(no subject)

[aj_crawley]

*Crowley, looking tired, stressed, but vaguely triumphant, slinks back into the bar. From the door leading out to the lake.

He scans the bar, and as an afterthought, crouches down to check under the tables. Not seeming to find what - or who - he's looking for, Crowley settles himself at a table with a good view of the front door*

Comments

[clumsy_auror]

*Tonks meanders over, a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits in her hand. She sets the plate down, nudging it a bit towards Crowley, and munches on a biscuit as she settles herself in a chair.*

Evening, Crowley.

[aj_crawley]

*his hand hovers over the plate, eventually picking out a chocolate digestive*

Evening.

[clumsy_auror]

*She blows across the top of her tea and takes a sip*

Sorry I didn't get a chance to say hello last night. It was -- well, it was a bit nerve-wracking, all around.

[aj_crawley]

*he snorts slightly*

It looked it. If you're ever going to spring your parents on me, I want fair warning.

[clumsy_auror]

*A vaguely guilty expression flits across her face*

Well, it just...they got it in their heads to come, and I had been wanting them to meet him, and I thought maybe it'd be better because he wouldn't have time to get nervous about it, you know?

All things considered, it really went pretty well. Although he did bite Aziraphael's head off fairly badly -- sheer nerves, I think -- and rather put his foot in it with my mum and dad about fifteen seconds into the whole thing. Fortunately, it got better from there.

*Tonks winces slightly, thinking of the way her father let slip her middle name*

Er. Mostly.

[aj_crawley]

*he raises an eyebrow, mouth twitching into a small grin*

Do I want details?

[clumsy_auror]

*she pinches the bridge of her nose*

Parents were introduced to the Bra of Doom. And...yeah.

[aj_crawley]

*he cackles*

Best thing I ever did, getting Bernard to mount that.

[clumsy_auror]

Dad and Mum actually seemed to think it was pretty funny. They're really rather easy going. I'm lucky.

*she grins, picking up another biscuit*

You'll have to meet them next time they're here. Think you and my mum would get along swimmingly.

[aj_crawley]

Well, why not? I am looking forward to blackmailing you with baby pictures, so.

[clumsy_auror]

*airily*

Won't do you any good, I was an adorable baby.

*she grins and takes another sip of tea, lapsing into a thoughtful silence for a moment; when she speaks again, her voice is quiet*



You see who else came in last night?

[aj_crawley]

...I saw.

Kept well clear, myself. Didn't want to accidentally make a... Mobius strip of time or anything.

[clumsy_auror]

I had to make sure it was him. I mean, I knew it was him, but...

*she shakes her head*

And it was. Sirius Black, aged seventeen and three-quarters.

Someone's got a sense of humour, haven't they?

[aj_crawley]

Someone's playing silly buggers, if you ask me.

[clumsy_auror]

That, too.

*she picks at one of her fingernails, not looking at him*

Wasn't sure what to say to him. He found out who I am, and what the bar is, and seemed to believe it well enough, although it was clearly a bit of a shock.

He was just so young, Crowley. So young and so...not worried about anything.

[aj_crawley]

Don't envy whoever decides to tell him what's lying in wait, eh?

[clumsy_auror]

*she bites her lip*

But what if we should tell him? What if it does some good?

I'll owl Dumbledore.

*shaking her head slightly, Tonks cracks a small grin*

Sorry. Just a bit confused, is all. How're things with you? You look tired.

[aj_crawley]

*he shrugs lightly*

Just had... one of those nights last night, you know? Didn't sleep all that well.

[clumsy_auror]

*she nods slowly*

When I left for Mum and Dad's, you seemed a bit nervous about seeing Aziraphael.

How'd that go?

[aj_crawley]

Yeah... that -

Not all that well, really.

[clumsy_auror]

Ah. I see.

*Tonks props her head up on her hand and gazes at him. If he wants to talk about it, he will.*

[aj_crawley]

It's just.

Well, I 'spose it's inevitable. I mean, talk about fundamentally different outlooks.

[clumsy_auror]

I s'pose.

Not exactly a new thing though, is it?

[aj_crawley]

No.

*he shakes his head*

Just kind of tends to pop up and slap you in the face sometimes.

[clumsy_auror]

*she pauses, thinking of her discussion with Bernard earlier in the week about his reasons for helping the Order*

...Yeah. I can imagine.

*studies him for a moment*

What're you going to do?