Fake Mock Date

Hex code:#A0A9B8 || Mentioning: Wyatt Starkey
@Hanako Tone

_{Noticeable things: Wolf Pin, Bob(smiley pin), both on messenger bag strap, anddddd nail polish of the day}
The school year had started, and Alec felt that it was far too late to realize that he hadn't been ready. Having gone back into classes he felt as if his head was barely picking up a thing. Somehow his grades were surviving as if miracles were suddenly now a thing. He needed more than one to upkeep everything promptly and be fine. Alec had been finding it harder than it originally had been to do many things. It was partially to be blamed on the details he now had to focus on, straighten out the wrinkles on your robe, deal with the hair somehow, better posture, and so on. He could handle it, it was just a lot, and it made it a lot harder for him to have the ability to relax. He was told to stop with the nails, and no excessive drawings on your arms and hands as well, expression things he had been trying out. He was stopping with the drawing thing he'd done it maybe three times...It was a pain to do in the first place and just stained whatever he was wearing when it started to rub off.

He was keeping the nail polish, he expected someone who knew his family was going to gossip about it to them and so Alec was preparing himself mentally for the speech. He felt lucky that because reputation was always at a cost that there was no way he'd be receiving a howler. He wondered how far one would go when looking to rid someone like Alec of the nail polish. At worse, if anything happened to his things, he was sure he could convince Nina to pawn off a few onto him. She'd been nicer as an older sister as of recent, which was unusual, but he took it as it came to him. He would ask if that was the last option.

Alec's mind had been all over the place from the second he'd woken up. It had gone from the thought of expectations, through a whirlwind of other topics, that caused him to be walking around the corridors without a purpose. No rhyme or reason. Caught in his head and things he didn't want to think about just as someone had walked over to him, offering the perfect solution to his dilemma. Admittedly his dilemma was being solved by someone who called him good-looking-enough(weird), but he went along with it. Besides the fact that he was being provided a distraction as if it had suddenly fallen into his lap, he was also curious. He was trying to figure what one, made him good-looking enough, and two, why that mattered. The brown-haired Gryffindor however had been surprised to have found that a fellow Gryffindor duellist was involved. He stared a little too much then the surprise of the situation called for and looked away as if that hadn't been the case. He didn't know her well, to be fair he didn't know anyone on the team very well, or well any Gryffindor. He still knew of her, which was saying more than whoever had brought him here.

Maybe it was a bad idea to follow a complete stranger just for a distraction... ? He'd zoned out for a few seconds while being watched. This was an awkward situation... Maybe Alec shouldn't be trusting the people on his dueling team?

“Good. Both of you are going to the Fall Ball as dates now. Don’t disappointment”
Curiosity killed the cat,

What?! Alec's whole head snapped up immediately, his mouth opened for words, he was going to say anything at that point to get her to change her mind. He was going to say he had a date, going through the other list of excuses in his head that didn't directly insult the person next to him. Before he could attempt to say a word, she was already walking away. His mouth had been open about to speak but settled as he realized she wasn't going to come back, watching as she left, his lips in the shape of a small "o". He watched her as she walked away, his eyes were that of a pleading puppy, but she couldn't see that with her back turned.

His face went back to its normal state, and he turned looking at the stranger, puzzled. The puzzled look morphing with what seemed to be concern. His eyebrows furrowed, but before he could speak, the stranger spoke first.

“Duckie?” Alec questioned, quietly, it was more of a whisper wrapped up in his confusion, it would have been hard to be able to tell he had said anything at all. Look, he had followed the stranger, but it was a one-time thing, ducks follow all the time. He wasn't going to do it again... Hopefully. So no need for the nickname... ? He didn't even know why he was spending time on this. He was justifying it to himself, not even to the person who was calling him it.

When Alec heard the stranger say that they both were dragged into this Alec folded his arms across his chest, his lips pursed slightly. He'd seen the stranger's reaction he knew that. He still wanted to say that the other knew. Besides, Alec had plans, important things, more important than anything ever and they did not involve bringing a date. A date hindered it, and besides having a date was weird. The problem he now had was that the duellist was intimidating and Alec did not want to get on her bad side, so he was waiting for the stranger to object but that had not happened. Instead, Alec was told to go to the courtyard or he was chicken. The stranger hurried off.

“What. . .? Really?!” Alec spoke, looking incredulous. He had been left like that?! That wasn't enough to go off of, whatever he had a new problem besides this. He thought he had caved talking to himself, this didn't count though right? He was allowed to react verbally like this! This situation was weird and frustrating and he was just being left with nothing! Nobody could hear anyway. “What in the world...?!” Alec asked, he ran a hand through his hair and let out a long breath of air. This better be a joke, or a terrible dream, or something... “Mother of merlin,” Alec muttered, and with that had taken in enough of what had just happened to start walking to the courtyard. Alec was stupid and impulsive, and apparently Duckie, but he was not a chicken. If he was going to be called a Duckie he wasn't going to be called a chicken, it was pick one, not mix-and-match! Alec adjusted the messenger bag on his shoulder as he walked, after that looking down at his pins. Not on his clothes, today they were on his bag, on the strap of it to be exact. A white pinback button with a smile drawn(named Bob) on and a wolf. He really needed to get rid of the smiley one, it was causing a lot of bad luck... He frowned slightly before he looked up and focused on directions.
--
Alec letting out a breath of relief as he walked into the empty courtyard. Taking off his bag he set it to the side. He left it alone only for a second as he looked around, after such reaching in it to grab the envelope for the letter he'd been writing, and whichever thing he would find loose in his bag this time to use. It was a pencil, one of the fancier ones meant for sketching. Usually, they weren't loose in his bag, because they weren't in his bag at all but he'd thrown everything in because he needed to pretend he was going to be productive today.

Half of the envelope was already littered in some sketching, he had done a little something for his little sister the last time he had owled her. Sketching owls of the from the owlery onto the envelope for her. She'd loved it, and went back to doing owls for her, he wanted to do more than owls and therefore was to be sketching out her favorite guest from all the little tea parties she had with her plushies. She had an overwhelming obsession with her one of a Chinese fireball dragon, Alec began working on that.
--

but satisfaction brought it back.

Alec was in the zone, intently focused, he was working on the envelope as something arrived. With a feeling of being watched Alec stood up, he was reaching for his messenger bag instinctively to put the envelope and pencil away, except the bag wasn't there anymore. Alec looked down and over to where the bag was supposed to be. It had fallen over, he'd either bumped while sketching or just now as he stood. It wouldn't have been a big deal except for the fact that Alec hadn't closed it properly. Now there was a mess, all the pencils had rolled out, his sketchbook(which had Wyatt's sketches falling out of it, and no there was not going to be an explanation for why some had been kept there.), and the book he'd been using to study for his classes had only partially fallen out. His eyes were following the mess of pencils out trying to figure out how long it would take to clean up. Counting them all, not paying that much attention as he counted the snake that had suddenly show up as well, wait... A snake? In the middle of what he was doing, he stopped and look back.

Alec visibly reclined out of surprise, especially as he heard the snake hissing. Alec stood still, straight-faced for a moment until he heard a quieter hiss, and Alec's lips broke out into a smile. Which he covered up, his arms moved to hide his face as he broke out into a laugh(being a little shy here). Moving his arms away he looked back at the snake. “Blimey,” Alec spoke, his voice rushed, still smiling he looked at the snake with intrigue. “Sorry, you scared me, I thought you were-” Alec stopped speaking because he didn't know the stranger's name. “That doesn't matter right now,” Alec concluded instead, how was he supposed to talk about someone if he didn't even know their name? “You're so cute.” Alec tried to contain whatever was happening with him by keeping his tone aimed at a whisper, he was worried if he let himself be any louder his voice would reach pitches he did not know it could reach.

Alec was acting without thinking and moved to sit again, he could clean up later... With the way Alec had been before it was an incredibly fast switch, Alec lighting up right away. “Do snakes like being pet?” Probably not... Reptiles aren't as fond of those things as an animal like a cat or dog would be, their more domesticated and all. Alec's hands were just beyond his lap, having them there so the snake would be able to get his scent. If it was possible to smile more at that point it had been done. “Waittttttt, your uh er-I don't know what to call the stranger. You have to be their snake though. Otherwise, this is strange. Snakes just don't appear out of nowhere.” Alec said though that didn't apply because it was certain they did. Alec had never seen a snake before anywhere near his house and then one just appeared out of nowhere. It was possible apparently. “I wish I had a treat. Snakes eat mice I think, there's probably more than that.” Alec's eyes narrowed. “It would be boring if all you had to eat was one thing.” It was food though, did it matter if there was a variety or not? “How did you even get over here? It must have taken a bit.” Alec had been sitting for a while drawing on the envelope before the snake came.

Alec smiled more again, and small nervous laughter followed. “Sorry, talking a lot. I don't see snakes very often, or at all for that matter.” The snake probably didn't care though, it Alec assumed just sounded like he was speaking nonsense. Also speaking of snakes, why was snake-boy even touching a snake? WHICH HE THEN THREW. IT WAS FOLLOWING HIM. He was not supposed to live up to the nickname with odd stuff like that. It was just something because he was a Slytherin. Alec usually tried not to think about it since he'd caught on to the fact that he didn't really want to talk about it, but upon reflection, it was so so so so so so so so so so weird

[font=PT Sans]“You're so cute.”

CUUUUUTTTTEEE?!?!? CUTIE SAID CUTE. THATS HER. SHES CUTE. CUTIE CALLED HER CUTE OMGOMGOMG. Cu Sith understood absolutely n o t h i n g he said. But as a cute maniac enthusiast, she understood him perfectly. And by perfectly, she meant just that one word. But language barriers will never stop love from blossoming. That love is what she and Duckie have. That, and everyone else she had been priorly obsessed with. But in addition to love conquering language barriers, it also has no limits. This date is going well so far!

Not being delusional for once, she excitedly slithered towards the boy to give him a little boop on his hand. He deserved the boop. Her human companion told her that she should be careful of everyone, cute or not. But who could resist bopping such a cutie?!
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Reducio

[font=PT Sans]Cu Sith continued to stare at the handsome lad, her eyes healing from all prior ugliness she had the misfortune of laying her eyes on. Hoping time would stop so the moment could last forever. Unfortunately, time was incapable of doing such a thing.[/font]

[font=PT Sans]
He wouldn’t consider himself a messy person, so he’ll blame his roommate Percival for the unbelievably high difficulty of finding parchment and quills. No hate to Percival, someone just needed to take the blame. And it’s not going to be Hana. Without wasting any more time, he power walked to the courtyard. A few rolled parchment in his hand, and a gel pen in the other. God bless muggle inventions. If he had to take dumb ink bottles as well as long feathers everywhere, even when classes ended, he swears that he will transfer back to muggle school.

Rushing back to the courtyard, he was pleasantly surprised to find Duckie there. Less surprised to see someone gawking at him. Now this crush, Hana could understand where Cu Sith was coming from. No wonder why she didn’t come back. “ I’m surprised to see you're here” he said to Duckie as he came over, placing the parchment and pen on the edge of the fountain before sitting there himself. “ Less surprised that she’s here as well, though. She just knows when and where to find good-looking people. It’s a superpower of hers, honestly”

“NOT CUTE” Cu Sith hissed at him, to which he responded with a small smile and a shrug. Clearly, someone is not happy a third wheel came to ruin her date. Hanako took notice of the sprawled mess of pencils, books, and papers near them and raised an eyebrow. “ Were you… having a tiny tantrum earlier? Well, I suppose you need to get your mind off of me somehow.”Wow. So funny. There wasn’t much interest in the mess he created. Hanako learned that taking interest in something someone hasn’t given you permission to, will earn you a slap. Or at the very least, an angry response. His instinct to make fun of them regardless may have been a factor for such negative responses. This Duckie draws a bit. Whoopidoo. Hanako was not going to risk this date by making Duckie upset. There were plenty of other things the boy would be upset at. But leaving just because Hanako could not keep his mouth shut? That's lame.

Apart from the mess, he noticed that he didn’t seem to be terrified of Cu Sith. He had never felt so grateful for Cu Sith's picky nature before now. A good-looking kid that doesn’t scream in terror at his snake. How delightful. But also, now Hanako had something to keep him from leaving too early.

“ Want to try holding her?” he asked, quickly assuming that he’d rather talk about Cu Sith than the nice encounter he had with Katherine. “ She doesn’t bite, that I can promise you. Just gently grab the middle of her body and try to support her spine. She’s still a baby, so it should be easy. I know handling snakes for the first time can be a bit nerve-wracking. I’m sure you can do it~” he encouraged, bending over slightly from his seat to show him a smile. Even people who took interest in Cu Sith, usually start to feel fear at the mention of handling her. Watching snakes was one thing. Holding them? Hana would love to see his reaction, so he’ll wait patiently for Duckie to reject.

Then, he could move on and explain to him what Kath meant. Hanako still needed something to laugh at in his head while he informed Duckie what he was dragged into. Snake first, date details later. He knew Cu Sith felt the same.
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@Alec Mason

Hex code:#A0A9B8
@Hanako Tone

It was rather warm out, though the colder weather was there Alec could still feel the sun against his skin. He was going to enjoy that mother nature was providing an elysian like day in the outdoors. Besides the adorable snake had gotten closer and... Touchedbooped his hand? The boy's grin only grew wider, and more laughter followed from both confusion and amusement. Eventually Alec deciding to take it as acceptance from the snake.

By the time in which the stranger had started to make their way over. Alec had forgotten about the fact that he was planning on picking up the mess. Seeming to be hyper-focused on the snake. Gushing over it and asking questions it could it no way answer. “Do-” He stopped immediately the second he heard the stranger's voice again. His head shot up from his looking down, and he stared wide-eyed for a moment before he went back to normal. Surprised. He had forgotten the stranger was supposed to show up. Alec watched as they set piece of parchment and some sort of pen down on the edge of the fountain, the stranger took a seat. Alec decided to wait to speak, and listen instead. However that may have been the wrong choice. Confusion flashed across Alec's face as the stranger finished, and Alec's eyes darted away and back to the snake. In time as well, for the snaked hissed the stranger's way.

“Katherine is on duelling with me.” His voice quiet as he spoke, though he brightened at mentioning duelling. They weren't duelling partners but whole team practice sessions were a thing. He didn't want to be hunted down, and with that assumed his words were enough of an explanation for why he came. At the very least he thought he'd be able to make a good story out of this eventually. Even if he somehow was able to convince the stranger he'd be a horrible date, and then the stranger with some ties to Katherine would make sure she'd leave Alec alone and let it be. He was a little annoyed at Katherine for being an interloper but dealt with it. He looked confused as the snake's supposed superpower for finding good-looking people was mentioned. Not understanding how if true, this applied to the situation. He wasn't really sure what the implication was supposed to be with that, and it ended up throwing him off.

Yet when the mess was mentioned not so subtly, he took that as the most opportune moment to focus on something else. “Oh-”Alec's eyes wandered back over to his messenger bag and the items that had fallen out of it. His face flushed with a tinge of embarrassment(for the sake of him and his sketchbook) before he looked back sheepishly. “Yeahhhhh,” he decided he was going to play along whether or not the stranger wanted it. “Totally, you know, you're so uh... er-” He laughed at his lack of ability to come up with anything usually it came easy. “I don't know, I've got nothing. Um- I'll clean it up later,” obviously. It was hard for him to come up with material. He didn't know why he would ever need to get his mind of the other or why it would be on the other in the first place. Alec had... better things to do.

_{Not really but he wasn't going to admit that.}

Alec's eyes had fallen back to the snake and stranger seemed to notice because he was asked if he wanted to hold her, his smile faltered. “Are you sure?” Alec asked. “I mean, do snakes like being picked up?” Alec looked a little wary. “-And there's no way I could accidentally hurt her?” The attempt of what seemed to be encouragement fall on someone who didn't pay much attention to it. Alec seemed uncertain in his abilities to handle anything that was living. He thought it was reasonable, if he couldn't keep track of a spider, and ended up killing it because of that, well, there was no way he could be trusted to pick up a snake. Alec eyed the snake, mostly just trying to figure out how the stranger, even from these first impressions, thought he may be capable of not accidentally killing every animal he touches. Moments later however, he'd spent enough time convincing himself that he was being senseless, and reached to pick her up. “Like this?” He asked, tempted to look over to get a proper answer, but knowing he should be focusing on what he was picking up.

“What's her name?” Alec asked, he asked this before his eyes widened. “Wait-wait, don't answer that. I should be asking your name first, sorry. What's your name? Then I need her name.” Doing it all in the wrong order, still it would be fine, hopefully? “You said she's still a baby but how old is she?” He asked this figuring he'd gotten past enough decency by asking the other's name. Really, he didn't want to keep calling them stranger in his head, and he wasn't going to give out weird nicknames things. “What does she eat?” He figured there had to be more variety then the one thing he'd thought of earlier. “She's so cute.” He was quiet with these words while stating the most obvious thing in the world, oh well. “She must know her way around Hogwarts then as well? It's kind of strange to have snake just randomly show up though.”

[font=PT Sans]“Katherine is on duelling with me.” Hanako had to stop sitting straight just to hear him. ‘Good lord, Labarouder. Even your dueling teammates?’Due to the slight shock (not really) that Hanako underestimated her scary reputation, Hanako failed to see the small gleam in Duckie’s eyes. ‘This is further confirmation that she was a past tyrant in her past life, for sure’ he thought.

“That makes my job easier then.” he says leaning away “ I don’t need to explain what kind of personality she has, do I? I’m sure being a part of the dueling team easily shows just how oh-so-charming she is. Does it also show the kind of terror she unleashes if things don’t go her way?”. Hanako didn’t know the extent of his relationship with Katherine. She might have terrified him, or he might just take his relationship with his duelling teammates extremely seriously. It’s easier to choose his words if Hanako knew whatever the reason was. They were basically strangers after all. And the Japanese boy didn’t really feel like gossiping and getting to know Duckie through other people. Tiring.

“Yeahhhhh, Totally, you know, you're so uh... er- don't know, I've got nothing. Um- I'll clean it up later,” OOoooookkkkaaaaayyy. Weirdo. Nevertheless, Hanako showed him a grin, before jotting down some writing on his parchment. If Duckie paid close attention, he could hear the soft mumbles of Hanako saying; ‘Doesn't make good comebacks’. “ Oh don’t mind me” Duckie didn’t need to speak up to have Hana explain. Might as well be honest to his future date. “ I can’t rely on my memory, so I’ll be taking notes throughout our meeting just for my sake”.

“Are you sure? I mean, do snakes like being picked up? And there's no way I could accidentally hurt her?”

“Well, I’m here to hex you if anything goes wrong aren’t I~?” Hanako laughed a bit before realizing the joke might’ve been too much for Duckie. “ No worries. I basically grew up with snakes. I can tell immediately if you’re hurting her. Actually, most snakes don't like being picked up. But she’s an Emerald Gazer. And a rather..”

“Cute~” Cu Sith cooed hissed

“...special one at that. She's usually wary of strangers as well. Trust me when I say that she will make it known if she doesn’t want to be picked up. But you don’t need to pick her up if you’re too scared. Snakes are still snakes after all~ They bite, they hiss, they-”

“Like this?”

Hanako stopped his momentary rambling, eyeing Alec scooping Cu Sith up. Unexpectedly, Cu Sith had no trouble supporting herself by coiling around his hand, seemingly enjoying the close proximity. Hanako found himself rolling his eyes for a second, unsure where this sense of jealousy is directed at exactly. “ See, it’s fine.” he said curtly, deciding to hide the fact that it was harder to get her off him.

Just as he thought Duckie was done talking about Cu Sith, hoards of questions flew at him. One after another. What does he get? One question. ONE. And even that came only after Duckie realized he didn’t know what to call Hana. Then it went back to Cu Sith. He was beginning to question if it was a good idea to send Cu Sith out here. Katherine would’ve burned him if she saw how his very own snake was doing a much better job at holding his date’s attention. Hanako didn’t answer immediately, jotting some things down first as he rethought his life decisions.

He was a person that gives up easily but knowing the repercussions that might come by disobeying Katherine, he decided to answer Duckie. They were basically strangers. Whatever the hell it takes for him to warm up to Hana. God knows Cu Sith’s adorableness is more reliable than Hana’s innate charm. “ Cu Sith. I suppose she’s almost a year old now. Turning a full year on the 14th of February next year. She eats insects and small mice as of now. And I actually allow her to roam outside her tank almost all the time, -to the dismay of some of my dormates” he chuckled at the wonderful memory of Avery’s frightful face. Oh what a wonderful day that way. @Avery Chen

Sometimes even I don’t know where she is. But she somehow manages to always find her way back.” ‘and now, she’ll try to find her way to you’ Hana was tempted to add, but decided it was weird. “ Hanako tone.” he saved the least relevant answer for last. “ But please call me Hana (*hannah). But you’re allowed to forget it once we’re done with our date. “ he extended his hand to shake Duckie’s but retracted once Cu Sith hissed at it. “ Actually, I’ll give you a handshake another time”.

Hanako doodled a bit of his parchment to give it a pizazz look to distract him from the elephant in the room. How the hell does someone explain they’re being forced to go on a date? Apparently, he didn’t need to think so long before a sudden memory of Decent Human Behaviortm class came to mind. Names are an important thing to ask from strangers. “Oh duh, sorry Duckie. I was really content with your nickname. I came here to give you some explanation, but I’ll first give you 5 seconds to tell me your name. Or else I’ll stick to Duckie “ he then began to start a countdown loud enough for Duckie to hear. It might’ve been a slight payback for paying so much attention to him. When you’re basically forced to follow some stranger and have someone else say you two are dates now, Hana would’ve assumed a normal person would give that date of yours their full attention. But no, not Duckie.
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Current List:

Reducio

@Alec Mason

Hex code:#A0A9B8
@Hanako Tone

Alec paused, confusion written across his face when Hana asked of her. “No. . .?” He said quietly, unsure how to respond. Was that sarcasm? Alec couldn't tell. It didn't really matter to him though. “She seems nice... I-” He looked uncomfortable continuing on with that sentence and instead moved on. “She looks like she works well enough with her partner-” His eyebrows furrowed, he peered at Hana. “Her spell-casting work seems pretty bloody brilliant.” Alec added, though he'd only seen bits and pieces. Nothing in action, but from what knowledge he had- Still- He didn't know her, but he knew what social grounds were enough to watch what he said. He wasn't going to say anything bad about her. As if he had much bad to say about her to begin with, he didn't. She was just slightly scary and that made him uncomfortable. It was surprising since usually it was everybody older or the same year who had that kind of effect.

He wasn't looking for trouble, at least not today. He was having his full of weird thing or in this case, distractions that were bound to keep him feeling okay, for a bit. Besides if he went into the hospital wing looking like he'd been punched again(katherine certainly has ears everywhere, and probably knows how to punch), they'd start asking questions. Because Alec acted the way he did, cooled off, and mostly trying to be nonchalant about it all, they would think it was bullying. Like specifically Alec as the one being bullied. He was weird, people took offense to that. It was strange upon reflection because Alec had never once been bullied. He certainly did not want to find out how it felt however.Therefore he wasn't going to bring up the fact however that Katherine did have a certain reputation, among the team, and elsewhere. People talked and Alec tried not to listen.

It was a relief to know magic healed things quickly. He didn't want to walk around looking as if getting punched in the face was a casual thing for a bloke. Alec's eyes were elsewhere as he listened to the stranger's mumbling as they wrote on the paper. Though Alec's head was in the clouds he was vigilant and aware enough to listen. There was no comfort in the presence of meeting someone new. Just awkward smiles and laughs and hoping you didn't do something too stupid that leaves a lasting impression. As he listened quietly he eventually let words slip from his lips. Mostly to himself though he didn't object to the stranger hearing. “Woahhhh hey that's a reach” Alec muttered, he snorted, his lips breaking into a smile, he seemed amused by it. He covered his face with his arms until he could get a better hold on himself with the snorting and laughing. To the situation at hand, one it wasn't a comeback but to each their own. Two, It was true, he wasn't very good at speaking, especially with the words that actually came out of his mouth. Nothing had time to register in his head. The stuff he came up but held his tongue for were better. But they were also like traps, he didn't know if he was going too far, and how far he was allowed to go before someone else took actual offense. Today was not the day to get another person to punch him in the face again. The trail Alec had been going was leading to backhanded compliments, or the ego-feeding that was really just making fun of people. He was lucky he decided not to come up with anything. He was already speaking mindlessly but the mindless blurting would have been worse.


Alec rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at Hana at the comment of hexing. Alec was struggling with the fact that it was very possible he could hurt Cu Sith. He was legitimately worried, and the joking around didn't help.“That's very helpful.” He said sarcastically under his breath, it was quiet. People choose to hear only what they want to hear. So if anybody was going to get mad about it, the ones who didn't want to hear it would just think they heard it wrong. He listened to the stranger's rambling, seemingly more relieved by his words at first. Though they seemed a bit overbearing by the end. His shoulders up not slouching, he seemed uptight until he got confirmation from Hana that he was doing it fine. It was okay, he was doing it okay. Alec felt like he could breath better after that, and he was right because he'd accidentally been holdinghis breath. Then all a sudden the question came pummeling off his tongue. Eagerly waiting replies too each. He nodded actually listening for once. “That's so brilliant,” Alec chirped excitedly, “I mean having a snake, that's cool. She seems wonderful to have around, you're so lucky.” He watched Cu Sith carefully unsure if him being generally very fast-paced, and moving around a little bit more because he was in such an excitable state would scare her. He understood there were people that didn't like snakes, he was able to empathize with it to an extent. Being able to empathize with most things, or at the very least be able to understand the emotions even if he didn't know where they came from. It was this way with snakes, he didn't understand how anyone could dislike or even be scared of one.

Alec focused on Cu Sith, until the stranger introduced themselves. Alec didn't move his head to show he was listening, but he was watching out of the corners of his eyes. Hanako Tone, Hana. A smile tugged at the edge of Alec's lips, the name felt as if it fit in a way Alec couldn't put into words. A pleasant surprise followed as Hana reached to shake Alec's hand, well, it would have been pleasant. If Cu Sith hadn't seemed so against it. Alec's eyes were apologetic. Even if an apology from him didn't matter, this was Hanako's snake, so really, Alec didn't have to be.

He eyed Cu Sith quizzically. Come on it was a handshake, you didn't have to hiss... Handshakes are important. Very important. It wasn't like he planned on shaking hands with Hanako on the same hand Cu Sith was on. He pouted slightly at the snake, he was well-aware that it wasn't going to help, not that pouting hindered the situation either.

Then Hanako was not so nicely asking for Alec's name. He looked over when the other started speaking, but looked back at the snake once he'd finished. I'll show you five seconds, Alec said being a real meanie about it, but only in his head. Alec was trying to deal with the snake problem, the sooner he figured out how to solve that he could shake Hanako's hand and things could go on fine. He could say his name after. Now, how to deal with a snake who doesn't seem to-That was when Alec heard Hana counting out loud. He hadn't taken the five seconds thing seriously. Who would have? Alec wasn't three, Hana didn't need to start counting out loud.

Alec's head snapped back and he stared at Hana, his mouth hanging open slightly. Luckily that had only taken and seconds, and he thought Hana was counting incredibly slow. He huffed at Hana, slightly annoyed before he turned back to the snake. Fine Cu Sith was staying. See if Alec cared if Cu Sith would hiss again at trying to shake hands. Alec stood, moving closer to Hana, and with his free-hand(his right), he shook Hana's hand, there now that everything was settled. “Alec Mason” Alec didn't think as the words came from his mouth, he'd introduced himself many times. As always he was happy no reminisce of his nickname stayed or accidentally appeared in the mix. He'd shortened it down, and did it once more. Deciding introducing himself to people with just his first name would be better. Alec hadn't been mindful enough the second he spoke to realize that he'd let his last name slip.

Alec didn't have any nicknames that really stuck, and for that he was glad. The suggestions in shortening his first name for a nickname were horrors Alec could never live down in his mind. Al. That was scary. Nobody was doing any better with non-name-related ones though. Duckie? Really? It wasn't as bad as Al... But it was still terrible. It looked like Alec would never find anyone good at nickname giving. “I'm a Gryffindor-” Alec felt by this point he didn't have to say it, it was obvious. Changing so much since he'd come to Hogwarts, he surprised himself when left to his own devices, without people constantly watching over his shoulder.

He realized now he'd been too lenient. They couldn't see him but they could still hear things and he had to be aware and careful. “-Third year, what about you?” That was an ice breaker. Maybe t this would help Hana forget that this was legitimately a thing. The reason why they were here...

Alec decided he wasn't going to think about it and knelt down to start picking up supplies, giving Cu Sith the chance to leave if she so desired. He would be moving a lot as he picked up items and ran them back over to his bag. The quicker he picked up the mess, the quicker he could pretend that his whole being did not rely on his pieces of art. The quicker he could pretend he wasn't highly sensitive to the very idea of criticism for any of them.

[font=PT Sans]“That's so brilliant,” Alec chirped excitedly, “I mean having a snake, that's cool. She seems wonderful to have around, you're so lucky.”

‘Lucky? She’s trying to steal my date!’ Hana wanted to say if he wanted to look like an attention crazed fool. A description of him that was not so far from the truth. But apart from being a date stealer, he was lucky. Even if it weren’t for his connection to snakes, Cu Sith was a relatively nice companion. Since he was a Parselmouth, it was just simpler for that bond to go stronger. And it would be much stronger if- again - she wasn’t stealing anyone's dates. But it was a behaviour he should’ve expected knowing her. Besides, it wasn’t entirely her fault Duckie thought snakes were cool. Even with Hana’s level of ego, he could never deny how amazing snakes were.

Just as Hana started counting the countdown, he couldn’t help but smirk at Duckie’s face as he did so. Probably not the best tactics when you’re trying to make someone fall madly in love with you, but hey it was his first instinct. No amount of Decent Human Behaviour and Wooing 101 classes could change it completely.

However, that satisfaction didn’t last because Duckie just uno-reserved him good.

“Alec Mason” he said, extending his free hand with no more resistant hissing in the background (she was too busy looking at his face to notice ). Here he was introducing himself like a normal person and Hana looked like he handed Hana poison. “ Alec. Mason?” Hanako didn’t look happy at all.

Alec Mason. The Alec Mason? Are you kidding me?

Hanako deeply hoped that it was a pure coincidence that this was another Gryffindor, 3rd year named Alec Mason. His luck has never been that good, but did it needed to be this bad? The first decently attractive kid he met and dragged to Katherine ended up being Alec friggin Mason???

Hanako pressed the tip of his pen, the ink returning into its protective cocoon of plastic, with half a mind to get up and leave right now.

Alec Mason. A once popular topic between Hanako and Wyatt a few moons ago. Hana heard whispers here and there regarding Mason’s relationship status with Wyatt Starkey. Being such a good friend of Starkey’s, Hana went up to him to get the tea and gossip. It was odd to him that someone like Starkey could have the ability to let someone in his heart. It was something Hana lacked as well, as well as a great reason as to why they shared a certain bond. Yet, he changed? It wasn’t acceptable.

Even more so that he never got the tea and gossip he wanted. As if he perfectly sensed Hanako’s true intentions, he was reflective of whatever question Hanako threw at him regarding Mason. It was awfully sickening to see him go through his length just to have Hana leave him alone.

But with said Mason right in front of him right now, perhaps it was all the protecting was for nothing in the end. Now, the next question remains, ‘ what should Hana do about it?’.

When he barged into Starkey’s room, he wanted nothing more than to have a bit of fun with him. The sort of fun Daella, his Decent Human Behaviour ™ Professor, would frown upon greatly. But fortunately for Alec, it had been ages ago. The same anger Hana had had long dissipated for the most part.

Deciding it was too late to back down now, he placed the pen in his free hand and proceeded to return Alec’s handshake briefly. “ Pleasure to meet you~” he said rather cheerfully, his earlier smile returning to him. He didn’t allow himself to take too long shaking hands, so he leaned away once more to write a few scribbles down his note. While he did so, he spoke to Alec again without tearing his eyes away from the paper.

“Sorry, you surprised me earlier. You reminded me of a… hmm ho w do I put this lightly.. A thief? Yes, a thief I met a long time ago. Stirred up some unpleasant memories. Hope my face didn’t scare you away” just as he finished scribbling whatever, he returned back his focus to Alec Mason.

Wyatt’s precious little Alec Mason.

“ Slytherin. And wow- what a coincidence, we’re both third years. It would be easier for our mission then”. Hanako watched him allow Cu Sith to land on the ground once more and ahead to clean up his earlier mess. That’s it? Introductions and suddenly nothing? No questions from what they were here for?

By now Hanako had at least expected a few more questions about Cu SIth. Having sudden silence was weird. Well, if he was uncomfortable about it, Hanako would be more than glad to bring it up again.

“ So now that introductions are done and finished, let’s talk business. Here’s what's going to happen. Katherine wants to see how well I do as a date, and you’re the lucky lad that had the opportunity to test that out. However, I have not been brushing up on my wooing skills, therefore are you up for a deal of sorts? Of course we’ll still need to have a date, but let’s work together to make it more tolerable for both of us” he asked him curiously, pausing a bit before continuing. “ Or… maybe Duckie has a big reason why he can’t go on a date with a little old me, hm~?” Hana lighty smiled with a tinge of mockery in his tone.

Alec seemed to have a general idea as to what is asked of them. And yet, he still came here anyway. So that meant he must’ve been somewhat interested in what Katherine said. Hanako’s explanation shouldn’t help much with providing him information more than what Kath had already said. He was either terrified of Katherine’s spellcasting, or incredibly bored.

Hanako was merely interested in seeing just how bored he is to be interested in the possibility of going on a date with something when they already have their own boyfriend. What would Wyatt think? Seeing that his boyfriend was bored enough to go on a date with a random stranger. Was this his precious Alec Mason that he desperately tried to hide from Hana?

As he thought, his anger dissipated a long time ago, but it didn’t mean it was completely gone. He was giving a chance for Alec to back out now. Go clean up his stuff and never have to even entertain the idea of going on a date with Hanako Tone. Because that’s usually what you do when you’re in a romantic relationship with a single person. You don’t cheat.


Compromise or not, it was still a date. Hana could handle the wrath of Kath for pushing his chosen date away. But allowing Wyatt to date a possible scumbag? Hmm, no it didn’t sit right with him. So here he was, giving Mason a last chance to back out right now. Hell, he hoped he would. The amount of thinking that involved going on a date (fake or not) with someone taken was going to be endlessly tiresome. But after mocking Alec about being too scared to do it, there was no way Hana was going to be the one that broke it off.

It had to be Alec, end of story.
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[font=PT Sans]Gosh was she enjoying her v i e w. After being carefully put down back to the safety of the ground, her happy eyes never left Alec. Inspecting every inch of his warm face as she could never get bored of it.

As he cleaned up his items, Cu sith first idea was to merely watch in amazement, wondering how many cities she must’ve saved in her last life to be in the presence of such a cute hunk.

But she had to show just how much of a catch she was. Her good side, if you could call it that. Obviously, he was charmed by her. But if you don’t keep them interested, they’ll lose interest!

So Cu Sith, as gracefully as she could, slithered towards his mess and opted to help him out with his cleaning. And by that, she meant rolling back the pencils with her small head. Some which she thought would be a bit too far away from the cutie for him to reach it easily
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@Alec Mason and mentioning our favourite @Wyatt Starkey multiple times in this post