Flames to Dust... (Kevin)

Subject: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Sun Jul 14, 2019 5:21 pm

August 2026

The Summer Showcase had gone off like forth of July fireworks had only a few days later. Kevin's song had been written of the beauty of the city they both resided, though Elenore doubted either one of them truly believed the words that had been written. The music had been easy enough to compose for the witch in the end, and the whole piece had taken the auditorium by storm. For what reason, Elenore hadn't been completely sure, always so critical of her own work, the witch had known that whilst some parts were intricate to play whilst holding the notes well, and remembering to take the short breath away from the microphone before the slightly quicker, punchier line came next, it had not been one of her most complicated pieces.

Perhaps the words Kevin had chosen had resonated with the crowd, the witch had reasoned with herself as the crowds had hummed around them afterwards, congratulating them on their piece, and denoting how wonderful it had all sounded. The muse had been the talking point Kevin had taken over, and Elenore had... found herself submerged in a new feeling of gratefulness for the man beside her as they spoke about their piece to the professors at the university, and then a multitude of people who just wanted to discuss with them.

Elenore's talents in both singing and the playing of the piano had been fully appreciated by more people than she could count, with the notion that she should play more often in the groups with a talent like hers.

They'd been whisked away from the auditorium afterwards, to a bar across the road from Juliards. Where many people had opted to drink quite heavily in a very short amount of time, Elenore had opted for just one glass of wine, which had proved to be more like vinegar than any fine vintage of wine after the first sip. Nursing the glass dutifully, though, Elenore had remained with Kevin and the new bundle of people they seemed to have acquired until midnight, before excusing herself to head home. Kevin had followed her out until her driver had picked her up, gently helped her inside the vehicle, before the witch was whisked away from it all.

A smile had blossomed on the witch's features, though, one that had not left her lips in the coming days, because New York was finally looking up. She had friends now, people who appreciated her, and as Grandmere had been saying continuously since she'd left the Palace, she needed to put down roots if she was ever going to be happy in this city, this country.

That had come with the request to her staff the next day. How was she supposed to be able to keep in touch with her new friends if she didn't submerge herself in the same things they did? The acquisition of a mobile telephone device had happened shortly after, an exhilarating feeling because she was now openly defying her parents on the point of joining in with the technological advancements. The staff had set it all up for her -- apparently there was a tonne of security that should be installed upon her phone to keep her safe, Elenore neither understood nor cared to understand this point, simply taking the phone after she'd been shown the basics of the device. Of course, after the initial explanations there was nothing more to do for the witch, she had nobody's number put in to the device, nor did she wish to submerge herself in the world of social media to find her new friends.

That would have to wait until she met with them, and then the exchange of numbers could take place.

The celebrations of independence had been loud on the fourth of July, fireworks were going off frequently -- and not always legally, Elenore was sure with how close some came to the buildings surrounding hers. But the fireworks that came up from Central Park had illuminated the apartment of hers as she practiced the song she would probably never play live for anyone again.

July had continued in much the same manner, Elenore had taken to exploring the city where she could with directions for the staff, and meeting the people around her in the apartment. The shops of New York were never going to compare to Paris, but the witch had perused the store and picked out a few new dresses that she had liked from one of the shops, revelling in the idea of buying something that hadn't been custom made for her, even harbouring the advice of the shop assistants who had advised her on new fashions that suited her figure more than some of the items she had been looking in to. It had been fun, watching the slightly older witch's eyes go wide as she put through the items on the card Elenore had given her, likely having some kind of compensation running on the bill, or something similar that Elenore couldn't quite fathom. The promise to come back when the next line -- that was due in a few weeks -- were coming in had been the icing on the cake, but Elenore hadn't meant it for the girls' advantage, only her own and her new found freedom.

As the end of July came in to being, Elenore had barely spared a thought for her parents, or family back home, much too busy with pursuing everything Grandmere had asked of her, and writing back to confirm she was doing all she'd been asked, and assuring the older witch that she would find someone once university was finished.

Most things, though, came to an end.

Elenore was so very used to this, and should really have known this would happen. But she'd become much too comfortable, and forgotten the reason she'd left France, almost. The letter from Grandmere had come and struck the blow that dimmed all happiness from the witch's eyes. The reminder that she had run away to be noticed by her family, to have them request her return, to follow and see her... They had simply forgotten her, pretended that she had never existed, and easily replaced her with Mimosa. She had known all along, of course, but to see it written in words from the only person she could ever trust inside the Palace had struck true.

The happiness of July had been stolen by the summertime sadness that August brought with it, and Elenore had sat heavily down in to the sofa, holding the letter as her arms moved around to embrace her slender frame. The small device she'd received weeks ago now flashed on the table, probably a promotional email, or something from one of the shops she'd frequented, but the witch didn't see, reaching forth and opening the device to the internet browser like she'd become accustomed to. With numb fingers, Elenore managed to press the words in to her phone.

Clement Anniversary Ball

The small tap of the Images tab had barely been necessary, already the news stories on the main page showed the pictures of the four main people, beaming out to the camera. Her Maman and Papa stood in the middle of the photo, the Lord Clement's arm resting around his wife's waist. Jacques stood beside their Maman in much the same as their Papa, though instead of looking forwards, he looked across at the fourth member of the family. Mimosa stood beside her Papa, in her space, looking out to the camera. She'd grown a lot in a year, Elenore reflected, her beauty only shining more radiantly.

Despite herself, Elenore had scrolled through more of the pictures, finding the same kind of picture everywhere she looked. The people loved her, and nowhere... nowhere did she see any of the news outlets asking where she was.

Subdued, the witch had turned her phone off, wiping at her eyes as she stood from the sofa, barely noticing her grip on the letter from Grandmere had failed as he floated soundlessly to the floor. The night sky was already fading in the sky, but Elenore wasn't going to be deterred as she reeled off orders to the staff. Her car was ready not five minutes later, her bag upon her shoulder, and the very clear notion of who she needed.

The university had loomed over them when the car had been picked up, and Elenore told the driver to head back to the apartment. She would call when she was ready. He'd taken the order and turned the car around whilst Elenore strode purposefully towards the dorms. Where Kevin lived was still a mystery to the witch, but she knew someone must know.

The smell of boys filtered through the building almost as soon as you entered, and had Elenore not been more used to living in New York by now, she probably would have turned back and decided against the decision. But, she maintained that someone must know where Kevin lived, and thus continued on. Very few doors were open, and those that were seemed to have an array of loud, hellish music emanating from them, or else... scenes Elenore quickly averted her gaze from. It was only as the witch came to the end of the hall that she happened upon a room that didn't fall in to either of those categories.

Instead, four boys sat together around a board game that Elenore was not familiar with. They were talking about dragons, and goblins and all kinds of creatures that Elenore was very aware of, and for a moment, it felt almost too comfortable as she watched them playing. It was mid sentence that one of the boy's cut off from reading from his clipboard, looking up to find Elenore stood in the doorway. His eyes seemed to grow a little wider in that moment, and all of his friends were quickly looking up to see what their friend had.

Smiling slightly, Elenore's hand moved up to tuck a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. "Hi," she started, taking in the boys for a moment before continuing. "I'm looking for my friend Kevin's apartment, but he didn't give me the dorm number... Would you... happen to know it?" She asked, waiting as the four boys exchanged looks with one another.

"The guy you did your piece with at the Summer Showcase?" One of the boys asked.

"Yes," Elenore replied softly.

"Oh, he d-"

"We can get him here." Another interjected, already pulling out his phone to probably do just that.

"Thank you," Elenore replied, turning to wait outside the dorm so as not to disturb the boys.

"Do you want to join us?" The one who had been reading from the clipboard asked, stopping Elenore in her tracks. Considering for a moment, Elenore turned back to the room as a whole. The door was ajar, which left everything to seem proper to Elenore, and they were just playing a board game. "Until Kevin comes."

The final swayed the point, she wasn't exactly going to have anything else to do until then. "Okay," the witch replied, moving in to the room and taking a seat in the place of one of the boy's who had moved to give her his space and was making a seat out of a box instead.

"Would you like a soda?" One of the boy's asked.

"That would be lovely," Elenore replied with a small smile.

"Okay, great!" The leader replied, before quickly moving around to get another piece and passing it to Elenore.

The game was explained to the witch in the next exchange of words, the boys introduced themselves to her and then their characters, explaining their characteristics, and their capabilities in the game. The game, up until the point they had already reached was explained to Elenore so that they could keep playing, and her character -- an Elfan Warrior Princess -- had been placed just behind the boy's characters so that they could protect her. The soda had been given to the witch, and Elenore had been carefully sipping -- honestly, how did they think she was supposed to drink from a can? -- the drink as they played.

The four boys, Raj, Howard, Leonard and Sheldon, had been the best hosts, careful not to go too quickly and lose her in the game, but not dumbing down the game in any manner, either. One soda can turned in to another, the liquid luke warm and not too pleasant, but it was comforting, making her feel a little less uptight as she spent more time with the boy's.

They were quickly progressing by the time the third soda had been opened, and close to completing their quest of the dungeon, something Elenore was quite glad of as she easily vanquished a mummy who had tried to sneak up on them. "See princesses aren't worthless!" The witch said, much too happily as she knocked the mummy playing piece over for good measure. "I don't see why people don't understand that!"

A soft giggle left the witch's lips as the boy's looked across at one another. Another sip of the drink that was beginning to taste better than the first, and Elenore motioned for play to go on.

"Come on, I want to win before Kevin gets here!" The witch insisted, before looking to Leonard who had been the one to text her friend. "Did he reply to your message? Where could he be? He knows I'm important!" She said, laughing softly once more to which the boys joined in. No answer came, but Elenore didn't really noticed, too interested in Raj's continued story, which was quite the epic fantasy. Clearly the boy was doing well in his screen writing work, if this was anything to go by.

The fact she felt a little disorientated still hadn't registered with Elenore, nor that she had relaxed exponentially since she'd sat down. All the witch knew was that she was enjoying herself, and the boys were enough to take her mind off of things. If Kevin didn't turn up, then it was his loss, she had made new friends!

Elenore's Dress

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Subject: Re: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:29 pm

It had almost been a year since Kevin Harrington had begun his continued tertiary education at The Julliard School for the Arts and yet, eleven months in there was steel little sign of the redheaded male on campus. he did not live in the student dorms no matter how many times campus advisers aptly advised him to move. He did not make many permanent friends even though he certainly could have if he tried. The male also didn't participate in any activities that were not strictly mandatory. He didn't even attend events unless they served free food. To an observer, it would seem as if Kevin Harrington didn't want to develop an identity around the school. Fortunately for Kevin, no one ever cared to observe him that closely.

His usual blend into the woodwork act had been disrupted somewhat with the summer showcase where the man found himself somewhere he didn't care to be: in the spotlight for once. Still, he soothed himself as the crowd broke out into roof raising applause at the end of Tuesday's set, it had been for the greater good. The showcase was never about him, it was about her. And to further demonstrate that point, he had walked over to the piano where she sat, presenting her with a large bouquet of roses for all to see. Once she had accepted, the redhead had taken her hand and brought her center stage where the applause had begun anew. Her singing and playing was a success, his words only having aided her talent into the spotlight where it belonged.

It was after the showcase that Kevin got a glimpse for the first time of the girl Tuesday could have been all along. The girl who frequented bars with friends, who had conversations both shallow and deep with her peers, a girl who was engaged in both her art and her social life. Why wasn't she that girl when it was so easy for her to be that? Why hadn't anyone made sure she was that girl before stepping foot in New York? No answers came to his questions but the man didn't mind, well into his fifth beer by the time everyone was ready to leave. He'd been drinking slow just in case but he didn't have to. The French brunette had a car waiting for her and he made sure to follow it discretely all the way back to confirm she was indeed brought home safe.

And then he had gone home and gotten properly drunk.

This was the plan, wasn't it? Make her less shy? Make her comfortable around people, in the city she had chosen? Make her happy..? She certainly seemed happy tonight, which meant hi work was done. He could stop following her around as if she was a baby bird who could hurt herself around every corner. The idea made slugging down half a bottle of whiskey even more appealing and the next day, he woke up with a phenomenal hangover he hadn't experienced in years. Wincing at the pounding in his head, the wizard took a moment to reflect on how he wasn't as young as he used to be before muttering a swift "fuck it" and reaching for his flask once more.

Over the next few weeks, Kevin only kept a perfunctory eye on Tuesday. She had friends now, she went shopping semiotics and he noticed her sense of style changing over the coming days. Probably upon advise from her friends. She was a year behind in her evolution to full rebellious college kid but she was at least getting there. In truth the French beauty cut quite the image in her chic hair and casual clothing. The girl had finally discovered pants and no longer appeared to be coming from or going to church wherever she went. On his infrequent lookouts, the man wasn't too pleased to see her drawing unwanted attention on the streets but she never ventured too far from where she lived and always had an intimidating enough car waiting for her. Overall, Tuesday could look after herself. And when she couldn't, her money could fill in.

Yes, it was finally time to start distancing himself from her. He had accomplished what he'd set out to do and now that she was on her way, there was no point in hovering or overstaying his welcome. So for the next three days, Kevin forced himself to go anywhere but the cafe opposite ehr building. the man tried to sloe himself in China town the first day, taking pictures of vendors bargaining with buyers, employing a multitude of languages and expertise in the process. On the second day, he gave in and bought tickets to Broadway, taking that little weed dealer with him. She'd brought the cookies along to and they ended up distracting him through the play and for quite some time after.

On the third day, he'd honest to god tried to write something. Joining New York's growing horde of unemployed screen writers at an overcrowded Starbucks, the man opened is laptop only to stare at it for the best part of an hour before giving up. He was just about to shut the device closed when a google notification popped up, reminding him how often he frequented the cafe across from Tuesday's building and if he'd finally like to rate it. The man declined, closing hs laptop and bagging it in frustration.

It was probably the location, he reasoned as he headed down to the subway. A lot of the things he had written for the showcase had been at that damn cafe so that's probably where his muse was stuck. It had nothing to do with the establishment's geographical attributes or who he had been there with. It was just an issue of getting the creative juices flowing again.

So on the fourth day, Kevin had intentionally made his way back to the well tested cafe, only to write, he'd reminded himself over a dozen times on his way. He was not there to check up on Tuesday, he wouldn't even look up at her balcony. the resolution saw him through over an hour in which he forced himself to write something in order to justify the trip across town. But alas, a coffee break later he had his phone out again, zooming into her balcony.

The first thing he realized was that she wasn't home. One of the staff members, probably a cook or kitchen something as she usually had an apron around her, stood in the balcony smoking. Kevin had picked up on it in his earlier observing of Tuesday's penthouse. The staff only ever smoked when she wasn't home. Not that he begrudged the poor people trapped in that glass box. They needed a break too.

Reasoning that she must be out with a friend, Kevin returned to his work. She had friends now, it wasn't too unfathomable for her to be out... even after dark. There would probably be many late nights in her near future and that was good. Returning to his measly three hundred words setting up a scene in the pre civil war era, Kevin tried to forget all about his charge until he heard the bell at the cafe door trill annoyingly. Looking up to glare at the noise, the man saw Tuesday's driver enter. The chauffeur was still in uniform but his shirt was untucked and he looked noticeably off duty. Sure enough, another glance behind him revealed the dark limousine that usually ferried the smartly dressed man's employer around.

Wherever Tuesday was, she had decided to stay a while. Looking at his laptop, the redhead note the analogue clock inching towards ten.

Which was late by the French witch's standards.

Kevin didn't want to eavesdrop but the driver was speaking too loudly to the cashier, complaining about the traffic he'd met en route which could only mean he'd dropped Tuesday off on campus. Nut why would she be there at this time? Were the girls having a sleepover? Would she even be able to sleep in one o those dorm rooms? From the way Tuesday treated most things, he could guess those things were beneath her snobby french station.

Still, it couldn't be to intrusive just to check and make sure. After all, Kevin had a benefit non of her staff did, he was not obliged to follow Tuesday's orders so he could go wherever she didn't want them to be. Making a decision before he could talk himself out of it, the man picked up his cup, swallowed the remaining dregs of his coffee and paid. It wasn't really following, it wasn't even actually checking up. Maybe he'd finally go investigate the dorms his campus adviser was always raving about? Yes, giving the trip a dual purpose sounded a lot better. Having exited the cafe, the redhead ducked into the first dark alley he found and disapperated.

Campus was bustling even at this time of night. Apparently some of the performing arts kids had decried to host a free, impromptu concert in the Quad and his preferred cookie spliter was there too. She invited him to join the event, to which he had to apologize saying he was late to an appointment.

"Well, she would have left by now," the girl insisted, making the kind of eyes Kevin had long associated with "if you stay, I'll make it worth your while". And truthfully, it took some doing to resist, until he caught up with her words.

"Who would have left?"

"Ellen, the french girl at the showcase? She was looking for you but that was like over an hour ago, she's probably left now."

Shit.

Shit shit shit shit shit.

Tuesday had gone looking for him. At campus. An had sent ehr driver back.

At least now he knew she was somewhere she definitely didn't intend to be. because she wasn't with him.

"Sorry babe, gotta Dash,' he hurriedly explained, extricating himself form an arm she had somehow managed to slip around her.

"And her name is Elenore."

He barely had time to hear the "whatever" as he jogged off, making his way to one of the abandoned halls behind which kids like to smoke weed. Luckily, no one was around at the time, tonight's weed intake clearly taking place at the convert. Getting out his wand, the man quickly cast a modified "Point Me" and followed, dread growing in his stomach as the direction of the boy's dorms loomed into view. What the fuck was she doing in there at this hour? When most of the student body was out here?

Trying not to imagine the worst, Kevin followed the magical trace up to the elevator, then decided to take the stairs instead because the slow movement of the lift would drive him insane. Luckily, Tuesday hadn't gone beyond the second floor which was now almost empty. Everyone must have cleared out to the concert below. As he crept up to the rooms, the only sound he heard was of a group of boys cheering. Nerds playing D&D it sounded like. But that was where the magic was leading him.

Pushing the already ajar door with his free hand while using his other to stuff his wand back into his pocket, the man affected a casual lean. "Got room for one more guys?" All five faces looked up at him, four turning pale as ghosts while the fifth smiled in delight.

"Finally, we called you ages ago!" Tuesday informed him, trying to sound reproachful but failing as her sentence needed in uncharacteristic giggles. Alarm bells had long since gone off in the wizards head. Tuesday never giggled.

"You did did you?" he asked, his steely gaze on the four boys who were hurriedly trying to concoct a telepathic plan. "I must have missed it, but I'm here now, deal me in guys."

"We don't deal anyone in in Dungeons and Dragons, you have to be anointed," the tallest fo the quartet informed him. perhaps it as the lighting in the room but he looked like a large praying mantis.

"Anoint me in then," Kevin insisted, not waiting for an invitation before taking his seat beside the French girl who's stare was starting to get glossy. "My character, Hellcaster. My Mission, save the princess. Secondary mission, kill all of you if she gets hurt."

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Subject: Re: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:30 pm

"Got room for one more guys?"

The smile had spread across Elenore's lips even before she had told the man stood in the doorway that they had called for him ages ago. A soft laugh left the witch's lips at the statement, not really knowing why it was funny, it just was. Kevin was here now, though, and that was what the witch had wanted... though, they hadn't finished their game, so it wasn't okay to leave just yet...

"We can anoint him!" Elenore insisted to Sheldon who had tried to suggest Kevin couldn't play, almost in the same moment that Kevin said the same thing. Elenore was glad they were on the same page, and as the man sat down beside her, the sense of comfort came whenever Kevin was around her. That weird feeling she still hadn't understood, but it didn't matter.

"My character, Hellcaster. My Mission, save the princess. Secondary mission, kill all of you if she gets hurt."

"So... serious..." Elenore pointed out, looking across at Kevin with her own serious expression before she giggled upon seeing Kevin's serious face once more. "It's just a game, you can relax!" The witch insisted, not noticing the minor grumbles that came with her choice of words in that moment, the French witch didn't think much of the game, but they had started, so they would need to finish.

"We're all on the same team, they're not going to hurt me." Elenore added to Kevin, just in case he didn't know the rules of the game like she now did. It was easy to pick up, at least, Elenore understood the game quite well by now. Lifting the can of lukewarm drink to her lips, Elenore took another careful sip of the soda before replacing it on the floor beside her.

"Howard, it's your turn." Elenore added, noting how the other boys seemed to have forgotten they were playing, almost looking worried about something. "Don't worry, I'll catch Kevin up as we play."

That much seemed to spur the boys back in to action, and Howard picked up the dice, quickly throwing them to not waste time, and the adventure resumed once more. Elenore's explanations were given to Kevin as they worked through the game, making sure he knew what was going on as they travelled closer to the centre of the game. The group seemed to be doing well, the four other boys keeping to their story and glancing across to one another as they continued to work on. Elenore's eyes only really frequented the board or Kevin in that time, though, oblivious to all else as they conquered.

It was another hour at least before they cracked the final clue to enter the final dungeon. Leonard's character flew in to the middle of the room to fight off the unknown beast bravely -- a comment aimed towards Elenore who had been busy trying to work out the clue, Sheldon was pondering beside her, and Howard denoted he would stick close to the Princess, to ensure she was not ambushed. Kevin's move seemed to follow suit, but Elenore caught up almost too quickly.

Snatching up the die, Elenore spoke quickly.

"The Princess works out that the room is trapped, quickly relinquishes her use of her protection spell that she'd held for a number of turns now, which shields Leonard and Sheldon from their untimely doom in the dungeon."

Rolling the die, Elenore's eyes turned to Raj.

"The spell is successful!"

"And, then the princess commands all of the men in her group to stop still, least they die a most painful death."

Another roll, Raj looked up.

"The men listen to the princess and remain completely still, as if held in place."

Elenore beamed, the power clearly working wonders for her as she thought.

"The princess steps forth in to the dungeon, away from her shields and beseeches an audience with the dungeon's master."

The witch rolled once more, and Raj's features showed that she was winning in his dungeon.

"The dungeon master agrees to the meeting, but requests a team member to be given to him as a sign of truce in this battle."

"The Princess agrees, and offers the Hellcaster."

Raj's features twisted up in a winning gaze, having used all of her own protections, Elenore's character stood vulnerably in the middle of the dungeon. "The princess has frozen all players, and offered her most powerful player to me? And stands in a trapped room, with nothing but my mercy to save her?"

Elenore's smile only grew. "Of course, mercy is all that will ever be needed." She replied, still looking much too happy with herself despite everyone knowing she had failed to win the game.

Almost.

"My character is unaffected by the powers of the Princess," Kevin realised a moment later, quickly grabbing the die. "Before the dungeon master can play his hand, I step forth and plunge my dagger deep in to his back, saving all of us from his grasp."

With baited breath, the group waited as Kevin's roll clunked down on to the board. He would need a perfect roll, the highest score, for them to win.

The die bounced once, twice.

And then they were still.

Before them, the perfect score showed, denoting the team had won.

"We did it!" Elenore exhaled, turning to Kevin and hugging him really tightly. "Thank you for noticing the ploy!" She added, turning back to the board to take in one last look, and then laughing to herself softly. "We did it!"

Raj did not look happy, the other boys were bemused, but Elenore was unbelievably happy, and she had sincerely forgotten why she hadn't been to start with as she lifted the can to her lips once more.

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~ Diary ~ Profile ~ Kelenore Playlist ~
~ Ambitious ~ 21 ~ Slim ~ 5'6" ~ Athletic ~

Thank you to the amazing Kiera for my signature <3

Subject: Re: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:30 pm

"We're all on the same team, they're not going to hurt me."

The kid was obviously too far gone to realize what was happening, nor did she understand any of his subtle warning and a moment later, as Kevin was anointed into the game, he started to understand why. The soda can that changed position from the table to her hands now and then might as well be a smoking gun. The added fact that he wasn't offered the soda made it abundantly clear that despite Tuesday's certainties, the boys did intend to hurt her.

They simply didn't look like the sort.

The wizard had a choice here, he could either play their game and extract her carefully or go in guns blazing, which had never been his style. Judging by how the four boys were sizing him up, he knew that they knew he could easily take them even as a No Mag. With his wand, they didn't stand a chance. But no point getting MACUSA agents here when the situation could be resolved somewhat peacefully. The campaign continued, Kevin playing more to humor the French witch than anyone else. Hopefully they would be able to get out fo this without her being any the wiser on what had almost happened.

Besides, he hand't seen her this happy... ever. She had been happy the night of the showcase but today she was carefree. And he rather liked that look on her...

It took almost an hour for the nerd fest to end, Tuesday maneuvering a move that should not have been as clever given the amount of soda she'd drank.Yet somehow, she managed to use his character (thank fuck for that anti affinity spell) to defeat the dungeon master, securing victory for the entire party. For a moment, genuine applause and cheers broke out from the four boys, making it hard to believe what they had done. They were just normal boys playing a normal game with a pretty girl.

Which just went to show creeps came in all shapes and sizes.

"You have to play with us again sometimes," Howard insisted as they began wrapping up, Tuesday now decidedly more loopy than she had been only ten minutes go. "You slay, Queen!"

"I'll be sure to remind her," Kevin confirmed, making the shorter man stand up a little more on edge. They had wasted a good opportunity by being dicks. Tuesday would have easily made friends with them if they hadn't tried to pull what they had."Come on Tuesday, let's get you home," he added, giving a hand to the witch and helping her up. "Say goodnight to the nice boys, they have to go to bed now."

Another round of goodbyes echoed before Kevin was finally able to get her out of the dorm room and walking towards the elevator. Perhaps for the first time in the year that he had known her, the brunette was... slightly unsteady on her feet. She didn't seem to notice though, the victorious smile still on her lips as she spoke of other games and campaigns they could play the next time around. Finally, the elevator dinged to a stop and Kevin steered her inside, hitting the ground level button and waiting for the doors to close before properly looking at her.

"Do you feel okay? Does your head hurt?" he asked, trying to make her focus as the elevator started moving downwards.

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Come plot with me! <3

Subject: Re: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:30 pm

Elenore had followed Kevin without question, much too happy to talk to him about other quests they could try out another time. The game, Dungeons and Dragons, had been fun to play, the boys she was playing with very nice, and the witch had never felt so relaxed since she'd landed in New York to attend college. A fact that would be abundantly clear to anyone who could see the smile held in place on the witch's lips, and the way her shoulders were completely relaxed, or just perhaps the slight sway in her walk that suggested she was not quite sober.

Kevin had made light work of the elevator, and Elenore held on to the man's arm to ensure she stayed upright as it lurched in to action and flowed down to the ground floor.

Not quite the most pleasant feeling in her head made itself known with the movement, but Elenore didn't comment on it, not straight away, anyway. But it was almost as if the man knew.

"Do you feel okay? Does your head hurt?"

"I feel a little... light headed." Elenore admitted softly. "But, I'm okay, I believe. I just want to get home and go to sleep." The last was explained with the movement of the witch's head resting on Kevin's shoulder. The night had been quite something, and the tiredness had crept up pretty quickly on the witch in that moment. Perhaps it had just been the game that was keeping her awake? She couldn't quite remember now...

"You took a long time to get here." Elenore continued, stepping out of the elevator with Kevin after righting herself back upright. Still holding on to the man's arm for her own sturdiness, Elenore looked across at him. "Which room is yours? Maybe we can just stay here tonight?" She asked, not really wanting to head back across town to her own apartment. It was much too far, and sleep sounded really nice now.

"I'll go home in the morning, I promise." Elenore added, making it known she wasn't going to be a burden to the man with that decision.

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Subject: Re: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:31 pm

"I feel a little... light headed."

Kevin nodded, for someone who had never been roofied before, the brunette was taking it rather well. But then again the job was incomplete and she didn't realize what had happened. He supposed that had to contribute to her good mood. She would probably pass out in less than half an hour.

"No, we can't go back home now," he explained as the elevator opened and she tottered dangerously again, making him reach out to old her closer for safety reasons alone. She was much too close to her, her head on his shoulder and with his arm securely wrapped around her waist, helping her take the necessary steps for walking. The sounds of the concert were loud enough to reach them even inside the dormitory corridor where they stood. Merlin only knew what it would do to her head once they were outside.

"We have to go get some coffee okay, do you think you can do that?" Trying to keep erh talking would be the easiest way of making ehr stay awake, at least until they came across a Starbucks they could crash in for a couple hours. Taking erh home in this state was not an option, a sober Tuesday would have agreed with him on that.

"I don't stay at the dorms, Mademoiselle," he corrected her gently as they stepped out, the hollering on the amplifiers accompanied by the most violent guitar notes he'd ever heard splitting their ears. "My home is being remodeled," he added, leaning close to her ear to be better heard." We're going to go get some coffee now." Technically, it wasn't a lie. His home was in a stage of being somewhat expanded, and she really did need some coffee in her.

Trying to lead her tot eh far corner where he could safely apperate her out of the campus was a task all on its own. In the end, the man simply bit the bullet and did what he had been avoiding thus far. "Hang on," he told her as he removed his jacket the best he could with Tuesday still clinging on to him. Once he'd managed to get one arm out, he indicated that she should move to the other side, an indication she clearly did not understand until he physically directed her to do so. Once she was moved, he wrapped the other side of his jacket around her, sharing the garment before they entered the throng of concert goers.

"Just hold on to the jacket okay, everything's going to be fine," he yelled over the noise, pushing his way forwards and dragging her along with one arm around her waist and the other held up ahead to make space. Pushing and shoving, the two finally cleared a path through the crowd, emerging on the other side of the quad.

"Hang on, almost there Tuesday, can you stay awake for a little bit longer?"

Her mumbled reply was all Kevin needed before steering her towards the back of one of the buildings. "This might feel a little uncomfortable, so just hang tight, I haven't done this in a while," he warned before reaching for his wand and apperating on the spot. The feeling of being swallowed and then spat out by the universe was not pleasant but they managed to land on their feet, finding themselves at the corner of a brightly lit street with a glaring "STARBUCKS OPEN 24/7" to one side.

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Subject: Re: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:31 pm

"No, we can't go back home now,"

"Hmm, tu as raison, Maman ne voudrait pas que je rentre." Elenore replied to the man, forgetting that he likely could not understand her speaking in her first language. It didn't register to Elenore, though, her mind becoming much too foggy as they stepped out in to the evening air. Everything seemed to be becoming much more difficult to do. Walking was not as easy as it had been, her body feeling much too drowsy in that moment.

The music was too loud, too, making Elenore's brow furrow as she held on to Kevin's arm to keep her from losing him in the crowds that were swimming before her eyes. The evening air was not helping to clear her head in the slightest, and Elenore would have wondered as to why that was the case if she could bring herself to form any kind of thoughts on the prospect of what she was feeling.

But she couldn't.

And before she could speak of this to Kevin, he was saying something else that didn't quite make sense before the pulling sensation of apparition made itself known. The landing was less than graceful, Elenore only managing to stay upright because of the arm around her waist of the man by her side.

Bright lights of the city attacked Elenore's senses, making her feel less than okay. Kevin's arm steered her easily across the street to the coffee shop he'd spoken of at some point on their travels. Elenore had simply followed, still using the man to keep her upright as they got coffee and then moved in to a booth together with the drinks. Elenore had sat in place -- though perhaps it had been Kevin helping her in to place -- and simply looked at the drink before her.

"I came looking for you," the witch managed, only for Kevin to insist she try the drink before her. Doing as she was told, the witch sipped the hot, bitter liquid. The taste did nothing for the witch, but she took another sip on Kevin's insistence. "Ma Maman et Papa... haven't noticed I've not been home for over a year. They replaced me. I came looking for you..."

A soft groan left the French witch's lips instead of the next part of the sentence she was going to speak. Elenore's hands instead moved to her temples, massaging them gently because the pain in her head was growing. "I don't feel well," Elenore confided in the man beside her, eyes closing against all of the lights and images before her as she tried to ignore the pounding in her head.

Perhaps she could sleep?

Right now...

tu as raison, Maman ne voudrait pas que je rentre -- you're right, Maman wouldn't want me home

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Subject: Re: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:31 pm

When they finally made it into the cafe, Tuesday was all bust passed out, relying heavily on him for support and drawing more than a few curious looks as she mumbled sometimes in English and sometimes in French. Afraid of leaving her at the booth ot order their drinks in case she fell face first on the table, Kevin slowly steered her along with him through the short line to the counter. "Coffee please, black, strongest you have. Make it as concentrated as you possible can." Knowing the ole' U S of A, it would still contain a crap ton of sugar but beggars couldn't be choosers.

Finally having set her down in the booth, he draped his jacket fully over the girl's shoulders, settling into his own seat opposte her before instructing her to drink. the face she made as the bitterness hit her taste buds would have been comical under any circumstances. As it was, Kevin remained straight faced, encouraging her to take another sip. The more she drank, the quicker they could flush the drugs out of her system.

"Ma Maman et Papa... haven't noticed I've not been home for over a year. They replaced me. I came looking for you..."

"Shh, I'm here now," he soothed, reaching out to stroke the back of her hand. From what she was mumbling, it seemed as though she believed no one missed her at home. "I'm sure everyone misses you very much." Then, looking at her lost, forlorn features, he continued against his will. "How could anyone ever replace you..?"

Her only reply was to say she didn't feel well, which was perfectly understandable. The drugs and the coffee running through her system were probably wreaking unholy haven on the frail witch. "I know, you can lay down your head for a little while, I'll be here, I promise." And he would be. Even if he didn't know her the way he did.

Because no one deserved to be left on their own in this condition, let alone Tuesday. He would stay with her as long as it took.

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Subject: Re: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:32 pm

The soothing words made Elenore shake her head gently in reply, which only brought forth a grimace. The headache was growing, and tiredness was filling her body much quicker than she would care to understand in that moment. The soothing strokes of Kevin's fingers only working to make it more difficult to deny the tiredness she was feeling in that moment.

"No, they really... don't." Elenore replied softly, following the instructions she'd been given as she gently rested her head down upon her arm in the booth. Her eyes fluttering closed even before she'd rested her head in place.

"Easily..." The French witch mumbled. "Look at the Clement Anniversary Ball..."

The sentence was barely finished as Elenore's body shut down, her hand rested inside of Kevin's as the drugs that had been fed in to her system were working the magic they had been provided to Elenore for.

Except, she was safe.

Kevin had made sure of that.

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Subject: Re: Flames to Dust... (Kevin) Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:32 pm

Her words were not easy to make out, but Kevin had some practice in listening to things people barely spoke out loud. And with Tuesday, that practice had only increased. Communicating with her over the past year had required a lot of guesswork but here she was, openly telling him something she would never have if she was not in her current predicament.

And he still couldn't believe her.

The kid thought her folks didn't want ehr back,m or had forgotten her somehow? In his own experience, Elenore Clement was many things, but "forgettable" was not one of them. Still, she insisted he look up some anniversary ball and after she had peacefully fallen asleep holding on to his hand, the redhead did as he was told.

Recovering his phone from his pocket, the man smiled as the device went straight to camera upon unlock just the way he'd set it. Taking a quick picture of the sleeping girl, he swiped the app aside and tapped on google instead. It only took a few seconds to find what he was looking for and when he did....

Seeing the smiling faces of the family, anyone could have easily mistaken the quartet to be two parents and two children. The little girl that posed with the French royals looked perfectly in place.

Where Tuesday should have been.

After a year, things were finally beginning to make sense.

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» Flames to Dust... Why Do All Good Things Come to An End (Closed -- TW: Homophobia, Gun Violence, Hit & Run, Death)
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