better together | lusie & toby

[tobias charles watkins]

Since summer started, Toby found himself busier than before his sixth year had ended. Between starting a summer job at the reserve as a caretaker, getting ahead in studies for the upcoming school year, and constantly working on his relationship with Lusie during quarantine, he found himself preoccupied. Life was just...weird.

Two weeks ago, a terrible accident happened at the quidditch tournament, taking Edmund's life. Toby was shocked and having a difficult time coping with the situation and identifying the best way he could support Lusie. It was incredibly hard because he wanted to be there for his girlfriend, but he also wanted to give her enough time and space to breathe if she needed it. Though he didn't want to give her space more due to selfish reasons. Toby never experienced losing a friend or anyone close to him from a tragedy until now. He felt a sadness deep inside his core that made himself numb, he couldn't imagine how Lusie and her family felt. 

Tonight would be a good night to let loose and forget their worries for a little while. A school party wasn't a setting where Toby and Lusie would be found regularly, but they were trying new and exciting things this summer. Parties and social events always made Toby nervous, but he had Lusie with him to anchor to, so he knew everything would be alright. As the pair made it up the walkway to the Weekly residence, Toby stopped a couple of steps before reaching the front door of the suite, "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked her, squeezing her hand to get a look at her expression, "We can leave whenever you're ready Lus...if we walk in there and you just aren't feeling up to it that's s okay, just gimme the sign." Toby attempted to reassure her in an easy going but caring tone, probably sounding over concerned for his girlfriend than anything, but he truly was worried about her well being and wanted to make sure princess Lusie was comfortable.

@lusie

[Deleted]

Lusie wasn’t sure what had gone through her mind when she agreed to go to the party with Toby. Of course she wanted to be with Toby. He was far from the confusion. But to be honest, there wasn’t much confusion at all. And that was what prompted her confusion. She was supposed to be grieving. Her brother had just died. Ed had been her best friend since the day she was born. But she was starting to see him being gone as just having one less person she had to hold it together for. She would have done anything for Ed. But her world had crumbled down and what parts of her that came out of the wreckage were startling.

They got to the party and Toby stopped her before they went inside, asking her if she was sure that she wanted to do this, and then telling her that they could leave whenever she wanted to. “Toby. You’re sweet. But I’m fine. Really.” she insisted. She wanted to be at this party. She wanted to be around people. To let loose. And to have a drink. “I want to have fun.” she added.

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

Lusie reassured him that she was okay, which made him feel a little better, for now. She looked like she wanted to get away from the castle again, or maybe it was just reality in general. "Okay, love, lets go." he offered her a sympathetic smile and nod, holding her hand to offer her support. The front door was propped open slightly from a party goer, so Toby stepped ahead to open the door for Lusie. They were instantly greeted with loud music, loud voices,  and familiar faces. It was a weird feeling seeing so many people who he had passed through the halls over the years at a Weekly party. Toby couldn't believe he and Lusie had decided to go. A few weeks ago they realized how fun it was to get drunk and reckless. There were minor setbacks like the disappointment from his parents, and more importantly the queen, due to their faces in some cringy tabloids of them snogging during their escapade. Toby was embarrassed when his parents and his sisters read about the happenings at first, but he found it funnier now. 

Toby turned to face Lusie, there was a makeshift bar straight ahead and it looked well stocked. These Weekly kids knew how to party, he had no idea where to start with the bottles. There was also punch on the table that many kids were gravitating to. "Would you fancy a drink?" he asked her sweetly, wondering if that would be good for her in her current state, but he wasn't going to tell her what to do. Hell, it could be good to loosen her up and get her mind off of things.

@lusie

[Deleted]

Lusie hated the sympathy. She felt burdened by the emotions of everyone else around her when it came to Ed. All of these people claimed that they knew him and would miss him so much. It all sounded so fake to the princess, regardless of the intentions of the people saying those words. Ed had been a nice person, but she was sure even he would hate all the attention seekers crying over the life of the young Prince. At home she had to smile and nod, thanking everyone for their lovely words and encouraging them to be strong because ‘Edmund would want them to’. Ed wouldn’t care. She knew that. Sybil knew that. She just wanted to get away from it all. And tonight seemed like the perfect excuse. “Yes! Let’s get drinks!” she eagerly craved the same release of inhibitions she had felt just weeks ago on their night out. She didn’t want to even realize there were other people around her. She scanned the makeshift bar, it was very well stocked. “Shots? Or maybe some mixed drinks?” they could try their hand with beer or wine, but she kind of wanted something harder.

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

His eyes widened at the amount of stimulation through the penthouse suite. There were happy faces mixed amongst some judgy ones; there were people scattered everywhere. A familiar herbal aroma filled his nostrils, accompanied by the stale smell of alcohol. It was becoming more apparent they chose the right summer gathering to attend, the Weekly's knew how to throw a proper party. Not that Toby would know anything about that, he only wanted an excuse to let loose with his girlfriend.

Toby wanted to show the Windsor family that he could take care of Lusie. He didn't want them to think that he was a bad influence on her because he wasn't actively out looking for mischief. Getting into trouble stressed him out more than he'd like to admit. It didn't take much convincing if it were something Lusie wanted to do, however. The gangly Ravenclaw led the Princess over to the beverage table by the hand as she shared what she wanted to drink. His eyebrow quirked upwards at the word 'shots.' Well, he wouldn't have excepted any less. Toby smiled down gently, "We should probably try to take it easy this time," he said with a light laugh, slightly nervous. Only because he didn't want to sound like a party pooper, and he knew that Lusie probably needed a release, "Maybe we could start with the punch and work our way up?" he compromised, starting for the spiked punch bowl as he tried to read her expression. Toby was having a hard time because he didn't want to let Lusie down, but he also wanted to be responsible. Merlin, he hated that he had to overthink everything.

@lusie

[Deleted]

Lusie had never attended a non-school sanctioned party before. She went to the balls, and some of the other events where professors would be in attendance to monitor the activity levels and make sure nothing got out of hand. But before now she never could say that she even wanted to go to a party. It was entirely different from anything she ever experienced and exactly like every highschool movie she had ever seen. People were all around, most of whom she at least recognized from school. And most of them already had drinks in their hands. After she suggested shots, Toby chimed in that maybe they should start slow and take it easy this time. She rolled her eyes. “I thought the point of coming to the party was to forget about everything and get drunk.” she teased. But then she shrugged. “we can start with punch I suppose.” she had to let him win sometimes.

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

Toby could feel Lusie's disapproval, instantly causing his expression to drop, but more comically. He felt like a party pooper with that reaction. His hand dropped to the small of her back to offer her a nervous smile, "I was recommending getting inebriated at a safer pace this time around, but if you want to get 'sloppy club snog' drunk, again, be my guest." he chuckled playfully.

Well, if Lusie wanted to let loose and get drunk, he wasn't going to stop her. He'd make sure she got home safely, whether that be his home or the castle, he wasn't sure yet. Only the night would tell.

A girl he recognized from Ravenclaw set a half-empty bottle vodka on the table so he picked it up, "Choose your poison, I'm not judging..." he assured her in a lighthearted tone, despite his first comments, he held out a clear plastic cup of punch with one hand, and the sloshing vodka bottle with the other. Toby wanted Lusie to have a good time after the traumatizing summer she had losing Ed. Sometimes alcohol helped temporarily forget so he wasn't going to stop her if she wanted to have a wild night. He'd partake more cautiously this time. Hopefully....


@lusie

[Deleted]

Lusie understood Toby’s thinking that they should take it slow this time. They were surrounded by their friends and schoolmates rather than the strangers at the club. At least there were no members of the press here. Maybe the Hogwarts paper, but she wasn't sure they’d choose to feature her like the muggle press loved to. She wasn’t sure her grandmother would let her live down another feature like her last. She wasn’t sure that Toby would ever be allowed back in the palace if it happened again like that. He teased her about how drunk she got last time and she rolled her eyes at him once again. But when he picked up the bottle of Vodka, she got a cup of her own and held it out for him to pour her some as well. She’d add some soda to the cup and mix it up, hopefully making it impossible to taste the alcohol as well… except for the throat burn. There seemed to be no way around that.

“Is this how all parties are?” she asked casually. She had never been to a Hogwarts student party before, unless they were school sanctioned like the dances and balls. She often wondered what went down in the room of requirements after dark. She’d get in the invites and all, but never before had she had a desire to actually attend. She took a large swig of her drink and then scanned the room, spotting mostly familiar faces. They were all vaguely familiar. It wasn’t that big of a castle after all. “it’s a nice flat too… much bigger than I imagined it would be. I suppose it’s got to be big to fit them all.” there were 8 members of the weekly siblings, she remembered. She wasn’t really close with any of them, but she knew them and she was glad to have been invited.

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

Toby filled her red cup a tiny bit before stopping, shrugging, and filling it more than halfway. Oops. He wasn't really sure his much was ”a lot” and he wasn't trying to be some controlling rule enforcer. What was the worst that could happen at a student party? There wasn't any media here this time to get them into public trouble, well, unless if someone had it out for them...

Toby chuckled before filling his cup the same amount, to show he wasnt just trying to get his lady drunk. He smiled and raised the solo cup to click, ”Cheers” he smiled, taking a generous sip since he knew he wasn't going to like it already. Toby winced with a full body shudder as the alcohol mingled with his taste buds. Lusie asked if all parties were like this and he offered her an innocent expression, ”I don't know I've never really been to a party” he admitted to her lamely, the dorkiness practically oozing out of him. Merlin, Toby wished he were cooler sometimes so he could lead the situation. He felt like a fish out of water in social situations such as these, he needed to find an activity to ease his nerves. A seventh year he recognized from his classes passed a spliff to Toby and he took it without thinking, before it occurred to him the responsibility that entailed. Now he’d have to smoke it.

Tobys eyes fell to Lusie and shifted to the joint, more to read what she wanted to do. The time he smoked with Nathaniel Forrester flashed before his eyes. That was fun...even though he was terrified of the Slytherin and he smoked it more out of intimidation at the time. Toby didn’t want to seem like a complete square, so he brought the joint to his lips and took a puff in, held it, and exhaled. The smoke burned his throat and it left him slightly lightheaded but he was pretty sure he liked it. Pinching the smoking cone, he held it out to her carefully, “Do you-uh-want this?” He asked her in an almost dreamy tone.

@lusie

[Deleted]

Toby filled her glass a little more than she expected him to and she watched him with a smirk on her face while he did it. She knew that he was trying to be strong and be there for her, but she appreciated that he was starting to let go a little bit and give into what she really wanted right now, which was to just have fun and forget about everything serious in the world. He raised his glass to cheers with her, and then they both took a drink. She was starting to really like the taste of the alcohol, which wasn’t something she ever thought she would (besides a nice glass of wine, maybe). He admitted that he didn’t know how to answer her question because he hadn’t been to any parties and she gave a nod. “Not even any of the Hogwarts parties?” she asked. She knew they happened every now and then and she knew almost everyone was invited but she had never felt the desire to go.

Lusie watched as Toby was handed something smoking at the end by another boy in their year. She wasn’t sure if this was a regular thing, but she had never seen Toby smoking before, so she expected it probably wasn’t. While she didn’t entirely know what it was, she was fairly sure it was marijuana and she watched her boyfriend inhale at one end, and saw it light up at the other before he blew smoke out. He offered it to her and she took it without thinking, but she examined it for a moment before mimicking his movements. She breathed in deeply with her lips around the paper and then coughed as soon as she removed it from her lips and tried to breath out. “Oh god that’s terrible.” she decided while trying to laugh between coughs. However, when she finally looked up, she definitely felt its effects. “Wow I didn’t think it would be this quick.” she smiled at Toby.

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

Scratching the back of his neck, he shrugged when she asked if he had ever attended the Hogwarts parties. "No...not really." he told her truthfully with an awkward laugh, feeling lame for the honesty, but not for too long. He was always honest with Lusie because she wasn't the type of person to make a person feel bad for anything. It was one of the list of reasons why he loved his girlfriend. "I never really had a reason to go before." Toby told her with a smile. Obviously meaning he was only there because he was with her. Tobias was down to do anything with Lusie if it were something she wanted to do.

The alcohol heated his body instantaneously, giving him a slight pinkness in the face and a smile plastered to his face. As Lusie agreed to take the joint, he carefully passed it to her, watching with a curious smile as she puffed the joint and coughed a few times, proclaiming that she wasn't expecting the effects to hit her so fast. Toby draped an arm around her waist, more for support if she wished to lean on him. "Yeah...it's nice..." he agreed easily before freezing, nursing the red solo cup in his hand, "You mean it in a good way, right..?" he asked with a softened expression, always committing to the role of the 'over concerned boyfriend'. Okay, maybe he was faded much quicker than he thought he'd be with the alcohol mingling in his system, but it was fun. He was curious to where the night would go, the Weekly sure seemed to know how to throw a party. 

@lusie

[Deleted]

Lusie nodded, it was the same reason that she had never been to a Hogwarts party before. It made complete sense. She knew that Toby wasn’t really a party type of guy and he just went to things that she wanted to go to with her. She had never been to a student party either, he knew that already though. But besides being her classmate, she didn’t really know who Toby was before they started dating last year.

Toby wrapped an arm around her waist and she leaned into him a little. She didn’t really need support as she just liked the excuse to be close to him. He admitted that it was nice and then asked her if it hit her in a good way. She nodded. “I think so. I’ve never done it before, I don’t really know how it’s supposed to feel.” she admitted. She felt like she was floating and also like she was spinning, but she definitely didn’t feel sad. So that was good. “Do you want to dance?” she asked him.

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

Tobys concern slowly faded when Lusie admitted to feeling okay. She didn't look uncomfortable or nervous so it was better not to dwell on those thoughts. Lusie asked him if he wanted to dance, which was something that would have made him nervous last year... these days he was getting more used to dancing with Lusie. Toby fancied having a reason to be close with Lusie. He nodded his head with a stoney smile at her question, "Of course I want to dance with you," the Eagle agreed, raising his cup to his lips to finish the contents of his drink so he wouldn't have to carry it around. The alcohol sent shivers down his spine and caused goosebumps to cover his arms but he really enjoyed the careless feeling it gave him. He was constantly battling with scrutinizing himself so it was nice feeling to let loose.

As they started to turn to walk away toward the music, they thanked the kids for sharing their stash. The kids handed the joint back with a smile, shaking their heads. The smile told him that they were keen to get the Princess of England stoned. 'You two can have it, we have more, enjoy!' they insisted, all bobbing their heads up and down. Toby couldn't believe he and Lusie were responsible for smoking it on their own now. "Wooah-heey, thaaanks-" he told them graciously but unable to hide the nervous laughter. Toby turned to Lusie and leaned in, awkwardly clutching the joint between his fingertips as they walked away. "I don't think we've ever looked so cool in our lives.." Toby jested sarcastically, fully knowing he looked like a morbid dork, pretty much always. Toby took a hit and tried to pass it off to Lusie.

"Lets booogie, darling," he pulled her hand with a smile, offering her a comical shimmy. If Lusie wanted to dance, he would pull whatever moves he had in the vault. Toby would follow Lusie to the end of the world, he was completely smitten by her. It probably made him look like a fool, but he adored the Princess. Toby felt lucky to be able to call her his girlfriend. There was no other girl in the world he cared to lay his eyes on because she was the most perfect girl in the world.


@lusie

[Deleted]

Toby agreed to wanting to dance with her and tossed down the rest of his drink. That was a good idea. She didn’t really want to worry about spilling her drink if they went out onto the dance floor, and she didn’t want to dance like a dork because she was holding a cup in her hang. Though, she wasn’t really sure she could blame her potential bad dancing on the cup she was holding. So she followed his lead and dowed the rest of the liquid in her cup, feeling the burn on her throat but it seemed to energize her more than pain her. Toby went to hang back the joint to the person he got it from but they insisted that he keep it and Toby seemed thrilled by this idea. SHe giggled when he admitted that they looked cooler now with the joint. “Oh yeah, so long as no one takes a picture of this and sells it to the press.” she teased given their last night out.

Lusie accepted the joint when Toby passed it to her and put her cup down on a table nearby, figuring she would just get another one if she wanted another drink later on in the night. She took another hit of it and then handed it back to her boyfriend as he pulled her by the hand onto the dancefloor. The music was loud and fast and while Lusie had no idea how to dance, she wasn’t really worried about making a fool of herself with Toby. She knew that he loved her anyway. She wasn’t sure if it was the confidence, the weed, or the alcohol, but she let go, and just let the music move her.

tobias charles watkins
((Maybe we wrap this up?))

[tobias charles watkins]

Toby smiled at Lusie when she agreed to dance. It was funny to think that a year ago the thought of dancing in public would have had him mortified. Well, he'd always be one of the stiffest ones on the dance floor but he was down to try for his lady. As they made their way toward the music and bobbing bodies, he laced his fingers with Lusie's, "Just promise not to be too amazed by my new moves because I've been practicing." he told her playfully with a smile as he spun her into him, placing his hands on her waist. Tonight was going to be a good night.

[End Toby]
[Just gonna keep this one short and sweet so we can move along, feel free to end it here if you wish hehe]
@lusie