It had been long enough since his elopement that Ben no longer felt awkward about being out in public by himself, but if he was honest being anywhere with Melody still felt a little exhausting. The last thing he wanted was to give someone an excuse to start up the rumor mill over the state of their marriage, now that things were finally starting to settle. If he wanted to project the message that they were still very much in love, but not in an obnoxious way, should he seek her out more often among the party guests? Less often? Should he try to introduce her to old friends or just leave her to mend her own social circles?
He was also pretty aware that his broom-racing friend — a fellow who, like him, was outside the Quidditch industry but well-connected enough to it to weasel his way into things like this— was absent tonight as he continued mourning his wife. Between that and the situation with the Pettigrews, Ben was feeling less and less inclined to put up his typical charade. People who actually wanted to be married were sitting at home grieving, but here were Ben and Melody Crouch. People who wanted children were spiraling off the rails after an unexpected loss, and... here they were at a party, Ben and Melody Crouch, acting as though they were just like anyone else and they could understand things like that. Acting as though they had every right to be here, having fun together — as though they had every right to be married — as though they were happy in spite of everything.
He'd been avoiding Melody, and basically every woman in attendance. That was decidedly out of character for him, but he didn't want to get himself into trouble with any of this mistletoe whizzing about. He had plenty of friends in attendance to distract him for a good chunk of the party, but eventually when he broke off to find another drink and instead came face-to-face with his wife.
"Oh, uh — yeah," he answered, a little surprised at her question even though it couldn't have been more predictable. "Always nice to have a chance to see old friends. You?"
MJ made this <3
He was also pretty aware that his broom-racing friend — a fellow who, like him, was outside the Quidditch industry but well-connected enough to it to weasel his way into things like this— was absent tonight as he continued mourning his wife. Between that and the situation with the Pettigrews, Ben was feeling less and less inclined to put up his typical charade. People who actually wanted to be married were sitting at home grieving, but here were Ben and Melody Crouch. People who wanted children were spiraling off the rails after an unexpected loss, and... here they were at a party, Ben and Melody Crouch, acting as though they were just like anyone else and they could understand things like that. Acting as though they had every right to be here, having fun together — as though they had every right to be married — as though they were happy in spite of everything.
He'd been avoiding Melody, and basically every woman in attendance. That was decidedly out of character for him, but he didn't want to get himself into trouble with any of this mistletoe whizzing about. He had plenty of friends in attendance to distract him for a good chunk of the party, but eventually when he broke off to find another drink and instead came face-to-face with his wife.
"Oh, uh — yeah," he answered, a little surprised at her question even though it couldn't have been more predictable. "Always nice to have a chance to see old friends. You?"
MJ made this <3