Wilhelm took the sketchbook, studying the brushwork. "..Wow. This is amazing, Connor, you're really good at this." He handed it back, shaking his head. "I mean, really. That's beautiful. I can only imagine what it's like in real life."
Pheasant Brook (O/O with Icarus!)
(I gtg to bed now. Good night!)
Connor smiled a little bit. "Thank yeh." he said softly, flipping back to the sketch he was working on. "And yeah. Yeh should see it in real life somedee. My paintin's can only do so much."
(Night!)
"Well, sure. What're you drawing now?" He looked at the page, but he didn't focus on it enough to actually figure out what it was.
Connor shrugged a little. "I uhm…a friend of mine." he replied. Liar. He was drawing his…well, his boyfriend, that he had left behind. He couldn't very well say that, though. Not when Wilhelm would most likely think him disgusting for being inclined that way.
"Well, I think he looks nice. Your portraits really are beautiful, you know." Wilhelm ruffled up his dark brown curls, shaking his head out to fluff them up. "Ah, what time is it– it's a little after 1500, the boys should be getting in any ti-" He was cut off by the sound of whooping and hollering from the common room.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear, eh?" Wilhelm winked at Connor, stepping outside of the dorm.
Connor looked down again to hide the faint blush that had appeared on his cheeks at the compliment. He rubbed a hand over his face for a moment, then put the sketchbook away at the sound of the others. He nodded a little. "Alright." he replied. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to follow Wilhelm or not.
“Oh- you can come, if you want. Don’t let them scare you off.” Wilhelm turned around, greeting his friends.
“Oh, fair Romeo!” Wilhelm swooned, voice lilting and joking as he fell backwards into a boy’s arms. The boy- presumably Romeo- kissed Wilhelm’s hand before ruffling his hair and pushing him away playfully.
“Cool it, Juliet.” The boy laughed, before getting slugged in the arm by a third boy.
Connor cautiously came out of the room, watching the others. At the "Romeo" and "Juliet", his eyebrows knit together for a moment, wondering what exactly that was all about. Though he didn't ask.
“Alright, this, my boys, is Connor. He’s my new roommate. Connor, the tall one is Romeo and the taller one is Claude.”
Romeo wasn’t that tall. Claude, on the other hand, was a giant. They both looked to be about Wilhelm’s age, and bore similar broken noses- Romeo’s looked to be new, still bandaged up.
(I actually gtg for real now soon XD)
Connor nodded a little bit. He stared up at Claude. "Wh' 're they so tall?" he blurted, feeling absolutely dwarfed. Especially by Claude. He raked a hand through his curly hair, then held out his hand for handshakes. "Sorry, tha' was rude 'f me. Ah tend not ta watch my words when ah really should b'."
(ok ok)
Claude took Connor up on his handshake offer. “It’s alright. All you have to know is that I’m Dutch and Romeo’s Italian, so that should tell you all you need to know, eh? That should explain it enough.”
Romeo, however, didn’t shake Connor’s hand, preferring to just nod instead. It was worth noting, though, that he had his arms wrapped over Wilhelm’s shoulders (who was standing just in front of him). “Do you ask everyone you meet why their height is what it is?” There was a humorous twinkle in Romeo’s eyes as he spoke. “That’s an interesting icebreaker question, Connor.”
Connor wrinkled his nose. "Well look 't me!" he retorted. "'m tiny!" He drew himself to his full, glorious height of…barely 5'4", his slim body only adding to how tiny he seemed. "An' no, not always." he crossed his arms loosely.
Romeo studied him. It was true, Connor was small. "Lucky us, then- thank you for choosing us humble individuals to be the ones you try that question out o-" Romeo was cut off by Claude, who clapped a hand over the boy's mouth before he could say more.
"I apologize for him. He shoots off at the mouth." Claude snorted, pulling his blonde hair back into a small bun. "Where's your family from, Connor?"
Connor let out a snort of laughter at Romeo. He blinked. "Scotland, originally. England, for the past ten years." He didn't want to get into the story of why just yet. About his parents deaths and moving in with his uncle. "An' no, ah dinnae own a kilt."
(Are Romeo and Wilhelm a couple, or no?)
(it’s unclear- they’re close enough for a most people to think they’re dating, and they did for a short bit, but they’re just two extremely flirty and affectionate friends)
Wilhelm and Romeo were play-fighting in the background as Claude talked with Connor.
“Scotland. Been there a few times, nice place. Me? Dad’s a businessman in Amsterdam, so that’s why I’m here. Will said you’re new, didn’t he?” Claude looked down at Connor, adjusting the cuffs on his uniform shirt.
(ohh alright got it)
Connor nodded a bit. "Yes. Ah just got here t'day. Had t' wait to travel 'cause of some…injuries." he touched his side slightly as he remembered the broken ribs that had taken forever to heal.
Claude’s eyebrows lifted. “Injuries?” He eyed Connor as he touched his ribs. “From what? If you don’t mind me asking.”
"Oh. Ah…" Connor hesitated. "Two of m' left ribs got broken." He replied. "An' some othe' things." He gave a tight, slightly strained smile.
Claude whistled in disbelief. “Wow. Painful.” He glanced back at Romeo and Wilhelm, who were still wrestling, albeit a little more aggressively. “You two! Break it up, idiots!” Claude barked, snapping his fingers. The pair broke apart, grumbling about how they weren’t being serious.
Connor nodded a little. He turned to look at Wilhelm and Romeo, grateful for the distraction. He didn't want to have to answer about how he received those injuries. He swallowed softly, running a hand through the red curls that covered his head.
Romeo patted his pocket and groaned. “Claude, let me bum a smoke off you. I don’t have mine on me.” Claude handed him one from the case in his pocket, taking a deep breath. “I’ll come with you, I suppose. Nice to meet you, Connor.” He waved slightly to the Scotsman before walking off, hand clapped onto Romeo’s upper back.
“Nice guys, huh?” Wilhelm grinned at Connor, stretching his arms above his head as he spoke.
Connor nodded a little bit. "Yeah." He replied. "I mean…very tall." He chuckled a little bit. "Is every'ne here tha' tall? If so, ah definitely am goin' to feel pretty small." He looked at Wilhelm with a slight smile.
“There’s a lot of tall people here, yeah. But if I’m being honest, you’re probably only the 5th shortest person here. A kid in year 11 is only 5”, I think.” Wilhelm pressed his lips into a thin line as he pored over what he was going to say next.
“Look, I know you saw how Romeo and I greeted each other- I’m just gonna say it’s not what it looks like. We’re just friends.” Wilhelm made direct eye contact with Connor, running his fingers through his hair nervously. “Got it?”
Connor blinked. "Oh." He replied slowly. "Okay. Uh…even if yeh weren't jus' friends…ah don't have a probl'm wi' it." He said, knowing this was dangerous, dangerous territory to be in. That acceptance wasn't something most people heard.
“That’s…” Wilhelm bit the inside of his cheek. This was like talking your way through landmines. He wasn’t sure if Connor was being truthful or if he was just saying that to gain Wilhelm’s trust. “That’s good. Thanks.” His voice was apprehensive and he shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. God, why did he have to go and say that?
“Oh, hey- I guess you don’t know where a lot of stuff is, huh?” Wilhelm laughed nervously, trying his best to change the topic as quickly as possible.
Connor blinked at the subject change, but nodded. "Yeah, no." He agreed. "Ah know…the bathrooms, our room, and…the commons. Tha's it." He replied with a soft laugh.
“If you need a tour or anything, I’m free for the rest of the day. Haven’t gotten lost in this place since…” Wilhelm counted something on his fingers. “Like.. a week. I’m basically an expert.” He winked, seemingly back to his old charm and energy.
Connor gave a soft laugh. "Mm. Alright." He replied. "Ah think…could you give me that tour? Othahwise ah'll get lost on m' way to class, which would no' be good."
“Oh, sure. Where’re you looking at seeing first?” Wilhelm kicked at the ground with his heel, head tilted and hands clasped behind his neck. “Classes? Cafeteria? Other spots?”
Connor smiled a little bit. "Whatevah you'd like ta show m', please." he looked up at Wilhelm with one of his quick little smiles. His hands were still stained with ink and graphite, his pale skin showing the marks all too well.