Do You Like Waffles? [Duke]

[lyka cruz malkin]

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November 26, 2028

Less than a month was left in the fall term and things were not going well at all in school for the younger Malkin. Lyka was struggling, to say the least. Better than the previous spring term, of course, but even with the assistance of a couple different tutors, she was not improving fast enough in the classes that she needed to be. It was unbelievably stressful, and her parents were none the wiser. Their mid-term ‘check-up’ letter as she called it, which was different from their normal correspondence, had been responded to with a tiny white lie. One that said she was above the line in all of her classes. At the time, that was almost true. Her Potions, the offender this year once again, was just a little below a passing grade. The silver lining was that she still had an entire term to get it in good standing. On the flipside, she wasn’t positive that she would be able to do that. Final exams would absolutely decimate anything she built up before then. There was no skirting by this time either. She either graduated or she did not. So yeah, she was incredibly nervous about what was going to happen. The fact that her worrying was starting to affect her other classes was worrying as well, and she knew that the possibility of completely tanking her year was barely a Quaffle throw away. This wasn’t good.

Today was a Sunday, so no classes and no Quidditch practice. Which brought up a whole host of other questions, like why wasn’t she studying already? Or why was she still trying to fool herself that she had any kind of professional prospects when she had only played as a reserve thus far. A seventh year reserve was like, one of the saddest things in the world, and Lyka knew that. No scout worth their salt would want her. Her teammates put up with her because she could trash talk, which very few Hufflepuffs did, and she knew strategy better than most. If her playing capabilities had only been better, she more than likely had the makings of being a good Keeper or Captain. Currently, she was a glorified equipment manager at best. She still loved practicing and going to all of the matches. Just getting into uniform made her feel proud of that one little success. It would have been better if she actually played, but it sort of made her days better when she was able to get on a broom regardless of her position on the team.

Wandering out of the Hufflepuff common room while thinking about her failures, Lyka headed towards Flobberworm & Lettuce to try and find something to eat. According to her watch, it was half-past eleven. So still morning, technically. On the weekends, they usually had some sort of brunch special, and she was unbelievably hungry from stressing out so much over school. Now that it was almost all done (or not, depending on if she graduated), she had realized that it probably would have been smarter if her parents had made her live from home these two years and commute in. That would have forced her to pass her Apparition exam and then they could have watched over her shoulder. Whether or not that would have been more effective was unknown, but at least they could see that she was working. She simply sucked at it.

Finding a seat in the crowded student pub was tough, and she was starting to see why. Brunch was an American-style breakfast. Lyka could feel her mood start to shift immediately. She missed the breakfasts that Ilvermorny had prepared. Waffles every morning. Unlimited mini sausages too. They were to die for. Copping a seat at the corner of the bar, she made her order. Her legs swung happily between the rungs of the stool as she waited. That was how to make up for a relatively shitty day! Eating away her feelings always worked. And the amount of sugar she was about to ingest would definitely help with her study session in an hour or two. Before the crash, of course. But she could worry about that when it happened. For now, waffles!

Duke Daniel Jones ● 706 ● Song by Artist

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[Duke Daniel Jones]

Duke had just about settled into the school. There was some aspects he still struggled with of course; he was yet to be fully ingratiated to the Wizarding world, and being back in an academic setting had proved difficult. He had dropped out of Muggle school when he was 16 and had private tutelage for basic magic control instead of attending Hogwarts, and had the same again when he had decided he wanted to be a Healer. But none of it had been in an academic setting; it was weird having a schedule and having to stick to it. He had somewhat of one when he worked as an Electrician but that was working, it wasn't quite the same, there had still been a level of flexibility. None of this was on 'his' timing, he had had to adjust to it all. For the most part it had been fine, but there was still the odd thing that set him slightly off kilter. Being out of the loop on the wizarding world and being slightly older than his fresher faced peers in his classes had made him feel a little out of place; but then he had just reminded himself of how much he wanted this, and made himself refocus.

Today was fine, he had an extra-curricular class later today, but other than that it would be mostly relaxed for him with a little catching up on his studies later. Another thing that sucked about trying to reacquaint himself with the wizarding world, was realising how much he had missed. As he hadn't done any of his education in actual magic facilities; he had never learned how to apparate. He felt like an idiot a lot of the time, but at least he was taking strides to fix it; that was the lesson he had later, but like learning how to drive later in life it was proving a little more difficult.

To cheer himself up and make sure he wasn't learning on an empty stomach, he had come along to the Flobberworm and Lettuce to treat himself to Brunch. Hopefully it would set him up well for the day.

Unfortunately; it did seem everyone on campus seemed to have a similar idea. Shit.

Fortunately; after a minute of hovering by the door, a stool at the bar was being vacated. He made a beeline, suddenly quite aware of just how hungry he was now. Now there was no turning back; he needed to eat. Another round of hovering ensued as the person vacating his stool put their coat on. Duke wasted no time slipping up onto it as soon as he could. He didn't even notice the girl sitting alone on the next stool down. Too focused on his stomach. He was already scanning the menu when the wait staff reached around him to clear the previous occupants empty coffee cup and plate. Half apologising he glanced up and then noticed Lyka.

"Oh shit, you weren't holding this seat for someone, were ye?" his Manchester accent was fairly strong, but his tone was low, apologetic as he frowned. "I can move if you want..." he offered, but once he glanced around his frown didn't lift. He didn't really want to move, it was busy and he was unlikely to get a seat anywhere.


lyka cruz malkin

[lyka cruz malkin]

▲

It hadn’t come to her attention until now that over the last few months, she had spent a lot of time eating on her own. Glancing around the pub, she saw plenty of friendly faces, even half of the team camped out at a table in the opposite corner, happily eating their brunch together. Her intense focus on making the team and practicing, and her studies, over the last year and a half had really driven a wedge between her and those she had considered her friends. The others in her year that still lived on campus had other things to do, some even with part-time jobs now that it was allowed, so there were times where she really was alone outside of class periods. The same sinking feeling she’d had when waking up was starting to creep back into her, making her chest tighten up anxiously. It was sort of sad now that she thought about it. She really didn’t have friends and the ones she did have, it always seemed like they simply put up with her. Because where were they right now? So many texts went unanswered nowadays. Considering she was the common denominator here, maybe it was her after all.

In the middle of her existential crisis whilst waiting for waffles, she heard the stool next to her scrap along the ground as someone sat in it. She had a feeling it was going to be a small group of friends, and eventually they’d ask if she could move to make space for them. It happened all too often to her. She almost flinched when the voice came, as it sounded like a question right from the start. Looking up at the owner, she was surprised to hear him asking if she was holding it for someone. As if. ”No, no. Just me today. It’s all yours.” And she had hers until one of his friends came along and crowded her out. That was how it went. Lyka decided to test her theory. ”Hard to find a seat on its own today, isn’t it?”

Duke Daniel Jones ● 348 ● Song by Artist

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[Duke Daniel Jones]

Duke nodded to her response, but didn't exactly relax. He was an idiot, to just assume the seat as his own. But then again, she hadn't told him to shove off either. So for now he stayed where he was regardless; his stomach too empty and narky to leave off and go elsewhere. He offered her a small smile, in an attempt to be obliging, hopefully not too imposing. His energy rebounded after putting the menu down on the counter and nodded "Cheers, yeah. My own fault really I had planned to be up and out earlier, get in before the afternoon brunch crowd. But bed wouldn't let me go eh?"

He held her gaze for only a moment after he spoke. It was in his nature to be friendly, outgoing. He often only saw the good in people, usually to his own detriment. He had been slightly more on guard since adopting the Wizarding World as his new home, and trying to move amongst it's people. He had already had a gaffe or two, giving himself away as an impostor and knocking his self esteem just enough. Instead he was trying to learn to suss out situations before he spoke. Too bad that was never something he was good at. Sometimes he could work things out easy enough and tone himself down enough to pass relatively unnoticed; however sitting beside the dark haired girl, he found it difficult to get a read on her. Just as difficult to reign himself in; the weak winter sunshine that had blessed the day was feeding him an energy that was building him up to his usual bubbly self, threatening to boil over.

He should probably leave her alone, she had her own shit to get on with and didn't need him annoying her. He forced himself to focus on the menu for a few seconds; it's own exercise in futility, he would for sure just get what he always did. But it wasn't long before he felt himself being tugged back to grin at her again

"I'm Duke by the way, cheers again." his hand shot out awkwardly to give an almost cliched handshake, his eyes dancing with mischief. "If you do decide you're sick off me, don't worry you can tell me to piss off all the same. I won't take offence, well not too much anyway" Taking the mick out of himself, he half laughed, but did hope she wouldn't tell him to piss off. Waffles to go never did taste quite the same, and it wasn't like he really had anywhere else to go right now.

lyka cruz malkin