Tea Parties and Sneak Outs pv Alec Mason Fin

"Cool snake?"

How could you not see this coming?
Say something! Explain!

“No, it’s not what- It’s just-”
"Let's just head back. I can't even imagine
your reasoning for what just happened."

The wretched Gryffindor wore a mischievous smile as he added, "Snake-boy." Wyatt then knew he would never live that silly nickname down. Well, he knew he’d always have that stupid nickname, but holding a snake in front of the daft Lion really solidified it. Still, he wore a terrible, terrible scowl. A scowl to murder flowers he’d walk past.

“Snake-boy, how creative,” he snarled. He wasn’t exactly in the best mood. It might have something to do with how he tossed his friend into a bush and made a fool of himself in front of one of the most annoying people he’d ever met. And just when they were “bonding” he got defensive again. Curse his unyielding pride and his childish stubbornness.

“It was going towards you, someone had to stop it.” With a sneer, he added, “You’re welcome.” And there was the pettiness. Wyatt was really the whole package if you desperately wanted your day ruined with a side of crushed spirits. The boy was really just a ball of despair and… bad vibes, and he knew it.

That wasn’t even the worst part. He’d always been like this, and he liked it that way. For some strange reason, Wyatt was content in being the bad guy all the time. Really, he was just an insecure twelve-year-old, but if he could make himself be better than everyone else, or even just scarier than everyone else, he would be okay. He was “happy” with being practically inhuman.

Wyatt turned and began walking just a few steps ahead of Alec with his hands in his pockets.

_{@Alec Mason
Sorry, I know that took a lot longer than usual to respond to.}

"Right because snakes are very scary" Alec said with an eye roll sarcasm very clearly lacing his tone. The only snake that was actually 'scary' enough to scare someone away was Wyatt and the rumors that followed him. It was interesting, really. The boy had a small and generally 'weak' frame like Alec, yet rumors of a mere and not very powerful first year that 'worships The Dark Lord' is enough to scare kids away. Kids that are most likely much stronger than Wyatt, much faster, and if Alec was being honest.. A lot smarter. But not smart enough to realize it was a rumor.

See, Alec's point of view was, if someone's made a rumor about you. You either have enemies that are petty and hate you or the rumor started out with something small that was bad but true and the whole thing evolved by the time it got around to the rest of the school. Either way, bad news. Like, Wyatt. But the truth was, even the 'bad' people have good intentions. Or well, what they think are good intentions. The best way to reason with someone is to see things from their point of view so you can understand it and play on their weaknesses from that view. Or just well understand it.

Wait, Alec, you're getting off track. You're going to get lost even though you know where you're going. Please pay attention this time. And maybe don't make endless small talk with you mostly talking? In fact, how about no small talk? You have all summer to talk to Wyatt, anyway. I mean, he is staying at your house this summer. Well at least Alec would have someone else then his little sister and a now dead.. spider to talk to.

Tonight had been an interesting night. With Alec realizing quite a few things. The main one being snakes were at Greville and the second one being Wyatt wasn't that bad. In fact.. The boy was quite alright. Although this opinion was new easily changeable with how new it was this plus the fact of how he was only just starting to get to know the real Wyatt, Alec hoped this one would stay.

@Wyatt Starkey

_{English
Parselmouth}

"Right because snakes are very scary."

Wyatt was actually sort of stunned. He knew Alec was friends with that spider, which was not something a lot of kids do, but he wouldn’t have dreamed Alec would feel the same way about snakes. Still, as he always was, he was very suspicious. He couldn’t help but ask, mockingly, “Oh, so you were going to pick it up?”

Alec kept surprising Wyatt and he hated it. All he wanted was a normal anything, a normal summer, a normal school day, a normal life, but of course he had to stay with Alec J. Mason for the summer. All Wyatt wanted was a day off, but no, that wasn’t allowed. Not for him. So, what? Now Alec loves snakes and has spider friends? What’s next? Wyatt felt himself going crazy.

The Slytherin felt something graze by his shoe, and saw Perseus was slithering by him . Alec must have seen the snake come up, the boy was standing a few feet behind Wyatt, so he could’ve seen everything. Of all the days in the world, Perseus decides now to be clingy? The world really was out to get Wyatt, wasn’t it?

He decided against hurting Perseus a second time and made an even worse decision. He picked up the snake again, like an idiot. This time, though, Wyatt said something to it so low, Alec couldn’t possibly hear. “You need to leave,” and all Perseus replied was, “no.” Wyatt was furious, and dropped the snake. They were friends, but Perseus was just as stubborn as Wyatt if not, more.

“I thought he was bleeding, apparently not.” Hopefully, he could prove to Alec he was just seeing if Perseus was okay. Which was stupid, but still.

_{@Alec Mason}

Alec rolled his eyes. "Of course not. Most wild snakes don't like to be picked up, anyway. And still snakes just aren't scary. It's like saying a clown is scary. It's illogical. You have no immediate reason to be scared of one." Alec stated simply. They used to have a clown in the neighborhood where they lived that would give out balloon animals to the kids for free every Sunday. One kid was super scared of him so much the kid went crying to their mom. Turns out the clown was just a sweet old man.

This didn't mean that every clown you met had good intentions, but this also didn't mean you need to walk around scared of clowns the rest of your life because of some crazy thing you've read or heard."Now if you go out of your way to bother one of course your going to run into issues.." Alec said trailing off slightly as his mind drifted. They were about a block from home. Not too far. It definitely took longer to get to Greville than it did to get back. For obvious reasons.

And then Alec was pulled out of his thoughts by "-was bleeding, apparently not." Alec looked over at Wyatt puzzled till his gaze went to the snake on the ground. You thought that was bleeding? Alec narrowed his eyes, looking at the snake before speaking again. "It followed you?" He asked curiously. Snakes didn't normally do that. Or at least in Alec's experience they hadn't. What did this slightly perplexing snake want, anyway?

Surely this snake had better things to do then follow the one and only Snake-boy, Wyatt Starkey, who was being crabby. Down the street. It made no sense. Why would anyone want to do such a thing? Surely the creature had enough intelligence or well enough to know that it shouldn't do this unless it wanted to get.. One second get ready for the weirdness. 'Picked up and dropped again?'

What even was this that Alec had to think about such a thing? I was honestly just.. just wow. What was going on with life? Seriously? That sentence, the one of picking up and dropping a snake twice. That's not exactly oops it's not exactly coincidental. More than anything, it's just confusing. Confusing that Alec has lived long enough to witness this, whatever this was. I mean, Alec wasn't fifty just yet. He had plenty more years after turning fifty to see crazy things

@Wyatt Starkey

"Now if you go out of your way to bother one of course you’re going to run into issues…"

Alec spoke like he was onto something, and Wyatt, being paranoid decided not to answer. He didn’t want to say something where he backed himself up into a corner, he didn’t even know why he was so ashamed of his ability. The Slytherin just assumed it was because he didn’t want to prove people right that he was this dark, evil wizard.

Still, he was mean to everyone he saw, and actively tried to be intimidating and scary, so that couldn’t have been it, but he didn’t really want to look further to see what really made him ashamed of himself and his talents or abilities because he’s just a scared child. Or at least that’s the conclusion he came to when he accidentally thought too much into it. Much like right now.

"It followed you?"

“Yes. Snakes like me. Wonder why.” It was true. It may have something to do with Wyatt’s snake-like behavior and mannerisms, but the fact he was a parselmouth was definitely the most prominent factor. He didn’t think of this statement as an Alec-knows-that-I’m-a-parselmouth-because-I-said-this statement, but more of a joking thing, since Alec calls him Snake-boy. He hoped Alec wouldn’t read into it.

Sometimes Wyatt would regret the things he did, but he didn’t most of the time. It was better that way, it was! Wyatt was content in being the quiet one in class, even if he always had a clever reply to everything. Always.

_{@Alec Mason}

Alec smiled slightly. But this was soon replaced by a mischievous sort of grin. Now what might Alec be thinking? Well, actually nothing more than using Wyatt's own words against him. Of course it was all meant in more of a playful manner than actually offending or insulting the boy. The words could definitely be taken multiple ways. But telling by Alec's mischievous grin that he was trying to conceal at the moment it only played more evidence to that fact that it was just more of a playful thing than anything. "Well.." Alec said, dragging out the word. Wyatt should've known by now that Alec was definitely going to jump at the chance to do this. Maybe not guessing his exact wording though since it was the slightest bit mean.

"At least something does~" And now Alec took no effort holding back that grin. There no way he'd be able to if he wanted, anyway. Alec looked away he was probably being a bit of an arse by saying it but honestly if you didn't look too deep into you'd get it light hearted joke made by yours truly. Alec held back a small laugh, unsure why he actually found it funny before regaining his composure. Wyatt didn't seem to upset by it. Of course that was Alec just judging by the look on the boy's face since he was now looking over at him. It's not like Alec could actually read minds.. Sadly..

"Anyway.." Alec said. "Can we go now? Or are we going to have to stop again because of some snake following you again?" Alec asked, his gaze going back to the snake. Still perplexing.. What an odd snake. Definitely not in the bad sort of way, of course. Alec liked odd things, it wasn't really ever an insult to him. Honestly, if Alec was as confident as he tried or pretended to be at times he would be fine with people thinking he odd or weird anytime anybody ever tried to insult him with those words it wouldn't count as one he'd pridefully smile and say 'Thanks'

Alec shook his head, he was getting too deep into stuff. Assuming Wyatt already answered(Alec wasn't sure if he had or not yet but assumed he'd spent quite bit thinking that Wyatt must've answered by then) Alec had started walking back to the house again. It was going to be the choice Alec picked no matter the answer really.

@Wyatt Starkey

"At least something does~"

Wyatt’s head spun around so fast it was a wonder he didn’t get whiplash. The look on his face was a mixture of shock, paranoia, and confusion, and his head was cocked to the side like a confused puppy, but his eyes were as cold as ever. The face that was looking back at him wore a mischievous smile, one that Wyatt knew and hated. What was he thinking? Did he know something? What did he know? How could Wyatt stop him from thinking?

Quickly, he turned his head away from Alec, but his face still wore a combination of emotions, mostly fear. Wyatt had tons of secrets, sure, but none of them as well hidden as the parselmouth one, and he wasn’t going to let Alec J. Mason in on it. Still, Wyatt didn’t know where they stood in that strange relationship they had. Were they enemies, or simply negative acquaintances with bad first impressions?

"Anyway… Can we go now? Or are we going to have to stop again because of some snake following you again?"

“We’re already walking, Mason, you're just painfully slow,” Wyatt said coolly. By then he’d worked to change his face back to normal, still stunned beneath the mask. Did Alec know something, or was he just saying things and seeing what would stick? Either way, Wyatt hated the mind games. Hurting him on the outside was one thing, he could handle a bruise, a cut, even a scar.

Mind games were a different evil. People can recover from physical pain, but mental hurts hurt forever, or at least until you go to therapy, and god knows Wyatt couldn’t afford therapy. He couldn’t afford anything, he was practically homeless. Technically, he wasn’t but still. If it weren’t for Alec or the orphanage back at Cokeworth he’d be out on the street. Technically.

Wyatt decided to face this head-on, instead of dance around it for days.
“What do you think you know, Mason?” He didn’t even look back to face the brunette.

_{@Alec Mason}

Alec stopped walking for a moment. Wait, did Alec know? What did Alec know..? Well he knows how to pour a bowl of cereal. He knew lum-Oh.. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. What?? What did Alec know? Or the question was, what did Wyatt think Alec knew?? What? This was so confusing. Alec knew this could go a multitude of ways he'd been thinking through every single one in his head. But this? This was not one he had expected.(Well really you don't know what you can expect, you can only guess)It only made matters worst that Alec was confused now. So he decided he'd explain himself and go from there.

"Wyatt, all I said was 'at least something likes you'. I don't honestly know what your thinking or what you think I know that I think I know..?" Alec said questioning the sentence at the end unsure if it was worded correctly. "Words are stupid" Alec mumbled. "All I meant was you can be pretty mean sometimes" Alec said, kicking at a rock on the road. Then realizing how bad that sounded, he face-palmed himself. "Well, I mean everybody can be mean sometimes it just seems that.. Well" Alec said then stopped talking shaking his head. The last thing he needed was for the boy to be mad at him.

Besides what was Alec supposed to say. 'It seems that you just love to be mean on purpose and go out of you way to be mean for no reason at all'? Seriously it was not going to sound good no matter how you said it or how you did or anything. Alec sighed.. He wasn't the best at talking.. clearly. "Fine, how about this? How about we race back to the house? Like a broom race.. Except without the brooms.." Alec suggested. "There's no more turns so it'll be just going straight down. It'll be easy to find" Alec said. "And whoever get's there last has too.." Alec paused thinking about it. "Has too.." Alec said. "Has to do a dare from the other person?" Alec suggested. "I couldn't really find anything else that you might agree with" Alec explained.

@Wyatt Starkey

"Wyatt, all I said was 'at least something likes you'. I don't honestly know what your thinking or what you think I know that I think I know..?"

Wyatt scoffed as he turned. How dare he! At least something likes you? Wyatt could just as easily stated that same sentence against Alec! How many friends did that boy have? It couldn’t be any more than three, Wyatt concluded. Still, though he wouldn’t admit to it, Alec was right. If Alec only had three friends, he already had +1 times 3 more than Wyatt did.

"Words are stupid," Alec mumbled. Well, at least there was something Wyatt could agree with. When he was struggling to read, he’d just tell himself words were dumb and meant nothing just to make himself feel better. Of course, words were important, just the stupid ways people managed to put them together in equally stupid sentences left a bad taste in his mouth.

"All I meant was you can be pretty mean sometimes," Alec said, kicking at a rock mindlessly. Then, he face-palmed himself. Good, so Wyatt wouldn’t have to do it for him. If Wyatt hadn’t kicked him the first time they’d met, he would’ve slapped him across the face. He hated the way he thought of physical harm as a first resort, but like father like son, right? You do what you’re taught.

“Oh so you’re perfect? That’s new. I guessed I missed the kind Alec, is he close?”
"Well, I mean everybody can be mean sometimes it just seems that.. Well…"

"Fine, how about this? How about we race back to the house? Like a broom race.. Except without the brooms.."

“That’s what the filthy muggles would call,” he paused, as if he were talking to a child. “A race.”

"There's no more turns so it'll be just going straight down. It'll be easy to find and whoever gets there last has too.." Alec paused. This didn’t look like one of his famous dramatic pauses. It seemed as though he was thinking of something, but Wyatt had no idea what it was, of course. Thank god, really. Who’d want to live in a Gryffindor’s head, let alone Alec J. Mason’s?

"Has to.." Alec drawled, taking his sweet time.
"Has to do a dare from the other person? I couldn't really find anything else that you might agree with."

Wyatt had the upper hand here, and he knew it. He wasn’t the most athletic person, but he had experience with running. Running away, running to, running from, all synonyms but still. Running. Not to mention Wyatt was taller. He had longer legs than Alec, even if he was only a touch taller than the Gryffindor.

“Fine.” He had to bite back a smirk and it was tough, but it was for the image. Not smiling had become his brand, hadn’t it? The emotionless façade. Not memorable at all, just how he liked it.

He walked to be side by side with Alec. “On three?”

_{@Alec Mason}

Alec grinned. He wasn't the most athletic kid, but he didn't really care about winning. It was more just doing it that was the fun part. And if Alec did lose. Well, who cares? It was all in fun and all Alec had to do was one dare. What was the worst Wyatt could do with a dare, anyway? That was an interesting thought, though.. Not one to dabble on, but interesting. Alec had no idea what he'd dare Wyatt to do if Alec were to actually end up winning, anyway. Maybe dare him to be nice all summer? The limits were endless with the leading factor that they technically hadn't put rules on the dare part. Or any part.

“On three?” Wyatt asked. Alec nodded. At least he could do the epic count down.

"1"

"2"

"3 Go!"

And of course they were off! Alec paid no mind to Wyatt as he tried to focus on getting there first. But eventually it just became Alec running while laughing or well trying to run. He knew there was probably no way he was going to be able to be first, and honestly he found it funny. Well that and the fact that he considered the idea of moving very slow. Because when Wyatt did win he'd have to be waiting for Alec to get up to him, anyway. Which would be a whole lot of fun in it of itself just imagining watching Wyatt standing there as Alec slowly.. Very slowly walked over.

Alec had to stop halfway taking a break since he was practically 'drowning' himself in his own little fit of laughter. Taking a deep breath and finally gaining his composure again, he started walking. Deciding he was going to walk instead of run. That way Wyatt would be there tired out and Alec would be there with just a plain old grin on his face when he got there. Not tired.

@Wyatt Starkey