InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Derek and Stiles forever."

Michael Abbott (particularity) wrote in incanesco_rpg,
@ 2011-06-23 23:42:00

Entry tags:

!incomplete, michael abbott, remus lupin

Who: Michael Abbott & Remus Lupin
What: Getting Cozy in the Library
When: After Dinner, Evening of September 23
Where: The Library
Rating: SFW
Status: In Progress

It had been a long, tiring day for Michael; Thursdays always were. Though he got to sleep in if he didn't mind missing breakfast he was right out straight until four o'clock, and it always meant an awful lot of homework on Thursday night. None of it was due the next day, fortunately, but that didn't make getting it all done any easier. He had very strict time tables for completing work, and he held himself to them. If he didn't his work would never get done causing him to fall behind, a fact that would forever be completely unacceptable.

A pile of books four to seven high sat on either side of him on the table as his quill scratched across the parchment. The sounds and smells of the library had lulled him into a zen state of relaxation, his eyes half closed as he translated line after of runes back and forth. Ancient Runes had always been one of his favourite and best subjects, and the homework always helped put him at ease. He'd saved it for last as a treat, a reward, for a job well done on Transfiguration, DADA, and Herbology. That saving a certain subject's homework as a reward might be odd never crossed his mind.

Hitting a wall of writer's block and finally sensing the cramps in his fingers he sat up, rubbing a hand over his eyes. His head turned from side to side as his eyes surveyed the inhabitants of the library. How long had he been there? He wished that he'd remembered to wear his watch. The last thing he wanted was to be late for curfew. His stomach rumbled loudly, and he flushed from his hair line all the way down his neck to the inside of his shirt. Loosening his tie with one hand and reaching into his book bag with the other, the Hufflepuff pulled a small package of chocolate frogs and plucked one out, popping it into his mouth, hoping nobody noticed.

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lupintime
2011-06-24 12:58 pm UTC (link)

Since Remus was waiting to hear about joining a few clubs late, he found himself with plenty of extra time on his hands. A normal class load with prefect duties kept him from getting too bored, but he just wanted more and thus he found himself in the library. A quiet room (room was a loose term, but there wasn't another word that could account for the area), stacked on all ends with endless amounts of books on every subject, the library was full of that parchment smell - one that had come to be a favorite of Remus'. A keen sense of smell was just one of those odd attributes leftover from his lycanthropy and another full moon was fast approaching, already leaving him looking a little tired.

The point was that he didn't miss the smell of chocolate as he rounded the corner and saw a familiar boy, a Hufflepuff, that he hadn't talked to much. Well, Lily told him to make new friends despite the fact that he had plenty, so why not? Michael (it was the name that came to mind and he was pretty sure it was right) looked to be in the middle of a break anyway, so Remus pulled the stack of books he collected for 'fun' and took a seat.

"Mind if I sit here?" He asked, keeping his voice low, with a pleasant sort of smile on his face.

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particularity
2011-06-24 04:36 pm UTC (link)

For a long time Michael had been convinced that he was the quietest person at the school. After all, people often talked about things right in front of him without ever noticing that he was there. Remus, however, certainly was a good candidate for the silver medal in the sport. Had the inquiry been any louder than it was Michael would have jumped clear out of his seat, but the Gryffindor had a fortunately quiet way about him, much like himself, so he was minimally startled. He looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, though, his blue eyes wide.

"Oh!" he said softly, sitting up a bit straighter in his seat. "Of course. I mean...no. No, I don't mind at all. Be my guest." Eyeing the piles of books on either side of him, Michael grabbed the shorter of the two and pushed it to the opposite side so he didn't look as if he were surrounded by defensive towers. "Working on homework?" It was a shot in the dark, really, a desperate stab at small talk, and as soon as he asked he wished that he hadn't. Maybe Remus didn't want to be bothered.

Hoping to make amends, he offered the chocolate frogs to the other boy with a lopsided smile. "Want one? I know we're not supposed to eat in the library, but I knew I was going to fall asleep if I didn't get some sugar into me. And I figured it'd be all right since I'm not touching anything that doesn't belong to me at the moment."

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lupintime
2011-06-24 09:54 pm UTC (link)

From the moment Michael looked at him, Remus was amused. The expression the other boy wore was funny, as if he was about to be in trouble or something, but Remus had no intentions of busting him - for anything. As he sat, he glanced around at the piles of books that looked like a fortress-in-progress to keep him from having to see or speak to anyone. Maybe Remus was interrupting him, but he didn't seem unhappy to have company.

"Ah, no, I'm mostly done with homework, I was just...looking for something to read." His lips twitched into an embarrassed smile because his free time reading was already up to six books which he set down. "I have a lot of free time," he explained, pushing some hair out of his eyes.

Lowering his voice to a mischievous level, Remus whispered, "I won't tell if you don't," as he took a frog with a grin. "Thanks. So what are you here for? You've more books than I do, it seems."

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particularity
2011-06-25 04:47 am UTC (link)

"Oh, Merlin, you're so lucky." The words were practically moaned out by the Hufflepuff when Remus admitted that he was mostly done with his homework. Another person who made him feel stupid. Some days he wondered why he even bothered working so hard. His results were always only barely above average for hours and hours of dedication. Why couldn't he just be one of those effortlessly smart students?

"As for me," he said, setting the chocolate frog package down where they could both pick at them, "I've been picking at the work from all of today's classes. Transfiguration, Defense, Runes, and Herbology. I prefer to do my homework the day that I get it while everything is still fresh in my mind even if it's not due until next week sometime." He shrugged his shoulder and set his quill down, wiping his fingers on the leg of his pants.

"If you've got so much free time and you like to read how come you're not a member of the book club?" Book club was one of Michael's favorite activities, and he was fairly certain that he'd never seen Remus there. "It's a lot of fun, reading a book that everyone else has and having people to talk about it with. Even if it's something you've already read it feels like there's always something new to learn or some other way to see something. It's nice to see other people's points of views. What sorts of things do you like to read?" Michael could always talk about books. He always had his nose buried in one, new or old, contemporary or classic.

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lupintime
2011-06-25 08:44 pm UTC (link)

"Sometimes I can't sleep and end up getting things done early," Remus admitted with an easy shrug. He did not consider himself to be effortlessly smart by far. Those words were reserved for people like James and Sirius while Remus had to actually work for his marks and intelligence. It helped that he'd been reading since he was a boy, consuming books like water, but that didn't necessarily make him smarter. There certainly weren't any books about this kind of magic in the muggle library.

"Work first, play later? What do you think about the lessons so far?" Remus wasn't sure how much 'play' Michael got around to given what he was seeing and hearing, but he was going to be fair to start. "I hardly do anything that far ahead of time, but I can't say I like an approaching deadline." Feeling like he was going to be late was an easy way for him to become anxious.

"I don't know. I didn't join any clubs but I'm definitely thinking about it. Book club, chess club, duelling club. I think I'd like to participate in all of them," he smiled easily. "Oh, everything. I've been reading a ton of muggle literature the past few years, novels and poetry, and pretty much anything I can get my hands on. I don't like things that are too technical in some subjects, but I can enjoy some history. What about you?" Remus, too, could talk about books all the time, especially since his usual friends weren't too much into reading.

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particularity
2011-06-26 03:58 am UTC (link)

"I can understand that. Not being able to sleep. Sometimes your mind just won't be quiet. I should keep some work in reserve for moments like that, actually. That's a pretty good idea. Thanks for it." He flashed a warm smile at Remus. Michael was usually a very good, very hard sleeper. Once he was asleep there was very little in the world that could wake him. He was famous for snoring and sometimes even talking in his sleep; a few of the Hufflepuff boys, he was certain, had tried to smother him in his sleep to no avail. Michael's rowdy sleeping habits would not be silenced.

His eyes wandered to the pile of books beside him, and he let out a contented yet somewhat frustrated sigh. How did he find the lessons this year? "Classes aren't bad. I can't complain too much since I'm taking a course load that I chose and love. It's about on par with last year's, but it's harder, I think, knowing that you need to actually retain and be able regurgitate all of the information at the end of the year. I keep having horrible visions of myself failing spectacularly. In order to counter them I just keep studying harder. I fear it's making me awfully dull and boring. Even more so than usual. Do you reckon that it's possible to be studying too much? I hope I'm not doing it wrong..."

"You should join some clubs, though. Even I have the time for them, so they don't seem to demand much. I can't speak for chess or dueling. I'm terrible at strategy and fighting. But book club is incredibly relaxing, and I think it'd be nice to have you around. Especially since we've got similar interests, it sounds. I've got an awful soft spot for the Muggle classics. I'm a huge fan of, um, the Romantics. Byron, Shelley, Coleridge, Keats. And the Victorians. Though there are a few American authors I shamefully enjoy as well."

He grinned and looked down at his hands, a bit of pink tinging his cheeks. It was bad enough he liked Muggle literature so well. That he enjoyed American Muggle literature was somewhat shameful, and he hoped that Remus wouldn't abuse him too terribly for it.

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lupintime
2011-06-26 08:43 am UTC (link)

"Exactly. Sometimes you just start thinking and find it impossible to stop, not because you want to keep your mind going, it just happens," Remus shrugged, giving an expasperated look. It didn't happen often but on some nights Remus would be troubled by nightmares, ones of being attacked or of attacking others, and then he would be prove to be a noisy sleeper. That wasn't for long, though, since he would wake up and be unable to sleep for the rest of the night. Even his dormmates weren't all that aware, not unless they actually heard him thrashing and walking about once he was up, rustling through books in the middle of the night.

"I don't think you can do it wrong," he said with an amused smile. "But perhaps there is such a thing as studying too much. I'm more afraid you might go insane if you spend all your time in a quiet library without much company save for some books." On this front, Remus felt he actually could give advice. While he was a huge bookworm and studied hard, he also had a lot of fun to balance it out (it wasn't entirely his decision, he had to admit). "I get it, though. The NEWTs are kind of terrifying since they're the last straw for determining what we do for the rest of our lives--I mean," he cleared his throat, "they're just a small worry." Remus felt bad now; he didn't want to go giving the boy anymore reason to worry himself over it.

"I imagine so. Then again, I already read so much on my own, but I know a lot of people in the club and figure talking with them about certain books might be nice. Then we don't have to bide for time with each other. Oh yes, the Romantics. Some of my favorites. I kind of secretly like the Victorians, but obviously it's not that secret if I'm sharing it with you now." There was a slightly embarrassed smile on his lips over how excited he was getting just from that.

"Not all American authors should be shamefully liked. Fitzgerald? He's fantastic. I've read some things of Salinger and I enjoy those as well and Walt Whitman's poetry is quite good. I do think we have much more to be proud of, however."

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particularity
2011-06-26 11:51 pm UTC (link)

It was always comforting, Michael thought, to know that he wasn't just some sort of freak who worried too much and too often. That Remus also stayed awake nights with things on his mind was some small comfort. Of course, the things that bothered them were vastly different, but that hardly mattered. The feeling of sharing a common ground was all that really mattered. They also shared the fact that nobody really knew that they lost sleep. Perhaps that was a universal symptom of the restless.

"It's blatant, innit? If anyone could do studying wrong it'd be me I reckon." He ran a hand back through his hair, forcing it to stick out at odd angles. It was always a good thing that Michael didn't particularly care what his hair looked like. Vanity certainly wouldn't have suited him. He didn't have the patience to sit there quietly and not mess with his hair or touch his face or the like. "But thank you. For caring about my sanity. I really do appreciate it. I'll try to tear myself away from the library more often or at least bring company along. I find that most of my mates like to talk to me when I'm trying to get important things done, though, and I just can't focus on more than one thing at a time. Fatal flaw. Probably why I don't play Quidditch, and definitely why I can't do work in the Hufflepuff common room."

"You, though, are a master of understatement. I'd call them more than kind of terrifying. Paralyzingly comes to mind, for instance. And you just had to remind me that they decide what we do forever. Ugh." Michael shook his head, resting his chin in his hand. "I just know that I've got these two dreams in mind, both with equal pull, and I'm not going to end up being good enough for either of them. Probably have a long and illustrious career as a paper pusher somewhere ahead of me. What about you? Anything you're aiming for job wise?"

Talking about jobs and the future was not particularly nice, but it was necessary. It wasn't safe like books and the Romantics and Victorians, yet it was comforting to know that he wasn't the only one with heavy things on his mind. Michael was a chronic worrier, and talking about NEWTs and things only shifted around the order of things to worry about without adding new ones. Remus' guilt, then, was somewhat unfounded.

"I'm very good at keeping secrets, so don't worry about it. I won't tell anyone that you like the Victorians. I think that Jane Eyre is a piece of rubbish, but I love Wuthering Heights, so we can all sleep better knowing that there's at least one enjoyable Bronte sister. And as for the Americans, I adore Fitzgerald. And Hemingway. The Lost Generation has a definite sort of appeal. I can't say I'm familiar with Salinger and Whitman, though. Maybe I'll look them up. And I am going to have to insist you join the book club now. I'm rather enjoying talking about literature with you, you know."

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lupintime
2011-06-27 12:52 am UTC (link)

Remus offered a quiet chuckle, watching Michael ruin his hair - not that it had been perfect to begin with, but he had no room to think about appearances and never judged people on such things anyway. He was, however, getting the sense that Michael didn't have the strongest confidence in himself which was always a pity. Then again, Remus still didn't have room in that area either seeing as his own confidence and self-esteem were rather low; he just hardly showed that side to most people and usually attempted to put on a facade of strength and bravery. "Perhaps you should find some actual study partners who're looking for the same thing? Someone who'll keep quiet while working but be there for a good break and sanity check. And trust me, I know what you mean, the Gryffindor common room is the last place to get studying done at any normal hours." Even in the middle of night, really.

"Sorry," Remus all but winced, knowing that had been a bad move right as he'd mentioned the NEWTs. That was a tough subject with almost anyone and they'd only just begun the year! "Oh come on," Remus gave him a look, "you have to give yourself more credit than that. Look at how hard you work, I'm sure you could get anything you want. But what are you interested in doing anyway? Me? I'm...I don't know. I mean, I have no idea what I'd really like to do. Perhaps something with research or books, or maybe even a teacher but I doubt I'll get anything substantial." He shrugged while biting down on his lower lip. Half of him said it was no big deal, but there was an obvious sadness in his practicality. Werewolves had it hard enough when registered, which he wasn't, but eventually any job would start to notice a pattern in the days he took off or just get annoyed by his constant 'illness'. The job front wasn't something Remus was looking forward to. Ever.

Even so, he still liked to dream. If he had the option of doing what he really wanted, werewolf things aside, what would he pick? Everyone had dreams, anyroad. While research sounded fantastic (maybe something like experimental charms), he did think he could be a good teacher. None of their professors were particularly young, though, so he knew it would take a few years until that was even possible. He would take anything with books, probably. And it was nice to be able to talk about this with someone, especially someone he hadn't spent much time talking to before. Their conversation wasn't full of awkward pauses or mumblings and it was going fantastic, really. Remus was almost surprised.

"Oh, thanks," he joked. "One of them had to be good, given the amount. Jane Austen is one of my favorites, even if it's...a little, what? Girly? Pride and Prejudice, though, I love it. I've been meaning to read Hemingway, I've heard The Sun Also Rises is good - have you read that one? You should definitely look up some of Whitman's poetry and Catcher in the Rye is...not some of Salinger's best, but a good start. And...I'd like to act surprised at that, but it's not uncommon for me to start rambling about all kinds of books. The only problem is finding someone who will listen without begging me to stop. So yeah, I suppose the book club would be perfect for that, wouldn't it?"

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particularity
2011-06-27 01:33 am UTC (link)

"Oh, please, don't be sorry. It's all right. I don't mind. Apologizing is usually my shtick, so I wouldn't know what to do if someone stole that from me." He chuckled and picked a bit of lint off of his forearm. Awkward humor. It was his fatal flaw. "Research and books, though, that sounds nice. I'd enjoy something like that, too, though I don't really know what's out there with those fields. I'm sure you could find something, though. Seems like everyone wants a bit of adventure, even me, so those are rather logical and level headed of you."

"As for me, I've got one of those and one that's a bit of a reach, and I just can't decide between them. I think that I'm just going to keep studying for both of them since that's how I set up my schedule. When the time comes I'll let my marks dictate which way I go. I've got half a mind to become a Curse Breaker for Gringotts; the other half of me would like to become a Healer at St. Mungo's. Could I possibly choose two things more divergent in nature? I don't imagine that I could." Michael shrugged and let out a little sigh. "I'd honestly be happy with either. Though I'm trying to tell myself I'll end up with neither so I can be pleasantly surprised." He was a king of reverse psychology, especially when it came to himself. He may have liked to dream like Remus, but Michael was also used to disappointment and preferred to set himself up for them so no one else could.

Considering carefully the books that Remus had mentioned, Michael pulled out a scrap bit of paper and quickly scribbled down Pride and Prejudice, Catcher in the Rye, and Whitman. These were the sorts of recommendations that he absolutely wanted to remember later, but he knew he'd forget them the moment he stood up from the table. "I have read The Sun Also Rises. It's absolutely beautiful. I love the relationship between Jake Barnes and Lady Ashley. There's something so incredibly...raw about all of it. Very realistic. How two people might feel something for each other but could very well end up sitting in a taxi talking about the way things might have been if only the rest of the world were different somehow." He fell silent for a moment, brows furrowing as he lost himself in thought. Shaking it off, Michael looked up at Remus and shot him a lopsided smile. "I don't think that Jane Austen is girly. I think it's wrong to assume anything is one way or the other, really."

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