InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "rehire gunn"

George Weasley (saintly_george) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-08-22 10:37:00

Entry tags:

character: alicia spinnet, character: george weasley

Who: George and Alicia
What: Shaking off the day
Where: Finnigan's Common Room
When: 6-ish
Rating: SFW [language, maybe? ]

It hadn't been the worst of days, but George was certainly having trouble finding the silver lining. Little blonde shop-girl quit on her second day after the Venomous Tentacula cutting behind the counter had pinched her backside. Screaming mother waving her bleeding child at him; the youngster had nicked Nosebleed Nougat and a No-Nose sweet, and had been hemorrhaging from his non-existent nose. At least nobody had left during the chaos without paying, which was something.

So now George sat, alone at a corner table, with a glass that was dangerously close to empty and a section of the paper to discourage idly chattering strangers. He gestured for a refill and started mentally filling in the crossword.

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_alicia_
2014-08-22 06:23 pm UTC (link)

As much as Alicia could complain about Quidditch players and their diva attitudes, she was thrilled to be back with the team during today’s session. Along with the other Healers, she watched as the players flew, making notes to see what to pay extra attention to, and afterwards the rundown of this year’s Arrows team. This was going to be a good season, at least she had good feeling about it; only one Beater had been replaced and of the very few injuries they had, a broken pinkie was the worst of it.

Afterwards she had stopped by the office, to Owl out the tickets she had gotten for tomorrow’s match, along with instructions for the two families on how best to get to the Pitch in Appleby. Glancing down the street, she paused for a moment. The twins wouldn’t be back from their trip to Nanna’s house until tomorrow, so maybe a drink or two wouldn’t hurt.

So, having made her mind up, Alicia went inside, and almost immediately spotted a very familiar crop of red hair in the corner. She stopped by the bar, and once she had her glass of red wine, she went to the corner and sidled up the table. “Excuse me, sir,” she said, “this seat taken?”

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	saintly_george 2014-08-22 08:59 pm UTC (link)
	George looked up, already preparing his "piss-off" face, but it was replaced by most of a smile when he saw who stood there and he pushed a chair out with his foot. "Only by you, miss..." He downed what was left of his drink and half-stood to give Al a swift peck on the cheek. "You're the most sane person I've seen today. Please say it's really you." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_alicia_
2014-08-22 09:10 pm UTC (link)

“Hey, babe,” Alicia murmured, returning George’s greeting, before she quickly reached up to brush the hint of lipstick she had left behind off.

“Pretty sure it’s really me,” she assured him with a warm smile. “At least the Pride’s accepted me for me today, so let’s go with that, yeah?” It was almost sad, that it had been years since she had accepted that the almost smiles and half-smirks were now considered indicators of George’s best moods, but it was, and as such she had come to treasure them. “What’s been up with the people today, love?” she asked as she sat down and made herself comfortable across the table from him.

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saintly_george
2014-08-22 09:18 pm UTC (link)

"So this kid - maybe twelve? Old enougb to know better. Decides to nick and eat No-Nose sweet and a Nosebleed Nougat. Nevermind that he nicked and ate them , but somehow it's my fault that he's bleeding from his now non-existant nose and his mum's threatening to call the Minster. I told her better to teach her kid not to steal, but I'm not sure she appreciated my parenting advice. Took another ten to get her to let me make him take the antidote end and huffed off when I told her she'd have to pay for the rest of the box."

He sat back, suddenly realising just how amusing it really did sound, and shook his head. "And my new shopgirl quit, so I'm cleaning up blood and wrappers and closing up myself." And he managed a chuckle. "What I wouldn't give for Verity back. Or, you know. Any warm body with half a brain."

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_alicia_
2014-08-22 10:01 pm UTC (link)

“No-Nose and Nosebleed?” Alicia pulled a face of sympathy for both the kid, the mother and George as he continued to relay the disasters of his day. It did sound horrendous, but at the same time Alicia found herself first biting her lips then sipping from her wine to keep her smile and subsequent chuckle from being too obvious.

But then it seemed as if it caught up to George as well, and Alicia set her glass down as she shook her head in sympathy though her shoulders were shaking with mirth. “You’ve really had quite the day, haven’t you? Make’s my day with eager players seem like childplay,” she chuckled. “You going to ask Verity to come back?” she suggested, “Or maybe use the journals to see if you can find help that way.”

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saintly_george
2014-08-22 10:14 pm UTC (link)

"I wish. She disappeared, wartime. Haven't heard from her since. She was Muggleborn, y'know." And he'd tried, really, to contact the feisty witch that had really kept him and Fred in line, but owls had come back with the same notes he'd sent out.

He picked up the fresh drink and swirled it in the glass, then downed half or so.

"I'll find someone though. So. Pride worth a wager lately? Got a pair of tickets off a supplier the other day. Thought I might catch a match if they're worth a look..."

Of course they would be, but it was always a bit of fun, working Al up over her team.

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_alicia_
2014-08-22 11:46 pm UTC (link)

Instantly, Alicia face fell. “Oh, George, I am so sorry.” She felt horrible that she hadn’t been paying enough attention back then to remember what had happened in George’s life. Or maybe she had and it had disappeared when her world had fallen apart. Either way, she really felt like she had well and truly put her foot in it, and very thoroughly at that. Immediately she made a mental note to go through the documents the Foundation had been able to get from the Ministry. Maybe she could find out something about Verity that way.

Swirling her own glass, Alicia had just taken a sip when George changed the subject. “Oh, they’re worth it,” she said with absolute certainty. “You should see them, George, they’ve really come together since last season. But but… but why?” she chuckled. “Why would you go to a supplier for tickets? You got me!”

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saintly_george
2014-08-23 01:30 am UTC (link)

"Why're you sorry? Not like you're my hiring department..." He shrugged and took another long drink from his glass, swirling what was left. Sure, he'd love to have Verity back, but he'd had shopgirls since then... Maybe he'd send another owl.

He drained the rest of the whiskey and waved for another, then looked at Al. Why...

"What? Not like I asked for them. I bought a box of Billywig stings and four cases of lemons. Bloke threw them in, along with a bottle of some weird Muggle liquor. I'm not turning down Pride tickets, Al... Might be dim but I'm not stupid."

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_alicia_
2014-08-23 04:21 pm UTC (link)

“I’m sorry that she disappeared like that, you berk,” Alicia said with a bit of a frown. “I was being sympathetic and feeling stupid for not remembering.” Which was nothing but the entire truth, because it really was sad that Verity had disappeared under those circumstances, all the lives that had been lost or changed for the worst were sad, but at least it had provoked an almost joke from George.

Slowly, Alicia’s lips drew up into a somewhat gloating smirk. “Those tickets are worth twice what you paid for those cases,” she finally grinned. “At least. I mean it, George, even if you didn’t have me, the team this year… you’d want to pay full price for the best tickets available, even over-prize for scalped tickets in the nosebleed section. They’re really starting off with something brilliant.”

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	saintly_george 2014-08-23 04:35 pm UTC (link)
	He rolled his eyes, suddenly a bit more cheerful than he'd felt in a while. "I haven't paid for Quidditch seats since we... opened the shop." The pause was subtle, but there, and George downed the fresh drink rather steadily rather than think about it. "And I? Do not sit in the nosebleed section, thanks. Not when I've got connections like you." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_alicia_
2014-08-23 08:47 pm UTC (link)

“No, you don’t sit in the nosebleed section,” Alicia agreed easily, nonchalantly picking up her glass. “But today you worked in it.” And took a sip of her wine. George might not be pacing himself, but she had long ago learned that trying to cut him off would just lead to a fight. Besides, when he was ready for an intervention it wouldn’t take place in public, so until then, she would help him out and make sure that he didn’t do any harm to himself or others. Who knew? Maybe them talking tonight had meant that he hadn’t had time to drink a third drink during the time he had had two.

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saintly_george
2014-08-24 01:46 am UTC (link)

"Did I ever," he agreed, letting the last of the whiskey trickle onto his tongue, then setting the glass upside down on top of the folded newspaper he'd been reading. He was, if anything, comfortably numb, and that had been the goal in coming to Finnigan's anyway, right?

George sat quietly for a few moments, then looked up at Alicia. "You know what I love about you, Al?" He didn't wait for her to answer, or really even long enough to give her time to shake her head. "You don't. Whatever I don't feel like hearing, or getting bitched at about... you just don't.

"Thanks."

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_alicia_
2014-08-24 05:39 pm UTC (link)

Though she made a conscious effort not to show it, Alicia was relieved when George turned his empty glass upside down. He seemed relaxed but far from on the verge of passing out, and though it obviously would have been better if he had been able to relax somewhat without the alcohol, this she could handle easily.

Amused by George’s sudden question, it was right on the tip of her tongue to quip something about her sheer ability to come up with nosebleed jokes, when he cut her off. She was quiet for a moment, a soft smile on her face belying the myriad of thoughts and concerns about the man sitting in front of her as well as memories and mournings. “All in good time,” she finally said with a small smirk and reached over to give his hand a squeeze. “You’re one of my oldest and best friends, and I don’t want to risk losing you by bitching at you before you’re ready.”

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saintly_george
2014-08-24 06:20 pm UTC (link)

He squeezed her hand in return. Maybe a bit more tightly than he'd meant to, but his grip eased quickly enough...

"Trust me, I believe you'll do it. I'm actually pretty sure you have done, at some point. And I know you'll do it if I really need it," he added with a hint of a smile.

"Pretty lucky," he added softly. And reflected for a moment how lucky he was, having family, friends to catch him when he fell.

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_alicia_
2014-08-24 07:53 pm UTC (link)

Alicia scrunched up her face slightly. Yes, she could remember a couple of times when she had come dangerously close to hexing George and even a few times when she had simply slapped him. Mostly that had been back in school, though, and the times she had yelled at him after the war had been because he was out of line and crossing lines that were unacceptable for her, no matter how much he was grieving.

“You’d do the same for me,” she told him, the confidence in her voice unwavering and genuine.

Finishing off her glass of wine she tilted her head as she smiled at him. “Any exciting plans for the weekend?” she asked him. “Other than the Pride match tomorrow?”

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	saintly_george 2014-08-24 11:17 pm UTC (link)
	"I would." He sighed, shrugged a shoulder. "Not really. Heard something about Dean having a birthday. Thought I might drop in if I'm..." Another shrug. Still up? Sober... "Match might do me in. Who knows? Got a bit riding on it though, so you tell your boys to perk up out there, yeah?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_alicia_
2014-08-25 02:24 pm UTC (link)

“Yeah,” Alicia nodded and cleared her throat. “Both Seamus and Susan nudged me about Dean’s birthday, and it would be nice to go. I mean, Dean’s a good bloke, it’s just… it’d be another evening with the nanny for Isla and Liam, you know?” She really wanted to go, but her children had been at her visiting Alicia’s grandmother with her parents since Monday and would be back on Sunday. Then again, chances were that they would be spending the night afterwards at Alicia’s parents in Bath, so… maybe.

“They’re ready and they’re wired, so unless you’re betting against them, you shouldn’t be too worried,” she teased with a grin.

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