Plunge In Deep [DISCONTINUED]

1 ~ He's a hugger

The clouds, once light and free-floating, now dripped their solemn grey essence onto passers-by. They smudged the dull sky, blocking out any sign of brightness.

Of joy.

The tall oak door would have seemed welcoming just a week before. The maroon bricks inviting. The smooth pavement enticing. That moment, standing before a new experience in an entirely new country would usually be enjoyable. Appealing.

But at that moment, nothing could seem duller.

Tina Goldstein stood. Alone. Nothing but the awkward weight of the leather case pulling on her right hand to accompany her. There was no one left for her now that her sister, her partner in life and death, had joined the cause they were fighting so hard to defeat.

She was grateful when she was invited to stay at the Scamander household for who knows how long. They knew none of them could survive on their own. They needed to stick together if they had any hope whatsoever of getting through this.

Dragging her from her thoughts, the worn-out door slowly creaked open. Newt Scamander stood, his lips forming into his usual crinkled smile in greeting. Though the smile never reached his eyes. 

How could it, when there was so much to mourn for?

Nodding her head in reply, Tina tentatively stepped through the entrance. A small fire was kindling on the far side of the room, and suddenly she became aware she was shivering. She hung her coat and scuttled over to the fireplace, immediately sinking into the woollen rug sprawled across the floorboards.

Finally satisfied she was warm, she took to examining the household. After all, this place was to become her home.

Above the brick fireplace hung an array of intricate drawings of magical creatures, some Tina had never seen before. She knew this was the work of Newt - but it was unbeknownst to her that he was so artistically talented.

Her eyes straying to the side, Tina noticed a small brown kitchen tucked into the corner of the room as if it had barely been used. The Scamanders must not cook very often, she thought to herself. A rustic table draped with a green and gold tablecloth stood beside the kitchen, four cushioned chairs perched neatly around the table.

On the other side of the room, there were two doors built into the wall, assumably the bedrooms. Her thoughts drifting back into reality, Tina wondered which room she would be staying in. Which room she would live in. Swivelling around, Tina opened her mouth to ask, albeit Newt was nowhere to be seen. 

As if on cue, one of the bedroom doors flung open, rather dramatically Tina thought. Newt scurried out of the doorway, revealing his brother. Theseus stood tall, just taller than Newt, his usual slicked back hair standing up at multiple different angles, as if he had just gotten out of bed.

From what Tina had heard about him, that was probably exactly what had happened.

Theseus mustered a grin, striding towards Tina with his arms open wide. Ah yes, she thought. He's a hugger.

Tina felt uncomfortable as Theseus wrapped his arms around her, though she politely returned the gesture, stifling at his touch. When he withdrew, an awkward silence fell among the three, and Tina suddenly became aware that no one had spoken since she'd arrived. Noticing the tension, Theseus quickly made an attempt to break the silence. 

"So... welcome!" No response. "Uh, well you may be wondering where you will be staying, here, come with me..." 

Tina followed the man through the door adjacent to the one he had just emerged from into a medium-sized bedroom. A single bed was tucked into the far corner, accompanied by a lamp perched on a small table. A large wardrobe took up half of the opposite wall, a tall mirror standing beside it.