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Street Vendors
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Normally, the street peddlers was not somewhere Leela would be shopping for a gift for her older brother, particularly not when Christmas had already passed. But considering he seemed to have more time for his new friend than his younger sister had her feeling rather salty towards him. And one of the few things she'd inherited from her mother, was not having any tact with disguising displeasure, particularly from the only person who knew her as well as Gray did. BUT if the male Russell-Liu was intent on doing this whole 'growing up' and abandoning her in the process, well FINE. But he could expect potentially faulty Christmas and birthday presents than in the foreseeable future. And as for his friend? It would be nothing but Weasley Wizard Wheezes wares. IF they managed to know each other long enough for Lee to have to worry about the disapproval from her brother if she were to show up empty handed for his... whatever she was. After inspecting some products from one cart, she didn't see anything particularly eye catching, and opted to move on towards the next which... she still wasn't certain would provide any results. She could do this all day long though, and absolutely would, though there was a rather LOUD interruption originating from her stomach as she passed through a breeze carrying the scent of the kebabs. GRROWL. |
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Perhaps… However, he was momentarily distracted hearing a nearby sound. “Did the Menagerie lose a creature?” he mused aloud curiously, his dark eyes looking cautiously around in case there was something to pay attention to. At least no one was yelling to get people's attention which was a good sign. Or maybe he had just imagined hearing something when there wasn't anything there to speak of. |
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What if someone else heard his question and it caused panic? Had she heard it and NOT known it'd been... well, her, she might have been a little concerned to see a snake or something slithering along the alley. Not that those could make a similar noise but... still. With a resigned small sigh, she lowered her hand and willed herself to look calm and collected as she sought out the voice. "No animal. Just... a stomach that needs food. My apologies." |
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“Bad stomach for betraying you and being so demanding,” he added, trying to make it more innocently amusing than weird. So very rude of it to make its hungry presence known, especially outside its body. Didn't it realize that there was stuff besides food that needed to be taken care of at times? His own certainly liked to bother him through the years when he was trying so hard to actively study for one thing or another. |
His apology got a wave of her hand, as she silently pleaded with her stomach to not make noise again and render her even more embarrassed. Instead, she tried to just muster all of the grace her mother seemed insistent that she had and smiled at him. "It's Diagon Alley. You never know what's lurking, so I certainly don't blame you for posing the question. It's just good it IS just a misbehaving stomach noise." If her cheeks could go back to their normal color she might have even been able to pull it off as being unperturbed. "i should punish it but I probably don't want to worry any other shoppers. Do you happen to know what's good around here?" Those stalls DID smell delectable, but her time here was generally pretty limited. And had most certainly been restricted to the Leaky Cauldron, who had to go through health inspections and the like. Better to be safe than sorry, right? |
“True…” She didn’t need anyone else thinking there was something to be concerned about around loose on the streets. “Plus, you would likely be the one punished in the end.” Headaches, low blood sugar, all around hangry feelings…all possible if you starved your stomach as he knew from past experience on his own. As for food suggestions…”Well that would depend on if you wanted someplace to sit inside or to take with you as you walk or maybe sit on a bench.” All up for choice though perhaps it would also depend on how much time one might have to serve the hungry stomach. “Outside…the cauldron bowls are nice.” He had been finding himself preferring comfort foods that resembled home-cooked meals since settling back in Britain and soups and stews fit that bill. When it wasn’t the Italian fare of the other half of his family. |
Embarrassment was a punishment in itself, was it not? Leela just smiled back at him and his comment, giving a nod of her head in agreement. As for his question... did she want to sit down somewhere or continue to browse? There was still a good deal of shopping to do, so she was hesitant to take the time to go somewhere like the Leaky Cauldron, but she also wasn't overly fond of walking AND eating. Still... maybe grabbing something at one of these stalls and then just.. pausing at a bench would be the best way to go. "I think I'll go for outside and try one of those Cauldron bowls." Soup was a great comfort food, and who didn't need comfort every once in awhile too? She moved to walk towards the stall before pausing, trying to decide if she wanted to make a further fool of herself. Lee was... more aware every day that she had zero friends, outside of her family and really wasn't it too sad her brother was her only person? AND he was about to be too busy for her. If she'd already showed embarrassment with this guy... what was the harm in potentially further doing so or maybe finding, at the very least, an acquaintance. She decided to go for it. "Would you like to join me?" |
She seemed to approve of his suggestion from the street vender side of the discussion and Septimus was prepared to move on to leave her be when she had paused in her departure making him curious in return. Was there something else? He wondered. Did she need help? He would try to assist if he could…he might not be the most sociable, but he wasn’t rude. But what she asked him when she finally spoke again, took the former Ravenclaw completely by surprise. Him…join her? Could it really hurt? It was simply strolling the Alley down a little and getting a late lunch, which he reminded himself that he hadn’t eaten himself. His stomach was just a bit more used to not being so vocal. “Why not…” Septimus mused rhetorically. “Though perhaps it would be best if we weren’t complete strangers,” he remarked, before offering a hand. “Septimus Hadley-Nairne.” |
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His agreement to join her almost surprised her more than the fact she'd offered to begin with. And Lee... blinked at him for a moment, before the introduction and his words got through to her. Chuckling slightly and breaking herself from whatever distraction she had in her own head space, she accepted the offered hand and gave it a firm shake, a small chuckle accompanying. "A wise thought. Pleasure to meet you, Septimus. I'm Leela Liu." Her full name was far too much of a mouthful, and in most social settings she preferred to accept only her Dad's lineage anyways. Lee took a few steps towards the stall, finding a place in line as her stomach gave another - thankfully quieter - growl. "What brings you out to the alley today?" |
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Septimus could tell that his reaction to her offer and response to the positive had taken his companion by surprise. If he admitted it to himself, he was a touch surprised himself. But he kept reminding himself that it was just two people grabbing lunch from a street vender. He was being polite and joining her in a casual endeavor and as they exchanged names and a handshake, no longer random strangers. “Nice to meet you Leela, as well.” See…just a former Ravenclaw getting out of his close-knit shell. The intern let her take the lead, following her down the alley for a little bit to find the vendor in question. “Mostly just taking a break in amongst things.” He was still getting settled into being back in England permanently and the new job. So some sort of structure was only just returning to his life. Though he supposed he could be handling errands at some point today. “How about you?” |
And with names exchanged, she wasn't quite sure where else to go with conversation. This was probably one of the reasons she'd been a loner, of sorts. Friendship usually came after conversation, right? But how in the world was someone supposed to know how to start that? She'd had it easier before - Gray having been her friend because he was her brother and HAD to tolerate her. And then his housemates had done the same out of courtesy for their dorm mate. The only friend she had made herself had been in an art room. Was it... acceptable to just start talking about art randomly in the street as well? "Do you work around this area?" Probably safer to stay with work or... general questions that weren't TOO too personal. "I've seen a few Help Wanted ads around the alley and I've considered it myself." The junk shop is about the only place she would want to work. And then she'd be sad if she did not get that job. "Just getting some gift shopping done. I have an older brother that I had a few specific things in mind for." |
Yeah, Septimus was the type to be all awkward. It could be a challenge when you weren’t making connections through Hogwarts or college afterwards. Hopefully now working there might be something else which was where his companion had brought the conversation. “Gringotts….” he answered to the affirmative of working nearby. “I recently started as a cursebreaking intern there.” It was a start, an attempt to find his niche in the adult world after graduating from university. As for the signs… “Probably some interesting places to work,” he mused in thought on the matter. If one was able to handle the interaction with customers. Flourish and Blotts might have been his style with his habit of loosing himself in books. Which likely would have gotten him in trouble by being distracted by said books and not actually working. “Lucky brother…unless your relationship is that of causing amusement at your sibling’s expense.” Not something familiar with himself as an only child, but his parents and their siblings had the stories to tell. |
Sadie/Kath :3 Curtis was on a break from the shop. After an unforgettable time out, his on-edge feeling eventually subsided to where he surely had control of his limbs again. A breath of fresh air and- SNIFFF Food. Always does the trick. Curtis glanced over the items, thinking about potential gifts that his nephews would enjoy and perhaps his fathers as well. But for now, food. He was in the mood for salty and sweet. So he went for the honey soy chicken skewers. Yum. |
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Her morning lab completed and nothing to do until her The History of Medicine: Philosophy, Science, and Psychology class (of which she had already read ahead several chapters and already so she could use the actual class time to work on her essay on the history of the evolution of Urtica dioica and its uses, she decided to bounce over to Diagon Alley to grab a quick lunch and possibly run into one of her flatmates. Living with four other fellow was certainly an interesting, and bloody complicated experience to be sure with Autumn's encouragement making it even more so. It was nice to have a moment to herself where she could breathe in something other than testosterone. Seemed like someone else had the same thought in mind -presumably regarding food. She was definitely in the mood for a falafel kebab. Nudging her way past the |
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Mm, this is good.. Curtis was glad his taste buds didn't change throughout the day. He would have to get another to go for sure and ask for a little box for them. Luckily, he wasn't about to bite off another one when he was nudged or there would've been certainly not-so-nice choice words.. or maybe not either way. As he caught sight of who went in front of him, "You're pardoned.." For now.. would've been how he naturally ended the sentence. But something had stopped him from saying so. For some reason he felt something familiar come over him, had he seen her before? From some well known place or maybe she had just stepped out of the sea from her magical ..Oh, wait. He had seen her before, but only in passing when he got a drink at the Leaky Cauldron, "Nice mug," Clearly she was fancy enough to bring her own mug outside of Hog's Head.. if she ever experienced that. |
I see that Little Mermaid reference Quote:
Meeting his eyes, however, pushed aside her slightly convoluted feminist agenda and suddenly she was hearing Autumn's voice in her head. It was the worst, incorrigible, and she found herself wishing quite often that they had never breathed that particular subject. She was going to hate herself in 3...2...1 "Oh?" she smiled oh so sweetly and batted her long, natural, lashes at. A hand even lifted up to pat her cheek and flaunt her rich burnt ochre skin. Blemish free too, which was quite the skill considering her underground athletics and just how little sleep she got per night. Her day to day to day routine, including diet a lot of the time, was a dermatologist's nightmare and Sadie had better things to spend her hard earn galleon on. "It's nice to have such a handsome admirer, even if the term is a bit outdated." 0. Yeah. Embarrassing herself trying to 'play the game' was her new hobby. |
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You know what confused Curtis? Kindness or rather unprompted kindness and compliments. Not that he minded them at all, but it did leave him questioning what he did to deserve it... so it can keep happening again, of course. He blinked once before seeing what just happened. It was her mug. It's nice to have such a handsome admirer.... You know what, she was right. So Curtis believed breaking out his arguably devilish grin. "Well, thank you," He knew he was handsome, something he didn't thank his parents Taking a moment to observe her reaction, "I'm beginning to feel bad for doing that, but not as bad for not knowing your name," What could it be? Mildred? Diana? Rachel? Ariel? The choices were endless. "I'm Curtis. Curtis Fuller," Offering his free hand out for her. He would have to make it up to her somehow. Maybe something to take her voice away in reaction. Who knows. |
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It was fun to ruffle feathers, especially when you knew you were right. She had not counted on him countering with that sort of smile and there was simultaneously an intense rush of exhilaration and regret. Autumn was right though, she never would be any good at this if she didn't just go for it. So...here she was. Safer than indulging in what Delaney was putting out into the universe, which she had thus far done a fair job of resisting. "Oh well, stylish and environmentally friendly. I refuse to be a part of the 50 billion paper cups and 250 billion were unrecycled plastic bottles problem," she explained with a little wiggle of her Nalgene. All this, naturally, was said to cover the silence that had built while he was pretending to consider her...or whatever it was he was doing with the male gaze...only for him to break his own silence with that. She wasn't sure if she was disappointed her tactics had seemed to work or mortified. "I'm Sadie," she grimaced, she was trying to put on a breezy smile here, while slipping her hand into his. "So...now you know it. Curtis. My name. Consider yourself forgiven." |
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"Huh, so you really care about the environment," Curtis half-asked. She did pretty much say it, but perhaps he just wanted confirmation. Or perhaps expecting her to spill more on her interests. "I can get with that, anything to save the plants and..." And what? What was stopping him? "Sadie... that's kind of pretty," Oh, that. Her hands were soft, unlike his that developed some callouses over wrestling a rogue Tentacula as one of Valerie's tests among other gardening. But he at least washed them regularly. A small smile, "You sure? I could get you a nice meal... outside of here," No offense, nameless clerk, but this wasn't first date material.. But wait, did he ask her out on a date? "But if you've already forgiven me, we could cancel that," Well, Bob's your uncle. |
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He probably did not need to hear all that, but he had it anyway and he was quite welcome. And, well, what could she say...she had a certain reluctant fondness for hard, well worked, and calloused hands. Even if they might come attached to a lackluster compliment - the bar was quite literally on the floor here so she would accept it. Though she had to admit to herself that she was quite shocked that this was going...well? Had she really just been asked out? Was this Curtis fellow honest to goodness reciprocating her flirtation? Again, the bar was literally on the floor and he needed just to tip toe over it to impress her. "On second thought," she replied with a slight pursing of the lips and slight shift of her weight between her feet. "The jury could use a bit more time reviewing all the evidence before making its decision. Rumor is spicy food is one way to sway the jury in your favor." |
Ren! As much as Brody was tempted to take a quick walk through the alleys of Knockturn Alley, he doubted very much that his husband {Merlin, he was still adjusting that he and Gabriel were married now!} would approve. Gabe had always been protective of him; well, Brody didn’t blame him. An Auror was bound to be this way with the ones he loved. In the end, the Consulate had settled for satiating his appetite for walking and window shopping by enjoying some time browsing the streets for merchandise. Perhaps he’d see something he liked. Not that he trusted these vendors and their merch. There had been many complaints of their sub standard products but the vendors never learnt. The wind chimes caught his attention and the Ministry employee stopped to get some more info about them to he remained suspicious about the way they may have come into the seller's possession. |
SPOILER!!: hello friend! Charlie let out a sigh of frustration as she looked around, taking in her surroundings. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so lost. The streets were completely unfamiliar to her, and she couldn't seem to find the shop she was looking for no matter how hard she tried. She had been excited to check it out, but now she was starting to think that maybe she should have written down the address instead of relying on her memory. Giving up on her shopping for the day, Charlie decided to take a stroll and clear her head. The sound of the wind chimes caught her attention, their melodious tones soothing her frayed nerves. She followed the sound until she came across a small vendor that sold nothing but wind chimes. Each one was unique, and the way they swayed in the wind was hypnotizing. As Charlie perused the selection of wind chimes, memories of her grandmother flooded her mind. Her grandmother had been a firm believer in using wind chimes as a form of protection against evil spirits. Charlie couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. Protection spells were far more effective, but her grandmother's quirky beliefs were always endearing. |
SPOILER!!: Hellurrr! Brody was one hundred percent skeptical of the windchimes and the ‘security’ they were boasted to offer. He’d have been far more okay with just getting a regular windchime {because in his head, they went along perfectly with the tons of plants in his and Gabriel’s apartment}. In any case, he didn’t need any that warned him of intruders; Gabriel’s protection spells were enough. It was like that when one was married to an Auror. With his mind made up, Brody politely thanked the hag then turned to depart. It was the chuckle from the woman near to him that left him confused for a bit. Had he said something amusing? “I’d rethink about buying whatever object you’ve got your eyes on,’’ Brody murmured to her. “Some of these things don’t even work.” |
Barty Belcher turned away from the last cart, covertly counting his coins before dropping them into a pouch and stowing that away in a deep inner pocket. He was smiling (always a slightly unpleasant sight), satisfied with the business he'd done since leaving Moribund's Pub in Knockturn Alley. He'd managed to offload the last of his mysterious silver to three street vending carts, and before anyone bothered to check, it would all have been turned into knick-knacks, jewellry, and what-have-you. Barty didn't care, as long as he made his price, which, counting the silver he'd sold to Finn Bulwark, the tinkerer at Cranville Quincey's, he had done, and then some. Yes, there was plenty to satisfy both Barty's client and himself here. A good day's work, if he did say so. |
Kat! The street vendors had to be one of the most exciting parts of the summer time, because the products here varied from day to day. Even if Ve spent HOURS the day before perusing all of the merchandise and talking to the different people, the next day there was always at least one or two new people - and sometimes the old had new products. Whenever it was foods specifically made too she could usuaaaally talk someone into giving her some free samples. Was that a particular safe idea? Probably not. But she was still alive so far. Skipping her way through the carts, brown hair styled into small curls that bounced as she did so, the Gryffindor only paused every once and awhile to look at the products someone was selling. Currently, she was paused at cart that had a wide array of landscape paintings, each charmed to have movement be it rolling waves or a breeze through a field of flowers. She was absolutely enchanted. "Oooh, I wonder if there's a class that could teach us how to do THAT!" Charms, probably. Perhaps she'd bother Professor Sayse with the idea. |
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She had stopped at the one with the moving portraits when she heard a girl’s voice speaking of learning how to do it. “Certainly, would be cool…” she mused aloud, returning her own comment to the other girl as she moved in the direction the voice had come from around the cart, finding an older Gryffindor she’d seen around. Art projects were one thing…magical ones had to be oh so much better. “Hey…” she greeted with a smile. |
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At the greeting Vera grinned back, offering her hand in greeting hello. "Hi! I'm Vera. You're a Hogwarts student too, right?" She was pretty sure majority of people were Hogwarts students but... there was the occasional privately tutored or visiting student from other schools. So even if she was fairly certain she'd SEEN this student, it was better to be safe than sorry. |
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Professors were supposed to encourage all sorts of learning…right? Vera…that was her name. The younger girl knowing she had heard it more than once in passing. “Mhmmm…” she confirmed with a nod, definitely a Hogwarts student. The only none Hogwarts student she had ever met was his brother’s friend Mouse and she had transferred from Beaubaxons to be a part of the nicer school. “Second Year Gryffindor,” she pronounced just a touch proud, especially of that fact that she was no longer a newbie, before adding, “I’m Nadia.” |
Ve wasn't sure if it just hadn't been noticed or if the younger student was just polite enough to not offer commentary on her jump, but either way it was a bit appreciated. The rising fourth year moved around the display a bit, not to get away from the girl but just to view another piece that had caught her peripheral. "I mean, it is a Professor's job to teach and if there are students showing interest .. why would she want to waste such an opportunity as an involved class?" Well, even if it was only two students who expressed interest she couldn't imagine others wouldn't want to learn this. ... Ooops. The fact that the girl was also a Gryffindor and yet she had been unsure if she was a Hogwarts students was embarrassing, and Vera could feel her cheeks heat up a bit though she hoped the make up she now wore regularly was enough to cover it. "I'm a Gryffindor too! Fourth year." That was already weird to say. Were they really already only a year away from the dreaded OWLs? "It's nice to meet you, Nadia! How was your first term?" [/color] |
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Nadia nodded in agreement, always enjoying it when she happened to find a kindred spirit in something. “Exactly…and I’m sure we aren’t the only ones.” How can students be around all the moving portraits and landscapes hanging around Hogwarts and NOT be even just a little bit curious as to how it was done. They were definitely on the list of the cooler things at school. “Nice to meet you too,” she echoed before biting the inside of her cheek as she thought on how to answer. She wouldn’t say boring since she had had fun, especially her adventure to the Shrieking Shack with a certain Hufflepuff. But it had been quieter than some of the things Raj had talked about. NOT that she would have preferred a first year like her big brother had , the one she and Dy weren’t totally allowed to know about but certainly had seen the effect it had had on him. “It was…enjoyable,” Nadia finally settled on. She just hoped she had a chance on the quidditch team eventually as she got older. |
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This time around though, he'd promised Noah, whether he was there with him or not, that he'd give the word "relax" a chance. Yes, there were still the dubious hawkers selling their wares about, but he's already old enough to always take a grain of salt, especially in the world of business and marketing. Quietly weaving his way in and out of the crowd, he'd occasionally stop in front of one of the stalls to see what could be purchased and then quietly slip away to check the one across it. He came across a stall that sold chips, but before he could place his order, a girl beat him to it. A familiar face, even. "If it isn't the Spudmeister herself." Mackenzie gave her a small smile and ordered the same food for himself. No sharing this time. |
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Spudmeister did sound cool, and the name was something he was stuck on ever since he caught Mr. Yarborough called Kai, "Spud" when they were in primary school. And did she say cinnamon? "That's a winner in my books," he said as he fished a couple of knuts in his pocket and offered it to the person manning the stall. Enzo wasn't quite sure if Kai knew his love for anything cinnamon, but he wasn't the type to get excited and blurt facts about it. He thought it unnecessary. Though honestly, sweet potatoes and cinnamon did sound like a winning combination. Perhaps he'd ask their house-elf to make him some when he gets home. "Now that's an idea," Enzo remarked as he picked a piece of potato chip from his small paper bucket and devoured it in one go, opening his mouth just a tad to let out the excess heat. "The Sorting Hat is said to consider requests from students taking the house sorting, so maybe you can ask it to place you in Hufflepuff." he continued, as he picked another piece of his food. "If and when you do get in Hufflepuff, come and break the curfew with me for a midnight snack. The Slytherin dorm is just a few paces away from the Kitchens too." Why she'd never gone to Hogwarts in the first place was something that Enzo got himself wondering. "But why haven't you been to Hogwarts?" perhaps this time he'll get an answer. "If you don't mind me asking..." |
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A benefit of not having an older sibling (biologically or legally), was that Vera didn't not know much of the fine details of what happened at Hogwarts years prior to their enrollment. She knew there was a war, she'd seen the plaque in the courtyard and everything, but she didn't know exactly what had happened to the students. Which was probably a good thing for her own mental status. She would have been sorry to hear what the students had gone through, even more so once she realized that those were students she had met personally and cared about. But she also would have been endlessly grateful for how tame her years had been in comparison. She hadn't known just how lucky she actually was. "It's usually more exciting, I swear. We had a nice quiet year which... is good! But something FUN or positive type of event would be kind of cool... like, in years past there were tournaments! With other schools! Wouldn't that be cool to be involved in?" She doubted it was going to happen again in her time at Hogwarts but... a girl could dream. "You looking forward to not being the youngest class any more? Because able to show the first years around is really fun!" |
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...also, max-what now? Mackenzie simply stared at her and looked at where she was pointing. Okay... that...nerve. "Planning to be a healer then?" the Slytherin assumed, having totally zero knowledge about her dad and their St. Mungo's apparent patronage. While he ate, Mackenzie also smiled, remembering the many Hufflepuff stories he'd heard from his mum, Auntie Ella, Uncle Alec, and Uncle Oakey. They were his dad's best friends and they were all in Hufflepuff. He thought them to be really cool people to hang around. And they must've sneaked out too during the night to get into the kitchens with his dad who was the only Slytherin in the group. They must've meant a lot to him to make that kind of effort and risk for his friends. Now this, Mackenzie thought ridiculous. "I thought that was what Primary School was for? To get us all ready for the 'big school'." he tilted his head in wonder. "I mean, mum and dad too were worried--" especially Mordred, "But they thought the experience of Hogwarts is exactly what we needed..." Yes, even that not-so-recent wizarding war of 2104 where both Noah and Catherine were trapped inside the school, and their parents had to rescue them. "You know, to survive the wizarding world?" but perhaps, parents do have different parenting styles, and maybe that's all there is to it. |
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Now, Mackenzie made a disgusted face when she told the story about her Quidditch accident. His mind went to his older brother of course, who is now a professional player for the Quiberon Quafflepunchers, and wondered how he'd be if it happened to him. Noah's face was everything since he's a model too, so. "My brother also suffered a broken rib before, but I suppose that's nothing compared to your injury." Mackenzie eyed her jaw, and thank Merlin they have magic to cure her. "Must be hell not to be able to eat," The Slytherin nodded in understanding as he finished his food, and dunked his paper bucket into one of the nearby bins. "Well, you're way old enough to go to boarding school. I don't think it wouldn't matter much now whether your family reside in the US or here," he said picking up a disposable napkin from the stall and wiping his fingers. "Just tell them you want to expand your horizons this time... and that you want to experience what they have experienced, if not then you'll go see for yourself." Okay, maybe it wasn't the best approach, but a little bit of emotional blackmail might help. Maybe. "Or if you need backup, I can always ask my mum to convince your parents?" Surely, THE Sophie Mordaunt will talk their ears off. |
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SPOILER!!: Vera Right…there was that activity that had happened last term. Nadia hadn’t made it to that one herself, still learning to balance her schedule at Hogwarts and keeping on track when things were happening, but she had heard about it from classmates. “Then all the more reason to expand upon what had been taught previously,” she mused, moving on her own to look at other landscapes that were being offered. Hopefully the cart’s keeper wasn’t too offended that they appeared to be doing all the browsing but not the buying. “For sure, a happy mix of excitement and quiet is good for the soul.” She might be full of curiosity and liked the occasional thrill (part of why she supposed she had made it to Gryffindor) but that didn’t mean that she needed it all the time. Then the excitement wouldn’t be so…exciting. Plus she didn't need certain family members worrying about her at all times. “That’s certainly a plus…not being looked down upon because of that.” Unfortunately, there were things that she still had to work towards, like trying to get on a quidditch team. Lucky Dy only had to wait one more year for a chance to play gobstones instead of her two. |
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Mackenzie nodded, throwing away the used napkin in the bin behind him. "The one and only Noah Mordaunt, yes," he said with a hint of pride. Being the only other male sibling, Mackenzie felt drawn to his older brother. And while Noah's ways aren't exactly... exemplary, Mackenzie has always looked up to him for inspiration. It's from him he's learned to loosen up a bit and give people a chance. "He's now promoted to the team's Seeker. He wasn't so keen about the change though," Mackenzie shrugged, not fully understanding why. To be honest, he couldn't care any less about Quidditch. As long as Noah stayed intact after a game, Mackenzie was all good. Now those are good points too, and if those weren't enough to convince Kai's parents, "Yes, give me the bat signal and I'll let you have my mum. She'd be more than happy to help, I promise." the imagery of his mum talking and waving her arms about explaining things to Mr and Mrs Yarborough caused Mackenzie to smile. He knew she'd get the job done in no time... probably just so they could finally shut her up or something. |
SPOILER!!: Nadia! She could only assume that the street vendors were used to window shoppers during the summer time. Majority of the students, at least she figured as much, probably came with the money needed for the equipment for the upcoming term and not so much spending money. Particularly not for beautiful artwork that would be too hazardous (for the painting) to take with them anyways. Besides... wasn't art just supposed to be appreciated? "I agree. I think all of this is sounding like an excellent case for us on getting the lesson we want." They should "Our souls or our parents souls?" She asked, a cheeky smile on her face as she looked at the younger girl and giggled. Because while Nadia had a point that some quiet made excitement more fun... Vera would happily take thrill, after thrill, after thrill. Down time was not her favorite. But she imagined no craziness at Hogwarts was far better for her Papa. "Did people really look down on you for that?" Vera asked, surprise registering on her face. It seemed she'd completely forgotten her own Hogwarts first year (or forgotten that part) or even her own initial reaction to first years once she had returned as a second. "How archaic." |
Charlie had just finished her shift over at Madame Malkins and felt her stomach rumble when she had walked out of the door. Moving through the vendors she kept looking for something that sounded extremely yummy. She had ben considering going down to the piercing shop after she got something to eat. She had finally decided she was going to get her nose done. Well if she still had the courage after she ate. Glancing at a booth she noticed they had some loaded fries which was a rarity to have around here but she was hungry and had a few designs she wanted to work on for her personal collection later she'd need it. She got in line and pulled her light sweater a bit closer to her chest glancing around to see if anyone she knew was around. |
SPOILER!!: Vera Here’s to getting a lesson on moving paints at some point with them in agreement and plenty of recruitment options. Nads was her she could get Dy involved for sure. She tilted her head slilghtly in thought and had to pause to think on the question before adding her own laughter to the giggling. “A little bit of both…though perhaps more on their side.” Parents did tend to worry more about their kids then their kids did about themselves. Merlin help her dads with kids that lived on a reserve filled with two of the more potentially dangerous creatures of the wizarding world. “There were a few…at least in the beginning.” Before she had managed to not appear as to be a complete noob. It wasn’t like magic was new to her when she entered Hogwarts, even with the muggles in her extended family. “Made me wonder how they were when THEY were firsties.” Because they certainly should have remembered what it was like to have been in her shoes. At least she and Dy had had a big brother around if things had gotten too much, not that they tried to need him TOO much. Something they wouldn’t have this upcoming term. |
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Maybe after work and running errands he would get himself a trim. He did have another parcel he wanted to send off to his siblings at Hogwarts. Sending care packages was apparently one of his love languages - though he supposed that that fell under acts of kindness. Anyway. Having finished up at the Owl Post and another interesting chat with the proprietor there, Cooper decided he would hit up the vendors for lunch rather than order in somewhere. It was a really nice day out, after all. Only issue was that there were so many great options for street food that his stomach was encouraging him to grab something from every stand...and he was teetering on indulging it. He had put in a long weekend with Monsieur Benoit on the ranch, loads of manual labor and heavy lifting, and his sore muscles needed the nourishment! So it was that Cooper Branxton stood somewhere in the middle of the array of options looking very much like a lost cruppy in his indecision. Story of his life, honestly. |
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She felt her hand wave as small as possible compared to how loud her voice had gotten to grab his attention. |
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Well, that settled that then. "Hey yourself," he smiled with a little sub to the back of his neck as he strolled over to where she was with her dainty wave. "I'm just going to grab a basket of fish and chips. Mind if I join you after? I can get you a lemonade or something if you fancy." |
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Any rosiness to her features was not totally unnoticed but he did assume that the glow had come from being out in the sun for an extended period - hence her suggestion that they sit in the shade. "Do you mind if I...mix all the ketchup in with the tartar sauce? Or would you like straight ketchup with your chips?" |
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She watched as Cooper walked closer noticing his balancing skills, smiling she took the lemonade he was offering her, "Thank you." She leaned in a bit closer than necessary but it was Cooper and she was a liability when it came to him. She shook her head at his first question but realized maybe she should actually answer him since he asked two questions, "I don't mind at all, by all means add the ketchup." She waited for him to do that before snagging a chip to dip. "How have things been for you? I feel like it's been quite a while since we were able to sit down and just chat." She made direct eye contact with him like that would let him in on all her secrets. |
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Thoughts for another time and maybe when he actually remembered his farmers tan since his rolled three quarter sleeves were hiding the tan lines. "You're welcome," he smiled back as he settled into his seat properly and set right to fixing his not-so-special-special sauce. Using a chip to mix, Cooper popped it into his mouth and licked his thumb clean from some of the sauce that had splashed up while mixing. "Uuuuuuh..." he chuckled after popping a couple more chips into his mouth, once again licking his fingers - this time from grease. "Gosh...I don't know. Sort of more of the same. Working too much, according to some, and that means splitting my time between here and France...been picking up more hours on the Ashburry-Hawthorne sanctuary, Creatures and Cwtches Sanctuary, since they just had their second child and...they could use the extra hands. Some days I'm more a human babysitter than assisting Derfael with creatures or repairs around the stables." He didn't mind this though and it was a nice change up sometimes from working exclusively with creatures as a creature healer in the Alley or herding abraxan with Monsieur Benoit. Photography had sort of taken a backseat, ish, but he still got to dabble in it in meaningful ways. Promotional art for the sanctuary and the Benoit estate specifically. "It's Mercer and Marina's OWL year at school...so been trying to send them my notes and such to help them prepare. Not so sure they really appreciate it though. Probably a bit annoying and overbearing to them." Cooper had been...rather over zealous with his studying. Great coping mechanism for PTSD from the Third Wizarding War. Cooper leaned forward and grabbed one of his fried fish fillets and dipped it deep into his sauce. "How are things at Malkins going? You getting to make designs of your own yet? I could take some photos for you sometime if you'd like." And then SethElliot's voice went buzzing in his ear about how he ought not do anything for free, not even favors to friends. Cooper had made some coin at Hogwarts taking headshots for friends - awkward as that had been in some cases - but his style was not the best for modeling agencies in that way. Less high fashion and commercial and more...intimate. His aesthetic worked pretty good with product display though and editorials. "I come with a very reasonable price point," he added as an afterthought, hopefully it coming across that he was teasing. |
Adapting to a new work place and a new routine was going to take some getting used to for the twenty-five year old. She supposed it was her first real ‘adult’ job since graduating University, one where she wasn’t constantly being guided or working for a family member. If she was going to be completely honest with herself it wasn’t one hundred percent the job she was hoping for but it fit with her credentials and she guessed that with age and with experience she might be able to reach her goals in a couple of years. Truth be told Allie really wanted to be an educator but the job market was slim pickings and she really needed a job at that minute in order to be able to pay for the wedding that she had always dreamed of. Her fiancé Matty would probably have been happy with a small affair but Allie wanted a big event full of family and friends and enough food to feed a small army. It was one of the reasons she had fit into the Ackerly family so well, there were so many of them and family was at the core of whatever they did. Instead of taking her lunch break in the food court of the Ministry, Allie had decided to venture into Diagon Alley in the hopes of gaining some more inspiration for her upcoming nuptials. Her sandwich in one hand which she was gently munching away on and her large black bag complete with paint splatters from that days daycare activities sat in the crook of her arm, her feet padded their way along the cobblestones and in the direction of Madame Malkins passing by the wares of the street vendors. A shiny gold necklace quickly caught her eye and she paused for a second to take a closer glance. Perhaps it would be unwise to purchase from one of these vendors as their reputation wasn’t always positive but a girl could certainly have a look could she not? |
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Working hard? That didn't surprise her one bit, he always had been a hard worker and wanted to be the best in his field. "Are you still enjoying working at the sanctuary? I know that you really enjoyed it the last time we spoke." Her laughter filled the air when he mentioned being a child wrangler more often these days. "I can only imagine how much those kids keep you on your toes. I'm sure the creatures are a bit more predictable." OWLs, she didn't miss those in the slightest at all. She nodded, "sounds like you just want them to have a security of passing. I can't blame you there." Snatching a chip she smiled and nodded, "I'm still loving it. There's just so much you can do for people. Little linings here, custom works there." She hummed thinking about the latest project the owner had let her lead on. "Actually, I've gotten a few opportunities on the last few custom orders that came in. But I've still been doing some designing here and there on my own." Did he just offer to give her a full afternoon of picture taking? What if she was the model, would he still do it? "You'd really do that? You'd take photos of my work, what if I wanted to model it in the photos would that be okay?" She didn't lose sight of his later comment, "what's the going rate for a Cooper original session?" He may not always be doing much photography but he was still really good at it and she knew it. Seth Elliot could shush he was always pushing the friend group, but he couldn't be blamed here. Cooper was worth the cost. |
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Smiling a bit as she spoke, Cooper felt his heart swell a bit at hearing how much she was enjoying what she was doing. Thriving, truly. It really was something special to see their generation bouncing back from everything they had been through...and it also reminded him of something. "Speaking of...I may bring my creature healer robes in for some adjusting, if you don't mind. It's starting to fit tight in places and I'd really rather not buy a whole new set." Something special about his first work uniform, even if it was not the profession he saw himself in long term. "I think so...yeah," he nodded with a slightly wider smile. It was such a peculiar barrier to have with his photography but he had worked through the added expectations and pressure he put on himself when it came to friends. He couldn't always help that he was such a perfectionist. "I mean, that's assuming my style suits your aesthetic. I've done some product photos for Helena in the past, jewelry, and that went alright." Talking pricing was something that he still was not comfortable with, a feeling that was only intensified by the level of familiarity with a potential client. He felt awful when the response was that it was too pricy or embarrassed when it seemed like he was selling himself short. So much easier to just get hired for a job. Self employment was stressful. "Oh...well...somewhere between...10 and 15 galleons depending on the length of the shoot and the amount of set up for said shoot," he pitched while rubbing his now sweaty palms on his knees. |
For my Nordic girl! <3 Knick knacks. Ary loved knick knacks, the uncertainty of what would find among the endless amount of trinkets. There was something about that uncertainty and the chaos of it all that appealed to him. It was why he adored that junk shop here in Diagon Alley. That place was next up on his list to visit, after which he needed to catch up with the rest of the family. Except for Dy. His sister was a short distance from him arguing with a witch over a Gobstones set that supposedly once belonged to their dad, the famous player for the Hereford Hippogriffs. Ary wanted to snort with laughter because clearly the witch was lying. Their dad kept ALL his Gobstones sets like a mad hoarder. There was no way that Aditya Atreyu-Rehman would ever discard any of his precious sets and Dy was trying to drill that fact into the witch’s head. Dy was fighting a losing battle though. Ary simply shook his head and decided to examine some rather shiny jewellery on display. Did that bracelet have various species of owls as charms? |
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Passing some stalls Emmie headed over to a jewellery stall where a boy about her age was eyeing up the things on display. Stepping up next to the boy Emmie plastered on a beam, and asked curiously "Hi! Do they have any fun creature bracelets here? I'd really like something with a fairy." |
SPOILER!!: Emmie! <3 While little Ary was not interested in wearing the bracelet, the fact that there were owls on it fascinated him! As a matter of fact, anything pertaining to creatures interested him. His examination of the bracelet was interrupted by a chirpy and bubbly unfamiliar voice at his side. Ary straightened up, turned his head and came face to face with a huge beam. This girl could have been Bryony, his best friend, given those energetic traits. A fairy bracelet? Truthfully, Ary hadn’t noticed. He changed a quick look around but didn’t see any {unless his hurried scan missed them completely}. He turned back to the girl and shook his head. However, a finger did reach out to point to the owl bracelet he had been interested in. Would she perhaps like one with owls instead? |
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Examining the owl bracelet in question Emmie chirped to the boy, throwing in an introduction. "Oh those owl's are cute! I'm Emmeline by the way, who are you? Don't you want that bracelet for yourself?" Boys could wear bracelets just as much as girls did, but when she thought about it Jamie never wore much jewellery. Letting her eyes scan over the display again she wondered if they just sold bracelets or if they necklaces and earrings too? |
SPOILER!!: Emmie! <3 Ary braced himself for the next round of chattering. See, he’d had plenty of experience with that and since he had immediately tied this girl to Bry’s hyperness, it made sense that the newcomer would fire words away at his ears. Also, he was still convinced that he attracted the majority of people that were talkers. Needless to say that Aryan was not disappointed as question upon question were fired. The boy nodded. Yes, the owls were cute. Did this mean that she wanted to buy the bracelet? “I’m Aryan. Hi, Emmeline. No, I was just looking at it. Do you want it?” Because anything related in the remotest of ways to creatures was worth his attention. Ary saw Emmeline looking about at the other items on display. “Looking for something else, then?” Perhaps he could help her find it. |
open This was not the first time Regulus had noticed the street vendors. In all his wanderings through Diagon Alley, when he was just pacing the time away until his father collected him in the past, he'd seen them alright. Heard them. Caught the aromas of the different stalls on the breeze. Other times he'd been here to buy his school things, and had no extra money for anything frivolous. That's why today was, in its way, momentous. He had with him actual spending money, and not only that, but his papà had given it to him. Maybe that was a sign of their changing dynamic. Maybe not. The issue now, of course, was that Regulus couldn't decide where to splurge this extra money, or if he should at all, but save it instead. Perhaps it was a test. Papà would probably save it, but then Papà was averse to spending any money unless he had no other choice. Was it, perhaps, a test to see how alike they really were? It wasn't good to keep thinking like that, Regulus knew, but he couldn't always help it. It was that thinking that had driven him out of every shop so far, so that now he had been walking up and down the vendors' stalls for a good twenty minutes, jangling the coins in his hand, which he kept in his pocket. He could not remember ever having such difficulty making a decision, or puzzling through the deeper meaning of the choice he had been given. Mentally berating himself, Regulus stopped in his tracks, and turned to the nearest stall. Confetti Popcorn. That one. |
Astrid and Phoebe! Drake and Phoebe day, Drake and Phoebe, Draaaake and Phoebaaaaay daaaaay!! Drake had been looking forward to meeting up with friends over the summer pretty much since the minute he stepped foot off of the train. Maybe a little longer because he was distracted momentarily by getting the biiiiiggest mum squeezes, but then when it was home and quieter with not nearly the same chaos as his dorm and the common room, he'd started sending out owls asking everyone what day they'd be at the Alley and if they wanted to meet up. And he was THRILLED when he got a response for when Phoebe would be around. They all had to go shopping at one point, so being able to line his day's up with hers sounded GREAT! Proposing they meet at the street vendors (because he bet they could find something really cool - like maybe some plant hybrids), the boy stood near where the line of stalls began and shifted back and forth on his feet - his curls pulled back and secured in a ponytail at the back of his head. His eyes were peeled as he looked this way and that for his friend. He was also unconsciously having a no-blink contest with himself because he didn't want to miss her. Which unfortunately just meant his eyes were starting to sting and tear up just the smidge. |
SPOILER!!: bestie Drake It was hard to get a hold of Pheebs this summer. She kept her head down in DA, not wanting to be noticed by her classmates. She didn't want to see or talk to people from school, and she didn't want them ruining her summer. Her summer was okay so far, and she wanted Hogwarts kids to Stay Away. Drake, however, did not count. When he asked to meet up, she sent him her schedule extra STAT (that meant really quickly). It was hard to be alone all the time, even if that was what Pheebs had chosen to do- Drake and Phoebe Day was an improvement. Pheebs may have been a little hard to spot, because she had lots of makeup on and sunglasses that hid her face and she was wearing shorts and a baggy hoodie instead of her usual overalls and striped shirt. Also, she was smiling, which she never did. But her backpack was the same and the way she ran towards him with open arms was exactly the same. She was still herself inside. "Drake!!!" Her run may have slowed to a wheeze because her lungs weren't built for running, but just know!! She was running in her heart!! |
SPOILER!!: our fellow plant lover <3 While Drake was wholly unaware of how she had been choosing to spend her summer, if the information came to light he certainly would have been concerned. Being alone was something that honestly… Drake hadn’t really tried much of. The perk of being born with a ready made best friend. He and Gil did most things together, and now that they were in school Drake still managed to have another friend around for most things even if his twin was not available. Why would Phoebe WANT to be alone? The make up and change in style certainly threw Drake off as he scanned the crowd. But what didn’t was the familiar backpack and the enthusiasm to see him. There was not that many people that would be pleased at his company (he assumed anyways) so that had to be his friend!! And even if her own run didn’t have the stamina to get all the way to him, that didn’t bother Drake! For friends, he was happy to make up the distance. Quickly rushing her way too, Drake pulled his friend into a tight hug and gave her a squeeeeeeze. “Phoebe!! It’s so good to see you! Have you been to the vendors before? Do you think we’ll find rare plants?” It quickly occurred to him she had been wheezing though too, so he released and looked at her with concern. “Oops! Are you okay!?” |
SPOILER!!: plant bestie Being lonely was hard, but Phoebe felt her MOST lonely at school! It got better when the other kids went away, and she could at least be herself and not worry about whether they liked her or not. She didn't want to be alone at all... it was just that she didn't want to be around Hogwarts kids that hurt her feelings a lot. Drake made that problem a non-issue. Pheebs wrapped her arms around him tightly |
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He’d also have been very relieved that he didn’t hurt her feelings. He would have been devastated to learn he’d done so! He liked hugs a lot and physical contact, so she could squeeze as muuuuch as she needed and Drake would happily return it! At her words she got an extra squeeze as he nodded in agreement. “I’ve missed you too! Being away from school is weird because I can’t see you and all our friends every day.” It was kind of sad, but he was trying to just focus on how nice it was to have the time with Mum. “Ashthma? Is that the one where your lungs don’t like heavy exertion? Or bad air?” Or… probably other things. “Do you have to use one of those puffer things?” … What were those called again? “Weeeell, I don’t know for SURE but… I want to look! Why wouldn’t people want to try to sell hybrids or something?” Though… now that he thought about it more, the Ministry probably shut that down if they did considering plants could have the potential to be dangerous. |
*if anyone wants a Cyan (and his little girl)* It had been upon his twin sister’s advice that Cyan had finally enrolled Eilonwy in school instead of bringing her with him to work and leaving her in the Ministry daycare while he was on level two or wherever he’d been needed. He had mulled over the decision long enough that Breanne had done it for him, and it had certainly been different for him as well as his little girl. Therefore, he’d come to the decision that they needed little moments like this, after his sister had picked Eilonwy up from school and he had gotten off work for the day. Provided there wasn’t any pressing need for him to go back, given there was every chance a case would necessitate his attention. So far, though, things seemed quiet, and he had brought his little girl to Diagon Alley to experience things when it was quieter. Namely, when there weren’t the Hogwarts students and other older kids roaming around to distract her. There were enough distractions on a quiet evening without the crowds, especially as the duo had found their way to the street vendors. Even so, it was still much easier to keep an eye on his daughter’s little head, roaming ahead of him while munching on a bag of berry popcorn he had bought not that much earlier. “See, Bre?”, He said softly to himself, as if his twin could hear him off at home or wherever she was. “I’m capable of letting her explore on her own.” Technicalities didn’t matter when Eilonwy was still so young. |
Rose got up from the bench she was sitting on, an ornate wooden bench outside of Ollivander's, and walked over to the kebab stand. "One Kebab please, with extra Tahini sauce!" She was thinking about buying her first wand. She recently got her acceptance letter to Hogwarts and her parents were at the flats, filling out the temporary housing application. The three of them had decided to live at the flats while shopping for school supplies. It would be a temporary arrangement, but more home-like than staying in a hotel. Rose looked up at the shopkeeper and handed over the money. "I hope I make friends soon....." she muttered desperately. She was tired of being so solitary. Never communicating to anyone outside of her parents was horrible. Rose was not neurotypical. She had a case of autism spectrum disorder. A communication neurological disorder that prevented her from having a social life. |
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