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Asher Bradley ([info]en_bradley) wrote in [info]enigma_rpg,
@ 2009-03-25 03:09:00

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Entry tags:* complete, 2004-03, character: asher bradley, character: charlie weasley

RP: A visit
When: 25th March, 2004
Who: Asher Bradley, Charlie Weasley
Where: Charlie's place
Private/Public: Private
Rating: Who knows.
Summary: Asher visits Charlie at his place.


Asher had finally gone back to work, desk duty for a few days. He complained but deep down, where no one called him on it, he was a bit thankful. He still tired easily, and work was stressful--anxiety fluttered in his chest at times and instead of dealing with it by ignoring it, these days he found himself getting more anxious because it kept flashing him back to having that heart attack. It was ridiculous, he knew, but his mind was still finding its way to cope.

So he chose the one thing he knew wouldn't be very stressful--visiting Charlie. The other man was probably Asher's greatest friend. And, Asher might ahve started to admit it deep, deep down where no one would ever guess, he might have developed something of a crush on the other man. That was one thing he could ignore; at least he was comfortable enough with Charlie to mostly be himself, and he refused to think about something that could ruin the friendship that he treasured so dearly.

He aslo, admittedly, had a favor he wanted to ask the dragon keeper. It was rather personal, and he felt nervous and absurd about it, but he really thought it had to be done. But it wasn't his priority. He just waned to relax.

And Charlie had said he could visit at any time. And so, after a long day of work, Asher finally decided to take him up on it. He stopped at home only long enough to feed the animals and change into somethign a little more casual than his work robes, scoop the cat into his pocket, and apparate to where he knew Charlie's place to be. He knocked on the door, scuffing his feet slightly in the dirt, and rather hoped the redhead didn't have a date with Penny tonight.


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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-25 03:52 am UTC (link)
Work was constant and Charlie really needed that. The attacks, his family being hurt (he was worried about Percy but visions of Fred kept on making him turn around outside his door). His mind went to the owl that Harry had sent to him and he realized that now was the time to start acting on things.

The sun had set and it was still chilly in the evenings, so a wordless spell ignited the logs in the fireplace to heat up the lounge while he lingered in the bath to soak out the aches and pains.

He was a little surprised when his wards alerted him to the presence of a person, someone he knew. He'd always wanted test his intercom system but never really had a reason to do so until now. He touched an angel-faced tile against the wall and activated the charm. A sculpture mounted on the wall by the front door came alive and spoke with his voice.

"Hi," he said. "Who's this?"

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-25 03:03 pm UTC (link)
Asher blinked, temporarily started, but then he smiled as his brain quickly leapt to the logical conclusion. Clever system, he thought.

"It's Asher," he said, facing the sculpture. "I h-hope this isn't a bad time." If it was, he'd just leave--he didn't want to impose, he never liked doing that. He'd just felt the urge to come and see him.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-25 04:13 pm UTC (link)
Charlie smiled as Asher's voice spoke next to his ear. "Hey, it's not a bad time. I'll be there in a moment." He was already getting out of the bath as he spoke, snagging a towel off the rail and wrapping it around his waist.

He quickly walked through to the front door and opened it with a smile. "Come in, I was just soaking the day's aches away." He stood waiting for Asher to walk inside before closing the door.

"Make yourself at home. In fact, if you can get the kettle going, I'll go and get dressed." He smiled at his friend and headed to the bedroom to put on some clothes.

A short while later, after pulling the plug so the water can drain, Charlie entered the kitchen wearing a pair of sweatpants and a thick jersey his mother had knitted for him, a big 'C' on his chest. His sheepskin slippers protected his feet from the cold floor.

"Hey," he said with a smile and dug out two cups and the fixings for some tea. "I was going to owl you tomorrow, but now you're here." He paused. "Is everything OK?" he asked, concern written on his face.

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-25 04:37 pm UTC (link)
Asher hadn't quite expected Charlie to come to the door with only a towel on, and his eyes flickered to the floor after a moment--down the body, first, but quickly enough no one would see. "Sounds pleasant," Asher said, thinking for a moment of his hot shower at home. He looked up again as Charlie started to walk away, taking a second to look at the tattoos--and grin.

"Certainly," he said, heading for the kitchen. He did shrug off his robes, though, leaving him in his comfortably well-washed dark jeans and a long sleeved tshirt. He started the kettle going, puttering around there while it reached a boil. He had another tired grin for Charlie when the man came in from changing.

"Oh?" Asher said in a prompting tone. He sort of shrugged, though, at the question, ducking his head unconsciously. He'd had his hair cut, finally, and was finding he rather missed the slightly longer bangs that would fall over his eyes. It didn't do much to disguise the faint smudges under his eyes, now that he wasn't wearing a faint glamor for work.

"I guess so. Tough getting back into things," he admitted. He took a tea cup for himself. "I'm tired." It came out quietly. "Oh, someone wanted to see you," he said, perking himself back up with some effort. He went over to where he'd laid his robes neatly and fished in a pocket, pulling out a ruffled looking Mab. "There, Mab, now you can stop complaining." He grinned.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-25 04:55 pm UTC (link)
Charlie didn't notice the flicker of Asher's eyes and after closing the door quickly made his way to the bedroom. It was cold after all.

He saw the fatigue in Asher's smile and eyes. "Sit, you're almost out on your feet. Have you eaten?" Charlie asked as he made the tea.

"I was going to ask how things are going and if you've spoken to Gabrielle yet," he answered the question about his owl. He looked closer at Asher and scowled. "Should you be back at work yet, you look like Death on toast."

Charlie nodded as Asher spoke, sipping is own tea, mentally trying to think what there is to eat. "You really look tired, mate," he said. He looked curious when Asher picked up his robes and started to fish in a pocket and grinned when Mab made an appearance. "Hello your highness," he greeted the small cat and immediately put her on his shoulder.

"Well, its a delightful surprise that you came to visit me without invitation," Charlie said with a smile. "And you look good with that haircut. Says me who grows it as long as I can get away with before my Mum tries to cut it."

He got up. "Lets go sit in front of the fire, you look like you could do with some warming up."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-26 07:31 am UTC (link)
"Not since lunch," Asher said. He had made sure to eat a good meal then, and no one said anything when he took an extra couple of minutes--it wasn't like he made a habit of it, and he was obviously still feeling poorly.

"Yes, I spoke to Gabrielle," he said. "It's one of the reasons I really had to go back to work." It was his case, and he was responsible for it--it wasn't like they had enough Aurors to trade off a lot, and besides, he had a way with victims usually. "It was... headache inducing, to say the least," he said.

"No, please, g-go on, my ego is swelling," Asher cracked dryly, obviously very amused. He was touched at the concern, though--it was nice, for a change, to have someone worried about him. Selfish sounding, perhaps, but it was something he didn't get much of.

"I just... wanted to visit, I guess," Asher said with a shrug. It was unusual for him to not even owl first, but it was a whim he'd followed. It was hard to admit he simply hadn't wanted to be alone for a few hours--that maybe he might need someone to fuss over him like Charlie was, sometimes.

"Thanks. I'm kind of missing the length, but I know I needed it." He grimaced. "As my mother repeatedly reminded me when she visited." It wasn't out of the love like Charlie's mother--it was all along the lines of 'what will everyone think.'

"I really am fine," he protested verbally, but he followed behind Charlie tamely, cup cradled in his hands. "Just tired, honest." He knew it probably wouldn't do to admit that last night he'd sat down after getting home from work and woken up in the morning before work--having passed out dead asleep for the interim.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-28 03:24 am UTC (link)
Charlie nodded and pulled a take-away menu from the pile of stuff on the coffee table. "I'm too lazy to cook and too tired to go out. This place has nice stuff."

He smiled. "Let me guess... Gran came along too?" He knew Asher was nice to Gabi, but her grandmother was a different story. The woman didn't suffer fools gladly, and the problem was she thought most people were fools, especially men.

Charlie snorted at Asher's retort. "Just don't push too hard, OK?" he asked and smiled. "You're more than welcome to visit, but I've said that like a hundred times. Glad you took me up on it." He reached out and briefly squeezed his friend's shoulder.

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Mothers," he said in an amused tone and raised his cup of tea in salute. "They always think they know better, but they only do sometimes." He gave an amused smile of remembrance. "I have a few charms I can teach if you want them. Just don't be too vigorous with them or you''ll look like Cousin It."

Charlie ignored Asher's half-hearted protests and made sure he sat down as soon as possible. "You might think you're fine, but your body says otherwise."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-28 07:24 am UTC (link)
"I commend your plan on efficiency and laziness," Asher said in a lazy drawl of his own. While he did cook a lot, like any bachelor he did have a nice little drawer full of takeaway menus. Just in case he got lazy, bored, or rushed.

"Yes. Though for once she seemed the reasonable one," Asher said, shaking his head slightly. "I tried to reason with Gabi, but that man did a number on her." He sighed softly. "A couple of times, I thought I almost made a dent... but in the end it didn't help." He looked forlorn, expression pensive--he should have done more.

"I have to do what I have to do," Asher said with a faint grin, ducking his head--he might push himself, but hearing concern from Charlie made him feel almost good, in a way. "I was just worried you might be out with Penny or something," he admitted. The smile he gave Charlie as his shoulder was squeezed was brilliant for the moment it lasted.

He shrugged. "Eh. Seeing her... reminded me of a few things, I guess," he said, running a hand through his shorter hair. "And, ah, r-reminds me of ssomething I wanted to ask." His eyes slid toward the floor, and his speech, which these days was usually rather solid around Charlie, occasionally peppered with gentle stutters and often only when he was emotional in some way, suddenly gave way to the rougher cadence that often happened when he was nervous.

Asher snorted. "Cousin It?" he asked, though his brain niggled a thought on that. "Feel free to teach--some day I have the energy to cast properly."

"My body is being stupid," he said, but sank into a seat without protest.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-29 04:23 pm UTC (link)
Charlie just chuckled at Asher's reply and after deciding his own choices called the restaurant through the Floo. Their order would be ready in about half an hour.

"Goodness," Charlie said. "When things like that happen then we know the world is coming to an end." He sighed. "I got the same reaction - he got her conditioned quite well and it will take a lot from her family and friends to get her out of that."

Charlie scowled. "Well, I don't want to visit you in hospital again, that place depresses me way too much." His expression relaxed. "I've been visiting Penny, but she's still recovering from the attack, so no dates for a while." He answered Asher's smile with one of his own.

Charlie tilted his head to one side. "What is it?" he asked gently, knowing Asher hates asking anything of anybody if he can avoid it.

"From the Addams Family movies." Charlie grinned. "I spent a few times at the movies in London. That happened to show the one day and I was very amused by it all. Cousin it is covered in hair from head to toe." He smiled. "I'll teach, if you are willing to learn. Its subtle though, so best you rest up before I try and teach it to you."

He snorted. "Your body isn't stupid. And if you ask nicely, I'll even massage your shoulders so you're not so tense."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-29 06:30 pm UTC (link)
"Brainwashing," Asher said, disgusted. Such a beautiful girl... such a horrible thing. "I suggested a place I know of around here to help, but I don't know that it's the best option at this point." After all, it might exacerbate the whole 'my family hates me' thing if they were to send her there.

He snorted softly. "I don't blame you," he said. He'd certainly gotten out of there as soon as they'd blinked long enough to let him get out. "Ouch," he said, wincing. "I didn't know she was that bad. I'm sorry," he told him genuinely, though he certainly was glad that Charlie was here for him to visit tonight.

"W-weellll," Asher said, rubbing the back of his neck. "All of this, ah, reminded me of how dangerous my job can be. I haven't updated certain... paperwork since Esme broke her wand. I'd rather have someone r-readily available and trustworthy to ... h-handle things if something happens to me." He was circling the subject, perhaps, but he wasn't brave like Charlie. The implication lay in the conversation--he wanted Charlie in charge of his affairs if he ended up incapacitated or dead.

"Ah yes," Asher said, recalling it now from watching something on TV with Esme. "Definitely rest. I don't want to be hairy all over--would be a pain to shave." He chuckled.

Asher perked up at the mention of a shoulder rub. He looked at Charlie and fluttered his eyelashes dramatically but as effectively as any woman--Esme was forever telling him she wanted to kill him for his long eyelashes. "Would you really?" he asked, putting a hand to his chest and peeking playfully out from under said lashes.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-30 04:57 am UTC (link)
Charlie shook his head. "She needs her family to reinforce the fact that they do love her and she's wanted and all that stuff. If needs be I'll be the villain that pushes her so she can get the comfort from Bill and Fleur. I'd rather she goes home and bitch to them about me than her running off again."

He smiled his thanks at Asher's expression of concern. "It's not too bad, she's just struggling to recover and taking things slowly. I go and visit every few days, always during the day. She still tires easily."

Charlie listened with a puzzled expression for a moment before it dawned on him what Asher was asking. "Asher, are you sure? Not that I'm protesting or anything - fuck I'm honored that you want me to be this for you." He looked intently at Asher, trying to figure out why the younger man wanted him to handle his estate. Asher's mother was definitely not a good choice for something like this.

"Of course, if something happened to you, I'd probably be right there next to you trying to stop a wall from collapsing on top of you or something like that. So, yes I will be what you're asking."

Charlie grinned. "I ain't shaving you, mate. That you would have to do on your own."

At Asher's blatant fluttering of eyes and coy manner, Charlie started laughing. "Mate, I will gladly help you relax if you promise never to do that again. I suggest we hold off until after we've eaten. How's that?"

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-30 04:07 pm UTC (link)
"Yeah. She's lucky to have you lot," Asher said. "Though you? The Villain?" That was something Asher couldn't really see in his head. Charlie had been nothing but a good guy in Asher's experience, so it was hard to wrap his head around the thought. "What are you going to do?"

His lips twitched in amusement at himself. HE should be taking it slowly too, but he had too much to do to be able to do that. Part of him wished he had that luxury--but he wouldn't be Asher if he didn't put himself out for other people.

Asher watched the play of expressions across Charlie's face from the corner of his eye, unable to quite bring himself to meet the other man's gaze in his shyness. "I-I'm sure," Asher said. "I... My mother isn't trustworthy. S-she'd probably keep me alive or kill me from spite if something bad happened, and s-she'd never do what I wanted if I d-d-died." He let out a gusty breath. "And E-esme isn't easily accessible anymore, w-without a wand." And the only other person he really had was Charlie, and he trusted him.

He smiled faintly at the mention that Charlie would likely be right next to him when something happened, finally raising his eyes enough to meet his briefly. "Thank you," he said quietly.

He laughed, quietly but genuinely. "Aww, leave m-me to accidentally slit something vital," he teased.

He snorted quietly, obviously amused. "What else am I supposed to do with these things?" he joked in his quiet way, gesturing at his face, the lashes. "But the offer is so tempting I suppose I have to accept the deal." He nodded. Food was sounding very good just about now.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-30 04:28 pm UTC (link)
Charlie gave a grim smile. "Mate, I can be an absolute bastard if I have to be. I'm hoping I won't have to push her but I will if I have to. I don't have a strategy yet, but I won't be unprepared."

He nodded as Asher explained his mother and Esme's unavailability. "From what you've told me I can believe that of your mother. Its too bad Esme wants nothing to do with the wizarding world. So, I'd be happy to do this for you, but I swear - if you croak because of something stupid, I will raise you from the dead and kill you myself. Understood? He gave Asher a mock scowl.

"Anytime, just call if you need me, OK?"

Charlie grinned. "I'll mourn you if you cut yourself up, clean up the blood with a lot of sobbing and go out and get drunk."

He chuckled. "Well, if I figure that one out I'll let you know. I think our food should be here soon and then I'll make my magic fingers to the work."

Not too long after the fireplace flashed green and the delivery person stumbled out of the fire. Charlie quickly paid for their food and sent the guy off with a tip. "Food is served," he said to Asher with a bow and headed off to the kitchen for plates and utensils.

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-30 04:56 pm UTC (link)
"Good luck," he said quietly. "I wish I could help. I hate that someone has hurt her like that." He especially hated seeing young women hurt. "You do know that she was taught some awfully dark spells? Do be careful, Chaz," he said.

There was a wistful, almost pained smile when Charlie apologized for Esme. "Someday... maybe a few decades from now... she'll come back, I think. But she's not ready yet." Not even Asher was enough to get her to come back permanently--only for visits. It was an old pain, one that was long scarred over. "Ha. Yes, I understand," he said with a little laugh.

"Get very drunk," Asher said deadpan. "And remember to change your clothes before you go out or you'll scare away all the pretties that might want to comfort you in your time of need."

"Foooood," was Asher's reply. So maybe he did have a single track mind... sometimes. He helped with the plates and made a beeline back to the delivery containers. His stomach grumbled and he realized he was ravenous. Tired, yes, but at least tonight he would eat properly. That, if nothing else, would probably help him start feeling better.

Not to mention he felt soothed by simply being in friendly company--to have someone express concern over him. It was healing for parts of him that had been hurt for far longer than the attack.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-31 11:21 am UTC (link)
Charlie sighed. "We all hate that," he said. His eyebrows went up with Asher's warning. "Dark like what?" he asked, not sure he was going to like the answer.

He smiled at his friend. "One day she'll come back," he echoed. He felt sorry that Asher had lost one of his good friends to the Muggles, but the upside was he could still talk to her.

"I won't change - they must see the gore and blood and the suffering I went through," Charlie teased.

He laughed at Asher's chant. "At least its not 'brains' so I feel comforted." Soon they were seated at the table and munching away at food. He was glad to see Asher had some appetite.

After dinner and some light-hearted conversation Charlie put the dishes in the sink to soak and shooed his guest back to the couch. "So, just shoulders or your back too? That will determine if you get the couch or the bed."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-31 12:16 pm UTC (link)
"Dark like..." and he named off many of the spells Gabrielle had told him the other day. All were dark; several could kill if they hit a person correctly. Though perhaps he shouldn't tell, if Charlie was going to be teaching Gabi, he needed to be fully aware.

Asher simply laughed again. "Well, don't blame me if no one throws themselves at your feet because you're all bloody and gore-y."

"Ha. Hungry enough to eat brains at this point," he said, eyeing Charlie's head with fake hunger. His lips twitched. Now that he'd asked that question, he felt much lighter than before.

He ate with his customary neatness but also quickly, because his stomach demanded it. It was, overall, an excellent meal and he made sure to thank Charlie for it once he was done. He made a mental note to make sure he paid next time--no fair to make the other man pay more than one time running.

"I can help with the dishes," he mock-complained, but he let himself be ushered back. "Doesn't really matter. Whatever you're willing to do, mate," he said

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-31 12:41 pm UTC (link)
Charlie swore with feeling when Asher listed the spells. "You're serious?" he asked.

Charlie grinned. "I'll be too distraught to notice, but thanks for the warning." It was fun joking with Asher like that and he knew they could get really silly if they tried. Or maybe without trying.

He held up his hands and shoved the bag with food into Asher's hands. "My brains have long use ahead of it, thank you very much," he said primly, marred by a grin.

"Next time its your house then you can wash up," Charlie said as he moved Mab from the seat of the couch onto the backrest. "Sit on the floor between my legs so I can get your shoulders," he instructed after getting some oils from his room. This was a service he had performed many a time for his friends on the reserve. "Oh, and lose the shirt."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-31 03:41 pm UTC (link)
"Wouldn't joke about such a thing," Asher said, tone dark and sad. "Heard them from her lips myself. She didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with them, though there was a moment of pause when I mentioned that some of them can kill."

Asher muttered something along the lines of 'you better be distraught' but there was a grin on his face.

"You sure?" Asher asked playfully, reaching out to rap his knuckles gently on Charlie's skull. He knew, though, that Charlie was very smart--he doubted he would be this good of friends with the man if he wasn't.

"All right, then," he said. He'd had to offer, though. It was only polite. He lowered himself into a cross-legged position rather gracefully, the hesitation before taking off his shirt was minute and born more from self consciousness than anything.

He pulled it off, though, revealing a well toned torso complete with much lean muscle. He'd lost enough weight in the last few weeks that the muscles weren't padded by any fat, making them show starkly under his skin. "Do your worst," he said lightly, grateful on some level that he was too tired to think about this too much at the moment.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-31 04:53 pm UTC (link)
Charlie sighed. "I'll see if she will tell me herself," he said in a soft tone. "I'll try and convince her they those spells are very dangerous."

He just grinned and lightly cuffed Asher's shoulder.

"Oh, I intend to be around for a very long time, so yeah I'm sure." He grinned and grabbed Asher's wrist. "No damaging the goods."

Charlie sat down on the couch with Asher between his knees and he warmed the oil in his hands. "You're in good hands, just so you know. I've had years to perfect massaging sore shoulders at the reserve. Of course I will demand payment sometime." He started kneading Asher's shoulders with sure hands, fingers finding knots in the muscle. He grinned to himself. "You're too skinny," he said, poking Asher in the ribs before continuing the massage.

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-31 05:08 pm UTC (link)
"Please do. If an Auror sees her performing those... or if she accidentally hurts someone..." Asher trailed off. It could be very bad for her. Charlie knew that. He couldn't imagine a pretty, sweet girl like Gabi in prison.

Asher just smirked and tried to use his other hand to gently knock Charlie. Of course, he wasn't trying very hard, but where would the fun be in that?

"Ah, an experienced man," Asher deadpanned, feeling rather more relaxed than he'd expected to, though there were still plenty of stress-induced knots in his muscles. He practically purred as Charlie's hands started their work. He turned his head slightly and peeked up at the redhead. "How about I start a religion in worship of you?" he said. "This feels heavenly."

He made a meeping sound as he was poked, and he squeezed Charlie's ankle in retaliation. "I'll put on a bit once I get my energy back."

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[info]en_charlie
2009-03-31 05:28 pm UTC (link)
"I'll make sure she understands the consequences." He was very serious in his assurance. "She's a sweet girl, I'm sure once she understands the dangers she will be very wary of those spells."

Charlie laughed and caught Asher's other hand easily. "You like it rough then," he asked with a chuckle.

"You will never know how much experience I have," Charlie answered with equal deadpan to his expression. "I like the way you think. 'The Church of Charlie'. You should start it. You can be the first disciple."

He laughed at Asher's sounds. "That is one of the most undignified sounds I have ever heard a grown man make," he said between giggles. "You'd better do that," he continued. "I'll make my mother feed you," he said with mock threat.

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[info]en_bradley
2009-03-31 05:55 pm UTC (link)
"She seemed very sweet," he said, almost wistfully. "When she wasn't yelling at me that Rabastan cared for her. Sometimes I wonder if I was ever that naive and young." Probably not. Such a pretty girl. Logically, he knew it was the veela in her... but she was still pretty.

"I'm an Auror," Asher said, as though it explained both everything and nothing all at once. Which it kind of did, he thought as he jostled Charlie's elbow and sidways bumped his hip against the other man's. There was a number of moves he could use if he really wanted to take him down, but he was just being silly.

He snorted and rolled his eyes. "Ha, I should have known you'd like the idea," he murmured. "Well, I shall worship you, then, but you are responsible for recruiting more disciples," he said.

"Says the giggling man," he said, and sighed and bit back a moan of enjoyment. "I haven't had a massage in years, so I'm entitled to lose my dignity for a few minutes." Anyone else had said it, Asher might have been upset at imagined implications, but he trusted Charlie not to actually rag him hurtfully. "Oh, the horror," he said dryly. "I could do worse than your mother's food."

That reminded him. "That reminds me. 'We' ever getting together?" he asked, meaning their little group they'd been assigned to.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-01 06:29 am UTC (link)
"I'll see what she has to say about that man." Charlie wasn't sure he would like the answer, but it was all to help her in the end and they needed to know what she thought of things.

Charlie laughed at Asher's half-hearted attempt to wrestle with him. "You know that is such a non-answer," he muttered. "Typical Auror," he said fondly. He knew way too many of those, between his siblings, Harry and Asher there were some others too.

"No, its the job if the First Disciple to do the recruiting too, what kind of a founder are you?" he asked with mock indignation.

"I can't help I turn into a twelve-year old girl sometimes," Charlie said with a smile. "You can lose your dignity any time, I will only leak the most embarrassing photos to the press."

Charlie nodded, though Asher couldn't see him. "You could do worse than my mother's cooking," he agreed. "Ron's." He shrugged, knowing the movement would communicate through his hands. "I'm not sure, but we should do something soon, its more than time that we get something going. Harry should be a little less cryptic though. I wonder what he's got in mind."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-01 03:20 pm UTC (link)
"You won't like it," Asher said, unconsciously echoing Charlie's thoughts. "I sure as hell found it creepy and disturbing." He just wished he could have gotten through to her.

Asher just smirked at him. "Mmm, yes," he said, then leaned closer and playfully said, "Did I ever tell you my parents were both Slytherins?" It probably explained a lot about his mother. Of course, his stepfather was a Hufflepuff, but he'd been raised by just his mother for a long time--long enough to get to know and deal with the Slytherin mentality and emulate it when it suited him. He nudged his hip against Charlie's again before he comletely let him go.

"A lazy founder," Asher said. "My god must offer me suitable reward to recruit in his name," he told Charlie, tilting his head backward to look up at the redhead, eyes relaxed and full of quiet mischief.

"Ha. Count on you to do something like that," he said witha roll of the eyes. He didn't think Charlie would do that for a second. "Just so long as you know I have a vengeful streak a kilometer wide, mate." It was an actual admission hidden in the banter.

Asher snorted. "Are you threatening me with it?" he asked. His brother's cooking didn't sound promising, he had to say. He felt the shrug. "Not a clue as of yet. It's mostly your family with us, but if you all want, I can do something at my place--it's remote enough, I think, and we wouldn't have to worry about anyone else coming close." At least not with his wards in place.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-02 05:46 am UTC (link)
"I'll just see what I can do to convince her not to use those spells." There wasn't much more that he could do.

Charlie grinned. "Its good to know, I can handle Slytherins. Its those creepy Ravenclaws that freak me out," he said with a chuckle and bumped Asher back with his hip before letting go.

He raised his eyebrow in query. "Like what kind of reward?" he asked, smiling down at his friend. "I can supply great outfits made from dragon hide. You'd look good in leather," he added as an afterthought. "Also, recruit the pretty people, I'm quite shallow and vain." The last was said with suppressed laughter.

"Thanks for the warning, I wouldn't want me in that Agatha Christie outfit to hit Witches Weekly, though I am surprised it didn't happen for real." Especially if he and Penny in their reverse gender outfits were seen snogging in the alley.

"Only if I'm really angry with you," Charlie replied. "I'll ask my mum if its OK to use the Burrow or either here or your place. I don't think Bill and Fleur will want to have it at their place for a variety of reasons.

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-02 03:22 pm UTC (link)
"Bah," Asher said, gently elbowed Charlie and skittered out of the way of retaliation now that he was free. Too much fun--the type of fun he very rarely had, in fact.

He chuckled. "Well, I have never, ever pictured myself in leather," good gods, the idea was... intimidating to him, "but maybe I'll hit you up for boots some time." He did like dragonhide boots. "Ha, the pretty people. If they'll come with the stuttering fool," he said, the self insult falling from his lips without a thought, and his lips still turned up in a genuine smile.

"I still wish I'd seen that," he said. Because goodness, Charlie crossdressing for any reason was something he'd never imagined but he rather thought would be interesting to see. He ignored the thought that it might be more than interesting.

"Mmm, yes. Their little girl. Cute little thing," Asher said. "Your brother had her with him a few times when he dropped by the office."

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-03 08:43 am UTC (link)
"Definitely likes it rough," Charlie quipped with a grin. He found a bottle of wine and opened it. "We can just as well enjoy this, it will help you relax."

He grinned. "I'm sure there are some who have pictured you in leather," Charlie said. "But dragon hide boots can be arranged with little effort." The last was said a little softer. There was an old sire that was nearing the end his days.

"You are not a fool," Charlie said with some heat and a frown, not liking how his friend kept on putting himself down like that. He unintentionally pressed harder into Asher's muscles. He could understand Asher's manner, but it didn't make him any happier at the self insult. None of his reserve friends had made fun of Asher, in or out of his hearing and no word of it came back to Charlie. Which he expected of his friends. They might be rough and ready keepers, but they weren't assholes.

"No chance of that, mate," Charlie said. "That is an event that won't happen very soon. It was an interesting experience, but I'm sure skirts are not for me."

He grinned. "My niece the heart breaker. We all love her to bits."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-03 04:15 pm UTC (link)
He laughed and shook his head, his cheeks slightly pink. He really didn't know how he liked it, but wrestling around sounded like fun. Not that he'd ever say so.

Asher snorted, thinking Charlie had blown up ideas of what people thought of Asher. On one level, the Auror knew he was very good looking--he called himself pretty on occasion, because he was. He reached out and silently gripped Charlie's shoulder for a moment upon hearing the voice he used.

He made a soft noise as Charlie's fingers dug deeper into his shoulders, almost painfully. "Hmmph," he said noncommitally, then very softly, "Outside of work, it's how I often come across." Charlie had simply charged past all his social awkwardness, never actually commenting on it or trying to help him talk or anything, and it was one of the reasons that the man had become such a very good friend.

He chuckled. "But you'd make such a nice looking girl," he teased just for the chance to poke at Charlie. It was too much fun.

"I bet," Asher said. "I like kids. They're..." He made a wafffling sound, trying to find the word he wanted. "Good things," he finished lamely, unable to find what he was trying to say.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-04 06:22 am UTC (link)
"You can snort all you want, I know what I know." He sounded quite convinced of his own conviction. "Maybe go to the Alexander one night in a leather ensemble and see what reaction you get." He had admitted to himself that sometimes a guy in good-fitting leathers was something to look at, but he would never admit it to anybody aloud. Ever.

"One of the older sires isn't doing so well and I think he'll not make it to the end of the month. Old man MacFusty said we can use his hide for whatever we wished. He'll probably sell some of it to Hogwarts's suppliers too for gloves and things."

Charlie soothed the place he had pushed so hard and grumbled something that sounded like "Well, I know better and others are stupid for staring them blind against something that's not your fault." He spoke a bit more clearly then. "I've never asked, but is your stutter a result of your childhood or how did it come about?"

Charlie snorted. "I make a hideous looking girl. The only reason I didn't get beaten up that time in Romania is my glib manner and some fast talking. And it was a dare that I had to pay after Miles and Byron tricked me into it."

He smiled. "Being the daughter of Bill and Fleur doesn't hurt at all - she's going to be gorgeous when she's grown up." he snickered at Asher's words. "Do you want children?" he asked.

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-04 07:16 am UTC (link)
Asher's face was a study of dismay, and the sound that came along with it complemented it completely. "Ha! Y-y-yeah, right," he said, shaking his head. He could only imagine how people might make fun of him for doing such a thing. He had some confidence in his looks, but he wasn't daring like that.

"I'm sorry," he said. The commisseration was genuine. "It always hurts to lose one." Even if it was to old age. Best way to lose them, though, he thought. "You getting anything made?" he asked.


He made another noncommital sound after Charlie muttered, and gave a quiet moment of thought to the question. It wasn't hesitation, like it might be for others--Charlie had been his friend long enough he deserved an answer. "M-my childhood," he admitted. "Started when I was rather small." Sometimes, he thought it would have resolved itself--but his mother's forceful way of dealing with it had exacerbated it great. "Just got worse as I got older, til Ambrose helped me figure out how to d-deal with it professionally."

He laughed quietly. "You must not have done it right, then." Though Charlie did have broad shoulders that would be very hard to disguise. "Did you do your own makeup?" So sue him, he was curious. And really, it was so funny to imagine. Of course, there was no way he was admitting the many things Esme had blackmailed made him do through the years. "Of course, the dangerous duo," he said.

"She will be, yes." Anyone looking at the child could tell she'd be a knockout. Fleur was beautiful, but he could tell that Bill had been very good looking before he'd gotten scarred. "Mmm. It would be n-nice, someday, I think. But it's not something s-set in stone." Especially since it would require a mate, in the least. And he doubted anyone would let him adopt, what with his career and lack of social support.


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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-04 04:47 pm UTC (link)
Charlie grinned. "Don't make me get the terrible twosome in to get you poured into some leathers. They will do it, you know," he threatened. His grin belied the words, he wouldn't really do it.

"Thanks," Charlie said. "At least its old age and not poaching or disease." He smiled. "I'm getting you those boots, maybe I'll get another pair for Penny or maybe Gabrielle."

He listened as Asher explained, frowning at the tale. "Your mother's personality didn't help much, did it?" he asked adroitly. "Well, I will have to thank Ambrose sometime."

Charlie chuckled. "Mate, if you can make this face look feminine without the use of magic, I'll probably have to kiss you. Not that I'd want to wear make-up. Again." He continued with a smile. "Lets just say, I looked like a terrible drag queen and my face was a mess by the end of the night."

He kept the massage action going. "I could deal with a couple of ankle biters around, but it would imply having a wife of some sort." He continued thoughtfully. "Adoption would be an option, but as a single male, I don't think it will happen."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-05 07:07 am UTC (link)
He gulped as if afraid. If it was a real threat, he probably would be. Hell, as a fake threat, it was pretty damned good. "They would, wouldn't they," he mused aloud. Of course, he knew Charlie wouldn't do that, but those two would. "Maybe, someday. If we went somewhere no one who knew me would be."

"Very true," Asher said. "Though still sad." At least some good could come from a death.

"Mmm," he said, kindly not agreeing out loud. "She tried to help." And she had--in precisely the wrong way. Gods, he kind of hoped Charlie never met his mother when he was around--because he became, he rather thought, a complete freak when it came to trying to speak when he was around her.

"I'm sensing a challenge here," Asher said, corner of his mouth quirking up and trying to avoid the thought of kissing Charlie. Bad thoughts. He's straight, he reminded himself. Like you should be. "Because I'm sure I could do it... given enough time," he teased. "I didn't make it through adolescence with a girl as a bestmate without learning a hell of a lot." Truth be told, Esme had made him find things out for her and teach her. Thus the fluttering eyelashes and the makeup.

Asher felt like he was melting, quite delightfully, into a little puddle of relaxation. He murmured something along the lines of 'you have no idea how good this feels' as they talked. "Mmm, same here," he said. "That and dangerous job and no social network. My own home, though." Which, admittedly, had been bought with the long view of an eventual family. "'course, considering my abysmal track record with relationships, I'm doomed."

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-05 03:37 pm UTC (link)
Charlie chuckled. "Yes, they would and love every minute of it too." He raised an eyebrow. "You would?" he asked. "Because I know this great place in Paris, though the travel restrictions are a bitch at the moment."

Charlie heard the tone of Asher's answer. "I expected as much, mate." He wondered if he would be civil to the woman if they ever met.

He laughed. "Don't be so enthusiastic about it," he teased his friend. "Ah, dear Esme's influence comes to play here?" he asked. "I'm beginning to like her more and more. Perhaps a visit for Easter?"

Charlie nodded, even if Asher couldn't see him. "Too true there, mate. On all counts. Dangerous job, no stable relationships, the works."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-05 03:56 pm UTC (link)
"They would, I'm sure." Those two were a hoot and a half--as uncomfortable as he was sometimes, they were ultimately harmless and never crossed the line into cruel. "Min you, you'd have to get the clothes for me as well." He chuckled.

"Shit. I'd forgotten about those for a moment." And here he'd actually wanted to take a vacation--trust him to choose the worst possible time to desire a vacation.

As much as he resented his mother at times, she was his mother. Part of him still loved her. It was just he got along better with her from a distance.

He jostled Charlie's knee and rolled his eyes, expression unseen. "Dear Esme's influence is almost always in play. She's a pervasive little thing." His tone was fond. "She'd love to meet you. Apparently she barely missed you visiting the dogs a couple of times when I was in the hospital. But I'd love for you two to meet." The two most important people in his life... yeah, that would be nice.

"Alas, we're doomed," he said, shaking his head slightly, but he didn't sound completely pessimistic. "We'll figure somethign out someday, I'm sure."

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-07 09:00 am UTC (link)
Charlie just laughed, since his friends were quite capable of executing his threat. "Just say the word, I know of plenty places to get such things."

He grimaced. "Its a serious pain in the ass those things. If I want to go to the Romanian reserve I'll have to use Muggle means, even if my trip is legit. And Britain has only so amny places one wants to go on holiday."

Charlie smiled. "I thought I saw someone else's presence in your place. I guessed it was her, but my schedule was slightly irregular and I nipped over when I had a moment." He grinned. "How about we do something at my place for Easter?"

He added his agreement. "Yeah, figure something out I'm sure. Let me know if you think of something," Charlie said.

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-07 08:21 pm UTC (link)
Plenty of places Asher hoped took owl orders, because gods knew he didn't want to have to go in and get something like that. He'd be red for a week.

"Good gods, that's so stupid," Asher said. "Like you would do anything wrong that didn't involve clubs and pubs." Why was it that not being able to leave the country made him want to leave even more than before?

"Which I'm grateful you did," he told him. Even with Esme to check on things, he was glad that Charlie had taken the time to check in--he knew the animals would like it, anyway. "That sounds great. I think she'll be fine with that." He'd ask, of course, and confirm. "Let me know what to bring with."

He hmmed thoughtful, feeling more relaxed now than he had in a long time. He made an amused sound. "Right now all I've got is totally implausible," he said. After all, they were almost less likely to give a kid to two men, even if they weren't in a gay relationship.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-08 05:02 am UTC (link)
The expression on Asher's face was priceless and Charlie just snickered.

"I think its a move to prevent the death eaters to get allies from the continent, but it prevents those of us with allies over there to do the same. I did a lot of recruiting and stuff like that during the war and a lot of them are spread out over Europe and Russia." He grunted at the inconvenience and then grinned. "Granted, I met most of them in clubs and pubs, so I have reason to be extra annoyed."

He nodded. "No problem at all. And if Esme says yes, how about you bring something salad-like and if she has a dessert-y thing lying around it's good."

Charlie just grimaced and worked his way down Asher's back to massage the tense muscles down his spine. "Implausible... sounds like our lives."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-08 04:21 pm UTC (link)
"Short circuits both sides of the divide," he muttered. Which ultimately was perilously close to cutting off one's nose to spite the face, but there was nothing he could do about it. He laughed, though, as Charlie went on. "Yes, no more official pleasure," he said and shook his head.

"Salad-y and dessert-y, got it," he said. He didn't think it would be too hard to convince Esme. She wanted to meet Charlie, had nagged him about it several times.

He made another almost-purr as the pain-pleasure of getting the knots worked out of the muscles nearest his spine. He just couldn't help it, it felt too good. He sighed in commiseration a moment later, though. "Amen to that," he murmured. "Some days I wonder if there really is nothing I can do to make life better."

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-10 05:57 am UTC (link)
Charlie joined the laughter. "Well, it was an effective way to cover the reason why we were meeting in the first place. Try and have a clandestine meeting out in the open where anybody can overhear what you're saying."

He smiled. "Easter Sunday acceptable for you? Late afternoon?" He was looking forward to meeting Asher's best friend from childhood. He had a feeling they would hit it off without trouble.

"You have an amazing repertoire of noises," he said mildly while working on a particularly tight knot in the muscles. "It's almost pornlike."

Charlie considered the idea for a moment. "Question is, what would be considered making life better? Just for you, or for humanity in general?"

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-11 07:16 am UTC (link)
"Yes, I totally buy that excuse," Asher said, managing a mix of sarcasm and gushing enthusiasm.

"That works wonderfully. Gets me out of having to go to my mother's, too," he said, his face schooled to innocence but his eyes dancing. Of course, he'd still have the visit either the day before or the day after, but hey, it was still great.

He snorted lightly. "Me, porn, right," he said with a slightly laugh. His cheeks flushd slightly pink, though. "You've just got amazing hands, so i-it's all your fault," he accused jokingly.

"Hmm. Depends." His head tilted slightly, able to see Charlie's face from the very corner of one eye. "Sometimes... I'm tired of making everyone else happy," he admitted guiltily. Asher was, on the whole, rather selfless. He tried to do the right thing--it was just a very lonely place to be, and sometimes he wondered why he bothered when so few people seemed to notice.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-11 08:27 pm UTC (link)
Charlie grinned. "I thought you might buy that."

He smiled. "I live to serve," he said with a mocking little bow without stopping the massage. "I guess you're in it like me to make the family visit another day then?"

Charlie just chuckled at Asher's reaction. "I just call it as I hear it," he said innocently. "Of course I have amazing hands, one could say magical."

He listened as Asher spoke and leaned forward to give him an awkward hug due to the angle. "Mate, you're allowed to feel like that. Merlin knows I feel like that from time to time. Like you just want to hex the lot of them for looking at you with an arched brow or something."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-12 06:57 am UTC (link)
He grinned though he doubted Charlie could see the expression. "Yes. The day after. More excuses to disappear early on a Monday," he said, not sounding terribly repentant about his attitude.

Asher muttered something under his breath about the obviously poor quality of Charlie's porn collection if he were comparing it to himself. He had a grin, though, and it covered any inadequacy in his life that he might be hiding. "Haha, very punny," he said.

It always made him feel pathetic, how good it felt when someone wrapped their arms around him. Even if it was awkward angles, it just felt good, and Asher leaned back into it, arms briefly covering Charlie's to squeeze and return it in the same fashion. "Feels like such a selfish wish," he said wistfully. "There are definitely some people I want to hex sometimes though." He bolstered himself again, using the memory of the hug to do so. "Like Zach Smith." There was mischief in his voice.

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-14 04:54 am UTC (link)
"Well, if you want to flee your Mom's, you can come and rescue me from my plight and drop in at the Burrow," he said with a little grin.

He started laughing at Asher's muttered comment and had a difficult time getting his amusement under control. "Mate, the terrible twosome had a hand in giving me some of that stuff, if that gives you an idea. I don't have to paint you a picture."

He gave an extra squeeze before letting Asher go and resuming the massage. "Sometimes you should behave like a toddler and be selfish and want the world to revolve around you. Altruism can only go so far before you want to rip someone's face off." He snorted. "I can imagine you want to do that. I can help you there and Ginny casts a mean Bat-Bogey hex. I think she dated him at school, so there would be motivation to help you with that."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-14 07:11 am UTC (link)
He snorted. "You just want me to be a distraction at your place," he accused lightly. Though at least Charlie's mum wouldn't torture him. Probably. Probably would if she knew he had a crush on her son, but hey, that was never going to come up.

He had to laugh. He couldn't help it. "That's.... scary, mate," he said, shaking his head and laughing. "Please, no painting the picture, you might scar my brain."

He gave a slight shrug, shoulders shifting under Charlie's hands. "Haven't ripped a face off... yet," he said. He wasn't actually sure he could be terribly selfish, just take what he wanted. He always defaulted to everyone else without really thinking about it. "She dated him in school? I'm going to have to tease her about her taste in men..."

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[info]en_charlie
2009-04-15 02:46 am UTC (link)
"But of course. Give Mum someone new to fuss over and the rest of us get some reprieve. My siblings will like you for it." He was making fun of his mother's habits and things, but he did love her dearly.

Charlie laughed. "It's OK. I have brain bleach and kitten pictures to make the horror go away. Or intensify it, I can't decide which is the outcome."

He corrected himself. "Sorry mate, I think it was Michael Corner and not Zach, I never could remember their names. She was so hung up on Harry all those years we didn't think the others would make more than a blip on the radar. That and I was out of the country for most of those school years."

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[info]en_bradley
2009-04-16 01:54 am UTC (link)
He laughed and shook his head, but figured it would happen at some point. He doubted he would mind--it sounded like fun, in a frightening kind of way.

That made even worse pictures go through his head. "No kitten porn, puh-lease," he begged.

He shrugged. He didn't know Corner, he didn't think... but he imagined her brothers teased her anyway. He smiled and snarked back, and the conversation continued on for quite awhile more.

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