InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I am the Duck of Doom!"

Seamus Finnigan (openbottle) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-08-18 17:13:00

Entry tags:

character: adrian pucey, character: blaise zabini, character: cho chang, character: ernie macmillan, character: melinda bobbin, character: seamus finnigan, character: susan bones, character: theodore nott, status: complete

Log: Free Drinks!
Who: Open to all
What: Drinking, questions about the journals, free drinks.
Where: Finnigan's, the common room
When: Monday evening (after Gobstones)
Rating: SFW

OOC: Feel free to start your own threads below.

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Re: Ernie and Theo

erniedtmac
2014-08-20 09:56 am UTC (link)

There was a thrill of victory when the smile was back on his companion's face, and Ernie thought that looking silly was a small price to pay for such a sight.

"Well, I happen to be a very dashing bloke, don't you know," he replied with a touch of arrogance and even a little flirtatiousness. "But look at me, making everything about me and my fabulous looks. You were going to tell me about your day?"

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Re: Ernie and Theo

nottfinished
2014-08-20 12:29 pm UTC (link)

Theo raised an eyebrow skeptically but nodded, playing along. He was still about as relaxed as a longtailed cat in a rocking chair factory but he was actually having a not-bad time while being sociable for a change. He'd have a better time with being so if all interactions went as smoothly as this one, but they rarely were.

He shrugged as the topic was brought back around, as though the reason hadn't ruined his entire day, and turned his whiskey glass around as he spoke. "I work at the Menagerie." he explained. "And when I came this in morning a littler of our intelligent rats had died." And he put the blame entirely and squarely on himself. He was the animal caretaker, he should have looked after them. "Thing is, they're intelligent, you know, so the parents know what happened. So they were grieving." You couldn't really put it any other way. "I suspect they'll follow - they don't tend to do well after losing a whole litter in one go."

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Re: Ernie and Theo

erniedtmac
2014-08-20 05:05 pm UTC (link)

Ernie's face fell immediately, his eyes turning sad and his heart breaking for the bloke next to him. "Oh, Merlin, I'm so sorry. I've a rat at home myself and if anything happened to him, I'd be downing firewhiskeys like nobody's business. No wonder you're upset. Here, let me get you another drink, you look like you need it."

He tried to wave Seamus over to get another drink for his companion. "Did you want to talk about it? I'm a pretty good listener. Or are you the kind who'd rather just get his mind off of it all? I can help with that too."

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Re: Ernie and Theo

nottfinished
2014-08-20 08:16 pm UTC (link)

Ernie's sincere and deep sympathy was unexpected and Theo wasn't sure it was genuine for a moment. He chewed at his lip a little fretfully for a second before his new friend began making gestures towards getting him another drink.

"I'm okay for a drink, thank you." he said, concerned that Seamus would waste time getting him a drink that wasn't wanted, and that Ernie would spend money on a drink he wouldn't imbibe. "I'm not drinking this one anyway." he tilted his head at his new friend consideringly. "That's very kind of you." he said, but it sounded like he was suspicious as to motive. "And, I'm sorry, but something about you... have we met before?" Of course it could just be from Hogwarts, if this guy had gone, but then a lot of those memories were burned out of his head by now.

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Re: Ernie and Theo

erniedtmac
2014-08-21 12:32 am UTC (link)

Ernie nodded and ceased his waving - Seamus hadn't spotted him anyway as he'd been with another customer.

He heard the suspicion in the other man's voice and couldn't help but wonder what would be suspicious about being kind to someone. Kindness was a part of Ernie's everyday life, but then not everyone's lives had gone the way Ernie's had.

He didn't want to remind the other bloke of Janus Thickey if he didn't remember himself, but he couldn't lie - literally, he was the worst liar he knew. "Well, you look around my age - maybe we met at school. I started in '91, Hufflepuff. I'm also a mediwizard at St. Mungo's in the Janus Thickey ward, so people sometimes remember me from the hospital if they've been to visit someone." Or as a patient.

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Re: Ernie and Theo

nottfinished
2014-08-21 03:30 pm UTC (link)

Theo had hoped he could understand Ernie's motives for being so kind by remembering why it was that his face was so familiar; he didn't think anyone owed him, trying to be neither borrower nor lender as the saying went, but it was possible that Ernie wanted something from him. Possible, but then Theo didn't think that was the case. Something about the blond made him feel at ease in a way he never was around, well, anybody. Or maybe not at ease, but something, some kind of reassured and it was driving him crazy (ha!) trying to find why.

He tilted his head the other way like a curious owl, because yeah, maybe he did know him from Hogwarts then, although Theo hadn't really hung out with anybody. Slytherins, the odd Ravenclaw, if that, but then his memory was so shot it wouldn't have surprised him.

Ernie's revelation, small though it was, had Theo going pale and actually lifting the tumbler to take a drink and steady his nerves. The thoughts that ran through his head were all paranoid; was the stranger here to take him back, was he here for revenge or worse, was he actually still in that small room restrained and drugged and made wandless for his own safety.

In the end, it was the fact that the blond hadn't made his already unsteady pulse trip further from the first sight of him, and the stranger's kindness that helped Theo somehow rein his paranoia back in. "Oh, right, yeah maybe. I think we were in the same year at Hogwarts but I was in Slytherin." He tried to talk to drown out the memories that were poking into the forefront like an inquisitive kitten, batting thoughts of having teeth broken to get food into him away far harder than he would have batted any animal. Hopefully his talking would cleverly throw his new friend off the scent of his incarceration there as well? Well, he could hope. "I'm Theodore." he introduced, realising he hadn't and not given a surname.

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Re: Ernie and Theo

erniedtmac
2014-08-21 07:16 pm UTC (link)

Hadn't Ernie's companion said he wasn't drinking his drink? But the next thing he knew, the bloke as taking a sip, coincidentally after Ernie had told him where he worked. He felt bad, but he knew he couldn't control other people's reactions.

He tried to be empathetic and understand what the other man might be thinking and feeling, and when he brought it back to Hogwarts, Ernie went along with it rather than pushing. "Hey Theodore, I'm Ernie. If you took NEWT-level potions, then you probably remember me from there - I was the only Hufflepuff of my year at that level."

He didn't want to leave it there as he liked making new friends, and his heart already went out to Theodore and how he must have felt after the rats had died. He didn't want to ask him about work as it would just bring it back to either dead animals or Janus Thickey. A change of topic could be useful around now.

"I think I've seen you here at Finnigan's too, right? It's a brilliant place with lots of groups and activities. Are you taking part in any of them?"

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Re: Ernie and Theo

nottfinished
2014-08-21 09:05 pm UTC (link)

Ernie? The name was familiar in the same way that the boy's face was, a ghost on the tip of his brain haunting some forgotten corridor of his mangled mind. The most puzzling thing about the not-memories was the association of everything Ernie with nothing but safety, happiness, relief. He had no idea why but he trusted it and the smile crept back for that. "Yeah, probably. That was a hard NEWT, I don't know how much of those classes I remember that wasn't what we were studying."

He hid in his whiskey again, knowing he'd pay for this with a headache and nausea at the end of the day; his various meds and potions didn't play nice with alcohol which was why he never drank it. He nodded that he frequented the pub often and hey, maybe that was just why he recognised Ernie - he didn't think the answer was that easy though. "Yeah, it's... it filled a gap, I think." he agreed, casting a quick glance around the place that had really, when he thought about it, had done and was doing a lot for the disjointed, scarred and traumatised generation that had gone through the end of school and a battle for the Wizarding World. He tucked a curl of his hair back behind his ear, already flush-faced from the Firewhiskey. "I listen to the pub quiz, hang around watching the chess games sometimes. I like the 'leave a book take a book' and I, yeah." he ended that there. He always felt a little like he didn't have as much right to be here as the rest of them did, painted with his father's crimes. "Do you get involved in anything here?"

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Re: Ernie and Theo

erniedtmac
2014-08-22 02:12 am UTC (link)

The return of the smile had Ernie relaxing and smiling back. His day had always been made when he'd succeeded in putting a grin on someone's face. "I can only remember a little myself, mostly if any of it was healing-related. I've always had a one-track mind."

Ernie took another sip of his pina colada, nodding as he listened to Theodore talk about what he did at Finnigan's. "I try, when my schedule permits. I trade off with Alicia as stand-by healer when they're doing duelling upstairs, and I sit in on Battlescars when I'm not working. I like to watch the Open Stage too, but only watch. Though sometimes when they've got some good music on, I like to get up and dance."

In fact, there was some good music on at the moment, though Ernie was nowhere near ready to dance yet, especially after the night he'd had, which thanks to Theodore, he was quickly forgetting. He did, however, move a little in time to the music, the rhythm getting to him one way or the other. "So, which kind of books do you take? I'm into Muggle fantasy, myself."

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Re: Ernie and Theo

nottfinished
2014-08-22 02:11 pm UTC (link)

That comment simultaneously concerned and comforted Theo - if Ernie had a one track mind when it came to healing and hadn't readily recognised him that it could mean that they'd never crossed paths in the Janus Thickey ward. On the other hand, Ernie might just be sparing Theo's dignity and privacy for some reason, and the fact that he couldn't parse out the reasons why Ernie would do this either just served to make him more concerned.

Ernie seemed very involved in the goings-on at Finnigans, and he was a bit annoyed at himself for not recalling Ernie from Battlescars - that said, he was usually dispensing some concentration on not making himself too noticable, so there was a small reason for his slip in hypervigilance. He'd know better for next time now. He thought taking part in the duels would have been in poor taste being who he was, that and he wasn't convinced he'd be able to keep his mind in the here and now, too much possibility for getting trapped in a flashback in that scenario. He was far too much of a wallflower to dance at the Open Stage, but he'd listened in some nights when he happened to be there when something was on.

"Anything and everything really. I normally take whatever's first and see how it goes. I like the books on spell theory and herbology, but I like fiction too, though I don't read much Muggle fantasy." he was always worried he'd stumble over something about witch burning. That said... "I like, listen to Muggle composers though." he said, eyes back on his drink like he was doing something naughty in admitting so, although growing up with his father this would have been punishable by certain Unforgivable spells.

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Re: Ernie and Theo

erniedtmac
2014-08-22 02:51 pm UTC (link)

"I like that, opening yourself up to the universe and whatever it's going to give you today," Ernie said about Theodore's book-taking habits. "Sometimes I find when I'm too single-minded, I miss out on things outside of my mind - the exception, of course, being anything sweets-related. I have yet to meet a cake I haven't been willing to try. But with books, I'd love to explore a little more, I just don't have the time what with work and Finnigan's. But if there's anything in particular you'd like to recommend, I'd be glad to give it a try."

He noticed the way Theodore looked down after his admission and wasn't completely surprised as his companion had earlier said he'd been in Slytherin. Was probably a pureblood too, like Ernie, though while Ernie's father was a prat when it came to his liking blokes, at least he'd never shown any outward sign of disliking Muggleborns (and with Justin around, Ernie would have seen it eventually). "Musicians are brilliant no matter where they come from. I had a friend turn me on to Tchaikhovsky, which actually helped me when I was studying. Who do you like to listen to?"

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Re: Ernie and Theo

nottfinished
2014-08-22 06:40 pm UTC (link)

Theo chewed at a hangnail, something about the way Ernie described that making him feel a little uncomfortable, a little exposed; he laughed a little though as Ernie smoothly brought the conversation back down from any hot topics for him and back to something safe. He hated the fact that he had topics that were safe and weren't, but that was the whole reason why his therapist made him go out and do things like this - poke the sore ones and try and push through the ones that weren't so sore.

"I've got a couple I could send your way." he agreed.

He was pleased to discuss music, even though he felt like he was doing something illegal just doing so. His arrythmic heartbeat did a fluttering waltz at the thought of it and he slid his glass away from him so that he didn't make it worse. "I like Chopin." he said, contentment in his tone for once. "But I'll listen to most anyone, I like Prokofiev, Schubert-" he shrugged. "Blues too sometimes. Who introduced you to classical?" he asked, curious.

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Re: Ernie and Theo

erniedtmac
2014-08-22 07:22 pm UTC (link)

Ernie could see the other bloke was still a little uncomfortable, but he was trying to keep up the conversation and didn't appear to be ready to take flight. Maybe he wasn't used to talking to strangers. Maybe he thinks I'm cute? Ernie tried to shut up his inner romantic, but he couldn't help observing that Theodore was rather cute himself. Or maybe I've just been single way too long. "Thanks, I'm always looking for books to add to my list of things to read one day when I have time."

Theodore sounded happy when he talked about music, and it made Ernie smile. He'd heard of each composer, of course, and nodded as they were listed. "I've a Muggleborn friend who introduced me to all sorts of Muggle culture, music especially. Also, I took ballroom dancing when I was younger so I've heard all sorts of music to dance to. I'm more into Rock or Latin for that, but each style has a place, I think. What kind of blues do you like to listen to?"

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Re: Ernie and Theo

nottfinished
2014-08-22 10:23 pm UTC (link)

There was something about Ernie that attracted Theo, but he would never think about it that way. That sense of safety was more powerful to him than any physical attraction would be anyway and he couldn't even see that for what it was either. Realising that would likely have made him panic, and who knows what he would have done if he thought Ernie felt anything for him. There was only one destination at the end of that road as far as he knew and it was one that he didn't want to see ever again.

He was interested to hear about Ernie's dancing though, having been taught how to get by at formal events but not much else. He'd never liked it.

"I'm not sure. Delta blues. I think that's what the, I think that's what it's called." he stumbled over the words. "Did you like dancing? Do you do it still?"

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Re: Ernie and Theo

erniedtmac
2014-08-22 11:56 pm UTC (link)

Ernie nodded even though he didn't know enough about Blues music to know how Delta sounded. "Maybe we can convince Seamus to have a Blues night at Finnigan's, play a little of different kinds and listen with a drink in one hand and a cigar in the other. Not that I smoke, but it just sounds like something you do when listening to the Blues."

His face turned wistful as he thought on his dancing days. "I loved it, still do. My friends know to beware whenever dancing starts because I will drag them out. Most of them just like to bounce around, but I'd rather do a salsa or merengue, make the girls look gorgeous. Haven't met many blokes who would let me lead, though. Do you dance?"

He waved over someone from behind the bar and ordered another drink, and asked for a basket of chips to go along with it.

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Re: Ernie and Theo

nottfinished
2014-08-23 12:07 pm UTC (link)

Theo actually huffed a chuckle at the mention of sitting there with a cigar, but he turned his glass in thought. "I wouldn't want to monopolise a night. What happens if no one likes it and no one turns up and then Finnigan's takes a loss?" He was probably worrying over nothing, but he tended to do that.

It was nice to see Ernie reminisce over something that was clearly a happy memory for him and he smiled in response. He wasn't sure what Ernie meant about finding a bloke who'd let him lead, but he disregarded that in order to answer the question. "I was taught how but I've never really enjoyed it. I don't think I'd be as good as you sound though, it was just enough to get me by during social events." he shrugged.

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