Sixth Year Singles: Sad or Slutty? (All Sixth Years Welcome)

Tilly's comment embarrassed him a tad, his face heating up, but it was unnoticeable under his glow. But more importantly, he couldn't help but wonder if she was... flirting with Liz? Like Ren was inadvertently setting up ways for the Hufflepuff to compliment her older friend. He supposed it wasn't strange, but it made him feel a bit, undeservingly, envious. Undeserving, meaning, he had no right to be. "Well, The Princess has ascended us into aristocracy. I am honored," Ren gave her a gaudy bow, but his tone was playful. Not teasing. He truly wished she wouldn't take it as teasing.

"Or the bitter horror of watching the person you've been hitting on all night's bracelet slowly fade to green the more you speak to them," Ren added onto Liz's musings, eyebrows raised in humor, and he let out a tiny, intoxicated chuckle. He couldn't help but wonder what a bracelet like that would look like on him. Gleaming an acid green until he drowned himself in absinthe, and then suddenly flashing pink for all the world to see. Get at me, fuckers, I'm desperate as hell. Of course, he already felt like he came off that way in general, but that's a worry for another time. The feeling tried to build itself, a tight ball of anxiety, and he swallowed it down with Liz's gift of More Booze.

Faux kisses from Tilly added to Ren's skewed idea that the two girls were becoming a bit more than friendly. His dark eyes fell on the Gryffindor, a glimpse of competition beneath his gaze, as he would on the pitch as they passed each other. Whether or not she understood his intentions, it didn't matter to him. But through his drunken confidence, he felt the need to solidify his goal tonight. His goal being, well, maybe he would hit on Tilly tonight, Elizabeth Reeves, and you better back off.

However, before he could utter a word, Liz called over one of their peers, and Ren turned his back to the bar, glancing the pajama dressed Gryffon over. "Maine Coon with a bird in her mouth... No, but I saw a Norwegian Forest with a newt, holding hands," He rubbed his shoulder and smirked, "Nope. No cats. Really sorry, Pierce." He sipped his drink, a slew of "yeah, we're great at finding pussy cats" jokes lingering on his tongue after Lachlan's comment. He was thankful that he had even the tiniest bit of self control still, else he'd be ducking out the lounge with a bag over his head from something so utterly horrendous.

Aside from the distraction, Ren couldn't help but find Tilly's concern over the cat endearing. He knew little of Gryffon's pets, but, "Pretty sure I lost to a Maine Coon last week in the ring. She'll be okay, probably conquering the dance floor by now," He added, in attempt to be reassuring, leaning against his elbows.

While Llewellyn was thinking, Edmund was basking in the horror of his own forwardness. He reran the current scenario in his head a thousand times within those few moments, wondering what was wrong with him.

You're lonely. He told himself. It was true. He hadn't been in a relationship in a long time. Which was as a result of realizing he was attracted to men. He had dated a girl or two at Hogwarts, being a model boyfriend. He was always considerate and kind. He had enjoyed sexual activities, though he didn't seem to enjoy them as much as others seemed to. And it was moments like this, sitting with a seemingly great, normal guy, that caused his stomach to flip and terror to line his gut, that he wondered if he ever really liked women after all.

In the middle of considering his sexuality, his thoughts were interrupted by Llewellyn biting his lip. Nothing a girl had done in his past had turned him on as much as that small gesture. As if to echo his feelings, one of Llewellyn's fingers slipped under his bracelet, and his skin burned where he touched it. "So let's talk about this," Llewellyn said to him carefully, "Because you don't seem disinterested... So you either have a girlfriend or boyfriend who wants a threesome or you're just as afraid as I was when you came in and looked at that table."

"Definitely the second," Edmund laughed, pulling his wrist away from Llewellyn's hand so that the bracelet came off with a pop. He returned his hand to where it was, running his fingers along the boy's forearm, "I didn't come here looking for something, but..." He looked up at Llewellyn with a grin. That's when he noticed his brother take a seat near him, and he was able to distinguish the terror in his gut. He didn't want his brother to see him hitting on a guy quite yet.

"Do you want to take a walk?" He asked, moving his hand to down the rest of his drink. He moved from his chair, reaching a hand out to his companion. If he refused, it would be an easy enough exit. Or more accurately, escape.

The dancing didn't help. Bridgette's combination of alcohols was making her head spin, and she didn't feel as sexy as she wanted to. Looking to the side of the room, she noticed a big fluffy mess. 

"Kitty!" she exclaimed, not that anyone could hear her over the music. She ran to it so she could pet it, and it sensed her movement, running away. "Damn it," she pouted, looking around the room. It suddenly was not a place that she wanted to be. Here she was, looking for a good time, and she was the one having drama at her own party. 

Her stomach turned, but it wasn't from the alcohol. What was Ana's problem? The girl was so infuriating. Bridgette loved to fight with her. She wanted to spend time with her. And here she was, running away. Bridgette had known it would be a pursuit, and had given up the moment she was discouraged. Then again, she wasn't one to actually chase someone she was interested in, just hit on them relentlessly until they made a move. 

She resolved to get some fresh air. She needed to clear her head or she was going to do something stupid. 

Bridgette flipped her hair, adjusted her skirt, and strode through the dance floor and through the bar, head held high. The door to the room of requirement closed behind her and she finally got a taste of how really drunk she was. 

The small strands dark of hair that sprouted from his arm stood up on end in the wake of Edmund's slow and deliberate touch. Half lidded green eyes followed the separation of the bracelet as it fell to the grimy surface of the bar where he could see the overhead lights reflection, himself in all his listless bedhead glory, and Edmund. Smiling and laughing not at him because he said something stupid or embarrassed himself (by some miracle he hadn't!?), but because he genuinely enjoyed his company... and that was an odd thing for Llewellyn to wrap his head around. Ana just screeched at him the whole time and to Kai, Llewellyn had the inkling he was just a habit of comfort. 

His eyes lifted, but Edmund was getting up from his stool. 

Walk?! A walk!? Llewellyn nearly choked. He had simply been trying to be coy, an unexplored territory for the curious and hormonal teenager, and suddenly he was deeply regretting the decision as a number of anxiety laden scenarios crossed his mind as he wondered what that something Edmund was referencing was exactly. He hadn't actually expected for it to work. Namely, this was because he didn't view himself as a sensual person in the slightest. He was awkward, uncomfortable, physically unappealing and overall just a less than mediocre human being. He hadn't even brushed his hair before showing up at the party. And that ridiculous stereotype that gay men were supposed to dress well? Clearly, it did not apply to Llewellyn, in his ratty grunge chic jeans and vintage tee that were one yardsale away from a vagabond's shopping cart. 

Llewellyn's sense of self value was dismally skewed, but that was just the tip of the emotional baggage iceberg that Edmund did not deserve. He was getting cold feet, but concurrently, he was torn, as brain freaked out and his body was giving way to an entirely different set of wants and desires and refused to observe any of the misgivings going through his head. Instead, he reached out, and interwove his fingers with Edmunds as he also raised from his stool and left with the Strangways boy. 

Edmund Strangways