Soldier on

Who wants to know, all that is gold is rusted.( . )

Tiberius and Rufus

Terence has dragonpox. I'm fine, but he's holed up at my sister's until he's well, so I don't get sick and other people I'm around don't get sick...well you get the idea.

I know you don't have any free time, Rufus, but I'll ask anyway: how about dinner, or lunch, or whatever?

End

You think you get enough of dragonpox at work and then you come home... and kids always scratch. Always. I hate this time of year.

Tiberius

How's Rufus?

End

Millie

Congratulations on the end of the trial?

End

With the way people are acting this month you'd think dragons weren't around all the time.

Tiberius

I think Rufus is almost conscious now, if you want to come by. That's all I can say with any assurance however.

End

Millicent

I think Rufus will be all right.

End

I hate Hag Week.

St. Mungo's

A poisonous duck? Seriously? Whoever made that was on something. If anyone wants to pop up to the ward and assist, these kids are pretty pathetic about now.

End


For Halloween this year my kid says he wants to be a lion or an Auror, or maybe it was both of those things, I couldn't really tell what he meant.

Millicent

What are you doing?

End


What is it with days off being the worst days in spite of their natural state as good?

Millicent

Stalk's not said anything about retiring, has he? (Old ladies at the grocery, again)

Which segues into my actual point, I can come by tonight?

End


The Death Eaters seem right hacked off this week. I can't imagine why.

Does anyone have a crossword or something? Today has been horrible.

Millicent

So.

End



The night shift is never good for me. I always end up reading the Quibbler...

Rufus, Tiberius, Millicent

Old Ladies at the Grocery Rumour of the Day: 'That Gibbon fellow' had Stalk Imperiused to make him a terrible Minister. Given that Stalk hasn't been removed from office, I assume there's no merit?

End

I even missed gossip. And the old ladies in my neighborhood. To be alive is a wonderful thing.

Millicent

Can't sleep and if I get one more 'nonsense' or 'let me send you...'. Well.



nevermind. fancy a chat?

Warded to the Quarantine Gang FAILED

Things I Wanted To Do/Thought I'd Do Before I Rotted Away Like Some Sort of Living Dead Man, Part One:

- Watch my kid grow up.
- Shag on the Minister's Desk. It's a big desk, you know. Just a thought, really. not really a goal or expectation or aspiration. more of a "hahaha wouldn't that be fun to say you've done?" but I guess I'm not exactly in my twenties anymore so I shouldn't boast.
- Get a pet.
- Get a promotion.
- See Voldemort get defeated.
- Eat the biggest steak possible.
- Spend a week out in the wilderness hunting.
- Not rot away.
- Teach my niece not to be crazy.

I'm sure I could think of better ones but...not now.

Just kill me now.

Millicent B, Tiberius O, Imogen, Suzanne, Rufus

I've been bitten by a little kid with that fucking infection so I'm being hustled into quarantine.

If any or all of you (with the obvious exceptions) could take care of looking after Terence while this clears up, I'd be eternally grateful. If you can't I can make other arrangements...but

End

Being bit by children, nothing new right? Apparently not. Great way to start the week.

Suzanne and Imogen

Would you two like to watch Terence tonight? Together. As a team.

End

Millicent B.

How's the whole trial business going? Do you need anything?

End

I guess separating rumour from fact is made difficult by eavesdropping on old women in groceries. What has my free time been reduced to? This, apparently. They did buy Terence sympathy candy, though, because I am so frequently assumed to be a widower.


I take it back, my life is great.

Suzanne

Have you thought about your employment options?

End

I hate picking up shifts on other floors. But I suppose everyone everywhere is as busy as I am so there's no need to complain. The world's kind of gone south on the quality scale lately. Always darkest before the dawn, &c.

Though that's not particularly comforting in the face of tragedy.

Tiberius and Millicent

Sometimes, I think that talking to Rufus when he's in these moods is like being married.

Don't correct me, Tiberius.

Millicent B.

I hear there's a heatwave in the Ministry. I can bring you something to cool off with.

End

Should anyone begin feeling as they may suffer from any serious heat-related illnesses, come to Mungo's. Heat related deaths are not as uncommon as you'd like them to be.

Millicent Bagnold

Dinner? I need a pick me up.

End

Rufus Scrimgeour

All right?

End

It doesn't seem like anything short of locking yourself in your house and never speaking to another human being can keep people out of harm's way these days.

Warded to Millicent Bagnold

Terence is gone, I'm sitting in Mungo's with Rufus (don't tell him I told you that). My holiday from parenthood, not all that satisfying. But anyway, I'll have the flat to myself for a while. No need to scramble for babysitters, and all that.