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Post by Kiku Honda on Apr 25, 2010 17:58:03 GMT -5
"..Of all the things students can ask me about, why is it that they decide to choose the topic that I was the most lacking in." Kiku grumbled to himself, as he shelved the Herbology section furiously.
Flying. It was the biggest wall that stood between him and his perfect grades during his time as a student in Hogwarts. The essence of flying around on a magic broom, it was every child's dream come true. But when it came to REAL flying, that was something he wasn't good at. Leaving the ground being supported by nothing but a stick he would mount on.....the possibility of falling off and....Kiku shivered as he shook his head, taking the thought and first memory of his flying experience out of his head. Taming and riding a Hippogriff. Now that, was much more satisfying.
It hadn't been a week since Kiku came to Hogwarts as the newly appointed Librarian and already, select students seemed to know about the xenophobic young man's presence. Then again, the same man in the Library all day either shelving books, or reading would catch the eye of any book worm, or study-holic in this campus facility. Thankfully, no one bothered him most of the time save the occasional Upper-Level Ravenclaws who would ask him about Transfiguration books Kiku barely read back then. Kiku would point towards the Transfiguration section, apologize sincerely for his lack of knowledge from just arriving, and scurry away into his office to find something to do. Mornings and early evenings were when the Library was the most busy, students either cramming for their quizzes, or finishing up parchments about whatever they were assigned to study before first class started.
It was surprisingly deserted around lunch, when the day was at it's best. The Japanese male watched the students lounge around in the sunny green grounds of Hogwarts and far away, a Quidditch practice in the fields. Spring was just about at it's best, and the weather was splendid.
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Post by Alfred F. Jones on Apr 25, 2010 18:25:49 GMT -5
Al sat at one of the provided tables, looking over copies of the clues to Mattie's curse. Today had, by some miracle, been a light work day, so had decided to take advantage of his free time by stopping in for a brief chat with Mattie, then heading to the library to work on the puzzles a bit more. "Still figure out this last one..." He muttered.
The last night had been frustrating for Al, first Arthur wouldn't see him because he was just that busy with someone (Al still thought it was Matt), then the night after that Mattie wasn't in his rooms so that sucked, and then the night after THAT Al had to work late in his office, only to find a wolf outside his door when he finally went to leave, and the next night, Mattie was having tea with someone, and now, tonight, Mattie wasn't in his rooms (Again!) and Al was grumpily glaring at the slip of paper before him.
"This. Sucks."
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Post by Kiku Honda on Apr 25, 2010 18:45:56 GMT -5
"You're telling me.....huh?" Kiku mumbled back at the words before looking back. There was yet another blonde man sitting at one of the tables near him. "...Is there something you are researching?" Kiku stepped towards his direction, leaving about a meters distance so he would give the other privacy, just noticing that he had but a slip of parchment with him.
As always, he couldn't make out who this man was. He seemed old enough to be a teacher, and what was it, with delightfully young teachers around his age in Hogwarts all of a sudden?! Kiku recalled most of his professors being old and out-of-date. Bright blond hair, blue eyes. A well formed face and striking features. Definitely athletic.....reminded him of someone, but Kiku couldn't pin the right name.
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Post by Alfred F. Jones on Apr 25, 2010 18:56:29 GMT -5
Al looked up, face slack. "Huh?" He stared at the slender Asian man before him. The shape of his eyes placed him generally, and his haircut reminded Al of Mangas. Al replayed the man's words over again.
"Not so much research as trying to help a friend - long story." He rolled his shoulders, then stretched his arms up. "And well, it's personal to him too. I only pieced it together because I know him so well and always kept the secrets that wouldn't hurt him." Al scowled down at the parchment.
"Some secrets keep themselves, though."
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Post by Kiku Honda on Apr 25, 2010 19:31:51 GMT -5
The man in front of him seemed like a very caring friend. Someone willing to go far for someone he cared deeply about. Somehow, it felt reassuring to Kiku himself also, helping him relax. Remember Kiku....the only one that bites, is the man called Francis...
He seemed like a teacher. "I see..well, the restricted section should probably help you....ah, forgive my late introduction. I'm the new Librarian here, Kiku Honda." His right hand twitched as he raised it in attempt to see if the other would shake it. No one shook hands where he came from.
"You must be a faculty member here..I'm sorry, I haven't met many teachers here save Mr. Williams the Charms Professor and Headmaster Kirkland."
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Post by Alfred F. Jones on Apr 25, 2010 19:44:57 GMT -5
Al took Kikus hand in a firm but brief hold, bowing his head instinctively as he did. "I've looked there already. I'm pretty familiar with the library." He pulled his hand back and gave a wry but polite smile.
"And, yeah, I'm the flying instructor. You're lucky to have met Mattie so soon, even with how he's been forced to cut himself off like he has. He's never been outgoing, exactly, but he used to be hella more open before -" Al stopped, his eyes darkening briefly. He shook his head and set his jaw.
"Before. Just... heh. It's kinda his story to tell, at least, as much of it as he can." Al shrugged, then realized that he forgot something.
"Alfred Freedom Jones. Well, technically it's just 'f' - Mom liked pulling that kind of thing - but I like saying Freedom."
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Post by Kiku Honda on Apr 25, 2010 20:12:27 GMT -5
Kiku smiled stiffly at the mention of him being a Flying instructor. If there was a teacher for Flying, why did the students have to come to HIM of all people?! But this teacher seemed to know about Matthew well...
Kiku didn't need to think further, the mention of his name explained everything. "So you're Alfred Jones.....I've heard about you from Matthew, he was very kind and open to me, somewhat." He heard about Matthew's issue from himself last night...or what much he could say without looking painful. Kiku smiled sadly. He couldn't grasp exactly what was bothering Matthew, but he did know that it was bad. Terrible. And from what Matthew told him, Alfred didn't know anything about it. So the man Mr. Jones is currently being troubled over is the one he cares for....? Kiku wondered as he chuckled at his middle name.
"That's a very blessed middle name."
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Post by Alfred F. Jones on Apr 25, 2010 20:23:44 GMT -5
Al grinned and nodded, then glanced at the parchment on the table. He quickly put it in his pocket and nodded to Kiku. "It's why I introduce myself that way." He hesitated, still smiling.
"Uh... hey. Don't tell Mattie that I've figured it out? I think that if he knew... Well, I don't think what's keeping him from opening up more would appreciate that I know about and plan to do something. It'll cause him a lot of pain and... I'd rather not see that."
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Post by Kiku Honda on Apr 25, 2010 20:47:20 GMT -5
..He certainly didn't know, that Alfred knew about Matthew. Matthew probably didn't either.
Everything clicked, and Kiku was overwhelmed with the truth. Matthew telling him how Alfred had someone in mind, someone he was worrying over, trying to forget about his past fancy for the other. Alfred worrying that Matthew would find out about him knowing his problem, Kiku still didn't know what the problem itself was, but he did understand the most important part of this whole misunderstanding.
His mouth moved quicker then his brain.
"Mr. Jones!;;" Kiku raised his hand, hesitating, before bringing it up to his mouth. "One question...if you don't mind answering..I know that you've only just met me today, and it would seem strange exposing yourself in such a way towards a complete stranger like me.." But I must know.
"I've heard that you shared your childhood here with him....I am very lacking in what it feels to have a friend, and I do know that friends keep each other company..but..are you sure he would be troubled if he knew that you..knew? After all...are you two not the best of friends?" Kiku asked hestiantly, before following quickly with words. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude by asking such a bold question..you don't have to answer it and if necessary, please. Disregard it."
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Post by Alfred F. Jones on Apr 25, 2010 22:21:24 GMT -5
Al blinked, then smiled. "No, no, you've got a point. I'm not worried about he, himself, being troubled. At least, not mentally. I think he'd be glad to know. That problem is... well, there's something that's attached to him, and causes him pain when he cares about someone. Bringing it to his attention how much I care - have always cared... It'll hurt him."
Al shrugged helplessly. "I saw it happen once before already. He... he somehow ingested a potion that strengthened emotions, and the solid politeness he typically uses to slide people away from him... it fell away, and I was there so he was bound to have felt friendship at least..." Al shook his head violently, trying to shake away the image of Mattie writhing in pain on his bed, that flash of something more in his eyes, the knowledge that, deep down, Mattie loved him. Mattie nearly dead in the clearing.
"It wasn't pretty," He whispered. "Not good at all. So... I'm working on figuring out how to get that thing that'll hurt him off, so he doesn't have to hide away as much." Al smiled, closing his eyes and trying to hide how haunted he was by the time Mattie didn't - couldn't dampen his emotions around him.
"'Course, the prophecies Mattie's mentor left behind about how to do it just had to be riddles..." The last part came out as a long sigh, instead of distinct words.
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Post by Kiku Honda on Apr 25, 2010 23:07:09 GMT -5
"....I...I-I see..;;" He tried to take it all in, pondered, then decided to settle with just pretending that he was able to understand it. The emotions, he meant. He wrote them, that he did as a profession, but never necessarily felt them. "Riddles....." His eyebrow twitched in sympathy.
What was it about this part of the world that loved making everything seem so...hard and jan-fangled. Hard to understand. Ultimately illiterate to most unless they found the right book, right code, right....it was near impossible. "It's never just an easy chant, like those muggle books is it." Kiku's lips curled at the edges nervously as he was frowning, shaking his head.
"I understand how you aren't able to tell Matthew that you know what he is going through..but perhaps when you decode the riddle, you can tell him how to fix it..help him. One way or another he has to find out...?" Kiku tried at a reassuring smile but his face was stiff as ever. "He did speak of you fondly." He added quietly to himself.
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Post by Alfred F. Jones on Apr 25, 2010 23:24:15 GMT -5
Al raised an eyebrow at Kiku, producing a look best described as 'Which muggle books are YOU reading?'
"Ha, They only do those easy chants for the children. The best ones, the one with the most life, they show the strife too." Al gave a faint, oddly haunted smile as he focused again on Kiku's words. His heart skipped a beat at the last words.
"We mean a lot to each other. More than either of us can say right now, because that thing? It'll kill him if we do. He's nearly died once before because of that; only reason he's still around is thanks to a memory charm and a rushed deal."
He paused then remembered that Kiku had said something else. "And don't worry, I already promised myself that he has to do this willingly, but we have to know if it's right before talking Mattie into it. I couldn't bear fucking up and hurting him." He shook his head. He should go before he says too much. It was awfully risky, keeping this topic.
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Post by Kiku Honda on Apr 25, 2010 23:59:21 GMT -5
Kiku inwardly smiled at the look Alfred gave. He had a strong mind and a drive, not to mention the brain to back it up. If the other didn't take the metaphor positively, it wasn't like he needed to be understood. He watched the other explain about how he wanted to take it carefully, with precision, and step by step.
The amount of work Alfred seemed to put into this was memorable, yet....did Matthew really have the time to wait for him that long...without knowing about all of this? Kiku was left feeling uneasy.
"Well...I don't have a right to say anything more, or anything in general..I'm sure you know him best, so you'll be the one to save him..in figuring out the riddles." He subconsciously took a step back, ready to leave the other be.
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Post by Alfred F. Jones on Apr 26, 2010 0:05:44 GMT -5
Al nodded after him. "Alright. You gave me some stuff to think on. Thank you, Kiku-sempai." Al smiled and gave a more distinct bow. He remembered the Asian as always being in the library until Al's own fifth year, and also remembered how after that, the library gained a strange new feel.
And hey, Al liked to show that he wasn't always oblivious as he acted. "I'll definitely try to talk to Matt about it. Not sure if I'll be able to catch him, though."
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Post by Kiku Honda on Apr 26, 2010 0:14:29 GMT -5
He blinked, shocked at his own native language being used so politely. "Ah..." He couldn't help but look unconditionally happy and surprised. "No, it's nothing, thank you for taking your time in holding a conversation with me;;" He bowed back hurriedly, feeling rather awkward that he was being treated like a proper upperclassmen when he was only a librarian.
Something told Kiku, that Matt would always be waiting for Alfred somehow. "He'll probably be happy to see you, Mr. Jones." Kiku smiled politely. The two young males in front of him had so much they were going through, so much more then Kiku himself could ever imagine to be in... Sure, Matthew would be happy seeing Alfred but at the same time....He shook his thoughts away. Nothing would come out of being pessimistic while thinking of them. The most Kiku could do, was hope that all came out for the best.
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Post by Alfred F. Jones on Apr 26, 2010 0:22:58 GMT -5
Al nodded firmly, taking that in. It was strange, how easy it was to trust his old upperclassman.
"I'll be seeing you around, I suppose." Al smiled, turned, then turned back. "It's strange, but sometimes I think the library missed you." Al grinned, then finally left for real.
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Post by Kiku Honda on Apr 26, 2010 5:41:47 GMT -5
"...The Library...?" Kiku said to himself as he waved his hand at the receding figure. Alfred was very...different. Different, but still..
He seems like a good boy.. Kiku felt his pulse ease at the thought, and lowered his hand. Matthew and Alfred. They were such wonderful friends, both caring for each other... Kiku would be able to relax, knowing their feelings...
except for one thing. What Alfred said last. "...the Library.....missed me.." He tilted his head to the side, confused. He did spend his entire childhood here, and spoke to the ghosts very often. They visited him in the middle of the night on the first night of his return and Kiku had to politely chase them out of his bedroom in order to sleep....but. The Library. Missing him.
....what an adorable thing to say. Kiku chuckled as he held his Herbology book to his chest, inhaled the musky sweet scent of the book, stroked its old tattered spine, and returned to watching the Flying practice outside.
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