coax the cold right out of me -- finlay

[ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU]

I can be the subject of your dreams, Your sickening desire
Don't you wanna see a man up close, A phoenix in the fire

Recently Antonie had returned to his home in Scotland.  To think he called a small one bedroom apartment home when he had grown up in a home that held more rooms than people. But that place was never going to be home, even more so with everything that had happened since the summer. They had taken a while to find him to bring him the word of his family's murder. They inspectors had been paid off, it didn't take a genius to understand what had taken place though. If someone had followed the three families involved well enough it was just a simple case of deduction. Someone found out the truth that his dear older brother had been keeping from the world. Never the less Antoine was forced into some of the final tying up of his family estate and money. Things he wanted no part of still.

It felt good to leave Canada though, leave the bodies of his father and brother behind. He could ignore his feelings on everything for a while. Of course a part of him wondered if there was any true threat left to himself - but what threat was there in Scotland? Ifinoh resided in America, which was much closer to Canada than Scotland. Just another reason to be happy to be back. Antoine had missed his job as well, mixing potions, experimenting, betting his skill. He felt so rusty the first few days. It promoted him to head to the supply shop to pick up some extra ingredients - he needed to do a little work at home, find his technique again.

There was something that the eighteen-year-old loved about the first scent of the potion supply shop. It had that earthy undertone that took him back to his mushroom cultivating days - his first escape from the troubles of his world. He had become a regular at the shop since he first was taken on by the potion masters so it was common he greeted the workers with a wave and a small smile before going about his shopping. As he looked over various finds both rare and practically every day his focus become lost. A young man entered the shop and when Antoine looked up he almost found it hard to look away. The boy had very striking, but soft and beautiful features. Not to mention he had caught sight of those striking blue eyes. It was enough to get the French-Canadian a little flustered and muttering to himself.

It wasn't exactly easy being a homosexual wizard, especially when you had been raised pureblood. Maybe muggles where coming a long way in accepting gays but often times it seemed like an extra struggle as a wizard. He'd only met a handful himself - sometimes it seemed like you would have to put up your wand and settle for a muggle. This boy though - maybe Antoine was being hopeful, he had a tendency when he saw a boy who he seemed to fancy from the get go. He tried to ignore the boy in the shop, continuing on and doing what he could to not spare him and more glances than necessary. But Antoine was curious about the boy - or maybe just drawn to him.

"Excusez-moi, pardon, essence of comfrey - those herbs, are you making a medicine?" Antoine gestured to the bottle of oil in the boy's hand and the what he was guessing was various herbs the boy seemed to collected. It was not as smooth of an introduction as he had wanted it to be but - this was a supply shop how could one be smooth in a supply shop? "I'm Antoine, I work over at the potion shop you see, if you want some help I can offer you a hand." The older teen cocked his head and smiled at the younger boy, gosh was he cute. Maybe this was bold of Antoine, maybe life was making he want to step up more lately. Or maybe he just was a sucker for bright blue eyes.

NOTES: thought late fall seemed a proper introduction time!
TAG: FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN

[FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN]

ALMOSThadYOU 578 | I'm excited for them to meet. Hope you like it. ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU

Finlay hadn't had what one could call an easy life. Neither had it been particularly difficult, the hardships that he'd had were just what they were, things out of his control that were unfortunate. Finlay came from a long line of a pureblood family, a fairly eccentric family at that. Finlay's father fell in love with a muggle girl. His mother had left their family the moment that Finlay showed his magic. Now at sixteen, it's been nearly ten years without his mother. That was a strange thought, almost a decade with just his father and himself. Not that that was ever something to complain about Finlay's father was a great person, a loving person, someone that he loved so very much. The only other person that Finlay had ever come to feel that way about was his cousin Bryony. While great friends, even that had come with it's own hardships, with the fact that her mother hated Finlay and never wanted them to be together, the different sortings of their houses had helped that a little. Still they managed to stay close despite their own differences. Finlay though while there may have had his own share of issues through life, he was thankful for the family that he did have. Most old wizarding families would have shunned their sons or daughters for being homosexual, the wizarding community did not share the same feelings that the muggle population did for people like himself. It wasn't as widely as accepted, but there were families that did, very few and extremely far between. The lack of being accepted by your own made it easier to turn to those who did not know your world. Finlay never felt that was an option, not with the career that he would come to have. Finlay found himself in a supply shop, purchasing proper herbs to make a decent healing potion for infection. If he was going to one day work with magical creatures he should try and limit his own trips to the hospital. Finlay liked to say that he was pretty good with potions, particularly with the medicines, but he would always practice, he could always use room for improvement. An older male had approached him and pointed out from what was in his hands that he was going to be working on a medicine. The boy greeted with French but most definitely didn't sound as though he were from France. The thought made Finlay wonder why he would use such a strange type of greeting unless possibly trying show off. Other places spoke French, he tried to pinpoint where the elder boy could be from but he was more entranced by the mature looks of the boy who had introduced himself as Antoine. Finlay returned the smile that was offered to him. ”Finlay,” he replied to introduce himself as well. ”You know your ingredients don't you?” he asked, ”I am working on practicing my infection medicines.” Finlay found himself attracted to the brown eyes of this Antoine, the dark brown hair, the smile that he had. The younger male knew there was no possibilities of this becoming a relationship. This Antoine was just being nice, a friendly guy, he could have any girl he desired. Finlay would never be able to believe in the gay until proven straight ideals that he knew some homosexual muggles were like. He didn't grow up where guys liking other guys was one of the norms.

BRY of W&&R and CAUTION

[ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU]

I can be the subject of your dreams, Your sickening desire
Don't you wanna see a man up close, A phoenix in the fire

Antoine had to look away sheepishly when Finlay pointed out that it seemed he knew his ingredients. His hand slipped to rub the back of his neck and he gave a small laugh. Was he showing off? He did have that tendency to get a little over zealous when he found himself thinking someone attractive. It was that whimsical romantic in him he guessed, dreaming of sweeping some guy off his feet - just dreams though. No doubt he would end up a middle aged bachelor. His eyes couldn't stay peeled away from the younger boy though, soon his warm brown eyes where looking for those crystal blue ones again. Did this boy even realize how beautiful he was? Maybe Antoine would laugh about all this later, getting flustered by someone who was no doubt a student.

"I've always had a thing for plants and potions you might say, guess I've picked up a bit of knowledge in my training too." It was hard to hide that he was slightly ruffled, as a Le Tourneau it seemed almost genetic to have an arrogant if not narcissistic personality - it was hard not to try and show off in some way. Except, no one liked a show off. Still Antoine held his warm smile, or was it a smirk? He hoped the boy would take his advice as friendly - even if it really was just his own excuse to talk to a beautiful young man. He could dream.

"A little cinnamon will help to enhance most your medicinal potions - topical along with ingestible, it can really aid with the fevers that are often associated with infection. Of course, a touch of dittany can also give you a stronger and quicker healing, though you have to be a little careful too much and well it will turn you could say." Gosh it was hard to make himself shut up sometimes. It was a horrid habit of his, but this was his specialty after all - and the only thing he knew about the boy in front of him right now.

"So, Finlay," It wasn't a name he could recall hearing before but he did like the way it rolled off his tongue, he had to refrain from telling the younger man how he liked his name, "I'm I correct that you are a student at - Hogwarts?" Antoine had messed up on other occasions, he'd mistook Hogwarts for Durmstrang, the North American school had little to do with other wizarding school though, it was a wonder that they even knew that there were other schools out there sometimes. Of course by this point though Antoine was just trying to prolong his time with the young man, and if he could learn a bit more about him in the processes he saw no harm in that as well.

Antoine wondered how long he could occupy Finlay, how long before this seemed like too much attention, unwanted attention? He just had to try and strike up a conversation with the pretty boy didn't he? Did he just happen to forget how this tended to end, with nothing gained? Boys like Finlay didn't want attention from people like him - boys who knew too much about plants and potions, boys who likes blue eyed boys too much. "Sorry, I hope I'm not being a nuisance, I get a little carried away - with potions." Maybe he did get carried away with potions, but that was hardly what he really was actually being a nuisance about. Still it was more appropriate - less likely to disturb the handsome teen.

NOTES:
TAG: FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN

[FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN]

ALMOSThadYOU 630 | ^.^ ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU

The way that this boy had rubbed the back of his neck and the small laugh, had Finlay said something wrong? He wasn't good at talking, especially to cute boys. ”I've always had a thing for plants and potions you might say, guess I've picked up a bit of knowledge in my training too.” ”I'm decent with potions, horrid with plants myself, but you said you work at the potion shop? That would be good training,” he smiled, ”ask me anything about creatures and I can give you all you could want to know. I'm good at potions but not nearly as well as what I've learned of creatures.” The smiles that the other boy gave off made Finlay feel comfortable, the smiles were contagious. ”A little cinnamon will help to enhance most of your medicinal potions – topical along with ingestible, it can really aid with fevers that are often associated with infection. Of course, a touch of dittany can also give you a stronger and quicker healing, though you have to be a little careful too much and well it will turn you could say.” Finlay gave a small laugh. ”I really appreciate the tips, I've only known what they have taught in class, I will have to try what you've suggested,” he smiled to reassure that he meant what he was saying, that it was true. He did appreciated the tricks. He never would turn down any extra help. The way this boy said his name. It sounded perfect, like that was where it was meant to come from. The words fell off the other boy's tongue, it was perfect. The older boy asked if he was a student at Hogwarts. Maybe this older boy wouldn't be okay that Finlay was in his second to final year at the wizarding school... ”I'm in my sixth year at Hogwarts, yes, but you, you're not from here, I can assume you did not go to Hogwarts?” he had slightly asked, but slightly made it as a statement, an observation. He was curious, Finlay hadn't really been exposed much to anything other than those that he'd come across. He was had just wanted to know where the boy was from. He heard similar accents, those from North America, but the natural way he had spoken french. The French accent mixed in, it was interesting, completely exotic to Finlay. He heard people from France speak, he could tell this was different. ”Sorry, I hope I'm not being a nuisance, I get a little carried away – with poitions.” The other boy had told him. ”A nuisance, never, it actually kind of nice, I do not believe I could ever turn down a good conversation,” he told him. ”I could purchase my supplies, we could go get a drink, maybe you could share some more of your knowledge of potions?” he asked. Intelligence was something that everyone should like in the person that they looked for. If talking about potions was what this attractive young man liked to do, Finlay would be more than happy to talk about potions. It wasn't often that someone outside of his cousin and the small group of friends spoke to him. It was exceptionally rare when such an attractive young man would take interest in him, whether to have a friendly conversation or other reasons. Finlay would take anything at this point. He was bound to be much alike his own father, lonely, maybe a little crazy, without anyone to love. Except his father had him, his father had a son to care about. Finlay doubted that he would ever be so lucky. At least his father had loved, been loved. His father lived, and was one of the wisest people that Finlay would ever know.

BRY of W&&R and CAUTION

[ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU]

I can be the subject of your dreams, Your sickening desire
Don't you wanna see a man up close, A phoenix in the fire

Creatures, plants - well didn't they just go hand in hand? It was hard not to just stare at the beautiful lad in front of him as worlds spilled from his lips. By Merlin he would listen to him talk about creatures all he wanted - he just had to refrain from inquiring as to what sort of siren creature the boy was himself. "Les nerfs." Antoine muttered to himself quietly, maybe it seemed like a sort of sneeze if Finlay had caught the quick words at all, this boy was making him jittery on the inside - which, maybe in the muggle world it would be okay to become nervous around a guy in a manner in which was feeling but - you just didn't stumble into other gay wizards in the indignant shop. It just didn't happen like that. "Perhaps I'll have to inquire about some creature friendly tips to keep them from helping themselves to my herb garden."

Though Antoine was slightly determined to come up with an actual question for Finlay - at least than he had more reason to listen to the boy speak. What was it about the accents on this side of the pond? Maybe he was just tired of the French-Canadian accent, be it the French or the Canadian. Still, the timber of Finaly's voice was just so soothing, lyrical almost. Antoine just wanted to listen to the boy talk. "Well, if you like that tip - and it works out for you, you're always welcome to more. No point in having knowledge if you are unwilling to share it with others." And of course, it would only give him another reason to interact...yes what a dream Antoine seemed to be creating, a crashing dream that would ruin him if he wasn't careful.

Sixth year - so....sixteen? Seventeen? Antoine wasn't sure, he had been one of the younger one's in his own class having a September birthday he had barely turned 11 before he headed to America for the first year of school, surely the young man in front of him had to be at least 16 though, right? He tried not to think too much on it - after all, wasn't this a one time inter action? It wasn't like this was going to become something more...so did it matter? After all there was no harm in talking to someone.

"Yes, you'd be correct in assuming. I graduated from Ilvermorny - the North American academy - back in June, sort of funny feels like a life time ago..." Yes, a lot had changed in four months time. He had escaped just before his family had been massacred out of what he could only assume had been vengeance of some sort. The bastard had become an heir - an heir who wanted nothing to do with the life he had grown up in. Was he even the same boy that attended Ilvermorny just five months prior? It felt like maybe he was starting to fall quiet in his pause, too quiet for too long that was. So msking sure he was smiling again Antoine went on, "I'm from Québec, in Canada, which is actually further north than Ilvermorny, although not as far north as we are here in Scotland."

Hopefully it was a decent enough save, the smile on his face was not faked or forced though. Something about the way Finlay seemed to glow, it was hard not to smile when looking at the lad. Oh this puppy crush was not fair, why did he have to try and converse with such a handsome young man? Didn't he realize it would end horribly? He just had to be the go-getter sort, didn't he?

Antoine had to smile all the more when Finaly suggested that he was nice company, and than - than he even wanted to prolong their time together. Surely his heart had skipped a beat. "Well, as you had said yourself, I could never turn down a good conversation." He wanted to read into this, to make this out to be more than it was. He was making a friend though, and that was good, he needed friends. Perhaps Finlay just needed a friend too. "I was just about finished here, so that would be perfect - you want to just wait for me up at the front when you're done? I should only be a moment more"

He was doing his best not to seem to keen to go for a drink with Finlay, it was extremely hard to hold back though. Maybe it was a bad idea, maybe he was going to notice that he would stare, that his gaze lingered too long and maybe it would ruin it all. Or maybe he would actually gain a friend out of this, maybe he could actually mentor him...maybe this wasn't a terrible idea. Antoine hurried to gather the last of his supplies and than proceeded to the front where he could pay his brown eyes eagerly looking to see if the blue eyed boy was still around. Maybe he did linger too long there, but he hurried though paying with a sly smirk. "Well, Finlay, care to lead me to this place you'd like to get a drink at? I'm still a bit new to the area.."

NOTES:
TAG: FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN

[FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN]

ALMOSThadYOU 762 | -happy dances- ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU

A sneeze had come from the elder boy. ”Gesundheit,” Finlay replied to the sneeze. Antoine told him that he'd have to ask about tips to keep creatures from eating from his herb garden. ”Muggles use sprays of unpleasant tastes on their plants to prevent creatures from eating their plants, probably wouldn't work on herbs though unless you can give them a thorough washing, mesh coverings are probably the safest way to do it though,” Finlay said without really thinking about it. It was a question and Finlay had the answer, or believed he did. ”I can't turn down free knowledge, especially if it were for healing potions,” Finlay told him with a smile. ”You should feel the same for anything creatures,” he told him. There was no way that this elder boy could have been gay. This attractive young man who had this beautiful accent. There was no way he would come to the younger boy for advice. After today they would probably never see each other. Some days it would have just been easier had he never showed his magic. Then he could at least be a lot more open to who he was. He could tell this boy that he was gay, that he liked other guys. The chances were higher in the muggle world that this boy would also like boys. Finding such a relationship in the wizarding world could end in disaster. Finlay's assumption of the boy not being from here was correct, and especially the assumption that he did not go to Hogwarts. He'd graduated from Ilvermorny, the North American school that did not do much with the other wizarding schools. He'd graduated only a few months ago, which meant he was two years ahead of Finlay, that meant the elder boy was eighteen or nineteen. Antoine said he was also from Quebec. ”It's strange, only met a handful of North American wizards, never have I met one with an accent such as yours. That must be the... Quebec... in you?” he said with a slight giggle. In the United Kingdom you were Irish, Scottish, English or Welsh, and then there was just being British as well. He didn't know what to call someone from Quebec. Though he knew that those from Canada were Canadian. Was that what he'd possibly should have called the other boy? Antoine accepted the invite to go get a drink. That would be a great place to continue the questions that Finlay could think of. These were less about potions and more about this boy who was from a place that he himself had never been. Antoine suggested that Finlay go purchase his items and that they would leave from their. The sixteen year old paid for his supplies before waiting next to the door. Antoine had suggested that Finlay lead the way. The Three Broomsticks was always popular. The Hog's Head was secluded and there was no way that Finlay would take a boy he just met to Madam Puddifoots. ”The Hog's Head is more conducive to having proper conversations, the Three Broomsticks is always a good choice but it gets loud there,” he told Antoine. Finlay though Hog's Head would be the better of the two and led the way to the pub. ”If you don't mind me asking, why did you leave Quebec? I'd love to see other places, but I don't know if I could permanently leave here,” he said softly. He always wondered why people left home. He didn't know if the other boy had permanently left his home, it was just a guess. Finlay had his father here and of course Ony, he couldn't leave them, they were always there for him. What would happen had he left and something happened. He never had to particularly stand up for himself. Even Ony had stood up to the bullies at Hogwarts for him, and well herself as well. He just took the dishes he'd been handed and dealt with the cards that he'd been dealt. But what if he had no support from them, would he be okay? Could he survive without them. Come another year he would have to find out. He didn't want to be some magical creature farmer. He wanted to experience them in their natural habitat, which meant he would have to leave home. He would have to learn to survive without the familial support.

BRY of W&&R and CAUTION

[ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU]

I can be the subject of your dreams, Your sickening desire
Don't you wanna see a man up close, A phoenix in the fire

Antoine was not the sort to blush, still he could his cheeks flush slightly when Finlay offered up a 'Gesundheit' "Merci" He said sheepishly, after all it was better than explaining he was telling himself to clam his own nerves. Yes Antoine was content to let Finaly assume it had been just a sneeze, he just had to get nervous around handsome young men didn't he? A small smile crept to his lips as Finaly gave him advice about his herbs and animals. Merlin could this boy get cuter? He really needed to stop thinking like that though, but it was the struggle of being a homosexual in a rather heterosexual world he guessed - constantly pining after men you could never have.

"Well you best remember that offer, don't need to get my hopes up I might have someone who can offer me some advice only to get turned down later." Antoine was sure to speak in a tone that was obviously tongue in cheek - and maybe verged a little too close to actually openly flirting with the younger male. He needed to watch himself, he was going to lose one of the first friends he might actually be making since moving here. It was going to take a lot of effort to get his mind off how stunning the boy looked. Who wanted to be objectified by him anyways? 'I really hope I can help you out sometime though, Finlay, it'd be nice being the mentor instead of the mentee" He avoided the word pupil - it just...well it was already creepy how he kept thinking about the boy's features did he really need to make it any worse even if his thoughts were his own.

And than Finaly said something that made things even more difficult for the older male. Did he have to act adorable too? It was torture almost and Antoine could feel himself smiling like an idiot as he looked at Finlay wishing he could comment on just how much he adored the innocent way Finlay described his accent. He couldn't even begin on the way the he giggled. Still Antoine chuckled along with him, and only partly at the horror he had found himself in - was this a new form of hell finding someone who was so...well it was too soon to say perfect but he was only thinking it so it was a fair gamble to think so strongly of what he had stumbled upon in the shop. "You could say that, yes, the Quebec in me. Quebecois - that's what they call people like me, the French speakers and the French we speak." He wanted to tell Finlay all bout Quebec, anything that would keep the conversation going so he could enjoy the lad's company for as long as possible. Shit.

This was bad. As if consciously trying to prevent his downward spiral into obsession with the boy was only leading closer to it. It was a good thing they were leaving this shop soon, the open air would clear his head and he would stop himself from making a fool of himself.

When Finlay spoke of the options and wanting a quieter location Antoine found himself saying a small prayer to something or someone to help him not make a fool of himself. He wanted a friend, he really did - and Finlay seemed like a lovely sort of friend...who happened to be stunning and adorable all at the same time. "I'm not a huge fan of crowds myself really, must be another reason I went into potions..." It was an off hand comment, his attempt to agree in a more conversing way, after all the more he spoke maybe the less likely he was to get too caught up in staring and thinking about things he ought to not think of. "Why did I leave?" Antoine's words fell quiet but he carried on with Finlay, thinking. How could he put it that wouldn't be a lie? "Well...I don't have family there anymore...and the world is big even if wizard communities are small, it seemed like the right thing to do I guess, move and see what the world had for me to discover in it." He nodded along with his words, as if agreeing with himself that he had described his situation nicely. Though anything was better than my crazy older half brother kiddnapped his child bride and my family was murdered in relation so now I am hiding in the United Kingdom till everyone forgets that I am the Le Tourneau heir. Yes, what he said sounded much better. "Where do you think you would go, even if it was just for a short time?" Antoine looked to Finlay, curious about what his answer would be.

NOTES:
TAG: FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN

[FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN]

Words: 497 | Tag: ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU
Notes: -flails-

”Well you best remember that offer, don't need to get my hopes up I might have someone who can offer me some advice only to get turned down later.” Finlay looked at Antoine a bit confused. Finlay wasn't the type of person to ever get someone's hopes up to only break them later. ”I'm told that some of my qualities that make me a Hufflepuff are because I don't generally ruin people's hopes,” he told him with a smile, ”so I promise whenever you go to redeem that offer I can promise I will happily help out.” And Antoine told him that he really hoped he could help Finlay out sometime as well. Finlay smiled.

Finlay looked at Antoine as he told him what the people of Quebec were called. Quebecois, it was what they called the French speaking people. That was interesting. ”That sounds better than just being British,” he told him with a smile, ”Quebecois,” he said, he liked the word. Finlay felt like he was beginning to make a fool of himself as well. ”It's like this beautiful word to describe such a unique accent.” A blush came to his face as soon as the words left his mouth. Those moments when you wished you could rewind the moment to prevent from embarrassing yourself.

Antoine liked the idea of the a quieter place which as did Finlay. ”Why did I leave?” Finlay looked at him. ”Well... I don't have family there anymore... and the world is big even if wizard communities are small, it seemed like the right thing to do I guess, move and see what the world had for me to discover in it.” Finlay kind of cast his head down. ”I'm sorry to hear that, but I will say I'm glad that you ended up here, someone to actually help me with potions,” he smiled.

”Where do you think you go, even if it was just for a short time?” ”I also prefer quiet, the Hog's Head is always a good option, unless you like tea, but it seems like a lot of American's don't particularly enjoy tea, but there's a shop for that as well, also quiet, I think Hog's Head may be the best option,” Finlay slightly rambled. He wanted quiet. He also wanted to find out more about this other male, this beautiful other boy.

Finlay had been attracted to those in the past, but due to the limited supply of other gay men in the wizarding community, it wasn't something that he'd ever really been able to do. And while he didn't know that much about this boy, being in the presence of a cute boy, well Finlay would never turn down the extra time. And Finlay was happy that this boy was smart, someone who he could actually pick the brain of, and actually have an intelligent conversation. Finlay felt like he may try to sneak down to Hogsmeade a little more often if he could.

*template by Fiona Maccafferty of CTTW!

[ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU]

I can be the subject of your dreams, Your sickening desire
Don't you wanna see a man up close, A phoenix in the fire

Of course he had to smile when Finlay did what he could to assure him that he wasn't the sort to make offers with out the intent to carry them out. Most people in his life were unreliable, or had made it hard for him to trust that others could be held to their word. But the way Finn spoke - he just couldn't help but find himself looking forward to the day they could get together and talk plants and potions.

There was something about the way Finn seemed to enjoy his nationality - even its ridiculous name. Still it was hard not to laugh when Finn commented about how it was better than being something such a 'British' "Your accents are cuter over here" He wasn't meaning to call the boy cute, he was, but he hadn't meant it to sound like he was. Not entirely. It was true though, the boy was so endearing and it seemed as if it took no effort for him to be so.

"I'm glad you like it, maybe I will teach you how to speak like me." Of course Antoine meant he could teach him Quebecois French, still he sounded a little foolish when he said it like that? Finn was distracting to him though and it was hard to think out his words before speaking - he was so keen to carry on with the lad, after all he wasn't sure when the next time he would the bright blue-eyed boy.

There was something all too touching about the empathy that Finn was showing him. Still it brought a smile to his face as well when the younger lad remarked about how he was glad that Antoine was there. It wasn't often people were glad he was around, but coming from Finn it made his heart stir "And I'm glad I now have someone to talk potions with...that I don't work with that is." He wanted to call him a friend but at the same time - he was holding out a foolish hope that some how this might be more.

At the mention of Americans not liking tea he had to laugh "Canada is a bit more like Britain I think - we did stay under the rule of the crown a lot longer than our neighbors in the south...regardless I do enjoy tea but...maybe another time - maybe, at my apartment sometime, I do enjoy quiet tea. Anyways, I mean I agree with you - about the Hog's Head."

Finally he managed to shut himself up. What was he trying to do? Scare Finn away? I just met you in a shop want to come to my place and have tea I promise I am not trying to steal you from your school even though you are a handsome boy. Merlin Antoine pull it together.

It was hard to keep his eyes off Finn as they walked, it wasn't as if he was out meeting many young attractive men in his current state. He tried his best not to be awkward or creepy, still it was hard not to smile when he caught sight of the boy's eyes.

NOTES:
TAG: FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN

[FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN]

Words: 445 | Tag: ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU
Notes: d’awww - it’s nice to have happy threads between us

Finlay would never say he was good at talk to boys that he liked. He always believed he was especially bad at flirting. Finlay was sure his face hadn’t turned to his normal colour since he started talk to Antoine. ”Your accents are cuter over here,” he was told. ”I think we’ll have to agree to disagree,” Finlay told him with a grin. Of course they would it was all based upon where one would grow up. Most people were attracted to the accents of places that were foreign. ”I would love that,” Finlay cursed himself after his quick and excited reaction to being offered to be taught how to speak like Antoine.

Finlay smiled when Antoine said that he was also happy to have someone to talk potions with that didn’t involve work. Finlay was happy to talk potions with a cute, older boy who knew what he was doing.

Not moments later Antoine had managed to invite Finlay to his apartment sometime for a quiet tea. They just met but Finlay couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat when the words escaped Antoine’s mouth. Not that anything was about to happen but the thought of the invite was enough to make him feel a little better.

He was also happy that the other boy would enjoy having tea. It was strange that Finlay never really put much thought into foreign countries. Most of what he did know of certain ones were most likely stereotypes. Maybe that was a downside to not having a muggle education before going to Hogwarts. No, Finlay’s education before Hogwarts was mostly what his father would teach him when he wasn’t busy with his work.

Finlay led the way to the Hog’s Head before they got to the door and he creaked it open and held the door for Antoine. Once inside the fairly dark bar, he led the way to a table towards the back. ”So if you no longer have family back in Canada, are you settling down here permanently or are you planning on continuing through the world?” Finlay had asked him. He was more curious if knowing this other boy would mean only a short term friendship or something that could develop like Finlay could all but hope for.

FInlay couldn’t help but smile as he now sat across from the elder male. Finlay felt like he may have been awkward himself. With his smile that would not fade, he was with the other, quite attractive, male who, well there was no way he was this interested in a sixteen year old, sixth year Hufflepuff.

*template by Fiona Maccafferty of CTTW!

[ANTOINE MARQUEZ LETOURNEAU]

I can be the subject of your dreams, Your sickening desire
Don't you wanna see a man up close, A phoenix in the fire

There was some relief that washed over Toine when Finlay didn't seem put off or terrified at his mentioning of coming over for tea. It felt like he had dodged a curse. Finlay was one of the nicest people he had encountered - ever, he was far from ready to scare the boy away just yet. There was something about Finlay that made Antoine want to make sure he didn't mess things up - Finn felt special in a way that he couldn't explain. Maybe he was just under the spell of the boy's bright blue eyes.

Still the smile on his face was testament to his enjoyment of the younger lad's company. He couldn't help the blush that lightly painted his face when Finn held the door open for him. It wasn't often other men held the door so politely, Toine could only manage a surprised word of thanks. Handsome and manners - this could possibly be one of the most difficult drinks to get through with out Finn realizing or learning a few things.

The bartender took a few moments to come over to them after they had sat, Toine didn't mind though. In fact the less interactions they had with others the better in his mind. He wanted to focus on learning more about Finn. Still Toine took a few coins out and set them on the table so that they would be brought some butterbeers. Unsure of Finn's age Toine was hesitant to go for anything hard, besides it still seemed early in the day for such drinks.

Antoine didn't answer Finlay right away. Truth be told he hadn't given much thought on to where he would be five years down the road. He had been so hasty in getting out of Canada that he had barely made an actual plan. Sure he got a job, and a flat - but what steps towards building a life had he actually made? Well he was making a friend, so that was a start wasn't?

He found himself smiling softly to himself, yes, a friend. "I hadn't really thought about - I hadn't thought about leaving either...It could be nice to see the world...but...I do think I could see myself finding reasons to stay." Not that he assumed Finlay could be a reason - it was dangerous to think like that, hopes were so easy to raise up but even easier to dash down.

It was almost hard to keep looking at Finlay. The boy's smile was infectious and it was hard to not openly stare. "So, Finn, Finlay - what about you? Will you settle down here, or do you want to live around the world? After you graduate that is....when do you graduate?"

So, he had been trying to be casual in asking. He was curious about the boy's age - it felt awkward when the thought crossed his mind that the boy could be 15. Wouldn't that be a horror? Not that it mattered because, nothing would happen anyways - right? Still, the way Finn's eyes looked when they would meet...the way it was so hard to make eye contact with out feeling the rush of blood to his cheeks...he couldn't get his hopes up any higher though, not unless there was reason.

NOTES:
TAG: FINLAY BEAN BUCHANAN