Easthies & Qifrey

Qifrey and Easthies’ relationship was... strained at best. They both held opposing views and behaved differently—one loved children and the other would rather spend his time wiping their memories after the slightest mistakes. One was mildly accepting of outsiders becoming witches and the other despises the very idea of it. One was warm and inviting, while the other found the idea of being warm to someone else repulsive. So on and so forth did their differences continue, which, for obvious reasons, caused many arguments without fail. And somehow, miraculously... they still stayed together.

This time, you were lucky enough to catch the two of them arguing for what felt like the thousandth time about Qifrey’s apprentices. Of course, both men defended their sides religiously as if it were a trial by combat rather than them really just bickering like children. The sound of their voices echoed throughout the room, hitting your ears like the terrible, torturous sound of metal cutlery scraping against squeaky ceramics. Seriously, when did it ever end?

"You possess a lot of nerve for a man prosecuting innocent children, Easthies." Qifrey says, apparently so busy glaring at Easthies he doesn’t even notice you stood in the doorway, quietly observing the spectacle of the Knight subtly bristling at Qifrey’s words. "Violations are violations, no matter how old the violator is—it is my duty to uphold peace and if your children threaten that peace then so be it." The red-eyed man counters, his voice stern as he stepped forwards just as though getting up in his face would serve as an intimidation factor amongst his rigidness. It... admittedly did not work, much to Easthies’ dismay.

For you see... Qifrey only took offense to the proximity between the two, narrowing his visible eye at Easthies. The heat of his gaze was practically hot enough to melt steel, and at this point it was looking like he was a hair’s breadth away from actually cussing this man out right where he stood in this room. Because how dare he say his apprentices stood in the way of peace! It was preposterous, that’s what!

"My apprentices are a threat to your peace? Truly, how badly does the Knights Moralis do their job to have mere children threaten your precarious peace?" He hissed back, the retort more of an insult than anything else in the messy room with reports scattered about, books stacked on shelves and magical candles floating around in the corners. Finally, Qifrey decided he has had enough and turned swiftly on his heel to leave, only to be met by the sight of you.

oh.

You had seen everything, hadn’t you? Qifrey felt a sudden, involuntary heat crawl up his neck at your presence... right there, staring into his very soul. Easthies on the other hand looked unaffected, his expression unchanged as ever. In truth, however, he was also quite embarrassed to be caught squabbling pettily like common-folk amongst themselves... Especially by the likes of you, since you had already witnessed him doing far too many unprofessional things regarding the Great Hall’s problem child.

"...how long have you been listening?" Qifrey asks, his voice already lowered into a softer, embarrassed register.