runs_the_show (runs_the_show) wrote in doorslogs, @ 2013-02-10 23:21:00 |
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Entry tags: | draco malfoy, pepper potts |
WHO Andrew and Justine
WHAT Taking in the new house
WHERE Winter Palace
WHEN Monday, Jan 29, 2013
WARNINGS None
Andrew had officially checked out of the Wynn just a few days before. The entire house wasn’t quite complete, but it had enough furniture to make it very pleasant in his new house, suitable for visitors. The open floor plan required things to fill in the effort to avoid the hollowness that large empty houses created. He had done his best to create a home that showed the expanse, but yet was comfortable and inviting. He finished his coffee at the table, thumbing through the morning newspaper. He also checked on a variety of investments, both new and old, as he waited for Justine. He was sure that she would argue that the house wasn’t as practical as it should be, but Andrew had been raised in a house that was even larger. Practicality didn’t have a lot to do with the impression he needed to give. Perhaps he put too much focus on reputation of late, but it was the reputation maintenance that would keep him out of trouble. As much as he enjoyed Blake’s company, he simply couldn’t run around as he liked without consequence. Impression was one reason for his alliance with Justine, but not the only one. He considered her a friend, and was actually grateful to Draco for bringing her into his life. He needed the stability of a seemingly normal relationship to balance the questions that his other desires left him with. The phone, lying neatly on the table, brought him out of his wandering thoughts. His assistant was checking in. He decided to let it go to voicemail as he heard Justine’s car. He pushed the chair in neatly, heading to the door. “Did you have any trouble finding it?” he greeted from the veranda. Justine was having a bit of trouble sleeping lately, but that was understandable. Her connection with Pepper was strongest when they were sleeping and they were just sad together. It was a good bonding experience, even if it was over something horrible. At least neither of them were interested in wallowing any more than they had to. Needless to say, the Iron Man and Avengers DVDs were tucked way out of the way so neither of them would be tempted. Justine hoped that maybe another Tony would appear, but at the same time there would be some confusion if he did, particularly if he came from a point in time even earlier than the last one. They’d deal with it when the time came. She got a cab to take her to Dunkin Donuts first, getting a box of Munchkins and two coffees before heading over to Andrew’s estate. And that was exactly what it was because the place was freaking huge. Justine didn’t understand why he needed so much space, but she was excited to see it and give him decorating advice. She made sure to dress particularly well, all in designer clothes because that was the kind of image he needed her to project. She didn’t mind being his fake girlfriend, but she’d been so bad about it lately and she felt so guilty. Justine promised herself she’d make it up to him. After paying the cab, she turned to Andrew and offered him a wave. “Nope! This place is huge! I don’t think it’s possible to get lost, except for inside,” she teased before heading to the door, the coffees and munchkins balanced in one hand so she could open the door. Justine greeted him with a kiss on the cheek before handing him a coffee. “As promised!” She smiled. “How’re you settling into things?” Andrew smiled at the kiss, taking one of the coffees. “You look great, my darling,” he said, taking in her outfit. She fit so perfectly into his world. If someone looked at the two together, they were perfectly matched, he in his slacks and oxford, and she in whatever designer was in at the moment. He had made the right choice, and the fact that he actually liked her company made it all the better. “I know this house doesn’t have an ounce of humbleness, but I couldn’t help it really.” He held the door open for her, standing aside so she could see the huge living area, or one of them. “I love windows, or the sun rather, shining in the windows. I also like the expanse of the room itself. I am thinking of leaving Blake in charge of the game room, and possibly the bar, although the idea is a little frightening. He will turn it into a den of sin.” He turned a little bit red as he spoke. He couldn’t seem to stop that reflex. “It might be fun though.” “I admit, I also had to have a pool. I love swimming, but growing up in England, well, every day is like swimming just taking a walk to fetch the post.” He set the donut holes on the table that still held his paper. “Would you like the inside tour, or outside first?” Liking Andrew had been a surprise for Justine. She liked Draco well enough, in an abstract sort of way that included them never talking about Rose ever, but Andrew? She hadn’t expected to enjoy his company. They came from different social circles, obviously, but they weren’t so far off that they couldn’t relate to one another. He understood that most of her everyday clothes were usually a hundred quid an item, that she could get a designer bag and treat it like some twenty quid knock off. Money wasn’t an issue for her and she never took it to an extreme the way Andrew did, but at least he didn’t make her feel like she had to hide part of who she was. She was grateful for that and she liked him a little more for it. The house though, it was entirely over the top. Well, it was a mansion really. Justine was immediately drawn inside, parting with one of the coffees without pause as she looked around. “You’re ridiculous,” she informed him, but it was with an endearing smile. She’d come to expect that from him. “I can see why you fancy it,” she added, turning in a slow circle to see all of the room. She stopped when she came face to face with him again. “Blake?” she questioned, having never met him before. “Might want to turn it into a speakeasy then, or have a password. Maybe a secret knock?” Justine was teasing now, her smile showing that, one that grew when she saw the blush. “Oh, is Blake the one Draco was worried about?” she asked curiously. She took a sip of her own coffee and moved next to him, looping her arm in his as she led him over to the staircase. “I know all about England’s dreary weather,” Justine reminded him. “Which is exactly why we’ll save the pool for later. Best take your electronics out before going outside as well. I might feel like taking a swim later,” she warned with a grin. Sure, warning him took away half the fun, but that was okay. “I know, but I love this place, and if I do have my family out for a visit, which will happen at some point, they will be appeased at least.” He shrugged and took a drink of his coffee. He chuckled softly when she asked about Blake. That was a hard relationship to explain, especially given the fact that the Thorne heir seemed to enjoy the scandalous lifestyle, although Andrew had reasoned that he also hid behind it, given all that had happened. “Blake Thorne and I met at a charity function a few years ago. He is a good friend, and he doesn’t hold back. He isn’t the one Draco was referring to. In spite of what the press says about him, and his behavior, there is a lot more to him.” Andrew was very loyal to those he cared about. Blake, Justine, and Trystan were in that category, as well as his head mate. He took her up the stairs, sipping at his coffee. “Draco was referring to another,” he paused on the name. That information was risky at best. He chewed on his lip for a second. “He has some issues, and is definitely not from any part of our world.” It tugged at him, wondering how much trust he could place in anyone with regards to Trystan. “Most people would regard him as the lowest form of existence, but there is a lot more going on underneath all those layers of self-destructiveness.” So he had to confide in someone, at some point. “Trystan.” It was always about pleasing his family. Justine wasn’t surprised at the answer considering what she knew about Andrew. His family was like his kryptonite. It would always hold him back and the closer his family got, the more he’d focus on them. It was something she wanted to help him with, to work through, but it would take time. She thought it would be worth the effort though. “That Blake Thorne?” There was only a small bit of judgement in her tone because she’d heard the stories and knew about his love to party. He reminded her a little bit of Chuck Bass from that Gossip Girl TV show she’d been watching on Netflix. “You’ll definitely want to make it somewhere out of sight then. Maybe the cellar?” That would be perfect depending on how big the space was. She was quiet when he started to talk about the person Draco’d been talking about. Whoever it was clearly held some importance to him and she knew whatever it was he wanted to say, it was important for him to share. Justine was more than willing to listen and to be the one Andrew confided in. It kind of made her feel more grown up and she needed that. Thoughts of Silver, Pepper, her brother, all of it, were just in the back of her mind, forgotten for the time being. She didn’t want to be sad today. “Trystan,” Justine repeated softly, wondering if she’d heard the name before. There were two on the journals, or there had been. One was a woman though and Andrew had indicated it was a male, which meant it was the one who wrote the poetry all the time. Possibly. “Is he on the journals?” He laughed a bit harder at Justine’s reaction to Blake. “Yes, that Blake Thorne. He’s a complete extrovert when it comes to public presentation, but that is not the same man I met years ago. Like me, it’s an image. He has a very different take than I do, and he is no angel, but I enjoy his company no less.” He was also not involved with Blake in that sense, and in his own way, he was very glad for it. There was not the awkwardness that could have followed. “He balances out my rather drab choices.” Trystan was another matter. On the journals, he wrote poetry, and could be quite grim. He certainly didn’t hide what he did for a living. Like Blake, there were so many layers built up over the years, it was almost an impossible job to clear off, or even crack through. “Trystan is the poet, among many other things. Draco doesn’t like him at all. He has had a rough go, and a lot of it is self-created, I believe. I do try to help him, but … I don’t think he really wants that. If you don’t attempt change, then you can’t really fail.” He shook his head, pushing the door open to the first bedroom, vast and open like the rest of the house. It was also well lit by the sun coming through. “I do love a house that you can get lost in, even if it’s just for me.” It didn’t make a certain degree of loneliness diminish, but it was home. “That’s putting it mildly,” she replied with a grin that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She didn’t think Blake Thorne was the best way for Andrew to keep up appearances, but she supposed that was what she was for. And the house. “Just don’t get sucked in too far, yea? Not even I or this house could dig you out of that mess.” She was meant to be honest with him and that was what she’d do. They made it up to the first floor as Andrew started to explain about Trystan. “He’s important to you, isn’t he?” she asked carefully as he pushed the door of the first bedroom open. It was a beautiful, if empty room. She wondered what he would do with it. “You know, maybe you should have a ball or something here, make use of these rooms,” she suggested. It would do him good to have the place full, even if it was only for a few hours. Justine turned to face him and gave him a smile. “This place is too empty. It’s not so good, you living all on your own, you know,” she told him. “What if you invited Trystan to live with you? The place is big enough that it wouldn’t need to be like you’re on top of each other,” she offered. It was obvious that Andrew wanted to take care of the poet and that would be a perfect opportunity. “You have never met Trystan,” Andrew said with a laugh. “He wouldn’t do it. He’s stubborn, and very independant and has more issues with trust than I can break down.” There was also a drug problem, Trystan’s profession, Andrew’s family, and a whole list of reasons that made this idea impossible. “It’s not like this can go public anyway. I have moved a lot of money into different locations just in case my family should take serious offense to anything I do, but I am not ready for that storm to come.” “There are times when I also enjoy the solitude,” he admitted, walking to the window. “It was so quiet in our house, and it used to bother me. Now, I enjoy making my own coffee and sitting out by the pool. It’s peaceful. I have never actually been one of those wild ones. I didn’t even get to go to the Cambridge parties.” He shrugged, surveying the sunlight. He never tired of that. “My father told me not to get involved.” He cringed at his own words, looking back at Justine. “See the pattern here? Duty to family before duty to oneself. That was also true when I was engaged. I had to choose a suitable fiance to represent the family in all matters. Everything is political, and yes, there is the need for you and I to keep up a charade, although I do like the arrangement.” Andrew could be naive in many ways, but he was beginning to understand that family loyalty had actually prevented him from any self discovery. He was finally taking steps away from the safety net of being a royal, but they were small ones. Justine made a face at that. She didn’t understand why Andrew was making such an effort for someone who didn’t seem to care. Whatever was between the two men, she would quite happily stay out of. Though, the way he was talking made it seem like they were dating or something. “Andrew,” she started, reaching for his hand. “Are you sure this is what you want? All of this superficial stuff, the show, your parents must have some idea that you’re not interested in being like them. Surely they at least have suspicions that you’re not attracted to women?” How absent were his parents that they wouldn’t even notice that. It wasn’t that Andrew was flamboyantly gay or anything like that. She just thought they’d know. She knew about her brother. She moved to the window to stand next to him. “There’s a difference between being social and being a party animal,” Justine added softly, sliding her hand in his, weaving their fingers together. “I’m just worried about you in a place as big as this all on your own.” Secretly, or maybe not so secretly, Justine decided that she hated his parents a great very much. They’d hurt him so much by imposing all sorts of restrictions on him and she just wanted to strangle them quite a bit over it, royal or not. Her smile returned when he said that he liked their arrangement. That was all it would ever be, an arrangement, and as long as she didn’t have to marry him, they’d be all right. “You’re not so bad yourself,” Justine teased lightly. “I can understand the importance of upholding the family name, but everyone gets written about in the tabloids at some point and this isn’t England. Not many people could point you out on the street and say, ‘Look, there goes the Duke!’ you know?” She was trying to be comforting. “I think you just need to work a bit more on having the confidence in yourself to know what you want and then having the confidence to get it.” “The house? It’s brilliant. I like it very much, and I do want to be here.” He squeezed her hand and smiled. “For the rest, it will fall into place. I have to trust that it will at some point, and I might have an ace or two.” “I’m not sure how I would define me. It was fairly irrelevant when I was a child. Name was everything, and personal interests were not important. I would marry, have an heir of my own to carry my name, and that was all one path. There are no choices to be made. I traveled some, but was always ushered to the finest hotels. I never really got to live. I didn’t realize I was even attracted to men until I was actually free to experiment. I might consider dating a woman at some point again.” He pulled her away from the window, heading towards the door to explore the rest of the floor. The walked them down the hall to the master that was now his own room. It wasn’t entirely full yet, but he did have a king sized bed and a nightstand. It still needed work. “I can’t answer the questions that my family will have until I actually know the answers. It is a good thing that our family goes unnoticed, although there are many pictures of my father with the other royals. If it gets out though, it will be bad.” He was still reluctant to completely break free, and wasn’t sure if he ever could, but he was making progress. “So tell me what is going on in your world, and what kind of color scheme you see for this room. I know what looks good when I see it, but putting it together is a nightmare.” “An ace or two?” she asked, curious and amused. With him, that could be potentially dangerous, but she would be there to help his image recover if necessary. “I’m sure you’ll come out on top no matter what you do,” Justine reassured him. She had faith enough in that. “It sounds like you have an awful lot in common with Draco. Maybe you should take a page out of his book. I know things are different, because his parents aren’t around and all, but it’s still similar,” she thought, following him easily as he led her away from the window and into the hallway. It wasn’t surprising that his room was next and one of the largest ones, if not the largest one. “Well, you’ve got me so that it doesn’t get out before you’re ready,” she replied. “Have you told them about me?” When he asked about her and advice for his room in the same breath, she pulled away and stepped further into the room so that she could get a better feel for it. “I’ve been through the door almost constantly for the past few weeks. There was a virus that spread from another door in hopes of creating a cure. It...wasn’t developed in time,” she said softly, her throat getting tight just thinking about it. She shook her head. “I’d say something quietly manly, greens or blues with dark mahogany furniture. What do you think?” “I’m perhaps not as ignorant as I appear at times, or I’ve had a good bit of education here.” He was half-joking about the issue. He was definitely waking up to life in a very strange way. He wasn’t watching it pass from a distance, but stepping into the middle of it, and he was gaining confidence. In a way though, he didn’t want to come out on top. He wanted people to find out. He was tired of waiting for the storm to hit. He wanted to get through the storm and have a bit of freedom. He wasn’t ready to admit it yet, nor was he going to deliberately give himself away. “He and I are the same sort. I don’t agree with everything he says, the same way he doesn’t agree with the things I do, but we work.” He laughed, looking around the room, trying to get a feel for the coloring. He nodded as he surveyed the curtains and walls. “This is definitely too boring. I think we could work in those colors.” He was shocked to hear about the door drama. He knew people were sick, but hadn’t been affected. “I’m sorry to hear that. How is Pepper?” He knew how it was to worry after an alter. He would be the same with Draco, who was not attached to some of the other doors. Draco was like family, even closer. He didn’t answer her about whether or not he’d told his family about her so she assumed it wasn’t important and left it at that. It wasn’t like she was eager to meet them considering she was certain she didn’t like them. “Just something to consider. He doesn’t have to agree with everything, and if he’s getting too critical just let me know. I’ll tell him to behave.” Which reminded her...”Has he been talking with Rose still?” Justine tried to say it in a way that conveyed she didn’t really care but deep down, she kind of did. She hadn’t spoken to Rose Red since apologizing and part of her wondered what was going on. “I’m sure we can. I can go to the paint store and get some sample colors if you want, that way you can see them on the wall before deciding,” she suggested. It would be simpler and cheaper than having to paint the place twice. “Are you going to get a contractor in here to do all the painting for you? Or an interior designer?” God knew he could afford it. “She’s...” Justine turned to face him and shrugged, her lower lip wibbling just a little bit. “Her...Technically, he was her employer but they were in love. And he died.” It was so much more real, saying it out loud. She couldn’t help the tears that started to form and she hastily tried to wipe them away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-” but she couldn’t get it out because her throat was tightening and she was afraid one more word would unleash more tears. “I don’t know. Draco has been very tight lipped about her since he started seeing Harry. I know she was angry with him, and he was trying to make it up to her with some beast, and spells.” He shrugged, not entirely sure of all the details. He could guess if pressed. “He wanted to see if he could make this beast human again.” He was fairly sure he would end up with contractors once the decisions were made. He couldn’t imagine doing so much painting himself. He didn’t know the first thing about all the detail work anyway. His knowledge of home repairs didn’t go much beyond brushes, and a variety of tools. “It will be a contract job once we decide. I don’t want to hire them without a plan.” He could feel the tension in Justine’s voice, the shaky sound of someone coming apart. He turned towards her, putting his arms around her gently. “I’m sorry. That’s horrible.” He just stood quietly for a moment. “It’s hard not to be involved with them, especially when they are living in your head. It may be a different personality, but our lives are really combined with theirs. How is she doing now?” Justine didn’t snort the way she might have a few months ago. Instead, she just shrugged. “She could probably use the help. I know he and Harry are doing well,” she replied, “so that’s good.” Rose deserved to be happy just like the rest of them did and if Draco helped her get that, then whatever. There wasn’t anything she could say or wanted to say to change that. It was what it was and maybe that was as good a sign as any that she was growing up. She could understand not wanting to hire someone without a plan. “I can see about finding some possible designs for some of the different rooms and then we can see what you like best and go from there?” She thought that sounded reasonable and she needed something to fill her time before the next round of auditions. As the conversation turned to Pepper and the loss of Tony and Silver, Justine was grateful for the arm wrapped around her. She turned into his embrace, wrapping her arms tight around his waist. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, trying to get herself under control so that she wouldn’t start crying. That was the last thing she wanted to do. It took her a few minutes to get herself under control, but she wasn’t quite ready to pull away just yet. “I’m sorry. It’s a really hard thing to go through and I knew him on this side. It’s like feeling it twice,” Justine explained. Andrew knew that Justine didn’t like Rose. It was better not to let that situation get out of control. She was still important to Draco, and while a relationship may not have worked, Andrew did understand that he was trying to give her something so that she could be happy. In Draco’s own way, he was growing up, transitioning from a fairly negative outlook, to actually helping his friends. However, when she broke down, thoughts of Draco were pushed to the side, as well as decorating schemes. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I didn’t even realize what could happen over there. It’s pretty stupid now that I think about it. They have their own lives when we turn them loose. How did you manage to meet him on this side of the door?” There was still a lot that he didn’t know about this place, but he did want to be prepared. “You do know that you can always talk to me. You can even hide out in one of my many rooms if you want.” It was a generous offer, and one that he meant wholeheartedly. While he could be a little bit cool at times, once he accepted someone into his life, he warmed up a lot. “When I got here, all of her contacts were in my phone. I just called his - Tony’s - number, and his person here picked up. He drove me from the airport to a hotel and then we ended up moving into the same building together. He-” She was talking too fast and then it all just stopped so she could hold back a sob. She didn’t even know if Silver had friends or loved ones to tell. Wren had made it clear she didn’t want to talk to her, which hurt Justine a little bit too. It all just hurt and she hated it. Justine pulled away and turned from him, looking out the window instead as she wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m sorry. I wanted a distraction from all of this. Maybe I’m just not ready,” she murmured, more to herself than anything. He offered to let her talk to him, even to stay with him for a while, but Justine shook her head. That wasn’t in the job description. “I appreciate it, Andrew, I do. But I should go. I’ll get you those pictures and design ideas,” she promised, wiping her eyes and trying to make herself presentable to leave. “Thank you, though.” Wait. What was she saying? Did something happen to the guy here? “The man in Vegas, who had Tony in his head - he’s gone too?” He didn’t want to pressure her but it needed to be asked. Did things that happen on the other side of the door affect them? Those were things Andrew hadn’t realized. Were they that interconnected. He felt a little sick. He knew Draco was also paying attention. He stood beside her, looking down, the concern evident in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that it was that bad. I’m serious though when I say my door is always open.” She offered him a sad smile. “He died.” And then she was gone, her footsteps moving fast down the hallway and then out the door. |