What's life without a little risk?

Sirius: That's just old people code for lame.

Sirius: Not many people do :)

Sirius: Some sort of plant?

Sofia: Haha, I am sure they were fun when they were our age.

Mary: Okay, I'm trusting you Black. His name is Vincent Yaxley.

Mary: Age has nothing to do with it :P

Mundungus: london eye

Mundungus: wy would i b in midle earth?

“You’re really good at that, you know, giving a compliment while also being insufferably arrogant. Makes people both want to hug and punch you at the same time”, Marlene chuckled, raising one eyebrow suggestively as she looked back around at him. “Besides, I’d rather not. I don’t want to drive everyone mad and end up with only you to talk to. What a miserable existence that would be”, she teased, a grin now wide on her lips.

“Ah, perhaps. You’re not too bad at finding good music, I gotta give you that. Other than that…” Marlene couldn’t help it, couldn’t help teasing him. It was simply how they worked, that flirtatious teasing game. “Something like that, sure. I was a peasant, now I’m the bourgeoisie”, she grinned, stopping in front of him with her two glasses in hand. “Sure, but this way you just keep on drinking and drinking without constantly seeing how much is left. It’s more fun that way”, Marlene explained and shrugged, before stilling once again so he could pour their glasses. She watched him, smiling softly at the care he took not to spill anything.

Noticing it was only Sirius who approached her was somewhat of a relief and Simone’s lips pulled up into a wider grin. She hadn’t been surprised at all when she glanced around the meeting and locked eyes with him. And honestly she was beyond relieved to find out he was a member. It was nice to see a familiar face smiling at her, one that she knew and trusted for years already. His presence there made her feel better about her decision. 

Then he asked about second thoughts and Simone quickly shook her head. “No, of course not! I’m happy with my choice. I just,” she paused then, sighing softly as she looked down at the wine glass in front of her. Picking it up, she gently tilted the glass from side to side so the liquid would twirl around inside and kept her eyes on that instead of looking up at him when she spoke again. “I don’t know most of those people very well. In passing maybe, but that’s about it. They’re bound to have questions for me, and I’m just not really ready to handle those yet.”  

Remus’ grin widened as Sirius took the seat next to him, noticing the tired look in the other’s eyes. The other looked completely exhausted and Remus made a mental note to discuss if it was work related. It had been a while since Remus had been out like this with Sirius and couldn’t bring himself to recall the last time that was. Remus felt as if she had barely seen Sirius as of late. It seemed when Remus was at the flat Sirius wasn’t and vice versa. However, for the first time in days, Remus was grateful he had finally managed to catch up with him. 

At the mention of this being a date, Remus couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you normally make your dates wait? If so I am flattered, really. I’m getting the whole Sirius Black experience” Remus replied, his voice lacing with sarcasm. He turned slightly to hide the slight flush, ducking his head as he took a swig of his drink. “I’m flattered. Paperwork? Sounds gruesome,” Remus said, offering a sympathetic look. He had heard those who work for the Ministry discuss their employment but it was never with positive energy. “How is that then? The other work I mean.”

She knew she should have been paying more attention, if not because it was rude, but because these were dangerous times. Still, Winter was arrogant enough to think she could handle anything the world could throw at her. But it was a familiar face that towed over her, grabbing her arm to steady her. (Winter did not really like to be touched) 

“Oh its you,” Winter stepped back, he was a few years younger but in the same house. When she’d become a lion, it wasn’t all that big of a deal because she’d always had the love and support of her family, and Winter always got her way. Sirius wasn’t so lucky. And she pitied him, truly, he been driven away and lead by idiotic friends. But he couldn’t know she felt that way, certainly not now. 

“I think its fine thankfully, you know they make these things such that you can’t mend them yourself with a spell, you have to take it to the store, what kind of bullshit is that.”

“Sorry mate, you know ‘ow I’ve got to be in front of ‘em. Can’t seem to familiar” he apologised, clapping Sirius on the shoulder and offering a sincere half smile. His black market friends were more like competitive colleagues, if he had to sum them up in a word that the world as a whole would use. They came to poker night, they chatted shit about their days and the market and how fucked up the wizarding world was at the moment, and some even spoke about ideas they had to cash in on the craziness but at the end of the night, they were business. Sirius was a friend in his eyes, but he couldn’t seem like he favored the guy too much. It would be bad for business.

“This company? You mean crooks, smugglers and con-men?” he questioned, raising an eyebrow, as though he were egging the guy on to say it. It was all true. None of them cared enough to hide or deny it, but it was fun sometimes to watch other people politely skirt around the truth of the matter and wondered if Sirius was one of those people. “You’re lucky we don’t add cheaters to our list - got a code of our own, see. ‘Ave to ‘ave one, since we don’t follow wizarding law too often” he joked, pulling two beers out of the fridge and opening them both. He took a swig of his as he moved back over and handed Sirius his.

Pushing a chair out and lounging back into it, one boot up on the table and pushing him backwards on two legs, like a school child, he took several gulps of the liquid before hitting Sirius with a serious look. ‘Course I do, wouldn’t be no place for people like me under that evil piece o’ shit” he said, his expression as sour as the vulgarity in his words. “Dumbledore done me right, I don’t forget and I s’ppose I like ya mate. You’re a good guy, an’ I’m always willin’ to ‘elp out a friend" he smirked, letting his foot drop to the ground and his chair rest on four legs. “So, what do you make of what’s going on out there?”

“Getting him a friend?” Nora repeated, her eyebrows raised. “Not that it is any of my business, but that is definitely an one way ticket to distruction.” Her gaze lowered to Valerian who was fixed on the treats that the young man was getting for him. “He seems like a naughty one to be honest.” At least it was a dog that knew what he wanted because he was the reason in the end why they had ended up at the store at nearly the end of her day. She nodded slowly. Yeah, the recent events must be giving the Ministry a lot of extra work right now.

“I will have to take your word on that one, I guess. You do seem like you enjoy your job.” She motioned towards the counter so he could place the products on them that he wanted. Her gaze went to the dog again, who suddenly seemed excited. She wondered if it were the treats or if it was the story that the young man told. “For some reason I have a feeling that Valerian looks a lot like you.”