#IM GOING TO WEAVE YOU INTO SOMETHING MONSTROUS

[attractthecrows]

love pellinore warthrop. love to flog him with chains

[kamaluhkhan]

everyone stop what you're doing....jo just dropped another masterpiece!!!

absolutely mind-bending heart-breaking gut-wrenching.... A MUST READ!

“He’s waging war with the gods. I don’t think he prays to them anymore".....

....“Not when it comes to you."

had me on the verge of tears already !! the DEVOTION !! also the way you write hestia is so perfect omg

This is the last time, he reminds Kronos, and there are monstrous hands around his brain, but yours are still gently holding his heart.

im obsessed with how you brought in all this stuff from the books. the hold kronos has on luke vs. the love luke has for trouble....

"You nod, remembering it all too well as you both watch the fireworks in silence. He wasn’t able to watch them properly the last time he was with you, Annie, and Percy just a few hours prior."

the whole time travel thing....written so beautifully. so so heart-wrenching

"Right now, he looks just as you like to remember him, as you knew him four years ago. Multicolored camp beads are resting easily against his broad neck instead of weighing him down, and he’s wearing the red converse his dad gave him. He’s too young, and so in love with you that it blinds him, but even then…now, he knows the look on your face and it makes him ask, “It’s not my first time visiting you is it?��"

i am once again crying !!! the necklace....red converse....backbiter....they really were just kids born to be greek tragedies huh. also the "it's not my first time visiting you is it?" is kinda giving howl's moving castle vibes which i love

“This was his promise to me. By showing me something I was sure of—and I always knew you’d graduate and make it big. Wanted to see it for myself, baby,” he grins, tangling his fingers with yours like your strings of fate, and though you know the answer to your next question you still take a chance, just in case.

hello? HELLO? you weave all the timelines together so beautifully and the idea of luke being able to jump into different points to visit trouble at different stages of each of their lives? so brilliant!! THIS is the moment that really got me, though. like how that luke hasn't betrayed his trouble yet, how he can go back to a time when they were happy and together and life was bickering over strawberries. so he's almost giddy at seeing her in the future, graduating like they'd always talked about. thinking that he'd never hurt trouble, even if he joins kronos. and then there's trouble he's talking to, who knows everything he's done, who's weighed down by all the tragedy she knows they'll go through, together and apart, trying not to spoil the ending.

luke giving into kronos' power and being so in love with trouble still....trouble still loving him after all this time.....always.....

in conclusion, jo you are a brilliant writer and i am so looking forward to what's next!!!

solipsism

a 'partners in crime' installment - luke castellan x dionysus!reader

words: 5.1k

summary: (post-TLT) drink responsibly… trouble doesn’t; you punch luke in this lol (novelization spoilers? kinda canon-compliant)

The one where you finally pray to Hestia to keep your home safe, even if he's also trying to destroy it. Luke visits you four times during college, in a timeline opposite to yours (doctor x river song-coded) (lore expansion & explanation here) (Luke Castellan x fem!Dionysus!reader)

a/n: i hurt myself with this one. anyways its canon (to me) that we’re roommates now !!!! more to come like i promised even during my birthday break ! scream at me in the comments and feel free to reblog :)

(post 3/6, edited/betad @hotchfiles )

—

solipsism (the idea that only one’s mind is sure to exist)

You didn’t mean to send a prayer out into the world so strong that it would will an apparition of an Olympian, but burning cookies seems to be your specialty. Arguably, they weren’t the good kind, just the ones you grab in the freezer aisle of Walmart, and still, somehow they set your fire alarm off. Opening a window and waving through the smoke— Hestia, goddess of the hearth and home was standing next to the rickety dining table you bought off Facebook marketplace. 

“Holy shit, you scared me!” 

There’s mirth in her eyes at your reaction, though for all you know it could be annoyance—it’s not often that an immortal could be badgered enough to reveal themselves for an accident like this one.

“Dionysus was right. You’re too much like him for your own good,” she grins, taking a seat at the table like she’s an old friend. There’s a warmth to her unlike anyone you’ve met before—fire crackling in her eyes and an aura of serenity swaddling the air that you’ve never felt before in your student accomodations.

“I’m sorry I just… with all due respect, what’s going on?”

You go to toss the hot tray of cookies in the trash bin, before hesitating and putting them on your nicest plate. A gentle shove slides them over the table to the goddess, and she takes a crunch out of one happily.

“You were praying,” she states, like its common knowledge, “so strongly, in fact, I thought I’d make a visit to one of my most loyal devotees. Though in this case, you’re the object of his devotion, yes?”

Your hands are clasped across your lap and a familiar feeling spreads through you, then she jerks her hand up and points, “There. You’re doing it again. Y’know, it’s about time you start reciprocating the effort. Hermes’ son prays for you with intention.” You were thinking about Luke before she appeared—and hope glimmered like a tiny open flame. It’s still there, in the slow beating of your heart.

“He’s waging war with the gods. I don’t think he prays to them anymore,” you reason. Luke's offerings to the hearth must have been extinguished by the wrath he’s rained on Camp Half-Blood by now. The perfect storm.

“Not when it comes to you. Mortals never fail to surprise me. But it seems you’re a special case, my sweet. He’s made a home of you.”

To love Luke feels like having to keep a secret and never being able to tell anyone, but Hestia reaches for your hands across the table and looks at you knowingly.

“When I gave up my seat on Olympus for your father it wasn’t a sign of weakness, even if I did it so that others could be happy. I think your soul is a lot like mine in that you’ve given up so much of what you want to protect others. In turn, he’s doing the best he can to protect you; I listen to him every day, sweet girl. You are not weak for loving him still. There are generations of strength in your bones.”

“What else am I supposed to do? I search for him in everyone I meet and I’m not sure I’ll ever find that type of love again.”

These are thoughts you’d never told anyone—not Annabeth, not your father, not even yourself and surely never aloud.

“I hope you never do,” the goddess says, and you know it too.

i. no winter lasts forever (a night out after a drive home from virginia)

Flick. Flick.

“Come on, Hestia. Not you too. Don’t fail me now,” you mumble. The frigid metal of your zippo lighter rubs against your thumbs as you cup it in your hands, shielding the tiny flame that fights the harsh winter wind. Trying to focus as you lean against the brick of the Inferno, you take a deep inhale of smoke to warm your bones. Healing was never supposed to be easy.

Breathe in.

It’s somewhat of a routine you’ve made since getting back from visiting Annie. You’re a regular at this pub now—not even acclimated to the ins and outs of your sleepy college town, and though you don’t know the name of the hall your classes are in, you do know there’s a barstool in the corner of the Inferno with your name on it. There’s something funny about using your father’s gift as a form of fake id, and you wonder if he knows how heavily you indulge in your vices. Five vodka redbulls down the hatch have your knees feeling weak under the alley light until a stranger looms over you like a shadow.

“Those things are gonna kill you one day.”

Breathe out.

“Gods willing,” you laugh, stumbling over your boots and Luke catches you like he was never meant to let you go in the first place. The leather of his jacket is musky and his hair is buzzed. 

Either you were wasted or uncaring of who he was (both), you toss him your car keys and climb into the passenger seat. It’s a silent ride to your apartment besides you giving him the directions and Luke wonders how bad he must have hurt you for you to lay out for a stranger and waste away like this. But he’s the farthest thing from a stranger, even in this error in time and you’re still the daughter of the god of wine so after the third time you try to put your key in the lock he helps you because he hopes you’ll let him in.

“Y’know Annie would get a kick out of your haircut. Come inside.”

You’ve always been able to see right through him.

He’s standing in the hallway with his hand around your waist and he’s already broken too many of the titan’s orders by being here, so he scoffs, “You’re not gonna remember this by morning.” But you leave the door open anyway, dragging him by the wrist and your hand still feels the same in his even after all this time. What more is there to resist when there’s not much left of him to lose? 

This is the last time, he reminds Kronos, and there are monstrous hands around his brain, but yours are still gently holding his heart. The little part of his soul that hasn’t been eaten away holds on for a bit longer, tethered to your being by the way your hands are tied.

“I can, if you want me to.” 

He looks ready for war, and he is— yet you have him following you around the tiny living room almost in a trace as your arms loop around his neck. Luke doesn’t answer. He doesn’t know if you’d want to see him sober, especially when his absence is still fresh for you.

“Baby you look different from the last time we met,” you slur, stepping onto his feet as he takes you for a spin around the coffee table, dancing in the quiet. He’s older than you’ve ever seen him, voice deeper and colder. This is not the boy that ran from you in the forest many months ago. This is a man who’s seen horrors you haven’t lived through yet. You can deduce that he’s the cause of them too.

“So do you. Though still as beautiful as I remember,” he whispers like he’ll get struck for saying it. Your eyes are unfocused as he inspects your face, still soft and young with hope. The titan grips his features now, almost burning through his sense of self—though it’s not tangible he wonders if you could see it.

“I see you all the time. I just… usually have to drink enough to make it feel real. I just miss you.”

He looks pained at your words, and for a moment you wonder if he even heard you. Luke pushes you towards your room, an aura of darkness spreading through him like fire but he relents, pushing past the flames. He’s on borrowed time now, but Luke would gladly waste those minutes tucking you into bed.

Lifting your arms up, he pulls an old shirt of his over your shoulders, and his eyes catch onto the fact that you’re still wearing the dragon scale necklace he made you. Luke digs through your medicine cabinet while you sloppily wash your face and his calloused hands rub serums and moisturizer into your cheeks like how you taught him once upon a time. These are the things he won’t forget. Kronos can take it all away, as long as he gets to keep you. You lean against his chest and shut your eyes, scared that if you open them again he won’t be there.

“You’re not supposed to be here, are you? Are you mine?”

“I’m always going to be yours,” he says with no hesitation, “Four years later, and there is still not one living thing worth losing you,” he says, lips chasing after your fingertips as you trace his jaw. Your eyes flutter in exhaustion, and Luke’s eyes survey your room and he finds traces of you that he’s missed as he rubs your back lovingly like he has all the time in the world.

Your hands cup his face, making him look at you, and he surrenders himself to you as you pull him into a kiss. He’s a ticking time bomb about to detonate in your arms. The warnings that Kronos is beating into his head is nothing compared to the pain of knowing he won’t be with you for much longer. And he kisses you like he could save you from his blaze by doing so, lips and tongue and shattered breath saying I’m here, and this is real. Maybe your worst vice is not being able to wean yourself off the taste of him.

“Tell me what I need to hear. Even if it’s not true…Even if you’re not real,” you say between gasps, and your position on his lap makes him wonder why he’d ever give the world up and burn it down when it’s sitting right here and staring at him with violet eyes.

“It’s always going to be you and me. I’ll love you until the end of my days and then some.”

You laugh in the way that drives him crazy—though he already is, for loving you still. Luke lost all sense of himself when he left camp four years ago. All that remains is you, pushing him so that his back hits the bedspread. He lets you consume what’s left of him, and he’s on fire.

You wake up the next morning with a jolt. It’s still winter, and you’re still alone but despite the chill, you feel warm.

ii. autumn years (with a familiar visitor who finally shows up on time)

Knock, knock.

There’s someone at the door, but your date isn’t supposed to be here for another 10 minutes.

“Babe, someone’s here for you!” your roommate Jo calls out, and you tell her it’s fine to let them in.

The pantyhose clings to the lotion on your thighs and you fix the bracelet on your wrist, stepping out from the bathroom hollering, “You’re early, Kit! Don’t tell me you’re skipping to the good part; I’m a lady i–”

“Who’s Kit?”

Luke’s standing in the doorway of your bedroom and his eyes flit to the reflection of your naked back peeking through the undone zipper of your dress. You look stunning, lips painted red and eyes smoky, but you’re also furious. Too bad he’s always thought you looked extra hot when you’re mad.

“None of your business. As you can see, I don’t exactly have the time for this, Castellan.”

He shrugs, closing the door behind him gently and with the raise of his brow, Luke is leering at you like a teenage boy. Respectfully, of course. The glint of celestial bronze against his hip reminds you who he’s become though.

“I’ll make the time if you say the words, trouble.”

Sighing, you step forward, but then he does that thing again from the last time you saw him out on sea, twisting the crick in his neck like he has to resist your touch.

“You’re still funny. Some old habits die hard I guess,” you scoff, turning and lifting your hair out of the way so that he can zip you up. He opts to not touch you, sliding the dress closed until it fits against your body. You think you can feel his fingers ghost above your skin, and goosebumps rise where he leaves and his breath is warm on the back of your neck.

“Leave your weapons at the door. I run a tight ship, unlike you.” 

Gliding away from him while his hands are still in the air, you turn and sit at the edge of your bed, crossing your legs as you nod at him. Luke picks up the pair of heels next to where he sets the sword against the wall, and like it’s nothing out of the sort, he gets on his knees. You offer a foot to him while he speaks, “I could tell by the taser on your bedside table. You’ve killed monsters before, why a taser?”

There’s freckles on his tanned cheeks and he smells like the sun. You wonder what he’s done to come see you tonight.

“I’ve found out that not all monsters are mythical. When…are you?”

His eyes dart away from yours, securing the buckles on your ankles, and his touch sears through the mesh of your pantyhose.

“A few months ahead.”

There’s an eyelash on his nose, and your finger reaches out to touch it, but he flinches away. Face pulling into a frown, you spit, “You never slow down enough to let me catch up with you, huh?”

You can hear the microwave whirring in the kitchen, your roommate none the wiser of the sound of two hearts breaking. The both of you suddenly realize this is the first time you two have been alone (and the same age) since he left camp. There’s a silent question of if it will ever happen again as he gets up from the floor.

“So you’re seeing other people. Must’ve been easy, h—”

You punch him in the face before he finishes speaking, and all he can do is laugh. You would never let him off so easily.

“Fuck you. What, you think you can just hop in here and act like everything’s okay? What do you want, Castellan? For me to grovel at your feet and beg for you to fix what you broke?”

And you’re right, he supposes. This is the closest to peace that you’ll get in this life you’ve created without him. He won’t be able to take you on nice dinner dates like Kit can, or hold your hand without feeling like fate is going to smite him for existing. You scoff at the lack of his response.

“What happens next?”

Luke watches you chew on your lip, and even if he shouldn’t touch you in fear that you’ll will away his reason for defecting, by the gods does he want to.

“What do you mean?” he mutters. The cord of his necklace is tucked into your dress now that he looks closer.

“If I’m right,” you say (and it’s rare that you’re not), “each version of you that comes to see me knows less, and each time I see you I learn more. You were 23 last time. Why didn’t you see me at 22?” You know he won’t have an answer, but this is the only time you’ll be able to ask the real him. The one that’s yours, just a few steps ahead.

“There’s already been a lot that’s happened since I last saw you.”

“Are you going to hurt me?” you offer him, like he hasn’t already. He can feel the bruise blooming on his cheekbone and he grimaces with what he’s about to say.

“Never intentionally. I’ll try not to.”

It sounds stupid coming out of his mouth and you feel stupid with how empty you feel just watching him. He’s made a home of you, choosing moments in time to visit, but when he inevitably leaves, then what? Luke taught you how to be a home, forgetting you exist until it’s convenient and now there are things about yourself that you can’t unlearn yet don’t know what to do with.

Your roommate knocks on your door asking if you want a shot of vodka before your date starts, and Luke is already walking towards it since he’s overstayed his welcome. He raises his sword to open a portal but you shake your head.

“Go out the way you came,” you swallow, fiddling with the copper pendant around your neck, “and take the purple umbrella in the hall. It’s raining outside.”

When you walk into the kitchen moments later, the front door shuts gently and Jo’s sitting at the table with a mouthful of ramen noodles.

“Is he warming up the car? Your date’s hot as fuck, babe,” she grins, steam coating her glasses.

Knock, knock.

Your phone buzzes and there’s another knock at the door. Kit is 15 minutes late.

iii. auld lang syne (ringing in the new year with an old friend, or more)

Your apartment is filled with friends and acquaintances, but who the fuck cares anyway? There’s 10 minutes to midnight and you’re crossed out of your mind. Holding onto a half-empty bottle of prosecco, your heels clomp over to the window in the living room as you crawl onto the fire escape. 

Clack, clack.

The air is chilly as you hug yourself, and you hear someone step out onto the stairs behind you. 

“What are you doing out here alone?”

You sigh, not even turning to look at him, “What are you doing here, period?”

He takes the bottle of prosecco out of your hands, making you swivel your head to look at him as he takes a big gulp. He’s younger again, and it makes you laugh at how fucked up your luck must be to never be able to see him when you want. It’s always been on Luke’s terms.

“You’re too young to be drinking that,” you drawl, knees bumping against his when he takes a seat next to you. Long Island is quiet at night, and the lack of city lights is nice when you can see the stars so clearly. Music blares through your JBL speaker in the living room, and the sound of cheers gets louder when The Neighborhood starts playing.

“We used to do worse,” he laughs, but something in it sounds hollow. The breeze picks up and you shiver, taking the bottle back from him and swigging it.

“All these visits…you sure do know how to make a girl feel special. But you never come in the summer.” 

He clears his throat, before leaning back on his elbows, “ I haven’t gone a summer without you since we were 14.” This Luke doesn’t know what’s ahead of him yet, but you realize that he’s right. Even now, he keeps up the habit of pissing you off and raising hell on Camp Half-Blood every summer. You notice he’s not wearing his camp beads, and he notices you shiver again in the chill. 

Clack, clack.

Your heels rattle the metal of the fire escape as you readjust your position. He takes off his jacket to sling it around your shoulders and neither of you realize you’ve missed the countdown until fireworks burst in the sky above you. The red and blue reflect off the planes of his face, but what stands out to you is the orange of his shirt, and you comprehend now where he just came from.

“I had to see you. I didn’t get to say goodbye when I left,” he says, and you take another sip before handing him the bottle to finish off. The only new years’ kiss you’re getting is through the lips that hold the last remaining drops of prosecco. 

You nod, remembering it all too well as you both watch the fireworks in silence. He wasn’t able to watch them properly the last time he was with you, Annie, and Percy just a few hours prior.

iv. spring cleaning (only big days are ahead for the both of you) 

It’s quiet in your college apartment this morning. 

The moving boxes are half-packed and stacked against the wall of the entryway and the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the French press on your kitchen counter permeates the air. Perhaps the idea of caffeine is the last thing on your mind, hands twitching as they smooth over the black polyester of your graduation regalia. There’s a few hours still before the ceremony, but you’ve never liked being unprepared. Pollux is driving your dad down the Island because despite the war you’ll inevitably be fighting in once you cross the stage and get your degree, D specifically told Zeus that he’d wage another if he was made to miss your big day.

Parting your hair to fit under the ugly graduation cap, the tassel swings in front of your face as you grab a few bobby pins from the side table. A golden medallion of Castor’s smiling face almost whips into your cornea and you stifle a laugh. D said in his Iris message last night that all three of them would cheer so loud you’d be able to hear it from Elysium (and honestly, jokes aside—he probably has a way of making that happen). A staggered breath leaves your lungs, and you’re filled with anticipation, though you’re not sure what for. 

Time is a thief and you know that too well by now. After all, you’ve spent the past four years running from the truth of your heritage—dodging monsters between study sessions and grief welcoming you every time you come home. Four years later, and who are you trying to fool? While walking across that stage later you might as well take a bow. After all, your ex-boyfriend is the reason why there’s going to be a war of both blood and ichor, mortal and undying and still, you find yourself in the middle of it. You’ve found yourself fielding questions this last semester like dodging celestial bronze, the questions always a little too close to home and the answers you give are too entertaining to be considered the truth.

So, what are your future plans? 

Oh no big deal, just going home and dealing with generations-old family drama. If it drives me crazy enough I might enlist! 

Gods. 

How do you even articulate that these past few years were those future plans? That you didn’t expect to be alive this long, much less have the comfort of feeling secure enough to dream… It’s been years since you’ve had a good dream to work towards with a boy you once knew holding your hand through it all. But the expensive piece of paper you’ll be receiving later feels fake somehow. 

Who does that belong to? Surely not you…surely, someone who dreams without bearing the weight that comes with it. Someone who doesn’t have to look over their shoulder everytime they walk to work in the mornings, who can convince children that monsters aren’t real without having to lie. Psychology was a great field to learn from the mortal side of things—to know the reasons why brain chemistry affects us so deeply instead of just willing it away with the touch of your fingers. You like making people feel better. But who can ever do that for you?

A gust of wind sweeps through your room, the multicolored tassels hanging off your neck swaying from the force and you shut your eyes knowing he’s there again. Citrus and musk, and something that’s just him. He knocks over your hamper, cussing under his breath until his eyes follow your motionless figure in front of the mirror.

“Shit. I can explain, um… I thought you’d still be asleep,” Luke sputters, his converse falling into your laundry pile like quicksand. He bends over, stuffing your pajamas and sweatshirts back into the bin with fidgety hands as his eyes take a quick scan of your room. There are no pictures of you and him on the bedside table. For a moment, he wonders what that means but then his cheeks redden when he picks up a pair of your lacy underwear. He shoves that down too.

“Big day today. You know I can’t sleep when I know something is about to happen,” you smile wistfully, and you keep your eyes shut for longer, because like this, it’s almost like he’s actually there in real time. In a world where things went your way, this would be his apartment too, and his clothes would be scattered around your shared bedroom like how they used to back in cabin 12. You always used to put them on The Chair, as he would call it—but Luke’s known to make a mess of your life regardless of your efforts.

“When isn’t there? Something’s always going on when you’re around, trouble.”

Click. Scattered memories flicker in your head like images through a view-finder, spinning through your vision as you hear the sound of his laughter, gently tapping away at your heart again. Click. In the ones you pre-selected, he’s draped in sunlight, honey eyes sweet and kind, and his kisses are perpetual instead of an indulgence. Click. He’s always wearing faded orange, worn-out, but most of all well-loved. Click.

You open your eyes and they meet his own in the mirror. Time stops for once, letting you catch your breath.

Right now, he looks just as you like to remember him, as you knew him four years ago. Multicolored camp beads are resting easily against his broad neck instead of weighing him down, and he’s wearing the red converse his dad gave him. He’s too young, and so in love with you that it blinds him, but even then…now, he knows the look on your face and it makes him ask, “It’s not my first time visiting you is it?”

“You’re usually more discreet, the door right behind me wouldn’t have been your first option. But you’ve never failed to surprise me before. Tell me about your day, Luke.”

A hesitant smile crosses his face as he sheathes Backbiter against his hip, adjusting under the weight like he’s not used to it yet, and then he speaks, “We ate strawberries in the fields today, straight off the vine, but I argued that the ones you conjure will always taste sweeter to me. You smushed one against my face and I carried you home. You?”

You nod, turning around to face a ghost of your past, and the both of you meet in the middle only a hairs distance away as you admire each other.

“I graduate today. Annabeth’s driving up with her boyfriend and the rest of my family is coming to celebrate.”

He doesn’t know of Percy yet, of Chris’ insanity, of your brother’s death, and the immense hurt he’s caused everyone. The smile that lights up his face makes you realize he thinks he's still a part of this—you. And you miss him—even when he’s right here, fuck, you miss all the versions of him that have come to visit, even the ones you don’t know of yet. Tears brim your waterline as you take a deep breath; the last thing you want to do is scare him away.

“This was his promise to me. By showing me something I was sure of—and I always knew you’d graduate and make it big. Wanted to see it for myself, baby,” he grins, tangling his fingers with yours like your strings of fate, and though you know the answer to your next question you still take a chance, just in case.

“If I tell you what’s happened since…you. Would it be too late to change your mind?”

“Trouble, do you want me to? Kronos’ plan is already set in motion. I think…” he swallows, and your vision blurs without your permission as tears start to fall. Through the film over your violet eyes, Luke frowns and pulls your fingertips to his lips, kissing each one. He hasn’t done that in years.

“Did I make a mistake? Do I lose you, in the end?”

“Angelface…” you sniff, leaning your cheek against his hand, “You were so scared of losing me that you didn't even stop to think of what losing you would do to me. I lost you so long ago, Luke. And you’re not mine anymore. I don't think you have been in a long time.” In these heels, your forehead is closer to his lips so he kisses that too, hoping that somehow this time he can will away your pain instead of his. He doesn’t know what to do but hold you until you say something again.

“I’ll tell you something you need to hear. And no matter what you say or think, babe—it’s the truth. Even without all the glory in the world I would still be yours. I still am, even if I can’t bear it.”

Though he’s holding you, it somehow feels like the opposite—a purer version of him in your embrace while he holds the broken pieces of you together with his golden touch. Right now, you look into honey instead of gold. The both of you look at each other in the mirror melded together like kintsugi, something good still shining through the cracks of you two together like this.

The sound of keys jangling in the lock of the front door lifts you from his embrace, and with one look you both know its time for him to go; Luke’s brows furrow as he mutters, “I’m sorry. I’ll fix this, and we’ll be together. I promise.” You nod anyway, hoping at least one of you believe it.

“Go home, Luke. She…I still need you. I’m always gonna.”

He’s already got Backbiter in hand and one foot through time when he looks back at you. Your voice sounds a lot like how it does when you tell him you love him. Luke wonders how long it’s been since you did. Your bedroom door opens with a bang and some laughter.

“Hey troublemaker, you left the dryer on! All your clothes are gonna shrink,” Jo grins, peeking her head through the doorway of your room and she’s looking at you in your graduation gown standing there alone.

“Were you on the phone? Who were you talking to?”

It’s quiet in the apartment again. Your fingernails make indents in your palms, bunching up into fists before you let go. A sad smile crosses your face as you let the settling wind kiss your cheeks, before reality kicks in and everything settles back to how it was before. 

“Just someone I used to know.”

—

“And no one can ever figure out what you want, and you won’t tell them, and you realize the one person in the world who loves you isn’t the one you thought it would be, and you don’t trust him to love you in a way you would enjoy.” -Richard Siken

luke taglist (some won't let me tag, turn on my post notifs?)

1/2 luke taglist: @kissingyourgrl @dorcas4meadowes @lorarri @andrewgarfldsgf @noodlesketchbook @10ava01 @poppysrin @ashisabitgay @timhalamet @liv1104 @leeknows-wife @mxtokko@bugcuti3 @luvvfromme @midmourn @2hiigh2cry @yuminako @niktwazny303  @lukecastellandefender @intergalactic-padawan @iliketopgun @annybah @dangelnleif @thegrinningghost @alyssajunelle @obxstiles @m00ng4z3r@visndcaitswhore @b0ok-lover @elegant-face-tree @this-barbie-is-having-breakdowns @amortencjja @idonevenknow1359 @maliaaaa @targaryenluvs @sakyira @dhdjdjjdhsjdiri

[stinkfacestories]

Bull’s Eye

"Vaaashended.." Iron bull cursed. He and the Inquisitor found themselves at a dead end. The room was filled with large steel trimmed boxes. There was no escape.

"We fight then" The Inquisitor drew his sword.

"Not this one, boss. I'm not one to turn away from a fight but we have no exit. The whole base will flood this room if they catch us." Bull said. He was feeling the wall for hidden doors. Sometimes these bandits were smarter than they looked. He tapped one of the crates. Then another. He found a hollow one. 

"Get in boss, we can hide till midnight then when there all asleep we can escape" Bull lifted the heavy hinged lid.

"You first" you said.

"Nah, if they find us I wanna be between you and the sharp edge of a weapon"

Bull lifted you up and set you in. He crawled in after. It was a tight fit for just a single human, let alone a qunari of bull’s swole size. The hatch was heavy though and when it closed it latched. A few moments of squirming and you were as comfortable as you were going to get.

The crate was well sealed, but not airtight. The body heat between you made you and Bull break out in a sweat.

"Boss? You good?"Bull asked.

"Good as I can be at the moment"

"That's your face I feel isn't it boss"

You paused. In the wriggling and wiggling to get the lid closed and be in a comfortable position Bull had squat squarely on your face.

"It is" you replied

You couldn't see but you bet Bull was smiling.

"Shit boss, I wasn't trying to. Here let me see if I can.." he tried to move. There was no way for his big body to fit inside the crate any other way. The shifting just resulted in his muscular cheeks slapping your nose side to side.

"It's fine, it's fine" you said, stopping him. 

He stopped. "Hopefully we won't be in here to long"

The sweat was bad enough, but you were privy to the noxious fumes and odors of Iron Bulls rear.

"Less then four fucking days and here I am giving the Inquisitor the world's longest Rik'na a'Ishi"

You were picking up a few qunari words since bull joined but that one was new.

"Oh. It's just a stupid kid thing. Bullies tend to do it to weaker boys in the houses. I think the closest translation in human terms is smell, or stink face. Care to guess why?"

You didn't need to think very hard. Your nose clued you in. "I can guess Bull. I got a good nose and I don't think you bathed in a while"

A normal Rik'na a'Ishi would only be a few seconds. Have a friend kneel behind the target, push him so he falls, then rub your ass in his face. 

"What's the point?" You ask.

"Kids being kids; make sure they know you're the dominant type; sometimes just for a laugh."

"From the outside I could see it being funny," you said.

Bull chuckled

"Yeah go on you can laugh" 

"No boss, it's not that. I can feel your breath and it tickles" Bull said.

You moved your face around in the darkness. You notice that your nose has wedged itself in a hole torn in Iron Bulls pants. You traced the curve of his taught skin till it found the hair mangled valley of his cheeks. The Iron Bull was going commando. Your nose jumped over the chasm. The way he had been squatting had peeled the cheeks apart slightly; there was still miles of nutty brown flesh between you and the bullseye.

"You got a hole in your pants I think" you said.

Bull chuckled. "Yeah, that was a good Farakes" He suddenly got real quiet, as if he let some secret slip.

"What's a Farakas?"

'It's nothing boss."

"Is it like a party?"

"No. Some things are best keep secret boss"

"Well now I really want to know. Tell me what is a Farakas?" You blew out your nose. If Bull wasn't going to tell you he could expect a lot of tickling.

"I'd nothing. It's like a belch.." he trailed off muttering something under his breath.

"I didn't catch that last part; say again?"

"It's like a belch..but from your ass."

"You split a hole in your pants with a fart?"

"No, I split it with a good fart." He shifted again. "It's bad luck in the quen to say the word fart when your trapped in a cramped place; doubly so if it's the Bull who has his ass wedged in your face"

You recall your times in the barracks as a soldier, your older brothers and uncles. "Give me some credit Bull, I'm no featherweight mage."

"Oh boss, I know you're as badass as they come, but you don't know how bad the bulls ass can be. You know how Cullen keeps getting reports about a bear roaming around the camp at night but can't seem to find it?"

You had read the reports. For the past three nights just before dawn the night watchmen had been reporting low and long growling sounds. They were expecting a bear woken from hibernation, but they had yet to find any signs of the creature.

"Those are me," Bull said. "A sure sign I'm about to wake up is me letting slip with some slow growling juicy ones"

You shuddered "Maybe when we're back at base we can share a drink and I can experience this legendary beast. From a safe distance downwind that is."

You heard Bull's stomach groan. It was the cry of a tortured soul.

"If we have to stay in here much longer you may get to experience it up close. I'm gonna pinch it off as long as I can boss" Bull said.

What felt like hours passed. Guards kept coming in on routine patrols, none the wiser that two stowaways were crammed in one of their boxes. Your shoulder had begun to cramp. You needed to stretch it. With some working you managed to press it between Bull's legs.

"Woah, boss. Hello." Bull jerked as your arm ran along something long and rubbery.

You gave it a squeeze. "Feels like some sort of toy snake?"

You heard bull chirp. "Close boss. That's my toy snake"

You let go, red in the face. “Im sorry Bull I didn't mean to” “It's all good boss; I just usually like to know someone more than a few days before we get to the tug of war.”

Frantically you try and think of a way to change the topic, only to fail utterly by asking “So, what's got you so excited?” You squint so hard. You wish you could slap your own face. Of all the things to ask.

“Well I was just thinking about the last time I ripped one in someone’s face. The chargers and I were on the storm coast. We were waiting for some nobles to finish whatever shit nobles do when they are together. I was leaning on a rock just watching the waves. In and out. In and out. Really hypnotic. Guess I nearly dozed off. Snapped back to life when I let off a real tak’rethanka-- the wet roar of a dragon--. Rocky and Grim were behind me at the time. Poor grim took the brunt of the black. Rocky was ok. Nutty dwarf lost most of his sense of smell working with explosives. Grim though. That was the last day I remember Grim talking. Now he just grunts. I think I may have melted something in the guys brain, ya know boss?”

As Bull talked about the past you could feel his big rubbery snake bobbing and weaving up and down over your arm.

“That’s the kinda thing that gets you… excited… bull?” You say.

“Shiiit boss. No one really knows about that. I'm not usually with someone this long talking with them having my ass in their face. I’m into some weird shit aint I boss?” “Bull, if it's one thing I've learned about the world so far, it that there is too much crazy shit to worry about what makes people happy. If it makes you feel good I say do it.” You tell him.

“You’re alright boss. More than all right. Don't you worry though I won't let it mess with the job. And i'll make sure your plenty clear before I let rip” Bull says.

“That's gonna be kinda hard in here don't ya think. My face has been wedged in your ass for over an hour.” “I can hold it back boss”  Bulls stomach whined again, this time louder. “This is a nasty one though. It's taking all my willpower to keep the beast at bay.”

“Just get it over with and let it rip. I don't want you to explode” You tell him.

“Nah I can't do that boss. This is a real bad one.”

“I know you want to Bull.” “No, no I want nothing of the sort” He tells you.

You reach out and slap his rubbery cock. “Your ardor gives you away. Trust is important, and truth is the basis of trust. You want to do this.”

Bull cursed in qunlat. “You see right through me boss.” He shifted again, “By the way I wanted to ask. That thing you do with your sword when you draw it. Where did you learn that?” “Well it's a funny story, a few years ago” You start, but you never got to finish the story. As soon as he had distracted you, bulls cheeks let fly with a low rumbling fart. It was like staring into the mouth of a dragon. It washed over you like rain. The entire crate vibrated. Your nose was assaulted with the smell of fresh steaming shit. Bull was a consummate master of the gassy arts. He could have just let things out in one monstrous crack, but he metered it out, just enough to maintain a low droning hum. He caught you mid breath so you were forced to breath in a lung full through your nose. Your eyes watered. Suddenly you knew why Grim may have lost his ability to speak. 

The rest was silent.

You and Bull were in a sauna now. The floor was wet with buckets worth of sweat between you too. Bull just let out a sigh. 

“I tell you boss, very few things feel as good as letting it out after you’ve held it that long.” There was no answer. “Boss? Are you still alive down there?” You coughed. “...Bull” you weakly groan out. Alive, but possibly barley. “How in the the maker can you make such a thing inside you”

Bull was blushing again. “I know. I know. I'm a master. Bet you regret giving me the permission eh boss?” “Shit no Bull. Out of all the farts I’ve ever been privy to in my life, that one will go down as the most epic, the most legendary. You have my permission to let rip whenever, wherever, you want.” Bull stifled a belly laugh. “I don't think the camp guards are gonna be happy about that.” “If anyone gives you trouble, you have my permission to sit on their heads. You can even sit on mine again if you ever want” You tell him.

There was a tender silence between you. As if you were both having a conversation about something more meaningful than farting.

“Boss….” Bull said. “Feel free to say no if this is outta line but, after this mess here is over. Do you wanna fuck?”

[nerdygirlsrp-blog]

School Shopping // The Sequel We Deserved.

@huffleporr / @rpuff 

Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy 

Albus waited by the pub, his leg hoping up and down. He was impatient, it had been a whole 3 weeks since he last saw his best friend and his patience was wearing out.

"I hope he hasnt left!" Scorpius thought to himself as he weaved his way through the crowd searching for his curly haired friend. He couldn't believe his dad  insisted on stopping by the ministry on the way to diagon alley.

Albus saw the blonde haired boy weaving in and out of people, he smiled wide as he saw them. "Scor!" Al smiled trying to call the blonde boy to attention. "Hey!" He went in for a hug, "How was your summer?"

"Great until you called me Scor." Scorpius replied shaking his head at his stubborn friend. "I hope you weren't waiting long? Dad had to stop by the ministry for something or other" he explained rolling his eyes.

Al smiled, it had been a joke between the two of them for years. " What would you prefer I call you Pius?" He smirked and rolled his eyes. "Your father is so difficult," his tone was over dramatic in the teasing yet empathetic kind of way. "I've only been waiting HOURS." He sighed,

"Well I'm sorry for inconveniencing you SOO much!" Scorpius replied with a smirk. "I bet you were really busy polishing your broomstick or something"

Albus's eyes grew in size at the innuendo. "Uh- I... I D-don't do that.." which was completely untrue, he did polish is broomstick - sometimes several times a day. He shook his head, "You are sooo weird, lets get going or else all the books your want will be sold and then you are gonna end up crying in flourish and blotts... again."

Scorpius raised his eyebrow at his friends stuttering. "Uh i know you don't. We hate quidditch" he says shaking his head as he turns away from his friend and starts walking down the cobbled street "and that was one time do you have to keep bringing it up!" He says exasperated.

Albus wanted to laugh, wanted to point out the obvious innuendo but Scorpius seemed so content with his own cluelessness that Albus couldn't spoil it for him. "I'm going to keep bring it up until I'm dead, in fact I plan to bring it up at your wedding, and at your daughters birth and at your daughters wedding and at your funeral. So be prepared."

"Oh so I'm dying first now? I thought we agreed you'd die in some tragic accident and I'd deliver a dramatic eulogy at your graveside. I already started writing it!". *ahem* scorpius clears his throat and raises his arms almost hitting a nearby witches hat off. "here lies Albus Severus Potter. He was named after two great headmasters of hogwarts. Both of which were douchebags."

Albus started violently laughing, His smile wide as he just looked at his friend. "Oh yeah Scorpious Hyperion Malfoy, named after two stars constellations because the Malfoy family name need to grow more and more pretentious with each generation." He mocked. "But let's be real, I die first and I would come back to haunt you until you died just so I could re-tell the book store crying incident at your funeral."

Scorpius elbowed Albus in the ribs And put on his best swagger "well then you better respect your superiors peasant" he replies with as haughty an expression as possible which was only slightly undermined when he tripped over an uneven cobblestone barely catching himself. " you didn't see that" he quickly says checking to see if Albus noticed his stumble.

Al raised an eyebrow tripping because of the force of scorpius’s push, when did his friend get so strong. “Or what, are you going to tell your daddy?” He asked making fun of his posh accent, and then he laughed at the stumble that Scorpius tried ever so gracefully to pull it off. A part of him really wanted to mock Scor, but as he had fallen nearly flat on his face seconds before he let it go. “See what?” He asked feigning ignorance. “Seeing you get to the book store last because you are as slow as a flobber worm ?” He smirked and then started running towards the shop zipping in and out of peoples way."

“There’s nothing wrong with being articulate" Scorpius huffed chasing after his friend, ignoring the wizard shouting something about "out of control youths". He quickly caught up with Albus. "last one to flourish and blotts carrys the books" he challenges with a gleam in his eye.

Al was long gone so he couldn't respond to the words of his friend. Scorpius was posh, there was nothing he could say that would change that. Albus thought he had the lead, always a bit leaner then Scorpius he was able to dodge bodies faster, but suddenly Scor was running in line with him, Albus pouted. "But my arms are so weak" When had Scorpius gotten so fast?

Scorpius laughed. "Well then they need the exercise!" He shouted racing ahead and he zig zaging around a girl carrying a pet toad and Skidding to a halt in front of the shop smiling. He knew volunteering to take his  greyounds on their daily run would pay off. He leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching Albus run the last few feet.

Albus was tired out to an embarrassing amount considering how short the run was. He finally got to the door and tried to catch his breath glaring at Scorpius. "I never agreed to your terms, I will accept my title as flobber worm and nothing more!' He crossed his arms looking at Scorpius like he was challenging him to argue.

"As you wish Mr. Flobberworm. After you," he says while opening the door with a flourish and nearly pulling the older boy on the other side right off his feet. "Sorry!" Scorpius practically squeaked and helped the boy pick up his quills from the pavement.

Albus started laughing at the display. Not offering to help or anything just watched as the very young boy and Scorpius scrambled to pick up the mess."Always creating trouble, Scor, can't trust you with opening doors.

"Scorpius felt his cheeks flush. Handing the boy the last ink pot, which thankfully hadn't  broken, he stood up brushing himself off. "Yeah well we cant all be perfect." He said giving Albus a wry smile. He didnt know why he suddenly felt so awkward. God knows its not the first time he's fallen on his face around a bunch of people.

"Oh I know, " Al said with a smile and a friendly wink going for the door that Scorpius had tried opening earlier. "Lets get these damn books and hope nobody recognizes us, I don't think I can handle a 'what is it like to be Harry Potter's son' conversation today." He walked into the busy shop. "Divide and conquer or just teamwork?" 

Scorpius walked into flourish and blotts immediately taking a deep inhale. He loved the smell of books. "Divide and conquer sounds good. I needed to check if they had this one book by....." he trailed off into a mumble while wandering to the right of the door and into the next aisle over gazing at the shelves longingly.

Albus rolled his eyes. "Books just smell like paper" he argued knowing that he probably didn't have the blonde's attention anymore. He said divide and conquer and Al knew that wasn't the smart way, to let him go off on his own. "Okay meet back together in 20 min?" He shouted doubting Scorpius heard him. He rolled his eyes, picked up a cart and went shopping. Once he picked out his books he went searching for Scorpius. "Score!" He called out.

Scorpius was in the far back corner halfway up a ladder leaning against a shelf labeled 'Arithmetician” nose deep in a book that weighed nearly as much as a house elf. Completely oblivious to everyone in the store around him, including his friend shouting, he continued to read the monstrous book despite not completely understanding it.

It took another 20 minutes to find Scorpius in the back of the store where he was sure no living human had entered in nearly 50 years. Al shook his head seeing the sight that Scor had found himself in. "Scorpius!" He called again. "Dude, we got to go!" 

Scorpius looked up abruptly startled by the loud voice. "Oh crap. Im sorry!" He said hastily putting the book back on the shelf and climbing down the ladder to the shop floor. He noticed the books in Albus's cart and realized he hadn't actually grabbed anything on his list yet."I uhh got distracted. Give me one minute while i get my stuff". He says while searching his pockets for his school list.

Albus only had himself to blame. "I want to go to the ice cream parler." He wind slightly, "and too WWW. I've already spent 40 minutes to long in here Mr. Malfoy, you have 5 minutes, and your are carrying the books"

" oh stop complaining you'll get your ice cream" Scorpius said as he finally found his list and walked off to get the books he needed. He knew the store like the back of his hand and was back with Albus, books in hand, in under 10 minutes. "There. Happy now?" He teased.

"Not really, I can feel the impending nerdiness starting that take me." Albus said when is friend fond him 10 minutes later, he moved them towards the check out line. He stood in like starting to imitate the sounds of someone chocking. "I can't go on, its killing me.... tell my mother I loved her!" 

"I4m sure she will miss you dearly" Scorpius rolled his eyes at his over dramatic companion "now knock it off. I thought you didnt want to draw attention to yourself" he pointed out as he noticed two witches glancing sideways at them.  He quickly paid the wizard and headed towards the door only briefly glancing at the shelves of books on the way.

"I will do no such thing," Albus commented and payed for his books. Al looked around and saw the two women. "Let them talk they are just wishing their children were as awesome as we are." He shrugged and smiled "Let's go cause havoc somewhere else." He made his way out the door and into te street.

Scorpius followed. Admiring his friends confidence, no matter how shallow. "Havoc? Why we wouldn't dare! " he scoffed.  catching Albus's eye. "Nothing but pure unadulterated mischief from us. After all we have standards!"

Albus half smiled at his friends comment. "Of course how dare I mix the two up, mischief it is!" He stopped in the middle of the street.  "Did I tell you what Teddy gave me?"

"No you didn't" Scorpius said. He grabbed Albus's arm to pull him out of the street and apologetically waved at the grumbling group of goblins passing them. "How about you tell me over ice cream and not the middle of a busy thoroughfare."Albus glared at him 

"Who uses words like Throughfare?" He mocked his friend and head to Fortescues, there was very little wait, surprising for a mid-summer day. They sat and Al pulled out the peice of blank paper and handed it to Scorpius. "Do you know what this is?"

"A list of your positive attributes?" He asked glancing up from the blank paper with a smirk. Taking a bite of his sour apple ice cream.Albus rolled his eyes and shook his head. 

"No it's a list of all the girls that will go out with you this year." Albus took a bite into his first scoop, mango flavored ice cream. "No its..." He lowered his voice and smiled. "It's the map."

Scorpius froze with his spoon halfway to his mouth and stared at Albus. ice cream slowly dripping onto his slacks. "THE map? Your Fathers map?!" He asked. Excitement clear in his voice.

"Well my Grandfathers map," Albus correct him but smiling widely, taking a bit of his second scoop, pistachio. "He gave it to Teddy when Teddy was in third year and then Teddy gave it to me, since James got the cloak." Al was piratically buzzing. "Do you know what this means?"

"Studying as late as we want in the library. And in the restricted section And knowing exactly where the 5th years are so we can void them. And knowing where the teachers are incase we have questions...."he whispers excitedly wiping the ice cream off his trousers. mind racing with possibilities.

Albus looked at his best friend with a look that was torn between rolling his eyes and exasperation. Of course his mind would go there, of course he would be excited about late nights library visits.

 "Or we could you know... do something cool." Albus smiled "like finding the room of requirement."

The retort died on his lips as Scorpius's eyes widened. Obviouslyhe knew all about the room of requirement. His father had talked to him about it the day before he came to Hogwarts his first year. Telling him all about the magical room that changed into whatever you needed. But he also cautioned Scorpius that the room can also change people. Scorpius was hesitant. Not sure if he was ready for that. But he saw the excitement on Albus's face and couldn't bear to disappoint him. "Yea totally!" He said throwing on a fake smile and taking another bite of ice cream.

Albus smiled and took a bite of  watermelon, "And sneak into Hogsmead get some Firewhiskey, if we bring it back everyone could have a great night, he would be heros!" He was excited at this possibility. "This year is going to bloody fantastic! Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, and Hogsmead!"

" it would be better if you were taking ancient runes with me instead of divination" Scorpius replied half teasing. He still thought Albus taking that subject was ridiculous. "Also not to distract from our exciting plans but what the hell are you eating?" He asked finally noticing that Albus had multiple flavors in his bowl.

"Okay the reason its called Ancient Runes is because nobody uses them because everyone who used them is dead so I wonder... what is the point in studying them really?" He asked with a half raised eyebrow.and then he smiled "It's the Albus Sundae." He said with pride. "All my favorite flavors conveniently placed in perfect eating order"

"Only to gain a greater understanding of those who came before.  And to write insults   on the fifth years stuff without them knowing" Scorpius replied with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "And what flavors are those?"

"I'm down for writing part of that." Albus replied taking a bite of his final ice cream. The fifth years were going to be more annoying this year then ever. "Steal the snitch before quidditch matches." He raised an eyebrow. "Mango, Pisachio, Strawberry and Ginger." 

"Well you didn't take ancient runes so tough chocolate frogs"  Scorpius replied. "Also that is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard. Did James use magic on you as a kid or something because that is not normal taste buds," Scorpius said with a look of distaste on his face.

"That's why I keep you around." Albus said straight faced finishing his ice cream and smiling. "Probably," he said with out thinking about it. He knew his taste in ice cream was a unique one. "Are you done yet? Or are you planning on turning 80 while finishing that ice cream?"

Scorpius made a point of finishing his ice cream as slowly as possible just to annoy his friend. "Whats wrong. Sick of me already" he said with a look of pretend hurt on his face.

"Yes, your father doesn't pay me enough to hang out with me." It was really Al's anxiousness that made him want to eat going - while his friend could sit for hours reading and studying the energy inside of Albus needed to move.Scorpius notice his friends rising anxiety,

  By now Albus's nervous ticks were practically a second language, And decided not to push it. He got up and threw out his bowl. "Well then where to next?" He asked pulling out his parchment once more.

"WWW?" Albus asked, he knew his uncle Ron would be working there today and they were getting a new shipment in of skiving snack boxes. "It's always loads of fun, what time does your dad want you back?"

"Sure I'm always down to visit WWW" he said purposefully pronouncing every W sound so it sounded more like "WHOO" than initials. " and now that we have the map there's a whole new use for all of those gadgets!" He said excitedly skipping towards the bright orange and purple building. "And he wants me back by 6. Dinner with the grandparents tonight" he called over his shoulder to Albus.

Albus didn't react, he had learned that if he made a big fuss over the way Scor said things that Scor would only say them more often and at a louder volume. "Exactly." He agreed following his blonde friend through the people once more. "Boring," he said with annoyance "think you could ditch?"

Scorpius thought about it for a moment. "Unfortunately no. They haven't seen me since I got back from school. And I know Grandfather can't wait to lecture me on that letter Father got from Headmistress last year." Scorpius answered dejectedly. He couldn't believe his Father had shown his Grandfather that letter. It's not like  he's the first kid to accidentally flood the 4th floor bathroom with a banned Weasley’s product.

They entered the shop and Albus couldn't help but smile "oh right - your grandmother is scary about that stuff." His grandmother had just shaken her head, in fact the only person who has been a little upset has been his father who had yelled at him. "Damn well maybe you can come round for dinner tomorrow," it was still a couple weeks until term started and he did not see his best friend enough this summer. His attention was directed towards a tall tower of skive boxes. "Ohhh look! Migraine mints!"

"Yeah you know how he is about 'upholding the family name' and all that." He responded. He knew that it was more about rehabilitating the family name after the last war. He tried not to let it bother him but he couldn't help but notice the looks he got even stepping into the shop. Sometimes he wished he didn't look so much like his father. He brought his attention back to his friend perusing the new merchandise. "We could try and sneak those into James's drink at breakfast sometime." He said picking up a box and glancing at the picture of a wizard grabbing his head with a cartoon-ish look of agony on his face. "I actually wanted to ask if i could sleep over day after tomorrow. Father has a work thing." He asked glancing sideways at Albus. 

Of course he knew, Al had grown up with the same thing, except instead of Scorpius's case Al was never able to live up to what his parents expected of him/ He wasn't a Gryffindor, he hated quidditch and his best friend was a Malfoy, he had broken all of his families rules. "I'll have to ask my mom," He said with a smile. "I'm sure it will be fine, you are my mothers favorite child."

"Well there’s not a lot of competition is there" Scorpius replied trying to lighten the obviously dampened mood. He turned back to the display and grabbed a random box. "'Instant blizzard' now this could make the the quidditch changing rooms after a match super fun" he said adding to the box of mints in his basket.He opened his eyes wide laughing.

 "Oh my can you imagine?" Al started laughing. "That would really dampen the whole mood." He paused grinning widely and turned towards the next shelf. "Oh they have rainstorm in a can, maybe we could put that in potions class room. cancel class for the day."

"Perfect! We can plan it for the first test" Scorpius replied. He may be a giant nerd but god he hated potions. "We should also stock up on puking pastels, fireworks, trick wands to give to first years, and some peruvian darkness powder if you can convince your uncle to give us some. It being banned and all."

Albus liked where Scorpius thinking was going and he nodded. "George more then Ron, Ron would just tell dad." He looked around seeing if he could find them. "Oh night  glasses!" He pointed at a box. "That will be great for when we are in search of the prefects bathroom.

Scorpius rolled his eyes. 'And he thinks i get distracted easily' he thought to himself. "aren't the prefects bathrooms on the map?" He asked grabbing a couple skiving snack boxes on his way to his friends side. "Though i suppose seeing in the dark is rarely a bad idea"

"Yes" Al answered, "This way we don't have to light our wands." Al grabbed two pairs and threw them in the cart. "Okay... We will get to go and restock at Hogsmead. Do you think that’s enough?"

Scorpius shifted a few things around to count everything. "Yep except the darkness powder." He said glancing around to see if George was available. He tended to blend into the walls with his orange hair and purple coat

.Albus smiled and snuck behind the register and towards the back room. He went into the office putting on a giant smile. George was easy to find and he got his attention. There was a short interaction which he left with a couple arms full of new product and a tiny jar of Darkness Powder. "Score!" He made the pun calling his attention and announcing victory.

Scorpius turned to the door refusing to acknowledge the pun. " anywhere else you need to go?" He asked opening the door with one hand. His bag of tricks in the other. "I have another hour or two to kill before I need to floo back"

Albus purses his lips "nah I'm good - but I don't have to be back yet so we can either head to the pet store, the leaky cauldron or muggle London." He didn't really care he just wanted to spend the next two hours with him, cursing family obligations.

"Hmm" Scorpius mused over the three options provided "Father still doesn't want me going into muggle London 'unsupervised'" he said making air quotes with his fingers. "leaky cauldron sounds good. After all not all of us ate 4 scoops of ice cream" he said giving Albus a vaguely disapproving look.

Albus nodded - his father would not be happy if he had gone out to muggle London but it was best to go to the leaky, he nodded his head and left the shop towards the bar "I don't know where it all goes, I swear if I start getting fat I'll stop eating so much."Or you could exercise" Scorpius suggested walking next to his friend and bumping his shoulder teasingly. "Need to get fit if you want to get someone by the first hogsmeade weekend.""Fit?" Al asked raising an eyebrow. "Is that what happened to you this summer? Are you exercising in order to get fit? Should I be prepared to loose you to the ever seductive pull of Quidditch because that’s what you exercise boys like to do."

"Quidditch! Oh god no kill me!" He said dramatically pretending to vomit at the idea. "I just figured it would be easier to run from bullies and authority figures if I didn't have to stop every 30 seconds to catch my breath" Scorpius standing aside to let the group of what looked like 2nd years leave the pub before holding the door for Albus.

Albus walked through smiling softly at his friend. "Oh I went to look to innocent to have them ever expect you to begin with." Albus found a table and waited for a pretty witch to take their order. "I'll have a butterbeer." He said with a smile and turned back to his friend. "You don't have to run from bullies anymore do you?"

"Oh, I just look all innocent to begin with, that way they never suspect you.""Yeah and we know how well that plan has worked out in the past" he said giving his friend a knowing look. "same for me" he said to the witch. She came back with the drinks almost instantly. Scorpius took a slow sip letting the drink cool him down from the summer heat  "Well you know how some of those gryffindors can be." He replied setting his drink down. "The slytherin bias is still pretty strong and a lot of people don’t believe its possible to be a 'former' deatheater." He tried not to let the bitterness show in his voice.

Albus had a sip of the butterbeer nodding and listening to his friend. "Yeah," Althought he never had to deal with the label of death eater tarnishing his family he could understand why it would be hard. Al wished they lived in a world wear there fathers were not as important as they were. "Well screw them, you can out spell them any day!"

Scorpius shrugged. Thats true. His teachers say he is the brightest student since Hermione Granger, except potions of course, and that isn't a compliment to be thrown out lightly. He smiled. Albus always did know what to say to cheer him up. He took another sip of his drink and turned to his friend. "So are we gonna look at that map or what?" He asked his friend excitement coming back into his voice.

"Nah," Albus said with a grin and pulled out the paper from his pocket. "I figured it would be better to build the anticipation." He smiled and then pulled out his wand looking over his shoulders, "So all you have to do is point your wand and say "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

Scorpius pulled out his own wand  and placed the tip on the parchment. "Together?" He asked catching his friends eye.

"Together." He confirmed and in time the boys cast the spell and the parchment came to life, Al just watched in awe as the whole castle came alive. "Oh wow... this is... amazing!"

Scorpius was awestruck. It was perfect. Every detail from the number of steps on the main stairway to his favourite reading nook in the library were in exactly the right place.  He couldn't believe that students only a few years older than he was had made such an incredible piece of magic. "Quick unfold it the rest of the way" he said to his friend carefully grabbing a corner to start opening it further.

Al helped open the map and spread it wide between them. "Look! There is professor Longbottom!" He exclaimed pointing to the little dot on the map. He got lost studying the map, "There's a little alcove by the Slytherin entrance, did you know about that?"’

"There is? Where?" He asked looking over at where Albus was studying the map. There just to the left of the secret entrance to the common room there looked to be a small alcove only big enough for a couple people, (though he couldnt be sure since he didn't know exactly how proportions worked on the map) "how did we never notice that before?" He asked slightly confused. They had done their fair share of exploring in the last two years but he didn't remember every seeing it before.

"It must be behind a trick wall or something." He wanted to be back at Hogwarts now, he wanted to it have to worry about his parents or Leaving Scorpius. School felt more at home then home did. He missed the freedom. Smiling softly he looked at his friend. "We are never going to have any free time this year - are we?"

Before Scorpius could respond the witch who took their order came back to the table to ask if they wanted a refill prompting Scorpius to look at the clock and realize they had been in the pub for almost 2 hrs. "No thank you just the bill" he replied. Turning back to Albus he pointed at the map. "I need to get going before Father gets home from work. How do we make this thing blank again?"

Al just smiled held out his wand and said "Mischeif managed." The map folded itself once again. He was sad to see his friend go. "I'll owl you about coming over in a couple days. Have fun with your grandparents."

Al just smiled held out his wand and said "Mischeif managed." The map folded itself once again. He was sad to see his friend go. "I'll owl you about coming over in a couple days. Have fun with your grandparents."

"Thanks, I'll try." Scorpius said grabbing his bags and paying his half of the bill the witch had just placed on the corner of the table. "I'll see you soon hopefully" he said as he opened the door giving Albus an awkward wave nearly dropping one of the books he was carrying. Half giggling he stepped through the door closing it softly behind him and heading down the street to flu home.