torch

choi jonghun , gryffindor , italian-korean descent , muggleborn , twenty years , seventh year , at last. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be intimidated. I will strengthen you and help you. – Isaiah41:10

[xgryjonghun]

▶ this is illegal — cjh & ksh

[ravenseol-blog]

Twenty-one… {` she repeats, in awe that he was so old. Really, 21 wasn’t that old, but she hardly ever talked to people outside of school and since the oldest students to attend were typically 17 to 18 years old, 21 seemed like quite a big deal} What does it feel like? To be almost 21? {` she asks. she wondered if there was any special feeling that you got when you hit your 20’s. She knew that when she was a kid, being in your 20’s was always looked at like some kind of huge milestone, so she figured that there had to be some kind of special feeling to go along with it} Like.. do you feel any different than you did when you were, say, my age? {` she frowns cutely when her cheek is pinched, wrinkling  her nose and bringing a hand to rub at the spot once his fingers had let her go, not wanting there to be a red mark} What? I look like a baby? Still? {` rubs both of her cheeks with her hands now} You don’t look like a baby at all…

[xgryjonghun]

Is it supposed to feel like something special? (`wonders in bemusement since he has never having felt particularly notable for his age before. then again, he's now surrounded by those younger then him while the situation was quite different in the hospital. it seems like he'll actually have to make an effort to be a respectable role model now) Let's see... (`pauses to think, actually having trouble recollecting everything on the spot. it hasn't really been that long of a time gap in reality, but so much has happened since then. he smiles, managing to come up with some minimal information) Well, I think I was a lot more stupid back then. Now, I can't believe what I got myself into... I don't suppose you'll feel the same way I do, though; being a Ravenclaw, and all. (`nods his head in a teasing manner, speaking jokingly) Maybe you're just stuck as a baby forever. 

[xslyhongki]

⌘ against the rules — lhk+cjh

[xslyhongki]

"Hongki… I’m Hongki." Despite his soft-spoken nature which almost gave away just how shy he was, his body language seemed to say differently as he gestured to himself with a slight flourish and slid into the empty seat across from the other with a smile. This was another side of him that came out when he needed it to, a slightly more confident version of himself that knew how to get what he wanted by any means necessary. His gaze flickering over the other boy, taking in his appearance, he couldn’t help observing how handsome he was, biting his lower lip as his smile turned a bit coy with this realization. This would, he hoped, be rather easy.

"It’s.. nice to meet you, Jonghun." In spite of his nerves, he spoke without the usual shake to his voice, though he had to switch to speaking slower to achieve this. It was pure luck that doing so actually benefited him, as he could turn it into something more flirtatious, his voice soft and sultry as he looked down at the table before lifting his gaze again to look up at the other boy. He wasn’t sure of his age, but he looked much older than seventeen. This, coupled with the fact he’d never seen him around before, made it pretty easy to assume that the boy wasn’t a Hogwarts student.

"Do you drink, Jonghun?" Going right to asking this straightforwardly, he glanced to the table in front of the boy and noticed there was no drink in front of him. Then he glanced towards the bar, weighing his options. There were many ways to approach this depending on the boy’s answer, he had to be sure he picked the right one. Leaning forward as if eager for a reply, he let his elbows rest on the table and he looked forward, daring to make eye contact as he locked stares with Jonghun and gave him another smile, desperate to appear as likable as possible to hopefully win favor with him.

[xgryjonghun]

Already, he felt that the intentions of the other weren't necessarily friendly. He was getting this constant, uneasy vibe from the boy, and it was something he couldn't ignore. Just from the nature of the individual, he had summed up that the boy must be younger than him, yet he couldn't decipher what age the other could fall around. The chances of this being a student were slim, because he had no idea why one would be wandering around here at such an hour. "Same here," Jonghun replied mannerly, wondering where this was leading to. It was incredibly rare for a person to approach another just for simple and basic conversation. If Hongki wanted something, then Jonghun would prefer it if he didn't edge around the specifics. 

His questions were answered with what he was asked next. Sure, in most situations it would be argued that this was just for conversation, but he was getting a different feeling. "Not really," Jonghun replied indifferently with a casual shrug. His experiences with alcohol were generally nonexistent. He'd mistakenly consumed it here and there due to his stupid friends, but that was the extent of it. He'd never done it intentionally. The other's subtle glance to the bar didn't go unnoticed, and he raised a brow curiously. Was a guy really asking him to buy him a drink? Yeah, he would understand a girl acting this way, but never had he imagined another male approaching him like this. 

"Are you saying that you want me to buy you a drink?" Jonghun presumed warily, knowing it was very possible. He'd never purchased his own alcohol, but he knew his age wouldn't be questioned. Tilting his head to the side, he was curious about something. "Why can't you do it  yourself?" Either the other wasn't of age and had honestly fooled him, or there was something else. 

[xgryjonghun]

[bt] ❝ msqrd — jonghun & sophie

[gryphie-deactivated20131209]

Sophie had entered the night without any expectations; she wasn’t looking for the fairy tale prince to ask her to the ball, fall in love during a slow dance and share a fateful kiss goodnight. This wasn’t anything like the fairy stories little girls took for reality— but this was much better. She felt at ease almost instantly, be it because of Jonghun himself, the lack of stress, or perhaps both. This wasn’t to say he wasn’t a handsome man, for he was, and a right catch for anyone. But for Sophie, she was just looking forward to a pleasant evening with a nice date, and maybe someone she’d befriend. Surely they’d have to do some sort of bonding over the course of the evening.

His compliment caused the corners of her lips to rise in a smile, and she murmured a quiet thank you in response. For a moment, she worried he might have his own expectations for the close of the evening, but they were quickly assuaged with his demeanor. She’d told Hongki she didn’t get a gropey vibe from him in the first place, and she was sure she’d been right.

When they stopped outside the Great Hall, she couldn’t help but chuckle. It wasn’t a derisive laugh at his expense, but more along the lines of shared uncertainty. “I haven’t either,” she returned, her newfound confidence faltering when she looked at the doors to the Great Hall. Did she even know how to dance properly? Sure, she’d watched it on television at home before, and she’d even had lessons as a child — but that was all vastly different to what may lie on the other side of the door.

"I…" she began hesitantly, pursing her lips in thought. “I wasn’t exactly keen on going until you asked me. I’m not very — good with these sorts of things.” Truth be told, she’d never had the opportunity to go; she’d kept to herself mostly during her years at school, and it was difficult for her to mask the nervousness in her voice. “At least we’ll get through it together — somehow. Besides,” she fixed him with a reassuring smile, “I’m already having a nice time.”

[xgryjonghun]

It was reassuring that she'd never attended a school-wide event like this as well. Really, if he'd graduated on time and everything, he probably never would have. The students of his year were long gone by now, so no one really knew him. Sure, a few of the current sixth and seventh years remembered him, but they had never interacted previously due to the age gap. It gave him an extra confidence boost that he was generally unknown to most of them, and it's not like he was itching for a random rumor to spread about himself. Even if he only went about respectable activities, he had committed something unforgivable when he'd arrived. He wasn't necessarily forced, either. He trusted the source wouldn't leak what had happened, though, and it hadn't yet. If anyone knew the polite religious boy had participated in something so, well, wrong, then that would make his reputation plummet. It was strictly a one time occurrence, and he didn't want to be known by that one mistake he'd made. 

Once Sophie voiced her concerns, he gave his usual, encouraging smile and assured, "I'm the same way. Really, I doubt I'll get through the night without doing something awful and embarrassing myself." At least he was prepared for the worst. His only goal for the next few hours would be to show her a decent evening, so he was pleased when she claimed everything was fine so far. "That's good to hear." He paused, briefly considering whether he felt the same, and positively added, "Me too." God knows he'd need these sort of reassurances throughout their time together since he's not exactly the smoothest guy. At least she could be thankful that he wouldn't be inappropriately laying his hands all over her the whole time. He wouldn't even be doing that once. 

Finally stepping into the Great Hall, he mentally praised the decorations. Apparently, it just got more elaborate every year. His gaze scanned the multitude of students, and he recognized a few here and there. He wasn't interested in any of them, though. Glancing over to his date, he figured it wouldn't be very productive to just stand around. There seemed to be the most important activity to check off their list right in front of them. "Care to dance?" Jonghun offered his arm to her, not even fearing potential rejection. Otherwise, she wouldn't have even bothered accompanying him. Plus, he wanted nothing more than to show off that he'd actually scored a beautiful girl for the night, even if it was only in a friendly manner. Anything was an accomplishment to him.

[xslyhongki]

[bt] ✥ an interesting evening — lhk + cjh

[xslyhongki]

”.. The.. the girl?” While it made sense, considering Jonghun already knew what he was doing and Hongki did not, having it worded that way still caught him off-guard and he was soon blushing hotly and jutting out his bottom lip in a small pout. But this behavior didn’t last long before he’d grown quiet and let Jonghun guide his hands, resting them on the older boy’s shoulders and keeping them there before his gaze flickered down to watch the way the Gryffindor’s own larger hands rested on his waist in return. And then they were moving, albeit a bit awkwardly at first, but with the elder of the two leading he was quickly able to fall into step with him appropriately and actually do a rather decent job of keeping up.

Nodding at the instruction not to think about his night thus far, he closed his eyes tight as if pretending to erase his thoughts and block them out, his face scrunching up childishly before he peeked one eye open and peered up at Jonghun. “O-Okay. I’ll only think about you.” Then, he started to smile a bit, liking the idea of this; it really was helping him to feel better, knowing that someone was actually volunteering his time to pretend to be his date. Maybe it was out of pity, but the fact he cared to try and cheer him up meant a lot to Hongki. Jonghun was such a kind person, and it made him feel more and more guilty over the nature in which they initially had to meet, especially with the way the poor boy reacted to it in the aftermath.

The request to talk about himself made the younger Slytherin blink, and after thinking for a moment, he shook his head shyly, “I-I’m not very interesting…” Still, he went on, wanting to please his “date” and follow his instructions. “W-Well… um. I’m a half-blood. I don’t get along well with other Slytherins because of this, really. But.. I really want to be a healer someday. I-I actually work in the Hospital Wing as an apprentice sometimes. My likes and dislikes…” Again, his face screwed up slightly in a thoughtful look, eyes rolling up to the charmed ceiling in the Great Hall, before he shrugged helplessly. “I-I like Potions class… and my pet tarantula, Nid. I also like to drink, I think… you figured that out already.” His expression turned apologetic, almost sad. “Dislikes… I dislike bullying. I’ve experienced that a lot, I don’t.. really tolerate it. I dislike seeing other people hurt or upset. I dislike myself sometimes.” The last part was a poor attempt at a joke, the only indication of this being the fact he pouted dramatically again after saying it, regardless of how true it actually was.

[xgryjonghun]

At the younger's admittedly adorable expression, Jonghun accidentally broke his sincere demeanor by adverting his gaze. This only happened for a split second, though. No matter how severely he willed himself to not feel anything around this Slytherin, he couldn't prevent his heart from faltering every now and then. The mere fact that this happened aggravated him. Morally, he wasn't even allowed to view Hongki as a friend, and here he was giving him quite a loaded favor. It was selfish of him, really, to be doing something like this. He aimed to be Mr. Perfect all the time, but he had some outstanding flaws. Unfortunately, Hongki was making those known just by existing. Once he was positive the boy's expression would be more normal, he replaced his attention to where it had originally been, offering a sheepish smile. 

He didn't want Hongki to think of him romantically. While he trusted the other to keep a realistic mindset, half of him wondered if the male had ever been treated like this before. Based on the somewhat introverted behavior and hints of everything lying beneath, he could catch the gist of what Hongki's daily interactions included. If he were in the younger's place, he would likely develop a small crush on himself — this wasn't just him being conceited, either. His doubts and paranoias vanished when the shorter smiled, assuring Jonghun that he was doing the correct thing. 

With how often Hongki stuttered and paused, it confused him. Back at the bar where they'd met, the boy had exuded confidence and a sureness within himself. Of the two opposites, Jonghun preferred the more timid one, the one that wasn't out to manipulate and take advantage of him. There was the brief mention of a spider, and he couldn't avoid his eyes widening at it, but he promptly shoved all thoughts from his mind. "I don't think you like to drink, necessarily," Jonghun pointed this out, unintentionally voicing his thoughts aloud. It was too late to drop those words, so his gaze softened as he murmured, "I think you like what it does to you. It makes you forget and you feel invincible... like someone's not going to hurt you the next day, but, inevitably, they will." He didn't speak as if he was cornering Hongki, nor in a degrading manner. These were simply his thoughts, and he was shamelessly displaying them out for the other to see in plain sight. He didn't take hearing Hongki disliking himself as a joke; in fact, he took it quite seriously. "Don't say that," Jonghun abruptly cut in, unable to keep himself from blurting out his next words. "I like you." He meant it innocently, since he did like Hongki at some brief moments. Though, he often forgot that the boy knew absolutely nothing about him. He didn't know his beliefs or background or anything, really; just that he wasn't respecting his activities. It could be taken in the wrong way.

[xgryjonghun]

▶ this is illegal — cjh & ksh

[ravenseol-blog]

I think that girls must be more confusing than boys really. I mean.. boys mostly just say what they want, don’t they? And girls talk in riddles.. sometimes it’s even hard for a girl to understand other girls! But.. well I guess some boys are hard to understand too.. we aren’t all just.. books to be read.. Ah never mind {` shakes her head, softly palming her forehead, embarrassed that she was blabbering on about things that just plainly didn’t make sense to her} Never mind what I am saying, I have no idea what I am talking about. {` she smiles at him, the phrase not being one she got to use often, as she usually knew a fair bit about things when it came to academics but other than that.. she was kind of hopeless} Hey, I will be 17 in January! I’m not a baby! {` whines, knowing that he was just messing around and feeling the need to do so in return as well.}

[xgryjonghun]

Even you're aware of how bloody confusing they can be? (`smiles, voicing his observation lightly) That must mean you do it intentionally. (`chuckles at the ravenclaw's state of fluster, shaking his head to assure it was fine) Don't worry about it. I do the same thing... Though, I suppose I make even less sense. (`finds contrast in the girl's statement and her tone, resulting in him hardly believing her claim) Oh, wow. Seventeen. (`speaks with mock awe, though that age doesn't sum up to much in his perspective) And I'm twenty-one in March. (`teasingly reaches out to pinch her cheek, keeping the smile on his face to assure her this was all lighthearted fun) You still look like a baby, too. Hm, I wonder when that will go away.

[jongjaeki]

[sunggyu]

[jaejinism]

[xgryjonghun]

 Q: What’s the biggest difference between now and 6 years ago?

"I think I’ve grown in so many ways. I know a lot more than I did before and I am open to more feelings than before. Sometimes, it’s a good thing but other times, it feels difficult." —Jonghun

[xslyhongki]

✥ an interesting evening — lhk + cjh

[xslyhongki]

This was not a scenario Hongki ever would have imagined himself to be in. He’d never even imagined himself to be at a ball, period, but the way things were playing out were increasingly more confusing and surprising at every turn. Being ditched, he’d believe, of course; but ending up dancing with a girl he’d just met, who he’d spent several minutes hugging inside a broom closet, was not planned. And winding up with this boy he hardly knew, offering to be his temporary date and asking him to dance as well, well, that was the least expected of all. Somehow, without expecting it or meaning to, Hongki would be spending his evening divided between two different people who were hoping to make his night a bit better. Perhaps that was something to be happy about, really, to know there were people who cared enough to try and fix his poor evening.

With a hesitant smile, he tentatively reached out and took the hand offered to him, nodding his head slowly before he turned and glanced around the room, half-expecting Sophie to arrive without warning and take her date back. “Well… a-all right,” he started, visibly flustered as he held onto the older male’s hand still and they moved together out onto the dance floor, color rising to his cheeks once he’d fully realized he was about to dance with another male for the first time. “If you… if you really don’t mind, then o-okay.” There was no way that he would protest such an act of kindness.

Leading the way to an empty spot on the floor, knowing the other was probably a bit shy — not as shy in general as him, perhaps, but shyer when it came to physical contact with others — he let go of his hand and instead turned to face him. Only, he hesitated, expression falling a bit as he glanced around at those surrounding them in hopes of getting a vague idea as to what to do. When that still didn’t help, his flush deepened and he confessed weakly, “I… I don’t know how to dance like this… not with another guy. Do you?”

[xgryjonghun]

Pursing his lips thoughtfully for a moment, Jonghun smiled kindly and informed, "I don't suppose it's that different." He'd seen a few male and male pairs tonight, and had a basic gist of how this worked. If not, he'd likely be just as clueless since he hardly paid attention to that. However, his senses were more keen to everything of that sort ever since his night with Hongki. "You get to be the girl, though," he decided with amusement in his features, half jokingly although he was serious about this. Based on the roles they had assumed when they'd first met, it was only natural that it'd work out this way. 

Taking the Slytherin's wrists and guiding his hands to rest on his shoulders, he let his hands gently hold onto the younger's waist, mindfully at a very appropriate place. "Just don't think about your night up until now," he advised, officially moving to have them blend into the crowd. "Remember: I'm your date. That's all you need to think about right now." Hopefully that mindset would stick, since he didn't feel like he would cause Hongki to ponder over negative thoughts. He was completely detached from all of the boys' problems. Think of him as a sort of escape, something safe and closed off. He'd never even imagine something as cruel as taking advantage of the other or hurting him; he wasn't capable of that. 

Not wishing to spend their brief time together in a conversation-less silence, he made the effort to speak. "Why don't you tell me about yourself?" In all honesty, he was curious about Hongki. He felt like there was something more to him than the exterior let on, and he wanted to understand and sympathize. "Like what you like, what you dislike... Just anything." He just couldn't piece together the odd behavior of the male. One moment, he was all blushes and helplessly shy, and the next he was throwing his body away for alcohol. Jonghun just wanted some information, and possibly offer a bit of help and guidance. 

[xgryjonghun]

❝ msqrd — jonghun & sophie

[gryphie-deactivated20131209]

Sophie had always prided herself on being intelligent, but moreso, resourceful. When presented with a problem, she could invariably discern the solution by utilizing her own sense of logic, and when that happened to fall short, resort to the (usually substantial) collection of books at her disposal — or the web if she was at home. The one thing she had never thought to examine for herself or out of sheer curiosity involved dances, particularly those of the masquerade variety.

She’d never be able to thank Hongki enough for helping her select her outfit, whose ruffled skirt she was now smoothing down for what felt like the twentieth time. Like clockwork, she’d look back in the vanity to make sure not a single hair was out of place, a nervous whine sounding through her closed lips as she tried to readjust the bodice or fasten a pin even tighter. Never a million years did she think she’d actually be asked — a guaranteed date had gone out the window ages before, though she’d certainly never go with him now — and the last thing she wanted to do was disappoint Jonghun.

Well, the last thing she wanted to do was trip and fall down the stairs, but that was also a priority.

Finally pleased, she sucked in her breath and left the girls’ dormitory, her fingers gripping her mask so tightly it looked as though it were attached to her hand. The image of a grumpy Hongki flashed through her mind and she slackened her grip, looking at the little thing sentimentally. He’d made it for her, just as he’d promised, and he’d done it very well; it was simple, like she wanted, though the black rose at the side added a nice embellishment. With one last glance to her dormitory, she pushed through the door and entered the common room, scanning the room for her date and nearly leaping back in surprise when she found him.

"Sorry I’m late," she murmured, a nervous laugh escaping her. Jonghun had really outdone himself — he matched her perfectly, and looked very handsome. She extended her hand with a confidence she didn’t know she possessed and glanced toward the Portrait Hole. “Shall we?”

[xgryjonghun]

Strangely enough, he wasn't nearly as nervous as he'd imagined, If he'd been faced with this social event back when he was still in his mid-teens, he likely would've made a complete and utter fool out of himself. Now, he found himself surprisingly and pleasantly calm. Maybe the fact he was four years older and honestly had nothing to lose fueled his confidence. On top of that, Sophie had a natural talent when it came to making him feel comfortable. Even from the moment she'd accepted his invitation, his nerves had been nonexistent and he found he could effortlessly converse with her. He half wondered if she was just generally friendly, or if he was an exception. Either way, he was thankful for it. Otherwise, if every word shared between them was awkward, this would end up being a very, very long night. 

He'd only been waiting for a few minutes or so, and he didn't have a complaint in mind since he understood it'd take her longer to get ready. He was a patient person too, so he hardly felt irritated with the minor amount of seconds he was standing there. It just gave him an extra minute or two to officially prepare himself and set himself on solely giving her the perfect night, or as close to that as he could manage. After all, he was only human. All he could ask was for his mistakes to be at a minimum amount, and he would be satisfied. The last thing he wanted was for her to regret accompanying him.

"Don't worry about it," he assured with a smile, just grateful he hadn't been stood up. She didn't seem like the type, but he'd always had terrible luck. His gaze scanned her innocently, just appreciatively taking in her outer appearance. "You look..." he trailed off, only coming up with a lame adjective to describe his date. Though, he filled his voice and expression with utmost sincerity as he finished, "Beautiful." He hoped that would suffice, not wanting to go over the top but not wanting to ignore her efforts either. 

Nodding in agreement, he automatically took her hand and led them out the exit. Once they were on their way to the Great Hall, he sheepishly admitted, "I've never really been to one of these things." It's not that he hadn't had the opportunity, but moreso that he never got the courage to ask someone. However, the years had obviously given him the necessary boldness to do so. 

[xslyhongki]

✥ an interesting evening — lhk + cjh

[xslyhongki]

Truthfully, the incident between the two wouldn’t have even happened if Hongki knew the older Slytherin a bit better. The types that he usually encountered in the Three Broomsticks were a varied sort, but none quite like this particular boy, and perhaps he shouldn’t have grouped him in with the others but he never expected someone so kind and pure to be lurking about a pub so late at night. Had he known, he would have left him alone, but he was so used to reeling people in with his usual methods that he didn’t stop to consider that sooner or later he could end up harming someone. Perhaps it was selfish of him, but he was this way because so many people had been selfish with him in the past, and while two rights didn’t make a wrong, it was bound to come back full circle sooner or later. He just hated that it had to happen to someone who was so unbelievably sweet.

He didn’t know Jonghun that well still, but every time they spoke, he was unfailingly polite no matter what. Even with his obvious disapproval of Hongki’s… lifestyle choices. Perhaps if they knew each other’s backstories they would get along better in a more casual manner, sympathize with one another and understand their differences, but that wasn’t yet the case and it was obvious that the older boy didn’t really get where he was coming from with anything, yet he still made efforts to be kind. That amazed Hongki, as even people who knew him well enough weren’t always kind to him. And if there was one thing he appreciated, it was a genuinely sweet person; there were far too few in the world.

Right now, the suggestion took him by such surprise that at first, all he could do was widen his eyes in shock, not sure if the idea was said as a joke or not. But it was true, being there without a date was miserable, and he would probably be going off into hiding once he saw his friends for a bit. But pretending, for at least a couple minutes, that he had someone to be there with would be nice and maybe even lift his mood a little… provided it went well of course, but he couldn’t see Jonghun doing anything to hurt him more. “Well.. I mean…” After a pause, he rubbed the back of his neck and smiled shyly. “A-Are you sure…?”

[xgryjonghun]

Really, with all of the persistent unfairness he encountered in his life, it would be understandable for him to be generally rude, untrusting, and selfish. Somehow, he'd ended up as the exact opposite. Even while a person didn't deserve it, he'd give them chance after chance and he ended up getting used. By now, he should have the sense to not trust so soon and without asking it in return. While it never failed to hurt him, he couldn't treat anyone poorly even if he wanted to. Every time he tried, guilt consumed him and he ended up apologizing for a lifetime. So, from experience, he had learned to just be himself, even while that put his own feelings in jeopardy. 

It's not that the suggestion he made would've usually repulsed him, but moreso that it wasn't morally right by his standards. It was no secret that he'd been unbearably confused ever since he'd met Hongki, though. It had just been simpler to avoid the problem entirely, but he kept running into the Slytherin. If not that, he'd hear vulgar and unbelievable rumors about him and his activities against his will. At this point, he had no idea what he should believe. Still, since he'd heard none of it from a credible source, he decided to just ignore everything he heard from the untrustworthy students. He wouldn't be taking anything to heart unless he heard it from Hongki himself. 

From the reaction, he could gather that the younger wasn't against the idea. He'd make it a bit easier for the boy to accept his offer. "Sure," he confirmed, giving a warm smile. "I want to." In all honesty, he did. Maybe he wasn't necessarily keen on the idea of acting with another male, but he was interested in lifting the other's mood significantly. If these were the measures he had to take to do so, so be it. This was a very fine line, though. It was prodding the section of being classified as a sin, but it wouldn't count, right? After all, he was doing this for the happiness of someone he believed to be lacking the proper sort of attention, someone he believed was genuinely good deep down. Taking a deep breath, he offered his hand encouragingly. "Come on, just one dance." That should be enough. 

[xslyhongki]

✥ an interesting evening — lhk + cjh

[xslyhongki]

Honestly, the only reason that Hongki managed to hold it together so long during the evening was for two reasons, the alcohol in his system, and his concern for Luna outweighing his own hurt feelings. But now, feeling himself sober up and knowing that the poor girl had gone back to her room in a slightly better mood, he was without distraction or buffer to deaden the pain, and he was quickly plummeting. What he needed most were his friends, but hearing that Sophie had gone off to meet someone — Bomi, no doubt — more or less told him that he was left waiting around until they returned, which meant he would have to survive the next period of time getting through this on his own. Which would be easier if he could find alcohol again, but he’d figure out a way to cope otherwise.

Blinking at the question, seeing the obvious concern on the other boy’s face, he shook his head a few times despite the fact his expression was falling just as quickly as his mood was; it usually took far less than this to make Hongki’s plummet, it was amazing he’d been calm as long as he was. But he wouldn’t allow himself to cry, because he wasn’t really upset, not his usual kind of upset, he was just sad. Profoundly so. The disappointment of an evening gone wrong didn’t seem like a massive deal to most, but when Hongki had dared to get his hopes up for once in his life, it really just made him feel resigned to his fate. Like nothing would ever work out well for him, he would never get to experience things normally or find someone who genuinely liked him and only him. It was disheartening.

"N-No," he replied, his voice breaking a bit as he shook his head. "Just… just need Sophie." As much as he was hoping not to burden this boy, who might as well be a stranger and who he had quite the awkward encounter with already, he was only silent for a moment or so before he spoke up once more to weakly explain his plight, "… I just… my date, he asked someone else too. And showed up with her. So.. now I’m here alone. I-I don’t know if he did it to us on purpose or if it was some kind of cruel joke or what, but…" Pausing, he swallowed thickly and shrugged his shoulders, looking downward. "… I-I just need Sophie. Can.. can I wait with you until she comes back?"

[xgryjonghun]

From what he'd seen, Hongki was generally just a very unlucky person. Nothing really worked in his favor. None of that made his lifestyle choices understandable, though. Jonghun had to remind himself he didn't know the whole story, and to push all judgmental thoughts from his mind. As a person, while ignoring all of the negative aspects, Hongki wasn't really horrible. Jonghun could tolerate him just fine, but that wasn't necessarily saying much. Still, he could learn to enjoy the Slytherin's company if he genuinely tried. Of course, that wasn't really possible at this point.

Even while they were in no way close or had a halfway decent friendship, he felt concern for the younger boy. His expression stirred Jonghun's naturally protective nature, urging the Gryffindor to offer his assistance before he could even register the desire to do so. Hongki apparently needed a friend, though. It'd likely be a while before Sophie returned if she ended up locating the person she'd sought out for. Jonghun paused momentarily, trying to think up anything useful that he could offer. There was one thing. 

"You know..." Jonghun prepared himself to make this daring suggestion, one he would undoubtedly regret making. "You can pretend I'm your date for a bit. I'm sure Sophie wouldn't mind." He knew being here dateless would be pretty miserable. Being surrounded by touchy and affectionate couples was hard enough with just a friendly date, but being solo would be even more disheartening. Just until Sophie returned, he could do this minor favor. He certainly didn't owe Hongki; if anything, it was the other way around. He'd illegally purchased him alcohol and done more that he didn't even want to think about. All in one night, the Slytherin had managed to steal two very precious things from him. Yet, for whatever reason, he couldn't find the motive to hate the individual. He didn't really have it in him to hate anyone, and that was a major flaw. 

[xslyhongki]

✥ an interesting evening — lhk + cjh

After the night that he had, part of Hongki, a rather big part really, wanted simply to retire to his room and hide there for the rest of the evening so he could pretend nothing happened and successfully get over the disappointment and humiliation. But, he figured that he should at least make an attempt at salvaging his evening, especially when he’d convinced his two best friends to attend the ball with the promise that they’d spend time together whether they had dates or not. He couldn’t be a hypocrite and go running off just because his own date ended up being a huge joke; he would suck it up and spend some time with them before he retreated to the safety of the Slytherin dormitories.

The only problem was that he wasn’t certain where exactly they had disappeared to. He’d spotted Sophie at one point, but didn’t pay much attention to her from then on once he noticed her date, wanting to avoid being mortified by approaching them. But Bomi was nowhere to be seen, and after searching around the Great Hall, he was left confused as to their whereabouts. He was about to go back to his room and give up for the night when he spotted a familiar figure, and with realization that it was none other than the boy he had previously avoided, he let out a quiet groan to himself but made his way over to tap his shoulder.

"U-Uh, hi," he greeted tensely, shifting from foot to foot as he blinked up at the taller boy from behind his mask, lifting a hand to rub the back of his neck awkwardly before he went on to inquire, "Have you, uh, have you seen Sophie?" He was aware that, after their first meeting, it was terribly awkward for him to even be speaking to this boy, but he figured if anyone knew where his best friend was, it would be her date.

[xgryjonghun]

Overall, his night hadn't been nearly as mediocre as he had anticipated. Of course, those expectations weren't due to his date. He'd just expected himself to ruin the entire night with his own foolish mistakes, or make everything so unbearably awkward that he'd be ditched midway through. One would think he'd be smoother with the opposite sex by now, after twenty years of experiencing females and their confusing ways, but he was still just as clueless as he was from day one. As time passed, he had been able to gather that Sophie was just one of those people that were easy to talk to. At least, she was for him. Perhaps that was just from his naturally friendly personality, though. He hadn't really done anything to upset her or cause her to treat him poorly. 

He'd only been left alone for a few minutes, generously giving permission to his date to go meet a friend. He needed a bit of a mental breather anyway, since he wasn't used for carrying long-term conversations. He hadn't even been able to pay attention to the extravagant decorations of the room, yet. All of his focus had been on the other Gryffindor the entire night, since he found that would be the polite thing to do. There wasn't much else for him to pay attention to in the first place.

The tap on his shoulder caused him to tear his gaze away from the couples in the center of the dance floor, glancing over his shoulder to lock eyes with the shorter male behind him. He didn't hate Hongki, not at all. Jonghun just wasn't accepting of his habits, and felt humiliated for falling for the boy's selfish tricks. It would be impossible for him to act rudely, so he didn't even try. "Oh, she headed upstairs to look for... her friend," he finished off uncertainly as the name failed him. Assessing the unusual attitude about the younger, he blinked curiously and leaned down a bit so his voice would be heard over the music, "Why? Do you need something?" 

[xgryjonghun]

❝ msqrd — jonghun & sophie

If it hadn't been for his best friend for nearly a decade, he wouldn't be in this position. He'd only agreed to the suggestion of inviting some girl to accompany him since he'd never anticipated actually getting a date. Because, let's face it: he wasn't really the best option around, and he could recognize that himself. Even when he'd attended Hogwarts before personal matters blocked the opportunity, he'd never even considered attending these school-wide events. Perhaps he'd fallen rather out of things during his three year absence, though, and Changsun was only guiding him again, as per usual. None of this was necessarily negative. Though, age aside, he was experiencing some unsettling nerves with this whole situation.  

Buttoning the last button on his shirt, he assured his outfit was absolutely perfect, everything freshly ironed and creased. If anything, he'd make certain he was presentable. Throwing his suit jacket on and adding the finishing touches to everything, since he'd pretty much given up on giving every detail a generous amount of time, he exited the dormitory and began descending the staircase to the Gryffindor Common Room. Once he arrived, he only briefly scanned the area, which was quite empty due to everyone already heading to the Great Hall, and immediately gathered he was first. Releasing a breath in relief since he hadn't run tardy, he sauntered over towards the opposite side of the room, lingering around the entrance to the girls' dormitories. 

[gryphie-deactivated20131209]

» a modest invitation // cjh & jba

[gryphie-deactivated20131209]

[’ there was something about his demeanor that put her instantly at ease, even as much to crack a smile at his statement. her curiosity got the better of her for a moment, and with an almost childlike inquisitiveness, she took the bait. ] Did you, really? I— well, I’m flattered. [’ she made a mental note to thank her best friends profusely; they’d managed to bring her out of her shell enough to carry on a conversation, a polite one at that. she exhaled a short laugh, reflecting his own jokey behavior. ] And not a moment too soon. [’ his question caused her to hesitate for a moment; did he have any reason not to ask her? but his followup drew another laugh from her and she quickly shook her head. ] No, no! There’s no reason to not ask me — not one. [’ she offered him a reassuring look, though even she wasn’t entirely sure — but that thought left as soon as it had come. ] Do you already have your ball attire? I can always change mine to match yours, if need be. It’s not a problem. 

[xgryjonghun]

(`feels fairly more confident upon recognizing hints of a smile from the other gryffindor, as he was contemplating whether his friend had forcibly set him up with some monotonous and dull person — that wouldn't have been an outstanding issue, though, since his personality tended to make most people comfortable) Yeah, you were the first person I considered, actually. (`hides the fact he hadn't initially been interested in the ball at all, mostly because he's starting to actually warm up to the idea) No, not yet. (`shakes his head, remembering he'd been his predictable, practical self and had figured she already had a dress purchased or in mind, so he refrained from picking anything out) I'll just go with blue, so don't worry about it. And you're a sixth year, right? (`confirms this, not wanting to break her curfew if if varies from his own) I suppose we can just meet in the common room quarter to seven or so. (`shrugs, just giving that option)

[gryphie-deactivated20131209]

[’ if his answer was satisfactory, she barely let it slow; her features softened for a moment before nodding quickly, closing her book and sticking it under her arm. ] Very well, then. I’ll gladly go with you — Jonghun, was it? — I’ll let you know the details. My dress is blue… I think. [’ she paused for a moment, backtracking slightly, and her tone took on a more meek quality. ] Are you… sure? I mean, about asking me? [’ she stammered slightly. ] I-I just mean there are loads of people who’ve not been asked, I’m sure, but — [’ she was unsure of how to finish her statement, so she just looked at him expectantly, obviously thrown off. ]

[xgryjonghun]

(`returns her acceptance with a thankful smile, as he had briefly doubted what her response would be due to her previous suspicions. he just nods along with everything, affirming his name and conveying through his expression that, yes, she would look beautiful in blue) Of course I'm sure. I actually thought about asking you before I did, you know. (`his tone becomes slightly teasing, as he remembers nearly backing out of the plan about four times) ... Is there any reason I shouldn't have asked you? (`questions this from pure curiosity, though that's soon overwhelmed by amusement) You don't bite, do you? 

[xslyhongki]

⌘ against the rules — lhk+cjh

While Hongki tried to do the right thing often, he found that it tended to get in the way of what he wanted. That just made it hard and damn near impossible to follow. And so, rule-breaking had become his forte, especially when it came to where he should and shouldn’t be, and when. He was often wandering the school after curfew, sneaking off grounds when he shouldn’t, the like. But what he struggled with the most was underage drinking. This evening, he was engaging in all three at once.

It was well past curfew and Hogsmeade wasn’t exactly on the grounds, and he was too young to be browsing the Three Broomsticks for someone to drink with, but after the week he’d had, he was in need of something strong. The only problem was his inability to buy such a thing for himself; he could try to make himself look older in order to fool those who worked in the pub, but there was an Age Line surrounding the bar to avoid such a thing from happening, meaning he needed someone actually of age to do the job for him.

Spotting an unfamiliar person seated not too far away, decided to give it a shot and approach, making his way over as he came to stand beside the stranger and greet him in a soft mumble, “H-Hello..” Then, to make sure he was extra polite, “What’s.. what’s your name?”

[xgryjonghun]

While he'd been attending Hogwarts as an actual teenager, he'd strictly stuck to the curfew, just finding that was the responsible thing to do. Now, though, he figured his rule bending could be put into a positive light if he mentioned he was meeting a professor. They weren't due to discuss anything vaguely academic, but that could be their little secret. Besides, he was much too old to be wary of precautionary restrictions. He wouldn't even be within the boundaries of the castle, so his chances of getting caught were slim to none. He'd never be automatically deemed as a student, anyway. 

Even if he'd only been waiting for ten or fifteen minutes, he assumed that Joon had, once again, let their little get together slip his mind. He wasn't going to harshly blame the older male, considering his age probably did a toll on his memory. Smiling to himself at the thought, he wondered how risky it would be to sneak back into the school. After all, he'd intended to just crash at his best friend's place. Finding someone like him, uptight and respectful to all rules, breaking quite a few of them, probably wouldn't look too good. He mentally cursed his friend, albeit lightly. The other was already trying to suck him into questionable acts that didn't exactly suit Jonghun's morals, and he'd finally given in as an apology for losing contact. 

Sticking away from the bar since he didn't drink and he knew Joon would try to press alcohol on him, he was considering his options when a stranger approached him. The stutter didn't go unnoticed, and he peered curiously at the individual. "Jonghun," he responded, gesturing to the seat across from him politely. "Have a seat." He supposed he could use a bit of company... Although this particular company didn't seem to be of age to be wandering out this late.