057.

[7thborn]

[ accidental voice ]

-yes, alright! Be right there!

[The feed begins with the sounds of a busy Blue Light, filtered through the pocket of an apron to dull the noise down to a muffled tone. Ginny’s voice rises above the rest, the lightness edged in a tension that must be brought on by balancing a full tray of drink orders on one hand - though you

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[oshutup]

[ Peter intervenes, picking up the glass, settling it into a carrying bin. ]

You should have mentioned.

[ What with all the goings on, it's not hard to guess what's gone wrong here, or even if it's not that - if Ginny is just unwell on a more ordinary scale, the point stands: she should have said. ]

[7thborn]

[Ginny shakes her head a little to shift the hair off her face, but it does little good when the errant locks cling to her forehead, slick with sweat. When she glances up to Peter, what little colour left in her cheeks drains away because this shouldn't have happened, she should be used to it by now, she should have a better grip on it. But there's really no use trying to hide the fact that her shoulder feels like it's being split in two by a blade a year in the past, but she tries all the same, shaking hands wielding her wand and repairing the glasses that can be saved.

It's through tightly grit teeth that she forces the low reassurance.]

There's nothing to mention. [Breathe. Breathe. It'll pass, it always does.] I've got this, Peter-it was my fault, really. Wasn't looking where I was going.

[oshutup]

[ Sighing, Peter gathers what glass could not be salvaged into the bin he has with him, and glances over at the redhead. Sometimes they don't seem as far apart in age as they actually are, but right now the difference is vastly apparent to him and he watches the clench of her jaw with a critical eye - not fooled in the least. ]

Ginny, I think we're slightly better off than lying to each other.

[ Finishing with the glass, he takes a rag to what spilled drink had gotten onto the floor and sops that up as well, his own mouth pressed thin, ] Please go home. I know what's been happening.

I just didn't know it'd been happening to you.

[7thborn]

No idea what you're talking about.

[The response is brusque and it's curtness can be blamed on the pain just as easily as it can be blamed on her temper. But Ginny can already feel it beginning to ebb just a little, enough so she can focus a bit more on the magic at hand, and she Vanishes the spilled liquid with a light flick of her wand. A mess that should have taken her two seconds to clean up and without any help. Well, what's done is done and it's alright now.

The redheaded witch stands, falters a little on her feet but regains balance quickly, and she looks up at Peter, jaw just as set.]

I'm not going home. I'm fine.

[There's more than stubbornness at work here. There's almost a plea in that last word. Don't pity me, don't think I need help, don't let anyone else know what I know you know. Please.]

[oshutup]

[ There is not much liquid left for Ginny to magic away because Peter has already gotten most of it and he sighs again, the bin lodged under the clutch of his arm as he eyes her when she stands, brow arched. ]

You're being difficult, not, I suspect, out of wanting to be difficult, but out of some misguided sense of keeping a stiff upper lip, and while I do understand that, Ginny, this isn't an option. I'm telling you to go home.

[7thborn]

[The glare Ginny levels with him is one straight out of her mother's book. Whether or not it has even the faintest effect on Peter as it does with the Weasley children, she doesn't care, because yes, it is all about keeping a stupid stiff upper lip. In fact - ]

Misguided? Don't you bloody dare.

[And with a huff of indignation more suited to her young age, Ginny tries to grab the bin from Peter, entirely with the intent to march off to the back room and away from all of this.]

[oshutup]

[ Peter does not relinquish the bin however, and gently puts his hand on the shoulder he perceives to be the 'good' shoulder because of the way Ginny is carrying herself. He curls his hand over it lightly in the mild reassurance of someone who does not pity who he is dealing with but thinks they need to listen, take a second and step outside of themselves.

To be fair, he only knows because it took him a rather long time to get with the program as well. ]

I'm afraid you have to remember I'm your friend but I'm also your employer.

[ Translation: you have to do as I tell you, in this place. ]

[7thborn]

[It's more out of reflex than anything else that has Ginny flinching at Peter's touch though she doesn't shy away from it entirely. There is a tenseness there that eases ever so slightly because there is comfort in this small gesture. She's grateful, a little, though she doesn't show it. She's hidden this from everyone for weeks. There's guilt, too; she's never said who gave her the scar in the first place and Peter out of everyone cannot know.

Ginny lets her eyes close for just a beat, and there's a suspicious brightness to them - another thing, another self-perceived weakness she wants to hide

Tired. She is just, suddenly, tired and some of the fight drains out of her.]

Peter, I'm sorry. I didn't think...

[She drops her voice as well as her gaze.]

I didn't say anything because I didn't want it to- [Ow, bloody hell.] To get in the way.