There were a lot of things about being a Hufflepuff that Jai didn't like. He had never felt like he really belonged in the house, blaming his anxiety-ridden 11-year-old brain for the Sorting Hat's mistake. Jai didn't align himself with the more happy-go-lucky members of his house, not with his obsessive-compulsive disorder and constant studying. One thing he definitely enjoyed about being a Hufflepuff, though, was its proximity to the kitchens.

The house elves working in the kitchen were very friendly to students. They were probably friendly in general, being a servant race, but Jai had never encountered one before attending Hogwarts. Upon occasion, he was up early (or late) enough to run into the ones who cleaned up around the castle, but the Jai believed the ones in the kitchen were far superior. Or maybe it was just their unbelievable pineapple custard pie. They knew it was his favorite, too, and also seemed to have a psychic sense about when he needed it most. Like tonight, for instance.

He helped himself to a slice of pie and slunk out of the back door, grabbing a fork on his way out. He began snacking on the dessert as he walked towards the Hufflepuff dormitories at a leisurely pace. Jai didn't know what he would do for pineapple custard pie when he graduated in a month, so he needed to savor it while he could.

This had been a long time coming, but Bran was simply too busy with the end of year showcase and hadn't quite found it as urgent when compared to that. Now that he had business with another Hufflepuff, however... He supposed he could shot two birds with one stone. Once he caught the fifth year he had business with, it was only a matter of time until Patil would pass by.

Perched on a window sill with the boy between his legs, he had a perfect view of the entire hallway and just as he was leaning in over his shoulder to place a small kiss at the juncture of his shoulder and neck, he noticed the kitchen back door swing open and just the man he wanted to see walk through it. With a satisfied smile and a few sweet words pointed with a little kiss he dismissed the boy and jumped off the sill. Sashaying to the middle of the corridor he crossed his arms and instructed his features into a pleasant, if worrying sort of smile as he waited for the other sixth year to reach him.

"Patil, darling, just the man I wanted to see" he said charmingly, relaxing his posture and uncrossing his arms to clasp them over his chest. "I believe I owe you a conversation regarding a mutual... friend"  he said, almost sweetly, if with an edge of danger. And if his phrasing was so that it sounded more like Bran was owed a conversation... Well. He was.

Jai had just about approached his dorm (already about halfway done with his pie - he had a big mouth) when one Bran Blackwell slunk out from the shadows and spooked him. He couldn't help but jump at the surprise but luckily he regained his composure and most luckily did not drop his pie.

"Patil, darling, just the man I wanted to see... I believe I owe you a conversation regarding a mutual.... friend."

He didn't need to hear Jordyn's name to know what Bran was implying. Jai's thoughts were mainly occupied with thoughts of her, and he knew that Bran was one of her closest friends as well as one of her housemates. They were in the same year as well, which Jai knew would make them even more closely connected. Jai had classes with Bran, too -- he was a difficult person not to know anyway.

"We do," Jai said nervously. What could Bran have to talk to him about? Jai knew that meeting your girlfriend's friends was an inevitable event, but he was pretty sure that the friends didn't normally seek you out.

Bran's lips twitched only momentarily at Jai's scare, giggle hidden with a tuck of his head. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, Jordyn was the sort of woman to lead in any case... But bran would've still preferred someone that was able to at least offer her some sort of protection and not just an emotional crutch. But he wouldn't know how Patil would act if the situation so demanded it. hence why this particular interview was in order.

His acquiescence to the conversation at least owed him some brownie points, even if his nervousness didn't. With his chin jutting upwards he squinted his eyes and gave him a very analyzing look, face devoid of any hint of an expression. His appearance would have to improve drastically if he was to remain in Jordyn's, and therefore, their presence. But that could be arranged. Taking note of his measurements as much as he could only by sight, he tucked the information away for further reference.

Eventually, after a period of focused silence he deemed sufficient for proper psychological engagement, he turned towards the sill he'd just vacated and motioned Jai to follow him. Once he was up sitting on it again, with legs and arms crossed he took a deep breath and set his features into something serious and threatening. "Before we start with this little... talk, Jai—" Bran said slowly in a soft voice, enunciating each word carefully "I'd like for you to keep in mind that Jordyn is a very dear friend to me, one of the deares,t actually, and if you hurt her or do anything that might endanger her or anything she is not comfortable with..." he paused, looking like he could kill someone with his bare hands "I won't hurt you, Jai, but I will hunt you down and ruin your social life, as well as your reputation in such a way that you won't be able to get hired anywhere, be thought of as a pariah and will die alone."

"Do I make myself clear?"

Jai shifted uncomfortably under Bran's gaze, wondering what the other boy was thinking. He couldn't even begin to imagine the insides of Bran Blackwell's mind, so instead Jai did his best to look casual and not like the jumpy rabbit he felt like. He followed Bran to the sill, putting the napkin down so that he could free up his hands. It was a little awkward, receiving the once-over while holding a slice of pie. He felt silly and childish for having it now.

Bran made an impassioned speech and Jai's face remained aloof the entire time, though it was clear that his gears were turning. Jai was good at covering up his emotions, so Bran might not have been able to tell that Jai was feeling extremely nervous still, despite knowing that he had nothing to be nervous about. To Jai, Jordyn was a goddess, and he knew that he needed to treat her as such. That she had descended to date him never ceased to amaze Jai.

"Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," Jai said earnestly, hoping that Bran detected his honesty. "I agree, that she deserves to be treated like a queen." Jai blushed a little, immediately wishing he didn't once he realized that his cheeks felt hot. "I would never-" he paused and coughed a little. "I would never do anything." They had slept together drunkenly over spring break, which was perhaps questionable, but Jai wasn't sure if Bran knew this and decided it would not be very wise to fill him in. Besides, if he and Jordyn were such dear friends, she had probably already filled him in.

For a few moments he eyed him skeptically, looking for any sign of a lie in his features, but once he deemed Jai truthful enough he gave an approving nod and smiled tightly. At his next words he arched an eyebrow, lips parting around a question that never managed to make it past his lips, because then he was smirking at Patil's stumbling through words. He actually let out a soft chuckle, kicking his head back and shaking it a little.

"Oh I don't know about anything" he said, playful spark in his eyes and a sly smirk growing at the corner of his lips. "I'm quite sure Jordyn would still want some things" he added with an absolutely shit-eating grin and ended on a wink. He laughed softly, thinking just how perfectly they were matched in terms of... modesty. He scowled mentally.

"So tell me Jai, what are your intentions towards Jordyn?" he then asked, all traces of amusement wiped off his face to be replaced with a serious, threatening sort of expression. He imagined he'd be having a lot of this sort of conversations in the future, when his sisters were old enough to date (never, in his opinion), so it didn't hurt to have some practice. "Aside from the fumbling in dark corridors after curfew, I mean" he added almost conversationally, only to stare intently and judgmentally at him in the end.

"And getting caught" he then almost hissed. But that would be remedied, he hoped, His timetable ought to be out to good use.

So apparently Bran did know about a few things. Generally Jai was a pretty introverted person so the fact that someone knew intimate details about his personal life made him feel a little uneasy. He did his best to hide his discomfort and hoped that this interrogation would end soon. Perhaps, if he did well, he and Bran could grow to be -- friends? That hardly seemed likely, but if Jai and Jordyn kept up like they were, well -- Bran would be in his life too, he assumed.

Jai's face became hot and he avoided eye contact as Bran taunted him about Jordyn wanting 'things' and the time they'd been caught by Professor Storm. He felt a bit like a child being scolded. That had all been... it was an accident! There was nothing he could really say to defend himself, though. A moment ago he'd been eating his pie, and the next thing he knew, Bran Blackwell was questioning him. This had all happened so quickly. Jai quickly ate the last bite of his pie longingly, wishing he'd savored his privacy with it a few moments ago.

"My intentions?" Jai asked as he swallowed, not really sure what Bran meant. It wasn't like Jai was planning on proposing to Jordyn, not yet; he was blissfully happy with her but they were still teenagers! He couldn't see Jordyn agreeing to marry him yet, either, especially considering her prospects as a healer. "I just... I want to make her happy..." He said this reluctantly but it was very much the truth.

Bran scrunched up his nose at Patil's ability to still eat shamelessly even in such a situation and he arched one eyebrow with lips pursed as if to ask 'This is how you want to present yourself in front of me?' Regardless, he merely settled for a judgmental look and another scrunch of his nose. "Yes, Patil, your intentions" he repeated in a slow, pointed tone that one might use on a particularity slow individual.

His reply, albeit corny and worthy of a twelve year old girl at her first love, was deemed acceptable and Bran relaxed minutely, uncrossing his arms to place his and on the edge of the sill, leaning forward to look down at Jai more focused. "You do understand, I hope, that Jordyn has a reputation that must be kept spotless to assure that her great future is achieved--" he said, eyebrows lowered menacingly and voice low and steady, pausing for a moment to let that sink in. "So your little situation the other night can never happen again, yes?" he continued, pursing his lips and arching his eyebrows expectantly.

"With my assistance--" as he had gracefully bestowed her chart on him "I hope Jordyn has been make sure that you won't be fumbling in the open like bloody 14 year olds again" he explained crossing his arms again, and scowling along with a roll of his eyes. He supposed they hadn't, since there was no more scandalous gossip greeting him in the bathrooms, but making sure never hurt anybody. "Now--" he said airily after a beat, "there's the matter of your wardrobe." The last word had been pointed with a vile sort of gaze down at his ensemble, eyes going from head to toe and back on his face where he squinted his eyes and pursed his lips, daring him to comment.

"You should expect my owl sometime in the first week we're back home, and I shall pencil you in for a bit of a shopping session." And by shopping session, he meant another drilling as well. How one acted inside castle walls, wasn't necessarily how one aced outside of them. "Your vast array of jeans and cardigans, and apparent lack of proper trousers and blazers, are both worrisome and unacceptable" he declared, jumping off the sills, and coming very close into his personal space, his three inches on him, having nothing on Bran's concentrated analysis on his measurements.

"At least you have the right body for more appropriate couture" he noted, on almost a hum, as if he hadn't meant to say it out loud. "Libertine will provide us with everything we need" Bran then nodded taking a step back ad throwing him one of his perfect angelic smiles. He only hoped Patil had the purse for it. Bran only gifted luxurious clothes and accessories to his closest friends and occasionally his muses. Patil was neither.

So your little situation the other night can never happen again, yes?"

Jai nodded without speaking, feeling even more like a child than he had before. Bran was younger than him -- Jai was 18 years old and taller than Bran, but regardless he was being chastised. This was one of those times where Jai wished that he was braver, more confident. He'd stand up for himself and tell Bran that he was good to Jordyn and there was nothing to worry about. And that Jordyn was a big girl who could think for herself. But he didn't say any of those things and kept looking at his shoes.

"Now-- there's the matter of your wardrobe."

At this, Jai looked right up at Bran immediately. His immediate reaction was one of confusion. Jai knew that he wasn't the most fashionable of men, but Jordyn didn't seem to have any problem with his clothing choices. In fact, she'd stolen a number of his cardigans. He didn't mind that at all -- it was so cute, to see her wearing his clothes. He didn't know what it was about it that made him feel so gushy.

Suddenly Bran was talking about a shopping expedition and Jai became even more nervous. He was going to have to spend even more time with this intimidating boy? "Em - what's so wrong with my -" Jai didn't have a chance to finish before Bran began pacing around him, apparently analyzing his body. Jai blushed and froze, not really knowing what he was supposed to do in this situation. Bran was uncomfortably close to him and Jai began to shake a little. He was a little claustrophobic and Jordyn was the only person he'd ever felt good about invading his personal space.

"At least you have the right body for more appropriate couture. Libertine will provide us with everything we need"

This was beginning to sound expensive and Jai was worried. His parents weren't poor by any means, but he knew that Jordyn was much richer than him and Bran certainly had an aura of wealth about him. This wasn't the time to mention those things, though. "Um...." Jai was sort of at a loss for words. This stressful scenario had been completely unexpected and caught Jai entirely by surprise. He didn't tend to do well under a lot of pressure. "Did Jordyn say something? About my clothes?" Jai looked down at his outfit. He didn't wear the grungy t-shirts and ripped jeans that some of the other kids his age wore. Wasn't that a good sign?

Bran's eyebrow came down at hearing Patil's reply, but his reaction to the obvious issue at hand had the Slytherin frowning, as if wondering just how preposterously dim one must be to not notice the severe discrepancy in styles. Nevertheless he carried on even as Jai attempted to interrupt, which honestly, that was simply rude. Morgana, he hoped he wasn't supposed to also teach him manners, now...

Bran pulled back, with his mouth agape at Jai's question, looking confused and judgmental. "What does that have to do anything?" he asked, blinking a few times for good measure. The boy really was dim wasn't he? "I would suppose that would be rather embarrassing for all parties involved"he continued, chin tucked low and eyebrows doing a a little dance of incredulity. "And in what realm, fictional or otherwise, would I ever brake Jordyn's confidence?" he continued, this time actually offended, one hand coming to rest on his chest in an excessively dramatic gesture of bewilderment.

With a deep frown on his face, Bran pulled his wand out of his sleeve and in three successive quick swishes, the translucent shapes of an unmoving Neely and Jordyn popped out of thin air, wearing ravishing outfits of the latest season and impeccably styled. "Jai, darling, I'll ask you to take a close look at our fabulous selves and think of what we have in common" he said airily, arms crossed and wand hanging lazily off the tip of his fingers. "Ah, or better yet" he exclaimed taking a step forward, and manhandling Jai until he was in line with Neely and Jordyn and then sashayed to the other end. With another flick of his wand, and a whispered incantation, the opposite wall turned into a reflective surface.

Tucking a curl behind his ear and straightening his back, Bran smiled charmingly at the mirror and directed his gaze to Patil's reflected self. "Tell me, Jai, who's the odd one out in this line-up?" he said sweetly, batting his eyelashes once. The answer was quite obvious.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Now Jai was really confused. He thought that Jordyn was the person they were trying to please, so what other reason would Jai have for changing his wardrobe? It wasn't that big of a deal, he supposed. Jai wasn't too picky about his clothes.... except they had to be symmetrical, and he hated plaid and overbearing prints. He had a feeling, though, that Bran wasn't going to be dressing him up in any flannels.

"...And in what realm, fictional or otherwise, would I ever break Jordyn's confidence?"

"I wasn't- that's not-" Jai was getting frustrated, but he was awful at expressing that feeling. Bran looked affronted now, and Jai hadn't meant to insult him at all! He was getting really flustered and really, really wanted to leave now. His face was starting to get hot.

While he was still jittery, Bran challenged him to ponder the appearances of holographic images of Jordyn and another girl who he recognized as Neely. Jai shifted uncomfortably. There were some major differences between Jai and the Slytherins before him. It was surreal to see Jordyn in this way, and he wished that she was really here. Maybe she would help him through this... or maybe she wanted Bran to do this. Maybe it was a test. Jai did his best to take a breath and allow this to happen. For Jordyn.

Then Bran did the unthinkable - he physically moved Jai in line with the ghost-like versions of his girlfriend and classmate. Jai broke out in a sweat and clenched his jaw, starting to feel a little short of air. He let out a breath and focused on Bran's instructions.

"Tell me, Jai, who's the odd one out in this line-up?"

In line with the three Slytherins he did stick out. Jai coughed and straightened up, trying with all his might to avoid having an anxiety attack in front of Bran Blackwell. Wouldn't that be something? He would probably go running to Jordyn with the news. So, he centered in on his outfit choice. His jeans were fairly old and his cotton cardigan was maybe a bit big on him. He was tall and lanky, with a long torso; sometimes it was hard to find things that fit just right! "I-..." Jai stammered. "Never really gave much thought to it, I guess..." He twitched because he was lying. He agonized over his clothes sometimes; he was so sensitive to itchy tags and weird fabrics. That on top of the symmetry thing left him fairly limited, but no one had ever really criticized his wardrobe before.

Bran shook his hand in front of him with a grimace, cutting Jai before he could muster any explanation. He couldn't say he wasn't enjoying Patil's obvious discomfort with the situation he was presenting, but that was the entire point of it. Make him realize, properly realize, what being a part of Jordyn's and by association their little circle's life would mean for him. And if that meant steeping on some toes and shaming him into acknowledging it... well, at least it would get the job done.

"No, you didn't" Bran replied coolly, pensive gaze and one eyebrow slowly arched. With another flick of his wand and a whispered finite incantatemthe mirror and the images were gone, and he turned to walk the two steps between him and Jai. "You see... It's not a matter of who and what you are, it's simply one of appearances" he explained in a softer voice. "My intention isn't to put you off anything, simply to show you that we three - Jordyn, Neely and I - have a certain reputation and there are certain expectations of us" he continued, crossing his arms over his chest. "Jordyn is too kind to ever mention anything of the sort, but how would you feel when you're hanging out with us and, just like before, you'd always be the odd one out?" he posed for Jai's consideration and tilted his head sideways, watching him intently.

"Being a part of Jordyn's life, means being a part of ours, as well" he concluded after a beat, nodding once. Working his lips between his teeth for a moment, considering whether to actually utter his next words or not, he eventually gave in. "You see, while Neely and Jordyn both come from a more... privileged background" he said, eyes roaming the room absently. "I certainly don't, but could you be able to say that about me, not knowing it?" he smiled a little, giving him a wink. "So... shopping, yes?"

While Jai's obsessive-compulsive disorder had him act more than a little neurotic about aesthetics -- particularly order, symmetry, and patterns --- he was not a materialistic person. Really, Jai preferred to have fewer things. It was less to worry about, less to organize. The way Bran was talking, about reputation and appearances... it was a perspective Jai had never considered. At least it seemed like Bran was trying to help him out... the last thing Jai wanted to do was ruin Jordyn's reputation. Although he couldn't really see how his wardrobe choices had anything to do with Jordyn's life. This was a world he just didn't understand. Yet. He was willing to learn it, for Jordyn.


He nodded to show Bran that he understood what he was getting at. In order to fit in with Jordyn's life, he was going to need to change. If it was just clothes he needed to change, he could deal with that. Apparently, according to Bran, he had the 'body' for it. If that was really all it took, then Jai could deal with it. Maybe his style needed a bit of maturing, anyway; he was going to have to enter some sort of career soon.

"Being a part of Jordyn's life, means being a part of ours, as well... You see, while Neely and Jordyn both come from a more... privileged background... I certainly don't, but could you be able to say that about me, not knowing it?"

That was something he had not known. Bran didn't come from wealth, as Jai knew that Jordyn did? It was one of the first things he'd learned about her; she came from one of the richest parts of England. Jai had always assumed that Bran hailed from a similar background. It was pretty comforting to know that he didn't, actually; then he probably had a more realistic view of Jai's financial capabilities when shopping for clothes. Fashion could be expensive -- Jai knew that from the stupid fashion magazines that Lydie was crazy about. The trendy outfits she wanted were ridiculously priced! "I wouldn't," Jai confessed.

"So.... shopping, yes?"

Jai's first instinct was to shrug but instead he forced himself to answer. He wasn't just some drone, and he wasn't going to let Bran talk him into anything he really didn't want to do. But a little makeover from Jordyn's best friend was a small price to pay for admittance into Jord's social circle. "Sounds good," Jai confirmed. "When?"

He smiled as Jai acknowledged that he didn't look it, pleased at himself that he still had an edge and pleased with Jai, that he would hopefully understand where he was going with this. "It's simply a matter of how you present yourself" he shrugged. "Clothes make the man" he added wistfully, raising his shoulders slightly and straightening an absent crease in his blazer.

"I start my internship at Runwitch when we're back home" he started, crossing one arm over the other, using one finger to prop in the crook under his lower lip with a pensive gaze. "I imagine I'll be fairly busy, so perhaps in the first week of the holidays?" he offered with eyebrows raised expectantly. "I believe I won't start right away, and most of my weekends are already full." He didn't say with what, but they were very... important appointments. "We can go to Alohomocha for a coffee and desert once we're done" he smiled brightly, and clasped his hands over his chest.

"You'll get to meet my eldest brother" he continued on the same bright and sunny note, before his face fell into something unreadable but quite amused. "I'm sure you two will get along along marvelously." If his monosyllabic answers were anything to go by, as well as his hopeless, completely whipped behavior. Plus, Sander could be presented with the reason why his hopeless, completely whipped behavior was so wrong and ridiculous in the form of Jai. It was perfect, really.

Growing up, Jai had always been taught not to judge a book by its cover. Ironically, Jai was obsessed with the aesthetic order of books and such things, but he did know that the content mattered more than the appearance. So he didn't really agree with Bran's assessment that 'clothes made the man.' Didn't the man make the man? Jai kept his opinion to himself. That was the last thing he needed to debate with Bran Blackwell.

Bran had an internship too! Jai shifted uncomfortably. He was a seventh year, and he didn't have any career prospects. The school counselor had put the idea of working for the Ministry as an astronomy specialist for the Department of Mysteries, and that sounded promising (or at least interesting) to Jai... but he didn't have an internship, or anything. He felt like everyone was much better prepared than he was.

"I - I think I can do that.... Sounds like a plan," Jai stuttered. The stutter was only from nerves, not from reluctance or unsureness, but it was probably difficult for an outsider to tell the difference. He didn't mind doing this, especially for Jordyn. And as Bran continued on talking about his family, Jai could have sworn that he looked cheerful -- and maybe even a bit friendly. Jai avoided showing his shock on his face and instead listened and nodded encouragingly. Was this a trick? Bran was so hard to read.

"What'll you be doing for Runwitch?" he asked curiously. Clearly Bran had a sense of style, but was he old enough to have a significant position there? It was an internship. What did that even entail? "It'll be nice to meet some more Blackwells." Jai had some classes with Bran's cousin Blythe, but they were quite different.