I'm not a door to door salesperson, I promise! - CHRIS-

[Deleted]

Marie gathered the magazines she had borrowed from the library and – albeit gently so as not to tear them – stuffed them in her bag. She grabbed her library card back from the clerk with a smile and a thank you and headed out. Chris was very busy lately. She’d tried to visit him a few times, but she always felt uncomfortable going into the principia seeing as she as of no rank and technically wasn’t allowed to be in there unless summoned. And his room, well, she avoided that too because poor guy always seemed exhausted and she didn’t want to be the one to rouse him from a catnap or off to bed early. She did get to see him at training yesterday though. Okay, so she probably seemed a bit of a stalker there. She stood off to the side of the Field of Mars and spied on the first cohort’s training. Someone did approach her about that while she was there and she merely played it off as her trying to pick up some pointers from a greater cohort. They’d thankfully bought it. Then she’d had to skedaddle so it didn’t look bad, so her idea to catch Chris after he got out of training had failed. Go figure, come to find, they still had four hours left to their session, so it was hopeless anyway.

Now she bustled along her way into the military part of the camp, bag slung over shoulder, and hummed merrily. She checked the Field of Mars. Third was out there, but no sign of first. In fact, there she spotted a couple members of first loitering about their barracks just outside. She walked over and asked politely where Chris was. One seemed confused, even annoyed. The other obviously knew who Marie was by the smirk on his face. “In the principia. Where a little nothing like you can’t get to him.” Marie grinned like this was splendid. “Excellent, thanks. Oh, and by the way… watch me.” She set off for the principia. She was vaguely aware of eyes on her the whole time, until she got to the front door of the grand building and knocked loudly, then pulled it open. In that moment, she turned and grinned at what appeared to be the two younger boys who had followed her from the first cohort to see her get in trouble if she dared enter that building on her own accord. She gave them a little wave, then disappeared inside. The snarkier of the boys set off to find Charlie and tattle on her, the second boy at his heels.

Once inside, she stopped short, because Aurum was staring at her. She thought she heard water running down a ways, which meant one of the two praetors must be in the shower, seeing as only they actually lived here. Well, minus Jason, who lived with his wife. So probably Remus in the shower. She leaned her head to the side to see down the hall past the elaborate desk to where Chris’ office should be. From this angle, it was hard to tell if he was there. She glanced back at the attentive greyhound, then called out. “Chris, I did something stupid! So, um… could use a hero to keep from being eaten by a greyhound right about now!” Aurum’s ear perked at her call and the dog stood fully to stalk a little closer at what it seemed to be perceiving as a possible threat. Marie backed against the door, grabbing the handle just in case she had to make a run for it. “Chriiiiiis?”

Words: 605
Tag: Christopher Ashby
Notes:

[Deleted]

Tag: Marie Ashby

Word: 332

Notes: ADORABLE!!!!

Chris had been very tired lately, he knew that what he thought about leadership was correct, he knew that he would have kept Camp and the City safe from threats, not like Remus and Jason... specifically Remus. he would have killed Rhiannon, he would have put Felicity in a dungeon till threat passed, he would had killed Evelyn and then the threat wouldn't have gotten Camp and the city by surprise like she did. But Remus was soft, he had been soft for a long time and he knew it! But he also knew that what he wanted to do was against the rules of rome! He was going against one or maybe two of his superiors!! So he needed to keep his mind occupied.

He had trained with the first, with Charlie, alone! then buried himself in paperwork till he couldn't keep his eyes open. He just wanted to stay away from temptations. Marie helped a lot, even more since he proposed to her, she was so happy... And please! don't misunderstand him, he was overjoyed! but he was also worried about the safety of Rome, the safety of his wife to be and also in a future the safety of their children! so he worried and let Marie be the super happy one.

That very day he was asleep on his desk. Nothing that he had planned, it just happened, not even the son of the king of gods was invincible and he got tired as any other. He was asleep on his desk, suddenly he heard something, Marie's voice. He opened his eyes and jumped from his desk and ran to the door, he opened it with electricity running through his hand, but then he saw how Aurum was threatening Marie. He sighed and shook his head. "Aurum, please, don't eat my wife to be. She is clear to pass, I sent for her." usually that would be enough for the dog to stopp attacking and let her pass.

[Deleted]

Marie was definitely more of a cat person. Especially when it came to the red glowing eyed canine variety. Especially when it looked like it wanted to eat her face off. She called out once down the hall and the situation only got worse. Though she was kind of grateful for the shower water going, because she was pretty sure Remus would be less accepting of her being here than her dear fiancé. She just, you know, had to get to said dear fiancé. Bright glare from those red eyes and she backed into the door, her bag getting in the way a little. One more call and – thank the gods – a response.

Aurum’s ears must have been wicked tuned and also really savvy to human languages because it either recognized Chris immediately by voice, or understood what he was saying. Either would be pretty cool. Aurum gave her one last look, then approached a lot less threateningly to sniff her bag as if wondering if she’d brought him – him? Her? – a treat. “Sorry, Aurum, just books. I’ll bring you something next time, okay?” What did you give a metal dog anyway? A real bone? Doggie biscuits? Or nuts and bolts? Curious. Anyway, a question for another time. Aurum, once she gave him/her a good rub behind the ear, ambled off in the direction of the shower noises and Marie aimed for Chris’ office.

She poked her head around the door. “Hey, handsome. Thanks for coming to my rescue.” She was half teasing, in a fun way. She loved to try to get him to smile. He had such a nice smile. “I brought some things we could talk together about, if you wanted. If you can break away from the paper mountains. If you can’t, I understand. I was just poking around on my down time and thought you might want in on it.” She slid her bag to her side so she could pull out one of the magazines and held it up for him. The title read in curly print: Modern Bride. “I didn’t know what sort of thing you might want, so I just brought a variety. Modern, traditional, even found one for Roman classical. Thought maybe we could pour over these for ideas and take notes and sip tea or something. Wow… that sounded corny. I’m sorry, I’m just… really excited. But if you’re too busy, I have these all checked out for twelve days. So take your time.”

Words: 414
Tag: Christopher Ashby
Notes: So I just really love these two. <3

[Deleted]

Tag: Marie Ashby

Word: 346

Notes: I don't know where the romantic words came from! O .o

Chris walked back into his office knowing that Aurum would never attack Marie. How did he kno that? well, those dogs were meant to obey the praetors, but thank the gods they also listened to Centurions in the ptincipia. Also, Marie would never hurt a fly, and that the dog should know, so he was sure of Marie's well being. He started picking up some of the papers that he dropped when he ran to the door to rescue his beloved Marie. Then speaking of the devil... in that case of his angel, Marie walked nto the office and Chris looked at her.

she was always so beautiful, so fresh and innocent, he loved all of that of her. she thanked him for rescuing her as if he had been a knight in shinny armor against a crazy, evil dragon. He smiled at that idea still with sleepy eyes. "I would lways rescue you, my lady." he said with his Irish accent that was even more audible when he was sleepy. Marie started speaking about books and magazines, about styles of weddings, something about a modern one, and a roman one too. He smiled and without any other kind of warning, he just grabbed her hand and pulled her to his body.

He was still standing by his desk when he did that. He then wrapped his arms around her body and hid his face in her neck, among her hair. He breathed in deeply and then let the air go. He smiled and then whispered. "I love you, and all what you are. corny, talkative, innocent, optimistic, confused and different." he said and then brought her closer to him, if it was possible to do that. "Then, tea and biscuits while we decide our wedding will be perfect, my beloved Marie, My beloved lass."

He said and then kissed her neck. then he pulled back, still sleepy eyes, but you could find some peace and calm inside the storm that he always had in his eyes. "then, here or in my dorm here in Principia?"

[Deleted]

Marie was thrilled to see him, as usual. Of course he looked worse for the wear, which immediately brought up the pang of worry in her. She smiled all the same as he said he would always rescue her. “I know you would. You’re just amazing like that.” She messed in her satchel until she brought out a couple of the magazines to show him her little scheme. Then he hugged her. She dropped the magazines, seeing as she had found a more important use for her hands: holding on to him. She hugged him back, close, which was about the only thing that stopped her from talking. He had this magic touch, pretty much literally. She could be freaking out or chattering away and all he had to do was take her hand or hug her or something and poof, she was fine. She loved and was loved and that was all that mattered to her in this moment. Sure, she still had her heart set on marrying him officially, but right now she couldn’t care about the magazines. She could wear a potato sack with rope belt to the ceremony and still be happy as a lark.

Her mood swings kicked in. Completely composed and normal happy to suddenly way happy at the sound of his words. So much so that tears leaks from her eyes as she held on so tightly to him. Or course she knew he loved her, but hearing it like that. It made her heart swell. “I love you too, Chris. So so so much. You’re my everything. You complete me.” She sniffed and nodded into his shoulder. “Thank you. I know you’re so busy. This means a lot. I won’t take a ton of your day. I’m just so excited about this. I want to share my excitement with you.” She got a little chill when he kissed her neck and let out a soft laugh. She didn’t bother to hold back the urge to brush her fingers along his cheek line when he pulled away. “Here might be better if we’re going to eat and drink too, don’t you think? Though it doesn’t matter to me. There’s still that wishing I could lean against your side as I look over your shoulder sort of thing… but I can live without if I must.” She was teasing. Kind of.

Words: 379
Tag: Christopher Ashby
Notes: Cuuuuuute!

[Deleted]

Tag: Marie Ashby

Word: 252

Notes: Sorry it is short.

Chris looked at Marie in his arms and smiled. He remembered what she told him about giving her more time, about thinking in his priorities in life and well... He got them already, He would go for a senate post and then he would simply do that and work in the City, he didn't want to lose Marie, even if that meant to lose Rome, he rather that a thousand times than the alternative which was losing her forever. So he simply decided to keep what was his reason to be and that was his Marie, his beloved and sweet Marie.

"Marie, don't worry about my job or how busy I am, ok?" He smiled at her and held her tightly. He never knew how good he would feel after such words, he had just told her what his heart knew long before. She was the most important side of his life, so he wouldn't lose her because of stupidity anchored to his goddly blood, so... he would be first her fiance and husband after that and then he would be centurion,senate member... whatever, who knew.

"you know what? let's just ask for food, we can eat here check some magazines here and then go out to go directly where you want to order the stuff, what about that?" Smiles at her and then kisses her lips tenderly. He was playing in an unknown terrain, but he was sure that everything would be fine as long as she was with him.