Alastor "Agent 04041953GU" Gumboil (loose_cannon) wrote in blurred_lines, @ 2008-07-22 00:09:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! [1979-07] july, alastor gumboil, dedalus diggle |
Who: Alastor Gumboil and Dedalus Diggle
When: 21 July, 1979; after work.
Where: Some bar or another.
What: Talking. Bonding.
Rating: PG
Status: Completed log.
Despite having a relatively easy day at work, at least as far as actual work, Alastor felt a bit tired and out of sorts. It had been a rough couple of days, taking care of Elle while she was grieving all day Sunday and worrying about the lives of his family while that monster that called itself 'Tabitha' was on the hunt for them. Oh yes, and himself too, he supposed he ought to be worrying about keeping himself safe. But that thought had only barely crossed his mind thus far, and it didn't seem all that important while he had been at work. But things had gone all right, for the most part. He didn't actually have to arrest either of his brothers, which had been his biggest worry. And with them safe and Kate spending some time with Elle, it felt good to be able to have a couple drinks and blow off some steam. Al glanced sideways at Dedalus. He wasn't really the normal sort to ask to this sort of outing, but the fact was he was good company and a good mate. And he was free tonight. So Al ordered the first round and slouched in his chair a bit. "So how've you been, Dedalus? I've hardly spoken to you lately." And for that, he did feel a bit bad. But he also knew the man would forgive him. That was just Dedalus. Dedalus didn't look at all like himself as he sat beside his old friend, his fist firmly clenched around a pint. His hair wasn't combed as finely as it usually was, and the top of his shirt was uncharacteristically unbuttoned. Once more, he was drinking. Even in the presence of friendly company, Dedalus had never been much of a frequent drinker -- but he sort of looked like he was that night, with his free hand lazily supporting his cheek. "It's a shame we haven't spoken in a while, but I suppose I've been all right. I don't think I'm allowed to complain," he said. Alastor snorted derisively into his own pint, mostly at Dedalus' insistence on keeping his issues to himself. "You're in good company, Dedalus, you're more than allowed to fucking complain. This has been a pretty shit week for everyone. Shit month actually, if we're being completely fucking honest," Al frowned and sipped his pint, before adding a quick "Sorry." He so often forgot that not everyone was used to his mouth. He didn't like censoring himself, but at the same time, he didn't want to make Dedalus uncomfortable with bad habits. "It has been a terribly awful month for everyone, but since I know I haven't got the worst of it all, I don't think I have any right to be as upset as other people do," Dedalus let his fingers tap against the counter nervously. For once, Alastor's profanity didn't seem to bother him as much as it had in the past. He looked up and smiled at him. "Also, I've got people like you to keep me from going insane. You're a wonderful friend, Alastor." Al was quiet for a moment, drawing circles in the condensation dripping off his glass. "You don't need to have experienced the worst of it to be upset that it's happening, Dee." He took a longer drink, mostly to hide his own embarrassment at the praise. He wasn't used to it, even from Dedalus, and it made him a bit uncomfortable. "Well, cheers, I suppose. Glad to keep you sane." Dedalus looked him over and eventually nodded in agreement -- Alastor was a very wise man. "There's something else, as well. Or someone else, rather. Don't know how it happened, but amidst all the chaos, I've found someone who never fails to make me smile." Al quirked a brow at Dedalus, more in interest than scandal. "Oh yeah?" A smile pulled at his lips. "Is said person perhaps, you know, female?" Dedalus looked a little affronted, but for reasons that surprisingly had nothing to do with the obvious. A glazed expression crept onto his face, and he let out a sigh that was barely audible. "She's beautiful, Al. Right now, she and I are friends, but I suppose there's nothing wrong with me thinking that she's beautiful." The smile that had previously been itching to get on his face turned into an out right grin as Dedalus spoke. He couldn't really think of anyone that deserved a good girl than Dedalus (Al had been a Gryffindor, after all, and Dee still managed to make him feel like a selfish bastard half the time). He sipped his glass before answering. "No, nothing wrong with that at all, mate... Are you going to ask her out on a date?" Blushing, Dedalus furiously shook his head and his body stiffened up. Of course, he had briefly thought about asking Meaghan out to dinner, but knew that it wasn't the correct time for such trivial indulgences. "I don't think that would be very appropriate. Not at all appropriate. And I doubt she's interested," he said. Alastor blinked at Dedalus, the corners of his lips drooping just a bit at his response. Instead, an eyebrow shot up, and he looked more sceptical than anything. "Did you go and learn Legilimancy while I wasn't looking, Dee? Because otherwise, I don't know how you'd know." "It's just a feeling," he replied, feeling more comforted than he was before now that he was able to talk about the issues that constantly distracted him. "You have a lot more experience with this sort of thing. If you have any advice for me, I'm more than happy to listen." Al simply shrugged. More experience or not, he was pretty sure the principle was the same. It was just the feeling of plucking up the courage to actually ask a girl out that he had ever struggled with, and that too had faded after a few years in school. "Look, Dee," he started, putting his pint down and turning to face his mate a bit more properly. "If you want it to be more than a friendship, then you should ask her out to dinner. Waiting around and constantly thinking about her isn't going to do anything but drive you fu--, er... bloody bonkers." And Al could tell him that from first hand experience - he'd waited far too long with Elle, and he regretted the lost time, even as happy as he was with her now. "Why waste the time?" Al nearly frowned. "It seems like we're all running low on it." "It does seem that way, doesn't it? But even though I've lately been a complete wreck, I still believe that we can get through this," he took a long swallow of his drink, and then unceremoniously slammed it down on the counter. "As far as the courting of this wonderful girl is concerned, I suppose you're right. Wouldn't hurt to ask." The noise of the glass slamming on the counter actually startled Al enough to make him jump, unused to anything remotely like that coming from Dedalus. But as soon as he was back to paying attention to what was being said, another smile graced his lips. "Brilliant, Dee." He nearly added that the girl, whoever she was, would have be completely out of her mind to say no to a guy like Dedalus, but shut his mouth before the words escaped his mouth. There was always the off-chance that she was insane, and he didn't want him to get hurt because he'd blown the idea up in his head. Dedalus looked as though he were more content about the situation. There were still doubts that lingered, especially given how delicate the timing was, but he was glad to get his true feelings off his chest for once. It felt good. "Once again, Alastor, I've got to comment on what a spectacular friend you are." "Always here if you need me, Dee," Al answered with a small smile. He was glad to be useful, even in something so seemingly trivial as this. It was the middle of a war. Everyone had to cling to bits of happiness whenever it was possible. Though the pub they were in was still occupied with several other individuals, it seemed a lot less crowded than it had been when they first entered. Dedalus wasn't really used to the scenery, the alcohol or the people who regularly visited places like that, but he appeared to be in an all right mood regardless. "I also have to say that because you're a Hitwizard, I would think you're far more prepared for issues like this. You've got to be on your feet." Al quirked a brow at him, not quite sure what he meant by that. "Issues like what? Women?" He snorted laughter and took a drink from his pint. Prepared for women. He thought back to the first night on the couch with Elle. No, he hadn't been prepared for that, hitwizard or not. "Dee, mate, I think a bloke's occupation has very little to do with how, uh... prepared... he is for women." "Well, I know I'm not prepared at all. I've had a lot of rotten luck with women," Dedalus said solemnly, stroking the bottom of his chin. They were treading on thin ice, now. Dedalus' statement seemed to beg for a response that would involve delving into his own experience, as far as women were concerned. The problem was that no one knew about him and Elle. Well that wasn't true; a handful of people knew. But Al wasn't prepared to start telling loads of people, even if it only amounted to Dedalus. So he avoided going down that road altogether. "You never know, mate. Maybe this one will be lucky." Al flashed a smile and dropped a wink before bringing his pint to his lips again. "I suppose," Dedalus replied, remembering the things his mother once told him. A positive attitude could take him anywhere he wanted to go if he kept at it. And though the fact he fancied Meaghan was insignificant in comparison to the other things going on in everyone's lives, he agreed with Al that it wouldn't hurt to be self-indulgent for once. Al fell quiet for another couple moments, quietly observing their surroundings as he worked on his pint. It certainly had emptied out a bit, but considering that it was the middle of the week, he didn't find that all that surprising. After a brief moment, he glanced back at Dedalus, putting his glass down, an oddly mischievous glint in his eyes. "So do I get to ask who the beautiful lady is?" "Her name is Meaghan. I was introduced to her through a ... group of close friends, you could say," he felt awful about lying, but he really didn't have any other choice. Well, as Meaghan was a fairly common name, Al didn't think too much of it. He had, of course, seen at least one Meaghan prowling around on the journals, but if he was honest, he knew she played Quidditch, and so he rather avoided her. But the fact that Dedalus meant that Meaghan hadn't occurred to him, nor had the idea that Dedalus was lying to him about how they'd met. Dedalus didn't lie. "Friend of a friend sort of thing, I see," Al nodded. "She's a very intelligent woman. Very straightforward, too, but I feel there's absolutely nothing wrong with that," Dedalus explained; his expression had become a little dreamy as he continued speaking. A smile curled itself onto Al's lips as Dedalus talked. He wondered vaguely if that's how he looked when he was talking about Elle to his brothers. "No, you're right. I think I'd prefer straightforward to constantly not saying what you mean," he agreed with a nod. Briefly, Dedalus wondered if Alastor had been seeing anyone himself. He thought it might be a little impolite to prod the matter, regardless of what their current topic was, so he reluctantly pushed the idea out of his mind. "Do you come into places like this often, Al?" Al glanced at him over the rim of his glass, a thoughtful looking overcoming as his face for a moment as he put it back on the table. "Uhh. I don't know, I suppose it depends on what you mean by 'often'. More than you, I'd guess. But I'm not here every night or anything, either. Depends on the workload. A few times a month, if I had to average. Four or five, maybe." He shrugged and glanced down at his pint. It was slightly more than half-full, and he wasn't really feeling it. Just as well. He hadn't been planning on getting drunk tonight. "The scenery's a little unnerving, I must say," Dedalus admitted, glancing over at a drunken witch attempting to climb atop one of the tables. "Not at all what I'm used to, but I don't mind, seeing as I'm here with you." Al snorted as he followed his friend's gaze, vaguely wondering if he ought to arrest her for public indecency. But that idea was quickly followed by the fact that pub wasn't all that public, and he wasn't on bloody duty, damn it. So he turned a blind eye and turned his attention back to Dedalus instead. "We can leave if you want. I probably shouldn't stay for too much longer, anyway. I've got to..." check on Elle. He paused, thinking fast to come up with an excuse that wouldn't endanger his relationship. "...visit my oldest brother and his family... while they get moved in." Dedalus smiled at Alastor. Though he could have thought of better, safer locales to reunite with friends, Dedalus didn't regret coming along to have a drink with a person who never failed to give him support when he needed it. After talking to him, he felt a lot better about his 'feelings' for Meaghan, if they even deserved to be called that. "I should probably head home, as well. I need to pick up a gift for my mother and father's anniversary. I'm running very far behind schedule with the things I need to do," he said, finishing off his drink. Al nodded and took one more long gulp of his drink before putting it down, about half-way finished. "All right mate, I've got this." He dug into his pockets while he spoke, coming up with a handful of sickles to count out. "Have a good night, yeah? And I'll see you back in the office tomorrow." He flashed a smile and briefly squeezed Dee's shoulder. "You too, Al, old friend," Dedalus didn't seem satisfied with just having his shoulder squeezed. As he rose from his seat at the counter, gathering his things, he embraced Alastor in a tight hug with arms wrapped securely around his waist. Surprised, but rather pleasantly so, Al put his arms around Dedalus and squeezed him in a brief hug. The bruise on his chest twinged a bit, and when the pair broke away, Al couldn't quite stop himself from gingerly rubbing it through his shirt. But his smile remained on his face and he held onto Dee's hand for a moment. "Cheers, mate. See you tomorrow." "Have a wonderful evening," Dedalus said brightly, tipping his purple hat as Alastor slipped through the door. A few moments after he left, Dedalus did so as well. |