It’s a terrible combination, you know - that drive to win and the desire to be right. Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw, and the worst of it was the piggish ways with which they’d clash, but who cared, so long as there was fun to be had along the way? No. Nevermind the fun, it was more about who’d end up on top by the time the final golden snitch had been caught, who’d be grinning as points and trophies were handed out, and who’d have to sit there, GRINNING AND BEARING IT, and Marlene’s determined to rub James’ face in the dirt come the end of the day. “I’m going to overlook your petty attempts at making me angry, because honestly, Potter, I’d rather just let you see the truth of the Ravenclaw supremacy once we win the cup.” aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves? Still. That peek of her tongue between her lips, but still, she’s enjoying this little rivalry they have going on for the now.
“Husband. And please. As if you aren’t terribly hopeful that Lily will say yes whenever you work up the BLOODY NERVE to pull the trigger like that.” well. Sooner rather than later seems to be the trend, not only amongst their year but the one that preceded them, after all, how many wedding invites has she received for the summer coming up? It seemed as if everyone’s in a rush, while, honestly, it felt as if Mars was hardly even sure of where to get started… perhaps it was better to throw herself into the competitive spirit than to wonder what the hell was coming up next for Mr Potter and Ms Evans.
A rolling of her eyes is better suited for this, for him, this obnoxious boy who demanded everything within the room and yet at the same time, did all he could to maintain himself on the sidelines, as if he were embarrassed to ever be anything other than AT THE TOP. Physically, academically… it was a constant rule of strife where he were involved, self imposed, and driven by some unknown means. Perhaps by the fact that he felt as if he were to be even slightly subpar, that others might find the chink in his armour necessary to overthrow him from the tippy top of his imaginary mountain, where he might no longer seat himself as king. Didn’t he know? All mountains were simply made of sand, easy to build, and oh so easy to fall apart.
The comment makes her laugh; of course she knows, but the commentary that follows is ironically more aligned to what might work for them. “Honestly, Sirius might be the first to fall for something like that. Don’t go giving me ANY IDEAS, now, because frankly you know the real weakness of your team is their haughtiness and pride. But. Let’s say we fight clean and candid. I say the odds are even. And I think we can still beat you.” so the first target, then, is Slytherin and Lucinda and her band of scowling rogues, but that’s something that she’ll handle with as much grace as she can, likely to meet up shortly after this now with the captain of her team, just to get a few things sorted. A snort - she knocks at James’ hand herself.
“Get used to it! Out of all of us, you’ll be a proud dad first. And I hear better adjusted parents than mine are supposed to be cheesy like that. Better to get your practice in now before you fail with the person who’s going to matter the most!” and if she knows anything, that fear will drive him to be the best at being the worst joker… and isn’t that part of the fun for her? “Think of a good bet. But otherwise~ I’VE GOT TO GET STRATEGIZING. One step at a time! No use in skipping stones here~”
❝ that’s all it takes to make you angry ? - just one measly comment ❞ he’s enjoying himself now. enjoying the rhythm they’ve fallen into, the way marlene is now responding quickly, watching him with narrowed eyes. he feels some satisfaction in knowing he was able to distract her fully from her work. ❝ I’m looking forward to finding out for sure . ❞ this he says sincerely. he would be doing everything he can to get the win, but he’d enjoy their games too. ❝ we’ll know soon enough who comes out on top, mckinnon . ❞
❝ not gonna cross my fingers and hope she says no - am I? ❞ he hastily says this to cover up how the suggestion embarrasses him. true, he’d considered it - he’d thought about how there was no one else he’d rather spend his life with. but those had all been absent, fanciful thoughts. ones he hadn’t discussed with lily, ones he did not want to be so obvious. just in case she did say no. if that happened, he could never look marlene in the eye again .
❝ pass that paper over - I’m making that a note . haughtiness and pride ❞ - he mimics writing the words, drawing them out on his tongue like he’s never heard them before. BUT OF COURSE the gryffindors were proud, it was in the spirit of their house. if you went into everything believing you could win, then you made it possible you could. YOU HAD TO BELIEVE FIRST, he truly thought that to be the truth. ❝ sirius knows better then that ❞ he speaks up to defend his friend without much thought to if she was right or not. loyally, he preferred to defend his friend point blank then argue the merits of the statement. ❝ I think it’s right even, maybe it will just be the two captains separating the teams? hm ? I can beat you ❞ someone who didn’t know him as well might think he was underestimating her, but he took her talent seriously. he respected her game, thought she could really match it with him. but he’d find a way to come out on top.
❝ marriage and now fatherhood? slow down mckinnon, haven’t even sat my NEWTs yet. ❞ his embarrassment from earlier returns, flustered words his response. he doesn’t know how to begin seriously entertaining that idea. he liked kids, wanted a family some day - but he was only seventeen. he feels something like a rise in him, a need to defend a child, a reality of himself as a dad that didn’t yet exist. he forces himself to squash it, thinking for that he’d look like a right prat, and instead says ❝ so much talk about me. but I’m yet to hear what your grand plans for the future are? ❞
