@notalbuspotter-blog / notalbuspotter-blog.tumblr.com
Al sat at the bar, swirling around his beer and peering at the gritty pieces that had collected on the bottom of the glass. He let it settle, then peered at the shape left behind. Satisfied and grinning, he tipped it toward James behind the bar. “Does this kind of look like a grim to you?”
@siriuslyjamesii
Al glanced down at the pub crawl bingo card clutched in his hand. He’d filled a few spaces already, but was nowhere near bingo. Glancing over at Alice, he tried to sneak a peek at her card, wondering if she’d picked the better one. Their drinks lay on the bar, Al’s beer almost completely empty. Signalling to the bartender, he called the man over. “Hey, can we get another round?” Caught up in the order, he almost missed, the couple standing a few feet away. The man leaned in toward the woman, whispered something in her ear. He almost couldn’t hear what was being said, but the sound of a pickup line was as distinctive as the sight of a drink being flung into the man’s face. Laughing, Al leaned down to Alice. “Bad pickup line, check. I’m one closer to bingo.”
@alice-ii
Knock knock
An empty apartment while not at work was a rarity these days, and the moment Al returned to pure, blissful silence, he knew he had to take full advantage. Merlin only knew where his roommates were, but the sun was shining, somewhere outside the window a bird was chirping, and for a brief, shining moment, Al was happy, the war forgotten outside.
He was to disrupt the silence, putting an old record on their record player as he lit a joint. Taking his first drag, he meandered to the fridge and grabbed a leftover plate of brownies. Head bobbing along to the music, he all but danced back to the coffee table and dropped the plate there. Brownie in one hand and spliff in the other, Al danced around the apartment, bass and heavy footsteps shaking the floor.
The song changed quickly, a familiar electronic hook pulling Al in to the music. At first he just danced along, head waving and body swaying along with the beat, but then the chorus hit, and Al broke into song, quickly shifting into rap.
So enthralled, he didn’t notice as the door to their flat opened and Alice stepped inside, leaning against the door to watch the performance as she shut it behind her. His back was to her as he rapped along with the words. “Your mom and dad might hate me, but in 5 years I'm the president.”
“I wanna girl, I get her, and I get her friend.” He pointed one way, still following along, then whipped around and pointed at Alice, unfazed by her sudden presence. Holding out the joint, he tilted his head, motioning for her to come join. “Five girls singing in my bedroom, start my own band.”
Surely laughing at him, Alice shrugged her jacket off and tossed it onto the couch, eyeing the brownies on the coffee table and accepting the joint, taking a drag as Al kept rapping along.
“They love me in my peak, but this love is fake. Everyday's my birthday, 'cause bitches love cake.”
The beat dropped and Al reached for Alice, laughing as he pulled her in to dance with him. The pair of them danced along, each finishing off their brownie with wide smiles on their faces as the beat continued. No words needed to be spoken; genuine ease flowed between them and simply as the melody.
The chorus hit and Al threw back his head to sing along, delighted to hear Alice’s voice join him. “Decisions, but I want it all, so I get it all. I wanna eat the whole cake. I'm not sharing, I'm not sharing. You should've learned how to bake. Yes, I want it all, so I get it all I wanna eat the whole cake. I'm not sharing, I'm not sharing.”
Wrapping his arms around Alice, Al rapped the last line: “You should've learned bitches love cake!”
He could feel the laughter shaking her body against him and soon gave in to it himself. Even as the song changed in the background, they still looked at each other, happy gaze not broken until Al leaned down to grab two brownies. He handed one to Alice and shoved the other whole into his mouth, both of them chewing as they bobbed along to the music.
Finally, Al swallowed, and the introduction of the next song drew to a close.
“Ready?”
With a smile on her face that matched the one on Al’s own, Alice nodded.
knock knock
Summer was in full swing, the humid evening air all but choking Al as he hurried down the street, eager to get home. Sweat soaked through his shirt and dirt had embedded itself in every exposed inch of his skin throughout a long day working; he wanted nothing more than to wash it all off and crawl into bed with Avery.
The little house was still and quiet as he stepped through the door; wherever Avery was, she wasn’t home. Time and distance from the war had quelled the worry that once might have risen if he had returned to find her gone. Now, he brushed it away as easily as dust, slipping off his shoes and kicking them to rest beside the few pairs of shoes Avery left by their door.
“Avery?” He called out to her once more and was greeted by the expected silence.
Up the stairs he went, down the narrow hall and into the bedroom they shared he went. Finally he sat, pulling the damp shirt over his head and dropping it onto the bed. His pants came off next, followed by boxers and socks, all into the pile before he surrendered to the shower.
Closing his eyes, Al let the water fall over him, melting away the heat and the stress of the day. It was too easy to get lost in the noise and feeling, and Al hardly noticed any time had passed until he heard the shower door open and felt someone step in behind him. Fingertips ran down his back, tracing over a long curved scar he had received during the war gently. He recognized the touch and relaxed into the familiar embrace as two arms wrapped around him and a kiss was pressed into his shoulder.
Twisting his head around, Al caught sight of only brown hair, Avery’s face shrouded by it as she leaned her head against him.
“Were you at the market?”
The hum of affirmation was almost lost beneath the steady rhythm of water hitting walls, but the question his Avery looking up, a smile across her face. “You’re home early.”
“I am,” Al grinned back, “and this time it isn’t because I blew something up.”
She snorted out a quiet laugh. Reaching down, Al loosened her grip on his waist just enough so he could turn around and wrap his arms around her in turn, leaning down to rest his cheek on top of her head.
“I know you worry about me, but I promise I’m careful.”
“I don’t-” Avery’s denial was lost as Al kissed her softly.
She let out a little huff as he pulled away, but Al knew the look in her eyes well enough to tell that the interruption had been a welcome one. Her chin was tilted up at him as he looked back down at her, the familiar apprehension still there behind it all.
“I’m the best damn curse-breaker in this whole country, Avery.” His smile dropped for a moment. “The war didn’t get me, and this isn’t going to either.”
This time she didn’t say anything, just nodded. It wasn’t something they typically talked about, not until they were lying sleepless in bed, darkness enveloping them. Still, that fear of loss gripped tightly to both of them, likely always would. But they were survivors.
They stood in silence for a moment, arms locked around each other until Al let go and stepped back, mischievous smile spreading. “You know, there’s something wrong with this picture.”
“Oh there is?” Avery crossed her arms and stared skeptically at Al.
He nodded sagely. “We’re in a shower, and you’re completely dry.”
“Al-”
“I’m gonna get you wet.” He let the words sit for a moment, watched as Avery turned a little pink with the implication, then made his move. His grin was practically predatory as he lunged at her, wrapping his arms around her waist and spinning her into the path of the shower head.
She struggled against his grip for a moment, giggling as the water poured over her body. After a moment, Al let her go, both of them laughing too hard for him to keep holding her. He watched as she closed her eyes and let her head drop back, the water tracing every curve of her face and down her body. Laughter fading into a smile, Al took a step back and let the sight wash over him.
“Is this better?” Avery wiped the water away from her eyes, the wide grin and flush in her cheeks erasing the memory of the solemn look before. For a moment, Al felt as young as he actually was.
“Much.”
Daniel Sharman “Fear The Walking Dead” Portrait Session at San Diego Comic Con
knock knock
Bat in hand, Al bounded up the Gryffindor Tower stairs in search of his older brother. OWLs were fast approaching, and the lanky boy had been cooped up in his dormitory for far too long, nose in the books. He needed fresh air, needed to get on a broom and release some frustration. There was no better companion for that than James, his brother always willing to aid in a distraction. The distant pitch had been empty when Al had looked out the wonder, all but calling to them, but James was nowhere to be found. The only place he had yet to search was the 6th year boys’ dormitory.
One quick knock and Al turned the handle, pushing the door in and stepping inside. “James, do you-”
It took a moment to spot Landon, face flushed and chest bare, hand stilling as he looked at Al in dawning horror, their eyes locking onto each other. Without a word, the younger boy nodded curtly and turned on his heel, shutting the door behind him.
For only a second, Al stood in silence, a disbelieving grin spreading on his face as he held back a laugh. Whipping around, he pounded on the door once more, hoping to catch Landon’s attention.
“Outstanding wand work, Rosier!” He called the words through the door, his brother’s roommate’s name almost lost in the laughter that overtook him. The merry sound followed him all the way back down the stairs and in search of James once more, bat and story in hand.
I’ll use a random number generator and respond to…
1. Your character walking in on mine naked. 2. Your character walking in on mine on the toilet. 3. Your character walking in on mine having a tea party with stuffed animals. 4. Your character walking in on mine in the shower. 5. Your character walking in on mine waking from a nightmare. 6. Your character walking in on mine kissing a stranger. 7. Your character walking in on mine making a shady transaction. 8. Your character walking in on mine in a revealing costume. 9. Your character walking in on mine in bed with someone. 10. Your character walking in on mine being attacked by a masked assailant. 11. Your character walking in on mine waiting in bed for them. 12. Your character walking in on mine singing at the top of their lungs. 13. Your character walking in on mine watching pornography. 14. Your character walking in on mine in the middle of a mental breakdown. 15. Your character walking in on mine piss drunk.16. Your character walking in on mine having a heart attack.17. Your character walking in on mine having an embarrassing fall. 18. Your character walking in on mine throwing up. 19. Your character walking in on mine masturbating. 20. Your character walking in on mine trying on different clothes 21. Your character walking in on mine wearing your muses’ clothes 22. Your character walking in on mine crying 23. Your character walking in on mine shouting down the phone 24. Your character walking in on mine… [mun’s choice]
Or feel free to send in “knock knock” and a number for an option you’ve chosen.
She’d expected a Healer to walk through the door, or someone equally unwanted. It wasn’t as if she’d been lying in her hospital bed, hoping that by some miracle Albus would show up to see her. Avery was smart enough to know the many, many reasons that could have kept him away, even if knowing that hadn’t stopped her from wishing. She’d tried to stay realistic. There was only so much she could ask for, wasn’t there? Now that he was here, though, Avery couldn’t lie to herself. She’d been waiting for him to walk through that door since she’d first opened her eyes. Seeing him made all the pain seem fade away, even if just for a moment. ‘ Hi, ‘ she breathed out, a smile blossoming across her face. It dimmed a little, though, at the way he was looking at her, the way he reached out as if to touch and yet his fingers barely grazed over her skin. ‘ I’m fine, ‘ she insisted. She couldn’t stand to hear him like that, scared because of her. ‘ Really. I am. ‘ It wasn’t strictly true, but what was a tiny lie, in exchange for making him worry less? ‘ I…it’s nice to see you, ‘ she added, soft and a little shy. The circumstances weren’t ideal at all, but that didn’t lessen how happy she was to see him. Nothing could.
Al watched with worried eyes as a small smile spread across Avery's face. Hearing her voice was like a balm for his racing heart, the beat slowing with every word that he heard, every confirmation he got that she was alive in front of him and not a figment of his imagination. A small laugh burst from his mouth, more a rush of air than any sound. "I'd say it's nice to see you too, but that might be a bit of an understatement." The words were too dry as they left his lips, the humour he had intended to be there completely lacking as he took in the bruises and cuts that covered her. Instead, his voice had cracked, sadness overwhelming him as he looked at her, the girl he loved, laying pale and marked against the white hospital sheets. Words were dangerous now, too loaded; there was only one thing he really wanted to say to her, and anyone overhearing it would mean the end of them both. His hand—still hovering near her face, craving to touch her but not wanting to cause her any more pain—moved to her hair, gently tucking her hair behind her ear and then cupping her head, thumb gently brushing over her jaw. Throwing caution to the wind, Al leaned in and softly kissed Avery, putting the longing and hope and all the words unsaid into the lingering kiss.
“Alright Mr. Suave. What am I going to do with you and your words and your traps, hmm?” Alice teased him lightly as she always did, a habit that had continued on almost as long as she could speak. As the breeze swept across the apartment, it pushed back the front wisps of her hair, eyes closing in a happy response. The soft music started to play and she turned into the couch a bit, settling in to the surroundings. “I see Bristol more than the both of you. And, James. I don’t know.” She shook her head and opened her eyes, smiling at the best words she had heard in some time. Reaching out she grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Sorry I’m gone all the time, being a bit of a fuck up. I miss you too though, you know that. A whole fucking bunch.” They had done a lot to this apartment, but it never quite felt like home the way she wanted it to. For just a moment however, that warm feeling filled her chest, stifled shortly after by that reoccurring heaviness she often felt. Letting go of his hand she gestured to the tin. “Go on then.”
“I don’t know, maybe you’re just going to have to stick around so I don’t have to keep setting traps for you.” He joked as he looked at the contents of the tin, pulling out one of the well rolled joints and the muggle lighter that rested beside it. Trapping it gently between his lips, Al lit the blunt, taking a long drag and holding it in his lungs. Finally he tipped his head back and blew the smoke out slowly, watching it spiral upward. He took one more puff, then tried and failed to blow a smoke ring before bursting out laughing, sending the rest of the smoke flying into the air between them. “I still can’t blow smoke rings for shit, clearly.” Flipping the joint, he held it out to Alice, settling back into the couch and resting his hands on Alice’s feet, gently massaging them. The ice cream still sat on the coffee table, forgotten by Al as he relaxed into his friend’s steadfastly familiar presence. “So where have you been sneaking off to lately, anyway?”
“Well, what do you think?” She questioned, brow furrowing ever so slightly. “Of the color I mean.” It probably wasn’t the wisest of ideas to ask a stranger such a question - but her friends were limited since she’d disappeared after graduation.
Al turned away from the rack he was staring at to find the sound of the voice. The woman was holding a dress and staring at him. He was no expert on women’s fashion, but the dress looked nice. “It looked pretty good.” He paused for a moment, a smirk spreading on his face. “The colour, I mean.”
Laurel stared at the chessboard, trying to think of the move that she wanted to play. Staring at the board for a few moments, she finally took her turn, before carefully turning the chessboard and starting to think from the other side. Carefully she analyzed the other side of the situation, trying to figure out what would be the best move in this scenario, before realizing that someone was clearly staring at her. “Have you never seen someone play chess against themselves before?” Laurel asked, “It’s actually a common chess technique to help you analyze your game play. In case you were wondering.”
Al sat across from his cousin, watching as she played herself in the chess game, analyzing each move carefully. He had played the game casually before, but he’d never quite seen anyone concentrating this hard on it before. He leaned back in his chair, eyes tracing each move. Finally Laurel spoke and Al pulled his eyes away from the mesmerizing turn of the board and each careful move. “No, I haven’t. At school we just played against each other. Makes sense that playing yourself would be good. You get to analyze from your own perspective and your opponent.” Now he leaned forward, looking over the board more in depth. “Which of your sides is winning this, black or white?”
She hated the hospital room. Sterile, cold and empty and without any kind of life - it was suffocating her. At least her parents had insisted on a private room, refusing to leave her on a ward with the other attack victims. Avery appreciated the privacy, for whatever it was worth. It was bad enough that people were seeing her like this, all battered and bruised and broken, showing up in her private room at all hours just to give her their sympathy. She couldn’t tell, any more, if people really cared or if it was just for show. At least someone had brought her a few books to keep herself entertained in the hours spent stuck in the stupid bed. Avery flipped through pages ; she’d already read them all, now, but a second time was better than being alone with her thoughts. The story was still captivating enough to draw her in, at least until the knock on her door had her glancing up, half curious and half annoyed at the prospect of another visitor.
Al had taken to hovering outside Avery’s hospital room, stalking past the door every once in a while to check if it was empty. No matter how worried he was about Avery—and make no mistake, the less he heard about her, the more worried he grew—he knew it would do neither of them any good if he was seen anywhere near her. At least she seemed to be rarely alone; at least whenever he walked by, it always seemed as if some family member or another was sitting at her bedside or waiting outside the room. He had clung to scraps of information, whispers at the healer’s station and words overheard as he walked past for any news on Avery, slowly learning that she was alive and recovering, at the very least. It almost seemed like a stroke of luck; a strangely timed break at work had given him the perfect opportunity to go to St. Mungo’s while everyone else should be at work. Sure enough, the room was empty save for Avery herself, looking as bruised and battered as Al had feared. He gently closed the door behind him as he stepped into the room, hoping that would at least give them enough privacy to talk for a moment. Words had all but deserted him as he stared at her, equal parts relieved to see her and sad for what had happened to her yet again. He took another silent step forward, sinking down to sit on her bed and reach out. He gently caressed her face, fingers ghosting over the bruises and cuts as he took it all in. Who had done this to her? He could only hope it wasn’t Noah again; his classmate should have learned his lesson last time. Taking a deep breath, he spoke. “Fuck, I thought you were dead.”
Kieran flinched when he heard a knock at the door. Not used to having visitors, Kieran found it strange that someone would actually be visiting him. Most didn’t even know that he existed…or if they did…they considered him some sort of freak.
Kieran opened the door and bit his lip “Um…hello?”
“Hey,” Al greeted his classmate with a grin. “Someone left this in the ice cream shop over the weekend, and I thought it looked familiar.” He held up the keychain, watched as it glistened in the sunlight. He hadn’t been working when the keychain had been left, but Al was practically certain that it belonged to one of his Hufflepuff classmates; certainly not Calix, but Kieran and Lorcan were both possibilities. He had a general idea of where both boys lived, so he had taken the keys with his after work, determined to stop by both houses. “Is it yours?”
Rox had stopped in to check on her cousin. It’d been a while since she’d seen most of her family and–with Lucy’s disappearance–she was trying to make it a habit to see them more often. So stuck in her own thoughts, she hadn’t realized the song on the radio had been interrupted until Al said something to her. Quickly obeying, she sat in horror as update after update was reported. After a moment, she looked over at Al. “Do you think it’s the Death Eaters?” The thought terrified her. She still vividly remembered the last attack and the cruciatus curse that was used on her. “What do they gain from attacking Knocturn Alley?”
Putting the money back into the tip jar, Al rose, walking over to where Roxanne sat. He squeezed her shoulder silently, wondering the same thing she was asking. Somehow, he doubted it. At the very least, if it was the Death Eaters, not all of them knew about the attack. Not Avery. His eyes turned to the windows, to the aurors that were beginning to gather outside. “They don’t gain anything from attacking Knockturn Alley.” He muttered to his cousin, striding off to close the blinds over the windows. Turning back to Roxanne, he crossed his arms. “I don’t think it is them. We should go in the back room. We’ll be safer.”
Levi wasn’t sure why he’d decided to nip into the ice cream parlour after work. But when he heard the news bulletin he was very glad he had. His hand reachced for the dial and he turned it fully up just in time to catch ‘ WWN has just received confirmation from the Auror Office of gunshots in Knockturn Alley. ‘ His eyes widened and he turned towards Al. “Well fuck.” Outside the door he could see an auror patrolling, dashing any thought of escaping the shop to go looking for his friends. “Looks like we’re stuck in here.”
Al moved around the counter, going to stand beside Levi and stare out at the aurors who were steadily appearing outside. “Fuck is right.” He stated dully, thinking of Avery and her copious shopping back in Knockturn Alley at that moment. “What do we do?”
