Home safe and sound Date: Monday, July 21 Time: Mid-morning Location: Gimmauld Place Characters: James Potter and Remus Lupin
James had been settled comfortably into the chair, fingers skimming over rolls of parchment that lay draped over the desk. Something about Lily had a knack for making him just a touch more responsible. They needed to properly sort out their finances, but for the moment the whole mess was giving him a headache. His head popped up when he heard Remus moving down the hall. Grinning in anticipation of more engaging company, he hopped out of his seat and trotted down the hall. "Good to be back?" he smiled warmly, popping his head inside the door to the room Remus shared with Sirius.
Remus smiled broadly at the sight of James. He'd missed his friends, but he knew that they needed their privacy, and he and Sirius really needed a get-away. "Yes, very good. Come in!" he said with a chuckle, folding up his shirt and setting it on the bed. "Though, I must admit the quiet of the forest was wonderful. I'd forgotten how much I missed it." he nodded. "How was your time alone? Wonderful to have her back?"
"I'd say you have no idea, but I reckon you probably do," he replied, his grin wide. He ambled in, flopping himself out to recline on the bed like he'd done so many times at school. Expression softening a little, he looked over to Remus. "Thanks, you know. For hoping for it," he said earnestly. James had no doubt that while he might have tried to shield himself from the pain of disappointment, Remus probably would have never stopped hoping.
"Of course." he shrugged with a bit of a smile. "I know you had to do it for your own sanity, but I could never give up hope. She's my dearest friend aside from you and Sirius. In fact, she knew back in school that... well, that I liked the not-so-fair sex." he chuckled, feeling much more comfortable about things now that she was back, and all seemed right with the world.
Personal gratification aside, James had a hoped Lily's presence might help Remus in a way that he couldn't. After all, James and Sirius were cut from very similar cloth, and Lily had somehow managed to to not be driven up the wall by him. Nodding fondly, James laced his fingers behind his head. Of course Remus understood, and James was grateful for the fact that he'd let James try to deal with it as he'd needed. "How about you? You and Sirius sort things out a bit?" he asked casually. James felt it was only proper to check in on things, especially given the months and months Remus had tolerated his bemoaning the initially reluctant Lily Evans.
He smiled. "Yes, things are sorted, I believe. Obviously we're still working towards having the level of trust and comfort that you and Lily have. I think... you know, when we're alone things are lovely." he said a bit wistfully. "But then, when he's around girls, it's nearly a compulsion to flirt." he said with a shake of his head. "I think that's the only real issue... well, that and his drug use, but I don't suppose I'm going to break him of that anytime soon, am I?" he asked, just a not of frustration slipping into his voice.
James' smile turned a bit sheepish. Of course, it hadn't always been a sea of unconditional trust between him and Lily. And it wasn't as though James hadn't had a track record of his own... one that had contended amicably with Sirius'. With something of a sympathetic chuckle James answered, "Come on, Sirius had been acting that way around girls his whole life - I don't think he knows how to talk to a female without flirting with her." The drug use was an understandably sore spot. But it wasn't as though he was abusing, not like when Regulus... It wasn't as though he was off doing much worse than getting a bit pissed at pub. "I don't think his... alchemical habits are too much to be concerned about, not as they are now, anyway," he offered.
"He tried to drive a car stoned, James." he said, honestly just a touch grumpy that James wasn't taking it seriously. "I don't know, maybe it's the older, more responsible me is simply having an issue with his frivolity. I don't know." he signed softly. "I'm really not sure how to deal with it. Truthfully, I've always hated that you two felt the need to do it at all, but there wasn't much I could do. Now, I'm with him..."