make it count --

I breathe in broken promises They start to set in I wish that I could let me win. Shiloh Anais Monaghan 26 as penned by caro

[nijntjemeisje]

“Everyone You've Loved,” Susannah Irene

[rebuildeds]

“  absolutely  and  immediately.  ”  the  grin  they've  gotten  out  of  shiloh  is  incentivising,  pushing  the  momentary  doubt  they  had  -  the  little  voice  in  the  back  of  their  head  that  said  something  along  the  lines  like  you  could  come  across  like  a real  dickhead  here.  they  scrape  the  spare  chair  out  from  under  the  table,  dropping  themselves  opposite  the  other  and  mirroring  their  positioning  –  cheek  in  hand,  eyebrows  piqued,  teeth  and  gums  on  show.  “  my  ego  needs   comfort.  ”

[rcbirthiisms]

There's a levity here that is comfortable, distantly familiar. That, Shiloh thinks, is what leads them to their next action--shifting back in their chair with shoulders straightened, hand running through the hair to tousle it a bit, face afixed with the best over-exaggerated sincerity they can imagine. Staged, in character, and ready to take their role, they begin, "Please accept my dearest apologies for offending you and upsetting your ego in this trying time. Might I ease the ache of the wound I've caused with a drink?"

[rebuildeds]

“ ahh. ” dudley nods, face morphing into something more friendly ( he hadn't noticed & it wasn't conscious, but he had been giving off a slightly pissed-off aura ). the shirt is much less egregious than some of the other highlights of his wardrobe : something bright, still work-friendly, but not quite alongside the heights of his horrid hawaiian fascination. though, if he thought he could get away with wearing one of those in the office, he absolutely would. “ it was a gift? occasion's not that serious. ” there's a hopeful tone in his voice on the last words, hoping to coax a similar conclusion from them. 

[rcbirthiisms]

The shift of Dudley's features to something kinder, or at least something less offended, yields to a kind of relief in Shiloh. They'd never admit to it, of course, would struggle to put into words how little they mean to be rude from the jump. But knowing that they've at least succeeded in smoothing things over this time gives them something to move forward with. "No, it's not egregious or anythin'. Just a bit, uh, loud I suppose." They pause, shrugging as their gaze trails up from the vibrancy of the garment to his face. "Anyway, uh, sorry about all that. I'm Shiloh."

[hoggleswart]

"    yeah.  tenacity.  or,  y’know,  something  along  those  lines.    "    it’s  highly  possible  that  was  just  the  hopeless  romantic  hiding  somewhere  inside  her  talking  though.  the  one  that  still  believed    (    despite  life  continuously  trying  to  show  her  otherwise    )    there  was  a  person  out  there  for  everyone,  even  the  people  using  terrible  chat  up  lines  in  bars.  light  laughter  escapes  at  the  other’s  observation  and  what  else  can  andie  do,  except  half  -  grimace    /    half  -  nod  in  agreement?  the  bar  had  hardly  become  known  for  stellar  reputation.    "    i  do,  for  all  my  sins.      ⸻      oh,  we  definitely  get  some  interesting  customers.  there’s  a  whole  lot  of  fighting,  whole  lot  of  everything  else.  but  it  pays  the  bills,  so  a  gal  can’t  complain,  right?    "    especially  not  when  there  wasn’t  exactly  much  else  on  offer.  posture  straightens  when  conversation  directs  to  marco  and  this  time,  head  shakes,  lips  pressing  together  in  an  attempt  to  keep  a  straight  face.    "    the  kid?  no.  no,  i  swiped  him  from  a  stranger  when  they  weren’t  looking.  i’m  thinking  of  demanding  a  ransom.    "    the  act  doesn’t  last  long.  couldn’t  possibly,  when  every  fibre  in  andrea’s  being  bursts  with  pride    &    adoration  while  looking  at  her  son.  features  took  break  out  into  a  wide  smile,  letting  some  of  that  seep  through.    "    he’s  mine.  marco.    "

[rcbirthiisms]

"I mean there's someone for everyone, right? There's bound to be someone to laugh at the line and... go with the flow?" If they don't sound like they believe it, it's because they don't. But the issue with voicing that out loud is that some people... do. And to be so openly condemning of such idealism is bitchy. Or at least rude. And Merlin knows, they don't need more people who find them standoffish because they can't keep their foot out of their mouth. "Sounds like a nightmare, if I'm honest, but I get the bills part of it. Anything to make it to the next month, right? No matter how..." They trail off, squinting for a moment at a spot of dirt on the table. "Frustrating." And really, they would have known she was a mother even if they hadn't seen him because something about her feels soothing, gentle. There's no better indicator of it than that. Or at least no better indicator, in her opinion, of what a mother ought to be. Perhaps that's their own idealism at work. Still, Shiloh turns, giving a little wave at Marco as they file his name away in their memory. "He's cute. Has your eyes."

[rebuildeds]

prompt: "What's with the shirt?" featuring: @rcbirthiisms !

dudley glances quickly down at the shirt in question, as if it's about to jump up at him, but can't see anything in particular that's out of the ordinary. "what d'you mean?" he pulls it down a little self-consciously, trying to brush out some of the more egregious creases, hand finally going to the collar in case that's gotten in a tangle. it's a bit more dressed up than he's used to, that much is true, but he didn't think it was that much of a big deal. "what's wrong with it?"

[rcbirthiisms]

It occurs to them, entirely too late, that they've been rude. Which, okay, it should have occurred to them sooner. There were better ways to word the question--still are, surely, though the exact words evade them. Shiloh shrugs, mouth opening and closing a bit as they search for a decent response. "I mean, not--just--" Fingers to their mouth to stop their own stuttering, they pause. "There's nothing wrong with it, really. It just seems... vibrant? For the occasion?"

[rebuildeds]

“ — because of the rating system. one to ten. so you're a ten. and the only one here. ” the are you from tennesse on a stranger is, in fact, the result of a lost bet. tempest isn't best pleased to learn that there was witnesses to the subsequent humiliation when they overhear shiloh's reaction & subsequent conversation - it wouldn't be so bad, really, if they hadn't had to explain the pick-up line. that and the polite smile the stranger offers before they dip, all add up to some fairly desperate scrambling for a shot. they manage to hold off on the confrontation for about half - an - hour, before they invade the tucked-away corner, eyes square on shiloh. they lean a little too closely, but the smile on their face reaches their eyes, and they're trying not to come off threatening, at the very least. “ i'm not accepting criticism at this time. i'm fragile, thank you. ”

[rcbirthiisms]

Shiloh has been content to keep to themselves, watching the bar at large as they mull over a drink or two. It's been a tough week in both their jobs, and frankly they're not sure they have the spirit to handle it. At least not at this exact second. Tempest's arrival, however, adds some levity--some amusement, even--for its own reasons. Brows raise on her forehead as she leans forward, cheek in palm, and grins. "Suppose I should apologize then? For upsetting your delicate ego?"

[rebuildeds]

location: appleby autumnfest ! featuring: open ( @startertms )

“ you ready to lose ? ” tempest has a holyhead harpies t-shirt on ( for the inter-team solidarity and nothing more, of course ), potato sack pulled up to their waist. they'd entered the previous hour's race as a joke, egged on by teammates who knew exactly how to push their competitive buttons, and well. they'd beaten the children, and one or two of their parents. tempest had won. and naturally, with an illegal bet between friends placed on their head for this hour, it was time to get in their opponent's heads. too bad if they weren't taking this as seriously as she was. “ i'm gonna kick your— ” glance is given to a child in close proximity. “ — butt. ” it doesn't quite have the same ring.

[rcbirthiisms]

They're not sure how they ended up here, to be honest. Not in a literal sense--they remember stepping into the potato sack and hopping at a ridiculous speed to reach the end of the line the first time. But somehow... they're still not clear on the details before that. The why. Or the sense of it all. But, all the same, if they're already here... "Smack talking in a sack race. Impressive, truly." Which, in all fairness, maybe they aren't any better. Still. They cast a glance at the kids around and behind, all the little ears to hear innocuous curse words. "But keeping it clean, I guess. Better than the alternative."

[rcbirthiisms]

𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕖 ℕ𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 !!

accepting: killing eve sentence starters & character npc meme

[rcbirthiisms]

"i'm not really, like...- allowed to-" it sounds weak even to luca's ears, maybe because it's not even strictly true. she's worked the bar before - she knows her way around it and she gets called in just as much for busy evenings as she does to cover a sick coworkers shift, so she's not a stranger. she's been trying to set healthy work boundaries for the last few weeks and she's been really trying to get it through to tom that she only signed on for housekeeping for a reason, but , well... "oh, fuck it. whatever. forgiveness over permission or something, right? whaddya want?"

For a flicker of a second, they feel bad. The goal of the conversation was, of course, to get the drink in question but not to get anyone in trouble. Then again, if the woman was so willing to just do it after a little chat, maybe there hadn't been much resistance to begin with. Either way, they're not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. "The way I live, yeah. Butterbeer'd be great. Thanks a lot." There's a beat of pause before they tack on-- "But so I don't have to get you in trouble in the future, is there someone I should be lookin' for instead?"

[hoggleswart]

"      i  think  he  truly  thought  it  was  gonna  work  and  for  that?      ⸻      i  kinda  have  to  admire  the  tenacity.      "      she  doesn’t  often  find  herself  in  this  position;    standing  at  a  bar  as  a  customer  rather  than  server,  but  today  is  a  rare  day  off  and  for  once?  andie  intended  to  enjoy  the  guilt-free  treat  of  eating  lunch  out.  or  at  least,  she’ll  enjoy  it  now    /    let  the  guilt  sink  in  later  when  she’s  hunching  over  bills,  thinking  about  how  galleons  could’ve  been  better  spent.  a  future - her  problem.  eyes  abandon  the  failed  pick  up  and  a  quick  glance  to  the  left  confirms  marco  is  still  sitting  at  nearby  table,  furiously  coloring  while  his  mama  waits  to  make  an  order.  she  turns  to  shiloh  then,  offering  faint    (  though  nonetheless  amused    )    smile.      "      oh,  i’ve  heard  worse.  the  charmers  that  drink  at  the  white  wyvern  aren’t  quite  as  suave  as  they  believe.  sometimes  they  don’t  even  use  lines.  they  just  sort  of    .  .  .    grunt  in  your  general  direction.      "

[rcbirthiisms]

"Tenacity..." Shiloh echoes the word, watching the distant conversation for another beat before drawing their eyes to the woman beside them. They're struck, sort of immediately, by the fact that she looks tired in a life-long kind of way. That much they can certainly empathize with, no matter the circumstances. "Oh do you tend at the Wyvern? I can only fathom the kind of clientele you deal with there." They shiver a bit, less as a condemnation of the bar itself and more as a reaction to the memory of its drink-sticky floors. ( Like walking across tar. ) There's a moment where they watch her glance back at a kid, a little boy, maybe four or so, and something in them softens, thawing out the slightest bit. "He yours?"

[rcbirthiisms]

a flash of something across antigone's features - nothing aimed at them, not at all, but something born from the unexpected arrival of a familiar face, an emotion tied in to the unexpected and the fact that she wasn't expecting to put on her own sort of SHOW just now - and then, a softening of her smile. since... well, since christmas and everything that happened over it, antigone has perfected performances other than customer service. it's nice to see them, truly, but the need for said show is true for most people, these days. "i was going to go ask tom could i perform at the leaky this weekend," she tells them, no hesitation, striding across the dusty floorboards to lean on the other side of the ollivanders counter and meet them in the middle. see? we're both trying. she taps the toe of her shoe against the skirting board, softly, happy for the fact that it's hidden. "but i could be persuaded otherwise. what're you thinking?"

"Ah," and they don't mind, even a little bit, that she has a tentative plan. That's the thing about surprising people with your presence--there tend to be other, more pressing things on their radar. Even if they say they aren't pressing at all. A grin presses further into their face as fingers dance across the countertop near their elbow. It's difficult to be still, these days, though they're working on it. Making a conscious effort each day to slow down and take a breath when it feels like moving is all they can do not to go shouting in the streets. A little tapping is better than nothing. "That actually sort of works out, if you're so inclined. I was thinking maybe we could grab a pint? Have a little catch up over something warm?"

[rcbirthiisms]

𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕖 ℕ𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 !!

accepting: only murders in the building prompts & mini playlist meme

[elliot-olivia]

elliot + holding olivia back 

[rcbirthiisms]

𝖑𝖔𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: the three broomsticks 𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖚𝖘: open!

"Do you think they actually thought that would work?" It's not their best look, not by a long-shot, but Shiloh's content to watch the goings-on of the bar from her slightly tucked-away corner and observe. Maybe, realistically, the better word is judge. Still, it's harmless really, and all in good fun. She casts a glance at the person nearest her, lips quirking upwards in a mischievous grin. "I mean I've heard back pick-up lines, but that... that was a spectacular failure."

[antigonai]

𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽:   ollivanders   !

her favorite part of the month was stock take day. antigone knew that this made her an outlier amongst her fellow apprentices, but when serving customers was the usual, stock take was something to break up the monotony. each box had to be plucked from its place so gently so as to avoid the collapse of precarious mountains and each wand had to be checked so carefully as to assure that what was inside matched what was written on the outside. she greeted each and every one of them as an old friend and murmured their measurements and specifications to a quick notes quill, taking joy from the organisation every time.

the bell over the door gave a little trill to announce the arrival of a customer and from the back room antigone called, "i'll be with you in just a moment!" the oak & dragon heartstring wand that she had been studying was first priority - laid to rest once more in the box it had come from and placed so strategically back in its place that the box lined back up with the dust print it had created over its time here, and only then did she make her way to the front of the store, emerging from an almost invisible gap in the tall shelves to say, with customer service smile tacked on, "i'm sorry to keep you waiting! how can i help you?"

[rcbirthiisms]

Shiloh hadn't been certain their friend would even be here. It was hard to know sometimes, and with how indisputably bad they were at keeping up with people in their own right, they never once had a place to critique other people's communication shortfalls. They knew her voice, though, even from around the corner, and it brought a gentle sort of calm to the twitching of their fingers. In this case, they could wait.

"Ant," they hummed as she emerged from the back, bracing their arms against the countertop and grinning at her. There was an earnestness to it, an apology. I'm sorry I'm so bad at this, it said, It may not mean much but I am trying. "You have plans after work?"

[woesbegone]

𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽:   the leaky cauldron   !

"oh. i don’t work here-” are the first words out of her mouth when flagged down by a leaky cauldron customer, though her current position behind the bar doesn’t help the far from apologetic statement ring true. she looks down at the cloth she had ventured down to rob and back up at them, very visibly weighing up how to proceed before admitting, with a wave around the general area, “well, i do, but not... here.” old tom would have her HEAD if she started messing with the beer taps again, and luca can’t think of anyone worth the hassle of his wrath. she could have taken their order, but it was much easier in the long run to leave it at, “someone’ll come along, eventually. you can’t have been waiting too long...?”

[rcbirthiisms]

"Ah," Shiloh murmurs, cracking their knuckles and looking around again for someone who could--or at least would man the tap. "No, no, it's fine. I just was hoping I could get a pint. But if it'll be a hassle, don't even worry about it, y'know." They rap their knuckles on the bar, then, taking a deep breath as they lean into it a bit. More than once they've been told to go light on themself on a bad day, take it easy or whatever, but self-compassion's never quite been the wix's strong suit. "You have any idea who I'm lookin' for at least, so I can keep an eye out?"

[rcbirthiisms]

 ⧽   ━━   hey, isn’t that SHILOH MONAGHAN ? i read a daily prophet article on them, once ; the TWENTY-SIX year old [ half blood ] WIX is a [ GRYFFINDOR alumnus who has gone on to be a STAGE ACTRESS & SALES CLERK AT FLOURISH & BOTTS ]. i’ve heard they can be quite SELF-ASSURED & EMPATHETIC, but i don’t know… they came off very UNRELIABLE & SELF-CONTAINED in that interview. it really is hard to know what to believe these days though, isn’t it?

𝖕𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖙. 𝖕𝖑𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙. 𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖘.

Name: Shiloh Anais Monaghan Pronouns: She/They Nickname(s): Shy Age: 26 Birthday: March 18, 1996 Sexuality: Pansexual Living Relations: Qyuen Monaghan (Mother); Victor Monaghan (Father); Tbd Monaghan (Brother, 29-30); Sadie Monaghan (Sister, 23) Profession: Stage actress & sales clerk at Flourish and Botts Education: Hogwarts -- Gryffindor