[text]

[animator]

Considering current events, I'd just like to make a quick PSA encouraging everyone to invest in some breath mints if they're going to be out and about. Because some people really need it. That's all.

Comments

[animator]

I still feel like I should be shoving my foot in my mouth right about now.

Want to head out and do something? Get your mind off of everything that's been going on?

[alwaysimpure]

That's a lot to take my mind off of, might as well just erase my memory again.

[animator]

Yeah, I can't pretend to be able to do enough to make things better, but we've both had a rough week, and I feel like an ass. Can I buy you coffee or something?

[alwaysimpure]

Sure.

[Not as if he plans on sleeping.]

Where at? I'll apparate.

[animator]

Meet me at Starbox in ten? We can talk about whatever you want.

[She just feels like a heel, okay.]

[alwaysimpure]

Right.

[He's just going to end the conversation here. Because he doesn't feel like being polite. And then he thinks about telling Remus he's going for coffee, but when Remus sees him he's going to know something is wrong and if he asks about that, they might actually start talking and that prospect is mildly terrifying right now. Instead of any of that, he just apparates right to the coffee shop and waits for her.]

[---> Action!]

[animator]

[Anita actually makes it to Starbox in five, but of course, Sirius has beaten her. She glances upwards to carefully check for mistletoe before she dares to approach him, offering a wry smile as she does so.]

You wizards sure are quick.

[Action!]

[alwaysimpure]

We take our time where it matters.

[Humour is the best defense mechanism. That's why he has so many jokes about dementors.]

[animator]

[The double entendre doesn't slip past her -- she doesn't think it's possible that she's just imagining it.]

I think I'll have to take your word for it.

[She inclines her head towards the counter before heading in that direction, trusting him to follow.]

What's your pleasure?

[alwaysimpure]

[He might have made another joke at that, but it seemed a bit too obvious and, well, he hardly felt like joking, ultimately.]

Black.

[Well, that joke was too obvious to even comment on.]

Just black coffee.

[animator]

[She resists the urge to roll her eyes, remembering that this is supposed to be an attempt to cheer him up, and nods instead, turning to the barrista and ordering two large black coffees. Once they're paid for, she hands Sirius his cup and heads over to claim a table for them by the large storefront window, sliding into her chair and crossing her legs.]

I'm actually glad we can do this, after all of the kissyface.

[alwaysimpure]

[He sits down and sips from his cup, looking at her with an eyebrow raised.]

Go out without snogging strangers?

[animator]

[She does roll her eyes at that.]

Go out and talk without it being incredibly awkward.

[alwaysimpure]

And here I thought we were special.

[He's watching the coffee swirl around in the cup as he turns it in his fingers, so either he is surprisingly broken up about them not being all that special or his heart just isn't really into the teasing.

Or else he's just really fascinated by swirling coffee, I guess.]

[animator]

Oh, we're still special.

[She's not exactly sure how, but she does feel a connection with him. It's unusual for her to click with people this easily, even friends. It's always a nice surprise when it does happen.]

But you've got plenty of other things on your mind. I didn't realize you would be so broken up about it not being a date.

[She's teasing, lightly, but it's pretty clear that he's not as into it as usual.]

A lot's been going on. Want to get anything off your chest, ace?

[alwaysimpure]

There's not really any place for anything to go.

[Such wisdom. He'll just drink down some of that coffee before he gets motion sickness from wanting it swirl.]

Were you happier without memories?

[animator]

[She smiles grimly. It doesn't reach her eyes.]

I think I was, actually. Life was a lot simpler without memories. It would be nice to pick and chose them. Shove out the bad ones. Doesn't work that way, though.

[alwaysimpure]

It can be. Though I'm not that good at memory spells.

[And he ultimately wouldn't actually do it, either, because he's not a coward like that and because he doesn't actually think he deserves that peace of mind.]

[animator]

It's better to keep them, anyway, even if they're painful. Makes us who we are, right? Even if it's not pretty. Life isn't always pretty. Usually not.

[She looks down into her own coffee for a moment, then takes a sip.]

Your life hasn't been easy. I know.

[alwaysimpure]

I don't wager life's supposed to be easy, y'know? Makes the good memories worth keeping.

[He ought to know, he had enough of them sucked away.]

So. How much do you know?

[animator]

If all we had were good memories, they wouldn't mean much.

[She pauses to take another sip of her coffee.]

I know I can't know everything. There's only so much that can be put on the page of a book. I know a little about your family, and your disagreements with them. I know about the war and why you went to prison. I know what happened when you got out.

[alwaysimpure]

...I got out?

[There's something he didn't know yet! What the hell is he supposed to do with that? And Remus doesn't know, so that means it will at the very least be a decade longer.]

[animator]

[She grimaces again.]

I didn't realize you didn't know.

Yeah... you broke out. No small feat.

[alwaysimpure]

How did I...

[He pauses and frowns as he thinks. Damn.]

Well. That's impressive, at least.

[animator]

They never went into the details. Only that you'd done it. Something to be proud of, at least.