the lion's roar

where; hogs’ head whom; open

“No, they’re not all like that.” He said, arguing with someone who had brought up the Muggle attack. “You think every wix is the same as the Death Eaters? Because that’s what you’re implying when you say shit like that.”

–

—————–☆ 

“That’s not what I am saying at all,” Carlos said and rubbed his brows when he realized it sounded like that was exactly what he was saying. “I’m just saying I do understand where they are coming from, flawed as their methods might be. Most people know exactly what’s going on with magic and war and Death Eaters and they are scared. Now imagine being a muggle and not knowing jack shit. I can understand that they are terrified and willing to do what it takes to push back.”

Where: a quidditch field somewhere. Who: Open

   With everything that had happened over the last few weeks, Abas had been distracted, and as a result had fallen behind on his practice schedule. Something he couldn’t afford to do right now. He had been trying to figure out a new play to try with his team when he had lost his balance and came crashing down into the wet grass.

   “Shit” Abas groaned, rolling himself over onto his back, spotting the other as he did, however not moving from where he had landed. “you didn’t see anything, alright”

—————–☆ 

“It, uh, it was kind of hard not to see, actually.” Carlos scratched the back of his head as he watched the man roll around on the floor. He had watched just for a little bit, keeping a safe distance not to disturb his practice, but now that he looked like he might use some assistance in getting back to his feet, he carefully came closer. “You okay though? Didn’t cave your head in or nothing? Not feeling concussed?”

Where: Aeos Library With: Open

“What? Just because we’re not in school anymore doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to read textbooks. I make potions for a living, it’s important to keep sharp.” 

—————–☆ 

“I’m not saying you’re not allowed to. Just that reading text books for fun is kind of really weird. Especially because it’s potions. How much new stuff is there to learn about them anyway?”

where; st. mungos whomst; open

“Hold this, will you?” Lily asked, holding out the palette of tightly stocked Potions. “I’ve got a few more to stack up, and if I put it down I worry someone’s going to trip.”

–

—————–☆ 

“Wait, just how fragile are they?”, Carlos sputtered as he took the tray from Lily with shaky hands. The bottles were clinking together and swaying precariously. “And what are they? Nothing that’ll explode if I happen to drop them, right?”

-

strife ran her hands her across the breadth of her stomach, around her waist, and the curve of her hips. the skin was still smooth and perfect to the touch with the sole exception being the scar blemishing her lower back from where she’d been struck from the sky months ago. she didn’t bother to shirk or shy away from his sight while in her state as her focused remained on assessing any potential damage, but everything seemed totally fine. “getting cornered by a bunch of guys with an apparent enthusiasm for dime store halloween apparel and who didn’t know how to take a joke.” strife rubbed her jaw. she took the shirt from him and pulled it haphazardly over her head. “speaking of, you don’t happen to be of the cloak and mask variety, right? because in theory, I danced out this unscathed thus far, and I’ve got to savor what luck I can manage to will from the world, I don’t want it running short now.”

—————–☆ 

Carlos pulled a face. For his liking, the woman was a little too casual about encountering actual Death Eaters. Considering how common it was these days, he should be a lot more used to it, but he never really got comfortable enough to crack jokes about it. Now that she was at least half-way decent, he actually managed to turn around and face her. Maybe him being half-way indecent was what leveled the playing field. “’M not. No need to worry.” He motioned at himself which felt odd now that he was shirtless and added “Mudblood.” as a quick explanation. A branch snapping somewhere close by caught his attention. “We should still get the fuck out of dodge though. They might still hang around here somwhere.”

where; somewhere whomst; open

Ajax didn’t know what to do. If he joined the Order, he oughta join the Order, he could have to fight Archie. He couldn’t do that. Everything in his body rebelled at the thought. But he couldn’t keep sitting around doing nothing. He was a Graves kid. Graves were made of stronger stuff. They survived.

“All I know is that I wanna help. I gotta help. I can’t just keep picking up after the fact, y’know? Those are my friends out there.”

–

—————–☆ 

“And they’d probably much rather have you stay safe and out of it. What good will it do to put a target on your back?” Carlos knew exactly where Ajax was coming from. As a muggleborn especially it filled him with an exceptional feeling of guilt reading newspaper articles about people getting hurt for fighting for his rights when he himself couldn’t even find the courage to do so. “For someone like you, coming from the kind of family that you do, joining the order might mean having to fight your family. People you grew up that. No one is expecting you to do this, I promise.”

“Oh yes, my mother loves it. Apparently he’s ‘dreamy’.” A fact his father never let her live down. Though honestly, he couldn’t entirely blame her. The comparison between himself and Michael Parkinson was definitely the ego boost he needed. “Really? Well, I certainly could give it a try. It doesn’t sound half bad. Maybe I could have you and the circus on, eh?” He winked, grinning.

–

—————–☆ 

"To be fair, your mum has a point. He’s very charismatic.” Not exactly dreamy as far as Carlos was concerned, but that just left a gap in the market for someone like Gilderoy to fill. Gil’s offer to invite him of all people made him laugh out loud. “Yeah, no. I don’t really think that’ll get you top ratings. You should probably consider inviting people folks at home would actually want to see on telly.”

scout felt like her head was throbbing so hard that it was about to split clean open and a fully grown bitch was going to spring out. a pin drop would have been a full decibel too loud to live with, and she winced as the flat front of carlos’s book clapped against the floor. the contortion of her own face sending further pain down her back. she groaned. this was worse than any hangover she’d ever had, and that was really saying something. “you know, that’s not as comforting as you might think it is. I had already assumed I was safe until you said that.” she blinked a few times and glanced around the little wagon.

no wonder it was so loud. the wagon was small enough that anything would seem excessively noisy. “where is here?” scout asked. she started and sat up straight. she looked around wildly. “where is clem?!” she asked and hopped to her feet with only a minor yelp. “was I alone? was there a little girl with me?! how long as it been? sh-eese. fill me in. what happened?”

—————–☆ 

Carlos saw the woman flinch and immediately felt bad. Last thing he had intended was to startle her, especially with what she must have went through to even end up here in the first place. “Good, good. Cause you are. Safe and sound,” he pushed further, blissfully unaware of how much worse that made it sound.

“This is my place. Part of a travelling carnival.” was the info he gave her, unsure of just how disoriented she was. Maybe he should have started with the country they were in? His face drops when she inquired about a girl. For a quick moment, his thoughts are running, trying to picture the place where he found her in his mind. Surely if there had been a child, he would have noticed. Slowly shaking his head, Carlos replied. “No girl. You were there alone. It’s been a little over a day.” Glancing at the clock, he corrected himself. “Almost two, actually. I found you a little too close to the battlefield out cold so I brought you here. I’m not much of a healer, but I did what I could.”

where: knockturn alley who: anyone

Ducking into a darkened alleyway was never a good idea, even if you were one of the things lurking in the shadows that people were supposed to be afraid of. Desperately, Severus wanted to consider himself as such. Nonetheless, even frightening things needed to get home after a fight, even when it was dark, even when blood was pouring. Clumsily, clutching a throbbing arm, he tried to get a small vial out of his coat pocket. If only he could find it. 

Distracted, he crashed right into someone. Immediately on high alert, Severus stumbled backwards, crashing right into a damp brick wall. Where was his fucking wand? “Do you want to die?” he lamely blurted out, in lieu of a better threat coming to mind. 

—————–☆ 

It was best to stay off busy roads, what, with how things were and all. It wasn’t even so much that you couldn’t run into bad people in dark alleys. Dark alleys just meant you ran into less people in general, which lowered the possibility of those few people you meet being bad. That was Carlos’ logic for sticking close to the walls.

It worked out for just a few minutes before he collided with someone, groaning as he did. Why did he keep getting into situations like this? “Nah, mate. I ain’t looking to give you trouble.” With one hand in the air, he dug the other into his pocket to retrieve his wallet and hold it out for the guy. He didn’t even panic. This wasn’t exactly the first time he got mugged. “Here, just take it and get going.”

where: in the woods somewhere with: open

the wind rustled the leaves in the trees above. somewhere beyond the treeline of the clearing a branch snapped. strife started upright. she couldn’t tell immediately if the shadows cast through the canopy were from sunshine or starlight. she blinked with disorientation and whirled her head around towards the padding footsteps near her. the last thing that she could recall was escorting a small group of lost children from the thick of the battle in town. strife only seemed to have brief blinks of memory after that. the unease of apparation, cliffs that lead down to the water, pewter masks. she looked down over her arms and legs. there was no blood, no bruising, not even scrapes or cuts. the indention of where she’d been laying in the grass too long was the worst of it. the dark lines of her tattoos contrasted against her pale skin. strife gasped when it dawned on her.

“why the hell am I naked right now?”

—————–☆ 

“Beats me,” Carlos admitted, politely turned away from the young woman. Her not having an answer herself was worrying. Suddenly not facing her served another purpose; hiding his very valid, very deep concern that one could read off his features like a book. “What’s the last thing you remember?”, he asked while pulling his own shirt over his head and holding it out for her behind his back. “You’re not injured, right? Got all your limbs and organs?”

It was... odd. Feeling like a guest in his own home and spending his time off work sitting stiffly on the bench in his wagon, reading in perfect silence without even the radio on. He had to remain vigilant. Keep an eye and an ear on the woman he had found lying unconscious on the street. Technically, Carlos had a rule against that. He tried his hardest not to get involved in the war. Leaving someone to die in the street though even crossed a line for him. So he brought her home.

When the woman finally stirred, Carlos all but jumped to his feet, his book dropping to the floor. “Hey, you. You’re finally awake,” he said, but didn’t move any closer to the bed. Waking up in a strange place after, he glanced at the clock, more than a day must be confusing enough without a stranger physically hovering over you. “It’s okay, you’re safe here.”

where: dawn’s workshop with: dawn & open [to any guys!]

“what, are you not into girls who can beat you in an arm wrestle? scared of a little elbow grease?” dawn had noticed the way the person across the counter was looking at her. usually, she’d remain professional, but there was something about the man that had her feeling flirty.

—————–☆ 

“Quite the opposite,” Carlos admitted despite himself and rubbed his brow. “So you can tell how this is a lose / lose situation for me.” Reason told him to finish his drink and walk home, the fact that he even considered this an indicator of having had just on the side of too much to drink tonight. But then again, he could use a new dark haired crush to help spook his current one from his thoughts. “Fuck it,” he mumbled to himself before he pushed up his sleeve and put his elbow on the counter.

where: at the carnival with: miguel & open!

miguel’s water escape act was new. he’d only agreed to it for odette’s sake, to keep a close eye on her while she was in the tank. he fucking hated water. what happened to his family haunted him. but for some stupid, stupid reason, he’d decided to practice without her.

he felt his heart rate quicken as soon as the final lock was secured. regret immediately set in, as did panic. the realization that he was alone in the water made his throat start to tighten. flashes of the accident came back. oh fuck, getting in the tank had been a huge fucking mistake, but he’d gone and locked himself in and was becoming increasingly panicked; he couldn’t get himself out of the chains in a state like that. which made him panic more. he started to pull at the chains roughly, to try and break them, but it was no use.

a person outside of the tank caught his eye, and he started to kick and punch on the glass to get their attention. “break the glass!” he mouthed, continuing to punch but getting nowhere.

—————–☆

Carlos had promised to check out the new act. Had even planned to show up at the big top for the premier and found himself regretting that immediately. He wasn’t fond of the people or the ruccus. So when he saw them set up the tank earlier that afternoon, fix shackles to it and fill it with water, he figured he might as well watch now. Stick around for all the practice runs and avoid the real deal after all. So he had been hanging around all day. Stopping by whenever he had a short break from his own work to watch the progress.

This time, when he came back, Miguel was already in the water. It looked pretty spectacular. Pretty intense, too. But the acting was what sold the act, Carlos assumed, and tried to force down the queesy feeling in his stomach as he watched Migueal fight and struggle against his binds for 1. 2. 3 seconds to long before he was hit with a harsh realisation. This was not an act.

Carlos sprung to action, too dense to think fast and remember that he was a wizard with a wand. Instead he ran up the tank and start punching. The clunky rings on his hand were hell on his fingers, but did wonders on the glass. He kept punching until he barely felt his hand anymore. Only then did he manage to get a big enough crack in the glass screen for it to give in and shatter, water and glass shards gushing out. It drenched him from the hip down as he stepped into what was left of the tank to whisper a panicked “You’re okay. It’s all okay. You’ll be okay.”

location: anywhere, your pick status: open to all!

“just say it-i’m a muggleborn. everyone else is saying it.”

—————–☆ 

“I really didn’t mean it like... that. I was just asking because you really can’t be too careful these days.”

location: anywhere that feels natural status: open to all!

“and why the hell would i trust you to do that?”

—————–☆ 

“Believe it or not, but I am quite good at picking locks. It’s an, uh, aquired skill.”

☸ 

 The kid had no family. None. Nik felt his heart twinge a little bit, like it did whenever his paternal instinct kicked in.

He stood to the side to give the kid privacy for his call, watching people walk by and bouncing on the balls of his feet in an attempt to keep warm. It really was miserable weather in London, today - the kind of bitter cold that had Nik longing for home.

The kid was back, and saying something about a lost number. Nik pretended he hadn’t seen the whole charade involving chickening out and then patting himself down for what Nik assumed was a piece of paper that didn’t exist.

“Ah, that’s a bummer. Happens, I guess,” he nodded in a vague direction as he continued to speak, “There’s this little place down the road. Cheap as dirt, but surprisingly good joe.”

They started down the street together, walking side by side. Nik fidgeted with the lint and wrappers in his jacket pockets while he thought about what to say.

“Oh, kid,” he said, “You got a name?”

☸

—————–☆ 

Carlos feels proper smooth with how easy the man takes his excuse. Almost enough to actually consider getting asking for a stage act at the carnival after all. He clearly has some acting chops.

The high of that eases him into the conversation. He falls in step easily and doesn’t even feel awkward with the small talk. “Cheap’s great actually,” he smirks as he walks. In his pockets, his hands work to count out the odd coins and bank notes he stuffed in there earlier. Back when he wasn’t expecting to go out for some coffee today. He did however save that payphone money, so he should be good.

“Sure do. It’s Carlos. Pleasure. And you are?” The smile he gives is a little warmer than what Carlos is strictly used to, be the man is oddly easy to talk to somehow. When they reach the shop, he holds the door open for him because he’s a good kid like that. And because going in first would burden him with choosing a table.

It’s only when he’s seated and there is nothing else to pull the attention away from the bizarre situation that he starts getting restless again. “So is this a habit of yours? Picking up strays?”, he asks, rubbing his clammy hands on his pants.

“Stage fright?” she asked, tilting her head curiously. She had never felt nervous in front of crowds, but she had perfected her act years ago. The only down side to performing so often were the aches and pains that came with being in the water for so long, and the damage she caused her skin; currently covered up by copious potions that seemed to only half work. “Oh I won’t, he’ll know for sure that I sent myself and I’ll take a nice picture as a souvenir, or blackmail material, whichever you choose” she grinned slyly, tipping him a wink. It wouldn’t be the first time she had kicked a fellow carnies arse and she was pretty sure it wouldn’t be the last.  “My career adviser was Vivi and yes she did” she smirked right back. “I believe it has something to do with escaping chains at the bottom of the tank, while being taunted by the pretty mermaid”.

—————–☆ 

“No,” Carlos said a little too fast. Said it like it’s an outlandish idea, too. “I just don’t care for being the center of attention. Don’t like people looking at me like that.” And maybe he sounded a little jealous. Because with the gig he had going on right now, he definitely got the short end of the stick compared to the performers. His usual thing was way better though. “Plus I don’t really care for the big top hassle.” That part was the most important. He just wouldn’t do well with stress and all. He might make an exception for the upcoming show though. “That actually sounds pretty rad. Tell you what. If I can get a couple hours off, I’ll watch it from backstage.”