InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "huec-o-mundo"

Alice (inadvertently) wrote in expresslogs,
@ 2012-09-18 18:44:00

Entry tags:

alice longbottom, {neville longbottom

Lunch!
Characters: Neville, Alice
When: Tuesday afternoon
Location: a pizza place in Shanghai
Warnings/Rating: None anticipated
Summary: Alice has lunch with her son
Status: Complete

Alice hadn’t been sure what to make of Neville. While she hadn’t wanted to push to spend time with him if he wasn’t comfortable, she was afraid now she was erring on the side of standoffish, and that was absolutely the wrong way to go. With the news of Harry being going -- again -- Alice had decided maybe she should push, just a little. At least put an offer out there. If he didn’t want to, she’d understand, but … she did want to.

When they’d finally agreed on a type of good to go for, she did have to wonder just how it had even been introduced to him. Through friends, maybe? She couldn’t see Augusta doing it. Well, maybe it would come up in the course of things.

Dressing to blend in to the crowds, Alice smoothed her hands down her plain pink tee-shirt before ensuring her wand was tucked into the pocket of her black jeans. She made sure the shirt was covering it, then she reached for the cash she’d gotten by borrowing one of the cards. She hoped it was enough. If not, well, she could discretely duplicate some of it and no one would be the wiser.

With a contented smile on her lips, Alice headed out to meet her son so they could go to lunch.

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not_nobody
2012-09-19 05:03 am UTC (link)

Neville had changed close approximately six million times (give or take) before he had left his room to meet his mother. He was terribly nervous, afraid he had given her a terrible impression the last time they had met; that she wouldn't want to talk to him, or was starting to see why his grandmother had always been so frustrated with him.

But he couldn't think that way. He couldn't. He was a Gryffindor, after all, and as little as he believed it, the sword of Godric Gryffindor didn't lie - and it didn't reveal itself to people who didn't belong in the House. He was brave (even if he didn't feel it) and he could do this.

Steeling himself with as much resolve as he could, he headed out to the pizza place they had decided on, standing out front and reading the menu posted on the door while he waited for her to arrive.

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inadvertently
2012-09-19 11:39 am UTC (link)

When she hadn't seen him outside the train, she'd assumed he'd moved on to the restaurant. With a little shrug, Alice gamely headed off in that direction. Her hands were slipped into her pockets, though it would be easy enough to snag her wand -- or to cast something distracting wandlessly to buy enough time to get to her wand. Not that she imagined there was much she'd have to worry about here -- it wasn't home, and there wasn't a war going on.

She imagined she was among the minority who appreciated being taken by the train. Granted, she hadn't been here long enough for it to really do anything to her, and her tune might change once it had ... but for the time being, it wasn't such a bad thing. Granted, if Frank were here ...

But that wasn't anything worth dwelling on. He wasn't, he might not be. She'd just have to soldier on without him.

When she caught sight of Neville standing outside the place, Alice smiled as she ambled over to stand beside her son. "So what looks good?" She prompted.

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not_nobody
2012-09-19 02:21 pm UTC (link)

Neville looked up at her and smiled a little, his hands still in his pockets.

"Hiya, mum," he said, and while he was obviously swallowing down nerves as he spoke, he was - maybe - a little calmer than before?

"Um, it all looks good. I've only had it once or twice, so I'm not sure what's, well, the best. Gran always wanted me to eat healthy stuff. I was...kind of a pudgy kid. Mostly growing out of it now, but she was worried about it."

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inadvertently
2012-09-19 09:58 pm UTC (link)

“It runs in the family,” she assured him. “On my side, anyway,” she amended. “Your dad’s side tends toward stick skinniness. I just consider my side to have a little extra padding,” she continued. “But we do grow out of it.” For the most part, at any rate. She still thought she was a little on the hippy side, but not enough to protest. Besides, Frank liked it well enough, and that was the important bit.

“We can try a bit of all of it,” she decided. “Not all today, I suppose, but we’ve got a few more days here still. On the last night, we’ll load up on pizzas to go,” she added, a gleam in her eyes as she glanced up to her son. I’m sure the train will appreciate it.”

Reaching out a hand in case he was inclined to take it, she cocked her head toward the entrance. “Shall we?” She thought things seemed to be going well, but maybe it was a touch too early to tell for sure.

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not_nobody
2012-09-19 10:14 pm UTC (link)

Neville hesitated for just a second before taking her hand with a nervous smile. He supposed for most people, it wasn't such an amazing thing to hold their mother's hand, but this...for him...he felt himself trembling a bit.

"Gran's still really skinny," he shrugged. "I guess she wanted me to look like dad. I think she wanted me to be dad," he said a bit sadly. He couldn't believe he actually said that - even though he meant it.

"Yeah!" he smiled. "And we can get breadsticks too. And sodas?"

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inadvertently
2012-09-20 12:51 am UTC (link)

It didn't surprise her in the least to hear Augusta was still skinny. "The woman eats like a bird," she murmured. It wasn't that she disliked Frank's mother, exactly. It was more ... they had clashing personalities. And it didn't surprise her in the least to hear that she'd likely compared Neville to Frank. "Well, he is her pride and joy," she quipped lightly. "It's little wonder she'd want you to be his image. Rather than mine," she added with a wink and a slight smirk.

"I don't think she ever truly took to me," she reflected. "But I don't think any witch in the world would have been good enough for him in her eyes." She squeezed Neville's hand then turned to regard him seriously. "For the record, whoever you marry, or have relations with, it's fine by me. The important thing is for you to be happy." And it was true. If he turned out to be gay or disinterested or brought home a girl she didn't particularly get along with, she'd try for his sake. Because all she wanted was for him to be happy.

Alice smiled as she nodded. "Breadsticks, soda, garlic bread ... whatever they've got here. And whatever we don't eat, we'll just bring back and share around," she continued.

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not_nobody
2012-09-20 05:37 am UTC (link)

Neville blushed horribly at that.

"Mum!"

But he couldn't help but smile a little bit. That's what mums were supposed to do, wasn't it? Humiliate their sons when it came to girls and all of that? It felt...well, embarassing, but also very natural. Like this was the way things would have been if - well, if what had happened hadn't.

He shrugged, relenting a little.

"I went to the Yule Ball with Ginny Weasley...you know her family, I think? But I...I mean, I never really had many girls interested in me. Thought maybe I had something for Luna at one point, but she was on the train not long ago, and yeah, we're just friends. Which is okay. Better that way, probably. Never seen any of my kids on the train, or heard of anyone talking about my girlfriend or wife or whatever, so it looks like I'll just be a Hogwarts Professor. Which...is okay, I guess. I've been lonely before. There are worse things."

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inadvertently
2012-09-20 11:30 am UTC (link)

"What?" She replied innocently, her brows elevating as she regarded him. "It's all true. Whoever steals your heart is fine by myself and your father. If he were here, he'd tell you the same thing." There was a flicker of sadness behind her eyes, briefly, but it passed. It was probably cruel to wish this on Frank anyway, even if he had been here before.

"I know her family," Alice confirmed. "Know of, anyway, more than really know, per se. But I don't think anyone is unaware of her family." Her brow furrowed a little, and she wondered if maybe people just didn't know. Or if maybe he had kids later than the point they were taken from. Or maybe they were just conditioned not to spill people's futures, so ... didn't.

"I'm sure you have someone," Alice replied softly. "Someone lovely and perfect for you," she continued with a squeeze to his hand.

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not_nobody
2012-09-20 02:44 pm UTC (link)

"I'm not really the type that brings in all the ladies, mum," he said shyly, shoving his hands back into his pockets. Girls didn't hate him, but he was more the type that had more girl friends than girlfriends.

"But yeah, okay, whatever. But...if I don't find the perfect girl, that's okay too, right? You wouldn't be...disappointed? You wouldn't think I was a...well, a failure?"

He couldn't even meet her eyes as he spoke the words. He just...wanted to know that even if he didn't...that it was still...well...it would still be okay.

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inadvertently
2012-09-20 10:20 pm UTC (link)

“Some people are late bloomers,” she replied staunchly. “From what I heard, anyway, it doesn’t seem like you had much time to be dating around. Your father and I didn’t really meet until after school,” she continued. “There’s certainly no rush. Better to be slow and steady and find what you need than rush something that won’t be a good fit for you. And if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t.” She glanced up to him with a smile and a little shrug. She very nearly joked that if he found the perfect bloke instead, that was all right before deciding it might come off the wrong way, and she wasn’t interested in instilling any doubts in him.

“Not everyone is set to be half a pair. Some people have to gather up all the stray cats,” she added, nudging his side lightly. “Whoever you are, however you are, you’re my son and I love you.”

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not_nobody
2012-09-20 11:55 pm UTC (link)

That was what Neville needed to hear, and it brought a soft smile to his face. He just needed to know that whatever happened, whoever he ended up with, it was okay. That his mom, whether she was there in his future or not, was happy with him. Tears came to his eyes, and he wiped them away furiously, before looking more closely at the menus that had been given to them.

"Thanks," he said softly. "Thanks, mum."

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inadvertently
2012-09-21 12:36 am UTC (link)

It couldn't have been easy, and Alice studied him, wondering if he would have turned out different if she and Frank had been there to raise him. Well, of course he would have, but fundamentally ... he was who he was. They simply would have helped to bring him out, to his potential, more than Augusta had.

No matter. There wasn't anything she could do about the past. About what was, what had been. There was just the future. Their time on the train and whatever they chose to make of it.

"No thanks required," she assured him quietly before she turned her attention to her own menu. They'd have their meal here, and then get some stuff for the train. Maybe have a regular pizza party to celebrate their temporary freedom, and all their second chances.

[wrap?]

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	not_nobody 2012-09-21 12:42 am UTC (link)
	[OOC: sure!] (Reply to this) (Parent)