Jinx Halcomb ♥ Three of Hearts (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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sixwordstories2014-06-10 12:07 am
heartshy) wrote in sixwordstories2014-06-10 12:07 am
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[She hadn't liked Quidditch until Him.]
you pick a point in their relationship I am running to lunch
whathappenedinbudapest
2014-06-10 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
[Which is ridiculous, because Quidditch is amazing. It wasn't what he'd meant to spend his life doing, but it's an amazing way to be, now that he's here.
Even though 'here' is currently England. It's a little rough to be wearing red, yellow and blue here, no matter how well-liked he is back home--and no matter how often conversations start with "Gotta say, mate, I do respect your form; you're a killer out there."
They always inevitably end with something along the lines of "Lancashire forever!" and the need to smile blandly.
But, you know, being in England isn't entirely the worst thing in the world. His father's here, after all; his father who's been more than happy, since they met, to actually spend time with him. His father who vaguely follows Quidditch these days and seems more than happy to see his son as just that--a son.
And, well. There's also British girls. He's got to say that he's liking British girls. Not doing well with them, given the sloppiness of his English, but liking them.
Liking especially quiet ones with dark eyes and sweet little smiles.]
Even though 'here' is currently England. It's a little rough to be wearing red, yellow and blue here, no matter how well-liked he is back home--and no matter how often conversations start with "Gotta say, mate, I do respect your form; you're a killer out there."
They always inevitably end with something along the lines of "Lancashire forever!" and the need to smile blandly.
But, you know, being in England isn't entirely the worst thing in the world. His father's here, after all; his father who's been more than happy, since they met, to actually spend time with him. His father who vaguely follows Quidditch these days and seems more than happy to see his son as just that--a son.
And, well. There's also British girls. He's got to say that he's liking British girls. Not doing well with them, given the sloppiness of his English, but liking them.
Liking especially quiet ones with dark eyes and sweet little smiles.]
[To be fair, she didn't particularly like Quidditch now, but she did rather like Him.
He made being dragged out here with her sisters while they screamed over foul Bludger-er-ing (Bludgers? Bludging? Bludginstance?) so worth it that her tiny little smile couldn't even begin to encompass anything it all.
She'd had to stand at the edges of his giggling fans and snooty not-so-fans-that-were-totally-fans with a program clutched in her sweaty, nervous hands for two different games before she worked up the courage to take a step close enough at this third one. (It had been nice listening to him humoring them, and even though his smile had looked so strained and unhappy she'd love to see him smile for any reason any time.)
Even now she's not managed to actually ask anything of him (gosh she was embarrassing why did her family take her anywhere she was completely doing this wrong). The program thrust out towards him must be request enough, right?
Ugh, he was so adorable with his accent and eyes and English.]
He made being dragged out here with her sisters while they screamed over foul Bludger-er-ing (Bludgers? Bludging? Bludginstance?) so worth it that her tiny little smile couldn't even begin to encompass anything it all.
She'd had to stand at the edges of his giggling fans and snooty not-so-fans-that-were-totally-fans with a program clutched in her sweaty, nervous hands for two different games before she worked up the courage to take a step close enough at this third one. (It had been nice listening to him humoring them, and even though his smile had looked so strained and unhappy she'd love to see him smile for any reason any time.)
Even now she's not managed to actually ask anything of him (gosh she was embarrassing why did her family take her anywhere she was completely doing this wrong). The program thrust out towards him must be request enough, right?
Ugh, he was so adorable with his accent and eyes and English.]
[He loves playing. At the end of the day, everything else in the world is always entirely work it for the moments in the pitch when he's allowed to just be at one with the rest of the team. All the best pictures of him get taken on the field.
This is certainly a much more strained smile on his lips now as he holds still for the millionth picture and laughs at the millionth girl to tell him she just wants to pinch his cheeks forever and the millionth fan surreptitiously freaking out about the way he stumbles over certain letter combinations. It doesn't mean he doesn't try to give a proper grin to the next program thrust out toward him.
There's a brief flicker of actual sympathy for the nerves in her shoulders as he takes the glossy paper.]
Alo. [He's tired. People seemed, somehow, always surprised that Quidditch players were tired after matches. He forces his mind back to English.] You-- name?
[How can he sign it to her without a name?]
This is certainly a much more strained smile on his lips now as he holds still for the millionth picture and laughs at the millionth girl to tell him she just wants to pinch his cheeks forever and the millionth fan surreptitiously freaking out about the way he stumbles over certain letter combinations. It doesn't mean he doesn't try to give a proper grin to the next program thrust out toward him.
There's a brief flicker of actual sympathy for the nerves in her shoulders as he takes the glossy paper.]
Alo. [He's tired. People seemed, somehow, always surprised that Quidditch players were tired after matches. He forces his mind back to English.] You-- name?
[How can he sign it to her without a name?]
[She tilts her head at him, pure sympathy radiating out of her eyes. He looks exhausted, she feels bad as well as nervous now.]
J-Jinx!
[And there she goes stumbling over her own name, too. If she did this quick, at least he wouldn't have to be more tired while listening to her inability to say something as small as her name.
But she really, really wants more words with him. More than his exhausted, sweet, politeness. More than just her name.
All she can give him is her biggest, brightest, sincerest smile and:]
...He-hello...
J-Jinx!
[And there she goes stumbling over her own name, too. If she did this quick, at least he wouldn't have to be more tired while listening to her inability to say something as small as her name.
But she really, really wants more words with him. More than his exhausted, sweet, politeness. More than just her name.
All she can give him is her biggest, brightest, sincerest smile and:]
...He-hello...
NO THERE IS NO HELP ONLY SNUGGLES AND CAVITIES \o/
whathappenedinbudapest
2014-06-10 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Maybe he's imagining it, but between the flashes of cameras going off, he could swear she looks... sorry. Like she understands he'd rather be making his way back to a warm shower and soft bed.
It's refreshing. It twists his lips just a little brighter for half a second.]
Jin-ks? [The low whistle between his teeth is unconscious.] Ah, mi-o tragi. Please-- to spell?
[It's impossible to hear entirely well. That's why his head ducks closer to hers, expectant and listening carefully as he sets the quill to the page.]
It's refreshing. It twists his lips just a little brighter for half a second.]
Jin-ks? [The low whistle between his teeth is unconscious.] Ah, mi-o tragi. Please-- to spell?
[It's impossible to hear entirely well. That's why his head ducks closer to hers, expectant and listening carefully as he sets the quill to the page.]
[Her breath catches a little in her chest when he leans closer. And her face heats up drastically at the thought of trying to spell her name to him.
She hesitates, lip caught between her teeth. Could she do it? Could she do that for him? Maybe... Maybe if she did it quietly. She had steeled herself for this! Three games she had waited! She could do it!
Even though he had ducked close, Jinx leaned even closer, so her lips rested near his ear, and mustered all her courage.]
J-I-N-X
[She could hear a thumping in her ears. Was that her heart? Oh god, it was so loud even he could probably hear it. Just... don't squeal, don't pinch his cheeks. Don't give into the tiny, blooming thought that she could brush a kiss against his cheek.]
She hesitates, lip caught between her teeth. Could she do it? Could she do that for him? Maybe... Maybe if she did it quietly. She had steeled herself for this! Three games she had waited! She could do it!
Even though he had ducked close, Jinx leaned even closer, so her lips rested near his ear, and mustered all her courage.]
J-I-N-X
[She could hear a thumping in her ears. Was that her heart? Oh god, it was so loud even he could probably hear it. Just... don't squeal, don't pinch his cheeks. Don't give into the tiny, blooming thought that she could brush a kiss against his cheek.]
[The hesitation isn't entirely unusual. She's got that quiet sweetness about her, after all--like she doesn't generally go around saying more than a few words at a time to boys, let alone boys with professional Quidditch contracts. Hopefully, his smile is encouraging.
Hopefully she doesn't notice that her breath that close against his ear turns them just slightly a darker shade of red. Hopefully both these things.]
J-I-N-X, [he repeats along as he scrawls it across the program. There's a moment's concentration in his brow as he scribbles further 'Cine nu face când poate nu face când vrea-- please remember to smile!' and adds his own name, patronymic and all.] It-- is corre't?
Hopefully she doesn't notice that her breath that close against his ear turns them just slightly a darker shade of red. Hopefully both these things.]
J-I-N-X, [he repeats along as he scrawls it across the program. There's a moment's concentration in his brow as he scribbles further 'Cine nu face când poate nu face când vrea-- please remember to smile!' and adds his own name, patronymic and all.] It-- is corre't?
[She didn't want to lean back, so she had hovered by his ear for a moment. But, you know, that was weird. So she did lean back. Because she didn't want him to think she was weird, especially when he was being so nice and encouraging. And writing things just for her.
Watching his hands write was just so lovely, though. And when he asks her if it's correct she's just a little too overwhelmed, especially with the clipped word and... and she just can't help herself from darting forward and setting a kiss right on his cheek while she snatches the brochure from his hands.
And then runs away as fast as she can run because OH HER GO SHE JUST ASSAULTED A FAMOUS QUIDDITCH PLAYER HER LIFE WAS OVER.
She pauses right beside the door, though, red and sweaty and the happiest she's ever been in her entire life, smile bigger and brighter than she had ever thought possible.
Watching his hands write was just so lovely, though. And when he asks her if it's correct she's just a little too overwhelmed, especially with the clipped word and... and she just can't help herself from darting forward and setting a kiss right on his cheek while she snatches the brochure from his hands.
And then runs away as fast as she can run because OH HER GO SHE JUST ASSAULTED A FAMOUS QUIDDITCH PLAYER HER LIFE WAS OVER.
She pauses right beside the door, though, red and sweaty and the happiest she's ever been in her entire life, smile bigger and brighter than she had ever thought possible.
[It's not the first time it's ever happened. Back home, there had been more than a handful of overzealous fans.
It is the first time he's been kissed at an away game, though. And it is the first time the kisser has bolted away rather than making to cling.
It's a shame she'd run so quickly, because there's briefly an entirely genuine smile on his own lips.
Really, above all else, it's crazy to think he'll ever see her again. That doesn't stop him from glancing up now and then as he finishes making his way through the crowd pressing for signatures and compliments and insults toward the locker room. That doesn't stop him from wondering about who she is or where she'd run off to while finally getting himself cleaned up.
And, oddly, once he's got himself half-disguised with a bulky scarf and his hair combed as low as it can be over his brow, the impracticality of it all doesn't stop him from wandering out the side door to look for her.]
It is the first time he's been kissed at an away game, though. And it is the first time the kisser has bolted away rather than making to cling.
It's a shame she'd run so quickly, because there's briefly an entirely genuine smile on his own lips.
Really, above all else, it's crazy to think he'll ever see her again. That doesn't stop him from glancing up now and then as he finishes making his way through the crowd pressing for signatures and compliments and insults toward the locker room. That doesn't stop him from wondering about who she is or where she'd run off to while finally getting himself cleaned up.
And, oddly, once he's got himself half-disguised with a bulky scarf and his hair combed as low as it can be over his brow, the impracticality of it all doesn't stop him from wandering out the side door to look for her.]
[She's not waiting or him. That would be weird. And she's totally not weird, she promises. She's just watiting for her sisters. Because they're still screaming over the British team, and had wanted way more signatures than she had so she still had lots of time.
And it's better to wait where she is while the crowd thins out a little bit. So. She's just. You know. Being responsible and waiting in place. Where they could find her. While she calms down. And doesn't wait for him because she'll never get to meet him ever again especially not after she assaulted his person.
(He would hate her she can't believe she did that.)
So she's sitting there - with her new, beautiful, now slightly wrinkly brochure clutched to her chest - when a man trussed up in far too much clothing for the weather wonders by and she kind of ignores him because SHE KISSED ALEKSEI AND IT WAS WONDERFUL]
And it's better to wait where she is while the crowd thins out a little bit. So. She's just. You know. Being responsible and waiting in place. Where they could find her. While she calms down. And doesn't wait for him because she'll never get to meet him ever again especially not after she assaulted his person.
(He would hate her she can't believe she did that.)
So she's sitting there - with her new, beautiful, now slightly wrinkly brochure clutched to her chest - when a man trussed up in far too much clothing for the weather wonders by and she kind of ignores him because SHE KISSED ALEKSEI AND IT WAS WONDERFUL]
[She's a little weird. That's hardly a bad thing. It means, in the blur of entirely ordinary faces and names (and really, was everyone in this country named 'Mary' because it certainly felt like that), she's stuck out.
She's sticking out less when he nearly walks right by her, sitting away from the crowds. It's the silence about her that makes him do a double-take--and then actually halt and half-turn back to face her.]
Miss-- ah, Jinx?
She's sticking out less when he nearly walks right by her, sitting away from the crowds. It's the silence about her that makes him do a double-take--and then actually halt and half-turn back to face her.]
Miss-- ah, Jinx?
[Her head jerks up from considering his sweet words. Please remember to smile. Even looking at them makes her grin, wide and bright. So she's beaming when she looks up, and it fixes in place because he's right there.
In front of her. Without all the yelling people around them. It's surreal. He's adorable. She can't. He remembered her name.
Her mouth pops open but nothing comes out, so she just nods at him shyly.
What is his hair doing? It looks all wrong, and she wants to run her hands through it to make everything better.]
In front of her. Without all the yelling people around them. It's surreal. He's adorable. She can't. He remembered her name.
Her mouth pops open but nothing comes out, so she just nods at him shyly.
What is his hair doing? It looks all wrong, and she wants to run her hands through it to make everything better.]
[It really is a beautiful smile she's got. His lips tug at the corners for having been allowed to see it again--properly, without distraction.]
You ran-- very quick?
[There's uncertainty, as ever, with his English. It had hardly been a focus of his education-- more something it was assumed anyone who wanted to work internationally would personally develop in themselves.
It doesn't stop him from trying, jaw coming free of the scarf so he can nod toward the bench.] I-- may sit, yes?
You ran-- very quick?
[There's uncertainty, as ever, with his English. It had hardly been a focus of his education-- more something it was assumed anyone who wanted to work internationally would personally develop in themselves.
It doesn't stop him from trying, jaw coming free of the scarf so he can nod toward the bench.] I-- may sit, yes?
[She nods so hard her hair bounces over her shoulder, scooting over a little and patting the bench in invitation. Yes, yes he may sit, he may totally sit.
He's so willing to talk to her, even when it seemed like he was a little uncertain about saying the words. It was so impressive and brave. Jinx wanted to be that brave someday.
And since he was being brave, she could try to be brave too, right? It was only fair.]
Y-you're... tired?
[Oh god, that wasn't even a cohesive question. And it was applicable in so many ways. and why had she turned it into a question? She had meant to say it! He had looked tired! She hadn't wanted to bother him!]
He's so willing to talk to her, even when it seemed like he was a little uncertain about saying the words. It was so impressive and brave. Jinx wanted to be that brave someday.
And since he was being brave, she could try to be brave too, right? It was only fair.]
Y-you're... tired?
[Oh god, that wasn't even a cohesive question. And it was applicable in so many ways. and why had she turned it into a question? She had meant to say it! He had looked tired! She hadn't wanted to bother him!]
[It's almost like normalcy, really. There's an edge of star-struck fan in her, of course (and probably would be for a while; it had been quite a smack of a kiss), but there's also something he thinks he remembers from back at Durmstrang. Back when girls got tongue-tied around him because of his smile rather than his contract.
It's a good feeling.
There's a chuckle in his throat as he sits, hands still stuffed comfortably in his pockets.] A little, yes. It-- is much work, to...
[And then one hand is needed to indicate the sky above them, the stadium behind them. To do the up-in-the-air-in-the-stadium thing, clearly.]
You-- enjoyed?
It's a good feeling.
There's a chuckle in his throat as he sits, hands still stuffed comfortably in his pockets.] A little, yes. It-- is much work, to...
[And then one hand is needed to indicate the sky above them, the stadium behind them. To do the up-in-the-air-in-the-stadium thing, clearly.]
You-- enjoyed?
[She lifts a leg onto the bench to rest her chin on it while she looks at him. Making herself small sometimes helps squeeze the words out, after all.
His gesture is graceful. Just like when he's flying - smooth and purposeful. She likes seeing that.]
Yes. It was... good.
[That was an understatement. But she didn't have the right words to express the way he'd been so purposeful and strong, so supportive and protective. She smiled at him, and gamely soldiered on, despite the heat growing in her face.]
G-great! Y-you were great!
His gesture is graceful. Just like when he's flying - smooth and purposeful. She likes seeing that.]
Yes. It was... good.
[That was an understatement. But she didn't have the right words to express the way he'd been so purposeful and strong, so supportive and protective. She smiled at him, and gamely soldiered on, despite the heat growing in her face.]
G-great! Y-you were great!
[It's an amazingly refreshing pace of conversation, actually. People tended to speak so quickly here, with such impenetrable accents. This girl--young woman, really--is speaking slowly. Measured. Easy to break down and comprehend.
He ducks his head as his hand drops, something like the spirit of a bow in the gesture.]
Good. If-- people do not enjoy, it... is no purpose.
He ducks his head as his hand drops, something like the spirit of a bow in the gesture.]
Good. If-- people do not enjoy, it... is no purpose.
[She giggles, so quiet it's almost just breath and not sound.]
You're... nice.
[Nice to entertain people and help his teammates and just sit and talk to her like this while she waits for her family. It's nice. And she'd much rather sit here and talk to him than notice the fact that her sisters a approaching, delighted with their signatures achieved.
She doesn't have the words to tell him how much she appreciates him being him. That'd weird. Oh no she's getting sappy and weird.]
You're... nice.
[Nice to entertain people and help his teammates and just sit and talk to her like this while she waits for her family. It's nice. And she'd much rather sit here and talk to him than notice the fact that her sisters a approaching, delighted with their signatures achieved.
She doesn't have the words to tell him how much she appreciates him being him. That'd weird. Oh no she's getting sappy and weird.]
['Nice.' Huh.
That isn't the usual word. He thinks he rather likes it anyway.]
Maybe. [One shoulder lifts as he shifts forward, completely ignoring the approach of anyone else in favour of pointing at the program in her hand.] I thought-- perhaps to tell you what-- the words I wrote?
[It doesn't sound entirely right on his tongue, but the earnest effort at expression is there.]
That isn't the usual word. He thinks he rather likes it anyway.]
Maybe. [One shoulder lifts as he shifts forward, completely ignoring the approach of anyone else in favour of pointing at the program in her hand.] I thought-- perhaps to tell you what-- the words I wrote?
[It doesn't sound entirely right on his tongue, but the earnest effort at expression is there.]
[She let her hair fall beside her face and used the curtain to help her ignore her family, too. Her whole body turns towards him, in fact, her full attention focused on him and his niceness.
Nod nod nod. Yes, please, tell her what the words he used meant. She'd love to be able to obsess a little bit over them as well.]
Please?
[She holds the brochure out, as if he might need to read it. Smoothing the paper with her fingers in a futile effort to get out the wrinkles her excitement caused.
Nod nod nod. Yes, please, tell her what the words he used meant. She'd love to be able to obsess a little bit over them as well.]
Please?
[She holds the brochure out, as if he might need to read it. Smoothing the paper with her fingers in a futile effort to get out the wrinkles her excitement caused.
[Fame was an odd thing. In moments like this, it would probably be a useful thing--would probably hold her sisters off at least a few moments longer, if only from the shock of seeing him sitting with Jinx.
His head ducks closer to hers again, hand dropping to skim over the words while speaking.] Cine nu face când poate nu face când vrea. [It's a much more natural sort of pace, for a moment, as a more native tongue falls from his lips. Then, alas, back to halting.] It is-- a proverb? [The word is clearly new and experimental on his tongue.] If you do not-- do a thing when you-- can, perhaps you-- can lose the chance to.
His head ducks closer to hers again, hand dropping to skim over the words while speaking.] Cine nu face când poate nu face când vrea. [It's a much more natural sort of pace, for a moment, as a more native tongue falls from his lips. Then, alas, back to halting.] It is-- a proverb? [The word is clearly new and experimental on his tongue.] If you do not-- do a thing when you-- can, perhaps you-- can lose the chance to.
[She licks her lips, eyes thoughtful while he talks. While she thinks about what it means, her fingers trace the words lightly.
Then she grins at him, sweet and light. It sounded so nice when he said it, and he'd told her she should do a thing when she can, so...]
Say it... again?
[Just because she wants to hear him speak in that smooth way. Just because he sounds so right in his native language.]
Then she grins at him, sweet and light. It sounded so nice when he said it, and he'd told her she should do a thing when she can, so...]
Say it... again?
[Just because she wants to hear him speak in that smooth way. Just because he sounds so right in his native language.]
[It's one thing to be allowed to chat with the rest of the team. It's always interspersed with other languages when they're on the road, after all--trying to keep each other in the right linguistic part of their brains.
He's absolutely got a real smile for having her ask for this of all things.]
Cine nu face când poate, [comes more slowly this time, attention on pointing properly at the words so she can draw the proper connection,] nu face când vrea. Da?
He's absolutely got a real smile for having her ask for this of all things.]
Cine nu face când poate, [comes more slowly this time, attention on pointing properly at the words so she can draw the proper connection,] nu face când vrea. Da?
[She leans just a hair closer while he talks, eyes following his finger, taking in the word patterns and sounds. And if her cheeks are glowing pink, she can hope that it isn't as noticeable as it feels.]
Da!
[Da, yes! She just wishes there were more time, so she could actually learn the sounds instead of enjoy the way he said them. But her sisters are crowding closer, and she doesn't want him to have to face yet more loud people and screaming fans.]
Th-thank you. Uhm... a-Aleksei?
[Is it okay, to use his name? She hopes it was okay. She really really hopes so.]
Da!
[Da, yes! She just wishes there were more time, so she could actually learn the sounds instead of enjoy the way he said them. But her sisters are crowding closer, and she doesn't want him to have to face yet more loud people and screaming fans.]
Th-thank you. Uhm... a-Aleksei?
[Is it okay, to use his name? She hopes it was okay. She really really hopes so.]
[She's flushed, yes, and there's still a sense of awe about her, but it feels so... normal. So much what he remembers from before. So natural and easy despite the language barrier and the limelight he's been living in these days.
The bob of his head is insistent.]
Da. [And he taps the page between them again.] Aleksei Julijovich.
[Because that's what new friends called each other--by both names, until the world got small enough for just one. His finger shifts upward on the page again.]
Jinx. Da?
The bob of his head is insistent.]
Da. [And he taps the page between them again.] Aleksei Julijovich.
[Because that's what new friends called each other--by both names, until the world got small enough for just one. His finger shifts upward on the page again.]
Jinx. Da?
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