Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Mind if I sit here?

Hm? Oh, no problem. This place is packed, no idea why so many people decided to come today.

“What was in it? A burn healer shouldn’t be too complicated to make.”

Marlo snorts, “Not too complicated would end with me and a blown-up cauldron. I bought it at the potion shop down the street. Flitterby is apparently the active ingredient, but I don’t know if that means shit.”

“My uncle, my cousin, and my cousin’s girlfriend died in a fire today. Freak gas explosion in the kitchen of a house that should have been empty where nobody was cooking.”

“What? Oh my god Roxanne, I’m so sorry.” Her eyes go wide as she realizes her mistake. “I didn’t realize at all, that’s awful. Are you okay? Jesus Christ, I didn’t think your family died. I-” She drops her voice lower, “I got a pet firecrab, okay? I didn’t do anything, I'm not a serial killer! Do you want me to buy you a tea? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Haven’t listened to the news today, have you? What have you been doing?”

, 

“What news? Nothing, why the hell do you care so much?”

“Great, now you can tell me where you got them.”

“Uhm, no where important?”

“I didn’t mean to stare. Dueling with fire elementals? Do you have some burn ointment?”

“Uh, yeah, something like that. I have some, but it’s pretty crappy. I probably have to buy a better kind.”

“Well, be careful with them. That stuff’s probably not cheap.”

She smiles, “Oh yeah, definitely not. The extra supplies they need aren’t either, I pretty much drained my bank account. Totally worth it, though.”

“Yeah? Fresh ones. And how did you get them?”

“Uh, I don’t know, cooking? Why are you all up in my face?!”

Be careful. Sometimes, microwaves are the best option.

Yeah, you’re probably right. I guess I just wanted to expand beyond heated-up leftovers my roommate brings home. He’ll just have to starve.

“Show me your hands.” A fire more hot than what had burnt Marlo’s hands burned in Roxanne’s eyes. “Right the fuck now.”

“What? Calm down!” She takes her hands out of her pockets. “I just got a few burns.”

*His retort is sharp, his own frustration at his friends and his best friend’s older brother being kidnapped bleeding over a little with Marlo’s tone.*

I’m not, I’m making sure no one else is. We’ll get no where if we’re not on the same page.

If they were interested in the Houses, now the count is up to four they should have one from each House. Instead they’ve got two Gryffindors and two Slytherins. Even if it had something to do with those two specific elements, Scorpious is a Spirit Elemental; his element doesn’t match, and if they were after a water user in the first place it would make sense to go for an ordinary Slytherin, as I’d assume they’re a bit easier to catch and then contain.

Getting mad at me doesn’t help anything. I was asking you for suggestions.

*Marlo glares, crossing her arms across her chest. This sucks. Why the hell can’t they make any progress? Rhea - no, not Rhea, she’s fine, could be dying out there. How long will it take until they can save them? Three weeks into their corpses rotting?*

Is that why they took Scorpius first, then? Try to see how easy it is to catch someone who’s a spirit elemental? I don’t know, the guy is stubborn, it was probably a pain in their ass, and for what? The Malfoys didn’t get a ransom note. It’s not money. 

It’s just.. *She huffs.* Fine, sorry.

Sorry. You’re alright, though?

Yeah, I’m fine. Just, er, trying to teach myself to cook. It sucks.

Tyler suppressed a smile. The plan had really worked. “I’m not staring at anything. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She does smile at him, though. “I wish you could be home for Christmas. I’m having a great time. Got some really great presents from friends.”

“It…just looks painful is all.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Give me your hands,” Raquel said. “That’s not a request.”

Marlo huffs, but does as she’s told, taking her hands out of her pockets and putting them in Raquel’s. “They’re fine. I’ve put ointment on them.”