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Astrophel Orion Fleetwood ([info]fleetingstar) wrote in [info]wished,
@ 2010-10-19 19:52:00

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Entry tags:!2003:10, !complete, astrophel fleetwood, maisie cattermole

Who: Astrophel Fleetwood and Maisie Cattermole
When: Tuesday early evening
Where: Diagon Alley
What: Two lost souls meeting for the first time? Lol that sounds cheesy.
Rating: TBD
Open/Closed: Open to Masie



The air is warm with the heat of magical lamp posts igniting all along the winding way of Diagon Alley. Eateries open late open their windows and the scent of baking pies and fresh butterbeer has his stomach twisting uncomfortably for a moment. Astrophel places a hand over his abdomen and stills himself next to The Lucky Bakery. He inhales deep, sighs loudly and shakes his head in such a way that stray strands of dark, chestnut hair tumble over his blue eyes.

There is no rhyme or reason behind him choosing not to eat, he simply isn't.. in the mood. Which isn't to say he is in any particular mood that would have him acting upset, in fact, Astrophel simply feels wistful. Feels lost. Feels like he could walk forever if Diagon stretched so far.

He's having a hard time thinking straight. Images flash behind his eyes when he blinks. He sees dark things, a pale woman, and he touches his throat tentatively. The scars of the welts there are not incredibly visible but they still mar his flesh a lighter pink. He swallows hard and turns sharp to head back the other way as he is heading toward Knockturn and the very thought of it makes him feel sick, though Diamond lays there.

That's when he meets her. Not with a polite hello or a soft smile, but a sudden crash as the pair collide and he steps backward, words bubbling from his lips.

"Oh, Merlin, sorry, wasn't payin' a lick of attention.."


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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-20 01:42 am UTC (link)
Maisie felt as though she was stepping into a familiar scene. There's a sort of bitter taste in her mouth, and she's not quite sure that it's from the chocolate that she snatched from the candy bowl on her desk. Lately, she had been trying to focus on things other than her non-committal infatuation. She had even tried leaving work before the sun set most days, but she found herself with little to occupy her time that she truly wanted to do. She wandered a lot, as she had always done, but she was even less inclined to want to stop.

At home, she became restless. At work, she drove herself into the ground. And she'd been short on friends lately...everyone was so busy. She was a bit spooked by the sudden disappearance of a few people from the community, but that didn't stop her wandering. She liked that she could walk down the street and sometimes, when she offered a smile, people would smile back and say a hello, even if they didn't know her. It gave her the false illusion of companionship for a fleeting moment. But even with kindly strangers surrounding her, she felt a bit lost in a place that she knew by heart.

And then the moment happened where she got entirely too distracted by watching the ground slide under her traveling feet. She had a horrible habit of running into people, and that familiarity struck her again as soon as she ran into a very solid something. She immediately caught her balance with all the grace of the wolf she was proud to call her animagus, and righted herself.

She was about to apologize, but the man she'd run into got there first, "Neither was I, so I offer my apologies as well," she tucked a bit of her elbow length hair back behind her ear, glancing up at the handsome man with piercing blue eyes and a shy smile, "I should be more careful...this is becoming a habit for me."

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-20 01:50 am UTC (link)
He doesn't understand the wrong of the situation, while Braxton, he thinks, could easily spot about fifty different reasons to turn and walk away without another word. She's young, she's too nice already, she's not a recognized pureblood, and well..

She's young.

But Astrophel sees nothing but vigor in her youth, sees someone with a nice smile and eyes that have him growing dazed for becoming so easily lost in them, and merlin when she looks up at him because she is that much shorter he feels an odd pang in his chest. He can't help but ignore the voice that screams this is not right, this is not right.

What's wrong with sharing a smile? His lips twist into something boyish and light.

"Your eyes are like the ocean," he states, as if it's something someone says everyday.

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-20 02:12 am UTC (link)
It's just another stolen moment with a stranger that seems nice enough, she thought. For a just a second, she doesn't have to feel so alone that night. So often, even when she's surrounded by people, she feels like she's the only one there. Building up such a tall wall around herself and keeping everyone at a distance is her art. She feels betrayed by most that she's let in.

Even though he's older than she is, there's something very nice about his face. He's handsome, no doubt about it, and even if he's older, the years must have treated him well. She's never really discriminated by age in her choice of companions. In fact, she gets along with older people better for some reason.

That certain charm that she sees in him only increases when he smiles at her. It makes him look younger. Without being able to help herself, her smile turns brighter, less shy and more like a greeting to a friend that she hasn't seen in such a long time.

His statement catches her totally off guard. He says it so plainly that at first, she's not sure that she's heard him right, but the words are hanging there in the air in front of her. The words pull at her heart, making it beat out a faster rhythm.

"Really? I'm not sure anyone's ever told me that before, but I appreciate it all the same," a girlish blush rises to her cheeks, painting them like a spring rose.

"My name is Maisie," the offering is past her lips before she cares to think who she might be speaking to. She's never been wary enough of strangers.

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-20 02:25 am UTC (link)
They could probably stay like this forever, locked in each others eyes and smiling like idiots but eventually she says her name and he lowers his eyes for a moment as he tries to regain some sort of coherent thought. A name. His name, it was only proper.

Astrophel shook his head as if to shake away that feeling of having been caught and lost. His smile faded briefly as a hand reached up to gingerly scratch along one of the thin scars etched down his throat. He hated how he could not remember where the damn scars came from. Another shake of his head clears his thoughts once more and he smiles again.

"Astrophel," he replies, finally. "Astrophel Fleetwood. Who is walking with you at this time of evening? Shall I escort you to your destination?"

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-20 03:18 am UTC (link)
She realizes that she didn't say her last name as soon as he says his, and for some reason, his name seems really familiar, though she can't exactly remember why. Maybe there was an article in the paper? She brushed it off, however, noting that his name sounded...almost aristocratic. She wondered if he was a pureblood. But he didn't seem to mind her.

"Astrophel," she said softly, trying out the name on her tongue. It rolled off with a sort of unforeseen fondness, "I rather like that name."

At his other questions, she wasn't quite sure how to answer. She gave a shrug of her slight shoulders, nibbling softly on her lower lip in indecision of what to tell him, "No one is walking with me, and an escort is probably a bit out of the question. You see, I don't exactly have a destination in particular. I'm just fond of walking. I wander. Here or any other place...it doesn't matter where," she gave a slightly flippant gesture with her hand that indicated she went wherever she wanted on a whim. She wrinkled her freckled nose gently, "In fact, I even kind of enjoy getting lost...though, I never feel lost when I am lost..." Not like she'd been feeling moments ago...she felt out of place where she should have belonged.

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-20 03:30 am UTC (link)
The sound of her speaking his name has his cheeks burning hot. It sounds... regal, and lovely and every bit like he wishes it would sound when spoken. His father always barked his name, his family otherwise said it just the same with less roughness but still it was always too sharply spoken. He grinned.

"It means star lover," he bites his lip for a moment and turns to look over his shoulder. Night is setting is quickly now and while she hasn't exactly invited him to walk with her he suddenly feels uncomfortable with letting her go. His hand runs through his mane and then over his face before he turns back to her.

"Want to be lost together? I suppose I was sort of doing the same thing just now."

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-20 03:51 am UTC (link)
The meaning of his name has her smiling as brightly as a setting sun, "Are you true to your name? The stars are the best part of the night, I think. I could just stare at them for hours." It wasn't very often that Maisie turned down the opportunity to be out under the stars and moon.

She doesn't know why she can't say no, even though she barely knows this man, but she can't even bear the thought, "That could be nice...I don't get lost with others often. Having someone to share it with...yes, I think I would like being lost together."

A deeper blush sets into her cheeks for a moment. She's not thinking about her problems anymore, and it visibly relaxes her. She grins a bit, "For once, I'm glad I ran into someone."

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-20 04:01 am UTC (link)
He doesn't often think of witches like he is think of her now. In fact, he never really has. He's either been too busy learning something new, or.. well there were the years when nothing was learned when he wasn't even his own person. He is a late bloomer, as it were, so he feels as thrilled as any young man might feel when a pretty girl agrees to walk with them.

However, he isn't sure what to do beyond this, though he takes a cue from a passing old couple. An old wizard has the crook of his elbow offered to his wife and he leans upon him as they walk toward The Leaky Cauldron. Astrophel turns and steps backward to be standing beside her and mimics the move with his own elbow offered up.

For a moment his eyes flash dark and he almost drops his elbow, almost, almost, almost. Then, it's back to bright blue and he seems vaguely dazed before recalling she had been speaking to him.

"Oh, yes, I do rather love stars.. I excelled as astronomy in school, actually. I'm working on a rather new magical telescope that can see further than any muggle telescope can, but it's been a very difficult process. Lots of complex spellwork to be done there. Why, I had to invent three spells alone just to get where I am with it now," he isn't bragging. Just babbling as they walk aimlessly toward the likes of Memorial Alley.

"Which constellation is your favorite?"

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-20 02:50 pm UTC (link)
She thinks that she sees something in his eyes, something a bit strange, but it's gone almost as soon as it's there, and she can't bother herself to read into it. Truthfully, she just doesn't want to. She wants to believe that this man who is being so kind to her is really as great as he seems on a first impression.

It occurs to her that this is impulsive, perhaps even dangerous, because they don't really know one another. But that smile of his erases her worries.

She takes his elbow without another thought, listening to his words with keen interest as they stroll, "That's extremely fascinating. I can't say that I've ever invented a spell, but I'm fair with charms. Transfiguration is my talent though."

She tipped her head back slightly, looking up at the stars that were beginning to peak out, "Lupus," she said softly, searching for the stars that formed the 'wolf' in the night sky, her eyes finding them with familiarity, "Do you have a favorite?"

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-20 08:12 pm UTC (link)
Her hand is warm and it takes him a moment to slow his heart when he feels her gentle grip like that. Takes him a moment to resist the urge to placed his hand over hers. Instead he pauses, makes a sweeping motion with his arm upward and points directly to where Lupus ought to be, and where his favorite lies as well.

"Centaurus, actually, it used to include your favorite and now it does not," something inside of him lurches painfully and he ignores it best he can, though for a moment his lips are stretched thin. Then, he smiles and continues to stroll with her.

"Inventing spells is quite fun, actually. Can't tell you how many times I've almost killed myself doing it though, dangerous business. Transfiguration, though? Really? Not many people can say they're very good unless they make it their living.. or they are animagi," he says knowingly.

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-20 09:25 pm UTC (link)
As soon as he points it out, her eyes lock onto a few of the faint stars that would be much brighter if the street was darker. She can't seem to wipe the silly little grin from her face, her heart fluttering a happy cadence.

She laughs softly when he mentions the danger, even though she really believes him and there's nothing funny about death, but the fact that the danger is fun...well, that's a bit comical. She brightens at his questions about transfiguration, however, obviously not shy about sharing.

"I've always had a strong affinity for transfiguration," she says it plainly, but there's as hint of pride in her voice, "I am guilty of both of those things. I spend a lot of time reversing transfiguration mishaps and accidents. I have an eye for being able to finish what was started or work backwards to restore what was."

"As for animagi...I guess it's kind of like you and your spells. It was difficult and a bit dangerous to try, but the result is worth it." It was her best accomplishment to date. She has learned young...so young. She'd started the process illegally because she was so eager.

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-21 02:51 am UTC (link)
Her laugh, Merlin. Suddenly, though, when he glances down at her, he can't help but notice how much younger she has to be. It isn't something he noticed right away and now it's slowly dawning on him. Things like this other people see first, but not Astrophel. Never Astrophel. He sees different things first, like the endless blue of her eyes and the way her mouth curves into a smile.

Then, eventually, like now, he notices she is still baby faced and has an innocence about her that can not be denied. It should make him feel hesitant, but he still doesn't understand what could be wrong if she is of age. Which, clearly, being an animagus, she is.

"Were you a Ravenclaw?" he asks, with a tilt of his head. "And what sort of creature is your second soul there?"

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-21 04:13 am UTC (link)
She doesn't think it's wrong. How could it be, when this is the happiest few moments she's had in days? He doesn't look at her like a child as so many others do. For a girl with an aged soul, this is as important to her as anything else. She despises being treated like she's too young to know anything.

"Gryffindor, actually, though I often wondered why. I'm not really all that brave," she likes the way he's interested in what she's saying, as if it has true value, "I bet you were Ravenclaw though. To invent as you do, you've got to be brilliant. You seem to know so much."

She turns her blue eyes up to his, wondering what he'll think about her answer. It's funny that he noticed her most distinguishing feature first. Her animagus has the same eyes, relentlessly blue, "My second form is wolf, which is why I am bias to Lupus. Perhaps it's even why I enjoy night so much. I find myself drawn to the pull of Mother Moon sometimes."

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-21 04:44 am UTC (link)
"Ah, Gryffindor, perhaps one day you'll surprise your self with how brave you really are," he nods in agreement with himself and does finally touch on her hand, a light pat of encouragement before it dips into the pocket of his robes.

Her compliment has his grin stretching wider and he feels a heat rising in his cheeks. It's not often he is called brilliant, as people that know him tend to call him other things. Weird, odd, off his nut, strange, crazy... he likes brilliant, it's nice for a change.

"I was," he chuckles. "Much to the dismay of my family. All Slytherin for those who did go to Hogwarts, but not me. I know so much because I read too much, I'm a sucker for the written word and terribly curious," he admits.

They're nearly to the end of Memorial Alley when she says that and he leads them toward the park there.

"It makes perfect sense. That's a very noble creature, would you care to sit for a bit?"

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-21 04:07 pm UTC (link)
“I suppose I might.  That day just has not yet come,” the sensation of his hand against hers is like putting her hand in a hot flame, but it doesn’t hurt.  It’s kind of nice, even if it is only momentary.  The gesture is still enough to make her smile. 

“Sometimes you have to go against the grain, I guess.  It was a shock for my family that I was in Gryffindor, too.  They’re all Hufflepuffs.  I think…well, I’ve always been different,” she raised her chin a little bit, an unconscious defiant gesture, “I’m not sure that I’ve ever really belonged anywhere.”

She was so different from her family and her siblings.  Never had she been able to confide in them.  Maisie locked herself away, putting on a smiling façade for the world even when her heart and mind were in turmoil.

“Noble, yes, and actually very social.  It’s fitting…though I suppose as much as I love interaction, I’m a bit of a lone wolf as well,” she nods very softly, taking his lead and perching on a nearby bench, sitting with him like she would with any friend.  She curls her legs under her bottom and pushes long hair over one of her shoulders, “What do you think your animagus would be, assuming that you are not one?”

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-22 03:27 am UTC (link)
He too sits, tucks a knee up onto the bench and twists to face her. Their knees rest warm against one another but he does not appear to notice, or if he does he is hiding it very well. An elbow rests on the back of the bench and his free hand raises to stroke at his chin.

"True.. though sometimes I wonder if the hat was wrong," he mutters, a dazed look falling across his face more a moment before his eyes brighten again.

"I'm not one," he says simply. "I was training for a little while, but the ministry has forbade me from taking it up. I was working on a hawk," he nods slowly.

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-23 12:27 am UTC (link)
It seems so natural to be sitting there with him that she doesn't feel as though she needs to be self-conscious. Her hand carelessly twists a piece of her hair, a familiar habit.

"I think we all wonder that at some point. I know I did," she says thoughtfully, "But if it's worth anything, I think the hat seems to have got it right with you. Your intellect shows."

She briefly lets a frown pull at the corners of her mouth, "Why would they do something like that?" It's not an accusation, she's honestly curious. The statement just doesn't seem logical to her. The Ministry, she knows, has done some crazy things, but if a capable person desires to be an animagus, there are few things that would make the Ministry forbid it.

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-23 04:25 am UTC (link)
Now he is quiet, still even. His heart thuds wildly in his chest and while he gazes upon her he is not focused on her. He is remembering the trial. His tongue had still felt heavy even after a few hours of having taken the veritaserum and though the effects had long worn off he still felt the strange urge to speak his secrets.

The verdict was clear. Innocent! But certain precautions needed to be taken. A visit with healers every two months, and restrictions on certain magics. No occulmency and no animagi training.

He parted his mouth, licked his lips and frowned.

"I was a death eater," he admits slowly. "Under the imperius curse as done by my father. After my father died at Hogwarts in that.. battle, the curse was broken, but the ministry fears it remains in me. They think if I am an anamagus that I will not have the mental capacity to control myself."

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-23 04:43 am UTC (link)
As soon as the admission passes his lips, she freezes, her heart sinking like a stone. Her pulse is pounding and her stomach is uneasy. The words 'death eater' ring in her head, and she suddenly feels too close to him.

But it's his continuation of confession that keeps her from moving away. She can't very well judge him on acts that he was forced to do against his will. It occurs to her that he could be lying, but she doesn't think so.

If he wanted to lie, he could have just bypassed the question or told her something else. He didn't have to tell her something that was obviously so horrible for him. She can't imagine being under the influence of an unforgivable and doing things that she wouldn't be able to clear her conscious of.

"That's terrible...that your own father would do something like that, and now you have to suffer the repercussions. I'm sorry that you went through that," she offers understandingly, though her stomach is still turning.

She remembers vividly the final battle he mentioned...she was there. The shadows still haunt her sleeping hours. She fears that he was there, that he might have done something terrible to someone she knew, but she can't ask him that, "Are you okay?"

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-23 05:28 am UTC (link)
He expects her to cringe, to curl her body away from him but she remained where she seated and this made all the difference. His heart gave a leap and of all the things he expected her to say.. asking him if he was okay was not it.

He smiles weakly and shrugs slightly.

"As well as I can be," he admits softly. "For a while I couldn't manage to drink anything given to me by anyone.. and it took me a while to feel okay out in the public. Not many people recognize me for my father did what he did to keep me out of harms way. He was convinced the dark lord would rather kill someone like me before ask me to join, so he simply forced it. He didn't force me to do the final battle, I think he knew they wouldn't win... Maisie?"

He takes a hand to the back of his head and shyly glances away.

"Does this ruin things? Will you not see me again, after knowing this?"

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-23 06:39 am UTC (link)
She listens, trying to keep an open mind, mulling over the things that he's said. It's not as though she would ever condone the acts of a Death Eater, but this is a special circumstance. She thinks that he's telling her the absolute truth...he's letting her in, even though she keeps everyone else out.

This cannot be an easy something for him to say or even think about, and she won't condemn him for it. There's so little hatred in her heart, and so much compassion. She has always had her own insecurities, and she wouldn't want anyone to judge her when someone had forced her hand.

"No, Astrophel...it doesn't ruin things. As far as I can tell, you're being candidly honest with me. You telling me this now, not hiding it...it's much better than it would be if you lied. You weren't a willing participant, and I won't judge you for acts you didn't want to commit," she finds that as the moments keep passing, she's not even afraid.

Her heart calms, and her gaze doesn't waver, "You've shown me thus far that you're a genuinely decent person. That is what matters," she pauses momentarily, fidgeting, "I am glad, though, that you weren't at Hogwarts for the final battle...I was there." The thought that he could have been there, that he may have tried to kill her...that was still a thought that was slightly hard to swallow.

She reaches just that small distance and touches reassuring fingertips to his knee where they still touch, "The past is over. Whatever happened then is not what will happen tomorrow. Looking forward is only choice...and tomorrow I would still like you to be my friend."

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-24 05:27 am UTC (link)
His mother always said he was much like a child, even in his older age. He was frighteningly honest, incredibly curious, and far more dependent on people's open affection than people realized. To be denied a friendship, even one so new, would be heart breaking to the man.

But that denial never comes. Instead, he feels her fingers on his knee and his whole heart decides it is time to start flipping madly under his ribs. He hears her admission and he nods slowly, the realization of what this means finally dawning on him. She is just a.. he swallows hard and eyes flicker down to her hand.

He places his over hers and returns his gaze to match her own.

"You're a better person than most, then."

The air is thick between them and the silence heavy until he finally breaks it with a small smile and words.

"You should come about someday, while I'm inventing a spell, and help me."

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[info]amaisieing
2010-10-24 06:20 pm UTC (link)
She's not altogether expecting his hand to cover hers. She thinks for a moment that he's going to brush her touch away, but he doesn't. For some reason, this makes her glad.

His verdict that she's a better person is one that she considers arguing, because she doesn't see herself as better. Perhaps just more understanding. She believes that people can change.

It eases a weight in her heart that she didn't realize had settled there when he smiles. It's almost disarming, the way that it makes him look young and innocent.

"I'm not sure if I'd be a help or a hindrance, but I'd like that regardless. I'll look you up in the journals," she said, offering her answering smile as a reassurance.

It seems so late now, and with so much to think about, she feels as though she should take her leave even if she's reluctant to. She twists her hand in his and gives it a soft squeeze, uncurling her legs, "I should be going. My flatmate'll be looking for me...but I'll be seeing you, Astrophel. Promise."

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[info]fleetingstar
2010-10-24 07:37 pm UTC (link)
"Sure thing," he manages, though really he wants to ask if she'll stay, just a bit longer so they can look at the stars. Something else keeps him from saying much more and it's not because he is shy or nervous.

She says her goodbye and he lifts a hand to wave as she walks away but when the hand falls back into his lap the eyes trained upon it are as black as coal. He stands and apparates away.

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