reggiecatastrophic

[reggiecatastrophic]

caradocdears​:

“Knowing the people we spend the majority of our time around, I wouldn’t be surprised if you decided you were going to be mad about both things and then never mention it to me until it is an emotionally convenient time that’s widely observed,” Caradoc suggested, years of seeing that exact thing play out made him consider it less of a suggestion and more of a deeply cynical expectation. “It isn’t really my business who or what you spend your time with as long as you pay your tab. I try to avoid guessing at things like relationships too much. Keeps me from getting too messy if it goes arse over tits.”

Caradoc shrugged. “Business is business,” he agreed, “and if everyone showed up to their appointments and obligations on time, we’d be living in a very different world. I’d be rich, first off. Such is the way of this whole shitty thing called life.”

Quirking an eyebrow at the question, Caradoc’s hands automatically smoothed over the shirt he was wearing in an attempt to smooth down any wrinkles that may have appeared. It was an unconscious, nearly automatic gesture he performed a dozen times a day. Just because the Dragon attracted a certain clientele didn’t mean that Caradoc had to stoop to that level. “It’s been fine,” he answered evenly, “haven’t even had to break any bones today. That is always a good sign. Lonely though? Well, that’s information you’d have to pay for, mate.”

.

“What an astute decision for a bartender,” Reggie teased. Honestly that was probably for he best. Reggie had multiple people in his life, and while he didn’t necessarily consider any of them serious, he did know that from the outside,  it probably looked confusing as well. Some parts were easy to quantify. Others... Not so much. Caradoc’s strategy was probably a good one with as many people, hookups, and messy relationships flitted through his door on an average day. Plus, he was right. The Order wasn’t much better.

“Wouldn’t be all be?” Reggie said dryly. Actually if everyone showed up and paid what they owed and had the money to handle their own lives, his would look very different. Best not to dwell there.

His eyes lit up. “Okay, now you’re putting an offer on the table, and I’m dying to know. What does one have to do for that kind of information? Not require bones to be broken obviously, but what else? I suddenly feel a deep need to know what makes a guy like you toss and turn at night.”

[reggiecatastrophic]

mfletcher​:

Nate watched him, but just smirked lightly. Reggie adored him, and would encourage his antics, and he knew it well, even if the older man’s face didn’t show it. Nate wasn’t going to worry if he might not like it, because well, Reggie would tell him if he was getting annoyed. Nate wasn’t going to turn into someone like Pettigrew who worried about all of that stuff, if they were liked or not; Nate had more confidence than that, and had learned enough that people would tell you right out about it anyway.

“You don’t know?” Nate raised an eyebrow as he led him to the dance floor, “Surely you’ve at least seen some of these new moves that we’re using lately, and if not, you can watch me close enough to follow along, yeah?” He smirked lightly, before playfully reaching out to put his hands on Reggie’s hips, dancing a little close with him. “Maybe I’ll have to guide you through it, yeah?” He teased him, “Make sure you don’t fall down or anything.”

.

Reggie laughed, reaching out to put a hand on Nate’s hip as he easily followed along with him. He wasn’t necessarily a party guy, but Reggie was plenty capable of dancing, even as he teased Nate about whether he could. “Think you could be a good influence on my skills? I dunno. Has anyone ever accused you of being a good influence on anyone ever before?” 

They’d danced before, Reggie thought, but as he considered it, maybe they hadn’t. He couldn’t definitely point to any clubs they’d danced at or parties they’d gone to together. And they weren’t really dance-in-the-living-room kind of people. More... the type to make innuendos in the living room until deciding to go to the bedroom. And Reggie liked that. He liked this casual thing they had. But it was nice to dance with him too.

[reggiecatastrophic]

I just need y’all to thirst over this picture with me

[reggiecatastrophic]

mfletcher​:

Nate just grinned at seeing the smirk on Reggie’s face, glad the joke had landed well and it hadn’t made the older man mad at him. “What, you didn’t think I’d not make the jokes, did you?” He asked innocently, before playfully wiggling his eyebrows at Reggie. “Oh, I’m sure you can show me how it’s done, whenever you want,” He added with another smirk at seeing that wink. Truly, it was all just jokes to him about Reggie being older; though he did find it slightly hot.

A smirk crossed his face at the quick reply he got, and he leaned in to playfully act like he was going to nip at Reggie’s shoulder, but didn’t get quite close enough to do so. “Of course I do, especially for a party,” he laughed out then, “Anyone gives me grief and I’ll make sure they don’t get any fun tonight, yeah?” He chuckled at the flick, then grabbed Reggie’s hand. “Dance with me, old man?” He teased lightly.

.

Reggie nodded, trying to keep his face impassive and vaguely judgy rather than look amused by Nate’s antics. The other would know. He always knew. But sometimes it was fun to make him come to those conclusions on his own instead of humoring him with a laugh. Perhaps the look was encouragement. Perhaps it was a different kind of humoring him.

“I dunno,” Reggie said as he let Nate drag him toward where people were dancing in the living room. “I’m awfully old and out of the loop. I don’t think I know what new-fangled moves the kids are using these days.” Reggie could dance just fine, and Nate knew it. Still, he was curious what the other would do, even as he slowed to a stop at the edge of the dance floor and started bobbing a bit, getting a feel for the song. He’d heard it once or twice, he thought, but Reggie didn’t actually know it well.

[reggiecatastrophic]

gwenogjones​:

He hesitated. She didn’t have a seeker’s eyes, but Gwenog had keen enough eyes to catch that momentary pause of temptation. Something inside her screamed Fly, Twmffat… Why wouldn’t you fly if given the chance? It was infuriating to see someone who was fully capable of soaring above the rest choose to stay landlocked. No need to purchase the damned thing, just fly…. She kept the fire inside down, refusing to bubble up over what she knew was nothing. 

Gwenog smiled, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make it reach her eyes. 

“Talk it up- but just tell whoever you send that ‘Gwenog said’… maybe my boss will consider a raise.” Thank Merlin for roommates. When she’d been plaing quidditch, really playing, she was making enough that she would have really been fine living alone. It would have been a little tight, but manageable. Now, it felt like the witch was scraping up knuts from wherever she could and hoarding them like a damned niffler. 

“Used? Er… Yeah, yeah we do- Come on inside, it’ll be easier���” Her voice trailed off as she shifted her weight and turned inside the shop. At least with her back turned, Gwenog could cringe with each step without Cattermole seeing. She fished her wand out and unceremoniously flicked it in the direction of the storage closet, an accio muttered under her breath. A barrel of brooms marked ‘Used’ came hobbling out, teetering back and forth as if at any moment it might just tip over. It came to a halt in front of Gwenog and she started rummaging through. “Comet, Comet… Comet… Ah- there we are, Comet.” 

Gwenog seemed to be saying yes, but something in her face didn’t quite connect. Reggie smiled back, but he might not have done much better. He was used to being judged for stuff like this. Why spend all this time looking at it like a kid when he was just as unable to buy a broom as those kids were.

“I can do that,” he said, aiming for light. He wasn’t sure he actually got there successfully, but it would have to do. “I’ll gladly talk you up to whoever.” Reggie did mean that. Even if he felt a tiny bit judged right now, he would give her good reviews. She hadn’t earned anything less and hadn’t told him to stop loitering yet. That had to count for something.

Then she agreed about used brooms, and Reggie perked up. “Really? Yeah, I’d love to take a look.” He followed her back into the shop, seeing but not necessarily comprehending the shuffle in her step. He’d heard the stories, seen the newspaper articles, but it wasn’t something Reggie had put a ton of thought into then or now. 

He watched the bin come toward her and Gwenog shuffle through, but he didn’t actually realize what she was looking for until she was pulling it out and holding it toward him. Reggie reached for the broom automatically. This wasn’t the same broom. It lacked the small knotch a bludger had put into his handle up at the front and looked like the straw had taken a similar beating instead. But it was the same make and model as the one he’d had in school, and Reggie almost asked her how she’d known which he wanted. It didn’t matter. Yeah, the Cleansweep was newer, shinier. But this one felt better in his hands.

“I can’t afford it right now,” he said regretfully. “I’m assuming you don’t do holds on used brooms?” There probably wasn’t a huge market, but even if Reggie dropped everything, he might not have been able to make it would and definitely would have been screwed until the next market. Probably longer. If he didn’t have money to buy supplies and potential stock, he wouldn’t be ready for it at all. “If you do, is two weeks too long? I might... Depending on how much you want for it, I can’t make any promises, but I should be able to make it work.”

[reggiecatastrophic]

edgeofnicky​:

Where: The Prewett Estate When: 6th of July, 1984 Who: @reggiecatastrophic​

Nicky was a witch on a mission. 

It wasn’t a devastatingly important mission, but it was a mission none the less. She tossed the tiny pouch that she’d brought with her up and caught it in her hand as she stalked through the halls of the Prewett Estate. She hoped he was around here somewhere. She caught a glimpse of a shadow moving down a hall, and she tore off after it. 

Her face lit up as she turned a corner to see the exact wix she’d been looking for walking away from her. “Reggie!” Nicky bounded up beside him, slowing down to match his pace once she’d reached his side. “Have I ever told you about this amazin’ little game I play called Dungeons and Dragons? Because I have an idea, and I think it might require a bit of your expertise. D’ye have a minute?”

.

Reggie probably should have gone home over an hour ago. His mind was so full of everything he and Dirk had started on a couple days ago, and he kept falling down into a related spiral. He’d figured he would just read one more chapter before he left for the night to see if there was anything helpful in it. He’d finished the book.

Now as he wandered down the hall in the vague direction of the entry room, he paused upon hearing his name. He turned around, taking a step back automatically at the sheer intensity of Nicky’s energy. 

Reggie blinked at her a couple times, head slowly tilting. “I don’t know that you have... Is it like a card game or something?” He didn’t want to call it a kids game in case he offended her, but that’s what the name sounded like. “I-- Yeah, I’ve got time. We can...” He scanned the hall they were in before shrugging and turning back toward the library. “Let’s talk in here.”

[reggiecatastrophic]

He’s a style icon

[reggiecatastrophic]

lxceandlovegood​:

Xeno’s smile widens into a bright white beam when Reggie laughs. That had, after all, been the purpose. While he wasn’t entirely up to date on Quidditch, he at least knew the players and the way they were meant to fly on the pitch, what their purpose was.

That being said, he did tilt into it when Reggie fixed a piece of his hair, humming before murmuring a thanks that would have been lost if Xeno hadn’t been standing right beside the other wix.

A laugh of his own was pulled from his chest at Reggie’s joke, and he nods. “I suspected as much, though quote a few were only hearsay, after all. Some are all hands, no broom, as it were.”

Xenophilius listens for a moment, noting the way Reggie shifts a bit, looks back at the broom. Doesn’t want to give something away, but doesn’t want Xeno to feel bad about it. That was okay. If he didn’t want to talk about it, he did not need to.

“Wishing is still precious, even if it is out of reach,: he says, words simple. "That does not mean we have to bury every one of them.” A snort follows shortly thereafter and Xeno shakes his head, bumping a hip into Reggie’s. “I certainly do look like someone that knows how to polish a broom, and properly, too,” he says giving a faux sniffles of superiority. “But, no. I do not need to show them that. But we could go get ice cream, instead?”

Xeno knew he wasn’t saying something but didn’t call him out on it. Okay, Reggie could deal with that. He let Xeno’s words wash over him, chuckling at the bump to his hip. He bumped him back. “Perhaps you do. It’s all in perception, isn’t it? And I suppose I know enough to speak to it when I’ve seen that particular skill in action.” Felt it too. Sex probably wasn’t supposed to be the less intimate and intimidating conversation topic, but Reggie knew his experience on the matter wasn’t exactly typical.

“Ice cream sounds like a great plan,” he agreed, stepping back away from the window. Reggie glanced down the way toward Fortescue’s, waiting for Xeno to join him before he truly started walking. “Out and about, yes, but  was there anything in particular on your mind today? I can be a listening ear or an advice giver. It all depends on what you need.”

When they got there, he held the door open to let Xeno inside first, following close behind him. Reggie surveyed the choices, looking to see what was special for the day and what he’d liked before.  “Any particular flavors you’re wanting?”

[reggiecatastrophic]

pandoraalcmene​:

Pandora could have said no or argued but there was something in the way he said it that left her appreciating his concern. She was too used to fretting about everyone and everything but herself. It wasn’t anything unusual past having a low number of people she was close to and not wanting to risk losing the few connections she had. “Okay,” She offered a short-lived put that shifted into a smile. “But it’s only because you said please.”

She pulled the takeout box toward herself and gave a hum of appreciation, promptly taking a bite before shifting her attention back to Reggie. “How long did the charm last?” Pandora quirked a brow. She was decent at charming things but her personal endeavor of trying to prolong some of the spells for longer than a few spells or hours was proving to be a challenge. “I have a few,” She nodded. “I hid some of the nicer pieces since I wasn’t about to lose all of them to one customer. Pearls and a few crystals this time around.”

Her expression faltered when Reggie mentioned not feeling ready.  She couldn’t relate this time around but there had been a few times where she felt overwhelmed or underprepared. There was the unfortunate luck of not being able to fully hide the expressions that accompanied those feelings. “I can help out if you think an additional hand may be of use,” Pandora shrugged. “No cut of things needed.” 

She gave another shrug of her shoulders at his question. It would involve a complicated answer and wasn’t something she had mentioned to Xenophilius yet past knowing they knew she hadn’t been ready to dive right into the field when she first joined. “Sort of,” She offered a half smile in response. “Had more worrying than I was used to. I suppose that came with the territory of hanging back. Truly relieved everyone ended up okay for the most part, but I…” Pandora let her voice drop to an almost whisper when she went to continue. “I feel like I could have done more.”

.

Reggie laughed. “I’m very polite,” he promised. He hummed in response to her question as he took another bite, swallowing it before giving her an actual answer. “As far as I know, it lasted the whole mission. Neither of them’s told me if it didn’t, but Vanity came back mostly whole and less worse for wear than a couple of the others on that team, so it seems to have done the job.” He felt another twinge of guilt that he hadn’t thrown one together for Nate. Next time perhaps. But he didn’t share that aloud with Pandora yet. She’d probably make more of it than she needed to.

She was a gem. “I appreciate the offer, but I think I’ll be okay. I have enough junk sitting around. I need to just actually buckle down and take a look at it. Make sure the spells are simple enough to refresh and sell.” Make sure nothing had a family crest as a glaring warning of why he shouldn’t put it out. “I’ll let you know if I need to take you up on it, though.”

He took another bite, chewing thoughtfully as Pandora talked. Do more. He understood completely. Until he’d been sent out into the field as backup, Reggie had felt useless just sitting there. He’d found ways to entertain himself, sure, but that wasn’t the same as being useful during a mission. “Is that something you want to talk to somebody about?” he asked. “I dunno if it’ll do any good, but maybe you can get yourself more specific orders or something.” Several squeaky wheels around here seemed to just keep talking until they got what they wanted. Reggie wasn’t surprised when that meant someone like James Potter, who hadn’t ever seemed to be denied anything in his life. He didn’t know if it would be the same for someone like Pandora.

[reggiecatastrophic]

dirkcresswcll​:

Reggie didn’t understand the Nightscar magic, which was a bummer. Dirk would’ve liked to know - thought it could be helpful for the use of the map. But that was alright. They’d work around it - and it wasn’t as if Reggie had been chosen for this task because of his Nightscar information. In fact, Dirk wasn’t quite sure just why Reggie had been chosen, but he seemed to be catching on rather easily, so Moody must’ve had his reasons.

Dirk’s head popped up at the discussion of the layers. It had been something he’d been considering himself, of course - hence the reason it was already so bare in the first place - but Reggie seemed confident in his words, like he might know something Dirk didn’t. “What sort of experience do you mean?” he asked curiously, almost encouragingly. It could be helpful, after all.

Reggie pulled the parchment of the protection charms and Dirk sat back down to grab one of the books he’d stacked, looking for more ideas. Most of them were things that would’ve been in the Hogwarts Restricted Section. He wished they would have a few more darker texts - not that Dirk was really into the Dark Arts, but if the Death Eaters were high-ranking employees of the Ministry, some of the wards would perhaps be things not in the Prewett Library. But, alas, they were working with what they had for now.

And Reggie’s work with Nightscar meant that he might’ve already ventured into some darkness. Perhaps he’d be able to help. “I was thinking some of the spells might’ve been altered,” he said at the same time as he flipped through the pages, reading passages that seemed like it could fit. “Layered, one on top of the other. That was how I worked around on the previous map and, if we’re fighting against wards we’re not certain about, I think we’ll have to do the same here.”

“I mean I can poke about next time, but generally that’s the kind of thing they don’t like questions asked about.” Frankly Reggie wasn’t even entirely sure who “they” were. There was a group, sure, but the members seemed to change and none of them seemed to actually be in charge. The secrecy was part of the point, along with not making waves. Generally he tried to follow that. His livelihood depended on it.

Reggie paused, not quite sure how to explain his work that wasn’t a customer pitch or a self-deprecating joke. “I do a lot of restoration,” he said. “I take old magic items to rejuvenate them, make them work again. My goal is usually to try and recreate whatever original enchantments still linger because sometimes when you try to do something similar but slightly different, the two spells don’t interact well. The stronger magic, the deeper magic usually prevails, but not always in the way it was charmed to do if the other affects it.” He shrugged. “Layers are a good plan. We just have to be aware of how they layer.”

And it felt stupid to say it, to give Dirk a reminder when he’d already done this once on another map that had boggled Reggie to even imagine. He tapped his fingers against the list. “Did you use all of these on the first one, or is this more a list of possibilities?” He considered them for a moment, then added a note next to one that he’d used one or twice about its longevity challenges. Then he shifted down to the bottom and started noting down what he could think of as potentially helpful. “I just did a clock that located individuals,” he admitted. “It was one family, and everyone was specifically tied to one hand of the clock, but maybe some of that connecting location magic might be helpful here.” He added descriptions behind each of the spells, so Dirk wouldn’t need to look them up later. “I don’t know if it is as helpful without a binder, but maybe we can figure out something to act as it?”

[reggiecatastrophic]

caradocdears​:

Running The Flaming Dragon was, in Caradoc’s experience, like watching a slow-motion apparition gone wrong or watching two brooms collide in mid-air with yourself sat not ten meters away at a suspiciously unwelcome eye-level with the whole affair. There was always something happening, like that one wizard trying to peddle his amateur and highly illegal porn from a few days ago. Caradoc’s knuckles still hurt from breaking the guy’s nose, though the satisfaction hadn’t abated yet. This? This was like watching a second year student’s first ever relationship play out with subtitles.

Reggie was, of course, the heartbroken and nearly-teenaged girl. Caradoc swore he kept looking around at everyone who passed by like they had the Philosopher’s Stone tucked in their robes and intended to give it to him. It had been amusing the first few times and now Caradoc was about at the end of his patience and rapidly approaching that deep dark pit known as sympathy. When sympathy got involved, there was no end to the impulsive choices that would present themselves like good ones.

Thankfully, the look Reggie sent over acted as enough of a deterrent that Caradoc was able to continue to conceal his deeply-buried Hufflepuff instincts that did, miracle of miracles, actually exist. Pushing off the bar with an act of reluctance about him, he approached the table. “What is it? Get stood up on a hot date with a dumpster?”

.

Reggie smiled at Caradoc as he approached before he rolled his eyes at the comment. “I don’t know if I should be more offended that you’re assuming a date would stand me up or that I’d only get one with a dumpster.” Then again, he knew not everyone got why he spent so much time with Nate, so maybe that was fair. He shrugged, pushing that idea away. Nate was incorrigible, but he wasn’t what most people thought it was.

“Actually I was supposed to be meeting a client. Or a potential client anyway. No idea who, no idea what exactly they wanted. Clearly they don’t care enough about my time to actually show up. But hey, that’s just how life works, isn’t it?”

He gave Caradoc a quick once over. The man always managed to look so put together. It seemed highly unfair. Reggie could never tell what kind of day he’d been having without more information from Caradoc himself. Definitely unfair. “Aside from work, how’s your day been? Don’t tell me yours has been as lonely as my night appears to be.” He grinned, drumming his fingers against the table. It sucked to lose potential work like this, but Doc’s sparkling personality always made for an interesting time.

[reggiecatastrophic]

mfletcher​:

Nate made a face slightly as he thought about that, because if there was one thing he didn’t want to do, it was leave the party if it was fun, to go out and get alcohol. But then a thought crossed his mind, and he smirked lightly. “Yeah, I mean, if anything, we can send the adult of the party out to go get something for all the kids, you know?” He glanced over at Reggie with a smirk as he spoke.

He snorted lightly at the joke then, shrugging his shoulders. “There’s plenty of time for culture later,” He teased, “Though, maybe I’ll need you to help me pour the drink later on, if you’re that good at mixing it, yeah?” He watched the older man, noting that he seemed to like whatever mix he’d made.

“You’ll bite, huh?” He smirked, but then shrugged and reached into his pocket, pulling out a couple baggies. “Both,” He stated proudly, “Figure we’ve got some for the partiers, and something else if anyone wants to be a little more adventurous, you know?” He shoved the baggies back into his pocket, adding, “That’s for a bit later though.”

.

Reggie rolled his eyes but smirked back. “I was wondering how long it would be before those jokes started up. But yes, I suppose I could, and I suppose I can also mix you a drink or two and show you how it’s done.” He winked and took another sip. Four years would have been an eternity in school, but as old as they both were now, Reggie didn’t particularly mind. He hadn’t felt drawn to Nate because of anything like that. Perhaps if he had, the adult jokes might have touched a nerve. Instead they just made him want to threaten to go take a nap.

Not before they had a little fun though. “Always,” he answered back automatically. “You always come prepared, doncha? I’m sure that can count as your bring if anyone really wants to give you grief.” He leaned down and flicked the pocket Nate had just tucked the bags back into. “Lets focus for now, though. Where shall we start, party boy?”

[reggiecatastrophic]

JOE KEERY as STEVE HARRINGTON

STRANGER THINGS S04E08

[reggiecatastrophic]

gwenogjones​:

“Eh, I make commission, but I’m not going to tell someone to buy something for the sake of getting a galleon.” In a perfect world, she never would have had to rely on selling people broomsticks. Her livelihood would have been her ability to fly, the strength of her arm, how far she could send a bludger rocketing through the air with what sort of aim. That would have paid her bills- it would have paid her better than working at the little Quidditch shop on the Alley ever would. 

The Cleansweep sat upon it’s pedastle, and Gwenog couldn’t help but feel a little envious. A broom like that… she would have flown for hours and hours on a broom like that. And that broom, while grounded, could still fly if it wanted to. If it had an owner… The same could not be said for her. 

“Comets are fantastic… I hear they have something new coming out soon. I could always keep my ear to the ground if you want. Let you know if we get word that something new is coming in. But- at least for now…” The witch pushed herself off the doorframe, masking the pain of movement by turning back into the store and obscuring her face. “I could see if we could let you take a little test flight…? If you wanted to?” 

Reggie grinned. Consideration for what was worth it over purely the dollar. Reggie could understand that. He’d been picky in the past about what commissions he took for the same reasons. 

He hesitated. The temptation was so strong, and Reggie really wanted to. But he also didn’t want to string Gwenog along if it meant making her doing extra work for nothing. “I should probably admit now that I’m definitely not buying a broom today.” He ran a hand through his hair, sighing as he looked up at the Cleansweep. “It’s a bit out of my budget at the moment. But if you don’t mind that, I’ll absolutely talk it up to anyone listening if the offer’s still on the table?”

He shifted from one foot to the other. “I don’t think I’m there yet, but you don’t happen to carry any used brooms, do you? I don’t remember seeing them before, but I also can’t say I’ve been the most observant when things like this are here.” He gestured toward the Cleansweep again, knowing Gwenog would know what he meant.

[reggiecatastrophic]

@lxceandlovegood

Also, it sounded like maybe you needed a reason to get out of the house.

[reggiecatastrophic]

dirkcresswcll​:

Dirk hadn’t slept much, but this was unsurprising after the meeting from the night before where everyone learned about his ideas - his plans - with different levels of excitement. He would be leading his first objective and the maps were important to him. He needed them to work if he was going to continue to make progress in this organization. At work, he didn’t have respect - but here… he might have an opportunity to.

He’d fallen asleep with his papers surrounding him much too late into the night. And then had woken up much too early and continued working. He knew that Reggie would be joining him for the first time, but he also wanted to be prepared. As leader, he should have preparations ready to go - he should have a direction to take Reggie in. He didn’t want the older wix to think him an idiot, like he didn’t know what he was doing.

Which is maybe why he was early, hunched over the parchment and scribbling notes to himself as Reggie came in through the door. Dirk smiled kindly at him and his question - this was good; this was how he and Hestia operated, right into work. “Well, I thought maybe you could look this over - “ He slid a piece of parchment to Reggie. “I’ve been going through old textbooks from Hogwarts and some stuff from the library here, looking for possible protective charms that the field teams might come across. I’m sure I missed some and, with your knowledge of Nightscar, I figured there might be a few I don’t even know. You could perhaps start there?”

He waved his wand so the next, larger piece flew into the air to hang on the wall. “That’s the rough draft of the Ministry and what we know from people who work there or blueprints as it was established. It’s changed quite a bit since then, so we’ll have to shift it, but we can move things around pretty easily.” He stood up, pointed at the lowest level. “This is where Edgar and Ted will be going later this week, so I figure we can adjust each level as we go. I haven’t enchanted it yet - even for the Order. I think we need to wait on that, until we know more about the Dark Marks and how that magic will effect this magic.”

Dirk grinned, finally stopped talking - it might’ve been the most Reggie had ever heard him speak, as he tended to be particularly close-lipped at meetings, even if they were going over his ideas - and sat back down. “Does, uh, that - that all sound okay to you?” he said, suddenly self conscious.

Reggie had expected Dirk to jump right in, but he hadn’t realized just how much research would already be done. “Oh, um, yeah, great.” He leaned over the table, taking in some of the information in a quick, scattered scan. He’d need to read it closer in a moment, but since Dirk was still talking to him, he didn’t want to tune the other out quite yet. 

“Yeah, I can take a look,” he agreed. “I don’t know how the magic of Nightscar works if that’s what you’re looking for, but I’ve picked up a few tricks related to my work there. I’ll see what I can do.” He thought about the family clock he’d just finished for Arthur Weasley. Maybe some of the spells he’d needed to renew for that might have potential application. It all depending on how the location and individual needed to interact for Dirk’s map. Reggie suspected that system was too rudimentary for this, but it gave him some ideas of where to start.

He turned toward the map. Nothing too exciting yet, but it was good to know they’d have a blank canvas. “Probably a good idea. You can add new layers to something, but in my experience, if you don’t fully know how they’ll interact with the layers underneath, it’s best to tread lightly.” That was something he’d learned early in his restoration projects. He could add an enchantment to do something to what the item had already done, but if it wasn’t the same spell, it was better to figure out what had been there first than to risk a collision of effects between them. 

Figuring that was all Dirk needed to show him right this moment, Reggie sat at the table and pulled the parchment over. “Yeah, I think that works. Figure out all our possibilities first, so we know where to go when we have more defined parameters.”

[reggiecatastrophic]