|
Post by Alex Kameren on May 2, 2011 1:23:09 GMT -5
Rasputin pulled his owner along the muggle sidewalk, finding new things to investigate at every turn. Alex let the young dog think he held the upper paw, keeping his eyes out on the crowd. It was fairly crowded for a Tuesday evening, and he shortened the leash to keep Rasp closer. The shepherd came back to sniff Alex’s knees before venturing to the end of the line once more.
It was a pleasantly cool evening, dusk was just beginning to fall on the city, deepening the London city smog that smudged grey across the taller buildings. The pair reached the red phone booth, now hopelessly outdated in this future of cells and other mobile personal devices. But the wizards didn’t know this, for they cared little for paying attention to the true state of Muggle technology, and so clung to their old ways. Alex leaned against the old glass and red metal and waited.
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on May 2, 2011 11:24:35 GMT -5
"Max, you're not going to be like this all night for Alex, are you?"
Max didn't say anything, just glared up at the lanky form of his father. They held hands as they made their way to Mungo's on the Muggle London streets, probably more for Curse's sake than Max's. Max's father had been a wreck the last few days; He had changed his antidote ingredients, and hadn't eaten or slept since. He shook uncontrollably, making it difficult to move down the sidewalk without attracting muggle attention.
Max had been keeping an eye out for his father even more than usual, which was why it was such an insult that Curse insisted he go alone to overnight treatment. He said it was for Max's own good, but Max knew that that was just something his father said to keep him from worrying. This overnight treatment would be a painful one, physically and mentally. Curse just couldn't do it knowing Max was there, waiting for him. Max had slept on too many gurneys already.
"You promised," the frustration in Max's voice was obvious. Max had made Curse promise him he wouldn't stay the night at a hospital without him, not since the night he had stayed with Alex. It had barely been a few months, and Curse was already breaking that promise. He heard his father sigh, but Max refused to have sympathy for him. He was the one wrong here. Max wanted to help, knew he could help.
The two continued on to the muggle entrance to the hospital in a tense silence. Max kept his eyes forward, glaring down anything in his path. His pouting only increased when they came upon the phone booth that admitted patients living in the muggle world, and they spied Alex waiting for them. Waiting for him, rather.
"Hey Alex," Curse's hand squeezed tighter on Max's, prompting him to greet his uncle. Max didn't take the bait, his round green eyes downcast purposefully toward the sidewalk. Curse looked down at him and sighed. He put his hand on Max's shoulder, and the boy briskly shook him off. "We're not on the best of terms tonight." Max grunted. Darn right they weren't.
"Thanks for taking him," Curse smiled at his brother before kneeling to get at eye-level with his son. The two locked eyes, their identical green gaze reflecting each other. "I'll be there to pick you up in the morning, okay? I promise."
Max couldn't keep his straight face under his father's gaze. He gave in, hugging Curse tightly. "Get better," He mumbled before letting go and letting his father stand. He frowned as His father rustled his hair and stood. He stepped into the phone booth, typed the number for entering Mungo's, and disappeared.
The street seemed eerily quiet without the influence of his father. The uncle and nephew stood mostly alone, quiet save for the panting of Rasputin between them. Max smiled at the dog, petting him in friendly greeting. He glanced up at Alex, his round eyes questioning: "Now what?"
|
|
|
Post by Alex Kameren on May 2, 2011 23:06:29 GMT -5
"Hey Alex," […] "We're not on the best of terms tonight." Max grunted. Darn right they weren't.
“Hey.” Alex said, giving Curse a concerned look. He looked worse than he had in weeks… Alex looked away, down at his nephew. The young boy was obviously upset with his father, and sullen. Alex truly didn’t blame him, he was not the best babysitter.
“Raarrrf!” Rasp woofed happily, doggily oblivious to the tensions in the air. He stood and wagged his tail, sidling up to Max in an invitation to play. Well at least there was always the dog.
"Thanks for taking him,”
“Not a problem.” he answered, though he was sure there was going to be a problem. He loved his nephew but there were always problems. “Go.” He prompted his brother, watching as he entered the phone booth and disappeared. Good luck. He wasn’t sure if it were for himself or Curse.
"Now what?"
“That,” Alex started walking down the street, dog and boy at his side. “That is a very excellent question, Max.”
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on May 3, 2011 22:06:48 GMT -5
“That,” Alex started walking down the street, dog and boy at his side. “That is a very excellent question, Max.”
Max looked up at Alex, keeping a hand on Rasputin as he kept pace with the animal. He never understood when people answered a question by complementing the question; what did that answer? He didn't reply, however, just looked forward down the road as he reached for ideas.
"We could just watch movies like we did last time. Aunt Anna got me a game we could play... wait, I forgot that at home. nevermind." The young wizard chatted more to himself than to his uncle; he knew Alex was usually quiet, and his father had explained to him that sometimes it was difficult for Alex to speak. Max had no problem speaking, however, and was happy to do it. Constantly.
"OH! I know what we can do!" Max stopped, a grin on his face as he stuffed a hand into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled green piece of paper. He handed it up to his uncle: Katie's Cones: medium cones buy one, get one half-off! Expires February. Max smiled at his own cleverness; he had forgotten that he had gotten that coupon from Peter a few weeks ago. That could be something they both would enjoy. Everyone likes ice cream. Even Rasputin, though Max wasn't sure if he was supposed to have any.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Kameren on May 8, 2011 22:48:06 GMT -5
"We could just watch movies like we did last time. Aunt Anna got me a game we could play... wait, I forgot that at home. nevermind."
Alex let Max run on, the truth was he rarely knew what to do with Max, and often ended up letting him chose activities on his own. Fortunately the kid was not malicious, and the babysitting sessions never ended up totally disastrous. He’d even had fun sometimes, though it would take a lot of effort for a person to get him to admit to it. Unless it were Max, Alex never seemed to hold out long against the boisterous young boy’s questions.
"OH! I know what we can do!"
Katie's Cones: medium cones buy one, get one half-off! Expires February.
“This expired in February.” Alex noted, after reading the note with difficulty, for in places the creases had worn away the words. He looked down at Max as the child’s face fell. “Well…” He cleared his throat, tucking the coupon away in a pocket. “I don't see any harm in going anyway." He took Max by the hand, somewhat awkwardly. He'd held his hand before, but it was still a novel experience to the Auror. Children just had never been one of his strong points.
"Think they'll let Rasp in?" He asked as they made their way to Max's favorite ice cream shop. They had never visited the shop with Rasp in tow before.
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on May 14, 2011 22:43:32 GMT -5
“This expired in February.” Max's face fell slightly when Alex mentioned it. He looked up at the coupon in Alex's hand, examining it himself. His frown increased when he found it. Darn. “Well…” Max's round green eyes flashed up at his uncle, hope gleaming on his young face. He smiled. “I don't see any harm in going anyway."
"Yeah!" He grinned as he took his uncle's hand. Alex was awkward at best, but he meant well. That was enough for Max. He stumbled forward suddenly as they walked, tripping over himself. His grip on Alex's hand tightened, using his uncle to steady himself. He had been getting exceedingly clumsy lately; he wasn't used to his growing height. He ignored his stumble, smiling up at Alex as they continued.
"Think they'll let Rasp in?
"I don't think so," Max replied, his eyes wandering upwards to inspect the ice cream store's sign. "I can hold him!" Max smiled, putting a hand on Rasp's leash and smiling at Alex. "You get us ice cream cones, and I can hold him for you."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Kameren on May 14, 2011 23:11:20 GMT -5
"Yeah!"
Alex gave one of his rare smiles, looking down at his nephew. The kid wasn’t half bad. He wondered if this was what Curse had been like as a child. It was hard to picture. Rasp panted at his other side, trotting along the London sidewalk next to his human. Life was good for the dog, the boy was here, and the boy always gave him treats. Rasp loved treats.
"I don't think so," Max replied, his eyes wandering upwards to inspect the ice cream store's sign. "I can hold him!" Max smiled, putting a hand on Rasp's leash and smiling at Alex. "You get us ice cream cones, and I can hold him for you."
Alex frowned at the sign, this was a difference between the wizarding world and the muggle one, he could usually bring Rasp anywhere he cared to in his world. Muggles were rather more uptight. He looked down at the dog, sitting by his side and looking carefree. He didn’t like leaving Max out here alone, but he’d practically promised ice cream and he’d be safe with Rasputin. He’d only be a few minutes anyway.
“Ah…ahlright.” He agreed, handing the leash to Max. “Sit… stay!” He instructed the dog, “Your usual?” He asked the child, waiting for Max’s answer before he disappeared inside.
----
The line was longer than expected, and he sighed with relief as he finally exited the shop. His momentary peace was shattered, however, as he looked over to where he’d left Max and Rasputin. Nothing. Empty space.
“MAX?!”
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on May 18, 2011 23:35:00 GMT -5
Max stood outside the ice cream store with a smile on his face, his nose wrinkling whenever Rasp's wagging tail his him. He swatted playfully at the dog, laughing. He hoped Alex knew that his new 'usual' was actually strawberry, not chocolate... He felt a sudden tug on the leash. "Rasp, stay." He said. Another pull, harder. Max lurched forward with the dog. "Stay. What are you even looking for?" Max looked where the dog was looking, holding onto the leash with two hands as the pulling continued. The dog pulled him along, Max digging his sneakers into the pavement with no results. "Rasp!" he yelled, but the dog seemed to not be hearing him.
"Merlin, you're gonna rip my arm off," he grumbled, giving into the resistance and just trying to keep up with the dog. The two crossed the street, the dog pulling him down a few more blocks and around a corner. Max's round emerald eyes narrowed, frowning when they came upon what had brought them there. "A chihuahua, Rasp? Really?" He looked up at the owner of the dog, smiling apologetically. "No offense."
He looked around. How did Rasp know there was a dog park here? He was sure Alex hadn't known, this was deep inside muggle London. The chihuahua must smell really strong. Max shrugged, petting Rasputin as he carefully lead him to a bench and sat. The young wizard bit his lip, looking around in the streets. How could he get back to the ice cream shop? Well, Alex was an auror. Hopefully he'd be able to find him.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Kameren on May 22, 2011 13:47:40 GMT -5
“Goddamn.” Alex swore, dropping the cones to the ground. He didn’t need them, they would just get in the way and he could always buy more. He instinctively reached for his wand, but aborted the motion. Muggles. They were everywhere. And his wandless magic was negligible. Alex, big, hulking auror, a man who could once cast a simple spell and find his nephew in moments, was reduced to walking up to random passers-by and interrogating them. He started with the old man who had been sitting outside the shop when he’d entered, and made his way slowly, tracking his errant dog and nephew.
Alex rubbed the side of his face, gave the lady a sardonic bow and continued his search. Merlin! What did that old hag carry in that bag, bricks?? It was a long, rambling route, but eventually he came upon a dog park. The auror rolled his eyes, then searched the fenced grounds for his missing wards. Not spying them amongst the chaos, he blew two short, piercing blasts between his fingers. If he couldn’t see them, at least Max, and more importantly, Rasp, could hear that. Find the dog, and he would most certainly find Max.
He sighed. Why couldn't this be simple?
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on Jun 2, 2011 21:52:15 GMT -5
Alex may be an expert auror with special powers to help find missing people, but he was really taking a long time finding Max. The young wizard crossed his arms as he sat cross-legged on the bench. Rasputin had finally calmed, sitting dutifully next to the bench. Max loosely held his leash; if that dog was going to run again, this time Max was just going to let him. The bloody thing practically ripped his arm off. Max rubbed his shoulder gingerly, sending Rasp a dirty look.
Max quickly got sick of waiting. "C'mon, Rasp, we'll try finding him ourselves," Max tugged at Rasp's leash, hopping down from the bench and heading towards the street. The two crossed paths with a beagle on their way; apparently offended by Rasp's superior size, the dog started barking. Max covered his ears to the offending sound, letting go of Rasp's leash. Rasputin immediately bolted in the opposite direction, towards a different part of the park. "Rasp!" Max huffed, his brow furrowing angrily. What had gotten into him today? Max was about to start after the dog, when the beagle's owner spoke.
"Excuse me lad, is there a problem?"
Max looked up at the woman. She was old, probably as old as Curse's mum Violet. She had a cane, with the beagle's leach wrapped around the opposite hand. She looked at him kindly through small, round eyes. "I'm trying to find my uncle. He's really tall and kinda grumpy--"
"Is that him?" The old woman pointed in the opposite direction, where Max could see a familiar-looking thin, brown-haired form. He smiled excitedly as he scampered clumsily across the park.
"Alex! Alex!" Max called his uncle's name as he ran, stumbling over himself in his excitement. He pulled on his uncle's jacket to get his attention. "Alex--"
--and, naturally, it wasn't him.
"Oh, sorry." Max turned red before stalking awkwardly away. Rats.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Kameren on Jun 7, 2011 0:13:22 GMT -5
“Woof!” Rasp ran up to him, trailing his leash and wagging his tail. The dog’s tongue lolled, he clearly had been enjoying himself. Unfortunately, there was no sign of Max. Damn. Alex closed his eyes briefly as he latched onto Rasputin’s collar, mechanically untangling the leash from the shepard’s front leg. Grunting as he straightened, Alex sent a measuring look at the fence that separated him from his dog, and most likely, his nephew. A short, instinctive look around, and he placed one large palm on the top of the fence, almost being able to simply step over. Almost.
Casting one more look around, Alex crouched, shielded by Rasp’s body as he tangled one hand in the dog’s ruff. “Alright lad,” he whispered, praying the spell would work. “Where’d you leave him?” light pooled around his hand before the warmth disappeared. Golden paw tracks led across the park, visible only to the caster. Alex followed the flickering paw prints, hoping to find Max before the spell wore out.
“MAX!” He shouted, scanning the park for the familiar tall, gangly child.
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on Jul 3, 2011 10:19:02 GMT -5
Max frowned, crossing his arms impatiently. How could he lose track of Alex so easily? Not only was Alex an experienced auror, but he was huge. People as big and tall as Alex were like a beacon among the London crowds, towering over the shorter Europeans. His father was the same way, and Max probably would be someday too, if his current height over the other Hogwarts children was any indication. How could you lose someone that size?
"Alex? Aaaaalexxx..." The young wizard wandered around, frowning as he searched for his babysitter. The sun was starting to go down, and Max wasn't supposed to be out on the London streets at night alone. He was getting more and more concerned as he walked, his concerned frown starting to turn to a panicked grimace. What would he do if he couldn't find Alex? Rasp wasn't even around for him now.
“MAX!”
"ALEX!" Max turned on his heel and ran furiously towards the voice, a smile breaking across his face when he finally found his uncle. "Thank Merlin!" He smiled, arching a brow in a chiding manner as he imitated what his father and the rest of his family when he wandered off. "There you are. Stop getting lost, I was worried sick!"
|
|
|
Post by Alex Kameren on Aug 14, 2011 20:22:54 GMT -5
"ALEX!" Max turned on his heel and ran furiously towards the voice, a smile breaking across his face when he finally found his uncle. "Thank Merlin!" He smiled, arching a brow in a chiding manner as he imitated what his father and the rest of his family when he wandered off. "There you are. Stop getting lost, I was worried sick!"
“RROWRFF.” Rasp agreed happily, breaking from Alex’s hold to greet his lost human. The dog jumped up, leaning his paws on the boy’s shoulders and cleaning his face with his tongue. His tail wagged furiously, as if he were taking credit for reuniting the two.
“Rasputin!” Alex barked, pulling the dog off his nephew. A sharp tap on the dog’s rump and the shepherd sat, seeming unperturbed as his tail wagged and his tongue lolled. “Hey Max.” He ruffled the kid’s hair, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as Max chided him for getting lost.
“Alright, promise I won’t wander off.” He steered Max the way he had come. By now, the park was nearly empty as dark encroached. “How about that ice cream-- then after dinner I can show you how to make real cookies for your dad.” He lifted Rasp, then Max over the fence before climbing over himself.
|
|