cribellate | SIRIUS BLACK

[London is one of Sirius' favorite places in the entire world. It doesn't have the wildness of Scotland, of course, it lacks the dynamic, furious landscape, but it has everything else Sirius loves: the manic, mad energy, the people around at all hours. He's made for London, it's clear. Wherever he goes he draws attention - when he scours the markets of Covent Garden and Camden Town, forcing Remus to come with him because he needs someone to translate muggle money for him, or when he smartens up at night for a meeting somewhere or another.

They've been there for a month, and not a single moment has been spent at Diagon Alley.

Sirius is standing at the edge of a booth, of a shop, on the Queen's Walk. There's a market, and he's wearing a new leather jacket, and he looks very punk, which is an exciting new style.

And Remus still looks like he's trying his best to imitate a professor. There's a girl in a tiny mod dress and a huge scarf wandering around Remus, trying to flirt with him, and Remus is as oblivious as any one person can get.

There is a sudden burst of mixed emotions in Sirius from this: who wouldn't see how spectacular Remus is, but at the same time, that's his, and the heir to the house of Black has never been good at sharing.]

Oy, Moony-

[He says it with a grin, he uses the one he knows makes Remus crazy.]

Are you done picking out a book, yet?

[ He looks up at his friend on instinct and immediately regrets it. Because of course Sirius is smirking like that, with his new jacket and his stupid hair and his pretty mouth. It makes him want to bang his head repeatedly off the shelves in front of him. Or fall down and cry, he's not sure which. ]

Almost. [ He stands up from his crouch, knees cracking like he's an old man. There are two giant looking dusty books in his hand and he offers a mild smile up. ] I can't decide which one I want.

[ And of course the charming girl in the scarf is just leaning over to wait and give her opinion but Remus doesn't even notice. ] What do you think? Poetry about lakes and things? [ Holding up the first. ] Or some barmy bloke's drug induced ranting?

[His hair is most certainly not stupid, thank you. He moves over, and the girl give Sirius the most cursory of glances - it's almost dismissive, and she says something about poetry before Sirius grabs the book on drug induced ranting and looks at it.]

I'll buy this one, if it makes choosing easier for you.

[Because Sirius will read mad rants, he's quite good at sussing them out.]

I'll buy both if you agree that your next item of clothing that you purchase won't be a blazer sewn for a man ripe with middle age.

[ Remus frowns at him but it does nothing to hide the fond amusement in his eyes. ]

What's wrong with my blazer? It's practical. [ He clutches the poetry book to his chest and gives the poor girl a little nod before he's dragging his best friend towards the cash register tucked in the back. ] You don't have to buy the book you know. I'm aware you just wanted to get away.

[He scoffs and he's already reaching for the money in his pocket, muggle bills, and handing them to Remus to handle. He's been in the muggle for a month and he still does not understand their money. It simply makes no sense at all.]

The only benefit of that stupid blazer is that it makes me want to take it off you.

[Otherwise it is ugly and tweed and does nothing for Remus.]

[ Remus still persists in getting out his wallet and funding half of it either way. And he's been trying to teach Sirius but there's something quite nice about helping him out regularly like this.

Now there's a tell-tale flush of pink at the back of Remus' neck and a small smile to his lips as he turns and swings the bag between them. ] Yes yes, my wardrobe is offensive to your very soul. I would rectify it but really, you have to learn you can't have everything you want.

[That might be why Sirius almost refuses to learn how it works, really. He mastered being an animagus at age 15, so muggle money should be no challenge at all, but then Remus might actually not go shopping with him and that's no fun at all.]

I have no idea what you're talking about, and I take great offense to the mere notion that I can't have everything I want.

[He sniffs, once.]

And you should get a new haircut. Something fun. Come on, it's not as though you have to impress any teachers, anymore.

And leave everyone to suffer the indignity of my wonky ears? I think not.

[ He pushes open the bookstore door and steps out into the street. London is noisy and manic and everything he should hate. But then again, Sirius is his best friend so he might actually be more attracted to chaos than he thought. ]

C'mon Padfoot, I simply having got it cut out to be a fashionable man about town. That's you.

[He puts his arm around Remus' shoulders, and the only odd looks they get is because they look like they wouldn't be friends at all - Sirius, looking like he's one bit of leather away from being Sid Vicious, and Remus, looking like, well.

A middle aged man.]

Well it does keep you all mine, doesn't it.

[Meaning that Sirius is rather positive that if Remus started dressing his age, Sirius would have to take a bat to people to keep them away. He was a very good beater. He could do it.]

[ He just very helpfully digs his pointy elbows in to Sirius' ribs. ]

Are you going to stop insulting me any time soon? Or shall I leave you to it? There was a market vendor selling tea. I could just pop off for a cup and come back to the end of your tirade.

[He laughs, then. It's like they're normal boys, in a normal world, not wizards who are on the front lines of a war. He lets go.]

You wouldn't abandon me in the muggle. I might get lost. I would try and go on the coaches and end up in some muggle village and be lost forever, and then Prongs would be very cross with you.

I think James would come around eventually. [ He pulls his blazer tighter around his body against the chill, the bag of books hitting his hip as he walks. ] He'd understand that I had no choice.

But maybe if you're nice to me I'll stay and you won't have to go off and wander moors or become a sheep farmer.

I would be very lost if I came across a moor.

[He smiles a bit, and nudges him. Just a little. Enough to make sure that Remus is paying attention.]

How nice to you need me to be?

[ He glances his way, a sly smile moving across his lips. It's a new thing, Remus allowing himself some kind of flirtation. It had taken a lot to get him there in the first place and he's still sometimes shy about it. But some days, like today, he's too busy feeling content to worry about anything. ]

Very. I put up with a lot you know. Tea on demand, some cake, a footrub? [ He has to weave out of Sirius' reach for a moment to avoid walking into a woman with a pram. ] Perhaps some other things as and when I think of them.

I'll make you as much tea as you like. Buckets and buckets of tea, as needed, to keep you happy.

[He takes a moment-]

Chocolate cake?

Is there any other type of cake?

[ He smiles, impish and sweet. ] So, what's next on the agenda?

There are many kinds of cake. Kinds of cake you have never dreamed of, my good friend, and-

[What's next, though?]

A new blazer for you?

Just because they exist doesn't mean I should acknowledge him. [ And he points at his friend then, narrowing his eyes. ] And no, no new blazer. This one is perfectly fine.

[ Besides, he'd just end up back in the charity shop. ]

[Sigh]

Why do you insist on dressing like an old man? You do know we're only 18, right? Live a little, Moony. You'll have fun, I promise. Have I ever really steered you wrong, and no, you may not mention the houseplant incident of 4th year, we agreed-

[He is pouting. He is so cute when he pouts.]

[ He is cute. That doesn't mean he's going to win Remus over. ]

You steer me wrong at some point every week, Padfoot. So feel free to stop claiming innocence any time now.

What did I really do this week?

Really?

[God do not mention making him go on the adventure in the Underground that ended up with them finding out about the dragon under Charing Cross....]

[ Just lifting his eyebrows. ]

You know you don't want me to say the u-word.

Merlin, you have a long memory.

[It was three days ago, Sirius.]

All right, all right.

No new blazer.

Old blazer will simply have to learn that it's place is on the floor of my bedroom.

[ Flapping his hands at him with a hissing shush sound. ] Not so loud.

[ Because they are in public, Sirius. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject