When a Little Fresh Air is Required PV Wyatt Starkey

wearing | hex: #3a5948

elvira olsen: #425778

A dim glow from Elvira’s old lamp illuminated the little room. It never got darker than dim, with Elle’s aversion to the dark. Sure, it irked Wyatt at times, but everyone had their irrational fears. For example, Wyatt’s constant worry about having eyes on him. Currently, it was more a reality than a paranoid delusion, as Elle had been watching him restlessly pace around their room for a few minutes now. Like the annoyingly kind-hearted person she was, she had asked if Wyatt was okay.

He didn’t really have an answer for her, so he settled for an earnest, “not really, thank you.” His tone was a bit sharp, but it wasn’t directed at her. It was more directed at the stress of, well, everything. Though Elle had enough experience with this that she knew it wasn’t a jab at her, nor was it Wyatt being short with her, specifically, she was still a bit done with him. Recently, his tone had been getting more and more short, sharp… rough? Today, it was like a freshly sharpened blade.

“Okay,” was the last she said to him before getting up and briskly leaving their room. Wyatt finally stopped his pacing to follow her out with his eyes and a defeated expression. He called after her, asking her to wait, but it wasn’t enough, and he understood. He felt like he was having deja vu, as he could be sure this same thing happened last year. It didn’t help brace him for the guilt he felt about driving her away. She was the only one at this place who he could trust, so hurting her wasn’t fun.

After he closed the door behind Elle, he collapsed onto his little bed and hid his face in his hands. He knew he was the problem but he wasn’t good enough to do the work to fix that. Wallowing in self-pity was enough for him at the moment. Slowly, as if on autopilot, he got up again.

Wyatt knew his friend was at the door before he knocked. He’d been pacing, listening for footsteps he could never be sure would come. Luckily, they did! It took everything in Wyatt’s power not to open the door at the sound of footsteps settling. He must’ve looked insane when he reached out, only to retract his arm like the door handle shocked him or something. Then, finally, he heard a knock.

Everything stopped. His heart, his breathing, his brain. Time stood still for a moment. If nothing else, it served to make him seem less of a crazy person. With more time in between the knock and actually answering the door, he looked less like he was standing there, waiting. Which was weird, and not something he was doing, Elle. Elle, who couldn’t hear his thoughts, making this justification unnecessary. Now that adequate stalling time had passed, Wyatt opened his door.

“Elle, I’m-”

Alec was there. Which was weird, because he hadn’t thought about what would happen if it wasn't Elle. His hair was done? As in a ponytail and a butterfly hairclip situation, which Wyatt didn’t understand, but understanding wasn’t his responsibility. Still, he couldn’t help the smirk that reached his lips at the sight. At least he didn’t cock his head like a puppy as he sometimes strangely did.

“Oh, well... You look great,” he said, voice low, yet playul. He opened the door a bit more. “Come in, before, uhh, someone sees all that.”

Interacting: @Alec Mason
Mentioning: N/A

Wyatt was expecting someone else at the door, Alec hardly paid mind as to who or why, though maybe he should have. Alec's thoughts all ceased at once the second Wyatt smirked. It wouldn't have been the strangest predicament Wyatt had seen him in, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. A playful comment of ' you look great' and a smile edged at Alec's lips as he responded, “you think so? I'm trying something new,” Alec's tone both playful and dripping with sarcasm. Wyatt opened the door further to let Alec in. The young teen walked in, face flushing when the door closed and he scrambled to give an explanation, “erm- Jackie begged to play barbershop.” Not only did Jackie beg to play barbershop, Alec had once again learned how hard it was to tell her no and why he rarely tried. Alec was too soft to tell her no, like a marshmallow. Another thing that made him question why anybody would ever entrust Alec with her care in the first place.

Alec reached to take the butterfly hair clip out of his own hair, surely Jackie wouldn't protest if it left Alec's hair for the sake of ending up in someone else's. On Alec's left he reached brushing back Wyatt's hair with his hand Alec put the hair clip in Wyatt's hair, using it to keep the other's messy dark brown hair back. His smile brightened, and he hummed in a thoughtful manner as he assessed Wyatt with the hair clip on. “It looks nice on you,” he spoke, taking a few more seconds to look Wyatt over with the hair clip on, nodding assuredly to himself, “It looks better on you than it did on me.” Now that Alec had dragged Wyatt into a small game of dressing up with nothing more than a hair clip, Alec felt he could get to the real point for why he was here. Which was surprisingly not to play dress up by putting the hair clip on Wyatt.

Alec clasped his hands together. “I need a little fresh air, I just want to wander and walk.” It was true, even if his intentions weren't to just wander and walk around since he wanted to drag Wyatt along. Eyes having settled on Wyatt, Alec's gaze softened. “You've been looking like you need some to,” there was no other way to say it without saying it. It was an icky feeling to remember the way Wyatt had been that first summer, how much he was going through, a sorry sight for a person who- Alec liked to think Wyatt looked like he was doing better, as if grief ever became any easier to handle. It didn't seem to be one of the things time healed.

A trick of the mind for Alec's own sake. “You've been cooped up all day, a little fresh air would do you some good.” It would also make Alec feel like he was doing something, trying to be helpful, it was better than the scattered thoughts and worries for the other that kept Alec in a state of unrest. Alec put his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

“You should join me; If you're not busy.” Alec spoke, he paused, head turning Alec glanced towards the closed door. “Were you waiting for someone?” Brought back to his mind within minutes, really, he did wonder what all that was about... Even if it was none of Alec's business, and he knew he was being nosy.

@Wyatt Starkey

wearing | hex: #3a5948

Wyatt had half a mind to be defensive. To shut Alec down with a harsh goodnight as a response to his questioning Wyatt’s need for fresh air. Really, cooped up all day? Had he even seen the Slytherin dorms? That dungeon? No wonder Slytherins were pale as vampires. Come to think of it, Alec probably hadn’t seen the dungeons, though. Even if he did, there was no denying his tone, which was sickeningly well-intentioned. Besides, Wyatt had already distanced one good friend tonight.

Not to mention the addicting jittery feeling Wyatt got when Alec put the little butterfly clip in his hair. He told himself it was because he wasn’t expecting touch, which may have been true, but not the whole truth. It took a fair bit of willpower to not rip the clip out of his hair, but everyone else in the building would be sleeping or pretending to right now, meaning there weren't any witnesses besides Alec. Similarly, no one from Hogwarts but Alec could see him right now, so there was no pressure there either. Wyatt wondered what his dormmates would say if they were in the room.

“You should join me; If you're not busy,” Alec offered. Like he would be busy at nighttime hours on a Wednesday. Wyatt chuckled, looking around as if trying to find a calendar before checking the non-existent watch on his wrist. If Wyatt was going to be honest for whatever reason, he would say that he missed this. Alec coming to him with some plot that would definitely get the two in trouble if they were caught, and Wyatt mindlessly agreeing even though he knew all of the risks.

“Were you waiting for someone?” Alec asked before Wyatt could respond to his previous offer. Not that Wyatt was flustered or frustrated with his curiosity, he was just a bit worried that an honest answer would ruin the possibility of sneaking out with Alec right now. Maybe the good person thing to do was to find Elle and make things right, but Wyatt was not exactly feeling up to be a good person. When was Alec going to be back in the nothing town of Cokeworth? Hopefully never, if Alec was smart.

“Not really, just wasn’t expecting you,” Wyatt confessed, more earnestly than he expected. Very quickly, he realized those words could be interpreted as rude rather than surprised. Wyatt scrambled to correct himself, hoping he wouldn’t end up rambling like a crazy person but knowing it was the most likely end result of his fix. “Of course, you being here isn’t bad or anything, I just meant you weren’t really the person of all people I would imagine to stop by. But I’m glad it was you.

“Uh, so, I’m hoping you’ve been climbing that tree by your window. Otherwise… you know,” Wyatt warned, turning and pushing his desk by his window before unlocking and opening the thing. “I’ll go first,” he said. Wyatt slipped through the pane and carefully slid down the tree. Once he reached the ground, he wiped his hands on the sides of his pants and plucked out a small splinter from his ring finger. Then, he looked up to the window of his second-floor room, waiting for Alec.

Interacting: @Alec Mason
Mentioning: N/A

While Alec was still in Wyatt's room, Alec's eyes took the chance to quickly flicker around the room. His curiosity always got the better of him. There wouldn't of course be much to find or know, Wyatt only ever stayed for the summer. His motion of checking a non-existent calendar and an imaginary wrist-watch were enough to let Alec know he didn't mind going on the surprise night-outing with Alec. Still, the Gryffindor couldn't help himself and asked if Wyatt had been waiting for someone. Alec didn't want to get in the way of anything important. Wyatt earnestly confessed he wasn't expecting the other, Alec nodded gently. He watched as Wyatt panicked slightly after hearing his words out loud, rushing to correct and/or rephrase. Alec tried to keep a straight face, hadn't having thought as deep into it as Wyatt had.

As far as sneaking out went, Alec hadn't had to do sneaking around for quite some time. Busy with school ending and then the beginning of summer, unable to leave Jackie alone. He felt more at ease sneaking out and leave Jackie 'alone' at a place like this. Wyatt mentioned hoping Alec was in practice with climbing the tree by his window. Wyatt moved a desk to the window, before getting on top of the desk and unlocking and opening the window. In reaction Alec smirked, Wyatt had definitely snuck out of here before. He knew an easy route to sneak out with seconds of Alec bringing it up. Realistically Alec wasn't sure what reason Wyatt would ever have to sneak out, he'd probably seen someone do it, or thought about it but Alec pushed the thought to the back of his mind.

Wyatt went out the window first, followed by Alec who had waited to swing his legs out of the window until he was sure Wyatt had reached the ground. Maneuvering from the windowsill to the tree and down to the ground was second-nature. His eyes fell to his hands dirtied by the tree bark, the last thing on his mind right now was caring about a little dirt. He glanced towards Wyatt, still smirking, “You instantly knew how to sneak out,” Alec spoke, his tone somewhat accusatory. “I'm guessing you've snuck out of here before?” He asked curiously, his mind going through imaginary scenarios and adventures with Wyatt sneaking out and being out and about it Cokeworth.

The young teen need a moment to glance around, taking in his surroundings. He could only hope Wyatt knew his way around Cokeworth(which he should have) because Alec was utterly clueless. It was a shame he'd been brought here and hadn't been able to walk there when they got closer, he would have better known his surroundings then. Whether he knew his surrounding or not, it was nice to be able to soak in the refreshing feeling of freedom once again, knowing he had the ability to wander around and there was nobody else to say otherwise, or well in this case nobody who would. Alec waited for Wyatt to start walking before he followed by his side. He wanted to ask Wyatt how he was holding up but now didn't exactly seem like the right time. Alec didn't want to make it look like he'd ask Wyatt to wander out and about at night with him because he wanted to check on him. He hadn't!

Well- actually... that was the entire idea but Alec would have ended up asking to do something like this either way, whether or not Wyatt seemed off. Alec supposed since he had the time, he may as well bring up something he'd had on his mind throughout the day. “I'm sorry about this morning, I know I stressed you out.” Alec chuckled most laughing at himself for what he was about to say(as a stubborn person admitting to being snippy), “and I was, admittedly, being snippy. I think you know that my 'snippyness' had nothing to do with you.” Alec would have thought Wyatt knew as much, but if he didn't, he knew now. It was funny now to think about everything and hear himself apologizing for being snippy. Not because it was a silly thing to apologize over, it was that thinking back he remembered how snippy they used to get with each other. How hot-headed Alec was. They'd never gotten physical with each other except for that first shoving match. Even discounting that fact, the two used to be so incredibly vicious and mean towards each other. The idea of being anything but friends was so foreign to Alec now.

Alec reached to take the rubber band out of his hair, letting his hair down. He could fix it later, Jackie wasn't going to notice if he fixed it before she woke up. Still in thought on what he'd been speaking of earlier, Alec frowned slightly. “I could have handled it a lot better. I really shouldn't have gotten snippy with you at all.” Face flushing slightly out of embarrassment, Alec made the awkward motion of rubbing the back of his neck and looking away, looking off towards nowhere in particular. “I think I was a little grouchy about getting woken up, and I've been particularly touchy lately.” Touchy was one way to put it. He was all over the place, it wasn't surprising, he'd been that way the whole school year. This morning though, he'd been angry at the situation he was in, angry at the people who had put him in a position to end up in a situation like this. There was of course no use in being angry anyway, it wasn't going to get him anywhere.

Alec was silent again but not for long, he looked by at Wyatt, his eyes examining Wyatt carefully with a soft gaze. “Would you be okay if I asked how you were holding up?” Alec's eyebrows furrowed, “there's something about the way you've been today that reminds of the way you were that one summer.” Alec couldn't say it so directly, it felt too striking, he didn't want to say 'the summer your mother died.' Alec sighed, “we don't have to talk about it, but sometimes talking about can make it easier.” Alec's gaze would fall to his feet focusing on them as he walked. “If you don't want to talk about it at least let me know your alright or that you will be... Just so I won't worry about you, then we could talk about The Beatles or something.” Alec not worrying was really more a benefit for Wyatt than it was for Alec. He knew it could be a little annoying to have to deal with his constant pestering of how Wyatt was feeling and if he needed anything or wanted to talk.

@Wyatt Starkey

wearing | hex: #3a5948

“You instantly knew how to sneak out,” Alec remarked. Wyatt thought his tone was awfully accusatory coming from someone with his track record. Then again, it takes one to know one, as the saying goes. Wyatt let out a small chuckle and began walking toward his old school. He hadn’t seen it in a while and wanted to check up on the place. It didn’t have so many good memories, but he wanted to be nostalgic regardless of the quality of said nostalgia. “I'm guessing you've snuck out of here before?”

“Me?” he replied with a faux insulted tone, raising his hand up to his heart as if he’d been stabbed there. “Of course, I have. I don’t think you could find one kid in there who hasn’t, you know? You just need a break sometimes. Come to think of it, I’m not sure Casey has,” Wyatt made a gesture with his hand, putting it at the height his hip as if to show how tall something was.

“He’s about yay big? I don’t think you’ve met him. As far as I know, he’s been too chicken to sneak out yet, but he’s little. It’s probably for the best. No one has much faith he’d know how to handle himself on his own,” Wyatt smirked, finding that he quite enjoyed talking right now. Maybe he was glad it was this person listening to him. His lopsided smile turned to a frown at that. Something didn’t feel right about being happy that Alec was here, not under these less-than-ideal circumstances.

“I'm sorry about this morning, I know I stressed you out.” Alec started, and it was as if he could read Wyatt’s mind. He’d always had that power, and Wyatt refused to believe it was just empathy. Well, maybe not always. They didn’t start out as the best of friends, and Wyatt was quite shocked that they had reached this level, if he was being honest. He was truly so grateful. “I think I was a little grouchy about getting woken up, and I've been particularly touchy lately.”

“I get it.” There it was! Wyatt realized immediately after he spoke that he hadn’t thought about his words before he said them. The last time that happened was with Alec, and it was the only time he could remember just talking without worrying about the words he was using. He didn’t curate the sentence to bring up a reaction or to get any desired outcome. Without mulling over the best thing to say to manipulate the conversation into something predictable or favorable to Wyatt, he just assured Alec with three simple words of understanding. I get it. Wyatt sighed.

“Would you be okay if I asked how you were holding up?” That made sense. Wyatt thought he wasn’t being so obvious, but Alec finally voicing his concern cleared up any confusion as to why they had done this. Alec wanted to sneak out for old times and then interrogate Wyatt about his feelings. Wyatt couldn’t deny the anger that came bubbling up from his stomach at the realization. If it wasn’t Alec who had masterminded the whole thing, he would have been furious.

Those feelings, however, came from a weakness that was already there, before Alec. Plus, it was a very believable Alec J. Mason thing to pull, so it wasn’t really a surprise. Not to mention how understanding Alec had always been when it came to Wyatt’s aversion to sappiness. If Wyatt wanted to go back to his room and not deal with Alec’s well-meaning pestering, he knew he could do so without judgement. But he didn’t want to. He knew it would help to talk to someone, and when his favorite someone was extending the offer, it was very hard to pass up. It was impossible to stay mad at Alec.

When his friend mentioned “that one summer,” he couldn’t deny the way his stomach dropped. Curse Alec for his thoughtfulness. Alec assured Wyatt that he didn’t have to talk about anything he didn’t want to, and Wyatt nodded. Not that Alec had a right to any information whatsoever, but he had truly stuck with Wyatt through his worst moments. He was always making excuses for Wyatt, but apologized when he behaved in similarly frustrating ways. He really didn’t have to.

“If you don't want to talk about it at least let me know you're alright or that you will be... Just so I won't worry about you, then we could talk about The Beatles or something.” Why did he have to be so kind anyway? Wyatt bit back a sigh, not wanting to sound too comically depressed. And he wasnt! It was just a bad day. Or week, more like it. Or maybe… was it fair to say month?

“I think I’m just a bit overwhelmed. She died two years ago today and it still feels odd to have someone who’s always been there just… not be there anymore. It’s jarring. I really miss her,” Wyatt admitted, saying those final words so quietly that it was entirely possible for Alec to miss them. “If somehow any of this,” he gestured to himself, imagining he was a pretty sorry sight, “is because of you, it’s a very small part. I wouldn’t fuss. Like other things, I can’t imagine it gets better, just a bit easier.

“Sorry to be such a downer n’ whatnot,” Wyatt didn’t notice that he momentarily dipped into his old accent. Being back and being around people who talked so comically local was starting to get to him, apparently. So much that he didn’t realize how casual he was sounding, especially compared to how he spoke at Hogwarts. His accent was supposed to go with his appearance: unapproachable, Slytherin, gaunt, prideful, etcetera. Here, he was just another kid who didn’t get enough sunlight.

“May I ask why, of all places, you came here? To Cokeworth? Seriously,” Wyatt chuckled, trying to lighten the conversation. If there were any two people in England right now who needed it, it would be them. Wyatt watched Alec with a kind brightness in his eyes, though he was truly curious and he was absolutely paying attention. He may have been more worried than Alec.

Interacting: @Alec Mason
Mentioning: N/A

Questioning Wyatt on his habits of sneaking out, curious as ever despite his accusatory tone, Wyatt replied back with a faux insulted tone, adding in a touch for the theatrics as he put a hand to his heart. Alec smiled, breaking out into laughter at seeing this. He would sober up becoming serious again as Wyatt continued to speak, understanding what he meant by needing a break. Wyatt went on to speak about a kid named Casey, trying to show Alec the kid's height with his hand. Alec listened to him speak, Alec confirmed that he hadn't met Casey with a shake of his head as Wyatt spoke. The way Wyatt spoke about Casey would let Alec's thoughts drift to being reminded of Jackie and he listened.

Alec had apologized for the mess that was this morning. Wyatt would say, 'I get it', Alec knew he would. If there had been some part of him that thought Wyatt would be unable to understand Alec would not have brought it all up in the first place. There was a certain amount of peace that came with relaxing into the somber feeling. Having it all around him. Understanding, empathy. Enough to let Alec be able to move on from it. Of course him moving on meant Alec was moving on to something harder than apologizing. Even while Wyatt had nodded, Alec would continue on as always to assure Wyatt the two didn't have to talk about the subject. Wyatt was fine with it of course, he was with Alec. Wyatt mentioned being a bit overwhelmed. Her death hadn't been all that long ago and it was still hard for him to deal with the fact that she wasn't here. He went on to assure Alec that the Gryffindor had nothing to do with the generally sorry state he was in. It was still hard for Alec to see the other this way, knowing he was hurting, grief was a lot to go through and it never really seemed to go away.

Alec nodded again, “alright, thank you.” The somber feeling lingered in the air, the way they walked, their steps, the 'heavy' sound of Alec's breath as he silently reflected. Feeling alive and energized as the cool night air tickled his skin. “It's just awfully crummy that she died, that you had to lose her.” It was crummy Wyatt had to experience the pain and loss that occurred when people lost those that were closest to them. Alec wished Wyatt still had his mom it would have made life much much more easier for him. “I remember the way you spoke about her. It's a shame I'll never get meet to her. She was a good person.” Memories were one way to keep the dead alive. Living in the space of your mind. Talking about them. Keeping their stories told. But that was all Alec investing himself into sappy stuff again huh? He remembered Wyatt telling him about his mother's necklace. The way she spoke. Describing the way she looked, it painted a certain picture.

Starkey apologized for being a downer as he put it and Alec would shake his head. A half smile making it's way onto Alec's lips, part of it was due to how silly the idea of apologizing for being a downer was. The other part... well, It was the way he talked, the one way that sounded foreign to the usual Wyatt Starkey slipping in every so often. It was cute to witness, there were where Alec felt it more genuine to Wyatt's self than the way he usually spoke. Alec hoped he didn't look to dopey with the way his features softened in reaction to noticing it. “It's okay.” Alec assured, “It's nice to be able to just sit in those feelings and feel them, you know?” Wyatt knew. Alec had brightened up just a bit more and it was perfect timing as Wyatt sought to relieve the tension and lighten the mood.

The other wanted to know why Alec had picked Cokeworth of all places, he laughed as he asked. Wyatt's chuckle would induce a full on grin from Alec. Part of the young teen thought Wyatt was fishing for affirmations of compliments but he'd allow it. “Why do you think?” Alec asked, he glanced at Wyatt giving the other a rather smug look. He would still go on to give Wyatt the answer for him. “Because you're here, you dummy.” Alec spoke callin him 'dummy' in the most teasing and kindest way possible. Alec gently nudged Wyatt with his elbow. Alec wasn't going to bring the semi-cheerful mood down by telling Wyatt he'd been struggling a lot. Dealing with Jackie and the complicated mess inside his own head. It was easier to go and be near to someone he was close to. He also had an odd guilt about not being able to figure out how to send letters to Wyatt the muggle way. Which was an odd reason looking back.

“We got kind of distant last school year. I guess that's another reason too. Letters don't feel like they cut it.” Alec shrugged. Still smiling Alec would hum in a thoughtful way as he thought onto the next school year, the thought of the two being fourth years. “We should study together when school starts so we have an excuse to talk. You'd probably be more patient then everybody else.” Alec's smile fell slightly. He glanced away from Wyatt, fidgeting with the sleeves of his sweater as they walked. “People don't like that I can't really sit still when we study.” Alec explained. Very quickly he seemed to be done talking about this all together. Perhaps suggesting studying would not be the best idea.

Alec took a deep breath before he glanced around the the setting and scenery surrounding him. “You grew up in Cokeworth?” Alec asked. That was a better question. He was interested as well, he didn't know much about Wyatt's upbringing, not in the same way Wyatt knew about Alec's anyway. “I like it. I think it's cozy here.” Alec commented. Although maybe he was tricking himself, tricking himself into liking it and thinking it was cozy. Mostly because Wyatt was here and Wyatt was those things as well. He liked Wyatt and being around him, it was cozy and safe like a large fluffy blanket. Warm fuzzies and good feelings even when it was sad. Wyatt was one of the few remaining constants in his life, not like the people who couldn't bother to be there.

@Wyatt Starkey

wearing | hex: #3a5948

“We should,” Wyatt replied, though he wasn’t a big fan of studying with other people. He wasn’t a big fan of doing anything with other people for that matter, but he couldn’t say no to Alec, nor did he find himself wanting to. Alec messed with the sleeves of his sweater as he continued on about people not liking his inability to sit still when studying. Wyatt didn’t understand that, as he’d noticed Alec’s need to be moving all of the time in some shape or form, and he thought it quite… cute?

“If I minded that, I don’t think our friendship would have lasted this long,” he teased, smirking. Alec was doing that thing where he wrote himself off without a second opinion. Hell, he wrote himself off before a second opinion could be made at all. It was maybe the only one of his qualities Wyatt hated. Though it was ridiculous to Wyatt, he recognized that Alec seemed over the conversation, and he didn’t want to push or bring up anything that had no business in their talk tonight.

Looking up, Wyatt saw the stars. Though the streetlight above the two was dead, there were still very few of them visible in the night sky. With the lack of light pollution, most would assume Wyatt was startled at how few stars he could see, but he was just amazed he could see any at all. They were still in the city, and Wyatt used to have to go far into the woods to see any brightness at this time of night. It seemed that in recent years, the smoke from the old factories had finally cleared up enough to do some light stargazing. Wyatt had left just in time to miss it all, and he felt a pang of sadness.

But those things happened. In fact, he might’ve fudged up Casey’s height earlier because that was how he remembered him from, what, a year ago? Wyatt hadn’t spoken much to the nine-year-old this summer. For all he knew, the kid was almost as tall as Wyatt by now. It was always so off-putting for Wyatt to leave each school year, then come back for the summer to find that the kids back at home had done growing and changing of their own. It was impossibly disorienting.

“You grew up in Cokeworth?” Alec asked, and Wyatt wanted to ask him how he did it. He just looked around like he was drinking in the little town for all that it was, and then, with the most genuine tone, asked a simple question. It was like Wyatt was the most interesting person in the world– nay, the only person in the world, and all Alec wanted to do was listen. Wyatt couldn’t explain the warmth and comfort his friend brought him even if he had a wand at his temple, he just wanted him to stay.

“Yes. I never left until I went to Hogwarts, but you could probably tell,” he chuckled. He was never really a humor person, but when it came to talking about himself to important people, he was quick to make things into jokes. It was much easier than taking himself too seriously in front of someone who meant a lot to him. What was he supposed to say? This place is great and it made me great and now you will be great too? Wyatt looked around at the decaying buildings and dried-up grass. Not great.

“I like it. I think it's cozy here.” At this, Wyatt rose a brow. Were they seeing the same Cokeworth? Evidently not, as cozy was the last word that came up when he looked around at the cobblestone streets and spiderweb-ridden streetlights that could barely light their own poles with how dim their bulbs shone. In Alec’s tone, however, there wasn’t any sarcasm. That was more alarming than the content of his statement. They truly could not be looking at the same town.

“I disagree, but I might be too familiar to recognize any of its charms,” Wyatt replied, making a show of kicking some litter out of his path. The gesture may have been a bit harsh, but Wyatt was on his guard. Crime wasn’t exactly known for being under control around this part of the city, meaning there was a good amount of cops and robbers alike lurking. The last thing the duo needed was to be brought back to the home in a cop car or mugged for “all they had,” AKA nothing.

Seeing as the city wasn’t so populous, there wasn’t a great need for Wyatt to be so aware, but if anyone was out at this time, they weren’t going to be the most friendly folks on the planet.

“It hasn’t changed in decades. I think that’s why the people who stayed chose to stay. You just get used to it,” he explained. There were never any renovations or new buildings being built. The outside world had given up on the town in, like, the sixties. Still, for the people who didn’t leave, they had grown so attached that against all odds, Cokeworth hadn’t become a ghost town. Wyatt found it infinitely shocking, but he was beyond grateful for the town’s consistency sometimes.

“There’s always been enough kids, but still, very few. Few enough that it’s the same group every school year. You may not believe this, but I wasn’t very popular,” Wyatt joked. Whenever he thought about it, his muggle school and Hogwarts were very similar. Maybe in recent months, however, the bullying had lessened. With Wyatt’s joining the broom-racing team and whatnot, he was looked at a bit differently, sure. Wyatt would say that he just was too busy to run into his bullies, though, rather than entertaining the idea that his old tormentors had some epiphany. It made mountains more sense.

“Who were you before you started Hogwarts? I’ve been curious for a bit, I think,” Wyatt asked.

Interacting: @Alec Mason
Mentioning: N/A

The Gryffindor didn't seem all to that impressed with Wyatt's reaction. He understood the place where the other was coming from. Alec also believed it was hard for a person to see the beauty in little things when grief was currently making life feel a little like spoiled milk, or even a colorless wasteland. “Well, Wyatt, If you're pessimistic enough any place can be stripped of it's charm.” Alec teased, it was clear he meant nothing by it. Nothing more than a light suggestion to look at things with an optimistic point of view. Alec was very firm on the fact he felt Cokeworth and decided he would never be changing his mind no matter whether or not he got familiar with Cokeworth. “Let's agree to disagree.” Or in other words they could both silently think the other is wrong. Alec would think Wyatt is wrong, likely not reciprocated by Wyatt, Wyatt hadn't technically said the place lacked any charm, simply that he didn't see it. Wyatt spoke of Cokeworth not changing in decades, among why there were those that still chose to stay in Cokeworth.

“It would be hard to leave.” Alec admitted as he thought about it. Not meaning him, just the people who'd lived here. A feeling a stability came in predictability and predictability came of a study of actions within time. Unless there was a force to change it a bit, like visitors, like Alec. “For people who have foundational memories here, it's an important place, an ever-consuming part of a person's life.” Alec thought he was on to something with this, it had been apparent that many a time he had been wrong about being on to something. Still he played into his own fantasies “It's fun to imagine what Cokeworth would have been like in it's prime.” Would it have been bustling and lively? What had it once been the same place Alec was walking through? Alec didn't feel like he would have minded if it had started out this way and stayed the same forever. He liked it. “Cokeworth has character.” Yes, Cokeworth has character.

Wyatt had explained the smaller class size in Cokeworth, followed by him joking about his lack of popularity. The way Wyatt joked about it, Alec couldn't help but be somewhat concerned, it was sad. Alec played along, more for Wyatt's sake than his own at this point, Wyatt would feel better if Alec played into it. “Mm absolutely shocking,” He spoke jokingly, sarcasm dripping from his tone, despite this it was clear his intention wasn't a mean one, Wyatt knew. Alec wouldn't have been surprised if he was aware how sad it sounded and how aware Wyatt was that Alec was only playing into it for his sake. “You were already playing guitar by then, right? What else did you like to do?” His thoughts shifted from Wyatt and guitar to Wyatt in his younger years. It wasn't hard to assume with the heavy amount of bullying go on at Hogwarts, or at least the parts of it Alec had witnessed that it wasn't going to change no matter what school he went to. Alec wished he were there to always speak up and defend the other boy even if he was quite aware the other could fight his own battles.

Once again there was a thought that would seem to have Alec light up. A certain thought had popped into Alec head and he absolutely loved the idea of rolling with it. “Aw, Wyatt, you must have had such a baby face when you were little. I can see it.” Alec teased, the way he fussed over it made it obvious he was teasing, even if some part of him thought it to be true. Alec didn't hide the way he seemed to visibly melt at how adorable the idea of tiny Wyatt Starkey would be. Friends were allowed to do that. It would have been hilarious to Alec if Wyatt looked the exact same just tinier, he know how impossible it would be. It made Alec wonder if the other had any baby photos, there was slight disappointment in the fact Alec recognized the possibility of baby photos of himself being something Wyatt might not have wanted to keep.

Wyatt then spoke, asking who Alec was before he starting Hogwarts. Explaining he'd been curious for some time.“As if you can condense a person's whole being into a sentence, Wyatt,” Alec spoke, though he playfully rolled his eyes he smiled. After being playful, able to keep their conversation jovial, Alec began to look troubled as he took a pause to take the question seriously, to answer it earnestly. Though within a few moments reflection Alec came up with nothing, he seemed greatly puzzled by it. He wasn't playful this time.

“I... don't know.” His voice was soft-spoken as he answered. Alec didn't seem to have expected his own answer from himself. Alec look concerned, but took the chance to somehow make a joke out of it as Alec forced as he rubbed the back of his neck. “That's not normal, is it?” It was supposed to be a statement yet and the words began to fall out of his mouth it somehow turned into Alec asking, throwing a questioningly look Wyatt's way.

Alec's eyebrows furrowed, this information, not knowing, it seemed hard for even him to swallow. “I've always had trouble remembering that period of my life now that I'm past It.” He knew just how often he avoided the very thought of it, he pushed it away before he could take even a menial second to look back. There had always been gaps in his memory of it. This was different. “I know for a fact it's gotten worse. I tend to not think about it. I just- It hadn't occurred to me how little I remember until now.” Which was exactly why he found the information hard to swallow. He wished he had more he could say now, Alec wasn't able to possibly pick out what he could, how he could answer it. “It doesn't feel like I had much personhood at all. Sparks of personality here and there. I don't know if it's because I can't remember or if I was that way.” Alec tried to offer. It gave much less insight than Alec was hoping it did. If anything it made himself concerned for the possibility of just how much of a shell of a real person Alec could have been back then.

“I did a lot to distance myself and detach from it immediately when I went to Hogwarts.” That he remembered. As his anxiety rose, so did the constant fidgeting of his sleeves. For such an innocent question, it was doing more harm than good, not that Wyatt would ever be at fault for it. “Maybe I would have been able to tell you last year,” said Alec reflectively, shaking his head to put the thought past him, knowing that it wouldn't help him now. Last year was last year, what mattered was the fact he couldn't do it now.

Alec shrugged, aware it hadn't been the most pleasant time in his life anyway. He much preferred everything from Hogwarts and beyond. While there was the unfortunate instance that had landed him in Cokeworth, he liked where he was at now, for the most part Alec liked who he was now, the relationships and connections he had. “All I have are bits and pieces.” Alec admitted, he couldn't remember what he'd felt about himself then, who he had thought he was, if he sifted through the bits and pieces of memories he had a chance of finding more to say. “Quiet from what I can tell,” Alec spoke though even when he said this he seemed uncertain. “Bookworm... artsy maybe,” Alec squinted, trying to focus his mind, the tone of his voice still sounded so incredibly uncertain.

He pursed his lips, looking slightly distressed over it, he was quiet for a few seconds before nodding. “Yeah, that seems right.” He glanced back at Wyatt with a sigh, an eye roll towards himself that was this time not jokingly sarcastic. “Ugh,” he groaned, frowning, “Sorry. I turned your question into this big thing. For all my fuss I'm hoping I gave a sufficient answer.” It did seem like he'd gotten there in the end hadn't he? Despite saying words that seemed to mean Alec was ending his thought on the topic, his posture had obviously stiffened at the situation's end, Alec looked to be left bothered by it all.

How could he have forgotten so much, he'd wanted to get away from it and yet part of him ached at how long he had spent searching for something to say, something to appropriately answer Wyatt's question. The line of thought was stressing him, “what was growing up in Cokeworth like? Okay well, not Cokeworth specific. I want childhood stuff in general. Do you have any interesting stories Wyatt?” Alec asked, yes, this is the direction Alec wanted to go in because he had made such a big deal out of trying to answer Wyatt's question. “Where did you live before you ended up in the children's home?” Genuine questions bubbled to the surface immediately, there was so much Alec wanted to know about his friend. Alec was in an environment, a place that kept inspired questions flowing to Alec's lips. Another, “did your mom like Cokeworth?” It was impossible for a person to hate it, if they hated it they wouldn't stay. She had to at least have found it bearable in a neutral way.

@Wyatt Starkey

wearing | hex: #3a5948

In truth, Wyatt spent a lot of time talking to snakes in the years he lived in Cokeworth. Of course he didn’t know what he was doing then, but quite shockingly, he didn’t find it at all world-shattering. Wyatt felt this familiarity around snakes that he didn’t feel around other kids, so he threw his views of what was right or natural out the window. If that was all he had to sacrifice for friendship, so be it. In Wyatt’s case, he wasn’t finding many opportunities other places.

For years, Wyatt would walk right out the front door of his cramped house and disappear into the woods a few blocks away from Fitcher’s road, his parents too deep in an argument to notice his absence. In the forest, he’d call out to Perseus (his only friend and full-time snake) and they’d talk and play. Sometimes Wyatt would be out for minutes, other days he would be gone for hours. Most of the time, Wyatt was able to walk back into the house and return to his room unnoticed.

All in all, Wyatt’s memories of Cokeworth were fortunately yet curiously limited. He’d lived in the half-forgotten town for eleven years of his life, rarely ever leaving its borders, but his recollection of his time there was spotty at best. It was something that he was mainly grateful for. While he knew he lost some good memories in the bunch – him and his mother talking, cooking, and maybe even laughing – Wyatt was well aware of the bad ones that he was lucky to have forgotten.

“My music teacher taught me how to play guitar, bass, a bit of piano… I didn’t do much else,” Wyatt lied. It felt wrong to lie to Alec, but Wyatt wasn’t ready to tell him that he was a parselmouth. Alec was a pureblood, so he’d be well aware of the connotations of having such an ability. It would open up a new line of questioning as to who Wyatt’s extended family was, and it would call into question his mother’s character. No, Wyatt was certainly not ready for that conversation.

“Ah, yes,” Wyatt smirked when Alec began teasing him about how much of a baby face he might’ve had when he was little. He actually did, come to think of it. There was a picture of him and his mother collecting dust in his desk drawer to prove it, taken when he was around four years old. Bringing his wrists together beneath his chin to frame his face, Wyatt blinked like a cartoon animal, looking up at the sky in mock-cuteness. “Wyatt Starkey, talk of the Cokeworth Nursery School.”

As quickly as they came up, Wyatt dropped his hands and shoved them into his pockets. “Look at you asking about my baby face. You still have one,” he joked. The conversation continued, and Wyatt asked Alec what he was like before Hogwarts. If Wyatt was friendlier with people, he would’ve already asked half the school the very same question. Each student arrives as one person and ends the term as another. By the time the next school year rolls around, that pre-Hogwarts kid is entirely gone.

When Alec confessed he couldn’t recall much of his pre-teen years, Wyatt felt tsunamis of understanding come crashing down onto him. Very rarely did Wyatt find someone who he connected with so greatly, and he stared at Alec with a strange mixture of sympathy and awe swirling in his eyes. As his friend continued, detailing the work he’d done to distance himself from who he was before starting school, Wyatt hung onto every word as if Alec was the only person on the planet.

Considering who he remembered himself to be, Wyatt did not do much changing. In fact, it seemed he used the lessons he didn’t even remember learning as the foundation of his relationships and goals. Unlike Alec, he didn’t distance himself from who he had been. Instead, Wyatt brought the survival skills he’d developed to Scotland, where his fear that everyone was out to get him did not apply. He wasted an opportunity to start fresh. He was gifted a blank canvas but held onto his rusty brushes.

Alec had tried to convince Wyatt in their conversation in the corridor that he wasn’t the perfect person Wyatt had thought him to be, and it worked, but only somewhat. Wyatt had a feeling, an undeniable knowing feeling, that Alec was simply good. The fact that Alec couldn’t remember much of his life before Hogwarts was a sign that it wasn’t a nice one, but he had come to the school and distanced himself from that. He had made friends, joined clubs, and been good. Wyatt had made enemies, Alec included, and he was still faster to make foes than friends.

“Maybe I would have been able to tell you last year,” Alec reflected, his voice as powerful as a sigh. In that moment, Wyatt felt his heart break in half. His tone was beyond defeated, but by the literal definition of the term. He was beyond it, as if he’d accepted this terrible thing to be his truth. He shook his head, shaking off the conversation, and shrugged. Wyatt didn’t know how, but he felt the need to restore hope to Alec. Those memories should come back with time. Alec continued, describing himself. “Quiet from what I can tell. Bookworm... artsy maybe. Yeah, that seems right.”

“It’s not a universal experience, no, but not remembering doesn’t make you helpless. The memories come back when you’re able to understand them,” Wyatt said. Alec looked like he was thinking far too hard, and though he didn’t know it to be possible, Wyatt felt his heart break into several more pieces. Alec was the last person to deserve to feel this way. “Don’t think about it too much right now, it’s okay to not deal with that stuff yet. You will when it’s the best time, you know?”

“Ugh, sorry. I turned your question into this big thing. For all my fuss I'm hoping I gave a sufficient answer,” Alec apologized. Wyatt shook his head, no, waving him off. Again, Alec apologized for nothing. It was incredibly unnecessary, and if Wyatt hadn’t just fudged the pair’s only rule, he would’ve added another one that they don’t apologize for such ridiculous little things like that.

“Your answer was perfect,” Wyatt assured his friend, honestly. It was comforting to know that he wasn’t the only one with gaps in his memory, that other people had that too. Plus, he felt like he was learning more about Alec, which he always loved. When Alec asked about growing up in Cokeworth, or growing up in general, Wyatt felt that he missed the focus being on Alec. He didn’t know what to say on the topic of his earlier childhood. He didn’t want to lie, but Alec didn’t need all the truth.

Wyatt was silent for a little too long after Alec had finished going through his initial questions, trying to organize his thoughts and choose the best way to approach such a topic. As he started to think about things, he realized there was so much that if he started a lie, he’d probably lose track of it and be unable to keep it up. He’d already lied to Alec enough, he could tell him the important things.

“My mom met my dad here while visiting a friend, and when they got married and had me, my mom’s family stopped talking to her because he was a muggle. My dad never knew his family. They stayed here because they didn’t know where else to go,” Wyatt forced a smile and a chuckle. “My dad got more… irritable over time and my mom wasn’t able to do much about things so we still didn’t go anywhere. When I was 10, my dad finally left because he found out about all the magic stuff and was freaked out. It wasn’t really a bad thing, though,” Wyatt continued.

“We lived over there, Fitcher’s road,” Wyatt pointed to a street that looked just as decrepit as all the other ones. “My school’s that way,” he pointed in the direction the duo was already heading. “I didn’t have a lot of friends, but what I had was all I needed, so I can’t really complain, there.” Most of the stories Wyatt could remember related to Perseus, but he was sure Alec wouldn’t want to be friends with a Parselmouth, so he didn’t mention the snake. He didn’t want Alec to go.

“I’m so surprised you like it here. Maybe I’m just too used to this place,” Wyatt guessed. “It sounds like we had alot in common before Hogwarts. We could’ve been faster friends. Right time, wrong place, I s'pose,” Wyatt smirked. Alec said he was a quiet, artsy bookworm, which was very similar to how Wyatt remembered himself before school. At least they had become friends at some point.

“I know you’re here under weird circumstances and I’ve been all awkward, but I’m glad you’re here,” Wyatt confessed, feeling his stomach do backflips at every word. It was just as easy as it was difficult to talk to Alec, and Wyatt didn’t quite understand any of it.

Interacting: @Alec Mason
Mentioning: N/A