RP: Noise Makers

[shh_caradoc]

Date: 21 March 2005
Characters: Caradoc Dearborn [Cai], Willis Travers [Siri]
Location: Caradoc's Claim on H Circle
Status: Public (He's working outside the house)
Summary: Caradoc and Cai get to work repairing The Warren and wake up a neighbor.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_travers]

She had been lying in bed, simply enjoying the slow awakening, for some time when a sudden clamour threatened to jar her from any sense of this particular calm. Siri enjoyed slow mornings, the after-effects of a long evening, the sensations forming themselves slowly. She clung to these vague sensations, these thoughts (feeling Willis beside her, correct and strong even in sleep and dead to the world in that charmingly contained way of his though it was also hers whenever she was near, and she adored this; lingering eyes of the man who was truly Antonin Dolohov, who may have appeared otherwise but who she knew to be the one from before and who she could also, now, almost feel; a sense of belonging and freedom running entirely together) for several minutes more before they were quite taken away. Then there was that sensation of being quite awake, and there was no use denying it. Siri moved to kiss Willis, tossel his hair lightly, and then was out of the bed, dressing quickly and leaving the room with a slight sigh of irritation. It had been such a nice morning.

Now that she was awake, however, her curiosity had been aroused. Something was causing such noise, and she intended to discover what this might be. She'd seen no one in the near area, after all, certainly nothing to necessitate such hideously obtrusive sounds. What was it?

Siri wasn't about to waste time wondering when she could see for herself. Throwing on a pair of shoes and a jacket (it was Willis', but he wouldn't mind; he might be lucky enough to sleep through the disturbance), she stepped outside, heading directly toward the noises. They were coming from the nearest house, the one that had appeared deserted, and she laughed to herself at the thought. Laaboring over a house, and at such a time in the morning? It was quite ridiculous.

The figure of a man had come into view; apparently, this was the one who found some strange interest in such activity. As she neared, Siri took in the sight of him, began to form an estimation. During a moment of comparative silence, she spoke up. "Do you enjoy this sort of activity?"

[shh_caradoc]

"Good morning, ma'am." Caradoc grinned at her. "As a matter of fact, I do. What sort of activities do you prefer?" Oh, way to go, Slick. The lady probably thinks you're propositioning her. Let's try being a gentleman, shall we?

He flicked his wand to cast a quick cleaning charm to remove the dust from his clothes and then again to rid his hands of any grime, and went to introduce himself. "Caradoc Dearborn, ma'am. How are you this morning?"

[shh_travers]

Gods, the man must be out of his mind. It was, coupled with that smile, really quite charming. And he'd bothered to clean himself? Well. She was almost flattered by this.

She had smirked at his initial question, the potential answer quite clear, but this worked itself into a more natural smile at his approach. "I was having rather a lovely time, Mr. Dearborn, before being quite interrupted by your most pleasant racket. Though I am relieved to find that you enjoy it." She extended her hand lightly. "Siri Travers."

[shh_caradoc]

"I'm sorry we interrupted your lovely time, Ms. Travers. I hope we didn't disturb your breakfast. I had waited until I thought the neighbors would be at work or about their day. I see I have misjudged your schedule, ma'am."

Caradoc smiled wickedly at the statuesque woman and flashed a hint of his dimples. "I do know perfectly well how to cast silencing charms, but really part of the fun of renovating and restoring is making a lot of noise and a big mess. And although I'm relieved to hear that you are relieved that I enjoy it, please allow me to apologize for my racket, however pleasant it may be."

He took her hand with a smile. "I'd hate to start off on a sour note with such a lovely neighbor. I assume you and your family live in the house next door? Or do you wander about town looking for renegade rehabbers raising ruckus, Ms. Travers?"

[shh_travers]

"I've hardly had a chance to get around to breakfast, Mr. Dearborn," she laughed. "Mornings and I agree on very little, I'm afraid. I take it you're not much a man of the night life?"

Oh, yes, she did like that smile of his, and matched it with her own. She couldn't entirely fathom what sort of man might enjoy making such noise, and at such an unlikely hour, but the breed seemed far from repulsive. "You intend to live here, then?" She glanced over the mess that he had created, the house that looked like it could use quite a lot of work. "You're an ambitious man, Mr. Dearborn."

Releasing his hand--that, too, had an attractive feel to it, different from much of what she was used to--she shook her head somewhat, tossing her hair and laughing again, now at his speech. "It is my brother's house, actually. And while I didn't particularly mind your noises, I daresay he'll be less than pleased with them."

For a moment she considered the 'we.' What did he mean by that? It was only then that she noticed the house elf, and only with an effort that she kept an expression of great displeasure from her features. Bloody ridiculous things. She nodded toward it, still smiling. "Is this yours, as well?"

[shh_caradoc]

"No, I'm afraid I'm quite an old stick in the mud, ma'am. Unless I'm enticed by the right company or the right music to make a late night of it, I tend to rise early. You're a night owl, I suppose?" It really was a pity if she was. It meant that they'd rarely meet and he'd have little opportunity to enjoy more of her delicious sense of humor.

When she asked if he intended to live here, he laughed. "That is the current plan, but I'm not exactly sure when I'll be able to actually execute it." He leaned in conspiratorially. "Just between you and me, the place is a bit of a mess."

He loved the way her hair fell around her shoulders when she shook her head. "Your brother a night owl as well, Ms. Travers?" He noticed the slightly frozen expression as she took stock of Cai in her vivid purple smock, bright yellow blouse, and emerald green leggings. Caradoc wasn't sure if his elf had deliberately dressed herself to look like a pansy or not this morning. She sometimes did things like that, but he'd long ago learned it was best not to ask. "Cai is old friend of the family. Frankly, I am as much hers as she is mine. Would you like to meet her?" He wasn't sure if the lady disliked elves or was just wary of Cai and her bizarre fashion sense.

[shh_travers]

"Then we must find you the right company, dear sir." She supposed the thought fit the man well enough. He must prefer mornings, to be acting as he was. It was a quality she rarely came up against in her pursuits, and Siri found herself quite interested by it. Yes, this Mr. Dearborn was a flavor entirely different from those she typically met.

"Willis and I greatly prefer the night, yes. There is something altogether too cheerful about early daylight, and I tend to find the night's possibilities far more interesting." She glanced around, taking in the sight of scenes brightened and colors softened by the sun's light, affirming once again her preference for later hours.

Adjusting the coat, she smirked at his comment regarding the house, nodding with widened eyes. "And, Mr. Dearborn, I'm afraid you might be right. It appears that your walls may be missing a stone or two."

She glanced at the elf again, eyebrows raised at the prolonged sight and the man's odd words regarding it. Well. It might be a shame that he appeared to, well, get along with house elves, but perhaps she could overlook this fact for a time. The uses of polite intercourse, and such. "She," Siri had needed to remind herself not to say 'it,' and had happily managed this, "certainly seems an interesting... character."

[shh_caradoc]

"Well Ms. Travers, if you and your brother both prefer late night pursuits, I will be certain to use silencing charms from now on. I'd hate to start a feud with such a lovely neighbor."

When she mentioned the wall missing a stone or two, he laughed. "Perhaps a fair few, ma'am."

He could tell that the lady seemed reluctant to meet Cai and as he had to return to work, he decided to offer her a way out. "I seem to be keeping you from your breakfast. Perhaps after I've completed repairs, we can find a mutually agreeable time to get together as neighbors? I think perhaps sundown? Right in the middle of the night owl and early bird schedule? That should work, don't you think, Ms. Travers?"

[shh_travers]

"That would be most kind of you, Mr. Dearborn," she smiled; it was lovely when matters worked themselves out with such ease. This hadn't even been her intent, not really (it might have been entertaining to watch Willis' reaction to the noise, if ill-advised). It was simply a nice addition. "It really would be best all around, I think."

And how very gentlemanly of him, turning in such a direction. The offer was, so far as she saw, entirely acceptable; it would give her a chance to find whether this man's apparent love of house elves overshadowed his equally obvious charm. "Sundown would be lovely." She took another look around the area, tossing her hair before looking at him again. "Best of luck to you, Mr. Dearborn. Meeting you has been an absolute pleasure."