pure morning ((lien))

Term had barely started, and Lazar found himself coping with all sorts of weird emotions and sensations. Was this what being a fifth year was like?! In the corridors, there was a great struggle to compose himself. Pretty girls every few kilometers from him. Some nice-looking guys too. Many girls though. Paying attention in classes had become its own task; it was a lot easier to do his work when the professor wasn't an attractive 20 or 30-something year old woman. Agh! What was he thinking? Right on his lap was a paper for History of Magic due tomorrow, yet there he was thinking about women. He needed to get his head in the game!

"I-I'll get a girlfriend before MacKenna..."

It had become a muttering mantra after ten or so minutes of pondering. "I-I'm better than MacKenna. I hate him and his snack stealing!"

So much teen angst! He'd look crazed if there was someone in his company.

@Lien Chang

Lien was sitting in the common room doing some reading. Although he favoured the library for its quietness policy, the Ravenclaws were usually considerate when it came to study time. While he was studying bubble head charms, he thought of testing it out in the lake sometime - or perhaps the swimming pool. Ah - the swimming pool. Where he and Alayna had--

He needed to concentrate. Girls were more distracting than he'd thought. Someone else sitting in the common room was sharing his thoughts, unbeknownst to him, but they made themselves apparent when they started muttering to themselves.

He looked over at him. A boy a few years below. What was he talking about? MacKenna?

"MacKenna?" He couldn't help but speak up. "Why are you comparing yourself to someone like MacKenna? He's a brute."

@Lazar Tremlett

Who was that?! Briefly jumping from his seat, Lazar glanced around until he realized it was just Lien. Oh good, it was someone less slimey than MacKenna and his pack of lions!

"He always acts as if I'm not a man because I'm more sensitive than he is!" Lazar crossed his arms as his glasses began sliding off his face. That was so annoying! "He and his friends think I'm a loser... I'm not a loser!"

@Lien Chang

He thought about the times people had called him a loser. He acted like it didn't bother him. It was astounding listening to this boy coming clean about how he felt, admitting to sensitivity, saying exactly how it felt. When he heard it, he realised why he didn't admit to it. It sounded pathetic.

"Does it really matter to you what he thinks, or what his friends think?"

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"If you really are sensitive, then it isn't something you should admit to. It only makes you seem weaker."

@Lazar Tremlett

He nodded. Of course it mattered! In Hogwarts, you either eat or get eaten! Lazar didn't want to be eaten; there was a lot to live for! Well, he knew it was metaphorical, but that's how it felt!

"B-but my mum said that it's important for men to express how they feel..."

Lazar knew his mother meant well, but what if she was wrong???? Ahhhh! This was all so confusing to his brain!

@Lien Chang

"Don't listen to your Mother when it comes to that," he chortled, "I'm sure she means well, but she can't entirely comprehend what a boy goes through at school, can she?"

He put down his quill and sighed.

"I'm sure you don't want to be like MacKenna? So dismiss everything that he says. You are above it. Being in Ravenclaw house is reason enough for that."

@Lazar Tremlett

"N-no, she can't..." Lazar looked down shaking his head. How much advice could he get from his dad? He was frequently busy touring with Weird Sisters all over Britain and rest of the world. "My dad was cooler than me... He tours the world!" While he was stuck being a loser, his father was part of a legendary band forming around his age. Genetics, aye?

"I can't help how upset I get when he and his cronies laugh at me whenever I do anything!"

@Lien Chang

"Who cares?"

He sounded exasperated.

"They're just idiots."

Perhaps it was easier for him that they were younger, and seemed more frivolous.

"Your Father tours the world?" What was he talking about?

@Lazar Tremlett

"I do..."

Lazar frowned feeling ashamed for being so emotional. Most guys in his house and classes weren't like that, so why was he? This was frustrating!

'Y-yeah. He's the bassist for the Weird Sisters. He often sends me postcards and souvenirs..."

@Lien Chang

He folded his arms across his chest, and looked away from him.

"Well why are you so reserved, then? You have merit. Or, at least, your Dad does. Just play on that. Isn't that what matters the most in this school anyway?"

He spoke acidly, although he regretted saying anything. There was someone more pathetic than he was, and he should be trying to keep them in that place.

@Lazar Tremlett

"I-it's just how I am," Lazar admitted fidgeting aimlessly. "I don't know how my dad is so cool while I'm just..." He waved his arms all around himself.

"My classmates think I'm lying about it! Can't get it through to them..."

@Lien Chang

“Don’t you have any family photos?” he asked, surprised that he didn’t have any at Hogwarts. Or perhaps he just hadn’t thought of that?

@Lazar Tremlett

"Y-yes, but I thought having the same last name would be enough..."

With his father being muggleborn, it was a logical conclusion.

@Lien Chang