holiday ((atticus & lien))

After the incident at the Valentine's Festival, James was deeply afraid that he wouldn't be able to embark on the holiday with Lien and Atticus; he didn't want to be stuck going to addiction-related group therapy around a bunch of people who've been following news stories about him since birth. He didn't intend to get high nor did he know where the drugs in his pockets came from. It was so bizarre! James was rather fortunate that ingesting the pixie dust made him cough enough that he ended up spending a couple of hours at St. Mungo's to run tests. All he knew was that he never wanted to feel that way ever again. In the end, his mum and his mind healer agreed that the trip to the hot springs resort would be fine as it'd be extremely difficult to get access to the drugs all the way over there and he'd have his boyfriend and friend to hold him accountable.

The trip took longer than he initially anticipated as he failed to account for time differences; no wonder why the portkey to the resort activated hours later. The three of them had killed plenty of time waiting at the Galleria with James giving Lien a grand tour, Atticus some of the sweets he saved from that festival.

After hours and hours, they were finally settling into their rental cabin; it was luxurious and grand as a cabin intended for one couple could be. James hadn't realized he only booked one of the single bedroom cabins as he arranged it before inviting Atticus to join in.

He flopped onto the couch in the sitting/living room and stretched. "Been quite a day, innit? And we've only just begun!" The drinks or water or hot springs here wouldn't be spiked, right?

@Lien Chang @Atticus Nott

Lien knew that he was going to be very excited about going there, and he had managed to bore the two of them with his factual knowledge of Ilvermorny as they walked around the Galleria. He knew that Atticus was only being polite when he listened, but James seemed genuinely interested. He was very sweet in that way: hearing him talk extensively about any given subject was something of a comfort to him. Atticus, who had been staying at Ilvermorny for a few weeks now, didn't know half the things he was saying.

It had been awkward to begin with. Lien didn't feel entirely natural around Atticus as he had done over the years, and he could tell Atticus was feeling awkward as well. No one had brought anything up though, which was nice. They were all there to enjoy themselves after all.

When they got into the cabin, Lien had a good, long look around the place while Atticus only seemed bothered in the kitchen facilities. The first problem of their trip was encountered as soon as Lien finished his exploration: there was only one room.

Walking back into the living room where Atticus was trying some of the sweets James got him, he sighed heavily. "James... we have a bit of a problem. Where are we all going to sleep? There's only one bed, and it's a small bed at that: I'm not sure it's even a queen."

@James Potter

"... I hope to get a lot of use out of that oven. I haven't seen one like that before! It's as if these cabins are equipped to serve an army, not two or three people."

He was saying this to James as he sat near him on an armchair. He had already unpackaged his complimentary robe and was wearing it over his clothes, trying to get into the mood of the holiday. Perhaps it was the sugar rush, but he was very excited to get into things... with the two of them.

When Lien came in and said what he did, Atticus froze mid-bite and put the packet onto the coffee table in front of him.

"Well... I mean, you two should have the bed, obviously, and er..."

@James Potter

"Er, I dunno how much cooking you'll get done over a weekend."

James undid his trousers slightly to finally let his body breathe; he enjoyed the food court a bit too much to say the least. "I think there's some sorta, er, grocery store around here. I'm gonna have to look through that visitor folder thing."

The TV in the living room was situated in a fancy wooden cabinet unlike the ones he saw at Ilvermorny. Was that a record player too? Did he see that listed in the amenities? He wasn't sure actually; he scheduled the vacation not long after he and Lien made up.

Looking over at Lien, James blinked in confusion. Was there really only one bed? Only one bedroom? His fingers lightly scratched his hip as he asked, "Er, how big is the room?"

@Lien Chang @Atticus Nott

"Fairly spacious, but I have a feeling any enchantments done to their furniture won't be tolerated," he said, folding his arms and sighing. This was very typical of James to book somewhere that wouldn't fit them all in. It was almost comical, so he was struggling not to laugh at that point. Instead, he pretended to cough lightly onto the back of his hand.

"We could always..."

Rotate?

He looked at Atticus. Atticus was currently eyeing up James like an excited mutt hearing a can opener. He pretended not to notice and pushed his glasses up.

"Well I suppose it's only fair if we each take a turn sleeping on the sofa. That way, everyone pulls the short straw once."

As soon as he saw skin, he was sitting upright and gliding his lip through his teeth, suffering silently. James hadn't even meant to entice him, he just managed to do it without trying. All Atticus could think about was having his turn with James in that bed, and he crossed his legs over. Was anyone really as into someone as Atticus was with James? Or was he just useless and controlling himself?

Urgh.

He forced himself to participate neutrally in the conversation.

"That sounds fair, I suppose. But we can just think about that tonight, it's still day time. Are you tired already or something, Lien?" he asked, intending for it to be light-hearted and bantery, but it ended up sounding a little malicious. Oops.

Lien was giving him a look now...

@James Potter

"Er, yeah, we only just got here..."

Urgh, his skin felt as if it was burning. He was going to have to apply some lotion.

Before or after the first trek to one of the springs?

Hm....

James looked between the two and, for once, took notice of the tension that was filling the room. Was he the one in the middle this time?

"If we, er, do take turns, how are we gonna determine who gets the couch?"

Surely there had to be a better alternative than that. What if the couch didn't pull out?

@Lien Chang @Atticus Nott

Hmm...

He looked at Lien and smirked triumphantly.

"Down-in-one?" he suggested ominously.

"No, Atticus, we're not doing down-in-one to decide who gets the sofa," he said grouchily, folding his arms. At least James didn't seem to be responding to him at all. He was perfectly unaware of the rising tension between them, or was he? Maybe they all just needed some way of getting it all out of their systems. Not talking about it made everything even more unbearable.

"Down-in-one was a game we used to play in the dormitory, James," he explained, removing his coat and hanging it up on one of the pegs. "It's where you get a glass or a cup, or some kind of container. You start with water in it, then you go around the circle and each person adds something. As you do, you build up a story: each person adding one or two extra words. Whoever gets the story wrong has to drink the contents of the container."

He frowned, as Atticus laughed.

"But we're not going to do something on a holiday that could see all three of us being very sick."

He smiled at James.

"We can sort it out later. Let's just enjoy what's on offer here."

@James Potter

"If ya played that 'round Jer, he'd give everyone bloody detention the moment he sees alcohol." he joked as he took off his jumper; James did bring lighter clothes for the Californian sun, they were just with everything else they took currently.

Huh, that game sounded fun, but it wasn't something he had any interest in at this time. Having somebody other than Lien or Evelyn or his relatives grabbing him a drink was why he-

Wait a minute.

As if nothing else seemingly mattered in this moment of revelation, James' eyes widened as he looked at his bloke then at Atticus.

"Bloody hell, I think Lukas fucking spiked my drink..."

Even the itchy, burning sensation of his hip took less precedence.

It always took some kind of hindsight for James to realized what went down.

@Lien Chang @Atticus Nott

"Well, when we were younger it wasn't alcohol - just things like chilli flakes and milk and raw eggs - but we did involve it later..." Atticus was saying, but he seemed to trail off, staring as James removed his jumper.

Lien rolled his eyes.

The awkwardness only managed to dissolve when James spoke again, and he said something that didn't make sense at first. Lien had known that James hadn't been feeling well, and drugs had managed to end up in his possession after Valentine's, but the incident didn't seem to be too concerning. He had been worried that James could relapse, but it seemed like he hadn't. Whatever struggles he was going through, he hadn't voiced them too much. Lien said he was there for him, and reassured him, but that was all he could really do when it came to James and drugs.

But now he was saying someone spiked him?

"Why do you suddenly think that?" he asked quietly, sitting down next to him and moving his hand to rest on top of his.

Atticus was frowning.

"Lukas, as in Lukas Parkinson? What?"

@James Potter

"Lukas got us drinks, y'know? And, er, mine was somewhat shimmer than yours, yeah?"

He held onto Lien's hand, giving it a light squeeze as he looked down.

"He did it as a token of sorry after punching me the day before..."

And why did he believe it? Lukas never liked him.

@Lien Chang @Atticus Nott

"If that's true that's kind of messed up..."

Of course he knew James wasn't making it up, but there was a possibility he could be mistaken?

"So you felt something after drinking it? Or was it just the fact that it was sparkling more?"

Before he actively cut Lukas Parkinson out from his life entirely, he needed to be certain that it really was the case. Going by how Lien was looking, though, he already had his answer. He was with him at the time, he probably noticed the change in his behaviour.

Atticus glanced down at the floor, running his hand through his curls. They momentarily flattened before pinging right back up again. Part of him felt responsible for it. Had he led him (Lukas) along without realising?

@James Potter

"I felt something within minutes. Er, it was like I was invincible, but 'cause of how it went through my digestive system instead of being, er, snorted, it mainly just made me feel bloody sick. The taste was sorta disgusting, but I thought that was just how it was. Y'know how, er, gross cocktails can taste?"

Then he thought about what his own father had told him when he mentioned his few weeks of sobriety months ago.

Until you've been sober for six months, I'd rather not be too hopeful about that.

It was as if a dam had ruptured within him as tears began to suddenly pour out of his eyes. "I was getting so bloody close to nearing half of six months of sobriety and now that's bloody ruined! When dad saw me after I was in the hospital, he just bloody looked at me as if I deserved it, as if I bloody asked for that to happen! I knew he wouldn't believe me if I said I didn't buy that dust myself! I knew he wouldn't believe me if I told him that I didn't bloody go out of my way to get high!"

Grabbing Lien, he pulled him close; he was the one in easiest reach. It felt a bit strange to have his bloke deal with his drug-related incidents as, in the past, it was mainly Atticus who comforted and took care of him whenever Jerome sent him for a forced detox.

They were away from the papers, from the vultures, from Britain in general. For once, James felt as if he could completely be open about his emotions.

@Atticus Nott @Lien Chang

When James started to cry, Lien was already putting his arms around him before he was yanked closer. He cradled the back of his head, and stroked his hair, trying to soothe him the best that he could.

"Don't think of it like that," he told him quietly, "This wasn't your fault at all, it wasn't intentional: it was just a spiteful trick that didn't go half to plan anyway. Atticus and I both know that you are sober, and you're going to stay that way. We'll make your Dad understand if he really doesn't believe you, but what does that matter anyway? You know that it wasn't intentional, and that's what matters."

He looked to Atticus to see if he had any words of comfort to say to him, but he had gone very quiet. He was just rubbing James's back, looking forlorn. He knew Atticus enough to know that he was blaming himself for Lukas's actions. It was very typical of him.

@James Potter

Pulling back, he gave a small smile to the both of them as he rubbed some of the tears strolling down his reddened cheeks with his wrist.

"I know I shouldn't be bloody crying or anything like that 'cause we're on a holiday, but sometimes I just can't bloody take it on the other side of the pond. I would've already moved out, but that'd be too much stress to deal with when the sprog's gonna be 'round next month, and I really don't wanna look at houses alone, y'know? I was so bloody glad we ended up going here for it 'cause nobody recognizes me! I can be like everybody else, the way I've been wanting to my entire life!"

Maybe he'd feel better about it if he thanked them for comforting him and in celebration of them.

"Er, I got gifts for the both of ya. I'll, er, compose myself and go get them."

James slowly eased himself off the couch and nodded at them. "Thanks for being there for me. I really mean it." Then, he walked through the cabin to where their luggage was.

@Lien Chang @Atticus Nott

He wished there was some short-term solution to that problem, and he wondered whether his parents would like James's company for a while. There was no question that their hospitality and welcome would be sincere, but he thought about whether it was awkward for James, who had never met them before. Anyway: perhaps that was something he could bring up later.

He was smiling at James, nodding to him, and exchanged a look of surprise when he mentioned gifts.

"James... but, this holiday is enough... you really didn't have to..."

Lien blushed. James was so sweet, and incredibly generous.

"I'll have Lien's then," Atticus jested, laughing at Lien's expression. He always got a little bit strange around gifts, and his birthday in general. The boys wouldn't have known his bloody birthday if they hadn't asked, and Lien probably would have spent it - quite comfortably - by himself in the library.

He looked at Lien, spreading his arm over the back of the couch, and tilting his head at him.

"We shouldn't worry, should we?" he asked him quietly, and Lien shook his head.

His fingers lightly touched the side of Lien's, and he didn't move away. He moved his finger very slightly, across the back of Atticus's knuckle.

Atticus felt a shiver go down his spine.

@James Potter

After he was sure his face looked normal enough, James put on one of his new summer t-shirts; it was almost embarrassing how some of his older ones felt tight, yet it felt so good. It took him a few minutes to dig through his own luggage to find the luggage of gifts inside. Oh how he loved that bottomless suitcase! It always made buying souvenirs so much enjoyable as it meant he always had room!

The suitcase rolled behind him as he rejoined them in the living room. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Lien and Atticuuuuuuuuus! Happy birthday to you!" he sung slightly off-key with a laugh as he knelt down to unzip the suitcase. "I'm gonna do Lien's first 'cause his birthday was earlier."

He about fell down into the gifts as he reached down to grab them. First, he pulled out a gift bag which contained a card and a few books he purchased when he visited Louis. James might've gone a bit overboard doing some last minute gift shopping for him and Atticus as it was an easy way to distract himself from the after-effects of the pixie dust ingestion. However, he was at least smart enough to make the effort to save some for Christmas or as random gifts. It'd be all too much to deal with on a holiday! "That's, er, the first thing." Then he pulled out a rushed-wrapped very long and wide box that contained a set of encyclopedias and set it near his feet.

@Lien Chang

He retracted his hand when James re-entered, serenading them?

Lien turned bright red.

"James... you really didn't have to do all of this."

To think that he'd gotten him a very small thing for his birthday as well, just some chocolate fudge that he liked. He supposed gifts were something very big and elaborate in his family, but his were always very modest in comparison. Receiving gifts was always something he felt awkward about anyway.

"Is it Atticus's turn now?" he asked, sounding and looking almost child-like.

@James Potter

Aw, Lien was always so humble! Sure, part of it, well most of it, was due to his upbringing, but he always found it rather adorable seeing him getting all flushed and red like that.

"I made sure they're stuff both of you will, er, use and enjoy!"

He looked over at Atticus and grinned. "Sounds like somebody's excited!" Moving back down into the suitcase, he reached back and pulled out two different gift bags, one of them also containing a card. One bag contained rarer imported ingredients while the other contained cookbooks. "I think you'd quite like these," he stated handing the bags over to him.

@Atticus Nott @Lien Chang

Taking the card out from the gift bag, he smiled, still red-cheeked and glowing, and half hid behind it as he drew it up to his face. 

"Thank you..." he murmured quietly, sliding the edge of his finger along the outside of the envelope very slowly, and gingerly. He seemed to take a lot of care when peeling the corners of the paper, and seemed to appreciate the feel, look and texture of everything before it had even been opened.

A large smile crossed his face when he opened the first one, eventually. "This is... beautiful." The encyclopedia... it really was. He almost felt guilty to  put his dirty fingerprints over it. "I've never seen anything like it..."

"Wow! Thanks!"

He went to kiss him, but managed to turn it into a readjustment on the couch. Running his tongue across his bottom lip, he tore through the paper and packages a lot more quickly than Lien.

"This is really expensive! And rare! Whoa! I bloody love... them." Good save.

He turned to Lien, laughing.

"You should be giving your boyfriend a big kiss, Lien! He's really outdone himself on us. And we're both a pair of wankers really." Laughing, he nudged Lien playfully. "We could both kiss him together - I'll take this cheek, you take that one?"

Lien blinked at him in surprise, but then looked at James. As he leant forward, Atticus mirrored him, and their lips met his cheeks at the same time.

@James Potter