It's Gareki's turn

[gizmoe]

[ The night had been agonizing in one way or another. From teenaged hormonal libido to the humiliation of everyone in Ravenclaw finding out about Rin sneaking into the tower. The only thing he can be glad about is that none of the professors found out.

Yet.

But with the way everyone's spreading the word, it's only a matter of time. Gareki can kiss his free time goodbye soon, he's sure of it. So instead of going into the Great Hall, where he's also sure that he'll get stared at by everyone and talked about IN FRONT OF himself... He skips breakfast.

Instead, he stays at the scene of the crime (his bed), where a vote has been made to strip his bunk of the curtains so last night would never happen again.

Gareki, good student and someone who preferred to keep his head down, is now notorious for a love life he's still not sure he even had at the moment. How about that shit.

He spends the morning in his bunk with his mechanics book. When he ventures out of the tower into the rest of the school, he gives anyone who so much as looks at him a murderous glare. But he doesn't stay in Hogwarts for long. Instead, he makes a b-line for the sanctuary that was Hogsmeade. Away from a majority of stupid people looking at him like some god damn horny rule breaker.

There's a book in his hand, butterbeer on the table in front of him, and he's nicely tucked into a corner of the Hogs Head. Here, he hopes to take comfort in the fact that only the bravest of souls decide to visit. ]

Comments

The bravest of souls right here.

[ultimatehousekeeper]

[Chisa didn't have class to teach right now, so instead she had made a quick trip to Hogsmeade and the Hogs Head. She had someone she needed to meet there anyway and now was the best time as any. As she entered she looked around. This place could use a good cleaning was a thought that went through her head. But it wasn't in there for long when her eyes glanced around to see if she could spot them, only to see a student instead.]

I thought students didn't come out here unless it's during a set time? [She was at least loud enough to be heard purposely.]

[gizmoe]

[ Apparently one of those brave souls was a professor. Calling him out for being off school grounds so early in the day. Gareki's jaw clenched, teeth grinding as he hunkered down. Great. This was exactly what he needed right now. A professor up his ass after a long night and plenty of talk. His life had been much nicer before he started dating Rin. Before hormones got in the way of things. ] I wasn't hungry this morning. [ That was his answer. Pure and simple. And, oddly enough, the truth. Any appetite he might have had that morning had been worn away by knowing what his bloody housemates would be talking about. ] Are you going to give me detention for wanting some peace and quiet?

[ultimatehousekeeper]

Then you could have gone to your common room, dorm room, room of requirement...

[She is just going to start listening rooms that one could get peace and quiet in the school.]

There are a lot of places in the school that doesn't require going off grounds without actually letting a professor or the headmistress know. It doesn't mean detention because I don't think it's worth being that harsh, maybe some point deductions at best.

[gizmoe]

[ He fights with himself not to roll his eyes or snap his book closed and walk back out of the Hogs Head. If he did any of that, she would get suspicious and he didn't want to deal with more bullshit than he already had over the course of the night. ] I'll consider it. [ He won't, though. Not at all. The point of even coming to the Hogs Head was to get away from the school and students in the first place. ]

[ultimatehousekeeper]

Great.

[She had gone to take a seat near by at least.]

But for now I'll allow you to stay here so long as I am here.

[She probably won't bother him too much, but would probably look over at him now and again while she was meeting the person. Tapping her nails lightly she was continuing to wait before glancing over.]

Are you enjoying your book?

[gizmoe]

[ Gareki's expression sours, annoyed with this woman (as he is with everyone at the moment). He at least has the good grace not to backtalk a professor. At least not aggressively, anyway. ]

It's fine.

[ The book, obviously. But he's annoyed and it comes out gruff. He sighs and lets it snap closed, putting it on the table in front of himself. ]

Why only until you leave? It's Sunday... A weekend. I may have gotten here earlier than I should have, but it's not like I'm breaking a rule technically since third year and higher students are allowed in Hogsmeade on the weekends.

[ultimatehousekeeper]

Because as a professor I like to make sure all students are safe and sound no matter how grumpy they may be, even though it is a weekend.

[Which doesn't explain why she is there if that was the case.]

Besides I always get a little nervous when students come here for that reason and I know I would feel that knowing you were here. But I'm sure you have your reasons, but still.

[gizmoe]

[ Gareki holds his book up and points the end of it to his barely touched butterbeer. ] It's quiet here and barring a nosy professor, I don't get bothered. That's why I came. It's why I want to stay. Everywhere else is noisy and crowded. [ And he's in a shit mood. Dealing with noisy, crowded, and nosy weren't things he wanted at the moment. ]

[ultimatehousekeeper]

Nosy would be asking why, have I ever asked the why? No.

[She didn't really care for the why unless it was something illegal. But she was pretty sure that was not the case.]

Unless it's illegal, obviously, but I don't think it is.

[kiramekiouji]

[The Great Hall that morning has been lively, to the point that it surprised Yogi how loud it was. He didn't mind it, it just seemed odd, since most of the ruckuss didn't even come from the Hufflepuff or the Gryffindor tables, but uncharacteristically, Ravenclaw. He just shrugged it off and smiled, because it was somehow reassuring that even the serious people could have sometimes a good time. He however didn't make a point of listening in on other people's discussions, so he just sat down to eat breakfast and didn't think too much about it. But when, after a while, he heard the names "Oshitari", "Matsuoka" and "Gareki", all people he knew, one way or another, one of them his best friend, he couldn't but listen in. Only to have his face go green, then blue in rapid succession. Oh no... No... Impossible, Gareki would never... Never... RIGHT? But then Ryota-chan swings by, with a similar expression that Nyanperowna does, whenever she catches a mouse and... Oh Merlin, please help him. He even asks Taichi, which is awkward and weird, but... Apparently. This is. True... He's torn between feeling mortified and worried. He did NOT need that mental image, but his concern over Gareki is ultimately stronger. His friend is however nowhere to be seen, so Yoogi does the first thing he can think off. He pulls out his wizphone.] Are... are you ok? Where are you?

[gizmoe]

[ Does Yogi really want to subject himself to Gareki's horrible mood? Really? He feels his wizphone buzz in his pocket, insistent and annoying, and he can feel like it's Yogi trying to reach out to him. It has that same quality that his best friend seemed to have, nagging and nosy. Whether he wants to deal with anyone now or not, it doesn't matter. He pulls his wizphone from his pocket and looks at the message, fully intent on slipping it back where he couldn't see it again. Sure enough, it's Yogi. But the message... A weird thing happens. Gareki's fingers are flying across the on screen keyboard ready to send him a message almost instantly back. ] I'm fine. Leave me the hell alone. [ Which would probably translate to Yogi speak as "come find me". He knows this, and yet he sent it anyway and hates himself for actually wanting to talk to the blonde idiot. Maybe he could be a distraction instead of actually talking about what was going on? ]

[kiramekiouji]

[Yogi isn't thinking about what he's subjecting himself to, or not, he's just worried about Gareki. He knows his friend's temper, but he also knows that Gareki hides other things behind that temper. Like disappointment and sadness. Besides, even if he wasn't, his friend is in trouble and Yogi wants to help him, in any way he can. He however doesn't expect such a quick reply. He'd been completely prepared to send another message, and then another, and then another, until Gareki finally gave in. Gareki really must feel awful and lonely, if he needs to talk.] Can I get you something? Is there anything I can do for you? Where are you?

[gizmoe]

[ Between the message he sent and the one he received, there's not a lot of time and he's surprised by how fast Yogi has learned to type. He sighs, staring at his wizphone, the device tight in his grip. Where are you is the repeating question and he doesn't want to say. He doesn't want to have to say it. ] I know that you know what happened. [ The first message is quick, this second one on it's heels. ] Just go away.

[kiramekiouji]

[He looks at the message with a clenching heart. Even Gareki's texts sound sad. The need to go a look for his friend and go give him a hug is awful.] I heard, but I don't know what happened. What happened? @_@ [Because no, he doesn't know. He just heard what others said, he has no idea what had really went on. Just that Rin had snuck into Ravenclaw and got caught. In Gareki's bed, apparently. With... with... with his pants down. The thought still mortifies Yogi, but it's all he knows. He has no idea even which of those things are true. And he has no idea what Gareki's feelings about it are, so no, he really doesn't have a single clue what happened. He just knows his friend is in trouble, possibly suffering.] Are you in the castle? [He needs to find him, but repeating the same question all over again would take the entire day fo Gareki to reveal his whereabouts. Time to try a different approach. He can at least try narrow down his options. It's like a game of guessing.]

[gizmoe]

Rin's an idiot. That's what happened. [ Not... that Gareki was completely innocent either, but it felt better to blame it on Rin since the idiot was the one who snuck up to the tower in the first place. Bastard. He's not even sure how it escalated so fast in the first place, but he wished that fucking Kenya would have kept his nose out of his business like he'd told the dumb blonde to. He growls at his phone, annoyed all over again suddenly. This whole god damn thing was such a mess. ] No. I'm not coming back to the school until nightfall.

[kiramekiouji]

['Did he really break into Ravenclaw tower to have... that with you?' Is the reply that Yogi starts writing, but then erases it. It sounds nosy and he isn't asking because he needs, or wants to know that, but because it happened to Gareki and it didn't end well. He however can't come up with anything better to ask, so he decides to drop that. Besides, if Gareki's upset about it, Yogi doesn't want to be the one to make him think about it.]

Are you anywhere on the grounds?

[gizmoe]

No. But I damn well might think about sneaking into the forest.

[ Good call on not asking. He'd have shoved his phone down Yogi's throat the moment he saw him. That's not the kind of shit you ask someone, and definitely not over technology. ]

Stop playing 20 questions and either just get here or leave me alone already.

[fireredspear]

[It's impossible to not listen in, that morning. The whole Great Hall is buzzing with a manic energy, that leaves Sano startled the moment he walks in. And with that manic energy coming from the Ravenclaw table, Sano's natural curiosity is turned up too 100 in a second. He only needs a walk to the teacher's table to get the gist of it. The rest he gets by hiding behind the daily prophet, sipping on his tea and listening. It's not that he participates in rumors, he just likes knowing them. He considers them powerful and underrated weapons and they have served him very well in the past. It's also a very welcome distraction from everything else he's dealing with.

By the end of the breakfast he's wearing a face splitting grin and his stomach strains from keeping in the laughter, less he gives himself away. It's a pity that the Slytherin vs Ravenclaw game is only in February. He' give good money to see it, even if he's got the free spot. What's even more amusing is the poetic justice Matsuoka gets by being dragged into the infirmary by several of his team mates, and the fact that the boyfriend in question - the genius dark haired Ravenclaw, as Sano came to realize, from practice - is nowhere to be seen.

Sano doesn't expect to find said boyfriend later that morning in the Hog's Head. He's out of fire whiskey and the pub is the only place in close proximity to have his brand, and he's in no mood to apparate all the way to Ireland for it. That he meets the school's hottest topic there is a cherry on top of the icing.]

This is where you've been hiding? Should have figured. Castle's quite abuzz.

[gizmoe]

[ Sano's voice cuts through the quiet of the pub, through the concentration of Gareki reading. It's almost ear splitting, if not for the fact the professor had a decent voice to listen to. Dark blue eyes turn up to look at the grinning man, and the perpetual scowl on his own - a key staple that morning - seemed to deepen. His eyes narrowed. This particular professor knew. He knew and he was taking pleasure in knowing. That set Gareki on edge quite a bit. Like he was ready for punishment to come his way. ] I'm not hiding. [ Yes he is. It's an obvious lie. ] And I don't give a damn what the castle is doing right now.

[fireredspear]

[Damn straight he was taking pleasure in knowing! It's the funniest thing he heard in a long time and Merlin knows he's in dire need of that. However, he's not cruel. He notices how tense the poor kid is - understandable, if what he heard is true - and looks like he's either about to bolt, or defend himself, but Sano really pauses no threat. He's caught students doing worse things and let them walk away. He still remembers how it was when he was their age, and the testosterone had been streaking out of his ears. It's natural to want and repressing your sexuality is NOT a good thing to do, no one will convince him of the opposite.] Hey, chill. [He says and slides into the seat across.] I'm not out to get you. None of my business what you do in your bed. I remember the hormonal mess I was your age. You're good.

[gizmoe]

[ Repressing sexuality. Yeah, that sounds about right. Now it's exploding (although in this instance, not exactly) and Gareki's in trouble because of it. He's pissy and Harada doesn't need to sit across from him to give him "when I was your age" bullshit. It's not welcomed and not appreciated dude. ] We're nothing alike. [ It's half growl, half grunt. Clearly he's more agitated that he's being imposed upon, especially by someone who thinks he knows better just because he's older. ]

[fireredspear]

Exactly. Which is why you're good.

[He's not stupid. He knows his effort is not appreciated right now, but nevertheless, he feels it as his responsibility to give the kid a good talk. Let him know that sexuality is not a bad thing to have, no matter ho it felt, when it hit you with it's full force.]

You really don't need some of the shit I went through, in my later teens.

[He says with a joking smirk, before growing more serious again.]

Look, a developing sexuality is messy, at best and a huge clusterfuck at worst. It doesn't mean there's anything bad about it. You need to experience it, as much as you need to learn to control it, learn what's good, what's bad, how to do it right, and what not to do. It's normal and everyone goes through it. What you don't need, is having it publicly exposed and dragged through the mud. You didn't deserve that.

[gizmoe]

[ Gareki glares at Sano for a long moment, turning his head to look out the window instead while he's getting spoken to. It didn't mean he wasn't listening, it just meant he didn't feel like looking at Harada while he listened.

It's the last part that gets him, though. He takes a soothing breath in, silently, his eyes closing. That, he actually agreed with the professor on. He didn't deserve his sex life being the talk of the school at the moment. Neither did Rin, to be fair. But Rin at least deserved to suffer since it was his idea to sneak into the Ravenclaw dorm in the first place. ]

Why are you telling me any of this? Anyone with a little common sense could draw those conclusions.

[fireredspear]

[Why? Sano chuckles lightly, looking away as well. He knows Ravenclaws have a sharp with, but that doesn't mean they don't need to have things told sometimes.]

Because it's important to hear some things, instead of just knowing them. Ever heard of the power of vocalizing?

[He looks at Gareki again and shakes his shoulders, with an encouraging smile.]

Thought it would do you good to hear not everyone's taking it like a great sensation.

[Ruffling the raven hair, he stands up.]

Better get going. Never good to leave the castle in a fuzz. Oh, one last thing. If you boys need anything, ask, or talk, I don't mind it.

[gizmoe]

[ If dirty looks could kill, Sano would be dead in an instant. Don't touch his hair. Don't ruffle it affectionately. Don't treat him like a child. It pissed him off instantly, his hand going up to move Sano's away from his head. ] Stop doing that. That's what I need. [ Oh, but he would be keeping the offer in his back pocket. Not that he would use it unless he needed to, but it was nice to have. He'd seen how Harada and Nagakura interacted. There wasn't much of a doubt in his mind that they hadn't just flirted with each other before. No one was that close and leered at each other that much without having slept together. ]