Reckless Endangerment

Malinda Upton || 16 || 6th Year || Gryffindor "We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race."

[likeateatray-inthesky]

pete-jete:

PJ hesitated. He didn’t really want to showcase his mediocre sketches, especially to someone who only a few moments ago seemed like they really just wanted him to leave, but at the same time his hands were already pulling the notebook out of his bag and sheepishly handing it over to her. If she was going to make fun of him and his work, and PJ was pretty certain that she was, it would be easier if it were over quickly. 

Malinda had to physically suppress the sigh that was threatening to leave her as he slowly handed over his notebook. It pained her how hesitant he was, he was in desperate need of a confidence boost or something. She looked at his work with feigned interest at first before it shifted into something more genuine, the change noticeable in her expression as her brows furrowed. “Well see, here’s your problem. Your depiction isn’t really that wrong, it just looks that way because of your angle. If you turn it, look, it’s mostly fine, right?” She flipped the notebook around so he would have to look at it upside down and gave him something resembling a smile. “Fix this one right here,” she added, pointing to the spot in question, “and you’ll be golden, ponyboy.” It was just her opinion, but she hoped he’d at least consider it. For his own sanity’s sake, of course.

[likeateatray-inthesky]

pete-jete:

PJ’s hands grew still midway through stuffing his notebook into his bag as the girl elaborated on her exact problem with him. Though she said she didn’t care that he was doing his homework, her follow up seemed to indicate the opposite. Anyone who advocated the hiring of someone else to do their homework obviously had some kind of problem with it. But PJ would concede that his multiple attempts was the more annoying thing in this moment. Had he been able to capture the leaf correctly the first time, he’d have moved on without incident. “Oh, no,” PJ shook his head, chancing a very brief glance up at the girl, “No, nothing like that. I just… kept getting it wrong.”

Malinda’s brow arched up when he said no, curiosity setting in. If he didn’t want to be an artist, then why the hell would he care so much about a stupid leaf? “Here, lemme look at it.” It wasn’t really a question. “A fresh pair of eyes might help. You’re probably about to go cross-eyed from staring at it for so long.” Why she was offering to help him with his homework was beyond her. The only homework she actually didn’t mind doing was her astronomy homework, and most of that was done at night when she couldn’t sleep, anyway, so she chalked it up to convenience. 

[likeateatray-inthesky]

pete-jete:

The latest herbology project involved sketching a variety of plants found around the Hogwarts grounds. PJ knew his art skills weren’t much, but he was determined to at the very least get the shape of the leaves right. To that end, he’d sketched and re-sketched the same leaf about a dozen times before he was interrupted by the girl on the bench nearby. “Oh, sorry,” he said, eyes flitting downward as he shut his notebook over his pen and began to gather his things up, “I can move.”

Malinda rolled her eyes at how quickly he made to move. He didn’t even bother asking what it was that had upset her. Who didn’t ask things like that? She would have been up in arms and probably punched whoever had bothered her with that much attitude. Which was what prompted her to elaborate what the actual problem was. “Look, I don’t care that you’re doing your homework...for whatever reason. Just hire some other nerd to do it. My problem with you is the fact that you’re being too much of a perfectionist and it’s driving me up the wall. Just draw the damn plant and move on.” As she spoke, she sat up and leaned an elbow on her knee, her head resting in her hand. “Why are you so worried about it anyway? You trying to be an artist or somethin’?”

[likeateatray-inthesky]

Malinda looked up from where she lounged with an arched brow at the person that was standing near her. “Do you really need to be doing that so close to me? It’s incredibly annoying,” she deadpanned, dropping her pen onto her notebook on the bench. Her patience was thin lately, and they weren’t helping the situation at all. 

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

“You’re both short. So I’m sure I won’t even notice the difference..” Hook teased her, making it to the bottom of the stairs himself. Falling into step next to her, he grinned. “You always say that and yet…I’ve still not seen you eat a cow. Disappointed.” He looked ahead of them towards the tapestry that marked their final destination and felt his own stomach growl a bit. “I must admit I’m a little hungry myself..”

Malinda’s jaw dropped as he compared her height to that of a house elf. “How dare you make fun of my height in that way, I’m not that short.” She knew she was small, but come on! She grumbled under her breath as she visibly bristled over his comment. A smile threatened to pull at her lips and ruin the pout she had going on when he teased her about the cow comment, but she managed to keep it from becoming visible. Instead, she brushed past him with her head up high. “I knew you would be and that’s why you can’t get rid of me. I know you best, remember?” Malinda pushed her way into the kitchens and only held the door long enough so that it wouldn’t hit him in the face when it swung back but not long enough that it looked like she was actually holding it open for him. 

[likeateatray-inthesky]

Aesthetic: Malinda & Hook

@ticktock-hook​ 

[tinyshipper]

[ticktock-hook-blog]

likeateatray-inthesky:

His laugh made her smile, she liked it when he was happy. She’d get him back for it being because she was pretty sure she was going to die for a moment. One day. She looked over at him as he slid down the next bannister as well, a grin lighting up her face. “Who will make you the best tea on the planet then, huh?” she shot back as she fell back onto the stairs and began sprinting down them, determined to catch one of the last staircases down before it could move and throw her off her game. “Come on, slowpoke!”

“You’re right..I didn’t think about that.” He mused for a moment. Noticing her start sprinting down the stairs, James followed her lead, trying to catch the next staircase before it moved away. “I’ll have to ask the house elves. They’ll help me even after you’re gone.”

[likeateatray-inthesky]

“You’d just replace me with the elves that easily?” she asked, feigning offence as she shot a glare over her shoulder at him. “They could never compare to me, I’m fabulous.” She laughed again and landed on the floor, thankful to finally be off the death trap that was the moving staircases. Malinda slowed her pace now that she was on solid ground and shoved her hands back in her pockets as she walked to the rest of the way to the kitchens, her stomach grumbling again. “I think I could eat an entire cow right now.” Malinda was grateful that there weren’t any people out and about right now, it was in a lull between the afternoon rush and patrols and curfew. It meant she could inhale more food before they got caught or they’d be passed over by patrols if they were smart.

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

James laughed loudly at her insistence her death would be his fault, sliding down the banister after her. He knew she loved the thrill, it was one of the many things their Gryffindor friendship was built on. That’s why he didn’t feel an ounce of guilt for tossing her onto the railing. It wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do himself, as he followed her lead and leaned into the shifting railing, trying to keep upright as they slid down towards the dungeons. “I just might. But I won’t confirm or deny that fact.”

His laugh made her smile, she liked it when he was happy. She’d get him back for it being because she was pretty sure she was going to die for a moment. One day. She looked over at him as he slid down the next bannister as well, a grin lighting up her face. “Who will make you the best tea on the planet then, huh?” she shot back as she fell back onto the stairs and began sprinting down them, determined to catch one of the last staircases down before it could move and throw her off her game. “Come on, slowpoke!”

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

“Let’s hope you make the right decision. I’d hate to think what would happen if you don’t..” He responded following along, a small smirk on his lips at her use of the nickname. “You know I love a good cup of Earl Grey.” His eyes grew wide at the reminder of the tea waiting for him as they made it to the large moving staircase. Rushing forward, he picked up Malinda and tossed her onto the railing, chuckling as she went sliding down uncontrollably as the different floors shifted and moved underneath her. He climbed up after watching her for a moment, sliding down and holding on for dear life.

Malinda could feel a comeback on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it back, opting for a roll of her eyes that he couldn’t see instead. “Earl Grey it is, then,” she said cheerfully. “I just thought maybe you’d want to switch it up one of these days.” As soon as her feet lifted off the ground, she let out a squeak of surprise and went to cling to him, but she had already been placed on the railing, and her hands flew out to steady herself instead so she didn’t fall backwards. “James Hook, if I die, you are entirely responsible!” she shouted as she slid down the rails, though a laugh followed quickly behind it. She thrived on the adrenaline rushes that life threw at her, and this was no exception. “And you know you’d miss me,” she continued as she came to the end of one bannister and hopped onto another, trying to keep from falling backwards again as it began to move again. This was a much quicker way of getting down all the stairs. And much more fun.

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

“You know I would.” Malinda should know best of anyone that James had buttons that he didn’t respond well to people pushing. He had a temper that people spread rumors about and he wasn’t ashamed of the reputation that proceeded him. It got him warm flannel pants after all. Her next sentence had the power to stop him in his tracks, staring after the girl as she made her way down the hall. Dazed for only a moment, he followed along after her. “I don’t think you want to go there Malinda.”

He was right, she knew first hand his temper and how not to cross him, but it wouldn’t stop her from occasionally pushing the situation just because she could. She liked to think that sometimes that was something he liked about her. She heard his footsteps pause, and a smile crossed her lips, but she didn’t look back, and the smile only grew at his warning. “I think I can decide that for myself, Cap’n,” she responded in as serious as a voice as she could manage as she continued down the stairs and then down the hall. “What kind of tea do you want? Oolong, Earl Grey, brewer’s choice?” she asked, changing the subject.

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

James grinned wide as Malinda teased him for his outfit. Climbing out of the portrait after her, he shook his head. “If you don’t make me tea you will forever regret the moment you lied to me and convinced me to leave the cozy common room couches. Don’t make me punish you Malinda.” He shot back, a tone of seriousness underlying their usual joking around. James was going to need a cup of tea before this adventure was over or she’d never hear the end of it.

Malinda shot a glare over her shoulder at him. “You wouldn’t dare,” she challenged, though she knew good and well he would. She got away with a lot when it came to how people could talk to him and act around him, but sometimes she still wanted to challenge him and push him and see where the lines were really drawn. “Unless we’re talking a different kind of punishment.” The suggestive comment was out of her mouth before she could think better of it, and she turned her head to look forward again, shoving her hands in her back pockets as she started down one of the many staircases to the kitchens.

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

James watched her stand up from the couch and looked at the hand she offered to him. He wasn’t quite convinced. Not until she mentioned he deserved the best. She was right, of course. And he was finally convinced. Placing his hand in hers, he stood up. “Alright fine. Let’s go. You owe me an entire pot of tea though.” He insisted before spotting the 5th year come down into the common room wearing his pajamas out of the corner of his eye. “Give me your pants.” He commanded, a steely look in his eyes as he stared the kid down. His reputation must have proceeded him because the kid handed the pants over without protest and James took them with an evil smirk as the boy scurried away. Pulling the plaid flannel pants on, he smiled at Malinda. “Ready whenever you are, Mal.”

Her grin grew when he put his hand in hers and stood. She placed a hand on her stomach that grumbled once again as though trying to physically keep it quiet as she watched him stare down another kid for his pants. Malinda shook her head as she looked after the kid and then back at James, laughing lightly at the outfit he had pulled together. “You look ridiculous,” she commented as she headed out of the common room again, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she walked ahead of him. “I don’t know if I can be seen with you in public. You might need to find someone else to make you tea after all.” 

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

It was clear she was trying to guilt him and the attempt was unsuccessful as he snuggled up in the sweater and sank deeper into the couch. It wasn’t until she mentioned her tea that he perked up. “Your tea?” He asked, a smile making its way onto his lips at the thought of a cup of her tea. It certainly would warm him up. “Would we need to go all the way down to the kitchen? For your tea?” He asked, his brows furrowed. He was so cozy by the fire but he was beginning to consider her request.

Her smile grew as she pulled him in with the promise of tea. She had hoped that that would work. Malinda nodded and slid off the couch, holding a hand out to him. “We absolutely would. You’d only get a mediocre cup of tea here, and you deserve the best, don’t you?” she asked with a smirk. She could feel her stomach grumbling, making her that much more eager to get to the kitchens.

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

Now it was James’s turn to roll his eyes as she nudged him. But then she shifted next to him and became much more animated, causing him to groan. “Mal pleaseee. I want to stay by the fire and wear my pink sweater where its warmmm.” He whined, meeting her gaze with a pout. “What kind of adventure are you thinking? Because I’m probably going to veto like..90% of your ideas.”

Malinda pouted at his whining and crossed her arms over her chest. “I gave you that sweater out of the goodness of my heart and you repay me with nothing,” she said, looking away from him as though offended, though a smile snuck onto her face as she peeked at him again. “We could raid the kitchens...and I could make you some really really good tea, it’ll keep you plenty warm? C’mon, you love my tea.” She hoped that it would entice him enough to get him to leave the common room. And if it meant she could inhale another meal...well, that would be nice.

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

Shaking his head, James narrowed his eyes at the girl. “You’re in denial.” As she pouted, he chuckled and nudged her with his elbow. “You know I never can.” Considering her question, he looked down at his bare legs. “What are you thinking? Because I’m not exactly dressed for an adventure..”

“Me? In denial? Never.” Malinda chuckled and nudged him in return before looking down at his bare legs and chuckled. “Sure you are. You’re just not dressed for the cold.” She pulled her legs up onto the couch and sat back on her knees, her face lit up with excitement. “Put pants on, we need to go do something dumb and maybe reckless. I don’t care what, but we need to do something. Please don’t make me do it alone.” 

[likeateatray-inthesky]

ticktock-hook:

“One look at my face should remind you, Mal.” He laughed, winking in response to the roll of her eyes. “Listen kid. You asked..I answered. I can’t be held responsible for the naps I do or do not take without you. Please..you couldn’t leave me behind. Besides…I may have lost my clothes but I haven’t lost my mind. I know the common room password still.”

“It’s a nice face, but I don’t know if I’d go as far as perfect,” she said with smirk. She rolled her eyes again, sure that one of these days they were just going to roll out of her head. “You couldn’t just let me have that one, could you?” Malinda let out a dramatic sigh and pouted at him. “I’m bored, James. Are you warm enough because I wanna do something fun.”