-- Outfit. -- -- Around Noon. --

How exactly does someone take care of an egg? Razzy sat in his dorm, staring at the thing, drawing a complete blank. He had wrapped it up, kept it warm, kept an eye on it. But... What the hell was he suppose to do with it? He couldn't feed it or walk it. But he did keep it with him whenever it was his turn to watch it. And he gave it a name: Maximus. Which Razzy thought was pretty cool. But that was really about it. He rose from the floor, looking for a clock. He was a suppose to meet Erin Harper at noon to give him the egg or something. Of course, all the clocks they had were broken... Until he climbed over one of his dormmates in his bed to look at his watch.

11:47... Might as well go now.

"Razz, get off me!" His dormmate groaned and Razzy finally pulled himself up, looking for his shoes. "That's not what your sister said last night," He murmured to himself, but his dormmate didn't hear him. It would have been an awkward moment if he did, anyways. Not that Razzy really minded... But might as well get along with the people who had access to his personal belongings.

He pulled on his shoes and glanced around for a sweater to wrap around the egg. After a few moments, he found his yellow jacket and gently wrapped it around Maximus. Razzy wasn't exactly the most proper student, but he knew he had to pass and he wouldn't let Erin fail over a mistake Razzy made. He didn't hate Erin at all, so he'd feel quite heartless if he were to simply bullshit the whole thing.

After a few hesitant moments of how he was going to carry the egg, Razzy was off and leaving the common room. Sundays were generally slow days, but at least he was actually leaving his dorm for once. Not that Razzy had any problem with sitting on the floor hours at a time. He was completely fine with that, really. It was just refreshing to finally get some air.

Now, Razzy specified they'd meet up at the empty classroom on the ground floor. It was close and Razzy didn't have to travel very far. Which was awesome. He found the empty room with ease and set the egg down on a desk, almost like he set up a small nest with his jacket. He felt very silly having to carry the egg around like it was a baby. Razzy wasn't ready for such commitment, but at least he didn't have to feed the thing or make sure it kept its fingers away from sharp objects.

He found himself a seat near the egg, kicking his feet up on the desk next to it. Razzy didn't mind waiting. Razzy was a calm, collected boy... With some scary tendencies. And... Erin had an attitude, didn't back down, and apparently was a good snog. Which, though Razzy hated to admit such a thing, was quite alluring. Razzy wasn't sure if he really wanted to test the Harper boy's grounds, anyhow. Perhaps Eli was just lying to make Razzy jealous. Or perhaps he was overthinking everything. Razzy didn't usually think a lot, he just went with the flow.

It was too early to be thinking, anyways. He wasn't even sure if the game was still in play. Of course, Razzy hoped it was. Seeing Harper get irritable and huffy was amusing. And it brought plenty of joy to the Hufflepuff. Plenty. Razzy watched the door, his hands smoothing back his hair. This game was fun. It wasn't Eli fun... But it was still fun.

Erin intended to be on time, he really did. But the thing about weekends was that the blonde-haired Slytherin was rarely up before noon, and even though he'd set an alarm, it failed to go off... or rather, it went off, Erin flailed at it with one arm until it stopped (quite an accomplishment, considering the magical variety of alarm clocks hopped around to make one give chase), and then he went back to sleep.

This happened twice more, the little clock on his bedside table trilling indignantly every few minutes and then being hit until it shut up, until finally it managed to propel itself off his table and under his bed. By the time he'd fished it out, bleary-eyed and supremely irritated, the glowing numbers on it read 11:58.

Erin swore, very creatively. Then he was up and running about his dorm, shrugging a t-shirt on, and hopping into the boy's dorm bathroom on one leg because he was pulling his jeans on over the other. He performed the fastest tooth-brushing ever and flattened a hand over his hair, not bothering with the brush. He paused only to grab a jacket and his wand before he left, running down the hallways and skidding around corners.

"Sorry I'm late," he said when he came through the doorway of the classroom his partner had specified. He'd slowed down as he'd approached the doorway, entering very casually, but his slightly ruffled appearance probably gave him away - not to mention Erin was a little out of breath. Still, he wasn't that late... no more than 5 minutes, surely. Or no more than 7... He'd had manners hammered into his head as a child, and then promptly tried his hardest to go against them all as a teenager, but the apology was genuine. If he'd intended to be late, he wouldn't have apologized. Although Razzy better not think Erin did this sort of thing often.

He walked over to the other boy, looking down first at Razzy with his feet up on the desks, and then switching his attention to the egg. It was swathed in a yellow sweater. Erin only barely refrained from rolling his eyes, and slung his jacket onto the desk next to it to transfer it over into when he left. There was no way in hell he was going back to his dorm with a Hufflepuff's sweater.

"Sorry I'm late,"

The boy quirked a brow and let his gaze finally break away from the doorway. Was he late? Razzy wasn't quite paying attention to time. Since... Well... He didn't exactly have a watch or anything on him. It was a bit funny that Erin automatically assumed that Razzy was timing him. Time flew by when Razzy was alone, so he wouldn't have noticed if the boy was even an hour late. He didn't even have to announce the fact he was late. Razzy simply didn't mind at all.

"Why would it matter, anyhow?" Razzy asked, a smirk forming into place as he surveyed the Slytherin. He must have rushed over, his clothes all ruffled and his breath short. Else he decided to run for no apparent reason. Or was, perhaps, in quite the raunchy snogging session. "It's not like I was going to walk off if you weren't here precisely at noon... Catch your breath, why don't you?" Razzy told him, completely pleasant and not sending off any nasty remarks. Well... Yet. If Razzy was a tightass, why would he even put up with Erin so far?

Then Razzy went back to checking the Slytherin out. Eli supposedly enjoyed him, well... Razzy assumed he did. It all seemed strange. How did Eli manage to mack it up with his partner before he did? Well... Razzy wouldn't have know Erin had any interest... If he did. But Razzy could read Erin quite well... And he definitely wasn't that fond of Razzy. Whether it be that Razzy was quite overwhelming or other unknown reasons, Razzy would simply have to warm up to him.

Or perhaps he could simply be, well, acquainted with the Slytherin. He didn't have to get a snogging out of anyone. It would simply just be interesting with a cute thing like Erin.

Erin plopped his jacket down next to the egg and Razzy continued to survey him. He definitely had an attitude. It was quite adorable how he sulked around and rolled his eyes at small things. "Something the matter, lovely?" He asks, an innocent smile spreading on his lips. Erin was always grumpy about something anyways. Might as well ask in that condescending way Razzy was accustomed to. "Wake up on the wrong side of the bed, hmm?" His gaze finally dropped and he chuckled.

The game would have to be on. There was now way Erin could ignore Razzy's small taunting. His green eyes flicked back up to Erin's face, trying to look as innocent as can be. Usually, it'd be hard for a monster to look cute. But Razzy was a natural in deceiving people.

"It's not like I was going to walk off if you weren't here precisely at noon... Catch your breath, why don't you?"

Erin tilted his head at Razzy, regarding him with a mild, vaguely surprised sort of interest. The other boy sounded almost ... pleasant. Well, yes, he was smirking, and there was an edge of impertinence to his tone, but overall, it was a somewhat decent thing to say. Maybe he took a break from being smarmy on the weekends. Since Erin didn't usually have any interaction with Razzy, and would have continued not to except for this project, he really didn't know.

At any rate, he nodded in response, and went back to surveying the egg. What a weird project... how exactly was one supposed to go about parenting an egg? You couldn't feed it, or teach it anything... he ran his hands over the top of it, concentrating.

"You think Ó Móráin's got this thing charmed to record us?" he asked. His tone was lightly conversational, no sullenness or irritation at all... at least, not until Razzy spoke next. Erin slanted a narrow-eyed look at the Hufflepuff, not fooled for an instant  by the same innocent smile that Erin frequently adopted as well. It might work on other people, but it didn't deceive a fellow deceiver.

"Ha ha," he said dourly. "Aren't you cheery in the morning."

Such a smug smile Razzy was wearing, and at Erin's expense. Erin was not pleased, but on the other hand... Razzy wasn't the only one aware of "the game." Or the only one who looked forward to it. Maybe if he hadn't woken up the way he had, he'd already be in the zone to play. As it were, it'd take him a few minutes to warm up, and Erin knew that would probably give Razzy the advantage.

As Erin simply nodded to Razzy, the Hufflepuff noticed something... Perhaps he wasn't the only one that didn't know what the hell he was doing. The boy concentrated on the egg and Razzy's face softened a whole lot more. They were in the same position, weren't they? Or perhaps Erin was thinking of something else... Trying to pretend he was somewhere else... Trying to picture Razzy naked...

"You think Ó Móráin's got this thing charmed to record us?"

Or thinking up weird, paranoid conspiracies.

Razzy began to sit up but then paused. That would be quite awkward and embarrassing. But Razzy simply smirked and pulled his legs off the desk. He leaned in towards the boy, gave him a shrug, and chuckled. "That would definitely be against school regulations, no doubt. I'm sure Snark wouldn't be quite happy with that... Unless she's the one listening to us," Razzy's smirk suddenly turned rather crazy for a moment, almost mocking his cousins'. But Razzy was merely joking. He, of course, would never be worried about such a thing. He had nothing to hide. If Ó Móráin wished to listen to Razzy's completely disturbing jabber, so be it.

"What? Worried about something, lovely?" His mockingly sweet smile formed and his green eyes looked the Slytherin up and down. "Have something to hide, do you? What do you expect we will be talking about?" Definitely not Erin's cute butt. No way. Definitely... Not. Though that was exactly where Razzy found himself staring and he pulled his gaze away.

"Aren't you cheery in the morning."

The Hufflepuff chuckled again and his green eyes flicked to Erin's face. "Aren't I always?" He stretched his arms out on the desk in front of him, "And why wouldn't I be? Knowing that the great Harper gets to grace my presence?" Razzy attempted to mock a snooty English accent. His attempt wasn't completely awful, but it was hard to take the French out of the Reynaud. His gaze threatened to go about Erin's figure again, but it stayed locked in place. He could control himself well enough. It was the urges that were hard to ignore.

He finally looked over at the egg again and sighed. "To be perfectly honest with you, baby doll, I have no clue how to take care of an egg. It's not a baby or a kitten..." His arms slipped away from the desk and he leaned back in his chair, his cute look fading into the usual bored, yet curious, look Razzy seemed to keep on his face. "I've wrapped it up and kept it warm, obviously... This is all a bunch of bullocks, isn't it?" He began to laugh, scratching the back of his head. The game was still on, obviously. But he might as well get his confusion clear to Erin, else they'd both be confused and failing. At least... Together.

"I meant so he'd know how we were treating it." They were supposed to "raise" it, after all. Erin didn't want the professor to pin him with child abuse for referring to it as "that damn egg" all the time. Not to mention the domestic disagreements among its parents...

"What? Worried about something, lovely?"

"Stop calling me that," Erin said absently, still studying the egg. His gaze snapped back to Razzy after the boy put on a ridiculously cheesy English accent, horrible enough to make Erin snort in derision. "I'm Welsh, Reynaud." As it turned out, Erin could pull off a pretty good French accent. At least, he'd said Razzy's name right - those horrible French lessons his mother'd tried to force him into paid off sometimes. But he'd like to hear Razzy attempt a Welsh accent or, better yet, try to speak it. Erin didn't know much Welsh (although he knew more than French), but he DID know it sounded like trying to speak through a mouth full of pebbles. "And you should be bloody grateful for the great Harper's more-or-less undivided attention. Otherwise, you'd just be sitting here all afternoon, coddling this egg on your lonesome..." There was the flash of teeth as he smiled - a blindingly brilliant smile, that was almost enough to distract from the sting of his words. "But then, you're used to being on your lonesome, aren't you?" ...Almost.

"To be perfectly honest with you, baby doll, I have no clue how to take care of an egg. It's not a baby or a kitten..."

"Hey, don't call me that either!" At least he hadn't caught Razzy checking out his arse earlier... being enraged by cutesy names was enough. Although, to be honest, for all his vehemence Erin wasn't particularly angry. It was annoying, yes, but he'd already figured out that telling Razzy to stop wasn't going to work. 

But the Hufflepuff's words reminded him of his cat. Erin was definitely not letting Razzy find out he had a kitten. He hadn't even thought about it before, but suddenly he was quite certain that was something he wanted to avoid. He just KNEW Razzy would tease him mercilessly. As if he didn't already.

"This is all a bunch of bullocks, isn't it?"

For once, Erin agreed with him. He sneered, not at Razzy, but at the egg.  "You're telling me. But if we keep it warm, it'll have to hatch eventually. That's all we're being graded on. 'S not like we have to be good parents or anything." Although, Razzy HAD given it a name. Erin had already forgotten it, though.

"I meant so he'd know how we were treating it."

Razzy's head shook, "Doubt it. If Ó Móráin were allowed a stunt like that, there would be an uproar with the parents," He tilted his head, beaming smile in place, "Of course... We may never find out. What else is this school hiding from us?" He straightened up and laughed, warmly. He didn't believe in any of that crap. Paranoia talk and whatnot. It worked on his cousins, but that was because they knew he'd never truly deceive them. Erin on the other hand...

"There's no way he could possibly do such a thing," He finally said, more seriously, "He'd either have to record all of the partner's speaking with each other, which is definitely too much time for even the loneliest Professor, altogether it would probably take up twenty-four hours or more," Razzy's head then tilted the opposite direction than before, smile still in place, "Or he could listen to us at the precise moment. Which is also impossible, because there's so many partners and only one Ó Móráin... Unless he got help from other Professors, which I doubt since he's an asshole, there's no way he could accomplish this," It was moments like that Razzy almost seemed like he could be smart. Almost. But truthfully he was simply zoned too much into reality.

"Stop calling me that,"

"No, I don't think I will..." Razzy quickly told him, his calm tone fitting oh-so nicely with Erin's. Razzy didn't give a damn if Erin was welsh. He wasn't trying to mock Erin at all, if he was he would have just whined very loudly and then sulked in a corner. Razzy was simply a bit off his rocker and didn't exactly have reasons for anything. And then he went into a little rant about how Razzy should be grateful and how Razzy was always alone. A brow quirked on his face, but he smile remained. Of course Razzy was always alone, he hated being with people. He only emerged when he truly felt like it, after all.

"If you weren't here, Madame, and if you refused to take care of this egg with me..." His smile turned rather sickly as his green eyes bored into Erin's, "I would be sitting here with an omelet... And we'd both be failing this class," And Razzy wasn't lying, either. He would, with no hesitation, destroy that stupid thing if Erin was willing to help.

Razzy bit his lip and chuckled, "At least I choose to be alone, anyways. What's your excuse, sweetie?"

"Hey, don't call me that either!"

"Hmm?" Razzy patted his own chest, "What? Baby doll? Honey Bunches? Snuggle-Bear?" His tone turned from pleasant to mocking. He could tell Erin was completely annoyed just yet. And he was adorable when he was... "Cute names go with cute people, Erin. Has no one ever called you by a pet name before?" He threw his feet back on the desk and let his eyes wander again.

Of course... Razzy, too, had a small kitten tucked up in his dorm. He acquired it before school started, however. But he tended to remain quiet about it, also. Not because he didn't want to get teased, but because he simply didn't like people thinking he was a cute lil' softy. Not that he totally wasn't... it simply wasn't... Razzy-like. He wouldn't tease anyone over having an innocent creature. They grew into angry, biting things when they grew big enough, anyways. Plus, they attracted all the ladies.

"I'm pretty sure we're suppose to be good... Parents... Actually," Razzy said, sighing with irritation of the stupid thing. "Professor's rules stated we couldn't argue or anything, didn't they?" Lucky for those two, they didn't exactly argue. They just pleasantly teased each other. "I hope we get a dragon or something of the sorts," Something bad ass and manly, "Maybe when it hatches we can have a small battle to the death with other people's projects..." Of course, Razzy was simply speaking in theory. He wouldn't want to see a living thing die, but he was definitely not one that liked to be bored.

His gaze flicked from Erin to the egg, "You're the mother in this relationship, I hope you know," Cue the innocent smile.

Erin wasn't particularly paranoid, and he eyed Razzy dubiously until the boy stopped laughing and offering conspiracy theories and started talking sense instead. At this point he nodded, lolling his head to the side as he regarded first Razzy and then the egg, wondering idly as to the secrets within. A gold egg... must be something good.

Razzy referred to the professor as an asshole, and the corners of Erin's mouth lifted in an good-natured smile. The Hufflepuff would find no argument there - there was something about Ó Móráin's uptight demeanor that made Erin want to punch him. So smarmy and proper, his haughty face and snitty tones just begged for a good thumping. But as much as his teeth hurt from all the gritting when he was in class, Erin didn't really want to get suspended for something like that.

"You're right, I s'pose. Good thing." He slid his eyes pointedly towards the egg. "It'd have been your job to sweet-talk it."

"At least I choose to be alone, anyways. What's your excuse, sweetie?"

Shortly after, his eyes slid back. Razzy's eyes may have been boring into his, but Erin was looking right back, his blue gaze cool where Razzy's was intent. He should know better than to ask, but he was curious as to what Razzy would tell him if he did, and so it was that he inquired, "What makes you think I don't choose to be alone too?" His tone, although seemingly careless, was lined with curiosity; he didn't want to admit it, but he was intrigued as to what Razzy thought.

It might have been enough to reinstate some sort of hesitant peace, perhaps even a conversation, if Razzy hadn't tacked on the "sweetie" to the end. And then, ever worse, came a parade of the horrible names. Erin would rather have been called "madam" every day of his life than some of these twee epithets that tripped from Razzy's mouth now; in retrospect, it was probably the "snuggle-bear" that pushed him over the edge.

If Erin had been the slightest bit more thoughtful in nature, he might have noticed the trend emerging between the two boys. When he taunted Razzy, the dark-haired boy shrugged it off with that enigmatic smile, seeming never to let anything the Slytherin said bother him. But when he taunted Erin, Erin inevitably rose to the bait. And, always, he did so to Razzy's great satisfaction and pleasure. Maybe if Erin knew, if he'd noticed by now, maybe there would have been more of an effort on his part to control the anger that occasionally rose like a flash flood to the knowing glint of smiling teeth or a suggestion lurking under overly-sugared words. As it were, Erin hadn't realized yet that he was only playing directly into Razzy's hands every time he flamed into rage or indignation at a mocking remark. In this aspect, he hadn't yet figured out all the rules of their little game.

So now, Erin whirled on him and slammed his fist into the top of Razzy's desk. The sound it made was loud and oddly dull, a thunk that made the desk jolt under Razzy's careless legs. "I am not cute," he snarled, glaring into Razzy's face, and now his gaze was intent, and very angry. "Stop calling me those fucking names." He wasn't even fuming inwardly; no, he was nearly seeing red, and every muscle was tight in anticipation of a fight.

"I hope we get a dragon or something of the sorts. Maybe when it hatches we can have a small battle to the death with other people's projects..."

But then- but then - still staring Razzy down, an irritated hiss slipped between Erin's lips, his breath draining away like his anger. The loss was evident in his suddenly slumping shoulders. That was the worst thing about his new partner - he couldn't find him consistently unbearable. Just when he'd got Erin good and hot Razzy would say something funny, or something Erin agreed with. Like the omelette comment earlier, and now this, about the egglets battling to their deaths - what was Erin supposed to do when presented with a guy like that?

"That would... be brilliant," he acknowledged reluctantly. "But it won't be a dragon. Dragon eggs are too expensive to waste on students." A moment later, and his uncomfortable limbo between amusement and fury turned into the shock of widened eyes and an indignant, "I'm not!" It was nearly a yelp. Erin was too horrified at the idea to pay attention to pitch control.

"You're right, I s'pose. Good thing. It'd have been your job to sweet-talk it."

A brow raised on Razzy's face. He knew he was a sweet-talker... But manipulation was such a better word. "No," He shrugged a shoulder, his hand running through the hair on the side of his head. "Professor doesn't like Hufflepuffs. Wouldn't listen to me..." He paused, his hand stopping on the top of his scalp, hair sticking up through his fingers. "I believe the only Slytherins who ever liked a Hufflepuff are that Trent Travis bloke and Bellatrix Dark," both equally insane blokes. Perhaps Trent was more on the stalk-you-and-pretend-you-love-me side, while Bella was more on the evil-ruler-who's-really-a-delusional-hobo side. Of course, Bella basically only liked Razzy, anyways. He wasn't a typical Hufflepuff... But sometimes he seemed like it.

Razzy believed that if he were to break the egg, anyways, Erin wouldn't get in much trouble. But he wasn't about to voice that thought to Erin. Slytherins shouldn't have advantages. They take advantage of those advantages... Or so to speak.

"What makes you think I don't choose to be alone too?"

He let his hair go, letting it slowly flop back down into place. Razzy's expression became thoughtful, more natural, and much more pleasant. "You?" Razzy's gaze dropped and he thought about it. Erin did seem like the type to be alone... But... It was hard for Razzy to completely understand why a normal human like Harper would sit around, alone, on purpose. "Don't take this offensively... But someone like you... Well... I wouldn't expect would enjoy being alone," He looked back up at Erin, "I'm positive loneliness eats at you, that you may lack proper friends... But..." Razzy's brow furrowed. He didn't want to seriously offend Erin... And what he was saying was in all seriousness...

"I'm not the brightest person. I could always be wrong... But... You're different from me... The main reason why I choose to be alone is..." That he could no longer feel loneliness and he could hardly feel a need for people. He trailed off. His gaze turned to the egg. He acted like he hadn't added that part to his small lecture at all. Razzy wasn't open about his growing disorder. Then again, he was only getting tested for it. He could just be misanthropic. He could just be some loner. But he used to be normal... Minus the fact he may have tortured some innocent creatures before.

A smile sprang back onto his face, his brow curving back into place. Weakness didn't exist for Razzy Chancelier. If he wasn't such a smooth actor, however, it would have been clear as day.

"I am not cute,"

Erin whisked around and slammed his fist on Razzy's desk. His eyes slid down from the Slytherin's face and to his hand, close to the Hufflepuff's legs. Though Razzy probably wouldn't have viciously attacked Erin if he had hit him, it was probably smart that he took his rage out on the desk. "Oh?" Razzy said, his diabolical smile forming into place. He casually slid his feet off the desk and leaned in towards Erin, making sure the two of them were close. "And who told you this?" There had to have been a reason for Erin's low confidence. Perhaps a girl he fancied called him hideous or he was teased awfully badly by the other asshat Slytherins. "I don't mean to offend... But my views are my views," And Razzy viewed Erin as a potential playmate. He slid his arms onto the desk, one on each side of Erin's fist. He was loving all of this.

"I won't call you anymore names--" For now, "-- Erin," Cue the innocent smile, the warm-hearted eyes. "Relax, alright? It's all in good fun, no?" Or all in a malicious game that Erin was losing quickly. But they were all simply jokes and Erin could easily brush it off, couldn't he? The names were nice. Definitely not the most awful thing that Razzy could do to Erin... And Razzy could do much worse.

But, in truth, Erin still hadn't fazed Razzy. There wasn't much the boy could do to surprise Razzy... Though actually acting like a man would be different.

 "But it won't be a dragon. Dragon eggs are too expensive to waste on students."

"Or maybe he bought only one and gave it to some unlucky pairing..." Razzy chuckled, his theory bordering on conspiracy, "Or, in our case, lucky. Since having a pet dragon would beat having a stupid owl," but maybe not a cute, innocent kitten. Saint was too cute and fluffy... And a dragon could potentially kill someone... Like Erin. Or worse, Razzy! "Though... I've never owned one..." He tilted his head, a curious expression on his face. And he never wanted to own one, either.

"You can't be the father, anyways. Else you'd be married to a woman who is taller than you, can grow a thicker beard than you, and has bigger pecks than you," And possibly a bigger... Other something. "But since commitment is bullocks, I suppose this is our lovechild," A laugh escaped Razzy's lips. This was too much fun. "It has your skin, Erin... Nicely colored and cold as ice," He crossed his arms and leaned back once more. Watching Erin choke up and hit high octaves was like watching a puppy begging for love. Only... Erin was definitely not begging for love. Not yet, at least.

"Professor doesn't like Hufflepuffs. Wouldn't listen to me..."
 
Erin didn't see anything wrong with that. Although, he was pretty sure the egg wouldn't care who was talking to it, or which House they were in. He was less pleased at being called out on his getting-along-with-his-new-partner vs. Slytherins-are-supposed-to-mock-Hufflepuffs dilema, though. Razzy might not have intended for Erin to read any further into his words, but Erin certainly did. It just wouldn't be productive to taunt Razzy mercilessly, would it? That was why he'd refrained. Meeting in empty classrooms without his peers helped too. Razzy wasn't really... your typical Hufflepuff anyway, at least not to Erin. A Hufflepuff had never been able to provoke him this much before.
He knew who Trent was sweet on, that Hufflepuff girl who'd thrown the party. Mysti, he was fairly sure; he'd heard Trent mention her a few times, and had had time to say hello when he'd gone to her party with Bella. Speaking of Bella, though... Erin had no idea that she liked anyone, much less a Hufflepuff. He looked at Razzy consideringly, tilting his head to the side. "Bella likes a Hufflepuff? Who?"
 
Razzy started to pyschoanalyze him, and some of the tension in his body drained when the other boy wasn't a jerk about his question and answered him like a normal person. Erin didn't realize this, though; he didn't notice how much better he felt when Razzy's manner shifted from sly to pleasant. It was Razzy's tone, the thoughtful furrow of his brow, the fact that he actually seemed to be thinking about the question, that kept Erin from getting angry or offended at any of the things he said. Even when some of them touched on truth, which was something Erin ordinarily couldn't stand. But he'd asked Razzy, that was something else to keep in mind, and he remained calm and thoughtful in his own way, right up until Razzy trailed off without telling him the difference between them. Erin tilted his head at him, staring as though that would coax the words out, but there was no real urgency or interest in his gaze. If Razzy didn't want to tell him anything more, that was fine; it wasn't Erin's business to know what Razzy thought of himself. For a few seconds, though, Razzy didn't look so good. The smile that sprang back into place was convincing, but not convincing enough.

"Oh? And who told you this?"
 
Erin's knuckles would be raw when he finally examined them, maybe even cracked or bleeding. He'd hit the desk hard. But he wasn't about to check - or care - about the damage as long as Razzy was there, leaning into Erin's personal space like it was some sort of challenge.
 
Erin supposed it was. He was familiar enough with the gameplays of intimidation. His eyes narrowed back at Razzy, but he didn't move.
 
The dangerous glare faltered when confusion flickered in his face. "Told me what?" he asked, brow crumpling just a smidge. Then he realized what Razzy meant, his brow smoothing out and his gaze becoming murderous once more. "You're missing the point!" he hissed. "I don't like it when you call me cute or any of that shite!"
 
"I don't mean to offend... But my views are my views."
 
A beat. Erin's tone was low and so soft, dark, laced with arrogance, "Oh, you meant to offend," he said, in barely a murmur. Nonetheless, Razzy would be able hear him well enough; the other boy was even closer now that he'd braced his arms on the desk around Erin's fist. Erin wasn't about to back down or back away. There was more to this game than just words.
 
So even when Razzy used his real name, told him to relax, Erin didn't trust that smile. He scrutinized Razzy's face, the warmth in his eyes, and then Erin finally stepped back, letting out a puff of irritation as he turned away to flex his smarting hand. It seemed even weirder to hear the Hufflepuff call him by his given name; oddly personal, not to be called Harper but Erin instead.
 
"These're no owl eggs." They were too big. And golden? "Maybe you're right - maybe they are dragon eggs. Or phoenix ones... we should probably look in our textbooks." Despite his words, Erin had no intention of actually looking up the eggs in his textbook. He was far too lazy. He shrugged, as if to convey that to Razzy.
 
"Though... I've never owned one..."
 
Erin gave a dismissive wave of his hand, as if to say, me either.
 
Then Razzy had the audacity to imply that he was the less masculine one! He spouted off a bunch of shite about his having bigger pecs, more facial hair (which caused Erin to peer skeptically at Razzy's chin), and being taller. Erin looked shifty. "Doesn't make me any less of a man than you," he muttered. Hadn't Razzy ever heard of an odd couple? NOT THAT THEY WERE A COUPLE. But just because he was shorter didn't make him the woman! "You'd better watch it, or I'll come beat you up after my next growth spurt."
 
Logically, Erin knew that both of them would still be growing for years more. Yet Razzy seemed to have grown faster than Erin. For that matter, lots of other fifth year boys had too. It made him seethe to think on it, on how scrawny he looked next to them. It was all awfully unfair. 'Course, in brawls Erin made up for it with his sheer manic viciousness, but still. Unfair.
 
"It has your skin, Erin... Nicely colored and cold as ice."
 
Erin considered this for a moment. "You are utterly bizarre," he announced at last, apparently unfazed.

Of course, Razzy wasn't playing with words. If Erin truly had a problem with Hufflepuffs, Razzy hadn't noticed. He simply believed the boy to have a bad attitude. After all, everyone he spoke to about Erin said he had the worst attitude. Though Razzy thought it was cute... Not everyone could stand a good egotistical Slytherin like Razzy could. Though the Hufflepuff was known to snap at people who were pissy, he really didn't mind Erin. But Dahlia Collins was still scraping at Razzy's brain. No ickle firstie would get away with the attitude she gave him at Ayla's party. But he wasn't seeking revenge. He was still just utterly annoyed with the coward Collins.

"Bella likes a Hufflepuff? Who?"

He quirked a brow and paused for a moment, "When I say like, I mean as a friend... I believe, at least," Razzy smirked lightly, "Bellatrix and I are real close... We've been raised together..." Basically, at least. He used to hate to admit he was cousins with the Dark girls. But Bellatrix was basically a best friend to Razzy... Though he didn't admit that often. "We're cousins, after all..." And then Razzy paused again, his smirk turning mischievous. Why was Erin interested in Bella? "Not jealous, are you? Don't worry... Unlike all the other purebloods, I'm not too big on incest," Though he vaguely remembered the older Dark twin being so careless with it all. Raised to know her place. Though Razzy was raised a true, snotty pureblood, he wasn't always comfortable with being nasty with his cousins. It was always best that Razzy ignored pureblood relations and pretended he wasn't related to anyone... Except the Darks and the McAdams, of course. That was already too weird.

"Like I said, not too sure about Bellatrix... The Darks are funny people..." He chuckled and shrugged, "I don't know if you're acquainted with Beatrix... But she's real fun. Convinced her to jump off a pier with me last winter... In those silly high heels she wears," He stopped rambling on and stopped to laugh some more. His cousins were nuts. How he could have ever hated them, Razzy didn't know. Of course, he basically hated Beatrix when he jumped off the pier with her. That didn't stop him from having fun. But Razzy doubted Erin cared for any of his babbling about his cousins. He didn't continue reminiscing. His smile remained in place.

Erin remained silent after Razzy's analysis. Perhaps Razzy said something true... Or hurt the boy's feelings. But that silence made Razzy feel better about what he said. Even if Erin had gotten upset with Razzy, he wouldn't have minded. But that silence was all Razzy needed to hear. Clearly, he did something right, he didn't upset the boy... But why would any of that matter to the cold-hearted Reynaud Chancelier? And when Erin didn't press on Razzy about his unfinished statement, his smile became more genuine. Razzy liked that in a person... When they didn't poke at him or bother him over something he clearly had no mind to talk about. Perhaps Erin and Razzy were more alike than he thought. Which wasn't particularly a good thing... But Razzy was secretly more fond of the Slytherin.

The Slytherin hadn't backed down when Razzy got close to him. Strange... But he probably realized it was all still a game. Razzy would have kissed him right then, loving the tension of the moment... But, alas, he knew better. This wasn't the right moment. Though Razzy loved snogging angry people... He knew that the moment wasn't right. Razzy was good at his Smooth Operating job. If he would have snogged Erin then, there'd be chaos.

 "I don't like it when you call me cute or any of that shite!"

"Oh? How is calling someone cute offensive?" Razzy asked Erin, innocently enough. "It's a compliment, Erin. You're overreacting," He had the intention to add 'baby-cakes' to the end of that sentence, but he simply chuckled instead. Erin was too cute. Plus, Razzy couldn't help but find the word 'shite' funny. It simply was a stupid word and since Erin had already dropped the f-bomb, why not actually say 'shit'? Swearing wasn't something Razzy normally did, since using curse words less is more powerful and exciting. Hearing a clean-mouthed bloke swear was like watching a cat walk on its hind-legs, after all.

The Hufflepuff didn't back down. His eyes stayed locked with Erin's. Razzy's face remained pleasant, the evil smile never dimming. "Merde sainte, je vous adore..." Razzy let out a small laugh and then stayed quiet once more. Whether Erin understood French or not, Razzy didn't expect him to react kindly. He was starting to really like Erin, though. Which wasn't a good thing, really, since Razzy's love was the definition of 'obsessed'.

"Maybe you're right - maybe they are dragon eggs. Or phoenix ones... we should probably look in our textbooks."

The Harper boy backed away and made a suggestion for them to look in their books. But Razzy didn't move and Erin didn't seem truly interested. The boy shrugged, lightly. "Perhaps we can get a Ravenclaw to tell us..." Even then, Razzy didn't really care. It was meant to be a surprise, wasn't it? The boy was willing to wait it out.

"Doesn't make me any less of a man than you,"

Razzy bit his tongue as hard as he could without breaking skin. There were so many insults he could say. So many lady jokes. So much taunting could have been made towards the smaller boy... But Razzy had promised to lay off him. He merely smiled, wildly, at Erin and remained quiet. He was known to be unpredictable, Razzy was... And moments like that always turned him a bit more nutso than usual. But then Razzy physically relaxed and his sly smile was back in place. Unpredictable. He was too calm to start ripping legs off desks today. His eyes fell to the desk in front of him. "Beat me up, hm?" Razzy rhetorically asked, his tone completely natural and smooth as it was before, "I won't doubt you just yet, Erin... But... I wouldn't underestimate me if I were you..." It didn't come out as a threat, more so advice. "I'm a lover, not a fighter... But underestimating the enemy isn't smart," It was dumb, really.

Razzy paused and his gaze slid up to Erin's, perfectly charming as usual, "Not that I see you as an enemy, Erin..."

"You are utterly bizarre,"

He beamed at the Slytherin, taking his words as a compliment, "Being bizarre is better than having a stick up my ass like the rest of you lot," Razzy simply told him, his feet swinging back on top of the desk. He pushed his bangs back again, revealing more of his elegant face, "No offense to you, amour de ma vie," He chuckled, "But normal is boring and I rather be dead than be boring".

Erin stared at Razzy, his eyes going round and his mouth slackening in surprise. "You're family?" He looked so amazed at this that he hardly paid attention to much else, although he shook his head with a frown when Razzy asked teasingly if he was jealous. It just figured, didn't it? Those girls kept popping up when he least expected them. He'd decided to move on, but he still couldn't get away from them. But he wasn't really all that surprised that they'd be related. Erin was no stranger to the twisty complicated family trees of many pureblooded families; they were nearly all connected. And besides, there was something about Razzy... he couldn't put his finger on it... but there was something that made Erin easily believe he and Bella were best friends, or that he'd gone jumping off a pier with Beatrix. Maybe it was the reckless little edge to his smirk that put Erin in mind of the kind of craziness the twins were always being accused of.

"I don't know if you're acquainted with Beatrix... But she's real fun."

Erin threw himself sideways into a seat, propping a leg up on a neighboring desk. "Yeah, I know her," he said, but he didn't elaborate. At Razzy's next words, though, he turned his head away as though sulking, busily glaring at the wall. But sulking was better than beating up classroom furniture, after all.

"Oh? How is calling someone cute offensive? It's a compliment, Erin. You're overreacting."

Erin made a sound like an enraged tea kettle. "I'm not. It's stupid, is what it is. Makes me sound a right ponce, and you a right git." What he didn't explain, because he knew Razzy was doing it on purpose, was that it was something you were supposed to say about girls, not boys. Boys weren't cute. They could be handsome, or, er, hot, attractive, whatever.... but not cute. Since Razzy was all about Erin's feminine name, Erin knew he could only be doing it for just that reason. He rested his chin in one hand and finally looked back to Razzy, staring coolly at the other boy and making a spirited attempt to be calm. Or, if not calm, then at least sarcastic, which was better suited for their game than fiery temper. "Is it a French thing, this preoccupation with ill-fitting affection and inappropriate names? Or is it only your habit?"

"Merde sainte, je vous adore..."

That was unexpected, and Erin's lips moved as he tried to translate. His brow puckered in thought. But...no. Couldn't be. It'd been years since his French lessons, during his summers at home; he'd never cared for the language, and even less for having to sit in a chair and learn it while outside the window fair weather beckoned. Well, he knew merde sainte was "holy shit," because he'd never forget a profanity he might someday want to use, but the latter... surely he was mistaken. Why would Razzy say something like that, here, now, randomly, and without the slightest reason to? Erin must've gotten his verbs mixed up - maybe what he thought was adore, really meant abhor. Hate, instead of love. Otherwise it just made no sense. Yeah, that was it. Erin'd always been horrible with schoolwork, and a bit thick besides; it was the easier explanation that he'd botched it all up.  Good thing he'd never tried to speak the language much, he'd have definitely made a fool of himself.

Still, for a moment or two between the debate and the decision, his expression was wary and not a little bit confused. He bit his lip and then moved on, raising his eyes to Razzy's again in silent, blazing challenge as if to say, you think I care about your opinion of me?

"Perhaps we can get a Ravenclaw to tell us..."

Erin snorted. "Doubt it. Unless you want to beat it out of  'em."  And hang on, hadn't the professor said the eggs weren't all animals? If Erin got a plant or, or, or a bloody rock or something, he was going to be mad. He wanted something that could set fire to the curtains, not something stupid and motionless and boooring.

"I won't doubt you just yet, Erin... But... I wouldn't underestimate me if I were you...I'm a lover, not a fighter... But underestimating the enemy isn't smart."

Erin gave him a wide smile, too full of teeth to be anything but unsettling. There was a wildness to him too, an answering kind to Razzy's own, that showed in the tension of his shoulders as he leaned forward over the desk, and in the way he grinned. "Oh, I know," he said, and his voice was low, amused, almost a purr. Something Razzy had said he apparently found hilarious, as he was still smiling, and his voice so low and sweet.  "But I never said I was smart. Blood and sweat are their own kind of victory, no matter who's actually left on the floor." Slowly, so slowly, he leaned back in his desk again, tilting his head back a little to laugh and gaze at Razzy with a smirk on his mouth.

"Not that I see you as an enemy, Erin..."

Erin made a careless gesture, as if to say of course, whatever. But there was no impatience or sulkiness about him anymore; he'd been too amused at Razzy's response to his semi-threat, and too delighted by the prospect of Razzy's semi-threat back. It was odd that this had relaxed him as it did, but Erin was prone to his own quick changes in temperament, and now whatever his internal compass had reset itself back to it was enough to leave him boneless and smirking in his chair. He didn't even rise to the French Razzy threw in again, although something in his expression flickered - there was no mistaking the translation this time. Love of my life. Erin tilted his head to the side. What was Razzy playing at?

He'd been frowning the slightest bit before the rest of Razzy's words sank in, and then they surprised a laugh out of him. "You think I have a stick up my arse?" Oh, how delightful. Erin grinned and grinned. "Mate, you've got the wrong guy. You don't know anything...." There were so many people more deserving of that description than Erin. His brother, first and foremost, but that was less indicative of Landis' status in the Ultimate List of Stick-Up-Their-Arses than it was of that being Erin's favorite description of him. His parents, definitely - well, at least his mum - the majority of the teachers at this school... for that matter, most adults, nearly all adults. Then there were some students, like Schlagenweit (Erin hadn't seen him around much, more's the pity), or Branwell, Knight (bloke couldn't take a joke to save his life), sometimes even Fergie, if you'd hidden his hair products. A whole school full of misguided, stuck-up morons, and Razzy called HIM that.

"You're so wrong it's almost painful." Still laughing a little, Erin put a hand to his heart.

"You're family?"

Razzy nodded and shrugged, "Though the Chanceliers pretend they're not... But they're blood, so..." Which was odd. He hung around them all the time and they didn't feel like they were related. Razzy was a Chancelier, of course. He acted like one to an extreme extent. But he was the different one, after all. The one with the problems. He was still accepted, though... He was still blood... Which was how Razzy felt about the Darks, perhaps. He didn't speak any further about them. There wasn't much else to say. Erin didn't seem interested, just a bit surprised. Perhaps even disappointed. So he let the topic go. Erin said he knew Beatrix, but Razzy asked no questions. Of course he did. They were all in the same year.

Razzy wasn't interested in whatever Erin's relationship was with Razzy's cousins. It was none of his business, anyways. Razzy knew that Bellatrix was head-over-heels for that Xavier guy and Beatrix had her own crazy stories that Razzy couldn't find himself to listen to. But she never mentioned Erin, Razzy knew that. If there was anything going on, the girls, like Erin, didn't wish to speak about it. Which Razzy was fine with.

"I'm not. It's stupid, is what it is. Makes me sound a right ponce, and you a right git."

He chuckled and shrugged, "Fine then. You're not cute. You're just incredibly attractive, how about that?" The Hufflepuff smiled, innocently. He wasn't trying to degrade Erin, heaven's no, he was simply confessing that Erin was interesting to him. Snog-Worthy, he was. And definitely worth Razzy's not-so-precious time. "All this insulting is really hurting my feelings, Erin," Razzy told him, his tone thick in sarcasm and his eyes never leaving Erin's face. If he wished to play rough, Razzy was perfectly fine with it. He loved it rough, after all. In more ways than one.

"Is it a French thing, this preoccupation with ill-fitting affection and inappropriate names? Or is it only your habit?"

He shook his head with a laugh, "Actually, that's just me... Only with you," Wasn't Erin special? But he had caught Razzy's attention. And not many people could keep it for so long. By now, if Razzy were with some other bloke with a bad temper and wasn't as enjoyable as Erin... Well... That egg would have been smashed and Razzy would probably have accidentally beaten the crap out of an angry CoMC partner. Which, as enjoyable as it sounded, wouldn't be all too fun. Razzy wouldn't harm Erin, though. He was much too fond of him. But Razzy was difficult... He may end up snapping if Erin were to attack him. The Hufflepuff took a moment to think about this and internally disagreed with himself. Seeing Erin trying to punch him was all too adorable.

Erin began glaring at Razzy and he stared right back at him with the most pleased expression. He wasn't sure if he translated the statement or not, but he was still happy to get on his nerves. He didn't mind the silence that Erin fell into whenever he said something wrong. It showed that Razzy was winning. And it gave him a chance to look over Erin's pouty face. He smiled and lightly bit his lip. Too cute.

"Doubt it. Unless you want to beat it out of  'em."

"Never had to do that..." Razzy laughed. He didn't normally have to beat people up. It was always negotiation and sweet-talking with him. He knew how to use words very well... He also knew how to use his fists, however. "But that's probably because I never give a damn to ask a favor," He shrugged and let out another laugh. That, too. Razzy was suppose to be a hard-working Hufflepuff... But it was hard to be hard-working when he wasn't interested in anything. Though... He'd definitely work for Erin's affection.

"Oh, I know, but I never said I was smart. Blood and sweat are their own kind of victory, no matter who's actually left on the floor."

Razzy's eyes stayed locked with Erin's, his charming smile sliding into place. Externally, he simply looked amused by Erin's words. Internally, he was dying to lock lips with the Slytherin. His new wild-edge, those low words... Definitely irresistible. He realized... It was going to be hard for Razzy to find the more innocent people attractive knowing that Erin Harper was running around. And somehow blood, sweat, victory, and being left on the floor wasn't a threat in Razzy's eyes. It was something much more... Disturbing. Something the Harper boy wouldn't be too fond of. He bit his lip and his eyes followed Erin, closely. Erin laughed and Razzy's unblinking stare finally broke to laugh along with him.

If only Erin knew who he was dealing with.

"I sure hope that was directed towards me, Erin," Razzy turned his gaze back onto him, his green eyes wild with excitement and his tone bordering suggestive. He usually only played seductive with silly girls who knew no better... But Razzy let it get the better of him. He stopped to control himself. This wasn't like Razzy to snap... But he was more of a creature than a man, after all, giving into his needs. Lucky for Erin, Razzy wasn't entirely the violent type.

Erin calmed down and Razzy's wild stare finally dropped back down, easing itself back into the playful look he was always giving Erin. Razzy didn't want to threaten him. He didn't want to harm him. Erin was bringing out Razzy's bad side and Razzy was completely loving it. Though... He had to learn to keep his friskiness at bay. The threats, Erin seemed to like. As long as they stayed playful, Razzy didn't mind them, either.

Then he started laughing and being all wannabe-cool and Razzy simply sat back, watching, his smile growing wider. Erin was too good to be true. Why hadn't he been partnered with him long before this? Though... Erin probably still wouldn't be in his bed, Razzy still had no doubts about himself. This was merely the beginning of their relationship. Razzy was used to the easy folks... But Erin would be worth the trouble of wooing.

"You're so wrong it's almost painful."

Razzy raised and eyebrow and laughed, "Oh? The way you're defending yourself and acting as if you never been told that..." He placed his thumbs through two of his belt loops, "If you didn't have a stick up your asce, would you truly be upset about what I just said?" Plus, even if Erin didn't... Well... Razzy could fix that. The boy stopped to laugh again and then shook his head. Erin was too easy.

"It was a joke, amour de ma vie," Razzy told him, his tone completely sweet, "If I wanted to offend you, I'd simply call you cute, now wouldn't I?"

"Though the Chanceliers pretend they're not... But they're blood, so..."

Erin nodded, unsurprised by this. Well, unsurprised at the idea of a pureblood family pretending those branches it didn't approve of didn't exist - that was common pureblood habit. Erin had plenty of not-relatives himself, not that he knew any of them personally. His relatives were ignored because they were less-than-pure, though - Squib lines who'd married into muggle families, and things like that. But the Darks were as pure as they came. Erin could only assume the Chanceliers didn't want to be associated with them because of the Dark family's well-known streak of insanity.

The pureblood Morgans, though, were a dying line. Erin had a couple of cousins who carried the name through the male line, and he supposed Landis would be able to pass down the name too, but that was about it. It was weird to think that he was probably related to some of the other purebloods in school - and weirder still to think he'd be expected to marry one of them. Not that he'd necessarily marry. (Erin wrinkled his nose at the thought of marriage.)

"Fine then. You're not cute. You're just incredibly attractive, how about that?"

Another innocent smile that Erin didn't trust. He eyed Razzy as though he suspected the other boy might be making a joke of him. "That's... acceptable, I s'pose," he said grudgingly. Privately, though, he thought Razzy was nuts. Either the Hufflepuff was being sarcastic, in which case his commentary was not welcome, or he was being truthful, in which case Razzy was obviously defective. Erin wasn't sure which option to prefer.

"All this insulting is really hurting my feelings, Erin."

Well, that was sarcasm for sure. Erin continued the withering tone. "Poor baby," he said, with no sympathy whatsoever. "Should I be kinder? Sweeter?  More... coddlesome, maybe?" Then Razzy laughed and informed Erin that it was only with him that he was so ... whatever Razzy was, and Erin wrinkled his nose again. "Joy."

"Never had to do that..."

Oh, but he was such a joker. Still laughing, all the time. Erin tilted his head at him curiously, trying to see past Razzy's light manner. "You've never beaten anyone up?" he wanted to know. "Or been in a fight?" It was a foreign concept to him. Oh, Erin knew there were plenty of people - most people, in fact - who DIDN'T use their fists to solve conflicts, but he'd never been one of them. He'd gotten his first detention less than two weeks after he'd started school as a first-year when some little fool had knocked over his pumpkin juice into his plate and then laughed.

Erin's previous words about blood and sweat and victory hadn't seemed to faze Razzy much. He just looked amused, although Erin, who was gazing at him anxious for any reaction, did notice that his green eyes seemed to blaze particularly intently on Erin's own. It was true, Erin had no idea who he was dealing with. Even now, a little smile still on his lips, he was wondering exactly what he'd have to do to earn a reaction from the apparently unflappable Hufflepuff. Erin was used to much easier prey - Razzy would be quite the challenge. But he had plenty of time over break, when he'd have the castle almost entirely to himself... hang on, since when had he begun assuming he'd have anything to do with Razzy after the egg ceremony was over? Erin stopped mid-thought, surprised at himself.

But before he could do any futher self-analyzing, Razzy spoke and distracted him. "I sure hope that was directed towards me, Erin." Any hazy air of preoccupation that he had dropped away as Erin's eyes snapped back to the other boy, giving Razzy his full attention. "Who else would I be speaking to?" he said carelessly, crossing one ankle over the other on top of the desk next to him. He slid his gaze pointedly to the side, towards their project. "The egg's hardly going to put up a good fight."

" 'Course I don't have a stick up the arse." Erin waved a hand expressively. "I'd be walking funnier. Besiiiiiides -" he slid his feet off the desk as he drew out the word, leaning forward again over his own desk and propped up by his elbows - "I'm not upset. Do I look upset? C'mon, hardly." Erin was not in the slightest bit offended, because he knew exactly how wrong Razzy was.  It was much easier to grin when someone's insult hadn't a grain of truth to it.

"It was a joke, amour de ma vie. If I wanted to offend you, I'd simply call you cute, now wouldn't I?"

"You would," Erin said agreeably. "And then I'd be forced to do something just awful, so it's a good thing you didn't want to offend me." There it was, that French slop again. Oh, well, Erin supposed it was okay. As long as it was in French he could pretend he didn't know what it meant.

Razzy smoothed out the lining of shirt and remained quite, just as Erin decided. He preferred it that way, and he hadn't expected Erin to continue the conversation about Razzy's family. It wasn't an interesting subject, nor did Razzy really care to continue it. And it wouldn't have surprised Razzy if Erin was simply uncomfortable with the subject. The Dark girls were known for their looks, but also known for their batshit insane personalities. They probably bothered Erin in one way or another. After witnessing the way they acted at Ayla's birthday party, he wasn't surprised if they normally made people cry. Not that Razzy could really see Erin crying... He seemed too... Tough. Close-minded. Though his appearance definitely didn't show a rugged man, his personality begged to differ. In other words, if the twins had decided to call Erin a slut and then throw cake onto his birthday dress, Erin probably wouldn't have gone into shock and his younger, coward sister wouldn't have to fight his battle. Did Erin have a sister? Razzy's eyes glanced around Erin's sulky face. Razzy could hardly imagine what Erin would be like towards a little girl.

And marriage wasn't something Razzy was all too fond of, either. Commitment was Razzy's least favorite word... Next to onomatopoeia. He had never had a girlfriend or boyfriend. He had never even called someone his 'friend'. If he were to call someone his 'friend' they'd expect too much out of him. He had close acquaintances, such as Eli Park or Ainsley Gairden. Though both of them had Razzy's interest and could possibly get him to do anything, he never called them 'friends'. And they understood that, did they not? If a simple friendship irked Razzy, marriage would possibly cause the boy to kill himself.

"That's... acceptable, I s'pose,"

"I'm glad we have an agreement," Razzy winked at the Slytherin, his playful stare never breaking. Sarcastic, no... Defective, perhaps. Though Razzy couldn't exactly tell what Erin was thinking, he knew very well that Erin thought he was messing with him. Razzy wasn't certain enough to assure the hot-headed boy, so he stayed quiet about the matter. Erin could think what he wanted, Razzy thought he was adorable. The Hufflepuff remained silent, however. He was too composed to show how truly observant he was. How he noticed every little scowl Erin threatened to form on his cute lil' face. At least, that's what Razzy believed those were. It simply could of been Harper's face: Always angry and disgusted.

"Poor baby. Should I be kinder? Sweeter?  More... coddlesome, maybe?"

"Oh, Erin, darling," Razzy smiled wickedly, almost seeing Erin's sarcasm as a challenge, "No, no... You're much too sweet as it is," He tilted his head, eyes never straying from Erin's, "Of course, it wouldn't hurt for you to call me pretty every so often," he said sarcastically, then chuckled. He reminded himself of the little couples he walked pass in the hallways. How lucky he was to be free from all that... If a girl were to tie him down, he wouldn't be able to snog everyone he wanted so freely. Hitting it then quiting it was simply Razzy's style. He ignored Erin's snide 'joy' and went back to running his fingers through his dark hair. He secretly liked it, anyways. Why else would he still be in the room? One would think if he disliked Razzy, he'd be long gone with the egg.

"You've never beaten anyone up? Or been in a fight?"

Razzy's brow furrowed for a moment and he shook his head, "Not what I meant... I've never beaten someone for not giving me what I wanted, I was saying," His gaze dropped and he attempted to spike his hair up in a fohawk. "I've been in fights, yes... And I've beaten the crap out of people..." The only fight Razzy ever lost was with Beatrix and Bellatrix. He was much too confused to do anything. It was more like... The Twins slapping him around while he watched in disbelief. He wouldn't hurt the smaller girls. Anyone else, though, they'd probably have regretted it. "But I don't take pride in that," Razzy added after a moment, letting his hair go and letting it lightly fall into place, "I understand why a Slytherin... Or a Gryffindor... Would think it's cool and manly to get into fights or mess someone up..." He shrugged and smirked at Erin, "But I believe there's easier ways... Less violent ways... To get someone to back off," He paused and then let out a laugh, "Perhaps that's why I'm a goddamn Hufflepuff. Much too friendly, I am..." He joked. Razzy was obviously a jerk. He was, as he said, simply a lover, not a fighter.

Erin probably didn't understand why Razzy meant, anyways. The boys were tended to fight each other would never understand the ones who negotiated and played with words. If Razzy wanted to, he could get Erin to leave the room. Quite easily. But then he could coax him back in. He could get him to trust Razzy more... Of course... He would have to work on that one. But, no matter what, Razzy would never have to physically grab or push or grope the boy. Of course... Groping definitely didn't help in situations such as Razzy's.

The Slytherin seemed unfazed by Razzy's slip-up and he internally relaxed. The boy was slower than Razzy thought. Of course, sometimes that would work to Razzy's advantage, but other times Razzy would have to actually work to coax the boy into what Razzy truly wanted. In the current predicament, Razzy was being a complete pervert, but he didn't want to try anything with Erin just yet. His slowness worked to Razzy's advantage. He didn't feel so creepy and overwhelming. Unless... Erin did understand what Razzy meant, and that cute little grin was there for another reason. This peaked the Hufflepuff's interest even more. Razzy decided that, perhaps, pursuing Erin wouldn't be too much work. Perhaps he could actually sweet talk the Slytherin. He began planning... Perhaps he could owl Erin over winter break. Drop hints that he was thinking of him. It worked on girls, did it not? Perhaps it would work on Erin.

"Who else would I be speaking to?"

Razzy remained silent for a few moments, his face blank as he studied Erin, "It could have been hypothetical," he pointed out, "Directed towards no one..." Razzy was growing to believe Erin wasn't smart enough to pull off such an act. He stayed quiet again. He ignored Erin's joke. His hands lifted up back to his hair again and he tilted his head, almost as if he was bored with it all. Truthfully, he had nothing to say. But he quickly thought up something, simply to keep Erin entertained and to make sure Erin knew his silence wasn't weakness, he was simply thinking, "And I believe watching someone take on the egg would be truly entertaining. People would pay money to see some nutjob starting a fight with a harmless egg," He let out a laugh, "At least... I would pay money for that. Poor egg,"

"I'm not upset. Do I look upset? C'mon, hardly."

The Hufflepuff merely smirked at Erin. In Razzy's eyes, since Erin wouldn't shut up about it, he seemed offended. That was a common human trait, to never drop something that offended you. He decided to remain quiet, truly quiet, this time just to piss Erin off. Also, so they could drop it. Razzy hardly believed Erin had a stick up his ass, but making Erin think he did was fun. But the boy needed to drop it now. Else Razzy would start believing Erin really did have a stick up his ass.

"You would. And then I'd be forced to do something just awful, so it's a good thing you didn't want to offend me."

"Oh?" Razzy let one of his properly plucked eyebrows (NOT his decision) rise and he chuckled. He swiped his fringe across his face and smiled at Erin, ever so innocently, "And what would that be, hm?" He said, a hint of challenge in his voice. There wasn't many awful things someone could do to Razzy. He was interested in what Erin considered awful. He was probably just threatening to supposedly beat Razzy up again, but he was interested. If Erin were to actually throw a punch at Razzy, anyways, it would be too predictable. And too cute. "I don't know... Is it a good thing?" Razzy bit his lip, his words clearly trying to egg Erin on. The boy was clearly not threatened and Erin would definitely have a tough time actually accomplishing that. Razzy was too smooth and calm. Erin's attempts were adorable.

Another laugh escaped Razzy's lips. He'd let Erin pretend that he was macho and could totes beat Razzy up, since the boy hated to threaten, and he definitely would hate to fight Erin. The Slytherin was much too cute. A brawl between them would probably ruin Razzy's chances with him. That was a no-no, so Razzy had to definitely maneuver his way around to get Erin to calm his raging testosterone. Which may be a little tricky, considering Erin was always naturally riled up by everything Razzy said. Which the Hufflepuff enjoyed too much... Perhaps wooing Erin would be much harder than Razzy had first assumed.