7:45pm - Here's what the flat is like


The flat smelled fantastic, though Elixa did say so herself. Two potioneers in a flat made for the most amazing mulled wine. The smell of it was permeating every corner of 277B along with the pine scent from the firewood in the fireplace. Their Christmas tree was dressed and twinkling with little charms, though beneath it still looked a little bare despite Christmas Day not being too far away now. The wireless was playing upbeat Christmas carols in the background.

It was Saturday night and neither of them were working. Elixa had worked a very late one the night before, getting home to just collapse into bed, but now she had a spring in her step and a smile on her face. People were coming over. Not just her invited people, Arc's invited people. They had agreed a list of people they both got on with, that wouldn't be too many in their little flat and that wouldn't be too awkward or include people they might feel obligated to include. Not everyone wanted to go to a Christmas party, either. This was less of a party, more a gathering. A little more sedate.

The four chairs were out from around the kitchen table, assembled in the living room along with the sofa that comfortably seated two, or three if it was cozy. All in a loose gathering around the fire with the low coffee table full of nibbles and coasters for drinks. A bushy ginger tail was brushing around the edge, heading over to investigate Cyril Lancaster, a first-time visitor to the flat, and colleague of both the occupants. He and Arc often met while smoking up on the roof of the hospital, and he always had a kind word to say to Elixa. A hint that he might be lonely come Christmas had added him to the list, though they both got on well with him despite the age gap.

Arc's parents had come early, they were seated on the sofa together and had spent a little time with them both already which was nice. Lix hadn't ever spent much time with them, she had met Mordecai at least when he'd rushed to Edwin's to take care of Monty Pepper flying Edwin's car over Guilden Morden, and Lydia briefly through her herbology assistance with the hospital in the past weeks. Seeing them together with Arc in the flesh rather than photos made it easier to see where he took after each of them in appearance and mannerism. She couldn't help but glance between the three of them.

Elixa was listening attentively to Lydia's explanation of the fairylights plant when there was a knock at the door from the street below. They were still expecting Flynn and, to her surprise Johann and Balfour. They hadn't received a word back from the latter, but Arc had told her that morning after getting up that Johann had been by the night before unexpectedly. Something about a lost invite. Elixa had avoided Arc's gaze when he'd mentioned it. They'd invited other people, but sadly between work and other Christmas commitments they'd not been able to come.

"I best go get that," she interrupted softly, heading to the top of the stairs, casting a glance to Arc as she went. The warmth of the flat in the living room dropped away as she hastened down the stairs. Outside snow still lay., and the temperature was dropping to one of the coldest nights of the month so far She did not want to leave their visitors waiting on the doorstep too long… well, only if their name was Flynn.

Elixa pulled open the door.

"We don't have to stay long, if it gets… awkward," Johann reiterated quietly to Balfour as they approached the front door through the snow. The Alley had frozen over the night before, he'd been glad of apparating out and returning to warm Atreus and home to Balfour after visiting Arcturus. Right now the cobbles were rather slippery.

He hadn't delayed in explaining what had happened, in the spirit of honesty with Balfour (well, as far as between them and friends, and excluding any confidential business of work, private clients and nice surprises being planned) once he had got home the previous night. He had left the flat before Balfour had woken on Friday morning to attend to a job for Ira, so it was a long day without him by the time he got back from Diagon Alley. At least Balfour had known he was going over with the Honeydukes things to say thank you. Neither of them had anticipated him coming back with an invite round for the following evening.
"Well, I guess it's a more suitable situation than pouring coffee over someone or me throwing up on them," Johann had shrugged eventually with an bemused expression, summarising the previous interactions Balfour had had with Arcturus.

Outside the front door, Johann stoop with left arm looped through Balfour's right, as they often naturally assumed while out exercising Whiskey (and friends if Ira was away). He raised his right hand to knock on the front door nestled beside the darkened windows of the divination shop. Pink curtains were half drawn across the retail window, and a crystal ball sat in view nestled amongst twinkling Christmas lights.

After half a minute or so, the door came open, light spilling down from the hallway, which for once was well lit. Elixa's face was bright, fell for a split second on seeing who it was and then reaffixed itself.

"Lix," Johann greeted with a bright smile, dropping his linked arm with Balfour to embrace his third cousin a little too tightly on purpose.
"Balfour! Come in," She stepped back to let them both in through the front door a little awkwardly, gesturing for them both to ascend the stairs. Johann's hand reached back to bring Balfour with him.

"So good of you to invite us both." He spoke a little more loudly than he needed to for the narrow staircase, and glanced back with an innocent smile. Lix shut the door with a little more vigour than she perhaps meant to at the bottom.

At the top the room opened out and Johann recognised the backs of Lydia and Mord's heads and shoulders sat on the sofa, and Arc sat nearby. There was another figure sat in one of the armchairs who Johann couldn't name but felt was familiar.

"Evening all," He greeted brightly, tugging his scarf off and slipping out of his coat to hang it up on the pegs, taking Balfour's to do the same. Lix rejoined them at the top of the stairs by this point, glancing over to Arcturus.

"You've met Mordecai haven't you?" He asked his other half politely as they approached, "Lydia, may I introduce Balfour Spectre, Balfour this is Lydia Hollingbury, Arc's parents." He gestured to them both, and shook hands with Mordecai, leaning down to kiss Lydia on the cheek as per the norm, before nodding to Arcturus, and purposefully glancing to the older wizard in the armchair to prompt someone to introduce him.

Despite feeling nervous about having people over, Arc had decided to just muster up enough courage to deal with people. He'd spent most of the day wondering how long he could endure human company, in his usual dry manner, while making mulled wine with Elixa. But upon the sight of his parents, most of that dread had fled. Maybe they also partnered up to make him feel at ease, but he couldn't necessarily tell since his mother had complimented him on actually wearing something different (a polo-necked sweater) than a hoodie and he wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or not.

Lancaster had followed shortly after. After a brief introduction between him and his parents, the caretaker was happy to take a seat and somewhat enthusiastic to try the mulled wine ("My grandmother made the most exquisite mulled wine every Christmas! I've got to see if yours can rival it.") and, as of now, giving Rustle the most affection he'd ever get for the next few hours. That was good. Arc didn't want Rustle interfering with things, and the feline was soaking up the attention with no end in sight.

He hardly heard the knock. Elixa departed, and Lydia immediately waggled her eyebrows at him while pointing at her. She'd noticed. Of course she'd notice. He was well-acquainted with his parents' sharp eyes. Arc resigned himself to questioning later. At least his father immediately gently pushed her pointing hand away, giving her a look. It made Arc smile, watching them. He waved a hand at his father. No, it's okay. Of course his mother would be delighted watching him be close to someone.

"Evening all." Arc nearly breathed his heart into his nose. He got to his feet automatically, the smile still on his face. It didn't leave even at the sight of Balfour. He caught Elixa looking at him worriedly. Johann was quick to introduce them; Arc caught the suddenly interested expression on his mother's face and stifled a laugh.

"Ah, I didn't know you were invited, Johann." His mother took the introduction graciously. "Don't mind us, we're only here for a short while. My birthday was two days ago, but we couldn't find the time to celebrate. Christmas is such a busy time, I'm just one of the unlucky people who get to have a birthdate so close to it. Oh, and thank you so much for the present, I love it."

"Hardly unlucky, more like very conveniently so," Mordecai said lightly. "But yes, we'll be off in a bit. Good to see you again, Johann. Balfour, good evening, I don't see you very much in general so merry Christmas and I hope you'll enjoy yourself over the holidays."

One day he'd have to learn how to be that graciously smooth at conversation, Arc mused.

"Glad you two could come after all," he said. Johann's glance did not go amiss. "Lancaster? This is Johann Storm and Balfour Spectre, from the Ministry," he looked towards the other two, "Cyril Lancaster, St Mungo's caretaker, probably the person most responsible for my taking smoke breaks at work."

"You deserve them." Lancaster patted him on the shoulder.

"Oh, and that's Rustle." Despite the attention from the caretaker, the kneazle had caught Balfour's presence and was now heading purposefully towards the man, plumed tail twitching in curiosity. "It'll take him a few moments to check you out, he's fine. Everyone gets scrutinised by him sooner or later." Rustle meowed as if in agreement as he passed his owner.

"So, um," you're so awkward, "have a seat and try our mulled wine?" Arc hoped his smile wasn't unnatural; despite his nervousness he was genuinely cheerful about this. "We have, I think, one more person coming, but there's enough to go around. More than enough." Elixa had made sure of that.

There was a particular feeling that Balfour thought he would never again experience after he graduated - that strange, anti-social reluctance of being made to visit and consort with even stranger relatives at the holiday times. At some point after Hogwarts this duty had become a charming one and each year he looked more forward to seeing the faces of his childhood against a background of festive lights or homemade bunting.

And yet here was that sensation again.

The perplexingly aggressive care sheet[1] Arcturus sent earlier in December (and that they, after a cursory study, burned in the fireplace) had rather put Balfour off the prospect of seeing the Healer again.

Knox might have accused him of being green if he had bothered to tell her. Perhaps she would be right. He was - he'd decided this one morning whilst watching his lover sleep - deeply in love with Johann, after all, so in this season of parties and gatherings and social visits it felt like having to share a precious thing with all these other non-Johann people.

But here they were anyway, in matching sweaters no less. Aisling's early gift to the couple. Balfour suspected a muggle joke somewhere in it, though he was quite happy not to ask. He straightened Johann's scarf for him as they were welcomed into the flat, and flashed Elixa a warm smile while Johann led the pair of them up the stairwell.

"Lovely as ever, Elixa..." he greeted her, briefly recalling the memory of their group outing much earlier that year. "Season's greetings." If there was any tension between her and his lover, it went right over Balfour's head as he cast his eyes about once they'd reached the upstairs landing. The wizard shrugged off his blazer and let Johann hang it up - he felt overly festive, bright red completely exposed.

If there was ever a time of the year for a man with auburn roots to get away with it...

"Good evening," Balfour echoed his partner and felt any reluctance from before melt away now that they were in a more social atmosphere. "Lovely weather we're having today." The snow had ceased as they'd come down to Diagon Alley but it was a safe bet that there would be more to come today, if Boreas[2] had anything to say about the subject.

Without missing a beat, he followed Johann's gaze and nodded at the eldest Hollingbury respectfully. "Thank you, and the same to you." They only knew one another from glancing meetings or run-ins at the Ministry of course. Arcturus was quick to play host, which was useful for setting the evening's rhythm, and Balfour slipped into his most amicable of social graces to accept the introductions.

He took Lydia's hand in a civil manner and affected a slight bow, meeting her in the eye with a smile while trying to find some of Arc's similarities in the face. "Lydia. It's a pleasure." They were a rather well-matched pair, he thought.

Older couples tended to be. They had lived with one another long enough for that internal comfort to show in body language or mannerisms. It made him wonder how he and Johann looked like to other people, if they were an odd or handsome pair. Balfour let go of the witch's hand and glanced at Arcturus, smile widening by offer of greeting before he turned the smile to Cyril.

This was manageable. Balfour didn't pay much attention to the kneazle, except to pause as it approached, accustomed as he was to the fickle ways of any catlike species. He was more than happy to take Arcturus' cue. "That sounds excellent. I love a bit of mulled wine." It was tart enough to appeal to his notoriously sweet tooth.

Balfour gave his partner's forearm an affection squeeze before he made his way over to the spare armchair, careful not to trip over Rustle as he did so. "So..." he sat, feet faced outwards. "You have a lovely home." He addressed Elixa and glanced at Johann fleetingly, watching him fetch wine for the both of them. "And right in Diagon too. I'd spoil myself at Alohomocha's everyday if I lived this close."

1.	Dec 8th - Johann's Care Sheet
2.	Viking god of Northern winter winds.

Introductions were in progress as she reached the top of the stairs. She paid less attention to the two recently arrived wizards and more to the one she was concerned for. This was a test for him, and she did not want to see him flee into the pantry or upstairs for being in close proximity. The way Johann had greeted had already put her on edge, as if he knew he had not truly been invited.

Arc was smiling. That wasn't his poker face, but it might be a poker smile, she wasn't sure at the distance. Lydia almost confirmed the truth with her passing comment I didn't know you were invited. But really the Hollingburys were pros at this social patter. Their son just hadn't quite caught up. She was quite relieved to see them still there when this exchange happened, reinforcements.

Rustle took interest in Balfour, but the Head of Beast Division did not seem to give the same scrutiny to the kneazle in return.
"… enough to go around. More than enough." Arc managed to say, though he spoke a little quicker than normal. Lix could sense his nerves against his usual pattern of speaking. Steady, keep calm. She thought to herself as if he could hear her.

As the other two moved to sit or head to the kitchen, she noticed with a glance that they were wearing matching jumpers, though Balfour was in striking red and Joh in grey. Cute, or sickening, she wasn't sure yet. Her eyes watched Balfour take the armchair facing the kitchen before the windows. Lancaster had installed himself in Arc's usual spot, which had been her plan when she had insisted it was the comfier chair to him earlier. The thought of Balfour sitting in Arc's armchair had not been entertained.

"You have a lovely home, and right in Diagon too. I'd spoil myself at Alohomocha's everyday if I lived this close."

Strike one, Lix thought to herself at the mention of the coffee shop Arc and Balfour had run into each other in. With a start she realised she hadn't moved from the top of the stairs and Joh was approaching the stove.

"Yes it is rather lovely, suits us, doesn't it Arc?" She replied forcing an easy smile and making her way into the kitchen, "When did we move in again, was it…?" She left the leading question and hastened after her distant cousin bent over the wine.

She might have accidentally-on-purpose kicked the back of his foot as she came beside him.
"Don't you be meddling with our mulled wine now!" She exclaimed clearly enough for the rest to hear. As he stepped away a little in surprise, she lowered her voice. "Will he be on his best behaviour tonight?"
"He is not my pet. Arc invited us, leave it out."
"Leave it out?" Lix hissed, stirring the wine with the ladle with more vigour than required, the rich smell wafting up. The two of them were doing their best to keep the others from overhearing, but from a distance their body language gave away the disagreement. "I told you to stay away, you should have said you were busy."

"I'll have another if there's some going then!" Lancaster called from behind them, twisting round in Arc's armchair to look into the kitchen. Without missing a beat, Johann tilted his head and turned around with a bright smile.
"Allow me."

In stony silence, Lix ladled three more glasses of wine and followed back into the kitchen to hand Lancaster his and find a seat beside Arc where her mulled wine was perched nearby. As she settled, she reached out gently to his elbow nearest her and gave it an affectionate squeeze. Find a safe topic... hmm... yes!
"Arc has been telling me all about the makings of a British Christmas. So much food, I can't understand how you can all move after Christmas dinner. Is he pulling my leg about Brussel sprouts though? That people put them on to boil in November[1]?"

1.	British Christmas joke that sprouts never cook, so you have to put them on for longer than you think

Flynn had spent the morning in Hogsmeade with his nephew-- it was a chicken killing day, and Linus was all out of sorts because his beloved 'Miss Cluckers' had stopped laying eggs. To cheer the lad up, they had explored all the different shops, and returne dback to Audrey's cottage with their arms full of goodies.

Among the goodies was a large box of chocolates that he had decided to contribute to the party-- everybody enjoyed a treat, after all. The healer was completely oblivious of the fact that the chocolates had been infiltrated. While he and Audrey had been chatting, Linus replaced all the chocolates with the prank variety.

As he arrived, he let himself into the flat and announced himself: "I'm here!" He exclaimed, his santa hat slipping off of his head and onto the floor. "Happy Christmas! I brought chocolate." He placed it on the nearest flat surface. He was pleased to see who all showed up. Johann! Balfour! Arc's parents whose names he could not remember!

"I heard a rumor that there was going to be mulled wine here." He said more accusingly than he intended. He made his way to Johann and Balfour, wanting to greet them with a hug. However, he stepped on his own shoelaces and fell forward.

"I'M GOING DOWN!" He managed to scream, flailing like a madman before crashing face first onto the floor, his nose crunching at impact. Flynn's left shoe flew off of his foot, prepared to hit an innocent bystander. His other foot collided with some part of Johann's body.

He'd never hear the end of this.

"Here we go," Johann smiled brightly to Balfour, handing over both glasses of mulled wine before settling down on the floor at Balfour's feet, legs folded, head about lap height. He was more than used to sitting on the rug in the flat, and he didn't fancy sitting on one of the kitchen chairs beside the armchair Balfour had chosen, squeezing between his knees was preferable! He reached up and twisted to take his glass back, stroking Balfour's knee affectionately in the process as Lix asked about brussel sprouts.

Flynn arrived before anyone could answer, the front door was obviously open and he was familiar enough from visiting to let himself in. Ever since being asked to give back the spare set of keys, Johann hadn't felt it appropriate to do the same, hence them knocking earlier.

There was nowhere to escape to, safely between Balfour's knees, or so he had thought. Flynn's foot smacked him on the bottom of the chin like a punch out of nowhere in a rather elaborate and odd fall right in front of them.
"Merlin!" He exclaimed, hand going to his face to defend himself as the healer landed in a pile on the floor right in front of them, the coffee table sliding. He rubbed at his jaw and wiggled it gingerly. "Boot to the face! What an entrance, how many have you had today already?"

With all that was going, Arcturus was surprised he could keep up. But he felt more relaxed rather than nervous - his parents, despite being dignified about their manners, were also rather chill with everything and adapted easily. They weren't demanding of him to behave formally, though he also knew it was their way of seeing how he behaved among friends - there were always two sides to everything they did. He could only hope to reach their level one day.

Balfour's conversation passed as normal small talk. Arcturus shot a disgruntled glance in Elixa's direction when they were in the kitchen, but it lasted seconds. His mother's talking was interrupted by Flynn's arrival; Arcturus rose to greet him and was let down rather by an errant shoelace, accompanied with Lydia's gasp of "Oh dear, are you all right?" He bent down to help his colleague to his feet by the arm.

"Well, if it isn't the Flynn," he said. "You're fashionably late as expected. Great work on the entrance." He smiled good-naturedly. "I agree with Johann, how much practice have you had just for this day? Anyway, do take a seat, I'll get the mulled wine for you unless you're bent on accompanying me to make sure I don't skimp on the amount." The choice was there, Arcturus left him to it.

"Don't worry, mum, Flynn's fairly robust if I recall right," he told Lydia, who had to hide a laugh behind a hand. "I'll be right back, continue talking. Educate the masses on your culinary skills, please" As he walked past Elixa, he gently brushed her on the shoulder and made a beckoning gesture that only she could see. He headed into the kitchen, warm from the mulled wine gently being kept warm on the stove, and took his time in retrieving another wine glass as he hoped that Elixa would follow him.

Never one to draw attention to social awkwardness of any sort, Balfour had tactfully ignored noticing the tensions between Johann and Elixa as he settled into the armchair to make small talk with the others. He smiled at his lover's return, instinctively shifting long legs apart to allow him room to sit - an ungentlemanly thought flitted through his mind - and feeling rather better for the intimacy, having been a little worried about not spending enough time with the other wizard.

It was a stupid, vague fear that lingered from the poisoning earlier that month. He wanted to spend as much time together as was possible.

Flynn's arrival interrupted a response to the query on brussel sprouts (the Spectres of course deep fried their shredded sprouts in goose fat) and Balfour was in the middle of wishing the Healer-in-Charge a merry Christmas when the fall happened in spectacular fashion.

"Careful n--" Balfour cut himself off as soon as the foot came in contact with Johann's chin, swearing with slightly more vigour. Johann seemed to take it gracefully, and he ran a hand soothingly into the dark curls. It was difficult to repress a comment on how the staff at St.Mungo's was getting into a habit of producing their own patients. Wrong place, wrong time. "Ought I have gotten you self-tying shoelaces for Christmas, Flynn?" he said instead.

Balfour put his mulled wine aside to gently tilt Johann's head to the side and check on his partner's chin. If he didn't know better he would have said that Arcturus was intentionally avoiding him but at least it was easier to be familiar in regards to Joh with him out of their immediate space.

"You alright?" he asked with a frown. "Thought he might cracked your lovely nose for a moment." Balfour released the chin and looked up to give Flynn a spirited grin. "Good thing too. Would hate to have challenged you to a duel, mislaid my slapping gloves in Edinburgh." His gaze shifted over to the other side of the living room with a different thought in mind just then, wondering how to disperse the general atmosphere of clandestine meetings at stovetops and clumsy wizards with two left feet.

Seemed a shame to sit around getting red in the face.

"Should we have the Wireless on maybe?" Balfour said this in a louder voice, inquiring of the two in the kitchen as well. "Do you dance, Lydia?" he resorted to the old tricks and habits of his own family gatherings. "If Mordecai doesn't mind. I would ask Flynn but my feet fear being trodden on."

Oh Flynn. Her hand went to her head in despair of the situation, her wand not to hand to stop anything. Just as long as he didn't faceplant the mince pies and bleed on the carpet… no, he kicked Johann in the face (doing her a favour) and Lancaster just managed to catch the other shoe without spilling his mulled wine.

Arc hauled their colleague to his feet and Lix's eyes swept him up and down for injury. He had a red nose from where it had met the floor. Nothing he couldn't fix himself, probably.
"Ought I have gotten you self-tying shoelaces for Christmas, Flynn?" Balfour asked the other side of the room. Lix suspected that even with such handy things Hughes would find some way to cause a similar entrance.

Vaguely she heard Arc mention culinary skills to his mother and he brushed her shoulder to beckon her to join him. Lix frowned to herself, looking from Flynn to Arc, but got back to her feet, wondering if Arc was alright.

"You alright?" She asked quietly as they passed the kitchen table. Behind them, Balfour said something in a louder voice and the wireless set crackled into life, someone was tuning it but she didn't look back. She could take a guess at who it was given the prominent voices. "That's everyone unless Cassidy makes it."

"Might have been an idea." Johann replied, a little sore in tone, still rubbing where the foot had landed, suspecting it might come up in a bruise later. Nothing Balfour couldn't give him a hand with though, get rid of it before Christmas. The newly acquainted Lancaster had sat forwards in his chair to offer Flynn his other shoe back.
"Careful now." The older wizard teased the healer, moustache twitching. Johann glanced about the gathering, deciding that the guest list was definitely more who knew Arc than who knew them both. For one, Lix's circle of friends wouldn't comfortably fit in 277b. Who had they here, parents, colleagues, former patient and respective partner. Narrow circle of influence. He had a passing thought in sympathy for Hollingbury but it was interrupted by Balfour's affectionate enquiry on his wellbeing.

He twisted to look back at his lover and let Balfour reach for his face gently to check. "No, it survived. You don't have to duel anyone today for my nose. Flynn can live and you can kiss it better." He squeezed Balfour's thigh with a hand.

"Should we have the wireless on maybe?"
"Yes, good idea." Johann replied both hastily and enthusiastically, scrambling from the floor to oblige. He was more than familiar with the set by the fireplace and was soon over at it adjusting the dials. It navigated through some discussion until it landed on some jollier, more upbeat songs. Behind him Balfour had offered Lydia a dance, and he glanced over his shoulder to check on the reply, suspecting Arc's mother would be more than up to dance with Balfour. Who could resist, honestly?

Casting a glance further back to their hosts, Johann turned up the volume a little more than he might ordinarily to be polite and returned to drag the coffee table out of the way with Lancaster's help to increase a little space to move amongst the ring of chairs.
"Come on Flynn," Johann said, seizing the healer up from the chair he had only just sat down in to sort his shoes out. "As long as you keep your feet on the floor I think I can risk a dance."

As Flynn realized he had kicked Johann, his mouth formed an O of shock before he proceeded to let out a string of apologies. All was quickly forgiven though and he managed to laugh it off.  "Cass will be here!" He called out, "One day. I am sure he has to say goodbye to all his beloved bugs before he leaves." Or his evil, angry, pregnant cat was tormenting him. That happened sometimes. Flynn didn't like to think about it. Cassidy and the dog were both perpetual victims of Mildred and her hissing horrors.

Flynn began to adjust his shoes. His nose was throbbing, but it wasn't broken or bleeding-- thank Merlin. He'd always had issues with tripping over his laces, even as a small child. At least his work shoes didn't untie themselves so easily. 

The wireless was turned on and the dancing commenced.  And Johann was willing to risk a broken face (and broken feet) to dance with him.  Flynn happily accepted, taking Johann's hand. "I am not responsible for whatever my flailing limbs do." He warned, grinning with mischievousness to rival his nephew, Linus.

"Oh, you won't be the first young man to ask me to dance, and you won't be the last either." With his back turned on most of them, the amused smile on Arc's face went unseen as his mother graciously accepted Balfour's invitation to the background of his father's chuckle. He leaned against the kitchen counter, watching the impromptu dance in the flat. Though it would be odd to see him not taking part, Arc felt more comfortable watching from the sidelines.

"I'm fine, Elixa," he said in a low voice, when she'd joined him. The music was sufficient in preventing their conversation being heard. "I'm not saying that just to stop you from worrying. I know you're looking out for me, but I need to be able to handle this on my own. Johann's still a friend and it would be rude - well, I think it would be - to not invite Balfour as well. So please...just leave it, okay?"

That sounded a little too harsh. Arc sighed at his own doubts. He took her hands in his. Of late he'd become more physically closer to her, to not being afraid of showing it. His parents had noticed already and he hadn't felt any shame or fear in that. It was a good feeling, even if they'd agreed that it wouldn't be for life. "If you see me retreat upstairs or to the pantry, then you can come and check," he said in a more reassuring tone, looking into her eyes. "I can't control the flare-ups, and sometimes it might not even be because Johann and Balfour are here. Just being with a lot of people for a few hours can cause it. Taking some time out is not a bad thing for me. Okay?"

He gave her a brief hug and a kiss on her forehead, more because he wasn't sure how else to reassure her. "Now, let's go back out there and have some fun. Just don't ask me to dance, though!"

The music that came on, thanks to Johann, was midway through a pleasant and cheerful rhythm. Certainly more coordinated than anything Le Masque might have blasted. Balfour flashed Lydia a smile as he took a hand and twirled her away on the floor before getting into position. Flynn bravely joined them for a turn. The misbehaving shoelaces would have to control themselves in the meantime.

"I know this one!" he exclaimed amiably, stepping lightly while leading the older witch in a loose circle around the two wizards. "Old songs, always so popular over the holidays." It was the sort of thing they played on the Wireless at Hogwarts, in the year or two he had stayed behind at school over Christmas.

In his mind, as the song repeated its chorus endlessly into a fade out, Balfour pictured a younger version of himself bobbing along to the same song with a Hufflepuff witch in fourth year. He released Lydia with a quick, courteous bow of the head and offered her arm to Flynn.

"If I may cut in?" Balfour switched dance partners[1] just as Elixa and Arc were returning from their moment away in the kitchen. "And hello there again gorgeous," he was much quicker to take Johann into his arms - meeting at shoulder and hip rather than hands. The song pattered out into another, probably as old as Balthair, and he winked at his partner like a bad habit.

They had first kissed on a dance floor. He remembered every time, better than he did washed out memories of clumsy adolescent attempts at keeping rhythm. Balfour pressed his lips fleetingly against Johann's cheek. "Shall I lead?" he teased sweetly.

1.	With Kelly and Neon's permission

The wireless was soon singing out a traditional Christmas song with a decent beat, a little loud perhaps, but only if they were going to talk. It seemed their guests had other ideas, not that Lix was adverse.

".. I'm not just saying that just to stop you from worrying." Lix frowned at Arc, folding her arms, her back to the others. "… just leave it, okay?"

"Hrmph. It was rude of him to wind you up the other month. This is your home, Arc. I won't hold back on ousting him from here - I can deal with Joh's wrath. But alright."

She afforded a glance behind and could see Lancaster's mulled wine hoisted high in his hand, waving along to the music while Balfour and Lydia danced hand in hand and Johann grappled Flynn with laughter.

He reached for her hands and she looked back to him with a nod. "Okay." She squeezed Arc's hands in return, but it didn't stop her worrying about him entirely. She did not want to see Arc go through another episode like that day he had run into Balfour. It had scared the crap out of her.

"… just don't ask me to dance, though!"
"Really?!" Lix exclaimed, taken aback. She had been hoping to do just that. They turned back to rejoin the living room guests and whined against the music. "But everyone else iiiis." One glance to Arc and she realised it was a losing battle. "Ugh… fiiine." She shrugged and slipped between the kitchen chairs in the circle and snuck past Lydia and Balfour.

"Come on Mordecai, your son's stood me up on the dancefloor and I see your dance partner's otherwise engaged. There's space on the rug for two more." She extended her hand to Mordecai, the expression daring him to say no to the assertive body language. She might have stood beside him awkwardly in Edwin's kitchen months ago when Monty had taken the car for a fly, but this was her own territory.