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xxxxx『 〄 Celestial Bodies 』
xxxxxxxxx〆 ┊ The city of Aimes, town center, Academic Offices
xxxxxxxxx〆 ┊ Wednesday, late afternoon
xxxxxxxxx〆 ┊ sunny and clear, but decidedly nippy

Eli smoothed the much-creased paper with his forefinger. The torn edge tickled his palm; faint teeth marks marred it where Magnolia had yanked it from her notebook using her teeth. What an odd girl. But he had come to her lecture. Magnolia Kaufman. She was all fire and spark when she spoke, her hair a golden aureole around her pretty head. She talked like the crowd was her best friend and she had a secret and the secret was so amazing she might burst. He liked the way she acted, like everyone needed to know everything now. It was utterly charming. Eli found himself caught in her fervor; planets, stars, orbital mathematics danced 'round in his head. Math was everywhere and it made Eli smile.

Slowly, the lecture room emptied and Eli shuffled to his feet. He supposed it had been a decent turnout and he wondered if Magnolia would have even noticed if only one person had come: if she would have chattered on just as enthusiastically to anyone willing to listen. Soundlessly, he moved forward to stand near the girl. She shuffled papers from her podium to a bag, smiling happily. A foot shorter and at least a half-decade younger, but she talked about the stars like they were her friends. He fidgeted.

"Hello, Magnolia. Or should I call you Dr. Kaufman?" He smiled down at her, all white teeth and wonderment. "I'm Eli, we met a week or so ago at the festival." his voice lilted upwards on the last word, an invitation. He rocked back on his heels as he stuck out one large hand. Even her hand looked small and dainty next to his, but he could see the ink staining each fingertip.

"You gave such a wonderful lecture. I'm not usually one for the stars, but that was fascinating." He hesitated, questioned his next course of action. Eli really couldn't help it, anything with a pulse for this incurable flirt. "I was hoping you would be willing to grab coffee with me," he stated baldly, cut to the chase. "I'd like to get something warm in me before dark and I do hate going out to cafes alone." Even as he spoke, the sky grew a bit darker. The sun went down so early in the winter... Eli smiled affably and surreptitiously fingered the bottle in his coat pocket. Still delightfully warm. His smile grew wider. Maybe he'd show it to her.

Fish? Oh dear, Eli thought uncomfortably. He hadn't been called that awkward nickname since he was in primary school. However, Magnolia seemed to mean it in good spirit, and Eli was not so crass and ungentlemanly as to correct her. So, he just choked a little each time she said it. Reaching one long finger up, he tugged at his stock-tie.

He chuckled as she chattered about, much like a magpie. Magnolia, magpie.. they both began similarly and mag was three letters. Eli approved. Chuckling, he winked at her. "How could I not come to one of your lectures when you are so passionate about the subject?" He had to cover up a snort with an inelegant cough as Magnolia absentmindedly wiped chalk across her forehead and into her hair. She was made up all prettily, her lashes tinted, cheeks rosy: a doll knowledgeable about orbital patterns, but the chalk ruined the image.

Following behind her like some satellite drawn into her orbit, he watched as she slipped on her boots. Putting a hand to his chest, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought she was going to simply gallivant about barefoot. A flash of skin seduced him closer as she adjusted her skirts; Magnolia had some lovely ankles."Magnolia... May I call you that?" he paused. No, no, it really was bothering him. "You have a bit of... just there.." Eli trailed trailed off. Unthinkingly, he reached forward and, with one long swathe of his thumb against her skin, wiped the chalk from her forehead. Her skin was smooth, girlish, warm. Seemingly oblivious to his indiscretion, he thread her arm through his, steering her towards the door. "I know a lovely place just nearby..."

They chatted of everything and nothing as they walked. Eli liked the feeling of an arm through his; he had missed it. Going so far as to seek Magnolia out, how astounding. Eli never bothered to put forth much effort before, the women he wished had simply fallen into his arms. How very unlike him, maybe Aimes was good for him after all. He smiled, a small, secret smile.

The cafe, quiet and cozy, was everything that comforted Eli. Warmly lit and delicious-smelling, it reminded him of his favorite bakery in Faleen. A girl had worked there, sweet as a summer day; Eli had been quite sweet on her once upon a time, once upon a lifetime ago... His bruised heart gave a pitiful thump of protest. It's silent plea went ignored as Eli glanced at Magnolia across the table. The girl was a mix: made-up but unkempt, awkward but passionate. Something made him uneasy.

"Magnolia, may I borrow your scientific mind? You seem delightfully logical and right now, I could use that." Leaning forward, elbows on the polished wood of the table, he searched her muddy hazel eyes. "It's terribly forward of me, but still... may I tell you a story?" Like standing on the end of a diving board, a cliff, the restless sea, he was nervous. Maybe he was crazy, but Eli would never know unless someone else stepped in.

To be completely frank, Eli was nervous: nervous as a schoolboy on his first date, jittery as if overdosed on caffeine. His hands dropped flat on the cold solidity of the table, normally calm fingers tracing circles and patterns, unknowingly mimicking the curls of smoke within his glass bottle. Eli's hands were oddly rough, despite his number-driven job. Unweathered by much sun, they were still strong and almost rugged; he should be using his hands to wield axes, rescue maidens, to rub a rough palm over a lover's skin. Suddenly, Eli was startlingly aware of the bottle weighing his coat pocket down.

"So, I was attempting to clean out my chimney about a week ago..." Starting innocuously enough, the tale flew from his mouth, a frightened flock of birds desperately escaping. Eli told Magnolia everything. His brain still did not think to connect his special glass with the fantastical bottle children. The cleaning, dislodging the glimmer, becoming enthralled by the ever-moving smoke, the warmth of the bottle: he imparted it all to her. To his daylight ears, his hushed voice sounded fanatical and strange. He tripped over his own words.

Pausing, one steady hand slipped into his pocket and grasped the tiny bottle. Laying it ono the table, he looked across at Magnolia, serious brown eyes searching hers. "This is what I found. I'm honestly unsure what to make of it. What do you think, Magnolia?" One clever brow lifted in question. Small clinks punctuated his last sentence. His fingers, loath to let go the bottle, tapped along it's rim. The warmth charmed his fingers, they lingered, straying along the slight curve.

Eli knew his story, his bottle, was a little odd. He sighed huffily. Why did he feel the need to defend the diminutive container? Sometimes he fancied it needed him... which was patently absurd. He had hesitated a long time about even showing it to anyone. Magnolia had been convenient though, and who better to assess it than a scientist? There was a quiet misgiving lurking in Eli's eyes; a part of him whispered: maybe it should have remained a secret.  Eli frowned and jerked his hand away from the bottle. He really was going crazy.

Magnolia's gently confused face was not encouraging. Eli frowned at the dull clink the bottle made on the table. His fingers instinctively sought it, the comforting warmth seeped into his bones. She probably thought him crazy. But could she not see or feel the difference, the innate specialness of the glass bauble? It was almost like it was alive. Since he had found it, it had consumed his thoughts. Hell, he had even dreamed about it, that the sound of the smoke whirling inside was the same as the rolling sea.

"You don't feel the warmth, the smoke?" Eli cocked one brow at her. For Eli, it was clear, the glass was already filled. The vapor shifting and twisting in the bottle never ceased. Why was it different for her; was it only him that saw it? Perhaps in this instance her overly analytical mind put Magnolia at a disadvantage. Eli's mind spun wildly. Because he was willing, he saw. Although he still startled at the strange and new, Eli was gradually beginning to believe again. And maybe some things went beyond explanation. 

His eyes narrowed to her hands, the sight of the blisters marring delicate skin firmly ended his woolgathering. Magnolia was no rare flower, to wilt in the sun, but neither did  she seem the type to take absurd risks in pursuit of her research. Nothing he could think of explained her irregular blisters. "Your hands," Eli reached out one long arm and encircled her folded wrist with his fingers. His un-smooth skin touched hers and he winced, hoping he wasn't irritating her skin. He drew one hand inexorably forward to better look at it. "What have you done to them?" Faint alarm colored his voice.

Eli stared with a sort of weird fascination at Magnolia's hand. Spread flat before him, each finger was like the point of a star. The blisters looked painful and tender. He reached his hand out and ran the soft pads of his fingertips down each of her digits. They were soft, a researcher's hand, marred by the slight bump of her blisters. Eli looked up from her hand into her hazel eyes.

"Does it hurt overmuch?" Concern tinted his husky voice. "All of your skin is affected? Is it genetic?" he paused, a bit embarrassed, slight color crept up his cheekbones. "Forgive me, I'm asking far to many questions." Abruptly realizing his fingers still rested atop hers, Eli snatched his hand back and covered his awkwardness with a gulp of now-cold tea. The flavors still bloomed on his tongue, slightly bitter but still so sweet. He smiled across the table, idly tapping the bottle.

Picking it up, he turned it. Light glinted off the bottle, lazily. "It has a pretty pattern inside." He had decided to be evasive. Eli had no desire to look like a crazed old man in front of Magnolia. "That's enough for me. The rest, ah... I'm just a fanciful old man. Pay me no mind." He smiled disarmingly. The glass still felt warm to him, almost living. Wistfully, he pocketed it. Maybe he was going a little mad, and he hesitated to push the issue. Eli was still a newcomer. He cleared his throat.

"My dear Miss Magnolia, have you ever been star-gazing outside of town? The light pollution must interfere here. I seem to view them best from the rooftop of my house by the shore. Where do you...?" One hand slipped underneath the table to fidget with the seam along his outside thigh. The thought of Magnolia star-gazing on his rooftop was a pleasing one. She was a character, and he wanted, once more, to see her passionate about something.

Eli tugged at his stock-tie as the mental image of Magnolia, clad only in her corset, flashed in his mind. Her hair would be wild and her eyes full of starlight. Being a consummate gentleman, Eli would soothe each rash with a swipe of his tongue and a kiss. Each and every rash. That bottom lip trapped enchantingly by white teeth was not helping. His libido raged. It had been a while, but this was like when he was a wet-behind-the-ears teenager, all elbows and explicit dreams.

Magnolia's dimples brought him back to the conversation at hand. Poor girl. Eli looked studiously only at her face while she talked. Any lower and he's start imagining those creamy mounds of flesh beneath her bodice. They looked like the perfect size to just spill over the edges of a man's hand. Oh, you cretin! Eyes up! He chided himself severely. Was it a little warm in the cafe? He hastily latched onto the safe topic of star-gazing. There was that charming enthusiasm again.

Eli's face broke into a crooked smile. "Really, Magnolia, you should come out to my stretch of shore sometime. In fact, inspired by your lecture," he nodded genially at her, ale-colored eyes twinkling. "I had planned to gaze at the sky tonight. It should be quite clear. I find a woolen blanket and a hot chocolate fight the chill quite thoroughly. I don't suppose I could... tempt you?" Those last words rolled slowly off his tongue to lay between them. Eli smiled again, languidly. Even if only for a bit of star-gazing, a companion would be fun.

Eli was happy. Magnolia was utterly adorable with her bouncy, light personality. She had a joie de vivre that was unmatched. He glanced towards the window; could they leave now? The winter cut short the hours of the day, casting the cool night skittering through the trees hours early. Lovely, the sky was already dark with only the faintest smudge of purple sunset marring the horizon. Perhaps they should think about dinner as well? He toyed with the handle of his tea mug.

"Shall we go now, Magnolia? It will soon be dark and I'd hate to miss any moment of these stars." He cocked one bushy brow at her and rose. "One moment." Eli slide up to the counter and paid for their drinks. The cafe was surprisingly cheap for such quality. He returned to Magnolia's side and proffered his arm. Tucking her hand gently into the crook of his elbow, he reached into his coat pocket to touch the bottle. The small warmths: Magnolia's hand, Kieran's glass, they chased away any chill.

The streets were bare; night has descended coldly and only those with good reason were about. Eli chanced upon a small stall selling meat and mince pies and purchased two: one for him  and one for his lovely companion. They were meltingly delicious and lingered warmly on his tongue. The torch lights softened Magnolia's features, made her skin seem luminescent. Caught up in a moment, Eli thought he must live for the flash of her dimples. He knew it was a fascination that would pass, but for now, Magnolia had every drop of his attention.

The ferry ride was a cold and rocking blur. All Eli could really recall was her tinkling laughter shining just as much as lights on the water. And so they stood, shivering on his front step. "Would you like to come in for a habit before beheading down to the shore? I could make us a bit of food or a hot drink? You look a bit chilled." He swung the heavy oak door open and bowed in Magnolia's direction, smiling widely.

Eli had been glad for the darkness when she had flicked one ink-stained finger along his jaw. He had flushed, a tingle shivering down his spine. Aevah forbid the lady ever find out his other sensitive spots, like his neck. HE knew she likely didn't mean to be so alluring, but that very fact made her dangerous. Even the way she leaned against him had been innocent and devoid of ulterior motive. He snapped his consciousness back from the recesses of his mind, which was, at this moment, distinctly R-rated.

Magnolia's face was drawn and pale with cold. "Of course! Please follow me into the library." The entryway was not the largest; it was a modest home. Eli was forced to brush against her, chest-to-chest, in order to lead the way. He paused a second, almost stuck pressed close to Magnolia, and was past. He wandered down the hallway and veered right. Gesturing to the love seat, Eli grabbed a flint and spoke. "Please make yourself at home, Magnolia. Luckily, since my fireplace is now up to snuff, I always keep it well-stocked."

He smiled at her and turned to bend down and strike sparks at the wood. Blowing gently, Eli gave a small joyful noise when it lit.. HE grinned at Magnolia. "Would like a hot toddy and do you have a preference for type of food?" Eli was in the kitchen in a few short seconds; long legs were entirely useful, he supposed. The yellow walls blinked cheerfully at him as he banged a pot down from the cabinet. He poked his head around the corner. "Please, feel free to browse around if you get bored waiting for me." He let out a yelp as he burned his thumb lighting the stove. So smooth, Eli. Like butter.