heirtothearcane | Movies and taste testing with rogueinladysclothing

It had been a stressful week. Between pressures to work harder in this new year, talk of engagements, and arguments with his closest friend... Viatorus was exhausted. Emotionally more than physically, but the effect was much the same. He was grateful, then, to have some relief from it all in the form of a movie night. Movies don't require much focus, all a person has to do is sit back and enjoy. Chocolates and wine were an added bonus. The company of a good friend turned it from some sad and sorry sight into a happy escape. Something to take him out of the grim thoughts that had been plaguing him.

He's a little scruffy when he arrives at Amelia's door. His collar is a little crooked from having a jumper pulled over it, and his hair is messy, but he looks incredibly glad to be coming to meet her. The light tune is rapped out on her door and then he folds his hands behind his back and waits.

Tags:

amelia

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From:

rogueinladysclothing

The debate over the past week of how many and what kinds of truffles to bring to their movie night had been intense. Amelia had come and gone from her favorite confectioner's shop so many times that the owner had taken to giving her a sample during each visit just to keep her from debating out loud with herself. In the end, she chose a box of two dozen, half milk and half dark, with various fruits inside of them. Keeping herself from eating them was its own battle.

The knock on the door is a welcome distraction from the book on the Greek gods she's been working her way through (With so many to keep track of, she finds herself taking more notes than reading on many occasions). She answers the door with a smile, her hair down about her shoulders for once. His scruffy appearance is noted, but not commented on. "Viatorus! It's wonderful to see you. Please, come in for a moment while I get ready." She motions for him to follow her inside then quickly sets about brushing her hair. It's gotten surprisingly long in the Nexus, now falling to below her shoulder blades, which makes caring for it much more of an effort when she leaves it down.

From:

heirtothearcane

"Thank you," he says as he steps inside, closing the door behind him carefully. Once inside he slips his hands into his pockets while he waits. That doesn't last long before one lifts to gesture to her, quickly moving to scratch the back of his head after he's spoken. "I've never seen you with your hair down before. It's nice. Lovely. Nice. Not that... It's nice when it's up, too, but... Down is... different."

Alright. He's done making a fool of himself for now.

From:

rogueinladysclothing

"Oh, uh, thank you." Her cheeks turn a rosy hue, but she smiles nonetheless. Had she been expecting him, her hair would have been up and she ready to go the moment he arrived. This whole not having a phone thing does make things difficult sometimes.

It only takes her another minute before her hair is brushed enough to allow it to be put up again. With practiced fingers she braids her hair into two separate plaits then pins them up in her usual style. There's a subtle change in her stance once the hair pin is on her person again. Whereas she had been slightly tense when the hair pin was on her desk, everything about her seems more relaxed now. There's a softening of her shoulders, as if she let out a breath she'd been holding for too long. If there was ever a question of her attachment to the object, there certainly shouldn't be one now.

After her hair is taken care of, she sets about gathering the chocolates before pulling her cloak on over her usual style of clothes. They're a lighter cotton-blend today, given the promise of being inside for most of the evening. Hell, the cloak may even be unnecessary, but she sees no reason not to grab it just in case. "I'm all set," she says with a smile.

From:

heirtothearcane

While she readies herself, Viatorus turns his attention to the drawing of her family, inspecting it more carefully this time around. It's easier to connect with now that he's not distracted by dreamwalking, and now that he has a clearer idea of Amelia's relationship with her family. Once she's ready, he turns to her with a smile. "Do you mind if I open up a portal in here? There's enough room and it shouldn't disrupt anything."

From:

rogueinladysclothing

It's easy the resemblance between Amelia and the family surrounding her. A doting, but stern father. A kind, warm-hearted mother. Two brothers: one competitive yet loving, the other quieter but with a playful glint in his eye. And finally, a little sister, the spitting image of Amelia, but frail and decidedly smaller in every way. Together they make for the perfect image of a low-ranking noble family, which is exactly what Amelia wanted for them. It was the way she had left them when she came here. It was the way she always wanted to remember them.

At his suggestion she nods and removes her cloak, placing it over her arm gently. "Of course. Whatever way is easiest for you is best." She still doesn't know anything about portals, beyond the fact that they connect two places in space and time, so she trusts his judgement on the matter completely.

From:

heirtothearcane

"Thank you." It is far more convenient this way. Especially after Isidor pointed out that an open portal in the middle of the Nexus is hardly secure. Extending his hands and concentrating, he opens a portal with shimmering edges that leads to his apartment. He gestures for her to go through before him. It's always safer that way. "After you."

Amelia steps into a large living room that stretches out, lined with bookcases and tables that hold expensive, ornate ornaments. It's a place of warm colours, of browns and creams, of wood and deep couches. He's rearranged the room a bit to focus on the wall mounted television that currently displays a peaceful lake, as if a painting that moves ever so slightly. One of the side tables has several glasses and bottles of various wines on hand. There's also a balcony to explore, if she'd like to.

Viatorus steps in after her and closes the portal, beaming at her. "Please, make yourself comfortable. I can take your cloak if you like."

From:

rogueinladysclothing

It's hard for her to respond to his offer of taking her cloak, but she does hold it out in his general direction. There's so much to see in this apartment. She's been inside the castle of Masarra, seen the lush study of the Duke himself, but this? This is someone's living space. And beyond that, it's just his. Slowly, she walks by all of the bookshelves, her fingers delicately tracing the air in front of each of the books on them. Every detail is taken in slowly and with great care, as if she wants to remember this moment exactly as it is.

And then there's the balcony, and her eyes light up with excitement and curiosity. The box of chocolates in her hand are set aside before she rushes out onto it. It doesn't matter if it's cold outside - she's simply enthralled by what she's seeing. Her head darts around as she tries to take in every detail of the skyline, every light, every passerby, causing her hair pin to jingle happily with the movements. She almost laughs from the excitement before she turns back to look at Viatorus with a bright smile. "It's beautiful!"

From:

heirtothearcane

Taking her cloak, Viatorus gives Amelia time to admire while he hangs it up. The books are almost all academic, on various subjects including schools of magic, folklore, and in a variety of different languages: English, French, German, Latin... The majority of them are also hardback, leather bound where possible. None of them are mistreated, always handled with love and care.

By the time he returns, Amelia is heading outside and Viatorus jumps to head out after her. The day is drizzly, and although the rain is light, Viatorus quickly casts a small spell so that an invisible shield covers their heads and Amelia gets to remain dry. Belgravia is a place of white stone buildings, all excellently maintained, right down to the perfectly manicured shrubbery. There are plenty of cars, both parked and moving, and umbrellas covering the pedestrians below.

When she looks back, Viatorus smiles widely in return. "I'm glad you like it. It's nicer on a clear day... Have you seen things like this before? Cars and lamp posts and other modern things?"

From:

rogueinladysclothing

The drizzle doesn't bother her. In fact, it feels a little like home. Living in a port town her whole life, she's used to a warmer Winter with rain instead of snow. Still, the umbrellas are a new sight and their wide varieties of colors catch and hold her attention even as she answers him.

"I saw most of this on Verity's world. I even rode in a car once. Things are different here, though. People walk differently, speak differently, simply are different. And it's actually rather beautiful." Amelia's not usually one to be so poetic, but it fits in a place like this. She laughs softly and looks up at him finally. "Maybe I can see it on a clear day, though, so I can make the assessment of it being nicer or not." Again she winks at him. It's one of her things with him. The light teasing is part of her nature, but she always wants to make sure he knows she's not trying to make fun of him.

From:

heirtothearcane

The reaction is such a joy to watch. These new sights and sounds seem to invigorate his friend in a way he doesn't think he's ever seen before. A small thrill of pride lifts his smile even further. For once he seems to have gotten something right.

"I'll have to take you to the London Eye. You'll get a wonderful view from there." He hesitates and gestures as he describes it. "It's a... a giant Ferris wheel that takes you up high so that you can have a birds eye view of the city. You sit in booths and they're fairly comfortable. Then you could really decide what you thought of London views."

Tilting so that he's halfway through the door, he asks, "Would you like a drink? Tea, water, wine, juice?"

From:

rogueinladysclothing

Her eyes widen and her mouth hangs open slightly. "I don't know what a ferris wheel is, but... you can see the whole city from up there? Really?" That lopsided smile slowly turns into a grin. "Are you sure we can't go today?" No fear whatsoever from her - this sounds like the best idea ever.

She doesn't move to follow him when he walks to the door - she fully intends to keep taking in the sights until they're ready to settle in for the main event of the day. "You mentioned wine for while we watch the movies, so perhaps we should start with tea for now before we move to the wine?" She smiles before turning back to the streets below. It may have a lot less people than New York and the architecture much closer to what she knows from home, but it's a fascinating combination that she wants to explore more when they have the chance. And perhaps when she's a little more appropriately dressed. For now they should be thankful that no one's looking up from under their umbrellas and spotting the rogue in her leather corset and tailor-made clothes leaning out over his balcony.

From:

heirtothearcane

It's Belgravia: The people in these buildings are far too rich for anyone to raise an eyebrow at any eccentricities they might have.

"A lot of it," he confirms lightly, happy to see her so excited. "We'll go when it's not raining. It will be far more enjoyable then."

After sparing a moment to fix the magical umbrella in place, he moves back inside to get everything ready. He'll make sure to put out a proper spread with a nice tea set and a variety of biscuits to accompany the tea. He's happy to let her look and admire for as long as she likes while he potters about setting up the television. Eventually he'll come outside to find her if she hasn't returned inside.

"The tea is ready. We just need to pick a film."

From:

rogueinladysclothing

"All right. I'm going to hold you to that." And she will - someday.

There are so many sights to take in she feels like he's gone for only a matter of seconds before he returns. Were it not for the prospect of such an enjoyable time with him, she might be sad for leaving the sights to come inside. Instead, she smiles as she makes her way across the balcony to him. "I still don't know much about movies. I wouldn't even know where to begin in choosing one. Do you have a favorite we could watch?"

From:

heirtothearcane

"I do, but... I don't know if you like it. It's a bit... Hm..." His eyes roll to one side as he considers how to describe it. "It can be a bit odd in places, and it's a feel good romance film. It's... also in French. They have subtitles, so you can read a translation, but... that might detract from the film." Thinking about it, he hesitantly offers, "I could translate for you. Tell you what they're saying, if you liked. Or... Or we could watch a different film."

From:

rogueinladysclothing

Romance theater and novels aren't usually something she cares for, but if it's his favorite, she'll give it a try. The comment about translation has her idly playing with the plain silver band around her left index finger, trying desperately not to smirk. "If it's your favorite, then I'd love to watch it. I assume the subtitles will tell me what they're saying, yes? If that's true, that seems awfully distracting from the movie. How about instead we watch without them and if I'm confused about anything I'll ask you to translate? Even if it's in another language, I should be able to understand much of what's going on from the context of the scene." And it'll be interesting to compare his interpretation to what that magical ring of hers translates any particular scene to.

Edited Date: 6 February 2016 02:26 am (UTC)

From:

heirtothearcane

"Are you sure?" He scans her face to try and gauge how much of this is to be polite. "It's a wonderful film, but... I'd worry that it wouldn't be a good introduction..." He gives a small smile and a slight shrug then. "Though I'm sure I know it off by heart by now... I wouldn't want you to watch something because you felt you had to be polite."

From:

rogueinladysclothing

She laughs softly before giving him another smile. "I'm sure, I promise. I'd love to see it." And she really means it. "But maybe if there's time after, we can watch something else? So I can get a sense of what different genres are like? Unless you have other matters to attend to, of course." If he's busy, she'll be sure not to keep him. The last thing she wants to do is get in the way of his research or, worse, anger his sister when she finds out he's been slacking off watching movies with her all afternoon and evening.

From:

heirtothearcane

Search as he might for any sign of polite dishonesty, he cannot find it. Almost immediately he returns to beaming brightly. "No, no, I'm free for the rest of the day. We can watch as many movies as we can, if you like."

Stepping back, he gestures for her to come in so that he can dispel the magic keeping them dry and close the door. Then he moves to the couches, picking up the television remote and beginning to search for the movie. "It's called Amélie." The look of concentration on his face is broken and his shoulder shake in a small laugh as he realises, "Amelia watching Amélie! That's very fitting!"

He grins at her, glancing to see if she sees the amusement in it too.

From:

rogueinladysclothing

His bright smile is returned with one of her own. "Wonderful! I suggest we save the wine and chocolates for the second movie, then, lest we run out of snacks too quickly." And so she can focus on being sneaky during the first movie a little better.

Once he motions her in, she quickly makes her way past him so he can take care of the spell while she finds a comfortable place on one of the couches. Should she be taking her boots off when she sits down? They'll be here for a while, so it seems appropriate, but she has no idea what's expected when people watch movies together. She's not used to people seeing works of theater in their own homes.

When he mentions the name of the movie, she stops in the middle of settling in to her chosen couch and blinks at him. "We're watching... me?" Did she miss a joke here? He's laughing, but she's honestly quite confused. Not that it's keeping her from smiling at the sound of his laughter and then his grin. It's a welcome change from all the sadness they've shared over the last few weeks.

From:

heirtothearcane

"That's fair." Not that he's worried about running out of snacks. He has plenty, and they could order in the whole dessert cart of a five star restaurant if they liked. It will stop them from making themselves sick though.

He sits next to her so that translating will be easier. While he won't take his shoes off, he certainly wouldn't begrudge her some extra comfort. Once he's next to her, he smiles and shakes his head, pointing to the television screen now showing the cover of the movie. "It's the name of the main character. Amélie, which I would say is the French version of your name."

Before they play the movie, he'll pour their tea so there won't be as many distractions for them. "When you're ready, I'll go ahead and press play. We can pause it at any time if you want, too, so don't worry about interrupting."

From:

rogueinladysclothing

Savory snacks are good, too, from time to time.

This seems like an event where she's going to be turning toward him often and asking questions, maybe even pulling her feet up underneath her, so she takes a moment to remove her boots and set them out of the way past the end of the couch. Hopefully he's not paying so much attention that he notices the subtle hiding of two short daggers in them as she removes them. She didn't mean to bring them - they're simply part of her routine when she laces them every day, really. "So, we are watching me." If he can joke, then so can she, big grin and all.

The tea is happily accepted and she nods after taking a sip. "I'm ready."

From:

heirtothearcane

All sight of daggers are missed as he concentrates on using the television, something he hasn't had as much practice with as most men his age in this world. It doesn't come quite as naturally to him to spot the different buttons he's looking for, but it doesn't take much for him to find them.

The joke pulls his smile wider, and he settles back as the film start. With the sudden start of the narration, Viatorus is quick to translate the somewhat random observations, which all add to the film, but Amelia is unlikely to translate for herself. He'll offer explanations too, here and there, if she looks confused or asks him to. Each translation is nearly word for word. He's watched this film a lot.

From:

rogueinladysclothing

Viatorus' attention may be mainly on the screen in front of him, but Amelia's attention is easily split 50/50. She's used to doing such things in certain situations, and this seems like an appropriate one. Mostly, her eyes stay focused on the screen, but she spends more time listening to him and his translated words than those she hears from the movie. His translation is a perfect balance of word-for-word and explaining the nuances she's most certainly missing. She only asks him to pause a few times throughout the movie, mostly so he can explain the motivations behind what's going on. The cultural differences are hard for her, but she's doing remarkably well in spite of that.

The pot of tea and most of the biscuits are finished off throughout the movie as well. It's a good thing he didn't put out too many biscuits though, or they'd hardly have room for popcorn or chocolates, and that would be a travesty.

From:

heirtothearcane

The scholar is definitely careful to make sure Amelia can enjoy the movie to the fullest, but it's clear that it's hard for him not to get swept away with the story. The ease with which the film sways his emotions is painted on his face. Every quirk and triumph of Amélie brightens his enthralled smile, just as every bit of melancholy is mirrored in his eyes. By the end he's beaming brightly once again and clears his throat a little as he turns to her.

Truth be told, he's incredibly impressed that she managed to keep up with it so well. It's a romantic, rambling sort of film, which suits him just fine, but even many of his peers would be put off by it.

"That's the end. What did you think?" He perks up hopefully, turning to face her fully. "Did you like it?" And just as quickly stammers into, "Y-you don't have to say yes. I-I know it's not for everyone. And the translation must have made it a bit difficult..."

From:

rogueinladysclothing

"No, no, the translation was very helpful," she assures him quickly. "It was... a little strange for me, but I think I might not have understood all of the necessary context. My world certainly has a very different view of happiness and relationships, after all." She laughs softly and smiles at him. "It was very interesting, though, and I'd love to watch it again some time after I learn more about your world. And, more specifically, about how romantic relationships are treated." It's hard for her to understand 'dating' when there's really no such thing in her world.

The fact that it's a rambling sort of film reminders her a lot of him. She can't help but smile at the thought. "The film actually fits you wonderfully," she adds after a moment. "Not in a bad way at all, I assure you. It just... it reminds me of you in a way." That sounds rather awkward, doesn't it? She waves a hand in front of her face to distract from the red color developing in her cheeks. "What I mean to say is that I can see why you like it and that, despite not understanding it all, I enjoyed it." She smiles as she pulls her hand back, her cheeks still slightly pink in color. "Thank you for sharing it with me."