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[boutant]

[ Ariadne is sitting on the couch, an orange kitten curled up on her lap. Behind her is a man, who seems to be holding a cup of coffee and looking out the window. ]

Well. [ She pauses, rubbing the back of her neck. ] My father's here, but if anyone else would like to say hello or needs anything, I'm still available. He said he'll be going out for a walk in a little bit anyway.

[ As if on cue, the man pulls away from the window and heads for the kitchen. Ariadne watches him go, some of the tension gone when she looks back at the camera. ]

I'm Ariadne. Welcome to the City.

((ooc: Open for fourth walling! Please no telling her she's from a movie. Other than that, go wild~))

Comments

[boutant]

It'll be three months next week. I've been here before, apparently, but I don't remember it. It's strange, having people you've just met inform you that they know what you're going to school for because you helped redesign their shop front.

[ p a u s e ]

... Your children?

[capslockmum]

Weasleys, dear, Weasleys. My youngest has been here for some time, she tells me. Oh, but you don't want to hear about that, do you? Not to worry, I'm certain you'll be home with your family soon enough.

[And she is beaming with confidence about that.]

Now, what is it you go to school for? You had mentioned, I can't help but wonder...

[boutant]

I've been going to school for architecture in Paris for the last five years. I'm due to graduate soon, though since I'm here, well...

Oh-- No, I'd love to here more, if you don't mind. I'm friends with Ginny, and Percy and I work together. And, uh...

[ LONG... AWKWARD... PAUSE... ]

I'm... sort of dating George?

[ This is the most awkward conversation she has ever have. Why, Ariadne. Why did you decide to be honest. ]

[capslockmum]

[She's nodding along, of course, and looks utterly fascinated by her studies and would like to ask after it. But everything derails at the mention of being George's girlfriend (she doesn't even know if George is talking to anyone nowadays back home, much less dating someone, so this is Merlin-sent). Her eyes light up, she leans closer to the camera.]

Dating George? Oh my, are you really? I'm terribly sorry I didn't catch your name, dear, what was it?

[boutant]

[ George is barely talking to anyone now. She doesn't want to bother his mother with that, though -- even though his mother is, perhaps, the one person who should definitely know. At the moment, Ariadne is a little more concerned with how awkward she's currently feeling. ]

It's fine. I'm Ariadne. [ A polite smile. ] It's a pleasure to meet you.

[capslockmum]

Ariadne. Ariadne, what a lovely name. I'm Mrs Weasley, of course, it's lovely to meet George's girlfriend.

[She is DELIGHTED. She isn't even sure her twins had proper girlfriends in school. Bill did, of course, he's always been popular with the ladies. Charlie, too. Even Percy had that lovely Penelope and she's always suspected something behind Ron and Hermione, and of course Ginny has Harry, but the twins...

Oh, this is lovely. Oh, she wants grandchildren.]

Now, how did you two meet?

[boutant]

[ Oh god she keeps putting emphasis on that word. ]

Thank you. I've always been fond of it.

[ Her mother named her, of course -- her father isn't exactly sentimental enough to get attached to old names from mythology -- but she has a feeling Mrs. Weasley is far more interested in, er, other stories she might have to tell.

God help her if she asks where they had their first date. Ariadne can list places they've had sex. Dates? No. Not unless sadly drinking at a bar, watching George getting into a fight, and then having sex in an alley counts as a date.

... Actually, no, that's probably the closest they've come. ]

There was a curse where people were freezing in place. He'd frozen in place at the table, the kettle was going off, and I was trying to find out if he was okay.

[capslockmum]

Well, that was very kind of you, dear, very kind indeed. Though I wouldn't put it past him to let the kettle boil over, not at all, it's a wonder the flat above the shop is still standing some days...

[Oh, but talking about the flat and the shop makes her remember Fred, and she has to pause for a moment to gather herself. Nearly six months it's been, and some days it just hits her out of nowhere, and she knows her children and Arthur are the same. But this, this must mean George is happy, right? And that's all she wants for her family.

She shakes her head a little, smiling again, hand waving absently.]

Oh, look at me, I'm in about ten different places today. But you two are happy, aren't you? My Georgie isn't giving you any trouble?

[boutant]

He said someone else in the cabin caught it before it could, luckily -- or, well, he said that the next day when he wasn't frozen anymore.

[ He'd also said not to ever have that happen to you while Fred was around, but she's not so sure if she should add that. It was shocking enough for the others, after all, and he's only just come back -- and she isn't sure if he'll stay when the weekend is over.

God, she hopes he'll stay when the weekend is over.

But then Molly asks that, and there's a slight fidget before Ariadne forces her hands to pet the kitten instead. ]

I can handle any trouble he tries to give me. I like to hope he's learning that. As for happiness, well... I can't speak for him, of course, and there are always going to be rough patches in any sort of relationship [ another scary word ], but... when it works, I'm happy, and it's enough to keep trying when those patches come around. I'm too stubborn to quit because of a few bad days.

[ Most awkward conversation of her life, and she's blushing and still focusing on petting Biscuit, but she means it. God, that makes it all sound so serious. ]

/sliiiiiides on in here 8)

[feorge]

Mum! Thank Merlin you're here.

[ He's only just gotten back and George is a mess and Gin's in a foul way and Percy's...Percy, so a logical Fred might know it's not the best time for it, but he's hardly one for logic and he's desperate for something to be right. To be normal, and what could be moreso than giving Molly a hard time while having a go at his brother and his lady friend? He's up to no good, and grinning like the devil as he always does (did?), but it's also off. This could be terribly wrong, but he's really not going to think of the consequences. ]

Forget the trouble that unholy twat's given her - you've got to do something about the trouble they've given me!

all her mental keysmashes

[boutant]

[ sdglskhdg-- ]

We haven't given you any trouble!

[ Except, you know, having sex on things that are technically also his. ]

come at me bro. it's on like donkey kong

[feorge]

Oh, haven't you? Shall I make a laundry list, then?

fred you don't even know what donkey kong is

[boutant]

Try me.

true but you know he'd be boss at it!

[feorge]

Should I start from the cabin, the shop, or all the lovely little places in between?

[ Like dark alleys while drunk Imeanwhat ]

well. ... yeah probably.

[boutant]

We didn't do anything at the cabin.

[ Except, you know, makeout. Heavily.

And for the love of god Fred your mother is right there why. ]

8)

[feorge]

If the walls could talk, they'd be screaming. Crying, even. Both. A terrible, boogey mess of horror and mishap.

[boutant]

They would not.

...Besides, he started it.

[feorge]

They would too. Because he started it.

In my bloody storeroom.

[boutant]

First of all, you share the storeroom. Second of all, they wouldn't scream.

[ Pause. ]

Or are you trying to say I'm hideous?

[feorge]

Like a banshee, I tell you. 's fatal.

[ A beat. And then he tries not to laugh.


And fails. ]

[boutant]

[ Well, that backfired.

Waiting...

And waiting... ]

[feorge]

[ Wait just a bit longer.


Juuuust a bit.

Okay. Okay, we're okay. He stops with an airy sigh. ]

Erm, that's - no. No, there's just no saving it now, is there?

[ Back to the laughing. ]

[boutant]

Should I take that as a yes? I'm hurt, you know.

[feorge]

[ He wipes a false tear from his eyes. ]

I hardly think we'd've kept you around this long if the mere sight of you made us ill. We're not quite that masochistic.

[boutant]

You never know.

[ Actually, it's far more likely she's the masochistic one, the way things have gone lately... ]