Emma Carstairs (alsoflexible) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2019-01-17 22:06:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !completed gdoc, !log, ~2019 january, ~25 points, ~~chris halliwell (twicecharmedtoo), ~~emma carstairs (alsoflexible) |
WHO: Emma Carstairs and Chris Halliwell
WHERE: Starbucks
WHEN: Jan 15
WHAT: Emma asks out Chris
RATING: G
STATUS: log; completed
Given the scale of the favour she was going to ask, Emma probably owed Chris more than just a coffee. But she was just a student with a limited income, so a coffee was all he was getting. That and her undying gratitude, which was worth way more than Starbucks. She’d run out of class as soon as the bell rang, before Julian could awkwardly ask if she wanted to walk home together and before she could even more awkwardly decline. Awkward was pretty much the norm between them these days. This was probably going to make things worse. Still, she arrived at the coffee shop early, and took a seat to wait. *** So he already felt like a giant jerk, but in Chris’ defense, he'd had no idea that anything weird was going on with Emma and Julian. They were close, weren't they? Closer than Chris had ever been with any of his friends. Why wouldn't they go to a big social event together? He showed up right on time, dressed for his work shift later that evening. Perks of working at a bar meant he typically got to sleep in. It also meant a mid afternoon coffee was actually a welcomed thing. She was easy to spot, even in the shop's dark lighting. It wasn't actually huge inside and Emma's bright blonde hair was sort of unmistakable. “I feel like there's a long story I need to hear,” he began, walking up behind her. “And hi, by the way. Also, I've had that awful song in my head for three hours. That's on you, too.” *** “I’ll get you a snack too,” Emma conceded. It was a pretty evil thing to do to someone she wanted a favour from, but she’d been too caught up in her own cleverness to think the better of it. That was why she needed Julian, to keep her from doing stupid things just because she thought it was cool. Of course, this wasn’t a conversation Julian could be privy to. She gestured to the menu board with her chin. “What do you want?” *** “You really don't have to,” he protested. After all, he had a job, and a decent one for that matter. She was still in school and honestly should focus mostly on that. Maybe babysitting or something might be okay. He wasn't sure, he hadn't quite gotten the hang of big brothering his actual siblings yet. “Venti vanilla latte, I guess.” And no, he wasn't letting her feed him. Even if he had been singing Carly Rae somebody all day. “Extra hot. Man, I miss San Fran right now.” Indiana winters were not his thing at all. *** Emma held up her hand for a high-five. “LA here. California represent.” She got his latte and an iced coffee for herself, then returned to the table she’d staked out before he arrived. “So I’m going to ask you for a huge favour and it’s going to make things super awkward but I’m desperate and basically counting on the fact that you seem to be a super nice person who’ll help out someone in need.” *** Grinning, Chris accepted and returned her high five before settling in to his seat at the table. There were reasons they got along and now this was one of them. He took his coffee from her and took a sip before he studied her. “I mean, I'm already pretty sure what you're going to ask. And it isn't all that awkward between us, but it might make things pretty awkward with Julian and me.” He really didn't know how the other guy felt about him. Things were weird. He seemed nice enough and maybe he had some issues but hell, Chris did, too. But things definitely were strained. “Now the question here is, why you're asking me at all.” *** Emma fiddled with the lid of her cup, already feeling guilty over his words. Asking him to take her to the formal would make things awkward between him and Julian and it would be a shame for anyone, let alone someone who seemed as nice as Chris, to miss out on the opportunity to experience Julian’s awesomeness. “Because I made him ask someone else to the formal,” she said, “and he made me promise to go for moral support, except I don’t want to be the third wheel on his date so I’ll need moral support of my own.” She looked up at him and gave him her best puppy dog look. She wasn’t as good at it as any of the Blackthorns, but she’d picked up a trick or two. “Be my moral support?” *** This was ridiculous. Not that Chris minded going with Emma. She was pretty amazing, honestly, and if it weren't for the fact that she basically had a big red stop sign on her via Julian, he might have been interested. But that was just it. She should have been going with Julian. “Okay, hold on. I'm not saying no. But why?” He was giving her a look he would have said was his dad's if it didn't annoy him when they looked alike. That look Leo did when he knew there was more to a story. “Why did you tell him to go with someone else? Em, I'm not an idiot here.” Something big had happened. Or wasn't happening. He just couldn't place what. *** In any other circumstance, Emma would’ve given him a long, roundabout answer, explaining that the whole thing had started when she’d tried to convince Julian that girls liked him, so she had to make him ask another girl just to prove her point. It would’ve answered the question he’d asked, but not the question he really wanted. Given that she was dragging him into the mess that was her and Julian, she figured she owed him the truth. “Because I can’t go with him!” The words escaped her in a short, frustrated burst. “Because we’re parabatai, so we can’t date, or fall in love, or anything like that. That’s why I had to get him to with someone else, because he can’t go with me.” And that was why she wouldn’t be able to bear it, watching him be thoughtful and considerate and attentive to another girl all night. She needed someone to keep her from dissolving into a black hole of jealousy. Or possibly punching his date’s face. Either way, she needed someone with her, and asking Jace - possibly the only person who’d understand - would’ve been like going with her cousin. *** On the one hand, Chris was sympathetic. Really. He was. This didn't exactly sound like typical teen drama after all. But that didn't mean he wanted to see someone he really liked fall apart over a guy, either. Even a guy as nice as Julian could sometimes be. He did have his limits, after all. “Why?” It was asked in a quieter voice than her tiny outburst. He was genuinely curious. It was a familiar situation to him, but he needed more detail to know for sure. “Is it like...a sibling type thing?” He knew they weren't blood siblings but that didn't necessarily mean much. Or it could be part of the magic of their world. And that was something he was far more familiar with. *** Emma shook her head, and almost laughed at the absurd thought that popped into her mind. If only it was like incest.. Because since when was that the desirable alternative? “There’s a curse,” she admitted. “Parabatai who fall in love end up going insane and destroying themselves and everyone they love.” And as far as she was concerned, that was a dealbreaker. She could handle herself being destroyed, but Julian? She’d never do anything that could lead him to harm. She poked aggressively at the ice in her drink and stared up at Chris grouchily. This was more than she’d wanted to talk about when asking a guy out. “So are you going to help me out or not?” *** Well. Not quite the frowned upon relationships of his world. Of his own conception, for that matter. But was it impossible? Maybe. But also, maybe not. “Okay, I'm not saying no. I'm totally down for going with an awesome, gorgeous woman, don't get me wrong. But this is so stupid.” What sort of ridiculous magic literally stopped two people from being together? Maybe his world should have considered it. As much as he liked being alive, Wyatt was insanely powerful. If the Elders had a magic that literally would have kept him from being born, none of the evil of his world would ever have happened. “Has anyone even tried to break this curse? Or reverse it somehow?” As worried as he was for his friend, he was also kind of fascinated by the magic behind it. *** Emma shook her head. “The only way to escape the curse is to strip ourselves of our Marks,” she said quietly. “Of the very thing that makes us Shadowhunters.” She’d been willing to do it, too, when they’d been back home. Even if it meant exile, and never seeing Julian or his family again. But things were different here. Julian needed her, more than ever. She’d heard of all the monsters and demons that came through portals. What was Julian going to do without her at his back? At the same time… Her gaze sharpened. “You said you’re part angel, didn’t you?” And the Shadowhunters had been granted their powers by an angel. Maybe not the same angel, but who knew in this crazy world where she got to meet Legolas? *** A slow smile spread across his face. He knew where she was going with this, and she wasn't the only one thinking it. Well. Sort of. “Yeah. On my dad's side. Sort of. We're more like...witch guardians. But we help the magical world as a whole and you…” Shrugging slightly, he sipped at his coffee before he could make himself finish that sentence. If he couldn't help them, he'd feel even worse about their situation. To be so tightly bonded to someone you were into and not be able to have them? Sounded a bit like hell. And he should know, he'd been there. “You guys definitely count as a part of the magical community.” He had a backup plan, too. A very Halliwell backup plan. They could figure this out. *** For the first time since her hopes of escaping the curse died with Robert Lightwood, Emma felt a shimmer of hope. Maybe - just maybe - they might find a way out of this hellish limbo they were in. “Tell me,” she demanded, because she could already see the plan forming in his eyes. *** He didn't want to give her false hopes. But he was here with four of the most powerful witches he knew. There was a chance, wasn't there? What good was he as a friend if he didn't at least offer to try? “I don't promise anything,” he began, fixing her with a serious expression. “But you know how I said back home, my family is kind of a big deal? My mom and my aunts are what's called the Charmed Ones. A trinity of the most powerful witches our world has ever seen. They have what's called the Power of Three. The most difficult spells require all three of them, the strongest of demons can be vanquished with all three of them.” He leaned back in his chair, a hopeful smile on his face. “And here? There are four of them.” Phoebe had said they'd used the Power of Four. Phoebe was also the best spell writer he knew. There had to be a way. *** Working with witches. No doubt she’d be breaking a ton of Clave Laws with that act, but the Clave wasn’t here to cast judgement. And anyway, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t worked with warlocks before. “Let’s try it,” she said decisively. “But we can’t tell Julian until we have a pretty solid idea whether if it’ll work or not.” No point in raising his hopes, or giving him a chance to stop them. The lines Emma was willing to cross for the sake of Julian’s well-being were definitely different from those he was willing to cross for himself. “And in the meantime, I have to survive that formal. So is that a yes, you’ll go with me?” *** It would take a while, anyway. Probably just a spell but what if it was a potion? Even more complex. They'd probably need to get to the root of the curse in the first place. There were definite complications. “I'm not telling Julian much of anything,” he replied with a laugh. “I'm pretty sure he hates me anyway.” Their most recent chat had at least given Chris some indication as to why. Not that he was saying so in front of Emma, but there was no reason she couldn't read it for herself. “So I just have to show up and look pretty, right? Unless you want to arrive by magical means. Haven't gotten a car yet, but damn can I orb.” He flashed a grin. Honestly, he felt pretty hopeful here. If anyone could undo a curse, it was his family. Hell, Paige would probably make it her new pet project. *** “Ooh. I’d like to orb.” Emma was intrigued. Even if she was tasked to police potentially dangerous magic users, she was not at all opposed to trying out new experiences. “And yes, show up and look pretty. And dance.” She put up both her hands and did a little cabbage patch. “Don’t worry, I’m a great date. Ask any of my ex-boyfriends.” *** His eyebrows lifted in amusement, not only at her fancy dancing but also her statement. “Oh yeah? How many exes are we talking here?” He was only teasing though. No judgment from him at all. “Orbing it is. I'll come by and get you.” Who needed a fancy car to pick up their date when you had magical teleportation on your side? And that was his whitelighter side so that didn't fall under personal gain. “I'll have you know, I don't know crap about dancing. My aunt offered to teach me. I'll take her up on it just for you.” His big fear was, being a formal dance, they were going to require formal dancing. “My mom actually owns a nightclub back home.” *** “Auw, for me?” Emma placed her chin on the back of her fingers and gave him heart-eyes. It would be easy to see, in that moment, why she had exes, and why Julian was having such a hard time letting go. “Don’t I feel special.” She sobered, though, and still looking at him intently, added, “Thank you. For everything. It means a lot to me that you’re willing to give this a try for someone you barely know. I owe you a lot of Starbucks.” And if he could actually get his family to break the parabatai curse, he was going to be best man at her and Julian’s wedding. Because there would be a wedding, if she and Jules could ever be together. There just wasn’t going to be anyone else for either of them. *** If he didn't already know how desperately head over heels she was for Julian, Chris might have actually found himself falling for her. She was funny and sassy, understood the witch side of him, and she was gorgeous. It was easy to see why Julian was overprotective. And jealous. He wasn't blind. Julian was definitely jealous. “Look,” he began, fixing her with a serious expression, “it's a witch thing. A Halliwell thing. We help people who need it. And we're friends. You don't owe me for offering to help a friend.” If not a spell, a potion. A combination of both. They'd break this curse. Somehow. It was a stupid curse, if he said so himself. “Besides. I get to show up to a huge event with a hot date on my arm. If I'm going to attract girls here, making them jealous isn't a bad start.” His grin was definitely leaning towards a smirk. That was one of those moments when Phoebe's influence showed in his flirty nature. It had just been a really long time since it had surfaced. *** His last remark did its job: Emma laughed, her moment of sombreness dispelled. “I’ll be the best wing woman you’ll ever have,” she promised. “There’ll be so many girls throwing themselves at you, you’ll need to hire me as a bodyguard.” Which would be okay by her. Emma liked spending time with him. Maybe in a world where there was no Julian, she’d be with someone like Chris: cute, charming, smart, and kind. But a world without Julian would be grey and drab without his smile to light it up. She was happy to be here, even if she couldn’t be with him. Yet. Chris and his family might be able to change that; she had hope. *** |