Closed Tea Party For Two PV George Henry

Although George would miss the warmth of summer, he was grateful to finally ditch the muggle-wear that he had to adopt during the summer months. Wizards didn't really embrace the idea of shorts, he suspected, even though it was one of the few muggle inventions that the wizard world could really benefit from adopting. As they moved into Autumn, George could once again embrace his favorite fashions of the wizard world, all while enjoying colors that really suited him. More than just liking autumn, George was an autumn.

Which is exactly why he had on that gigantic floppy brown hat that @Finnegan Conner hated to be seen around. He was excited to see what Alec - a real live pureblooded wizard - would think of it, although his lack of makeup knowledge and general sense of dishevelment did not bode well for his taste. Whether or not it was stylish, George was sure he'd look posh. Especially sitting out on the grounds enjoying tea on a little picnic blanket. Like many trends, eating outside was a delight only to be enjoyed by the posh and the impoverished, and in his fresh new clothes nobody would ever mistake him for needy.

"Oh, this is lovely," said George, clasping his hands together in front of him and smiling broadly. He had gotten slightly done up for the occasion, with a sparkle of glitter on his face and a little bit of liner just to bring out his eyes. His face being shaded by his hat, it gave him a sort of grim appearance - a bit more punkish than he was going for. His nails were painted plain pink to contrast. "Why haven't we done this before? This is delightful."

George had to bunch up his robes with his fists so he could lift them enough to see his feet, carefully settling down on the picnic blanket. He felt a bit French laying down on his side a bit, propped up on one arm, but he couldn't cross his legs in this robe, so he had to settle for just laying down on the blanket.

"It's fortunate you aren't much for dating. You'd find it much too easy - it would get to your head," he said, gesturing at he simple spread that awaited them. He reached out and stole a biscuit, bringing it to his lips and chomping it in half. A touch of lip gloss stayed on the biscuit. "I'm glad the weather turned out so nice today. I'm a bit unseasonably dressed, though... might have to change out of the robe. Not yet, though. I don't want to stand up again yet."

Posh he felt as he slammed the rest of that biscuit into his gob, chewing and sending crumbs down his chin which he delicately swept away onto the grass. "Shorry," he said, mouth full of biscuit. He chewed for a few long moments before swallowing, letting out an unpleasant grunt. "Should've started with the tea. Mouth's all dry now. Oh, speaking of... how's your..."

George pointed to his own lips, then raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly as he tried to gauge the Gryffindor boy. Considering he was the supplier, he could tell that Alec was still disguising himself under a nice neutral shade of lipstick. "Don't worry," he said, waving off his own concerns. "This is wonderful. Let's talk about something nice, liiike... has anyone asked you to the fall ball yet? It's in two weeks."

Someone had asked George. The Hufflepuff dragged his fingers along the blanket, debating whether to tell Alec. Internally, George was excited, but confused... he'd said to Alec that Alan was on his short list, but now that Alan had made the first move, he was having cold feet. Maybe Jake was right, and all this kissing business was just foolishness and he ought to focus on his studies. "Alan asked me to go with him, but... we're only... I asked if it was just as friends, and he went yeah. But I'm not sure if he meant it like that, you know?"

It was hard to hide his excitement about George's arrival and luckily Alec didn't have to. George was as happy to be here as Alec himself. He was also happy George seemed to adore the simple yet perfect set up for tea. As if this were some special event George had gone out of his way to dress up well, if maybe a bit too much, it was lovely and he pulled it off, he just perhaps... A little overdressed? Was that possible? Alec felt as if he were underdressed in George's presence. Alec had never mind or cared for the boundary lines of attire of the wizarding world and attire of muggles, it was all the same to him, Alec dressed up in what made him most comfortable. Though Alec supposed he should be wearing more wizard-y attire around, robes just didn't feel the same as wearing a comfortable sweater and jeans.

Alec beamed, “George you look fabulous!” Alec spoke, eyes catching onto the glitter on George's face. Glitter was an amazing touch. He pulled off the robes well, in truth it wasn't only these robes, George could pull off anything, he had that confidence. Just don't bring up any Hogwarts houses it tends to ruin it. Alec still wasn't quite sure why George was so determined to have a negative outlook on his own house. George asked why they hadn't done this before and laid on the picnic blanket. Alec sat down on the blanket nearby. “Dunno but we could do it more often, think you can have yourself done up every week for tea?” Alec asked, remembering his own experience with George's mini makeover, how long had the mini makeover taken anyway?

George brought up how fortunate it was that Alec wasn't much for dating, how easily it'd go to his head. Alec burst into laughter at the comment and smirked as his eyes settled on George, “you think?” What a compliment, convenient timing too, honestly he had been trying to keep certain things under wraps, it was all so new... and things tended to be unpredictable. Alec didn't think it had gotten to his head, at least not yet.

The other reached for a biscuit taking a large bite out of it. George spoke of the lovely weather and his attire he thought didn't match the season. He mentioned changing out of the robe of course not now. Alec listened to George speak as he reached for the teapot pour hot water into each of their cups, one after the other. Alec gestured to the teabag options having felt it was easier to use teabags and have all the options when he was unsure what George's preferences were. Alec had put a chamomile tea bag in his own cup. “It's pretty out. I almost wish I was more windy. Your outfit unseasonable? Maybe, I wouldn't know. It's nice, but it does look somewhat restrictive. Can you walk well in it?” Alec's eyebrows furrowed, unsure if restrictive is the best word and unable to come up with anything else.

Alec tried to hide the way he immediately snickered as George consumed the rest of the biscuit getting crumbs everywhere. He apologized with a mouthful of biscuit, Alec smiled and shook his head, George said he should have started with tea and Alec squinted. “You should have started with smaller bites you had so much biscuit in your mouth I was worried you were going to choke.” Still smiling it was clear Alec was teasing and joking around... well mostly, he had been silently reviewing the blockage clearing spell, just in case. George brought up Alec's lips and his smile faltered slightly. “My- Oh.” Alec's eyes watched the way George seemed to assess him for a moment before putting off the idea completely. Alec nodded letting out a breath of relief. “Yeah. Best not to think about it.”

It was a relief there was a change of topics, one that sounded as lighthearted as a ball, even if Alec winced at the thought of former ones. George mentioned his own plans for the ball and his date, Alan. George was saying some rather confusing things. “If he said yeah I'm pretty sure he meant it as just friends. How could he not mean it like that? ...Do you -do you even know if Alan likes guys George?” Alec asked trying to get a full scope of the situation in order to offer his friend some perspective, even if it was some rather pessimistic perspective.

Alec was still waiting on his tea, why did teabags have to sit so long? Looking down at his lap Alec fidgeted with the bracelets he was wearing, “um no- no nobody has asked me yet but I sort of know who I'm going with.” Alec didn't look back George's way, he seemed to not know how to approach talking about 'this sort of thing'. “We talked about going to the ball- I still have to ask though, you know, ... formally.” Alec's mind was going over all the ideas on how to ask formally, there were so many, to many, it was overwhelming. His face flushed, “we've been going out for a little while so as long as nothing happens, we'll go together.” Alec eyes flickered up to George in order to quickly catch his reaction before looking back down. “Anyway- You were saying stuff about Alan? Maybe he didn't mean yeah as yeah? People are confusing. Or... Maybe it was opposite day?” That felt like a bit of a reach, even Alec could acknowledge like how much of reach that one felt. He shook his head, definitely not the last option.

@George Henry

George quirked his hat back a bit and smiled with satisfaction as he was called fabulous, a bit of colour showing on his cheeks. It wasn't easy being so beautiful. Truly - it took like a full hour to get all this stuff on his face to look right, counting do-overs. But the result was worth it for Alec's beaming smile and stare. "Maybe not all the way done up, but I can make myself presentable," he said. The fancy outfits would have to be given up for that, however. He only had a handful in rotation, and didn't want to use them all at tea parties. "Mmhm!"

George added a chamomile teabag to his own cup as well, though he did not seem to give it much consideration. It couldn't have been that bad if Alec was drinking it... although maybe he couldn't taste much, at this point. Despite his best efforts, George found his thoughts wandering back to Alec's horrible lips several times during their conversation. "I can walk in it, but not really... run. I don't know. Wouldn't wear it if I thought there could be an emergency."

Most robes were open enough to allow ample movement for walking, running, broom racing, or any other wizardly activity. This one sacrificed function for form... either that, or he'd accidentally picked up something more akin to a dress, and was too embarrassed to admit it. Perhaps if people noticed they would just think he was progressive.

Alec's reaction to the news of his ball date was not what George had expected. He wasn't even happy for the Hufflepuff? Of course, thinking about it now... Alan had never been as subtle of a communicator as George was. Like Jack, Alan tended to speak his mind, though he lacked Jack's brutality in his honesty. Why would he have lied? And worst of all, Alec was right. George had never checked that Alan liked guys. For all George knew, Alan didn't like anyone. How could he not mean it like that? How could he not? Was it really that unbelievable that someone would like him?

Instantly mortified, George turned his head away from Alec so that the other boy wouldn't see the pained expression on his face. Why did he have to talk so much word about it just made him look like more of an idiot? He swallowed, disguising it as simply a symptom of biting off more biscuit than he could chew. With a soft cough, he cleared his throat, looking at Alec again. It was only Alec. Harmless Alec.

And he was wearing quite cute bracelets. George tilted his head, trying to get the measure of those little accessories before Alec's dark, horrible lips began speaking again. George eventually pulled his gaze up to look the Gryffindor in the eye, though it took a lot of willpower to keep his gaze from wandering down again. "Ask before someone else does," George advised before hearing the full extent of the situation.

Alec would catch a glimpse of George, anger flashing on his face like distant lightning portending the oncoming thunder. "You what?" George asked, blinking in disbelief. Going out, huh? That thing that Alec had quite clearly stated he would never do, nor would he even want to, so George really ought to not consider it at all. "Oh, no. Let's stop talking about Alan. I want to talk about your new friend. Really? You're going out? I guess when you said you'd never want to go out with anyone, you mostly meant me."

Being out here done up for their little tea party suddenly felt humiliating. George tore his floppy, gigantic hat off of his head, crumpling the brim slightly as he held it in his hands. His attention grabbing outfit suddenly felt like it was weighing him down, drawing the gaze of everyone on the grounds who would look and see that George Henry boy getting rejected again like he always did. Why wouldn't they just expel him already? His eyes narrowed, he began to put up his defenses. Unfortunately, the only strategy he knew to protect himself was one of reckless aggression. "You're an arsehole, Alec. See? Maybe people do sometimes say things they don't mean, hm?"

The moment Alec spoke of the fact he was going out, he felt sick to his stomach. Words out of his mouth that were far too real, it was the first time he'd ever brought it up to anybody else and the gravity of the situation hit Alec like a ton of bricks. Alec had gone over it in his head before. He knew what he was doing, right? Alec wouldn't have involved himself if he didn't believe- Alec glanced George's way to peek at his face, gauge his reaction. When Alec looked away again, the look on George's face hadn't processed in his mind yet. Alec was bashful and flustered over the fact he had decided to speak about the fact he was sort of going out with someone, that he brought it up at all. Made worse by the nauseous feeling he was having as he spoke about it, as if it really were a bad idea, but, it wasn't. It couldn't be. They were- they were...

"You what?"

Did George think it was a bad idea too? Had everyone else known it was a bad idea but him? He'd let it slide, he would do it just this once because maybe it wouldn't turn out to be a bad idea, but how could it not be?

Or wait, was it not that at all? Then George's face started to make sense, and it began to click, George was mad. Alec shifted uncomfortably as he sat and would eventually move to sit with his knees pulled to his chest, as if Alec were almost hugging himself.

"Oh, no. Let's stop talking about Alan. I want to talk about your new friend. Really? You're going out?"

Alec shook his head, he would interrupt. “No. George, I really should not have brought it up.” It's still too new. He told George but Alec wasn't sure what he'd say if it didn't work out. The thought of it not working out was stressful enough, then he'd have to break the news to someone as well.

"I guess when you said you'd never want to go out with anyone, you mostly meant me."

Alec stared, “w-what?” At his words, Alec seemed to freeze up, frowning, “Oh George,” Alec whispered, it was quiet, coming out of a place of empathy as he saw the reaction of his friend. Alec would have flat-out rejected him, if he had, you know, ever seen going out as something he would ever do at the time. It did sting some, to see how quickly George jumped to conclusions, Alec could still remember how relieved he was when George rejected him. Because going out wasn't a viable option with anybody ever. Alec had seen it. The way people only ever seemed to get hurt. It never ended well. He didn't want that.

But... Pea was different. Knowing the things Alec didn't tell other people. All because of the fact there had been a door between them, offering a mask, a sense of security. The sense of security didn't go away when the door between them vanished. He felt safe. Pea was safe. It was hard to explain, people usually didn't understand Alec's fear or why he was so avidly against, part of it sticking with him even now. He couldn't explain why Pea was different, why he felt safe, it threw his mind into jumbles, it had all happened so fast.

"You're an arsehole, Alec. See? Maybe people do sometimes say things they don't mean, hm?"

George's words were less angry now, to Alec they sounded defeated and small. It took Alec a moment, to push aside his temporary unease at seeing George angry. Slowly Alec's frozen state melted, his shoulders, followed by the rest of his body relaxing. Alec glanced towards George and let go of his knees. He moved to get crawl around the various items set out for the tea party, stopping when he was next to George. If the other allowed it Alec would move in to wraps his arms around George and hug him.

Whether or not George allowed Alec to hug him, Alec spoke, “I'm sorry,” he swallowed, “about the stuff I said about Alan, you know him better then I do. I wasn't trying to hurt you or upset you.” Yes, Alan was what Alec was addressing first. The comment was enough to make Alec realize, he should have been gentle, or at least insert himself in a place where he wasn't well educated. Alec didn't even know George was upset... Alec had be more careful. It was hard to know when Alec trying to give an honest opinion was crossing a line. “I worry. I don't want you to get your hopes up and get hurt. If you think it probably wasn't what Alan meant, your right.” Lesson learned for next time. Alec needed to be more sensitive.

If George had allowed Alec to hug him, this was the moment where Alec would pull away, though continue to sit next to George. Alec's gaze dropped to his bracelets, hands going back to fidget with them. Having something to fidget with made it easier to think. “When I told you I never wanted to go out with anyone I meant it.” George didn't believe him so Alec felt the need to repeat the sentence, as it saying it again would make it make sense to George. Alec had meant it. Had.

Alec was silent as he tried to think through what to say next. Choose his words carefully. What to say and what to leave out... Alec knew that if he left certain things out he'd just forget about it later, it would slip out one moment or another. Besides, George deserved some explanation, reasoning behind it all, it would be nice to get it off his chest, the only people he'd ever talked about it with were Wyatt and Pea, George would be the only one hearing about it this way, attached to Alec's attitude on relationships. Alec trusted him.

Alec inhaled, followed by a slow exhale. “My parents used to argue a lot, before they separated. They both ended up really hurt because they were in a relationship. I was... I guess I still am really scared to end up like that with someone, to be arguing all the time and when it does end, end up hurt.” Alec spoke fast, getting through the words in order to not have to think about it. It was surreal he was talking about this at all. “The person I'm going out with, makes me feel like there's a chance every relationship doesn't end in disaster, like maybe I can do this and it'll be okay, you know?” George probably didn't know. Most people wouldn't understand, Alec didn't expect that he had to. “It's stupid but, they feel safe. They make me feel safe to go out with them.” Alec had never taken into account the possibility he would ever feel safe enough to go out with a person. “I don't how, and honestly it all happened so fast and even now somehow I feel like I'm going to regret it because I know relationships are a bad idea and I'm doing it anyway.” The words spilled out of Alec's mouth as if once he started he couldn't stop until he had it all out.

Alec shifted where he sat, looking awkwardly off to the side. A look of distress on full view. “Are we okay now? Or... do you still hate me? I can- I can leave, if you want.”

@George Henry

George was mad. George was mad. And that was just what was clear on his face. In his heart, George was betrayed. He was jealous. He was humiliated. Really, he could think up new adjectives for all of the different forms of hurt he was feeling if you gave him the time for it. But he had already given voice to the ones that he needed to, so instead he held his crumpled hat up to his face, hiding his glittering cheeks as the moisture in his eyes threatened to spill over and ruin his tasteful eyeliner.

Of course, Alec had to twist the knife by talking all quiet and gentle. He had to be nice, even when he was hurting people. It was a horrible form of manipulation to act so nice when your behaviour had already hurt people so badly! The Hufflepuff took a deep breath in and then lowered the hat again, straightening his face into a far-off stare. Maybe it hurt. Maybe not. The anger was still there - mostly hidden in the crease of his brow, and the corners of his thin lips - but he blinked a few times and leaned his head back, letting his eyes air-dry for a moment as he took in the sight of the clouds and tried to see if there were any animals floating around.

Unblinking, George tried not to react as he felt the warmth of Alec nestling up beside him. He wouldn't cry for something stupid like this. He cried far too much for someone who was meant to be setting a good example for kids like Jake, who had earned reputations as cry babies. His mom had always told him he was sensitive, even if he wasn't good at showing it. When the hell did he get so good at showing it?!

An apology was not what he'd expected when he lashed out at Alec, nor was it something he really thought he deserved, when he did think it through. George slowly lowered his gaze, meeting Alec's eyes and letting out a stifled whimper as the other boy's arms wrapped around him. He didn't want to thank Alec for the comfort yet, so he just curled up a bit tighter and leaned on him.

He understood right away what he meant when he said he had meant it. The things that came out of George's mouth were rarely true at the time they were spoken, and if they were, they did not last long after. During the moment of silence, George reached out to Alec, pinching his bracelet between his thumb and forefinger and fidgeting with it gently. "Hmm shrhhy..." The barely audible hint of an apology could be heard, muffled by George's hat, which he was holding over his mouth still.

Even though he was hardly able to look at Alec, George wanted desperately for him to know that he understood. Maybe not to the same extent. Things weren't over between Mr. and Mrs. Henry, but they certainly weren't roses. George had even considered some of the same things as Alec. If he couldn't be friends with his brother, and his mother and father couldn't love each other, then who could really love him? As a friend, or otherwise? Unlike Alec, however, he did not want to believe that love was doomed. He wanted desperately for someone to prove that wrong.

"My mom and dad are in counseling," George stated simply. There was a bad, bland taste in his mouth, knowing that the heaviest burdens he carried were not dark curses, but rather completely mundane marriage troubles between two muggles. How boring he was. Carrying that with him like a sort of reverse enchantment, nullifying the magic of the school with an aura of dull reality. "I get it. It's okay."

George uncrumpled his hat, letting out a noise of displeasure at how wrinkled it had become during their little group suffering session. He donned it once more, clearing his throat, squaring his shoulders and conjuring his larger-than-life persona once more. His dark lashes fluttered and the sunlight caught his glitter once more as he turned himself to face Alec properly. "I don't hate you. Sorry I got mad," he said, brushing off the collar of his robes. "I... you know, if things don't work out for us, we can have tea and biscuits and do it over again. It'll be our break up tradition. Hot chocolate if I blow it with Alan, and chamomile if-... hey, you never told me who it was."

George paused for a moment. "Fine, then," he said, choosing not to drive anymore wedges between them just yet. Alec had suffered enough at his hand for the time being, and George was quite embarrassed about his obvious jealous outburst. He didn't even really like like Alec. It just felt nice to be considered as an option was all. Enough of visibly dwelling on it, however. George thoughtfully chewed on a biscuit as he waited for Alec to salvage the conversation. Siblings! Yes - what a nice piece of small talk to populate the most awkward tea party ever hosted on Hogwarts grounds. Not including ones which have stuffed animals in attendance.

"I've got a big brother named Sam," said George, with a faint smile. His big brother wasn't as close to him now as he once had been, but he wasn't the worst person in the world, either. There were worse brothers out there. George paused for a moment before continuing - the cat was out of the bag regarding his parentage by now, especially considering the baby shark fiasco over the summer. "He's a muggle, though, so he doesn't go here. He's two years older. Going to become a police officer. Those are muggle aurors."

It was the strangest feeling to be out of place at a school full of magical people partaking in a hidden society. How could he possibly be the weird one? "Not very exciting. You can meet him some time if you come by my house for a birthday, but it's not really easy to meet him otherwise. We live far away. From London, at least. Probably not as far from here."