Zachary Bishop's Apartment

Zachary Bishop's Apartment
moonstraw city

Following his return to the UK, Zach at first considered living at the Bishop Hotel before ultimately deciding it would be better to keep his personal life separate from his work. Despite his family fortune meaning that he could have easily gotten a luxurious penthouse somewhere else in the city, he opted for something less excessive especially since he'd be living by himself. Nonetheless, it's very obviously still quite high-class and in an exclusive building. He hasn't bothered trying to change any of the furniture that it came with, not really seeing the point in doing so. He enjoys inviting other people over from time to time so that it doesn't feel so empty, and the apartment has a spare bedroom in case anybody needs a place to stay.

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

It's a Wednesday, but it's close enough to Christmas anyway and Zach had made it a point to resolve all pressing matters during the earlier part of the week so that he would be home when Leighton arrived at his apartment. Last night, he had already used magic to tidy up the spare room (not that it needed much cleaning in the first place) for his nephew to stay in. Honestly, it *would* be very easy to let him stay the entire break but it's difficult to agree when doing so means accepting that his brother is becoming more and more like... their *father*. Whatever the situation is, Zach has already talked to Clarence and is planning to again at Christmas if he finds out anything else from Leighton during his stay here. He is still on good enough terms with Kaia too, so if he feels something might be off at the Yaxley household as well then he is seriously considering talking to her as well. This whole situation is still a bit much for him to wrap his head around completely considering it's *family* involved, but Zach loves his nephew and just wants Leighton to feel loved and happy. Zach remembers what he said – that he is obviously not informed enough on the matter and to trust his judgment – but Clarence reassured him that *of course* he wants Leighton to be with him and Cedrica over break. However, his brother had been vague when responding to the idea of actually communicating that to his son and had started lamenting about how his children in general might be better off spending break with Kaia since she was supposedly a 'better' parent despite his own wishes to be close to them. Then, the conversation had taken a turn towards Zach reassuring him instead. He had told Clarence to simply step up and be better father to them then, but Zach could also understand why his children would be uneasy spending time with him after his affair with their *Aunt* Cedrica. Just thinking about the whole ordeal makes Zach let out a deep exhale. When he has his own family, he resolves, it will never be this complicated. He has no way of knowing he can guarantee that for sure, but a good start, probably, would be not cheating on his wife.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

His few hours spent at home between staying in Brittany and staying at Zach's were far more pleasant than before his brief vacation in France. However, his father and future stepmother were at WizCo, and he's certain that their absence is what alleviated so much of the stress from a few days ago. He spent much of his time with Agatha instead, who wanted to know the details of what happened the night prior before whining about how she should have been invited if *he* was. Leighton doesn't particularly understand why he received an invitation either. Although he wouldn't readily admit it, he supposes he would have been left quite bitter if he had been the only one left uninvited and that Elouan is a much better person than him, especially when taking into consideration their respective relationships with one Molly Mayberry. He learned something noteworthy from the whole situation though he hasn't pinpointed it yet. Whatever it was was enough to urge him to remind Agatha that she associates herself with Arthur, which that seemed to push her over some invisible cliff as she spiraled into a fit of self pity that concluded with her eagerly defending herself and her friend. His day became significantly worse after that though he remained smug about it as he retreated to his room. A short conversation with Cedrica upon attempting to leave for Zach's was interrupted by Agatha's shrilly voice calling from upstairs, a sign that he thought meant he would soon get in trouble, so he left without trying to locate his father. His mother had brought him and Felton to obtain their licenses at the start of the holiday, meaning he can apparate a little recklessly to outside his uncle's building before ringing to be let in. He has one suitcase rolling behind him with another book bag slung over his shoulder, which is a bit much for only a night or two. Arriving at Zach's doorstep, he knocks twice before staring daggers into the door as he waits.

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

At the sound of the door, Zach rises from the sofa, taking a breath to go and answer it. Zach would never refer to Leighton as difficult despite the opinions other people may have, but he feels that today might be difficult, not because of his nephew but because of the situation he's in. To be honest, Zach thinks he's reacting quite reasonably for a teenager caught in the middle of a mess his parents have created. In fact, Zach would argue this is at least definitely a more reasonable response than Agatha cutting off all ties with Kaia or Felton confronting Cedrica and swearing to take Wizco down one day. Opening the door, Zach smiles when he sees him. "Leighton!" he exclaims, opening the door further to let him in. His eyes naturally drift towards his bags and the grin almost falters. Oh Leighton... They can deal with that later, probably, unless Leighton will want to address it immediately. The guest bedroom is near enough to the entrance of the apartment, so it's only a very few steps before Zach stops. "This is where you'll be staying – you can leave your things here by the door." he says. Hopefully Leighton does not take this as meaning that Zach is just going to let him stay the entire break. He *wants* to but that would be fully accepting his brother's failure and all the possible repercussions from that. It's a delicate issue to navigate and Zach does not have enough pieces to put together the whole puzzle. He can very easily see Clarence or Kaia reacting with a lot of self-pity or hostility if they knew he thought of either of them as anything close to a bad parent. He really wishes that weren't the case, but if the situation comes to it then Zach thinks it would be fair to call a spade a spade. Leading him to the living room, Zach takes a seat and maintains his cheery disposition. "So, how was France?"

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

"Uncle Zach," he greets him with much less enthusiasm. "Hello," he adds, the corners of his mouth turning into a slight smile. Continuing, he goes, "Cedrica says 'Hello' too." He's visibly amused by that, smirking to himself as he arranges his belongings outside of the spare room's door. His eyes narrow a little as he follows Zach into the living room, glancing around to assess his surroundings before settling down on the couch. After adjusting and accepting he's somewhere *safer*, his expression eases, and he slouches into the seat to allow it to engulf him. He sighs in a fashion that he otherwise would have found dramatic, shutting his eyes and reopening them again as if reseting some sort of defunct robot. "My memories of Paris were correct," he says, referencing a summer holiday his family went on when he was a child. "It's beautiful yet filthy, but that is the case with most cities. Brittany itself has much more hideous views, but my suspicion is that their deceased tyrant was singlehandedly squandering their scenery with her poor spirit." His words are spoken with such a deflated air of disinterest yet a layer of aggression that they sound far more serious than he is intending for them to be. He's joking and had even repeated the comment offhandedly to Agatha earlier. "However, it was a worthwhile holiday. Any opportunity to interact with politicians is a welcomed one, and this even afforded me the additional opportunity of bonding with a fellow student that is otherwise one of my worst enemies. Her name is Honey Camacho." He wouldn't admit this to Honey, but his tolerance for her *has* grown. As insulting as that phrasing is, it's the most appropriate way of stating his feelings towards her. He's not as opposed to interacting with her as he was when he left Hogwarts for the holidays, but that doesn't say *that* much. "Camacho has a particularly disrespectful nature to her, but she is intelligent and passionate about her beliefs. If not for how much of her time she uses to mock me, we might have been friends." He sighs then huffs to cover it, furrowing his brows before trying to relax again. "France was worthwhile then, yes," he concludes, smiling a bit.

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

By now, Zach is more than used to Leighton, his sense of humor, and just generally the way he carries himself and talks. He wonders to himself what Leighton's friends are like – if they all talk like him and they spend their breaks together discussing politics and talking as if they're participants in some sort of debate. The idea is *very* amusing to Zach. Teenagers are ridiculous and he would not put it past them to act so grown up at sixteen or seventeen. Then, he remembers Leighton has a *girlfriend* and he begins to wonder if she sits there and listens to him talk about how much he enjoyed chatting with politicians. "Paris is always beautiful," Zach comments. He hasn't been there in a while, and most times he has it has been for work and he never really had the opportunity to fully appreciate the culture. "And I'm sure that those politicians you interacted with definitely had an interesting night talking to you as well." Zach imagines it's not very often in their lives that a seventeen-year-old would so eagerly welcome an opportunity to discuss politics with them. "Not many teenagers are the type to discuss those things with them, I'm sure. Not many teenagers are *intelligent* enough to do that either. I'm very proud!" Zach chuckles, but he's serious. "And it's good that you were able to bond with Honey. Maybe you'll get an opportunity to bond with another one of your *enemies* soon." Zach grins at the term. "You mentioned this was for your friend's partner's birthday? Tell me more about your friends." He's curious and wants to make sure that Leighton has good friends. "I don't even know any of their names." he adds, before remembering. "Apart from Katiya! The one dating the veela boy." It's important to Zach that Leighton knows he remembers these things.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

His gaze shifts uncomfortably when he's praised. Getting positive attention from Zach is not unheard of, and he's fortunately one of few that he can handle receiving laughter from. He has grown attached enough to Zach that he trusts him with that much. "Thank you," he nods, pushing an uneasy hand into his hair. He accumulates a list of his other various *enemies* before rolling his eyes. "No, Camacho had the best chance of redeeming herself, which is why she has. My other enemies do not have these same redeemable qualities." He's intelligent enough to not share their names, especially considering Felton's name is the first that comes to mind. Molly Mayberry is second, but she's only second of his less serious enemies. Naturally, he has a much lengthier list for more serious transgressions – the sort of transgressions that garner a response. As morally *ambiguous* (a polite term for 'morally corrupt') as he's demonstrated himself to be, he's quite firm in how he believes everything should be done or how others should behave or express themselves. "No, they do not," he concludes firmly, nodding to himself. He welcomes discussing his friends, eyebrows raising a little in surprise. With his siblings explaining who they are to their mother and their father never inquiring, he hasn't had much time to discuss them. Not that he knows how to. Now that he is confronted with that, his brows furrow. "Ah, Katiya is very intelligent and impressive. Her language skills are worth admiring as is her dueling technique, and she is quite talented on the quidditch pitch." He finds that having a crush on her was very realistic of him. He understands now by seeing her and Yves that they would not have suited each other. "Zenia, a distant cousin of mine, is her neighbor and roommate at Hogwarts. We have spent many family functions together, so this is not a particularly *new* friend of mine." He pauses, reflecting before deciding that he should give Zenia the same flattering introduction. "Zenia is quite intelligent too, and she is someone who most would consider difficult to converse with. However, she is very mindful. Anyone with the observational skills of a flobberworm can see that she has her own, much more efficient means of engaging in conversation and that she is a brilliant person to confide in." He finds that flattering enough, yet he's certain he won't repeat as much to her. Compliments are far more embarrassing when it's repeated in front of the person in question. "Kian is my roommate." He pauses. "He's my closest friend. We're closer than any of my friends at Sognarry." He's a little ashamed of this fact, which plays on his face though he tries to remain happy over the topic of his friends. "We're similar, but he shows more initiative to what is otherwise merely excessive planning on my part. He's intelligent too. Having idiotic friends is quite frankly not an option." He huffs, seeming disgruntled at just the thought. "He's a talented duelist. It's often helpful to us." He smirks slightly. It's most difficult trying to summarize his best friend, struggling to find words eloquent enough. "That is it."

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

Zach listens as Leighton describes each of them. Especially after Leighton describing Zenia as 'difficult to converse with', Zach is instantly able to form a hazy picture in his head of the quartet of sixth years that his own sixteen-year-old self probably would not have dared try to strike up a conversation with. They all seem rather intimidating yet ridiculous in the same way Leighton is, so it is reassuring to Zach to hear that Leighton has found these people. Hearing that he is closer to this Kian than he was with any of his friends at Sognarry is a bit sad, especially since he spent so long at the school, but Zach instead chooses to focus on the fact that at least he has Kian now, and Zenia and Katiya too. "They all seem very deserving of your friendship." Of course, as he said, Leighton would not have befriended anyone idiotic. He really could have sworn though that Leighton was going to end up mentioning the infamous 'Molly Mayberry' among his list of friends, what with the sheer ridiculousness of their last fight. Maybe they *have* gotten that sorted and they're just not as close as Zach thought they would end up being, but that's probably something Leighton would have updated him on. "They definitely sound a lot better than some of *my* best friends during my time at Hogwarts." Zach snickers at his own joke. In fairness, Hogwarts era Gregory Blake is a very, very low bar to beat. The key word in his joke though is 'some' because of course Nikki was his best friend at Hogwarts too, and there is no doubt she was *the* best friend. And now she's his girlfriend, a thought that still manages to make his chest feel all warm inside. "Dunno why it would be *often helpful* to you that Kian is a skilled duelist, but for as they deserve it and you don't get caught... I'm kidding." Zach is very familiar with Leighton's very developed sense of what is fair and correct, so he doesn't think it's within his nephew's character to be mindlessly hexing first years for fun or picking fights with any of his year mates. "And then you're dating that girl Eleanor too?" he asks, "Were you the one who asked her out?" Just imagining how Leighton would have gone about that is admittedly a bit funny.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

He nods in agreement, thinking his friends are *very* deserving. He wouldn't be friends with them if they thought differently because otherwise he would be in a constant state of suffering. "They are," he adds. He's amazed at the thought that he somehow acquired better friends than Zach would have in Hogwarts, but then he registers that his uncle was probably as 'popular' and charismatic then as he is now. He wholeheartedly believes that those titles are typically bestowed to the worst of the worst, so he imagines then that his peers would have been terribly insufferable. He almost says this, but instead Leighton grumbles a little in a sort of disgruntled amusement. His eyes twinkle with a much more genuine sense of amusement at the comments that follow, even letting out a rare laugh though he tries to limit himself to just smirking. He doesn't say anything on the matter either, knowing better than to air out his secrets more than he already has. He doubts Zach would tattle on him, but you never know. "No, Eleanor approached me to invite me on a date and then later inquired about the more official romance," he corrects. He isn't certain that he would have thought to start dating Eleanor if she hadn't mentioned it first, but he doesn't believe that that's an issue. All that matters is that he is interested in her now, which he is. "We haven't been dating for even a month yet. We need more time to reassess our situation, but everything is running smoothly for now." Leighton pauses, removing his phone from his pocket to find the one picture they have of them together on their second date. He then turns his phone towards Zach to show him. "This is Eleanor." In the picture, a lanky Leighton is standing towering over Eleanor, who is significantly shorter and on the chubbier side. Her hair is a mousy brown and is left hanging around her shoulders, perfectly straight until it curls in at the bottom. She's swimming in her outfit or alternatively wearing multiple layers and *drowning* in it. It isn't abundantly clear, and Leighton wouldn't be able to say. His hand is visibly hovering over her shoulder, not actually touching her, but he doesn't appear uncomfortable in the photo either considering both of them are smiling.

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

'The more official romance'... Zach almost laughs, but doesn't. Not that he thought Leighton was lying, but it's still surreal to see that the girlfriend actually exists, mostly because from time to time it's difficult believing that his nephews and nieces are already so old. It makes him remember just how young Clarence and Kaia were when they first had Leighton and Felton. "You two look good together," he comments. What matters most is that they're both smiling and they both look happy. Hopefully this relationship will not end badly – for the longest time after Cedrica, Zach was convinced that all relationships were just bound to end in disaster until he met his second girlfriend and that went much more smoothly. Eleanor does not look particularly diabolical or have that certain air about her that Cedrica once had (and still does), so it's probably for the best. Who knows? She might be his Nikki. That would definitely be much more romantic. "I like that she takes initiative." Zach says, noticing that he did not speak of her as highly as he did his other friends. Even his so-called 'enemy' got a more flattering description... Perhaps he's just shy about the relationship. "Do your siblings and parents know about her too?" The question is more so that Zach can get a glimpse at what that relationship is currently like, but he does not want things to escalate too quickly. To make it a little more casual, he adds, "If I'm the first, then this'll be the second time this has happened. One of your Aunt Cressida's kids asked me for love advice too." Zach considered making it more vague and saying it could've been one of his siblings too, except Agatha would have gone to Cedrica, Felton is a sore topic for Leighton, and Diana is too young. "No idea why you won't go to your own parents, but to be fair your father used to make *crinoline cages* – " As if Zach could ever forget the term. " – for the girls he liked when we were in Hogwarts. You know those things girls used to wear under their dresses? So maybe I *am* the better option, after all." Zach snorts, remembering it clear as day. He remembers sitting in the corner of some abandoned room in Hogwarts watching as Clarence worked on it – he couldn't even do anything on his own because he was so busy being utterly baffled by the idea of gifting this to a girl. "Don't tell him I told you that."

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

He smiles to himself, bringing his phone in nearer to his chest and admiring the photo before turning his phone off and tucking it away. He doesn't particularly *need* anyone's reaffirmation of things *he* is sure of himself, or he tells himself as much anyways. Having Zach approve means a lot to him, which his uncle surely understands though Leighton has never audibly expressed it. "Eleanor is very ambitious and hardworking. It's impressive how much energy she has." He accepts that Zach trying to compliment her is likely a callout to the fact that he didn't. He shifts awkwardly in his seat afterwards, visibly uncomfortable with such blatant displays of affection. "You are the first to have been informed by one of the parties involved, which counts for something," he answers. "Diana saw us and assumed, then she told our mother when we returned home for the holiday. Our other siblings don't know, and there hasn't been an opportunity to tell my father yet." He had to take his sister shopping with one of her friends to convince her to not tell their other siblings, and he isn't even certain that that will work. He huffs a little in amusement. Picturing his father crafting and gifting a crinoline cage is ridiculous, and he's thankful that he is at least a much more practical gift giver. "Need I remind you that my parents have just recently gotten divorced. Not because they discovered they had fallen out of love and were better apart, but because of an affair that exposed an entirely one-sided marriage. My belief then is that they are the least qualified to give any sort of advice on these matters." He says everything nonchalantly, free of the bitter aggression that he often uses with others. He's speaking sincerely yet with a hint of attitude as if he's impressed by how terrible it is, scoffing a little before laughing. "My father does not know how to pursue his own heart, which must be unfortunate and painful for him. Talking to him about anything would only confuse me more." He shakes his head. He's saddened by this considering how much he loves his father. He admires him to a certain degree, one where he isn't sure if he's just convincing himself he does. He admires Zach ~~more~~ just as much, and at least he is more intelligent when it comes to these affairs. "Anyone with an ounce of intelligence would know that you are the one to turn to. My father is better for a lot of things–" He isn't sure how true this is but says it anyways. He doesn't sound too sure of himself either. "– except for this."

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

Satisfied with the compliment he paid Eleanor (even with how Leighton shifts uncomfortably afterwards), Zach nods as Leighton continues talking. Of course, Zach does not need reminding that the divorce happened – that was a mess to deal with even when he was in a whole other country, getting calls from Cedrica and Clarence and Kaia and everyone else involved. While Clarence would definitely be a poor source of advice for these matters, Zach imagines Kaia is the type who likes to fancy herself a 'love expert' and would get over-invested in the relationships of her children. And if Clarence couldn't help, then Cedrica would definitely butt in after having 'overheard' the conversation but Leighton in particular might be better off without any of the surely scandalous and somewhat questionable advice *Cedrica Ackerman* has to offer anyway. Hearing that he has not yet had the opportunity to tell his father piques Zach's interest. Maybe Leighton is just nervous about admitting this to a parent and is waiting for a good moment, but Zach has reason to believe that it's more likely because Clarence hasn't had the time. "Maybe you'll be able to tell your father sometime before classes start," Zach begins. "I talked with him the other day and he mentioned not knowing whether you'd be spending the break with him and Cedrica or at Kaia's." He broaches the subject carefully, stopping himself from glancing at all of Leighton's things parked by the door to the spare room. He doesn't need to look at them again to confirm that it's *way* too much for how short he's supposed to be staying. "Have you figured that out yet?"

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Leighton ignores the idea that he's going to ever mention this to his parents. He hadn't wanted any of them to know just because he didn't want them interjecting or God forbid flat out trying to prevent him from dating. From what he's seen, his siblings date some of the other students at Hogwarts, but for some reason, he thinks they will be treated differently in this regard. Maybe it's because he knows somewhere within himself that he shouldn't be dating anyone just yet, but he thinks he's just protecting himself against hypocrisy. He's content though with Zach's suggestion, wanting to plainly correct him on why he *isn't* going to do that, but then he continues about something his father said. Immediately, he's irritated. His eyebrows furrow, eyes narrowing as he stares at his uncle. He sits forward in his seat, steaming with anger. "That's ridiculous. How could he not know this?" He's not asking Zach, but it sure does sound as if he's genuinely searching for the answer. He left his mother's house to stay with him. Why would he leave to go *there* again? "For your information, I left Mum's for *his house* to spend the damn holidays with *him* and *Cedrica*. If he believes that there's a chance of me leaving for Mum's, then he wasn't listening to me. However, considering he has quite the penchant for that, that's not too surprising, but I would have thought that he would be a bit more excited and attentive under these circumstances." He scoffs, collapsing into the couch again and rolling his eyes. "Don't misconstrue my words. I have no interest in staying with either of them, but you are refusing me. Still, in any case, my decision was to stay with him. I felt I had communicated that appropriately, but again he's too into his own head and insecurities to even listen for a second." At some point, his gaze drifts away to stare daggers into a specific point on the living room wall. He catches his reflection in the darkened television at some point, blinking a few times before turning towards his uncle. "You know that's true."

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

Zach is silent for a couple beats after Leighton finishes talking. It *is* true, but he isn't sure if acknowledging that would be the wisest idea. It would be very easy to agree with Leighton and be the 'good guy' in all this, but family is complicated and the whole situation is very dangerous to tread. If Clarence and Cedrica found out that he was encouraging this line of thinking, he would not put it past Cedrica at least to declare 'war' somehow. He would not be able to be help in any meaningful capacity if they see to it that he is no longer involved at all. He sighs. "Your father should be more attentive, yes." he says. If Leighton happens to relay this to Clarence, then Zach will gladly stand by it. "But we don't know for sure how he's feeling... I'm sure he's excited. I definitely would be." Truthfully, Zach has always wondered why they weren't making Leighton come home to the UK for all the holiday breaks of the past. He definitely would if it were his child. "Maybe the two of you can find the time to talk about this more and clarify things." he says, not really knowing what else to say. "It's Christmas, so he'll be less distracted with work. Hopefully." He *better* be, Zach thinks to himself rather grimly. He wonders to himself if every man is just destined to be a shitty father. Zach wants kids too one day and he'd be awfully disappointed in himself if his kids thought of him the same way Leighton was talking about Clarence. "Do you plan on going home to him and Cedrica tomorrow?" he asks, "Or do you want to stay here until Yaxley Christmas? That's on the 24th, right?" Zach is actually rather sure that it's on the 24th. He was invited, but declined the invitation just because it seemed so *weird*. Kaia had called him about it earlier that month, and the longer the conversation went on the more he was getting the vibe that she was somehow trying to get him to turn against his own family. While that wouldn't be too much of a stretch (of course, Zach is disappointed in Clarence too), it's still definitely awkward for him to attend his brother's ex-wife's family Christmas. The Yaxleys don't seem to have a very concept of boundaries, though, or maybe they do and just don't care. Zach is about to confirm that Leighton still plans on *going* to Yaxley Christmas, but he'll know soon enough based on his response. Kaia had agonized to him (during that very awkward phone call) that Agatha was not planning on attending because *Cedrica* had 'brainwashed' her against them.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

It's difficult for him to not be put off by Zach dodging the truth. Maybe if he hadn't been brewing on this topic for the last few days, he would be in a better mindset to just forget about that unimportant part and accept what he's been given, which is the admission that his father should be more attentive. Except he has been, he isn't, and he won't. "How interesting. I have never seen such lackluster excitement before." His uncle isn't familiar with his friends, but this statement is more significant if he had. He scoffs, unamused. "Besides, you wouldn't be either. You're not, or you would want me to stay here for more than just a night or two." His voice is scathing, unnecessarily on the offensive. He wouldn't usually dare to project anything but gratitude toward Zach considering how much he has done for him, but Leighton is obviously doing just that: projecting. He can't get enough attention from his father to spew his true feelings at him, and for whatever reason, his uncle is somehow siding with him. All of a sudden, Zach has become a barricade to his own emotions, believing for at least in this moment that he is being asked to quiet them down. "I don't understand what is so difficult to comprehend about this. My desire is to reside here should you allow it. If you try to hassle me into staying with him, then knocking on Grandma's door is still an option regardless." He isn't particularly a fan of either of his grandparents, which is more of a recent development than something he had always been aware of. When he returned home for the first time after leaving for Sognarry, he started to realize how his grandfather was quite sexist and a terrible partner and father. Similarly, his grandmother's affection for him, which had once beaten out whatever limited love she possessed for his annoying brother, had waned somewhat in no doubt due to how he had grown attached to his uncle, jabbing at him about how no one can replace his true father. "Were you aware that Agatha doesn't have to go to Yaxley Christmas? Mum was whining about it as if she wasn't urging me and Felton to create more of a fuss too. Of course, Felton is going to oblige, but no one was expecting him to be in attendance anyways. Not much of a fuss then, hm?" He's trying to focus on Christmas itself, blinding him from his tiresome living situation debacle. It only serves to irritate himself further.

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

Upon being told that he obviously doesn't understand the situation, the gravity of Leighton's feelings settles in and it occurs to Zach that maybe it *would* be better if he stayed at his apartment during the break. It's a complicated decision to make, though, and it's a good thing Leighton diverted the topic to Christmas itself otherwise Zach may have offered without thinking. Now, at least, he has more time to assess the situation. "I'm aware, yes," Zach confirms. He doesn't mention that he heard it from Kaia. There's no need to make things messier than they already are. Zach notes that Kaia herself actually might mention it at Christmas, but he doesn't understand why she would do that unless she's fine with people possibly considering that a bit immature. Then again, the Yaxleys are like a whole different species. They don't seem to have the same concepts of maturity as everyone else does, but then again neither does his own family at times. "Your father mentioned it's too bad that Felton probably isn't coming," he mentions, just to establish that Clarence *does* or at least *should* care about Felton as much as he does Agatha even though that may be... a bit difficult to see. "But yeah, I don't think anyone was expecting it especially after his... explosive encounter with Cedrica at Wizco." Zach had heard about it from Cedrica herself, who had gone on and on about how Felton was being 'a bit misogynistic' for putting so much blame on her and not on his father, who was the one who had made the commitment in the first place. She was talking so much that Zach couldn't get a word in about how Felton probably had a right to be mad at his *Aunt Ced* too. He wonders if Clarence has done anything to reach out to Felton and make the situation better, then feels a pit forming in his stomach when he realizes that he most likely has not. He sighs. "I'm sure your parents really appreciate that you're going to both." he says, finally.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

A little unimpressed, he grumbles and turns towards the empty television. Similarly, Leighton has only heard about the encounter with Felton through Cedrica or brief grumblings from the boy himself though they're typically ignored. Not even Agatha or their father are too keen on discussing it, but that is the case with most things regarding his brother. "Unfortunately, the truth shall never be uncovered in regards to that conversation. Our sources aren't reliable." He typically found Cedrica reliable in the past, but it would be foolish to not admit that he has some disdain for her now. He can at least admit that to Zach, who he trusts understands that him criticizing them has nothing to do with his love for them, especially his father. He can't have these sorts of conversations with his siblings; he even fears mentioning it to his peers because he never knows when someone might turn on him and tell one of them. He doesn't consider too closely how this makes him come across. "My father is sensitive, and he doesn't wish to start any more issues among the family. Sometimes it's best to leave Felton be. I find that my quality of life is drastically improved when not in proximity to him. Surely it's similar for my father." He defends him just a little, feeling a little deflated by how he's not being instigated and now coming more into his senses. He turns towards Zach again. "Mum isn't, but there's no way of satisfying someone who demands such naive loyalty." He could be more insulting. He could call his mother childish and immature, mention how he knows teenagers with more sense of logic and decorum, criticize her for her blatant favoritism, and so on. He could whine over how she wept so much for her marriage then moved on within months of the divorce, but then he would have to reflect (and has) on how much time she should spend mourning something his father gives a negative amount of time to. "At least there's more time with Diana, I suppose." He smiles a little, turning away. Diana is arguably his favorite despite being unbearably terrible. Among the siblings, the two resemble each other the most, and he often dragged her around everywhere when she was very little because even then a toddler was more tolerable than his other siblings.

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

'Naive loyalty' is the correct way of putting it, and Zach is quite obviously disappointed that such is being demanded by Kaia of her child. How she thinks that's okay is difficult for him to grasp, but then again she also demanded such naive loyalty from Zach and he's Clarence's brother. Not wanting to comment on it or make any remarks about Felton (it has been a bit difficult to refrain from speaking about Felton in a less than positive light – Zach does not talk to Felton as much as he talks to Leighton but he knows the other boy will respond poorly if Zach checks in and mentions that he had heard some things from his brother), Zach chooses instead to focus on Leighton's mention of Diana. "Diana is definitely a joy to be around." he says. Zach finds her exceedingly ridiculous in a very twelve-year-old way, so right now it's all still very amusing to him. She is unbearable, yes, but most second years are. "She sent me a list of all these insects she wants for Christmas and around three fourths of them are poisonous or lethal in some other way. She *insists* she is more than capable of looking after them properly, then told me she'd keep them all in Agatha's room." Zach scoffs fondly, but he can already imagine the reaction even if Agatha's sworn off staying at Kaia's house ever again and might never interact with the aforementioned bugs. "Hopefully she wasn't being serious. Diana is staying with your mother over break, though, right? Or does she plan on just going back and forth between the two?" Diana has rather candidly expressed that she only visits Clarence to guilt him and to receive the gifts that are the product of that guilt, but there's no need to mention that.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Even if Zach doesn't explicitly express his disappointment, he oversimplifies others' reactions enough to come to the conclusion that he and his uncle are in agreement on the matter. Continuing their conversation through the topic of his younger sister is the tamest solution, so he lets it continue by engaging more instead of hard deflecting back to the original issue. He tends to do that. "Quite unbearable," he agrees, but it's with a fondness that he doesn't pay to many. He does sincerely love his youngest sister, so he's hoping she becomes more bearable with age. Honestly, she might be his only chance at having any sort of meaningful connection with any of his siblings once they're adults. He has long since decided that Felton is an unrecoverable relationship, abandoning it in a sea of other bitter endings. To some extent, he had always believed that Agatha would remain involved, and this strengthened under the pressure of their parents' divorce. However, having the opportunity to be around her for more than just a month over the summer (during which he often spent at their grandparents' house anyways) has shown that she is far more terrible than he had ever given her credit for. "Considering the fact that they would be under my mother's care for the majority of the time, it sounds unreasonable. Knowing my sister, though, she was serious." All four of the siblings tend to be demanding in their own ways. Honey has been sure to point this out to him, and Katiya isn't too gentle about it either. It must stem from something in their upbringing, likely their family's immense wealth. So much so is obvious to anyone including Leighton himself. Now that it has been pointed out to him so many times anyways... "Yes, she is staying with Mum, but she will be in attendance on Christmas Day. Which twelve year old wants to miss out on receiving extra presents?" Even at seventeen, Leighton wouldn't want to. It's a decent motivation for sticking through both celebrations.

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

"Yeah, Diana has mentioned to me that's why she's going." Zach was unsure what to do with that information, but he mentioned it to Clarence in the hopes of getting him to realize that he's been less than ideal as a father but the only reaction that was for him to brag about how whatever it is he's going to get her will definitely be better than whatever Kaia intends on giving. Zach had laughed it off, not knowing how to respond since his reaction was so far from the one he intended to elicit. How someone can be so smart and yet so wrong about other things is truly a mystery. This conversation is depressing for Zach because it confirms so much that he's been trying to avoid seeing and forcing him to face the facts one after the other. Hearing that Diana – the only sibling that would have proven to be somewhat good company for Leighton over the break – is staying with Kaia, and that Leighton is considering going over to his parents' house during the break instead (maybe Zach is just biased because he does not have the best relationship with either of his parents, but he honestly doesn't see how that is supposed to be any better than staying with either Kaia or Clarence) has weakened his resolve. Swallowing, he tries to relax himself and takes a breath. "You can definitely stay here until Christmas," he begins, "Then we can go to Christmas with your father and I'll talk to him about letting you stay here for the rest of break." Knowing Clarence, Zach is aware that this can go either way depending on his mood. Either he'll say that Leighton can do whatever he wants and let him stay with Zach, but in Zach's opinion that's a bit of a pyrrhic victory because it more or less confirms that he doesn't care as much as he's supposed to. On the other hand, he might insist that Leighton stay with him which might be miserable for him but also Clarence will take this as a wake up call and be more involved. Whatever way it goes, Zach is so sure that just suggesting it will make Clarence resentful at least for a couple days. And then Cedrica will be upset with him too, which is an exhausting thing to deal with especially given how aggressive yet somehow at the same time non-confrontational she can be sometimes. "I'll talk to him about it." he repeats. Zach isn't really sure how to frame it without incriminating Leighton somehow, but it's better that Zach asks. If it's presented as something Leighton asked for, both Kaia and Clarence are likely to take it as a personal attack and while that's definitely not fair or mature of them, it's still better to mitigate the chances of that happening. Kaia is one for feeling 'betrayed' and it's evident to Zach in the way she talks about Agatha. Clarence is also aggressive in pretending not to care (however obviously fake this indifference may be), and he's instigated by Cedrica who is offensive on his behalf – again, evident in the way that the couple talk about Felton. It would be utterly miserable for Leighton to be on the receiving end of both energies and it is not something Zach wants him to experience. Of course, Zach doesn't say any of this. It feels too much like turning him against his parents even if Zach thinks he's being pretty objective about it. "Have you already told either of your parents that you'd prefer to stay with me?" he asks, just so he knows what he's working with. He probably would have heard of it from Kaia or Clarence, but it's also within both to hide it because they don't want Zach and Leighton to get closer than they already are.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

He's unsurprised by this concession, but there's a growing feeling in his stomach that tells him something won't go according to his wishes. Allowing Clarence the opportunity to reject it is going to result in disaster, and then he is going to be stuck there even more miserable than before. What's worse is Cedrica, who is sure to weaponize even the smallest of slights against someone. He has noticed that his father and soon-to-be stepmother are an easily mutable flame and an entire canister of gasoline, but he recognizes that the former is an instigator in his own right. "That would be wonderful," he says plainly. Leighton recognizes that he doesn't sound too interested, so he nods towards his uncle's direction out of gratitude. "Thank you." He's a lot more enthusiastic about the prospects of this internally, but once again there is this anxiety that's preventing him from being too expressive about it. A common occurrence, this disturbance plays plainly on his face as his eyebrows knit together while he continues talking. "No, offending them any more would be of no use to me... Cedrica mentioned it, however." He thought it was disrespectful, mentioning how he must miss spending his holidays with his Uncle Zach instead of considering how he might have missed spending his holidays with his family instead. His first time spending the entire holiday in Moonstraw, and he's getting teased for wanting to be with his uncle. Nothing affirmed to him more that that's what he would rather do, and he thinks rather spitefully to himself that *that* is why he's giving in and going to Zach even after he told himself he wouldn't. A little belated to the statement, he grumbles and rolls his eyes. "This must be stressful to you– and quite strange." He can vaguely imagine being in a similar position though not genuinely. With how he treats Molly, he's certain that Felton is destined to be a shitty partner, so it's not entirely unimaginable that he goes running off with one of his Hogwarts friends after an entire affair. Still he has much less faith in Felton than he imagines his uncle has in Clarence. Even then, imagining this situation unfolding with his brother and... He isn't certain which of his friends from Hogwarts would do this. He wants to imagine Molly for simplicity's sake, but he doesn't want to dishonor her in such a fashion– even in his own thoughts. He's trying to be more mindful of her, but that's the most he can manage. Point is that imagining such a scenario is irritating and stressful. He would lose his mind entirely. "My intention is never to cause you stress, but realistically, this is their faults if anyone's." He shrugs though he means this sincerely.

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

Of course Cedrica mentioned it, Zach notes, always poking at things and trying to reveal issues so that she's always the one who knows everything. If she could be more productive with that information, Zach would not mind as much, but she rarely ever does, instead instigating everyone and trying to become their sole confidant. He doesn't want to look stressed so that Leighton doesn't feel bad, even though it seems he's serious about knowing that it's their fault and not his. "I'm fine," he reassures him. "I've been dealing with your father and Cedrica both individually and together since fourth year. I should be a pro by now." He cracks a grin at the joke, chuckling a little to make the air more lighthearted. Truly, Zach had to put up with a *lot* – it is not very fun feeling like the third wheel in your own relationship. "It'll be nothing." Zach is well-aware he's being optimistic. He's always been one for hoping for the best and looking at the brighter side of things; there's no reason to stop now. "It *is* strange, but you're right. It's entirely their fault, so what can I do?" He shrugs, relaxing, before changing the topic. "Let's stop talking about them, then." he says, putting an end to that conversation. "You've got to tell me more about how school's going." He smiles, leaning forward so that Leighton can sense that he's interested in everything to share. Ready to listen, Zach thinks to himself, amused, that it would be much less complicated for him if the rest of his family were as easy to talk to as Leighton, which really speaks volumes of how difficult they can be.