To that proposition, Becky found herself nodding in agreement. She had done her civic duty before the younger fellow had crashed onto the scene, and was reluctant to continue on her own merry way whilst he was still about to follow her.

“I think there needn’t be further threats regardless,” she chimed in in spite of herself. The last thing—other than abduction and murder—that she wanted was to find herself mixed up in a brawl if they proved not to be friendly after all. “I am sure we’re all well and good.”

Except me, she thought, still keenly aware of the state of her attire.

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— beautiful set courtesy of lady <3 —

Alfred was not all well and good, because he still didn't know how to get back to Gringotts. He very much doubted that the direction the younger man had dismissively waved his fingers in was the correct one. Even if it was, he hardly wanted to seem as though he'd just been run off by this teenage blowhard. It wasn't as though he was intimidated by the boy's posturing, nor did he think the younger boy had any real advantage over him (at least, not now that he'd crashed his broom and spent his element of surprise). Alfred was a captain, for Merlin's sake — a captain with a ship which had not yet left the harbor and a crew who only reported to work during the daylight hours, true enough, but a captain none the less. He ought to deserve a little more respect than being unceremoniously shooed into Knockturn Alley.

That being said, he didn't particularly want to start a fight, either. Not that Alfred was above a fist fight or two, having lived for so long around sailors, but... well, what were they even fighting about, anyway? It wasn't as though anyone had offended his honor or insulted him. The younger man was just posturing rather unnecessarily, in Alfred's view — probably to make himself feel more dashing, he supposed.

"Great, thanks," Alfred said to him, rather dismissively. "You've proven that you're very gallant, and all. I'm sure your father would be proud, if you'd ever met him." Calling him a bastard might have been uncalled for, but Alfred really wasn't pleased that the young man had crashed down and injured his leg (it still hurt) and then had the gall to insult him, as though he had been the aggressor in this situation. Turning his attention to the young woman, he continued without missing a beat, "Which way to Gringott's, Miss?"

  

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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER

He was tempted to snatch the broom up in both fists and whip the end straight across his back. Instead, his hands balled into fists. For the most part, Declan could keep his temper in check. He'd avoided fist fights thus far, which was really saying something. Growing up in the slums made him scrappy by nature, but he wasn't tossing punches left and right whenever someone peeved him. Bringing his father into things however, as blind of an insult as it was, made it incredibly difficult for him to not give the man a hearty shove when his back was turned. He clenched his jaw and bit his tongue hard. He'd not get into a fight in Knockturn Alley with some stranger over a bloody, idiotic and just so... stupid insult.

"It's tha' way," He ground out, pointing in the opposite direction, not caring in the least that he'd a) just contradicted himself and b) rudely answered the question that had specifically not been asked of him, "Big 'ol white building with a sign that says "Gringotts" on the front."

His glare shifted to the young woman, "D'ya need an escort to wherever you're headed so sorry sods like him won't be botherin' ya?" It had come out much more grating than he'd intended. He needed to get away from the man before steam started coming out of his ears.

  

"I thank you, but no," she returned kindly. It was a nice offer—if genuine—but Becky did not find either man's presence particularly comforting at this point, and even if she had, them knowing her comings and goings would have been enough to frazzle her sensibilities. Her newfound life was one that she was still adjusting to, and 'over-caution' seemed to be the name of the game.

"I do hope you both have a fine day indeed, though," Rebecca added, glad to be shot of them

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— beautiful set courtesy of lady <3 —