who ? astoria greengrass and roger davies when ? early sunday morning, 9th october where ? daphne and astoria's flat what ? coffee and talking status ? complete
Getting up at six am on most days, meant that Roger got up really rather early on weekends, too. Not quite six, but when he did wake, it wasn’t long gone seven. Daphne was still asleep next to him and it took Roger a moment to orientate himself and realise they weren’t in his bed. Then the memories of last night and coming over came back, as Roger blinked himself properly awake. He considered just... well, leaving, but it seemed rude and for some reason Roger didn’t--in the end he decided not to think about any of that and instead locate some coffee, that seemed like the better option.
Roger didn’t bother to pull on more than the jogging bottoms he had been wearing last night, by-passing wearing a shirt (which would not have been the case if Roger had remembered that Daphne didn’t actually live on her own), and was in the process of locating some mugs as the coffee brewed when he heard someone walk in the kitchen behind him. “Where do you keep your mugs?” Roger asked before turning around and giving a small ‘oh’ when he realised that the person behind him wasn’t actually Daphne but rather... Astoria? “Hi,” he offered since that seemed like the polite thing to do. “Roger,” he added holding his hand out.
--
Yesterday had been another day spent trying to both keep herself occupied and still looking for a new job, and she hadn't had much success with either. Though things she enjoyed doing didn't seem to take up as much time now that she didn't have any work to worry about. So far she had managed to not go stir-crazy and go on a cleaning spree of the flat. Astoria had gone to bed not particularly looking forward to the weekend, except for any part where she might possibly spend time with her boyfriend. When she had actually woken up she had contemplated throwing the covers over her head and going back to sleep but changed her mind. She was going to have to get up eventually and even if she didn't have a job she couldn't just spend the whole day in bed.
So getting up she made her way to the kitchen hoping that after tea and some breakfast she could maybe start looking at the day with a bit more of positive outlook. What she hadn't expected was to see some stranger in her kitchen especially when she was only wearing an old shirt and a pair of shorts. Astoria had opened her mouth about to scream for Daphne but promptly shut it when the guy turned around and greeted her. "Hi," she greeted warily, before shaking his hand. It seemed the polite thing to do, although he was still sort of a stranger, but Astoria was starting to wonder if this was the guy her sister had told her about. "Astoria."
"The mugs, by the way, are in there," she replied pointing to the cupboard a little to the left of him.
--
Roger followed to where Astoria pointed, giving a small nod before retrieving two and then, after a small pause, a third. “Do you want coffee?” He asked turning back to Astoria. “Which is where, exactly?” Roger added since the mugs had been his first effort, the coffee, sugar and milk were all next in line to be located. Whilst Roger was glad Daphne was still asleep, especially since she hadn’t been feeling great the night before, he also thought it might’ve been easier to have all the coffee-making ingredients located by her rather than Roger’s blind search. Or Daphne’s sister’s help, which Roger hadn’t quite counted on.
“Sorry if I startled you,” Roger offered honestly. “Daphne’s still asleep,” he added since it seemed like an important point to make. Roger assumed that Daphne had told her sister about him, there probably would’ve been more screaming if she hadn’t. Still, it was hardly as if Roger had any idea what Daphne had told her sister about him. Though, he was quite confident in betting that it was about the same as what he had told Lydia, mostly summed up with the words ‘confusing’ and ‘odd’.
--
"No coffee for me, thank you," she answered. "The coffee and sugar are in the canisters on the bench there. Or if you wanted tea at all, you'll find that in the drawer just underneath." She hadn't as yet managed to find a set of old library catalogue drawers, or any alternative solution, that wasn't too big that she could use to store all her different teas.
Astoria wasn't sure if she was more surprised by his presence or the fact he didn't have a shirt on. The latter was making her wonder what her sister had gotten up to last night and that wasn't a road she wanted to go down this early in the day. "That's alright, no harm done," she said. Fortunately, he had actually said hello to start with before she had a chance to scream which, if she had done, possibly would've made this first meeting slightly more awkward when her sister came running. "Right, so… I probably don't need to get her breakfast just yet then," she commented.
Part of her was wanting to ask him about what he and Daphne were about because all she really knew about him was really about them; which basically amounted to that they weren't dating, they were having sex and he was helping Daphne with her writing. Oh, and that it was apparently insane - her sister had definitely used that word often enough when she'd first been told about Roger. So, how did one bring all of that up without it being weird?
--
“Right,” Roger nodded when Astoria told him that she didn’t want coffee, but did still instruct him on where to find some. In what Roger was sure by this point was a habit, he put coffee in the mugs both for himself and Daphne. As Roger waited for the kettle to finish boiling, he leaned against the counter, watching Astoria. She both did and didn’t look like Daphne, which probably was about the same people thought of Roger and Max. Roger could see similarities but he did wonder whether he only noticed those because he knew they were related. Probably.
As the kettle boiled, Roger turned to fill the mugs, glancing at Astoria once he set it back down. “There’s enough hot water for you if you want tea instead,” he offered since there was and she had mentioned tea, so perhaps it was what she preferred. Adding sugar and a dash of milk to his coffee, Roger took a small sip, wondering whether it’d be rude to just leave. And then whether he cared if it was. “So you’re younger than Daphne, right?” Roger confirmed wondering whether he actually knew much else about Astoria than the fact that she was younger than Daphne. There was a great chance he didn’t.
--
It might seem a little rude to some that she was just standing there waiting. Unfortunately, although the flat had two bedrooms, the kitchen was still on the small side and definitely not big enough for two people at the best of times. Though it did afford her a little time to study Roger. Not that she felt there was much she could glean from just watching, unless she was willing to draw the wrong conclusions. Like why her sister was interested in him; because it had to be more than looks - not that Roger wasn't good-looking but there had to be more to it than that (and the sex).
"Thanks," she said. Heading over to the counter she grabbed her favoured cup down from the cupboard and grabbed a teabag rather than go for her usual loose leaf tea. "Mhmm, she's two years older… well, three technically," she replied, adding the sugar, hot water and then a bit of milk to her cup as she spoke.
"So… you and my sister..." Which was about as far as Astoria got with her question because she still didn't quite know how to broach the subject of whatever it was Roger and Daphne were. It helped that she knew Daphne was at least happy whatever the situation was. Besides as she'd already told her sister she was terrible with confrontations unless she was well and truly riled up.
--
Roger nodded when Astoria explained that Daphne was two-more-like-three years older than her. “My brother’s four years older than me,” Roger offered. From what he had gathered through Daphne’s explanation of her relationship with Astoria was that the two were close. Had always been close, which was probably the main difference between them and how Roger was with Max. They were close now but that hadn’t always been the case.
Taking a sip of his coffee, Roger raised an eyebrow at Astoria when she started by saying ‘you and my sister’ and then didn’t elaborate. Roger was sure that he could have answered the question she wasn’t asking, or at least a question she wasn’t asking, but he also was not in a habit of disclosing information he didn’t have to. Unless it was to Daphne. In a way, Roger was glad to discover that his propensity to disclose information didn’t transfer to Daphne’s sister, too. Evidently, whatever it was about Daphne that made Roger tell her things, was not a family trait. “Me and your sister,” Roger repeated and then didn’t say anything else.
--
Astoria supposed she deserved that; though she hadn't honestly expected to get any sort of proper answer from a half unfinished question. But what were you supposed to ask when you both wanted to know what was going on in your sister's life but at the same time really didn't want any of the actual details?
"Well, I suppose I could ask what your intentions are," she said, finally speaking more than just a few syllables. Holding her cup in both hands she took a sip of her tea before continuing. "Although considering what little I know so far I'm not sure I want an answer to that question."
--
Astoria’s clarification of her question made Roger give a small laugh. He certainly didn’t think anyone had ever asked him his intentions before. “And what are your sister’s intentions?” He asked with a raised eyebrow. As far as Roger was aware he had no intentions and neither did Daphne. That was still rather part of the appeal. It did make him wonder what exactly Daphne had told her sister about them. Roger wasn’t sure how much there really was to tell.
Taking another sip of his coffee, Roger moved so he wouldn’t be in Astoria’s way but was still in close enough of a distance for a conversation. Not that he was sure either of them were terribly keen on this conversation. Then again, in a way, it was almost amusing. Especially if Astoria was going to tell him what Daphne’s intentions were. It’d be useful to know, Roger supposed.
--
Astoria chuckled when Roger turned the question around to ask her what Daphne's intentions were. To be honest she probably had about as much of an idea of what they were as her sister did - which probably wasn't much, if anything, at all. "I don't really know," she replied honestly. "I'm not sure even she has any idea what they are."
It had been about two weeks since they'd talked about her and Roger; maybe Daphne had figured something out, or maybe she was still feeling as confused as she was then but more or less resigned to whatever it is?
--
“Then is it all that fair to ask me what mine are?” Roger asked smirking into his mug so he wouldn’t do so at Astoria. The truth was that Roger had no intentions and really, he wasn’t even worried about telling Astoria as much if she did ask. Especially not when she admitted that Daphne, too, had no idea what her own intentions might be.
Running a thumb over the outside of his mug, Roger tilted his head slightly at Astoria. “So what do you do, Astoria? I don’t believe Daphne’s said,” at least Roger was rather sure she hadn’t, which in itself was odd, since normally he would’ve just assumed he’d forgotten if Daphne had told him. But Roger honestly thought he was rather good at remembering all the random tidbits of information Daphne told him.
--
"Maybe not. But as a concerned sister it's probably only fair that I at least try, right?" she asked in returned. At least with Roger she felt like she was actually able to at least attempt asking that question. Even when she only had the barest suspicion that there was something between her sister and Tracey she hadn't thought to ask the other girl what her intentions were. Mostly because Tracey had always been a rather abrupt sort of person and, if she was honest, she'd have been too scared to ask anyway.
"If she had she might've had to answer in the past tense," she answered with a small smile. "I don't actually have a job at the moment. I've been looking though…" Daphne had helped her come up with a list of possible jobs or places where might actually enjoy working. So far though she hadn't moved past what she was calling the 'research' phase; which mostly consisted of finding out what the work would involve or whether she'd need further qualifications, that sort of thing.
--
At Astoria’s justification, Roger did give a small laugh, not because of the words themselves, but more because it made him wonder whether that was the sort of things siblings were meant to ask. He didn’t think he’d ever asked Siobhan’s intentions towards Max, but then Roger had also always been convinced his brother was just lucky Siobhan put up with him. “I’ll make sure to let my brother know he must ask for Daphne’s intentions,” Roger said teasingly. He would, of course, do no such thing, but the idea itself was rather amusing.
“Right,” Roger nodded when Astoria explained that she wasn’t working at the moment. “So what did you do before?” He asked since presumably it might indicate what sort of jobs she was looking for now. Or the opposite, really. Roger didn’t have a great deal of experience in searching for a job, since his dad rather effectively tended to find those for him. They were doubtfully the sort of jobs Astoria would want to do, though, Roger did suppose that there were people out there who enjoyed paperwork.
--
"I was a research and writer's assistant at the WWN for Babblewyck Park," she replied, before sipping at her tea. "Though I'm looking for something a bit different or at least that's what I'd like anyway. I suppose I wouldn't mind something that was similar if it was somewhere I might actually like to work." All the better if it was something where she actually had proper interaction with people, and wasn't just holed up in some library or archive researching and editing stuff.
--
Roger wasn’t really sure how much he could sympathise with that, since he had never done a job he actually liked. But he was also very good at just being rubbish in all sorts of different jobs. It never occurred to him that there might be jobs out there he might like. He was, however, perfectly happy to accept that this was not the case for other people. “Do you write, too?” He asked since a ‘writer’s assistant’ indicated as much.
“What sort of job do you think you might like? As in, what part of ‘something similar’ would you pick?” Roger asked taking a sip of his coffee. Presumably, if she liked writing that might be it. Or the research bit. Roger, despite his failings, was a Ravenclaw, and thus had at least a degree of appreciation for research.
--
Astoria smiled and shook her head. "No, writing has always been Daphne's thing really." As it was she'd only gone for her last job because it was pretty much the first thing she'd seen leaving Hogwarts that she knew she could do. More importantly it meant she could start doing her own thing and move out of home; even if her parents were the ones currently paying the rent for the flat. "The writing side of things mostly just meant I proofread, edited if needed, and left notes on the script," she added.
"I still haven't really figured that part out yet. Though Daphne's helped me make a list, so I'm just going through that trying to see what might fit," she replied with a shrug. "I liked the research part, even if sometimes the information was more boring and factual rather than fascinating. Mostly I just want something that'll let me actually interact with people more rather than always being behind a desk." Even a job that wasn't quite, but near enough, equal parts a desk and people job would be good enough really. Astoria supposed she wouldn't terribly mind an almost entirely desk job if she knew it could actually lead to something she would like.
--
Roger nodded when Astoria explained that it was the research side she had enjoyed more, but that there had been a lack in the human aspect with it, which Roger got, especially if her research had been factual. “What about things like social work?” Roger thought out loud. “That’s kind of research, but also working with people,” or it certainly involved elements of research, Roger thought. A lot of it was talking to people and figuring out ways in which to help them. Or at least, that was kind of what Roger imagined social work to be.
--
As she sipped her tea Astoria thought on that for a moment. It wasn't actually something she'd considered though not for a lack of wanting to; it just hadn't really come up when her and Daphne had been putting the list together. "Oh, maybe? I hadn't really thought of it before," she admitted. "I wouldn't even know who talk to about that though. Would you need qualifications or can you sort of just get into it?" Astoria wouldn't mind if she had to study to become qualified to do social work - well, as long as social work was something she'd enjoy doing.
--
Thinking on her question, Roger gave a small shrug. “I think it’s one of those things you get a qualification for as you do it?” He honestly had no idea. He knew social workers existed in the magical world, because they had to, but he also didn’t know anyone who was one. “I work at the ministry,” Roger said with another sip of his coffee. “So I could probably look into it for you, if you’d like?” He offered. It was hardly going to be a hardship when he was at the Ministry every day anyway. It was also hardly as if his job kept him great deal busy (well, it probably could, but Roger was more than happy to ignore that).
“Have you thought about doing some volunteer work? That’ll let you try out different things?” Not that Roger knew anything about volunteer work either, but that seemed like a thing. Who didn’t want someone to do shit for free for them?
--
"That'd be good, I mean, if you really don't mind?" she asked, surprised by the offer. It probably wouldn't be too much effort to find out but she didn't know how busy his job kept him or not. So the fact he'd offer to help a near stranger was surprising and, well, nice.
Astoria shrugged. "Not exactly. I mean, I had considered doing odd jobs here or there to try things," she replied. "But I guess doing volunteer work wouldn't be that different - I just wouldn't be getting paid for it." At the very least it would certainly keep her occupied while she tried to find an actual job and she'd be able to meet people while doing it.
--
“I really don’t mind,” Roger assured with a small shake of his head. “I’ll owl you the information next week,” he promised. Roger doubted it would take a great deal of time or effort. Then, when Astoria went on to say how volunteer work wouldn’t be too dissimilar from odd jobs here and there, Roger shrugged. “You don’t get paid,” he agreed. “But you also don’t get tied into a job?” Since no payment basically meant that you could just up and leave if you didn’t like it. Roger had no idea what Daphne and Astoria’s financial situation was like but he assumed not too bad since Astoria was yet to say she had to have a job.
--
"Thank you, I appreciate the help," she said with a smile. The not getting tied into one job was definitely another bonus especially if said job turned out to not be so great. Because getting stuck in a job and ending up totally miserable? Definitely not on the cards, she mused as she finished the last of her tea.
"Hey, did you want some breakfast?" she offered. It seemed the polite and friendly thing to do since he was offering to help her out. "Or were you going to wait for Daphne?"
--
“Not a problem,” Roger assured since it really wasn’t. At the offer of breakfast, his eyes widened slightly and he glanced at the mug of coffee he had made Daphne. “I think I’ll probably wait,” Roger said picking up the mug. “And take some luke-warm coffee to her,” he added. “Nice meeting you, Astoria,” Roger offered with a nod before walking back to Daphne’s bedroom to see whether she was, in fact, awake yet.