InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Happy hour!"

p . harkiss (eveningstars) wrote in valesco,
@ 2016-12-29 16:03:00

Entry tags:

adian rosenberg, arista sykes, arthur griffiths, benedito torres, bess fawcett, caradoc dearborn, caramel flume, dashiell ellerby, derek dobbs, drystan fawcett, eleanor podmore, elliot alderton, ellsinore alderton, ethan jordan, gabriel corner, group, hestia jones, howell williams, iris tutley, jake bexley, joaquín chambers, kendrick shacklebolt, kera ryan, larkin whitby, llewyn towler, louis bonaccord, matthew summerby, maximus fancourt, melania comstock, mina dippet, nicodemo penrose, nona pepper, octavius pepper, oliver comstock, penelope fawcett, perses burke, phillipa kiely, poe harkiss, rachel corner, rami dagworth, regan shacklebolt, rupert brookstanton, sage yates, saoirse mullet, siena orpington, sturgis podmore, theodosia grimstone, valeda harkiss-jordan, vivienne lufkin, wells dippet, willa montague, zayn shafiq

NEW YEAR'S EVE! OPEN TO ALL!

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KERA

auroared
2017-01-01 11:41 pm UTC (link)

Jake had never needed an alarm clock, even during his time at Hogwarts. He supposed that had been one good thing he’d allowed Ollie during that time, and the skill of waking up when he needed to had not left him since his school days. Somehow his subconscious was able to pick up when to wake, and this morning was no exception.

He slowly blinked awake, doing his best not to move very much. The sunrise over the canyon was soon, and with this being the first sunrise of the New Year, he didn’t wish to miss it. They’d made their tent only a few meters from the perfect spot to make for an easy venture, but as snow had fallen and temperatures were low, it often took some time to get properly dressed.

Maybe he should let Kera sleep for as long as she could. Jake turned his head to limit the movement of the mattress and he smiled at her in the dim light the tent provided. He wondered, as he dismissed the idea of leaving the bed without her, if there would be some way to keep the peacefulness the last few weeks had provided when they headed back home.

Pushing forward slowly, Jake pressed his nose to the side of her head.

“Kera,” he whispered, his hand going to rush up her arm. “The sunrise.”

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foxtrotter, 2017-01-01 11:54 pm UTC

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auroared, 2017-01-01 11:57 pm UTC

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foxtrotter, 2017-01-02 12:47 am UTC

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auroared, 2017-01-08 12:31 pm UTC

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foxtrotter, 2017-01-09 09:18 pm UTC

HELLO

vivantes
2017-01-02 10:45 pm UTC (link)

"How would you feel?----How would you feel? How would you feel---Rubbish, rubbish!"

Vivienne scratched the line out with an aggravated huff. Dialogue was proving to be the most difficult part of the writing process and she wondered how the thought had not occurred to her sooner. You didn't write fiction without dialogue! Well, she supposed she could, but an omnipresent narrator was rather difficult to control with the quill, especially for her first outing into the book-writing business. If she could even call it that; what did you call writing down snippets, vignettes of a story whose beginning and end you did not know?

Her journal had become a sanctuary for this development and she shut it and opened it again to try and rewrite the line, but once again it didn't sound right and she closed it once more. Vivienne sat back against the bench in the small park, knowing that her bouncing about and distraction tactics had to do with nerves, but she tried to keep herself collected, and cool, and composed.

Even she had to roll her eyes at herself, and when she went to put her book back into her purse, she saw Adian coming down the path and she smiled, tugging the book back into her lap. Her hands needed to hold onto something.

"Crummy weather we're having," she said, the grey clouds hiding away the sun. "I hope it's clear by midnight."

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picaro, 2017-01-06 10:57 pm UTC

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vivantes, 2017-01-08 02:15 pm UTC

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picaro, 2017-01-09 10:23 pm UTC

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vivantes, 2017-01-09 11:40 pm UTC

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vivantes, 2017-01-14 11:54 pm UTC

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picaro, 2017-01-15 01:50 am UTC

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vivantes, 2017-01-15 09:41 am UTC

HELLO

zipped
2017-01-03 01:21 am UTC (link)

"Can't call it a good night if you don't end up in the emergency room, huh?"

Siena's head bobbled to look up at the nurse, whose shit-eating grin made her want to kick out and pierce his skin. She didn't have the motor-function for it, however, and barely managed a glare through her dazed state. Her eyes dropped back down to her lap, getting lost in the sparkles of her dress, remembering how pretty she thought she'd looked, she hadn't felt so pretty in a while, it was...

"I can give you a sobering up potion if you---"

"I'm not----drunk."

She could feel his suspicious glance and Siena pulled her gaze back up. Hunched over with only one shoe on, her words must be hard to take seriously, but she shook her head with as much determination as she could muster. Which caused what felt like all of her brains and thoughts to swish and muddle around, and she winced.

"Sure you're not."

"I only had..." Siena narrowed her eyes, not noticing how she'd begun to teeter to the side. No, she'd only had...she couldn't be drunk. She didn't do that anymore, she was not drunk. "I'm not."

"Right, and I'm the minister of bloody magic."

"Millicent Bagnold has bigger balls than you!" Siena managed to snap, reaching a hand out to whack the charts from the nurse's hand and to the ground, scattering whatever parchment he'd had all over. "Get me a---real healer! Now!"

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nonacidic, 2017-01-10 11:43 pm UTC

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zipped, 2017-01-11 10:32 pm UTC

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nonacidic, 2017-01-15 08:37 pm UTC

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zipped, 2017-01-15 10:57 pm UTC

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nonacidic, 2017-01-22 12:13 am UTC

TALL DARK STRANGER

setsun
2017-01-03 09:26 pm UTC (link)

This party of Poe's was loud. And while that was usually something Mina could manage, she still had a few hours to go tonight by her brother's side as part of his intricately planned New Year's Eve. They weren't set to remain here in Scotland long, however; they hadn't been staying in one place for more than an hour at a time. So, after valiantly attempting her best to mingle and endure the exciting atmosphere that was expected from a Poe Harkiss gathering, Mina slipped away from the party. She had been to Poe's barn a few times before in the last few months, to work on projects here and there and ask Poe for his opinion on matters. She thought maybe...

Mina let out a sigh of relief when she saw, upon lighting a few lanterns, that Poe's workshop was empty. The quiet wrapped around her like a thick, warm blanket and her shoulders dropped as she closed the door behind her. She was intent on not disturbing anything, so Mina made her way carefully through the room, gliding to the closest seat with the least amount of clutter on before it.

Mindful, Mina pulled back her hair as she sat down. The intricate, twinkling details of her dress shimmered in the low light, catching the light in such a way that it bounced off the glass on the table. She shifted, looking down.

Remembralls? What was Poe doing with remembralls? Curious, Mina took out her wand again to produce more light. She did not touch, did not move the objects before her at all, simply inspected the few deconstructed magical objects. It appeared he had isolated the smoke within from the glass, but to what end...?

Looking over her friend's work, interested in what he had done, Mina did not realize someone else was in the room with her.

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cesura, 2017-01-04 02:32 pm UTC

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setsun, 2017-01-10 11:28 pm UTC

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cesura, 2017-01-11 12:19 am UTC

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setsun, 2017-01-11 01:13 pm UTC

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cesura, 2017-01-12 11:32 pm UTC

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setsun, 2017-01-15 11:29 pm UTC

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cesura, 2017-01-18 11:06 pm UTC

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setsun, 2017-01-19 06:01 pm UTC

NELLIE

protegos
2017-01-03 11:48 pm UTC (link)

It was supposed to be a quiet and simple New Year's; Sturgis knew it wouldn't have been too hard to wrangle the night off as his supervisor had been quite kind over the past few months with giving him whatever days he needed. As it were, New Year's had been one of them and tomorrow as well, and he'd been happy at the prospect of spending it alone with Nellie and Luke doing nothing more than eating a bit of crummy food and falling asleep before midnight.

He now felt, though, as he mulled over the St. Mungo's paperwork in his hands, that the night might not be as peaceful as he'd anticipated. Sturgis had been cleaning out the small office of his that was rarely used except for clutter when he'd found the parchment rolls, most of the healing jargon not making much sense to him, but what did...

Sturgis frowned, finding himself with the uncomfortable knot of realization in his stomach that he may not have all the facts.

Which was outrageous to think on its own. He and Nellie shared everything, told each other everything, never kept a secret or...when confronted with a situation he tried to be as honest as...maybe this was...

He felt caught-in-the-act when Nellie pushed the door open to enter and Sturgis began to roll the parchment back up.

"Sorry," he said, "were you calling me?"

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destinesias, 2017-01-08 01:17 am UTC

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protegos, 2017-01-08 09:49 pm UTC

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destinesias, 2017-01-09 11:24 pm UTC

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protegos, 2017-01-11 09:40 pm UTC

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destinesias, 2017-01-11 11:44 pm UTC

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protegos, 2017-01-12 10:26 pm UTC

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protegos, 2017-01-15 05:28 pm UTC

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destinesias, 2017-01-15 10:48 pm UTC

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protegos, 2017-01-21 07:38 pm UTC

HOO BOY 😬

redfrosts
2017-01-04 12:52 am UTC (link)

She was never moving again.

No, Larkin knew that statement wasn't true. But in this moment, looking upon this sparsely-filled flat (both her and Saul had pathetically few material possessions), the image made her sad. Well, she supposed many things lately made her sad recently, but this was certainly a physical representation of such an emotion. The living room would need a couch, a few chairs, to fill it up a bit. And the kitchen a bigger table. At least, that was how Joaquín had arranged it, so...

Larkin shook her head, her eyes closing for a moment as she held her face in her palms. She had thought... she had decided...

This was supposed to be a fresh start, a new start with a new year. Last year had been actual hell, and in an effort to get her life together, to get Saul's life together, she had decided they needed to start over. Saul needed to go to school, he needed to make friends, he needed a home, and she... she needed a job, a real job and a flat and a life that provided stability. That was right, wasn't it? Even though she knew it, even though she had decided this, it still felt... Larkin pressed her fingers to the edges of her nose, forcing herself to take a deep breath. In all this deciding, Nico had decided... he needed different things and that had led to...

She raised her head to crack her neck on her shoulders when a knock came from the door. Figuring who it would be, remembering he had mentioned he would stop by sometime today, Larkin set her shoulders back. She took a breath, guarded herself, and hoped that with this separation came less fighting between herself and Nico. She didn't know, she didn't really know... anything that was between them anymore. Was there anything? When she opened the door, she looked at him momentarily standing in the hallway before averting her eyes.

"He's in his room," Larkin said, not really sure what else to say. Why would Nico be here to see her? She pointed vaguely down the hall toward Saul's door before turning back toward the kitchen.

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picaron, 2017-01-11 01:04 am UTC

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redfrosts, 2017-01-17 10:54 pm UTC

RIP

bitedown
2017-01-04 06:13 pm UTC (link)

Perses knew who had murdered his father and grandfather. But, as he lay crumpled on Artie's kitchen floor, blood streaming from his eyes and air quickly leaving his lungs, information like that hardly seemed important now. Now, his thoughts were mostly focused on basic survival: grapple at his neck, reach for his broken wand, fight off his assailant. What else could he do? It all happened very suddenly, this man had charged him when he opened the door...

How could Asteria do this? His own sister, he... Perses gasped, his thoughts erratic and unfocused as he began to feel less and less pain. The wizard that had attacked him, who shoved the poison down his throat, backed away. He didn't need to hold Perses down any longer because... because...

Perses emitted a gargle and a moan, rolling to his side as the pain in his chest increased while the rest of his body went numb. Poison, his father and grandfather had been poisoned. Not by this one, no, but now him too... because... his sister... wanted...

Despite his best efforts, Perses' body began to shut down. His loud wheezing grew quiet, his feet stopped writhing against the tiled floor, and his gaze went black as his mind grew quiet. This was not how he expected he would die (somehow, he imagined something a little more violent and involving being impaled), and he didn't--- want--- He didn't want to die.

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divindicate, 2017-01-13 02:24 am UTC

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bitedown, 2017-01-15 04:47 pm UTC

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divindicate, 2017-01-15 10:08 pm UTC

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bitedown, 2017-01-16 09:12 pm UTC

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divindicate, 2017-01-17 03:31 am UTC

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bitedown, 2017-01-17 06:58 pm UTC

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divindicate, 2017-01-22 12:54 am UTC

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bitedown, 2017-01-23 03:32 pm UTC

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divindicate, 2017-01-23 04:19 pm UTC

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bitedown, 2017-01-23 06:27 pm UTC

PEPPER

billowing
2017-01-04 11:58 pm UTC (link)

Pippa pressed her nose up against the window pane, eyes as wide as saucers as she caught sight of the latest burst of fireworks over the town of Hogsmeade. She had always marveled at fireworks, was marveled by them, and even though she'd seen some of the grandest shows and displays on earth, her body still fluttered with excitement with even the smallest spray of dazzling light in the sky.

They were a beautiful way to encompass a variety of happiness; celebration, rejuvenation, sheer fun, congratulations, love, mischief, new beginnings! Fireworks sparkled because people were happy and Pippa could say that at this point in her life she could appreciate quite a bit of that sentiment.

Her newly unemployed status was a big part of this wonderful mood she was in; she and Llewyn had departed Tinworth Abbey in the most dramatic of ways and together, like true love should. While her on-air love had James Bonn to occupy himself, Pippa had expressed great interest in taking some time off, as she had not had any in quite some time. This had rather infuriated her father, but seeing as he was no longer her agent and therefore had no control over what she did with herself, Pippa found it easy to dismiss his great annoyance. Distractions helped.

She whirled around as her biggest distraction entered the bedroom. His bedroom. Pippa, feeling happy and wild, leaned back against the window sill and crossed her legs, making a great show of how she had stolen one of Octavius' shirts (again) and that it was all she was wearing. Even if they were supposed to, maybe, probably make a WWN event before midnight.

"I am far from ready," she said quite unnecessarily, her hair rather large around her head.

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orpheo, 2017-01-11 03:45 am UTC

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billowing, 2017-01-14 11:44 pm UTC

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orpheo, 2017-01-16 01:10 pm UTC

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billowing, 2017-01-21 08:53 pm UTC

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orpheo, 2017-01-22 04:38 am UTC

WILLA

harkback
2017-01-05 02:10 am UTC (link)

He didn't know why he had come to this party. No, he did, he just didn't want to admit it. And now, it was getting late; even Kendrick and Hestia had disappeared, and---

Llewyn took another swing from his drink, long having lost track of how much he consumed. That was probably for the best, though. When you pathetically tagged along after your best friend and his girlfriend to a party that 'everyone was going to' with a secret hope of seeing one person, and that person never showed up, maybe--- maybe a burn like that should be forgotten. Or remembered? He didn't know, he didn't know what to do and he felt increasingly---

Llewyn stopped, his thoughts coming to a halt as out of the corner of his eye, he caught a familiar flash of hair. It wasn't the same color as when he had last seen her, but it reminded him of when--- before, and---

He put his drink on the ground, not thinking as his feet had him following what he assumed was the back of Kera's head. If she was here when Jake wasn't, then did that mean...? He had to find out, he had to talk to her, she hadn't even read---

It wasn't right for him to be so bold, but alcohol and desperation created fearless brashness. Llewyn reached out for her arm from behind, his brow furrowing as his eyes glazed over her hair, her face, to immediately pull her into a kiss. She wouldn't talk to him, he knew, if he tried to speak to her first, but maybe she would understand what he had to say with this.

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palmerskiss, 2017-01-05 01:04 pm UTC

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harkback, 2017-01-10 10:47 pm UTC

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palmerskiss, 2017-01-11 11:02 pm UTC

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harkback, 2017-01-12 01:12 am UTC

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palmerskiss, 2017-01-14 08:19 pm UTC

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harkback, 2017-01-14 11:57 pm UTC

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palmerskiss, 2017-01-15 05:53 pm UTC

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harkback, 2017-01-15 08:35 pm UTC

HESTIA

unbolted
2017-01-05 02:44 am UTC (link)

It honestly took Kendrick by surprise, how amorous a display of fireworks could make his girlfriend.

He should have guessed, he realised as he pressed forehead to the pillow, thoroughly spent, as he remembered a conversation involving unicorns that had taken a similar turn. Although he was still intimately entwined with her, a great swell of affection for Hestia moved him to kiss from one shoulder clear to the other one, very mindful of the giggles that sounded when his lips danced across her collar bone.

They had had a very successful New Year's Eve, he thought. Kendrick hadn't even been put on-call, and though he had feared he would fall asleep before midnight, Hestia and Llewyn in combination with her friend Poe's party had ensured that most assuredly would not happen. They'd departed shortly after the grandiose fireworks display, and while his head still felt rather tingly, he could not say for certain if that was due to the few drinks he had consumed earlier in the evening.

Moving gingerly to the side, Kendrick propped his head up with one arm as he slid one arm across Hestia's stomach so that it cupped her waist lightly, his thumb massaging light circles on her warm skin.

"Well," he grinned down at her, "thank goodness there's only one new year to ring in." Kendrick ducked his head to place a kiss just under her earlobe. "I might not have survived another one."

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thebriny, 2017-01-08 10:00 pm UTC

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unbolted, 2017-01-10 10:52 pm UTC

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thebriny, 2017-01-11 01:54 am UTC

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unbolted, 2017-02-02 07:32 am UTC

STRAGGLER

intolittlestars
2017-01-05 03:20 am UTC (link)

It was a bit hard to get away for a simple date night with two small children. It was even harder for two adults who were only free when the other was working and without the luxury of being able to afford time off. It was, therefore, easy to imagine how much harder it was when one of those adults was also afflicted with lycanthropy.

Difficult, but not impossible—at least, not with the help of the most courteous sister-in-law, who offered to watch your children free of charge, and a night when most businesses closed in anticipation of the revelry about to commence on one of the most magical nights of the year.

That is, most of the shops were closed.

Elsie convinced herself rather easily that she and Elliot deserved a nice night out, and she was adamant about taking advantage of time for themselves whenever the opportunity presented itself in the chaos that was their everyday lives. What better time than New Year's Eve? Luxurious parties and dancing into the night perhaps wasn't them, but dinner out? Drinks? Why ever not?

As they strolled the emptying cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley at this late hour, she had to admit that a fine dinner outside did not necessarily feel like them either. But sometimes it was nice to pretend, Elsie supposed. The night felt rather like a first date than a couple in their seventh year of marriage, flirting as they had over menus, drinking one too many glasses of wine, nudging feet under the table. Their life was their own, but what was the harm in sampling a taste of something else?

Which reminded her…

She skipped in front of Elliot, placing her hands on his chest. "Are you ready for a little midnight surprise?" Elsie asked, smiling up at him.

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fortunesfool, 2017-01-05 10:23 am UTC

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intolittlestars, 2017-01-06 04:10 am UTC

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fortunesfool, 2017-01-06 11:30 am UTC

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intolittlestars, 2017-01-17 03:45 am UTC

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fortunesfool, 2017-01-21 09:57 pm UTC

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intolittlestars, 2017-01-23 11:27 pm UTC

BRUV

mythoclast
2017-01-06 12:59 am UTC (link)

This was a very strange place.

Endless row after endless row of garage-looking doors... a funny smell in the air... uncomfortable lighting above... If he didn't know better, Caradoc would've thought Derek brought him to this "storage locker" to kill him and properly hide his body in a place that it would never be found.

If he knew better. He did, of course; Derek had told him before they left why they were coming here. It was the exact reason why he continued to hold his tongue instead of verbalize the less-than-thrilled observations he had about where they were. It did not stop him from being expressive, however...

When Derek pulled open the door with his bare hand, Caradoc made a face, one distinct with displeasure. That was hardly... secure. To avoid touching anything, he tugged his hood further over his head and slipped through after Derek before the door shut with a slam.

"There were no wards on that door," he hissed to Derek, his brow furrowed. It was a fact, not an observation, and therefore open for discussion. He shook his head, not understanding why Derek would hold such an important cash of objects... here. When he stopped abruptly before a door no different from the rest, Caradoc saddled up close to watch his friend.

When Derek took out a key from his pocket, Caradoc nearly exasperated to the ground. A key? How much more muggle could you get?

"I could break this with my hand, Derek," Caradoc stated, and immediately pushed Derek's hand away from the lock to tug at it.

"Derek, look. Watch. This is embarrassing. I feel embarrassed for you right now. You're a wizard. A hit-wizard. How could you---" Caradoc broke off, suddenly realizing he was having trouble ripping the lock off the door as he said he could.

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monomythic, 2017-01-12 02:50 am UTC

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mythoclast, 2017-01-15 07:08 pm UTC

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monomythic, 2017-01-24 12:29 am UTC

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mythoclast, 2017-01-24 04:05 pm UTC

MR CORNER

queenship
2017-01-06 02:10 am UTC (link)

This was a tradition she approved of, travelling somewhere new to ring in their anniversary (and the new year, of course). Thus far, Japan was very interesting. They had been in Kyoto Prefecture for a little over a day, and Rachel already found it to be beautiful and unlike anything she had ever seen before (at least, she thought so) and was eager to explore more. She had noticed the culture to be unique to most any other place she remembered visiting, which made getting by the slightest bit more difficult. But the two of them were used to knowing little of the native language, and had never experienced much of a problem—that is to say, it had never been much of a problem until…

"I ate fish sperm."

There was a look of such disbelief on her face as they (she) walked hurriedly away from the little restaurant where hardly a lick of English was spoken. Her face was rather white, and if one looked carefully (which was discouraged), tinged with a bit of green. She'd understood nothing on the menu, and in the spirit of adventure, had asked for a recommendation. She'd understood only that it was fish, and perhaps something to do with an egg, which seemed like a fine choice as she enjoyed caviar every now and again.

"Do not laugh, Gabriel Lawrence!" she ordered her husband, pointing a finger at him accusingly.

It had looked nothing like caviar, tasted nothing like caviar, and after an ultimate crude round of charades with the waiter to inquire just what the dish was, they departed the restaurant with a full understanding of what she'd ordered.

Deciding a more drastic measure was needed, Rachel prodded him in the shoulder with said finger, adding, "Do not even breathe."

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thewayitis, 2017-01-08 01:12 pm UTC

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queenship, 2017-01-24 12:51 am UTC

MRS SAOIRSE MULLIAMS

quietwolf
2017-01-06 02:45 am UTC (link)

He felt like he was floating.

Howell was floating, as a matter of fact, about six inches off the ground thanks to something dubiously named a Billywig Blast, but he really felt like he was floating. But not like he was on a broom, just like he was… floating. In the air. By himself.

But he wasn't by himself, and he knew that because his hand was buzzing where it was being grasped by someone else's. And also because he could turn his head to look at her. Which he did, because he had something direly important that he had to tell her right this moment.

"I…" Howell started dreamily, gazing up at the sky. The sky was so pretty. Did Saoirse think the sky was pretty? Did Saoirse think she was pretty like the sky, as Howell did? Because he definitely did.

"I hope Jago is okay," he said vaguely, a slight crinkle marring his otherwise relaxed brow. "I hope the sleeping draught was enough." The dog whined and shook and tried to hide from the fireworks every year, and who could blame him? They were so… big. And loud. And bright. And beautiful…

His eyes widened slightly when a new thought dawned on him. "What if it was too much?"

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waspsting, 2017-01-08 10:45 pm UTC

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quietwolf, 2017-01-24 01:52 am UTC

BENEDITO

thegoldfinch
2017-01-06 03:56 am UTC (link)

Arista had a small (all right, it was rather a big deal, flying with the Golden Angels) engagement before heading to the party, so she'd arranged to meet Artie there. After the performance, she'd had to fly home and make herself look presentable, even if tonight didn't seem all that… orthodox? Apparently, they were going to be in a barn of some sort, which was neither a metaphor nor any kind of codename, but an actual agricultural structure in a field.

Wherever it was, she still wanted to look nice and not as if she'd just passed through a hurricane.

Now late and fervently hoping Artie was either uncharacteristically late, or had found friends to entertain him whilst waiting for her, she found the barn after only a minor issue and went about searching for her boyfriend (after a drink, of course). Scanning the crowd as she wandered, a figure in the distance caught her eye as it headed in her direction. The wavy-haired silhouette brought a smile to her face as she stepped forward to meet him.

And swiftly dropped when the silhouette stepped into the light and she realised it was not, in fact, Artie but someone else entirely that she'd just awkwardly placed herself in the path of.

She wondered if it would be rude to turn and walk away now that he'd seen her.

Well, it was definitely rude, but she wondered how much she cared.

Apparently, Arista cared a little, as she hadn't turned abruptly on her heel by the time the wizard was in hearing distance of her. "Benny," she acknowledged, replacing her previously pleased expression with a tight smile that was really no smile at all.

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aybendito, 2017-01-08 05:20 pm UTC

HUSBAND

onesweetlove
2017-01-06 12:09 pm UTC (link)

Sadie Fawcett was very lucky that her mother loved her. 'My friends are back from school!' she'd cried. 'I never get to see them!' she'd lamented. 'It'll only be a few hours!' 'I've never thrown a New Year's party before!'

'Charlie is always saying that your pies are better than his mum's!'

Bess knew quite certainly that the last bargaining chip was a bold-faced lie produced by her nearly ten-year-old daughter, but she couldn't say that it hadn't made her feel rather good, even for a split second, that someone preferred her pies over the Molly Weasley's. Sadie had even traded in a grand tenth birthday party for a New Year's celebration and while Bess had accepted the offer she knew that there was no way a milestone birthday like that would be ignored in the Fawcett household.

Though with the headache she currently had, she may never throw another party for a person under the age of seventeen again. The house was full of children: Fawcett children, Weasley children, and other little magical mischief makers that roamed the streets of Ottery St. Catchpole. The party games and food and music and loud noises made it feel like 1988 would ever arrive. Bill Weasley had been gracious enough to offer his services as a chaperone, but he'd muttered that it had been more of his mother's bright idea to get all of her brood out of the house.

Perhaps Bess would take a lesson from Mrs. Weasley next year.

Unable to take one more surprise firecracker in the ear, Bess quickly darted into the laundry room, where no sane child would ever willingly find themselves. She shut the door behind her and locked it quickly, only to be startled that she wasn't alone. After her surprise wore off, she frowned.

"How long did you make it out there?" she chided her husband, who seemed to have set up camp with his own serving tray of food and drinks. Bess eyed everything carefully, thinking that she probably should have kept a closer eye on Drystan, that she would have been given some solitude sooner.

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brythonichero, 2017-01-12 01:50 am UTC

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onesweetlove, 2017-01-14 08:43 pm UTC

ms shacklebolt

extemporise
2017-01-06 06:24 pm UTC (link)

"What else?"

Rami leaned into the doorframe, listening to Rhoda Mercer's monotoned recount of her day. But, just like the day before, she provided little information they didn't already know. Red robe mercenaries were entrusted with unsurprisingly little information about their duties, and usually nothing about the overarching organization they worked for. Even after a month of controlling her every move, Rami had still learned almost nothing about this 'event' that was in the works. It was happening sometime soon and a lot of resources were being pulled in preparation for it, but besides that...

He glanced down at his watch.

"That's enough," he said, and he raised his wand toward Mercer. With a flick she slumped into her couch, asleep and unaware as always that they met and she expelled secrets to him like this. Without another word, Rami slipped out the flat and disapparated. In addition to the witch having no new information, it was New Year's Eve, and after last year, Rami was keen for the night to go smoothly. He could not come home late, nor miss their dinner reservation even by a minute or else all this planning would have been for nothing.

When he stepped into the front foyer of his and Regan's home, Rami realized he was not properly dressed for the night. Another wave of his wand and a slow descent down his form had his clothes morphing into dress robes. Just one more wave and---

"These are for you," Rami said, handing Regan the flowers and cookies when he appeared before her. She could not bring them to dinner, this restaurant was exhaustively expensive and sophisticated, but... He smiled, just a little, as he had thought he wanted her to have them because it would make her smile. He leaned in for a kiss, knowing to be mindful of her makeup when she was getting ready to go out.

"You look beautiful," Rami murmured, his hand falling to brush down her waist. "Happy New Year."

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shackitoff, 2017-01-08 06:20 pm UTC

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extemporise, 2017-01-16 12:12 am UTC

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shackitoff, 2017-01-21 09:29 pm UTC

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extemporise, 2017-01-22 01:05 am UTC

LEDA

wyngardium
2017-01-06 07:06 pm UTC (link)

After spending a portion of the evening feeling far too old to be at a party like Poe's, Ethan was beginning to feel a bit better with his age, that he was in fact still young at heart. Not that he'd actually had a reason prior to arriving at the barn to feel that way, but maybe it had to do with the fact that it had become somewhat innate to find himself concerned with Leda's little brother. He was his little brother-in-law now, sure, and maybe concerned wasn't the right word, but he felt almost as if he had to play chaperone, which was ridiculous, but---

"You're awfully good at sneaking around this place," Ethan whispered to Leda, looking around the darkness of her childhood home. His eyebrows rose as his grin widened and he continued to follow her.

Escaping the loudness of the barn had been welcome, but especially so because of his wife's brilliant idea to lay some well-thought-out traps for the host of the evening where he may least expect it.

"He's going to retaliate," he said as he took hold of the railing of the stairs, his tone void of nerves and bubbling with excitement.

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faircygnus, 2017-01-08 11:50 pm UTC

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wyngardium, 2017-01-14 09:42 pm UTC

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faircygnus, 2017-01-15 10:26 pm UTC

CARAMEL

soundedfury
2017-01-06 07:24 pm UTC (link)

Artie had been pleasantly surprised that the insides of The Barn did not actually look much like a barn at all, and that there were no bales of hay to be strewn about or tossed into. Which didn't really help with all the bumping into him people were doing as this had somehow become the New Year's party to be at, but he had to give and take what he could. It would be better when Arista showed up or if he had been able to drag Perses with him (and where was Iris? She said she'd come...).

Ducking away from the bouncing crowd as a rather rambunctious and nostalgic Hobgoblins hit played, Artie made his way down the long table of food. He was unsure why, as he didn't particularly like finger-food for a number of reasons, but maybe there would be something for him to enjoy. At least his drink was good, but the order in which the snacks were scattered did seem lacking...

"You can tell this is not a Cara Flume prepared party," Artie remarked. He'd reached the end of the table that now separated him and Cara and smiled. He had not seen her in a long time and was rather surprised that this was the location where they'd bump into each other.

He tapped the bottom of his bottle to the table and watched as it filled up again, bubbling and brand new. "Though that's pretty convenient."

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condolcezza, 2017-01-13 12:18 am UTC

HELLO

braggadocian
2017-01-07 12:48 am UTC (link)

Iris had highly miscalculated how awkward it was to wear a skin tight dress made of sequins underneath her work robes. She squirmed on the stool behind the counter of The Wondrous Wand Repair Shop (she needed to get that name changed), watching the hands of the clock move as slow as molasses through time. New Year's Eve had been a bargaining chip for her and the few employees the store she only legally owned; she'd work the closing shift that night and then...not have to do another closing for the rest of the year.

Seemed fair enough, until she'd found herself sitting silently bored with her outfit, hair, and makeup done for hours.

She never had much to do on the holiday, so she hadn't been bothered by the deal until Artie Griffiths of all people mentioned going out for the evening. Iris was trying to stir up her life back in England, her very splotchy history from the past near decade causing her to have few and far between memories of those she considered friends, so it had been something she wanted to do. Creating some foundation would be beneficial, it would be fun, maybe she'd even get a kiss at midnight by a tall dark and handsome stranger...

"Merlin's saggy left," Iris muttered as the doorbell jingled. She did her best not to glower at the customer who had entered no more than two minutes before the doors would have magically locked themselves up. She mustered up a smile and straightened, fixing her collar and causing a sequined sleeve to reveal itself underneath the slipping fabric of her robes.

"Welcome to Wondrous Wand Repair, where we work wonders!" Iris held back her eye roll, thinking that the welcome speech needed a bit of a tune up as well. "How can I help you?"

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connard, 2017-01-11 11:43 pm UTC

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braggadocian, 2017-01-15 12:21 am UTC

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connard, 2017-01-23 08:41 pm UTC

POTIONS MASTER

peophin
2017-01-07 04:55 am UTC (link)

It occurred to Penelope one day, as she flopped back on the tabletop in a vain attempt to catch her breath from the distraction that had caused them to miss their proposed afternoon of ice skating, that Sage was a very adept potioneer. And as a very adept potioneer, would he not surely have a great command of many, many potions? Love potions, even? For that was the only explanation she could think of for this—this obsession that she could not shake.

Not in school (she'd have fainted if he'd ever gotten so close), nor perhaps Beau's party (she hadn't taken anything from him), but—surely there was some explanation! Sneakily well-timed doses of the Elixir to Induce Euphoria? A worrisome amount of Felix Felicis to ensure he always got—lucky?

One night, in a frankly loopy stupor from what they'd just finished, Penelope actually voiced this general concern of hers aloud—though, to this day, she vehemently denied it. But them, and public outings? Not so much. Which was why when she discovered they were both going to Poe's party…

"We can't go together," she insisted. They couldn't even make it out the door most times! They would meet there. And needed to observe a space bubble. And probably should be holding something, in both hands! Empty hands invited mischief. Despite her absolute absurdity, Penelope was determined to prove, if only to herself (and the love potions master), that she was not ruled solely by hormones.

Feeling quite smart, she'd arrived, visited friends, played party games, nibbled on snacks, and… seen Sage.

If Penelope was thinking right now, she'd have been scandalised. But right now, she was only concerned that even her arms wrapped around Sage's shoulders left too much distance between them. Pressing against him, she lifted her hand to draw his head further down when a discordant tinkling sound snapped her out of her daze. The glass she'd so insistently carried around, now empty, had just dropped to the ground. And shattered.

"Whoops," she murmured, looking down.

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theodyssey, 2017-01-08 08:55 pm UTC

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peophin, 2017-01-10 02:59 am UTC

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theodyssey, 2017-01-12 10:51 pm UTC

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peophin, 2017-01-22 05:42 am UTC

bougeotte
2017-01-07 07:41 pm UTC (link)

“I still can’t believe that this is what you decided to do with your New Year’s Eve.”

Louis felt his metaphorical feathers being ruffled and he blinked wearily at Joaquín Chambers before he got back into his stance.

Right now he was focused, right now he was choosing to ignore a few things that had him bothered; that he had to get to work in an hour, that he’d had a minor panic attack earlier in the day about how much space there was in the new house, how he’d been teased about a midnight kiss and his thoughts had drifted where they shouldn’t have---

“C’mon,” Louis urged before his mind could wander further away from the task at hand. “I told myself I would have this done before the year was up and I’ve got less than an hour to get it.”

Chambers nodded in amused approval and with a wave of his wand the candles in the room dimmed until he could no longer see the other man. Immediately, Louis felt a freezing shiver run over him that caused his skin to prickle and when he let out a breath a cloud of cold air formed.

He was not keen to find out how Chambers had learned how to accurately mimic the presence of a Dementor.

“Are you ready?”

Chambers’ voice came like a whisper in a dream and Louis nodded, shutting his eyes. He felt the memory charm wrap around his forehead and when the images being pulled to the forefront of his mind were solid enough to make his teeth chatter, he opened his eyes.

The Dementor floating in front of him created a terrifying image of disaster and dismay. The Patronus Charm was an optional spell to have perfected in his field of work, but Jack always said...his partner had stories from the war...and while Louis had managed wisps and waves big enough to be deemed acceptable he hadn’t conjured a corporeal form.

He understood why now as he lowered his shoulders and kept his feet grounded. The happy memories he’d been choosing to focus on felt strangled and tied by his anger and depression. Whenever he picked a thought he was reminded of what was whirling in the background, what he’d been hiding from himself for so long.

Louis had asked Chambers to help create as close to a real encounter with a Dementor as he could so that it would force him to think...to find what mattered the most to him...it would cause him to work through the pain, to breathe despite the smothering smoke, to learn that what did not kill him would not always make him stronger but remind him that it had indeed not killed him.

Cherry blossoms were falling, a jade palace rose from a mountain in the distance. Smiling, welcoming faces greeted him… Japan had been his first stop on his Grand Tour, the students and staff of Mahoutokoro Wizarding School welcoming Louis with open arms. For the first time he’d been on his own and for the first time felt light and free in this world that seemed heavy for reasons unknown. Louis focused on the smells he remembered, the gradually changing color of his robes after the lessons he’d learned…

“Expecto Patronum!”

The spell slipped off his lips in a stern but easy way and Louis knew immediately that this would be it. He held his arm tightly but he wasn’t stiff, and watched as the burst of bright light spread almost as if a blanket in front of him before it morphed. He forced himself not to get excited and kept his footing, but yes, it had a form, it had a figure…

The illusion of the dark, hooded figure dissolved into the ground as his patronus landed gracefully. A crane stretched out its wings and nearly filled the small room with its near-blinding aura. Long and slender, it looked calm, cool, and relaxed, and Louis felt his shoulders slump in satisfied exhaustion.

“Good job,” Chambers said, coming up from behind. Louis nodded, watching his patronus slowly move about the room and feeling soothed by its presence. “Theories say that patronuses have a lot of healing powers.”

“They do,” Louis said, unsure how he knew, just that he did. The New Year was going to be a good one, he was sure, and he continued to watch the crane move, feeling a warmth inside him that he hadn’t felt in some time.

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BENEVOLENT HOST

polymathist
2017-01-09 01:12 am UTC (link)

New Year's Eve was without doubt Zayn's most enjoyed holiday. There were so many interesting rituals associated with this particular passing of time. The year was a wholly invented concept, but one with such importance! This year he would be turning one-quarter of a century and, invented concept or not, that was a rather significant marker for a wizard who could very well live to see five or six such quarter-centuries.

The night he had planned was chock full of activities, and the first stop of the night—Poe Harkiss's most excellent New Year's Eve bash. Though Mina and he had separated a while ago and he had not seen her for some time, he assumed she needed some time away from the crush of the partygoers and vowed to check on her in a little while to ensure all was well. In the meanwhile, he had been quite remiss in calling on old friends and classmates upon his return and took the opportunity to do so now with all he had not seen at the party Adian and Louis had thrown earlier in the fall. Next on his list…

"Poe, my friend," Zayn said after there was a break in revellers greeting their host. Slinging his arm around Poe, he clinked his bottle to the drink in the other wizard's hand. "This is an excellent party, but I question some of the guest list. For instance, Joey Jenkins," he now pointed his bottle in the direction of the Kenmare Beater with his arms folded, "has just told me he does not think you are capable of this marvellous party trick I learned in America."

He moved the bottle back to himself, fingers splayed earnestly across his chest. "And I told him he was most mistaken."

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eveningstars, 2017-01-10 02:11 am UTC

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polymathist, 2017-01-23 08:03 pm UTC

BRO

dashery
2017-01-09 01:55 am UTC (link)

Max had assured him they'd be having a quiet evening at home and he was welcome to drop by. The tree was still up in the Comstock manor which made Dash feel marginally better about not paying a visit to Jamie on Christmas. He hoped the gift he'd brought made up for that slight, if, in fact, Jamie had noticed his absence. He wondered, did you notice a thing like that when you were three? (Was he four? Shit, this had better be a well-received present to make up some of these lost favourite-uncle points.)

But as he stared down at his nephew's shy smile, Dash felt unfairly forgiven for his slights even so. Lowering himself on one knee, he reached over to ruffle his hair. "Merry Christmas, kiddo."

Dash then produced the beautifully wrapped gift, courtesy of his assistant (he had one of those again), from behind his back. Buying a present for a three- or four-year-old had been shockingly difficult until he'd remembered something his sister had said to him. Back when Jamie was born, and they'd been gazing at him in the hospital, she wished aloud that he had a gift like his uncle's. "Sorry this wasn't under the tree, but I wanted to give it to you myself."

After he rose, Dash reached into his robes to draw out a second package, a bottle of fancy whisky, this one done rather less beautifully in plain brown paper. "This is for you," he said with a wry smile, handing it to Max. "I figured you might need it, what with—everything."

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sevenyearsof, 2017-01-11 12:37 am UTC

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dashery, 2017-01-23 06:37 pm UTC

riseaboveitall
2017-01-13 10:59 pm UTC (link)

Christmas in Portugal had been grand, but New Year’s had to be celebrated at home. The manor, however, even with the joy that Jamie brought, was not where he wished to be that evening so he’d ventured out into the firework-lit night.

Over the past few months, more frequently in the passing weeks, Matt had found solace from his ever racing mind at a muggle pub. It was small and cozy and the regular patrons were a young and friendly group. Matt knew enough about the area and since he kept up with muggle sports and news he found it easy to join conversations and make acquaintances. Friends, even.

It was nice, playing with this secret identity. His worries and fears and all around loneliness could be left at the door; here, in this lively little bar, he felt like home wouldn’t be so hard to rebuild. There was a spark of hope that had been struggling to catch fire, and it grew with each passing day.

Matt’s conversation with the bartender drifted as the door of the pub opened, and a slow smile slid onto his face. He watched a couple entered, a husband and very pregnant wife, and he stood to cross the pub.

“You found a sitter!” he exclaimed, offering tight hugs to greet them. “Tucker actually let you out?”

“Yeah, can you imagine?” Grace said, kissing his cheek as Matt helped her onto a stool. “Though I did have to promise you’d be over for pancake breakfast…”

“Oh, well, certainly,” Matt said, feeling a bit tickled at the invite. He looked around for her husband and his grin widened when he caught sight of him by the coat rack. Grace patted his arm.

“I need a picture of you two,” she said as her husband neared. Matt slung an arm around his shoulders and pulled him tightly to his side. Grace fumbled with her purse, pulling out a hilariously large camera, and both men let out a laugh. “Oh, come on, it’s a big deal!”

“Really, Gracie?”

“Yes, Caleb,” she snipped. “Your first New Year’s with your brother in God knows how long…”

“Seventeen years,” Matt and Caleb said at the same time. Grace put a hand to her mouth, but it did nothing for her tears, and Matt couldn’t hold back his happy laugh at the sight of his brother jolting into action to comfort his wife.

1988 was surely, certainly, going to bring something different.

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