he joked as their servers approached.

Dinner was a pleasant affair, the man for once taking care with his food and more content in watching her by the candlelight. The afterglow of her success had not waned from her features and he hoped it never would. As he watched her cut her cake, the man placed along, for once not caring to take epicures but wanting to be in the moment with her. There will be photographs later. or now, he was enjoying the real thing.

After their meal, Kevin offered to walk her to her apartment, a slow leisurely stroll underneath the stars. It barely took ten minutes and they were turning into ehr street, Elenore had gone quiet all of the sudden.

"Are you alright?" he nudged her softly as they stopped in their tracks, two figures dressed in formal wear right at home on the street where in a few hours, the homeless would begin to set up camp. "Are you cold? We're almost to your building."

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Come plot with me! <3

Subject: Re: Joyeux 21 eme Anniversaire (Kelenore) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:27 pm

The excitement had shown no sign of waning as they left the theatre and were back in to the limo. Elenore had been all too eager to find Kevin's thought on the show. His feedback had been just as excited as the orchestra's had been -- perhaps even more excited if the witch allowed herself to believe it.

The proof came as Kevin turned to her social media account, though, showing Elenore the various pictures he'd taken, or the videos he'd uploaded to her Instagram profile to show case what she had been doing that evening. Even in the confined capabilities of the device, the music sounded beautiful, and the witch couldn't help but lean in to the man as he explained everything that was going on. The subtle way of saying thank you for his meticulous work without ever having to say those words aloud.

The joke of using the performance for her degree though made the witch look away from the screen of Kevin's phone with a look of sheer mortification. "Why would I want to abandon my piece?" She asked, confusion touching all her features in that moment. The soft laugh from Kevin, and the reassurance that she didn't have to, that he was only making a suggestion calmed her, though, and they returned to perusing the social media comments until the limousine stopped once more.

Kevin had been too quick for the driver this time, instead getting her door for her and aiding her from the car out on to the sidewalk. For a minute, Elenore had been caught up in her own mind, going over the comments from various people, and trying to keep up with how much her Instagram account had grown that evening -- further adding to the headiness of the performance with the popularity her music was gaining.

But it only lasted a moment before her eyes focused on the sign upon the door.

"Happy Birthday, Elenore!"

Elenore's cheeks flushed softly at that, the attention was remaining upon her that evening, and the witch was not going to pretend that it didn't truly indulge every part of her to have Kevin making her feel so... special.

As they stepped in to the restaurant, though, Kevin had outdone himself. Everything within the restaurant had been centred to her. The pictures of her upon the walls, the sheet music -- on closer inspection, her sheet music --, and the cake topper that was just so simple and yet brought the most brilliant smile to the witch's features.

"All of this... for me?" Elenore had found herself asking before she could stop her lips from doing so.

"I thought you might enjoy something a little more private after the performance,"

He was right, Elenore conceded as they sat for dinner. Kevin Harrington knew her more than she knew herself sometimes, and he'd proved it once again. Dinner had been an easy affair, the food had been simple enough, but after a night of entertaining New York, Elenore had been more than hungry. For a change, the witch had managed to finish the whole plate of food that had been served to her -- the American size portions almost always beat her -- and a slither of the multi-tiered cake to follow. By the time they had finished the meal, the afterglow of the evening was mellowing out inside her, leaving Elenore feeling quite content as the stepped back out in to the cold New York evening.

The witch had held on to Kevin for a bit of warmth -- and comfort -- as they walked the streets by night. It hadn't taken nearly long enough to get back to her apartment, and as they turned in to the road that would mean Kevin would be leaving her in only a few more minutes, the witch's feet refused to make another step, which brought Kevin to a stop beside her.

"Are you alright?"

Elenore looked up to Kevin with a request upon her lips-

"Are you cold? We're almost to your building."

The witch shook her head, her eyes leaving his face for a millisecond before they shifted back up to meet his. "I don't want to go there." She explained softly. "I want to-"

"I know."

It was as if he knew that it was something she was struggling to say aloud, or perhaps he'd wanted the same thing too. Whatever the case, the road they had been on had soon been replaced by the noisier street of Kevin's home. They'd not wasted time on the street here, instead slipping through the hole in the wall in to the small one room apartment that belonged to Kevin. The one place in New York that had the feeling of a home for the witch.

They had both settled upon the bed -- the only form of seating the man had -- in the next few moments after discarding their coats and shoes. Elenore's small frame tucked neatly in to the man's arms as they led quietly with one another.

"Merci pour tout aujourd'hui," Elenore told him softly, slipping in to French by accident. The man's confusion would last only a moment, though, before her lips found his in the usually tentative manner the witch employed in these situations. The kisses would explain the French, though, their gratefulness showing in each tender kiss that came to pass after the first.

Kisses that lasted until Elenore's small frame gave in to sleep, completely exhausted from the whole day, but content with the man who had made it possible holding her close to him in the ever so protecting manner she'd come to appreciate... that she'd come to need.

Merci pour tout aujourd'hui -- Thank you for everything today.

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