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Situated on the South Side of the Street you can find a rather hip spot: the Shrunken Head Bowling Alley. You heard that right: shrunken heads. There are no muggle bowling balls here. The shrunken heads have opinions and aren't shy to taunt and tell you if you are rubbish. Be aware too that the bowling pins have a tendency to suddenly disappear, move or reappear when you least want them to. Whether you're part of one of the leagues or if you're a social player, come on in: this is the perfect place to kick back with your mates and have a laugh.
The first thing you notice upon entering the bowling alley is the flashing banner right above the counter indicating that this is where the most important person of this establishment is and where you should go first. The counter has the perfect spot, overseeing all the other areas of the bowling alley, so don't try to sneak your way past. A little further down the counter, you can find the Snack Bar, should you feel hungry. It is also overseen by the shopkeeper, which is why the two are directly connected to each other so they can easily offer assistance at both in just a few steps.
Beyond the counter and snack bar awaits the bowling lanes, divided up into three sectors: One to Four, Five to Eight and Nine to Twelve. Even from here you can hear distinct shouts from one of the bowling balls, telling whoever just threw it what a terrible player they are and that they are probably better off going home and knitting a pair of nice woolen socks. Should you not be that much into bowling, make sure to check out the Gaming Corner slightly to the left of the bowling lanes. A small variety of games have been set up, providing you and your friends with an alternative to bowling.
*The proprietor is not responsible for any injuries that may befall customers who drink/eat potentially hazardous items on the menu. If you don't know that the flames on the flaming chili cheese fries are real, and should be put out before consumption, then you shouldn't be eating them. You also shouldn't be drinking exploding lemonade or ordering biting nachos for that matter. Or Acid sauce. How is it you are capable of ordering for yourself?
Being the strong, independent young man that he was, Brody was still used to paying for everything himself. It was still taking him a while to getting used to sharing his space - and allowing tabs to be paid for while out on dates. Out of the corner of his eyes, he eyed Gabriel’s sheepish smile fondly. Brody was dying to tell Gabriel that he loved that smile but he wouldn’t. Sometimes it still felt as though he couldn’t understand Gabriel; a lot of the times he struggled with figuring out if Gabriel liked him as much as Brody liked him. Because of that, Brody usually held himself back in being fully affectionate because Merlin knew he was not about to get his heart broken if this relationship turned out to be one-sided.
Brody lifted his lips in a smile, returning the gesture. “And we need shoes,” he added. Since neither guy was really a bowler, they obviously didn’t own bowling shoes. Or boots. Or whatever you wanted to call them. He figured that the shopkeeper would have to get them that. And hopefully said shoes weren’t smelly and dirty. Brody liked to keep his feet perfectly clean, thanks. “Size forty,’’ he told the man behind the counter brightly.
Could they hurry up? Brody found himself eager to get onto a lane and embarrass himself in front of Gabe. Huh? That was so unlike him. Then again, he really, really, really liked his boyfriend.
Barty closed his hand around the coins and gave what he thought of as his friendliest smile (which was just slightly alarming to most people, unbeknownst to him). "Lane 23," he answered Gabe, gesturing with his head over in the general direction of the lanes, which were not at all in numerical order.
Barty turned his attention to Brody at the mention of shoes, rolled his eyes, then pointed his wand at the feet of each boy in turn as he muttered a transfiguration spell under his breath. Voila! Regular shoes became bowling shoes! "Just use Finite Incantatum when you're done," he added, then went back to perusing the newspaper classified ads (you never knew when you're find a good bargain there).
If Brody was wondering whether Gabriel's feelings were as strong as his, Gabriel was wondering the same thing. Maybe someday he'd be brave enough to communicate that emotional insecurity, but not today. Today, being brave meant making a fool out of himself with bowling.
He returned Barty's discomforting smile with a polite nod and his own smile. "Thank you very much, sir," he said. He tried not to be alarmed by the changes to his shoes as he turned to look for lane 23. There it was--sandwiched between two other lanes that were note lanes 22 and 24. How odd. "Let's go, Brody," he said cheerfully, leading the way toward the lane. Now all that was left was to choose a shrunken head and decide who'd go first.
If Brody was wondering whether Gabriel's feelings were as strong as his, Gabriel was wondering the same thing. Maybe someday he'd be brave enough to communicate that emotional insecurity, but not today. Today, being brave meant making a fool out of himself with bowling.
He returned Barty's discomforting smile with a polite nod and his own smile. "Thank you very much, sir," he said. He tried not to be alarmed by the changes to his shoes as he turned to look for lane 23. There it was--sandwiched between two other lanes that were note lanes 22 and 24. How odd. "Let's go, Brody," he said cheerfully, leading the way toward the lane. Now all that was left was to choose a shrunken head and decide who'd go first.
Brody, probably. To be polite.
Right, right.
They were magical; no need for actually bowling shoes. Brody thought it was pretty neat the way his shoes suddenly were adjusted. Why did he have the sense that his date was somewhat thrown off by the abrupt shoe change? Shaking with silent laughter because of this, Brody waved goodbye to the man as he took off with Gabe. That shopkeep sure could use some lessons on providing friendly customer service. And a lesson in numbers since these lanes were placed so… un-chronologically. But this was a happy occasion and Brody was over the moon about being out and about with Gabe.
Very reluctantly, he broke away from Gabriel as they arrived at their designated lane. The laughter that he had been holding back finally escaped. “Did you hear what one of those shrunken heads said? The bowler should get their eyes checked because they can’t aim properly.” Not for a moment did Brody doubt he would hear something of the sort about his own bowling techniques. He grabbed the first head assigned to his and Gabe’s lane. “I’m guessing I go first?” Then, “Don’t laugh, okay?” came his humorous warning. The boyfriend was quite welcome to laugh at Brody’s abysmal bowling abilities if he wanted to; he’d be cool with it.
Ignoring the remark from his chosen shrunken head about him needing to wash his hands {he did not, mind you. His hands and fingernails were perfectly groomed}, prepared himself. “Watch and learn, Gabe,” he joked before walking briskly a bit down the lane and releasing the head. It all seemed to be going well for about a second when the head rolled off from the lane and into a gutter.
Ignoring the remark from his chosen shrunken head about him needing to wash his hands {he did not, mind you. His hands and fingernails were perfectly groomed}, prepared himself. “Watch and learn, Gabe,” he joked before walking briskly a bit down the lane and releasing the head. It all seemed to be going well for about a second when the head rolled off from the lane and into a gutter.
"Way to go to impress, mate!" chortled Brody's shrunken head loudly before it rolled out of sight at the end of the alley.
"Better luck next time, dearie," chirped a warm feminine voice from one of the line of shrunken heads waiting in line to be bowled.
Brody should be alarmed too about the shoe change, Gabriel thought. Then again, Brody hadn't taken classes intended to make one suspicious of everybody and everything. In this scenario? Yeah, changing shoes for them was helpful and maybe even a little thoughtful. In any other scenario, particularly one involving Gabriel's job? Someone else changing what sort of shoes he was wearing could be an act of aggression.
He could picture it. Chasing a dark wizard, and they switched his shoes from sensible sneakers or boots to something difficult to run in. Like high heels or something with an open back. It was a scary thought, and one he hadn't really considered until today.
Gabriel's concerned thoughts were pushed away, though, as Brody started laughing. Gabriel couldn't help but smile, too, at that sound. It was such a nice sound. "I won't laugh," he promised. Considering how bad he expected to be at bowling, he would have no room for judgment.
He watched intently as Brody threw the first shrunken head. As his boyfriend's comment clashed with his luck, Gabriel grinned wider. "Just warming up, I suppose?" he teased as he fetched a shrunken head to take his own turn.
"I think you're meant to roll it down the middle, right?" He copied Brody's form, aiming for the center pin when he threw the head. He winced as it rolled far more slowly than Brody's. They were definitely just warming up.
Brody should be alarmed too about the shoe change, Gabriel thought. Then again, Brody hadn't taken classes intended to make one suspicious of everybody and everything. In this scenario? Yeah, changing shoes for them was helpful and maybe even a little thoughtful. In any other scenario, particularly one involving Gabriel's job? Someone else changing what sort of shoes he was wearing could be an act of aggression.
He could picture it. Chasing a dark wizard, and they switched his shoes from sensible sneakers or boots to something difficult to run in. Like high heels or something with an open back. It was a scary thought, and one he hadn't really considered until today.
Gabriel's concerned thoughts were pushed away, though, as Brody started laughing. Gabriel couldn't help but smile, too, at that sound. It was such a nice sound. "I won't laugh," he promised. Considering how bad he expected to be at bowling, he would have no room for judgment.
He watched intently as Brody threw the first shrunken head. As his boyfriend's comment clashed with his luck, Gabriel grinned wider. "Just warming up, I suppose?" he teased as he fetched a shrunken head to take his own turn.
"I think you're meant to roll it down the middle, right?" He copied Brody's form, aiming for the center pin when he threw the head. He winced as it rolled far more slowly than Brody's. They were definitely just warming up.
Having completely forgotten about the whole shoe-changing situation by now, Brody eyed Gabe with some level of concern. “You okay? You looked sort of spaced out.” It hadn’t occurred to him that the boyfriend was actually thinking of work related stuff. He’d have told Gabe now wasn’t the time. Now was the time to bowl and have fun! But then he was smiling, and Brody was staring at that smile. Gosh, he wanted to kiss Gabe so much!
Brody straightened his posture after watching the head roll sadly down the gutter, the head’s words echoing in his brain. Ah, well. There would be plenty more opportunities to get this right. “Yeah, thanks,’’ he called to the disappearing head, looking at Gabe with an amused expression and rolling his eyes. “Just warming up,’’ came his happy confirmation. They might have only just gotten started and his aim had been well off, but Brody was happy. So very happy.
“I might have forgotten about that fact.” The DIMC employee gestured to the lane. “Show me what you’ve got then.” He was all grins and hopeful that Gabriel would fare better than him. Apparently not though? “Clearly that other shrunken head’s good wishes were not enough.” He paused then added teasingly, “So much for those muscular arms of yours.” His eyes trailed the snail-paced head as he laughed softly before he grabbed another head. This time, he was going to do much better; the young man was determined to. And so he held the head deftly in his right hand, took a bit of a running start then let the head roll. Oh hey! This round was somewhat more proper? At least the head did not end up in the gutter and was actually moving along the lane!
Gabriel flashed a grin for Brody's benefit. "I'm sorry," he said, shrugging. "It's hard to relax, sometimes." He would try to relax, for Brody's sake. And his own, too, honestly. He needed to do fun activities like this more, with Brody, with his friends. Maybe occasionally with his family (but only occasionally).
"It wasn't that bad," he argued, feeling a little defensive even as the shrunken head he'd thrown literally yawned due to how poorly he'd thrown it. He'd do better next time. He promised.
"Well done," he said, nodding appreciatively as Brody took a running start for his second throw. Was that the proper bowling form? Gabriel had no clue, but it looked smooth. He wondered if he needed to try bowling that way, with the running start. It would certainly solve the too-slow-roll problem.
He picked up a shrunken head and looked at Brody. "Do you have any advice?" Since Brody seemed like he really had just needed to warm up. And Gabriel...would take any advice he could get.
Gabriel flashed a grin for Brody's benefit. "I'm sorry," he said, shrugging. "It's hard to relax, sometimes." He would try to relax, for Brody's sake. And his own, too, honestly. He needed to do fun activities like this more, with Brody, with his friends. Maybe occasionally with his family (but only occasionally).
"It wasn't that bad," he argued, feeling a little defensive even as the shrunken head he'd thrown literally yawned due to how poorly he'd thrown it. He'd do better next time. He promised.
"Well done," he said, nodding appreciatively as Brody took a running start for his second throw. Was that the proper bowling form? Gabriel had no clue, but it looked smooth. He wondered if he needed to try bowling that way, with the running start. It would certainly solve the too-slow-roll problem.
He picked up a shrunken head and looked at Brody. "Do you have any advice?" Since Brody seemed like he really had just needed to warm up. And Gabriel...would take any advice he could get.
Gabe was okay. That’s all that mattered. Brody returned the grin. “It’s alright. It comes with your job, I guess.” Aurors could be so uptight; though… it definitely applied to Coordinators turned Consulate, should you want to dissect Brody’s own life.
Oh, man!
Was that shrunken head yawning? Brody covered his mouth with a hand as he started laughing. This was the most amusing thing he had seen in a long, long time. Needless to say his laughter hastily turned into a cough to disguise his amusement. “Not bad at all.” Cough. Nothing but a supportive boyfriend here.
Advice? Brody had a bit. “Imagine the pins are a few of those awful wizards you hunt every day. Plus it never hurts to have a good luck kiss.” Without further ado, he pecked Gabe on the lips, smirked then stood back to watch Gabe do his thing.
Barty looked up occasionally from his paper to make sure there was no mischief going on in the Alley (or anyone trying to sneak in without paying, although the Shrunken Heads would usually alert him of that). This time he caught a fleeting kiss between two of his bowlers (Brody and Gabe). Snorting softly to himself, Barty went back to checking the Classifieds. He had never thought of a bowling alley as a particularly romantic spot and it surprised him how many couples seemed to think it was the very place.
Gabe was okay. That’s all that mattered. Brody returned the grin. “It’s alright. It comes with your job, I guess.” Aurors could be so uptight; though… it definitely applied to Coordinators turned Consulate, should you want to dissect Brody’s own life.
Oh, man!
Was that shrunken head yawning? Brody covered his mouth with a hand as he started laughing. This was the most amusing thing he had seen in a long, long time. Needless to say his laughter hastily turned into a cough to disguise his amusement. “Not bad at all.” Cough. Nothing but a supportive boyfriend here.
Advice? Brody had a bit. “Imagine the pins are a few of those awful wizards you hunt every day. Plus it never hurts to have a good luck kiss.” Without further ado, he pecked Gabe on the lips, smirked then stood back to watch Gabe do his thing.
Gabriel was not fooled by the fake cough. He gave Brody a wry sideways look, amused that his boyfriend was amused. By his terrible bowling skills, no less. It didn't particularly make him want to get better at it, if being bad at something made Brody laugh.
Hmmm, imagine the pins were dark wizards. That would be good advice... If he threw shrunken heads at dark wizards on a regular basis. A good luck kiss though... That was just the thing. "Right. Well, thank you for the good luck," he said with a wink before picking up a shrunken head.
Just...aim. Like he aimed spells. He could do that. He swung the head back, took a few steps in quick succession toward the bowling lane, and threw the head straight down the lane towards the middle of the bowling pins.
Gabriel was not fooled by the fake cough. He gave Brody a wry sideways look, amused that his boyfriend was amused. By his terrible bowling skills, no less. It didn't particularly make him want to get better at it, if being bad at something made Brody laugh.
Hmmm, imagine the pins were dark wizards. That would be good advice... If he threw shrunken heads at dark wizards on a regular basis. A good luck kiss though... That was just the thing. "Right. Well, thank you for the good luck," he said with a wink before picking up a shrunken head.
Just...aim. Like he aimed spells. He could do that. He swung the head back, took a few steps in quick succession toward the bowling lane, and threw the head straight down the lane towards the middle of the bowling pins.
"Hah! See that?!"
Brody happened to catch a glimpse of old Barty and his reaction to that kiss. Did it phase Brody? Of course not. He resisted the urge to snigger by telling himself that the man must have had bad luck with love in the past and had now made himself bitter towards such displays of affection. What was important, however, was that Gabe was amused by the cough-laugh. The bonus? The kiss was well received. “You got this,” Brody encouraged, and flirtily so.
He may have had his fingers crossed behind his back. No that Brody believed in such things but hey. He really wanted that boyfriend of his to have a change of luck. It seemed like channeling all his luck to Gabe helped? Brody clapped his hands a few times. “I did! Quite the improvement there.” Grinning, he stepped up beside the other man. “So far, my luck is working for you.” If most or all of the pins would be knocked over, then it’d be perfect.
Just...aim. Like he aimed spells. He could do that. He swung the head back, took a few steps in quick succession toward the bowling lane, and threw the head straight down the lane towards the middle of the bowling pins.
"Hah! See that?!"
"Wheeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! shouted the Shrunken Head as it barrelled down the alley. "That's the stuff!!"
Shrunken Head Bowling Alley 
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