[04-mp] to live is the rarest thing in the world. [meredith & jacqueline]

most people exist, that is all. ~ oscar wilde

Honestly he could barely believe he was going along with this plan. He was trying to convince himself that this was better than sitting alone in the common room with his nose in a book but so far he was losing the battle. Phillip wasn't very social anymore, he hadn't been in some time, and it seemed like most people had just kind of given up on trying. They didn't bother to invite him to stuff anymore or try to get him to come to pick up Quidditch games. He rarely sat with anyone at dinner and did most partner projects alone. Fortunately for the cynical loner his prefect counter part Jacqueline was one of the few it seemed that hadn't written him off as a lost cause. He was taking the walk to Hogsmeade for the Sugar & Spice adoption event one hundred percent because she had talked him into it. When she first brought it up he had put up a fight and refused but she kept at it and finally talked him into going. He should of just agreed but Phillip rarely did anything that was good for him. Most of the bad things about his life were entirely his own doing. No one made him pull away from his friends and get into fights, that was all him.

"I don't think attending this adoption thing is mandatory for Prefects Jacqueline." He stated as he pulled the hood of his tattered jacket up over his short blond hair. It was April but it was still a bit chilly especially with the wind howling like it was on the path to the shopping village. In the distance he could see the tops of the buildings, puffs of smoke from the chimneys being wafted away as soon as they escaped the stacks. "If its real busy I'll probably just leave..." He was complaining still, even as they reached the village. He hoped there wasn't going to be too many people at this thing. Phillip had a hard time being around groups of people, he had a hard time not growing frustrated among crowds. It was why he rarely made the trip to Hogsmeade. Well that and he had no money to speak of so it wasn't like he could buy anything. His worn sneakers crunched on the thawed ground as they finally reached the streets and he took a deep breath. He could smell the fresh baked bread in the air and it made his stomach rumble. "You said there would be free food right?" Had she said that? Or had he just wished she had? He couldn't remember.

He let her lead the way to the shop as he eyeballed all of the shiny things in the windows and tried not to bump into too many people. The street was as crowded as he had feared and a frown fell on his face. "Do you think Meredith will be there?" He asked, hoping to see one of the few witches who still bothered to put up with him. He knew her family ran the Sugar & Spice shop but he hadn't actually been there in longer than he could remember. He wasn't a very good friend, he was lucky they even cared anymore. He probably would of given up on him by now too.

@Jacqueline MacClelland @Meredith Emerson

“I don't think attending this adoption thing is mandatory for Prefects, Jacqueline.”

Her lips quirked with amusement.
“Aye, yer right, secret’s oot,” she conceded, casting a sideways glance at her friend and fellow Ravenclaw Prefect, “but – in my most humble opinion – cuddles wi’ wee cheeties are, every so often. Kittens, that is,” she clarified. It was easy to forget that not every word in the Scots English dialect was easy to discern, even with context clues: and the word for ‘cat’ was one of those. In a roundabout way, perhaps, since it sounded like ‘cheetah’ which was, in fact, a big cat – but not quite immediately obvious.

Jacqueline fought the urge to furrow her brow with concern as he muttered something about leaving if it was too busy.
“Och, dinna fash. We’ll sit in the corner away from folk, aye?” Her tone was gentle, but firm. She’d allowed him time to grieve in his own way, but the degree of seclusion he was rapidly descending into had raised some alarm bells in her observant brain. The Scottish witch knew full well she certainly couldn’t force him to do anything – but she could do her best to convince him that some of her suggestions were something that he wanted, too – even if he didn’t quite realize it. After a point, letting him continue to wallow in his despair – however justified – wouldn’t do him any favors. As a relative outsider to his situation, she had the advantage of unbiased clarity of thought. She owed it to him to not abandon him to his demons; if she did, who would be left to help fight them off?

Speaking of fights…

Jacqueline watched him from under her lashes: hands shoved into his pockets, shoulders hunched against the April air. She hadn’t failed to notice his rapidly-blackening eye and the fresh-looking gash over his cheekbone. He’d been fighting. Again.
Seeing it had sent a pang of anguish through her, starting in her chest and in her stomach and radiating out to her fingers and toes. She felt so powerless. Her logical mind had analyzed his situation from every perspective, searching for a means to help. The transformation was even more profound, having known the kind of person he was in the first few months at Hogwarts before everything fell to pieces. It had been nearly four years since the Battle; and it didn’t seem to be getting any easier for him. It made her chest ache.

In the heartbeat of silence that followed, she reached out to touch his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze of reassurance before releasing it again; hoping to anchor him, to lend him strength. She thought she knew him well enough by now to suspect he wouldn’t recoil from the gesture like Lionel would, but she also had the sense that anything more personal – like the hug she would have offered Meredith – would make him unduly uncomfortable. She hoped it would bring him some degree of comfort.
Phillip was sulking beside her, and complaining almost every other step; but he was beside her, and that was important. Jacqueline hid a small smile of content.

“You said there would be free food right?”
Jacqueline’s eyebrows came together reflexively, as they did when she was contemplating.
“I ken there’ll be food: Meredith mentioned it the other day. Dinna ken if it’s free, but I expect we’ll see soon enough.” She lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug, hoping that wouldn’t dramatically alter what resolve had had mustered to come with her today. Telling him what he might have wanted to hear, however, would doubtless have a worse outcome if it turned out to be untrue.

Fortunately she did know the answer to his next question with certainty. The brunette nodded, keeping stride with her friend as they closed the gap between them and the critter café.
“Aye, she’ll be there most of the day, I think. Dinna ken how much she has to actually work, though… have ye been before?” she asked as they rounded the corner and the café came into view. She could just make out the shape of a few fluffy critters in the windows, and felt her heart lift at the sight. She hoped it would have a similar effect on Phillip.

When they were almost at the door, Jacq remembered his fresh cuts and bruises. She bit her lip, reaching out again to stay him with a hand on his forearm as her pale blue-gray eyes found his sea-green ones. There was a risk that asking would cause him to get defensive, she knew; but something in her chest also told her that he might not mind so much.
“Are ye wantin’ a touch-up, first?” she asked, raising her eyebrows slightly for emphasis as her gaze traveled over his periorbital bruise and still-oozing eyebrow. She hadn’t noticed before since his hands had been in his pockets, but when he’d reached up to adjust the hood of his jacket she’d caught sight of the mixture of fresh and old scrapes across his knuckles as well.
As she watched him placidly, Jacqueline felt the familiar ache in her chest and words bubbled up inside her, but she pressed her lips firmly together. She didn’t offer admonishment, and she didn’t offer further explanation; he knew what she meant. Besides, now was certainly not the time for such a discussion.

It was finally adoption day. Or, as Meredith liked to call it; barely-contained chaos. Full and half-kneazle kittens were scampering about everywhere, having completely taken over Sugar & Spice and the Emerson family had spent the majority of the morning running around after them. It was noisy, it was lively and it was crowded full of people and animals alike. Meredith loved it. Part of her was a little sad, knowing that she'd have to say goodbye to some of the kittens as they'd find some loving families to be a part of. She was attached to all the animals that resided at Sugar & Spice and she didn't want any of them to leave. On the other hand, she was excited at all the festivities happening at the cafe and the business it was strumming up for the family. Her siblings deserved all the success and attention that they were getting, and more. And of course, she was happy that their young felines would be finding new homes and that the students who adopted them would have a loving companion.

The Ravenclaw student had been baking all morning, from the moment she stepped into the cafe, working alongside her eldest sister to produce enough food for all the extra customers that they'd be receiving. Removing a tray of cupcakes from the oven, Mer smiled to herself. This was the perfect distraction from the stress of studying for her OWLs. She let herself breathe in the sweet aroma that was enveloping the kitchens, taking a moment to just breathe for herself before a bunch of kittens scampered over her foot and nearly made her drop the tray she was holding in surprise. "Oh," she exclaimed, as the tray rocked unsteadily in her hands, before the English witch laughed and shook her head. "Duke!" Meredith called out for her brother, who was supposed to be out front and looking after the stampede of kittens they had. "A little help here!" She giggled again, bemused by all the madness going on. She placed the tray on the counter, pulled out her wand and quickly iced the cupcakes with magic, before transferring some to a different serving tray, where Ophelia placed some hot drinks onto it. Meredith smiled encouragingly at her, before picking up the tray and walking through the doors to the main cafe area. She spotted the young students who had ordered the refreshments and had to practically dance her way over to them in order to avoid all the cats and dogs and rabbits that were clearly having a good time making mayhem. "Please enjoy!" She said brightly to the younger students, before turning around and dusting off her flour-covered apron.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted a few of the calico cats trying to clamber out the windows and the easily distracted witch quickly forgot about the soup she was supposed to be making and instead made a beeline for the cats. Talking to them the entire time, Meredith picked the cats up one by one and placed them down near some students who had just walked in, hoping that both the cats and the humans would take the hint. The Emerson quickly noticed a kneazle who also seemed to be trying to make their grand escape through the open door of the main entrance and Merrie chuckled as she made her way towards it. There were runes surrounding the property, ensuring that the animals could not run away, but this particular kneazle still hadn't figured it out, even though she'd been with the cafe since its opening day. Kneeling down to pick her up, Meredith cooed at her, stroking her beautiful fur for a few seconds as she gathered her up in her arms, smiling warmly as she heard the soothing purring.

Looking up and out into the streets of Hogsmeade, the Ravenclaw noticed two very familiar figures making their towards the cafe. "Look who's coming to visit us!" Mer addressed the kneazle warmly, still keeping the animal firmly in her arms. "Jacq! Phillip!" Mer called out to them, her smile widening into a big beam as she steadied the kneazle in one arm as she used the other to wave at them both. "Welcome to the cutest hullabaloo in Hogsmeade," the sweet girl giggled, letting go of the kneazle at last as it scampered away, so that she could hug her new companions. Opening her arms wide for them both, the affectionate girl immediately asked them, "What can I get you? I don't care if it's not on the menu, whatever you like and I'll get right on it." She beckoned them closer, looking around to see if Leo or one of her other siblings was nearby. Seeing that the coast was clear, she smiled slyly before quietly exclaiming, "Its on me." She winked at them, before dragging them both inside. "Please, play with any of the animals you like! They all love attention."

Part of him wondered if Jacq was just telling him whatever she thought would keep him moving forward rather than sulking back to the castle. He didn't have a clue why she still bothered but underneath all of the brooding and cynical-ism he was grateful to her for pulling him out on things like this. Grateful to Meredith too, even though he never told either of them that. Ever since everything he'd been pulling further and further away from all of the people he cared about. It was hard not to turn inward, he was dangerously obsessed with finding his family, everything else in his life had taken a back seat. Friends, schoolwork, even sleep and his own health. Nothing else mattered. He would do all of those things after he brought them home. It would be selfish to enjoy Hogwarts or Quidditch or friends or studying while his mother and sister were lost and quite possibly in pain. Phillip wouldn't let himself, he couldn't.

And yet here he was trudging along beside her and finding it increasingly difficult to not find peace and comfort in her accent. It wasn't home but it reminded him of Keithcairn and that was the closest thing he had to a home anymore. He listened to her Scottish and shook his head after she asked if he had been to the critter cafe before. "A long time ago.." Eyes moving to anywhere but her Phillip stared aimlessly in front of them as he spoke. Everything felt like so long ago despite the fact that he was barely fifteen years old. When they stopped in front of the shop it was all he could do to keep from shouting profanities at the too-busy-to-look-in-front-of-themselves passerbys who were bumping into them. They weren't even in the way but they still kept coming, weaving out from the crowd of people headed up and down the street. He felt jostled and irritated in not much time at all and the frown on his face showed off his displeasure.

The frown grew slightly when she posed the next question but was soon replaced with a look of defeat, "I mean, sure, if you want?" He never fixed up his scrapes and bruises anymore even though he more than knew how to do it. They were daily reminders that he hadn't given up, that he was still fighting even though everyone told him the war was over. He wore them like medals of honor, points of pride that let him keep his head up in the hallways. But that wasn't all they were, twisted from the war Phillip saw them as a kind of recompense for his father dying because of him. Blood payment in hopes of getting his sister and mother returned.

He'd never ask her to clean them up but he'd never refuse her either. Slipping his hood down he held his chin straight and his hands up with his knuckles toward her, knowing the routine well as this wasn't the first time she'd offered. It was kind of their thing, an unspoken thing between them that comforted him in an inexplicable way. She didn't give him pity or a scolding, she didn't ask for a story, she just acknowledged them and offered to help. It was the only kind of support he hadn't blatantly turned away from in the last few years. He felt the soothing feeling mixed with itchiness that came along with rapid healing spells and he closed his eyes for a moment, allowing her to reach the cut above his brow, but opened them up almost as soon as he shut them. "Thanks." He said softly, turning his hands over as he looked at them and then returning them to the pockets of his jacket. Opening his mouth to say something else the sounds of Meredith calling to them forced him to close it again and meander toward the shop.

Upon reaching the door he took hold of it so Mere could move back in and waited for Jacq before ducking into the establishment. Immediately he was surrounded by purring adorable fluffiness, super sweet smelling beverages, giggles, and basically everything he hated in life. His grumpy attitude grew tenfold as they moved further into the room and a kneazle began rubbing up against his pant leg and purring so loud he could feel it in his throat. "Mere?" He said dryly, fighting every urge in his being to shake the little fluff ball of happiness off of him before it rubbed off. "Can you, uh, yeah..." He wasn't a mean person but Phillip also wasn't nearly as amused by small soft things as it seemed most everyone at this event ones. They were chipper and bouncy and he was like the thundercloud at the garden party. He wanted nothing more than to slip back out into the street and find some dark corner of the broomsticks. His eyes flicked from Meredith to Jacqueline to the door and lingered there, seriously contemplating trying to make a run for it before he had a sunshine and sparkle induced asthma attack.

At his acceptance, Jacqueline wordlessly made short work of his newest assortment of cuts and bruises. Now that she looked more closely, she was able to appreciate their true longevity, mostly by bruises in varying stages of healing. She felt the familiar ache in her chest again, but did her best to keep a placid expression.

“Glad to be of service,” she replied with a small smile; and at precisely that moment, a familiar voice called out to them from the entrance of the shop. Jacq waved back, beaming at her dormmate, and together she and Phillip closed the distance and crossed the threshold. Jacqueline stepped immediately into Meredith’s embrace, despite having just seen her that very morning.

“Och, I’m here to help, ken… no to make more work for ye!” she laughed, but allowed her friend to half-lead, half-drag her inside all the same. Clearly, the event was a rousing success: the café was positively bursting with people, and at least one in three was holding or playing with a critter.
“Verra braw, well done,” Jacq praised, turning to face Meredith again. “D’ye need anything? How can I help?”

Just then Phillip spoke up, and his tone caught Jacq’s attention. Glancing over, she quickly noted his obvious displeasure with one of the Kneazle’s affections. Stifling a giggle she came to his ‘rescue’, gently scooping up the small fuzzball and cuddling it against her chest.
“Come now, wee one, ye’ll stay wi’ me,” she told it, though her words were slightly muffled when the kitten chose to show its appreciation with a gentle headbutt squarely on her mouth.
Wrinkling her nose slightly with amusement, she lifted her gaze to find Phillip still lingering near the entrance. She smiled at him again and tilted her head towards the back of the bustling shop. Something told her she’d need to engage him quickly or they’d risk losing his company altogether.
“I think there’s maybe a sampling table. Let’s have a look?”