meredith watkins is in love with a killer (merewrites) wrote in find_horcruxes, @ 2009-09-04 17:09:00 |
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Entry tags: | barty crouch jr, meredith watkins |
rp log - barty and mere do drama!
Characters: Barty Crouch Jr and Meredith Watson
Setting: Diagon Alley theatre and then a coffee shop; early evening of Friday, 4 September
Summary: The couple of DOOM goes on their next date to watch a Much Ado About Nothing play, and then they have coffee afterwards.
Rating: PG and D FOR DISTURBING
Meredith had insisted upon dragging him to some theater thing; Barty liked theater well enough, but the same could be said about evisceration and filing. Barty didn't really like anyone or anything so much as he had fixations, or he didn't. Theater was all well and good; the darkness of the play allowed him to relax the tense lines of his face and admire the details that others didn't notice - the way that the leading lady tended to clutch her chest to show agony, the way that the hero sweat profusely under the lights, the way that the kid a few rows behind him kept popping gum that smelled like pineapple. Human beings. What odd and confusing masses of guts and bone. "Do you like it so far?" he asked Meredith during intermission. Barty knew he was supposed to ask that question, because he'd heard someone next to him ask the same thing. And they were Normal People. Barty smiled, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose and concentrated on looking like a Normal Person. Theatre was one of Meredith's favourites. If she hadn't decided to go into writing, she might have gone for performing arts. Hell, maybe she would still be able to go that path since writing for Witch Weekly didn't seem to be working for her. Hmm, maybe they had applications here or something for former students to apply. Also, the place was therapeutic. Watch drama unfold in the lives of others rather than yourself. Or not dwell on the drama in your life -- or a friend's as the case was with Meredith -- and pay more attention to others. "Don John's lines fall a little flat," she said, nodding gravely. "If you're going to be the malicious one plotting to sabotage your brother's wedding, you'd think he'd add a little more brooding." Oh, Merlin she sounded like a nit-picking critique. "But! Everything else seems to overshadow that anyway, so I'm having fun!" It was true, however. She was having fun with Barty of course, and watching Beatrice and Benedick argue was very amusing. "Are you having fun? I feel as though I practically just pushed you into coming here." "If I'm going to be pushed into something, at least it was you doing the pushing." He smiled at her, flicking his eyes toward hers and then away as if embarrassed. Barty was embarrassed, actually. Just not for the exact reasons that she might have suspected. Merlin, these trivial conversations were so banal. Still, she was attractive, and Barty knew that he needed someone for a good cover. People tended to notice young men without girlfriends. And while Meredith didn't qualify as a girlfriend, at least he'd publicized making an effort. "I guess I don't mind Don John's interpretation of his character," he added after a moment. "I mean, as far as villains go, he's pretty straightforward. Maybe he doesn't brood because he's having fun with the chaos and heartache he's causing. Maybe it's not about revenge, anymore. Maybe it's just because he likes the cruelty." To have fun with the cruelty. That was just weird. Then again, death and destruction happened for many reasons -- either they enjoyed destroying themselves or they enjoyed destroying others. "That makes a valid point. And at some points, I thought I sensed boredom. So I suppose ruining his brother's wedding is all he could do at the moment, when he would rather be taking over the world." His glances were adorable. Adorable enough at the moment. Meredith probably had a slight preference over the bloke who gave her a heavy snog, but that wouldn't have been permitted in such a public place anyway. "Is it a bad thing that you can think of how blokes that thrive off of causing pain to others and realize it really doesn't phase you anymore? What a world we live in." "I've seen too many cases," Barty admitted, "that really got under my skin. You know - terrible things. Torture, child killings." He thinned his lips, a line between his eyebrows - the perfect balance between troubled and hopeful. "But I've... I've just got to think that all this de-sensitivity to the world's horrors is a good thing in some aspects. I mean, it helps us profile these murderers. It helps us find them, know their habits. It helps us prevent more. I just want to be as good at finding Dark Wizards as Father is." He smiled weakly. "We're a morbid bunch, aren't we? Sorry about that." To prove how sorry he was, Barty leaned over and reached for her hand, giving it a little squeeze. "I shouldn't bring work talk on a date." Meredith reached over to smooth a tuft of his hair behind his ear. "Well, I happen to believe you'll definitely find the Dark Wizards and live up to your father's expectations. You certainly show the ambition to do so." Too bad she didn't agree with the whole desensitizing as a good thing. In a few years, bad things will end up being the norm that most people would just go "well, bollocks happen". Rather than knowing their habits, some might be picked up by seemingly innocent people. Like apathy. But when he just look so hopeful, she wasn't going to trouble him further. "That's okay, Barty. I do find your talks of work interesting, actually. You're far more interesting to sit and listen to than my older brother." "With any luck, I'll meet his expectations. And exceed them." Barty smiled a little, because exceed them? Oh yes. His father would never see it coming. Although Meredith's mention of her older brother was a pretty good distraction. Barty coughed and made a little face. "Oh... yes. I don't... he seems very... intense." As in, very. Barty figured that being brutish was all in a day's work for an Auror, but Edward took watching out for his little sister to a new level. Barty could respect that - Edward was technically right to look out for her. Meredith rolled her eyes. Her and her gosh darn overly protective brother. "If he said anything to you at all, I'm so sorry. He wouldn't tell me anything. All he said was that he said hi." And she knew he had said more. Like Edward Watkins would actually say just a "hi" to a guy who is dating his younger sister. "He means well, except he's a giant prat. Don't worry about him. He wouldn't do anything, in all honesty." Because if he did, he might have to use his skills learned as an Auror to protect himself from being hexed by her. Barty laughed nervously. "He wouldn't do anything? That's... that's good. I wasn't... I wasn't really concerned... I don't think. He was just... intense." There was that word again. "It's good, though. That you have someone to look out for you? I never really had that at home. I always sort of wanted a sibling; Father wasn't around much and there's only so much fun you can have with your mother watching you all the time." It was funny; he wasn't lying. Barty had grown up somewhat lonely, and there was a wistfulness in his voice that wasn't quite feigned. "You're lucky, in a way. Even if he is a giant prat." Meredith was silent for a moment. Aw, hell, she wasn't good at moments like these. She never really knew what to say, and had to take the time to think, so her silence that looked like a moment on behalf of a good listener was really her trying to think of something compassionate to say. "I know. Even when I'm angry at him, I don't take him for granted." That sounded just about right, didn't it? Profound even. Yes, Meredith was sure she said something right. But living with no brothers and sisters must have been boring. To her, they really were her everything, along with Addie and Greta. Meredith couldn't even begin to imagine life without any of them. "But I do see you seem to have grown close to your father, though, yes? You seem adamant on giving him a surprise. And your mum must have taken good care of you. You did, after all, grow to be a really nice bloke." "Stop it," he hissed with a laugh as the light began to dim in the auditorium. "You've got me confused with another bloke." This time around, he leaned forward to watch the show, his fingers slipping through hers as the tale of Benedict and Beatrice came to a close. It wasn't a bad play; Barty appreciated the metaphor of the mask, and as far as annoying people to put up with, Meredith ranked rather low on the scale, which was an excellent surprise. Barty had attempted to date a Halfblood in school that insisted upon talking his ear off about the most idiotic frivolities. Meredith was more self-possessed. Barty appreciated the change. As soon as the play was over, he helped her grab her coat. "D'you want to go have coffee, somewhere?" he asked, a hopeful grin on his face. "Auror's honour - promise to be a gentleman. Unless you don't want me to," he added, holding up his hands in mock-surrender. Meredith couldn't help the small smile while he held her hand. He was cute and was really nice. And this is about the most fun date she'd been on. At least he hadn't been like other blokes that never bothered to hide when they were flat out bored with the play. Didn't seem like he was bored at all, though. Maybe taking a guy to a theatre would make for a good screening session to see if he was truly nice and worth keeping around. Not long enough for her mother to pull out the wedding planner, oh Merlin. Meredith had been buttoning up when he asked and she looked up at him with a smile. "I really do not mind either way," she said, adding a wink. Another un-gentlemanly snog? Oh please do. "But coffee sounds fantastic." He grinned. "Let's go." The night air was pleasantly warm. September hadn't quite given up its aspirations of being August. Barty could walk just fine by now; the effects of last Tuesday's battle quite worn off. He'd not been that injured, at any rate - not like some who'd been foolish enough to cross him. He had to smile at the thought. Here he was, walking around on a date just as if nothing had happened to him at all, with an attractive woman by his side, and fond, fond memories of King's Cross. At the shoppe he ordered a devastatingly potent espresso, and Meredith's coffee of choice. They took a seat in the back. Barty nursed his espresso. "How goes the Witch's Weekly?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. She hadn't seemed pleased with it the last time he'd noticed. A night walk. This was really romantic. Moreso because she couldn't read Barty's thoughts. And when she saw his smile, she assumed that it was because he was having a lot of fun with her. Why else would a guy smile on a date? Unless he was thinking about someone else... Meredith instantly chided at herself, for thinking of Regulus' words again. Okay, the guy was looking out for her. But this wasn't the first time someone had warned her against a bloke, said something like 'he'd break your heart' and whatnot. Still, Meredith had gone into it with the motive to find out for herself if he was a nice guy or just another prick. So far, everything was fine. Three dates that went wonderfully with no complaints. She had half a mind to go back to what she had said to Addie before the first one -- that Barty would be too good for her -- but why ruin the romantic mood with such a thought. The night wasn't over yet, and Meredith was already thinking of other ideas for future dates. She thanked him for the coffee as they made their way back to the solitary table. "Oh, work." Her response had slight hints of disgust and disappointments. "It could go so much better. For myself at least. I've been told to have a bit of patience and I'll get my chance to write something, but there's only so much slaving I could do for a tyrannical boss who just happens to get into habits of fighting with photographers. It's not the Daily Prophet, you know? I can't go out and find a story and ta-da, I'm a writer." "You know... feel free to tell me I'm being overly simplistic, but to be a writer, all you have to do is write," Barty said pointedly, warming his hands on his cup. "Everyone's got to start somewhere. So your boss is a bitch. Write a bunch of articles and shove them in her folder at work, and wait. She may shred them. She may use them and claim that someone else wrote them. But they'd get the fragile little cogs in her head to start turning." Bloody hell, that was rather blunt. But Meredith wasn't complaining. In fact, she almost felt embarrassed for not thinking of that herself. Well, she had, but the thought of someone else taking her credit had turned her away from the idea. "That, actually, sounds great! I did have some ideas for articles already. I wasn't sure if I should, but you're right. It couldn't hurt. And besides, if someone decides to take credit, I can just... hex her." She gave him a smile of mock-innocence when she added that last bit. Barty did a double-take, laughing appropriately. Well, that prospect was heartening. Maybe Meredith wasn't as much of a sweetie as she looked on the tin. "Hexing might not advance your career any," he warned her with a grin, "but... well, sometimes it just makes you feel better. You've no idea what my list of people to hex is like. It's truly epic in scope." No, really. She had no idea. Still, he enjoyed the mental image of her tossing Unforgivables at his mother. Perhaps in a bikini. Perhaps in a veil. Meredith would never do that, of course, but a fantasy was often better than reality. "Well," Meredith replied, after a sip of her coffee. "It's the DMLE. I saw the chaos on the journals courtesy of the first years. And then all the killings going on. I'm pretty sure if I was working there, I'd have plenty of frustration to vent." Though she would probably have good-looking blokes to look for there. Older blokes, especially. Except with her brother around, there wouldn't be much happening for her. Hence, adding to the frustration. She could see herself hexing an employee in frustration and then regretting it completely after she'd have been booted out. But she couldn't see Barty carrying out anything like that. "But the point is, you're right. I should shove my work onto her desk, keeping in mind that it might end up in the garbage or with someone else's name on it. Guess you have to fail some times before coming out successful." "Definitely." Barty gave a firm nod, before his face split out in a grin. "If it means anything... I know you're not a failure." Meredith was a stubborn pain-in-the-bohemian-arse, but she wasn't a failure. There was potential lurking there. Potential for what, Barty was too conservative to guess. She had far too many feelings. Barty didn't have feelings, one way or another, outside of anger. Frustration when thwarted. Smugness when victorious. But Meredith did, and the presence of them confused him as well as made him vaguely jealous. He hated all this fakery. She gave him a smile, flattered by his faith in her. "That does mean something, Barty, thank you." And without hesitation, she leaned closer to give him a kiss. "You're welco--" he started to say, but was cut off as she kissed him. Well, thank Merlin. Less talk, more action. Barty leaned forward and there it was again, that kiss that didn't belong at all to a nerdy DMLE intern who stuttered and couldn't receive a compliment without ducking his face down. Just like Meredith preferred, she thought, budging herself a little more closer. Really, this and their last snog session left her breathless and mildly surprised. It honestly didn't seem to match up with his less-than-experienced self, and she couldn't help think that maybe he really did know more about girls and dating than he was letting on. Still, that just meant she could reap the benefits of a seemingly experienced snog. If they continued, they'd likely get kicked out. And she did like this place. So she pulled back, slightly, interrupting the kiss, and smiled up at him. "How much training have you had with your kisses?" she asked, mostly out of jest. He pulled back, blinking rapidly as if an insect had flown into his eye. "I... er.... what? Training? The DMLE training is generally hand-to-hand and basic medical healing, not..." He blinked again. "Oh. You're joking? You're joking. The..." Barty wrinkled his nose, and cut her off with another kiss. "Oh, shut up." Meredith laughed, holding back the gleeful urge to tell him how oh-my-god-adorable he was. Say what anyone will on his knowledge of dating and womenfolk, she enjoyed the stuttering and blushing and furtive glances. "I'm joking," she confirmed, leaning toward him again. She wasn't joking about the point of her question, though, because Merlin, those kisses... Theatre, coffee, and then a snog. These dates kept getting better and better. |