[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

[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.

[alwaysimpure]

Something must have happened.

[Thinking about it brings on the kind of memories that he normally keeps at bay until his nightmares come, so he shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair, then just sips some coffee again while he tries to think of a way to change the topic.]

I don't know much about you. Bit unbalanced.

[animator]

[She smiles gamely.]

I'm an open book.

[Not exactly true, but there are a lot of things she's willing to talk about freely.]

You already know that I'm an animator, and a vampire executioner. I'm used to being ass-deep in monsters pretty much around the clock. Sometimes it's like work is the only life I have. New Moore is, in a weird way, a nice change of pace. So, what else would you like to know?

[alwaysimpure]

Sounds like your job wouldn't get boring, at least.

[He shrugs, then smiles. Given their teasing, this is only natural.]

What about dating?

[animator]

Dating?

[She arches a brow. Well, that's a complicated subject, but she's poked at him about his dating life, even if she didn't have her memories at the time. It might make them about even. She lets out a low sigh, steeling herself.]

That's complicated. New Moore has offered a nice break from my love life, too. I was dating someone, but it -- didn't work out. His name is Richard. We decided to take a break, after some messiness. There's someone else, too, but...

[She slides one eye closed as she thinks on that for a moment, taking a sip of her coffee.]

If the situation hadn't been what it was, I'm not sure I would have dated him. He was attractive and all, there's definitely something there, but I never would have given the chance if he hadn't brought an ultimatum into the equation. Either I dated him and gave him a chance to win me over on his own time, or he killed Richard. Not much of a choice.

[alwaysimpure]

Wow...

That does sound complicated. And that ultimatum bloke is definitely someone you should stay far away from.

Guess I'm lucky, back home the only blokes wanting to kiss me are really not my type.

[That and they'd suck out his soul, so 'lucky' might be a bit loosely defined here.]

Why not find a secret option number three somewhere?

[animator]

[It was more complicated than that. Had she loved Jean-Claude? Maybe. Not the way she'd felt about Richard, but there was more common ground there. He lived in the same dangerous world she did, whereas Richard had done everything within his power to remain as normal as possible. As good as possible. It had always made her feel like she was a bad influence, really.]

The time away from him is nice. I don't think he would ever follow through with his promise to bow-out gracefully if I'd had the opportunity to choose Richard before things went south. Sometimes I wonder if he would have just killed the both of us.

[Not to mention he was a bloodsucking creature of the night.

She catches the Dementor joke and has to crack a half-smile. At least he's got a good sense of humor about it.]

A secret option number three?

[Her smile hitches a bit wider, amused.]

I don't think it would be fair to paint that kind of target on someone's back. I would be too worried about Jean-Claude finding out and doing something mark what he wrongfully considers to be his 'territory.' Most people can't survive the anger of a master vampire.

[alwaysimpure]

...give me a minute here.

You are dating a master vampire, you take care of a werewolf pack, you raise the dead for a living...

No wonder there are books about you.