A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph & Kaz)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Aleph on 26-10-2010, 15:15:02</h2>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aleph</strong> on <strong>26-10-2010, 15:15:02</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Thomas woke from beneath a startled sheaf of paper, unaware that he was waking into a trap. It had been a quiet afternoon and he had discovered that the poetic manuscript a colleague had given him for comment worked much better once turned sideways and used to block the glaring noon sun. His six foot two frame was stretched out on the back patio couch, dozing fitfully before the shrill alarm of his phone had him bolt upright, tortured iambics scattered over bricks warmed by the favorable early spring weather.<br><br>Stepping into his kitchen, Thomas took up the phone as he rubbed his face. His fingers going up into wavy dark hair that had been neatened into a rather 50s style that suggested he'd been watching too much Mad Men. <br><br>"Mm Hello?"<br>"Oooh, sounds like I woke you up sweetie, do you need a moment?"<br>"Oh Ellie, hi, no I'm fine. It's nice outside, dozed off for a little bit."<br>"Ah yes, the great Professor who has somehow managed to finagle a day off to ...'read and reflect'" Ellie's voice dripped with mock sarcasm.<br>"Don't worry dearie, once I am king, all the Redgrove University admin staff will be given a day off too. I shall call it...March 14...calendar and workload permitting."<br>"That would be just like you, you rat. Listen, are you free tomorrow night? I'm gathering some interesting folk for a cocktail party to welcome one of the new lecturers."<br>"Sure, sounds like fun, what are the details?"<br><br>Thomas listened as Ellie gave time and place, started to talk about the guest list and it was at that point the idea sprung into his somewhat foggy mind that something was afoot.<br>"...course the Brysons couldn't make unt-"<br>"Ellie"<br>"Yes Thomas?" The sound of butter not melting in Ellie's mouth was far too clear.<br>"Forgive me if I'm wrong but you seem to have an interesting mix of several couples ...and me. This newcomer wouldn't be...female by any chance?"<br>"...well, it's not a blind date as such, she-"<br>"Ellie! Seriously! We talked about this, do you remember the last time you tried subcontracting for Cupid? It didn't work well at all now did it?"<br>"...that's not fair, you were too-"<br>"Ellie..."<br>"OK, Brenda wasn't what I would call a perfect match," Ellie's rate of fire sped up as she realised she had to make her pitch quickly. "but this is different, it's an old school friend of mine who's started work at the uni. I haven't seen her in years and she transferred here because its her home town and she saw my name in the admin registry and I promised her that everyone here is lovely and I just want her to meet my friends and you can hide behind Paul if it all goes horribly wrong which it won't and please say you'll come?"<br>As far as rapidly delivered guilt trips went, it was incredibly well enunciated and, Thomas suspected, rehearsed.<br>"Let me guess, if I don't come this woman will fling herself from the highest parapet of the nearest available castle."<br>"Ophelia with somersault in the half-pike position."<br>"And you'll never let me forget if I say no." Thomas said with a rising sense of inevitability and resignation.<br>"Just like always", Ellie reassured with a voice given a liberal dusting of sugar.<br><br>The next evening saw Thomas almost flying out of work. His prediction to Ellie before they hung up that he'd be late looked to be on the money. The stack of correcting he'd been lumbered with was bad enough. It was a comparative delight, however, to the colleague who'd burst into his office demanding to know why Thomas had been so harsh in his manuscript assessment. Thomas and he argued for far longer than Thomas had wanted and only his realisation of the time prevented him from revealing that he'd a) not been harsh, in fact many punches had been pulled and b) he'd earlier found the pages better used as a sunshade to sleep beneath. Regardless, it had made him a touch more late than he'd intended.<br><br>Thomas' car slunk to a stop outside the residence of Ellie and Paul Marston, camouflaged by the sound of mingling guests inside. He was in something of an awful state when he arrived in Redgrove several years ago. Broken hearted and low on funds, he had spent several years travelling before landing an assistant professorship under a well known, if minor, literary figure, wintering out his later years at Redgrove University. Ellie, who ran the admin office and her husband Paul had collected him at the airport as a favour to Thomas' soon to be mentor. The connection was so quick between he and the couple that they were firm friends before Ellie had found her way out of the airport. Ever since that day the couple had been the mainstay of Thomas' social life. Not that he had much of a choice in the matter.<br><br>Thomas took the opportunity to straighten himself out in the rear view mirror. The choice of dark grey suit was a cut above his usual level of work attire, but he'd already anticipated heading straight to Ellie and Paul's from work. Poor Ellie, his terrible split with his ex and his confirmed bachelorhood drove Ellie (and by way of consequence, Thomas) into three different attempts at blind dates, all of which proved terribly off the mark. No, in spite of Ellie's best intentions, he was here to welcome her best friend through her school years back to Redgrove and into the faculty fold. Any potential for further romantic disaster would have to be shielded off by Paul who'd come to master a sort of tactful diplomacy between Ellie and Thomas over the years, knowing when to fool him into coming over for dinner and when to sneak him down the road for a pint.<br><br>Knocking on their front door, he reminded himself that was to be not a blind date, but a homecoming party of sorts. This was the stance he would take and he would stick to it with all of his resolve.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kaz</strong> on <strong>27-10-2010, 00:09:35</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				How in the world had she let Ellie talk her into this?&nbsp; She knew her old friend was trying to help her, but honestly all Kate wanted to do was just finish unpacking and go through her notes for tomorrows classes.&nbsp; She really wasn't in the mood to make sweet talk to some of the Universities stuffed shirts, why had she agreed so easily?&nbsp; She shook her head again, her medium blonde hair swishing around her shoulders, following the movement of her head.&nbsp; She had warm, intelligent brown eyes and heart shaped face that offered witty as well as a sharp mind.<br><br>Katelyn Mallory was a woman who knew her mind.&nbsp; It was a shame she just seemed to get stuck with men who liked to use their fists to get their point across.&nbsp; She still had the fading bruises to prove it.&nbsp; She had finally had enough and upped and left, heading home, back to her roots.&nbsp; She knew he wouldn't let her leave, so she had run, knowing her friends and family would protect her.&nbsp; She had had enough, so she was back.&nbsp; She had taken a lower level teaching job, nothing as grand as she had been doing, but it was a job. Something she could do without really thinking about. She had been there a week now, and it was like a breath of fresh air.<br><br>The cocktail party was meant to be a simple get together, but Kate knew where Ellie was involved nothing was a simple party.&nbsp; She was sure there would be at least one single guy, Ellie had always liked to play at matchmaker, it could be annoying, but she knew she was only trying to help her get back into things.&nbsp; But Kate was quite happy just to be home, she had no desire to get into another relationship.<br><br>She had chosen a simple black dress tonight, nothing special, just nice and smart.&nbsp; She wore black boots and had a black jacket around her shoulders.&nbsp; She arrived a little late, she hated getting to these things early, so she always left it later.&nbsp; Parking the car Kate walked round the corner, walking up the path and spotting a tall, distinguished looking guy there.&nbsp; She approached him, smiling, “another of Ellie's victims?” she asked him, taking in his height and the suit he wore.&nbsp; Very nice she thought, then the door opened and Ellie beamed at them both.<br><br>“I was just about to send out the search parties” she gushed, pulling them both in, “Thomas, you are so naughty, I knew you would be late.&nbsp; And Kate, darling you look wonderful, come in, get a drink, mingle.&nbsp; Oh have you meet each other, Thomas Kate, Kate Thomas.”&nbsp; And then she was gone, moving through the house, looking for something.<br><br>“Gotta love Ellie, the woman who knows what everyone else in town is doing.&nbsp; Even before them” she chuckled, holding her hand out to Thomas, “Kate Mallory” she said, smiling warmly at him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aleph</strong> on <strong>27-10-2010, 14:17:00</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The clicking of heels on the pavement behind him made Thomas turn away from the door just after he'd knocked. The distant thud of their host coming down the hall was lost on him for a moment as the woman who approached effortlessly grabbed his full attention. It didn't take much guesswork to figure out that this was the woman with whom he was about to not have a blind date. Thomas reasoned it would be churlish not to at least meet her and welcome her to the university. After all, he didn't want to be thought of as rude.<br><br>There was just enough time for Thomas' smile to match Kate's before the door was flung open and Ellie was drawing them both into the party. New staff were rare at Redgrove where they hadn't originally come through the university's ranks of tutors and teachers assistants. In fact, the last such person had been Thomas himself, having earned his position by way of a temporary endowment to the university, a kind of acknowledgment of his mentor's contribution to culture. By the time the funding ran out he had proved himself too useful to get rid of so allowance was made for a new Professor of English in the faculty. The new addition to the staff, and as one would expect, the only person in the room who knew almost nobody, Kate immediately drew the attention of the majority of the room.<br><br>Thomas took the proffered hand. "Thomas Albright and yes, I'm indeed another one of Ellie's victims. How we suffer for our friends." he added with a sly grin. As Thomas lead Kate towards the table liberally scattered with glasses, bottles and other cocktail making accoutrements, he thought of the look his host shot him before vanishing into the crowd, a mixture of "See? Was I not right?" smugness and "Your turn." challenge. <br>"So, tell me more about yourself, I gather you're an old school friend of Ellie's, where are you returning from? What are you teaching?"<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kaz</strong> on <strong>27-10-2010, 15:48:35</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Kate liked his style.&nbsp; He had a calmness about him that seemed to flow to those around him.&nbsp; And that was Kate.&nbsp; She glared at Ellie's retreating back and then went to the table with him, looking at the various drinks available.&nbsp; She poured an orange juice, topping it up with some sparkling wine.&nbsp; She wasnt planning on drinking much tonight, not with a lecture in the morning.<br><br>She listened to his questions and smiled, "well, yes Ellie and I went to school here togather.&nbsp; We went to the University as well.&nbsp; I studied English Literature and then went on to take my teachers degree." She told him, "I headed out into the wide world, and now I'm back" she said, a hint of sadness creeping into her eyes.&nbsp; "I teaching well, English literature.&nbsp; I was at St Bartholomews" she mentioned one of the most prestigous Colleges around, "but I decided to come home.&nbsp; The job is what I need, I've done a couple of lectures so far, but tomorrow is my big day, but I dont want any stresses, I just want to teach" she told him.&nbsp; She had been Head of Department back there, but she had had enough of the pressures of such a position.&nbsp; "I have yet to meet the Head of English" she said softly, "hopefully I'll bump into him tomorrow" she admitted, sipping her drink.<br><br>"So what about you?&nbsp; I havent seen you around before, but then I havent been around for the past few years." She told him, her ex wouldnt let her, he said her friends were busy bodies.&nbsp; And because he spoke with his fists, she listened. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aleph</strong> on <strong>28-10-2010, 09:21:10</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				If Thomas picked up the momentary wince as Kate mentioned coming home, it didn't show. He did take notice, however of her former school and field of study.<br>"Oh, that's you! Sorry, but for a series of exams recently I would have been on your interview panel. I was up to my eyeballs in marking and only vaguely heard that we might be getting a couple more lecturers into the fold. It's nice to know we're getting someone with St. Bart's in their CV."<br><br>Thomas tried to squash the passing thought that there were other positives to knowing a bright, attractive woman like Kate would be around the campus, but he didn't try too hard. "Me? Oh, I was originally editing an editor and part-time writer in Australia. Some of my work was noticed by Geraint St. John who's a.. of course, if you studied here, you'd know already as a bit of a star in our field. Anyhow, I'd been going through a rough patch and was travelling around Europe when Geraint contacted me with a job prospect, I accepted and that was how I met Ellie and Paul. I sort of became his right hand in his later years and when he passed on I was promoted to his spot in the staff in all but name. It's made me a... figure of consternation around here for certain people, but everyone is generally OK to work with."<br><br>As the evening progressed, Thomas found himself relishing the role of Kate's guide around the party. Partially because it was nice to know at least one newcomer would get a gentle guide into the staff cliques (Geraint had let Thomas work out staffroom politics by himself, to his horror) and partially because each time his head dipped closer to hers to murmur more tidbits of information discretely, like who was connected -or not speaking- to whom, he discovered more and more how much he liked the scent Kate was wearing and the sweep of her pale skin from shoulder to throat. That part of him that was jumping up and down in his head insisting that this wasn't to be a blind date was finding it more difficult to keep Thomas' attention.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kaz</strong> on <strong>01-11-2010, 11:49:33</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Kate had to admit she enjoyed his company.&nbsp; She had known Geraint well, he had been a royal pain in the arse at times, but if he liked you or saw potential in you he wouldn't give up.&nbsp; He wore you down cleverly until you realised that he actually knew what he was talking about and you accepted that you did indeed have that something special.&nbsp; She missed him!! They all probably did in their own little way.<br><br>She giggled as he guided her through the evening, pointing out who to be aware of and who really had no idea what they were doing.&nbsp; She had to admit she loved the way he explained things, she could imagine him as a very charismatic lecturer, firing the students up and then ignoring them to go and find out for themselves.&nbsp; He would be a popular guy.&nbsp; She wondered if he really wanted to be the token single guy at this party.&nbsp; As she was the token single girl.<br><br>But there was more than that to him.&nbsp; &nbsp;he made her giggle with his witty observations, he captivated her attention and she felt sparks as he drew closer to her.&nbsp; Her skin felt all tingly and she felt a little flutter in her belly when he got close.&nbsp; She could feel his breath on her throat, and that made her head pound harder.&nbsp; For some reason this man she hardly knew, this Thomas Albright was beginning to get to her and it had been a very long time since any man had made her feel like that.....<br><br>The evening wore on, they chatted, she broke from him to chat to a couple she knew form her youth, but her eyes kept moving back to his, searching for him across the room.&nbsp; it was as if he was the only one that mattered to her, and she was slightly confused.&nbsp; She hadn't felt this level of attraction in a long time.&nbsp; Eventually the time ticked on and she looked at her watch, sighing softly, "I have to go" she said, laying a hand on his arm and feeling the power of the touch almost burn her, "I have some things to look over before tomorrow and I want to make sure I get a good night's sleep in. I'm already nervous enough without being tired." She admitted, smiling at him in a warm, but strangely shy way.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aleph</strong> on <strong>01-11-2010, 14:21:19</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Thomas nodded slowly, "Of course, let me see you out." Paul and Ellie were deep in conversation with one of the music lecturers and he somehow thought that Ellie wouldn't mind if he took over their hosting duties this once. As they entered the unlit corridor that ran down on side of Ellie and Paul's place, Thomas smiled to himself. He was more than a little certain that there'd be a class tomorrow nursing crushes on the lecturer.<br><br>He was glad of the opportunity to talk to her before it had to be all about work. Thomas still liked what he did well enough that he could still read for pleasure but part of the trick to it was pacing himself, which included not talking about work at little gatherings like this. He was happy to do it with other people's work. He'd picked holes in Architecture and bandied about Physics arguments with the best Redgrove could offer, but with a gin and tonic in his hand he'd rather have discussed Wayne Rooney than Ernest Hemingway. Kate had been marvellous company in that regard, though Thomas had worried that he'd dominated the conversation with introductions and gossip for most of the evening.<br><br>"Well, you're a former St. Bart's teacher, I'm sure Redgrove will be a walk in the park for you. Your students are lucky to have you, even this late in the piece." Taking Kate's jacket from the hall stand he held it out for her to get into, his hands unconsciously lingering on her shoulders a moment longer than he'd intended. "And if you should find yourself needing a bit of peace and quiet, the students and staff do get a bit tense around the mid-terms, you're welcome to drop by my office, I promise my post-grads are well trained...well, relatively anyway."<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kaz</strong> on <strong>04-11-2010, 23:01:29</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Its been lovely to meet you Thomas" she said to him, slipping on her coat.&nbsp; "Thank you for your attention tonight, and I will definitely stop by your office" she told him, placing a chaste kiss on his cheek and waving at Ellie as she stepped out of the open door.&nbsp; It was raining, and she made her way along the sidewalk, getting into her car and going home.&nbsp; Thinking of the man who had made her evening fun.<br><br>Next morning she was up bright and early, all her notes in her bag.&nbsp; She wore a simple trouser suit, navy blue with a creamy blouse.&nbsp; She had her hair pulled back into a neat pony tail.&nbsp; She wore glasses when she was teaching, they were tucked into the front of her blouse.&nbsp; She left her house at 7.30, and arrived on campus fifteen minutes later.&nbsp; She carried her bags in, smiling at those who were fellow early birds.&nbsp; She made her way to the teachers lounge, putting on the coffee as she laid her bag on the table and pulled out the notes for her first class.&nbsp; She stood reading accompanied by the sound of the coffee brewing.<br><br>The teachers lounge was empty, chairs and sofas were scattered around, there were book cases with all sorts of books.&nbsp; A large TV stood in the corner on a stand and boxes of mateiral sat nearby.&nbsp; She wondered when Thomas would get in, if he ever came to the lounge.&nbsp; &nbsp;She had thought a lot about him since last night, for some reason he had made an impression on her.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aleph</strong> on <strong>07-11-2010, 14:58:51</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Shush you. Just shush" Thomas found himself back at the bar where Paul was making a drink for himself and Ellie. The hostess was still chatting with some of the musicians but most of the guests, having similar priorities of a new semester and classes to prepare for, made their exit. On hearing Thomas' warning, Paul put his hands in the air but not without a chuckle. Thomas was determined not to be attracted to Kate but she unconsciously made short work of that, and Paul and Ellie had been watching for most of the evening.<br><br>"Look, I'm usually dubious of Ellie's matchmaking, you know that. On the other hand, you did seem to um...enjoy Kate's company this evening."<br>"Well..." Thomas scrabbled around for an excuse, Ellie had already shot him more than one smug glance through the evening. "It was nice to be able to not be the outsider for a change. To show someone around."<br>"Uh huh." Paul made a non-committal noise sound like a pause.<br>"...and she is more than a little attractive and was quite charming."<br>"There we go, not so hard was it?"<br><br>The next day for Thomas was somewhat more leisurely than most. His post-grad poetry class had been writing between the terms as well as through them, today was the day for them to bring their work in for group critique. It was an important class for them but an easy one for Thomas since they were doing most of the work. Between the odd guiding statement it wasn't too difficult to find himself thinking of the night before or idly eyeing the window that looked out onto the corridor wondering if he'd catch a glimpse of the new lecturer.<br><br>Realising it was lunch time as his class dispersed, Thomas wandered in the direction of the staff lounge. His usual lunch time haunt was a one of the pubs that stood close by the university, but today he had a feeling that the lounge was a better pick. Not surprisingly, he appeared to have arrived at rush hour, with what appeared to be most of the humanities staff either arriving, eating, talking or leaving. Fortunately however, a woman in a navy jacket appeared to be sitting off to one side at an otherwise unoccupied table.<br><br>"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kaz</strong> on <strong>07-11-2010, 22:04:43</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The morning had been busy.&nbsp; The lecture had gone well, but she had felt her nerves, so many young men had been staring at her.&nbsp; She had forgotten how it was to be the new lecturer.&nbsp; She had been glad when it was over, time to relax and focus on the next one.&nbsp; She had two more to go after lunch, the morning had been a long lecture, the afternoon ones were shorter, but they would be intense.<br><br>Lunch was a chance for her to reread her notes and readjust her plans.&nbsp; She hadnt eaten her lunch, she was too nervous.&nbsp; But she did have a coffee she was sipping and that was making her feel more alert.&nbsp; When someone asked her if they could sit she peered over the tops of her glasses and smiled at the man there.<br><br>"Hello Thomas, please do" she said, "I was just going over this afternoons lectures." She told him, picking up her mug and sipping the rich dark liquid.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Sort Of Homecoming (Aleph &amp; Kaz)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aleph</strong> on <strong>14-11-2010, 07:30:22</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Thomas smiled as he slung his coat over the back of the chair across from Kate. "Well, you haven't run screaming from the campus yet, so I can only assume your morning has started well." <br><br>As he sat down, Thomas observed the notes and schedules spread out in front of her and winced when he saw the list of subjects she was starting after lunch. "I hope your students are ready, that's a pretty intense set of classes you've drawn. Did the Dean deliberately throw you in the deep end or are these your favorite subjects? In which case I accuse you of being a masochist! If not I can only point out that we tend to gather after work at a pub near here to commiserate and compare notes.<br><br>"I rather suspect," Thomas added. "a drink may be in order after a couple of weeks worth of that schedule begins to settle in."<br>
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