RP Thread, Sirius and Agnes Who: Sirius, Agnes What: Plotting, smoking When: 19 March Where: Agnes's commune
Rating: PG-13 (drugs) Status: Complete, logged
Wednesday mornings saw Agnes working with her mum around the neighborhood. Though known as the healer in these parts, Aislin didn't have much learning in the area of muggle doctoring. No, instead she typically used a mixture of muggle herbal lore, wizarding potions, and good old fashioned wand work. The muggles in these parts were too hippie-accepting or stoned to notice most of the time - which was, let's be honest, the reason why muggles and wizards could so blatantly violate the statute of secrecy in Soho without actually breaking the law (usually) - so the O'Hares managed to do some good and retain their wizarding ties all at the same time. And they certainly weren't the only ones of wizarding heritage in that area. It was a bit difficult to tell who was who, unless you were of an architectural persuasion and realized that some buildings in Soho simply defied physics by their very existence.
Anyhow, Agnes had just picked up a bit of bread and some fresh vegetables as payment for her mum's services and was headed back to her commune to fry them up for a bit of lunch. She wasn't sure where Stubby'd got hisself to, but she knew when he smelt food he'd come strolling in, for sure. They needed to talk about this radio. Through ingenuity and general jiggery-pokery, they'd nearly gotten their broadcast to, well, broadcast. Next was content... and though Agnes usually had plenty to say, even she realized the need to be slightly more organized about this.
There were several conveniences of living in this area of Islington. There was a pub precisely seven minutes walking time and about ten minutes crawling time, which was a lot more commonly done by the residents of Sirius' block. There was a place that sold sandwiches, pizza and these weird pastries about twelve minutes away; you couldn't miss it, it was a big and red, which was generally helpful for those who don't rise before midday.
Sirius was definitely one of these people and Wednesday morning was no exception. He'd pulled himself out of bed, tentatively made himself a coffee and decided to brave the light of day. James had been right about one thing, it was boring and it was quiet and those were two things that never sat right with him. It was likely a good thing Soho was a mere twenty-two minutes away, even with the traffic. Besides, there was nothing like a drive to clear the cobwebs.
He knew there was another person in the area that had a tendency to despise sitting on her arse in such times: Miss Agnes O'Hare, stoner extraordinaire. He had been meaning to drop in and thank her for the brilliant idea on the cookies and if he was bored and wanted to see how she was dealing with the quiet, wasn't that just the perfect opportunity? He pulled up, half parking on the pavement because if you've ever tried parking in Soho, it's a nightmare. As luck would have it, he was pretty sure that was the foufy hair of the woman now, so he decided the best way to get her attention (when her illustrious partner was not around) was to wolf whistle.
Agnes turned, and though it was in her nature to ascribe to some sort of feminism, she was more of the type to openly leer at a man (and appreciate being leered at) than to get in a strop and storm off with her panties in a twist. The cocky grin on her lips grew into one of more genuine intent, and her cheeks bunched up beneath glittering eyes as she shoved her bag of veggies under her arm and skipped toward him.
"Hope you got wards for that thing, cuz you leave it long you ain't never gonna see it again." She gestured at his bike before carefully setting down the food and engulfing the shaggy mongrel in a hug. "What you doin' round these parts? Come to check out the finer side'a life?"
"I've had this thing 'round Wandsworth - of course it has wards on it!" This bike was like a good woman - it was a great deal of fun to ride, made unintelligible noises at all the right moments and needed to have something to stop other blokes running off with her. Now if only it would make him a coffee, he'd be sorted.
He climbed off and patted the seat happily before laughing when she pulled him into a hug. Wasn't often he got that kind of reception, was it? He returned the hug one handed, "Too bloody quiet for my liking, Miss O'Hare. Considering the only other person I know that would agree that this is a bad thing is pulling bits of popcorn from interesting parts of his body, I thought I'd come have a word with you."
"A word, aye?" Agnes laughed, and when she did it was a whole-hearted, marvelous sort of noise, all freedom and self-assurity wrapped into one. She regathered her veggies and shoved her hand in his, tugging him off in one direction (or attempting to, the size differential between her not-quite-five-foot frame and his substantially taller one made things difficult).
"Yeah I'm keen on words too. Had a couple this mornin' and about to have a couple more." She laughed again, waving in the distance to some random person or another. "Nothin' quiet round here. Got some musical talent or sommat in the pub, got some good food. Got protests goin' on uptown but them's over I think. You et lunch yet?"
Sirius was perfectly happy to be led, knowing Agnes was more in her element than he was. He had to admit, coming down here was like a breath of fresh air. People co-existing like they ought to be everywhere else, having a bit of a laugh and everyone seemed to know each other. The area he was in mostly had muggles but he preferred it that way. It made it a lifestyle experience.
"I've only been up half an hour, O'Hare; I have give my stomach a chance now to settle itself." It was all part of the fun of really not being a morning person. Not to mention what he actually tended to eat and drink at two in the morning weren't exactly health food. "World's lucky to see me in clothes at this time of day, but the seat'd chafe something terrible if I'd ridden without them."
Agnes turned her chin up at him with a wicked smile. "Now you know that ain't the truth. World's wonderin' what goes on under Sirius Black's skivvies most every day!" They wound through an alley or two and soon enough came to a large area where traffic was basically told to go to hell. The mick had long since given up trying to get the hippies and wizards to clear the road for cars and instead an officious looking sign (now heavily graffitied) sat crookedly before the area. The DEAD in 'dead end' had been scribbled out so the sign now read 'LIVE END' - and alive it was, for this is where the spirit of Soho flourished. A large pub sat sprawled in the most organized looking area, a wizarding building if ever there was one, with rooms added all randomly to its ends. "OHARE'S" was spelled out in large green letters today - though sometimes they were orange, sometimes purple.
Beside it was an expansive complex from which hung a large, poorly made banner: "THE PEOPLE'S COMMUNE" - and this is where Agnes led him. The door had long been bolted and barred, so Agnes thrust her veggies into Sirius's arms and used his boots as leverage so she could swing her arms up to the balcony railing above.
This area was definitely a pick me up. True, he imagined a great deal of them were high off something but that didn'sst matter when you had something like this. No wonder she had done such a good job with the protest when most of it could be done with her own backyard.
He had to bite his tongue not to laugh at her wave her hands up like that. She looked a bit like a child trying to get the cookie jar. "You need some help there, lit'le lady?"
Sirius sent up her groceries, even if Agnes actually having groceries was a little on the weird side. She seemed almost like she wouldn't need them to live, just a smoke and laugh and that was all she would ever need. However, watching her hoist herself up had been an interesting experience. He was sure not many people would be able to watch it without snickering but swinging was apparently an ability, not just a lifestyle.
"I've been climbing out windows and down trees most of my life, this is easy." Of course, he was slightly heavier than he remembered himself to be but he supposed he was getting older, getting heavier was part of that. As long as he didn't end up looking like Slughorn, he wasn't about to complain. "You need Auror training to get around these parts." He noted, wiping his hands on his trousers.
"Well if I'da known you was a monkey, I'da let you get on up yerself," she laughed, pushing the veggies back into his hands so that she could lead him through the precarious halls of the commune. There was a secret entrance elsewhere in the complex, but Agnes didn't share that with anyone. It was less paranoia and more survival - anyone could be a traitor, anyone could be a spy, and whether she liked it or not there had to be common sense rules for making it in this kind of mixed environment. Apparition was out in these parts - registered too high on the ministry's magical scale - so they made do with what they could.
The innards of the complex were a surreal experience. Half the main floor was gone, chopped up for use in fires. Extensions had been build out along the edges of the floors for bedrooms and toilets and there was a huge kitchen on the second floor in probably the most stable area of the house. One could see through to every level above and below, and it seemed to teem with life and smoke and music and smells of all kinds, food and incense and sex and joy. Agnes gripped Sirius's hand to keep him around the giant gaping floor, her bare feet testing to ensure it was safe for someone with a heavier build. It was bliss, this frantic chaos, and she adored it. Hoped he would too.
"You seen Stubborn, Gram?" She called to a very old lady, who shook her head and rolled out some dough. "We got bread and veg, Blackie. Whatcha want?"
You'd think Sirius would be used to homes of all shapes and sizes, but this took the biscuit. He had been gobsmacked by some of these muggle places, by the Potters' when he was young but nothing compared to the trip that was this place was. He tested the floor himself with one of his boots and felt ever so slightly better when he didn't immediately fall and break his neck - or more likely, end up half and half. He'd never live that down.
"Just water if you got it, wasn't kidding you about a dodgy stomach at this time of day." He must've looked like a child in a toy shop, everywhere he looked there seemed to be something wonderfully weird. "This place is fucking brilliant." He breathed, aware that it wasn't a good idea to swear in front of old ladies with rollers. "No wonder you're so bloody cheerful all the time."
Agnes plopped a joint right into his flourishy hand and lit hers on the stove. Then lead on she did, taking a precarious staircase down to the first floor, where doors and windows had been boarded up and replaced with beautiful curtains and lights - all hand or magically made, though it was difficult to tell which was which. "Got that damned right. Peoples' all hoity toity 'n goin crazy over money or blood or sommat stupid that ain't no matter at all." Sure, money was nice sometimes, but what did it matter when people were helping each other and sharing what was needed?
"Down here's where most peoples get some kip if'n they ain't sleepin' in rooms." She pointed to a few stoned girls who were braiding a couple long-haired hippies' hair. "They's our main dope growers. Jack over there brings in shit from Ireland. Cath's from the north, works over in the local gardens." Agnes's took a long drag on her joint. "So what you come to see me for?"
Sirius, as per usual when he was visiting someone if they didn't have the surname Potter, took her lead and did the same with the stove. She was probably right, he could use a little relaxation to stop himself from getting restless. He took a drag and gave a slight cough, "It's quite a place you got. I won't deny being a bit jealous." He loved that flat, he didn't even mind sharing it with the slightly neater one of the Marauders (in fact, he preferred the company) but there was something pretty funny about watching people go communal.
"Point is, O'Hare, I'm restless and you always got something going on." He shot her a smirk, before shoving one hand in his pocket. "You aren't the type to sit your behind, lovely though it may have been from the view I got coming in and you never want of ideas. Call it a fresh mind needed, if you want but trouble is brewing out there and I'm never keen on waiting for it to bite me first. I got to be doing something."
Agnes turned to consider said behind, joint still propped in her mouth as she did some bastardized ballet move to do so. She took the opportunity to leer slightly (though Agnes had one of those faces that didn't exactly leer so much as express some similarly wicked emotion).
"Well, Sir Black," she replied, joint wagging in her mouth with every syllable as they moved off toward a less occupied corner of the room, where incense curled up red from a small holder. "I actually got some shit that needs doin'."
"Stubbs and me is tryin' to get a radio set up. Somethin' that'll tell people s actual news - not this tripe the Prophet's tryin' ta feed us. We could use some help though. Broadcast equipment's almost fixed up, but we ain't sure what to actually say." She took another drag, exhaling her words in puffs of deep grey. "You got ideas? It ain't gonna be pretty when them purists catch wind, though. I'll tell you that much now."
A smile slowly spread on to his lips as she spoke, the idea forming in his mind. "A freelance radio?" It was a good idea, he'd give them that. "The actual news isn't pretty, Agnes." He was being dead serious for once. "There's a war going on, after all. I'll commend you for trying but it isn't just the purist pillocks that are going to have their arms up in the air," He thought of those in the Order, people who worked at the Ministry that may not like certain views going out. "They'll try and pull you down. That thing with the bloke at the Post Office being burnt out wasn't a coincidence - he was noncompliant with this purity rubbish, wasn't he? Ministry itself might try and shut you down. They're into censorship right now, with all this." He wasn't in the best of moods with the Ministry but he wasn't about to write it off completely.
"If you're after the truth, my advice?" He took another drag, long to try and formulate an answer. "Get some bloody good wards up. I don't fancy you two being the next barbeque. Talk to the ladies at the Quibbler - some of what they may come out with it a load of tripe but sometimes, they know what's going on better than anyone." He put a bit of his hair behind his ear. "Try and be upbeat? This is all depressing enough, we could use a bit of a laugh, even in the most desperate circumstances." He sighed and scratched behind his ear, "I'm sure I got other ideas but my brain isn't working yet."
Agnes was high as a kite (if kite's could survive the trip into outer space), but the gravity of the situation wasn't utterly lost on her. She took a seat on the sofa and patted it a bit next to her, leaning forward so she could take a long, hard drag, put out the remainder of her joint and collect the left overs. "I'm gonna be real blunt with y'here, Blacky." And her tone had dipped into something stripped of all delight and joy for a few sharp seconds. "I don't give a fuck who's anti this or that. They want to come for me they can bloody well do it, but I ain't gonna let this fear and this terror and all this bullshit stop me from doin' what's right. No body's doin' nuffink cuz they's all so scared they just trembles in their boots all day. You order people (god bless ya) sit around 'n watch people. You defend. You gotta be more proactive, man. I gotta do this, and if I gotta get out in a hurry cuz someone don't like it, then that's what I gotta do. But I ain't afraid."
She sat back, mental notes taken and a bit breathless from her rambling. Saying it all out loud really cemented it in her mind. She was utterly convinced this was the right path to go down.
Sirius sighed, letting his hands go limp from the slightly pleasant feeling. "Alright, O'Hare, I'll level with you. We got our Order like everyone else and we get buggered when we don't follow him. I'm with you on this one, if I had my way, we wouldn't be sitting waiting for attacks to happen." He pushed his hair back again in a nervous gesture. He never liked talking about this stuff frankly.
"It isn't always fear. People are wrapped up in politics or what ever the like. If you got the balls to go all out, I'll salute and support but the sheer mindnumbing boredom aside, I'm not going to be the one letting someone die on my watch." He took a hasty drag, feeling the need to. "There's no law against me telling you to be careful but if you want to stick it to the lousy sods, good on you."
"I hear you man; it ain't as easy as this or that and I ain't tryin' to criticize." She nodded and pulled a satchel of weed out of her blouse, rolling it up as if it was second nature (and it was). "I ain't gonna wave my shit around hopin' to get caught." She smiled a bit and leaned over to ruffle Sirius's hair. "I'll letcha know when we's having our first broadcast, yeah? Got any ideas contentwise? I'm thinking some anti-war songs and whatever news tha order will give me."
Sirius pushed away her hand with a stinging slap, "No, not the hair, it's a very sensitive subject." He was laughing though, so it somewhat diminished the words. "You just want to put the real shit on the radio and cheer everyone up a bit. I can get on with that." He had no doubts people would want to contribute. Everyone seemed to have had just enough of this whole debacle. "I'll ask around, people will have ideas, things to say and the like. Everyone has an opinion on this, you may as well broadcast the good stuff. Just be prepared." He felt like he ought to be doing a Moody impression but he didn't think he could get through it without cracking up.
He put his fingers out, "Alright, gorgeous, you have to take that so I am still capable of riding home without ending up in the Muggles front room because I'm not looking where I'm going." He snorted, in an attempt not to burst into a fit of laughter. "Have to keep up the illusion that I've turned into a responsible adult."
Agnes put on her Very Serious Face and saluted. "Moody, is that you?" And she laughed hysterically before snagging his joint and pressing it between her lips. She didn't stop rolling yet another, but Agnes was a pro, and/or very foolish. "You ask around, let me know, I'll fix the bugger right up," she mumbled around her smoke. "Stubbs is already on the run, yknow so if worse comes to worse we just book it."
"Now," she said, smacking him on the knee in payback. "You want some food or what? I ain't gonna let you starve your way outta here. We got some lovely ladies around too if'n you need some company." She winked, laying back and laughing to herself with a silent, shaking sort of contentment.
Sirius attempted to copy Moody's tone and manner, "Constant Vigilance, Aggie! Or is that Vigilant Constinance?" Sirius waved off the idea, he was sure he'd be told off sooner or later for impersonating mad aurors. "You do what you have to. You could do it."
"Do you beat every bloke who comes back here, O'Hare or am I just special?" He rubbed his knee but it was completely for effect. "Aye, alright. I'll have something now I'm here." Besides that, he was sure everyone would be back at work by now, be it for the Order or otherwise and he didn't fancy sitting on his own. "Now how can I resist an offer like that?"
Agnes somehow managed to avoid spiraling into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. "Or Vigilant Incontinence?" she sputtered, holding her stomach which she shook for a minute and eased off into a calmer, more content sort of sigh. Her mouth was very dry, she realized suddenly, and she was starving.
"Every one, Blacky. It's a sign of affection or sommat like that." Lips pursed, she peered around for a friend or two. "Oi, Daisy. Want to take Sirius upstairs for some breakfast?" She wondered vaguely how dangerous it was to leave Sirius alone with a woman who believed free love was the path to salvation, but realized after a minute that it was probably good for his help. "I'll be up in a bit, yeah? Need to get some things sorted down here." She very much doubted Sirius would actually make it back to the kitchen.
Sirius had to snicker at that, coughing when he tried not to laugh. "Oh, I don't know. I think if it was that were the case, Moody would have a nice, warm feeling instead of..." What kind of feeling did Moody have? It's not like he'd ever asked him. Did he have feelings beyond paranoia? "...being a rather anxious individual." Lily would be proud, that was pure diplomacy, right there.
"Alright," He kissed Agnes on the cheek and tried to look back the way the came. "I'll try not and get lost." But he had to admit, around here, it would be a damn sight more interesting if he did.