Thomas chuckled as he shivered a bit, her leg causing stirrings that hadn't happened in a long while... Stirrings that no mark ever made happen to him. Not that she was a mark any longer...

He pushed himself away from the table and away from her teasing foot as she tapped his meter with her wandering toes. "Okay then!" he chuckled before sliding in to the seat next to her, and away from the prying, tantalizing reach of her stocking laden foot. At least now it could only reach his foot...

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I -can- keep you safe, doll. I'll take you to my place. That's where you can stay tonight. It's not exactly tha Ritz, but it's peaceful and quiet..."

He smirked... "Just. Don't pay any attention to the poor, shabby-chic look of the entrance. It'll fool ya."

Leaning in, he kissed her lips and the feeling was absolutely electrifying. He felt it from his head to his toes. She was -definitely- one of their kind of people. The latent amount of magical frenzy inside of her was enough to dispel any number of magical charms and enchantments just on release... He really needed to train her before the Ministry found out about her and either put her down, or imprisoned her... And possibly him for knowing and not saying anything. Regardless, he would figure something out to fix the Ministry later.

"C'mon... Let's go."

He helped Beau from her chair and they both waved to Scat, the young trumpet player waving back as he shrilled that horn.

They walked, arm in arm, her head on his shoulder, in silence for a good few blocks. Thomas occasionally looked over his shoulder, but smiled and would rub her hand to comfort her as they continued. Eventually, they came to an alley way and they turned down it. It was a dead end with a dumpster at the back of it.

"Ah, there ya go doll," he gestured to the dumpster. "Go on, hop in... It's a safe zone."

Thomas chuckled as he saw the worry across her face, and the questioning nature of -anything- that had happened. Perhaps it really had been all a long con. Maybe he really had just gotten everyone in the restaurant to go along with his little charade. For fuck's sake, he lived in a DUMPSTER! How could she have been so naive!

"Seriously doll... Come on."

Thomas went ahead of her and moved to the side of the dumpster, opening a side panel and ducking. "At least trust me enough to give it a look?" he poked his head out and waved her over, stepping back out of the dumpster and impatiently, excitedly beckoning her over...

That kiss! 

Beau's head swam and spun, time stretching out and speeding up all at the same time as everything inside her stirred into a frothing hunger. She was moer than eager to go with him as he tugged her from the booth and scurried toward the door. His backward glances made her worry as they made their way... wherever it was they were going, but his comforting grip on her hand reassured her that there was nothing he couldn't handle. 

Turning down a dark alleyway, he paused before... of all things... a dumpster. And, for all her cool composure and stage presence, Beau was completely unable to hide the string of thoughts that rushed through her mind. For a long moment she paused in deliberation... fully aware that he must think she was doubting him. She wasn't. 

As she stood there in a dark back alley of some lonesome seattle street, stairing at a dumpster... Beau was both befuddled an in awe of the turn her life had taken in the last 12 hours. There had to be a catch... a secret... a trick? But what? Was it bigger on the inside? Was it a portal? Did those actually exist? What exactly would be on the inside? Did she have to walk through the trash to get there? Did she have to climb up or was there a.... 

About that time, Thomas ducked through a side door as Beau nodded with an, "Ah." She chuckled as he poked his head back out, "I DO trust you. I'm just trying to... figure out..." Beau trailed off as she ducked inside and was met with a clean and spacious loft, "how this all works." Giggling, she gawked at the warm, carpeted room pausing to admire the roaring fireplace, worn, plush furniture, and tiled kitchenette. 

"Shabby-chic," she quipped with an apporving nod, "is definitely where it's at." She smiled at him with wonder and fascination, "Your cave ain't no curve, baby. Why you sweatin' it?" She kicked her shoes off and wiggled her toes in the plush carpet of the threshold, "You gonna invite me in proper, or what?"

Thomas snickered and stepped in, closing the window shutter which was the entrance from the dumpstortal. "Why don't you come in and enjoy yourself?" he turned and chuckled as he waved his hands around. "I mean, there is no proper when you're already -inside- ya know..."

Thomas kicked off his shoes and waved his hands, the loafers walking themselves to a shoe rack. He tossed his coat and scarf which seemed to float and fly to the coat rack by the door. Loosening his tie, it flew of it's own accord and joined the scarf and coat. Lastly, with a happy sigh, Thomas fell into his comfy chair by the fire. Here he could be lazy. Here he could play with the magic of things and she could really see what he meant. 

His socks scurried from his feet and slid across the ground until they crawled up a basket and hopped in. What would be the oddest part of things for Beau was about to happen though. Thomas smirked because he knew his friend was currently hiding since there was someone new in the house.

"Beau, do me a favor darling, take a seat and prepare to be... Well... Prepare to see things you'd never see outside of this world... At least you -shouldn't- see outside of this world."

He kicked the chair next to him and it slid over to Beau, scooping her into it's luscious, pillowy comfort and bringing her closer. Her jacket flew and joined his, as did her shoes and socks.

"So... You're going to meet someone, and it's going to be awkward at first. He's what we call an elf. Specifically a house elf. He's a bit shy. His name is Kovi... He's um, well... You'll see. Just... Don't give him a sock."

Thomas turned and yelled out the name. It was a strange name, but the creature that slowly crept out from the shadow of the back room was even more strange. A slender, crooked little creature, with thin arms and legs, long and skinny fingers, and a large, almost bowl shaped head with a long nose and floppy ears walked out. Creepy and cute all at the same time, it seemed to be practically hairless.

"Kovi, meet Isabeaux. She's, um, special."

He chuckled and waved him over. Kovi inspected the woman and smiled before speaking softly... "Master says she is 'special' then she must be..." Kovi made his way to the kitchen and began preparing a kettle of hot water.

"Tea for the guest, master?" the little creature called back.

"Yes please, Kovi. Thank you!" Thomas looked at Beau and smiled. "He's really a LOT of help, and the only reason this place is so spotless. They are very magical creatures."

Thomas laid back in his chair and closed his eyes, soaking in the fire's warmth. "You can have the bed if you want... Nothing in here can hurt you too much... And Kovi will lock up anything that is too troublesome for ya till you know how to work it."

Beau absolutely gawked as things began to move themselves around. It was kind of a cute look on her... an innocence he was sure she hadn't felt in ages. And oddly... that was  somehow very attractive. She squealed and laughed, blonde curls bouncing, as the chair scooped her up. And she hugged down into it as if it were an old friend. 

"I want to see it all," she admitted with a childlike wonder and candor. And her admission was met in full force as Thomas summoned a small creature from somewhere in the back of the house. Beau blinked and tried her best to appear polite as the small elf shuffled forward and gave her the once-over. She smiled sweetly at it, trying not to squee at the cuteness as it complimented her... sort of. "Pleased to meet.... you," Beau trailed off as Kovi turned away without shaking her offered hand. Blinking down at her hand, Beau blushed a little... assuming that must've been silly of her. 

She tried her best to look comfortable, to truly settle in as Kovi came around with the tea. "Does the special one take cream and sugar," the little thing asked, offering a cup. And Beau nodded softly, "Two cubes. No cream. Please. ... and thank you." Kovi did as she asked, but shot Thomas a sidelong glance before scurrying away. "Kovi will..." he paused as if carefully choosing his next words, "Kovi will pick up the house." 

Beau blinked. The house was already spotless. What could there possibly be to pick up? But Thomas gave the creature a knowing nod of approval as the two shared a 'look'. 

Setlling back into her chair, Beau sipped her tea... which danced over her tongue with the most vivid and unique flavours she'd ever experienced. "My gods, this is amazing!" She marveled down at her cup for a long moment... deciding not to ask what was in it. And instead, turned her attention to the sleeping arrangements for the night. 

"You know," she cooed, batting those shimmering blue orbs at him as they glimmered and sparkled in the firelight, "Not to seem to forward... but if it's all the same to you, I may actually prefer to share the bed. For my own comfort... and all that jazz." She smiled at him coyly, and wiggled her fingers in his direction jokingly. At least, she thought it was jokingly... though that familiar electric tingle started up for him again. 

Thomas shook his head and cleared his mind... He really needed to tell her to stop joking like that. Her intent was stronger than she MEANT for it to be, he knew... And in tandem, her intent was stronger than she KNEW it was as well... Considering she didn't understand that her intent was, in fact, magical in and of itself.

"That's fine if it's what you wish... I'll leave my skivvies on then and we can sleep. I promise, though, that you'll be safe here. Just... Don't leave without me. The portal can sometimes be tricky, and it's probably best you don't wander out the front door since that leads into the Order of Merlin's headquarters and you could get lost... Or worse, nabbed by the Ministry since we share a building..." He chuckled and grinned.

"Lucky for us, since I'm a first class wizard of the Order... Bravery and such... Stupid reasons honestly... But anyway, since I'm a first class Order member, I'm allowed to ward my home from the prying eyes of the Ministry... Not that they'd know if we did anyway unless they were distrustful and attempted to dispel a ward that might not be there..." He shrugged and pushed himself reluctantly from the chair and removed his suspenders and untucked his shirt.

"Well, come on then... Bed's this way." He waved her along and as they walked, his shirt pulled over his head and flung off toward the basket, then crawled in the rest of the way... His pants followed his shirt as the suspenders flew back toward the jackets. He was left in pant styled  skivvies and yawned as he crawled into the bed, patting the other side of the soft, cushy mattress. Turns out, the magic life was much better than he dressed for... Though if she looked through his closet, she'd notice he had PLENTY of clothes that were better... He purposely looked a bit rugged and shifty. It added to the thrill of life. And helped him carry the facade of being an Alley dwelling orphan and a street ray stray.

Beau dodged the suspenders... or rather they dodged her... as they flew, self-directed toward the coat rack. She giggled, first at the display of automated clothing and then at Thoma's nearly-bare form as he sauntered into the plush bedroom. Beau plopped down onto the bed, bouncing a bit as she evaluated whether or not it was going to do something fantasitcal. And as she did, she took a brief moment to examine the rest of the room. It was normal enough, despite a few odd looking accoutrements. But, much to her surprise, it was far more posh than she'd expected. The carpet was sumptuous; the bed nearly palatial in comparison to what she was used to; and the closet - half cracked in the warm and dim light - was replete with fine, curated suits. 

As she slipped out of her dress, Beau began to wonder what the truth about Thomas was. Which, given all he'd shared today, made her chuckle softly to herself. More so when she pictured how fine he must look togged up all smooth and doggy like. She sighed softly, wondering to herself how she'd ended up in such a... well, magical... situation. Unhooking her brassiere, she tucked it neatly atop her crisply folded dress and slid them both onto the polished, hardwood dresser nearby. 

Sliding beneath the fluffy down comforter, Beau snuggled herself against Thomas' turned back; reveling in the feel of him against her bare skin. Slipping a lithe arm around his waist she nuzzled the crook of his neck lightly, inhaling his scent with a conent little sigh. This was, unequivocally, the happiest she'd truly been in a looong while. And the feeling was intoxicating... a gentle, shimmering warmth pulsing in the hollow of her bones. "Thank you, Thomas..." she whispered sleepily, her breath sweet and warm against his shoulder, "...for everything."