[Once safely behind the tree, Sirius has to work to get Padfoot around to the idea of switching back. It's not that he's not in charge--he absolutely is!--it's just that it can be difficult persuading even himself that he doesn't want to be this happy and this in tune with every little thing around him.
But dogs can't talk, and he wants to talk, and he can switch back later and play some more; come on-- and so, finally, he shifts back. The reverse of the transformation is like sneezing backwards--not painful, not precisely, just weird and definitely unnatural, as every bit of him remembers that it's meant to be more complex--
But, finally, there he is, in clothes and everything, and after making sure everything is straightened out, he comes out from behind the tree, rubbing at his jaw. Merlin, but his mouth always tastes terrible after being a dog, no matter if he's eaten anything at all--]
Blrurk. Hullo. Yeah, so-- there y'are. [And it's sort of weird that she knows--she's not the weirdness in that equation, it's just weird to have anyone who isn't a Marauder knowing. And there's plenty of people aboard this ship who now know, and here's one more. Weird.] Ta-dah.
[ hey, Raven doesn't think it's weird at all. he should be proud of that!! he's got an amazing ability and there's nothing weird about showing it off. then again, she doesn't know it's a secret back home. ]
That was amazing! Really. SO groovy. [ she'll even clap ] Could you understand what I was saying? I forgot to ask before you changed.
[He pulls one more face--reverse dog breath, yurck--but even he has to grin at her applause, and he does a little mock bow.]
Some of it--I understand some of it. But I can't do anything about it. S' like-- being in a dog's head, but you're just along for the ride, and the dog is incredibly loud. Everything else sort of gets drowned out.
[ her cheeks might darken at that last part, but she's not about to bring attention to it. not deliberately anyway ]
They were kisses for the puppy! It's not like- Hn. You were being very sweet, and it felt like a perfectly normal thing to do at the time. [ just shush up, yeah. good idea, Darkholme ]
Everyone but you. Why do I not believe that at all? [ let it be known that Raven knows this is probably in bad form. maybe. kind of. kissing lead to biting which might actually lead to her being a werewolf which is bad, but mostly she's thinking about the fact that she just kissed Remus not all that long ago, and now she's leaning in to give Sirius a kiss on the cheek, and she's sure there's some rule here that she's breaking here because they're all friends, but whatever. a kiss on the cheek isn't- it's not anything to worry about. it's just friendly. still! she's a girl, so of course she's going to think about it.
but only for a second.
she gives him a loud kiss on the cheek, then steps back again, nodding just once. ]
[His eyes shut, Sirius pauses a moment to consider that kiss--and then he nods in return, leaning back and rubbing at his cheek with a satisfied air.]
Yes. Yes, I think that will do nicely, if only in the interest of--y'know. Complete and total fairness.
[Right! Moving on! Briskly--but still grinning, still with a hint of accomplishment so she doesn't quickly forget that she's just kissed him (which is perhaps a little cruel, but it's just a joke!)--he claps his hands together.]
Well, so there y'are, then. That's Padfoot--that's what we call him. Er, that is to say, me, when I'm him. And it's a secret, by the way, so don't go telling everyone.
Padfoot. I like that. And I definitely like having something else to call him that isn't your name, since that was a little strange. [ in fact, she thinks it's kind of adorable, but she won't say that. Padfoot, aw. awww. ] Your secret's safe with me. [ and she's kind of looking around the jungle now because yes that's easier than watching him smile and try not to get flustered at the same time. ] Okay, so. How do we get out of here?
[Too many Siriuses and he starts getting really confused--and that is distinctly unpleasant, being confused as a dog. It makes everything murky and wonky.
But at her question, he examines their surroundings with some interest. A beat, and he concludes, cheerfully:]
Not sure! How d'you feel about being a little lost, Raven?
[ Raven literally throws her hands up at that because wHAT how can they be lost nooo ]
Being lost in Bug City?! ..Jungle Bug City..? Whatever? I have mixed feelings. [ SHE CAN'T PUNCH BUGS. SHE'S USELESS AGAINST THEM ;; and now she's nervous. kind of. in that weird way that people get around bugs. like you know it's dumb, but you're still scared. ] I'm sure we can find the path I ran in on. Maybe. Back that way? Sirius. [ now there's nervous laughter because she has a seriously bad sense of direction ]
[Cheery and untroubled, Sirius only laughs, and offers his hand to her.]
Don't fret, miss. It's an adventure. We'll be lost for about thirty seconds--five minutes at the utmost--and we'll have a really good time while doing it, now take a deep breath and come on with me.
Mmmhm. [ bug adventures, oh boy. anyways, she takes his hand, tries not to look tooooo skeptical about all this. thirty seconds, sure. if they run maybe, like how they got in here in the first place. but! she'll take a breath, as instructed, then tries to spot the best way out from the middle of this patch of underbrush. ] We're doomed, aren't we? Like the Swiss Family Robinson. Forced to find shelter in the jungle because you forgot the way back out. How terrible!
The Swiss family who? Of course we aren't doomed like them, whoever they are, they were Swiss. The Swiss are notoriously useless, except when it comes to clockwork and chocolates.
[Still totally casual and chill, he slips his arm through hers and pulls it close, firmly locking her into place. There! Safe from bugs!]
But I'm English, miss, and that means I'm brilliant at everything. Except cooking. Oh, look, hullo, there's a path just there. Let's go down it.
Robinson, it was a television show, it- Oh, nevermind. [ now she's thinking about chocolate though. woe. chocolate. a whole year without chocolate... but Sirius literally pulls her out of that depressing train of thought, and oh, alright, fine. she's safe as long as they're linked together like this. that seems plausible. she'll allow it. she'll also let herself be led along that path yup. sure. he's leading here. ]
So... how'd you learn how to turn into a dog? Is that something every wizard can do?
[Ah, tellyvision. More Muggle weirdness. He nods sagely as he leads her down the narrow path--this is probably the right way; he's fairly sure this is the right way. Anyway, even if it isn't, this isn't like being lots in a proper forest. There's walls to this one.]
Nah--turning into a dog, that's an Animagus. S' not like your bit--I can only turn into a dog, nothing else--but I can stay transformed for as long as I like, though things tend to get a bit weird when I do. Mentally speaking. It's a tricky bit of spellwork--my mate James and I worked it out in fifth year, so we could hang around with Remus when he was transformed.
That's- really interesting, actually. [ MAGIC IS THE COOLEST THING, THE END ] So, you have to like... pick an animal, and then learn the spell to become that animal? But you're literally a dog. Whereas, with my mutation, I can change what I look like but I'm still me. Mostly. Really, I'm just trying to imagine what it would have been like if I had to learn how to shift all on my own. I mean, I had to learn to control it, but. It's almost as natural to me as breathing.
[ yeah, she's really just rambling as they walk along the path, rambling like she always does when it comes to abilities, and MAGIC now, and mutations and anything like that. she's sure it's an annoying trait to throw around with someone that doesn't have any of those things, but, well. Sirius does. which is why she's just going to carry on ]
Tell me more about magic! Like... School. Do you just do spells all day long? And get quizzed on it? I can't even imagine how much fun school is for you. And I am the worst student in the world, my brother had an awful time teaching me math and literature. Ugh.
[This tree, that tree... Really, Sirius reflects, pensively, all trees look more or less the same. Perhaps there are some distinctive knotholes to a few, but mostly they are the same. At least the Gardens is more cheerful than the Forest. Being somewhat lost in here is nearly a holiday, as opposed to the hunted feeling of wandering around the Forbidden Forest in the dark.]
You don't choose an animal, actually, it just sort of--happens. I mean, it's determined by who you are, not by what you want to be. And yeah, I'm a dog--but I'm also myself at the same time. It's all just less complex.
[He snorts when she starts in on school, and shoves aside a branch in their path.]
I dunno--school is school, innit. We have classes--transfiguration, charms, potions, history of magic, herbology, defence against the Dark Arts--those are the ones you start with, and then you add to 'em as you go on, depending on what you want to do. And there's exams and all as well--but we don't have to learn anything like maths. Disgusting. No wonder you're a horrible student, you haven't got anything fun to do.
[He glances back at her, with a little grin.]
Besides, y'know. Pretend to be everyone you meet. When did you work out that you could be anyone you wanted, anyway?
[ she almost asks more about the dog side of him, but- he's already answered those questions. sort of. it's determined by who you are. and what she saw of his puppy side, whether he'd ever admit it or not, was playful and sweet and really, really loved being shown affection. and that was pulled from only about fifteen minutes of running around with him. so she can't very well just ask him about that, can she? it's like getting to peek behind layers and layers of a person to see what they're really like at the core, and then going 'so tell me more'. so no, she won't be telling anyone Sirius' secret, and now she has a good reason why.
but anyway. ]
I've known since.. forever, feels like. My mutation didn't kick in until I was a few years old, but once it did I could shift pretty effortlessly. Sorta had to. [ but the whole.. learning because she was afraid of being rejected by society thing is not fun to talk about SO ] Though I don't make a habit of pretending to be people I meet, thank you very much. It tends to make things awkward when I know what someone looks like without their clothes on when they haven't shown me themselves. [ EHEH. her turn to grin. ] And before you say anything, I only shifted into you for about ten seconds, and it was just to show Remus what I could do over the network. There was no peeking under the jumpsuit, I assure you. And not just because you caught us mid-conversation.
[There's a slight bend in the rough path that they're following, and Sirius guides them along it without batting an eye--though he's trying to remember if they'd taken a bend in whatever path they'd used; it's difficult to sort out dog memories. In any case, he's still listening--
And definitely listening enough so that he begins to grin the minute she begins talking about without clothes on, thanks. He raises his eyebrows at her.]
What, not even a little peeking? Wouldn't have blamed you--you can be honest with me-- [Although it is a little weird. Not bad, necessarily, not bad at all, just strange to consider--and they're sure to move on to topics both serious and interesting in just a moment, but Sirius lingers a moment looooonger here, raising his eyebrows still more.] I mean, ten seconds, that's enough time for a glance, at least.
[ honestly! human bodies are sort of.. not all that mysterious, for her. she can look like anyone! any size or shape. and it's as simple as changing her clothes. ..not that she'll put it that way. and of course she went through a phase of curiosity, looking just to look, but. yeah. not that fun! ]
Especially when I'm sure it would take very little convincing if, at any point, I wanted to get a look at the real deal. [ look, it.. doesn't seem so forward. she walks around without her jumpsuit all the time! bodies are just bodies!! ] You don't strike me as the type to keep yourself covered up if the situation allows the, ah. Freedom.
[Right, that gets a laugh out of him. Not that it's hard to make Sirius laugh, but some are more genuine than others, and this one is definitely genuine.]
Ooh, you caught me. How did you know! [And taking this a little further, he adds:] Now, if you want any Remus bits, you'd have to shift into him. It's the only way you'd ever get anything.
[AND YOU DO WANT TO SEE REMUS BITS, DON'T YOU, but he doesn't add that. He only grins.]
[ it takes every ounce of self control not to a) argue that in the favor of 'I'm sure I could convince him' and b) scratch at her scar. wow, she's going to make that association all the time now, isn't she? Remus, scar. Scar, Remus. hn. ]
Nah, I wouldn't do that. That would take the fun out of the challenge, wouldn't it? [ is she kidding? who knows ]
Though the real question here is... why would you bring up Remus when I'm suggesting I might just ask to see you in the buff? [ uhoh. UHOH. girlish mind games!? say it ain't so!! ]
[But Sirius has got this one! While it's true that there might be some... lingering something... not feelings (because Sirius Black does not get feelings), but something, something more vague like thoughts or curiosity or interest for interest's sake (because come on she's fit and interesting and he would still snog her) (they're friends but he can admit that) (in his head at least)--
So but okay there might be something there. But above and beyond is his loyalty to one Remus John "Pathetic With Girls" Lupin. And this might be the worst time to start shoehorning him into the conversation, or at least not an ideal time, buuuuut....
He clasps his hands to his chest, with a huge sigh.]
Because, miss. If I can't have him, I must see him happy. I must see him satisfied. I must know that he's at least gotten somewhere, had some sort of-- interest or satisfaction or, well, we could stray to euphemisms but let's not for now--some something, and then I can die happy.
But you mustn't tell him. He has no idea of the, the depths of my feelings for him.
[And then, more normally, as he drops his hands to his pockets again:] Besides, you just said, you like a challenge. I'm no challenge, I'm easy. I'll take my trousers off for you right here if you'd like.
she's sideglancing a tiny bit, not all that suspicious, but enough to be noticeable. after what happened with Remus and his mask, it almost feels wrong to think of him in a.. lighter sense? like she can't just yet. need to patch things up first. but it's easy to let that worry slide when he's talking about seeing Remus happy even though he can't give him that happiness himself.
before he finishes that last bit, she's already skipping ahead a few steps, just so she can cut him off in his tracks, a goofy smile on her face ]
Maybe I like a guy that'll take his trousers off for me in the middle of the jungle. [ she gives him a look, but it's not all that serious, even if there is a part of her that likes that kind of forwardness in a person. ..okay maybe not dropping-trou-at-random forward, but confidence. adventurous. boldness. willingness to be a little crazy for a laugh. though she's really just saying it to say it, because maybe there is something there and it would be stupid to just ignore it ] Though you should tell Remus how you feel about him. I won't take him from you, you know, I'm not that kind of girl.
[He stops in his tracks when she darts in front of him, arching an eyebrow at her. In a game of dare and double-dare, Sirius Black knows no match or equal, and--slowly--he puts his hands on his hips, regarding her with an air of challenge.
(This is probably wrong. She might be a werewolf--Merlin's beard, she might be a werewolf that Remus turned, so playing these sorts of games, right now?--absolutely wrong. Definitely. But also-- amusing? And a distraction. And they need distractions right now, absolutely they do, so--)
So. Yeah. And it's definitely wrong, too, by the way, Mr. Black, you horrible little man, to even be thinking well if there's something here we might as well move past it because Remus fancies her. You don't snipe your best mate, you just don't. Actually, well, Remus probably fancies her. And he's just bitten her, and-- and, Merlin's saggy y-fronts but this is stupid and confusing.]
Oh, I've made clear to him my feelings. He just can't see it. He need someone abrupt, y'know, someone willing to suggest it to him, and me--
[He scratches idly at his hip, which consequently has his hand all the closer to the taking-trousers-off-in-the-middle-of-the-jungle stage.]
I'm so modest and retiring. It would never work. It has to be someone else, so that's my life's work. That and casual nudity.
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But dogs can't talk, and he wants to talk, and he can switch back later and play some more; come on-- and so, finally, he shifts back. The reverse of the transformation is like sneezing backwards--not painful, not precisely, just weird and definitely unnatural, as every bit of him remembers that it's meant to be more complex--
But, finally, there he is, in clothes and everything, and after making sure everything is straightened out, he comes out from behind the tree, rubbing at his jaw. Merlin, but his mouth always tastes terrible after being a dog, no matter if he's eaten anything at all--]
Blrurk. Hullo. Yeah, so-- there y'are. [And it's sort of weird that she knows--she's not the weirdness in that equation, it's just weird to have anyone who isn't a Marauder knowing. And there's plenty of people aboard this ship who now know, and here's one more. Weird.] Ta-dah.
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That was amazing! Really. SO groovy. [ she'll even clap ] Could you understand what I was saying? I forgot to ask before you changed.
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Some of it--I understand some of it. But I can't do anything about it. S' like-- being in a dog's head, but you're just along for the ride, and the dog is incredibly loud. Everything else sort of gets drowned out.
Thanks for the kisses, though.
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They were kisses for the puppy! It's not like- Hn. You were being very sweet, and it felt like a perfectly normal thing to do at the time. [ just shush up, yeah. good idea, Darkholme ]
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[He heaves a pained sigh.]
S'ppose that means I'll just have to go around as Padfoot more often.
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but only for a second.
she gives him a loud kiss on the cheek, then steps back again, nodding just once. ]
There! Now you and the puppy are both even.
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Yes. Yes, I think that will do nicely, if only in the interest of--y'know. Complete and total fairness.
[Right! Moving on! Briskly--but still grinning, still with a hint of accomplishment so she doesn't quickly forget that she's just kissed him (which is perhaps a little cruel, but it's just a joke!)--he claps his hands together.]
Well, so there y'are, then. That's Padfoot--that's what we call him. Er, that is to say, me, when I'm him. And it's a secret, by the way, so don't go telling everyone.
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[Too many Siriuses and he starts getting really confused--and that is distinctly unpleasant, being confused as a dog. It makes everything murky and wonky.
But at her question, he examines their surroundings with some interest. A beat, and he concludes, cheerfully:]
Not sure! How d'you feel about being a little lost, Raven?
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Being lost in Bug City?! ..Jungle Bug City..? Whatever? I have mixed feelings. [ SHE CAN'T PUNCH BUGS. SHE'S USELESS AGAINST THEM ;; and now she's nervous. kind of. in that weird way that people get around bugs. like you know it's dumb, but you're still scared. ] I'm sure we can find the path I ran in on. Maybe. Back that way? Sirius. [ now there's nervous laughter because she has a seriously bad sense of direction ]
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Don't fret, miss. It's an adventure. We'll be lost for about thirty seconds--five minutes at the utmost--and we'll have a really good time while doing it, now take a deep breath and come on with me.
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[Still totally casual and chill, he slips his arm through hers and pulls it close, firmly locking her into place. There! Safe from bugs!]
But I'm English, miss, and that means I'm brilliant at everything. Except cooking. Oh, look, hullo, there's a path just there. Let's go down it.
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So... how'd you learn how to turn into a dog? Is that something every wizard can do?
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Nah--turning into a dog, that's an Animagus. S' not like your bit--I can only turn into a dog, nothing else--but I can stay transformed for as long as I like, though things tend to get a bit weird when I do. Mentally speaking. It's a tricky bit of spellwork--my mate James and I worked it out in fifth year, so we could hang around with Remus when he was transformed.
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[ yeah, she's really just rambling as they walk along the path, rambling like she always does when it comes to abilities, and MAGIC now, and mutations and anything like that. she's sure it's an annoying trait to throw around with someone that doesn't have any of those things, but, well. Sirius does. which is why she's just going to carry on ]
Tell me more about magic! Like... School. Do you just do spells all day long? And get quizzed on it? I can't even imagine how much fun school is for you. And I am the worst student in the world, my brother had an awful time teaching me math and literature. Ugh.
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You don't choose an animal, actually, it just sort of--happens. I mean, it's determined by who you are, not by what you want to be. And yeah, I'm a dog--but I'm also myself at the same time. It's all just less complex.
[He snorts when she starts in on school, and shoves aside a branch in their path.]
I dunno--school is school, innit. We have classes--transfiguration, charms, potions, history of magic, herbology, defence against the Dark Arts--those are the ones you start with, and then you add to 'em as you go on, depending on what you want to do. And there's exams and all as well--but we don't have to learn anything like maths. Disgusting. No wonder you're a horrible student, you haven't got anything fun to do.
[He glances back at her, with a little grin.]
Besides, y'know. Pretend to be everyone you meet. When did you work out that you could be anyone you wanted, anyway?
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but anyway. ]
I've known since.. forever, feels like. My mutation didn't kick in until I was a few years old, but once it did I could shift pretty effortlessly. Sorta had to. [ but the whole.. learning because she was afraid of being rejected by society thing is not fun to talk about SO ] Though I don't make a habit of pretending to be people I meet, thank you very much. It tends to make things awkward when I know what someone looks like without their clothes on when they haven't shown me themselves. [ EHEH. her turn to grin. ] And before you say anything, I only shifted into you for about ten seconds, and it was just to show Remus what I could do over the network. There was no peeking under the jumpsuit, I assure you. And not just because you caught us mid-conversation.
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And definitely listening enough so that he begins to grin the minute she begins talking about without clothes on, thanks. He raises his eyebrows at her.]
What, not even a little peeking? Wouldn't have blamed you--you can be honest with me-- [Although it is a little weird. Not bad, necessarily, not bad at all, just strange to consider--and they're sure to move on to topics both serious and interesting in just a moment, but Sirius lingers a moment looooonger here, raising his eyebrows still more.] I mean, ten seconds, that's enough time for a glance, at least.
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[ honestly! human bodies are sort of.. not all that mysterious, for her. she can look like anyone! any size or shape. and it's as simple as changing her clothes. ..not that she'll put it that way. and of course she went through a phase of curiosity, looking just to look, but. yeah. not that fun! ]
Especially when I'm sure it would take very little convincing if, at any point, I wanted to get a look at the real deal. [ look, it.. doesn't seem so forward. she walks around without her jumpsuit all the time! bodies are just bodies!! ] You don't strike me as the type to keep yourself covered up if the situation allows the, ah. Freedom.
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Ooh, you caught me. How did you know! [And taking this a little further, he adds:] Now, if you want any Remus bits, you'd have to shift into him. It's the only way you'd ever get anything.
[AND YOU DO WANT TO SEE REMUS BITS, DON'T YOU, but he doesn't add that. He only grins.]
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Nah, I wouldn't do that. That would take the fun out of the challenge, wouldn't it? [ is she kidding? who knows ]
Though the real question here is... why would you bring up Remus when I'm suggesting I might just ask to see you in the buff? [ uhoh. UHOH. girlish mind games!? say it ain't so!! ]
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So but okay there might be something there. But above and beyond is his loyalty to one Remus John "Pathetic With Girls" Lupin. And this might be the worst time to start shoehorning him into the conversation, or at least not an ideal time, buuuuut....
He clasps his hands to his chest, with a huge sigh.]
Because, miss. If I can't have him, I must see him happy. I must see him satisfied. I must know that he's at least gotten somewhere, had some sort of-- interest or satisfaction or, well, we could stray to euphemisms but let's not for now--some something, and then I can die happy.
But you mustn't tell him. He has no idea of the, the depths of my feelings for him.
[And then, more normally, as he drops his hands to his pockets again:] Besides, you just said, you like a challenge. I'm no challenge, I'm easy. I'll take my trousers off for you right here if you'd like.
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she's sideglancing a tiny bit, not all that suspicious, but enough to be noticeable. after what happened with Remus and his mask, it almost feels wrong to think of him in a.. lighter sense? like she can't just yet. need to patch things up first. but it's easy to let that worry slide when he's talking about seeing Remus happy even though he can't give him that happiness himself.
before he finishes that last bit, she's already skipping ahead a few steps, just so she can cut him off in his tracks, a goofy smile on her face ]
Maybe I like a guy that'll take his trousers off for me in the middle of the jungle. [ she gives him a look, but it's not all that serious, even if there is a part of her that likes that kind of forwardness in a person. ..okay maybe not dropping-trou-at-random forward, but confidence. adventurous. boldness. willingness to be a little crazy for a laugh. though she's really just saying it to say it, because maybe there is something there and it would be stupid to just ignore it ] Though you should tell Remus how you feel about him. I won't take him from you, you know, I'm not that kind of girl.
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(This is probably wrong. She might be a werewolf--Merlin's beard, she might be a werewolf that Remus turned, so playing these sorts of games, right now?--absolutely wrong. Definitely. But also-- amusing? And a distraction. And they need distractions right now, absolutely they do, so--)
So. Yeah. And it's definitely wrong, too, by the way, Mr. Black, you horrible little man, to even be thinking well if there's something here we might as well move past it because Remus fancies her. You don't snipe your best mate, you just don't. Actually, well, Remus probably fancies her. And he's just bitten her, and-- and, Merlin's saggy y-fronts but this is stupid and confusing.]
Oh, I've made clear to him my feelings. He just can't see it. He need someone abrupt, y'know, someone willing to suggest it to him, and me--
[He scratches idly at his hip, which consequently has his hand all the closer to the taking-trousers-off-in-the-middle-of-the-jungle stage.]
I'm so modest and retiring. It would never work. It has to be someone else, so that's my life's work. That and casual nudity.
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