[hr][hr][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01989755-dcbb-757d-abd0-fb53f7f9c333.webp[/img][hr][COLOR=9A5B8A]Location:[/color] Mikhail's Office 
[COLOR=9A5B8A]Grimoire:[/color] Wild Magic Surge 
[COLOR=9A5B8A]Skills:[/color] N/A
[COLOR=9A5B8A]Wild Magic Build Up:[/color] triggers on a 1
[/center][hr][hr]

Jake didn’t resist as chains sprung up around him, manacles materializing around his wrists and legs, and a collar at his throat. He was immobilized, trapped in place as sigils danced at his feet - and all he could do was stare at the magic in wonder. Barty was [i]incredible[/i]. Breathtaking, even. He’d seen people cast spells before at Strange Academy, but never anything like this. It was like - Jake didn’t know what it was like. He’d never witnessed anything on this level before. What else could this wizard do - what other miracles could he craft? 

The bewildered smile faded from his face though as the prettiest boy he’d ever seen yelled at him. He opened his mouth, about to explain that no, he [i]didn’t[/i] understand - all he had done was help someone, he didn’t know why Barty was mad at him. What was the infraction? What was an infraction? But the boy continued on, anger lacing his words, and Jake felt smaller and smaller the more he spoke. He thought he wanted to harm Nicky? It didn’t make any sense to him. All he’d ever done was try to protect others - he’d kept Nicky from being crushed by the dragon on their first night, and as much as he felt Cassie had called him here, he was here to keep everyone else safe, too. There was something wet in his eyes. He couldn’t wipe them with his hands bound, so he blinked to try to clear them, and the wet shifted to his cheeks, trailing slowly down his skin. 

But there was a dueling sensation to the smallness, as Nicky circled him, the chains clinking where the other prettiest boy in the world walked. He tried to get a sense of Nicky too, to see if he was upset with him, to help him to understand what he’d done wrong… but there was an expression on Nicky’s face he’d never seen before. And something inside of him felt warm when he caught his eye, something that sent sparks through him as those long, delicate fingers brushed the skin under his shirt, something that burned. But it burned in a way that felt good. And as soon as it was gone, as soon as Nicky ventured over to Cal, its absence strangely ached. 

What was happening to him? What was this feeling? 

He opened his mouth again to ask, only to [i]again[/i] be cut off as Cassie forced her way on over, standing between him and Barty. She seemed… protective? Why? He didn’t understand as she yelled at Barty, as she told him he was condescending, that someone who made such beautiful spells with such ease somehow wasn’t able to be part of this, as she informed Jake that Barty didn’t have his best interests at heart. But all he wanted was assurance that Jake wouldn’t hurt his brother and Jake would [i]never[/i] hurt Nicky or Barty, so what harm was there to him? And the pact wasn’t with Barty, it was one for Nicky. Cassie hadn’t said anything about Nicky. 

[COLOR=9A5B8A]“I don’t know what I did. I thought I was helping. I just want to help protect everyone. Would you tell me what I did wrong? I don’t want to hurt anyone. I don’t want to hurt Nicky. I like Nicky a lot. I kept him safe when the dragon tried to hurt him the first night, I helped him with his plants, I held his hand at dinner. I like him almost as much as.“[/color] 

[COLOR=9A5B8A]“If it would help him to make this pact, then I’ll do it. I’d never hurt him.”[/color]