( soldier )

BOLD all that apply!

MEDIEVAL. tired eyes. coffee stains on the table. listening to the bustle of the city. unmade beds. loose ponytails. sunlight seeping through the curtains. chapped lips. walking barefoot across the floorboards. dusty dictionaries. black and white reruns. huge sweaters. the ticking of the clock. hearing birds in the morning. fireplaces. falling asleep during class.

RENAISSANCE. freckles. the sun rising. watching the sea. taking shots of the city. historical museums. bright eyes. looking up at the clouds. walls covered in artworks. drawing in the middle of lessons. tracing your fingers on the sand. painting for hours. staying in uncrowded coffee-shops. worn paperbacks. messy braids. going to bed with your socks on.

BAROQUE. dark hair. a little sophisticated. always observing the world around you. intricate designs. high ceilings. extravagant musical pieces. dim lights. colourless photographs. fancy furniture. pale skin. hearing soft footfalls coming from outside the room. mischievous looks. bitten nails. candlelight dinners. dark shades of lipstick.

CLASSICAL. chandeliers. the clinking of a teacup. laced clothing. modern architecture. light hair. watching the view from the terrace. hidden birthmarks. drinking tea in the morning. wandering about in an empty building. botanical gardens. old films. ancient marble sculptures. expensive perfume. breakfasts in bed. reading about mythology.

Send “✆” for a MORNING text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : if you haven’t ate anything yet don’t.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : come on over! i’m trying my hand at pancakes[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : ... second thought, perhaps you would like to come with me to that diner we went to. the one close to the Minstry? [ text: fortescue, alice. ] : oh and good morning alice.

Send “✉” for a text that WASN’T SENT.

[ unsent text: fortescue, alice. ] : every time i look at you, fuck, i don’t even know how to describe to you how i feel. i can’t tell you how everytime i look up and my eyes immediately gravitate to where you are or how i notice that your eyes sparkle when you get really excited about or the fact that you bury yourself with work when something is bothering you. merlin, i cannot tell you any of this.

Send “☎” for a RUSHED text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : running late to the office.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : if you get there before me, your work load for the day is on my desk.

Send “⁇” for a DRUNK text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : yogu are pretty you know that?so?[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : pretty[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : im soryr zthat mi such an idiot[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : i wshould have told u this a long time ago[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : i lovje u alice

Send “✿” for a SUGGESTIVE text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : how late are you planning to stay at work?[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : if you would like, you could always spend the night again...

Send “ø” for a LATE NIGHT text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : i know you are still at the office alice. go home.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : in fact, i’ll be more than happy to escort you home.

Send “✘” for a HATEFUL text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : you asked if i don’t believe in you or your abilities, remember?[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : and i said that wasn’t true.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : well it sure is now.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : what you did was foolish, alice fortescue. you have a big target on your head.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : i hope that this i what you wanted.

Send “#” for a RANDOM text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : who do you think is the favorite?[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : me or arthur??[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : i’m trying to prove to arthur that bill likes me better.

Send “@” for a SCARED text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : we go down together and we go down fighting.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : i don’t know how much longer we have together or if we will see neville grow up and become the man i know he’ll become but just know that no matter what happens alice, i will always, always love you.  

Send “&” for a LOVING text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : did you do something different today?[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : maybe with your hair... or i don’t know.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : either way, you look beautiful, alice.

Send “%” for a CURIOUS text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : quick question that has nothing to do with anything at all.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : but let’s just say im getting flowers for someone, what kind of flowers would you give that person??? [ text: fortescue, alice. ] : don’t ask for the person’s name, that doesn’t matter.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : what flowers would you want???

Send “ツ” for an EXCITED text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : okay i don’t want to freak out[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : but i might be freaking out just a tiny bit.[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : i BELIEVE i could be up for a promotion. but i don’t know[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : i don’t want to jinx this!

Send “$” for an ACCIDENTAL text.

[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : i don’t know molly. maybe it would be best if we just ... didn’t go further. i mean, i’m her trainer for crying out loud there has to be some law that prohibits this. merlin, this was all a big mistake wasn’t it?[ text: fortescue, alice. ] : um, alice.... please ignore that text message. i was, just trying.... yeah ignore it please.

Send “♀” for a HEARTBREAKING text.

Send “☎” for a RUSHED text.

[ text: hookum, daisy. ] : okay daisy i dont have much time but i really need to know that one plant -- you know the one that uh[ text: hookum, daisy. ] : it screams! the one that screams ??? what do you do to stop the screaming ??? [ text: hookum, daisy. ] : quick this is so loud

Send “⁇” for a DRUNK text.

[ text: hookum, daisy. ] : yoiu know daisvies are my kfavorite flowers[ text: hookum, daisy. ] : tshey were alwajys in my mnom's gqarden[ text: hookum, daisy. ] : i love daisies[ text: hookum, daisy. ] : daissssvsy

Send “%” for a CURIOUS text.

Send “☎” for a RUSHED text.

[ text: macdonald, mary. ] : mary, i will be up by st. mungo’s later today if you would like to take a break and get coffee with me?[ text: macdonald, mary. ] : let me know when you can!

Send “%” for a CURIOUS text.

[ text: macdonald, mary. ] : i don’t know how you can handle st. mungo’s,[ text: macdonald, mary. ] : honestly mary, you are a saint.[ text: macdonald, mary. ] : you’ll have to teach me your secrets someday.

Send “$” for an ACCIDENTAL text.

Send “☎” for a RUSHED text.

Send “✉” for a text that WASN’T SENT.

[ unsent text: carrow, alecto. ] : i will never understand you.[ unsent text: carrow, alecto. ] : once i thought we would always be friends but merlin, kids can be clueless. i hope you are happy with wherever you, whoever you are with. i doubt

Send “⁇” for a DRUNK text.

    It is with a startle that her concentration is broken, a gasp falling from her lips. Brown eyes dart from the papers to the figure before her – oh no. Quickly, she makes work of attempting to cover up the papers laid out on her desk. If he knew what she was working on, she’d surely be in trouble. It was sensitive material – things that she was well aware she didn’t have the clearance for – & yet she could not help herself. This was for good – for Gideon – for Dorcas. She had to help in whatever way she could – & this was the best way she knew how. 

   “I just had a few more files to finish organizing.” She’s near certain he knows she’s lying, but she can’t help herself. It was imperative that no one found out about her investigation – especially not someone who has the power to put a squash on it. “I left in such a rush earlier – I didn’t want to have to do double the amount of work tomorrow, so I just figured I’d do it while it was quiet here.” 

               She could very well be asking him the same question – & she should. 

              “ – & yourself? Do you make a habit of spending late nights at the office?” 

Frank could easily tell that there was something going on -- something not quite right with the reason behind Alice’s stay. After all, the younger girl was easy to read. He tried to move his eyes away from what she was looking at, feeling as though maybe he was intruding -- maybe it was a private matter. However, he couldn’t help but notice some parts of it, very brief parts that is. Perhaps if he could see more, if he knew more, perhaps he wished that he didn’t.

Or maybe Frank is wrong. Maybe this was work that he’s given to her after all... Merlin, Frank can’t stop the guilt eating at him. “ Would you --- I can help, if that’s what you wish? ” He was already staying late anyways. It wouldn’t be anything to help her out with the amount of work he’s given to her. “ I’ll keep that in mind for tomorrow... ” About the work load. He’s certain to remember this conversation, really he remembers nearly every conversation he has with Alice. But tomorrow, he’ll cut back what he gives her. Maybe even, maybe, consider letting her in the field. 

time: 7:44 PM date: 7.14.79 location: zabini estate general starter – OPEN TO ALL

they’re not playing the right songs, sirius notes, as he wades through a stream of people. the weird sisters are good, but it’s their faster tracks where the magic happens. but there’s some benefit, at least, to their pop-y hits; the slower beat makes the marble floors easier to navigate. before this whole ordeal of pretending to be alice, sirius hadn’t experienced being this alice’s height since fifth year. he tugs at his (alice’s) dress and scowls. fourteen minutes as alice fortescue and he already understands why that girl is so wound up all the time. he’d been trying to get through to the bidding since 7:30 – no small feat considering he can no longer see over the crowd, and that he’s been trying to avoid everyone alice knows before someone sees through the rouse. his mood doesn’t improve once he’s at the table, either. 

the next time someone needs help, sirius is going to keep his mouth shut. it’d been his surprise that had done him in, really – that frank hasn’t sent alice onto the field yet. and the timing had been too perfect. the day he’d spoken with alice was so soon after he’d found out about the auction that sirius hadn’t thought twice before offering to switch places with alice for an hour. you can get your field experience, he’d said, and i’ll go enjoy myself. how’s that sound? i’ll even bid on a few things for you. and now, three mouthfuls of polyjuice potion later, he’s never regretted another decision so much in his life. sirius snatches a pen from a nearby table and scrawls a shoddy imitation of alice’s signature next to frank’s training hours. she had mentioned she wanted them, right? 

then, his eyes catch on something else: the statue of venus. automatically, he pulls another card from the pile and begins to write down sirius – before he catches himself and scribbles the “s” from existence. then, he writes alice fortescue again. not allowing himself to think better of it ( though alice bidding on a black family heirloom must be a strange sight ), he walks toward the statue. 

So far, everything seems... fine. Perhaps the Ministry was right when they said that things were handled, that the presence of Aurors would be enough to keep anybody who wishes to do harm away. But the night wasn’t over and therefore neither was his job. He knows all to well that sometimes things just aren’t what they seem. There was no way that he was going to move from his position... Or at least that what he believes.

He was kept close between the doors and the auction items, although his focus was more towards the doors. Who comes in, who doesn’t show. Who goes out. Frank wants to know all of that and he does notice quite a few exploring the estate and returning back to the gala. He can’t help but wonder if they were planting something, preparing for something. After all, everyone was a suspect. Or at least almost everyone.

His eyes moved back to the auction items. Frank wasn’t interested in placing his name down for anything, mostly because he would rather do something more than donate money to these families, something that he could do for them -- which as of now means to capture those responsible for the deaths of Gideon and Dorcas. What really caught his eyes was Alice Fortescue. He’s found it quite hard to forget her, how could he considering their conversations of late? Perhaps now would be a good time... Say something and move back in position like he has never left. Besides, he could still see the doors if he were to speak to her.

    the idea of attending yet another event subsided by the ministry in the midst of people who were so clearly sided with he-who-shall-not-be-named seems incredibly foolish to molly. yet, when arthur suggested she took a night out, she could not exactly say no. that is the only reason as to why she is roaming around the enormous zabini mansion – green eyes sparkling with all the fortune that had clearly been spent in such a place. truth be told, molly would be lying if she said she did not feel undressed and out of place. if only she had stayed home. it is with that thought in mind that she approaches frank, lips pressed together in tight lips as her hand rests on his arm. “have you eaten anything since you got here?”

The Ministry didn’t have a clue what they were getting themselves into despite Frank’s warnings, despite his thoughts on what this night may lead to. But all they did was push his fears aside, chalks it up to stress on the job and decided that a few Aurors stationed at the Estate would be enough. But Frank knew better, he knew that it didn’t matter how many Aurors were stationed. Something horrible could still happen and no one will have the power to do anything. Frank was lost in those thoughts when Molly came by, nearly jumped at the sound of her voice. “ I’ll eat something after this night, Mo. ” He knew better than to lie to her and claim that he’s ate. Really, he can’t remember the last time he did but it’ll be better if she didn’t know that. Instead, he tried to redirect the conversation to something else. “ Is Arthur home with the kids tonight? Wish I could witness that disaster. ” 

“ Why do you look so miserable, Longbottom? It’s too bad you never quite learned how to enjoy a party. ” Andromeda held the champagne glass close to her chest. Despite the lavish arrangements and decor that were meant to disguise the horror this night was attempting to remember, she could not fault the Zabini’s hospitality. With the press surrounding the event, she had practically been forced to seem engaged. “ You’re not actually on duty, so indulge me for once. Have some champagne and caviar, you might just find yourself having a good time. ”

A light smile appeared at his voice when his favorite Black, don’t tell Sirius, spoke. “ I’m not exactly here to enjoy the party, Miss Black, ” he said. Frank barely spoke to her since they were kidnapped together. Frank can only imagine how she has been doing and let’s face it, he’s too much of a chicken to ask. “ Sadly you are mistaken. I am on duty. I just... am dressed down on duty. ” Really, Frank always feels like he’s stuck on duty and maybe a part of him likes it that way. “ I think I’m alright. I never cared for the taste of caviar anyways and champagne... Would it be wrong if I say that none of this really fits me? ” Perhaps once when they were younger, when Frank felt as though he were part of the pureblood elite but as an adult, knowing better? Absolutely not.

While there were certainly some surprising guests at the event tonight, a face that Mundungus wasn’t surprised to see was Frank Longbottom. Of course, the ever dutiful auror in attendance, and despite the celebratory environment he was still all work and no play. Even tucked away in a corner, Mundungus had no problem pointing him out. When looking for Frank, Mundungus normally just set his eyes to the person in the room looking the most constipated, and more often than not, boom, there was long-faced Longbottom.

“You look a little stressed, love.” Mun drawls, hand brushing against the material of Frank’s shoulder as if smoothing out a wrinkle or flicking away a bit of dust. “Did no one tell you this was a party? You ought to be having a good time.” 

It was hard not to recognize most faces that were in the gala but there were a few that he couldn’t name. Really, Frank just imagined that they belong to the families of the fallen, here in their honor. However he really didn’t expect anyone to talk to him which is the reason why Frank just felt more.. alert in some ways. That and he felt like something was off about the woman. 

A confused look took place of his stoic gaze as he glanced over at her. What in the world was she doing? “ Sorry ma’am, I’m here on duty. Perhaps it would be best if you join the rest of the party. ” At least it was the truth, he was on duty. it would be better if he didn’t socialize with any of the guests. 

          It seemed rather overdone.  Carriage rides with thestrals, the estate decorated so ornately.  Severus was never one that was privy to such extravagances.  The fact that Aurors… albeit rather few were there as ‘security’ made it clear that the Zabinis’ were attempting to keep up pretenses.  Strolling into the foyer Severus looked around and quirked an eyebrow.  If they were keeping up pretenses then they were doing both a fair and poor job at the same time.  Severus probably wouldn’t have been there if they weren’t obligated.  This most definitely was not the type of event that they had ever grown up used to attending.  

          ❝ This… most definitely seems a little overdone. ❞  The mixture of pure blood and others was honestly questionable.  Severus wondered what type of conflict would arise from the evening.  There were death eaters abound and regardless of security present it was clear that tensions would be running high.  Severus could already feel it running through the atmosphere like static.  ❝ And it certainly doesn’t seem like the type of place you’d want to be. ❞  Their eyes skittered over to Frank’s for a moment then moved back through the room.  

If Frank had it his way, he would still be in the office today and there would be no gala, no get together. Sure, he does believe that they should honor the families of the recent victims, he can hardly imagine how the families must feel, but this didn’t seem like it was really going to help any. Surely the families would prefer their loved ones back but that just wasn’t possible. Really this wasn’t close to what it could be to honor them but rather just another way for something just as awful happen to more people.

He looked up towards the voice that decided to join him, only slightly surprise to see that it was Severus but perhaps he was more surprised on the fact that he agreed with the younger. “ Indeed it does. The Ministry believes they are doing what’s best, ” he mused. It was hard to agree with the Ministry on this stance but there was little he could do except keep an eye out. Frank’s gaze moves away from Severus and over the other guests arriving. “ There are a lot of places I would rather be but right now my duty requires me to be here. ” Frank paused, “ I hope you do enjoy the gala, Severus. ” 

FRANK GOT : HADES.

sirius stills, suddenly all too aware that they haven’t talked about the hostages. it’s like he has two sets of memories that go with frank, and it lends itself to an odd ( but chilling ) fear that one day, frank will disappear entirely. the usual words are dry in sirius’s mouth. how can he tell frank, who has been through more than all of them, that this is how it has to be sometimes? that it will be an adventure – that sirius isn’t afraid to fight? ( isn’t afraid to die? ) he glances at the papers and thinks of the hours frank must have sat alone in his office. if there’s anything they have all learned from the war, it’s that slow, creeping silence that stretches between missions and headlines. for a heartbeat, sirius feels old, with frank. he sees an eon of night raids and paperwork and arriving just an hour too late, of hearing that your friends have gone missing. he glimpses the reality of the war and the limbo of awful flashes of comprehension suspended within the wait.

then, the understanding slips away, sinking beneath shame as frank makes him feel like a fifth year student, again. of course frank has a mission tonight, and the reasoning behind his willingness to accompany sirius isn’t difficult to figure out. sirius drags a hand through his hair, letting bits of it fly free from its ponytail. and it’s the same sense of desperation again, only this time, it’s coupled with confusion. he should feel glad that frank’s listening. for months now, the pace of the war has chafed away at his own ability to sleep. but now all he wants to do is apologize. what for, he doesn’t know. maybe his unwillingness to back down, or the helplessness of his own limbs ( has he ever helped frank, really? ). 

“really?” he blurts out, all too aware that there will never be another opportunity like this again, and unable to stop himself from taking advantage of his luck. frank understands, sirius tells himself. and besides, once they succeed here – who’s to say frank won’t realize that it’s better if they pass on this information to the order instead of waiting around uselessly? it won’t have to be frank next time, when more of the order receives the same reports. no more names in the headlines. no more – sirius hesitates, his eyes catching on the way frank scratches his head. “you’ll be up the whole night. you’re looking a bit peaky there – you sure about this? i could get pr – james. no rushed decisions. no playing the hero, i promise.” 

Frank hardly talks about what happened back at the Ministry, what happened with being kidnapped. If anything, he talks more about how to prevent this from happening again rather than what happened to him. His Department Head considered placing Frank on paid leave for a few weeks in order for healing as they said but Frank fought against that saying that once he was out of St. Mungo’s, he’ll be fine. Perhaps they shouldn’t have believed him considering the sleepless nights he has done in his office, the circles under his eyes that he pretends aren’t even there. No one has yet to mention anything to him and well, even if they did, Frank is surely to just deny that anything is going on. It’ll just be better for everyone in his eyes.

Maybe he should talk about it more but what good would it do? No, no. Frank is better at just being there for other people, not having other people being there for him. He’s better at listening, better at trying to understand rather than getting others to understand, rather than talking. That has been evident since he was young trying to convince other Purebloods his age of his views, trying to get them to understand. The only thing that Frank can do now is just to listen to Sirius, to try and understand where he’s coming from and in more ways than one, he does. He completely understands wanting to be part of the action, not wanting to sit on the sidelines and wait. Some days he wants to do more. Other days, other days are much worse.

    she still remembers hearing about frank’s kidnapping as if it was yesterday – in a way, it felt like it was. call molly selfish, but when she heard about dorcas’ death? her first thought was ‘at least it was not frank’. the man has been in her life for as long as she can remember, by her side through charms class, first kisses and every pregnancy. losing frank would be like losing a part of herself – well, another part. yet those thoughts are ones that the redhead insists on ignoring. it has been a while since her friend last stopped by and she wants to enjoy it for as long as she can ( even though that is also her fear lingering – trying to make every meeting count as it might be the last ). “put you cooking? personally i love my home, frank, i would very much like to not see it burn down – so stay away from my oven”, the woman replies, playfully shoving him to the side. with her left hand, molly grabs the dishcloth she has been using and hands it to him. “you can help clean and dry the dishes. if you could not break everything, i would be grateful. but if you must break something, you might want to aim for the hideous plates my mother sent us", she adds, letting out a sigh as her gaze falls back on the cake – and all of a sudden she has lost inspiration to continue baking. oh, bloody hell.

     “you know what? i don’t need you to clean, frank. i just– i’ll make us some tea and we can just chat, how about that? i’m feeling exhausted all of a sudden”, molly explains, grabbing the dishcloth back from his hands quite abruptly. it is no surprise she is feeling weak and uninterested, considering how little she has been eating and how much time she has been spending in time, but she hopes frank does not mention it – she is not sure she would be able to handle the look on his face if he did. “as for me being in love with you, i had my chance, frank longbottom. we both know i’ve always been too much for you to handle. but arthur truly is charming. he’s… merlin, he’s everything i could’ve ever wanted and more. he’s kind, compassionate and gentle and…”, molly trails off, blinking faster as to push away the tears that suddenly glister in emerald hues. “i love him so much, frank.” her voice is filled with agony, but the redhead continues staring at the cake as if she has not just told her friend they should drop it. as if she is not on the edge of tears. “he loves this cake, you know? it’s the cake i baked him when i was trying to get him to like me. now i can’t even do that anymore.”

Call it survivor's’ guilt if you would like but Frank will never be able to understand why he wasn’t the one to die. Dorcas was merely a trainee, some kid. He was sure that her involvement with the Order was quiet while he… Well, Frank has always been vocal about what he believed in, especially when he was younger and just discovering what to believe in. It wouldn’t take a genius to put two and two together with him and he hardly cared if that meant he was a bigger target. At least he would be the one those who wish to do harm will be focused at and no one else. So why not him? Frank should be grateful, yes, but that doesn’t take away the why not me. Frank chuckled as Molly got him away from his thoughts, away from any of the arguments he was bound to have with someone who cared for him. “ Yes! I have been… Okay, that would be a lie. I have not been practicing. ” Usually his meals are what he can just grab and take with him to the Ministry. Frank takes the dishcloth from her, glad to be able to be doing something, anything to help out. “ Deal. Maybe the boys would like to help me accidentally destroy those plates? ” Frank picked up one of the dishes, inspecting it before his gaze moves back to her’s and well, he knew that look almost as well as he knew the look.  

Frank should have been taken back by the sudden change but he wasn’t, if anything he completely understood. At least he had a tight grip of that dish in his hands otherwise it surely would have shattered on the ground. He gently placed it back before turning towards her, watching her closely. “ Thank you, Mo but I don’t need any tea. ” He said an old childhood nickname he had for her back at Hogwarts, rarely he had called her Molly. Frank didn’t say anything as she rambled about Arthur, about the love he had for the other. Frank wasn’t even sure what to say. What can he to make anything better or is there nothing he can do, just sit around? That doesn’t suit him well. “ I know, Mo. I know. ” Frank moved to wrap his arms around her, knowing fully well that this was better than nothing. “ You didn’t even have to try to get him to like you, you know that? You are everything to that man and if you don’t believe me I’ll be happy to drag Arthur away from work and have him tell you that himself. You don’t need to be baking a cake for him in order to make him happy. You already do so much. ”