Been A While pv Group Locked

『

Mentioning: @Clifton Troublefield @Kate Elm
Interacting With: @Wyatt Starkey
Speech Color: Red
Other: @Cricket Mercury

』

Alec grinned. He had gotten way too hyped up to finally see all his friends again. The summer wasn't over yet, but it seemed so long and it dragged out.

He'd owled his friends the day after Wyatt had gotten here, asking if they could come. Leonard couldn't make it, but at least Clifton could. And now not only that.. But Alec was going to see Kate for the first time in a few years, so that was really something to look forward to. She had owled him asking how he was finally, and Alec had suggested she come meet up with them. Alec hadn't mentioned the Kate part yet to Wyatt since it was a more recent development, but Alec was sure Wyatt wouldn't really mind that much. He had been acting weird ever since Cash (Cassandra Ironwoods) came over, though. And it surprised Alec, since Wyatt recently was more willing to put up with Alec's shenanigans and crazy ideas. It was like the two had an unspoken agreement not to argue or anything like that now. Truth be told, Alec was confused as to how Wyatt had put up with Alec all morning without going crazy. Let's just say Alec hadn't been the most quiet person this morning, he'd actually been talking up a storm for what it's worth. That and Alec was full of energy.

It was surprising for the lack of sleep he was getting while he thought through recent events. They were finally making their way to Florean Fortescue’s when Wyatt asked, "What did we take a train for two hours early in the morning to do here again," Alec was surprised he'd heard Wyatt at all through the hustle and bustle. "You know, you didn't have to come with me if your going to choose to be a lump on a log the whole time" Alec said. It was the usual for Wyatt, but Alec wanted Wyatt to at least try to have some fun while they were here. "And.. meeting up with friends. Clifton, who may or may not be mad at you. I'm honestly not sure. And Kate.. a 'childhood' friend of mine.."

Alec explained once they'd found a place to sit. Alec wasn't sure how to explain Kate. He'd told Wyatt about Clifton before.. at least he thought he did. And Kate was a whole another different thing. The two's friendship had been built off of letters and late night sneak outs. It was an interesting friendship dynamic, to say the least. Alec hadn't even gotten to say goodbye when she'd moved away. He wasn't sure what he would've said or done anyway, though. So maybe it was for the best. Alec's gaze went to the money in his pockets. Technically it was his.. Or well the same amount Alec had saved up this summer if he'd asked for his money now his mother was going to get suspicious, which was why he didn't he'd pay her back later. And Even if it weren't Alec's his mother would've never noticed.

The purse Alec took from was the one she'd gotten bored with only two days after getting it. It was annoying honestly and a huge waste of money. But that was a debate for another time. If Alec were to get into trouble for anything right now, it'd be sneaking out and the bracelets he borrowed from his older sister's jewelry collection. Both were equally just as bad once you realize who you're dealing with. It's amazing how much Alec's mother cared when he snuck out compared to just day-to-day life. She'd go on these long periods of time where she'd just not speak to him and sometimes just forget he even existed.

Like the vacation they'd planned to go on a few years prior. Three days into the vacation and they finally noticed he wasn't there. Alec wasn't sure if he should blame it on being the middle child or just that his parents were forgettable. Alec's father did sometimes try to make small talk with his son and 'bond' but it really wasn't getting through.. Alec appreciated the effort but if he didn't at least know one thing about Alec like his favorite colour for example. It wasn't working.

Meeting up with @Alec Mason @Wyatt Starkey @Kate Elm @Cricket Mercury

"Gah!" Clifton slammed his palm into his forehead. This was his fifth attempt at the whole secret brick-tapping combination thing and by now people were starting to stare. This. This was why he'd always dreaded the idea of one day having a school locker.

Thankfully, a group of older girls approached the wall. Clifton stepped aside, hoping they'd open it and he could follow.

"Stuck, Muggle-born?" one of them sneered.

"Just...being polite," Clifton shrugged with a smile. "Ladies first, isn't it?"

They scoffed and turned back to the wall. Clifton watched closely as one of the girls expertly tapped the correct sequence. He scowled; he'd been one off.

Once inside, Clifton gave them a quick thanks and hurried down the cobbled streets scanning his busy surroundings for anything that looked like it might be Florean Fortescue’s. He'd told Alec he knew the place, but that was only sort of true. After all, he'd only been here once and had been just as distracted as his parents so the store names were lost on him.

Still. Clifton had forgotten how much he'd been craving this world where the air practically hummed with magic and mystery. Never in his life did he think he'd be this excited for school to start again.

Finally, he spotted the sign and sprinted toward it. Nearly half-an-hour late. It was becoming somewhat of a pattern lately and he wondered if there was a spell or a potion to fix it.

Clifton entered the shop and soon found Alec and another unfamiliar kid sitting at one of the tables.

"Hey!" he greeted with his usual energy, plopping down in one of the empty chairs. "Sorry. I got stuck babysitting my little sister and she dropped my phone in the--" Clifton stopped himself, not sure yet if either of them knew what a phone was. "Anyway, I couldn't get away 'til just now."

He looked over at the unfamiliar boy. "Wyatt, right? Alec mentioned something about you staying at his place for the summer." He extended a hand. "Nice to meet you, I'm Clifton."

Of course, the first time he'd ever heard of Wyatt was after Alec was leaving the hospital wing with both his eye and his confidence knocked in. Clifton hadn't exactly appreciated the kid beating up his friend and calling him names, but if Alec seemed okay with it all now then Clifton wasn't going to get in the way.

"It sounds like you guys have had one crazy summer."

Since he was tired and desperate to find a reason to be here, Wyatt decided to freak out both Alec and that kid who knew him as some sociopathic spider murderer. Wyatt put on a big, warm, happy smile, stood up and shook Clifton’s hand, saying, “Yes, Wyatt Starkey! Well, Wyatt A. Starkey to be exact. It’s brilliant to meet you!” Really, Wyatt was impersonating the rich snobs Alec’s family had over during the summer. “I’ve heard such good things, Clifton.”

"It sounds like you guys have had one crazy summer." Wyatt did one of those rich people chuckles he was sick of hearing. “Golly! We sure did!” Wyatt was speaking so happily he almost sounded high. Especially to Alec, who knew him as the evil snake charmer who kicked him in the face in the hallway that one time. Wyatt’s face was getting sore from smiling so widely for so long but he didn’t dare stop.

The look on Alec’s face would be so worth it. He kept going. “Did you know Alec, here, has a fiancée?” Wyatt pulled Alec from his seat and wrapped his arm around the Gryffindor’s shoulder. “I’m sure you know because you’re just such good friends, but wowza! Congratulations to him!” Wyatt patted Alec on the back with another rich pure-blood chuckle and a sigh. Wyatt didn’t know how long he could keep smiling. Being happy sucked.

_{Interacting with: @Clifton Troublefield and @Alec Mason
Rest of group: @Kate Elm and @Cricket Mercury}

Clifton looked over at Alec. Then at Wyatt. Then back at Alec.

“Did I miss a punch line or something?”

He was trying to figure out why the otherwise glum, I’d-rather-be-somewhere-else kid had suddenly turned into an energetic snob. Like someone had flipped a switch. Clifton couldn’t decide if Wyatt was trying to make him laugh or somehow trying to make him feel intimidated. If it was either case, it wasn't working. Clifton was mostly just confused.

And then all that nonsense about a fiance. Like Clifton would’ve ever believed that. First off, beacuse they were only kids. Second off, because Alec had been the one to think it was weird Clifton already had a girlfriend. And third off, because this was the twenty-first century.

And then he remembered that the shop they were in was rather old-fashioned, like the rest of the magic world. And that there were still some strange ideas floating around in the old magic families about pureblood and all that. He didn't understand all of it, coming from a muggle home, but he knew Alec came from a pureblood family. It was possible they still had traditions like that.

Still. He wasn’t falling for it. Clifton was just here to catch up with friends and try the ice cream. But he did look over at Alec, hoping he’d give him some sort of clue into what was going on.

『

Mentioning: N/A
Interacting With: @Wyatt Starkey @Clifton Troublefield
Speech Color: Red
Other: @Cricket Mercury @Kate Elm

』

Hopefully this went well, "Yes, Wyatt Starkey! Well, Wyatt A. Starkey to be exact. It’s brilliant to meet you!” And then Alec realized it wasn't going to go well at all. Alec also realized another thing he was sort of making fun of the way Alec introduced himself with the 'My name's Alec, well Alec J. Mason to be exact. Nice to meet you' well that a crack at Alec's self esteem.

Alec sunk down in his chair. Who knew someone could make fun of how you introduce yourself and that you could actually feel bad about it because you weren't confident in yourself, anyway. Alec was no Gryffindor. A real one could handle this. A real Gryffindor would stand up for themselves, but instead here Alec was wishing he could shrink to the size of a button and disappear. Alec decided to just ignore the whole rest of the act from there. No need to listen to the rest of this exchange. And Alec didn't at least till it got to this part. "Did you know Alec, here, has a fiancée?” Wyatt said, followed by Alec being pulled up out of the chair. What was Wyatt doing?

Alec had just wanted one nice day to get away from his parents for a bit, but now Alec just wanted to go home. “I’m sure you know because you’re just such good friends, but wowza! Congratulations to him!” Wyatt said. More like wowza Wyatt's guitar is suddenly going to disappear tonight and Alec is going to have 'no clue' about where it is. And also wowza Alec is going to make sure somehow Wyatt has to sleep outside tonight. And oh, why don't we just add another wowza to the mix? Wowza Wyatt is going to very much regret saying what he did. “Did I miss a punch line or something?” Clifton asked.

Alec decided to take advantage of this line. "I don't know, ask the comedian himself. The comedian who may possibly have something of his missing tonight and may possibly be locked out of the house tonight, mind you" Alec said. Well that was one very passive aggressive way to get the message through to Wyatt. "And possibly the comedian who's not going to be very intimidating in his second year of Hogwarts when people realize the comedian willingly had a tea party with a five-year-old(Who's almost six). In fact I'd even go as far as to say the comedian who's not going to be at all intimidating on his second year dared someone he knew to make breakfast for their family, and even offered to help. What a very kind comedian we have here today." Alec also said.

Another passive aggressive blow with small sort of compliments in it. Alec was actually very grateful for the help he'd gotten with that dare, otherwise there would've been a chance the whole kitchen burned down that day. But anything at all to let Wyatt know Alec wasn't happy with him at all right now, was going to have to work. Why had he been making a big deal about the fiancee thing, anyway? What was his deal? And thus so Alec had just decided to make it his goal to find out. Even if it meant holding back on revenge.. for now.

"The comedian who may possibly have something of his missing tonight and may possibly be locked out of the house tonight, mind you," Alec said. If Wyatt had been well rested, he would’ve been sitting back in his chair yesterday, but he wasn’t exactly thinking too clearly. Instead of backing down, the Slytherin continued to poke the bear. “Oh, don’t be silly, Alec!” Wyatt looked over to Clifton with a wide smile. “You know, Alec here is a real ladies man, I’m surprised it took this long for him find a fiancée,” he said, talking over Alec.

Oh, but when he heard tea party, "a tea party with a five-year-old (Who's almost six)," his wide smile dropped within a millisecond and he stopped talking faster than you could say whoops. Wyatt should’ve made Alec swear to keep his stupid little trap shut. When Alec was finished exposing Wyatt about the tea party, Wyatt thought the Gryffindor was done, that he had his fun for the day. Boy, was he wrong. "In fact," Wyatt’s eyes were wide staring at the Lion. Alec had some serious blackmail on the snake after their summer together. He could say anything.

"I'd even go as far as to say the comedian who's not going to be at all intimidating on his second year dared someone he knew to make breakfast for their family, and even offered to help." For once Wyatt's feelings were clearly displayed on his face. He was practically begging Alec to stop, since he knew how much blackmail Alec had against him. “Jesus! Stop it!” He had to end this before it got out of hand. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled quietly and plopped back down into his chair with a humph and a grumble. "What a very kind comedian we have here today." Wyatt didn’t know how, but he was going to get back at the little Lion. He won’t get away with this.

“I hate you,” he mumbled, but a little louder than before. Alec J. Mason was the second the worst person Wyatt had ever met. Sure, Wyatt's dad was an abusive alcoholic, so compared to that, Alec was a saint. But still, if Wyatt's dad was a sane human being, Alec would be first. What was Alec's deal? He knew Wyatt was private about his life and liked being feared and intimidating! Oh, yeah, that's why he made a fool of him in front of this kid. That made sense. What ticked him off? Wait, did Clifton not know about the whole engagement thing?

_{Literally getting owned by: @Alec Mason
Interacting with: @Clifton Troublefield
Group: @Kate Elm and @Cricket Mercury}

Top (tucked in) Bottoms/Shoes Beanie

Hogwarts Summer Camp had come to an end but Cricket had yet another adventure to conquer. Her family from her father's side was visiting London all the way from California due to a business trip. The young lion's parents thought it would be a grand idea to meet up with them at a park and spending the day with them, knowing how much Cricket despised them. She liked her uncle, Eric, just fine, it was her aunt and older cousins that were the problem. Her uncle is a Squib and married a Muggle and had three agonizing Muggle children, all of different ages. Cricket found it a disgrace to share the same last name with them.

Although the Mercury's were planted in Scotland, they willingly stayed in a room at the Leaky Cauldron just so they can see their family for a set of hours. "Please let me stay here at Diagon Alley while you two see them! You know how much I despise Aunt Robin and my cousins!" The poor girl begged. After a time of debating, her parents gave in. "Alright Cricket, you can stay here while we go and meet up with my brother. Make sure to only stay at Diagon Alley, and don't wander off into Muggle London. We'll be back before you know it, so use your time wisely," her father had said.

Once her parents had left, Cricket spent around one hour making a sketch for a painting she had wanted to make. The pale Gryffindor was getting bored and decided to take a stroll through the Alley and stop at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour for a sweet treat. She slipped on a red sweater and made her way out the entrance. Humming a little tune, she walked along the wide streets of the Alley and spotted different witches and wizards of all shapes and sizes, scouring the small shops for the right materials. She was a few steps away from reaching the door to the parlor, when she heard a rather short boy telling off one of her familiar faces.

"The comedian who may possibly have something of his missing tonight and may possibly be locked out of the house tonight, mind you," said the short boy. Cricket turned her head, but not her body, to face towards the group of three boys which acquired of the short boy, a boy who had a puzzled expression on his face, and none other than Wyatt Starkey, or Sparkey as she liked to call him. “You know, Alec here is a real ladies man, I’m surprised it took this long for him find a fiancée,” cried Wyatt. The lion tilted her head to the side wondering, How does a young boy already have a fiancée? Could it be an arranged marrige? She shrugged it off and thought that she shouldn't be eavesdropping on their conversation. She opened the door of the parlor, but heard something she had never expected Wyatt Starkey to do.

"And possibly the comedian who's not going to be very intimidating in his second year of Hogwarts when people realize the comedian willingly had a tea party with a five-year-old (Who's almost six,)" continued the short boy. Cricket let go of the door and inched her way closer to the group, holding back laughter. Now that she could see their faces better, she saw that the short boy was in fact a Gryffindor, just one that she has never gotten to know. She couldn't make out the other boy, though. “Jesus! Stop it!” Wyatt had exclaimed. She didn't know why, and she didn't know how, but Cricket felt the smallest bit of pity for him.

"What a very kind comedian we have here today," the short boy had finally left off. Cricket couldn't hold it in and gave a small scoff before laughing a bit. The laugh was more of a chuckle, but compared to the silence near the three boys, it was quite loud. Her face went a vibrant shade of pink as she quickly turned around and pretended to look through the window at the ravishing buckets of ice cream, hoping the boys hadn't heard her.

Mentioning @Wyatt Starkey @Alec Mason @Clifton Troublefield @Kate Elm

Wyatt heard a chuckle from behind Alec. One that sounded familiar. Wyatt looked in the direction of which it came from and his eyes landed on a pale, blonde, blue-eyed dhampir from hell. Wyatt couldn’t say he hated this girl, but he could say for a fact he didn’t like her. She’d slapped him across the face 2 minutes into their first conversation. Though Wyatt had a feeling a lot of people had those urges while talking to him.

His already incredibly telling face was drained of blood and he felt cold as he came to the conclusion that Cricket had heard at least the end of Alec’s little rant. This was not good. Wyatt flung his head around to make sure no other familiar faces were listening in. None that he could identify. Good. Not great, good. Wyatt cleared his throat and looked down at the table. By the time he looked up again his unreadable mask was back on.

The Slytherin’s leg was bobbing up and down anxiously. Alec had no idea what he was messing with. The bullies at Hogwarts were ruthless, but Wyatt had managed to scare off any of the more cautious of his tormentors thanks to a rumor that he had ties to Death Eaters. If the kids at school knew about the tea parties or him cooking up some breakfast or found out he helped someone, he wouldn’t be seen as a threat.

Wyatt jumped up out of his chair at the speed of light and stomped over to Cricket with raging fire in his eyes. “What did you hear? Because I can tell you, it’s a lie. A joke. Something stupid that doesn’t matter so you should just forget it right now,” he said quickly. Okay, maybe that was a little too strong to combat a light chuckle. Wyatt was losing his cool (that he was usually so good at pretending he had). His foot was tapping at a rapid pace.

_{Gettin' anxious with @Alec Mason and @Clifton Troublefield
Probably freaking out @Cricket Mercury
Rest of group: @Kate Elm}

Trying to piece everything together with @Alec Mason @Wyatt Starkey @Kate Elm @Cricket Mercury

Clifton again looked between the two other boys, neither of which were looking at each other. Alec had turned away from the table, looking simultaneously furious and defeated, while Wyatt had sunk down in his seat and had began bouncing his knee up and down like he wanted nothing more than to dart away.

Clifton frowned, still puzzled and genuinely concerned for both of them; he'd only asked about their summer.

"...Sounds like you guys had a blast."

The other two boys' attention turned and Clifton realized their group wasn't alone. A girl was standing nearby. Blonde hair and blue eyes. She wasn't anyone he recognized and he wondered if it was another friend of Alec's. Or maybe Wyatt's.

The dark haired boy leapt to his feet, nearly knocking his chair over. "What did you hear? Because I can tell you, it’s a lie. A joke. Something stupid that doesn’t matter so you should just forget it right now."

Okay, so not Wyatt's. Still, the 'greeting' surprised him. Something must've happened between the two at school.

He cast a concerned look over at Alec, hoping they hadn't already made a train wreck out of the day he'd been so excited to plan for them all. Clifton wanted to find a way to fix it but, for now at least, he turned his gaze toward the newcomer and smiled.

"He's right, I wouldn't worry about it," he said, wanting to give Wyatt at least a little support with how upset he clearly was. "But I wouldn't walk much closer either, I think there's a gas leak."

He hoped the others--his friend especially--knew he was joking. Clifton and joking were practically synonymous, but these two obviously read into things differently than he did and he waited to see they'd read right into decking him in the nose.

Maybe someone should just order ice cream already.