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[theshabbiestofmen]

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[doggedly]

So it's fatal. But that doesn't mean-- I dunno. That there's only one Jump chamber. What if there's loads of them, or some other way to avoid it--there's loads of possibilities.

[A pause.]

Is she going out there?

[theshabbiestofmen]

Yes. And I'm going with her.

[doggedly]

[Immediately, his face darkens--just a little, but Remus knows him well; he'll be able to recognise it.]

When?

[theshabbiestofmen]

Whenever she wants.

[doggedly]

But she hasn't said yet.

[And then, not even waiting for an answer to that, he goes on:] You don't want to?

[theshabbiestofmen]

I think it's a surefire way for us to get seriously hurt-- but I'm not leaving her to do it on her own.

[doggedly]

Then I'll go as well.

[theshabbiestofmen]

You don't have to. That wasn't what this was about.

[doggedly]

Yeah, well, I'm going to. As if I'd let you go off on your own, don't be stupid.

[He says it all brusquely, but he looks around at Remus with more sharpness straight after that.]

What was it about, if that wasn't it?

[theshabbiestofmen]

Just-- my worries, I suppose. My-- god.

[He purses his lips.]

Does it make me a coward, then, that I don't want her to go?

[doggedly]

[He smiles, thinly, and gives a little shrug.]

Think it makes you her boyfriend, actually.

[theshabbiestofmen]

'S normal, then?

[doggedly]

[He snorts, quietly.]

Well, I haven't spent much time as a boyfriend, mate, but--yeah. I'd say it's normal. If people you care about go marching off to danger, then you get worried over them.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Yes, but-- I don't know. If you said as such, I don't think I'd be half so terrified.

[doggedly]

Yeah, but that's me, innit. If I didn't decide to boldly and stupid go off into the ship at a moment's notice--that's when you ought to worry about me. Otherwise it's just business as usual.

[He shoves his fringe back out of his face with a little sigh.]

Look. She's different than me. We're mates, but she's--y'know. Raven. So that makes you think of her differently. S' not bloody complicated.

[theshabbiestofmen]

For you, maybe. Being a boyfriend is bloody difficult for some of us.

[doggedly]

[He snorts at that.]

'Cos you overthink things, that's why. You always have.

[theshabbiestofmen]

You mean I think about them.

[doggedly]

Overthink. I think about things, I just don't obsess about them to myself--it's all right, it's a part of who you are. We've come to love it about you. But it's true.

Go with her. You ought to.

[theshabbiestofmen]

I don't obsess.

[He mumbles that protest as he rolls over, pushing his face against the pillow. Muffled, then:]

What's that thing you and James always shout? Bury me where the arrow falls?

[doggedly]

[He claps his hands over his heart, with a heavy sigh.]

"Give me my good bow into my hands, and hold me up while I shoot. Where the arrow falls there bury me!"

Only you haven't got an arrow and I doubt you'd be able to do anything with it if you did.

[theshabbiestofmen]

That's not the point. The point is that if I die, you have to shoot an arrow for me-- in my stead, you understand-- and bury my remains there. If there are remains. Which there likely won't be.

[doggedly]

Sorry, what exactly is happening to you that there aren't any remains? You're a wizard, aren't you? You're just going to, what--roll over and let the manticores have you?

Anyway, I'm going with you. Like hell I'd let you die. And that shooting and burying business sounds like far too much work--nooooo thanks. I'd rather just save your lousy hide and deal with you.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Sorry, was that a bit of sentiment buried underneath all that?

[doggedly]

Absolutely not. But I could see where you might misinterpret my laziness for affection, desperate as you are.