By Any Other Name

“Yeah, she’s still as much of an escape artist, though I’m trying to work on it,” Gabriel chuckled as he looked over her outfit.  “You look amazing by the way, what’s your room’s theme going to be?”

Rose laugh a little bit as she remembers the first time she’d properly met Gabriel. “You know I think the last time I visited my nan I went to the shops for her and the muggles have leashes for cats. Might want to try one with Phoenix, maybe she’ll stop trying to run away... or it might give her more of a taste for a outside world and you’ll lose her forever...” Rose muses softly, bringing a hand thoughtfully up to her chin.

Chink chink chink. The beads hanging from the doorway brushed against each other as another poor soul walked into wonderland. Grabbing a tray from the dining table sized coffee table, Acantha weaved her way through the oversized furniture. “Pick a potion, any potion.” She extended the tray full of vials, each labeled “Drink Me” in dainty handwriting. “If you’re brave enough, that is.”

Rose wanted to go into as man of the open rooms as she possibly could. Partly because she knew she’d be able to find her family around and partly because she was curious to meet some of her other neighbours. She grinned as she looked around the Wonderland themed room. Avery had wanted to do the theme but Rose was glad she’d convinced her roommate to change her mind. She wouldn’t have liked competing with another tenant of the building- Rose had a bit of a competitive side and it wouldn’t have been pretty.

Her grin grows as she is offered the tray of vials, her hand quickly wrapping around one and bringing it to her lips. “As long as one of these isn’t Polyjuice I think I’ll be fine.” She teases before winking at Acantha.

Al’s eyes narrowed as he took in the sight before him, Tom slowly moving toward the chicken, maintaining eye contact with Al the whole time as he bit down on the chicken. Heaving a sigh, Al walked over to Rose’s couch and flopped down. “You fat bastard. You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days, you know? Or yourself if you don’t stop eating Nando’s.”

He eyed the bag for a moment, then gave a nod. “If you’ve got extras, then yeah. You got any hot sauce?” Once Al’s attention had shifted to the food, Tom happily munched away at the food. “You know, I think he likes you better than he likes me. But whatever— how was your morning? Did you work?”

Rose smiled as she watched Al take a seat. She movies a hand to gently pet Tom’s head as he munches away at his portion of the Nando’s. “Think it would be kind of hilarious to explain to aunt Ginny and uncle Harry that you had a heart attach thanks to a ferret.” She teases before turning her attention to Tom once more. “You won’t give yourself a heart attack will you? Not with all the running around you do, isn’t that right?” She asks using her baby voice on Tom as she moves to scratch Tom’s chin.

Turning her attention back to Al she nods her head towards the food. “Yeah I think I bought enough to feed like five people so please help yourself.” She responds before flicking her wand and lining up her hot sauces for Al. “What kind of a question is that Al?” She teases before looking at Tom. “Oh I doubt that you’re his dad and I’m just his fun aunt Rose who feeds him everything you won’t.” She laughs before sighing. “Yeah I had the longest morning shift in a bar ever... what about you? What were you up to this morning?”

Gabriel had just finished arranging the scones on the plate and set them on the table next to the coffee maker. He still had some that he was keeping warm in his oven, but Gabriel wasn’t entirely sure if he had actually made enough for how many people were going to come through his apartment.  But he still figured that it’d at least be fun to get to know some of his neighbors, since Gabriel hadn’t really had a chance to meet them yet. “Hey,” he smiled as someone walked into the room, “Feel free to pet the cats, but just a warning the orange one might try to run, so just keep an eye out.”

While Avery was putting the final touches on their room, Rose had decided it wouldn’t hurt to stop by some of the other rooms and see what everyone else had gotten up to- not that she thought anyone could beat her and Avery they had a full bar set up in their apartment. She found herself sauntering into Gabriel’s open door and smiling a little at the cozy little cat cafe. She definitely looked out of place there in her Gatsby-esque outfit but it had taken her ages to curl her hair just right and to get the pearls draped just right so she wasn’t changing anytime soon. “I think I might stay clear of the cats... though I don’t know how successful I’ll be considering I’m basically a walking cat toy.” She giggles before looking at Gabriel. “I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for... Phoenix right?”

Anna was beyond grateful that the first sunshine-y day in the past week fell on one of her days off. She had been sitting at her window, opening it slightly so she could blow the smoke from her blunt out of her apartment, when she caught a familiar sight down below–Rose, topless, blissful smile on her lips. Anna couldn’t help as her own smile grew, and she opened her window more to lean out of it. “Oi, without me?” she called out teasingly, a bright laugh leaving her lips as she did. “Give me like, five minutes tops and I’ll be down, babes!”

Rose opened her eyes, glancing up at the open window smiling as she noticed the smoke and the girl hanging out of the window. “Didn’t know you weren’t working babes.” Rose calls back up to Anna before giggling a little and moving her sunglasses up a little. “Bring your own chair or blanket and join me! I’ve missed you!”

James wrinkled his nose, not sold by her counter-argument. “Even if that were true… fuck, don’t know if I could get there after, ‘ya know? Makes me feel bit desperate.” Then he paused, blinking for a few seconds before turning his head sharply to look at his cousin. “Not desperate, am I?” Once at the floor, James pushed off the elevator wall and strode forward, slow as he was still waking up minute by minute. “”Ya feel for it.” James shook his head, amusingly disappointed but understanding. Tom had a way of convincing anyone. “I get it. Trust me, I do. But the rate he’s going he’ll be double the size by end of summer. Fuckers been faking up out. Al’d feed ‘im ‘fore work and then I’d roll out of bed. Put up a solid starvin’ act.”

Rose pauses for a second as she considers James’ response. “You know... you’ve got a point. If you, Al, or any of the others ever decided to be wingman or wingwoman to me I don’t know if I would be able to go there either.” She responds before nodding her head. “No you’re not desperate James. You’ve just been in a bit of bad luck.” She responds following James out of the elevator. “I didn’t fall for anything James. I know deep down that Tom doesn’t need the food I just can’t deny his cute little face.” She sticks her tongue out at him. “Not my fault you lot haven’t gotten smart enough to create a feeding schedule for Tom.”

Kat stepped back, hand extended to keep the girl at a distance. The look in the redhead’s eyes had reiterated that it was an accident. And with some fight, Kat could believe it. But with time and effort— not with hands half-extended in her direction. “Stop.” Her hand was raised, palm out. “Look, you’re off the hook. You didn’t do it. I believe you. I don’t need your help right now. Didn’t ask for it.”

Rose stops digging into her bag and looks at Kat a small frown on her lips. “Are you sure? It was my fault for not paying attention and I’d really like to help if I could.” Rose responds as she lets her hand drop from her bag, empty of the vial she’d been looking for. “You don’t always have to ask for help... sometimes people just offer help when they notice it’s needed.”

“I’m a magizoologist, so I worked under someone for awhile, which is where most of my notes came from, and then I wrote a book on thestrals that came out last year and got…kind of really popular,” Gabriel nodded, trying (and failing) not to sound intimidated by his own success.  “I don’t know if it’s strange, I think a lot of pet owners are that way.”

Rose takes another look at Gabriel, scooting closer to him to get a better look at him before her face lights up with recognition. “Oi, I do know who you are now. My uncle Charlie is obsessed with your book. He worked with dragons in Romania.” She smiles at him before laughing a little. “Spotlight really isn’t your thing is it? You look a little uncomfortable.” She asks tilting her head to the side before nodding. “True.. my mum was obsessed with our cat- Crookshanks.”

      “Aw, jeez, Rosie,” are the first words out of his mouth; habitual and slightly scolding. It wasn’t that he thought there was anything wrong with sunbathing, necessarily — ignoring all the muggle warnings about damaging effects and all — but there were just some things he didn’t need to be privy to. “Is there a better place you could be doing this? Where I don’t have to see it?” Or any of the other neighbors coming and going from the building, who were undoubtedly looking, which was a much bigger issue in Teddy’s mind.

Rose peeked over her sunglasses to look up at Teddy, a Cheshire grin on her lips as she looked at her pseudo big brother. “I mean I could probably get better sun up on the roof and it would be an ideal place to have a smoke...” She trails off before slowing pushing her sunglasses up again. “...but then I wouldn’t be getting nearly as much attention as I have been Teddy. Though I’m sure with you standing here you’re scaring away all the boys...”

@rcsieweasley​ 

     “No, it’s totally fine,” Will remarked with ease, crossing the room to join Rose on the couch with a soft huff as she fell against the cushions. “Merlin knows where Val is off to,” but that didn’t exactly worry the blonde, “so I plan to take full advantage of the ability to smoke in the comfort of my own home.” She holds out the freshly rolled spliff for Rose to take, silently offering her the first hit with a grin. 

Rose had made herself comfortable on Will and Val’s couch as she watched the blonde get the spliff ready. It felt a little strange being in their room but Avery was actually home for once and Rose didn’t want to bring whatever manic energy she and Will were about to have into the apartment. She takes the spliff and puts it between her lips, taking a long drag before offering it back to Will. She makes a few smoke rings before answering. “I tend to hotbox our bathroom so as to not bother Avery so I get how you feel babes.”

She was a sweet girl, and that had been clear even before they’d struck up conversation. The empty glass was a clear sign and she read it well, pouring more liquid in without need for further prompting. “So, you bartend, too?” she asked casually, keeping conversation going with ease. “Where do you work at? Around here? Cause I think I’d remember a cute face like that.” Not that she got out much…

Rose grinned as Harlow filled her glass once more- the unspoken bond of a good bartender and her patrons. She nods before glancing towards the door. “Yeah I work over at the Gargoyle.” She responds before laughing a little. “I pretty much just go to work and go home. Bit of a shocker to be in her drinking but I’m glad that I decided to come in. Good drinks and better company.”

They were supposed to be cleaning up and closing the bar down but something about the song playing over the radio had caught Rose’s attention and she’d started dancing around the bar. She wouldn’t have noticed Cainan watching her if she hadn’t of done a turn and stopped facing him. The words had been out of her mouth before she could stop them and she couldn’t help the smile on her lips at his response. “Come dance with me then. Work can wait.” She responds before starting to dance to the music again and motioning him to come closer.

Rose blinks at the other girl a little confused as to where all the hostility from the other girl had come from. She honestly hadn’t been paying attention to her surroundings so when she’d pushed her chair out just to collide with this stranger she’d honestly not meant to do it. “No I honestly didn’t.” Rose responded maintaining eye contact with the brunette hoping she could see in Rose’s eyes that she’d meant it. She could see hurt in the other girl’s eyes and despite herself Rose broke eye contact to look her over before spotting her scraped up knees. “Oh your knees! I’m so sorry about that... I think I have some cream that could help take the sting away... if you want it..”

James’s eyes fluttered closed as he rolled his head back and forth, a silent ‘no’. “Not doubtin’ your abilities or anything but not sure having my cousin pimp me out’ll be much help. Seems desperate don’t it?” He asked, adding a laugh as the elevator started it’s trip up. Ding. Ding. Third floor. Pushing off the wall he stood taller again. “’Ya seen Tom lately? Fucker’s a bit of a chonker. Keep it up and not sure how much ‘venture he’ll add to this place.”

Rose pouts as her cousin shakes his head. She had really been looking forward to being a wingwoman to James but it was what it was. “I don’t know James... depends on the girl. Some girls might find it sweet that you need help from your cousin to get laid.” She responds with a shrug before laughing with him. As the elevator dinged up the levels she tried to think if she would think it was sweet that a guy needed help from someone else just to talk to her. “Last I saw him was the other day? He found me on the stairs with Nando’s and I just couldn’t say no to that little face so I brought him to mine.” She admits with a sheepish smile. “With all the running about he does I’m sure Tom won’t get much bigger than he already is...”

Cainan had to press his tongue to the roof of his mouth, a means to suppress his smile. Rose had an argument, one he had hardly a defense for. But that was the trouble with her, wasn’t it?  The redhead turning his head and meeting him with the banter— then age came popping up like a blunt reminder. A tall, tall speed bump. “Never said I couldn’t. Said ‘ya’d be work ‘ta keep up with. Never said that a bad thing.” In fact, he saw it the opposite. Kept his day entertaining. “Fair ‘nough,” Cainan agreed with a nod of his head. He’d considered his options when looking for a new space, but the Gargoyle kept rising as a top choice. It was the perfect middle ground. “Can’t say I ‘gree ‘pletely. Mostly just focused on the business,” he said, stepping up to help a customer who’d just walked in. “”Ya know me, always gunnin’ for that ‘ployee of the month.”

Rose’s smirk only grows as Cainan takes a moment to find a response to her words. It was a fun game of cat and mouse they were playing and Rose couldn’t honestly say who was the cat and who was the mouse since the rolls seemed to ever be changing between them. Not that she thought either of them would ever actually act on whatever face level attraction they were feeling for one another. “Knew you were one who was up for a challenge.” She responds before winking at him. As the customer comes up to the bar, Rose turns away from Cainan and gives them a flirty smile as her coworker gets a glass ready. “Gonna take more than that to beat me for employee of the month. Wager I’ve got it in the bag.” She says before turning towards the next customer that wandered into the bar. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a slow night after all.