common problems | simon

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

THE ASTRONOMY TOWER WAS BLISSFULLY QUIET two weeks before Christmas break. Nate took full advantage of it, but he wasn't the only one. Ever since their chance encounter in the art room, Nate had developed an odd camaraderie with Simon Svendsen. He was a lazy Gryffindor, and not necessarily the type of boy Nate would put in his graduating essays, but he had good weed. And sometimes, against all the odds, he made Nate laugh. Could have been the weed, though.

So, when he trudged up to the tower well after curfew had came and went, he expected to find the pale ghost hanging over the stone partition. Like he was about to jump. Nate hopped up on to the wall without caution, his usual pristine appearance forgotten in favour of comfort. It was cold, but he liked it as he walked along the wall and turned, peering over the edge to an instant death drop. It made him feel light-headed, but he didn't mind it. He dropped to sit on the wall beside where Simon was draped.

There was a joint behind his ear and Nate took it without issue, grabbing the stolen lighter from his back pocket and lighting the stolen joint. It glowed orange in the dim light. "You got a bird on your mind?" Nate asked on a deep inhale, gruff with smoke that made his eyes water minutely. He wasn't asking because he was curious, he was asking because the two boys didn't only have weed in common. They also had women. Claudia. The name made Nate smirk, his tongue darting out across his bottom lip. He turned his chin in the dark, brows lifting as he stared at the side of Simon's face. 

simon sixten svendsen

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[simon sixten svendsen]

DECEMBER 2024 :: Astronomy Tower

Smoking was one of Simon's favorite ways to pass time. If it were up to him, he'd have a spliff, cig, or anything really, dangling from his lips at all times. It was some weird oral fixation thing that developed over the past couple of years.

Tonight, the air was chilly with a slight breeze that made bones ache. The harsh weather was a telltale sign that the holiday season was around the corner, which meant bundling up was necessary on nights he wished to get his smoke on. Simon often met with Nate to burn one throughout the week. Through the past couple of months they had formed what Simon would call a friendship. They weren't going to be best buds or anything but Simon respected him and found what he had to say interesting, even if his attitude wasn't always the easiest to deal with. It was nice to have a smoking buddy that could keep up with him.

Simon was deep in thought, perched on the wall as he puffed at his spliff as if it were about to go out of style. This year things were more complicated. Girls wanted more from him, he was constantly studying, and quidditch was kicking his ass more than he'd like to admit. There were times he felt overwhelmed, but also like he wasn't doing enough. Sometimes he kicked himself in the ass because being lazy would have been the easier choice that he was used to.

As Nate approached their spot, the half vamp reached for the spliff behind his ear a moment too late, Nate was slick. "Fuckin' klepto." he greeted, offering him a punch. The spliff tucked behind his ear was for the snake, but he never failed to surprise him at the smoothness he was able to finagle items from others. A craft he wished to hone, not that Simon needed to steal from people because he and his family were well off, but he had a penchant for doing things he knew he shouldn't do.

When Nate took a seat next to him, lighting up, he felt his stomach drop when he asked if he were thinking about a girl. It seemed that Nate could read him like a book, or Simon had that typical self-loathing look on his face. Simon took a puff, allowing it to fill his diaphragm to give him a moment to respond, "That obvious, huh?" he asked, exhaling the smoke. Simon was thinking about Claudia but he knew that he wasn't the only one at Hogwarts thinking about the intoxicating Slytherin girl.

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

USUALLY AN ACCUSATION LIKE THAT WOULD PUT Nate's back up instinctively. Instead, he shrugged. Because hearing it from Simon held no weight. He was smoking on school grounds, it wasn't like he could grass on him anyways. So, he quirked his brows and grinned around the roach. Dodging the punch enough to teeter dangerously over the edge. He laughed carelessly as he righted himself, taking a draw to steady himself.

Re-positioning himself for safety, Nate let one leg rest on either side of the parapet, facing Simon as she blew a lungful of smoke in to his face before passing it over. He had something on his mind alright, and it just so happened that Nate knew exactly what - who - it was. "Nah..." Nate drew out, blowing hot air in to his hands and rubbing them together. "I just know when a guy looks whipped." He quirked those brows again, incredibly self satisfied about how much he knew, smirk evident. "Name wouldn't happen to start with a C, hm?" 

simon sixten svendsen

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[simon sixten svendsen]

DECEMBER 2024 :: Astronomy Tower

As the snake took his place next to Simon, he feigned nonchalance when he mentioned knowing when a guy looks whipped. Simon wasn't typically one to care what others thought of him but that comment made him feel very self conscious. Simon wasn't ready for a reality check tonight.

Shrugging his shoulders upwards lazily, "Takes one to know one..." he quipped, a cloud of smoke billowing around his face as he exhaled. Nate asked him if her name started with the letter 'C', causing the Lion to suddenly feel vulnerable with a sinking feeling in his gut. They hadn't talked about their affairs with the Slytherin girl before, but it was apparent as day and night. Simon wasn't sure how to react since Nate wasn't always an easy person to interact with but Simon truly cared about him and considered him a friend.

The Lion found himself feeling slightly defensive, or cornered, so he felt the need to challenge him. "What makes you think that?" he asked Nate, taking a good puff of the herbal essence in hopes that it would gain him some time and calm his nerves. 

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

REARING HIS HEAD BACK, NATE SNORTED AT Simon's simple retort. He was friendly with Simon, would even go so far as to say he liked the boy, but Simon didn't know him like that. Thinking he was whipped felt ridiculous to Nate. No girl had ever made him crazy, but then Nessa's infuriating and stubborn face popped in to his head and his face went very slack for a moment. But, Simon didn't know Nessa, right? He played it cool instead.

"You got my little black book?" He tilted his head, kissing his teeth coldly. Simon was just throwing a barb for a barb, Nate reminded himself. And that hadn't been why he'd brought up the subject. He just wanted to confirm what was woefully unsaid between them - or, rather, who. Simon's back was up, Nate realised, and he flashed a cheek creasing smirk in answer.

"You are fucking Claudia Watkin's, aren't you?" He tilted his head curiously, as if he didn't already know, expression flat. Reaching across the space between them and plucking the joint from his stilled hand. He took a draw without breaking eye contact with Simon, a simple question becoming a challenge all at once. "Don't get mad, Si." He said hoarsely on an inhale, holding it until his face paled before he breathed slowly, gusting smoke across his friends face. "I'm not." He flicked a glob of ash over the side and watched it disintegrate on its way down. 

simon sixten svendsen

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[simon sixten svendsen]

DECEMBER 2024 :: Astronomy Tower

Simon's lips formed a straight line when Nate said her name. Claudia Watkins. It took everything in him to keep the stoic expression upon his face. Nate knew exactly where to push his buttons, which was very off putting, but it was also a reason why he enjoyed keeping him around. Simon couldn't deny messing around with Claudia to his face, it seemed like Nate knew something. Or he was a good faker, which was also already a confirmed fact.

The half-vamp figured this was something that was often discussed amongst the lads, but there was a small part of him that didn't want to go around talking about Claudia like that. He cared about her more than that and that was going behind her back and breaking their dirty little secret. Simon shrugged his shoulders, waiting a moment to respond because he was eyeing the snake for finagling the spliff from his fingers. "Yes," he answered simply, trying not to make it a big deal. "Why does it matter.. are you too?" he asked hollowly, dreading the answer coming directly from his mouth.

Exhaling the remaining smoke from his nostrils he matched Nates gaze. "I'm not mad," he grumbled after him, showing telltale signs of getting irritated. "Gimme my spliff back ya fuckin' dick." he reached for it with a punch, already missing the herbal essence gracing his lungs.

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

IF SIMON HAD TRIED TO DENY HIS LOVE AFFAIR with Claudia, all Nate would have had to do was remember the look on his face before he did. His lips thinning, face going slack at the jowls as he repressed whatever onslaught threatened to spill forth. Simon didn't have the same kind of poker face as Nate. After all, what did he have to hide but a joint and maybe a strip of condoms in his wallet? His expression almost satisfied Nate entirely. Almost.

"I don't kiss and tell, mate." Nate drawled, his expression lifting, a smirk in his eyes rather than his lips. Rolling the roach between his fingers and lifting his brows slowly as Simon seemed to search his face as well as Nate had him. "Except, yeah I do and... maybe a little bit." Snickering through his nose, he dropped his gaze and thought about stubbing the last draw out as some kind of display of domination in the conversation. Instead, after examining the brick work like an ashtray, he kept the joint in hand instead, considering. 

Nate had wanted to see Simon's reaction, but he didn't want to fight. The grumbling tone of his voice a warning as a loose, stoned punch flew for his arm. Joking, but also not, thought Nate as he dodged away and nearly fell over the side as he did. Teetering with scraping fingernails in the stonework before he hooked an ankle and pulled himself back just in time. His stomach lurching until he slumped down and lay longways across the parapet, wheezing in uncharacteristic laughter, his eyes cinched shut.

"You... you gonna commit murder for Watkin's honour?" Nate gasped, his shoulders jumping slightly as he pillowed an arm under his head and swung a leg up to knock against the back of Simon's head. "Trust me, Si, they're ain't much to defend." He said this without insult, shrugging as he dropped his leg and stared up at the stars, his breath a mist of cold clouding in front of his eyes. "We got that in common," He croaked, adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. 

simon sixten svendsen

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[simon sixten svendsen]

DECEMBER 2024 :: Astronomy Tower

Simon was having an inner battle, he was struggling with hiding how he felt from Nate. There was a weird part deep down inside of him that wanted to tell him. Fuck, it would be nice to get it off of his chest. But he knew Nate wouldn't be a good person for that, he had better intuition then that. The half-vamp had an impending feeling of doom as Nate stared at him with that look, his jaw clenched, attempting to keep his lips a straight line. He wasn't sure if he wanted to defend Claudia or make a joke about it to make him seem less uptight about the situation. Nate confirmed sexual affairs with Claudia and it was like a punch to the gut. He had a suspicion all along but to have him confirm the matter made him feel so much worse. Simon tried to maintain a straight face while still digesting the information, "Oh, cool..." his tone unenthusiastic, leaning his back against the wall as he came to terms that his former spliff was Nates now. There was more where that came from...

As Simon delivered a playful punch, Nate dodged it, tittering dangerously off of the edge but he caught himself. Simon flinched to help him, but Nate recovered quickly and asked if he was trying to commit murder in honor of Claudia Watkins. Simon chuckled, smirking at the idea and from his smartass question. Simon looked off thoughtfully, "For Claudia, I'd maybe consider it..." he said in a sarcastic tone with a lazy shrug upwards, meaning it as a joke but he found himself wanting to defend the girl. He felt like she was worth defending but he wasn't brave enough around Nate.

Simon reached into the inner pocket of his coat where he had his tin of spliffs already pre-rolled - where the snake couldn't sneak them. Sending Nate a look that consisted of narrow slits for eyes, he licked the spiff dramatically, so he wouldn't want it, "You don't get this one." he said pointedly as he lit it with a smug smile, taking a couple of generous puffs before he feigned a conversational tone to ask, "So are you just messing around or what?"

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

ONE THING WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR TO NATE. IT didn't sound 'cool' to Simon at all. Simon's whole posture changed the minute Nate confirmed what he had already suspected. A part of Nate was pissed off. Simon was his friend, not Claudia's. She couldn't go and shag him and make him all clammy and awkward. God, what had she done to him? There were plenty of other ready and willing guys for her to fuck around with. But, he had to admit, she had impeccable taste. Constant supply of weed? Check. Hot? Nate supposed so... 

The silence radiated off him darkly, disturbing the steady peace that had always existed between them. It was obvious, Nate wasn't going to stop fucking around with Claudia just because Simon had a hard-on for her. It was too much fun. In fact, seeing Simon react so stiffly, it made Nate want to get up and find her right there and then. To leave an impression, a taste, on her for the next time she skipped between the two. He buried that part of him for later, gnawing on the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood.

"Really?" Nate snickered, stopping his self mutilation to tongue the wound, his brows pulled together. "What'd she do to you, man?" He asked with genuine curiosity. He minded his business for the most part, but this felt personal. "You want her to be your girlfriend or some shit?" This seemed like a ridiculous notion and it shone in his sarcastic tone. Claudia Watkins? Commit? As if. "She'd let you kill for her." He added as an afterthought.

Peering at Simon from his reclined position, he watched a stealthy hand sneak his tin from his pocket. Nate found that funny, like something as trivial as a pocket would stop him from stealing it. But, Simon had caught on enough that Nate was almost impressed. He shifted on his pillowed arm, watching as Simon's tongue dashed out over the skin. Nate staring at it hungrily. He didn't have a dealer at Hogwarts. Apart from Simon. "Get what?" Nate asked, feigning stupidity. "Claudia?" This was said with a gusty snort. "Trust me." His tongue pointed at his top lip, crooked teeth flashing. "I do." Apparently, they were fucking two different versions of the same girl.

"Yeah..." Nate shrugged, realising that this was eating his friend up. Was that guilt he felt? Or supreme satisfaction? He couldn't tell. "It wouldn't be fun otherwise." So, maybe the cold was making him soft, because that almost sounded reassuring. "She won't stop, you know." He added seriously, watching Simon's reaction. "If that bothers you, maybe you should give it up." His abs tensed as he lifted himself up slightly, watching Simon blatantly now. He didn't offer to stop himself, because Nate didn't lie unless it was to save his own ass. But, there was a notable challenge in his voice now. "If you can't stand the heat..." He grinned, teeth flashing in the dark. 

simon sixten svendsen

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[simon sixten svendsen]

DECEMBER 2024 :: Astronomy Tower

Nate looked at Simon and asked him what Claudia had done to him. The comment made him feel weirdly defensive, immediately causing his walls to shoot up and his jaw to tense. There was nothing wrong with him other than being in love with an unavailable girl. Again. Simon had a way of choosing the wrong girls, but Claudia Watkins felt oh so right. Why did it ache so deeply into his core? Simon never thought he was sensitive, then the snake pirouetted into his life. He was putty in her hands and he knew it. Simon didn't want Nate to know Claudia was his weakness, though it seemed like he was putting the pieces together. Simon didn't like to feel like he was being read..only he was allowed to read people. When Nate asked him if he wanted Claudia as his girlfriend, Simon shrugged, "Yeah, I like her," he confirmed bravely, taking in an inhale of smoke. "But I don't want a girlfriend," he said with an exhale, wondering if the more he said those words, maybe it would come true.

Simon's body posture was stiff, he leaned his back against the wall, offering Nate a challenging look as he blatantly stared at him. The half-vampire shrugged, not caring to make a big deal about Nate's words, he never did. Being Nate's friend, he learned to take everything he said as a grain of salt. Simon liked Claudia more than he'd ever admit to Nate, but he knew she wasn't the kind of girl that wanted a relationship. She told him on multiple accounts, making him feel like the clinger he was and bruising his ego. "I don't care, Nate," he told him with a sigh, his eyes rolling to the back of his skull as he scoffed. Simon didn't want to fight with Nate, especially not over a girl. "Let's not use her as some fucked up competition.." he grumbled, ashing his spliff over the edge. Once the words left his lips he had a feeling like he had fucked up because he put the idea out there. 

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

THOUGH NATE WAS ACTIVELY NEEDLING IT surprised him when Simon confessed. He scoffed instinctively, lifting his chin to catch the full frame of Simon's face. Would he be disgusted, ashamed? He was neither. Appearing quite calm, all things considered. "Because you don't want a girlfriend, or..." He said carefully, watching Simon keenly as he defended his honour. "Or, because Claudia doesn't want a boyfriend." This he knew for a fact, it was one of the main things Nate had always liked about Claudia. Their shared disapproval for boring monogamy.

Simon's dismissal didn't surprise Nate, but it did disappoint him. He'd thought for certain that this would dissolve in to a fight. Not that he wanted to be beaten down in the Astronomy Tower, but it sure would have been entertaining. He could picture Nessa's face when he'd thought about it. How it would hurt, but the adrenaline spike afterwards would almost make it worth it. But, Simon was placid. 'Over it'. "Afraid you might lose?" Nate drawled boldly, sitting up and clamping both thighs between the wall as he leaned over and plucked the joint back from Simon's hands, taking a long draw and holding it defiantly. The billowing smoke leaking out of his mouth and up in to his nose.

"It's chill." He added with the ghost of a cold, smokey grin. "All for a laugh, right?" It was perhaps the biggest lie he'd told as of yet. And they both knew it. Neither would admit it, but Claudia had drawn battle lines when she'd decided to mess around with both boys. Nate's only friend outside of the orphanage and muggle youth gangs. "I'm not gonna fall out with you over a bird," Nate assured them both, and he actually meant it. It didn't mean he wouldn't compete, he couldn't help himself. But, it wouldn't be the reason they turned against one and other. "That's cliche." And then he flicked the butt over the edge and swung his legs around, back on the safe side of the wall. "I just wanted to see how you'd react." 

simon sixten svendsen

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[simon sixten svendsen]

DECEMBER 2024 :: Astronomy Tower

Simon raised the spliff to his lips to take a generous drag when Nate challenged him by asking if he didn't want a girlfriend, or if it were more Claudia's choice. Exhaling, he sent Nate a look of calm submission, "Undecided," he shrugged his shoulders lazily as he answered simply but honestly. He didn't want to lie to Nate, especially when it seemed like he knew more than he thought, or ever intended. The fact that Simon hadn't ever met anyone who could read him so well was unsettling for the Lion.

Simon was still contemplating a proper response to Nate's comment about him being 'too afraid' of losing the fucked up competition of conquering Claudia Watkins. He smiled out of defeat, Nate was too quick for him sometimes. The smile quickly wiped from his boyish features as Nate plucked the spliff out of his fingers. The Lion flinched too slowly to try to stop him. All he could do was shoot the snake a look that only conveyed 'are you serious right now' but it quickly fizzled into a smirk. Simon couldn't be mad at Nate, even when he was being a complete dick.

As Nate told him he was only doing it for his reaction, the stiffness in his face and body slacked, "Oh...huh." he chuckled with undeniable awkward forced laugh, lifting his shoulders with an arched brow. "Did I react up to expectations?" the half-vampire asked with a straight face slowly fizzling into a smile. Okay, maybe it was a little funny. That didn't keep him from getting a bad taste in his mouth at the thought of Nate and Claudia being together though.

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

THE DISGRUNTLED LOOK ON SIMON'S FACE WAS priceless. It made Nate smile around his pinched joint, the smoke watering his eyes, but it was ringing with satisfaction. Minor inconveniences were his lifeblood most days, especially when it came to friends. With a quirked brow as he watched the butt head over the edge and down on to the ground below, a speck of dust among the dark greenery. He swung his legs around after, dropping down on to the stone innards of the tower.

"Exceeded Expectations!" Nate declared, clapping his hands together hollowly before opening them towards Simon. A show of solidarity or even surrender. Mostly, it was just posturing. His thin, cheek creasing smile hardly as charming as he thought it was. But, he snickered anyway. Because, as much as he was convinced there would be a victory won, he wasn't going to make Simon his enemy. That wasn't how he was going to win.

"Thanks for the smoke," Nate saluted Simon easily, tongue in cheek. "I'll see you around, mate..." His steps almost skipping as he walked towards the doorway that led to the winding stairway downwards. He had a long trek down to the dungeons ahead of him. "Maybe I'll bring Claud' with me next time." He turned, hand on the wooden frame, Simon's face shadowed and gloomy in the dark. He winked, not knowing if Simon could see him, but hardly caring. Everything was in the tone, after all.

[END NATE]

simon sixten svendsen

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