Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Lifes a stage and you're crap."

Username: 
Password:    
Remember Me
  • Create Account
  • IJ Login
  • OpenID Login
Search by : 
  • View
    • Create Account
    • IJ Login
    • OpenID Login
  • Journal
    • Post
    • Edit Entries
    • Customize Journal
    • Comment Settings
    • Recent Comments
    • Manage Tags
  • Account
    • Manage Account
    • Viewing Options
    • Manage Profile
    • Manage Notifications
    • Manage Pictures
    • Manage Schools
    • Account Status
  • Friends
    • Edit Friends
    • Edit Custom Groups
    • Friends Filter
    • Nudge Friends
    • Invite
    • Create RSS Feed
  • Asylums
    • Post
    • Asylum Invitations
    • Manage Asylums
    • Create Asylum
  • Site
    • Support
    • Upgrade Account
    • FAQs
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Interest
    • Search Randomly

Hyperion Montgomery ([info]adaurorble) wrote in [info]finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-11-16 20:39:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:character: hyperion montgomery, character: zacharias smith

RP: A Cute Meet
Who: Hyperion and Zacharias

What: That one where they meet in a Muggle bookshop

Where: Foyle's Bookshop, Charing Cross Road, Camden

When: Sunday 16th of November, 12 pm

Rating: SFW

Hyperion entered the bookstore with something akin to a sigh of relief. He'd been wandering around Soho for several hours shopping and practicing his ability to blend as a Muggle, so the quietness of the bookshop was a welcome reprieve from the madness outside.

He looked around the slightly cluttered store and then headed for the fiction section. Frowning for himself, he began to follow the alphabetically organised section along, looking for a book one of his colleagues had mentioned to him during the week. Finally, he spotted a copy of Andrea Levy's Small Island and reached out for it, accidentally brushing up against someone as he did so. "Oh, sorry," he said with an apologetic smile. "I didn't see you there."


(Post a new comment)


[info]unspeakableness
2014-11-17 02:28 am UTC (link)
Good, thought Zacharias as he said, "Oh, that's alright." He had been going for mostly unnoticeable and unnoteable when he'd dressed in Muggle clothing that morning -- simple blue jeans, dark blue jumper, and a (currently unbuttoned) black peacoat. Although he'd worn more Muggle clothing since leaving home, he still didn't wear them often enough to feel comfortable wearing them. He always wondered about making a Muggle fashion faux pas and being found out, in some form, as someone who didn't belong. Of course, he reasoned this man could have not noticed him simply because he was too lost in his own thought, which, to be fair, had been why Zacharias hadn't noticed another body with another hand reaching for a book on the same shelf.

"I should have been paying more attention," he added by way of apology, and he silently chided himself for that as he took a step back to give the man more personal space. But he'd gotten lost in trying to find a book or two to read, in that grim determination to not leave the Muggle bookstore empty handed. It was stupid since he didn't necessarily need more books, but then... part of him did. If for no other reason than because he needed something to occupy his mind during his lunch hour. "But, please," he said, waving toward the bookshelf to indicate that he'd wait his turn to while the other returned to reaching for his book.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]adaurorble
2014-11-18 03:44 am UTC (link)
Hyperion smiled politely at the vaguely familiar man, while internally racking his brains to try and work out who he was. He was dressed in perfectly acceptable Muggle clothing, but there was something about him that seemed out of place. After a few seconds, a hazy recollection of the man hurrying through the Atrium in a full set of Wizard's robes surfaced, and Hyperion's grinned widened. "No really, I'm very sorry," he said with a short bow. "I don't tend to be so utterly unobservant."

He quirked an eyebrow, a smirking grin still evident on his face. "Maybe we both should have been paying more attention then," he queried, taking a moment to take the man in and finding him to be quite attractive. "I know what it's like when you're on the hunt for a good book," he added, reaching up and taking down two copies of the book, and offering one to the man. "Plus Muggle stories are always better I find," he added casually, aware that the word 'Muggle' would only earn him a confused look if he was wrong about the man's identity.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]unspeakableness
2014-11-18 04:35 am UTC (link)
Zacharias took the offered book, quirking his brows at both the gesture and the use of the word Muggle. He had to briefly wonder what the odds were of running into another wizard in a Muggle bookstore. He supposed, though, it couldn't have been that slim, right? Loads of wizards and witches lived in London, and it was a large city. Still, this was the first time it had happened to Zacharias to his knowledge, and he'd been in London for several years now. He looked down at the book, turning it over to quickly read the synopsis on the back.

"I think a lot of them have a wider imagination," he said, voice a little quieter in case someone were listening in. No sense having strangers ask them what they meant by Muggles, after all. "Probably comes from generally not experiencing the wizarding world. Not that I'm dismissing wizarding authors. They just..." He looked back up at the man. "There's more of a limit at times, as if knowing that magic exists, knowing the rules of it somehow unintentionally limits the possibilities in stories. And not just magic but the general extraordinary possibilities that can happen, even in an ordinary, non-magical life. It's--" He shook his head a little, realising he both didn't entirely know how to explain himself and was at the risk of rambling on to a perfect stranger.

"Sorry," he said, blushing slightly. "And thank you," he added, raising the book up. "I think I might get this book." Not that this man cared, but he still thought it proper to say something.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]adaurorble
2014-11-18 04:08 pm UTC (link)
Hyperion's smile grew wider - he'd guessed right, this man was a wizard. Looking at him, Hyperion felt the tinglings of a short, occupational name. Miller or Smith or something similar. "I think so too," he agreed with a thoughtful nod. "Plus I think the Muggle concept of magic is such an important trope to the imagination - children are raised on folk stories by the Brother's Grimm which all invariably have twisted recollections of events before the International Statute of Secrecy was introduced, and it sort of creates a different sort of imagination I think?" He chuckled quietly and nodded. "I like wizarding authors too - I mean The Phoenix and the Auger* is one of my favourite books, but there's something I really enjoy about reading Muggle prose..." He tilted his head and listened earnestly, smiling as the other man trailed off. "I know exactly what you mean, accepting the improbable is a way of life for us because the improbable isn't all that impossible in the end."

"Oh no need to apologise," he replied, his brogue breaking through even stronger than usual for a moment as he pasted on a particularly charming smile. "Apparently it's a fantastic book, the lasses at my book club all recommended it to me, said it was brilliant." He frowned for a moment as he suddenly felt the uncomfortable chill of his past maternal disapproval settle over him. He'd made some sort of social faux pas but he couldn't quite place what it was. "Oh," he said, slightly louder than he intended. "I'm such an idiot! Hyperion Montgomery at your service. I believe we work together, sort of," he said, poking his free hand out for a handshake.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]unspeakableness
2014-11-18 11:45 pm UTC (link)
Quietly, politely, Zacharias listened. He nodded a bit, showing interest because it was interesting what the other was saying. But, in a way, that was the problem. What was he supposed to say in response? He wasn't all that interesting, and what he had to say wasn't, either. The only good things about that was that he knew it already, so he didn't show it on his face, and he also didn't spend the whole time trying to think up some witty, hyper-intelligent thing to say instead of listening to the other man speak. True, he didn't know what to say, but he at least had been listening and watching just in case his brain made some great leap that would allow him to add to the conversation.

For a brief second, Zacharias wondered if the frown was due to something he did or didn't do, like not interrupting and talking over him. But no, it had to do with social expectations, though he wasn't entirely sure if they were in demand at that moment. After all, they'd accidentally bumped into each other, not met with some intention to the meeting. He extended his hand and clasped the one before him, giving a firm squeeze. "You're not an idiot, and I'm Zacharias Smith," he said, giving him a small but friendly smile, quickly running his name through his brain in an attempt to place it with a face. "I think I've seen you, though it is nice to properly make your acquaintance, Hyperion. If you don't mind, what book is your book club currently reading, if there is a current book," he asked, thinking it was probably not to talk about his place of work in a Muggle store just in case while also being interested to know more about Hyperion's book club.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]adaurorble
2014-11-20 05:51 pm UTC (link)
Hyperion found himself wincing with the fact that the other man didn't respond to his ramblings - which, obviously he knew he was rambling but he just couldn't seem to be able to stop it. That said, there was at least some nodding so it was possible that Hyperion wasn't coming across as idiotic as he feared he was.

"Ah, you say that now, just wait 'til you know me," Hyperion replied with a cheeky grin, appreciating the firm grasp and the small smile the other man - Zacharias - was giving him. He let his hand drop, possibly a moment too late, but he hoped that nothing would be read into it. "Aye, I think I've seen you as well. I have a recollection of you being called Smith at some sort of meeting." He lifted his eyebrows and scratched his chin with interest, "Currently the book club is reading 1984 by George Orwell," he replied with a nod. "We meet at the London Library, there's me and one other, person of a similar background shall we say, and then nine muggles. Excellent way to read good books and keep in shape."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]unspeakableness
2014-11-21 05:55 am UTC (link)
Zacharias's eyebrows rose a bit, idly wondering what meeting he might have been at that Hyperion had also attended, or if he'd come up at a meeting in which he wasn't in attendance. That worried him, just a bit, at what that could mean. If he'd been brought up at a meeting but wasn't there, did that mean he'd done something wrong? Had someone complained about him? He couldn't recall messing up enough at work to warrant any complaints or disciplinary actions. The most he'd had was his supervisor being a supervisor, and he hadn't reacted poorly to being steered in one direction or another. So why would his name come up? He decided not to ask and to let it go instead. For now.

"I've not heard of that one," he said. But at least this time, he knew what to say and that it likely wouldn't make him look as stupid as he often felt. "What's it about?" Maybe he would investigate it later, see if it caught his attention. "And that's really cool," was that the right word? He wasn't sure, "about the book club." He gave Hyperion another little smile, not at all sure if cool was the right word, though he did find the information interesting. But he knew, from experience, that often times people mistook interesting for boring and bored and not really all that interesting at all.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]adaurorble
2014-11-23 02:30 pm UTC (link)
Hyperion smiled at the momentary flicker of concern on the man's face. "Nothing bad," he added with a sly smile. "One of my colleagues is your head of department, and I remember her rather tartly informing my mother - that is, the head of my department - that 'Smith and Jones are more than capable of the job and they don't need swotty Aurors underfoot' or some such."

He smiled fondly, already liking Zacharias for his interest in books if nothing else. "1984's this amazing book by George Orwell, written in the early twentieth century," he said, still smiling. "It's about a lad called Winston Smith who works for the government, erasing events from the past in newspapers to make it match up with what the government wants now. But Winston hates the party and basically he tries to rebel. That's a really brief summary, as I wouldn't want to ruin the book for you." He smiled back and nodded, amused by the use of the word cool. "It is cool, you could always join if you'd like?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]unspeakableness
2014-11-23 04:54 pm UTC (link)
Although he couldn't figure out why the Department of Magical Law Enforcement would be nosing about the Department of Mysteries and its goings on -- especially as such things were generally kept a secret per the name of the department -- Zacharias decided not to ask about it. The head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement -- apparently Hyperion's mother. Huh -- didn't end up bothering him while he was working, nor did any Aurors, so he didn't see any point in pushing it. He might ask around the department tomorrow, though, to see if anyone else knew about this, and, if so, what. For now, he gave a slightly cynical smile and said, "Give it time. Something bad's sure to come up." Or at least something negative about him, if not because of his work then because of himself.

Another thing he refrained from saying was that Hyperion had already mentioned the author of the book when he told him the title. There was just no point in bringing it up, he thought for a second, listening to the description of the book. "That actually sounds like something our own government would do -- and probably has, in its own ways, done," he said. It'd only been about six years since the war itself, and almost ten years since Cedric Diggory had been murdered by You-Know-Who -- by Voldemort. Had he really been just fifteen when that happened? Was he really only twenty-five now? For some reason, both thoughts frightened him in a way he couldn't begin to understand, though he kept that fear and those thoughts burried well beneath his surface.

"Thank you for not ruining the book. There are loads of people who aren't as considerate." And he'd had his fair share of stories ruined because of them. He couldn't figure out how people didn't understand a request to not be spoiled about such things. If he wanted to know the ending going into the story, he'd have asked for it.

Zacharias took a moment to study Hyperion after his invitation. Was he mocking him with his amusement? Had he used the word cool wrong? He thought he had a nice smile, but was it a nice smile or a cruel smile? Was the invitation merely politeness or was it kindness? He wasn't used to being invited places, especially not so spontaneously and quickly after meeting someone. He wasn't so arrogant or paranoid as to think it was some nasty joke being played on him, but he was still wary. He couldn't help it. It was just... how he was. However, he nodded slowly, saying, "It could be fun, depending on when the club meets. After all, it wouldn't be fun if it met when I've normally got to be at work late or have a meeting or am otherwise occupied." He snapped his mouth shut, telling himself to stop rambling. It was unseemly, after all. "Just let me know when you're done with your current book and what the next one will be, so I don't come in in the middle of reading a book," he said, a small smile on his face at the thought of the possibilities of what a book club might read.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]adaurorble
2014-11-25 11:42 am UTC (link)
Hyperion chuckled slightly at that and shook his head. "I'm sure nothing bad will come up," he disgareed with a smile. "It's the Department of Mysteries afterall, so apart from my mother sticking her nose in things that aren't her ken, we are totally unaware of what goes on in there." He decided not to mention the various things that Harry had mentioned to him once, knowing that Unspeakables could be slightly finicky about their domain being invaded.

"Oh I can believe it," he replied with a sad shake of his head. "The entire year after Voldemort killed Cedric Diggory and returned the Ministry essentially pretended that nothing was wrong and leant on the Prophet to reflect that are a perfect example of Orwellian government. Still, hopefully things are improving, aye?"

Hyperion grinned and bowed his head slightly. "Don't worry, I understand the joy of reading a book without having it spoilt. I hate it when people do it to me, so I wouldn't do it to someone else." He shook his head with a sad sigh. "I have a friend who loves telling me the end of books, it makes me very sad, and her very sad when I get very sad. So really, best to avoid spoiling, aye?"

"It's very fun," Hyperion rumbled approvingly, unaware of the turmoil he'd caused in his companion. "Technically the book club was organised by the London Library, but as there's a fee for joining the library and some of our members can't afford it, we meet in a café in St James' or sometimes in one of our houses." He bit his lip thoughtfully for a moment and shrugged. "Well we tend to meet on a Saturday afternoon, so work doesn't pose a problem. Even workaholics like me can leave the office and socialise and discuss books and life for an afternoon."




(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]unspeakableness
2014-11-25 04:48 pm UTC (link)
His comment actually had nothing to do with the Department of Mysterious so much as himself. He figured it'd only be a matter of time before one person or another informed Hyperion of negative things about him, if not because of anything he did at work but because of himself as a person. Zacharias held no delusions about how he wasn't easy to get along with, that he could put his foot in his mouth and say rude or stupid things without thinking. It just wasn't worth mentioning. It wasn't like he had to show up at this book club. And even if he did, to be polite, he didn't have to continue going. They worked on entirely different levels of the Ministry, too, which meant he'd be easy to avoid if Hyperion were the type to question why he only showed up once, if at all.

The mention of Cedric's name out loud brought Zacharias out of his previous thoughts, and he looked down. He hadn't been especially close with Cedric, but he'd given him a chance. And he'd always been genuinely nice to him. Zacharias hadn't had a crush on him, not that he could tell, but he had admired Cedric, at least as much as he could admire anyone at that time. And he'd let... he'd let down some of his defences around him, let himself actually think there were truly decent, truly good people in the world. He didn't know if those people still existed.

He looked back up and said, "I'm just a low-level employee in a department that doesn't deal directly with the rest of the Ministry and its goings on so far as actual governing goes. I don't really know one way or another about if it's improving or not." He gave a smile, kind of playful in a sarcastic sort of way, pushing away his bad thoughts. He decided not to bother discussing it further. There was no point, in his mind. Instead, he focused back on the book club.

"I understand it, but it always bothers me when libraries charge fees for joining. If I'm to buy the luxury of reading books in my own home, I'd rather buy the books myself. At least that way, there are no late fees." Another joke. He was either on a roll or in a particularly bad mood. He wasn't sure which, and he didn't want to know. He had a pick up game of Quidditch later, and he didn't want it to negatively impact his playing, even if he hadn't explicitly stated he wanted to play initially. "But the book club," he continued, "sounds like a good way for people to participate without having to pay an absurd fee. Just, well, yes, please let me know the details of when you pick a new book and a meeting date, time, and location, and I'll see about coming." He gave another little smile, then shook his head quickly.

"I didn't mean that to sound rude or demanding," he added, an apology to his tone. "I just... well, I don't want to be spoiled when you all discuss the current book, and the rest is always helpful to know where and when to go and what to bring..." He trailed off, a hint of pink tinting his pale cheeks, his blue eyes dropping to glance at the bookcase next to him, scanning the titles without really registering any of them.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]adaurorble
2014-11-28 04:22 pm UTC (link)
"And I'm just an Auror and newly appointed Wizengamot member, but I think you underestimate yourself. You have eyes, and ears, it doesn't take much to form an opinion wouldn't you say?"

He nodded and smiled. "At least with the London Library you never get late fees, I will give it that; plus it provides an excellent cover when I need it. But yes, I see your point," he said, the ghost of a smile still touching his lips. "I have to say, if you're getting late fees for books you've bought it might be time to change where you buy your books." He scratched his chin thoughtfully for several moments. "I could send you an IDM* if you like?"

He lifted his hands in mollifying manner and smiled reassuringly. "You weren't, it's fine lad," he said, feeling his stomach drop pleasantly at the way Zacharias flushed and looked away. "We all take our duties as vanguards against spoiling very seriously."

*Inter-Departmental Memo

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]unspeakableness
2014-12-02 12:30 am UTC (link)
He'd thought he was being friendly, but he couldn't tell from Hyperion's response. His attempts at jokes really were pathetic and unfunny. So much for that type of social interaction with others. He pushed all of that, and Hyperion's comment about him having the ability to form an opinion, out of his mind. There was no point noting that of the two of them, Hyperion was not just anything. People respected Aurors, and the Wizengamot made actual decisions, whether or not they were respected. Unspeeakables were just... strange. And daft. And several other things he'd heard whispered before that he didn't want to remember.

"I think a memo would work well," Zacharias said with a nod. "Thank you." He gave him a small smile of gratitude, aware in the back of his mind that he didn't know what else to talk about. He wasn't made for small talk. He wasn't born with that skill, and he hadn't been taught it, either. Maybe at some point his father had plans to transition him from seen and not heard to someone who could easily hold his own in a conversation, but, if so, he hadn't done so yet.

Although he hadn't been taught the finer points of conversation, Zacharias had learned that it was better to not hog the conversation. So he said, "When it isn't for book clubs, what sort of books do you enjoy reading?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]adaurorble
2014-12-05 01:14 pm UTC (link)
Hyperion felt his smile falter when the other man didn't reply, he'd meant it as a compliment, but it was clear that he'd been misunderstood. He was always being misconstrued - possibly because of his accent. With a shift of his shoulders he pasted the smile back on and vowed to try and do better.

"You're welcome," he replied with a roguish grin. It was becoming apparent that Zacharias was less than adept at the art of making conversation - whereas Hyperion had been trained from birth to do so, and he shifted into that role without a second thought. "So is it presumptuous to ask where you're from originally, I find English accents interesting."

Hyperion grinned at the question. "Oddly I have a really eclectic taste in books actually. I really love Muggle science-fiction and fantasy, but I also love their spy and action books too. How about yourself?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]unspeakableness
2014-12-09 07:11 am UTC (link)
Was it presumptuous to ask? Zacharias wasn't entirely certain one way or another. He supposed it could be, given they weren't having a conversation that Zacharias thought called for such information, but he could be wrong. He was wrong a lot, after all. But regardless, that didn't mean he had to divulge the exact location of the house he'd grown up in, especially since he couldn't tell if Hyperion meant interesting to mean interesting or if he meant interesting in a less than sincere way.

"West Country," he replied with a bit of a shrug. He actually grew up outside of any towns or villages, but Hyperion didn't need to know that. The general region was hopefully enough to satiate his potential curiosity. And if it weren't, well, Zacharias would leave and wonder if he were actually being investigated by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for some reason.

He nodded as Hyperion mentioned a few genres, glancing down at the book in his hands when he was asked about his own preferences. He passed the book back and forth a little, giving another shrug. "I've not read a lot of them, but I've liked some fantasy and science-fiction books." Even if he still wasn't sure about the details of what science was. "Read some contemporary? I think that's what it's called. And some horror." He thought for him at least that it was more about finding books that fell into genres than hunting out genres and picking books from within them. He'd always been that way with his reading material, though he decided it wasn't worth mentioning. "I tried to read some of those classical books, but I got bored." That, though, he admitted, reasoning it wasn't that embarrassing. They were boring.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]adaurorble
2014-12-17 01:42 pm UTC (link)
"Interesting," Hyperion replied with an amused quirk of his lips. "You don't have that particularly country bumpkin sound about you, so I'm guessing you're from the nice part of the West Country then. I'm from An t-Eilean Sgitheanach - the Isle of Skye - in the Scottish Highlands." He tilted his head and grinned again. "Although my accent does quite give that away, aye?"

"Ahh fair enough then," he said with a wise nod. He'd found that many purebloods had not been exposed to Muggle writings until at least Hogwarts - when even the most radical and restrictive of parents were no longer able to police the reading materials of their progeny with any real vigilance. "I agree that science fiction and fantasy and modern literature are all great genres, though I must confess I don't mind some of the classics. 1984 being an obvious one. Fair call to you though for being upfront about it, far too many pretend they like certain genres to impress."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]unspeakableness
2014-12-18 03:26 pm UTC (link)
Zacharias couldn't completely tell how Hyperion meant interesting. Was it meant as a polite dismissal or actual interest? He didn't know, especially with the comment about how he didn't sound like a country bumpkin. But he didn't feel he needed to explain that his parents had ensured both he and his sister had had several tutors that had at least influenced him to one extent or another, or any other reason why he might not sound like a 'country bumpkin.' And it wasn't like he was going to make a comment about how Hyperion did sound like a heathen or something. He just nodded and said, "I had thought I detected a hint of a Scottish brogue to some of your words and sentences," his tone light. He gave a small smile to add to the tone to show he wasn't trying to be rude or insulting.

"If you don't like something, it'll eventually show itself, especially when you're trying to impress someone," he said with a shrug. For the most part, Zacharias was not a man who tried to impress anyone. And if he were, it was often for the sake of his work, and then he usually stuck to letting his work speak for itself. After all, if his work didn't impress the way it was meant to, it might mean his job. But other things? No. He didn't really aim to impress with other things. "Although I'm told it's generally acceptable to pretend to enjoy presents from family even when you dislike the present or family member, such as an ugly jumper from a grandmum or great aunt who thinks, for some reason, that everyone looks good in chartreuse." Thankfully that had never happened to him, but he had taken a bit of pleasure in watching it happen to his sister once.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Home | Site Map | Manage Account | TOS | Privacy | Support | FAQs