Ministry of Magic
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Trish
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Alarm
Mar 22, 2017 3:23:38 GMT
Post by Gabriel Bishop on Mar 22, 2017 3:23:38 GMT
Gabriel wouldn't describe their relationship as a whirlwind. Occasionally there were moments that he wondered if they were moving too fast, getting too attached and too comfortable with each other but mainly because the fact that Remus was a recent widower nagged at the back of his mind. The fact planted it's feet and crossed it's arms like an insolent child and refused to budge as much as he tried to shake it away or shove it out of his thoughts completely. For him, the pace was fine. There was a war looming, no time to drag your feet but the auror didn't want Remus' feelings to grow from a place of loneliness and desperation. Gabriel didn't want him to be lonely, of course, but he didn't want to just be a warm body to fill the void. He wanted to be wanted by Remus because of who he was and how they felt together. How he wished the timing had been different, that he'd have met Remus several months later so he wasn't plagued by doubts and insecurities.
Remus and Gabriel were different in many ways. Their age was the most obvious ones, made more apparent by Gabriel's own lack of maturity. He grew easily bored while visiting the same few places over and over. The prospect of stepping foot in the same old dusty wizarding pub night after night to buy a drink was enough to turn him off of alcohol for life. Luckily Muggle London was crawling with watering holes of all sorts. Martini Bars, Beer Gardens, Taverns, Cantinas and Night Clubs. Their venue for the night was a sports pub where No-Majs gathered to drink and watch a Rugby match on one of the many televisions in the place. It was a more lively crowd than over at The Leaky or Three Broomsticks.
The pair of men were jovially chatting away at the bar. Gabriel was turned towards Remus, a drink in one hand and the other laid over Remus'. He was a man who secretly craved affection. He'd never admit it out loud, but sought it in little ways and relished physical closeness. He spoke without a care in the world, happy in presence of a man he was falling hard. Occasionally they'd be interrupted with roars of approval or frustration from the crowd gathered around the TV and he'd only grin and turn to watch. "Rugby's great. We don't have that a home." Despite the fact he had no intention of going back, America was home although with Remus' help this place could be home too.
The blonde opened his mouth to say something else, but some of the ambient conversation caught his ear. A little ways down the bar a pair of inebriated No-Maj's speaking about the London Eye Incident and how it was a government cover up for something. Things were fishy. They suspected some 'very funny people' were behind it all. People not like them. The word 'supernatural' was even batted around.
No-Maj and Magical relations had been on the mend for a decade or two back home, but it was still a very strained relationship. Those targeted be persecution did not forget it so easily and they instilled that distrust and paranoia into the younger generations. As a part of the 'younger generation', Gabriel had that fear and apprehension written into his coding as he grew up and learned how to use magic. The relaxed expression vanished and tension set into his jaw. He withdrew his hand and turned just enough to better eavesdrop on the conversation. Death Eaters made no effort to hide their activities and they were encouraging all manner of dark creature to do the same. Obliviators were working around the clock, but there was always the chance that one could sneak through the cracks especially since wizards and no-majs openly consorted.
When he turned back to Remus there was a serious set to his face, gone was the carefree slightly tipsy wizard and present was the auror who'd been taught to distrust muggles. "Are you almost ready to go?" There was an edge of urgency to his voice, but Gabe worked to keep most of that under control. He dropped his gaze to his own drink which was mostly full. After running a hand through his long, floppy locks he grabbed the glass and took a sip. The last thing that they wanted to do was draw attention to themselves by leaving full drinks on a bar around people who were already suspicious that there was something strange going on around them.
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Hogwarts
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
Werewolf
Order of The Phoenix
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44 years old
Gryffindor Alumnus
Wandless Magic
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Mego
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Alarm
Mar 22, 2017 22:09:45 GMT
Post by Remus Lupin on Mar 22, 2017 22:09:45 GMT
Drinking with Muggles was truly an experience. Remus was no stranger to non-magical folk - he'd spent time around all types of people (and other beings) when he was young, poor, and hungry - but he didn't think he'd ever experienced anything that could quite match a Muggle pub. Especially when they got into their sports (and people called Quidditch fans rowdy); the Muggles had really hit the nail on the head with their idea of a place to go to watch the match while still getting tossed off their bums on cheap beer.
One probably wouldn't expect the generally reserved Remus to enjoy such an environment, but of course he was happy. He was with Gabriel. And he was a little drunk, too, but really he was just happy to be with Gabriel. Even in this rowdy and distracting environment, the blonde's attention was all his and Remus was basking in it. They were warm and close, touching and chatting like they hadn't any more cares in the world beyond those of their fellow pub patrons and their cheers and jeers at the television screens. That's what Remus liked best about Gabriel, he thought. It was incredibly difficult to put his finger on just one thing that he liked best, but the carefree happiness Gabriel inspired in him was certainly addicting. Remus had a lot of reasons to be sad, and to be angry. And he by no means wanted to feel that way all of the time - it was exhausting, honestly. He liked having a reason to be happy.
"Your football's similar, yeah?" Remus' gaze danced over Gabriel's grin. That was pretty high up there with Remus' favorite part of the man, too, definitely. He tried not to stare too much, turning his attention to the television screen. "It's definitely more exciting than football, at any rate - our football, that is." When Remus looked back at Gabriel - it didn't take long - he wasn't grinning anymore. And he wasn't paying attention to Remus. Remus felt the odd sensation of the sun having gone behind a cloud; he almost shivered in the packed, balmy pub. "Are you alright?" Remus asked. He could practically see Gabriel's muscles tensing up under his skin. The Auror withdrew his hand and Remus furrowed his brow, his own muscles starting to tense up.
He wasn't so insecure to think this sudden change obviously had to be about him. Remus recognized those changes. Gabriel was a professional in a field that Remus had a lot of incidental experience in. Remus swept his eyes across the bar - Gabriel sensed something. Nothing stuck out to Remus, so he stilled himself and listened. Gabriel was tilted toward a pair of people in the bar and Remus tried to dig through all the sounds of the pub to hear them. He didn't catch all that Gabriel caught, though, and he was left just as confused. He dragged his gaze back to Gabriel at the man's question and then followed his blue eyes down to their full drinks. Remus watched him take a sip, and then leaned forward so his mouth was right next to Gabriel's ear. Just lovers at the bar, nothing suspicious to see, or hear. "Something you need to handle? Or do we just need to go?" Remus leaned back again and took a healthy sip from his drink. He was having a hard time reading Gabriel and the loud environment around them made it even more difficult. He felt a growing discomfort despite not having a full understanding of what was going on.
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Ministry of Magic
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Trish
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Alarm
Mar 26, 2017 4:41:38 GMT
Post by Gabriel Bishop on Mar 26, 2017 4:41:38 GMT
It was a very nice evening, despite the loud atmosphere and occasionally being jostled by a rowdy sports fan. "Yeah, it's something like that." He nodded, finding that his grin intensified under Remus' gaze. How could it not? Having the attention of a man such as Remus was enough to make anyone grin like a fool, he was pretty sure. His gaze drifted back up to the television for a moment, considering the similarities. "Less padding, though. Rugby's a little more brutal than our version of football." The blonde dropped his voice a few decibels, leaning in like he was imparting some great secret on the older man. "It's like comparing Quidditch to Quodpot." He leaned back on his stool, a smug and teasing look across his face. "The latter of which is obviously superior. "
The easiness died on Gabriel's lips as he listened to the conversation just down the bar. Sports and games weren't the only things that were different about he and Remus, but the atmosphere they were raised in. He likely wouldn't think much of muggles talking about things being out of the ordinary but he spent several years learning about witch burnings and the Scourers. No-Majs were a curiosity to the British and plain dangerous to the Americans. The wizard was so absorbed in the conversation that he missed Remus' inquiry, leaning as non chalantly as he could for optimal listening. The worried lines on his face deepened as the men spoke.
Little shivers ran down his spine and he closed his eyes as Remus' breath caressed his ear. The tension lapsed briefly but it wasn't something he could be totally distracted from. The auror took another sip from his drink before turning towards Remus. He wrapped an arm around his waist, leaning close to press his lips against the space between Remus' cheek and ear. Just lovers at the bar, right? It looked like a tipsy, mis-aimed kiss. "No-Majs." he murmured into the scarred skin. He leaned back again, looking at Remus before his gaze trailed pointedly over to the pair in question, urging his companion to follow his gaze. Once he conveyed his message he picked up his drink again.
Gabriel did his best to appear casual, sipping at the drink, but tension practically radiated off of him and he was leaning slightly to the side, straining to listen. Did they need to leave? Or should he do something? The auror fretted over this while peering down into his glass. The moment the word 'magic' reached his ear the wizard went pale as a ghost and his heart thumped in his chest. It had to be done, the No-Maj's would have to be obliviated, he couldn't just leave something like that go. When he turned back to Remus again he looked grave and uncomfortable. "They know too much." he muttered as he leaned in close. "They have to be obliviated."
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Hogwarts
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
Werewolf
Order of The Phoenix
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44 years old
Gryffindor Alumnus
Wandless Magic
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Mego
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Alarm
May 10, 2017 18:29:58 GMT
Post by Remus Lupin on May 10, 2017 18:29:58 GMT
Anything that brought Gabriel closer to him was worth it, even an insult to the nation's great sport of Quidditch. Remus wanted to kiss him quiet (or maybe he just wanted to kiss him all the time) but Gabriel was already leaning back into his seat, and their current environment certainly wasn't the most romantic of atmospheres, anyway. He thought he could wait. The teasing was just as fun. "You're just asking for it now," he grinned, enjoying the way Gabriel made even smug look pretty. "Adding explosions to everything - the true spirit of America."
Remus regretted ever looking away from Gabriel, even just for a moment to catch what was going on in the game, because when he looked back everything was different. Gabriel was just as handsome with no smile, but Remus definitely preferred him that way. Remus did eventually catch on to the fact that Gabriel's natural instincts were just kicking in, and then Remus was on the hunt, as well. He saw the people Gabriel was so suddenly tuned in to, tried to suss out what the blonde was hearing (and thus feeling) but it was all going a bit over Remus' head. He didn't have Gabriel's innate distrust of Muggles bred into him. Even when Gabriel leaned back in to inform him that that was his very source of discomfort, Remus was far too distracted by the man's embrace and lips and his voice to really follow. "Someone you know?" Remus asked when Gabriel was gone again, tilting his head at the man and watching the Muggles over his shoulder.
Remus listened closely, drinking and sitting in silence by Gabriel's side. He would follow the blonde's lead, his mind still not quite making the connection of what this was about. The Muggles were talking about magic and the supernatural, but Muggles did that all the time. They were obsessed with the stuff, even if they thought it was fake. The look on Gabriel's face when he turned back around to face Remus was jarring. When he leaned in once again, Remus only focused in concern on what he was saying, his gaze slipping past Gabriel one more time to get another glimpse of the Muggles before sliding back over Gabriel's face. "You sure? They sound like they're just bullshitting to me." He ran his thumb over Gabriel's knee, wanting to soothe away that discomfort propping him up like a scarecrow. "They're pretty self-regulating, this lot. Someone will call them out for talking 'mad', soon enough."
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Ministry of Magic
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Trish
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Alarm
May 26, 2017 13:03:03 GMT
Post by Gabriel Bishop on May 26, 2017 13:03:03 GMT
It was probably time for their trip to the bar to draw to a close. He wasn't just buzzed off of the alcohol but lovedrunk off of Remus too. The way the werewolf grinned at him made his heart flutter in a way that no one ever really had before. His blossoming relationship with the man was different than his previous romantic romps. It felt substantial and satisfying, like he had found something worthwhile. Gabriel chuckled and bobbed his surfer boy blonde head in agreement. "You've got no idea. We're always looking for a reason to set off fireworks. Fourth of July, Memorial Day , Promotion at work, dog learned a new trick. All of it, boom." The auror was grinning from over the rim of his glass.
The grin was long gone as he tuned into the ambient no-maj conversation. Every word made him feel more tense and he clenched his jaw 'til his lips were nothing but a thin, unhappy line. Gabriel answered Remus' question with a very tight shake of his head so slight one would miss it if they weren't watching. The more he listened in on the ambient no-maj conversation the more uncomfortable he felt. The Brits didn't treat No-Majs with such caution but they didn't have a torrid history full of Scourers, Witch Hunters and Second Salemers. While not officially taught to be cautious of No-Majs at school, even those from No-Maj descent like himself learned to be weary.
Remus, bless him, was trying to stroke away his alarm with his thumb over the auror's knee. Gabriel bit at the nail of his thumb, anxious and conflicted by the morality of it all. He didn't take modifying someone's memory lightly but it was necessary to protect wizarding society. The Statute of Secrecy was a thing for a reason, just like Rappaport's Law once was. Sure, the law had been repealed but the impact still ran deep. "Are you listening to what they're saying?" he asked in a low voice while catching that thumb under the bar and pulling Remus' hand into his. "It's too specific." The No-Maj's were talking about events, referencing The Eye. He wasn't there for the attack on the No-Maj place. Gabriel squeezed that hand, seeking comfort from the feeling of them together. "All they need is equally 'mad' friends and suddenly they'll be scouring the alleys." Like Diagon Alley.. Sending them into hiding, fearing persecution.
Gabriel had determined that it would be necessary to modify their memories, as much as he hated to do such a thing. Now the question was how to get them alone, he'd have to wait the men out and so Gabriel ordered another drink before turning to Remus. "You don't have to stay if it bothers you, I can catch up with you later."
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Hogwarts
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
Werewolf
Order of The Phoenix
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| |
44 years old
Gryffindor Alumnus
Wandless Magic
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Mego
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Alarm
Jun 26, 2017 19:10:42 GMT
Post by Remus Lupin on Jun 26, 2017 19:10:42 GMT
As much as he teased him about his home country, Remus loved for Gabriel to tell him about America. Every little bit of information was another little piece of Gabriel that slid into place, that suddenly made sense with all the other little pieces. Remus' mental image of Gabriel was growing clearer by the day, more solid and permanent. The man was taking up proper residency in his mind, kicking up dust and settling in nicely. "I'm taking you to the Weasleys' shop, too," he decided, eyeing Gabriel's grin with a little hunger in his gaze. "On Diagon. Have you been? You don't know fireworks until you've had theirs."
Watching Gabriel slip so effortlessly into the watchful, silent auror that he was was a little exhilarating, honestly - but it was also largely worrying. From his unashamed, unstoppable staring at Gabriel, Remus was beginning to pick up on all his little mannerisms and tics. Right now he looked nervous, anxious. And Remus didn't want him to feel that way. He liked the easy, grinning Gabriel too much to think that these darker feelings were just a part of his life, too. Remus tried to soothe it away for him, smiling again when Gabriel grabbed his hand. That part worked, at least, but his words seemed to have no effect on Gabriel. He was determined there was something up with these Muggles - Remus was actually a little taken aback. He must be missing something, something Gabriel was trained to see that he wasn't. Remus wasn't an auror, after all. He could play and pretend like one all he wanted but he didn't dare pretend for a second that he was better at Gabriel's job than Gabriel was. In short, Remus realized with a sudden flush of heat across his chest, he trusted the man. "Okay," he acquiesced with a nod, raising his free hand to stroke some of Gabriel's hair out of his face.
Remus held onto Gabriel's hand as the man ordered another drink, catching the bartender before he got away and ordering one for himself, too. "No. I don't want to leave you." Remus shook his head, feeling the dizziness from the alcohol as he did it. "Unless I'll be in your way. I'll understand."
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