St. Elmo's Fire [OPEN GROUP THREAD]

[mina pandora oliveira]

mina pandora oliveira

12.28.2024
9:00 AM

Winter festival something or other. Mina had to hand out the silly little fliers for it at the store for the last few weeks, and she still couldn’t remember what it was called. All she knew was there was going to be a lot of alcohol to get into there, and she liked when there were festive drinks. Washing them all down with firewhisky helped too. A nice pint of Ogden’s Old always hit the spot at the end of the day, long after the bars cleared out and the bell for last call was rung.

At first she wasn’t interested in the event at all. There would be kids running all over the place screaming (and she absolutely hated screaming children) and she didn’t want to be spending so much money right after Christmas. But the boss gave let her have her normal Saturday off and there was nothing else to do but drink, so going to the winter thingy and getting drunk worked just fine. She could even taunt the little kiddies for being annoying if she wanted to. Then the parents would take them away so the ‘drunk lady would mind her own damn business’. God she loved being an obnoxious drunk. Drunk Mina was way better than normal, working stiff Mina anyways.

So there she was, at the winter festival bright and early and downing something that had vodka in it. She wasn’t much for vodka in the morning, but the minty, wintery taste to it masked most of the normal twinge it had. Just as vodka was meant to be. After a few rounds at the stalls and a quick couple swigs of her favorite flask, Mina was back to the vodka stall and ordering her second drink. She may have pushed it too soon because the guy making them gave her a strange look. The laugh probably didn’t help, but his stupid elf ears he had on were crooked and she couldn’t take an elf with crooked ears seriously. Like why were they crooked? Regardless, she had her second drink and went back to her wandering, not really caring where she was walking or who she was bumping into…



[OK SO. Mina is going to spend the entirety of the day stumbling around drunkenly before ending up in the Three Broomsticks during the dragon attack. Bump into her and chat her up for a few posts to see her slowly progress into her inebriation. She will not know there are dragons attacking during the window that they are around. I'll try to change the time at the top every couple of posters to show a time change.]

[Deleted]

Andy was probably going to locate Vik at some point during this festival, but she didn't want to seem too eager to find him. She knew a lot of people here, after all, so it was probably best to try and make her not seem so eager... not that she was eager or anything. Nope. She just didn't want to SEEM that way. Obviously.

She wasn't sure where to go first, but fate decided for her when someone bumped into her. Andy immediately reached out to catch their shoulders, "woah, hey, you alright?" she asked, pushing them back a little so she could get a better look at their face.

mina pandora oliveira
@whoever else

[mina pandora oliveira]

@lestrange

12.28.2024
9:00 AM

The first few people she accidently ran into weren’t as sympathetic as the rest. Especially in the ones that were in the line behind her for drinks. They were the grumpy kind of adult that needed their morning pick-me-up drink. Mina just wanted to be gleefully buzzed. She wasn’t a functioning alcoholic, simply a regular alcoholic. They were two very different kinds of drinking. The silly thing about their disdain for her clumsiness was that they didn’t have anything to risk when it came to her bumping into them. She did. Mina liked to believe or balance when drinking was good, but she was used to the dark, crammed bars and nightclubs where touching everyone as she passed by was a normal thing, her drink secured in her grip while she was kept on her feet by the crowd. Wide-open spaces like Hogsmeade were a guessing game as to when she would go down. Last time she had been here drunk, which was all the way back during one of the Triwizard Tournament tasks, she had tanked it when trying to get back to the village, forgetting that there were plenty of potholes in the streets.

But there was one sympathetic voice: a girl closer in age to her, whom she probably knew but couldn’t out a name to a face. There were so many like that. Even acquaintances were starting to blend together these days. Having thousands of customers during the busy seasons at the store tended to do that. “Hey! I’m doing great! How about you? Been a while hasn’t it?” Mina went into automatic friend mode, assuming that she could pull the name out of the girl at some point during their brief encounter. “Need a drink?” she asked, holding up her new drink to the girl. Hopefully she didn’t want any of it, because Mina did.

[Deleted]

She said she was doing great, and Andy recognized her as one Sarahs sisters. Andy knew Sarah, pretty well at the end there before Sarah ran off. Andy get a clasped hand on her shoulder, worried the girl would tip over if she didn't. She asked how Andy was, saying it had been a while and Andy nodded slowly, "yeah, yeah it has," she also couldn't place a name on the Oliveira - not that she knew it in the first place. With Andy, it was very possible she did not. She offered Andy a drink, and held one up. Clearly she had already been drinking. "I'll get my own, thanks. Wouldn't want to take yours," she explained, her eyebrows a little furrowed. "Why don't we go sit down and catch up?" and maybe Andy would try to sneak some water into her... dehydration was a serious concern when drinking. This... early in the morning...

mina pandora oliveira

[mina pandora oliveira]

@lestrange & Nathaniel David Forrester (if you want to enter now)

12.28.2024
9:05 AM

She knew that she knew this girl! The name was still slipping from her, but that didn’t matter. There was a long day ahead of them and she was sure she would come up with something eventually. Right now was drinking time though, and drinking time was for drinking and less thinking. It had never been this bad, but the last month had hit a little harder and Mina went harder on the alcohol. So far it hadn’t affected her work schedule and she had, for the most part, remained sober during her shifts at the bookstore. The boss knew what was up and had been easier on the late arrivals and looking like she had only woken up ten minutes earlier when she strolled in in the mornings. Most likely because she had only just gotten up ten minutes earlier.

The girl had placed a hand on Mina’s shoulder and seemed to want to lead her towards a place to sit down, which was totally fine with her. Being able to relax and enjoy her drink and chit-chat would make it disappear faster, meaning she could get another after that. “You sure?” she asked again as she started to walk towards a picnic table off to the side of the street. It was funny that they had tables set out when it was freezing cold, but that’s what the alcohol was for! Keeping her warm and fuzzy feeling on the inside. Setting herself down on one side of the table, Mina expertly placed her drink down and rummaged through her pockets to find her cigarettes. They were somewhere in there, amidst a pile of receipts and other crap she always shoved into her pockets but neglected to toss in the bin later on.

“So what have you been up to lately?” Mina asked, her hands finally grazing across the pack, ripping them out of the pocket and also setting them down on the table. “How about one of these?” she offered, holding the box out in case her new (old?) friend wanted one, before shoving her own in the corner of her mouth and promptly lighting it.

[Deleted]

They got comfortable at the picnic table, which seemed to have some warming charm on the benches. The Oliveria girl searched through her bag, pulling out a packet of Andy's least favorite thing in the world - cigarettes. Andy held back her grimace, deciding that getting some water in her was more important that any judging or distaste right now. But she really, really hated them.

At the questions, Andy shook her head. "No thanks," she said, holding out a hand as if to push the cigarettes away. "I've been working at the ministry... and you?" Andy was trying to think of a way to ask for the girls name without making it obvious that she had forgotten it...

mina pandora oliveira

[mina pandora oliveira]

@lestrange & Nathaniel David Forrester (if you want to enter now)

12.28.2024
9:05 AM

Offering cigarettes and booze was the least she could do when she was about to completely take over the conversation. Mina viewed the offerings as a way to placate the need to talk from the other party, meaning she wanted all eyes on her. Normally people at least took a drink from her, but she supposed that the fact that it was still nine in the morning probably had a lot to do with the girl turning that down. And cigarettes weren’t for everyone either, which Mina remembered when the girl put her hands out to say she didn’t want any. That was fine with the former Slytherin. More for her in the end. She flipped the pack back towards herself, letting it come to a rest directly in front of her on the table. A second one would be needed eventually, and there was no point in putting it away.

“Flourish and Blotts,” Mina said cheerily, taking a long sip of her drink. The Ministry sounded so uppity. Even the hospital was better than that, because at least they were saving people’s lives or whatever. Ministry workers had a habit of wandering into the shop right before closing, always causing her to stay an extended period of time while they ‘perused for something new’. That had been a customer earlier in the week, whom when asked if she needed any help, she gave that response verbatim. “People have to read, y’know? Especially with the holidays. This is the first break I’ve had all month.” She raised her drink to the girl before taking another swig. Sitting down and having a conversation was a lot more relaxing than she had anticipated it to be, especially because it wasn’t at a bar. Taking her time with her drink was something she didn’t normally do, but there was a long day ahead of her still.

[Deleted]

She said where she worked and then it clicked, "Mina!" Andy remembered. Not that she had been to the bookstore often but she somehow remembered Mina saying her name the last time she was there. She was getting a book for Phil, some plants book, and Mina was there. She was a little embarrassed that she had just said Minas name so loudly just then, though...

Mina talked about how people had to read especially with the holidays, which didn't really make sense to Andy. Like, how were those things connected? She said it was the first break she'd had all year and Andy watched her raise her glass. She needed to go get that water... "Let me toast with you, one moment," she stood up moving to the nearest booth with drinks and ordering a whiskey and two glasses of water, she brought them back to the table and raised her whiskey, taking a sip just as Mina had moments before.

mina pandora oliveira

[mina pandora oliveira]

@lestrange & Nathaniel David Forrester (if you want to enter now)

12.28.2024
9:10 AM

“Yes?” she looked up from her drink as the girl called her name out suddenly. Had she spilled something on herself again? Looking down at her jacket to see if that was what had elicited it, she didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. People only tended to call her when they needed her for something the store or she did something stupid. Sometimes those went hand in hand, like putting the children’s section on the top shelf when rearranging everything. In her defense, there weren’t a lot children’s books in Flourish and Blotts and even less children coming in to look at books. Aside from their very tiny fiction section, the bookstore was mostly for magic and lifestyle things. They didn’t have the space to put easy readers in. She would have loved it if they did though, because they were more on her caliber.

Her friend stood up when Mina prepared the toast, stating that she was going to join her. Mina grinned as the girl ran off to a nearby booth, returning shortly with what looked to be water for both of them and probably whiskey. She knew her alcohol well enough for all those dark nights in the clubs that seeing it in the daylight was super easy. They toasted and she watched the girl take a sip before taking her next one. She wanted to make sure the girl wasn’t doing it just to appease her. Mina knew she could be pretty forceful when it came to having fun and drinking, and peer pressure was basically her middle name both when it came to dolling it out and being swept away. “I knew you had it in you! It’s never too early for a drink in my opinion. As long as it doesn’t get in the way of work. That’s when you know you have a problem,” Mina explained, pointing her finger at the girl. Those were some wise words she was handing out to her.

[Deleted]

Mina said she knew she had it in her, and that it was never too early for a drink. Andy couldn't help but think that Mina would get along with Renard. Mina mentioned work, though, and that was actually pretty smart advice... Andy only hoped she followed it. "To Andy and Mina," she raised her glass again, "responsible adults," she suggested, preparing to clink their glasses together in Mina obliged.

"Have you ever been to the Gambling Galleons Casino? An old frien... well, Renard Goyle hangs around there. Kind of reminds me of you," she admitted. "Not in a bad way," she added. Renard could be seen as an insult actually.

mina pandora oliveira

[mina pandora oliveira]

@lestrange & Nathaniel David Forrester (if you want to enter now)

12.28.2024
9:10 AM

“To me and you!” she cheered with the accompanying toast. The girl had given her name too! Andy! It still didn’t click in her head who she was though, but a little more digging through her brain and she would figure it out eventually. Definitely had a longer name than Andy, because Mina knew she would have remembered an Andy. As for being a responsible adult, that had Mina giggling as she took her victory sip. “I wouldn’t go as far as to call me responsible. Definitely an adult, but nowhere close to being responsible.” She chuckled a few more times and took another swig before continuing, “I mean, it’s what? Nine in the morning and I’m already buzzed. That’s a little messed up if you ask me.” And yet she couldn’t wipe the grin off her face either. She kind of needed this right now. The past month had been the shittiest of her life, and being able to forget everything for a day and drink as much as she wanted was well deserved. Her self-proclaimed dry spell from alcohol was now over.

Andy brought up the casino and Mina nodded her head ferociously. “Been a lot. Not too bad of a bar. I don’t really like the gambling part of it, but the owner is a nice lady.” Donna always treated her well. She had that big sister feel to her that sometimes Mina felt Callisto was lacking. Not always though, and as of late Cal had been really stepping to the plate. Disregarding the work she put in and the things she went through on her own wasn’t what Mina wanted to do anymore. “I remember Renard. Is he still an asshole?” Mina laughed, following it up with a sudden hiccup. “He wasn’t a fan of me because my parents are-” she leaned across the table, beckoning Andy to move a little closer. “Werewolves. And so are my two oldest siblings.” Or one sibling was since Dakoda was dead now. Mina returned back to her original position, smug look on her face, thinking she had probably just impressed the girl.

[Deleted]

Mina toasted, but added that she was not responsible. Andy nodded, agreeing, taking another sip herself. She admitted it was messed up to bed drinking at nine am and Andy shrugged, "shouldn't adults be able to do what they want?" not that Andy agreed with Mina's behavior... but Andy did things people wouldn't like, too. She was fine with that.

Mina nodded, confirming that she had gone to the casino 'a alot', and that it didn't have a bad bar. "I haven't met the owner yet," Andy admitted, though she knew she was related to Renard. Mina asked about Renard and Andy chuckled, "yeah, he is. But still good looking," she was surprised to add. Mina started to talk about her parents and Andy leaned in closer, obliging the beckon. Werewolves, she said. And her siblings. Interesting. 

Mina leaned back again and Andy did too. "My girlfriends a werewolf. And a few of my other friends," she shrugged, "they sure know how to throw a party," she joked. But she wanted to show Mina she did feel positively about it.

mina pandora oliveira

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

THOUGH THE WINTER FESTIVAL WASN'T REALLY Nate's speed, he still found himself there anyways. Maybe it was for the sheer amount of people, which was great cover for swiping. Or, the cold orphanage walls that drove him outside. None of his old muggle friends were talking to him. He was red hot after stealing a car the previous summer, so it was lonely on his side of town.

Squeezing through crowds and crowds of meandering, Nate was beginning to regret this decision quickly. He'd grabbed a rubbish key chain and a handful of candy, but it wasn't worth it as he chewed. He needed a drink, and not the frothy butterbeer kind either. There were stalls for booze, but they were so heavily manned that swiping was sure to get him caught. He was beginning to give up hope when he saw what he thought was a familiar head of hair sitting at a table not two feet away from him.

"Izzy?" He blurted instinctively, because a familiar face was exactly what he hadn't realised he needed. He rounded the table, disregarding the other person sitting in front of her and tilted his head, expecting to see Izzy's familiar sour expression. It was not, and he wrenched back in embarrassment. "Not Izzy..." He said, side-eyeing the woman in front of her like it was her fault. "My bad..." He muttered, already a half step away. "Thought you were somebody else."

mina pandora oliveira

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[mina pandora oliveira]

@lestrange & Nathaniel David Forrester (if you want to enter now)

12.28.2024
9:10 AM

“Damn right we should!” Mina liked the idea of being able to do what she wanted. She technically already did that, with a few road blocks in the way – like having to get up on time for work or balancing her check book. And taking care of her dog. That was the one thing she could never slack on because she was sure Cal would give the poor pup the boot if Mina failed to take care of her like she was supposed to. The boot meaning going to their parents’ house with the other family pets. Personally, she didn’t think her dog would last a second among those crazy beasts. Titania was rude and unruly, just like Mina, and if the owner couldn’t stand it than neither could the dog.

She almost spit her drink out when Andy said she thought Renard Goyle was good looking. Poor girl. “He has a permanent scowl and a shit attitude,” she said, trying to be a little more serious than she normally would while drinking. “But sure, maybe he’d be a good shag or something.” And if not that, she could bleed him dry for every knut, sickle, and galleon to his name. Taking another sip of her drink as the conversation shifted to werewolves, her eyes grew large during her gulp, as Andy mentioned werewolf friends. They probably had the same ones! Mina didn’t have time to say that though, because a fresh-faced lad peeked around to look at her face, saying her sister’s name as he did so. Werewolf talk could wait for later, because this boy had her grinning wickedly as she spun around on her seat to grab at his arm. “You’re not going anywhere kid. You know my little sis, and you’re going to spill everything.” She would probably do the same if he talked enough. It was only fair.

[Deleted]

Andy nodded, smiling wider as Mina agreed that adults should be able to do whatever they wanted. She wasn't surprised that Mina believed that. She definitely seemed the type to not give a crap about what anyone thought but herself. But, Andy also knew that most people like that actually really, really cared what other people thought... but maybe that wasn't true for Mina.

Mina didn't seem to think Renard was good looking, not with that reaction and the words she said. Though, she did add that he'd be a good shag 'or something'. Andy laughed, "maybe that attitude would make things more interesting," she suggested with a shrug. 

Before the werewolf discussion could continue, some boy showed up and called Mina her younger sisters name. Andy had been in the same house as Izzy, so that was easy to pick up on. Andy raised an eyebrow at the kid as Mina said he had to stay, "doesn't look like you have much choice."

Nathaniel David Forrester
mina pandora oliveira