InsaneJournal

RP: Theodore Nott - One Shot
Who: Theodore Nott
When: May 18th, 9pm
Where: Muggle London
What: Going for a walk.



9:34pm
Going out for dinner had been more of an asset than he had first imagined it to be. Being able to go out so soon after on his own, annoying classes aside, was well worth the slight annoyances. He didn't have any particular destination in mind and the only thing he needed to be mindful of was time. Theo didn't imagine that the others wanted to get out in quite the same way he did, and having seen he was the first to jump at the chance to head out, he had surmised as much. Castle life was tedious in a way he wasn't quite used to. Having to be mindful of so many people all the time was new. There were people he had to work with, socialize with, or possibly need later. There was a codependency there that made him uneasy, awkward and lately cranky. It wasn't anyone's fault really. Nobody was really terrible, he just was on occasion, he thought with a good humored chuckle. Although certainly some ranked higher than others on his personal scale of like.

He knew now he was in the right neighborhood, now seeing familiar signs and sights. He wasn't too far away from the restaurant, which he decided would be his place to branch out from. The last thing he wanted was to get lost and have to write back to the castle like a rube. Then who knew when he'd get out again? Out again..in the future he thought happily. Did other people even think about that at all? He wondered as he walked along, hands in his coat pockets. It might not mean to him what it did to others, but they had all time travelled. And here was the future laid out in front of them to explore and observe. Weren't they curious?

Looking ahead Theo assumed the business he was approaching was a pub of sorts. He hadn't any real plans to stop in anywhere, the idea was to reach the restaurant, look around and head off from there and get the lay of the land. As he drew closer he glanced down and spotted a wallet on the ground. Taking a quick cursory glance around he knelt down and picked it up, turning it over in his hand before the sound of someone walking out of the pub drew his attention away. It wasn't hard to tell the muggle bloke was looking around for the wallet he had just found. Theo mentally sighed, easy come easy go.

"You looking for this? Just found it here on the ground" Theo said standing up and walking over and handing over the wallet.

"Thanks, Mate," the bloke said with a grin. "Here," he said opening his wallet and taking out a bit of cash and tucking it into Theo's shirt pocket. "Really save me, not many honest folks around." he said tucking the wallet back into his back pocket. "Come on in, I'll buy a few rounds," he said gesturing for him to follow.

And why not? It was a little funny he thought with a shrug and a "Sure."


10:52pm
Theo walked out of the pub with a laugh and a wave before placing his hands in his pockets and fumbling with the little treasure he pocketed from inside. Making his way down the street he spotted the restaurant up ahead and now knowing for sure where he was, he veered off toward Leicester Square. Taking out his journal he scribbled down a few directional notes on a sheet of paper he had stuffed inside, before putting it back in his coat pocket. It was quiet here. There was a bit of noise up ahead and he'd get there in time but for the moment as he trudged along he felt completely alone and peaceful. There were people about sure, here and there but they were just strangers. That was still the same as being alone.

Walking along he listened to the hum of electricity that was so prevalent in the muggle world. Everything buzzed with motion even when completely still. It made for good background white noise as he walked along. Reaching into his pocket he drew out a small disposable lighter he pocketed at the pub. He rolled it idly between his fingers, stopping to flick it occasionally as he made his way. It was an ingenious little thing, so simple and neat. He couldn't help but snatch it up when he had the chance. It was a little souvenir of his outing and one he could pick apart for a few small parts he might find use for later. Nobody was going to miss it anyway.

The journals having burned really did set him back. He didn't know why it made such a difference but he was farther behind in his work than he would have liked. It wasn't until Potter's got a clue and it was dropped off with the DoM that he finally felt back on schedule. He could work on getting readings with his device on the weekend around the castle, and the clue he'd give that some thought to as well. Why a witch and wizard who grew up in the muggle world would chose a child's story from his world was interesting to him. Seemed odd and Weasley he could maybe understand choosing it, but Potter and Granger? It seemed a odd connection. Unless their children loved it but he doubted that was all there was to it. It was at least a story he was familiar with, and one that he favored as a boy. He thought to ask a few questions, but thought he'd best leave that to Padma. She'd be more likely to get answers than he did. Then again he might do it anyway if the opening presented itself.

It wasn't too long before he reached the source of the noise he heard. It was just a bit of bravado and yelling and applause and whoops of praise. He hadn't seen anything like it before, some sort of odd obstacle course, with stone walls, railings and pillars. The strangest part was the muggles all leaping and vaulting off and somehow passing through, across and over the obstacles in their way with great fluidity. The efficiency of their movement was almost magical and just cool he thought. Making his way over to where a few of the muggles were gathered he stood quiet and watched, until he was noticed.

They were pleasant enough, and keen to talk about their hobby. It was a sport of sorts he gathered. They met here in this park in the square most every day and evening. He mentally made a note to stop by again. It would be fun to try and learn he thought. He could imagine passing through the moving staircase this way, the thought of it brought a smile to his face.


11:25pm

Time was slipping by him faster than he had imagined it would. He had asked for three hours, but Weasley had suggested four and it seemed he was going to need it. He walked briskly while backtracking to where he needed to be, keeping watchful mind of the time. He could almost hear the minutes ticking away and knew he'd venture out again as soon as he could. Saturday afternoon maybe, if the opportunity was there. For now he resigned himself to the task at hand, going home. Although was it home really? It was where he was living, he slept, worked, and ate. But it wasn't home.

It was school. It was more years of not knowing when the other shoe would drop, left in the dark and muddling through some outlandish sequence of fate, until something better came along. He didn't have the same pressures he did back then and that made it tolerable. Still, logical or not, he resented his situation to a degree and it's restrictions. He didn't really know how to shake that feeling off but it was there lurking under the surface always. He would if he could, he knew that much but he couldn't see how. Instead he would just have to wait until the next ridiculous thing happened and then ride it out. He'd focus on his work and clues with no context, and what few things mattered and the few people that did to him personally and just try to just relax.

Theo fiddled with the lighter in his pocket when he heard a couple voices call out, asking if he had a light. He paused for a brief moment, thinking of how to answer before making his way over. He handed over the lighter to two muggle women, around his age he wagered. He waited anxiously to have his souvenir returned to him, when they asked if he wanted some of their joint. It was a lucky night, he thought with a smile as he took it graciously. Life was fun that way, just ambling through and seeing where you ended up. Plans were boring. Impulse and living in the moment, that's what he desired most. Luckily more often than not it worked out, except when it didn't. That was usually explosive, but nothing ventured nothing gained.

He stayed for what seemed like a long time, but when glancing at the time realized was only a short while. They were nice enough, if not a bit mundane. The chatter somewhat meaningless and he found himself focusing more on the hum of electricity all around him and felt that buzz too from head to toe. He rummaged through his pockets, finding the cash in his pocket he had lucked into earlier that night. And thought a fun thought and asked, when conversation was light and smiles were evident.

"Can we make a deal?"

12:30am

Theo walked into Diagon alley patting the pocket that held his stash with a lazy contented smile, and made his way to Knockturn to walk around The White Wyvern. He missed this place, finding it now discarded and barren. It had always been a place filled with opportunities for him and now it was like a broken promise. He made more than a few good deals here, found work and more importantly he could seek out the thrill of doing something he knew was risky. It was a little sad and had his mood not been so contented and calm he may have avoided it entirely. It was nostalgia, he assumed or the reminiscing of things he couldn't share with others here. Which was bothersome. But he could sit and let his mind wander for a while.

12:56am

As soon as he apparated back to the school grounds, Theo made his way inside and to the sign up sheet. He signed back in that he had returned and the time he did so.