nothing new

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♕ —- Evangeline glanced over and out of the corner of her eye to see the man rush past through the crowd. She looked back to the girl who had apologized and frowned a bit. “Are you okay,” she asked before her wand slipped into her fingers and sent a leg-locker curse to the rude gentleman. “It’s not you,” she simply said. “Just been dealing with a lot of misogynists today.”

---

“I’ve had worse,” Ia said truthfully-- the man had pushed her, sure, but his hands hadn’t lingered and he’d not said anything one way or the other. It still felt good to watch him fall, and she hid a smile behind her hand. “The assholes seem to be out in full force today, huh? I wonder what’s gotten into them.”

Marlene took the words to heart, grabbing at some snacks and other things that looked edible. “Right then..I think that means leave the money on the counter and be honest if you can.” She didn’t reach for much else, but shoved her hand into one pocket to withdraw galleons that splattered to the wood before her, ringing about as loud as a service bell might’ve. She shoved the rest of the things into her robe, letting her arm be the major carrier of the weight. But the sound was enough to at least register for the employee who’s head popped around the corner. Her eyes referred down to the payment on the counter before turning back to the other in the market. “Found them.”

---

Ianthe watched carefully, well aware she wasn’t aware of the proper rules of grocery shopping much less the unspoken ones. Money on the counter didn’t seem too complicated, but.. how much money? Was she going to have to go back and add up prices? Merlin, Ia hadn’t done that much math since her primary education tutors had switched to finishing school and poise coaches. 

“Should I have brought a basket?” She asked, not particularly sure if she was speaking to the employee or to the woman who’d walk in. “I, well, I assume I don’t take this one home with me.”

benjy wasn’t sure if he could keep food down right now. he purposely came to diagon on an empty stomach today knowing that his body would be too weak to handle everything. “mmm, i’ll go for the bottomless mimosa’s but maybe i’ll pass on breakfast for now. where’s this place you were talkin’ about?” he knows that he looks like hell and he just took a deep breath as he ran his fingers through his messy hair in an attempt to try and fix it. she looked so perfectly put together yet here he was looking like a mess after this morning. not that he actually cared, but he should try to at least look somewhat presentable if they go out. “i could try someplace new rather than the leaky or the wyvern.” 

---

Ianthe squashed the urge to point out that no amount of finger combing was going to fix Benjy’s hair-- on a different day, she’d insist on properly fixing it and probably a more suitable outfit, but contrary to popular belief she was aware enough to know that this wasn’t the time. “It’s... Well, it’s called the Goose and Egg, but on Tuesdays it’s Persephone’s Garden. Chefs and all, you know?” At least, she thought that was the reason. “Don’t worry, reservations won’t be an issue, I was a bridesmaid in the owner’s sister’s second and third weddings.”

» TAGGED: evangeline + open​ » the leaky cauldron, PLOT DROP 001 !

♕ —- Saying it had been a long day would have been an understatement. A massive one. The ministry had all it’s aurors in the alley trying to clean up the mess that Evangeline could have told them was going to happen when they spent so much time sweeping everything under the rug. The magical world, once again, was a powdered keg and this was just going to the one of many explosions that was bound to happen. Stepping into the pub, she made her way to the bar top and ordered herself a drink. It wasn’t long before she was joined by another and her jaw set. “Do I really look like I want to be hit on right now,” she asked the stranger as she cut them with her green eyes. “What do you want?”

---

Ianthe took a step back, shooting a dirty look at the man that had pushed her towards the bar in his haste to get through the pub. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to give the wrong impression.” But it wasn’t really her fault, was it? That wasn’t fair, she reminded herself. “Except I’m not really sure what impression I gave, considering I just stood near you.”

There was a softness to her step that morning, as if she may disturb the eerie quiet that had come over nearly everywhere. The wind was the loudest thing, even voices were barely beyond a whisper and Marlene scuffed her feet on the stone just to create some sound. The silence was a discomfort that left her quite a l o n e on the quiet street. Yet, the girl was not one to ever be afraid. She was off from training for the morning and thought, perhaps there was something she could do to make this better, for Mary and Lily at least. But she could not think of what, so at dawn, in chilled bright light she took the corner farthest from any destruction or sign of magic at all.

She’d make breakfast. She’d try. 

A small market was already open. She could see from the broom that swept itself along the floor, little pillar of dust forming, that she was at least in a place she could apparate back with some treats or goodies, or eggs. “You’re open right?” She asked, as if she hadn’t just barged in.

---

Ianthe would normally have sent an elf to do her shopping, or her assistant if she really had to, but today she’d woken up feeling somewhat lost. A walk seemed like a good idea, but a walk with a purpose was a better one, and now she’d found herself far too many streets away from her building in a somewhat unsuccessful quest for a mango. 

“I would think they are,” she said, tone unconvinced, “seeing as the lights are on and no one’s asked me to leave. But I haven’t seen any sign of an employee.”

location: diagon alley, plot drop 001 

time: early morning, the following day.

benjy has been hands on with everything else but with being in his own shop. that was what he was avoiding the most. he has avoided that place since he woke up this morning. at the crack of dawn benjy was getting his hands dirty for everyone else, but his own blood, sweat and tears. he couldn’t stand to look at the sight of that place now. he stepped in once briefly but couldn’t bring himself from actually cleaning up all the loose feathers. one could make the joke that the birds feathers have been ruffled, but he supposed right now wasn’t the time to be joking. he stares mindlessly at the rubble on the streets, his boots stepping on a broke concrete slab as he looks around, brows knitted together. “i know it’s only about 10:30am but do you want to get a drink right now? wyvern or leaky. i don’t care at this point. i need a drink.” he says a bit truthfully putting his wand away for now after helping clean up whatever it was that he could. 

---

“Of course, honey.” Ianthe had just come to Diagon to see-- all she’d been able to tell from out the window of her penthouse was that London hadn’t burnt down, the distance for once feeling isolating instead of calming. “You look like you’ve been through hell-- can I insist you get breakfast with that drink? I know a great place, pancakes and bottomless mimosas.” Which sounded a little silly, because for once this was a problem that bottomless mimosas couldn’t solve, but there wasn’t really a thing that would solve this. “It’s a little better of a look at this hour than beer, y’know?”