Welcome to the Wyatt Manor | tags

WORDCOUNT | NOT TELLING	OUTFIT | LIKE IT MATTERS
MUSIC | THE NCIS THEME SONG IS PLAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN MY HEAD	TAGS | MELANIE ALESSA THORN, RAVENNA SILVAN GAUNT, RAFAEL ARI DIAZ, BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT

Braxton was thrust out of his happy slumber early in the morning than he had thought appropriate. Someone, he wasn't quite sure who yet, was beating at his door as if there were a fire in the building. But of course, that couldn't be the case, because any fire related emergency would be immediately handled by one of the many magical emergency prevention measures build into his mother's huge house. No, this had to be something completely different.

It wasn't long after he woke up that his wits returned to him and he was able to break away from those last lingering moments of the dream world he had just been inhabiting. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes uncomfortably, groaning as he rolled over on to his side and looked out the window. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, as if it were being weighing down by the same early morning heaviness that kept Braxton from jumping up immediately and hoping in the shower. What on earth?

"Braxton Thomas Wyatt, get out of bed this instant!" His mother's voice was muffled by the thick wooden door. HIS MOTHER'S VOICE?! He shot out of bed and half ran, half stumbled across the room to the door. Pulling the door open proved to be a daunting task, not because he was tired or it was heavy, but because the idea of his mother coming to his room herself, for the first time EVER, was terrifying.

"Mum?" He said in a voice that cracked like the pubescent boy he was, "Is something wrong?" Behind the door stood a tall, blonde woman with a harsh, yet pretty face. She was dressed to kill, as always, in a slinky black outfit that could only be described as sexy, even when referred to by her son.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, a myriad of bangles and bracelets clinking together like a wind chime, "You can't be serious. You must get ready to welcome Miss Thorn. She will be arriving within the hour and you must greet her as the eldest son of the Wyatt family." The word 'family' rolled off her tongue awkwardly as she frowned. They both knew he wasn't a Wyatt and the pretending got harder everyday.

He nodded briefly and stood up straighter, not sure how exactly to respond. At least she turned and walked away from the awkward situation so he wouldn't have to. Pushing the door closed, Braxton leaned against the heavy wood from for a moment before slinking into the bathroom to get ready.

About twenty minutes later, he was bathed and dressed in some suit his mother had bought for him earlier in the week, He felt rigid like a board in the dress cloak, trying to break in the expensive fabric as he walked down the large stairs and into the foyer where his mother and step-father stood, discussing something quietly between each other. When his step-father's gaze met his over his mother's head, they stopped talking and  turned to face him fully, both looking at him with blank stares, "Well, I suppose that is the best we can do, dear." She said, moving a few strands of Braxton's blonde hair out of his eyes. Even though, to most people, her words would have been a compliment, Braxton knew what she meant. Throwing a blanket over a mess doesn't mean it's clean, and no matter how much effort they put into their mixed-blood bastard son, he could never be Pure.

Braxton crossed the room, joining his sister Octavia against a far wall where she stood, slumped and bored. She made a face of disgust and took a step away from him, as if her carried some horrible and contagious disease she didn't want to catch. Before he could make a comment about it, though, their mother was speaking again, this time to ball of light hovering at the tip of her wand. As she spoke, the words echoed strangely and a ball of light grew brighter, "Welcome to Wyatt Manor." She started, "We are pleased you could join us for the summer. We have many guest rooms available for your use. You may choose one of your liking and make yourself at home. Remember, our staff is yours and we hope you enjoy your summer as we prepared for the Pureblood Ball, to be held at Wyatt Manor at the end of the summer season." She flicked her wand as she finished the message and the ball of light flew up to the ceiling and repeated her message in full. He had seen it before. Every time someone entered through the front door, that had not been in the house before, the message would play for them to hear. It was how she planned to greet the students that wouldn't be arriving until later.

He was about to complain about how early he had been forced to awaken, when he heard the rumble of the yacht approaching the boat house down by the beach. The ferryman had heard the password through someone's wand and was now returned to deliver them to the house.

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of all the things

i hid from you, I cannot hide the shame

As promised, Melanie's father didn't even make time to tell her good-bye before he shipped her off to the Wyatt household for the remainder of the summer. He didn't bother with sending anyone besides her aunt Cass, who spent most of her time complaining about how boring it would be at the estate without her niece and nephew. Some times Melanie wondered if Cass remembered that she spent entire months without them during the school year, but apparently that was besides the point.

By the time Melanie reached the docks at the Wyatt Manor, she almost wished that she had come alone. Cass was two steps away from a blubbering mess, but was somehow able to pull herself together as they landed and walked up the steps to the entrance. Everything around her was absolutely stunning in a way that differed drastically with her own home. Where the Thorn Estate was old and regal, this was more modern, but still spoke of power and privileged.

It was breathtaking.

Before Cass would let her walk through the door, she took the time to smooth out her skirt and brushed a stray piece of hair out of her face. "Beautiful, Just like your mother. Don't tell Ashton I said that." Her aunt whispered before knocking on the door. It opened almost instantly to a gorgeous room that almost put the outside of the house to shame. Whoever had done the decorating obviously had impecable taste. "Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt, good day."

Melanie took in the couple in front of her and then the other two people in the room before curtsying slightly to her hosts. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt. Thank you for having me here this summer." She flashed them a polite smile that brightened slightly as she turned her head slightly  towards Braxton. Raven was right, at least she knew people this time. 

no words | BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT | notes: outfit

ulla

“Does it have to be me?” Rafael shifted his eyes as he examined the door. There were many unsaid rules in his household – one of which was to always be punctual to these “parties”. He chuckled. Social gatherings had to be the much more correct term. It mostly consisted of boring chats, the usual “how do you do” and “I haven’t seen you in a while” that plague every meeting like this one. Lifeless, unbearable, revolting.

He originally decided to be the composed individual today. Look the other way, put on that dashing smile for the ladies and parents, pretend that he was interesting in all that political nonsense. Heck, if it was a job well done maybe he would be able to leave early. The whole plan was sound. That was, until he found himself standing upon the entrance. The thought of having to be a bit gentleman-like was a demon of its own. It just wasn’t him. He was charming in his own right, but not here. Here goes nothing. He took off his hat and proceeded inside. “Mr. Wyatt, Mrs. Wyatt.” He grinned, nodding to acknowledge their presence.

On the bright side, his family had gone ahead of him in order to talk with the “adults”. They were always the busiest bees during these conventions. Finding out the latest headlines, concocting the next plan in their dreams of greater success. Truth be told, Rafael had always wanted to dabble in their affairs. What was the next investment? Was Howard’s death really an accident? Who was taking that bribe in the Ministry of Magic? He remembered making it a game once, asking around trying to pick up as much gossip as he could. It was entertaining, but strenuous. Maybe he could try it again today if the chance had arisen.

He maneuvered around the crowds, making his way deeper into the foyer. His eyes scanned for drinks, but to his dismay he couldn’t find any. He frowned, drinking himself to sleep wasn’t an option. For now, at least.

Occasionally he would recognize a few of the attendees as he passed by. Of course there was Braxton Wyatt, the beater for the Slytherins. Rafael couldn’t exactly remember if the boy had aimed for him once or twice on the field. Either way, nothing much had been said between each other off the pitch. And then there was Melanie Thorn, a social figure within the Slytherins. Not much could be said as well about her, he never tried to talk with her before. But maybe he could now. It was better than just standing around, that was for sure. Making his way towards them, Rafael smiled. “Hello, not sure if we formally got to introduce ourselves at Hogwarts. Rafael Diaz.” He offered them a handshake. "Nice to meet you."

tag: RAVENNA SILVAN GAUNT + BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT + MELANIE ALESSA THORN, words: ~, notes: party?

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of all the things

i hid from you, I cannot hide the shame

Melanie turned away from her Aunt at the sight of the new arrival, watching her walk away with the other adults. It was almost bittersweet to leave her, but it had to be done. Then the Diaz's son addressed her, reminding Melanie that she needed to have her poker face on now more than ever. Just because she didn't really want to be here didn't mean she had to act like it. "Melanie Thorn. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She greeted politely, making eye contact as she shook his hand.

"So, Rafael, tell me about yourself. I don't think we've had the pleasure of chatting before." It was an open ended request. He could tell her just about anything, as long as her aunt could see her making small talk with the other students.

no words | BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT  RAFAEL ARI DIAZ| notes: skipping brax outfit

ulla

“Well…” Rafael paused and he thought about his answer. I like to party, sleep instead of study, and run away from the prefects. Maybe coming up with a decent description of himself would’ve been nice preparation. Now that he thought about it, what could he talk about with these people? He smiled towards the new guests as they walked by. “I’m one of the chasers for the Gryffindors. A bit musically inclined as well, with a hint of political interest.” He eyed the crowd. And I have a slight distaste for this event.

“What about yourself?” He turned to her once more. “Surely, this camp will prove to be splendid.” He muttered, trying to drown out the rest of the chatter.

tag: BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT + MELANIE ALESSA THORN, words: ~, notes: party...

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of all the things

i hid from you, I cannot hide the shame

Melanie nodded as Rafael answered her question. Now she knew why he looked so familiar. He had played in the championship game this year against slytherin. Sure, she had heard his name before in the general pure blood gossip, but it was nice to have a face for the name. "Politics can be genuinely fascinating, but I prefer business matters myself. That's what I do in my spare time, research business relations and strategies." It sounded lame and she knew it, eliciting a small laugh at her own comments. 

"Well, other than business I do tend to spend a lot of my time doing things like, well, this. " it definitely wasn't her favorite thing in the world, but she'd take it over spending too much time with her father. "What kind of music do you listen to? Can you sing or play an instrument?" It was time to turn th conversation back towards him, and she had to admi he sounded interesting so far. 

no words | BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT  RAFAEL ARI DIAZ| notes: skipping brax outfit

ulla

“Huh, already planning for the future? Smart.” Rafael was impressed. He didn’t know any students that actively pursued their interest with an actual plan in mind – at least, from the people he had talked to. But in retrospect, he didn’t exactly hang out with the most studious of peers as well.

“Must be fun, these events.” His smile hinted sarcasm. He felt as if his distaste for these events oozed out of him. Somehow, he was able to keep it reined in for a few good minutes now. Only a few good months left to go.

His attention snapped back to Melanie as she asked him another question. “Muggle music is what fancies me. Their contemporary style has become a bit livelier in my opinion.” Energy filled his voice as he talked about it. “I sing, self-taught.” He mused.

“This place is magnificent.” He commented, gesturing towards the architecture of the foyer. “Haven’t seen a place like this in ages. Have you?”

tag: BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT + MELANIE ALESSA THORN, words: ~, notes: party...

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of all the things

i hid from you, I cannot hide the shame

"Muggle music is fascinating. It definitely changes more often than ours does. You have to respect he classics though. " Melanie teased, turning to look at the foyer as he pointed it out. The place was enchanting, that much she had decided. For a moment, Braxton caught her eye and she considered joining him, but that would be rude and her aunt was still in the house. No, she needed to stay here and keep up the pretenses. Rafael was more interesting than most, so we didn't mind as much as she normally did. 

Remembering that she needed to respond, she smiled politely and looked back towards Rafael. "It is magnificent. Sometimes I wish that our estate was more like this. Modern and sophisticated, but still with a touch of that ancient flare." 

no words | BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT& RAFAEL ARI DIAZ| notes: skipping brax outfit

ulla

“Didn’t know anyone else bothered to listen to the ‘classics’ anymore. Too many eras to recall.” He nodded approvingly, shifting so he looked out into the wide expanse. A smile crossed his face as he observed the glamourous room. The Wyatts definitely knew how to welcome their guests.

He refocused once she started to speak once more. “Really? Living here would be overwhelming for me.” A slight laugh escaped his lips. “Sometimes, I feel like a small cottage would suit me best. But don’t tell anyone, else they’d think I wanted to be a bum.” He winked playfully. Somehow, a tiny house to himself didn’t seem so bad. There would be less stairs to climb, anyhow.

tag: BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT + MELANIE ALESSA THORN, words: ~, notes: party...

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can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like

SHOOTING STARS?

Braxton had been standing in the corner, watching his sister mingle with some other girl he didn't remember the name of. They were leaning around a corner, peeking into the ballroom where the main party was meant to be happening. He shook his head and thought awkwardly to himself about how people filed into the house through the front door and immediately stopped. Why did people do that?

He pushed off the wall and started wandering around, looking for some semblance of a familiar face that didn't hate the fact that he even existed. He saw the back of that Gryffindor dude's head and figured it would be a good place to start. At least they would be able to talk about Quidditch or something.

As Braxton got closer to the lion boy, he noticed that the dude was having a conversation with someone. To be more specific, he was having a conversation with Melanie Thorn, the Slytherin girl he had recently begun speaking with.

He walked up slowly, as to not interrupt their conversation too rudely. Granted, it wasn't because he actually cared and more because he could feel his mother's beautiful blue eyes drilling into the back of his head like daggers. All he knew was if he messed up, he would never hear the end of it.

"Hey." He said in a bored voice, trying to smile but his face ended up looking more like a grimace, "Wanna go tot he ballroom? I think there is firewhiskey in there." He said, no paying attention to what the pair had previously been talking about.

there are ### words in this post.

i'm wearing this. don't i look amazing?

i'm talking to MELANIE ALESSA THORN and RAFAEL ARI DIAZ.

BUTTING IN!

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of all the things

i hid from you, I cannot hide the shame

Before Melanie could articulate a reply to Rafael's cabin idea, Braxton arrived, seeming to appear from no where. Then again, maybe she just hadn't been paying attention once she decided to focus on Rafael. "Firewhiskey?" She clarified with an amused smile, even though she looked towards the area he indicated.

"Sounds like fun. Are you coming, Rafael?" She really needed to find a nickname for him soon. Rafael sounded too formal for the guy in front of her who loved music and wanted a cabin in the woods. He sounded like a Rafe or something along those lines.

New mission for the summer? Find a nickname for Rafael and make it stick. It definitely sounded like an admirable goal.

no words | BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT&RAFAEL ARI DIAZ| notes:yay brax! outfit

ulla

Rafael turned to the voice of the newest speaker entering the conversation. “Hey, Rafael Diaz.” He extended his right hand. He liked this guy, the lack of formality served as a green light to be himself. A look of surprise washed over his face when Braxton mentioned firewhiskey. “Alcohol? I’m in.” A genuine smile spread over his face. Finally, a saving grace for the rest of the camp.

“Of course!” He responded to Melanie as he slowly faced the ballroom. As he walked, Rafael thought about the amount of dances held in said house. Had to be a lot. What were they like? Stoic and cool? Maybe masquerade, hint of mystery. “Close championship game, huh?” Rafael said sarcastically, grimacing a bit as he remembered the result. “The Gryffindor and Slytherin game, I mean.”

tag: BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT + MELANIE ALESSA THORN, words: ~, notes: party...

template by caedmon of GS

can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like

SHOOTING STARS?

FInally, Pureblood conversation he could enjoy, "Ah, yeah. If your seeker had been just a second faster..." They entered the large, white ballroom that seemed way too clean and pure to be as old as it really was. He led the group over to a far wall, were refreshments had been set up by the housekeeper.

There was a wide range of foodstuffs and drinks laid across a tablecloth that dangled in the air, thrown over nothing. You could clearly see the floor through the lace of the white table clothes and see that magic was suspending everything from the chocolate fountain to the see drawing firewhiskey tap a few feet away.

Braxton grabbed a glass off the table, kept cool by some spell he was sure his mother had insisted on and took a long gulp of the cold liquid. He made a face as it burned it's way down his throat and made his fingers and toes feel tingly, "Can't wait for next year. Should be a great season." He said to Rafael, taking another, smaller, sip, "We actually have a bit of a pitch put back if you want to check it out sometime this summer."

there are ### words in this post.

i'm wearing this. don't i look amazing?

i'm talking to MELANIE ALESSA THORN and RAFAEL ARI DIAZ.

BUTTING IN!

created by kenna

Rafael chuckled, stepping into the ivory ballroom. “We absolutely got dismantled.” His eyes flickered across the walls of the stunning interior. Well I’ll be damned, he wondered how many more surprises the Wyatt Manor had in store. While he didn’t prefer to live in high-profile establishments, Rafael couldn’t help but marvel. It was a work of art.

Practically gliding towards the refreshment, Rafael treated himself to a glass of firewhiskey. Ever since fifth year, his affinity for any alcoholic drink had grown. He loved the numbing sensation, it made the present all the more exciting. With every sip came the realization that he is only mortal and that was the way it should be. Death was inevitable, but enjoying one’s time was optional. Rafael intended to have all the fun he could get his hands on. He gently swirled the contents of the glass before bringing it closer to his lips. Cheers. He slightly winced as the cold tingle passed through his throat. The feeling was great.

Rafael smiled as Braxton talked about the coming year of competition. “You guys won’t know what hit you.” A small laugh escaped his mouth, fingers tapping on his glass. His ears perked once he heard about the pitch. “I’m down, but as long as you refrain from smashing my head in with a bludger.” He took a moment to clear his throat. “If you could hit me, that is.” He gave him a challenging look with a smirk.

tag: BRAXTON THOMAS WYATT + MELANIE ALESSA THORN, words: ~, notes: !!!

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