A Mess (Ocean/Jory)

[Jory Addison]

Jerks. Jory was so glad he didn't have a class next period, since he would definitely be late for it already. He shouldn't be late, he wouldn't have been late, but for the guy that had purposefully run into him and caused his bookbag's contents spill out over the floor. Head down, he searched around for papers, books, quills, even his terot cards, and hoped no one would come by just to kick his stuff further down the hall.

He had been hoping today would be a good day, he hadn't even worn all his rings and things like he usually did. The only signs were his earrings, each a different color, four in one ear and a couple in the others, and a ring with interlocking male symbols. So far, it had worked to keep the guys off of him, at least for the first half of the day.

[Ocean Abbott]

Enrolling for classes was on Ocean's list of things to do. He had only been at the school for a day now. Acclimating was essential to survival. Ocean had a small roll of parchment in one hand. A quill tucked behind his ear. He'd had to shorten the quills for comfort. It's shape was reminiscent of a muggle pencil now. Since he was in the midst of enrolling he wasn't running late. He was taking note of his surroundings instead.

Wide hallways. Open lighting. America was much less airy. More closeted. Boxes with windows. At least his parent's could afford a large home. It was closer to this. Just not this. Resident ghosts slipped through walls. A poltergeist popped in and out. Rows of doors. A slender slip of a boy on the floor. Papers scattered around him.

From a distance Ocean couldn't see the jewelry that he was wearing. As he got closer, the picture was clearer. He knew what that was. "Need some help?" Ocean didn't wait for an answer. He squatted down and started gathering bits of things. From this position he couldn't tell the boys height. His features. Other than the jewelry. His eyes caught on a ring, then moved back to the papers.

[Jory Addison]

"No, thank you," Jory said, only sparing a single glance to know who he was talking to. "I can get it." The guy didn't bring the same feel in the air as the others did, and Jory didn't remember ever seeing him before, but it was too easy to imagine the guy running off with something important. Still, he didn't reach out to take away anything that the guy was picking up. If the guy did want trouble, then trying to get the things would just make it worse.

[Ocean Abbott]

Blue eyes. Strikingly. Ocean had to blink. It took a moment for words to penetrate. "I don't mind. Really." That sounded convincing. "Here." Ocean held out the items he had picked up. He shook his head to shift loose hair. "I stopped carrying so much." Take the opportunities away. Ocean guessed he was lucky. He had support. Faith. It had taken alot of work. His family had been there. Eva didn't understand sometimes. But she still loved him.

[Jory Addison]

Jory looked up when the guy handed him some of his things, this time more than for a half second glance. "Thank you," he said, his eyes dropping only when he found himself examining those green eyes to start putting things back into his bag. "I would rather have it all with me." At least if he had it all in one spot he could watch it and, hopefully, make sure nothing happened to his homework or cards.

[Ocean Abbott]

Reasonable. Ocean didn't have much. What he did have, well he trusted would stay his. If not, things were replaceable. "Is it really that bad here?" He wouldn't be taking his things with him. If people wanted them they could have them. If they were vandalized, that's what spells were for. It was the violation that hurt. Ocean wasn't a private person though. He like the philosophy, burning coals of love. Ocean's lashes shadowed his eyes. It would be more difficult if it was bad here.

[Jory Addison]

"Only if you're gay," Jory said, picking up his pile of cards to straighten them out. He stood to stretch out his knees, which were complaining from having squatted for just a little too long. He wasn't tall, but he wasn't insanely short, either; he liked to think he was average. "You've not been here long, have you?" he asked, looking back at the guy. It was easy to see how people were treated in the school.

[Ocean Abbott]

Ocean shook his head. "I got in yesterday." Only if you're gay. "So. I shouldn't be dancing in the empty classrooms?" He couldn't see himself stopping that. He wouldn't be. He was decent with a wand. If needed. Ocean stood too. He was about the same size as the other boy. Mom said he'd probably grow a few more inches. After all, he was only fifteen.

[Jory Addison]

Jory just barely managed to stop a you're gay? from escaping at that. His eyes made a sweep of the guy before he actually spoke. "Yeah, unless you lock the doors or whatever," he said. This guy was good-looking, even if he was almost the complete opposite of the type Jory wanted to find. He wasn't any taller and he had light hair instead of dark, green eyes instead of brown, slender instead of broad-shouldered. Jory stopped himself there. He refused to let himself even consider something happening after the disaster that was Jamie.

[Ocean Abbott]

Ocean ran a hand in his short cropped hair. He shook his head, "I don't think I can do that." He shrugged, "what is is. I'm not doing anything wrong." He wasn't used to trying to hide. He'd known as long as he could remember. "Besides, what's the worst they can do? I doubt any of them would Avada Kedavra me." He let his lashes settle against his face again, "would they? I mean. I don't know much about this school." It was just close to England.

[Jory Addison]

Jory let out a short, humorless laugh. "Other than pelt you with insults and hexes and stuff," he said, "I don't know what they'd do. I came out, like, two months ago and it's just getting worse." He dropped his eyes again to focus on his cards. If only Jamie could do it, then he'd have someone he could run to when it got too bad, someone whose arms could wrap around him and keep him safe. "People still talk about the other guys that have, too, and that's including this one couple that had a ceremony last summer."

[Ocean Abbott]

"What about guys that are already out?" He grinned, tucking hands into back pockets. "I can't hide. Never been good at it." Ocean thought maybe he'd tried the first day of school. Like he'd said though, he couldn't hide. Dancing was demanding. He'd come to school in his tights. That had been the end of it. Sure there was teasing. Hexes. Practical jokes. It had taken a year or so to learn to deal. Prior to that his family supported him.

[Jory Addison]

"Um...I don't think there've been any, but I don't think they'll care." Jory didn't think that being out prior to coming to Hogwarts would make any difference. The guys here hated if, and there was no changing that. "Maybe you'll get lucky, though," he said, shrugging. "I was never good at hiding it, I'm too much like a girl. But they didn't bother me about it until I started wearing stuff like this," he held up his hand.

[Ocean Abbott]

Ocean looked again at the boy's jewelry. He had never been inclined to that. He just liked guys. Nothing more than that. Guys and dancing. He didn't like pink, ponies, or princesses. Although Eva had teased. "Maybe. I don't have jewelry to wear." His hair was styled, and his clothes in style, but did that make him different? "But if anyone asks, I'd tell them. I have tights though." Ocean grinned at the thought.

[Jory Addison]

Jory couldn't help but give a small smile at that, and at the guy's grin. "I only said that 'cause that's when they found out. I mean, there's a guy that came out here with a tattoo sleeve and they still talk about him, even though he could beat them all up, probably." He didn't know for sure, but Ariel seemed like the kind of guy that could more than hold his own.