Another Blank Space [Naomi]

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He watched her carefully, a stab of disappointment at the fact that she didn't seem disgusted or outraged by his comment. In truth, the only reason he said things like that were for the reactions they caused, finding humour in saying the most inappropriate possible things in the worst possible situation. He'd just have to try harder next time. At her words, he let out a scoff. "Right, my mistake. 'I don't stick around after' and 'I'm not the type to stay' are definitely unclear phrases."

With a roll of his eyes, he added, "Next time I'll just inform them I 'f--- and duck'. Would that be better?" He had never once pretended to be anything he wasn't to get some action. If he had to lie for that, it would defeat the purpose, and Corbin didn't like that sort of dishonesty. It ended with too many people hurt. Besides, he hated dealing with this sort of drama, and so he had always been remarkably blunt when it came to one night stands.

Perhaps some females just liked to think they were the ones to change him. Now that was an amusing idea.

He shrugged at her question. It wouldn't be fun if he gave away too much, but suffice to say it wasn't as easy a bargain as she thought it would be. Corbin was, after all, a Slytherin. He was going to make this as awkward as he possibly could for the witch; of course, there was no fun in one-sided games, and so his pledge of honesty would even out the playing field. It was time to see just how much spunk Naomi actually had.

Watching silently as she accepted the deal and the beer, he bit back a smirk. It was almost too easy. Her words made him chuckle, and he turned his head to regard her. "I wasn't expecting to be drinking them today," he replied. "I was saving them for a party this Friday. We were going to put them on actual ice; tastes better that way."

He let a few moments pass in silence. Then, hiding a smirk, he casually asked, "So, seeing anyone?"

Guest

"That's so crass!" Naomi told the boy with a shake of her head. Her brothers were crass - though not sexually in front of her - but the boy before her was almost worse. Almost. "However, perhaps the crassness will allow the idiotic girls to get it in their heads before they make the mistake of falling in love with you." Naomi added, showing that whilst she did think it crass, she wasn't opposed to his new idea, either.

"A party?" Naomi asked, because if she was going to have to be honest, and Corbin had offered the same in return, then she was going to get her fair share of questions in to. That, in her mind, was only fair, after all. "I do hope your party offers more than Butterbeer, though." She added, teasing a little bit, because Butterbeer was hardly the most alluring drink you could bring to a party.

Taking another sip of the lukewarm drink, Naomi allowed a few moments of pause before she answered Corbin's highly obvious question. Why did boy's think that was a good place to start? "No, I'm not seeing anyone." Naomi replied to the boy. She had her fair share of admirers, of course, Naomi was a pretty witch, and she was developing nicely in all the right places. But she was not as easy as so many of the witches in Hogwarts.

She wasn't, however, the kind of girl who believed in finding 'the one'. Naomi simply hadn't found a boy she thought worthy to try with just yet.

"You're not, obviously. Mr I-Can't-Commit." Naomi replied with a light chuckle. She was only playing with him, his commitment issues were his own to deal with, not hers.

Guest

His grin widened at her words. If she thought that was crass, she'd be in for a hard time if she stuck around for longer conversation. Corbin had a habit of speaking without filtering -- not that he couldn't, of course. He just didn't bother. It was always much more fun that way. Raising an eyebrow as she continued, he couldn't help but comment, "And here I thought you were friends with Audrey. She wouldn't appreciate being called idiotic, I'm sure."

Corbin had no actual intention of telling anyone -- he wasn't the type to aimlessly gossip, and blackmail like that was beneath him -- but there was no harm in teasing the witch before him just a little.

He shrugged one shoulder at her question. "Sorry, cool kids only," he said, the grin on his face giving away the fact he was teasing -- somewhat. "I'm in charge of alcohol, my dearest Slytherin; you can be assured that there will be way more than f---ing butterbeer." He paused to consider her, giving her a scrutinising look that had nothing to do with her appearance. "I'm also in charge of invites," he added. "So if you want something stronger than 'just butterbeer'..." He shrugged once more. "Impress me."

This last part was said in complete sincerity. Everybody who had gotten an invite had, at some point, not only convinced Corbin they were trustworthy enough to not squeal about the parties but proved they had something worthwhile to offer, be it in terms of entertainment, food, or just conversation. Only the funniest, wittiest, or interesting people ever attended, and the whole thing was always hush-hush to begin with.

It had started with just his friends, naturally, and somehow expanded to include others, and now it was a monthly inter-house affair, always in the Room of Requirement (inviting a few Ravenclaws had been a smart idea), and always carefully monitored. The last thing they needed was a snitch exposing them.

That was interesting information, and Corbin tucked it away should he need it at a later point of time. Single people were more than welcome to his party; those who were dating tended to want to bring their significant other even if said person wasn’t invited, and that was always messy. Besides, he was curious, never having understood the appeal of staying with someone for so long.

“Shame,” he replied, although his tone suggested he didn’t give a rat’s ass about it. He simply shrugged at her comment. “It gets boring, spending so much time with just one, when there are so many others begging for attention.”

Glancing over at her for but a moment, he turned his gaze away after a couple seconds, staring back at the open area in front of him, enjoying the feel of the forest. “What do you think about getting piss drunk?”

Guest

Naomi smiled at Corbin's words. Oh, he didn't understand the circle of girls that she was 'friends' with, apparently. Which was simply a cause for amusement. "Honestly, if you think idiotic is the worst thing I've ever called my friends, you underestimate me." Naomi told the boy. He could tell whomever he wanted that she'd said that, if he really wanted to, Naomi was not about to bat an eyelid over it.

As the boy continued on about how only cool people were invited - she got the joke, but still only just kept herself from rolling her eyes at his obnoxious ideas - and then about how he seemingly ran the show, Naomi didn't look remotely impressed. Just because he had figured it out did not mean she was about to start jumping around like a Circus animal to impress him. "You've been misguided, I'm afraid I'm not a dancing bear, or a performing monkey." Naomi told him, he hadn't hit a nerve, oh no, Naomi just wasn't going to play his games.

If he wanted her there - which she was assuming he possibly might, seeing as she had not suggested, or in anyway asked to be invited - then it would be because of how she acted in her own manner, nothing else.

The response of Corbin not being able to stick to one person made Naomi smile to herself. That was nothing new. How many boys liked to pretend they 'couldn't commit' so that they could have the pick of the bunch on a whim? It was a masculine thing, she was sure, too many boys scared of looking like wimps because they had found a girl they could see themselves with for a long time. All of this, though, Naomi didn't say. Instead - in a tone that was good natured, and not accusing, but some food for thought for Corbin - Naomi replied with. "I'm sure your mum is so proud of your for that."

Okay, that was probably a little bit feminist of her, but Naomi didn't really care. She found nothing impressive in that statement. Yes, it was probably fun for Corbin but... really? Do it, by all means, but being proud of it...

Corbin's next question was not really much better than his first, and Naomi was starting to get an idea of his 'personality'. Or, rather, the one he had outwardly at school. "I think... that if you need, as you call it, to get piss drunk to have fun. You can't be a very interesting person to socialise with. After all, if people drink so much they don't remember the events of the previous night..." Naomi trailed off. She did not need to elaborate on that more to get her point across.

Not that the witch was a prude, no, she would drink, but she'd like to remember the previous evening. Or, at least, currently, that was her idea of a good night.

Guest

Corbin couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her words. He didn't miss the emphasis she'd placed on the word, and mentally shook his head, holding back a sigh. This was why he didn't understand girls, and this was why he didn't particularly care to get into a long-term relationship -- they were so damn confusing. For Corbin -- and all his male friends -- they took friendship seriously. If they liked each other, they kept each other around; if they didn't, it was obvious.

Of course, there was the usual roughhousing and calling of names between them, but none of these things were ever said with seriousness -- and if anyone else tried, it wouldn't work in their benefit. Simply put, neither he nro his friends ever understood the phrase 'keep your friends close but your enemies closer'. No, he'd rather just hex his enemies and get the hell away from them as quickly as he could manage.

Chuckling at her statement, he shook his head. "And you have misunderstood. I wasn't indicating that you impress me with acts or performances." He shrugged. "I simply meant that you have to show that you have something to contribute." There was a lot more he could have said to clear it up, but Corbin wasn't in the mood to explain himself; he didn't want the girl thinking she had to break out into song or some equally merlin-forbid action, but that was about it.

Besides, seeing what she made of his sentence would tell him quite a bit about what she was like, and that in itself was a test of sorts.

The jab -- if that was what it was; Corbin was never sure what any female thought (or some males, for that matter) -- didn't affect him much, if at all. Instead, he let out a laugh. "My mother, the Slytherin metamorphmagus who used her abilities to sneak around the castle at night and get into places she otherwise wasn't allowed?" he asked, raising a single eyebrow as he glanced over at her. "As a matter of fact, yes, she is."

Well, that wasn't the exact truth, and Corbin only let a few seconds pass before grinning a little. "Well, perhaps 'proud' isn't the exact word I'd use. Indifferent, nonchalant, 'doesn't-particularly-care'..." He gave a little tilt of his head as if to say 'it is what it is', and then added, "As long as the person consents and isn't underage, and I'm clear about my intentions from the start, she doesn't give a f--- what I do. But she is proud of me in general."

At her response, Corbin let out a long, hearty laugh. Oh how naive and innocent some people were. There were different responses to getting piss drunk (and different kinds of it, too) and while there were things he wouldn't remember after, there were always designated people who stayed sober (or only had a couple drinks) who could manage the actually drunk ones.

And Corbin made sure never -- never -- to take home (or take anywhere) a girl when he was anything more than a little tipsy.

But he said none of these things. Instead, he shot her an amused look. "I'm assuming you don't have any experience," he said, tone light and almost laughing.

Guest

Whatever contribution Corbin was looking for, Naomi was going to stick to her words. She was not going to play up, perform, or act in any other manner than she was currently to gain his approval. If she didn't get an invite to his party, she wouldn't be in any way bothered. It was only drinking, after all.

The witch, therefore, did not add to her earlier words. She'd said her piece.

Finding out his mother was not in the slightest bit bothered by his actions - so long as he was straight forward about his intent - was a surprise. How could his mother think this was acceptable behaviour? Encourage it, even? Naomi didn't know how to respond to that further than a simple, "I see." Her parents would likely go mental if she were to come home and suggest the same thing.

It was when the boy laughed at her, though, and dared to call her inexperienced, that Naomi began to bristle. She did not like being laughed at. It was humiliating to be laughed at, especially when you were not aiming for that response. And inexperienced.

"I've drunk many times before. I just see no reason to get to the point of being incapable of remembering, or losing bodily functions." Naomi said, placing her butterbeer back down on the ground between them a little harder than she meant to. "And, as a boy, you would not understand just how dangerous being piss drunk can be for us girls if you happen to be in the wrong company. Call me inexperienced if you will, but I don't condone stupidity."

The Slytherin witch got to her feet in that instance, shouldering her bag. "I think I've had enough of your honesty games." The witch explained, setting off between the trees. She was quite angry at his stupid blase games. It was idiots like him that pushed girls in to the unimaginable. She wanted to punch that stupid grin off of his face!

Guest

He could tell she wasn’t exactly happy with his answer about his mother, but he didn’t particularly care. To each their own, after all, and it wasn’t as though Corbin was intentionally seducing females. They made their choice to engage, and there really wasn’t anything wrong with a nice time if both agreed to it.

That was, after all, why the term ‘friends-with-benefits’ existed, only this was more of a one time thing. Besides, his mother was anything but normal. It was just as well that she’d decided to use her abilities for good and join the auror department (although he always suspected this had mostly to do with his dad’s influence on her than the goodness of her heart), or things would’ve been very different for him. Sometimes he wondered what it would’ve been like to grow up with a conwoman for a mother, and that always amused him.

Her next words merely brought a raising of his eyebrows. She had misunderstood his words -- either that or she was just looking for a fight. Either way, she was feisty and tightly wound at best, and it amused him. Still, someone who could speak their mind without worry of being judged or coming across as self-righteous was someone he could respect -- if he liked them (and Naomi, in this case) was another matter altogether, but in Corbin’s books respect was always more important.

After all, liking someone but not respecting them didn’t get anyone far; many people, on the other hand, were respected and not liked, and those were usually the bosses and leaders of people.

That’s why we have trusted people staying sober, he thought, but didn’t say. No, the witch was angry enough, and Corbin wasn’t stupid. He enjoyed a good debate, enjoyed pushing buttons, but he would never, ever actually enter an argument if they lost their cool. That never turned out well for anyone, and so he merely held his tongue.

When she calmed down -- if that ever happened -- he would explain to her that the parties he attended were properly maintained. That Lucy, his second-in-command, was a female who got piss-drunk and still stayed safe. That, being a third year, there were things that Naomi didn’t yet know about alcohol (and yes, perhaps drugs as well).

But the time for explanations was not now, and he merely watched as she got up. He counted her steps -- then, once he knew she was at a distance far enough that it would take her a good few seconds to turn around and come back should his next words piss her off enough for her to try and hex him (and therefore give him enough time to draw his wand), but not so far she couldn’t hear him, he sat up straighter.

Raising his voice -- and trusting that nobody else was around to hear -- he called out after her, “Friday, ten at night. Room of Requirement; the password you should think of is ‘new horizons’. Invitation valid for one. Come, if you want -- or miss out if you don’t. That’s up to you.”

After making sure she wasn’t going to come back, he let out a soft chuckle to himself, leaning back once again and closing his eyes as he enjoyed the silence. He hadn’t been expecting this when he decided to take a trip into the forest, but sometimes the unexpected could be fun -- and Naomi had proven to be just that. But now that she was gone and he was by himself, Corbin could finally relax, a smirk on his face as he thought of Friday, hoping she’d accept the invitation.

Because that would be when the real amusement started.

» We are who we are (Alexei and Naomi)
» Helping Out (Naomi)
» The run of the wolves (Naomi)
» Friends? (Naomi)
» Ugh! (Humphrey & Naomi)