flashing lights {julian}

Alicia was late. Really, really late...She ran down the flight of stairs and then up another flight. She was glad she hadn't worn those heels that originally went with this outfit. She didn't understand how she'd gotten so late. In between coffee with the girls, and going shopping with Fleur, time had gotten away from her. She felt so bad. This was one of the biggest assignments that her new team had given her. She'd had the luck of the draw by being the last person who took photos, but she'd had to be there on time, and apparently she'd already messed that up.

Her duffle bag bounced on her shoulder before she turned a quick corner seeing the number on the door. She paused in front of the door, pushing her hair behind her ears before pushing it open. Alicia peered around the door before walking in. There was no one in the room, but there was an open door leading to some bright sunny area. She wanted to walk towards it and explore, but she'd seen the photography equipment and supposed that maybe she still had some time.

She walked over to the station that had a robe on it. She'd had directions. Strip out of her street clothes and put on the robe, and wait for the photographer to tell her what she was going to wear out of the things she'd brought. Alicia didn't understand the need for this photoshoot. It was supposed to be a multiple page spread over the Falcons who had one of the youngest teams in the league, and with her trading in the team, it was giving the team great press coverage. She understood that. She was just...body conscious. She was going to be under the scrutiny of someone the team hired, some stranger who she wasn't sure she wasn't going to be comfortable around.

By the time, she'd rambled through her inner monologue, she'd stripped out of her clothing and stood around in her blue lace bra and panty set before sliding on the short robe, leaving it open as she bent over to pick up the clothes, bring out the recommended swimsuit, cute dress, and other outfits on the table next to various pairs of shoes. When she finally straightened and turned, she was faced with tall, dark and tattooed. Her hands clutched the sides of her robe and she slowly pulled it closed, hoping that he didn't see anything he wasn't supposed to.

"Um...Hi..." Her voice was soft, and her cheeks a bright pink. She looked down before looking up into the dark brown eyes. He was...really cute. "I'm sorry I was late...I got...behind..." She held the robe closed with one hand and walked over to him on barefeet, with her hand outstretched. "I'm Alicia...one of the Falcons...I...did I keep you waiting long?" She hoped he didn't hate her. She just wanted to sink into the ground a bit.She tried a smile, looking at him through her lashes.

“Alright, thanks mate. Have a good season. Yeah, no problem.” He smiled, shaking hands and nodding towards the exit as he finished his second to last photo shoot of the day. He was smiling and having a decent enough time but inwardly all he could think about was chance for a quick smoke break. So as soon as the quidditch player exited the shoot Julian immediately fished out a cigarette and put it to his lips. Lite, inhale, exhale something about watching the billow of smoke pore out through his mouth relaxed him and he took another drag to experience it all over again. The hustle and bustle of the day had indeed been a new experience for the tattooed wizard but he welcomed the change with open arms. Not to mention the pay that they offered him was decent. Not as though he was some professional but it was definitely more than he’d seen in his days of photography.

He had successful finished an entire cigarette and was even contemplating lighting another one when he started to wonder if perhaps he’d misread the clipboard of names. Another few minutes went by as he tweaked some of his set up and back drops, changed his camera roll, and made sure his lighting was still decent enough. Though, it was London so he had to fake a lot of the sunshine. The tattooed man looked at his watch for a moment and it looked as though they were about 15 minutes late give or take, if his memory served him right. Julian decided to have a gander at the schedule they’d drawn up for him, just to be sure, and he walked from the outside and back into the room where he’d left the clipboard at the station.

But the tattooed wizard froze for a moment upon entering the room since he hadn’t expected to see anyone, much less someone without their clothes on. It wasn’t as though Julian wasn’t use to being around half naked women, it’s just that him entering without her knowledge felt a little…odd. He cleared his throat so that his presence was introduced and once she straightened out he walked over to her, trying his best to keep his eyes on her own and not the lace number she was wearing. Um…hi… “Hey welcome…” He smiled at her warmly, sending her a small salute as he walked up to the witch.

When Julian was close enough she’d looked up at him and  was a little taken aback by her beauty up close. Wow. The woman had sensual full lips and the unique color of her green grey eyes struck him with artistic inspiration. Excitement filled him and Julian somehow knew it would be an amazing photo shoot with the witch. Although, if he was honest, he’d wished that the set up was more under his circumstances...different setting, color palette, dressing. But he was too busy thinking and studying her face to really notice her apology. Either way, the ex slytherin didn't mind a bit.

He took her outstretched hand with both of his hands, “Spinnet, yeah yeah…I read your profile they gave me…recently traded,” He nodded before speaking, “Julian Greyson. Nice to meet you…uhh honestly about 15 minutes,” He said nonchalantly, shrugging and showing that the time lapse was not a big deal. Not to mention the look she was giving him was even more of a reason to make nice, “Actually, you’re the only beautiful soul to have given me enough time for a smoke break,” He smirked once followed by a wink to show his gratitude before he let her hand go.

“So…what have you got for me?” He rubbed his hands together playfully as he gestured towards her clothes before looking at her to the side expectantly.

Right then. Great.

He didn't seem mad, but she was nervous all the same. When his hands wrapped around her smaller one, it was like warmth covered them and she felt her fingers twitch. Her other hand slid to slide on top of his, and it was like they had a warm hand sandwich. She squeezed lightly, unable to help her self. Look at all the ink on him. As she could feel his gaze on her, she let her gaze trail on him. She only had the one piece, but his arms at least were a work of art.

"Alicia." She softly corrected, her smile shy as he let go of her hand. Unknowing what to do with her hands, one of them went into her hair and she began to twirl a piece around, looking up at him. "Please call me Alicia. Greyson?" Her nose wrinkled up as she thought. "You were a couple of years older than me in school, right? Slytherin? Fancy meeting you here." She quipped, grinning at him sweetly. Then it caught up to her. "You've been working all day then?" Her face took on a slightly distraught look. "Have you eaten at least? There are a lot of us, and if I'm the last, you must need to eat...! Can I get you something?" She knew a couple of floo delivery places that worked pretty fast. maybe she could con her ma into sending her something.

She was nervous, more nervous than regular public appearances made her. She'd never taken pictures with a photographer before, much less ones that were going to be published on a major magazine. Her parents were going to see this, as were her friends. She wondered how Callista had dealt with this, and decided to floo her when she'd gotten home.

She turned towards the clothes as he was, before absently touching on pieces. "They told me to bring...cute stuff. Which I don't know what cute means, so I brought feminine." She rolled her eyes, snorting. "I've a couple bathing suits, dresses, jeans and cute tops and such. They don't know I've a tattoo on my side, so I brought things to cover it up as well if that is what they want." Alicia turned to him, and placed a hand lightly on his arm. "I've gotta confess...I've never done something like this before..." Her cheeks flushed because as she listened, her words sounded inappropriate. "The modeling thing, at least...So I don't rightly know what I'm doing. I've got all of these things, but I don't know what to do with them..." Her giggle was soft. "Can you help me...?"

A wide smile slowly grew on his features as he looked to the witch; Julian knew almost instantaneously that he wouldn’t be able to keep himself from flirting, but he would try, “All right, then…Alicia.” He nodded when she recalled his last name, “That’s right,” he said smoothly as he watched her wrinkle her nose. God, she was attractive, wasn’t she? The wizard found himself starring at her plump lips momentarily until he realized that she was asking him something. Julian did his best to keep his speech professional as he slid his hands into the pockets on his slacks, “School? Yes. The Slytherin house, exactly,” He nodded, though it suddenly dawned on him why her name on the schedule seemed so familiar, “Oh man, wait- Alicia Spinnet- you were in Gryffindor a year under me- I remember you! I may have thrown a couple of nasty bludgers your way once or twice, rivalry and all that,” Julian smiled but shrugged his shoulders apologetically before he continued reminiscing, “…damn…I can’t believe I didn’t realize it was you.” He laughed lightly, shaking his head at his own forgetfulness.

“Er- yeah. You’re my last person for the day though.” The wizard wondered silently why she looked so distraught until she spoke again, asking if he’d eaten and offering to get something. Julian was a bit taken aback by her concern; it wasn’t every day that some cared about his wellbeing without really knowing him. It was surprising but he appreciated it immensely, “No, no, love. You don’t have to do that. I’m fine, I assure you, I’ve only done half of the full team today-and I had something to eat a while back that kept me pretty satisfied,” He added, tapping on his stomach to reassure her before placing one of his hands on her back lightly, “But I appreciate it, nonetheless, thank you,” Julian said as smiled genuinely, letting his hand fall back to his side.

He turned his attention to her wardrobe now, after rubbing his hands together, he grabbed his wrist and placed his hands in front of his pelvis as he listened to her, “Feminine works,” Julian said nodding and smiling all the while. His attention perked up at the mention of her tattoo, his curiosity growing; he couldn’t help thinking that the last thing he’d want to do is cover up her art. The wizard had to force himself to focus back on her words but it was easy when she placed a hand on his arm lightly as he looked her in eyes as she confessed. Can you help me…The ex slytherin practically liquefied from the candid femininity flowing from her but kept his demeanor smooth as he answered, “Of course, love. And I appreciate the honesty.” The ex slytherin leaned into her playfully, like he didn’t want anyone else to hear what was saying even though they were alone, “Between me and you...some of the girls on your team were dreadful. You’d think they were posing for a bloody gentleman’s magazine.” He shook his head at the thought, before he added, “I had to tell what’s-her-face to close her legs quite a few times.” Julian laughed playfully as he straightened up, placing another light hand of her back, “You'll be fine and I’ll take care of you, I promise. You won’t even know I’m shooting,” He winked to further reassure her.

“And…” He clapped his hands once, rubbing them together once more, “Here’s what I’m thinking about your wardrobe…” He pointed to a few miscellaneous items she brought, “Were gonna do something classy- but sexy. The idea being that you start off in your business attire…think…ministry official…business executive…you with me?” He looked to her before continuing on, “Then we’re going to have you taking off articles of clothing- nothing too risky- very natural- like there’s no one else in the room with you. You’re just letting your hair down, sort to speak…letting loose…having fun…that’s when he have you out by the pool…” Julian put his index fingers up, trying to further explain himself, “I just think people should see the individual…you are a professional quidditch player…which is your work…how you’re able to live…your passion…but then you have you. The honest to god person behind the uniform…that’s what I want to express here…it's what I want to advertise...” He put his arms down before he added, shaking his head, “Oh, and we’re not covering up whatever tattoos you have. Those are going to be seen-if that's alright with you of course?” He asked as he looked to Alicia with a warm smile.

"A few bludgers?" The snort that exited her nostrils was almost delicate. "Just a few? My sixth year, you almost slammed a bludger into my side and knocked me from my broom. I'd hold a grudge if it weren't for the fact that I think you snakes lost that game." Her lips were curved into a smirk, and she tapped the bottom one with her forefinger. "It's all good. You're getting old. You can't remember all of the young whippersnappers that come through your life." She tugged the short robe that was loosely tied. "And I'm pretty sure that the Hogwarts unis didn't look a thing like this." Rolling her eyes, she grinned at him, showing she was teasing. It sure was fun teasing those sensitive snakes, especially when it was about them losing. They were quietly a lot more competive than Gryffindors.

She sighed in relief when she found out she wasn't that late and she hadn't put him out too much. "You've been busy then. We've a pretty dramatic team, and they like things just so." Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes. "It's not as bad as being on an all female team. The attitudes." She scoffed. A beautiful smile lit up her face she found out that he'd eaten. She'd hate to have been in the way of his wellbeing and contentment. She placed her hand on his upper arm and tapped it lightly. "I'm glad. It would have bveen horrible for you to be starving...I can't think properly when I'm hungry..."

When he looked at her wardrobe, she began to anxiously pick at the clothing. She hadn't really known truly what to wear, so that he hadn't thrown any derisive sneers or quips at her clothing choices. It was odd, because with how confident she was on the field and speaking in front people, she was the opposite one on one...especially with guys. Julian was definitely all male, and he towered over her a bit. Her cheeks were flushed, and she started to pick up pieces of clothing as she thought about what she was going to wear. A snort escaped her again and she shook her head. "The only one I'm close with so far is Calli, and I'm pretty damn sure you wont see her tossing her legs wide for some strange bloke." She tugged her head. "Is posing for a gentleman's mag bad? My manager ...scheduled me an inteview with Playwiz..." She wrinkled her nose, thinking. "He said something about it being an oportunity for me. I'm just afraid of my papa randomly opening it and seeing me in lace and bubbles or something like that..."

His clap caught her attention fully from her musing. She listened to him intently, biting her bottom lip. "So you're saying something like a roleplay? Like I'm going to be acting like some high powered executive...?" She pulled up a leopard print dressy shirt, and a black pencil skirt. "Will these do...?" She bit on her bottom lip, listening to him as he seemed to weave this image with his words. It sounded so...awesome. "Most people see us as just quidditch players...it's nice that you want to show us as real people..." She tilted her head and smiled brightly at him, before placing the outfit on the table away from the others. "Do I need a swimsuit...?" She poked a pile of fabric, before an idea struck her. Her hands shot upwards slightly, unknowingly loosening her robe and leaving it open as she pulled her hair up in a twist. "Do you think I should pin it up as well...? And then take it down. Does that make sense?" Her phoenix tattoo that was on her left side was revealed as it twisted around her side, infused with magic, its wings flapping slowly. "Tell me what makes sense, and we can finally get to work..." She bounced in place, getting excited about this. This was going to be fun.