Draco Lucius Malfoy (d_l_malfoy) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2017-01-12 20:20:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !completed gdoc, !log, ~25 points, ~~draco malfoy (d_l_malfoy), ~~sydney sage (sage_lily) |
WHO: Sydney Sage and Draco Malfoy
WHERE: Walking around town
WHEN: Boxing Day
WHAT: Coffee and talking and Draco luring Sydney to more kisses
RATING: PG
STATUS: log; completed
Christmas Day had been quite quiet, the kind of quiet that Draco enjoyed - meaning a good bottle of red wine and a slew of books he’d yet to read. Boxing Day - on the other hand - had been something of a nightmare. He’d been up early to complete his shift at the bookstore - working with little lunch and even less patience for the idiots in the store. The good thing about the early shift had been that he was done by mid-afternoon. Relieved it was over, he’d gone home, showered and changed and was now on Sydney’s doorstep, hoping to convince her to go out for a walk with him. He’d even managed time to collect a coffee for her before arriving to knock. Hopefully, she’d be willing to go out with him. He had to hope that they would considering that they were dating and all. And what he needed right now was quiet, uncomplicated intelligent discussion. Standing beside the door, shifting from foot to foot, he waited for her to open the door. *** It had been a quiet Christmas for Sydney - quieter than usual. Although her family had never done big Christmas celebrations, there was usually something: evening Mass, followed by dinner, usually. Here, she didn't have her family or the Alchemists. While it was much more relaxing when she didn't have to be under the watchful eye of the Alchemists, she did miss the company. She'd gone to Mass in the church in town, but it wasn't the same. So when the knock came, she almost welcomed it. And when she saw who was on the other side of the door, she smiled. It was a lot easier to like Draco when she was allowed to like him, and now that he wasn't using his magic, she felt much better about being with him. Even if he did have questionable tastes in gifts. Besides, he brought her coffee, and that was what she reached for as soon as she opened the door. “Nectar.” *** “It’s good to see you as well,” Draco said with a laugh, giving up the coffee without an argument. When he wanted her to do something in the future, he knew all he would have to do would be to bring coffee and she’d just be that much more pliable. “At this rate, you’re going to be more coffee than blood in your veins.” He grinned as he leaned against the door, watching her take her first sip. “How about bringing the coffee along and coming for a walk with me?” he asked. It wasn’t really what he wanted. What he wanted he was to talk her into wearing the robe and negligee he had bought her long enough for him to admire her in it and then get her out of it. But Draco knew when to push his luck and this was not that time. Later. “What do you say?” *** “At this rate?” Sydney said wryly. She opened the door wider and beckoned him in even as she drank greedily from the cup. Hey, she might be a coffee addict, but at least she was a self-aware coffee addict. “Where do you want to go?” She wasn’t averse to taking a walk, but she needed to know if she needed to change to be appropriately-dressed. Not that she’d look much different than she did now. As usual, even at home, she was dressed in a beige suit and white blouse. Very blandly professional. *** “Fine, you are quickly becoming more coffee than woman,” Draco retorted with a laugh. Reaching out he cupped her cheek in his hand and leaned in to kiss her. It was sweet and gentle, but enough to let her know he was thinking about her. Pulling back, he added, “And just so we’re clear, I prefer the woman, not the coffee.” Looking her up and down, Draco had the hideous urge to muss her up. She was so prim and proper (which could easily be used to describe him dressed as he was in well made trousers and a button down shirt) that he ached to show her how beautiful she was without the need to cover and hide herself. Some day… Hopefully sooner rather than later. But not at this moment. “Just along the main street,” Draco said, “We can delineate what kind of architecture we see and if you’re really good, I will buy you dinner.” He gave her a grin. Besides, as far as he was concerned, she could always use another meal. “Though we can stay in if you prefer and you can show off how amazing you look in my Christmas present.” And he knew that would seal her choice of the first option. *** As he’d expected, all he got in response to his second suggestion as a very eloquent Look. “I’ll get my coat,” Sydney said, and she quickly drained the rest of the coffee before going to the closet. There, in the cool darkness of the space, she allowed herself to release the breath that had caught in her throat when he’d put the image of her modelling that scanty negligee for him. At least he didn’t push the issue. Or maybe that was the problem: he only put the idea out there and let her imagination go wild, but never pushed her far enough to go over the line. He was very good at keeping himself in her good graces while still making her blush too much. Buttoning up the very boring beige coat over her beige suit and accompanying it with a beige scarf, she went back to the door. Feeling much more like herself, she nodded. “Let’s go.” *** Draco stood by the door and waited. He was disappointed that she wasn’t interested in the second choice, but it was expected. At least she was willing to go with him so that was something. One day the second option would be her choice. HIs lips turned up in a smirk at the idea. Yes, he’d win that battle eventually. But for now… As she came back into the room, Draco looked her over from head to toe and shook his head. Now, admittedly, he wore a lot of black and grey, but always - always - tempered with Slytherin green and even white when he could tolerate it, but beige was not his color. And looking at Sydney, he knew she wore it as an attempt to hide in the background, an attempt to camouflage her own beauty. And the one thing Draco did know about fashion - other than what Pansy had taught him - was that the most beautiful people subtly aided their own beauty. “Do you own any other colors?” he asked, holding open the door for her and shutting it after her. Offering her an arm, he led her down the corridor and out into the fresh air. Turning her to the left, he walked with her, just as bits of fluffy snow began drifting down. “How was your Christmas?” he inquired. *** Sydney hesitated. As an Alchemist, she was used to - and looked for opportunities to - fade into the background. Hanging onto someone as handsome and noticeable as Draco Malfoy definitely didn't count. But they were trying to date, and she supposed that was what people who dated did. She took his arm. “I have some navy suits. They're in the dryer.” Hopefully the slush wouldn't dirty up the beige. “My Christmas was quiet. I went to Mass and did some reading. How was yours?” *** “Navy?” Draco commented, looking at her and then shaking his head once more. Time. He had to give these things time. Griffins didn’t change their feathers overnight anyway. Guiding her around the snowy parts of the sidewalk, they walked in silence as he considered how to answer the question. “It was quiet. Uneventful.” He considered what to add to that, but decided that she was worth honesty. “Oddly, I found I missed my family.” He then decided that needed amendment. “Actually that would not quite be the truth. I missed the gifts that the provided and my Mother. She…” He stopped and smiled sadly. “She always wants the best for me - regardless of her unusual methods of going about it. But then, we were never what one would consider a ‘traditional’ family.” *** “What does a traditional family look like to you?” Sydney asked. Magical families might be evil, but she'd be lying if she wasn't curious about the differences between them and human families. Did they have their own saints, as the Moroi did? Or were they completely godless? A lot of people here were. Sydney didn't think any the less of them for it, but she did worry it made them more susceptible to corruption. *** “I believe that a traditional family actually loves one another and cares about one another,” Draco said, laying his hand over hers where it lay on his arm. “Support each other. They don’t make ultimates about behavior and rules about what you get because of their beliefs.” He gave a slight shrug. That probably sounded odd if you didn’t know Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. “I suppose others look from the outside and see a man and a woman and a child, with money and prestige, and think it is the ideal,” Draco continued. “People don’t know what goes on behind closed doors is less than perfect.” He decided the line of discussion was depressing. “What about your family?” He assumed they were somewhat the same, strict with rules and less than loving. *** It sounded all a little too close to home for Sydney's comfort. She looked up at him, trusting that his hold on her would catch her if she slipped on the ice. She hadn't really thought about what his family was like; Draco was such a forceful personality that he seemed to stand alone, an island surrounded by people he didn't know or particularly like. “Then I don't know any traditional families,” she said after a moment as she turned her eyes back to the road. “Everyone I know has been...full of rules.” Hers, most of all, because of her father and his rigid view of the Alchemist’s roles. “I don't think any family is perfect, though, no matter how much they seem to be.” *** “I don’t either,” Draco agreed, tugging her close, out of the line of a drip from the overhanging icicles. He then kept her close to him instead of letting her go back to putting any distance between them. Draco did not like any distance between them. He wanted her as close as possible - at least as much as was acceptable in a public location. In private, closeness had a different definition. “One must logically assume they exist on the other hand,” Draco commented, continuing their discussion, “as some seem rather happy to be with families and miss them even. So loving your family seems to be something to desire as opposed to … whatever it is you might call our relations with those we are related to.” He paused for a moment and then added. “I would hope that when I have a family I do not follow my parents’ version for how to raise children and interact. Do you believe we are doomed to act only as our family does when it comes to future interactions?” He should his head. “I sincerely hope not.” They stopped for a moment, waiting for a chance to cross the road, Draco’s eyes catching on something in the shop across in the direction they were walking. It was something he thought Sydney might need. Once they crossed, he paused outside the shop and said, “Wait here a moment,” before disappearing inside the shop. *** It gave Sydney time to mull over his words. It had been interesting to get to know him as a person, rather than just a wizard or someone who was asking more from her than she was ready to give. Draco as a person was interesting, thoughtful, and interesting. And he was really nice to walk with. Sydney found herself missing his warmth and his presence when he disappeared into the shop, and wondered at how quickly she’d gotten to see him as an important part of her life. She looked forward to seeing him, in and out of class, and talking about their studies or even their families. Curious to see what he was doing in the shop, Sydney headed for the door. He’d been in there for a few minutes now, and it wasn’t as if he’d told her not to follow him. She might not have obeyed even if he had. *** Since he was paying, he saw her come into the store. He was leaning against the counter, watching the cashier as he paid. He noticed her and gave her a smile and raised a finger, hoping she’d understand that he’d be just another minute. Standing across the store from him, near where Sydney had come into the sea of clothing and warmth, two girls stood. They were clearly whispering about Draco, discussing, in between sighs of delight, how cool he looked and wondering who he had bought something for - since the clothing in the store was clearly meant for women. Shaking his head at his offer of a bag, Draco took the item and came over to Sydney. “I was coming right back,” he said with a grin. “I just thought you needed this as soon as I spotted it.” Pulling out the scarf from behind his back, he draped it around her neck. The scarf was long and incredibly soft - clearly mixed with some sort of cashmere - and to Draco’s delight, just the right shade of Slytherin green. Taking the ends, he crossed them over in front and draped them back over onto her back. It warmed her cool blonde looks, breaking up the beige and making her look far more elegant. And it was “his” colors so Draco was beyond chuffed. Leaning closer, he kissed her gently as his hands slid down her back to her waist. “It is perfect on you.” Stepping back, he grinned at her. “Now we can continue our walk.” He held open the door and waited for her as the two teenage girls in the corner looked at Sydney with sheer envy on their faces. *** Sydney stood still, breath caught, as he wrapped the scarf around her neck. It was much too vivid a shade of green for her comfort - she would’ve prefered something more subdued. But it was a gorgeous scarf, and he looked so happy to see her in it that she couldn’t bring herself to take it off. Curling her fingers into its warm softness, she smiled at him. “Thank you. It’s gorgeous.” She stepped out the door when he opened it for her, her gaze glancing over the two girls who were still staring at them. She remembered the redhead at Starbucks, and she glanced at him as they continued their walk. “Do you always get this much female attention?” She tried to keep the jealousy out of her voice, but it came out a bit more waspish than she would’ve liked. *** “You are more than welcome,” Draco said, taking her hand again, pleased with himself. He did so like giving her things - especially things that pushed her outside of her comfort zone. When she stepped outside of her norm, what she became was highly interesting. Her words after that though puzzled him. What was she talking about? Draco looked around and then back to Sydney. “I am not sure to what you are referring,” Draco said slowly. “I certainly don’t look to attract attention if that is what you are asking.” The tone registered and Draco stopped and frowned at Sydney. “Did I do something wrong?” he inquired, not sure what he had done. *** “No,” Sydney said, shaking her head after a moment. She herself had been often accused of missing social cues, so it could very well be that he simply hadn’t noticed the girls who’d stared so covetously at him. But they’d been so obvious that Sydney, who did indeed often miss these kinds of things, had noticed. Or maybe it was just that she was more sensitive to it, given her feelings for the man in question. Whatever those feelings may be. “You’re an attractive man,” she told him matter-of-factly. “It gets noticed sometimes. You don’t see that?” *** Ah, now Draco understood. Well, not completely, but he had a better understanding. Mostly because he related her words to the definition of jealousy. And it stroked his ego nicely. So maybe she didn’t climb into bed with him just because he had crooked his finger at her, but she did want him and wanted to make sure no one else did. Draco managed to keep the grin as a mental show of glee. Reaching up, he touched her cheek before commenting, “Thank you.” He started to continue and then stopped and considered for a moment. “Yes, I notice, but it just is. It doesn’t…” Draco shook his head. That wasn’t quite what he wanted to say. “You’re the only want I want to notice. That others do - it’s nice,” understatement considering his very healthy ego, “but, it’s not something I pay attention to.” Reaching out, he adjusted her scarf, admiring how it looked on her. “Besides, men pay attention to you just as much. I just keep in mind that you’re with me.” He added a rather pointed look. “And I don’t share well.” *** “No they don’t,” Sydney said, obviously disbelieving. She’d never noticed anyone staring at her the way girls stared at Draco. Then again, she wasn’t very good at seeing those things. Usually when people stared at her, she wondered if she had lettuce in her teeth. “But I’m glad you don’t care about that.” She didn’t quite look at him as she spoke, unused to speaking so frankly about relationships and jealousy. It was easier to make statements of fact. “I don’t like to share either.” *** “They do,” Draco said emphatically, “trust me, they do. I notice them all the time.” If him hanging around wasn’t enough to keep them from considering making a move on his Sydney, Draco had plans for far more intensive measures. Measure he was sure that Sydney wouldn’t approve of, but he would do it if necessary. But her comment about not sharing made him smile. Who would have thought Sydney could be so delightfully possessive and jealous at the same time? Ah yes, it was so delightful to be claimed in such a manner. Now if only he could convince her that there were even better ways to make sure that no one shared… “I am happy to only be with you,” he answered, leaning in and kissing her again. He lingered near her lips, wondering if she would let him continue with kissing her. “Now, we can keep walking or ….” He trailed off, his eyes clearly saying precisely what he would like to do. *** Although Sydney didn't have anything to compare it to, she thought Draco was a very good kisser. She liked it, at least. And with him standing so close, the warmth and scent of him filling her senses, she was tempted to just stand there and kiss him some more. Decorum won out, though, and she pulled back reluctantly. “We’re in public,” she reminded him. Then, because she didn't want him to think that she didn't want to kiss him, she added, “Later.” *** If he had been the previous Draco, the one more concerned about himself than anything else, he would have pouted - hoping that would get him what he wanted. It had a good rate of success in the past. But this was Sydney and what she wanted seem to be a higher priority than his own needs. And the promise of later was good enough for him. Grinning at the promise, Draco took Sydney’s hand, willing to be patient based on her promise. “Now that we have covered our respective issues with jealousy,” he said, walking her with down the street. “Explain to me what kind of architecture style that church is. I swear it is just a hodge podge of whatever the architect liked and not a style, per se. Opinions?” He gestured at the church just off the main street - oddly sporting a mix of gothic, modern renaissance and some kind of odd American style Draco couldn’t pinpoint. *** Ah, architecture: the subject closest to her heart aside from coffee. Turning her attention to the church, she gestured. “To me, it looks indicative of a building that’s been added to and built upon over the years. The hodgepodge you noted doesn’t have a holistic theme to it, and maybe that’s just the work of a bad architect, but it seems more to me that there were different hands involved in the building, over a period of years - that’s why you see the different styles, according to what was in fashion then.” Her entire face lit up as she spoke and gestured to the appropriate parts - so much so that the men Draco had warned her about did slow down to stare at her as they passed. *** Glaring at the young man who stared for a bit longer than appropriate, Draco enjoyed Sydney’s enthusiasm. Stepping closer he basked in her enthusiasm. “Is it more appealing because of its incongruity or does that detract from what could be an interesting structure?” he inquired, curious about her thought. He thought it was still just so much higgledy piggledy mess. Of course, he was willing to see her side of things because her insight…. Draco paused his train of thought. He was about to go down some sort of self-reflective path about how she made him a better person. There was a brief mental shudder. Draco did not need to be a good person. He just needed to be good enough for Sydney. Nothing else mattered. “Is there any coherent architecture in this town?” Draco asked, curious about her opinion. “Of course most of it seems to modern for me. I much prefer things that are far more historical.” *** Sydney turned to him, eyes alight with excitement. “Me too. I've always wanted to go to Rome and just study the architecture there. Or to Jerash, and see the ancient temple ruins.” Her job had never assigned her to such exciting places; the furthest she'd been was Russia, and while she'd enjoyed all the examples of renaissance Russian architecture, it just wasn't the same. “Here…” She gestured around them. “You won't ever get more historical than early 1800s.” *** “I agree,” Draco said, looking around with a sad sigh. “I wish I could take you to some more interesting places in the world. There is so much more to see. I too would love to see the ruins of Rome. And the temples at Petra. Could you imagine?” Draco’s passion was less the architecture and more about the history of the world and the magic that subtly ran through the world. “Of course, that brings us back to the fact that we are stuck here in this dome,” Draco commented and then smiled at Sydney. “Which is what brought us together in the first place. For some reason, I find I am less eager to find a way to leave if it means…” He trailed off. It was a hazardous conversation. He knew that he had changed because of her. Draco tugged Sydney tighter to him. “But it is restrictive in its own way. I wish I could take you places though - to share them with you.” *** Sydney thought about finally seeing the Trevi Fountain in person, and seeing it with Draco by her side, and she felt a pang of longing and regret. She would've liked to share all those places she wanted to see with him, too. She liked hearing his opinions, and she liked just spending time with him. What would it be like to sit in a cafe with him in Rome and soak up the atmosphere? She sighed and leaned slightly against him. “I guess we make the most out of what we have here, or we pretend we’re… wherever we want.” *** Which actually gave Draco a good idea, but as it did involve magic, Draco wasn’t sure whether or not he should suggest it. Letting go of her hand, Draco pulled her toward him, arm wrapping around her waist, tucking her into his side. His chin rested on her head. It was a comforting pose, more than one of seduction. And it was that comfort that kept his idea of a way to visit without visiting to himself. When she was comfortable with magic, he’d suggest it. “I think that is the best plan,” he agreed and pulled back to look into her face. “How about some dinner in that case?” *** Sydney shook her head. “I had a late lunch,” she lied. She didn't want to eat around him; his keen gaze saw too much. But she didn't want to end this walk either. “Let's take a walk along the river?” *** His grey eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed that they rarely shared meals together. Hopefully she didn’t think he’d use magic on her during that time or something. But then again she wasn’t hungry. “As you wish,” Draco agreed, stepping back and taking her hand. “You can fill me in on how your magic training is going.” He tugged her down to the walk, giving her a smile of interest. *** |