31 Jan 2020, 12:34
A Dance With Fire
@Jack Burnett @Griseldis Edelhardt @Opeila Seilun
Ruka snorted ungracefully at Jack‘s denial of being some sort of bodyguard.
The fact that he‘d been hiding out a little away from the crowd just to come out of his spot to call someone out for possibly endangering his performance did sound quite bodyguard-like, but Ruka knew better than to do anything but give into Jack‘s illusion and pride.
„Oh, far be it from my mind to suggest you would ever use anything as simple-minded as brute force,“ he said seriously, fighting a grin from spreading on his face as he mustered Jack with raised eyebrows. „But your heightened intellect does tend to intimidate people sometimes, whether you intend to do it or not.“
He did, Ruka assumed, smiling bemusedly to himself. Jack knew exactly what he was saying and how it would affect the person talked to; it made him such a skilled conversationalist.
He rolled his eyes fondly as the Slytherin continued his overly dramatic verbal assault on the Gryffindor Prefect, mouthing a subtle „sorry“ towards Gris, a light laugh falling off his lips.
Talking to people with Jack around was an experience he hadn‘t really made with anybody else before; the Slytherin boy was dramatic and smart, and where Ruka would have just nodded politely and stopped the conversation, Jack had to have the last word.
For someone who didn‘t want any friends, it appeared to Ruka that Jack lived off of talking to people.
Turning his focus back to Gris, Ruka smiled politely as he listened to her explanation of Martial Arts in the world of Performance Arts, a curious hum escaping him as she talked. More than those actual videos she talked about, his mind wandered to words like internet and YouTube, two terms that were about as foreign to him as Capoeira.
Never having had a place to live at had meant that Ruka had never even come close to things like a phone or a computer, and while he was aware of what the internet was supposed to be, he couldn‘t say he had any knowledge on how to use it, or how he would possibly find videos on there.
Maybe Jack would be able to show him over the summer.
For fear of making himself look like the weird kid, Ruka decided not to question anything Gris and Jack were saying, instead letting his gaze drift around the people who had started to leave the crowd they‘d gathered for the performance, and his eyes fell on the familiar shape of a girl.
The same girl that had found him out here not long ago, almost freezing to death under a tree.
„Opeila!“ he yelled across the field, turning away from his two peers for a second to get the Slytherin girl‘s attention.
He was quite sure she had seen him - maybe she‘d even watched his performance - but before he could even think of catching up on her she had gone after the girl who had pointed her wand at him not long ago.
He was unsure of whether she had ignored him or maybe not heard his call, but he had a vague idea of why she hadn‘t come to seek him out and talk to him.
His gaze fell back on Jack who was asking Gris about what sort of Martial Arts she was doing, and he frowned lightly at the Slytherin boy.
Maybe he was wrong, though. Maybe Opeila had had a completely different reason for not coming to chat with him, and Jack didn‘t have anything to do with it.
Sure, in their last conversation she had explicitly warned him not to get close to the Slytherin boy unless he wanted to get hurt, but she had also insisted that she didn‘t want Jack ending up hurt and alone either, so why would her fellow Slytherin‘s presence be a reason for her to avoid Ruka?
Deciding not to read too much into it, Ruka turned back to Jack and Gris with a tight-lipped smile, trying to find his way back into the conversation. „The way I imagine it, Martial Arts would mostly be used in Group Performances, no?“ he asked curiously, not wanting Gris to feel interrogated. „I‘d love to see something like that, it sounds pretty wicked!“
Ruka snorted ungracefully at Jack‘s denial of being some sort of bodyguard.
The fact that he‘d been hiding out a little away from the crowd just to come out of his spot to call someone out for possibly endangering his performance did sound quite bodyguard-like, but Ruka knew better than to do anything but give into Jack‘s illusion and pride.
„Oh, far be it from my mind to suggest you would ever use anything as simple-minded as brute force,“ he said seriously, fighting a grin from spreading on his face as he mustered Jack with raised eyebrows. „But your heightened intellect does tend to intimidate people sometimes, whether you intend to do it or not.“
He did, Ruka assumed, smiling bemusedly to himself. Jack knew exactly what he was saying and how it would affect the person talked to; it made him such a skilled conversationalist.
He rolled his eyes fondly as the Slytherin continued his overly dramatic verbal assault on the Gryffindor Prefect, mouthing a subtle „sorry“ towards Gris, a light laugh falling off his lips.
Talking to people with Jack around was an experience he hadn‘t really made with anybody else before; the Slytherin boy was dramatic and smart, and where Ruka would have just nodded politely and stopped the conversation, Jack had to have the last word.
For someone who didn‘t want any friends, it appeared to Ruka that Jack lived off of talking to people.
Turning his focus back to Gris, Ruka smiled politely as he listened to her explanation of Martial Arts in the world of Performance Arts, a curious hum escaping him as she talked. More than those actual videos she talked about, his mind wandered to words like internet and YouTube, two terms that were about as foreign to him as Capoeira.
Never having had a place to live at had meant that Ruka had never even come close to things like a phone or a computer, and while he was aware of what the internet was supposed to be, he couldn‘t say he had any knowledge on how to use it, or how he would possibly find videos on there.
Maybe Jack would be able to show him over the summer.
For fear of making himself look like the weird kid, Ruka decided not to question anything Gris and Jack were saying, instead letting his gaze drift around the people who had started to leave the crowd they‘d gathered for the performance, and his eyes fell on the familiar shape of a girl.
The same girl that had found him out here not long ago, almost freezing to death under a tree.
„Opeila!“ he yelled across the field, turning away from his two peers for a second to get the Slytherin girl‘s attention.
He was quite sure she had seen him - maybe she‘d even watched his performance - but before he could even think of catching up on her she had gone after the girl who had pointed her wand at him not long ago.
He was unsure of whether she had ignored him or maybe not heard his call, but he had a vague idea of why she hadn‘t come to seek him out and talk to him.
His gaze fell back on Jack who was asking Gris about what sort of Martial Arts she was doing, and he frowned lightly at the Slytherin boy.
Maybe he was wrong, though. Maybe Opeila had had a completely different reason for not coming to chat with him, and Jack didn‘t have anything to do with it.
Sure, in their last conversation she had explicitly warned him not to get close to the Slytherin boy unless he wanted to get hurt, but she had also insisted that she didn‘t want Jack ending up hurt and alone either, so why would her fellow Slytherin‘s presence be a reason for her to avoid Ruka?
Deciding not to read too much into it, Ruka turned back to Jack and Gris with a tight-lipped smile, trying to find his way back into the conversation. „The way I imagine it, Martial Arts would mostly be used in Group Performances, no?“ he asked curiously, not wanting Gris to feel interrogated. „I‘d love to see something like that, it sounds pretty wicked!“
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
31 Jan 2020, 17:34
A Dance With Fire
Opeila had heard Ruka calling her name, and decided to leave the other Slytherin Girl alone with her tree. She definitely wouldn't climb after her or something.
Instead, she turned around and walked over to the other three. What did she care. She would have waited, but if Jack would try to avoid her, like he said in his letter, it was his turn now. This wasn't a reason for her to avoid Ruka, was it?
When she came closer, she recognized the Gryffindor Girl as Gris, the prefect who shared her cauldron cake with the Slytherin. How didn't she recognize her before?
"Ruka, my muggle grandparents would call you a magician.", she said grinning, but truly impressed. She had never seen something like that before. "That was amazing! Glad, that you didn't die with all the distraction. Also, nice to see you again, Gris. Burnett." Despite her rather playful tone, she was nervous. She had thought, that it was only Jack, who wouldn't face her, but now it was her, who couldn't look at her housemate.
Opeila was happy to see Gris again though. She had really started to like the girl on their first meeting, not only because she shared her cauldron cakes with her. Talking to her had made her feel better a lot.
Instead, she turned around and walked over to the other three. What did she care. She would have waited, but if Jack would try to avoid her, like he said in his letter, it was his turn now. This wasn't a reason for her to avoid Ruka, was it?
When she came closer, she recognized the Gryffindor Girl as Gris, the prefect who shared her cauldron cake with the Slytherin. How didn't she recognize her before?
"Ruka, my muggle grandparents would call you a magician.", she said grinning, but truly impressed. She had never seen something like that before. "That was amazing! Glad, that you didn't die with all the distraction. Also, nice to see you again, Gris. Burnett." Despite her rather playful tone, she was nervous. She had thought, that it was only Jack, who wouldn't face her, but now it was her, who couldn't look at her housemate.
Opeila was happy to see Gris again though. She had really started to like the girl on their first meeting, not only because she shared her cauldron cakes with her. Talking to her had made her feel better a lot.
Reducio
@Griseldis Edelhardt @Ruka Tân @Jack Burnett
7 Feb 2020, 20:49
A Dance With Fire
After Griseldis apologized for her attempting to join in Ruka's performance, Jack quickly insisted what he really meant that with her collaboration might result in different kinds of bad accidents. But it didn't matter what reason, it was still not a good idea to perform with Ruka while he was juggling the fire torches. She was so excited at that moment and the thought didn't occur to her. "Sorry for making you look bad, I didn't mean to but regardless of what reason, you're still right about one thing that joining will cause possible incidents that can potentially ruin his performance in the end.", she said to the Slytherin. "As for being a Prefect, I honestly don't care about the reputation or what other people might think about me. I applied for this role was because I simply want to help the students who are truly in need or in any kind of trouble. Nothing more, nothing less." She then saw Ruka mouthing the word "sorry" to her, and she simply nodded back to him with a smile.Interacting with @Jack Burnett @Ruka Tân @Opeila Seilun
After Griseldis explained to the two boys about martial arts, Jack seemed to finally understand a little bit more but he still seemed more curious than before. He said that he did read or heard about another type of martial art called Capoeira, "Oh, Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art, I only heard that Capoeira do a lot of high kicks than punches." Jack tilted his head and asked her did she use martial arts for entertainment a lot. "Hmm...I'm still practicing Kung Fu and Tai Qi myself but I did perform Kung Fu during Chinese festivals or at someone's birthday parties or even in some events. But I think I would mostly use it for self-defense."
Suddenly, she heard Ruka called out a familiar name. Huh? Opeila? Wait, isn't that the first-year Slytherin she met in the hallway the other day and ate Caudlsron Cakes together? The Gryffindor Prefect thought and they did have a pleasant time that day and the Slytherin girl was quite nice. She looked up and saw the brunette was walking towards them. Somehow, she was happy to see her again, then Ruka's voice got her attention back and said that he imagined that martial arts were used in Group Performances and would love to see it. "Yes, it's true. I can recommend seeing the Shaolin Kunya Mountain Group. They mainly do martial arts performances in China but sometimes they got invited to perform in other countries as well." She told Ruka with excitement in her tone, she hadn't seen the Shaolin performance for a very long time now.
Opeila finally approached them, she first praised Ruka's performance then greeted her and Jack. "Hi, Opeila! it's really nice to see you again. How are you lately? Haven't seen you for a while after our share of Cauldron Cakes. And what a surprise, I didn't know you all knew each other, it's such a lovely coincidence." She said while looking at Ruka and Jack, and then looking back at Opeila with a smile.
Stamina: 11 | Evasion: 10 | Strength: 10 | Wisdom: 5 | Arcane Power: 7 | Accuracy: 12
Fearless|Martial Artist|Evasive Maneuvers|Obnoxiously Strong
Fearless|Martial Artist|Evasive Maneuvers|Obnoxiously Strong
16 Feb 2020, 21:17
A Dance With Fire
"Oh, far be it from my mind to suggest you would ever use anything as simple-minded as brute force," Ruka said with a seriousness that Jack severely doubted. "But your heightened intellect does tend to intimidate people sometimes, whether you intend to do it or not."
Jack's mouth twisted at Ruka, unsure whether the second-year sincerely meant to compliment him or was mocking him. If he knew the fire-dancer like he thought he did, the Slytherin strongly suspected both. "Well forgive me, then, for having faith that my peers will have the intelligence to understand my words instead of being intimidated by them," he huffed, feeling flattered all the same.
When Ruka called out to a brunette girl, the red-headed Slytherin glanced over with mild interest, but said nothing. He returned his attention to Gris when the prefect answered the questions about her martial arts. It surprised Jack somewhat to know that the Gryffindor girl claimed not to care about her reputation as a prefect. Wasn't it the prefects' credibility and reputation that gave them their power? He supposed if Gris was confident enough in her own actions and choices, then she wouldn't have to worry about that sort of thing, but Jack thought it somewhat careless of her if she went around proposing unsafe ideas like she had. As a prefect, if she behaved like that on a regular basis, wasn't it likely they would take awaqy her position from her?
Typical Gryffindor, he thought with a small, fond smile, thinking about how he still owed Gris for having refrained from giving him detention for his first night at Hogwarts. More concerned about her idea of upholding justice than about herself... Foolish, yes, but there was a certain aspect of it he had to admire, too. Not that he would admit it out loud.
When Gris, too, addressed Opeila and the Slytherin girl was finished talking to Ruka, Jack offered her a polite smile. "Hey. I'm Jack," he greeted with a small chuckle. "But it seems like you already know my last name, at least. Has Tân been talking about me?" Sneering, he rose a brow at the Gryffindor boy.
@Griseldis Edelhardt, @Opeila Seilun, & @Ruka Tân
Jack's mouth twisted at Ruka, unsure whether the second-year sincerely meant to compliment him or was mocking him. If he knew the fire-dancer like he thought he did, the Slytherin strongly suspected both. "Well forgive me, then, for having faith that my peers will have the intelligence to understand my words instead of being intimidated by them," he huffed, feeling flattered all the same.
When Ruka called out to a brunette girl, the red-headed Slytherin glanced over with mild interest, but said nothing. He returned his attention to Gris when the prefect answered the questions about her martial arts. It surprised Jack somewhat to know that the Gryffindor girl claimed not to care about her reputation as a prefect. Wasn't it the prefects' credibility and reputation that gave them their power? He supposed if Gris was confident enough in her own actions and choices, then she wouldn't have to worry about that sort of thing, but Jack thought it somewhat careless of her if she went around proposing unsafe ideas like she had. As a prefect, if she behaved like that on a regular basis, wasn't it likely they would take awaqy her position from her?
Typical Gryffindor, he thought with a small, fond smile, thinking about how he still owed Gris for having refrained from giving him detention for his first night at Hogwarts. More concerned about her idea of upholding justice than about herself... Foolish, yes, but there was a certain aspect of it he had to admire, too. Not that he would admit it out loud.
When Gris, too, addressed Opeila and the Slytherin girl was finished talking to Ruka, Jack offered her a polite smile. "Hey. I'm Jack," he greeted with a small chuckle. "But it seems like you already know my last name, at least. Has Tân been talking about me?" Sneering, he rose a brow at the Gryffindor boy.
@Griseldis Edelhardt, @Opeila Seilun, & @Ruka Tân
PC: Jack Burnett | iNPC: Ginyami Midorimori
17 Feb 2020, 10:00
A Dance With Fire
@Jack Burnett @Griseldis Edelhardt @Opeila Seilun
Ruka rolled his eyes at Jack’s statement about how he expected their peers to be smart enough to understand his words, but he couldn’t help a fond chuckle escaping his lips.
Deciding not to say anything more to that, he instead focused back on Gris, listening intently to her various explanations or Martial Arts and how they were used as performances. It made his head spin a little bit if he was honest; there were so many foreign words in there that Ruka felt like he was getting lost in the middle of each sentence.
It was actually a pleasant surprise when Opeila seemingly decided to join them after all, and she came over with a compliment for his performance. “Thanks,” he said brightly, indicating a little bow as he would do at the end of a performance. “I strive to bring some magic into the Muggle World.” He laughed a bit and waved Opeila closer into their group.
It was probably quite obvious to the Slytherin girl that he was much better off that day than he had been when they had first met, and he was glad to actually get to talk to her while he wasn’t starved and tired and constantly wallowing in self-pity.
A smile was etched onto his face as he heard that also Gris and Opeila knew each other, but it fell for a moment at Jack’s words towards the Slytherin girl.
From his last conversation with Opeila he had been quite sure that they knew each other, but Jack acted like he had no idea who the girl in front of him was.
Deciding to question Jack about it in private later on, he figured it would be best to just play along rather than stir up any unnecessary conflict.
“Hardly,” he said dryly at Jack’s question about if he had been talking about him. “I already have you around all day, why would I talk about you when I finally have a break from your presence?” His voice was serious but his eyes twinkled in amusement.
Truth was that if he actually had anybody to really talk to, he would probably mention Jack constantly; The kid who helped him with homework and made sure he ate enough, who kept him company whenever possible and actually managed to make him laugh even on his worst days. Jack had become an integral part of his day-to-day life and he doubted he had a lot of stories to tell that didn’t involve the Slytherin.
Still, there was no need to stroke Jack’s ego even more, aside from the fact that the other boy was most certainly well aware that he was kidding anyway.
“So you guys don’t know each other?” he decided to ask anyway, eyes fixing on Jack curiously as if to try and read all the micro expressions in his face.
Whatever the story between Jack and Opeila, Ruka was pretty sure he’d be interested in hearing it.
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
17 Feb 2020, 17:01
A Dance With Fire
Opeila smiled at the Gryffindor prefect, who also seemed to be happy to see her again.
"Oh, I am great, thanks! Also thanks for the Cauldron Cakes again. I will pay you back somehow, as soon as I can get to Hogsmeade." That's exactly what she would do. She'd invite Gris to go to Honeydukes with her and let her choose whatever she wanted.
She turned her attention back to Ruka, who now said, that he wanted to bring some magic into the muggle world. "I guess that's what they lack, right?" She chuckled a little. If her father heard that... He'd hate the idea of people like him getting in touch with magic. He already hated Opeila getting in touch with magic.
And then Jack said something. He introduced himself. And the asked if Ruka had been talking about him, since she knew his last name. Opeila looked at him, speechless, her eyes slightly narrowed. What was this about? She shook her head, irritated.
Ruka seemed a little confused as well, since Opeila had told the Gryffindor, that they did know each other. "...We do.", she answered slowly.
"What kind of bad jo-" Opeila stopped when she realized. His last letter. She had almost forgotten the little paragraph in the end, where he had talked about taking the forgetfulness potion, simply because she didn't think that it would be an actual option for him. "Oh, you didn't." How much could someone fear himself to just make himself forget about his own thoughts? And Jack was lucky, that- Hold on. He didn't. This was not the effect of the forgetfulness potion. It wouldn't let the drinker choose who to forget, right? So it was very unlikely, that he only forgot her, but remembered Ruka. And Gris.
This was indeed a very bad joke. "What game are you playing?", she asked Jack, making herself swallow her anger.
@Griseldis Edelhardt @Ruka Tân @Jack Burnett
"Oh, I am great, thanks! Also thanks for the Cauldron Cakes again. I will pay you back somehow, as soon as I can get to Hogsmeade." That's exactly what she would do. She'd invite Gris to go to Honeydukes with her and let her choose whatever she wanted.
She turned her attention back to Ruka, who now said, that he wanted to bring some magic into the muggle world. "I guess that's what they lack, right?" She chuckled a little. If her father heard that... He'd hate the idea of people like him getting in touch with magic. He already hated Opeila getting in touch with magic.
And then Jack said something. He introduced himself. And the asked if Ruka had been talking about him, since she knew his last name. Opeila looked at him, speechless, her eyes slightly narrowed. What was this about? She shook her head, irritated.
Ruka seemed a little confused as well, since Opeila had told the Gryffindor, that they did know each other. "...We do.", she answered slowly.
"What kind of bad jo-" Opeila stopped when she realized. His last letter. She had almost forgotten the little paragraph in the end, where he had talked about taking the forgetfulness potion, simply because she didn't think that it would be an actual option for him. "Oh, you didn't." How much could someone fear himself to just make himself forget about his own thoughts? And Jack was lucky, that- Hold on. He didn't. This was not the effect of the forgetfulness potion. It wouldn't let the drinker choose who to forget, right? So it was very unlikely, that he only forgot her, but remembered Ruka. And Gris.
This was indeed a very bad joke. "What game are you playing?", she asked Jack, making herself swallow her anger.
@Griseldis Edelhardt @Ruka Tân @Jack Burnett
25 Aug 2020, 00:20
A Dance With Fire
OOC: Hey guys! I'm really sorry for taking such an awful long break from this RPGriseldis watched as the young Slytherin girl smiled back at her and even thanked her for the Claudron Cakes she shared with her last time in the corridors, "Oh, no problem! I'm really glad that you enjoyed it, Opeila." Honestly, aside from Alan, Opeila was the first female student in Hogwarts she shared desserts with, last semester she didn't really have the chance to get to know the others more to share desserts together until this year. And it turned out quite a pleasant time that day. When she mentioned again about wanting to repay her for the Cauldron Cakes once she was able to visit Hogsmeade as a third-year student, Griseldis quickly replied, "Please, you don't need to pay me back, it was a genuine offer from me but if you still insist perhaps we can meet up more in the future and you can write me owls anytime you want." She gave Opeila a wink and a bright smile after saying that.Interacting with @Opeila Winters
Mentioning @Jack Burnett @Ruka Burnett-Tân
Just when Griseldis thought there would be a conversation between the three as friends, what Jack did next slightly confused her. She didn't expect that he would introduce himself to Opeila as if he didn't know her. "Huh?", didn't Opeila called Jack by his surname? Or perhaps like Jack said that it could be Ruka who told Opeila about Jack. She also sensed there was an odd tension building between Opeila and Jack. Did something happen between them? Griseldis thought to herself, looking at them with a curious expression on her face but didn't dare to prey. However, she wasn't the only person who was curious about the situation, even Ruka asked them if they truly didn't know each other.
While Ruka was focusing on Jack, Griseldis focused on Opeila and she noticed the small girl wasn't pleased with what Jack did, even when the brunette asked him what kind of game he was playing, she could hear there was a bit anger in her soft voice. Hopefully, it wouldn't turn into an argument because that would be the last thing Griseldis wanted to see it happen here.
Stamina: 11 | Evasion: 10 | Strength: 10 | Wisdom: 5 | Arcane Power: 7 | Accuracy: 12
Fearless|Martial Artist|Evasive Maneuvers|Obnoxiously Strong
Fearless|Martial Artist|Evasive Maneuvers|Obnoxiously Strong
7 Sep 2020, 08:00
A Dance With Fire
"Hardly," Ruka had said. "I already have you around all day, why would I talk about you when I finally have a break from your presence?"
The Welsh boy had laughed at that, but then the upperclassman asked a new question in addition to casting him a strange, curious look.
"So you guys don’t know each other?"
Before he could answer, however, Opeila was already giving her own response. Or several, it seemed.
"...We do," she insisted first. "What kind of bad jo-" She cut herself off before starting again, looking as though she'd realized or remembered something. "Oh, you didn't." Then, "What game are you playing?"
"Huh?" Gris chimed in shortly after.
Amid all the confusion going around regarding Opeila knowing him, Jack appeared fairly puzzled himself.
"Well, I've seen her around, sure. We're in the same house together. What of it?" He scratched his head quizzically at Opeila. "Did you guys mean something else by 'know'?" he looked from Ruka to Opeila and back again.
Then he frowned at Opeila. "...What didn't I do?" Jack asked, referring to her statement earlier which he could only guess had been addressing him. "What game?"
It was perhaps ironic that the very day Ruka had met Jack, the latter had been looking for a place to hide from Opeila while recalling the regrettable last interaction they'd had in the courtyard consisting of Jack's declaration that they weren't friends. However, he didn't think he'd mentioned Opeila to Ruka by name. Certainly not, at the very least, by her first name.
If Ruka had claimed not to have talked about Jack, presuming it was the truth and not just a joke, then had Opeila talked to Ruka about him? How else might Ruka have suspected that Opeila knew Jack?
Unless, of course, he had simply been supposing they might have because they were both Slytherins, but Jack doubted Ruka would have assumed such a thing. Why, then, had Ruka asked if Jack and Opeila didn't know each other as if he'd expected them to? Was it because she'd called him by his last name without having been told?
He studied Ruka with his own curiosity, wondering if the Gryffindor knew just how many other students knew Jack's name by then without ever actually having met him. The Slytherin knew he himself had already been alarmed to find out just how much his quickly-growing reputation had preceded him, but it wasn't the good sort.
Would Ruka think less of him if he knew? Perhaps only time would tell.
@Griseldis Edelhardt, @Opeila Winters, & @Burnett-Tân
((No worries! We all get busy, especially you since you're a prefect!))
The Welsh boy had laughed at that, but then the upperclassman asked a new question in addition to casting him a strange, curious look.
"So you guys don’t know each other?"
Before he could answer, however, Opeila was already giving her own response. Or several, it seemed.
"...We do," she insisted first. "What kind of bad jo-" She cut herself off before starting again, looking as though she'd realized or remembered something. "Oh, you didn't." Then, "What game are you playing?"
"Huh?" Gris chimed in shortly after.
Amid all the confusion going around regarding Opeila knowing him, Jack appeared fairly puzzled himself.
"Well, I've seen her around, sure. We're in the same house together. What of it?" He scratched his head quizzically at Opeila. "Did you guys mean something else by 'know'?" he looked from Ruka to Opeila and back again.
Then he frowned at Opeila. "...What didn't I do?" Jack asked, referring to her statement earlier which he could only guess had been addressing him. "What game?"
It was perhaps ironic that the very day Ruka had met Jack, the latter had been looking for a place to hide from Opeila while recalling the regrettable last interaction they'd had in the courtyard consisting of Jack's declaration that they weren't friends. However, he didn't think he'd mentioned Opeila to Ruka by name. Certainly not, at the very least, by her first name.
If Ruka had claimed not to have talked about Jack, presuming it was the truth and not just a joke, then had Opeila talked to Ruka about him? How else might Ruka have suspected that Opeila knew Jack?
Unless, of course, he had simply been supposing they might have because they were both Slytherins, but Jack doubted Ruka would have assumed such a thing. Why, then, had Ruka asked if Jack and Opeila didn't know each other as if he'd expected them to? Was it because she'd called him by his last name without having been told?
He studied Ruka with his own curiosity, wondering if the Gryffindor knew just how many other students knew Jack's name by then without ever actually having met him. The Slytherin knew he himself had already been alarmed to find out just how much his quickly-growing reputation had preceded him, but it wasn't the good sort.
Would Ruka think less of him if he knew? Perhaps only time would tell.
@Griseldis Edelhardt, @Opeila Winters, & @Burnett-Tân
((No worries! We all get busy, especially you since you're a prefect!))
PC: Jack Burnett | iNPC: Ginyami Midorimori