rcphceltousscint

[rcphceltousscint]

SABRINA CARPENTER & GAVIN LEATHERWOOD Sabrina Carpenter - Skin

[rcphceltousscint]

"Once my brain notices something, I can't unsee it." Or unhear it in this case he supposed. Raphael set his book down to one side and twisted to turn to face Dominique, still half draped across her lap. One hand was idly stroking the top of her thigh in a gentle, rhythmic pattern. "And just what is this character like and what should be changed about it?" He was genuinely curious about how she saw what it was she was reading. "I'm interested to hear your professional opinion."

"So you're keeping tabs?" her instinct always to deflect, blinking up from her page when he'd cut through the silence to call her out. Dominique had been enveloped by the comfort of their quiet intimacy, she was enjoying spending the day in lazily plopped onto her couch and just enjoying each other's presence as they did their own things. "I guess I got lost in thought," she considered with a light hum. "I began to rewrite what I think this character should be doing and I let myself forget I was actually reading," Dom then admitted, looking back at the page to find the words she'd left off on.

[rcphceltousscint]

"Oh entirely. Especially so because it is you." Raphael spoke a little too perkily. His expression turned into what could only be described as a cheshire cat grin when she relented. "I'm sorry? What was that? I'm not sure I heard you correctly. You might have to be a bit louder."

"Are you really going to be this fussy over a 'please'?" she grumbled, rolling her eyes at him initially but having to weigh out her options. "But okay fine– Raphael, could you please give me a hand with this?" Alessandra put emphasis on the word to an almost childish degre

[rcphceltousscint]

"In a friendly capacity, of course not. I am not a complete cad." Raphael pointed out, wanting to make it clear even if it hadn't been intended that their interaction was to be a certain type. With the developments with Dominique, he didn't want to give her any reason to believe he wouldn't be true to his word.

"I prefer not to but if the situation calls for it i can play the part," she shrugged back when he pointed out how she didn't seem like the type. "And it seems like you're not totally opposed to getting to know one another considering you haven't left yet."

[rcphceltousscint]

"You know, I don't think I've ever heard anything quite as sad as that." Raphael stated. "But then I remember its you I'm talking to and suddenly it makes perfect sense." The man continued with what one would probably have perceived as a charming smile even if his words were anything but. "But I understand."

"If you don't already know that this is not how that works, you are in the wrong building. Paperwork is how this place stays standing," Theo replied, "I'm being dead serious. I count them every day and record how they many and how many I snip off - because I have permission to - and I record it all here," he explained, holding up the book, "So you can see why I'm not going to just cut out the middle man."

[rcphceltousscint]

"That almost sounds like you're asking for my help..." Raphael spoke smoothly, a smirk playing over his features as the flowing cursive stopped and he set his quill back in the ink pot. "Though I'm yet to hear you actually ask properly."

@alessandramacnair

[rcphceltousscint]

"I'm fairly certain you've been on that same page for the past five to ten minutes." Raphael finally spoke up in the quiet of the room that was only broken by the sound of soft instrumental music being played in the background. He was comfortably stretched out on Dominique's couch, a socked foot half hanging off the side whilst his head was perched against her lap. They'd been enjoying one anothers company like this for a good while now, neither one speak but that wasn't necessarily needed. His eyes strayed from his own book to look up over the top of his glasses, head tilting back slightly. "Something on your mind?"

@dcminiquesweasley

[rcphceltousscint]

"Can you now? You don't seem the type to just behave." Raphael surmised, the humour still playing over his features. "If you can accept that though, I am sure we could find a way to enjoy one another's company anyway."

"I can behave myself if that's what you're afraid of," Laurel replied when he made the comment about what type of friend she had in mind. "And that's fair enough."

[rcphceltousscint]

"Hm... interesting take on my personality." Raphael answered lightly, a smirk on his face. "Perhaps I am exactly as self-involved as people think." He offered up the corners of his lips tilting up further. "And I have always been polite, now you are just being rude."

"You're not as self-involved as you seem to like to lead people to believe," Alessandra shrugged back with softened features. "Thanking me too? You've gotten so polite and gentlemanly these days," she couldn't resist teasing.

[rcphceltousscint]

"I suppose, but I more appreciate the storytelling than the actual ghosts themselves. And yes, I am from Beauxbatons. They have their own ghosts of course who are more than happy to tell you all their stories. In fact quite a few are very egocentric." Raphael gave to the woman in answer.

"If you've got any suggestions I'm happy to hear them," Willow shrugged back with a casual smile. "You really love your paranormal though, don't you? Did you go to Hogwarts? Or should I assume by the accent you went to Beauxbatons? If it's the latter I'm curious, are there ghosts roaming the halls there like there is in Hogwarts? I'm sure you could've asked them so many question."

[rcphceltousscint]

"Is that so? I wonder what gives you that impression." He was curious as to what she saw in him because Alessandra had startling foresight really considering how little he felt he gave away. "I am aware. So thank you."

"While I don't totally doubt that... I don't think that the possibility of you changing your mindset on that a little is totally out of the cards either," she shrugged at him with a little smile on her lips. "Yeah, soak it up while you can. You know I don't just throw those around. Especially not around you," Alessandra added playfully.

[rcphceltousscint]

"I think that it's good to explore something outside your usual interests. I enjoy books and what is a ghost tour if not a form of audio book really." He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"A ghost tour?" Willow quirked a brow at that. "Certainly sounds interesting. Is that usually your sort of thing? I can't say I've ever thought to go on one of those but it certainly sounds interesting."

[rcphceltousscint]

It was not the first time that Raphael had been surprised by just how much of an impact he could have on the blonde. On anyone in fact but he'd never really seen himself as someone who could be that kind of man and encourage that kind of emotion. His talents tended to lie elsewhere but it moved him to know he could have such a positive influence on someone. And for that someone to be a person he regarded so highly too. "For you to be wanting that from me in the first place is quite the change in affection towards me." Raphael admitted given how Dominique had spent so long sneering at him when he'd come to England. He had actually began to doubt his abilities to sway her opinions of him. Of course, that had started out with different intentions to what he had now. Now they were more genuine and less to simply satisfy himself.

"Well..." Raphael began in gentle response. "Let's not put too much pressure on what the expectations for this ought to be, but perhaps we can start by clarifying that I'll be seeing no one else whilst we explore this and I would hope for the same from you." Not that Dominique was the type to do such a thing, it just felt right to confirm on both sides if they were going for clarity.

"Maybe so," she nodded, "But it doesn't make me any less grateful. Whether you planned to or not, you inspired me. And that means a lot to me so, I just wanted you to know that," Dominique elaborated with a shrug. When Raphael mentioned the possibility of having upset her, she shook her head with a laugh, "I was disappointed, sure. But honestly it was for the better. As much as I would've enjoyed that... I think everything happened the way it was supposed to," she assured. If anything it was a great show of his own character and how things had changed with him. Or at least it gave that impression.

"I'm afraid you're giving me far too much credit here, Raphael," her expression having shifted into one of pure surprise. Dominique never thought she'd hear anyone say that to her, let alone him of all people. After the way he'd left her feeling in the past, it was enough to render her stunned. "I just... I really like who I am with you and I want to explore more of that. If we just want to keep it casual that's fine and I get it but all I ask is that we make that clear from the get-go," she clarified.

[rcphceltousscint]

"Unlike you, apparently." Raphael responded back with quick wit, a smirk playing across his lips despite his words however. "Indeed. I think the thought was... unexpected." Not that he wasn't considerate but creating a scent that reminded him specifically of Dominique... well he supposed that was taking it to another level. "I believe she was catching up with one of her family members so I agreed to do the drinks run in the meantime."

"Spoken for? They grow up so fast," Alessandra teased, convinced that this was the first time she'd ever seen the other man with this particular demeanor. He looked happy but on such a peaceful level. "Well received? You're very welcome, Raph," she beamed. "So I take it the lucky lady isn't too far away if you're keeping an eye on those drinks?"

[rcphceltousscint]

🎉  - alessandra

Can be found here.

[rcphceltousscint]

🎉 - our muses run into each other at an nye party

"Alessandra, I would give you one of these drinks but unfortunately they are already spoken for." Raphael spoke pleasantly as he noticed her making her way to the bar. "I would however be happy to buy you one. It is the least I can do considering your help with creating that perfume. It was... very well received."

@alessandramacnair

[rcphceltousscint]

"You owe me nothing." He answered with a sincere shake of his head as he looked to the blonde. Honestly, if anything, the way he'd treated her in the past, this was the least she deserved as recompense for his actions. He couldn't pretend that was the reason why he did it though, the truth was he enjoyed it. "I did wonder why I hadn't seen so much of you recently though." Raphael confessed with a little laugh as he removed his glasses and set them to one side. "I thought that perhaps I had upset you." He had realised after all that she'd been hoping for something there that evening that he hadn't provided. It had been with the best intentions though for once from him.

At the question Raphael found himself smiling with more softness to his expression than he'd held in it for a long time. "Dominique, I do not see myself as a good man but for you I will try to be. Perhaps you will be the making of me."

"No, I couldn't have. You're totally right... who do I take myself for?" she huffed back playfully at that comment. If there was one thing Dominique had been sure of, is that she didn't have to worry about Raphael exposing that secret of hers. It just didn't feel like something the man would do. "I owe a lot of it to you, it only seemed fair," Dom confessed, nodding to the book in his hands, her face pink after that soft kiss to her cheek. "After the trip you'd curated well... I couldn't stop writing. I haven't been that inspired in a long time." And she certainly hadn't felt like that since their infamous summer together. When she wasn't writing or on occasion taking breaks to continue her regular reading, every other thought seemed to be consumed by him.

"And I... well I was thinking about you a lot too. I– I guess this was me asking you if you wanted to try this all over again but like... for real?" she explained even if she was sure he had gotten the gist. "No mixed messages or getting lost in communication. If you want to try this I'm asking for total transparency. I don't want to get my hopes up again as I'm sure you can understand."