under my umbrella (OPEN @ party)

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It wasn't weird that he was here, right? Gabe missed parties. He had got wind of this party some crazy Americans were throwing through the grapevine and decided he may as well make an appearance. He'd know plenty of people there, it wasn't like he was that far out of school. He was just excited for something to do this Friday night, since he wasn't currently in a show. He hated the weekends when he didn't have a run going. So, he welcomed the distraction.

He arrived in the thick of it, about an hour and half into the festivities. The place was hopping and, honestly, he wanted to live here. Somewhere like here. He loved the finer things in life.

He darted to the first person he kind of recognized, "loud in here, isn't it?" he wasn't complaining though. He was already moving his feet and shoulders in dance.

@anyone we can make up why he knows them haha

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Summer had always been Holland's least favorite season. As a kid, it had meant being sent to church camp or stuck at home with his bratty brother and indifferent babysitter while his mum worked. Now, it meant holing up with his grandparents and not using magic for weeks on end. During the summertime, he was desperate for any brief encounter he could get with the magical world, which was how he found himself in a penthouse party, of all places. It was about as far as he could get from quiet hum of muggle Devon.

He was soaking up the vibrant sights and sounds when he heard a familiar voice pointed in his direction. Holland looked up and squinted. The guy's face was familiar, but he couldn't quite summon a name... Figuring it would come to him eventually, Holland grinned and answered, "My hearing won't recover for days... but I love it!"

As he bobbed his head along with the beat, it clicked who he was talking to. "Ollivander, right?" he added. He'd been fascinated by that family since he'd first gone to Diagon Alley. Ollivander's had been his first stop on the list--his first encounter with personal magic. "Didn't expect to see you here--I thought you'd graduated!"

@suzie - their time at Hogwarts would've overlapped and Holland's pretty chatty so I'm thinking they could know each other vaguely from mutual clubs or seeing each out at Hogsmeade etc.

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Gabe chuckled at Hollands response, the kid saying his hearing wouldn't recover but he loved it. "My thoughts exactly!" Gabe agreed. Gabe was a big fan of the parties, crowds, dancing, music, all of it. It was hard to be a Musical Theater performer and NOT love it. Hollands grin was contagious and Gabes grew wider at the sight of it. Gabe nodded his head, "yeah, Gabe Ollivander," he confirmed. Holland said he didn't expect to see him there and Gabe shrugged, and that shrugged turned into a little shoulder bobbing dance move. "Yeah! I did, I'm studying theater now, but I was invited by some old friends. It's nice to see everyone!" his feet started to tap, too, absent minded with the music.

"How was school this year? I know things have been crazy," he asked loudly.

@ezra