Opening Pandora’s Box
Sirius
God, he was an idiot.
Who starts a conversation with an undeniably attractive man, with ‘Were you aware your name means Wolf Wolf?”. God, what was he, twelve? Shameful honestly.
Luckily enough for him, the stars must be aligned in his favor seeing how Remus replied to his text instead of blocking him. It didn’t take long for the two to click and form a connection. Or at least what Sirius hoped was the start of one.
They spent the better part of an hour just chatting back and forth. Ranging from what their favorite colors were to what they wanted to be growing up. Remus wanted to be an artist when he was younger (which Sirius thought was adorable) and his favorite colors were green or light brown which was not surprising at all. Meanwhile, Sirius had wanted to be a musician in a band of some sort and his favorite colors were red and black, which Remus said: “fit his whole rocker persona”. If that small comment made Sirius blush, who was even around to say?
It wasn’t until the bewitching hour was nearly upon them did Sirius start to grow tired. He fought his hardest to stay awake and continue to conversate with Remus, but the Sandman was slowly taking his toll. It was apparent the other man was catching on to his predicament due to him texting that the two could always pick up the conversation at a later and well rested time.
Sirus
I’m not tired!
I promise
I’m wide awake honestly
Who’s tired? Not me!
Wolfie ☾
Sirius, it’s alright I promise. There is no need for a disruption of your sleep cycle due to me.
And if you miss hearing me speak so much, you can always come by the shop again before Wednesday.
Sirius
…
Goodnight Wolfie
Wolfie ☾
Goodnight Star.
Sirius
Star?
Is it because my name is part of a constellation?
if so that’s more corny than me starting our convo with Wolf wolf
Wolfie ☾
Well I it was also because of how your eyes shine brighter than the stars in the sky, but seeing as how that’s ‘corny’ I’ll just stick to calling you Sirius then.
Sirius
WAIT NO I TAKE IT BACK
WOLFIE
WOLFIEE
REMUS
REMUS LUPIN
MOONY?!?
IK YOURE NOT ASLEEP
Wolfie ☾
Was the government name really necessary?
And where did moony come from?
Sirius
Actually I think about it, it might be past my bedtime!
Goodnight Remus!
Talk to you later :)
Wolfie ☾
Are you just going to pretend my question doesn’t exist?
Sirius
Yes.
Wolfie ☾
Goodnight Star.
Alright so maybe Sirius went to bed with a smile on his face that night. After he was done giggling like a schoolgirl that is.
Who was he turning into? He hoped James or worse Marlene, would never find out. If they did, he would never hear the end of it and his reputation as cool and mysterious would be over in a flash.
⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆
The incessant sounds of his bedside alarm clock woke Sirius up.
He fumbled around a bit before finally turning off the horendous sounds. Why did he have to be an adult and wake up at 7 am? He knew that if he didn’t get up soon and get ready to go down to the shop, Marlene would have his head. So begrudgingly he got up and started to get ready to slave the day away.
It didn’t take him to long to get dressed seeing as how his usual get up mainly consisted of him throwing on some ripped jeans, a random band tee, his classic leather jacket, and his usual silver jewelry. What did take him long however, was his mess he called hair.
He had been neglecting it as of lately and the results were starting to show. It took his a good fifteen minutes to get all the knots out and his hair untangled enough to run his fingers through. Then another additional twenty to style it to his rocker inspired liking.
By the time Sirius was finished, it was nearing 8 and he knew if he was late again, Marlene would have his head. So against his better judgment, he skipped breakfast and rushed out the house with his helmet in hand and ran towards his bike, starting it up and pulling out of his driveway.
When he arrived Marlene was giving him a less than amused look.
“I’m not late.” Sirius started off as he looked down at his watch, “I still have three minutes to spare!”
“Uh huh. You’re working the floor then.” Marlene said, turning around and heading back to the employee’s only room.
“What why!”
“You were late, that's why!” Marlene shouted back.
“I had three minutes left!”
He knew continuing to argue with Marlene was futile so he set his stuff down and headed over to flip their sign to open. He just hoped it wouldn’t be too long of a shift before lunch, especially ith his stomach grumbling the way it was.
Just as their break for lunch was in Sirius’s eyesight, a woman came in and diminished his hope of locking up early for the time being.
He had half the mind of telling the woman that they were closing early for the moment and would be back open later, but something about the way the she carried herself as if she was a breath of fresh air on a hot day, made the idea disappear from Sirius’s mind entirely.
With her flowing skirt matching her bangles on her arms and blonde hair with little beads and charms in it, along with her tanned skin, she sort of reminded Sirius of one of those earth spirits you would read about as a child.
Maybe she was and was an entire figment of Sirius’s imagination. Created from the hunger he was experiencing. It wasn’t until the women stopped at the counter and right in front of him, did he realize he spent his time daydreaming once again. The woman just looked up at him and smiled, as if she knew a joke he didn’t. And maybe she did, maybe she knew a lot that Sirius didn’t, who’s to say?
“Did you find everything alright?” Sirius asked, as he started to scan her purchases. It appeared to be a lot of indie and pop based music which he wasn’t quite too surprised about. But his eyes did catch on a few Bowie and Queen albums along the way.
“Those are for a friend of mine.” the woman started, catching at how Sirius’s eyes lingered on the cds for too long. “And yes I did find everything alright.”
“Your friend must have good taste then. Some of the greatest songs by these two artists are on these albums.”
“I suppose he does but I wouldn’t ever tell him that, it’ll go right to his head. Do you mind if I add that grumpy black cat pin in as well? It’s a shining reflection of his personality. You remind me of him in a way of sorts.” the woman said, studying his face as if she was studying a painting.
“Are you saying I’m big headed?” Sirius jokes, adding the pin in and ringing her up.
“No, not at all. It’s just you both seem to have a certain aura radiating off of you two.”
“Well I can only hope it’s a good one.” Sirius was certainly starting to feel like she knew a lot more than he did as he slid her bag of purchases towards her.
“Maybe in time it will be. I’m Pandora by the way, it’s nice to meet you Sirius.”
“Like the box and how did you know my name?
Pandora laughed before replying, “Yes like the box, and that is your name or name tag, is it not?”
Well now Sirius felt like an idiot. “Yes, that would be my name. It’s nice to meet you Pandora.”
“Nice to meet you too Sirius, maybe next time I’ll have my friend accompany me. Apparently you two not only give off the same aura but also have constellation based names.” Pandora said, gathering her purchase and heading towards the door.
“How odd. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your friend’s name?” Sirius called out.
“Oh, why his name is Regulus of course. It was nice to meet you Sirius!”
Before Sirius could ask any follow up questions, she was already out the door and so was that breath of fresh air she gave.
There was no possible way it was the same Regulus he knew right? The Regulus he grew up with. The very one he left alone all those years ago in that wretched house. It was just a coincidence right? There could be plenty of people with that exact name residing in London, right?
Oh lord he needed a drink.
“Marls! Do you mind if we close early? I’m in dire need of a drink.” Sirius asked, entering the back room.
“It’s barely lunch Sirius, not to mention if we close shop early we lose out on customers.” Marlene said, flipping through the magazine she was reading.
“So what? We’ll have the same people more than likely come in tomorrow, not to mention I have news that the group must certainly hear.”
“You’re kidding right?” Marlene asked, finally looking up from her spot on the couch.
“I am certainly not, I invoke The Marauders!”
“You know there are better names to alert us to a situation that could affect one of us than that, right? Well whose house are we meeting at? And you better have a good reason for this.”
“Well mine of course and I always do. I’ll meet you there Marls!” Sirius called back, already making his way towards his bike.
“You little shit! Always making me lock up!-“ Sirius couldn’t hear the rest of what Marlene was saying as he started his bike and drove off in set of his house.
Already formulating a plan to be.