Walden Macnair is too old for this shit. (truthormacnair) wrote in blurred_lines, @ 2009-05-29 05:13:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! [1980-05] may, ! npc, walden macnair |
Narrative.
Who: Walden and Sophia Macnair.
What: Walden reads Witch Weekly and it does not go well.
Where: Dress shop in Diagon Alley.
When: Friday 29 May, 1980 around noon.
"Honestly, Walden? I told you to dress nice." Sophia Macnair scowled as she reached out and straightened the front of her son's leather jacket. She didn't ask him to join her in public often and she always found herself hoping that he would surprise her with a tie and a proper jacket. She was always disappointed. She found solace in the fact that Walden had attempted to comb his hair back a bit.
Walden smiled at his mother and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "You said to wear a jacket, mother. This counts the last time I looked." He glanced around the shop and shook his head. "I don't see why I have to even be here."
Sophia had already moved her attention back to cloth samples and gave her son a wave with her hand as she glanced over a section of light greens. "I miss you, darling. I had to cancel tea last week and I have no time this week so I thought I might multitask a bit. I'll help Isabella with the wedding and visit with you at the same time." She glanced up at Walden and pointed to a swatch of sage. "What do you think of this?"
"It's green. Mother, you wanted me to meet you at the dress shop so we could socialise? I was just at the house for dinner last night. I thought this was something important."
She gave him an innocent nod and smiled, holding out a sample just a few shades darker than the first. "What about this?"
He frowned. "It's the same thing."
"The same thing? Walden, this might as well be blue compared to the last one I showed you. Were you even looking?" She held the two against each other and Walden's shoulders slumped in misery. "Posture, Walden. Just because you have a wife doesn't mean you should forget decorum. Shoulders back."
Sophia dropped her samples and stood up slowly, smoothing the front of her dress. "I'm going to go check and see how your cousin is coming along. I'll be but a moment." She disappeared around the corner towards what Walden assumed would be dressing rooms and he glanced around the dress shop awkwardly.
He cursed his mother quietly and then dropped onto the couch where she had been sitting moments ago. He pushed the sample books away from himself and looked around the shop once more. Fifteen minutes went by and his mother had still not resurfaced and he considered leaving. No, she would yell at him if he just left. He huffed and leaned forward to inspect the reading materials underneath the fabric samples. His options were rather limited so reluctantly he pulled a copy of Witch Weekly from the table and idly flipped through the pages of mindless diet plans and fashion tips. He scoffed as he read over a list of what men secretly wanted from their women, mentally commenting on how constant communication should not be number one.
He flipped a few more pages and scanned over the column he landed on. It looked like a waste of time but he sighed and read on, scoffing at the title. Liaisons in London? It was ridiculous. The woman was publishing her exploits on the pages of a magazine for anyone to read. She seemed to have nicknames for people, hiding their true identities. He continued to read, a little shocked to find a narrative of the woman's activities with her boyfriend and another woman. There was a mention of someone named the Animal and he scoffed. It was a stupid name. He flipped the book closed and spotted another issue on the table. Walden picked it up and found the column, this time reading about the kiss that led to the incident he'd just read about. Another magazine had something about lovers ranked by country and Walden laughed. What the hell was he reading? Did the women he knew actually read this? Did his sister read this?
His mother was still nowhere to be seen and he grabbed another copy of Witch Weekly. The cover was wrinkled in places so he took it to be an older copy. He quickly found the column and began reading. There was mention of that Animal bloke again and Walden read on without much thought. Then, slowly, ideas started forming in his mind. The writing style was familiar, though not something he'd ever read before. He stared at the words and his far-fetched idea started to make sense. He checked the date on the cover and shook his head. It was just after his engagement had been announced. He killed animals for a living. He'd had a relationship with a woman that had ended badly and had been based almost completely on sex and aggression.
"Oh for Salazar's sake," he grumbled. No, his imagination was just running away with him. It was the cheesy classical music and the perfumed air. He reached for another issue. With one paragraph it was confirmed.
But that’s when things really got interesting! There I was, sitting on my couch, thumbing through the newspaper when there was a knock at my door. Who stood in my doorway, but The Animal himself?!
Of course, I was shocked, but what shocked me even more was that he had come to my flat to yell at me, to demand I never tell Snobby Sally anything. He begged me to leave them in peace.
Walden had gone to Rita's house after his lunch with her and Jacqueline. He'd threatened her within an inch of her life. She'd laughed at him. She was using their past as a way to sell magazines. Once again he found himself wanting to throttle the woman but he wouldn't go over there. She'd clearly deny it. There was always the small chance that he was wrong.
He threw the magazine on the pile of samples and he glanced around for his mother. Nothing. With a grumble he stood up and left the dress shop without a word. He was going to kill Rita Skeeter.