The Breakfast Club Open

Gem had absolutely no clue as to where he would be able to sit today.

His cousins, while were his best friends, were also some of the lazy arses that he'd ever come into contact with. How they managed to stay asleep through the strong aroma of food stacked, the chatter of people that rang through the hallways all throughout the school... he would find it relieving, but when you've got few people to speak to, it could be frustrating.

It was a bigger relief that he had gotten an owl from some kid called James, who he could faintly recognize from across the table he was sitting at. While there was nervousness that, when he sat with them, it could be seen as barging in and interrupting, but he had been invited... some new friends couldn't hurt, and he seemed well-intentioned, so he sucked it up, grabbed his bowl of porridge, and dragged his feet along to the side of the table they were seated at.

Perhaps it would've been better if he hadn't come in in the middle of James (he was pretty sure it was James, he knew because he looked a lot like his cousin, Theo) telling a story of some sort, but on the same note, if they were completely quiet, that might've been way worse.

"Aye, you're James, aren't ya?" He asked softly, hoping he'd be able to make out what he said in spite of the conversations happening in the background. "You wouldn't mind if I took a seat 'ere, would ya?" He swallowed, hoping his face wasn't as red as it seemed. These were fellow Ravenclaws for Christ's sake! He had no reason to have his tailed tucked between his legs, and besides, the worst that could happen was rejection-- and even then, that sounded kind of scary. "U-Unless you're waitin' for someone else, then tha's fine." His hands felt like they were going to burn off if he held the bowl of porridge any longer than he was right now, he really needed an answer quick at this point-- it was basically a life or death question.

Interacting with @James McMurtrie

Logan had been sitting next to James, having helped him get here, and had been listening to his story. "You really should be nice to the portraits, you know. Even if they're not answering your questions and are instead going on tangents about other things." Logan pointed out. "But I can fully understand where you're coming from. It's hard to be calm and kind when something is annoying you."

He then listened to the next part, and slightly chuckled. "Sorry for laughing, but that honestly sounds a little silly, even if it is actually pretty dangerous. But 'The Centaur King' is such a silly sounding title." Logan smiled slightly.

He then noticed another student approach them, another first year. Hm, could the Fantastic Friends increase size to be five people, then? They needed more variety though, it's only Ravenclaws so far. Well, that could be sorted later, perhaps.

He decided to let James be the one to respond to the other student, since they had directly addressed James and so expected an answer from James and not one from Logan. So he just waited quietly for a response, though he was pretty certain James would say yes, since James is such a friendly person.

Interacting with @Gem Stuart

The walk to the Hall for breakfast had been rather painful as Lark became more and more aware of just how hungry she had been. When she had met the boys at the table James was already in story mode. Getting herself something to eat she sat across from James looking around for Clem. Had he not come with them? They had taken off rather fast. Lark kept watch on James as he engulfed the breakfast spread in front of him. Boys.

Although his story about the Centuar had been extremely humorous. Lark wasnt sure she had ever been in a heated debate with a portrait before. She made a conscious decision to pay attention to any centaurs they may pass by in the future. She would surely not want to miss seeing that interaction.

Giving attention back to the waffles that sat half eaten before her she took another bite. She hadn't minded the boys taking off without her and it had given her a bit of quiet. Most of the meal she kept to herself laughing at certain parts of the story but mainly focusing on her plate.

As she leaned forward to refill her goblet, Lark caught sight of a fellow first year approaching them.

"Aye, you're James, aren't ya?"

Glancing up she saw the boy make his way to the table and stand frozen in place, porridge in hand. As he began talking to James, she could tell he looked a little uncomfotable.

"Join us!"

Lark nodded at the table and gave him a smile. She could see the poor boy looked like he was about to drop his food or himself to the floor.

Gem's head turned when he heard a voice other than James' reach his ears, beckoning him over to sit with the group. Relieved, he quickly shuffled himself into the seat beside James, glancing at the girl across him with a thankful grin on his face.

"Fhanks a lot, mate. Felt like me fingers was gonna burn off wiv this porridge, it's so hot it should be illegal." He sniffed, getting himself a spoon so he could stir it around, his nose crinkling up at the steam that rose up from it. "I'm Gem, by e' way. Wot's your name, then?" His introduction was short, more aimed at the girl who'd let him sit with them quickly as ever.
It wasn't at all that he wasn't used to social interaction, he liked meeting new people, it was more so the fact that he never liked to feel like he was butting in. Still, they clearly didn't seem to mind much, and for that he was grateful.

He took a glance at everyone's plates, raising his eyebrows when he saw the excessive amount of sausages piled on to James' plate, grinning humorously at it.
"You think he likes sausages?" He asked sarcastically, not snappy or rude, just a playful question in hopes it'd get a conversation rolling nice and smoothly. He found it right to observe the people he was around some more, a boy with longer hair, freckles, and deeply blue eyes-- quite the counter to his duller brown ones. Then, the girl that had invited him over; she was pretty, skin that was as pale as snow, grey hair to match-- and Christ, if he thought blue was a curious color, hers were golden yellow, much like the color he'd imagine an eighteenth century lamp to glow in a pitch black night.

He spooned a bit of the porridge in his mouth, only realizing he probably should've blown on it when it had already touched his tongue, making his eyes widen about the size of the moon. There was a brief moment where he had to decide what he was to do in this kind of situation, sucking in some cold air to soften the blow to absolutely no avail. He tried to play it off even though his mouth was slowly cooking on the inside, even his throat burned like lava when he had slowly swallowed it down. That had to have been worse than being shot in the legs and dumped into some acid, he thought bitterly, wiping his eyes, which had watered in the process of his misery. He was sure everyone at the table had seen that entire spiel, but if he was lucky, it would be seen as something funny rather than humiliating. Just his luck, having that happen around some new people. Really.

As Gem approached the table James had stuffed a second sausage into his mouth, so as the boy shakily greeted the group, he was unable to respond immediately. Electing to give his new friend a sort of half-nod as he chewed happily on his breakfast.

Lark took the lead and invited the boy to sit at the table with the three, and as he sat he noticed James' dragon's horde worth of sausages.

"You think he likes sausages?" he laughingly said as an aside to Lark.

As James swallowed the first sausage, he lifted another sausage in the air, using it like a scepter to make a declarative statement, "I'll have you know, Gem, that I am a growing boy, and I must be filled to burst with sausages each morning lest I die!" he said, taking a bite out of one to fully punctuate his point.

"Hope you guys don't mind, I snuck up to the Owlery last night and invited some of the other Ravenclaw first-years to breakfast. Gotta to stick together, yeah?" he said with a grin towards Gem.

As he looked at Gem, he noticed the tell-tale signs of a nasty mouth burn as tears started well in the boys, eyes. He quickly poured milk into an empty goblet and slid it across to Gem, in his best attempt at a discrete rescue.

Then he paused for a moment and turned to Logan, "Hold up, let's rewind things for a second. What was that you said about dangerous?"

Gem was surprised that James seemed to notice the nasty burn on the inside of his mouth, shooting him a small, thankful smile in regards to the goblet of milk, quick to take ahold of it and down it in a couple gulps-- his tongue still ached, but it was a pretty large improvement from a couple seconds ago. He liked James so far, funny and kind, that was all that went through his head for now.

"Certainly, your majesty. The court will have you given all the sustenance- sausages or not- you require!" He bowed his head jokingly, only perking it back up when the topic of danger had arose.
He'd assumed it was in reference to the previous conversation, but he'd only caught something about a Centaur King and the fact James was repeatedly shot at by the rest of the paintings that also happened to be centaurs. He guessed that was all the context he'd needed. Still, he looked to the boy that James had- the one with the freckles and blue eyes- with the same amount of curiosity, if not more.

"Yeh, I wanna know too. Wot about them bein' dangerous? I didn't know they could cause yeh any harm." He held up another spoonful of porridge, waiting for it to cool off before he stuck it in his trap this time, though his eyes stood stuck on the other young Ravenclaw. This ought to keep a real conversation going, he thought, dangerous centaur paintings attacking young students... if you said that out loud, you'd sound absolutely mad. Come to think of it, it sort of sounded like a magazine headliner.

Interacting with @Gem Stuart @James McMurtrie @Lark Flaer

Logan noticed Lark invite the other boy to sit down with them, and figured that he could've actually invited the other to sit down with them himself, then, and he probably shouldn't have waited, but oh well.

He slightly chuckled when he heard the other complaining about the temperature of their porridge, slightly amused by it. He couldn't say why it amused him, it just slightly did. He then heard the boy's name. Gem sounded like a nice name.

"You weren't asking me, but my name is Logan. The girl you asked is called Lark. You already said James' name so you already know him. There's also Clem, but he's not here yet. Probably got lost or something." Logan slightly smiled.

He then listened to the rest of their conversation, chuckling at the remarks all about sausages and noticing the milk. "Since there's milk, please can you pass me some? I might as well have at least something, even if it's just a drink and not food."

He then was surprised when he was asked how the whole centaur thing was dangerous. "You said they were shooting arrows at you, how is that not dangerous?" He asked, clearly confused. "I mean, what if it hits you? Or what if it hits someone else passing by?"

James laughed, "Oh no! Sorry Logan. I meant like - they shoot the arrows in the paintings - they basically end up landing in other paintings or otherwise just disappear. I don't think I'm in any real danger but the Centaurs are probably going to be following me around for a while. Oh geez there we go..."

James pointed to something behind Logan, and pinched the tip of his nose. There was a large portrait mounted on the wall of the great hall, which usually only housed the image of an elderly professor. However, at this moment the frame was shared by an angry-looking Centaur drawing a long bony-looking finger across his neck in a throat-cutting gesture and mouthing "You're dead".

"Whelp, I guess you can't be friends with everyone", James sighed and continued to bite the end off his sausage. Eyeing the remaining seven with a grim realization that his appetite may be fading faster than his sausage pile.

He turned back to the new-comer and gave him a grin and put out his hand.

"Anyway, I don't think we've met properly, I'm James, sworn enemy of the Painted Centaurs and Sausage King of Hogwarts. What's your story, Gem Stuart?"

"Ah, I.. I had taken what you said a little too literally, sorry." Logan quietly apologized, before deciding to stop waiting for the milk he asked for, and just quietly leaning over to get it. He poured himself a small amount, and quietly started drinking it. He felt awkward for having assumed his friend was being literal.

He turned when James pointed at the painting, and had to quickly swallow his current sip of milk, to avoid spitting it out. He quietly chuckled. "No, no you can't be friends with everyone, unfortunately." He kept chuckling, but when nobody was looking, other than the centaur, he gave the centaur an absolute death glare that clearly said 'If you want to kill my friend, you need to kill me first, and killing me will not be easy, so don't bother.'

He then turned back to the table, as James started talking to Gem again. He chuckled at James' title. "You should send an army of sausages to fight you sworn enemies, the painted centaurs, then, if you're the sausage king. It should be actually possible with a bit of magic, so if you do a little research you might find the right spell?" Logan jokingly suggested.