Letting Down Walls [Tatiana]

[Bishop Santos]

It was late afternoon when Bishop found his way to where Tati had said her home was. He'd asked her if he could take her somewhere during the break, wanting to be able to spend some time with her away from this place. He'd even gotten them a reservation somewhere. It was a restaurant he'd learned of that some of the other Ministry members had visited, as it was a rather nice fine dining establishment. He'd reached out to those members, one of whom helped him set up the reservation.

He was dressed in something he hoped wasn't over the top, but wanted to show the effort he was willing to put in to take her somewhere nice. He didn't know why he was nervous about it, but he wanted to do something nice for her.

He took a deep breath as he reached the door, straightened out his suit jacket once more, and looked up. It seemed like an interesting situation with the doors, but whoever did wizarding construction rarely cared about making things entirely normal. He looked around a bit more, taking in the area around where she lived, before knocking on the door, "Beau?" he called out. He'd told her he'd pick her up around this time, so as not to spook her by just randomly showing up and giving her a chance to dress how she liked for this little outing.

[Tatiana Beautero]

Tati had been pacing her small apartment for the better part of an hour, second-guessing every choice she'd made. The dress, was it too much? Not enough? The simple black number hugged her curves in a way that made her feel both elegant and exposed, the fabric falling to just above her knee in soft folds. She'd paired it with black flats, she'd long lost any desire to wear heels.Her fingers went to the necklace at her throat for what had to be the hundredth time, the blue gem resting perfectly against her collarbone. She hadn't taken it off since the Yule Ball, couldn't bring herself to. The gentle grounding effect it provided had become something she relied on, especially in moments like this when her nerves threatened to overwhelm her.

The apartment around her was... sparse. Functional. A bed, a small table with two chairs, a handful of books stacked on a makeshift shelf. No photographs on the walls, no personal touches that would make it feel like a home rather than just a place to sleep. TJ's bed and toys were conspicuously absent; already at Derek's for the evening, leaving the space feeling even more hollow than usual. She'd been existing here, not living. The thought had struck her earlier as she'd tried and failed to find anything decorative to make the place look more welcoming. But there was nothing. Just bare walls and the minimum required furniture.

When the knock came, followed by Bishop's voice calling her name Beau, that nickname that still made her heart flutter; Tati nearly jumped. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her heartbeat racing beneath her palm, and took a steadying breath. "Coming!" she called back, her voice only trembling slightly. She grabbed her coat from where it hung by the door, then paused. Did she need it? Would Bishop think she looked better with or without it? God, when had she become so uncertain about everything?

Finally, she just opened the door.

The sight of him nearly stole her breath. He looked... stunning. The suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his athletic build while maintaining an air of effortless sophistication. His dark hair was styled just so, and the way he stood there; straightening his jacket one more time like he was just as nervous as she was—made her want to reach out and pull him inside immediately. Instead, she just smiled, soft and genuine, her crystal blue eyes taking him in with barely concealed appreciation.

"Hi," she breathed, then immediately felt ridiculous for such a simple greeting. She cleared her throat, trying again. "You look... Bishop, you look incredible." Her cheeks flushed pink as she stepped aside slightly, though there wasn't much to see in her tiny apartment. "I'm sorry about the mess, I wasn't well, I don't really..." She trailed off, realizing she was rambling. "I'm ready whenever you are…" The necklace glinted in the dim light, the blue gem seeming to glow softly. She touched it once more, drawing strength from the grounding effect.

"Where are we going?" she asked, unable to keep the excitement from creeping into her voice despite her nerves. "You've been so mysterious about it." As she looked at him, really looked at him; standing in her doorway in that impeccable suit, looking at her like she was something precious, Tati felt her heart squeeze with affection so intense it almost hurt. This was Bishop. Her Bishop. And he'd planned something special for them.

"Though honestly," she added softly, stepping closer to him with a gentle smile, "I don't think I'd care if we were just going to sit in the Three Broomsticks. I'm just happy to spend time with you."

[Bishop Santos]

Bishop was looking around while he waited for her, calling back "Take your time" to keep her from worrying too much about it, especially as he heard the tremble. He felt kind of bad for making her so nervous, but he hoped that this would go so well that she wouldn't be so nervous the next time. When she opened the door, his attention went back to her; he also seemed rather dumbstruck.

He didn't deserve her in any way. "Me? You looking stunning, but me?" he put his hand to his chest before straightening out his jacket, "I figured I'd air this old thing out," he said before she drew attention to her apartment. She was apologizing for a mess, but Bishop felt something inside him... crack a little, seeing how sparse it was. That was all she had? All she'd let herself have? He didn't draw attention to it, though, not wanting to make her feel any more self-conscious about it. "Trust me, you should have seen my office back at the Ministry. I got threatened with a health code violation at one point, though it was a dramatic way to get me to clean," he chuckled a bit.

Seeing her reach for the necklace made him that much more glad he figured that out for her. That she was already getting use from it. "If I told you now, that would ruin all the mystery, wouldn't it?" he smirked lightly before gently taking her hand as she stepped closer, "And I'll keep that in mind for future dates," the smirk was a bit more pronounced, "But let me treat you to something a bit nicer than that," he chuckled a little before starting to walk with her towards the train. They could certainly use faster methods to get there, but he didn't want to rush it. He wanted to soak up every moment of just the two of them that he could.

"I hope you don't mind some old-fashioned methods of travel, but I'm in no hurry to be removed from your company," he added as he intertwined their fingers.

[Tatiana Beautero]

Tati felt the now-familiar flutter in her chest as Bishop took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers like it was the most natural thing in the world. The gesture was simple, but it grounded her in a way that even the necklace couldn't quite manage because this was him, solid and real and choosing to be here with her. "Future dates," she echoed softly, a smile playing at her lips as they began walking. The promise implicit in those two words made her heart soar. This wasn't just tonight. This was something ongoing, something real.

She pulled on her jacket with her free hand as they stepped out into the crisp winter air, careful not to let go of him even for a moment. The cold bit at her cheeks immediately, but she didn't mind. Not when Bishop was right there beside her, warm and steady. "I don't mind at all," she said, glancing up at him with affection clear in her crystal blue eyes. "Honestly, I prefer it. Gives us more time together." She paused, then added with a slightly sheepish smile, "Though I have to admit, I'm a little nervous. This is... this is my first time out without TJ in a while."

Her thumb brushed against his knuckles; an unconscious seeking of comfort. "I know he's having a wonderful time with Derek and his daughter. They were so excited when I dropped him off earlier. But it feels strange not having him with me." She bit her lip, then looked up at Bishop again. "I'm glad you're here, though. Makes it easier." As they walked toward the train station, Tati found herself hyper-aware of everything; the way their hands fit together, the rhythm of their footsteps falling into sync, the occasional brush of his arm against hers. It was intimate in a way that made her both giddy and terrified.

"You know," she said after a moment, her voice soft but teasing, "you're being awfully mysterious about all this. Should I be worried? Are you taking me somewhere completely outrageous?" Her eyes sparkled with playful curiosity. "Because I have to say, the suit alone suggests this is going to be fancier than anything I'm used to." She glanced down at her own dress, suddenly second-guessing herself again. "I'm not... under-dressed, am I? Because if this is somewhere really formal, you should probably warn me now so I can mentally prepare for feeling completely out of my depth."

Despite her words, there was no real anxiety in her tone; just gentle teasing mixed with genuine curiosity. The grounding effect of the necklace combined with Bishop's presence was keeping her nerves manageable, turning what might have been overwhelming into something almost... exciting. "Though honestly," she added, squeezing his hand gently, "I meant what I said earlier. I don't really care where we're going. I'm just happy to be with you. Everything else is just... bonus."

[Bishop Santos]

Bishop let go of her hand long enough for her to get her jacket on properly before reclaiming it, kissing her knuckles once more. It seemed to be his favorite little act of affection. Seeing her own affection reflected in her eyes left him unable to do anything but smile in response. Hearing, though, that she was a bit nervous without TJ, "I forget he's got a daughter sometimes," he admitted, "But I'm glad I can provide some comfort. We can start picking places he can come in the future." He offered, wanting to make sure she could enjoy herself to the fullest.

He chuckled at her teasing, "No, I would never try and force you into a situation like that," he shook his head, "I just wanted to look nice for you, I promise you're not under-dressed," he assured her, "I thought it was a nice blend between something a bit nicer than the Broomsticks, but not so nice we need to know which fork is for what," he chuckled a little.

"And I, too, would be happy anywhere as long as it's with you, but allow me to try to spoil you a little," he smirked. As far as he was concerned, especially seeing her home, spoiling was long overdue. He'd been paid well by the Ministry, and what better purpose for all those galleons than treating her like she deserved. Like he should have been doing all along if he hadn't be such a prick in his late teens.

[Tatiana Beautero]

Tati's heart squeezed at the kiss to her knuckles; that gesture that was quickly becoming theirs, something she'd associate with Bishop for the rest of her life. Every time he did it, she felt like she was living in some kind of fairytale, except this was real. He was real. They were real. "I'd like that,"she said softly when he mentioned finding places TJ could come in the future. "He's good in public settings, but I know not everywhere allows animals, even service ones in the wizarding world." She paused, then added with a small smile, "Though honestly, tonight it's kind of nice. Just the two of us. No distractions."

When he assured her about her dress, relief washed over her features. "Good, because I have to admit, my knowledge of which fork is for what is severely limited. I'd probably mortify us both." She laughed, the sound light and genuine. "My parents weren't exactly the fine dining type. We were more... 'use whatever utensil is clean and available' people." Despite how well off they'd been, they had never let money become more important than character. But it was his last comment that really made her pause, her steps slowing slightly as she looked up at him with an expression that was equal parts touched and uncertain.

"Spoil me?" she repeated quietly. Her thumb brushed against his knuckles again—that unconscious gesture of seeking comfort. "Bishop, you don't have to do that. Just being with you is more than enough." Even as she said it, though, part of her; the part that had been existing rather than living for so long; whispered that maybe it would be nice to let someone take care of her for once. To not have to be the strong one, the responsible one, the one who put everyone else's needs before her own.

She squeezed his hand gently. "But if you want to treat me to something nice, I won't argue. Just... don't go overboard, okay? I'm not used to being spoiled, and I don't want you spending all your hard-earned galleons on me." Tati didn't even consider the fact of how much she'd put in that vault for him or the ones for his siblings either. Her crystal blue eyes searched his face, trying to read what he was thinking. "Besides, the best things you've given me lately haven't cost anything. The dance on the balcony, the time we've had together so far, just... you being here with me." Her voice dropped to something softer, more vulnerable. "That's what I treasure most."

As they continued toward the train station, Tati found herself leaning slightly into Bishop's side, drawn to his warmth both literally and figuratively. The winter air was biting, but with him beside her, with his hand in hers and the promise of an evening together ahead of them, she felt warmer than she had in years. "So this place," she said, curiosity creeping back into her tone, "is it somewhere you've been before? Or are we both going in blind?" A playful edge entered her voice. "Because if you've never been there either, this could be an adventure for both of us."

The admission was said lightly, but there was truth beneath it. After all the years of longing, of thinking she'd never have this chance, Tati would have followed Bishop just about anywhere tonight. The fact that he'd clearly put thought and effort into planning something special just made her fall even harder.

[Bishop Santos]

Bishop smiled at her saying it was nice that it was just the two of them, nodding in understanding. He didn't mind either way, because, similar to her statements, he'd be happy with her anywhere, even if they were just sitting together in the Great Hall, though that did mean they had to be a bit more mindful.

"I don't know if you'd call us fine dining either, usually not the type to break out more utensils than necessary," he nodded, trying to focus more on him and his siblings than his parents. When he'd learned of their roles in everything that occurred, well, he wrote them off completely, not that he even knew where they were or cared.

"I know I don't have to do it, but you'll find I'm entirely selfish and will likely do it anyway," he gave a cheeky smirk, "And I would never leave your side if it were truly feasible, but you deserve a bit of spoiling. I won't be over the top," he made an "x" over his heart, "But I truly do want to do what I can to treat you the way you deserve. Even if you have a hard time believing you deserve it," he gave her hand a squeeze. He'd give her the world if he could, but he'd settle for gifts and experiences for them both to explore the world and get out of the prisons they'd put themselves in.

"As for where we're going, I haven't been personally, but I remembered some of my colleagues at the Ministry talking about it. I remember them talking about it being historically looking, with some elegance and a bit of coziness, since it isn't a large space. I might have reached out to them when I started thinking about this, and they helped me set up the reservation," he explained, "But again, I've never been, so I suppose we are both going in blind." He smirked at her.

[Tatiana Beautero]

Tati felt her cheeks warm at his declaration of selfishness, at the way he crossed his heart like making a solemn vow. The earnestness in his expression made her chest tighten with affection so strong it almost hurt. "You're impossible," she said softly, but there was no real complaint in her tone just warmth and fondness and maybe a hint of wonder that someone actually wanted to treat her this way. "But I suppose if you're going to be selfish about spoiling me, I can learn to accept it gracefully."

Her smile turned a bit shy as she added, "Though you should know, you're already treating me better than I ever thought possible. Just... being with you like this. Having you hold my hand and plan dates and look at me the way you do..." She squeezed his hand gently. "That's more than I ever let myself hope for."

When he explained about the restaurant; how he'd reached out to his former colleagues, how he'd gone to the effort of setting up a reservation at a place he'd never even been to himself, Tati felt her heart do that ridiculous fluttering thing again. "You asked your colleagues for help planning this?" Her voice came out softer than intended, touched by the thoughtfulness of it all. "Bishop, that's... that's really sweet. And a little bit brave, honestly. I can only imagine what they must have thought when you started asking about romantic restaurants."

Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Historical and cozy sounds perfect, actually. Much better than somewhere stuffy and pretentious where we'd have to worry about using the right silverware." As they approached the train station, Tati found herself pressing a bit closer to Bishop's side, partly for warmth and partly because she simply wanted to be near him. The absence of TJ was still noticeable; that familiar weight and presence she'd grown so accustomed to but Bishop's solid warmth beside her was its own kind of comfort.

"I have to admit," she said as they walked, "I'm a little nervous. Not about being with you," she clarified quickly, glancing up at him. "That part I'm completely sure about. But this is... this is my first real date. Ever. And I don't want to mess it up or say something stupid or…" She cut herself off with a self-deprecating laugh. "And I'm already overthinking it, aren't I?"

But even as she teased herself, her grip on his hand tightened slightly; seeking reassurance. "I can't help it. I'm still getting used to the idea that I'm allowed to have this. To have you."

[Bishop Santos]

Bishop smirked at her calling him impossible, "Well, this is only the start," he murmured, "I won't wear it out, but you'll see," he smiled, a sort of promise that there was always going to be more. That this wasn't a one-time or a few-time thing. "Oh, they were teasing me, but it was worth it. They wanted to grill me about who finally won me over, but I didn't want to try to explain that it was more that me and the girl who won me over so long ago finally accepted how we felt about each other," he smirked at her.

Bishop slid his hand from hers, but only to slide his arm around her and hold her closer, as it was colder out. "It seems like a nice place, so I'm hoping you'll enjoy it. And to be fair, this is also my first real date, so the overthinking is mutual," he chuckled before kissing her temple softly, "Remember, we're going through it together. But I'm yours, Beau... And we have the rest of our lives to get used to it."

When the train doors opened, he stepped with her onto the train and into one of the private booths. "Do you want the window seat?" he asked her, his hand at the center of her back as he let her decide where she wanted to sit down first, sitting beside her once she'd decided.

[Tatiana Beautero]

The rest of their lives.

Tati felt those words settle over her like the warmest blanket imaginable, chasing away the winter chill and every lingering doubt simultaneously. She let herself be pulled closer into his side as his arm slid around her, fitting against him like she'd always belonged there. "The rest of our lives," she repeated softly, almost to herself, like she was testing how the words felt in her mouth. They felt good. They felt right. "I think I could get used to hearing that."

When he mentioned his colleagues teasing him, she felt a flush of something that was equal parts embarrassment and delight. "They teased you? And you didn't tell them who it was?" She tilted her head to look up at him, curious and touched all at once. "You were protecting our privacy." She shook her head slightly, marveling at him.

"What a first date in that case," she murmured, mostly to herself, finding an unexpected comfort in that admission. They were navigating this together, equally uncertain, equally hopeful. Somehow that made everything feel less terrifying. When they boarded the train and he gestured toward the window seat with that gentle hand at the small of her back, Tati didn't even hesitate. She slid into the window seat, but immediately tucked herself against his side the moment he sat beside her, her head finding the familiar warmth of his shoulder.

"I want the window seat," she said decidedly, "and I want you right here." Her hand found his, her fingers intertwining with his as she gazed out at the snow-dusted Scottish countryside beginning to blur past the glass. The winter landscape was beautiful: all frosted trees and grey skies heavy with the promise of more snow and for the first time in longer than she could remember, Tati felt genuinely present in a moment rather than just moving through it.

"Can I ask you something?" she said quietly, her thumb tracing absent patterns against the back of his hand. She tilted her head up toward him, expression soft and genuinely curious. "What made you decide to come back to Hogwarts? Of everything you could have done, everywhere you could have gone after the Ministry..." She paused. "Was it just the position?"

[Bishop Santos]

"I'm glad you like that idea too," Bishop smiled as she tested out the words, "And no, as much as I want to show you off to the world, I know that you would greatly dislike that and also, I'm not a gossip, especially not about things that aren't people's business to know," he murmured, remembering the attempts to get him in on drama cause they were bored, calling him a stick in the mud for saying it was beneath him.

"I think we'll have a great time," He put his arm around her as she leaned against him, kissing the top of her head as she took his other hand. This was even more lovely than he could have hoped for. And it wasn't a strange feeling to call it that, male or no, because there was no real other way to explain what he felt.

He thought about the question as she asked, trying to remember what exactly was his motivation for taking up the position, "I wish I could be a sappy romantic and say it was because I knew you were there, but I didn't think you'd ever step foot there again," he said honestly, "I think I just was still trying to find a purpose, make amends how I thought I could," he murmured, "And I will gladly say I was blessed to be lucky enough to get the chance to make the amends that meant the most."

[Tatiana Beautero]

Tati felt something warm and aching bloom in her chest at his honesty. He hadn't come back for her, hadn't even known she'd be there and somehow that made everything that had unfolded between them feel even more miraculous. Like the universe had simply decided they'd been kept apart long enough. "Making amends," she echoed softly, her fingers tracing absent patterns against his hand where it rested in her lap. "Is that what you thought this was? Coming back to Hogwarts?"

She tilted her head up to look at him, the winter landscape blurring past the window behind her. "Because I came back for similar reasons, you know. I thought if I could be useful there, if I could help enough people in the place where everything went so wrong, maybe I could..." She trailed off, searching for the right words. "Maybe I could make amends for what I did."

A soft, slightly disbelieving laugh escaped her. "And instead I got you. Walking back into my infirmary like a ghost I'd conjured from ten years of guilt and longing." She shook her head. "I nearly had a heart attack, for the record."

Her expression grew more tender, more serious. "But I think you're right about being blessed. Because neither of us came back looking for this; for each other and somehow that's exactly what we found." She squeezed his hand. "I don't think that's luck, Bishop. I think that's something much better than luck."

She leaned her head back against his shoulder, watching snowflakes begin to dust the window glass. "Purpose," she murmured thoughtfully. "I understand that too. Needing something to anchor yourself to." Her thumb brushed his knuckles. "Maybe we can be that for each other now. Purpose and all."

[Bishop Santos]

"I guess?" Bishop said, sounding unsure, "I don't know, I just knew I needed to come back here," he murmured. He looked at her as she said it was for similar reasons, listening to her story with rapt attention. He gave a hum then smirked, "Maybe the world decided to make amends to us. After all we've been through... we deserve this."

"I like the idea," he murmured, kissing her hair again, "Though, I'm realizing our purposes have been intertwining all along," he said, "There's so many things we seemed to have been doing in tandem without even knowing it."

He looked at the window, smiling softly at their reflection in the glass, "I think I'm right where I'm meant to be," he said softly.

[Tatiana Beautero]

"Intertwining all along," Tati repeated softly, turning the phrase over in her mind. "You know, I never thought about it that way. But you're right." She followed his gaze to their reflection in the darkening window; the two of them tucked together in the small booth, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her, snowflakes dotting the glass around their reflected faces.

They looked, she realized with a quiet start, like people who belonged together. "Both of us ending up back at Hogwarts without knowing the other would be there." She shook her head slowly, marveling at it. "All those years I thought we were living completely separate lives and we were just... running parallel to each other the whole time."

She brought his hand up, pressing her lips briefly to his knuckles; mirroring his own habitual gesture back to him before settling their joined hands back in her lap. "The world making amends to us," she murmured, her crystal blue eyes finding his reflection in the glass. "I like that. After everything, maybe we've finally earned something that's just... good. Just ours." She smiled softly, letting her eyes drift closed for a moment, breathing him in.

Just ours.

The train rocked gently as it picked up speed, carrying them further from Hogsmeade and into the wider world beyond the castle's shadow. The snowfall outside thickened, coating the Scottish countryside in white silence, and Tati found herself drifting in that comfortable space between wakefulness and contentment; not quite asleep, just deeply, thoroughly at peace

By the time the conductor's voice announced their approaching destination, the landscape outside had shifted entirely, city lights beginning to flicker through the snow like scattered stars. Tati stirred against Bishop's shoulder, blinking slowly back to full awareness. "We're nearly there," she said, her voice still soft with the warmth of the past hour. She sat up just enough to peer through the window at the glittering lights beyond the glass, curiosity and excitement rekindling in her expression. "Wherever there is."

She turned to look at him, cheeks flushed from the warmth of the compartment and her eyes bright with anticipation. "Ready for our first adventure?"

[Bishop Santos]

Bishop smiled at her agreeing with him, "Funny how things work out that way," he murmured, "But I'm glad it does. That things can't be bad forever," he murmured.

He was fine with just riding with her like this, enjoying the warmth and the feel of her, the smell of her that permeated every part of him. The fact that she felt comfortable enough to drift like that did a thing or two to him as well. He treasured that trust from her almost as much as her returning the knuckles kiss.

They wouldn't have to be on it terribly long, just long enough to get comfortable like that before the train pulled into Edinburgh's station. "I'm ready if you are," he said, smiling at her with such affection it almost hurt, before he stood, offering her a hand as she stood, holding that hand as he walked with her off the train, helping her down the step.

Inside the station looked about like any other train station until they stepped out into the city itself, "Luckily," Bishop said as he looked up, taking in the fact there was snow softly drifting down, "The restaurant isn't too far away," he gently put his arm around her again, drawing her to his side once more, "But let me try and help keep you warm until we get there," he murmured before starting to guide her towards the restaurant, "Though perhaps if we see a taxi, it wouldn't be a horrible plan. It's only about a twenty-minute walk, but I don't want the cold to be too much."

[Tatiana Beautero]

Edinburgh.

Tati stepped out of the station and immediately tipped her face upward, letting snowflakes settle against her cheeks and eyelashes. The city opened up around them; ancient stone buildings dusted white, warm golden light spilling from shop windows, the distant silhouette of the castle crowning the hill above it all. She'd never been to Edinburgh before, and the sight of it in winter, softened by snow and lit from within, made her breath catch. "Oh," she said softly. Just that. Just oh.

She let Bishop draw her into his side, wrapping an arm around his waist in return as they stood there for just a moment taking it in. After so many years confined to the magical world: Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the narrow corridor of existence she'd carved out for herself, the simple act of standing in a Muggle city on a snowy evening felt quietly extraordinary. "It's beautiful," she murmured, then glanced up at him with a smile. "You picked well, Bishop. Even just the location alone."

When he mentioned the twenty-minute walk versus a taxi, Tati considered the snow drifting softly around them, the cold already finding its way past her jacket, and then considered the warmth of being tucked against Bishop's side for twenty uninterrupted minutes. "Walk," she decided immediately, perhaps a little too quickly. "I want to see the city. I remembered my coat this time and I have you to keep me warm." She tightened her arm around him briefly, making her reasoning abundantly clear before she giggled and loosened her hold a bit adjusting her coat. "Besides, twenty minutes isn't so bad."

She fell into step beside him, her heels clicking softly against the snow-dusted pavement as they began to walk. Edinburgh moved around them; a few late evening pedestrians, a street musician tucked under an awning somewhere nearby, the muffled sounds of the city wrapped in winter quiet. "I have to admit," she said after a moment, her voice warm with wonder, "I haven't been somewhere like this in... I can't even remember how long. Somewhere that just felt like the actual world, you know? Not Hogwarts, not Hogsmeade, just..." She gestured at the city around them with her free hand. "Life. Regular, ordinary, beautiful life."

She leaned her head briefly against his shoulder as they walked, the blue gem at her throat catching the glow of a passing streetlamp. "Thank you for this," she said quietly. "For thinking of it. For bringing me here." A pause, her voice dropping softer still. "For reminding me that there's a whole world out here worth being part of."

[Bishop Santos]

Hearing her response to seeing the city made him that much more glad he'd decided to take them via the train. He wanted her to experience the world in its entirety. "I'm glad you're enjoying it so far," he smiled softly at her. Then he chuckled at how quickly she said walk. "Alright," he said, leaning to kiss her temple as they walked up the sidewalk. "Finally, something good about being so warm all the time."

He nodded along with her talking about the world and regular life, "I used to hear my coworkers talking about going out into the town all the time, though they were a bit cynical about it all, still looking down at muggles, but look at what they've built without ever needing a drop of magic," he said, looking up and around them.

When she thanked him, he glanced at her since her head was on his shoulder, then kissed the top of her head. Seeing that gem on her neck, like he could miss that it was a part of her outfit tonight, gave him a mix of being pleased she was actually finding it useful and also a bit of pride in how she wore it openly. "Maybe we can explore that whole world together. Slowly, but surely, we can get further and further away in our adventures," he smirked a little.

[Tatiana Beautero]

The idea unfurled in Tati's chest like something coming back to life after a long winter; which, she supposed, was exactly what it was. "Adventures," she said, tasting the word like it was something she'd almost forgotten how to pronounce. "I used to think about that when we were kids, you know. All the places I wanted to go someday. My list was absolutely ridiculous; I had it written in the back of my third year Herbology notes." A soft laugh escaped her, self-deprecating and fond all at once. "I don't even know where that notebook is anymore."

She watched a group of Muggle pedestrians pass them on the opposite side of the street, bundled against the cold, laughing about something between themselves. Such an ordinary sight. Such a quietly remarkable one. "But slowly and surely sounds perfect to me," she continued, glancing up at him with warmth in her crystal blue eyes. "No rushing. Just... wherever we want to go, whenever we want to go there." Her arm tightened briefly around his waist. "I think I'd like anywhere, as long as it's with you."

His comment about his former colleagues made her wrinkle her nose slightly. "Still looking down on Muggles," she muttered, shaking her head. "And meanwhile look at this." She gestured at the city spreading around them; the architecture, the streetlamps, the whole magnificent ordinary world of it. "They built Edinburgh, Bishop. Without a single spell." She tilted her face up toward the falling snow for a moment, letting it dust her dark hair and pale cheeks, breathing in the cold clean air of the city.

"I want to come back here in summer," she said suddenly, the thought arriving fully formed and certain. "When it's warm and the festival season is on. I've read about it; apparently the whole city just becomes this extraordinary living thing during August." She looked at him, slightly shy about the assumption embedded in the suggestion. That there would be a summer. That they would still be this in summer. "If you'd want to, I mean. That's months away, I don't want to presume…"

She stopped herself, laughing softly at her own uncertainty. "There I go again. Overthinking." She settled more firmly into his side. "What I meant to say was: I would very much like to come back here with you in summer. If you'll bring me."