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

[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!

[rule_britannia]

...

[Staring. Just.. staring. He's talking like he's in some crappy romcom or something..]

... You're an idiot.

[allamericanreject]

[Yes, and once he notices how idiotic he sounds, Alfred turns into the seat and buries his face into it.]

Yes. Yes I am.

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur sits there, staring at him, and then slowly, he starts laughing.

It's a quiet chuckle at first, a bubble of laughter in the back of his throat, but within a minute he's doubled over with what can only be described as 'giggles', bowed forwards with his face buried against his knees]

[allamericanreject]

Um...hey.

[He turns at the first sound, then just...stares as he watches Arthur dissolve into giggles like someone's cast a Tickling Charm on him.]

Are you okay? Hey, Arthur?

[Alfred reaches out and puts a hand on Arthur's shoulder. Oh god, he'd broken the first guy he'd ever crushed on! JUST HIS LUCK!]

Did I piss you off so much that you...I mean...I...what is going on?! Not that you don't sound nice when you giggl-laugh! Laugh, I said laugh!

[rule_britannia]

Ahaha..

[He seems to calm down a little when his shoulder's touched, and wipes the heel of his hand against his eyes, looking back at Alfred]

You.. you're just so.. aha..

[The next noise that leaves him is a rather undignified snort, which brings a brilliant red flush to his face that he covers with both hands]

Aaah, Alfred you are so stupiiiid..

[allamericanreject]

...Pffh, call me stupid like that some more, I think I like it. Eheh.

[STILL NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON BTW.]

Why'm I stupid right now though, because as long as you're laughing I'll be stupid all day long.

[Whether he gets it or not, he's still smiling a little now, and not all of it is because of the awkwardness. Arthur acting like he's in a good mood is very nice. It does his appearance wonders, and Alfred can feel a happy warmth going through him. First time he doesn't mind blushing, anyway.]

[rule_britannia]

[He doesn't even know why he's laughing. Maybe it's the sheer ludicrous nature of this situation, maybe it's how Alfred was talking like he was from some horribly written romance film, or maybe he's finally snapped, but he can't stop himself.

When he finally pulls himself together enough to sit up, he's short of breath and still letting out the odd little giggle and spurt of laughter]

[allamericanreject]

[Alfred's patient and waits it out, a little worry mixed in with his rather ridiculous feelings of warmth and general attraction to Arthur's happiness. He doesn't speak again, instead choosing to lean his head against the back of the seat, sideways so he can still watch the other teen with a silly grin on his face and something...affectionate in his eye as he watches all the laughing and giggling.

Seriously? He has the sappiest thoughts. It's embarrassing.]

[rule_britannia]

Idiot.

[He finally manages to say it, giving Alfred's shoulder a shove]

I knew it, you're trying to kill me.

[allamericanreject]

I'm not tryin' to kill you, you dummy.

[He tries to shove back, but his hand just settles on Arthur's shoulder.]

I'm tryin' to love you.

[rule_britannia]

[The expression on his face fades somewhat, and he lets out another, more nervous-sounding laugh]

You don't..

[allamericanreject]

I do...care about you. I care about you a lot, Arthur.

[...Okay, now his courage is starting to waver.]

I wanna...make you happy.

[rule_britannia]

I don't..

[Okay, the laughing has helped. He's not about to flip out, but he doesn't understand]

Where the bloody hell has all this come from?

[allamericanreject]

I didn't just wake up and think "hell, I'm going to try and bag me Arthur Kirkland," if that's what you're thinking. I never really hated you or nothing...and a few years back, I decided I didn't like picking on you either. Not as bad as your brothers.

...You sorta grew on me. And I started noticing how nice you look when you're happy, and it made me feel happy too, inside anyway.

[He trails off and looks out the window, drawing a deep breath.]

I don't wanna be the guy that makes you angry all the time. Because I think you oughta look forward to something, and not think about being picked on. And I wanted to be the person that made you feel good. Not the asshole that's been teasing you your whole life. It's just like I said, though...I couldn't turn the teasing off. I was afraid you'd think "good riddance" and be done with me.

[A pause.]

...So that's all of it, I think.

[rule_britannia]

[It's a lot to take in, and Arthur looks down at his hands, clasping them in front of him. He doesn't want to believe it, not really, but at the same time he can't deny that Alfred's been a lot nicer to him recently.. and he has liked it, even if he's been suspicious of it.

When he's finishes speaking, Arthur lifts his gaze up, then looks out of the window]

You know, I probably would have. Said good riddance, I mean. I would've been glad to be rid of you and if you so much as think of trying to blame me for that I'm going to break your nose.