It was the worst of times, it was the blurst of times.

[brothor]

WHO: Thor and Herbert
TONE:  AWKWARD
RATING: PG13 for Language
WHEN: 4/5
WHERE: In the halls
WHAT: Thor is under the impression that he and Herbert are good friends! Little does he know, Herbert only liked him under the influence of the love potions.
STATUS: On going

[It's a pleasantly warm day when the exam dates are announced. It's funny how the mood seems to change in a matter of seconds once grave news is shared. What had begun as a lovely morning slowly turned into one of many days filled with dreading and fear.  Thor is too young for his own exams, but he wonders if Herbert may need a hand with his studies. Not to mention the fact that Thor has his own assignments starting to pile, and while he's talented in many subjects, he struggles with arithmancy. He's certain the bright young man who had ensured him study help would be more than willing to help with a few questions! He's so friendly, after all.

He catches sight of the other boy a little further down the hall than he is, so he's quick to call out his name so he can't disappear into the depths of the school.]

Herbert! Hold on a moment! [And with that, he's jogging after the boy. Luckily he's been training well enough to be agile, so he manages to catch up quite quickly, flinging an arm over Herbert's shoulder so he can bring him in for a side hug.] Can you smell the scent of fear and study in the air, my friend? We have entered dark times!

Comments

[preanimator]

[Herbert freezes as the blond's arm is slung over his shoulder, pulling the petite Ravenclaw in as easily as if he were a doll. He's been trying to avoid Thor, ever since the whole snake love potion thing, and it's mostly worked since they're not in the same House or year. He doesn't like what a fool he made of himself, nor how uncomfortably aware he is of the other boy. He really, really wished their time together had revealed the depths of Thor's idiocy, but he'd found the foreign-born boy to be actually somewhat clever, just naive, stupidly optimistic, and a non-native speaker, which muddied things.]

Mostly I can smell you. [points out dryly, and it's unfortunately true - this close, Thor smells a little too masculine and appealing. He really needs to get to work on finding a spell that suppresses hormones. Yesterday.]

[brothor]

[Thor vaguely notes Herbert's tension, but he assumes Herbert is simply surprised because he did not know it is his good friend Thor! He's already well aware of Herbert's reputation of being kind of a prat, but if he's willing to make a start and be friends with Thor then Thor is happy enough to help him overcome his issues. Perhaps he can help him make friends, too!]

You can? [He asks, lifting his shirt so it drags halfway up his stomach and sniffing it. Yup. Kinda sweaty.] You have the misfortune of meeting me after Quidditch practise! [He shrugs, not moving his arm as he does.] How are you!

[preanimator]

[Oh, dear. Don't look at his abs, don't look at his abs ... oh, too late, damn it.] Fine, I suppose. [reddening a little] Except for the fact that all anyone ever seems to talk about is Quidditch.

[brothor]

[Thor is too caught up in his friendship courting to feel deterred by Herbert's flustered glances. He's used to people being impressed by his lovely muscles!]

Good, excellent! You must be stressed somewhat, hm? [He jokingly elbows him before waving off his complaints.] It's exciting though, isn't it? We've all been training up to this moment! [He laughs.] You have the displeasure of being friends with a captain, I'm afraid!

[preanimator]

Yes, that seems to be the case. [rubbing the bridge of his nose under his glasses] And I've never found quidditch very exciting - the rules don't make any sense, and the game is almost entirely about one position.

[brothor]

I could argue that. But then we would be talking about quidditch. [Have one of those brilliant smiles followed by a laugh.] Besides! I actually came over to discuss study! Since we said that we would help each other...

[preanimator]

[Stop looking like a movie star, Thor, it is disconcerting.] Oh, was there something you were having trouble with? [relaxing a little]

[brothor]

[He can't help it! He has great genes and he's been keeping in good shape with quidditch being so important right now.]

Somewhat.. [He begins, and it's already obvious he doesn't ask for help much.] I am having difficulties with arithmancy, to be perfectly honest.

[preanimator]

That's one of my better subjects. [perking up a bit, because he does like to show off] What is it, specifically, you're not understanding?

[brothor]

[Thor brightens almost as soon as Herbert says that and he’s quick to dig into his satchel for a ratty looking arithmancy book that looks as if it spends more time being tossed about than written in.]

You are a good man, Herbert. [He announces, flopping the tortured book open to what looks like the wizard equivalent of long division. The page is adorned with unflattering sketches of his professor and Tony Stark.]

I wondered if you could resummarise the concept behind this..thing. [He doesn’t know what to call it.]

[preanimator]

[ ... sniggers at the drawing of Tony, he really can't help it. Then he looks at the actual problem, glancing up at Thor.] Well, the first thing I need to know is, having you been using the Agrippan method or the Chaldean? Because it changes significantly with each.

[brothor]

[Thor notes the snigger and begins to feel a little smug. Clearly he is a talent beyond compare, and it feels oddly satisfying to make Herbert do anything but scowl.]

Ah… [His voice softens into that uncertainty before he pipes up again, sounding more confident.] It is most certainly Agri--- NO Chaldean? Chaldean.