RP: A Dinner Date

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

Date: November 7, 2001
Characters: Viktor Krum, Alicia Spinnet
Setting: Viktor's Home
Content: PG
Status: Private : Complete



Over breakfast, Viktor had given Sasha strict instructions that she was only to gather ingredients from the marketplace, since the little elf had been wildly excited when Viktor told her they would have a guest for dinner - a female guest. The elf had been working tirelessly since their arrival to unpack as much of the trunks as possible while integrating his family heirlooms into their new home. At first, it had seemed odd to see the family crest tapestry hanging on the wall of the living room but Viktor had come to realize that it was the best place for it and it made him feel more connected with the old world to have it there where he could see it every day.

His day at the Ark went by quickly as he was busy with two litters of Crups that had arrived that morning, and he had begun training to work with the Chinese Fireballs. That part of his day had been equally interesting and enjoyable since he had been able to work with Charlie Weasley directly. Not that Viktor minded working with any of the Senior Keepers but Charlie was an old friend from the war and his light grasp of Romanian gave Viktor more ease to communicate. Viktor was, however, careful not to mention his date for that evening - he loved Charlie like a brother but he did not wish to compete with the ginger for a woman's affections, and certainly not a beauty like Alicia.

Apparating back to his front porch just before 5:30 pm, Viktor took off his boots by the front door and left them outside as they were caked in mud. He was drenched to the skin from the series of downpours throughout the day but he stripped off his t-shirt and jeans in the ensuite and took a hot shower. Miko watched him from his bed while Viktor stood in front of his closet making selections of clothing. Finally, he chose a pair of black trousers and a blue button-down shirt, fastening the cuffs as he pushed his feet into a pair of loafers. It was casual enough not to say 'formal' and yet 'formal' enough to imply a date and not an evening between friends. Viktor had every desire to continue his burgeoning friendship with the blonde witch but he also intended to push the envelope of romance to see if she was agreeable.

Starting dinner cooking just after 6 pm, Viktor went around and lit a few candles to add some level of comfort to the room. The datapad was set on the coffee table and he had discovered the stored music application, queuing it to play some Tchaikovsky on a low setting. Miko followed him into the living room and made herself comfortable on the spare chair, watching him silently as he surveyed the rooms for any flaw. Sasha had set the table and she was now fussing over the sweet loaf of cheese bread she'd made for dessert. Viktor checked the time - just ten minutes to 7 now and decided that, if things went well, he would break into his personal cache of coffee later on to share with Alicia.

Comments

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

My running friend. Great pleasure. Extend invitation. The words of Viktor's messages on the datapad kept running through Alicia's head, as she looked at the three outfits that were spread out on her bed. All three of them fitting her perfectly, though for three very different occasions, and she wasn't sure which one tonight was. Just as she reached for the one on the righ, the formality of his words made her think it an evening that called for something more than the very relaxed jeans and t-shirt. However, following that thought, when she went for dress pants and button down shirt, it seemed too formal for an evening with his 'running friend'. Looking at the sets, she kept coming back to the white summer dress with the light cardigan. Simple, feminine and very, very...

"You're going on a date?"

Sam's voice cut through her consideration, finishing her thoughts on the set in the middle.

"I'm having dinner with a..." Alicia looked at him, trying to quell down the butterflies in her stomach that wanted tonight to be a date, "... uhm... with someone I... He... I'm having dinner with someone tonight." Despite stuttering and the lack of eloquence she tried her hardest to keep up a nonchalant appearance, though Sam, apparently, saw right through her.

"Ah, so you do have a date. Who is he?" he demanded.

"Nobody," Alicia snapped, snatching the white dress from the bed, though when she turned around, Sam was gone. With a frown she glanced towards the door, but Sam was nowhere in sight. Shrugging at her brother's blooming oddness, she began brushing her wet hair before she dried it and tamed it until it was hanging down her back in loose curls, going for simple rather than some advanced up do. With the weather here being prone to sudden downpours, she had found that unless she kept her hair tied back in a pony tail, letting it hang lose was far easier to managed after being caught in a shower like that.

She had just gotten her white summer dress zipped up when out of nowhere, Sam was standing in the door again.

"Here," he said simply, holding out one of the small gifts each of them had been given by their mum. Looking from the gift, then up to his eyes, and back to his hand. She could feel her eyes stinging, but she refused to give into the longing for her mum tonight, and without thinking more about it, she took the gift from Sam.

"For Alicia, on her first date," she read on the little card, smiling when she could see her mum's face as she prepared the gifts. In her box of gifts, there was something similar, only for Sam, and she could only imagine the hard work her mum had put into preparing presents for all the major events she would no longer be part of. "I don't even know if it's a date," she confessed, and sat down on the edge of her bed, Sam following to sit down next to her.

"You're having dinner with someone who you won't name," Sam stated, "as opposed to when you had no problems telling me that Charlie Weasley was giving you a tour of the Ark. It's a date."

Alicia could feel her cheeks go beet red, and in an attempt to cover it up, she carefully unwrapped the gift, keeping the paper intact for later use. "It's her necklace," she said with a small chuckle, picking up the necklace with the light coral stones that she had admired for as long as she could remember.

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"Here, I'll help you, and that'll be the last part of me playing your girlfriend, so you'd better accept," Sam informed her, holding out his hand.

Gathering up her hair, Alicia turned and let Sam arrange the necklace around her neck. "So if you're not my girlfriend any more, then what are you?"

"I'm me, and I'll remind you that whoever it is you're seeing, he'd better behave or I won't be held responsible for anything I might do to him," the look on Sam's face had Alicia do her best to keep from smiling. Sam was by no means a violent man, even less so threatening or menacing. Like her, Sam was on the short side, though he was taller than her, and where she would get angry if pushed, it took at least three times as much for Sam to even raise his voice. But it was nice to know that she still had him "And I want you home by 9 o'clock... and bring the tin of Arabica I left for you on the counter. It'll be like chocolate after dinner."

"Thank you." Rolling her eyes, Alicia leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Don't wait up."

With a pop she Apparated from just outside her house, only to Disapparate a moment later right by the M post. Three houses down, on the right... she looked to make certain that it was right, before she headed in the direction. Her sandals weren't all that well suited for the path, but they were cute, and a whole lot better than the high heels she had considered at first.

Standing in front of Viktor's house, Alicia straightened the light cardigan and made sure her wand was in her purse, before she climbed the steps and knocked on the door.

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

At the knock, Viktor barely managed to stop Sasha as she raced to get the door, and he gently told her that he would get it but that she should 'help' him by staying. The elf was beside herself with glee at the thought of a visitor and she nodded quickly, her large ears bouncing, as she tucked herself behind Viktor's leg. Opening the door, Viktor was momentarily speechless at the beautiful witch on his doorstep for a second before he smiled and stepped back. "Velcome to my home, Alicia. Please, come in," Viktor welcomed her warmly, his heartbeat speeding up at the thought that he could easily screw this up.

Once she was inside, he closed the door behind her and reached out, taking her hand and lifting it to his lips as he bent to press a chaste kiss there. "You are like sun come down from sky," he said honestly, while Sasha wiggled to peer out from behind his knee. "Sasha eager to meet you. Alicia, dis is Sasha." He reluctantly released her soft hand and straightened as he introduced her to the elf who was looking up at Alicia with wide eyes and a broad smile, her little elf hands clasped together over her heart. Being the youngest of the Krum elves, Sasha was very open with her affection, even toward strangers.

"Please, make self home here. Dinner vill be ready soon," Viktor asked, gesturing to the interior of the house. It wasn't grand like Krum Manor had been but he was getting used to the smaller living quarters and the simplicity of the design though it would never remain so as long as he lived there. Sasha was already talking about how bland the wall colors were and how cold the furniture appeared. Now, with Alicia here, Viktor had to silently agree that the elf had a point - his home lacked the warmth that he enjoyed and would appeal to a witch like Alicia. And now that she was here, Viktor was more determined than ever to make a good impression upon her. "Vould you like tour?"

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

For just one moment, Alicia read Viktor's speechlessness to mean that she had misunderstood his intentions, that she had dressed up for nothing, or worse; she had dressed inappropriately. She was just about to wrap her cardigan closed around her, when he smiled, making her smile back. "Thank you for inviting me, Viktor," she smiled with a small nod, her stomach feeling distinctly like a swarm of butterflies had made it their home and her heart pounding hard in her chest.

It took everything in her for her not to wipe her palms against her dress to dry the dampness she could feel there. But Viktor beat her to it, when he took her hand, and she hoped the ground would just swallow her up, lest he should feel the dampness, too. Apparently he didn't, or perhaps he was enough of a gentleman to not make a big deal out if, because instead he kissed her hand and paid her a compliment unlike any she had ever heard before. Dumbfounded and deeply touched all Alicia could do was stare up at him, unsure of what to say or do in reaction to this extravagant gesture. Until he spoke. It felt as if she woke up – Who was Sasha? – and before she could stop herself, a nervous giggle had escaped her, making her cover her lips and too bright smile behind her fingers. "I'm sorry," she apologized, "I'm not used to... wow. Thank you?" Then she looked down to where the most adorable, little Houseelf she had ever seen appeared from behind Viktor's leg. The adoration in the little elf's eyes was unmistakable and Alicia felt an instant fondness for the little creature that she assumed was the Sasha Viktor had just talked about. "Hello, Sasha. It's nice to meet you." she greeted the tiny elf, sending it a smile though she didn't know if the elf understood her or not, before she looked up to Viktor. She felt a distinct need to pinch herself, just to make sure that she wasn't imagining what she had just experienced.

Make herself at home? Alicia nodded that she had understood, before she found her voice again. "Do you need any help with it?" she offered, since that was what she would do if she was at home. Apparently he didn't, she figured, or he wouldn't have offered her a tour of the house. Again, she nodded, already aware that it was quite a bit bigger than her own house. "I'd love a tour." Perhaps focusing on something more tangible, like the layout of the house, could bring her back down to Earth, rather than worrying that she might be imagining all of it.

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

With a hand on Sasha's shoulder, Viktor deftly prevented the elf from flinging herself into Alicia's embrace because he knew perfectly well that the little elf wanted to do that more than anything but he did not want to overwhelm Alicia. He tapped his fore finger on Sasha's shoulder, gently, just enough to get he attention and Viktor flashed a warm smile down at her, nodding just the smallest amount. He felt the tension ease on the elf's shoulder and he patted gently.

He chuckled at Alicia's reaction but it was a warm sound, accompanied by an easy grin. "I speak truth, Alicia," Viktor reassured her firmly, holding out his arm for her while Sasha curtsied and hurried off to the kitchen. He lowered his voice just for Alicia to hear. "Sasha vas most happy you come for dinner. She get lonely - only von young elf like she here, many old elf. She leave her parents, insist come vith me vhen ve come by portal und I fear she be only elf."

"Nyet," Viktor assured her, guiding her carefully between the living room area and the dining room (http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y499/TutisTempus/Housing/SkylarkFloorplans_zpse2dddb4d.jpg) toward the outside wall where the glass doors led out to the deck. He flipped the latch on the door and slide it open to reveal the large deck and the outside furniture there. "After dinner, ve sit und see star, da?" Guiding her back, he waved his free hand as they passed the kitchen area, saying. "Dis home haff big room, dis no like old home, but all different here. Your home different, da?"

In the hall, he stopped between two doorways, nodding to the left. "Von bath und," Viktor paused, then nodded to the other doorway. "dis my room," then he lead her forward another few steps to where the end of the hall was open into two rooms. To the left, he waved. "Sasha room," then to the right, "guest room, she tell me. I tell her ve all haff home, der no guest but she no belief me I dink." Viktor began walking back toward the open living/dining room area, very aware that it was improper to linger near his bedroom with her.

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

The interaction between Viktor and the elf, Sasha, was fascinating. Alicia wasn't used to Houseelves. Well, she knew that they had run the kitchens at Hogwarts, but she had never really had any interaction with them. She had never been to the kitchens at the school, since that had been the twins' job. Still, she was fairly certain, that a warm relationship between a master and an elf wasn't the norm, but she wasn't going to object. How could she? The little elf looked happy, bordering on ecstatic, and Viktor looked fond of the little elf.

"Aww," Alicia almost cooed, when Sasha curtsied and the scurried off to the kitchen, while she was still considering what Viktor had said to her. "The truth?" she questioned him with a gently teasing quirk of her eyebrow, slipping her hand into the crook of his offered arm. "I like that truth, but I'm still not certain what to say to it." Worrying her lower lip between her teeth as she looked up at him, she remembered that she was wearing makeup, and instantly released the lip. With all the worries she had had about her clothes, she figured she would just about die if she ended up with lipstick on her teeth. Again the topic fell on the little elf, and it broke Alicia's heart to hear that she was more or less alone. "She's really the only young elf here?" with a deep sigh, she shook her head. "That's so sad. Is... is getting a message through the portal that more young houseelves are welcome not something that can be done?"

Viktor's house, although bigger, differently laid out and with all of his personal objects neatly in place, didn't look too differently from Alicia's. The furniture was the same as hers had been, before she had started Transfiguring them. They were different from when she had first started, but they still weren't completely right. Despite the default furniture, there was a warm atmosphere in the house; the soft candlelight, the aroma from the kitchen and the soft music that was playing in the background. "That sounds nice," she agreed when she saw the deck behind his house, and then her attention was back on the kitchen. "It's a sociable kitchen," she smirked. "Same type as in my house, though my house is... smaller. But it's two houses. Two mirrored houses. My brother lives in the other one."

Viktor's room, Sasha's room and the guest room. Even Alicia couldn't help but chuckle at the little elf's lack of trust in Viktor's word that a guest room wasn't needed. "You'll have to invite guests over to sleep, just to please her," she pleaded with him. "Who could say no to a face like that?" Stopping for a moment, she gestured to the air around them, recognizing the music. "Tchaikovsky?"

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

"Der von small von on settlement two. He visit vith Sasha but she no like leave home muchly," Viktor clarified, knowing well that his poor English skills could easily confuse. The idea of sending word back fell short almost immediately for a very singular reason - there were few families who would release their elves as he had done. "Elf belong vith family. Few family give leave of elf. If dey no come to portal, dey vould keep elf to serve. If dey come to portal, dey vould bring elf to serve. Dis the vay for many family." He paused, silent for a moment before continuing. "I release all Krum elf. Send them back to own realm. Sasha, she come back. Vould no leave me."

He nodded at her assessment of his new home. Viktor had started thinking of it as home the morning after he had awoken in it. It was, no doubt, a defense mechanism to help him cope with the fact that he would never see Krum Manor again. But to stay in the future would have been folly. It would have meant the end of the Krum lineage and he chose family over inheritance. "You haff brother?" he asked, surprised but pleased that she was not here alone, like he was. She had someone who could watch over her.

Back in the living room area, Viktor arched an eyebrow, amused that she would suggest he do something like that to please Sasha but his thoughts were not of inviting anyone over to stay in the empty bedroom, no, rather of Alicia joining him in his own bedroom. But she was no Quidditch groupie, no. Alicia deserved to be treated like a lady, a witch to be properly courted. "Sasha spoiled enough," Viktor answered her, though his deep voice was warm and amused. He was surprised that she recognized the music. "Da," he acknowledged, taking her hand in his, resting his other hand gently on the curve of her waist, leading in an impromptu waltz, stopping only when Sasha giggled from the kitchen. "Ah, dinner ready."

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"Ah, okay," Alicia accepted Viktor's explanation of why more House elves couldn't simply be sent for. The helping creatures – or servants in the house in general, for that matter – wasn't something she was used to. She had heard about House elves, sure, had even felt a little offended on their behalf when Hermione had campaigned for their welfare at school, but that was it. The chances of her ever having to own or even just interact with a House elf had been slim to none, so like with dragons, it hadn't been a topic she had sought to deepen her knowledge on. Still, Sasha was adorable, no doubt about it, and Alicia was happy to hear that the little elf wasn't completely alone here. A feeling she only felt stronger, when the story of how she had come here with Viktor made her realize how attached to the man next to her the tiny elf was. Sasha adored Viktor, there was no doubt about it, and slowly getting to know more about him, Alicia realized that he was a man easy to adore... and not judged by his fame or skills on the Pitch.

"Yeah, I came here with my brother," Alicia chuckled, surprised at Viktor's surprise. "Sam. Well, Samuel, actually, but he's always just been Sam." Her smile faded a little, at the uncertainty of how much she ought to tell him about her family. For now, though, she would leave it at Sam, then maybe, she could bring up the rest. The fact that Viktor lived here alone with Sasha after he had released the family's Elves, made her think that his family wasn't here, and since the war, she had found, that had the potential of being a touchy subject. Rather than ruining the mood straight away, she let him guide her around the house, changing the topic that way.

If ever there had been a doubt in her mind that Sasha's adoration of Viktor wasn't returned, it vanished the moment he claimed that the House elf was spoilt enough as it was. Alicia's lips twitched with the contained smile, though she couldn't hold it back, when she suddenly found herself firmly in his arms and swirled around the floor in a waltz. The lessons from when she was younger easily kicked in, and she matched his steps perfectly, acknowledging that old Mrs. Lewisham had been right when she stubbornly claimed at man who could lead properly was worth his weight in gold on the dance floor. Her fingers had closed around the heel of his thumb and her head was swaying from side to side to keep the spinning from getting to her head, when Viktor announced that dinner was ready. With a curtsy that would have brought a smile on the otherwise very stern dance teacher's face, Alicia thanked Viktor for the dance. "That was lovely," she smiled up at him, and let him lead the way to the table.

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"Sam," Viktor repeated thoughtfully, nodding. He didn't know what it was like to have siblings, his Quidditch teammates being the next closest thing he'd ever know of that, and Viktor would do anything for them, as he had in coming here. Even in the future, he had been spending more time with them and their families since the deaths of his parents, so they had become his family in that sense. "I vould like meet brother of Alicia," he added firmly. It was only proper. Her brother was her family and that is what was done.

The waltz was easy with her pliancy, something Viktor had hoped for but could not count on generally. Most thought him uncoordinated on the ground for reasons dating back to his youth and growing cycles throwing his balance off but he had outgrown that long ago. Formal dance was something that had helped in that regard and this was more than enjoyable, to have Alicia in his arms for a few moments, moving to the music.

The curtsy brought a warm smile to Viktor's face as he bowed formally in return. He didn't necessarily cling to the old ways but he thought they had a place in this world as well. Resting his hand at the small of her back, Viktor walked with her over to the table, holding out her chair for her before going to the kitchen to retrieve the plates that Sasha had filed with the prepared fish.

Setting the plates down, he took his seat opposite. "I make Bulgarian dish, fish vith pepper und onion. Ve haff no tomato. Dis make dish mix of old vorld und new. It go vell vith wine," Viktor stated, pouring her glass from the dark bottle, then his own. He held his up in a toast. "Naz drave! Dis mean I vish you good health."

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

Viktor's courtesy, his attention to her and gentlemanly manners were all a new experience to Alicia. Not that her friends hadn't been polite or courteous towards her, but this was to a degree that she had never experienced, at least not without it having been done in fun or as a bit of joke. But this wasn't a joke. There was nothing forced about Viktor, or the way he gently guided her to the table or held out the chair for her. It seemed to come naturally for him, and it made Alicia relax and simply do her best to follow suit while enjoying the attention he was giving her.

The steam rising from the plate he placed in front of her was aromatic and made her mouth water slightly. "It looks delicious," she told him honestly once he had told her what it was, though she couldn't help but wonder if he had cooked or if it was Sasha's doing. That wasn't important, though, and it was something she could always find out later. Holding up her glass to recognize his toast, she sent him a small smile, before she attempted to repeat what his wish for good health; "Nas Dravee." It had sounded so simple when he had said it, not quite as simple when she did.

The wine was good, though it wasn't until Alicia tasted the food that she could completely agree with Viktor that the wine went well with it. It was a new taste, but one she found that she liked, and she nodded in approval as she chewed the soft fish meat. "It tastes as good as it looks," she commented, licking her lips discreetly. "Right now I couldn't imagine it with the tomatoes, so..." With small smirk, she cut off another bite, chewing thoughtfully before she put down her utensils and tilted her head slightly as she looked directly at him. There was still something the matter of him wanting to meet her brother.

"So, you want to meet my brother?" she asked him, though she knew perfectly well that he did. After all, why else would he have said so earlier? It wasn't that she didn't want him to meet Sam, it was just that Sam was her brother and knew so much about her, small things, little details that she was unsure if she was ready for Viktor to know about her. "I'm sure that could be arranged, somehow," she said carefully, "or... you could come over to visit and he'd be there before I'd even had a chance to invite you inside. The meeting part is easy enough, I just don't know you're ready to know everything he's capable of telling you about me."

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

His warm smile deepened when Alicia repeated his toast in his own language, her sweet voice intoning the words in a way that made him want to lift his chin in pride but he did not. That she tried his language was more than enough to solidify his decision to court the pretty blond - if she was receptive to that. Viktor waited until she had taken the first bite before he began eating, though he paused and gestured mildly with his fork. "Tomato bring acid. I use root vith similar base," he clarified, pausing a moment before adding. "Taste become stronger vhen you add vine."

Viktor paused in eating when she questioned him directly. There was something in her tone. Unease? He wasn't certain. It was only when she finished speaking that he chuckled warmly. "Nyet, I no vish tale of you. Brother is family, da? It proper I meet him - if ve vish pursue... future. I vould velcome invitation of visit but Sam must know of dis. Only proper."

He smiled devilishly, lifting his glass to his lips but pausing to speak before drinking. "I trust you vill ask of me vhat you vish know. Und you speak vhat you vish of me know of you. Dis vhat meal in Bulgaria do. Ve talk. Ve share of self. Make all family in heart dis vay. I no do dis now, now for you und I to share of self vith privacy."

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

Alicia's eyes narrowed slightly in curiosity of the point Viktor was headed towards. She nodded; yes, Sam was her family, there was no doubt about that, but it still didn't explain why he wanted to meet him, at least not until he got to the actual reason. Alicia could feel her cheeks heat up, her heart was beating furiously and her stomach was doing flip-flops again. Carefully she put down her utensils, resting her elbow on the edge of the table as she hid her smile behind her fingers. Her eyes were glued to Viktor's as she slowly shook her head, then bit her lower lip. "You want..." she started, then couldn't help but chuckle softly. Never before had a man told her this specifically what he wanted without being lewd about it. It touched her more than she could say. "You want to pursue a future with me?" Slowly, without thinking, the shaking of her head turned into a discreet nod. No, she didn't know if there was a future for them, yet, but she would very much like to find out, and if that meant that Viktor should meet her brother, then so be it. On the other hand, she couldn't completely let go of the fact, that Viktor and Sam was the same age.

Clearing her throat, Alicia did her best to clear her head so she could share with Viktor just a small fraction of all the things and thoughts that were racing through her mind at this point. "You'll meet Sam," she assured him, then gestured to the food. "We talk over dinner in England as well." Her chuckle was warm as she followed up on what Viktor was saying. "In my family, after we all had moved out, we got together for Sunday roast at least twice a month, though on occasion it was moved to Saturday, and that was when we caught up and talked about anything that was going on." Looking down at the food on her plate, she took a private moment when her memories strayed back to the last time the five of them had shared Sunday roast together. That had been years ago, and though she missed them all dearly, it had gotten easier to live with, and it made her think that maybe Sunday roast wouldn't be such a bad tradition to continue here in the new world. "You've cooked this delicious, Bulgarian meal," with a small smile, she pushed away the sad memories and looked back up at him. "So maybe you would let me return the favour, and you could meet Sam over a meal at my place?"

Carefully she cut out a piece of the meat, savoring the taste, swallowing before she spoke. "I want to get to know you, Viktor," she smiled at him, "and I appreciate that I can ask you anything I want to know about you, but..." Gently she wiped her mouth and put the napkin back down again. "But I want you to ask as well. It hardly seems fair that I get to ask and you only get to know what I want to tell you."

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

It was clear that what he'd said had some effect on her but to what end, Viktor was not sure. Had he been rude? He had no idea what the English did for courting but he reexamined his words - none of them had seemed rude but she was blushing as if he'd invited her to fuck. He was trying his best not to react to the shaking of her head. What that meant to her was something different than to him - he was struggling to remember that they were opposite from his own country. "Da," Viktor answered firmly, setting his fork down, trying to find the words to describe what he was thinking. "Dis new vorld. Ve young, da, but vill no be young alvays. Ve must dink of future, of family. Haff I spoken vrong?"

His chin did lift just a touch when Alicia agreed to introduce him to her brother. Good. He continued to ate while she spoke, listening carefully. So, her family was close as well. This was good. They shared something very basic but also very strong. When he introduced her to his teammates, it would not be a shocking or frightening experience for her - at least not in the sense that the gathering would be familiar. She must have an attraction to him if she was agreeing to give this a chance and that was more than Viktor could have hoped for. "I vould be muchly honor to dine vith you und Sam," Viktor assured her firmly, flashing a warm smile.

Reaching for his wine glass, Viktor found himself caught in her gaze, the color of her eyes so warm and inviting. "If dis vhat you vish, den it vill be so," Viktor agreed, pausing to drink from his glass. "Vhy you vish be Healer? Vas dis vhat you vant as child?"

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"No, no," Alicia shook her head, immediately reaching out to touch Viktor's hand. "You haven't said anything wrong, Viktor. Quite the contrary. I..." Her voice trailed off again as a small frown appeared on her forehead while she tried to put words to the things she couldn't even explain to herself. "You are so kind, so gentle and as ironic as it may seem, with me being English and all that, I have never experienced anybody being the perfect gentleman like you have tonight, and it's..." Alicia made gesture with her hands, lacking the words to describe how mind-blowing this was to her. "I can honestly say that I've never had a man treat me like you have tonight, little less talk about the future on what I can only think of as a first date... and it scares me, but at the same time, I don't want you to stop." She licked her lips, still looking at him, then shrugged slightly. "Maybe it's because it's Sam you'll be meeting, to do the proper thing. Maybe that is why it's difficult for me to see it as the proper thing to do. Had it been my parents, then yes, I could possibly better relate to it, but it's Sam... he's your age, and it's difficult for me to see him as anything but Sam, little less someone you need permission from, so to speak." She sent him a warm smile, hoping to see the look of confusion and uncertainty fade from his face.

Viktor's warm smile came as a relief to her. It suited him and it if was up to her, he would wear that smile all the time. "I'll be looking forward to spending more time with you," Alicia replied, returning his warm smile, "and for you to see that Sam is just Sam, even if he is my brother. We're just... us."

Drinking from her wine, mirroring Viktor's move, Alicia took a moment to consider his question. Then she shook her head as she swallowed the fragrant liquid. "No," she said with a chuckle. "When I was little, I wanted to be a Quidditch player. I wanted to have nine brooms, and a goat, and I wanted to drive a lorry and make hard candy and marry a prince and have five children." She sent him an amused smirk. "Then I grew up, or at least, I got older, and I still wanted to play professionally, only... there was a war coming and that changed my view on a lot of things." She glanced down at the glass in her hand, then back up at Viktor. "I don't think I really noticed my interest in Healing until my seventh year at Hogwarts, when my nose was broken, and I realized that I already knew how Madam Pomfrey was going to Heal it. I started imagining what it would be like to Heal for a living, and that's when it struck me, that if I could see myself being happy doing something other than playing Quidditch, being a professional player wasn't for me. So rather than being the best Chaser ever, I changed my goal into becoming the best Healer I can possibly be." Setting her glass down, she once again rested her elbow on the edge of the table, leaning slightly forward towards him. "How about you, Viktor? If you hadn't become a professional, then what would you have been doing?"

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

The touch of her hand on his was distracting but no more so than the words she was speaking. Gentle was not a description Viktor had ever been called before in his life and he wondered if the English really had a reputation for being proper if she was considering his actions to be surprising. That he was speaking frankly about the future, certainly, he saw could be unnerving but Viktor did not believe in hiding his intentions. If they were to pursue was relationship, then it should be in open regard for one another, with honesty being laid down like the foundation of a home. "First date imply more come after, da?" he answered, with a tilt of his head. "In my country, dis proper. Dat I meet family. Dat intent made clear, da? No permission, Alicia."

She had wanted to be a Quidditch player. He knew she had played in Hogwarts. That she was a Chaser. Viktor's smile broadened. Nine brooms. He'd only brought two through the Portal but he had left behind many more at his family estate. A goat? He couldn't see why she'd want one but he knew there were some on the livestock farms. Viktor had no idea what a 'lorry' was or 'hard candy' - was that different from the little drops of candy his mother had always kept around the manor? He arched an eyebrow of amusement at the prince - Viktor wasn't muggle royalty but his father had been a Duke, a title that had, technically, passed to Viktor but he'd never used it. His smile warmed then. Five children. That was close to his desired number of children, as well. There was only a few forkfuls of food left on his plate when she finished speaking.

"I vould vork vith Father. He haff... had trade business. I learn, even vith Quiddith," Viktor answered, his expression sobering as he thought of his parents. His gaze shifted from watching her features to a point just over her shoulder. "Each day, Papa, he tell me of day, of trade, vhat ve invest, vhat ve no invest, who he speak vith, vhy he do dis," he continued, the memories washing over him. The image of his parents, how they let him into nearly every aspect of their lives, how he never for a moment doubted their love and devotion, not just to him but to each other. "My parent, dey ver muchly proud dat I play Quidditch. Dis vhat I dream of, vhen I child. Quidditch. I see first game vhen I five. I know den, I vill be Seeker."

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"That is true," Alicia conceded; a first date did imply that there was more to come. This was just the first time she had ever had to really think about what this first date could lead to and that was a new experience for her. Still, she nodded in agreement. When Viktor put it like this, it did make sense, and though it wasn't what she was used to, she couldn't see anything wrong with doing things the way he considered proper, especially since she didn't find them improper. "You will meet my brother, and we will do this properly," she smiled at him.

Though Viktor was still eating while Alicia spoke, she still watched him, watched his reactions to what she was telling him. She could only speculate as for what went on in his mind, but his expressions gave her a hint. The expression on his face when she mentioned the goat nearly had her burst out laughing, though she somewhat understood him; even she wasn't sure why she had wanted a goat so badly back then, but she remembered the desire to own one vividly. However, the warm smile on his face when she had mentioned the horde of children she wanted had her smirk a little. At this point, she didn't know how many she wanted, just that she wanted some... eventually.

She had just taken a bite of her food when Viktor began speaking. Watching him as he spoke, listening, she once again put the utensils down. Even though Viktor's gaze was distant and not focused on her, she couldn't bring herself to continue eating while he was telling her something that was affecting him like this. While she had the impressions that his parents had died before he had come through the portal, she now knew that to be so, at least by the correction Viktor made when he talked about his father's business. Most likely his mother had too, or given how highly Viktor valued family, she would have been here as well.

"You held on to you dream and you followed through," she said softly, moving her plate away. There was still food left, and more than on Viktor's, but she didn't feel hungry any longer. "I think any parent would have been proud to see their child succeed like that."

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

At least she was giving him a chance, both to get to know him and be open to furthering a relationship if they suited each other well. It was one thing to be physically attracted to her but quite another if she did not share his desires for the future. That separated witches from being one-offs, as the English called them, and being a potential wife.

It was easy to fall into memories of his parents, though they had been gone from his life for over a year. Back in the future, their personalities had surrounded him in every aspect of the manor, but here, his new home was a mixture of his own personality and theirs through the objects he'd brought with him. When Alicia stopped eating, he was a little concerned that he was bringing the conversation down but there was a glint of interest in her eyes which told him she was listening to what he was saying. "Da, dey verer most proud," he agreed, smiling again.

"Dey stood by my choices. Ve no alvays agree," Viktor chuckled, thinking back on some of the heated discussions he'd had with his father about putting off marriage in favor of Quidditch. Lifting the wine bottle, he topped off her glass again, then his own and set it aside. "But dey varm, loffing parent. Dey vere killed in var. Like many other. My vorld before var vas only Quidditch. Much focus to be best." He paused, reaching out across the table to gently take her hand in his own. "Vhat of hope for future? Vhat you vant?"

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"I don't think children are supposed to always agree with their parents," Alicia chuckled, caught by the shift of emotions in Viktor's demeanor. She easily recognized the mourning for his parents, but also the fondness with which he seemed to look back at them. At least with her dad. When it came to her mum, it was all still a little too fresh for her to feel anything but an immense longing for her.

Viktor's hand was warm, and as it covered her own, Alicia recognized the calluses from years of riding a broom. His question came as a bit of a surprise, though it also brought with it a small bit of melancholia. "My dad died in the war, too," she told him softly, "and my brother, Sam's twin. They were at the Ministry when it fell." Drawing in a deep breath, she nodded, sending him a small smile before she shrugged lightly. In many ways her hopes for the future were very simple, and yet, she also found them significant "I don't think my hopes for the future are all that special or even out of the ordinary," she told him, curling her fingers around his. "I want to be happy and not feel like I've settled for anything less than what I actually want, and I want that kind of happiness for my loved ones as well." Raising her glance from their hands to meet Viktor's gaze, she sent him a small, almost embarrassed smile. Yes, he had been the one to talk about the future, but this was a new experience to Alicia, and talking about the future with someone she had just met was slightly daunting to her, in that she couldn't quite let go of the notion that if she did, he might think that she wanted too much, too fast. "I want a family of my own, and I want my children to know this place but also where we came from and how we got here. Most of all, though, I want to feel at home here. I don't want to feel like a guest or so completely out of my element whenever I look around."

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

He chuckled again, warm and deep, a small tilt of his head in agreement to her statement. He'd stopped himself from shaking his head, remembering at the last moment that it meant disagreement to her. With the exception of Quidditch games, Viktor had spent most of his time after the war in his home city, Sophia, and even here in the Settlement, he spent his time at the Ark or with his friends who were an island of Bulgaria in this new world.

Ah, so she had lost family as well. He noted that she spoke of her father and another brother but not of her mother as she had Sam, the brother who had come with her. This could mean a great many things but Viktor did not chose to speculate on it. When she was ready, she would tell him. He did, however, note that she did not pull away from his touch, no, in fact, she was returning it so he let his thumb gently stroke the soft skin of her knuckles. His expression was somber but with a hint of a smile, determined as he was to follow what she said closely. "Special in all ding. Vant of happy, care for loved vons, dis special to me," Viktor pointed out.

"Dis new for me, Alicia. Never before haff I speak of future vith voman," he explained, noting her hesitant glances. "I vant of family as vell. Vant of home fill vith laughter und loff, as I had. I tell you dis because ve vant common ding. Common but important. If no I vant of child, den ve vould know dis first und last date, da?" He paused when Sasha appeared with another dish, the cheese bread sliced into thin slabs, that she placed on the table with a shy smile before disappearing. Viktor continued. "Long I dink dis life for later but dis new vorld, everything change. My team, dey change mind also. Future vhat ve make now."

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Alicia felt like crying. Not because she was sad, but because she was touched. She had always prided herself with being strong, with her capability of having dealt with everything that had been thrown at her and come out on the other side stronger than she had been before. Yet sitting here, Viktor holding her hand and wanting to know what she wanted for her future without finding her needy when expressing it honestly was almost enough to make her come undone. She nodded, agreeing with how he summed it up; this was important to her too.

His explanation could just as well have been her own, to some extent, at least and she couldn't help but chuckle softly when he reached the one point she disagreed with him on. She didn't get to elaborate, though, as the tiny elf appeared, placing what most of all looked like buttered bread in front of them. Alicia returned the elf's smile, then looked back to Viktor.

"I don't know," she told him, her smile holding a hint of teasing in it. "Even if either of us didn't want children, I don't think this would have been our last date." Turning his hand around, she kept her eyes on it as she traced the lines across his palm with the tip of her finger. "I think there would have been several more dates, though none that truly mattered. We'd have fun, and we'd be talking like when we first met rather than about something of actual importance, because..." Again, she raised her eyes to look at him. "There's chemistry, and you know it, and it would have been a welcome distraction until either one or both of us got our priorities straight and set out for something healthier with someone who wanted the same us we did."

Closing his fingers back around her hand, Alicia let their hands come down to rest on the table again. "But we do want the same thing," she continued, "and the chemistry is still there and that makes me want to try for that future I didn't dare hope for until tonight. Maybe it will be our happy ever after, or maybe you'll change your mind when you see just how much I enjoy my rationed morning coffee, or perhaps you have some unfortunate, deal breaking habit that I cannot tolerate. But I'd like to try." She swallowed and looked down at their hands again. "Unlike you, my friends aren't here, though I'm hoping they'll come through soon. I don't know if they will, though, so the most I had hoped for in the future was to not be alone here, to have found new friends." Her smile broadened slightly as she picked up her glass, holding it up as if making an unofficial toast. "And then I went for a run..." Blinking slowly, she looked at Viktor over the rim of her glass as she took a slow sip of her wine.

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

Chemistry. Ah, yes, that he understood. That zing that he'd felt during their first meeting, the prompting it gave him to contact her for this date. To be sure, he was very attracted to her - a monk would have trouble denying an attraction to this witch - and he wanted to take her to his bed but he had the sense that there was the potential for something more - something that he'd never sought with any of the women he'd had in the past. The gentle tracing of her fingertips was intensely distracting, that playfulness, the tone of her voice, the hint of smoky desire in her eyes, made Viktor take a stern hold of his own desire.

"Da, chemistry here," he agreed with a touch of husky growl in his voice, his fingers tightening on hers for a brief moment before relaxing again. "Und fun haff place. Haff place vith us now und future - dis no must change. But ve try for more, da? For team of family." He lifted his own glass with his free hand and returned her gesture in kind but he did not drink until after she did. When she was done, Viktor rose, still holding her hand, and guiding her to her feet.

Stepping back, he led Alicia away from the dining table into the space between the sofa and the hall, resting one hand on the curve of her hip and curling their joined hands against his chest as he drew her close. The music was soft, a slow tune to lazy to waltz to properly, so he modified the box waltz into a much slower dance. "I vant know vhat 'break deal' habit bother you," Viktor stated firmly, moving his hand to the small of her back, his fingers splayed against the cool fabric of her dress. "Und I tell you secret. I haff kaffee for later." He lifted their hands, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

As her smile broadened briefly, Alicia's cheeks heated up. Viktor's voice had grown husky; he had been affected by her touch, and though she had somewhat expected a reaction from him, actually seeing it happen made her very much aware of herself and how much affected she was by it all as well. Slowly, she nodded in agreement. Yes, they would still have fun, but there would be more, and though it was a tad frightening sitting here with a man she was very attracted to and agreeing on trying for a future together, she also found a security in it. This time, she didn't need to worry about feeling too much, too fast, and even if she did feel too much, too fast, she got the feeling that she didn't need to hide it for fear that it would scare him away.

Her eyes were on Viktor as he got up and went around the table, without letting go of her hand. Trusting that he wouldn't expose her to anything uncomfortable, she followed his gentle guidance, until she found herself in his arms, held close to him, and dancing slowly to the soft music. Viktor's body was solid against hers, she could feel the heat radiating through his clothes as she looked up to meet his gaze. Alicia opened her mouth, about to fulfill his desire to know what constituted deal-breaking for her, when he shared his secret with her and then kissed her knuckles, making a shiver run up her spine. Her eyes widened and her cheeks went crimson red when she chuckled and hid her face against his chest – oh, but he smelled so good. "Oh, I completely forgot my manners," she groaned, raising her face to look at him again. "Instead of bringing over a bottle of wine, I brought a small tin of coffee for after dinner... and I forgot to give it to you when I first came. I'm so sorry."

Sobering slightly, she considered her answer to him. "Infidelity is a deal breaker," she told him, "as is beliefs in Pureblood supremacy and Muggle subservience and any kind of physical, psychological and verbal abuse." Shaking her head she reconsidered those three things, then nodded. "Yeah, no, I don't think I could tolerate that in any way. What about you? What would you consider deal breaking?"

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

He didn't understand her embarrassment but, when she tucked herself against him, Viktor was surprised by the deep sense of protection for her that welled up inside him. It didn't put him off in any way. Many of the women he'd been with in the past were overly independent. They had simply wanted sex with a World Cup Seeker, but this - his masculinity found it very appealing. His hand pressed more firmly at the small of her back. When she lifted her head again, his dark gaze was serious but he chuckled at her exclamation.

"Dis very kind of you but save kaffee for more visit," Viktor assured her warmly after she had finished speaking entirely. His dark eyes glinted with interest as she listed off the behaviors that would prevent them from moving forward but his features settled into a slightly stern look when she finished. What foul beast of a man would disrespect a lover in such a way? He stopped moving, then. "I vill no dishonest vord vith you. I haff many vomen but no vith any vord of future. Dis change. I haff no desire for share."

He released her hand, slipping his palm against the curve of her neck, barely cupping her jaw gently as he looked down into her gaze. "Durmstrang teach all magic. Some say dis make me dark vizard but I no fight for Voldemort, I fight against. My parent, dey killed for belief dat all equal, for dey fight against." Viktor paused, fighting the intense feelings of anger and disgust at the thought that a man might have hurt Alicia in the past. "Only veak covard man hurt lover."

"I no share. If ve lovers, den no other lovers, da?" Viktor stated firmly, his thumb stroking the curve of her neck lightly. He saw no reason to restate her declaration of equality for other humans as it was clear they agreed on that as well. As she also wanted a family in the future, that wasn't something that needed repeating either. "Dishonest vith me. Ve different, da, but I no vant dishonest drive vedge between us." He stopped there, feeling like he might not be clear but wanting to hear her reply.

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

So intense. The only word Alicia could find to describe the look in Viktor's eyes was 'intense'. Even if she had wanted to, she doubted she could have drawn her gaze from his as he denounced ever doing any of the things she couldn't accept from anyone. "It doesn't matter to me how many women you've been with in the past," she assured him softly, her hands coming up to rest on his chest. "We both have pasts and there's nothing we can or should do to change that."

His hand on her neck made her tilt her head slightly, seeking his closeness. Of course she had heard the talks of how Durmstrang taught the Dark Arts, but she was also well aware that the Dark Arts only were only dark because of the intentions behind them and that even what was considered white magic could be used for malice. What really touched her, however, was that Viktor's parents had given their life in the fight against those who had fought to eradicate people like her own parents. "I'm sorry about your parents," she whispered, her hand coming up to cover his on the side of her neck.

"No other lovers," Alicia assured him. "It's not what I do or anything I have ever done." With each stroke of his thumb, she moved closer to him. They're slow dance that had come to a halt shortly after it had started, now continued in the minute movements of his caresses and her reactions. "Differences are no excuse for dishonesty." Gently she traced her fingers down the back of his hand to his wrist. "I may not be able to tell you everything without being asked, but won't ever be anything but honest with you."

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

It was sensible for her to view things as a step forward from their own pasts but it was a sentiment few other women he'd been with shared so Viktor was pleased with her rational logic. He was more pleased with the way she was comfortable touching him, so natural with a hint of hesitation that was slowly falling away. Her hand pressed against his at her neck and he nodded solemnly, thinking just then what a crime it was that his parents had not lived to meet this witch. "Dey believe dat vhat right vorth all. Dis vhat I believe," Viktor replied.

She moved closer and it was so tempting, so hard to keep from kissing her but it was important that he hear her out, that he know of her understanding, that there be no misconceptions between them. His parents had enjoyed a marriage of deep love and respect right up to their deaths and Viktor had vowed at their graves that he would settle for nothing less to continue their legacy. When she finished, however, Viktor saw that they were still in agreement and that was enough for him.

Bending his head slightly, Viktor paused just an inch from her lips and then slanted his over hers in a warm, questioning kiss, drawing her firmly to his body with the hand at the small of her back. It was slow and exploring, hot and languid, pouring heated desire into every inch of his body as it drew out. He was reluctant to break the kiss, the spark of chemistry flaring into a wall of fire, but Viktor did, finally, drawing back with darkened gaze and heavy breath. "Haff you more of des breaks of deal?" he asked huskily.

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"You believe that what is right is worth everything?" she asked him, believing that she had at least gotten the gist of what he had said, though wanting to be certain that she hadn't misunderstood him. Alicia recognized that belief from herself, though she hadn't put exact words on it until now.

Being this close to Viktor, watching him listening to her, it was unlike any seduction Alicia had ever experienced. On some level it almost felt as if they were negotiating their way into turning their mutual attraction into something deeper, and yet it still felt completely unavoidable at the same time. Unlike her own parents, who had grown up next door to each other and started dating as teenagers whenever her dad had been home from Hogwarts, she was settling any potential differences that could interfere with a shared future with someone she had only just met.

For just a moment, Viktor's lips hovered so enticingly close to her, yet still without touching her that Alicia thought he might be waiting for her to close the distance. He moved just as she tilted her head that last inch, meeting him, meeting his kiss by inviting him in. Her fingers slipped between his on her neck, while the fingers of her free hand curled around the fabric of his shirt. She swallowed down a soft moan, making her breath hitch in her throat just moments before she let go and gave herself completely to the kiss. The kiss ended with a soft sigh, and Alicia licked her lips, tasting Viktor there, before she opened her eyes to look at him. "No," she chuckled, shaking her head slightly, trying to clear her mind again. "No, I think I got them all." Without thinking, she reached up and caressed the tip of her finger against the corner of his mouth and down along the line of his beard to his chin.

[tt_viktor.insanejournal.com]

"Da, if ve no stand for right, den evil free to harm," Viktor agreed. These were principles that his parents had instilled in him from a young age and had been part of his life for as long as he'd known. His parents had been in a position of social elite and they took that responsibility very seriously, using their influence to help promote the belief that Muggleborns were no different from Purebloods. His mother had been extremely vocal in trying to get those labels removed from the local papers entirely.

The kiss was everything he hoped it would be - full of desire and potential. Viktor couldn't even chuckle at her soft moan, feeling swept up in the kiss, a mixture of need and a flare of want. This was a dance he'd never done before - working toward a proper courting - and he didn't want to misstep but her taste was intoxicating. And the soft look in her eyes when he drew back tested his resolve not to push too quickly. He smiled as her fingertip traced along the edge of his beard, turning his head just the smallest bit to let her finger continue. "Good, good," he chuckled.

Reaching up, he caught her hand and lifted it, palm up to press a warm kiss there, then another to the curve of her delicate wrist, before returning it to his chest. It was an enormous struggle to pull his focus back from the desire to kiss her again but he knew if he continued doing that now, then it was likely they would end up in bed sooner rather than later. "Let us sit, da? Sasha vill bring kaffee," Viktor asked, glancing toward the sofa and back to meet her gaze. "und ve... talk more. Tell me of vhat you do."

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

Viktor's warm lips on the sensitive, thin skin on her pulsepoint was enough to make her breath shaky and a dull, heavy longing settle deep in her stomach. Alicia could feel her nipples push against the soft fabric of her bra and it made her draw in a deep breath to calm herself down. It would be so easy – too easy – to simply give in to this desire Viktor had awoken in her. A desire that still surprised her, but so did Viktor. Giving in would send them on the fast track to the non-committing fun they had talked about wanting to avoid. She nodded in agreement, looking first from Viktor to the sofa and then out to the deck he had shown her earlier. "Perhaps we could sit outside for a bit?" she suggested, fully aware that the air outside was too warm to cool her down, but the semi-public setting could provide a small help in keeping this desire – that she was fairly certain she saw reflected in Viktor's eyes – from making them move too fast. She smiled up at him before she added, "and maybe some of that bread. I never got to try it."

Even in the tempered air of the house, without Viktor's arms around her and his body flush against hers, Alicia felt almost cold. She couldn't completely stop touching him, though, and like he had offered her his arm when he had first given her the tour of the house, she slipped her hand between his arm and body, letting it come to rest on his forearm on their way across the dining / living room area. "So, you want to know what I do..?" she started, drawing in a deep breath, regaining her focus on something other than the kiss that had clouded her mind so.

"Well," she started, sitting down, careful to keep her dress from sliding too far up her thighs as she crossed one leg over the other and turned so she could watch Viktor as she talked. "You already know that I'm a Healer, so I... Heal." Perfect, Alicia, she thought, stating the obvious. Again. "But it's different here. More... challenging. The magic is the same, so are the remedies, but we're working with Muggle doctors and that is..." she shook her head as a smile slowly spread on her lips. "It's amazing. It's... When it comes to Healing, it's everything I've ever dreamed of. Combining the two techniques I grew up with to get something even better and far more efficient." She paused for a moment, considering what she had just said. "Maybe it's not just in Healing, though. This place, with Magic and Muggles, with both worlds I grew up in all rolled into one without having to worry about keeping the two separated or hiding half of my life to most of my family.." How come she hadn't thought of that until now? Alicia was pretty certain that had she considered that earlier, she wouldn't have felt as out of place here as she had for the past couple of weeks. "It works here, but it wouldn't have worked back... there... then?"

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Viktor was pleased that Alicia took his arm as they moved across the room to the glass door leading out onto the deck, welcoming the fresh air and open area to quell the intense desire that he was feeling. He wanted the little witch but it would not be proper to push things quickly so he was resigned to a very cold shower later on. "Da, Sasha vill bring. She very happy to help. I fear she vant more do. She start garden in yard."

He held her hand as she sat, then released it so she could arrange her dress. A dress he kept envisioning on the floor of his bedroom. Viktor took a deep breath, trying to push those thoughts away as he settled on the outdoor sofa beside her, laying one arm along the back. "You vork vith Muggle doc-tor, da. Ve haff von at Ark," Viktor said with a smile, taking one of her hands in his. He was impressed that she was a Healer but to learn about the Muggle healing was even more impressive.

"Da, much different here. Better. Less fear of vhat different," he agreed easily. The elf brought out the bread and their wine glasses along with the bottle, setting them on the low outdoor table. She came over to Viktor's side and he bent his head for the elf to whisper in his ear though he merely replied a soft 'nyet'. Sasha nodded and disappeared into the house. He was amused that the elf thought Alicia would be staying the night but he did not relay that information to Alica, instead, fixing a small place with a few pieces of the bread and refilled her glass as they continued to speak.

[tt_alicia.insanejournal.com]

"Well, yard work isn't that bad," Alicia smirked, touching her temple briefly to Viktor's arm, appreciating the closeness he gave her by placing it there. "I've got a bit of a vegetable garden started, and it wasn't nearly as dreary as I'd feared. Of course, I've yet to see if anything useful actually grows, or if it's all weed, but..." She laced her fingers through Viktor's, letting the fate of her attempted vegetables disappear unspoken into the thin air.

"Up until now, I've mostly worked with the doctors in Two," she told Viktor, "but I've met Kepner a few times. Like most of the younger Healers and doctors he's trading experience with a Magic or Muggle counterpart." Sasha's appearance made Alicia pause, watching the interaction between Viktor and the elf. She couldn't help but wonder what Viktor had denied the little elf, but she didn't ask, simply sent him a questioning glance before she picked up her glass and turned her attention back to him. "It's people's second chance," she mused, "I guess that makes them better capable of accepting that what has always been fairy tales to them is now reality."

Toeing off her sandal, she drew up her feet, settling in on the sofa, under Viktor's arm. She was ready to spend an evening getting to know him better.