sortinghat_rp | [Filtered to Herbert West]

Oh, what now? You didn't swap the bloodroot for the asphodel again, did you?

What? No. No, I did that on purpose, I told you. Worth every second.

No, I was just

Well, you know Arthur and I are roommates, so sometimes we do things together. Have little, uh- competitions, you could say. Of one-up-manship. He usually folds quickly, but

Well

He may have kissed me.

[There's a long pause. Herbert doesn't really inkblot, because he tends to put his quill in his mouth when he's surprise, or upset, or thinking.]

That sounds like something he did, and not you. Did you ask him to?

Yeeeeeeeeees, but I let him? I mean, I didn't ask him, exactly, but you've heard of Chicken, right? The game, not the poultry. I'm sure you've heard of the poultry, I mean we had it for dinner last night, it was kind of over cooked if you want my opinion but I suppose they can't really have students getting food poisoning, that would be bad, at least for the school's reputation, I think it would be pretty funny myself, well as long as it wasn't me or you, that would suck, but even if it did happen to us, it's not like THEY'D know, because we know how to treat it, so I guess it wouldn't really be a big deal.

[Yep, he's rambling. You can tell he's more than a little flustered]

Eriq, stop talking about dinner and tell me what happened.

[Oh yeah, he recognizes that flustered. Damn it.]

Edited 2012-09-12 10:08 (UTC)

He kissed me and I didn't hate it.

I know I don't like him that way, don't worry, he won't be a distraction, I was kind of like "Ah why is this happening to meeeeeeee" the whole time, but from a purely objective viewpoint kissing wasn't terrible. Not hardly so terrible as you would make it out to be anyway, maybe you should try it some time. I mean, I've only done it once, so I'm hardly an expert, but it really wasn't awful and I don't think I'd mind doing it again.

[There's a small inkblot]

Not that I am offering to kiss you. I mean, that would be a bit weird. Not any weirder than kissing Arthur, I guess, but like I said we have a habit of trying to one up each other so it wasn't really

I'm not thinking about kissing you.

[another long pause]

Of course you're not, why would I think you were? No one thinks about kissing me, so I doubt that's an experiment I would even have an opportunity to engage in, were I so inclined.

[peering at the crossed out text, frowning, wishing he could read what it says, and wishing he could stop thinking about Eriq kissing people now]

Is this something you're planning on engaging in often? I still don't understand how something like that can happen if you're attempting to one-up each other.

um. [just little splotches all over the place from him flailing. It's because he is thinking about it, Herbert. He's thinking about it rather seriously. And it doesn't sound awful]

Noooooooo? I mean, like I said, it's like chicken! We flirt insincerely with each other, slowly upping the display of affection in an attempt to disconcert one another. Like I said, he usually folds long before we come anywhere near kissing, I don't know why he didn't this time, but he didn't stop, no matter how much I tried to fluster him, and then he kissed me. And of course, I couldn't just let him win by pulling away, it would ruin my undefeated streak!

Although now I'm thinking it's a good time to quit while I'm ahead, because I'd really rather not have that happen again. It's nice, I guess, but

I don't know.

I think it was also a little disappointing.

Disappointing? How?

[Just ... staring baffled at the page, feeling like he's missing some huge piece of the puzzle, but not even sure where to start looking for it.]

Was it just because it was Kirkland?

[Herbert can understand that - he wouldn't want to kiss Kirkland. Of course, he doesn't really want to kiss anyone, except now he's thinking about Eriq doing it and wondering what that's like and getting weirdly squirmy inside about the thought of it, which is clearly because he simply doesn't like not understanding things. Right?]

Do you think he likes YOU like that?

Well, you know all those books I read. Yes, they're rubbish, I know, I know, but they always say the kiss is supposed to be like fireworks bursting or something equally poetic but entirely impossible.

And there just wasn't anything. I mean it was nice, but it was nice like

I don't know. I guess it was just nice. And I was kind of expecting fabulous.

The fact that it was Arthur probably has to do with it, yes. He definitely doesn't like me like that, however. He's into ~~Alfredo Sauce~~ ~~Alfred Jones~~ someone else.

Edited 2012-09-12 10:51 (UTC)

He told me he wasn't interested in anyone!

[pause]

Well. Your books ARE rubbish, but aren't the people who are doing the kissing in there usually in love or have some stupid fate thing going on? It would probably be better with someone you'd actually been thinking about doing it with.

[Like Aranea. Bitter, bitter sigh. Though really, he supposes he should be thankful for small favors - the Eriq wasn't writing him to tell him how he had kissed her, and how fabulous it had been.]

Not that I care. It's not really hard to imagine you kissing people, though.

What do you mean, though, nice? Nice how?

Yeah, he has really bad taste, that's why. It's pretty laughably hilarious how bad his taste is.

Well, yessssssss, I suppose that is true. It's just a let down.

I don't know! It didn't suck? It's hard to describe. It was warm and his hands were gentle. I didn't feel fluttery or anything, just like it wasn't a big deal.

Who does he like?

[pauses, then will risk]

So would you rather it not be gentle, or was that the good part? What did you think it would be like, exactly? 'Fireworks' isn't exactly a very specific description.

Now, that would be a betrayal of the very sacred trust he has placed in me upon the imparting of such personal knowledge.

It's Alfred Jones.

I told you he has bad taste.

Herbert, I've never been kissed before! I don't know what I expected! Or if gentle was good or bad. That was just how it was. It was gentle and impartial and really kind of bland, now that I think about it. But it wasn't repulsive and I wouldn't mind trying it again. It's really something you ought to experience for yourself.

Jones is a complete idiot! He's terrible LOOKING, too. Oh, god, I take back everything I ever might have said about Kirkland having any common sense.

And I TOLD you, no one would want to kiss me, don't be stupid. Just to be able to understand the damn thing, do you want me to go up and grab some unsuspecting person and try it on them? Because I don't need to be a genius to know that would hardly be a representative experience, and probably even worse than just kissing someone who wasn't interested in me, in some sort of competition. To even be equivalent at all to what you went through, it would have to be someone who at least tolerates me, which is maybe a pool of three or four people. And I would theorize for it to be actually good, it would have to be someone I like and someone who likes me, and that pretty much leaves only you. Are you volunteering to be a guinea pig?

Oh, I think he's attractive enough if you're into the blond sporty type. Granted, I believe half of Gryffindor falls under that category, so why he couldn't pick someone else is beyond me, but still. Mostly, his voice is really annoying.

[inksplots]

What if I was?

The blond sporty type is horrible, who would want anyone that wears their moron status so clearly on their

[Herbert had started writing before he read all of what Eriq wrote, and he scans down as he's penning his response, and ... yep. There is the rare inkblot from him, then a few shaky flecks as he jerks the quill from the page in shock.]

But

Why would you want to?

Well.

Reasons.

That are varied and many.

So there, ha.

[Just. Confused, and trepidatious, and heart pounding and ... what?]

That's not an answer.

Of course I don't want to, I'm not interested in that

Have you offered to anyone

I don't think that's a very thorough answer.

[long pause]

All right.

I don't like thorough answers to personal questions. What if they get used against me?

Alright what?

Because I use so many things against you, Eriq, all the time. Honestly.

[God, don't make him write it out, this is hard enough as it is, and he's wondering if maybe it was just a joke, except why would Eriq be defensive about it if it was?]

All right, I'll try.

With you.

Oh.

um.

Now?

Look, if you were just offering as a joke, then we don't have to. But if you weren't.

Then whenever you like, I guess.

I don't know if there's a best time for this sort of thing. Night? I haven't read about it.

No, I just

I mean whenever works for you

Usually the best time is when the feeling is right. So

You know.

Where do you want me?

[ ... why did his face suddenly get so hot? Mysterious physical reactions, gah. Does thinking about it non-stop since Eriq announced he'd done it with someone else count as the right feeling?]

Well, since we're no longer sharing a room, I suppose somewhere else will have to suffice. I don't really know, I've never thought about it.

Perhaps

One of the unused classrooms might provide some space where we wouldn't be interrupted? Or there are nooks in the library, no one would be in there right now.

Even if no one's there now, the library seems like it'd be an invitation to discovery.

Not that I'm embarrassed to be seen with you.

But you know. I'd rather be safe than sorry. So a classroom seems fine. We can tranfigure a desk or two into something more comfortable, after all.

Oh, yes, I guess that would make things easier. I hadn't considered positions.

All right.

Maybe the one two doors down from Coulson's DADA room, on the second floor?

Yeah.

Okay.

I'll [pause] I'll see you soon.

[Then he closes his journal and sneaks out of the Slytherin dorms, trying to feel less like he was doing something wrong and more like he was engaging in a secret, romantic tryst.]

[Which he was. Well, maybe not romantic. Scientific!]

[This was going to be so awkward, he had no idea what he was doing.]

[Neither does Herbert. He's fretting, now, over saying yes before he could research exactly what someone is supposed to do when kissing, and how to do it right. What if it's worse than disappointing and bland? What if it's actively awful? It probably will be actively awful, he's going to be so bad at this, and then he'll have no idea what a good kiss is like and possibly his best (and almost only) friend will laugh at him and-

And he's still heading out, casting a few charms to make sneaking easier, and making his way to the empty, dark classroom, and then slipping inside nervously. He really shouldn't feel this way. This is an experiment. It's science! He can do science.]

[Yes, Science! That is definitely what this is, and has nothing to do with rampant hormones clouding their better judgement.]

[Eriq arrives shortly after Herbert, then stands there, lingering in the doorway, shuffling his feet]

So.

Yes. [Herbert clears his throat.] Do you want to ... ? Um. Come in.

Well, yes, I. Suppose that is a thing I should do.

[So he steps forward a bit, the heat rising in his cheeks.]

Should we like. Make a couch or something?

[Herbert looks at the other boy, and realizes something, something a little bit scary. Although Eriq technically is, as of an hour or so ago, more experienced that he, the Slytherin also seems to have no idea what he's doing. Which means someone has to take charge. Which means Herbert.

He takes a deep breath, and tries to look utterly confident as he nods.]

You're better at Transfig, use a few desks? [And then he strides past Eriq, closing the door behind the other boy, and performing a locking charm on it. He's ridiculously aware of his friend's presence, imagining he can almost feel the heat off Eriq's body, though of course that's stupid. Isn't it?]

[More experienced, and more well read, as it happens! But he still feels terribly nervous. Because kissing changes things, and he doesn't really like that. It already changed the fact that he won't be fooling around with Arthur so carelessly from now on, and he knows kissing Aranea would just utterly destroy everything he's worked so hard for. Herbert would leave him, he'd be lost to her whims, distracted and torn from his path. As much as he loves the idea of kissing her, he recognizes it as simply not safe.]

[Not that kissing Herbert is going to be any better, but this way, he simply can't predict the outcome.]

[He nods as Herbert directs him to transfigure the desks, turning them into an elegant darkwood couch, with deep burgundy velvet cushions. He takes off his outer robe, draping it over the arm before sitting down, making sure it's comfortable enough, then folds his hands in his lap and looks up at Herbert, licking his lips]

[Herbert's thoughts are running along rather different lines. After all, for him the possibility of kissing anyone hadn't entered his mind until just a very little bit ago. Yes, he'd maybe started noticing some people less for their minds over the summer, but there was a big leap from that to thinking that he would ever do anything with anybody.

He mimics the taller boy, pulling his own robe off and setting it neatly aside. He finds himself blinking, caught by the way his friend licks his lips. That really shouldn't be quite so interesting as it is, and color rises in his cheeks again as he glances down.

He tries to steady his own nerves as he sits down on the (so typically Eriq) couch next to the other boy, then considers a moment before taking off his glasses and setting those aside, too. It puts the world into soft focus, but that's almost better, easier to handle. The lack of the severe black frames make his dark eyes look that much bigger as he turns to Eriq.]

Are you. Ah. Ready?

[The little blush on Herbert's cheeks is an odd boost of confidence, and he nods, licking his lips again. This'll be just like Chicken with Arthur, only more deliberate, he just has to keep that in mind.]

[Wrapping one arm around Herbert's shoulders, he leans in with a soft smile, gently brushing his nose over the other boy's cheek.] I am very ready.

[It might be like Chicken with Arthur, except Herbert's reaction is very different. Instead of it being a sort of back and forth flirtation, the smaller boy's breath catches in his throat, and he stares at Eriq with the kind of fierce concentration that usually only gets directed at his experiments. With an arm around him, Eriq can probably feel the tension in his shoulders, the quiver in the taut muscle, the heat through his worn shirt.

And then Herbert is turning his head the little bit he needs to and is pressing his lips against the Slytherin's without the faintest idea of what he's doing, but a desperate desire to make it work, to be good at this, to impress his friend and maybe make him want to do it again. There is absolutely no skill involved and far too many intense emotions - when Herbert decides to do something, he does it with a single-minded intensity that can be almost frightening, and he throws himself at it without any thought of the consequences, which is exactly what he's doing now.]

[Maybe Herbert's not very good, but Eriq has no way of knowing any different, and the sheer amount of emotional intensity sort of blows him away. He didn't even believe any of that junk about feeling emotions through kisses, and yet here he was, suddenly feeling just a little bit overwhelmed.]

[And really, he had no idea what to think of it, how to respond to it. The best he figures he can do is hesitantly kiss back, bringing his hand up to cup the other boy's cheek as a sign of encouragement]

[That's good enough for Herbert, who settles his hands on Eriq's chest for lack of a better idea of what to do with them. It feels pretty weird to just press his lips steadily against the other boy's, so he tries to readjust a little, tipping his head slightly one way, slightly the other, trying to find the proper angle. He feels like he should be doing something more with his mouth, but he's not sure what, and he presses in closer, one arm sliding around the taller boy's neck.]

[Filtered to Herbert West]

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