Justin Finch-Fletchley (condign) wrote in riddikulus,
@ 2008-01-29 12:38:00

October 21, 1997 | Tuesday. After Dinner
Characters: Justin Finch-Fletchley & Susan Bones
Settings: Hufflepuff Common room. Tuesday, October 21, 1997. After dinner.
Summary: Justin asks Susan to the Halloween Ball. What ever will she say!?
Rating: PG?
Status: Complete

Tuesday had gone well for the most part. Double Defense had been lived through with success. He was on top of his homework and he'd successfully managed to finish the last book on curse-breaking that had been on his list. Aside from still being annoyed with Melanie whenever he saw her there was a relatively good mood in the air. Justin Finch-Fletchley had been trying to be optimistic for the next few weeks and this helped force the boy to be content for the most part.

While changing out of his school robes for dinner, Justin's optimism was lifted with a male to male conversation he'd had with some of the boy's in the dorms. With the Halloween Ball rounding quickly it seemed that the lot of them were either boasting about who they'd already snagged as dates or which of the girl's would be prime options for consideration. Course, as the event neared closer it seemed the "prime list" was slowly but surely dwindling. Everyday there was new news of who was no longer available.

Naturally, with these sorts of conversation Justin had more or less kept his mouth shut. He was more often than not the one revealing who was no longer available instead of sharing his option or his final decision. The situation with Susan Bones had been a questionable one. And though they'd been on good terms for the last few weeks he was still putting off the topic. With the encouragement of some of his dorm mates, however, the Hufflepuff finally decided tonight was good as night as any.

He'd given himself some time and hadn't bothered to think about it during the meal. Instead he waited a few minutes after everyone was settled in the common room that evening with full tummies. Finally he joined the masses from the dorms and approached Susan as she sat comfortably on one of the sofas. "Hey," he greeted as he plopped down next to Susan. "I've a question for you."

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gotabonetopick
2008-01-30 07:00 am UTC (link)

The entire thing about the ball was getting to Susan, she was dreading the fact that Justin wouldn’t ask her. No way would she ask him. After all why would she after how horrible the last date had been. Her nerves had got the best of her and she hoped that if Justin asked those nerves wouldn’t be so bad. Of course that was only a dream because each time they talked her stomach turned and twisted at the possible prospect of him asking. Each time though he didn’t and it nearly crushed her thinking he was going to take someone else. Susan disliked this feeling of liking someone so much that it made you this nervous. Of course Susan and Justin had decided to take it slow, but what was slow and when would slow move to something else?

Anyway she was just going to wait a bit longer, and just tired to be excited for the other girls as they announced who they were attending the ball with. Everyday people were snapped up, and she hoped not to hear Justin’s name or Booth. Yes it might be selfish to wish her backup wasn’t taken, but Booth was her friend and wanted to go with him if she couldn’t go with Justin. Sure if he was snapped up she would be happy for him, but it would leave her a little lost if Justin didn’t ask.

It was after dinner and Susan had left before the rush as she did. She was slow moving since the falling off the broom thing. She was still on crutches but the nurse said by the end of this week she could probably go back to walking just slowly and carefully as the potions and resting up had seemed to work. She didn’t go anywhere but the great hall, classes and the common room. Of course the nurse said if she didn’t like what she saw she would be on crutches probably till a few days before Halloween.

As she opened up one of her books to read, she didn’t get far before Justin joined her at her side. “Hey,” she said warmly and with that sweet Bones smile. She felt her heart quicken when he mentioned a question, but knowing her luck he would ask her about homework or her knee. “Yeah anything what is it?”

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condign
2008-01-30 07:33 am UTC (link)

He fell into a natural slouch so that he appeared to be slightly shorter than Susan and he was forced to look up at her to offer her a glance There was a slight moment of second thought when he realized he'd ... not exactly come up with a sure course of action as to approach the subject. Which was a bit strange considering Justin had never really had much trouble asking girl's out. Strangely enough, he'd never actually danced very long with nerves on the subject either.

If he liked someone he usually didn't have to tip-toe around the subject. He was a pretty honest chap and well...the fact that it was Susan seemed to make things strange. He was still a bit...in debate of how he really felt about their situation and he wondered if it'd really be appropriate to ask her if he wasn't 100% sure he felt the same way she did.

As his attention lingered around the room and his brain considered changing the subject entirely he remembered the conversation he'd had with the other blokes some hours before. It was just a date and an over due one at that - Justin figured taking her to the ball would be the best way to decide if this taking it slow business would really benefit them or not.

"Soo..." he lingered a moment, "You know about that Halloween Ball, yeah? I was thinking -" he quickly cut himself off and gave her a smirk. "If you promised not to vomit on me again....we should go together. I mean...if you wanted."

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gotabonetopick
2008-01-30 07:48 am UTC (link)

Susan was sitting with baited breath as she waited for him to say something, anything. It was killing her, the silence that seemed like an hour, when it was only a few moments. Susan wanted to hear him say something anything, even if it was to ask her some silly question other than the one she wanted him to ask. She was sitting looking down at him and she felt nervous as her fingers played with the hem of her skirt of her uniform she had yet to change from. She looked down at him and smiled softly. Almost tempted to edge him on, but thought that was push or impolite.

Finally he spoke, bringing up the Halloween ball. Her stomach jumped into her throat, but came crashing back down as he brought up the vomit thing. “I promise not to vomit on you again; if I have to I will go for the side.” Susan said with a chuckle, but realized she had not actually answered his question. “Take this as a yes by the way.” Susan gave him a grin as she looked down at him, trying to keep herself calm. This was a lot harder than you would think because she wanted to get up and run around and tell everyone.

“I am glad you asked,” Susan said sweetly as she focused more on him. She didn’t know what else to say. She was just so happy she could hug him or something. Was this a sign that he liked her more than a friend and that moving slowly was moving forward at some sort of speed?

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condign
2008-02-01 09:28 am UTC (link)

Justin looked over at her from his slouch and smiled, "Me too." He was glad he'd asked Susan, honest. But for whatever reason, he felt as though the job was just far too easy. It was a strange feeling, to be entirely honest and he didn't know whether to embrace it or to be slightly ashamed of himself for thinking it. He'd always found himself eager to engage in the chase of significant others, but with Susan it seemed to be playing out entirely different then his last few encounters with members of the opposite sex.

He absently wondered if she was this easy on all facets of relationships. Not that he'd ever....take advantage of that but it was a thought that lingered for a moment as he scanned the room again and scratched the tip of his nose. "Oy!" he called out to a fourth year boy taunting a second year girl in a game of keep away. "Give that back to her, you twat."

Obviously the interruption was more for Justin's benefit in changing his attentions as opposed to being one of those meddling upper classmen policing the commons. Shaking his head he looked back to Susan as if he'd not just chided someone. "What'ch ya reading?" His hand went to tilt up her book from her lap and he lazily tilted his head as close to his chest as he could manage. Unfortunately, he still couldn't make out the cover.

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gotabonetopick
2008-02-01 09:55 pm UTC (link)

Just hearing the ‘me too’ was enough reassurance that Justin wanted this, or at least wanted to go to the ball with her. Susan really wanted Justin and her to have a good night. She didn’t mind if nothing came of it but just going to a ball with him would be nice. Of course if something did come of it that would be excellent. Susan was deep in thought about what the night would hold, and the possibilities that this could mean. Unfortunately she was brought back from these thoughts by Justin telling some student to give back whatever it was they were holding to the other girl. Susan turned her attention in the direction Justin was talking and smiled a little. She remembered when people played keep away from her. “I do think you use to do that to me, or was that someone else?” She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. She was highly amused by this memory but so many of the boys in her year had done it to her in first and second year it was sort of a blur as to who had done it.

As heard him ask about her book and she turned the book cover to face him so he could see. In the process she carefully moved closer to him, hoping not to hurt her knee more in the process. She had something to make it heal for. She had a ball to attend and with Justin. As she settled in a little closer to him she smiled up at him. “Little Women,” she laughed a little as she said it. “It is my mother’s favourite and in turn mine. She read it to me when I was little. It is a comfort book.” Susan looked at the back at the over and ran her fingers over the letters. The book was worn as she had it for so long; her mother had bought her own copy the summer before Hogwarts. “I use it to keep my mind of things.” Susan simply shrugged her shoulders after that and leaned her head on Justin’s shoulder. She just did it purely because she had done it before and hoped he didn’t get all freaked out about it.

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condign
2008-02-01 10:58 pm UTC (link)

Justin hadn't bothered to justify his explanation of why he was playing common room police officer. Truth was the games of keep away played with friends were entirely different to a fourth year picking on someone two years younger. It was translated in his brain as bullying, especially, if it were obvious that only one party of the game of keep-away was enjoying himself. Instead he'd just offered Susan a pointed look before he'd asked his question on books.

The explanation was definitely one he didn't need. But he pretended he was interested all the same. Justin nodded sagely and offered a vocal, "Good stuff." As Susan's head moved to rest on his shoulder he hadn't bothered to 'freak out.' But he did feel a bit awkward about it. Despite his calm demeanor it seemed that with the new level of their relationship he was still having issues with letting Susan over the just friends boundaries. It made him uncomfortable for the most part. And it bothered him that he didn't take to the change naturally.

"How's the leg?" he asked for the sake of small talk. Justin still couldn't overcome the issue of Susan needing to have crutches. It was such a bizarre and muggle like concept that he was certain would be seen as archaic with the consideration of magical healing. Despite his being a muggle-born, after six years of growing accustomed to quick healing remedies it still baffled him that Madam Pomfrey resorted to such an old concept of healing. Course, he wasn't anywhere near interested in medicine so his opinion was hardly valid. It didn't help that he absently wondered if Susan were just using the crutches as a way to get attention.... Not that he'd ever share this inquiry out loud, of course.

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gotabonetopick
2008-02-01 11:20 pm UTC (link)

Susan just looked at Justin unsure if he really cared about the book or had just making small talk. Ever since this whole thing happened she always felt like everything was strained between them. This just made her feel uncomfortable in the situation no matter how hard she tried to make things seem like she was fine. It was always in the back of her mind if he really wanted anything. When he asked about her leg she just looked at him lifting her head from his shoulder. “It is better. Pomfrey said things were healing well with the potion. So I should be off crutches next week. She told me the process would be slow even with the potion. Just cause I had really screwed up my muscle. And she finds this is best remedy even if it is the slowest.” Susan rambled on as she looked at her bandaged knee. She was sure Justin only wanted a yes or no answer.

Susan looked back up at Justin and smiled awkwardly. “So the ball we are just going as friends?” Susan wanted to know because she didn’t want to have the entire night be awkward because she didn’t know what the purpose of the night was. She would be really okay if it was just friends. Justin seemed so distant lately and Susan really hadn’t asked why.

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condign
2008-02-01 11:45 pm UTC (link)

Justin hadn't exactly paid attention to Susan's explanation after she announced that her leg was 'better.' That's all he needed in reply really. So as she talked he stared across the room and watched a portrait of two old men playing a game of wizard's chess. It was then that he realized how very bored he'd been with their entire situation. Whether it were his fault, her fault, or no one's fault in particular he wasn't entirely sure.

The question she asked next, however, had hardly been anticipated. He'd been under the impression that his asking her without the stipulation of 'going as friends' was enough to clarify the 'status' of it being a date. But now that Susan asked - Justin suddenly wondered if she were having second thoughts on the matter. A slightly uncomfortable and sick feeling knotted in his stomach. The immediate sign of guilt.

"Er..." he looked over at her obviously baffled by the question. Hhe shrugged and shook his head, "I-Yeah, if you'd rather go as friends. It wasn't what I had in mind, but if it'd make you more comfortable... we can do that." He smiled and nodded as enthusiastically as he could manage - which was forced through and through. Absently he wondered where this left them now.

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gotabonetopick
2008-02-01 11:55 pm UTC (link)

Susan was sort of wondering if asking if they were just going as friends was the right thing to do or not. She didn’t like the feeling she got when she asked either. It was like her stomach was ready to drop with disappointment at the answer, yet she still asked it. Susan looked at him and brushed hair from her face as if to keep her occupied or something as she had not reason to do so.

I-Yeah, if you'd rather go as friends. It wasn't what I had in mind, but if it'd make you more comfortable... we can do that." Susan listened to him as he spoke and turned back to him and shook her head. “I dunno, I just wondered. I don’t know how you sit on the whole going slow thing or yeah. I do want to go with you I really really do.” Susan sat there wondering what to say next. It was a strange feeling to think she honestly didn’t know how to answer the question. “If this is a date thing then I am fine with that, I’m comfortable with that.” Susan felt like an idiot right now and just wanted to stop talking but of course she wasn’t letting herself. “I just want to know you are comfortable with it.” Susan looked at him and she felt sort of nervous again. She was just confused on how Justin sat with everything and if he really did want to move forward even if it was slowly.

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condign
2008-02-02 12:14 am UTC (link)

"If I wasn't comfortable with it, I wouldn't have asked you to go with me," Justin offered casually. He was fine with calling it a date. It wasn't like this would be his first, ever. Unlike, Susan the young man hadn't been waiting on baited breath or letting nerves get the best of him where asking her to the ball was concerned. If anything asking her wasn't an issue - it was the easiest part.

What he had reservations about was whether or not forcing this ... whatever it was with Susan along was the right thing to do. He'd never exactly been in a situation like the one he'd managed with Susan. The way everything had happened was so...out of sequence from his usual dating habits that it threw him off - and not in a good way either. With Laura Madley things had been off the pattern but in a surprisingly pleasant manner of physical gratification. With Susan, well, it was more dramatic and awkward. Most of the time he felt as if he were walking on egg shells rather than just doing it to have fun.

He was worried about hurting her feelings. And because of that, Justin had found it better to try and give Susan the benefit of the doubt. Course, because he didn't automatically realize his massive lust for the girl when she revealed her 'crush,' Justin absently wondered if he were just leading her on. Not that he'd ever mean to do so. But for the sake of getting his own feelings in order, Justin was agreed with the other chaps in his dorm. Going on this date would most likely make or break his final decision of whether the 'going slow' bit was going to benefit anyone.

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gotabonetopick
2008-02-02 12:26 am UTC (link)

“Okay,” Susan said looked at the book in her lap before looking back up at him with a smile that was noticeably forced. She bit her lip as she watched him under of what to do or say. She just kept getting this vibe that everything was just awkward, but perhaps that was just her. Susan had never gone on a date before or had to experience any of this so she didn’t know if this was suppose to be how it was to be. “So a date then?” Susan wasn’t sure what to do right now.

Why did she feel like this was so forced and awkward? Why couldn’t she just ask him how he truly felt and just get it out in the open? Perhaps this was supposed to be a way for them to see if this would work. Of course Susan wasn’t really sure of this and felt like she should probably talk to a friend about this, but who? It was just this nagging feeling that was bugging her and perhaps it just came from how this situation had turned slightly awkward.

“Are you wanting to dress up in costumes or just go in dress robes?” Susan was pretty easy either way. She just hoped that things wouldn’t get screwed up even more.

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condign
2008-02-08 12:36 am UTC (link)

Justin was relieved that she'd...decided otherwise. It was important to them that they at least try this date thing again. He was hopeful to the idea that it'd make up for the horrible attempt ~~she'd~~ they'd managed during Hogsmeade. Even if he too sensed the tension and awkwardness in the air - he was determined to give it a chance.

That's what mattered right? His willingness to give it another chance. His openness to letting things happen without the ridiculous dramatics of vomit, tears, or general unnecessary uncomfortable-ness. Granted that's not to say he was going to let himself get trapped - oh no - he'd already decided that if this Ball business didn't go over well he'd stop trying. There wouldn't be a point. But for now, for now he'd make the extra effort....it was important.

With a shrug he replied to Susan's inquiry about the costumes. "I thought it was a masquerade ball?" he asked rhetorically, "Costumes are usually the woman's choice isn't it? I can...get away with dress robes?" He grinned at her, "Or is it different for wizarding world masquerades?"

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gotabonetopick
2008-02-08 07:26 am UTC (link)

Susan was going to work past this; she was going to stop acting like this. She was just going to have fun and just enjoy the time she had with Justin. A date was a date, and if it didn’t work it obviously wasn’t going to later. Just have fun was all she could really tell herself to do. She just wanted to enjoy herself at the ball with Justin and stop worrying about what he wanted and if something would happen. It was just making her upset, and causing her to over think things. It was a lot easier when they were just friends.

“Well we could wear dress robes and mask, or full out costume and mask.” Susan added this as if she was thinking it out as she said it. She wasn’t really to sure about the ‘rules’ of dress. “I dunno did you want to go matching or, what?” Susan didn’t really like the idea of matching it seemed strange. A nice combo outfit would be suitable, kind of like a King Arthur and Guinevere type of thing. Of course if he just wanted to do his own thing she was fine with that. Susan was really starting to think about what to wear, and it was making her sort of giddy about the ball.

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condign
2008-02-08 10:02 am UTC (link)

Justin's lip curled slightly in animated disgust at the idea of 'matching.' It was one thing he'd always refused to do - match head to toe with his date. He'd been to his share of high society functions with girls who thought the idea “cute”. But the only near matching business he ever compromised on was wearing a tie or pocket handkerchief to match the girl's dress. Other than that the word itself was disturbing.

"I don't know about matching," he offered as though obviously against the idea. "But I don't really have the brain power for costume ideas either. If you want to do costumes I think you should be in charge of deciding what we go as." He immediately cut himself short and looked at Susan in mock seriousness, "You know, as long as I'm not in spandex, or hot pink tights or anything poncy like that. Besides," he offered with a shrug, "I think masquerades are more for the mask detailing and what the girl's dress looks like than anything else really. Least that's how it works back home. But if you want to do costumes....." He trailed off and stared at the girl for a reaction.

This wasn't his first time planning the "what to wear." If there was something he learned long ago - it was usually to let the girl make the final decision. His input more often than not got pushed aside anyway - unless there was excessive complaint about wearing something stupid.

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gotabonetopick
2008-02-08 08:56 pm UTC (link)

A sigh of relief left her as he said he didn’t know about matching, which was probably just a nicer way of saying ew no. “Oh thank merlin you don’t want to match,” she said in a rather gaspy way as if she had been holding her breath for his answer, perhaps she was. Sighing again she listened to him and nodded her head. She was more focused on what she wanted to wear than what he was saying. “Well really I don’t want to see you in tights, no offence but that just doesn’t appeal to me,” she said with a little giggle and smile.

As she sat there looking at him she pondered on what they should wear, and really Susan just wanted to wear a nice dress. She awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck. “How about a nice dress for me and dress robes or suit or whatever for you?” Susan hoped he liked that idea. “Then we can get some nice masks that compliment each others but not match.” Susan hoped he liked this idea.

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condign
2008-02-09 12:14 am UTC (link)

Justin pursed his lips in mock consideration and inhaled deeply. "I could live with that....yes." He looked over at Susan and offered a grin, "It's a plan then. We can worry about the mask detailing when the time comes I suppose."

He was relatively pleased that they weren't going to be dressing in any cheesy costumes or attending the function matching. If anything Justin was all for the traditional sty lings of a masquerade ball. He was certain it wouldn't look as pompous if they had similar matching masks - entire outfits, however, not as cool in his opinion.

Still slouching in his seat, Justin offered Susan a glance. "So, d'you have any dress ideas yet? Or what?" As far as the young man was concerned he'd just have to reuse last years set of dress robes - which he was entirely capable of tailoring to suit his needs. He figured asking Susan about what she was planning on wearing was a decent follow through subject. Since...you know.... girl's were supposed to already have that sort of thing decided already or something. Plus he figured he'd have to get an appropriatly tented tie for the occasion.

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