Starting over Open RPG Closed

As he slowly began to grow more excited regarding his future, Colin's focus on his present slowly began to slip. While his gaze had wandered over the crowd outside, searching for his mother, it had soon became unfocused as he wondered what awaited him at his new school. Due to this, he didn't notice the cabin door being opened.
Thus the question from the person in the doorway startled him quite a bit, causing him to turn his head. His posture quickly changed as he collected himself; he sat up straight, his movements a little more rigid as he forgot his excitement and receded into the anxious persona that he was rather accustomed to.

"Ah, yeah, go ahead." He muttered, nodding slightly. His eyes remained fixed on the other student for a moment; observing their relatively thin frame, their long ginger hair. His gaze was drawn to the scar on their chin for a moment, and curiosity caused his lips to part slightly, ready to ask a question that was likely too personal for two complete strangers.
After staring at the other for perhaps a second too long, he shifted his gaze back to the window, his face reddening as he was faintly reminded of the many times his mother had scolded him for staring at people. It's rude.

Ah, that's right, where were his manners? Discomfort be damned, he was going to a new school; starting over again, with new people. He was going to need to at least attempt to be nice. Besides, talking to just one person he didn't know couldn't be that hard.
"I'm Colin," He began, hesitating for a moment after."What's your name?"

Reducio

Interacting with @Elesarh Lindsay

Colin nodded, his face reddening a little more at Elesarh's stiff tone. Yeah, he'd probably annoyed them... Most people don't enjoy being ogled at. He muttered out "Sorry," raising his left hand to his lips before stopping himself - biting his nails was a habit which he really needed to stop. He quickly lowered his hand after, lowering his head slightly.

"What year are you in?"

He opened his mouth to answer, the realisation that it was a rather silly question only hitting him after the other turned away from him. He still answered, though; "I'm in First Year." he muttered, realising that Elesarh may be about to leave - to be honest, if he was in their place he would be doing the exact same thing, hence why he'd been so anxious to find an empty compartment. It was far easier than trying to join others.

He kept his head tilted away as they took a seat, resigning himself to the idea of sitting in silence for the entire train journey. He probably should have brought a book or something. His hand went to his pocket, checking for a phone that wasn't there, as he was bitterly reminded that he wouldn't get his back until he returned home for the holidays.

What did catch his attention, though, was Elesarh's cat. The colour drained from his face as it hissed. Normally animals didn't scare him too much, but there was just something about cat's that unsettled him.
"Is it..."
He stopped himself.
Is it dangerous? Aggressive? Yikes, what a bad way to start a conversation with somebody- insulting their pet? Seriously? Don't be stupid, it's just a cat. How dangerous can it be?
"I mean, uh - what's your cat called?" he corrected himself.

Colin was rather taken aback at Elesarh's suddenly outburst of bumbling apology. It took him a moment to realise that he was the cause - or at least, his reaction to the cat's presence was. He took a breath in an attempt to calm himself down, a little colour returning to his own face now. He remained silent as Elesarh continued, as he simply wasn't sure how to react.

He studied their movements with curiosity - lowering their head, scratching the back of their neck, their faces and ears going an unfortunate shade of red; It was all so...familiar.
He himself had acted the same way plenty of times; when embarrassed, or worried he'd done something to upset somebody. In the limited friend group he had previously been restricted to, he hadn't seen such reactions in other people. So as bizarre as it was, seeing the other anxious was a little comforting. He could empathise with her, at least.

But enough of that; Seeing her newly upright, slightly tense posture it was clear that Elesarh was embarrassed. He needed to make some attempt to alleviate that embarrassment. He smiled as they tucked their hair behind her ear, before beginning his condolences.
"Oh, it's nothing like that, don't worry. You don't need to apologise." He began, his words carefully chosen.
"I'm not allergic, I'm just... kind of scared of cats, I suppose. They make me a little, uh...uneasy.
Not to say that yours isn't nice, or anything, she looks lovely, I mean. She can stay out, it's fine, I-"
He was losing himself slightly, afraid of insulting the other.
Time to change the subject.
"Artemis...That's, like, a god, right?" He asked, wracking his memory. "One of the Roman ones?"

Colin nodded, faintly recognising some of the names mentioned. His knowledge of of mythology was mostly restricted to Irish folklore, though he had some faint memory of ancient Greek and Roman mythos due to a certain book series he had read when he was younger. "Yeah, it is a pretty name." He murmured, now observing the cat with perhaps a little less fear than before. Although he'd be lying if he said it didn't still make him feel a little uneasy.

"I'm sorry you're scared of cats. Maybe Arty can teach you. She's a gently soul. Very friendly."

"Well, maybe they could." He said, though he still kept a wary eye on the cat. Even if the animal was a 'gentle soul', it was still a cat - with those evil, beady eyes, those sharp claws, spitting up clumps of hair all over the place-
Stop being silly, he chided himself, turning to face the window for a moment. It's just a cat, it's not 'evil'.

"So....ummm....do you have wizarding parents? Or are you Muggleborn."

He paused for a moment upon hearing Elesarh's question. His brow furrowed; He had been fortunate enough this far to remain unaware of the ridiculous triviality that was the wizarding concept of Purity of Blood - Nor had he heard the term 'muggleborn' before.
He sat in silence, struggling to compute the question, his lips parting as he searched for words that refused to come. After a further moment of uncomfortable silence, he managed to mutter out "The second one, I think?", inferring the term may be the opposite of having magical parents.
Colin cleared his throat. It was better to just swallow his pride now and learn whatever the hell they were talking about meant now to avoid embarrassment in future. "Sorry, no, that's - What's a muggleborn?"