T A L K A L O T

this is newness: every little tawdry obstacle glass-wrapped and peculiar, glinting and clinking in a saint’s falsetto.

[tclkalct]

ANASTASIA

“With the amount of money those people have I can’t imagine they couldn’t just replace the stolen funds. Honestly, they’re making such a huge deal out of this.” She didn’t see the point, gossiping and speculation felt worthless when there was something to be done. “And no, I don’t know who did it and I don’t care, I didn’t even go to the stupid ball.”

“ the point isn’t that they could easily replace it. ” lucinda’s brows had furrowed together as she considered what the woman said. “ the point is that someone took it when it was meant to help people. the point is that obviously lestrange didn’t care enough to keep an eye on it. the point is -- ” she huffed, and shook her head. “ there’s more to it than just replacing it. ”

[tclkalct]

EVAN

Evan would have been lying if he said it had been a spur of the moment decision. But in reality, he’d had a couple of days to plan the big heist. Stealing the money had been pathetically easy, no one had seen fit to place any sort of protective spells around the box–leaving it open for any random wixen or house elf to dip their hands into the chamber. So slipping the coin into a small charmed pouch had required no more effort than a first-year learning how to ride a broom for the first time. 

He didn’t plan on keeping the money through–no, his plan was always and would always be to help tear apart the organization from the inside out, and if he had to resort to illegal measures to complete this task, well, he’d sold his soul to the devil years ago. Slow, anonymous donations have begun trickling into St Mungo’s–and in a month all the funds would be back to the proper location. 

In this moment, Evan found himself sipping a pint at a local pub, his turbulent thoughts and emotions not clouded on his face, offering a grimace as yet another person mentioned the scandal, “Surely we have more interesting things to gossip about?”

“ interesting ?? no, surely not ” said lucinda, offering evan a grin as she answered. however long she’d been drinking now, she wasn’t sure, but there was enough alcohol in her blood to keep her unashamed with such a blunt reply. it wasn’t like it wasn’t true, anyways. the election was at the forefront of everyone’s minds -- it had been for months now -- but this ?? the scandal ?? nothing could be more -- “ exciting --- that’s what it is. try and tell me it’s not and if you do i’m pretty sure you’d be lying. ”

if she weren’t drunk, she wouldn’t have ever even considered saying so. it was not polite and was entirely out of character for her. but it was true. and she was drunk. so the part of her that should have cared about what she was saying was nonexistent at the moment. she took another sip of her drinking, raising her brows before saying, “ so if you’re not finding that a good topic to talk about, what would you consider an interesting happening in the wizarding world today ?? ”

[captaincaughtlove-blog]

Towards the end of the day, especially if the office was slow, Greta liked to take her work to the local coffee shop. There was one across from the Ministry that she always enjoyed visiting. In front of her was a bill that she was working on in regards the discrimination in many work places. The issue had always been present, but lately, Greta had been receiving an increase in demand for action against it. Since the horrific attack at Mungo’s, the situation had become more prevalent. Taking a moment to push her hair back, she caught sight of someone looking for a seat in the crowded café. Greta gave a soft wave when she caught eye contact, “You can sit across from me if you’d like. I can move some of this back” she offered. 

[tclkalct]

“ you wouldn’t mind ?? ” lucinda hesitated, not taking a step towards the seat across from greta. she looked back in the direction she came from, her eyes scanning the café for any empty seat, and her shoulders fell when she found none. it wasn’t as if she didn’t want to sit near greta --- in fact, her heart felt like it would burst in the other girl’s presence --- but every thought she had was telling her to walk away. but despite her best interest, she found herself pulling out the chair and sitting down. she didn’t let her gaze fall onto greta for more than a few brief seconds at any time. her hands wrapped around her coffee cup as she took a sip, a feeble attempt at distracting herself from the girl who made butterflies flutter in her stomach. “ it’s good to see you, greta.” she allowed herself this one greeting.

[tclkalct]

@catchlovc

do you understand what you’ve done?

a. i said the only thing i promised i never would b. she looked beautiful and i didn’t tell her c. no

( ra )

[silverbang77]

“yeah, i know my stock is running a little low,” sybil drawls in a tone that says it’s a familiar phrase, one she thinks she shouldn’t have to say anymore. sure, the incident hadn’t happened yesterday, but it’s not like she can rebuild in a week. “but i’ve still got quite a bit of stuff, plus i can do custom orders. i’m not closing shop yet, don’t worry.”

[tclkalct]

“ i’m glad to hear it, sybil, ” offers luce with a reassuring smile. her eyes drift around to look at the few things left in the shop before her gaze fixes on the woman in front of her. “ that’s the sort of attitude you need to have. i really do love all the things you’ve made. they’re not quite my taste --- ” she glances down at her own outfit “ but they are beautiful, there’s no doubting that. ”

[tclkalct]

GRETA:

Running. That was the first word that came to Greta’s mind. Greta wasn’t a coward, but Lucinda made her weak. It was hard to describe in what way- after all, Greta never stayed around long enough to know if it was in the knees or in the heart. It was a combination of Greta’s fear of confrontation and Lucinda’s reaction to seeing her that kept her away. However, the red string that held their souls together in school were still tethered, no matter how frayed it was.

Lucinda was, although with each passing day it became harder to remember, Greta’s everything. First crush. First kiss. First partner. What was fresher in Greta’s memory were the tears she shed after each time Lucinda pushed her away. Whoever said there was beauty in pain was wrong. Greta had gotten her fair share of pain in her lifetime, but Luce’s rejection and the subsequent breaking of their relationship hurt more than she liked to admit. 

Greta was toying with a stand of necklaces at her favorite vintage shop when she heard her name. “Greta.” She knew that voice, knew it well. Could hear it from anywhere. “Lucinda,” she said, opting to use her full name, “it’s been awhile. How are you?” She was about to say more when she saw Luce’s small smile, trip, stumble, and then crash all together. Right. They weren’t together anymore. They weren’t even friends anymore. Greta meant nothing to her. “This is my favorite vintage store,” she explained stupidly. “I dunno, it’s just always been somewhere I feel… comfortable.”

would it be easier if greta were to just say she hated lucinda ?? as she faced the other woman, she wondered this. the undoing of their relationship was her own fault but maybe the guilt would ease should there come to be any sign of antipathy in return. so far, there wasn’t, and luce wondered if there ever would be. a part of her dreaded the idea of that coming to fruition. 

she remembered light-hearted days in school, where their laughter would echo off the walls of the corridors and it was all that was needed to push luce to get to the next day. she remembered how greta’s hand fit within her own. she remembered the taste of her lips and the pure happiness she had felt.

luce would have once said she knew all of greta’s curves and edges better than she knew her own. she wished that was still true.

how could luce have begun to doubt the innocent things that she had? of all the people in her life, of all the people who were cruel and harsh, greta had never been one of them. she was good, nearly painfully so, and she was there for lucinda when few others were. the past now tasted bitter in her mouth.

the world ruined good things and luce wondered if that had become true of her. perhaps the pain she dealt with for so long did leave its scars on her, leaving them hidden under the brutal kindness she was known for and her soft pashmina shawls.

she looked at greta and the entirety of her being ached. she wanted to reach out, to feel her within her grasp once again. instead, her arms hung at her side, empty.

"i’m alright,” she replied with an easy shrug. it should have been an easy answer but it still felt like a lie when it hung between the two. she had her shop, she had friends even. the one thing she didn’t have was greta and perhaps that was what she mourned the most. “i’ve never been here before. it looks nice.” it was a weak reply but luce couldn’t help herself. she wanted to hear greta’s voice again. she just wanted to be around her. “i don’t tend to get out much, tending to the store and all.”

what was she doing? she had been stalwart in her convictions to ignore greta until now --- to set the other free, to give herself the needed space  --- and yet she felt drawn back towards the other like they were magnets. she wondered if she would cry as soon as greta was gone from her sight once more. she might be out of sight, but she would never be out of mind.

[tclkalct]

Severus: I blame myself for this.

Lucinda: We all blame you.

[tclkalct]

❝ It was really easy to get away with murder before they knew about DNA. ❞

“And prior incantato, too, I’m sure. What’s brought this on, Rab? Have something to confess?”

[tclkalct]

@catchlovc

If Lucinda had seen Greta, she would have ducked down one of the winding side streets in hopes of avoiding her. She would have chastised herself later, once she was in the comfort of her shop or her home, working to convince herself it was for the better. She would have found herself distracted by some odd trinket on a stand so she could turn away and hide her face. Luce would love to say she was scared of nothing but the sight of Greta left her with an unfamiliar fear that settled in the pit of her stomach. Instead of turning away, she found all that was capable of was ---

“Greta.”

The name fell from her lips without a second thought and a wide smile spread across her face before it fell away in the quickest of seconds, quickly forgotten. She wished it could have stayed but instead she was left with a blank expression and an aching heart. This wasn’t the certain kind of sadness Luce was partial to, and she wondered if as soon as Greta was gone if she would feel lonely.

“I didn’t expect to see you.”

She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She never expected to see Greta, not anymore. Avoid, avoid, avoid --- that’s what Lucinda did. Why? The other was once Luce’s closest friend, her only confidante in a school of people who seemed to thrive on tormenting her. But friendship had turned into something more when a flutter of butterflies made themselves at home in Luce’s stomach and they wouldn’t go away. That’s when Luce decided she couldn’t be friends if it was never going to be anything more. As much as she wished it could be, she had her doubts.

[tclkalct]

NARCISSA:

“excellent.” narcissa tied her hair up with a white ribbon, the move swift and smooth as satin, and took her place in the space lucinda left for her. simply looking at the array of leaves and dishes and saucers reminded her of afternoon tea with the ladies within her family’s circle, normally a tedious ritual with anyone but helena, but the thought imbued her with a sense of comfort and familiarity that helped to settle her heart’s wild thrumming. the heat from the cups burned, but the ache was something on which to concentrate, something to distract herself from worrying herself sick. “it’s doing wonders. perhaps more than we know. it’s doing something to me, at the very least.”

“you run that little divinations shop, don’t you? i’ve always wanted to stop in, but i never got the chance.” it had seemed there was always someone within the pureblood  circle hanging on her arm, someone who would read too deeply into her interests - it was why she only strayed from the tea parties and socials when she was sure no one was looking. “i was painfully mediocre in the subject at hogwarts, but i wanted to be good at it.” it wasn’t just her perfectionism - there was a mystique to divinations that evaded the other topics - it couldn’t be pinned down. could lucinda have predicted what had happened the night before? narcissa smiled faintly. “can i ask what the most splendid thing you’ve ever seen in your readings has been?”

Lucinda smiled at how willing Narcissa was willing to help her. Most people had just walked by, taking tea if they needed or mumbling a quiet ‘thank you’. She would fare well on her own but she appreciated the company. With everyone passing so quickly and going wherever they needed, Luce couldn’t help the pervasive sense of loneliness that settled on her shoulders. But Narcissa’s company, a stranger the woman might be, was more than welcome. “I’m so glad to hear that. My thoughts before coming out this morning was that as long as one person was comforted then it will be worth it.”

She smiled at the recognition before nodding. “Yes, that’s my store. I’d love to have you stop in one day. I could show you a few things, if you’d like.” Enthusiasm coursed through Luce and it was so easy for her to start rambling. “It takes a certain type of person, a dedication and an openness that I don’t see in a lot of people. But I think people would be more receptive to it if only they gave it a chance.” She held a cup of tea between her hands, the warmth seeping into her skin, as she thought about what to answer Narcissa with. “I once had a lady come in talking about her love and their future. I did her reading and I saw this peculiar flower. She seemed to recognize it even though I didn’t. She came in a few months later with her fiancée on her arm --- the loveliest girls --- and apparently seeing the flower gave her the courage she needed to propose. I think about them on the regular.”

[tclkalct]

DORCAS:

“Thank you.” She whispered, watching the blood disappear from her hands, cleaning them, and washing away the detritus of the night. Tilting her head, she caught a glimpse of the other girl and recognition came to her. Lucinda Talkalot, a mousy girl with a penchant for Divinition. Many people scoffed at the practice–but Dorcas had always been extremely curious about the art if lacking the actual talent and magical specialization to accomplish it. If she had her wits about her–she may have probbed her about the subject, instead what came out sounded a bit accusitory, though she meant not, “Any predictions that the night would turn out like this?” 

“Sure.” Lucinda tucked her wand away before kneeling back from Dorcas. “I know it might not be as good as soap and water, but I always find being clean makes me feel better.” She shrugged her shoulders slightly, watching the woman attentively. “If I had known anything of the sort was to happen ---” a terse smile had replaced her gentle expression “--- I wouldn’t have kept quiet about it.” Luce’s jaw had clenched at the woman’s question. She had already berated herself and her gift and the lack of awareness that had come with last night’s events. Hearing it from someone else, though, was only rubbing salt in the still-tender wound.

[tclkalct]

MARY:

Mary shook her head. “I’m sure you aren’t,” she said. “If you were…the healers probably would have asked you to move by now, you know?” She offered. She didn’t think that being polite was a top priority right now, not with everything that was happening. The healers probably didn’t even notice, if she was being honest, since there was just so much going on around them all the time. “Okay,” she said, when she left the room. Mary allowed herself to get comfortable in one of the chairs and then ran her hand over her stomach. “You better be okay,” she said softly, looking down at her large stomach. In response, she felt another kick, and she smiled. When Lucinda returned with the cup of tea, she smiled. “Thank you,” she said, taking the tea, she brought the cup to her lips and took a sip. “This is good,” she smiled. “I like it.” When she said that she got her a few pieces of lapis lazuli, she smiled. “Thank you. I would be happy to wear them,” she said. “Anything that could help, i’m open to,” she said.

Luce found Mary’s words comforting and she nodded her head slowly. “That would make sense.” They were busy, but she supposed the woman had a point. They wouldn’t have let her set up as she did if it was only going to end with her being in their way. “Of course. I’m glad that you like it.” With a quick glance towards the door, Luce walked over and settled into the chair next to Mary’s. A wide smile crossed her face and she clasped her hands together. “I hope they do -- work for you, that is. I’ve always found that when people are willing to try and are open, the magic is a little more receptive to them.”

[ollifree]

John Mulaney Sentence Starters

NEW IN TOWN

❝  I was hoping that by now I would look older. ❞

❝  I never thought about how to handle real problems in adult life. ❞

❝  Looks like regular sand, but then you’re gonna start to sink into it. ❞

❝  That’s pure mom. ❞

❝  Luckily, I had a good alibi. ❞

❝  It’s a grid system, mother fucker. ❞

❝  Of the racial slurs, that has got to be the laziest. ❞

❝  Before I went through puberty I had the voice of a little flute. ❞

❝  No one knows what you’re talking about you idiot. ❞

❝  You will treat me with respect! ❞

❝  I am a tiger mom. ❞

❝  First off, no. ❞

❝  Midgets were never enslaved! Unless you count the Wonka Factory. ❞

❝  You’re gonna have to get used to that. ❞

❝  Yeah, you got it, man. ❞

❝  It was really easy to get away with murder before they knew about DNA. ❞

❝  Oh, good, it has a mind of its own. ❞

❝  It’s really easy not to go to things. ❞

❝  That you would do anything is totally remarkable. ❞

❝  The less amount of time you live the better. ❞

❝  I was definitely gay when I was a little boy. ❞

❝  I have girlfriend and she’s a female person. ❞

❝  Go, fetch! ❞

❝  Life is a fucking nightmare. ❞

❝  I’ll keep all my emotions right here, and one day I’ll die. ❞

❝  What the fuck am I supposed to do with that? ❞

❝  Let’s go over there and destroy the place. ❞

❝  Fuck da police! ❞

❝  I’ve never climbed a fence that high before. ❞

❝  Did I do that? ❞

❝  Hey, come here. I want to show you something. ❞

❝  Why do you do this? ❞

❝  I’m not gonna kill that guy. ❞

❝  Hey can you help me out? I’m very gay. I’d like a few dollars. ❞

❝  Yeah, that’s the type of lowbrow shit i’m looking for. ❞

❝  It was a lie. To get drugs. ❞

THE COMEBACK KID

❝  I know how big letters should be. ❞

❝  You totally forgot the lesson you just learned. ❞

❝  Do not fuck with me. ❞

❝  Marriage is gonna be very magical. ❞

❝  I bet he did kill his wife. ❞

❝  I never knew relationships were supposed to make you feel better about yourself. ❞

❝  Anyone who’s seen my dick and met my parents needs to die. ❞

❝  Why would you marry a woman if she’s already having sex with you? ❞

❝  If you just bought the cow nobody would say that anymore! ❞

❝  It’s just a little bit wrong, isn’t it? ❞

❝  What a mighty king I will be. ❞

❝  It’s haunted, but it has a lovely kitchen backsplash. ❞

❝  You don’t deserve a beach house. ❞

❝  This is an on-fire garbage can. ❞

❝  I don’t care for that shit at all. ❞

❝  You’re never too young to learn our national no-snitching policy. ❞

❝  No one wants to applaud the penis of a thirty-two-year-old weirdo. ❞

❝  You know how I’m filled with rage? ❞

❝  So you can imagine the kind of stress that I am under. ❞

❝  This is the best movie idea I’ve ever heard in my life. ❞

❝  Kids have it very good now. ❞

❝  Doesn’t anyone wanna know why his dick was near my biters in the first place? ❞

❝  How did he lose his arm? ❞

❝  That’s exactly what you won’t ask. ❞

❝  You have your law practice, and me, I have all these fucking markers. ❞

❝  I’m just reading this Yellow Pages. ❞

❝  My dad loved us! He just didn’t care about our general happiness or self-esteem. ❞

❝  McDonald’s! McDonald’s! McDonald’s! McDonald’s! ❞

❝  That is the funniest thing I have ever seen in my entire life. ❞

❝  How perfect is that? ❞

❝  We’d rather you do it in the house than go somewhere else. ❞

❝  Ah…numbers. The letters of math. ❞

❝  One feels like a duck splashing around in all this wet! ❞

❝  Don’t you see? I’m a duck now. ❞

❝  If you eat enough ass and suck enough dick, one day you can sell drugs. ❞

❝  Hey, man. I like your button. ❞

[rpmememaker]

Send “✆” for a MORNING text. Send “” for a text that WASN’T SENT. Send “☎” for a RUSHED text. Send “⁇” for a DRUNK text. Send “✿” for a SUGGESTIVE text. Send “ø” for a LATE NIGHT text. Send “✘” for a HATEFUL text. Send “#” for a RANDOM text. Send “@” for a SCARED text. Send “&” for a LOVING text. Send “%” for a CURIOUS text. Send “ツ” for an EXCITED text. Send “$” for an ACCIDENTAL text. Send “♀” for a HEARTBREAKING text.

[rpmememaker]

ＳＥＮＤ ϟ ＦＯＲ Ａ ＳＮＡＰＣＨＡＴ ＦＲＯＭ ＭＹ ＭＵＳＥ．

[fiercelily-evans-blog]

Crystalized Conversation || Lucinda & Lily

[tclkalct]

LILY:

Both sides had voices that shouted so loud that they drown out everyone else. At times she was being guilty of one of those voices. She tried to listen, tried to understand their side, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. The baseless claims they made about werewolves, the horrible restrictions they wanted to put on the magical creatures; it made her blood boil. She wanted to be a voice of reason, but some people were entirely unreasonable. Lily couldn’t understand the blind hatred that they carried around; it had to be exhausting. 

Realizing the implications of her words, her eyes widened in horror. While she knew that Lucinda was a seer, she hadn’t meant to insinuate anything like she did. “Oh Merlin, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything like that. I meant we needed people that weren’t shouting into the void and were capable of rational conversation,” she amended. “I wasn’t referring to your sight, Luce, honestly. You shouldn’t be expected to use your gift in anyway. You’re right about the radicalization. I’m all for taking a stand, but we need people that can voice their opinions without screaming or shutting others down” she admitted. Lily herself could be guilty of that. It was frustrating, knowing that people were quick to act on biases and ignorance. If people were more willing to learn then they would always be rooted in what they didn’t know. 

Watching Lucinda move with grace around her shop always brought a smile onto Lily’s face. Seeing the people she cared for happy and thriving was something she always enjoyed. A warm smile spread across her face, “That’s brilliant Luce, and I might have to take you up on that soon enough. It’s been crazy busy, and getting wolfsbane from you might take a load off” she hummed. It would be nice to have a supply on hand for when she couldn’t get around to brewing it. Lily gave her a grin, “Perfect, seems I won’t have to make anymore stops tonight” she admitted. Laughter bubbled out of her, “No, no, thankfully nothing I’m brewing involves that level of mischief” Lily smiled. 

How could silence be better? She had clung to it for so long, wishing for nothing more than to be able to keep quiet. But now? It seemed so distant and more than impossible. There was no grey area in her eyes anymore, only black and white, only right and wrong. Silence was choking their society. Speaking up was the only way things were going to progress. She only hoped the voices that arose were on the right side. She needed to speak up, she knew this all too well. Thoughts of what she should say, of what she could say, kept her up at night. She thought up bits of phrases and speeches before she went to bed, the words clinging to her tongue just waiting to be said.

There was a long pause before Luce exhaled, saying, “I know you didn’t.” She let her shoulders fall before offering Lily a shrug. She shouldn’t have been so quick to offend but sometimes it was so easy to act on the defence. Of all the people, she knew that Lily would not be one of the people to look down on her for her ability. If Lily did anything, she was supportive. Still, Luce couldn’t shake the feeling of offence that had come over her. “I think we’re getting to the point that casual conversation might not work anymore. The time might come that we have to scream to be heard over everything else.”

“All you ever need to do is ask. I’d be more than happy to get some to you.” Careful hands wrapped up the herbs and ingredients before putting them in a bag. “I’m so glad to hear that. If you’re ever worried about not being able to get something, I could set things aside for you at the beginning of the week. You’d just need to let me know what you need and how much.” A slight smile played on Luce’s lips. “I’d never rat on you if you were.”

[tclkalct]

TED:

“It’s… fully staffed,” He agreed with a nod - at least with the people that were still alive. He clenched his jaw at the thought, how many people had they lost the night before? Would they forget someone and not realize until everything was fixed and that person didn’t show? “I could, but… I also can’t, I lost my wand while I was running yesterday and I’ve been looking all over the place but no luck… So basically I feel very… muggle, I could help people with muggle medicine but… I have no materials so I just… want to feel like I’m doing something,” He said as he looked around the room at many faces he didn’t recognize, and some he had seen the night before. “I just… I’m not ready to go home yet.”

She regretted her words immediately. Ted worked here -- he knew the staff, he knew who they had lost. Luce bit her lip, turning her gaze to the ground as her face flushed brightly. All too often she said what came to mind without really thinking it through but all it took was Ted’s next sentence to wash away her embarrassment. Whip-quick, she brought her gaze back to meet his. “You lost your wand?” Her voice was chiding, incredulous. “That’s --- Ted.” Her voice grew softer. “You need to go to Ollivander’s right now and get a new one --- especially if you feel like you aren’t doing enough. You can go and come back. I could come with you, if you wanted.”