Friends are the roses of life;

[rule_britannia]

WHO: Arthur Kirkland and Tony Stark
TONE: General - Introspection, probably snark, possible mild angst
RATING: G
WHEN: September 5th, night
WHERE: Slytherin common room
WHAT: Arthur wakes up after a nightmare, and finds Tony sitting up in the common room. Talking ensues.
STATUS: Ongoing

---

Arthur woke up with a start and a choked off gasp, the kind that only someone well practised in holding in the first yelp after a nightmare can make. He breathed out slowly, rather glad to find that Eriq was, for once, sound asleep and not watching him, and when it became quite clear after a few minutes that he wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep, he shoved the covers back and got up, pulling on his dressing gown and quietly leaving the dorm room with a book in his hand.

The Slytherin dorms always had a strange chill and it was more noticeable at night. He was wishing he'd put on some socks as he padded near-silently up to the common room, intent on curling up next to the fire until he felt like he could sleep again. It was with no small amount of surprise that he realised he wasn't alone.

".. Stark? What are you doing up?"

Comments

[rule_britannia]

"Of course. Passed my O.W.L. and everything. Just about."

It was frustrating, if he was entirely honest, and the only subject he couldn't seem to get a proper grasp on.

"My wand has a teapot fixation. Shinra's sure it's a psychological problem. Personally, I think the sodding piece of wood is fucking with me."

[arrogantalloy]

"Or, you're just mispronouncing something or not thinking straight when you do it. It's not like charms where you just need diction and a good wrist flick. You've got to be able to focus on what you're doing."

Tony shrugs a little

[rule_britannia]

"Don't you think I've thought of those things, Stark? I'm not just going to blame something like this on the wand if I'm sure it's a problem with my concentration."

The wand had really been the last resort of blame.

"I can focus fine, but seven times out of ten what I want to happen just doesn't."

[arrogantalloy]

"Huh."

Tony sits there and muses.

"That's actually interesting. If you want during a free period we can work on it together if you want. Because I want to see that and well. I don't know how eager you are to practice in you're jimjams"

[rule_britannia]

"... Are you actually offering to help me, or do you just want to be able to find some amusement in my fucking up?"

Or both. Arthur had a feeling it might have been both.

[arrogantalloy]

"Well. Both. I mean, how can I help you with your problem if I don't know where you're going wrong?"

Tony doesn't look like he's taking the mickey, because he really isn't for a change.

[rule_britannia]

"I suppose you have a point."

He looked suspicious for another few moments, then he nodded shortly.

"Alright. I'll take you up on it."

[arrogantalloy]

"Just name a time and date. And I'll be there"

Tony cuts off quickly and thinks for a moment.

"Actually, tell Bruce. He doesn't lose track of time"

He scratches the back of his head for a moment.

[rule_britannia]

Arthur's expression turned speculative, then he shifted back a little and chuckled.

"Bad memory? Seems we have something in common."

[arrogantalloy]

"I'm bad with names. But I ... Well I get caught up in things and well time flies when you're having fun. That's how it goes, right?"

He shrugs dismissively, obviously very well aware of his own shortcomings.

"So you forget things too? Well obviously, or we'd have something else in common."

[rule_britannia]

"Mm, that's how it goes. I'm afraid I have a rather hopeless memory unless it relates to something that I'm invested in."

Which was why he was always leaving his belongings in classrooms, or why he needed to be reminded of someone's name three times or more before he'd remember it. Ah well.

"It doesn't interfere, exactly, but I imagine it's terribly frustrating for other people."

[arrogantalloy]

"Bruce has become my unofficial P.A because of that. Because I'm almost the same there."

Ultimately, Tony is really useless outside of sciences, engineering, and practical magic.

"It doesn't seem to get too much on his nerves, but I know it gives my room mates hell"

He grins slightly, as if annoying them were an unexpected bonus.

[rule_britannia]

Arthur grinned in return, knowing that sentiment far too well. How forgetful he could be had, several times, been the bane of both his room-mates and his classmates.

"I honestly think Bruce might let you get away with murder. I wish I had someone I could use as a P.A., but I wouldn't trust anyone in here with the position."

[arrogantalloy]

"I wish he'd let me get away with more than I do. There are times he keeps me on a surprisingly tight leash"

Tony thinks for a second.

"What about your cousin, I thought she ran your life for you?"

Tony had heard her mention in the common room on the odd occasion how he was quiet useless without her.

[rule_britannia]

"Victoria?"

Arthur snorted and rocked back slightly, shaking his head.

"Good lord.. I'm sure Victoria would very much like to think she runs my life but she certainly doesn't. She looks out for me, but I don't think she realises how much I look out for her, too."

[arrogantalloy]

Tony gives a faint grin.

"It must be good having people around who care that much for you to care back."

Admittedly, seeing Arthur talk fondly about his cousin reminded him of how much of a loving family he didn't have. But hey, at least someone wasn't getting a raw deal there. So that's good, right?

[rule_britannia]

"It does help me sleep at night."

Arthur smiled wryly and rubbed the back of his neck. Well, it sometimes helped him sleep at night. Tonight wasn't really a good example of that.

"I must say though, I'm sometimes rather glad she's in Ravenclaw."

[arrogantalloy]

"Oh, and why is that then? Not so worried about Ravenclaw boys hitting on her?"

He chuckles a little.

"Which really, is a fair estimation of most of them. Hopeless really. The girls have more of a chance really."

[rule_britannia]

"I don't think I have anything to worry about in that respect.. she can take care of herself if she's getting unwanted attention."

He shrugged, and make a vague attempt at straightening his hair which failed utterly.

"It's just what you said about her running my life. I'm not sure I'd be able to handle her being in the same house as me."

[arrogantalloy]

Tony turns on the couch and stretches out on it.

"If it was me, I wouldn't mind her running my life. Probably make things easier."

Which as far as Tony was concerned was a very good thing indeed, because as much as he claims Bruce runs his life. At most Bruce only makes sure he's eaten or has slept, Bruce has his own life to worry about to concern himself with the finer details of Tony's life.

[rule_britannia]

"I'd say ask her, but she'd probably stomp on your foot."

He tapped his fingers against the arm of the chair and smiled slightly.

"Now, Stark, do correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm starting to think that first impressions don't really do you justice."

[arrogantalloy]

"I leave her alone, there's only so much scolding for being an over theatrical layabout anyone can take, really."

Loling his head to the side, Tony raises an eyebrow at Arthur.

"No, I think they they do me great justice actually. Actually wait."

He sits up a little.

"Which first impressions? Most of them are variations of a theme, but I like to keep a running tab on them. See if there's anything new"

[rule_britannia]

"That impression which was the first one I got of you." He paused, and wrinkled his nose. "And I apologise for that horrendous grammar. Good lord."

Arthur smirked slightly and twitched at the shoulder of his pyjamas to straighten them. His fingers curled lightly into the cuffs.

"At first, I have to say I thought you were a absolute arse," he said. "... I still think you're an arse, but you have redeeming qualities."

[arrogantalloy]

"Redeeming qualities, huh?"

Tony puts his hands behind his head.

"Not many people ever say that. Especially to my face. So that's kind of new."

[rule_britannia]

"I could go into detail but I actually want you to be able to leave the dungeon at the end of the week."

It did make him think, though...