RP: The Calm Before the Crazy

[shh_eleanor]

Date: 2 March 2005
Characters: Ernie and Eleanor
Location: Corner of River and D
Status: Private
Summary: Ernie picks Eleanor up for Ron’s party.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_ernie]

Ernie made sure that he did not get held up at work today. He may have even left a bit earlier than usual. Shower, shave, standing in his boxers in front of his closet trying to decide what to wear. Finally, as it was 6:20, he pulled on a long sleeved black button-down shirt that he found in the back of the closet, a clean pair of denims, socks and boots. At the last possible second, he decided against his regular jacket and slipped the tannish blazer on over the untucked shirt.

He hoped that he wasn't overdressed. Or underdressed. Would it have been too girly to have asked Eleanor what she was wearing? He was hoping that it was a skirt and not trousers. She really did have nice legs.

At 6:29, he was dashing up the walk. He knocked once before shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I hope that..." he was saying when the door swung open. However, when he got a look at Eleanor, he forgot what he was saying. "Sweet Merlin's testicles," he sputtered out. The skirt...was nothing compared to this. There were hips and...cleavage...and...cleavage. His brain immediately conjured an image of him pressing Eleanor up against the wall in some dark corner of Xanadu.

"Eleanor, you look..." His voice sounded rough to his ears.

[shh_eleanor]

Apparently Ernie liked the dress. Eleanor felt slightly giddy, and giggled at his reaction. “Thank you, Ernie. You look very nice yourself. Would you like to come in? We don’t have to be there until seven, and I need to dig my jacket out of the closet.”

She stood aside, to allow him through the door, and then turned toward the cupboard she was using for storage. Her regular coat would have looked terrible with the dress, but she had a black pea-coat hidden in there somewhere that would look alright.

[shh_ernie]

When she invited him in, he just nodded and brushed past her. She was rooting around in the cupboard as he stood there.

"Your hair..." Merlin, why could he not complete a coherent sentence? It wasn't as if he didn't think she was pretty before tonight. Although he didn't think he'd told her that. A situation which could be quickly rectified.

He reached out and placed his hands on her waist, turning her toward him.

"Eleanor, you look beautiful. I mean, I thought you were before, but tonight, you..." Shite. He was buggering this up completely.

Actions speak louder than words. For once, the little voice was helpful. He pulled her a bit closer and kissed her gently.

[shh_eleanor]

“Oh, I used a curling charm on it,” she told him from the cupboard when he started to mention her hair. “One of the benefits of living in a dorm full of girls. You get to learn all of those frivolous girly charms.”

She had just found the jacket when Ernie turned her around to face him. Her cheeks flushed when he told her he thought she looked beautiful. Even before he’d seen her in the dress. She couldn’t remember anyone but her parents ever having told her that before. Pretty yes, but not beautiful. She tried to say something, but her voice and her brain didn’t seem to want to work together at the moment.

She dropped the jacket on the floor to wrap her arms around his neck when he kissed her. It was more exciting than the first two times they had kissed, and she found herself half tempted to take him to her room and show him what she had bought to wear underneath the dress. That thought scared the hell out of her. She really didn’t know why Ernie caused these kinds of reactions in her. She hadn't actually thought of sex as something she might want to do since she'd lost her virginity and some idiot had told her it was fun.

She pulled back slightly and smiled at him. “Thank you. I think you’re rather handsome yourself.”

[shh_ernie]

Ernie grinned. He didn't think he was handsome, but it was nice to hear it from her. "What? This old thing?" he said, shrugging a bit. He kissed her again, rather chastely this time, before letting her go and retrieving her jacket from the floor.

"Shall we go then?" He held out the coat for her. As she slipped her arms into it, he slid his hands up her arms, giving her shoulders a brief squeeze. "Have you been to Xanadu before?" While he'd been there on patrol on several occasions, he'd not been there for enjoyment. Hopefully, Eleanor wouldn't be averse to dancing with him.

[shh_eleanor]

“Yes, in that old thing. Your button downs. The sweater you wore under that jacket the last time,” she said with a soft smile.

“I suppose I am ready,” she said a bit reluctantly. Personally she’d rather stay home with him, but that probably wasn’t the best idea. “I’ve been once before. Rose dragged me the night it opened. Luckily she got distracted by Wayne Hopkins before she could push me off onto some unsuspecting bloke. Or at least before she was successful at it.”

[shh_ernie]

Ernie's eyes narrowed. He didn't much like the thought of Eleanor and some other bloke.

Well, we'll just have to keep her happy then.

Opening the door, he held it for her and stood on the porch, waiting for her to lock and ward her house. He thought about asking if she'd like to side-along, but decided to take charge. After all, they'd apparated together once before. So, Ernie slid an arm around her waist, made sure she was holding onto him, and Apparated them to the sidewalk outside Xanadu.

Before they walked in, he turned to her. "Promise you'll dance with me?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow at her.

[shh_eleanor]

She arched an eyebrow at Ernie’s squinty eyed look. What was that all about? Wight a shrug she put on her coat and gave him a smile, before walking out the door ahead of him.

It took her a few seconds to lock up and set the wards. When she was finished, she turned to Ernie. “All ready.”

Once they were standing outside Xanadu, Ernie asked her if she’d dance with him. “Of course I will.” She hadn't been at all excited about the prospect of dancing with anyone the first time she had gone, but then she didn't really fancy the idea of dancing with strangers. Ernie she was actually looking forward to dancing with.