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Tweak says, "Sardine heads....zzzzz...."

Marlene McKinnon (markeen) wrote in necessary_rpg,
@ 2012-02-16 19:56:00

Entry tags:

emmeline vance, marlene mckinnon

WHO: Marlene and Emmeline
WHAT: Marlene had a hard day at work, needs some best friend comfort
WHERE: Their flat
WHEN: February 16, 1980
RATING: SFW
STATUS: Incomplete

She could still hear their screams, even now as she walked down Diagon back towards her flat. Marlene wiped a stray tear away, annoyed with herself. This was what she had signed up for, wasn't it? Helping people-helping muggles really-during this especially difficult time. What she did would help those people move on. They'd go home and never remember the gristly scene that was now seared in Marlene's memory. Marlene would remember.

Her stomach was still doing flips as she thought about the scene she had come upon with the Aurors and other Obliviator that afternoon. There was so much blood, and the young couple who had witnessed the murder was hysterical. The woman especially was beside herself, her incessant screams making it difficult to figure out what happened. It was a blessing, she thought, when they finally were able to wipe their memory and send them on their way. She saw her flat up ahead and quickened her pace; she needed to try to forget today in her own way.

Once inside the flat, she pulled off her coat, hat and mittens, storing them on the coat rack, and went in search of her roommate. Em would certainly have something sweet and delicious, and since the contents of Marlene's lunch were lost in the park that afternoon, she was starving. "Em?" she called out, looking for her friend.

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	em_vance 2012-02-17 04:43 am UTC (link)
	Em turned around at the sound of Marlene crying. "Mar!" She moved over and put her arms around her friend, rubbing her back slightly. "What happened? Come on, sit down..." She guided her friend into the living room, and sat down on the couch with her. An arm still around Marlene, she rubbed her shoulder a bit. "Talk to me, what happened? Are you okay?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

markeen
2012-02-17 04:55 am UTC (link)

She felt stupid as she was led to the couch; she was a professional, she shouldn't be so freaked out over this. She knew what she was getting into and what the world was coming to. But of course Marlene hadn't actually SEEN anything so bloody in person yet. She had to pull herself together.

"I'm fine, I'm sorry. I just...work was awful. There was a murder, of a muggle. I had to go and help obliviate the witnesses. I just can't get the woman's screams out of my head," Marlene said, wiping leftover tears from her cheeks. "I know I'm being dumb, I should have been able to handle this, but it's so much more intense when you see it in person." She let out a long breath and leaned into Emmeline.

"I just needed to get that out."

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em_vance
2012-02-17 01:59 pm UTC (link)

Em felt horrible for her friend. One of the reasons that she had decided to open her own shop, was to avoid working for the ministry. Especially during this time of war. She had no desire to see the heart break and devastation that would be left in its wake.

She pulled Marlene into a hug, holding her for a bit, letting her get it out. Whatever was left. "It's okay to be upset. Just because your job says that you have to be strong or something while on the job, doesn't mean that things still can't bother you. And you never have to feel bad about coming home and unloading. No one should keep all of that inside. It will only eat away at you." Pulling away slightly, Em reached out and brushed the stray hair from Marlene's face. "Let's get you some tea."

Em got up and made her way to the kitchen, pulling the teapot off the heat and preparing two cups. She carried them into the living room, handing one to Marlene, and sat back down with her own. Taking a sip, she reached out and grabbed a coaster before setting her cup down on the coffee table.

"So how bad was it?"

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markeen
2012-02-17 05:27 pm UTC (link)

When Em's arms went around her in earnest, Marleen sighed. She needed this. The worst part about the experience was the need to hold her emotions in check so she didn't disturb the people she was charged with helping. It felt good to have someone show her affection-she felt real, and human again. At Em's words, she nodded. "I know. It's still so new to me, and it was hard. I imagine it will get easier from here out, but..." she trailed off, squeezing her eyes shut to will away leftover tears. "I should still attempt to not fall to pieces every time there is a difficult case," she said as Em pulled back. Tea sounded like perfection right now. "Yes please," she said with an attempt at a smile.

She leaned back on the couch as she waited for her friend to bring the tea, thinking about how much she'd like to forget the horror she'd seen. She knew it would only be getting worse from here on out. This time, she didn't know the victims, but it might not always be the case.

Taking her cup gratefully, Marleen sat back up and took a sip, grateful for the heat and comfort. Emmeline really did know her best. "Very bad," she said after a moment. She looked down at the cup in her hands and sighed audibly. "They just get more evil, don't they?"

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em_vance
2012-02-18 02:55 am UTC (link)

Pulling her legs up on the couch, Emmeline gave her a small smile. "It's alright to be upset over it. I'd be more worried if you weren't upset." She reached over and took her tea in her hands once more, taking a small sip. It was true, things were bad out there. Even if she tried to bury herself in her work, there was still a war going on. Two of her best friends were still in hiding, and her other best friend was sitting there with her, recounting the effects of the war. This had to end. Somehow, it just had to end.

"I wish that I could say that they won't get more evil. But... people like that, I fear, only get worse. But we just have to remember that there are others, good people, out there. Ones that care and are hoping for the same things that we are. And we have to believe that one day, things will turn out for the best. And take small victories when we can, and enjoy moments of happiness while they last."

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markeen
2012-02-19 02:33 am UTC (link)

She wasn't wrong, Marlene thought. At the very least, her disgust and horror over what she witnessed only magnified to her the fact that she was human and was doing what was right. Muggles needed someone woth empathy now, especially the ones that were caught in the crossfires of the evil that was building. It was becoming stronger and more obvious each day.

It was like Em had read her mind; she had been thinking just that when her friend had spoken. "All I can do is hold on to my goodness. I have to do the best I can, and not let it break me. Today was bad, and it was only the start. But it makes me know, utterly, that we're doing what's right. The Order, I mean. We're on the right side of this. I just wish I had been more prepared to SEE it. Godric, I'm such a child sometimes," Marlene finished with a sigh, taking a long sip of tea.

She leaned over and rested her head on her friend's shoulders. "You're much smarter than me, going into baking."

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em_vance
2012-02-19 02:41 am UTC (link)

"It does not make you a child to not take joy in seeing the pain of others. It makes you empathetic. Compassionate, and very much human." Em set her cup down again and moved closer to Marlene, taking Mar's free hand into her own.

"You are smart, and far braver than I could ever be. Even though you know there are things that will happen that will be upsetting to you, you still go out there. You still do the right thing. You help people. I simply feed them."

While Emmeline wished that she could be brave enough to remotely stomach the things that she was sure Marlene would see, she just couldn't bring herself to go into certain lines of work. Em's desires were to take care of people, bring a bit of happiness, not to see the harsh reality of the war. "You need to sleep with me tonight? I'll protect you." She smiled a bit at her friend.

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