{this girl I know, needs some s h e l t e r} danny/headless hunt/pm

Aiden wasn’t sulking. He had absolutely no reason to, really. He was going with Danny to the Headless Hunt Games and Ros’ had made them a nice picnic basket (with all his favorites, even) and he’d brought a bottle of firewiskey to chase down the chilled butterbeers Ros had packed for them. He had no reason to sulk. None at all. Or to scowl. Or to be bothered in literally any way whatsoever.

So he wasn’t sulking. Except he was. Ros had packed Stricklander the fancy sandwiches. The ones she only brought out when she was dating someone. With the little crusts cut off and everything. He could see the blue bell jars lighting up their cozy little spot and well. He’s was just worried about it. Apparently Oliver was of the mindset that Ros was an adult or something and an Auror besides and could take care of herself just fine so they clearly needn’t meddle but, well. Even Alex had decided to be mature, though he’d been surprised she was “friends” with Stricklander. Friends, he said!

With a sigh he sat down, far enough away that it wasn’t immediately obvious he was going to be staring at them for a good portion of the evening. He gave the pair a jaunty wave, attempting to appear innocent, as he leaned back into the blanket. It didn’t escape him that this was a backwards sort of date with Danny. The thought was amusing, actually, and it did much to restore some of his usual geniality.

“You don’t think they’re dating do you?” He finally grumbled as he grabbed the delicately wrapped sandwich tray full of roast beef goodness. He softened considerably when he noticed she’d cut off the corner and made them into little triangles. He felt a burst of protective fondness for his cousin just then, coupled with a hint of guilt for letting his paranoia get to him. He hadn’t been home in four months, only taking leave for Ros’ birthday, and she’d been strangely contemplative the day they sailed off.

If her boyfriend couldn’t be bothered to show up for it and face the grilling Ollie and him would’ve given him then he didn’t deserve his cousin. It wouldn’t have lasted longer than it needed to, really, but since he hadn’t he was determined to parse out the mans motives. Danny couldn’t really complain. He was getting food, entertainment, and got to watch him loose it. He grabbed the plate that had ‘Danny’  written across it in cursive flourish and jabbed it into his chest. “This ones yours.” He said, rolling his eyes. It probably had ham and cheese sandwiches cut up in the same exact way because Ros was a fucking softie underneath all that badassery.

@Danny Willbond

"Who's dating?" Danny asked dumbly, having no clue what Aiden was going on about since he was too busy checking out two witches who were making out on a blanket behind them. One looked vaguely familiar but he couldn't place her. Well that and he was starving, having only eaten a cold slice of Freya's leftover pizza this morning before apparating to meet up with Aiden. His hazel eyes lit up as his friend shoved a plate of food into his chest, not even noticing that his name was elegantly scrawled across the top, but letting out a low whistle when he saw the delicious looking sandwiches inside.

"How did she know ham and cheese are my favorite?" he asked with his mouth full, not even waiting a moment before digging in and he shot a glance at Ros with admiration in his eyes. "I love her," he said with the familiar sense of adoration he always had for Ros.

The tatted guy sitting next to her, on the other hand, was a whole other story. And he belatedly realized that those two were what Aiden had meant by his earlier question. "Ros and Stringfellow? No way," he guessed immediately, no hesitation or doubt, but not with any real facts or evidence. All gut feeling. "Stringfellow doesn't seem the dating type." At least not that he knew of. Then again, he mostly stayed far from that wizard as possible. There were some people at the Ministry that he avoided after upsetting some upper management in his early years and almost getting fired, twice. So he had been slow on the uptake, but he had learned what kind of people not to mess with and Stringfellow definitely fit into that category.

Plus the guy could probably curse him into oblivion with an easy flick of his wrist. Or at least he looked like he did with all those tattoos. Danny, who had 0 tattoos and no real interest in getting any, did wonder at the fascination Stringfellow must have with them. And also exactly how far down those tattoos went. He was pretty sure he had bet Jere on it, but tis not like they had a way to verify. Well maybe if Ros and he did become a thing, he could ask her.

He glanced at Aiden and grinned at his friend's grumbles. Probably shouldn't mention that though. "You don't like the guy?" Danny asked, amused. "I think they are a good match, seem to fit well together," he added sarcastically.

"Ros and Stricklander." he replied, mullish, as he tried to determine if they seemed too close. "She's a legimens and uses her powers to pluck out your deepest thoughts from your brain like a seeker catching the snitch." he said seriously, munching on his sandwich. He was kidding, of course, though he wouldn't put it past Ros to have learned the skill. She was too... on the side of good to use those sort of skills without reason. "I'm kidding." he said after a beat, grinning a little, as he looked at Danny. "She just stares at you with those teal eyes of hers until you blurt out your whole life story." ie: she asked Aiden nicely and Aiden told her. And she remembered bloody everything. Woman had the mind of an elephant. He grinned a little when his friend admitted his admiration, cackling a little, because it was sort of true. "Yea she's pretty great. I just wished she looked more like a hag, you know? It would save me the trouble." he said with a bit of a sigh.

If she looked like an ogre he wouldn't be camping out and stalking her date because there wouldn't be one. And if there was one it would be with someone harmless, like Fergie, and not someone like Stricklander.

"Thats what I'm worried about. What if hes...stringing...her along?" he said slowly, allowing the play on words to sit there for a second, before he grunted and was painfully reminded that he was an idiot who had a difficult time taking anything seriously. "Are you joking? Guy like that." he said, gesturing with his hand like Danny was blind. "Ros needs someone harmless and loyal. Not some dude thats-" he cut himself off, thinking, because he didn't know how to categorize Stricklander. If he hadn't been presumably all over his cousin he was vaguely sure he would have thought Stricklander was cool. His irrationality on the subject couldn't really be trusted but his gut as a fellow skirt chaser told him he wouldn't take a girl serious. And any guy that wouldn't take Ros serious wasn't the kind of guy he could respect. "Just himself." he finally landed on.

She's a what now?

Danny's hazel eyes widened, his mouth hanging open a bit with a beautiful display of his mushed up ham and cheese sandie, as Aiden talked about super powers he didn't know Ros had. Blimey, he wondered what else she would have picked up on... probably thoughts he shouldn't have been thinking. He flicked his gaze guiltily to his friend. "Oh well.." he swallowed thickly, trying to sort out some sort of apology? Or perhaps a question on if Ros had told Aiden any thoughts she might have gleaned from--- Wait what?

I'm kidding.

"Arsehole!" Danny complained as he pushed Aiden roughly, almost losing his sandwich in the process, but at least his heart was beating again now. He grinned a moment later. "Perhaps it's a good thing she can't read my mind," he told Aiden with a smirk, purposely being lascivious just to needle him.

Looked more like a hag? Danny glanced up from his sandwich to look back at Ros and Stringfellow and quickly made up his mind about that one. "Nah, she's great as is." Who cares what Aiden thought about it. Ros was nice and nice to look at. He wasn't gonna complain.

He pulled out a bag of crisps that Ros had packed for them and opened the bag with a satisfying pop before digging in, not bothering to offer any to Aiden as he gave him a lazy shrug, watching his friend as he huffed and puffed. A thought occurred to him that he probably looked the same way when it came to the idiot guys Maisey was dating. He shuddered. His little sister was 16 now. It was a good thing Edmund was good at checking in on their younger siblings still at school and could do the whole big-brother-intimidation thing if needed.

Danny could, however, provide another service for his friend. "Well, if you're looking to play matchmaker, I do know of a great looking single guy who's funny and smart and jacked," he said as he brought up his arm, curling his bicep and leaning in to kiss the muscle before grinning playfully. "No but seriously, mate. Ros is a badass. I'm sure she can handle herself," he told him bluntly.

He couldn't help the cackle that escaped him, teal eyes squinting, as he leaned back in an effort to contain his laughter. "Shoulda seen yer' face." he managed, grinning wildly, as he studied his friend. "Oh gross." he managed, making a face, at the thought of Ros in a ... in that way. He definitely did not see the appeal, probably because she babied him and smothered him in a rather sibling-mom type of way. Ros was just Ros and he was unable to comprehend her as a woman at all. It didn't make sense for men to want to paw at her, and it definitely didn't strike his mind that maybe she'd want to be pawed at. At the same time Ros was pretty fierce and intense when she wanted to be like a mama dragon.

"You only say that coz you like lookin'." along with other wizards. He wasn't sure how his cousins withstood it, actually, without wanting to deck someone. Sometimes the satisfaction oh physical violence was better than cursing them, he found, not that he'd ever get that angry at Danny of all people.

"She'd probably eat you for breakfast." he agreed, smiling a little at the thought, before his gaze swiveled and teal eyes met teal. Ah, fuck, they'd been caught. He ducked his head, shoving a sandwich into his mouth, as his ears turned red. He looked over at Danny, feeling the rush of guilt, and deciding he was just going to eat and ignore it. It was an excelent plan, actually. It was different when he'd waved, and she'd had a look on her face that usually meant he wasn't going to like something.

He pushed his friend again, just for good measure, but Danny was still laughing. It was kind of funny. Especially when he was able to get Aiden back just as quickly with his little joke, smirking to himself as he happily took another bite of his sandwich. That'll teach him.

You only say that coz you like lookin' Danny grinned and nodded immediately. "Course I do. Can you blame me?" he said easily, not denying it for a second. Ros was fit and she made him sandwiches out of the kindness of her heart? Yeah, it didn't take much to win him over. Now if she could make some killer homemade nachos, Danny would be in love in two seconds flat.

Danny laughed louder, biting his lip, as he could only think of double entendres that his friend probably did not mean, but he waggled his brows at Aiden nonetheless. "Wouldn't complain about that either, mate," he said with a grin before he followed Aiden's gaze. Ros, looking at them. Unlike Aiden, Danny had the opposite reaction. He smiled widely and lifted his arm, waving his hand a bit in hello before he made a big gesture at pointing to the sandwiches she had made for them and giving her an exaggerated big thumbs up in thanks.

He glanced at Aiden who was busy shoveling food in. "At least say hello," he said with a laugh as he flicked a chip at his face.

"Yes." he agreed readily, though a small smile curved his lips. Even as irritating as it all was, it was still at least a little amusing. He'd never not find the amusement in the utter ridiculous. He figured if his cousin kept plying his friends with food she'd get a never-ending stream of new admirers. Which: irritating. Expected, but irritating nonetheless.

"You say that now." he added, laughter bubbling in his chest. "-carnal satisfaction won't save you from her ire, I'll tell you that much." he said smartly, though he'd not divulge why that was exactly. Truthfully he wasn't sure why he was so worried. When you considered Ros' recent indentured dating history, he really should not have been worried. It figured that was the reason Ollie and Alex seemed to be so relaxed. They'd been lulled into a false sense of security from Ros' vehement rejection of any suitor that materialized via Insanely Singleminded Mama Hayes. Even the men she'd dated of her own volition, of which was a depressingly minuscule number, mind, she'd still summarily dismissed eventually.

Aiden supposed he was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Eventually she would fancy someone enough to get serious and he was hyperaware that was about friggin due. He didn't want someone like Stricklander (with his posh suit, casual cool ways, and allergy to commitment) to be the guy. He lamented everyday that Ros couldn't just shack up with Flume and be done with it. It would save her poor cousin the worry.

"Fine." he muttered, mouth full, even as another prickle of guilt went over him. He waved his hand in greeting, feeling justification and shame fight for dominance, before he focused his attention on Danny. "It's not like I think she needs it, exactly. She's just... I'm just worried, ya know?" he admitted, deflating a bit. He'd curse Hunt everyday for forever if he could, for damaging her. And then the war for really adding salt to the wound.

"You think I'm not used to women being annoyed or angry with me?" Danny said around a mouthful of sandwich as he gave Aiden a look. Yeah, he was practically Mayor of Danny-what-did-you-do Ville with all the time he spent there. He joked himself about the myriad of reasons why he was still tragically single and yet at the same time, he very well knew he inadvertently pissed off girls left and right. Wouldn't stop him from trying though. Even with an angel like Ros.

Danny grinned as his friend reluctantly waved hello and shoved at him playfully before he almost dropped the other half of his sandwich, which he gasped at, his eyes going wide before he managed to save it. Whew.

"You're worried?" he repeated, his brows raised as he took another bite and chewed. It took him all of two seconds to make up his mind on what he thought about that. "You always worry over the dumbest things," he said in his usual fashion of not-so-endearing bluntness. "Ros can handle herself better than even you or I can probably."

He grabbed at some more crisps, feeling hungrier even as he ate, and thought over it some more. "But I guess.. I see where you're coming from. When Wendy starts dating," he said mentioning his youngest sister who was only a second year this term. "It's all over." He wasn't normally the 'tough' brother, he let Edmund take on that  intimidation role, but with Wendy, it was different. He felt even more protective over her than usual and he knew how dumb boys at Hogwarts could be.

He winced for a second, preferring not to tackle that thought directly, before sort of just nodding a bit. The subject was getting uncomfortably close to she-who-shall-not-be-spoken about.

He laughed a second later at Danny's clumsy attempt at food before taking another bite of his own sandwich.

"I know." he confirmed, sighing. He really did worry about strange things, couldn't quite help it most the time. "She'd fuck someone up." he added with a smile, significantly perked up. He supposed most of his worry stemmed from the fact that he couldn't see Ros settle for someone mild-tempered. It would have to be someone strong enough to handle her job, and he knew just what kind of mind that could turn out to be. She had a soft heart underneath all that badassery and he was just, well, he couldn't help wanting to protect her.

"Yea men are the worst." he managed, grinning, as he cackled at the absurd thought.

She'd fuck someone up.

Danny grinned unabashedly. "She's welcome to do that anytime to me," he joked and then laughed, tossing a crisp at Aiden's face before grabbing a handful and munching on them. "But mate, she really would. No need to worry," he agreed a little more seriously a second later. It seemed so simple for Danny. Ros was a badass, no babysitter needed. Donezo.

Men are the worst? Danny chuckled and shook his head at the same time but still agreed. "Yeah, we really are. Oh look - it's about to start," he said, motioning toward the headless hunt with a corner of his half-eaten sandwich. "This should be good," he said as he watched the event begin.

/end

He glanced at Danny, giving a little shrug before grinning. In all honesty he wouldn't mind it if it were Danny, though he'd probably be more concerned with his friend than with his cousin at that point. Danny was a big boy, though, and despite everything he knew Ros would be sweet. He doubted she saw him as anything other than a younger sibling (she could be such a bloody mom) but he could probably change that. Maybe. Why he was overthinking this all he wasn't sure but, well, despite his carefree antics he did tend to overthink things.

He was distracted a moment later, however, by ghostly bodies. "Amazing." he said managed, eyes lighting up in excitement. He wasn't the only one that could be a child, actually, and the headless hunt was bound to be interesting, spooky, and exciting.

{out!}