miriam strout is a gigantic cry face. NORA. (noneforme) wrote in find_horcruxes, @ 2010-01-31 23:50:00 |
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Entry tags: | miriam strout, nora alderton |
RP Log: Miriam & Nora
WHO: Miriam Strout & Nora Alderton
WHERE: Miriam's flat!
WHEN: Backdated to Jan. 30, 1980, just before the Tinworth attack.
WHAT: A brief attempt at levity via chatter about chest hair!
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"I know it's very sudden, and I know this is all very new -- it is to me too -- but.... I love you." Miriam took a deep breath and closed her eyes, smiling happily. "... I love you, Nora's Old Bed, My New Bed." The bed (which included the mattress, box spring, and accompanying frame) had very little to say in response to the girl's declaration -- what with being a bed and all -- and merely suffered Miriam's outpouring of emotion silently, seeing fit to creak only when she sprawled fully atop it, making a pleased, happy sound against the pillow. Second hand goods or not, the bed was much bigger than her old one had been, and what's more, vastly more pleasing to the eye. Her old bedframe had been a dull, purely functional sort of thing -- this one was all patterns, green leaves and carved wood. It was like lying on top of something that belonged in a French mansion. ... which, quite frankly, Miriam's attic flat certainly was not. It was a long, dark space, much longer than it was wide, and the only light that filtered through the windows was from the night's full moon -- which brought along with it its own host of concerns. "Deal's done, by the way, no taking it back," Miriam reminded Nora, opening one eye to peer at her friend. The beloved bed likely had been in some French mansion at some point. Or at the least, some cute, quaint château in the 1930s when it was made. That was the thing with larger antiques; you always wanted to make sure they were good quality. The odds of quality went up with upkeep and care, and that meant wealthier families. Nora was just pleased it was going to someone who had fallen in love with it first thing. She'd been worried that handing Miriam something second hand would be seen as an affront, but really. That's all antiques were in the end. Something second, third, and sometimes even seventh hand. People paid a fortune for this stuff. But her friend's proclamation and subsequent outpouring was nothing short of amusing, and as Nora sat down on the other side, she began to giggle quietly. It steam-rolled quickly into definite laughter. "I don't want it back. Have you seen my new bed?" "No. What, does it breath fire?" Because clearly that was the only way in which a bed could be more impressive than the one she was currently stretched across. Miriam blew a stand of dark hair from her eyes, lifting her hands above her head, then dropped them again with a heavy thwump against the mattress. She still hadn't gotten around to actually making the bed, mostly because her sheets and blankets didn't quite fit it. Which only made Nora laugh even harder. A few more seconds of allowing herself the action, she shook her head and brushed her hair from her forehead. "No, it doesn't, but it dwarfs this one." With a sigh, she flopped backwards, angling her legs onto the bed and resting cozily. The ceiling was different, of course, but the bed was definitely familiar and comforting. It was going to take some adjusting to The Monster, which she now called her new bed. "...maybe it just goblins this one. Or house-elfs it." "I need a house-elf," Miriam sighed -- which was, of course, complete and utter bollocks. She could just imagine the look on her Muggle landlady's face should one of those dodder into the kitchen. "Anyway, I like it. It's bloody massive. I mean... more than one person can sleep on it comfortably, that's madness." And though she was still half joking, she was, really, half serious. She'd slept in her old bed with another person a number of times, and while sometimes it was nice to have to cling to each other (like in the case of Gideon or Edward), sometimes it was far too annoying and far too hot to stand being so close (like in the case of Nora sleeping over). Much better to have space for one's self. "I am going to sleep in the dead centre of this," she informed Nora. "That's what I always did," Nora agreed. She crossed her ankles, then her hands across her chest. Whether she was concious of the movement or not was another matter. "Right in the centre." ...even the few times Gawain had slept over. She usually slept half-slung across him regardless, but it was never more evident than when they were on her territory. "Tomorrow morning, I think we should get you some sheets that fit. I mean, we can transfigure these a bit, but it's still going to be better with some that were actually meant for this bed." "I'm rubbish with transfiguration anyway -- if I tried to change their length they'd probably turn into a pot of noodles or something. And it would be nice to have some real ones, maybe with a pattern to match?" Not that matching with anything was really much of an issue, given that Miriam fully planned on using her old blankets regardless (and they were by and large plaid, or bright blue, or decorated with Mickey Mouse). She bent her legs at the knee and folded her hands across her stomach. There was always the concern on full moons that she would be called in to work, but so far, so good... "And the new quilt will fit it perfectly. You get anything else new on your trip?" A moment later, she pushed off the bed. If she stayed like that, well, it just wasn't in Nora's character to stay in one position for too long. She wandered over to the dresser where the wireless Listener sat. A flick of her wand, and it sprang to life. Nora changed the station to Variety before setting the volume low. "Got a new mirror for the bathroom. Not sure if Mina really likes it though. It's enormous and covers half the wall. A little disarming at first. Might move it to the living room. Maybe under the staircase or something." It was a shame that Miriam was on call; Nora could use a glass of wine, and she didn't fancy rubbing it in Miriam's face. "A few presents and stuff for the year. It's a good place to find things, and nope, not telling you if I found something for you!" No comment on the mirror. The very description of it was enough to unnerve Miriam, who could suddenly only envision walking, half asleep, to the loo in the middle of the night -- and being scared out of her wits by her own half-the-wall sized reflection. Wrinkling her nose at the thought, Miriam sat up, scooting backwards on the bed enough so that she could lean back against the headboard. "You'd better not have. You've got me too much already. The quilt, the bed, the... something else that I'm probably forgetting... " She trailed off, twisted her mouth to the side, and lapsed into silence (or what would have been silence, if there was not now music playing, however quietly). "You know if I have to go in tonight, you're free to stay here." "Don't worry. I'm talking birthday and Christmas stuff. Not really random presents." Why Miriam didn't like spontaneous presents was beyond Nora, who enjoyed them. The surprise of it was often better than the present itself, that someone had been thinking about her. Nora drew in a deep breath. If Miriam was called in, Nora was likely going straight to Gawain's. Maybe. Depending on how late it was Miriam was called in. The past few full moons had been fairly early. "What are you doing with your old bed?" "Burn it. That, or, y'know... donate it to charity. ... oh! Did I mention that I'm volunteered for one now? Did I tell you about it, for Family Support?" Miriam's expression brightened, despite the meaning of the words she was saying. "I haven't had to do much yet, but it's for the families of injured or," a delicate way to phrase the word dead or murdered was struggled for, "... fallen Aurors and that." And even after saying it, despite the information being ultimately cheery, she wished she hadn't brought it up. Nora could be family of a fallen-dead-murdered Auror one day. Edward could be one too, and both he and Gawain were out after dark tonight. "I saw that you were going to, or wanted to. Didn't know you actually had." Miriam's flat was an odd assortment of items, mostly ranging in the cartoon vein of things. After all the years of being friends with her, Nora couldn't tell you who any of these cartoons were - except for Goofy, whom Miriam had had to beat into Nora's skull. Despite the tightening in her chest, or the sudden nausea that crept up on her, Nora continued to ignore talk of any Auror deaths. "What made you pick that one?" "Oh, well... seems like something I should be doing... I mean, I don't have any Aurors or Hitwizards in my family, but I'm friends with them, and I can only imagine..." Her thoughts shifted to Edward's father, and how his sudden murder had so decimated the Watkins'. Despite the fact that she'd told Ed she hadn't felt like they should see each other anymore, she'd still wanted to be there, to help. ... this was getting too dark. Dark was not what she wanted, not now. If she was going to be called in tonight, she'd much rather have spent her evening having a bit of fun. Miriam made a sweeping gesture to the side, then dropped her arm. "Anyway, I need something to do on my nights off, so I don't throw all my money away on male strippers or something." "Male strippers?" Nora barked a laugh before settling into something more normal for the space they were in. She didn't want Miriam's nosey land-lady to come banging away on the door. Nora returned to the bed and leapt into a spot next to Miriam, bouncing a few times before gravity had finally stopped her. "You and male strippers does not register in my brain, Mir." Miriam's, while always naturally wide, bordered on outright saucer-like in her attempt at looking innocent. Or serious. Or convincing. It was difficult to tell -- she wasn't the world's best actress. "I usually hire a few to come 'round on Friday nights. ... I mean, they don't dance, we just talk and have a cup of tea. Half naked. ... them. I stay dressed in layers, because it gets bloody cold in here." Nora's aspirations at curbing her laughter amounted to pressing her lips together in a ridiculous attempt to keep sound from expelling from her mouth. Like her friend, her overly round eyes were wide, though her eyebrows betrayed her mirth. A second later the façade broke, and Nora burst out laughing once more. "You are so weird, sometimes, Miriam. What in the - male strippers!" As soon as Nora started laughing it was contagious -- Miriam burst out into a peal of laughter herself, which, of course, was suitably loud. She'd barely even bothered to check it before she started speaking, her words still shaking with laughter even as she herself shook her head. "I would never... they all want tips and I'm too poor. The only half naked man who's been around here lately is Ed." Which, really, only made Nora sputter even more. Her sides were beginning to hurt from all the laughing, actually. Clutching her stomach, she reached out for Miriam's arm. "Oh my God, you vixen! When was Ed half-naked in here?" Miriam's laughed faded, rather slowly, into a smile that was equal parts awkward and, well, amused. She shook her head quickly, wrinkling her nose as she crossed her legs and settled once more against the pillows. "Well, not for awhile... I mean, we haven't been dating or anything for month or something... but. Ah. The night of the Auror party? We came back here?" Wasn't it the next evening that Miriam had been in such a fit that Nora took her friend flying when she was normally against it? Frowning just a little, she blinked at Miriam. "I didn't know this. Were... were you half naked with him?" As if to combat Nora's edge into frown territory, Miriam took another breath and renewed her smile -- closed lipped, through broad -- and tried to keep her voice light. She'd forgotten that the night with Edward had led to that terrible day, if only because that terrible day had seemed like it had lasted a week. "I was... close to it. Pants were still on. I think... I think I might have passed out before anything really happened, I don't really remember. Or maybe he did." Aware that this might spiral into something uncomfortable, Miriam waved her hand a little. "Anyway, sorry. I'm sure you really want to hear about what Ed looks like without a shirt on." "HAHA! You have to tell me now. Was it good or bad? You broke up with him right afterwards, so is he... unusually hairy or something?" Nora asked, leaning in consiprationally as if there might be someone else in the room. Her eyebrows darted upward as she waited for her answer, even as she nudged Miriam in the side. It had to be something, right? Some catalyst, and that was about as good as any. Miriam's eyebrows flew upwards, the laughter coaxed from her now more of a sudden bark. "Nora! What, no, I wouldn't break up with someone because they were... bad. Think of all the people who would break up with me because I'm terrible! I'm like... a drunken octopus." Which, mind, was cause for more laughter (and, finally, a rush of colour to her cheeks). Miriam, holding back the urge to up the ante into full on snorts as she cackled, held her hand over her mouth. "And he was nicely hairy. Respectable hairy." Huh, so that made no sense why Miriam would just break up with him. Perhaps she'd needed some sort of closure with Gideon aside from, "He's an arsehole." Or maybe Miriam and Edward just didn't click. Whatever it was, Nora didn't want to press. Especially not with Miriam laughing like she hadn't done in ages. "You laugh at too-hairy, Miriam, but you should see some men. Hairy shoulders and backs! It's quite unattractive!" "Some men -- what, like Gawain? He's hairy, really? He looks like he'd be..." Oh dear, no, that was not an area she wanted to delve into deeply, not at all -- which of course meant that she had to hurriedly clog her brain with other random mental images, which of course completely failed to work. Onto a shift in subject then. "Besides, I'm the great ape here, I haven't shaved my legs in an eternity!" Nora smacked Miriam's arm, not all that lightly or that hard. Just enough to make it known that she was serious about what she was about to say. "He's not hairy. He's just sort of fuzzy. A light smattering of hair." Nora pushed her lips to the corner of her mouth. "Looks like there's more than there is, actually, since it's dark." But then the next sentence forced another laugh and another question. "How long has it been since you shaved your legs?" Given that replying required she squint and look upwards in apparently a great deal of thought, it was obvious that the answer was going to end up being in the quite awhile range. "I... think..." Her thoughts (and words) were interrupted by a faint whirring from the nightstand. An innocent enough sound, but one that made her heart suddenly freeze all the same. Miriam's head whipped around to see that her St Mungo's badge had lit up -- while her face had suddenly paled. "I've gotta go," she said swiftly, getting up off the bed and looking at Nora as she grabbed for the badge. "Are you going to stay here?" Nora's eyes grew exponentially at the sound, and all she could think was that there was never enough time. Swallowing in a dry throat, she glanced at Miriam then back at the badge. "I... I don't know. I might go to Gawain's. I hadn't -- I'll go to his in a few hours, if you're not back before then." Shit. Why did those blasted werewolves have to go out attacking people? Why did poor Miriam always have to see all of that pain and suffering? Yes, yes, Miriam chose a profession as a Healer, but dear Merlin, no one should have to see people chewed to bits. "Go. I'll leave a note if I go." "Okay," Miriam answered, knowing that the word barely contained everything she wanted to say to her friend in that instant. She nodded, eyes wide but brow furrowed, and reached out to collect her green hospital robes from the chair she'd draped them over earlier. Before they'd even completely settled over her Miriam was moving forward to pull Nora into a tight hug. "I'll talk to you tomorrow? And leave a note. And just... stay safe. And... I'll talk to you tomorrow." Nora nodded several times, more than necessary, returning the hug three-fold in strength unknowingly. She hated this part of the full moon. With Gawain and Edward in the field, and then Miriam at the hospital... It was just too upsetting to think about the consequences. "Take care. And you stay safe too." Nora just hoped that it wouldn't be in vain. |