#Jamie’s shit father

[historicalfictionenthusiast]

If you’re having a bad day I highly recommend picturing Roy Kent kicking the living shit out of James Tartt Sr

[jopzer]

okay. i have finally finished my rewatch and i think i've finally made sense of my thoughts vis a vis ted and jamie's relationship.

i think it's very interesting that the exact moment ted pulls away from being directly involved in jamie's development is when he realizes that what jamie needs is a father. like in season one and arguably the first half of season two he is very hands on in trying to get jamie to realize his potential/the error of his ways but like. things are noticeably different after he sees him and james through the door, and then after wembley they do not really interact again in a meaningful way until mom city. roy literally picks it up as ted sets it down, like. he can't be what jamie needs he doesn't Want to, he can barely even handle what he feels for henry like we see in mom city, he's not picking up a bonus son you know

i really do think it's a very interesting way to handle their relationship specifically. they're so so intertwined in their character arcs and they're constantly setting each other's off but they can't really meet in the middle because ted can't/won't connect with him on that level. they're a son without a father and a father without a son and they can't click into that relationship because ted pulls away from him the minute it becomes clear that's what jamie needs, and we see it come full circle and see why in his monologue during mom city

[the-casbah-way]

you know it’s bad when i’m unironically getting fucking outfit inspiration from father ted

[issdisgrace]

14TH BIRTHDAY

WARNINGS: SEXUAL ASSAULT, smoking, trauma, nightmares, james tartt is a shit father

Leaning on the balcony, I smoke a cigarette, taping to ashes off over the side. I sigh before taking another drag, lost too much in thought. I don’t notice Roy open the balcony door.

“Y/n.” I just hum in response as I look out into the night. 

“Another nightmare.” He asks. I just nod as he wraps his arm over my hunched shoulders.

“You want to talk about it? Your therapist said it would be good, too.”

“Remember how I told you how James would constantly try to get on my mom’s good side after he cheated or did some shit stuff? Well, it was mine and Jamie’s 14th birthday and James did god knows what and wanted to get back on mom’s good side, so he took us out for our birthday. We did all this stuff, then at the end of the night he took us to sex workers to lose our virginities so we could officially become real men. It was one of the most traumatizing night in my whole life. I couldn’t even look at any women without feeling ill. I couldn’t even look at my own mom. My mom, for christ sakes It took so long to be able to look at or be touched by her without feeling sick. I avoided her at all coast, she gave me space which I’m glad she did but when mine and Jamie’s 15th birthday came around. She mentioned our father was going to take us to see the football game for our birthday instead because she had to work. I woke up feeling absolute dread and before our dad came to pick us up, I ended up having such a bad panic attack that I passed out and I had to go to the hospital. Thats when I first met my psychiatrist, and I was urged to talk to him by my mom. I hated the thought of telling anyone, but eventually I told him everything and we worked together for a year and got me back to the point I could look at and talk with women without being sick to my stomach. That was also the year that me and Jamie started to drift apart. I still think he holds a grudge against me for making us miss our birthday that year. We were supposed to go see you play that year. We were both so excited, but I ruined that. I know I shouldn’t feel guilty after all the years and after mending our relationship, but I can’t help it.”

“I’m so sorry.” Roy says, pulling me into him. I slowly let my guard down and cry into his neck as he rubs my back. We stay like that for god knows how long, but eventually Roy leads me back into the house and to bed. We get into bed and he pulls the covers over us before kissing my forehead and I slowly fall asleep in his arms.

I stare up at the ceiling, running what Y/n told me over and over again. I can’t believe a father would do such a thing to his own fucking son. God, if I could get my fucking hands on that fucker, he would be dead. Calm down, Roy, calm down. No need to be going to jail. You can’t help or protect Y/n if you're in jail.

[oh-surprise-its-me]

Jamie’s aftermath of the mental abuse from his dad needs to be talked about more. 

I’m not sure I can explain how hard it is to deprogram yourself, it’s a shocking process, you learn you are so much worse then you think you are.

You have to live with the knowledge that your father helped make you, no matter how much you don’t want that truth, you have to accept that he is forever part of your dna.

It’s brutal.

Going no contact feels so freeing. Then you get the first text that you know you aren’t going to reply to. The guilt you feel is numbing. It’s crushing. You think about that text for the rest of the day. Fuck week even.

I’m still surprised by the writers that they made the choice to put Jamie’s dad in rehab and had Jamie visit.

Frankly I hate it, the whole show I thought he was a narcissist. No I don’t care that he had a drinking problem, he said and did horrific things to his child. You don’t do that. He is irredeemable in my opinion, Christ, Amsterdam? Like we threw that out the window. Stop redeeming his dad in fics.

The switch back and forth of him being around and fabulous to being around and cruel would have greatly impacted Jamie growing up. He would always want to make him happy, never knowing if the thing that made him happy yesterday will today makes for a minefield of a relationship. It’s exhausting.

You end up expecting every relationship to be that then, and when it’s not? You don’t always know how to react.

It’s hard to get your dad out of your head. I’m sure he’s chanting at Jamie on the field in Jamie’s head. Things your dad says to you in anger stick around, especially when they are said with such force that it makes you shutdown.

—

This isn’t very clear and it’s a bit jumbled but I needed to say it. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.

[samwpmarleau]

Anyway James Tartt should rot in hell and making Jamie’s ending be forgiving and reuniting with the man who orchestrated his rape at 14, inflicted an additional decade of child abuse on top of it, and has shown no signs whatsoever of even acknowledging that let alone atoning for it is a horror story, not heartwarming

How is this even a discussion

[yutaspierced]

JAMIE KENT DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO~ JAMIE KENT DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO~ JAMIE KENT DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO~ JAMIE KENT

[stonesandswords]

Sorry, yeah. He’s a living piece of shit.

[le-scenariste]

Thinking about the fact there was a time where Jamie didn't have to unlearn and grow away from everything his father's said/done to him.

I'm sure when he realised he could go pro in soccer and was training with a bunch of other talented kids, he probably thought a bit highly of himself. But it's cuz the way his father treated him as a means to show off without caring for his son's feelings that he became the asshole we were introduced to.

I think, if his father hadn't interfered, yeah he'd probably be a bit full of himself but I don't think he would've bullied Nathan and Sam (and ofc his whole team) nearly as much if at all.

Still probably would've been a lil shit tho. (just not to the same degree)

[whatdourelfeyessee]

JASON SUDEIKIS WE NEED TO HAVE A TALK ABOUT THE EMOTIOMS YOU ARE MAKNG ME EMOTE

[starscelly]

the kids on the stars are so interesting bc they’re being raised by 2-3 pretty normal (as much as an nhl player can be) veterans and then also tyler seguin. like yeah they have a normal dad who teaches them responsibility and professionalism and then also like the mom from mean girls.

[jopzer]

some of the takes on this webbed site. good lord you people will not be seeing the pearly gates

[tuttle-did-it]

If you see the tags, I've seen Father Brown and it's... fine. It's fine. I don't think it's a very good show. And whilst I have nothing against Mark Williams or anyone else in the rest of the cast, no one on that show makes me want to watch any more. I don't care about any of the characters or the world they live in. Father Dowling was a more entertaining show in comparison for me. And generally speaking, cosy mystery shows are not the best tv in the world. It's an engaging lead that you need to pull it off. The rest is window-dressing. If the lead is delightful to watch, and the show even half-way written and directed, you'll have a fun murder mystery show. I have yet to find that here in UK. And forgive me, I just don't think Mark Williams is engaging and fun to watch. So it makes the whole show not enjoyable for me.

I don' felt the same way about Sister Boniface. It's fine. I just done care of I ever e another episode. I stopped enjoying Death In Paradise when Ben Miller left, honestly. I have seen eps every time they do a cast change to see if i enjoy it again. I do not. And the cast is far too young on DiP for what I'm looking for. I want an older detective who potters around the way Fletcher, older Perry or Ben Matlock did. With older guest stars. DiP had a few great older guest stars-- Peter Davison comes to mind as one. But I don't enjoy DiP as a show because I don't enjoy the main characters. I did when Ben was there. He it's not there, now. I try every time they soft-boot with new characters. I haven't found any others I like.

Harry Wild is probably the closest show in UK/IRE that I've seen that fits the bill. Jane Seymour is older, she is engaging, she is fun to watch. I wish her surrounding cast were a bit older as well, but she's fine. It's the closest I've found, here.

Also, as much as I love a lot of UK/IRE tv, my favourite character actors have, by and large, been American. Maybe it's because I primarily watched movies from 20s-50s-- especially in my formative years-- and US-based tv from 1950-1980. So the majority of my favourite character actors were getting older and appearing in these 80s/90s US cosy mystery movies/shows because they had worked with the main lead of the cosy mystery show (who was older).

Hell-- Dame Diana Rigg had her own cosy mystery show for a couple of years. It was fun. It was UK-based. So it can happen. I just haven't seen it happen in many years.

Also, I know ACD and Agatha Christie established the cosy mystery style, but the cast majority of tv shows I have enjoyed of this genre are American. Although I have a LOT to criticise America for (trust me, neither of is have the time or energy for how much I can criticise America for) they took the cosy mystery genre and perfected it-- those of the 80s/90s in particular were a lot of fun. There are a lot majority of UK-based things I prefer far more over US imports. But I have yet to see a UK-based murder mystery show that is as fun to watch as Murder, She Wrote, Matlock, Perry Mason and Columbo. All of our (UK/IRE) best actors had moved to the US in the 70s/ish, anyway. So I still got to see Patty McGoohan on cosy mysteries-- but it was Columbo. Patty Macnee was guest starring on Murder she Wrote several times. He wasn't working here in the UK. By and large, I think the US has done better with this genre -- especially when it comes to dotty older people-- than Britain. Which is hilarious to me on many levels.

(No, I am not talking about all the dozens of MSW/Columbo rip offs such as the Hallmark murder mysteries like Murder, She Baked. Are they cosy murder mysteries with aging guest stars? Sure. Are they remotely watchable? No. Not At all. Unless you are very drunk and making fun of the show instead of watching it to enjoy it.)

I have seen Father Brown. It's not enjoyable to me compared to Father Dowling-- and certainly not in comparison to the giant shoes left by Columbo, Ben Matlock and Jessica Fletcher to fill.

I know Matlock is being rebooted with Kathy Bates. I love Bates. She is delightful. But I'm tired of reboots. Give her any other fucking name. Kathy Bates deserves her own show without being forced to compete with Andy Griffith's shadow.

Same goes for Jamie Lee Curtis. She is rumoured to be doing a reboot if MSW. JLC deserves her own cosy murder show. Forcing her to compete with one of the biggest legends of all time in cosy mystery genre is entirely unfair to JLC and to Angela Lansbury.

Anyway. What I'm asking for is a cosy mystery with an engaging older lead that I want to watch every week. More Cannes Anne wheelchair's and false teeth. Ideally, with a decent writing team. DiP is no longer that for me. Father Brown has never been that for me. Am I glad it fits the bill for other people? Sure. Does it fit what I need? No. Harry Wild is the closest and even that has not entirely satisfied my itch.

You know, it's genuinely sad to me that aging favourite character actors no longer have any fun murder-mystery tv shows to guest-star as murders on.

[zickmonkey]

What if hypothetically for my mom's birthday I bought us a trip to Iceland?

[jvstheworld]

My Ted Lasso Re-watch: S1E10

The Hope That Kills You: Jamie Tartt and his 'dad'

So in my post yesterday I said I wanted to focus on this specifically and that's what I'm doing.

Trigger/Content warning for abuse.

Jamie has suffered abuse from his father since he was a child. Football was the reason he came back into his son's life and his overbearing and controlling ways forced Jamie to be the person he is now. He wanted his dad to stop calling him soft, so he made himself a prick so people would think he is tough. In reality, Jamie was never soft, he was a child, growing up, playing a game that he loved because his mum wanted him to be happy.

In season 1 Jamie is supposed to be 23 years old. His dad showed back up in his life when he showed talent, and used him to brag to people. Because let's face it, James Tartt Snr has not done a damn good thing in his life. His claim to fame is his son. Nothing he has actually done himself, but what Jamie is capable of doing. He didn't show up to support his, we wanted a trophy. He wanted everyone to see him a 'good dad' because Jamie was achieving. And to keep up that appearance, he abused his son. He continued to do so until Jamie fought back in season 2. This time it suck because Jamie had Roy.

For 10+ years, Jamie suffered ridicule, mental, emotional, and physical abuse at the hands of his own father. It caused him to dissociate when he was being yelled at, as we see in this episode and in the episode where Ted shouts at him. While Ted isn't his father and has no intention of hurting him, Jamie's response is to try and protect himself, by shutting down and making himself small. Making himself less of a target. Tartt Snr, in the other hand, wouldn't hesitate to hurt Jamie if it got his point across. In the scene we see in this episode, Jamie already started to dissociate, but Tratt Snr threw the boot to bring Jamie's attention back. But it was very close to hitting Jamie, even if it wasn't his intention. But it doesn't matter if it was his intention or not, he was trying to scare his son into acting a certain way. It's still abuse. And he goes on to shove Jamie's head down, forcefully. It's still abuse.

Now, the thing that people like to discuss is Ted's actions. He saw what went down and left. And Jamie saw that. People like to say that he should have done something to help Jamie. But the what could he have done? Reasonably and honestly, what could Ted have done?

I think people sometimes forget is that if you don't have an exit strategy ready for a victim of abuse, it's not going to help. It will make things worse. Sure, Ted could go in and try to stop what was going on, but Tartt Snr clearly has no problems using violence, and it would get Ted hurt too, because Ted isn't one to fight. And it will then make things worse for Jamie later. When watching the show back, knowing what happens to Coach Beard in 'Beard's Night Out' and he comes across Tartt Snr and his two friends, Beard gets the shit kicked out of him. And he only threw Tartt Snr out of the locker room. For that one small act, Beard got beaten up. You don't think the same or worse could happen to Ted if he walked in?

It's very easy to say, 'Oh, I'd do something if I saw it' but we don't. When we actually see it happen, majority of us freeze up and don't know how to react, because we're in an unfamiliar situation and we don't know how to handle it. We can't say for sure that when Ted was a coach in Kansas that he saw something like this happen. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. If he did, then he might know not to intervene until a way out was planned. If he didn't, then how would he know what to do? But he did what most people, regretfully, would do. He walked away.

That's the sad fact of the world. When abuse happens, people can't act or won't act to help. Because it's not our place, it's not our business. Ted's reaction was normal. And I think that's what annoys a lot of people. Because when we hear about stories of abuse, we think of what could be done. And it's so much easier to do that when you're on the outside looking in. Hindsight is a wonderful if you don't have to go through this. But when actually faced with it, would you really be able to help?

All I'm saying is that Ted's actions are true to life. We wish, as viewers, for him to do more because he's the good guy. But, he's more realistic than we give him credit for. And in that moment he was.

Luckily, Jamie does get away from his 'dad' and manages to start undoing the damage that was done to him. He starts living and playing football for himself again. To make his mum proud of him. And that's amazing. Jamie deserves to be happy and live free from that abuse. His mum got out and is now happily married to a wonderful man who loves to bake. She found her happiness away from her abusive ex (because I would not put it past Tartt Snr to be abusive towards her while they were together). Jamie needs to find his own version of happiness away from his dad. This time with support from the people around him, which eventually becomes the A.F.C Richmond team, but more importantly Roy and Keeley.

Now, that scene in the last episode, I will have more thoughts about when I get there. Because I will have more thoughts about the locker room scene in season 2 and the 'thank you, fuck you' bit when Jamie talks to Ted in season 3. I will talk about it when I get there. For now, this is all I can say. I have no idea if any of this makes sense to anyone but me, feel free to tell me it doesn't and where abouts, ask me questions, leave comments, all that stuff. But right now, at the time of writing, that's where my head is at. So I'll leave it here.

[moonstruckme]

hi, my love! i hope you’re doing okay!

i’d be really interested to see the protectiveness of the marauders and how it plays out in a poly!marauders dynamic. say something happens to r (can be as minor or as severe as you prefer). how would each marauder react and how would their dynamics bounce off each other? would it make the situation better or worse?

I find it funny picturing r attempting to wrangle all three of her boys from throwing hands (especially if it was a mistake or a miscommunication between r and the “offender”) and they’re bouncing off each other and riling themselves up more and she’s just like, ffs I’m so sorry and tries her best to manhandle her three boyfriends away for a stern talking to. Like, thank you guys for protecting me and all that but a) t’was a mistake / miscommunication, and b) i can sort my own shit and will ask if i need back up (Sirius in the back like no need to ask, i’m ready to go bby). Everyone’s like wtf Remus?! because he’s usually the chill one and it’s just a cluserfuck of misplaced angst and fluffy humour.

this might overlap with some other requests you’ve written, so feel free to ignore or tweak as you see fit! no idea if this makes any sense but hope it’s fun to write if you decide to!

Hi lovely! I've done a couple fics with protective marauders before, so I wanted to try something a little different based on your prompt. I had a different vision in my head than how it turned out, but I hope you like it <3

cw: alcohol, sexual assault, violence

poly!marauders x fem!reader ♡ 1.7k words

You’ve been known to be a…somewhat short-fused drunk. It’s not that you’ll get angry with anyone for anything, only that the sort of behavior that you might normally try to ignore, you…don’t. This is usually the behavior of men. 

It’s one of those nights where the club is made up of about forty percent young girls and sixty percent older, eagle-eyed men. You’re glad for your boyfriends, who ward off the other men like a force field around you. You feel lucky to have it and disgusted to need it. 

James’ laughter is loud and bright as you spin him around after he does you. You echo it, pleased at having inspired such a sound. With his large, sturdy build, it’s rare for James to get very drunk, but he’s about where you are now. Which is to say, you’ve been sloppily dancing and giggling with each other for the last hour. 

Remus rolls his eyes fondly when James nearly spins himself out of balance, steadying him with a hand on his back. 

“I’m gonna go take a piss,” Sirius shouts. 

James laughs again, planting a wet kiss on his cheek. “Classy, babe.” 

“Bugger off.” Sirius shoves him playfully into Remus’ chest. 

You dance with them both for a minute longer before leaning in to shout, “Okay if I go get more drinks?” 

Remus eyes you both for a second, but nods. “Alright. I’ll come with you.” 

“No, stay.” You set a hand on his chest. “Don’t let Jamie dance alone. I’ll be right back, yeah?” 

You don’t give him a chance to respond as you head for the bar. It’s crowded, but you’re not about to worm between some middle-aged men to get to the front. You stand up on your toes and wait to catch the bartender’s eye. 

“What’s your name?” Suddenly there’s a warm body pressed up behind yours, hands on your hips. 

Your blood, already warmed by alcohol, turns hot in an instant. You step forward, too quick for the man behind you to follow. Turn to look him in the eyes. 

“Don’t touch me,” you say firmly. 

“Okay.” The man raises his eyebrows at you. He looks nearly old enough to be your father—certainly old enough to be someone’s father—with waxy skin and thinning hair combed over the front of his head. He’s in a suit like he came here from work. “Sorry, relax. I just think you’re beautiful.” 

“I’m here with someone.” Someones, you could say, but you’ve learned it’s easier in some situations to make it sound like you only have one partner, for brevity’s sake. And there’s nothing you desire more than for this interaction to be brief. 

He gives a little laugh. “Don’t take things so seriously, I’m only complimenting you. Do you like to dance?” 

You give him a hard look. “Only with my boyfriend.” 

“You look like you dance.” His eyes skim down your frame, raptorial. “I can tell. You have the body for it.” 

No sooner does his large, meaty hand connect with your ass than you’re grabbing it by the wrist, your free hand balling and aiming for his face. 

His surprised grunt comes in sync with a “Woah!” from behind you. 

You turn to find Remus and James, looking like they’ve just broken through the crowd. James is staring at you with wide eyes. One of the men near you at the bar sets a hand on your shoulder, pulling you away from the creep and forcing you to drop his wrist, but Remus is there in an instant. 

“Oi.” He grabs you, removing the man’s hand and caging you in his arms. “She’s fine.” 

“She hit him!” the man accuses. The guy from before is leaning forward with a hand pressed over his face. 

James is incredulous. “Did you see what he did to her?” 

The other man looks between you like he’s realized he’s missing something, and Remus takes a couple of steps back from the crowd with you in his arms. Meanwhile, your attacker seems to be recovering from his shock. He lowers his hand to reveal a discolored mark on his jaw, gaping at you. 

“You fucking cunt!” 

James gives him a hard shove, and more shouting starts up around the bar, various other patrons either cheering the fight on or trying to break it up. Remus grabs James by his shirt, tugging him along as he herds you towards the exit. “Alright, we’re going, we’re going.” 

Your journey out of the building is hurried and difficult to follow in your addled state, but everything seems to catch up to you when the dark club gives way to glaring fluorescent streetlights. You bend over under a wave of nausea. 

“Hey.” James sounds more sober than he had a few minutes ago. He stoops to look at you, your eyes wet. “You okay?” 

Remus says something to him quietly, passing James the car keys. He unwinds his arm from around you and kisses your head. 

“I’ll be right back,” he says gently. “Go wait in the car, okay?” 

“Okay…” Your voice is hardly a whimper. “Where are you going?” 

But Remus is already gone, waving down the bouncer outside of the club. 

You turn to James. “Where is he going?” 

Tears blink out of your eyes as you ask. The corners of James’ mouth turn down sympathetically. 

“Oh, my girl.” He wraps a big arm around your shoulders, kissing your head as he leads you towards the car. “What’s wrong? Does your hand hurt?” 

You shake your head, though it does a little. Your knuckles and the tops of your fingers feel odd and sore, and there’s a throbbing that goes all the way down to your wrist. That’s not what’s bothering you, though. You’re not sure if you can pick what’s bothering you. The predatory stares you’ve endured all night; the sickening realization of the man’s body pressed up against yours; his easy, blithe laughter; your own white-hot anger, there and gone before you could take account of yourself—it’s all too much. 

“I can’t believe I hit him,” you admit tearfully. 

James lets out a little laugh. “I saw, baby.” He unlocks the car, opening the back door. 

“I didn’t mean to.” 

“I—oh, okay.” James doesn’t stop you when you don’t get in, instead sitting on the floor of the car with your feet on the gravel parking lot. He sits beside you. “It’s okay if you did. He deserved it.” 

You put your head in your hands. “I don’t hit people.” 

He makes a soft sound. A big hand lands between your shoulder blades, rubbing softly. “I know you don’t, sweetheart. It’s…I get that you wouldn’t usually, but I think this counts as a special circumstance. Rem, he saw what was happening, but we couldn’t get to you fast enough. I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself, you know?” 

You don’t reply, and he lets you sit in silence for a while, your weeping gradually stopping. When Remus comes back, it’s with Sirius in tow. 

“What the fuck happened?” Sirius asks tipsily. “I was looking for you!” 

“Did Remus not tell you?” James sounds excited to be the one to share the news. 

“Alright, dove?” Remus asks at a more reasonable volume, crouching in front of you. “Does your hand hurt? Can I see?” 

“No, he’s being bloody tight-lipped.” Sirius ruffles Remus’ hair. “Just said you had to go. Oi, you alright, lovely?” 

“She punched a guy in the face,” James says proudly. 

“She what?” Sirius’ mouth pops open. You shrink some under his gaze. “Baby, you what?” 

“I didn’t mean to!” you insist, though it’s hard to stay miserable when two of your boyfriends look so obviously delighted. 

Sirius shakes his head, awestruck. “What did I miss?” 

James fills him in quickly while Remus prods at your hand, eventually commending you on a rather clean hit after he’s certain you didn’t break anything. Sirius can hardly keep his mouth shut while James talks, nor can James keep from using a series of vulgar names for the man who’d touched you, though he checks on you a couple of times to be sure his storytelling isn’t upsetting you. When he’s done, Sirius’ stare has darkened, his arms crossing as he leans against the side of the car. 

“Do we think he could perhaps use a matching bruise on the other side?” he muses, gaze flicking to the entrance of the club. “Maybe one of you could point him out to me.” 

“You’ll get to see him soon,” says Remus. You look at him questioningly, but he only gives you a small smile. Cryptic.

“Really, she’s already handled it rather well herself.” James slides his arm around your shoulders, planting a kiss on your head. “You should have seen it, I had no idea she could punch like that.” 

“Me neither,” you sigh. 

Just then, the door to the club bangs open. Two bouncers come out in their uniform black tees, hauling between them another man. 

“Alright, alright, leave off!” The creep from earlier struggles in their grasp. All three of your boyfriends tense. As he comes through the doorway, his discolored jaw catches the light. 

Sirius whistles. “Shit. That is bloody gorgeous.” 

You feel the beginnings of a smile tugging at your lips, but try to remain contrite. You catch Remus’ eye. 

“It was pretty impressive,” he says, also smiling. 

You chew your lip. “You don’t think it was wrong?” 

“What’s wrong about it?” Sirius asks. “He touched you, you touched him. I’d have done the same if I were there.” 

Remus rolls his eyes. “We know, love.” 

“I’m just saying, I could make it symmetrical…” 

“No,” Remus says sternly. He helps you up, ushering you into the backseat. “It’s time to go home.” 

James buckles in beside you while Remus gets into the driver’s seat. Sirius lingers outside the car. 

“He’s not gotten far yet, are we sure…” 

“Aw, baby, does your hand hurt?” James asks loudly. 

Sirius turns, crawling in to get a look. “Shit, did you bruise something? How’d you make a fist?” 

James reaches across him to shut the door, and Remus drives away.