poor unfortunate souls

Hal would have had a chance to actually say no, but the thought of the huge cat tailing behind him, waiting to pounce, made him falter. Having the cheetah walk next to him was enough, but having it be like a guard to him as a prisoner was just terrifying. Hal could only muster up a glare but no words came out.

At least right before August's face went out of his view. Hal let out a quiet yelp on contact, the rest of his body tensing up from the sudden heat. He even squirmed just a little, trying escape his roommate's hug. No, he was not ever used to this sort of contact. No, he was not even used to hugs either. And another thing, he never knew how a person could be this warm.

For a moment, Hal just sat there, sitting still on his bed waiting for his roommate to let go and step back. But after a couple of seconds, he realized that wasn't going to happen. "You know.... this is a little awkward." he said, not moving even slightly. His tried his best to keep his voice steady and loud.

Hal's entire system seemed to have frozen over from the whole ordeal of this roommate thing. His previous roommates always opted to avoid talking to him after the first impression of him being short-tempered. August wasn't the first to have snapped back at him but the development of events going from arguing about space and territory and then cuddling in bed was definitely a first.

Hal wanted to hit himself for not finding a better way to phrase that even in his thoughts.

When Hal realized August had pulled away from the snuggle, he immediately tried to make his expression calm and blank despite being already flustered from embarrassment and confusion. But all of that determination (or probably what was left from his depleting supply of it) he was trying to build up quickly faded the moment he saw he grin on August's face. Hal had to take a gulp to get rid of the lump forming ain his throat.

For Hal, things aren't turning out the way it had always gone; in a way, it looks like the tables are turned. He wasn't able to protest when August just pushed him to the bed and threatened him with the cheetah if he spoke about this to anyone. For one thing, Hal would rather not think about this encounter for a while; there was no need for the cheetah to be dragged into this. "You've got nothing... to worry about..." Hal quietly muttered in response. There was really no way that he would bring this up to anyone.

Hal's eye twitched when his roommate finally retreated to his bed and noticed the temperature returning to normal. Hal remained quiet; as if his words were muted. That was, until August said someting about the 'fairness' about crossing each other's territories. "That's not fair!" Hal blurted out, sounding almost like a child denied of his sweets. "If you or your pet are just going to keep invading on my personal space then I should be allowed to invade yours too!!"

It didn't occur to Hal how odd that could have sounded.

As soon as August finished talking, it finally occurred to Hal how misleading his words were. His cheeks grew flushed at this realization. "That wasn't what I meant!!" he said, his voice raised in frustration at his roommate, and being flustered. He really never expected any of this, nor had he asked for any of this. All he really wished for was to finish schooling in perfect peace and return to France to see his family, assuming they would still be back there to welcome him home.

But then there was this.

Hal just sat there speechless as he tried to clear his thoughts of anything he would rather not think about which happened to include himself and his roommate. August's smile didn't help one bit.

"I'm not after anything. And if I am, it's getting you out of this room." He said as he finally collected himself from his outburst. He hoped for that not to happen again. But that was less likely considering that was his forte: blurting out whatever he has in mind. It was his curse. "Stop getting any ideas."

Hal could only look at August's reaction and he wasn't happy. His eyes wrinkled up with disdain. August was really getting a kick out of everything he did. It is now decided that his new roommate is obnoxious and his fate for the rest of his natural life in Starlight has been sealed. That was stretchig it too much but in normal terms: Hal was doomed. Indefinitely. Just until he figures out a way to get another room, or kick his roommate out. It was one or the other. He just wanted out of this.

'I'll get whatever ideas I want', he says. Hal let out a groan paired with rolling his eyes. He didn't even want to respond anymore and turned to get his sketchbook from his bedside table. Just as soon as he did, August spoke again. 'Don't wait up.' Don't come back. Hal retorted in his mind. He wanted to say it aloud but that meant talking to his roommate again. If August was going out then that was peace and quiet for Hal. He was going to savor that chance of solitude.

But with that thought, Hal lowered his guard and didn't notice August until it was too late. It took Hal a second to register what was just said, another second for his embarrassment to show and another for him to (try and) push August away from him. "Get the hell out!!!"