As has been noted in the past, there is being attached to someone and there is being surgically attached. As such, about a week after returning from the Labyrinth, Rachel is surprised to glance up at Tobias' perch and find him asleep.
Another part of her is more than surprised: it's relieved.
She's trying not to think about that much.
Which is simple enough, since the second she leaves the room, she's very aware that she has only a limited amount of time before he wakes up and notices she's gone.
It's not running away. It's a break. And she'll bring him back something from Bar. It'll be fine.
And wouldn't you know it? Someone she knows, who she hasn't seen in a while, who is unlikely to spend hours staring at her in eerie, broken silence.
"Hi James," Rachel says with more cheerfulness than usual, sliding into a chair at his table.
But his tone of voice takes a very definite upturn as he adds, "I've been made Captain of the team, and with the new year starting - well, that means filling in a couple of positions. Two of our players graduated."
"Like you wouldn't believe," James says, also relaxing a little. "You've got to pick someone who's good, of course, but also someone who gets along with the rest of the team. You can't play well with each other if you're not on the same wavelength, you know?"
"You would," he says. "NEWT-level is basically taking advanced level classes in everything. And you must know what writing essays is like. It's torture, isn't it."
Then: "But since I just spent a couple of days running for my life from monsters in Milliways' version of a labyrinth, my definition of 'torture' is a little different at the moment."
"Yeah- well, okay, 'monsters' isn't right. But weird. A lot of weird. Weird and dangerous."
She smirks, more comfortable with the idea than she should be and shakes her head. "I mean, I've seen a lot of weird and dangerous, but there was stuff in that place I don't really want to see again."
Another part of her is more than surprised: it's relieved.
She's trying not to think about that much.
Which is simple enough, since the second she leaves the room, she's very aware that she has only a limited amount of time before he wakes up and notices she's gone.
It's not running away. It's a break. And she'll bring him back something from Bar. It'll be fine.
And wouldn't you know it? Someone she knows, who she hasn't seen in a while, who is unlikely to spend hours staring at her in eerie, broken silence.
"Hi James," Rachel says with more cheerfulness than usual, sliding into a chair at his table.
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He starts to smile, all expression of serious thought disappearing from his face.
Well, there's no point being utterly serious about things in company.
"All right, Rachel?" he greets. "Haven't seen you in - well, what feels like ages."
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It really feels like ages.
"What's got you so worried?" she asks, nodding to the paper. Because distractions topics are awesome.
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"Quidditch try-outs," he replies.
But his tone of voice takes a very definite upturn as he adds, "I've been made Captain of the team, and with the new year starting - well, that means filling in a couple of positions. Two of our players graduated."
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She has way too much fun with this.
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Every time.
It's Quidditch, after all!
And Quidditch is ... well, Quidditch!
"Yes," he says evenly. "My ... broom game.
"It's brilliant. Even you can't argue that it isn't. You've seen a bit of it."
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"Yeah, yeah, brilliant and cool," Rachel laughs, relaxing back into her seat. "Even as a cake. Is it really that hard to pick new people?"
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"Like you wouldn't believe," James says, also relaxing a little. "You've got to pick someone who's good, of course, but also someone who gets along with the rest of the team. You can't play well with each other if you're not on the same wavelength, you know?"
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And with the sudden rush of understanding, is really starting to curse her inability to just have a conversation with someone.
"Yeah, that makes sense," Rachel agrees slowly, and smiles. "I take it back, then, this must be hell for you."
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"Well, there could be worse hells," he says amiably. "Like having to finish a NEWTs-level Potions essay by tomorrow or something."
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"You would," he says. "NEWT-level is basically taking advanced level classes in everything. And you must know what writing essays is like. It's torture, isn't it."
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Then: "But since I just spent a couple of days running for my life from monsters in Milliways' version of a labyrinth, my definition of 'torture' is a little different at the moment."
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"Blimey - there are monsters here? In Milliways?"
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She smirks, more comfortable with the idea than she should be and shakes her head. "I mean, I've seen a lot of weird and dangerous, but there was stuff in that place I don't really want to see again."
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He hasn't even heard about the demon bunnies in the woods, really.
"It's good you're all right, though."
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