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

[allamericanreject]

Well you're pureblood and you've got different habits than I do. Chillax, I get that you're better at it, no need to brag~

[Not even mad bro. And he doesn't think Arthur's bragging either, not really.]

Anyway. I brought some snacks, want any? I got potato chi--uh. Crisps. And I've got another soda too!

[rule_britannia]

[Not bragging, not really. Why would he need to brag about something that everyone else can do? Well, everyone but Alfred, it seems]

Was that an offer or did you want a round of applause?

[allamericanreject]

It was an offer, but you can clap too.

[He reaches into the bag, then tosses the soda at Arthur slowly. PLENTY OF WARNING. Also it's Coke.]

If we're going to be here together the rest of the ride, I'm all for sharing. And I needed to talk to you anyway.

[rule_britannia]

[He gives the other boy a somewhat flat look as he catches the can. Do you really think he'd be trying out for Quidditch if he couldn't catch? He opens it, and takes a sip]

Talk to me? Why?

[allamericanreject]

...Well by now you know how I feel. And I know that as far as other students, Maxim and Gamzee know by now. AndVictoriaknowstoo.

Uhm. So anyway...I just wanted to know how I should treat you from now on. I guess normal people try to be nice to the person they wanna try to...uhh. [Oh god, woo?]...to be sweet on.

But do you want other people to see that? Hell, should I stop altogether?

[If he's been rejected outright by now, he's been too dense to notice, or maybe he doesn't want to think he's been rejected already.]

[rule_britannia]

[Did you give him a can of pop specifically to get a spit-take? Because you're getting one, and Arthur coughs raggedly for a few moments before he can speak]

What?

[allamericanreject]

[Yes.
...
No. Eww. Some of that got on his arm, but he's not going to spazz over it this time. Just swat it off the leather of his bomber.]

I thought I explained that pretty okay...guess not.

[Now he's getting super flustered.]

You okay...? Don't die on me.

[rule_britannia]

I'm fine.

[He coughs again, then sits up]

What the hell, Alfred? Are you stupid? I've already told you I'm not completely sold on this.. this.. being 'sweet on me' bollocks and you've already been telling my friends, and my cousin? Honestly, are you completely incompetent?

[allamericanreject]

Hey, wait a minute!! I didn't tell Gamzee, he just...guessed at it, and Maxim's my friend too! I talk to him plenty.

...As for Victoria, I was just asking her for some insight, and she already knew too, by the sounds of it. Dunno how...

I know you aren't sold on it, but obviously I can't do this on my own. I'm looking for help, not gossiping!

[He brushes off the insults, though they do sort of sting.]

[rule_britannia]

If you're looking for help you don't just--! GOD!

[Excuse him while he just.. bumps his head against the train window]

You are such a fucking moron, Jones.

[allamericanreject]

I'm sorry, goddamn! What would you have done differently, then?! Do you even know what it's like, having all these weird feelings and not knowing what to do about them, and everytime it comes up, the person they all revolve around decides to call you an idiot, stupid, moron, tosser, or incompetent? Is there any other one I'm missing?

I dunno if you think I'm some sort of love guru, but I sure ain't.

[rule_britannia]

No, you bloody are not.

[He glares at the other boy, arms folded]

I didn't ask you to have these feelings for me, and after all the shit you've done to me I'm quite frankly astounded that you thought for one moment I was going to make this easy for you.

Maybe you should go.

[allamericanreject]

I didn't think you would make it easy, but tell me then! Tell me what you'd do different if you were me...! What do I need to do? Get on my knees and tell you I'm sorry for ruining your school-life? Because look!

[...He was serious about that. He is getting on his knees.]

I'm sorry for what I did! I'm sorry for picking on you for five years, I'm sorry for asking your cousin to help me figure out how to make it up to you, and I'm sorry you think I asked to have these feelings at all, but I didn't. This just happened, and I don't want it to go away!

[Remember the Look he gave you at camp, Arthur? He's doing it again, though this time it's aimed more at the chest than the face, because he can't even make eye contact.]

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur wants to yell, but he doesn't. He gapes for a moment then snaps his mouth shut, tightens his arms across his chest and looks out of the window. If he doesn't look at that Look, it isn't there]

Bugger off, Alfred.

[allamericanreject]

Is that what you really want? For me to leave? You let me hang around with you at the Cup. Don't tell me I'm the only one that doesn't feel all hatey, because then we're just wasting both our times...

[Fine, turn away. It makes it easier for Alfred to direct his Look at your face without feeling awkward. And it is totally still there. SO INTENSE.]

[rule_britannia]

I don't hate you.

[He all but grinds the words out through gritted teeth as he keeps his gaze fixed away from Alfred]

But I don't know if I like you.

[allamericanreject]

[He doesn't respond to that immediately, nor does he move. He just sits there in silence, or as silent as it can be in a moving train.

Eventually though, he does speak. It feels like ages have passed by the time he does.]

...Can I hug you? Please? If you don't like it at all, I'll back off.

[He's not going to just jump Arthur. A little warning goes a long way, he's learned.]

[rule_britannia]

[Lack of warning would have no doubt ended in Arthur's knee impacting somewhere delicate. He flicks his gaze down at the question, and frowns]

... Fine, but if you do anything funny, I'm going to hex you.

[allamericanreject]

[Alfred wants to say that he won't do anything worthy of being hexed for, but he bites his tongue and moves to sit next to Arthur. he seems to think about how he's going to do this for a moment, then leans over just enough to press his cheek against Arthur's shoulder awkwardly and hug him loosely with both arms. It's so awkward, because he's still half-sitting.]

...

[rule_britannia]

[He stiffens up, and his back straightens, but he doesn't jerk away from the contact. It's not uncomfortable, though it's certainly not comfortable, and that's possibly due to the fact that.. well, he's never really done this before]

Right, you hugged me, are you happy now?

[allamericanreject]

[Alfred feels that, and feels incredibly put-off by it. So when he starts to pull back, BAM. Puppy eyes.

...Except they don't really last too long because their faces are pretty close and it feels awkward.]

...Uhm. Yeah, I guess so. I mean...yeah. I'm really happy. You're nice to hug.

[And really, he's not really sure he wants to quit hugging right at this moment.]

[rule_britannia]

[Their faces are indeed very close and Arthur isn't sure he likes the fluttery feeling that the proximity results in. He looks away again, cheeks reddening, but doesn't shrug Alfred off]

... If you say so.

[allamericanreject]

I do say so.

[He can't help but stare, and when Arthur turns his head away...damn it...Alfred can't help himself. He leans in and presses a light kiss to the other teen's cheek, then immediately pulls back from him entirely and scoots away.]

Shit! I'm sorry!

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur's reaction is immediate - his arm snaps up and the back of his hand makes a swipe towards Alfred's face]

What the bloody hell are you doing?!

[... He has never been this red]

[allamericanreject]

[The tips of his fingers do hit Alfred's cheek, and the American can't even be mad. He doesn't even say ow.]

I'm sorry, I just..!! It seemed...like the thing to do, and your cheek looked so kissable and soft and warm and I'M REALLY SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN TO, ARTHUR!