the bromance is strong with this one -- philip

[Deleted]

@philiplongbottom

ranger tugged at the tie that was tight around his neck. he'd decided that he'd go a little more casual to the ball than most. he was wearing a tie that he wished he wasn't, a dress jacket his uncle had sent him that was one of the most restrictive things he'd ever worn though he couldn't complain too much, he was wearing his best jeans which was enough to let him be comfortable. though he was close to calling it a night, dominique would have no trouble finding someone to dance with and keep her company. he'd excused himself, needing a break from the slow music that was currently filling the great hall and he ran his hand through his hair, moving through the double doors he ran his hand through his hair with one hand as his other tugged his tie loose, feeling like he could breathe a little better out in the open room. he'd been up since early this morning, having been allowed to be excused from the castle n order to go see his brothers that morning so they could have christmas together, their first without their parents. it was a bitter pill to swallow, that this would be their first and not last christmas with just them. it had been an emotional morning and while he'd tried to keep it off his mind while with dom he hadn't been quite able. though when he spotted a familiar blonde head across the hall all thoughts of his parents fled from his mind and he grinned. "so you survived the puma's after all" he said as he reached his best friend and he reached out to clap his shoulder.

[Deleted]

@ranger

Phil was pacing outside the great hall. Irina was going to be telling him when to go inside, or at least she had told him what song to wait for. He had been out here for 15 minutes already, anxiously waiting. Andy was on the other side of that door. Not to mention all of his friends that he hadn't seen since last school year! He turned around to walk in another straight line to the opposite wall when he heard a voice that brought a smile to his face. He turned around and pulled Ranger into a hug.

"Pumas were nothing, mate. They all ran away screaming after I got the teeth out of the first one." he teased releasing his best friend from the hug. He had pushed out of his mind how much he missed Ranger, but now that they were both here. It didn't matter so much. Phil looked him over and raised an eyebrow at his jeans."Did you forget to wash your dress pants?" He asked with a grin. He didn't know if he would be able to stop grinning tonight.

[Deleted]

@philiplongbottom

as he was pulled into the hug, ranger wrapped his arms around phil and hugged him back, hard. it had been a long few months and ranger had missed phil more than he'd ever let on but it was good to see him. it was really good to see him. "Pumas were nothing, mate. They all ran away screaming after I got the teeth out of the first one." he laughed with emotion in his voice as he let his friend go and he reached to ruffle at his blonde hair slightly, not with too much vigor because he was sure phil was dressed up for a reason that was on the other side of the door. "they were probably blinded by the sun shining off your hair" he said as he dropped his hand and stuck them into the pockets of his jeans, the jeans that phil then called attention too. "Did you forget to wash your dress pants?" the answer was, he didn't have any. well he had had them but they had been at his old house and he hadn't wanted to get a new pair just to wear them once so he had decided to wear jeans. "hey, just cause you gave into the pressure to dress like a penguin" he said as he reached to mock punch phil's shoulder lightly.

[Deleted]

@ranger

Phil ducked away from ranger's hand ruffling his hair, it had taken him all of five minutes to get it to lay like that, and that was five minutes longer than he normally spent on his hair. "Just cause I have a self defence mechanism doesn't make me any less menacing." He countered as he straightened up and smoothed out his jacket. Ranger was smiling easily in the way Phil remembered, but there was something different about his friend. Of course losing your parents would do that to a guy. Phil decided to not bring it up tonight. Save that for another day.

"I do not look like a penguin. Besides--" He suddenly became nervous again. Andy was just inside those doors. Andy. Andy. Andy. Ranger was still standing next to him. Phil took a quick breath and grinned at his friend, trying to hide his anxiety. "I would literally dress as a penguin if Andy asked me to. Hopefully she doesn't..."

[Deleted]

@philiplongbottom

Just cause I have a self defence mechanism doesn't make me any less menacing." he laughed as phil managed to duck his head and he drew his hand back, folding his arms across his chest lightly. "well .. maybe not." he agreed. while phil might not look outwardly menacing he wasn't someone ranger would like to go up against. "I do not look like a penguin. Besides--" he shook his head a little. "i disagree. you know those penguins .." he said as he indicated to the top of his head. "with the little mop of blonde hair on their heads? spitting image." he joked as he watched he assumed were nerves crossing his face. I would literally dress as a penguin if Andy asked me to. Hopefully she doesn't..." he rolled his eyes and took a step forward, moving to rest his hands on phil's shoulders, careful this time not to mess up his suit. "dude. breathe. i really don't think she's going to care what you're wearing." he said. there was every chance andy wouldn't even notice that phil was wearing clothes, just that he was there. "okay?"

[Deleted]

@ranger

Phil smiled at his friend, still nervous, but feeling a little better. He let his shoulders relax under the weight of Ranger's hands, taking a few deep breaths. He would be able to do this. It was just Andy. She wasn't scary. He had to step back from this situation, he was freaking out too much.

"You are saying I look like an emperor penguin?" His eyebrow raised as he went back to their previous line of discussion. "Couldn't I look more like a panther or something more menacing?"

[Deleted]

@philiplongbottom

ranger watched as he saw phil take a few deep breathes and he smiled slightly. that was good. he was relaxing and at least now he didn't look like he was going to freak out at the next word said. "You are saying I look like an emperor penguin?" he dropped his hands from phils shoulders and nodded. "yep. spitting image." he said with a grin and he made to step back. "but if you'd rather a plant .. dandelion?" he said, teasing again. the joking. he had missed it, the reasons to smile and just act happy were something that had been lacking a little in his own life in the last few months. it was nice to have that feeling back, to be able to joke and not feel guilty about laughing. "Couldn't I look more like a panther or something more menacing?" he rolled his eyes a little. "trust you to pick a panther. wasn't i the one that wanted the teeth?" he said with a grin. "i guess you could pass for a panther .. "