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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 17, 2020 16:48:15 GMT -5
Though it had only been a couple of days, it felt like a year since Mano had seen his husband. "Eros?" he called. "I'm home." He always underestimated how much he would miss Eros until they were apart. And then all he could think of was Eros' scent and warmth and pale hair and, god, he missed him. They hadn't parted on the best of terms, but, somehow, that made the missing all the more important. He dropped his bag by the door and ran his hand though his hair. "Eros?"
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 18, 2020 10:22:29 GMT -5
Eros paused in his steps into the hallway. It couldn't be. And yet... Whatever it was that was in his hand was set blindly on a small, decorative table on his way toward the living room. He stopped in the doorway. "Mano." In a flash of a moment, he took stock of reality. The sun was coming through the windows properly. Every minute detail of the room was correct. Mano looked... apologetic? That was never part of his dreams. Wordless, Eros crossed the room.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 18, 2020 10:37:11 GMT -5
At the first sight of Eros, Mano smiled. Part of him just wanted Eros to shove him against a wall. "Sorry, the trip went on a little long. It wasn't supposed to, but I've got a promising new bean for the cafe." Yammering, yammering, but he sometimes just couldn't help it. "Are you alright?"
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 18, 2020 10:49:14 GMT -5
Was he alright? "Yes." Yes, of course he was alright. He'd never been better in his life. Everything had been on hold for the past year and... he had a fleeting thought that he should tell someone, that if Mano had returned, perhaps others had too, but it didn't take root.
"It's been a year," he said. Ah, that smile. That mischievous smile.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 18, 2020 11:07:34 GMT -5
"What? No, just a few days." Mano smiled again, but it faltered. "Are you sure you're alright?" Maybe Eros was sick, thinking a year had passed in a weekend. He took a few steps toward Eros, then came up short of actually touching him. It couldn't really have been a year, right?
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 18, 2020 11:12:13 GMT -5
"Accio Prophet." Of course Eros read the newspaper, and the day's paper was on the coffee table. It jumped into the air with a rattle of pages and soared into his waiting hand. It was effort tearing his eyes away from Mano, but he did so long enough to ensure that the date showed as he offered it to his husband. He wasn't a widower. Another almost-thought of his mother passed without recognition.
"Half of everyone - half the wizarding world - disappeared. It's no longer the front page, but I assure you this is no joke."
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 18, 2020 11:28:29 GMT -5
One hand took the Prophet and, as Mano read, the other reached out for Eros. "This...this doesn't make any sense..." It couldn't really have been so long, perhaps Eros had finally decided to start joking. No, he'd never pull such a prank. "I'd never leave you for that long."
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 18, 2020 11:52:08 GMT -5
Eros chuckled, though more from relief finally seeping in than anything else. "I never thought you left me," he said. It had never crossed his mind. He and Mano had been too good, had worked together too well, for him to ever believe that.
"Thousands of wizards and witches disappeared without a trace at the same time," he said. "Entire families in many cases, though not all. Your parents and sister, Michael, his mother and sister, though not his children or Dare. It was thought to be related to a Muggle pandemic, you know how closely tied our worlds are. Here, sit, no," He pulled Mano into his arms. "Lord, Mano, there are no words for how happy I am to have you home!"
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Post by Mano Berwyn on May 18, 2020 13:50:14 GMT -5
Mano's hand dropped the paper, so that his arm could wrap around Eros. It was good to be in those arms again, almost like it really had been a year. "I'm sorry I was gone, I didn't want to be, not for that long."Eros' hair smelled so good, and he couldn't help but think of when Eros had disappeared, when he'd held a pillow just for that smell. How could it have been that long?
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Post by Eros d'Avonderre on May 18, 2020 14:04:21 GMT -5
"Thank God I stayed here instead of accepting my Mother's invitation to d'Avonderre place!" He had known that it was only a matter of time before she'd suggest he move on, though she hadn't yet been so bold. Possibly because he's remained in Valfirid. "I wonder if others have returned... " That was as far as the thought made it, with Mano in his arms.
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