14; action

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji's in a hurry and he has a good reason to be. But for him, it's unusual, hurrying through the halls to get to the Slytherin commonroom in the dungeons. His movements are abrupt and urgent and he looks around nervously as he goes. Unfortunately, this is around the time people are coming back from Hogsmeade, but he can't get himself to calm down in their presence.]


[Feel free to stop him in the halls or, for fellow Slytherins, talk to him once he gets to the commonroom.]

Comments

[action]

[jivitadana]

[That's weird. Minato went after Souji once he noticed him.]

... Souji?

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

[He stiffens and turns to Minato after a moment of hesitation.]

I can't...really talk right now.

[action]

[jivitadana]

[Something was really wrong. Souji was never this agitated over... anything.]

We should though.

[Action!]

[pottershotter]

[James had been on his way back from Hogsmeade, but that's not really anything eventful. The more interesting part is nearly being run over by Souji when their paths cross. He turns, and calls out to him:]

Hey, Souji! Where are you off to in such a hurry?

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

[He looks down the hall, then back at Minato.]

...Sure. We can.

[It's Minato. He'll help him out. He'll believe in him.]

[Action :D]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji half turns to avoid running into James in the first place and comes to a stop facing back toward him.]

I have to get back to my dorm. [He speaks tensely, not in his normal calm, neutral tone.]

[action]

[jivitadana]

[Good, because Minato wasn't going to have it any other way.]

Outside?

[On a tower somewhere? It's better than a dorm room or somewhere common.]

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

It doesn't matter.

[akapeanut]

[George is comfy on a chair near the fire, so it's a little strange when she looks up and sees that Souji is the one sweating.]

...You alright?

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji pauses and glances around.]

...Can we talk?

[action]

[jivitadana]

[Oh, really? So talking with everyone within earshot while you're stressing out this much doesn't matter?

Minato beckoned to Souji with his hand. Up on a tower it is. Let's roll.]

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji follows in silence. As they get out into the air up there, he can't seem to figure out what to do with his hands, tucking them into his pockets, taking them out again and resting a hand on his hip, then going over to place them on the pediment to lean his weight on his arms, looking over the grounds so he isn't looking at Minato.]

[Action :3]

[pottershotter]

[James picks upon that pretty quickly, and that raises all kinds of red flags. Even if they're Quidditch rivals, that doesn't mean James wishes ill on him or anything.

Of course, being a stubborn Gryffindor, he's not going to let Souji go that easily.]

What's wrong? ...Are you alright?

[akapeanut]

Sure. Uh. You wanna go to your room?

[She gets the feeling this is a private thing.]

[Action >)c ]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji glances back down the hall, then back at James. They might be rivals, but they can understand each other, right?]

Something happened. In the library a little while ago...

[But he stops before saying what, having second thoughts.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods.]

Yeah. Let's do that.

[Action :E]

[pottershotter]

[Of course they can! James is entirely ready and willing to be supportive of whatever it is that happened to Souji, and help however he can.]

Well, what happened? ...Did someone attack you? Or something?

[akapeanut]

[She follows him up, trying, as she follows, to determine what the problem is going to be. At least he can't get his boyfriend pregnant. Er, well, probably not.]

So what's up?

[eatsyourscience]

...What do you think about the unforgivable curses?

[action]

[jivitadana]

[Minato stood next to Souji, but didn't say anything. He could wait for Souji and whenever Souji was ready to talk to him.]

[Action |D]

[eatsyourscience]

...The other way around.

[Souji glances around again, then snags James's sleeve and pulls him over to an alcove where, fortunately, there are no paintings or statues.]

...What do you think of the unforgivable curses?

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

...Do you know how to cast any of the unforgivable curses?

[akapeanut]

They're...unforgivable? I don't know. I haven't really thought about it before.

[eatsyourscience]

So you've never cast one.

[Action :O]

[pottershotter]

[This might be the quietest that Souji has ever seen James. He just...stares at Souji, like his whole mental image of him is changing with just that one sentence.

He roughly tugs his arm away.]

...Why?

[He's not an idiot. He has a terrible feeling he knows what Souji will say, but he wants to hear him say it anyway. Give him a sporting chance.]