[It's not every day someone loses their best friend. Godric dealt with it in various ways, most of the time it involved not talking about it. Ever. With anyone.]
[He laughs, continues teaching, continues stealing Rowena's books, stealing pieces of Helga's pie, teaching his students how to break the rules. None of them ask.]
[But Hogwarts has still lost Salazar and that will never go away.]
[And sometimes... sometimes he doesn't want to ignore that.]
[He finds Rowena, of course, in the library, huddled over some books. And before he second guesses himself -- not that he ever really does -- he comes up behind her, wraps his arms around hers and hides his face in her shoulder.]
[ She'd dealt with it the same way she dealt with many things, in that she didn't exactly. They're all coping with it in their own ways; Helga confines herself to her cooking where she thinks no one will catch the tears falling from her eyes, Godric continues to laugh merrily, and she turns to her books and buries herself in them as much as she can.
Salazar is gone and no amount of magic or enchantments will ever make the idea sit right.
But they've got the school to carry on and children to teach and examples to set, so Rowena tries her best to forget the fact that it feels like someone's ripping apart the people closest to her. She knows Godric's hurting the most because Salazar was his best friend and the fact that he won't mention it only confirms her suspicions. Still, they play this little game where he doesn't show the worry in his heart and she doesn't ask. She's not sure what comfort she could offer, or what condolences, if it were ever brought up -- Helga's the one that's always been better at this kind of thing.
But when she feels the arms encircle her connected to the ever-warm body she's come to recognize as Godric's, she slowly marks the page in her book, careful not to damage the pages, and places it down gently. ]
Godric? [ Her voice is kind and surprisingly soft, even to herself, but she knows this doesn't feel like any of the moments when Godric's come to tease her while she studies. Her hand drifts to cover one of his and she squeezes it wondering if this is the moment when he's been pushed to the brink and can ignore his problems no more. ]
[The tone and concern in her question is mildly surprising, though Godric's always known she was kinder than she usually let on. He might have smiled, another time.]
[He draws in a breath, a sigh, but lets his name hang in silence for a while. Her hand and the contact is a little more than he expected. He didn't know what he expected, really; he was still working on just what had pushed him here in the first place. There was the obvious answer, but today was no different from the others in the moving on process.]
[When he finally speaks, he doesn't realize what comes out until after, voice muffled]
[ If he's surprised, then she's doubly so. Firstly, his lack of energetic babbling feels like a lack of presence -- she's never known Godric to be so demure and it doesn't suit him. Secondly, the apology startles her because Godric is many things and one them is proud. She can likely count on her hands the number of times she's heard him apologize and to hear it now, when isn't quite sure what he's apologizing for, is perplexing.
It sounds like there's more meaning behind it than anything directed at her and she lets out a heavy sigh. There's only one thing she has her suspicions about that could put him in such a mood, but even bringing it up could do more harm than good. Maybe she can try to coax it out of him instead. ]
Whatever for? [ She brushes her fingertips over the back of his knuckles, like she's seen Helga do sometimes, and hopes that the same effect is carried over from her touch. It's a little awkward at first, but she's willing to try at least. For him. ]
[He laughs, but it's hollow and not anywhere near his normal boisterousness. Her attempts to comfort, however, don't go unnoticed, and at contact from her fingers, Godric tightens his hug, just for a moment.]
Interrupting? [It's a light offer, because he's still not sure.]
[Except maybe he is -- well, not sure what he's apologizing for, but in coming to terms with why he's here. Rowena and Helga are the only two things left he's sure about anymore, in their steadiness, in all their closeness. Losing that in Salazar is taking a toll on him, more than he wants to admit, even mentally.]
[His instincts always figure things out before his brain does, anyway.]
[ It's a true testament to how long they've all known each other when she can tell that the laugh he lets out pales in comparison to his normal one. She can't blame him when none of them have felt like even cracking a true smile lately. It feels too soon and anytime she'd even come close, she'd caught herself and wondered how it was possible to feel any joy when there was still so much anger and hurt that lurked. She'd known it was only natural of course, and had rationalized to herself that she couldn't keep holding onto the negative emotions forever. Yet, despite this, she'd kept a heavy hold on those feelings and they still circled within in.
There's a slight sound of surprise as he tightens the hug and she hopes that it's from doing something right in her comforting. ]
And does this include all of the other times you've interrupted me as well? [ Though her voice is slightly stern as always, it's an equally light attempt at something. Anything, to maybe get him back to his usual self. ]
[He actually does break into the smallest of smiles at her question; everything about it so familiar and so Rowena and she's trying that he can't help when he does. Maybe that's why he's here, too, because if there's anyone who knows him well enough, it's Rowena, and that's how she works. He's an open book most of the time, but she has the experience in closed ones, too]
Tragically, no. I'm afraid you're unlikely to get any more than just the one.
[And if he's being honest, he's not even very sorry right now to have interrupted. He rarely is. Godric is a weird mix of selfless and selfish, and though he likes to tell himself that the selfless part wins most of the time, it doesn't. Not always.]
[And selfishly, he wants his best friend back. He knows Salazar was in the wrong, but years and years of camaraderie can't easily be forgotten. Selfishly, he doesn't care what Rowena might have been doing before he found her just now, because even if she's not the comforting sort akin to the likes of Helga, it's the eagle he instinctively sought out, and at the end of the day, Godric always trusts his gut. Her familiar shape in his arms is grounding.]
[ She may not see the smile, but hearing him speak helps her confirm that however slowly, she might be able to draw him out of this. It may not happen now, or all at once, but it's a good sign when he can begin to banter again. Even open books need a closer reading sometimes and she knows that Godric, probably the most open of them all, isn't without his vulnerabilities, tucked away into the crevices of his bared soul.
It's knowing that which keeps her from getting too irritated at his interruption. If he is the one she's chosen to share his weaker moments with (and she wonders what else Godric keeps so carefully veiled behind his upbeat attitude), she will be his rock and do her best to understand. ]
I suppose the fact that I've gotten one at all should be a miracle.
[ And then slowly, she shifts until his grip on her loosens. There's a steady hand that stays put on one of his arms, a silent reassurance that she isn't trying to get out of the hug for the reasons his mind may immediately conclude. Instead, she turns gradually until her other arm can snake around his chest and envelop him much like he'd done to her. After a brief moment of thinking, she decides to let her head rest on his chest. Godric has always exuded warmth and right now is no different; there's something comfortable about it that makes her want to bring herself closer until she can feel it radiating from his skin onto hers. ]
[He helps the process along by loosening his own arms once she realizes she's trying to move; he might have hugged her with little provocation, but had she shown any signs of discomfort, he'd have let go right away.]
[Though when she turns to hug him, immediately his arms encircle her once more. He lets out a sigh, quiet but grateful. Her head against his chest is surprising, moreso than anything else she's done, and he lightly rests his chin atop her hair.]
Would it be too much to ask avoid bragging about it? Can't have anyone thinking Godric Gryffindor regrets many things.
[ It's nice feeling, she thinks, to be letting her guard down and allowing herself this. The lion may have been the one who sought the eagle out, but she doesn't realize how much she's needed this as well until now. There's no hesitance between them, not like there might have been when they were younger and it was the four of them together.
But change is constant in life, especially when one happens to live on the magical side of it, and the best thing they can do to deal with it is to stop working against the flow (just this once).
Rowena can feel him rest his chin on top of her head and she ceases moving, comfortable as they are right now. ]
That depends. What might I get for my silence from the great Godric Gryffindor?
[The banter is nice. Familiar. It might not be as lively as the standard, and it's ill likely to end in some sort of duel (this time), but it's them. And it's not something that's happened very often lately, each of the remaining three founders quietly closing themselves off in ways they never really had before.]
[So he continues with it, for now, as if they're fine, normal, back to a battle of wits Rowena is sure to win eventually; even if the circumstances of being closely knit in a hug that demonstrate something more mournful than the old friendly rivalry. A rather sad undercurrent trying to pull them out to sea.]
But I suppose I can try for bronze, if you prefer.
No, I believe gold will suit me just fine. Let's not skimp out on such a rare thing, shall we?
Still, I wonder if it's enough. After all, one must remember the law of equivalent exchange.
[ She wonders quietly, what the equivalent of losing Salazar would be. Is it this? These hollow words they exchange in a mockery of their normal conversations. Is it the fact that they're trying to pull together and find their footing, like a whole that's lost one of the most crucial bits. Not to say there hadn't been a build up to the entire situation -- she remembers the silent rages Salazar would get into, the biting words they'd exchange over how to keep the school running and with all things put together, maybe it was only inevitable. But she doesn't want to accept that. Not yet. ]
Gold it is then. Though does my gratitude not help reach that potential equivalent?
[Small steps, maybe -- getting the three of them back to their best. A mourning process for a lost friend that will never really end, but Godric knows better than anyone that you can't give up. He had students to teach. A school to run. Two friends that remain that he swears he will never ever let down.]
[He failed Salazar, and Salazar failed him. Perhaps it was only the longevity of their friendship that kept the split from happening sooner. What makes it worse is Godric knows his friend was wrong, so completely wrong and full of prejudices that as much as it hurts, he knows it could have gone no other way.]
[With that train of thought, Godric finds himself idly hugging Rowena a little tighter.]
The potential equivalent is only equal to the potential number of times I'll find myself distracted by you Godric. And we both know that number is infinite.
[ Not that she'd ever really admit she doesn't mind half the times he'd come to bother her. When she's working away on something important, sure, but at other times, she'd found herself liking the company more and more. Especially when it was usually just her tucked into the corner of her study in her lonesome. You've worn her down, Godric Gryffindor.
It's that fact that he'd been around for her even without her asking that makes her stay still when he tightens his grip, even if it's a bit uncomfortable. ]
[He laughs. It's a little more genuine than his previous ones were.]
So what you're saying is my debt will last forever? It just might be worth the pleasure of your company.
[Which to him right now (and always, really), is worth more than any amount of gold. As much as Salazar was his best friend, Rowena was his favorite person to interrupt while working. That's something that will never change, and continuing that trend now is helping. It was something largely for them alone, untouched by Salazar and his departure, even if that was part of the motivation behind Godric's doing so now. But it's unchanged. It's still them, even with the grief underneath. She's still Rowena with her books, and he's still Godric with a penchant for pestering, though he swears she enjoys it. Mostly.]
[And he'll cling to that in the face of everything else.]
[He notices something about her stillness, and so his grip loosens around her. He can be perceptive, sometimes.]
Careful what you say now, Godric. I do have an excellent memory and don't think I'll let you forget what you just said.
[ She laughs with him, happy that at least he seems to be able to laugh too. Even with Salazar gone, this feels like a moment separate from all of the trouble and it feels theirs alone (as if it exists timeless and with no other worries attached).
She uses the opportunity of him loosening his grip to wriggle her arms out and rests them against his chest instead. There's a brief moment of concentration as she searches and then -- there. She can feel the steady beat against her palm, and though it is faint, it's a good reminder that they are strong enough to carry on. As long as their hearts continue beating, they will be okay. In their own way. ]
I do hope you realize the pleasure of my company comes with some terms and conditions.
IMAGE UNO
[He laughs, continues teaching, continues stealing Rowena's books, stealing pieces of Helga's pie, teaching his students how to break the rules. None of them ask.]
[But Hogwarts has still lost Salazar and that will never go away.]
[And sometimes... sometimes he doesn't want to ignore that.]
[He finds Rowena, of course, in the library, huddled over some books. And before he second guesses himself -- not that he ever really does -- he comes up behind her, wraps his arms around hers and hides his face in her shoulder.]
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Salazar is gone and no amount of magic or enchantments will ever make the idea sit right.
But they've got the school to carry on and children to teach and examples to set, so Rowena tries her best to forget the fact that it feels like someone's ripping apart the people closest to her. She knows Godric's hurting the most because Salazar was his best friend and the fact that he won't mention it only confirms her suspicions. Still, they play this little game where he doesn't show the worry in his heart and she doesn't ask. She's not sure what comfort she could offer, or what condolences, if it were ever brought up -- Helga's the one that's always been better at this kind of thing.
But when she feels the arms encircle her connected to the ever-warm body she's come to recognize as Godric's, she slowly marks the page in her book, careful not to damage the pages, and places it down gently. ]
Godric? [ Her voice is kind and surprisingly soft, even to herself, but she knows this doesn't feel like any of the moments when Godric's come to tease her while she studies. Her hand drifts to cover one of his and she squeezes it wondering if this is the moment when he's been pushed to the brink and can ignore his problems no more. ]
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[He draws in a breath, a sigh, but lets his name hang in silence for a while. Her hand and the contact is a little more than he expected. He didn't know what he expected, really; he was still working on just what had pushed him here in the first place. There was the obvious answer, but today was no different from the others in the moving on process.]
[When he finally speaks, he doesn't realize what comes out until after, voice muffled]
Sorry.
[For what? Disturbing her? He doesn't even know.]
[But he doesn't move]
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It sounds like there's more meaning behind it than anything directed at her and she lets out a heavy sigh. There's only one thing she has her suspicions about that could put him in such a mood, but even bringing it up could do more harm than good. Maybe she can try to coax it out of him instead. ]
Whatever for? [ She brushes her fingertips over the back of his knuckles, like she's seen Helga do sometimes, and hopes that the same effect is carried over from her touch. It's a little awkward at first, but she's willing to try at least. For him. ]
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Interrupting? [It's a light offer, because he's still not sure.]
[Except maybe he is -- well, not sure what he's apologizing for, but in coming to terms with why he's here. Rowena and Helga are the only two things left he's sure about anymore, in their steadiness, in all their closeness. Losing that in Salazar is taking a toll on him, more than he wants to admit, even mentally.]
[His instincts always figure things out before his brain does, anyway.]
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There's a slight sound of surprise as he tightens the hug and she hopes that it's from doing something right in her comforting. ]
And does this include all of the other times you've interrupted me as well? [ Though her voice is slightly stern as always, it's an equally light attempt at something. Anything, to maybe get him back to his usual self. ]
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Tragically, no. I'm afraid you're unlikely to get any more than just the one.
[And if he's being honest, he's not even very sorry right now to have interrupted. He rarely is. Godric is a weird mix of selfless and selfish, and though he likes to tell himself that the selfless part wins most of the time, it doesn't. Not always.]
[And selfishly, he wants his best friend back. He knows Salazar was in the wrong, but years and years of camaraderie can't easily be forgotten. Selfishly, he doesn't care what Rowena might have been doing before he found her just now, because even if she's not the comforting sort akin to the likes of Helga, it's the eagle he instinctively sought out, and at the end of the day, Godric always trusts his gut. Her familiar shape in his arms is grounding.]
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It's knowing that which keeps her from getting too irritated at his interruption. If he is the one she's chosen to share his weaker moments with (and she wonders what else Godric keeps so carefully veiled behind his upbeat attitude), she will be his rock and do her best to understand. ]
I suppose the fact that I've gotten one at all should be a miracle.
[ And then slowly, she shifts until his grip on her loosens. There's a steady hand that stays put on one of his arms, a silent reassurance that she isn't trying to get out of the hug for the reasons his mind may immediately conclude. Instead, she turns gradually until her other arm can snake around his chest and envelop him much like he'd done to her. After a brief moment of thinking, she decides to let her head rest on his chest. Godric has always exuded warmth and right now is no different; there's something comfortable about it that makes her want to bring herself closer until she can feel it radiating from his skin onto hers. ]
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[Though when she turns to hug him, immediately his arms encircle her once more. He lets out a sigh, quiet but grateful. Her head against his chest is surprising, moreso than anything else she's done, and he lightly rests his chin atop her hair.]
Would it be too much to ask avoid bragging about it? Can't have anyone thinking Godric Gryffindor regrets many things.
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But change is constant in life, especially when one happens to live on the magical side of it, and the best thing they can do to deal with it is to stop working against the flow (just this once).
Rowena can feel him rest his chin on top of her head and she ceases moving, comfortable as they are right now. ]
That depends. What might I get for my silence from the great Godric Gryffindor?
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[The banter is nice. Familiar. It might not be as lively as the standard, and it's ill likely to end in some sort of duel (this time), but it's them. And it's not something that's happened very often lately, each of the remaining three founders quietly closing themselves off in ways they never really had before.]
[So he continues with it, for now, as if they're fine, normal, back to a battle of wits Rowena is sure to win eventually; even if the circumstances of being closely knit in a hug that demonstrate something more mournful than the old friendly rivalry. A rather sad undercurrent trying to pull them out to sea.]
But I suppose I can try for bronze, if you prefer.
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Still, I wonder if it's enough. After all, one must remember the law of equivalent exchange.
[ She wonders quietly, what the equivalent of losing Salazar would be. Is it this? These hollow words they exchange in a mockery of their normal conversations. Is it the fact that they're trying to pull together and find their footing, like a whole that's lost one of the most crucial bits. Not to say there hadn't been a build up to the entire situation -- she remembers the silent rages Salazar would get into, the biting words they'd exchange over how to keep the school running and with all things put together, maybe it was only inevitable. But she doesn't want to accept that. Not yet. ]
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[Small steps, maybe -- getting the three of them back to their best. A mourning process for a lost friend that will never really end, but Godric knows better than anyone that you can't give up. He had students to teach. A school to run. Two friends that remain that he swears he will never ever let down.]
[He failed Salazar, and Salazar failed him. Perhaps it was only the longevity of their friendship that kept the split from happening sooner. What makes it worse is Godric knows his friend was wrong, so completely wrong and full of prejudices that as much as it hurts, he knows it could have gone no other way.]
[With that train of thought, Godric finds himself idly hugging Rowena a little tighter.]
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The potential equivalent is only equal to the potential number of times I'll find myself distracted by you Godric. And we both know that number is infinite.
[ Not that she'd ever really admit she doesn't mind half the times he'd come to bother her. When she's working away on something important, sure, but at other times, she'd found herself liking the company more and more. Especially when it was usually just her tucked into the corner of her study in her lonesome. You've worn her down, Godric Gryffindor.
It's that fact that he'd been around for her even without her asking that makes her stay still when he tightens his grip, even if it's a bit uncomfortable. ]
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[He laughs. It's a little more genuine than his previous ones were.]
So what you're saying is my debt will last forever? It just might be worth the pleasure of your company.
[Which to him right now (and always, really), is worth more than any amount of gold. As much as Salazar was his best friend, Rowena was his favorite person to interrupt while working. That's something that will never change, and continuing that trend now is helping. It was something largely for them alone, untouched by Salazar and his departure, even if that was part of the motivation behind Godric's doing so now. But it's unchanged. It's still them, even with the grief underneath. She's still Rowena with her books, and he's still Godric with a penchant for pestering, though he swears she enjoys it. Mostly.]
[And he'll cling to that in the face of everything else.]
[He notices something about her stillness, and so his grip loosens around her. He can be perceptive, sometimes.]
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[ She laughs with him, happy that at least he seems to be able to laugh too. Even with Salazar gone, this feels like a moment separate from all of the trouble and it feels theirs alone (as if it exists timeless and with no other worries attached).
She uses the opportunity of him loosening his grip to wriggle her arms out and rests them against his chest instead. There's a brief moment of concentration as she searches and then -- there. She can feel the steady beat against her palm, and though it is faint, it's a good reminder that they are strong enough to carry on. As long as their hearts continue beating, they will be okay. In their own way. ]
I do hope you realize the pleasure of my company comes with some terms and conditions.