ONE CHARACTER EACH picks up a sea shell today, and when you do, you find yourself trapped inside with the person you are thinking about the most. You're stuck there until the person who originally got trapped shares a secret.
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Miles Bletchley’s morning jog along the beach had been pleasant enough. The post-win drinks from the Puddlemere’s match with Montrose the night prior had been one easily burned off with a sober-up potion and a hydration concoction the team’s manager had put him onto some years ago. Despite the 28yo’s party-boy persona, he did take pride in caring for his body.
It was the one thing he seemed to have much control over in his life and he wasn’t about to let it all fall apart for him early. Sure he was pushing 30 soon - but many pro-quidditch players played well into their 40’s. He wasn’t worried despite the tensions and stresses of the trade season in full swing.
As he completed his cool-down walk he spotted a conch shell washed along the shore. It glimmered in the sun just enough to pull his attention toward it. Without a thought, he bent down to pick it up. Almost immediately there was a sharp tug from his gut - similar to using a portkey - and the world spun and grew all at once. Before the man could properly reach for his wand he’d been transported into a smooth pink & white toned space.
When he landed on the slippery shell floor his initial response was to reach for his wand which he usually had in his trouser pockets - but it was no longer there. Glancing quickly around he immediately noted the sunlight filling the space from above. The opening of the shell was about two stories taller than his new height. Just as panic began to curl up a gust of magical wind swirled about the empty cavern as a new arrival joined him.
“Izzy?” he cautiously asked recognizing her [distinguishing feature/clothing] - unsure of what to expect in response.
“Miles?” Isobel was just as confused if not more than Miles was as to what she was doing there -- and that where she hadn’t figured it out yet. One second she was heading outside to meet up with a friend and the next one she felt a pulling sensation and was there. With Miles. “Where are we?”
“Er…” Miles looked up at the opening, “I think we’re in a cursed shell? Or something? I don’t … "
A cursed shell? Of course. That made total sense. Only not at all. But then again weird things had been happening around Cuaditch lately.
"I was walking along the beach. Picked up a shell and …. “ Miles chuckled at the absurdity of it then offered her a shrug, “Hello.”
Isobel ran her hand through her hair and sighed, unable not to smile when he shrugged. “Hello,” she said with a smile.
“Did it let you keep your wand at least?” he asked. “Took mine.”
When Miles said it she realized she didn’t have her handbag with her anymore. She shook her head. “It took mine too. My whole handbag, actually.” Well, that was rude.
“Bastards,” Miles responded looking back up at the only opening he could see as if in thought.
“How are we supposed to get out of here?” she asked.
“I could maybe try and lift you?” he glanced over at her. “You think you could reach the top if you stood on my shoulders?”
She bit her bottom lip and shrugged. “I could try,” she said.
“Come on then,” he took a stance and extended his hand out for her, indicating she step-up on his thigh to swing her legs around his shoulders. Something they’d done a few times in the past during goofing off outings and dates to concerts. The standing on his shoulders bit would be … the trickier part.
She took his hand, realizing it was the first time they touched each other since they broke up. She took her shoes off so she would have a better grip and stepped up on his thigh, swinging her leg around his shoulder like she had done several times. “I need you to stay very still, Miles.” She said before she could even attempt to stand on his shoulders.
His hands firmly on her thighs just above the knees as he straightened his stance he snorted at her direction. “You mean don’t do this?” he swayed a bit to make her nervous, “Or this?” he bent his knees to bob up and down.
“Miles!” She screeched, smacking him on the arm. “I’m serious!”
“Okay-okay!” Miles chuckled as he planted his feet and bent his knees a little so that they were closer to the shell’s ground if she did fall. It’d be easier to match her balance accordingly and such. Once steady he raised his hands up for her to take as needed.
Isobel took a deep breath and nodded before she started to move to stand on his shoulders, leaning on his hands for support as she stood up. “Okay, I got it,” she said in a slightly shaky voice, as she was afraid to even breathe in case it made her lose her balance. She looked up and tried to reach the opening but she couldn’t. “I can’t. I can’t reach it.”
His attention forward as not to contribute to any loss of balance he slowly stood up straighter - no longer bending his knees. “How about now?” he asked - unable to look up and see how close she was.
She reached out, stretching up almost to the point of standing on her tiptoes on his shoulders, risking losing her balance. “Nothing. It’s still too far up.”
“Alright- that’s alright,” he offered, getting nervous about her attempt to get on her tiptoes. He raised his hands again for her to take as not to risk anyone getting hurt.
She looked down and took his hand, slowly making her way down his body until she reached the ground. “I’m sorry.”
“For not being taller?” he teased, “You should be ashamed.”
“Ass,” she said with a smile.
His lips curled into a smirk. “No, I’m sorry. Shouldn’t have picked up sea garbage I guess.”
“Seashells are not sea garbage, Miles. They’re pretty. You didn’t know it was cursed.”
“That’s the problem with you, isn’t it?” he asked rhetorically in his usual playful tone. “Just too nice.” He shook his head and mock frowned.
“What has me being nice anything to do with it?” she asked, confused. “Let’s focus on trying to get out of here.”
“Alright, then, your turn for a plan,” Miles motioned his hand toward her, “That was all I had, honestly.”
She sighed and looked around, chewing on her bottom lip like she always did when she was thinking too much or worried -- and in this case it was both. The obvious answer to how they could get out would be the same way they got in, the problem was a spell had been clearly used and she had no idea what it was. After a while, she broke the silence. “I don’t know,” she said ashamed.
Miles recognized her tone and that look and he immediately went into protective mode. “Hey,” he said tilting his head and placing his hands on her shoulders, “We’re alright - might just be one of those dumb town mishaps, got to wait it out or something.”
She looked at him when he rested his hands on her shoulders and nodded. “Okay,” she said softly. “So we just wait...” Hopefully, someone would miss them and go look for them.
Miles nodded and absently glanced away from her for a beat before half-seriously and half-jokingly offering, “We could fool around?”
Izzy arched an eyebrow at him and shook her head, though her heart did beat a little faster at the idea for a moment or two.
Miles mimicked her arched brow and shake of her head. His grin growing as he sensed her uncomfortableness. “That a no then?” he chuckled and then looked around at the smooth space they were in. Pulling away from her he took a few steps on the curved wall before sitting and sliding into a seat. “We could play a game?” he offered.
She didn’t even bother to answer, though she did have to hide the chuckle. “What game?” she asked as she crossed her legs, letting her hands rest there.
“Mmm….” he tilted his head side to side in consideration as he leaned back into the sloped wall his legs sprawled out. “WE have no cards or drinks sooo….. There’s always Two Truths and a Lie…. Fortunately, Unfortunately… Truth or Dare... Would you rather?... And the classic Marry, Fuck, Kill…”
She pondered the options he gave her. Two Truths and a Lie would be easy, since they knew each other pretty well -- or so she liked to think. She was thinking of Would you rather? But for some unknown reason, she said “Truth or Dare,” when she spoke. And she stuck to it.
“Really?” he laughed surprised by her pick.
“Yes, really,” she reaffirmed. It was just a silly game, what could go wrong?
Tilting his head in acceptance of her challenge he said, “Who should go first then?”
“You start,” she said.
"Alright," he grinned leaning back into the sloped wall and propping himself up by his elbows. "Lets go with Dare."
“I dare you to lick your elbow,” she said. It was weak, she knew it. But it was the first thing that came mind.
Miles made an unimpressed glance to her, "You know thats impossible without a tongue extender charm." He sat forward to demonstrate with a twist of his arm and poorly attempted to complete the dare." Relinquished quickly he leaned back and said, "Alright your turn."
She shrugged and chuckled as he tried to lick his elbow. It was a funny sight. “Dare,” she said with a firm nod.
"I dare you to….smell….. my armpit," Miles lifted his arm and added with a teasing grin, "I just ran ten miles… I'm extra potent."
Izzy made a disgusted face. “You are absolutely gross. I’m not doing it,” she said. Why did she have to pick dare?!
"Oh come on! Miles chuckled. "You picked it!!"
“But it’s gross!” She exclaimed.
His laugh grew and he offered, "If not you'll have to answer two truths."
“Fine. I’ll answer them.”
"Alright," Miles narrowed his eyes while still grinning. "What's something you wished you could be doing right now instead?"
“Working,” she answered honestly. She loved working in the Children’s Wing. Miles of course rolled his eyes and lulled his head back at the obvious answer. “What’s the other truth?”
"What friend were you meeting before this?" He asked.
“A friend from work,” she simply said. He didn’t need to know who that friend from work was. “Truth or dare, Miles?”
"No, no, who was it?" Miles asked with a grin. "You cant give me two non informative answers - thats not the point of this very classic and extremely serious game."
“Oh fine, you nosy boy,” she sighed. “His name is Richard and he works with me in the Children’s Wing. Happy?”
Miles' top lip curled a bit at the sound of a male name his jealousy rising a bit before he attempted to shrug it off. "Well, hopefully Dick can come to your rescue."
Izzy frowned at his reply. “He’s just a friend, Miles,” she said, unsure as to why she had to reaffirm Richard was just a friend and nothing more.
"Ah, it was a brunch meet up then?" He asked. His tone inquiring, but accusatory at the same time. This wasn't the first time Miles had expressed jealousy toward her male co-workers. I mean, male healers who worked with children? Major competition. Miles knew full well he could not compete.
Especially now that they were… just friends.
Izzy did not like his tone, but it had been a tone she had heard before unfortunately. She still didn’t understand why he had to be so jealous of her male coworkers. They were just that, coworkers/friends. She wasn’t jealous of his female friends.
“It was just a meet up, Miles,” she said in a soft tone. “Two friends meeting for coffee, that’s all.”
"Hey, I believe you," Miles shrugged. His hand raised in defense to assist him in his lie.
“Fine then.” She didn’t believe him, but she dropped the subject. “Your turn, truth or dare?”
"Truth," he said quickly without thought or a glance to her. His eyes on his trainers as he tried to mask his scowl.
“Why are you jealous?” The words slipped out of her mouth without a second thought. She needed to know.
"Well I obviously still love you," Miles blurted without any consideration to the consequences.
In that moment a gust of sea breeze rushed into the shell from its opening. Both of them lifting up and out back to where they originally had started that morning. Miles on the beach… and Isobel at home preparing for coffee with a friend.