RP: Boys' day out

[tt_james]

Date: 24 March 2002
Characters: James, Remus, and Sirius
Setting: World's End Pub
Content: TBD
Status: Private : Open

James arrived at the pub a little before noon, not wanting to make his friends wait and pretty sure his reputation for lateness had most likely always driven Remus up the wall (as it had with Lily, he'd learned). He said hello to Lisa and Paul (the grumpy kitchen worker was actually a nice enough guy, especially if you were on Lisa's good side, which James made sure to be) and then took a booth in the front corner and faced the door to keep an eye out. Not that the place was very busy - they had brunch but not a huge selection and James figured the younger people of the settlements weren't necessarily the 'brunch set' like there had been back in London.

Lisa brought him three menus and a coffee and he ordered a bloody mary - it was brunch after all - and waited for Remus and Sirius to arrive. Part of him was nervous, especially as he'd decided to tell them about himself and Lily and he was afraid Sirius might take him to task to make sure he didn't screw things up. He'd also recently heard that an Auror named Nymphadora Tonks had come through the Portal and according to the datapad, she'd been married to Remus at some point. In a way, he hoped he and Remus could commiserate - both had children they'd never known and a wife they didn't realize they'd had, right? And everyone needed a friendly ear sometimes, what else were best friends for, even over space and time and death?

Comments

[tt_sirius]

Sirius was running ten minutes late to the World's End. Kingsley had called him up and there were some details he wanted that just couldn't wait.

Apparating over to the path near the pub, Sirius raked his fingers through his hair. He was dressed casually in jeans and a dark blue t-shirt, and he waved to the barmaid as he entered, finding James and Remus easily enough.

Crossing to the booth, he leaned over and shook James hand before sliding in beside Remus with a lop-sided grin. "Sorry I'm late. Boss man never gives me a day off," Sirius joked dryly.

[tt_remus]

Remus answered James' question, "I was the one who told her about us. That was awkward." It could have been more awkward if he said his next comment around Sirius. Seeing as how they were related.

"Hello Sirius. Work is supposed to keep people out of trouble. In theory."

[tt_james]

"This one? Out of trouble? Remus, have you ever met us?" He asked jokingly, shaking Sirius' hand. "Lisa's already brought out our drinks, what are you having?" It was brunch after all, made for day drinking and evening hangovers.

[tt_sirius]

James' joke lifted some of the tension he felt. It would take some getting used to this, but he was thankful for the opportunity.

"Lisa, ah, that lovely lass already knows my drink. She'll be along with it," he assured James.

"Now what's this about awkward?"

[tt_remus]

"James got someone pregnant already. How crass," Remus said drily, picking up his mug to take a drink. He decided to make things interesting. "He just wanted to wait until you got here to tell us."

[tt_james]

James started, "I did nothing of the sort! I just figured I'd wait until Sirius got here to share the good news." He waited as Lisa appeared as if out of thin air with Sirius' drink, and when she'd left them alone again he lowered his voice to advance the drama.

"Well, news is, your very own teenage playboy has a lady friend." He waited to see their reactions before fully divulging.

[tt_remus]

Remus just stared at him and looked to Sirius as if to say 'are you surprised?'. Remus remembered 18 year old James. He knew he enjoyed his ladies. "Is she pretty?" He shouldn't have asked. It was James.

[tt_sirius]

It was a good thing he didn't have his drink yet because he would have spit it out with Remus' unexpected joke.

He was grateful when Lisa appeared with his drink, winking at her in thanks. Sirius took a bracing drink of it.

"Wait a minute. You..." he narrowed his gaze, then his eyes went wide. "You mean Lily, right?"

[tt_james]

James laughed out loud, "Yes you old fool, have you ever known another girl who could rope me into monogamy?!" To Remus he said, "Prettiest witch any of us have ever known." He grinned.

"She called herself my girlfriend last night as we watched a movie and I actually didn't drop dead of a lightning strike or heart attack." He lifted his glass as if to toast.

[tt_remus]

"He does have a point. Monogamy isn't his forte..." Remus said with a grin. "I'm impressed, Prongs! Does this mean you're... committed? The Big C?" This was news to him. He hadn't expected it, though seeing who it was, he shouldn't be entirely surprised.

[tt_sirius]

"It was with Lily," Sirius pointed out with a broad grin. "The minute he asked her out, he was a changed man. Didn't see him looking at a skirt when she was around, either."

Sirius lifted his glass and clicked it against James. He was pleased but optimistic. "The Big C? Give the bloke a minute to breath, Remus. Not everyone jumps in with both feet like you did, mate."

[tt_james]

James shook his head, "I wouldn't call it that much yet. Do you think she's thinking that? I'll admit I've been... Worried. Do you think she thinks I'm the same I was in 1980? I don't even know that bloke."

He looked his friends in the eyes, his concern and thoughtfulness obvious on his face. If he were another man, he might even be sweating while waiting for their thoughts on the matter.

[tt_remus]

"I think she's realized you aren't the same and you may never be that man. I think she enjoys having you around because you're familiar. Not that she doesn't really like you, don't get me wrong. She may want full commitment down the road, but doesn't every woman?" Remus finished, and turned to Sirius.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said innocently enough. Remus wasn't that man either.