stressed is desserts backwards [jacob]

[Deleted]

Séamus was certain that his parents were crazy. Sometime over his time at school, Shay's father had decided that magical flour was better than regular flour, and had decided that the Slytherin needed to supply the bakery with plenty of the stuff. The problem? The only grocer Séamus knew of was in Diagon Alley, and that was a far cry from his home in Ireland. now that Séamus had passed his Apparition test, he didn't have an excuse for not going all the way to Diagon for flour, though - he could just pop back and forth with the bags. What his parents still failed to understand, though, was that Apparating with large bags of flour was exhausting, especially when the trips were repetitive. After going back and forth three times in a half an hour, the Slytherin was exhausted. He decided that it would be better to take a rest in the Alley for a while - he didn't want to get Splinched, especially not with a bag of flour in his hands. Shay carried a bag of flour out of the grocer's with him, and found a nearby bench to sit on. Séamus didn't realize it, but he had his arm slung around the bag of flour in such a way that it looked almost like a person that he was hanging out with, instead of an inanimate object. It didn't really matter to him, though - he was used to things looking strange when it came to magic, and today was no different.

@jacob

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Jacob was having a kick in Diagon alley. He had already been here once with his sister just to be sure they could find the place. Yet being here alone was far better so far. He could actually walk around in peace instead of getting into an argument over every little thing with his sister. It was just interesting to see the differences between how the American and European magical worlds did their shopping. The cobblestone and twisting of the alley, the old world style of most the buildings stuck him the most. Back home multiple stores went through redesigns and changes but here these probably looked just like the day they were built. Something he hadn't had a chance to notice while he was busy fighting with his sister. No, she wasn't taking this move well and he couldn't totally blame her. This was a big move for them and he only hoped she found some bright side of her own soon.

His walk continued as he was wasn't really shopping yet for school just exploring even if that was the excuse he used to get out of the apartment. Everything was still new and exciting to him right now and he didn't want to miss it. While Jacob wandered aimlessly he just kept looking around, the buildings, the little stands and the people. One with an arm around a large bag sitting at a bench. Okay, that last one was odd even for a new land enough for him to do a double take and realize the bag was more than likely a bag of flour, he had seen them enough times to notice that. With that realization he couldn't help but walk up and say something. "I love to bake and all but I've never attempted to hang out with the ingredients." Jacob said with a small laugh and a warm smile that followed. "Hi, I'm Jacob. Who might you and your friend be?"

@seamus

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Séamus hadn’t had a plan for how long he was going to be sitting on his bench with his flour, but as soon as he saw someone looking his way, he was tempted to cut his break short and run. But it was hard to run with a flour bag, and even harder to go from resting to running in the time it would take for the boy to make his way over to Shay. The Slytherin tried to look as relaxed as possible, but he had to admit that he was tense even before the other boy started talking. The tension didn’t release for a moment, until Shay realized what the boy was doing. Teasing. That was something that people did without malice outside of the Slytherin common room. And probably in it, too, but Shay wasn’t fortunate enough to be on of the people that was left alone when he was in the common room – his stutter and his blood status made him a perfect target for his less than savory classmates. The boy – who was American, by his accent – introduced himself as Jacob, and Shay offered a small smile in return to Jacob’s easygoing grin. “Séamus, b-but sometimes p-people c-call m-me Shay.” He was going to say that his friends called him Shay, but that seemed kind of catty, and not at all what he was going for. He floundered for a moment to try to think of something witty to say about his flour sack, but Shay wasn’t witty by any stretch of the imagination. “Uh, it’s a b-bag of fl-flour.” He said dumbly. “D-do you w-want m-me to m-move it?” Shay asked. Then the American could sit on the bench, too.

@jacob

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Jacob waited for a response from the boy and as he finally got it he was left wondering. Was the boy nervous because of him or did he just have a stutter. He had run into a few people before that had one just because that’s how they were. Still it would be rude to bring it up anyway so it didn’t matter now. “Do you like being called Shay? That’s more important. My sister and her friends call me an idiot all the time doesn’t mean I like it.” Jacob spoke knowing full well someone wouldn’t have brought up their nickname if they weren’t comfortable with it being used. Still it was one way to break the ice, a joke at his own expense which he didn’t mind.

Shay explained how it was a bag a flour when he joked about asking for its name. Either the boy didn’t get that Jacob was just trying to make a joke or he wasn’t one to join in on something like that. “I see that,” Jacob just laughed as that part was obvious after all. Shay said he could move the bag if Jacob wanted to. “No, no. He looks pretty comfortable there and I’m not one to make people or bags of flour move just because of me.” Jacob joked once more about the bag of flour as if the object would care if it got moved. “I haven’t been in Europe long so is this normal? Should I go get my own bag of flour and meet you back here?”

@seamus

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Séamus blinked at Jacob when he asked if the Slytherin liked being called Shay, nodding slowly as an answer to the question, though the American continued by saying that his sister and her friends sometimes called Jacob idiot, and he didn’t like that. “Y-your s-sister d-doesn’t s-sound v-very n-nice.” Séamus informed Jacob, though he could almost guarantee that the other boy already knew that. Shay hoped that Jacob wasn’t one of those people who jumped down people’s throats when their family was insulted. Saying someone didn’t sound very nice wasn’t the worst insult that there was, but Séamus knew that people could be weird when it came to perceived slights against their people.

Jacob said that he could see that the bag of flour was just that, and Séamus tried not to sigh too much at his own ineptitude. The other boy said that Shay didn’t have to move it, but the Slytherin swung the bag down to be by his feet anyways, trying to make the action seem as casual as possible so that Jacob wouldn’t protest it. “N-not everyone in Europe is a b-baker’s s-son, s-so I th-think you’re f-fine.” Séamus said when Jacob asked if he ought to go get a bag of flour for himself, hoping that the comment would lead to another joke, since he was having a hard time navigating the ones that had already been made.

@jacob

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After nodding that he was fine with the nickname Shay made a comment about his sister and Jacob couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh trust me, she isn’t.” And if that wasn’t the truth he didn’t know what was. “We’re twins actually. I guess you could say I’m the good one while she’s the evil one. She’s not totally awful to other people I suppose.” Even if they didn’t get along he had to defend Katherine, she wasn’t a terrible person and she was family after all. She was just terrible to him most times. “How about you? Any annoying sisters in your life?”

Even though Jacob said he didn’t have to move the bag of flour Shay still did. At this point it would have been rude to not take the seat he had been offered. Besides it was easier to talk to someone while sitting than standing over them. Jacob sat down while Shay began to explain why he had the bag of flour and he just smiled once more. “That’s pretty cool. My grandfather used to be a baker, he even had a bakery in New York for sometime.” It wasn’t often he ran into someone involved with bakery or cooking unless he was at the place of business. “I guess it skips a generation because I want to do the same thing while my father went to work with the magical Congress. I guess I ended up taking after my Grandfather and Grandmother more than my actual parents.” He mused about that thought for second to himself for realizing he was probably talking about himself too much. "Do you enjoy it or are they just making you run errands?

@seamus

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Jacob insisted that his sister definitely wasn’t nice, and Shay cracked a smile at that. He explained that his sister was actually his twin, and that he was the “good” one and she was the “evil” one. That didn’t make much sense to Shay, since one twin didn’t necessarily have to be good or evil, but he was willing to roll with it, nodding along as Jacob said that his twin sister wasn’t that awful to other people. Siblings did seem to enjoy picking on each other more than other people, as far as Séamus could tell. At the question about annoying sisters in his life, Shay shook his head. “Only ch-child.” He explained. He didn’t know whether his parents had wanted more kids than just him, but no matter what they had wanted, he was all that they got, and they seemed grateful to have him… even though Shay was a bit different than them, since he was magical and all.

Jacob sat beside him and Séamus turned his head to correspond with the new arrangement. Jacob launched into a story about his grandfather owning a bakery, and taking more after his grandfather and grandmother than his parents, due to his father’s being in the magical Congress. That was… quite the story, Shay had to admit. When asked if he enjoyed baking or was just doing errand, Séamus smiled. “B-both.” He replied. “I’d r-rather n-not sp-spend m-my summer as a p-pack m-mule, b-but wh-what c-can I d-do?” He asked. Shay wasn’t much good at defying anyone, let alone his parents.

@jacob

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Shay explained he was an only child and Jacob just nodded for a second. “Then I envy you at times. Sure I wouldn’t trade my sister or my little brother for the world.” Which was true as he explained, they might be pains at times, especially his sister but they were family no matter what. “but at times it would make life a little simpler as an only child.” Jacob added being honest with the idea that if it was just him his life would be much quieter. Which could be a good or bad thing. At least he wouldn’t trade his little brother for anything and his sister, well the offer would have to pretty good for that to happen.

It was just interesting to hear that this boy was actually working at his parents bakery. Something he wished he could do but his grandfathers bakery had long been sold when he could no longer run it. He never got to know his grandfather but would have loved too, sadly No-majs just don’t live as long as magical people. Jacob did laugh a little as Shay brought up being a pack mule for his family, obviously he was referring to getting bags of flour. “You could say no but I wouldn’t be able to do that to my family either. Well at least for my parents.” Jacob nodded as he spoke, if his parents had asked him do go around carrying things he would have done it too he had no doubt. “Is it far? I’ve got all day of having nothing better to do. I could help.”

@seamus

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Jacob said that he envied Séamus at times for being an only child, and Shay shrugged. “I f-feel the s-same.” He replied. Most of the time, Shay didn’t mind that he didn’t have siblings, simply because he didn’t know otherwise, but he saw how close some people were to their siblings – like Dom, who had a sister to love and care for her when she was going through a rough period – and it made him wonder if he was missing out on something big and special because his parents had only decided to have him. “G-greener g-grass, I g-guess.” Shay added. There would always be some choice that seemed better, which was another reason why Séamus tried not to fuss too much about what it was like to have a sibling. He’d never know, and he didn’t want to get himself in a twist about it just because it might have been better.

The other boy seemed to understand that even though saying no to his parents was an option, it wasn’t a viable one, and Shay offered him a weak smile, glad that he wasn’t going to be given a rousing speech about sticking it to the man or whatever people thought he needed to do to not obey every one of his parents’ orders. When Jacob asked if the bakery was far, Séamus winced, then nodded. “It’s in Ireland. I’ve b-been Apparating.” He explained. “I s-stopped b-because it’s t-tiring.” Now Jacob had the entire story behind why he had found Séamus sitting on the bench in the first place.

@jacob

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Jacob nodded while Shay explained how he felt the same, being jealous Jacob had siblings. That’s just how it was and Jacob knew it, people were always envious of what others might have. He learned that early with his sister and his natural gift for Legilmancy. Shay added about the grass being greener and he laughed for a moment. “Hey if you want a sister I can let you borrow mine for a day. You’d think she was complaining just because of being traded but no. She’s always like that.” He explained pausing for a moment to laugh, “My mother might complain also but there I have no doubt she’d be returned early.” He added as he thought maybe he was being too hard on Katherine for a moment but she also wasn’t here to hear this so what did it matter.

“Oh,” Jacob got out as Seamus explained how he had been traveling and where he was going. He wasn’t as familiar with Europe as he would have liked to be. He also hadn’t planned to be coming to Europe for a year of school till a week ago. So everything was new and a surprise. Still he imagined it had to be far with Apparating being Shay's only choice. “Yeah that sounds rough. I don’t know if they pay you but you should make sure to ask for double for the delivery fee.” Jacob teased for a moment with a warm smile just trying to be friendly. “So what trip is this, four? Five?” Throwing some numbers out there being curious.

@seamus

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Séamus smiled when Jacob said that the Slytherin could borrow his sister if he was ever interested in knowing what it was like to have siblings. His smile got wider and his dimples began to show when Jacob said that his sister was always complaining, and that Shay would probably have to return her early. “I’ll p-pass.” He said with a laugh. He was curious, but not that curious. If he wanted to, Séamus was sure that he could get Dominique to lend one of her siblings to him, and they would likely be more agreeable than Jacob’s sister, if the boy was even being half-truthful about her bad temperament.

Jacob said that his constant trips back and forth sounded rough, and Shay shrugged. It was exhausting, but it was also something to do. “Th-they d-don’t p-pay m-me.” He said with a snort. It was the family business, and he was family, so he was more or less expected to do odd jobs for free. It wasn’t like he was spending forty hours a week at the bakery, and his parents did pay for his housing and food and school supplies, and he got a small allowance, so Shay didn’t really need a salary. “F-four, I th-think.” Shay responded when asked what trip he was on. He knew that he had definitely gone back and forth more than twice, but how much more he didn’t really know. It didn’t matter, since he wasn’t really allowed to stop until his father told him that they had enough flour for the week, or the month, or however long he had been intending to stock up for. There was no light at the end of the tunnel, because Séamus didn’t know how much he needed. “D-didn’t k-keep t-track.” He added a short explanation.

@jacob

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“Oh trust me, I don’t blame you.” Jacob laughed out a reply as he was sure Shay had made the right choice. He was forced to say Kathrine was alright and to many people she was alright. Jacob just had the misfortune of being born her twin brother and while he wouldn’t change it he was also sure that was why they fought so much. He knew that’s what brothers and sisters did but it seemed to always be more than the other siblings he had seen at school.

Shay explained how he didn’t get paid for helping at his parents bakery which didn’t surprise Jacob. It was what families expected of their kids and while he didn’t have a family business to help with Jacob was always given random tasks or things he had to do from his parents. A lot of those involved watching his little brother. “Just tell them they can make it up to you on your birthday.” He joked not expecting the boy to do that nor would Jacob have unless he was tasked with something especially difficult or annoying. “I don’t blame you for taking a break sounds like you need it to me. I also got to meet you and your friend.” Jacob paused to motion toward the sack of flour Shay was carrying before. “So it worked out.” Still it couldn’t be fun to be hauling everything back to Ireland. A place he could only assume was very far and it wasn’t like he could help after learning that.

@seamus

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Jacob said that Shay could tell his parents to make up all the work to him on his birthday, and Shay chucked. “I’ll be w-waiting a w-while. M-my b-birthday’s in F-February.” Séamus explained. There was quite a long time before he was even going to start thinking about his birthday for the next year, and Shay was sure by then he would have forgotten most of the work that he had to do over the summer. That was the thing – it was annoying and tedious while he was doing it, but after he was done it kind of just disappeared from his mind. Jacob said that he didn’t blame Shay taking a break, and the Slytherin nodded. Taking breaks wasn’t something that he was normally good at, especially when it came to studying and schoolwork. He was just so worried that he’d never finish getting through all of the material that he rarely took time to relax in the first place. “Everything h-happens f-for a r-reason?” Séamus asked, voice dubious. He wasn’t sure he bought into that whole theory. He knew too many people that had been hurt, seemingly unnecessarily, to believe that there was some great thing that they were all working towards, and that everything bad that happened contributed towards that higher purpose.

@jacob

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“Yeah it sounds like you have quite the wait but it just gives your parents more time to prepare.” Jacob explained still joking on the subject. He was hardly expecting anything like that from his own parents and while all families are different Jacob could only assume all parents expected help from their children. Seamus asked if he was implying everything happened for a reason and he shook his head slightly. He wasn’t sure if he would go that far as believing that. “Maybe, who knows if someone is out there is planning all this out. I was just saying you decided to take a break and I got to meet you because of it.” He attempted to explain himself once more on what he meant. “Random chance or planned, whatever the reason it worked out at least here.”

@seamus