(no subject)

[alsoagreengrass]

Two days ago, Scorpius had informed his grandparents that he'd finally stopped procrastinating and finished work on the cottage. He never asked them for ownership of it, though the thought had crossed his mind.

Not that he would have had to ask, anyway.

Because, though the winter hols are not for a few more months at home, Scorpius has been receiving gifts there too. With the fast approach of his return to Hogwarts, his family has presented him with three gifts: A silver pocket watch with the Malfoy crest etched on the back, a key to his vault at Gringotts, and a key to the cottage too.

He knows his parents were likely hoping for a better reaction than his excusing himself from their afternoon tea and all but running from the room, leaving the gifts and them behind for a moment to think.

He's an idiot, he knows, for leaving like that, but he's suddenly so confused. About what he had thought he had wanted and how he actually feels.

He's half-hiding in a booth now, with a new hat on his head and a new book in his lap. He traces the embossed letters of the book's title, lost in thought.

Comments

[honourbyname]

"Do you like it?" Albus asks, pausing at Scorpius' booth.

(He'd been, admittedly, hoping to see his boyfriend here today - and as it is, he's very glad to see him.)

"The book."

[alsoagreengrass]

"I love it," Scorpius says without hesitation, very much in love with the gift. He hugs it to his chest briefly before setting it on the table.

He reaches for Albus' wrist, inviting his boyfriend into the booth with a slight tug.

"I've got yours at home."

[honourbyname]

"Mine?" Albus asks with a smile, as he allows himself to be tugged.

(He is so relieved, and so glad that Scorpius likes his gift.)

[alsoagreengrass]

Scorpius grin back, unable to stay so grim when he's so happy to see Albus. He's hugging his side as soon as he's got him in the booth.

"Yeah, your gift. I didn't know you'd be here. I, uhm - Didn't know I'd be here either, actually. I did leave mistletoe for you with Bar, though."

[honourbyname]

"I saw that," Albus says, turning just a little pink. "I don't have it with me, but um -"

He laughs softly, then leans over to kiss Scorpius.

"I understood the sentiment."

[alsoagreengrass]

His fingers clutch at the front of Albus' shirt, his face gaining a bit of colour too.

"You are a smart one. Wait for me? I want to go and grab your gift."

He's thinking he can sneak back in and out again before anyone bothers to come looking for him.

[honourbyname]

Albus nods, still just a little breathless.

He'll make himself comfortable, but not before he adds (with a grin):

"I like the hat."

[alsoagreengrass]

"It's from Parker. She lives in Texas."

Which should explain everything?

"Hold on to it for me. I'll be right back."

Scorpius plops it onto Albus' head before he slips from the booth with a Malfoy's grace. He'll be quick. He doesn't want to get caught, after all.

[honourbyname]

In the meantime, Albus readjusts the hat on his head - and orders two butterbeers for them.

The hat is pretty cool.

Different, too. People in the Wizarding World don't normally wear Stetsons.

[alsoagreengrass]

Scorpius returns with Albus' gift in hand and with a guilty glance over his shoulder. His mother had knocked on his bedroom door while he was grabbing the gift.

He didn't stop to answer it.

"I, uhm - I like the hat on you too," he says, when he's back at the table.

He's looking a bit like William with it and yet he's still very much Albus.

[honourbyname]

"Thank you," Albus says, tipping said hat like he imagines they might have in Muggle Westerns.

It is very clearly Albus in a cowboy hat; he simply doesn't have the same sort of natural cowboy swagger that William does.

"Oh - um. I got us butterbeers."

[alsoagreengrass]

Definitely not the same swagger as William. Scorpius notes that with a bit of a laugh.

"You're cute," he says plainly as he squeezes in next to Albus. "And I got your gift, but if you'd prefer to keep the hat..."

[honourbyname]

Albus scoots over, but not too much.

He starts to pull the hat from his head.

"It's your gift," he says, smiling. "Besides, I think you look better with it than I do anyway.

"So ... my gift."

That's exciting!

[golden_lyre]

There's a faint scent of cocoa-butter coming from somewhere behind Scorpius, and he should probably intervene before Orpheus actually opens that book...

[alsoagreengrass]

Should he?

Scorpius, who catches whiff of the out-of-season scent, twists around to peer over the back of his booth with a perfectly innocent expression.

[golden_lyre]

If only because Orpheus isn't the only one who'll be subjected to the poetry otherwise...

But it's too late now, Orpheus is already opening it as he starts to walk past Scorpius' booth.

The look on his face when he does likely makes up for at least half a dozen smirks.

[alsoagreengrass]

Scorpius has already heard it all before that it doesn't nearly bother him as much as it clearly does others.

He stifles a laugh at the look on Orpheus' face.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus glances down at the stifled laugh, still looking faintly horrified.

"Why in the name of the gods, would anyone print this, let alone give it as a gift? Hm?"

[alsoagreengrass]

"I thought you could use it as inspiration for your music?"

He grins at Orpheus from beneath his new hat.

"You ought to hear the play Hélas, Je me suis Transfiguré mes Pieds, if you think that's bad."

[golden_lyre]

"I think I'll stick to my proven sources for inspiration, thank you," Orpheus says wryly.

He reaches over to flick the brim of Scorpius' hat upward. "A gift?"

[alsoagreengrass]

"Yeah, from Parker."

Scorpius puts a hand on his head to keep the hat from falling off.

"What if people want to hear songs about transfigured feet?"

[golden_lyre]

"It suits you," Orpheus says, sliding into the booth across from Scorpius and leaning his guitar against the table. He assumes he's invited. Scorpius is welcome to tell him otherwise.

"It isn't my job to play what people want to hear, only what people need to hear." And occasionally, what Orpheus needs them to hear.

[alsoagreengrass]

Scorpius doesn't mind the company. Company means he can continue to escape dealing with ...things.

"Thanks. What do most people need to hear?" he asks, genuinely curious.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus figured as much. He's happy to provide distraction.

"That depends. No two people are exactly alike, and what they need to hear very much depends on the day and the mood and the weather."

[alsoagreengrass]

Scorpius isn't sure he should ask, but -



Curiosity and all.

"Do you, er - Do you know what I need to hear today?"