cfdreamcrs

[cfdreamcrs]

Frank wasn't sure what he was looking for as he examined her face carefully - had she known? had it been a request? had she kept him in the dark willingly? yet the more he looked at her, the more sure he became that they faced the same challenge - they had both been blindsided.

"you didn't know" it was more of a statement than a question as he handed her the letter, "i came back from dinner with that on my desk, i can only assume it's to avoid this interrogation" grimacing slightly, "with what's happening - i can only assume they would want safety in numbers". the truth was the ministry couldn't afford another scandal - another unexpected passing, their every move was being scrutinized and in terms of how the public viewed them - he couldn't help but feel helpless. it was hard to put his faith in the system when all of this was happening underneath their very noses.

"do you want to dispute this?" he asked carefully, cocking a brow as his gaze remained on her, more often than not - frank fell in line, he picked his battles, especially when it came to fighting their leadership but the truth was, he couldn't do this with someone who didn't want to be paired with him - he wouldn't put his life in her hands unless she was sure that she could do this.

Pages were scattered across her desk, some marked with coffee stains from mulling over one detail for slightly too long. Alice tapped her wand to the pages, watching as the coffee rings disappeared before her eyes. Her paperwork tended to be slightly on the messier side, a typical indicator that her brain was working faster than her handwriting could ever reflect.

Standing above her desk, alice spent her last few moments of the day getting everything in order, ordering loose pages into the correct files and stacking them neatly. the days spent completing paper work were Alice's least favourite, but alas it needed done. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Alice began to make her way through the headquarters to the apparation point, when a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

Frank Longbottom, a fellow auror and a bloody good one at that. Longbottom was measured, a keen ability which Alice hadn't yet mastered. In fact, Alice took quite the shine to Frank Longbottom back in their training days, back then she wasn't quite sure if it was a crush or admiration of his talent. She had never once considered it to be a combination of the two.

"Certainly, wha-" Alice had just begun to respond, her sentence trailing off as her eyes glanced over the document that Frank held up in front of her. Partners? Surely not. The two had worked within the Auror Department for 8 years without having been assigned partners, what spurred the sudden change. "May I?" Alice glanced back towards Frank, reaching to take the letter from him.

"Has anybody talked to you about this? Or is this letter the only communication you've received?" Alice asked, slightly aghast at the revelation. "I mean - we've never needed a partner before? Why now?"

[cfdreamcrs]

– Jane Austen

[cfdreamcrs]

"is it still terrifying? i was hoping we were onto electrifying -- notorious, or even scandalous, being terrifying gets a bit boring" she teased, "what are they saying - tell me they've gotten over the incident with ballycastle, because truly it was an accident, and the chaser barely broke anything, it's not my fault they didn't know how to a nosedive and dove into my bat"

"my amma never let me do anything in halves, you either get no food or a full spread, i don't make the rules" waving her hands, "Shawna, are you fishing for compliments?" wiggle of her brows, Gauri had only needed to see her flying their reserves to shame for ten minutes before she realized that Shawna Liebman was pure magic.

"how are the wasps treating you?" wondering if she already knew.

yes,  shawna  was  running  ever  so  fashionably  late  —  it  didn't  matter  that  all  of  her  clocks  ran  ten  minutes  fast  to  help  attempt  to  keep  her  on  time  or  that  her  alarm  clocks  beeped  until  she  physically  stood  out  of  bed.  she  blames  her  inability  to  be  on  time  on  her  family  and  the  slow  life  out  in  illinois.  nothing  would  ever  make  her  rush  back  then  unless  it  was  her  brothers  wanting  to  play  outside  in  the  summers. shawna  huffs  a  quiet  laugh  as  she  steps  inside,  shaking  her  head.  ❝  oh,  don't  be  ridiculous,  gauri.  wouldn’t  want  you  ruining  your  terrifying  reputation.  ❞  she  glances  over  the  spread  and  lets  out  a  low  whistle.  ❝  wow.  am  i  not  the  only  one  you're  expecting  or  am  i  just  special  ?  ❞  she  smirks,  but  there’s  something  almost  wary  in  the  way  she  eyes  gauri,  because  she  can  speculate  as  to  why  she’s  here.  ever  since  the  moment  shawna  first  met  gauri  on  the  pitch  and  they  got  to  talking.  shawna  may  be  a  lot  of  things  —  reckless,  impulsive,  borderline  self-destructive  on  the  best  of  days  —  but  she’s  not  stupid.  she  just  doesn't  want  to  get  her  hopes  up.

[cfdreamcrs]

it was funny that Gauri believe in destiny in so many ways, she was always meant to be a sister -- she was meant to be a quidditch player, but for a second she had wished that she had the same aspirations for love when they were younger. wondering if she had given it the same dedication back then -- the same discipline if either of them would be here in this moment, they could have broken up for a hundred other reasons, no doubt in Gauri's mind that she'd be the culprit in most scenarios, but this felt more tragic the more she looked back.

lips twisting in a grimace for a second - only she could be infuriated for getting the answer to a question she had asked, and she wondered if for a second - throwing away any sort of personal growth was worth picking apart Narcissa's life, but the more she looked at them - the silence devouring a whole, the more she realized that she couldn't, even if it crushed in a way that she couldn't explain to hear that she had chosen him, the least she could do was respect them. "i'm happy for you" words falling flat as much as she tried, "your parents must be thrilled"

it didn't matter if it had been years -- but the sight of that true smile, had her mirroring one of her own, "thank you" soft words shining of her earnestness, "it's been a privilege" nodding quickly, and that's the only way she could describe her career over the years - yes, she had worked for everything she got but not for a second did she think that there wasn't talent out there, talent that could have taken her spot -people who worked just as hard, she refused to take it for granted - that's not what her father taught her.

like any moment of happiness these days, it was fleeting -- she couldn't help but wince with followed, "please don't --" and she wasn't trying to be cruel, she would wish to hear those words if she hadn't just told her that lucius malfoy was her choice, and she wasn't dense enough to think that there was anything romantic that came with the miss me, but it felt like a stab to her heart, "i want nothing more for you to be happy and get everything you want out of this life, but please don't tell me you miss me and we go back to acting like the other doesn't exist, i can't live like that -- i won't live like that"

narcissa black didn't know how to love in halves. that's what made their meeting again so hard. she felt the pain of the heartbreak as if it was the first time again. she didn't just lose a partner, but she lost a best friend in the end, and narcissa didn't have many of those in the first place. sometimes they felt like there was something fundamentally wrong with them and the way that they loved, because they didn't know how love much, but when they did, it was something overbearing and so strong, if people had let them. narcissa missed guari like one would miss a limb if it had been taken from them, but they would never know how to say that, and it would be embarrassing if they ever did try because their emotions often felt like too much or not at all. seeing guari smile was like seeing the sun come out during a gloomy day, narcissa had to look away for a moment. they were different people now. narcissa had gotten the time to know what it was like to be away from guari, to live a life without the other, but it didn't mean that they missed her even less, because they always did. when something funny happened she always looked for guari wondering if they found it funny too, but they were never there, so they gulped it down, as if it were anything else. narcissa had always believed they accept the love they think they deserved, and perhaps it was this. small moments, even if narcissa had so much to offer, maybe that this was the only happiness they'd get in this life, and they didn't care, as long as the other was happy. she didn't try and make herself small, she just genuinely felt so small in love and in life. "he is my choice," narcissa finally says, maybe it was unconventional, and maybe it wasn't for love, but they both understood what family duty meant, and bared the burden of continuing legacy, but as she told lucius, she would never say a bad word about him because she didn't have one, and maybe this was something that guari would never understand when you grew up in the same kind of retched loneliness as the blacks and malfoy's. "and i am happy." it was both a lie and truth. they were happy in their career, they were happy in many things when it came to theirselves, but they were also unhappy, thinking often of their sister, and the life they wish they could lead if they weren't so indebted in secrets when it came to andromeda. "i'm glad you're living your dream, guari." she says, the first honest smile she's had today. "you deserve it. especially because i know how hard you worked to get it." she says, looking at the people in line just for a moment, to give herself a moment. and then, without thinking, she says, "i miss you." she regrets it once that she does, its reckless, but narcissa has always been reckless when it came to matters of the heart. "and i always hope you're doing well."

[cfdreamcrs]

𝑪𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 | 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝑭𝒍𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏 | 𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒌 & 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒚 | 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 20𝒕𝒉

Frank was exhausted, it had been a day of not only attempting to move as efficiently as he could, but also a day of listening to his umma go on and one about how he was wasting his time and money, the Longbottom estate was his and living in a tiny flat in london seemed like he was avoiding the inevitable. what he couldn't say was how difficult it was to start living with her again, especially at the age of twenty six, she was nearly the only family he had left, but as much as he loved her and that home, the memories that it carried of their family -- he couldn't ignore them like she did.

knocking against the door, a tired but giddy smile stretched his lips, "hey neighbour, fancy a cup of tea?" he had just found the kettle.

@impcrios

[cfdreamcrs]

𝑪𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 | 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝑨𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 | 𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒌 & 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆

Frank wasn't sure if he was more baffled than frustrated, and if he was able to step away and take a look at it again, maybe he would see the why more clearly but the letter that he was holding on to ever so tightly --

partner assignment - Alice Fortescue

he had read that sentence far more than once, but he was starting to realize that it wasn't changing and he surely wasn't hallucinating, the letter had found him just as he was about to call it a day. Alice Fortescue was many things in his head, an incredibly gifted witch - from what he had recalled from their training days, impulsive and if he was being entirely honest with himself - even for a minute, she was also the first girl he had fancied during their school days. he had spent far too much of his pocket money during the summer of their seventh year getting ice cream for weeks on end -- his mother nearly threw a fit over the sweet tooth he had developed.

he wasn't ready to throw partner in the mix, he had been working perfectly fine on his own, and as if it was the universe asking to be corrected -- there she was passing through, letter in hand - he moved toward her swiftly, "Fortescue" he called out, "can i have a word, please?" holding up the letter, wondering if she had known.

@floweryfortescue

[cfdreamcrs]

tentative smile stretching his lips as he glanced down at his pocket watch, he didn't need to head back into the office - he was technically done for the day, but these days he often found himself back there - as if the stacks of reports would have more answers. he might as well save himself a lecture from rodolphus, "i'd love to join you" tucking away his watch.

"so, what has you in London?"

"Frank, it's a pleasure to meet you." She grinned, holding the plant casually in their arms as though it was something she did every single day. "Speaking of a bite, are you hungry at all? I was planning on dropping this off at my flat but I'm not sure if I can make it and I'd love the company if you're free?" There was no time like the present to make new friends and so far things seemed to be going well with Frank, she had to imagine they would only continue to do so.

[cfdreamcrs]

―Nitya Prakash

[cfdreamcrs]

he had caught a glimpse of her hair in the sun and was pathetic enough to admit that he didn't need her to turn around for him to know that it was shawna. he wasn't tucked away near the entrance of flourish and blotts because he didn't want to see her, he had been a coward in so many ways during their time together that he could easily say that he was even desperate to catch a glimpse of her because he missed her -- maybe not them, but he missed her. frank had glanced up for a mere second - happy to catch one more look of her, much to his luck and absolute horror, she was moving toward him, hurried steps - determined. "oh shit" he muttered, nearly falling over before he rested his wait against the outside brick, he had the sense to be slightly terrified, she was force to be reckoned with and he was oh so sure that he was still very much on her shit list.

"are you sure? i have--" fumbling through his bag before holding it out for her, "one thousand magical herbs and fungi - it's on the heavier side, i'm sure it would knock some sense into me" tentative smile lingering at his lips as he took a good look at her, he'd take her anger any day, it was better than being ignored.

𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚂: closed | 𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽: outside flourish and blotts | 𝚃𝙰𝙶𝚂: @cfdreamcrs

shawna  doesn’t  mean  to  stop,  doesn’t  mean  to  look  twice  when  she  spots  him  across  the  way.  but  there  frank  is,  standing  outside  of  flourish  and  blotts  like  he  has  all  the  time  in  the  world,  like  he  isn’t  the  single  most  upsetting  person  she’s  ever  had  the  misfortune  of  knowing.  she’s  being  dramatic,  of  course,  but  she  never  lets  anyone  who  wronged  her  forget  about  it. with  an  annoyed  sigh,  she  crosses  the  street,  coming  to  a  halt  just  close  enough  that  he  can't  pretend  not  to  see  her.  ❝  you  know,  ❞  she  starts,  arms  crossing  over  her  chest,  ❝  i  really  thought  i  was  past  the  point  of  wanting  to  throw  things  at  your  head,  but  here  we  are.  ❞  her  lips  press  into  a  thin  line,  gaze  sharp  as  she  looks  him  over.  ❝  don’t  worry,  i’ll  resist  the  urge.  for  now.  ❞

[cfdreamcrs]

SEO KANG JOON IN UNDERCOVER HIGH SCHOOL (1.03)

[cfdreamcrs]

laughter bubbling, "i wish i could contest that - but you're not wrong. keep me alive till they have a maneuver named after me, afterwards the team can be all yours" she would retire only when her bones could take no more - she couldn't imagine leaving the pitch for anything short of death.

her eyes followed her to the skies, grinning as she moved into a final stretch - her arms above her head, she soon reached into her robes to pull out her wand, the bludgers skyrocketing to the skies before releasing the snitch, "that would be an insult to the both of us, we might as well write off our fate like the cannons did this season" kicking off from the ground, her bat in hand.

Del feigned a faint, "Perish of course," fanning herself for effect her smile remained all warmth. Truth was Del needed the game as much as she did anything else. It was the teether that kept her grounded to this world when there were countless days where all she longed to do was allow her mattress to swallow her up into nothing. She needed the tether, she needed the team. She needed Gauri. Del set aside her water and mounted her broom kicking off the ground she answered by soaring upwards above the goal posts and looping back down. The world down there was unpredictable, terrifying, unforgiving. But up here, on her broom she never felt more free. "I know it'd be an insult to ask ya not to go easy on me, I'd never doubt you commitment to excellence, but-" Del smiled, her toned shoulders raising upwards to finish her thought.

[cfdreamcrs]

the curtain of hair that fell around her face as her gaze remained glued to the ground couldn't save her, a part of her wondering if all the time she spent growing it out was worth it if it couldn't save her from her second run in with an ex - all in one week. someone must of cursed her because truly what were the odds, she had done so well over the years avoiding him, just to avoid this feeling altogether - shortness of breath, stomach churning and that split second of fear that came with seeing someone who took a part of her --

eyes closing for a second as her head tipped back, exasperation mixed with annoyance that she would rather curl in a ball and hide away than admit that it masked an ounce of fondness as she heard him call her name - just like he used too. the soft drawl and the look on his face, it all came flooding back -- what it felt to be sixteen and absolutely besotted with him. that was the tricky thing about seeing people from your past, she could create all the distance in the world, but it never really changed how close she kept them to her heart -- hidden away or not.

moving toward him -- the smile that toyed at her lips was not only genuine but weary, "i didn't think you would want me too" she admitted -- she had the good sense to be embarrassed, ten years and she still didn't forget what she had done to them, she had been so sure that she was putting them both out of the misery that would soon find them, because truly what did they know about love at that age but looking at him now, it was regret that left the bitterness on her tongue. wondering if karma had finally sought her out with the week she was having.

dirk  spots  her  from  across  the  street,  and  for  a  moment,  he  almost  thinks  he’s  imagining  it.  after  all,  it’s  been...  well,  a  while.  but  the  way  she  stands  there,  muttering  to  herself  like  she’s  trying  to  disappear  into  the  nearest  shop  window,  it’s  unmistakable.  he  feels  a  shift  in  his  chest.  merlin,  he’d  forgotten  how  easy  it  used  to  be  to  just  be  around  her,  even  when  things  had  been  complicated  between  them.  that  feeling  of  having  someone  who  really  saw  him.  who  got  him. ❝  oh,  come  on,  jones,  ❞  dirk  calls  out,  voice  light  but  with  that  unmistakable  drawl  of  his.  ❝  not  even  gonna  acknowledge  me ?  after  all  this  time ?  ❞  there’s  a  small,  almost  sad  laugh  at  the  end  of  his  words,  like  he’s  remembering  the  last  time  they  were  this  close,  back  when  things  were  simpler  —  or  maybe  not  simpler,  but  different.  he  can’t  help  himself,  especially  when  she’s  trying  so  hard  to  pretend  she  hasn’t  seen  him.

[cfdreamcrs]

gauri was no stranger to the heartache of breakups and the consequences that came right after, but this was a different kind of pain that thrummed through her, the kind that came from losing a part of her. regret wasn't kind over the years and if she was a better person - she wouldn't have waited this long to say something to them, but hearing the way her name left their lips -- it was all coming back to her. she would have done anything to avoid this because it was better to not see them than be a complete stranger to them.

wistful smile toyed at her lips, this was the closest they had gotten to agreeing on something in a long time, and like all good things -- it came to an end quite fast. wistfulness replaced by disappointment and she wasn't sure why she had expected any differently, she knew she had no right to be disappointed let alone disappointed in them, but by salazar - narcissa black deserved better and what made her want to scream was that she knew she was about to push them farther away, "so he isn't your choice" she couldn't look away even if she should, "are you happy?" wondering if they could look her in the eye and lie again.

"living the dream" and in so many ways it was the truth, she always knew she would find herself on a quidditch team - she knew she would always dedicate her life to the sport that she loved but never in her wildest dreams did she think she would have her own team.

it's hard to imagine growing up lonely when you had two sisters, but if anyone were to ask how to describe it, that's what narcissa would say. both of their sisters had their own personalities and life, and sometimes narcissa felt like they were on the back burner, the spare to the spare, to the spare, in a way. and now with everything so public, they just weren't used to it. narcissa wanted a life that was free of obligations, so they had lived that way until it came to plucking it from the bud. there were times when she had questioned, why was it that they were the only one without a constellation name? was it because they simply ran out of them, or was it because they were meant to be different? that line of thinking was often toxic and they tried not to look too deeply into it. sometimes it felt like the only place of solace in hogwarts was because of guari, because narcissa had always been loving when it came to people in their corner, they could cheer on guari from the stands, putting their energy into someone instead of just the general loneliness they felt at school. it wasn't that narcissa didn't have friends, but it felt like mostly allies, but guari was different. they had been best friends for so long until they crossed that line, and now narcissa didn't even know what to label them as. it had always seemed a little pathetic the way that narcissa would casually wonder what the other was up to, there had been a time when they hadn't have to, they would've just known. but they were grown now, both were at different places than they were at hogwarts, and there was a part of narcissa that was proud of all that ambition guari had where she was able to be the captain of her team. the only problem is, she never got to tell her, and she so desperately wanted to. they stare at each other for a moment, and then all senses come back to narcissa. the politeness is something that's instilled in her, thanks to her mother, and she ties her hands behind her back to meet with her. "guari," she says in response. narcissa, they think, how formal. they almost cringe. they look down at the pavement for a moment, before looking back up and there's a brief sad smile. "no, small talk was never our thing." they agree, before taking in a deep breath. narcissa doesn't know how to say, i don't know how to do this anymore, as in, i don't know how to talk to you anymore. "we can certainly try." they attempt at a joke. when guari brings up lucius she nods, another polite smile. "yes, lucius." it seemed to be the conversation she couldn't escape. narcissa didn't know how to go about it most of the time, but they navigated it as best as they could. "well, it's a good match," they say, avoiding the question at whole. "our families combining together as a unit." they say, as if they were talking about the weather. narcissa wanted to hide in their skin, a feeling they hadn't had in a while. "how are you doing?"

[cfdreamcrs]

"if only i had that foresight when we were younger -- could have saved me from the misery of potions, but i don't think slughorn would have still spared me" it was easy to mope and complain in the moment and there were days he felt like he was barely staying a float, but he knew he would never not want to be an auror.

"cagey?" frowning slightly, "sounds like they owe you some answers" he wouldn't insult her by telling her to be careful, she was not only one of the brightest witches he knew, but she was good at what she did, "it's the least they can do, sounds like you might need a vacation"

"i wouldn't expect anything less" setting the pint aside, he couldn't help but appreciate the question she asked, it was something only she would ask - not the typical, who are your suspects - did they expect it - how far are they in the investigation no she dug deeper and he could only offer her so much honesty, "no" and he couldn't hide his own disappointment, "you saw the panic - justified panic that came after Samhain and Mungos, imagine what would happen if they were honest about everything, the measures people would take, even if they could handle it, they wouldn't risk it" he muttered, "-- that's at least my take" he added swiftly, "as Frank, your friend"

"This is why I refuse to work for the bloody beaucracy," Elowen tisked her tongue and shook her head tossing back a cool drink. In truth she had a lot of reasons for avoiding work with the ministry or any official organization for that matter. She much liked keeping her findings to herself. So much so that the idea of passing them off to some higher up to lock up and forget about made her skin prickle. If she was her own boss the paperwork, the answers, the things she found were owed only to her so long as she kept the right things to herself. "I have a few minor heirlooms worth a small fortune that some client is very cagey about. I've had to find out a lot of it by trial and error. Nearly blasted off my finger when a spell ricocheted off it. So I'm charging them an astronomical fee of course." Kind way to put it...she nearly smiled for how forgiving he seemed to be of her less than tactful curiosity. Elowen's eyes found his after a contemplative moment, "A million," she answered. Did it make her an awful friend to do this now. She could have asked him anything else in the world. How was the family, any new hobbies? Any new love interest? Anything else but her mind was tugged, pulled by the reality of the dead girl. The reality that left her with more questions than answers. "Do you think if they knew it was something foul that they would be honest with us?"

[cfdreamcrs]

fate was such a fickle thing but watching a plant be the highlight of someone's day made him that wonder if he needed to find more silver linings, "if the desperation gets to you, you can let me know - i'm happy to grab a bite, anything to keep that plant alive"

you don't have to thank me almost slipped out, the easy retort but the appreciation that shone through had him reddening slightly, he had never been good with attention let alone gratitude - justified or not, "happy to help" she had reminded them that kindness, a simple conversation went a long way and he forgot how much he needed that, "it's nice to meet you, Polly" smile widening, "i'm Frank -- Frank Longbottom"

"It does, doesn't it! I was fated to meet this plant and bring it home with me, as you were here to confirm it isn't poisonous." Polly added with a soft laugh, staring at their plant before focusing on the other. "I don't think we have to worry about that. I want my plant to thrive and bring some light into the place since it's so empty right now, I don't think I'll be trying to eat it. Not unless I get desperate." She laughed again, looking up at him in appreciation. "Thank you for your help, not everyone would stop and be so friendly to a stranger. I'm Pauline, by the way. You can call me Polly, if you'd like."

[cfdreamcrs]

the grin etched at her lips was a mixture of appreciation and admiration -- it was not that she thought less of her team for scurrying off the field as fast as they could, if she had a life outside of this pitch she'd probably be doing the same but Del's resilience was exactly what she needed in a friend and teammate, that and she kept her hydrated, "what would i do without you?"

"you've got yourself a deal" hand hovering over her broom to quickly be met with the smooth wood against her grip, it felt like second nature as she easily hopped on, "you first"

Sweat had clung to her forehead, feet firmly planted on soil and she still felt like she was flying. Guari mentioned their practice time at six a.m and Del could feel her body protesting but she didn't dare say anything to Guari, especially in front of the rest of the team. She did smile when there was a concede to Saturday which meant her Friday would end early or she'd simply stay in that night. Del watched as the girls ran off ready to escape drills. Del had no intention of leaving, relacing her boots she hoovered, offering Guari water as she faced her. "I'll help you with target practice if you'll help me with hand eye," Del sang happily, setting her water aside to tighten her ponytail into place. In truth she was not ready to return home, to the emptiness of her apartment, the loudness of her untethered thoughts.

[cfdreamcrs]

"please -- thursday paperwork would beg to differ" chuckling, no hesitation as he took a hold of the drink, the coolness against his skin nearly had him dancing in anticipation -- he needed a break. brows furrowing slightly as his curiosity leaped forward, "what are you working on?"

he had been waiting for the question in a way and it wasn't because it was Winnie, it was all anyone could really talk about and he couldn't blame them, not with everything going on. "busy is a kind way to put it --" he admitted, weary smile toying at his lips, "the papers haven't been so kind but how can it, a girl is dead and at a charity function of all places" giving her a knowing look, "is there a question in there Winnie?"

Elowen felt a bit maddened these days. Home more often than she was used to, but in that rare stillness she was starting to notice things she hadn't thought of in years. Such as the press of a flower in the cement outside the leaky cauldron, or the taste of her favorite beer that no other place she had been in her travels had been able to replicate. Or how she missed her friends even when she rolled her eyes at them, a smile finding her face quickly. "All life is an adventure," she responded with a sardonic teasing smile as she pushed a frosty glass his way, "Not particularly. I've been taking my work home these days- don't tell my mum she'd make a fit about it". In truth if Frank hadn't invited her out for the drink tonight she would have spent the evening poured over her study until dawn cracked and she couldn't see straight. Elowen loved it, the madness of the late hours tolling away while the rest of the world slept. "I imagine it's been quite busy for you as of late," she tested gingerly, curious and unable to not at least test the waters.