imperturbatus | The 18th -- Dwindling Sun

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The 18th -- Dwindling Sun

A. Great Hall, Morning

[ She's glad to be back in school. She's glad to be back in school. She's glad to be back in school. She's glad to be back in school...

Maybe she should stop telling herself that and give herself a chance to believe it.

It's another early morning that has Adela up, and she thinks she can still hear jumbled incantations for various charms, spells, curses, hexes, and jinxes all muddled in her brain. It's hard not to dream about the words for the spells written in scrolls in front of her coming to life and completely overwhelming her. Part of it review, part of it new, all in preparations for OWLs. And she already knows, if she lets herself slip even a little, there go her good grades.

It's all she can do not to face-plant into her breakfast as she groans, shaking her head and trying not to fall asleep. The first Hogsmeade weekend of the year can't come soon enough, and she's absently looking around the hall throughout breakfast. Maybe today she'll be able to hang out with friends and do something fun...? ]

B. Quidditch Pitch, Morning or Afternoon Practice

[ Quidditch, while enjoyable, is also taxing. Her body has gotten stronger and can take more strain than it used to, but unfortunately it's also tiring mentally. She's starting to think she might need to just take a weekend day to sleep and do nothing else with her time. It's starting to show in her practice too, her kicks aren't as forceful as normal and even if her throws and catches have gotten better they're off today.

Eventually she will take a break to wash and dry off her face with the water from a nearby canteen, and maybe that's the best time to talk to her -- while she's on the ground, instead of in the air. ]

C. Roof, Late Night (Friday or Saturday night)

[ Honestly, this is probably the only reprieve she still gets. On the clear nights, stargazing just lets her wipe her mind blank. There's a rope keeping her broom attached to her leg for the moment, so in case she dozes it won't fall... Not that she wants to end up dozing off out there, but never hurts to at least try to be safe about it.

It is getting colder though, so the red head is in fact bundled up in a winter cloak and wearing her yellow and black checkered scarf. For those who know about this particular habit of hers, it's not hard to guess where she might be in the middle of the night. True, it's breaking curfew, but it's not like she's causing any harm or going anywhere dangerous, right? Right.

At least it's somewhere where she can be alone, somewhere quiet so that she doesn't have to think about anything at all. ]

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Something like that.

[Rin answers with a chuckle.]

You'll get used to it faster than you think. And if you think fifth is bad, wait 'till sixth. I honestly wish back OWLs. Far too many things have stopped making sense and it's only October.

I don't know if I believe you that I'll get used to it, but I can believe sixth being worse. I guess there's no point asking how you're holding up with school though.

Honest answer? Just trying to survive most days, while managing to keep good grades. Transfiguration feels like gibberish at worst and like ancient Chinese at best.

[That's by far the hardest subject right now. Everything else is challenging, but he can make sense of Arithmancy, DADA just takes a lot of rehearsing spells and effort until he gets it right, Magical Beasts is mainly successfully avoiding death, Potions he just needs to focus and pay close attention to the instructions and Ancient Runes needs a lot more memorizing, but nothing he can't do.]

And everything else is doable, but takes time and effort and a lot of studying. Only good thing I could drop some subjects this year.

... Well that's just tempting me to drop Transfiguration at the end of the year if I didn't think it was useful enough to keep learning.

[ That might be a little groan from her. Ugh... ]

If you want I could try learning a bit with you, though I can't guarantee I'd be any good at a lot of it. I've heard it can help you understand it more though, trying to teach someone else.

[Rin scowls a little at that. Though it's really hard this year, Transfiguration has always been one of his favorite subjects. But then again, if Adela wants to be a Quidditch player, he can understand how she wouldn't deem it worth the trouble, so he says nothing.

He suggestion makes him smile again, but he shakes his head.]

Nah, I need to make sense of things first. 'Sides, I have a certified genius in the same year, who also, I dare say, has a weakness for me and my charms, so I might just aks him.

[And learning with Gareki has the potential to be a lot of fun, if Rin plays his cards right and... Oh no, he is NOT going to blush in front of Adela. Clearing his throat, he turns his focus back to her.]

I'll let you know, when I'll reconsider, 'kay?

[ He'd probably understand if he knew that was the subject where her wand backfired the most in, but... Details. ]

If you're sure... I found it helped me understand when I started tutoring Okumura last year -- some of this year too. But if you've got a friend helping you already, no need for that.

[ She makes sure to smile so Rin can't take it the wrong way, and honestly she is happy for him -- mostly because it means he's showing signs of recovery. She has heard about Seth by this point after all... ]

[She and the entire rest of the school. Not that it didn't become apparent, after the first week back, but Adela was one of the few people Rin managed to tell. To summon enough strength to do that, really. But having Gareki on the horizon has helped loads, he has to admit that. He's far better now too, though it will be a long time until the scar is healed. Seth had been the very first, in many ways, and that's impossible to forget. He'll heal, but he'll always remember.

Anyway.

Thinking of Gareki always makes him smile in that crooked, mischievous way, like he's doing now, he can feel it in the way his lips tilt.]

Well, if he can make cellphones work in Hogwarts, I'm pretty sure 6th year transfiguration is a piece of cake.

[Is he boasting with his new, amazing, not-quite-boyfriend-yet-but-getting-there? Why yes, yes, he is.]

If he can do what?

Heh-heh, jealous of my smart Ravenclaw genius?

[That's right. He's not-quite-dating that person. The Steve Jobs of the magical world. Not that many wizards and witches would know who Steve Jobs is. He only knows because Russel bought the biography.]

Rin what-- I mean-- WHAT?

[ SO. SHOCKED. ]

Rin, that's not just... Actually working cellphones? In Hogwarts? That's huge!

[ So much that she doesn't really care that the librarian is shushing her, whoops. ]

[He knows. He is aware that he's not-dating a revolutionary, and he's pretty damn proud of it. Especially when he gets to enjoy reactions like that.]

Go check it out. He should be making them available soon.

Yeah, definitely! I mean... God, if that had been done before summer, I could've kept contact with you and everyone else a lot better... But that it's something that can exist now? That's incredible!

[ WHO NEEDS TO STUDY they need to freak out over cell phones. ]

Is is, isn't it?

[ANd it's all on Gareki! Rin is so proud~]

God, how did he even... It's just... It's amazing.

[ Adela just takes a breath, shaking her head before finally leaning back in her chair. ]

It's not just cell phones, but... He's probably going to change the whole wizarding world like this, Rin.

[Rin grins and nods enthusiastically.]

I know he is. I'm aware I'm dating a revolutionary, Adela.

Well I don't know if I'd say -- Wait, dating?

[ Excuse the double-take Rin, that really is surprising to hear. Give it a moment to sink in. ]

... Wow, that's...

[ Maybe more than a moment.

Eventually she does smile again though, warm and natural when she speaks to him again. ]

That's great, Rin. You and him really hit it off over the summer I'm guessing?

[Immediately a blush lights up his face, as he realizes wht he just said. A hand comes to rub the nape of his neck and he looks away, stammering for an explanation.]

Well, we, uh... We aren't really datin, I just call it dating and we sort of wanna date, but aren't yet... Not officially...

[They're not. Not yet at least. They're currently in t he limbo that's between the awareness of mutual attraction and dating, because neither of them wants to rush it. Except he has no idea how to explain it to Adela, without sounding stupid. But what she says next chases out any need to explain for the moment, as his face brightens even more and he lets out a scandaled, embarrassed cry.]

No we didn't!

[He scowls and looks away, crossing his arms at his chest, but it looks more like he's hugging himself, than anything else.]

It's not like that.

[Except it is, just not yet.]

What are you talking about, now I know you like him.

[ Sorry Rin, she's not buying any denial today. She'll just stare for the moment, raising a brow at him and waiting for him to pull himself together a little more. ]

I do.

[He's not going to deny thaat, but it surprises him how easy it is to admit it. He rubs his neck some more, still a little flushed, thinking that maybe he should give Adela the full story. Before she goes and chats Gareki up about it. His not-boyfriend doesn't need to know Rin thinks about him as his actual real honest-to-merlin boyfriend already.]

And I guess he likes me. We've just... decided to take it slow. He doesn't want to jump into anything and I don't want to rush it either.

[He doesn't mention they agreed he needed to get over Seth first, but with a start, he realizes this is the first time in weeks, he thought about his ex. That realization makes his heart skip a beat and his cheek heat up anew, this time in excitement. Did that mean he...

He stomps on the thought. He can have an epiphanic revelation later, not while he's talking to his friend.]

But, we're getting there slowly. To the dating part.

[Saying that out loud actually makes his lips twitch up into a gentle, happy smile. It comes to him, he still needs a date for the Masquerade.]

... I'm glad, really.

[ She gives him a more gentle smile then, reaching out a hand to squeeze his shoulder briefly. Honestly, she'd been worried when she heard that Rin and Seth broke up, and maybe it's too soon for him to be in another relationship, but the fact that he and Gareki are going slow (at least according to Rin) is a good thought.

He looks pretty happy too, and she doesn't really feel off about this. ]

You'll let me know how things go sometimes? I don't want to know everything, but I do care about if you and him are happy together or not.

[The hand on his shoulder feels weird, for the first few seconds. But at the same time, her concern touches something in him, something that makes him feel embarrassed and glad at the same time. It feels a little strange, being taken care of by someone you consider your second, adopted little sister, but it's not entirely bad either.

Thus he reacts the same way he always reacts, when he refuses to admit being emotional- playing it cool and scoffing.]

Hey now. I'm the older brother in this arrangement, I'm the one who gets to be concerned.

[But then he does smile, because this is Adela and she's one of the few people who get a little leeway. Who get to get away with being able to read in him.]

Thank you. I'll keep you posted.

You can be concerned if I actually end up liking someone like that, so far I haven't been lucky that way at all.

[ She smiles, though she has been honest with him -- She never even got a chance to say how she felt before, mostly because the person in question confided in her that he liked someone else. Well, maybe eventually she'll like someone again, who knows. ]

Glad to hear it. And... For what it's worth, it is good to see you back here again too.

Oh you bet I will!

[Rin grins mischievously, crossing his arms over his chest.]

Anyone who wants to date my little sister, has to go through me!

And what if I want to date them? Did you think of that?

[ Adela's also grinning, reaching to poke his chest gently and trying to show that she's just playing a little with him. ]

Nothing wrong with that. I just wanna make sure they know what happens if they turn out to be assholes.

[Rin says without skipping a single beat. Because if anyone dares to hurt his sister - either of them - a fate worse than death awaits them. It's only fair he let's them know that.]

It's good to know that you're looking out for me, but try not to scare them away. You can be surprisingly scary sometimes you know, Rin.

Oh I know. Kinda the point.

[He says with a chuckle and a wink.]

[ She shakes her head at him, her eyes going back to her long-cold and forgotten breakfast before she puts her utensils across the plate. No way that's edible now... ]

Well, I'd better get going. I don't want to be late for class, and I doubt you want to be either. See you around?

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The 18th -- Dwindling Sun

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