criminalminds (criminalminds) wrote in wizardland,
@ 2011-04-21 03:23:00

To Carrick
It had been the worst day in the history of worst days. Not only were his hands bright blue, but it had been the last straw at work. William had a knack for potions, but he also had a knack for a wandering mind. It was almost impossible for him to pay attention to any one menial task for a very long time. That's why his job at a pharmaceutical potions lab had always been a little rough on him. If they'd allowed him to do higher level potions work, he would have been fine, engaged and attentive. But he hadn't been hired to do higher level things. He'd been hired on for grunt work. William couldn't even afford to dream about being able to attend any higher education establishments. So he'd been forced to take the first job he could get and pray that someday he could save enough money to go to college.

But after the fifteenth broken flask of one potion or another, William's boss had finally fired him. This would not do his resume any good and so he was back at the beginning, the bottom rung of the employment ladder. He wasn't even going to be able to afford rent this month. At least it wasn't too far of a walk to Carrick's place. William preferred muggle travel, having been raised in the muggle world. His family had believed him to be a squib at first and had sent him to live with his grandpa, also a squib, thinking that it would be best for him not to be confronted with his magical failures. As he walked to Carrick's, he recalled the moment he'd first been able to make something move with just the magic boiling inside of him. He'd been a very late bloomer at sixteen.

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deathproof
2011-04-21 08:18 am UTC (link)

Another date. Another wasted night. Carrick always somehow found himself out on dates with many people, men and women alike, but none of them ever seemed to fit just right. Tiernan teased him often that he was looking at dating like a pair of shoes - trying to find the perfect pair, when really he just needed to find a pair that fit - for now. Carrie wasn't like his big brother, though. He wanted committment. He wanted the one. He wanted the person who could be his best friend and his lover. He wanted it all, and maybe that was a little naive. The second he knew that a person wasn't the one, he was done. Why waste the other person's time, why waste his own time? It made no sense to him. He figured it out pretty quickly, and how he knew he just couldn't explain. He'd been told that he needed to give people a chance, let things blossom - but he didn't want to do that. He wanted to feel it and feel it now. He was patient and impatient all at the same time.

With a sigh, he hung up his jacket and tugged his wand out of it before he headed for the kitchen of his small apartment. He slipped out of his shoes, then tapped them with his wand to send them to his closet, and immediately his first thought was to call William. William was always there for him, no matter what. Sweet, smart, a daydreamer. His best friend, and beautiful. He was really the exact thing Carrick was looking for but was too blind to even realize that it was right there in front of him.

When he heard the door, he knew instantly it was William. He had a knack for showing up just when Carrie needed him most. Turning, he went back to the door and opened it up with a big smile, though it quickly faded at the look on his friend's face.

"What's wrong, Ammie?" he asked. Unlike everyone else who chose to call William by his full name constantly, or by Will, Carrick liked to be unique and chose Ammie as a nickname. It made absolutely no sense to use the last two letters of William's name and tack mie on the end, but that was exactly why Carrick liked it.

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criminalminds
2011-04-21 03:21 pm UTC (link)

It had always been a little difficult watching Carrie search for his soul mate when William had already found his own. Too bad said soul mate was busy playing the field and looking for someone else. How long had William known? Probably since the moment they'd met, even before school when there was still hope that William would show some magical tendencies and they played together in preschool. But then William had been sent away for awhile. Still, when he came back to the wizarding world, the two of them had picked up their friendship right where it had left off.

Even if it was hard to see Carrick with other people, William didn't blame him and always found comfort in him. It wasn't as if William had ever indicated that he loved him more than a best friend. It was his own fault perhaps, or he was just realistic.

Showing up miserable at Carrie's doorstep was out of the ordinary. William was the type who tried to put a bright spin on everything, but today had just been too much. "I got fired," he mumbled and stared down at the floor. "Mr. Grubbs said I was costing him more than I was worth in spilled potions." The only reason he'd liked the job was because at least he got to be around people doing high level potions mixing. But it was a little shred of torture too, watching people have what he wanted. Kind of like Carrie.

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deathproof
2011-04-21 06:31 pm UTC (link)

William was lovely to look at, and every time Carrick saw him he was reminded of that fact. Of course he found his best friend attractive. He had big brown eyes, soft dark hair, and full lips. The way his face came together was perfection. But for some reason, as soon as he noticed such things, Carrick pushed them out of his head. This was William - his best friend. And he was certain that William wasn't interested in him in that way, so why bother? Why mess something up? Tiernan brought it up all of the time and Carrie just waved it off. It was a ridiculous notion, wasn't it?

"Oh, I'm sorry," Carrick said with a frown as he reached out to gently take a hold of William's arm so that he could tug him inside the apartment and them pull him in for a hug once the door was closed. "You were too smart for that job. You'll find something else."

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criminalminds
2011-04-22 02:56 am UTC (link)

"Too smart, maybe. But just the right amount of degrees--none. How am I ever going to save for college if I don't have a job? It was the best pay I can get." He fell easily into the hug, burying his face in Carrick's chest. The man always smelled so good and he breathed him in while he got the chance.

After a moment, he pulled away and looked squarely at him. "I'm going to have to sell my blood at a muggle hospital. Maybe donate at a sperm bank too." He tried to keep a straight face, but he couldn't and let his mouth curve into a goofy grin. It was easier for him not to be sad about things, even if he was aching inside, aching and terrified.

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deathproof
2011-04-25 02:46 am UTC (link)

Carrick hated when William got upset. It was rare that things brought his friend down, and when they did, it was hard to see and Carrie would do everything he could to cheer him up. Pulling back from the hug, it took a moment for him to realize that William joking about donating his blood and sperm, and he gave his friend a playful whack in the arm before he went to go snag a beer out of the fridge for himself and for William.

"Want a beer? They're from Bartles," he called out. "You know - you could just stay here. Rent free, I wouldn't mind. Then you can save some money and not worry so much. I hate living alone anyway," he added as he came into view again with two beers, not having waited for William's answer to if he wanted one.

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criminalminds
2011-04-25 01:54 pm UTC (link)

Beer sounded good. Lots and lots and lots of beer. Miserably, he walked to the couch and flopped down on it with a dramatic sigh. William could certainly turn the smallest of things into something huge. Usually he did that with comedy and happiness. He could take rain and turn it into an epic hour of splashing in puddles. The smallest hunt for an ingredient could become a heroic adventure quest with William. Sometimes though, he turned the loss of a job into the end of the world.

But when Carrick made that offer, he perked up with surprise. Part of William knew that it was a bad idea to live with Carrie. Ultimately, that's why he'd decided to get his own place "closer to work," he'd reasoned. But now it was a matter of need. He needed a place to stay desperately and after that, it was true that he could save money a lot faster without rent. "I'd pay something at least once I got a job," he said immediately, not wanting to accept too much charity from his friend.

After that, he fell silent, thinking about what he'd just agreed to. They were close. They'd shared a dorm at Grosemoor. It had been a little shred of torture then too, but it was the sweet kind. Will just didn't know if he could handle it now, especially if Carrick brought anyone home. He chewed nervously at his bottom lip. "How was the date?" he said finally.

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deathproof
2011-04-26 04:03 pm UTC (link)

Tiernan was going to have a lot to say about this arrangement later, Carrick was very aware - but he would just brush off what his older brother had to say like he always did. Eventually, one day, maybe he would come around and Tiernan would tell him 'I-told-you-so'. For now, though, Carrick was blissfully unaware of the fact that his best friend had any feelings for him beyond their normal friendship.

"The date?" he asked, furrowing his brow a bit before he remembered that yes - he had in fact went on a date - and he nodded with a laugh. "Oh - yeah, boring," he said with a wave of his hand as he sat down on the couch next to William. "One day you'll go on a date and I'll get to be the one asking you how it went. You turn so many people down, you're so picky," he teased - though really, that wasn't it at all.

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criminalminds
2011-04-26 07:19 pm UTC (link)

William always felt tethered to Carrie, constantly aware of him. The closer the man was, the happier Will got. When his friend sat down next to him he quirked a smile and took the beer. "You should have brought me two." His face brightened for a second as he reached for Carrick's beer too. "Oh look! You did!" He tugged it easily out of the man's hand and took a very big drink before giving it back and starting on his own.

"I don't see how your dates can be boring. They're always so good looking. Can't you just tune them out?" It had been something William had done. He usually said no, but once in a great long while he felt bad enough to go home with some stranger. He always tried to keep them from talking. "And maybe I just go on lots of dates you don't know about so you can't ask me how horrid they were."

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deathproof
2011-04-27 05:02 am UTC (link)

Carrick let Will take the beer, and he let out a soft laugh at his friend's comment. He loved how William could always get him to smile, always make him laugh. If there was anyone who could cheer him up when he was in the worst of moods, it was the person sitting next to him.

"That's a lie and you know it," he said as he sipped his beer and wet his lips. "You always get too nervous and have to ask me for advice. And what you should wear," he teased with a half grin. "It's cute, though."

How William was still single was a mystery to Carrick. Will was beautiful. Pretty, full lips, big brown eyes - nice skin, he always smelle wonderful. And he was sweet.

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criminalminds
2011-04-27 03:29 pm UTC (link)

"You're right," he sighed. "I haven't been on any dates without you knowing about it. I'd never be able to look so perfectly original and casual without your meticulous advice."

He looked down into the neck of his beer. Oh, was it already gone? Yes it was. Sitting the bottle on the coffee table, he looked around the apartment. "You can take it back if you want, the offer to let me stay here. I'll be in your way. I hardly ever go out. You remember school. I'm always reading or blowing things up with my experiments."

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deathproof
2011-04-28 01:52 am UTC (link)

"I'm not taking it back, you won't be in the way - we were roommates for how many years? I wouldn't have offered if I thought it'd be a disaster," Carrick said honestly as he nudged William with his foot. "You know what you need? Shots. Shots of the best wizarding whiskey we can find - which would be ... Tiernan's," he said with a slow grin as he got to his feet and set his beer down. "I'll just apparate over and borrow some - he's working on some big case so he won't be home and he can just scold me later."

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criminalminds
2011-04-28 08:48 am UTC (link)

William perked up at that suggestion. Maybe it came with the territory of being the man's brother's best friend, but he loved tormenting Tiernan as much as Carrick did. It was all in good fun, but there really was nothing like seeing that fatherly scowl and knowing that (while he still loved you) he wanted to throttle you.

Coming over here had been a good idea. Deep down, William had hoped that maybe Carrie would invite him to live with him. It was a desperate situation, not to mention that it would be very comforting to be able to come home everyday after a disheartening job hunt to have his best friend to support him.

When Carrik apparated into Tiernan's townhouse, he wasn't surprised. He also wasn't gone. He was standing in the kitchen, eating over the sink like a heathen because he had to get back to the office as fast as he could. "What are you doing?" he said suspiciously. "Popping over to do my dishes, no doubt. You're such a good little brother."

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deathproof
2011-04-28 07:00 pm UTC (link)

When Carrick apparated over and saw Tiernan in his kitchen, he didn't jump or look surprised. Nor did he look guilty. Instead, he strode over to his brother's liquor cabinet and started to rifle around in it.

"I came to steal some of your booze," he said honestly with a half smirk as he found what he was looking for and yanked the bottle out of the cabinet with triumph before he turned to look at Tiernan. "William got fired. I'm cheering him up. I think he's moving in with me, too. It just makes more sense - he can't afford his place on his own without a job and I have the room, so," he offered a bit of a shrug as he walked over to the sink. "Are you eating over the sink? Ma would scold you so hard right now."

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criminalminds
2011-04-28 07:39 pm UTC (link)

"At least I'm eating. She'd love that part," Tiernan pointed out. The woman always said that her boys didn't eat nearly enough now that they didn't live with her. For Tiernan, that could be true during some cases. He just didn't have the time.

He'd let the news about William sink in for a minute before commenting. "You two will be living together again? And you're sure this is the best idea?" There was something between the two of them. Tiernan could see it, but he really didn't think Carrick could. If William had agreed to live with him, then maybe the boy was over his crush, but Tiernan really didn't think that was the case. As much as he enjoyed meddling in Carrick's affairs, he just couldn't bring himself to play matchmaker between the two of them. He was miserable at relationships and so he didn't give advice about those things--or at least tried not to. "And the two of your are getting drunk? Should I give you bail money now, or later?"

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deathproof
2011-04-29 06:29 pm UTC (link)

"Yeah - why wouldn't that be a good idea?" Carrick asked with a mild shrug of his shoulders as he opened the bottle of whiskey and took a sniff before he put the cap back on. "We're best friends, we lived together all throughout school from the time we were fifteen on - why would it be a bad idea? We know each other inside and out. If I can live with anyone, it's William. I can't even live with you over him," he teased with a grin as he let his attention settle back on Tiernan. "So how are things going with you and work?" he asked, "We need to grab a drink and catch up when you have some time for it."

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Who did we decide was going to have the opportunity to move to a different firm?

criminalminds
2011-04-29 06:37 pm UTC (link)

He leveled a look against Carrick and then shook his head. Maybe Tiernan was completely wrong and over analyzing things between the two of them. Maybe it was because Tiernan had never had someone he'd been so close to without there being romantic undertones. It probably wasn't good to stir the pot in this case. "You don't think it's possible to be too close to someone?" He said finally and gave a shrug.

"Work is fine. The usual." He tried not to think about how much of an ass he consistently made of himself where Rory was concerned. That technically didn't count as work, though it was inextricably linked to it. "What are you getting Ma for Mother's Day? Can you put my name on it too? I'll pay for it." He hesitated. "No, I should look for something separate. Actually, if you buy two gifts, put my name on one, I'll pay for both?" He offered a hopeful smile. He hated not having the time for that kind of thing.

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rory, i think!

deathproof
2011-04-29 07:50 pm UTC (link)

"No, I don't think it's possible to be too close to someone," Carrick said with a soft laugh, and it was obvious that he was clearly amused by Tiernan's suggestion. "Only you would think you could be too close to someone," he added as he drummed his fingers against the side of the whiskey bottle he was holding onto. "I'm not sure what I'm getting her just yet - but I can find something for you, yeah. You don't have to pay for both, though - it wouldn't be a gift from me if you paid for both just pay for yours."

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criminalminds
2011-04-30 12:24 am UTC (link)

It did stand to reason that it would be Tiernan who thought it possible to be too close to someone. He'd kept Rory at arm's length. He'd had a good reason, he thought, but ultimately it had all just been to keep from getting hurt.

"If I don't pick it out, technically it's not from me either." He sighed. "Maybe I'll just send her flowers." He didn't know which was more impersonal. "Regardless, I need to get back to work. Be careful with William, all right? I think he's more tender than even you realize."

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deathproof
2011-05-01 02:43 am UTC (link)

Carrie gave Tiernan a strange look that showed he really didn't understand just what his older brother might be getting at. He shrugged his shoulders a bit before he apparated back to his apartment, and he smiled as he held the bottle of whiskey out in triumph.

"He was home, but he didn't mind," he said happily before he set the bottle down and went to go fetch two glasses. "Can you open that?" he asked from over his shoulder.

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criminalminds
2011-05-01 02:58 am UTC (link)

William had been looking through an address book that was sitting by the phone and he let out a guilty yelp as soon as he heard Carrick's voice. Clearing his throat, he hurried over to the bottle as if he hadn't just been snooping and popped the top with a carefully aimed flick of his wand.

Sitting down on the couch, he waited for Carrie to get back, wondering if he'd seen what he'd been looking through. William just wanted to see the names, maybe any notes Carrie had written by them. As if that would help him. Carrie told him everything anyway.

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deathproof
2011-05-01 03:17 am UTC (link)

Carrick really didn't seem to notice. He'd noticed, of course he'd noticed, but it honestly just didn't really bother him at all. When he came out of the kitchen, he set the glasses down and reached for his wand so that he could tap the top of the glasses, effectively chilling them for their whiskey.

"You know one of the many, many perks about being a wizard?" he asked with a half smile as he filled up the glasses and handed one over to William. "Moving your things will be such a breeze."

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criminalminds
2011-05-01 05:11 am UTC (link)

At the words, William visibly relaxed. It only felt awkward because he knew why he was looking through Carrick's address book. Of course Carrie wouldn't think of it as snooping when he didn't think Will had any real reason to snoop outside of sheer boredom.

William stuck his nose in the glass and breathed in. Tiernan always had the best liquor. It was the kind of liquor William could only have if someone else bought it. He wondered if that would ever change, if he'd ever make a fortune of his own or if he'd just have to keep scraping by. "I'll start looking for a job first thing tomorrow," he promised, feeling a little anxious over the fact that he was now officially a freeloader. He took a big drink of the amber liquid and hissed through his teeth at the smooth sting. "Now, no asking for sexual favors to pay off my debt."

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deathproof
2011-05-01 05:31 am UTC (link)

"Like you'd give me any if I asked," Carrick said with ease, without even giving the words a second thought.

He took a big drink of the whiskey as well, and he wet his lips as he felt the burn of alcohol slide down his throat and hit his belly. Shaking his head, he let out one cough, then settled against the couch with a happy sigh.

"I think it'll be fun, having you living here. It'll be like we're in school again," he said with a half smile. "Except no curfew. And no need to sneak around."

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criminalminds
2011-05-01 06:21 am UTC (link)

It did sound like fun and William had to smile at the thought of reliving their school days. After a moment of silence in which Will enjoyed a few memories, he turned his head to look at Carrie. "Thanks," he said with sincerity in his voice. He didn't know what he would have done without him.

Before the bad feelings could come back again, he took another drink and laughed. "Tiernan wasn't mad about the booze? Did he warn you not to mix friendship with the business of roommates?"

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deathproof
2011-05-01 06:48 am UTC (link)

"Yeah, yeah he did actually," Carrick said with a faint laugh, clearly amused that William had thought to ask something like that at all. "He said something about you being even more... fragile or... gentle or something like that, than I even realized - whatever that means," he added with a shake of his head before he finished off his glass and leaned forward to pour another. "He wasn't mad about the booze. He asked me to find a gift for Ma for Mother's Day."