(Untitled)

[playswithboys]

Date: December 5, 2000
Status: Semi-private to start [Complete]
Setting: Doorway between lobby and bar
Summary: Mistletoe!!!

Comments

[grimsirius]

"I've never heard that one before," remarked Sirius, watching Pepper attempt to hang the mistletoe from the door frame. He figured it was probably a muggle one, judging from the ridiculous way she was trying to hang things. Sirius wasn't so bad with muggle tools ever since he'd decided to fix up an old muggle motorbike years ago, but hammers were still enough to send him into fits of laughter.

"Did you want some help with that?" Amusing as this might be, mistletoe was always a handy thing to have about.

[playswithboys]

Pepper firmly reminded herself that whipping about the way she normally did would not be a wise move, the way she was currently situated. She turned around to face... someone she hadn't met yet. "Never heard it?" she said incredulously, smiling. "What planet are you from, then? Or are you Jewish or summat?"

She looked at her current progress and cringed. Help would be good at this point. Before she brought the whole ceiling down around them. "Actually, if you could hold the mistletoe and keep the ladder steady, that would be fantastic. I'm Pepper, by the way," she added, holding out a hand.

[grimsirius]

"I'm a wizard, actually. We have some songs in common, but not all of them. I knew that one about the reindeer already."

He stepped out of the doorway and crossed the room to take her hand, shaking it firmly. "Sirius Black. Nice to meet you. And if you don't mind, I have a better idea."

Leaning against the ladder, he took out his wand, eyed the mistletoe, and squinted. "Wingardium Leviosa," he muttered, almost to himself. The mistletoe levitated out of her fingers, and, spinning about in midair, floated upwards until it rested on the ceiling. With a sharp jab of his wand, Sirius sealed it with a slightly modified Permanent Sticking Charm. It would be impossible to remove* until January.

"How's that?"

*To Sirius' working definition of possible, at least. The concept of angelic and demonic powers hadn't fully realised itself to him yet.

[playswithboys]

Wizard? He was a -

Oh. He was.

"Cor," Pepper breathed. "I mean I knew you were all around here, but I never met... what a great name. It looks perfect. And how'd you do that? I mean, are wizards born with magic, or do they have to learn it? And do you need the wand to do it? How come I've never seen you around here before?" Stop asking so many questions. "Er, I mean... sorry. I just get a little chatty when I.... I never met a wizard before. Just angels and demons and the usual around here."

[dangeroushabits]

Strolling toward the bar with no intention of doing anything this afternoon but minding his own business over a quiet drink, John hauled up short at the sight of Pepper in a state of liplock with a scruffy-looking bloke who had to be at least twenty years older than she was. He stopped not so much out of shock at the public display of affection as out of confusion as several disparate thoughts collided messily in his head, leaving him momentarily stymied.

One of them was, Well, at least it's not College Boy. Hard on its heels came But weren't she and Crowley--?, Doesn't Adam--? and finally, What the hell business is it of yours, anyway, old man? The one thing he absolutely didn't have the right to be at a moment like this was jealous.

So, after waiting a beat or two for them to finish or notice him standing there, he conspicuously cleared his throat. "Oi, get a room, would you?" he said gruffly. "You're blocking the way to the bar."

[grimsirius]

The moment Sirius heard John's voice, he broke off the kiss, and carefully drew Pepper out of the dip until they were both standing, and then let go of her. He flashed her an apologetic look, although he was still grinning, and the look he flashed John could only have been described as cheeky.

Well, who could blame him? He felt a bit bad for getting the girl in a potentially uncomfortable situation, but he really didn't mind being taken for the sort of bloke who'd have a shot with a 20 year old girl. Still, she was a nice kid, so he couldn't let the misconception continue.

"We were, ah, a little stuck," said Sirius, pointing to the mistletoe. "Of course, if you keep walking just a bit, this might get interesting."

He was joking, of course. Entirely.

[playswithboys]

Oops. Recognized that voice. She was glad that he was letting her up and not making a show of it, because that was really the last thing she needed going around. "Or rather, he swept me off the step ladder. I should be more careful 'round 'ere."

Still, she couldn't help but laugh at what Sirius suggested. "Yeah, he's right. Go on, John, step forward a bit an' we'll both 'ave a go at you," she teased with a grin. "It's almost Christmas, after all."

[dangeroushabits]

John cocked an eyebrow at the mistletoe as he lit a cigarette. "Tempting," he said, addressing the remark directly to Pepper, "but it's just a little more crowded under there than I fancy. Take a rain check?"