Elsewhere

[Cairo Savage]

There were many things that annoyed Cairo to no end, and one of those things was noise. Not music, sound or anything of that category he could drown out or pretend was some sort of pleasing harmony to his ears, but noise. More specifically the noise of his peers chatting, shouting at each other or even the noise associated with a bang on the wall or the rattle of nearby furniture as a side effect of practicing a spell. It was all endless, excruciating noise that pulled his attention away from studying and caused his face to scrunch up with disgust.

The latter noise in particular was grinding Cairo's gears more than usual that day. It forced him out of the Slytherin common room and outside to the school grounds so he could continue studying in peace. But soon after making himself comfortable lying on a bench in the gardens, half staring up at the blue sky and half staring at one of the books he dragged along with him, he realized exactly how optimistic he was in venturing outside. The birds were just as noisy as his fellow Slytherins had been in the common room and it once again caused his face to scrunch up as he sighed with exasperation and attempted to drown it out, brow furrowing as his eyes traced the words on the page he had been trying to read for the last five minutes. There was only so much noise the thirteen year old could handle before he reached his boiling point and gave up. But he had yet to reach that point and until he did, he would stay determined and continue to read the book he was holding above his face. ​

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[Falon Urie]

Studying was not one of Falon's favorite things to do. In fact, it was easily one of the most tedious and boring things. The Gryffindor was a visual and practical learner, and having to sit down and reread things; things she had already learned and done, was terrible! Or even worse, having to try and learn something without being able to get up and try it; Falon needed to mix the potion, or cast the spell; or even somehow watch the history happening, rather than read it.
Today was not a good day to study. In fact, most of Summer, Falon struggled to sit down and study. She needed to be outside, in the sun, with nature. She knew that studying was important, and she wanted to do well. She wanted to be able to look after herself, but this was a sucky way of having to achieve that. So the brunette took a couple of books, not bothering with quill and parchment, and made her way outside. She'd at least attempt to get some reading done. Her green eyes took in the Hogwarts garden, spotting someone else who had obviously had the same idea. The boy's face seemed familiar, they had had some classes together, but Falon had never properly met him. Studying with someone was usually always much better than alone (and usually the books ended up being forgotten), so Falon made her way over to the blond-haired boy before plonking herself down next to him. "Mind if I join you?" She smiled.

 

[Cairo Savage]

Even a shift in weight on the bench didn't rouse Cairo from his determination to read. He had yet to finish the same page he had been staring at since he made himself comfortable in his new, outdoor study environment and did not so much as change his expression to look towards or even acknowledge the person that sat next to him until his eyes finally glazed over the final full stop and indication of a number at the bottom of the page. He was barely through the first section of the textbook, appropriately on History of magic, one of his favourite subjects. Definitely a subject he wanted to continue reading despite the sudden and unexpected company next to him on the bench. He moved his slender hand to turn the page, clearly wanting to continue his engrossment in the book, but the company he was intentionally ignoring clearly had another idea and needed to interrupt him by speaking.

Of course this would happen to him, on that particular time of day and in that particular moment when the absolute last thing he wanted was to be disturbed. He stole a glance at the other person on the bench before setting his eyes on the new page he intended to read and sighed. Only then choosing to speak, but still opting not to change his body language or seem welcoming in any sense of the word. He recognized his company from classes and knew she was in his year and he might have even attempted to make friends with her if he wasn't always busy following Rome around and if he was interested in doing so. But the fact still remained the same; he did not want to be spoken to. He wasn't about to hide it, either. "By all means, join me. I'm not trying to study in peace. I want you to bother me." He answered her question, sarcasm dripping from his words as he attempted to continue reading his book.​

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[Falon Urie]

Why she just didn't find her twin to study with was beyond Falon. What made her think she could just waltz up to anybody and try and be their friend? Falon always had a good time with Felix, she should have just tried to find him from the get go, and she was sure he would have appreciated her company. Falon knew that Felix missed her, and she missed him dearly too; it was unfair for the two of them to be separated. Instead, now Falon was sat next to someone who made her angry by only uttering a few words. He definitely wasn't from Gryffindor and Falon knew that Puff's were generally a lot nicer, so he had to be from Ravenclaw or Slytherin. His sigh and then his sarcasm made it all too apparent to Falon that this boy was a bully, instead of saying no politely or agreeing and then not talking, he had to be rude. The Gryffindor never understood why people found the need to be rude to someone they hadn't even met. Of course, if there was a genuine reason then she was fine, but who was to say that she wasn't the best person he could ever meet?
Falon narrowed her eyes at the boy, but she wasn't going to let him win this war. "Well good, merlin forbid I upset his lordship." Falon snapped back. "Did you forget to change your diapers this morning, is that why you're such a grumpy grouch?" She asked angrily, rolling her eyes, before she picked up one of her books and made to read it. The brunette knew she probably wasn't going to get much studying done, she was too angry now.

 

[Cairo Savage]

Cairo had to stifle the urge to laugh at the girl's response. His attention wavered from reading the words on the page of his book to repeat the words she said in his head as he managed a small smile. The response reminded him of Rome in a way because it was clearly something she might say if he bothered her but this girl was clearly a lot less evil than his sister. At least that's what he assumed because she had yet to punch him in the face; definitely something Rome would do if a stranger gave her rejection in the form of such sarcastic words. But even then, he still didn't look away from the page, continuing his attempts to seem disinterested in her company despite his reaction being an obvious clue to the fact she was growing on him. It was only because she momentarily reminded him of his twin he parted ways with to study that day but it was a reason nonetheless.

He eventually chose to respond after realizing the girl wasn't about to leave the bench and give him the peace and quiet he was craving all day. His expression changed to mimic a frown with a sight showing of shock as he responded in kind, tone of voice still sarcastic as ever and his eyes still never leaving the book in his hands. "Rome said she wouldn't tell anyone about the diapers." ​

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[Falon Urie]

The smile that was on the boy's face went unnoticed by Falon, as she sat pretending to read her book. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her eyes narrowed, still fuming about the rude boy. The brunette was not going to be the one to leave first. She would sit there all day and into the night if she had to! And if she got uncomfortable, then she'd try stretch herself out; he was taking the whole bench by lying down and that wasn't fair. So if this princess was going to lie down, then Falon was going to as well! At the thought, she tried to make herself bigger, trying to take up more space. But her angry thoughts were snapped out of her head as she heard the boy speak again. She couldn't help but let out a laugh at his reply; she didn't know who Rome was, but it was an amazing reply. Falon put her book down, taking it as an invitation to talk, her anger evaporated. She turned to look at the boy. "Well I think Rome was lying." She giggled. The brunette held out her hand. "I'm Falon." She introduced.

 

[Cairo Savage]

Cairo's blue eyes finally looked away from his book again when Falon introduced herself. He was admittedly pleased to finally have a name to put to the brunette's familiar face but he refused to show it and instead raised his eyebrows, nodding towards her in acknowledgement as he stated his own name. "Cairo." He then moved his eyes back to his book and continued to read, deliberately rejecting her handshake and opting not to give an explanation until a sufficient amount of silence passed.

The Slytherin had never believed himself to be rude, not in general and definitely not in his sarcasm towards the brunette that particular day. He merely believed he was selective in his actions and it was a selective action of his to return to ignoring the brunette after giving her a genuine expression. Because being genuine was something Cairo rarely did and he was worried what would happen if he didn't show kindness in the smallest of doses. He finally opened his mouth to speak again as he finished reading the page his eyes were scanning. "I'm not shaking your hand." He stated.​

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[Falon Urie]

The brunette smiled as the boy let know his name. It certainly was an interesting name and she wondered if Cairo knew what it meant. She didn't have an opportunity to ask him, however, as he turned away, incredibly rudely from her handshake. He just left her hanging! Falon left her hand up, staring at the boy in disbelief. "Seriously?" She muttered, dropping her hand, looking around to see if there was anyone around that she could share her shock with. Falon had to control her anger again, she had to control the urge to pick up her book and whack the boy in the face with it. How she wished she knew someone that was in his dorm room so she could fill his bed with spiders or frogs. Falon crossed her arms, glaring at the boy as he told her that he wasn't going to shake her hand. "Let me guess." She started, rolling her eyes. "You're one of those "pureblood supremacists" that think's he's going to get dirty because he touched someone who isn't pureblood?" Falon raged. "Seriously, who do you think you are?! You're not better than anyone just because your parents are magical, it doesn't make you a prince, so stop acting like you're damn royalty!" shouted.

 

[Cairo Savage]

Cairo's stoic expression broke when he heard Falon's reaction. The corners of his mouth upturned into a smile as he felt the urge to laugh though he managed to bite it back by sinking his teeth into his bottom lip and moving his free hand over his face. Falon was clearly eager to make assumptions and Cairo was just as eager to let her believe them though he could not resist paying half a mind to wondering how on earth she would react if he told her the plan and simple truth that he just did not want to shake her hand. It would be interesting, surely. To see how the brunette reacted to rejection in it's purest form. But he wasn't going to be that cruel and chose not to let her believe he was pureblood nor to tell her the truth, opting to cater to his compulsion to lie because that was a box he had yet to fully tick since their conversation started.

"Let me be honest with you, Falon." He said as he finally shut his book and moved to sit up on the bench. As he waited a moment to conjure a lie, he frowned. He hoped it made him seem both serious and unwilling to admit what he said next if it were true. "I'm not a pureblood." He cleared his throat and seemed to shift uncomfortably on the bench as he clasped his hands together and averted his eyes to his shoes. "I'm actually a germophobe. It's taken me a lot of courage to come outside today and I'm very on edge as we're sitting here. That's why I acted out before and why I don't want to shake your hand. I'm sorry, but it's true." He swallowed hard, moving his eyes to Falon's as he finished his 'confession'. "Can you please cut me some slack? I'm scared of everything right now and now that I'm thinking about it I can almost feel the germs crawling on me." He pretended to shudder at the thought.​

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[Falon Urie]

As Falon listened to Cairo explain and as he said he wasn't a pureblood, she wondered what his problem was then; who was so rude to not shake someone's hand? Maybe it was because he was afraid because she was a girl. But as he continued to explain, Falon felt her stomach drop and she started feeling incredibly bad. She had been so rude and so mean to him, and he actually had a real problem. Falon let her arms fall in her lap and she bit her lip at his last word. And to think, she was going to put frogs in his bed! Imagine the panic attack he would have had! "Cairo. I'm so sorry. That was really mean of me, I had no idea." Falon paused for a moment, not sure what else to say. The brunette had not ever met someone who was scared of germs, her and her whole family loved playing pranks on each other and sometimes, well usually, involved a lot of mess. Germs and dirt were a part of every day life for the Urie's. "Um, I guess, I think it's brave of you? Yes, brave for you to be outside. Facing your fears!" Falon cheered, putting a fist in the air for encouragement.

 

[Cairo Savage]

Cairo forced back the laugh that collected in his throat as Falon believed his lie. She was clearly gullible enough to believe him and even support him in facing his fabricated fear and to him it was hilarious. In that moment he was tempted to add to the lie, revel in the chance he had to make it more ridiculous and unbelievable for the sake of seeing Falon's reaction and to challenge himself to see how much his lying skills had developed since he started school. But he instead clasped the book tighter in his hands and stood up from the bench.

All he wanted was to study in silence, somewhere peaceful and where there were no intrusive sounds and he could be alone with his thoughts and this lie would be his out; his excuse to get away from Falon and finally find somewhere he would not be disturbed. He glanced to the garden around him before returning his eyes to Falon as he pretended to shudder again. "I'm sorry. But I should go now." He said. "Now all I can think about is the germs and I really need to find Rome, now." He held the textbook to his chest and retrieved the other books he brought with him from the bench, giving Falon one nod of his head as he said a quick goodbye and made his way back towards the castle. His dorm room was never his first choice for studying but it was likely where he would end up since the Slytherin common room was too busy and the Gardens were occupied by annoying brunette girls. ​

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