astor; AISLING (aastor) wrote in reduxpitch, @ 2016-11-05 16:16:00 |
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Entry tags: | !thread, character: xavier ansari, retired character: aisling astor |
who ? xavier ansari and aisling astor
when ? saturday night, 5th november (local time)
where ? shanghai concert hall, china
what ? being adorable
status ? complete
Aisling loved the violin. Aisling loved the violin possibly more than she ever had loved anything in her whole life and more than likely more than she ever would love anything in her life yet to come. When she played, the connection between herself, the instrument and music felt powerful but not overly so. There was something inexplicably delightful in playing classical pieces. Given, Aisling practised far too much for them, had suffered a great deal because of it when she’d properly played with the orchestra, but it didn’t undermine her love for the music at all. There were reasons for why she’d left the orchestra behind, but playing on stage in Shanghai, surrounded by extraordinary musicians all matching the same rhythm? Well, it was almost too easy to forget those reasons.
It was the last of the concerts they were playing and Aisling felt it was their best. Andrew and Evan had come to see the first of the lot, which had had hiccups but not one’s anyone outside a classical music education would’ve really spotted. The two of them had mostly been amazed by the concert hall and China, which had delighted Aisling greatly as she’d taken them out to dinner after. Tonight, though, Aisling knew Xavier was in the audience. She hadn’t had the chance to see him before the concert, but she’d sent a portkey and the tickets, so Aisling knew he’d be there. In a way, Aisling was pleased Xavier was seeing the last performance, because it was the best one.
Afterwards, once the orchestra had congratulated each other and been congratulated, Aisling wandered through the wine reception until she spotted Xavier, smile widening once she did. “Hey you,” Aisling greeted, moving into Xavier’s space so she could press a kiss against his lips. Mostly brief, since she was rather sure China was not big on public displays of affection. “Did you enjoy the concert?” She asked taking a step back, but only one that was small enough to keep her close to Xavier.
--
The concert was amazing, but Xavier hadn't expected anything less. He was familiar with the music from hearing Aisling practice hours on end for the past few weeks, but it was different to hear it with the whole orchestra. Sure, there was the whole symphony on stage, but he'd pretty much only watched her the entire time. Aisling was very good, he knew that, and getting to see her play in that environment made him feel unbearably proud.
He mostly blended in at the reception after, not hard to do when dressed in a suit like most everyone else, but kept off to the side as he waited for her to come out. A soft smile spread across his features when he saw Aisling, and he let his arm loop around her waist when she kissed him. “I did,” he replied, his hand resting at the small of her back. “You were incredible.”
--
The praise made Aisling’s smile even wider. She had no doubt that she had played well (which in itself was a rather rewarding feeling to have) but despite the knowledge, she greatly appreciated Xavier’s words. Whether he’d say he hadn’t enjoyed it if had been the case, Aisling wasn’t sure, but she did also truly trust that he had. “I’m glad you came,” she said honestly.
Reaching down to take Xavier’s hand, Aisling linked their fingers together. “Don’t say I never take you anywhere,” she told him teasingly, amusement clear on her face. Aisling felt filled with energy, a feeling most performers probably related to. It was something she experienced plenty with Quake, but the atmosphere just felt so different. Always had when it came to playing with an orchestra.
--
Xavier could tell by looking at her that she had that post-concert rush, but also that it was different than the ones from the concerts they played together. He squeezed her hand gently when her fingers laced with his, and his thumb rubbed lightly against the back of hers.
“I’m glad I came too,” he said, smiling a bit more. “I like getting to see you play.” It was quite different, being in the audience rather than the stage beside her. “I would never say that. You took me to the other side of the world for a concert - that's quite a ways.” Leaning in, he pressed a light kiss to her forehead. “I'm very proud of you, you know.”
--
There was a small flutter of something that Aisling couldn’t quite explain at the way Xavier told her that he was proud of her. She didn’t really know what the expected response might’ve been, or if there was one at all. Aisling had had plenty of people be proud of her before, but somehow this felt... different. Better. “Thank you,” she settled on in the end, pulling Xavier into a hug, which seemed the most appropriate response.
“Are you hungry?” She asked after taking a step back. “I’ve told the orchestra that I shan’t be sticking around for the wine reception, so we can go for dinner if you’d like?” Aisling offered, though it was probably more the case of ‘lunch’ for Xavier since unlike her he hadn’t spent majority of the week in a different time zone.
--
Her hug was welcomed and returned, Xavier’s arms tight around Aisling for the brief moment it lasted. He'd meant it, he was so proud, and he wished everyone he knew could have been there to see her play and be brilliantly talented. It was too bad he couldn't use a portkey to get his family to the other side of the world, because he had a feeling his parents would have loved it.
“I could eat,” he agreed with a nod, taking a quick glance around the room. “You don't have to rush if you wanted to stay here longer, talk to people, all that.”
--
Aisling smiled when Xavier said he could eat and then shook her head at his assurance that they didn’t have to leave just yet. “I’ve told them that I’m not going to stick around,” Aisling told him. “Besides, I’ve seen them every day for a whole week,” she added. “And I haven’t seen you for a whole week,” or thereabouts, it hadn’t quite been a whole week, since Aisling had left on Monday, but it felt like it had been a long time.
Leading them towards the exit, since Aisling had her bag and Shanghai evenings didn’t exactly require a coat, Aisling gave Xavier another grin. “There’s a place nearby that does some great food,” she explained. “I took Andrew and Evan there the other evening,” Aisling added. “It was very nice of them to come and see me. Not as nice as it is of you, though,” she assured with a small laugh. It was true, as much as Aisling absolutely loved Andrew, it just felt more to have Xavier come.
--
Xavier was glad to go wherever Aisling wanted, honestly just happy to get to spend time with her. It had felt like longer than a week, and then with all her practicing before she'd left… he'd made sure she'd taken breaks but it still hadn't been quite the amount of time he was used to having with her. Not that he was upset about it, because look at what she'd accomplished!
“Well no, I am much nicer than them,” he teased, an easy grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I'm glad they got to come, too. Then again, none of us had to spend all that time on a plane like you did, so it wasn't much effort to get here.”
--
“You are much nicer than them,” Aisling assured with a laugh, before giving a small groan at Xavier’s reminder that she’d flown there. “I’m so glad I’ve convinced them I can make my own way back,” she admitted. Aisling had explained how her boyfriend would visit and they’d spend a few days in China after the concerts and that had been good enough for the orchestra. It was hardly as if she had to match their schedules, not when she was only a stand-in.
After a moment, Aisling gave a small laugh. “I very kindly offered out some ‘herbal remedies’ for jetlag,” she admitted. They had, of course, been potions, but Aisling would quite happily argue her case of how potions really were just herbal remedies. “Did you have a nice week? A house distinctly lacking violin music?” Aisling asked teasingly.
--
Xavier couldn't imagine being on a plane for so long - not since he'd started being able to apparate. Portkeys were helpful too, but the fact that he could pop home on the weekends from Hogsmeade in the blink of an eye was always appreciated. So much time kept from being wasted.
“I'm sure that was appreciated by those who took them,” he said with a laugh, before stopping on the sidewalk and pulling her in, kissing her softly. “I missed you. The week was fine, but I missed you. And your violin music.”
--
“Good,” Aisling said after the soft kiss he offered, smiling. “Wouldn’t want you to discover you prefer the house lacking violin music,” she said teasingly, and it was teasing, since Aisling felt rather confident in that Xavier wouldn’t discover that actually he preferred the house without violin music (and her).
Once they started walking, Aisling gave another smile. “I missed you, too,” she told Xavier truthfully. “As much as I’ve enjoyed playing with the orchestra, it’s so very different from how we practice and play with the band,” which, perhaps, was an understatement.
--
Xavier laced his fingers with hers as they walked, taking in the buildings around them as they did. It was quite different there, and interesting to be in the middle of so suddenly. He glanced over at her when she spoke again, smiling and giving her hand a light squeeze.
“You miss all us idiots and and the racket we make?” he teased. “And didn't enjoy rehearsals, I’m guessing, starting on time and being structured?”
--
Aisling had missed the band, but not as much as she would’ve if Andrew and Xavier hadn’t come to see her during the week. She loved Ken and Axel dearly and enjoyed Mary-Anne’s company, but her affection for both Andrew and Xavier was far greater than for the other three, there was little point in denying it. She had also been about to correct Xavier in that actually she had liked the rehearsals and structure, but caught that he was teasing her just before she could.
“The band has structure,” she said with a shake of her head. “Just one that’s... ambitious,” she settled on with a smirk. Aisling was never late to anything. Some of the others weren’t either, someone of them, though, left a touch to be desired when it came to punctuality, especially seeing how they all lived in the same house.
--
“Like herding cats, we are,” Xavier said with a nod, smirking softly all the same. He was a punctual person, but that didn't mean the rest of them were. It could get hectic trying to wrangle them all together, which is why he always gave Nina a lot of credit.
“Are you excited for our little holiday?” he asked, thumb rubbing gently over the back of her hand. “Ideas for what to do?”
--
“I am excited,” Aisling confirmed with a nod. “I’ve got a few tourist-y books so we can go over them when we get back to the hotel?” She offered. “We can stay in Shanghai, if you want, there’s loads to see here,” Aisling told Xavier as they neared the restaurant. “Or we can apparate somewhere else,” she added.
Walking into the restaurant, Aisling offered a smile to the waiter who recognized her, ushering the two often towards a table near the window. Taking a seat, Aisling pulled one of the menus closer, but didn’t actually look down at it, instead opting for giving Xavier another smile. “It’ll be nice, having a little holiday,” she commented.
--
Xavier smiled at the thought of going over guidebooks and finding exactly what they wanted to do. It was kind of nice not having anything planned out yet, and that they could figure it out together. He hadn't ever been to China before, but from what he'd seen in the brief time he'd been that day he was sure there was enough to fill weeks and months of exploration.
“We can figure out whether to stay or go once we look at what all there is we want to do,” he agreed, following her to the table and sliding into the seat across from her. “I'm glad we get to have it - just us and no schedules to follow or set things to do. Just whatever we want.”
--
“Yeah,” Aisling nodded when Xavier suggested they could figure out places to stay once they decided what they wanted to actually do. Her smile widened when Xavier told her that he was glad they got to do this, just them. “I am, too,” Aisling agreed honestly. She was looking forward to just having time and exploring places with Xavier, there was something just very delightful about the whole thing.
Once they’d placed their order, Aisling put the menu away carefully. “There’s a lot to see,” she commented because there really was. “We might have to come back again to actually see everything,” she added with somewhat of a smirk. “If you can bear such an idea,” she said teasingly.
--
Xavier tucked his menu away and let his hand rest midway across the table, fingertips lightly touching Aisling’s. “I'm sure we can manage another trip,” he replied with a grin. “With no airplane needed for you, either.”
He paused for a moment, shaking his head. “It's so strange, right? We can get places in the blink of an eye and at no cost when other people can't. I told my parents where I was going and I think… well, I wish I could make it that easy for them even just once. Mum, she doesn't have far to go if she wants to go back home, but my dad has it worse.”
--
Aisling nodded at Xavier’s words. She didn’t spend a great deal of time thinking of how different things would’ve been if she had stayed living in the Muggle world, but the plane trip to China had certainly reminded Aisling of that. Living in Hogsmeade and yet being able to literally pop to London whenever she wanted was amazing. Aisling did think that they were rather lucky in that respect.
“At least you earn enough to help them with flights and so such?” Aisling offered. “I realise it’s not quite the same as a porkey to China, but I’m sure they appreciate that nonetheless,” she commented. Aisling may not have ever experienced not being able to afford things, including travel, but she certainly knew of it.
--
That was true, and Xavier did do what he could to help his parents. It wasn't like they were hurting for money or in any kind of need, but it was the luxury he had of being able to go wherever whenever without having to schedule time off. His father held a job in the government where he wasn't always able to go off on a holiday whenever, and it wasn't like Pakistan was the closest or easiest country to go to.
“I was thinking of maybe planning a trip for them to go see my grandparents,” he mused. “It's been a really long time, and I know my dad would like it.”
--
Their food arrived before Aisling had a chance to respond and she thanked the server, her very limited Mandarin did cover a ‘thank you’ and the waiter seemed to appreciate it, which really was the main reason to try. “Would you want to go with them?” Aisling asked picking up the chopsticks. “To Pakistan?” She clarified. Aisling knew that Xavier’s family was very, very different from her own. For one, she her family was very unlikely to see each other for the sake of seeing each other. It was almost a foreign concept in its own right.
--
Xavier offered the server a smile in response to the food being brought out, and turned his attention back to Aisling and her question. “I think so,” he replied, picking up his chopsticks and taking a few bites as he considered it. “They came to visit once but I was little, Arielle hadn't been born yet. My parents went for a trip after, but didn't take us kids. It would be the first time all of us were in the same place.”
--
Aisling listened to Xavier reply as she ate, humming thoughtfully at his words. “Perhaps all of you could go?” She suggested. “The whole family?” Presumably that was something that they’d all enjoy and with how close Xavier’s family were, Aisling assumed they’d all be on board with it. “Perhaps summer holidays? That’s far away enough to plan but soon enough not to longingly away?” Aisling suggested.
“Though,” she said reaching for the glass of water. “I must warn you,” Aisling grinned. “Flying is very tedious.”
--
“I was thinking of everyone going, yeah,” Xavier said with a nod, pausing to take a few more bites of his food as he considered when they could go. “Summer would probably be good, but the weather’s a bit dodgy. It'd be better to go sooner, but that's something I’d have to check with them about to make sure it's okay.”
He chuckled softly at what she said, scrunching his nose slightly. “I’m not looking forward to flying, but it'll be worth it.”
--
“I think that’d be very nice,” Aisling commented when Xavier said he thought of all the family going. Reaching across the table, Aisling gave Xavier’s hand a squeeze. “You’re a very good son,” she told him honestly. Xavier’s ability to care for his family, and the way they all clearly cared back, was very lovely to Aisling. It was nice to see a family that truly loved each other.
Leaning back into her chair, Aisling grinned at Xavier. “We must get souvenirs for them,” she told him seriously.
--
Xavier smiled when she squeezed his hand, giving a little shrug of his shoulder at the compliment. He did what he could to be a good son, and a good brother, but more so saw it as just how he was supposed to be. He would argue that his parents were good, and that was why he'd turned out as he had.
“Yes, I think if we don't, I’ll get in trouble,” he said with a laugh. “I'm sure we’ll be able to find something good.”
--
“I’m sure we will,” Aisling agreed. “First, though, we’ll eat,” she said picking up a piece of the food and popping it in her mouth happily. After she’d washed it down with some water, Aisling smiled at Xavier. “And then we’ll wander down the streets and perhaps find some souvenirs,” she added. “It’ll be nice,” she concluded, sure of her words.