Absit Omen RPG

Flynn Hughes had drawn the unlucky Charge stick, being the one that was in charge of the spell damage ward. If Ignan had been bitten or attacked by a creature, Jason would be dealing with Miranda and whatever/whomever else came along with that. For that, Jason could appreciate all that Flynn had to deal with, on top of keeping his ward running smooth.

With the full moon behind him, his ward was as relaxed as it could hope to be. Even if he couldn’t help on the fourth floor, he could help out in other ways. Jason had been able to swindle some of the more pressing paperwork from Delilah Snardsworthy, assisting where he could with keeping Miranda’s desk from piling up with paperwork. St. Mungo’s had to keep running, no matter who was under a healer’s care. They were too important to the magical community to shut its doors whenever something terrible happened.

He’d encouraged Delilah to bother him whenever she felt something needed to be done. Perhaps that had been a poor decision, as he hadn’t been able to stay in his office long enough to get through all of the paperwork. Miranda definitely had her hands full with the ins and outs of the hospital, let alone everything else she had to supervise. It gave Jason a different perspective, that was for sure.

There were coffee cups piling up on his desk, but the paperwork pile had dwindled. As he signed the last of a budgetary request, he felt his pocket grow warm, a tingling feeling against his thigh. Leaning back in his chair, he pulled the badge out and frowned. Delilah, again?

How did Miranda get any work done?

Shuffling together what he had been able to do, he pulled his wand out and lifted the stack into the air, stepping out into the hallway after it. His free hand held a fresh cup of coffee, and he enjoyed a few sips as he made his way down to the ground floor.

Jason pushed open the door with his backside, directing the files in, setting them neatly on Delilah’s desk. “I’m getting quicker with-” He looked at her face and his voice tapered off. She informed him that Head Healer Storm was in her office, and that she was not to be disturbed. She also took the time to pick up her purse, put on her scarf, and inform Jason that it was her break time, leaving the office swiftly.

Which meant leaving Jason standing there, wand in one hand, mostly full coffee in the other, staring around the now empty secretary room. Finally, his gaze settled on Miranda’s door, and he took a deep breath and walked forward, wand back in his pocket before he gently knocked and pushed the door open.

Eyes were first drawn to her desk. Upon finding that empty, he stepped in further and scanned, though the trail of cigarette smoke could’ve been a better map to follow. Jason’s heart broke a little, seeing Miranda so vulnerable. The door was quickly shut behind him before he made his way over to the sofa. “Hey…” His voice was soft, understanding; the Healer had come out. His coffee sat on the table before he sat on the edge, near her, half reaching out with a hand before pausing in midair. After a brief moment of hesitation, Jason grasped Miranda’s shoulder, gently squeezing it before pulling back.

“Your reports are up to date. It’s taken care of. You don’t need to be down here."

Jason’s fuse was usually a lot longer than it was today. He might have lost a few precious hairs to this order, that’s how big of an issue it was. With the hairline receding, he didn’t have as many to fret over as he once did. Which made all the stress over a ridiculous budget mix up all the more ridiculous. And therefore stressful.

It was a terrible turn of events, really.

He rested his hands on his hips once she took the parchment, shifting his weight from one foot to the next before standing up straight. Jason knew better than to think he’d get away with anything short of a reprimand from the Head Healer. It still irked him, even if he did expect it. His jaw clenched ever so slightly before he took in a slow, calming breath through his nose. Jason should’ve had a few less drinks and a few more hours of sleep to deal with today.

But he didn’t, and here he was. At least he wasn’t still drunk! Jason pulled his hands from his hips and let them hang by his side. “It is. And I signed off the appropriate order. This, however, has the zero taken from the restraint column to the bedpan column. That was done outside of my hands. I need a solution.” He bit back, closing his mouth before ‘not a lecture’ could come out. He didn’t need to poke the beast more than was necessary.

“I know you’re aware of the full moon. And I know you are aware of how important those restraints are. There are only so many charms my healers can work.” If it was a terrible full moon, as others had been in the past, there wouldn’t be enough healers for the volume, and hence why physical restraints were so helpful. This was why they ordered in bulk, now. Terrible things had to happen before change occurred in the healer world.

Maybe, if he sweet talked her and appealed to her, she would not make his headache worse. The potion had already helped dull the throb, even if it continued to remind him of its existence.

Jason realized he wasn’t going to be able to sweet talk Delilah like usual. He should’ve come armed with another pastry. Next time, maybe, he’d remember that. Instead, he gave her a small smile and nodded, even as he wanted to shake some inanimate object with frustration. Of course Miranda would be busy. She was always busy.

It was as if a cold breeze came in, crawling up his back. Jason turned around and face morphed itself into brief shock before he frowned, lips pursed. Much like a mirror to hers, it seemed. And then his mouth dropped in disbelief. Hungover?! How had she managed…

Then again, perhaps he had a few more wrinkles around the eyes this morning, and his healer robes were a little wrinkled. His jaw clenched and he stood up straighter, putting on a forced smile. “Thanks-” And then she just strode past him! He turned his head and watched her disappear into her office after reprimanding him. How had all that happened in the span of a few seconds? He continued to slowly spin until he was facing Delilah again, his smile having been replaced with slight confusion.

A slow breath was exhaled. “I wish that I could. She doesn’t have any big meetings for the next half hour, does she?” Jason put his smile back on and leaned on the desk, waiting until the schedule was looked over before heading to the door. “Thank you, Delilah, you’re always so helpful.”

He knocked on the door before opening it, stepping inside. “Before you bark, I have budget issues we need to discuss.” Jason pushed the door closed behind him and rearranged his rolled parchment before walking over to her desk. He handed it off to her. “Tomorrow is the full moon, and someone ordered too many bed pans and not enough restraints. That isn’t going to help unless everyone magically gets the runs instead of trying to morph into werewolves.” To be honest, he wasn't sure which was a worse nightmare.

Jason had assumed she had another job, but would have never guessed what it was. He smiled, chuffed to learn a little more about the part-time ice-cream woman, full time proof-reading agent. “I don’t think you handle the type of literature that I usually read. But it sounds like I should change my reading habits.” Healer Weekly was a bore after a while, anyway. It certainly didn’t hold up to classic erotica. “Does it get old? Reading so much erotica all the time?”

Maybe it was a silly question to ask. Everything to tiring after a while. Jason cleared his throat and straightened up, hand slipping into his trouser pocket. “I’m sure the children stories are just as enjoyable.” He had a few of those on his shelves as well, thanks to the other reader in his home. Though, judging by what his mum read him, perhaps the children stories would bore him.

“Noted. I’ll make sure to keep the secret menu between us, then.” As if he’d ask her father in the first place. He wasn’t always the smartest wizard, but he had some couth. Her admission caused a moment of surprised silence, his mouth opening just barely as he took in a slow breath, nodding in agreement before grinning. “I can see you really care about your art.”

“Gryffindor’s are courageous no matter what. Smarter people are courageous when it counts.” Jason gave her a quick wink. He was no Gryffindor either, but he could see upsides to certain aspects of their personality.

The sound of the mixer gave him the sort of medium that allowed him to get up to no good. It was the sort of noise filled environment that naughty children could pen something and feign ignorance and innocence when it was found.

Her laughter gave him a moment to breathe a sigh of relief and also join in, quietly, as he moved away from the board and back to the place on the other side of the counter. He won, but… what was his prize? Jason leaned on the counter and watched her swirl out the whipped cream. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like two. When are you off? I bet you get parched back there.”

Jason had come back from his evening of light celebration to department woes. Whoever had been helping with budget for his floor had disastrously messed up. Who needed 20 orders of 10 bed pans? This wasn’t April Fools yet, and still… he felt like he was being poked at. Someone had added in zeros where they didn’t need to be, and taken them away in places they needed. He needed large orders of restraints. Tomorrow was a full moon, and his ward dealt with a large amount of werewolf related injuries.

The dull throb in the back of his head reminded him of how ‘light’ his night had not been. What was originally meant to be a few beers turned into something else while at Death & Co. Adelaide could hang with the best of them, and after a few rounds of shots, it was evident that Jason was going to be feeling it at work the next day. It was luck for him that Aidan was with his mum for the week, or Aidan wouldn’t have eaten breakfast. Jason had already attacked his hangover with a strong headache potion and two cups of coffee.

What he didn’t expect was to find the mess that he did.

Once the coffee started to calm him, and a pastry made its way past his mouth, Jason bundled up the parchment and tucked a quill in his healer robes before heading to the stairs. His hat sat crooked on top his head as he jogged down the flight to the ground level.

He gave his best smile to Snardsworthy, clearing his throat with his empty hand before adjusting the hat on his head. “Good morning, Delilah. You are looking lovely as ever. How are Josephine and Chad doing with the little one?” Jason could make nice, even if he wanted to tear through the door to bark at Miranda and the incompetence of the budget staff.

Jason laughed and shrugged. “I figured my own prescriptions were good enough. Find a beautiful smile to help you forget about troubles, and you’re already on your way to ultimate health.” He rested his teeth on his bottom lip as he smirked around it, admiring the beautiful smile right in front of him. Screw the apple, Jason knew just what he needed to help him forget all the ridiculous things in his life, from work to home.

Lots of cream in the banana cream ice cream. His mind took him places that his mouth didn’t have the courage to say, but the slight hike of his eyebrows could’ve given it away. He did lose it a little when she informed him of her milkshake name, mouth dropping open just a little before he quickly closed it, unable to fight the grin that split his face. “That sounds like it’d be good to the last drop.”

His face showed his surprise, both eyebrows raised in slight question. “Not... your own? Is ice cream and erotica a natural...” His hands came into play as Jason moved his open palms back and forth in the air, framing his half stated question in between the unspoken air. “Mix?”

It sounded like a sticky taboo sort of mess. Something that begged for a shower after.

If he leaned in, it was only to conspire with her upon possible frozen treats. “I don’t know, that seems perfectly innocent to me.” And probably every child under the age of puberty. Innocence could hear a lot of inappropriate innuendoes and be none-the-wiser. Adults just took things too seriously, sometimes. “Am I only allowed to ask for a Wet Dream™when you’re in charge?”

Flirting was harmless. It was easy to make that sort of assumption and run with it. That sort of thinking had also gotten him into plenty of trouble in his life. “Sounds like you need a dose of Courage.” The potion was really good at making you not care about the consequences so much as forging ahead. It had led to many unfortunate accidents.

Jason scoffed at her truer than true statement. “My handwriting is on par with any self-spelling quill.” He eyed the chalk and glanced to the board, weighing the chance to do something naughty on such a fine day. Finally he rolled his eyes and smirked, reaching over and taking her up on it. Fingertips brushed the palm of her hand before he gripped it, biting the side of his lower lip as he tapped his chin with the chalk. “I’ll take a Wet Dream™while I ponder this.”

And then it came to him. Cream Pie was hastily scribbled in the corner with a banana image in front. Jason felt positively incorrigible. It wasn’t the most imaginative thing he could’ve come up with... but it still had style.

A smirk slipped out unexpectedly before Jason rolled his eyes. “So you’re being charitable?” No... Jason didn’t think that was what this was. Even if it would’ve been easier to swallow, perhaps. Then again... Miranda was in the habit of doing exactly what everyone expected her not to do. A finger waggled in her direction. “I think you’d get bored, just being a rich heiress. You’ll probably work right up to your untimely second death.”

Shrugging, Jason sat up and gulped his remaining coffee down, setting the empty mug on the desk top. “I know you don’t like to chit chat, so I’ll stop us before we get too far into it. It’s nice to have a civil conversation with you, Andy.” He gave her a small smile before picking up a quill and tapping the small stack of folders. “I just have a few more things to get to before I call it a day. Potion prices, remember?”

They were really trying to gouge the market, too. Some apothecaries, anyway. Others were just trying to stay afloat amid all the chaos. It was definitely a trying time, but Jason was keeping as positive an outlook as he could. They would make it through this.

He paused with the quill and frowned in thought. “Hey!” He paused and fought for words before they came out. “If you need someone to back you up against the Board, with arguing for in house ingredient growing... just let me know.” They might not have the best relationship, sure, but Jason also knew how much she cared about St. Mungo’s and its well being. She had inspired him once upon a time, a lifetime ago. Back before life handed out lemons and told you to get back on your feet.

Jason couldn’t deny that he usually didn’t enjoy ice cream so close together. After dropping Aidan off with Fiona, however, he’d found himself in Diagon Alley with little else to do. He’d picked up a couple of books for his son’s room and window shopped mindlessly down the cobblestone alley, stopping long enough to talk with the folks in the apothecary about their wares. The potion scare was starting to harm businesses, so he bought a small container of nightshade and a good bundle of peppermint.

His bag swung lightly as he continued wandering down the alley. And when he found himself nearing the ice cream shop, well...

There he was, pushing open the door and walking in, the little bell announcing he was there. He found his voice was... misplaced at first, licking his lips as his feet faltered. He held the door open for the person who was carefully guiding themselves out with the cone piled so high it nearly scraped the door frame.

Jason turned his attention to her and grinned, clearing his throat as he stepped up. “Little known fact, healers and... all in the healing field, really, no one takes care of themselves very well. It’s a Do As I Say! sort of mentality.” His grin was taking over his cheeks. There was an odd bounce in his step that he tried to simmer down by the time he got up to the counter. “You have a little something... there.” He laughed as he motioned to her apron. “Looks good enough to eat.”

And then he laughed; a splash of red crossed his cheeks. “I mean the, whatever that came from.” Meeting her eyes, he shook his head. “I’m stopping while I’m ahead. What’s your special flavor today?”

It was easiest to keep Miranda on her toes, lest she fall back into disciplinary, find-all-your-faults mode. He definitely didn’t want to necessarily cause her to lose her shit either, so flipping from one topic to another when he thought he’d exhausted it was... smarter, in his head. And so far, it seemed to be working. It wasn’t as if he wanted to dig into her feelings too hard.

Though some might assume she was more Ice Queen than anything, Jason knew there were many times, if one looked hard enough, that you could see the inner emotions of Miranda Elli-Storm. For example, if he were really paying attention to her face, he would see how angry she was getting.

Sometimes it was a fun game, to see how far he could push her before she was close to the edge. The coffee was his saving grace, and he focused on it as he poured her a cup.

He handed it over to her carefully, eyes meeting hers at the question. It took him a moment to put together the dots of what she was going on about. As Jason settled back into his chair, he smirked and picked his own mug up, toasting her in the air before taking a sip. “Obviously all of those qualities.” He thought about it a moment before shrugging. “You can’t deny that the age difference... might catch people off guard.” And by people, Jason meant himself.

But he wasn’t going to say that.

There weren’t many times that Miranda Elliot (or... Storm, was it?) was caught off guard. Jason enjoyed it, even if he was careful of showing it. “It isn’t the most newsworthy magazine, but it definitely feeds gossip.” Which was its own wildfire. It was not professional, after all, to gossip about their Head Healer as if she was some sort of untouchable celebrity or quidditch player.

The baby part was laughable. Or so he hoped. Surely it wasn’t possible. Not that she was too old, of course, but he knew how she felt about children. Or thought he knew, at some point. Eyes fell to the desk between them, fishing for something else to say.

“Did he teach your da?” He blushed and put his hand in front of his mouth, a small laugh escaping. That was a mistake. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I hope you’re happy.” Another laugh came out, unexpected, and he leaned forward, trying very hard to keep himself from going into a giggle fit. Eyes closed as he clamped his hand around his mouth. A few more laughs came out, bouncing his shoulders as they muffled through his fingers.

Finally he got a hold of himself and sat back up, an easier going smile on his face. “I really do hope you’re happy. You could use someone who makes you happy. No matter...” how old almost slipped out, but he caught himself. "...who they are." He lifted his cooling coffee and took a small gulp, motioning to the thermos. “I have some extra, if you’d like.” Jason pulled open a drawer and fished out a coffee mug that was clean enough, offering it up as a truce.

It was a low blow to use Miranda’s first husband as his basis for an argument. Jason knew that, but he also couldn’t think of any other way he could get his point across to her. He’d tried reasoning both in the room where she’d been stuck in the hospital bed and here in his office. She refused to look at it as anything other than insubordination.

Jason only hoped he didn’t become so set in his ways that no one else’s opinion seemed valid. He hoped that people saw him as reasonable and level-headed. Like he’d always thought Miranda was.

He also remembered the horror of Jonathon’s attack. It was partially what had forced him to change departments. In the end, of course, he’d come back to the Creature Injuries ward. There had been so much blood... so many places to try and start to fix. It had also devastated Miranda.

The only thing he wanted her to acknowledge was that her way wasn’t the only way. She didn’t have to answer his rhetorical question.

And Jason sat quietly as she spoke, body still as he waited. The weight of holding himself up straight was lifted, and he leaned back in his chair, considering her words. “I can agree to that. Thank you, Andy.” He inwardly winced. “Head Healer.” After a brief silence, he cleared his throat. “Congratulations, by the way.”

“I’m sure this little guy wouldn’t mind that.” Jason had no desire to work behind an ice cream counter all day. The fear of constantly getting sticky from it... left little to be desired for the healer. “It sounds like there are too many requirements. I don’t think I’d make the cut.” Jason grinned nonetheless - that would be a mighty fear to try and work through. He wondered what Fear of Chocolate Frogs would be if it were a phobia.

Jason could imagine they had little trouble finding summer help. Or holiday help, for that matter. Free ice cream and get paid for it. It was very easy to see why some teenage boys would jump at the opportunity, if she was here more than every blue moon. “Zucchini bread... ice cream?” He was skeptical, glancing down where she’d pointed. The verbal stab made him laugh, eyes rolling. “As delicious as that sounds, I think I’ll stick to non-vegetable ice cream flavors, thank you.”

He looked over the shirt that she so aptly pointed out. “You should have a mask too, then. Publishing Agent sounds important too.” A little more than just a helpful daughter. She was a bit of an enigma. Jason always did like puzzles...

A laugh echoed her gesture. “It’s usually more covered in ice cream by now.” Aidan was in heaven, trying to corner two chocolate frogs before he caught them between his teeth, munching away happily.

Jason felt his stomach flip and flop. Cherries were alright by him. Thankfully he didn’t choke on the one in his mouth, chewing it thoroughly just in case. She must have a busy schedule, working at her father’s shop when she could, publishing people... for a real job. He didn’t really know what that entailed, but... it sounded like it was going well, if she’d published a few! Crazy or not.

After swallowing his bite, he grinned and nodded. “Sunday it is, then.” The little bell rang at the door; he turned his head to look to it, a small group of pre-Hogwarts kids shuffling in. Already the noise was louder than before, laughs and shouts coming from them. Jason looked back to Adelaide and gave her a sympathetic smile, though she did seem to enjoy herself behind the counter. A natural ice cream server. “Duty calls?”

Jason knew she wouldn’t take it well. He watched her read it over, sitting forward to rest his elbows on the desk. He didn’t think she understood what she was asking her in-Charge’s to do. This wasn’t as if one or two had died. They didn’t even make house calls back during the war. This was their mistake, and yet, at the same time, it absolutely wasn’t.

They weren’t in a dictatorship either. If he questioned something she gave out as an order, he was allowed to voice his concerns and be heard. He knew his rights. He also knew his duties. He spoke with families when they were at the hospital. He had had plenty of upset family members to deal with in his time. That was not the same as going to their home.

“I don’t need a babysitter, Head Healer. I’m not doing it. We don’t work here to take orders blindly. I have already voiced my concern.” She wasn’t at Durmstrang. She was in London. At St. Mungo’s. Somewhere she would’ve voiced her opinion and damn the authority if she thought she was right. Jason didn’t understand where her change came from.

“What would you have done if you could come face to face with Jonathon’s ending? Right after it happened? Would you not have wanted that dragon to feel everything you felt?” Jason had had his own experience with the near-death of a loved one. He had wanted to forbid Fiona from doing her job. If she would’ve gotten out of bed and said I’m going back to work, he would’ve said over his dead body.

Time heals the worst wounds, even if they can’t always be patched up right away. And they certainly would leave a scar to remember.

He wanted her to see his concern and not baby him and badger him until he complied. After a few moments, he finally frowned as he looked at her across the desk. “I will not do it.”

There was always the fight between patient care and cost. Jason could understand the necessary evil of the Board, but he also understood the frustration she must’ve been dealing with. The last bit, however, was good news. Eyebrows rose in consideration before he grinned - he had plenty of healers he could offer an extra shift to for assistance in brewing, if only to prepare for the full moon.

Sure, he’d heard the rumors. He hadn’t bothered with the article; that publication was rubbish, anyway. If he had heard healer’s and mediwitches gossiping about it yesterday, he’d made sure to remind them that was their Head Healer, and they had jobs that didn’t require that sort of discussion. Jason was sure that when he walked away, they continued with their conversation, but at least it was quieter.

Now, however, he couldn’t help the glance to the flashy rings. Jason pursed his lips ever so slightly but didn’t mention anything, instead focusing his gaze on her face. “You requested how prepared we were for the full moon, I’m keeping you abreast of all of it.” They hadn’t known it was contaminated until they tested it. What a relief it had been, too. It was something that he could breathe easier about.

The next thing out of her mouth caught him completely off guard. Jason’s mouth opened, face showing slight shock. Finally, he shut his mouth and cocked an eyebrow. Another piece of parchment was pulled out with four of the nine names marked through, along with small notes about the four he had gone to and what had happened. Jason looked it over for a moment before handing that across the table as well. “No, Miranda, I did not.”

He waited for her to peruse his list before he continued. “It’s a fools errand. If you feel it’s important to do, then add it to your list of things to do. I suggest we hold a forum and address concerns head on in a safe and neutral environment. Going to their home is-” He had to bite his tongue for fear of saying something he might regret. “-not wise.” Jason frowned and steepled his fingers in front of him, elbows on the arms of his chair.

Wasn’t she well put together? Jason stared at the paperwork for a few moments longer before letting it rest on his lap, the small stack of paperwork he had already gone through neatly piled up on the other side of the desk. His budget was not as cushy as he’d like, but he was well within his department means for supplies.

Minus the potion mishaps, of course. Everyone was feeling that, though, it definitely wasn’t just him. “Yes... As much as I’d like to redecorate, I thought I’d compare potion prices instead.” He was attempting to be friendly; he even put on a smile. Jason lifted his feet off of the desk and set them down on the floor, stretching as he sat up in his chair.

If she shut the door behind her, that meant she was going to be here for a while. No reason to poke the beast by antagonizing her. He scratched the back of his head before tossing the file back on his desk, motioning to the chairs with his other hand (that still held the quill). “I do know that. It is a salary job.” And as such, it required he be available when he needed to be, including emergencies. For that sort of hazardous job, though, he did bring home a healthy paycheck.

Enough to live comfortably after child support and maintenance, anyway. “Thank you for keeping me on my toes.”

He frowned slightly at her, leaning back in his chair as he twirled the quill slowly between his fingers. She was one to micromanage if she could. Then again, she had also taught him a lot over the years, having been the one to precept him on this very ward a long, long time ago. He’d had a bit more hair back then, and an easier smile too.

Finally he leaned and picked up another folder, that he’d already marked all over, opening it for the Head Healer to see, turning it around for easy reading. “Wolfsbane has been tested and well accounted for. Mor- Miss Morgan was very helpful with that.” The dots were quite helpful, really. “However.” He let out a breath and tapped the next column. “Our healing and pain relief potions are, obviously, well under what we need. How are our suppliers working? Even with one or two healers working around the clock... it’s still a matter of quantity. We don’t have the necessary ingredients to make that much for a just in case scenario.”

He hoped whoever had tampered with their supplies had nothing more diabolical in mind. Jason also could be a realist when he needed to. There had been the time Wolfsbane didn’t work and the Direwolves started popping up. There still wasn’t anything that worked on them all. He sat the quill down and rested his chin in his hand.