━ lupin, remus jiwon.

[rjluqin]

aoife-oleary​:

WHEN: 21 June 1983 WHERE: Summer Solstice Festival, Nature Pavilion  WHO: OPEN

Aoife’s pace was slow as she meandered around the festival with a quickly melting sno-cone in hand, dyed purple from the sugary syrup it was drenched in. She ate at it quickly, already regretting the purchase. It kept her from reaching out and getting as close to the creatures as she’d have liked. “I’m sorry,” she apologized by means of grabbing the nearby stranger’s attention. “Have you seen a rubbish bin anywhere nearby?” Her own attempt at spotting one had left her wanting, and she wouldn’t have asked if she hadn’t already spent considerable time looking first herself.

...

Remus hadn’t been particularly good at Care of Magical Creatures, much to his chagrin. Magical creatures seemed to recognize something in him that non-magical ones didn’t. And he should know. He’d grown up in Wales for Merlin’s sake. When they’d stopped moving every six-to-eight months, the Lupins had settled on a farm, gotten themselves sheep and pigs and chickens even. He didn’t go home often enough, but seeing those animals was always a highlight of those trips. So, he had a fondness for fauna, and that had drawn him to the Nature Pavilion (along with it’s quietness); he didn’t dare get closer, but he watched them from a distance with a contented expression. He almost missed when someone to spoke to him. His eyes snapped to her, brows arched, then furrowing. “I think I saw one a bit up that path,” he said, pointing in its direction. “Closer to the food stalls.”

[rjluqin]

missmary​:

Where: Summer Solstice Festival When: 21st June Who: Mary && @rjluqin

Mary was feeling calmer the longer she stayed at the festival. There was comfort in the crowds, Aurors at every corner and too many happy families enjoying the sun to feel like she had to worry. Her voice even rose above the crowd, high-pitched and excitable in a way that hadn’t been common for Mary since the age of fifteen. “Remus! How are you? It’s good to see you! Oh, you know what we should do? We should try and get ourselves a Gryffindor table for the Midsummer Feast. Just like old times.” Not that Mary had any intention of eating at the feast but it could be like the end of year feasts where she would try to forget everybody else around and just focus on celebrations with her friends. “Have you been to the Whispering Willow yet?”

Remus had been to the Summer Solstice Festival once before. It had been the summer before sixth year and he’d gone with his friends, with James and Sirius and Peter, joyed to finally experience a tradition everyone else seemed to already know, ignoring the pang of why he’d never been before. He wasn’t quite as excited this year, but he appreciated that he had the day off, that the weather was nice, and that people around him seemed to be having fun for once (if under the watchful eyes of aurors). Mary was one of those people. It was good to see her smiling. “It’s good to see you too,” he responded with a warm smile. “I’ve been well. You look like you have been too.” He cocked a brow at her. “So long as no one sets up a Slytherin table too and we get into a food fight just like old times.” He shook his head. “Have you? I don’t know that I want to know about the future.”

[rjluqin]

unsiriusnessx​:

“That he isn’t,” Sirius said dreamily, as if he was fantasizing about how mischievous his best friend could be. “Don’t know how you turned out the way you did, Re. I mean I know you’re not as innocent as you look either, but I don’t think everyone does.” He winked at him for good measure and it was all in good fun, but his stomach still sunk, waiting on the reaction.

“The offer still stands you know,” he said. He would never let Remus forget it. He would drop everything for Remus Lupin. He would do anything for the man and somehow, he didn’t think Remus believed that. Or maybe, more tricky, didn’t think he deserved it. “I think you’ve turned me down because I told you I started sleeping naked now that I don’t live with a bunch of boys.” He knew that wasn’t the reason, but it was an easier one to stomach. “Oh, Moony Moony, such a worrier,” he said, giving him a soft eye roll. There were more reasons to drink lately, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have it handled. He liked being up on the counter. He liked being taller than Remus. He could see his face better, looking down instead of up. He wanted to pull him closer, but he knew that would be too much. Later maybe, if Remus gave in and they went out. “Reeeemus,” he said, drawing out the first syllable. “Come out with me. Home is so boring.” He had a feeling Remus wouldn’t give in and if he didn’t Sirius was ready to compromise and see if he’d at least let Sirius go home with him. He wanted to party, but that night especially, something in him wanted Remus’s company more. “Romulus and I are best friends as long as I don’t go Padfoot. Don’t worry about us.”

A grin tugged at one corner of his mouth. Sirius wasn’t wrong; there was some quality about Remus that labeled him the good one and the responsible one in the eyes of others. It dated all the way back to Hogwarts, when Remus was appointed as headboy. Maybe there had been a shortage of better Gryffindor candidates for their year. “I suppose I’m just a better actor. This”—he pointed at himself—“is apparently the face of someone who has never done anything wrong, ever.”

Remus shook his head. “I’m well aware. But I’ve got a pretty nice place.” The floors were scuffed, the cupboards were stained, and the baseboards had seen better days, but he’d been paying the rent there for over a year without issue. “It’s good enough for me, at least.” And better yet because it wasn’t charity. Not that he’d explain that in words to Sirius. “If that were the reason, then does that mean you would or wouldn’t stop sleeping naked because I moved in?” he asked with a raised brow. “I was one of that bunch of boys, after all.”

He supposed, on anyone else, the petulant, petty, boyish begging would’ve annoyed him. And there was mild exasperation as Remus looked into Sirius’ eyes, but it was tinted by fondness. “And what would be more exciting at this time of night? Or morning, technically. And if you say the Leaky Cauldron, I know you’re lying.”

[rjluqin]

of-fen-sive​:

Fenrir needed to be more careful than he wanted to be. He had to ignore the swell in his chest, ignore the want to get close to the boy and whisper everything they could have together. He wanted to spin tales of a life he could have if he stepped away from all that had brainwashed him.

That was the problem. They had him in his clutches. He had lost sight of who he was. “Oh, shame,” he said, taking a drag and blowing the smoke out into the inky black of the night. “You don’t want to get to know me?”

You don’t want to get to know me? No. The answering screaming inside of him was: no. This man, puffing white smoke into the darkness, offering drugs and unsaid more, was a no generally. His instincts were flashing warning sirens. He wouldn’t even say a small part of him want to stay, to listen, to say yes. But he remained still. He wasn’t so cowardly to silently turn and flee. Would this man stop him if he tried?

“No offense”—all offense, to this man, probably—“but I don’t think that’s every something I’ve wanted to do with a random stranger in the middle of the night. Can I get though?” Remus asked, gesturing around him.

[rjluqin]

ailajohnson​:

She looked down at the tuna sandwich the other had handed her with a disgusted look.  “I –” she took a deep breath, trying not to come across as an asshole if this had genuinely been a kind gesture.  “am going to need a bit of clarification, I guess.  Are you trying to poison me, or are you doing a random act of kindness and just so happen to have horrendous taste in sandwiches?”

It had been years since she had lived at home, since she had been forced to eat the disgusting combination of tuna and mushy peas that her father seemed so drawn to.  It looked like cat food that had been partially digested, and it didn’t smell much better.  “Oh no,” she protested as they tried to take it away.  “I’ve got to eat it now, I don’t want to break your spirit or whatever.  You tried, even if you sort of failed.  Just – if I don’t make it past this moment I want you to call me beautiful and brilliant when you give the eulogy at my funeral.”  She sighed, peeling back the wrapping and taking the smallest bite off the corner.

...

Remus stared blankly at Aila as she scoffed at the sandwich he’d set down in front of her. Admittedly, he probably wouldn’t be too pleased with it either. Not because it was tuna, but just because he didn’t trust the cook at the Cackling Stump. They’d fired the last one after he’d given an entire night of customers food poisoning, and this one did seem to be better – or at least safer – but still… Yet, he’d also seen how many drinks she’d ordered so far.

“Consider it a random act of kindness. Or maybe you won a free meal with your last drink,” he said dispassionately. “But, if you don’t like it—” Remus reached for the plate, but she snatched it back before he could grab it. The corner of his lip twitched. “I’ll make sure to write the most beautiful speech you’ll never hear. And I’ll testify if the cook is charged. Consider it a bonus.”

[rjluqin]

mcrningevans​:

As Remus spoke of his family’s recipes, Lily couldn’t help but imagine him there. A small smile splayed across her lips as an idea came to mind, one that would take some planning, and that she would keep secret for now, but one day she would get all of their friends’ favorite home-cooked recipes and learn them. “You’ll have to have your mum give me the recipe,” she said, raising her brows. “Or at least tell me how much soy sauce she used. I love it and always tend to overuse it, which then causes everyone else to gag upon tasting dinner.”

A laugh followed at the look on his face as he tried the soup. It was one of her favorites, creamy and hearty, but still not too filling. It would forever remind her of late nights with her da’ as he wrote a lecture and would practice by reading it to her in funny voices. She missed him, she realized, but it was hard to visit these days. Lily was always afraid she’d put her parents in danger somehow if she did. “Well, I’m glad I’ve taught you something,” she teased with a wink. “Besides, you know I’m persistent and won’t give up until you let me in. So we might as well just cut out all the middle nonsense.” While she was kidding, it was nice to know he trusted her. Her eyes turned soft as she turned to him. “I’m glad that I can be here. With you.”

His cat slowly crawled off the counter and to a chair and Lily went back to eating. She was quickly pointing her spoon at him, though, when he spoke again “Oh, you bloody well know I’ll love anyone who can bring me a good loaf of bread,” she sighed. “If only James could bake.”

...

“Well, it can get a bit salty – yeah,” Remus said, holding back a laugh at the image playing in his head. James’ face slowly puckering, brow furrowing, as he took bite after bite of Lily’s cooking. Which was good almost without fail, but Remus suspected his friend loved her too much to say anything if it was a failure. “But I can see about asking for a recipe. I doubt she ever wrote it down before, but she knows how to use a pen. Is that just a my mum thing or not?” Not writing recipes down, that was.

There had been nights, in the quiet and darkness of his childhood bed, that he dreamed of companionship something like this. Soft and kind and warm. He hadn’t pictured the cat demanding treats or the scrapes in the table, but something like this. There had also been nights when his fears convinced him he could never have this. He was glad those were wrong – at least for now. “Thank you for being here,” he said, slightly louder than a whisper.

The moment of sweet vulnerability didn’t last too long, thankfully. Those were exhausting. He rose a brow at the accusing spoon, but he wasn’t the one in jesting trouble. “It’s really not that hard. Just a bit of waiting and a little arm muscle – which last I saw, James has.”

[rjluqin]

unsiriusnessx​:

Sirius noted Remus’s silence and decided it was best to move on. He didn’t mean to let his dramatics get more serious, but Remus did that - took everything serious. It was good sometimes, sometimes he grounded Sirius. Other times it just made him feel guilty. “You’re right,” he said. “Too benevelont that James Potter. No idea why he hangs out with the sorry pair of us.” He got closer to Remus and put an arm around him. He wasn’t hat drunk yet and if you didn’t know him, you’d think he’d been drinking for hours. This was normal though. As far back as Sirius could remember, he was always touching his friends to show his affection - Remus especially.

Sirius rolled his eyes, but he dug into his pockets for some money to add to the till. He didn’t know what a shot or two of firewhisky went for, so he grabbed a few galleons for good measure and put them in the till. “Is this why you keep me around, Lupin?” he asked, separating from Remus so he could put his money away. “My heavy pockets?” They both knew it wasn’t true, but he couldn’t help but mention it. He went back to Remus, sitting up on a table that had just been wiped down. “What? Being with my best friend isn’t occasion enough to drink?” He looked at the empty bottle. He wanted more, but he wasn’t about to take advantage of his connection even if he did overpay. “What are your grand plans tonight and what will it take to get you to come out with me?”

“Because he’s not as innocent as he looks?” Remus suggested with a cocked brow, looking over the arm Sirius had slung over his shoulder. As much as he hated to admit it, the arm was a welcome weight and warmth. And that wasn’t that bad, was it? Sirius was a touchy friend; that was a known fact. But still, his heart beat fast. Pitter-patter. Yet he didn’t shrug it off either, and a small, quickly censored part of himself mourned the touch when Sirius stepped away.

“Oh yes. Because I’ve turned down all those invitations to be your roommate because I’m keeping you around for the galleons.” Remus rolled his eyes and held back another go around when Sirius hopped up on the table. Who the hell cared? The sanitation standards of the Cackling Stump amounted to no visible sewage and picking up the beer bottles. Remus shrugged. “For you, maybe. Just checking it’s nothing more than that.” Checking that he was okay. That nothing was wrong. Never too cautious these days. “My grand plans were a cup of tea, a used book, and being a cat bed for Romulus. And I think he’s the one you’d have to convince.”

[rjluqin]

of-fen-sive​:

Fenrir could always smell one of his own, especially one of his own making. Lupin was perhaps one of his best, though it was a shame he didn’t respect his own father like that. Greyback made the boy who he was and Fenrir was pretty sure the boy had no idea who he was. 

He wondered if Remus could smell him like he could. He wondered if he could sense the bond between them that was so strong for Fenrir. The boy barely looked like he recognised him and it made his blood boil. They did this to him. They brainwashed him. 

“Something stronger then?” he asked. “I have some of that too.”

A storm was kicking up in Remus’ stomach; the back of his throat itched from the cloud of smoke wafting about them. It wasn’t the smoke that had him unsettled. It wasn’t the dim light of the alley or the late hour on the clock. Remus wasn’t positive what it was, but he had a sinking feeling. A dawning horror.

Remus swallowed, the apple of his throat bobbing. It didn’t help that this man, whether just a shady figure on a side-street or a decades-old nightmare, seemed to be offering him hard drugs. Or maybe just pot, but Remus wasn’t feeling so generous. “I just want to get home and off my fate, mate,” he said, half-raising his hand. “So, I’ll pass.”

[rjluqin]

fcnwick​:

“yeah, can’t spit in our food if you’re the one serving it to us,”  benjy said dryly.  it was enough to make him laugh, because remus was one of the last people he could imagine spitting in a customer’s food, even if they were rude.  he’d probably just sarcasm them out the door, which was a respectable strategy.  “oh, he’s up to three whole meals?  that’s progress!”  he cracked, clapping remus on the shoulder.  benjy patted himself down, like he was checking to make sure … “yup, all of my limbs are present and accounted for.  not a single splinching incident, which — ”  he knocked on the wooden table, just in case.  “hopefully i didn’t just jinx.  whoops.”

“You sure about that?” Remus deadpanned, a lop-sided grin tugging at his lips. But he wouldn’t. Ever. First: it was gross. Second: he liked his job well enough to not want to lose it. Third: it couldn’t be transmitted that way, but people were willfully and maliciously ignorant, and if someone found out… All reasons passive aggressive customer service was the better choice. Remus snorted. “He’ll have me at four if I stay single any longer.” But that was more likely than finding a partner, luckily for Romulus. It was hard for him to spark an interest like that. Not to mention the torch he still carried and failed to blow out. Stupid, rebellious pureblood black sheep. “I’ll make sure you’re cut off before that’s a risk. Unless you’re that bad at apparition.”

[rjluqin]

of-fen-sive​:

Who: Open

Where: Corner between Diagon and Knockturn Alley

When: April 4, 1983, late at night

Such a bad habit. He heard Geri’s voice every time he opened a pack of cigs. Couldn’t quit ‘em though. Whenever he scrounged up enough money, he bought a pack. Ironically enough, he preferred them to anything he dealt. Maybe his profession caused anything else to lost its luster.

He didn’t expect anyone to be out. It was his favourite time of day - so late it almost became early. It was quiet, even in the busy place he found himself. He was finishing a deal and wanted to smoke before he went home. He always got reprimanded for smoking. Ingrates, the lot of them.

He lit the cigarette without his wand. He had one, barely used it. Stole it off a kid they killed during a raid. Never felt right. Never felt like his. Much preferred nonverbal.

He smelled them before they saw them, his eyes darted up, cigarette poised between his lips. He was shocked someone else was out at this hour. “Betcha gonna try to bum one off me. That was my last one.”

It wasn’t quite Knockturn, but the alley reeked like it was. Cigarette smoke was frankly nicest of those scents. It still wasn’t nice – Remus didn’t care for smoke whether it was a wood fire, a joint, or a cigarette. It was just nicer.

He had no intent of acknowledge the person smoking. Duck his head, hold his breath, keep walking towards the brighter lights of Diagon Alley with his hands in his pockets. He’d just gotten off at The Cackling Stump and was headed home, back to the stained linoleum, chipped mugs, and Romulus would inevitably feel entitled to a late night snack. Passing strangers without a word was the way of the world – yet, the stranger called out to him.

Unease and apprehension settled like a fizzing whizbee in his stomach at the sight of him through the smoke. He couldn’t be certain in the dark, but he looked familiar. Sounded familiar. “Wasn’t planning on it. I don’t smoke.”

[rjluqin]

unsiriusnessx​:

Sirius had always been dramatic, even as a little boy, but when he grew up he only grew more so. He was like that with people he trusted. He knew they could take it and they wouldn’t judge him for it or be annoyed too easily. Remus had seen just about every side of him. He’d seen him early in the morning after barely enough sleep, late at night and manic from nightmares, he’d seen him shaking with anger, shivering with fear, he’d seen him filled up with love and broken with grief and everything in between. And Remus still kept him around. It’s what best mates did, of course, but sometimes Sirius couldn’t quite believe it.

“Just imagine the headlines,” he said, making a grand gesture in the air. “Pureblood heir left out in the cold, barkeep to blame.” He smirked at Remus. “Imagine the blood on your hands, Moony. You’d have to quit your job, move towns. James would be devastated.” He stopped there, knowing if he kept going he may be taking it too far. He strode over to the back of the bar and took the bottle of firewhisky. He uncapped it with his wand, flinging the cap so it skid a few times on the table Remus was cleaning. It reminded him of the rocks they used to skip on the lake at Hogwarts. “Fire is warm,” he said as he took a swig. He dangled the bottle in front of Remus. “Gonna help me?’

He could imagine the headlines. They weren’t pleasant images. They were a squall in his stomach, a fear that burned in his heart. Because it wouldn’t just be barkeep that they called him. It wouldn’t be quitting his job and moving towns. He swallowed the sour tingle in his jaw and shook his head, an expression of exasperation on his face as Sirius grabbed the firewhiskey. “James would set me up nice and cozy out of the country and you know it,” he said, grabbing the cap before it skidded of the counter.

“So long as you leave the coins in the till, happily.” Remus grabbed the bottle from him, pointing towards the till as he brought it up to his lips. It burned hot with an aftertaste of cinnamon. He wasn’t sure if it was more or less pleasant than regular, muggle whiskey. The bottle clinked on counter as he set it down. “Are we drinking to anything special?” he asked, pushing it back towards Sirius.

[rjluqin]

themxdnightmarauder​:

James could tell that despite the fact that Remus wasn’t saying so, it bothered him to talk about things like this, even if just a little bit. Rightfully so, too, he thought to himself. It was unfair how people with Lycanthropy were treated, even in their original forms. It wasn’t by any means his fault, and really, it wasn’t like Remus was dangerous all of the time. Really it was only surrounding the full moons that James could see it being a problem. Maybe that was just his protective side coming out, but he was convinced that Remus was an excellent employee otherwise. 

“Ha ha, very funny, Moony,” James shook his head, the smile still lingering on his face though. There was a point to be made there, though. Harry was very much a minature version of James, and on the days it showed the most, it absolutely terrified him. He knew better than anyone how foolish he tended to act when he was younger, and the trouble he’d gotten into during his school days. He could only imagine the sorts of crazy adventures that Harry would find himself in, and hoped that Lily’s genes would be enough to talk some sense into him. “We’ve come close a few times to some minor accidents, but been very successful at avoiding them thus far.”

Thinking about the question, he hummed to himself. “I would probably say a bit of both. Though, my mum always said I was an easy baby, but as I got older, that’s when things got harder. So I guess we’ll be in for it, eh?” Their server at that moment had brought over their food, quicker than James was expecting though there were no complaints. “You should come around, when you’ve got the time. I’m sure Harry and Lily would love to have you.”

...

A grin tugged at one side of his mouth. “It’s only a matter of time,” he promised, because it was. This was James’ child after all, flawed, imperfect, beautiful human being that his friend was. And he was Lily’s, who wasn’t a saint in the traditional sense. She was warm and loving and kind but she was capable of her own brand of mischief. And together, they were perfect. Sometimes, the thought of them made him wistful, knowing that wasn’t something he could have. But a meal at the Three Broomsticks was not a time to dwell on that.

“You know what I think,” Remus said as his dish was placed in front of him. Steam wafted off the plate. The scent found its way to his nostrils and then to his stomach which gave a hearty growl. He laughed. “Good timing. I think I’m hungrier than I realized.” He picked up his utensils and grabbed himself a forkful, raising it to his lips as James extended the invitation. Remus swallowed the hot food quickly. “You know I will. Lily will drag me over if I don’t. We should do game night sometime – rope Sirius and Peter in, get some snacks, and have some fun.”

[rjluqin]

fcnwick​:

there was only one reason benjy ever went to the cackling stump, and it wasn’t for the overpriced beer on tap.  he came to see his friend, remus, and it seemed like he had the perfect timing.  benjy saw himself to his usual table after waving.  he worried for a moment that remus was busy, but he reappeared with food a moment later and joined him.  “ah, dammit.  and here i thought my favorite bartender could serve me,”  he cracked with a grin.  “i guess i’ll have to settle for one of your coworkers.”  and speaking of, one of them came by, and benjy placed his order.  continuing after they left,  “but i certainly won’t turn down the company if you won’t.  how’ve you been?”

“Gets a bit weird when I’m serving friends, don’t you think?” Although, his presence was probably the reason half of his friends did show up here. He knew Sirius loathed this place. Remus couldn’t imagine Lily walking through that door if not for him. The Cackling Stump wasn’t the worst pub in the world, but there were better dives in better places. “I’ve been alright.” Surviving, he wanted to answer, but was dourer than the truth. “I eat three meals a day”—usually—“and haven’t lost any limbs since last I saw you. You?” Benjy did look intact.

[rjluqin]

mcrningevans​:

A small smile filled her lips when Remus complimented her soup. “Mum’s special recipe,” she nodded. “My ba took to adding curry spices in it, so it’s a bit different from the original but we were always experimenting.” At this point, it was really a family recipe, one that she’d ended up tweaking with magic just a bit. Petunia had even added cinnamon, on accident, at first, but it had turned out to be the perfect addition. 

The memory filled her with an almost sadness. The thought of Petunia almost always did. Still, she hid it with a grin at his words, pointing her spoon at him with a laugh. “I am a human lie detector,” she teased right back. And, although she wasn’t nearly that good, she’d always been rather empathetic. Her ability to read people had come in handy, at least with those closest to her. She always knew when they were lying; knew when something was wrong and they weren’t telling her. Lily wasn’t necessarily pushy but she could tell when someone needed to talk. “And, if you need anything y’know you can just ask. Harry’s been going to daycare now that James and I are both working…”

The words brought a small smile to her face, especially because it was strange knowing Harry was old enough to be in daycare and because he loved it. He would tell them stories of his time at the Muggle daycare, a place Lily insisted they put him so that he could learn about his heritage, and although they only made half sense, they filled her with warmth. “Oh, Romulus is a big sweetheart if you just feed him a biscuit or two,” she grinned, gently petting him behind his ears. “See? Seems like someone else I know. Although, you don’t require biscuits, usually.”

His lips twitched. “That’s lovely,” Remus mused. “Mam did that with a lot of tad’s dishes. She took his baked beans and added gochujang and soy sauce once. A definitive improvement.” Both of his parents were Korean, but his father had grown up in Wales, disconnected from his culture despite his adopted parents’ efforts, whereas his mother had grown up in Korea, raised by her biological family. It gave him an interesting cultural background, both distinctly Korean and Welsh.

“I won’t argue with you,” he said, raising his hands in defeat. After a moment, he allowed his hands to drop back to the table, picking up his spoon for another sip of soup. Rich but not too rich, it was warmly spiced as Lily suggested. He swallowed a mouthful, meeting Lily’s eyes. The intensity in her voice as she told him could always ask for help made his heart skip a beat, but he managed to nod without looking away. “I know. And I would if I really needed it. I’m getting better at swallowing my pride when it comes to my friends.” It wasn’t comfortable yet; Remus doubted he’d ever be comfortable admitting weakness or need to others, but he was getting better. This lunch was a sign of that.

Remus’ eyes narrowed slightly as he looked his cat. They silver tabby’s purring with growing increasingly louder as Lily petted him. “That’s one way of putting it. But I think that’s true of most creatures – and people. Tell me you wouldn’t love me if I brought you a fresh-baked loaf of bread, for example.”

[rjluqin]

unsiriusnessx​:

Who: @rjluqin​

Where: The Cackling Stump

When: March 16, 1983

Sirius rarely went to The Cackling Stump when it was open. It was probably his least favourite bar and he hated that Remus worked there. So instead, he went out on his own, pregamed at a few other bars, then waited until The Cackling Stump closed. It was then that he showed up at the bar, pressing his palms to the door and blowing air against the window. When Remus didn’t immediately notice him, he rapped quietly at the door so as to not scare him.

He pressed his nose closer to the glass, puffing up his cheeks so his face smushed against the door. When Remus finally opened the door he pressed a hand to his forehead. “Ah, Mr. Lupin, thank you for finally coming to the door. I thought I would have perished from the cold.” He pushed past Remus with a grin on his face. “Okay, when are you going to get out of here?” He sat on a table and pulled his wand out, twirling it through his fingers. “And how likely are you to give me the rest of that firewhisky? I see it’s only got a drop left. The way I see it, I’d be saving you the trouble of switching it two minutes into your next shift.”

Only small candles were left to illuminate The Cackling Stump as Remus put away cleaned glasses and swiped a charm towel over sticky tabletops. A soft hum emanated from his throat as he worked, focused on his tasks so he could get out of there sooner. At least, that’s the excuse he would offer if Sirius asked why he didn’t notice his friend until the quiet wrapping. It was clear from the fog on the window that he’d been trying to get Remus’ attention.

Remus rolled his eyes as Sirius quickly started in on the dramatics and fought his traitorous lips that were trying to grin. “Oh dear. We couldn’t have that could we?” he asked, shutting the door behind Sirius and following him to the table. “Are you sure about that? If it was so cold, perhaps a warm cup of tea would be a better idea? They say that alcohol only numbs the cold; it doesn’t warm you up,” he added before heading towards the bar.

[rjluqin]

themxdnightmarauder​:

James rose a brow at the term, thinking it over. It made sense, he supposed, though he wasn’t sure if that was entirely appropriate, to just make up new words. Perhaps appropriate wasn’t the right word, but rather, he wasn’t sure that it was heard of. “Well, makes sense I s’ppose. The words are pretty similar already, so combining them makes things easier?” What a clever little trick, he thought to himself. Hangry. He’d have to use that one more often, especially with Harry getting fussier by the day, it seemed. 

Even if he wasn’t totally convinced, it was nice to hear that Remus didn’t think his life was too hectic for him. There were definitely days that felt busier than others, James thought, but all in all, what could he really expect when they were in the middle of fighting a war? Laughing, James shook his head and took a sip of his drink. “Indeed, not getting fired is a good quality to have for an employee.” He couldn’t pretend to know what it was like, living as a werewolf, but being an animagi helped a bit in the aspects of understanding what it was like to be someone else. He never said some thing, because transformation or not, Remus was a person first. They all were. However, he would never understand the views of a prejudice society, which perhaps hurt the most. “Well that’s decent, at least. He can’t be all bad, if you’ve not gotten fired yet,” James teased.

At the mention of his son and the toy broom, James lit up a bit more. “Loves it. Perhaps a little too much, I’m afraid,” James chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just the other day he fussed about not getting to play with it until he finished his dinner. Of course, I want him to enjoy it, but it may be becoming a bit addicting.” Giving a small shrug, he continued. “Hasn’t broken anything yet, though, so we’re in the clear for now.”

...

Remus’ lips twitched as James thought the tidbit over. “I’d bet three galleons that whoever came up with it was drunk, slurring their words together, and thought the result of it was genius,” he mused. “Admittedly, they might be on to something, even though it feels silly to say.” Remus noticed a levity in his own tone that for half a second, he had to appreciate. Levity was becoming an exceedingly rare commodity.

“For future employment opportunities. Some might say it gives me character, though.” The levity suddenly felt forced. The joke was hollow on his tongue. But he had to joke about it. About the unfairness and cruelty of the universe. The other options weren’t worth considering – at least not in company, even company he trusted. “I guess.” His shoulders rose in a half-shrug. “I think he’s just practical. I don’t ask for raises, accept the shifts I’m given, and haven’t cost him money in lost customers.” Left unspoken: he’d be out on his ass if any of those factors changed. Maybe he wrong, but Remus was also practical. And cynical.

Remus’ grin softened at the change in James’ demeanor. Years ago, he might’ve teased his friend for going all soft, but the war had forced him to appreciate small miracles. Softness was a small miracle. “Aren’t kids his age fussy in general? Maybe it wasn’t just the broom. Maybe he would’ve thrown a fit if it’d been building blocks instead.” Remus cocked a brow at him. “I think I’m more surprised he hasn’t broken anything rather than if he had. He’s your son, after all. D’you think it’s Lily’s charms or her genetics that’s got him behaving so well?”

[rjluqin]

location: the cackling stump who: @fcnwick​

The atmosphere of the Cackling Stump was surprisingly subdued when Remus’ long break rolled around. On the one day they had decent food in the pub, no one was here? Well. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Remus dried his hands on the towel and stepped away from the bar. Just as he was about to slip into the back, the charm on the door signaled some new had entered at the pub. Benjy’s face was immediately familiar. Remus shot him a small wave before slipping in the back but, rather than eat in peace away from the customers, he grabbed his food (too late to be called lunch, but a little to early for him to consider it dinner) and headed back out. Spotting Benjy at one of the tables, Remus beelined there.

“I’m on break,” he said, scooting out the chair opposite of Benjy, “so I hope you weren’t expecting me to get you anything. But I could use the company if you wanted it.”