"Aw, and here I had the Vatican all dialed but the last number. Fine, dress yourself, ruin my fun."

Hywel collapses back into the chaise-longue with what looks to be an entirely different volume of Victorian erotica.

"We're roommates, you know, you can see me naked whenever you want."

"That a promise?" Hywel asks dangerously.

"If it were up to me I would literally strip naked as soon as I walked through these doors, I am actually not a fan of wearing clothes and the main reason I do is because other people get sad if I don't."

...as he says that he realizes that it's not... actually 100% true, anymore? He actually likes his clothes now?

That's. That's novel.

And here he thought he was done with epiphanies, how silly of him.

Hywel squints a bit as Pete has his epiphany, then shrugs. "Well, I won't demand that much. But I might have you strip for my amusement occasionally, if you're offering."

He's gonna just take that as permission to be naked whenever he wants to be, how about.

Now: uniform!

So it was obvious from the narration, right? He's sure it was. He is going to follow the rules perfectly. He is even going to wear underwear.

(...briefs. He used to strictly wear boxers because briefs and even boxer briefs used to uncomfortably squeeze him but even though he's bigger now he is also at least partly fictional and this should mean that it is no longer uncomfortable. And so it shall be, side dressing to the left.)

Then, his socks are the type that is so short it vanishes inside his shoes, and his trousers just happen to be the correct length for him to show a little bit of ankle when wearing said shoes. His shirt is entirely unbuttoned, as is his jacket, and the suit tie is worn around his neck but not tightened. He then tucks the bottoms of his shirt into his trousers and fnally, to close the loop, a small understated hairclip, purely decorative.

He looks at himself on his phone and nods, satisfied. "Perfectly to reg."

"Not sure those Y-fronts followed the laws of physics, but you won't find anything against them in the handbook," Hywel agrees. "The tits-out look might be controversial."

"Controversial, yes, but I look amazing."

"No argument here. You'll make me feel like a regular ugly duckling at this rate."

"You know, the word that came to my mind when I first saw you was 'gorgeous' so I actually don't think so."

"Aw. Now you'll make me blush, which is much ruder."

"If making you blush is rude I'm afraid I'm going to be offending you daily."

"Terrible. I'll have you exiled for this, see if I don't."

"But where will I find another roommate as charming and cute as you?"

"Siberia, I assume. Poll the bears and find the charmingest."

"Is this a reference to something or are you just shitposting?" Pete wonders aloud as he grabs the handbook and starts leafing through it for interesting plot things. He's sure there must be some kind of plot somewhere here that isn't just about seducing boys.

Also he, uh, actually has no idea what one does at a boarding school when outside of classes? Do they just load up on ECs and clubs and shit like he used to? Do they have a robotics club he could join? He'll find out.

"Which part? Siberia's where Stalin sent all his friends when he got bored with them. There's bears there. Polar bears, I think. Polling bears was mostly just a brain noise from there."

There are many clubs and extracurriculars! Like the rugby club, and the school newspaper, and others which don't have obvious plot flags!

"I'm a rugby hooligan," Hywel contributes, blatantly reading over his shoulder. "Some just hang around the library in their free time, much joy may it bring them. And I think Other Peter tutors, you could try to get on that."

"The Stalin bit was the reference I was missing, yes, thank you." Also, Stalin existed on this timeline? He supposes not all atrocities have been averted and the Dean did say there were even some new ones added in there for flavor so it's not that surprising.

Anyway. "And you play rugby? I would not have pegged you as the type, that seems much more Other Peter's schtick." Oh whoops he accidentally audibly capitalized that, oh well.

"I'm certain I already told you I'm hench as fuck under this jacket, but maybe you're a visual learner."

He unbuttons rapidly, revealing some honestly very impressive teenage musculature. (Also, it seems like the tailoring of his jacket might be deemphasizing his shoulders, which are pretty broad.)

"Oh I see it's your turn to show your body off. Such a shame I won't ever be allowed to, okay no I think that may be Too Much even for me." Damn it he's capitalized it again get a grip Pete.

"Won't be allowed to huh?"

"You said you don't want me penetrating you physically and emotionally, and since I'm planning to become your friend that means the physical penetration is off the table."