It's not gay if we fight monsters

[shellfishlovver]

WHO: Murdoc Donoghue and Peter Banks
TONE: Awkward, Snarky and Adventure filled
RATING: TBA
WHEN: THE FUTURE. Whenever Peter gets back from his holidays.
WHERE: The Forbidden Forest
WHAT: Something is going on in the forest, so the two manliest teachers who happened to be there are sent to deal with it.
STATUS: Ongoing

It's a brisk evening at Hogwarts as Murdoc makes his way across the grounds toward the Forbidden Forest. He's been informed of strange goings on from within the forest, presumably the fault of one of the beasts that lurk inside. As the resident Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, he's been asked to investigate the fishy business. It's unlikely that it could be caused by dark witches or wizards, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Not to mention he's been moping around the castle or hiding up in his quarters since a few important life changes occured. He's been moodier than ever and even more difficult to deal with, sending him into the forests seemed like a rational idea. Not that he'd be alone, of course. Who better to send as teamwork than the young, enthusiatic flying teacher with a knack for care of magical creatures? Naturally, it only serves as a benefit to the plan that the young man is insufferably cheerful and unlikely to be put down by the foul mood of the older professor.

Murdoc has his wand held close, later it will be used as a light source, but for now it is unneeded. On his shoulder he carries what looks to be a light and almost empty bag, while truthfully he's placed an extension charm on it. He's not the sort to wander off into the Forbidden Forest unprepared, so he's packed at least two bottles of booze.

He's aware that he's meant to be meeting with someone on the outskirts of the forest, but he has no idea who. God, he hopes they aren't irritating.

Comments

[animalmagnetism]

Peter doesn't protest being grabbed, but gets much more uncomfortable. "I already said. I don't-- I remember something that might be a chimera and I'm fairly certain that if Rhydderch had an actual one we'd know by now. The potion was supposed to make words on a page seem to come to life. It must have been off and caused wild hallucinations instead. He's responsible for the bruises. But he might have been defending himself. And before you even ask! No. I don't know how it ended with sex. It was probably the potion."

He looks to the side, really not wanting to think of it anymore. "The only part that I don't understand at all is that I'm almost positive he hadn't had any of that potion himself."

[wwistful]

Murdoc takes a deep breath and releases it through his teeth, tutting softly. He drops the hand after inspecting the bruises as he sees fit and keeps his eyes locked on Peter's, as if waiting for the cage to drop and for him to confess to joking around.

Despite himself, he lifts a hand to the other's face and brushes a thumb over the cheek that would surely bruise. His expression turns stern again and he drops the hand, turning his nose up and away from the other man.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from him."

[animalmagnetism]

Peter has been nothing but honest, and a little to his own surprise he finds the gaze steadying. That hidden tenderness he sort of expected coming out, those fingers against his sore cheek, makes him sigh just a little bit. Eyes still closed from where they fluttered shut, he chuckles a little.

"Don't worry. I'm never going back to his quarters for any reason."

[wwistful]

“Good.”

Murdoc takes a step ahead, pretending as if he’s done with the conversation. As if the flutter of his heart and the rare show of affection were meaningless. They have a job to attend to and fussing around won’t get it done. He flicks and dusts at the arm of his jacket, despite the fact that he looks just as neat and precise as he did when he walked into the forest. He keeps his back to Peter, worrying his lip a little. He wanted to dismiss it, why does his mind keep dwelling on it? He’ll wind up involved in a lot more trouble than he bargained for if he panders to a silly boy’s feelings.

Guilt suddenly wells up in his chest, coupled with a yearning for contact. He suddenly feels overwhelmingly lonely, despite being in the company of someone so strangely endearing. He pushes it down and stifles it, clearing his throat and peering over his shoulder at Peter.

“Did the unicorns tell you anythin’?”

[animalmagnetism]

As if Peter seems to sense that longing, he steps forward and sets his hand on Murdoc's shoulder for a few moments. He wants to help the other man, dig out what's hiding beneath the gruff surface, but he has to admit he's not entirely sure how. The man is so prickly, even in the face of his persistence. Still, the question reminds him of the task at hand and he straightens.

"After a fashion. They're nervous and all clumped together. Even the stallions. Whatever's here is a threat to them. And it'll be deeper. They feel safe enough here so it hasn't gotten this far."

[wwistful]

Murdoc knows he should shrug that hand off. What is he touching him for? Does he want something? Is he going to punch him back? He stares at the hand in confusion for a long moment, but his shoulders don't seem to be moving at all. He's just letting the hand stay there.

He shakes his head and sighs quietly before looking ahead again. "Then I suppose we've got walkin' to do." The most awkward walk he's been on in a long time.

[animalmagnetism]

"That we do."

And if Peter is tense or uncertain about anything, he doesn't show it. His walk is easy and alert, very in tune with the forest, and surprisingly quiet for a man with his boundless energy. He does keep an eye on Murdoc though, shooting him repeated glances like he's trying to figure something out.

[wwistful]

Murdoc is the opposite of Peter right now. He only nods at Peter's response, staring ahead and letting the conversation die.

He's obviously tense and he honestly doesn't know what to do with his hands. First he lets them drop to his side and twitches his fingers, then he's fidgeting with his cuffs and collar. Now that it's quiet, he has more time to consider what Peter said. Boy, did he always make things so damn awkward? Murdoc is afraid to look at him right now, lest he makes the situation even worse.

Finally, he lifts his gaze to catch Peter glancing at him and returns it with a slightly bewildered look. "..Yes?"

[animalmagnetism]

"I'll admit that you're a bit of a puzzle." Peter shrugs, still casual and his attention half on the forest around him. "But that will clear itself up as I get to know you."

There's no doubt in his mind that it will happen. They just need time after all.

[wwistful]

Murdoc scoffs at that, because he's not flattered or a little bit smitten right now. Not at all. He is Murdoc Donoghue, Man of Action. Lone Wolf. Smooth.

"You're a strange boy."

[animalmagnetism]

"I get told that a lot." He laughs a little, seemingly enjoying everything. "Apparently it grows on people."

[wwistful]

Murdoc laughs a little too, despite himself. Peter's lightheartedness certainly grows on him, and Murdoc doesn't find himself wanting to shrug away the pleasant feeling it gives him to smirk at the other man.

"We'll see about that." He says in a dry tone with a wry smile. It's a bit of a mood flip, but he can't help feeling just the slightest bit cheered that a particularly attractive guy has taken a liking to him.

[animalmagnetism]

Seeing Murdoc relaxing and happier makes Peter nearly glow with a pleased happiness of his own. Murdoc is even more handsome when he's relaxed and happy, he thinks. He'll have to find ways to see it more.

"So we will! But we have a threat to get rid of. Come on!"

And off he bounds, picking up his pace.

[wwistful]

Murdoc slumps a little as Peter bounds off into the distance. He doesn't know how the boy does it, but he manages to make him feel much younger and far too old in the same instant. He strides after Peter, glancing about the forest as he picks up the pace. He's not surprised that Peter is such a fast runner, but he finds the fact that he needs to try so hard to keep up with him just a little annoying. Finally, he appears by his side again, quirking an eyebrow at him.

"Any more bright ideas, then? I was thinkin' it might be quicker to try lurin' it out. If you happen to know a way a doin' it, that is"

[animalmagnetism]

"That depends on what it is. I have some theories! We're getting close to the opposite edge of the forest now. If it's here it should be close. Of course if it only comes out at night we might be waiting a while! There are a lot that are nocturnal."

He slows a bit, having reached an area where he wouldn't be surprised to find the mysterious creature, and is looking around more. He's alert to every sound and movement in the undergrowth.

[wwistful]

"That sounds like a bother." He grumbles, trailing a little but keeping close to the other man lest he decide to run off into the forest again. Good thing I brought booze. He thinks, considering vocalising it in a manner that doesn't seem like a proposition. Why would it ever sound like a proposition? Why is he so bad at these things? We just don't know.

"What, pray tell, are these theories?" He asks, his voice just a little edged with some condescending bitterness. He doesn't mean to be rude, but he's stumped and skeptical as to whether the other man really does have any idea what's going on.

His doubts are put to the side as the other man slows and he careens around Peter while he glances around.

totally bullshitting this lol. any ideas for the mystery monster?

[animalmagnetism]

"It's not something local to the area! Nothing in the forest would be so upset about something native. Or even something with such a long-standing colony like the acromantulas. It might be a dragon. Every once in a while some wizard gets it in their head to try and raise one and has to release it shortly after. Or a chimera. Or--"

And as they continue walking he gives a run down of all the dark or dangerous creatures it could possibly be based on the evidence they have. None of them are pretty and some might well be suicidal to face even with two well-trained wizards. If nothing else, though, it's obvious that he knows in great detail what he's talking about.

It'd be kinda funny if they waited out all night and it was some sort of ENCHANTED MOUSE

[wwistful]

"If it was a dragon wouldn't there be a bit more..." He trails off, glancing around the forest before returning his eyes to Peter. "..damage?" He continues to ask in a curious manner.

It's begining to shift from daylight to twilight and the lack of results from their expedition proved to be frustrating. Murdoc shifts his weight, leaning against a tree as he watches Peter hunt for clues. Call him lazy, but he figures Peter is enjoying this to some extent.

"Perhaps we should see if it'll come to us?"

haha wizard experimenting with magical breeding and---giant vampire mouse or something? hahaha

[animalmagnetism]

"Depends on how big the dragon is! A hatchling couldn't do much more than singe the trees. A dragon is one of the less likely ones though."

Peter looks up at the suggestion and nods. He searches a bit longer but has to admit that the fading light will make hunting for it more difficult.

"Not a bad idea! There's some disturbance in the brush over there that doesn't have any telltales I recognize so I think it's been by here. Want to head up into the branches to settle in and watch?"

Haha, yes, something utterly ridiculous.

[wwistful]

"If you say so." He shrugs lightly, still a little skeptical. He hopes it isn't a baby dragon, he suspects Peter would want to keep it. Like the child followed home by the stray dog.

He cringes a little, but he supposes he should just deal with it. He's an auror in a forest, he's gotten too used to sleeping comfortably. He nods at the other man, gesturing ahead of him. "After you."

giant vampire mouse it is hahaha. new magical species!

[animalmagnetism]

"Come on then! Don't be dallying!" He laughs as he swings himself up into the tree with ease born of long practice. He moves like the tree is as familiar as the well-worn hallways of the school itself, and might even be showing off some of his lithe, acrobatic grace for the older man. He's completely un-self-conscious of his clothes shifting and showing skin, or that he's left his shoes and socks on the ground below for better purchase with his now bare feet.

I want one

[wwistful]

"I'm not-- Oi!"

Murdoc barely has time to grab onto a branch before Peter is halfway up the tree. He sighs loudly, hoisting himself up carefully. Unlike Peter, he's keeping his boots on, despite how difficult it makes it.

He won't admit it out loud, but Peter is making it difficult for him to climb as well. He knows damn well the younger man is showing off, but does he have to show off that much? Not that he's interested, of course. No, not at all. He was just annoying. Yes, that's it. Annoying. Not attractive and appealingly flexible at all.

me too

[animalmagnetism]

"Try and keep up!"

Though when he spots Murdoc staring he just has to show off a little more, and ends up waiting, perched hanging off a branch by his knees. This of course sends his shirt sliding down around his armpits and shows off his stomach to fine degree.

"Come on. You've almost got it! This is a good spot."

The nice big limb will have room for them both... if they're very friendly.

[wwistful]

Murdoc fires a bitter glare up in Peter's general direction, not unintensifying it until that shirt begins to slide down. At that point, Murdoc himself begins to slide down the tree and he scrambles to re-compose himself, clearing his throat disdainfully at the encouragement.

He swings himself onto the branch and peers about, trying not to look at all worried about being up a tree with a monkey boy.

"This is going to be terribly uncomfortable."

[animalmagnetism]

"No it won't! Watch!"

And with that he worms his way onto the branch with surprising ease and tries to manhandle Murdoc into a new position. He is seemingly without a care that one misstep could send them both crashing to the ground.

Though, if he succeeds? Not all that uncomfortable a position, for Murdoc at least. Well, not uncomfortable in terms of tree branches and bark in uncomfortable places. It might be uncomfortable in the "what is personal space" way.