high hopes;

CASEY ABRAMS + HALLOWEEN 2026

“I didn’t realize you were so passionate about silly string. I think I haven’t seen the stuff at a party since I was a teen, but I would love to see it make a comeback. Especially in the form of a safety measure,” he chuckled. “The Ministry’s a good shout actually,” Frank played along. “Should we tell Ben about it too? Maybe Ollivander wands can make that some sort of built-in feature.”

“Oh it’s one of my true passions, Frank. I’m surprised you don’t know that about me by now.” She couldn’t help but tease her boyfriend, a hand on her heart as though she was trying to prove how serious she was. “Me and you are going to have to go to all the muggle party shops and buy up their supplies of silly string and just have a date where we go crazy with the stuff all over the flat. It’ll be fun.” Casey chuckled with a nod, “Maybe I should, see if he’ll back me up when I take it to the Ministry.”

“That was obviously not my point, Abrams, and you know it,” Alastair replied and then waggled his finger at her, “The last thing you said, that was my point,” he added, laughing, “Too well? No such thing,” he continued, snorting, “Can’t really beat McDonald’s. Cheap, quick and tasty. McDonald’s it is.”

“Fine, fine, I shall stop complaining and instead thank you for coming to me and my stomachs rescue.” Casey told the other, thinking for a moment before speaking again. “My brain probably thanks you also.” She added. “I think there is such a thing as too well, but we’re only on the borderline I believe.” Because there were still some things that they kept private between them and she intended on keeping it that way. “You’re right, you really can’t beat a capitalistic fast food chain that may take over the government one day.”

“Now that would be fun,” Frank replied, laughing in surprise at the first thought that had come to Casey’s mind. There’d be silly string all over this party right now, he added, amused by the imagery of that. “I was thinking more of like a ministry-official ban, but I like your idea so much better.”

"Well it is a celebration and I feel like every celebration needs a little bit of sill string. Even if the reason for it in this case would be a little bit dodgy.” Casey grinned up at the other. “Maybe I should write to the ministry and put a motion to make it happen. Do you think they’ll say yes?”

“And that is why I’m here. Otherwise, you wouldn’t take care of yourself,” Alastair replied, “You are to me,” he added, grinning, “Okay so what I’m hearing is, you wanna go to McDonald’s?”

“You make it sound like I’m a toddler or some like poor little puppy that needs looking after all the time.” She pouted at the other, “I can take care of myself, sometimes I just don’t do a very good job of it.” Casey sighed, shaking her head at the others words. “That would be because we know each other too well.” Casey listened to the other and tilted her head back and forth a few times. “I mean it could have just been any place that did all three, but now you’ve said it McDonald’s sounds real good to me now.”

“Abrams, you forget how well I know you,” Alastair said, “And also how bad of a liar you are. If your stomach hadn’t betrayed you, your tell would have. Now come on, I could go for a burger and fries. What about you?”

“You’re right, I do. It’s like the fact you’re my best friend just escapes my head when I hyper focus on a piece I’m doing.” Casey snorted at the others words, glaring at him ever so slightly. “I’m not that bad of a liar... Am I?” Casey hummed at the others words. “I’m feeling chicken nuggets, fries and a milkshake.”

“That guy totally answered it for you– it’s definitely worse,” he chuckled once he’d made sure that Casey hadn’t actually gotten hit by the firework. “I’m kind of surprised there isn’t a ban on wands after a certain amount of drinks. Maybe they should enforce what muggles do with cars and stuff, just with wands for wizards? It would sure prevent tons of accidents like what almost just happened.”

“So much worse, I’ve never had that happen to me before.” Casey commented, slightly taken aback from what just happened, but shaking it off easily enough and making her remain a little more vigilant. “I’m surprised too, maybe you could put a curse on wands that once your alcohol limit has been met, if you tried to cast a spell, silly string would just come out the wand.” 

FRED: lol!

FRED: no i haven't been trampled on, i did get pushed around a little though, but i can deal with that.

FRED: i did decide to get food though, so you're close with that statement lol

CASEY: so i don't need to send out a search party to find you. good, good.

casey: you haven't been trampled on, have you?

casey: i swore i saw you in the crowd one moment and the whoosh, you were gone

Frank’s face must’ve looked alarmed considering she’d answered his question before he’d even asked it. “Okay then,” he furrowed his brow as he watched Casey bounce the baby with uncertainty. “What do we… do?” Frank wondered with a little laugh of disbelief at their current situation. “Is she going to come back soon? What happens if the baby needs its diaper changed?” he voiced with worry, not sure he was prepared to take care of a stranger’s child.

“Honestly? I have no idea. I didn’t have siblings growing up so my repertoire with babies is small.” Casey told the other, “In fact I’m pretty sure I passed them around like a hot potato at family events because I felt far too in the deep when it came to engaging with them.” She continued, bouncing a little more frantically now, not sure if that was making the crying worse or not. “She better come back, I am not ready to be a mother yet, Frank.” She spoke, her eyes a little wide. “I guess we just have to let it be smelly, that or see if anyone in here has one and just accept the judgmental looks we’ll get as though this is our own child and we forgot to bring supplies.”

“Okay, I’m confiscating this now,” Alastair said, snatching the quill from Casey’s hand and holding it out of her reach, “No, you’re too caught up in this article. When was the last time you ate? Don’t answer that, we’re getting food. Come on.”

@caseyxabrcms​

“What-... No!” Casey exclaimed, making grabby hands in the others direction as he took her quill away from her. “I could have ate like ten minutes ago, you don’t know.” She pouted, though her stomach chose then to make a loud grumbling noise. “Betrayed by my own stomach.”

“I promise to keep it a secret between us. I wouldn’t want you to think I’m not trustworthy,” she replied, glad that Casey seemingly approved of the choices of sweets she’d made. “But of course. I’m not the type to take and not think to restock– I’m glad I can prove it. It’s only fair if we share stocking duties if you ask me,” Charlie replied before reaching into the bag herself to pull out a licorice wand.

“Oh I totally think you’re trustworthy, even more so then your brother but please don’t tell him I said that.” She chuckled, not wanting to be in Alastair’s bad books or in the metaphorical dog house. “Sharing stocking duties and snacks, I think you’ve got yourself an agreement there Miss Watson, I feel like I should pull out a contract or something for this. Like we’re taking custody over the drawer.”

“Should I not be sitting here or something?” Maggie looked around the café, a slight confused look on her face. “The table was clear when I sat down with my coffee. I don’t think you can reserve tables here.”

“It’s not that.” Casey commented before gesturing to the window where there was currently a giant wasp taking up residence. “People have just been staying clear of this table because of that bad boy, I think you’re the first person brave enough to take the seat willingly.”