Counting Down the Hours

[Kieran Abernathy]

@'Jude Wright' @'Elias Grimstone'

In all honesty, Kieran hadn't been paying much attention for most of this conversation. The full moon was in less than a week, and he was busy working on an article, and besides that he was halfway through a sketch of Erin. It wasn't until he realized that Jude actually wanted him to do something that Kieran perked up and was interested.

Being useful to the group was a bit of a novelty, after all. Between his job and the current events in the Slums he was just barely able to manage it. Besides the novelty, Kieran was also rather shameless about things that let him pine over Jude. 

He set down his charcoal, put the sketchbook and his notes for the Prophet aside.

"I can probably be around for that," he said, "When did you say it was, again?" 

The following 1 user Likes Kieran Abernathy's post:1 user Likes Kieran Abernathy's post
   Elias Grimstone

[Jude Wright]

Between the contention of women duelling and the development of the Hogsmeade Slums, there was plenty on Jude's plate to concern himself with. He was presently more concerned with the latter, given yesterday's news that many of the residents there were being abruptly evicted; what was more, plenty of them would not even get compensation, and how many of them actually had anywhere else to go?

It was never easy to get the whole group together, what with everyone's individual schedules, but they had found a date in which to discuss some of this, and Jude hoped their combined will might perhaps present some solutions. He had just been on a long spiel about this as he picked at his sort-of-late-lunch-or-maybe-dinner? meal (the good thing about Kieran sketching was that he thus had less energy to waste on interruptions) and once Jude was finished speaking, he waited expectantly. Kieran would be of particular help, especially if he could collate some of the information gathered for the Prophet about the building developments, and the - former - residents who had complained to the newspaper.

Having been idly surveying the charcoal and sketchbook as Kieran set them aside, Jude swallowed his mouthful and returned his attention to Kieran more directly. He was pleased enough that he didn't much mind having to repeat himself. "Next Friday night. Usual time, I expect."

  

[Kieran Abernathy]

Kieran caught himself shaking his head as soon as he heard the words Friday night. "I can't," he said, with a grimace. Kieran didn't really miss meetings though, and not ever skipped one when he was deliberately asked to come. (He was not often - or perhaps, ever - specifically asked to come, at least not by Jude.) 

His mind whirled through potential excuses - Fallon sprung up immediately, but wasn't a good option - before finally settling on the one obligation he had that Jude would probably respect. 

 "I have a work thing that night, it's about the Pennyworth project."

  

[Jude Wright]

"Oh." If Jude were not having to hastily direct his entire being into not sounding quite as oddly deflated as he felt, he might have actually had the mental power left to wonder why he felt deflated at all. (Something told him that that was a question he’d be better off not touching with a ten-foot pole.)

It was a fair excuse, though - work was not something Kieran could just blow off - and Pennyworth project did capture Jude's curiosity. "I see," he said, though he was hoping for some elaboration on what the work thing specifically entailed. "Not all night, though?" He persisted. If it were just for an hour or two in the evening, there was nothing to say Kieran couldn't come along to the Augurey later. There was always someone usually who wandered in late and managed to keep up with what they were discussing well enough.

  

[Kieran Abernathy]

"I think it's going to take a while," Kieran said in a genuinely morose tone, "I have to read through our correspondence on it, and there's a lot." That was something he was doing, but it was something he'd be doing over the course of several days, rather than in one fell swoop.

"If I finish early I'll come by, though," he said with a bright grin, "You know I hate missing meetings."

If only he could avoid missing this one. It wasn't as if his alternative plans were better - he would do anything if it meant that he could avoid the transformations.

  

[Jude Wright]

"Oh, well," Jude replied, ever more placated by the excuse. He imagined it would be a lot to get through, though he was sure digesting it all would actually be interesting. Valuable information, too.

He shook his head good-humouredly, quirking an eyebrow at the latter comment, not sure what to say about that, or how to answer to that bright grin. Kieran did seem to enjoy the meetings, even if he rarely willingly partook in the useful side of things. "Nevermind," Jude said agreeably, "we can always catch you up the next night. And perhaps you could fill us in on that," he suggested.

If Kieran made a start on all that now instead of next week, he might even be free for the meeting itself, but Jude wasn't going to press him.

  

[Kieran Abernathy]

"Oh, excellent," Kieran said genuinely. He wanted to know everything - he tried to avoid missing meetings whenever he could, and had attended most of them since Jim and Finn had first dragged in here. Maybe it was partially because the Augurey had good alcohol, but it was also because he did genuinely like meetings.

"I'll try not to bore you too much with the details," he added with a grin.

  

[Jude Wright]

Jude couldn't bring himself to be suspicious or sceptical of Kieran's seemingly sincere enthusiasm about that. It was easier just to let it slide. Maybe he was partly at meetings for the useful side, after all. Maybe he just wanted a chance to catch up on his ordinary quota of sarcastic commentary. And well - either way, Jude didn't actually mind.

"As if I'd be bored," he countered, a gleam in his eyes. "Besides," he added, almost defensively, "I'm sure there'll be a lot of useful and important information in there."

He bit his lip to hold back the grin. The entire correspondence. No doubt there would be plenty of nutters in there, too.

@'Cassius Lestrange' blaming exams for how much I sucked just there

  

[Kieran Abernathy]

Kieran made a horrible face at Jude, scrunching up his nose. "Oh, yes," he said, "Because nothing says 'useful information' like letters to the Prophet." Only the crazies wrote to the Prophet; and yes, Kieran knew that Jude was one of them. He was actually surprised that he hadn't run into any letters from Jude.

(Perhaps Jude was on a list; 'Burn These Letters.')

  

[Jude Wright]

"Precisely. Perspectives directly from the people." Jude agreed, tongue-in-cheek, though his straight face wavered at the ridiculous expression on Kieran's. It was important that people were involved enough in current affairs that they personally joined the discussion, and it could be a good forum, in this case, to shed some light on what the residents actually thought, the sort of responses that might not get published.

He didn't bother to articulate any of this; Kieran knew the principle. Kieran also knew full well that there would naturally be some letters that were the opposite of useful - and no doubt some that were downright offensive - but at least they might prove entertaining. If not, they certainly could serve a purpose as kindling. The more Jude thought about it, the more he didn't envy the task ahead of Kieran, but it didn't quite stop him from teasing, either. "You won't miss us at all."