benjy fenwick (networkings) wrote in thebreach, @ 2010-09-14 11:06:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! log, [1980-09] september, benjy fenwick, emmeline vance |
WHO: Benjy Fenwick and Emmeline Vance
WHERE: Emmeline's flat
WHAT: Dinner! And talking about Emmeline's lunch date.
WHEN: September 13th
STATUS/RATING: Completed Log/PG-13
Emmeline checked the casserole. She was still in her work clothes, although wearing an apron, and her hair was still in the especially nice way she had done it that morning for her meeting with Edward Avery. She tapped her wand on the oven door, transfiguring it into a mirror so she could check her appearance. She nodded at her appearance and then moved to set the table, humming a little with the classical music. She kept checking the fireplace, and felt silly for it. But she was looking forward to seeing him. And she was excited to share her notes with someone, and get his feedback on the situation before she brought it before the Order. Her notebook was waiting next to her fork, a ballpoint at the side of her knife. She was ready. Benjy had been restless most of the time at work that day, and his concentration level dropped considerably especially during lunch hour. He had still been tempted to follow her and Avery, but he had a good amount of self restraint to not do that. It would be idiotic, and he wasn’t about to ruin Emmeline’s plans. He’d arrived home and had made sure that he didn’t look tired and presentable enough, as he had gathered by now that Emmeline had noticed these things about him, and he wasn’t going to let her think that he had another tiring day at work. It was a little strange that he was doing this for her, considering they had been friends for years -- but it was the kind of change that he didn’t mind having. As per her request, he Flooed himself in her house a few minutes later. He dusted some of the ash that had gotten onto his shirt when he arrived, and smiled at her when he saw her. She looked pretty in her teal dress -- which made him think about what Avery must have thought when he met her earlier that day. It was an unpleasant thought, but he was still rather happy from their successful date on Saturday, especially when she didn’t do something like running away. He could consider himself lucky. “Hello,” he said, still smiling as he approached her. Emmeline turned around when she heard him coming in. She untied her apron and pulled it off, letting it rest on a hook in the kitchen. “Hello, Benjy,” she said. She reached out one of her hands to take his and squeeze it, before going back toward the oven. “Did you have a nice day?” she said. “Not too much paperwork, I hope?” She opened the oven door and used a spell to make the dishes float from the oven to the trivets on the table. “I hope you’re hungry,” she said. She smiled at him, walking nearer to him again. It felt a little silly to have nerves about him coming over for casserole, when he’d been doing it long before she started to fancy him. “It’s broccoli casserole,” she said. “And chicken.” “Is there a day without paperwork?” he responded in a dead pan voice. He didn’t exactly have that much of a good day. Besides thinking about what she was doing with Avery, he had to deal with the Minister herself, who was in an irritable mood for a couple of hours, and it was his and his colleagues’ job to make sure that the most important woman in wizarding Britain remain calm. Benjy looked over the casserole. “I am hungry, and that looks really good,” It smelled good, too. Then again, Benjy had never complained about anything she made, and it wasn’t as if he wasn’t used to eating at her place or eating food she made. He turned away from the casseroles, because his primary interest at that moment was not really in the food. “How was your day?” he asked. “There is never a day without paperwork,” she said, “Not for you. But I hope it wasn’t too much.” She took out two glasses and set them on the table. “My day was fine. It went well.” She knew that wasn’t all he wanted to hear, though. She sat down. “He took me to Le Secret de la Licorne. He was very complimentary,” she said slowly, her eyes going a bit distant as she tried to decide whether or not she ought to tell him about Avery asking after a Mr. Vance. “We talked a great deal. He seems to think that I am the right sort of Muggleborn. I thought that was very interesting,” she admitted. “Because I don’t see why I ought to be any better than Mr. Robinson. He claims I’m just more accepting of our world, more integrated. But I wondered if there was something else.” She pursed her lips for a moment, looking lost in thought for a moment before she came out of it. “What would you like to drink?” she asked. He sat down, listening to her carefully. Benjy kept his expression neutral, but he had to purse his lips from making any derisive remarks about how it was probably just an act that a Purist was actually complimenting a Muggleborn like that. It probably meant he wanted something out of Emmeline. But maybe he was being too suspicious, and his own feelings for her was clouding his judgement a bit. Still -- ‘very complimentary’? He had to restrain himself from narrowing his eyes. “Juice would be fine,” he answered, not really minding at all about what he wanted to drink. “What else did you talk about?” Emmeline studied his expression carefully while he spoke. She nodded at him and then went to get the juice, and water for herself. She filled his glass and then sat down at the table. She could see that Benjy was forcing a bland expression on his face. She stared at him for a few moments before she started talking. She wanted to ask him why he looked like that, but she had an idea that she knew. And more importantly, they needed to discuss what he had said. “We talked about Death Eaters,” she said. “And I asked his opinion on them. He seemed surprised. He said that they are a violent group, and made it sound as though he would not be interested in that violence.” She opened her notebook, drumming the pen against the blank page. “But while he seemed very calm, I wonder if he might be a fairly violent person. He enjoys hunting, he said, and he also used to be on the werewolf capture unit, which I hadn’t known. And he said that he doesn’t agree with their methods, but implied that he empathizes with what they are wanting to do. That is not a great surprise to me. Oh, and he does subscribe to Warlock at War.” She paused. “I think it will be in our best interest to keep an eye on him.” Benjy ate as she talked, because he was hungry (he’d barely eaten lunch, hadn’t gone down to tea), though he still concentrated on her report of her meeting with Avery. “Seems like he’s told you quite a lot about himself,” he commented, his eyebrows furrowing a bit. It could either mean Avery didn’t suspect her of anything, that he wanted to establish some sort of trust with her, or he was just an idiot. “It’s almost as if he was telling you one thing and then the other, based on what you’ve just told me,” Benjy swallowed his food before he kept on talking. “Did you tell him a lot about yourself?” He hoped Emmeline hadn’t given any information that could compromise her position in the Order, but he doubted that she would. “He did,” she said, “But I think it was trying to defend himself, which isn’t very surprising.” She poked at her food with her free hand. “I didn’t say very much. Nothing really important. We talked about work, and I said that I had struggled like Robinson had at trying to fit in, and I told him he can’t understand how difficult it is.” She took a bite and chewed it thoughtfully. “He asked what I thought about the Order of the Phoenix. I told him that I wished the Ministry would be the only one dealing with all of this. Which is true. I don’t mind what we’re doing, but I would rather the Ministry have been doing what they should have done the whole time.” She shrugged. “I also told him that it is frustrating because there are people like myself, who are known for what they are, and still just want to make a life among wizards, and yet if I do anything like go to a sit in, there are people who think of me as a vigilante.” She took another sip of her drink. “In any case, I could tell he was seemed to enjoy himself.” She paused and looked at Benjy. “But I don’t know if that was just because he seemed to find me attractive despite my bloodline.” He found himself feeling more relaxed ever since he arrived; it didn’t seem like she had a bad time, and at least she’d found out a few things about him that was worth looking into. Benjy had to smile a bit at her last remark, and looked right back at her. “I won’t be surprised if he does,” there was no neutrality in his tone this time; it was clear that he genuinely meant it. He glanced back down at his food before resuming to eat it, and the conversation went back into Order related things within a matter of seconds. “They’ll be happy to hear there’s at least some information out,” Benjy put down the remnants of his casserole down before he finished it all off. “Perhaps Moody will stop worrying too much and let us do more besides trying to stay low.” Emmeline smiled at Benjy, her cheeks just slightly flushed. “I suppose I should be grateful if he does, and because of that I am able to learn more. But I think it would make me uncomfortable if that was the only reason why he was acting so open towards me. I’d like to think that it was just for the debate, or because he genuinely would like to help us with this project.” She watched him eating quickly, and automatically put more on his plate. “Yes,” she agreed. “I hope so. I know everyone is scared after what has happened to Lorraine and Dumbledore,” she poked at her food again, not as hungry as Benjy, but glad to see him eating so much and clearly enjoying the food. “We should try to research him more. Can you start pulling up files on him?” “It could be the rest of those reasons as well, but you’d still be pretty,” he responded nonchalantly, finishing off the rest of his casseroles and wiping his hand with his handkerchief -- and then she piled more into his plate. He raised his eyebrows, but he smiled amusedly, not protesting. He nodded, looking more sombre at the mention of Lorraine and Dumbledore. What had happened to them was also one of the reasons he had been worried about Emmeline when she’d agreed to go investigate Avery herself. Their deaths were still fresh in his mind, even though he told himself that this was something all of them had to risk when they’d agreed to be in the Order. He was sure that he hadn’t been the only one worried, too. “I could,” he paused from eating. “Are you going to meet him again?” “Thank you, Benjy,” she said. “I’m glad you think so.” She was glad to see him continuing to eat. She knew it wasn’t really supposed to make a difference, but she liked to think that when he ate a lot of her food that it somehow helped make up for all the sleep he lacked. “I think so,” she said. “We only discussed what my project is. But I’ll need to meet with him to collect specimens and other documentation. It could take weeks, or months, for this to end. I suppose I could leave it up to him, if he starts to enjoy meeting with me,” she felt awkward saying that. “Or if he isn’t interested in a friendship, then he could do things quickly, or send any information to me through his secretary. So I’ll have to see what his response is, and then react accordingly.” Her face went blank for a moment and then, without a word, she stood up and walked over to her purse and pulled out a plastic bottle of bills and sat down at the table. She opened it up and handed two of them to Benjy. “Take these,” she said. And then, as though she hadn’t just randomly handed him Muggle medicine, she continued on with the earlier train of thought. “And speaking of that, that’s why I said you ought to come here through floo. And I think we...” She paused, because she didn’t really want to say this, she didn’t really want to change things. “I think we shouldn’t meet to walk home together anymore. Or walk to each other’s houses. Even if it is just next door. But always apparate, or come by floo.” Benjy stared down at the two pills he had taken from Emmeline, blinking at them and wondering what they were for. He recognised them as Muggle medicine, but he’d never taken any, and he didn’t think he would ever need it, since -- well, he was a wizard, obviously. Benjy wanted to ask her about them, but he was distracted when she started talking again, and his concentration switched from the pills to Emmeline herself. The idea of them not walking back home together didn’t please him at all, because he had been so used to it, and he liked their talks. He was surprised that she was certain about keeping their relationship a secret, as he’d thought she had qualms about it, and it was one of the reasons he decided that perhaps they could still walk home together, as they were neighbours, and nothing very suspicious could come out of it. Still, he knew it was the right step to take, even if it was going to take some time for him to adjust. “All right,” he said, though he was still feeling slightly reluctant. “And we should keep warding to each other in journals, too.” Benjy held up the two pills, managing another smile. “What are these for, Emmeline?” Emmeline sensed he felt a little reluctant. Her hands lay idle on the table, although she wanted to touch him. She just watched him, with her eyes wide, as though she were studying him. In a way, she was. “I wish we could,” she said. “But if you want us to keep this a secret then we need to be careful. Mr. Avery asked me some questions today. About a Mr. Vance, and I told him there wasn’t anyone in my life, that I was married to my work. I don’t know that he would see, and if he saw if he even cared. But if he is a Death Eater and he were to suspect me, it would look suspicious that I said I was single and yet I was spending so much time with you. And I wouldn’t want him to try and find out things about you, if he is a Death Eater.” She frowend, looking very thoughtful. “I don’t mind if something happens to me,” she said. "I'm really not very helpful. But I don't want anything to happen to you. In the end," she said, her frown deepening. "I think you would be in more danger than I am, if people knew about us." It was difficult for her to say. She was the one who hadn't wanted to keep it secret, and she wanted it even less now. There were good reasons for it, but Emmeline just wanted this -- whatever it was they had -- to be simple and easy. It felt like nothing was simple or easy about her life right now. "Ginko Biloba," she said, looking out the window. "For your memory. I got the bottle for you." Benjy wasn’t going to argue with her; he knew it would be pointless to do so, and it was his idea in the first place for them to be careful. Instead of feeling reluctant about it, he knew he should feel grateful that she understood their positions, even though he didn’t necessarily agree that he was in more danger than she was, especially now that she was directly linked to a suspicious Purist. And it seemed like they had spent the last several minutes talking more about their relationship and how to be careful. “For my memory?” he chuckled, as he didn’t think that he was suffering from memory loss, though he had to admit that he did feel scatterbrained sometimes. “You’re making me feel old,” he told her teasingly, putting his hand on hers. “Am I?” she said, her frown starting to melt away when he put her hand on hers. She squeezed his. “I’m not trying to make you feel old. Memory loss isn’t something to be ashamed of. Many men suffer from it. I just think you should take it, you might feel more collected. And then I won’t need to worry about you forgetting little things here and there.” She smiled warmly at him, feeling relaxed and glad they could just have this moment together. Forgetting about Avery, and the Order, and their secrets -- it was just a sweet, simple and easy moment. The sort of moments she wanted to keep having with Benjy. “No, not really,” he looked even more amused as she kept on talking, and had to keep himself from laughing, since he knew that Emmeline was being perfectly serious. Instead, he smiled at her warmly -- regardless of his amusement, he really did appreciate that she was looking out for him. He supposed he should have noticed it ages ago that that was what she had been doing. Then again, really, he had been slow at noticing a lot of things. “I’ll take these and let you know if my memory’s improved,” he still kept his hand on hers. “What are your plans for the weekend?” He was aware that it was almost out of the question, to ask her what she was up to during the weekdays, since she would be busy with her work, and he was the same way. “Keep taking them,” she encouraged him. “You don’t need to feel old. I take lots of vitamins, too.” She made a funny face. “Vitamins every day might keep the Healers away,” she said in a sing-song voice. She had made this up herself after an unfortunate visit to the hospital wing at Hogwarts. Emmeline hated taking potions, which is why she took every precaution she could to keep from needing to. She loved the way his hand was so warm on his. “I’ll be studying some,” she said. “The law, you know. And I suppose I ought to go see my family. I haven’t seen them the last two weekends.” She had an odd expression on her face, as though she were worried about something. “They might worry,” she said. “And they don’t have the luxury of coming to find me, if they are worried.” The expression on her face relaxed somewhat. “But,” she said softly. “That doesn’t mean I couldn’t make time.” Because she really hoped she would get to see him. “What are your plans?” Benjy pulled a face. “You’re starting to sound like my brother when he lectures his kids,” he shook his head at the memory. He put on a mock-solemn tone. “But yes, of course, doctor.” “I was thinking about meeting up old Doge and then going through those Wizengamot files,” remembering that she had also volunteered to look at the files during the Order meeting, he added, “you could come look at them with me, if you have some free time from studying.” Benjy smiled at her sheepishly. “Not exactly the most romantic date, I know. I’m planning to visit my family on Sunday. We’re celebrating my father’s birthday, and they’ve insisted I come, or else they’ll come ransacking my place again, or so they’ve threatened.” Emmeline laughed a little. “I’m not lecturing you,” she said. “I’m just trying to take care of you.” She couldn’t help but make a slight face at his idea of a date. “That’s not even a date,” she said. “If Elphias is there. I don’t mind going through things with him, but you can’t call it a date.” She shook her head a little, a weak smile on her lips. “But I would like to look at them, and study them. It would be helpful for me to know what to ask Avery.” She paused. “You know,” she said, “Dates don’t just have to be on the weekends.” Now she really did sound like she was lecturing him. There was a little smirk on his lips as Benjy leaned forward, an almost challenging expression on his face. “Are you implying you’d leave some of your work and go on a secret date with me, Emmeline?” Emmeline stared at him a moment, and then leaned forward and kissed him. He didn’t expect her to kiss him, but he kissed her back, and not as lightly as he had when they went out on their date a couple of nights ago. Benjy smiled a little into their kiss before he pulled away slightly. “I take that as yes?” “Yes,” she said. “I’m good at managing my time. Besides, I have a lot of projects, but I can’t just work all the time. Neither can you,” she said. “Even though I don’t think you admit it to yourself. At least the journals are taken care of, so outside of work my only project is the legislation. And I don’t need to rush through my next project for work, although I’ll have a hard time keeping myself away from it.” She smiled goofily, thinking about all the brains she was going to study. “I’ll have my hands on werewolf brains,” she said. “And maybe a hag.” She looked at him carefully. “But don’t tell anyone.” Most people would probably find it terribly strange if they were in Benjy’s position and their girlfriend was talking about werewolf and hag brains while they were talking (never mind that he had just finished his food), and maybe somewhere in his subconscious, Benjy was wishing that Emmeline wasn’t talking about brains at that particular moment, but said subconscious wasn’t really taking precedence in his mind at that moment. “I promise I won’t tell anyone,” there was a pause, and he raised his eyebrows a bit. “If you kiss me again.” Emmeline just laughed, and lifted a hand to cup his chin. “For the sake of all Unspeakables,” she said. She scooted her chair forward and pressed her lips against his, tasting cheese and broccoli and not even finding it strange. It was no sacrifice to kiss him, and she would be happy to give him more than just one. |