maryqmac

[maryqmac]

In The Pale Moonlight || Lucy

It was the middle of the night and like usual, Mary was having trouble sleeping. They had managed to doze off for a couple of hours only to wake up screaming in a cold sweat as they were only so used to by that point. It always left her feeling shaken, an itching almost like electricity coursing just beneath her skin, and it would be impossible to get back to sleep in that state. Sighing to theirself, they pulled their tired body out from under the weight of their blanket and stumbled their way through the mess of clothes and art supplies that littered their bedroom floor. There was only one thing that she knew to do with the buzzing electricity coursing through her and after fetching a mug of coffee from the kitchen, she made her way to the entrance hall that doubled as her personal studio. It didn’t take them long to gather their supplies and an easel and soon they were set up out on the courtyard patio, a huge canvas in front of them as they painted. The moon was big and full that night, spilling light bright enough to illuminate their whole workspace for them. The peepers were loud and she could even hear the distant yip of what might be a fox, keeping the atmosphere from falling completely silent, it was a perfect night to be working outside. She let her hands do as they pleased, watching the image slowly work itself out on the canvas as she went, at first looking rather abstract before defining the shapes and silhouettes. They were just beginning to render blood dripping from a set of razor sharp teeth twisting around something fleshy and indistinct when a sudden wailing howl cut through the ambient sound. Mary tensed where she stood, head turned and staring with wide eyes toward the nearby treeline, in the direction she’d heard the sound. There was a rustling in the underbrush. Dropping their paintbrush and palette, they grabbed their wand from their pocket. @lucytalksalot

[maryqmac]

Ivy had, unsurprisingly, found herself lost. Everybody had abandoned her, likely because she was heavily intoxicated and slightly annoying. But she was starting to sober up, being lost in a sea of strangers tended to make her more aware of her surroundings. She found a quieter area with less vendors and people scattered about and decided to camp out there for the time being.

Standing rooted to the spot, her head turned to scan the area around her, wondering if there was a vendor nearby selling chips. It was a food that always helped sober her up. It seemed, though, most things on this side were all arts and crafts stands. But, down at the very end, she spotted Mary MacDonald. Ivy was always interested in causing trouble, and decided to mosey down to her stand to see where things brought her.

“That’s not a very nice way to greet a paying customer.” Ivy scoffed, hands on her hips, “I don’t think you’ll get much business treating people that way.”

Their concentration was shaken the moment they heard that familiar voice. Her eyes lifted from the page to glare at Ivy, disappointed in herself for not having noticed her sooner and allowing her to get so close. “I don’t need business from fascists,” they answered bluntly, dropping their charcoal and brushing their hands off on their knees. She may as well put her sketchbook away now that she had been interrupted by someone she definitely wouldn’t be able to relax and concentrate around anyway. “I wouldn’t want my art to end up with you, anyway.” They closed their sketchbook in their lap and slipped theirself off of their stool, feeling more secure with their feet planted on the ground. There was an itch in her fingertips that wanted desperately to slip into her pocket and wrap around the handle of her wand, or her knife, but she resisted. They were in a public place, they probably wouldn’t need to physically defend theirself. “Is that all?”

[maryqmac]

“What are you drawing?” she asked ignoring the comment about the light, she had been intrigued by the sign and though the art wasn’t exactly something she would get it was still interesting enough, especially since it wasn’t the type of things she expected to see at a quidditch match.

“I’m trying... To draw that tree,” they answered without looking up from the page, sweeping their charcoal across the paper and smudging with their fingertips, shading the trunk and up into the branches. The way she drew the tree made it look more sinister than the tree she was working from did. Finally pausing, they turned to look up at Alexia and repeat theirself, “you’re still in my light- Hm.” Mary recognized most other Slytherin alumni, at least those she’d been in school with. They felt tense. “Were you interested in a piece? All proceeds to St.Mungo’s.” She pointed her charcoal towards the art display.

[maryqmac]

Remus gave them a wider smile as he dropped down in to the chair opposite her. “Thanks” he mumbled as he took a sip of the hot chocolate. A special favourite of his. Remus’ eyes glanced over the sketchbook in front of Mary. He didn’t know that was something they were in to. He was always drawn to anything artistic. Hoping one day to be able to write a novel himself. Though right now that seemed like a far off dream. He had neither the time, nor energy to commit to that kind of project at the moment.

He nodded towards the sketchbook. “You draw?” a curious smile on his face. “May i see?” he took another sip, hoping he wasn’t being too pushy. There was no way he would show anybody the things he’d written in the past. It was too personal. He wouldn’t blame her for having the seem feelings over her own work. He was just genuinely curious. Art in his opinion was of the simple pleasures of the world.

Mary cracked their knuckles before reaching for their own mug, curling both gloved hands around it to take a deep sip of their coffee. Her eyes had been prickling for a while already, maybe when she got home she would try to take a nap. Or start a new painting. They were mid-sip when Remus asked his question, and it took them a moment to blink back to reality. “Hm-? Yes, I do.” Biting their lip, they glanced back down at the half finished piece still open in front of them. Remus wanted to see her art, but this was her private sketchbook. They had been working on feeling less nervous about showing others her work, but the pieces in her personal sketchbook were different even from the gorey horror she had displayed in other places. “Y... Eeess,” she hesitated, then closed the sketchbook with one hand and slid it across the table towards him, “but you should be warned- My aesthetic could be described as brutal and gorey, and this has been a very indulgent sketchbook for me so far.” The most she could do was warn people, if Remus decided it wasn’t his cup of tea or he didn’t want to look at all, that would be fine with her. They watched him blankly, continuing with their coffee. She’d forgotten it for a while and now it was almost cold.

[maryqmac]

Who: @maryqmac Where: Borealis Cafe

Remus was holding his hot chocolate tight in his hand. Enjoying the warmth it brought on the cold morning. His eyes scanned around looking for an empty table when he could sit and read the latest book he’d been recommended. Unfortunately all the tables seemed to taken. Remus was about to give up and read at home instead when his gaze found a familiar face. Remus and Mary had been acquaintances for a while now. He found her an easy person to be around, especially when he wanted a break from the more chaotic nature of some of his friends. He loved them dearly of course, but he sometimes just craved the quiet. “Hey Mary” a soft smile “mind if I join you- it’s err crowded in here today–if you want to be alone, I totally won’t be offended.” Remus didn’t want to assume that just because they got along that she’d want his company right now.

While she was a bit of a homebody and a parlorbody, Mary knew that it was good to get out sometimes if only for the change of perspective, and so they found theirself visiting the cafe that day, hoping for the usual calm and quiet atmosphere. Today however that didn’t seem to be happening, the cafe consistently packed maybe because of the quidditch festivities going on. Despite her efforts to tuck herself as far to the back of the shop as possible and zone out into her work, the noise of the atmosphere around her made it difficult for her to fully relax. Glancing up at the sound of his voice, she was glad for Remus’s sudden presence and she nodded up at him as she spoke. “It would be nice to have something else to focus on, apart from all the noise.“ With a soft sigh, they set down their pencil and sketchbook, letting their hands go idle for the moment. It had been hard to focus on their lining anyway.

[maryqmac]

A quidditch match wasn’t exactly the best setting for Mary to be in, the crowds were too packed and rowdy, the loud atmosphere and constant yelling and screaming from others was too much, but all the same they wanted to contribute to the fundraiser and so they had set up a makeshift kiosk just a little further from the stadium than the other merchants. She’d found an old push cart in the basement and secured some shelving to it on which to display different paintings, a few framed sketches, and signs hung every here or there with big letters warning that the contents of her wares would be gory and horrifying. They sat on a stool immediately beside it with a sketchbook perched on their lap, charcoal in their hands, working on some more candid sketches for anyone who might be interested in a smaller purchase. She was lost in her work, paying no attention for any customers, but when she felt the sudden presence of someone sidling up beside her she muttered without glancing away from her work, “you’re blocking my light.” Their shadow had cast over her drawing, making it harder for her to see her original guide lines.