Alastor "Agent 04041953GU" Gumboil (loose_cannon) wrote in blurred_lines, @ 2008-10-23 21:56:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! [1979-10] october, alastor gumboil, james potter |
Who: James Potter and Al Gumboil
When: 23 October, 1979; after this.
Where: Potter's place.
What: James reveals a secret.
Rating: PGish
Status: Complete!
Al stared at his journal for a long moment before pulling his shoes on. He scribbled a note for Dedalus and left it on the table - just in case he wasn't back before the other man returned from work. In the mean time, his mind was racing - most of it disbelief and suspicion. No, he didn't believe James. But he also couldn't really think of a motive for such a lie. He apparated to the top step of the porch, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand up at the magical energy around him. The house was practically a fortress, and Al found himself glad that it at least provided some sort of haven for members of the Order. The safehouse was one thing... but it wasn't really home to anyone. Al put his hand on the door knob, about to simply walk in before he rolled his eyes and knocked. James opened the door, with the first knock, having been alerted by the wards that someone had apparated in. "Hey," he said, slightly breathless, having been running around the sitting room shoving furniture out of the way for the lat five minutes. "Glad you came," he added. He stepped aside to let Al inside the house. "Sorry about the wards, but obviously, you can never be too careful." He shut the door behind them and led the way into the sitting room, which was now much roomier. He never liked for people to watch him transform so he gestured to the couch. "I'll be right back," he said with a slight smirk. "You aren't scared of deer are you?" Al stepped in, pulling his coat off. "No, you never can be," he agreed, with a bit of edge. He knew all too well. Unconsciously, he pulled his sleeves down a bit more, almost hiding the self-inflicted wounds on his left wrist from the last full. They were nearly completely scarred over now. Al could do without the marks... but he had to admit that it was very convenient that they didn't actually hurt any more. He gave James a rather sceptical look before lowering himself onto the couch. "...No, not especially," he answered after a beat, an eyebrow raised a centimetre. James was only gone for a minute before he returned in stag form. The door was a tight squeeze with his antlers, but since his left side still hadn't grown back entirely from having it knocked off, he tilted his head slightly and entered. There wasn't much to do really, as a stag, but to prove a point he walked slowly toward Al and bent down his head and poked him lightly on the shoulder. The tip of his antler was quite sharp, so hopefully at least he'd see James was well armed. He took a step back and looked at Al, wondering if he'd say anything. Al idly sat on the couch while he waited, head rested on a hand. This had to be some sort of stupid joke. Or at least that's what he thought until he saw the form of a rather large stag in the door. Maybe a really elaborate joke. His gaze narrowed and he almost flinched away as stag-James-thing-whatever approached him. He wasn't scared. Just a bit wary. And who could blame him? Al stared for almost a full minute before pushing himself to his feet and walking down the hall, checking rooms as he went. No, James, you're not funny, but I want to know what spell you're using to make that thing so real. Of course all the rooms were empty and as Al padded back into the sitting room, he looked more seriously at the stag in front of him. And then he let out an exasperated chuckle rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. "This is so fucking insane," he muttered, tilting his head and still looking rather confused. James could see that Al didn't believe him from the start, but when the man started walking around the house looking for him, James couldn't help but smile. It looked like he was going to have to transform in front of him to get him to really believe it, so he waited until Al was back and looking right at him, to change back. "Is it really so hard to believe I might be good at something?" James asked, with a smirk. "Haven't you wondered why after all this time Remus isn't completely scarred from head to toe?" He plopped down on one of the sofas against the wall and waited for Al to do the same. Hopefully letting him actually see the transformation back to regular James would be convincing enough. Maybe he was on some really serious potions. Or something. But as he watched stag-James-thing-whatever turn into the more familiar James, Al just sighed, looking confused and defeated... but no longer defensive and sceptical. He didn't have much of answer for either question. He hadn't really wondered why Remus wasn't made of scar tissue. Al stood for another minute before plopping down on the sofa next to James, staring at the floor before speaking again. "....Well fine. You're an animagus. It still doesn't solve the issue of you getting hurt whi-...if you went down there with me." James laughed. "Werewolves don't really have problems with animals. Unless Remus is having an off night, most of the time we might play fight or wrestle around, but it's not particularly violent. And werewolves also rely on their instincts a lot more than you do, so once I gore you a time or two, you'll back off," he said with a shrug. "It's really not a big deal to me. I know what I'm getting into. The first time, when you don't recognize me, it might get ugly for a few minutes, but you're not going to kill me. If worst comes to worst, I'll sit on you. You might bite my leg, but my leg's been bitten a lot of times. Lycanthropy can't be transferred to an animal, so when I'm a stag I'm safe," he said, as convincingly as he could. "What do you have to lose?" Al listened in silence, arms crossed over his chest. That was all true, of course, at least the bit about instincts and lycanthropy not affecting animals. He glanced at James out of the corner of his eye, remembering the antlers. Yes, they would likely keep any animal off of him for a while. And if he'd been there with Remus... For a moment his thoughts strayed to Sirius - they were all so close... But he shook it off for the moment, focusing back on the issue. Was it much of an issue? What did he have to lose? In the back of his mind, he remembered Fenrir talking about the wolf eating him alive. He didn't want to die. Al ran a hand through his hair, tugging for a second - a sure sign that he was seriously considering it. And after another moment, he sighed and met James' eyes, holding his gaze. "You have to promise me that if things start getting really rough that you'll get out of there. We'll set the wards so you can apparate if you need to. I'd rather gnaw on myself than let you get really hurt." James nodded. "I could live with that," he said. "It's not as if I have a death wish, but I'm really not worried about it. Remus had a bad time of it last week, and I took the brunt of it, and you saw me that day. That cut on my leg that had me hobbling around? That was Remus," he said. "And look, it didn't even scar," he added, pulling up his pants leg to show him the place that Bethie had healed up for him. He pulled up his other pants leg and turned a little to show him a place where there was a mark. "This is the worst he's ever gotten me and you can barely see it. And don't think Remus isn't fucking tough when he's a werewolf, because he would be absolutely lethal to any person he came across. So it'll be fine. I promise," he assured Al. "And we can set the wards however you want, but you're welcome to transform here if you feel like it. We've got the basement all set up for it in case Remus needs to be here, but next month he's already got a place to go, and someone to stay with him." Al eyed his leg with a small frown. No, it didn't look bad. And if that was the worst... Well, he hardly knew how bad Remus was, but he knew from experience that werewolf bites fucking well hurt. And he hoped that he wasn't as bad as the Pryces. "I'll want to see it first," he answered at the inquiry of using their basement. "I've been using Moody's, but he isn't exactly the most mobile... and honestly, I hate moving afterwards. But yeah, we'll fix the wards and... right." He trailed off, frowning at the carpet for a few seconds before changing the subject. "Who's staying with Remus?" "We can go take a look at it now," he said, standing up off the couch. "It's got a shitload of wards to keep werewolves from escaping, and we cast a spell on stairs during the full that turn them into a slide just in case you'd ever try getting up them. But we can be wherever you're comfortable, obviously," he said, leading the way down toward the basement. The walls and floor were light padded, and it was completely bare with the exception of some cushions, blankets and a water bowl. "It's not much to look at, but we've learned from experience that having too much around to run into is a bad idea," he said. He stopped to lean back against the banister as he looked around the area. "It's not my secret to tell who's staying with him," he said, "but I don't imagine it'd be too hard to guess since it's a rare thing I ever do anything without him." James figured Peter's secret would be on a need to know basis. Al followed James into the basement, looking carefully around the room when they walked down the stairs. It was bigger than Moody's, and likely a bit more comfortable with the help of padding. Al hadn't bothered doing much to protect himself - it hadn't really crossed his mind. He's just warded the hell out of the place and hoped it would be enough. At James' implication, Al snorted laughter. "Oh," was all he said with a bit of an eye roll before turning his attention back to the room. He wandered around it for a minute or two before looking back at James. "...We can try it," he said finally. "It isn't any less secure than Moody's. And Merlin fucking forbid something did happen, I'd be dead the second I got outside anyway." James nodded. "The tiger traps would get you for sure," he laughed. "But I'd save you. Keep in mind this isn't a cure-all. You'll still be tired, and feel like hell, but you'll be better than you were last month," he said. "And then you can spend the day here, resting. And we can do it any full moon that you feel like it. Sirius actually suggested trying the four of us all together, but I think for the first month we should make sure I can manage you, and maybe try and find some information about how werewolves interact. But of course, that's up to the two of you," he said. "As bossy as I can be, I leave the full moon things up to Rem." He led Al back upstairs but headed into the kitchen instead. "I'm glad you're going to try it. It killed me last month to know we could be helping you but weren't, but I was the only one that could be there for Remus." Al nodded, following James into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter, hands in his pockets as he mulled over what exactly had just happened. He wouldn't be spending next month's moon alone, and while that terrified him, he also dared to hope that perhaps it would change something. Because while he certainly didn't want to hurt anyone, he wasn't actually very sure of how long he could go on eating himself every month. Silently, he thought of the way Fenrir had referred to his pack - he certainly hadn't implied that they chewed on each other during the fulls. But then, they didn't lock themselves up, either. There was a difference. Still, wolves were pack animals.... But James was right. It would be better to see how things went this month. Perhaps, if everyone was still alive and not too badly hurt, it would be worth investigating further. "I don't expect it to be. But right now, I don't very well know how it could be much worse." Well that wasn't exactly true - he could think of a few ways it could be worse. But he didn't particularly want to think about them now. "I was.." all right? No, not really. "I survived," he corrected himself. James nodded as he offered him a cup of strongly brewed tea with a shot of some girly liquor in it. By now it was habit to add alcohol to almost anything when the war or anything about it was being discussed. "Sometimes surviving is the best anyone can do. And it'll get better. Not sunshine and rainbows better, but some sort of normal that you can live with. You're stuck with us now," he added with a bit of a smirk. "And we're pretty hard to get rid of," he added as he took a long drink from his mug. "Did Dumbledore talk to you all about getting paid?" he asked curiously. He had no idea how to broach this subject without being ridiculously insulting, but if Remus had been supported partially by the Potter money for working full time for the Order, it seemed like it should apply to Al as well. There was nothing more uncomfortable than money talk though, and so James made a slight face. "We don't have to talk about this if you don't want," he assured him, "I understand it can be a touchy subject but it's not exactly easy to find work outside of the Order with all those stupid fucking werewolf rules. I've watched Remus try." Al gratefully took the tea, almost savouring the taste of the alcohol. No, he wasn’t that much of a drinker, but lately, he decided there were worse things in life than having a couple drinks. Especially now, and especially when he was feeling so incredibly bad and hopeless about life. It was a good thing there were people like James in his life, even if it was newly in his life. He needed that support system more than ever. At his question, Al raised a brow, more caught off guard by the question than insulted. No, he didn’t have much of a job, and with the entire event so public, it was unlikely he was going to get a "regular" one. He could see why James would be worried. But he'd covered that base. Finally. "I'm going to help Abe out at the Hog's Head," he answered. "I got a bit of compensation from the Ministry and I had some saved anyway. As underpaid as I was." He gave an eye roll and took another drink from his mug. "Anyway, I don't think money will be too much of an issue, at least right now. It's not like I go out a lot. The last thing I bought was Elle's birthday present." "Oh, that's great," James said enthusiastically. "It sounds like you've got things working for you," he said. "And if you've got people in your life giving you shit, keep in mind that Sirius had an awful time making up with Remus after we first found out and so did Agnes actually, and they're both practically family to him now. For some people it doesn't ever matter, and other people have to come around to it, but the people who really care about you will come through in the end," he said, in that way that James tended to speak when he was trying to will something to be true. "And just wait till mum gets back," he added with a smirk as he took another sip of his tea. "She sort of takes it upon herself to mother any werewolf, orphan or Gryffindor she can get her talons in," he laughed. At that, Al gave a rather curt nod, dropping his eyes and staring at his shoes again. Those would be easier words to take to heart if it wasn't his parents giving him shit. At this point, he could really only hope that they would come around. Eventually. Some day. It took a rather large amount of self-control to keep himself from saying that he currently fit all three of the possibilities it would take for Mrs Potter to mother him. Instead, he looked into his mug and took a rather long drink, draining all but a few swallows. And then proceeded to change the subject. Sort of. "Have you heard from your mum? I hope she's faring well." James smiled. "Yeah, she writes about every day. She's having a good time, but I can tell she misses dad. Her friend wants her to move up there permanently, and she's thinking about it, but she says she'd miss all of us too bad," he said with a shrug. "I don't want her here while the war's going on but I can't help but think after dad-- well, I guess I just don't know much longer she'll be around," he said, a hint of sadness creeping into his voice. "It's hard to picture my parents apart for very long," he explained. "But it's fucking hard to think about my dad without wishing like hell he was still around. I wanted him to be around to see my kids, you know? But I guess a big part of being adult is realizing shit's never going to be what you thought it would. And atleast he got to meet and love Lils, and half-adopt Sirius. He knew I was well-taken care of, and that's all he ever really wanted for me I think. I could tell he always felt bad I didn't have aunts and uncles and cousins like everyone else, so it was a big deal to him that I had such good friends." James took a long drink from his mug, finishing off his drink. "Sorry-- didn't mean to get all depressing on you," he said with a crooked smile. "I promise when I'm a stag I'm perfectly cheerful." Al gave a nod of agreement. His parents weren't all that old, and if had always seemed like they were ageing well. It probably helped that mum was a nurse. But if anyone had learned anything lately, it was that life was fragile and fleeting and that no one was going to be here forever. As he listened to James go on, he at least was grateful that his mum and dad were still alive. That they at least had the chance to come around and that maybe things would be better later. What did his parents want for him now? That was a harder question to answer than Al wanted to admit, and he finished off his mug as well. "S'all right," he answered after a beat. "It isn't as though we aren't completed surrounded by depressing shit every day." He paused to look into his empty mug and then set it on the counter. "I hope your cheerfulness doesn't piss me off more." "Well, it s'not exactly easy to tell one way or the other," he laughed. "I mean-- mostly I just stand around looking deer-like," he said. "And any company'll be better than being on your own. You start to gnaw off your arm, I sit on you, you wake up the next day with your arm intact. It works out for everyone," he said, glossing over the part where James would get his leg mauled by an angry-sat-on werewolf. "And we've still got awhile till the moon. We should hang out more, so you might get used to be before then. It could help, possibly, and at worst, it couldn't hurt." James took Al's mug from the counter, along with his own, and placed them in the sink, before turning back around. "I'm glad you're willing to give this a try," he said. "You're not going to regret it." Al rather unconsciously rubbed at his left wrist - the one that Ted had had to bandage up because he'd nearly chewed it off. No, he rather liked his hands and opposable thumbs. He just hoped he didn't hurt James in the process of trying to keep all his limbs. "Yeah, we ought to anyway, what with being in a not-so-secret vigilante group. It's better if we get to know each other anyway." He paused and give a bit of a smile. "I think I like teaching you. You're a fast learner." "Brilliant," James said. "I'm going to be busy this weekend probably, and I know everyone has a million things going on with the Masquerade, but it'd be great if you wouldn't mind giving me a few more one on one classes. I think it helped a lot," he said. "I'm not really supposed to talk about it, but I think what I learned is going to come in really helpful soon," he said with a sigh. He leaned down and picked up Mr. Kittikins who was batting at his shoelace. "I've got to get a shower and get ready to go in for the evening shift," James said, eyeing the clock wearily. "It's my last night. But you're more than welcome to stick around. Hestia is coming over soonish and she's bringing pie, and I'll be back in four hours and then I think we're smoking pot... that or she's bringing a pot... Sirius wrote me in the morning and it's never easy to tell what he means," James finished, kissing the cat on the head and sitting it down on the counter to explore. Al nodded, rather relieved at the change of subject. He didn't mind talking to James per se. But the topic of gnawing on anyone was a rather uncomfortable one no matter who he was discussing it with. "Yeah, I'm available most days, unless Abe has me doing something. Anything you want to work on, just let me know. I'd be more than happy to help. It's nice to be doing something again." He glanced at the clock as well. "I think I'll fuck off, actually. I need... to talk to someone." The answer was vague, and his mind was quite obviously on Elle. It was so complicated lately. Al reached out and touched the cat, visibly surprised when it pushed into his hand and arched it's back. It wasn't quite the reaction he'd been expecting. "But I'll see you later," he continued, glancing back at James. "Just let me know when you want to get together." "I will," James promised. "I"ll walk you out. Don't forget that you need to stop at the top step. It's not pretty if you put your foot on the second one," he reminded with a laugh. "Even worse if you hit the next one." It was a short trip to the front door and he held it open for his new friend. "You're always welcome to come by anytime," he added. "And I mean that. There's pretty much always someone here, besides me and Lils, and they're all friends of Remsus's so you don't have to worry someone might say something stupid. Except Sirius. But that's just a given and we all know when to ignore him," he said, wishing that were a little more true for Remus. Al smiled and followed James to the door, pulling his coat back on when they got there. It was odd that the younger man so often seemed to be able to tell exactly what was on his mind. Dedalus' house was slowly becoming home. But it wasn't often that anyone else was there. And as much as Al got a bit moody and didn't want to be around people, there were times where he wished there was another living soul in the house when Dedalus was at work. "Thank you James. For everything." Al flashed an actual smile, stepped onto the top step and was gone in a pop. |