InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Five is right out!"

argus is a free bitch, baby (silkensailed) wrote in wished,
@ 2009-12-31 16:32:00

Entry tags:

!1997: 12, !1998: 01, !complete, !open, argus pyrites, hestia jones, percy weasley

Who: Any legal witches and wizards! (Assuming they're not under a curfew law, or otherwise impeded by their bloodline.)
What: Shindigs at the Shalott New Year's BASH
Where: Shalott
When: Thursday, 31 December, around ten o'clock
Rating/Warning: TBA

The final twenty-four hours of 1997 had, so far, been very busy and tiring for Argus Pyrites. That distasteful business with the Lovegood father and daughter that afternoon had left a sour flavor in his mouth - he had never been fond of doing the dirty work his job entailed. While he'd been honored by the assignment, it was also not the way he'd hoped to be spending the hours before he was expected to make an appearance at Shalott for the yearly New Year's celebration.

Never being one to arrive as the event was starting, he'd planned to arrive around nine and stay until sometime after the turning of the year, depending on how things went. Over the years he realized he never knew what he'd be doing as the night wore down - some years he remained until well after closing, with a particularly interesting group of patrons, drinking and laughing until the sun began to rise. Others, he was out the door with a select female companion or two after barely an hour of making the rounds and greeting regulars.

Tonight, he did indeed find himself entering Shalott just before nine, bedecked in a new set of robes - dark cobalt with silver and pale green detailing around the hems and cuffs - and otherwise festively attired. He'd had to spend considerably more time getting ready than usual - the past few days had taken a toll on him physically and, as far as Argus was concerned, he'd looked like Death just hours before.

After weaving his way through the intital crowds and dodging through group of inebriated young witches and wizards who seemed to think that they could dance much better than they actually could, Argus settled at a spot near the head of the main bar, a glass of licorice-flavored sodawater in his hand. He observed the goings on, musing that it was, indeed, a bit more sparse than usual. Even if it was a sign of the Cause's success, these new decrees were not good for business. Not good at all.

Still, the current attendees certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as ever, and the band this year was in top form. With five hours to go, the night was only just beginning.

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hastyhestia
2010-01-01 11:56 pm UTC (link)

As the pair approached the bar, Hestia managed what was a friendly smile toward the barkeep. Although Hestia was not quite a drinker, she did partake in a few here or there given the right occasion. She thought it would be very silly indeed to refuse a drink on New Year's Eve. Though, if she was being honest, it didn't quite feel like a holiday.

She watched as he ordered their drinks, taking note that he didn't order anything alcoholic for himself. Interesting. She would pay mind not to drink too much that night.

She leaned against the bar facing Argus, her one arm propped. "I'm afraid I spent most of it at work this morning and afternoon. Though I did manage a pretty lovely dinner with some co-workers."

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silkensailed
2010-01-05 01:10 am UTC (link)

Argus grinned. "Well, yes, I suppose work is an unfortunate necessity. Good to hear you managed to fit in some celebrations already, though. Did your co-workers not feel they had enough energy to continue the night here?"

He wondered what exactly Hestia's line of work was, but knew there would be time to find out. The barkeep slid the martini and the soda towards Argus, and he caught them in his hands and handed Hestia hers. "Extra dry martini...let me know how that is. If it's not right we can have it fixed. Although Desmond has yet to receive any complaints, to my knowledge. You could very well be the first."

He watched Hestia intently, a brow raised in expectation. Though he fully expected that the drink would be just fine, Argus knew some people just liked nitpicking. Either way, drinks now received, he supposed he should show her around Shalott.

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hastyhestia
2010-01-05 05:39 am UTC (link)

Hestia brought the glass to her lips. A small taste let her know that the gin was expensive and the vermouth dry. It was good. It was as good as she expected it to be. She smiled toward Argus.

"Very good," she told him, her hand curving around the base of the glass before thinking back to his previous question. "I'm afraid not all of the people I work with managed to get the night off. St. Mungo's doesn't really appreciate the novelties of the holidays."

But that was one of the things Hestia loved about her job. It offered her an escape from everything going on in the outside world.

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silkensailed
2010-01-05 06:27 am UTC (link)

"Ah," he said, both eyebrows raised now. "So you're a Healer, then?"

With his hand, Argus made a sweeping gesture that indicated, as her drink was satisfactory, they ought to continue their tour. It wouldn't be quite as comprehensive as it would on a less busy (and noisy) night, but it would certainly give Hestia the lay of the land.

As they walked, he pursued the topic. "What ward are you currently working in?"

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	hastyhestia 2010-01-05 07:09 am UTC (link)
	She nodded her head before moving away from the bar with him. Although she wouldn't admit it, she had done a bit of digging on the place. Shalott had proven to be quite the hot spot in her little research. She was hoping she wouldn't be let down. "Janus Thickey Ward," she told him. "Spell Damage." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

silkensailed
2010-01-06 05:31 am UTC (link)

Argus winced. "Ooh, that must provide some gruesome images."

There was no way he could do a job like that, he knew. Not that either of his own jobs were exactly lacking in stress, but Argus preferred to be in charge. He wouldn't enjoy the feeling of having to deal with damage someone has already done, or with trying to reverse a bad situation, knowing that his efforts might be wasted in the end. That and, unless he was part of the cause, scenes of pain and gore did not particularly entice him.

They made their way through the main dining room to a side hall that had been cleared for the band and those guests that decided to partake in dancing. "Is that a family profession?"

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hastyhestia
2010-01-06 05:59 am UTC (link)

"Unfortunately, yes, it does."

Hestia would have been lying straight through her teeth had she told Argus that her time spent at St. Mungo's wasn't difficult. From the time she was just a child, tagging along with her mum to work on weekends, Hestia had wanted to be a Healer. It was something she'd always been intrigued by, curious about. All of her education boiled down to her first internship at the hospital. She had a rather rude awakening when she realized that her mum had made it sound a bit easier than it really was.

"My mum's a Healer," she confided, smiling. "The woman refuses to retire. But it's hard to think about leaving St. Mungo's after being there for so long. It becomes a part of you, in a way."

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silkensailed
2010-01-06 11:05 pm UTC (link)

"Hm, that seems to make sense," Argus said. "You become very used to the things you live with growing up."

He smirked, and held up one of his sleeves and they walked. "I'm sure you would find it shocking that my mother worked in a clothing shop for most of her life. Otherwise I fear I would have a terrible sense of fashion."

Conveniently, Argus did not include that he also grew up with a highly prejudiced grandfather, who became almost a primary caregiver for a good deal of his adolescence. If there was anything that Argus had become "used to" in his bringing up, it was that Muggles and wizards of lesser blood were shameful, lesser creatures.

But no. All he'd carried over was his mother's fashion sense.

"I admire that, though," he continued. "Devotion to one's job."

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hastyhestia
2010-01-07 07:48 am UTC (link)

She looked at Argus, her eyes briefly lingering on the robes he was wearing. A terrible sense of fashion he did not have. In fact, it had been one of the first things she noticed about him as she first bumped into him. They weren't something you could ignore if you wanted to. But in a surprisingly good way. She smiled.

"It's lucky your mum's work managed to rub off on you," she told him, not bothering to hide her amusement. It was rare you found a guy who even cared if he had showered that day. Argus thankfully didn't seem to fall into that category.

Of course, Hestia didn't hold all her cards in one's appearance. She'd been in the Order long enough to know that certainly didn't mean everything.

"Yes, I suppose it's a good trait to have. A little loyalty is always a good thing."

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silkensailed
2010-01-08 08:35 pm UTC (link)

"It is indeed," Argus noted. "More than a little, in fact."

They emerged through a knot of middle-aged wizards ho appeared to be in the midst of some drinking game. From the looks of it, the wizard wearing a dragonhide robe was winning. Argus smiled at them, waved at one he had spoken to a few times in the past, and put a hand to Hestia's elbow to guide her through the remaining crowds and back to the main dining room.

"You know," he began, his tone light and a teasing smile playing on his lips. "You have been here quite a bit longer than a moment or two. It seems I was right after all."

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hastyhestia
2010-01-09 12:33 am UTC (link)

Hestia had distracted herself among the group of wizards they had passed through, she had been trying to figure the name of the game they were playing when Argus' hand touched her elbow. She looked to him, then, a fleeting look of surprise on her face as she allowed herself to be lead.

Well, it was the New Year. Such things could happen every once in a while.

"It's a rather big place," she told him, her tone matching his. "And I suppose you might have convinced me to stay a little while, after all."

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silkensailed
2010-01-09 04:21 am UTC (link)

"I told you," Argus said, almost sing-song. He sounded a bit like a child who, for once, has been right in a disagreement with his parents. "No one stays for just a moment or two."

There was a smug expression on his face, but it was clearly in jest. He slowed their stroll as they neared the bar again.

"However, as you can clearly see, there are many guests here tonight and I have not quite managed to greet the majority properly. I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me for now," he explained, smiling again and bringing her hand to his lips for a fleeting moment. He gave it a light squeeze and relinquished it. "It has been a real pleasure, Hestia Jones. Do find me again before you step out. I hope you'll be returning here in the future?"

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	hastyhestia 2010-01-09 06:13 am UTC (link)
	As he kissed her hand, she smiled broadly. It had been ages since a man had been so proper, so charming around her. She had begun to give up hope on the male population. It seemed Argus had done enough to restore just a little bit of faith in Hestia. "I think I find myself convinced enough to return," she told him. "Have an enjoyable New Year's Eve, Argus." (Reply to this) (Parent)

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