[IC] Please Stay

[SirensCall]

Flint, despite keeping his cool, was inwardly ecstatic. Pucey, however, was being a pain in the arse at the moment with how he was acting, but he couldn't help the laughs that came with it. He had honestly missed being around Pucey. He was one of the few that he had played well with, and it had crippled him to be away from him. But Pucey had pointed something out to him that he would never fucking admit. Ever... He may actually work with Bell better.

No... He told himself. He did work well with her, but there was no way that he could ever work with someone better than he did Pucey. Even in Hogwarts he and Puce were able to not even look at each other and just know.

Marcus shook his head, just glad that once they got these contracts signed, he could go and shower. After Bell had mentioned the fact that Pucey stunk, he became instantly aware of his own stench and it was not a good one. It would hopefully be a good night to celebrate too, even if Bell would be there, he just had to be extra aware of his drinking now. He wasn't on Tutshill anymore, and he actually gave a shit about the fact that this team could actually take him better places... Not to mention that this team had also not had the rep Tutshill did.

Once Marcus got out of the contract signing, he spotted Pucey heading his way and he stopped with his bag slung over his shoulder. "So, mate, ready to kick some arse on this team now?" Pucey said, and Marcus nodded.

"Always, mate. Always." he said, and he looked to his watch before he moved a bit. "See you later Puce, better get some grub and a shower before we meet up later."

He waved him off before he headed home, trying to avoid too many people on the way. Once he got in his door, he tossed his bag aside, and he headed straight for the bathroom and got the water as hot as he could before stripping down and hopping in the shower. He closed his eyes. This would definitely be loads different from what he was used to. Tutshill was a mediocre team, but The Falcons... This team had potential to be better than any he'd ever been on.

"Still annoying how well I work with little Bells." he muttered to himself. But he couldn't deny it... On the pitch they had the same attitude and it would help them out greatly. He also couldn't help the fact that once she was in front of him, he noticed that perhaps she wasn't quite the girl he remembered from Hogwarts. Maybe not quite the tall one, but she still had...

He turned the water immediately to cold as the thoughts flooded to him and kept it there like that for a moment before slowly warming it back up. "Don't need to think about that..." he mumbled to himself.

[SirensCall]

Ryan watched a while as Dria and Kearney interacted, along with a little help from Oliver. She hated that she couldn't be more help with them, but she just wasn't always the greatest at these things. She felt the need to be professional, but there were things that kept nagging at her. Every time though, as if on cue, Dria would nudge her and try to get her to interact. She couldn't bring herself to though, not with the obvious discomfort that Kearney was feeling. She knew that, and she would much rather ease into interaction with him than bombard him with it.

Then the words came that nearly shattered her, and her eyes caught Oliver's. Kearney wanted to go home, but she remembered hearing about the burning. She had been to the ruins after everything that happened with Trent, solely to keep her own resolve. There had been plenty of times she had felt like she wanted to give up on it, but each time she was reminded that the innocent people needed help. She couldn't bring herself to look at Kearney for a moment as Oliver broke the news to him.

She couldn't think of anything at the moment to even try to give solace to the man before her. "We can head there now if that is what you wish, though." she said. "It will be good for you to get what rest you can."

Dria gave a nod too, her demeanor changing even when Oliver had spoke. That had to have been a lot to take in. "Um... I'm going to head out myself. Ryan has my information for whenever you're ready to be seen." she gave a small half smile before she left them.

Ryan's eyes fell on the file and she saw the address that Kearney was being moved into. That wasn't far off from where she was at now, and Charlie was staying in the area as well in a nearby flat. He had wanted space from his family, even if he was at the Burrow everyday. The thought of Charlie had reminded her that he had Ayden and that they were supposed to be meeting with Katie once everything was finished up with her. Ryan was supposed to head over when she was done as well, so hopefully Katie would have good news when she got there.

Ryan stood, placing a few bills on the table for their tab and she tapped her wand against her briefcase and watched as everything went back into it. "Whenever you are ready." she said, quietly.

[El Taco Taco]

St. Mungos was like a second home to Katie. She'd spent almost half of her seventh year here, and while she'd only been conscious for about half of that, she had grown fond of the place. Her friends all called her mad for it, but Katie simply pointed out that the Healers here had saved her life. They'd taught her how to walk again, always kind and never letting her give up, even when every nerve screamed in agony. They'd managed to dull the scar of the necklace to a pink welt that stood stark against her summer tan. Considering the skin had been rotting when she was first brought in, Katie figured they'd done a fucking brilliant job patching her up.

Her hair was still wet from her shower when she apparated to the lobby. Lisbet, the Welcome Witch, greeted her with a beaming smile and a tight hug. Katie grinned and shared the news with the elderly woman, who clapped in delight. First string, with the Falcons! Oh, Merlin's beard, I'll let everyone know. Congratulations, Miss Bell. They laughed and joked before a thin mediwizard approached them, guiding her to a through the hospital to her destination.

Healer Spinnet's office was cramped, but brightly lit and filled with cheerful plants. Katie busied herself at the window, watching the sky with a contented smile. Alicia didn't keep her waiting long, and Katie rushed to hug her friend tightly.

"You're happy," Alicia said cautiously. "Did you--"

"I'm on the team!" Katie laughed brightly. Alicia shrieked in delight and they hugged fiercely, enthusing together over the first bit of truly good news either of them had had in weeks.

"You did it! Oh god, I'm so relieved. You worked so hard, Kates! Congratulations!"

They gossiped for perhaps too long, sat at Alicia's cramped desk, Katie giving her friend the detailed blow by blow of the match with vicious commentary. It felt good to make Alicia laugh again--the woman looked so tired these days, worn from her time in hiding and the wreckage of the war she'd come home to.

Their talk turned to the less pleasant conversation of Katie's treatment. Alicia's magic investigated the leg, the sharp welt of the necklace, taking notes of Katie's reluctant descriptions. The pain potions weren't quite doing their job well enough. The leg acted up more than it had in months, and sometimes she felt electricity arcing through her body once more. It was always quick, never lasting for more than a breath, but it frightened her.

Katie's good mood was somewhat deflated by the time she left Alicia's office, a new prescription for pain potion (the first dose of which she had quaffed as soon as she left the hospital), a cream to help suppress the sting of the scar, and a list of charms meant to help relax her leg. They sat, carefully tucked away in her Falcon's bag, and Katie pushed through it with a determined grin. She was not going to mope at Charlie's, not when her fortune had finally turned for the better. She'd only have an hour or two before she had to get to the Cauldron to join the team, but it was something she'd been looking forward to for weeks.

It was easy enough to apparate to streets of Diagon Alley. Her own flat was a few alleys over, in a decidedly less appealing neighborhood--but, she conceded, not quite as shit as Knockturn. The street was as busy as ever, and Katie wound through the crowds, following the familiar path. She took the steps two at a time, ducking past a thin woman with a cheery hello, bounding up towards the familiar door of Charlie's flat. Her knuckles rapped sharply, a shit-eating grin plastered across her face.

[SirensCall]

Ryan sighed as she slumped into Charlie's couch as they awaited Katie to arrive. It had been a long day, and she was glad to finally be done with it. She had escorted Oliver and Kearney to Kearney's new housing, and after Oliver had assured her that they would be okay, she left. She was still tired from the trial that morning, and as Ayden snoozed happily at her side, she let out a sigh. She had gone home first and changed into a pair of jeans and a black and white striped sweater, glad to finally be out of her work clothes for the day. "So, how did the trial go?" Charlie finally asked. She had only been there about ten minutes, but she was glad to be there and awaiting the hopefully good news Katie had.

Ryan looked to Charlie who came into the living room with two cups of tea and she sighed. "Rough. But, Kearney is free and Oliver is trying to help him readjust." she said, and Charlie nodded. "And with how his trial was, I know Umbridge's will be worse."

Charlie gave a gentle nod. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you that day instead of watching Ayden? I know I may not be much in ways of comfort, but I'd like to think you'd feel better if someone went with you."

Ryan nodded. "I'm sure. If anything I'll give my dad a ring, and I've offered Katie to stay with me that week so it's not just me and Ayden." She looked to the snoozing child beside her and gave a gentle smile. "But thanks Charlie, you have been such a great help."

Charlie gave a soft smile. "You and Trent were two of few of my friends crazy enough to visit me in Romania." he chuckled. "Remember the Hippogriff ride?" he asked, and Ryan gave a rare laugh. "You looked absolutely terrified, but you did really well."

"I'm no good at the whole flying thing, Charlie. I'm not like you or Trent or Katie." she said, and soon a knock came to the door and a small grin came to her face as she gently shook Ayden as Charlie went to the door. "Ayden, honey, your aunt Katie is here."

Ayden blinked his eyes sleepily, but it wore off the moment he saw Katie and he ran over and bounced a little. "Aun' Ka'ie! You do good?" he asked, excitedly, and Ryan couldn't help the chuckle at how excited he was. "I wear lucky shirt ALL DAY, Aun' Ka'ie!" He said, pulling at the Falcons' shirt that he had been given. However, once Ryan had seen the grin on Katie's face she had known.

"So, good news?" Ryan asked, and once she got her response, she gave Katie a small smile.

"Today has apparently been a day of good news." Charlie said, "Should really celebrate all this good news." he said.

"After a play by play?" Ryan asked.

Charlie chuckled and went and put on some more tea before Ryan motioned for Katie to come and sit. Ayden quickly climbed into Katie's lap, eager to hear her story.

[El Taco Taco]

Katie had meant to act as though she hadn't made the cut and then reveal the truth, but as the door opened and she caught sight of Ayden, she realised she couldn't bring herself to upset the kid. Instead, she laughed brightly and rushed in, sweeping him up to carry him at her hip.

"You did!" Katie grinned, holding him apart so she could properly inspect the Falcons shirt. Laughing, she tousled his hair before sweeping him into a spinning hug, laughing brightly as she set him down. "So I owe it to you, yeah?"

As Ryan asked about good news, Katie laughed again, the relief evident across her face.

"I made it. I'm first string, Ryan. First!"

As Charlie spoke of celebration, Katie grinned fiercely up at him and her pulse didn't skip, it didn't this stupid crush was pathetic.

"I like the sound of celebrating," Katie agreed brightly, before moving to join Ryan on the couch. As Ayden clambered into her lap, she set him on a knee, bouncing him. Now that the stress of tryouts and her doctor's visit was over, she was rife with nervous energy that she needed to bleed off.

"Oh, it was mental. You'll never guess, by the way, who I was playing with," Katie told Ryan, shaking her head. "Marcus Fu--Flint," Katie caught herself before she could launch into a proper expletive filled description of the git. "Turns out he left Tutshill, and the prat showed up to our tryouts. I think Pucey tipped him off, they're mates and all."

She made a face, before looking back down to Ayden with a grin.

"But yes, the play by play," Katie laughed, launching into it with gusto. She gesticulated wildly, moving Ayden through the twists and turns as she recounted the match (reassuring him that Weller was okay even after being knocked off his broom) in great detail. Every pass to and from Marcus was peppered with commentary about what a troll, what a prat he was, and Katie couldn't help but be a little glum that, technically, they had lost.

"So, after all that, it's me and Pucey, who is annoying but tolerable, and Flint. You know he broke my ribs three times back at Hogwarts? He's the worst. Just my luck, right? I finally make first string, but I have to play with that complete and utter git."

[SirensCall]

Ryan, Charlie, and Ayden all listened to Katie's retelling of events with pure joy. Ayden giggled and smiled the entire time he was twisted through the motions, though he did ask about Weller when Katie spoke of it. Ryan was glad that Katie had managed to catch herself when she spoke of Marcus, even if she had a few choice words for him herself. Once the retelling was over, however, Charlie took up Ayden and got together his things as they headed into the bathroom to wash up.

Ryan looked to Katie when she started talking about Marcus. "Doesn't surprise me if Pucey went on and told him, but still, Pucey might be alright, but I don't get how he is still friends with Flint. I have a few choice words for the git myself. Charlie told me about that day in the Cauldron. I'd've hexed Merlin's ghost out of him had I been there." she said, taking up her cup of tea and taking a sip.

Charlie and Ayden came back in the room a moment later and Ayden climbed into his mother's laugh. "So, ladies, celebration time?" he asked, "Why not go out for the night?"

Ryan gave a chuckle, "Ayden and I really should get home though. Can't keep him up all night."

Charlie looked to Katie and then at Ryan. Ryan rose a brow, somehow feeling as though she missed something when a knock came to the door. Charlie answered it and when Ryan saw her father she seemed surprised.

"PawPaw!" Ayden smiled as he ran to the door, his bag on his back. "Where's MeeMee?"

"At home, you ready to stay with us tonight?" he asked, and Ryan looked to Charlie who gave an innocent look and she shook her head a bit. "Go give your mum and Aunt Katie goodbye kisses."

Ayden nodded quickly and hugged Katie and gave her a kiss on the cheek before he hugged Ryan. She placed a kiss on the top of his head. "You behave for your grandparents, alright? I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes mum." he said, and he kissed her before running over to her father and once they were gone Charlie looked at her.

"Guys, it has been a really long day..." she began.

Charlie shook his head a bit and looked to Katie. They were not about to gang up on her on this.. They were not about to gang up on her about it...

They were ganging up on her...

[El Taco Taco]

Katie smiled, as innocent as a unicorn.

Really, she thought, Ryan ought to have known better. They had been friends since Hogwarts, and had only grown closer in the years since. She'd learned quickly that the only way to get Ryan to take a break was to simply drag her along. Katie was well versed in engineering situations to force her many workaholic friends to to take a break.

It had been a simple matter to get Aydens gran and grandad to take him for the night. Katie linked her arm through Ryan's, smiling sweetly. That her iron grip wouldn't let her friend budge, well, that was a minor detail.

"Come on, it's been ages since we've gone out. Besides, you need to buy me a drink for my fantastic success, and I need to buy you one for all your hard work."

Katie began to march Ryan towards her room, a bounce in her step, swiftly scooping up her duffel as they went.

"Come on, we're going to put on our hot girl disguises and get properly trashed."

[SirensCall]

Ryan sighed a bit at the look Katie got on her face. It was apparent that there was no budging her on this one. She was going out with Katie tonight, so she may as well swerve into the skid, she supposed. However, when Katie took her arm it became even more apparent that she wasn't getting out of this one. "Well, you are right, I suppose that I do owe you a drink and vice versa." she said, a small chuckle coming from her. As they headed towards her room, she shot Katie a look at her final statement.

"Our hot girl disguises? Katie, I don't know if we should go too far on that if we're going to get properly trashed. Maybe our semi-hot girl disguises." she said, and she sighed a bit finally managing to get her arm out of Katie's grasp as she went to the closet. Something told her that her plain Jane appearance wouldn't cut it as a "hot girl" disguise. She flipped through her hangers and selected a simple, fitted, long sleeved black shirt. She sighed and pulled off her sweater and changed into her other shirt before she looked at her jeans. They would be alright, being fitted themselves, and she pulled on a pair of boots and looked at Katie.

"This hot girl enough?" she asked with a small chuckle. She hoped it was. She really, really, really hoped it was. However, she had to admit, that as she was getting ready for their night out, she was getting more excited for it. It had been a long time, and she almost hadn't realized how long until she had tried to recall the last time that they had done something like this. But it was due. Katie was a first string chaser for the Falcons now, and Ryan was putting in as much hardwork as she could to get things to a sense of normalcy.

It didn't stop her mind from turning though. Nothing would ever shut that nagging bit of worry off in her mind, but for one night she supposed she could set it aside. She sat on her bed and sighed a bit. "So, I'm guessing we're heading the the Cauldron?"

[El Taco Taco]

"I said hot-girl disguises, not grabbing a cup of tea with mum disguises," Katie deadpanned as Ryan presented herself for inspection. Peeling out of her Falcon's raglan, she chucked it at her friend's head in retaliation for her gall. Katie unzipped her duffel and upended it on Ryan's bed. Half her closet tumbled out, several shoes skittering across the floor as Katie shook the bag forcefully. The bed had almost completely disappeared under the heap of clothes and accessories. She beamed at the mess, clearly pleased with herself.

"You, my dear, are gorgeous, and I refuse to let you be boring. Get your cute butt over here and have fun." Katie paused for a beat and then peered warily at her fellow blonde. "You do remember what fun is, right?"

Katie's definition of fun usually involved some degree of property damage and disorderly conduct--the finer things in life. She began digging through the pile, humming idly and practically bouncing with nervous energy. She'd gone out with the team countless times since joining the reserve string, but this was different. She was a Falcon now. Her whole life all she had ever wanted was to play Quidditch, and playing for Falmouth was the realisation of her fiercest dreams. She'd made it.

It took several attempts to get Ryan into something even remotely fun. Katie peppered her critiques with cheery digs and fawning in equal measure. She was utterly unconcerned with the time. The Leaky Cauldron wasn't going anywhere and Charlie could entertain himself. Ryan never got to have time for herself and Katie was going to make damn sure she had it tonight.

In the end, Katie had decided upon a grey dress with a plunging neckline and a hem that skimmed the tops of her thighs. After a few attempts at concealing the cursed scar that spiked down her chest to nearly her navel, she simply gave up and let it be. It wasn't as though what had happened to her was a secret.

She shrugged on a leather jacket with three quarter sleeves as she preened into a floating mirror. The bottom third of the jacket had been enchanted to look like smoldering embers. Several delicate gold ring glittered in the jacket's flickering glow. Black ankle boots with aggressively stacked heels brought her to a more respectable height, covered in designs of golden flowers that bloomed, wilted, and bloomed anew. Tiny golden flowers were woven into her milkmaid braid, winking in the light. With her eyes smoked to hell and back, Katie felt ready to take on the world.

Clapping her hands together, she rounded on Ryan with a fiendish grin.

"Damn girl, you clean up nice! I knew we could do it!" Bounding forward, she linked arms with Ryan and squeezed tight. "This is going to be brilliant!"

[SirensCall]

Ryan half groaned, half pouted at Katie's disapproval of her attire.

"I know what fun is... I think." she gave a half chuckle. This was going to be difficult as she... Nevermind, seemed that Katie had the wardrobe covered... And then some. Ryan sighed and began sifting through the items that had been scattered on her bed, asking Katie every so often about them before she just gave up and pulled up a black dress. It was a bit more revealing than what she was used to, but most things were anymore. She slipped into it, clipping the top of it around her neck. It was essentially a modified halter top. It had straps that led up to the choker-esque fabric that she had just clipped around her neck, and while it covered up to to about two inches below her collar bones she still felt a little exposed. She watched the hem of her dress, that fell just above her knees, take on a bit of a smoky texture to it, and it flowed as such.

Next was shoes. "How the bloody hell did you fit all these shoes in that bag?!" Ryan teased a bit. She finally picked a pair of black pumps that had a few silver designs on them. They were leaves that danced around as she walked, and she picked up a dark grey half-jacket. She pushed up the sleeves a bit, and when she heard Katie compliment her, she gave a small smile. "Thanks, you kind of made me." she said, and soon they were exiting her bedroom. She ran her hand through her hair, the pale locks of blonde were actually down for once. Not tied in any form of tie or clip, but she had taken to pulling it over one shoulder.

"I feel really weird though." she admitted, and they made it out to the living room where Charlie was, and he smiled to them.

"Is this what has taken the two of you so damn long?" he teased, looking to the door. "If you two are ready, we can be off."

[El Taco Taco]

"You might feel weird but you look like a million galleons, I promise," Katie squeezed Ryan's arm encouragingly as they left her room. It had been so long--too long--since they had gone out and had a girl's night, and Katie felt a twinge of guilt at the thought. Ryan had a bad habit of not taking time for herself, and Katie had been remiss in her best friend duties of dragging her out anyways. Resolving to correct this oversight, Katie stuck out her tongue at Charlie's complaints.

"You can't rush art, Charlie!"

Still, he made a good point. It was already a quarter past seven, and she wasn't sure how long the Falcons would be content with the Cauldron before the pub crawl began in earnest. With a twist of a heel, Katie apparated to the pub.

The Cauldron was practically full to bursting when the three of them popped into existence. It was usually busy on Friday nights, before the Falcons decided to show up and take over. Now, between celebrating Quidditch players and the press, the Cauldron was standing room only. Katie cleared a path for her and her companions to the bar with judicious use of elbows.

"Hannahhhhh!" Katie gushed to her fellow blonde, who was handling the crowd at the bar quite well. She offered Katie a smile and a quizzical look. "Have I told you lately how cute you are?"

"It's been a minute," Hannah laughed, clearly used to Katie's general Katieness. "What can I get started for you?"

"Firewhisky, neat!"

"Will you promise not to break anything?"

"Nope!"

Hannah shot her a dry look. Katie gave her most charming smile, batting her eyelashes for good measure. After a long moment, Hannah relented, and Katie was soon rewarded with her drink. As Hannah took Ryan and Charlie's orders, Katie scanned the pub, cataloging the chaos. Fenrir was speaking with Gutaale and a reporter from Quidditch Weekly, but even their straight laced captain seemed much more relaxed. The rest of the Falcons were decidedly less well behaved. Tabtiang and Meza were currently egging on Llewellyn to shotgun dragons mead (which was a hilariously terrible idea), to the cheers of friends and fans. Someone had tacked up a massive Falmouth Banner across the wall. Pucey's doing, maybe?

"Kitty cat!"

Speak of the doxie. She'd met eyes with Pucey from across the room, and Katie waved him over. After several moments, the towheaded chaser had made his way through the crowd, rather impressively managing not to spill his pint.

"Aw, did you dress up just for me?" Pucey offered a shit-eating grin, and Katie couldn't help but laugh.

"Of course I did, Pucey-poo, you know my heart beats just for you. Ryan, this is Adrian. He's only kind of sort of terrible."

"Hey, I'm definitely at least mostly terrible," Pucey shot Katie a look of mock outrage, but flashed his teeth in a grin to Ryan. "Nice to meet you. You're Ayden's mum yeah? Good kid. And holy shit, Charlie! Last time I saw you, you were thoroughly kicking our asses at Hogwarts. How've you been?"

Katie had to admit--she was really glad Pucey had made the team. He may have been a Slytherin, but Pucey had made his opinions on 'blood elitist bullshit' quite clear in the war, and, more than that, he was just genuinely friendly. At least she could get along with one of her fellow chasers. Katie wrinkled her nose, searching the crowd for Flint. As much as she hated the idea, she was going to have to figure out how to work with her arch-nemesis eventually. She seriously doubted they'd ever be mates, but they'd at least have to learn how to fake that for the press.

[SirensCall]

"Yeah... What she said." Ryan gave a faint sort of chuckle when Katie spoke to Charlie. However, it wasn't long before they were all at the Cauldron and holy shit was it crowded. Ryan had known it to be crowded on Friday nights, but tonight was... there was no comparison to how busy it was with all of Falmouth there. As she followed behind Katie, Charlie not far behind her, she carefully avoided the people Katie had elbowed. When they got to Hannah, Ryan could only shake her head and chuckle lightly at Katie.

"I'll take-" she began and Charlie took to ordering for them both.

"Firewhiskey. Please. Both of us." he said, and when she shot him a look, he just grinned. "You know you wanted it."

"I expect this from Katie." she said. When they got their drinks, she looked at the Firewhiskey. Luckily, one of Katie's teammates had come up and she had introduced them. She could only chuckle at their antics, and she nodded. "I am. Thank you, I do try with him."

Charlie's laugh roared when he and Pucey were talking. "Someone had to kick your asses then. Dragons been kicking mine ever since. Been taking a bit of break though. Had some things to help with." he said. It wasn't long after that the doors opened again and in came Marcus Flint. No one really looked over, but Ryan had out of habit. Charlie's head turned too and he nudged Katie's shoulder. "Look, the cat dragged in your favorite person." He teased.

Ryan rolled her eyes and finally took a sip of her drink and she blinked her eyes a bit and looked at it again. "That's stronger than I remember." she muttered to herself. It did help take the edge off of being around so many people. She truly wasn't used to it. Even when she was younger she tended to avoid crowds... But Katie had always had a knack of dragging her right into them. It was all good and well for now. However, Ryan knew she needed to keep herself level-headed. She didn't drink often, and she couldn't remember what she got like if she were to get properly trashed.

She spoke, "Katie, is this supposed to be this strong?" she chuckled a little. She motioned her drink at Katie, and she sighed. She had to remember to have a good time, Katie might kick her ass if she didn't.