axmoody:
Alastor gave a slow bob of his head, knowing full and well that his parents approval had shaped a lot of his youth. Still, today, after his father’s passing– the young man tended to hold onto the ideal of making his father proud. “Herbology, huh?” He quirked a brow, a low barely audible chuckle settled in the air. “Suddenly that succulent story sounds a bit more er, distressing for you.” Brows furrowing, he emptied his pint glass in one last swig. Suddenly, thinking on the desk plant situation as if it was some important mystery to solve. “Your desk by a window, at least?” Admittedly, it was hard to keep track of people in the busy bullpen style Auror department.
“If you made it through the training, you’re most-likely in the right field.” Alastor tacked on, looping back around to Alice’s admittance that she’d stepped out from beneath her family’s expectations of her. Leaning on his elbow, “there’s a lot you can teach a person. Spells, Ministry in-office politics, ways to not end field assignments in St. Mungo’s.” A nonchalant shrug decorated his shoulders, “but ya’ can’t teach the want to do it all.” A factor that had helped ease his own wonder, had he become an Auror because he wanted to or because he was brought up to. Kingsley had been the one to smack him upside the head with any of his lingering doubt.
“That’s a…” interesting way to look at it. The thought seemed a bit out of the blue, but the blonde took the comment in stride. “–er, fair point.” A shadow of a smile lingered at the corner of his lips. “I probably shouldn’t be in charge of kids, anyway.” Some would say he was already too harsh with Aurors in-training and fresh doe-eyed Order members. He had no idea how to police his tone for children. “Let me get your next round, yeah?” Alastor asked her, gesturing towards his now empty pint glass.
Alice laughed.
The succulent ordeal had been distressing, for a varied of reasons, but one of which being her tendency to personify her plants. Alice gave a short nod. “I fought hard for the window. Had to bride the last bloke who had been there with a few chocolate frogs, but mostly no one cares. For the most part, people share your mentality. They would rather be anywhere else aside from the office.” Perhaps that was her issue. She spent so long in the comfort of the desk that maybe it had become a hinderance. “If the succulent doesn’t last it’s not as if I don’t know where to obtain more.” Alice said, lips quirking upward into an almost smile.
Moody’s next phrase was enough to relieve the weight on her shoulders. Why was she so keen to believe his words and not trust her own ? It was a peculiar thing that happened, when people were unsure about themselves. Alice steadied herself, grounding the words within her own frame, as if they might make her stronger. “I’ve got that much.” She said softly. Whether it was the firewhiskey finally hitting her or the relief she felt in that moment she wasn’t sure. However, Alice had never been so grateful for Alastor Moody then in that moment. She took a deep breath, looking over to him,“You were exactly the right person to ask.” Alice informed him.
“Sorry, I jumped from being and Auror -- to the alternative -- and then imagined you in that role as well. Just sort of how names seem to fit with the occupation’s people pursue. As if they were a puzzle of some kind.” She was rambling now, but it was almost better than the silence. “I don’t know, you’d definitely set them straight.” Which was true to be fair, and she hoped that he would take the sentiment well. “That would be very kind. Thank you.” Alice said softly.
