The Heaviest Stars Always Explode ** (CLAIRE)

[Deleted]

Claire Evangeline Slater
<3

Jonah had work tomorrow, and he had a small plan of action. He had actually wanted to ask if he was ready to become a full fledged Auror. He had been in training since last summer, and he felt he had done quite a bit and had learned much more than enough to become an Auror. Training for almost a year was fun and all, but Jo wanted to be in. He wanted to do everything that everyone else was doing, and he wanted to help those who needed it.

So, he went to Diagon Alley and into Madame Malkin's Robes. This was the perfect place to look for new ones, hopefully for the new job he would be receiving. Jonah knew how to impress people, and with his dashing personality, he had a good chance of getting this. He was glancing through different robes and shirts, trying to decide which color might look best on him.

[Deleted]

Claire felt like she hadn't had a day off in forever. It's only been a few months though. But between Hogwarts, taking on all the new Auror training, still completing assignments on the Ministry's behalf and now basically volunteering her time to the hitwizard Stephen Holmes she was shocked she was even still standing. She should be run ragged by now. But quite the opposite. She liked staying this busy. She worked well under pressure and now was no different. So, having a day off? She really didn't know what to do with herself. What did regular people even do? She used to have plenty of hobbies, but she hadn't felt much enjoyment from them in months.

So, of course, here she was trying to find something to occupy her time as she wandered Diagon Alley. Under her arm was several books wrapped in brown paper for easy transportation. Finds from one of the bookstores, of course. All advanced magical spell books. Even on her day off she was finding something that could further her advance. In this case the more spells she mastered, spells that they'd never teach you as students due to their intricacy, the more she could use in the field to perform even better in her career. She really was obsessed.

Thankfully her next stop was slightly more recreational. She needed to get a new winter cloak. Her current one had seen better days, plus the ends were burnt from a fire from a raid two weeks ago. She'd been forced to wear her spare since, a plain black one that she only kept because it was warm. Stepping to shop it wasn't the cloaks or even one of the seamstresses she spotted first. It was Jonah. One of the older Auror in training. He was bearing the completion of his training and would soon be joining their ranks as a full Auror. "Somethinf brighter would look better. Won't wash you out." she commented as he searched through a rack of shirts. It definitely wasn't a proper greeting but when had she ever been good at those?

@jill3

[Deleted]

Claire Evangeline Slater
<3

As he was rumbling through the racks, a very familiar, gentle voice spoke. Grinning widely, Jonah turned to look at Claire Slater, his trainer. He hadn't spoken to her very much outside of training, but who would Jonah be if he didn't try to become friends with her? Sure as hell not Jonah Albertson. Putting his hand on his waist and tilting his head, he laughed. "Brighter? What like...this?" Jonah turned back around and quickly began rummaging, pulling out a neon yellow shirt, chuckling at the horrid sight. "Ugh! I will admit, bright colors are totally me, but this? Looks like bogies."

[Deleted]

Neon yellow was not a color meant for Jonah, or any human being for that matter. The shirt he pulled off the rack was so horribly bright and disgusting that Claire felt an intense urge to burn it on sight. As a public service, of course. Thankfully Claire had just enough self control to stop the urge. Jonah agreed with her train of thought, voicing their shared opinion aloud. Claire chuckled and shook her head. "You're a Hufflepuff. Yellow has always looked good on you, Jonah." She started, pausing just for a moment as she smiled. Jonah was a year younger than her. While they hadn't been close in school they'd known each other. Plus Claire also knew both of Jonah's older brothers. Again, not well. But Jacob was a hit wizard. Being an Auror their work sometimes overlapped. "But if you ever wear that, I may just have to arrest you on the spot."

@jill3

[Deleted]

Claire Evangeline Slater
<3

Her reaction made him chuckle out loud. Yes, yellow looked good on him. But not this filthy color! Jonah wiggled his eyebrows at Claire, a smirk gracing his lips. "Why thank you, Miss Slater. Though, I think a slightly less brighter color, something more bold would look much better." Jonah continued to laugh. "Trust me, I won't. I think...this might go good?" He pulled out a light blue colored shirt, and a darker purple with it. "Oh or maybe this!" And then came a mustardy colored shirt. He laughed. "What do you think?"

[Deleted]

Jonah had always been on the more playful side, definitely more then her at least. It made them almost polar opposites since Claire was more serious. But despite the major difference they'd never butted heads much. "Bold suits you." She agreed easily. As he started to pull out a few shirts, holding each out and asking for her opinnion, Claire smiled softly. "Well, if you want to make a statement, the purple would be best." She answered. The blue was too common, and mustard would blend in with his hair too much.

"So? How have you been lately?" She asked. Despite being in charge of training Claire hadn't had much opportunities to check in on Jonah.

@jill3

[Deleted]

Claire Evangeline Slater
<3

"Why thank you, dear." Jonah grinned brightly. He enjoyed Claire's presence. It was much different than while being trained. They were always so serious, and that was probably the most difficult thing for Jonah Albertson to do. He wasn't a serious person; he was goofy, happy and jolly and to try to keep a straight, angry face was even amusing to him. Claire said the purple would look best and he rose an eyebrow. As she questioned him, he took off his top shirt, revealing a white t-shirt underneath. Jonah threw it over the clothes and began putting on the purple dress shirt. "I've been good. Some relationship issues but I'm hoping that works out. And you?"

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Claire smiled softly at Jonah's thanks and finally moved to the rack that she'd come here for. The winter cloaks. Unlike Jonah, bold was not Claire's cup of tea. She preferred more muted tones. With her usual decisiveness she browsed through the cloaks, checking the fabric and thickness of each one. Claire was a calculating person, who, to no surprise, used the same calculation that made her a good Auror in her daily life, even a task as simple as buying a new cloak. The decision processes was quick and painless, and soon she'd pulled a cloak away from the others. It was dark maroon, like her old one. Study, but light enough to not hinder her much. Folding it over her arm she turned back to Jonah just in time to see he'd downed the purple shirt. "Definitely the purple." While a bold color, it was also professional. "I've been well. Busy, of course, but well." Being busy helped keep her distracted. From Casey. The new recruits wouldn't have known him, but Jonah would have. While Casey had never done much in training new Aurors most Aurors knew each other. If not well then at least in passing. "I saw in your file that you should be finishing your training soon. Are you excited?" There wasn't much left in Jonah's training. He'd have his full rank soon as long as nothing went wrong.

@jill3

[Deleted]

Claire Evangeline Slater
<3

Claire began looking through some cloaks of her own and Jonah smiled to himself. Maybe he could help her find something that looked good on her too! He did realize how muted her colors were. They tended to be darker and less bright, but Jonah assumed that matched their personalities somewhat. Claire wasn’t a very open person, at least not with the other aurors. He had no idea if that’s what she was like when you were family or close to her, but he only knew what he saw. Jonah nodded at her approval of the purple and threw it over his shoulder, tilting his head at her. ”I am excited, yes. I’m actually hoping to move up soon.” He wouldn’t say more just in case Claire was a part of that decision with the Head Auror and the Head of the Department. He didn’t want to overstep.

[Deleted]

Small talk wasn't really Claire's thing. She much preferred having a specific direction in mind, and the entire conversation being on that path to her goal. It was a callous and rather unpleasant trait to have st times. Particularly because it made it difficult for people to get close to you. But for Claire it was second nature. She'd always had laser like focus, in all aspects of her life. She knew where she wanted or needed to go and didn't dawdle spending time going a direction that did not help her achieve her goals. So in this moment, having a normal conversation with Jonas was un surprisingly outside her regular comfort zone. It was hard to tell though as her expression remained steady the entire time, not even a flicker of discomfort. "I don't think it'll be much longer. You should be fine as long as you pass the final tests. " while the decision was ultimately up to the head Auror Jonas had completed most of his training. All that was left was for the Head Autor to give the final tests to ensure he was sufficiently prepared.

@jill3

[Deleted]

Claire Evangeline Slater
<3

Jonah took off the shirt and placed it back on the hanger, buttoning it back up. He didn't mind standing out in the open in just his undershirt. He was incredibly muscular and very fit, so he was comfortable with himself. The owner of the store may not be, but before anyone could even say anything he was putting his other shirt back on. The purple was a definite, but he grabbed another white and black shirt, along with a lighter mint green color for a day he was feeling happier than most. He was sure Jacob would make fun of the color, but he didn't care. "I'm assuming I'll pass them, but that's just me being cocky in myself." Jonah was always like that, he always had been. He was sure when the test came it might be different, but as of now, he'd keep his typical demeanor.

[Deleted]

While Jonah went about changing back into his shirt and selecting a few more Claire approaches the register and placed the cloak down on the counter. A moment later and the cashier was ringing her up, the total coming to quite a few galleons. Definitely expensive, but it was worth it. It was a good quality cloak. That would be easy for her to enchant to fit her needs. So she silently handed over the gold coins and was handed back a sickle and couple Knuts in return.

The cloak had just been bagged and handed back to her when Jonah spoke, finally done with his changing, and Claire turned back to look at him. "Its perfectly acceptable to be confident in yourself. Just don't let it become overconfidence."

@jill3
(One more each?)

[Deleted]

Claire Evangeline Slater
<3

Claire ended up quickly cashing out with a cloak in hand, and he smiled and nodded. After getting himself together he walked up behind her and also paid for the two shirts he planned on buying. He knew everything she was saying to him was in his best interest considering she was his trainer. But Jonah also couldn't help but feel a bit of judgement from her. He had no reason to feel like him being confident was a bad thing, and he didn't find himself overconfident either. Maybe she just wasn't aware what confidence looked like, but Jonah just smiled. "It won't. I've never been overconfident." Jo finished cashing out and grinned at Claire. "It was nice seeing you outside of work, Claire. Hopefully within the next few weeks I'll be an Auror. But unfortunately I've got to head out, my brother is waiting for me."