Re: Theo & Draco & OPEN
Although Theo's hypervigilance had wavered in severity from childhood and school through the Janus Thickey ward and out again, it had never left him completely and he knew that someone was approaching. The attack had left him more jumpy and reactive than he had been, a response far more difficult to spell away than bruises and cuts and broken fingers had been, but before he had to turn to see who it was he caught the sound of those steps, the familiar smell of whatever it was Draco used and he relaxed again without needing to look away from his ponies.
He wasn't surprised that Draco turned away from the animals; people had more reason now than just their appearance to dislike them, but where they reminded most of dark days they were a comfort to Theo. They'd been there since before he could remember, literally considering the death of his mother had blanked out his early memories, and when felt like he had no one else they had always been there for him. He'd spent hours as the sun went down watching the thestrals from the Astronomy Tower or any other high point in the castle he could reach until the sky turned from bruised to black and he ended up coming back to the dorms with icy skin and numb fingers.
"It's good to see you." he responded, returning Draco's welcome smile quite easily with one of his own, if a little bit guilty about his sleeping habits. Poor Draco; Theo wouldn't have considered his friend's connection with his mother a bad thing, but then his mind tended to slip over mentions of that family member. The question was innocent enough but it made a true stab of guilt turn in Theo's stomach along with an unhappy twist of anxiety at the thought of going out. "I haven't had the chance to as of yet." He said regretfully, his eyes losing the shape of the thestrals in the dark as he'd looked away so all his attention now on his friend.
He was relieved that it had been Draco to come out and not someone else. It wasn't that he didn't like the people Callie had invited, and it wasn't that he couldn't speak to them, it was just so difficult for him to find the energy to keep his guards up these days. He hadn't had to deal with doubletalk, hidden meanings and second-guessing agendas in a while and he was out of practice. "You look nice." he complimented easily; it was true, Draco looked healthy and that was a relief to Theo. Although... "Weren't you in jeans earlier?"