#barman james

[my-burnt-city]

POV: you've stowed away on a time machine and it's dropped you off at Paddington, nearly a decade ago. This is the TDM cast board now facing you. Who are you following?

[Alt: a cast board, listing characters and the performers who are playing them.

William - Omar Gordon, Mary - Laure Bachelot, Dwayne - Oliver Hornsby-Sayer, Andy - James Finnemore, Harry Greener - James Sobol Kelly, Faye Greener - Katie Lusby, Miguel - Georges Hann, Conrad - Alex Mugnaioni, The Dust Witch - Katherine Cowie, Drugstore Girl - Sonya Cullingford, The Barman - Ygal Jerome Tsur, The Grocer - Monsur Ali, The Fool - Alistair Goldsmith, Wendy - Chihiro Kawasaki, Marshall - Jesse Kovarsky, Dolores Grey - Marla Phelan, Andrea - Kirsty Arnold, Claude Estée - Anwar Russell, Frankie - Daniel Whiley, Alice Estée - Emily Mytton, The Doctor - Sam Booth, Mr Stanford - James Traherne, Assistant to Ms Grey - Stephanie Nightingale, The Gatekeeper - Christian From, Romola - Sarah Sweeney, Lila - Kath Duggan, The Seamstress - Annabeth Berkeley, Phoebe - Mia Mountain, Mr Tuttle - Edward Halsted, The Executives - Matthew Blake + Kathryn McGarr, Band - William South, Pete Bennie, Graham Farnsworth + Jake Woodward]

[mitjalovse]

Patti Labelle's intriguing career should be looked at, though we have to check her introduction to hear what I mean. Nonetheless, her debut should not be called a debut at all, since she was already something of a veteran by that point. What this sentence attempts to say – this is a platter of someone who is already familiar with all the traps of the style, yet she has to comprehend them now on her own. Of course, she does equip herself well to the challenge, yet she feels timid at some times. One can understand that being a part of a group – she was in Labelle – and being alone are two completely different things. However, there are also some moments, which showed her later prowess, yet they only became noticeable with some hindsight.

[shugarbunni]

kitty!reader x professor!james pt.2 ...enjoy :p

"hang on hang on- you've been sleeping with potter? as in the professor ive been rightfully pining over? you bitch!" barty squawks, hands flailing around as you all take your seats at a booth in a dark corner of the pub.

no one wanted to get sloshed tonight, so you all decided on getting..relatively pissed at the local pub. ('all' referring to the best group of people anyone will ever meet. you, of course, barty, evan, regulus, dorcas, marlene and the ever lovely pandora!)

"you have a boyfriend, barty." Marlene snorts, smirking at the eye roll Evan gives.

"shurrup, im allowed to have crushes-" barty starts, only to be cut off by you.

"that isn't the point!" you huff, plucking reggie's cigarette from his lips and taking a drag, leaning against him "point is i do not want to end things with him, not anytime soon." you trail off, before lifting your gaze to barty "and he's more than good sex, you bellend." you scoff, pointing at him "hes like, really sweet. and funny. if you overlook the fact that he's...painfully millennial, sometimes."

"what did you two even talk about?" pandora asks, trying her very best to hide her judgement with the situation, bless her heart.

"y'know..normal shit! couple shit!" you struggle, taking an anxious puff of smoke.

"couple shit?" regulus parrots flatly, a questioning quirk to his brow.

"yes, regulus, couple shit. y'know..getting to know each other." you sigh, sinking into the booth.

"okay, so like what? give us an example, kitty cat" evan chuckles, wrapping his arm around barty

"ooo, do y'know his favourite colour?" dorcas giggles, cheek resting on marlenes shoulder.

"you lot are such idiots." you grumble, taking a sip of your bloody mary "...and its red."

"im not going in a bloody nightclub, sirius" james groans as his best friend drags him along the street.

"come on, prongs!" sirius huffs, about to go on a rant about how they never have 'fun' anymore, when remus interjects.

"how about we go to the pub? act our age, for once?" he huffs, giving sirius a pointed look and pries him off of james, running a hand through his husbands salt and pepper hair.

"alright." he grumbles, rolling his eyes at lily when she laughs at his sulking.

the group strides across the street, remus' arm slung casually over sirius' shoulder. petes been quiet, checking his phone every ten minutes - no doubt texting Emma. like a bastard teenager, he is.

james stays quiet too as they all chatter, his brows creased in distracted thought whilst he follows along into the pub.

he only snaps out of his daze when sirius heckles him from the bar, "James! what ya wanting, mate?"

"just a pint, pads" he says, forcing out a smile as he slumps in the booth, followed by the others whilst sirius gets everyones drinks ordered.

"cheer up, would you?" lily sighs softly, leaning her elbows against the table "we're meant to be taking your mind off of her, James."

"i am cheered." james mutters, giving her a sarcastic smile, earning a swat on the arm.

sirius scurries back to the table, setting everyones drinks down. hes always had a strange talent for carrying a bunch of glasses at once - must've been all the dorm parties back when they were students.

"right! cheers everyone" he exclaims dramatically, getting the group to clink their beers together "heres to healthy relat-"

"right!" a barman's voice interrupts, echoing through the pub "karaoke machines on, you lot. have at it."

most of the pub-goers (absolutely mortal middle aged men) dont seem to care all that much, but two groups seem to get elated at this news.

sirius gasps, immediately up and tugging on a begrudged peters arm (they've been karaoke partners since they were 17, believe it or not) "come on, wormy! we have to do starman!"

"sirius, mate-"

its then, that come on Eileen blasts through the pubs old speakers.

sirius shuts up - for once.

and james? well, james looks like hes seen an angel, to put it lightly.

there you are, giggling through the lyrics with Barty whilst you pathetically attempt the famous living room routine.

your whole group are creased watching, evan's filming of course. the people in the club clap along, energy up.

"come on, come on!" you wave over the others, the whole group crowding over the dingy microphone as you drunkenly shout the lyrics.

its when the song ends and your group stumbles away, clinging onto each other through bouts of laughter that you spot him. well, really you spot lily first. but then the others came into view. they all look anxious, sirius trying to tug james out of his seat. he doesn't budge.

oh christ, this is gunna be a long night, isn't it?

this feels so messy but like..ive had this idea for ages and i wanna get it out there. let me know your opinions! more parts to come<3

[emmawithtwoms]

The Hog's Head

@wolfstarmicrofic day 14 -299 words

“Happy Birthday, dear Siriussss, Happy birthday to youuuuu” The Marauders cheered, for the tenth time that day, at Padfoot, who had been beaming the whole day. 

The four boys had snuck out that night to celebrate Sirius’ birthday at the Hog’s Head, because the grumpy owner, and the sketchy customers, would have never snitched on them with their professors. 

“Oi Abe! Another round for the birthday boy!!” Cheered James, who was the more enthusiastic out of the group. 

“Yah, yah, just stop singing that fucking song.” 

The grumbling barman started pouring them four fire whiskeys, James and Sirius were sure that Aberforth was secretly very fond of them, since they’ve been coming to his pub for years. 

“So, how old is he now?” 

Said the man while handing them their drinks. 

“Seventeen! He’s finally a man!” Peter, enthusiastically. 

“Oi, you lot! you’ve been claiming to be of age for the past two years, you goat heads!”

“Oh come now, Abe, it’s too late to care about it now, and moreso, you don’t wanna kick out four loyal drinkers, right?” 

Sirius stepped in, his usual cokiness amplified by the fire whiskeys he drank during the night.

“Why do I even care?” Grumbled Aberforth while walking away.

The Marauders kept partying and being mildly annoying for the rest of the night, until the only people left in the pub who were still conscious were just Sirius and Remus, in a happy haze, swaying in rhythm with the soft underground wizarding music playing in the bar. 

“So, did you like your birthday, birthday boy?” 

Said Remus, his mouth blowing warm breath on Sirius’ ear

“So much Moony, thank you” 

And he hugged his boyfriend tight, hiding his smile on his shoulder. 

“I love you so much Sirius.”

“I love you too, Remus.”

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Too Sweet

Fandom: Harry Potter [Marauders Era]

Pairing: Remus Lupin x Sirius Black

Characters: Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, Lily Evans, James Potter, Marlene McKinnon, Mary MacDonald,

Word Count: 3017

Rating: Teen

Summary: You know you're bright as the morning, as soft as the rain.

Tags/ Warnings: Hogwarts, Summer Challenge, Writing Challenge, Song Fic, Wolfstar Established, Insecurity, Fluff, Angst, Friendships, Kissing, Friendships, And they were roomates

Notes: Sirius black is the neediest bitch you’ll ever meet

Summer Challenge 2024 //  Song Inspo

‘Cheers mate,’ James said as the barman handed him his change before scuttling off to serve another customer. He deposited the coins into the pocket of his jeans and then moved to arrange the seven glasses and the packet of cheese and onion crisp on the bar in front of him.

‘Need a hand?’ a deep voice said from beside him. James glanced to his left, finding the middle-aged man he’d been talking to whilst awaiting his order sitting on a stool next to him, gesturing to his uneven load as he offered assistance. He was considering taking the offer when a flop of curly dark hair came into view, Sirius’ arm slinging around his shoulders a moment later as he said, ‘cheers mate.’

Sirius took a glass and swigged from it, before moving to grab three more. It was a trick he’d learned over the summer, which given that they were all now of age had been spent in a considerable amount of pubs, and one that annoyed James to no end seeing as he was still stuck on carrying three. Still as Sirius headed back to the table with the majority share of the round it meant that James didn’t have to make two trips and more to the point didn’t have to rely on the kindness of strangers and so he said, ‘no need. Thanks though.’

‘Not a problem,’ the older man smiled, watching as James laden his hands with pints and tucked the packet of crisp under his arm on his way back to the group.

Given it was a swelteringly hot day the pub was rammed full of people and so James had to avoid being knocked on his way to his seat. It had also meant that the group of seven were crowded around a small circular table, his knees knocking with Remus’ as he sat down after decanting his spoils.

‘Thanks Potter,’ Mary said as she took a sip of her pint.

‘Yeah thanks mate,’ Peter said as James tossed the packet of crisp from under his arm to his friend across the table. Though as he looked next to his friend he spotted Lily watching someone, her gaze fixed behind him and so his head turned, moving his glasses that had slipped down his nose back up as he tried to spy whatever she was looking at. When he failed to see it he turned back and said, ‘what is it Lil?’

‘That bloke,’ she said, nodding her head towards the man at the bar.

‘What about him?’ James asked.

‘He’s been flirting with you and she’s jealous,’ Marlene giggled from beside her friend.

‘I am not jealous!’ Lily said, rolling her eyes, ‘but he has been flirting with you.’

‘What?’ James baulked, ‘as if!’

‘He has!’ Marlene protested, ‘been flirting with each one of you every time you go for a round!’

‘Who?’ Sirius asked, craning his neck like the rest of the group to spy the older gentleman who had been glancing their way but turned quickly away once he felt the weight of their gaze.

‘Oh don’t gawp!’ Lily scolded.

‘He has,’ Mary reasoned, ‘looks at you all like pieces of meat every time you go up to the bar.’

‘Does not,’ James scoffed.

‘He was just being nice,’ Peter added, recognising the man he’d spoken to at the bar earlier.

‘Well he wasn’t being nice to me or Lil when it was our round,’ Marlene said.

‘Or me,’ Mary reasoned, ‘and there’s only one explanation for that.’

There was a muttering of chuckles from around the table as Mary flicked her long black hair behind her shoulder as if proving her point. But the girl's words had left everyone curious and so their attention drifted back to the man at the bar, with the boys wondering what they’d been missing. He had spoken to each and every one of them when they’d bought a round of drinks but he hadn't been openly flirting, not that they had realised. They had all assumed he was just a typical boozer, welded to the bar from open to close and amusing himself by speaking to the varying faces that passed by through the day.

But only Sirius seemed put out by the missed opportunity, his face breaking into a grin as he said, ‘well maybe we can test that theory.’

‘How?’ James asked, looking back at his friend who raised a suggestive eyebrow.

‘Pads,’ Remus groaned, immediately cottoning on to his meaning as did Lily who shrieked, ‘he’s like sixty!’

‘And?’ Sirius shrugged, ‘I’d do a lot for a free drink you know.’

‘Oh don’t be daft,’ Peter muttered.

‘I’m not being daft,’ Sirius protested, glancing at the man at the bar again before he added, ‘I bet he’d buy a whole round you know. If one of us showed interest.’

‘Well in that case maybe one of you should test it out,’ Marlene said.

Her comment earned her a squirrelly look from Peter, a look of surprise from James and a roll of the eyes from Remus. Only Sirius seemed to be on board with the hypothesis, rising from his seat and straightening his clothes out as he announced, ‘I’ll do it.’

‘You?’ Mary baulked.

‘Why not?’ Sirius said indignantly, ‘Moony’s too shy and Pete’s as straight as an arrow-’

‘I could give it a go,’ James said, Sirius’ dismissal invoking his competitive nature and forcing him to his feet. Sirius waved a dismissive hand and replied, ‘this needs a professional.’

‘And I’m not a professional?’ James scoffed.

‘Please,’ Sirius snorted.

‘Well it was his arse he was looking at,’ Lily chirped in but James ignored her, looking at Sirius as he huffed, ‘and tell me why you’re fit for the job?!’

‘Why not?’ Sirius replied, folding his arms across his chest indignantly. Everyone sat back, knowing there was very little point in getting in the middle of them. It was just like them to argue over the little things, bickering back and forth over silly stuff, so everyone knew it was better to just leave them to it, as whatever spat they worked themselves into would be resolved before the day was over.

‘Well you’re not exactly friendly,’ James shrugged, sitting back down and taking a sip of his pint. Sirius dropped back down beside him angrily and said, ‘so?!’

‘So one look from you with that withering stare or some sarky comment is going to snuff out whatever good time you’re offering,’ James replied.

‘Oh so I’m horrible?’ Sirius said dramatically.

‘That’s not what he said, Pads,’ Lily sighed, his grey gaze flicking her way as he asked, ‘but do you think he has a point?’

‘Well,’ Lily hesitated, her voice high and hesitant, something that made Sirius’ eyes and James’ smile widen.

‘Well you’re not horrible,’ Marlene continued.

‘But?’ Sirius pressed.

‘But you’re just a little…’ Marlene said, looking to her friends for help. Peter was chugging down his drink in an effort to keep quiet. James looked too smug to even try and derail his own argument and knowing it was of a sensitive nature everyone else appeared to be dancing around what they intended to say. Because Sirius could be blunt. He could be reserved and snobbish. But they all knew that was a veneer, something poised and practised and inbuilt in him since childhood. Explaining that required some delicate word play, something Mary tried and failed at as she offered help.

‘Spiky,’ she said, ‘around the edges.’

‘It’s part of the charm!’ Lily interjected when she saw his face fall, ‘that dark and broody thing. It’s hot but it can be a little intimidating, right Remus?’

Remus had been mid pint when she’d elbowed him, causing him to inhale a slosh of larger though he recovered quickly, placing his pint down on the table and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he found Sirius watching him closely, ‘she’s right. It’s hot but it can be …a lot.’

‘Charming,’ Sirius snorted, folding his arms across his chest though he did look down as he felt Remus’ hand on his denim-clad thigh. At that there was a twitch of a smile though his attention was diverted as his friends continued to try and make him feel better.

‘It’s not a bad thing you know,’ Marlene said.

‘You could just be a little more… friendly,’ Lily reasoned.

‘What like him?’ Sirius said, jutting his head to James who was still smiling at ‘winning’ the argument.

‘Like Rem,’ Mary corrected, immediately ripping the shit-eating grin from the boy’s face which finally got Sirius to laugh, signalling a truce had been found.

‘She’s got a point there mate,’ James agreed, nudging Sirius’ shoulder with his own.

After that they decided there was very little point in trying to tap an old man up at the bar in the hopes of a free round and soon the talk dissolved into more amicable topics. And though Sirius joined in, Remus’ reassuring hand on his knee a reason to, he couldn’t help but think about what his friends had said.

Because they had a point.

Because he wasn’t exactly friendly. A good friend, sure but friendly, not particularly. He didn’t suffer fools gladly but that often made him come across as snobbish or arrogant. In fact if it hadn't been for James he would probably never have become friends with Peter, their first encounter a brush off even as an eleven-year-old. Not to mention he could be sullen and argumentative. He was sensitive but didn’t like people picking up on that which in turn made him defensive or rude if just to get the first jab in.

Mary was right, he was spiky.

Though that wasn’t what bothered him. What had been bothering was the way they'd immediately plucked Remus’ name from the air as an example of someone better. Remus was kind and sweet. He was nice to everyone, even those who definitely didn’t deserve it and those that treated him differently just because of who he was. He took time to listen, to feel what others were feeling. He cared about everyone in his life so deeply.

So why was he with him?

Why had he even thought about being his friend, well Sirius could answer that, Remus was never not friends with anyone. Everyone who wandered into his life, attracted by his warmth and sweetness, became his friend. Even spiky sullen ones.

Sirius was still thinking about it when they got back to the flat, their new home now that they had left Hogwarts and were in the interim period between the end of school and the beginning of the rest of their lives. It was late in the evening though the sky was only just fading from blue to black but Sirius didn’t bother going to bed, instead he kicked his shoes off and flopped down onto the sofa, his mind still brooding.

‘You not coming to bed?’ Remus said as he turned around from hanging his jacket up and spotted his boyfriend sprawled out on the settee.

‘Nah not yet,’ Sirius said, failing to meet his eyes, his gaze on the ceiling. Remus didn’t say anything but padded through to the kitchen and Sirius closed his eyes, listening to him move about the flat quietly.

He didn’t want to go to bed. To lay next to Remus who would wrap him up so tightly he’d forget how he could ever feel unloved or unsure. Because it didn’t make sense for him to feel like that, in fact he wasn’t wholly sure he didn’t deserve it. He was lost in his thoughts when he felt his presence next to him, a pair of lips on his forehead as Remus whispered, ‘not too long out here okay?’ before slipping into their bedroom. Only once he heard the door click did Sirius dare open his eyes, that guilty feeling swirling in his stomach and growing large as he noted the cup of tea placed on the coffee table beside him, on a coaster of course, and the disappearance of his shoes from where they’d been strewn across the carpet. Even half-cut Remus still managed to take care of him and Sirius fell asleep wondering what he had done to deserve that.

His sleep that night was fitful and considerably harder to bear on a narrow sofa but didn’t dare go to bed and fortunately managed to get a decent rest in the early hours. This however didn’t do anything to lighten his mood as the issues that had plagued him all night reared their ugly head almost immediately after waking as he arose to find the flat freshly tidied and the cupboards newly stocked signalling Remus had been shopping, something that was supposed to be Sirius’ job this week.

He was looking through the fridge when Remus appeared, his hair damp from a fresh shower though he was making a good go at drying it, rubbing the towel against his dark sandy locks and only pausing to kiss Sirius’ cheek as he said, ‘afternoon.’

‘Afternoon,’ Sirius said, allowing the kiss but keeping his gaze forward, his jaw tightening at the touch. Remus noticed immediately, dropping the towel around his neck and leaning back against the counter top as he said, ‘alright go on.’

‘What?’ Sirius said, looking at him with a scowl.

‘What have I done?’ he asked, blue eyes boring into Sirius’ face which made him look away, grabbing at whatever he could find that would make a halfway decent meal.

‘What?’ Sirius asked, his arms now laden with various meats that he took to the counter, moving around Remus who fixed himself to the spot, watching his boyfriend grab for utensils instead of looking his way.

‘What’s got you so moody?’ he asked and without thinking Sirius huffed, ‘well that’s me isn’t it, always moody and unfriendly.’

‘This is about yesterday,’ Remus sighed. At that Sirius slammed the pan down on the hob beside him making him jump.

‘Well you didn’t stick up for me,’ Sirius said, folding his arms across his chest.

‘Yeah because it’s true,’ Remus said, earning a scowl that he ignored, protesting, ‘but I didn’t say it was a bad thing.’

‘Isn't it?’ Sirius snapped, ‘I meant they couldn’t help but point out how nice you are. How sweet and kind you are. How bloody lovely you are! How you hardly deserve to be with some arsehole like me!’

He was nearly shouting now, the worries he’d been having spilling out of him as he hurled them at Remus to refute or agree with. He wasn’t sure which he wanted. But Remus rose from where he’d been slouching, grabbing at him to pull him close as he said, ‘you’re not an arsehole.’

Sirius tried to move away but he was locked into place, boxed in between the counter and Remus whose hand moved to his jaw forcing him to look up at him.

‘You’re not an arsehole Pads,’ he affirmed, smiling sympathetically at the other man as he continued, ‘and you’re not one thing or the other. Are you a little, I don’t know, standoffish at first? Maybe but that doesn’t mean you’re not the kindest person ever once you get to know someone. You’re selfless, I mean the fact you learned to be an animagus for me proves that and the way you take care of me every single change-’

‘That’s different,’ Sirius muttered, looking at Remus’ t shirt clad chest rather than at his face as he felt the compliments turn his ears pink. Remus didn’t seem to care.

‘You’re always there for your friends, you’re loyal to a fault and I know for a fact if we needed it you’d give us the shirt from your back,’ Remus said.

‘Moony,’ Sirius blushed.

‘You make me laugh,’ Remus whispered, placing a kiss on Sirius’ forehead.

‘You care for me,’ he said, placing another on his cheek.

‘You’re not an arsehole,’ he whispered, placing another the other cheek.

They were face to face now, their breath intermingling and Sirius knew he could, should, just kiss him, but he couldn’t help but allow the worries to bubble from within him as he blurted, ‘but that’s just for you. They’re right, I'm not like that all the time, not like you.’

‘Me?’ Remus frowned.

‘Yeah, I mean you’re nice all the time. Sweet even, too sweet for me,’ Sirius said dejectedly.

‘What when I get ticked off over nothing or start an argument because I’m tired and aching? That’s too sweet,’ Remus snorted.

‘That’s different!’ Sirius said indignantly.

‘How?’ Remus breathed, sweeping a thumb along his jaw, ‘Pads were not one thing or another. We’re everything at some point. Alright I might seem nice to everyone but that’s because they don’t know me, not like you. With you I can be myself, let loose and know you won’t judge me when I’m downright horrible because I’ve had a bad full moon. And people might say you’re-’

‘Spiky?’ Sirius mumbled.

‘Alright yeah,’ Remus chuckled, ‘but that’s because you’re not being fake. Trying to be friends with everyone even when you don’t care for them.’

‘I suppose,’ Sirius said, his fingers dancing along white cotton until Remus took them in his own hand forcing his gaze upwards.

‘Besides it’d be boring if we were exactly like each other,’ he said, ‘if you’d gotten up at the crack of dawn with me I wouldn’t have gotten anything done.’

‘No?’ Sirius asked.

‘No,’ he smirked, ‘I’d be too focused on getting back in bed.’

‘Is that right?’ Sirius smirked, standing up from where he’d been slouching as he wrapped his arms around Remus’ neck

‘Mm,’ Remus murmured.

‘Well now the flats tidy and we’ve got food in the fridge we could do just that,’ Sirius said, leaning up to kiss Remus gently.

‘You’re right,’ he said, ‘but I’ve done my share of the work this morning. First rounds on you.’

‘Luck I’m better at that than shopping then isn’t it.’

SIRIUS BLACK

@mysteriouslydelicateface@caitlin1996@imthebadguyyy@maeisafangirl

[morticianesbit]

Severus, Why Didn't You Come ?

Severus Snape x Sirius Black

Severus and Sirius have a secret relationship during the wizarding war. With unspoken problems, feelings are complicated.

~*~

Besides your house walks a young man. He waits underneath the streetlight beneath your window. You told him you’d come, but you never did. 

You like the tattoos on his arms. You like his strong grip in your palm. You like the cheeky smile when you scold him. So tell me Severus, why did you not come ? 

Cruel days inscribed on school desks. The first time you liked the way his hair complemented his face, he shoved you hard against the trunk of a Scots pine. Is that what you see when you see him waiting underneath the streetlight? 

He leans his head against the pole. The metal provides the only coolness on this hot summer’s night. The clock strikes three, he’s been there for two. His friends don’t know about the pain in his heart. The last time he saw you was underneath the bar lights. You were tired and worn. He told the bar man. The meeting was set. All you had to do was come, but you were already gone. 

As he stands beneath the lights on a moonless night. He wonders if you’re mad. He’d be glad if it’s not because he’s Sirius Black. Oh Severus, why didn’t you come ? 

Nineteen-year-old men on the battlefield. Tired eyes and fearful dreams. Friend’s drifting away. The sea’s made of tears. Late night strolls to the local bar. Notes on coasters. His name was Star and your name was Prince. 

He made you smile. The fearlessness in his lines. The world is the place where he played. You fell for the star. He waited for his prince. 

The meeting was set, eleven o’clock at the bar. Tired old man, secret couples slow dancing, glum was the bar you arrived at. You saw your star sitting on your barstool. He saw his prince. You froze in horror. The barman pulled the fists apart. He threw you both on the sidewalk. Heartbreak was the fallout. 

You walked home bloody and bruised. With the pain of a broken heart. The same pain you feel when you see him underneath the streetlight. Perhaps you ask yourself: Severus, why didn’t you come? 

Two weeks before today. A meeting was set at dawn. The days were getting hard. You could not handle the things going down under the order of the dark lord. You needed your lover’s arms, his smile, his kiss. You saw him sitting on the barstool. Happy to see your lover, you made your way to the bar. Then you saw them. The two men hiding at the back of the bar. 

Cruel days on school desks came back. At the sight of James and Lupin, your lover became Sirius Black. You left before someone could drink their first drink. 

He didn’t know about the friends in the back. He didn’t know about the conflict in your heart. All you two ever did was run. Previous sorrows unspoken. Only running for that happy rush. 

Sirius remembers the week after the first meeting. The wounds were charmed away. But there are no charms for the blues of the heart. He was alone. The kitchen light was flickering. His best friend just got married. He drank a cup of tea. Peter walked in. He was disheveled. His cheeks were rosy and there is a love bite on his neck. Eyes wide, he saw Sirius Black. “Don’t tell! It’s not serious. She’s actually with some else.” 

He nodded and that was the end of it. But Sirius understood that he could keep secrets too. Dirty little secrets.

No strings attached. Hot kisses underneath shallow lights. Hot nights in unknown rooms. But he never asked why Severus said yes. 

Slow dancing under unlit lights. Letters written until their muscles cried. Peaceful evenings in each other’s arms. They became each other’s lifelines. No one knew, not even these two lovers. 

Sirius saw Severus’ mark. Severus saw the patronuses. Both knew, but they never confided. Fights in the middle of the night. Angry sex that blew their minds. They always talked, but never about the most important talk. 

Perhaps Sirius should be happy if the reason why Severus never came was because he’s Sirius Black. Not because of the beliefs that separate their story arcs. 

Besides your house, there is a streetlight your lover is under. Daybreak comes and Severus sees the wavy curls lit by the light. Sirius leaves, head low and body hunched. He leaves with one question: Severus, why didn’t you come ? 

As you look at the figure moving further away. Perhaps you wonder about it yourself. Severus, why didn’t you come ? 

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Lockerbie

The BBC and Netflix have announced casting for Lockerbie, the forthcoming factual drama made by World Productions.

The six-part series is based on the real events surrounding the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and the joint Scots-US investigation which sought to bring the perpetrators to justice. Lockerbie. The flight disaster of Pan Am Flight 103 was the deadliest terrorist attack in the history of the United Kingdom.

Pan Am Flight 103 was a flight of a passenger airliner operated by Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) that exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988, after a bomb was detonated. All 259 people on board were killed, and 11 individuals on the ground also died. All were killed, along with 11 residents of Lockerbie, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

What seemed at first like a horrific accident was soon proven to be the result of a terrorist bomb planted in a radio cassette recorder inside a suitcase in the forward cargo hold.

Following a three-year joint investigation by Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), arrest warrants were issued for two Libyan nationals in November 1991. In 1999, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi handed over the two men for trial at Camp Zeist, the Netherlands, after protracted negotiations and UN sanctions.

In the year 2001, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence officer, was jailed for life after being found guilty of 270 counts of murder in direct connection with the bombing.

Megrahi was found guilty of playing a central role in the bombing

In August 2009, he was released by the Scottish government on compassionate grounds after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. He died in May 2012 as the only person to be convicted for the attack.

‘Lockerbie’: Lead Cast Of BBC & Netflix Series Patrick J. Adams, star of Suits — is returning to Netflix. He will star opposite Connor Swindells of SAS and Netflix’s Sex Education, Merritt Wever, two-time Emmy winner, for Netflix’s Godless and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, the leads in the BBC and Netflix six-part limited series.

The cast also includes Ozark alum Peter Mullan, Tony Curran (Mary & George), Downton Abbey‘s Phyllis Logan, Eddie Marsan (The Pact), Lauren Lyle (Vigil), Andrew Rothney (The Undeclared War), Parker Sawyers ( P-Valley), James Harkness (The Sixth Commandment), Khalid Laith (Vigil), and Amanda Drew (Wolf).

Congratulations to Tony Curran and Lauren Lyle for Lockerbie a new drama series alongside the Oscar winner best actor Colin Firth’s competition.😊 Both of you are in good company.

Posted 6th March 2024

#Lockerbie #TheLockerbieBombing #BBC #Netflix #truestory #bombing #Scotland #PanAmflight103 #DumfriesandGalloway #disaster #filming #newdrama #series #plane #Libyanterrorists #terrorism #airdisasterinUK

@castlemaine123 Wait until you see “Lockerbie” with Colin Firth which began filming last February in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@castlemaine123 Yep! ! The actors are in interesting projects. The wait for Outlander 7.2 and season 8 is losing interest. BOMB's new actors will surprise, showing that SH is not the only Scottish actor in Scotland as his fans think. He may continue to make profits in his new career as a door-to-door alcohol salesman and posing as a barman.

[wzrd-wheezes]

Nothing More - Part 3. R.L x Reader

AN - Hello. Sorry for the long wait on this part but I've just felt really blegh about this fic. The interaction on it has been a bit rubbish and its just been a bit disheartening. I think this is probably going to be the last part. At least for a while anyway. I hope you enjoy it. Sorry if this one is a bit shit.

The pub that Remus, James and Sirius were sat in was significantly quieter that the bar they usually frequented on a Friday night. It was pretty much empty apart from the three friends and a few other groups that were scattered across tables. They had tucked themself into a corner next to the window, the rain that was beating against the windowpane provided a melancholy soundtrack to their conversation.  

“So, when was the last time you spoke to her?” James asked, taking a sip of his beer. 

“A week ago. The morning after we went out.” Remus replied. He was sat hunched over the table, his leather jacket hanging from his shoulders and gripping his glass like his life depended on it. 

“And the last time you spoke, you yelled at her to get out of your room?” Sirius raised an eyebrow at him. 

“Yep.” 

“You’ve fucked it, mate.” Sirius chuckled, “Absolutely fucked it.” 

“What do you mean?”  

“Well, you obviously like her-,” James tried to speak but Remus quickly interrupted. 

“I don’t like her.” 

“Oh, c’mon, mate.” Sirius said, smirking slightly, “I don’t get pissy when girls I have no interest in shag other blokes.”  

James laughed and Remus shot him a look that quickly wiped the smile from his face. 

“C’mon, Moony. You could resolve all of this if you just apologised to her.” James tried to reason with him, “Just tell her that you like her and that you just got a bit jealous when you saw her with another bloke,” 

“I think I’d rather just drown my sorrows, thanks.” Remus said bitterly, draining the remainder of his beer from his glass and then gesturing to the barman to bring him another. Sirius and James exchanged a knowing look before also ordering another drink. It seemed like it was going to be a long night.  

Remus had drunk another two beers before James intervened. Quickly realising that Remus getting drunk tonight might become a problem.  

“C’mon, mate. I don’t think you going back to the flat pissed up while you’re arguing with Y/N is a good idea.”  

“Yeah. Normally I’m all for drowning your sorrows but even I think that this is a bad idea.” Sirius said, pushing Remus’s drink away from him. 

“Oh, fuck off.” He said, his words slurring slightly, “I’m fine. She doesn’t care about me anyway. She never will. We’re just friends. Nothing more.”  

“Is this you admitting that you like her?” Sirius smirked. 

“Fine. Yes. I fucking like her. I really, really fucking like her.” he put his head in his hands, his mousy hair falling into his eyes, “It killed me when I saw her with him. I don’t know why. It’s just come on all of a sudden.” His friends looked at him sympathetically.  

“Shit. You’ve got it bad.” Sirius patted Remus on the back. 

The flat was quiet when Remus got home. He was secretly hoping that Y/N had gone out as well as he was feeling a bit emotional after his night with Sirius and James and felt like he didn’t have the strength to talk to her. Remus had come to terms with the fact that he liked Y/N after months of not wanting to admit it to himself. His keys jingled as he tried to unlock the front door, however it swung open before he’d managed to open it. Kyle slammed into him, not realising he was stood on the other side of the door.  

“Watch where you’re fucking going.” Remus snapped, pushing past him to get into the flat. Kyle’s head whipped around, and his hand latched onto the back of Remus’s jacket yanking him back. Remus saw red and before he’d even realised what he was doing he span around and punched him square in the jaw. His hand was throbbing, his knuckles red, some of them busted. Kyle staggered backwards, shouting something in Remus’s face before storming off. He didn’t hear what his said, he could hear his pulse pounding in his head and he felt white hot with anger.  

When he turned around to walk back into the flat his eyes met Y/N who was stood in the doorway. She had her arms folded over her chest and a blank expression on her face. 

“You better get inside and explain what the fuck is going on with you.”  

The tension was thick as Remus walked into the flat. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Y/N was leaning against the kitchen counter, her arms still crossed. His jaw was clenched as he shrugged his jacket off and sat down on the sofa.  

“What the fuck, Remus.”  

“What?” 

“You ignore me all week, you barely come out of your room and then you go out, come back drunk and punch Kyle.” tears prickled in her eyes as she let her frustrations out, “why do you hate him so much?” 

“I don’t hate him. I just hate that he’s in the flat.” 

Y/N let out an exasperated sigh and slumped against the kitchen counter. She ran a hand through her hair and quickly wiped at the tears that were threatening to come out of her eyes. 

“So, what is it? Talk to me Remus, come on.” Y/N pleaded, “You went missing when I kissed him in that bar, you freaked out when I brought him home and you punched him tonight. What’s your problem?” 

“You told him that we were just friends.” 

“We are just friends, Remus. Nothing more.” Y/N said, her voice straining, “you might be my best friend but it’s not like we’re dating. We just live together.” 

Remus’s teeth sunk down onto his lip so hard that it drew blood. He looked down at his knuckles that were now swollen and tried to think of something to say. 

“Are you jealous?” 

Remus felt all of the blood in his body rush to his head when she said that. He stood up quickly, his knee bumping against the coffee table and sending a mug that was on there flying to the floor. His looked down at the broken fragments and felt his jaw tighten. 

“I’m not jealous! It’s just... you’re mine.” he blurted out loudly. His eyes widened as he realised what he had said. “No. No I didn’t mean it like that.” 

Y/N looked at him, her eyes blank and her lip quivering. She pushed past Remus who tried to reach out for her and walked out of the flat, slamming the door behind her. 

As Sirius had said earlier, he had absolutely fucked it. 

[witchofimber]

trick or treat 🎃❤️‍🔥

One week after Lily and James broke up – tears, shouting, broken crockery – and six days after Remus walked away from Sirius for the last time – no tears, because nothing they did counted, right? - Sirius opened his door at a horrific half-past seven on a Saturday morning and found Lily, wan and haggard, leaning against his doorbell.

“Dorcas and Marlene only have a sofa and have really loud sex,” she said. “And Mary’s still living with her parents, and my family are – it doesn’t matter, but look, I understand if this is going to break your sacred vows of friendship with James, but - “

“I’m too hungover for this,” said Sirius. “The rents about two pounds eighty, but nothing works.”

“Aren’t you rich?”

“I’m living in bohemian squalor.”

Lily scrunched up her face, possibly catching a whiff of the kitchen. “Is it going to ruin your aesthetic if I fix shit?”

“Please. Do whatever the fuck you like.”

Sirius wouldn’t describe himself as mad at James, exactly.

You couldn’t be mad at James – no, plenty of people could be mad at James, but Sirius couldn’t. Vaguely irritated? Currently blaming most of his life problems on him? Enjoying watching him squirm? Yes to all three. But never anger, not really, which was why he was in The Pickled Stag (terrible pub, chosen purely for the name), signalling the barman for another and saying, “Are you really going to be grouchy because I didn’t let your ex be literally homeless? She’s my friend too.”

“I just think,” said James, “that, given the situation, it really would have been kinder of her to move to Bali.”

“Terrible choice, she’d burn in an instant,” said Remus. “Sweden. Iceland. Those are more Lily-appropriate places.”

“She can’t go anywhere cold, she can’t ski.” James picked up his shot glass, downed it in one, stared mournfully into the depths and then said, tearfully, “I was going to teach her to ski.”

“You can teach me,” said Peter.

“There you go,” said Sirius. “Pete is basically just Lily with worse hair.”

James, on the edge of a sob, said, “Pete, I’ve already taught you to ski five times. You cannot be taught.”

Remus was leaning over the bar, rapidly ordering enough shots to kill an elephant. His horrible trousers were stretched over his decidedly un-horrible arse. Sirius had to fire himself into the sun. He could not, could not, lust over a man in khaki slacks. A man who – dear god – was requesting Nanci Griffith on the tunes.

“Are you serious?” said Sirius.

“I thought that was - “ said Pete.

“Don’t,” said Remus, shaking out his hair. “My mum likes her, ok? It’s soothing music.”

“It’s the sad and sexless wail of the perma-virgin,” said Sirius.

“Not everything has to be about sex,” said Remus testily. “Sometimes things can just be nice, all right?”

“Who wants nice?” said Sirius, aware that he was stumbling into danger but slightly too drunk to stop. “I mean, give me passion any day.”

“Love is a lie,” mumbled James.

Sirius pointed at him. “See? He gets it.” He was grinding salt in the wound, deliberately nasty now. “No love for James. He doesn’t love anyone.”

“I love Lily.”

“He loves Lily,” said Sirius, gleeful.

Remus curled his lip. “The speed and consistency with which you manage to miss the point is genuinely astonishing. Prop James up, I’m going for a piss.”

“Merlin,” said Pete, looking between Remus’s back and Sirius. “What’s up with you?”

“There’s a monastery in St Bartelomo’s,” said James. “Very beautiful view. Lots of sea.”

“Fascinating,” said Sirius, with an intense premonition of dread. He pushed another shot towards James.

“The monks take a vow of silence.”

“Probably not for you, then.”

“What’s the point of speaking if I can’t say anything to her?”

“Human communication. Discussing the weather. Buying booze.”

“The monks of St Bartelomo’s brew their own wine.”

“Do they drink it?” said Pete.

James waveringly raised his glass and studied the irridiscent depths of his sambuca. “Perhaps further study is needed.”

“Perhaps,” said Sirius. “You’d make a shit monk, though.”

“If I can’t have her, perhaps God will comfort me,” said James, and then promptly threw up on his shoes.

[hardinho]

but i've got a blank space baby and i'll write your name;

@norblake

"Oi, com licença. Tudo bem?" Disse educadamente ao barman enquanto se aproximava do balcão. "Eu estava olhando o cardápio e todas as bebidas tem álcool. É isso mesmo? O James disse que eu posso pedir suco ou refrigerante se eu quiser." Falava sem parar enquanto o atendente o olhava curioso. "É que eu não tenho costume de beber, sabe?! Só as vezes em ocasiões especiais. Talvez mais tarde, pelo James. Mas agora eu queria um suco de laranja."

[bi4bihankking]

The Murderbot Diaries Summary:

In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern. On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid--a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.

Giovanni's Room Summary:

David, a young American in 1950s Paris, is waiting for his fiancée to return from vacation in Spain. But when he meets Giovanni, a handsome Italian barman, the two men are drawn into an intense affair. After three months David's fiancée returns and, denying his true nature, he rejects Giovanni for a 'safe' future as a married man. His decision eventually brings tragedy.

[omegaremix]

Autumn 2006 Mixtape.

Public Image Ltd.: "Public Image"

Stereolab: "Ping Pong"

Alexander Kowalski: "Dark Soul Pt. 1"

Leonard Cohen: Death Of A Ladies' Man

Manual: "Baja Nights"

Boards Of Canada: "5/9/78"

Scissor Sisters: "Tits On The Radio"

Boyd Rice / NON: The Black Album

Buzzcocks: "Orgasm Addict"

MC Paul Barman: "Anarchist Book Store"

Company Flow: "Shadows Drown"

Sister Sledge: "Happy Feeling"

Chicks On Speed & Peaches: "Guitar Anthem"

Alexander Kowalski: "The Path To Zero"

Manual & Jess Kahr: "Dawn Changes Everything"

Pink Floyd: "Us vs. Them"

Busta Rhymes: "In The Ghetto (f. Rick James)"

Boards Of Canada: "Head From Telegraph Lines"

Stereolab: "Free Witch & No Bra Queen"

Rainer Maria: "Already Lost"

Public Image Ltd.: "Rise"

Manual: "Tomorrow"

Boards Of Canada: "Into The Rainbow Vein"

Alexander Kowalski: "Speaker Attack"

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Scottish actor Gavin Mitchell born 16th December 1964 in Glasgow.

Gavin, best known for his role of Boaby, the barman from Still Game says that his parents split when he was eight and he that his mum cut dad Kenneth out of his life and remarried. Tragedy then struck when his step father died followed by the death of his dad, Kenneth, he then remembers a tough upbringing with a succession of “uncles” and one time his mother going out for a pint of milk and never came back.

Luckily Gavins brother Kenny stepped in and persuaded the authorities he would be able to look after his sibling. Five years later as a young adult Gavin spotted her in the street with one of his “uncles” and followed her to a bar, he said she did not even notice him, he ordered a drink then sat down next to her, she looked at hi and said nervously “Hiya son”

“It was weird. I wanted to know all about her but I didn’t tell her where I lived. I visited her once to check she was okay. She gave me a pound ‘for sweets’ as I left — it was as if I’d not grown up in her eyes.

He saw her once more, just before she died, ravaged by alcohol, and Gavin claims his own childhood experiences are the main reason why he’s never had kids himself.

Gavin has admitted going through bouts of depression through the years but has carved a career for himself, though admits at times it as hard as a struggling jobbing actor.

Through the years Gavin has appeared in many well known Scottish shows like Taking over the Asylum, Atletico Partick, The Baldy Man, Monarch of the Glen and of course Taggart, which he was in three times as different characters. We saw him in 2018 as Archibald Mason, a soldier in Outlaw King, apart from the final series of Still Game Gavin has appeared in the Netflix docudrama The Last Czars, in 2019, since then he was in the drama series’ Nothing to Declare, Annika and most recently the Irvine Welsh series Crime.

In July 2019 he was awarded an honorary doctor of letters by Glasgow’s Caledonian University. Although Still Game has ended he admits that for the rest of his life he will be tagged as “Prick”.

Gavin recently admitted having a wee greet during the filming of the last scene for Still Game. It was he who spoke the last lines in the show, with the lie words "Well, look who it isnae", while looking into the camera. He said having the last line felt "unusual" and "affected him more emotionally than any of the other episodes",

The actor went on to explain the circumstances....."I think it's just because I had the final words and so it was quite a weird scene.

"Normally we're all together. When we get picked up in the morning, we get picked up in a van and we travel in together and we all did scenes in the Clansman.

"But that was a really unusual morning because I was on my own.

"I got picked up in a cab, taken down. No-one else was there. Taken into make-up and they turned me into old Boaby as it were and they walked me on set and nobody would look at me.

"Everybody kinda respectfully put their heads down and wouldn't make eye contact.

"The make-up girl came to check on me, Anne Marie, and when she was checking my wig and make-up, she just gently turned me around and I could feel her putting something in my right hand.

"And I thought 'What's that?' and I looked down and it was a tissue and she just pointed at my eyes.

"I realised I was crying and I [at the time] didn't realise it. It was bizarre. I think there was just a lot of weight in that one line. You knew it was the end."

We last saw Gacin in the TV series Nightsleeper, which also starred the popular James Cosmo and the beautiful Katie Leung, with a strong Scottish cat including Sharon Rooney, Alex Ferns, Sharon Small and Lois Chimimba.

[transthadymacdermot]

Rainbow main RRL fictional United Irish committee part 2 of 2... wall of lore text on the lineup under the cut

Part 1

Captain James "Jim" Wilkes - the leader of a military cell (UI cell within the army -- these really existed and the government was very worried about them), a devoted reformer who offered to form a UI cell from interested parties among his men roughly two hours after his regiment was stationed on Lord Durham's land. Useful for providing information about what nonsense the forces of law and order are going to pull next

Edward Perry - deceased narrative haunter of a dead leader of a cell which focused on assassination. He was Rearden's close friend before dying of The Fever while awaiting trial in prison and Rearden is still obsessed with him

William Rearden - former British Army rifleman and the committee's main tactician. Like his friend Whittaker, he lets others do his dirty work for him, but he also trains UI who wish to learn how to imitate, at least, his terrifying skill with a rifle. He owns a linen company, &c

Lady Maria Whittaker - an Englishwoman who clawed her way up from being the impoverished daughter of a Jacobite exile to being an information broker who terrorises reformers and reactionaries indiscriminately. Whether or not she's even loyal to this committee in particular is up for debate. She is a Gentlewoman™️

Devi Chandrasekhar - young linguist from what is today Tamil Nadu, on a tour of Europe in order to learn several more languages. Naturally, she does translations and negotiations, having been absorbed into the committee by virtue of boarding with the Hoyles during her stay in Ireland

Patrick Dolan - another Defender leader, a sort of godfather to Eoin O'Donnell's Defender lodge. He acts as another mediator between the Defenders and the committee, though he stays more in the background than Breen does. He makes his money being a slightly more well off tenant farmer

Samuel "Sammy" Gowan - proud member of the growing urban Catholic middle class originally from Co. Armagh. He's a good lad but no one is actually sure where his money comes from and he's been spending a weird amount of time around the army barracks lately... and what was that the barman at the Medusa said about seeing him coming in with that fencible fella to point out other UI? It's just not like him -- I'm sure it's nothing, though :)

[chiropteracupola]

finally got around to drawing the (surprisingly straightforward) family tree for the haunted by your hand people... frankly there are not Enough of them to do any manner of really intricate relational webs but that is because haunted by your hand is somewhat intentionally a Tiny Cursed Snowglobe of a story.

more lore on the events of the overall hybh backstory timeline below:

peggy webster moved out quite young to take employment at an inn (the horse-collar) some distance away from the town where she and james grew up, and eventually married the owner, bill pendle. some time after his sister's marriage, james followed and was hired by bill as barman.

as they've effectively cut off their father at this point, peggy and james both fully commit to presenting james as peggy's brother from this time forward. bill never catches on to anything being strange here. hypothetically thomas webster is still out there and alive, but as of Present-Time (vague early 1760s) neither of his children are interested in being in touch with him, so that's a mystery that no one is really interested in solving.

during her time working at the horse-collar, james took up with local ne'erdowell / highwayman / dandy-about-town kate heriot, eventually coming to regard their partnership as a sort of marriage. it's also around this time that james and peggy begin falsifying the inn's accounts, since the addition of kate's ill-gotten goods are now being incorporated into making the horse-collar an actually tolerable place to stay. sometime in this phase, peggy and bill's only surviving child, jill, is born.

kate heriot is from the area near to the horse-collar, the third child of a blacksmith. her mother died giving birth to a fourth sibling, and was not much discussed by edward heriot or his sons from then on.

in adulthood, kate's oldest brother took over their father's forge and is still taking care of edward heriot, along with his own wife and children. the middle heriot sibling joined the army and has not been heard from in a while, sure he's doing fine where-ever it is that he is. before her death, kate occasionally turned up back at the heriot family home for visits, but mostly maintained a wandering lifestyle out of dissatisfaction with the sameness of sedentary life until she met james.

once the symbiotic relationship of kate providing extra cash to the websters in exchange for a more secure home base (and also a bit of romance) is established, peggy decides that bill's usefulness has largely run out. their marriage was always primarily an economic proposition on her side of things, and overall he's grown to be a nuisance about the place. so she pushes him into the millpond in the next town over and is perfectly happily widowed.

at this point, things are going great -- james takes over the operations of the inn, renaming it to the sign of the cross-roads (as it is at a cross-roads, after all) and enjoys relative prosperity. the inn's a nice enough place to stay, with jill grown up enough to do a share of work, a new hire (john harebell) taking care of the stables, and kate lazing about being her usual unhelpful self.

this is where things begin going to the bad -- kate's a little too boastful for her own good, and spends rather too much time dressing in silk and making much of herself to disguise the fact that she regularly robs people on the road.

after kate's eventual arrest and quite public execution, her older brother and his family pretty much deny they ever knew her. this works out pretty well for them, as kate was not well liked by the broader community on account of her various infuriating qualities. they also were living at enough of a distance that they weren't aware of james & co, which was helpful.

and then I believe we've discussed the whole 'turning your wife's hand into a cursed candleholder and hiding the rest of the body in a barrel in the cellar' part of things before, yes? so yeah that happens.

after That Incident, james's idea of management for the sign of the cross-roads gets a lot weaker -- the flow of money from both kate's thievery and the vibe of it being an actually pleasant place to stay mostly trickles off, and the inn ends up a quite isolated location with primarily only the family and the ghost around. when custom does come in, james even begins using kate's hand / ghost power as a method for keeping guests around longer than they mean to stay.

...john harebell (guy who I have only vaguely mentioned at this point) is also Present and vaguely hanging around doing his job, but he isn't Related to the broader pendle-webster-heriot family so he is not on this chart.

[tinknevertalks]

Trick or treat!

Aaaaah! Someone else at my door! So this treat is actually a section from the next chapter of In The Nice Part of Town, set after Helen loses a patient. I know, I know, it sounds sad but it has a solid Helen & James moment that I'm like 99.999% sure you'll enjoy.

--

“No good ever came of drinking here, remember?”

Her stomach lurched. She'd already lost a patient on her table, she now had to listen to James, and his maddeningly soft voice. “I never said that.” Inside, she cheered: she hadn't slurred her words. If she could get through this conversation, the world was her whisky bottle.

“No, your exact words were, ‘Drinking yourself into a stupor is not going to bring back your patient.’” He held up two fingers to the barman, who promptly nodded. “No amount of cheap booze is going to make you feel better.”

“Not…” She blinked, trying to sound like a whole, respectable, adult and not a failed surgeon. Oh God, the paperwork she'd have to contend with during the next few days. “Not cheap. And not trying to bring them-- oh.” She eyed the glass in front of her, the twin to the one in front of James. Looking up further, she noticed the kind eyes she'd unconsciously missed these last months. Miserable, hot, stinging prickles stabbed the corners of her eyes, the tears forming unbidden. This wasn't meant to happen.

“You're human, Helen. You cannot be expected to be perfect every day.”

She swallowed, her tongue thick and heavy in her mouth. “It was a bloody valve replacement.”

“It was a complex surgery that became more complex due to a tumour on the wall of the heart near the mitral valve. I saw the same scan: nobody picked up on it.”

Looking into her glass, wishing she could divine her next few steps, Helen decided the best thing to do was drink her whiskey. Holding it aloft, she intoned, “To invisible tumours; may they make humans of us all.” She didn't bother waiting for his glass to clink hers. Down in one, more effective than novocaine.

James didn't stay long, didn't say much either, just matched her drink for drink for the next hour.