Coffee and numbers.
Marlene Mckinnon would be lying if she said she loved coffee. She’s always liked hot chocolate, coffee gives her too much energy and makes her all fidgety. So she wasn’t the most excited when Sirius said he wanted to take them to the coffee shop his brother worked at. Marlene was going to protest but Sirius mentioned that they had hot chocolate and she immediately gave in. Her, Sirius, James, and Lily all walked there because apparently it was in walking distance from Sirius’ and Regulus’ house.
When they got there she realized that every. single. one. of the workers was hot. There was a tall brunette boy with scars on his face rolling his eyes at a blonde boy with light brown skin who has a resemblance to a blonde girl with her hair in braids and blue eyes. Of course there was the famous Regulus Black with curly black hair shorter than Sirius’ and stormy grey eyes with skin almost as pale as snow. Finally there was a girl talking to Regulus while making a coffee and she looks- woah she’s cute. She has dark brown skin and natural afro hair paired with beautiful brown eyes.
Sirius decided to order for them while all of them sat down at a booth. Marlene watched the girl until her attention was drawn back by Lily taking off James’ hat and putting a bunch of small pieces of paper from her pockets into it and mixing them around. She leaned across the table toward james and asked, “What is she doing?”
James just shrugged while Lily smiled and held the hat out to Marlene, “You first Marls.”
Marlene just shrugs taking a piece of paper and unfolding it, it reads ‘Wonder Woman’, “So our theme this year is dc?” Lily grins and nods. “You realize that I can’t in any world live up to Diana Prince right?”
“Marls you don’t have to look exactly like her, it’s just fun for the party!” Marlene grins, the potters hold a party every year. By that she means Effie and Monty leave the house to a bunch of new adults. The only reason Regulus and Sirius don’t live with their parents is because they’re assholes. Monty and Effie help Sirius and Regulus with rent from time to time but the brothers insisted on doing it mostly on their own.
“The party, that always out does itself every year!” Marlene winks at James, “And the party that lets me see the wonderful Mrs. Potter before it gets real.” James rolls her eyes sticking her tongue out at her which she returns. “Right- so who’s coming this year?”
James thinks for a minute before naming people, “Pete, Mary, us of course, and Sirius’ is inviting Reggie and friends.” It’s always been smaller, some people at old schools have heard rumors about it because of James and Sirius being popular. The funniest she ever heard was that the party caused her and Sirius to get together. They didn’t actually get together, he isn’t really her type. Anyway! It’s always been a between friends thing but with Regulus and Sirius trying to heal it’d be a good time to heal relationships.
Sirius comes back with the drinks because apparently he made small talk with the tall barista. The one thing that caught Marlene’s eye was a number written on his cup she looks at him eyebrows raised. “Reggie will kill me.”
Marlene starts laughing, “That’s what happens when you go for friends!” She looks at the tall guy Sirius was flirting with giving him a slight wave, he looks a bit confused but waves back. She lets her eyes wander finding the girl from earlier’s eyes she raises an eyebrow at Marlene so she promptly looks back to the people at the table. “So what’s his name?”
“Remus.” Sirius is looking at the guy again like a stalker. Marlene smacks the back of his head which makes him yelp, “Ow! What the hell Marls?”
She rolls her eyes grinning at him, “We’re choosing costumes for the party this year.” Lily holds the hat out to him once Marlene is done talking to him. Lily always insists on going last for dramatic effect.
Sirius reaches into the hat pulling out the first thing he grabs, his mouth falls open far more dramatic then needed. “You’re kidding right?” He turns the paper around ‘Dick Grayson’ is clear as day on the paper. Marlene starts laughing again.
“You are what you eat.” Lily says nonchalantly as Marlene starts struggling to breathe.
“Lils! I thought you were better than this!” Sirius holds a hand to his heart like he was fatally wounded as he falls backs into the cushioned booth more. Lily smiles laughing a bit and James grins at Sirius.
“You were sorely mistaken Pads.” Sirius rolls his eyes. “Lily is the worst of us.” She promptly smacks James’ shoulder who jumps and then smiles at her laughing. Those two are best friends. People assume they’re a couple far too often. Marlene glances at Sirius.
“You could pull off the Nightwing suit.” Sirius bows which is hard because he’s sitting but he still does it.
“And I will.” Marlene smiles laughing and drinking some of her hot chocolate as they sit there talking. For costumes Lily got black canary and James got Barry Allen.
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Dorcas really wasn’t in the mood to work today and she sure as hell wasn’t in the mood to deal with Regulus’ brother and friends. They’re not bad people just loud. One of them keeps staring at her and she can’t really figure out why. Marlene Mckinnon is at least somewhat known as Sirius Black’s girlfriend, Dorcas doesn’t see it but that’s what everyone says.
Regulus and Remus are talking and at some point Regulus storms off with Remus leaving after him. There’s still 3 people at the register so they’re still able to server customers, it’s just always best to let Reg cool off, if any of them get to close to him he gets scared he’ll lash out and be like his parents. Remus is the only one that’s gone after him, Remus isn’t scared and never will be.
Pandora and Evan are making coffees while Dorcas is at the register waiting for more people to come in. She jumps when Pandora taps her shoulder. “Panda- you scared me.”
“Sorry Cas, Barty is coming by to pick up Evan soon, since Reggie isn’t here I thought I’d tell you.” Pandora smiles, she’s the sweetest out of them. The rest have major RBFs, well Evan doesn’t but him and Pandora are twins so it doesn’t count.
“Yeah- yeah alright.” Pandora looks at her leaning on the counter next to the register. Pandora’s eyebrows are raised in a silent question. “I’m fine. One thing though, Mckinnon,” Dorcas gestures to the girl in question. “she’s dating Sirius right?”
Pandora laughs a bit at that.
“Cas, why don’t you ask Remus about that?” She then starts walking back towards Evan.
“What does that mean? Dora! Dora?” Pandora just laughs, Dorcas just sighs turning her attention back to the register as a customer walks in.
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“We have a month to the party, meaning, a month to find dates.” James is sipping his latte as he talks. “You guys have eyes on anyone?”
“Nope.” Marlene pops the p as she says it. Lily shakes her head and Sirius looks over to the counter looking for barista boy with his eyebrows furrowed. “Hey Siri, what’s that girl’s name?” Marlene gestures to the girl manning the register now that Regulus seems to have disappeared.
“Dorcas. Dorcas Meadowes, her and Regulus met in high school, freshmen year. He never told our parents about her, she’s the one who gave Reggie the idea of having a coffee shop I think.” Sirius looks at her. “Why?”
Marlene shrugs grinning, “Just curious.”
Lily’s face breaks out into a smile, “Oh my god! You think she’s cute!” Marlene turns a bright pink turning to Lily.
“You shut up. You act like you haven’t been eyeing up the blonde girl.” Marlene retorted resulting in Lily rolling her eyes.
“Do you all have the hots for my brother’s friends?!” Sirius sounded disgusted.
“Don’t be hypocritical.” Marlene said grinning at him as she leaned into the firmer where the booth and the wall met. Sirius then turned to her mouth opening and closing like fish out of water.
“I don’t have the hots for any of your brother’s friends.” James is quiet but smiling, Lily is biting her bottom lip looking like she’s trying to keep from laughing.
“Lily why do you look like that? James, tell me you don’t like Evan.” Lily starts laughing at that.
“No, I do not like Evan Pads.” Sirius’ eyebrows furrow as she turns back to Lily, they have silent conversations like this a lot, Sirius’ eyebrows go forward in a question and Lily shrugs. Sirius deflates falling back in his seat.
“I’ll figure you out eventually.” Sirius says throwing a harmless glare at James.
“I’m sure you will Pads.”
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Regulus and Remus come out of the back with Remus’ arm draped around Regulus’ shoulders.
“You guys sure look friendly.” Dorcas says seeming a bit amused one side of her mouth lifting up into a slight smile.
“I can’t get him off.” Regulus responds as serious as ever. Pandora smiles at them bringing out her phone to take a photo. “I hate you.”
“I’m sure you do Reg.” She smiles at him and Regulus shakes his head looking down surely to stop them from seeing even the smallest hint of a smile.
“Where’s Evan?” Regulus looks up again with his face back to its normal look, which is constantly unbothered.
“Barty picked him up, who’s closing today?” Pandora responds.
“Me.” Cas says completely unenthusiastic.
“Have fun telling them to leave Cas.” Regulus gestures to Sirius’ table. Cas rolls her eyes.
“Bye.” There’s a lot of different byes from the group of colleagues as Remus, Pandora, and Regulus all leave together. Dorcas grabs a wipe walking over to Sirius’ table first. “We’re closing.”
“Oh alright! Well let’s go shall we?” Sirius says always dramatic as he stands up and bows offering a hand to help James from his seat. Lily slides out after James but Marlene doesn’t leave immediately, instead getting out of the booth and leaning on the wall closest.
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She’s got this, she’s Marlene Mckinnon. Very very confident. “Um-“ great start. “I was wondering, if you maybe wanted my number.” She takes pride in the way Dorcas’ eyes widen a bit.
“Yeah, sure. Why?” Her eyebrows furrow as she looks at Marlene.
“You’re cute. I would really like to get to know you, y’know?”
Dorcas raised her eyebrows, “Are you free tomorrow?”
Marlene grinned biting her bottom lip a bit nodding, “Yeah! Yeah- I’ll make sure I am.”
“Good,” Marlene think Dorcas’ cheeks might be a light pink- and god it’s adorable. Dorcas writes her number down on a napkin before folding it up and handing it to Marlene. “I’ll see you then McKinnon.”
Marlene must’ve stood there staring at the napkin in her hand for too long because eventually Dorcas said, “We are still closing, text me the details.”
“Right! Right yes!” Marlene runs out of the coffee shop smiling to herself as she walks.
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“I just gave a girl my number.” Dorcas’ eyes widen as she repeats it to herself, “I just gave Marlene McKinnon, someone I thought was straight, my number.” She takes out her phone calling Pandora.
“Cas, Did something happen at the cafe?” Pandora sounded worried but calm, this is how she sounds when she’s messing with her zen garden.
“No, not technically but um- what do you do after you give a girl your number.” She hears movement in the background than a huff of breath she assumes is caused by Pandora jumping onto her bed.
“Cas, please tell me it’s Marlene you’re talking about.” Dorcas can practically hear her grinning.
“And if it is McKinnon?”
“Then you need to tell me when the first date is.”
“Tomorrow.” Pandora laughs through the phone.
“I’m picking out your outfit.” Pandora is already looking through her own closet, up side of being the same size as your best friend.
“Of course you are.” Pandora laughs again.
“Who asked who?”
“She tried, I finished.”
“That quick?”
“Oh shut up.” Pandora laughs even more running out of breath.
“To answer your original question, my dear Dorcas. You wait.” Cas groans, “I know, I know so tiring. Just trust me, she was checking you out all day. She’ll text.”
“Wait she was checking me out?! That’s what that was?!” Pandora laughs before hanging up. She calls Regulus next.
“You’re calling out for tomorrow.” Regulus beats her to it.
“How’d you know?”
“Sirius has been screaming on the phone about you for hours. I work far too much to be kept up by this.” Dorcas laughs, she isn’t all tough exterior, not around Regulus. He, like her, puts on that exterior. They let it down around each other. Of course, they’re both described as different but now they’re allowed to let that show.
“So, you guys will be fine tomorrow?”
“Yes, surprisingly we can survive without you.”
“Doubt it.” She hears Regulus laugh a bit at that.
“Cas. Have fun.” He hangs up, he never really has been the best at showing that he’s happy for people. She knows he is though.
She finished closing up her thoughts not leaving Marlene once.