It catches up to you [Open]

[Professor James W. Boreal]

The dimly lit Shrunken Head, the soft murmur of conversations blended with the occasional clinking of glasses and the distant strains of a melancholic song played by a wizarding band engulfed James as he sat at the corner of the worn somber bar, nursing a glass of firewhisky. The amber liquid swirled in the glass, casting a flickering glow on his face.

His gaze was fixed on nothing in particular, lost in the depths of his own thoughts. The memories of his days as an Auror lingered like shadows, haunting the recesses of his mind. The faces of those he had lost, the battles fought, and the decisions made in the line of duty played like a haunting film. The weight of responsibility, the relentless pursuit of justice, it all left an indelible mark on his soul.

The transition to a life as a professor at Hogwarts brought its own set of challenges. The halls of the castle echoed with the laughter and mischief of students, a stark contrast to the tense environments he once navigated. The camaraderie among his colleagues and the joys of teaching provided a respite, yet the ghosts of his past often resurfaced, casting shadows on the present.

As he swirled the firewhisky in his glass, his thoughts shifted to his shattered family, his childhood friends, and to Lynnie, and their child, who brought warmth and love into his life. Yet, a part of him yearned for the freedom of his past exploits, and Animagus form, the raven that soared through the skies. The moonlit nights where he could take flight and lose himself in the vast expanse of the wizarding world became a distant memory.

Despite the contentment he found in his current life, there were moments when these introspections crept in. In the solitude of a pub corner or the quiet hours of the night, the complex tapestry of his identity unfolded before him. The clinking of glasses around him and the distant chatter of patrons became a distant hum as he delved deeper into his reflections.

Maybe he should get up to The Underground, maybe Natasha was there, maybe they could catch up. Maybe he should go meet Lynnie. Well, at that late hour she would just tell him to bugger off and sleep. Maybe he should pull himself together and go grade some exams, be professional. Or maybe he should just eff off to some remote country and live as a raven for a couple of years.

The complexities of his identity, the interplay between his past and present, the choices that defined him – all of it unfolded like wrinkled, written-and-erased parchment. The firewhisky, now dwindling in the glass, mirrored the passage of time. With a heavy sigh, James raised the glass to his lips, the fiery liquid offering a temporary solace. This journey into his own psyche was an ongoing exploration, one he did often, a quest for understanding and acceptance that was neverending.

Amidst the whispers of magic and the scent of brewing licqour and burning leaves, James grappled with the intricate thoughts that haunted him.

[Lynnie Carver]

The night was getting late, but she actually had some time up her sleeve for once. For once, she was able to just set aside 'Lynnie' time. No Noah, no studies, no Menagerie. Just some drinking time, contemplative reflections. At this point in the night, there wasn't many other places open other than the Sunken Head. It wasn't often place Lyn wanted to visit, it was a bit grimy and the Sunken Heads irked her. None-the-less, she apparated at the door and entered. 

Inside was relatively quiet, and she felt herself relax. The blond often drew eyes anywhere she wandered, but even more so in a place like this. A quick scan of the bar and she saw him. Drink in hand, looking melancholically in love with his drink - most likely whiskey. A small half smile pulled at the corner of her mouth as she walked over quietly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder before making herself comfortable on the chair next to him. 

"I thought I might find you here." She said softly, taking a moment to study his dimly lit face. The lighting situation inside the bar was pretty horrendous, some candles floated nearby. After a pause, she turned to the bartender to flag down a drink with a wave, signalling another round - one for her, one for him. 

[Professor James W. Boreal]

James felt a slight jolt of surprise as Emmaline's hand landed on his shoulder, breaking the spell of his reverie, yet standing there as if his thoughts had materialized her there somehow. He turned to meet her gaze, her presence both unexpected and welcome. Despite the dim lighting of the Shrunken Head, her beauty shone through, casting a soft glow that seemed to illuminate the entire room. His lips may have moved to spell Lyn, but he was sure no sound came out.

A second ago his mind was going back and forth between what it wanted, yet the sight of her golden locks was enough to make him forget the rest of the room. He signed towards the seat next to him, as he studied her, suddenly wondering what had brought her there. There was a comfort in her presence, a warmth that flooded his chest at the sight of her, yet she wasn't the person to wander alone into these places - or she hadn't been for a while, so an eyebrow raised in his darkened face.


"You have a way of finding me in the most unexpected places," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he welcomed her with a soft smile. He watched as she signaled for another round of drinks, the flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows across her face. "Thank you." he murmured as he accepted the drink from the bartender, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before turning back to his drink.

"So are you going to make me ask?" he teased, genuine curiosity shining in his eyes. And he knew she knew he'd want to know what had gotten her there.

[Lynnie Carver]

She watched his face as it took a moment or two for him to realise that she was physically there with him. Lyn smirked ever so gently and licked her bottom lip as he mentioned that she'd always seem to find him - innocently, Lynnie shrugged. "Well, I do have a tracking spell cast on you..." She replied lightly, absently swirling her glass around in her fingertips. They sat in silence for a moment before he mentioned about 'asking'. 

Lyn turned to look at James, her eyes bright and soft. She couldn't help but deeply love this stupid man in front of her. The shit he had put her through just seemed to melt away when she looked at him, and still - after all this time, she felt her heart skip a few beats as soon as he was near. Even his smell, it was alluring to her. He could have been out in the back yard shovelling Pygmy poop for all she cared - he had that 'thing' about him which she could never put into words.

"I had missed you," the blonde started raising the glass to her lips, she savoured the flavour of the drink before adding more to her confession. "I got Noah a babysitter for the night, and I just thought - it's probably about time that you and I can just reacquaint each other again." She lowered her glass to glance at him again, somewhat a bit bashfully, and sighed. "I didn't want to wait until you were home... so I came looking for you." She added, "but don't worry, I didn't get raped, mugged or followed along the way - even though I was trying." She joked distastefully.   

Lynnie looked at James again, but really looking at him. "You seem a bit glum, is everything okay?" She asked with genuine concern. 

[Professor James W. Boreal]

Lyn's lighthearted tracking spell joke made James chuckle softly, appreciating her not always apparent sense of humor. Her presence always had a way of easing the weight on his shoulders, even if just a little. He watched her swirl her glass, her movements elegant yet relaxed, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere he often found himself in.

As she confessed her reason for seeking him out, James felt a mixture of emotions wash over him. Her words stirred something within him, a sense of longing mixed with gratitude for her efforts to connect with him. He couldn't help but smile at her admission, touched by her sincerity.

James couldn't help but feel a swell of warmth at the mention of Noah, their precious son who seemed to bring light into their lives with every smile. Thoughts of their little boy, with his infectious laughter and curious nature, never failed to bring a smile to James' face.

"Well, I'm certainly glad you did," he replied, his voice soft but earnest, "It's been too long since we've had a chance to just... be." He paused, sipping his drink before continuing. "And sorry to hear you had to resort to such drastic measures," he added with a hint of amusement, though his concern was evident in his eyes.

At her question about his mood, James hesitated for a moment, debating how much to reveal. But Lynnie had always had a way of seeing through his facade, and he knew he couldn't hide much from her.

"It's just... the usual," he admitted with a shrug, a faint sigh escaping his lips. "Work, the kids are getting smarter and smarter but somehow stupider and stupider, if that makes sense.", he explained albeit not very well, "got mixed up in a couple of things at the Ministry as well-I know, I know", he raised his hand apologetically, he knew she was going to give him a hard time for not being able to let his Auror-life behind, "you know, you, and Noah... just life in general, I suppose." He met her gaze, his expression softening. "Not to get to gloom or anything, I promise! And having you here certainly brightens things up a bit."