blood thicker (hyacinth)

Indigo usually met Hyacinth in this cafe in Hogsmeade, but usually it was under the premise of finding out what he was up to. Now, it was a much more sombre affair.

Although the cafe was virtually empty, it still had Valentine's decorations lathered about the place. True, it wasn't as intense as Madam Puddifoot's - which was a student favourite for its couple-y atmosphere - but it still seemed a little unfitting given the situation.

Where was he? He hoped that he would come alone, although he supposed that he might want to bring Lakelyn for support. Indigo was gradually warming up to her. And, seeing as Hyacinth needed all the support he could get right now, he was glad she was there for him.

Blankly sipping his tea, he waited patiently. He hadn't complained to the waiter, even though the milk was full fat. He hadn't glowered snobbishly at anyone. He hadn't even bothered to shave earlier. He just wanted to see him.

@Hyacinth Macmillan

Macmillan, well Hyacinth, was surprised that he genuinely wanted to see Indigo for reasons that weren't convenience. He's been too down to even think of being his usually snappy self either. The only things that were keeping him afloat were escapades, the pool, and actually not waiting until the last minute to do his assignments so he'd have something to occupy his mind.

Looking back, the latest revelation was fairly obvious, but it still felt heartwrenching. Macmillan had mixed feelings. One part of him was grateful that Ernie had raised him as his own, but he also couldn't help but think they shouldn't have lied about his paternity when he was quite different from his siblings.

Arriving at the cafe, he had to take a second look. Was that really Indigo..? He took the seat across from him and sighed. "Hi."

It was strange to see him not fully shaved.

@Indigo Macmillan

"Hello," He breathed, sounding relieved. At least he was here now.

He slid over the menu towards him, and took another sip of his tea.

"How are you feeling?"

It wasn't in a small talk kind of tone. It was a 'but how are you really feeling' sort of way. He wanted Hyacinth to be honest with him, and tried to present himself in a fully open way as possible. Indigo was talking to Hyacinth in a tone he usually reserved for his sisters.

@Hyacinth Macmillan

"I feel as if I could probably cry, but I'm trying to hold it together."

Macmillan looked at the menu not even taking in that Indigo was talking to him with actual care. He was still in so much shock over the news. For some normalcy, he could've gone for an infused tea. Instead, Macmillan asked for some firewhiskey.

"Since alcohol is prohibited on campus, I think I need the bit of edge to help me process..."

@Indigo Macmillan

Indigo merely nodded, and glanced outside of the window. He wasn't going to condemn his brother's choice in drink. It was just lucky that they served it there.

"I wanted to meet you first, but we should probably think about talking to Father," He said, watching students laughing down the street. "He has an awful lot to answer for. Mother as well, of course. I can't even get my head around the idea that--"

Their Mother slept with someone else.

"I suppose you've also been wondering about who he is." He said, meaning his actual Father.

@Hyacinth Macmillan

"Yes," he responded to both as he was given a glass and a whole bottle of firewhiskey. "Want some?"

Macmillan could've never envisioned asking Indigo if he wanted a drink. He could've never imagined not calling him a twat. It was as if he was transported to another dimension.

"How would we go about telling our sisters? I worry about how it'd affect them..."

@Indigo Macmillan

"No, thank you. Yes." He changed his mind very suddenly there. "Yes. Please."

This was a difficult moment, after all.

He had been thinking about his sisters, but had to admit something to his brother: "I know. We probably should. I'm sorry - I was trying to think of some way of them never knowing, but I realise now how ridiculous that is. I just didn't want them getting too upset."

He sighed.

"But you know they will feel the same way as I do, don't you?"

@Hyacinth Macmillan

Macmillan began pouring some firewhiskey into the glass. "You can have the glass. I'll drink from the bottle."

He knew how Indigo was. Glass would be a lot neater than drinking it straight.

"I think I do...."

@Indigo Macmillan

"Hyacinth, we love you. It doesn't change anything between us, even if we're only half-siblings. Even if we weren't related at all. You will always be my brother."

Indigo took the glass and realised he was stinging around the eyes. When he drank a bit of the firewhiskey, everything bloody stang. His eyes - his throat - his mouth - all of it was on fire.

"Urgh. Ow."

He pulled a very contorted face and took a moment to recover from that blasphemous thing called a drink.

"Everything that I do, or say, comes from a place of love. I know... I come across ill-meaning at times..."

@Hyacinth Macmillan

Macmillan smiled. He didn't even get onto Indigo for not referring to him as Macmillan either.

Watching as his brother was extremely affected by the firewhiskey, Macmillan sat there not knowing what to do. It usually didn't cause that strong of a reaction in most.

"At least you admit that you were ill-meaning at times."

@Indigo Macmillan

"I just want you to know."

He poured a bit of the alcohol into his tea. Make it an Irish-something-or-rather.

"I'm trusting that our Father actually knows about this, by the way. What if he doesn't?"

This sort of thing didn't happen in Indigo's family. It was so... common. He felt a little disgusted by it, but it was no fault of Hyacinth's.

@Hyacinth Macmillan

Macmillan didn't know how to respond.

"If he thought I was really his kid the whole time, I'm scared it could break the family..."

@Indigo Macmillan

Hmm. He hadn't thought about that. He hadn't thought much about any of it, because the shock was still there. It still felt as though someone else was living his life right now, and he'd wake up tomorrow knowing it was just a bizarre dream.

"But... we can't keep it from either of them," He reasoned nervously.

Perhaps Harrison would know what to do...

"Hyacinth, you know this isn't your fault, don't you?" He wanted to hold his hand. Perhaps that was a little bit strange. Instead, he rubbed his shoulder a bit.

@Hyacinth Macmillan

"I-I hope I do as I didn't choose to be born."

Macmillan finally took a swig of the firewhiskey. It didn't burn or anything, but it felt nice.

@Indigo Macmillan

He was glad that he looked at it that way. He didn't want him to feel guilty for causing rifts or anything.

Perhaps there would be, but Indigo didn't know how he felt yet. It depended if their Father was aware or not. If he was, it would be a lot easier.

"This tastes absolutely awful," He said, his voice cracking a little bit. Tears fell down from his eyes, and he hastily took a handkerchief from his pocket to dab them away. Of course, he wasn't crying over how awful it tasted.

@Hyacinth Macmillan

Macmillan took another swig of the firewhiskey wondering just how sensitive Indigo's tastebuds were.

"I don't see you asking for a different drink." He tried making it sound lighthearted to brighten the mood a bit.

@Indigo Macmillan

He tried to laugh but it came out like a weird sort of sob.

Holding his nose, he drank some of the firewhiskey-infused-tea and just treated it like a home remedy for a cold. It would make him feel better. It didn't matter if it tasted bad.

Indigo leaned his head on Hyacinth's shoulder as his tears fell down his cheeks.

@Hyacinth Macmillan

"Maybe we should try actual small talk so we're not just crying the whole time? I don't know."

Yet another swig of firewhiskey.

@Indigo Macmillan

Small talk?

Hmm...

He couldn't think of anything else to say other than: "I do really like Harrison..."

And he took another swig of his drink, and left his brother's shoulder damp.

@Hyacinth Macmillan

"Engaged? She is older?"

Interested, he sat up slightly.

@Hyacinth Macmillan

It didn't click first of all. He wondered why on earth someone would be engaged at that age, and why they would then proceed to have relations with someone else. Clearly, Hyacinth was aware of this though. He wasn't going to get hurt or anything by it, hopefully.

"An arranged marriage between families?" He ventured.

@Hyacinth Macmillan