Sunshine✨

Walden frowned, giving the balloons a critical look over. The kid wasn’t necessarily wrong. He did have people that he’d love to peg with a water balloon at. It would definitely add some entertainment value to this piss-ass boring day. And he could see Gus from across the way. This could work. “Yeah, alright. As long as I get to pick the first person.” He picked up a water balloon, tossing it up and down a few times to get used to the heft of it.

–

She liked to think she could see the wheels spinning in his head, the decisions being made – and there was no hiding the way her mischief (and accompanying grin) continued to grow as his willingness to participate seemed to solidify. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, you sound like a man with a plan.” Truly, he did, and her eyes attempted to follow his line of sight, wondering who he’d plucked out. “Please, please, please tell me you’re about to do what I think you’re about to do. And please do it twice.”

.

“You must think you’re being quirky,” folding his newspapers, he set it down and picked up his tea cup, taking a sip. “You’re being childish and you’re disturbing my peaceful day,” peaceful might have been a stretch, considering what Cain had in mind for his evening. Blood traitor hunting was not precisely synonymous with peace.

“Really?” He looked up at her, unmoved by her uninspired threat. A smile spread on his face, which was truly uncommon for the death eater. It gave him the air of someone who could have been up to no good, menacing, ominous, and yet … what could have been friendlier than a smile? Perhaps was it the two sides of the coins that made the ordeal terrifying. Cain leaned into his seat, crossing his arms. “Well go on then, I’m sure there will be absolutely no consequences for your actions,” who were, let it be said, not funny if you were older than 5.

.

“Quirky is not a word I would use to describe myself, no. don’t care much for that one,” she said, shrugging. It didn’t matter much to her, really, and she wasn’t really sure what had crawled up his arse and died, but whatever it was, it wasn’t Ivy’s problem. And Ivy wasn’t in the business of caring much for other’s sour attitudes (save, perhaps, one, consistently). “I’m being childish? You said no, you could’ve stopped there. I’m not the only one attempting to goad people into things, mate. Me? I wanted harmless fun, you .. you want a fight, clearly."

           ❝  is  it  ?  my  mum  always  told  me  that  i  could  never  do  any  wrong  …  ❞  even  the  smile  was  probably  betraying  their  innocence  at  the  point  ,  but  ted  never  claimed  that  he  wouldn’t  be  some  sort  of  accomplice  in  whatever  ivy  was  planning .  ❝  because  i’m  very  sure  that  no  matter  what  i  say  or  do  ,  that  little  devil  sitting  on  your  right  shoulder  will  probably  convince  you  to  do  anyway .  ❞   but  her  next  words  has  ted  raising  an  eyebrow .  ❝ so  you  aren’t  even  going  to  target  specific  people  ?  no  one  comes  to  your  mind  that  deserves  it  ?  ❞ 

“your mum lied to you,” she said bluntly, giving ted the straightest look she could muster for as long as she could hold it (a good 6 seconds against his bright smile, a new record). “you are correct about the other thing, though, yes, I will absolutely be doing it either way, it would just be more fun if you joined in,” she added, insistent, as she did her best to widen her eyes even further. anything to further a puppy pout, anything. “sure, plenty of people deserve it, but that’s not the point, and that’s cheap. doing it for revenge? that’s .... no. this is for fun. if we see people we know, of course, give them all we got, but mostly .... it’s just for the laughs. no one is ever expecting a water balloon!”

      “You forgot to add incredibly charming and disarmingly hilarious,” he pointed out, nudging her as he leaned into her side. Staring into the horizon, the young man smiled, a silly look on his face. Ivy had always found it easy to make him laugh and amuse him, tirelessly. Ludo still pretended to hate her obsession with glitter and all that sparkles, but delighted in letting her drop it all over the place. He had even gotten used to having a shiny face on the spots where she had kissed him.

“My darling light, that’s a great idea,” he agreed, giving her hand a kiss before he let go. “We’re going to start a fire once we get home,” Ludo figured he could pull her into his embrace by the fireplace, play a game of chess or simply have a chat. Just them, the pets and the radio playing in the back. It was a change from former relationships. Ludo was never against commitment, but it wasn’t rare he would get bored within a few dates. That wouldn’t happen with Ivy.

.

“Mmm, I did, my apologies. And also your modesty, unrivaled, truly.” Ivy giggled, but where Ludo’s gaze was out at the way ahead, hers was trained on him, a tender and adoring smile to go with it. Ludo was many things, and to many people, but all of those little pieces of him added up to one incredible person, and Ivy cared for him more than words could really say. He was so special, and half of the time, it didn’t even seem like he realized it.

he looks down at them before picking up one, “what do you plan on doing with them?” he asks, raised eyebrow. it was a weird feeling in his hands he wouldn’t lie. he of course knew what balloons were just had never had the chance to touch one himself, there was a lot of weight in it. “i assume these could actually hurt someone quite badly,” though that all depended on distance really, at least, he assumed. 

-

“making a mess, if i’m being completely honest,” she said, seeing no reason not to be. what harm was really going to come of some glitter and water, save maybe a fright or two? or twelve? “they could, sure, if you were aiming to hurt someone. But I practice a different water balloon philosophy – balloons can bounce, and when they bounce off of a person, it hurts, and it might not break ... but if you aim at the ground in front of them, it’s definitely going to break, and the workst that happens is they get surprised and maybe a little damp.”

     xeno’s   shrug   was   a   smug   one   as   he   was   playfully   pushed   to   the   side.   thankfully   it   wasn’t   too   hard   considering   the   arm   ivy   had   on   her   definitely   could’ve   done   some   damage.   ❝   the   only   way   i,   and   most   people   in   this   place,   know   that   threat   wasn’t   malicious   is   because   you   have   the   face   of   a   woodland   creature.   ❞   it   was   a   compliment   to   ivy’s   doe-eyed   appearance,   and   also   the   way   you   should   never   underestimate   an   animal   in   the   wild.   ❝   —   but   maybe   we   should   stick   to   some   non-living   creature   experiments   first,   yes   ?   what’s   all   this   for   anyway   ?   ❞

she gave xeno a look, somewhere between don’t start and you aren’t wrong, but Ivy had no defense against the truth. “why does everyone think i’m out to wreak havoc today?” she asked, laughing as she tossed her hands up as though she were innocent, and nothing but. “it’s fun, that’s what it’s for. something to do, something amusing. it’s not gonna hurt anybody. I’m spreading cheer and beauty, don’t you see? The cheer is for us, when we hear the people get scared half to shit by a water bomb, and the glitter takes care of the rest.”

.

“No.” The antiques dealer looked up from his newspapers. If he was hoping this to be the kind of place where he could catch a break, it had not been so ever since that woman had walked in and interrupted his quiet.

“You wanna take your business elsewhere, before someone makes you?”

.

She raised an eyebrow at the man; Ivy wasn’t used to being told no, for one thing, and for another, he seemed exactly like the sort of person who was going to hate being doused in glitter. She couldn’t have asked for a better result, even if she didn’t like his answer.

“Oh, and who’s going to make me? You?” she couldn’t help herself, scoffing as she tied off one more balloon, tossing it in her hand and catching it, but not dropping it into the bucket. “I don’t think that will go the way you seem to think it will, but I definitely welcome you to give it a go.”

–

“You want me to use all of my axe throwing skills to lob these at people?” Walden asked skeptically as he eyed the growing barrel of water filled balloons. It didn’t sound that unappealing in all honesty, especially if Cain or Gus were nearby, but it did seem a little bit… childish. Something a man in his thirties shouldn’t partake in. “Why?”

–

–

“that’s exactly what I want, yes. damn, you’re sharp.” okay, maybe most people wouldn’t exactly feel like serving a compliment which sounded vaguely backhanded to a man who had axe-throwing skills was a good idea, but ivy cared more for getting straight to the point just then. “for fun, why else? to  make the day more entertaining, because i’m bored? take your pick, but don’t you dare tell me there’s not a single person you wouldn’t love to chuck a water balloon at, don’t even try to lie to me.”

Knowing there will be no arguing with his cousin, and that she will absolutely follow through on her threat if pressed, Jamie begrudgingly settles himself on the nearest available barstool, glowering at the remaining empty balloons as if they’ve offended him personally. “What’re these even for?” He asks gruffly, retrieving his wand from his pocket and jabbing it in the direction of an alarmingly pink balloon, meaning to inflate it for her.

.

her smile softened as he pulled up a seat; ivy didn’t care if jamie was going to be super enthusiastic about it, no, his choice to participate was plenty good enough for her. “they’re for fun, jame,” she said, sticking her tongue out. “come on, when’s the last time you even touched a balloon? they brighten up the day, they make things better ..... and when you stuff them with glitter they make a much bigger mess, with or without the water. do you not want to throw water balloons? I really thought you’d enjoy that, actually.”

        ❝  i  was  never  saying  i  was  partaking  ,  just  curious  as  to  who  the  sore  winner  of  your  affection  was  .  i  cannot  in  good  conscience  help  you  if  i  don’t  know  who  you’re  planning  to  make  victim .  ❞   that  very  same  harebrained  grin  settles  on  their  lips  just  then  ,  giving  ivy  a  playful  glare  when  the  rubber  hits  the  ground .  ❝  it’s  no  one  scary  ,  right  ?   ❞  

“slightly involved is still involved,” she reminded ted, ivy’s voice taking on a more musical inflection. “prior knowledge still makes you an accomplice, whether you decide to help or not.” but she was thrilled to see ted’s bright smile aimed back in her direction; that was much more like it. “I mean .... define scary. I was really thinking a little more ..... dropping them off of the roof and surprising people, seemed like it’d be hilarious.”

     xenophilius   waved   off   the   poor   patron   who’d   made   the   drastic   mistake   of   saying   no   to   the   one   and   only   ivy   wood   —   taking   the   time   to   turn   to   her   ever   so   dramatically   just   to   give   her   a   quick   lesson.   ❝   ives,   dear.   i   know   you’re   excited,   but   that   technically   does   count   as   an   active   threat,   ❞   they   chuckled   at   the   thought   of   their   next   words.   ❝   if   aurors   walk   in   asking   for   ivy   wood,   just   know   i’m   pointing   fingers.   ❞

she let her jaw drop as if she’d never been so scandalized, but the corners of ivy’s mouth were quick to turn upwards, even before xeno declared himself a rat. of course, that only made the now-grin grow wider, and her giggles followed as she paused in the task at hand to push at xeno’s shoulder. “you’re awful, I love you.” a beat later found the girl shaking her head, however. “but you’re looking at it all wrong, you have to look at it more positively. none of this is malicious,” she said, gesturing far too happily at the water balloons before her, “it’s entertaining. it’s temporary, it’s embarrassing ..... but it isn’t hurtful.”

he had been watching from afar for a while, a beer in his hand, his head tilted looking at the poor stranger who just about no idea of what was going on like he did. he eventually finished off his drink and sauntered over. “can i ask what’s going on here?” he questions, looking down at the balloons. “i must say i am a bit confused.”

.

“confused about which part?” she asked automatically, abandoning one conflicted soul in favor of a new one with her wide smile still in place. “they’re water balloons,” ivy said, feeling a little silly, and hoping she didn’t sound rude as she tried to make it more simple; but simplifying the desire to give people a fright with water filled latex seemed ... strange. “they’re balloons filled with water. you throw them, they break, they splash. lather, rinse, repeat.”

“Ivy…” He tilted his head, looking at her with more amusement than annoyance in his eyes. “I don’t believe that for one second. It was sheer luck. Way too precise to be anything but that,” he pulled her closer, holding her waist with one hand and his broom in the other. “But if it’s not, then,” he closed the distance to give her lips a small peck, “well, you’ll have to share your knowledge with your untalented boyfriend.”

“Impressive on accident still counts as impressive,” he agreed, reaching out to get a hold of her hand. And Ivy did not need any accidents to impress him. He might have been confident about being the best beater in the whole league, she gave him the benefit of the doubt effortlessly.  “Let’s head home, shall we?”

She’d waited him out, staring up at him as her grin grew a little wider with each passing moment. Ivy didn’t mind this kind of teasing at all, in fact, she honestly ... couldn’t blame him; if he’d pulled off something like that while trying to do something else, she’d probably have been pretty put out, too. so instead, she laughed as he pulled back from her, glad she’d gotten her kiss first before she opened her mouth. “why would I want to share with that loser when I could just share with you,  the talented and gorgeous one?? I really need to dump that guy, thanks for reminding me.”