With the capture of Verandi Farley and several high-ranking Trossach members, the British wizarding world has finally caught a break. The rate of rogue werewolf attacks have started dropping at a steady rate and, hopefully, things will stay that way. The Ministry is starting to loosen some restrictions, like not arresting werewolves standing on the street for loitering, however there’s still an obvious power imbalance between wizardfolk and werewolves.
The Cotswolds pack are continuing to advocate for the rights of werewolves and petitioning to change the legislation that has been set in motion by the current Minister for Magic, whilst the remaining Trossachs members are trying to stay out of the spotlight and keep a low profile… for now.
Whilst the British wizarding world seems to have calmed down, the same cannot be said for over in Northern Europe where a rebellion of magical creatures has risen. The state of things has gotten so bad that the European Ministry has enacted protocols to protect those under eighteen whilst their adult witches and wizards fight to keep control of their countries.
Students from Durmstrang have been sent to Hogwarts to keep them safe and those not old enough to attend school have been sent to live with relatives or designated British Ministry officials outside of Europe for the time being.
Will the low rates of werewolf attacks in Britain continue? How long will Durmstrang students stay at Hogwarts? Will the creatures usurp the wizardfolk in Northern Europe? Only time will tell.
SEPTEMBER 2019 It's been a very long, eventful summer in the wizarding world. A baby was stolen, several high ranking Trossach members were imprisoned, and werewolf attacks have drastically dropped as a result. What will happen now school has returned?
MAY 2019 An attempt to capture the beta of the Trossachs has been launched. Were the Aurors successful in their mission? Go read more here!
Post by ALEXANDER GREENAWAY on Oct 11, 2019 11:05:51 GMT
Party's weren't really Alex's thing, especially kissing parties, and as he stood there by Nico's bed after having tucked the boy in, he... he was... he knew why. He'd only kissed two people at the party, some Gryffindor girl and Liam, and he was only reeling from one of those kisses. Only one had made him feel a certain type of way, only one had made his blood run hot and his stomach twist up with need, and it hadn't been the one with the girl like it should have been. No, it had been with Liam instead and that was... weird.
Glancing up at Alexander who stood nearby, Alex wondered: did he know? Had he seen the look on Alex's face after he'd kissed Liam, the expression of sheer want written across it as clear as day? Had he noticed anything else, like the way Alex had shoved the pillow in his lap as quick as a flash?
Against his better judgement, Alex started to ask, "How..." before stopping, sparing a look at Nico. They were too close to his roommate to really talk about this, for Alex to ask the other boy the questions he wanted answers for. What if Nico overheard? Moving to Alexander and grabbing his wrist, Alex pulled him forward towards his bed and away from Nico in an odd move of initiative. "How did you know that you... you liked... um... boys? Was it... I'm just... I'm just curious."
Post by ALEXANDER McCARTHY on Nov 10, 2019 11:16:08 GMT
Alexander leaned over Nico's sleeping form, checking that his sheets were tucked in properly. The kid was really cute and very puppy-like in his sleep. Thinking about the fact that he'd kissed him, and three other boys too. Nico, Richard, Skylar and Evan. All in one night, and all very different boys. It was a little thrilling, however, he was a little nervous that there'd be unforeseen consequences. The older boy straightened up so he was standing, glancing around the dorm quickly. He smiled softly at his namesake, feeling his face grow a little warm. Alex had arrived late to the party, so Alexander hadn't quite been sure if he'd want to help the prefect drag Nico upstairs- but he'd seemed happy enough. The room was so still now, in comparison to the lively party they'd just been in. Alex was sure that if it had been any louder, his ears would be ringing.
His baby blue eyes darted to Alex's as the other boy began to speak, his brow furrowing as the boy cut himself off. He blinked in confusion as Alex grabbed his hand and tugged him away from the slumbering third party. The younger boy's next question surprised Alexander more than he would care to admit. Sexuality wasn't a topic that Alex had ever seemed comfortable speaking about, but here they were after a very lustfilled party with the topic hanging in the air. His first instinct was to ask Alex why he wanted to know...but there was something that nagged at him to avoid those sorts of questions. He should just answer the question now and pry later.
"I can't exactly say I ever had a lightning bolt moment, it was just a slow realisation." He responded, sitting on the bed he presumed to be Alex's. There was a scattering of sci-fi books and parchment that clued him in. "I knew from an earlier age, I know that much. I've always known I like boys and my parents didn't really push that whole heteronormative stuff onto me, so for me it wasn't as much of a struggle as I know it is for some other kids. I got lucky." Alexander gave a shrug, his eyes gentle and his movements slow as if he was trying not to startle a frightened deer. "Tonight I had my first..and fourth kiss. Cemented my interest in boys. Definitely." He gave an almost hysterical laugh, before looking back to Alex. "What about you?" Words: 414 Tags: ALEXANDER GREENAWAY Notes: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh sorry it took so long
Post by ALEXANDER GREENAWAY on Nov 12, 2019 3:46:44 GMT
When Alexander looked at him with those eyes, the ones that were so.. soft and kind, Alex's eyes instantly averted to stare at the star-littered, dark blue carpet beneath his feet. It was just too much, talking to someone about this and maintaining eye contact all the while. He listened silently as Alexander launched into an explanation of how he'd slowly realised that he liked boys, like it had been some sort of... process. As the other boy mentioned his parents, how they'd never pushed some heteronormative agenda onto him, Alex's lips tugged into a frown. "You did get lucky," he agreed, words half-mumbled.
He definitely hadn't grown up in an environment like that where... where being gay was accepted. If you were a boy who liked boys in his neighbourhood, his group home, you were called a lot of bad names, and often... the name-calling escalated into being bashed. "I, uh... at the group home, where I grew up, there was one time that I was thrown against the wall. Then they took turns hitting me because... because they thought I looked at someone the wrong way. Like I -" Alex cut himself off, closing his eyes and shaking his head. He didn't need to ever go back to that group home now, thank God. Now that he was living with Professor Savage, he was safe - or safer, really. She seemed a lot more tolerant then the boys who he'd grown up surrounded by.
Alexander shared how he'd had both his first and fourth kiss only an hour or so ago and then posed the question: what about you? What about him? Alex's mouth went as dry as the Sahara desert as he was put on the spot, and it was a long time before he spoke next. He could do this. He didn't... Alexander was safe, he wasn't going to judge him or stop being his friend. Moving over, Alex sat on the edge of his bed, the mattress sinking in slightly with the added weight. He still didn't look at Alexander as he said softly, "I... I... I guess when I was... I started noticing when I was... I, uh... I've always felt kind of... funny around boys, but especially when I was.... in second year, but I just... shrugged it off. I couldn't be gay, you know? And... and then last year, I kissed Skylar and I tried to tell myself it was an accident but... and then just an hour ago, I kissed Liam and I... it felt right. Kissing him, kissing a boy, felt right and... and now that Professor Savage is adopting me, it's... it's a lot easier to kind of say that aloud, y'know? Like... like it's okay."
Post by ALEXANDER McCARTHY on Nov 22, 2019 8:30:08 GMT
Alexander had to strain to hear the other Alex’s murmured words, and after his rambling he tried to stay still and listen to what the other Ravenclaw had to say. He tried not to wince as Alex described an incident at the group home. He found his heart began to beat a little faster and his face flushed, but it was anger that incited this. No wondered his friend was like a skittish mouse when things like this were brought up. Even more curious that the younger boy had brought it up himself. Alexander had never really worried about being beaten up before because he liked boys. In Australia he’d had friends that wouldn’t take anyone’s shit, and in England the first thing that people noticed was his weird accent. Alexander had learned not to take shit either so that was the worst taunting he got.
The prefect wanted to stand up and hug Alex, to comfort him and perhaps himself that he was here now, here to stay. He didn’t want to cross the line, so he pulled his arms from his lap and folded them across his body, almost like he was hugging himself. He tried to stop himself of thinking of that night and focus on the now. Alex was trying to talk to Alexander and getting lost in the past would not help him feel listened to. Alexander bit down on the side of his cheek, leaning forward to ask, “Does…does anyone at Hogwarts treat you like that? Bully you, I mean?” He had to know, he didn’t want Alex to associate the brilliance of Hogwarts with scum of the earth bullies. He had a feeling he knew what the Ravenclaw would say next, but he didn’t want to put words into the other boy’s mouth, so he otherwise stayed silent. He hoped his encouraging face would be enough to keep him going.
Alexander gave a simple nod, his eyes a little wide as Alex began to stumble over his words. He didn’t mean the question quite so literally, but he wasn’t exactly disappointed by the answer he was getting. He blinked in confusion as the boy mentioned kissing Skyler- why hadn’t Alex heard about that before now??- and then blushed as he realised that he’d kissed Skyler at the party earlier. Alex wanted to make a joke about being unsure how someone could kiss that redhead and not think they were gay…but it would be in bad taste. Instead, he listened to Alex talking about how it felt right to kiss Liam and about his adoption. “I…I’m really glad to hear that. It is okay Alex, it’s awesome actually.”
He had to process for a few moments. “I’m happy you told me- and you have to tell me about Skylar? Sorry, I know that’s not the point but wow. You probably had your first kiss before me!” He stood up, unfolding his arms and approaching Alex with his arms held wide. He didn’t whisk Alex into a hug, he gently placed his arms around the taller boy and gave him a brief but tight squeeze. He stood back and gave the other Alex a blinding smile. “I can’t tell you how proud I am that you feel comfortable enough to tell me, I’m so freaking happy for you.” He wanted to go for another hug but thought better of it. “Damn Alex, we’ve got a lot more in common than just our names, hey?” Words: 579 Tags: ALEXANDER GREENAWAY
Post by ALEXANDER GREENAWAY on Nov 23, 2019 12:23:39 GMT
Alexander's arms wrapped around his own waist, but he didn't look like he was trying to collapse inwards like a folding chair - a piece of furniture that Alex often tried to imitate, always trying to make himself as small as possible in whatever room he was in - but instead, it looked like he was... maybe trying to comfort himself? He wasn't exactly sure, but before he could wonder any more on the body language, Alexander was leaning in close and asking if anyone bullied him. "I - yeah, maybe not for that but the other day someone tried to get me to fight them," Alex muttered, shaking his head. He didn't say who though because he'd seen Alexander hanging around with Dio before, and what if Alexander thought he was making things up? "I don't get why people can't just let me be. I don't... I don't bother them, I just want to be invisible like the... like Doctor Strange, or... or... someone. Or maybe I just need to find an Invisibility Cloak instead - it'd solve a lot of problems."
It's awesome. The words were so upbeat, so positive that it was like a little source of light flickered in his brain, providing a small reprieve from the dark negativity that currently shrouded it. He'd never thought of it as that way - as being a good thing. "It doesn't... doesn't feel like it's awesome to be... it feels like it's just another thing that's going to make life harder," he tried to explain, voice quiet between them.
He'd brought up Skylar in the first place, and yet the mention of the redhead was enough to make him grimace. "I don't think it was a very good first kiss... he was crying, and I ran away like some... and now I'm hiding behind statues whenever I see him in the halls cause I think he's gonna curse me out," he said, cringing. Next thing he knew, Alexander was standing up, hands reached out towards him and... and then he was hugging him. Alex froze up for a minute, awkwardly patting Alexander's shoulder twice before the hug was over and he was rewarded with a kilowatt smile from the shorter boy. "I... can you not tell anyone for now? I want to... on my own terms, you know? Not that I have a lot of people to tell, but... I think... maybe I should tell Professor Savage next time I see her, right?"
The mention that they had more in common than just their names had a small smile pulling at his lips, albeit a nervous one. "Yeah, but I don't think I'll be as... well, I don't think I'll be telling people the way you told me that you were gay a few months back," Alex said, meeting Alexander's eyes as he recalled the words 'I like dick' so clearly. Ever since that proclamation, well... Alex had seen his newfound friend in a different sort of light, and not necessarily a bad one either.
Post by ALEXANDER McCARTHY on Dec 27, 2019 10:25:03 GMT
Alexander frowned, “Someone- someone…tried to get you to fight them? Who?” His voice was a little incredulous as he inquired as to who would do that. It seemed like a freaking weird request. He blinked for a few moments, shaking his head. “You’re not a Doctor Strange type. You’re too nice.” He added absently as the other Alex began to talk about it being something difficult. His eyes hardened a little and he shook his head, letting out a small sigh, “That’s not what I meant…I don’t want to agree with you but I don’t want to disagree. It’s not easy but it’s so much easier than-I meant it was awesome that you told me. That’s what I meant.” Rambling truly was the one thing the prefect could do at the drop of a hat.
He cringed at the description of the first kiss, groaning in sympathy. “No no no Alex. Skylar wouldn’t curse you. Although, that doesn’t sound good like a good experience for either of you.” He gave a huffed laugh and reached up to flatten Alex’s hair, in a gesture that was supposed to be comforting. As he pulled away, he smirked, “But tonight…you said you had a good time yeah?” There was a little sharp edge that dug into his stomach as he said that, but he kept his tone bright. Alex was allowed to have a bit of fun, explore himself a little. It wasn’t like Alexander hadn’t done the exact same thing…for even longer and with more people! He guessed he was just being a little protective.
He wanted to pull Alex into another hug, but he resisted the urge- the kid already looked startled enough the first time. “I wasn’t planning on telling anyone Alex, it’s all up to you bud.” He then spluttered and opened his mouth to say something, before closing it again. A few more moments of stunned silence and he shook his head. His cheeks were bright red, “Okay so maybe I didn’t word it the best way…Honestly, I assumed most of my friends knew. I hate coming out to people. It’s always this awkward dance of ‘what are they going to say or think’ before I realise that I don’t care what they say or think.” Alex really did care but he thought best not to mention that to Alex. He cared enough to turn his wand onto anyone who said a bad word about him due to his sexuality.
Post by ALEXANDER GREENAWAY on Dec 28, 2019 8:51:46 GMT
"Yeah, I... they started circling me like a crow and teasing me and I said something stupid back, then they pinned me against a wall and..." The memory of Dio's fingers wrapped around his throat, the stench of sour booze washing over his face, it was enough to have Alex lips draw into a deep frown. It wasn't a nice memory, although the fact that he managed to kick Dio Greyback in the balls was somewhat satisfying. "It doesn't matter who it was. They just wanted to test how tough I was, or something. Guess the answer is not very, in a surprise to no-one."
At the sound of a sigh, Alex's eyes flickered up to look at Xander's face, studying his features. He didn't seem annoyed with him, so that was something. "You really think it's awesome I told you?" Alex asked quietly. "You're, um... my first." That didn't sound right, and Alex visibly cringed. "First person I've told, not my - not in any other ways. Maybe my first date - friend date. To the Winter Ball, and stuff." Great, now he was rambling.
It wasn't a good experience for either of them. "It was, uh... salty, I think if I somehow had the power of time turning, I'd take it back," Alex admitted, blinking up in surprise as Xander reached out and played with his hair. He couldn't remember anyone doing that before and it felt nice, though, the feeling of somebody's warm palm running over his dark locks. But the feelings of pleasantness ebbed away so a more intense feeling of 'oh holy shit' could hit him as a smirk graced Xander's lips. It, uh... it really suited him. A lot. It did nice things for his face, not that he needed a smirk to do that since his face was - Alex was now internally though rambling, damn it. "Uh, yeah. I definitely - I mean, Liam was nice to kiss." He'd had to shove a pillow in his lap afterwards, so nice to kiss was understating it but... he wasn't about to share that tidbit with Xander. "You kissed a few people, right? I only got there towards the end but you seemed to be there for a while?"
Alex didn't think he'd ever been called bud before but before he could wonder whether that was a particularly Australian-esque turn of phrase, he realised he'd managed to embarrass Xander by bringing up the whole 'I like dick' thing. Whoops. "Shit, sorry, I didn't mean - I mean, it was interesting how you put it and all. I guess there's worse ways to... uh, put it, and... yeah." As Xander went to explain that he thought most of his friends knew, Alex found himself shaking his head because he certainly hadn't. "I... well, I didn't... obviously, but - it's cool though." He was making things even more awkward, and Alex cleared his throat before deciding on a change of topic. "Have, um... so have you had a boyfriend or anything like that before?"
Post by ALEXANDER McCARTHY on Dec 29, 2019 12:56:32 GMT
Alexander grit his teeth at the other Alex’s description of the bullying. He was going to stop pressing the issue now, but he’d weasel it out later. “I’ll teach you some more defensive spells.” He muttered, it was a promise. There was no way he’d allow people to continue to bully his friend…even if it was a little wrong for a prefect to teach harmful spells to younger students. He gave a singular nod at the next question asked. Alex let out a choked laugh as Alex began to ramble, “Your first huh?” He teased, his smirk remaining for just a little longer. He was sure that Alex hadn’t meant it like that- especially when he implied, they’d been dates for the winter ball. He thought it was endearing, the rambling that was. He supposed that it was an infectious oral disease.
He gave a noncommittal hum as the other Alex explained that he’d like to reverse the entire thing, thinking to himself that at least he’d have a memorable first kiss. One day he’d look back and laugh…maybe not yet, the look on the other boy’s face told him he still regretted it. Alexander couldn’t help the question that burst out, “Liam? You and Liam? Wow.” Alexander caught himself before he finished the sentence with ‘would have liked to see that’ because woah- that was way too suggestive to say to his friend. Who had just come out to him. Awkward thing to say and he had managed to keep from shoving his foot into his mouth. Two points to Alexander.
He was being asked about his own kisses, and the blush spread down to his neck. He glanced over to where Nico was, sound asleep it seemed. “Uh well Nico was my first kiss…it was pretty good actually…” His smirk turned into a sheepish smile. “Then Richard…and Skylar. I think if you kissed him again you’d find he’s super hot when he’s not crying.” He teased, raising his arms up in a guilty fashion, “Alright alright I’ll stop.” He laughed before the other boy had time to interject. “Anyway, after Skylar was Evan and honestly I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact he’d once sucked a sausage. I’m sure he was thinking about me telling the whole world I liked dick. Nico’s was definitely the sweetest. He’s a good kid, like you, you know…”
Alexander cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck and shaking his head. "Me? Dude, how many gay kids do you know at Hogwarts that are our age? Or would be remotely attracted to me?"
Post by ALEXANDER GREENAWAY on Dec 31, 2019 0:01:27 GMT
"I don't think defensive spells are going to stop them when I can't reach my wand," Alex muttered in return, but... he had to admit that it was nice, knowing that somebody other than Zoe in Hogwarts had his back. It was strange, going from feeling as though nobody cared at the start of the year to having two people who meant something in his life now. What a difference a couple of months made. "I... I, uh - I kicked them in the balls. I mean, I don't think it was a hard kick or anything but... it's better than letting them smack me around, right?"
Xander was smirking at him still, and yes, that still did things for his face. Good, good things that made Alex's insides squirm with heat. Is this how Pepper Potts felt when she saw Tony Stark's lips twist like that? The thought was so strange that Alex blinked because okay, no, he was not a redhead wearing a business suit and Xander wasn't his boss by any stretch of the imagination. "I... uh huh. My first..." Merlin, it was hard to talk when he was being looked at like that, and so Alex let his reply fade into silence.
They had already spoken about the whole Liam kiss and how it had felt right earlier, but it was late and they'd been talking about a lot of things. Nodding at Alex's 'whoa', because it had definitely been like that for him too, Alex said, "It's... it's nice to think of the kiss itself, not what was leading up to this kiss because I'm pretty sure I told him to imagine I was Princess Leia." And how stupid was that? "Er, not - but not wearing that gold... thing that Jabba made her wear. I don't think he knew what I was talking about, really. Sometimes I forget that some wizards don't really know anything about the muggle world."
He was certain that the redness that spread across Xander's face and neck had mirrored on his own at this point because the thought of the older boy kisses Nico and Skylar and Evan and Richard was... it was... uh, interesting. If Alex was The Flash, he'd definitely use his powers of time travel to go back and watch or - or, maybe sit where he remembered Nico had been sitting because then the bottle would have pointed at him and he would have gotten to kiss Xander, not his friend and roommate. "Maybe... maybe you should ask Nico out then," he said, before all of a sudden his stomach felt like a deep, cavernous pit. The idea of watching Xander and Nico hold hands whilst whispering into each others ears at breakfast, right in front of Alex, it... it didn't sit right.
Alex watched Xander's hand rub the back of his neck with a look of utter confusion because... he seemed like he was self-conscious, unsure of himself, and wasn't that his role in their friendship? Uncomfortably, Alex shifted on his feet as he racked his brain for something to say. It took a while, but then he was blurting out, "You... you're... you're like Tony Stark levels of attractive." Annnndddd now he wanted to go die in a hole. Again. Because telling someone they were hot to their face? It was embarrassing, and it made Alex's cheeks heat up to a bright, scorching red.
Post by ALEXANDER McCARTHY on Jan 3, 2020 2:38:57 GMT
“You kicked them in the balls? Fuck yeah.” There was a little bit of pride and amusement in his voice and he nodded. “Of course I’d always advocate for a less physical encounter…but it usually can’t be helped. Nevermind. Just, next time send me a little message and I’ll come take points off and assign detention.” It seemed that Alexander had already forgotten that Alex hadn’t had a wand. He mulled over the situation for a little longer, before the smile faded as Alex spoke about Liam. He gave an amused huffed as the boy spoke about asking the Hufflepuff to imagine Princess Leia. “I doubted that he would have wanted to think about her when you were sitting right there.” Alexander pointed out fondly, thinking that he would have been far too focussed on the fact that the other Alex was close to even consider anyone else. He was also quite amused by Alex’s ramblings, making no move to get him to quieten down.
Xander certainly hadn’t expected the next words to come out of Alex’s mouth, and he practically choked on the air he’d just inhaled. He whirled around to look at the slumbering Nico, very much asleep. Perhaps Alexander had turned his back so that Alex couldn’t see the shock on his face, or maybe it was to check that the sleeping Ravenclaw didn’t hear. The prefect shook his head, turning around after having collected himself again. “He’s really young Alex, like- I know you two are only a year younger than me but he’s… I don’t know. I don’t even know if he’s gay, he was just a nice first kiss. Maybe?”
Alexander couldn’t help feel a little…disappointed by the other Alex’s suggestion. It didn’t really matter did it, he was just trying to be nice. “But maybe you’re projecting. Do you want to date Nico?” He knew he was becoming a little defensive, so he tried to relax his posture. He blinked for a few seconds, “Is that right?” He replied, a coy smile curling his lips. “Right back at you.” He gave a nervous laugh and refused to meet the other boy’s eyes. He couldn’t hold that expression long, his smile becoming wider. Alex seemed to think he was pretty attractive, which was not only an ego boost…it also made Xander feel quite special. Alex’s face was so red that Alexander was a little concerned it would catch on fire. A question was nagging at him, he wanted to ask if this is why Alex had told him…before anyone else. He didn’t want to embarrass himself by asking, so he decided to hold his tongue for now.
He stepped into Alex’s personal space again, pulling him into a side hug and resting his head on his shoulder. “You should head to bed. I’m going to go round up some of the Ravenclaws still in the Commonroom, but I’ll see you at breakfast, yeah?”
Post by ALEXANDER GREENAWAY on Jan 3, 2020 3:22:50 GMT
Xander's enthusiasm over Alex kicking someone in the balls had Alex blinking down at him and letting out a surprised huff of laughter. It wasn't the reaction he expecting, but he'd take it and at least Xander wasn't giving him detention for it. Xander's offer to deduct points and assign detention had Alex nodding, but in the back of his mind, he already knew he wouldn't be asking the older boy to do that. It would get him into shit - major shit - with whoever got in trouble, and the picking on him wouldn't ease up... it never did when you involved people of a higher authority, it just made the other person sneakier the next time around.
I doubted that he would have wanted to think about her when you were sitting right there. The words, combined with the tone of complete sincerity, had Alex immediately looking down at his feet and tugging at the sleeves of his baggy, well-worn jumper. He didn't get compliments... what he assumed was a compliment... very often, and it made his insides squirm with discomfort. "There's plenty of other people he could think about if she's not his type," Alex mumbled with a shrug that wasn't nearly as casual as he was aiming for.
The way Xander was whirling around to face Nico, as if he was contemplating Alex's words, was enough to make his stomach churn because he should not have said that because now Alexander was going to do it. He was going to ask Nico out, and Alex would be destined to be some awkward third wheel. But then just as visions of Nico and Xander's future wedding day started flashing in his mind, Xander turned around and said that Nico was 'really young.' Did... did Xander think he was too young to ever... it was stupid. Alex didn't even know why he bothered thinking down that track because Xander would never even think about him in that way to begin with. "I... yeah, but - okay."
Xander's suggestion that he was projecting had Alex grimacing, shaking his head adamantly. Nico was nice and all but... "He plays with bugs too much. It's... I'm pretty sure he has pet cockroaches. Not on a leash or anything but - he's cool though. Just... not for me." The idea of ever dating someone who spoke so fondly of bugs and creepy crawlers which, by the by, lived out in nature (something Alex didn't live braving on a good day) was not appealing at all.
Alex still wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole but... the way the other Xander was smiling and saying 'right back at you' and then hugging him made him think he could wait for the floor to split open a little longer - as long as Xander kept doing things like that. When the weight of Xander's head rested on his shoulder, Alex's fingers almost came up to... what? Try and card through his hair? But then logic kicked in and his brain screamed 'stop being weird', and Alex's hand froze mid-air before dropping back down by his side. "Yeah, bed. Sounds... it sounds good. I'll, uh - and breakfast. I'll see you tomorrow," he said, before untangling himself from Xander gently and heading for his drawers for a change of clothes.
