Hunter Adams

"Each to their own. I don't know that I could do either job." Hunter said with a laugh, the idea of so much paperwork being involved making his skin crawl. It wasn't that he wasn't capable, far from it in fact but he much preferred working with his hands and something much more physical.

"Most definitely not," she assured him with a grin, "But you sounded a little doubtful there," Val added lightheartedly. When Hunter more or less implied that the possibilities were endless at Hogwarts, a soft smile reached her lips. "Look at you being all hopeful and inspiring. It's really sweet."

"As you would say, that is the correct answer." Hunter leaned in for a kiss only to pause at her next words. He gave a little snort. "I was being a gentleman, giving you the option. I didn't expect you to choose otherwise though or I'm clearly not doing a good job of keeping your interest. "And hopeful and inspiring? Am I normally the opposite?"

"You act like one sometimes, know it all." Hunter couldn't help but tease the blonde lightly. "Well I think we both know that money isn't everything. It can't buy you happiness. Not the real thing anyway." Yes, it could make situations easier but without the right people, it was pretty hollow. "I'm fairly certain it would be silly of me to underestimate you."

"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.

"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.

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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.

"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."

"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.

⭐ - our muses come up with new years resolutions together ( @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."

"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.

"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."

"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?"

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."

"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."

"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.