Carefree Dancing [open]

[Serenity Crescent]

Jenny was walking along the path of Hogsmeade with a grin on her face as she just got a bagful of blood pops and chocolate frogs. She was actually dancing down the road with a few people stopping to look at her and stare, or even some laughter. She rolls her eyes twirling in a circle, nearly running into an older woman.

She needed to get out of the house and away from Shelby today. She didn't feel like babysitting and picking out invitations for her graduation party. Actually Jenny just really needed time to think. It was hard to get privacy in that house having so many siblings, still thinking that her mum was crazy for wanting that huge group of misfits that she called her children.

Closing her eyes, she starts humming and continues dancing until she runs into someone on the road who either didn't care that she was being carefree or just didn't see her. Either way she wasn't one just to shrug it off. "Oi! Watch where you're goin. You could have knocked me off my feet." she frowns with a faint trace of a glare on her pale face.

[Ian Hunt]

"Alex, will you please-...?" I trail off at the very harsh look I'm getting.
Who taught him to do that? He's ten years old for God's sake.
His lips are pressed together in a hardline to show that he's not going to speak, but otherwise his expression is completely blank besides a faint trace of a glare. He crosses his arms across his chest tightly as if to illustrate the point that he despises me and wishes that he wasn't here.
"Just keep up, okay?" I turn back round as Abby tugs on my hand and points dramatically at where there's a woman dancing down the street.
"Da! Look!"
"Yes, I know. Just stay out of her way," I reply absently, but haul her up into my arms anyway just in case she ends up standing in the way, balancing her on my hip as I turn back to make sure Alex hasn't run off again.

Once he sees that he's got my attention again, he deliberately runs off when he's in my line of vision, right past me and down the street. He's too busy looking over his shoulder to see if he's getting a reaction that he runs straight into the escaped assylum patient.
"Exi! Crazy lady!" Abby laughs, curling her fist around my shirt and waving the other hand in the air enthusiastically.
"Alex!" I call, heading down the street towards him as fast as I can without dislodging or dropping Abby.
"Streets aren't for dancing," He tells her but more in a curious way rather than an accusatory one.
I don't really care though, I don't want him talking to lunatics, so I put my hand on his shoulder to try and steer him away before glancing up at the woman to apologise and realising that she isn't a threat at all and I should stop being so paranoid.
"Ah, I should have known it was you," I grin weakly.

[Serenity Crescent]

Jenny raises an eyebrow at him trying not to laugh. "They are in my world." she says brushing off her red dress and dark jeans. She glances up again and smiles instantly. "You? What does that mean? That I have a special label because I'm a werido that dances down the street or a term of affection, like 'hey you I care about ya', kind of thing?" she asks rocking back and forth on her the soles of ballet shoes, just laughing a bit.

"So how have you been?" she asks Ian and looks back at the boy. "And you are whom exactly, mister reality?" she says raising an eyebrow at him again, noticing the way she was being looked at. Jenny was used to the stares, especially due to her hair or her jewelry, but the look she was receiving was just different.

[Ian Hunt]

"It's a bit of both really. Term of affection and that you are a crazy person that dances down the street," I grin slightly.
"Crazy person!" Abby laughs louder, sticking her free hand out and waving her hand in Jenny's face, "I'm not a crazy person!"
"Of course you're not," I murmur, hoisting her up a little in my arms so she doesn't slip from all the enthusiastic waving that she's doing.

"I've been alright. How have you been?" I respond with a small smile.
Alex shrugs my hand off his shoulder and tilts his head up what it probably an unnecessary amount to address Jenny, and saying, "I'm Alex," as if he expected her to know who that was.

[Serenity Crescent]

Jenny smiles, putting hand on her hip. "Well, I'll take then I guess. Better than nothing." she says with a laugh. "Briar says I take after mum for the werid dancing down the street gene. I personally don't see it." she says shaking her head.
Her eyes widen a bit at the quick movement of Abby's hand, causing her to laugh again. "Oh, you will be one day, with him as your da." she says with a wink to Ian.
Turning her attention back to Alex she sighs lightly. "I knew that. Vi mentions you once in a while. I'm Jenny by the way if you didn't know." she says with a faint smile, trying to break his negativity. If she wanted that, she'd just go to her grandfather's house. That was always amusing her.

[Ian Hunt]

"I think I agree with Briar, sorry Jenny," I laugh slightly.
Abby laughs, I think more because she wants to than because she really understood what was just said, and then reaches out further so she can pat her hand to Jenny's cheek.
"I think she's already crazy," I say wryly.

"Hello Jenny," He says politely with a sharp nod of his head, and I suppose I should be glad that he falls silent after this.
But now he's probably go to remain silent until we run into someone else or finally make it to my sisters, which I think was the original plan.

[Serenity Crescent]

"Oooh, that's either a compliment or an insult being alike to that strict woman." she says making her lips twist a bit to the side. Jen loved her mother very much, she just was too overprotective for her taste.
Jenny is caught off guard, but smiles as Abby touches her cheek. "If I get some kind of cootie illness, I'm blaming you." she says sarcastically to Ian. "But that's good, she'll be like Poppy and I."

Jenny rolls her eyes slightly and bows slightly so that her necklaces make a light jingling noise. "The pleasure is mine sir." she says with a swift nod as well once she stands to her full stature, still trying not to laugh.

[Ian Hunt]

"Take it as a compliment. Much easier, and then I don't feel guilty for insulting you," I laugh slightly.
I grimace slightly, "Mhm, you should get vaccinated, just in case. Although, I think she's the cleanliest, so hopefully she's not too diseased," I grin, then shake my head, "As if I could handle another version of you and Poppy."

Alex laughs, apparently appreciating the fact that for once someone is playing along with him, sweeping into a bow of his own, "Fair lady."

[Serenity Crescent]

"Me be insulted? Unlikely. Just don't call me Shell. Briar slips sometimes." she says crossing her arms lightly over her chest as she shook her head.
"Well in that case, I'll send you the bill. I'm broke and I'm sure mum wouldn't be too thrilled to pay for a cootie vaccination. You know they're quite pricey." she says in a matter tone.

"Ah, you are too kind, calling me fair. It's rather bold don't you think?" she asks with a faint smile.

[Ian Hunt]

"I'd hope I can tell the difference," I smile lightly, shaking my head.
"And then I'd be in trouble. You know that I'm broke too, right?" I reply wryly.

"The truth is acceptable no matter how bold!" He nods, "I have not seen a fairer lady thus far."
Then he stops and tilts his head, "But I am only ten, so that could be why."

[Serenity Crescent]

"Should be easy. I keep my natural dark brown hair while mum dyes hers. I don't think I was supposed to say that, but oh well." she says with a laugh.
"Now how am I gonna pay for this? I guess I can take my chances and hope for the best." she says in a dramatic tone, putting a hand to her forehead.

Jenny had to laugh at the last part of his comment. "Really now? You seem to be older than ten." she says leaning down and kisses his cheek lightly. "Thank you for your honesty. It's well appreciated." she says with a wink to him.

[Ian Hunt]

I laugh, "I'll pretend I didn't hear that then, shall I?"
"Such a drama queen, Jenny," I shake my head, but Abby gasps, "Queen!"

Alex grins widely, definitely for the first time since we left the houses, and glances behind him as if to make sure that someone saw that but then realising that it's only me here and scowling slightly before turning back round.
"If I get Abby's cooties off you then I'll have to change my mind about you Miss Jenny."

[Serenity Crescent]

Jenny beams and just nods her head.
"Hey it's a good job, you know. And it has queen in the title." she says before laughing at Abby's outburst.

"Awh, I hope you don't get the cooties then. I'm very sorry." she says with a curtsey. "I'll tell you what. You can call me by my real name of Serinity, how's that if you do get the cooties?"

[Ian Hunt]

"Don't think it pays very well, so for all the bonuses of having queen in the title, you'll still be broke," I laugh slightly.
"Queen!"
"Yes, alright, thank you Abby."

Alex mulls this over, biting his lip slightly, before nodding, "Serinity is a pretty name."

[Serenity Crescent]

Jenny shrugs lightly. "Hey mum was the marshmallow queen, I could be a drama queen. It all works out in the end." she says with another wink. "Besides who needs money when you can dance down the street?" she adds just grinning ear to ear at Abby. "I think she's the yelling queen."

"Why thank you. My mum said that it was her favorite girl's name as a kid and since I'm the eldest daughter, I got the name." she says with a smile. She thought it was a beautiful name, but Jennifer was so attached to her now even though they weren't in hiding anymore. She just supposed it was the same for her parents.

[Ian Hunt]

"Yeah, of course it does. And that's a fine philosophy," I say dryly, "Let me know how it works out for you."
"I'm a queen too?" Abby seems to like this idea and she squirms until I put her down, immediately hugging Jenny's legs.
I slip my hands into my pockets now that I have nothing to do with my arms and just sort of hope she doesn't have an objection to being attacked by my children.

"My parents punished me with my name," He grimaces exaggeratedly, "And that's why it's so long."

[Serenity Crescent]

"Of course I shall. You're my favorite umm. What are you really? Friend, Uncle, Random person that calls me crazy?" she asks with a laugh.
"Yes you are. Queen Abby of the Yelling Toddlers." she says in a loud and formal sounding tone, as she picked her up and gave her a light hug.

"I'm sorry to hear that. But my grandfather and my father's names are Alex if that's any consulation. But my name is sorta long, Serinity Amarial Crescent-Waverly." she says proudly. "My middle name is the same as my mum's and my grandmum's maiden name."

[Ian Hunt]

I laugh, "Uh...family friend? Although I do like the random person that calls you crazy one. Seems pretty fitting."
Abby giggles, wrapping her arms lightly around Jenny's neck to hug her back, "Yay!"

"Alex is a good name," He agrees, "I'm Alexander Rowan Gideon Hunt-Speare. And I have a lot of dead people's names, and so does Abby, but not Poppy because there was no dead people for her to be named after."

[Serenity Crescent]

"How about you're my favorite family friend that calls me a crazy person?" she asks with a smile as she rubs her thumbs lightly along Abby's back.

"You shoud be honored to be named after them. They might be people that your parents admire and think you should take after." she says with a nod. "Or at least that's what mum says about my middle name. No way I could have thought of that wisdom on the spot."

[Ian Hunt]

"That makes a lot of sense, yes," I agree with a smile.
"Crazy person," Abby laughs into Jenny's shoulder.
I think she must have found a new favourite word to repeat.

"Maybe," Alex shrugs non-committedly.
He never met Rowan when he was old enough to remember him, but he knew Gideon and he remembers Gideon. There's nothing I can say though, because he won't listen to me even if I do say anything about him.
Then he grins again, "Copy cat."

[Serenity Crescent]

Jenny smiles back just bouncing Abby slightly in her arms. "I have a name Queenie." she says tickling her sides a bit before laughing herself.

She raises an eyebrow at him and then smiles. "Hey. I do listen to what she has to say once in a while, just the stuff that makes logical sense. You should know about that Ian." she laughs again.

[Ian Hunt]

"I have a name too!" She yells this as if she's shocked to find that someone else has a name as well as her.

"Parents don't make logical sense. My Mum doesn't anyway," He grins.

I grin slightly, raising an eyebrow at Jenny, "No comment."

[Serenity Crescent]

"I know right? Big shocker there." she says hugging her again. "You're very smart for your age."

"I agree, but we pretend that they do make sense so they feel all accomplished and whatnot." she says with a laugh.

"Awh, why not? I won't tell. Remember, I'm your crazy person buddy." she says with a wink.

[Ian Hunt]

"Matty says I'm special," Abby tells her absently, now playing with a lock of her hair, "He's my cousin and we are on our way to see him."

"Oh, is that why we do it?" He grins, "I thought it was just so they look stupid."

"Yeah, when people say that they always do tell, or they let slip and that's not a risk I'm willing to take," I laugh, shaking my head.

[Serenity Crescent]

"Ah I've been told I'm special too, but I'm sure mine was meant in a different meaning." she says, not bothered by the tangling of her curls.

"Well there's that too, but it usually backfires on us cause then they'll make us look stupid. I suppose it's the circle of life or circle of stupidity in this case." she say with a laugh.

"Come on now. I keep hundreds of secrets away from that woman. If she knew half the stuff that I've done, she'd lock me in my room and barricade my window."

[Ian Hunt]

"I think you're special. We're both special," Abby beams, then shoots a look behind her at her brother, "And Exi too."

"That doesn't sound too fun," He pulls a face, then looks up at Abby and pulls a different face up at her.

"Jenny, please stop there," I shake my head, "I don't think I want to know about the calibre of the things you've done and keep from your mother."

[Serenity Crescent]

"Your da is especially special. He's the ruler of the special people." she says with a laugh.

"Ah, but you see it is. Make your parents feel stupid and then they attempt to make you feel stupid, but nine times out of ten it backfires and they wind up being the stupid ones again. See, the circle of stupidity." she says with a thoughtful look on her face.

Jenny raises an eyebrow at him. "What are you thinking Ian? I just got a tattoo on my back and started smoking last year. You should really keep your mind out of the gutter."

[Ian Hunt]

"Thanks," I say wryly.
Abby laughs loudly, and I get the feeling that she's going to be repeating that to other people.

Alex frowns a little, then shakes his head, "What did you just say?"

I laugh, "Sorry, my mind is permanently in the gutter. I just assume the worst."
"You started smoking?" I raise an eyebrow at this, torn between telling her that she shouldn't and the other much more appealing option, "You have a light on you? Maddie threw my lighter out."

[Serenity Crescent]

"Your welcome, king of the special people." she says with a grin.

"Don't worry about it. Wasn't that important." she says with a laugh, ruffling his hair a bit with her free hand.

"Yeah at school with an ex boyfriend. He said it relieved stress and." she trails off just shaking her head. "But hold on, I do somewhere." she says setting Abby down and finding one in her jean jacket pocket. "Here you go. I heard that you don't smoke anymore though." she grins slightly.

[Ian Hunt]

Alex sticks his tongue out at her, ruffling his hair back into place.

"I don't smoke anymore," I shake my head wryly, taking a cigarette out of my pocket, taking her lighter and lighting up before handing it back to her, "Thanks."