Detention

[animalmagnetism]

WHO: Peter, Dave, Karkat
TONE: Detention DUN DUN DUN
RATING: PG-13 for action, adventure, and teenage boys
WHEN: June 1st
WHERE: The forbidden forest

It had taken a while to get the centaurs to agree to the idea. Most of them didn't want to deal with humans at all, even if it involved teaching them a lesson on humility and getting along with others. But enough of them had eventually agreed, and Peter had handed over a glass ball he'd put a few charms on. He was particularly proud of the one that wouldn't let it pass the edge of the forest if the boys were actively angry and fighting with one another. He had a copy without the charms on to show the boys and now all that was left was to wait for them to show up for their detention and explain the terms.

Comments

[selfhatred]

Karkat showed up on his own. It shouldn't have come as no surprise that he didn't wait for Dave, given what this detention was all about. He'd come down to the forest pretty much straight after dumping his book bag on his bed and leaving Gryffindor tower, but not before taking his robes, tie and jersey off and throwing on a pullover hoodie. It might have started becoming summer but that didn't mean that the evening or night wasn't going to be cold.

He turned up at the designated spot with his hands in the pocket of his jacket, lips pursed together in a thin line. This wasn't going to be a fun night for either of them. He could only begin to guess what Professor Banks had in store.

well I guess I should reply to your comment

[clockspinner]

Dave showed up a few minutes behind Karkat. He'd had his own stuff to arrange - tossing his bookbag in the tower, making sure that Sprite was fed and knew what to do, and listening to Wilbur whine about being left alone with the slightly creepy toddler-sized doll that may or may not have been their dragon under the same spell that turned all the critters human. He was wearing a jacket over a long-sleeved tshirt. His broken sword was shoved through his belt, his wand was in his left hand and his broom was gripped in his right. There was shit in the forest that Dave did not want to meet the business end of, and if he (and Karkat, he guessed) had to bail out he did not want to bother tripping over any goddamn tree roots. Or getting lost, for that matter.

Yep, he had planned well for this.

"Sup."

[animalmagnetism]

Peter was impressed with Dave's preparedness, however, he wasn't so sure about the broom. Too easy to just fly right out of the forest. Too easy to avoid the centaurs that way too.

"Well done in preparing. But the broom has to stay. If you want off the ground you'll be climbing trees."

He took a moment to straighten, expecting an objection, and plowed on, showing off the glass ball.

"There's a copy of this in the forest. It's enchanted. You'll have to find it and bring it back. If you both find it right away you can come right back out."

He didn't feel the need to say that it would in no way be that easy, because they were both smart boys.

[selfhatred]

Karkat...wasn't too surprised with what Dave brought. He'd considered bringing a small army knife his dad had sent him for his birthday one year but decided against it. The entire point of this exercise was learning to put his trust in Dave...and quite frankly Karkat wasn't sure if he was going to make it out alive by the look of that sword.

He turned his attention when Peter showed the glass ball, fidgeting with his wand inside the pockets of his hoodie. It couldn't be that hard to find, surely. Then again, the forest was big. It was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack.

He pursed his lips together as things were explained. "Got it."

[clockspinner]

Swords had other uses besides killing people tyvm, and this one was about half the length it used to be. He could've grabbed a new shitty sword while he was at the apartment, but he kept his old one. Because it was significant. Because it reminded him not to jump to conclusions. It reminded him to keep his temper in check. So no, he probably wasn't going to end up killing Karkat with it.

Probably.

He balked when he was told that he couldn't bring his broom. "What, so we're supposed to climb a tree every few metres just to make sure we're headed the right way? You want me to make a mark on all the trees just so we can find our way back?" He huffed, but handed it over anyway. From the way he handled it, it would be obvious that it was important to him - and not just because it was practically brand new. "Jesus, now I know you're trying to kill us."

Besides, if they really needed it, he could use 'accio' and it would probably be close enough to get there before they were killed. And this way, he wouldn't have to lug it through the forest with them.

"Oh. Great. A fetch quest. Straight out of one of my Japanese Ar-Pee-Gees."

[animalmagnetism]

"That's what your wands are for. There's a charm for that. A few similar ones for different situations actually! If you didn't prepare yourselves by looking up how to do it... Well! That's not my problem is it?"

He took the broom with gentle care and a bit of reverence. He would take care of it while he had it in his possession, that was certain.

After a moment he decided to give them a hint. "The centaurs know about your detention. They're very displeased. But! If you think you've proven yourselves worthy they might be able to assist you. I wouldn't go unless you were absolutely sure though. They aren't big on second chances."

[selfhatred]

Karkat got a vague feeling he knew which charms Peter was talking about. Charms was honestly one of his better classes, given that Spanish and Latin were close to each other on the Linguistics scale it hadn't been that hard to learn the basic spells. Dragging himself to actually learn more was an effort Karkat hadn't been interested in, given his books were in English.

He crossed his arms over his chest, mulling over the hint. He wasn't an expert on magical creatures like Tavros was (and he used the term "expert" lightly, but the fact was that the Hufflepuff knew more than he did), but they'd covered centaurs in class a few months ago. What did being worthy of anything have to do with this detention?

There wasn't much else to comment on so he just sighed, starting to move away from the professor. "Let's get this Games over and done with. And just so you know, Strider, I'm not fucking kissing you to win any favors."

[clockspinner]

Okay, now Dave was just gonna scratch up the trees for his own fucking stress relief. He crossed his arms petulantly across his chest. He wasn't always the best with magic, especially when he had his sword as an option. And he was definitely not good at studying on his own time. Plus, now he was in the petulant mood to use as little magic as he could get away with, just to prove that it wasn't necessary.

He looked over at Karkat when he made the snide remark, and rolled his eyes behind his shades. "Good, 'cause you don't have a chance at getting hold of these buns, Katniss."

See, he could make pop culture references too.

[animalmagnetism]

And Peter could laugh at the references. He was tempted to make one for himself, but wasn't sure he knew the material well enough. Instead he decided to give one more hint. "Don't worry. Just remember why you got this detention and what I've told you both needs solving and you'll get through this with flying colors."

There wasn't much else to do. He had plans for observing them, but they were either already in place or required charms he didn't want to cast right yet and give away what he was up to.

[selfhatred]

By the time Peter had called out to them, Karkat was already at the edge of the forest. It was funny when he thought about it, seeing as how the last time he'd been here he was going to that musty old shack deep in the woods with Gamzee and Tavros to get drunk. It was kind of amusing in the fact that he hadn't been punished for that yet, yet here he was having detention with Dave fucking Strider. Pulling his wand out of his pocket, he murmured "Lumos", a dull, pulsating blue surrounding the tip and acting like a light. It wasn't dark enough yet but the forest got darker the deeper you went, so it was better to be prepared rather than leave it until the last minute.

Climbing over one of the large roots that kept the forest closed off, Karkat slid down the other side, glad he hadn't worn his robes just in case they got caught on something. He walked a few paces ahead of Dave, mulling the clues and their task over in his head. Slowing his stride, he waited until he was a foot in front of the other Gryffindor before speaking. "Scared?"