Augustus is now a happily married man. (healerpye) wrote in neeps, @ 2018-02-06 20:40:00
Who: Augustus Pye & Kal Sharma (As well as Maggie MacDougal through journals) What: Kicking back after Endurance Challenge | As well as Freaking out Journal Conversation When: Tuesday, Feb 6 | evening Where: Augustus's flat Warnings: Cuteness and Language (Maggie)
After practically inhaling the food she'd brought, Kal didn't waste any time in making her way to the couch and cuddling up against Augustus's side. She felt good, the way she always did after a productive day, but her body was still feeling the strain of the 24-hour endurance training match, even after getting sleep during the day. Sitting and not moving was definitely preferable for a little while. "I'm glad you were off tonight. Entirely selfish, I know, but I'm glad for company."
It was a little strange, when she let herself think about it, that she was starting to feel as comfortable with him as she did. It probably shouldn't feel strange, since they'd been dating for more than a month at this point, but she simply hadn't been in enough relationships to have a good baseline. "Have you thought of anything fun for Valentine's Day yet?" she asked, letting her fingers trail lightly across the front of his shirt and watching the fabric ripple under her touch. "Assuming you still want to do something with me, anyway?" Kal added, tipping her head back to give him a teasing grin.
Augustus was glad that he had the night off too. As much fun as they had been having going out on dates, Augustus liked it the most when they just stayed in and relaxed. It was… amazing to him that they had still be dating for over a month. Not because he didn’t like Kal because he DID but he hadn’t done anything to screw this up. He was mostly excited and happy about it… and a tiny bit worried for when the other shoe would drop.
“Are you feeling okay? From what you told me, you had a tough practice today,” Augustus asked. Again, he just didn’t get it. Endurance practice, really? Seemed like a lot of extra work for strained muscles and possibly risk of injury. Either way, he was ready to help Kal if necessary.
Augustus had his arm wrapped around Kal when she cuddled in close to him. His hand trailed up her arm as they cuddled together and thought about her question. “Of course I want to do something with you for Valentine’s Day! I’ve never had a Valentine’s Day date before,” Augustus said and immediately blushed at admitting that. “I mean… I’m usually the one that volunteers for Valentine’s Day at St. Mungo’s. It can get awkward for the women Healers. But yeah… I’ve already put in for the day off,” he explained. “And… I might have an idea, but are you sure you don’t want that to be a surprise?”
"Oh yeah, I'm good," Kal said, nodding against his chest. "I love endurance training. There's something extremely satisfying about pushing your limits and seeing what you can really do. I'll be sore like crazy the next couple of days, but it's worth it." She stifled a yawn. "Tired, too. I should probably head home early tonight, but I'm far too comfortable to think about that right now." Plus, she didn't really want to leave him if she didn't have to do it. She never knew when he might get caught up at work and not be able to see her for a long stretch again, and she was becoming far too used to his company to want to rush through what time they did get.
Kal made an exception to her newly-formed no moving rule to stretch up and kiss him once, lightly, before settling again. Because it was adorable when he blushed, and she couldn't help herself. Not that she was immune yet to the curse of blushing in this relationship. "Me either, unless you count my dad," she admitted, making a little face at her joke. "Why is it awkward for the women healers?"
She considered silently for a moment, resisting the urge to close her eyes. "I guess it depends on whether I need to know for planning purposes. What to bring, what to wear, that sort of thing. Otherwise, I don't mind a surprise if you want to keep it that way."
“Well… if you need anything for the sore muscles later, just let me know,” Augustus said but he smiled at how Kal was very comfortable staying with him right now. And well… he was very comfortable too. And Augustus was happy about it. He rested his cheek on Kal’s head while she leaned in against him.
Though Kal seemed to be moving already and that left Augustus confused until he realized Kal was kissing him. He kissed her back and grinned into that kiss. Being awkward didn’t seem to be so bad anymore because sometimes it earned him affection like this. At her question though, Augustus frowned. “Lots of drunk blokes coming in after some failed magic. They assume the women are single because they’re working so they usually try to make a pass.”
Augustus did realize that he probably should tell Kal something… if not all of it for the reasons she said. “Well… somewhere nice for romantic supper. A walk outside, so dress warm even with warming charms,” Augustus suggested. “That enough to plan?”
Kal frowned at that. "Ugh, that's awful. I never would have thought, but I guess it makes sense in a disturbing sort of way. That's nice of you to volunteer and take some of the pressure off." She reached for his hand and wound her fingers through his, tucking their hands in close.
"Warm sounds good," she said, and she finally gave in and closed her eyes. It took her a moment to realise she hadn't quite answered his question, probably because the idea of a romantic evening out combined with her current comfort was almost intoxicating. "I think that's enough, yeah. I can bring my cloak, and between that and the charms, I should be fine. Of course, now I'm going to be curious for the next week." Kal shifted a little closer, absently tilting her head up and kissing his neck once, softly, without opening her eyes.
Augustus resisted shrugging since that would possibly jostle Kal while she was leaning against him. He did let her take his hand though and gave it a squeeze. “Yeah… I mean it’s not all that bad. But most people try to be out doing something on Valentine’s day. So the people who end up at St. Mungo’s… usually aren’t very happy about it. Or they try to make the ‘best of it’,” and that last part came with a sarcastic tone.
He found himself watching Kal as she closed her eyes and snuggled in against him. While he was tired from work too, he could only imagine after Kal going through endurance training. “It should be fine with a cloak. I’ll check the weather just in case,” he assured her but Augustus shifted so he was facing Kal a little move as she moved in close to him. That kiss on his neck made him blush. “Um… well curious is a good thing. But it should be… nice. Nowhere too busy or loud or whatever.”
"I guess I can't say it's surprising. Just generally disappointing of people in general." She frowned slightly, but otherwise didn't comment or react further.
"You're always prepared for everything." Kal's expression shifted to a soft smile, both for the conversation and for how pleasantly warm and comfortable she was getting. "I like that about you. That, and you like quiet time just as much as I do." She knew that her desire for quiet in social settings was a bit at odds with her love for Quidditch, but she'd always considered that a physical pursuit, even if it did involve being around other people. "And that you put up with my rambling when I'm apparently silly tired."
Her laugh turned into a yawn, and she still didn't make a move to pull away. It wouldn't hurt to stay for a little longer.
“Well…. I try,” Augustus said with a laugh when Kal told him that he was always prepared. He blushed though when she elaborated about what she liked about him. “It’s well… I deal with busy and loud and crowded at work all day too… and it would just be the two of us… with just a few strangers around. So, that should be the point of the date right? For it to be us,” Augustus said rambling but he did start letting his voice get quieter since Kal was yawning. Which kind of made Augustus yawn too. “You put up with my rambling too… so like that about you too. ”
"Mmhmm," Kal murmured, free fingers lightly stroking the back of the hand she had clasped in hers. Just the two of them, romantic evening out, dinner, walk outside, alone together, warm. She shifted slightly as she realised she was pretty sure that her thoughts had started to drift into that place between consciousness and dreaming. Her mental image of her Valentine's date had come into too sharp focus for that split second. "I like your rambling. We ramble together."
And wow, was she starting to sound nonsensical, too, but she couldn't find the motivation to mind too much. Hopefully Augustus didn't mind, either. She was quiet for a moment, finding that the sound of his breathing was both attractive and soothing.
Augustus smiled at that, feeling how her fingers stroked at their joined hands. He laughed a little at that comment of how they rambled together, but he could see that Kal was getting tired. He wondered if she would have been more comfortable going home to sleep… but he couldn’t bring himself to suggest it.
Kal was quiet, and Augustus was quiet too. He didn’t know if he should say anything. He looked to Kal carefully… was she still awake? “Kal…” he said quietly as his hand poked at her shoulder slightly… partly not wanting to wake her if she had fallen asleep, but also suddenly having a slight panic rising if she WAS falling asleep on him….
It was about twenty minutes into this that Augustus finally reached for his wand and accioed his journal so he could write a ward to Maggie.
A: Maggie!!!! I have a problem! Kal is here and… she fell asleep. ON TOP OF ME!
M: You should work on that, love -- that's not good news.
Augustus was pleased at first for the quick reply, but when he read it… it wasn’t reassuring. So Augustus wrote back again.
A: Well yeah it’s not good news. I don’t really want to wake her up, but I don’t think she really meant to stay here this long!
M: And…?
Augustus had to stop himself from uttering his frustration out loud because of course Kal was right there…
A: I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO! Kal had endurance training, and she’s tired. So she should go home and sleep! But we were snuggling on the couch. And she got comfortable. And I’d feel bad waking her up!
M: And…?
Augustus gritted his teeth. Why did one of his best friends have to be so frustrating…
A: MAGGIE THIS IS NOT HELPING!
M: What are you expecting? Don't disfigure her, don't curse her, don't cut her hair, and don't murder her. You'll be braw.
How was that even helpful advice? He just wanted to know if he should wake Kal up or not to let her go home. Was it OKAY for Kal to stay here sleeping?
A: I don’t know? She’ll be mad I didn’t wake her up? She’ll be upset that I do wake her because she’ll think I won’t want her here? Freaking OUT so it’s not like I can sleep myself! And I’m STUCK because if I don’t want to wake her then I can’t MOVE! I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS! I’M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SLEEP! [...] What if I need to go to the loo?
And after writing all of that… then Augustus waited for a reply from Maggie. He looked around. He had his wand so he could just summon anything he needed. But he was stuck. And he was yawning too and getting tired… Maggie why didn’t you reply yet?! And then it was there.
M: Sweetiepye.
Step one: breathe. You've got a fit beater asleep ontop of you — take a moment to appreciate how far you've come.
Augustus actually did take a deep breath at that instruction. And well he smiled at the next part of it as he looked at Kal sleeping. She was… was there even a word good enough to explain how peaceful and beautiful she looked right then? And Augustus felt so pleasantly warm with the two of them snuggled up together.
A: Alright. Breathing. And yeah… Alright, you’re right. It’s just… still hard to believe you know?
What’s step two?
M: I'm sure you'll get over it in time. Give it a few years. Can you lift her?
Years?! They’d only been dating for like a month and Maggie was talking years now. Oh great bringing on a whole new fresh wave of anxiety. Which wouldn’t help with the lifting situation at all. She hadn’t been asleep for long, and Augustus would probably screw it up and wake her up anyway and that would just lead to weirdness… So back to the journal
A: Years!! I was just calming down. I don’t think I can think ahead to years right now without panicking! Actually lift her or use magic? Again either way might wake her. So… I should just leave her? She has to wake up eventually. I feel bad! She played quidditch 24 hours straight!
M: 24 fucking If you make her sleep on a sofa after playing a day-long game, I'm going over there to break you up with her myself. Risk waking her up enough to give her your bed, and if you're still afraid of wome not in a way to join her, take the sofa. Let her have an honest rest.
Augustus took a beat. Yeah wow he probably… should have thought of that. Yes she had been done that morning with her practice, and she’d rested today but clearly she was still tired. So… yeah. No this was really the best plan. Even if she looked comfortable, a good sleep was better… maybe.
A: [...] Well she didn’t come here RIGHT after… she did sleep this morning. Not the point- Don’t turn down advice Alright. Right. That’s actually pretty reasonable and I should have thought of that but I was panicking. Thanks Maggie. I’ll… let you know how it goes.
M: It's hard to fuck this one up, love. You'll be fine. ♥
A: Yeah. Right. I’ll be fine. Maybe. Thanks again.
So with that, Augustus closed up his journal and carefully tapped Kal on her shoulder again. “Kal…, wake up?” He didn’t really mean that to come off as a question but it did. “You can go lie down in my room if you want. You’d be more comfortable. I can just… stay out here,” he said because the idea of actually saying Kal could stay the night just got caught in his throat.
"Hmm?" Kal murmured, and it took her brain a moment to catch up to what he'd said. Laying down sounded good, bed sounded good. She opened her eyes to look up at him, but it was half-lidded at best. "Sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep." Though she didn't feel particularly sorry. She might have felt embarrassed that she would see his bed for the first time simply because she was exhausted, but the idea seemed too pleasant for her to care right now.
She managed to pull herself up from the couch, though she swayed a tiny bit and had to reach for Augustus's arm to steady herself. "I think I'm too sleepy to apparate," she said, laughing softly and rubbing a hand over her eyes, which kept trying to close again. She turned to wrap her arms around his torso, resting her cheek briefly on his shoulder before looking up at him. "You don't mind?"
“It’s alright… you played Quidditch for 24 hours. You’re like… double how tired I am,” Augustus said as he’d been working a 12 hour shift before he got home. When Kal got up off the couch, Augustus wasn’t far behind her and he reached for her arm to steady her when she swayed on her feet.
“Ha yeah no, being sleepy and apparating isn’t good,” he said because he was just rambling at that point because Kal was tucking up against him again, leaning on his shoulder and she was just so… pretty and sleep and so cute and he might have been blushing again.
“No… no I don’t mind,” he said as he wrapped his arm around her waist too. And well… Augustus kind of took the hint that he needed to show Kal where his room was anyway so she could actually sleep on a proper bed instead of his couch. “You can take the bed, and I’ll just stay out on the couch,” he explained hoping she was even listening.
Kal leaned into Augustus as he led the way to his bedroom, feeling grateful that she made it without stumbling too badly. She wasn't conscious enough to really pay much attention to the room itself, but she made it to the side of the bed without incident. She twisted to slide her other arm around him again, pressing her face into his neck.
"Stay," she said softly, lips brushing his skin as she formed the words. All she could think about was staying snuggled into his warm side and getting a few more hours of sleep. "You should stay."
Augustus helped Kal get to his room but instead of Kal getting into bed she just… held onto him instead. And she kissed his neck. And Augustus was still blushing. When was he going to STOP blushing! They’d already snogged a couple times already!! But this was sleeping… in a bed. Together. At the same time…
“Yeah… okay. If you’re sure,” Augustus said even though he still had Maggie’s voice in his head (though technically it had been her writing). But it was just snuggling. It couldn’t hurt. In fact it sounded really really nice.
Though she was sleepily reluctant to let him go, Kal was more looking forward to being in bed. She turned and pulled the covers up and then slid under them and to the opposite side, leaving space for Augustus to join her. She couldn't keep her eyes from drifting closed again at the comfort of the pillow under her cheek. She stuck one arm out in anticipation of feeling Augustus laying down the blank space.
Augustus helped in pulling back the covers after Kal let go of him. While she was getting in bed and comfortable, Augustus had turned towards the open door of his room and with his wand made sure that all the lights were off. Because well… she wanted him to stay and he was tired to and he probably would just freak out more if he went out to do something else while Kal was in his bed.
So… Augustus got in under the covers too. It was weird… he’d never actually shared a bed with a girl before. Definitely not a girlfriend. And well… he was on his back and felt Kal move in close to his side and put her arm around him so… Augustus put his arms around her so they could snuggle in. Kal fell asleep almost right away and it didn’t take Augustus very long to forget about panicking and falling asleep too.