Quality Time at the Buckley's house
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| Location: Bristol, England | Date: July 20th of 2024 - Early evening | Word count: 426 |
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The smell of something delicious, and faintly spicy, drifted from the kitchen, curling its way into the sitting room like it had a mind of its own. Lydia Buckley was using the self-stirring cauldron again, which usually meant dinner would either be brilliant or end up glowing in colors it wasn’t supposed to. Fred sat cross-legged on the living room rug, a toy broomstick propped beside him and a few Chocolate Frog cards scattered around. His bright blue eyes flicked every now and then toward the clock on the mantelpiece, the one with the hands that pointed to At Work, Home, and, sometimes, mysteriously, Causing Trouble. Both his parents’ hands now pointed to Home, and the smaller golden one, Visitors Arriving, had just started twitching.
“Do you think he’s going to be boring or important?” Fred asked, glancing toward the kitchen doorway. “Fred,” Lydia’s voice floated out from the kitchen, amused and warning all at once. “Our guests haven’t even arrived yet. Maybe let them decide that themselves?” He grinned, unconvinced. “Dad said his name’s Zeus. That sounds important.”
Gareth, who was charming a stack of plates to set themselves on the dining table, chuckled without looking up. “Important enough, I’d say. Works hard, knows just about everyone at the Department. Good man to have around.” The plates wobbled dangerously for a moment before settling in a neat, slightly uneven pile. “Try not to scare him off with too many questions tonight, all right?” Fred tilted his head. “How many is too many?” He ignored the question and added, “And don’t forget he’s bringing his niece, Nyx. Be nice to her.”
Lydia appeared in the doorway then, wiping her hands on a floating dish towel. Her expression softened when she saw Fred sitting on the rug. “You could help your father instead of interrogating him, you know. There’s pumpkin juice that needs pouring.” Fred jumped to his feet before she could change her mind and said quickly, “I can do that." He liked helping and quiclky had the special job done.
The house hummed with quiet, comfortable movement, portraits whispering to one another, the fire crackling in the hearth, the faint sound of enchanted cutlery arranging itself on the table. Outside, the garden shimmered in the fading light, the lanterns above the patio beginning to glow as the sun dipped behind the trees. The air felt charged with something Fred couldn’t quite name as he brushed his hands against his jumper and looked toward the door, heart beating a little faster. Any moment now, they would arrive.
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| Interacting with: @Nyx Blackheart |
Last edited by Frederick Buckley on 10 Oct 2025, 00:33, edited 1 time in total.
Sta 8 | Eva 8 | Str 6 | Wis 5 | Arc Power 4 | Acc 10
Abilities: Evasive Maneuvers, Keeper's Catch
Quality Time at the Buckley's house
Interacting with @Frederick Buckley
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I stared up at my Uncle Zeus. He told me that he was invited to dinner at a coworker’s house. I didn’t understand what that had to do with me. I was sitting, watching as my uncle got ready. My father was off, doing who knows what at a party with some close friends of his and Mother was clucking away with a few equally disgusting friends of hers.
Uncle Zeus was taking care of me that night.
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He struggled with his tie while he talked to me. It looked like they were having a wrestling match- and the tie was winning. I sighed. Must I do everything myself? I stood up and walked over to my uncle. “Kneel down. Lemme do it since you clearly can’t.” He grinned at me, amused my my exasperation. "Alright." I grabbed the tie and expertly pulled it into a Prince Albert style, the type my uncle loved, but could never manage to figure it out himself.
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"There. Perfect." He stood up and looked at himself in the mirror, admiring his visage. I shook my head, amused. My Uncle Zeus could be a bit vain at times.
"Thank you, my little thundercloud. So, what were we talking about again? Ah, right, the dinner." By this moment he had turned to me.
"I told my co-worker that you would be coming with me."
I stared long and hard at hm, hoping that this was his idea of a joke.
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But he wasn't laughing. Rather, he was looking at me, apprehension written across his face in bold strokes. I muttered underneath my breath.
"Why must I go? I hate social events."
He sighed before kneeling in front of me again.
"I know love, but I can't leave you alone here, and besides, these are very nice people. They have a son, named Frederick.
Who knows, you might even make a new friend."
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I scowled. "Fine, I'll go. But I'm not wearing pink. Or blue, or yellow, or any color that's bright and, urgh, happy."
He chuckled, a deep sound in the back of his throat.
"I wouldn't expect anything less of you, my little snake."
I marched over to my room and threw on a dress and leggings.
In black, of course. I did say I wouldn't wear any happy colors after all.
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I put on my shoes and grabbed my little bag, in which I put a book in, since I wasn't sure if there was going to be any entertainment there. I told my uncle with great reluctance that I was ready. He smiled down at me and offered his hand. I grabbed it, feeling a sudden wave of terror pass through me. He squeezed my hand and I felt the effects of Apperation start. We landed just outside of a 2 story house. I fought back a bit of nausea inwardly while we walked up the steps to the house.
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I watched as he lifted his enormous hand and knocked, the sound resounding around us.
"Remember," He said, turning to look down at me.
"Be nice."
I snorted. "I'm always nice."
He looked unconvinced.
"I mean it. Be nice."
I sighed. "Alright. I'll be civil."
I looked at the door. It opened, and I steeled myself for a dinner with unknown persons.
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Dance poor people, dance and drown, dance fair Paris to the Ground. Dance poor people, dance and drown, dance fair Paris, ashes now.
❀ Crimson Sugar Curiosities! ❀ [OPEN!]
Quality Time at the Buckley's house
〚 •• ✎ •• 〛
| Location: Bristol, England | Date: July 20th of 2024 - Early evening | Word count: 509 |
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A sharp knock echoed through the Buckley house, followed by the faint jingle of the brass wind chime by the door, a charm Lydia had set so she’d always know when guests arrived. Fred froze mid-step, the jug of pumpkin juice wobbling slightly in his hands before he set it down. “They’re here,” he said, eyes bright.
Lydia flicked her wand, smoothing her apron, while Gareth brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeves. Fred lingered near the sitting room doorway, pretending to be casual but standing a little too straight, his curiosity practically buzzing.
When the door opened, a gust of cool evening air swept in, carrying the scent of rain and the faint shimmer of the outside wards. A tall man entered first, Zeus Falconer Grimbol, his deep laugh filling the space before his coat had even finished drying itself. His presence seemed to draw the room in for a moment, warm and confident.
“Zeus!” Gareth’s voice rose cheerfully as he stepped forward, clapping the man’s hand with both of his. “It’s been ages. Come in, come in! Lydia’s been fussing over dinner all afternoon, you’re just in time.” His father’s tone carried that familiar, easy warmth that made everyone feel immediately at home, and Fred couldn’t help but notice how genuine the smile in his eyes was. Gareth always seemed to come alive when welcoming people, like the house itself grew brighter around him.
Then came the girl. She stepped lightly past her uncle, almost silent. Nyx Blackheart. She looked about a year older than Fred, though something in her stillness made her seem far older than that. Her skin was pale against the dark lace of her black dress, and her straight hair, black as ink, reached nearly to her thighs, gleaming faintly in the firelight. Her eyes, an odd shade of greenish-black, flicked across the room with sharp precision, and a small silver ring glinted at the side of her nose. Several others adorned her fingers, catching the light when she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
Fred stared, not out of rudeness, but because she didn’t look like anyone he’d ever met. She reminded him, absurdly, of the kind of mysterious characters from the stories his mother told, the ones who appeared out of nowhere with secrets to keep. “Fred,” Lydia prompted gently. He blinked, startled out of his thoughts. “Oh, right! Er… hi.”
Before the silence could stretch too long, Lydia gestured toward the dining room, her tone bright and welcoming. “Come, let’s sit, dinner will be ready soon. Gareth, would you show them in?” Gareth nodded and led Zeus through the archway, their conversation already flowing easily again. Lydia turned back to the children with a warm smile. “Why don’t you two go play in the garden for a while? The air’s lovely this evening.”
Fred hesitated only a moment before nodding. “This way,” he said quickly, motioning toward the back door. He pushed it open, letting the cool night breeze sweep in, and looked over his shoulder. “Come on, Nyx.”
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| Interacting with: @Nyx Blackheart |
Sta 8 | Eva 8 | Str 6 | Wis 5 | Arc Power 4 | Acc 10
Abilities: Evasive Maneuvers, Keeper's Catch