It had been about a month since Cater Diamond had transferred into Easton Academy. It wasn't altogether common for transfers to happen during the middle of the school year, but apparently exceptions could be made for the right circumstances. The new Adler third year had immediately gone about making an impression on his fellow classmates. Although he wasn't an outright exceptional mage, he made up for it with charisma. Where his work ethic fell short in many classes, Cater helped underclassmen in others. Even though it had only been a few weeks, he fit in well--almost as if he had practiced such a transition before and knew a little too well how to ingratiate himself to a student body.
But there was just one nut he couldn't seem to crack. If it had been any other student, maybe Cater would've let it be. But this was the Adler prefect--he had no choice but to put in the extra work. Besides, something about that steely glare of his just kept the redhead's attention. He often found his gaze wandering toward the stoic teenager when he was spacing out in their shared classes. Oh, Rayne Ames, he would figure out what it was that made you tick.
At least it was easy to get the guy alone--it seemed he was one of the very few people who were willing to approach him on a whim, who didn't rethink the choice to do so when fixed with that derisive stare. As has become almost a ritual, Cater trails after Rayne once their last class for the day is dismissed. The guy always had a rebuff ready, but that didn't deter Cater in the slightest.
"Heya! Whatcha doin, tonight? There's this mega cute place in town I was thinking about checking out. Wanna come with?"
Ever since that transfer came in, every day was the same thing; an annoying, pestering boy would try to catch his attention, to attempt to... what? Be friends? What was the point? What was his game? There was too much on his plate as both a Divine Visionary and Adler's Prefect to even think about making friends, about doing anything that would cost him his reputation. About involving other students in his life, where they didn't belong.
Cater Diamond was such a strange person. A third year that basically slipped into place among the rest of the students, accepting his role as an upperclassman, doing his best to help out the younger students where he could. As if he'd been here for as long as any of the other third years had. Rayne's eye was on him, of course. He didn't trust a suspicious transfer this time of year. Maybe that's why he was placed within Adler-- could it be that the Headmaster knew he'd keep an eye on him?
That voice can be heard behind him, right on time, as Rayne holds his bag down by his side, his stride not slowing even as Cater trails behind. Even as he speaks up, trying to get him to go somewhere with him again. When would he tire of it?
"Studying." A brief glance over his shoulder - that's all you'll get, Cater. "As you should be doing. Do you really have time to be slacking off?" Rayne states. Even if he keeps moving, he doesn't stop Cater from following him. He hadn't before and wasn't going to start. Or, didn't seem to be about to.
Laughing lightly, Cater picks up his pace until he's reached Rayne's shoulder, matching his formidable pace with a bouncing one. As always, he has that unflappable grin on his face.
"I'm not going for Divine Visionary or anything, so I don't need to study too hard. I'll have plenty of time to hit the books, later." Saying this, Cater's green eyes shoot up and down Rayne's body, as if trying to determine just how much stress must be wound up beneath those robes. "Don't you ever take a break, yourself?"
Well that was obvious. Cater wasn't and never would be Divine Visionary material. Even if he tried, he's sure that Cater would fall short, whether by his own design or his own shortcomings.
If he tried, he had the potential to be a powerful mage. Maybe. Not that Cater seemed to be the type to put in even a little effort.
"That's obvious." He replies, regarding the Divine Visionary comment. Maybe a little too fast-- sorry Cater.
The stress wound up within Rayne's body was immeasurable, both in the way it's hidden under his uniform and robes, and the very way he kept it under wraps. "Don't you ever stop bothering people when they're clearly busy?" Rayne throws the question right back at Cater, twisting the words until they're sharp like a dagger to drive directly in his chest. "I do take breaks." Rarely, but he considered taking care of his dear rabbits as good a break as any.
Ouch. Cater winces slightly, feigning more hurt than he really is. "Don't spare my feelings about it."
And then that smile's back, like it never left, and Cater laughs again. "But you're not busy. You're just walking!"
And anyway, he wasn't going to count "studying" as busy, when he was sure that Rayne just sat alone reading. It so wasn't plans.
"Hey, here's an idea: we could have a study party! Make it, like, supes fun! We can have snacks and come up with learning games, and help each other on the subjects we're weakest on."
Did he really expect him to be kind, to sugarcoat his words? Rayne wasn't the type. Cater should know that by now. Did he? Was that why he kept following him, why he kept walking, now alongside him?
"Walking can still be considered busy." Rayne retorts, his brows furrowing in clear annoyance, the only emotion he ever really showed. Congratulations Cater, that's another day in a row you've been able to elicit that emotion!
A study party, though... it sounds like something the Orca dorm would do.
"If you want to organize that within Adler, go ahead. You'll be able to find plenty of third years willing to join you." Rayne seems to be thinking Cater meant this as a big event type thing, not as something for just the two of them.
Hmm...Cater had indeed suggested it as a one-on-one thing, but if this is a foot in the door to get Rayne to loosen up in any aspect, Cater's not going to shy away from the opportunity. "Sure," he agrees, "I'll get things going for it! You'll be there, too, right--I bet that'll be a huge draw!"
He's not so silly as to think that Rayne planned on being there at all, but Cater's not going to give up so easily. They're making momentum, here!
"What kind of snacks do you like? I'll make sure to get your faves!"
Cater was stupid. A fool. Someone who, by all means, Rayne should have managed to shrug off by now. Someone who shouldn't still feel so comfortable pretending to want to get closer to him. It's incomprehensible. Even further than that, it's impossible. No one-- not even Finn, at this point, he's sure-- wanted that.
"No." Rayne replies, his brows furrowing further, his head turning to finally look to Cater, "What did I say that would suggest I'd be there?"
Still, it almost did sound like something he should be at, as prefect-- gods dammit, Cater was about to catch him within a trap, wasn't he?
"You didn't," Cater agrees, locking eyes with Rayne--it must be maddening, the lack of fear in those green eyes. They're full of mischief, full of secrets, but he isn't backing down even as Rayne throws such intimidating looks. "But it sure would set a good example, wouldn't it?"
Maybe he was smart enough, where it counted. At the very least, he was clever. It showed in the way he seemed to get just what he wanted from people. In the way that someone so new to the school was so confident he'd be able to rally together such an impressive study session.
Would it maybe lean more toward a party than studying? That depended.
"I'm sure you'd be a very motivating presence. So, I'll pick up a little bit of everything. You'll find something you like."
What a sneaky asshole this one was. Rayne grimaces, the look he was giving Cater only really showed how much he hated the very fact that he was practically tricked into agreeing to be there. At this rate, if he didn’t, he’d seem like a terrible example of a prefect, of a Divine Visionary. After all, he was still such a big deal—
“Fine.”
The single word is spat out towards Cater, as his face turns back away. The library was just ahead, all he’d need to do was slip inside and Cater would leave him alone, yes? Surely someone who didn’t want to spend time studying wouldn’t willingly go sit in the library.
“There will be rules. No alcohol for one. Studying needs to be done with a clear mind. Another would be that studying does actually need to happen. It cannot just be an excuse for a party. If it ends up that way, or if I find out it was planned that way from the start — I will have to deal with you.”
One little word and Cater is over the moon. His expression completely lights up, regardless of how unamused and begrudging Rayne clearly is about the whole thing.
"Yay! You got it, boss!" Even Cater Diamond wasn't so bold as to drink on campus, so that wouldn't be a problem. Still, he can't guarantee that it'll actually be a studying-heavy party, even if he tires to emphasize it. When you get a bunch of teens in a room together without adult supervision, who knew what could happen. Like he said, though, Rayne's presence was sure to discourage rowdiness.
"Deal with me, huh?"
He doesn't at all sound threatened, even though he clearly should. Pulling out his wand, Cater whips out his signature spell: Spliteus. At once, three other Caters appear and the original gives them their brief assignments. They all head off in different directions, ready to get the party planning underway. By then, they've reached the library.
And Cater's still hot on Rayne's heels, following him inside.
Rayne's going to regret this isn't he? Cater looked way too happy to be given permission to get something like this together. Rayne, on the other hand, was pretty obviously annoyed.
Cater's signature spell wasn't one that he was unaware of, but watching it cast was another story. Rayne eyes his wand, watching the three different Caters form and be given their assignments, even as the two of them walk to their destination.
"Yes, deal with you." What did he not understand? Rayne lifts his chin, looking down on Cater despite their similar heights.
Heading into the library, Rayne seems to be set on finding a table. Upon spotting a free one, he moves to set his bag down atop the table, beginning to pull out the material he was going to be working on studying, along with some of the papers he was doing for work related things--
"Are you not going to head out to that place you wanted to check out?" Rayne asks, his eyes narrowed, "I thought you were going." Take the hint, Cater. Leave him alone.
Ugh, Rayne Ames had no right to be so attractive. All this pushing away just made Cater want to hold on even harder. His smile flashes wider as he sets his own books down across from Rayne at the same table, feigning innocence.
"It'd be more fun to go with a friend. It'll still be there tomorrow." Oh, he has taken the hint and simply chosen to ignore it. "Besides, a certain someone pointed out that I should spend more time studying. I'm feeling inspired."
The next few days were rough. Cater blamed himself for all of it, of course. He'd pushed Rayne too far, made him uncomfortable. Still, Cater had entertained that after they'd both slept it off, maybe they could actually talk about it...but the next day in class, a single look from Rayne and he knew better. For the first time since he transferred, Cater listens to that glare. He stays back, doesn't try and run up to him or follow him around. Cater watches as Rayne all but ignores his presence, seeming to want to stay as far away from him as possible.
No matter how much his insides ache and he can't stop thinking about the other boy, Cater does his best to keep up his smiling mask, socializing with other classmates and cracking jokes like nothing was wrong. It was a good thing he had that stupid study party to see through. At this point, Cater wanted nothing to do with it--after all, it had been a ploy to get Rayne to hang out with him. Still, he had to see it through, now. Too many people had been invited and were excited for it. He takes it for what it is: a distraction. Planning it keeps his mind off of Rayne as much as it can be expected to, which still isn't enough.
When the day of the party arrives, in question, Cater and his Splits are setting up stations of snacks with different subjects of study. Students are trickling in and starting to mingle, and he can't help wondering--would Rayne even show up? Certainly not, right?
Alone. That's how Rayne felt, even as he lie in bed across the room from his roommate and the sounds of his rabbits causing trouble near their home, marking the obvious out like a mistake penned on paper in red ink for all to see. He wasn't alone, but he had to be. No matter how much it stung his chest, no matter how much he wanted to reach out to anyone else, to have the company of another. He needed to be alone, needed to take on the world alone, lest he pull anyone into the spotlight with him, to draw a target on their back.
His glares were received as they should be, when he offers that very same glare to Cater, to warn him to stay away. He couldn't be more glad - and ache horribly, all at the same time. Everytime he noticed Cater laughing or socializing with their classmates, as if nothing was the matter, it cemented the very idea he'd begun to build up in his mind: as long as he separates himself, keeps anything else from happening between the two of them, then everything would be fine. Would go back to normal.
The day of that stupid study party arrived. Students began to show up, and... With one third year, Max Land, another boy was brought along. Rayne Ames, with his bag in hand, prepared to be a good example. After what'd happened, maybe Cater expected him to avoid this whole event.... but he still had to show up, for appearances sake. Almost immediately, Max wanders off to go talk to another student within the dorm, leaving Rayne standing there alone.
Yellow eyes were narrowed as he looks around at the setup that Cater had done, as if inspecting his work. Had Adler ever even done anything like this? Set up a space for all of the students to work together?
... Why was he even here? It wasn't like any of the other students would actually want to work with him. With a sigh, Rayne wanders, looking at each station and the snacks that've been set out, pretending he couldn't hear the occasional whisper from the other students. No one-- really, no one-- expected him to show up, did they?
When Max shows up with Rayne, Cater feels multiple things at once: Good, he came, and Shit, he came, and At least Max can keep him busy.
But then Max leaves Rayne to flounder there, and Cater can't just let the guy be a wallflower. He doesn't like seeing everyone avoid him, even if Rayne didn't seem to mind being avoided or even wanted to be avoided. He didn't want to avoid Rayne, no matter what had happened. What really worried him was how Rayne would react if he approached. Well, damn it, here went nothing.
"Not half bad, right? Nothing rowdy." At least not yet. Cater smiles at Rayne as he swings over, practiced in his friendliness. "A few people might actually get some studying done."
Rayne... kind of did have to acknowledge Cater. It was his whole idea for a study party, his idea to get students together and... well, it looked like people were actually enjoying it, weren't they? Even if it mostly looked like students were socializing, some did have books out, their wands ready-- whatever they needed for the subject.
He's impressed with it. For the moment.
Looking to Cater - was this the first time he'd fully looked at Cater after their day out together? - Rayne his gaze from one of the nearby designated study areas to focus on him. "Efficient," Is the first word out of his mouth, "The way you have it set up." A compliment. That has to count for something.
"I've doubts that anyone will study for long." Was it so bad if students had fun for a while, though? ... Yes, they shouldn't be goofing off... but, for the moment, Rayne had to force that down. Max had good points when he'd mentioned that it could be good for morale and all. Plus, Cater put so much work into this.
... Not that Rayne could look at him after that last comment of his, turning his gaze away from Cater completely.
Without realizing it, Cater had been holding his breath. He lets out a chuckle of relief when Rayne actually speaks to him. Did that mean the cold shoulder treatment was officially over? Sure, it's not like Rayne was being anything other than his short-spoken self, but that was better than complete dismissal. Tentatively, Cater decides to see where this goes.
"Hey, even if it's not for long, it's still more studying than they might've been doing otherwise, right? It's a nice change of pace for a lot of them, too." Gives some of the students a chance to meet with people they might not usually. "And it's like I said before, I bet having you around will encourage even better behavior."
The tension in the air could be sliced with even a dull blade, so thick that Rayne could feel it weighing down on his chest. How annoying. His gaze isn't as harsh as it could be, even as his eyes narrow, his chin tilts up, and he looks out on a small group of students nearby, who seemed to be chatting about something nonsensical, obvious only by the way one of them had their phone out, showing the other two some picture.
"Right." Rayne agrees lightly, with a side-eye towards Cater. He doesn't believe those words. People were scared of him, not encouraged. That was what he aimed for, sure, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt. "Well. Good work." With that, Rayne seems like he's done with this 'conversation'. Where did he have that he could go? It doesn't seem like he has a plan, even as he begins to step away from Cater.
There it is, that cold shoulder, refusing to continue acknowledging his existence at all, as if they hadn't even begun to move past it.
Cater feels a stab of something unpleasant inside of him, when Rayne moves to walk away, when he won't even look at him. It was almost like they'd started over completely, or maybe this was even worse. To be completely shunted was a whole new level, compared to just being regarded with derision. He doesn't want to watch Rayne walk away, so before he can talk himself out of it, Cater decides to try just one more time.
"Hey, thanks!" He sidesteps in the direction Rayne has turned before he can get too far. "You said you don't eat snacks, but try some out, okay? I made sure there was a little bit of everything--if you find one you like, I'll make sure we have some for our next study sesh."
Had Rayne not been clear with Cater? Were all his looks, all his actions, for nothing? The glares, the cold attitude, the refusal to so much as look Cater in the eye, the pain that he inflicted on him for something as simple as a kiss that he enabled. The other teen steps to stop him, to keep him there for even a moment longer. Rayne knew better than to let this continue like this, if Cater wasn’t going to get the hint.
Rayne reaches out, his hand grasping onto the collar of Cater’s shirt, pulling him in so Rayne could look down on him. “Stop trying to be so friendly with me. We aren’t friends. We never will be friends. Get it through your head, Cater.” Rayne states, tone snappy, short. “I’m only helping you out of obligation. Not because I care about you.” Cater’s shirt is released then, and, again, he moves to get away from this conversation, from Cater as a whole.
When Rayne grabs him, Cater's smile falls. It was even too much for him to romanticize the moment, to think that Rayne was pulling him in for something like another kiss. No, the energy was all off, and there were people staring to stare at them. He's frozen as Rayne makes himself perfectly clear, and all he can do is murmur a weak, "Okay, man, I hear you," as he's let go.
He can feel every whisper like it's inside of his head. They're not judging him, of course, but Rayne. How he can be so unkind to someone who goes out of his way to be so friendly. But Cater knows better--knows how worthless his friendship really is. Rayne had the right idea about him. He was better off cast aside.
Whirling around, Cater's all smiles again as he approaches another group of students and begins to make conversation. See? Everything was fine! He goes into full host mode, flitting from table to table, encouraging laughter and educational games to help with studying everywhere he went.
But none of it mattered, because he found himself stealing glances at Rayne every time he caught the guy in his peripheral.
There were a couple ways he could fix this problem, but only one he could act on in the current setting. He sidles up to a classmate that's flirted with him in the past, talking him up until he finds a good opening, leans in to whisper something. The boy in question perks up with a flushed face and nods, and when Cater slips away from the crowd toward a door out of the common area, he's hot on his heels. Not as subtle as Cater would like, but it would have to do.
The other teen is already grabbing at him the second they're outside, but Cater giggles and makes him wait long enough to duck into a more secluded hallway. Only then does he fully consent, letting the kid put his hands all over him. Cater barely had to do anything but hold on, the way things were going.
Each whisper presses into his chest, settling in. Rayne knew in an instant he'd caused a scene. He'd shown the students here what they feared - that Rayne wasn't to be messed with, wasn't someone to get close to, even by someone who was so friendly, so kind to everyone around him. If Rayne could treat someone like Cater so harshly, what was stopping him from treating others worse?
Casting Cater aside hurt his chest in a way he couldn't understand. Was it all the stares, all the eyes on him, that made him feel so small, as if he stuck out among every other person here?
Without a second thought, Rayne forces himself to move to find a spot to set himself up at. His jaw is so tight it hurts, his teeth grinding down against each other. The only student who really actively approaches him at one point is Max, checking in and making sure that everything was okay. Obviously not, but Rayne doesn't say anything, just waves him off until the next time that Max approaches, this time with a few students who had questions that he knew Rayne would be able to answer.
His roommate was far kinder than him, far more able to socialize and help people get what they needed. Even as the questions are answered by Rayne, advice offered, his eyes weren't focused on any of the students around him, or the notes in front of him. No, his eyes had picked up a situation that he didn't like. Something that stung almost more than anything else he was inflicting on the two of them.
In a second, Rayne is excusing himself, leaving Max to help their underclassmen, as he slips out of the party, trailing along down the halls. Silent footsteps, an anger that felt so unnatural, unable to be placed on any logical level-- what was he even thinking, right now? Was he?
A familiar spell is cast, the mage not needing to so much as murmur the words for it to pass. Several swords appear, throwing the boy off of Cater. There's no mercy with how the blades shove him, bat at him. Only then would the mage who cast the spell be visible - not that it was any surprise, given that was his signature. Rayne looked pissed, as his fist ends up colliding with that boy's face, sending him to the ground. He slams his foot down onto the teen, heel first.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" Rayne's fully focused on the poor boy who'd mere moments before been victim to his spell. His swords were more forceful than stab-heavy, though it's clear the teen was bleeding from cuts and scrapes that were already forming, questioning in sputtering words what he'd done to evoke such a response from Rayne. "Don't touch him." Rayne kicks him again, even harder this time, directly to his ribs, causing the boy to cry out in pain.
"He's mine."
The two words are spoken as Rayne shoves the boy onto his back using his foot, pressing his heel down against the boy's chest to hold him down. He's clearly not going to stop anytime soon - another stomp against the boy, and not a single glance towards Cater.
Cater was nearly at a point where he could turn his brain off, even if he was imagining the lips on his skin belonged to someone else. And then he's cold--the body wrapped around him thrown off, and his eyes snap open to see Rayne hovering over them. Not that he's standing still for more than a second before he's taking out his aggression on the poor boy Cater had seduced.
But for what? Why? That Rayne cared at all was baffling, but those two little words made Cater feel like he was reeling. For too long, he stands flush against the wall, wide-eyed and frozen. He watches the gruesome scene unfold in front of him without comprehension, trying to get a gauge of what Rayne was thinking, but how could he when he didn't spare him as much as a single look?
Finally, a broken whimper of pain jolts Cater from his own mind and he rushes to action, grabbing Rayne by the arm with both hands. If needed, he'll summon doubles to help him restrain the rampaging teen, but for now he's just acting on instinct.
Where did all this anger come from? Why was it directed at this kid-- at this person that was all over Cater seconds before. His breathing is even, far more even than when he wasn't being violent against someone. It's in moments like these, filled with rage and anger, that he felt at his calmest, listening to the instincts of his body.
The hands around his arm don't quite stall him, another kick being sent against the boy, before those pleas reach Rayne's ears. Cater's voice, begging him to stop. His foot stills, resting against his chest, eyes focused down on the labored breathing under the pressure.
Had the lesson sunk in, then?
Wrenching his arm from Cater's hold, Rayne finally looks to him.
"I know when to stop." Rayne snaps, though he's sure given enough time he could recall how many slip ups he'd made before, where he'd gone way too far, where he'd nearly killed another student.
His shoe is lifted up from the boy, whose arm is grabbed harshly. Tugged to his feet, Rayne drags the boy's arm over his own shoulders, his arm slipping around his waist.
"... Help me get him to the infirmary." He might be the one who injured him so thoroughly, but it's... still his responsibility.
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splitmemory2024-05-20 12:26 am
Bait with Carrots
But there was just one nut he couldn't seem to crack. If it had been any other student, maybe Cater would've let it be. But this was the Adler prefect--he had no choice but to put in the extra work. Besides, something about that steely glare of his just kept the redhead's attention. He often found his gaze wandering toward the stoic teenager when he was spacing out in their shared classes. Oh, Rayne Ames, he would figure out what it was that made you tick.
At least it was easy to get the guy alone--it seemed he was one of the very few people who were willing to approach him on a whim, who didn't rethink the choice to do so when fixed with that derisive stare. As has become almost a ritual, Cater trails after Rayne once their last class for the day is dismissed. The guy always had a rebuff ready, but that didn't deter Cater in the slightest.
"Heya! Whatcha doin, tonight? There's this mega cute place in town I was thinking about checking out. Wanna come with?"
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Cater Diamond was such a strange person. A third year that basically slipped into place among the rest of the students, accepting his role as an upperclassman, doing his best to help out the younger students where he could. As if he'd been here for as long as any of the other third years had. Rayne's eye was on him, of course. He didn't trust a suspicious transfer this time of year. Maybe that's why he was placed within Adler-- could it be that the Headmaster knew he'd keep an eye on him?
That voice can be heard behind him, right on time, as Rayne holds his bag down by his side, his stride not slowing even as Cater trails behind. Even as he speaks up, trying to get him to go somewhere with him again. When would he tire of it?
"Studying." A brief glance over his shoulder - that's all you'll get, Cater. "As you should be doing. Do you really have time to be slacking off?" Rayne states. Even if he keeps moving, he doesn't stop Cater from following him. He hadn't before and wasn't going to start. Or, didn't seem to be about to.
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Laughing lightly, Cater picks up his pace until he's reached Rayne's shoulder, matching his formidable pace with a bouncing one. As always, he has that unflappable grin on his face.
"I'm not going for Divine Visionary or anything, so I don't need to study too hard. I'll have plenty of time to hit the books, later." Saying this, Cater's green eyes shoot up and down Rayne's body, as if trying to determine just how much stress must be wound up beneath those robes. "Don't you ever take a break, yourself?"
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If he tried, he had the potential to be a powerful mage. Maybe. Not that Cater seemed to be the type to put in even a little effort.
"That's obvious." He replies, regarding the Divine Visionary comment. Maybe a little too fast-- sorry Cater.
The stress wound up within Rayne's body was immeasurable, both in the way it's hidden under his uniform and robes, and the very way he kept it under wraps. "Don't you ever stop bothering people when they're clearly busy?" Rayne throws the question right back at Cater, twisting the words until they're sharp like a dagger to drive directly in his chest. "I do take breaks." Rarely, but he considered taking care of his dear rabbits as good a break as any.
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And then that smile's back, like it never left, and Cater laughs again. "But you're not busy. You're just walking!"
And anyway, he wasn't going to count "studying" as busy, when he was sure that Rayne just sat alone reading. It so wasn't plans.
"Hey, here's an idea: we could have a study party! Make it, like, supes fun! We can have snacks and come up with learning games, and help each other on the subjects we're weakest on."
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"Walking can still be considered busy." Rayne retorts, his brows furrowing in clear annoyance, the only emotion he ever really showed. Congratulations Cater, that's another day in a row you've been able to elicit that emotion!
A study party, though... it sounds like something the Orca dorm would do.
"If you want to organize that within Adler, go ahead. You'll be able to find plenty of third years willing to join you." Rayne seems to be thinking Cater meant this as a big event type thing, not as something for just the two of them.
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He's not so silly as to think that Rayne planned on being there at all, but Cater's not going to give up so easily. They're making momentum, here!
"What kind of snacks do you like? I'll make sure to get your faves!"
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"No." Rayne replies, his brows furrowing further, his head turning to finally look to Cater, "What did I say that would suggest I'd be there?"
Still, it almost did sound like something he should be at, as prefect-- gods dammit, Cater was about to catch him within a trap, wasn't he?
"I don't eat snacks." Who doesn't eat snacks???
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Maybe he was smart enough, where it counted. At the very least, he was clever. It showed in the way he seemed to get just what he wanted from people. In the way that someone so new to the school was so confident he'd be able to rally together such an impressive study session.
Would it maybe lean more toward a party than studying? That depended.
"I'm sure you'd be a very motivating presence. So, I'll pick up a little bit of everything. You'll find something you like."
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“Fine.”
The single word is spat out towards Cater, as his face turns back away. The library was just ahead, all he’d need to do was slip inside and Cater would leave him alone, yes? Surely someone who didn’t want to spend time studying wouldn’t willingly go sit in the library.
“There will be rules. No alcohol for one. Studying needs to be done with a clear mind. Another would be that studying does actually need to happen. It cannot just be an excuse for a party. If it ends up that way, or if I find out it was planned that way from the start — I will have to deal with you.”
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"Yay! You got it, boss!" Even Cater Diamond wasn't so bold as to drink on campus, so that wouldn't be a problem. Still, he can't guarantee that it'll actually be a studying-heavy party, even if he tires to emphasize it. When you get a bunch of teens in a room together without adult supervision, who knew what could happen. Like he said, though, Rayne's presence was sure to discourage rowdiness.
"Deal with me, huh?"
He doesn't at all sound threatened, even though he clearly should. Pulling out his wand, Cater whips out his signature spell: Spliteus. At once, three other Caters appear and the original gives them their brief assignments. They all head off in different directions, ready to get the party planning underway. By then, they've reached the library.
And Cater's still hot on Rayne's heels, following him inside.
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Cater's signature spell wasn't one that he was unaware of, but watching it cast was another story. Rayne eyes his wand, watching the three different Caters form and be given their assignments, even as the two of them walk to their destination.
"Yes, deal with you." What did he not understand? Rayne lifts his chin, looking down on Cater despite their similar heights.
Heading into the library, Rayne seems to be set on finding a table. Upon spotting a free one, he moves to set his bag down atop the table, beginning to pull out the material he was going to be working on studying, along with some of the papers he was doing for work related things--
"Are you not going to head out to that place you wanted to check out?" Rayne asks, his eyes narrowed, "I thought you were going." Take the hint, Cater. Leave him alone.
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"It'd be more fun to go with a friend. It'll still be there tomorrow." Oh, he has taken the hint and simply chosen to ignore it. "Besides, a certain someone pointed out that I should spend more time studying. I'm feeling inspired."
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No Sudden Movements
No matter how much his insides ache and he can't stop thinking about the other boy, Cater does his best to keep up his smiling mask, socializing with other classmates and cracking jokes like nothing was wrong. It was a good thing he had that stupid study party to see through. At this point, Cater wanted nothing to do with it--after all, it had been a ploy to get Rayne to hang out with him. Still, he had to see it through, now. Too many people had been invited and were excited for it. He takes it for what it is: a distraction. Planning it keeps his mind off of Rayne as much as it can be expected to, which still isn't enough.
When the day of the party arrives, in question, Cater and his Splits are setting up stations of snacks with different subjects of study. Students are trickling in and starting to mingle, and he can't help wondering--would Rayne even show up? Certainly not, right?
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His glares were received as they should be, when he offers that very same glare to Cater, to warn him to stay away. He couldn't be more glad - and ache horribly, all at the same time. Everytime he noticed Cater laughing or socializing with their classmates, as if nothing was the matter, it cemented the very idea he'd begun to build up in his mind: as long as he separates himself, keeps anything else from happening between the two of them, then everything would be fine. Would go back to normal.
The day of that stupid study party arrived.
Students began to show up, and...
With one third year, Max Land, another boy was brought along. Rayne Ames, with his bag in hand, prepared to be a good example. After what'd happened, maybe Cater expected him to avoid this whole event.... but he still had to show up, for appearances sake. Almost immediately, Max wanders off to go talk to another student within the dorm, leaving Rayne standing there alone.
Yellow eyes were narrowed as he looks around at the setup that Cater had done, as if inspecting his work. Had Adler ever even done anything like this? Set up a space for all of the students to work together?
... Why was he even here? It wasn't like any of the other students would actually want to work with him. With a sigh, Rayne wanders, looking at each station and the snacks that've been set out, pretending he couldn't hear the occasional whisper from the other students. No one-- really, no one-- expected him to show up, did they?
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But then Max leaves Rayne to flounder there, and Cater can't just let the guy be a wallflower. He doesn't like seeing everyone avoid him, even if Rayne didn't seem to mind being avoided or even wanted to be avoided. He didn't want to avoid Rayne, no matter what had happened. What really worried him was how Rayne would react if he approached. Well, damn it, here went nothing.
"Not half bad, right? Nothing rowdy." At least not yet. Cater smiles at Rayne as he swings over, practiced in his friendliness. "A few people might actually get some studying done."
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He's impressed with it. For the moment.
Looking to Cater - was this the first time he'd fully looked at Cater after their day out together? - Rayne his gaze from one of the nearby designated study areas to focus on him. "Efficient," Is the first word out of his mouth, "The way you have it set up." A compliment. That has to count for something.
"I've doubts that anyone will study for long." Was it so bad if students had fun for a while, though? ... Yes, they shouldn't be goofing off... but, for the moment, Rayne had to force that down. Max had good points when he'd mentioned that it could be good for morale and all. Plus, Cater put so much work into this.
... Not that Rayne could look at him after that last comment of his, turning his gaze away from Cater completely.
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"Hey, even if it's not for long, it's still more studying than they might've been doing otherwise, right? It's a nice change of pace for a lot of them, too." Gives some of the students a chance to meet with people they might not usually. "And it's like I said before, I bet having you around will encourage even better behavior."
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"Right." Rayne agrees lightly, with a side-eye towards Cater. He doesn't believe those words. People were scared of him, not encouraged. That was what he aimed for, sure, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt. "Well. Good work." With that, Rayne seems like he's done with this 'conversation'. Where did he have that he could go? It doesn't seem like he has a plan, even as he begins to step away from Cater.
There it is, that cold shoulder, refusing to continue acknowledging his existence at all, as if they hadn't even begun to move past it.
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"Hey, thanks!" He sidesteps in the direction Rayne has turned before he can get too far. "You said you don't eat snacks, but try some out, okay? I made sure there was a little bit of everything--if you find one you like, I'll make sure we have some for our next study sesh."
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Rayne reaches out, his hand grasping onto the collar of Cater’s shirt, pulling him in so Rayne could look down on him. “Stop trying to be so friendly with me. We aren’t friends. We never will be friends. Get it through your head, Cater.” Rayne states, tone snappy, short. “I’m only helping you out of obligation. Not because I care about you.” Cater’s shirt is released then, and, again, he moves to get away from this conversation, from Cater as a whole.
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He can feel every whisper like it's inside of his head. They're not judging him, of course, but Rayne. How he can be so unkind to someone who goes out of his way to be so friendly. But Cater knows better--knows how worthless his friendship really is. Rayne had the right idea about him. He was better off cast aside.
Whirling around, Cater's all smiles again as he approaches another group of students and begins to make conversation. See? Everything was fine! He goes into full host mode, flitting from table to table, encouraging laughter and educational games to help with studying everywhere he went.
But none of it mattered, because he found himself stealing glances at Rayne every time he caught the guy in his peripheral.
There were a couple ways he could fix this problem, but only one he could act on in the current setting. He sidles up to a classmate that's flirted with him in the past, talking him up until he finds a good opening, leans in to whisper something. The boy in question perks up with a flushed face and nods, and when Cater slips away from the crowd toward a door out of the common area, he's hot on his heels. Not as subtle as Cater would like, but it would have to do.
The other teen is already grabbing at him the second they're outside, but Cater giggles and makes him wait long enough to duck into a more secluded hallway. Only then does he fully consent, letting the kid put his hands all over him. Cater barely had to do anything but hold on, the way things were going.
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Casting Cater aside hurt his chest in a way he couldn't understand. Was it all the stares, all the eyes on him, that made him feel so small, as if he stuck out among every other person here?
Without a second thought, Rayne forces himself to move to find a spot to set himself up at. His jaw is so tight it hurts, his teeth grinding down against each other. The only student who really actively approaches him at one point is Max, checking in and making sure that everything was okay. Obviously not, but Rayne doesn't say anything, just waves him off until the next time that Max approaches, this time with a few students who had questions that he knew Rayne would be able to answer.
His roommate was far kinder than him, far more able to socialize and help people get what they needed. Even as the questions are answered by Rayne, advice offered, his eyes weren't focused on any of the students around him, or the notes in front of him. No, his eyes had picked up a situation that he didn't like. Something that stung almost more than anything else he was inflicting on the two of them.
In a second, Rayne is excusing himself, leaving Max to help their underclassmen, as he slips out of the party, trailing along down the halls. Silent footsteps, an anger that felt so unnatural, unable to be placed on any logical level-- what was he even thinking, right now? Was he?
A familiar spell is cast, the mage not needing to so much as murmur the words for it to pass. Several swords appear, throwing the boy off of Cater. There's no mercy with how the blades shove him, bat at him. Only then would the mage who cast the spell be visible - not that it was any surprise, given that was his signature. Rayne looked pissed, as his fist ends up colliding with that boy's face, sending him to the ground. He slams his foot down onto the teen, heel first.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" Rayne's fully focused on the poor boy who'd mere moments before been victim to his spell. His swords were more forceful than stab-heavy, though it's clear the teen was bleeding from cuts and scrapes that were already forming, questioning in sputtering words what he'd done to evoke such a response from Rayne. "Don't touch him." Rayne kicks him again, even harder this time, directly to his ribs, causing the boy to cry out in pain.
"He's mine."
The two words are spoken as Rayne shoves the boy onto his back using his foot, pressing his heel down against the boy's chest to hold him down. He's clearly not going to stop anytime soon - another stomp against the boy, and not a single glance towards Cater.
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But for what? Why? That Rayne cared at all was baffling, but those two little words made Cater feel like he was reeling. For too long, he stands flush against the wall, wide-eyed and frozen. He watches the gruesome scene unfold in front of him without comprehension, trying to get a gauge of what Rayne was thinking, but how could he when he didn't spare him as much as a single look?
Finally, a broken whimper of pain jolts Cater from his own mind and he rushes to action, grabbing Rayne by the arm with both hands. If needed, he'll summon doubles to help him restrain the rampaging teen, but for now he's just acting on instinct.
"Stop it, you're killing him!"
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The hands around his arm don't quite stall him, another kick being sent against the boy, before those pleas reach Rayne's ears. Cater's voice, begging him to stop. His foot stills, resting against his chest, eyes focused down on the labored breathing under the pressure.
Had the lesson sunk in, then?
Wrenching his arm from Cater's hold, Rayne finally looks to him.
"I know when to stop." Rayne snaps, though he's sure given enough time he could recall how many slip ups he'd made before, where he'd gone way too far, where he'd nearly killed another student.
His shoe is lifted up from the boy, whose arm is grabbed harshly. Tugged to his feet, Rayne drags the boy's arm over his own shoulders, his arm slipping around his waist.
"... Help me get him to the infirmary." He might be the one who injured him so thoroughly, but it's... still his responsibility.
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