Let Us Begin {open}

[Elemental]

"No I don't listen to muggle music, I haven't the time!" Lana was getting mock-mad.
"Simmer down will ya?" Somalia grinned, she liked making Lana lose her temper, even if she never really lost it, "I'll introduce you to the best of 'em over break, it'll be fun."
"Sure. Cael too, it'll be a party!" Lana yawned, "When is the feast over? I want to go to bed soon or I might just drop off at the table."

[SilentGaze]

Yasu gave a 'humph' at James' statement. "Well if my 3-D sculptural art looked like your boyfriend's 2-D paintings, that would be concerning. Besides, I never said I was creating pretty art," Yasu pointed out as she took another bite. "Just really tasty art. But I like just about everything in any form." She consumed her "artwork" in two more bites as James accepted her challenge. "Excellent. How is Cupid, anyway?" Over the summer Yasu had reached a decision about a couple of her acquaintances and friends, creating nicknames for them. She had not yet announced that Cupid was her new nickname for the angel-hybrid James was dating. After all, Cupid was depicted as an angel, and Yasu met Cael because James was romantically involved with him. In Yasu's head, it all made sense.

[The Letter-Weaver]

Cael grinned. "Yeah, I can bring some of my records. I've got the Beatles and the Rolling Stones covered."

--

James made a face. "That does not look tasty at all, and that is coming from /me/, who will eat just about anything."

He choked on his pumpkin juice. "Cupid? Oh, he's not going to like that one." he said, laughing. He could just imagine the murderous look on Cael's face when he heard it. "Fine now that school's back in session, I think. He really hates staying at his aunt's, but we couldn't take him all summer." he sighed. "I really wish I could do something.." he trailed off, brow furrowed in frusteration and a bit of sadness.

[Elemental]

"Sweet! I love the Beatles!" Somalia raised her hand for a high five.
"Even I've heard of the Beatles." Lana sounded insulted at the presumption that she hadn't heard them.
"But not the Rolling Stones?"
"No. What are they famous for?"
"I can't name any songs off the top of my head. Most people are either Beatles people, or Stones people. I never really liked the Stones. What are they famous for Cael?"

[SilentGaze]

Yasu ignored the comment about her food. It was the same food he had, just collected together to create a mix. Sooner or later she'd get him to try it. Granted, it was almost guaranteed he wouldn't like it. But that was okay. Despite her rather open tastes, Yasu could cook perfectly fine without adding weird mixes and combinations.

She was pleased that James agreed with her on the nickname as far as how Cael would react. She continued to listen without asking him about a more in-depth opinion not he nickname as he went on about Cael's aunt. She'd heard mentions of horror stories, but she never pried. Yasu liked to get details and hear stories, but she knew certain things were best left up to the one who bore the story. "Well, it's sweet that you want to help, even if you don't know what else to do. Sometimes intentions can be just as good as actions, despite what some say," she pointed out, finishing off her ham and setting down her utensils to signal she wouldn't eat anymore now that they'd reached more serious territory. "My mom runs an art internship of sorts if he wants to try that. In the summer she wants to spend time with me, so she likes to get assistants to help her with her manga work so she can finish up faster. It's all I can think of at the moment, but I'll put some thought into it. I imagine the happier he is the happier you are," Yasu observed, looking up to see that the feast was almost over. Then she quickly glanced back at James, wanting to see what he thought about it.

[The Letter-Weaver]

Cael smiled. "I'm glad to see that you aren't totally musical-illiterate," he joked. "The Stones are known for a lot, really. I think I'll just let the music speak for itself, though."

James looked at Yasu wide-eyed. "Whoa, really?" he asked. "You'd do that? That's so great! I'm sure he'd love to--I mean, I'd have to ask, and only if it's okay--" he broke off, grinning from ear to ear. "Thanks, Yasu." He made a mental note to do something for her later, as a thank you, if this worked out. She was right, the happier Cael was, the happier he was.

[SilentGaze]

Yasu grinned at James' positive response. Then she glanced up again and realized that the headmaster was standing again, dismissing the students to their dormitories. She stood up, grabbing a sugar cookie before the food vanished. "Excellent. Now, Butterfly, let's go say hi to your Cupid fellow before they make us go to our bloody dormitories," Yasu encouraged, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet as she glanced around, searching for the famous Cael. "And while we're on our way, what do you think of the nickname Cupid? I considered Picasso or Da Vinci. Or something. But I figured Butterfly needs to date someone with wings, yeah? Or am I wrong?" Yasu asked as she walked towards the Ravenclaws that were standing to leave.

[The Letter-Weaver]

James laughed, standing up with Yasu and making a beeline to the Ravenclaws. "I think he'd appreciate an art-related nickname more--he's got wings already, as it is." he joked. Catching sight of his boyfriend, he grinned and grabbed him from behind in a hug. "Hey," he said cheerfully. "What do you think of your new house head?"

Cael listened to the headmaster's closing words politely, then stood up from the Ravenclaw table and gave a quick glance around the Great Hall. He didn't see James, so he started to make his way out of the Hall, assuming he'd find him eventually. A familiar pair of arms wrapped around his waist, and he jumped as James started talking, letting out a startled yelp. "Jesus, James, don't sneak up on me like that!" he snapped, without much real venom. James just laughed in response. "Hello, Yasu. How are you? And I don't know, James. She looks...strict. I'll tell you once I meet her, I guess."

[SilentGaze]

Yasu laughed. Well she wasn't in it for what Cael would appreciate. She was in it for the accuracy, the hilarity, and his reaction. She didn't tell him this, though. James had managed to locate his boyfriend with quick precision, startling him with his energetic hug and cheerful greeting. Yasu gave a soft smile. She was happy for Butterfly, she really was. But she knew it would be better once Cael spent less time with his aunt, though for what reason Yasu had yet to know. She'd think about it later.

It was then that Cael somewhat addressed her. The term 'somewhat' is used because he asked how she was, then moved on to James' question. "I'm beginning to think you don't want to know how I'm doing, considering you instantly went on to talk about this new Divinations teacher," Yasu observed, hands on her hips. "But since you did ask, I'm doing fairly well now that I've been reunited with some of the best friends and sweetest people in the world. And you guys. There's you in all your wonderfully open and sincere and adorable dating glory." Yasu was still a little sad she had yet to find a guy. Chaz was the childhood crush, of course, and Yasu was beginning to think it was time to move on. But there went Butterfly hooking up with Cupid, no sweat. "As for Professor Roads, since she's the new topic of discussion, I find her to be... intriguing. She definitely looks like sour grapes, but I don't know if you guys saw it... But I did. There was a tattoo on her neck. And wrist, which means she's got some BA flair. Did you catch that about your new house head, Cupid?" There, she'd shared her interesting observation and introduced her new permanent nickname for Cael all in one blow. Yasu was officially satisfied.

[The Letter-Weaver]

Cael rolled his eyes. "Of course I want to know how you're doing. It's just best if I answer him quickly, or else he starts pouting."

"Do not!" protested James. Cael smirked.

"Do so, and don't bother fighting it." he blushed as Yasu commented on their relationship. "Uh-thanks?"

James grinned, whispering "She thinks we're adorable," into his boyfriend's ear. Cael felt himself blush harder, and swatted absentmindedly at James.

Cael's brow furrowed as she started talking about Professor Roads. He'd noticed her adjustment of her robes, but not any tattoos. "No, I didn't--wait, what did you call me?"

[SilentGaze]

Yasu clapped her hands gleefully at the interaction between her two favorite gay guys. And of course there was the devious grin that grew on her face when Cael finally realized his nickname. "Do you like it? I worked all summer on it," she practically purred, her grin growing as she glanced over at James. "How on earth did you get this guy? Did you see that blush? I mean really! It's so unfortunate sometimes that you're gay, Cupid, because I would have such a crush on you. And you're with Butterfly. That instantly kills the deal. I won't mess with what makes Butterfly happy."

[The Letter-Weaver]

James grinned as Yasu asked how he had possibly been able to snag Cael as his boyfriend. "I dunno," he said with a bit of a shrug. "Just lucky, I guess." When Cael didn't reply with some sort of snarky remark, he glanced down at his face, and had to bite his lip from bursting into hysterics.

Cael was gazing at Yasu with his brow furrowed, mouth open and working like he was trying to form a sentence but had no idea where to begin. After a moment, he spoke.

"I literally have no idea how to respond to that." he said with a decisive nod of his head.

[SilentGaze]

Yasu smiled at James' response. An internal chorus of 'aw's were going on in the back of her head, but she was skilled at shutting them out so she could still interact.

Normally, she was also skilled at keeping her laughter to an internal roar. But then she saw Cael's face. At first, she was doing okay as he mimicked a goldfish. And then he spoke, and she lost it. She attempted to kill the giggles scattered between the much louder bits of laughter, but it wasn't happening. She had doubled over because of this, and as she slowly recovered and looked up, she found some first year Ravenclaws casting confused stares at them as they awkwardly stood there. Yasu look around the room. Everyone else had left, so why were they still there? And then it dawned on her. "Hey! Ravenclaw first years! Look over at this guy right here! He's a sixth year Ravenclaw and a prefect, so just pretend he's the yellow brick road!" She fancied herself quite clever for that Wizard of Oz reference, but almost all the Ravenclaws stared at her.

"What's a yellow brick road?" one asked to his friend.

"A road made of yellow bricks," the other boy replied, staring at his friend in disbelief.

"Well yeah, but__" Yasu had forgotten not everyone was raised in the muggle environment like she was, and quickly went to interrupt the boys.

"I'm sorry. It's a muggle reference. I'm sure you'll learn about it. Probably by me. Anyway, just follow Cael," Yasu explained, and they all nodded. She was almost mad at herself for not using his nickname, but she decided she'd keep it to herself for now. She couldn't have first years off and stealing her nicknames, claiming them for their own genius.

[The Letter-Weaver]

Cael blinked, disentangling himself from James in order to look at the first years. "Ah, bollocks, I forgot." he muttered. "See you two later." He led the first-years towards Ravenclaw Tower, glancing back to wave at them before they turned the corner.

James waved back at him, turning to Yasu. "Guess we should head up too, huh? Don't want to get caught after curfew on the first night." he made a face, not looking forward to the climb up to the Tower.

[SilentGaze]

Yasu was almost sad to see the human knot be undone, but she was positive it would happen again. It really was such a cute picture.

"Oh it's bound to happen eventually. We could get a head start," Yasu joked as they left the Great Hall. She was actually looking forward to heading back to the tower since two of her roommates got new boyfriends Yasu was dying to hear about, another had promised she would let Yasu read the next couple chapters of her novel, and then of course there was Chayne. Yasu had missed the girl! She loved her practically mute roommate, and she hadn't seen her yet despite the fact that they were in the same house. She wondered where the girl had gone.

In curiosity, she cast one last glance around the room in time to see that Chayne was following a couple yards behind and openly staring at... Butterfly! Yasu hid her squeal of joy. Her friend had picked her male target of investigation for the semester, and it was someone Yasu was close to!

Hilda grumbled as the last student, an odd girl with pale hair and paler eyes from Gryffindor, made her way out of the room. Finally! She could go to her room and sleep! "Calix... where do I sleep?" Hilda said as her boyfriend came over to ask her about her meal.

"I tried to get you in my room with me, but the headmaster says we have to be engaged before he'll let us do that," Calix explained, trying to keep his hinting subtle about the whole 'engagement' thing.

Hilda missed it by a mile. "Gods, wouldn't that just be icing on the coffee." Hilda knew what the saying actually was, but she liked coffee better and had replaced the word 'cake'. On another note, Hilda realized she would miss her living, breathing space heater slash blanket that never got pushed off the bed (at least, not as often as the actual blankets) by her feet. (it was quite the awful habit of her's) Still, Hilda could not imagine being engaged to the man. That would mean marriage and fussing and fancy stuff and spending money and time with her family and were relationships really worth all that? "So... where did they put me?"

"The Ravenclaw common room. They made it so your room is directly attached."

It took a minute for this to sink in. "For Voldemort's sake... Dammit." She was about to storm off to her new home when she paused and turned towards her boyfriend. An accepting smile was on his face, like he was used to her leaving without acknowledging he was more than just a friend, and she decided that since there was no one else in the room she'd get over it. For him. She kissed him once on the lips before marching off, and Calix gaped like the idiotic goldfish in a human body that he was for ten minutes before leaving.