Tweak

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Tweak says, "Bada boom Bada bing!"

technogalen (technogalen) wrote in silverage,
@ 2011-08-05 00:04:00

Entry tags:

!log, galen, jadis, lily evans, neville longbottom, remus lupin, susan sto helit, zatanna zatara

Friday Night Magical Meet and Greet
Who: Galen and Open
Where: The Welcome Center cafeteria
When: Friday evening
What: Galen has invited magic users and interested others
           over for pizza and beer.
Rating: Probably PG for language if nothing else
Status: Incomplete/Open

He'd had pizza delivered and placed stasis spells on the boxes so it would remain hot and fresh. There were two small kegs of beer iced down in washtubs - one American and one dark ale - and plenty of plastic cups, paper plates, and napkins.

As the appointed time approached, he got a cup of the ale and took a seat near the front of the room to wait and see who would actually show up. If nothing else, he supposed there would be plenty of pizza and beer left over for for breakfast in the morning.

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tufty
2011-08-07 12:02 pm UTC (link)

Remus didn't know what he was doing here.

After he'd heard the news, he had been in no mood to...move at all and had been quite happy to just stagnate in his room. He had an entire day to wallow in his grief, spin around his conversation with Sirius and turn it upside down and when evening came and he woke up from a brief nap, a short dream of coming home to Lily, James, Sirius, Peter and Harry, he finally knew what to do.

He had to spend as much time as he could with his best lady friend.

Remus at least had the grace to drag himself to the bathroom for a quick wash-up although he had no mood to look too presentable. He appeared in the doorway leading into the cafeteria in his comfortable wizard robes and the cloak he had put on when he met Sirius. He'd combed his hair and all, but he couldn't help looking drained and almost tasteless.

The moment he stepped inside the cafeteria, he spotted Lily sitting alone and he marched over to her -- first like a broken robot and then with the determination of a chugging train. It occurred to him to call her before he collided with her. So "Lily," he uttered but it might have come too late. As soon as she was within reach, Remus threw his arms around her and pulled her so tightly, so close to him, he might have wanted to just absorb her into him.

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just_lily
2011-08-07 03:40 pm UTC (link)

Lily knew Sirius had told Remus, but she also hadn't sought out Remus prior to this. She'd had work, and then she'd had that 'staring blankly' thing going for for her. Oh, sure, she had a book in front of her, but Sirius had called her on not turning the pages. She hadn't been reading; she'd been staring.

She'd slept a lot, too, but she'd also known she'd at least see Remus this weekend since they were all going to look at flats. So she hadn't been in any rush to continue to share the grief.

Lily barely had time to get her plate out of the way and untangle her arms before he was hugging her. "Guess he told you then," she joked weakly as she hugged him back, pressing her cheek to his chest. "It'll be all right," she swore. "I'll fix it. Somehow. I'll fix it, when we get to go back." If they got to go back. "And if we never go back ... well, then ... here I am, and that's all right, too," she said softly as she tightened her arms around him.

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tufty
2011-08-07 03:55 pm UTC (link)

Lily had always been so calm in spite of everything. Friends had died, lives were wasted, missions were lost and yet Remus had difficulty remembering a time where she broke down completely.

It amazed him that this was no different for her. Was it because she still had time to change it? Or was he just seeing that strength that James had loved her for and he admired? "I'm sorry," he said in a whisper to her hair as he replaced his hand on her shoulder to hold her tighter. Did she always feel this way in his arms? Would he have the chance to find out still?

"I'm sorry," he said again, his voice shaking very slightly. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm really, truly sorry, Lily! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." He was sorry for a lot of things: sorry for her fate, for James, for Peter, for himself, for failing to be there when she needed him, failing to protect her husband, his friend...sorry for everything.

"I'm so sorry, Lily, I'm so sorry...!"

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just_lily
2011-08-07 04:00 pm UTC (link)

"Shh, love. It's not your fault," she assured him as she rubbed his back lightly. The irony of the situation wasn't completely lost on her; she was the one who'd died, but here she was attempting to comfort him. "You didn't play any part in it, and you've nothing to feel sorry about."

She stroked her fingertips through his hair and managed to work up a smile. "It'll be well. When they let me back, it'll be well. We'll fix it. We won't trust Peter. We'll ... we'll figure out a way to beat him before he can beat us. The way where he can't come back." She did wonder if Neville knew about that, and she thought she'd ask him the next time she saw him.

Or make a point of seeing him sometime soon to find out.

"We're here now, Remus. I'm sure James will be along any day now, because you know Sirius never goes anywhere without him." It was a fragile, thin hope, but it was the one sustaining her so she wasn't inclined to study the logic too closely. "Once he's here ... then the rest of it won't matter. We'll all have a chance to fix it, and we will."

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tufty
2011-08-07 04:29 pm UTC (link)

The sight of James and Sirius walking around like a pair of inseparable penguins was something Remus had missed and he coughed out a weak laughter as he tried on a lopsided smile although he didn't quite set Lily free from his arms yet no matter how awkward he might look in his posture. If James ever got here, he would be told for sure. An 11-year old James, a 15-year old git of a James, a 21-year old one...it didn't matter. He would be told.

After what seemed like a long time, Remus finally parted from Lily's figure although that made him feel cold and empty -- but he was not in the position for a longer embrace, that was the husband's job. "Of course," he rasped, hands remaining on Lily's sleeves. "James has a knack for grand entrances, though, that bugger. It's no wonder he's making us wait a long time..."

He was quiet for a moment before he realized that he must look like a fool where he half-stood so he dragged a chair from nearby and sat himself there. There wasn't a lot of improvements on his physical description -- or it probably wasn't obvious at all. "I am just..." he began after a while, "...devastated," he said to Lily's hands, "that I could not be there when I could have helped. Devastated at how this all turned out to be..." Lifting his hands, he rested his elbows on his thighs and covered his face with them, "Peter was our friend, Lily, he was our friend..."

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just_lily
2011-08-07 04:41 pm UTC (link)

Lily shook her head slightly. "He was never my friend. He was a hanger-on and a glory-hound, popular by association, but he was no friend to me." Maybe things changed in the years after, but she'd certainly never taken to him in school. Something about him had always struck her as shifty, and she really wondered about the magnitude of argument they must have used to get her to consent to Peter holding their lives in his hands.

She took Remus' hands in her own. "Stop beating yourself up, love. I'm sure ... you did everything you reasonably could to ensure our safety. It isn't your fault that Peter told him where to find us. It isn't your fault that Peter did what he did. Besides, it won't happen anyway. Now that we know, when we go back, we'll mend it. All of it." She squeezed his hands gently, gazing at him.

Since she didn't honestly think either of them was in a place to contribute anything to the meeting, she wondered if they shouldn't just head out, but ... well, it was public space and she wasn't inclined to move just then.

"He'll be here," she said quietly to Remus. "James will come. He wouldn't miss out on an adventure like this," she insisted, though every day that went by without him being here made her hope fade a little more. She wanted him to be here, but she wasn't sure he ever would be. She thought of him being home, being dead, and she felt her stomach twist uncomfortably, and she tightened her grip on Remus' hands. "He'll be here," she insisted again.

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tufty
2011-08-08 01:42 am UTC (link)

There were so many things that Remus wanted -- and was being asked -- to believe in right now. That he could change the future, that he'd go back in time to do it, that James would be here and even if they couldn't go back then yes, that they would at least all be together here, in this crazy version of New York.

He tired of thinking of these things -- of what happened, of what could have happened, of Peter who was still his friend, a friend who never betrayed his lycanthropy to anyone -- and remained stubborn that he needed more time to contemplate they're possibility. So looking at their hands together, he simply nodded to it. "Yeah," he croaked, trying to be a little more positive for Lily who was trying to be his ray of sunshine, "yeah, I know..."

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just_lily
2011-08-08 01:48 am UTC (link)

Lily smiled gently before she released his hands. "Come on. Let's ... go somewhere quieter. Back up to my room, and we can tease Sirius when he comes back." The other wizard had mentioned needing time away, and Lily didn't blame him. Hopefully he didn't get so drunk he couldn't find his way back, but ... well, she supposed they'd deal with it if it happened.

"I don't think we're going to contribute much to this tonight," she admitted as she glanced over to the others chatting toward the front of the room. She supposed if they held another, or if something did actually come of this, they'd participate then. But tonight ... was not their night.

Lily hugged Remus gently, pressing a kiss to his temple before she cocked her head toward the door. "C'mon," she murmured.

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tufty
2011-08-08 02:02 am UTC (link)

Remus was glad that they were going to walk away from the meeting. It didn't look like the Galen man had attained much success with his invitation, anyway, or perhaps this was all the witches and wizards New York City had. Either way, he didn't want to deal with people right now.

"Good idea," he muttered to Lily as he hugged her back -- still strongly -- before he got to his feet and led them out of the door. He was...in such an odd place right now. He needed to move on but he needed to stay with the bad memory...

...well, he needed to move on, right?

"Let's nick some pizza," he whispered to Lily before he jogged towards the closest boxes and slipped away with one in hand, never stopping in his steps. If Lily protested and just in case she did, he would turn over his shoulder and a cock a brow at her. What was that Galen person going to do with so many, anyway? Besides, Sirius could be hungry.

He thought about the beer, too, but he figured they had enough drunk wizards to last the night with right now.

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just_lily
2011-08-08 02:06 am UTC (link)

Lily shook her head, but an amused smile curved her lips at his antics. Whether it was just to cheer her up or what, she didn't care. It had gotten a smile out of her, and that was more than the past several hours had managed.

Once he'd rejoined her, she started toward the stairs to lead up to her room. She'd already had some, but ... well, Sirius might appreciate it for breakfast or something.

"So what time do you want to star tomorrow?" She asked. "Bearing in mind that I have no idea how late Sirius plans to stay out." Now that he was here, Lily didn't want to start looking at places without him.

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tufty
2011-08-08 03:03 am UTC (link)

"Perhaps we should have lunch outside, then, and take it from there," Remus suggested, having somehow regained (albeit with force), his previous calm temper and even voice. He still looked like he'd seen the mother of all boggarts, though. "Or, I can go out earlier, see what I can find before I meet you for lunch and we can look at what I saw together. After all, I am not the one coming home wasted." And a walk out would be a good distraction from...everything that just happened.

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just_lily
2011-08-08 03:20 am UTC (link)

"Mm. You shouldn't have to go out by yourself, love," she said softly. "But if you'd rather not wait on us, I wouldn't mind hearing an idea of what's there. What we can afford." She paused, then decided right this second wasn't the time to mention Sirius needing a job. They all knew he needed one, and they'd figure out something together if need be.

For the time being though, between the galleons they had to cash in and the fact there was employment in their lives, she was comfortable enough finding something moderate. "Are we looking at three or two bedrooms, do you think? Should we just start at three and avoid that whole awkward place when you two start bringing girls home for the night?"

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tufty
2011-08-08 04:58 am UTC (link)

"Us two?" Remus repeated with amusement as he looked at Lily, fingers warm where they held the box of pizza. "You think so, Lily? I would not deny bringing home two girls...but you should probably consider both of them belonging to Padfoot, not me." It was not that he was not interested on girls, school rumors aside. It was just that given his special circumstances, it was hard to act on his interest...

"A three bedroom would be best -- one for you and James, one for me, one for Sirius. And when the full moon arrives, you and Padfoot and maybe Prongs can help lock me up in my room, don't you think?" he pressed a smile for his friend. "But, if we're all skint for comfortable accommodations, you will take one room, Lily, and Sirius and I will share." Or he can sleep in the couch if that proverbial woman came along. "And we can figure out what to do with me when the full moon comes along."

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just_lily
2011-08-08 05:06 am UTC (link)

"Well, I'm not going to be bringing home any girls, and I can't imagine either of you would be comfortable sharing a room with me, so I'm kind of irrelevant in that regard."

She nudged his side gently. "You should date, if you want to." She encouraged him. "You're a handsome, charming bloke, and aside from ... the one thing ... you're just like the rest of us. We can handle the one thing, Remus, and that shouldn't ... stop you from enjoying life like the rest of us."

Not that she was exactly enjoying life at the moment, but she was living, and surviving, and if James never showed, she knew in her heart she'd eventually start dating.

"Now that he's here, there's no sense in penning you up, is there? The pair of you can run and he can keep you away from people, can't he?" She wasn't honestly sure how the trio worked when they ran. Maybe they did need James to ensure the safety of anyone Remus might encounter, and she was suddenly overcome with a desire to try to become an animagus as well.

It was a fleeting desire though. She was utter rubbish at transfiguration, and with her luck, she'd turn into a cat or a mongoose or something.

"Either way," she said, intent on dismissing the issue. "We'll look for three bedrooms in our price range that we all like." Said like that, she wondered if it wasn't going to be just this side of impossible, and she was certain it was going to take more than one weekend. No matter. They had time, after all.

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tufty
2011-08-08 02:40 pm UTC (link)

Not many people ever called him a handsome, charming bloke and Remus was not used to it. Something warm spread itself at the peak of his cheeks and he dipped his head, as if to stare closely at the warm pizza he held while a childish smile was dancing on his lips. He wouldn't lie, it was a nice thing to hear.

"Thank you, Lily," he said to his friend in his form. "You really know how to make men feel good." And that was another weak attempt for a joke.

Would he consider dating in this place, though? Remus wondered. It was either he had not been up to his usual standards since his displacement or no one really bothered themselves with werewolves, New York being more "Muggle" than any place he had ever been to. So would it work, he wondered? A place where there was no prejudice and no one would need to know what he really was...

No, Remus rather doubted it. He knew he could never lie forever to a woman he might love and just because they didn't know magic didn't mean Muggles were any different from wizards when it came down to fur and fangs. No matter how one might put it, a werewolf really was abnormal to the society -- and that was what he was.

"Do you suppose we could just charm a flat if we didn't have much luck, though? Make a bedroom split itself to two and all," he said about their trip for the next day. He didn't know how to pull off what he had just suggested, but it was a much better, more productive topic to talk about than, say, his love life.

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just_lily
2011-08-08 03:35 pm UTC (link)

"Well, it's true," she assured him softly. Once upon a time, before James, she'd given thought to asking Remus out. She never had, if only because she reasoned he would have said no because of James. And his full moon issue -- though she hadn't learned about that until later.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I know the sell tents and the like that are bigger inside than out, but I don't know the spell for that. Or even where to begin experimenting with it. Besides that, my transfiguration skills aren't going to win any prizes."

Lily shook her head as they strolled along. "No, probably best not to try anything like that. We don't know if whoever or whatever brought us here might decide to shut off our magic or something." While she didn't think that was possible, she also hadn't thought such radical displacement across time and space was possible, either.

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