These are crazy days but they make me shine ¦ Amy

[Duke Daniel Jones]

Duke’s last exam hadn’t gone too bad. He'd heard of potion practical exams going worse. The Everlasting Elixir wasn’t something he had revised in detail, but he knew enough to be able to wing it. The sky blue of it’s final form was right from what he remembered from his textbook, but he didn’t really care. He was finally done; his NEWTs were complete and he didn’t have to look at them again.

Marks for trying right?

He’d called Winnie on the walk to the Flobberworm and Lettuce for a short debrief and that had been enough; he as dying for a pint now. Groups of students had made their way here or down to the village for spots further afield. They were friends, had gone through the hardship together for years and had shared bond. Maybe if Duke had friends he would go with them, but he didn’t know any of these people; his soon to be peers. Well, assuming he got the grades to get into the Healers course at LIFE. But, for now he wouldn’t worry.

He didn’t have to wait long at the bar. The cool glass of his drink was at his fingertips before long. It was mid-afternoon of a Tuesday. Even for a student bar, the place was dead. Planting himself at a table across from the bar, he gave a content sigh and took the first long slug of his stout.

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

June 2028

Amy wanted to scream. Her brain was going to fall out her ears from all this revising. She wished she had a mind like Andrew, or even Alora. Though her relationship with her eldest sibling was tenuous at best, there was no denying the spark -- or was supernova a better descriptor? -- of intelligence her sister possessed. Meanwhile, Amy struggled through the half-hearted notes she'd taken, and more often than not got distracted by Toby's sinful smile. Even when he wasn't trying to be, Amy craved his closeness and his touch with the heat of a thousand flames.

With exceeding gentleness, Toby had informed Amy that he would be revising in the library today and that he really needed to get his work done. It was a sweet way of informing her to get lost, because she was distracting and Toby had to make up for lost time in his creature studies. She'd been so proud when he'd announced to his parents that he would be switching from healing, but he made things slightly more difficult by needing to make up courses.

Leaving Toby to his beloved books, Amy swept into the Flobberworm and Lettuce. The few hours Amy had spent glaring at her books and notes would have to do, because she was very certain that her brain could take no more. Amy sidled up to the bar and ordered an aperol, a drink she'd come to find both refreshing and flavourful in her time in Scotland. It was warmer than she would have expected, though the air lacked humidity she'd become accustomed to here. The bartender passed her a glass, and Amy paid with a quiet word of thanks. Turning, she noticed that the place was nearly empty - but there was a stranger sitting at the bar, nursing a black drink.

"Is that Guinness? I thought you only had that in Ireland," said Amy by way of greeting, plonking her Aperol on the table and hoisting herself into a seat.

Duke Daniel Jones

[Duke Daniel Jones]

Duke had been lost in his own thoughts for once; staring down at the condensation building on his glass. It wasn’t a totally sweltering summer day by any means, but the glass must has been straight out of the washer, and the stout cold. It was refreshing as he took his first sip, and he had enjoyed it. But now as he let his mind free, finished with his NEWTs it wandered elsewhere and he wondered if he should text his ould lad or leave it be. He hoped he’d be pleased Duke had finished his exams, stuck it out. But like, Duke reminded himself, he was busy with his younger two. Is actual kids, and likely wouldn’t care.

Though he was pulled away from that thought by the entrance of someone in his peripherals. A female someone. With a slight frown, he turned to the girl. Perplexed by the whys of her sudden intrusion, he quirked an eyebrow. ”I mean you can get it anywhere in the world. Isn’t the best, but you can get it if you know where to look” his manc accent was strong as he eyed her .

”Why, you like it?” With a half grin he lifted the glass again, eyeing her orangey drink now half in front of him.

”I’m Duke by the way. You?” a wry smile passed over his face as he watched her.

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Amy grew bored easily, and her mind wandered constantly. Her boyfriend had gently insisted that he needed to study, and even though Amy had pouted, she had reluctantly agreed. So she had sauntered off in pursuit of a distraction, because she definitely did not feel like studying anymore. Or ever. But when she was with Toby, it was so much more fun and the time flew by. Granted, they got distracted often, but those were Amy's favourite moments.

Aperol Spritz - a new favourite cocktail of Amy's - in hand, she approached pretty much the only other person in the bar, and asked if he was drinking Guinness. Her face must have been absent of expression, because he asked if she liked it. If Amy's face had been readable, it would have said 'this is the most disgusting looking drink I've ever laid eyes on, how can you drink that?' Instead, she went the more polite route. "No. I don't like it." Short and sweet and simple.

Sipping deeply from her straw, Amy observed the boy before her. She didn't know him. Had never seen him before in her life, really. So what was he doing in the student club. "Are you from Manchester? You sound like Toby only..." Amy stopped herself abruptly. She'd been about to say 'only poorer' and there was no denying that was a pretty rude start to a conversation. Instead, she sipped again from her drink. "I'm Amy. Are you new here?"

Duke Daniel Jones

[Duke Daniel Jones]

Duke was quiet enough by nature. While he was academically clever, sometimes his mind was just quiet and there wasn't much going on. He was a Himbo really, and it suited him to the ground. Like a big dumb golden retriever he was quite pleased to make new friends, even if it didn't come as easily to him in this new magical world. Enchanted by the orange cocktail in her hand, his eyes focused there for a few minutes, distracted by it's colour before he looked back at her and shrugged.

"Suit yourself then lass" taking another sip, here was a slight pause before he set his glass down again and raised an eyebrow "Toby? head tilted, he loved up to his confused puppy state before nodding. "Yeah that's me, born and bred innit. Though me grans Irish. Me Mam was born and bred there too-" almost cutting himself off he took and breath, nearly about to say about his Dad being different, but decided against it. Instead he was pleased when she changed the subject again. Even if it was a slightly sensitive subject.

"Eh yeah sorta I 'spose" His cheeks flushed just slightly. Although he was somewhat proud of himself for getting himself on a better track, or at least attempting to by furthering his education. He was a little older when he was doing it. "See, I'm a muggle. Or well, me mum is. And I didn't go to Hogwarts. I was tutored at home. Went to Muggle school and dropped out then as soon as I could. Was a bit of a tearaway. I did an apprenticeship. But then I learnt' about Healers and I reckon I'd like to do that. Except I needed ta do me NEWTs. So I just done them, finished today and all. Celebratory Pint for finishing." lifting the glass in a muted 'cheers' salute he gave her a slightly sheepish smile. "So hopefully I'll be coming here in the Autumn like, if I did well enough. Even if I am a bit older than the other starters..." clearly he was embarrassed about it all still, eve if he was just glad the exams were over. 

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Amy narrowed her eyes slightly. What was it with these British people and their terms of affection? Lass? Love? Darling? In California, everyone was just babe or dude. No other questions asked. Amy thought he sounded vaguely familiar, but in the end she realized he just had the same accent as Toby. She really was learning lots about England. They had different accents! Though Toby had worked hard to hammer that fact into her mind. Her brow crumpled as the boy before her commented how his grandma was Irish, and his mom was Irish too. "So you're only half English then," she replied, a slight downturn to her lips.

Surprisingly, Amy was able to catch herself before she said anything rude, and only mentioned how he sounded like Toby. She offered her name, but didn't receive his in reply. Amy was slightly put out by that - she hated thinking of people as 'that boy' though she thought Professor Burke would call him something funny or clever. For now, Amy settled on mentally naming him Manchester.

According to Manchester, he was starting in the fall. Or autumn, Amy supposed they called it here. She understood about half of what he said, but managed to piece together the rest. He had been homeschooled in magic, but had attended muggle school. "So you hated muggle school? I never got to go. I think I would love it though. Never got to experience the whole bullying, lockers, prom thing. Did you have prom?" asked Amy, interested. "Or did you leave before it?"

Though Manchester said he was interested in healing, Amy decided he didn't look much like a healing type. Though looks could be deceiving. She never thought she'd fancy a British bloke who loved animals more than humans. Except her. Toby was not the bad boy persona she was typically drawn to. Manchester here though... well, he'd dropped out of school. Daddy would never let her do that. "That's noble. Hard work though," she commented with a nod. "I study Alchemy." She held up her glass to him for a clink. "Congratulations on finishing your exam. Age doesn't matter. You'll fit in just fine," Amy reassured him with a smile.

Duke Daniel Jones

[Duke Daniel Jones]

A furrow rippled across his heavy set brow bone. ”Well if you wanna think about it that way, not even. Me dad’s an Aussie.” He had never thought of it like that though. Sure Granny Annie was Irish and they were proud of their roots, but he wasn't really Irish. He definitely wasn’t Australian anyway. His dad for the most part often pretended he hadn’t existed. Only really acknowledging him when it suited him. ”But I was born and rared here so I dunno…” With a shrug he decided he wouldn’t think about it much more about it. It hurt his head. He was what he was and there’d be no changing it anyways.

After another sip from his pint, her frowned again. ”Nah I didn’t hate it, just not for me really” scrunching his face up, his lips twisted to the side as he thought about it for a minute. ”The subjects and that like, I just had no interest really. Sitting there all day and having people banging on about english and history and that. It was boring. Except for me mates, we had a laugh. But most of them had left by then too. So when I could, I left.” shrugging rather matter of factly he set his glass down and then barked out a laugh ”Prom. Someone did ask me, one of the girls that fancied me I think. But because I had left I wasn’t allowed back, even though she’d asked me..” the idea of it now was inconsequential, but at the time it had actually rather upset him. He didn’t like being locked out of things, even something so dumb as prom. ”Doesn’t matter now anyway.” Or so he told himself.

When Amy held her glass up to toast, he mirrored her move and let the sides clink off one another. As he got called noble, his cheeks pinkened ”Thanks but uh nah. That sounds too fancy for me. I’m just a bloke interested in working with people. It does scare me a bit, it’s very serious like that, but…it’ll be alright. Or I hope it will anyway..”

Taking another sip, he frowned again and as he surfaced his face was scrunched in confusion again ”What the fucks Alchemy when it’s at home?”

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW