InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Tweak says!"

Susan Amelia Bones (susanamybones) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-08-19 11:16:00

Entry tags:

character: ernie macmillan, character: susan bones, status: complete

Lunch and gossip
Who: Susan and Ernie, open

What: Lunch

Where: Starting out at St Mungo's, eventually Finnigan's, the common room

When: Tuesday, early afternoon

Rating: SFW

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After a tedious morning spent at her desk filling out paperwork and using the words 'parallel' and 'gazelle' so many times that they ceased to have any meaning to her, Susan had had enough. She was hungry, and in dire need of a pick me up, and knew exactly the person she needed to see. Shrugging on her coat, she strolled down to the atrium, and with a furtive look around her, took the floo to St Mungo's.

The hospital was bedlam, as per usual. However, with a shameless flash of her credentials she passed the lines and headed up to the Janus Thickey Ward on the fourth floor. When she got there, she found Ernie industriously scribbling in a patient's notes. "Hey stranger," she said with a smile as he looked up at her in surprise. "I thought I'd drag you away and buy you some lunch, interested?"

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erniedtmac
2014-08-24 02:48 pm UTC (link)

"Oh?" He couldn't help adding a little waggle to his eyebrows. "Watching your back or more. And here I thought we were going to find you a fit quidditch player when all along you had designs on a new partner at work." He grinned to let her know he was kidding, then smiled up at the server as their meals arrived.

"But seriously," he said after his first bite of stew, "I know how much you love your work, and how good you are at it. They couldn't choose a better person. As long as you keep coming home to us, then I'm behind you 100%. So other than a partner, what else will the position mean for you? Better pay? Better or worse hours? Any changes I should know about?"

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susanamybones
2014-08-24 03:56 pm UTC (link)

Susan laughed, pausing the conversation as the waiter brought them their food. "I was only joking - well, half joking. I actually don't know who I'm getting partnered with, they haven't told me yet, so I could want them to watch my back or more, but for now I would still like a nice bloke and a good shag."

She reached across and patted his hand warmly. "I'll definitely keep coming home, so far as I can possibly make it," she said with a hint of steel in her voice. "But the new job means more field work and less paperwork, as well as more 'operational control and discretion'," she added, taking a bite of her burger - which was very good.

"So do you have any news for me, dear? Reconnected with anyone lately? Anyone you hadn't seen in a while?"

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erniedtmac
2014-08-24 04:10 pm UTC (link)

He nodded - he would definitely keep his eyes out for someone she'd like, and more importantly, would be worthy of her. "More control and less paperwork is always good. That's one of the things I hate most about being in a long-term ward - I think we've got the most paperwork of all."

He paused as he was about to take a bite. Okay, now that sounded rather specific. "Not particularly, but you sound like you've something on your mind. Come on, out with it. It's not like you beat around the bush with me. I'm a big boy, I can take it," he added with a wink.

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susanamybones
2014-08-24 04:35 pm UTC (link)

She watched the cogs begin to whir behind Ernie's eyes, as he began to think through possible people to set her up with. Unlike some of her other friends, Ernie's taste was usually excellent, and she'd gotten more than one good shag out of the blind dates he'd set her up on over the years. "I can only imagine how much paperwork they must saddle the healers with in your ward," she said with vast distaste.

She smiled at him in much the same way as a pregnant woman guarding the sex of her unborn child. "Huh," she said after a moment. "It's really nothing. I saw you chatting to whats his name, Nott? Last night? Any uh, bush beating going on there?"

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erniedtmac
2014-08-24 05:35 pm UTC (link)

Oh, Ernie should have known better - beware when Susan smiled in that special way of hers because it meant danger. The moment she mentioned Theodore, his face flushed bright red. He looked around, making sure there wasn't anybody close enough to hear as he pushed a stray lock of blond hair behind his ear. Anyone who knew Ernie would know this wasn't quite a typical reaction for him.

"So, you saw that. He's cute, yeah, but... it's complicated."

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susanamybones
2014-08-25 09:33 am UTC (link)

Susan grinned impishly at her friend, watching him flush red and fiddle nervously with his hair as though the object of his crush could miraculously see him. Nothing worked quite as well at distracting Ernie as a crush. It'd always been like this at school, from the moment she'd cottoned onto the fact that they walked past the older Quidditch players in the courtyards three, four, or even five times more than was necessary.

"Relax, darling! I just thought I'd ask what was going on. I definitely wouldn't dream of interfering," she paused as he snorted. "Without At least some sort of indication that interference would be welcomed."

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erniedtmac
2014-08-25 04:15 pm UTC (link)

Unbeknownst to Susan, his 'crush' wasn't the only reason why he was self-conscious about who was listening. He was glad, however, that he had her to talk to about it all.

"No, it's fine, it's just that as I said, it's complicated. As in I don't just know him from Hogwarts, but from work." His look spoke volumes. "And I don't think he remembers much of it, which isn't unusual but it does make it harder to figure out where my ethical boundaries are."

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susanamybones
2014-08-25 04:59 pm UTC (link)

She felt her eyebrows lift heavenward in surprise. "Oh wow Ern, I had no idea. I'll definitely leave well enough alone though," she said, giving him a thoughtful look. "In terms of ethics though, as long as you don't force anything on him, I don't see that your actions could be construed as untoward. It's not like you're ah, working with him now." She paused to push away her empty plate. "Besides, you're already miles ahead in that regard. I know enough a couple of people who have at least tried to show their appreciation to their healers quite explicitly."

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erniedtmac
2014-08-25 07:12 pm UTC (link)

He nodded, knowing how true it was that some people developed infatuations with their healers, and sometimes vice-versa. "What's in my favour is that I was only a trainee at the time and was never his healer in any way. It's more that I know about his time there and he doesn't seem to remember, and he's probably perfectly happy not remembering because, well, I can't talk about some of the stuff that went on but it wasn't very pleasant. And, well, you know how I am and how I want to just heal everybody. Am I someone's friend or their healer? What if I can't tell where the line is?"

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susanamybones
2014-08-26 04:26 am UTC (link)

She nodded sagely - the war had been a terrible thing, and few had escaped it unscathed. While she didn't really remember Nott, she thought of her father, and the various colleagues she knew who'd spent time in Ernie's ward, and felt a swell of camaraderie for the man. "It's probably best," she murmured after a moment. "To let sleeping dragons lie in that regard I think? If he doesn't bring it up, then don't worry about it." She smiled at the slightly stricken look on Ernie's face, and patted his arm affectionately. "You can be both, dear. Sometimes to heal you need to be a friend, and sometimes a friend needs to be a healer. You shouldn't worry yourself about it, you are who you are."

She pulled out her watch and grimaced. "And what we are, is about to be late to head back for work."

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	erniedtmac 2014-08-26 04:31 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh shite," he muttered, then immediately broke out his change purse and took out several galleons, more than enough to cover both meals and a tip for the server. "You give great advice, as always," he said, rising up from his seat and reaching out for a hug and a kiss to her cheek. "I'll see you Sunday for Dean's party." (Reply to this) (Parent)

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