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Tweak says, "AHH! REAL MONSTERS!"

Seamus Finnigan (openbottle) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-10-19 13:34:00

Entry tags:

character: dean thomas, character: seamus finnigan, status: complete

Hey soul sister
Who: Seamus, Dean and [NPC] Jess
What: Family
Where: York
When: Sunday
Rating: SFW?

Seamus should have been happy. His new chef was working out, he was adequately fed every day, he'd had a good date with Justin, the Kestrels had won. On top of that, he'd even slept well Friday night and Battlescars had gone well. His friends were living their lives, no one seemed to be in particular distress. Everything was good and Seamus knew that those times were rare - so he should have been happy. The fact that he wasn't, that he was walking around feeling as if he had an itch under his skin that he couldn't get to, was really pissing him off.

He wasn't stupid. He knew it was to do with Dean dating, to do with the fact that things were going well with Ophelia and he and Dean had barely seen each other this week. Ever since the cuddle party, Seamus had been seriously questioning whether he would ever be able to date successfully. Dean managing to find someone so soon after that was just an unfortunate reminder of everything Seamus wasn't sure he could have. And, to compound matters, it also meant less time with his best friend to take his mind off it. Watching the Quidditch with Justin had been good, a great distraction, and Seamus hadn't been comparing it to seeing Dean at the time but - but it wasn't the same.

He stood at the door of The Den, saying goodbye to his friends and answering a few questions from people who were new or who turned up only infrequently. He was aware of Dean, waiting for him, but he didn't rush. Battlescars was important to him, and they had a little while before they'd planned to meet Jess anyway. Dean wouldn't expect him to rush.

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openbottle
2014-10-27 04:10 pm UTC (link)

"It's not like she doesn't already know," Seamus grumbled. What harm could giving Jess a potion possibly do when she already knew about the magical world? It wasn't as if they were breaking the statute. Still, it was Dean's decision and Seamus didn't question it - much.

Seamus took his place at the large kitchen table, looking around with interest. The whole student and university thing was relatively new to him, though a few of his muggle friends had drifted off to institutes of learning after taking their exams. He'd never been to visit them, though, and none of them had come to York.

"I'm alright, thanks." He was feeling better rested than he had in days, and they'd hopefully be heading off soon and he didn't fancy having to down hot coffee. He looked longingly at the cupcakes, but didn't reach for one. He had his own waiting at home.

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artistdean
2014-10-27 07:51 pm UTC (link)

"Yeah, but wizards live longer and stuff, so is it a biology thing or a use of magic thing or... I just don't want to risk it," he said, shrugging. It wasn't that he wanted her to suffer, but he really did worry about potions sometimes.

Pulling out a mug for Jess he dumped in instant coffee and put the water on to boil. He poked in the fridge looking for milk with her name on and finding none. "Bugger!" he said. "I don't think she's got milk. I better ask her whose to steal."

He wasn't quite sure what to do with himself while they waited for her to return, idly looking around the room, hoping nobody else was going to show up. Brother turning up was easy enough to explain, but he had a feeling everyone would assume he and Seamus were together, although given how poorly they were communicating recently that might be a little bit less likely.

They were lucky (barring the uncomfortable situation) that nobody appeared and just as the kettle finished boiling Jess slouched her way back into the kitchen, now dressed in slouchy but presentable clothes, hair somewhat tamed and shoved under a headscarf. Dean knew better than to comment on that one. He thought she might have washed up too.

"So, how goes life in hidden London?" she asked, zeroing in on the mug Dean was pouring water into and snatching it off the side when he was done. She crossed to the fridge and grabbed one of the bottles and sloshed it at her coffee, before inhaling happily.

Hidden London was a pretty standard code for the magical world in his family, it generally seemed innocuous enough to any listeners.

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openbottle
2014-10-29 02:48 pm UTC (link)

Seamus turned on his seat to face Jess, giving her a wider grin than really felt natural on his face this morning. "Much the same," he answered. "At least, for me." He wasn't going to bring up Ophelia if Dean didn't, but he'd probably already told her. "Work, work, work, no rest for the wicked - pick your cliche."

He pointed a finger at her, still taking care not to talk too loudly. "By far the more important question is.... how's university? Do you get on with everyone? Fill me in, I don't have the luxury of being able to phone for a chat."

Talking to Jess was somehow easier than talking to Dean - which was weird. That had never been the case, not even at the height of her crush on him when she'd done everything in her power to capture Seamus' attention and steal him away from her brother for a conversation. Seamus craned his neck to glance at Dean still over by the kettle, trying to include him in the conversation without having to put it into words.

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artistdean
2014-10-29 08:30 pm UTC (link)

"And I thought you were one of the nice boys," Jess said, waggling her eyebrows over her mug at Seamus as she took a sip. Dean just rolled his eyes. At least now she was only joking with Seamus.

Jess wandered over to Dean and hugged him with her non-coffee-holding arm, keeping the one with hot liquid well away from his body. He hugged her back, smiling. "Hey, bro," she said before turning back to Seamus and walking in his direction, grinning. "It's awesome, dude! I mean the hangover sucks but the party last night was great. And nobody on the corridor is a total dickhead," she said, slurped some coffee and continued. "One of my lecturers is, but it's only a ten credit module so I don't have to see her much. It's hard work, but it's good. Definitely picked the right course even if I do have stupid assignments sometimes."

Dean was leaning against the kitchen counter smiling as he listened to his sister. Sure he'd heard some of this when he'd phoned her, but it was good to see her again.

"And it's not like he manages to phone that often. Something about a show coming up, hmm?" she said, turning to look at Dean with mock accusation on her face.

He held up his hands. "Hey, you're not Mum, you don't get to boss me around!" he said. "And I've done this before, you know what it's like."

Jess just snorted and plonked herself next to Seamus, but facing Dean. "Yeah, and then there's some French girl, right? What's she like?" she said, turning to Seamus. "It's not like he's going to give me anything useful to tell Mum."

"Oi! No grassing. I'll tell her you were hungover!" he said, finishing rather lamely. It wasn't like their mother hadn't seen Jess hungover before, although she hadn't been all that mad. It wasn't like he'd actually do it either. He just didn't really want their parents to know about Ophelia just yet.

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openbottle
2014-10-29 10:43 pm UTC (link)

It was only while watching Jess slump over and lean into a hug that Seamus realised he and Dean hadn't hugged in greeting - had barely touched at all, in fact. It wasn't something he thought about normally, but today it seemed a symptom of the greater problem. He'd been moping about having no time with Dean all week, and here he was not taking advantage of the time when he did have it. Feeling like an idiot, he leaned to bump his shoulder against Jess' as he turned back around and rested his arms on the kitchen table.

"It's true," he agreed, tilting his head and giving Dean a slightly apologetic look. "I've barely seen him." And then, just as Seamus was starting to feel better Jess had to ruin it by bringing up Ophelia. Seamus fought to keep his expression from falling. He knew it was petty and selfish, to be jealous, but he couldn't seem to help it. There was no Ophelia on the horizon for him and it just made him feel inadequate.

He shook his head, focusing on Jess again. "You'll get nothing useful from me, I haven't even met her." Which was partly his own fault for being busy, but he wasn't mentioning that.

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artistdean
2014-10-30 02:34 pm UTC (link)

Dean gave Seamus a slightly apologetic look right back. He knew if he wanted to he probably could have spent more time with Seamus, despite the fact he was busy with the show prep.

"Bloody useless you are," Jess said with a humph, curling into her coffee slightly grumpily and drinking more. "Depriving me of dirt. I'll wangling it out of you when I'm feeling more awake."

"Finish your coffee, and we can go find somewhere to eat. Unless you booked?" he asked.

"Yeah, and I can work out what's going on with you two," Jess said, pointing a finger between them. "Because you're usually attached like bloody limpets, or at least a good double act, and this is pathetic. And yes, I booked. There's a decent pub that doesn't just cater to the student crowd not far away."

Dean winced. Jess was annoyingly perceptive at times and apparently the coffee was kicking in. This was't a conversation he didn't really want to have. He appealed mutely to Seamus, trying to convey they could sort this between themselves and not drag Jess into it.

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openbottle
2014-10-31 02:52 pm UTC (link)

Seamus shook his head. "There's nothing to wangle. I literally know her name, that she's French and that she makes..." he frowned in an effort of memory, glancing at Dean and feeling yet another stab of guilt that he didn't even know such basic information about someone who was obviously important in Dean's life. "Pottery?" Dean had said something about the oven required, he was pretty sure. He turned back to Jess and shrugged. "I admit to being bloody useless."

His stomach dropped uncomfortably at Jess' next words - but he caught sight of Dean's wince and mute appeal before he could reply, so he kept his mouth shut. He wanted to say there was nothing going on with the two of them, it was just him - with his petty jealousy and tendency - as Susan had put it - to push people whenever he felt defensive. He didn't really want to discuss any of that with Jess or Dean, but he didn't want Jess thinking any of this was Dean's fault - because it wasn't.

He put on a show of pouting. "But I wanted the real student experience," he complained - not seriously, of course. "I never got to do this."

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artistdean
2014-10-31 07:52 pm UTC (link)

"Ceramics, lots of jewellery, some other stuff," Dean said, slightly disappointed when he realised Seamus really didn't know anything about Ophelia. Sure they'd not met, but he'd sort of thought they'd managed to exchange more information than that. He fiddled with the zip on his jacket, not sure what else to say.

Jess just shrugged. "Fine, I'll interrogate you instead," she directed at Dean.

"Dude you went to a school to learn freaking magic, you do not get to complain," she said, then tipped her coffee mug up, draining the last of it.

"Yeah, and I'm guessing she's trying to get slightly more expensive food out of us than she can afford on her budget," he said, eyeing Jess.

She pointed at Dean in a 'got it in one' sort of way as she stood up to give her cup a rinse. "Score one for my brother," she said. "My food budget is pathetic, you are not taking me to a crap student pub. We can go to the place the flash students go to on dates," she said with a wicked grin. "Let me grab my coat and boots," she said, pulling keys out of her pocket and disappearing to her room.

"Sorry. We did say we'd take her for good food," he said, while they waited for her to come back.

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openbottle
2014-11-04 04:58 pm UTC (link)

Seamus gave a soft sigh at the reproachful look Dean was giving him, but didn't say anything. He knew he needed to do better, but there was a pretty big gap between knowing that and actually being better. "I don't mind," he said, once Jess had left. "Good food is good." He'd only been making conversation, really.

Speaking of which, as soon as Jess had disappeared, the weird tension had flooded over them again and Seamus didn't know what to say. Well, that wasn't quite true. He was pretty sure he should say something about how he'd meet Ophelia soon - but he didn't want to. Again, there was that difference between 'should' and reality.

Jess returned before Seamus could think of anything sensible to say, and he sprang up, clapping his hands and forcing a bright smile. "Come on, then. If I stare at those cupcakes any longer I'm going to turn into one. Let's get going."

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artistdean
2014-11-04 10:32 pm UTC (link)

Dean stood awkwardly waiting for Jess to return. He was half tempted to make himself coffee just so he had something to do. Given that they were likely to be leaving in about three minutes it seemed like a stupid thing to do. He couldn't quite think of anything else to say.

Thankfully Jess returned quickly and he managed to smile brightly at her and re-zip his jacket, push off the counter and move towards the door.

"C'mon, sis, show us this place and tell us about whatever you were doing last night that left you like a troll with a sore head," he said, feeling slightly fake still.

Jess lead them back down the stairs and then squinted, looking between the pair of them with calculation. "The college had a thing, I drank a couple too many and got to bed at three, not that you actually care that much. You're deflecting. The pair of you. You need to kiss and make up," she said, giving them both significant looks. "Not actually kiss, because I am well aware of that particular argument thanks, but my point stands. You're being weird. Both of you."

Dean groaned and followed as Jess strode off quickly towards wherever it was she'd booked a table at. He shot Seamus an apologetic look, wondering if they could paper over the cracks at least long enough to fool Jess, since he had a feeling this wasn't really the time to make real progress with whatever it was they were trying to do to each other. "Jess," he said, feeling and sounding slightly like a whining child.

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openbottle
2014-11-06 02:11 pm UTC (link)

Given the wording of Jess's demand, there seemed only one reasonable thing to do - kiss Dean. Normally, Seamus wouldn't have minded, it wouldn't have been the first time, but something about being in public, in an unfamiliar place made it seem a way bigger deal. Still, Seamus forced himself to smile through the weird tense feeling that had settled in his stomach. Once they reached their destination, Seamus wrapped an arm around Dean's waist and reached up on tiptoe to plant a loud, obvious kiss on his cheek.

"Tell your sister that there's nothing wrong, would you?" he teased as he pulled away, hands restlessly smoothing down his t-shirt. He could feel his cheeks heating up, certain that anyone who'd spotted them through the window would now be convinced they were together. But why should it matter? They didn't know anyone here, it wasn't as if word would get back to Ophelia... Once again, the thought of her twisted something in Seamus' gut. He'd always resented having to keep his distance from Dean to avoid scaring off his partners. He reminded himself that he was only being so weird because he felt like he was missing out - on having someone in his life. Justin was all well and good, but it wasn't the same.

He met Jess' eyes, giving her a defiant tilt of his head and a smile. "'The college had a thing'?" he asked. "Come on, give us the gossip! I promise to hold him back if he tries to come over all brotherly." He jerked a thumb at Dean over his shoulder and once again attempted his puppy-dog eyes on Jess. He supposed he should be glad it wasn't working - Jess' brief period of wanting to do anything in her power to please him had been weird.

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artistdean
2014-11-06 04:14 pm UTC (link)

Dean wasn't exactly expecting the kiss when it came, even though he probably should have been. The little swoop somewhere in the region of his stomach made him swallow and immediately set about ignoring, even as a little smile tugged at his lips.

"Oh come on you massive pair of berks," Jess said, clearly amused and used to their antics.

"We're fine, Jess," he said obediently. He didn't quite feel it yet, but they were at least making enough of a show of it to get through lunch with his sister.

"Table for three under Thomas?" she asked man who had come up to seat them. He was a shortish man with red hair, and around Jess' age. He was almost certainly a student working to get some more money. He consulted a book and nodded, leading them to a table set for three.

"Could I get you drinks, or would you like some time to decide?" he asked, setting menus before them.

Dean glanced at the other two and shrugged, sliding into the seat that was effectively in a slight corner by a pillar or column of some sort supporting the wall it was protruding from, protecting his back from surprises. "I'll take a large lemonade please, no ice."

"Small glass of house white for me," Jess added, settling opposite her brother with a smile for their waiter.

After Seamus had given his choice and the waiter had bustled off Jess grinned. "Okay, I shall satisfy your need for gossip. There was a party. My college is famous for its parties. They turn most of the public areas into a massive club. Couple of my friends from lab came too and we did a few shots, danced a bit, well a lot really. I didn't meet anybody," she said shooting a look at Dean that made him wince and try to look calm. "Well, there was this guy who tried to dance with me, but he stopped pretty quickly when I called him out. Told him to smeg off."

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