A Touch of Confidence [Rhys]

[Deleted]

October 15th

Quarantine had been rough on Nixie. Stuck in the Isles and at her family home wasn't easy. The girl hated sitting still. Even going to school at Hogwarts. She hated staying in one place for too long. But she loved learning about magic. Coming from a fully muggle family, she could finally do something that her brothers couldn't do. All of this lead to her becoming a curse breaker for Gringotts. She had met many new people, and made a lot of friends that she recognized but never interacted with at school.

Now that quarantine was lifted, it was time for her to get back on a job. She needed to go somewhere, anywhere. There were some good that came from it, but she was ready to get in some cursed areas again. Nixie had gone into Gringotts to finish up some paperwork, sign some non disclosures, and have a meeting about where she would be sent to next. Things were finally moving forward. Nixie loved her family, and her home, but she was ready to get back on the rode. She wasn't one to want to set down roots. She would be happy if the rest of her life was on the move. True, her job was a dangerous one. She knew of many who had been forced into retirement due to injury, or even loss of limb. But if things started to get too tight, she could transform into a smaller and faster form. She thought fast on her feet and lived for the adventure. Some would call her an adrenalin junkie, but it was just a way of life for the girl.

After leaving the bank, she walked down Diagon alley. The light growing darker as the evening started to turn into night. She could have easily aerated home. But the news of leaving soon left her in a good mood. Nixie had to celebrate. She made her way to the nearest wizards pub, The Leaky Cauldron. She entered the place from the back entrance and walked up to the bar. "Fire Whisky please" She asked from the bartender. Taking the time to look around for a spot. Deciding to stay at the bar she spotted a familiar face a few seats down. Happily taking the seat next to him she smiled him. She knew the man from work, but they had also gone to school together. They were technically in rival houses, but that only mattered to Nixie during quidditch games. But now that school was out, and Nixie was a part of the adult world, trivial things like houses really didn't matter. They were coworkers. "Hey stranger. How's life going" She said, knowing that the two hadn't seen each other in some time.

rhys alexander greyback

[rhys alexander greyback]

we're the masters of our own fate
we're the captains of our own souls

---

October 15, 2025
@nixie

---

Rhys leaned the lower part of his face on his hand as his elbow leaned on the bar, his eyes looked down toward the bar as he concentrated not anything in front of him but more of what was in his mind. Quarantine had sort of isolated him to where he had grown up which hadn't been all that bad. Truthfully, if he didn't have siblings it would have been a very different experience but over all his usual habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time had only served to make it more interesting after all. It was the middle of the week and Rhys had been in the area for visit a few shops and then stop by the bank. With the Quarantine lifting he would be able to travel soon and he didn't mind seeing all the familiar faces when he had walked into the bank in terms of his co-workers. The head Curse Breaker had been there to oversee things and help them all resume normal operations. The work he'd been doing had been mainly at the bank though many of them had already been scattered when the lockdown into effect which had helped keep operations running abroad.

The thought of traveling gave him a good feeling, he had been itching to leave. Not that his life in London had been boring by any means--it had certainly not been but he'd had this ongoing feeling he couldn't quite place or label and it bothered him. Usually, accepting a job and getting away helped clear his head and sort of reset where he currently was. Still, he remained in a deep sort of thought until he heard someone sit next to him and and he recognized the voice. Even though Rhys knew a number of women with fiery red hair, he recognized this one instantly. She was also a curse breaker and they had been at school around the same time though his friends in other houses had been a much smaller crowd than it had been with his own house. Rhys shifted so he sat up where he sat instead of leaning on his arm, a half smile on his face.

"Hey Nyx." 'Stranger' she called him and it had been some time. Really the only fellow Curse Breakers that he had spoken to were the retired ones back at the school. "Well, hopefully better now that we can travel again." He admitted. There were things keeping him here in London so leaving was more of a return to his old routine even if meant abandoning his current convenient one, but he felt a pull to it. "What about you? Haven't seen you in a while."

[Deleted]

Nixie was in a good mood. Mostly because her next big adventure was in the works. She really wasn't one to like sitting still for very long. The longer she had to, the antsyer she got. It was time for her to get out and into a new place.

When she approached the man, she felt like he was definitely down about something. He was a bit like her, wanting to go out and go somewhere else. But there could be about something else. She really didn't know at this point. But she recognized the body language, because she had been in the same mood a couple hours ago. "Hey Nyx." She smiled at her shortened name. It had been some time since they had seen each other. After the quarantine had started, Nixie mostly went between her parents house, and Gringotts. She hadn't interacted with many other curse breakers during that time. "Well, hopefully better now that we can travel again." That was true. She felt the same way. Ready to go. She was hoping and planning to go to Rome, which she hadn't been before. "You got that right." She nodded and smiled a thanks as the bar tender gave her the drink that she had ordered, its warm flame mirroring how she felt inside.

"What about you? Haven't seen you in a while." That was right. "Been stuck with my parents. All the questions. Why don't you settle down? Have you been dating? Seeing anyone? How about we set you up with our neighbors boy?" She gave a heavy, frustrated sign, and rank some fire whisky. "But, things are starting to look up. I was just at Gringotts, talking about my next assignment." Man was she excited to get out there again. "How about you?"

rhys alexander greyback

[rhys alexander greyback]

we're the masters of our own fate
we're the captains of our own souls

---

October 15, 2025
@nixie

---

It was nice to see a familiar face, and he realized he hadn't really bothered to see who had been also stuck in England when the quarantine began. Then again sitting in a pub was hardly the same as venturing in the unknown with someone, there was a different vibe so who knows how that would have gone. Rhys had always been an introvert by nature, people and crowds were exhausting but increasing levels of intoxication had always made it easier. Still he found with familiar faces and people it was easier to relax a bit, his composed façade hardly wavered on a good day regardless. "That sounds....fun." He added. It wasn't anything Rhys had ever experienced and the closest that he had come to it was Jamie pestering him on if he was dating someone but just as siblings might do in their way. His approach was always more from a position of older brother versus annoying sibling. Nixie was someone he had felt comfortable with, she had a contagious energy though it had taken some adjustment on his part when he had been on the job a few years and she joined their ranks.

It had certainly been a moment of Rhys wondering what he had been like fresh out of school and allegedly ready to face anything, luckily his mentor had a demeanor that had been close to his own which helped Rhys open up a bit and learn. Nyx was a small person but a very independent personality and she had wanted to enter tombs alone and of course Rhys used this time to help train her on what he had learn in his few years. While he had worked more often with Renfri or even Jasper at times he did occasionally find himself partnered with the red head. "Well? Are you dating someone?" Not that Rhys cared, but he needed a laugh. Some time ago they had found themselves on a few back to back jobs that had taken more than a few weeks to really tackle and long with their other years working he felt comfortable around her in the sense of a co-worker that became a friend. Plus Rhys preferred knowing who was watching his back and knowing they would do it correctly.

His determined nature helped push himself and hopefully others to a standard he personally felt was required of this field to come out alive. There was patience required and a resourcefulness and you retrieved your treasure hopefully unscathed. The times there had been accidents had truly been accidents though Rhys had encountered incidents of avoidable injuries due to specific individuals. "I think everyone was at the bank today--I was there earlier seeing about my next job." He had the parchment still rolled up in the inside pocket of his jacket--it hadn't been anything urgent and he could leave within the next month if he chose to accept it. "I'm not sure about this one, but I don't have to leave right away." He admitted, it would be a solo job which he had been happy about. "Where are you off to next?"

[Deleted]

Seeing Rhys here, Nixie wondered why she hadn't tried harder to figure out who else got stuck here. She just guessed that she was one of the only ones that had come back right before the quarantine happened. She had gone out drinking with Curse breakers before. But that was usually after a long day working in an ancient wizard location. It was nice to cut loose. She was one to usually work alone, but some jobs were just too dangerous. When she was working with someone else, they would converse while working, sometimes about the task at hand, and other times about different things. All of that was so different to being stuck in the Isles, waiting to go somewhere again. Nixie did consider herself to be outgoing, but she valued alone time as well. She also respected others when they wanted time to themselves.

"That sounds....fun." he had said, with some wavering conviction. She knew that she was lucky to have two loving parents an great siblings. True, every family had their issues. But she knew that she was lucky to have them. Loving her family dearly, didn't stop them from pestering her about her love life, and her plan for the future. For all she was aware, this was her plan. She knew that Curse Breaking was dangerous, but settling down was never something that she saw herself doing. She also did her best to little how dangerous the job could be. Because of that, her mother didn't worry too much about her job environment, so relationships were the next on the list.

Nixie felt very comfortable with Rhys. She was an open and outgoing personality, and while he was more reserved, they had worked well together. He, being a few years older that she was, joined the career first, so he helped her take part in some of her trainings. "Well? Are you dating someone?" Nixie belted out a loud laugh. After some time she calmed herself and shook her head. "No, I'd rather be out there having fun and exploring" In other words, she was married to her job. She hard it too often, and her spitfire mother wasn't one to back down, just because she knew her daughter was working. In reality, Nixie hadn't ever really had anyone she could consider a potential significant other. She had many friends of both genders, but no romantic trysts.

Nixie enjoyed working with Rhys, and while it was true, she preferred to work alone, if she had to work with someone, she was glad it was a friend. He stated that he was also at Gringotts earlier working out his next job. She had seen a few others there when she entered. She was so glad that things were finally getting back on track. She nodded as he mentioned that he would be going out at some point, then moved to asking where she would be going. "I'll be heading off to Rome, not quite sure when yet, but hopefully wont be too long now. Where's your next exciting destination?"

rhys alexander greyback

[rhys alexander greyback]

we're the masters of our own fate
we're the captains of our own souls

---

October 15, 2025
@nixie

---

Nixie laughed at his question, he wasn't serious. It was difficult to have a relationship when you were in this field since the job sometimes required travel and not to mention the danger of it. His siblings worried about him from time to time but he could only imagine the concern from a serious partner. Rhys knew the risks of his career and he didn't need anyone else reiterating it to him, he enjoyed it. It was the one acceptable place he found that didn't always require a plan and knowing what was going to happen, the adrenaline always overrode his anxiety. That being said he didn't just take any job that came across his path, he'd turned down a small amount because they hadn't sat well with him though most of the time that wasn't an option. Sometimes there were those jobs that had that urgency, the were told not asked, to go.

"Sometimes I think only those of us that have this career really understand that, everybody else doesn't." He admitted, but he supposed any career would have been like that. Only an Auror knew the thrills of being an Auror, he thought of his brother working with dragons and while Rhys was hesitant it made him happy but he certainly worried about him being burnt to a crisp. It did make him think, of himself mainly. "You think you'll ever settle down?" He asked curiously, Rhys often wondered the same for himself. There had been the opportunity and at the time he'd responded badly but he had also been young. How would he react to the same scenario now almost a decade later? He didn't know and he wasn't even sure he wanted that opportunity to present himself. There was freedom in his current life.

"I always liked going to Rome." He thought outloud, he had worked with Jasper a lot there. He thought of the paper in his pocket and his misgivings of it. "They want me to go to Egypt," He shrugged, it was a typical work place for them and they hardly considered it exotic anymore. But even if he had been itching to leave and travel he also felt hesitant. Maybe he had grown too fond of his routine, he really wasn't sure what it was. "Which isn't too bad, I suppose as long as I get out of here." He drank more of his whiskey, it was only his second one after all. "You going solo?" That was likely a dumb question but he asked it regardless.

[Deleted]

Both people at the bar knew that the job of a curse breaker was hard to have a solid relationship. While some were able to get roots, and own a place, that didn't stop the bank from moving them from place to place. Some had specialties and many were able to have family visit whatever exotic place they were working at the time. But the fact remained, that the life of a curse breaker was one on the road. There was also plenty of danger involved. From what Nixie had heard, not many significant others wanted to worry if their partner would be returning in one piece. There was a reason she didn't tell her parents how dangerous it could actually be.

"Sometimes I think only those of us that have this career really understand that, everybody else doesn't." Nixie nodded, raising her glass "I'll drink to that" She said and took a drink of the warm liquid. Then came a more serious question from the man. "You think you'll ever settle down?" She didn't hesitate to shake her head "Nope." She took another drink. Nixie wasn't ignorant. She knew how dangerous this job really was. Anything could happen. But she knew that settling down wasn't an option for her. She couldn't imagine a life living in one house, having a partner, and raising children. It just wasn't in her future. Perhaps one day she would have a romantic partner, and do the family thing. But putting down roots, permanent roots, terrified the girl. "Not if I can help it" She knew that many curse breakers had retired, or been forced into a retirement, but she never thought of herself being one of them. "How about you?"

Rhys stated that he did like Rome and Nixie smiled. She was excited. "Haven't been there yet, but I'm excited." She wasn't really able to hold too much back, the giddiness came across in her voice. She had always wanted to go there. He then stated where they wanted him to go next, and she nodded "My last assignment was in Egypt" Before the quarantine. Man that felt like a lifetime ago. By the tone in his voice, he didn't seem to excited. That made sense. Egypt to a curse breaker was like going to the Ministry to work for a Ministry worker. It was an non exotic place at this point. But there always seemed to be new tombs and new areas to explore, along with new curses to break. He was right though, even if she was destined to go back to Egypt, she would still be excited to leave.

"You going solo?" She nodded again. "As far as I know. Probably meet up with some people there, but I'll be working alone this time" Ruins could be large places, so it made sense to have a number of curse breakers at one location, but with everyone taking their own direction, it was as good as working alone. "How about you?"

rhys alexander greyback

[rhys alexander greyback]

we're the masters of our own fate
we're the captains of our own souls

---

October 15, 2025
@nixie

---

'I'll drink to that.' Rhys drank more of his whiskey as she agreed with what he had said. He couldn't remember the last married Curse Breaker he had come across, though that wasn't to say it didn't happen. And with the hazardous tendencies of the job it was almost rare to find a Curse Breaker that was that old as they might have been forced into an early retirement or just chosen a quieter life. This year had seen two of his friends forced out of retirement and while Rhys had been disheartened in a sense he could only imagine how they felt now--he at least had his career intact. Nixie didn't hesitate in her response, and he wasn't surprised. She hardly sat still let alone wanted a settled life, she was very enthusiastic in this field and at first Rhys remember being hesitant because that kind of personality often ended with avoidable accidents because someone ran right into a tomb. Fortunately, Nixie had not been like that and while she had been eager to run she had also been eager to learn. The question was returned to him and Rhys paused and then finished the small amount of whiskey left in his glass--nodding when the bartender looked back at him in a silent conversation about a refill. It gave him a moment to think of his answer, not that he had changed his previous stance at all but it was still a question that popped in his head from time to time himself.

His empty glass was replaced by a full one. "Honestly, I don't know." It was truthful in the sense he didn't know but also he wondered who would actually put up with him. It reminded him of his later school days and dating and the trepidation that had essentially caused it to fall apart. Anything he could have labeled a 'relationship' since then hadn't been all that serious and then he'd leave for work. "I think it would be nice to have a family one day, maybe." He mused out loud, it was something he'd never had and had always wanted--even if the idea scared him more than he'd ever admit out loud. "Then again, that would mean someone would have to put up with me." He added as an afterthought. Rhys saw the people around him find life partners, get married and have families all the time. There were some days he wished it had happened for him and other days he was glad it hadn't. There was never a consistent urge there but he also thought about if someone did come along that was meant for him how would he know?

"I think you'll like it, and its a beautiful city too." Rhys loved visiting new places and while after all these years he didn't often feel that excitement of the first time it still felt good to go. With his job all these places had more or less good memories attached to them versus here where he had grown up. "I probably won't be there for another couple of weeks, I didn't have to leave very urgently." It wasn't uncommon and in the meantime he could still do work in the vaults to pass the time. There were some things he had to attend to before he left in case he was gone for a lengthy period of time, and also he didn't feel ready to leave despite the urge to go. It was a complex feeling and he hadn't been able to figure out why particularly. "Solo as well, normally I'd do a job like this with Renfri...." He paused a second, his good friend had been sidelined this year and he definitely missed working with her. They had known each other almost since they'd both started at Hogwarts and had pushed one another to be better, or rather she had just pestered him for a few years before he started pestering her back. "But we'll see, I haven't met any of the recent graduates so we'll see what kind of lot we get this year."

New Curse Breakers, always something he approached with mixed feelings. Despite the academic potential of some of these graduates they didn't last the year or they got injured rather quickly and were even fired while the rest continued on. Rhys' temper seemed to put him face to face with rather talkative or arrogant Curse Breakers who thought they knew more than him and his experience due to their memorization abilities and an Arithmancy book. Then again other times he got lucky and found those like Nixie who flourished in her role.

[Deleted]

The occupation of Curse Breaker wasn't classified as a singles only career. But it sure did feel like that at times. It wasn't very common for a curse breaker to be married, though it was possible. But it was a defiantly a job for the young. Whether that was because of the injury rate, or the choice to retire for a quieter life, it depended on the individual person. Though, it was common for curse breakers to get hurt. and she hadn't heard of many who had voluntarily retired, just because they wanted something simpler. But who would give up all that adventure?

While Nixie loved the adventure, and raveled in the adrenalin. But she wasn't stupid. Going into a new tomb was exciting. One had to keep on their toes and pay close attention to their surroundings. If you weren't alert, you or those around you are more prone to injury. As Nixie returned the question to Rhys, she drank her ale as she waited for his response. She noticed that he had finished his drink and he requested another drink, without saying a word.

"Honestly, I don't know." he said in time. Relationship were hard to get into when you were in their career. He did express that he thought he wanted to have a family one day. "Then again, that would mean someone would have to put up with me." Nixie smiled. She'd thought the same before, though she didn't want to bring things back for her. Or make it feel like she was fishing for a compliment.

The conversation quickly changed to where the two of them would be going for work. Rome. Nixie was definitely excited, and her excitement was only enhanced when he said that he thought that she would like it. Honestly, she couldn't wait. She loved going somewhere new, and exploring. Not just the work site, but the city itself. She learned that his next assignment was for Egypt, and he said that he didn't have to leave right away. While Nixie was ready to go right away, she understood the idea of having time to prepare to leave. She didn't know whether Rhys thought it a good thing or not. "Urgent usually does translate to dangerous. So at least you'll be safe....er" She added, while their job wasn't normally classified as "safe" curse breakers always tended to know when a job was going to be extra dangerous. That was when they really needed to not slip. "Solo as well, normally I'd do a job like this with Renfri...." Nixie was familiar with Renfri. She hadn't interacted with her often, but she had done a job or two with her. She had heard that the curse breaker had been forced into retirement due to some freak feindfyre accident. Was it true? She wasn't sure, but the rumor had spread.

He talked about new curse breakers and Nixie was in the same boat. "This past summer I meat up with an aspiring curse breaker, she just started her seventh year at Hogwarts, so if she still wants to join, she'll be starting sometime next year." It was always fun to see new recruits. Bright eyed and hopeful with the promise of adventure and treasure. But new people also brought a certain sense of danger with them. Mostly because they couldn't be on their own for the first while of them starting their new jobs.

rhys alexander greyback

[rhys alexander greyback]

we're the masters of our own fate
we're the captains of our own souls

---

October 15, 2025
@nixie

---

Rhys wondered if his pause had been obvious, there had been a long on his mind lately on that subject and it had been actually physically exhausting. As if sleep wasn't hard enough as it were, he spent all night trying to shut down his thoughts but to no avail. Whiskey helped sometimes as well as other things but it was hardly a permanent solution. It was another reason he'd missed work since it occupied his mind as he tried to figure out the next puzzle. Nixie didn't say much to his response, he hadn't expected her to either. He wondered how individuals in other career paths approached subjects such as this, Professors or Ministry officials with desk jobs where he supposed that sort of thing was more common and even expected. Since it wasn't a big topic for either of them, Rhys didn't comment on it further or ask Nixie anymore questions either. If anyone were ever to change her mind in that area it wouldn't be him anyway.

She seemed incredibly excited about visiting a new place even after her handful of years on the job. The recent retirements (forced or otherwise) and barely lifting quarantine must have shuffled Curse Breakers from their usual sites. Well, except for Rhys receiving what he felt was something would probably be mundane but then the one after that would likely be better. There wasn't really a rhyme or reason to their jobs at times and since he wasn't based out of a specific country he just took what they gave him. He thought about her analysis, she might have been right but there was a chance it could be something totally different as well. "Probably, but I've had a few jobs that seemed ordinary and they were anything but." Rhys could recall at least a few times where one of them he'd been pretty injured. Not enough to thankfully take him out of the field but enough to sideline him for a few months while he healed up from a curse that had him lose quite a bit of blood.

It was an unspoken comment to advise one another to be careful, they knew and it didn't need to be repeated. She was only a few years younger than himself but he was reminded of his younger sisters and how he wanted them to be as safe as they could be. The incident with Renfri had been thankfully not more tragic than it already was and Rhys would have normally been there to have her back but the Bank had given them different assignments. Fortunately for the idiot Curse Breaker than had also survived Rhys hadn't come across him to curse him in person yet. Nixie spoke about a current student who was interested in Curse Breaking and he wasn't surprised, it was a field that many aspired to for the adventure and the excitement--granted they passed their required NEWTs for the job. "Seventh year? Same year as my sister." He commented. Max was more interested in healing than Curse Breaking, however but he wondered if they were acquainted.

"You think she'll be able to keep up with it?" Rhys asked, purely out of curiosity and from what Nixie had experienced with the student. Some personalities had the academic chops and ambition but didn't work well in the field or with other Curse Breakers. There was always the actuality of the job versus they had been told it was or they assumed it was, so he was always curious about the new recruits.

[Deleted]

Relationships were a tough subject for Nixie. Her amity had expectations, and it seemed that many her age were at least in some kind of relationship, serious or casual. She wasn't. She was fine with that. But she was also glad that the subject didn't continue. She really didn't like to talk about it. In a way, it had become a sort of trigger for her. She didn't know if she would fine "the one". It would take a very special person to change her mind, especially to settle down. If that would ever happen.

"I've had a few jobs that seemed ordinary and they were anything but." he had said. It as true, many jobs seemed to be one way, but then turned out to be something totally different. "I hear you there. All the more fun, that's what I say" Who wanted a job that was exactly what you expected? Nixie lived for the adrenalin. Staying on her toes was the way she preferred to life her life. She gave a chuckle and drank some more from her glass. It was true, Nixie had been hurt on many occasions, she had also grouped with some who have had life changing injuries. It defiantly wasn't a safe career. Being careful, and wishing your fellow curse breakers safety was common, and many of them did it without saying a word.

Nixie understood the siren call of adventure. She had always wanted to be a curse breaker, after she learned about them that is. She remembered back to the meeting with that girl. She had seemed so eager to join, but some things in her actions and questions concerned the red head. Rhys mentioned that the girl was the same age as his sister. Nixie smiled. "Oh yea?" She showed interest. It was interesting to think of others around her age having siblings still in school. Nixie was the youngest of her family, and the only girl for that matter.

"You think she'll be able to keep up with it?" It was a good question. Nixie hadn't spent that long with the girl, but she did get a good since. "I definitely think that the girl wanted to get away. She seemed interested in travel. That is always a good sign." Nixie saw a lot of similarities with her and this girl. She understood the want to get out into the world. "But I did got the impression that she was more interested in the treasure than anything else. And seemed to want some for herself." While each curse breaker was different. Many did the job for the thrill and adventure of it. With the relationship between goblins and wizards still quite strained, the last thing the wizard employees of Gringotts needed was some kid skimming off the top. Nixie had a professional relationship with the goblins at the bank, and an honest respect for them. You needed that, in one way or another, if you wanted to work at the bank. Nixie gave a heavy sigh and finished her drink.

rhys alexander greyback

[rhys alexander greyback]

we're the masters of our own fate
we're the captains of our own souls

---

October 15, 2025
@nixie

---

If he was being perfectly honest Rhys was hardly ever asked about his personal life in the sense of who he was dating and those details. His close friends would be the ones to ask or his sisters might tease him now and then, but he figured they had all grown accustomed to see him as this individual with an eternal bachelor status. And they would not be wrong thus far as he had only dated seriously very rarely, his line of work required a lot of patient from those close to him and not everybody wanted to abide by that. This was one of the few times that Rhys had asked Nixie about it, but he knew it was not her favorite topic and he saw the same demeanor and expression he saw with many of his co-workers. The relationship with their careers and the drive to do better and find great things, the thrill was their prize and their mistress.

Rhys nodded in agreement, there was always that extra thrill when something turned out to be completely unexpected and something that seemed mundane turned out to be extraordinary. Every Curse Break had that moment fortunately at least once but the probability of that occurring was almost the same as the probability for it becoming something totally terrifying and dangerous. He did not need to repeat his warning to be careful, that was always something that was unspoken and known for those that lasted more than a few years. Seeing two of his friends injured this year had been difficult but naturally not as difficult as being the one in retirement, but he hated to see it happen. Rhys knew firsthand what it was to have your dream ripped from your hands in a second and he figured that would be the same feeling—at least for him.

He drank more of his whiskey and shift in his seat to face Nixie a bit more, a slightly serious look setting in his blue eyes. ”I know its repetitive to say, but just be careful. I have seen too many of us injured lately. I’d hate to see it happen to you.” For second his composed demeanor gave way to an expression of genuine concern but just as quick as that had come it had passed as he resumed his usual expression. The main emotion Rhys ever seemed to show was anger, but that had to come with a high level of provocation—at least for most people. She was his friend; he did not want to see her forced into retirement as well. In most careers previous house affiliations did not matter. AT least that was what Rhys assumed, in Curse Breaking you wanted the best to have your back and that was what mattered. It had been a very positive dynamic for him to have been working in.

Rhys nodded and Nixie explained her perspective on this prospective recruit, there were key elements of the job that were not considered optional and provided a great filter for who would join their ranks. He thought on her words, okay with travel but greedy? His face must have shown a slight hesitation, greed lead to recklessness and recklessness lead to dangerous situations. Rhys was not sure if he wanted someone with those traits watching his back. Greed was not the bad thing, but he worried what some people might do to achieve their goals despite their team.

[Deleted]

Nixie didn't really feel the need for a strong steady relationship. She did have good friends, but nothing romantic. While that seemed a bit odd for adults her age, she was just happy doing her own thing, mainly working. She was happy with her life. While there were many friends and family that were dating, in a relationship...or simply wanting her to be in one herself, she was fine.

Nixie lived for the thrill and adrenalin of the job. Never quite knowing what you were going to find, or what you were going to do. The constant urge to stay on your toes, even if you had been in the country for quite some time. Curse Breaking, to the girl, was one big exciting puzzle, with curses and traps around each corner. And she always had an ace up her sleeve. Because she could turn into a beautiful red fox, she could easily get out of right fits with speed and permission.

While the job was fun, there was a level of seriousness with the job. This was shown in his shifting and his face. She knew all too well how you had to be careful. Too often, she heard of fellow curse breakers getting hurt, and most of the time it wasn't to any fault of their own. ”I know its repetitive to say, but just be careful. I have seen too many of us injured lately. I’d hate to see it happen to you.” She nodded and faced him, looking him square in the eyes "I promise I'll be safe. You don't have to worry about me." She knew that it was hard to lose someone you were close to, especially in this job. Seeing, or even hearing about someone getting injured was apart of the job, but never easy to hear. His serious mood left as quickly as it came on.

As she talked about the seventh year that she had met up with this past summer, she could see the hesitation in his face. Many Curse Breakers loved to travel. It was just a part of the job. But the relationship between wizard and goblin was an important one. Any of them could ruin that, and while she did try to stress that when talking to the girl, she didn't seem phased. She gave a sigh "Guess we'll just have to see what happens." She gave a shrug.

rhys alexander greyback

[rhys alexander greyback]

we're the masters of our own fate
we're the captains of our own souls

---

October 15, 2025
@nixie

---

She assured him that she would be safe, and he knew that she would do her best. Having worked with her that many times he knew she wasn’t reckless, or he would have avoided working with her again. There had been a handful of times where he’d been partnered with the loose canon type and after almost being severely injured he’d never worked with them again, even if it meant he was off a job and had to wait for a new one. It wasn’t worth his life. He liked the risk but at this point in his life he had people that counted on him. He nodded and didn’t pursue it further. It wasn’t something that deserved a lecture not that Rhys was the lecture type. He’d only been pushed that point very few times and that had been rare considering his temper seemed to flare and he’d his calm demeanor before that. Still he meant what he said, the injuries the past couple of years had seemed excessive to him and he always wondered if what was happening in the world had anything to do with it. The attack on the Quidditch pitch had left everybody nervous, even in his line of work.

Rhys shrugged in agreement. He tried his best to not make assumptions, but he was only a man. ”I suppose we will.” He drank his whiskey, setting the glass down on the table. He didn’t want the mood to be sullen, they were catching up before they went back to work so he didn’t even know when they would see one another again. ”Do you remember that one time in Egypt, what was the name of the new guy that was with us? The one that fell down that shaft?” He had been a brand new Curse Breaker looking for adventure in the world but he had to be literally the clumsiest person that Rhys had ever encountered from the start. If there was a grain of sand that this kid could have tripped on, he certainly would find it. The three of them had entered this tomb and there was a small part where they could split off but still see one another and Rhys couldn’t remember how it had happened but he had just been so….dumbfounded at how he’d managed it. The kid ended up fine but Rhys never sought to work with him again.

[Deleted]

Nixie planned to be a curse breaker for the foreseeable future. Because of this, she had no true intention to get hurt. And while she knew that accidents did happen, she always made a point to ensure that everything that could be accounted for, was. She took her job seriously, as did most of her colleagues. She also knew, that it was important to trust those you were working with. While she much preferred to work alone, she would rather work with some she knew and fully trusted, rather than get someone she didn't know. She always gave the benefit of the doubt, but once her trust was lost, it was gone. When that happened, like many Curse Breakers, Nixie refused to work with them again. She would be willing to maybe make an exception if she was also working with a few others that she did trust. But that was a big maybe. She wasn't going to risk her life just because someone wanted to jump the gun.

”I suppose we will." There was no point in debating it. It was just as possible that the girl would change directions in this last year. There was nothing more that could be done about it. Nixie took the pause to drink some more, and just about spit it out when Rhys said, ”Do you remember that one time in Egypt, what was the name of the new guy that was with us? The one that fell down that shaft?” She did a hard swallow then laughed a little "I do! I think his name was Billy, or Willy? I don't remember. I haven't seen him at the bank, or in the field. have you?" She remembered worrying about the guy when they had first met. He had tripped on his own feet before they had even gotten to the tomb they were to be working. She had been glad that Rhys had been there with her. While she knew he had a temper, there were at least two that could make sure that the entire place didn't come down around them. "How did he even fall. I don't think I was looking." She thought about it. So many jobs, but there was always something that helped some become more memorable than others. "I think I was trying to gage if I could fit in a small vent." Either her small witch body, or her even smaller fox body.

rhys alexander greyback
OOC: totally just made up a name. She could be totally wrong if you want.