Books books book... (Open RP in, yes, the library)

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

With the knowledge that L is willing to pay for any computer equipment he might need (which is a relief - he hadn't been looking forward to attempting to get his hands on someone's credit card while shopping with the world's greatest detective), Matt had gone to Hogsmeade and used the last of his money to purchase a wand.

Now he needs to find out what to do with it.

So, he's heading for the library. What he understands of wizarding culture suggests there isn't going to be much on cybermagic, but Matt isn't against figuring out things on his own.

Comments

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"So you'll be practicing magic as well, good... what sorts of spells are you looking to learn?"

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure. There's probably something I can adapt to use with the sort of thing I already do, hacking and stuff, but if it makes it too easy I'd rather..."

Deep breath.

"Near. Uh." He pauses, nearly backing out, but he can't exactly say 'nothing' and keep talking about magic. "Look, I... I slept with Mello."

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

It's tempting, suddenly, to make a scene. To blow up the way he was too insecure to have done at Matt.

If he was a naturally demonstrative person, he might have done just that.

Luckily for Matt, he isn't.

"Mello told me." His tone became a bit sharper. "Does this mean you'll be even more insistent that we're 'a bad idea'?"

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"No. I stand by what I said, but..." He's not stupid enough to not suspect his motives any more. A shrug. "You got there first. That's the way it works, right?" He grins, a little lopsidedly. "You should be used to that, at least. And it won't happen again."

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"You make it sound as if I'd competed with you for him," Near said softly. "Or at any rate, that I'd done so consciously. If it helps, I did not set out to pursue Mello, and I'm fairly sure he was not expecting to make the advances upon me that he did." A fairly charitable way of describing the hopefully-temporary insanity of their first encounter.

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

He shrugs again, hiding his lower face with his collar. "Can't have been a competition if neither of us knew. But still. I should apologise."

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

It takes a moment for Near to know how to react to that.

"I appreciate that," he says finally. "I wasn't sure if you'd..."

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"If I'd what?"

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"Try and, well. Take him. It's not as if it would be a contest. It's always been 'Matt and Mello'."

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

Matt doesn't particularly want to point out which of them has been the driving force behind most of Mello's decisions. "I don't hate you, Near," he says quietly instead. "And I think it would be pretty difficult to take Mello from something he wants." Or someone.

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

Did Matt really not see it?

"That was what I meant, actually. It's not hard to figure out what he really wants. I'll avoid making comments about squeaky wheels and grease, however, as they'd be crass in this context." He sighed.

"I always envied him, you know." It was scarcely above a whisper. "For having a friend."

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"What he really wants is to be number one. Since you're currently number one, and you're in a relationship with him..." Matt trails off. He's not trying to start an argument, and he's already explained his stance on the matter.

"... I thought that you were like that by choice. People did try, you know."

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"Conquest by sex? A bit crude, but doubtless a factor. To start with, at least." Near wound a lock of hair tightly around his forefinger.

"No, I... people tend. Tended? To make me uneasy. Getting close to someone never seemed safe." It still doesn't. "I always let myself believe that wanting that sort of closeness was overemotional, a weakness."

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"That's not quite... Look, anyway, I apologise. It's not going to happen again. I told him I'd deal with it, and I'll deal with it."

He wonders if the library is non-smoking. He could really do with one.

"Do you still think that?"

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"All right. All right." There's no point in trying to make himself clearer. Matt has decided what his viewpoint is... and it's one that isn't a threat.

As long as he doesn't change his mind.

"I'm not sure. It's entirely possible for it to be a weakness for some things and a strength for others. I can certainly no longer deny my need for emotional contact."

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

Matt nods. "It can definitely be a strength. And I don't think anyone does well without some kind of emotional contact." Instead of getting a cigarette, he pulls out his new wand instead, rolling it between his palms. "I was thinking about it yesterday. I pretty much consider you a friend, you know."

He figures Near might be the sort of person who needs to be told things like this.

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

Near glances at Matt's wand with mild curiousity; it's not as similar in appearance to his own as he'd have thought. Also, it gives him time to formulate a reply.

"I... you do? I didn't think you did."

Or at least, to try to.

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Sort of - a weird kind of friendship, but we're kind of people. I gave you a loan of my DS," he points out.

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"People." Near can't hold back a twisted grin at that. "I suppose we still are, despite all the attempts to make us develop into perfect little computers."

He knows that's not what Matt meant, of course. But still.

"And thank you... I do feel a bit bad, though, that I've been too distracted to play with it."

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"I think I failed pretty well at becoming a computer," Matt agrees. "Although there are probably computers that get out more. And don't worry about it, I've got a PS2 - just don't break it. I might cry."

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

Near would be a computer if the idea of breaking it in retaliation didn't at least cross his mind, but it's not something he gives any serious thought.

"No, it's in no danger. I've just been giving this my attention instead." He pulls out his own wand, slimmer and just a trifle longer than Matt's. "Some of those charms require a good deal of practice."

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"It does look kinda cool - being able to float stuff, all of that. And it'd be a pretty useful tool to have under your belt."

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"I've been working on other charms too, that's just one of the most obvious. It's not terribly difficult, just a matter of concentration."

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"What kind of charms?" Knowing Near, he'd have zoomed right in on the most useful ones. "Recommend me some? Or some books on it?"

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"Ryuzaki has some of the books I started out with, unless he's brought them back to the library. I started basic, of course. Levitation, making a solid surface in the air... I know it looks like levitation, but the charm I used to balance cards mid-air is quite different... the closing a door and locking it from across the room you saw, a charm for the parchment for our survey..."