cause london is drowning

[wolfymcwolf]

Who: Remus and Marlene
What: Two nerds in a music shop idk we'll see
When: September 4, 1980
Where: A music shop in muggle London
Warning: None??

With the full moon over, Remus has taken a few hours' break from putting in job applications to browse through the selection at a muggle record shop not far from his flat.

More specifically, he's looking to replace some records that have gone "missing" after the latest Ministry surprise inspection of his flat. It always seems to occur when he's not home, annoyingly enough, and with the right sanction, the inspectors can just let themselves in, him only the wiser for it when he gets a notice later.

He really needs to get in the practice of hiding the things he wants to keep. Never mind it's his own bloody flat, where he lives alone, and he should be able to safely keep his own things out in the open there...

He's already found copies of a few of the ones he'd "lost", and now he was just browsing, his selections tucked under an arm. He should really bring Sirius here sometime, the records were second-hand but the variety was far more eclectic because of that.

Comments

[likedietrich]

Despite the curfew - and Merlin be damned, she hates the curfew - there are some advantages to being halfblooded. The pureblood witches and wizards she knows even the ones who weren't relatively heinous, didn't know how to function in the Muggle world. A lot of them have no interest in trying, but it means that she can slip into Muggle London on occasion and breathe.

It also means she can rifle through used records looking for The Clash, her head bent when someone brushes against her, causing her to look up suddenly. Right across at Remus Lupin, who's frowning down at David Bowie like he did something wrong.

"Well," she says, a bit of Scotland in her dry tone. "Of all the gin joints in all the world," and that's the other advantage in their mutual position. The two of them, at least, both know what she's quoting. Half of Diagon Alley doesn't really understand the concept of a movie at all.

[wolfymcwolf]

Remus has felt ashamed of many things in his relatively short life, but never his blood status, despite the wizarding world's best efforts. Never the fact that his mum is a muggle. He's proud of it, if anything, of his ability to fit in with wizards and muggles with relative ease. All the more art to enjoy, be it in the form of novels, music, or, yes, movies.

He hadn't even seen Marlene, and was about to mutter an apology for bumping into her when she spoke and drew his attention fully. Instead he breathes out a short laugh, straightening with a smile that only looks sort of tired; the worst of the effect of the full moon is past, but Remus always looks some level of tired.

"I should be the one saying that, this place isn't but a few blocks from mine. You managed to get away for the day, I see."

[likedietrich]

Marlene has been less ashamed than angry in her life, and most of that anger addressed at Josie McKinnon for leaving - even if, as an adult, she gets that Mum was leaving Da, not them. It's been Marlene's choice up until recently to not have much to do with the woman, but she's in London now, and that's where her mum's lived since Marlene first went to Hogwarts. It seems extra petty to avoid it all now.

"My mum's not far from here," she says. It's not the best of neighborhoods, but it's where the Smythes have always been. "We had awkward dinner tonight, so I'm decompressing with punk." As you do.

[wolfymcwolf]

Remus nods in understanding; he’s not overly informed of Marlene’s family life, but he’s at least picked up that relationships with her mother are strained. Awkward dinner is enough of a hint in itself. "That’s a good way to do it."

When was the last time he had dinner with his parents? It’s been a while, he’s been busy trying to stay in a job... Well, now he feels like a bad son.

"Actually, I meant to ask-- I recommended your shop to a young woman by name of Hermione. Did she stop by?" He needed to get back in contact with her-- and Ron-- and apologize for his impatience the day he’d run into them. It’d just been bad timing. Besides that, he was curious what she thought of the situation with the Displaced, and this seemed as good a way to start that conversation as any.

[likedietrich]

It's natural, her da tells her, for them to be less close now that she's launched into the world. Of course, she runs one of his shops - so they're in communication by owl or m.i.a.v.i. much of the time. And the twins are still at Hogwarts; they'd dragged her round Diagon just a few weeks before to get the supplies they'd needed for their sixth year. All that keeps her in closer contact with her family.

"She's been by," she says after a moment, looking up with a mischievous look. "Professor Lupin." The future's an odd place, from what she can tell, but it's not so hard to imagine Remus as a professor. It would suit him.

[wolfymcwolf]

The look she gave him should have been enough of a hint, but he sighs in slight exasperation anyway. "Don't tell Sirius, he'll never let me hear the end of it and I'm trying to put that off as long as I can." It's actually not so hard for himself to imagine either, except for the obvious roadblock. "I actually ran into a friend of hers later that same day. Hopefully he managed to find her. Was she doing alright?"

It may be muggle London, but he still couches his words to make the intention seem innocuous. Concern for someone he'd met who'd needed a little help. "I thought you would be... understanding of her situation." He smiles, as innocuous as his tone. "And I do try to make a point of supporting my friend's businesses."

[likedietrich]

"Well, it's not as if Sirius has the responsibility to be a professor of anything. Maybe Care of Magical Creatures." Although, scratch that, that's a vaguely terrifying thought. He'd probably bring in dragons. As for that obvious roadblock, well. She fully expects Dumbledore is the headmaster even in the future, and if that's the case it isn't as much a roadblock as one might expect.

"So far she's one of the calmest people I've met." She follows Remus' lead, trusting he knows she means of the Displaced. "There have been plenty who seem to have escaped from bad spots. She's got a keen interest in history, it seems. I might need to expand that section."

[wolfymcwolf]

"Sirius should never be trusted with the power to give and take House points." Remus chuckles, shaking his head. Sadly, the headmaster isn't so much the problem, given that the roadblock in question is public knowledge. Remus could very easily have not been permitted a proper magical education- he would not have parents denying their children that because of him.

He's unsurprised that that was what she'd been interested in, of course. "I expect it'll be a more popular area of study than usual, considering. It's my understanding she doesn't have any family she could stay with." That is to circumspectly say, she's muggleborn. "Hopefully she's found somewhere."

His gaze shifts to the register, thoughtful. "Do you have time for a chat? I don't want to keep you from anything, it's only been a bit."

[likedietrich]

"Right? Lord, er, Merlin. Imagine. It's enough to make one feel bad for anyone not Gryffindor." It takes her a few minutes after she sees her mother to readjust the language, so to speak.

She still thinks it's a waste, people's fear of werewolves. Remus would be a brilliant teacher, and if there's anything the kids coming up need it's that. Especially in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It reminds her of something she'd talked to Hermione about, and she glances up at Remus again.

"She seems like she'll land on her feet." She has a strong suspicion that Hermione will whip Sirius and James into shape, actually. "I've got time before curfew," she adds, tucking a Prince album under one arm. "If we run out, I'll just use your couch."

Look, Remus, she's not asking.

[wolfymcwolf]

Remus smiles in amusement at the switch. It's always seemed strange to him that the two must be so separate, at least when one is amongst other magical folk. Among muggles, it makes sense, if only because of the Statute, but it shouldn't feel as strange as it does to use muggle epithets with each other, especially when they both have a muggle parent.

There are other, far more dangerous things Remus has to keep mentally separated. It just doesn't seem nearly as important, especially when they're in muggle London.

"She certainly does." His conversation with Hermione had been brief, and James and Sirius are apparently quite terrible at keeping him updated as to the variety of displaced now living in their house, but he can only wish Hermione the best in dealing with the particular brand of nonsense that comes with cohabiting with Sirius Black and James Potter. He'd done it for seven years.

Look, he offered. But if Marlene thinks he won't insist on her taking the bed and him on the couch if it comes to that, well. She'd learn otherwise. His flat is private, so long as no Ministry officials from the DRCMC decide now's a good time for a surprise inspection. "Very well. Shall we?"

He'd budgeted for the records, but not for a guest. Though, since Marlene had already eaten, it wasn't as though he needed to provide dinner. It'd be fine, he told himself. It'd be fine.

[likedietrich]

She's not expecting cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, frankly. She's better off than Remus is; the McKinnons have a successful business and have for generations, but they aren't wealthy. They do just fine. She doesn't generally hurt for money, but she's also not going out and buying velvet robes any time soon. All of this is mostly to say that she's not exactly going to be expecting opulence; it's not where she lives either.

It is going to be fine, Remus.

She buys her Bowie and tucks it in her tote as they step out into the slightly chilled September night air, and she looks up - and yes, even further up - at Remus. "Got something on your mind?" She asks quietly as they get away from the crowded streets and onto the side lanes with more houses and flats.