liam ++ tremble in my veins

[WILLIAM LAWRENCE HEAVENSBEE]

Liam also never knew how this scenario would play out since he wasn't intricately aware of the conditions under which his dad left his first family. He felt his heart pound in anticipation of whatever would come next. He was just getting a goddamn book for his mom, he thought screaming in his mind. He wasn't mentally prepared for this life-changing event. He didn't know how to handle it, how to be ready to deal with it, what to say. He could screw everything up right now. He could.

He nodded, holding careful eye contact. His brows creased in concern. "My name is William Lawrence Heavensbee."

He suddenly felt a wave of anger towards his dad. You never told me what to expect. I'm only sixteen and you never told me anything! What do I do? He normally took care of things. That's what he did. He was the man of the house, now that dad was gone. But now he felt like the adolescent he was, who loved his mom and still loved his dad, too. The last years had been hard. No one told him his life would abruptly change again. No one prepared him for all of this.


He didn't understand what she was doing. He had money, but he felt the gesture wasn't about money. But he didn't know what to do. He stared at the book, but then stared at her, his brows still creased with concern, his eyes anxious and waiting for some sign that would tell him what to do, what was needed.

[BETHANY ANNE HEAVENSBEE]

At the wound of his name, it all seemed to click. Her father had left her and started another family, not long after he left judging by how old this kid looked-- if it had even been after he left. Liam... William lawrence Heavensbee was her brother. Beth had no siblings, she'd never thought about it. Of course it made sense but it still hurt somehow, knowing this guy had gotten all the love an attention a child should get from their father and she had missed out. "I never really thought about him having another family but it makes sense," She said, trying to offer him a little smile.

They stood in silence for a moment and Beth came out from behind the counter, needing to move a little. They really did look alike. "You really do look like him..." Her mother kept his pictures around, and in his twenties, he did look like an older version of Liam. Beth ran her fingers through her hair anxiously. The way she saw it, there were two options, part ways and pretend nothing happened but maybe send him a letter sometime; or really sit down and talk about this. beth realized she was tearing up a little and roughly brushed the water from her eyes with her sleeve.

"I'm sorry. I haven't heard from him since I was 9." She said quietly. "And here you are, his son." Beth wrote him letters all the time, she never knew if he ever got them, if he was dead or alive--was he now?

[WILLIAM LAWRENCE HEAVENSBEE]

Liam thought it was unusual. He has always thought that when he thought about his sister, she was out there maybe thinking about him, too. There was just so much he didn't know apparently. Liam didn't know what to say. And he did look like his father - everyone said so. In better days his mother would gaze lovingly at them from across the kitchen table and say how lucky she was and call them her handsome men, even though Liam was younger and not quite manly at that point.

And he wondered why his father didn't get in touch with his daughter. Liam felt guilty about his situation. Even after all the bad that happened, he felt deeply hurt that someone out there could've been hurting just as much as he had. Liam preferred when bad things happened to him, because at least he knew he could handle it. He hated seeing others suffer.

Liam didn't know what to say, since he literally knew nothing. He didn't even know what he was feeling at this point. But his protective instincts kicked in, the way they tended to do whenever he saw a woman clearly in distress. After a second of debate on whether or not it was a good idea, he risked it and wrapped his arms around her in a enveloping hug.

[BETHANY ANNE HEAVENSBEE]

The hug caught her completely by surprise. Part of her thought maybe he was angry, upset that he had to come to grips with this all of a sudden. But the hug was nice, and she hugged him back. It didn't matter that they didn't really know each other, they were siblings and somehow, for an only child, that opened up a whole new world of possibilities--one of which was finding her father again. She'd never told her mother of course, but Bethany had been looking for him for years without much luck, until now.

"So, do you wanna go get a drink or something, and talk?" Beth offered. he didn't seem the talking type, but he wasn't pushing her away. Maybe he wanted to think first but sometimes talking was the best medicine, right? They wouldn't know anything about one another without asking, and they had his entire life to catch up on after all.

"I mean, it doesn't have to be right now..." Bur Beth didn't know how she would focus on working anymore today given this encounter and it might be better to just get it all out in the open at once.

[WILLIAM LAWRENCE HEAVENSBEE]

Liam couldn't help instantly seizing up at the mention of drinks. And he couldn't help instantly wondering if she was a frequent drinker, too. He chided himself for thinking that, since she seemed perfectly functional, but alcoholics start out that way and Liam had worried for so long if he had some sort of inclination because of his dad. And if that was the case, Beth could be the same way, too.

He tried not to jump to conclusions, but the worry stayed buried in the back of his mind. He forced himself to relax and reminded himself that going out for drinks was a perfectly normal thing adults did.

He forced a smiled, which he was a pro at doing at this point. "That sounds nice." Liam glanced around. People were already staring at them for their bizarre behavior.

"I don't want to get you in trouble." He said, turning back to face her. Her boss did sound very mean. And he would rather not hear his last name yelled across the store again.


ooc- I just realized we always play siblings.

[BETHANY ANNE HEAVENSBEE]

Beth smiled back at him softly, glad he agreed to go and talk with her"Oh forget him, he wouldn't dare fire me. I worked for his dad before he retired and that old man loves me." She said with a little smile. He had sort of been a mentor and father figure for her and he would never let his son fire her. She turned and looked up at the level he had shouted down from earlier. "Harrison! I'm taking the rest off the day off!" She called, and with that, she grabbed her bag from behind a register and headed to the door, opening it so Liam could go through first.

It was stilly rather early in the day, they opened at 9:30am and now it was almost 11. Not quite lunch time and certainly too early for a butterbeer, not that she really drank much as rule. Beth didn't like being out of control, ever. "Its a bit early for a proper drink i suppose, would you like to get tea?" She suggested figuring that was safer anyway. Plus she had no idea what age he was and really wasn't sure what he was technically legal to have.

[WILLIAM LAWRENCE HEAVENSBEE]

Liam watched in disbelief, at first not understanding what was going on, as his sister (...weird) yelled across the store to he boss. He picked up the book that his half sister paid for, but that was actually for his mom, their father's second wife (... even more weird.) And as she made that grand and impulsive gesture, Liam couldn't help think of how it was something James would do. And just like in that relationship, Liam always followed along.

He was surprised that she wanted to go out right now. Liam had been thinking he could go home and collect his nerves before sending her an owl with an offer to hang out some time. He wanted to talk to his mom and get her input on the situation. But then again, nothing today had been going as planned, and everything was happening very quickly.

He walked out of the door. He normally held doors open for women, but he was clearly not the one in control anymore. He was relieved at her offer of tea. Tea was exactly what his mom made him whenever he was stressed out. He nodded in agreement. "Tea would be good."

[BETHANY ANNE HEAVENSBEE]

Beth smiled and they walked in silence to a little tea shop around the corner she knew of. Quaint, medium sized and unromantic. It was perfect for this sort of thing--- what? meeting your half sibling out of the blue? It really was bizarre, and maybe this was dumb, maybe they should go away first and come back together another time, but she had so much she wanted to know, and she was afraid if she let him go, she'd never really get to know him.

They went in and sat, Beth cleared her throat uncertainly. "I uh, this is awkward there's just so much that I want to know..." She tucked some hair behind her ear as her eyes looked down at her little menu. Did they have more siblings? Was her dad a good father? What was his second wife like? Bethany tried to smile at him lightly, maybe it was better to start small and about him, not their family.

"So, you go to Hogwarts?" She asked, he looked young enough to still be in school, and he probably didn't go to Durmstrang if he was shopping here, right?

The waitress came by and asked for their order. Beth went first. "I'll have a cup of earl gray please." She said, her fingers nervously fiddling with her spoon.

[WILLIAM LAWRENCE HEAVENSBEE]

Liam nodded because it was perfectly understandable desire to have. Knowing about your family. Liam couldn't quite imagine since he grew up with both his parents, but it must've been difficult. Liam looked over the menu, even though he always got the same thing. But he didn't want to stare at her, or let his eyes wander around the shop like he was disinterested.

He was slightly nervous now that she had admitted that she was about to ask him questions - many of which Liam was sure he either couldn't answer or didn't want to. But it was oddly fitting that this should happen - of course his father would leave him to clean up his mess, to take care of things, and deal with them. And Liam was going to. It was tiring, but in order to convince himself he wasn't going to be like his father, he was determined to be a stronger man in his stead. (And also, in an odd way, he needed to know that it was in him to be a good man, because then it was in his father, too. Which meant his father could get better, and be a great dad and husband again.)

The knowledge that caffeine and sugar was about to enter his system made him feel slightly better. Liam nodded (he was doing a lot of nodding today.) "Sixth year." He gestured towards Beth. "I assume you went there, too?"

When the waitress came up, he waited for Beth to order first. "Irish breakfast." which was a blend like Earl Grey, only much stronger.

[BETHANY ANNE HEAVENSBEE]

Bethany nodded. "Almost a decade ago," She chuckled a little awkwardly. "I was a Ravenclaw." She shrugged lightly. He sort of seemed like one, all quiet and to himself. Maybe a hufflepuff? She couldn't begin to guess under these circumstances. She hardly knew him and a bomb had dropped in their laps. All she knew was who his mother was, that they shared a father, he was 16 and liked Irish breakfast. It was a start, but not really much to go on. It was like a first date but without any hope of romantic connection and distraction.

What to ask next? She wanted to know if maybe he could get a letter to her dad, or if maybe he would be willing to meet with her. Or was he too enamored of his new family, a ball of love much too tight to let her back in.... Beth sighed softly and stopped playing with her spoon and folded her hands together on the table.

"I don't know where to begin, or what to say..." She admitted. "Is there anything you want to ask me?" Maybe itd be easier to answer first than to make him come up with answers, since she was the one who insisted they go out.

[WILLIAM LAWRENCE HEAVENSBEE]

Almost a decade though. Liam did the math in his head. She was no older than twenty-six then. His mother was only around thirteen years than his half-sister and he wasn't sure what to make of that. Maybe it didn't really mean anything. And she seemed chatty for a Ravenclaw, but Liam couldn't really judge. "Gryffindor." he replied. It always made sense to him. He was smart, responsible, and mature, but he valued loyalty, family, and friendship more than anything else.

Liam was surprised again by her question. He wasn't prepared to ask questions himself. He was interested in knowing her. Certainly he was curious. But he didn't know where to start.

"You don't drink a lot, do you?" He didn't mean to say that, but he was nervous and it sortof came out. And if she did have a drinking problem, Liam wasn't sure he could deal with her, too.

[BETHANY ANNE HEAVENSBEE]

Bethany hardly pegged him for a Gryffindor, but maybe there was more to him that she knew--- well there had to be, given how little she really knew about him. And then he asked her about drinking. It seemed odd to her, considering he looked a little spooked when she suggested going out. "Alcohol?" Beth clarified. "No more than a normal person. I drink when I go out with my mates, or to a nice meal..." She wasn't really sure where this was going or what he wanted to hear, but Beth was average, she drank, sure, but not some excessive amount. She wanted to ask why but thought maybe that would get them too serious again, but she couldn't help herself. "Why do you ask?" Maybe he was afraid she was some bad influence, or wanted money from him or something. Beth didn't want any of that from him, and she certainly wasn't a bad influence. She was ambitious and hard working with a little bit of sass she tried to hide in the fear that it would hurt her ministry chances, even though they already seemed so slim.

"Liam?" Beth started. They were interrupted by their waitress who placed their teas in front of them. She looked at hers a second and picked up her spoon slowly. "What is he like?" he of course being their father.

[WILLIAM LAWRENCE HEAVENSBEE]

Liam felt reassured for the moment. It was almost worth opening that can of worms. She asked why he asked, and he just couldn't bring himself to say. Not in this context. Out of the blue. Our father's an alcoholic. He just shook his head.

He put two heaping spoonfuls in his tea and stirred. Then took a couple of gulps even though it was hot. She asked about their father and Liam stared at his teacup and at the scars on his hand. He could say a thousand things. He could paint the most horrible picture.

After a long moment, Liam started talking, not looking up. "When he read me stories as a kid, he would do all voices. He had this killer howl as the big, bad wolf. He made pancakes and mixed orange juice with sparkling water. He liked to take long drives around the countryside. Every Sunday he brought my mom flowers."

Liam looked up, but not at Beth, but at a point someone in the corner of the shop. He brought his hand to his face and rubbed his chin. He took a moment. "A couple of years ago he lost his job, started drinking ..." Liam took a breath. He lowered his arm and ran his hand across his scars under the table. "... he did some harmful things, and left ... he's doing better now, apparently. I see him every couple of months."

Everyone expected Liam to hate his father. Everyone assumed he did and always told him how he had every right. But Liam now said aloud something no one ever heard him say. He looked right at Beth. "I still love him." Liam felt as though he could start crying, but he never saw his dad cry so he held back. "He was the best goddamn dad before everything went wrong." His voice broke midway through that sentence. Liam looked down and drank his tea. He suddenly felt tired, the last three years weighing down on him.

[BETHANY ANNE HEAVENSBEE]

Bethany listened intently, nodding in all the right spots. He was so quiet and dear, and she wanted to hug him again. Was it possible to want to connect to someone so quickly? It wasn't love, it was strange and uncertain but she wanted him to feel better. She felt comforted that he had been a good father to Liam. Her own memories were scattered, and she wasn't sure he had been so good a father to her, but she still thought her daddy hung the moon like any other little girl. He looked like he was about to cry and she felt her own eyes welling up, the poor kid, she made all of this worse. he asked about her drinking because their father was an alcoholic, maybe abusive... she thought back to his vague "dragon" burns. everything was sort of making sense in some small way.

She reached out and put her hand over his and squeezed it softly, "I'm so sorry Liam, but I'm glad he was such a good dad to you." She said. She was a little jealous, that was true, he got the father, the good and the bad. She got 9 years, sure, but he was still young, out working, out partying, arguing with her mother when they thought she was asleep. But she was somehow, happy for him... in so far as Lawrence was so good to him for a while.

Even though she didn't know the man her father was, she was hurt to know he turned abusive and alcoholic and crusty and mean. He left them Liam too, but Liam saw him, and that was what killed Beth. Liam gave him the chance, but more importantly, dad gave Liam a chance to meet up. Bethany had never heard another word after he left. "I, uh, hope things improve for all of you." This was harder than she thought.

[WILLIAM LAWRENCE HEAVENSBEE]

Liam wasn't taking the meaning of her comments, but rather wondering what she was thinking. He didn't know under what circumstances his father had left her, and he felt guilty spilling out his problems. What if her story was even worse? Although to him it was difficult to imagine anything more traumatizing then watching his parents, both severely injured (his mother because of his father, and his father because of him) surrounded by the burning, crumbling structure that was the house he grew up in, and knowing it was all his fault. He could've killed his father and his mother, and lost everything.

It was surprising that things ended up relatively ok. The first time Liam saw his father after the accident, Lawrence begged him for forgiveness and told Liam that he was trying to be better so that they could be a family again. Liam wondered what his father remembered from that night - if he remembered that Liam attacked him. Because Liam wanted to ask for forgiveness, too.

He wanted things to be ok, too. For everything to be as it was. But he didn't want to say that aloud to Beth. It felt insensitive. He didn't really know what to say, but looked at her hand holding his. There was something about that gesture he wasn't accustomed to, but it was sweet somehow. "I don't have any other siblings." he said, thinking aloud.