firefly_quill (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} firefly_quill) wrote,@ 2006-03-26 22:18:00 |
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Ficlet: Honesty in All Things -- RL/SS -- G
I have a stack of marking that piles higher each day, 3 lessons to plan, and a date tomorrow, which is likely why the plot bunny attacked. Completely un-beta'd and embarassingly unpolished.
Title: Honesty in All Things
Pairing: RL/SS
Rating: G
Word Count: 751
Warnings: Some HBP spoilers if you squint.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Just playing.
Summary: Remus has a job interview.
Remus was secretly terrified of job interviews. The prospect of lying (or at least, surreptitiously stretching the truth) was evidently the crux of succeeding at the whole process. It was something Remus simply could not fathom; although honesty could not pay the bills and integrity made for a poor meal, he stubbornly maintained both.
“Mr. Lupin? The director will see you now.”
Of course, theory always sounded so much better when not practiced.
Remus swallowed thickly and offered the secretary a resolute smile. He stood and strode purposefully towards the door to begin what he thought to be one of the most important interviews of his life. He knocked.
“Come in.”
Remus opened the door and stepped inside. The room was a modest size, lined with bookshelves with the exception of the large windowed wall which Remus was now facing. A large leather chair was currently facing the window, and was situated in front of an impressively organized mahogany desk.
“Please, sit,” said the voice from behind the chair.
Remus obliged. “Thank you. And thank you for this opportunity Mr...” Remus paused, realizing that he did not know the director’s name.
“You are from Scotland.” The director continued as if Remus had not spoken. “What brings you to London, Mr. Lupin?”
“The opportunity for a better life, sir,” Remus answered, unperturbed by the slight.
“A better life,” the director echoed wryly. “What exactly are you running from?”
“I’m not running away from anything, really. I like to think of it more as moving towards a goal.”
“I see. Which is…?”
Remus considered this for a moment, heart racing in his ears from the anxiety. He had to get this right. “I made several foolish decisions in the past and I am determined to right them.”
A hollow laugh came from behind the tall chair. “So instead of running from the past, you are actually trying to run into it. An interesting strategy.”
“Not exactly,” Remus replied. “I realize that the past cannot be changed, but I hope to make amends presently.”
“And how exactly will working for my company help you to atone for your sins, so to speak?”
“I’ve done some research. This company, although only two years old, already has a reputation as being one of the finest in all of the United Kingdom. It has single-handedly brought traditional medicines into vogue. The medical world is stunned by its results and successes. It is rumoured that you are close to curing cancer.” Remus smiled slightly.
The director snorted. “If I want to know about my company, I will read the paper. You have not answered my question.”
“You have not allowed me to finish, sir,” Remus replied politely.
“Please. Do.” The words dripped with irony. Remus swallowed again, this time not completely because of his nerves.
“The company’s success is largely due to the talent of its anonymous director, whose singular passion has focused intensely on the one task that he has put in his mind to do. In my life, I know of only one man who could accomplish this.”
“You always did believe that flattery would get you everywhere in the world, Lupin.”
“But I didn’t believe in you. Forgive me, Severus.”
The chair turned and Remus was faced with the Potion Master’s scrutinizing gaze.
Remus met the penetrating eyes evenly. “I don’t know what hurt more, thinking that you had betrayed us, or realizing that you hadn’t. But I never stopped loving you.”
“I left you my owl,” Severus said impassively. Remus knew better and recognized the pain beneath the mask. “He would have found me, had you written.”
“And I didn’t,” Remus said honestly. “There is no excuse, and I am sorry.”
“What would you have me do, Remus?” Remus was beginning to wonder whether the man ever had to blink.
“Nothing but what you want to do. I only hope that there is still a place there for me,” His vision was beginning to blur. “I wish wholeheartedly that I could change what I have done. Seeing that I can’t, I can only promise you that from every moment hereon, I will try to make amends, if you will let me.”
There was a long silence as Severus seemed lost in thought. Remus was determined not to run from the room, despite the initial urge to do so.
A slow smile began to pull at Severus’ lips.
Remus held his breath.
Severus read the anxiety on Remus’ face and smirked. “When can you start?”
I have a stack of marking that piles higher each day, 3 lessons to plan, and a date tomorrow, which is likely why the plot bunny attacked. Completely un-beta'd and embarassingly unpolished.
Title: Honesty in All Things
Pairing: RL/SS
Rating: G
Word Count: 751
Warnings: Some HBP spoilers if you squint.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Just playing.
Summary: Remus has a job interview.
Remus was secretly terrified of job interviews. The prospect of lying (or at least, surreptitiously stretching the truth) was evidently the crux of succeeding at the whole process. It was something Remus simply could not fathom; although honesty could not pay the bills and integrity made for a poor meal, he stubbornly maintained both.
“Mr. Lupin? The director will see you now.”
Of course, theory always sounded so much better when not practiced.
Remus swallowed thickly and offered the secretary a resolute smile. He stood and strode purposefully towards the door to begin what he thought to be one of the most important interviews of his life. He knocked.
“Come in.”
Remus opened the door and stepped inside. The room was a modest size, lined with bookshelves with the exception of the large windowed wall which Remus was now facing. A large leather chair was currently facing the window, and was situated in front of an impressively organized mahogany desk.
“Please, sit,” said the voice from behind the chair.
Remus obliged. “Thank you. And thank you for this opportunity Mr...” Remus paused, realizing that he did not know the director’s name.
“You are from Scotland.” The director continued as if Remus had not spoken. “What brings you to London, Mr. Lupin?”
“The opportunity for a better life, sir,” Remus answered, unperturbed by the slight.
“A better life,” the director echoed wryly. “What exactly are you running from?”
“I’m not running away from anything, really. I like to think of it more as moving towards a goal.”
“I see. Which is…?”
Remus considered this for a moment, heart racing in his ears from the anxiety. He had to get this right. “I made several foolish decisions in the past and I am determined to right them.”
A hollow laugh came from behind the tall chair. “So instead of running from the past, you are actually trying to run into it. An interesting strategy.”
“Not exactly,” Remus replied. “I realize that the past cannot be changed, but I hope to make amends presently.”
“And how exactly will working for my company help you to atone for your sins, so to speak?”
“I’ve done some research. This company, although only two years old, already has a reputation as being one of the finest in all of the United Kingdom. It has single-handedly brought traditional medicines into vogue. The medical world is stunned by its results and successes. It is rumoured that you are close to curing cancer.” Remus smiled slightly.
The director snorted. “If I want to know about my company, I will read the paper. You have not answered my question.”
“You have not allowed me to finish, sir,” Remus replied politely.
“Please. Do.” The words dripped with irony. Remus swallowed again, this time not completely because of his nerves.
“The company’s success is largely due to the talent of its anonymous director, whose singular passion has focused intensely on the one task that he has put in his mind to do. In my life, I know of only one man who could accomplish this.”
“You always did believe that flattery would get you everywhere in the world, Lupin.”
“But I didn’t believe in you. Forgive me, Severus.”
The chair turned and Remus was faced with the Potion Master’s scrutinizing gaze.
Remus met the penetrating eyes evenly. “I don’t know what hurt more, thinking that you had betrayed us, or realizing that you hadn’t. But I never stopped loving you.”
“I left you my owl,” Severus said impassively. Remus knew better and recognized the pain beneath the mask. “He would have found me, had you written.”
“And I didn’t,” Remus said honestly. “There is no excuse, and I am sorry.”
“What would you have me do, Remus?” Remus was beginning to wonder whether the man ever had to blink.
“Nothing but what you want to do. I only hope that there is still a place there for me,” His vision was beginning to blur. “I wish wholeheartedly that I could change what I have done. Seeing that I can’t, I can only promise you that from every moment hereon, I will try to make amends, if you will let me.”
There was a long silence as Severus seemed lost in thought. Remus was determined not to run from the room, despite the initial urge to do so.
A slow smile began to pull at Severus’ lips.
Remus held his breath.
Severus read the anxiety on Remus’ face and smirked. “When can you start?”