I Woke Up Near The Sea (Jorrie/Kasch/open)

It was far too early to be awake and Joram Mortelle was in a rather bitter mood. Last night he met with one of his clients in Knockturn Alley, got piss ass drunk and came back. It wasn't uncommon that he was out late, but the energy it took him to get back within the school grounds was ridiculous. On top of the late night trip he had to sneak into his common room without being seen. With a yawn, Jorrie pushed his hair back and walked through the halls in search of something with a little more pep. Integra Echoes wasn't even close to being awake, and he wasn't exactly in the mood for her doom and gloom, not to mention masochistic ways.

When the question that arose in his head escalated her heard a light pitter-pat on the stoney hallways of Hogwarts. Light on feet, quick pace, he lifted his nose to the air, sugary, this was Alice Hallows, a girl he once bedded back in their fourth year. She was good, but too nice for him. Exactly what he was looking for. Clenching his jaw for a moment, he was wondering if she would be up for anything in particular. Still, Joram was entirely exhausted and surly this would wake him up a little more.

Once Alice had passed by his location, Jorrie stood up slowly and carefully, but slunk into the shadows in order to hide from her. Walking with his head down he made a note that she turned into the library. He always gave his prey sometime to settle into their regular rituals and when they were least expecting it he would slip in and make an appearance. Feet barely breaking the wall of sound as he stalked deeper into the library, all he had to do was lift his nose to the sky and... there it was the sickly sweet scent of Alice Hallows.

A smile spread across his lips as he stuck closely to the shadows and finally when she reached up for a book, he too reached for the exact same volume. Their hands touched only for a moment until she pulled her hand away from him. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you reaching for the same tome as I happened to be, please be my guest." With that he pulled the book down and held it out for her to take.

There wasn't much going on between the pair of them other than a one nightstand a few years ago, but what Alice didn't know; happened to be the fact that Joram was in honest infatuation with the girl at least back then, not even close anymore. Taking her for granted was one thing that went wrong and she never wanted to see him since then, but he was an impossible dog to shake. "Go on, I won't need it until later anyway."

This was something only Joram had been able to accomplish, he actually gave a damn who he slept with, and he didn't treat them like garbage that could be cast aside so easily. He never left the bed of the woman he was wooing until she woke up. Jorrie always wanted them to remember his face, especially if they were a good lay. It was not only an ego booster to the girl, but when the others woke up, they would get to see his sexy body sprawled across their dorm-mates bunk.

Hands moving down, Joram's once warm face was now etched and chiseled with pain as he looked into that face he loved so many years ago. She was one of the only women that he took the time to court, kiss and was actually able to love. The feelings he had for her now were nothing even close. Was it hatred that reveled in his bones? No, it took to much effort to feel hatred anymore. Instead he forgave her. Having once loved was enough for him and he felt the weight that pain could bring and he could have no more of it.

Now, Vicente Joram Mortelle found happiness in other things. Alcohol, bedding women and men alike. Not only was his focus else where, his heart was reaching out for bigger, greater things. He understood that women were people as well and they deserved to be treated as such, but he could not find himself to love them, not any more. The time and energy that was need in order to follow the woman of his dreams around was ridiculous, so he gave up. The black satin ribbon was still in his trunk somewhere, but now it lay littered among the other objects countless women had left behind.

Clenching his jaw, "just take the damn book, Hallows." Forcing it into her hand he closed his eyes and grabbed one with similar content. Joram watched her move and he could tell that she was guilty, and the worst part about it was that he didn't feel anything toward her. Not anymore. "Look, stop feeling guilty it happened at all. I've been in bed with women who are much more skilled than you are, and honestly they please me and bring me gifts. So stop."

Pain registered in his head and heat rolled from his cheek where Alice's hand made the firm connection. Knowing well that he deserved that, he was at a loss for words. Joram has been slapped many times in his life, and even more here within the walls of Hogwarts as he was no stranger to pain. "That's hardly fair? You have got to be kidding me. Mi bella, the only thing that isn't fair is what you did to me, and face it I forgave you when you wouldn't talk to me afterward." Jorrie's tone was left with solid and jagged edges. "And I liked it." With a sneer he noticed that her eyes were swelling with tears that she tried ever so hard to hold back.

Jor knew that he brought up this entire mess, but she was never around so he could face his demons. Watching the tear fall, that was never his intention and he didn't want any emotional connections to anyone of the sort. "I know you don't want to talk to me, and I get that, but what I don't understand is how you're so weak that you can't even face what it is you did to me. Hallows, from now on I don't want you to call me by my name, it's either Vicente or Mortelle, and you know I don't answer to either of those positiviely." Within moments Joram was gone, back into the shadows, more than likely to seek out Integra.

Kasch wasn't unfamiliar with the sounds and yelling, in fact that was what made him turn his ear. They were trying to keep it quiet, but the sound of hand on flesh piqued his interest. It was Alice, a girl who was in the same year and house as he was. She was nice, but he could see the faintest glint of a tear rolling down her cheek. Looking away for a moment to see if anyone else was around. Kasch moved down the bookcase and plucked a few without reading the titles.

'Poor girl,' he thought to himself, but he didn't stop there. Turning the corner he could see her standing there alone with tears cascading down such beautiful cheeks. With a sigh he set the unknown books on the table where a lone book was also placed. "Hey Miss Hallows, is everything okay?" Kasch let his hand rest on her shoulder as he looked around to see where the kid with long hair went, but there was absolutely not a trace of him.

Her sobs were getting heavier and all he could think of to do was pull her into a hug. There wasn't much force in the hug, but he held her there for a moment or two. "You're not a terrible person Alice, far from it. I've seen worse and I know what it's like to be terrified." Kasch came from a very large family, some of them not to pleased with where he ended up, but he was happy to be away from all the chaos of Germany and Bulgaria. His accent was thick, but he was still understandable which made it easier for him to not sound like such a brute.

Kasch's arms were secure around her body as she sobbed into him, but he wasn't about to move from this position as he was in the process of comforting another individual. The pair have only known each other since September, but Alice had a warm heart and opened up to him on his first day. "Hey now, you don't need to cry. If he's treating you like this it's clear that you don't need him and trust me you can do so much better." Without too much thought Kasch's hands played with the ends of her hair and rocked her back and forth.