Plan B [Ian]

[Shelby Crescent]

Sitting in a booth, Shell lets out a sigh, taking small bites from her hot fudge sundae just staring at the glass with a distant look. It had been a good month now since Jay had been gone, and she was still heartbroken about it. Of course she would be heartbroken, he was her husband for the past thirteen years, the man she thought was her true love. Thought as the keyword there. Shell doubted there was even a such thing as a soulmate or true love now.

For once she was sober and decided on a different measure of depression; eating sugar products instead of getting drunk, or her Plan B. That really wasn't a good solution lately the drinking, seeing as she would end up waking next to someone she didn't know or her closest friends after drinking after a few hours. Not really great in her opinion, hell anyone's opinion, but once again she didn't care right now. Shell didn't care about anything at all as of now. Sighing again, she picks up a half melted spoonful of vanilla ice cream and lets it fall from the spoon just staring at it drip slowly back into the cold glass bowl. This idea wasn't that productive either but it was still better than the drinking one.

With another sigh, she glances at her, or technically Jay's green coat pocket pulling out his silver pocketwatch that he always had with him. The same one Shell got him years ago for their year anniversary. It was well past three now, just about ten minutes til four. What did she come in here today? Eleven? Twelve? She was definately skipping work now today and she was pretty sure her students were happy. Her last class in the afternoon was two, while the rest were in the evening and it was only two classes that didn't take long. Wiping a stranded tear off her face, she takes another bite, tucking her blonde hair behind her ears afterwards.

[Ian Hunt]

I try and remind myself as I walk down Diagon Alley, that I don't really have favourites. Which to be fair, I don't. I have my least favourites to babysit, which happen to be Daniel because he's an arrogant prick and annoys the hell out of me and I wish Kris had never decided to spawn another son sometimes, and Alex because it's just...very awkward because some days he won't talk to me, and some days he will but never like he used to.
Today, I'm lucky enough to have one of the others with me.
Alex and Abby are with Maddie. Daniel is with his parents, thank God. Today, I have Matthew, because Claire's at work.
I like my nephew, he's quiet and he doesn't complain about much or anything at all. Slight problem with the fact that he can see inside my head, but I'm sort of used to that as my sister can, of course, do the same thing. I'm used to having no secrets with them.

He's really being very good about me dragging him all over the place. We came out with Poppy today, to continue the never ending mission for school things, before she got too annoyed with me - as we're not speaking again as it is, and stormed off to entertain herself.
So, now, half as a bribe that he won't repeat most of the things Poppy and I said to each other, and half as a reward for being so good about it and not bothering me at all today, I've brought him here.
Also, I have to kill time while Poppy swallows her pride and comes looking for us so we can go home again.

"Go choose what you want then, I'll wait over here," I mutter under my breath to Matthew.
It's another merit of just being with my nephew, I never really have to raise my voice because he always listens. I never even have to speak at all, as he automatically knows everything that I intend to say the second I think it into being, and most of the things I don't intend to say because he sees them anyway.
As he, silently, heads over to the counter, I glance briefly around just to make sure I don't know anyone in here. I have a habit of running into people I know it seems, especially in here.
Yes, no break with tradition there, as I spot Shell at a table nearby. Glancing briefly at my nephew who's just joined the back of the queue, I pause a moment, then head over to her.
"Hey Shell."
I heard about Jay. Of course, I did. I haven't spoken to her since then, which I probably should have, but I really don't know what to say. 'I'm sorry you've just lost your husband' doesn't seem quite adequate.
"How are you?"
I nearly wince at how stupid this question is.

[Shelby Crescent]

Glancing up slightly from her glass, she laughs a little. "How do you think?" she says softly, frowning now as she took another bite from her melted ice cream before feeling a tear roll down her cheeks again. Shell couldn't help it, out of all the times she hid her true feelings from everyone because she thought it was weak which in her mind she wasn't. But this time she just couldn't help it.

Placing her spoon down, she wipes the tear off with her oversized jacket sleeve and glances up at him again. "So why are you out here today and how are you?" she asks softly, managing a weak smile at him, once again feeling a few tears now making their way down her face as she ignored them. If she continued removing them off her face she would most likely be doing that the entire time she was sitting there.

[Ian Hunt]

"I'm alright," I mumble, then incline my head very slightly at the small queue at the counter where Matthew's waiting, "Here with my nephew."

Drumming my fingers awkwardly on the back of the chair opposite her for something to do with my hands, I mutter, "Want me to leave you alone or...?"

[Shelby Crescent]

She nods, looking over at the boy and then back at him. "No, it's fine. I think I need company for a change. Usually been at home comforting the kids, locking myself in my office, or..." trailing off closing her eyes and shaking her head a bit.
Or waking up with a hangover next to one my best friends, in their or my bed...

She looks at him for a few seconds and smiles a little. "You don't have to stay and sit here. You know it's fine. I'm used to being alone." she nods, still with a faint smile on her face before taking another bite of her melted ice cream. "You want some?" she asks, extending her spoon at him with a slight laugh. "I don't have cooties, much to James' belief."

[Ian Hunt]

I laugh slightly at her last comment, although it sounds slightly forced even to me, "No thanks, I'm alright."
Then I gesture at the seat opposite her, "Do you mind if I sit here with you?"
I don't add that it's because I'd quite like to make sure she is alright. I mean, I know she's not...but there's a difference between being not alright...and being dangerously not alright.
And I really feel like I should be doing something because otherwise, I'll just end up walking away and then I'll feel guilty for days, because Shell is one of my best friends and it'd be very awful of me indeed to just leave her here on her own.

[Shelby Crescent]

She smiles weakly and shrugs. "Your loss. The best ice cream is when it's half melted. Less brain freeze." she says with a light laugh, before setting the spoon into the glass and nods. "Of course you can. Not gonna say you have to go cause you don't want any of my ice cream." Shell smiles a little broader. "So, have you been doing anything interesting lately?"

[Ian Hunt]

"I don't like ice cream," I laugh slightly, shaking my head as I sit down opposite her, then I shake my head with a small grimace, "No, nothing interesting. Everything's pretty normal at the moment."
I want to ask her the same, but I can't. I'm not sure if her husband dying counts as interesting or not, but it's definitely something big that's happened and I don't really want to talk about it because I won't know what to say.
So I go for something less...delicate, and just ask, "Jenny looking forward to graduation?"
Term's almost over. I know, as Poppy's been sending owls every morning to count down how many days it is before she can come home and also because it overexcites Abby and she's fully aware of that and finds it amusing.

[Shelby Crescent]

"You're werid then. But we both know that didn't we?" she asks sarcastically with a wink. She nod again and thinking about it for a while. "She's been wearing nothing but her house colors. And I've seen enough Yellow and Black for the rest of my life with all the invites, banners and streamers." she laughs a bit. "Jenny's expecting everyone to give her I think a galleon each. She has another thing coming if she's thinking that." Shell laughs a little bit more. "Wanna help set up the tables and chairs with Isaiah?" she asks softly, biting her lip. Jay was supposed to help with that. Flashbacks of Jay and her getting the invitations done went through her mind, causing a few more tears to fall down her cheeks.

[Ian Hunt]

"Ah, what's the harm in giving her a galleon?" I smile wryly, shaking my head, "Hardly breaks the bank."
Then I wish I hadn't brought up the subject because apparently, judging by the tears on her cheeks, it's not a good one. Or maybe any subject is going to end up like this, I don't know.
"Yeah, sure, I'll help," I murmur, "No problem."
Matthew heads back over to the table just as I'm saying this, nods briefly to the both of us and slides onto the seat next to me. He doesn't need to ask who she is, or why she's crying, he probably already knows and is just too polite to let on. It doesn't really matter, I'm just glad he's not said anything at all.

[Shelby Crescent]

"A galleon can buy a lot in our household. And she's only using it for a broom when I have given her my first broom. Sorta gives me this insulted feeling but oh well, I suppose. Wanting her broom maybe is her way of feeling like an adult. After all, years of handidowns from me and then passing them down to Liese probably wasn't the best kind of lifestyle." she sighs lightly. Shell always felt terrible through the years, never being able to afford new clothes for all of them, new toys, books, robes and anything else. Jay and her barely got through the bills, which were now stacking up on the counter this month. Her salary alone wasn't enough for ten kids.

"Thanks. I'm sure Isaiah will be glad that his doll playing partner can help with the chairs as well." she says with a smile before noticing his nephew walking over to the table and sitting down. She smiles at him and nods back. "So how was your trip to Diagon Alley?" she asks both of them with the smile still on her face.

[Ian Hunt]

I nod slightly, once again forgetting that not everyone is quite so content financially as I am.
Which is strange because I've never done a day's work in my life, besides babysitting, and I gave away all of the inheritance I've received because I was stubborn and immature when my parents died.
I suppose I'm just very lucky that Maddie works as hard as she does.
"Well, I guess so. Maybe if she wants to feel like an adult, she could work to get the money for her own broom. I'm sure it'd be more satisfying, maybe."

Then I grin weakly at that, "I'd hope so."
Matthew shrugs indifferently in answer to her question, "Alright."
He very rarely has problems talking to strangers, because he can tell who's got bad intentions and who's got good, pretty useful, I suppose. He just doesn't usually talk, so I suppose Shell should feel special that he's decided to talk to her.
"Yeah, alright," I agree with a small shrug.

[Shelby Crescent]

"Told her the same thing and she just scoffed and went upstairs into her room. I swear somehow that girl is spoiled." she says with a smile, shaking her head. "But do you know of any jobs that pay well? Most likely, I'll have to quit teaching and find something... more financially useful. I love teaching but I'm not asking my father for money, even if I'm on okay terms with him." she frowns a bit.

Shell years ago, was cut off of her father's will and actually any relatives of the Crescent's will to be exact due to her rebellious nature. It wasn't her fault that that she believed that no matter your blood you deserved to learn magic if you could and that she had a fascination with muggles seeing her mother was one. But it didn't phase her about the will thing. She always thought that she would just have Jenny and that was it. In fact, she didn't even want her. But she never told anyone that.

"Just alright? My kids love coming here just to look around and get excited if I buy them a new book or something from the joke shop..." she says softly, feeling that guilty feeling again. "Did something happen that you don't want to talk about or should I just drop it?" she asks again, taking another bite of her ice cream and glancing at Matthew's. "Is that any good? Always wanted to get that, but I don't like change that much."

[Ian Hunt]

I smile wryly, "Ah well. Never mind."
Then I shake my head slightly, "Sorry, can't say I do. Not very familiar with...jobs and things."
"Because he's a layabout," Matthew murmurs under his breath, swinging his legs back and forth under the table. As he is so tall for his age, his feet skid against the floor, the soles of his shoes making the occasional squeaking noise.
Maybe he is quite irritating after all.

"Poppy was with us a little while ago," I shrug slightly, as this is basically all that's happened, "But she went off, without informing us."
Matthew smirks at this, but hides his expression. He knows this is basically translated from the fact that Poppy got pissed off and stormed off when I was looking the other way.
Then he looks up at Shell again and offers her the cone across the table, "Want to try some?"

[Shelby Crescent]

She just nods slightly and shakes her bangs a little out of her eyes. Raising her eyebrows at Matthew she just smiles lightly before glancing at Ian and letting it fade. "Oh. Then nevermind. I'm sure I'll find something or at least I hope I can." Shell nods again with a faint smile to Ian. "He doesn't just layabout. He umm. He... well. Watches the kids?" she says weakly, knowing that he sorta had to do that.
Shell shakes her head again, knowing what that meant as well. "She'll come back and find you guys. She sorta has to go home with you doesn't she?"
A little shocked at this, Shell takes her spoon and takes a small chunk out of the ice cream and eats it. "Not bad, but I like my hot fudge sundae better." she says with a smile. "But thank you."

[Ian Hunt]

"I'm sure you will. There must be something," I nod slightly, then I grin wryly, shaking my head. I never really intended to end up being a stay-at-home father, but it sort of ended up that way and now it's just really how it is.
"Fine job he does of that," Matthew murmurs cynically, idly rubbing the back of his head, shooting me a brief grin.
I suppose I don't do all that good a job of watching them if they end up in Mungo's so often anyway.

"Yeah, sort of has to," I agree, "So I'm not too worried."
"No problem," Matthew smiles faintly, shrugging lightly and glancing back at his knees again, falling silent once more.
He probably won't speak for hours now, knowing him.

[Shelby Crescent]

"I just don't want to work at the ministry. After the whole umm. yeah." she glances at Matthew. Shell didn't think it would be too wise to just say, 'After the whole Dark Ruby thing and them trying to capture and throw me into Azkaban for those three years, until they realized they were wrong.'
"I'm sure he does fine. He's okay with my ten." she smiles at the both of them. "When I actually take a nap."

"Unless she plans to join a muggle traveling circus and take up fireating or riding an unicycle across the high wire." she shrugs, trying to keep a straight face.
She smiles softly at him and it fades a little noticing how quiet he got. Maybe he just wasn't the talkative type. But with her kids, the only quiet ones really were Cassy's twins.

[Ian Hunt]

"Yeah, that's completely understandable," I nod, "Wouldn't really blame you."
Matthew's eyes widen slightly, but he ducks his head to hide it and I really want to smack my head against something because he probably couldn't be more obvious if he tried. I wish he could turn off that reader thing of his.
Thankfully, he passes this off for her next spoken statement instead, "Ten?"

I laugh at that, "I'm sure she'd fit right in if she did that."
Sadly, I can actually imagine that as the truth.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell nods, raising an eyebrow at Matthew slightly confused about what he was exactly doing but laughs a bit when he reacts to how many kids she had. "Yes ten. Eight girls and two boys." she smiles with a slight laugh before shaking her head again. "That unbelievable huh?"

"Or she decided to move to Egypt and picked up a job training camels to race for galleons or something crazy like that... who knows." she teases with a smile.

[Ian Hunt]

"You're mad," He tells her sincerely, with an incredulous shake of his head, "Looooooony."
"Matthew," I snort slightly, shoving him lightly, "You're not supposed to say that out loud."

"Now, there's a thought," I grin slightly at that, "Although, she's scared of camels, so maybe not."

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell laughs a little, shaking her head as well. "Thank you I suppose. I've been told that a lot. Then I guess anyone with more than five kids is looney, but very brave." she smiles at him.
"It's fine Ian. We both know it's true." she nods still with a smile on her face.

"Well it doesn't have to be camels. It could be lizards or snakes instead." she shrugs lightly.

[Ian Hunt]

"Lions are brave, ravens are smart," He says as if you can't be both at the same time, then sort of flinches at himself because he must have been poking round in her head to find out what house she was.
"He has a knack for guessing houses," I explain almost immediately, as I'm used to having to cover for him by now, then grin slightly, "Well, I suppose there's no denying that it's true."
"Hmm, lizards or snakes is more possible."

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell nods, crossing her arms lightly and resting them on the table in front of her. "Yes that's right. But Lions can be smart, while Ravens can be brave." she says with a smile just shaking her head lightly.
"Ah, so what house do you believe I'm in then?" she asks tilting her head slightly to the side, waiting his answer before laughing at Ian.
"But camels are just cooler. I don't like snakes much, no offense." Shell laughs again, tucking a strand behind her ear.

[Ian Hunt]

Matthew sighs slightly, glancing briefly up at and then back to his lap where his hands are clasped, "You were a Ravenclaw, but you haven't been for a while. You're in your early thirties. You're a Professor but formerly played quidditch professionally. Your kids, ostensibly, are named Jennifer, Zoe, Ashlyn, Isaiah, Jessie, Julia, Theodora, Violet, Annaliesa and James, in that order."
He glances up with a small grin to see how his gift has been interpreted, "I'm a pretty good guesser in general."
"You're a show off is what you are," I murmur, then shrug at Shell, with a small grin, "And snakes are better than camels."

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell's jaw dropped slightly but shook her head. "Yes you are a very good guesser. That or you're just a mind reader or seer." she smiles softly to him. "But you did leave out a kid of mine, but I'm not going into detail about that." Shell nods. In her entire life, she had never told anyone but she was a seer as well, but she hated to read peoples' minds. Shell just felt that she was violating their thoughts and never used her so called gift.
"I would have to disagree with that Ian." she smiles the same as he was.

[Ian Hunt]

Matthew grins briefly, but didn't say anything besides adding casually, "I left Jake out for your sake. No detail intended."
It's been a while since he's met anyone that's impressed with what he can do. Most of the family just sort of watch their thoughts around him or rolls their eyes.
I decide I'm probably going to go with my usual tactic of ignoring him, before he gets too carried away and decides to start relaying her or my thoughts back to us in that infuriating way of his, and just shake my head wryly at Shell, "What's to disagree with?"

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell smiles and nods again just wondering how much of her mind that Matthew had read. Hopefully, he didn't reach the part of her being the dark ruby, the fact that she still had feelings for his uncle or that she forgot to pay the bills this month.

"That snakes aren't better than camels. I like camels more than snakes." she smiles at him.