12 Jan 2023, 00:53
Misery Loves Company
Late December, 2022
Emotions were an odd phenomenon. They rarely responded to logic or reason, refused to behave the way they should, and were frankly quite inconvenient most of the time.
Logically, Méabh knew that before they had returned to Hogwarts, she had gone eleven years rarely ever seeing Tala. They'd kept contact, on and off. Met every now and then, but far from frequently. She'd missed Tala, of course, more so in the beginning and less later. Had known even so it wouldn't harm their friendship that they didn't spend every waking moment together as they'd done in school, friendships like theirs lasted. Logically, she knew it would be the same this time, with Tala leaving again just months after the two had started working together.
Logic aside, Méabh missed her best friend.
Perhaps it was worse this time because she was staying at Hogwarts by herself, rather than going off on her own adventures like after their graduation. Méabh didn't know Hogwarts without Tala; whenever she'd been here before, Tala had been, too. It felt off, expecting her friend around every corner and being disappointed each time.
So, like the mature adult she was, Méabh had turned to moping. Thankfully, it was winter break, there were no classes to teach and most of the students had gone home. Wrapping herself in blissful self-pity, she'd spent most of her time cooped up in the dungeons, brewing potions. She'd managed all of two days before she'd felt like the walls were going to collapse in on her if she stayed in there any longer. Clearly, it was time to find a different place to mope. And perhaps some company. Everything was better in good company, more so if they shared her misery.
When - if - @Orion Lécuyer returned to his office that night, he would find a metamorphmagus draped melodramatically across his armchair. Usually warm brown hair an inky black, spilling over the arm rest. There was chocolate scattered across the desk between some of the oddities he collected, brought as an offering, as Orion's love for all things sweet was a well-known secret. Méabh had eaten some of it herself, chocolate and moping went well together, despite her usually preferring fruit to sweets. She'd dragged one of the books from his bookcase, picked purely by which spine looked the most interesting, and was now lazily flipping through it.
Upon his entrance, she'd raise a hand, wiggling her fingers at him in greeting, and flutter her lashes to go with it. "Finally," she noted, a tinge of amusement in her voice strengthening her Irish accent. "I've been waiting, you know."
Raphael Aveline | Méabh Regan | Dealla Prince |
12 Jan 2023, 15:21
Misery Loves Company
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Orion had fallen victim to melancholy since Tuesday had abandoned him. Well, he had not exactly abandoned his friend, but rather moved on to another field of interest. This would not stop the Frenchman from being overly dramatic the next time he saw his best friend. Breaking the tension with an exaggerated reaction was certain to make his friend laugh or roll his eyes. The truth was much more difficult for Orion to admit; he was terribly lonely without him and had grown to rely on his presence to help distract him from the memories that seemed intent on haunting him, their shadow looming around each corner.
There was a solution for every problem, and when your life was at risk in the field hiding was not always an option. So he would run from the shadows, moving from his office, to the dungeons, and to the kitchens only to backtrack and start the dance all over again.
He had not always been obsessed with sweets. Scent was a powerful force. It could change one’s moods, or more importantly; help them to remember the past. Forget the scent of gore. He could slide back into the character his students saw him as; a mischievous happy-go-lucky professor with a taste for sweets.
When the door to his office swung open he stood in the doorway, an intricately decorated cupcake in hand. “Méabh…” Blue eyes scanned her features before flickering over to the offering on his desk, to the book she was flipping through (likely either a romance novel or a novel about dark magical objects, dealers choice) and back again to the woman draped across his armchair. “Forgive me. If I had known I had a beautiful woman waiting for me I would have skipped my daily baking. I would ask what you are doing here but I fear I must be dreaming.”
Perfectionist | Evasive Maneuvers I & II
Calming Presence Allies: Monica
│ │ | │ │ | STA: 10 • EVA: 15 • STR: 5 WIS: 20 • ARC: 10 • ACC: 20 | │ │ | • Calming Presence • Perfectionist • Evasive Maneuvers I & II • • Nonverbal Magic • Wandless Magic • Occlumency • Legilimency • | │ │ | │ │ |
18 Jan 2023, 21:52
Misery Loves Company
@Orion Lécuyer
Méabh smiled, a genuine response. She was already feeling better than she had when she'd been alone; locking herself away had never been good for her. She found distraction in other people. "As long as it's not a nightmare," she quipped. "Warning you would've robbed me of the fun of surprising you. Besides..." Her gaze flickered down to the book in her lap, fingers trailing across the page. She'd gone for one of the romance novels, chosen for its juicy title. "I can keep myself occupied." For limited amounts of time, at least. "Can I borrow this?"
Truthfully, she'd never been able to relate much to the protagonists in such novels. The others, the ones about dark magic, might have been more her speed. Méabh enjoyed flirting, but she'd never been really serious about anyone. She'd dated, yes, had a handful of boyfriends and girlfriends over the years, but there hadn't been anyone she would have hesitated to leave behind when she'd left for South America after graduating; and no one she'd felt compelled to come back to, either. Her strongest ties had always been platonic.
That was, of course, why Tala's departure had hit her that much harder, which brought her back around to the purpose of her visit. In response to Orion's question - the one he hadn't asked, for he must be dreaming - Méabh paused, again looking down at the book before closing it. When she looked up again at her involuntary host, there was a delicate smile on her face, coy, almost. A little self-deprecating at the edges, although that touch was visible only to those particularly observant, or those that knew her very well. "I was feeling lonely," she replied. The truth, although phrased in a way that might simply sound flirtatious. "I thought you might feel the same." Again, the truth. It had hardly been a secret that Tuesday and Orion were very close. "Maybe we can keep each other company."
Raphael Aveline | Méabh Regan | Dealla Prince |