huntercdcms

[huntercdcms]

"I think you bring out that side of me." He wanted her happy and he would do everything in his power to ensure that she was. "Not at all, please do it all you want. I like hearing it. I might actually get my head around the fact you are actually flirting with me of all people at some point too if you keep going." It still felt a little surreal to him given how long they had been friends and that so far it was really working out which was also new for him. He supposed it just took the right person.

"Definitely not. You have a talent for always thinking of simple but somehow the most thoughtful gestures," Valeria commented, thinking to the jacket of his she still wore on a regular basis. He had just given something of his away and in turn it had become one of her most treasured possessions, even when they had just been nothing more than friends. "What? Are you saying that because we're dating I can't keep flirting with you?" she challenged playfully. "Because that's going to be an issue for me– we might have to break up so I can continue," her lips curling into a smirk before pulling him along for them to find a quieter spot to have a drink.

[huntercdcms]

"Don't worry about it, I'm not in any rush." Hunter assured the woman as he moved between the different rows. "I am looking for these albums." He explained, handing over his phone where he had typed them out on his phone. "I will be able to find them myself but it'll probably be faster if I get help from you."

"Oh–," she twisted her head briefly when she heard someone enter. "I'll only be a minute," Bekah said, fixing up her earring in the reflection. "Did you need something?"

[huntercdcms]

"And what do you think I could possibly want that I haven't already got?" Some things couldn't change, like the loss of his mum and the way his family had ended up being but if he set aside that and the things that were concrete, how much more could he hope for? He had good friends, a job he enjoyed and a partner who respected him and made him happy. Honestly, he couldn't complain about anything in those areas. "Thank you though. It's taken a while to get here but it was worth it."

"You can be content with your life and still want to be better," Victoire replied and her smile softened, "That sounds like a resolution to me and a perfect one. I'm happy for you, Hunter."

[huntercdcms]

"You sound like you hold her in high regard." Hunter mused when Cyrus mentioned Valeria. He didn't doubt it of course but it was nice to the know that the other approved. Hunter didn't have a lot of people he would have maybe asked their opinion about his relationship but Cyrus was always kind about his delivery, even when there was something negative to say.

"I've always kind of marched to the beat of my own drum anyways, even if most of the time it felt less like a choice and more like my only option," Cyrus considered with a light laugh. He could joke about it now because things were better on the other end, but there had been a time where all he really had was himself and it hadn't been easy. "And I'm sure you will. She always seems to draw out the best in you anyways."

[huntercdcms]

"Less need to fight over everything." He offered up as an answer, though it was only partially true. "And Valeria keeps me pretty level headed too." There was less grouchiness it seemed now that she was more involved in his life, she certainly gave him more to smile about.

"Oh? And why is that exactly?" Frank asked curiously. "Do I not? I was a little more hotheaded as a teen but I calmed down over the years it seems."

[huntercdcms]

"Why do you say it like that? Can't I simply be content with my life?" Hunter asked with a little chuckle at the woman's insistence. "I'm happy. It's taken a while to get there but I'm actually happy. If I'm going to make any resolution, it's that I am going to try not to take that for granted this year."

⭐ - our muses come up with new years resolutions together ( @huntercdcms )

"Oh come on, surely you have some resolutions for next year? Something you want to work on? Everybody has something," Victoire said, sipping on her drink and looked over at Hunter from where he sat across from her.

[huntercdcms]

"I'm talking more about the way it treats me after a night out but thanks for the ego boost. It's good to know you think I have a body that's better than most peoples." Hunter couldn't help but point out with a wolfish grin and a wink in the others direction. "But yeah, I suspect you're right. Valeria can be downright ice cold if you do something she doesn't like but I've never seemed to fall into the category that has to worry about it."

"I can understand mind but body? You're in better shape than most people I know," Cyrus insisted with an amused huff. "With all that physical labor you do around the castle too? Surely you don't actually think you're past your prime or something?" he wondered when Hunter had expressed feeling let down by his mind and body lately. "I don't think that woman could ever hate you. You're one of the few people I think she'd overlook everything for," he mused with a chuckle.

[huntercdcms]

Hunter laughed when Valeria was honest about it, it was one thing he could rely on her to be. She never messed around with her words. "Then I feel like I've not done a bad job if it means a lot to you." Hunter was still navigating what it meant to be in a relationship with Valeria but he did try his best and when he wasn't sure, he tended to turn to Cyrus or Elena in work if he needed advice. They tended to be the most level headed people he knew for something like this. "You know, if I wasn't already dating you, that'd sound almost like a line, Ms Sanchez." Hunter joked when she asked if he wanted to find somewhere to enjoy the drink. "But yes is the answer."

"Okay maybe it's not the most unique thing, but it still means a lot," she acknowledged with a laugh of her own. Besides, Valeria was lucky to have a man who wanted to surprise her and do things for her without her having to even ask or hint at them. He was honestly a better gift giver than herself, not having that in her nature but definitely wanting to for him. Val settled into the feeling of his arms around her and the warmth radiating off of him. She was reluctant to want to separate, nuzzling her face gently into his before pulling away slightly. "Should we find a spot to enjoy this together?"

[huntercdcms]

"I never thought I'd get to that age. I always assumed I'd be forever youthful both in mind and body but alas, both are letting me down these days." He said with a dramatic sigh before grinning at his friends. "But you're right. It's why I continue to put myself through it despite knowing I am going to be practically useless tomorrow. Valeria is going to hate me." Because she was the one who was going to have to put up with him whining pathetically.

"I really feel you with that," he shook his head with a laugh. "It seems so. But at the same time there's something about events like these that really make you want to make the most of them and all. Just a shame you suffer so many consequences because of it afterwards."

[huntercdcms]

❄️ - cyrus

Can be found here.

[huntercdcms]

❄️ - our muses get some fresh air from the celebrations together

"Do you remember hearing people say that they are getting too old for this?" Hunter asked his friend as they made their way outside. "Well I'm really feeling that right now." He admitted with a deep chuckle. "And I'm going to be paying for it not just in the morning but the entire day tomorrow."

@cyrusclearwater

[huntercdcms]

"I mean, I am not sure that I would call buying alcohol for someone who owns a bar the most thoughtful thing in the world, but I did try." He admitted with a soft laugh, relieved that Valeria didn't seem to scoff at his attempt to surprise her and make her happy. That wasn't like her of course, but that didn't mean he wasn't concerned that it could happen. Hunter melted into the kiss, his arms settling around her. "You deserve it." He murmured when their mouths parted, a contented smile resting on his lips.

"Hunter– this is so thoughtful," she found herself beaming as he'd revealed the bottle. It was not something she stocked and it wasn't something she'd just buy for herself either. Valeria came over to kiss him, barely pulling away to look at him with a smile. "You spoil me."

[huntercdcms]

🍾 - val

Can be found here.

[huntercdcms]

🍾- our muses share a glass/bottle of champagne

"I can't imagine this holds as much appeal for you as some others tonight given you own your own bar but... I got this especially." Hunter explained, pulling an expensive bottle of Champagne from behind his back. "I feel like we have a lot to celebrate this year and I wanted it to be something even you don't get to have very often."

@valeriasanchez

[huntercdcms]

"I imagine you are going through quite a few of those." But this time he did not appear to be teasing the man. Hunter was happy that Cyrus had found someone who could provide him with what he had been searching for. Unexpected as the packaging was, It appeared to be working for Cyrus and that was all that mattered. "I never said I would make it easy on you." He added with a smirk a moment later, though he didn't doubt Cyrus would get him back at some point.

"Seems so. A new development I've discovered," Cyrus confessed, chuckling along with his friend in reply. He rolled his eyes playfully at Hunter's followup comment. "You won't even let me have this one thing, will you?" he then pouted when his attempt at teasing him back was easily shut down by the other.

[huntercdcms]

"Can you think of someone you'd prefer to have showing you around?" Hunter asked with a raised eyebrow in Valeria's direction. "I think that with Hogwarts, anything is possible." He felt like he knew it pretty well in and out, but he knew that the hallways had a way of surprising you. He didn't put anything past the building as it often felt like it took on a life of its own.

"And you would so generously offer to be that guide for me, would you?" Val beamed back, fluttering her eyelashes at him as though she was asking him to do that kindness. It would be nice to revisit old stomping grounds again. "Of course I'm up for that but is that even possible for you? I'd figure you know the place better than anyone else," she remarked with a soft laugh when he suggested they try and discover some new places. "I'm always open to a challenge after all."

[huntercdcms]

"You like a gun show, of course you do." Hunter gave a chuckle of laughter at his friend. "If I need anything from you in work now, I know what I need to do." He smirked, though he understood that often with things like this, it was more to do with the person than anything else. "Hey, I think I can take the jokes from you, especially given how you're far more easily embarrassed than me."

"Honestly? I wonder that myself. Who knew that that was a thing for me? I certainly didn't until today," Cyrus confessed with a sheepish laugh. He was still bashful about all of it to a degree, but it was all because of something amazing that really made him happy to an incredible degree. "Hey look, tease me all you want but you're the one with a collar and chain around your neck, yeah?" he scoffed back with another chuckle.