It always makes him giddy [Ryan]

[cally]

Gale stepped back to look at the canvas he'd just finished of a skyline at Hogwarts. Turning his head from side to side and taking one more step further he grinned, nodding once to himself to agree that this canvas was now complete and he could send it off to his parents in the morning for them to see. Grabbing his can of paintbrushes he went over to the deep sink along the wall to wash them out the best he could, even though they were always going to be stained with the paint colors. Setting the cup down he scrubbed his hands the best he could, completely missing the bits of paint on his face and even in his hair. The room hadn't brought up a mirror since he didn't need one, so it was too easy to miss these things.

Once he'd packed his bag of supplies he took his wand out and gave it a wave, drying the paint on the canvas so it was safe to carry out with him. He'd discovered this room night the year before when he was in desperate need of a place to just get away when he hadn't been able to see his sister in her dormitory since he'd forgotten the password. At least once a week he'd come back here(usually on the weekends) and paint something he'd sketched out during the week. He thought it was at least one way to remain sane since he couldn't be with his dad to paint with him, he'd paint alone then send his work back home for safe keeping.

Shouldering his bag he carefully picked up the canvas, it was a medium sized one, 12inx9in, and glanced around one more time to see if he'd forgotten anything. After a few minutes of checking he headed for the door that had appeared, turning the handle and peeking out through a crack in the door before he emerged completely. Grinning a bit stupidly to himself since painting always made him ridiculously happy and hyper he would have floated if he could down the corridor. Anyone who'd be happen to run into him might have just thought the little Hufflepuff might have just been laid, except his shirt and khaki cargo pants were splattered with paint, as was his face and hair.

[ryan]

Ryan had been outside, in the Forbidden Forest. He loved going there, calling out to birds and finding a little much needed solitude, though with the rumors of there being a vampire in the grounds he hadn't been too keen on spending much time there. He'd wandered off into the forest for a bit, but even he wasn't suicidal enough to really go looking for trouble. It meant though, that he was still looking forward to a little time on his own. Which was why he'd been looking for the Room of Requirement. If it could morph into anything, surely it would turn into what he needed most..a place filled with animals that could love him.

Hurrying into the hallway, he didn't notice the Hufflepuff until he crashed into him, falling back down on his ass and cursing loudly. He was wearing the regular Slytherin attire, because sometimes it meant he'd be left alone by people, the crest apparently telling them that they were mean by default. Not that he was. Well yea, lately, he hadn't been too nice, but he'd been busy and confused.

It wasn't right for him to be dating Dominique. And yet it was. He wasn't sure if he could stick to being faithful, especially since he couldn't stop thinking about a certain someone else. Which was ridiculous. He was old, he was...well he was even more messed up than he was, and that really should tell Ryan all. But he couldn't stop thinking, couldn't stop hoping that maybe at some point, he'd finally be meant for more.

Glancing up at the boy from his position on the floor, he couldn't help but laugh at the paint that was literally everywhere. It was comical and slightly cute, which was a thought that really wasn't helping. It was as if his mind immediately connected possible friendship with sex. Marius was about the only person he trusted to be his friend and nothing more - oddly enough, since he had slept with him.

Ryan shook the thoughts from his mind, pushing himself up to his feet and extending a hand to help the other back up as well. "Sorry, I didn't see you there." He looked at the piece of art, picking it up carefully and admiring it. "You're good."

[cally]

Gale barely noticed the echoing footsteps of another person in the hall until he was already on his backside from being knocked into, his canvas sliding away along the floor a few feet. "Ow!" he whined slightly before pushing himself up to see who he'd just smashed into. Oh great.. a Slytherin, most of the time they sneered at him for being a Hufflepuff and now here he was covered in pain. Gale started to scramble up to his feet when the other boy got up first and offered a hand in helping him up.

He stared at his hand stupidly for a moment and then glanced up at his face, it was strange to hear.. nice? words coming out of a Slytherin's mouth. "Um.. no problem" he said grabbing his hand and pulling himself back onto his feet. He smiled hesitantly at the dark haired boy, Ryan wasn't it? He was pretty sure that was his name, then the article from the paper popped into his mind, It WAS him for sure, there was a picture in there of the same guy..who was now holding his painting.

His fingers itched to snatch it away, a pit in his stomach telling him to get it back before it was ruined but he ignored it for the moment. "Thanks..learnt it from my dad" he almost added 'I like to paint' but that would make him sound like a special-gifted(and not in a good way) sixteen year old.

[ryan]

Ryan had no intention of destroying the painting, or doing damage to it in any way. Instead he looked at it for a few minutes, taking in every little detail with knowledgeable eyes. The boy was really good, it was obvious in his smile when he handed the work of art back to the Hufflepuff. It was nice to hear that he had learned it from someone, sometimes Ry wished that his father would be interested in things like art. Instead he called it doodling, said that he’d never earn anything by wasting his time on things like this. It had only been his gouvernante who had given him paper and pencils to work with, had encouraged and critiqued him whenever it was necessary.

The boy seemed slightly hesitant, almost wary, and Ryan shook his head almost invisibly. He wondered why on earth every Hufflepuff had to be so worried whenever they encountered a Slytherin. It was most likely their worry and fidgeting that called out to his dormmates as weakness, something they could easily take advantage of. Even Ashley had been the same in the beginning, though he’d hid it behind a big mouth. He smiled, thinking of the Hufflepuff. Honestly, he had friends in all houses, some of which were very unlikely. He was even pretty close with a Ravenclaw boy called Kris, who was about as innocent and naive as anyone could be. His friends knew that he’d never literally try to take advantage of them, and unlike most people they understood what it was he couldn’t put into words.

”That’s great. My parents think that art is a hobby. Something that you’re only allowed to do after a hard and honest days work” He practically cringed at the words. Ever since he’d been a little boy, all he’d wanted to do was draw and paint and make the world a slightly more magical place. Sure, Aurors changed the world, but he firmly believed that you could do just that by providing a little more beauty and inspiration to the world.

[cally]

After a minute of watching Ryan, Gale's intuition giving in and telling him that he didn't quite fit the bill of a normal Slytherin. It was almost involuntary to get nervous and defensive when one came along since before he came to Hogwarts, the few students he met told him to be wary of the green and silver colored house and that the wizard Voldemort came from it and there was a huge battle not that long ago. A handful of the other students he met were children of parents who'd fought against the dark lord.

"What? That's crazy!" he said, shaking his head a bit and looking his painting over fondly before looking back at Ryan. "Like painting and slaving over a canvas isn't a hard days work? It drives me mad sometimes!" he was grinning slightly then it caught up with him that he basically insulted Ryan's parents with beating around calling them stupid. "No offense or anything to you, Ryan." he said quickly, reaching over and touching him lightly on his arm.

Pulling his hand back he kept smiling "Do you paint then?" he asked curiously, he wouldn't have taken Ryan to do something like that but, he did like Care of Magical Creatures more than the normal person(in his book anyway) so he just might have been one to sit and doodle sometimes too.

[ryan]

"What? That's crazy! Like painting and slaving over a canvas isn't a hard days work? It drives me mad sometimes!"

Ryan grinned back at him, agreeing wholeheartedly, when all of a sudden the Hufflepuff turned a bit pale, touching his arm and apologizing for offending his parents. He laughed, a happy and slightly surprised sound, he did not laugh out loud all too often. "Oh none taken. I've known for years that my parents are crazy. Or perhaps I am, but I'd much rather be interested in art than fighting dark wizards."

Not every Slytherin knew of course, since this wasn't the kind of information he'd volunteer to his dormmates. But his parents had fought alongside every Auror in the war, trying to catch Dark Wizards and make the world a better place. He sometimes wondered whether or not they did the right thing, which was another reason he could get so absorbed in art - it was a way of escaping from the world, of not having to deal with questions of moral right and wrong.

"Do you paint then?"

Ryan nodded, rubbing at his neck, which was hurting as it usually was. "Sometimes. I usually prefer drawing. I do some commission work, but mostly just...enjoy doing it. Cause I was practically born with a pencil in my hand. It's not ever even been a hobby. It's...like a way of life?" He winced at his choice of words, not wanting Gale to think that he was an incredible dork.

[cally]

Grinning slightly when Ryan laughed, he felt a little relieved that he agreed about his parents. "Most parents are crazy though, right? I know mine have a weird habit of agreeing one minute then not for whatever stupid reason" he rolled his eyes slightly. "Gotta love a dysfunctional family.. normal ones are so boring" to say his family was dysfunctional was like saying the kettle was black, anyone who knew how big it was and who was in it would have a hard time not agreeing.

He nodded a little, noticing how Ryan started to rub his neck while he was listening to him talk about drawing. He was quiet while listening, another grin creeping up on his face and he looked pretty excited again because art WAS a way of life to him. "That's awesome! That's exactly how I feel, I got crayons in the crib and never stopped." He bounced a little on the tip of his toes, and blurted out before he could stop himself "Does your neck hurt? I could rub it if you want..I'm good at that sort of stuff." After a moment, a slight blush crept up onto his cheeks but he tried not to look embarrassed about it, the only part really giving him away was the blush.

"Sorry.... I... well... it's just a suggestion" he stuttered out, feeling more stupid by the second. "Okay.. shutting up now" he mumbled mentally slapping himself thinking that Ryan was going to think he was coming on to him or just plain weird. People who are basically strangers don't offer rub jobs to one another. At least not at Hogwarts.. Gale thought, shaking his head just barely

[ryan]

Gale was...well to be honest, he was a little hyper. It amused the Slytherin, who just listened to him rambling on, touching all the subjects they had so briefly discussed. It was almost as if there was no break on him, that he was spilling his thoughts without even properly thinking them through. For Ryan, that was like a completely different way of interacting. Every word was well weighed out and he really didn’t do too well in unpredictable situations. It made for a nice change to have someone be so open and honest with him.

"Does your neck hurt? I could rub it if you want..I'm good at that sort of stuff."

He looked up to find the boy blushing – naturally, he thought – and nearly tripping over his own words to take back the very tempting offer. Ryan pouted, leaning a little closer as if he was about to divulge a secret. His lips were practically pressed against the Hufflepuffs ear as he whispered to him. ”That would be very...pleasurable.” Oh he knew that he was teasing him, but it was so easy. Gale was being all adorable and blush-y and just so Hufflepuff-ish that he couldn’t resist.

Plus, the guy was cute. Sure, Dominique was there and Tristram and that was exactly why he was behaving this way. Because it was second nature. Because he had to. Because he wanted to fuck things up before something bad would happen.

OoC: so sorry it took me so long luv <3 *squish*

[cally]

Still mentally smacking himself, Gale didn't notice Ryan's pout or him leaning in close until he heard him whispering at his ear. His ears were sensitive so that just made a shiver run down his spine and he bit his lip slightly. He almost gave in right then but remembered something.. didn't Ryan have a girlfriend?

"Doubt your girlfriend would think of it that way" he murmured back, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. He doubted it would be that big of a deal if Ryan was still dating the girl..they looked like an odd pair anyway, maybe she was just playing along with their 'dating' if Ryan was really gay.

The blush was slowly disappearing and even though Gale was shivering slightly still since Ryan hadn't moved away from his ear he tried not to show his nerves. Poor guy was still nervous when things got to this point with another person and half the time he'd start to think about him, which then would make him pine after whatever happened with the new person.

(ooc: and sorry for the lameness.. >>)

[ryan]

"Doubt your girlfriend would think of it that way"

Ryan frowned a little, wondering why on earth a boy like him would bring up his girlfriend. It was completely unnecessary, and a little odd considering that he’d been flirting with him. So he shrugged one shoulder, leaning back so he wasn’t completely close to the other boy. Fine. If Gale didn’t want to play, he’d just find someone else to play with. It wasn’t like he could find someone better anyway.

”I don’t see why she’d have to throw a fit over me getting a neck rub. Unless that was some sort of code for I want to shag you.” His smile was neutral, though there was a lot happening behind that. In a way, he felt rejected. And in another he felt thankful. Cheating on Dominique really wasn’t something he wanted, though at the same time he felt like it was hardly avoidable. Looking at Gale, Ryans smile suddenly warmed a little. Perhaps he should start over, try and stop his second nature of flirting with him – though Toby had said he was particularly good in bed. ”Sorry. I suppose flirting is somewhat of a second nature. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”