gimme a minute | brigh

[addilyn elara slater]

a year of lows spent so high

feeling like i'm out of time
inner peace is hard to find

March 10, 2028
BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

Addy could’ve inhaled her wine. Almost ten years of friendship, and yet Brígh managed to catch Addy off guard occasionally. Fortunately, she hadn’t quite taken a full sip. The carpets were charmed, of course, considering how difficult it was to get a wine stain out—even with magic. Plus, parties happened here. Someone was bound to spill or knock something over, throwing a quaffle around. Addy felt her face flush, and she momentarily gawked at her best friend for asking that question. She might have been the brains in the group, but Brígh had the gift of getting answers through surprise attacks meant to catch one off guard. It was not the first time nor the last this would happen.

She couldn’t really be upset or surprised. Addy had tried, although not incredibly hard, at hiding her visitors. In fact, it was more convenient to go to Jack’s place. Cheese’s residence was full of too many people to make sneaking around a good idea. And speaking of a certain ex-boyfriend, Addy was painfully aware of what this month meant. It meant a year had passed since they’d broken up. She couldn’t figure out how time had passed so quickly, but she supposed one hardly noticed with such tunnel vision. Some time ago, she would’ve thought they’d be celebrating a second anniversary, not barely rebuilding a friendship. Addy closed her eyes and let out a sigh. She knew the earful she was about to get. The secrets had never been intentional. Addy hadn’t wanted to talk about it—none of it. It was probably time.

Setting her glass off to the side, Addy chewed a bit on her lip. She supposed it was easiest to start with Jack. How she’d slept with him later that same day and happened to bump into him at the Flobberworm and Lettuce not long after. Over these months, they’d become friends, although Addy hadn’t initially understood that magnetic pull. Jack wasn’t someone that knew her like her best friends, and yet he read her like lyrics on paper while reciting his observations and interpretations in a palpable manner—song. They were friends, and that was all—plus the part where their intimate knowledge of one another extended their physical needs. How did Addy explain how he rendered her speechless, but with him, she existed in the present?

Only with Cheese had she ever experienced anything like that—reading someone and learning what made them gasp or dig their nails into your skin. Addy knew she had to tell Brígh everything. Especially because lately, Addy had been feeling a little twitchy. That physical relationship was still there, although Addy found that he was busy sometimes, which was probably for the best. They were trying to be friends, right? So at the beginning of the year, she’d started joining him in this neighborhood Quidditch League. Her muscle memory had kicked in, and the peace she felt flying on that broom again was indescribable. She would’ve never accepted Luna’s invitation to meet her team at a Harpies practice without that.

However, it wasn’t just them in the league. Everyone was friendly and included a few familiar faces from Hogwarts, but it didn’t stop a fire burning in Addy’s insides whenever she saw Cheese speaking to that one girl. And Addy didn’t know why she cared. They’d broken up a year ago, and yet this mix of anger and panic would begin to flood her system. And so here she was. Addy was tired of feeling lost, especially with feelings she clearly couldn’t control. It was unnatural for someone so meticulous with plans always preset. She missed the old days at Hogwarts, where sticking to the plan made her feel good. She let out a heavy sigh. ”Fine, I’ll tell you.” It was good a few glasses of wine had already entered Addy’s system.

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[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

Before Brígh was due to head off to Peru for a two week training trip, she had demanded that Addy reserve a night just for the two of them. Living with Irina and Ivanka was lovely, but sometimes Brígh longed for the times when she and Addy would have sleepovers at one anothers house and talk until the small hours of the morning. They could still do that, but Brígh did sometimes worry about leaving the other girls out. She liked both very much, and Irina was already a cursebreaker. But at times, Brígh just needed alone time with her best friend.

Having procured wine and cheese for a movie night, Brígh spent under 10 minutes slapping everything together on a cutting board. She knew that Addy would have something to say about her lack of decoration - if she was going to make a cheese platter, she ought to give it some pizazz. But Brígh countered that they were just going to eat it anyways, and it wasn't like they were posting about their cheese on Instagram. Brígh had thought about making a joke about a different sort of cheese, one with a capital C, but she was still unsure of how to approach the topic of her two best friends dating and then splitting up. So she just pretended it didn't happen.

When Addy returned home, she had a certain bow legged quality to her walk. Brígh narrowed her eyes critically, allowing Addy just a few moments of reprieve before she would dive right into her questioning. She served Addy a tall glass of wine to ply the truth out of her, and one for herself as well. "So..." she started, savouring the tartness on her tongue. "Why are you walking funny?" Brígh had an inkling of an idea - she'd surely had the same sort of posture after spending the weekend with Aidan. But she needed to hear it from the horses mouth, so to speak.

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

a year of lows spent so high

feeling like i'm out of time
inner peace is hard to find

March 10, 2028
BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

Sometimes Addy wondered why Brígh hadn’t entered a profession such as law or law enforcement. Her direct way of questioning would be perfect. But where did she start? Addy paused, picking up her glass of wine again to drink a large portion. Her mind jumped to earlier that day. She could remember running her hands through his hair, her nails digging into his shoulders as she tried to find something to hold onto. The thought made her throat go dry. Clearing her throat, she started speaking, though opting to look at literally anything else. ”I was…with someone.” Well, that was the truth technically, right?

Not that Brígh would ever accept such an answer. When it came to her personal life, Addy always seemed to break down. ”Honestly, I don't know how you haven’t run into one of them.” Addy shook her head, completely losing track of the fact that she’d just declared that someone was, in fact, plural. Well, she supposed she better get on with it. ”I’ve been seeing Jack.” She finally admitted. Her face felt warm, which was either her blushing or the wine starting to seep into her brain. Or perhaps both.

Addy drank more wine. It did help with this. ”I’m not seeing him, its more like…just a physical thing.” She would not get into their conversations or his songs. Addy sighed. At first, she’d called it a distraction, and to a point, it still was. Although she had come to genuinely like conversing with him. The fanny flutters were there, but not the butterflies. And, well, if she’d enjoyed that first night on Holiday when he was a perfect stranger, well, it was nothing compared to months later after learning more about the other person. Addy somehow had drank her entire glass during that. She looked at it. Her brow furrowed. Well, that was inconvenient. She held out the glass to Brigh. ”I’m going to need more wine.”

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[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

Despite their incredibly busy different lives, Brígh was always grateful for the time she did get to spend with Addy. It was so similar to those times that Brígh had snuck Addy into the Gryffindor common room for sleepover, in which they would stay up for hours talking about everything and anything in between. Though they'd grown older, though these secret meetings had become less secret, some things never changed. Just as Brígh could take one look at Addy and know that she was harbouring some sort of secret, mostly by the waddling way in which she walked into the room when Brígh had called for her.

The direct way in which. Brígh questioned Addy hadn't changed since their very first year. Brígh didn't understand nuance - it caused friction in many of her relationships, but Addy accepted it as part of who she was. When Addy reluctantly expanded on her condition, Brígh was glad she hadn't picked up her glass of wine for a sip. Her brows disappeared up into her hair, they rose so quickly and high."Well, is that so?" said Brígh, a smirk playing at her lips. She thought it was safe to take a sip of wine, since Addy seemed to be stewing on how to continue, since that was nowhere near an acceptable answer.

"I see," she replied, the old mischievous glint in her eyes as she appraised Addy over her glass of wine. Her faced was reddening, and Brígh shrugged. "I know you may find this hard to believe, but I do sometimes practice tactfulness," Brígh said with a feral grin. As nosy as Brígh was, she did in fact know when to keep to herself, or as much as she could. She'd heard voices in Addy's room a few times, and as much as she'd been itching to ask her about it, she'd resisted. She gasped when Addy shared that it was in fact Jack Clark she'd been seeing. "No fecking way, Jack Clark?" she echoed, her shock evident. "Merlin, you coy little slag," said Brígh, grinning and elbowing Addy in the ribs. "Sure it is. Good enough to come back for more after our little holiday," said Brígh knowingly. She pointed her wand at Addy's glass and it refilled, while Brígh looked expectantly at Addy for more details.

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

a year of lows spent so high

feeling like i'm out of time
inner peace is hard to find

March 10, 2028
BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

Brígh waited patiently for Addy to continue. Sometimes Addy wasn’t sure if she liked patient Brígh or jumping up and down calling Addy by her full name Brígh. In this case, the silence was a little unsettling, if only because Addy’s mind felt so loud. And then her best friend’s confession that Addy had not been as sneaky as she thought. She blushed just a little bit more. At the same time, she wanted to ask why? Why hadn’t Brígh said anything before? Compared to the treatment she received in their seventh year, this was almost the exact opposite. Addy looked at Brígh, a little bewildered. Did that mean she’d seen who it was, or how did she know?

Addy didn’t like not knowing but not asking the question meant you didn’t hear answers you didn’t want. But Brígh’s response told Addy that her answer had met the bar for details. Or so she thought. As her glass was refilled, Addy did feel a little relief. She didn’t like to keep secrets from her best friend. It always weighed on her. Unfortunately, Addy knew she’d be incapable of speaking the rest. Addy was supposed to be moving on, though the truth said differently. But when it came to Jack Clark, Addy wasn’t sure where to start.

She drank a large amount of wine, waiting for its effects to kick in. ”I saw him again during the holiday.” Addy admitted, remembering their time at the beach and afterward. In moments like this, Addy admired Brígh’s ability to say exactly what was on her mind and what she meant to say. As she struggled for words, Addy’s mind filled with memories of their time together. Clearing her throat, she forced down more wine. ”But really—it's just physical.” Addy insisted. ”That’s all.” Trying to explain what they were or weren’t felt like a bad idea when Addy couldn’t even decide what it was. The only certainty was that the man knew what he was doing, so how—why would Addy say no? With a resigned sigh, Addy’s posture relaxed. ”Merlin…I do have a type, don’t I?” She muttered while staring at the floor in front of her. Well, that settled it. If you wanted Addy Slater to admit something, such as you were right, just give her enough wine.

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[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

It was a miracle in itself that Brígh managed a modicum of patience. But, as she'd grown older, she'd learned that skill was pretty valuable. Even if it went against her very nature. She revealed to Addy that she'd had her suspicions of what Addy was doing in the night, but had never said anything. This was one thing Brígh could not get herself involved in. She had been surprised that Addy had readily provided Jack Clark's name, though again Brígh probably shouldn't have been so shocked. After all, she knew that they'd shagged on their holiday to Crete. Jack was an idiot if he didn't want to see more of Addy.

There was a strange twist in Brígh's stomach. It came on all at once. She felt suddenly somewhat guilty. She'd known things would get complicated once Addy and Cheese had admitted their feelings for one another. And the very worst had happened - they'd split. Their friendship never could be the same, no matter how well they were doing now. Brígh missed the times where they didn't have to think about these sorts of things, where they would sprawl out on the lawns and draw maps in the sky. But that was the issue with time - it was always changing.

Brígh offered Addy a nod, though she hadn't really been listening. She blinked, and focused on her friend who had polished off her glass of wine. Wordlessly, Brígh refilled their goblets before taking another sip. "Tortured, starving artist who creates gorgeous things through the pain? Yes, I'd say you have a type," said Brígh with a smirk. "Tell me, has he written any love songs about you? Or is that too romantic for this physical thing" she asked.

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

a year of lows spent so high

feeling like i'm out of time
inner peace is hard to find

March 10, 2028
BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

Addy was certain this was the first time she’d ever heard Brígh describe herself as tactful. Because she most certainly was not. This had added to Addy’s confusion about why Brígh hadn’t mentioned anything sooner. Fortunately, the wine began to seep into her brain, which let Addy relax. She was tired of the constant tension in her shoulders. She was a mix of so much weight she carried because so much was constantly left unresolved. And the past year had worsened as Addy fought this internal battle of wondering what she wanted. At least the wine was helping and just telling Brígh. Just as she’d always been, especially in the immediate aftermath of the breakup, she could count on Brígh.

She blinked several times at her glass, registering that Brígh had refilled it. And Addy knew she’d regret the rate at which she was consuming this wine in the morning, but the only other time Addy ever felt this relaxed was laughing with Brígh when she wasn’t training or playing Quidditch again. Even talking to Jack about whatever came to their minds late at night when Addy told herself she would go home in a few minutes. And those times when she could talk to Cheese naturally until something reminded them they were each other’s ex.

Addy cringed, drinking from her glass. Merlin, she did have a type. Not that it implied anything more than physical with Jack, though she’d grown fond of his company and how his piercing eyes saw right through her, revealing an entirely new perspective. ”No, of course not.” Addy responded quickly. ”I’ve heard him play at the pub, but that’s all.” Merlin, she’d never thought about it like that. He simply had this ability to put words to what most people probably felt at some point. It was far different than the photographs Cheese took or used to take. His eye for capturing a perfect moment. The thought made her stomach flip uncomfortably. Because she couldn’t recall the last time he’d brought his camera around like that, even with Brígh here. She focused on drinking more wine. ”We’re both fine with it like this.” Addy added, shifting her thoughts back to Jack. ”It's less complicated.” Addy sighed, not about Jack but other thoughts. ”I’m tired of complicated things.” Not that her wine-soaked brain could differentiate that Addy made her own complications.

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[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

Brígh had unwittingly stopped paying attention as she mused about the tumult of their collective friendship. But she couldn't turn back time - Albus had confirmed that there were absolutely no time turners left - and in the end, did Brígh really want to take all that away from her two best friends? Just to save the awkwardness of the inevitable breakup? It was like that old adage, it's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. Brígh snapped out of her unusual thoughtfulness as Addy drained her glass, and Brígh dutifully refilled it with a swish of her wand.

As a matter of course, Brígh took a moment to poke fun at Addy's situation. Men who created art out of pain, who looked for inspiration in the least likely of places and who were as passionate a lover as could be? That sounded both completely perfect and opposite of Addy. "Right," Brígh replied skeptically. Not because she didn't believe Addy had seen Jack play at the pub - but because she didn't believe Addy had only heard him play at the pub.

Brígh chewed on the inside of her cheek as she mulled over Addy's final admission. Then, she took a deep drink of wine. "Complicated things..." she started, then paused. What could Brígh even say on that subject? Had she not turned tail and run away the moment things got complicated in her life? She lived for simple pleasures, teasing her best mates, discovering new adventures, falling in love more and more every single day. "Complicated things make us realise what is worth chasing," said Brígh at last. "It helps us prioritise. Sometimes, the simplest thing is the best thing, and you don't need to work yourself up about it," she added after a moment. "Though I do know you love to work yourself up into a frenzy, you mad bat."

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

a year of lows spent so high

feeling like i'm out of time
inner peace is hard to find

March 10, 2028
BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

Addy didn’t even argue with Brígh. She decided there wasn’t a point as the wine infiltrated her system. Plus, she didn’t want to. But the mention of tortured artists left Addy staring off aimlessly. It was hard to admit how she felt seeing Cheese banter like that with someone else. And it was frustrating when you couldn’t label such things. It had been helpful for all of them to be friends again. The awkward moments were less frequent and less tense. Unfortunately, Addy hadn’t quite brought this to Brígh’s attention as she sorted through those feelings and thoughts still.

However, Addy hadn’t hesitated in telling Brígh about that last conversation with Luna. And as much as Brígh could’ve gone the rest of her life without uttering the word ‘quidditch’ ever again, she’d been happy for Addy as she always was. Addy lazily rolled her head to look at Brígh while she spoke. Among that fiery and fierce nature were often these calm moments of intense wisdom. Addy appreciated her words but couldn’t stop from laughing at Brígh’s follow-up. ”Apparently, only wine can quiet my brain.” Addy mused, lifting her glass and looking at whatever contents remained. Wine, any alcohol, and boys who knew what buttons to press, she thought to herself.

The latter thought left her face feeling a little warm, or maybe that was just the wine. Addy couldn't tell. ”The simplest things…” Addy drank from her glass again and looked at it, lost in her thoughts once more. Everybody told her she thought too much—Brígh, Jack, Cheese…everybody. Well, her family thought otherwise. Every time Addy visited home, something in her mother’s eyes judged her harshly. As if she wasn’t moving fast enough or working hard enough. She supposed it had all been ruined for those Addy’s age or similar when someone as young as Victoire Weasley was made Minister of Magic. Fortunately, that mistake was corrected.

Addy sighed, looking at Brígh softly. ”I’m so tired of complicated things, Brígh.” She repeated before finishing off this glass as well. Merlin, she was drinking this wine as if she were dehydrated. Or Addy hadn’t realized how stressed she was and how much she needed this girl’s night. The solutions really were that simple—good times with good people. Her other half, in this case. Though for how much Addy complicated her own life, Brígh had the complicated life as a curse breaker now. There wasn’t anything more simple than a measly Ministry desk job.

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[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

It was a rare moment when Brigh was the thoughtful one of the pair. Since she’d met Addy in her very first week at Hogwarts, they’d always been the whirlwind and the mountain. Flighty and steadfast. Two sides of the same coin. But now, Addy needed grounding. Someone to remind her that at the end of it all, the only person who could really make her happy was herself. Not her parents. Not her lovers. Just herself. Brigh would support her best friend however she could, and that currently consisted of wine. Brigh dutifully refilled their glasses before taking another drink.

Brigh had to admit it was remarkably easier when Addy and Cheese were just friends, though it was also remarkably selfish. It meant that Brigh felt less left out, and that they were back to what she would say was normal. No strings, just best friends. No wondering – no, knowing – that the pair enjoyed their time together without her more than with her. They were in love. And Brigh was no more than an accessory. But she kept these nasty thoughts to herself, appalled that they even crept into the dark recesses of her mind. Brigh understood it was rather awkward for both Addy and Cheese… but hadn’t she pointed that out the second she’d found out?

The pair lapsed into silence, and Brigh wondered if she was being too harsh. She was trying to be empathetic, but she came from a completely different background than from Addy. Though her father had been an important member of the ministry, she’d never felt pushed one way or another. She and Bran had been so vastly different, talented in their own ways, there was never any competition between the two of them. They were both brilliant.

Brigh wrapped an arm around Addy, holding her close for a moment and exhaling as she rested her cheek on her shoulder. In her wine soaked mind, things ought to be simple. ”Me too. I don’t like complicated things. For me or for you,” she said. ”We should just do the things that make us happy. Not the things that other people say should make us happy. You know?”

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

a year of lows spent so high

feeling like i'm out of time
inner peace is hard to find

March 10, 2028
BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

Sometimes it felt the more hectic Brígh’s life was, the calmer she became. And in the meantime, Addy’s boring desk job only forced her mind to run a hundred miles per hour consistently. The pair would have laughed at any suggestion during their school years that Brígh would be the greater grounding force for once. She was always a grounding force. There wasn’t doubt about that, but one unafraid to move or act. And she’d been there at Addy’s lowest moments, like the breakup the year before. Addy really didn’t know who she would have turned to otherwise.

Addy nodded, letting her head fall to gently sit on Brígh’s head. For a moment, Addy didn’t respond. Opting to sigh thoughtfully instead. ”Nobody in my family is happy.” The thought escaped her mouth before she even realized it. But it was true, wasn’t it? Claire was tightly wound up, and Grey so cynical. Merlin, what did people see when they looked at Addy? ”I was thinking…” Addy raised her head to take a drink but paused for a moment as she’d gone too fast for her wine-soaked brain. ”Quidditch.”

Luna’s offer still rang around in her brain. She could not stop thinking about it, even though her heart began to race when she did. And then Addy thought of the league. How she and Cheese could co-exist like they used to, but then the unwanted parts. The way he would laugh with whats-her-face. The thought had Addy finishing off her glass of wine. ”I think I’ll talk to Grey.” Addy had spent the week checking if Cheese was free so she could chat with him about it, but their schedules didn’t seem to line up. A surprisingly disheartening feeling washed over her. This simple co-existence seemed to be as far as they could go.

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[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

Brígh sighed, patting Addy on the leg. "Doesn't matter if they are happy or not. We're talking about you," she reminded her best friend, giving her a meaningful look. Addy started to speak, and Brígh tilted her head, waiting for her to go on. She nearly quipped about how Addy was always thinking, and so rarely acting. But Addy continued before she had the chance. Brígh stared at Addy for a long moment, her glass hovering somewhere between the table and her lips. Brígh scrutinised Addy, before taking a drink of her own wine.

"Why not?" said Brígh. "To be honest, I was surprised you didn't go into it in the first place. You like bossing us around enough, and you always talk about how freeing it is to be up in the air. You mad bat," she added with a smirk. A shadow crossed Addy's face, and because Brígh knew her so well, she knew better than to ask the reason for it. "So Grey can feature you in his many articles?" she asked with a smirk. Brígh was much more familiar with Claire than Grey, but she knew all three Slaters relatively well. After all, she had grown up with Addy.

"Well, I think it's a great idea. I'll even come watch you play, and I'll convince Aidan to as well," said Brígh, straightening her back. "How do you even get into the leagues? I'm not going to lie, I know next to nothing about it. For me, nothing about my future has ever been uncertain. I wanted to be a curse breaker as long as I could remember. I knew what to do to get myself there. But... for you, it's different," said Brígh, much too quickly for her wine addled brain. The words came out slightly twisted, but she hardly noticed. Instead, she filled their glasses again.

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

a year of lows spent so high

feeling like i'm out of time
inner peace is hard to find

March 10, 2028
BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

Addy looked at Brígh. ”I’m not always bossing you all around.” She quickly responded, brows furrowed for a moment. She wasn’t, but someone had to take charge at times, and in their old friend group, it was either Brígh or Addy. The difference between the pair was that Brígh could act without thinking it through, whereas Addy was less likely to let a tangent distract her. Usually was the keyword there. The reminder of all those scouts who spoke to her in their seventh year caused Addy to slide down a bit where she sat. Representatives from the teams and the league always attended matches occasionally, and all conversations were public. If they had not been, Addy wouldn’t have said a word to anyone, knowing she could only decline their offers.

”What—watch me play?” Addy had let her mind wander and missed part of the words Brígh let flow stuck together out of her mouth. She attempted to drink from her glass, forgetting it was empty as it was five seconds ago. Frowning, brow furrowed, Addy sighed heavily. ”I was the best, and I told them ‘no’, why would they take me now?” She mentally took a note to ask Grey how many reservists ever made it off the bench? Surely, the statistics were low. ”I—erm—flew with the Harpies last weekend. Luna.” Addy tacked on Luna’s name as an implicit explanation.

Merlin had it felt good to fly like that again. Chasing that feeling brought her to that league every weekend as well. ”She says I could play in the reserves.” Again, Addy thought about how much skill it took to wear out a spot on the bench. ”I don’t know—I have the ‘Ts’.” The name of the League Cheese invited her to. If only whats-her-face’s face didn’t also come up next to his in her mind. It felt stupid and silly. A year had already passed, and they were finally friends again. Addy was sleeping with Jack anyway. Why did she care if Cheese had other friends who happened to be girls who also played Quidditch? Absentmindedly, Addy picked up her phone next to her slightly. Nope—still no reply to her text.

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[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

Brígh gave Addy a hard stare, not bothering to reply. They both knew that Addy was the most decisive of the three of them. Brígh would go with whatever plans were, fully and with a hundred percent of her will. But it was Addy who made the decisions. And Cheese... well, Cheese just sort of followed them along, exasperated but delighted when he got a good picture out of it. Brígh asked if Grey would write about Addy in his articles, though she also thought maybe that wasn't the right thing for him to do. Conflict of interest? Was that a thing when writing about sports?

"Er... yeah. You're my best friend. Like I wouldn't?" Brígh shot back, confused. "You were the best. And you're still good. No, you're really, really good. Like, better than most people. Why should they be petty and not accept your talents?" asked Brígh as if it was the plainest thing on the planet. "If you're good enough to play, you play. Simple as." With a shrug, she examined her nails. They were bitten down to nubs, an anxious habit she had picked up in the field. "Is she less of a mad bitch than usual then?" asked Brígh, arching a quizzical brow. Luna had never been her favourite person - but luckily, she'd never really had to deal with the former Slytherin.

Brígh waited a moment for Addy to reevaluate what she had said. The T's from what little Brígh knew of them, were equivalent to a local league. Not even the county! And the Harpies... well, they were the top flight of Quidditch. It was big. "Shut the fuck up and listen to yourself, Addy Slater. I have the T's" Brígh mocked with an eye roll. "I don't need to tell you what you're going to do. Because Christ, you already know." With a note of finality, Brígh picked up the bottle and filled both of their glasses with a heavy pour. "Now, let's drink to the newest Harpy."

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

a year of lows spent so high

feeling like i'm out of time
inner peace is hard to find

March 10, 2028
BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

For someone who spoke a million words a minute, Brígh could also communicate so much without words. So, even as she entered her buzz, Addy could see her best friend’s expression but chose not to acknowledge it. Nobody had a problem with Addy giving directions when they needed her. But Merlin forbid she inconvenience them. Maybe that’s why she’d grown so frustrated with Cheese at times. They were in school anymore, and they had jobs to do and careers to grow. But sometimes, he was like a little kid chasing a butterfly in a field while Addy was pestering him to make sure he did what he was supposed to.

Empty glass in hand, Addy listened to the words of support. ”You’re my best friend—you’re supposed to say I’m the best.” That was partly true, and Addy hadn’t said it totally seriously. The youngest Slater knew she was good. But this invisible wall was still blocking her. Plus, it was getting more difficult to think after all this wine. So the unsophisticated half snort and laugh from Addy was clearly because of the wine. ”Not really.” But Addy and Luna had gotten on well enough in their school years, and a healthy respect existed between them.

But now Addy couldn’t help but glare at Brígh, sighing heavily and leaning her head back. She didn’t want to hear it, but it was unavoidable. ”You know what Brígh?” Addy paused, waiting momentarily before holding out her empty glass. ”I’m not making any decisions while in-nebriated.” She blinked a few times, wondering why that word was so difficult to say suddenly. Either way, they had a lot of wine left.

[ end addy ]

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