Kazuo, Percival & Michael Valentines

| Outfit |

Percival frowned to himself as he mulled over the other boy's question. His brows furrowing as he debated if that was even possible. Could the lime-haired boy truly be behind this? He hadn't seen the boy since that fateful night at Miller's ball, which in itself was quite odd. At first, it had seemed like a blessing, though in truth it made him wonder if the other was planning something. Things seemed far too likely that this was the revenge his brain had been thinking about. It grated on his nerves at the thought of the mysterious boy pulling the strings. He didn't like the feeling of being pulled along like a puppet. It bruised his ego, and it made him want to lash out at the nearest thing. "If he did do this, I swear I'm going to hex him." he said his eyes narrowing slightly.

The boy's attention was pulled to the cake slice placed in front of him. His lips twitched as he realized that the flavor was Red Velvet. While he didn't despise the flavor, it definitely a flavor he wouldn't cut for himself. Percival hummed out thanks before picking up his fork. Spearing his fork into the cake with a little more force than necessary. He quickly then shoved the piece of cake into his open and waiting mouth. The cake practically melted in his mouth. The frosting overwriting any real flavor. Despite this, the cake wasn't overly bad. Satisfying his sweet tooth with ease.

Percival continued to eat his cake as the silence stretched across the blanket. The boy glanced back up at the boy's loud sigh. It was then that he took in the younger boy's look. He looked quite sad. Like a kicked puppy who realized no one really cared about it. It brought a slowly growing smirk to his face. Percival had never been good at verbally telling off people, and it was nice to watch

He scowled at the boy questioning whether or not he had tried to fight for what he wanted. That was the last thing he needed, for Miller to think he just needed to put more effort in. Percival had spent far too long trying to shake him off. Miller truly was like a tick. No matter how hard he tried, the boy seemed to always come running back for more. How many times would he have to burn the boy physically and mentally before he gave up? "Miller let me make this clear for you. I am tired of playing nice. Your stupid chocolates aren't going to make me like you anymore. The fact that everyone but you can see it, is simply depressing." he said to the boy. His eyes growing dark looking like two black holes instead of eyes. A dangerous glint would reside in his eye. As if he was trying to warn the boy off without directly saying so.

Interacting with: @Kazuo Shimada, @Michael Miller
Mentioning: @Kit Paine

Michael was not a fighter, he was not someone who would stick up for himself when someone was tearing him down. He wasn't like that. He was not going to do something. . .

Michael felt himself calming slowly, oh so slowly. Both boys had had their turn to insult him, to say what they think of his situation, much to his dismay. He knew tears had to be falling down his face, as he looked down, not looking at either boy.

What could he do now? Still there as they ignore him or send ugly remark after ugly remark? Get up and leave? Give up?

Michael didn't know what to do, usually when his dad was rude his mom would just wait til he calmed down then continue on, but he couldn't do that. It didn't feel right. Michael stood up, wiping his eyes as he did. "I-" he didn't know what to say.

'Sorry, i don't feel like staying to hear how weak you think i am?' or 'Sorry im not a robot, whose not going to find any happiness in life unless it's on the other side of someone else's misery?'

He couldn't say those things. So Michael walked away, like nothing happened. He walked away til he was far enough that he could let his tears go without worry that the boys would see him.

This was not how the date was supposed to go.

@Kazuo Shimada@Percival Rainwood
Michael Miller has left the Thread < / 3

Michael was crying. He was crying and he was giving up. Percival had doubled down on his attack by finally, bluntly, honestly telling Michael that there would be no forgiveness for whatever perceived sin he had committed against the older Snake. Kazuo glanced at Percival with curiosity. “Is this all because of the ball, Percival-kun? It wasn’t the event of the season by any means but it does not seem to be something that should make you so angry. Am I missing something?” He arched a brow as he asked the question.

Michael finally seemed to be doing something. He had stood up, attempting to dash the tears from his face - not that the attempt could truly hide that he had been crying. Kazuo’s gaze shifted to the young Snake as Michael seemed to begin to speak yet all he managed to utter was “I…” Then the boy turned and walked away. “Sayonara~”

Kazuo watched him leave with disinterest. Michael had acted predictably. Though they had interacted only briefly, Kazuo had predicted how he thought Michael would react and the boy had done near-exactly as expected. On the one hand, he wanted to be pleased by his own perceptiveness yet he couldn’t help but feel disappointed instead. Michael wore his heart on his sleeve so it had hardly been a challenge. If Michael had tried to rise above his usual impulse to run away, he might have been interesting.

With Michael gone, Kazuo wasn’t entirely sure what to do next. He raised his tea cup to his lips, taking a sip as he considered whether or not this would mean the end of their disaster date. He could leave as Michael had, abandon the whole ridiculous affair, and he doubted Percival would take offense. It wasn’t as if Percival had wanted to meet him here. Though it made him wonder who Percival had been hoping to meet. He shifted his gaze to the older Snake, lowering his cup. “What made you decide to come tonight? You’re a pureblood, yes? From a… traditional family?” The way he said traditional had an undertone of disdain to it. The way European purebloods protected their legacy was strange to him, not at all the way his own clan approached it. “I don’t imagine this kind of event is a particularly good way to find prospects for marriage.” Kazuo gave Percival an amused grin.

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────────────────── Interacting with: @Michael Miller @Percival Rainwood ──────────────────

| Outfit |

Percival felt a spark of energy looking at the boy's wet face. So full of sorrow and defeat. It made him want to hurt the boy more. To see more tears flow down his sad little round face. To make Miller truly regret ever trying to get his attention. The boy smiled to himself as he watched after the retreating form of a defeated boy. His eyes sharp with glee and a hint of malice. A frown crossed his face as he glanced towards Kazuo. "No he's been a thorn in my side for far longer than that stupid ball." he said angrily stabbing his cake slice.

The boy shoved the piece of cake into his mouth. He swallowed thickly as the boy began to question his intentions. His frown deepened as he debated on what to say. "You are correct it is far from traditional. I merely decided to come for a chance to get over my last...girlfriend. I hardly doubt a small date would affect my chances at marriage. I'm certain that when the time comes my family will arrange a good marriage." he answered with a small shrug. The boy speared his cake once more.

"So why did you come?" he asked glancing back towards the boy. The boy didn't seem like someone who would go on a blind date. He too was of Pureblood culture. So, he wondered what the boy's reasoning would be to coming.

Interacting with: @Kazuo Shimada
Mentioning: @Michael Miller

It was impossible to miss the delight Percival was taking in Michael's humiliation, and a spark of sadistic desire behind that satisfied smile. The confirmation that the ball wasn’t the only reason Percival seemed to loathe Michael was answered with a thoughtful nod. “Yet…” Kazuo’s head tilted slightly as he recalled the ball. “You didn’t seem displeased with him at the beginning of the ball. Or was that simply a formality? No… I don’t think so since you were more than willing to show your displeasure later.”

He hummed softly as he served himself a piece of the cake, taking a bite as he listened to Percival explain his motivation for attending the ridiculous Valentine date. “Ah, so your family are that type? The arranged marriages and proper lineages type?” He rested his chin on one hand as the other dove into the cake. He lifted the forkful of cake and stared at it. “I find it fascinating that so many pureblood families here still cling to their old ways. What is the point? Clinging to a dying past, don’t you think it sad? So you look for dates here to what? Entertain yourself? Play with the girls? Practice for your inevitable political match?”

He ate the forkful of cake as he considered his own response to Percival’s return question. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the letter that had been left in his dorm, handing it to Percival. “I was curious. I had forgotten about this whole holiday. It isn’t nearly so important back home. Although… I think you might appreciate our version of it. On Valentine’s Day, it is the girls who give the boys they like chocolates. Once I realized I had been set up, I wanted to know who did it. Obviously, I didn’t expect you and Miller.” Kazuo gave a shrug. “I don’t see the appeal in play dating but it is amusing to watch others go through the motions. Like poor Miller, so clearly set on winning your affections as if it meant anything. Like you, I think. Going through the motions of what is expected of you? As a pureblood?” Kazuo arched a brow.

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────────────────── Interacting with:@Percival Rainwood ──────────────────

| Outfit |

Percival shrugged slightly at the boy’s questioning tone. “To put it simply I was unaware of the fact that he had decided to invite me along as his third-wheel.” he said aggression pulling his face down into a scowl. "And instead of admitting that he decided it wise to try and hide it.” he said his tone sharp. "How would you feel? When someone has finally pushed you further then you can forgive?” he asked the black-haired boy. Percival brought up another piece of cake to his mouth. The overt sweetness did little to sweeten his bad mood.

The boy smiled slightly at that, finding the other’s words somewhat amusing. ”I guess they are that type. That is just the way things are here. It’s been like that ever since I could remember.” he said as he took another piece of cake onto his fork. ”I guess so. What’s the harm in that? I hardly see it fair for myself to spend seven years without so much as looking at anyone.” he scoffed out finding the idea ridiculous. There was no harm in breaking a few hearts while at Hogwarts. The thought of spending his time here completely devoid of any interests seemed quite boring and unrealistic. Sure, he would most likely not be able to marry any girl he dated here, but that was hardly a concern for now.

Percival blinked quietly at the boy’s explanation. A frown crossed his features as he studied the other. ”I still wonder who set you up. I think it is rather clear Miller had invited me to this, but who invited you?” he said deep in thought. He wondered who invited Kazuo. The boy had ended up lumped together with him and Miller, and he highly doubted Miller was the one who invited him. “Miller is naive. To think I would be friends with the likes of him.” he huffed the last part mostly to himself. “I don’t see the problem with play dating. I highly doubted anyone came here thinking they would find their soulmate.” he said as he polished off the rest of his cake.

Interacting with: @Kazuo Shimada
Mentioning: @Michael Miller

The scowl on Percival’s face was an unpleasant sight and the venom in his tone was palpable. Kazuo considered Percival’s situation thoughtfully, imagining himself in Percival’s shoes. One of two people invited to a party as a date by the same person. Embarrassing, aggravating, yes, he could see that. Certainly a faux pas worth spurning Miller over. Yet he couldn’t imagine being quite as angry as Percival seemed to be. Miller didn’t seem worth the energy. Certainly not someone he would even consider dating. “Perhaps I should have thrown him off the tower instead of making him cry?” Kazuo joked with a smirk.

He sighed and shook his head a bit. “Just the way things are. Such a sad excuse. No… not just sad. Old. Such a sad old people excuse.” He took a sip of his tea, washing away the too-sweet flavour of the cake and turning his nose up in the air. “Oh no, we could never consider doing something different. Our great great great great great great great… great grandfather decided that this was the way. It’s tradition, you know. One does not go against tradition.” The haughty demeanour was a replica of the many purebloods he had watched his parents interacting with. He dropped the act with a chuckle. “I wasn’t judging. If that’s what you thought.” He added with a grin. “About the dating part, anyway. I’m totally judging the obnoxious pureblood traditions part. Play-dating is practically expected at your age, after all. I was just curious about your specific view on it.”

He leaned back, staring up at the starry roof thoughtfully. “If I had been signed up at random, I would think it was a prank. Maybe a housemate who thought it would be funny to sign up the quiet firstie. But…” He shifted his gaze to the balloon that floated above them and its number then held up one of the roses with its match. “I was specifically paired with you two. The only time the three of us have been together was at the ball last night. There weren’t that many guests, most of which I didn’t know. I only introduced myself to you, Miller, and Limehead. Honestly, he is the only one I can see doing this. My first thought is that he is just being an asshole but... “ Kazuo paused, frowning slightly, then shrugged. “Well, maybe it is just Limehead being an asshole. What do you think?” He turned his gaze to Percival then, arching a brow.

“I certainly hope no one came here to find their soulmate…” He added with a smirk. “Heads full of imaginary love stories. Think you can live up to those teen girls' lofty expectations?”

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────────────────── Interacting with:@Percival Rainwood ──────────────────

| Outfit |

Percival's facial expression lightened into more of an amused look at the black-haired boy's joke. That would have been nice to see." he hummed out in agreement with the idea. "Fairly certain he would still cry on the way down so a win-win, don't you think?" he chuckled out. It really would be like killing two birds with one stone. Too bad the other was merely joking. He highly doubted the other was truly being serious. He was a Hufflepuff after all.

The boy huffed at the other boy's disdain for his apparent excuse. He wasn't too sure what he should say to such arguments against his traditions. They felt so ingrained in him that it was hard to see himself without these traditions. His grandfather had always said that tradition wrought success. It seemed only fair for the elders in his family to drill success into him and his cousins. It had always been ... tradition. "You aren't wrong it is an older way of thinking, but I don't see it as sad." he said a bit distracted his brows furrowing. He didn't think of it as sad, but more of a safe fallback. It was easier to fall backward than to try to fall forward onto one's face.

"Oh I feel so much better knowing you only judge me a bit."
he said with a roll of his eyes. The boy brought his fork down to pick up another forkful of cake.

Percival paused his eating as he listened to the other debate the reasoning of their own invite. It made sense for the other to be signed up as a prank, but it made little sense for the other to be with him and Miller if that were the case. "That is true." he agreed a frown crossing his face. The boy placed his fork down onto the plate bringing his hand up to rest underneath his chin in thought. "That is where I draw a blank. You and I had no qualms that night, so why pair us together? It is not like we would have despised each other's presence. If Limehead is truly the person behind this, then, what does he have to gain from this?" he said giving the situation some consideration. It truly didn't add up. No matter the way he thought about it it just didn't make sense. Unless... "Do you think his intended reaction could have been something else?" he asked the other.

"While it would be nice to think I could. I hardly think I would be able to. They are quite unrealistic with their expectations." he scoffed at the thought of having to live up to some girl's expectations of him.

Interacting with: @Kazuo Shimada
Mentioning: @Kit Paine

Kazuo smirked at Percival as the boy’s scowl turned to amusement with his proposal. “Crying, screaming, flailing… do you think he’d try to flap his arms on the way down?” Kazuo mused, snickering at the image that conjured. He sat back as Percival seemed to be considering his point of view. “There’s a fine line between relying on something because it works, and falling back on something because you are afraid to try something new.” He replied thoughtfully. “Some traditions are good. Some traditions are regressive and designed to maintain power structures that should be banished. Some traditions never should have been created in the first place. Like marrying your sister-cousin-aunt-whatever.” Kazuo stuck out his tongue playfully at that statement. When he’d learned that the old British wizarding families kept their lines so intertangled as to be practically indistinguishable, he had been thoroughly disgusted by it and took every opportunity he could to make fun of them for it.

“Well, I hope for your sake, you aren’t expected to marry that way. And you should be honoured that I’m judging you…” He added with a grin. “I only judge interesting people, so really it’s a compliment. Means you’re not boring.” He finished his tea as he listened to Percival offer his thoughts on the setup. Percival was right, the two boys had no quarrel and would likely have gotten along just fine. So why would he try to force them together? If it wasn’t a prank, what other reason could the older boy have had? Wanting them to get to know each other better? To what end? Kazuo couldn’t help but to be paranoid about Limehead’s motivations; the boy screamed personal agenda in everything he did. He reminded Kazuo of some of the older pureblood kids he’d known back home.

“A different reaction… Was he hoping we would become friends? His motivations are confusing, on the one hand he seems quite happy to be cruel to people for his own amusement yet I also get the impression that his actions have a reason beneath the surface…” Kazuo hummed softly as he thought. “Well, if you run into him again and happen to learn anything more, please let me know. I’m not in your House so it’s more likely that you will run into him than me but if I do, I’ll let you know if I find anything out as well.”

Kazuo gave a genuine laugh when Percival scoffed at the expectations of girls. “Girls are crazy.” He agreed with a fervent nod of his head. “They get these ideas in their heads about how things should be and if you can’t figure out what those ideas are - without them telling you - then you’re the awful one.” Kazuo stuck out his tongue again. “Honestly, I’m just glad this setup ended with someone I can enjoy talking to instead of some random girl I don’t know.”