Distract me from my thoughts, once more.

[nymphadorauror]

Date: Thursday May 18, 2000
Time: 6ish pm
Place: London, Charlie’s shack
Characters Involved: Charlie and Tonks
Rating: PG-13?
Complete

Comments

[charlie_weasel]

Days in England, without employment, were dreadfully long and droll. At first, it could be fun, relieving even. But this time was different- this bout of unemployment seemed, to Charlie, dark- forboding. He felt as if he was in for a long run here. No one wanted to hire a drunken, artist/ex-Seeker, lazy Weasley

[charlie_weasel]

Charlie absently wondered if Tonks needed help undoing her laces, but his attention was called back to his lack of employment.

He shrugged in a sullen manner, finishing off his drink at the same time. "I suppose I had it coming, but nonetheless. They could have told me before I got up and went in at fucking 6am." Charlie muttered for a moment, then spoke up. "Something about being lazy, skiving work, and not giving them notice about leaving for another country. Which I think is shite, because well. I didn't tell anybody, did I?"

[nymphadorauror]

Tonks couldn’t help but to laugh. It wasn’t the sort of laugh one did when highly excited or energetic, as if a joke had been told. Its tone was light, and its length was shorter, to make a person assume that Tonks didn’t mean to laugh, and was trying to hold back, but part of her amusement had slipped out of her surprised expression

[charlie_weasel]

Charlie gave Tonks a look: one of amusement and resentment mixed together. (He had always been able to create very interesting expressions.) He made a face at her and offered her the bottle of Firewhiskey.

"I know, I know. But I didn't have a chance to tell them. I mean, I didn't even tell my own mother for Merlin's sake.-- And I wasn't lazy at work. I did what I supposed to. It may surprise you, but sometimes I am motivated." Charlie's chair, hard and wooden, creaked lightly as he sat back and sighed.

[nymphadorauror]

Tonks glanced between Charlie’s weird expression to his offered bottle, and then held out her glass for him to take and refill for her, and give her the opportunity to remove her shoes without problems.

“You didn’t have a chance? I want to ask what the bloody hell happened to make you fly from the coop, but, I don’t want to be a pest. And I didn’t mean to make it sound like you are so lazy that they probably fired you because of that first… I was just commenting on what you yourself said. It does surprise me that you are motivated- sometimes. Well no… I take that back.” Her free hand pointed at the bottle in his. “You show lots of motivation.”

[charlie_weasel]

Did Tonks, Nymphadora just compliment Weasley, Charlie? ...Had that really just happened?

Charlie gave Tonks an unnerved glance as she gave her shoes another try. He poured her a drink, along with one for himself.

"Well. Thank you. I think... I'll pretend I don't think you have ulterior motives. --And you aren't pesty- er. It's just- well, I don't know how to explain it without sounding idiotic. Er." Charlie held out Tonks' drink. "I got an owl- from Viorica."

[nymphadorauror]

She had taken one shoe off without fail, but the other was being stubborn do to the fact that a knot had been created in her irritating laces. Tonks decided to just try and pull the boot off from her foot without worrying about the blasted knot, as she listened to Charlie. She even gave him a sideways glance, when he stated something about interior motives, wondering why he would even think she would have them

[charlie_weasel]

Charlie ducked instinctively as Tonks' shoe went flying into the Great Unknown of the shack. He smiled at her and swirled his drink around for a minute.

"Viorica, I said," Charlie repeated trying to keep his voice emotionless. Gods, if Tonks knew what emotions were roller-coasting right now---.. Surely she had some idea who he was talking about. He shifted in his chair for a moment.

After taking another drink and feeling a very, very miniscule buzz in the back of his head, Charlie smiled weakly. "From Romania."

[nymphadorauror]

The vocal repeat of the name did not jar Tonks from her confused stare at Charlie, but his voice, his rustling in his chair, and then his comment on location made her inhale sharply. Oh Holy Harpy! Was this… did this person, this woman, have to do with what happened to Charlie to make him come back from Romania? The very assumed issues Tonks had thought up when they had a few fighting matches? But then it didn’t make sense… why would his sudden departure for Romania involve an owl from her.

The realization of what could possibly be smacked Tonks in the face rather quickly. She had to down her drink to buy her some time, to cough and hack of course, before she could continue with this rather awkward conversation. Don’t be like that…. he’s listened to your silly problems… least you could do is listen to his. But why would that idiot go back to her? What the hell did she even have to say to him after all this time? How long as it been? Bloody Hell, I know less than I want to admit.“Oh…” Tonks pushed that out of her vocal chords,

[charlie_weasel]

Charlie inwardly grimaced at Tonks' expression of pure confusion. There were reasons, mainly that had to do with his own insecurities-- and because he didn't really enjoy compromising situations, which normally helped him keep his tongue tight.

Drink, unfortunately, was very good a loosening him up. And yet, it was so satiating.

Charlie felt the boozy blush drain from his face. He tugged on the sleeves of the jumper in a distracted way. Did he really want to get into this? ...Well, she asked, right?

After pouring himself a rather tall drink (this time from a bottle of Scotch-- which would have been better with ice, but...) and downing it in a few swallows, he decided he might as well tell Tonks what had gone on- at least, the first time.

He exhaled. "I’ll just try to start from the- er- beginning. Well, see... while I was in Romania I was with, Merlin-- a lot of different women. And I'm not inflating my own ego here. I'm just stating the fact, before you take a pop on me. Anyway, um... where was I? Oh." Another drink is poured. "