#mutareevent

Location: Imperio Date: Friday night-Saturday morning

Hestia sat on one of the chairs in the now quiet nightclub. There was a murmur of voices, but nothing like the raucous party that had been taking place only a few hours before. Her hands clasped together, clutching at each other. She was her own lifeline, as always. Trying to hold herself together. 

Tonight was supposed to be fun! How did it go so wrong? She was starting to think she should just avoid these events. Last time, she had broken her arm, this time...this time she was one step away from being accused of murder. 

The girl swallowed, though her throat was dry. No one could believe that she had done this, right? Her wand had gone missing, it wasn’t her fault! She resisted the urge to hide her face in her hands. She didn’t want to look guilty, or too worried. Though how could she not be? 

It was late and all she wanted was to go home. She wanted to kick her animals off the bed so she could crawl in and then have them cuddle around her. She wanted her coat, anything to ward off the chill that was seeping through her. She was exhausted from answering Auror’s questions, and from the stress and worry. They hadn’t given her wand back yet, not after she identified it as hers. 

It had taken a solid week for Marlene to convince herself that getting out of her hotel room, or pub, would be a good change. She'd spent too long locked up, drowning her worries in whatever booze came her way. So, she'd dragged herself out of her blanket cocoon, grimaced as she downed another vile of polyjuice and gotten made up for the first time in months. Ted would be so proud, even though she knew he wouldn't want her going as Aisha. But for all intents and purposes, Marlene McKinnon would remain dead, buried in the ground and forgotten from the minds of too many people for her to want to think about it.

The carnival was just as packed as she thought it would be and despite her budding excitement, Marlene's heart dropped into her stomach when she took note of the banners celebrating RED. Mary's RED. But there was no way she was going to encounter Mary here and if she did, the other woman wouldn't recognize her, wouldn't even know the truth staring her in the face. The thoughts hurt, a knife twisting deeper into her chest, so Marlene pushed them away and entered the carnival, navigating through the thick crowds of people.

It didn't take long for Marlene to realize it was impossible not to smile, the energy of the carnival was contagious, sinking into her skin from all sides. Though she didn't take part in any of the attractions, there was something delightful about being able to watch from afar, live vicariously through the laughing children and their proud parents. For the first time in months, Marlene's worries faded into the back of her mind without the help of a substance. She came to a stop in the Harvest Moons section, the charmed night lit up with candles from all angles. Beautiful. It wasn't until she was turning away from a stall, warm cider in hand that Marlene was jostled out of her thoughts when she collided with another body, her drink painting their shirt a few shades darker. "Fuckin' - I'm so, so sorry about that. You alright? It didn't burn you or anythin'?" She asked in a rush, instinctively using her sleeve to rub at the wet spot on their shirt. "I'm a bit of a clutz, sorry, but I'll give you money for another."  

Date: January 26, 2018

Status: OPEN

Despite Hestia not actually working today, she had been unable to stay away from the petting zoo for long. Promising herself (and the staff) she would only stay for a little bit, Hestia had crawled right in with the kids. She was happiest here, surrounded by children and animals, and facilitating positive interactions between both. 

There were a couple Crups running around, a lamp around which Flutterbys were flitting and delighting children by alighting on them, Bowtruckles on a small tree brought just for them, and a few more cuddly creatures, eager to be pet. In Hestia’s lap sat a Niffler, chewing away happily on its snack. She smiled as someone came over to her and held the Niffler out. 

“Do you want to hold him? Maybe take off any jewelry though,” Hestia smiled ruefully, but fondly down at the creature. “He likes shiny things.” 

What were the odds? What were the goddamn odds? Why had Hestia even allowed herself to be convinced to go on the roller coaster? She had been hesitant. It went fast, and had the drops that had people screaming. Well there had been screaming all right. But not of the fun kind.  Hestia reasoned now that it was perfectly reasonable that the orphanage had never taken the kids to a real fair. They would have been all over the place. And clearly the midway wasn’t safe. 

All this Hestia thought while she was lying on the ground, a buzzing in her ears. When Hestia felt a hand on her shoulder, she winced, and squinted, trying to focus on the face above hers blocking out the sky. Her ears were still ringing, but maybe it was just the screams echoing in them. “What? What happened? M’alright. Ouch, not so rough!” 

Wiping her forehead, Daisy darted back across her small kitchen, checking the roast for the eighth time. Tonight marked a very special occasion. Regulus was coming to her apartment for the first time. Her nerves were on edge and her blood drummed in her ears as she stirred the potatoes. Even still, she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. She hadn’t seen him since that day at the hospital. And his words still echoed in her ears.

The first time they had said them to each other. Three words and they held so much meaning. She was basically jumping. Hearing the front door open, she peaked her head out around the corner and grinned. “Hey! Got the wine? And bread? Cause I didn’t get either.” The witch laughed, though the sound while ever bubbly was a little nervous as well. She hoped Elara wouldn’t notice. She had invited her as well. Hopefully calming her nerves a little. Plus, she was her friend, a very good one who deserved to see history in the making. And she’d been over before so why not. Daisy shook her head, realizing she was trying to rationalize her actions.

Diving back into the kitchen, she turned the heat on the peas and hummed quietly to the music that played from the living room. “I’m so glad you decided to come. I’m excited period. Ugh, I’m just so shakey!” Checking the meat one more time, she stepped out of the kitchen, moving to embrace her friend.

(( @elaraxbloom ))

Collapsing on a stool, Daisy let her eyes scan the pub blankly. She had made way too many rounds, and had drank far too many drinks if the toilet in the loo was any indication. She felt much stabler now, however. And that was a blessing in disguise, she supposed. A right Christmas Miracle, before the holiday ever came around. Praise Merlin. The sarcastic thoughts were followed with a roll of her hazel eyes. 

Turning, she looked behind her, wondering if she could wave down the keep for a glass of gilly water. It might even stave off the roaring headache she would no doubt have in the morning. Nowhere to be found, however. Which was just her luck. As always. She needed some sort of stimulation, or else it was right back to how she had been when she’d first walked into the party. Worried, suspicious and fake. Jumping back up, she decided to forego the water. 

“How’s it going?” she asked, sitting at the first table she saw with an empty seat. “Bit early for Christmas, but it’s one hell of a party, huh?”