sortinghat_rp | 06 [evening of March 30th]

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06 [evening of March 30th]

Thank God the egg hunt thing is over with. Don't get me wrong. It looked like everyone who was participating was having a lot of fun... when they managed to stay the right shape, size, and species... but I just couldn't get anywhere near those things. After everything that happened with the snakes last month, I think I might still have some latent egg-related trauma. If someone told me I turn beet red or get the thousand-yard stare when big plates of boiled eggs are served at mealtimes, I probably wouldn't be surprised.

It all worked out for the best in the end, though. Avoiding the hunt gave me lots of time to study and practice Apparition. With any luck, I won't be splinching myself when the Trace gets lifted from me tomorrow. Easter just had to fall on my birthday this year, didn't it?

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Well, seeing as our boyfriend status was annulled rather than broken off, I'd say 'four houses' was a limited window. Unless the contents of Valentines Day cause an extension beyond that.

We're rather lacking in suitable Ravenclaw women, however, so perhaps it's best if you don't look to completing the set. Quality over quantity and all.

What do you mean, an extension? Seems pretty clear that if both parties are affected by a love potion, it probably shouldn't go on their dating resumes.

The name's just a silly thing my housemates and other friends started calling me. I guess some people think it's a novelty or something to date outside of your own house, but I don't see what the big deal is. If you like someone and they like you back, it shouldn't matter if one sleeps in a tower and the other below ground. The name kind of makes me sound like I'm trying to fill out a bingo sheet.

Well, one can't exactly remove physical experience from their resume based on love potion status. It's odd to negate the cause and keep the effect. But I suppose that is the nature of it unless we obliviate it. Always an option.

[Sherlock sipped his butterbeer.]

It's a nice nickname all the same. Highlights your charisma.

No, that's true. And obliviation seems a bit much. I mean... they're not bad memories. Just kind of awkward ones. Plus, so many people saw us that if any of them bring it up, we'd just get confused. Sherlock Holmes and Three Houses Watson in the Case of the Missing Memories, huh?

There is that. Knowing us, we'd get to the bottom of it regardless of any notes left by ourselves with the intention to dissuade us. I'm not sure if you've noticed but we're very stubborn young men.

Not that it matters, I suppose. They say it is better to have love and to have lost than to have never loved at all. It will be an interesting experiment.

[John smirked.] Us? Stubborn? No, I never would've thought that for a second.

[He finished off his butterbeer. It was a quick and easy way to cover up the odd, skeptical face he was sure he always pulled whenever Sherlock brought up love and experimentation in the same sentence.] Will be an interesting experiment? You already put out your call for 'test subjects'.

Well, I don't need to in this case. The 'experiment' as it was has already transpired; I have had and lost love. Now it's just a matter of seeing if I was better before gaining practical knowledge on the subject or if I am served better by the memory of its influence.

I believe I'm rather done with interpersonal experimentation for now. A few more queries still left unanswered but it wouldn't do to get a reputation when I'm still of an age where Mummy can lock me away in a tower.

I still don't know if the potion thing counts as having had actual love since it's so... overblown, I guess... but if you're satisfied with your conclusions and it'll keep you from sticking your tongue down the throat of everyone in school in the name of science, I guess that's that.

Would she really lock you up, though? She seemed to like me well enough - or, at least, she didn't seem to hate me, and I'm pretty sure your entire family had ideas about what I was doing at your house. Which, uh, we wound up encouraging, I suppose.

[Sherlock frowned.]

You would know better than me. If it is overly sentimental, I shaln't hold to my opinion. If all I should accept is having had a tutorial on kissing, I shall amend it to be so. Love isn't a required component to life anyway.

[He leaned back in his chair.]

Oh, Mummy adored you. Common and a bit simple but she still thought you were of good character. She asks about you in her letters and hopes you're well. No, she wouldn't be opposed to indiscretions with you in the slightest. However, boys who get a reputation for sticking their tongue down the throat of everyone in school in the name of science are a different story.

Maybe love's not a required component to live the same way food, water, and shelter is, but that's like saying you don't need to be able to see color or hear music. You might not need those things to survive, but they're all really nice things to have.

[He scowled a little.] 'Simple'? Hmph. [He shrugged it off, or at least tried to do so.] Still, I think I see your point. Hell, if she did lock you up for that, part of the reason might be the sudden turnabout from your precious stance of having no interest whatsoever.

I understand your meaning. Perhaps one day I will experience the real thing and know all the better but until then I do have music at least. I've found it to be quite the comfort.

Simple comparatively, John. Everyone is. I believe you've given her hope to expect normality from me. Worse, though, is that it seems I am.

It doesn't hurt that you're bloody brilliant at it. If you didn't like the idea of Muggle science and the like so much, I'd say you could easily go pro with your violin. From what I've heard from your roommates about your timing, however, you'd have to hold 5 hour long concerts at 2 in the morning, so might be a bit inconvenient for the London Philharmonic.

But how is it - to use your words - 'worse' that you're at least in some ways less abnormal than you thought?

Tony talks too much. I was composing. It requires repetition.

It's worse because I am naturally repulsive. Not as in I'm hideous but in that my personality and other associated traits repel people. I don't make friends easily and I am emotionally retarded and yet I have the same capacity for appreciating human companionship as everyone else. Obviously it would be better if I gravitated to isolation and I had thought I was doing well to cultivate that but now I find I enjoy kissing and all those other interpersonal perks. I might even have a sexuality. It's a rather unfortunate turn of events.

There's also other times in the day where you could do all that composing. Like not in the middle of the night, for starters.

[John frowned a little, partially at how self-deprecating Sherlock's words wre, and partially for an odd sensation in the back of his mind which completely eluded him if he tried to think about it too hard.] You're not repulsive. Difficult, yes. Definitely that. But... [He cleared his throat, feeling the awkwardness more than ever.] Obviously not repulsive, or you wouldn't have had anyone agree to being one of your test subjects. Which you clearly did get, considering you've apparently got enough data to draw a conclusion about all that now.

Inspiration isn't something that waits.

[Sherlock rolled his eyes.]

What a nightmare that was. Illuminating, yes, but there are some truly dreadful people at this school who only happen to be rather good kissers. One hopeful actually thought I was requesting the purchase of drugs which resulted in a rather awkward exchange. Next time I decide to ask the masses for help, remind me of how stupid an idea that is.

[That got John to chuckle a little. It took a bit of the edge off the strange leaden feeling that had taken up residence in the pit of his stomach. He'd probably just drank his butterbeer too quickly.]

I'll remind you, but that's no guarantee you'll listen. [He grinned.] If anything, you'd probably just say something like, 'What idiot told you to tell me that?' That said, maybe you're looking at it the wrong way. It ought to inspire a little hope that you're at least capable of enjoying the physical aspects whenever you meet the right person. Sorry nobody at school has impressed you, though.

Well, you certainly did. [he clears his throat a little because wow, that sounded a lot less awkward in his head before he heard it.] Though that might just be a reflection of the love potion. Tony still believes that if he were eligible, he would prove himself to be the better but I think that's just the posturing of youth.

[A light blush flares across John's face, turning his cheeks and ears rather pink. He looks down at the table and drums his fingers a bit against it awkwardly.] Yeah, well... uh, I'm sure you're right there. That's just Tony being Tony. Anyone who tries as hard as he does to make cracking punch-worthy remarks a hobby ought to be taken with a grain of salt.

[It's stupid and he knows it is but making John blush fills him with no small amount of pride.]

Has he given more reasons for me to punch him or are you going to have the honor this time?

All the fake flirting he pulls aside, I think he's actually trying to be on what passes for his best behavior because of what he has with Bruce now. Still, what Tony considers good behavior and what the rest of the world considers good behavior aren't really on the same wavelength.

You've already had your crack at him, so it really ought to be my turn the next time he deserves it. Though if he ever pulls something really awful, we can always tag team.

I somewhat doubt you'd be up for a two-on-one fight with a fourteen year old but it's a very nice mental image all the same.

[He smiled, rather happy to be out with John tonight.]

I suppose I should ask you how you would best like to spend the eve of your birthday. I thought perhaps wandering out towards the other end of town and catching fireflies or star gazing might be a bit nice but it's a bit chilly. There are some blankets in the shack, though.

No, you're right. I wouldn't let us do that. ... but he doesn't have to know that.

[John scratched at his chin in thought.] I don't know if the fireflies would be out yet, unless they're magical fireflies wearing lightweight but practical spring coats. But the sky is shockingly clear for Scotland in spring, so that and the star-watching might be a good idea, even if we have to resort to the shack's dog blankets.

I don't really care what we get up to, though I would rather like to still be out when midnight ticks around. Since that's when my birthday actually starts and all.

I could get us a room here. Gives us someplace a little more inviting than the shack to pass the time in.

Might be more inviting, but it gives people more of a chance to remember our faces here. Plus, don't you have to give your name to rent a room?

Yes, but as long as "Mr. Sigerson" has gold, I doubt there will be any problems.

[He waves his heavy coin purse.]

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