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King's Cross Station https://s26.postimg.cc/yhue6lpjt/kin...s-banner-2.jpg Clean and sleek, King's Cross Station is one of the main train stations that serves both Muggles and wizardkind. The interior of the London station is exactly what you would expect. Within the Western Concourse are a variety of shops and restaurants (various clothing chains and coffee shops, a ready-made sandwich place, and a small market), so there is no need to leave the station without grabbing any last-minute necessities or a bite to eat. Just make you are using Muggle money when purchasing items, and definitely do not whip your wand out. |
Aurora / Open ^_^ London had a uniqueness that was quite different from New York that wasn’t limited to its people or buildings. Even the smells were unique. Teddy's nose might have been wrinkled a little as stepped into the station. It was busy. Lots of no-majes running around along with quite a few witches and wizards it seemed. Good, perhaps he wouldn’t be the only wizard on this train. He already felt like a fish out of water as it was. Despite what he had been told, he had his doubts about this trip to Europe. Maybe he should have just gone back home instead. No. He needed to get out and enjoy something new. Try to get over his PTSD and move on. Maybe find a new path in life because there was no way he was going to be an obliviator anymore. That dull pang in his gut was back. He rubbed at his side as if it was a physical ache and not a mental one, then forced himself to stop and slung his pack over his shoulder. Platform 8 should be this way… |
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Aurora was not a fan of the busy train station and had never been. Too many stressed people in a small space always made her feel just a tad uncomfortable. After a week in St Mungos to recover from the curse she had sustained in the war she had been on the verge of ordering Carson to pick up her children from the train. Knowing the year of terror they had been through though Aurora had not asked her assistant to do it in the end, she had instead assigned him to run a handful of other errands for her which included getting a number of documents in indian translated. She needed to be here to meet her kids and hug them when the train came in. Unconsciously the middle-aged woman with blond hair and blue eyes, clad in a blue summery dress, raised a hand to touch her head where the horns had been, but weren’t anymore. Aurora shook her head with a sigh wondering how long the phantom pain of horns would haunt her as she looked up at the platform signs. Cursing when she realized that she had been going in the wrong direction Aurora swung her trolley around with force and next minute she felt herself knocking straight into something big and manly, before getting hit with something in the head which made her see butterflies. "Exscuze moi, oooooooooof!" she blurted out loudly. |
Text Cut: Aurora He was looking at his ticket and trying to find platform 8 when something collided with him. An unmanly "Ooofmpht," escaped him. His ticket fell to the ground along with the magazine he had been holding (Quidditch Times) and he instinctively reached out to steady the lady who had run into him. "Okay there?" he asked with a smile. Goodness, she smelled nice. Not that he was like, sniffing her or anything. No she just was a small island of lovely smells in the whirlwind of everything and one coming and going in the train station. And then he realized his hands were still on her shoulders. He pulled them back in a 'hands up' motion and then realized his ticket was in jeopardy of blowing away. "Ope!" He dropped down just as the ticket decided to make a break for it. He reached for it and it moved again as if someone had it on an invisible string. He sorta duck-crawled after it, kicking the magazine and making the plays on the cover scatter for cover. If he lost it, he had no idea what he was going to do for the next two weeks. |
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What the guy did next as he dropped down on his knees to duck-crawl after something was completely unexpected, and so funny to watch that she couldn't help but laugh. Curiously Aurora looked on as the guy kicked a magazine ahead of him as he tried to reach for something just out of his grasp."Do you need some help?" She thought it best to offer. He had helped her so she might as well return the favour right? |
Text Cut: Aurora Help? He glanced up at her from his stooped position on the ground. Help with what? Because just then his fingers closed around his ticket. Could she tell that his leg was a little stiff today? He hoped not. He hadn't thought he'd done any equivocating. Maybe he had without even realizing it. "Nope, all good here," He showed here his ticket for the Orient Express and then collected his magazine. He forced himself back to his feet where he found himself looking into dark blue eyes. She really did smell good, like he was in the middle of a field of wildflowers. "Taking a trip are you?" he asked motioning to her trolley. What a dump question he decided. Course she was. Why else would one be in a smelly train station? Then he realized it was empty and felt even more foolish, because clearly there was another reason to be here that he hadn't considered. "Or picking up your hubby from a business trip?" Did he just seriously go there? Yes, yes he did. Teddy sometimes had very little shame. |
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Shaking her head Aurora answered. "No, I'm not actually. I'm here to pick up my son from the Hogwarts Express." The year Lucas had endured under the Neo-Alliance terror she hoped he could quickly forget. "I don't have a husband. He died years ago." She supplied a little stiffly. Thinking about Sebastian still ached a little. Beginning to push her trolley a little forwards she hoped it effectively ended questions about her love life. |
feel free to chat with the old man, if you dare... Ignatius Blackthorne had not been seen out and about in the wizarding world for some years, but here he was now, sweeping down Platform 9 3/4 like an elderly lion on the prowl. After the events of the past year, he had decided that no one but he could be trusted to meet his granddaughter, Violet, on her return from Hogwarts. In fact, he had been uneasy ever since he let her talk him into letting her finish out the school year instead of coming immediately home with him after the battle. How had that happened, he wondered? At any rate, he had out-argued and out-bullied his sons (and that renegade Hamlet had not dared to argue with him very much), and here he was, standing imperiously on the platform and every now and then pulling out his ornate, gold pocket-watch to check the time. |
Text Cut: Aurora "Nope," he said with a smile, amused that she too had gone 'are you single?' route. It appeared that neither of them were all too subtle. "Vacation - wait, sorry. Ya'll say 'holiday.'" He grinned again. He found British English amusing. "Solo holiday jaunt. Thought I would see the sites along the Orient Express." Which was truth, even if it hadn't been self-chosen. Nope if he hadn't been dismissed he certainly would have been back in New York reporting for duty at the Ministry. Oh no, he'd upset here. That hadn't been his intention. He took a step out of her way. "Have you been?" he called out after her. "On the Orient Express?" Maybe that would get her to stop and talk to him again, although he also didn't want to keep her from picking up her son. He also didn't want to offer up any half-baked condolences. In his experience, they were hollow and didn't really do much more then irritate a person. Text Cut: Mr. Blackthrone Just as he called out to the nice smelling lady with the pretty blue eyes, an older gentleman passed between them. "Sorry sir!" he apologized for his loudness. His American accent taking on a slight panged twang. Because he wasn't sorry and so his left leg stiffened slightly, the muscles clenching in pain. But the pain was worth it - well, so long as Pretty Eyes stopped again. |
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Besides, after the battle at Hogwarts, Ignatius was feeling invigorated as he hadn't felt in years. Yes, he still had the old skills and was able to give as well as he got, even against far younger wizards and witches. There was a reason people used to be a little fearful of him, and he revelled in the feeling of power running through him, just like in the old days. He decided to ignore this...person, whoever he was...and merely raised one eyebrow disdainfully and continued walking down the platform to where he calculated the middle of the train would arrive. |
Text Cut: The good-looking gentleman Sweet zouwu's she was acting like a teenager again. When the realization hit Aurora felt slightly ashamed of herself for asking the not too subtle question that basically asked if the guy was single. She hadn’t done that since before she met Sebastian. At least he didn’t seem offended more like amused which she supposed was some consolation. Raising her eyebrows in confusion at his comment she shook her head. "No, we say vacation, the Scots and Irish say holiday more I think." Solo holiday jaunt, who even said that? The longing probably shone through her voice when she commented. "A solo vacation to see the sites on the Orient express sounds completely lovely. I haven’t had a solo vacation in at least 10 years I think, but I love my 3 kids to bits." Aurora wouldn’t trade away Lucas, Lily and Francesca for anything, but sometimes she missed time alone. Pushing the trolley ahead of her she looked up at the 9 and 10 platform signs thinking about Lucas when she heard the gentleman’s voice again. Stopping Aurora looked down at her watch seeing that she still had time before she turned to face the guy again. "I went on the Orient Express years ago." She said pausing. "It was on my honeymoon with my late husband Sebastian." It surprisingly didn’t hurt to speak about Sebastian and that felt okay. She ignored the senior gentleman since he seemed like a grump. |
Text Cut: Blackthorne Teddy caught the look. Oh yes, indeed he did. He might be a foreigner, but contempt looked the same in many countries. So he merely put on a bit smile and nodded at the man as he walked past. Sure, his smile hid a grimace of pain, but it was still a smile. Just - move along old man and let him get back to trying to talk to Pretty Eyes. Text Cut: Aurora Oh good she stopped again. He took a stiff, clunky step in her direction once the old |
Text Cut: Dashing man Aurora looked on as Mr dashing still interacted with the old grumpy man. She didn’t show it outwardly, but she was relieved when the senior left so she could have Mr dashing all to herself. It appeared he had problems with at least one leg since he moved stiffly in her direction. Thoughtfully she replied as she thought back. "Athens is beautiful with it’s Akropolis, and old roman sights. There is also Vienna with its delicious food and famous Burghtheater if you are into music, theatre and so on? But the city I liked best was Paris with the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Triumphal arch and many other time worthy sights to visit." Aurora usually felt uncomfortable before when speaking about trips with her late husband that dragged up memories but not lately and not today. Mr handsome made it easy to talk and give suggestions. A few years ago it would have been a different matter. Time was a healer as they said. "Which cities will you visit on your vacation? Maybe you’re not even going to visit the cities I mentioned?" The route of the Orient Express could have changed since she rode on it years ago. Gesturing down at his limping leg Aurora commented. "That leg looks painful." She didn’t mean to pry, but it was hard not to notice. |
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And sure enough, here it came, and the stately old wizard was afflicted by a new burden as the crowd of noisy, careless returning students pushed around him in what seemed to be an endless flood. He looked anxiously at them, trying to find his niece--he had told her to return with him after the battle and not remain in that place! And then, suddenly, there she was, looking much too thin and haggard. And also...older, somehow. She was no longer the little girl Ignatius had first sent to Hogwarts four years ago. Violet hadn't talked much to anyone on the train, nor had they talked to her. No one was really in the mood for noisy chats or snacking from the trolley, and the air of gloom that had lingered on at the castle seemed to follow them on the train back to King's Cross. She had gathered her things together, picked up her trunk as she left the train and muscled it onto a trolley, and was struggling down the platform, looking around anxiously for whoever was picking her up (she wished it would still be Miss Howard, but knew that was impossible now). She was so preoccupied looking for one of her uncles that she nearly ran right into her tall, imposing grandfather, and then gawked awkwardly up at him for a few moments. Had he really come to meet her himself?!? Violet had never expected this in a million years. The old man must have been really worried about her; Violet hadn't realized he cared that much, but the look of relief on his face when he found her was unmistakable. Maybe it would be possible to talk with him about things this summer after all. Ignatius was so relieved he niece was actually there and still in one piece that he forgot to be annoyed at being run into. "Well, Violet, I see you're home at last," he finally said, awkwardly patting her on the shoulder. "Come along now," he continued, as he astonishingly took charge of her trolley himself and began to push it the rest of the way to the exit, looking over his shoulder every now and then to check that Violet was following. She finally caught up to him on her shorter legs and silently, side-by-side, they exited the platform together. |
Text Cut: Pretty Eyes He didn't speak German well. If he had thought her eyes were pretty before, they were quite beautiful when she got excited. They flashed a little brighter and brought a look to her face that was quite enchanting. "You really like Paris then?" he asked with a big smile. He'd liked Paris when he had gone on a school trip his last year. It was why he had taken the position in France when the opportunity came up. He'd love to back there sometime. Maybe with someone who would enjoy it as well. "I was planning on spending a little extra time in Vienna. I will have to make sure to the..." He waved his hand in a manner that implied he could use her repeating it. "Borger theater..." Yes he totally butchered that and didn't even look embarrassed by it. "Maybe some time in Verona. After all, There is no world without Verona walls." He said quoting William Shakespeare. "And some time in London when I get back." Yes, that was a hint Pretty Eyes. He would be back and maybe she would be interested in continuing this conversation when he didn't have a train to catch and she didn't have children to collect. And then she had to bring up his leg. He wasn't embarrassed about it, it just wasn't what he wanted to spend his sparse time with Pretty Eyes talking about. "It can be." He looked down at his foot and then shrugged. "It stiffens up on me from time to time. There's not much I can do about it." Which was true, from a certain point of view. Everyone spoke variations of untruth, it was hard not to - like his unapologetic apology to Mr. Derisive face. |
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Aw, how cute! Mr Dashing’s trouble with pronouncing the Burgh Theatre almost made Aurora laugh but she didn’t want to offend him so she just said with a hint of amusement in her voice. "So you like watching operas and such then?" When he went from Vienna to Verona Aurora had a little trouble following along in his thinking and thus asked thoughtfully. "What’s special to see in Verona aside from the Italian cuisine?" Taken by surprise since most people seemed to live and work in London when they work for the british ministry Aurora asked "You don’t live in London? You only visit now and then?" Yes, Mr dashing she had taken the hint and wouldn’t mind meeting you again. Letting her eyes drop down to his leg briefly as he spoke about it, she replied with clear sympathy in her voice as she raised her gaze to meet his eyes again. "That sounds rough. I thought the healers of today could fix almost all troubles." |
Text Cut: Aurora Oh! So she was a teacher. Correction, had been a teacher. He was sure she could teach him a thing or two. :eyebrows: But it seemed he could teach her a thing or two too. "Well, it's just the home of the most romantic story of all time isn't it? I plan on seeing Juliet's house." Yes, he knew Shakespeare had only used Verona as a backdrop, that he had never actually been there and that the story was entirely fictional, but what harm did it do to indulge in the idea? And yes, he was completely aware that he was laying out his romantic card. Sure, it might turn some women off, but he didn't think that would be the case with Pretty Eyes. "And I certainly plan to eat my weight in risotto." He laughed at himself, knowing it would take a lot of running to work off all the carbs. "No, I'm from The States. I, well, I'm... sort of between things right now." It still smarted, his having to give up his position in with the Obliviators in MACUSA. As was his leg. Explaining it wasn't first meeting material. It wasn't even first date material. Nope she would have to wait until a second date to learn all his secrets. "I'm just taking some time to figure things out. And heal." Like you Pretty Eyes. She looked like she had a few secrets he would like to learn. As for why he hadn't been fully healed? "Ask me that question sometime." He flashed her a smile. "Maybe over dinner in say...2 weeks?" |
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At the mention of the states she nodded. "Ah, that explains your accent that I couldn’t quite place at first." He was an american. She wasn’t going to push him. She could understand the need to heal. Aurora had a few scars and secrets herself that she still healed, but she wasn’t going to bring those up here. They stood for flaming feathers in the middle of a busy train station where there could be all kinds of ears listening in. Smiling, she said agreeing before she even took time to consider if she wanted to or not. "Yes, I accept. When and where shall we eat dinner together in 2 weeks? Just no sushi..." The last bit slipped out even though Aurora hadn’t planned to share that with him. |
Text Cut: Pretty Eyes She had the most adorable 'ick face.' Her nose wrinkled in a way that made Teddy smile and want to pick all the mushroom out of dishes for her. He liked mushrooms and if she didn't? He'd be happy to eat them for her...good Merlin, what was he doing? Talk about putting the cart before the horse. She hadn't even agreed to go out to dinner with him yet. "I'm sure I'll be able to find something without mushrooms." "What's wrong with sushi?" he asked with a small laugh. Honestly though? He had never tried it. Never had a reason or a chance to. A train horn blew and he glanced at his wristwatch. He really needed to get moving. With the curse activated from his fib, he was likely going to be a little slow moving and running? Well, that was not even an option. He dug around in a pocket for a slip of paper and a pen and quickly wrote down his name and the place he was going to be staying when he returned to London. "Well, this is your town... I bow to your good judgement." He passed over the slip of paper. "Owl me with a time and a place and I promise to be there. Sadly, my train's calling." For the briefest of moments, he contemplated missing it, but that wouldn't do. His sisters had insisted he go on this trip. That it would do him some good to be alone, but frankly he thought it would be better if he stayed here with Pretty Eyes. Only Pretty Eyes had a train herself to catch, well, not a train. Children. She had kids to collect and a life to get back to. "Name's Teddy, by the way." |
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Feeling her cheeks flush red with embarrassment she babbled out. “I don’t like the smell or texture of raw fish. It's just icky.” Aurora did her best to ignore that he was laughing at her. "Plus, I have few good memories of eating sushi." Don’t ask her for more information about that. She wasn’t going to provide that on the Looking up at the train station clock, she made big eyes at the time. Woops, her son was most likely wondering where she was. Turning her eyes and attention to the man again, she accepted the slip of paper from him with a still flushed smile "I’ll promise to owl you later in the week when I’ve made dinner reservations somewhere." Opening her big purse, Aurora let the paper slip down on top of a million other things before looking up again. "I’m late to pick up my son from the school train." Starting to push her trolley forwards and away from Mr Dashing as she called over her shoulder. “Teddy….My name is Aurora…Goodbye!” And with that she left the busy station to go to platform 9 ¾. |
Text Cut: Aurora He watched the paper with his information on it disappear into her bag and wondered if she really would send an owl. Perhaps she was just pandering to him. After all it wasn't like she knew him. But, he sort of had the impression she might be interested in getting to know him. Perhaps this trip wasn't going to be so terrible after all. Well, so long as she really did owl. If she didn't? Well, then it would be the exact type of trip he had been expecting. So Pretty Eyes had a pretty name! And she clearly was one who liked to have the last word. It was probably the 'mom' in her. He chuckled and waved a hand at her as he watched her walk off. "I look forward to hearing from you Aurora!" he called after her. Just in case she needed a little extra nudge to actually send that owl. And then he heard train whistle again and found himself mentally cursing at himself. He needed to get moving or else he would miss his train. As he started off to platform 7 1/2 he was clearly limping and trying his best to hurry. |
for Lawra :3 With Apricot off having a spa day, Jade took to the streets of London in her favorite pair of black boots and new vegan jacket that a certain dragonologist had bluntly hinted at looking good on her. While not usually one to take fashion advice from the fashion impaired, she had agreed with this particular suggestion. She felt a bit dirty in it considering others would likely assume that it was real leather, abhorred the thought, but it was the sort of calculated thrill she could afford. Pausing when Coconut began to whine and paw at her leg, the former Ravenclaw pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head and knelt down while pulling her bag around to her front. "Just a moment, darling," she cooed softly as she sorted through her meticulously sorted bag for the portable water bottle of Coconut's. Though as she searched, Coconut's favorite tennis ball (with Coconut's name embossed upon it) rolled out and away from her...which had her pup's ears twitch and whine louder as the foolish but loveable creature took off after it right towards the crowded street of muggle vehicles and cyclists. "COCONUT! NO! Biéguǎn tā!" she commanded while simultaneously having her arm yanked by the dog taking off and herself pulling back to try and keep her baby from harm. |
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But all thoughts of his parents left his his brain as he spotted the rolling tennis ball, and the subsequent dog trying to chase it. Hurrying forward a little, he stopped the ball with the toe of his Oxford's before bending down to scoop it up. Ball clutched in his hand, he maintained his slightly faster pace towards the dog and the woman tugging him back, hoping it would discourage the dog from trying to get away anymore. "Yours?" Leander smiled, offering the ball. |
Jade prided herself on having exceptionally well trained dogs. And they often were the most behaved whenever it came to dog parks or literally anywhere else, the leashes being an accessory rather than necessary, so this moment right now was all the more horrifying as Coconut was displaying a willful reluctance to listen. That was until a blonde bloke played the role of the good Samaritan. Hardly one to believe in the trope of a knight appearing on a white horse to save the day, Jade nonetheless dubbed this man her hero as his collection of the tennis ball and subsequent trot towards her did in fact discourage Coconut from continuing the dash into traffic. In fact, the dog was now whining and leaping all around his legs...which was presenting problems of its own since now the leash was getting all sorts of tangled up. The last thing she needed was for him to trip and fall because of his good deed. "Yes, thank you," she breathed out in a heavy, but relieved, sigh as she took the ball back and promptly shoved it back into her bag. "Silly thing with a one track mind..." Tucking a bit of her long black hair behind her left ear, she knelt to scoop Coconut off the ground and cradled the dog in her arms like a baby, scratching the tummy while their tongue wagged out of the side of their mouth. "Thank you...again...most people these days have their heads so shoved up...." Pauses a moment to collect her words. "...their own business they wouldn't have noticed. So...thank you." |
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"Nothing to thank me for," he managed, shaking his head as amusement pulled his lips up into a smirk. She was completely right, after all - most people were too busy in their own worlds. But he was always aware of his surroundings, of the people who might be watching him. Maybe he was paranoid, but it came in handy at times like these. |
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