Obsidian and Emerald

Sodden Dresses and Bleeding Mascara

The clock's hour hand struck nine on the mantle. Fire popped and sizzled, a light smoke billowed and hung in the room like a fog. The flue needed cleaning, but it's tending was far from his mind. His hand gripped the crystal glass, amber liquid glistening and reflecting rainbows off the only source of light in the room. The thick curtains were drawn, candles sat cold in their sconces, and the electricity never used; gave the distinct feeling of gloom and melancholy.

The rain could be heard coming down in violent sheets against the cobble stone streets outside. His eyelids pressed shut, fighting off the hangover he never allowed his body to heal from. The constant diet of aged scotch, the occasional biscuit, cigarettes, and English breakfast tea wasn't enough sustenance to rid the throbbing in his temples. The constant state of ache was only dulled by further filling himself to the brim with drink.

The incessant purring in his lap could almost lull him into the sleep he had been denying himself. Setting the glass down on the side table, his hand mechanically went to the smooth short grey hair of the green eyed cat curled in his lap. It was a leach for affection, whoring itself for a simple caress. He didn't much care for the creature, but it was hers; and she had insisted on having it.

"Don't get any ideas, Jedi. This is solely a one time occurrence." Jedi, he never quite understood why she named the beast such an absurd name... Something pathetically muggle having to do with wars in the stars.

He had told himself he would go. He even put on his coat and shoes, but then he thought about her wearing her mother's dress, and walking down the isle to a man that was not him; and that made him want to set the world ablaze. No, he couldn't go. What would he have done? What could he have said? She had already set her mind to it, and once the decision made, there was nothing that could change it.

Why did he agree to this? Since when did the well being of complete strangers concern him? The world could damn itself and drown, and he wouldn't give a shit. Only one person mattered to him, and for her, he would give the universe should she ask.

Damn her! Did she have to be so fucking noble?

An abrupt knock came at the door, pulling him reluctantly from his wallowing. Jedi bounded off his lap and bolted for the door, mewling pathetically to be let out. Drawing himself unsteadily from his seated position, he shuffled towards the door, cursing whomever was bothering him at this hour; any hour.

Cracking the door small enough to see who was waiting outside, his dark sunken eyes took in the sodden figure of a woman in her wedding dress. His heart slammed against his rib cage, causing a physical ache in his chest. Pulling open the door, he stared back at the woman, her dress soaked and dripping with rainwater, strands of red hair plastered to her shoulders and face, and her black mascara running down her cheeks, was enough to bring a smile to his lips.

"Where the fuck were you, Severus?"

She pushed passed him and barged inside. Her arms came up and hugged her middle, a spell of shivers coming over her. He ignored the trail of water she had brought in with her, as well as the puddle pooling at her feet. Instead he momentarily watched the cat lick up the cool liquid, rather entertained.
Let her be cold.

Coming around to look at her, hoping to find further amusement in her present state, he folded his arms across his chest and smirked. He watched as she wipes annoyingly at her running make-up, further smearing the black under her eyes.

"Well?" Wh-wha-what do you ha-have to say f-for yourself, Sev?" Her body shook, her lips a shade of purple, the goosebumps that covered her exposed flesh, did somewhat make him want to reach out to her.