it's the story of your life [leifr]

It had been a while since Kendrick and Leifr had gone out and done anything, and he hadn't really seen his friend a lot since the wedding, for reasons that were admittedly excusable. Ken usually didn't like to neglect his friends too much, but he figured they'd excuse him for his absence from their lives in his first few weeks as a newlywed. Their turns would most likely come sooner or later, and he was fully prepared to return the favor then. Although Ken and Jo were nearly the first ones to get married from their circle of friends (although Ingrid should have been first, if Marcus hadn't been such an asshole), he suspected some of them were going to be settling down sooner or later.

Actually, Leifr's state of relationship was something that Kendrick was itching to talk to him about tonight, and if he could get him drunk, he was going to get him to open up. Kendrick didn't typically drink a lot, which never worked in his favor when he was trying to get someone else to drink, but he thought if he was careful about it he could get it all to work out without him being the one totally out of it. Emily, as he'd learned her name was, had been Leifr's date to their wedding, which meant it was pretty serious in Leifr's mind. Ken knew Leifr, and while his friend certainly spent time with a lot of women, he hadn't really seen him get this attached before. His mood could be a bit more volatile now than before, though--things didn't seem quite as straightforward as they appeared to be, and Leifr, being Leifr, wasn't exactly volunteering information.

Ken kept quiet about his ulterior motives (for one thing, that sounded much too dark for him) as he met up with his friend and they walked down the street a little ways to the nearest decent bar, being his typical jocular out-and-about self. At the moment he was reminiscing on the stupid things they'd done in school. "I kind of miss being in detention with Professor McGonagall," he remarked, straight-faced. "It was so good for building character. D'you reckon we could wreak some havoc in the bar? I have just the idea if we can get our hands on a couple teacup pigs or something…" Okay, maybe Kendrick was being ridiculous, but it had been a while since he'd pulled a stupid prank, and the little kid in him kind of missed that. Being grown up had its downsides, even if it had many upsides. A sort of beatific smile came on the 27-year-old's face as he thought about the previous night, followed by a quick look at Leifr hoping that he hadn't noticed.

It was decently busy that night, but not overly crowded--Ken typically disliked overly crowded places for both the enclosed nature and the pointless noise. As they sat down, Kendrick realized he hadn't been out drinking in ages. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to get at these places anymore," he laughed. "And I'm starting to feel old walking in these places. Old married men shouldn't frequent bars with attractive young people…" Mock self-deprecation was always fun. He was more than aware that he was only two years older than Leifr was, but it was just so funny to pull the old boring chap card.

It had been too long since Leifr had gotten to spend some some time with Ken, who was probably the friend he’d known longest, with the exception of any of the Tricketts, of course. They were going out to do one of the wizards favorite things, sit in a pub and drink. There wasn’t much the man enjoyed more that simply being in the pub atmosphere, with or without a drink, though he certainly enjoyed having one. Although, at the moment, what he was going to be drinking was the last thing on his mind. Ken was busy reminding him about the mischief they’d managed to get into while in school, and the pranks they’d managed to pull. Currently, his friend seemed to be reveling in their time spent in detention,and Leifr couldn’t help but grin along like a fool, remembering certain pranks that had been worth the detentions they had earned. Though when Kendrick mentioned missing detention with none other than professor McGonagall, he couldn’t help but shoot him a look.

Missing those sessions was not high on his list, but he could indulge his partner in crime “ You miss detention with McGonagall? Have you gone soft?” He paused, grinning at his companion “I don’t know what there would be to miss about that. She always thought I was the ring leader, gave me a hard time for it too. Though I suppose I saw her maybe just a little more frequently than you did, on account of the fights I got in early on.” Kendrick’s next comment had him shaking his head and laughing “Good for our character? You have gone soft. Though, I wouldn’t mind causing a little trouble myself... Teacup pigs, you say? I suppose we could conjure a pair. Knowing our luck, though, McGonagall would be there somehow, and threaten us with detention with filtch.” As much as he was ragging on their ex-professor, he had a copious amount of respect for the older woman, she was, McGonagall after all.

Eyeing Ken out of the corner of his eye, Leifr couldn’t help but smirk at the look that crossed over his friends face, he was enjoying married life, and that was good. Jo was a lovely girl, and they made a pretty pair, but that wasn’t going to stop the wizard from giving his friend some grief “Enjoying married life, are we?” He threw in a wink, just to make sure Ken knew he was only teasing. He was happy his friend had settled down, and was enjoying himself, but he also knew a life like that would probably never be something he could have. Hell, just thinking about doing anything like that had him itching for some reason to get his mind off the subject of marriage, or dating in general, for that matter. He‘d been thinking about Emily far too much for his comfort lately, and he wasn’t about to open that can of worms, he’d have to be careful what he told Ken tonight, he knew that much was true.

It was almost a relief to have reached, and entered the pub. Leifr was still getting over the edginess that seemed to find him in most crowded and enclosed places. Bars or pubs seemed to be the exception, probably because he worked in one, and it was practically his natural environment, considering how much time he spent in his place of employment. It meant drinks, crowds, conversation, and relaxing just a little. The ex- Gryffindor couldn’t help but laugh at his old housemates predicament. They were getting older, that was true, but they weren’t that old yet....were they? Raising an eyebrow Leifr eyed Ken once again “You’re not going to make me order for you are you? You can think of something, just embrace your inner youth, since you’re all dried up and boring now.” He winked again “If thats what being married is like, I think I’ll pass. And, if you’re here with me, maybe you should leave, seeing as I am youthful and attractive....” It was true, he’d missed Ken, he’d be hard pressed to admit it, but he had. Flagging down the bartender, Leifr ordered an Ogdens, and waited for Ken to make up his mind before he spoke again “ So, really mate, how have you been? How’s Jo?” It was going to be a good night, pranks or no pranks. 

Kendrick burst out laughing at the look on Leifr's face, which looked something between shock and being rather scandalized. "Sarcasm, mate. It's a thing nowadays," he grinned. "She was never that bad, come on." Kendrick's opinions about their Head of House had gotten fonder, however, especially since he'd gotten older and joined the Order. McGonagall was the best kind of person, even if she had given them a hard time for their pranks. They'd been worth it. "I'm going to have kids in a few years, Leifr. I have to start thinking about building character." He winked. To be quite fair, Brandon Silverman had done a good job of instilling moral compunction in his son, and Kendrick hoped he could do as well. Being a father was an intimidating idea, but he thought he'd do all right. Hopefully.

"But conjuring's such a cheap way out of everything," he mock complained. "We didn't have that shortcut half the time when we were kids, we hadn't learned enough to do it stably most of the time." At the thought of Filch, he grimaced. "That man. Just because he was bitter at being a Squib didn't mean he needed to take it out on us. Remember when the DA kids told us he'd talked about getting approval for corporal punishment again? Why they keep him around, I don't understand." Maybe it was to keep up discipline--Hogwarts wasn't exactly a school where you could expel someone just for being rowdy, as being expelled meant the end of your entire life in the wizarding world and the cessation of your ability to use magic, which was a harsh punishment. Even worse when you were like Hagrid and hadn't done anything in the first place.

Kendrick almost blushed when Leifr called him out on his smile, but he thought he got away without the redness. "Yes, yes I am," he chuckled. "It's quite nice. You oughta try it sometime, Leifr. When are you going to settle down with someone and stop gallivanting around with all the pretty women in your bar?" The man very intentionally did not mention Emily. Not while Leifr was sober, anyway. In a little, when he was drunk, with a little cajoling, maybe, he could bring it up. To be quite honest, he hoped Leifr had found someone for the long term. Everyone needed that person that made them feel whole and made them feel okay to be whoever they were. Leif hadn't really had a stong female figure in his life, really, since his mother had passed--lots of family, but not that one.

"What if I did? You're the bartender," Kendrick grinned. "Besides, I'm a lightweight, and I don't go out drinking that often for that very reason, remember? I'll probably just get a light beer, unless you can think of something better." Well...better and better for Ken were two different things, but. "Ouch," he exclaimed, pretending to be hurt. "Youthful? You? Face it, you're the one behind the counter serving up stuff to all the youthful people around here. You're not 18 anymore." Of course, he was kidding. Leifr was perfectly youthful, and pretty attractive as far as guys went. At least, he had the qualities women seemed to appreciate, as evidenced by all the action he historically got.

"I'm doing good, though," he smiled at his old friend. "Jo's great. We're both great. What, did you expect problems already?" he joked. Jocasta was perfect for him. As her good sense had figured out a long time before him. "How about you? Your life is much more exciting than mine. All I do is fix things for idiots who should have been held back at school and spend time with my wife when I get home." Not that Kendrick begrudged it. It was the best life, and he loved the way the words 'my wife' sounded coming out of his mouth. Not much to tell Leifr about, though.

Frowning playfully Leifr nodded in understanding “No, she was pretty good to us when you stop and think about it. Could of had us expelled more than a few times.” That much was true, he and Ken had pushed their luck more than once when they had been in school. But much of his respect for their old head of house had cemented itself over the course of the war, she was a very, very powerful witch. And an outstanding person at that. Though, the next subject Ken brought up had Leifr feeling his age for the first time in a long time. Children. The thought of Kendrick and Jo having kids was a very happy one for Leifr, but it didn’t keep him from feeling quite old at the same time. It was just slightly surreal to think that they were at that age, where kids were a natural part of life. Laughing Leifr looked his long time friend in the eye “Believe me mate, you’re going to make a great dad. Plenty of character to go around” It was a sincere compliment, and he had no doubts about it either.

Shrugging lightly the man had to agree with Ken about the whole conjuring bit “I suppose, but it is convenient, if we’re supposedly not as young as we once were. Have it your way though.” He grinned at his friend. It was true, that if there was one thing that almost all Hogwarts students could agree on, it was the subject of Filtch and his rottenness. But those days were long behind them, thankfully. When Ken suggested he try settling down with someone, it made the wizard roll his eyes and laugh “ Me? Stop Galavanting around? Doesn’t seem likely if you ask me, especially when they’re all so pretty” Truth was, Leifr didn’t think he’d ever find someone like that, or that he deserved it particularly. But thankfully Ken had said something else, and distracted his train of thought once more.

What if Ken let him order for him? Leifr gave him a shit eating grin “I’d order you something girly and make you drink it, thats what” Not that that would actually be the case, but the wizard rarely missed an opportunity to rag on his friend every now and again. It was true, Ken was really a lightweight, but that was always pretty fun to watch too. Leifr knew that his friend wouldn’t drink any more than he wanted to, pressure or not. Shrugging his shoulders he gave his opinion “Get the beer if you want it. I’m not doing anything too crazy either. And I may not be eighteen anymore, but I don’t seem to get complaints” He gave the other man a look and shook his head, laughing. He was only kidding for the most part.

Raising an eyebrow Leifr did his best to look serious “Of course I did.....no, mate. You two are too good together for that. Me? I’m a bartender, I pour drinks for the same poor sods who should have been held back in school” Taking a long drink of his Ogdens, Leifr continued “And on occasion someone who is actually intelligent. And then I go and spend time with my family, or my brothers. Or maybe a pretty girl.” He shrugged, his life was simple, just the way he liked it. And he wasn‘t going to let things slip when they wouldn’t do him much good in the first place, he needed more to drink for that.