Brave New World (Jory/Hyacinth)

[Hyacinth Duprel]

"I do not understand," Hyacinth said, sure that his poor English was responsible. "The professors had marriage?" That was the only kind of ceremony that seemed to go with the situation of name changing. Dare was not a name he was at all familiar with, and since Michael was, he assumed Dare must be a female professor.

[Jory Addison]

"Well, kind of, I mean gay-oh no," Jory paused, unsure if he should go on considering what he had seen of Hyacinth. Well, he had already started, he didn't really think he could back out now. He took a deep breath and continued. "Gay marriage isn't legal here, so it's just a civil partnership. They're really awesome guys."

[Hyacinth Duprel]

"Gay," Hyacinth echoed, thinking. Then the rest of what Jory said filtered into his mind and he stopped in place, shock spreading across his face. "Two professors are men and they are together as man and woman?" His parents would not approve of this school for so many reasons, and would not approve of this world, where so many sinful things existed. He murmured prayers under his breath, conflicted on what to say or do.

He believed that homosexuality was something one was born with and could not change, and he also believed that if the sinful impulses were not acted upon, there was no issue to be had. This, however, was a level of acting upon and general acceptance that Hyacinth couldn't begin to understand. There was no disgust on his face, no horror or hatred, but his shock was soul-deep.

[Jory Addison]

"Yeah," Jory said, stopping a step ahead of Hyacinth and turning to look at him. "They're some of the coolest guys, too, they're both so smart and know so much about what they teach. They have twin boys. Are you okay?" He felt like he should tell Hyacinth that he was gay, too, but it didn't feel right to tack it onto the end of his words, so he took a bit more time to come up with a way to say it.

[Hyacinth Duprel]

"I... yes," Hyacinth said, though he was unsure of it. He didn't know what to think, and none of Jory's assurances about the two gay professors could answer the questions he had. He should pray for the men, he knew that much. He should pray for them, and how he wanted to speak to his priest. "Yes, I am okay," he repeated, looking up after a moment of hard thought. "There can be no judgment from me."

[Jory Addison]

Jory nodded, though he was uncertain where to go now. He reverted to silence and brought his hands together in front of him, playing absently with the spinning ring on his thumb. His teeth found his lower lip. He felt like he should tell Hyacinth, but he was unsure how the guy would react, what if it was just the last straw? Was a lie of omission better? "Um, trunk?" he asked in an attempt to buy time.

[Hyacinth Duprel]

"What?" It took Hyacinth a moment to understand Jory's one-word question. Then his furrowed brows tried to ease, and he nodded. "Yes, I want to buy a trunk." He wanted to go back to yesterday, to tell his teacher that he'd changed his mind and to please return the plane tickets. This was too much to comprehend, and he suddenly felt like he was afloat in a stormy sea. There was no one and nothing at all familiar here. He looked down at a plaintive mew to his right, but it was small consolation.

[Jory Addison]

"Everyone at school has trunks," Jory said, pushing aside his uncertainties. "People generally keep them like at the foot of their bed. You can keep important stuff in it or whatever. When we get to the school they'll take it to your dorm for you." Later, that was good. There would be plenty of time in the future to tell Hyacinth. He firmly ignored the nagging part of him that said it would be better to get it over with.

[Hyacinth Duprel]

Hyacinth nodded, accepting the topic gratefully. He couldn't make any decisions about the rest right now, and there was nothing he could do to get home even if he wanted to, at least until he was at the school. He started walking again, glancing now and then down into his cauldron, where the kitten seemed determined to cheer him up, first pawing at her clean sock nest, then rolling on her back so that the fur on her belly splayed in every direction.

"A trunk will be expensive?" he asked, making an effort at conversation. "I have given much money today..." He glanced back at the kitten, who he couldn't regret buying, no matter how costly she'd been. "It is strange having so many things," he went on. "At home I have brothers and sisters, and it is selfish to keep things away from the others. It is all strange."

[Jory Addison]

"Well, you know, you deserve to have some things. You're here alone, I guess it's a huge change," Jory said. "We're going to a thrift store, so you can get a cheaper trunk. But they last a while and you'll use it all the time, so it's worth the money. Trust me, from now on your supplies won't be so expensive, it's just getting started that sucks."

[Hyacinth Duprel]

Hyacinth nodded along, grateful for all the things Jory was telling him. After all the shops they'd been to, Hyacinth thought he was prepared for another. The Junk Shop, as it called itself, was yet another surprise. There were things he recognized as broken wands and lopsided scales, but there were many, many more things he couldn't identify tucked within the clutter.

"How will we find a trunk?" It seemed like such a large item would be easy to spot, but it wasn't.

[Jory Addison]

Jory looked around at the piles of junk and shrugged, "I guess we just dig." He chose a direction and started walking. At least once they found one they could simply unload their arms into it. "Some trunks have more than one lock, and when you open each lock it shows you a different compartment. They're more expensive, but you get a lot more room."

[Hyacinth Duprel]

"That is amazing," Hyacinth said, looking over the shelves and stacks and piles of odd things as they walked along. "That would be very good," he went on thoughtfully. "Magic things go in one place, not-magic things go in another place. Then I can maybe bring the trunk home." His thought being, of course, that he could leave the non-magical compartment unlocked and not seem to be secretive. That would be better even than leaving his things at school and returning home with only his backpack.

What are you lads up to? a voice asked, and Hyacinth stopped, turning to look. He saw only his reflection on a cracked mirror leaning up against a half-carved statue and looked directly past it. Suspicious, suspicious, the disembodied voice said.

[Jory Addison]

"We're just looking for a trunk," Jory answered. "Half the magical things you'll see can talk," he said to Hyacinth. This way and that was all the voice said. Jory rolled his eyes at the broken mirror. He also knew that many magical things did not like helping people with simple tasks.

[Hyacinth Duprel]

Hyacinth's eyes rounded. "The mirror is talking?" he asked, looking at it with sudden interest. "It is like Snow White's mirror!"

Oh, I like this one, the mirror preened.

"You have seen many things, yes?" Hyacinth asked, and the mirror, flattered, immediately began talking about itself, from its first sentient moment after a witch's charm had awakened it. Hyacinth listened avidly, distracted for the moment.