086.

[hexuality]

So it's Halloween and there's a party—to what, help us forgive and forget the whole circus mess? As if we're so easily pleased.

Besides, I haven't got a date and only last year's costume in my closet. That's not very good at all, is it?

Comments

action ][

[hexuality]

[She frowns. "Some time."]

How long?

action ][

[aperfectthird]

I don't know. They won't tell me when they're going to let me out. I keep telling them I have a shop I need to get back to, but no one listens.

action ][

[hexuality]

For Merlin's sake, Percy. I'll do it, I've helped the twins manage it before and I've helped you, too.

[She smiles, pats his hand.]

I promise I won't set the fireworks off.

action ][

[aperfectthird]

[He frowns at her.]

You're already doing too much. You can't do this, too.

action ][

[hexuality]

Maybe I like the distraction, hm?

action ][

[aperfectthird]

No.

[He tries to shake his head, but the movement makes him dizzy.]

It'll be too much.

action ][

[hexuality]

I think I can decide what's too much for me, you berk.

action ][

[aperfectthird]

'm not being a berk. I know how much work it takes to keep the shop open.

action ][

[hexuality]

So do I, and I know I'm in much better shape to handle it than you are right now.

action ][

[aperfectthird]

The shop's closed right now. Didn't - get a chance to re-open it. I think it ought to - stay closed until we hire help.

action ][

[hexuality]

Sounds fair enough.

[She smiles quietly.]

Promise you won't worry about it while you're here?

action ][

[aperfectthird]

I'll try. I can't make any promises, though.

[although with the number of painkillers he's on, he won't be worrying about much for a while.]

action ][

[hexuality]

I know.

[She looks around the room.]

Look, you've got a television in here. You can watch some movies, I bet you haven't seen a lot.

action ][

[aperfectthird]

[He reaches for the bedside table, winces, then reaches again, hand closing around a relatively basic remote control, which he shows to Ginny.]

The nurse said I could use this to control it. I haven't figured out how to use it.

action ][

[hexuality]

[She hides a smile and takes the remote from him, marveling that she's actually going to show her brother how to work something she's now deemed fairly basic as far as Muggle inventions go.]

You've never used the one in our flat? Alright, here— [She points to the topmost button in green.] That's to turn it on and off. These are for changing the channels, that is, to switch from show to show. So you see they've got people dancing on this one... [And she starts flipping through them.] But here it's some people in a courtroom and that's some animal thing and... well, you get the idea. Volume control is right here.

Think you can manage?

action ][

[aperfectthird]

Maybe.

[He peers dubiously at the remote, running his thumb over the buttons. But he presses the button Ginny said would change the 'channel,' and looks a bit startled when he succeeds.]

Oh! That's rather clever, isn't it?

action ][

[hexuality]

[She starts laughing, the sound warm and bright in the too-sterile room.]

Have I utterly ruined you now with this introduction to the TV?

action ][

[aperfectthird]

No.

[Maybe.]

I suppose it might have its use when my head hurts too much to read.