Tweak

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Tweak says, "I left my aura there!"

erniedtmac (erniedtmac) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-08-25 22:19:00

Entry tags:

character: ernie macmillan, character: theodore nott

Who: Ernie and Theodore
What: Meeting to chat over books and things - because Ernie does not have a crush
Where: Finnigan's, The Corner
When: Monday night at 7pm
Status: Closed / In progress

Damn Susan and her perceptive eyes. But then, had she not spotted Ernie last week when he'd first met up with Theodore at Finnigan's, then he wouldn't have had anyone to talk to about what he felt over the entire situation.

He was never my patient. There's no ethical boundaries here, he kept thinking as he held a book in his hands, unaware that he was actually holding it upside down. I am perfectly within my right to make friends with someone nice that I met. So what if I remember a certain period in his recovery that he may not. That's workable, right? And so what if he happens to be kind of adorable.

But such thoughts were best left out of The Corner. Tonight, Ernie just wanted to continue getting to know someone who could hopefully be another friend.

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nottfinished
2014-08-27 08:55 pm UTC (link)

Theo nodded; he was relieved the rats were still alive too, although he didn't hold out hope for that lasting. He didn't tend to hold out any hope in general though. The experience of someone being happy for him was new though and he tilted his head, unsure of Ernie's sincerity. He gave his friend the very unpractised benefit of the doubt though, the other guy hadn't steered him wrong yet. He was pleased to hear that Ernie hadn't had any problems today, but he struggled to hide the flinch when Ernie mentioned a world outside St Mungo's. He couldn't remember those days much, but he did recall falling into a hole in that place and not pulling himself out for some time; remembered that he thought that little room was his world.

He broke out of it when Ernie accepted the book, his expression a little bashful. "That's okay. You can keep that copy." he reassured, having a copy of his own at home.

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erniedtmac
2014-08-30 09:46 pm UTC (link)

"Are you sure? I could have it back after I've read it." After all, they had only just begun to get to know one another - maybe Theodore worried he wouldn't give it back and thought it safer to give it away? "I promise I'll take care of it."

Even though the wireless was softer in The Corner, Ernie wasn't quite in the mood for the latest song from The Weird Sisters. He took out his wand and changed the station, stopping when it reached one that played classical music. He remembered Theodore saying theother day how he enjoyed it, and Ernie thought perhaps it might be relaxing for them both. "I hope you don't mind, I'm just not in a Weird Sistrs sort of mood today."

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nottfinished
2014-08-31 12:29 am UTC (link)

Theo shook his head, holding a preventative hand out. "No, it's okay, I bought it for you." he admitted easily, generosity with the money he had nothing that he thought twice about. Quite apart from thinking that he wouldn't get it back from Ernie, he didn't think Ernie would want to keep a book that he'd owned. "I know you will."

He winced when Ernie drew his wand and hated himself for it, especially when he heard the music change to something he recognised. That made him smile as well and this time he wasn't self-concious enough to hide it or feel bad about it. "No, I like this one." he agreed, almost physically relaxing a little. "I hope this isn't disturbing anyone else for my sake though."

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erniedtmac
2014-08-31 02:43 am UTC (link)

Ernie's pale skin went deep red at the knowledge that the book had been bought for him. His grip on it gentled as he instinctively started treating it as something precious. "Well, thank you."

Ernie felt bad upon seeing the wince, mentally berating himself for not thinking before he drew his wand. Thankfully, Theodore's smile made up for it. "Let them be disturbed. This is The Corner, for reading and such. If anyone wants the Weird Sisters, the wireless is playing elsewhere."

He took a drink from his glass, then tilted his head toward Theodore. "So aside from what happened, how do you like working at hte menagerie? Is that where you've wanted to work, or do you have any other plans for sometime in the future?"

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nottfinished
2014-08-31 02:42 pm UTC (link)

Seeing the blush creep over Ernie's face confused Theo a little; he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not and he didn't know what he'd done to put it there, but he was pleased in the end that it didn't seem to be a bad reaction. He was relieved that his gift had been taken at all.

He supposed that Ernie had a point about the function of this part of the pub, but he sitll felt uncomfortable at the idea that he might be putting anyone else out for his own needs. He'd never looked out for them himself, largely because some part of him felt that he wasn't important enough to do so, and it was strange that someone else was doing so for him now. Mention of what had happened though dampened his mood a little, still concerned about the rats despite the fact that they seemed to be doing okay, turned a corner maybe.

"My employer is a very understanding man and I like working with animals." he said thoughtfully, the former more important than the latter in his case. "I was really lucky to get that position. I don't think I could do better, really, but then I don't really have any other plans." It didn't bode well that he could only live in the present, because it meant that he didn't have the strength yet to think about the future. "How about you? Did you find your niche at Janus Thickey or do you have other roads to travel?"

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erniedtmac
2014-08-31 06:21 pm UTC (link)

"The right boss makes a world of difference," Ernie said with a nod, though he was concerned with the statement about Theodore 'not thinking he could do better'. Ernie was of the unfortunately idyllic point of view that one should love what they do and that be the reason why they work there, rather than being there because they 'couldn't do better'. He tried being supportive with a shrug.

"Well, we're young so there's still plenty of time to figure out what you want or what plans you'd like. As long as you're happy there, that's a good thing, right? For me, I loved working many different wards, since we spent some time in different ones during training, and I just felt an affinity with the patients there. Also, a friend's parents are there and it's nice to watch out for them for him."

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nottfinished
2014-08-31 09:01 pm UTC (link)

Theo knew that he'd fallen on his feet with the boss he had, a man who put up with Theo's behaviour when he was spooked and stood up for him when customers kicked off about a baby Death Eater serving them and having anything to do with the animals. The things they'd said to him came back a lot now that the rats were so poorly and the babies had died, but his boss hadn't put that blame on him and had always done what he could to help Theo stick to his work.

He often forgot that he wasn't really as old as he felt as well and that made him smile at his own stupidity for doing so. Something tickled in his mind listening to Erine talk about his job though. He still didn't really remember a lot of his own time there and if he did he wouldn't have been able to marry Ernie's behaviour up with the things he'd experienced there. "That's kind of you, again." he said, serious and meaning it. "Do you think that's where you want to stay working?"

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erniedtmac
2014-09-01 04:08 am UTC (link)

"I can see myself staying for the next couple of years at least, but after that, I don't know. I'll just see where life takes me. Maybe I'll be inspired in an all new direction, like poisons or emergency spell damage. For all I know, maybe I won't even be a healer anymore, though I doubt that. Would be nice if I could meet a good bloke and start a family by then, though." He shrugged.

"Well, let's try this - let's say there were no obstacles in the world to stop you, what would you want to do?"

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nottfinished
2014-09-01 10:05 am UTC (link)

Theo didn't know Ernie very well, but even so he thought that Ernie was made for being a Healer. He had the natural compassion, concern and diplomacy to steer someone ill into health again. "It'd be a loss to the Healing community if you left." he voiced before he re-registered what Ernie had said about meeting a guy to start a family. The bit that had Theo uncomfortable there was the last part, but not because he doubted that Ernie would be anything but a brilliant father to the kids of whoever he ended up being with. It reminded him that he was going to be the last of the Nott family, and that he had no business being anywhere near children even if he had plans otherwise; somewhere inside he was terrified that the rotten apple wouldn't fall far from the poisoned tree and that he'd become the monster to any potential kids he might have that his father had been to him. He didn't usually hold conversations that involved talking about children and the future so he rarely had the provocation to think about it. "But I think you'd make a good dad." he offered, trying to shake those thoughts away.

He was surprised at the question that came though, and had to bite back his knee-jerk response to say 'leave it'. He thought about it though, and while he had no ambition to speak of, his mind settled on one of the few things that made him happy anymore. "I'd like to work with thestrals somehow." he confessed.

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erniedtmac
2014-09-01 05:36 pm UTC (link)

"Thank you." Despite his playful arrogance, there were a small handful of things about which he was a little more humble, and his contribution as a healer was one of them. He worked in a ward where some patients may never see a change in condition, and others if they did it took a long time to happen. There was never any instantaneous evidence of wellness, just the hope that he had done something to make someone's life a little easier, if only for a day. He did grin at the idea of being a good father, and it was something he often hoped himself - he knew at least that he'd be more accepting than his own father. "Well, of course I'd be brilliant at it," he said aloud with a wink and a chuckle.

He nodded a little solemnly at the mention of thestrals. The first time he'd seen one had been after the Battle of Hogwarts when he'd noticed eery looking animals that he'd never noticed before on the school grounds. Almost everyone who had been in the battle saw them, for they had all seen death in some shape or form that day. He couldn't help but wonder if Theodore had been at the battle and that's why he could see them, or if somethind had happened before that. "There used to be only a handful of people who could see them, now lots of us can. Do they only keep them at Hogwarts, or are there reserves elsewhere?"

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nottfinished
2014-09-01 06:22 pm UTC (link)

Theo replied to Ernie's chuckle with a smile of his own; he couldn't imagine the blond treating his kids the way Acanthus had treated him, even if he did tend to see glimpses and flashes of the monster the man was in the people around him despite himself.

He rarely thought about thestrals being an omen of sobriety or mourning, as they'd always been a comforting constant to him, but he could see why they may not be a welcome sight to others when he was prompted to recall this. This was made especially obvious with Ernie's reminder that the macabre animals had been all but a secret to most of the student body until the horrors they'd witnessed. Theo didn't even remember why he could see thestrals, and thinking on it made his head hurt so he tended to leave that train of thought alone. He nodded though, although that wasn't a very specific answer until he actually spoke. "There were some on the moors at home when I was little. And I've seen them other places, here and there. They move like herds but like flocks as well. You get the odd one or two flying solo sometimes, but not often." he lifted his hand and played with a lock of his hair that was poking at his neck, smoothing it with his thumb. "I like them." he added, somewhat guarded and wary or criticism; he knew how that sounded.

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erniedtmac
2014-09-02 06:58 pm UTC (link)

Though Ernie maintained the same expression on his face, inside he was saddened that Theodore had seen thestrals so young. It meant that he had seen death, something he shouldn't have seen at a young age, at least not in Ernie's opinion.

"They're fascinating creatures," he replied aloud. "It's brilliant that you've seen them in so man places. How do you care for a thestral? I don't know much about them." It was something Theodore was passionate about, and Ernie wanted to hear him talk about it more.

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nottfinished
2014-09-02 07:48 pm UTC (link)

Ernie's interest in the morbid animals that Theo had a soft spot for made him feel more comfortable with discussing them. He was used to people wanting to change the subject if they were brought up and for Ernie to ask about them was refreshing but also made Theo feel more of a connection to the blond too. "The ones we had were a semi-wild herd. They eat carrion mainly but I used to feed them carcasses and offal and offcuts and stuff like that. they don't need a lot of care as long as you give them space and make sure they've got food. They're really good at clearing mould off wood as well, lichen and stuff sometimes." he realised he was being a bit overenthusiastic again and withdrew a little bit. "I liked watching the Hogwarts herd fly back in the evenings." he added a little quietly.

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erniedtmac
2014-09-03 04:33 pm UTC (link)

While talk of carcasses may have alienated some, those people had likely not worked in a hospital. No carcass could beat the sight of a case of Phunnel Pox in full pustule form in terms of ability to ruin one's appetite.

"They're meat eaters, but from descriptions, they sound so gentle," Ernie replied. He leaned a little forward, holding his butterbeer in both hands. "It's a shame so many of us tend to be afraid of them. It must have been brilliant to see the herd at home, and the ones at school flying. All I ever saw were owls and quidditch players, except for the Tri-wizard tournament, that is. So would you want to work at Hogwarts and care for the animals there? Or do some sort of research and preservation work? Though I can't imagine what would endanger a thestral."

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nottfinished
2014-09-06 08:28 pm UTC (link)

Theo hadn't even realised that he was being a little morbid himself, or that the conversation might have been distasteful to anyone - it was on par with anyone else talking about what they fed their budgie or cat as far as he was concerned. It was good that he was speaking to someone with Ernie's constitution or this could have been yet another budding, tentative friendship down the drain.

He agreed with what Ernie said, nodding but not interrupting him. He smiled though, thinking of them at school, even if that smile was tempered with shadows.

He shook his head to the first suggestion though. "I don't think I'll ever go back to Hogwarts." he said. Too many memories there, the last time he saw his father- no, he didn't want to visit those grounds again unless he absolutely had to, and with his exams under his belt he didn't think he'd ever had to. "Research would be interesting. Half the population can't see him and most of those who can don't like them; I suppose someone out there is doing something to make sure they keep their environment, make sure no illnesses pop up, that sort of thing - that might be interesting to do." he didn't think he'd ever get a chance to do it though.

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erniedtmac
2014-09-07 03:26 am UTC (link)

Ernie didn't ask anything further about Hogwarts. He understood completely why so many had no desire to return, and heard many of their stories at Battlescars. He had his own stories, too, but he also had his own set of reasons to return when he had to repeat his last year - one of which had been to ensure that the good memories outnumbered the bad ones, and that his time at Hogwarts end on a good note rather than a disastrous one.

"Research is important work," he said, hoping he sounded encouraging. "And you're right, so many of those who can see them don't like them, especially now that there are so many who can. That means that those who do like them, who care enough about them to help preserve them, they're more important than ever, don't you think?"

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nottfinished
2014-09-08 11:22 pm UTC (link)

Theo could agree with Ernie on that point, and in regards to the research, but he was touched by Ernie's genuine encouragement. No one had ever thought Theo worth encouraging or, from his point of view, really worth anything, so the support that Ernie was giving him now was both strange and moving.

"You have a point." he concurred, even though the thought of why so many people could now see them made him uncomfortable. He wondered for a moment if he did go into a career investigating and researching thestrals, if it would make him any money and if that would in some sick way be construed as his profiting off the war. That thought made his stomach turn a little; he still hadn't made up for what had already happened, nevermind creating another set of similar problems.

"I suppose though that there are more people out there likely to want to preserve them, just because there are more people who can see them too now."

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erniedtmac
2014-09-09 03:13 am UTC (link)

Ernie grinned. "Of course I have a point. I'm brilliant, you know," he replied with playful arrogance, which for Ernie was practically a default setting.

"Maybe there are. Would be something to look up, wouldn't it? I'm sure if someone was working on it, maybe the Ministry's Beast Division might know about it. Maybe they even have a thestral specialist!" The idea excited Ernie for some reason. "I wouldn't be surprised, actually. Who knows, but it would be fascinating to find out, wouldn't it?"

And maybe it would also give his new friend something to look forward to, rather than dwelling on the sad deaths of the creatures in his care.

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nottfinished
2014-09-28 09:44 pm UTC (link)

Ernie's showboating brought a smile to Theo's face, although he would have agreed that point with complete honesty. Ernie spent his time helping and healing others, he'd been nothing but kind and supportive and attentive to Theo and he was always positive and optimistic - brilliant indeed.

"It would be interesting to find out, at least." he agreed. "I don't know what happened to our- the herd at the Estate." he said, picking his words like he was tiptoeing through a minefield. "I can check that they're being cared for at least." he gave Ernie a grateful smile that managed to be serious at the same time. "You really are brilliant."

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	erniedtmac 2014-09-29 12:13 am UTC (link)
	Ernie blushed and tried to wave off the compliment. "I'm just a wizard with ideas. You're the one who's been able to see Thestrals for ages - that's pretty brilliant too." Ernie picked up his butterbeer and held it aloft. "To two pretty brilliant blokes. We've quite a future ahead of us, I think." (Reply to this) (Parent)

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