Cael Gray (thegraychampion) wrote in valesco,
@ 2011-06-01 17:25:00

Entry tags:

Cecilia
Cael scowled as he stared into the bathroom mirror, adjusting the tie of his dress robes before he stepped back to look at himself in the mirror. The blonde haired blue eyed architect cleaned up well – hell, he could almost pass for a member of high society, while in that get up – but he never felt comfortable in this kind of attire. He didn’t like ties, because he felt like they were always too tight around his neck, but he also knew that he was going to get a lot of attention that night, seeing how he was one of the designers who had worked on the building he was standing in.

A new theater that had opened up in downtown London, and invited were the elite members of the wizarding world, attending the first showing of an opera that was to take place on the new stage.

Sighing, he once again pulled at the collar of his shirt, before he turned to exit the bathroom, right back into the bustling crowd who were just starting to head inside to take their seats. He wasn’t ready to sit yet, since he was a little antsy, and felt like he needed a drink before he had to sit through a 3 hour opera, sung in a language he didn’t understand.

Really, he was all about being worldly, but he also liked knowing what the fuck was going on.

He made his way towards the bar, ordering himself a Scotch before he swiped his hand through his hair, and glanced to his side – though he did a double take when he was certain he had seen-

“…Cecilia Hooke?”

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cecilias
2011-06-02 01:10 am UTC (link)

Cecilia adored a good opera, she truly did. It was not long ago that she would have considered an invitation to attend the opening night of such an opera as this a great excitement, a wonderful opportunity to socialize with her acquaintances and enjoy a good show.

Such was not the case tonight. Such had not been the case for a very long time.

As well as she did to avoid the upper crust crowd of the wizarding world, there came a point when fate--also known as her parents--would simply not have it. Desperate to return their daughter's and family's names to good standing, Mortimor and Eliza Hooke constantly put the pressure on Cecilia to attend events such as this, to get out there, to subject herself to endless behind-the-back whispering and questions about how was she doing after all of that awful brouhaha with the youngest Rookwood man, especially after the untimely death and reveal of that unfortunately misguided Evan Rosier. They spoke to her face with fake compassion, only to turn around and chatter under their breaths about what a spectacle the Hookes had become, how they might never return to proper respect, what with their youngest daughter, their last saving grace, now a disgraced social recluse as she was.

While Cecilia was certainly a heavy drinker in ninety percent of situations, high class social events were where she drew the line. That said, the show had not even begun and she found herself already at the bar, already on a third glass of champagne. It wasn't as if it mattered anyway, did it? They would gossip about her no matter what she did--she might as well make it so that she cared a little less.

As the crowd began to filter more quickly into the main theatre area, she found herself hanging back in her spot. Damn the circumstances that had ruined such a night for her. She wondered if anyone would notice if she just slipped away and went home---

Just then, her head perked up, a familiar voice uttering a familiar name from somewhere down her left, and her train of thought was entirely lost.

"Cael Gray?" Her brow rose in surprise. What was he doing at something like this? "What is it with you and I and bars?"

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thegraychampion
2011-06-02 01:44 am UTC (link)

He smiled at the way she said his name – she was so proper, and well spoken, and his name sounded a million times more sophisticated when pronounced by this woman. Her question caused him to chuckle, stepping a little closer towards her before he went to rest an elbow against the counter.

“I don’t know the answer to your question - but what I do know is that you, darlin’, look…” he paused, trying to think of the perfect word to use, “…stunning.”

It was amazing, how he could say the words without creating any doubt about whether or not he actually meant the words, or if he was just trying to flatter her.

His attention was pulled away from her as he heard his name spoken for a second time – though this time, the tender was the one who was referring to him, and he was addressing him as ‘Mr.Gray’. Cael thanked him as he placed his drink down in front of him, and then turned back to Cecilia.

“Are you waiting for someone? Looks to me like most everyone’s gone to find their seats for the night…”

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cecilias
2011-06-02 02:12 am UTC (link)

As most girls might, Cecilia did not show a hint of a blush at the flattery. To say something like that--although in a more eloquent manner--was customary of men at events such as this, whether they meant it or not. So she did not find need to look all aflutter at the compliment--although she could not deny that she was happy for the positive attention. It was probably the first she had gotten of the night that she did not have to worry about being entirely put on.

Manicured fingers circled the rim of her glass as she looked away from the expectant usher and back to the man in front of her. So she had been right about him. If he was here, he must have been of some consequence, although his lack of knowledge of her aside from Girl At The Bar in that case was no less than shocking. Maybe being in Sweden really had put him out of the social loop back home.

"Someone? No," she said with a soft smile. No, because no right-minded pureblooded man wanted to be seen out on her arm these days, and her mother--whom had been offered the other ticket--had made up some excuse at the last moment. Her parents were not dumb... they knew their daughter's apprehensions about attending these events quite well. Instead, they chose to be cruel, and send her into the lion's den in their place. "I must admit I'm still attempting to convince myself that I should take a seat at all."

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thegraychampion
2011-06-02 02:52 am UTC (link)

He was surprised by the fact that she was there alone – she had also been alone he had met her at the bar, but she had mentioned something about being completely ‘uninterested’ in such things as flattery, which made it all the more understanding as to why she was there alone that night. Still, he thought that maybe she had come with a friend or someone from her family, so it still managed to be surprising that she was at such a social function by herself.

Her admission made him purse his lips thoughtfully, letting out a hum before he turned down to his drink, lifting it up so he could watch the liquid inside swirl inside the glass as he rotated it with his wrist.

“I’m afraid I can’t be of any help, in that department…” he lifted the glass to his lips, and took a swig of the liquor inside, placing what was left in the glass back down on the bar before turning to her again. “Personally, I’d love to give ya a’hundred reasons not to.” Again, there was a mischievous little twinkle in his eyes, wanting a good reason to not have to sit through the entire performance – she was definitely a ‘good reason’, in his eyes. There was something about her that made him need to know more about her – something dark, and mysterious.

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cecilias
2011-06-02 03:41 am UTC (link)

She wasn't sure what overtook her, but suddenly Cecilia couldn't help herself--a genuine smile nudged her lips upwards, her finger on the rim of her glass halted, and her body leaned forward just slightly towards him in curiosity.

Well, certainly she hadn't been expecting that. Whether it was her reaction, or the fact that he too did not want to be there, she wasn't quite sure. Maybe both.

"Please," she implored him, consiprationally, "I would love nothing more than to hear them." His words had been some of his first of the night to hold no flattery or ulterior motive to her ears, and yet somehow they had caused her heart to race gently. What was this? This was most surely not something she was used to feeling from an exchange as of late--not from any human being, much less a man. She felt herself on the edge of suggesting something recklessly out of character.

"Perhaps you could explain them to me elsewhere." Ahh, her parents were not going to be pleased.

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thegraychampion
2011-06-02 04:06 am UTC (link)

Cael was more than pleased with her sudden interest in what he had to say, and he gave her a devious grin before he shot down the rest of his drink and straightened up from his leaned position against the bar, flattening down the front of his robes.

“I think that can be arranged.”

He would turn, offering his arm for her to take hold of. Once her arm slinked through his, he would lead her very inconspicuously towards the door – in other words, he strategically bobbed and weaved through the crowds of people who were making their way in the opposite direction, trying not to drag too much attention to the fact that they were heading towards the exit instead of the stage.

When they were finally outside, they were able to actually slow their pace, allowing him to turn and take a better look at the outside of the theater.

“So, what did you think of the place, from what you saw? Did it live up to all the hype, or were you disappointed by the finished product?”

He wanted to know her honest opinion, whether she liked it, or hated it, or was completely indifferent towards it.

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cecilias
2011-06-02 07:48 pm UTC (link)

Cecilia had barely caught her breath from all of the maneuvering it had taken to leave the theatre unnoticed when he asked her the question. In the middle of making absolute certain her dress was perfectly straight and her hair was still as flawless as could be, she arched a brow over at her companion. She wasn't entirely certain what he was talking about--the building, the opera, or their escape which he had just orchestrated.

Well, considering they had not seen the opera, and his wording suggested that he was not talking about their escape, he must have been referring to the theatre which he was staring at so thoughtfully.

Why he was asking, she still was not quite certain.

"Ahh... Well, it's beautiful, of course," she answered, one hand still busy straightening her mother's diamond hairpin that had become dislodged from its proper place among her curls. "I admit I did not look around the inside very thoroughly, but the exterior and what I was able to see are certainly impressive. Why, did you not find it to be a satisfactory venue?"

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thegraychampion
2011-06-02 08:16 pm UTC (link)

Even though he barely knew this girl, her opinion on the structure of the building made him feel a great deal of pride, looking up at the building again before letting out a short laugh at her next question. “Well, I think it’d be something of a problem, if I didn’t…” He finally turned to her, knowing that what he was saying wouldn’t make much sense without divulging a bit more information about himself.

“I helped design it.”

He was a rather modest man, and didn’t like boasting about his accomplishments, but he was thrilled with the turnout of the theater, after spending so much hard time and work in Sweden, owling his designs over to London and finally being able to actually see the building he had spent hours, days, weeks sketching in its finished state was…well, he didn’t know what it was, but it definitely gave him a feeling of accomplishment.

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cecilias
2011-06-02 10:53 pm UTC (link)

Well, she hadn't been expecting that for an answer.

Her face betrayed her surprise and she took a quick look between Cael and the building he had apparently helped to create. For some reason, it astonished her that he was an architect--it just seemed like a strange occupation for a wealthy, pureblooded son to have. Usually the men she associated with worked in the Ministry of Magic, if they worked at all. Many of them, like her, were socialites living off of their family's hefty fortunes. Maybe it was a hobby of his... no one could fault a person for having a hobby.

"Well, then I am undoubtedly impressed," she finally said. "I had no idea I was speaking to a man of such talent. It must have taken a terribly long time to see through to completion."

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thegraychampion
2011-06-03 01:07 am UTC (link)

“It took a while, but unfortunately I had to just base production off of what other people told me – you have to remember, I’ve been in an entirely different country for some time, so this is actually the first time I’ve ever seen it.” He looked back to her, having been looking at the building as he spoke about it, reaching up to loosen the tie that was still choking him, glad to finally have some relief.

“I’ll have plenty more chances to spend time inside…but right now, I have more important things to tend to.”

He smiled at her again, and then turned to look where they were going, crossing the road with her before he turned to look at her as he spoke.

“I would’ve taken you for a woman who enjoyed the Opera.”

He commented as they walked, admittedly surprised by how anxious she had been just to have a reason to leave.

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cecilias
2011-06-03 02:39 am UTC (link)

Cecilia nodded and listened to him carefully. She was impressed, it was the truth, it was just peculiar. She had not spoken to many people who made their living as some form of artist, even if it was an artist of building designs.

She crossed the road without a word, not sure yet where they would be going but thankful nonetheless that they were further from the opera than they had been previously. Such a snake pit, all those upper crust society members... she would have been happiest to be rid of them forever, but the night would have to suffice. Cecilia wondered idly if she would ever be back in anyone's favor... it seemed so unlikely at present, but she knew that purebloods had an overdramatic streak. Maybe eventually. At least she hadn't gone off and married a disgusting Muggle like her brother had.

"Oh, I seem like I would like opera?" she asked. She wondered what that meant. Didn't most people like them like the opera? It didn't seem like much of a long-shot. "Well, I enjoy the singing, and Italian is particularly beautiful in my opinion. My boyfriend--ex-boyfriend, I mean--and I went often." Yet another reason why she no longer enjoyed them.

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thegraychampion
2011-06-03 03:09 am UTC (link)

He shrugged his shoulders as she questioned his statement. “You jus’ give off that Opera-lovin’ vibe, I guess.” He smirked at her, and listened to her explain her views on that particular type of theater. He noted the way she corrected her statement from ‘boyfriend’ to ‘ex-boyfriend’ – she hadn’t said it in a way where she wanted to make it known that she was currently single, but in a way that sounded like she still felt despair over how their relationship ended. He didn’t even dare trying to touch that particular subject of conversation, but instead tried to move the on to a different subject.

“Do you speak Italian? Or any other language, for that matter?”

He looked ahead, to see where they were going, trying to decide as they walked where he actually planned on taking her. He thought of what they were near, and how long it would take for them to walk there – the closer the better, since she was wearing heels, and they had to be at least a little uncomfortable, if not painfully so.

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cecilias
2011-06-03 03:34 am UTC (link)

"Not particularly," she answered as they continued to walk down the sidewalk. Not that she was complaining or anything, but she would have liked to reach their destination sooner rather than later and wondered how long she was going to be kept in the dark. Traversing downtown London streets late in the evening in heels and a long dress was not Cecilia's most distinct idea of a fabulous time. For a moment she toyed with the idea of inviting him back to her flat, but quickly dispelled the thought. Such things could easily give a man the wrong idea--an idea that she wanted no man, even an acquaintance, to get when it came to her.

Besides, her house elf had been entirely useless lately. She was certain that the place was nowhere near her guest-entertaining standards.

"I speak a small bit of French, but I learned much of it when I was a child and unfortunately the education was not followed up," she explained, taking one hand to pick up her skirt and ensure it did not drag on the ground. One never knew what kinds of things could have walked there before and she did not want any of it on her clothes. "I also managed to pick up an ounce or two of Italian from overseas trips and these sorts of operas. I imagine you must speak fluent Swedish, though, yes?"

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thegraychampion
2011-06-03 09:05 pm UTC (link)

“I’m most fluent in Swedish, but I’ve picked up a bit of Norwegian and Danish along the way from a few of my friends. Probably should’ve invested some time in learning French or Italian, or even Spanish, but I never really had a need to learn – an interest, sure, but not enough to sit down with a tutor, or stick my nose in a book to teach myself. I’d probably wind up butchering the language that way, so really, I’m doing the world a favor.”

He glanced down a side road, and slowed his pace before he gestured for her to follow him, turning the corner to begin their venture down the road, leading her into a small bar – this time their surroundings were much more sophisticated, with a lounge area for people to go and sit while they waited on their drinks. He turned to her when they stepped inside.

“Figured I’d stick with our general motif…”

He said with a smirk, referencing the question she had before about what was with them and bars.

“Hopefully you find the crowd here better suited to your taste.”

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