School Year Starting Logs: Train + Feast/Sorting!

[shnpc]

WHO: Everyone!
TONE: Anything!
RATING: PG through PG-13
WHEN: The day of September 2nd for the train, and at night for the feast!
WHERE: Hogwarts Express/Platform 9 3/4 and The Great Hall
WHAT: Gotta get back to Hogwarts! Back to witches and wizards and magical feasts! Students and teachers are finally heading back to school on the Hogwarts express, and with the new school year means sorting for the first years!
STATUS: Ongoing!
NOTE: There is a thread for the Train back to Hogwarts, and the Feast, with a subthread for the Sorting! First years can comment to be sorted, and everyone else can greet their new house mates/students!

Comments

[mo_cara]

[Gamzee's wandering up and down the train, merrily greeting anyone he knows and a whole bunch of people he doesn't, or only vaguely remembers. He also is handing out little twists of brightly colored paper to most everyone he meets. They're hand decorated, with his odd drawings of clowns, or moons and stars, or more abstract patterns, and if untwisted, they will be found to contain a small cache of dried herbs of some type.

So, they're not drugs, there are teachers on this train, and even Gamzee isn't that dumb. But they do smell nice! Care to ask him to explain?]

[hairflyingheartpounding]

...Um, Gamzee?

[Seriously, what even.]

Thank you, but...?

[mo_cara]

Give that a good sniff up your snoot, sister! [grinning at her]

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Um... Why?

[mo_cara]

Because it be fine! [It is, actually, the little purple twist he's given her smells of jasmine and lavender and something just a little bit spicy, maybe cinnamon?]

[arrogantalloy]

[Tony looks at the twist of paper but doesn't open, and just raises an eyebrow at Gamzee]

Is this some new and strange way of trying to get a date? Because if it is, you're not really being selective there, grease paint.

[mo_cara]

... ain't you got a thing for birds? [looking dubious] Like all of them ones you meet?

[arrogantalloy]

Exactly why I think you're not really being all that selective.

And not all of them, some of them are teachers.. Or actual birds. I'm an interesting fun, but I have limits.

[He twirls the paper in his fingers.]

Okay, curious but cautious. What's in here? Because I doubt it's your usual potted plant collection. If this is some strange charm... I'm not sure how I'm going to feel about it.

[mo_cara]

You be one fine lookin' bloke, yeah, but I ain't really interested in dudes what might want to put me in a dress. [admits, then grins at the question about the paper] Oh, nah! That shits for smelling good! Like you can be using it when you gotta deal with stinkweed in Herbology or Potions or cleaning out the Thestrals in CoMC.

[The one he's given Tony smells rather pleasantly of verbena, sandalwood, and something smoky.]

[brothor]

[OMFG smelly things. Thor fucking loves smelling things. He sniffs at his gift for a moment before throwing his arms around Gamzee, growling while he hugs him.]

Stop grooooowing you are making me look shoooort.

[mo_cara]

[laughs his weird honking laugh, thumping Thor on the back cheerfully. The twist of paper smells like bergamot, cardamon, and anise, a rich, herbal earthy kind of scent.]

I don't think I be having any choice about getting skyward, bro.

[brothor]

[Thor holds it up to his nose and sniffs it again, mid hug. He's kinda reluctant to let go because it's been a damn long time since he had a good man hug.]

Father says I should tie bricks to my feet. Perhaps we should do that?

[mo_cara]

[Don't worry,Gamzee won't be the first to let go. He is all about the affectionate physical contact. Though-]

... would that just be making you all stretched out and shit? Maybe they should be up on your nugbone. [ruffling Thor's head] If you ain't wanting to be going up no more.

[selfhatred]

[This...wasn't an encounter Karkat had been looking forward to. He'd tried to stay in his compartment but nature had called. Stupid long train rides. He turned around to double back and hide in a compartment until the coast was clear before stopping in his tracks and clenching his hands into fists. No, no this wasn't the way to deal with this? Hadn't he been waiting all summer to apologize face to face? So why was he running like a bloody coward?]

[mo_cara]

[Gamzee doesn't notice Karkat at first, because he's staring out one of the windows with a dreamy look on his face, but as the smaller boy turns his back, he'll glance up, blinking. He'd recognize his best bro anywhere, but why are his hands clenched into fists? Is he angry about something?]

... Karkat?

[selfhatred]

[He cringed a bit when he heard Gamzee's voice. Not Karbro or any other affectionate nickname. Karkat. Man, that...stung a lot more than it should've. Swallowing down the bile that crept into the back of his throat, he turned to look at Gamzee, biting his bottom lip.]

Hey...fancy seeing you here. [Smooth.]

[mo_cara]

You okay? [The taller boy looks so uncertain. He seems to have shot up another few inches over the summer, but despite the new height, his shoulders slump in a little, and he rubs the back of his neck.]

[taleweaving]

What- [Aranea blinks in surprise as the little twist is handed to her, taking it graciously and studying the drawings. The pattern is abstract, but pretty and and cautiously she lifts the paper to her nose and inhales, smiling at the scent] Thank you, Gamzee. Lavender is one of my favourites.

[mo_cara]

[It's a funky kind of lavender, mixed with the nutty, lighter smell of almonds, and something sweet, like sugar.] Damn, I have got my guess on for well and good today! [grinning]

[taleweaving]

[All in all it's a pleasant smell, and Aranea takes another, deeper inhale, now that she knows it's nothing dangerous.] You do! Quite a talent there. [A smile back] How was your summer then? Was it a good one?

[mo_cara]

[ ... so apparently she missed the whole thing where everyone was mad at him for asking the entire student body about their masturbatory habits. That's probably good, considering. She'd probably have so much to say about that.]

Rather be back here, with all my bros. [evasively, smiling in the spaced out way he has] What about you, chica?

[doctorkishitani]

[Shinra's not going to wait to be handed one of the brightly coloured packets of herbs. He's just going to scramble out of his compartment and give Gamzee a very enthusiastic hug. Because that's how Gamzee habitually greets people. This, he has learned. ]

Hi Gamzee! How was the rest of your summer?

[mo_cara]

[It is! Gamzee will hug him back with equal enthusiasm, even picking him up briefly off the ground and then happily playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.] I been keeping myself busy so I didn't be getting all sad and lonely, so I done made everyone a bunch of shit! What you been all up and in, my fine motherfucker?

[So happy to see Shinra, you have no idea.]

[clockspinner]

[Totally wouldn't be surprised if Dave got a punch in the nose instead of a flower packet.

He ain't taking shit that smells like almonds.]

[mo_cara]

[He is not getting a packet, but he is also not getting a punch in the nose. Instead he's getting a cool, narrow eyed look.] Where's your bro? The good one?