sortinghat_logs | London calling to the far away towns

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maxim jaeger

London calling to the far away towns

WHO: Maxim and Greg
TONE: Shenanigans
RATING: PG-13
WHEN: Saturday
WHERE: London
WHAT: Teenaged boys romping around London unsupervised, and then a fist fight (but it's all in good fun!)
STATUS: Ongoing

"Yah, chust look for de porple Caddy, Hy'm vearing yellow und vhite, hyu ken't miss me," Maxim chirped, finishing up giving Greg directions to his parking spot, then hanging up his phone. He'd been waiting for this day ever since he'd proposed his challenge to the Hufflepuff, and now it was finally here. Sure, the plans were only made two days ago, but he'd been itching for a fight ever since Gamzee declared his intent to give up his journal. Time couldn't go fast enough, in his opinion.

Of course, the big fight wasn't happening right away, but that hardly mattered to him now. Nope, as far as he was concerned, this was the pre-game party, and he was going to mess with the other boy as much as he could.

Which was why he was dressed to impress in a yellow halter top and short white skirt, red cowgirl boots, a white sunhat with yellow daisies woven into the brim, and an assortment of long, gold necklaces draped around his neck. He had told Greg that he was only getting a shirt or pants, after all, all while promising that nothing inappropriate would be showing. With this outfit, he had achieved such a feat.

Now all he had to do was relax on the hood of his car, fail his purple lacquered nails into sharp points, and wait for the other boy to show.

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With a sigh, Greg placed the receiver back in its place before slinging a jacket on. Leaving a note for his parents, he grabbed his backpack and walked out, past the scummy apartments that lined the road, the packs of boys, teens and men who lingered and smoked around the area, making a bee-line straight for the tube.

Emerging from the underground train and with the London sun on his back, he briskly walked towards the appointed spot. Half of him is suspicious that Maxim was going to pull some half-brained prank on him, but the other half was glad that his fellow Hogwarts class mate had agreed to see him. He didn't have much friends outside school, and work was eating up so much time that he couldn't make any new ones. Not that any of the other teen boys who lived in his area were interested in being mates with him either.

Stopping at the opposite side of the road, he scanned the cars for the purple Cadillac. There was one, but there was a women near it, wearing a ridiculous sun hat that blocked her face from view while she filed at her nails. He frowned; this was definitely the place, but no Maxim in sight. Slightly annoyed that the other boy may have given him wrong directions, he crossed the road to look further. Maybe the car was just on the other side of the parking lot.

[Maxim had to snicker to himself as Greg all but walked past him, looking around like a lost, scowlly puppy. It was like he couldn't even see him, even though he was standing right there!]

[It was because he was wearing a different hat, wasn't it?]

[Putting his nail file into his purse (purple, of course), Maxim pushed the brim of the hat up a little, grinning from ear to ear]

Hey handzum, hyu lookink for zumvun special?

[Greg's not the type to swear too often, but when a very familiar, and horrifyingly so, voice comes up from underneath that hat, there's a sharp intake of breath.]

Fuck!

Maxim, what the-!? Why are you-!? I told you-!!!

Shit!

[It may have seemed impossible, but Maxim's grin grew even wider]

Hyu told me, und Hy told hyu! But sinze hyu deed not say, und hyu vas not around to dress me, Hy got to pick. Und it's chust like Hy promised, efferyting's coffered. Hy'm effen vearing leedle schorts underneath zo no vun ken see my pantiez.

[It's hard to tell whether his face is red because it's embarrassed or red because he's angry. He opens his mouth to explode, but quickly shuts it when a passer-by glances questioningly at the two boys. Pursing his lips and glaring daggers instead, he took a deep breath, counted to five, before he spoke, voice low and furious.]

I said. Pants and a shirt.

[Greg is going to kill him tonight. Maybe he should have listened to Tony's warning.]

[Nope, this is great, it's everything he wanted and more]

Schorts iz pents. Dey chust leedle vuns. Anyvay, Hy em appropriate, zo do de details really madder?

Edited 2012-08-12 03:24 (UTC)

[You think? He's livid. Boxing is starting to look like a fantastic idea, if only because he's going to be able to smash that grin into his face.]

Which is why I specifically said pants, not shorts.

[Must, remember, to breath.]

Look, did you pack a spare pair of pants?

[EYEROLL, now this is just starting to be annoying.]

No, Hy deedn't, cuz Hy deedn't vanna vear pents. Vhy hyu makink such a fuss for? Hy dressed all cute and nize chust for hyu! Vhy do Hy need pents?

[And this is where it gets slightly awkward. Most of his anger has dimmed away to irritation and surprisingly, guilt. He looks away for a few minutes, rubbing the back of his neck, before he sighs and shakes his head.]

I'm just pissed that I asked one thing out of you, and you didn't do it.

But you're right, it doesn't matter.

[And with that suspiciously abrupt change in mood, he draws himself back up and nods at Maxim's way.]

Alright then, let's go. There's plenty to do in London, and we shouldn't waste any time if we want to get you back in time for the Cup. You wouldn't want to miss that for the world now, would you?

[Wow, awkward indeed, because now Maxim's feeling a little bad. He hadn't thought about it that way. He hadn't thought about it at all. He'd just figured that as long as he was appropriate...]

[Shrugging it off, because there wasn't anything to be done about it now, he grabbed his purse and slung it over one shoulder, offering Greg a small smile]

Hyu kiddin'? Hy deedn't come all dis vay for a silly Quidditch game. Hy came to see hyu. Zo take all de time hyu vant, Hy ain't got nottink planned.

[Greg's got a matching smile. Sticking his hands into his jacket pockets, he jerks his head sideways.]

Well I'm glad you're here, you daft bastard.

Let's get started then. Have you ever had a ride on the double decker bus? We can take the scenic one that goes around the city; it stops off at all the landmarks, so you'll get to see them all.

Effen if Hy ain't vearing pents? [He tilts his head down coyly, folding his hands behind his back as he swings his hips from side to side, making his skirt brush over his legs]

No, Hy haffn't! Dot zounds like fun! Ve gonna see de palace den, too?

[His tone takes on a hint of exasperation mingled with amusement.]

Even without the damn pants.

Yeah. The palace is open for public viewing during August to September, so we should be able to go inside.

[He'll just beam proudly then. Exasperated amusement was what he ultimately wanted from Greg anyway]

Cool! Hy've been in a real kestle before, hyu know. My Mizz Agatha liffs in vun!

[He better enjoy it while he can. It's not often that Greg's that easy-going. He brings Maxim to a bus stop, waiting for the familiar red double decker bus to come around the corner to pick them up.]

"Miss Agatha"? Who's that? I thought you and Van were, you know. Together.

[Oh, he's enjoying it. He's absolutely enjoying it.]

Hee! Efferyvun says that, hyu know, but ve're not. Not officially or enyting like dot, enyvay. [He shrugs one shoulder, flashing Greg a smile] Mizz Agatha iz our mistress. [And since he usually gets double takes for using that word...] Ve are like knights, und she iz our queen. Our families haff served hers for generations.

"Queen"?

[He does double take at that.]

She's a princess?

[He just smirks and shrugs one shoulder]

[Which is when the bus arrives, causing him to leave the question hanging in the air mysteriously as he grabs Greg's hand and proceeds to drag him towards it] Look, de bus! Ve ken get a seat up top, ya?

[Maxim catches him by surprise. Instead of an answer, he gets bundled up to the bus.]

Well, that's half the point of taking a ride on this bus. Just don't stand up there.

[And he hands the bus conductor the money for the two of them.]

Ya, vouldn't vant to lose hyu head!

[Even though the bus has a top??? The most morbid answer is clearly the best, in Maxim's opinion]

[He's halfway up the stairs before Greg's even finished paying, galloping along like he wasn't in a small, confined space] Hy vanna seat in de front zo ve gets to see efferyting furst!

[He's used to Maxim's more...eccentric replies, eventhough the bus driver throws them both a strange look. Ignoring him, Greg heads up the stairs and takes a look at the front; luck seems to be on their side today.]

There's two seats up front. We can take those. You should probably take the window seat too.

[Any and all odd stares, comments, and general uncertainty directed at Maxim fly completely over his head and out the window. Yes, he is a strange girl, one of those foreign types with no proper uprising, thank you for noticing]

[Greg is dragged up to the seats, then Maxim promptly lets go of him to slide into the seat, smushing his face up against the window] So cool! Vhat are ve goink to see furst? Are ve goink to schtop for ice cream at all?

Well, according to the schedule the first thing we'll see is Big Ben. You wanna stop off there for a quick look? There's not much to see, but it's pretty.

We can grab ice cream when the bus goes by Soho; there's a pretty good ice cream place there.

Pft, it's a clock. [He shrugs, glancing briefly over his shoulder] Ve got beeg clocks all offer Mechanicsburg. Dey effen haff leedle figurines dot come out und do a leedle dance on de hour.

Und dot's not effen mentioning de gargoyle dot strikes de Doom Bell.

That's a cheery name for a clocktower. I think I'll stick to good ol' Ben, thanks.

We can just go by it then. Is there any particular sort of place you want to take a closer look at, other than the Palace?

Ya, dere iz nottink like a leedle existential despair to lifen op a fillage, iz dere? [He grins brightly, settling into his seat a bit more properly] Iz only rung on special occasions, dough, und de masters Bill und Barry aren't terribly fond ov it. It haz only been rung tvice in my lifetime - vhen Mizz Agatha vas born, und at de start ov de new millennium. Mamma sez dot hearink it az a babby iz best dough, gets hyu conditioned to it early.

Vhat is dere in London? Oh! Dere's dot giant ferris vheel, right? Dot vun dot vas on Doctor Who! Hey, Hy need my picture teken vit a police box!

Must be some bell then. How big is it?

[And as they're passing by Big Ben at this point, Greg points out the clocktower to Maxim.]

Compared to Big Ben, I mean. Oh, and Parliament's over there. That's where our MPs meet up to discuss how they're going to run the country.

The Eye? Sure, we can go the-...wait a minute, you watch Doctor Who?

[he looks out the window as Greg points, cupping a hand to his chin, thoughtfully considering the clock]

Ohhhh... Hy vould say 'bout de size ov de face, probably. Mebbe a leedle smaller, but not by much. De gargoyle iz 'bout de size ov de leedle hand alone.

[With a shrug, he turns back to Greg]

Oh sure! Zum ov de locals iz sciencey pipple, de vuns dot make clocks und schtuff. Dey like Doctor Who, zo Mamma puts it on de telly vhen dere ain't no games.

Your village sounds like a mixed bunch. Knights, princesses, scientists, and wizards.

[Smiling at Greg, he leans over a little, nudging his shoulder against the other boy's] Hyu should come see me zumtime. Hy tink hyu vould like it, it's verra quaint, but schtill pretty modern.

Und, it vould be nize to haff zumvun come to me, for onze.

It sounds nice, and I'd really like to, but I don't have the cash for it.

[Excuse him while he eyerolls] Zo, hyu tink Hy deed? Ve're vizards, Greg. Ve haff vays dot don' require money. Hyu chust gotta uze hyu head. [And then he smacks him upside the head]

[The blow nearly catches him, but he quickly bats it away and scowls.]

Listen, I said I don't have the money alright? I can't afford to leave London.

[He settles back in his seat and quietly mutters.]

My family needs my salary to pay the rent.

[That gives him pause. Sure, he works for (quite literally, in his case) his family too, but Mamma pays him, not the other way around. That's why he has so much spending money in the first place.]

[Is says a lot about why Greg is such a fussy face in the first place, though]

Dey schouldn't. [He murmurs back, leaning against the other boy supportively.] Iz too much responsibility for a boy. Mamma says vhile hyu liff vit hyu parents, vurkink schould be a learnink experience, not a chore.

[Greg shifts slightly in his seat; this is a topic he's not very comfortable with discussing.]

Not like we have a choice. Economy's shot, and what Dad and my stepmum earn isn't enough for all of us. Mum can't really help either, she and her boyfriend are struggling to keep up with the mortgage payments too.

[Well, there's an easy solution to this!]

Den hyu come vurk at Mamma's vit me vhile hyu stay und keep earnink money! She vould probably put hyu on de mornink shifts since hyu neffer been at de bar at night, zo de tips vould not be zo great, but dey are schtill verra goot! Und Hy do hostink durink breakfast!

[Maxim's kind intentions aren't missed, Greg smiles, but shakes his head.]

Thanks mate, but I can't leave London. Someone's got to take care of the twins while my parents are working the night shifts.

But honestly? Thanks. It's nice that you're trying to help. I appreciate it.

Oh, right, de leedle vuns... [He pouts a little, bracing his elbows on his knees and dropping chin into his hands. He definitely doesn't want Greg to leave them behind, big brothers are important! But he still doesn't think it's a very fair situation.] Vell, hyu iz my frend, right? Effen if Hy drife hyu krezy, iz only becauze Hy like hyu, hyu know. Und, dot iz vhat frends do. Dey look out for each odder.

Damn right. You drive me up the wall sometimes, and I think you get some kicks out of it, but you are my friend, and I'm glad that I can call you that.

[And with that, he gives him a clap on the back.]

Cheer up Maxim! We're going to be reaching the Eye. You want to take a ride on it?

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London calling to the far away towns

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