Cameron's Inside Thoughts

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Cameron's Inner Thoughts

[Deleted]

The Home of Cameron Clarke

Tucked away in a mid-class neighborhood outside of London, the home of Ingo & Sarah Clarke is well hidden by a long drive between two homes, the house itself behind their neighbors and muggle repelled/untracable charmed so they don't realize it's there nor the driveway important. Considered a retreat from the chaos of life, both adults consider the house a reflection on their love and an expression of how they view their family. With their daughter (who has just moved out and married) tucked in the middle of the house firmly protected and their son outside and exposed to the elements representing their future, they spent a lot of time on the house with long thinking involved.

From a long ago honeymoon in Greece and around the Mediterranean sea, they fell in love with the open flowing houses, the easy access to the outdoors, and the absence of wood in the construction. They wanted to show the solid stone roots of the family legacy and how unshakable and yet powerful it would be. Thus from the outside to the inside it screams quality, not quantity, without the gold and gaudy decoration found in many of their social peers places. The true value, they believed, is in the architecture, not in the possessions.

Not a home to show off with the social elite, few receive a dinner invitation here nor is there a ball room. People invited into the bosom of this family are stunned by the beauty and they felt should understand how rare a gift it was that they were given a window into the Clarke family lives. And rather then sit on a big pile of cash and collect it, the poured a good chunk of their money and time into it and it shows in the careful collection of rooms. Thus the living room is warm and impressive, but at the same time very cozy and close.

The closest the home gets to being informal is the family room, tucked on the backside of the home with the main access to the back pool. Family activities beyond the norm such as games, a review of grades or Sarah's tutoring of her children happens in here. A closet around the corner leading out contains the towels for those coming in from the pool as well as sunscreens and shaded hats. It should be noted the majority of windows in the house are enchanted to show scenes from different parts of the Mediterranean, not the London skyline on purpose. This is a retreat from the real world, not a reflection on their daily lives outside it.

Hidden away under the stairs behind a statue, a concealed door leads to their daughter Veronica's room in what would be the 'womb' of the house (Ingo hates it when his wife says that, but after so many years he doesn't try to shush her anymore). Protected for the future, she only moved out of it this year to marry her contracted husband and with a child nearly here it's not likely she will use it much in the future except on visits. Still Sarah keeps it ready, it's elegance very Italian, filled with many memories of her daughter in happy times. Sarah often comes here when she missed Veronica...

If the rest of the house is supposed to tell a story, the stairs is one of the more expressive parts. The backbone of the house, it shows off elegance and impresses on those who do get an invite they are entering hallowed ground. The central space is where the most of the decorating happens in the house from Christmas trees to holiday decor. behind it the opening which hides their daughter's room also has two side doors which lead to a WC on one side and a decent sized bathroom on the other both wizarding enlarged spaces to hide the missing architecture under the stairs. This is the emergency gathering spot for family as well, the concealed door only showing for those of the blood or by marriage.

Besides the bedrooms, the most used rooms in the house are located immediately to either side of the second floor landing. The dining room reflects old traditional values, with a wood floor from Moroccan wood and pictures of some events in the Clarke family old past. Few if any items here are not related to the family past and a small door near the windows gives access to a short hall to the kitchen, the walls of the hall lined with the family china and silver on display.

The kitchen shows that even though the family is pureblood, they are not mental. The workings of the house are here represented as both muggle and wizarding kind in equal measure a very open and flowing space (the ceiling fills into one of the towers on the roof and also serves as their owl coop and entrance with a 'floating' floor under the roost itself) feels very welcoming. This is the most active spot in the home, a house elf (free but wears a little maid's outfit usually) named Zu-Zu and a human cook named Bartelby their only staff. Bartelby is a minor wizard who never finished his schooling, but he's quite happy between doing gardening and cooking for the family's needs.

Except for the first floor, the bathrooms in the home are meant to be for everyone on the floor as an expression of trust and acceptance. Each is open with foll bath and shower, wc (tucked off in a small space to the side and well aired), and linen closet as well as a his and hers mirrored dresser spot for final touches and preparation. The floors of the bath and shower as well as the main space are heated stone by magic so barefoot is quite acceptable and comfortable in them. Bathroom locations are two on second floor behind/beside the dining and kitchen rooms and one outside at the back pool area.

The Master suite is one long room of good expanse behind the kitchen side of the second floor. With a wizard expanded wardrobe, this space is generally off limits to the kids, though their parents have let that rule lax during some of the worst storms when the children were very small. No guest would ever be allowed here so the door is kept locked to prevent an invasion of privacy. Since the lock is hidden in the wall instead of the door it is easy to understand why magic does not help much in getting it to open. After all if one can not find the lock, no spell will undo a sliding bar which is hidden away and worked by muggle mechanics!

A short stair up from the back of the Dining room leads into the only occupied tower top. Very North African in style, it has three window 'nooks' allowing for excellent air flow and the sounds of the world through at night for those who wish it. Although few people have visited, the grandfather of Ingo has stayed here many times when visiting his great-grand children as well as both Ingo & Sarah's parents. Guest space has been, therefore, never restricted form the children growing up and when no guests have been in residence both Veronica & Cameron used this as a play space on rainy weather days.

With the two towers are more on the front side of the house, the back side does have two chimney tops from the downstairs. The back family room can be seen on the right allowing access to the pool area with it's stone central island. To the left one can also see the bathroom with a separate door leading to a changing room. During good and bad weather this back terrace area has been very popular with the family throughout their residence and shows their connection to the outdoors and fresh air especially. The large windowed area not described elsewhere is a hall with a number of portraits and art collection of Ingo's, as well as a number of wine racks not accessible by the children and marked off with an age line set at age 25. Neither of his children have ever seen the inside.

The pool is surrounded by a boundary wall mostly for decoration and a small walkway. On the other side under an Italian gazebo is a sitting spot for private meetings and such. To the side of it tucked well out of sight is a small staircase going down the backside of the house to the lowest level. Since the house sits on a slight hill, this bottom area is fitted around the foundations of the upper house. This area used to be the guest area until at age nine Cameron convinced his parents to let him switch out with it. With some supervision in the early years, it had worked out better for everyone and his parents like the symbolism of it all.

Coming down the steps, one passes underneath a greenhouse roof with three inch glass on the top fastened and secured from underneath. With enough architecture charms on it to spread out weight bearing and reinforce the glass against breaking, it turns the otherwise very exposed lower level into more of a greenhouse temperatured area. It is open on one side to the back but this is hidden by the untracable spells and thus hidden from any view and access except from inside the courtyard below. Hence the down below feels completely exposed and open while being actually protected from the elements and outsiders at the same time.

The bedroom of Cameron Clarke comprises three main features. First, a water wall with a shallow pool (which is wonderful sounding in the enclosed space). In the pool (few inches deep only) are three benches of stone, each with cushioning charms in their tops. The second is a whole wall of glassed in closets holding nearly every single thing he owns in extendable racks and drawers which can slide out when opened. The third area is the bed itself hung on chains from the ceiling in a halfway covered area. It often rocks him to sleep by the very motion of him getting in it.

The bed area is the only place where his art can be found actually, besides one closet rack with some pile of sketch books. There are five here, all clearly rough early work and hung on hooks mostly because they are his, not because the work is so amazing. Entitled Suffering, Valentine's, Hooknose, Cyber, and Need for Contact with a small tag under each. They show a varying degree of skill, but are all mostly illustrated drawings rather then fully paint or pencil.The last is most prominently placed showing his own satisfaction with it.

LEYSHELL NICOLE CONNER

[Deleted]

From the early days, Cameron had known about Leyshell. As stories circulated about her or he ran across her in short brief crossings in the dorm and halls, his instincts had told him she had an edge. His instincts had been good and although he had not spent time with her beyond a few words in passing in the dorm usually about dorm stuff, they had never spoken much. But over time his impression had grown of her being a very different type and dangerous. So when he had been approached by her today he had been quite surprised, and maybe a bit wary that she had picked him out of a muggle street. In fact when he thought back about it later it seemed suspicious to him too.

During their time inside however he had seen a very different side then in school, a young woman who had been playful and fun as well as challenging. She was a puzzle to figure out for sure, but one he now found himself thinking would be an intriguing one to try. Of course testosterone told him what he wanted in addition to that but he was well used to ignoring that part in favor of long term advantages. While he was raised on manners, he knew that was a means to an end and if the end was sexual gratification then he would certainly be interested! She hadn't, however, come across to him as one willing to be bedded so he had not pushed himself to his most.

The logical side of him said she was more puzzle still to figure out before he risked himself that way.

Just because he preferred times with bear skin did not mean he liked being vulnerable. When you slept with someone you were exposing more then just your body, you expressed your soul and that was a time when dreadful hurts could be delivered, ones that would be hard to recover from. He didn't expose himself that way at random, no non-thinking guy this one. So now back home from a very interesting adventure he sat on his bed and thought. The night moon cast a pale glow across his courtyard and reflected like stars in the water fall which continued to produce a noise almost like a white noise generator meaning he knew he was quietly unobservable, sound or sight really.

Nature soothed his mind with sound and light as he sat on the edge of the bed, rocking it back and forth gently, enjoying the feel of solitude with his own thoughts. If one had been standing on the stairs looking his way it would have looked like one of his paintings was reaching out to touch his back, trying to get through to him. it's nature was much like his thoughts right now, a female with thorns wanting to touch him. All sorts of subtle notes there, from a slight bubble to the look in her eyes and blurred form spoke to him deeply, his favorite piece so far.

As did puzzles. Leyshell was not a typical young lady and he liked that. She also clearly spoke threat, something he didn't care for, but the more she liked him wouldn't the reverse also be true of protection? Not necessarily with this one, more like a possessiveness with snarls & attempts to control. With that in mind, he frowned and lay back on the slowly rocking bed like a ship on a gentle ocean and looked forward to their next meeting, not knowing it would be much sooner then he expected...

[Deleted]

The break through, oddly enough, happened in bed.

Duncan was curled up against his hip where he lay reading, the cat with his eyes closed and purring contentedly as Cameron read through the book, studying the oddities of Divination with one hand resting on his side. For some reason Duncan just liked lying on people, though Cameron was his favorite. His sister was his second favorite, but since she had moved out and married Duncan had clearly missed her and wouldn't let him sit anywhere without demanding space. He didn't mind as Duncan had done enough for him when he was wheelchair bound, lifting his spirits many times on those frustrating and depressing times. As he read, he often used his wand to summon things from his closet for testing out each theory.

Most were not turning up much in the way of successes.

The fingernails might have been the worst. he had drawn a rough picture of his thumb marks and the shape as instructed, but whoa, according to the table in the book, he was a older woman with a distinct case of couches and typewriters to mend. Shaking his head, which caused Duncan to open his eyes only a slit for a moment before falling back into slumberland, he turned to the next divination and read on. Dice dice, he had some somewhere from an old game board, didn't he? Lifting his wand again, he motioned at the closets and the fourth door opened up and then he tried another accio.

Being seventeen meant he could do magic all he wanted and like most teens turned legal, he was overdoing the use of the wand which was, admittedly, good practice. A set of six red dice hit him on the chest softly as he out the wand down again and looked back at the book carefully following the idea. He didn't notice that the dice felt cold to the touch like water chilled, nor that that feeling spread up his arm. it was the same feeling he got from using his wand actually, from the first moment the wand maker had made him wave it so he didn't catch the feeling difference for a moment. As it clicked in his mind he wasn't holding his wand he lifted his hand and looked at it, puzzled, then rolled the dice.

The coolness went away instantly, but he had the distinct impression it was in the dice now, the way they rolled across the book page and stopped. He didn't notice the cat's eyes completely open now watching with interest as he looked at the numbers and the placements of where they had fallen. "Let's see, that's west...it's turned diamond sides I think, It's a six on top with the five pointed towards me..." His eyebrows went up as he found it easy to find the right notations and recognize the clues till he reached the conclusion. Raising his eyebrows he stared at the dice suddenly, very confused. "But...they hadn't said a thing about--" He frowned, read a bit more moving two dice aside and then unconsciously picking them all up as he read cause they felt very right in his hand.

This time he closed his eyes, breathed in slowly, then out, and then rolled.

Again the sensation was nearly visible to him, the energy following the dice and he looked up this answer with much more speed, things falling into place as he did so. Again when he finished, he leaned back slightly (the cat suddenly stood to balance and then jumped off behind him seemingly aware he was about to get up) frowning, wondering what was up with that. Scooping the dice up, he put a bookmark in the books and slid off the bed with it. He started across the pool and then stopped, turning back and putting the book down long enough to pull on shorts and underwear before he picked it back up and continued, running up the steps easily and lightly. As the cat turned around three times where he had been sitting and nestled down a faint "MOM?!" could be heard off in the distance approaching the house.

Duncan began to purr again in the warm spot.

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Cameron's eyes opened as the sun slowly cross his face and he glared at the curtain. It was an afternoon free of his parents and he had rather enjoyed it, he wasn't going to let the stupid sun ruin an otherwise perfectly delightful sleep. Releasing the young lady currently curled up in front of him with just on hand to reach past her, pick up her wand which was closest (he didn't care for the way it felt) and awkwardly close the curtain with it before setting it back down. Leslie pushed more into him as he moved and he kissed her back shoulder, running his hand back under the covers from her thigh up to her chest which got a sleepy smile out of her.

Leslie's parents had sent her to Durmstrang and she missed Englishmen, thus it had not been hard two years ago to strike up a conversation one summer (they lived two blocks apart) and then once he played his violin for her she had started getting interested in something more by the end of the summer. A few letters had been enough to keep her from forgetting him and that Christmas he had struck another strong note with a special stuffed unicorn and from there it had been easy. She dealt with strong guys at school all the time and had little experience with a more subtle, non-controlling guy who had figured out what a lady liked to experience.

After unwrapping the unicorn, letting her try his own horn had been simplicity.

Right now he enjoyed being close, feeling the heat from her as well as her softness. Tomorrow he had to go to the train station and he wasn't looking forward to it because he saw big complications coming up in his near future. Leyshell, who he found very intriguing and more then a bit scary was threatening to cut off his ability to pull these deceptions on others. This was maybe one of his more physical manipulations, but it still was part of his business, his plans she was messing with. People like Leslie would later be one of his more loyal followers because she would think she had known the real him early in his life. And while this might not last long it would be important he end it on a high note for sure.

Her short sightedness was going to be a real pain he could tell, which was a shame because he liked her in his own way. She was more bold and direct then most girls, not to mention dangerous, and yet he knew there had to be some doubt, some weakness there which she had covered up extremely well. A little glimpse would have gone a long way to showing him she was human, that she did have more then one side, but he doubted she was a type who would show it either. Cameron knew his weaknesses and knew his limits. Knowing what one could reasonably pull off was important to any good trick and plot. If they were to be married he needed to know hers as she knew his and that part bothered him.

They didn't have enough trust in them to share things like that yet. If ever.

He ran a hand across her skin, feeling Leslie's lotion-softened skin with great desire for a repeat performance of their high energy burning exercise! There was something about soft skin which really got him going, turning his mind in a special way. Leslie was a real girl, unaware she was even drawing him in like she was; Leyshell had much to learn about this kind of seduction he figured from what he had seen which was limited. His hand slipped up her back as he placed a kiss on her skin causing a soft sigh of pleasure from her as his fingers slid around the back of her neck, feeling the very real power she gave him through trust. Who cared about controlling others in large numbers when one could get someone to voluntarily give you all you wanted on this level?

Real power was there to be had if one was careful and did it slowly, creating a long term hold on someone they would feel guilty about not responding to. So why oh why when this girl would let him spread her out in her own bed, let him in on her deepest secrets was he thinking about the woman his parents had contracted him to? As he slid his hands into her hair (well okay one hand, the other wasn't going to give up caressing the very tender part he liked so much and she was enjoying) and she stirred slightly, her mouth opening in unconscious pleasure he was frowning thinking about his future wife. She had promised to stay out of his business and let him have his way in his things, but then she had also told him not to dare push her buttons by continuing his pleasure.

The scowl told the story. It was like having a partner assigned to you for some project and not knowing if they would pull their own weight or even compare notes of where you were both heading. Was it any wonder she pushed him to coming straight here to indulge in what he enjoyed doing and was good at? As he came to a natural move in this, his hand slipped around to catch her chin and turn her head towards him and he kissed her, lightly at first, then with a sudden passion. Leslie opened up like a flower, turning in his arms to run her hands over his bare chest as she responded eagerly to his lips and unconscious direction. Would Leyshell ever let him woo her this way, bring out her deepest desires and needs? The human body had some very surprising ones hidden away...

Her lips broke from his to let out a gasp at his fingertips and he grinned, moving his lips downward to drive her to distraction and let him do what he really wanted...

LEYSHELL NICOLE CONNER

[Deleted]

The courtyard looked a bit different then normal. On two of the stone benches were manuals laid out to pages with lots of bookmarks and a weight on each to keep them open. At the same time, Cameron stood wearing nothing in the water from the fountain checking out a description in the back of another book. In all the descriptions they spoke about how the animal you became was based on who you were, from habits to personality would all have some sort of influence. A couple of descriptions in there also spoke about the importance of a clear head with no distractions the first time it was done.

He had been working on and off on the transformation spell for most of the summer, at least till he discovered the affinity for dice. And last week he had gone to one of the muggle hobby stores where he was assured there would be a great variety of dice. And while the book explained about six sided dice the ones which had nearly felt like they jumped into his hand was a very elaborate and unusual set of dice the clerk had described as steampunk. Why a punk used steam he had no idea, nor did he have much interest in finding out why. They simply looked and felt good to him and although the book didn't cover all the details of the new facings, he had a feeling he would figure them out over the year.

No, becoming an animagus was rather cool, but he hadn't rushed it either. And to be honest now that he was without the trace anymore, he could be damn well unregistered if he could manage it. He would only be in trouble if they figured out an animal was one and could force him back. He hoped to be way ahead of them on that by achieving a particular bird he thought was very close to him. Of course, the books said it didn't work that way, but he could hope. Hope was free. And as well, not everyone could manage the spell; while not as rare as metamorphs, animagus weren't exactly in huge numbers. Unless quite a few were going unregistered which was entirely possible.

It wasn't like anyone had invented a spell yet that could detect them! Walking back and forth a few times he practices the spell, words he had said a thousand times, carefully arranged thoughts in the right way, then silently redoing the fiendishly complex wand movements for a first transfiguration. According to what he had read the first time basically opened a door in you to the magic, allowed the ability to come to fruition, not so much the actual transformation of oneself. It was one of the reasons the magic was so hard to do, a two layered process in a way and one he had been practicing an awful lot these days.

The nudity was just him. He liked the feel of sunshine on flesh so why not get it all covered?

Cameron tried the spell for real six times this next hour each time adding a layer of perspiration to his form which turned to sweat over the hour. He could tell he was SO close, so near to touching the right spot and it was frustratingly close! There was the tiniest of barriers to his touch as if physically somehow he could break through by punching, or using his fingernails somehow. Stopping after the last attempt, he placed one hand above him on the fountain and felt the cold water run down his arm and thus the rest of his form on one side, cooling him down quickly. Switching his wand from hand to hand he did the other arm as well, his book already being over on another bench with the attempts having begun. The coolness brought down his frustration with it, helped him center himself more as he relaxed muscles he hadn't realized were bound up tight.

Shaking himself off slightly as he stepped away in the small pool he tried once more and then went to pick up a towel, giving up for the moment and going back to reading.

[Deleted]

Giving Leyshell the ring earlier then expected was a calculated risk really. He had already assumed it would make her think of art, permanence, and influence. However he would also be rather pleased if it led to trust, curiosity, and acceptance of where they were being steered it seemed. If it led to a bedroom faster, that was also more then acceptable. She had the body he rather liked, a certain lust for life he found desirable, and certainly a darker streak then the average. He didn't need to be married to a typical Slytherin Princess, those girls who were all manipulation and hidden secrets. Despite being a manipulator himself, he believed his own brand to be very different and hard to detect.

He had not been lying to Leyshell when he said damaging her would damage their partnership.

The girl was dangerous, highly so, and seemed to have a talent for unnerving others from what he had heard. Let her be the distraction between them, the one others hid behind him from. In fact, he suspected that once word spread those that could not deal with her or had issues would approach him or give signs they were wary around him. He already had plans for keeping a runny tally list to share and discuss with her as there could be some good candidates for his own brand of clever, long term plans. And in a way, the ring was one of those...plans, though it was off the hoof instead of his normal planning.

Always he had known the day would come when some girl would be contracted to him and he would need to gain control of the situation in some form, some way. Not so much to dominate, mind you, as to be able to point the other in the directions that would benefit the most depending on her personality. While Cameron had never trusted in others to make the right choices, he always thought a little guidance went a long way. Leyshell and he were both individuals and going it seemed in different directions for the time being. So the first step was to show her that as a couple or team they were stronger then separate, to build a trust with her.

Then he would consider where her skills would serve her best and if that would coincide with some of his own thoughts on the future.

Speaking of which, he needed to find out what sorts of fighting techniques she wanted to study more of. He had an idea that if he cross referenced places she was interested in and fairly well know black market wizarding areas he could narrow down their honeymoon to something they could both enjoy. If it was near a beach.

LEYSHELL NICOLE CONNER

[Deleted]

19 May 14, 02:47 PM
Veronica: She stood on the stairs to his room, still dressed in his shirt, she'd headed that way immediately after Omari had left. She needed to talk, now. "I'm coming down whether you're decent or not" she warned a moment before she turned the corner.

19 May 14, 06:38 PM
Cameron: Cameron, siting on the brick floor near the bed and drawing a sketh out with pencils stopped and looked up even though his back was to her. Raising his voice with a smile on his face of mischievousness he said "Do you mean decent minded or decent clothed? Cause one of those is practically impossible you know." He sat there in shorts, nothing else, legs crossed on a pillow as he went back to outlining the image he had in mind.


20 May 14, 12:31 AM
Veronica: "Well I can't very well expect you to be either most of the time" she returned, crossing the room to him, she looked over his shoulder, still standing above him. "What are you working on?"

20 May 14, 12:33 AM
Cameron: Looking up at her he slipped an arm around her legs and gave her a hug, his head leaning on her hip a second. "Still in progress, that's what it is. Don't know if I will finish it yet. What's up?"

20 May 14, 12:35 AM
Veronica: He hugged her legs and then she sat, cross-legged next to him. "His highness stopped by for a visit. Still waiting on mom to realize I was by the pool when he came out."

20 May 14, 12:42 AM
Cameron: He raised an eyebrow at her. "Shirt on or off? How did he react to..." he waved at her current state of clothes.


20 May 14, 12:47 AM
Veronica: "On" she assured him. "I was reading." She straightened her legs and crossed them at the ankles. "He made it clear that I would be expected to dress more...modestly if there were any males in the house who weren't you." She shrugged one shoulder. "He's a bit like a statue really, pretty to look at, but very rigid and a little cold. I get the feeling he's kind of a control freak." She rolled her eyes, "he didn't like that I have a tattoo either."

20 May 14, 12:49 AM
Cameron: He grinned. "Ah, so he wants to be sure you are exclusive. Makes sense in a wife he isn't sure of yet I guess." Nods at the thought he was definitely allowed over then. "Not like he can do anything about it, not the tattoo at least. Once he beds you you'll be all under his sway anyway." winks at her

20 May 14, 01:00 AM
Veronica: Another shrug. "He's pretty hung up on propriety. I've been reading up on Egyptian culture...they're...very different toward women there. At least, some of them are." She snorted. "Probably not, if his prowess is anything like his conversational skills." She gave him a wicked grin, "Short and to the point"

20 May 14, 01:07 AM
Cameron: He frowned setting the pencils aside to look at her. "What you mean? Different? Why would that matter if you live here?" He snorted at her answer, then shook his head. You have no experience so you don't understand. First one is a huge impact, sis, it's going to get ya unless he's terrible at it."


20 May 14, 01:13 AM
Veronica: "He was raised in Egypt, Cam, and like I said he's..." She searched for the word and came up short. "You notice how how his dad is? Omari said there are some things they agree on." She stuck her tongue out at him for the experience comment. "We can't all get our practical experience raiding the halls of Hogwarts" she commented. She wrinkled her nose, "bet he is. No one could possibly be good at sex who has his wand that far up his..." She broke off suddenly as though remembering something. "He did include a craft room and a set of bookshelves in the house plans though" she said softly.

20 May 14, 01:16 AM
Cameron: Now he felt a bit angry. "Hang on wait, are you saying you think he's going to order yu around and keep you locked up? Cause that's the way his dad comes across. Didn't like that bastard one bit." Laughing he shook his head. "Not a girl at least. You are supposed to be all chaste and we're supposed to be all experienced, remember?" Giving her a startled look, he exclaimed "He did what? How-- did you tell him that was part of your demands?""

20 May 14, 01:20 AM
Veronica: "I think its possible" she answered. "He has this...commanding thing about him I don't trust." She nodded agreement. "Me either, but he does love his mom, and his sisters." She smirked, "He's got four." She rolled her eyes, "I am the definition of chaste" but her tone was frustrated when she said it. "All of the guys at Beauxbatons looked like girls." She shook her head. "He asked me what I liked during our first conversation...I guess he listened."

20 May 14, 01:23 AM
Cameron: Now he growled slightly. "d@mn parents." He shook his head. "If he has four sisters he should know better. Didn't they teach him?" A moment of silence before he said in a voice of confusion. "Wait, I thought he also went to that school?" If he had listened, hat else had he picked up, Cam wondered. "Sounds tricky."

20 May 14, 01:26 AM
Veronica: "Here here" she nodded, raising an imaginary glass. She shrugged. "Like I said, things are different there." She laughed "Oh that's right!" She grinned. "I stand by my previous statement." Another nod, this one slower and more bothered as the humor faded. "He's....complex I think."


20 May 14, 01:31 AM
Cameron: "SO his sisters put up with being caged slaves?" He chuckled softly at her words, then glanced away. "I don't think he can be cold and aloof at the same time he is like a girl, sis. Something feels not like him in that combo, it's one or the other." Pushing her arm a touch he said "Ya thik?'

20 May 14, 01:35 AM
Veronica: She thought about that. "I don't think so. He said they work for the family business and have families of their own." Maybe she was rushing to conclusions a bit fast. "Hey!" She nudged him back, "Who's side are you on anyway?" She pouted for a moment before the expression changed. "I just...the not knowing is harder than if I was sure he was an @ss."

20 May 14, 01:38 AM
Cameron: Cam frowned again. "But you said they treat women differently." He grinned at her. "Yours of course! But I really don't think anyone can be both of those." Confusion looked prevalent on his face. "Excuse me? You'd rather know he was an @ss then not know he's good guy? Confusion much sis?"

20 May 14, 01:46 AM
Veronica: "Some of them do, the weird ones. I just don't know if he's a weird one yet." She ran her fingers through her hair. "No, I'm saying I'd rather know he's an @ss than not know what he is at all. The mystery is killing me."

20 May 14, 01:49 AM
Cameron: He listened and then smirked at her. "So? How are you going to find out? Set a verbal trap, tackle him next time to the floor, or try and do something to shove his nose in it?"


20 May 14, 01:52 AM
Veronica: She rolled her eyes. "Considering he's going to be solely responsible for my health and wellbeing in a few weeks, I think tackling him is out." She thought about it a moment. "If a girl wanted to get to you, what would she have to do?"

20 May 14, 01:54 AM
Cameron: Grinning as she refused the first option he rolled his eyes at the second one. "Let me get my hands on her and not stop me from exploring. Simple." She really didn't know that aspect of him well.

20 May 14, 01:58 AM
Veronica: She laughed, making an exaggerated gross out face, but then she shrugged. "That's out too I think. He doesn't seem interested..." Her eyes widened hugely. "Do you think he's gay?"

20 May 14, 02:00 AM
Cameron: Holding up his hand he shook his head at her. "Hang on now, you think too fast. Have you given him any opportunity? TO manhandle I mean. Because I seriously doubt he would resist the lightest at the least of holding your waist or hand or arm. There's no way to tell if he is or isn't till you have given him clear opportunity really. So don't go there yet. Next time, ask him what his favorite partof a woman is and then maybe offer him the chance to look."

20 May 14, 02:03 AM
Veronica: She looked thoughtful. It had never really occurred to her to flirt with her future husband. It might be interesting to see what he would do. "We'll see. Somehow I don't see there being an opening in one of our conversations for that. Mostly all we've talked about is rules and the wedding. Its like talking to mom and dad" She sighed, "he doesn't seem so bad though, could be worse."

20 May 14, 02:10 AM
Cameron: "Well that sounds good, that's he's not bad," he said sarcastically, "but you were just saying not knowing was driving you crazy. So you have to do something, sis. DO I need to like give you a lesson in flirting?

20 May 14, 02:13 AM
Veronica: She made a face at the question. "We're close, Cam, but not that close." She wrinkled her nose at him playfully.

20 May 14, 02:16 AM
[×] Cameron: Throwing his head back he laughed before he looked at her again! "I said flirting, sis, not seducing! Who else would you trust, huh? Name one who would give you more trustworthy information!"


20 May 14, 02:18 AM
Veronica: She grinned when he laughed. She hated to admit it, but he had her. "Okay fact, instruct away Professor."

20 May 14, 02:22 AM
Cameron: Poking the end of her nose he said "Nicest thing you've ever called me! Okay, chief student, first thing you ought to understand is that guys are about sensations. Run your fingers barely touching, even on an arm and you set off the nerves. Offered an arm? Lean on it into him, press your form against him. It's extremely distracting. Now, this outfit you had on was perfect for this. If you had excused yourself, unbuttoned the shirt and tossed it over the chair as you walked to the edge and bent down to dive, a glance back would have guaranteed you a look if he was interested."

20 May 14, 02:25 AM
Veronica: He poked her nose and she wrinkled it at him again. "Is that the same thing as teacher's pet? Because if it is I want a new nickname!" She listened, and it made her curious, but then..."I did drop it some, to show him the tattoo, and the only thing that happened was he was even more of a grouch."

20 May 14, 02:31 AM
Cameron: He rolled his eyes at her. "No no, teacher's pet sounds like I want more from you then in a family way, no thanks." But he nearly rolled again at her next words. "Oh Merlin, Veronica! Give it up! A bared shoulder with a distraction already pre-made on it he didn't know was there? You totally flummoxed. Dropping the shirt entirely is a move which overloads the eyes, a guy who likes girls sort of has to look knowing he might not get such a chance so quickly again! By showing him something he was already going to be annoyed at, he totally missed out on the peek."


20 May 14, 02:37 PM
Veronica: "Gross!" she shook her head in agreement. She let out a short puff of a breath, frustrated with the entire thing. "Sorry! Not like I have any idea how this kind of thing works. That's your area of expertise." She sighed, and laid back on the floor. "Call me when you need a rune translated. I don't speak 'male sex drive'"

20 May 14, 02:39 PM
Cameron: Shaking his head again he threw his hands up in the air. "You want to know if he's gay or not?" He stuck his tongue out at her. "You are the one who wanted help before you lose your mind."


20 May 14, 02:51 PM
Veronica: She laughed when he threw his hands up. She had always found it funny when she frustrated him. "Of course I want to know" she acknowledged. "I just think there has to be a better way than getting him to feel me up." She smiled ruefully at him. "I've probably already lost my mind. Have you tried living with you?" she teased

20 May 14, 02:57 PM
Cameron: He gave her a look. "Who said you were trying, number one, and notice all of my advice was towards getting him to look. Two strikes already, chief student, for not listening." He stood and motioned for her to do the same. "Here, Ms sarcastic! If you are going to critize without having tried the ideas, you have no ground to stand on."

20 May 14, 03:00 PM
Veronica: She grinned, "Okay, fair" she said simply, standing with him as he went. "Actually, I was sitting until just a moment ago." But then she held up her hands. "I'm kidding, I get what you're saying I just...I don't know. He's...intimidating? Hard to read? One of those, maybe both."

20 May 14, 03:05 PM
Cameron: Finally she acknowledge he was correct and she was wrong! "About time." Shaking his head he positioned her hands to either side and stood straight in front of her. "Which is why we're not talking about words or conversation. Listen up. Guys react to stimuli like anyone. Smell and touch and sight are the ones tha work the most. Giving him a chance to see more then what you normal show of te chest and thigh is the big time. Whatever excuse you use, the suddenness of the stimuli is the most important part. DO you understand that?"

20 May 14, 03:12 PM
Veronica: She listened, and she had to admit it made sense. Still, with his views on modesty, she wondered how she'd get away with what Cameron was suggesting without being what Omari would consider inappropriate. Food for though she supposed, since she doubted she would see him again any time soon. "I understand" she said softly. She crossed the room to the far wall where the waterfall fell, and reached out, letting the water run over her fingers.

20 May 14, 03:18 PM
[×] Cameron: Here he was clearly setting her up for something posing her hands and she walks away? "What is up with you? I'm trying to help you, Ronni. What's going on in your head?" He looked a bit irritated at her distraction, but curious too. Was the guy already in her head somehow? Was he that smooth?


20 May 14, 03:20 PM
Veronica: She turned away from the waterfall and looked at him for a long moment. "I don't know Cam I guess I just...I'm having trouble focusing on anything really right now." She looked frustrated with herself. "Its just that in a few weeks everything's going to change and I have no idea what's going to happen and no control over any of it and all of that just....sucks."

20 May 14, 03:23 PM
Cameron: COntrol, ah ha. "Since when have we ever had control except in small ways on those at school? You know the real power has always been their's." Stepping over he put his arms around her andgave her a very tight hug, not letting go. "Unless you try t gain some foothold with him, there won't ever be control and you know this."

20 May 14, 03:29 PM
Veronica: She nodded slowly, leaning into him and sighing deeply. "I just wish...could they have not chosen someone who's just as controlling as they are?" It was completely rhetorical and they both knew it. She almost laughed, but stopped herself, the idea of having any kind of influence over Omari was...impossible. She straightened, turned her head to look at him. "Cam, when they do find yours, do me a favor and don't be an arse okay?" She kissed his cheek, "unless she's crazy, and then I'll do it for you."

20 May 14, 03:33 PM
Cameron: He touched his chest saying "Moi? An @ss? Please, darling one, I think I have far better control over my 'partners' enough to know how to manipulate whatever princess they stick me with."

20 May 14, 03:35 PM
Veronica: She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling now, and the worry had gone from her eyes for the moment. "Merlin help you, and her as well." She laughed as that reminded her. "That's what Omari thought I'd be, some materialistic airheaded priss. I told him I could give it my best shot if he wanted."

20 May 14, 03:39 PM
[×] Cameron: He chuckled. "All right then, come on, lesson 2. Stand in front of me again. This is important, jeeze do I have o do everything in these lessons..."


20 May 14, 03:41 PM
Veronica: She did as he asked, facing him with an amused look on her face. "Of course, you didn't think getting rid of your older sister would be that easy did you." She squared her shoulders and gave him a half smile. "All right, Cassanova, I'm ready."

20 May 14, 03:49 PM
Cameron: Rolling his eyes he knew this was going to throw her off. "Fine. Remember, when you have someone off guard, that's when you see what you need to know." Suddenly he stepped into her close and personal, wraping his arms around her and caressing her @ss without warning, holding her so sh couldn't back away with surprise, his face a half inch from hers wih a look of extreme humor on it.

20 May 14, 03:54 PM
Veronica: Her eyes widened when he came close. He caressed her in a way she could honestly say she'd never expected to experience from her brother, and when she caught the look on his face she rolled her eyes, nudging him in the stomach. "Okay, now that you've made your point and I'm going to need therapy..." But despite her reaction, she looked thoughtful. "I don't even know when I'll see him again" she realized. "Do you think mom would know?"

20 May 14, 04:30 PM
Cameron: He release her and stepped back, suddenly frowning. Maybe it wasn't the guy who was the problem. "HUh, that little a reaction. Now I wonder about you more then him. Sure you have not had some interest in women sis?" He watched her reaction carefully. Even his sster should have reacted more to something like that, not that he had expected her to jump. But any guy or girl suddenly having their personal space invaded were often having a lot more reaction. As she asked about him he looked at her face, wondering what was going on with her and why this guy was causing so much change. "I'm sure if you wrote him ad asked him when he was coming by he'd write back. Not like you need mom for that."

20 May 14, 05:54 PM
Veronica: She caught his look and frowned also. "What?" He spoke and she laughed softly, shaking her head. "Absolutely not" she assured him. "I like men, I promise, I just wish I had more an idea what in Merlin's name was going on. There's a lot at stake here and it seems like the worst time to be learning." She nodded again. "I'll wait until tonight. He literally just left." She saw he was still watching her. "Cam, what?"

20 May 14, 07:33 PM
Cameron: He gave her wise eyes, knowing more about this subject then she knew from very personal experience. "People usually nearly jump when you get into their private space so rapidly and despite the fact we're siblings, you should have. It means there is something either very odd going on in your head right now that you can't focus even on your own body or you would let me do anything to you, and somehow I doubt that." The way he stressed the word said more about it then she wanted to contemplate either he was sure. "I couldn't tell you what I was doing or it would have spoiled the reaction." And then something more clicked and his eyes becae more thoughtful. "Oh. Say, you have already gotten attracted to him maybe?"

20 May 14, 08:52 PM
Veronica: "Honestly I wasn't paying attention" she answered. "I guess I'm too far into my head right now." She gave him an incredulous look. "Of course I'm attracted to him" she answered as if it should be obvious. "Its like having my own personal mystery novel with an exceptionally distracting cover." She shrugged, "I just have no idea what to do about it."

20 May 14, 09:42 PM
Cameron: If she was that into her head, this was much bigger then he thought! "Seriously? you've met him what, two times and the first time was hostile." Then he remembered her reactions when she came back in. "Oh I SEE." Ha, she was more then a little wound up in him! "Okay see, that's a different situation really. Hmm"

20 May 14, 09:44 PM
Veronica: "He...wasn't so bad once we were alone" she answered softly. "He seemed really interested actually. He asked me how I felt about the whole thing. I wasn't expecting that." She arched a brow at him. "What do you see?" He continued and she gave him a frustrated look. "Will you stop talking in partial sentences please."

20 May 14, 09:48 PM
[×] Cameron: Oh yeah, he could see it now. "I didn't realize t could happen so fast so I didn't catch on quicker. You are acting like you are already smitten. He's not as bad or evil as you thought, he's been asking your opinion, making changes for you and that's beginning to change the way you look at him."


20 May 14, 09:51 PM
Veronica: She stiffened. "Didn't realize what could..." She blanched, "smitten?" She rolled her eyes. "Just because I don't think he's as awful as I did when he first walked into the dining room doesn't mean I'm smitten, Cam." She shrugged, "Like I said at dinner, he...could be worse. That's all." It wasn't anymore than that...of course it wasn't.

20 May 14, 09:54 PM
[×] Cameron: He nodded watching her face. "Doesn't mean you aren't either. Think about it, sis. You are confused, not fighting back against him like you always said you would against whoever they picked, ad you even admitted to me it was sweet of him to remember to make changes to the house for you. Plus you just told me he was basically hot."


20 May 14, 09:59 PM
Veronica: "I'm not even sure how to fight really. He's building a house with an entire room in it just for what I want to do. He's talking about teaching me cultural things so I'll be safe when we go to Egypt. Its hard to hate a guy who's being so...accommodating." She smirked, "He is hot, but that doesn't mean he's not an overly rigid control freak. I don't know him. How can I be smitten with a guy I don't know?"

20 May 14, 10:01 PM
[×] Cameron: Nodding he said softer "He's learned how to spin it sounds like. Maybe it's a business skill." He shrugged. "Maybe secretly you have a thing for being manhandled, controlled and you just never knew it could be so thrilling."


20 May 14, 10:06 PM
Veronica: "Probably" she answered. "He's probably been making pitches since he was a kid." And she was, after all, an acquisition of sorts. She popped him in the back of the head. "Cam!" but then she laughed and shrugged. "Wouldn't know, he hasn't touched me yet." She gave him a mischievous look. "But when he does I'll be sure to tell you all about it."

20 May 14, 10:10 PM
Cameron: So, who knew seduction was a business skill? Good to know. "Oh you've already talked about childhood even." He grinned and then ducked some as she softly smacked the back of his head. "Well that's just opportunity. You have to give him that to find out what you want to know."

20 May 14, 10:17 PM
Veronica: "Opportunity" she repeated. "Hmm" She thought about it for a moment, and then her face lit up as though someone had illuminated her from within. "Cameron Clarke you're a genius!" She took him by the arms, kissed his cheek and then darted off and up the stairs out of the room.

20 May 14, 10:19 PM
[×] Cameron: He rubbed his cheek, eyebrows high and watched her run away, curious.