#socketrocket

He then sees himself through to the workshop, which in actuality is a converted garage. Few people own cars in Misthallery, as getting them about is difficult. Because of this, some of the more optimistic houses that were made with garages attached have since found them converted into other things. In the case of Wren & Socket's family, it has over time become Socket's workshop. Whenever he's not doing work for the Black Ravens you can be sure to find the little mechanic tinkering away in here.

Sure enough, he seems to be working hard on something as Crow steps through the side door, hammering away with his back towards the leader.)

Upstairs they get changed into their pyjamas and settle into their room, cuddling up close. It's nice and it feels good, but there's still something nagging in the back of Charlie's mind...)

"Um, Socket? About what you were saying earlier... I don't doubt that Finch would lose interest in the Black Ravens if he knew what Crow was really like. But who did you mean when you said there's a better Black Raven than him? I can't think of any other kids except for the Bardes and aren't they kind of already involved anyway?"

(Charlie shouts this back as if it'd be the most awful thing that could possibly happen to them. But he doesn't mean it, not even a little bit. Because his spirits are too high and he knows today is going to go fantastically. So much better than yesterday. Today they could just be... kinda-sorta a couple, without any of the complications that come with that.

He spins around to look back at Socket, his feet swerving on the snow that dusted the streets through the night. A little further behind him, Socket isn't quite as awake as Charlie is. It had been unfair to drag him out of bed after promising him a lie-in, but they're already almost into the afternoon and Charlie didn't want to waste any more of the day. It had taken them long enough to get ready, have a late breakfast and say goodbye to his Gran.

Padding back across the snow, Charlie puts an arm around Socket's shoulder, grinning.)

...No. Charlie's not going to talk about the rest of the journey, because it had been that bad. Socket had refused to go back to Misthallery, but he'd also refused to talk to Charlie for the entirety of the way there. They'd sat there in an awkward silence, only punctuated by the occasional sniff from Charlie.

Upon arriving in London, Charlie had navigated there way to the house and Socket had trailed along behind him. It also hadn't exactly been the introduction to his Gran that Charlie had in mind by the time they got there. Because while Socket was at least polite enough, it was clear that he just wanted to get upstairs and unpack. Charlie apologised a lot, insisting that Socket is just tired from the long journey and they'll both feel better when they get some rest.

Which brings them up to right now, with Charlie sat on one of the beds in the guestroom and Socket hunched over his suitcase. The silence has long since become unbearable, so Charlie decides to break it at last.)

"Do you still want to go out to London tomorrow? We don't have to give you a makeover, since I doubt that you want that now, but there's lots you can do in London anyway..."

Not because he didn't want it to, but because he'd completely been expecting that something would turn up to stop it from happening. Like maybe his parents wouldn't be okay with him travelling so far away with just another kid to keep him company. Or maybe Socket would lose interest before now. Or, more likely, Socket would never want to speak to Charlie again after he's made up with the Black Ravens.

But none of these worries have come to pass. His parents have been surprisingly fine about this (Charlie suspects that they're just eager to see him have a friend at all) and Socket's still been wanting to go to London with him, even after his talk with Badger. Of course, Charlie doesn't yet know what's happening between Socket and the Black Ravens outside of knowing that the talk happen. Though he has a vague suspicion that Socket's still not talking to Crow because of how standoffish Socket's continued to be whenever the leader is brought up. That doesn't matter though, because the important part is that Socket still wants to come to London with Charlie.

Which is what has led Charlie to trek all the way down to the market on that cold winter morning, wheelie trolley squeaking along behind him. He reaches Socket's house, the route now almost familiar to him, and hesitantly knocks on the door.

(You can hear Socket coming from a mile off - he’s always clucking about something or other. And more often than not Charlie ends up being the direction of that annoyance. He isn’t sure why that’s the case, but it is fun to deal with the easily-riled boy all the same.)

"Hmm? Is there really so little going on down at your market that I’m the only thing you have to talk about?"

(This is actually the first Charlie’s hearing of him having a girlfriend, but he’s happy to run with the idea just to annoy Socket.)

So having something expected of him doesn't suit Louis very well. But despite his preferences, even someone as lax as Louis can tell that there's a lot going wrong that needs to be fixed right now. He wants to get everyone cheerful and back to themselves by the time Halloween comes around. Badger, Gus and Crow all seems to have a lot on their plates right now and if just talking to Socket can help just a little bit then that's what they'll do.

He's made his way towards Wren & Socket's house, edging around the wall to see if the little mechanic is there.)