A cold boy with a happy smile pv

Roleplaying as Ginyami Midorimori from Mahoutokoro
"English | Japanese"

It was September 2024 and the sixth year navy-robed Mahoutokoro pureblood was quite pleased with life. He'd finally managed to start dating his childhood friend the previous summer and, in his opinion, their relationship was going quite smoothly. However, that didn't mean Ginyami was any less friendly with his fellow Mahoutokoro students. He still made time to get to know them better and check up on them; particularly the pureblooded ones.

Some students, however, were considered lesser in Ginyami's eyes than others, though he knew better than to show it. This included those who were not Japanese or were of mixed decent as well as those who were not pureblooded wizards, especially mumajin-born. (Nevermind that his own beloved partner was mumajin-born. He tended to conveniently overlook that particular fact.) With purebloods, though, true Japanese or not, he always played nice; at least superficially. One never knew when one's connections with other purebloods could come in handy, after all.

That said, Ryusei Ishikawa was an interesting case. Ginyami had more or less kept a polite distance from Ryusei during the younger student's first year at Mahoutokoro, especially sensing that the boy seemed to sport a rather cold demeanor and thus probably preferred to be left alone for the most part. However, Ginyami had also always kept an eye on him.

He could tell Ryusei was different, of course, as half-breeds tended to stand out regardless of how they might have tried to disguise their half-breed features. He just wasn't quite sure what to make of him. Ginyami's racist, purist parents didn't think much more of half-breeds, even pureblooded ones, than they thought of foreigners, those with foreign blood, or those with mumajin blood. However, they had always cautioned Ginyami to treat half-breeds with a certain degree of politeness and respect (at least outwardly) since they, in his parents' eyes, were practically part animal and thus dangerous and volatile in nature. He was told it was best not to anger them if possible.

Ginyami was a rather fearless individual, so he did not fear half-breeds as his parents might have, but that didn't mean he didn't know to exercise caution. It was another reason he had kept his distance from the rather aloof young man despite his usual attempts to befriend whatever purebloods he learned of. But that particular day was different. That particular day, Ginyami saw a side of Ryusei he had never seen before.

The sixth year was part of the Mahoutokoro Gardening Club that helped care for the school's extensive outdoor gardens. That was why he was outside most days, pruning and watering and doing other such gardening activities in his spare time between classes. It calmed him and brought him peace, allowing him to think as well as interact with the plentitude of other students who decided to spend their time outdoors. That day at that time, though, the grounds were mostly empty and therefore it was mostly quiet. Quiet enough for Ginyami to hear someone playing a guitar in one of the more hidden areas of the Mahoutokoro gardens.

The upperclassman, by that time, liked to think he knew the expanse of the gardens on the school grounds quite well and could navigate them with relative ease. Thus, it did not take him long to locate and discover the source of the music he began to hear and the person producing it. To his great surprise, it was Ryusei. And he was smiling.

It was not an expression Ginyami had ever witnessed on Ryusei's countenance before; not even when he was around his best friend, Kaito. The second year was playing guitar with one hand and casting a spell with the other, levitating paper butterflies that surrounded him in a whimsical atmosphere. He didn't appear to realize he was being watched or listened to.

Not wanting to startle him, Ginyami waited for one of his brief pauses in his guitar-playing to clear his throat, wanting to get the underclassman's attention before speaking.

"Good afternoon, Ishikawa-san," he greeted, his usual, polite default smile on his face. "I didn't realize you played the guitar. And you play it so well, too. But if I may be so bold...what thoughts might be crossing your mind to have you smiling so sweetly today?" He chuckled softly. "I daresay I've never seen such an expression brighten your features as handsomely as I've had the privilege to just now. What might be the cause, I wonder?"

@Ryusei Ishikawa

Roleplaying as Ginyami Midorimori from Mahoutokoro
"English | Japanese"

Ginyami was admittedly quite pleasantly surprised at Ryusei’s response. He thought his kohai (underclassman) might have been angry or at least a little upset at being interrupted or intruded upon. After all, he likely hadn’t gone out of his way to find such a hidden area for no reason. However, not only did he display remarkable calm, he even seemed to speak to his senpai (upperclassman) as if he had been expecting him. After taking a moment to recover from his astonishment, the sixth year found a sincere smile of his own curving his lips. "Yes…I do," he answered softly, gazing at the origami butterflies as he contemplated Ryusei’s words. "It is, indeed, beautiful."

He could tell the instant the second year’s polite smile replaced his true one. Even if it was still a smile, something he was unused to seeing on Ryusei, there was still something sad about watching the other go. Wearing masks was what he – no, what they probably both were used to by then; superficial smiles and polite platitudes. Ginyami couldn’t help but be sorry that Ryusei felt the need to play that stupid game with him; the one where everyone pretended they said what they meant and acted how they felt. Especially when, in reality, everyone involved knew it was all a huge façade. And particularly now that he had actually managed to glimpse what had seemed like Ryusei indulging his true nature. What a shame the younger student had put it away again so soon. Ginyami’s own smile gradually flattened into a small, thin, serious line.

"For what it’s worth," he said softly and honestly, "I think playing music for your butterflies to dance to is a wonderful hobby. You are quite talented, Ishikawa-san. And it’s a shame you don’t feel like smiling more. You have an amazing smile. Especially when it’s real." He glanced away briefly. "Not that I can blame you. It’s not easy to find a reason to truly smile in a world such as ours – with our culture, society, blood status, and the like. But I’m glad you have this pastime as a small comfort, at least."

When Ryusei mentioned how lonely it could be at their school, Ginyami nodded in silent agreement. He listened as his kohai explained how his guitar and origami butterflies helped him to feel less lonely. Inwardly, however, he couldn’t help but feel especially sorry for Ryusei. His only solace from the awful blight of loneliness was playing guitar for some falsely-flying paper insects? It was almost like putting on a puppet show for himself.

But Ginyami knew what that was like. He had been there before; known that kind of terrible, debilitating loneliness. He also recalled the destructive, horrible things he had done to fill the emptiness of that void in his heart. At least Ryusei’s method of coping was constructive, creative, and lovely. And most of all, it hurt no one else.

“Midorimori-san, are you afraid of me?”

The older student was pulled from his thoughts by the question, jerking his head up to find Ryusei gazing at him with eyes as green as the surrounding foliage. He knew why Ryusei was asking, of course, and why, and he was quiet for a time.

“They are not afraid of who I am, don't judge and don't have expectations. They will never try to use me, harm me or betray. So with them I can be myself and fully relax. That's why it brings smile that I usually don't have.”

Ginyami hadn’t thought about it before – about how, for all the masks he himself wore, Ryusei had one that he himself did not - the one that hid the second year’s half-breed nature. That probably went beyond just appearances, too. What behaviors and instincts did he have to ignore and stifle? What sacrifices and difficulties had he had to endure to fit in?

The sixth year couldn’t even begin to imagine. But he thought he knew someone who could have. Someone very dear and close to him. And suddenly he saw that person in Ryusei.

"…No, Ryusei Ishikawa, I am not afraid of you," Ginyami eventually answered slowly; earnestly. His narrow gaze met the other student’s steadily as he said it so he could be sure he was telling the truth. "In fact, you remind me of someone I know. Someone who others fear, but who has a kind heart. Kinder than most."

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before breathing out through his nose. Then he opened his eyes again.

"I feel I owe you a debt for stumbling upon a secret that wasn’t mine to learn," he said, "so let me offer you this in exchange. I give you my word that if you are willing to accept my friendship – or, at the very least, my loyalty - I promise to be a better friend to you than any of your butterflies. I will not judge, nor have expectations of you, nor ever try to use you, harm you, or betray you in any way. And I do not promise these things lightly." He extended a hand, as if for Ryusei to shake. "As a token of my sincerity, I will entrust to you a secret of my own that you can reveal to anyone and destroy my and my family’s reputation if I break my promise. What do you say?"

A new, playful smile began to curve his lips once more. "On a separate note…’Midorimori-san’ is such a mouthful. Please, call me ‘Yami’. Most everyone else does."

@Ryusei Ishikawa

Roleplaying as Ginyami Midorimori from Mahoutokoro
"English | Japanese"

"…Yes," Ginyami agreed slowly. "Those who are used to fooling others often know how to smile very well. Enough to seem sincere. But before today, I’ve never seen a smile on your face – not even a false one. Is that because you prefer not to fool people? To simply appear how you feel?" he asked, curious. Then again…it occurred to him belatedly that that might have also had something to do with his damphir teeth, but he hadn’t even seen Ryu smile a close-mouthed smile before.

"There’s no need to be sorry for your assumption," the older student told the younger with a quiet chuckle as he took out his own wand. "I can understand why you might have assumed that. I am not usually a very sincere or genuine person myself and I smile a lot without meaning it. However…I won’t do that with you. Not anymore."

Holding up his wand, he made the proper wand movement and spoke an incantation under his breath. "Expecto Patronum," Ginyami said, concentrating hard on a memory, before out of the tip of his wand spouted a silvery, smokey light that took on the form of a large creature that Ryu may or may not have recognized – a creature that looked somewhat draconic in nature with wild feline features like a lion or tiger. Ginyami’s patronus had taken on the form of a magical creature known as a Zouwu.

Though the smokey creature appeared somewhat terrifying at first, it began to play with the origami butterflies as if it were a kitten. Ginyami had to grin at that.

"That," he began to explain as he watched, "is a Zouwu. Perhaps you know of them, but they are very large creatures that can seem frightening. However, they are actually very gentle and only eat things that are already dead." Ginyami looked to Ryusei. "My patronus takes the form of a Zouwu because they remind me of my…partner. My best, most cherished friend and boyfriend. Like the Zouwu, he can appear scary to those who don’t know him with his large size and intimidating features. But also like the Zouwu, he is often just misunderstood and truthfully is very gentle, kind, and caring." Chuckling, he added, "This precious partner of mine is who you remind me of. Someone who may be scary to those who don’t understand you but who is a much better person deep down than most people give you credit for."

Ginyami looked grateful when Ryusei accepted his handshake and the offer he had posed along with it. "Thank you," he said softly, his smile warm. "I will make sure not to betray your trust, either. Your secret’s safe with me." He dipped his head respectfully.

When he raised it again, his narrow eyes were bright with curiosity. "’Ryu’?" he repeated. "’Dragon’?" His smile broadened into another grin. "That seems very fitting, Ryu. Yet another majestic creature who is feared and misunderstood."

He glanced back at his patronus, which had already started to fade since his concentration had wavered. Still, it was amusing to him to see it watch the butterflies. "My secret is that I dearly love a mudblood," he murmured. "A mudblood who is male and can therefore give me no heirs to my family’s bloodline. A shame, perhaps, but…it’s not as though we pick and choose who we fall for, is it?"

@Ryusei Ishikawa