lystrom nott just has a lot of feelings (trawls) wrote in thedept, @ 2013-09-01 21:59:00
WHO Lystrom Nott + Vineeta Dupal WHAT What's next for Lystrom Nott, you ask? WHEN Around the last week of November 2029 WHERE Dupal's office RATING/WARNINGS Language as always. STATUS Finished. TO BE AIRED Yes
It was dark inside the room.
“You really have no plans to turn on the lights, do you?”
Vineeta looked up from the parchment that she held, glasses low, barely hanging by the nose, her face illuminated by four tea candles contained in their jars. That was about the only natural light source that the office had as the other came from the wide window behind her which showcased a snowy Hogsmeade, its blue light dressing everything else in its wintry gloom. “I’m the one reading here, aren’t I?”
Lystrom shrugged and looked again to his feet stretched out before him. Ages back, he would have been compelled to sit with a straight form, squared shoulders and all but eleven years later...well, he couldn’t even begin to bother, anymore. Vineeta certainly didn’t mind so what’s the fuss? While the silence persisted, he pulled his long, charcoal fleet coat tighter around him and tugged his maroon cashmere scarf down. It was the last week of November and Maintenance got a bit too excited for the next month so they decided to make it winter in certain parts of the Ministry which was met with equal parts of delight and groaning. The register office mostly approved of it and was shirking from work to decorate the room in Chrismas cheer.
Inside, the only Christmas spirit Lystrom could sense was that of Uncle Scrooge’s office.
Vineeta carefully set the parchment down and looked at him, again. “Are you really decided on this?”
“I wouldn’t go to you if I wasn’t.”
“Any particular reason why?” Vineeta shrugged her shoulders carefully. “Is it the pay? The work?”
Lystrom shook his head. “It’s...it’s both nothing and everything.”
Vineeta only tilted her head a little to the side.
Lystrom cleared his throat as he straightened up. Somehow the movement made Bark peek out from under his seat to see if maybe her owner had need of her. “This was...never going to be forever. You knew that on the onset.”
“Actually, no,” Vineeta said. “I didn’t. After eleven years of you working here, I thought you’d stay with us forever.”
“Is that a joke?” Lystrom asked, confusion on his brows. “Are you being sarcastic?”
“No.” Vineeta shook her head. “And not only that...but you and I both know why you are here to begin with.”
Lystrom pressed his lips together as he looked down.
“With a case like that, I never entertained the idea of accepting your resignation letter.”
“I thought the same when I was younger,” Lystrom said, looking to her. “But...well, things have changed now. Things are different. And I realised...I don’t think I could stay here forever, after all.”
“There must be something.”
“It was both nothing and everything,” Lystrom repeated. “The job is good as far as being employed is concerned but...you know, it’s not just about the job, anymore. It’s...it’s the environment, the nature of it, the people we’re getting, the attention--”
“Is it the documentary?”
Lystrom didn’t answer.
“Lystrom, the documentary is about to end! Soon we won’t have cameras eavesdropping on us, soon you won’t be the talk of the show! Can’t you wait it out?”
“How about the effects?” Lystrom asked with the same unaffected look. “Have you considered that?”
Vineeta paused. “...well.”
“This past year alone has seen a record high of magical accidents ranging from spiked cupcakes to enchanted lifts. This has never happened before the show aired and frankly, given the boost of new employees enamoured by the idea of fame simply by being hired, I’m not so confident they will just stop. Because if we couldn’t stop them before, who’s to say we can stop them now?”
Vineeta kept her silence.
“And even if I know I survived most of them before, I’m not so confident about the next ones, anymore. The weeks when I got...changed unwillingly made me realise that. I’m defenseless against these.”
Vineeta nodded.
“Vineeta, I’m not safe here anymore.”
“Security and the DMLE are now looking into that--”
“Please don’t forget the incident with AJ Salazar, on top of the fact that the DMLE are particularly fond of sneaking in potions at the very least.”
To this, Vineeta could only nod again.
“And,” Lystrom shrugged, “suppose I can say that a change of environment won’t be too bad. I know people who are even younger than me who are making something more out of their lives. I know it...’s a little difficult with my case but I can try.”
“Of course, I understand all of this,” Vineeta said, pushing her glasses back. “You’re a valuable member of the office, though. You know the works better than...many of your empowered counterparts. And barring your choice of vocabulary, you are a good worker. Diligent and focused. Just what everyone should be.”
“It’s not been easy being focused this late. Given all the new developments around...”
“We can make specific arrangements.”
“And draw more attention to me? Please don’t.” Lystrom shook his head. “I’m already crossing the tightrope as it is, given my case and my family’s opinion about it. Patchwork just won’t cut it, anymore. If I want to end this, I’ve got to go. I have to get out of this place.”
Vineeta didn’t hide her frown. “It would be a shame to lose someone like you.”
“You’ve got an influx of new officers, Vineeta. Pretty sure one of them has got to be the next Lystrom Nott.”
Vineeta only adjusted her spectacles to read his letter, again.
“When do you plan to leave?” she asked after a while.
“I figured December 6 would be a great day. All that partying,” Lystrom shrugged, again, “Could be my final hurrah.”
Vineeta nodded. “Is there really nothing I can do to make you change your mind?”
“No,” said Lystrom with a careful shaking of his head. Bark chose that moment to appear from under his chair and amble up to his lap. He picked her up and placed her there. “It’s just up to here for Lystrom and Bark now.”
“We’ll miss the cat.”
“Likely not,” Lystrom chuckled.
“What do you plan to do next?”
Lystrom shook his head. “Haven’t decided. I’ve got a few things in mind but I’m not in much of a hurry. Probably I’ll do something about my potions. Find a market the others haven’t tapped yet.”
“Actually, aren’t you well-supported by your family, anyway?”
Lystrom laughed. “Let’s not talk about that,” he said.
Vineeta only shook her head as she reached for a stamp and pressed a mark on the parchment. Then she took her quill and signed her name upon it. “I’ll take care of this from here,” she said, looking up to the blond man who stood up. “I’ll leave it up to you to make the announcement and find yourself a replacement. You should have many eager volunteers to learn from the Lystrom Nott himself.”
“I’ll look for someone who hates me, then,” said Lystrom. “Shouldn’t be a shortage of that either.”
Vineeta chuckled as she waved him away. “I will miss you, Lystrom Nott.”
“Likely not,” said Lystrom as he reached the door, opened it and left the room.