valesco ; a harry potter rpg

♥ ♥ HELLO?! ♥ ♥

❧ ❦ ☙

( table arrangements )

“I told her,” Alex said, tugging on Joaquín’s sleeve to bring his father down to a crouch, “I told her that I had a feeling everything’s gonna be fine.”

Joaquín’s eyebrow quirked up. “A feeling with a capital ‘F’?”

“Yes.” Alex blinked rapidly, his tell-tale sign of being caught in a lie.

Letting out a breath, Joaquín put a hand to the back of his son’s head to pull him close, kissing his forehead. Alex, of course, did not know the whole story; all he knew was that Hestia’s brother had done some bad things, and that she was upset about it. Joaquín had thought, with how close the two were, that Hestia would appreciate Alex’s presence during this time and that his son would want to provide some comfort.

Telling her that he’d had a seer-like vision of the events turning out in her favor, however...he couldn’t blame the boy.

“Go help Mamá in the garden, okay?” Joaquín said. His mother was going to stay with Alex while everything with Hestia went on. His son let out a breath and nodded, heading toward the backyard, but not before making one last look up the stairwell. When he’d gone through the back doors, Joaquín walked forward and picked up bag of belongings he’d recommended Hestia bring with her.

Hopefully this wouldn’t go long, but…

“Hestia?” he called up the stairs. “I’m ready when you are.”

WHO: Joaquín Chambers and Hestia Jones
WHAT: BIG DEVELOPMENT?
WHERE: Chambers abode!
WHEN: right now!

( She hadn’t realized when in his last letter he said he’d be in Great Britain soon that meant he would be popping up at the doorstep unannounced. )

WHO: Hestia and Adian! (and bb Luke)
WHAT: he laying way down low at the Podmores
WHERE: Podmore's house!
WHEN: sometime today

( He was not acting like himself. )

Happy, he was the happiest he'd ever been in his life, and boy, had he had some happy days. Beau wasn't sure if he was going to be able to focus on just one thing tonight as there were bright lights, great smelling food, music, fire!, family that he hadn't seen in ages, friends he had hadn't seen smile in what felt like forever and---it just---he was so happy! And grown up, he definitely felt grown up; when was the last time his brother had a whole conversation with him without grabbing him around the neck and rubbing his knuckles in his skull? Uh, never! But that had happened tonight, and Bibi hadn't whacked him (yet), and his mother cried, and his dad was doing that thing with his eyebrows that showed he approved without saying of things and--- "Aw, babe," Beau let out, stopping in his tracks at the sight of the reason for this wonderful gathering. "Don't move!" He whipped up his camera to capture the shot of his amazingly brilliant and brave and awesome and beautiful fiancée by a rather blazing campfire. Althea could make a fertilizer sack look like a Liddie Lynch gown, but the sight of her by the fire and looking just as happy as he was, well--he had to get that on film to keep the memory forever. Because Beau was the excitable bloke he was, the camera was one of those new fangled automatic ones, and the print slipped out immediately (he'd placed a bunch of these around the venue tonight, for guests to capture these sort of moments, too) and he bounced over to Althea to show her. "Okay, tell me that's not a great shot," he said with a bragging waggle of his eyebrows.

Redrobe Task Force HQ

Hestia couldn't say what day it was considering everything that had been going on for the last two weeks, but she was aware of where she was and what she was doing. With one hand holding Alex tight, she pushed the hospital room door open with the other.

"Your dad's just tired from all the tests the healers have been doing," she explained, looking down at the eight-year-old beside her. She smiled, even as Alex frowned at her. When he grumbled something she couldn't hear over the bustle of the hospital corridor, Hestia nipped his nose with her index finger.

"He'll wake up soon!" she reassured, even though she couldn't really be sure that would happen. Hopefully, Joaquín would be conscious again before visiting hours ended. Hestia and Alex had snuck him in a special loaf of bread, it would be a shame for that to go to waste after they spent so long making it. She directed Alex toward the end of the hallway with her hand. "He's going to be so happy to see you. Let's head up to the tea room, maybe they'll have some--- Oh!"

Her eyes went wide as she teetered back from nearly walking head-first into an old woman. Hestia pulled back Alex as well, her hand never letting go of his, but it seemed he had been a bit more aware of this stranger's proximity. Except, Hestia quickly realized, this woman wasn't a stranger at all. No, Hestia recognized her from a while ago, she---

( ... )

WHO: Joaquín Chambers and Hestia Jones
WHAT: Thestrals bring on interesting discussions
WHERE: Chambers house!
WHEN: Today!

( The trough of meat he’d set up was of great amusement to Alex, who had made every attempt to get into the garden and ‘try to find’ the thestrals.  )

presenters & winners!
Free-for-all! Think your character would've been nominated? Go for it! Open for everyone!

( YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED... )

“Yes, yes I understand. Thank you, I'm sorry, it won't happen again.”

Willa stepped out into Diagon Alley, the cold air pinching her face. She sucked in a deep, shuddering breath as the door behind her shut, its bell giving a light jingle that continued to resonate in her ears as she speedily walked away from the publisher’s office. She had missed a deadline, a very important one, and while the meeting had not been harsh or demeaning in any sort of way Willa felt her head pound with the anxiety of threatening tears. She walked speedily down the pavement, head ducked as she tried to gather her thoughts. There had been many edits to look over and decisions to be made and she had wanted to get to them, but it...every time...she always...

She was stopped suddenly by another jingle, this one more familiar. Willa looked up to see that she had taken herself to the front doors of The Leaky Cauldron without realizing it and she blanched. No, no she couldn't go in there, Tom was in there and if he saw how she was letting this book deal slip through her fingers because she couldn't find the focus it would break his heart, it would break hers and---

Shutting her eyes tightly she disapparated with a pop. Willa landed, quite unceremoniously, not in the living room, but in the middle of the snow-covered front lawn of their house. Why had---she’d never----A panic struck her as she realized quite clearly that if she went inside she would end up crawling into bed and refusing to ever leave it. Had her subconscious known that before she did?

Her name being called out caused her to flinch and Willa turned around as best she could with her feet stuck in snow. Her cheeks reddened at the sight of Hestia; oh no, they were supposed to make gingerbread houses today, weren’t they?

“Hi, hi,” she let out with a wave before twisting away to wipe at her face and hoping she could keep away her tears. “I’m just---having a bit of a day.”

♥

WHO: SCREAMING
WHAT: this was a magical gift I hope everyone enjoys it
WHERE: ? ? ? MYSTERY
WHEN: EARLY MORNING

( She felt it before she saw it. )

With his son asleep on his shoulder in one arm and a pack of Hestia Jones' favorite fizzy drink in the other, Joaquín stood, contemplating life. It had been a strange few weeks, one that was only getting stranger by the murmurings being heard throughout the Ministry about reform. He had thought that opening his home to Larkin Whitby was nothing of much concern, but it had affected...he had not anticipated.

Joaquín sighed and knocked, again, on her door. "Hestia! I know you're home."

Hestia Jones, ever since he had requested (politely) to have some time apart because of his visitor, seemed to be avoiding him like the plague. It had not been Joaquín's intention at all, Alexander was far past annoyed at him for it, and he hadn't thought...it was anything more than just that? Keeping what...should be kept away from this Larkin and Nico madness away. Not that Hestia knew...but he did not think he had alluded to her having done something wrong, or---well, it didn't matter, now, as he'd learned from a little unspeakable bird that perhaps he hadn't known the entire context...

He jiggled the case of bottles in his hand so that they clinked. Alex squirmed in his sleep and once again, Joaquín sighed. "My arm's growing tired, Hestia, you know how heavy this kid is."

After lunch, no one showed up for a garden tour. As Hestia had come to learn, this practice was typical; people rarely wanted to walk for two hours on full stomachs. Yet, while in full knowledge of this practice and perfectly aware of the fact, she still felt dejected by the empty welcome area before her. With nothing to keep herself busy, nothing to distract her thoughts, they wandered to what perturbed her.

Frowning, Hestia dropped her gaze to the ground. She did not want to feel like this and did not want to think a second more about the last week, but it consumed her. Despite her best efforts, she still rushed by the Chambers' door every morning and every evening with the fear of getting accidentally caught in front of it, and...

And she did not understand what she had done to make Joaquín think it best that she... was not... that she did not come over to his and Alex's home for the time being. Did he not think her discreet enough? Respectful... of... these guests she had heard nothing about from Alex prior. There were guests, weren't they? Whether they real or not, Hestia's stomach still sunk further and further at what they meant; Joaquín Chambers did not want her to be around anymore. Her invitation to their home had certainly been rescinded, and not knowing how to deal with that, wanting desperately to convey to him that she could change but not having the courage to approach him now, she... she...

She stumbled as she saw, out of the corner of her eye, a small family making its way to the exit. They looked happy as they waved goodbye to Beau, and washed with thoughts she found difficult to control, the scene got the best of Hestia. The box of headsets she had been putting away fell to the ground a bit too loudly, and embarrassed by her watery eyes and the potential attention garnered, she was quick to distance herself. Swiping the box under the desk with her foot, Hestia hurdled around to the back of the welcome center. She headed straight for a small picnic table off the main path, one she and Beau used for break times. Huddling into the bench, she docked her chin on the table and buried her face into her shoulder. She would just need... a few moments... yes, to collect herself...

NOMINEES ★ HONOREES ★ PRESENTERS ★ WINNERS ★ AWARD

"Maybe," Hestia thought aloud, "I could go work for the Ministry?"

She rolled onto her side, tucking both her hands flat underneath her cheek. Taking in a quiet breath, Hestia looked at Kendrick through the dark. It wasn't too late into the night yet, but after long days, she found that neither she nor Kendrick needed an excuse to head to bed early. It was nice, it was relaxing, she always felt at home in his flat...

And his bed was very big. So big she was sure she could spread herself across it and there would still be mattress for days; a stark contrast from the small one she had in her studio. For a brief second, her face heated up at the thought of her flat. For now, she would be able to stay there for the next month, but after that...

Hestia mentally shook herself. She would find new employment within the month, she was certain. But because she was still a little worried about that, a bit of logic eating away at her resolve, she rustled and inched closer to Kendrick beside her. Faces close, their noses now were inches away from touching. Her lips pressed together.

Returning to her own suggestion, Hestia's brow curled in thought. After a moment, however, her face quickly scrunched with displeasure; she wouldn't enjoy the Ministry that much, would she? And, who did she even know that could put in a good word...? And for what kind of position? Did she even have any office-like qualifications?

"I don't know," she sighed, and rolled to lay on her back once again. Staring up at the ceiling, Hestia pressed her arms out straight over the blankets on Kendrick's bed. "What do you think?"