Notes: A conversation at a tea shop has led Rose to the idea of painting with balloons and simple fun gets messy awfully quickly when Alex offers up his other - not so great - ideas.
Rose woke up in the morning, feeling rather refreshed after her day out with Alexander and a peaceful evening with her grandmother. Towards the end of the summer, Rose usually spends a couple days with her grandparents just to be with them for a short while. Thinking back on her and Alex's idea, she called upon her owl and wrote a quick letter to her friend asking if he would like to put their plans into action. Awaiting a response, Rose showered and dressed herself in proper clothes for such event and ate her breakfast. By the time she returned to her room, the owl had returned with a letter that was hopefully from Alex. And in that letter she hoped to find the answer that she was looking for, yes.
Alex
Alex couldn't remember the last time that he had ever seen his mother so interested in an owl. Having just come down for breakfast, she grinned to him asking about who the girl was. Instantly, he had replied that he knew nothing of what she was talking about, until she had mentioned a name. Rose. He popped from his seat, tripping as he snatched at the letter.
She had been quite serious about the idea. Scrawling back to her, he realized he had no idea where he was going or how he could get there. He added that at the bottom underneath his agreement, wondering what would be the best way for him to get to wherever she was. Throwing a piece of toast in his mouth, he ran back upstairs searching for something to wear for such an event as the owl flew off. If he thought going to a tea shop alone with her was an event, this would be even more potentially embarrassing.
Rose
Opening the letter she gazed down at his words and a broad smile was set upon her lips. She quickly grabbed a quill and wrote back to use the floo network and when using it to say "The Burrow." With that she tied the note back to the owl and sent if off before rushing downstairs to set up the canvas in the back yard. Filling up balloons and having extra paint and brushes as well, the yard looked like a true artists' workshop. Four large canvases were hung and darts were set down by a nearby stool to throw at the balloons. Now all she had to do was wait for Alex to arrive so the fun would begin.
Alex
Floo network. Easier than he thought it'd be to get to her. He'd picked out an old dark grey shirt and some shorts that hung off his waist a bit as choices of clothing to mess up. His mother was too excited to see him hanging out with someone to bother with asking too many questions. There was something about the floo network that always kind of spooked him. He figured it was the fire aspect of it. The fact that it licked at his legs but didn't burn the only reassurance that he'd be alright.
It was quiet where he had arrived. His blue eyes scanning the room he had entered. It was small, quaint in nearly every way. A plump old woman shuffled into his view, smiling brightly, a smile that reminded him of his Ravenclaw friend. Friend. The word shuffled around in his thoughts as the woman spoke and pointed outside. He nodded, blushing furiously at the way she shooed him. There was so much room outside, and he spotted an area with blinding white canvases set up. He approached it slowly, grinning widely as he searched for the red head in the collection of paints and the like.
Rose
When Rose heard the backdoor of the Burrow open she knew it was Alex and after she put up a sheet at the other end of the yard she stuck her head out behind it and called out to him. "Alex!" She yelled before running out from behind the sheet, red hair flowing behind her before she reached him. Wearing a white tee shirt that was partially tucked into her shorts she looked prepared for the mess that would be made this afternoon. She waved quickly to her gran at the window before turning back to the taller male in front of her. "I hope she hasn't embarrassed you. Gran can be a bit pushy at times." Rose smiled before clapping her hands together. "So I have everything set up. The balloons, paint, darts and a few cameras to take pictures of our lovely artwork. So let's get started, yeah?" With that and a winning grin she pulled him in the direction of the first canvas which stood rather tall. "So...do you want to throw the first dart?"
Alex
Alexander's attention snapped at the sound of his name. He grinned as she came running towards him, waving to the woman who had pushed him outside. His hand went to his hair, pulling his fingers through it with worry. "No, I -it's kind of sweet." He nodded along, smiling as she spoke. She grabbed his hand, causing a flush of color to fill his cheeks.
He wondered if her grandmother was still watching and the thought made his whole face fill with color. He nodded once more, silently as he picked up a dart from the nearby stool. Twitching his nose back and forth, he picked which one would be popped first. The thought that he could miss any of the balloons causing him to gulp slowly before he threw caution to the wind and tossed the dart, curious as to what color would be the very base of their fun.
Rose
Standing in front of the canvas, Rose placed her hands at her hips and she looked from the canvas and back over the Alexander. "You're going to do just fine, don't worry about it." She patted his shoulder before he threw the dart, popping it as aqua paint fell against the once white canvas. "That's such a lovely color!" Rose clapped her hands before picking up a dart of her own and throwing it at the next balloon and watched as purple paint exploded next to the blue. "This is amazing!"
Alex
Alex smiled brightly at her reassurance, his eyes following as the color exploded against the canvas with a bright aqua color. She picked her own dart up tossing it to add purple. "Wait until we get to throw the paint ourselves. We'll get a bit messy I suppose, but that'll be the best part I think." He grinned mischievously at the thought.
He already had plans to paint war lines on his face as soon as all hell broke loose. Still contemplating what he'd do to her after a mighty shout, he picked up another dart and tossed. Her cringed a bit as orange came out, he had been hoping for a pretty yellow to add to the color mixture.
Rose
"Of course it's the best part. And then we can take pictures and all that and just get all covered in paint." She nodded in agreement and tilted her head as orange mixed with the colors. "Interesting combination, like it's shouting at you and trying to get your attention. It's pretty cool." Reaching over she picked up a bottle of pant and squeezed some into her hands before running up to the canvas and leaving her hands prints in a nice fuchsia color. "Okay now throw another dart, Alex!" She called to him as she ran to pick up another bottle of paint.
Alex
"Think so? I just see pumpkin clashing with the colors of spring. It hurts my eyes," he joked as he followed her form with his eyes. Chuckling as she left hand prints on the canvas. Alex snatched another dart, tossing it towards the board with a different set of confidence. The dart landing on a balloon ner her and the color lime splashing against the others, "All I want is some bloody yellow! Is that too much to ask for?"
Alex laughed, glancing at the bottles of paint, wondering if she had even brought yellow outside with her. He'd have some choice words for the girl if she hadn't. Yellow was an important color. He grabbed another dart with intentions of walking to the board and popping every balloon until yellow had been added to the mixes.
Rose
"You're so bloody picky!" She laughed before he threw the dart and the lime fell down onto the other colors as well as herself. Looking up at him she let out a laugh and wiped some of the green off her cheek while letting out a string of laughs. When he began to walk up to the canvas with dart in hand she ran up to him and placed her now green and pick hands on his shoulders to push him back. "I know exactly what you're going to do and that is cheating! Alexander you are not going to pop all those balloons at once!" She mock-reprimanded, a grin still wide on her features.
Alex
Alex laughed in response, with her for five minutes and he couldn't remember the last time he had laughed that hard. "Just because I think some yellow would do us good does not mean I'm picky!" He laughed again, as she moved to stop him and he shook his head, wrapping a long arm around her waist and pulling her to the side. "I wasn't, but since your idea is so much better, I think you could even join me."
Alex tossed the dart to the side, outside of the area they were having their fun in and walked away from the canvas. "Care to join me? I'm going to run, full sprint at the board and try to pop as many balloons at once as I can." he put a hand out to her, offering it up with a winning smile. He kind of had a bad feeling that the canvas might knock over or worse, break but it'd be fun he supposed.
Rose
Rose covered her face as he threw the paint at her and pulled her hands away as he spoke, rolling after him. "Oh no I didn't mean to hurt your manly feelings, come back here! I'll fix it I promise." When she saw him struggle to pull up his pants and adjust his shirt she laughed and stood up. Once the two streaks of paint were on his face she did the same only in orange. "You are? Good because I came here looking for a battle. Are you sure you can go up against me though? I'm one tough cookie."
Alex
"Nope. They are hurt. Very hurt. You'll have to fix them somehow." Alex moved to stand up, watching as she mimicked him. He raised his eyebrows and leaned towards her, "You think you could take this on? You want a piece of this Rose? I don't think you do."
He wagged his finger, backing away from her in search of ammunition. "What do we have here?" he asked gesturing to the assortment of other things, his eyes dancing at his options.
Rose
"I promise I'll fix it somehow, just give me a minute to think of how." Rose folded her arms over her chest as he leaned in towards her and she smirked. "Yeah I do, Alex. What are you going to do about it huh?" She asked, reaching over to pick up a paint brush before dipping it in paint and going up to him and starting to paint all over his face. The grabbing a bottle of paint she poured it on his shirt and stuck out her tongue, running in the other direction with the brush and paint still in hand.
Alex
"I'm wounded. I might die from internal bleeding cause you wounded me so harshly." Alex pulled back some at her fierce response, that fire he spoke of before coming out. "I'm going to cover you in paint and call you art." Alex watched with wide eyes, closing them as she moved to paint on his face.
He picked up two bottles as she ran off, "Oh no you don't. Get back here." He chased after her, throwing the bottles in every direction as he neared her, some of it landing on the canvas and even himself rather than on her. He stretched his legs farther, closing the distance between them as he did, hoping to dump the rest of the two bottles on her head.
Rose
Rose bit her lip, holding back a giggle as he opened his eyes the now neon orange paint covering every inch of him. And when he spoke her cheeks flushed , and she thanked Merlin that he couldn't see it behind the paint on her face. "I really don't think you're going to be too happy then...because it's not the best color for your eyes. Yeah, it definitely does not match whatsoever." She laughed, waiting to see his reaction set in.
Alex
Alex frowned, orange. Not just any orange, horrid neon orange. "You couldn't have picked up lime. Or green. or blue. Or purple. Or red. It had to be orange." he wiped at the color flicking specs of it onto her. He narrowed his eyes at her, "You're hurting my man feels some more. You're getting it. That's it. You're getting it."
Alex turned on the ball of his foot, aiming for the bottles that were still out. He'd get her... when he found a color that would clash with her. He'd run out of paint before he gave up on this one. She had crushed his man feelings and now it was time for sweet payback.
Rose
"Well the point of war is not to please the opponent. If that was the case I would have picked up a lovely blue that would have gone nicely with your eyes but sadly that is not the case." She shrugged, her nose scrunching as he flicked the paint at her. "I'm getting it? Oh Merlin, save me I'm so scared!" Rose mock pleaded before her lips turned up into a smirk. When he started heading towards the paint again she ran in the opposite direction, looking for somewhere safe to hide from Alex. He wasn't going to find her, Rose thought due to the face that she was on familiar ground while he was not but yet again he is a Ravenclaw like she is so the prospect of him finding her was somewhat likely.
Alex
Turning with bottles in hand, Alex furrowed his brow, confused at her disappearance. His eyes catching her running from the area and around to Merlin knew where. He'd had to catch her, but make a mess on someone else's home would be an equally bad idea.
She was small, he figured, easily a weight he could carry. Decision made, he put down the bottles, his eyes following the direction she left in and sprinting after her. How far could she have gone or even hid to? he was unfamiliar with his surroundings, so he slowed taking in every aspect as he could as quickly as he could. It was a bit much.
Rose
Rose stopped sprinting once she reached the other side of the yard, looking back to see where Alex was. Maybe she shouldn't have left her alone but then again she was sure that he could find her if he really tried. He was a Ravenclaw of course. She started walking and without realizing, she stepped on a branch and caused it to make a loud cracking sound. Of course that would happen with bloody luck she had. Now knowing that Alex could find out where she was, Rose hid behind the tree in the yard tried to make herself scarce.
Alex
Alex bit his lip, running a hand through his hair. She was good, but then again she had the upper hand. He slowed to a walk, spinning and walking backwards until a snap sounded, and he snapped his eyes in the direction. A wicked grin fell onto his lips, she was nearby and he would find her. Purposely walking past the area he heard the noise come from, he assumed that she had run from the area already.
He swiveled his head, eyes scanning as much as possible for a sign of her. She was covered in paint. He stopped then, his eyes snapping around quickly. He picked up his shorts that had continued to fall from his too thin waist as something caught his eye. Centering in on it he tilted his head, heading in its direction.
Rose
The soft padding of his feet against the ground became louder as he neared the area of where she was. And she knew that he was going to find her and most likely dump more paint on her already drenched body. Having the feeling that he was coming even closer she made the decision to run. She counted to three in her head and took off from the tree and back in the direction that she came from, hoping that her legs would be able to carry her far enough. She does sports after all and was sure that this mouse could definitely outrun the cat in this chase.
Alex
He saw a flash of colors escape from behind a tree and his grin returned, as he chased after her. He'd have to cover her in paint, maybe get her rolled in the grass or something while he was at it. The distance from where she had been hiding to the area she had set up wasn't terribly far. On the other hand, while his legs were by far longer than her own, he was no athlete and his sprint lessened as she ran ahead of him.
He heaved a long breath as he continued to chase after her. He had a long prepared speech waiting for her when he caught up and got his breath in order. She would be hearing something from him.
Rose
Rose continued to run as far as her legs would carry her and once she reached the canvases she ran behind one and waited for Alex to catch her. He had nothing in his hands but now she will. Picking up the blue paint that would go so nicely with his eyes, she hid the bottle behind her back for when he would find her. And so she waited patiently behind the canvas, knowing that any second now Alex would be there to 'catch' her. For when he did, he'd be in the surprise of a lifetime.
Alex
Returning to the area they had started in, Alex noticed how she had disappeared again. He bent over, huffing and tired from his sprint. He swallowed thickly and walked towards the toppled over canvas searching for the red head who had disappeared into this area.
He knew she had come into this area. "Come out, come out where ever you are," he sighed lowly, his breath still short from his sprint. He really needed to get out more or something.
Rose
She could hear him calling to her and she walked out towards him with an innocent smile on her face, hands still behind her back where she hide the blue paint. But for now she'll play the innocent card just so she could get in range of him."Looking for me, huh?" Rose asked sweetly as she walked towards him, making sure to keep the bottle hidden from his eyes."You look a bit tired, guess it's from all the running I made you do. But hey now we've had all of our exercise for the day." Her smile widened as she waited for a response and the perfect timing to use the blue paint.
Alex
She emerged from behind a canvas smiling so sweetly he could feel his teeth aching just from the sight of it. He nodded, suspicious and breathing slowly. " 'm no runner. That's for sure." He narrowed his eyes at her. She didn't seem the least bit out of breath, and that smile was much too nice for his own good. Red lights were blinking inside his head. Something was up, but he had no idea what it was.
"Yeah I'm good with no more." His eyes snapped to the bottles, wondering if he could snatch her up and drag her close enough to dump the colors on her.
Rose
"Y'know I thought about what you said with the whole matching your eye color thing and I am very sorry I hurt your manly feelings." She apologized, looking up at him with a pout set on her lips as she stepped closer to him and unscrewed the cap of the bottle behind her back. "So I decided to apologize and fix it.." With that she drew the bottle from behind her back and poured it on his head with a light laugh before drawing away from him once it was empty. "See, now the paint matches your lovely eyes." Oh Rose knew she was in for it now, but the look on his face was just too good to care all too much.
Alex
"Uhuh?" he started, even in the little time since he had known her, he was still very much suspicious of that look. He knew that look. The look he got before Holly was about to do something that cause him some form of pain. He tilted his head, curious now as she apologized and he regretted it a moment later. His lapse in judgement left him covered in a deep blue paint. His features sketch in horror as it slid down slowly but surely.
He wiped the paint from his eyes. "That ass is mine, Weasley." Alex reached for her, aiming to pull her against his paint covered chest and carrying to any set of paint his hand could reach and dump it all over her. This human canvas idea was going well if nothing else.
Rose
Her cheeks flushed at his comment and she allowed him to drag her over to the assortment of paints. She knew what was coming but they were both already covered in paint so it's not like it mattered. Once he began spreading the paint over her hair and forehead she smiled up at him, taking some off of her own face and drew a smile on his cheek. "Me too, this color looks pretty cute with my hair, don't you think?" She asked with a laugh before tilting her head to the side and drew a star on his other cheek in bubblegum pink. "I like your look too. You are just perfect model for a tie-dye campaign."
Alex
Alex grinned, unsure if he could stay mad at a face like that, it was hard to with the way she smiled at him and drew little pictures on his cheeks like it was a game. He chuckled, nodding with her at the sheer mess they had made. "is it the jawline? Cause it gets the ladies every time." Alex snapped his attention to the sky, exposed his jaw to her as he stared off dramatically.
His speech from before forgotten, "Or maybe I'm better suited for a different angle?" He leaned down a bit, lifting his finger to her cheek and drawing a small flower. "I'd draw a rose, but I'm no artist."
Rose
"Definitely." She nodded, poking his jaw with her finger as he posed for her. "The jawline is perfect and I think you'd have to just pose like that all the time. And once your ad is in the papers you'd have to take bodyguards with you everywhere due to all the girls following you. Because you know, every girl wants a man with a stunning jawline." As he drew on her face she smiled. "We have to take a picture of it then so I can put it in my scrapbook. And then one of you because you look like you just rolled in a rainbow."
Alex
"I can't just stand like this all the time," he chuckled, and shook his head."I don't think I could do that. I'd have such a tough time. I'm no good with a lot of attention." He stood straight, frowning at the drawing, it was probably dreadful in comparison to hers.
"Course, but maybe we shouldn't be the ones taking the pictures cause we're a right mess. I'm sure I'm a pretty rainbow though." Alex turned to the other canvases, still standing and not nearly as colored as the first. "We should probably roll on those or throw paint on them to finish our art gallery to the fullest."
Rose
"Yes you could...well maybe you'd only have to do it in public to show off that money maker of yours." She laughed, giving his jaw one last poke before dropping her hand back to her side. "I'd think you would do just fine with attention and I'd be one of your bodyguards and publicist so I would help you would if you get nervous." She nodded in agreement before turning back to the canvases and tilted her head. "Okay but we're not running at it again because that was definitely a bad idea. How about we just cover them in hand prints and just splatter some paint on them to personalize them? I think that would be rather nice."
Alex
Alex chuckled with another shake of his head, he wasn't sure he could do it. "You have some serious confidence in me. I'm not sure that I have that confidence in myself about this really." Lifting a hand to run through his hair, he stopped getting stuck as the paint made his hair stand up. "Yeah? You will? That's sweet of you."
He laughed and shook his head, "I just wanted to make as many balloons as possible explode at once. that;s all I was being a dweeb. You lead the way. I'll follow."
Rose
"Well if you had more confidence in your jawline this wouldn't be a problem." She teased before giving him a reassuring nod. "Of course, someone will have to help you fend off all of those birds trying to touch that pretty face of yours. And yeah you're a dweeb but that's okay because despite it hurting a tiny bit, it was fun. Alright, I'll lead." Rose then grabbed two bottles of paint and went up to a canvas. Pouring the paint into her hands she left hand prints here and there before making little swirling designs with her fingers.
Alex
"I've never had a reason to be more confident in my jaw. I've never really talked to people much," he shrugged lightly. This was the first time in six years that he had ever spent so much time talking with someone other than his sister. It had been one weekend, but he supposed that was all it really took.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time. I just wanted yellow," he mumbled, glancing to the fallen over canvas. His eyes followed her, nodding as she went and grabbing the bottle of yellow he had wanted to desperately before. He smirked, pouring some on his hand and pressing it to her back.
Rose
Rose was too concentrated on the canvas in front of her to know that Alex was coming up from behind her. But once he pressed his hand to her back she turned around and did the same but only on his face. She laughed and shook her head before pressing her other hand to his shoulder. "You think you're being sneaky?" She asked playfully. "Well you should know that it's impossible to sneak up on me."
Alex
Alex paused, feeling her paint ridden hand press to his face and then to his shoulder. He glanced to the color, already bothered by the fact that she had previously dumped nasty orange on him.
"I did sneak up on you. Clearly I'm quite sneaky." He chuckled softly, pressing his finger to her cheek and leaving little dots along her features. "I mean, I could reenact my sneakiness for you if you'd like." he jutted his thumb over his shoulder, pouring more paint on his hand as she tried to find places to add color when his previous paint dump session hadn't covered.
Rose
"Hm...well I'm not on my game today but on a normal day you wouldn't be able to sneak up on me. Besides I'm also tired from all of that running." Rose shook her head despite the smile on her face as he made little colorful freckles on her face. "You could try but now I'm aware so I doubt it will be the same as before, Alex." She shrugged, taking her hand and now messing up his hair with a bright purple color. "And now you look like a work of art."
Alex
"Oh ho! Excuses, that is what I hear, my dear little red head." Alex gave a small scoff, grinning as he spoke, "You're tired from that run? I could feel my lung shriveling in pain."
Following her hand, Alex touched at his hair and pulled it away to pressed into the canvas. A mix of colors showed up, including the orange she had so kindly dumped on him. "I'll spread it to the world. After I learn to wear a bloody belt," he commented, pulling at his shorts again.
Rose
"Excuses? You must be mistaken, Alexander. I have been giving you only cold hard facts through this entire conversation." Rose waved off his playful accusation before laughing. "Well maybe you should go out and exercise more often. Gain a bit of muscle to go nicely with your jawline." She teased lightly before watching him pull up his pants again. "Why don't you buy pants that fit you or just use a charm to shrink your pants a bit so they fit around your waist better?"
Alex
"Yeah, cold and hard, but maybe not facts. I don't think you've told me a factual thing once since I've been here," he said tilting his head in consideration. "I'm thinking I will, get a nice something going on for my nonexistent admirers. I'll have the school fawning at my feet. Then the world." He grinned brightly, trying to keep himself from laughing. He really did have the worst sense of humor.
"All the pants that fit me are nice pants. Pants I don't want to mess up. I was also worried my only belt would get messed up too." He opened his mouth to say something but stopped, it'd be insanely inappropriate and he found himself getting much too comfortable much too fast. Alex chalked it up to how much he was having with her.
Rose
"That's such a lie and you know it, Alexander. I am just a book filled with factual information and you know it." She argued, arms folding over her chest. "See once that happens you'll really need me as a bodyguard! We'll start running as soon as possible so the girls of Hogwarts can begin building a fan base off of you." Rose grinned back at him before rolling her eyes. "Just shrink your pants then with a charm if you don't want to ruin your belt." When he opened his mouth to continue, Rose raised a brow as she waited for him to continue. "Now don't hold back on my account, come on say it."
Alex
"If you're a book, than I'm an infinite universe filled with stupid trivia." Alex stepped back, smiling at her defensive stance and mimicking it playfully. "Brilliant, running. At least I'll be prepared to run from the girls. I dunno what they'd even have a fan club for. For my jaw? Do girls really do that sort of thing?"
Alex furrowed his brow, his sister and mother never mentioned that some girls could take things a little overboard. Then again he supposed that his sister and mother hadn't prepared him for a lot of things when it comes to girls or even other people. "It's not something a gentleman would say, so I don't think I should. It might be inappropriate for your virgin ears."
Rose
"See you can't copy me Alexander, you look a bit silly while I just look absolutely stern yet cute at the same time." Rose poked at his chest before letting out a soft laugh. "Well not just for your jaw, for your entire face and body. Most girls adore a man's outer looks but I'm sure they'd adore your inner qualities as well." A brow raised and a smirk was brought to her lips. "Virgin ears? I've lived with a millions cousins, a ton of them boys, and my ears are far from being virginal at this point. To be honest, I've been corrupted since second year? Maybe even first. But since you know that now, you can tell me what you were going to say."
Alex
"I do not look silly. I look powerful and authoritative." Alex scrunched his nose up and shook his head, "Good luck getting that far first." He chuckled a bit, it was worth the try.
"I was going to say that I could have just as easily showed up naked with my bits everywhere or I could just take my pants off and save everyone the trouble. But that's a little far and very inappropriate to be saying or even thinking about, so we're going to forget it ever left my mouth."
Rose
"Hm...maybe you would if you didn't do that thing with your nose. You look like a kitten whose got a water droplet there or something." She laughed, poking his nose playfully. "Ah but you see I'd be able to do it because I'm a girl and I know what the majority of girls want, and that will soon be you." As he explained what he was going to tell her she bit her lip to hold back a laugh until he was finished. "Merlin that wasn't too far, well it would be if you actually took your clothes off but it was funny. Sure it was a bit inappropriate but I've heard worse, much worse. Don't second guess yourself all the time."
Alex
"I hardly do that thing with my nose. That sounds cute, I could be cute. Not right now though cause I'm bein' the authority around here." Alex pulled his head back, smiling even as he wiped at his nose. Listening, Alex furrowed his brow trying to make sure he had heard her correctly and when he was sure he did he was still confused.
"Huh?" It was the farthest thing from literate, but it was truly all he had after trying to absorb her words. Sometimes even he didn't get girls so well. "I'm used to it. I don't talk to a lot of people so usually my filter system is a little off so I've got to double check everything I think about saying and even then I mess up."
Rose
Rose couldn't help but smile at his still confused expression before nodding. "You've got everything right except for two. If you want, you could take your shorts off or I could just let you borrow my brother's that might be in the Burrow from last time he visited. And my ears are not virginal, the poor things. So do you've got everything now?"
Alex
Alex shook his head, "We're not done making art yet, so I'll manage. We've got all this paint and all this space to do something crazy. I'm thinking I'm just going to throw paint until it looks preety enough for me. Don't use all the yellow!"
Then he nodded, showing that he understood, "Dirty things aren't off limits with you. Which is really surprising. Mum would have a fit if she had heard me talking about my bits being everywhere when I'm with a pretty girl."
Rose
"Alright just tell me if you need anything and what if I use all the yellow? I'm pretty fond of this shade of yellow and might have to keep it for myself." She teased, picking up the yellow paint bottle. "Is it? I guess girls only talk about dirty things to one another so I guess that's why you would think so. Well I promise not to tell your mum about you talking about your bits."
Alex
"I'll be... very unhappy. Cause I like yellow. It's part of the spring color thing." he gestured with his hands to the space around them, as if it explained everything he meant with one motion.
"And are these labeled or will I have to just guess what color they might be from the outside colors?" He asked, eyeing some of the lighter colors. He paused a bit, realizing that he kind of liked girly colors. "We don't have to talk about dirty things, because my bits are very much clean."
Rose
"Well I like yellow to so I guess we'll just have to share." She shrugged before looking at the bottles to find the color label. "On the caps it says what color they are but I'm sure you can tell from the outside colors as well." A grin was brought to her lips and she looked up from the bottle and over to Alex. "Your bits are clean? I guess that's good to know."
Alex
"There better be more yellow then, cause I don't think I can share yellow." His eyes turned to her as serious as he could make his expression and threw her a pointed look. "Bah, the outside color is so dull in comparison to the real color. Like that orange. That nasty orange. Remind me of pumpkins and Halloween and ugly colors." Alex scrunched his nose up again, childishly glaring at the accusing color. He had a serious dislike for the color, the only thing in orange he liked was an orange itself. Alex brought his eyes to hers and grinned, "Course. What if something had happened and I lost my pants? I'd be safe knowing that my bits were clean. Precaution really."
Rose
"We might have a problem then because I think we used most of the yellow." Rose replied, looking around to find another bottle of yellow and let out a laugh at his tiny rant about the orange she previously dumped on him. "The orange isn't too awful and I like Halloween, thank you very much. And glaring at the color won't make it disappear, you know." At his grin, Rose's brows rose and she bit her lip to hold back another laugh. "How would you even lose your pants? Well besides the obvious that these are obviously a little big for you but I'm glad to know that your bits are nice and clean. Though don't lose your pants, that would be a bit awkward."
Alex
"Bloody hell, we're in trouble." he moaned dramatically. "orange is not that great, be honest and I'm not a fan of the scare factor involved with the holiday. Not my preference really. New years is nice. New beginnings and all that." Alex flushed at her words, realizing that he had spoken with little thought as to what he had been really saying.
"No pants losing. Got it. I just. I - uh. You never know. It's for every occasion, even just going to class. I mean you might get attacked in between classes and your pants would be lost or worse." Alex stopped trying to keep his metaphorical foot from his mouth.
Rose
"Oh no! Someone alert the Ministry, we've ran out of yellow!" Rose yelled, a mock-frightened look on her face before she broke character and laughed. "Okay it's not that great but that doesn't mean it's horrible and I can understand why you hate the scare factor of the holiday. New Years is definitely fun and I like Christmas because I get to spend it with all of my cousins." She nodded a couple times as he tried to explain himself before patting his shoulder. "I'll be sure to look out for thugs trying to steal pants then."
Alex
"Will do, I'll make sure that's the first thing dad does when he gets in. Gets me some more yellow paint," he commented casually. Silence passed over his for a moment longer as he realized that was the first joke about his father becoming the Minister that he had ever made. It was nice he supposed, but it made him uncomfortable afterwards. "There is a color that you don't like. Admit it. Which one. Tell me the color. No lying." he admonished. "I almost wish I had a big family myself," he mumbled easily. Imagine that, a whole pack of aunts and uncles and siblings and cousins. It must have some perks.
"Those folk are no joke. Got my pants magicked away in the Library once. If it wasn't for Mr. Nielson I would have looked like a right idiot for a long time."
Rose
"Great, we'll have a man working on the inside to aid our yellow paint needs." She laughed before noticing how he went silent. Note to self, don't make jokes about your friend's dad becoming the Minister Of Magic, it makes things a bit awkward. "Okay the color I hate is pink...I don't really like it. First off it looks weird with ginger hair and it's just so weird to me. I like light shades of red but I don't really like pink...I also don't wear a ton of white because it makes me look super pasty." Rose shrugged at his soft comment. "Having a big family can suck sometimes. It can feel like your drowning in a sea of people, like you're not even there." She gasped and rose her brows. "How could anyone do that to you? Such prats."
Alex
"I think I like the pasty look on you. I can almost see through you in the sunlight," he qipped, making a box with his fingers and laughing a bit. "Pink, is a color of spring. It's not that... okay so I'm lying. Pink is really not that great of a color, but it is light enough to be a favorite Spring color. It's like pastel, you know?"
Alex shrugged back, "I guess with a family your size I can see that. But I think I'd like that. Disappearing without a trace so easily. I'm just the type though." Chuckling and nodding at her reaction, "Oh no clue really. I was the little bookworm and they were the cool kids I suppose. They were older than me and it was three to one. I usually just took it when it came."
Rose
"Oh gee, that's original. Next you'll tell me how my hair looks like fire and how I should have an umbrella with me all the time so I don't burn." She stuck her tongue out at him as he laughed. "See I told you pink is not that great of a color! For spring colors I think I like a soft green or even a sky blue. But I suppose for a spring color, pink is alright." She looked over at Alex and shook her head. "You say you're the type to disappear but I've always seen you around. Maybe I was so wrapped up in my studies to say hello but you never really disappeared,Alex." At his laugh, her mouth dropped and she rubbed his arm to comfort him. "That's bloody awful. How can people be such prats sometimes, really? You should never have to deal with that, ever."
Alex
"I mean, sometimes, you just gotta face the facts. I might be able to see through you sometimes and you might need a umbrella sometimes. I'm glad there's paint on you, imagine what would have happened if we didn't put a buffer for all this direct sunlight. You'd burn to a crisp. You'd make a cute little lobster," he grinned, bending closer to her and pinching her cheek softly as he cooed. "I'm not into the pastel colors, but the shocking lighter colors I'm a fan of. Like aqua, and yellow." After smiling gently, he expression changed, to a sort of quiet interest in her words."Ravenclaw's notice me well enough usually. After six years of taking classes together, at some point there's no avoiding it. Some people I've been paired with can't even remember me from second year, but maybe it has more to do with the fact I was such a small scrawny thing." He chuckled again, almost like a reaction to the conversation, and put his free hand over hers giving it a soft squeeze. "I figured that out, early on. But I've got my dignity it tact. I've never done someone else's homework for them just because they thought they could push me around."
Rose
Rose's cheeks turned an even brighter shade of pink as he spoke, thanking god that the paint covered most of her face. And as he started to pinch her cheek she slapped his hand away with an embarrassed smile. "Hey it's not my fault I inherited the cursed Weasley genes. Plus you tan people are lucky you can go out in the sun easily." She nodded and looked up at their artwork appreciating all of the colors that either blended or clashed against each other. "You were pretty scrawny when you were little but then again, so was I. And surprisingly I was much shorter than I am now, which I can't believe is even possible." As he held her hand she looked up at him before nodding. "Well at least you still have your dignity and clean bits to be proud of. And good, don't ever do that and if someone pushes you around I'll be there to hex them into next week."
Alex
Alex chuckled, pulling his smacked hand away tenderly - pouting some as he did. "Don't be like that. Your genetic makeup is a combination of every little piece of what you consider you in the most amazing combination possible. Leaving you with this. Rose Weasley as we all know her. Be proud. I'm not saying I want to be turned into a lobster anytime soon, but you should be proud of your lobster-ness."
Alex glanced to the paint mess they had made, noting how each of their bodies seemed more like the canvases than the ones set up. "I'm proud that I still have it. Nah, don't give them the satisfaction. You're better than that Rose."
Rose
As he pouted, Rose lifted a hand to pinch his paint covered cheek before dropping her hand back to her side. "Amazing combination...sure. I look the same as most of my relatives which isn't really a bad thing I suppose. Either way, you're right, I'm Rose Weasley and this short little ginger mess is how I was meant to turn out. I'll be proud of my lobster-ness someday, but not today." She waved off his comment and folded her arms over her chest. "I'm not better than defending my friends. Sure I'm supposed to be smart and be a good Prefect, but I don't take bullying lightly. If people try and hurt my friends, they get it back ten times worse."
Alex
He cringed, groaning dramatically as her hand pinched his cheek. "You look like you, no one else. I'll be proud for you my little crustacean" he grinned a bit, feeling bits of paint as it dried on his skin. He picked at it some as he spoke again, "It'll give you a bad rep if you go around hexing people cause they've got no manners. I usually just leave it be. Prefects we've gotta set the standard or something right?"
He shrugged, pulling at his hair so the paint would stand on end. He wasn't sure if he ever had someone stand up for him. Once or twice a few kids did, but most people just left the bullying to it's own devices. It made him smile thinking that someone would go to his defense. A friend. A real one. Not one who wanted to be friends for the sake of their homework. It was weird. People had always tried to talk to him, cause he was so quiet but to be friends with someone was different. Better, he decided.
Rose
She laughed at his groan and stuck her tongue out at him. "Oh please, people used to confuse me, Molly, and Lils for the longest time. Thank Merlin for puberty. Please tell me that's not your new nickname for me though. I'd hate hearing that all the time." She whined, looking up at Alex. "No it won't, I'll be a super hero or something and everyone will thank me for it. But since you asked so nicely, I won't go around hexing people...but pranks, that I'll do. People should not get away with being jerks, it's ridiculous." Rose would really protect anyone from being bullied and she wished that she was able to protect Alex from it earlier. But now that she was here, Rose would make sure no one would hurt her new friend and she was just as sure he would do the same for her.
Alex
"Little lovely Lobster. I think it's catchy really. Or maybe triple L?" he offered with a smile.
"No superheros. We don't know how people would react to you trying to be the superhero. We could call you the Lobster. It's good. We could sew a lobster on your cape." Alex popped his eyebrows, grinning widely at the idea. "People are jerks, but stooping to their level isn't worth it."
Rose
"Oh Merlin that sounds like can awful name. I'll have to make one for you soon." She smiled back before shaking her head. "I'd be a very cute superhero, but one that can kick ass as well. Which is why the Lobster might not work for me. It will be worth it to me because I don't want any of my friends to be bullied, ever. Though I'll restrain myself because you're so adamant about it."
Alex
"Don't be dishonest. Honesty is the only way to form connections with people. If you're over here lying to yourself about your superhero name, how can you be true to your alter ego?" He wagged his finger playfully. "We could call you a bunny. Bunnies are cute." He shrugged, picking at some paint that had started to dry on her neck.
"I dunno. I'm the big, broad chested one around here. Shouldn't I be protecting you? Or is everything my mom taught me about being a gentleman completely irrelevant because you're independent and need no one but yourself?
Rose
"I'm being honest! I fully believe that my spirit animal is not a lobster but a bunny sounds pretty nice. Though I want to be something cool and strong, like a tiger or a hawk." She laughed, letting Alex chip some of the paint off her neck as she did the same with his collarbone. "Hm...you can protect me if you feel like it's necessary, Alex. But if someone tries to hurt you, then I'll protect you..well I'd protect you at any point that you need it. Be a gentleman though, we're lacking a bunch of those in the world today."
Alex
"I sense a disturbance in my honesty detector. It tells me that you speak lies. You've be attacked by the tickle monster or something if you don't stop my little lovely lobster." Alex shimmied a bit before shaking his head at her. "Tiger. Pft. As if, you're like a tree. You have bark but no bite." Attempting to get a large clump off her, he frowned as some of the wetter paint ruined his attempt.
"I've met a whole lot of skirts that would rather I bloody go to hell than to be courteous to them. So I can see why there's none left. It's an uphill battle with some. I'll have to stay away from Diagon to fix my ruined pride I think."
Rose
"I'm not being dishonest though!" She laughed as he shimmied close to her, placing a hand at his chest to keep a distance. "Aw don't be mean to me now, Alex. You're just saying that because you haven't seen my bite yet but I doubt it will be directed towards you. You're too nice to be on the other end of my mean side." She was able to remove most of the paint across his collarbone but then moved to take some off of his cheek. "You've met some skirts that annoyed you? Not really a surprise, some girls can be very annoying. But then you met me and the clouds parted to let the sun shine through."
Alex
He dropped his jaw a bit, clasping her hand to his chest,"You feel that?" He paused as if to let her listen. "That's the sound of my beating heart saying that you should be a lobster." His shoulders fell some and he nodded, smiling softly, "Yeah I suppose so. I got lucky with you."
Not realizing that his implications could be taken the wrong way until after he had spoken, Alex fumbled over himself again. Blushing brightly as his eyes dropped from her and he nodded to her question. "I'm not used to so many skirts noticing me, but some of them are a bit too much."
Rose
Rose let him place her hand on his chest and she tried to listen to what he was talking about. But once he spoke again, Rose laughed and slapped his chest; shaking her head with a soft smile. "You're ridiculous, Alex. Maybe I'll dress up as a cute little lobster for Halloween this year." At his next words, Rose's smile widened and she wrapped her arms around his waist, giving him a small hug. "I guess you did. Maybe they think that you're pretty cute and want a good snog. You should talk to them and maybe get to know some of them like you did with me."
Alex
Rubbing where she had hit him, Alex started to smile before realizing what she said, "'m not a fan of Halloween much. You could dress up. I'll be me for Halloween."
At the feel of her arms wrapping around him, his flush spread growing as he returned to gesture quietly. "Maybe some did, but I'm not a fan of the snogging and then never talking to someone again bit. Really not my alley. It's been one day. I've still got so many things to learn about you. I'm a one girl at a time kind of guy hun."
Rose
"I know but maybe you can be yourself who has a cool little lobster friend." Rose laughed and as he wrapped his arms around her, she gave him a small squeeze and her smile grew slightly. "You mum really did teach you how to treat women and you should definitely stick with those morals. I have a lot more to learn about you as well. Hun? Another cute nickname in one day. First lovely lobster and now hun, I feel loved."
Alex
Alex smiled, slowly at first then it switched to an all out grin at the thought, "Does that mean you're going to accept my lobster idea? I'm touched. Really. You've accepted yourself."
Grins at the squeeze, "I like to think so. Dad was the shining example of gentleman with her even after they got married. It's where my sister and I both learned about how how to treat others and be treated. I'm bound to meet people I don;t get along with. I'll probably just avoid them at all costs." Alex raised a hand to her hair, playing with it sheepishly. She seemed to take it well, the fact that he had called such an endearing term so easily.
Rose
Rose let out a dramatic sigh before nodding with a grin of her own. "Yes, Alex, I've accepted myself as Queen of the Lobsters and will never deny it again. So thank you for helping me find myself." As he explained how his dad was with his mom and she couldn't help but let out a soft 'aw.' "Well don't worry about that because I'll be sure to keep you from the crazy birds that want to snog you. Think of me as your little lobster bodyguard." As he played with her hair, she looked up at him with a smile before giving him a tiny playful poke to his side.
Alex
He raised a fist up in satisfaction, he had won. Clearly, he had won. "You've even promoted yourself to being a Queen? You're so good at this stuff. I'm glad I could be of service my fair lady." Alex dropped down into low bow. He offered up a shrug and small smile, his parents were a little too cute some times, even he thought so.
"I'll be your bodyguard. You can't be mine if my body is bigger than yours. They don't just mean a figurative body they mean it literally too." Alexander pulled away, shaking his head fervently. "No. No. We don't do that here."
Rose
Once his fist raised, Rose couldn't help but laugh and smile up at the taller male. "Yes I have, because I think I would be a good ruler for my people. And thank you, sir, I am honored to have you at my service." Rose then matched his bow with a curtsy before folding her arms over her chest with a pout. "Why can't I be your bodyguard? I'm a tough little cookie and you know it too. Though I suppose you can be my body guard if you really want to." When he pulled away, Rose's brows raised and she moved to poke him again. "Come on, Alex. Don't tell me your ticklish because then I might have to attack you."
Alex
"I have faith that you will rule with not jsut an iron fist but with great justice to your lobster people. I will collect a family together for you. They will worship you." Alex waved his hand out, gesturing to her tiny frame.
"Because you are tiny. Indescribably tiny in comparison to me. I could eat you in one bite. One delicious lobster bite," he claimed his eyes widened with a grin. Alex cringed away again, "We don't plan those kinds of games. People get hurt. I might lash out violently to being tickled. And the answer is yes, if you must know."
Rose
"Of course, I am a strong but also a kind ruler and will take care of my lobster loves. You will? That's incredibly sweet of you." She laughed before putting on a pout. "Well maybe you're just freakishly tall and that's the problem at hand. Though that may be true I suggest you shrink so I can protect you properly." Once he moved away again Rose laughed and moved to poke his sides again. "You wouldn't hurt me, would you? I'm too nice to you. Besides I want to see how you react to being tickled."
Alex
"I can't just leave the queen I created without some help with her kingdom. You will rule over the lobsters in all the oceans. It will be a mass kingdom and I will try not to eat your family. At least I'll never drown that way." Alex looked down to his feet, tugging at his shorts once more. "I am... a little tall for my age. I know, but I'm an early bloomer. I shot up and then slowed down a lot."
Alex shook his head, backing away from her slowly, "I don't want to hurt you Rose. You don;t have to do this. I swear you do not. We could live together in peace and harmony and in all things good and pretty like we are, cause we're covered in paint you know? It'll be the best thing that ever happened to anyone's life and everyone will be jealous of us. So if we could just drop the tickle idea, we could do that instead."
Rose
"Maybe you can rule by my side or you can just help me rule somehow because you're the one who was able to bring me into nobility." She smiled and watched as he had to pull up his shorts around his slim waist once again. "You better stay this height because I don't think I can manage it if you get any taller. I have to look up even now just to look at that face of yours." As he backed up from her she laughed and came closer to him, wiggling her fingers at him. "But I want to tickle you, Alex. Just once...don't you run from me because I'll go and catch you. I'm totally faster than you and you know it."
Alex
"Now, I like the idea, but could you imagine me as a ruler? I'd be dreadful. I'll just sit around looking pretty for you in the clothing set of your choice."
Alex glanced down to his legs and shrugged, "I might have sort of... kind of.. not stopped growing. I'm sure I will, but it looks like I'll be getting bigger than just this." Shaking his head faster, he groaned softly and turned, trying to make a dash for it. "Doesn't mean I won't try!"
Rose
"I can imagine you as a kind king that will take care of his little lobster subjects. But if you want to be pretty next to me then that's nice too. I'll be sure to make you as pretty as can be." She smiled before shrugging. "Well don't get too much taller, yeah? I already have to jump just to barely reach your height." Once he ran from her, Rose chased after him and tried her best just to tackle him onto the ground. "Alexander, get your butt right back over here before I tackle you to the ground." When she got closer to him, Rose wrapped her arms around his waist and tried to take him down to the ground.
Alex
"I can do both I suppose. What will we do when they ask for lobster babies?" Both of his eyebrows rose, an odd smirk pulling at his lips. Hopefully the comment wasn't crossing any lines. "You'll have to be sitting on your broom to make eye contact with me at some point."
Cringing as he heard her nearing, he huffed trying to outrun her only to feel two arm wrap around him. Not wanting to hurt her in an attempt to run, he stopped abruptly, crashing into the ground with an 'oof'. With any luck she'd be unharmed and he'd have taken the brunt of the fall.
Rose
"Hm...I don't know. I guess we'll have to cross that bridge once we reach it." She smirked back, her hands linking in front of her playfully. "Merlin that would be embarrassing. Maybe I can get some really high shoes and just use that to reach your height." Rose hit the ground slightly with a thud, but most of her just landed on top of Alex. "Looking down at him she laughed and poked his nose. "Told you, I'd catch you. You can't out run me, Alex, just face it."
Alex
His features spread from a smirk to a grin, she didn't even seemed fazed by it. "let's hope it comes up sooner rather than later then." He threw her an uncharacteristic wink before shrugging.
The teen shifted, trying to shift it so he wasn't eating too much dirt. He reached a hand out behind him, trying to grab her. "Don't do this Rose. You don't have to do this."
Rose
At his wink, Rose couldn't help but nudge him slightly with her hips. "Let's hope for that then." His hands tried to grab at her and Rose tried her best to keep herself out of his reach. "I don't have to, but I want to." With that she moved her hands to his sides and began to tickle him, hoping he would giggle and squirm beneath her.
Alex
Alex squirmed desperately, her hands roaming along his sides with enough pressure to make him feel the tickle. He bit his lip, trying to keep the laughter from escaping him, but it was too much. He couldn't reach her and she wasn't stopping. He put his forearms in front of him just as the laughter exploded from him.
It was a loud boisterous laugh, that caused his shoulders to shake and his control to disappear. He tried to lift his body from the ground, but the tickling was too much. "I can't you'll kill me Rose!"
Rose
Rose couldn't help but laugh as he burst out in laughter while her fingers danced along his sides. "I won't kill you, Alex." She quipped before letting her fingers tickle him some more. "I'll stop but you're got to have to ask very nicely. And then you'll have to owe me one favor or I'll continue to tickle you until tomorrow morning."
Alex
"I can feel it! I'm dying from the inside out!"
He yelled out in between his laughter. He squirmed underneath her, shaking his head and flopping in an attempt to get her off. His feet were kicking at the ground, as though he was throwing a tantrum. He grunted, taking a deep breathing and pushing himself to his knees and hands with a final effort. He was hoping to surprise her long enough to gain the upper hand.
Rose
"Stop being such a baby!" Rose chastised as she continued her tickling, that is before Alex was able to lift himself off the ground and send Rose tumbling off of him. Looking over to him, she tried to crawl her away from Alex in fear that he was going to get revenge on her but she knew now that Alex now had the upper hand.
Alex
Alex heaved long breaths in and out and snapped his eyes to her form as she tried to crawl away. "Stop being such a baby," he mocked as he scrambled for her. He would get his revenge and it would be as sweet as sugar when he finally did. He chuckled a bit darkly, as he grabbed for her.
Rose
As he grabbed for her, Rose tried to move away but he quickly grabbed hold of her ankle. "I'm not being a baby, I'm being rational for crawling away from you." She protested, trying to wiggle away from his grasp as best as she could. "Show mercy on me, Alex."
Alex
The male pulled a bit, closing the gap as quickly as he could as he returned the favor, his hands wiggling along her frame until he saw her crack. "Rational thought would have been to never pursue the endeavour. I dunno, will you ask very nicely?" He grinned widely, hovering close to her so that if she tried to push at him or worse, his weight would act against the effort.
Rose
His hands began to move on her small frame and Rose broke out into a string of giggles, squirming beneath him to try and get him to stop. "Don't try and be logical with me right now. I'll ask very nicely I promise." She nodded, looking up at him with a pout before giving him the best doe-eyes possible. "Please don't torture me with tickles, Alex. You're too sweet for that and I don't think I can handle it."
Alex
He bit down on his lip in an attempt to hide his victorious grin from her. His fingers trailing furiously as she spoke, clearly he wasn't doing a good enough job if she was able to talk. Surprised, Alex leaned away to hear her words and he shook his eyes, "I know that look. My sister gives me that look when she's in trouble. Swear on a truce. I mean swear on your name or you'll be stuck here giggling until you cry."
Rose
"A truce? I didn't do anything wrong but bring that wonderful laugh of yours out. If anything I did you some good." Rose was able to get out between squirming and laughs that he caused by tickling her sides. "Alexander, I thought you were a gentleman too." She broke off into a laugh before continuing. "You have poor girl pinned under you and you're tickling her like mad. Shame on you." Rose teased lightly, trying to push his hands away from her sides.
Alex
"You could have just told me a lame joke. I'm into lame jokes!" he claimed proudly. Pausing at his work with a furrowed brow, "You've never heard me laugh?" He supposed he didn't with a raised eyebrow. He returned to tickling her and shook his head, "Don't pull the gentleman card out on me now. I could have you pinned down for reasons much worse." He would give in soon, it wasn't like him to him to decline a girl who was pleading with him, if that's what you could call her words. He was beginning to think that he was much too nice.
Rose
"You do seem like the type to be into lame jokes. Well I've heard you laugh, but this time it was just so loud and funny." She smiled up at him before squirming once more as he began to tickle her again. "Very true, but you still have me pinned down which is not what a gentleman would do. Besides I think I could lift you off of me if I really tried. But I would rather you roll off and then proclaim how sorry you are for tickling such a helpless little ginger." Rose smirked up at him.
Alex
"Funny? My laugh is not funny. You're making fun of me. I do not appreciate that, I will keep you here. Tickling away." He poked her sides as if to prove his point. "I can't always be a gentleman. It clashes with being fun. Oh? Let me just collapse on top of you and you can try and pick me off. I'm anything but sorry. You started this. I refuse to go without revenge, especially when we talked about this." Alex shifted his hands away to hold himself up, even just comparing his hands to her head, his body seemed to be so much larger than hers.
Rose
"Well maybe not funny...more loud and amusing because you really aren't the loud type. I'm not making fun of you, really, just calling you humorous. Besides you wouldn't dare torture me any longer because you're too nice." She shrugged before he poked at her sides once more. "But you're always a gentleman. When we ran into the canvas you checked to see if I was alright and you can try but you might crush me. Don't be silly, I did nothing wrong and you're just being ridiculous." Rose shook her head, and realized that if he really did collapse on top of her she'd definitely be crushed by the weight of him. He was significantly taller and larger than she was, but not really in a bad way.
Alex
"That sounds oddly synonymous with funny in a derogatory way." Alex made a face, scrunching up his nose and letting his shoulders and head sag down. "You have no proof of any of that. I can be mean, you'd be surprised." With a defeated sigh, Alex pushed himself away from her, sitting back before standing. He tugged at his shorts, miffed that he had let her win. He put a large hand out for her to take, covered in colors and dirt now.
" 'Yes, Alex I agree to a truce!' " he mimcked her poorly before answering in his own voice. "Wow, that'd be Ace Rose. We could wipe the dirt off our butts and take those picture you wanted and then we could clean off with a hose or something. What a great idea."
Rose
"Nope, you're just imagining that." Rose replied before smiling at his scrunched up nose until he spoke again and her brows raised. "Okay, you could be mean if you wanted to. But would you ever be mean to little ol' me?" Once he got off of her, Rose looked up at him with a winning smirk on her face and took his hand so she can help herself up. "Alright, alright we'll go get cleaned off and maybe after we can go get some ice cream for a quick snack. And my voice does not sound like that by the way."
Alex
"Don't lie to me, we talked about honesty." he added with a raised brow. "You'd be among the first to get it if I ever turned evil. I'd remember this little mishap with the wiggling fingers and my ticklish body." Alexander chuckled and shook his head," I like how you add that at the end like that part of the conversation was important enough to say something about it. It was an idea, unless there is a nearby water source to throw you into. Bribing me with sweets? We could skip the getting clean and just go get them in that case."
Rose
"Why would I ever lie to you, Alex? Oh it wasn't that bad and you know it. You're such a baby sometimes, I swear. " She laughed before throwing her arms up. "Of course that was important to mention, you made me sound ridiculous. I do not sound like that...ever. We can always use the hose or just have my gran spray us down with a quick aguamenti. But if you really want sweets we can go and grab some."
Alex
"Cause all you seem to do is lie to me. You enjoy it clearly. I'm not a baby. I'm just selective about the fact you tickled me when I clearly said that we didn't have to and you did." He shook his chead, chuckling a at her expression. "You so do. Excuse me for not having a more feminine voice for you." Turning to look at the large house, Alex wondered if she had been watching any of that. At the idea he flushed deeply, poor old woman saw him on top of her granddaughter. "Uh, you pick."
Rose
"I've lied to you once but that was only because I was ashamed of my true lobster self. But it was so funny to tickle you besides I think you have a nice laugh so it wasn't that awful." She then pursed her lips and slapped his shoulder. "I do not sound ridiculous, if anything that's you. Well you should work on your feminine voice just for me." Pausing in thought, Rose wondered which idea would be better. "Let's go have my gran hose us down and then we can get a treat. Sound good?"
Alex
: "I remember that, seems like so far away cause of that tickle fight." Alex sighed softly, as if recalling a far off dream, before muttering an 'ouch' as she slapped him. The teen shuffled away from her, nursing the paint covered shoulder. "Excuse me if I'm not good enough at imitating women and therefore you have to abuse me. I pity the one who marries you. You're so abusive already." Blue eyes glanced to the window that he had exited from, " Is she going to laugh or something?"
Rose
"You act as if it had happened years ago." Rose laughed as he shuffled away from her, shaking her head in amusement. "I told you that you have to work on it and I abuse you because you said I sounded ridiculous. Besides I doubt that I hit you that hard. I pity the man too, he'd be married to a scary little lobster for his entire laugh." Rose shrugged and grabbed his hand to pull him along. "Probably but I doubt she would mean it to be hurtful, she's a funny woman. Now come on. Let's get cleaned up."
Alex
"My body wishes it was," he retorted quickly. "I never said that! You put those words in my mouth because I can't replicate your voice. So maybe you should stop beating people up. You're being mean to me." Alex shook his head, "Poor guy. Won't know what hit him until it's too late." Cringing as she pulled him along, "I dunno. I'm a bit afraid..."
Rose
"Oh please you know that it wasn't that bad. You act as if I tortured you." Rose scoffed and looked over to him before rubbing where she hit him. "I'm sorry I was being so mean to you, Alex. You know that I don't mean to hurt you...I'm just playing around." She sighed and shrugged. "Well he should know what he's getting into once he starts dating me." She continued to pull him along and rolled her eyes. "You're fine, now let's get you all cleaned up, yeah?"
Alex
"It certainly felt like torture. Tickled to death, you could do that. I'll be in the newspaper and my mom will be none too happy with you." Alex chuckled and smiled a bit as she rubbed his shoulder gently. "I know. I am too. I come in peace and all that, but you never know I could be a wimp and all that tousling would have made me cried. What if I was sensitive?" Rose tugged and he followed with a little cringe. "Too right you are. I guess so. Will I get cookies if I remember to clean behind my ears?"
Rose
"Alright, I promise not to tickle you for a long time so you can recover from that traumatic event. And you won't die, just mentally scarred which I don't think will be too awful." She teased and let her hand drop back to her side. "You're definitely not a wimp, no matter how nice you are. You were able to take on the super strong and power Rose Weasley which no wimp could do. I will never make you cry, I promise, so don't even worry about it." With a nod she pulled him to the backdoor and opened it. "You'll get a bunch of cookies if you do that." Rose smiled.
Alex
"Mental scarring is worse than physical scarring. Physical scars go away over time, mental scars last an entire lifetime. It's dangerous. I refused to be subjected to something so life changing." Alex smiled a bit, "I'm going to be a wimp. That way people think they can beat me up, but in truth they could beat me up. They'll never believe it. They'll think I'm too big to get beat up." His hand shot out to hold the door open for her as they walked inside. His eyes roamed again, interested in everything in the home. "Sounds seriously promising."
Rose
"Then would you rather me tickle you again and you receive those physical scars you were so worried about? I could slap your shoulder if you'd like." Rose asked before shrugging. "I don't want anyone to beat you up though and if you fought back then you wouldn't have to worry about it. If someone ever hits you, you hit them right back and show them that they can't lay a finger on you. I'm against violence but you need to prove yourself." When they entered the home, Rose looked back at him with a smile. "Glad you think so."
Alex
"Yeah, beat me up... I like that stuff. You figured me out." Alex wiggled his eyebrows playfully before giving her a small shrug. "I'm not into fighting, but if it ever got out of hand I'd probably do just that. Hit them back as much as I can before I went down." He tried to picture him fighting someone and the idea seemed impossible to imagine. He doubt he even would hit hard, or maybe he would? He made a fist, glancing down to curiously. Snapping his gaze back to her, he let a smile pull at the side of his lips, looking around for the elderly woman Rose called her grandmother.
Rose
"Really? I'll get started ASAP." Rose laughed as his wiggled his eyebrows and nudged him with her hip lightly. "I doubt you'd go down though, you're a huge dude. I bet you can take someone out with just one hit. Just...don't do it unless it's necessary." Out of the corner of her eye, Rose saw him make a fist and made one of her own, placing it right next to his. She looked around and found that her grandmother must have left the house for a bit. "Well I suppose we'll just have to do this the Muggle way since my Gran is out right now." She then moved towards the sink and grabbed a clean rag before wetting it and covering it in soap. "Come here you and let me clean you up."
Alex
"Oh, yeah. You get me goin' ," he said in dead a voice. Alex crinkled his nose, unsure if he liked that idea, taking someone out in one hit. Though he figured it was pretty empowering. Alex smiled seeing her put her own fist next to his, it really was such a small thing. If he didn't know any better, he'd think she was some fragile thing to take care of. "We just cleaning up enough so that we can eat?" he asked as he walked to her genuinely curious.
Rose
Rose bit her lip to try and hold back a laugh but she couldn't do it. For a few moment she laughed before wiping her eyes and looked back to Alex. His fist was gigantic compared to her own. Her hand was small and looked so dainty compared to his own, even after rough quidditch training over the years. She knew that he had it in him to take someone down and cause serious damage, but he wasn't like that. Alex was more understanding and logical than most to just hop into a fight, he was different. "I'm cleaning up just your skin for right now since the paint and dirt are dried to your clothes. We'll fix those after we eat." She explained before bringing the rag to his cheek and began to wipe the paint off.
Alex
Alex smiled as she laughed, he was sure his sense of humor wasn't the greatest, but she hadn't minded the entirety of them hanging out. Or maybe he underestimated his sense of humor. "Oh in that case, I'm ready." Alex stood with his arms and legs spread out jokingly waiting for her to clean him. After a moment he dropped his limbs and leaned agaisnt the counter as she explained. "Sounds good," he said as he moved away from the counter just as quickly as he leaned aganist it. He reached a hand towards the one wiping at his cheek, "Here. Lemme help."
Rose
At his little pose she pushed him lightly on the chest and shook her head. For the shyest boy in school when he opens up he sure is a goofball. When he reached a hand out as she was wiping his cheek, Rose pushed it away before dropping the rag on the counter and pulled out another one for him. She wet it and covered it in soap before placing it in his hand. "Now two of us could we working instead of one." She nodded with a smile before continuing to clean his face as she was before. "If this starts to itch or something just tell me and I'll ease up a bit on the scrubbing."
Alex
Another round of chuckles escaped him as she pushed him and he grinned at how well she seemed to handle his foolishness. Surprised by her reaction, both his eyebrows shot up only for her to put another another rag in his hands as a means to make the process faster. His shoulders slumped and he let out another chuckle, "Alright, you sure you don't want me to sit down? Straining your neck might get bothersome at some point." Alex reached a hand out, pausing - unsure if he should just wipe her face or hold it as he wiped.
Rose
"My neck can hand this just fine, sir." She smiled up at him as she rubbed paint off of his nose before watching him hold his hand out once more. "You do know how to wipe a face, yeah?" Putting her rag down once more she took his hand with her own and showed him how he should wipe the paint off, rubbing in small circles on her cheek. "Don't wipe too hard though, just enough to get the paint off." Rose nodded and picked her rag back up to continue wiping her face free of any paint.
Alex
Alex smiled,"I just wanted to offer, cause I know it's tough being so vertically challenged all the time." At her instruction, the teen flushed embarrassed by her words, "I do. I just didn't want to man handled your face. This is the I'm being nice thing." Continuing with her suggestion, Alex wiped at her cheek in circles, making sure not to press to hard as he did. It was quiet for a few moments, his tongue starting to poke out from between his lips as he concentrated. His eyes roamed to hers, his tongue returning to the inside of his mouth as he blushed some.
Rose
Rose's smile widened, "Thank you for being so understanding. But as you know I'm a big girl and can handle myself." As his cheeks colored, Rose couldn't help but smirk up at him slightly. "Oh right, sorry. I almost forgot how you're Hogwart's sweetheart." For while, Rose concentrated on wiping the paint off of his face and by the time it was almost clear she locked eyes with Alex, his tongue poking out as he had the most concentrated expression on. "I can see you're taking your job very seriously." She teased before mimicking him and poked her tongue out between her lips as she moved to rub the paint off of his neck.
Alex
"See, that!" he pointed to her momentarily with cloth in hand. "That right there is why no one lets me do my gentleman thing. They say that to me and it's just like... what am I supposed to say other than okay and stop." Alex shook his head, recalling some of the girls he had met while traveling with his dad for the campaign. Having finally finished with her one cheek, he switched the rag to her other hand, flipping it as she went. "I do n-" he words trailed off as he watched her mimick him, her tongue sticking out as she cleaned. "Not everyone has the perfect eyebrow furrow concept that you do. I'm a little different. I don't even realize I'm doing it until too late."
Rose
"But you're still a gentleman to me either way. Like when we entered the house you opened the door for me and now you're cleaning the paint off of my face." Rose smiled up at him before continuing to wipe the paint off his skin. As he noticed her copying her previous actions, Rose grinned before furrowing her brow. "I don't have a perfect eyebrow furrow as you so suggest. They just...furrow. And I thought it was cute, don't beat yourself up over it, Alex."
Alex
Offering up a shrug, he explained, "Well just because some girl's don't want me to be gentleman, doesn't mean I won't try to be. I like to give people a chance before I want to bash their face into a wall." He smiled, picking absently at a splotch of paint that wouldn't rub off. "I don't beat myself up about my concentration face, but excuse me if it's not normal and filled with my brow furrowing." Alex folded the cloth, finding a new clean section to try and clean the paint from her chin.
Rose
Rose let out a laugh before scrubbing the paint off behind and on his ears. "You should always be a gentleman. Girls usually say they don't like that and want to be independent but they secretly love being treated like a queen." She then shrugged and moved the rag behind his neck to wipe off the paint. "I like your concentration face. It's like your one of those cheesy painters that are so concentrated on making a masterpiece, y'know?"
Alex
"I always try to be, but some girls really do get uppity about it. Yes, I know you can open doors on your own, is it so hard to believe that I'm not undermining your independence by wanting to do something nice?" Alex smiled at her words - treating a girl like a Queen. It had a nice appeal to it in his head, but he supposed it was because it reminded him of his parents. He gave a small shake of his head as he realized he was a lot more like his little sister than he let on. She opened searched for that someone who would treat her like a Queen, he supposed his search was more of a subtle one. "I don't make masterpieces Rose. I am a masterpiece." He turned his eyes to look at her, a serious expression on his face.
Rose
"That is very true but I think if you keep at it, you'll find a girl who appreciates for gentlemanly ways. Which won't be too hard because gentlemen are a dying breed these days." Rose explained, frowning at some of the boys that went to Hogwarts. Sure their age considered them men but their actions condemned them to be boys. Did Rose want to be treated like a Queen? She wasn't exactly sure but what she did know was that she wanted to be treated as an equal. At what Alex spoke next, she held back a laugh and nodded. "Yes you definitely are. Just look at those cheek bones and those eyes. You're like a modern-day Adonis."
Alex
The Phoenix gave a shrug, "I'm not too worried about finding a girl. I don't need someone else to keep me happy, but if I do get someone later on?" He shrugged to answer himself. If it happened it did, he had gone six years with little to no interactions with girls, with but one exception. She'd come around, whoever she was. They'd find each other in the sea of people."What? No. I didn't mean like that. I meant with the paint. Hardly anything of the sort. I don't have a perfectly perfect set of muscles lining every inch of my body."
Rose
Rose smiled and patting his arm with her free hand. "You don't need to be worried about finding a girl, same with me finding a boy. We're both young and we have plenty of time for all of that. But if you do find a girl, I'm going to be the one to plan the entire wedding." She opened her mouth then closed it, thinking of how she would respond until he finished his last sentence. "Really? Hm....I don't exactly believe you, Alexander." Rose teased before playfully tugging at his shirt. "Let's so those muscles that you've been hiding from all of Hogwarts." She was only teasing, imagine what her grandmother would think if she found Rose holding a rag to a shirtless painted boy in the kitchen.
Alex
"Isn't the bride supposed to plan the wedding?" he asked with a wink, his lips spreading into a grin. "Wha-?" Alexander's eyes widedned suddenly, and his hands snapped to hold his shirt down, a deep blush spreading across his cheeks. "No. No muscles here. Trust me. It's like a piece of paper under there. White and flat." Sometimes he wondered how things would be if he had been more social with his classmates, like right now. Would he have been the type to rip his shirt off for her rather than be embarrassed at the idea of her seeming him shirtless? He brushed at the bottom of his paint covered shirt, pulling at his falling shorts as he avoided her eyes and fiddled with the cloth in his hands.
Rose
"Hm.. in most cases." She grinned at his wink before shrugging. "But then again there are such things as wedding planners." When his hands moved to hold down his shirt, Rose kept fighting against him with a laugh. "That might be even more interesting. I've never seen a piece of paper-like boy before." She teased before letting her hands drop to her sides, watching him fumble with his pants and shirt. "Aw come on, Alex you know I wasn't going to rip your shirt off right then and there. I'd only do it if you were comfortable with me." Rose grinned at him, wiping a spot of paint that she missed off of his jaw.
Alex
"It's more of a blinding type of thing, i assure you. You might not see right for a few days afterwards," he commented quickly, flushing as she spoke. "I- I know. 'm just not used to be half naked around girls. S'not just you. I don't think that's something I'll be comfortable with until I'm either much fitter, much older or I've known you for sixteen years." He still wasn't even fond of undressing in the same room as his family let alone his dorm mates. It was uncomfortable and much too exposing in his opinion. Pants he didn't mind so much, but the idea of being shirtless bothered him.
Rose
"That's alright, I think I can manage the blinding sight of your body. I mean, I do have a family filled with pasty gingers so it's nothing new." She shrugged before smiling softly at his blush. "Oh come on you're pretty fit, Alex. But I won't ask you to remove any clothing until you do feel comfortable...except if it's a life or death situation and you have a wound." Rose added before moving the rag to now remove the paint on his arms and hands, almost having him clean.
Alex
"You... you lot are see through. I can tan and therefore I am white as the clouds on a sunny day." Alex pulled at the collar of his shirt glancing down it before turning his gaze to her and shaking his head. " 'm lean, but not fit. I'd rather you just let me bleed out if that was the case cause if not, I'd die of embarrassment anyways." Realizing that Rose had cleaned much more of him that he had of her, he set back to work. Trying and failing to keep his cheeks from staying a tint of red as he worked.
Rose
"Oi watch the words on the gingers. Sure we're pale with freckles but we are damn good looking." She replied with a grin despite her best to act offended. As he glanced down his shirt, Rose stood on her toes to do the same before dropping down in case he noticed. "Nope I'd save you despite how embarrassed you would be of your body." As Rose moved onto his next arm, she heard the front door open and saw her grandmother come in and wave to them both before shaking her head. "Looks like you two made quite a mess, no matter." With a wave of her wand she cleaned both of them from head to toe.
Alex
"I never said you weren't, I said that you're so pale we see through you," he clarified with a low chuckle. He shook his head at her words, "I'd have a preference for being dead at that point. If I woke up, at least make sure I'm not shirtless when it happens and when I ask you about it, lie. Lie through your teeth. Lie to me like a rug lies on a floor Rose." Alex snapped his attention to the woman who had greeted him before, another flood of color rushing into his cheeks at her comment. He looked down to his hands and turned to Rose, "That handles that I suppose."
Rose
"I'm not that pale..." Rose pouted up at Alexander, giving him the saddest puppy-dog eyes at his chuckle. "I don't want to lie about it though. When you wake up I'll tell you exactly what happens and how I saw you shirtless. It would be kind of funny to see your reaction to all of that. I'm sure that you won't die on the spot if I tell you the truth." Rose smiled from her grandmother and over to Alexander before shrugging. "I guess we can go eat then."
Alex
"We've discussed this. If you stay out in the sun, you'll turn into a lobster. I will get darker, you will not. You are pale. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this Rose, but... it can't be fixed." Alex placed a large hand on her shoulder, speaking with a seemingly earnest expression while trying to hold back his chuckling. "I'm asking you to lie. Begging for you to lie to me. Cause I'll cringe and hide away and wish I could die of embarrassment cause you saw my utterly white torso." He gave a small nod, quieter now that the elder woman had appeared. "You lead the way."
Rose
"Alright, alright I'll embrace my lobsterness. I am the queen of lobsters and I will rule over the sea with my pasty ginger skin." She proclaimed proudly. "I'll lie at the beginning but after you 'get more fit' I'll tell you that I saw your white torso. Is that good enough?" Rose teased before nodding, taking his arm and leading him to the door once again, waving goodbye to her grandmother, as they were off to enjoy some ice cream together.
Alex
"Brilliant. I'll be sure to dress my finest when I visit the kingdom." He smiled easily and let his shoulders sag at her words. One of his hands going to rub his torso self-consciously. "Alright. I suppose so. I'll get started on the being more fit thing now so that I never have to worry about it. I'll work to be on the Quidditch team next year or something. That might motivate me to get into the realm of sexy." Alex let her pull him along, waving as an after thought to the elderly woman as the shorter girl lead him to the delights of ice cream.