a good man

Jack Cecil || 33 || Healer || Ollie's Dad

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ohdianaa:

Diana had been scrolling through Benjygram when she heard the voice in her ear. 

The bar wasn’t very crowded and she was thankful for that. It had been weeks since she’d been on her own and, while Diana was a people person, she always enjoyed having one night a month just for herself. The universe seemed to be telling her that her one night alone might have to be another day, though, as soon as the person began talking.

“What the hell is a garden party?” she asked, laughing a little. “Sounds boring. Do you drink tea and play dress up?” Grinning to show she was kidding, she reached over and patted the strangers’ shoulder (he was cute, anyways, and Diana was never one to let an opportunity like that slide by). 

“Oi, two vodka tonics,” she said, waving the bartender down. As soon she returned with the drinks, Diana slid one over to her new companion. “Name’s Diana. Seems like you could use a drink.”

“Actually, that is exactly what it is.” Jack laughed as well, thinking about it. “At least when my seven-year-old is the one hosting them and the guests are mostly dolls and action figures. And the tea isn’t actually tea but juice cause that’s tastier and you have to talk about the weather and how pretty the garden is of course. Any other topics are strictly forbidden.” 

Jack was too flabberghasted to refuse the drink and his hand closed around the class on instinct. He hadn’t planned on drinking tonight and his juice was only half empty, but he suddenly found himself deciding that one drink couldn’t hurt.

“Umm, thanks,” he found himself saying and smiled a little. “I’m Jack. The weird bloke who goes to garden parties with Barbie and the Power Rangers.” He lifted his drink and took a sip. “So Diana, how did you end up here tonight?”

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ludo-the-wasp:

Ludo had just made his way over to the bar, easily catching the bartender’s attention- and the attention of many others. Yet, at the odd question, his attention focused on the man nearby, and he couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I did. When my ex was obsessed with it. I broke half the stuff there, and never got invited again. Never saw her again, either.” He grinned at the memory, taking the drink from the bartender. 

“But you, mate, sound like you got no life whatsoever. Don’t look that either.”

“You don’t sound particularly regretful,” Jack remarked dryly and took another sip from his own glass. Ludo’s story didn’t surprise him, although he decided to believe that he must have had a good reason for breaking things at a party. 

Jack huffed at the comment and lightly shoved him with his elbow but hd to laugh himself. “Oi, shut it! I’ll have you know that my life is very exciting. Just yesterday I got summoned to Ollie’s school because apparently my daughter dropped the f-word in P.E. I wonder where she learned that one.”

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saxrowle:

Simone had only popped into the bar intending to stay long enough to warm up before braving the cooler weather once more to get home. But she’d figured that while she was there she might as well see if she could find something warm to drink to speed up the process and get her home sooner. 

Staring at the menu she wasn’t paying much attention to her surroundings, so when a voice sounded out from beside her she turned towards the man with a quirked brow and momentarily confused look on her face. It was the unfortunate moment of hearing what was said but her mind took a second to process. “Hm? Oh, sorry. Um, yes, I suppose I go to parties a bit and sometimes they’re in gardens.” 

Giving the man a once over mostly to see if she could at all familiarize herself with him, Simone returned her eyes to his and gave a pleasant half smile. “No offence intended here, but you don’t really seem the type that would be at garden parties.” 

“Sorry,” Jack apologised quickly, feeling the tips of his ears heat up. “I didn’t mean to bother you. Please, we can pretend this never happened if you want to.” Looking at the girl more closely he mentally punched himself. She was awfully young and as the father he could say for a fact that he looked exactly like the kind of bloke he wouldn’t want his daughter to talk to in shady bars. 

Yet her next words stopped him in his train of thoughts. “I don’t,” he asked curiously, crossing his arms and frowning down at her. He’d never heard that before. “And how exactly don’t I seem like the type?” Now he raised one eyebrow, not quite able to hide his amusement. “And more importantly, how does the garden party type usually seem like? You must tell me so I can make sure to look the part next time.”

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ritawriterskeeter:

“Occasionally,” Rita shrugged once she got over the surprise of the question and having it being addressed to her. It had been on the tip of her tongue to say that she didn’t really think she was often invited. She had stopped because she had been to enough in a professional capacity that she thought it counted. “It does, depend on the season, I think,” she replied archly, though she was just teasing him. It was a strange question after all. She dropped the high and mighty look, a smile spreading over her face instead.

“If you’re a garden party lad, I somehow doubt this is your scene.” 

“Does it?” Jack asked turning more towards her and resting one elbow on the bar. “I mean we are magical, you and I, if we wanted we could have a garden party in December with the roses in full bloom and warm enough temperatures to wear shorts.” Now that he thought about it, that was actually a brilliant idea. Maybe he should suggest it to his mother for next Christmas party. 

Jack laughed at her next words. “You’re not wrong, I’m afraid. My scene is more zoos and picnics. That and the dreadful arts and crafts club the other mothers from my kid’s school force me to attend once a month. This was more of an accident. What’s your scene?”

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moodyauror:

All Moody had wanted was some peace and quiet. It was a rarity in his life, but a man could dream, couldn’t he? It was one of the reasons why he had chosen the dodgy bar. Here, anyone who recognized him would most likely want to avoid him and his notice rather than draw it. Which was just fine with him tonight. 

So the the fuck was this guy, talking to him about garden parties of all things? 

He shook his head. “No, can’t say that I do,” he replied. “Can’t say that I’d want to go to them even if I was invited,” he added. 

It was a bit of an odd question, Jack had to admit that. Especially considering that he really had just asked it out of the blue without even introducing himself first. 

“They’re not that horrid, I promise! Most people only come for the free food anyway and are therefore not interested in conversation.” Jack turned to smile at the man who had spoken to take a better look and did a slight double-take.

“Moody? Well that’s a surprise. What are you doing in a place like this? Got dragged along too?”

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tedtonksposts:

Ted was lounging around the bar, not really sure how he ended up here after a long day at work. He couldn’t really remember who brought him here, but decided he could use the distraction.

“Personally I try to avoid garden parties at all times, even if friends invited me.” Ted said trying to hold in a laugh, at the random question the man next to him asked.

“Why do you avoid them,” Jack asked curiously. “They’re really not that horrible, I promise. The one I went to was great actually. The guests were all either dolls or stuffed animals so there’s no risk of ending up in an uncomfortable conversation.”

He suddenly realised that that must have sounded strange so he quickly added “My daughter threw a garden party on our balcony. It was nice, we had great ham sandwiches.”

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pg-pennyplease:

Penny was surprised when the man next to her started speaking. She was waiting on her drink (an espresso martini) and hadn’t bothered to see who was standing nearby.

“I’m sure you do,” she said, because she wasn’t sure if he meant to say that part but she didn’t want to seem rude by ignoring it. “Did you? Who’s garden party? I do. I do often go to garden parties, especially in the spring and summer. I like them because, you know, they always have gardens and I like flowers. Sorry,” she realised she was probably talking a bit too much. “I’m Penelope.”

He was surprised and a little pleased to find the person actually answering him. At least now he didn’t look like a complete idiot who talked to himself in bars. Jack took a moment to assess the girl before giving her an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, I hope I’m not bothering you. I’m Jack,” he introduced himself. “It was a very exclusive party. Ken was there, without Barbie, though, she had a cold unfortunately. But it was fine because Rapunzel was there to keep him company.” Jack sighed and grinned. “And now I must sound like a complete weirdo to you. Sorry. But you’re right, gardens are wonderful. Do you have one?”

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He could have been lying on his couch right now. Or even better, in his bed. Cozy and warm with a good book and a cup of tea. But no, he'd let his mother talk him into “taking the night off to relax”. 

What an utter load of rubbish. 

There was nothing relaxing about being stood up in a dodgy-looking bar by colleagues he barely knew. Who went out with colleagues anyway? Jack grumbled into his apple juice. And who let their mother dictate their social life? He had a social life! Although apparently talking to his daughter’s friends’ parents at school pick-up two or three times a week didn’t count. 

“I have a life,” Jack muttered addressing no one in particular, but slightlx turning towards the person next to him. “I went to a great garden party just last weekend. Do you get invited to many garden parties?”