(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

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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.