✷ ✷ ✷ ɐılnɾ ✷ ✷ ✷ (hurlyburly) wrote in thedisplaced, @ 2018-02-11 18:16:00 |
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Entry tags: | !log/thread, julia wicker, petunia dursley (au) |
Who: Julia Wicker and Petunia Dursley
What: Shopping
Where: One of the stores on the boat
When: Backdated to before Margo’s B-Day party
Rating: A for awww.
Petunia was trying to find something appropriate for Margo’s party. Not that she’d meant to wait this long to find something. It just seemed like she found some excuse to do something else instead or she hadn’t gotten enough sleep, so she was lazily not doing things. The reasons varied, but she was finally making the time to go to see what they had. She wanted to get something nice. She’d been considering something nice for Remus as well. She knew he didn’t need incentive to come with her anywhere, but she’d gotten to a point where she felt that she wanted to go further. She just hadn’t been sure how to bring it up despite the fact that her and Remus were already sharing a bed at night. It was easier at night when Remus was there and she found it easier to be herself in the situation. She’d needed a distraction. Eliot was upset and she didn’t know why. She didn’t like knowing that something was wrong and not knowing what it was or how she could help. She assumed others must understand that feeling as well. She at least had Kylo and Eliot to fuss over, however, because otherwise she wasn’t sure that she would make it through the days as well as she did. Without Harry and Dudley to take up all her time, it was hard to know what to do with herself and the time. She really wanted to have her boys, but if she couldn’t, then at least she had the Cottage. At least she could look after them. She paused, nearly bumping into someone. “Oh. Sorry.” “Oh, no, you’re okay,” Julia said apologetically. “I should have been paying closer attention. I’m Julia. I’m kinda new here. I just thought I’d pick up a few changes of clothing.” In the witch’s arms were a pair of high waisted black pants, black leggings, black high waisted skinny jeans, a black t-shirt and a black tank top. The extra pair of flats she selected were red at least. Thankfully with magic she was able to keep the clothes she arrived in clean on a daily basis, but it seemed a good idea not to push how long her clothes would last before they became unusably threadbare. Petunia offered a small smile. Julia. She bit back her initial response to the name. No one wanted to be known as someone that was simply based off of someone else’s existence. Plus, she couldn’t be entirely sure that it was her. But new here and Julia made her reasonably sure. “From the world with Eliot and Quentin?” There was a little nervousness at talking to new people who knew about the books. Quentin and Eliot were ridiculous about it, but that was just them. She’d gotten used to them and their unusual code speeches. “I’m Petunia,” she added. “It’s nice to meet you.” She looked at the clothes in Julia’s arms. She’d never worn leggings or skinny jeans. Well, she’d worn jeans in the 80s and so jeans could be a little tight, but she preferred her dresses, skirts, and blouses. Plus, now she could style her hair and make herself look nice again. So she was determined to forget her previous jeans style and the look on Eliot’s face when they first met each other and he saw her clothing. She found shoes she wanted and accessories, but...she still needed to try on a few other things to see if they went with what she wanted. “Margo’s birthday is coming up, so I needed to find an outfit to wear. I wish I could say I’d been busy to explain why I left it so late.” Julia did her best to keep the flash of recognition in her eyes neutral. It was replaced quickly, however, with a warm smile and nod. It was when Margo’s name was mentioned that the smile faltered and the hedge witch’s expression twitched just slightly to keep it in place. “Oh. You’re friends with Margo, too?” But Petunia didn’t seem wary of Julia, she thought. Or was that what the small smile was about? “That sounds like fun. Um, I’m just getting more clothes. Apparently everything is free so…” The way Julia said free indicated she wasn’t entirely convinced that was exactly the case. “...I thought I’d stock up in case things changed. Cute shoes.” At least she could offer a little bit of encouragement. Although, there was something else there, something that Julia really wanted to say but was hesitating to put to words. “They don’t… I mean, they haven’t talked about what happened back home have they?” Which was her round about way of trying to figure out if Margo mentioned Julia’s shadeless phase or anything else that had gone with it. “Well, Margo is Eliot’s friend.” Margo and Petunia hadn’t started off strong this go around. She’d been rude to Kylo and Kylo had come first for Petunia. She understood what he did, what had happened, but he was her family and no one came after her family. Except zombies, but they died when they tried it. “So I do what I can.” Margo tried, but Petunia wasn’t sure if she could say they were close. “It’s all free.” Petunia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It seems unusual. Maybe it will help if we show back up in Tumbleweed and I’ve lost my job or something.” She sighed at the thought, hoping that she hadn’t lost her job. She wasn’t sure she was qualified for much else. She glanced down at her shoes, smiling a little. “Thank you. They are a little higher than I usually go, but...I figured it couldn’t hurt for a little while and I can probably get a foot rub later if I have to.” She was pretty sure she could talk Remus into it. He was very good for those sorts of things. Julia’s question made Petunia pause. “I’ve heard some things about what happened for them. I don’t have much to go off for you other than your being friends and some sort of weird movements Quentin claims counts as dancing. I remain unconvinced.” But she smiled anyway. The boys could be a little ridiculous when there was drinking involved. The hedge witch wasn’t able to mask the relief at that either, or the grateful smile. It wasn’t just Q she had to worry about. None of Q’s friends really had reason to like her much. Except maybe Alice? Despite Julia’s role in bringing her back, Q seemed to get all the praise and blame for their trip together into the Underworld. “You’ll look great. Assuming I’m invited I will probably just wear what I’m wearing,” Julia confessed with a small smile. “So, you have a job back in Tumbleweed? Are things not free there?” Petunia noted the expression, but she decided not to comment on it. Instead she just looked around. “I think you should be invited. You can come with Remus and I.” She felt her face heat up a little. “I’ve been informed that there will be a lot of shirtless men at the party. I don’t know if that’s something that draws people in, but then this is Margo’s birthday, not mine.” Her birthday had been simple. She’d been happy just to have dinner with her friends. Eliot and Lily had planned it so well. She didn’t know that Lily had forgotten, a kindness that Eliot gave her, so she still thought that Lily had been quite instrumental in the planning. “I do. I work at the Dustbowl Museum. Things are not free there, no.” She laughed at that. “Which is why I’m making the most of this.” “Remus… Lupin?” Her eyes were slightly hopeful but her smile was soft at the invite. That was sweet of Petunia. She could see why the others liked her. At the mention of shirtless men, Julia sucked in a breath as though steeling herself. It probably wouldn’t be too bad. As long as it didn’t get too out of hand, and if it did, no one would stop Julia from ducking out early. “What do Eliot and Q do for money?” Julia asked. Yet another reason to kick Q in the shin the next time she saw him. There was a lot to go over, too much, but there seemed to be quite a few important details that hadn’t been brought up. She didn’t actually think Eliot or Q did anything for money, but it didn’t seem fair that Petunia would have to work if she lived with them. “Mhm. Yes. He seems to have a lot of popularity among people.” Not that she minded very much. As long as no one tried to take him away from her. She’d have let go if he’d been interested in going back to Tonks, but he said he wasn’t and he wanted to stay, so she selfishly kept him as her own. There was a slight shift in her gaze and her lips pressed together. “They...don’t work?” She was proud of herself for not wincing at that. “It’s not a big deal, though. Eliot makes wine and Quentin…” She looked down. “He’s been going through a lot. I don’t mind. I’m used to having to be the one to take care of people.” Julia did not look impressed. She was going to have a talk with Quentin and Eliot about that. “That doesn’t sound exactly fair. I mean, unless you want to work?” Julia had learned quite a bit of magic to avoid having to work, some of it may have involved stealing from ATM machines, but she had a few other less risky options as well. Petunia smiled. “I...well, I need something to do or I’ll go insane.” She shrugged a little. “At home, I had a lot of things to do. I had gardening and patrols and hunting and...well...I had a lot more to do than I do here.” She pulled her hair over her shoulder. “I don’t mind the work. It’s mundane and boring, but it’s also more than absolutely nothing. Which is why I spend a lot of time finding activities to do here. I don’t like to stay still for long.” She didn’t like to stay with her thoughts for long. She cleared her throat, moving towards a rack of dresses. “Back home zombies threaten everything, everyone. There aren’t zombies here, but I don’t have my boys and so I make do with what I do have. Quentin, Eliot, and Kylo are about as close to having children as I can right now and they are all so emotionally confused, I hardly know what to do with them sometimes, but they need me, I think, in some small way...and I need them, so it all works out in the end. I know it’s more than that. We’re family and we mean something to one another. We take care of one another. Even I am not the most emotionally competent person at times and they have to remind me of things I’ve told them.” She shrugged, pausing with her hand on a red dress. “It’s nice to have a purpose is all. So I don’t mind working and I don’t mind buying the milk every time they forget to tell me we’re out.” Julia was quiet for a moment. There was part of that she related to. The needing a purpose, the keeping busy to prevent thinking. And then part of her was made acutely aware just how much she missed out on Q’s life while he’d been here. Like being cut from Brakebills all over again. Julia logically knew not to be jealous of all of Quentin’s new friends, but there was just a small nagging part of her that couldn’t quite help it. “You should go with the red,” Julia said, deciding to change the subject instead. “It’s a good color on you.” Petunia took the dress, smiling a little at it. It was a little lower cut than she was used to, but then she had plans for it and she thought that Remus would appreciate it. “Thanks.” She looked at Julia for a moment. “You should come to the party if you’re not too busy. I know the others would want you to come. You can come stand with Remus and I.” The hedge witch smiled. Regardless of her feelings or her own insecurities, Petunia was sweet. Julia smiled and conceded with a nod, “Thank you. Just…” Her eyes caught that dress. It was pretty great. “...don’t let me be a third wheel.” She seemed to pick up vaguely on Petunia’s plans for that dress and in an insane situation more chaotic than anything even Ember could have come up with, it would have been a crime to get in the way of someone finding at least a little happiness in the situation. “I will definitely come to the party with you.” |