20th October, 1894 — Reg & Felix’s flat

So they had lost yesterday’s match against Wimbourne, and last week’s to Kenmare, and never mind the disaster to Falmouth – but they hadn’t lost every match, so what was all this fuss about? There were always teething problems with new players on a team. The mutterings about their female players had gotten louder, though, and Theo was fed up of opening the post from supposed Cannons fans and being treated to their opinions. So he had had a terrible day, and he was at the end of his tether, but he’d had a thought about how to combat some of the bad press.

And he hadn’t given it much of a second thought before acting on it, to be honest. But Reg had been his dormmate for seven years, after all – if anyone would write just one reasonable article about them, surely Reg would. (Theo might have forgotten that Reg had moved departments from sports to crime and politics until he was standing at the door of his friend’s flat, knocking at the door – but it didn’t matter; Theo could still pick his brain and find out which of his former sports colleagues would be most help.)

He realised it was late in the evening, and Alderton might be busy, but – oh, there was the door. “Hey,” Theo said, a weight already off his shoulders just to see a friendly face. “Can I come in?” He didn’t wait for Reg to answer before he stepped in.

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Reginald Alderton/Gus Lissington

  

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Reg sat in the armchair, his elbows pressed to his knees as he stared at nothing in particular, a red ink tipped quill in hand with an assortment of sheets of parchment scattered around him. A mug of tea that had long since gone cold was beginning to form a ring on the table sat to his right, and next to that was a saucer with a barely eaten slice of apple pie and a fork nestled next to it. His mother had given him the pie because she didn’t seem to think that two bachelors were capable of finding their own food, never mind that he and Felix had someone come in and cook for them. Reg always accepted the offer because he learned that it was better not to fight her on this.

After letting out a frustrated huff the wizard dropped the quill and leaned back, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand. He had a story due soon and the muse was not there for him and Felix wasn’t home to bounce ideas off of. Maybe that was the issue - Reg missed his boyfriend and all he could concentrate on was how many more hours, minutes, seconds until Felix was back home with him.

The knock at the door made his features brighten before they promptly fell because of course Felix wouldn’t knock on his own door. Still, Reg unfolded himself from the chair to go answer it, happy to have at least some form of distraction from his current predicaments. He blinked in surprise as Theo stepped past him into the flat without waiting for an answer; well, at least he hadn’t had any intention of turning him away once he saw who it was.

“Theo,” Reg murmured, shutting the door behind him before he turned toward him. His eyes swept over the room and he couldn’t help but wince – the place was a mess and he was half embarrassed for his friend to see the place like this. He and Felix didn’t normally live like this. He moved a pile of books, a combination of his and Felix’s, although at this point it was their stuff versus mine and yours, off the couch before he waved for Theo to take a seat. “Sit down. You look like you’ve been hit by a Bludger—several, actually.” Well, at least his expression did.

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Theodore Gallivan // Elias Grimstone

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He was intruding and he knew it – Reg wouldn’t have been clearing the mound of books away if he hadn’t been. Was his roommate in? Theo had been going to ask, and to say he’d get out of the way, but thank Merlin, Reg had told him to sit.

Theo threw himself down in the spot that had opened up on the couch. “Sorry,” he prefaced, rueful. “Bit of a shite day. Week. While. I don’t know – I could use your advice... But how are you?” He added, before he launched into it: he scanned the room, spotting all the parchment, the tea, the slice of pie.

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Reg was pleased when Theo sat, if only because he could stop the awkward clearing of books. Still, his hand lingered on a precariously balanced stack of books as he squinted at his friend, a flicker of concern passing over his face. Nodded because he understood what it was like to have a terrible week, but Reg had never been one to press for details. Theo would tell when, or really if, he was ready.

“I’m alright.” Reg hesitated, because he didn’t want this moment to become about him. He straightened up and gestured vaguely at the scattered parchment and the half-eaten slice of pie on the side table. “Have a story due soon, but you can see how well it’s going.” He’d get it done, though. Reg hadn’t missed a deadline yet, and he certainly wasn’t going to start now.

He moved a few more books onto the floor before settling into the armchair opposite of the couch, his gaze resting on Theo. “What's got you in a knot? I can get you some tea, or something stronger before we start.”

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