Alice

[mooningremus]

Remus had stayed in Willy's flat. Of course he had. Where else would he go? And honestly, Remus had been too poor and beaten down for too long to allow his pride to make him stupid. He'd managed to hold down a job at a bookshop, enough to buy groceries and the lease on the storage unit and start to save. Because he kept just assuming this would end. That Willy would come back and ask him to leave, or someone would show up demanding rent. But it had been months and neither of those things had happened yet.

He was also achingly lonely.

He had just opened the oven to check on a loaf of rosemary ciabatta, when he heard a sound behind him. And he turned just in time to see a woman stepping out of the floor length mirror.

His hand went to his wand instinctively.

Comments

[alice_fair]

"The blonde Unseelie," she said, unwilling to give his name. "He's only manifested recently. Probably because of Willy, I would guess. The Prince's power calls up things like that."

[mooningremus]

"I don't know what any off that means," said Remus.

Or who the blonde was.

[alice_fair]

"It doesn't matter. I can simply assure you that he is in the city."

Alice looked around, drinking in the magic.

"You're a wizard and a wolf? And Willy is your friend?" she asked.

[mooningremus]

"Yes, and yes, he's my... friend," said Remus.

So Willy was back in London. He didn't even care enough to tell Remus. And also he was with some... blonde.

He looked slightly miserable. "Would you like some fresh bread?" he asked, as he bent over the oven to pull it out.

[alice_fair]

"Is it a gift?" she asked cautiously.

[mooningremus]

"Um... sure?" said Remus. "No strings attached, it's just bread."

[alice_fair]

"Then I would enjoy sharing a bite to eat," she smiled as she took a seat at the small table, waiting to be served.

[mooningremus]

Remus put the loaf on a cutting board and brought it to the table. "Shall I mix the butter with some honey?" he asked. "Willy likd that..."

[alice_fair]

"That would be kind. You're an excellent host," she smiled. ;Willy was your lover?"

[mooningremus]

"Yes," said Remus, sounding sad. He returned to the table with a bowl of honey butter, and then went about slicing pieces of bread. "But he was never as fond of me as I was of him, I think."

[alice_fair]

"Of course not," she laughed lightly. "He has his heart. He'll not give it away again, I think."

[mooningremus]

"Yes well, I was always very careful not to demand it," said Remus. "I never asked anything of him, but..." He handed her a plate with a slice of bread and a butter knife. "But he doesn't want any part of me, it seems."

[alice_fair]

"Love comes and goes like the tide, little wizard. Don't be sad it's gone, it will come again," she assured him as she delighted in the butter and bread.

[mooningremus]

"I've never been very confident of that for myself," Remus said honestly. "In any case, I do... miss him. If he's back he may want me to leave. I almost wish he would evict me because at least I'd see him again."

He still wore that ring Willy had given him. It was perhaps his most prized possession, aside from his wand.

[alice_fair]

Alice looked at him for a moment.

"But this is your home. What say does he have?" Alice asked.

[mooningremus]

"No, this is his home," said Remus, shaking his head.

[alice_fair]

She laughed, bright and warm.

"No it isn't," she smiled. "The magic here centers on you."

[mooningremus]

"Well magical energy doesn't pay rent," Remus said with a chuckle.

[alice_fair]

"What rent?" Alice asked. "Do wizards really not understand a claim? You can't feel it? This is your home, Remus. No one else has claim on it. Silly werewolf."

[mooningremus]

Remus wasn't sure how to explain it to her. Though also, he couldn't help but like the idea that in some way... this place was his. This was indeed thee first place that had felt like home in a long time. But...

"I would still prefer it with him in it," he said quietly.

[alice_fair]

"Foolish, foolish," she said tenderly, shaking her head. "You are in love. And unwisely."

[mooningremus]

"Yes, so he tells me," said Remus with a touch of irritation.

[alice_fair]

"But you didn't listen, did you? No one ever does, " she said, then sighed, "oh, love."

[mooningremus]

"I can't seem to control my heart," Remus said. "Not anymore than I can control him."

[alice_fair]

"You could more easily control the storm," she said as she smeared honey on more bread. "My boy, my sweet, grieve as if he's dead and let him go."