Doubt and trust (Carina)

Ptolemy wasn't enjoying the Christmas holidays as much as he should be. He realised that Alayna had been through a lot and needed support, but it was a lot for Ptolemy to take on. Alayna was constantly worried about Atticus, and Ptolemy was quickly feeling set aside and under appreciated. He tried to convince himself that this wasn't the reason for him visiting Carina at her house, but it had quite a bit to do with it. He also missed Carina being around: he wasn't used to her not being around.

When he arrived in the floo network from Diagon, he stepped out of the fireplace and looked around the Malfoy manor. He expected Carina would be there to greet him, but where was she?

@Carina Malfoy

Carina was surprised that Ptolemy wanted to come over. She assumed he would be so occupied with Alayna and that he wasn't allowed to talk to her. She was finishing up a touch up on her make up When she heard the floo activate, she stepped out of her room and made her way down the stairs, "Hello Ptolemy. I must say this is certainly a surprise."

@Ptolemy Rowle

He smiled when he was greeted by Carina. She looked and seemed the same as she usually was: kind and sweet. He'd never been to her house without Alayna before, and it was sort of nice to be here by himself. Of course, he supposed her Father, brother, sister and Astrid Eriksson were around somewhere, but he wasn't bothered by that. Aquila didn't seem very keen on him, but he was under the impression that he could change her opinion if he really wanted to.

"I know," he said, looking sour now, "Alayna is in a difficult place right now, I know that, but I don't like her snapping at me. She was defending Potter, of all people."

Sighing loudly, he removed his jacket and sat down on one of the couches, pushing his hair back.

"I feel like I could do with a drink. Do you have anything?"

@Carina Malfoy

Carina cocked her head a bit, confused at his statement. She knew about what happened to Atticus and it killed her to not be able to be there for Alayna during it all, "Why the hell would she be defending Potter?" Maybe she was experiencing twin sympathy and losing her mind. When he asked about a drink, she nodded, "Yep. Daddys got some fire whiskey he's been aging for a while now." She walked over to her father's liquor cabinet and bent over to sort through the bottles. She was in a skirt, so when she bent over, it did a little flip exposing a bit more of herself to Ptolemys eye. She found the bottle and poured two glasses. She carried them over and sat down beside Ptolemy, hanging him one, "Here you go."

@Ptolemy Rowle

"Sounds good," he said, liking the idea of the whiskey. When she turned, he was watching how her blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders. "She said something about how his Mother helped with Atticus," he explained, looking at her bare back now. "But if you ask me, she was only doing her bloody job. Any healer would do the same. She's nothing special, really."

His brows raised slightly when she bent over, and he caught a flash of underneath her skirt. When she turned, his eyes moved quickly upwards again.

"Thank you," he said, smiling as she sat next to him. He took a small sip of it, relishing in the taste and the burn down his gullet.

@Carina Malfoy

"Well that does sort of make sense. And yes, it is her job, but Alayna isn't going to see it like that. She's going to see it as she helped Atticus." She slipped from her glass and looked at him over the rim of the drink, "You seem upset. Has Alayna been neglecting you, Ptolemy?" She gave him a pout and rested her arm behind his head on the back of the couch.

@Ptolemy Rowle

Ptolemy frowned slightly over his glass, drowned it in one, then stood up to the liquor cabinet. He took out a different bottle, and placed it on the table between them, resuming his spot.

"I don't like her telling me to shut up when it comes to Potter," he said acidly, before contemplating her next question. He poured another drink out, and replaced the bottle back onto the table. "I suppose I do feel a little pushed aside recently..."

Sipping his drink, his eyes moved across her figure.

"Is that how you felt?"

@Carina Malfoy

Carinas eyes widened a bit, "She actually told you to shut up?" If there was one person who Alayna followed orders from, it was Ptolemy, "That's very unexpected." She slipped her drink again as he asked his question, causing her to choke slightly on her drink. After composing herself, she took a breath, "If you mean when the two of you coupled off and completely neglected me. Then yes, I guess that is sort of how it felt."

@Ptolemy Rowle

He looked down at the glass in his hands. The crystal effect was hitting the sunlight and casting patterns over his face. He sighed.

"I'm sorry," he told her, sounding completely genuine.

After a small pause, he felt his annoyance rise again. It may just be how he was feeling currently, and amplified by the effects of alcohol. "It's as though she thinks she can treat me however she likes, as arguing back with her would be insensitive given her current situation. It's so frustrating! My brother, Memphis, keeps having these long chats with her as well, and I have no idea what they talk about. Apparently he's just showing his sympathies, but I know my brother. He's a dog, really." he spat bitterly, snorting.

@Carina Malfoy

Carina could feel his emotions going all over the place and tried to help him by attempting to level them out a bit. She placed her hand on his and gave him a soft smile, "I know how you feel. I've been dealing with Alayna Nott alot longer than you have. I'm practically an expert." It was curious though as to why Alayna would be spending so much time with Ptolemys brother instead of ptolemy, "Do you think they're hooking up?" She asked, not trying to start drama. Well, not completely anyway.

@Ptolemy Rowle

When she put her hand on his, the front part of his hair was turning flaxen blonde. Using his other hand, he pushed his hair back, and it turned back to brown.

"Who knows," he muttered bitterly, closing his eyes as he took another glug of the drink. Parts of his cheeks were reddening slightly from the heat of the firewhiskey, and he couldn't control anything about that. "I don't know... probably not, actually. I know he's a lech, but she wouldn't be unfaithful. I really don't think she would be."

Unless she was desperate enough, seeking comfort from anywhere she could get it...

"Anyway - enough about that," he said, looking at her, "How have you been? I do miss you, you know." He smiled languidly, turning her hand over and sliding his fingers between hers.

@Carina Malfoy

Carina caught the flash of blonde and smiled a bit, she knew it meant she had an effect on him. She knew Alayna would be faithful to Ptolemy, there really was no questioning that, but still, "Well, she was loyal to lien. I'm sure she will be loyal to you as well." She said giving him a somewhat comforting smile. She felt her heart flip when he slid their fingers together, "I'm doing good. Been spending some time with some new people." Her brain flickered to Vidar and she couldn't help but smile a bit before refocusing on Ptolemy, "I miss you too."

@Ptolemy Rowle

"Oh, I know," he sighed, letting go of her fingers briefly and going back to nursing his drink. "Like those foreign twins who think far too much of themselves, that shy vampire and various others who everyone would have dismissed if it wasn't for you making them feel noticed."

He sighed.

"You see how much power you have to make others like you. I must admit, it excites me a little to see you like that."

He laughed.

"It makes me miss feeling on top of things. Alayna just doesn't seem interested in being the best anymore," he complained heatedly, drinking more in defiance, "She just wants to be part of the background, with fat little slugs like Potter! What the fuck!" When he exploded, part of his drink spilt down the side of the couch as he flung his hand outwards.

@Carina Malfoy

Carina chuckled a bit, "Dartagnan. Yeah, dart is cool. He's very nice. But Aramis is a bit... Much to handle sometimes. Astrid is really cool and Vidar is..." She trailed off, blushing a bit. She blushed even more when he talked about how she excited him. She pushed her hair from her face, "I'm sure she's just going through alot. But who knows, maybe she'll be replaced by someone else." She was referring to herself of course, "Hey now. Don't be like that." She took the glass from his hand and put it on the table before taking his hand, "You know how she really is. She's just going through a rough time. You know Alayna, she will bounce back bladder than ever." She hated how it always happened that way for Alayna, but it did.

@Ptolemy Rowle

Ptolemy smirked.

"You're more devious than I thought," he said, tracing the side of his face down to her chin, which he gripped lightly, gazing languidly into her eyes. "You don't want her to bounce back. You want her to go under. You're enjoying every second of it."

Far from sounding angry, he actually sounded turned on. He bit down on his lip slightly.

"You want to be in charge, don't you?" he murmured, moving his head closer to hers.

@Carina Malfoy

Carina watched his hand as it stroked her face and gasped a bit when he gripped her chin, "I'm not devious." She didn't like the idea of being thought of like that. But he was right. She wanted to be on the top. She bit her own lip when she saw him bite his , "Maybe so." She said, in a breathy whisper, "Is that such a bad thing?"

@Ptolemy Rowle

"No. It's not a bad thing at all. It's exactly what I am missing myself..."

Although he was clearly already tipsy, having skipped on lunch that day and going into the hard liquor on an empty stomach, he felt more alive than he had in months.

"I think Alayna's priorities have shifted. I just haven't seen that same fire in her eyes for a long time. And that's what attracted me to her in the first place, you know."

He was stroking her cheek.

"Now I can see that same fire in your eyes, Carina."

@Carina Malfoy

Carina felt bad for Ptolemy. If he was unhappy, he shouldn't be forced to stay, "Are you unhappy with Alayna?" She asked, letting her hand wander to his head as she played with his hair. She knew what he meant. She noticed the lack of fire a while back, but hadn't wanted to say anything. She let her eyes shift down to his lips and felt herself being tugged in two different directions, "What do you want to do?"

@Ptolemy Rowle

It was funny. Now that he was being asked that question, he didn't know how to respond. He realised that this made him a complete and utter dirt bag no matter what. He had already stepped over the line by coming here in the first place, now they were touching each other and staring into each other's eyes.

"It's just not the same, I know that..."

His hair started turning flaxen again: this time from his crown, then spreading down like a wave, shining at the tips. Although the length of his hair remained the same, it was definitely close to Perdita's shade. But he was still Ptolemy. He needed to feel like a man right now.

"I want... to get completely drunk."

He grinned at her, stroking his thumb over her lips slightly, before setting back from her a little. He picked up his drink, and slung it back.

"Are you getting drunk with me, or are you trying to keep your wits about you?" he asked, innocently.

@Carina Malfoy

Carina watched as his hair turned a light blonde and had to admit, Ptolemy would look nice as a blonde, "This is a very good look for you." She giggled when he said he wanted to get drunk, "Then let's do it.* She said, a smile on her lips. When he stroked her lower lip, she opened her mouth and sucked at the tip of his thumb, "I'm getting drunk." She said snatching the bottle and taking a long swig of the brown burning liquid.

@Ptolemy Rowle

He grinned when she agreed to getting drunk with him, and grabbed the bottle - forgetting glasses entirely. Ptolemy pushed the glass aside as well, got back into the liquor cabinet and picked a bottle out for himself.

"Good girl."

Turning, he took a swig from the bottle and closed his eyes, relishing in the burn at his throat.

"I can only assume that you - Carina Malfoy - have similar tastes to me," he said, staggering a little as he pointed tipsily at her. "Louis Weasley, Perdita, and now that foreign boy... what do they all have in common? Ah yes - they all have blond hair. So you do have a type. This is why this is working for you..."

He pulled some strands of his hair to show them to her, laughing.

"Let's do something reckless. There must be something you've always wanted to do in this manor, but were always afraid of upsetting your Father..." he bribed, raising his brow to her as he took another glug.

@Carina Malfoy

Carina felt herself melt when she heard him say 'Good girl's it was all over then. She watched him and laughed a bit, "I guess I do have a thing for blondes." She said with a light blush. The blonde look on him was working for her. She wanted him, but if she did, there would be no fixing anything with Alayna, "There's many things I've always wanted to do. Top of the list would probably be to fuck around the house. But that's not an option at the moment. But I have always wanted to go into the locked office. Just to see what he hides in there."

@Ptolemy Rowle

"You want to fuck around the house?"

He laughed, the volume amplified somewhat by the influence of alcohol.

"You talk like you're already well experienced. Does this mean you've had sex with someone other than Perdita?"

Grinning, he took her hand, and pulled her to her feet.

"Come on. Let's break into his office. Show me the way."

@Carina Malfoy

Carina looked like a stunned deer in headlights and her face was redder than the Gryffindor common room, "Well, I mean no. No I haven't. I just had thoughts sometimes." She was blabbering and couldn't seem to stop herself. Then he took her hand and she found herself smiling at him again. She took the bottle of liquor and took another long swig before shaking her head of the taste, "Yeah. Let's do it." She lead him up the stairs to the third floor of the manor and down the long hallway to a closed and sealed door, "I've never been able to unlock it."

@Ptolemy Rowle

Staggering behind her, he followed through the Malfoy Manor and only just about took in its splendour. Perhaps it was even more impressive than his own house. There were lots of people with white blond hair following them with their eyes from their portraits on the wall. Ptolemy flipped them off as he went. They looked scandalised.

When they reached the room, Ptolemy took out his wand.

"It would be difficult without magic."

He tried a simple unlocking spell, but it didn't work. It was always worth a try.

"Looks like I'll be blasting it off then," he laughed, sending a Bombarda at the door frame. The wood of the frame fractured enough to render the lock completely useless, so they could step inside. He pocketed his wand. "After you," he said, standing straight with the liquor bottle behind his back, gesturing to the open office like a proper gentleman.

@Carina Malfoy