phineasablack

[phineasablack]

July 1904 | Letter to Indra Greyback

Miss Greyback,

I apologize for having been remiss in continuing our correspondence this summer. Having just arrived home, there have been many duties to attend to, and correspondence with friends has, regrettably, lost priority. Still, this is no excuse, and I do hope you will forgive my lack of consideration.

If you would be so kind, please join me for lunch this coming Thursday. My home is open to you, though as always I would be happy to accommodate any preference you may have.

I hope this owl has found you well,

--Phineas A. Black

[phineasablack]

♚ Phineas Black II 

♚ 25 years old / Wizard / Pureblood

♚ FC: Henry Cavill

Phineas doesn’t share much in common other than his name with his stern father that’s the Hogwarts headmaster. Phineas is an adrenaline junkie that loves to travel and go on expeditions for rare artifacts. While usually larger-than-life confident, Phineas has been introverted since his spring trip to South America. He never even bragged to his siblings about his latest saga in the wild. Currently, he is home for the summer to select a future wife. It is Phineas turn to produce an heir, but he hates the idea of routine which will come along with marriage. It already seems like this will be a long summer for him.

SECRETS: 

Advocate for The Dark Arts, because it gives him a rush of excitement to practice dangerous spells, but has never used any with malicious intent.

The only family member that knows about Sirius’ quest for immortality and it worries him.

Started to develop feelings for a Muggle in South America, but fled the continent before it got too serious.

Beginning to doubt his family’s views on Muggles, maybe they are all not worthless, filthy and want to harm wizards.

Considerably leas wealthy than most of his family members since he remains unmarried and therefore has no access to the Black’s family vault.

SHIPS: Chemistry.

ENDGAME: Open ship and sexual orientation. Phineas’ canon fate is to get burned off the family tree for “supporting Muggle rights”.

PHINEAS BLACK IS TAKEN

PLOT ♚ RULES ♚ ROLES ♚ APPLY ♚ QUESTIONS

[phineasablack]

Pleasantries were, indeed, pleasant, but at the mention of his brother's name, he stiffened. Could he not escape him? Then again, this was his wife. She would, of course, discuss him, even if she did despise him as much as he had said.

"Life is pleasant, Sister. I've retained the freedom I'm sure you've noticed that I enjoy, as I've also enjoyed my family this season--what little I've seen of you. I certainly agree--it has been far too long."

He offered her his arm and they began walking, talking first of the weather and the people who joined them in the park. "You mentioned you spoke of me with your husband?" he asked after the idle banter had died down. "Is he planning another wedding for me, or has that topic passed?" Of course it hadn't, he reminded himself, but it never would. Still, he could hope, and perhaps by joking about it, he'd find it to be far less of an annoyance.

July 1904 | A Casual Stroll | Phineas & Hesper

[phineasablack]

"And for the adventure. I tire quickly of the routine my family thrives on. A lion in a cage does grow restless, after all."

Phineas nodded politely as Harvey summarized some of his travels, and he turned his attention occasionally to different brooms on display to show an appropriate level of disinterest. One could not, after all, be too riveted by the stories of an inferior person.

As soon as Gladys' name surfaced, Phineas' eyes snapped to the scales. They were gorgeous, clearly authentic, and Phineas had the overwhelming urge to smash them over Harvey's head. "They are exquisite," he said, crossing the room to examine the scales. "This is certainly a gift given to a person one values quite highly." He kept his voice even--years from practice as his father's son--as he spoke, though he felt his focus threatening to slip.

He knew that Gladys was growing closer to this Harvey person, but how close had they gotten? Was Harvey becoming her new confidant? Were they--horror of horrors--intimate? Phineas wished he could imagine that Gladys had better taste, but Harvey was deliciously good looking. Perhaps it was simply the desire to rip him apart, but Phineas was finding the man increasingly more attractive.

Still, that did not mean he was good enough for Gladys. Nor did it mean he had any business here at all.

"I'd love to see more of these souvenirs. I'm always fascinated by the relics others bring back with them. They may inspire me to procure some additional pieces for myself."

July 1904 | Competition | Phineas & Harvey

Nodding nervously, Harvey ran a shaky hand through his tangled hair before remembering the action was the epitome of bad manners. “Of course, I should have known. Do you travel for pleasure then?” 

Some people liked to call Harvey Ridgebit a reckless individual. He didn’t exactly prove them wrong with his complete lack of poise and puppy-like eagerness to jump into dangerous, life-threatening situations. And he sensed one such situation right now, a face-off with the ever elusive and slightly threatening Phineas Black. Just like dealing with a threatened dragon, he thought, I must show no weakness or he will pounce.

And just that quickly, he could feel the determination in his chest harden, and he straightened his shoulders purposefully, making his posture grow to its full stature; meeting the other man’s curious eyes. 

“My jobs do take me all over the world. I have been as far as Australia, even having visited places such as Araby, and each time I bring back a new trade, as well as some interesting souvenirs. See? Those are Opaleye scales I gave to Gladys once.” He points to the window where the scales hang artfully, throwing colored light into the shelf of the window.

The one thing Harvey failed to understand was why exactly Phineas felt so threatened by him. Their first meeting, and already so much tension? Unless he’d personally offended Black in the past, he saw no point for it.

[phineasablack]

July 1904 | A Casual Stroll | Phineas & Hesper

Two weeks had passed since the unfortunate incident with Sirius, and still Phineas found it difficult to be home with Josiah. He had apologized profusely for Phineas' discomfort, his indiscretion, and the fight that had resulted from the whole ordeal. Phineas had accepted, of course, and told him not to concern himself--the fight was certainly not his fault, and as an adult, Josiah hardly required Phineas' permission--but he still could not manage to feel settled in his own home.

His nights had been spent sleeplessly, agonizing alternately over telling Hesper of her husband's infidelity and over feeling inferior to Sirius for the simple fact that Josiah had never wanted him. And then there was the distinct image of Josiah on the floor, petrified and spread-eagle, burned into his mind.

In an attempt to once again avoid home, Phineas Apparated to a nearby park for a mid-afternoon walk. Perhaps and excursion on the continent, or somewhere in Asia, but such excursions required focus he currently lacked. No, an aimless stroll would be enough to distract him for an hour from his thoughts.

A mere 10 minutes had passed before he spotted his sister-in-law on the path ahead, herself also unaccompanied. Strange for a woman of her status, but then again Hesper Gamp was never one for convention. Unless it suited her.

"Hesper," he called once he was closer to her. She turned at the name and relaxed upon realizing who was speaking. "Sister, how beautiful you look today. I'm finding you well, I trust?"

[phineasablack]

A lucky shot threw Phineas off balance, and in the few moments it took to regain focus, Sirius had dislodged himself and gotten out of striking distance.

It was unlike Sirius, he thought, to not fight back. He was, as Phineas had just seen, not a passive man. So why was he hesitating?

Regardless of the reason, Phineas ignored the throbbing pain caused from a palm to the face, focused fire down his arm to his fist, stepped toward Sirius, and punched him in the gut. The already torn and stained fabric of his shirt smoldered, but the moisture from the sweat and blood snuffed the flame out. He attempted a second swing at his brother's head, but due to exhaustion (and perhaps predictability), Sirius caught his arm and twisted it backwards. Anticipating an attack, Phineas wrenched his arm away, stepped back, and launched the fire in his palm at Sirius.

Knowing retaliation would be coming, he reached into his coat for his wand.

July 1904 | An Awkward Encounter | Sirius & Phineas

[phineasablack]

Gladys would be quite pleased to know, Phineas imagined, that Antonius shared the same opinion of their relationship: that it was, and would always be, only business.

"As you said, the notion is foolish. I know from Miss Boothby herself that your relationship is entirely professional. So you've one less person's foolish gossip to contend with."

He ignored the reference to Sirius and the apparent dig toward Gladys as Antonius spoke vaguely of his family and then of the familiar burden of marriage. Phineas followed his gaze to a collection of women at a nearby table, and as he saw Antonius finish off his drink, he realized that he knew these burdens exactly.

Phineas finished his drink as well and stood. "I agree wholeheartedly. Allow me."

The desire for freedom aside, Phineas knew why he wasn't married. But he'd yet to learn why Antonius had held out. He was, after all, rich and incredibly attractive, and each of the women at the adjacent table was clearly prepared to vie for a chance at him. Any woman would, really (Gladys excepted, of course, though Phineas found himself wondering at why).

"Is it always like this for you as well? I grow tired of the vultures."

July 1904 | Avoidance and Alcohol | Phineas & Antonius

[phineasablack]

If propriety mattered at all, Phineas would not have punched his brother in the face. But the scene was already strewn with a rampant disregard for decency, and Sirius rather deserved it.

Of course, he was spot on. Phineas had wanted Josiah, but nothing had come of it. That fact was mildly irritating, though tolerable, and the attention he received elsewhere was enough to satisfy him. He and Josiah were exceptional at sharing the same home, and Phineas was grateful for that.

But now his brother was flaunting his conquest, and worse, implying that Phineas was weak. Or undesirable. Or both.

He was neither, and Sirius needed to realize that.

His left fist connected with Sirius' temple first. His right quickly followed and crushed Sirius' nose. Sirius fell to the floor, blood streaming down his face and staining his shirt, and Phineas flexed his bloody knuckles. Before he could react, Phineas pounced, straddling Sirius and striking his head repeatedly, splattering blood and spit across the floor. As Sirius resisted, he pressed himself harder against Sirius' lap and pulled his knees in tighter against his side.

Sirius' eye began to purple quickly, and soon he stopped resisting. Phineas stopped and leaned in closer to his brother's face, digging his knees in tighter to restrain him. "You've no decency at all. It's no wonder she despises you. Her taste in men is keener than I had realized."

July 1904 | An Awkward Encounter | Sirius & Phineas

[phineasablack]

Phineas couldn't help but glance at Josiah as Sirius spoke, and despite his revulsion of the situation, he considered for a moment what his brother had said. He's well prepared and waiting...

The tightness in his trousers increased as he studied Josiah's body. Though the bulge was certainly noticeable, attempting to hide it would merely add credence to Sirius' words. And of all the things Phineas was, prudish was not among them. But the way Sirius was dangling Josiah in front of him was cruel, and the way he was asserting authority he only imagined he had was insulting.

"Do not mistake my disgust for you for prudishness, brother," Phineas said, moving closer to Sirius. "I would gladly indulge in your penchant for men and women alongside you. After all, I've no wife. My body is my own. But you? My disgust is that you believe your leisure time truly is your own." He paused to watch understanding flicker in his brother's eyes. "As it is, Hesper owns you. Your penis, brother, is hers."

Though he did hate the idea of his brother's infidelity, Phineas would have been far less appalled had he found Sirius atop another man. Anyone, from a homeless Muggle to the Minister himself, would do. But not Josiah. This was entirely too personal, and the way Sirius treated him with such disregard...

Perhaps you'd like to take your turn...?

"You stand here exposed, aroused, and you dare talk of class? My finances are of no consequence here. Nor are yours. This behavior is beneath the Muggles you hate so much. You are treating a good man like a plaything of yours. No one deserves such treatment." He paused to study his brother's face, so attractive, so proper, yet so cruel. Was this really the man he'd idolized for so long?

"How on earth does Hesper stand you?"

July 1904 | An Awkward Encounter | Sirius & Phineas

[phineasablack]

Deflecting. Interesting...

"I've enough money from my family's estate that I spend my time elsewhere. Traveling is preferable to employment." It was, of course, a terribly arrogant thing to say, but Phineas found the arrogance bleeding out automatically.

"Odd jobs, you say? I've heard of your adventures. Pray, tell me, are these odd jobs anywhere near as exciting? Surely one such as yourself would get bored easily. I know the curse of tedium well."

If it felt to Harvey like an interrogation, then he was perceptive enough. While Phineas was attempting to sound casual enough, he wouldn't regret if Harvey felt uncomfortable.

Gods, I'm turning into my brother...

July 1904 | Competition | Phineas & Harvey

The man was polite enough, but there was something to his tone, when he asked about him. It made his eyes steely and showcased his signature Black threat, subtler maybe than his other family members, but definitely there.��

Harvey struggled not to squirm from the too casually phrased question, turning slightly away from Phineas. Questions about his past were not something he enjoyed; it usually led to closed business contracts or open disgust. He scrambled internally at high-speed trying to come up with a suitable answer.

“I suppose you could say I needed a type of central base. My childhood home is not far from here, yet it is still busy enough that I get good business, with some interesting… odd jobs every now and then to keep me on my toes,” he rocked up onto his feet while saying this, trying to keep his stance relaxed and his tone even. Yes, there; specific enough to make him stop asking, but ambiguous enough that he didn’t give away the full nature of his work. “Speaking of jobs, what do you do?”

[phineasablack]

June 1904 | Brotherly Bonding | Phineas, Arcturus, & Sirius

[phineasablack]

The way Sirius sat naked and shameless in his sitting room should have, perhaps, been the most shocking. But there was also a naked and unconscious Josiah on the floor a mere meter or two away.

Despite the swirl of conflicting emotions, Phineas focused his gaze on his housemate and on the parts of him he'd dreamed of exploring. An initial attraction had given way to friendship and, quickly, to interest, but nothing had gone beyond harmless (and often frustrating) flirtation. Phineas accepted this, but to see him so exposed...and to Sirius, no less...

Feelings from childhood returned to assault him further. Of course Josiah had wanted Sirius. He was the desirable brother. Phineas had only ever been blessed to be touched by his shadow. They all had.

These thoughts would have consumed him, but Sirius' voice returned him to the moment. Though initially confusing, his words were, on further inspection, infuriating. The ease with which he always spoke was, at once, less admirable. The confidence Phineas had always envied of his brother seemed no more than arrogance.

He balled his fist tighter, digging his nails into his flesh.

"No, brother. You've nothing left to conceal at this point. Why feign decency? You've clearly no regard for those around you."

His heart was racing, and though he tried to resist, his eyes kept darting back to Josiah, his body still excited from his encounter with Sirius.

Have they been together long? he wondered, considering then the times he'd been away from home. Had Sirius been in his house without him knowing? Had Josiah been keeping this secret from him?

Could he consider it betrayal when neither owed fidelity to him?

"What of Hesper?" he asked then, realizing that Sirius had vowed faithfulness to another. "You espoused duty at length when I revealed I wasn't to marry. What of your duty to your family? Have you forgotten it entirely?"

He considered attacking--not with magic, but as a Muggle would, with fists and knives--but he remained rooted to the ground, digging his nails further into his palm.

July 1904 | An Awkward Encounter | Sirius & Phineas

It had been too many days in a row with nothing to occupy Sirius but the banalities of his loveless marriage and a social schedule which bordered on torture. Sirius apparated into London, a dark alley, and, donning his hat, he stepped out into the street. He had heard rumours of a bar where men like him liked to meet, and wanted to see it for himself. No doubt, it would be small, and probably vile, but that meant that no one would see him. No one who counted, anyway. And if they did? He’d quickly dispose of that problem.

Sirius needed a warm body. Needed to slake his lust, and his appetite for death. He wanted to hold a heart in his hands. He needed to spill his seed into someone who was groaning for it. He’d use his own name, needed to hear it choked out of someone’s mouth.

The public house was nicer than he’d imagined, far nicer than the outside suggested. It was warm inside, and around the room, men sat in twos and threes, speaking in hushed tones.

At a low armchair sat a man alone. Blond with an open face and kind eyes, a greenish grey. Very nice eyes. Sirius thought he might bottle them. But not yet. They made eye contact, and the man’s face was both cautious and optimistic, when he nodded to Sirius, vaguely waving at the armchair nearby.

Well. Pleasantries shouldn’t take long. That was good to know.

Sirius ordered a glass of best Scotch at the bar, and sat in the armchair, smiling. One of the smiles he used to disorient and disarm, eyes sparkling, trustworthy. It was a rare event for someone to meet that smile with distrust. “Hello,” he said. “My name is Sirius.”

“Josiah,” the man offered, and he shook Sirius’s hand briefly. A good, strong handshake, though his expression was somewhat submissive. That boded well. And no surnames; that tended to suggest they were both, in fact, in this bar for the same reason.

“You’re married,” Josiah blurted suddenly.

Sirius tamped down a flash of irritation. “Indeed I am. I have a family to run; marriage is the least pleasurable aspect of that particular job.” Josiah looked oddly disappointed. The bartender brought Sirius’s drink, and he sipped it, once again disliking the smoky taste.

If only Muggle bars sold firewhiskey.

“I’m not sure what you mean about running a family,” Josiah said, with the trace of an apology in his voice.

“I envy you that,” Sirius said, with a friendly laugh. “I surely envy you that. Money, children, my siblings… all a great deal of work, and no one notices unless it goes wrong.” He finished his drink. “I didn’t come here tonight to talk about my family.”

Josiah swallowed; Sirius could see it in his throat. “I live close by,” he admitted, and Sirius gave another warm smile, good man, you are catching on.

“Then shall we?” Sirius asked.

Josiah hesitated, blushing a little. “I don’t often…”

“I am quite trustworthy, I can assure you of that.” Briefly, Sirius considered using a touch of occlumency; he had some skill with it, but it was a point of pride that he never brought anyone unwillingly to the bed. “I am entirely discreet, and I have no interest in announcing your proclivities to your neighbours. And I assure you…” He smiled again, just a little, eyes wide and blue. “I will make this a memorable night for you.”

Josiah gave an urgent, stuttering nod, and Sirius stood, pulling coins from his purse, and leaving them on the table.

—

They spoke little, on the short walk, though to ease Josiah’s nerves, Sirius commented on the warm weather, on the smell of jasmine. Folgate Street. Very nice, the shiny black door, the red shutters. With a shaking hand Josiah unlocked the door, and ushered Sirius inside. Sirius looked around, and was pleased with what he saw; the open fireplace, which would be very nice in the Winter; leather couches that looked well made. He was not a poor man. Vaguely, Sirius wondered if Phineas’s home was as nice.

“Very pleasant,” Sirius said. To his surprise, there were a number of magical artifacts in the room. There was a brief moment of panic. “You’re a wizard?” he asked. With a guilty look, Josiah nodded.

“I won’t tell anybody,” he said. “I should have admitted I knew you on sight, but I wanted…” Well, no, he wouldn’t tell anyone, would he? So Sirius supposed it made no difference, in the end. Josiah looked distinctly uncomfortable, as though he was just now wondering if this had been a bad idea.

Well, Sirius decided to ease his fears. He took a step, two, closer to Josiah, cupped his jaw in one hand, and leaned to kiss him. Gently, for a moment, nudging Josiah’s mouth open, slipping his tongue between Josiah’s lips. Josiah responded with a degree of urgency, relieved, Sirius supposed, that he was finding he had not been brought here under false pretences. His hands quickly found Sirius’s waist, and Sirius began to feel himself respond.

Well, if there weren’t be any unnecessary pleasantries, all the better. “Do you live alone?” he said, against Josiah’s mouth.

“I have a flatmate,” he admitted, “But I am not expecting him home for several hours.”

Sirius thought for a moment. He liked the leather couch, the red blanket folded neatly on the armrest, and he strongly desired to bend dear Josiah over it, right there in the sitting room.

Well. It was a risk, certainly, but one he was prepared to take, he decided, and should the flatmate return home unexpectedly Sirius would end his life very quickly indeed. Not a problem. So he slipped Josiah’s jacket from his shoulders and draped it over a nearby chair.

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[phineasablack]

This man was smiling widely, and Phineas found himself unsure of how to proceed. Harvey's good looks were enhanced by his grin, and despite his determination to do so, Phineas was finding it difficult to despise him.

Attractive men had far too much power, he decided, though he rather did prefer beauty to the alternative.

A handshake? It was very Muggle, something Phineas usually found acceptable--welcome, even--but coming from this man, it was a fault. Had his travels turned him into such a savage?

"Has she now?" he asked. "I do hope she's said nothing too embarrassing. Though of course she is more polite than that."

Talk of Gladys was all well and good, but Phineas wanted to know his story. Knowledge was power, and he rather wanted to know how best to remove the competition. "You've only recently arrived in town?" he asked casually, glancing from Harvey to a broom display and back. "How did you find yourself here?"

July 1904 | Competition | Phineas & Harvey

Harvey was wandering around the back of Gladys’ shop when he heard the door. She had run on a quick errand down the road, and Harvey volunteered to watch the shop for her, knowing she’d never ask him to but also knowing it would kill her to close it, even for a small amount of time. 

Fully prepared to meet whoever was at the door with a smile, his polite air immediately turned into a bright grin when Phineas Black stepped through the door. 

Though they’d never met in person, Harvey had heard many tales about the well-dressed man, and Gladys had only bolstered it, telling him about some of his fantastical sounding adventures. He strode over to him in large steps, taking in his sharp and clever appearance. Surreptitiously, he smoothed a hand over his vest then through his tangled hair, grudgingly intimidated at meeting someone so well-traveled.

As soon as the man introduced himself, Harvey bowed smartly, knowing it was expected in the presence of a pure-blood.  “Good day to you, Mr. Black. I am indeed Harvey Ridegebit. Miss Boothby has told me quite a bit about you, as well. The pleasure is all mine.” 

He put his hand out and then quickly snatched it back in an aborted movement for a handshake, kicking himself internally as he forgot the Wizarding rules of polite conduct. His etiquette teacher would have been in tears.

[phineasablack]

Finally the matter was buried. Temporary, of course, as no dutiful house head could allow such a topic to go undiscussed indefinitely. But regardless of when it would creep up again, there was now time to talk to Arc in private in hopes of alleviating at least some of the concerns he had.

"So, this nonsense of marriage aside, what is there left of this summer? Certainly there is some event that we three--and Belvina and Cygnus and Hesper, of course--are expected at. I've heard nothing of late, and it seems the summer has grown increasingly dull. I hadn't expected such things from London."

In truth, he didn't much care for society and its events--a fact that everyone knew well--but while trapped in London, one must find entertainment wherever it presents itself.

June 1904 | Brotherly Bonding | Phineas, Arcturus, & Sirius

siriusthefirst:

Oh, Merlin.

Phineas’s eyes. Too knowing. Did he suspect? Could he see blood streaked over Sirius’s face, like a brand? Could he see the bloodlust in Sirius’s eyes?

His simple pleasures. Sirius couldn’t imagine what Phineas’s simple pleasures might be. Did he have some parade of women march through his… lodgings, whatever they might be? Sirius couldn’t help imagining. It seemed unaccountably rude to ask to see Phineas’s home, but he was curious. Was he living in squalor?

He met Phineas’s glance for a moment, though Phineas – either totally unselfconscious, or an extraordinary actor – let his glance drift away quickly.

Sirius adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, and gave a small cough. “The Boothby woman, yes. I keep hearing about those brooms,” Sirius said, hoping against hope that his face no longer betrayed whatever it had. “And your travels, yes, yes, good to travel. Precisely the sort of thing one can no longer do, when there are children…”

To his own ear, Sirius sounded flustered. Deflection, once more, he thought. He gave a bright smile, perhaps broader than usual, and nodded sharply. “I can be a terrible bore,” he said, and hoped it sounded rakish and self-deprecating. “Harassing you two about marrying. As the eldest I suppose I sometimes push too hard. And here we are, simply enjoying a glass of firewhiskey. Let us speak to more of such nonsense.”

Arcturus sat back as Phineas and Sirius began to talk amongst themselves. He felt a little confused about the conversation that they were having and so he simply did not interject with anything to add, he simply listened. He frowned as they both spoke and he realised that there were two ways that he would go in his life, he could choose not to marry as Phineas had and this would be how his spent or he could choose to marry as Sirius had. He could not understand how there was not a third option to choose, he wished that he could. He sighed inwardly, trying to unscramble his own thoughts. 

Arcturus only truly snapped back into the conversation as Sirius was just finishing speaking and he suddenly felt guilty. He felt back that he had not listened properly as they had been discussing their lives, he had only been absorbed in his own. He felt colour enter his cheeks and he looked down at the drink in his hands. He took a sip and looked up at his brothers, wondering what the next topic of conversation would be amongst them. He was suddenly aware that he had not spoken in quite a long time and he looked around desperately, trying to think of something that he could say.

[phineasablack]

July 1904 | Competition | Phineas & Harvey

Phineas would deny it to his grave, but he was unusually threatened by this Harvey fellow that Gladys seemed to enjoy associating with.

It wasn't so much that he doubted his own merits--he was a Black, after all, and confidence was inborn; rather, he feared Harvey's. Stories of that man's travels seemed to rival his own, and though he certainly wasn't planning for anything beyond Gladys' friendship, he did enjoy her admiration.

And now another man threatened that.

Though he'd often heard reporters and old witches say he was firmly planted in his brother Sirius' shadow, they were so different it wasn't a fair comparison. But while both Black brothers could coexist quite peacefully, there wasn't nearly enough room in London for Phineas and Harvey and their insatiable wanderlust.

A surprise visit to Gladys' shop didn't produce Gladys, unfortunately, but it did produce Harvey. Or at least the man Phineas imagined to be Harvey. Having never seen him, he couldn't be sure, but there was a certain ruggedness to him. Plus, he was admittedly quite attractive. No wonder Gladys enjoys his company... Phineas thought.

"Good day, sir," he said finally as he approached Harvey. "Would you be  the same Harvey Ridgebit that Miss Boothby has before spoken of? I'm Phineas Black. Pleasure to meet you."

[phineasablack]

Phineas could hear Arc's tone change. It was understandable, but even more painfully familiar. He had grown immensely since he'd faced that decision, yet in some ways it felt still fresh. And raw.

"I want to know how you are," Phineas answered as he handed his brother his treat. "I do hope I am wrong, but with your apprehension to discuss marriage, I can only assume there is substance to this story."

"Story." Perhaps it was the wrong word. Stories were what the papers spun. Stories were fictional. Stories were at the heart of gossip.

"I only ask because I know the pressure surrounding the whole ordeal. Differently, of course, and I am quite sure Sirius felt his own sort of pressure. Regardless, I am here should you want to talk. Who better, after all, to speak of marriage than the one who spurned it?"

June 1904 | Reconnaissance | Phineas & Arcturus

Arcturus stepped back from the embrace with his brother, he was, after all, truly pleased to see him. Although they had met recently when Sirius had joined them, he felt that this was the first time that he had seen him properly in a long time. Arcturus gave a small laugh before nodding to his brother’s suggestion. It was childish but he did not care. “What does that matter?” He asked with a grin on his face. There was something about spending time with Phineas that brought the younger version of himself out and he could not help but admit that he enjoyed it. He always had to be so serious around others and so he was glad to get away from it all even if it was just for a short time.

The smile on Arcturus’ face slipped when Phineas asked his question. He had known that it was going to be brought up eventually but he still could not help but dread how he was going to go about answering it. He could never give a good reason as to why his engagement had ended and it made him sad that he could not tell his own brother the truth. “It’s fine, I do not mind discussing it.” Although that was not entirely true, he had come to the stage where he expected to be asked about it. “What was it that you wanted to know exactly?” He asked him. 

[phineasablack]

Phineas imagined Antonius was equally as uncomfortable with their forced formality and obligatory conversation, but he appeared agreeable enough. As they relocated to a booth, Phineas found himself relaxing. Perhaps the stiffness between them could relax as well.

"South America," Phineas answered. "Peru and Argentina mostly, and typically the more remote regions. Breathtaking, really. You must visit if time and commitments allow."

Of course they wouldn't, even for a wizard who could relocate at will. Someone like Antonius Malfoy was certainly as busy as Sirius. Though Malfoy did not have a family tying him down. Still, Phineas couldn't imagine him being very able to travel.

"Until the season is over, perhaps longer if there is need of me here. But there are more of the Americas to explore. The northern territories have fascinated me for years, and I'd quite enjoy a visit."

There he went, yammering on about his freedom. But was it any secret that Phineas was very much the exception to his family's rules? Whether Malfoy approved or not, there was no reason to deflect. He wasn't going to be married anytime soon, at least.

"And what of you? Other than your involvement with Miss Gladys Boothby's business, I know nothing. How is your family?"

July 1904 | Avoidance and Alcohol | Phineas & Antonius