Overdue Chat (Rhian and JC)

In the warmth of the late summer evening, the only sound above the wind was the scratching of Rhian's quill against parchment. At this point, she wondered if Conner would ever get sick of her consistent letters. She was writing practically every day, needing to use school owls off and on, so as not to wear Coal out. The young owl was a strong one, but wherever Unseen was, it wasn't an easy flight, day in and day out. Still...she just couldn't not write.

Her arms were hurting, as she propped herself up on her elbows, laid out on her stomach on the bench to write. She heard a few drifting voices on the wind, and sat up to look over the rail. At this time of night, there really shouldn't be anyone out. Hell, she was probably going to be in trouble herself, if someone found her up here. Thinking better of investigating, she pulled back from view, content, instead, to stare up at the stars.

The moon was out tonight, almost full but not quite. She couldn't help but wonder if Tess was awake. Their...truce, if that's what it could be called, was tentative at best. Honestly, she wasn't sure where they stood now. And, while it wasn't great, she had to believe it was better than where they'd been before school started.

It felt like her world was drifting away, leaving her more alone than she'd been in a while. Maybe this was what growing up felt like. What being an adult was all about. Learning to be alone.

In an effort to her Jeremy off of his back and get more freedom in his final year of school, Jacoby had agreed to write his father periodic letters to check in with him. It was a hassle, but it was better than having to be on edge about whether or not he was being watched/ Which found him walking up to the Astronomy Tower to send the owl off to deliver his letter. It was late and he expected to be alone up here so he settled for wearing the most comfortable clothes he owned, a sleeveless shirt and basketball shorts. It was so close to curfew that he sincerely doubted anyone else would be wandering around. He'd probably even hang out up here for awhile and enjoy the stars for a bit before trekking back to the dungeons. "I can not wait to graduate and stop living in the bloody basement," he thought aloud as he opened the door at the top of the tower to step out into the open terrace.

In the moments before opening the door he felt a warmth radiating in his gut that he hadn't felt in nearly two years. He couldn't place what the feeling was but as the warmth enveloped him it brought a smile to his face. He felt warm and content despite the draft in the castle and being barely dressed. It wasn't until he stepped out onto the terrace and caught sight of the girl standing there writing a letter that he remembered where the feeling came from. It was the same sensation he got whenever he'd first met Rhian. Since that first time they talked Jacoby hadn't gotten the chance to speak to her, though he had oh so much he wanted to talk to her about. But now that she was right here in front of him he wondered if he could do it. Could he really shatter the world view of this girl that had already lost so much.

Clearing his throat to alert her to his presence as to not surprise her, Jacoby walked forward trademark grin on his face. "Beautiful night isn't it?" He stood besides her and held out his arm letting the owl take off into the night sky to deliver his letter to his father. Jeremy... Jacoby thought wondering if the man would be upset if Rhian was made aware of her true parentage. He obviously knew, afterall Jacoby had found the paperwork in his office from the private investigation results. There had to be a reason he hadn't told her. Though despite his reasoning she deserved to know the truth. Deserved to know she had a big brother.\

"What brings you up here so late at night?" he asked eventually his voice trembling just a bit in nervousness, a very un-JC like occurrence.

Just as Rhian was about to head down to her dorms, hoping for a deep sleep to escape these feelings, a strange sense of...almost home seemed to envelope her. It felt like snuggling by the fire, reading a good book, or the last meal in the Great Hall before everyone left for the winter holidays. Safe and comforting.

Strange, though, since the Gryffindor didn't quite know where that came from, all of a sudden. She didn't really have time to think on it though, as she heard the door to the tower opening. There was still enough time for her to reasonably get down to the dorms, so she wouldn't actually get in trouble for being up here. Figuring it was some lost first year, she didn't hustle to collect her things.

Turning, she caught sight of...Jacoby? JC, that's his name. It felt like forever since that day at the lake. She wouldn't consider him a friend, exactly, just because they really didn't know much about each other. She's had a class here and there with him since, but nothing of note.

Still, there was no reason not to be friendly. At his comment, she hummed in agreement. "It really is. I just couldn't pass it up." Fall was starting up, and the nights were getting more of a chill. This was probably the last warm one they were going to have for a while now.

At his question, she gestured down to her own paper, having seen his owl fly off with a letter. "My boyfriend's off at Unseen this year," her smile, while genuine, couldn't hide the bit of sadness there. She was proud of him, that he'd chosen to give it a shot, but it was still hard. It would be hard even if he wasn't in school, she had to remind herself.

"What about you?" her head tilted in the direction the owl went. Most people used the owlery, but some students had their owls in their room. "Guess there's not many windows in the Slytherin dorms," she smirked lightly.

The look of recognition caused a surge of relief through JC, he'd have been incredibly disheartened if the girl didn't recognize him. He resisted the urge to just hug the younger girl--reminding himself that she had no idea who he was past his name and the fact that he was a huge flirt. He thought back to their first meeting by the lake and laughed a little to himself remembering the expression on her face when she figured out he was gay.

While she talked about her reasoning for being up here, Jacoby made a low protective growling noise at the mention of her having a boyfriend. He bit it back though and held his composure continuing to smile at her. "Yeah I imagine being separated would hurt. You'll see him soon though right, winter holidays are coming up and then you graduate this year right?" He asked remembering that she had initially been a year under him before he had to repeat sixth year. "Though if you ask me relationships are overrated anyhow. You aren't gonna see this stud settling down anytime soon." He spoke with a playful smile on his face.

JC gave a dismissive shrug when Rhian asked what he was doing up here, "Oh just sending a letter to my father; he worries about me. Kind of an over protective git." Her following comment about the Slytherin dorms made him laugh and shake his head. "You're right there aren't. And sometimes it's nice to just get away and look up at the stars and get lost in the great expanse of the night sky." He almost made it through that sentence with a straight face, but even in his mind it sounded ridiculous and almost pompous when spoken aloud. He broke his gaze from the night sky and looked over at Rhian.

JC it's now or never just blurt it out tell her who you are try as he might the words just wouldn't come out of his mouth and he looked down at the ground before Rhian noticed him staring at her awkwardly.

The boy's reassuring words were a comfort to Rhian. She only just recently started talking with her best friend again, and she tried not to bring up her own relationship, in light of the other girls own issues at the moment. It was...nice, to be able to talk about it just a little.

"Yeah," she replied, a small smile on her face. "I'm actually trying to find a weekend to go and see him, if I can get caught up on work." It wasn't only her end, but from what Conner said, the Auror program was no joke, and he'd said something about possibly getting a job as well. A small part of her wondered if, maybe, she was just an unneeded distraction in all of this. It hurt, but she just needed to stay positive.

A laugh escaped her. If she thought about it, she couldn't remember seeing him with anyone in particular before, though she didn't pay much attention. He had definitely struck her as a flirt form the start, though she hadn't expected which direction he was aiming with his attentions. She'd been shocked, yes, but thinking of it now, with his comment just then, she had to wonder what it would be like for him. If it was harder or easier to find relationships if you were gay. Honestly, he was the first person she'd met in the situation.

Listening to him talk about his dad, she couldn't hold back a smirk. "Try having him as your Headmaster. Mine has an all access pass to my grades at any time, as well as the ability to find me, every hour of every day. I can't wait to graduate." She loved Mycroft, but it was wearing her thin, the fact that he was always here. Always present. He was a better dad than she'd ever had, though, even if he was young. And she knew he cared, which went a long way.

Again, she was laughing. It seemed the first time in a while that she felt free to do so. That was one of the reasons she wanted to get away and visit Conner. With all the classes and the studying, the stress and the constant need to do better, she felt like she was just struggling to keep above water. Not to mention the rekindling of her friendship with Tess, and of course the pressing need to figure out what she wanted to do with her life after here...

Pushing all of that away, trying to focus on the now, she noticed JC watching her, a strange look in his eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked, taking a seat back on the bench.

Hearing Rhian talk and get just a little bit of insight into her life filled JC with a weird sense of pride. She seemed like such a level headed girl which is trait that she must have gotten from her mother because Jacoby lacked it and even though he covered it up with with practiced patience JC could tell that their father was a bit temperamental as well. He was glad that he could bring a smile to her face and make her laugh. From what he could gather she'd been having a tough time lately, and it was his job to do what he could to ease her mind a little bit, even if she didn't know the truth. He gave a smile in return despite the knot growing and twisting in his stomach. She deserves to know a voice whispered in the back of his mind. Despite Jeremy not winning 'Dad of the year award' and he himself probably not being anyone's first choice for a big brother at the very least she should have the option to form a relationship with them if she wanted.

When asked what was wrong JC looked down and chewed on his lip nervously. "Rhian...if you know something about someone, like a huge deep dark family secret that would totally change their lives..." he paused a little bit so he could force himself to raise his eyes to meet hers. "Would you tell them? Or would you let them going on not knowing the truth and live happily?"

Rhian's brow furrowed as JC started hesitantly. She'd never been one for Divination, not feeling that she really had any special connection or sense. But soemthing about his words, innocent as they were, gave her a strange feeling of foreboding. Her mind flashed back to when she'd gotten picked for the Belladonna Quidditch team, at the end of her second year, back at Salem. As unlikely as the chances were, she somehow knew it would be her, right before they called her name for the next year's team.

As their eyes locked, and he asked his questions, the Gryffindor brought her legs up to sit cross-legged on the bench.

It should be an easy answer, really. She'd found that most people like to say that honesty is always the best policy in life, but now...she wasn't so sure. Her own past was riddled with half truths and big secrets. And as good as her intentions may have been, they always came around to haunt her. She'd almost lost the boy she loved because she was afraid to tell him what was happening in her life. Merlin knows what would have happened if she hadn't become sloppy at Tess's that summer, letting her see how far she'd fallen.

Her world would be very different if she'd told the truth.

Pursing her lips, she tried to figure out how to answer. "I think," she started slowly, "that most people want to hear whats easy. What will hurt less." That was true enough. Looking out at the full moon, her brow furrowed in thought. "I think that most people want to be good, basically. And they try to do the right thing for them. In this case...with telling something like that...it may be the best for the teller. But maybe not best for the one hearing it."

Did any of that make sense? Was she just babbling? Rhian honestly didn't know, but she was trying to be helpful. With that strange sense in the pit of her stomach, she looked back at JC, resolve set on her features.

"If it was me, though, I'd want to know." Her jaw was firm with the truth of it. "Life can't hurt you as much if you know more, right?"