Happily New Year After [Ema] on At Home

Killian Row

January 09, 2021 9:09 PM

Happily New Year After [Ema] by Killian Row

All Killian could feel were the sharp pinpricks and scraping of icy water against his skin as he dropped below the surface. The pressure on him changed as a second, smaller splash nearby indicated that Bonabelle had jumped too, and he grinned underwater as he pushed himself back to the freezing night air that promised little respite. He gasped when he could, his lungs burning and straining as his body chilled more and more thoroughly, and he glanced around to make sure that Bonabelle was safe. His parents and Ema were standing on the edge of the water and he could hear laughter. When Bonabelle emerged, her eyes were so huge and round that he couldn’t help laughing too, and he extended an arm to help them both get back to the shore themselves.

The water at the end of the dock was only eight or ten feet deep, but it was certainly deep enough to make it cold even on a summer day and tonight was no summer day. Bonabelle shivered and chattered loudly beside him as they swam back to where they could reach the bottom and then ran as much as they could back to the dry ground, but Killian noticed a look of fierce pride in her eyes too. This was a big moment for her and he was glad he’d roped her into it.

When they did reach the shore, Bonabelle darted swiftly to her grandparents who waited with wands out to perform a drying charm before wrapping her in a heated towel and loving hugs. They doted on their granddaughter, something that made Killian want to scream and grin every time he saw it so blatantly, and they were thrilled she was here with them, even if the circumstances were less than ideal.

Killian himself had a drying charm and warm towel and loving hug waiting for him in Ema’s arms and he made his way to her quickly, shoving his feet into his shoes as he went. Grinning at her and feeling very much like all the reasons he wanted to scream a moment before were, for the first time, not just locked safely away behind his heart somewhere, but put gently to rest, he waited until he was definitely not going to get her soaked and then kissed her firmly.

“Happy new year, love,” he said, putting his forehead against hers and watching the fireworks that always seemed to be in her eyes. Soon, he wouldn’t get to see that. She’d be off again and he’d be at Sonora and the whole world would be too big and too small all at once. He took a breath and kissed her forehead, shivering slightly for many reasons that weren’t the night air. “New idea,” he said, starting the way most of their we should stay in bed all day and we should make out and adventure and not do anything else ever conversations started too. “What if I keep you. How was your research on pocket-sizing humans going?” he asked with a laugh. Then, shaking his head, he kissed her forehead again. “I could marry you, love,” he said with a laugh. “Wake up and run away to Dublin. A few pieces of paper later and we get to keep each other, pocket-sized or not!” He sighed happily at the thought, although he wasn’t entirely sure if he was joking or not. “I look very handsome in a suit,” he added seriously, despite the playful smirk that still tugged at his lips.

22 Killian Row Happily New Year After [Ema] 1450 1 5

Ema Skies

January 09, 2021 9:31 PM

With love, hugs and kisses by Ema Skies

There was an old superstition, Ema couldn’t remember from where, that said the first words you said on New Year’s Day would determine the rest of your year.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take the plunge,” had been Killian’s, whilst stripping off his clothes.

“No, you’re mad,” had been hers. Remembering the superstition as he ran towards the lake, she had added, “But I love you.” It would have been too quiet for his retreating form to hear, but if any Fates were listening she hoped that would mitigate any potential damages. After spending several days with Killian, she thought ‘You’re mad but I love you’ was a pretty accurate summary, even if she hadn’t quite yet found the courage to say the second half at a volume he would hear. ‘You’re mad but I love you’ was something she thought she could happily live with for a very long time. She had a new year’s resolution to that effect, that she was very much looking forward to telling him, once he’d finished hurling himself into a freezing lake.

She almost felt the regret of missing out, as he and Bonabelle jumped in. It helped that she wasn’t the only one on the sidelines though. It was probably for the best too - however many warming charms and layers she had on, even the air here stung, let alone the water, and she was having to jump up and down to keep warm. Besides which, she had some very nice underwear for New Year, and showing it to Killian’s parents and dunking it in a lake were not things she’d had in mind when purchasing it.

Soon enough, they both emerged from the water, and her eyes flicked over Bonabelle, sure that her grandparents would look after her but wanting to be sure she was okay, before her attention turned to her own charge.

“You are the complete brave manly man,” she assured him, wrapping him in a towel and casting as many drying and warming charms as she could, “And please don’t touch me,” she laughed, blowing hot hair through his hair with her wand.

“Happy New Year,” she smiled, putting her arms around him once he was dry enough, deciding that between his parents being preoccupied with Bonabelle and it being New Year, she was entitled to smooch him a little more thoroughly than she might normally have done in front of them.

He began one of the ‘new idea’ conversations, which always involved something that sounded nice but was obviously utterly impractical.

“Sure,” she deadpanned in response, “We’ll just take a little day trip sometime. Now, can we please get you indoors by the fire before you catch hypothermia?”

13 Ema Skies With love, hugs and kisses 0 Ema Skies 0 5

Killian Row

January 09, 2021 9:33 PM

Yours, Killian. by Killian Row

It was not unusual to suddenly be all sorts of warm with Ema, but it was more literal when she dried him off. "Thank you," he laughed at the compliment. "I hope you know I didn't jump in to impress you. I'm exactly that reckless all on my own," he grinned. Then she kissed him and it was perfect. "Happy New Year, love," he returned. "You're a very good kisser by the way."

He gave a playful pout when she suggested they go inside, although it didn't sit totally well with him to do so and he wasn't sure why. He pouted often enough and playfully enough that he was pretty sure she didn't take it too seriously, but there was always the risk of pressuring by mistake and that's not what he intended.

"Ouch, rejected for the holiday," he laughed. "I have a two-week pack now, mind you." He wasn't sure what he was thinking, because he knew logically that he wasn't proposing. That he was being silly. Right? But the idea of this moment lasting to the next day and the day after that and the day after that… of packing up to the big city and holding onto her hand every moment he could… it was irresistible. "Fine, you can wear the suit. I probably look fine in a dress."

He snuggled up against her, rubbing his scratchy face on her and diving in to kiss her neck again, albeit more swiftly and politely than he'd done before. Through the towel, he wrapped his arms around her. "I won't catch hypothermia," he promised with a mischievous smile. "You keep me just perfectly warm enough. You might though… so I guess we can go inside."

22 Killian Row Yours, Killian. 1450 0 5

Ema Skies

January 09, 2021 10:03 PM

I hope you mean that by Ema Skies

“When I’m with you,” Ema smiled, very pleased to be called a good kisser but definitely feeling that it had a lot to do with the person she was kissing. It was a little like dancing - she felt that she didn’t really know what to do on our own, and if she was paired with someone who had two left feet, she would fall into following them, just as badly. There were also people who were too good, but went too fast, not giving her a chance to keep up with them. And right now, there was Killian, who clearly knew what he was doing and what he wanted, but took her along with him, making sure she didn’t miss her step and end up lost and confused. “You’re very kissable, and you make it easy,” she added, wanting to make it about him, rather than about him compared to other people. She leant in again, demonstrating that point.

“How is ‘yeah sure’ a rejection?” she asked him. Okay she hadn’t meant it, obviously, but nor had he. The usual rules of the game were that they kept back-and-forthing with ridiculous suggestions and equally ridiculous comments. I’m sure no one would mind if we declared this bedroom our house. I’m sure it’ll be fine if we both just quit our jobs… “Nor do I doubt your extreme handsomeness in a suit,” she assured him.

“What’s wrong with inside?” she asked as he pouted. “Wrapped up in the same blanket, next to the fire…” She slid her hands under his towel, although this still didn’t involve skin to skin contact, “Fewer mittens,” she added to her list of benefits.

13 Ema Skies I hope you mean that 0 Ema Skies 0 5

Killian Row

January 09, 2021 10:05 PM

I do. by Killian Row

Somehow, making jokes about kissing other people or being easy both seemed inappropriate so Killian put both thoughts aside. "I'm glad you think I'm kissable," he said instead. He glanced towards his parents, looking for any sign that they needed to stop, but didn't see one yet.

"Oh, well, if it wasn't a rejection then I'll get packed!" he replied. "Probably don't have time to get my suit pressed but a few quick charms should do the trick," he mused. "Probably best we wait until morning though, bit hard to find a minister this time of night."

Ema snuggled into him and it was hard to think of much else. He never thought he'd be the person who's favorite things included snuggles, but perhaps that was because his favorite thing was Ema. "Inside," he pointed out, shivering at a tingle that ran up his spine as Ema's fingers drew nearer to him. "Doesn't have the show."

Killian nodded at his parents as they led Bonabelle to a hill peak a short distance away, giving him and Ema some privacy. He turned slightly so he and Ema were beside each other and pointed to another hill. "We don't even need tickets for this one," he smiled, leading them together to the crest, where Dublin's annual New Year's Eve fireworks show was visible. The muggle one was small from here, as Dublin was close but not that close, but wizards and witches had taken to the rural areas outside of town and launched their own display, closer to the Rows' home and magically hidden from curious muggle eyes.

Eruptions of every colored flowered across the sky, welcoming the new year in exactly the same way the butterflies in Killian's stomach were. Some displays burst into shapes and figures or words, others into more traditional shapes. Some moved, such as a curling dragon that zipped through the sky with a convincing roar. Killian glanced over his shoulder to find Bonabelle watching the show, transfixed, and his parents taking the distraction as an opportunity to sneak their own kisses in. "We could go inside," he said, looking back to Ema and pulling her close in an effort to keep her warm. "but I would hate to miss this."

22 Killian Row I do. 1450 0 5

Ema Skies

January 10, 2021 7:23 AM

I'm seeing a theme by Ema Skies

“Good job someone got you a bag for Christmas,” she smiled, glad he was back to his usual silly self.

She followed Killian up the hill. She had been dimly aware of the fireworks, and fireworks were great and all, but she had seen them before, and Killian not dying seemed like a bigger priority. To her, at least. Killian seemed to refuse to think so, or not be too concerned. She guessed he’d been dunking himself in a lake and then sitting on a freezing hillside immediately afterwards for many years now, so perhaps he knew well enough. As she reached the top of the hill, she could see why. What she had thought were dim in distant fireworks, that would burst in the sky just as clearly if they were looking from the window, suddenly seemed to be a whole panorama.

“Oh,” she conceded, her eyes drinking in the view.

She conjured a couple of extra blankets, lining them with more warming charms, and wrapping them both up, so they were cocooned against each other. She huddled closer, not sure whether she was offering body heat or trying to steal it. Given that, under the blankets, he was still naked except for his trunks and shoes, whilst she had more layers than a sad high school poem, it definitely should have been the former. Having added a blanket and a no-longer-soggy (but definitely still quite ridiculous) Irishman to her layers, she was just about warm enough. And, she had to admit, this was better than the fire. The elements of that that she had wanted had been wrapping up together and not being in immediate sight of his parents. And him not catching hypothermia. It felt like she was getting what she wanted, although she would have liked to have her hands unmittened.

“They are lovely...” she muttered absently, watching the fireworks for a moment or two, before her gaze gravitated back towards Killian. She nuzzled a cheek against him, rubbing her cold nose into his, enjoying the one place where her skin could meet his. “But so are you,” she added, to account for the way her eyes kept leaving to display to look at him instead.

“Any New Year’s resolutions?” she asked.

13 Ema Skies I'm seeing a theme 0 Ema Skies 0 5

Killian Row

January 10, 2021 10:35 PM

Is that a 'yes'? by Killian Row

With blankets and a cocoon, Killian wrapped his arms around Ema, doing his best to share body heat for both their benefits. He felt very warm all over, even if there was something niggling in the back of his mind that he couldn’t quite place. Most niggles were best left unexamined, he had learned, or else examined fiercely under a microscope in the privacy of one’s own mind and office. Now was not the moment and he didn’t have a microscope handy anyway, so he pushed the thoughts aside and just held on to Ema.

She seemed as entranced by the display as she was by his face - something he might normally joke about but found that he couldn’t quite say he was handsomer than other parts of the environment just then - and he found himself as drawn to her as she seemed to be to him. He wondered a bit at what she was seeing; this was home for him, and just another show for her. The way the fireworks reflected off Ema’s eyes, and the way she looked at him . . . well, he was finding himself less and less interested in the fireworks as well. He smiled at her, unable to help himself, as he turned to her compliment. “I was going to say the same of you, love,” he murmured, kissing her forehead and pulling her closer still (or maybe just squishing her? They were already very close).

“I probably should make one,” he laughed, “it’s a thing we talk about in some of the first classes of the year with me. But . . . I dunno. To be the best boyfriend I can be?” he asked, raising an eyebrow to see how he was doing. He thought a bit more seriously for a moment, wondering if he really had a resolution. Jean-Loup’s voice cropped up in his mind, urging him to run more or something, but he told Jean-Loup exactly what he thought of that idea and focused on Ema. “To appreciate every little moment a little bit more,” he said, his voice turning a little sad despite his efforts to keep it from doing just that. “Moments like this are too good to not appreciate,” he added more happily, giving her another warm squeeze and pressing his cheek against her forehead.

22 Killian Row Is that a 'yes'? 1450 0 5

Ema Skies

January 11, 2021 8:26 PM

A promise for the future by Ema Skies

“I thought New Year’s resolutions were supposed to be things you’re not already good at,” Ema smiled at him, “Though I’m definitely not going to try too hard to dissuade you from that,” she added.

She also thought Killian didn’t have much problem with living in the moment. It was odd, for someone who dedicated their whole life to planning other people’s, she wasn’t sure she would have said that his own was well thought out. She wondered how much he was the type to think a lot about the future. Not that she thought he didn’t want one with her, he’d made it clear that he did, but how much he projected and tried to predict what might be coming down the line rather than just putting one foot in front of the other and seeing where they ended up. Case in point, he was back to being ‘boyfriend.’ She decided not to tease him and say she’d thought he was her fiance, at least until morning. That joke was going to stop being funny at some point pretty soon. She tried to do what Killian had suggested, and focus on the moment here and now, not start thinking about whether he might say that for real one day. She didn’t know how that worked with the whole poly thing, but now was obviously not the time to bring up a discussion about compatible long term relationship goals. Now was a moment to enjoy.

“I guess I can’t criticize. Mine’s more a goal than an improvement too… It’s to be here, in this exact same spot, this time next year, and to be at least as happy.”

13 Ema Skies A promise for the future 0 Ema Skies 0 5