Untitled

He was happy for his friend - it was the only reason he was here. He wanted to repair what he could with Lucius, if that were even possible, but weddings were not his idea of a good time.

Severus was watching Lucius and Narcissa as they made their rounds, wondering if the smile on his face was genuine or practiced - he used to be able to tell. He thought today was probably a bit of both. Feeling eyes on him, he glanced up to Pen and held their gaze silently for just a moment before they spoke.

Hindsight being 20/20, Severus never should have agreed to take his payment early - he would have rather waited than to have Micah so close to him, bumping shoulders, knowing he had to stand there and take it. It wasn't exactly personal, even if they weren't his favorite person, Severus simply valued his personal space.

Severus snorted - he couldn't help it, somewhere between a laugh and further annoyance. "It will make excellent kindling, I'm sure." He drawled, pocketing the ridiculous thing without another thought.

"Of course, I was afraid I'd be brought up on war crimes if I didn't." He responded softly, rolling his eyes. "And I just so narrowly avoided those." Severus snorted, his dry humor something he was glad Pen understood - it wasn't often he cracked jokes, even if they rolled off his tongue like any other comment he made. "It is intriguing though, what they might be capable of." He pondered softly, on the verge of getting lost in his own thoughts once more.

Severus frowned as the flower drew ever closer, caught within Pen's graceful fingers, and it only deepened as they brought it up to the collar of his shirt. Still, all the same, Severus tilted his head up slightly to allow them to do what they would. The brush of their fingers against his neck felt unseasonably warm, a stark contrast to the cooling night air around them, and Severus held his breath while they worked.

Severus wasn’t one for flowers, usually. The obvious exceptions would be the ones that served a purpose in his potions, but he did keep a few in his small garden for when he was feeling particularly indulgent. It was nice to have them on the table as he ate now and then - brought at least a little life into the stuffy apartment above his shop. Still, standing in the middle of the shop, he felt a bit overwhelmed and was about to give up altogether and leave. He stopped to admire the moonflower, lost in thought, and missed the man who appeared behind him.

It was a bad day. Granted, he didn’t have many good days anymore but he hadn’t had one quite this insufferable since he’d been employed at the school. He supposed it was a good thing the Hog’s Head was so close to work - and an even better thing that he was behind the bar tonight. The barman in question had barely set down his drink - whiskey, neat - when a hulking figure sat a stool over, and he angled himself away immediately. He didn't need to look to know who it was, and he wasn't about to invite his day to get any worse. 

Severus' eyes flitted closed for just a second as the man said his name, the smallest of sighs escaping through his lips. He straightened his shoulders somewhat (not that there was much room too with his normally rigid posture) and turned back - not to face Fenrir, but forward. "People are always talking." He said sharply, the silent about me went without saying. It was an unforseen side effect of his war efforts - he hated it. "Seems like a lateral move to me."

EVER WONDER WHAT MY MUSE SAYS ABOUT YOURS?

Nodding, Severus looked up at the stars in question, thinking that Pen had done a good job if that's what they'd been after. He felt the smallest flicker of a smile at the edges of his lips, gone before it had fully formed, and he brought his gaze back to the festival before them. Perhaps he'd make Pen's blanket glow softly in the dark the next opportunity he had.

"Of course, I was afraid I'd be brought up on war crimes if I didn't." He responded softly, rolling his eyes. "And I just so narrowly avoided those." Severus snorted, his dry humor something he was glad Pen understood - it wasn't often he cracked jokes, even if they rolled off his tongue like any other comment he made. "It is intriguing though, what they might be capable of." He pondered softly, on the verge of getting lost in his own thoughts once more.

He fought the urge to sigh as the bell over the door chimed - it was annoying, even though he had picked the least ostentatious one. He took a moment before glancing up, marking the place in the book open on the counter with a delicate finger, but he hadn’t expected to see Remus Lupin headed up the aisle toward him. Severus did not let the surprise show on his face, instead merely lifted a single eyebrow curiously. Surprisingly, the man’s presence was not as unwanted as it once had been. Not that they were friends, or anything, he’d be quick to correct you.

Severus simply stared at him blankly, even as he gave him a compliment. Was it really a compliment, though - or simply a fact? Severus knew his own skills, he was a better potion maker than most in the area - dare he say most in the industry. At least, he was well on his way to being the second.

"Exactly what I want to hear from someone in your position." Severus responded, voice practically dripping with sarcasm. He had been skeptical at first - working with Micah on such... sensitive things, but they had proven themselves good at their job, if nothing else, which was all Severus really cared about.

Hindsight being 20/20, Severus never should have agreed to take his payment early - he would have rather waited than to have Micah so close to him, bumping shoulders, knowing he had to stand there and take it. It wasn't exactly personal, even if they weren't his favorite person, Severus simply valued his personal space.

He wouldn't admit it - and especially not to Lucius himself - but he hated the distance and coldness between them. Severus knew he was mostly to blame, but still. He had valued Lucius' friendship at one point in his life. Now, that seemed like a very long time ago.

He hummed in agreement, allowing his old friend's words to sit for a moment between the two of them. Severus betraying him had never truly crossed his mind before it had already happened. Though Lucius knew his roots, he figured he'd left it all behind, as well as a certain Gryffindor. Considering the way his friend was treated during his school years, Lucius never assumed he'd turn on their side. It hurt, to say the least. They might've lost the war in part to Snape's betrayal, yet a secret part of Lucius was almost grateful for it.

Severus paused, glancing sidelong at Lucius for a long moment before answering, trying to decide just how honest he wanted to be. He supposed, for a mostly harmless topic as this was, he owed him the truth. "No." He answered simply, finally meeting his gaze. "I don't have a lot." His tone was carefully neutral, and he looked ahead again as he spoke. Honestly, Lucius had a point, but at the same time he was wrong. The Order had treated him well - certain members therein were where the problem lie. "They are simply the side in this mess that I trust marginally more not to lace my pumpkin juice with poison." His eyes flashed back to Lucius. "They owe me."

It was hardly a chore for Severus to sit still and wait for them - it was relatively quiet where he was and he could look out over the meadow and appreciate the field of glowing flowers. It was surprisingly peaceful, and he found himself relaxing slightly.

Pen hadn't missed the way he'd been looking as they approached. Their nerves buzzed pleasantly as they tucked theirself to sit beside him and when he commented on their brightness, it made them feel warm and precious like the very light they had been trying to emulate. They'd wanted him to see how lovely they were. They were quietly delighted that he had. "Thank you," they breathed. "I wanted to match the starlight..."

Nodding, Severus looked up at the stars in question, thinking that Pen had done a good job if that's what they'd been after. He felt the smallest flicker of a smile at the edges of his lips, gone before it had fully formed, and he brought his gaze back to the festival before them. Perhaps he'd make Pen's blanket glow softly in the dark the next opportunity he had.

The night had been tiresome. He had just been about to leave when the sun had gone down, but then he noticed all the children had disappeared, and for the moment - it was tolerable. Pleasant, even. He figured he may as well stay a moment longer - at least until the rowdy drunken displays began. He was meandering along the booths when he found a familiar face and angled his feet that way.

Regulus had a few drinks at this point. Was he drunk? Absolutely not, but he was certainly much more relaxed than he had been earlier. After his meeting with Bellatrix, he'd basically hidden out as close to the alcohol as he possibly could. He needed it, desperately. Spotting Severus approaching, Regulus slapped a smile on his lips, snorting slightly at his greeting.

"Gross." Severus snorted, scrunching his nose a bit at Regulus' words - even more so at the fact that they hadn't been said with the malice that once laced them at the mention of Sirius. Sure, himself and Sirius had found a sort of truce once Severus had proven himself committed to their cause, but it didn't mean he liked the man. Forgive and forget? Severus chose to do neither, thank you very much.