thing 1

Wynn couldn’t help but smile as Bailey took the space next to him, flipping his hat around backwards to take him in fully. He’d felt bad about not getting to really spend much time with him the day before. But looking at him now, he already knew it would have been a struggle to so he’d settle for the sleepy face that looked over at him now. Wynn smiled warmly at him, pushing his plate and other bits to the side so his arm could prop his head up. Bailey deserved his full attention always but especially since the other day. Wynn hadn’t asked but he was sure if he did that the other would have told him he felt it too. There was something different and not just because they’d kissed, the way they were was always different but this? Not even Wylan could explain what happened, what he did know was that his cheeks were starting to feel very warm. Lips pulling back a bit more as he nodded slowly. “Mm bit t-tired too.” He agreed, knowing fully and well he wasn’t but it sounded like it could have been an opportunity to steal Bailey away for himself. Selfish boy. His eyes drifting down as he fidgeted with the hem on his jeans. He’d always been nervous, hell that was his constant but he didn’t know what this feeling was. That’s a lie. He’d felt it before, briefly when Piper and he dated, but with Bailey? Surely you didn’t go kissing people like that without some sort of something kind of feeling. The problem was, there were more than some. There was a whole body full of them. “I don’t think it’s b-ad.” He told him as he looked over the faded bits still clinging to his face. If anything it only enhanced his already stunning eyes. Wynn’s cheeks deepened and he tucked his face in, smiling bashfully. “I-It’s … it brings out y-our eyes.”

“Nooo,” he whined. “That can’t be right, you need to have the energy and keep me going. I want to stay until the switch the lights out.” Except Bailey would be happy enough if they retired to the dormitory now, or even just the common room to curl up with their own respective books. Things were different now, but Bailey had an inkling that despite whatever that kiss had been they were still going to be them. Whatever that meant. He smiled, licking his lips as Wynn paid him a surprise compliment that resulted in Bailey ducking his head. Hiding a little behind the sleeve of his hoodie. “T-thanks…I mean I think I might’ve got some glitter on your sweatshirt too.” He glanced over at Wynn, relieved a little to see that the nerves seemed to be equally divvied out. Bailey exhaled feeling a little silly, a little embarrassed but smiled all the same. “You’d look good in glitter…” He mumbled quietly, without thinking twice. His ears stained themselves a darker pink with a second blush. “Silver would be nice.” Equally, bring out Wynn’s eyes and compliment his complexion. Bailey felt a little too self-conscious to admit out loud that he was thinking this deeply on hypothetical glitter. “What do you feel like doing tonight?” He leant his elbows against the table but quickly got distracted by the leftovers on Wynn’s plate, which he promptly stole. Bailey hadn’t eaten anything since he’d guzzled down three servings of smoothies earlier so a slice of bread, even half eaten, was a savoury delight.

Clara pouted as she looked down at the piece of paper. “Do you think they’d accept a seventeen year old?” She asked as she felt someone’s presence next to her. “I mean, come on, this would be the chance of a lifetime for me. What if I promised to drop out of school next year?” Her suggestion wasn’t a real one, she was no quitter, but she did wish she could apply for the job at Bedknobs and Broomsticks over the school break. 

“Maybe?” Bailey didn’t want to be the one to shoot down someone’s dreams. He leant over her shoulder to see what advertisement she’d been eyeing up, with the seventh years graduating there seemed to be a flurry of talk over the latest summer job postings. “I’m not sure about quitting school. Has it ever been done?” A question he couldn’t answer but now needed to know. As per usual, he’d gotten caught up in the questions that didn’t really matter and not what the entire conversation had been about in the first place. “You...you want to work with food?”

✨- which fictional character (book, show, or movie) do you relate to most

“Probably Samwise?”

💕- are you crushing on someone?

“No...I mean, I don’t know...”

🌧️- favorite thing to do on rainy days?

“Paint.”

🍭- how tall are you?

Wynn sat quietly on one of the tables near the food stalls. He happily munched on a makeshift plate of what people back home called Irish nachos. Wasn’t exactly the same but he’d take it. It wouldn’t be all that long until he could have the real thing anyway. That wasn’t his biggest concern, the fact that the pair for his petal boat was still empty was beginning to bother him. He didn’t know what he wished for next year. Hell he barely knew what he wished for tomorrow. He knew he wanted everyone safe, his brother and he wanted more time with Bailey. There were a lot of factors and perhaps he was putting too much into this. A shadow passed over him and he’d looked up, chomping down the last of his bite. “Please tell me you’re not the one running around with the glitter bombs.” His brow raised, smile wide and he laughed softly. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. P-promise. How’re you?”

“I promise.” Bailey flopped down onto a bench with a sigh, they were only on the second day of the summer festivities and he was starting to get exhausted. There was only so much sugar he could consume before the crash came down hard. He’d tried to wind down by joining the students out onto the lake to go squid spotting. He’d been sorely wrong that climbing into a boat with half a dozen students eager to see the giant squid would be calming. Bailey slid down until he was pressed up against the table, face resting on his arms as he cast Wynn a side-ways glance. “Tired.” He mumbled, “you?” They hadn’t caught each other much the day before, Bailey had left him the flower crown but gotten dragged into a game of chess last minute. He pushed off his glasses to rub his eyes. Selfishly, he wanted to skip the petal boat ceremony and climb into bed. Bailey forced himself to sit up a little more, glanced out over the lake to see the students eagerly lining up in anticipation. The ceremony wouldn’t start for another hour, still time to think of what he wanted for next year. “I still can’t get the glitter off from yesterday.” Not that he’d tried all that much, had been a little bit disappointed when Piper’s handiwork had rubbed off on his pillow overnight leaving him with a smudge of the constellations.

“Do you think there’s like a free trip to Spain with one of those butterflies? Cause I mean if that’s the case I’m catching butterflies.”

“I...uh,” he paused. F “I’m not sure?” If the butterflies were hypothetically a winning ticket to Spain did that make them a portkey. He wasn’t sure it was physically possible unless the butterflies were charmed to fly. With a shrug of his shoulders Bailey said, “I don’t...think so. Do you...want to visit Spain?”

Proper was most of what his family had taught him, when he was permitted to speak to anyone at all it was always to be proper, a lack of manners on his part was a tarnish on their name- what was the point of taking in a half blood if you couldn’t train them well? He was used to conversation being a particular way, very vague and unimportant, discussions about the weather or questions about his schooling. A measure of performance at all times. Tyler wasn’t ignorant to the fact that his peers communicated differently, and he’d always done badly with them, finding he only seemed to connect with people at all when completely intoxicated or in search of other sorts of intimacy- neither of which he did much of at Hogwarts.

It often surprised him when anyone went out of their way to talk to him, even for just a moment, finding a lot of the time he barely settled into conversations before they were over. “Perhaps, I’d be quite happy to sit here all day, if I’m being honest.” There were times where he had craved more, something more challenging and rebellious, it had taken him a little while to realise that perhaps the most rebellious things he ever did growing up were just being himself. Hidden books, secret friends, indulging in the small things he took enjoyment in that his family wouldn’t approve of. Like siting quietly, weaving flowers into a crown, instead of engaging in some sort of activity that could show off greater magical skill or any notable talent. “The big board did look interesting,” Tyler admitted, hint of a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “I can’t quite decide which piece I’d like to be though.” He gave only a small nod of thanks at Bailey’s suggestion, a glance spared towards the table and a delicate movement of his wrist bringing half a dozen chrysanthemums from their place to by his side.

“You should always do what makes you happy.” He quietly recited, threading another flower into his crown. Bailey considered making a matching set but thought Wynn might want the opportunity to create his own. “Rook? They’re underrated…people forget that half of chess is defending the king.” Softly, Bailey hummed. Nonsensical sort of tune that only really existed in his world. “You could be the queen, if you prefer to directly attack…I think I’d like to be a bishop or a rook.” His opening move nearly always tended to be castling. Only occasionally did Bailey like to lurch into attack. He lifted his shoulders into a slight shrug. “I don’t know I guess that’s half the problem…” He’d probably quietly accept his fate as a pawn whilst everyone else went ahead for their favourites. Bailey was at least a little pleased to see his suggestion didn’t go to waste. He used his wand to start a second crown. It was faster now that he was only having to match the original. There were a few touches still missing but Bailey couldn’t say what they were just yet. He needed time to mull it over, maybe something to drink, he could easily come back to the crowns in an hour or so.

Bailey sighed, no urge to move away from the stall just yet. There was something calming about watching Professor Longbottom explain to first years about the various flowers, vines, and greenery they were dealing with. It reminded him of first year when herbology had seemed so fresh and new. When Bailey couldn’t get enough of being in the greenhouses even though everything he touched had a tendency to wilt. He mumbled a spell quietly and lazily flicked his wrist to watch a sprinkle of glitter dousing each crown individually. Maybe this was what was missing, maybe not. Bailey sat down on the pitch with his legs crossed, one crown in his lap and the other in his hands as he adjusted it with his wand. Making sure it fit just right. Quietly, he spoke as he lowered his wand. “Thanks…for everything this year…I think you’re going to be really missed next year.”

Piper’s eyes went wide with excitement; the words blank canvas were perhaps the best and simultaneously dumbest liberty that Bailey could have granted to Piper, whose mind was already whirring away with ideas. “I can definitely do that!” she beamed. Working on instinct, Piper brushed soft pastel shades of blush and blue across Bailey’s cheeks and over his nose and up around his eyes, then went in to draw little delicate constellation patterns in shimmery white glitter paint over the top, until he resembled a dreamy supernova starscape. Biting her lip, Piper stood back and offered up a mirror for him to survey her work. “Well?”

Bailey was not good at staying still. He had the instinctive urge to tap his foot or fidget endlessly, but for Piper he did his best.He quite like the sensation of the soft brushes, nevertheless that she put time and care into him. Could not hide his delight either when Piper announced she was finished and offered him a mirror. The shimmer was so pretty and the constellations were perfect. Exactly what he wanted without ever realising it. “I love it,” he whispered. Already smiling from ear to ear. He glanced up at her and with a lighthearted laugh he nudged her lightly. “Don’t look so serious! I love it seriously Piper, it’s so pretty.” He wanted endless situations where Piper had the liberty to unleash her creativity. Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly often that he attended festivals. “Here I feel like you should have something in return.” Removing his crown that he’d meticulously put together, Bailey gently set the flower crown down on hers. The colourful mix of flowers, verging on pastel rainbow, suited Piper. It wasn’t quite the masterpiece that she’d painted for him but it was something. “I think…I might go to pride this summer, wish you could be there to do makeup like this.”

“Thank you! Passion fruit is an underrated fruit.” His glass was practically full of the crunchy little seeds. He hovered by the figs for a moment, hand reaching before he pulled it back. “I heard wasps die inside figs and that’s what figs just are and we all just accept that… is that vegetarian?” He put a hand to his lips in concentration. “I mean it’s gross anyway. I might just get something else.”

“Wasps die inside of figs?” Bailey repeated, not sure if he believed him or not. Certainly didn’t make him inclined to eat any. “Passion fruit are pretty delicious…I like pomegranates too.” If there was one silly kitchen trick he was proud of it was separating the seeds from the pulp. Not that it tended to come in handy all that often. He spotted a pile of dragonfruit and began prepping one to add to his mix. “I wonder what goes with dragonfruit…” Probably not strawberries but he was going to do it anyway. “Melon?” He wasn’t sure that Loxley particularly wanted to hear his fruit choices aloud but alas, Bailey was too giddy on his sugar high to think. “Are you…are you a vegetarian then?”

Xavier grinned over his shoulder. “Papaya and Mango smoothie? Yeah, it tastes just as good as it looks. Do you want me to make you one?”

“Tropical, very delicious.” He said, busy stealing half a banana to add to his mix. Only paused when Xavier offered to make him a smoothie just like the one he had. Eagerly, Bailey nodded. “I’d love that, if you don’t mind?” He fumbled with the rest of the banana and instead of adding it to his mix, he ate the other half. “I could make you one? I’m not really…good with flavours.” Wynn usually complained whenever he was left alone to do any form of cooking or prep. No-one at home dared to let Bailey into the kitchen.

Reyna smirked licking her fingers clean. “Thanks, I was hoping it’s come out looking a bit like one of those abstract painting in the museums you know? Well, I’m no artist.”

“Very modern darling,” Bailey teased. “Take a photograph of it close up and you could definitely hang it up in a museum. Or…you could eat it.” He daringly stole one of her strawberries with a mirthful smile. “Pretty delicious.” It went without saying that he was in a better mood than usual. Felt a little more bubbly, chatty, and it made it all the more easier to float through the festival without clinging to the outskirts. “What do you fancy doing next?”

It was pretty sad to see how different everyone was now that school was about to be over. Though he couldn’t say the same had ever been the same for Bailey, at least not to his knowledge. He did seem a little more enthused than he normally would have inside of their classes. Jasper simply smiled, attributing it to the warm weather that was actually gracing them for once. “That one?” He asked sarcastically, eyeing the bit of art supplies a little closer. With a shrug of his shoulders he nodded. “Alright fine. Teal butterfly it is. You have to get some sort of insect now too.” The blond told him rather matter-of-factly. “Only fair. Besides might look cool.”

Bailey stiffened, realised too late that he was being played and felt helpless but to follow along now. He clawed his nails into his palms in his pockets and shrugged. “Maybe, but I think I’m going to ask Piper if she’d do a design for me.” Bailey said softly. Currently she was dousing a third year in glitter so Bailey would have to get in line for her talents. He smiled, eased off a little and let his shoulders sink as he flicked through a book of designs. “Bumblebees are pretty cute though.” It was the sort of benign cute insects that would suit a tattoo, only Bailey wasn’t sure if he suited tattoos. Whether he could stand to have someone prod him with a needle. Perhaps something left for the summer. “If you don’t like butterflies…should get a praying mantis.” It might just be more his style.

Tyler didn’t mind trying new things… sort of. It was complicated. He’d tried lots of new things, not in the castle, in other places where no one knew him and he could disappear into someone else for a while. It was different here, Tyler was a certain person here- largely to make his life easier while in the castle- and it was difficult to decide how much of this image he wanted to lose. Not because it wasn’t him, Tyler was himself at the castle, just not fully himself and that had suited him well so far, and he let himself experiment with things when Loxley mithered him to or they could do it together, just not so much by himself. He hadn’t meant to be looking over so often though, somewhat longing to join in and immerse himself in the catching summery atmosphere, and partly wondering how silly he’d feel having to sit still for Matron Longbottom and let her paint on his face. But he was still looking, silly or not, until Bailey spoke and his attention was drawn back to the task at hand. “Oh- yes, they’re lovely.” Sweet. Tyler didn’t always like sweet things, but flowers were an exception, and honeysuckle were slightly addictive to him. “For today?” He thought for a moment, looking back to his basket, shoulders coming up into a shrug as his head shook. “I’m not sure, really.” He wanted to do a lot of things, he liked the idea of spending time on the lake- it was a romantic notion, swaying along with the castle in the distance and the rest of the world seemingly miles away- but Jeremy didn’t like water much.

It was a little awkward, even Bailey found it difficult to fill the gaps in the conversation, he’d grown so used to his loose non-linear way of speaking. With Tyler it all felt very proper. Partly because he didn’t know him very well and the ostentatious head boy badge that usually shone atop of his robes. Bailey fidgeted and weaved a little more of his flowers by hand. Enjoyed running his fingers along the delicate stems and guide them slowly into place. Not everything had to be done with magic. This was particularly tactile, required some fine tuning here and there as his creative whims pulled him in different directions. “You should go make a day of it.” Just because he didn’t know Tyler didn’t mean there weren’t other people who wouldn’t dearly miss him. “If you fancy a game of wizards chess just let me know. I really want to play but I haven’t seen much of an opening yet.” Bailey smiled, knowing that his offer was probably going to be politely declined but it didn’t hurt to ask. “Try a chrysanthemum.” He nodded towards Tyler’s crown. “It would work well with the flowers you’ve chosen.”

baileycolbert

“Happy accident.” He fiddled with the blanket trying to soothe his nerves with something physical, tangible, that he could pinch and fold. Wynn broached the slight gap between them and pulled him close, Bailey went willingly. “Me too.” The words muffled against a mouthful of Wynn’s hair. Everything about this was better than fine. He felt happy and definitely relieved, a weight had been lifted now that the question of whether Wynn felt what he did was off. At least partially. Bailey didn’t know the intimate details. But maybe he didn’t want to know. This was enough for now, more than enough. “Definitely.” Although he was reluctant to pull back from Wynn’s warm embrace, knowing that he could kiss him now made it bearable. He cupped Wynn’s cheeks gently, pushing a curl of blonde away from his eyes, “I like this.” That was all Bailey murmured before he leant forwards to slowly kiss him, taking his time now that he knew he had it. Any notion of getting out of bed and grabbing breakfast truly forgotten. Tentatively, Bailey slung his arms around Wynn’s shoulders knocking off the sweatshirt in the process. He laughed quietly as they broke away for air. Mumbled something about picking it up later and carried on as if nothing else mattered. Just them.

It was hard to imagine the pair of them getting to this point. But really it’d been happening all along without either of them truly trying for it. Sometimes people just fit into your life, his piece, he felt in that moment, was Bailey. Knowing that this didn’t have to come with an awkward explanation was all too beautiful to him. For truly, there weren’t words he could use to describe what he’d been feeling at that moment. Or any moment really leading up to that point. It’d always been different for them. In the way they were even friends was different, there was an intimacy there from the very get go.  As Wynn kissed Bailey slowly, he’d opened his eyes to take a gander at the boy before him. Soft skin, eyes so gently closed he could have kissed them right back open. All of this he enjoyed so very much, ever more so now. His hips scooting in as his hands came up to cup the other’s face, returning each gentle kiss. Afraid that words might actually be the undoing of how this felt. For once his mind was completely quiet and he could already feel how addicted he could become to that, to Bailey being like this with him … always.