Just Breath {Open}

[Meggera Tepes]

Meggera let out a heavy sigh and a small groan as she rubbed her lower back. She wasn't used to manual labor and she had been moving boxes and setting displays up for a good part of the day. Needless to say she was exhausted, but it was something she would have to get used too. Especially given the recent circumstances.

She had 'run away' from home and was now living with Madam Myrna in her Divination shop in Hogsmede. The lady was a crazy old bat, but kind and open to new ideas. Just this week she had agreed to one of Meggera's ideas for the shop, hence all the boxes. Meggera had suggested carrying various perfumed oils as well as egyptian perfume bottles to let women mix and create their own special perfumes, and they had just gotten the products delivered. Hopefully the new items would attract more business for the shop.

Meggera brushed her hair out of her face. Her ponytail had started to fall out about 30 minutes ago so she had just pulled it out and let her hair fall freely for a bit...unfortunately it seemed to like her face quite a bit right now. It was to warm to deal with this kind of stuff. She threw her hair back up into a hasty ponytail so she could finish arranging the bottles of oils in alphabetical order without it getting in the way. Once she finished she stepped back, hands on her hips, as her eyes scanned the rows to make sure they were set up perfectly.

Once she was satisfied she nodded and stepped out onto the stairway leading into the shop for a breath of fresh air. The incense that filled the shop could get overwhelming after a while, and there was a nice breeze today. Meggera pulled the sloppy pony tail out and leaned against the railing, enjoying the breeze and taking a few deep breaths. This was certainly not the way she had pictured this summer going.

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Outfit: www.polyvore.com/meg_show_blue/set?id=80812699
Mood: Tired
Tag: Aaaaaanyone

[Andrei Winter]

Another day, another trip to the exotic animal shops in the area.

Andrei was freshly back on British soil after an excursion to Greece, Scotland, and also to Ireland to study Kelpies in depth for the past spring and summer. He'd not changed, save for the bronze glow to his skin from the sun, and the stubble upon his jaw had grown thicker (though it was actually bothering him at this point in time, the itch was nuts) and dark as his tousled dark hair. After he delivered the findings and similarities to the man that requested all of the information, he was going to shave. Instantly.

As he made his way through the hustle and bustle of Hogsmeade, he happened upon a shop that he didn't recall seeing before and looked up on the stairs and at the dark haired figure that had lingered in the shade, feeling an instant burst of joy and shock slamming through his double heart beat. He'd heard that her family had relocated, and to his homeland, and to say that he'd not entertained the thought of ripping apart the country as a whole to find her would have been a lie.

"Meggera?" He asked softly, craning his eyes upward through the sun slightly t try to make sure that who he was seeing was indeed who he hoped it would be.

[Meggera Tepes]

The shade combined with the breeze felt marvelous right now. Hopefully it would help air out the shop a bit as well so it wouldn't be so stifling by the time she went back inside. She needed to find a way of convincing Madam Myrna not to keep the shop so closed up, it wasn't really a mystery why people didn't visit all that often. The incense was so strong sometimes it could probably knock someone out the minute they opened the door. Luckily not today, since the older witch was out and about Meggera had opened all the windows and decreased the amount of incense burnt for the day.

Meggera leaned her head against one of the skinny columns that kept held up the outcrop in front of the doorway, trying to figure out what she would do after she had stowed the empty boxes back in the basement. As sad as it sounded she had never had this much freedom and was at a bit of a loss at what to do with it.

She pondered for a few minutes, staring off at the building across from them absently, before hearing her name below in the street. Her eyes dropped down to see who it was before widening slightly. “Andrei?” she said, surprised. She hadn't seen him around the entire time she had been here. She had assumed he found work elsewhere or something, but here he was. Just standing there. Looking much more grown up then she remembered with his stubble, bronzed skin, and tousled hair. It made her breath catch for a moment.

“Where...um..how...I mean..” she started, mentally kicking herself. Yes...that sounded ever so intelligent. “How have you been? I...haven't seen you around for a while.” Well at least it was a full sentence...

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Outfit: www.polyvore.com/meg_show_blue/set?id=80812699
Mood: Tired
Tag: Andrei

[Andrei Winter]

Hearing her speak in such a way made him smile slightly before nearing the edge of the shadows and peering up at her. "I've been well, just got back from a few months abroad studying kelpies for a breeder." A hand passed through his hair as he smiled softly. "How have you been? I really have missed you."

For just a moment, he caught himself simply gazing at her before saying, "I heard that your family was relocating to Romania. So, forgive my surprise to see you here. Also, forgive my bluntness, but I did entertain the thought of coming to find you." A faint tint of color hit his cheeks before he looked up at her again.

[Meggera Tepes]

She nodded as he said he'd been off studying Kelpies for someone for the past few months. No wonder she hadn't seen him around, but at least he still worked here it looked like. It was odd, but you never really started to realize you miss someone until they're gone for an extended period of time. And she had missed him, much to her own surprise, especially with everything that had been going on in her life. "I've been alright I suppose. Better than I was at least, much better in fact."she said with a small smile when he asked how she had been.

She couldn't help but feel flattered when he said he had considered going back to Romania to find her once he'd heard her family had moved back. She also couldn't help but notice the slight tint his cheeks took on. "They did go back, I decided to stay though. I couldn't just up and leave before I graduated...plus, I don't think theres to much for me to look forward to back there right now..." she said with a small shake of her head, leaning on the raining once more as she looked down to where he was standing.

"So Kelpies hmm? Do you get to travel a lot with your work?" she asked, curiously. She wondered if he'd be gone for months at a time frequently, or if it was more of an occasional type of thing. Just so she'd know..you know...whether or not he'd be around a lot or not.

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Outfit: www.polyvore.com/meg_show_blue/set?id=80812699
Mood: Tired
Tag: Andrei

[Andrei Winter]

"I'm glad you're doing better. It's a relief to see a smile on your face." Call him crazy, but he wished that smile might be for him. It was getting difficult to ignore the pangs of wistful longing tugging at his heart. Up until now, knowing that she was nearby, he was dreading returning to one place again. It was a horrid feeling, coming back to a sea of unfamiliar faces and no one really realizing that he was there. Such was life, he supposed, but he secretly desired to root somewhere. "And I'm glad that you're here. It makes me feel a bit better about returning home, knowing that I could see you."

It wasn't quite what he wanted to say, but, it voiced his point well enough.

At her question, he found himself drawing up the stairs of the shop to near her. Merlin, how that gaze ensnared him. He was never one to believe that he could fall in love after the last person, but he thought that his instincts surrounding her might be...right. He was always far more positive when she was nearby. Even if it was fleeting, he wanted to be near her. "I'm usually not out of the country, but I live in Hogsmeade too. Most of the breeders here seek me for research and I go where I am needed until the job is complete. Most of them don't deal with such dangerous creatures, but I would never turn down a job."

He smiled, "I actually live not far from the station, in the small stone house back in the trees toward the hills. If you'd like company, I am home almost east night, weather permitting, unless I am on an assignment." He knew she would know what he meant by that, casting a glance upward to indicate the moon's position in the sky before reaching down and softly embracing her. It was a gesture of friendship, with a lingering loneliness that made him unwilling to part from her. Merlin, he'd missed her that much? It was difficult for him to realize that he had missed her so much until coming close to her again.

"It's wonderful to see you." He offered her a warm smile, before brushing a few of those stray strands of ebony away from her face. "Listen, I have to deliver my reports to the Kelpie breeder, and I have some other business to attend to, but if you would like, I would be glad to take you to dinner this evening, if you are not too busy with homework and the like."

Well, that was bold. But, worth a shot.

[Meggera Tepes]

She wasn't sure how to respond to him feeling better about returning, knowing she was here. Which was nothing new, frustratingly enough. She really wished she could know what to say, how to act, when he said things like that. She knew how to respond at parties and to her fathers political friends, but that was different. Over half the time that was an act and a face she had to put on for those events. Reality though...that was still tricky. So her lips curved slightly upwards in a small smile as he made his way up the stairs to stand under the outcrop with her.

She nodded as he explained about his job and how the breeders had him do research for them, but he usually didn't have to leave the country for it, and he usually didn't deal with dangerous animals. He then went on to say that he lived by the station near the forest and that he was home almost every night, depending. "I could use the company actually. Madam Myrna has been going to quite a few conventions and traveling since I came to live with her... It gets kind of lonely here all by myself.” said, shaking her head lightly.

His hug was warm, just like she remembered. She couldn't help but feel an odd sense of security every time he hugged her. Perhaps it was from his natural warmth? She still hadn't figured it out. His fingers moved her hair away from her face as he said he had to go deliver his reports. She couldn't say she wasn't somewhat surprised at the dinner invite, but it didn't sound like a bad idea. She hadn't seen him since summer had started after all and a lot had happened since then. She nodded up at him, "That sounds good actually. I haven't quite masted the art of cooking charms...” said, somewhat embarrassed at her ineptitude. She really was getting sick of just having tea and sandwiches for every meal though...

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Outfit: www.polyvore.com/meg_show_blue/set?id=80812699
Mood: Tired
Tag: Andrei

[Andrei Winter]

With the approval of his question, he smiled broadly. "Well, then. Just after sunset and I will be back here and I'll take you somewhere. Until then, my dear." He gave her one final embrace before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, almost as if he were afraid that the gesture would be ill received, before heading out into the village again.

He certainly felt lighter and carefree as he moved through the village again, heading into the shop three blocks over with his findings on Kelpies for the owner. They discussed at large what he'd found, and talked about the different breeds, and Andrei at one point had to remind the man that he was a ministry trained professional and could not condone him going out to seek the Kelpies on his own for trade. "I understand better than anyone, having passions that are deemed dangerous, and the world could tell you to not pursue them. I know that you will do it if your passions drive you to it, but I will fairly warn you that you will lose an appendage if you do this, if not your life."

Then again, didn't falling in love with a vampire have the same outcomes?

The irony was not lost on him and he caught himself chuckling on his way home.

When sunset came and the orb slipped down into the sky, slowly darkening the sky on the horizion, he made his way back to Madame Myrna's shop. He felt better, shaved and showered (bless the fates that invented hot water heaters), dressed in denim, and he held a solitary crimson rose. Call him old fashioned, but he always thought that a lady deserved flowers on a date of sorts. He quietly moved up the front walk of the shop, ignoring the flirting laughter of students returning to the castle for their curfew.

That was one thing that he never enjoyed, that blasted attempt to flirt with him only because he looked like he did now. The werewolf's gift to what had once been a thin boy had turned him into this. Not many of these giggling girls would have noticed him had he been thin and pale again, had his brother been alive.

Damn it! He had to think about that right now? He drew himself up and softly knocked on the door of the shop, shoving all of his thoughts on the back burner again until he could face them properly.

[Meggera Tepes]

With an embrace and a kiss on the cheek he said he'd be back after sundown. As he departed her fingers moved to touch the spot on her cheek where his lips had made contact. The spot tingled slightly, a warm sort of tingling though. As she watched him as he vanished down the lane she couldn't help but wonder... She shook her head quickly before going back inside to finish the last of her work up.

She closed the shop early, usually they stayed open until 7 or 8 depending on the day, but she wanted to change and clean up. This shop was dusty work after all...She felt like she was coated in it. So she locked up and went upstairs to shower and change. Once finished she decided to try out one of her perfume combinations she had been playing with. It was a combination of Jasmine, Rose, and Ylang Ylang. She used very little as to not have it be to over powering for Andrei's nose. She then just sat up in her room, thinking.

With her family back in Romania surely she could do whatever she wanted now. Her grandfather wasn't here to harass her about her choices, but still she was hesitant. Did she really want to jump into things so quickly after everything that had happened? She wasn't so sure her emotions could handle it, they were still so frayed after last year and all the upheaval. She knew she shouldn't dwell on it so she shook the thoughts from her head and went downstairs when she heard the knock at the door.

She hurried down the stairs, her hair bouncing slightly as she hadn't fully straightened it after her shower. She opened the door to see him standing there, clean shaven and as tall as ever since she wasn't in heels. Goodness did she really wear them all that often to feel so short next to him? He did look handsome though... “Good evening.” she said, looking up at him with a small smile. “Um... Were you able to get everything done for work?” she asked, glancing down for a moment to her hands before looking back up with a small smile.

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Outfit: www.polyvore.com/flower/set?id=102085911
Mood: Tired
Tag: Andrei

[Andrei Winter]

Every time he saw her, it was like the first time. It always brought a sense of joy and pride to him to know she was part of his life, even in an unconventional sort of way. "Good evening. I did, in fact. Thank you." He gave her the solitary rose and smiled softly. "Where would you Luke to eat? What is your favorite food?"

The evening was far too beautiful to let it slip away, so, as they discussed where to go, he did take her for a little turn about the village. "I'm glad you decided to come out this evening. It is possibly the best luck I've had in years."

[Meggera Tepes]

Meggera took the rose, pleasantly surprised by the gesture. She smiled lightly, perhaps she was worrying over nothing, it wouldn't be the first time. She thought for a moment when he asked where she would like to go. She wasn't really sure...she didn't know of many places around here that served foods she liked. Then again she hadn't quite explored everywhere just yet. “Well...I like French and Mediterranean foods...I don't really know of anywhere that has something like that here though.” she said, shaking her head for a moment, looking down at the rose in her fingers.

As they walked around the village it seemed so different then in daylight. She hadn't really walked around after dark until now, but at least it was with him and not alone. She was fairly certain even the most pleasant of towns could turn creepy after dark if one was alone, but it seemed rather nice in the moonlight. “I'm glad I did too. It's nice to get out for a bit, especially with someone who actually knows where they're going. I must admit..I've gotten a bit lost around here when trying to explore by myself. I never realized how much there actually was to this town...” she said.

Then again she figured most students didn't usually venture off the main pathways unless they had reason too. Others would probably have gotten lost too. Or at least she hoped...she would feel rather silly if she had been the only one. She looked down at the rose once more, before tucking it behind her ear how her mother used to wear them in her school days in France. She hadn't worn a flower since... well probably 2nd or 3rd year. “I...um...I..” she started, before shaking her head for a moment to clear it. “Sorry, that wasn't a sentence.... I was thinking of maybe...staying here. After I graduate. I'm not to sure I want to go back to Romania...”

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Outfit: www.polyvore.com/flower/set?id=102085911
Mood: Tired
Tag: Andrei