“cocky?” he asked, with exaggerated offense, hand on his heart as he leaned back slightly. “me? why i’d never–” like slipping on an old coat, this light banter between them, and dirk’s grin widened involuntarily, indescribable joy swelling in his chest. “i’m the most humble, modest being you’d ever met, i’ll have you know.”
“hey, don’t worry about it.” he shrugged, like this was nothing at all – it wasn’t nothing, but he knew how easy it was to get swept up in things. he, himself, has been swamped in his studies and his work, too busy to reconnect with old friendships or maintain new ones – but with the opportunity presented to him now, he would hardly let it slip past his fingers again. “i haven’t been keeping in touch myself, y’know.” he shrugged again, a sly grin pulling at his lips, thumbs hooked onto his pockets and feet scuffing the floor. “i’ve been busy. with important work. because i’m a very important person, y’know.”
he let out a laugh. “oh, come on! he was dreamy, you had have noticed that, can you really blame me?” despite his words, dirk had never regarded amos with this kind of interest before, but he was not blind to the hordes of students who did. talking about amos like this – like he was a distant figure from long ago, like he was just a memory that they’ve long gone past, was peculiarly soothing, in it’s own way. he is gone, and they are past that, and there are only good memories to associate with amos, now, and he quite liked to keep it this way.
“i’m the most romantic individual around, nat, of course i work at the lover’s tea shop now!” he shrugged again. “i charmed the madam.” he said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “anyway, enough about me – how’ve you been? were do you work now? are you in touch with anyone from school? any – “ he stopped himself, before he went on to ask about her eating habits and if she was sleeping well or anything embarrassing like that, and looped his arm through hers, leading her towards the nearest table by their side. “my goodness. we have a lot to catch up on, lets get going.”
A soft, tinkling giggle escaped the lips of the girl, and she felt all of her muscles relax, falling into the banter and jokes. She had no idea how much she missed having him around, being able to laugh and talk with him. It was a far cry from the tense atmosphere most of her conversations had been as of late. She shook her head, rolling her eyes as he exaggerated his movements.
“You’re right. How could I forget the way you so meekly proclaimed your own virtues to the entire great hall. Or how you so kindly and modestly shoved your way past me toward Amos the first time we met. Yes, you could never be full of it, could you?” Natalie swat him on the shoulder playfully. “There you go again, talking about your importance in such a self-sacrificing way. The world would be so much darker without you in it, Dirkus.”
Involuntarily, the blush crept up her cheeks once more. “Dirk, I’m pretty sure everyone in school could see that I noticed how dreamy Amos was. Including Amos.” There was a sharp pain in her chest, that gnawing guilt once more, flashes of the nightmare realm in her mind’s eye causing prickling tears at the edges of her vision. Clearing her throat, she turned her attention back to Dirk.
“Of course. I don’t know why I’m surprised. You would be at the center of any romantic tea shop, wouldn’t you. Always loved the ooey-gooey sort of couple scene, didn’t you?” She shook her head, remember many a common-room diatribe on the frustrations of public displays of affection. She feigned annoyance but allowed herself to be pulled into a chair, plopping her things on the table as she sighed.
“Well, I’m a lower-level employee at the Ministry, in the Department of Magical Cooperation. Mostly I just translate letters right now, I primarily work with the French and German Ministries, but I’m trying to teach myself Spanish. One of the higher level employees mentioned the other day I might be a good go-between with the French Ministry, since I have such strong ties there, with my Granmama and parents being there and everything.” She sighed, hands toying with the strap of her bag. “It sounds a lot more glamorous than it is, I’m afraid. Mostly paperwork and looking up obscure words in a dictionary.”
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