[Filtered to Herbert]

[greenmoonrising]

[Lots of ink splotches from where he's been holding the quill over the page while trying to write, chewing on his lip the whole time]

Hey.

Are you all right? You've been scarce...



Did I do something to pi offe





Did I piss you off, somehow? I haven't seen you in days and that's a bit weird when we're in the same dorm...

Comments

[preanimator]

[Herbert's just silent for that, only nodding faintly as he pretends to be looking over his essay again. He's considered using them himself more than once, not for forever, but maybe just one night ... but he's smart enough to know that it would just make everything feel worse after, anyway. Ugh.]

[greenmoonrising]

[Bruce resumes writing.]

Have you ever looked into making them? Love potions, I mean.

[preanimator]

What? Why would you ask that? [Herbert asks, too loudly and defensively, then lowers his voice.] You know I'm not ... interested in that kind of thing. It's a waste of time. I mean, I understand them theoretically of course, but that's all!

[greenmoonrising]

[Chuckles quietly, dipping quill in ink carefully.] I was just asking, no need to get your boxers in a twist. It just seemed like a lot of students were trying them out in February, judging by how the teachers were all reacting on the journals.

Besides, it'd be an interesting challenge to make a successful Love Potion without any nasty side effects... but then there's that whole fiddly thing with ethics and morals I guess.

[preanimator]

And then you'd have to test it on someone, so it wouldn't exactly be theoretical any more, would it? [a little bitterly]

[greenmoonrising]

True but what if you got willing test subjects? I mean, short of death, there aren't many spells that can't be reversed, even if you have to take the person affected to St. Mungo's.

[preanimator]

But what would be the point? So then you'd have a working love potion, wonderful, it's just been a waste of time. There are far, far more important things than having someone love you - all of that is just rubbish anyway. It's useless.

[He spits it, vehemently, not looking at Bruce any more but staring down angrily at his essay.]

[greenmoonrising]

[Okay, that made Bruce look up.]

... Did something happen, Herbert? [Sounds very concerned.]

[preanimator]

No. Nothing. [Really, that's the whole problem, isn't it?] Can we talk about something else? [still not looking up]

[greenmoonrising]

... So how's your research going? With reanimating the dead I mean...

[preanimator]

Fine. [Gah, just another reminder of things he misses about Bruce - the one person who seemed to even vaguely understand what he was talking about with his research. He'd loved babbling excitedly at the other boy, throwing ideas back and forth, since he didn't talk to Eriq any more ...

He stands abruptly.]

You know, I think I just remembered something I have to do. Sorry, maybe we can do this some other time. [not looking at Bruce]

[greenmoonrising]

[Startles when Herbert stands, staring up with wide eyes.] Uh...

[Shakes self.] What did I say?

[preanimator]

Nothing. I just have to go. I can't- I'll see you later.

[starts hastily shoving books in his bag, his mouth pressed into a hard line, shaking a little, obviously terribly upset about something]

[greenmoonrising]

[Frowns more and starts to get up.] Herbert, wait-

[preanimator]

[shakes his head violently, and turns, practically fleeing from the library]

[greenmoonrising]

[Can't chase after him and just stares, flabbergasted and very concerned now. He sits slowly, thinking maybe Herbert needs some time to himself and just slowly gets back to his essay, trying to concentrate on it rather than his friend.]