All I Want for Christmas is Whiskey [Rhys and Jasper]

[Deleted]

December 12, 2025
rhys alexander greyback & @jasper

Christmas hadn't been a... fond time of year for Renfri. As a child, Christmas should be your favorite holiday. But not at the Selwyn mansion. Her parents were practically blue blooded. All formal, proper, old money and very deep pockets. The Selwyn family was one of prestige in the magical world. Appearances were everything. So, while a normal child would spend Christmas eve with their parents and siblings, sitting around a Christmas tree. Singing carols and opening presents. Not Renfri. It had been glamorous parties and fake smiles. Faking perfection. Renfri didn't hate her family. In fact, she'd loved them. But she'd be the first to admit that her parents had not been warm individuals.

So, when she'd graduated and started to work as a Curse breaker she'd started her own Christmas holiday traditions. She worked through them. She spent Christmas Eve knee deep in bones and relics, mud on her boots, and five dollar whisky that made you regret every sip but yet you kept drinking because it was cheap and available. Christmas dinner, if they'd splurged, had been greasy take out. Her only companions during these holidays had been fellow cursebreakers and a few locals working whatever hole the cursebreakers had dug themselves into and were too stubborn to leave. 

This holiday was a bit of an odd one. Because Renfri wasn't going to be off at some dig. Neither was Jasper, or Rhys. Somehow, all three had found themselves in the country for the holiday season. While the weekend wasn't Christmas, it was the one weekend they could all make work. Renfri and Jasper had ensured that they wouldn't have patrol at Hogwarts, and Rhys... Well, who knew what he got out of to be here. So, while two of the three were now retired, they'd somehow found a way to be together with old friends for the holidays. Or at least, close enough to the holidays.  

Renfri had searched far and wide, until she finally found a hole-in-the-wall pub in Inverness that had what she was looking for. She'd arranged everything with the owner, renting a side room for their "festivities", among a number of bottles of alcohol. Then, she'd let both men know where and when to meet. It wouldn't be like Christmas in the field, but it would do. Plus, Renfri had chosen this place for a very special reason. 

She got there a few minutes before the designated time, a heavy paperbag in her one good arm and several plastic ones hanging from her wrist. Even though it had been months her left arm still hadn't even twitched in the black sling that had become customary. The healers had said she might regain mobility of it... some day. But so far she hadn't seen it. She twisted, pushing the door open with her back, and slid into the pub. And there, to her pleasant surprise, was the boys. "Oi, don't just watch a cripple struggle. Take some of this." She didn't say what it was, though the smell might clue them in. Food. And by the smell very greasy, cheap chinese takeout. Because what was Christmas for a Cursebreaker if there wasn't takeout? Who had time to cook in that line of work?

[rhys alexander greyback]

---

December 12, 2025
@renfri , @jasper

---

Rhys rubbed his eyes with one hand stopping at the bridge of his noise briefly. Exhaustion seemed to follow him around more and more these days and between his usual insomnia, increasing nightmares and side effects from the Aware Wolf potion he took it had begun to take a bit of a toll on him. Not to mention that his brain still seemed to be processing--two weeks later--that he was going to be a father the following year. That thought still brought a heaviness to his chest, Maria hadn’t tried to set him on fire since that day at least and he’d made it clear he wasn’t going to take off like he had before. Still, he hadn’t told anybody and it had become something heavy to carry around all day, and luckily he’d already told Max he had been planning to stick around for the holidays or she might have asked why he was still here after the quarantine had technically ended. Overall, the year had been a nice break from work, as much as he had missed it. The previous year he’d almost worked himself into the ground so he wouldn’t have to think about his losses.

He had received a letter and had been pleasantly surprised, he hadn’t spoken to Renfri much since the summer time and the same with Jasper but it would be nice to see old friends and to talk about old times and celebrate the Holidays as they had done over the years when they hadn’t been able or wanting to go home. Rhys generally made it home but having a simple event had become sort of a tradition his first year working and then he’d make it home sometime close to New Years to see his brother and sisters. So, he’d quickly accepted, and it had actually been something he’d been looking forward to considering his current stress. So, he’d apparated nearby and as it was with most magical villages it hadn’t spooked anyone, nor did he have to be extra careful about where he showed up. He’d walked into the pub, rather quickly as it was a chilly time of year and he looked around for the expected familiar faces. After a few minutes he looked around again and saw Jasper and he went to approach him but then the door opened again and a familiar voice directed orders at him—it was like no time had passed at all.

Rhys walked up and grabbed the plastic bags she had hanging off her arm, ”Good to see you too, Ren.” They had been friends since their school days since they’d been in the same year but different houses and in whatever subjects their houses had been doubled up for a competition. Rhys remembered wondering who was this Hufflepuff girl always trying to push his buttons and it had taken time especially because he was still sifting through who his friends were and who was there to bully him. After a few years it had become commonplace for them to fight, argue and compete but if only to make one another better. And even though his career hadn’t ended, and he was supposed to have been with her at that ruin he’d still been rather saddened when her accident had occurred. Immediately he smelled the food and realized how hungry he was, but he supposed after seven years his body had been conditioned for how they celebrated Christmas.

[Deleted]

Family wasn't a subject that Jasper liked to think about lately. After leaving his family when he was eighteen, the man never really looked back. He had spent the holidays past that enjoying himself, often getting drunk, and perhaps spending some time with another soul. He was able to do anything he wanted. This was opposed to the torturous affairs of his youth. The Yaxley family had many expectations for their children. They were pureblooded and saw themselves as above the other rabble. They had taught their children to think the same way. Jasper could stand up strait and do what he needed to do, all with the goal of making his parents look good. He had to be mindful of who he spoke to and how. It was the design of his parents that he would one day marry a fellow pureblooded witch and have pureblooded children. But he had left all of that. He left the money, the ideals and the people far behind.

Working during the holiday time wasn't new for him. In fact, he would often offer to work, especially if he knew that it meant that another would be able to spend time where they really wanted to be. It had been a number of months since his forced retirement, and once again, the December had arrived. This year was different. Many students had left for home, whatever that meant, and the small number who stayed were up to their own antics. No one really cared about the teachers.

The boy didn't realize how rough it was going to be until the the time drew nearer. The holiday decorations had been put up and everyone seemed to be getting into the spirit. Luckily he wasn't alone in his feelings. Renfri and Rhys also happened to be free around the time. The plans were set, and the weekend picked. Jasper found himself looking forward to a holiday celebration for, possibly, the first time.

Upon first seeing the place that had been picked, a smile came on his face. The small pub was quite reminiscent of many that they had found during work. This was what he had missed. It was finally starting to feel more like the holiday season. It felt like he was back on the job, taking a quick break. The only difference was that his cloths weren't covered in dirt, mud and anything else that may have gotten on them while working. Jasper walked into the pub, and noted that he was the first to arrive. He hadn't intended to arrive first, but it was good to get out. He situated himself by the bar, with a good view of the entrance. He was sure that Renfri had gotten a separate room or booth. He was sure that the Curse Breakers weren't going to be quiet. It didn't take long for Rhys to enter. Jasper started to make his way towards the man when the door opened again.

"Oi, don't just watch a cripple struggle. Take some of this." the struggling woman barked. "You know, I could have gone with you to help carry this stuff." Jasper pointed out as he took the paper bag from her arm. They did work at the same place. While their families had run in the same circles growing up, they hadn't interacted too much with each other. The age difference, which seemed trivial now, seemed to separate them as children. Jasper could smell the cheap Chinese food as he pulled the bag closer. Now this was what he had been missing, now it was Christmas.

@renfri
rhys alexander greyback

[Deleted]

December 12, 2025
rhys alexander greyback & @jasper

Renfri couldn't help but feeling extremely vulnerable when her only good arm was completely full. There was no where to shift the weight if she needed. Nor could she have managed a doorknob, had she needed. Thankfully, that hadn't been an issue with this particular pub and her friends were already there to help. They both responded in turn, one a sort-of greeting and the other commenting about going with her. Renfri chuckled and smirked at the two men. "Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes, Rhys. Nice beard." He'd always been a rough around the edges fellow, but what Curse breaker wasn't? It wasn't a glamorous job. Then, looking to Jasper she shrugged, though only one shoulder moved, the other impossibly still. "What, and ruin my image as being a fiercely independent woman? I think not," she joked. Though, it was a bit true. Renfri was a very independent person. If these two weren't her friends she wouldn't have even asked them to take the bags.

With her only good arm free she shook out her wrist, relieved by the lifted weight. "I figured since we're all pathetic souls with very non-festive traditions, and we're all too pathetic to go do anything exciting for the holidays, we might as well continue our heathen tradition of binge drinking, way to much food, and no cares. Turn your phones off now." She lead the way to the room she'd reserved in the back, motioning for them to follow. There wasn't any decorations, as that wasn't necessary for them. But it was private, and she'd paid the owner for a variety of bottles to keep them entertained for the night. The table was quite large for three people, but that had been planned considering how much food and alcohol they'd consume. They needed the room. "You boys want to unpack it all? Got something else to show you both." She moved to the bottles of alcohol that the owner had set out, skimming the labels.

Renfri spotted the one she was looking for, and grinned, picking it up and turning to them. "Remember that cheap, shitty whiskey we always drank?" She raised the bottle. Anyone else would wonder why Renfri had found a pub that sold the disgusting whiskey, but it was tradition. It had been one of the only brands they'd been able to find a number of times. So, despite it's horrid taste it was a requirement for Christmas. It just wouldn't be Christmas without cheap takeout and even cheaper whiskey.

[rhys alexander greyback]

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December 12, 2025
@renfri , @jasper

---

Rhys smiled in response and waited for Jasper to grab the remaining items from Renfri’s arm, though she insisted on powering through. The beard had become sort of a side-effect of the quarantine, though he was clean-shaven only some of the time. Sometimes he cringed at pictures of when he was younger, and his hair was longer displaying how curly his hair really was. They were an interesting trio and really Rhys was the odd man out as the only Half-blood as he hung around these two with their blood status and well-known names, but they had never treated him different for it. And while he had been wary in his earlier years at school, he learned not to judge them for their circumstances either. Going into Curse Breaking had been sort of a blessing in disguise, nobody cared where you came from or who you were as long as you could do the job and not put anyone in danger.

Renfri explained the purpose of the invite, and also ordered them to turn off their phones. Normally, Rhys didn’t take well to people barking orders at him but that was how she was and how she’d always been with him since he was eleven. He and Jasper followed her into a room that was small and private and he nodded his head in a sort of approval, it wasn’t a cave or some old cabin near a job site but it would do. While Renfri inspected the bottles, Rhys placed the bags she had been carrying on the table and pulled out his phone, sending a last quick text and power it off. When the screen wasn’t illuminated, he shoved it back in his pocket and began. Again he looked around the room, ”Well this is much better than the usual shack we end up staying in.” He hesitated to use the world cabin since that was too much of a compliment to some of the lodging they had to stay in, though some places were nicer than others. Last year had been some run-down shack, but it had still been a good time.

Rhys began to take items out of the bags and place them on the table though the smell of the food reminded him that he hadn’t actually eaten all day. He took out plates, utensils and napkins and collected the bags to put on the side for now until Renfri caught their attention again. He shook his head and chuckled, it was tradition to drink that awful whiskey but at the same time they did it anyway as a tradition. ”I can’t believe you actually found some, I didn’t think it was legal here.” He joked walking over and grabbing the bottle from her to inspect it. This was definitely it and as much as the taste and smell reminded him of some of those muggle cleaning products, he’d run into it made him actually happy to see it. A reminder of good times, better times. It had been a long time, Rhys realized, but he felt…well good. These were two very good friends. He didn’t have the same walls up with them.

[Deleted]

It was nice to see Rhys walk in. It hadn't been a couple of months since he had seen the young man in Hogsmeade. The two didn't have much time to start up a conversation before Renfri entered the pub. Jasper understood the independent nature of the woman. He could understand that she wanted to do it herself. She planed this entire thing by herself after all. The woman addressed Rhys firstly. She saw Jasper regularly at Hogwarts. He chucked when the woman brought up her image. No one could doubt that the woman was strong, or independent.

The woman continued to talk, and made some good points. Just because Jasper was a lone, and a "pathetic soul" didn't mean that he was going to go home for the holidays. His plans remained the same. Not only did this place remind him of working, and drinking after a long shift in the dark, but now they were going to, as Renfri said "continue our heathen tradition of binge drinking, way to much food, and no cares." That sounded great. The woman walked past the men and towards a room. That meant that they could go crazy, without fully disturbing anyone else. This night could last quite some time if that was the case.

Walking into the room, there were no festive decorations dawning the room. But decorations were not needed. Decorations wouldn't feel like work as a curse breaker during the holidays. As instructed, Jasper moved to empty the contents of the bag in his hands onto the large table. It was large for three people, but just right for the amount of food and booze they had, just waiting to be consumed. ”Well this is much better than the usual shack we end up staying in.” Jasper chuckled. "And we don't have to worry about loose magic, since its a magical town." Jasper pointed out. Many ancient runes were in the middle of no where, or near a wizarding town, but every so often, you had a muggle settlement near by. That was when they had to be really careful. After all the takeout containers were out of the paper bag, Jasper, folded it up and set it aside, where it wouldn't be in the way.

Hearing the clanking of bottles left Jasper ready to start the celebration. When she showed them her surprised, it wasn't some expensive bottle that any curse breaker dreamed of. Instead, it was one of the cheapest bottle that seemed to be available in sketchy liquor shops just about everywhere. "No" he said, with a chuckle and a smile. The foul stuff tasted as cheap as it actually was, but it wasn't Christmas on the job without it. "I didn't think you could find this stuff anywhere in the British Isles" Not that he had extensively looked since he started his new job. Jasper was never one to drink, or be drunk on the job, but the holidays was the one exception he made. As long as the area was reasonably "safe."

@renfri
rhys alexander greyback

[Deleted]

December 12, 2025
rhys alexander greyback & @jasper

Renfri could be quite bossy, she knew that. She was a very demanding, straightforward, no nonsense person. While other curse breakers had often pranked each other, Renfri had always been the one snapping at you for laughing too much. When she was on the clock, she was wound up tight. But, she knew how to let loose with friends. Once the work was done. In fact, Renfri had always partied and drank pretty hard, because she had so much built up tension to release. That was in part why she'd wanted to meet up with them. It was hard finding time to unwind when teaching teenagers. Especially when you taught a subject none of said students wanted to have. She'd been spending the better part of the semester just trying to get them interested in history. Thankfully her methods of "hands on" learning helped with that. But it meant a lot more planning and preparation.

Rhys commented about the pub, and Jasper about magic. "Alas, I couldn't find anything more rundown that would fit our needs. But the owner has assured me that they'll leave us be tonight as long as we don't blow anything up." She'd paid for the room for the night, with a little extra deposit just in case. After all, while two were retired they were all still cursebreakers at heart. Cursebreakers weren't known for being gentle, peaceful people. No, they were a rough and hardened bunch. Because you didn't make it in their line of work unless you could handle it.

The food, while clearly unhealthy, smelled heavenly, and exactly what Christmas should smell like. Once they added the alcohol, it'd be like every other year. Renfri grinned as they commented on the whiskey and Rhys took it from her, as if unable to believe it. "Oh, believe me. This took a lot of work to track down. This was the only pub I could find that was even remotely willing to get it. They special ordered it, though you wouldn't believe the disgusted looks they gave me. You would have thought I kicked a puppy." Considering the brand in general... She didn't blame them. No person in their right mind, with better choices, would chose this. But, tradition was tradition. "Try not to drink it all Rhys, they only got me one bottle, so you have to share." Thankfully, she'd also gotten a couple other more tasteful liquors. One bottle of the cheap whiskey wouldn't be enough to keep all three of them drunk after all. Especially not once they had food in their stomach.

With a wave of her hand, she levitated the three glasses. THey floated across to the table, turning and landing gently on the table, ready for pouring.

[rhys alexander greyback]

---

December 12, 2025
@renfri , @jasper

---

Rhys chuckled. It wasn’t that they created damage on purpose it just happened at times. It was either reduce a wall closing in on him into rubble or be crushed and having been on the receiving end of a cursed moving wall and breaking several ribs he simply reacted now. ”You say that like we do it on purpose.” He commented, since they had worked together quite a bit over the years she’d seen Rhys injured in all sorts of ways or have to result to blowing something up for whatever reason. The pub was small, but it was homey in a way and Rhys was happy there wasn’t a crowd. As much as he enjoyed sitting and drinking the buzz of constant conversations eventually gave him a headache and especially if he was still recovering from the full moon and that potion. Still, it wasn’t as if anyone he worked with had ever accidentally destroyed part of a ruin—things happened and at the beginning Rhys had been slightly horrified but after a while he understood.

Rhys nodded in agreement with Jasper, that was the benefit of magical towns was in the case that some kind of explosive event did happen the Ministry involvement would likely be minimal. But considering what had occurred over this past year he figured it was best to avoid anything like that. He seemed just as amazing as Rhys was when he saw the liquid, there was something endearing about something so disgusting. Jasper also commented on how they had even found the whiskey. ”Me neither, well maybe we can make this a regular thing now that we know we can get it?” Rhys suggested looking at Jasper, since there weren’t actually lot of Curse Breakers and not all personalities meshed well they had become a sort of family to him. Not having these two in the field was hard, but he liked a good tradition as much as anyone. The room was soon filled with the smell of the food that Renfri had brought, it wasn’t fancy or even holiday themed technically, but it wasn’t ever something he would turn down.

He wondered what kind of reputation this liquid had and what the pub owner must have thought of them for requesting it. ”Probably because its actually an ingredient for some potion or something.” He wondered if he should ask his sister with her extensive knowledge in Potions but then again he didn’t want to ruin the mystery of it. It was there to serve a purpose and that was something he was looking forward to. When Renfri made a comment on his drinking he quickly gave her a look but didn’t say anything, anyone close to him knew his penchant for excessive drinking even if he didn’t want to admit it himself. ”Its not my fault you can’t keep up.” Glasses floated in their direction and landed in front of him. He twisted the top off and poured a bit in each glass and placed the bottle back on the table handing a glass to each of his good friends and then grabbing his own. ”Cheers.” He said as he raised his glass.

[Deleted]

Back in his curse breaker days, Jasper worked hard, but he also knew that it was important to enjoy ones self. He found that often times relieving the tensions by having a good laugh was a good way to help solve something that seemed unsolvable. But when he was in charge of a project, he tried to be more business than fun. Being off the job, and away was the best time to unwind. Stepping away like this was the best way to get away from the constant preparedness of a student coming to him. "Alas, I couldn't find anything more rundown that would fit our needs. But the owner has assured me that they'll leave us be tonight as long as we don't blow anything up." Jasper chuckled a little bit. Rhys was right, they didn't exactly aspire to find the most run down place in the area. It usually happened "Ah the glamorous life of a curse breaker." While true, he had been in places much worse than this, but the feel was right. And if they got drunk enough, blowing things up seemed to be the least of the owners worries. All three of them had claws, in their own sort of way, just to start.


As everything was set out, the smell filled the room. It was a smell that he never thought that he would miss. Just like Christmas in the field. He observed the bottle in Rhys' hands as the younger man mentioned that this could be a regular place and the man chuckled. "We may have to" The bottle defiantly wasn't easily to find. Renfri even mentioned that the pub specially ordered the swill, he believed that. Only to laugh as she mentioned their faces. "I believe it" This wasn't just some random bottle of whiskey that was just close enough. this was the exact bottle that the curse breakers would always get for their holiday celebration. While the bottle was a great addition to the celebrations, there was still apart of Jasper that was glad that there were other bottles, and they hopefully were of better quality.

Glasses floated out and Rhys filled each with a small amount of the amber liquid. Taking the container from his friend "And so it begins." he said with a smile "Cheers" He too raised his glass to the start of their celebrations.

@renfri
rhys alexander greyback

[Deleted]

December 12, 2025
rhys alexander greyback & @jasper

Reminiscing over her Curse breaker days... was hard but much appreciated. She missed the work, terribly. But at least she still had her friends. And times like these brought the good back, and not the bad. She glanced at Jasper, smirking just a little. "Well, we can be a destructive lot." The big cats didn't help with that either. "It was always fun to give recruits the reality check of just how dirty curse breaking was." Out of the three, Renfri had probably had the most tolerance for training others, and done it quite often. Far more then was considered normal for any curse breaker.

Renfri snickered as they suggested making this a regular thing now that they'd found "their" whiskey. Despite it's horrid taste it just had too many memories associated with it. "The owner would definitely question our sanity, but I'm sure he'd appreciate the business, none the less." Business was business, after all. He could judge their taste all he wanted, he still got paid in the end.

Renfri approached the table, taking one of the now filled glasses, waiting for the other two get their own. Once all three had a glass in hand, she raised her own in unison. "To a proper Christmas celebration." She cheered, before bringing the glass to her lips and tipping the amber liquid into her mouth. She swallowed immediately, but couldn't stop the almost violent shudder. Renfri knew how to handle her liquor, but this whiskey was just... horrid. It couldn't be meant for human consumption, but yet they drank it anyway. Despite the burn and foul after taste, REnfri couldn't help but grin. It was such a nostalgic taste. "I don't know about you two, but I'm starving." She slid into one of the chairs, reaching for a plate and utensils. Then, she started to flip the lids of the food containers open. If the greasy, cheap, take out had smelled great before, it smelled divine now.

[rhys alexander greyback]

---

December 12, 2025
@renfri , @jasper

---

Rhys felt good, and he felt calmer than he had in months. There was comfort in your friends and those that you considered family especially after being in so many dangerous situations together and know they had your back. That level of trust was special in that it was difficult to earn and took a long time and once it was there it almost always stayed. He couldn’t really disagree with Renfri on her point so he simply shrugged innocently, again it was never his intention to blast through the wall in a crypt but sometimes it needed to be done and he always remembered the looks on the newer recruit’s faces when they saw it happen before their eyes and Rhys would usually very impatiently say that it was for their safety and Renfri would step in and actually explain what was going on. It wasn’t in Rhys’ nature to be patient versus demanding. But he agreed, they always needed to weed out recruits early or it would be hard on them later when trying to get their work done.

The idea of a tradition seemed to gain traction and he truly liked the idea, and he could plan around that. It would also let him be home with his siblings for the Holidays which was a plus. And of course, other events in his life were going to demand more of his attention here at home than before. She popped in his head again, but he focused back on the present before they noticed. ”I think some people think Curse Breakers are a bit mad, anyway.” The idea of their whole career seemed like insanity to some people, but those people thought sitting behind a desk was terribly exciting. Voluntarily walking into a possible death trap wasn’t all that appealing to some people, but then they missed the entire point in Rhys’ mind about the history being discovered. Rhys brought the glass to his mouth and forced the liquid down as fast as he could. That burn was like nothing he’d ever experienced, and he’d always wondered if there was something magical about it versus just being of awful quality.

He cringed, which was rare considering how much whiskey he did actually drink and how he was so accustomed to it. Rhys shook his head and thought of a memory, ”That still reminds me of that stuff we were given to clean those trophies by hand that one time you got us in detention.” Double classes between houses always were interesting, especially with his former Slytherin house. If he wasn’t arguing with a Gryffindor, he was usually arguing with Renfri. Rhys nodded in agreement and sat down in an available chair and grabbed a plate for himself. ”Jas—was it you that first brought the whiskey?” Rhys couldn’t remember the exact year but they had all been fairly young still, so maybe twenty? He wasn’t sure. Maybe whatever was in that cheap whiskey messed with his memory more than he wanted to admit.

[Deleted]

Jasper missed his life as a curse breaker, and he was sure that Renfri felt the same. Both had been forced into retirement, for the same reason. They had been inured on the job. She mentioned that they could be they could be quite destructive and he laughed. That was completely true. Especially when alcohol was involved. Lucky for the werewolf of the group could only turn during the full moon, while the two animagus' could transform at will. It was good to be with friends. There were times when they felt more like family. After forsaking his own, it was only natural that he would connect with many that he worked with. After many death defying adventures, you built a bond with people, a bond that didn't go away quickly.

The place was nice and cozy, and with appetition, distance wasn't a difficult matter. The bartender would most certainly wonder how mentally stable they were on their regular request of the cheap liquid. "Curse breakers have never been known for their sanity." he gleefully pointed out. There was a level of insanity that each curse breaker had to posses in order to do their job. They walked into tombs, ruins and dungeons, braved traps, curses, and the unknown, just for a prize that they didn't even get to keep for themselves. But that was all the more fun. Being in the job for eleven years, he had picked up quite a number of things. While he was there, Jasper had also trained his fair share of recruits, and even if they weren't new, he enjoyed giving many of them a fright. It shoed their adeptness, and tested their bravery. Also, it was always a good laugh, especially if he was working with Rhys. If someone saw him running away, they knew that it was serious.

After taking his filled glass, Renfri gave a proper toast to start the night off right. "To a proper Christmas celebration." After raising his glass to her words, he drank some of the familiar whiskey, and felt the familiar burn. It was as bad as he remembered. he shook his head as his taste buds revolted against the assault. That didn't stop his smile. "Yes, Let's dig in." he agreed. While they had great food at Hogwarts, this was something that he was looking forward to. He sat down at the oversized table. He let Renfri grab a plate, then he did the same. Opening the nearest container, he caught a whiff of the most familiar grease dish. He took it and poured some of it's contents onto the plate in front of him.

As he did, Rhys asked about the origin of the whiskey. Was this all really his fault. He pondered for a moment and then he nodded. "I think it was. We were working over some holiday, maybe Christmas, maybe something else, and I thought it would be fun to have a drinking break at some point." He chuckled as he grabbed another container to add to his plate. "I was broke, and it was another week until my next paycheck. That stuff, or something similar was the only thing that I could afford" He laughed. That time it may not have been this specific brand, but it could potentially have been the catalyst for their tradition.

@renfri
rhys alexander greyback

[Deleted]

December 12, 2025
rhys alexander greyback & @jasper

Renfri snorted as the boys mentioned curse breakers being mad, and not being known for their sanity. A truer statement had never been said. "What, diving headfirst into life threatening situations just for treasure isn't sane?" While there were other dangerous jobs, Curse Breaking was one that was purely for profit. They put their lives at risk for the reward. For what they could gain. While an Auror took risks for others, Curse breakers took them for money. It was probably why even after retiring, curse breakers had an air about them. An air for adventure and risks. Adrenaline junkies, the lot of them.

She's started dishing herself some of the food (struggling a little, because her right hand still sucked, but she refused to ask for help), when the boys joined her and Rhys made a comment about cleaning trophies. She gave him a scathing look. "Excuse me, I got us detention once and how many times did you get us detention?" She of course, wanted to deny ever getting in detention, but she hadn't been a great student. With her friends she'd always been the "mama hen", when they pulled stupid shit, but that didn't mean she was a goody-two-shoes. She'd been a restless soul who could never stay still in class.

As they spoke about the origin of the whiskey, she smiled softly and finished dishing up her plate. Then she reached for the whiskey, to pour herself another glass. Only then did she lean back into her chair. "God, remember that first drink? We all thought you'd put rat poison in a whiskey bottle. And then, like idiots, we just kept drinking it."

[rhys alexander greyback]

Separate or united

healthy or insane

December 12, 2025
@renfri ,
@jasper

If you had told Rhys when he was ten years old that he would have the close friends he had now, his career, and even siblings, he might have just laughed at how ridiculous it sounded. It had also surprised him how his friends had spanned the four Hogwarts houses though more than a few of them were from Hufflepuff to his surprise. They were then known for their patience, of which one needed quite a bit to deal with Rhys at times. At least in Renfri’s case, she was patient despite her fiery nature, and she never backed down from him and never had. Jasper was a bit calmer and never took Rhys’ attitude though he’d never grabbed him by the back of his shirt in annoyance as Cas had. Rhys nodded in agreement with Jasper. The risky and adventurous lives of a Curse Breaker left many scratching their heads and wondering why? Risk life and limb for some gold? But it was more than that. Rhys had learned so much in the past seven years that simply couldn’t be taught in a classroom or from a book. You had to see it and experience it.

Rhys chuckled a bit. It wasn’t out of the ordinary to find Rhys in detention while he had been in school, and at least one out of ten times, he had managed to bring somebody along with him. He could still remember Renfri’s anger in the time he spoke of, though it hadn’t quite compared to the murderous glare Claire had given him when they’d gotten detention for arguing during Ancient Runes once. ”I wasn’t denying that it wasn’t usually my fault. But it really wasn’t.” Rhys commented, it was usually his anger getting the best of him and one of his friends trying to save him from himself. ”Everybody else seemed to start it but I ended up in detention.” As he got older, it had been less of an occurrence. And with how tall he’d gotten in his sixth and seventh year, they were less likely to say something snarky to his face as when he’d been smaller.

His throat still burned slightly from the ‘whiskey’, but they’d found that greasy food helped with that and allowed them to drink more in the end. Every Curse Breaker was always prepared: research notes, maps, schematics, wand, potions, and whiskey were the bare minimum found in their packs. Or maybe that was just Rhys’ as he always had a bottle for before a job and one for after. Rhys also began to fill his plate with food from the containers Jasper and Renfri hadn’t grabbed yet, and they all rotated them while pondering the origins of this alcohol they were consuming. It made sense. It was cheap tasting, though, did the job. While Rhys had worked enough at the beginning of the year and the entirety of the previous year to not worry about his funds, there were times where things just didn’t align, and you had to buy what you could afford at the time. And it also depended on which goblin you gave attitude to and how long they delayed your payment. ”Yea, I think that was it. Whoever had stayed at the shack before us hadn’t left us any whiskey.” There was usually some, but it was rather rude of them to drink everything.

Rhys had begun eating but tried not to laugh. He’d forgotten about that. They’d honestly thought it had been a prank and drank it anyway. ”I must have already been drinking before that.” He commented. ”Not that I’m that picky with what I drink.”

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[Deleted]

Jasper could only laugh as Renfri spoke. "diving headfirst into life threatening situations just for treasure isn't sane?" It wasn't. Well, not for the average, ordinary, modern witch or wizard. True, theirs wasn't the only dangerous job out there, but it was unique.

The cheap, greasy food was just what Jasper needed. Renfri and Rhys were in the same year at school, and had known each other better then. While Jasper knew both of them back then, they tended to hover in different circles. He smiled as they talked about getting detention. Being head boy, he gave some detentions out, but tried to avoid it if he could. He dished up his plate, and set it down, after Renfri poured her some more, he did the same, settling down in a chair. Slouching came naturally, though it went against his youthful training. The woman mentioned the first drink. The whiskey was the cheapest one he could find, and the best thing he could afford at the time.

Rhys mentioned the previous group not leaving any whiskey behind and jasper continued to laugh, as he started to eat "I can't remember, didn't we leave some of the cheap stuff, to see if anyone dared drink it? Or was that another time?" They had to spread the alcoholic drink somehow. He couldn't help but laugh harder as she mentioned the memory. "I never denied it either."

@renfri
rhys alexander greyback