A/N: Once again the story continues and more cameo goodness from Scarlet
Rurouni (Eliza Brookson) and Vash the Stampede. Her side of the story is
"The Student, The Typhoon, and the Closet" so go and have a looksie. Enjoy
this chapter and read and review please!
Special thanks to crystalunicorn14 for following the story as she has. Kudos to ye girlie! I appreciates it much!
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I opened my eyes and found myself sprawled on the couch, arm dangling over the edge and my bare feet hanging off the edge as well. I yawned quietly and shifted a little, my eyes settling on Gilderoy as he stood over me. I glanced at my watch and saw that several hours had gone by since Liz and Vash's visit and subsequent household duties.
"Why didn't you wake me?" I asked, groggily sitting up in and couch and swinging my feet over the side. I could only imagine what I looked like, having napped for several hours.
Gilderoy gazed at me for a moment, letting my question hang in the air. "You looked really exhausted, I didn't have the heart to wake you." He finally responded, his blue eyes taking in my slightly tousled hair and my tired eyes. "Besides if I did, you'd have probably given me a tongue lashing." He added, shrugging sheepishly.
Surprisingly enough I laughed at that. "Actually, you'd be surprised to know I wouldn't have. If it's one thing I hate, it's napping through the day. As it is there's so few hours in the day in which to do all that I need to do and when I nap it takes away from time I would have otherwise spent productively." I told him, getting to my feet and making for my room to grab my brush to run it through my hair, when I noticed ...
*Hmm ... that's odd ... *
I stooped down by my bed and pushed my rubberware bin, that had been jutting out slightly from under my bed, all the way back.
*That's strange, I'd thought I'd pushed it all the way back the other day ... *
I stood and noticed that Gilderoy had followed me into my room, and as I glanced at him he averted his eyes and I had not the presence of mind to wonder why. Instead I went to my drawer and pulled out my brush and began to tame my wavy hair.
"So, you didn't get into any trouble while I was sleeping?" I asked him amid my brushing, turning my gaze to him as I spoke.
Again he shifted his eyes. "N-not at all. I spent my time out on your porch and had an amusingly one sided conversation with your pet cat." He responded, moving to my desk to finger my stained glass rose lamp.
"I would think you'd be used to one sided conversations, as most of the conversations you've had revolved around you." I remarked dryly, putting away my brush. He smiled at me for a moment or two before the meaning hit on him, at which point the smile evaporated in the blink of an eye. As he looked back into my eyes I suddenly felt a little sorry for my words. "Though, I'm sure Patches didn't mind at all, as she usually listens to my mindless rambling most of the time." I added in a softer voice. He nodded, his lips just barely curving into a smile.
I smiled back just a little reassuringly and glanced at my watch again. "What do you say to an early dinner since I slept through lunch?" I asked him.
"Sounds divine." He smiled roguishly.
*Focus on dinner, not the smile. Stephie! Focus! Dinner! Now!*
"All right, let me get to work cooking then." I said leaving my room and heading to the kitchen with him following behind me.
*Hmm, what to cook? Let's see ... there's Spaghetti-O's ... but no that won't do. Why not go gourmet?*
I pawed through the pantry and found some pasta, sauce, and sweet bread. I then wondered if we had any strawberries and sparkling cider in the house. If I was going to go gourmet for the evening, why not go all out? I glanced around in the refrigerator and surely enough we had a small carton of strawberries and a bottle of sparkling cider that I'd bought just for the heck of it three days before. I smiled a small smile and happily set out all the items on the counter and donned my kitchen apron as I set to work boiling water for the pasta.
"Why don't you go and sit down somewhere. I can't have you piddling about here in the kitchen as it'll distract me and besides, I get nervous having people watch me as I work." I said as softly as I could and tried to convey that he should make himself comfortable. He gave me a look as if to say "All right, if you insist" before the ring of the phone caused us both to jump. I reached over and picked up the receiver before it could ring a second time, as Gilderoy looked at me wonderingly.
"Hello?" I squeaked as per usual when it came to my answering the phone.
"Stephie? It's Liz." Came a familiar voice on the other end.
"Oh, hello Liz. How are you?" I asked, leaning against the counter most happy to hear a friendly and familiar voice, as Gilderoy continued to stare at me.
"Tired, and you?" Liz asked me.
"Same. It's quite strange having a wizard staying here, especially one that is addled and yet very egocentric at the same time." I sighed and nearly laughed at the look I got from the wizard.
"Yes ... and having a rather ... energetic gunman about the house makes for some 'interesting' times." Liz remarked, and I swear I almost heard her smirk through the phone. "Anyway ... the reason I called was I was wondering... have you gotten Lockhart clothes yet?" She went on to ask me.
I sighed miserably. "No, I haven't yet. I was planning on going tomorrow. Why?"
"Because I haven't either ... and I was just thinking that Lockhart might be a bit more of a handful than Vash ... at least donut-boy's read about earth and lived without magic." Liz explained.
I laughed and cradled the phone closer. "Yes, he certainly will be a handful. Not only does he not know anything about "muggles" but he's also got that horrible short term memory."
"Well, what do you say we go shopping together then? I'll help you keep and eye on the wizard ... and you can help me keep the fiend away from the donut stand!" Liz offered chuckling.
"Yes, that sounds fairly fabulous. You do realize, that you've quite made my day don't you?" I smiled widely at the offer, knowing I would have had a rough time of it alone.
*Thank the world for small miracles.*
"No Vash! I am NOT ordering donuts over the phone!" I heard her say to, obviously to Vash as he was the only one at her house who had a propensity to go crazy where donuts where concerned. "Yes, I'm sure. So, tomorrow then, at the mall?" Liz said this time to me.
I laughed, wishing I could see what was going on over on Liz's end. "Sounds perfect, what time?" I asked her after I'd stopped laughing and composed myself.
She paused a moment before she said, "How about around 12:00? Then we can have lunch and such as well."
"Fairly fabulous! It's a plan then." I grinned.
"OH! Where shall we meet? The mall's a fairly large place you know." Liz had the presence of mind to ask me.
"How about in front of the Disney Store on the second floor?" I suggested, thinking that was favorite store and a perfect kick off to a day spent shopping with Gilderoy. As I said, shopping is not my forte.
"Sounds fabulous ... so we'll meet there around 12:00 then?" Liz confirmed.
"Yesh, Disney Store at noon. Fabulous-" I tried to say as Gilderoy cut me off.
"What is that and why are you talking to it?" He asked me, trying to get at the phone.
"Uh, I'd better go. See you then, Liz. Say hello to Vash for me." I said to Liz as I batted at the addled wizard's hands as he tried to grab the phone.
Liz laughed heartily. "Alright. See you tomorrow then! OH! And good luck with Lockhart! Bye!"
I dodged Gilderoy and managed to say goodbye before hanging up. "That my friend is a telephone and it enables you to speak with someone much like using a fireplace in your world, excepting you talk into this and the person on the other end can hear you and not see you. All you do is dial a particular number for whoever it is you wish to speak to and they'd have to be at home to be able to answer the phone. However, rule number one: NEVER interrupt me when I am using the phone!" I explained, putting the receiver back in it's proper place.
"I'll remember that. Any other rules I should know of?" He asked me, giving me a jaunting and winning smile yet again.
*D'arvit, why does he have to do that?!*
"No, not at this moment so push off! I have to make our dinner. Go outside on the porch or go stare at yourself in my mirror or something until I've got dinner ready." I retorted, setting the water to boil and the sauce to heat.
"All right, keep your apron on." He muttered as he left the kitchen.
*Finally! One less distraction. Now I can get to work as dinner doesn't cook itself.*
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Gilderoy mused to himself as he left the kitchen to head to Stephania's room.
*What is it about me that irks her so? Am I not charming? Am I not handsome? What more could she want of me? Wait, why does it matter to me?*
He shook his head as he stood in the middle of her small but quaint room. As he looked around the room he could tell something of her personality from the room. There was the lovely little stained glass rose lamp, the little antique music box of sorts, stuffed animals and candles at various points in the room, and a bedspread of flowers and butterflies. Also judging by how warm and kind she was when those two friends of hers visited, he'd come to the conclusion that Stephania was quite sweet and friendly. However, that did not explain her behavior towards him. She was ... flinty is the word.
Gilderoy sighed and stooped down to pull out her rubberware bin, and as he had earlier that day he pawed through the contents to find the book he'd started reading. At first it had been a mere curiosity, but now it was more. He needed to know everything she knew and know what it was that made her so flinty towards him.
Picking out "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" he turned to the chapter he'd book marked earlier that day and read on.
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*There! Finished!*
I stood back to admire my handiwork. I'd set the dining room table with a clean green table cloth and set a few candles at strategically chosen points. I'd also set out my mother's fine china and set the pasta and sauce in two ivory bowls, along with the strawberries and sweet bread on a crystal platter. The final touch were the two goblets I procured at a renaissance several years before which had been filled with some of the sparkling cider I loved so much.
*Not bad, Stephie, you domestic weirdo you. Hmm, now to call Mr. Ego to dinner.*
I removed my apron and made my way out to the living room and looked around and saw my bedroom light on and the door closed. Frowning I walked over and made to knock on the door out of courtesy, even though it was my room and he hadn't asked to use it.
"Gilderoy, dinner's ready." I wrapped on the door.
"All right, c-coming!" I heard him say and heard a little scuffling and scrambling around.
"What are you doing in there?" I asked, tempted to just fling open the door and catch him at whatever it was he was doing.
"N-nothing, really!" He answered just seconds before he opened the door, standing tall.
"Why do I not believe you?" I asked him, narrowing my eyes and putting my hands on my hips.
"I haven't the foggiest." He replied, averting his eyes and stepping out of my room.
"Hmm, well in any case as I said dinner's ready." I told him, wondering why he'd averted his eyes in such a guilty fashion but deciding not to question him further.
Instead I sighed, turned, and lead him to the dining room where I gestured for him to seat himself down. He however had other plans, as he gallantly pulled out a seat for me. I was momentarily taken aback at his almost chivalrous gesture.
"Thank you." I said, sitting down and looking back up at him.
"You're most welcome, Stephania." He smiled.
"Please, just call me Stephie. Everyone does." I told him, laying my napkin across my lap.
"Stephie, then, and what a lovely dinner, thank you." His blue eyes lit on mine.
*Why is it that my name sounds so much lovelier when he says it? No! Wait! Hold the trolley! Not happening!*
"Heh ..." Was my response as I reached for my goblet, wishing I had opted for absynthe in place of the cider ...
Special thanks to crystalunicorn14 for following the story as she has. Kudos to ye girlie! I appreciates it much!
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I opened my eyes and found myself sprawled on the couch, arm dangling over the edge and my bare feet hanging off the edge as well. I yawned quietly and shifted a little, my eyes settling on Gilderoy as he stood over me. I glanced at my watch and saw that several hours had gone by since Liz and Vash's visit and subsequent household duties.
"Why didn't you wake me?" I asked, groggily sitting up in and couch and swinging my feet over the side. I could only imagine what I looked like, having napped for several hours.
Gilderoy gazed at me for a moment, letting my question hang in the air. "You looked really exhausted, I didn't have the heart to wake you." He finally responded, his blue eyes taking in my slightly tousled hair and my tired eyes. "Besides if I did, you'd have probably given me a tongue lashing." He added, shrugging sheepishly.
Surprisingly enough I laughed at that. "Actually, you'd be surprised to know I wouldn't have. If it's one thing I hate, it's napping through the day. As it is there's so few hours in the day in which to do all that I need to do and when I nap it takes away from time I would have otherwise spent productively." I told him, getting to my feet and making for my room to grab my brush to run it through my hair, when I noticed ...
*Hmm ... that's odd ... *
I stooped down by my bed and pushed my rubberware bin, that had been jutting out slightly from under my bed, all the way back.
*That's strange, I'd thought I'd pushed it all the way back the other day ... *
I stood and noticed that Gilderoy had followed me into my room, and as I glanced at him he averted his eyes and I had not the presence of mind to wonder why. Instead I went to my drawer and pulled out my brush and began to tame my wavy hair.
"So, you didn't get into any trouble while I was sleeping?" I asked him amid my brushing, turning my gaze to him as I spoke.
Again he shifted his eyes. "N-not at all. I spent my time out on your porch and had an amusingly one sided conversation with your pet cat." He responded, moving to my desk to finger my stained glass rose lamp.
"I would think you'd be used to one sided conversations, as most of the conversations you've had revolved around you." I remarked dryly, putting away my brush. He smiled at me for a moment or two before the meaning hit on him, at which point the smile evaporated in the blink of an eye. As he looked back into my eyes I suddenly felt a little sorry for my words. "Though, I'm sure Patches didn't mind at all, as she usually listens to my mindless rambling most of the time." I added in a softer voice. He nodded, his lips just barely curving into a smile.
I smiled back just a little reassuringly and glanced at my watch again. "What do you say to an early dinner since I slept through lunch?" I asked him.
"Sounds divine." He smiled roguishly.
*Focus on dinner, not the smile. Stephie! Focus! Dinner! Now!*
"All right, let me get to work cooking then." I said leaving my room and heading to the kitchen with him following behind me.
*Hmm, what to cook? Let's see ... there's Spaghetti-O's ... but no that won't do. Why not go gourmet?*
I pawed through the pantry and found some pasta, sauce, and sweet bread. I then wondered if we had any strawberries and sparkling cider in the house. If I was going to go gourmet for the evening, why not go all out? I glanced around in the refrigerator and surely enough we had a small carton of strawberries and a bottle of sparkling cider that I'd bought just for the heck of it three days before. I smiled a small smile and happily set out all the items on the counter and donned my kitchen apron as I set to work boiling water for the pasta.
"Why don't you go and sit down somewhere. I can't have you piddling about here in the kitchen as it'll distract me and besides, I get nervous having people watch me as I work." I said as softly as I could and tried to convey that he should make himself comfortable. He gave me a look as if to say "All right, if you insist" before the ring of the phone caused us both to jump. I reached over and picked up the receiver before it could ring a second time, as Gilderoy looked at me wonderingly.
"Hello?" I squeaked as per usual when it came to my answering the phone.
"Stephie? It's Liz." Came a familiar voice on the other end.
"Oh, hello Liz. How are you?" I asked, leaning against the counter most happy to hear a friendly and familiar voice, as Gilderoy continued to stare at me.
"Tired, and you?" Liz asked me.
"Same. It's quite strange having a wizard staying here, especially one that is addled and yet very egocentric at the same time." I sighed and nearly laughed at the look I got from the wizard.
"Yes ... and having a rather ... energetic gunman about the house makes for some 'interesting' times." Liz remarked, and I swear I almost heard her smirk through the phone. "Anyway ... the reason I called was I was wondering... have you gotten Lockhart clothes yet?" She went on to ask me.
I sighed miserably. "No, I haven't yet. I was planning on going tomorrow. Why?"
"Because I haven't either ... and I was just thinking that Lockhart might be a bit more of a handful than Vash ... at least donut-boy's read about earth and lived without magic." Liz explained.
I laughed and cradled the phone closer. "Yes, he certainly will be a handful. Not only does he not know anything about "muggles" but he's also got that horrible short term memory."
"Well, what do you say we go shopping together then? I'll help you keep and eye on the wizard ... and you can help me keep the fiend away from the donut stand!" Liz offered chuckling.
"Yes, that sounds fairly fabulous. You do realize, that you've quite made my day don't you?" I smiled widely at the offer, knowing I would have had a rough time of it alone.
*Thank the world for small miracles.*
"No Vash! I am NOT ordering donuts over the phone!" I heard her say to, obviously to Vash as he was the only one at her house who had a propensity to go crazy where donuts where concerned. "Yes, I'm sure. So, tomorrow then, at the mall?" Liz said this time to me.
I laughed, wishing I could see what was going on over on Liz's end. "Sounds perfect, what time?" I asked her after I'd stopped laughing and composed myself.
She paused a moment before she said, "How about around 12:00? Then we can have lunch and such as well."
"Fairly fabulous! It's a plan then." I grinned.
"OH! Where shall we meet? The mall's a fairly large place you know." Liz had the presence of mind to ask me.
"How about in front of the Disney Store on the second floor?" I suggested, thinking that was favorite store and a perfect kick off to a day spent shopping with Gilderoy. As I said, shopping is not my forte.
"Sounds fabulous ... so we'll meet there around 12:00 then?" Liz confirmed.
"Yesh, Disney Store at noon. Fabulous-" I tried to say as Gilderoy cut me off.
"What is that and why are you talking to it?" He asked me, trying to get at the phone.
"Uh, I'd better go. See you then, Liz. Say hello to Vash for me." I said to Liz as I batted at the addled wizard's hands as he tried to grab the phone.
Liz laughed heartily. "Alright. See you tomorrow then! OH! And good luck with Lockhart! Bye!"
I dodged Gilderoy and managed to say goodbye before hanging up. "That my friend is a telephone and it enables you to speak with someone much like using a fireplace in your world, excepting you talk into this and the person on the other end can hear you and not see you. All you do is dial a particular number for whoever it is you wish to speak to and they'd have to be at home to be able to answer the phone. However, rule number one: NEVER interrupt me when I am using the phone!" I explained, putting the receiver back in it's proper place.
"I'll remember that. Any other rules I should know of?" He asked me, giving me a jaunting and winning smile yet again.
*D'arvit, why does he have to do that?!*
"No, not at this moment so push off! I have to make our dinner. Go outside on the porch or go stare at yourself in my mirror or something until I've got dinner ready." I retorted, setting the water to boil and the sauce to heat.
"All right, keep your apron on." He muttered as he left the kitchen.
*Finally! One less distraction. Now I can get to work as dinner doesn't cook itself.*
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Gilderoy mused to himself as he left the kitchen to head to Stephania's room.
*What is it about me that irks her so? Am I not charming? Am I not handsome? What more could she want of me? Wait, why does it matter to me?*
He shook his head as he stood in the middle of her small but quaint room. As he looked around the room he could tell something of her personality from the room. There was the lovely little stained glass rose lamp, the little antique music box of sorts, stuffed animals and candles at various points in the room, and a bedspread of flowers and butterflies. Also judging by how warm and kind she was when those two friends of hers visited, he'd come to the conclusion that Stephania was quite sweet and friendly. However, that did not explain her behavior towards him. She was ... flinty is the word.
Gilderoy sighed and stooped down to pull out her rubberware bin, and as he had earlier that day he pawed through the contents to find the book he'd started reading. At first it had been a mere curiosity, but now it was more. He needed to know everything she knew and know what it was that made her so flinty towards him.
Picking out "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" he turned to the chapter he'd book marked earlier that day and read on.
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*There! Finished!*
I stood back to admire my handiwork. I'd set the dining room table with a clean green table cloth and set a few candles at strategically chosen points. I'd also set out my mother's fine china and set the pasta and sauce in two ivory bowls, along with the strawberries and sweet bread on a crystal platter. The final touch were the two goblets I procured at a renaissance several years before which had been filled with some of the sparkling cider I loved so much.
*Not bad, Stephie, you domestic weirdo you. Hmm, now to call Mr. Ego to dinner.*
I removed my apron and made my way out to the living room and looked around and saw my bedroom light on and the door closed. Frowning I walked over and made to knock on the door out of courtesy, even though it was my room and he hadn't asked to use it.
"Gilderoy, dinner's ready." I wrapped on the door.
"All right, c-coming!" I heard him say and heard a little scuffling and scrambling around.
"What are you doing in there?" I asked, tempted to just fling open the door and catch him at whatever it was he was doing.
"N-nothing, really!" He answered just seconds before he opened the door, standing tall.
"Why do I not believe you?" I asked him, narrowing my eyes and putting my hands on my hips.
"I haven't the foggiest." He replied, averting his eyes and stepping out of my room.
"Hmm, well in any case as I said dinner's ready." I told him, wondering why he'd averted his eyes in such a guilty fashion but deciding not to question him further.
Instead I sighed, turned, and lead him to the dining room where I gestured for him to seat himself down. He however had other plans, as he gallantly pulled out a seat for me. I was momentarily taken aback at his almost chivalrous gesture.
"Thank you." I said, sitting down and looking back up at him.
"You're most welcome, Stephania." He smiled.
"Please, just call me Stephie. Everyone does." I told him, laying my napkin across my lap.
"Stephie, then, and what a lovely dinner, thank you." His blue eyes lit on mine.
*Why is it that my name sounds so much lovelier when he says it? No! Wait! Hold the trolley! Not happening!*
"Heh ..." Was my response as I reached for my goblet, wishing I had opted for absynthe in place of the cider ...