therealpm

*John appears in the fireplace, holding a bottle of wine in one hand. He steps out of the fireplace and walks straight through to the kitchen where he opens the bottle and gets two glasses down. After pouring out two drinks, he hands one to Peter and keeps the other for himself*

To Philip.

From:

*uncurls slighly from hunched position in armchair*

*removes headphones, strains of music still emanating from the earpieces*

*accepts a glass and stares at it for a few moments, before mumbling the toast and taking a sip*

*stares at toes*

From:

*Takes clean handkerchief out of pocket and offers it to Peter*

I hear your tribute was well received. It must have taken a lot to do that, you should be commended.

From:

*twists handkerchief between fingers*

*song changes*

*nearly snarls at ipod, switches it off, then chucks it and the headphones on the table with a clatter*

*glares into wineglass again, before setting it rather more gently on the table*

Hardly.

*draws knees up to chin*

From:

*Sits down on the sofa and sets glass of wine on the table*

Oh, um...

*Takes a piece of paper out of his inside pocket*

He wanted to visit but I didn't think you'd be in the mood for his antics so rather than coming over he wanted me to give you this.

*Puts piece of paper on the table and pushes it over to Peter*

From:

*picks paper up and stares at it*

*sniffs a bit but very determindly does not need to use the hanky*

*pauses for a few moments, steadying his voice*

*swallows*

I see.

W-well pass on my thanks.

*glances up briefly at the broomstick almost hidden in the corner*

*flashes a very brief smile at John before returning to staring at the paper*

He'll get his flying lessons, soon enough.

No need to w-worry.

From:

During the Christmas break perhaps. Flying in the snow is wonderful and the amount of layers Sally will undoubtedly swaddle him in to keep out the cold should provide more than ample for...

*Sees that Peter isn't listening*
*There is an awkward silence wherein John attempts to say something but when words fail him, he takes a sip of his glass. By the time John convinces himself that continuing to not talk would be more awkward than what he has to say, three quarters of his glass has gone*

Do... do you want to talk about it? Him - his... passing on?

From:

No.

*another awkward silence passes, longer and more discomfiting than the last*

Go home, John.

From:

*steps through the door*

Sit, boys.

*crouches down and unclips leads*

*lowers voice*

Go on you two, upstairs.

*Wanders through to lounge*

I'm - what are you doing here?

From:

*Raises an eyebrow as Osborne walks into the room*

I brought Peter a bottle of wine. I thought after today's news he could use it.

*Gets up from sofa and wanders through to kitchen, throwing a spell over his shoulder as he leaves. A roaring fire springs to life in the fireplace.*
*John returns a moment later with a third full glass of wine and the rest in the bottle. He sets both of them on the table and begins to potter about the room, trying to find some suitable music and a blanket to have on standby*
*He glances back over his shoulder to see Osborne staring at him*

The furniture isn't going to bite; sit down and have a drink.

From:

You clearly underestimate some factors of this household.

*walks deliberately past Bercow to drinks cabinet*
*pours drink from bottle of port instead*
*squeezes Peter's shoulder momentarily as he returns to take seat on the sofa as far from Bercow as possible*

I'm surprised it took you so long to get around to getting here.

From:

*Smirks* Some of us don't need to worry about things like that in this household.

*Sets about reorganising cushions on the chairs and puts a blanket within easy reach of Peter, should he need it*

I could have said the same about you but I thought better to rise above such petty jibes.

*Goes over to fire place and pokes at the fire*
*Flies a log in from outside and puts it onto the fire*
*Turns and leans against the mantelpiece*
*With a wave of his hand, Frank Sinatra starts playing and the wine bottle tops up Mandelson's glass*

Busy day?

From:

*continues to stare at the wineglass, ignoring the idle bickering*

*after the third Sinatra song, and not a little squabbling from the other two, Peter unfolds and exits the room, slamming the door behind him*

*the noise startles the dogs, who run, barking, to his feet until he quiets them and leads them upstairs to the study, locking the door securely behind him*

From:

Peter!

*rounds on Bercow*

Now look what you've done!

From:

What I've done?!

Everything was perfectly under control until you arrived, I'll have you know!

*Snatches blanket back and puts it away*

From:

I popped out to walk the dogs! And when I come back, you're here and - you're folding it wrong!

From:

*Glares*

I most certainly am not folding it incorrectly! This was how it came out of the cupboard!

From:

*the sounds of distant applause and cheering drift down from the room above*

From:

I think I know how he likes his blankets folded a little more than you do.

Look, give it here *snatches from hands*

*folds irately*
*pauses mid crease*

Sorry. I'm sorry. It's been... look, could you go please? I'll give Peter your best wishes or... whatever.

From: