Merlin only knows. (Peyton.)

[Deleted]

Jacob wasn’t sure what possessed him to sign up for Jimbo’s blind date event all over again. It wasn’t the first time he had done it but it also just wasn’t in character for him. Still he had, possibly out of some desire he had to be a more outgoing person and all in all his first time with Nora wasn’t terrible. He was incredible nervous but that’s just who he was after all. Being comfortable around new people wasn’t him, hell this blind date thing wasn’t him either but here he was already signed up for it. So when the owl came during Christmas break he wasn’t too surprised. Thankfully he got to the owl first and not his mother, normally he would worry about his sister seeing as well but she had decided to spend Christmas with her new boyfriend. Their mother was furious but it wasn’t like Katherine was around for her to do anything about it.

The day arrived when he was supposed to meet for the blind date. He had spent part of it wondering what would too fancy or just right to wear. He also had been regretting this now as he had no clue who he was paired with. Sure, that was the point of a blind date but it didn’t help with his nerves. Yet, his first attempt at this hadn’t been too bad and while Nora had poked fun at him a bit it was still enjoyable so he could hope it would be the same here too. Who knows maybe better, all he hoped was that it wasn’t one of his sisters friends. He’d never live this down if it was.

It took Jacob some time but he finally figured out how to Floo to Caerleon. From there it wasn’t too hard to find the Merlin museum. He was actually excited for to see what was inside. In America he grew up with just stories of Merlin but this was the land where all those stories happened. The museum was bound to have some good things inside. That and from his experience museums weren’t normally that busy or full of people. That would be a plus for him as he stood outside the museum and waited unsure just who he was even suppose to meet.

@peytonbainbridge

[Deleted]

[googlefont="Open Sans Condensed:300"]

WE'RE BRIGHTER THAN FIREFLIES LIGHTING THE SKY

[attr="class","next"]

DECEMBER 2024

The last time that Peyton Bainbridge had signed up for the blind date event had been over the summer once her family returned from vacation. It had been fun, and she had met a great guy, and while she had a small crush on the guy—she decided to join the winter event. Maybe she’d meet someone else that stole her heart or perhaps she’d make a new friend, she didn’t know, but she was excited. She counted down the days for when she would get the letter about the time, day and location of the date, and when it came—she grew even more excited. Getting her parents to allow her to use the floo network to get to Caerleon, Wales had been somewhat of a challenge, but after much begging and promising to be careful, that she was going to a museum, they agreed.

The day of, she dressed appropriately and figure out how to use the floo before appearing in Caerleon. It was scary, the feeling of it as she dropped the powder into the fireplace and disappearing as she spoke the words of where she wanted to go. She had done her research to find a place that had another floo network that was close enough to the museum, and as she appeared, she began her walk towards the building. It wasn’t long before she appeared across the street from the building, fixing her long blonde hair and moving her comfy sweater back into place over her leggings. She moved forward, and looked around for a second, noticing a somewhat awkward looking male waiting outside—probably her date. She moved forward, and rather shyly spoke with a smile once she got close enough, “Are you here for Blishwicks?”

---

TAG @jacob

NOTES here!

[newclass=.next::-webkit-scrollbar]width: 5px;[/newclass][newclass=.next::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background: #000;[/newclass]

[Deleted]

There wasn’t much to do while Jacob waited outside of the museum for his date to arrive. A number of people passed him by while he just stood there looking around. Each time it was a girl near his age he partly expected it was them. He didn’t know what to say each time but thankfully it didn’t seem to matter as none of them stopped as if they were meeting someone too. He was partly glad for that and yet nervous too. It meant they weren’t the person he was suppose to meet but also meant that, that person was still out there.

While he was looking away for a moment in a different direction Jacob heard someone speaking to him. Of course it would be his luck to be looking in the wrong direction after all his looking around. Looking over he saw a blonde girl who was slightly familiar. Possibly a fellow Hufflepuff which he was now or at the very least went to Hogwarts. “Oh, yeah I am actually. I suppose that means you’re here for that as well.” Jacob got out with weak laugh as he now felt dumb for saying that. “I mean obviously, sorry.” He added speaking what he was thinking out loud. She wouldn’t ask about it if she wasn’t part of the blind dating thing Blishwick set up. “I’m Jacob by the way.” He said offering his hand as he wondered if a handshake was normal in these situations.

@peytonbainbridge

[Deleted]

[googlefont="Open Sans Condensed:300"]

WE'RE BRIGHTER THAN FIREFLIES LIGHTING THE SKY

[attr="class","next"] A ping of pity filled her being, some guilt of making him wait so long for her. She prayed that he had only shown up a few moments before herself because any longer and she would be awkward the entire night. But as she spoke, and he responded in an awkward and weak laughing matter, she smiled lightly. She was okay with awkward guys; she was somewhat awkward in social settings. She laughed, shaking her head, “No don’t apologize – and yeah I am,” she said with a smile. He stuck out his hand with a quick introduction, and she took it, giving it a soft shake, “Peyton. I’ve seen you around school – we’re in the same house I believe,” she said with a smile on her face as her hand dropped to her side. “You—ready to go inside?” she questions with a soft smile, nodding her head towards the entrance they were standing close to. She wasn’t trying to rush things along, but she preferred to get out of the nippy winter air.

---

TAG @jacob

NOTES i apologize for taking forever!

[newclass=.next::-webkit-scrollbar]width: 5px;[/newclass][newclass=.next::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background: #000;[/newclass]

[Deleted]

The blonde explained that he didn’t need to apologize for his confusion for a second followed by confirming that she was indeed here for the Blishwick date. That was a mild relief as he didn’t have to keep guessing who his date might be from the people passing by. Instead he was now worried about the actual date and how nervous he might be. Still she seemed friendly enough already, so that was a good sign. Shaking his hand the girl introduced herself and explained they might actually be in the same house. Which now that Jacob thought about it Peyton did seem familiar. “I think you’re right, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen you a couple times too.” He replied after thinking about it for a moment or too. “We probably would have run into each other at some point already but I spend most of my time in the kitchen.” He added with a small weak laugh.

Peyton asked if he was ready to go as she looked toward the entrance. Was he keeping them out here longer than he should have, he wasn’t sure but nodded quickly. “Oh, yes sorry, let’s go.” Walking toward the entrance he held the door open for Peyton, not just because it was a date but because his mother might as well have beat manners into him growing up. “After you.”

@peytonbainbridge

[Deleted]

IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT THEN THEY CAN CLOSE THEIR EYES
WE'RE BRIGHTER THAN FIREFLIES LIGHTING THE SKY

Peyton was excited about this blind date. The first one with Daniel had been enjoyable, and while she still had a schoolgirl crush on the older guy, it didn't stop her from trying out another date through the service. She was unable to tell Daniel's feelings, mostly because he was always teasing and flirting...but if they ended up just being friends, she would be totally fine with it. Same would go for this one; she was fine with meeting friends through the blind date as well. She smiled, "Oh...do you cook? Or bake?" she questioned when he mentioned spending time in the kitchen the most. That would be interesting.

The two started walking towards the building, and Jacob was quite charming when he held the door open for her. She smiled, "Thanks," she breathed as she slipped past him, praising his mother or whoever taught him to have manners. "So...where would you like to start? I believe there is a directory here somewhere..." she said, looking around for a sign that had the locations of each area, or even a little table that had pamphlets.

@jacob

template by punki of adoxography

[Deleted]

After talking about spending most of his time in the kitchen Peyton asked if he cooked or baked. “Both actually but more baking than anything. I find it fun and relaxing even if a lot of people find it boring.” Jacob answered, probably with more detail than the girl really cared to hear. Not many in the wizarding world cared how food was made when a house elf or spell could do it for them. Still Jacob just felt it never tasted as good in some cases. “The house elves don’t like me butting in the kitchen but they just allow it. I don’t think they can say no.” Which made the situation with him being in the kitchen just a little awkward.

Jacob held the door open and as Peyton went by she thanked him. “You’re welcome.” He replied following her into the museum. So far the date was going okay, he was just  more worried about his awkwardness ruining it in some way. Peyton asked him where he wanted to start and he didn’t really have much of an idea of where a good place to start would be. She then pointed out that there should be a directory somewhere. Looking around Jacob found what looked like one an a wall nearby. “Over here.” He pointed out as he made his way toward it. It was like the ones found in No-Maj malls with a ‘you are here’ spot. It even gave a suggested route to tour the museum. “We can just follow the arrows, it starts with Merlin when he was young.” Jacob pointed out as the arrows went throughout the place. “If he somehow had a boring childhood we can always just skip to the next part.” Jacob said attempting to make a joke, doubting someone like Merlin had a boring life but anything was possible.

@peytonbainbridge

[Deleted]

IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT THEN THEY CAN CLOSE THEIR EYES
WE'RE BRIGHTER THAN FIREFLIES LIGHTING THE SKY

Peyton was not much of a cooker or even a baker. However, she did enjoy helping in the kitchen as long as she got to lick the bowl or spoon afterward, which her mother rarely let her do. Having so many children, it was a fight for dibs until their mother told them all off. 'Both actually but more baking than anything. I find it fun and relaxing even if a lot of people find it boring. The house elves don't like me butting in the kitchen, but they allow it. I don't think they can say no.'

Peyton smiled and shook her head, "I believe they aren't. I mean, we aren't their masters, but they do work for Hogwarts...so I'm sure they are bound by their word to us as well, meaning we can do whatever we like. But I'd love to try your baking sometime," she said with a smile on her face, trying to end on a light note.

The two of them enter, and after questioning where to start, Jacob called her attention to following the arrows and starting with Merlin when she was young. Why hadn't she thought about following the arrows? She wanted to smack herself in the head for being so ditzy. Peyton laughed, shaking her head, "I know that's a joke...but I doubt his life is anything but grand. Let's go," she said with a smile. It seemed hanging out with Daniel, and his sarcasm and jokes were enough to teach her to tell the difference between all the different tones of voice.

@jacob

template by punki of adoxography

[Deleted]

Jacob just smiled as he listened on while Peyton and him talked of the House elves and the Hogwarts Kitchen. She had agreed with him that they really couldn’t say no even if they wanted to and also claimed she would like to try his cooking sometime. “S-sure, just tell me when you want to. That or just show up in the kitchen some night as I’m usually there anyway.” Jacob was always more confident when talking about cooking. Not much more than he normally was but at least with cooking and baking he knew what he was talking about at least. He didn’t have too feel awkward about that subject at all.

Peyton laughed doubting his joking about Merlin having a boring childhood before saying for them to go. “We’ll see. Who knows if he lived his first ten to fifteen years just doing boring chores and dealing with mid-evil homework.” Jacob attempted to joke again, knowing there wasn’t much schooling going on in those days. Jacob started making his way toward the first room, the one the arrows started to lead to. He was genuinely pretty excited to find out more about Merlin. Someone he had only heard story’s of back in America.

@peytonbainbridge

[Deleted]

'S-sure, just tell me when you want to. That or just show up in the kitchen some night as I'm usually there anyway.' Peyton let out a soft giggle, nodding her head with a smile upon her pink lips. Maybe she would simply show up when the time came, then again, they were in the same house - or would be just as easy to ask him. But that way he made it sound, was that he lived in the kitchen when he wasn't in class - so perhaps it would be easiest just to show up.

Jacob made another joke about tedious chores and med-evil homework, and she smiled, tucking a strand behind her ear. "I feel like it might be more chores than anything. Maybe he raised chickens!" she said with a smile as the two of them headed towards the first room.

For the rest of the day, the two teens followed the path of arrows and learned more about Merlin than what she could read in books. They joked, laughed, and had a lovely time together. Finally, when the "date" came to an end, the two bid each other on good terms and Peyton promised to visit the kitchen for a late-night snack, his choice of course.

[ LE END ]