Shipping Bingo: B4 - Jewelry

Spring Bingo: B1 - Weaving

Team: Finders Seekers

Chimera: Jerry (Love/Hate)

Stacked With: ToS; Star; Fence; T3; Ship; Chim; SpB

Individual Challenges: In a Flash (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Jock MC (Y); Neurodivergant (Y); Rian-Russo Inversion (Y); Ethnic & Present (Y); Setting Sail (Y); Lunar Era (Y) [OR] Zed Era (Y); Durmstrang MC; Hufflepuff MC; Green Acres; Old Shoes (Y)

Representations: Sports; Travel; Lost in a Small Town; Pre-Viktor/Cedric

Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenge(s): Unwanted Advice; Spinning Plates; Tomorrow's Shadow; Mouth of Babes; Second Verse (Sneeze Weasel; Persistence Still); Chorus (Peddling Pots; Machismo; Pocky Pockets)

Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenge(s): T3 (Terse; Thimble)

Warning(s): None

~o0o~

The bus containing the Sofia Lions Quidditch team swerved down dirt roads, paved roads, and even some offbeat paths.

"I am telling you, we are lost!" Petya shouted from the front.

"And I say we are not!" Damyan retorted.

The bus lurched and Viktor grabbed onto the seat in front of him. He wasn't prone to motion sickness, but his teammate's driving was certainly making him dizzy. Most teams took Portkeys to get to the finals, but the Lions had been underfunded for some time now. This would actually be their first time competing in the World Cup since it was instated. If they managed to place in the top five, then it would mean some serious funding.

Petya and Damyan continued arguing until Coach Estir stood up.

"How about we take a bathroom break in the next town?" she suggested angrily. "Stretch our legs and find a map?"

"Fine," Damyan snapped and veered off at a sign.

They moved so fast that Viktor couldn't read it. Maybe this would be a good chance to practice some English. He hated this bus. It was a refurbished No-Maj school bus so at least the seats were stationary. Still, it could get cramped, especially on long road trips.

"Hang on!" Damyan shouted and slammed on the breaks.

Viktor smacked his nose into the seat in front of him and groaned.

"You are the worst driver," Russi growled and stomped off first.

Coach Estir pressed a hand to her mouth and swallowed hard.

"Alright team," she said. "Walk around, stretch your legs, use the toilet, meet back here in an hour. I'm not sure if this is a magic town or not, so practice with caution."

Viktor tossed his book aside and stood. Minko shoved him back into his seat.

"Learn some respect," he spat. "Remember you're lucky to even be here."

Viktor really needed some space before he lost his head. Ever since he was fourteen, he bust his butt carrying the team. He missed so many assignments for school to travel and had dealt with unforgiving teachers and insane fans. Only a shiny trophy was going to get him the respect he deserved.

The town they stopped in was fairly small and it looked to be a market day. Maybe buying something would help him calm down. It was still early in the day, so the place wasn't that crowded yet, which he was grateful for. He scanned stalls filled with produce, soaps, anything and everything.

A pushy saleswoman tried to coax him over to her candle booth and another called for fish. Overwhelmed, Viktor backed up into another stall.

"Oi, if you're not a chicken don't sit on the eggs," said a boy.

Viktor whirled around and felt his brain go dead. This was the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his life. His sandy skin was shaded by a straw hat perched on raven waves and he had sharp eyes like a stormy sky. Viktor muttered an apology and looked down at what was being sold. Eggs, honey, apricot products, and jewelry. The boy was weaving a new piece as he sat there, a container with beads, medallions, and string were set out on a tray.

"You look familiar," said the boy, tipping his head and not slowing the braiding of a bracelet. "Are you from around here?"

"No… Bulgaria."

"Ah, so you must be one of those footballers."

Football?

"I do gymnastics, ballet…" Viktor answered honestly. Both had made him the flyer he was today. Maybe once the guy ridiculed him for being a ballerino, the enchantment would break and he could get on with his life.

"Ballet? That's cool. I have a friend who does Latin Ballroom." He rested his arms on the counter. "I'm Cedric by the way."

Shit. Viktor feigned an interest in a necklace. It was a simple leather cord and had a pendant shaped like the sun.

"Do you… sport?" he asked clumsily.

Cedric grinned and held himself up proudly. "You are looking at the six-time horse show champion of the Devon area."

"I have never been to horse show."

"Well, there's one next week. I'm entering with my horse, Daffodil." He gestured to the golden horse nearby. "How long are you in town for?"

Oh, gods, that almost sounded like a date.

"Just the hour," he said. "I am going to Ireland."

Cedric hummed and nodded. "I take it you're lost then? Cause the road you came off of will take you straight to Bristol. How long you in Ireland for?"

"Until end of August."

"Hey, I'll be there near the end of August! Maybe our paths will cross again."

There was no doubt about it, Viktor was being flirted with and for the first time since he became famous, it felt genuine. Nobody paid him any attention until he joined the big leagues, and even then it was because they wanted something from them.

"Maybe."

"Do you like that necklace?"

Viktor looked back down at it. "Yes."

"You can have it. It's been up for sale for a year. My jewelry doesn't make much money, it just gives me something to do."

"Oh, thank you." Viktor reached into his bag and found some muggle money he kept in case of an emergency. "I will take apricot as well. Will this do?"

Cedric looked at him and then the currency.

"Oh, no," he said in a fake voice and reached over the counter. "This apricot has been bruised, whatever shall I do?" He placed it in Viktor's hand, electricity jumping between their skin. "Guess I can't sell it now."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "Go on and take it. I always sell plenty."

"Thank you." Viktor glanced at his watch. "I must go."

"If you must," he sighed and winked. "See you around."

Viktor hurried back to the bus, elated at the flirtatious encounter. He hoped he would see Cedric again. One way or another.