(no subject)

[preanimator]

I'll never understand why everyone makes such a fuss of the Yule Ball. I fail to see the point of making everyone dress up just so that they can dance while other people stare at them. The royalty nonsense is just a big popularity contest, it doesn't have anything at all to do with merit, as many of the nominees so clearly illustrate. I, for one, am abstaining from all that rubbish and choosing to do more useful things with my time.

Comments

Filtered private

[preanimator]

Because I can't dance, and it's incredibly public, and that seems like a wonderful set-up for humiliation. I know you've never done anything like that to me, but you have to admit, this all seems rather suspicious, that out of nowhere you decide you want to take me to what is, let's face it, a traditional 'romantic' setting.

[He wants to believe. Because Jim is smart, and rather good looking. But it doesn't make any sense, and Herbert can't believe that anyone would willingly date him. The Ravenclaw is very confident in his own intelligence and the breadth of his ambition, but he's also well aware that those are not often considered attractive qualities in a partner. But then something occurs to him.]

Or do you just want to go with a date, and you thought you'd ask one of the people who might be desperate enough to say yes this late on?

[That sounds more believable. Herbert can see himself as a last resort.]

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[ihaveanappforthat]

[Moriarty is rolling his eyes at you Herbert.]

If that was the case I would've asked Molly, but I'm not and I haven't. I'm asking you.

Maybe I didn't know if you were going with someone or not. If you don't enjoy yourself all you have to do is walk away.

I don't see why it's so hard to believe that I would enjoy going and getting to know you better. I wasn't aware I was going to be interrogated for asking you.

Alright- don't decide yet - here's a better question: tea?

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[preanimator]

[An even longer pause then the last.]

All right.

But it's not as though we don't eat in the same room every meal. Or do you mean the drink?

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[ihaveanappforthat]

Filtered privatek, its sort of hard to invite someone to tea here. Maybe next hogsmead if you'd be interested.

Would you have the drink tea with me? Or coffee. I wouldn't mind that either. :)

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[preanimator]

I said all right. When do you want to?

This still seems really sudden. I thought maybe you and Holmes had a thing.

Filtered private [Sorry my phone like ate half that tag in the beginning for some reason]

[ihaveanappforthat]

You also seemed to think I had no inclinations towards males and that I am only interested in you to humiliate. No, he and I are not a thing.

[That shouldn't have been as therapeutic as it was.]

I don't know, I'm up for whenever's good for you.

Filtered private [It's cool, phone tagging's a bitch!]

[preanimator]

Well, I wasn't to know one way or another, was I? You just seem to hang out a lot. I didn't know if it was that you fancied each other or were just mates or what. [Someone's a little defensive~]

I guess any time is all right. I haven't got any homework left, and there's no club meetings until after the hols.

Filtered Private

[ihaveanappforthat]

A lot of people think the same thing. He's just my best friend.

Hm, we could do it now?

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[preanimator]

I thought Watson was his best friend.

[Now? Oh, hm, Herbert wasn't prepared for that. He can't really think of an excuse to say no, though.]

All right. Where would you like you like to meet?

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[ihaveanappforthat]

Well, he's not.

[Herbert don't make him spill scalding tea on you.]

Hmm, dining hall?

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[preanimator]

Give me ten minutes.

[And, about ten minutes later, Herbert will wander into the dining hall, hands in his pockets, looking more uncertain than usual.]

Action

[ihaveanappforthat]

[Moriarty is there as he said he would be, sitting at one of the tables, tea prepared and set out in front of him but his attention is stuck in a book, most likely about Arithmancy.

When he looks up to see Herbert he smiles brightly and scratches at one of his arms, a nervous habit no doubt.]

I was sort of afraid you were going to set me up and humiliate me with all that talk of cruel jokes.

[He raises an eyebrow and lets out a chuckle.]

[preanimator]

I'm not known for my sense of humor. [Contrary to popular belief, Herbert does have one, it's just weird and rather morbid at times.] Anyway, it would probably be considered more humiliating to most that I showed up.

[He takes the seat opposite Jim, not really sure how this is supposed to go (or even really why he's here), so he goes to his comfort zone.] What're you reading?

[ihaveanappforthat]

Mmm. [He dismisses the thought with a sideways flick of his wrist and a shrug.] I'm not most and I'm not like most people. Most are boring.

[Jim watches him, interest sparked in his eyes and the question makes him smile for a brief second.]

Some rubbish about Arithmancy, to be honest I only like the math part of it. I could care less about much else of it. Predicting the future is boring and the future is fluid.

[He observes him for a moment longer before adding:]

Do you like sugar and cream in your tea?

[preanimator]

Sugar. A lot. [Herbert's not much for maths himself, other than as a means to an end, but-] Are you familiar with Muggle mathematics? You might like it better - it's a bit more pure. Trigonometry and calculus, things like that.

[ihaveanappforthat]

[He nods absentmindedly and begins making the other's tea.]

Ah, yes! I rather do! Calculus is enjoyable.

[He grins.]

I also really enjoy Philosophy and Biology. I've got books, yeah? Ones used at muggle colleges.

[preanimator]

Biology? [Herbert perks up at that, leaning forward a little in his seat.] Which ones?

[ihaveanappforthat]

[He offers over the others' tea and busies himself with making his own.]

Mm, there aren't really any that I'm disinterested in? Biology is a large spectrum; Physiology and anatomy is still physiology and anatomy whether you're a fish, a human, or a cat.

Bookwise I have quite a few, you're always welcome to borrow them, I'm sort of like a library, Shinra has quite a few of my books... As does Sherlock.

[preanimator]

You probably don't have anything I haven't read. [There's no particular intent to brag there, just a matter-of-factness in his tone.] It's my particular area of interest. I was just curious what you'd liked.