15 May 2020, 06:53
Badger Pageant
The past few days had been rough. Every time he tried to help, he made things worse. Every thing he said came out stupid. He would have thought they were funny before. Before what? He didn't know, entirely, but something wasn't the same, and he knew that for certain. It was just like he thought at the ball. He'd turned into a sad clown. There wasn't an ounce of energy left in him that he could put toward caring, which helped slightly. The young man had been quite taken with the study of his own image since becoming a writer for the Headliner, and that certainly hadn't changed. Perhaps that was why he chose to take comfort in his own reflection. The lad was leaned over a sink in the boy's bathroom, looking into the mirror, delicately applying some eyeliner to one eye. George had never been an artist, but he felt like one right now. Stolen applicators delicately applying stolen pigments to his face, like some rogue painter.
Unfortunately, his masterpiece was just making himself look like a badger. He'd given up on trying to look good in makeup just before the ball, when he realized that whether he liked it or not, making himself look like a badger was about the only thing he could accomplished with it. There was some kind of arcane ritual behind it that made it possible for it to make you pretty. His mom did it every day, and surely some of the girls at Hogwarts did too, but he could never muster up the courage to ask any of them about it. Maybe it was just his destiny to be a badger, just like that stupid old hat had said.
Sometimes, he paused to look at himself and felt like crying. He didn't, of course - it would make him look weirder than he already did if he cried, and people came in and out of this bathroom fairly regularly, so he would just embarrass himself further. Secondly, it would make his makeup run, and that would ruin the whole point.
His repertoire had expanded significantly since the departure of Professor Bercegeay, although it was only a short-term blessing. The shades were abundant, but they wouldn't last. Eventually he would need to resort to using some of these greens or blues that clashed horribly with his fair complexion. Not that any of the students at this school would have any idea about that. Maybe at Bow-battons he'd be able to get some good beauty advice, but not Hogwarts. Ah, well. Even if it was a bad magic school, it was still magic school.
@Jake Morris & @Ruka Tân
Unfortunately, his masterpiece was just making himself look like a badger. He'd given up on trying to look good in makeup just before the ball, when he realized that whether he liked it or not, making himself look like a badger was about the only thing he could accomplished with it. There was some kind of arcane ritual behind it that made it possible for it to make you pretty. His mom did it every day, and surely some of the girls at Hogwarts did too, but he could never muster up the courage to ask any of them about it. Maybe it was just his destiny to be a badger, just like that stupid old hat had said.
Sometimes, he paused to look at himself and felt like crying. He didn't, of course - it would make him look weirder than he already did if he cried, and people came in and out of this bathroom fairly regularly, so he would just embarrass himself further. Secondly, it would make his makeup run, and that would ruin the whole point.
His repertoire had expanded significantly since the departure of Professor Bercegeay, although it was only a short-term blessing. The shades were abundant, but they wouldn't last. Eventually he would need to resort to using some of these greens or blues that clashed horribly with his fair complexion. Not that any of the students at this school would have any idea about that. Maybe at Bow-battons he'd be able to get some good beauty advice, but not Hogwarts. Ah, well. Even if it was a bad magic school, it was still magic school.
@Jake Morris & @Ruka Tân
"outlandishly gay for boys"
Stamina: 10 / Evasion: 12 / Strength: 3 / Wisdom: 13 / Arcane Power: 7 / Accuracy: 12 [color: #632d0b]
19 May 2020, 19:35
Badger Pageant
@George Henry @Jake Morris
Ruka had made a grave mistake while practicing what should have been a ridiculously simple routine, and it had been to not pay attention.
It was the most important thing to do, according to his dad; When you're working with fire, make sure you give it all of your attention before it was able to get offended and bite you in return. It had just been so simple, had come to him like second nature, that Ruka had believed it wouldn't matter should he just take his eyes off the torches in his hands for a second. It had happened much quicker than he could have seen it coming. One wrong step, one misplaced grip, and he had put his left hand right into the flame at the tip of his torch.
Burns were something he was so used to, that he hadn't even let go of the torch - It was an instinct he clearly didn't possess anymore. Only a few seconds after the fire had started licking at his skin did he have the sense to let go and extinguish the flames, but by then the damage was done already. The skin on the back of his hand had become dark red, a strange mix of dark blue and purple in the parts that had been particularly affected, and blisters were already starting to form all over.
His immediate reaction should have been to take the jar of Burn Healing Paste out of his messenger bag and apply the substance to the wounded area, but instead he just took his bag and shoes into his healthy hand and sprinted, barefoot, to the nearest Lavatory.
Pushing the door open and heading straight for the sink, he barely noticed the other boy, too focused on opening the tab to cold water and pushing his hand under it to relieve the stinging burn. He could feel his skin stretching and pulling, like it was already trying to crust under the insistent heat, but after a few seconds under the water the feeling subsided, giving way to a vaguely comfortable chill that said his hand was now safe from getting properly cooked through.
Sighing in slight relief, Ruka pulled his hand back, wiggling his fingers a bit to regain feeling in them. Now that his sole focus was not his injured hand anymore, his gaze drifted to the boy by the sink next to him, and he could barely contain the surprised laugh that escaped him at the sight of the other's face. He was clearly doing his best to apply fine lines of black around his eyes, but the result looked more clownish than anything else, and Ruka had the distinct feeling that that wasn't the intended outcome.
"What are you trying to be?" he asked with a little snort escaping him. It wasn't that he would judge anybody for applying any type of paint to their face - he had done just that with Jack for their Talent Show performance - but the fact that this particular attempt at face paint seemed to just not go the way it was planned was infinitely amusing to Ruka. "Should've probably let someone else do that. Or used some instructions or something. Unless you meant to look like a sad clown, in which case, Well done!"
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
26 May 2020, 04:23
Badger Pageant
@George Henry @Ruka Tân
Jake didn't very much like the main boy's bathroom.
For one, it was dirty - nothing like his bathroom at home which was always kept immaculately clean. The one in Hufflepuff common room was at least a little bit cleaner, so maybe it wasn't the Hufflepuffs causing the problem.
More importantly, you didn't know who you were going to see when you went in there. In the Hufflepuff bathroom, you knew you were going to see Hufflepuffs. That was only narrowing it down a little, but that little went a long way.
Most importantly, it was the only place in the school that Jake couldn't really ask somebody to come with him (at least not without much shame). That meant it was one of the only places where he had to be alone. And when Jake was alone, anything could happen.
That was always true really, when you were at Hogwarts. Anything could happen any second of any day. You never knew when, or how, but it always would. Being alone didn't make much of a difference there. But when you were alone there was nobody to protect you from the things that would do you harm. Nobody to hold you or tell you it was going to be ok. That was a little thing too, but it also went a long way. Jake was scared. He was always scared lately...maybe more than he'd ever been. But it was easier to forget you were scared when you weren't alone.
Today, Jake didn't really have a choice in the matter. Today, Jake really had to go. So he braved the bathroom, and was relieved he did, and in his hurry he hadn't even noticed the other occupants over by the sink. It wasn't until he wandered up and reached over to wash his hands that he noticed just who was surrounding him.
"Oh... Hi Georgie, Hi Ruka," the boy greeted, giving both a wave, though missing some of the usual gusto with which he might have said hello. He hadn't spoken very much lately. Not since the ball. He was as quiet as he'd been his first month at school. Still, the greeting was friendly enough. It was a relief to see familiar faces - or mostly familiar. Jake peered up a little closer at the badger black which surrounded his friend's eyes and squinted.
"Did I miss Quidditch?" he asked dazedly. Something about that seemed wrong, but he couldn't be sure. He had been forgetting a lot lately...Had thought Saturday was Monday, and thought Thursday was Saturday. Once he had almost gone down to breakfast in his pajamas until Jack had stopped him. He hadn't even noticed. He tried to think really hard if anybody had said anything about a game lately, but couldn't keep a train of thought for long enough. If there WAS a game then he needed his badger costume, and if he had his badger costume then he would have to head for the stands. His mouth twitched for a moment at the thought of it. He should have quit as mascot, but he had forgotten that too.
Jake didn't very much like the main boy's bathroom.
For one, it was dirty - nothing like his bathroom at home which was always kept immaculately clean. The one in Hufflepuff common room was at least a little bit cleaner, so maybe it wasn't the Hufflepuffs causing the problem.
More importantly, you didn't know who you were going to see when you went in there. In the Hufflepuff bathroom, you knew you were going to see Hufflepuffs. That was only narrowing it down a little, but that little went a long way.
Most importantly, it was the only place in the school that Jake couldn't really ask somebody to come with him (at least not without much shame). That meant it was one of the only places where he had to be alone. And when Jake was alone, anything could happen.
That was always true really, when you were at Hogwarts. Anything could happen any second of any day. You never knew when, or how, but it always would. Being alone didn't make much of a difference there. But when you were alone there was nobody to protect you from the things that would do you harm. Nobody to hold you or tell you it was going to be ok. That was a little thing too, but it also went a long way. Jake was scared. He was always scared lately...maybe more than he'd ever been. But it was easier to forget you were scared when you weren't alone.
Today, Jake didn't really have a choice in the matter. Today, Jake really had to go. So he braved the bathroom, and was relieved he did, and in his hurry he hadn't even noticed the other occupants over by the sink. It wasn't until he wandered up and reached over to wash his hands that he noticed just who was surrounding him.
"Oh... Hi Georgie, Hi Ruka," the boy greeted, giving both a wave, though missing some of the usual gusto with which he might have said hello. He hadn't spoken very much lately. Not since the ball. He was as quiet as he'd been his first month at school. Still, the greeting was friendly enough. It was a relief to see familiar faces - or mostly familiar. Jake peered up a little closer at the badger black which surrounded his friend's eyes and squinted.
"Did I miss Quidditch?" he asked dazedly. Something about that seemed wrong, but he couldn't be sure. He had been forgetting a lot lately...Had thought Saturday was Monday, and thought Thursday was Saturday. Once he had almost gone down to breakfast in his pajamas until Jack had stopped him. He hadn't even noticed. He tried to think really hard if anybody had said anything about a game lately, but couldn't keep a train of thought for long enough. If there WAS a game then he needed his badger costume, and if he had his badger costume then he would have to head for the stands. His mouth twitched for a moment at the thought of it. He should have quit as mascot, but he had forgotten that too.
26 May 2020, 21:51
Badger Pageant
George's eyes darted to the Gryffindor in the reflection, glaring at him. "What are you trying to be?" he repeated back, with a pointed glance down at that burned hand. "Medium rare?" he guessed, with a little smirk on his glossed lips. He was trying to be mean, but it came out sort of silly, so he couldn't stop a giggle from leaking out. Steeling himself, he gave it another shot, focusing his attention on himself again as he examined his terrible handiwork.@Jake Morris @Ruka Tân
"Aren't you one of the ones who ran off from that pool party?" he wondered, trying to put a finger on where he'd seen Ruka's face before. He looked to Ruka in the reflection. The hurt didn't show on George's face - he was trying to deflect it back before it sank in. "I guess if I wanted an expert on how to make a fool out of myself, I've got you here. Sad clown extraordinaire. Could you leave me alone, please?"
And as if things couldn't get any better, little Jake showed up in his reflection. George laid his makeup brush down on the palette, laying his hands down on the sink's edge. When Jake waved, he waved back, as was their routine. "Hi Jake," he said, trying to sound upbeat despite his appearance. Shoulders slumped, dark bags around his eyes... well, maybe. The subtle implication of dark bags, beyond the tar-black smears that he'd coated his face with.
"No, Jake. There's no game or nothing, I'm just doing it because I'm bored," George said, picking his brush back up and beckoning Jake to come over as he applied another layer of dark powder over his eyes, smearing a line down his nose. "I was trying to copy that lady - head of house for Gryffindor. She's always got this grim look on her face... but I think I just made a badger again."
He turned around, finally facing the other boys directly rather than in the reflection. He glanced down at the palette, then to Jake... the little badger could use a makeover, surely. "Come here, I'll do you up. You'll be glowing like Professor Berce-what's-her-name when I'm done with you."
"outlandishly gay for boys"
Stamina: 10 / Evasion: 12 / Strength: 3 / Wisdom: 13 / Arcane Power: 7 / Accuracy: 12 [color: #632d0b]
29 May 2020, 01:01
Badger Pageant
@George Henry @Jake Morris
Ruka turned his body fully to look at the boy next to him incredulously for a moment before a wide grin spread on his face, a small laugh escaping his lungs, eyes sparking with genuine amusement. The other boy's words were like an attempt at being mean, but they came out humours anyway, and that small giggle did nothing to make him seem any more menacing.
Neither did the make-up.
"I was aiming more for well done," he answered lightly, taking a look at his own hand for a moment to assess the damage. Once he had some of that Burn Healing Paste on his skin it would surely be a lot better. Shrugging lightly to himself, Ruka turned his attention back to the boy by the other sink, this time without a smile to brighten his features.
The mention of the Pool Party made his skin crawl uncomfortably. "Yeah, that was me," he said, resisting the urge to bite at his lip. He was not going to let himself fall back into any more of his bad habits. "Flattered you'd have noticed me with how many people were there." He took a deep breath before carefully putting his wet, burnt hand against his chest to dry it off on his shirt. "Can't say you were equally captivating." To be fair, the Pool Party had been overfilled with people Ruka had never talked to before and he had had sufficient other things to concentrate on. When he was already bad at connecting with people on regular days, the Pool Party had been one of his worst.
Before he could say more about that, however, he noticed a new arrival as the small boy came up to wash his hands, looking worn out to a degree Ruka could recognise from himself not even too long ago. "Jake," he said, his voice softening lightly as he greeted the small Hufflepuff as he was greeted first.
Jake's words also put a name to the face next to him; Georgie? Sounded more like a nickname. George, more likely.
"You don't look so good." It wasn't the most insightful observation, but the only one Ruka could come up with in the moment. He didn't think he knew Jake well enough to make any assumptions on why he might be a bit less enthusiastic than he had seen him before, but he also didn't feel like it was his place to outright ask. Especially not considering Jake and George seemed to know each other more closely judging by their quick exchange of words and George's offer of putting some make-up on Jake as well.
"Don't do it, Jake," he said in a playful warning, shaking his head in mock horror. George had mentioned to want to look like the Head of Gryffindor Professor, but the resemblance was lost to Ruka. "Look at him, he's clearly not very good at it. He'll make a racoon out of you!" He chuckled lightly as he slowly rummaged in his messenger bag for the jar of orange paste, smiling lightly when he pulled it out and gently smeared some of it on his injured hand.
Better. Should have been the first thing to do, rather than running to run his hand under cold water, but whatever damage had been done was done now, and the Paste was going to take care of the rest.
"Unless you want to be a racoon," he added thoughtfully, tapping at his chin with two fingers. "You can be anything you want to be."
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
29 May 2020, 03:42
Badger Pageant
@George Henry @Ruka Tân
The two boys both greeted him - Ruka and George. It was odd seeing the both of them in one place. He hadn't even known they were friends. They were two of the people that he looked up to the most. George was his older, braver, bunk buddy, and Ruka the animal expert who could make splints for bunnies. Both of them were great in a crisis.
Ruka seemed to see something within him though, and remarked that Jake didn't look so good. "I don't...?" Jake blushed, and looked up into the mirror. What did he look like? He peered at his reflection, and tried to find signs of what the Gryffindor boy had seen. But it was his same face, his same hair, his same everything. He looked the same as always...didn't he? Still, if Ruka could tell that he didn't look so good there must have been something to see. He sure didn't feel so good.
How did people always know?
It was only when he looked back at Ruka that he noticed...Ruka didn't look so good either. As Jake dried his hands on his own shirt, he caught glimpse of the red and raw looking skin on Ruka's. "Your hand," the boy uttered, breaking out of his own stupor. "Are you okay?" he asked, troubled eyes fixed on the sore hand. It was only when he saw the calm way that Ruka tended to it, and the lack of tears in Ruka's eyes that he felt that maybe it was going to be alright. If Ruka knew how to treat animals, maybe he knew how to treat humans too.
Jake turned back to George when addressed. Luckily, there wasn't actually a Quidditch game. George was just looking for something to do. Jake knew what that was like. He'd felt a little bored too lately, but it was hard to fix since he didn't really feel like doing anything at all, even the things he usually liked. George continued to dab at his face with the brush and Jake watched him closely. He'd never actually seen him put the badger face on before. The paints he was using didn't seem to be paints at all. George urged him to come closer.
"Okay," Jake said, obediently approaching his bunkmate, looking at the little paint brush that would soon be fixing him. Maybe George's face hadn't turned out like he'd wanted, but Jake liked when he made badgers. He had always thought the bigger boy's badger paint was super cool. If he hadn't had a mascot costume of his own, he might have asked earlier if he could try the paint too. Why couldn't he look like somebody different though? Professor Berce-ing-way (he could never remember her name right) had embarrassed him, tried to give him a valentine partner, and she always made him fly even when he was scared. He didn't want to look like her. He would have much rather been a badger.
He didn't say that though. He would do it anyway, because George had asked him to. The young badger usually did what George asked him to do. But the words had special pull now. Because George had said 'come here', instead of 'go away'. Sometimes of late, Jake found himself getting the second one. He didn't know why, or what it was about his friend that had changed. He didn't know what he'd done wrong. Or what he'd done today that was different. For now, it didn't really matter what they did. So what if he had to look like Professor Berce-a-something? He'd at least have some time with George.
Ruka playfully warned him off though, saying that George would make a raccoon out of him. That perked Jake right up.
"Really?" the boy asked, his face brightening a bit. Did he want to be a raccoon? Certainly he did. Did that mean George could make other animals too? Ruka seemed to think so. Apparently, Jake could be anything he wanted to be.
"Anything...?" he asked, looking back and forth from Ruka to George. It only took the boy a moment to think through his options. "Could you make me a tiger?" he asked, tentative excitement beginning to creep back into his voice, for the first time in a long while.
The two boys both greeted him - Ruka and George. It was odd seeing the both of them in one place. He hadn't even known they were friends. They were two of the people that he looked up to the most. George was his older, braver, bunk buddy, and Ruka the animal expert who could make splints for bunnies. Both of them were great in a crisis.
Ruka seemed to see something within him though, and remarked that Jake didn't look so good. "I don't...?" Jake blushed, and looked up into the mirror. What did he look like? He peered at his reflection, and tried to find signs of what the Gryffindor boy had seen. But it was his same face, his same hair, his same everything. He looked the same as always...didn't he? Still, if Ruka could tell that he didn't look so good there must have been something to see. He sure didn't feel so good.
How did people always know?
It was only when he looked back at Ruka that he noticed...Ruka didn't look so good either. As Jake dried his hands on his own shirt, he caught glimpse of the red and raw looking skin on Ruka's. "Your hand," the boy uttered, breaking out of his own stupor. "Are you okay?" he asked, troubled eyes fixed on the sore hand. It was only when he saw the calm way that Ruka tended to it, and the lack of tears in Ruka's eyes that he felt that maybe it was going to be alright. If Ruka knew how to treat animals, maybe he knew how to treat humans too.
Jake turned back to George when addressed. Luckily, there wasn't actually a Quidditch game. George was just looking for something to do. Jake knew what that was like. He'd felt a little bored too lately, but it was hard to fix since he didn't really feel like doing anything at all, even the things he usually liked. George continued to dab at his face with the brush and Jake watched him closely. He'd never actually seen him put the badger face on before. The paints he was using didn't seem to be paints at all. George urged him to come closer.
"Okay," Jake said, obediently approaching his bunkmate, looking at the little paint brush that would soon be fixing him. Maybe George's face hadn't turned out like he'd wanted, but Jake liked when he made badgers. He had always thought the bigger boy's badger paint was super cool. If he hadn't had a mascot costume of his own, he might have asked earlier if he could try the paint too. Why couldn't he look like somebody different though? Professor Berce-ing-way (he could never remember her name right) had embarrassed him, tried to give him a valentine partner, and she always made him fly even when he was scared. He didn't want to look like her. He would have much rather been a badger.
He didn't say that though. He would do it anyway, because George had asked him to. The young badger usually did what George asked him to do. But the words had special pull now. Because George had said 'come here', instead of 'go away'. Sometimes of late, Jake found himself getting the second one. He didn't know why, or what it was about his friend that had changed. He didn't know what he'd done wrong. Or what he'd done today that was different. For now, it didn't really matter what they did. So what if he had to look like Professor Berce-a-something? He'd at least have some time with George.
Ruka playfully warned him off though, saying that George would make a raccoon out of him. That perked Jake right up.
"Really?" the boy asked, his face brightening a bit. Did he want to be a raccoon? Certainly he did. Did that mean George could make other animals too? Ruka seemed to think so. Apparently, Jake could be anything he wanted to be.
"Anything...?" he asked, looking back and forth from Ruka to George. It only took the boy a moment to think through his options. "Could you make me a tiger?" he asked, tentative excitement beginning to creep back into his voice, for the first time in a long while.
29 May 2020, 14:43
Badger Pageant
"Does look a bit overcooked," George admits, wiggling a finger to indicate the burned area of Ruka's hand. It seemed they might have a chance of getting along before Ruka came back with his own retort about the pool party - even with Jake present, George wasn't about to stand for the Gryffindor getting the last word in. "Well, you and your friend did a good job making a scene out of yourselves. It was hard to ignore."
In truth, he had entirely ignored it when it happened. It was visible in the peripheral, but he normally left people to their own problems. The only reason he remembered at all was because the two of them looked quite similar and the Slytherin boy had complimented his flying one time, which he still hadn't forgotten. The reminder of it cheered him up substantially.
At Ruka's warning, George scoffed, turning around to face the other two boys in reality rather than the reflection. He did look quite raccoonish. He pointed to his eyes, highlighting the layers of dark makeup around them. "I'm not bad at it! He's just not allowed to say I did a good job because I was trying to look like the Gryffindor lady. If she finds out he said it she'll probably eat him or something." She looked a lot more menacing than the dancing buffoon that Hufflepuffs had for a head of house, but at least he wouldn't eat you. He'd just annoy you.
Jake was eager to get started on the face-painting despite Ruka's poor review. George, the young artist, twirled his brush around his fingers with a flourish before it flew off his knuckles and nearly got out of his reach before he caught it. It would look pretty slick if he pretended it was intentional, but it was quite obviously not. He had mascara for the stripes - but he didn't have enough orange for a base coat, so the tiger look seemed to be out of reach. That was, until, he glanced down at Ruka's hand.
"Could I borrow that? I need orange," George said simply, extending a hand to the boy he had been jabbing at just moments ago. "...I'm George, by the way."
In truth, he had entirely ignored it when it happened. It was visible in the peripheral, but he normally left people to their own problems. The only reason he remembered at all was because the two of them looked quite similar and the Slytherin boy had complimented his flying one time, which he still hadn't forgotten. The reminder of it cheered him up substantially.
At Ruka's warning, George scoffed, turning around to face the other two boys in reality rather than the reflection. He did look quite raccoonish. He pointed to his eyes, highlighting the layers of dark makeup around them. "I'm not bad at it! He's just not allowed to say I did a good job because I was trying to look like the Gryffindor lady. If she finds out he said it she'll probably eat him or something." She looked a lot more menacing than the dancing buffoon that Hufflepuffs had for a head of house, but at least he wouldn't eat you. He'd just annoy you.
Jake was eager to get started on the face-painting despite Ruka's poor review. George, the young artist, twirled his brush around his fingers with a flourish before it flew off his knuckles and nearly got out of his reach before he caught it. It would look pretty slick if he pretended it was intentional, but it was quite obviously not. He had mascara for the stripes - but he didn't have enough orange for a base coat, so the tiger look seemed to be out of reach. That was, until, he glanced down at Ruka's hand.
"Could I borrow that? I need orange," George said simply, extending a hand to the boy he had been jabbing at just moments ago. "...I'm George, by the way."
"outlandishly gay for boys"
Stamina: 10 / Evasion: 12 / Strength: 3 / Wisdom: 13 / Arcane Power: 7 / Accuracy: 12 [color: #632d0b]
30 May 2020, 05:52
Badger Pageant
@George Henry @Jake Morris
While still quite amused by the other boy's joke about the burn on his hand, Ruka couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of annoyance pull his face into a grimace once the topic turned to the pool party. Even if it had caused a bit of a scene when Jack had broken down after having dragged him into the water, Ruka thought it hardly fair to be sounding so accusatory. For all this boy knew it could have been due to something extremely serious and damaging.
"Cute," he commented, pushing his bottom lip out in a mocking pout. "How you're making up excuses for why you were watching us." He rolled his eyes slightly, a teasing smile on his face that said that he didn't actually care that much if they had caused a scene or not. It was bad enough that the majority of people had just carried on with the Pool Party that Jack had organised without checking up on their host when he'd broken down right there on the grass so he wasn't going to apologise for having inconvenienced their carefree enjoyment in any way.
Deciding not to delve into the topic however, Ruka turned his attention on Jake who seemed like he wasn't quite aware of his own seeming lack of enthusiasm. For a second he wondered if he had just never seen the little badger when he wasn't extremely excited, but he thought that even when he'd been worried for their little rescue bunny, Hopper, Jake had seemed to have more light in his eyes than he did in that moment.
Still, it wasn't like he and Jake were particularly close so he didn't want to pry any further than this. Instead he chuckled lightly when the smaller boy expressed his concerns over the burnt hand. "It's nothing. Just a scratch," he said with a little shrug, offering Jake an encouraging little smile. "It'll be alright again in no time at all."
Leaning back against the sink, Ruka watched as Jake followed George's request for him to approach him. "She wouldn't eat me," he pointed out in response to the Clown-Puff's dig at his Head of House. Ruka couldn't say he'd had much interaction with her, but he'd definitely gotten the impression that she was a tough nut to crack. "I'm bitter, but not bitter enough for her taste, I'm sure." He raised his eyebrows at the pair of Hufflepuff boys as they prepared themselves for an impromptu face painting session.
Ruka's little dig at how George wasn't very good at applying the make-up seemed to rather inspire Jake than put him off the idea, which was just as well. He hadn't actually meant for the smaller boy to reject his friend anyway.
It shouldn't have come as a surprise that Jake would be excited about looking like an animal, and he soon voiced his desire to be a tiger, which was promptly followed up by George asking Ruka to borrow... his hand?
Looking down at his jar full of orange paste, he pulled a slightly confused face before looking back up at George dubiously. "That's burn healing paste," he said uselessly as he extended his own hand to shake George's. "Not paint." He took a deep breath before opening the lid again anyway, sticking his thumb into the paste before smearing a dollop onto Jake's forehead with a small grin on his face.
"Ruka," he added as an afterthought in George's direction, gesturing towards himself to make sure he understood he was giving out his name and not just randomly blurting out nonsense words.
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
1 Jun 2020, 09:21
Badger Pageant
@Ruka Tân @George Henry
Jake looked down at Ruka's hand, studying the marks upon it. It didn't look like just a scratch...Scratches were small and thin and sometimes they even bled, but Ruka's whole hand was red, almost like he'd whacked it with a hammer or something, or maybe dropped something really heavy on top of it. It looked scary, but Ruka was still smiling. Jake gave a tentative nod in response to not just the words, but that smile that said everything was alright.
Jake's face showed the faint hint of a smile too, when George talked about how the Gryffindor lady would eat Ruka if she found out about him praising George's facepaint. It wasn't really what he said, just how he said it. George had a way of making lots of things seem at least a little bit funny, even if he was doing something forbidden which would normally have Jake horrified, like making light of a professor. It had always been like that. George had a smile that made you want to smile too, and cheerful eyes that sometimes seemed to smile by themselves. Him and Jack had Jake laughing at lots of meals in the Great Hall. Lately though, nobody seemed to be smiling or talking very much, and Jake couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed.
George twirled his brush around in a really cool way, and looked like he almost dropped it, but then caught it so quickly that Jake wondered if he'd meant to do it in the first place. Maybe he had been trying to do that the whole time to show how good he was at catching. Jake was waiting to find out if he was gonna be a tiger, when George found his orange paint. Or, not exactly paint...
"Burn...?" Jake repeated, realizing with a sudden jolt what the red marks on Ruka's hands were. Worry started to show again on Jake's face for just a moment, but then Ruka grinned at him and smeared him lightly with the paste. It felt cool on his forehead and Jake found himself smiling again, back up at Ruka, feeling suddenly happy that the older boy was there. That both of them were.
So Ruka and George didn't know each other after all. Realizing this, Jake stepped in. "George, you know him, he's the one who helped me with Hopper, remember?" he explained. "Remember the bunny who we saved?" George would probably remember that (as would all of Jake's room-mates, because he had told the story to everybody who would listen). It seemed a very long time ago. "George is my bunk buddy," he explained to Ruka. Then with a shy glimpse sneaked back at George he added, "and my best friend."
Jake swallowed and lowered his eyes. He thought George was his best friend. That was what George had said one time, but so much seemed like it had changed since that day. That had been before the blossom ball, and everything that had happened that night. Why had he said that for? What if George told him it wasn't true anymore?
The small boy turned his way back towards the mirror and studied his forehead and the orange smear atop it. He brushed his hair up and out of the way, to keep his face as clear as possible. It did look just the right color - tiger orange. Then he looked back to the other boys, chin up and presenting his face, waiting expectantly for instructions on where to stand.
Jake looked down at Ruka's hand, studying the marks upon it. It didn't look like just a scratch...Scratches were small and thin and sometimes they even bled, but Ruka's whole hand was red, almost like he'd whacked it with a hammer or something, or maybe dropped something really heavy on top of it. It looked scary, but Ruka was still smiling. Jake gave a tentative nod in response to not just the words, but that smile that said everything was alright.
Jake's face showed the faint hint of a smile too, when George talked about how the Gryffindor lady would eat Ruka if she found out about him praising George's facepaint. It wasn't really what he said, just how he said it. George had a way of making lots of things seem at least a little bit funny, even if he was doing something forbidden which would normally have Jake horrified, like making light of a professor. It had always been like that. George had a smile that made you want to smile too, and cheerful eyes that sometimes seemed to smile by themselves. Him and Jack had Jake laughing at lots of meals in the Great Hall. Lately though, nobody seemed to be smiling or talking very much, and Jake couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed.
George twirled his brush around in a really cool way, and looked like he almost dropped it, but then caught it so quickly that Jake wondered if he'd meant to do it in the first place. Maybe he had been trying to do that the whole time to show how good he was at catching. Jake was waiting to find out if he was gonna be a tiger, when George found his orange paint. Or, not exactly paint...
"Burn...?" Jake repeated, realizing with a sudden jolt what the red marks on Ruka's hands were. Worry started to show again on Jake's face for just a moment, but then Ruka grinned at him and smeared him lightly with the paste. It felt cool on his forehead and Jake found himself smiling again, back up at Ruka, feeling suddenly happy that the older boy was there. That both of them were.
So Ruka and George didn't know each other after all. Realizing this, Jake stepped in. "George, you know him, he's the one who helped me with Hopper, remember?" he explained. "Remember the bunny who we saved?" George would probably remember that (as would all of Jake's room-mates, because he had told the story to everybody who would listen). It seemed a very long time ago. "George is my bunk buddy," he explained to Ruka. Then with a shy glimpse sneaked back at George he added, "and my best friend."
Jake swallowed and lowered his eyes. He thought George was his best friend. That was what George had said one time, but so much seemed like it had changed since that day. That had been before the blossom ball, and everything that had happened that night. Why had he said that for? What if George told him it wasn't true anymore?
The small boy turned his way back towards the mirror and studied his forehead and the orange smear atop it. He brushed his hair up and out of the way, to keep his face as clear as possible. It did look just the right color - tiger orange. Then he looked back to the other boys, chin up and presenting his face, waiting expectantly for instructions on where to stand.
3 Jun 2020, 03:48
Badger Pageant
George seemed surprised when Ruka shook his hand, but recovered by shaking the Gryffindor's hand like that was what he had intended from the start. In reality, he had just wanted to take the burn healing paste from the other boy, but the handshake reminded him of his manners. It wasn't like him to just grab things from other people. It wasn't like him to poke fun at people who were obviously sensitive, either, like that Jack boy who had gotten upset and run away from the pool party. But George had made some changes, and now it wasn't like him to apologize, either. No matter how sorry he might have felt.
He was about to argue that, paint or not, it was orange- but Ruka seemed to agree, and George smiled as he watched the other boy smear orange across the smallest boy's forehead. "Hi Ruka," George said, though his eyes were focused on the art piece they had just begun on Jake's face. He shook his head, reaching out to take Ruka's wrist and encourage him to smear the burn paste in more. No, he needs more. He's gotta have it all over. Hold on, I'll get the stripes..."
Mascara was perfect for it. He had a little tube that he pulled out of his robe's pocket, twisting off the top and pulling out an applicator stained with the darkest black he owned. It was like he could conjure new shades out of thin air, but the fact of the matter was that he simply had a vast collection. One that only grew with each successive trip to Hogsmeade, saving up for new condiments- no, cosmetics - every day.
"Who is Hopper?" George interjected, though he nodded along as Jake elaborated. The bunny they 'saved'. In all honesty, George had thought the younger badger made that up, but he let the littlest Huffle carry on with his make-believe memory because it seemed to amuse him. George peered at Jake at that little addition of 'best friend'. He replied like a man being questioned under oath. "I am."
The older badger wasted no time in starting on the stripes, starting in the places where Ruka had already put on the burn paste. Streaks of mascara that would no doubt take substantial effort to clean off without magic, haphazardly placed in tiger-ish patterns. "Stop moving," he grumbled, reaching out to plant a hand on top of Jake's head to hold him still. "Hold on, don't do his cheeks. We need white."
And George, of course, had white. It was this stuff that apparently highlighted your best features, according to the little label, but he thought that it would do a much better job of highlighting Jake's tiger mouth. He haphazardly slapped a glob of it onto Jake's cheek and smeared it around his lips before moving on to the other cheek, coating the front of nose and his little cheeks. "He looks like a tiger," George said, looking toward Ruka and gesturing to Jake's face, a partially completed masterpiece.
He was about to argue that, paint or not, it was orange- but Ruka seemed to agree, and George smiled as he watched the other boy smear orange across the smallest boy's forehead. "Hi Ruka," George said, though his eyes were focused on the art piece they had just begun on Jake's face. He shook his head, reaching out to take Ruka's wrist and encourage him to smear the burn paste in more. No, he needs more. He's gotta have it all over. Hold on, I'll get the stripes..."
Mascara was perfect for it. He had a little tube that he pulled out of his robe's pocket, twisting off the top and pulling out an applicator stained with the darkest black he owned. It was like he could conjure new shades out of thin air, but the fact of the matter was that he simply had a vast collection. One that only grew with each successive trip to Hogsmeade, saving up for new condiments- no, cosmetics - every day.
"Who is Hopper?" George interjected, though he nodded along as Jake elaborated. The bunny they 'saved'. In all honesty, George had thought the younger badger made that up, but he let the littlest Huffle carry on with his make-believe memory because it seemed to amuse him. George peered at Jake at that little addition of 'best friend'. He replied like a man being questioned under oath. "I am."
The older badger wasted no time in starting on the stripes, starting in the places where Ruka had already put on the burn paste. Streaks of mascara that would no doubt take substantial effort to clean off without magic, haphazardly placed in tiger-ish patterns. "Stop moving," he grumbled, reaching out to plant a hand on top of Jake's head to hold him still. "Hold on, don't do his cheeks. We need white."
And George, of course, had white. It was this stuff that apparently highlighted your best features, according to the little label, but he thought that it would do a much better job of highlighting Jake's tiger mouth. He haphazardly slapped a glob of it onto Jake's cheek and smeared it around his lips before moving on to the other cheek, coating the front of nose and his little cheeks. "He looks like a tiger," George said, looking toward Ruka and gesturing to Jake's face, a partially completed masterpiece.
"outlandishly gay for boys"
Stamina: 10 / Evasion: 12 / Strength: 3 / Wisdom: 13 / Arcane Power: 7 / Accuracy: 12 [color: #632d0b]