undergrounds | February Catch-All

[Hillingdon - closed to Annie]

While it wasn't really his intention, Sirius has become something of a familiar face at Hillingdon house. He can usually be seen around, though he doesn't interact with a whole lot of people, outside of those he already knows and is familiar with. Those that do remember him have thankfully kept their distance (no doubt due to his family's influence) and Sirius has to admit that he doesn't mind. He wasn't there to renew those old bonds, just develop something of a place of security. He hopes.

Mostly he can be seen at the task board, taking up various odd jobs, and that's where he is currently, considering what was available.

[Barnet - Shopping, early February]

If there was one thing on this world that he could do without, Sirius decided, it was shopping. Grocery shopping in particular. It was just an exhausting chore in his mind, not to mention dangerous given his present state. Wandering the aisles and trying to make sure he wasn't noticed was always and adventure, and not the fun sort. He left the store with a vast amount of relief and headed home. He'd eat out all the time if he could, but money was something he had to pay attention to and eating out also posed risks.

He missed the days when he could risk a little more in his life.

[Valentine's Day and Lupercalia]

The holidays, Sirius reflected, were doing an absolute terrible job at being holidays. He couldn't remember the last time he'd managed to enjoy himself over a holiday. Not that he'd had a lot of reason to do so, but it was the principle of the matter.

Take Valentine's day for example. It used to be he could have a good time on Valentine's Day, could usually find a date of some sort. Now? Now he had to worry that someone would recognize him and the police would get involved and it would all just be a mess. So instead he was drinking alone in some seedy pub. Absolutely terrible job.

Lupercalia wasn't much better, not that Sirius had ever really celebrated it. It just brought up memories of his family and the few rituals he had attended, but never been comfortable with. Again, absolutely terrible.

'What am I going to do with myself?" he muttered, staring at his half-empty glass.

[Choose your own adventure]

Whatever you'd liked

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"What happened? How'd they do it?" She's vaguely curious about his black sheep remark, but she sticks to what's important right at this moment.

It takes Sirius about a minute to answer, almost reluctantly. More out of the fact that drudging up the memories is never fun than anything else.

"About twelve years ago, a friend of mine was murdered. A good friend, and like I said, I was framed. When I found out, I kind of lost it a little, so the memories are a little fuzzy but somehow there was overwhelming evidence against me. Even though I'd been no where near him that night, I was coming home from another friend's place. When I came back to myself, it was pretty much over and I was going to jail."

He's not really looking at her anymore, focusing on a point on the ground so he can at least get the words out.

Alex watches him carefully, the look on his face, the way he can't even meet her eyes and has to stare at the ground instead. That could be because he's lying and if he looks at her, she'll know. Or it could be that the memory is so painful that looking at her will make it impossible for him to finish the story.

Against her better judgement, and common sense, and what she really wishes were true... she believes him.

She lowers the gun, and shakes her head slightly as she presses her lips into a thin line. "Alright. I won't turn you in."

Reluctantly, she dips her free hand into her pocket to get the handcuff key, and tosses it carefully at him.

Sirius doesn't catch the key right away, a little bit taken aback. She'd been so serious about taking him in that he hadn't expected it to work.

"You believe me?"

He recovers enough to grab the key, not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, or give her a chance to change her mind.

"Do you want me to not believe you?" she responds sarcastically, wondering why he's questioning it.

"Just... give me the handcuffs back and go." This is way more frustration than she signed up for. She's gotta get money somehow, but apparently being a bounty hunter isn't going to work out.

"Done," Sirius replies, tossing them back to her. He's tempted to run off right then, but figures he ought to at least say something.

"Thanks, really."

Alex catches the cuffs and sticks them back in her pocket.

"Yeah," she says tersely. After a moment, she puts the gun away too. She grimaces at him, wondering if she should say anything else or just leave. Maybe she should apologize for ruining his holiday and almost turning him into the cops, but that's not really her fault, is it? She couldn't have known he was innocent - or at least a convincing enough liar. Finally, she settles on an awkward, "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Same to you," he replies, same level of awkwardness before he heads off into the night. He wants to say more, but figures he should leave before she changes her mind. Although, he'll keep an eye out, if he can return the favour somehow.

At least he could say this Valentine's had been more exciting than he'd figured it would be.

February Catch-All

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