#judvs

" and people with ambitions. " a smirk pulls at the keeper's lips as they lean back in their chair, the old metal creaking through the motion - how unflattering ! dark eyes flicker across familiar and stranger faces in the crowd of ministry workers now filing in to the cafeteria for their lunch, nose scrunching at the sight of a very familiar face before turning back to their tray of so-called food. " i fear level seven employees will start to turn the heads at me if i carry on turning up here unannounced. "

lithe fingers are wrapped tightly around his chipped mug, the hot cocoa within more of a soothing heater than a delectable treat, as a shiver settles over his lanky form. paxton had barely been outside when the biting cold nipped at the thin work shirt he wore beneath a ragged cardigan, his ankles exposed from trousers that have been long outgrown, and the lack of proper winter attire allowed the winter elements to make its mark on the poor obliviator. "mum always said i had the temperature control of a broken fridge." his teeth visibly chatter as he speaks, the tip of his nose flushing red as blood and heat cruise across his face, "don't mention this to anyone, marietta. i mean it."

＂  i  was  raised  to  believe  quitting  is  failure.    —    amongst  other  …  unseemly  lessons  i’ve  been  instructed  never  to  talk  about.  especially  not  in  public.  ＂  the  flint  household  contained  many  secrets.  oh,  if  only  walls  could  talk.  they  subtly  pocket  the  money  they’ve  just  earned  themself,  a  quick  scan  of  the  room  confirming  no  one  had  seen.  ＂  besides,  they  came  to  me.  i  am  merely  providing  a  service.  ＂  gala  attendees  are  far  from  their  usual  clientele,  but  if  someone  came  to  him  offering  galleons  in  exchange  for  a  potion  that’ll  help  them  through  tonight's  headache,  who  is  he  to  decline?  business  was  business.  both  hands  extend  now  free,  retrieving  two  glasses  from  a  passing  server  and  offering  one  to  marietta  seconds  later.  ＂  i  don’t  believe  i  ever  congratulated  you.  ＂  his  own  flute  is  raised  in  silent  cheers,  lip  twitching  into  roguish  smirk.  ＂  here’s  to  the  burning  witch.  ＂

"w-what?" he jumps from the seat at his desk, the lanky obliviator standing tall with a sheepish look crossing pointed features. it wouldn't be the first time he had done something wrong, something to warrant a telling off or two, but he was truly in the dark this time. "i was just eating lunch . . . i think. i don't think i did anything, marietta." he spins around his desk, searching for any crumbs out of place or litter he may have forgotten about.

and  it’s  not  as  if  lavender  overly  cares  about  highschool  betrayals  many  years  ago.      —      mocking  voice  in  her  head  reminds  her  she’d  be  a  damn  hypocrite  if  she  did.  she  isn’t  even  sure  if  she  cared  much  back  then  either;    loyalty  to  dumbledore’s  army  running  only  skin  deep,  until  that  final  year  cemented  it  further.  no,  that  isn’t  why  gaze  is  awkwardly  eyeing  tentmate  over  the  flames  of  a  day  time  campfire.  the  real  problem  is,  it’s  just  been  so  long  since  they  came  face  to  face  with  one  another  that  they  might  as  well  be  strangers  and  social  communication  is  no  longer  a  talent  wolf  possesses.  another  quiet  moment  passes  between  them  before  she  finally  clears  throat,  picks  the  first  topic  that  springs  to  mind.      ＂    i  might  be  tattooing  viktor  krum  soon.    ＂      already  half  -  empty    (  she  started  early    /    had  to,  unenthused  with  all  the  quidditch  talk  surrounding  them  )    bottle  of  firewhiskey  is  extending,  offering  it  to  the  other.      ＂    do  you  think  someone  that  famous  can,  like,  sue  me  if  he  wakes  up    &    regrets  it?    ＂

＂         And   that’s         .   .   .         a   bad   thing?         ＂                     Confusion   is   evident   in   pinched   brows         &         slow   wording,         as   if   attempting   to   crack   an   impossible   puzzle.               ―                  As   if   the   very   thought   of   the   world   revolving   around   anyone   other   than   them   is   surely   too   difficult   a   conception   to   even   consider.         They’ve   been   in   the   spotlight   a   long   time   and   it’s   where   Marcus   is   content   to   stay,         by   any   means   necessary.                     ＂         There’s   nothing   wrong   with   being   a   little   ambitious.         Some   of   us   are   just   born   to   shine.         ＂                     Good   press,      bad   press,         it’s   all   the   same   to   Flint.            Having   your   name   in   any   headline   is   still   better   than   having   it   in   none.                     ＂         Why,      what   rumour   have   you   heard   about   me   this   time?         ＂                     A   question   they   probably   should’ve   opened   with,      previous   befuddlement   becoming   curiosity   to   find   out   more.