InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I need to shut my mouth!"

Dean Thomas (artisgratia) wrote in pandorarpg,
@ 2011-12-01 21:38:00

Entry tags:

!status: complete, ^date: november 05 2003, character: dean thomas, character: justin finch-fletchley

Lunchtime!
Characters: Dean and Justin (Seamus is at work)
Setting: Dean and Seamus's place, noon.
Summary: Dean makes lunch for Justin and tries for normal conversation.
Rating: Worksafe, but Justin's involved so...

Dean decided that the best thing for him to do was keep busy. If he hadn't had Justin come over for lunch or plan to go out later, he'd probably be dwelling too much on all the death surrounding the wizarding world. That Zurlo guy. Harry. Zacharias's father. Now this Rosalind Bungs person he didn't know was rumored to be dead as well. Dean shook his head and turned the heat on the chicken down to low. It was done cooking and simply needed to be kept warm until Justin arrived.

Justin had requested a repeat of the Indian cuisine they'd had the day after he'd spent the night in their spare bedroom. Justin hadn't eaten much then, and Dean suspected he was ready to demolish lunch properly this time around. Dean finished setting the table and waited for Justin to show up. Since Seamus had picked up an extra shift to make up for the ones he'd missed, it meant it was just be the two of them.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

artisgratia
2011-12-09 03:44 pm UTC (link)

Dean smiled. "Somehow I knew you'd say that. I hope you got his name at least," he added, having another drink of his beer. He shook his head. "i still have to remind myself they're not all a bad lot, you know? Got so used to thinking that way, but..." Problem was the ones he'd known personally hadn't done much to dissuade that notion. He didn't see himself likely to become enamored of Slytherins anytime soon, but he could at least be tolerant.

Dean looked sharply at Justin. "He has?" He didn't know much about the marks or nightmares but for second hand accounts from friends and rumors, but he knew enough to know it wasn't good. Frowning, Dean poked at his food. "All this...these nightmares, the spots, the death. I wish I could make sense of it. There was another death, you know. At least I've heard rumors about it."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	basilisk_srvivr 2011-12-10 12:08 am UTC (link)
	"I got his name, s'why I know he's a Slytherin." Justin almost choked on his next forkful of food as Dean gave him the news. He coughed to get the food down before reaching for his beer and taking a long pull. "Another one?" he said with a look of almost panic in his eyes. "But how- I mean... damn it, I knew I should have kept him tied up in a bloody closet!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

artisgratia
2011-12-13 02:45 am UTC (link)

"Of course," Dean replied, "though sometimes with you, I have to ask, just to be sure."

Dean wished he hadn't said anything at all. Why had he brought up another death? "It was some matchmaker, Something Bungs. least, that's the rumors going around. I haven't heard it confirmed yet. But there's a name attached so it might well be true."

Dean looked down at his food. "I wish I knew what the bloody hell was going on, Justin. I really do."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

basilisk_srvivr
2011-12-13 03:05 am UTC (link)

Justin dropped his fork to his plate and his head to his hands, his fingers running through his curly hair.

"I wish I wasn't shite at binding spells," he muttered. "I need to hide Ern away, and whoever else is in danger. I-"

He was overcome by a momentary wave of impotence - definitely not something he was used to - and squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm going to lose him. We're going to lose others. How the hell is this going to happen again? I thought this was done?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

artisgratia
2011-12-13 03:24 am UTC (link)

Dean reached out and took one of Justin's hands in his own, tugging it from his hair. "All right first of all, you know as well as I do that Ernie wouldn't take well to being hidden away, no matter the reasons why. Second, don't think that way. We start approaching every day negatively and we throw ourselves back five years. I lived in fear too long, and I won't do it again."

He fixed Justin with a serious look. "I won't let you live like that either, hear?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

basilisk_srvivr
2011-12-13 03:50 am UTC (link)

Justin snorted. "Would it surprise you to know I tried? He's a hit-wizard, didn't take him long to get out of the ropes."

He felt something strange for him, a wish to pull away, as if yet again he would be putting someone in danger by being close to them. Eventually, however, he didn't give in - he squeezed Dean's hand.

"Can't be helped. I'm not a brave Gryffindor, mate. I'm a Hufflepuff who happens to be a coward. I can't not be afraid."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

artisgratia
2011-12-13 03:53 am UTC (link)

Dean made a sound close to a chuckle. "No, it wouldn't in fact. I'm impressed you got him. Took him by surprise yeah? I know I'd have to sneak up on him to manage it."

He gave Justin a sympathetic smile. "Just, there's a difference between being afraid and living in fear. being afraid is normal, even for us brave Gryffindors. Hell we're afraid just as much as anyone else. Bravery is just doing something through and despite that fear, not lacking it entirely. but living in fear is letting it control you and dictate what you do, how you live your life. I hid for a year because I was living in fear." He shook his head. "I'm afraid of losing my friends, and I'm always afraid of losing Seamus. Always. but I won't let it rule me. I can't, if I want to live."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	basilisk_srvivr 2011-12-31 05:05 am UTC (link)
	"I lived that year with you, mate - well, not in person, but you know what I mean." He looked down at the table, not knowing what to say to that. "I don't know how to not let it rule me, Dean. Every bit of me is telling me to run as far as I can, and take everyone I love with me. It's hard to live if you're dead." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

artisgratia
2011-12-31 05:08 am UTC (link)

Dean reached out and placed a hand over Justin's. "It's also hard to live if you hide from life. You let it not rule you by living your life as you would if nothing different was happening. Drink, eat, spend time with friends, have a good shag or three. Live."

Dean smiled, just a bit. "Easier said than done, but I'm right here living too Justin. We'll get through this, all right?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

basilisk_srvivr
2011-12-31 05:13 am UTC (link)

Justin nodded reluctantly. Normally he was ever the optimist, thinking the best of everyone, but this had completely bowled over his point of view on everything.

"I'll try." And try he did to put a smile on his face, and managed a small one.

"We've more important things to worry about anyway - such as what to get me for my birthday. I'm still counting on that threesome with you and Seamus." It was a little forced, but he was making the effort - for his friend.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

artisgratia
2011-12-31 05:17 am UTC (link)

Dean snorted. "Right, don't hold your breath on that, right?" Dean teased him in response. "Now, get back to lunch. I've some more beers we can crack open and even some afters to enjoy. so eat up and we'll make plans for you birthday...that probably won't involve threesomes."

He appreciated the effort, and he would do his best to keep Justin in good spirits. In times like these, friends needed each other.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -