unbreakableflxwer:

     Her eyes widened as she softly elbowed him, “the courts would NEVER believe you if that was the reason you filed, you ponce.” Lily laughed because they both knew that she’d never do anything she didn’t want to – but let’s face it, the more she got to know him, the more she wondered how she didn’t love him earlier. “She’d walk away from you if you ever told you that. Like she did. Many times,” she teased, relaxing into him further. Yes, he’d been an asshole ( she’d matched it multiple times ) but she wondered how she couldn’t see they were perfect compliments of each other. How they were alike but different in the ways that helped the other think, be better, grow. 

       “That makes sense, though the real die hard quidditch fans will be there to at least chat with their favorite employee,” Lily shifted her body, half facing him as she turned to get better look of his face. Tired. As it’d been for months, but even more so like he was carrying everything, the weight of the world, their lives, their futures, this friends, his parents death. “You need a good nights sleep too, it looks like, but you’re right – – DASHINGLY GOOD LOOKING still.” A pause. “It was a good day, it was calm. I got to bring some lunch to Mary. That nausea’s been on and off, I figured it was ‘cause all of the missions we’ve gone on, just e v e r y t h i n g out of balance, and I stopped throwing up, but it’s been triggered by some headaches? Plus, I’ve eaten some strange shit lately.” Lily stuttered out, wondering why she was so twisted and attributing it to the war, the political climate – it had to be. 

     Taking a deep breath, letting it out, she continued, “I think I’m just tired, my mum would tell me I needed to take care of myself. Rest. But it doesn’t seem like a possibility, does it?”

  He let out a soft laugh. “The muggle ones maybe not, but the wizarding ones ... hmm. You know how the Ministry is,” he said. It was MEANT to be a light statement ( because making everything heavy would make him go mad ), but there was a hint of bitterness there. “It’s a good thing she has a nice arse, otherwise there’d be nothing good about her walking away.” He felt at peace, then, with the girl he loved in his arms and everything put on pause for a slight moment. To love this deeply was dangerous, sure, but it was worth it; after all, this was what James figured heaven was.

   “Oh, you’d be surprised. I don’t think it’s just the weather, that’s been keeping them away, but you know,” James murmured, figuring that Lily knew, too. They worked in the same street, after all, probably faced the same problems; less customers, less chit-chat with those who showed up, a lot of quiet hours spent doing useless things because sales were down. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll catch up over the weekend, yeah? PROMISE.” He played with her hair, still, letting the strands dance between his fingers. “How’s she doing?,” he wondered. James took a moment to reply to the rest of her words, thinking. It couldn’t be, could it? He had a tendency to jump to conclusions, to make dangerous assumptions. “Maybe you should take a few days off?” he wondered, shaking off the thoughts that had entered his mind. It took only a second for them to return, desperate to be HEARD.

   “Do you think ---?,” he began, not finishing his sentence. James sat up a little, looking her in the eyes. “No, right? Couldn’t be.” A pause. “Never mind. But you should rest -- really. It sounds like a bad case of the flu or something, and you’d better ... rest now, before you get worse.”

daenax:

     “ james ” her tone filled with a warning as amused smile plays on her lips “ i don’t need to nor do i want to hear about yours and lily’s odd kinks. ”

“Good god, woman, you have a WILD imagination,” he said, scrunching his face up. “How would that even work, in the bedroom? Jeez.”

mrymcdnldx:

“As are about… oh, ninety five percent of the other things that I do on a daily basis.” A reality she had long ago come to terms with. “That… is true, yes. Perhaps that’ll just be my punishment. Not so much being locked up, but being locked up with you,” she teased, smile betraying her words.

“Oh, no, are you saying I’m around a criminal?,” he wondered, pretending to be shocked. “I might have to call the authorities on you --- please don’t hurt me!” He laughed, then. “Oh, please, you would love it. I make good jokes and I’ve got the best hair around. I don’t see how I could be a bad cellmate.”

bravehearting:

“Oh, James, trust me, we know. We all witnessed you pining after Lily like a lovestruck little schoolgirl.”

“If you think you can insult me by pointing out that I’ve been head over heels with Lily, then you’re terribly wrong.”

gretacxtchlxve:

       “It’s a deal then,” she smiled. “I always do enjoy a good competition. Keeps me on my toes.”

“Yeah, yeah, me too. Especially ‘cause I make such a good winner,” he said. “If you’re ever up for any other kind of competitions ... just let me know. I kick ass in many departments, you see.”

inthemeadowes:

She sipped on her drink in silence, the usual smile on her lips - never too wide, always somewhat enigmatic. “Feel free to cut the head open too.” She insisted on not taking him seriously at all. “Let’s do this, doctor. Get the scalpels.” Laughter escaped her lips as she set the bottle on the coffee table and carefully planner her next few words. His words, covered in good intention, bugged something in the back of her mind and to simply ignore him felt wrong.  “Fun fact, one of my brothers is one. He would probably confirm all of this.” A tiny insignificant lie, to balance out the truth about to follow. It was nothing but a personal check, feeding him something about her that was not real, something he might remember in the future, while burying all that was meaningful and honest. She didn’t know why she did it. She’d long stopped wondering. “If you legilimened me, you’d just hear a loop of ‘bitch, what are you doing’, a worrying amount of pyromaniac tendencies, complete disregard for life and safety,” she theatrically counted with her fingers, “constant hunger, 'I should try animagus training again’ coupled with 'what is will to do anything really’, and, of course, stuff exploding in the background. There, just saved you months of training, which you’d OBVIOUSLY go through had I not given you a reply.”

Dorcas Meadowes was unbelievable. Sure, James Potter had met plenty of odd birds in his life -- he married one, after all -- but she was something entirely different. While he was usually good at reading people ( if he tried to look further, at least ), she was someone he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He didn’t quite mind it, though; he supposed she had her reasons. “And damage that hairline? That face? I’m cruel, but not that cruel,” he said. “Really? Like a muggle one, eh? Give him a ring, maybe he can help.” He had let go the desire to try and dig deeper --- at least, a little. Some people were not made to open up, or simply needed a bit more time, and he’d decided to accept that a long time ago. He knew Dorcas well enough to trust and care about her, and that was enough for James Potter ( perhaps he loved too easily; he wasn’t quite sure ). “Whoa. Sounds pretty crowded up there,” he commented, before raising his eyebrows. “Is this you trying to tell me you’re hungry? ‘Cause I’ve got some crisps left, somewhere. And frozen peas. And a lot of biscuits.” He was sincere, offering the food, but his lips were curled in a smirk. “Anyhow, back to your messy brain --- doesn’t that get BLOODY tiring? Especially the explosions and such.”

daenax:

❝ Keep saying shit like that and you’re gonna get punched. ❞

“Oh, but have you not met me? All I do is talk shit, I’m basically the OPPOSITE of a toilet,” exclaims James. “I simply do not know how to stop!”

inthemeadowes:

James seemed to have truly gotten something out of their conversation, and for a moment she somewhat regretted not being in it - but then he was offering beer and she decided to officially forget the matter. “If you insist.” The bottle flew on what she could bet to be a collision course, probably on its way to smash against the wall behind him, but James Potter proved once again that he hadn’t been just a footnote on Hogwarts’ Quidditch history. “Showoff.” She chuckled at him, shaking her head as the other busied himself with his beer and - oh, and with personal questions. Asking if she cared to share was a personal question - in fact, one of the most personal ones possible. Her laughter grew slightly in volume after his question, and she knew that had she been drinking already as well, it wouldn’t have been as pretty. “We both know I don’t do THAT.” Instead, she turned slightly only to point her wand at the fridge and bring out a bottle for herself, all with non-verbal spells. “I have nothing to get out of my chest, Jameson. Does that make me literally heartless? Discuss.” There, a diversion. Topped with a comical name change as well.

James GOT not wanting to open up --- he had seen it with others, did it himself ( but only for a short time; he wasn’t good in holding stuff in, never would be ). He understood it, sure, but he didn’t approve of it. He’d been raised with nothing but support, and there had always been room for him and his emotions, and so he’d learned to be open from a young age --- and while he knew that wasn’t the case for everyone ( most people, actually ), he wished to give others that room if they needed it. Perhaps it was idealistic, but he just hoped it made him a good friend. “I was a legendary Chaser for a reason,” he said, grinning and sipping his beer. He thought for a moment, wondering if he should PUSH Dorcas to open up or go along with her distraction. “Pity. I’d love to know what goes on it that tiny head of yours.” Then, a nod and another sip, before he pretended to think. “Hmm,” began James, drumming his fingers against his ale. “Not literally, but figuratively, YES. I do hope that if I cut open your chest, I’ll find a heart.”

gretacxtchlxve:

        “I’m going to have to try your pie, I can’t simply take your word for it,” she laughed softly. “We will both see, James. We will see.”

“Alright. Consider this a dinner party invitation, then --- bring some dessert and a bottle of red, and you shall taste my heavenly cooking,” said James. “And I will prove to you that I’m a worthy competitor.”

ettalockheart:

          Etta grinned. “Sometimes, non magical things are so handy.” She said with a grin and then did a fake gasp. “Don’t insult the Norwegians, they are great people. I think they do have a point, unless it’s a hurricane, you can dress to protect yourself against the wet and the cold. I’m as snug as a bug in my winter outfit. I’m not cold at all.” She told him with a big grin. “You could also have a drink, then you don’t feel the cold so much.”

          “Now, where are you trying to get to then?”

“Like what? What kinda non-magical thing will keep me properly warm in these DIRE times?,” he wondered. He tried to learn about muggle stuff every chance he got -- and he had many, with Lily on his side -- and if there was some kind of device to keep him warm, he’d want it. “No weather should demand more clothes than the ones I’m wearing. I’ve got more than three layers, that’s insanity!,” he exclaimed, raising mittened hands in the air. “I’m even wearing an itchy jumper.” He let out a laugh, then. “Can’t. Am off to work, and while I can talk about Quidditch supplies in any state, I don’t think my boss would much appreciate it.”

Justice Smith bakes for Teen Vogue

ettalockheart:

Etta saw James and walked up to him, hearing him complain to himself about the weather. “Oh, come on, James, don’t you wizards have some heating up spell?” She asked, feeling quite comfortable in her long winter coat, thick scarf, hat and mittens. “There is a Norwegian saying that says that there is no bad weather, just bad clothing.” She told him.

He shrugged. “Yeah, sure, but it’s a bother to just constantly cast it when you’re tryin’ to get somewhere,” James said, blowing some air on his frozen fingers. “It’s just impractical.” Stuffing his hands in his coat, he let out a bit of a laugh. “That’s a stupid saying. Of course there’s such a thing as bad weather. This is bad weather. And then there’s hurricanes, too --- those are even WORSE!” 

mrymcdnldx:

“Maybe,” Mary remarked, raising her eyebrows defiantly. “I think that eye rolling is a crime of the upmost importance and should be dealt with immediately.”

“Well, I think raising your eyebrows is a crime,” said James, shrugging helplessly. “I guess we’ll both have to go to prison, then. At least we’ll have each other.”

bellatriixblack:

       bellatrix rolled her eyes. this was why she didn’t speak to her former cousin’s little friends. ‘ have you been drinking, potter? i know it’s the middle of the day, but that seems like something you’d do. ‘ 

He wished he could say he felt indifferent around Bellatrix, but there was a hint of caution hiding in the pit of his stomach. Besides that, he felt a whole lot of dislike. “No, no, I’m totally sober. And serious. I mean, isn’t that kinda your thing? Knowing all about muggle stuff?” 

unbreakableflxwer:

     “Please, I don’t need to hold if over your head when that afro does it for me,” she teased, poking his side. Though she loved his hair, truly, she did. “I dunno, definitely not fifth year me. I would’ve thought it was a mistake made in Vegas or something.” Lily nestled into his side, her head resting on his shoulder. “How are YOU doing? How was your day? I know you’ve hated the weather lately but it’s been nice to me. Makes things almost gloomy though, makes things very … eerily still.” Though they both knew the world was practically on fire, moving, shifting, burning. 

    “An afro you love,” he pointed out. “I mean, I hope you do. Otherwise I’ll have to ... file for divorce.” James grinned. “I corrupted you. That’s the only answer. I used my dashingly good looks and sparkling personality and corrupted you into the best decision of your life.” He planted a kiss on the top of her head, lacing her fingers through her hair. “My day was OKAY. The store’s kinda hitting a slump, I think it’s the weather. Which totally sucks. Gloomy and still suck.” The weather was the least of their concerns, of course, but complaining about something so plain was almost a relief. “How was yours?”

gretacxtchlxve:

      “Would Lily even let you in your kitchen,” she asked curiously. “But good luck with that. If it makes you feel any better, you’re a close second.”

    “I’ll have you know that I make a mean shepherd’s pie, actually. I know how to cook,” he said, pretending to be offended. “And one day I will be first. Just you wait.”

dorispvrkiss:

Doris pulled her coat tighter around her, shoulders hunching in an attempt to shield her from the chilly weather, grumbling in agreement. ‘Please take me with you. I’ll pay you. Or cook while we’re there — actually, scratch that, don’t reckon we want to end up with food poisoning. I’ll do — something. I’ll figure it out when we get there?’ she finished, flashing him a hopeful grin.

“Oh, don’t worry ‘bout paying me. Just tag along, invite your pals, we’ll make it a proper trip,” said James, grinning a little. The thought of escaping a little to a warmer land was something good, but laced with a bit of bitterness; it’d be escaping, running away from the conflict. James didn’t run. “And I mean, I can cook. A little. I know my way around vegetables. We’ll find a way to eat good food, I’m sure.”