Where's Isaac? Pv Kit Paine Closed

Percival followed after the boy doing his best to keep up. The older boy was walking at a quick pace, and he could not help but begin to wonder why. Was the other worried that someone would see them? Percival really hoped he was wrong. The thought that the boy was worried that the two of them would be seen together. Was worrisome, to say the least. As the distance they walked grew, he couldn't help but feel as if they had been walking for hours. Each step forwards felt like a step closer to the end. Whether the end was his life or their destination. He didn't know.

When they stopped at a large wooden door his gaze flicked about the hallway. There still was no one about. No witnesses. A small sign read, 'Caretaker's Office'. The jingle of keys drew his gaze down to the boy's hands. The boy slowed down his walk taking a couple of steps before stopping. His brows furrowed together in confusion, as he wondered why a student would have a set of keys. Especially to something like a staff member's office. It didn't add up. Unless the boy had stolen them. If that was the case, then how?

The boy's eyes widened to the size of saucers, as a hand shot out in his peripheral vision and grabbed his shirt. "Wha- AH!" he yelled out as he was yanked in through the open door. The door shut with a loud click. Sounding more like a gunshot to his slowly panicking mind. He instantly backed away from the boy a few steps. His brows remaining permanently furrowed as he watched the boy move about the room. Pincus seemed far too comfortable in the office than he ought to. He wondered if this wasn't the first time he had snuck in.

Percival swallowed thickly as he watched him disappear behind the screen. The older boy's words did little to quell the growing tension. He felt nauseous as if he was about to throw up. His heart felt like it was stuck at the base of his throat, and his stomach clenched. Percival whipped his head towards a tall-looking cabinet. His eyes widened as it shuddered. Something rattled nearby, adding to the increasing tension. The boy felt like a toy wound up too far, and it angered him as much as it scared him.

The boy blinked at the boy's words. Percival opened his mouth to speak but no words would escape his throat as he glanced upwards. In place of Pincus, a stranger stood in front of him now. The man was tall, far taller than him. He seemed to tower over him, and he couldn't help but feel small. His eyes widened as the man, no Pincus, claimed he was the caretaker.

Percival took a step back and another one. His back hit the wood of the door, and he had to force himself to not let out a strangled noise. The boy reached his hand back to the doorknob. Jiggling it once, he realized he was locked in. In any normal situation, the boy would have given up the attempt on opening the door. Though, right now wasn't exactly a normal situation. Percival would rattle the door harder trying to force it open. He shied away from the man's hand glaring up at the apparent adult. He disliked how chipper the man seemed. As if he was so proud of himself for being able to fool him. "Is this your idea of a joke? Well, I'm not laughing. Let me out." he snapped ignoring the man's introduction. Fear and aggression raged a war inside him, and he didn't know which one was going to win.

Interacting with: @Kit Paine

Percival's steps backward caused Kit's smile to flicker, like he wanted to laugh but simultaneously knew how grave the situation must have seemed to the boy and didn't want him to think he was making light of that gravity. Eventually, he exhaled deeply and walked over to speak calmly and slowly as one might have to a frightened animal.

"Percival - Mr. Rainwood - please." The caretaker gently put his hand over Percival’s that was ineffectively jostling the door handle. "This is not a joke; it’s actually very serious. I’ll let you out soon enough, but first I have to ask you to calm down so I can explain everything in a way that you can understand."

He tried to meet Percival's eye with a concerned expression. "I can’t let you leave here until I’m certain you have a good idea of the big picture and what’s at stake. It shouldn’t take too long if you’ll agree to listen. Don’t worry; you’re not in trouble or danger."

A bittersweet smile upturned his lips as he inclined his head. "In fact, if anyone’s in either of those right now, it’s me. And you have my job in your hands. So...would you do me a favor and please just listen?" He held up the door key with his other hand. "You're free to do as you wish after hearing me out."

@Percival Rainwood

Percival glared at the man in front of him. He felt like a caged animal backed into a corner. He put on a brave front, but underneath the thin mask, the rising fear threatened to swallow him whole. The boy pressed his back further into the hard wood of the door behind him. Wishing he could phase right through it. The boy mentally kicked himself for being so gullible to follow Pincus, no Kit, to an isolated place. He bit the inside of his cheek as he watched the other with wide eyes. Percival couldn’t help but dislike the way the other was treating him. As if he was some dangerous dog that he’s worried may bite him. In truth, his fears may be warranted. He really did want to bite him.

The boy jumped in surprise as a foreign hand cupped his hand on the door. His erratic movements stilled, and he looked up at the tall figure. He was close, far too close for comfort. The boy slid to the right along the door. His back hit the corner where the door and the wall met. It hadn’t effectively put much distance between them, but it was good enough for now. “Don’t touch me.” he bit out. Aggression furrowing his brows as he glared at the man.

Percival’s glare turned into a more thoughtful look at the other’s words. He didn’t have any options available for him. The man literally had the key to his freedom, and if he wanted to get out any time soon. He would have to play along. That thought soured his tongue, and he glowered at the caretaker. Percival didn’t want to just give in to this man’s wishes, but he also wanted his freedom just as much. He gritted his teeth in annoyance at his situation. “Do I even really get a choice? You have the key to the door, and you won't let me until I listen to you.” he muttered out his tone sounding disgruntled.

Interacting with: @Kit Paine

When the blonde boy jumped and appeared to feel even more threatened by the touch of his hand, Kit took a step back and withdrew his offending appendage, holding both of his palms up (with his keyring looped around one thumb) in a display of peace and surrender. He intended no harm, after all, and he wanted the student to know it. Still, the boy's glaring only seemed to intensify as he pointed out to the caretaker that he, as a student, didn't really have a choice in the matter but to do as Kit said because of his position of power.

Kit paused, contemplating this, before shrugging with a small sigh. "Fair enough," he agreed. He wanted to win Percival over as a friend, not command him as an adult authority figure. "Here. Catch." The tall man took a step back to toss the Slytherin the key to his freedom. Then he waited, wondering if his captive was irritated and angry enough to use it right away.

"I'm sorry," he apologized with a sheepish smile, hoping the boy would stay a little longer. "I didn't think anyone would be as clever as you. To try to look up Isaac and hunt him down...hahaha. I really do have to tell you I'm honestly impressed."

@Percival Rainwood

The boy’s eyes widened as his eyes locked onto the metal key that hung from the older man’s hands. He didn’t know when the keys had appeared. They could have been there this entire time, but he didn’t know for sure. Instead, it really seemed like the keys had appeared out of nowhere. It felt like the older man was flaunting his freedom in front of his face. Dangling the keys just out of reach. Percival scowled at the man as he waited for him to do something.

Though, to his surprise the Caretaker did the opposite of what he expected. Percival’s hands came up to catch the keys on instinct. His fingers quickly tightening around the metal. Like a snare trapping an innocent rabbit in its jaws. The jagged metal pressed into the skin of his palm. The key was cool to the touch. Contrasting sharply against his hands. His eyes widened in surprise as he turned the keys over to study them. Making the change in situation all the more real. He hadn’t expected the older man to give him the keys. In truth, he had expected exactly the opposite. The fact that he had given him the keys, despite not having to, fizzled out some of his pent up anger. Percival bit the inside of his cheek as he studied the Caretaker with an incredulous look. Kit had given up the high ground, but for what goal? Was it possible that this was the man’s attempt at calming him down? Or to bribe him into compliance? He didn’t really know and it irked him to an extent.

“Really?” he said his surprise seeping into his tone. Part of his surprise being from the fact that no one else had thought to take a deeper look into Issac Pincus. Though, he would be lying if he said he wasn’t also surprised, and a bit flustered, at the compliment. Not many grownups found it necessary to compliment him. No matter how large the accomplishment was. Unused to the praise, he found his chest swelling with pide. A persistent pressure against his rib cage. Percival felt the smallest of smiles grace his lips before he realized what he was doing. A frown crossed his lips as he quickly wiped the smile off them. “I’m sure anyone could have noticed if they had thought to look harder.” he huffed out.

Interacting with: @Kit Paine

When it became apparent that Kit's actions surprised Percival, the caretaker adopted a meek little smile. There could have been some hope for them yet, especially since the student had yet to use his newly-acquired prize. Instead, he spoke, and his words elicited a bit of light laughter from the man.

"Really," he repeated by way of answer, meeting Percival's gaze with his own in what he hoped could be recognized as a sincere behavior. "Perhaps others might have been able to notice if they had thought to look harder," he agreed, "but the thing is, no one did. No one but you, anyway. It's rare to find others who are willing to step outside of their own world in order to learn about another's - rarer than you might think."

Leaning back against the edge of his desk, Kit's smile became tinged with melancholy as his eyes slid elsewhere about the room. "I take on the forms of students to mingle with you all for various reasons. One is, naturally, to look after you from a different perspective than the other adults and make sure you're not getting up to too much trouble. Another is to be on the lookout for other possible imposters such as the hags we've been hearing so much about lately." He inclined his head as he looked back at Percival.

"Another reason I do it, though, is simply to fend off lonliness. Most people just see me as another face in the crowd, same as any other student. So when I meet someone like you, who actually has the capacity to be curious enough to look into someone else and wonder about them and what they're really like..." Slowly, he spread his arms. "It means the world to actually be seen for who one is. I think you might be able to understand that more than most, yeah?" His smile broadened slightly into a lop-sided grin. "And it takes a special sort of person to do it; the sort of person you are."

@Percival Rainwood

| Outfit |

Percival glanced up at the Caretaker's smile with his own tiny smile. It seemed unreal that an adult, a teacher no less, to commend him. Though, that could more or less be attributed to the fact that he didn't keep his nose the cleanest. The boy's eyes lit up with a sense of pride as Kit Paine at the thought that he had won out over his fellow students. Noticing something that they had been blind to, and driving forward to understand and sate his curiosity. Something that would often bring about the ire of the adults about him. Percival had a burning curiosity to understand the mysteries and unexplainable. It had been the driving force in why he had gone after Issac Pincus. The loud and annoying limehead of a boy. Pincus stuck out like a sore thumb, at least to him.

"I guess it must be rare if no one else in this entire school became suspicious." he said in agreement with the man's statement. It seemed implausible that nobody had any problem or question with Issac Pincus. A boy who came so suddenly and would leave just as quickly. "You would think a Ravenclaw would at least grow suspicious." he said slightly amused at his own joke.

The boy watched Kit Paine as the other seemed to take on a sadder sort of tone. Percival had his suspicions that part of the reason seemed to be to keep an eye on trouble makers. It had seemed like the most clear-cut answer. Though...at the same time, it seemed as if there was much more than that. A frown crossed these features at the mentions of hags, his mind flittering back to the threat that had seemed on everyone's mind. Hags enjoying the flesh of children must make Hogwarts look like a buffet. Especially, with a large number of rule-breakers amongst the walls, him included. The boy would find himself nodding looking to the side rather than at the Caretaker.

Percival blinked his gaze flicking back up towards Kit at the other's words. The boy nodded in agreement with the other's statement. He was not too sure when the last time he had truly been seen by someone. Maybe it was when he had been crying that drasted night with Hanako. Wounds that festered underneath thick skin had bubbled open, and yet....it had led to nothing good. It made him wonder how much good it would do to be completely seen. To be placed on the examination table where no secrets could hide. Though, at the same time recognition for him and him only seemed quite sweet. "Yeah I get that." he started off slowly his throat tight. "Is that why you told me? Because you wanted to be seen completely?" he asked his brow scrunching ever so slightly in question. "I can see why you would do that. I wish others would see me more clearly than they do. Though, I think some people simply don't want to." he offered with a small shrug.

Interacting with: @Kit Paine

When Percival finally revealed a small but real smile, Kit's own broadened. He was glad the boy actually seemed to believe him about what he thought of the Slytherin; especially because he meant every one of his words.

"It's rare," the caretaker agreed, "But I think it's more because people get caught up in their own worlds and their own lives to notice things outside of what directly affects them, you know?" He readjusted his weight against the edge of his desk. "Not that I blame them, either. Everyone tends to have their own things to worry about and few have time to look into things regarding others unless those people are close to them. Even among Ravenclaws," he added jokingly. "But still, every now and then, there will be someone like you who does."

He allowed his words to sink in and regarded Percival as the blonde boy seemed to ponder over some thoughts, nodding and looking away. He didn't seem to like to talk too much, but Kit didn't mind. Still waters often ran deep, as he knew. Just because he didn't talk as much didn't mean there wasn't a whole lot going on in that mind of his. In fact, it could have meant the contrary.

When Percival asked why Kit had told him he was Isaac, the adult chuckled softly. "Not exactly," he admitted. "I do appreciate it and I did want to reward your efforts toward learning the truth about Isaac. But the real reason I wanted to tell you was that I think you could be a valuable help to me and everyone else on the lookout for Hogwarts' current dangers, as sensitive as you are to what's suspicious." His smiling countenance turned serious. "You're the sort of person we need on the lookout for strange occurances if we're going to find these hags and get to the bottom of this mess."

He pushed off his desk and took a step closer to the Slytherin. "I agree with you. It would be nice if more people could see each other more clearly, but too many are afraid to show their true selves in fear of being rejected. And others, as you mentioned, simply just don't care to look. But that just makes it easier to determine who makes the truest friends and who doesn't, doesn't it?"

The tall man knelt in front of the student. "Percival, would you do me a favor, please? Could you keep this secret between the two of us? I know others may find out eventually that I'm not always who I appear to be, but I like for them to earn it if they do. That, and of course I don't want to cause a mass panic. Everyone might start suspecting everyone else to be a shapeshifter like a hag or a metamorphmagus if they learn what I've been doing. I still need you to keep your eyes peeled for any suspicious activity, though. For the sake of your fellow schoolmates."

@Percival Rainwood

| Outfit |

Percival frowned ever so slightly before nodding at the older man's words. It did make some sense that people are blind due to their own lives. Though, if he were to voice it out loud he still found them a tad stupid. It seemed like it could lead to something less than good. Like whether or not there was a hag two feet from you. He was sure he would be able to see if a hag was that close. Though, a part of him wondered if that is how the other students felt. These hags had to be somewhat good at hiding in order to blend in well enough to be a problem for this wrong. The boy smiled ever so slightly before he opened his mouth to speak. "Yeah like if they got an E versus an O." he said with a small huff of laughter at his own joke.

A part of him wondered how he would have reacted to having his suspicions denied. How would it have felt to have the pang of disappointment wrap about him like a shroud? For that, he was glad Kit had decided to tell him the truth. Percival's eyes widened at the other's words. The boy's chest swelled with a sense of pride as his ego was practically stroked. Though, it could have been more likely that he had never been complimented by an adult. Much less told he was valuable enough to help with such a problem. "So you want me to keep an eye out for odd occurrences, and tell you?" he asked after a few seconds. " would like to help. Especially if it means getting these hags out of here." he would say with a faint grin. The hags were quite bothersome.

Percival watched the older man walker ever so closer to him. Though, unlike a few moments before he would not try to back away from the other. He was not too sure why a sense of trust had formulated between him and this adult. It was possible that the other's appreciation of his efforts had meant more to him than he ever wanted to let on. Or it could have been due to the fact he and his Uncle had grown apart ever since the death of his Uncle. Something he was still unwilling to truly face.

He would nod before frowning ever so slightly. He was not too sure he could show anyone the truest parts of himself. The sadness, anger, and a growing dark sludge that seemed to grow stronger the more he turned to look at it. Percival was not too sure he could show Hanako any of that. He had already seen what Hanako had reacted to a few mild tears. The boy swallowed thickly. Maybe that was the reason behind their growing distance this past year. Hanako could not give him what he needed. Unlike Leonard, he doubted the other would be so willing to change for him. Though, despite this revelation, he could not hate the other boy. "I think sometimes people who don't know everything are still good friends. They may not be true, but good non the less." he offered.

Percival had opened his mouth to continue to speak, but the words would die in his throat as he watched the other kneel down in front of him. He was not too sure when the last time he had seen an adult kneel for him. Putting them on the same level felt strangely intimate. The boy's eyes were ever so slightly wide as he slowly nodded to the other's question. "I won't tell anyone. With everything that's happened I don't think people would be very understanding." he promised the other. He did not have much reason to tell anyone anyways. It wasn't as if anyone else had earned the right to know the truth, and Percival was a selfish person. Just the thought of being one of the only people who knew sounded quite nice. "I'll keep an eye out even if you get discovered." he promised once more to the older man.

Interacting with: @Kit Paine
Mentions: @Hanako Tone, @Leonard Oaksworth