moth to a flame | juniper

[rhys alexander greyback]

right here with me

where it truly lies

August 29, 2017
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Growing up surrounded by other kids his age plus older and younger did nothing for Rhys in terms of learning how people communicated. He had always kept to himself, and even observing was confusing. It was only the steady friendships that he’d learned anything from, and very few people ever got close to him. And anyone in his circle now was those he’d befriended his first or second year. Technically that included Juniper since they had classes together, but until that day in the Hospital Wing last September, they’d never had a conversation at length. But it only went through his mind because those friends and Juniper hadn’t meshed well, or not yet, at least. And Rhys hoped they would one day.

It also crossed his mind more since it was all their last year at Hogwarts. What would they be doing after? Where would they go? Would they stay in touch? That scared him more than not knowing what his career would be. A few friends still had a year or two left at Hogwarts, but the rest would be out in the world like him. And Juniper too. How would that work for them? Rhys ate more ice cream wishing he’d get a brain freeze to get himself out of his thoughts. She happily ate some of his, her eyes lighting up as she returned to her own. Though apparently, eating both at the same time wasn’t ideal. Rhys grinned at the quick changes in her expressions.

As she agreed to his offer, he took some of her coffee ice cream. Rhys wasn’t sure if a small brain freeze had hit him or maybe a jolt of caffeine. Either way, it wasn’t bad, but he preferred the cookie dough. ”They’re nice.” But Rhys had few comparisons. Many people stayed there, so he assumed that was also a good sign. Rhys shifted their walking direction slightly to head toward the Leaky Cauldron. It wasn’t far. That was the nice thing about Diagon Alley. Everything was nearby. ”It's rather…strong.” Rhys commented on the coffee ice cream, shrugging at the mention of Juniper’s sister. He’d learned she had two older siblings, a brother, and a sister. The brother didn’t seem to cause any trouble at worked at the Ministry, but the sister had enough going on in her life to write a memoir. ”That’s probably safer. Imagine splinching yourself like that?” The thought was terrible, almost as bad as thinking about sloth brains.

As they approached the Leaky Cauldron, Rhys finished off his ice cream. It was a good choice, though perhaps he should get a bigger size next time. His room was just up the stairs and a few doors down on the left. The Innkeeper had eyed his name curiously when Rhys had first arrived, but very quickly, Rhys had proven he was just Rhys, and the staff had been amiable. He pulled a small key out of his pocket as they walked up the stairs. They were charmed to the rooms and the guest in the room though a key did seem somewhat old-fashioned.

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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Nice wasn't exactly the word she thought would be used to describe the rooms at the Leaky Cauldron considering the state of the pub, but if Rhys said it was then it must be. She was going to find out pretty soon here regardless, which brought out a weird jolt of excitement. The light, fluttery feeling in her chest as the got closer and closer to the establishment grew into one that was pounding in her ears. Why was she nervous about dropping her stuff off in his room? Obviously there were other thoughts trying to wind their way into her head. Or maybe that was all because of the caffeine? Taking another large scoop of her ice cream, she felt her body literally shudder from it. It was definitely the caffeine. This was a literal shot of adrenaline put into frozen treat form. How wasn't it illegal?

Rhys seemed to put into words what she'd been thinking, stating that it was strong. That was one way to put it. "I think this is how caffeine addictions start." She had no idea if that was actually how they began, but it sort of made sense to her. Staring down at the remainder of it, now a puddle of tan coffee liquid, Juniper decided she was done. She didn't need to be bouncing off the walls well into the wee hours of the morning. Her parents would probably think she did drugs or something and never let her out of the house again. The only thing worse than that was if they found out she was dating a werewolf. Not that they had anything against werewolves, just that she knew they'd go into a ridiculous protective mode to try and keep her safe. Rhys was more cuddly puppy than killer dog though.

No one even batted an eye at them as they walked into the Leaky Cauldron and headed up the stairs towards the rooms, which was the part she was sort of worried about the most. She had no idea if guests were allowed guests themselves, or if it was sort of a free for all as long as they were paying. But it didn't really matter since they cruised right by and went up to the room. "Honestly? With how horrible her life choices are with literally everything else, it's amazing she hasn't done that yet," Juniper commented on her sister's follies as she waited for the door to be opened.

rhys alexander greyback ● 412 ● Song by Artist

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[rhys alexander greyback]

right here with me

where it truly lies

August 29, 2017
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Rhys had to remind himself that what he thought of places as 'nice' might not have met somebody else's standard. But he didn't have much to compare to, so a simple place to sleep comfortably was enough to feel nice. Plus, Rhys had wanted to save everything he could of what his mother had left behind now that he'd be on his own in less than a year. Things he was putting off thinking about or discussing, for that matter. Rhys didn't want Juniper to think of him as someone who struggled so much with certain things. He could handle it.

He opened the door and walked in, waiting until Juniper had walked in to close the door. It wasn't much, but at least a private place to be rather than the crowds of Diagon Alley. Even if they had settled down, he still saw far too many familiar faces for his liking. Running into Dolohov and Rosier at the apothecary was an odd encounter, not one he wanted to repeat. "Is she really that bad?" Rhys wondered. The topic of her sister had come up now and then but never in a positive light. Even complaints about her brother might as well have been glowing reviews in comparison.

Placing his stuff near his trunk, he walked over to her. Somehow he'd grown at least an inch or inch and a half taller since the previous school year. So sometimes he felt like he towered over her though he wasn’t that taller than her, was he? Rhys' heart beat a little faster whenever they were alone like this. He supposed these were the times they really learned about one another, though Rhys was careful with what he usually answered. What if he said the wrong thing? What if whatever he said made her change her mind? It always took a good amount of energy to push himself out of spiraling into those thoughts.

He gently grabbed her hand, pulling her closer to him. "I'm glad you came by today." His few days here hadn't been bad, but today had been one of his best days by far. "I missed you." Leaving the Platform had been difficult on him, though he let Juniper mutter under her usual rant about how the train ride was useless to her. And then he'd gone with the handful of classmates who also lived at the orphanage. Moving a little closer, he looked at her eyes through those large glasses and leaned down to kiss her. Merlin knew he’d wanted to do that since he saw her, but they’d been in public and all. With the classmates they dealt with at Hogwarts, it was unseemly to engage in that much PDA. Rhys was already a target for people staring. He didn’t want to give them more to talk about or put Juniper in that spotlight. But he had also missed this.

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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Well, the rooms at the Leaky Cauldron certainly weren't the dorm rooms at Hogwarts, that was for sure. But it also wasn't horrible. The mental image of what it could look like that she'd generated earlier in the day was fairly accurate, down to what the curtains and furniture looked like. It sort of matched what was down in the pub, just less layers of stick from centuries of spilled beer. The fact that her shoes didn't squelch while she stepped into the room was a sign that it had some sort of upkeep done to it despite that it looked like it belonged in her great great great grandmother's guest room.

"I think the muggles call it 'being a hot mess', if that makes sense?" That was a descriptor she'd heard used by one of her sister's friends, so she wasn't completely sure on it. "She's a social butterfly to the extreme and it gets really exhausting being around her sometimes." Getting a word in was difficult with her, and having it seem like she cared while listening was even harder. There were times where Juniper wanted to ask her things about life and whatever, hoping to get something of value, but she knew it bored her sister unless she was the topic of discussion.

While she complained about her sister, Juniper found an empty spot on a dresser to place her new purchases. It didn't click in her head that it was finally just the two of them alone until she turned around to face him again. Merlin, when had he gotten taller? Staring up at him felt comical sometimes, but that feeling was immediately wiped away as she kissed him back. A hint of cookie dough ice cream was left behind on his lips, causing her to smile stupidly. "I missed you too..." It came out breathy, her brain catching her up to speed as things progressed quickly.

She wanted to say more but didn't want to start on a tangent about how awful communication by owl had been all summer, or how all she'd thought about for weeks was today. While that was her, sometimes it felt like it wasn't. Rhys had never seemed to be bothered by it, especially with how much she'd opened up and worked on herself over the last year. But saying that right now felt like it would ruin everything, even if it wouldn't.

"I've got until six to be home," she said slowly, rolling the material of his shirt gently in her fingers, before looking back up at him.

rhys alexander greyback ● 429 ● Song by Artist

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[rhys alexander greyback]

right here with me

where it truly lies

August 29, 2017
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Rhys made a face, he'd never heard that before, and it didn't make much sense. But it could have also been one of those situations where Rhys would have to meet her, and it would all make sense. Well, that was a thought. Meeting Juniper's siblings—the McGonagall's. But her older sister did sound exhausting. Rhys was an introvert, so he didn't know how he would fair in such a situation. And he had no sense of what that kind of life was like outside of what his friends shared with him. The whole thought was unnerving, so he quickly distracted himself with other thoughts.

Like the girl in front of him and how they were finally alone, they had written to one another over the summer. But it wasn't the same. Rhys found comfort in her physical presence, even if it was just Charms homework or something. And he'd never deny he didn't enjoy the more…physical side of things, although they'd only taken it so far. Rhys had a little more experience in this area, perhaps the side effect of too many teenagers with too much time living in one place. But all he wanted was for her to be comfortable with him, but the way she kissed him back gave him his answer.

Half of him expected her to start talking, though he would have probably found some creative way to get her to stop. He usually didn't mind letting Juniper freely go on her explanations and tangents. But then she explained in that breathy voice. ' I've got until six to be home.' Well, you didn't have to tell Rhys twice. It wasn't anywhere near six. His eyes grew a little stormy and didn't leave hers as he closed that little distance between them. Rhys opened his mouth to speak, but words were never his strength as much as his actions were. So, he kissed her. Soft at first, but as his hands found her waist, things grew more intense. But Rhys had always had a good measure of self-control. He had to. But she matched him, and it didn't take long for them to make good use of their time...and the room.

[ end rhys ]

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