Prompt 6
Title: Good Fortune or Bad
Author: patriot_jackie
Format and Word Count: Longish Drabble 564 Words
Rating: PG - British swear words not blocked out
Prompt: Prompt 6 - Pic of dice and casino
Summary: It was chance. Luck. Good fortune or bad that he walked by at that exact moment.
Author’s Note: The tense changes in this are intentional. She’s thinking in the past tense while things are happening in the present. I hope that doesn’t annoy anyone, because it’s not inconsistent, but it really just didn’t fly with me all in present or past tense. ;)
It was chance. Luck. Good fortune or bad that he walked by at that exact moment. That he happened to be three feet away from Elaine and me while we were having one of those top-secret girl-to-girl chats about the men in our lives. Coincidence that I didn’t see him until it was too late, figure and path obscured by the waiter at the table diagonal from ours. And of course, I was the one talking, Elaine having momentarily finished going on about her boyfriend, giving me the chance to open up about the man I’ve found myself falling for. Hard.
“So who is he? What’s his name?” Elaine had asked, and I hadn’t hesitated to answer.
“Remus Lupin, the great daft prat. I’ve given him so many opportunities, but he just won’t bite! Too d---ed shy or old fashioned or… I don’t know.”
“Sounds like a real catch.”
“He is. If I could just catch him…”
I realised she was being sarcastic from the sceptical, probing glare she gave me. She folded her arms on the table and leaned forward. “What is it about him? He’s a fair share older than you, isn’t he?”
“Only fourteen years.”
“Only?” she asked incredulously. “Well h---, Tonks! This Remus bloke must be really something! What’s he have the men our age don’t?”
I grinned unabashedly, but looked down to better ignore the onlookers her exclamation had gained the attention of, preferring to watch my fingers twiddle. “It’s got nothing to do with age,” I answered seriously. “It’s just that none of them… are Remus.”
I could feel her gaping at me, and I finally felt myself blush. “Bloody h---, Tonks! Are you in love with him?”
I looked up, not really seeing or even answering her. “I just may b- Remus!!”
My heart plummeted. He was standing behind Elaine, poised to walk unobtrusively by with his eyes closed and jaw clenched.
“Remus!” I gasped again, jumping up and toppling my chair to the cement with a loud clatter, once again drawing attention to myself. “What are you -?”
“Tonks.” He opened his eyes, but was looking straight ahead, not at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to listen to your private conversation. I was just passing through and meant to wish you a good afternoon.”
It’s now that I notice the waiter missing from a moment ago and realise that’s where he’s been. I should be angry with him, but I only feel a sense of relief and dreadful anticipation. I look to him frantically and say quickly, “It’s okay! I don’t -”
He silences me by meeting my eyes with his. My heart gives a heavy thud, body tingling and butterflies swirling in a wonderful sensation. My pulse quickens, insides again plunging as I register the open longing in his eyes, and I inhale sharply. His mouth curves upwards and he gives a minute puff of laughter, but the amusement doesn’t reach his eyes.
And now he’s walking away. I think to call after him or follow, but I find myself unable to do either.
His reaction plays again in my mind.
I can’t decide whether this is good fortune or bad as I stand amidst the people who have abandoned their lunch plates to view our scene, and watch Remus retreat through the small gate and continue on down the street.
AN: I suppose there should probably be a second part, huh?
Author: patriot_jackie
Format and Word Count: Longish Drabble 564 Words
Rating: PG - British swear words not blocked out
Prompt: Prompt 6 - Pic of dice and casino
Summary: It was chance. Luck. Good fortune or bad that he walked by at that exact moment.
Author’s Note: The tense changes in this are intentional. She’s thinking in the past tense while things are happening in the present. I hope that doesn’t annoy anyone, because it’s not inconsistent, but it really just didn’t fly with me all in present or past tense. ;)
It was chance. Luck. Good fortune or bad that he walked by at that exact moment. That he happened to be three feet away from Elaine and me while we were having one of those top-secret girl-to-girl chats about the men in our lives. Coincidence that I didn’t see him until it was too late, figure and path obscured by the waiter at the table diagonal from ours. And of course, I was the one talking, Elaine having momentarily finished going on about her boyfriend, giving me the chance to open up about the man I’ve found myself falling for. Hard.
“So who is he? What’s his name?” Elaine had asked, and I hadn’t hesitated to answer.
“Remus Lupin, the great daft prat. I’ve given him so many opportunities, but he just won’t bite! Too d---ed shy or old fashioned or… I don’t know.”
“Sounds like a real catch.”
“He is. If I could just catch him…”
I realised she was being sarcastic from the sceptical, probing glare she gave me. She folded her arms on the table and leaned forward. “What is it about him? He’s a fair share older than you, isn’t he?”
“Only fourteen years.”
“Only?” she asked incredulously. “Well h---, Tonks! This Remus bloke must be really something! What’s he have the men our age don’t?”
I grinned unabashedly, but looked down to better ignore the onlookers her exclamation had gained the attention of, preferring to watch my fingers twiddle. “It’s got nothing to do with age,” I answered seriously. “It’s just that none of them… are Remus.”
I could feel her gaping at me, and I finally felt myself blush. “Bloody h---, Tonks! Are you in love with him?”
I looked up, not really seeing or even answering her. “I just may b- Remus!!”
My heart plummeted. He was standing behind Elaine, poised to walk unobtrusively by with his eyes closed and jaw clenched.
“Remus!” I gasped again, jumping up and toppling my chair to the cement with a loud clatter, once again drawing attention to myself. “What are you -?”
“Tonks.” He opened his eyes, but was looking straight ahead, not at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to listen to your private conversation. I was just passing through and meant to wish you a good afternoon.”
It’s now that I notice the waiter missing from a moment ago and realise that’s where he’s been. I should be angry with him, but I only feel a sense of relief and dreadful anticipation. I look to him frantically and say quickly, “It’s okay! I don’t -”
He silences me by meeting my eyes with his. My heart gives a heavy thud, body tingling and butterflies swirling in a wonderful sensation. My pulse quickens, insides again plunging as I register the open longing in his eyes, and I inhale sharply. His mouth curves upwards and he gives a minute puff of laughter, but the amusement doesn’t reach his eyes.
And now he’s walking away. I think to call after him or follow, but I find myself unable to do either.
His reaction plays again in my mind.
I can’t decide whether this is good fortune or bad as I stand amidst the people who have abandoned their lunch plates to view our scene, and watch Remus retreat through the small gate and continue on down the street.
AN: I suppose there should probably be a second part, huh?