I will not be a lady.

[winks] Hard to say.

I’m going with a yes. Can you even see how many fingers I’m holding up or do I have twelve faces?

[looks from the bottle to her, putting two and two together with a sympathetic wince] You got sacked?

[Instead of answering, Marlene simply takes a swig, tilting her head toward the second bottle] Are you going to join me or are you going to make me look like an alcoholic drinking alone?

I should start practicing right away, then. Though I’m not sure how I’ll do it without my parents noticing…

Don’t you know? That sneakniess is part of the fun.

[opens his mouth to protest but just looks more confused for a second] Wait, what do you mean you were a bartender?  Did you find a new job?

[Marlene stiffened for a moment, but then pushed the drink at him again] No.

[winks] Hard to say.

I’m sure all the ladies find it to be your most desirable trait.

I could probably swing a one-night show, but I can’t promise that it would be any good.

You can’t let me down.

I, um - [he blinks down at the bottle in her hand again and back up to her, closing and locking the door behind them and following her back into the living room] I don’t… think I should drink much, actually.  Are you alright?  You seem very… manic, I don’t know if drinking is the best bet right now anyway.

[she points her finger at him sharply] Don’t call me manic. I’m not manic. Manic is Trelawney or something. I’m perfectly fine. I just want to sit down and have a drink. Does that make me a bad person? I think not. I was a bartender for goodness sake. If I was going to become an alcoholic, it would’ve happened already. Now drink. [she shoved her other hand toward him, holding out the bottle]

[Remus was curled up on the couch, mug of tea floating nearby and a book on his lap, even if he was still mostly focused on listening for Sirius coming home from HQ.  It was just his natural state of being, at this point - nervous and constantly on edge, waiting for some shoe to drop.  The knocking immediately tipped him off to the fact that it wasn’t Sirius, and he was already halfway to the door before he heard Marlene’s voice and her attempt at forcing open the locked door, opening it and blinking at her in genuine surprise before he moved away to let her in, eyeing the vodka before looking back up at her.]  Uh, hey, Mars?  You… alright?  Sirius isn’t here.

[As soon as Remus wasn’t in her immediate way, she walked straight into the room as if the invitation had been extended. At this point, she wouldn’t be kicked out if he tried. She looked around the room, as if confirming his statement] No matter. You drink too. That’s all I need tonight. A drinking buddy. It would be Red if she wasn’t pregnant. Mary if she didn’t have a lesson to teach in the morning. [She was speaking sporadically, as if a whole thought was barely finished before the next one came along. She turned back to him with the bottle held out] Drink?

You should. You’ve managed to make it to the top of a very, very, long list.

Who is at the bottom?

Sounds perfect. Be prepared for lots of success.

You can be my first dancer. [she teased]

Do you not like this day? [Ophelia was about to offer more when the question caught her off guard. She blinked slowly, not having expected the woman to ask her that in a long time.] I am, he’s in that store right now. I am just waiting for him. [She shifts awkwardly from toe to toe.] Amos is one of the most romantic people I know. He is… a very good man. [Her voice was quiet, not wanting to rub it in Marlene’s face, but merely show that romance was not dead.]

[Marlene was aware of Ophelia’s instant discomfort, but she still couldn’t bring herself to consciously care. The mood had already bitten her] Well then, isn’t that nice. Perhaps you shouldn’t keep him waiting long, you know. Men these days. They aren’t exactly one-woman horses. [It was a low and untrue blow. Her mouth wouldn’t stop moving.] The clerk in that store has a good arse on her.