InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "i have no idea what's going on"

Theodore Nott (nottfinished) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2015-05-09 01:08:00

Entry tags:

character: gregory goyle, character: theodore nott

Who: Greg & Theo
What: Gifts for Greg, or, Theo is pissed off
Where: Greg's place
When: Friday 8th May
Rating: R - language, possible mentions of bad things

Theo was a clever kid, enough that fate might have sent him on a wholly different but very short path by Sorting him into Ravenclaw on his first day at Hogwarts, but he could be very obtuse at times too. He was so sure of the world around him as a dangerous and harmful place that he found it hard to believe in the positive - thus his suspicion and wounded feelings at the card he received from the Fortune Teller, trying to convince him of a truth he didn't believe possible - and could only navigate the world by mapping other people's experiences against his own. Of course he feared the worst when Greg spoke to him of a stranger giving him compliments, possibly making advances, making Greg uncomfortable in a way that could only translate as a threat in the world in Theo's head, where every dog was a wolf and every corner held shadows; there was a reason that he'd managed to ask Greg if he was okay no less than three times in one journal reply.

He punished himself for not hanging around as well, for not having been there to save Greg from hearing that and being sent into the confusion he was in, the knowledge that nothing bad had happened little relief when something terrible could have happened and he still wouldn't have been there to help, to protect his friend. He was put further on edge knowing it was someone who saw them all as Death Eaters in training, unable to think of a reason why someone like that would want to come to Greg's party if not to cause trouble. Being told that he'd only turned up to police Greg though... Theo had seen red in a way that he rarely did and the air around him had crackled with latent destructive magic wanting to be freed. The nerve, attending something that had already not been the party that Greg had wanted, something as simple as a birthday party that anyone else could have, only to make sure Greg wasn't doing anything untoward, like their House or their blood or whatever this mystery guy's problem with all of them was meant that Greg was some kind of monster and not just a young man as much a product of his background and family as anyone else.

Theo had managed to calm himself down enough to not put anyone's back up, although he was still prone to bouts of seething, and had gotten one of his former eerily silent and unnamed House Elves looking all neat and presentable for Greg's present. He'd apparated onto the grounds with the usual snapped scream that was his apparition noise and had knocked on Greg's door, House Elf in tow, shifting his weight from foot to foot a little as though the movement would burn out some of the still present angry energy that was making his heart leap around in his chest like a salmon on a line.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

nottfinished
2015-07-15 09:52 pm UTC (link)

Greg's kindness, giving something of his up for the comfort of a House Elf, made Theo smile again but it also made him ache in a strange place, in a strange way, though he couldn't say why. He was relieved for the Elf though, pleased that it had responded to Greg because he hadn't been sure if his telling it that it was going to a new home had been properly absorbed. He nodded - Greg's mum would probably be the more reliable source rather than his own half-guesswork.

Theo's tone asked for forgiveness but Theo didn't feel he deserved any, and nearly winced when Greg absolved him; didn't change the fact that he'd abandoned his friend to that, did it. He wasn't forgiving of the mystery drunk either, just because the jerk had been soused. He couldn't tell the difference between harmless and harmful anymore and the possibility of Greg at risk made it more difficut for him to even try to do so. "Or because they tell the bare truth." he muttered darkly, but he was gentle when he took the charm back from Greg, slipping it into his pocket to be put on a chain around his neck later on.

He did wince when Greg said that though, fretting immediately and biting at his lip in the habit that he had when he was worried. "People don't need to hit you to hurt you." he said carefully, not sure if he was overstepping the mark but SO worried. "Confused because he hates us but was... hitting on you?" he asked after a pause there while he tried to find the least offensive way to put it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

goyle_g
2015-07-20 10:04 am UTC (link)

Now that the problem of the house-elf was solved (for the moment), Greg turned his attention exclusively to Theo. "You think it was the truth?" Greg asked - somehow more disturbed that Potter might actually find him attractive than by the idea that it had all been some ruse or plot or... something. Greg wasn't used to the idea of anyone finding him attractive, and that the first - only - person should be Potter seemed unfair. Greg didn't want to marry Potter, so what was the use of that?

Greg scowled. "They have to do something. Hex or hit or - more than just talk." He remembered, all of a sudden, that Potter had tried to hit him, but it hadn't hurt. He'd been too drunk to hit out effectively. "He hates me, and us," he corrected. This wasn't just general Slytherin prejudice. This was Potter who'd always hated Draco and Vince and Greg. "But he wasn't... hitting on me. He just said I was too hot to be a house-elf. And that I was cute." It all seemed ridiculous now, in the cold light of day when there was no alcohol flooding Greg's system. "And he apologised."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nottfinished
2015-08-02 12:39 pm UTC (link)

Theo wasn't sure and he shrugged uncertainly. "It's more likely that he found you attractive and told you than didn't and lied." he pointed out; it was pretty obvious to him that Greg was physically attractive, even if he personally thought that it was Greg's personality that was more attractive. He had no idea that Greg could be completely unaware of how he looked and he was worried that Greg didn't see the potential danger of his interaction.

He didn't like what Greg was telling him though, shifting uncomfortably in agitation and condemning himself - again - for not staying around. "So, he said he thinks your attractive, that makes sense." he said bluntly, then tilted his head. "Apologised for what? Hating you? Or us, or whatever."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

goyle_g
2015-08-04 02:10 pm UTC (link)

"Is it?" Greg wasn't so sure about that. It didn't seem likely to him at all that Potter found him attractive. Potter was a man, for a start, and though Greg knew there were men who liked men (including some he knew), it still seemed like a rare and unlikely thing to him. Add on to that Potter's relationship with Weasley, and it seemed ridiculous that he should find Greg attractive.

Greg shook his head. "Not for hating us - for 'his behaviour'." Greg didn't know exactly what Potter had intended to apologise for, but he was quite certain it wasn't having suspicions of Greg, or his behaviour throughout school and since. "His behaviour on Thursday, not for stuff before that. He probably just meant getting drunk and snooping."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nottfinished
2015-08-04 09:59 pm UTC (link)

Theo gave Greg a quizzical look after a brief think about it. "Yes. If he really was that drunk I'd imagine he wouldn't be able to sustain a ruse and it was apropos of nothing. There's not much he has to gain from saying that to you knowing that you'd be suspicious on hearing that from someone who hates us. And you're clearly an attractive man so we should assume he was telling the truth, although it's always wise to leave a little room for doubt." he said all in one go and then looked awkward about talking so much.

Luckily, Greg relayed something that confused him at first and then made him growl a little under his breath. "So he should. You didn't deserve that." he said, that low bubbling anger coming to the fore only to be extinguished by guilt. "I'm sorry that your birthday went that way Greg. You shouldn't have been surrounded by drunken adult-children who can't move past their school days, nevermind been left alone with one of them." It seemed he wasn't going to forgive himself for that one. He calmed down a little though, something waving at him for attention. "He didn't apologise for saying that he found you attractive though; did he?" He asked tentatively. He didn't want to encourage anything between Greg and this person because his friend deserved better, but he wanted to be sure of the mystery man's motives.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

goyle_g
2015-08-07 08:26 am UTC (link)

Greg hummed a low note as he considered Theo's words. They did make sense. Potter had been talking about things he obviously wouldn't naturally reveal - about how he'd come to the party to find Dark Magic and how he was suspicious of Greg's innocent birthday list. "But I'm not-" he objected. Not that he really knew what was considered attractive for a man, he'd never given it much thought. As in many things, Draco had been his model. He had been attractive to Pansy, at the very least. No one had ever made Greg feel like they were attracted to him - until now, apparently. "I don't want to be attractive to P-" Greg stopped himself from saying the name, though he wasn't quick enough to turn the aborted sound into anything else. Besides, he didn't know who he wanted to be attractive to. His eventual wife, whoever that might be?

Greg had never understood why Theo apologised for things that weren't his fault, and had never really known how to deal with it. "It was an okay party before that," he said. He'd enjoyed sitting with Theo, and the cake, and drinks. He'd even quite like being drunk before running into Potter. "I got good presents." Cake and presents made a birthday, as far as Greg was concerned, even if he'd had to open the presents late. Greg shrugged at the question. "Just 'his behaviour'. I guess that included telling me I was cute."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nottfinished
2015-08-08 09:29 pm UTC (link)

Theo wasn't sure what Greg was objecting to, although it was beginning to sound like the idea of anyone finding him attractive at all was foreign to Greg, which only made Theo feel more angry. And guilty. Even though it was probably weird to tell your friend that he was attractive, Theo couldn't help but blame himself for not speaking out more at school and trying to encourage Greg's self-esteem, which was ridiculous and hypocritical when you thought about it. He instinctively stopped himself from reacting when Greg said something that Theo didn't think he'd heard correctly. Greg had cut himself off but Theo could have sworn that he was going to say Potter. Which, actually, would make sense given the clues that Greg had given him so far.

Still, if it was Potter and Greg didn't want to disclose that to him Theo wasn't going to go poking about, even if he was already growling at the man in the back of his head; if anyone should understand that the War was supposed to be over it was Harry Potter. He smiled a little because at least Greg had enjoyed some of the day that should have been all about him but it was short lived. He didn't like what had happened to Greg, although he was admittedly making more of it than there was; he didn't know any better.

"That doesn't mean he changed his mind about that." he pointed out, and then Theo tensed a little, taking Greg's elbow and speaking to him firmly and directly. "Hey. You don't owe him anything for saying that, okay? It sounds like he does think you're cute but that doesn't mean you have to do anything you don't want to do. It doesn't matter how attractive you are, if you don't want him near you then he needs to stay away from you." he realised he was being a little more fierce than he'd meant to and he let go of Greg's elbow a little awkwardly.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

goyle_g
2015-08-12 01:09 pm UTC (link)

It wasn't the first time Theo had come fiercely to Greg's defence. Greg had always found it a little ridiculous, but simultaneously know that Theo meant well. It was nice, to think that his friends wanted to look out for him, even if Greg didn't consider Theo particularly capable of the task. "I know I don't owe him anything," he said, more confused than ever. Potter was about the last person in the world Greg would ever admit he owed anything to - and certainly not because Potter thought he was cute. It was all wrong and strange and Greg frankly didn't want to deal with it anymore.

"He wants to stay away from me," he insisted, sure it was true. Cute or not he'd never been in any doubt that Potter couldn't stand him - and the feeling was definitely mutual. Apart from the cute bit. Greg didn't think Potter was cute at all. "He hates me, remember?" But then... Potter wasn't doing a very good job at staying away. He'd visited Greg at work, at home, and now at his mother's home... "Maybe he wants to keep an eye on me," Greg corrected. "He doesn't trust me. Thinks I'm going to steal from the Weasleys or do Dark Magic at home."

When Theo let go, Greg used that as an opportunity to change the topic. "I can just forget about it," he said. "I don't need to reply, do I?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nottfinished
2015-08-22 12:05 am UTC (link)

Greg had a point in doubting Theo's ability to defend him, especially given the fact that he'd never been able to defend himself, but outside of his physical smallness and his mental frailty Theo was gifted with a knowledge of wicked, nasty little hexes that would cause a lot of pain, especially as he would use them if his friends were at risk. He honestly worried for Greg (and Vince, in the past), keen for people to stop taking him for granted and overlooking him all the time. It appeared that his desires had backfired though; now all he wanted was for this person to stay the hell away from Greg.

Theo's experiences didn't so much colour his interpretation of the situation as saturate it, reading things into it that weren't necessarily there. He wasn't aware he was doing it though and he was relieved when Greg confirmed he wasn't going to let himself be dragged into anything just because some guy was saying nice things about him, regardless of the truth.

He was still angry at what he heard though, and that last bit pretty much confirmed that it was Harry Potter who had done this to Greg. "No!" Theo exclaimed, horrified that Greg would even feel the need to reply. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to and that includes replying to him. Some guy who thinks the worst of you with the audacity to think he needs to keep an eye on you is definitely someone you can forget about."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Complete goyle_g 2015-08-28 02:01 pm UTC (link)
	"Good," Greg said, relieved. He didn't much like answering owls in the first place, although he would do it when it was necessary. He smiled at Theo, happier now that the conversation about Potter could come to an end. "Thanks for coming," he added. "And for the presents." Greg was looking forward to having a house-elf of his very own. (Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -