"First drink I had," Charles said plainly and it was. When he'd first turned to alcohol, he'd ordered rum because it looked more pleasant than most other alcohols at the pubs. It didn't taste great but he quickly got used to it, "and now it's habit. It's what I know. I tried some other drinks before. I can manage beer but I prefer rum."

He then waited; unknowing if she had more questions. But if this is what it took to stop her from getting upset, hurt, or - as she put it - destroying herself then he would do everything in his capabilities to prevent it.

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Emmeline supposed that made sense. Once you found something you liked for whatever reason, why change it up?

"But why alcohol?" she asked, "It obviously isn't good for making decisions properly." Or maybe it was just her as she's surely made some awful choices when she'd drank. And she almost worried that that's all She was to him as well. An awful drunken choice. And that thought surely brought a glimmer of concern and even fear to her features.

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles hesitated. He didn't want to answer but he knew he had to. He knew he had to allow her to see him for who he was. If not knowing made her upset, then he would do what he could to ensure she knew everything she could.

"Maybe. But it distracts me. Not right now. But it used to be a distraction," Charles exhaled. He couldn't leave it like that. He couldn't be ominous, "There was an incident when I was new in the Ministry. A wizard gave me a very nasty scar and escaped. I was hospitalised. I couldn't... I couldn't cope with what had happened. To myself and those he could continue to hurt."

Raising his arm to pat his shoulder once again, Charles groaned a little, though in frustration more than anything, "And every day I'm reminded of it."

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Emmeline nodded. She could understand that, too. She'd watched her dad fall into a similar pattern after gambling away The Broomsticks. It was probably where he'd been that night and her mom had gone to get him.

"Why stay in that line of work then?" she continued to ask, "And isn't there a better outlet or distraction?"

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#LovelyLadySet

"Because this," He strained at his words, referencing the scar under his clothing, "is nothing compared to what those bastards are capable of. And perhaps," He smiled lightly, "But I didn't know you when that happened."

Of course, he was joking. He did feel however that his intentions were miscommunicated slightly so he lingered for a moment before continuing, "Alcohol was all I could see. I didn't know anything else. It was an easy way out. But I've moved past that. I drink," No shit, "but I control myself much better."

Being honest felt kind of nice. Even if feeling nice always seemed to be short lived.

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Another nod. Emmeline felt like she was doing a lot of nodding but she didn't really know what else to do. He was answering her questions. It's was a relief not She still wasn't sure where that left them.

"And me?" she asked tentatively, "Why when I've been nothing but a pain since you found me?"

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#LovelyLadySet

"Because of the opposite," He said, his tone turning serious once again, "You've been anything but a pain, Ems. You're not an inconvenience to me."

His expression softened at that moment and he leaned over to place his hand on hers, "If I really thought you a pain, first would I have written you after I gave your wand back? And second, would I have... er.. kissed... you...?"

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Emmeline blushed and continued to do so as he reached over and put a hand on hers. She didn't really know what to say. But she soon found herself talking anyways.

"You'd drank nearly a whole bottle of rum when you kissed me," she responded with a shrug, "Apparently that's what guys do when they're around me and they've been drinking." She hated lumping into that category with Handsome but she couldn't help the insecurity she felt over it.

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles exhaled loudly. He wanted to make it clear he didn't like being compared to the guy who took advantage of her but he didn't want to ruin whatever the current mood of the minute was.

Instead, after his exhale, he tried to brighten the mood, "So I'll do it when I haven't been drinking too. Prove you wrong." He then smirked a little, "Is that your excuse too, then? For kissing me?"

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Emmeline winced at his exhalation, almost preparing herself for the fight to begin. But then it didn't and she looked at him a little wide eyed as a result.

"No," she answered simply, "I did it because I thought it would speak louder than any words could." Her own words made her blush. "And I've drank a fraction compared to what you have," she added, "But also, I wanted to since that first one was interrupted.."

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles smiled a little and moved toward her, kneeling in front of her chair. He placed his right hand gently against her cheek, left hand on his knee and comforted her a little with his thumb; "It did. And it was. Can't allow that again." Charles spoke softly and leaned in to press his lips faintly against hers; allowing his senses to focus on her, to be consumed by her.

This time, he didn't pull away. He just stayed there for a moment, savouring her. He didn't want to move or break it and just allowed the kiss to continue until she broke away.

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If things are always going to be like they were in that moment, Emmeline would forever be blushing. But at the very least, she'd managed to get over the instinct of running away. They were baby steps, sure, but that was progress.

One of her hands came up to hold his hands on her cheek and the other went to the other side of his face as she pushed her lips lightly against his own. If only things could stay that simple with such a sweet and tender kiss.

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#LovelyLadySet

The kiss continued for a moment and as she brought his hand to touch her cheek, Charles exhaled against her; he wanted this moment to never end though his better judgement told him it would. Everything ended; all good things came to an end.

His thumb brushed against her skin and he pressed further into the kiss, the almost overwhelming tranquillity the kiss entailed was enthralling.

After a few moments Charles slowly pulled from the kiss and opened his eyes, giving Emmeline a soft smile. If he could spend eternity in her company, he would be happy, he surmised.

However, after a brief moments pause, Charles looked to the ground before looking back at her, “What are we doing?” He said quietly, “I… What are you thinking?” He asked with a concerned tone. He knew what answer he’d wanted though he felt it was unlikely.

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That kiss was something Emmeline would likely never forget. It wasn't completely chaste but it was far from scandalous. It was also simple and sweet. It spoke to her more than anything he could have ever said. She was amazed by it really. Thrilled and excited even as it came to a slow close.

That soft smile made her blush more as she offered her own soft smile back to him. She watched him tentatively as he spoke, asking questions She wasn't sure she could fully answer. Not in that moment anyonebut surely in time.

"I..I don't know," she started, her voice quiet, "Whatever it is we're doing, I don't mind it. But...we obviously need to figure some things out." Some was perhaps putting it lightly. They had a lot to figure out.

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles sighed. Of course they had a lot to figure out. They needed to establish what it was they were doing. He was in his prime years and awaiting a promotion and she was finishing school ready for her career. If it was anyone else, the two would likely be betrothed though they weren't anyone important. They were Emmeline Woodcroft and Charles Caulfield. Two working class people who wanted - needed - to be around one another.

But what could they do? Charles sighed slightly and nodded before asking Emmeline a question; "What do you want?"

In theory, it was a simple enough question. In practice, it was an extremely loaded question with a lot of answers. And Charles knew which answer he'd prefer.

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It was a hard question to answer in regards to whatever they were. Emmeline knew exactly what she wanted for herself But that didn't always mean it would work right. Technically speaking, she shouldn't have ever been worried about a husband or anything along those lines. Not unless she wanted to forgo her final year at school. And that was something she was not willing to do.

"I want to finish school. I need to finish school. And I want to work. I want to make a career for myself," she answered though she knew that wasn't exactly the question he'd been asking, "But I also still want you in my life. But until I finish school, there's only so much that we can really be." But he had to be willing to wait and he had to be okay work a wife that worked and wasn't expecting a housewife.

"What do you want?" she asked, wanting to hear his thoughts on the matter.

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#LovelyLadySet