5 Mar 2021, 01:58
The Perils of Self-betterment
@Kazuo Shimada @Ross Stephens @Howard White
Set a week after the events of We Want the T.Ruth!
Howard and Falentra are currently not on speaking terms.
Valentine looked out the window, down to the courtyard outside. Students frolicked about in blissful ignorance of the storms that brewed where no man nor child could see, delighting in the pleasures of innocent childhood. He mourned the dying moment where he could bask in the naivety of his younger self. But he could not take back what was lost. Only time would tell what the future held, and for the sake of himself and those he cared about, Jackson Valentine was prepared to sacrifice it all.
Their place of meeting was inconspicuous, located in the corridor just outside the Hufflepuff dormitory. Hiding in plain sight was sometimes better than hiding at all. Only three would meet him here today, each likely acquainted with the others for only the first time. He stood at attention, prepared to answer questions and offer introductions. But above all, he had arrived with a purpose. He turned back to face his three compatriots who were likely standing around. There was a thick folder in his hands that he proceeded to hand out. The contents, multiple copies of the same two portraits.
He got right into the matter. "You all know what this meeting is for. I want us to share the information we have so that we can better understand the situation we're facing. I've come across some findings that are quite. . . Disturbing."
As Howard might have come to discover, he had more sympathizers than initially thought. But the thoughtful gestures of one such first year had uncovered a far more sinister revelation, and the issue at hand was now more than a mere struggle between censorship and responsible journalism.
"A few days ago, I set aside three evenings to camp outside the Slytherin dormitories during the dinner hours. I was trying to catch the girl and give her a piece of my mind. Now, here's the part that doesn't make sense: I never saw her once. I stayed for nearly the entire duration until just before curfew. Either this girl doesn't have a stomach, or there's something unnatural going on. I've asked around the people I know who were there during the riot, and no one has ever encountered this girl before."
As would be expected from such a discovery, the implications were quite serious. "Do you suspect hag involvement? I've had @Jake Morris do up some sketches of the Mouse girl's appearance."
His eyes flickered to Ross, who was the only person who hadn't been present on the night of the riot.
Discord: Valentine#6117
6 Mar 2021, 05:08
The Perils of Self-betterment
A week had passed since the infamous dinner disruption. Or rather, what should have been an infamous event seemed to have petered out with a swiftness that was surprising. He had hoped to see a more significant afterwave, more students talking about what had happened, talking about the article, talking about the moral and ethical implications. Once again, Kazuo found that he had over-estimated his peers, a salient reminder that his upbringing was perhaps not in line with other children his age. Yet Kazuo couldn’t help but to see it as a reflection of a greater problem, a concerning trend he had noticed in the students. While this particular scenario was on the smaller end of the scale of Hogwarts Mysteries, it was fascinating how quickly everyone seemed to just move on from troubling circumstances. He twirled his pen in his left hand absently, a habit borne of the need to keep his hands active while his brain focused, putting his thoughts in order.
Hideyoshi had called a meeting, drawing together his tentative allies in the mystery of T. Ruth. It seemed a small number considering the stakes, only four of them and one of them being the focus of the entire affair, no less. Well, it was something. Kazuo was leaning against the wall, His gaze flickered from Jackson to Ross to Howard, amused that Jackson had somehow recruited a team of solid yellow.
He accepted the offered portraits, studying the face of the mystery snake as Jackson began to speak. He’d have to hand a copy of these off to his minions later so they could show it around the Slytherin dorms. Not that he expected it would help much as they’d already had little success in locating the girl. As Jackson had found out on his own, it seemed no one knew who she was. Yet his explanation was to jump to hags.
Kazuo had been hearing quite a bit about hags of late, in and out of class, and he couldn’t deny that hags seemed to be a very serious concern at the school but his gut said the girl who didn’t exist being a hag was not a logical stretch. “That might be a bit premature.” Kazuo looked up from the drawings, shifting his gaze to Jackson. “Not to say that the hag problem isn’t, well… a problem… but the answer to this mystery might be a bit simpler than that. I’m more inclined to believe that the girl was somehow disguising herself with magic. Polyjuice potion, transfiguration or metamorph maybe?” He offered the options that had been his initial thoughts on Miss Mouse. “Not that I am ruling out hags but I don’t follow the logic. The hag would have to have been in or near the hall when Howard burst in. Why would a hag be in such a highly-populated area where the professors would regularly be in attendance? It seems an increased risk for being caught. Further to that point, why would a hag get involved in an argument between students? If it’s simply the motivation of sowing chaos, it seems to me that would be high risk for small reward. Especially since Hogwarts students seem more than capable of muddling things up all on their own. Anyway, I asked a couple of Slytherin girls for help in the search for Miss Mouse,” Kazuo tapped the drawings. “But they haven’t found anything useful yet.”
He opened his own journal, tucking the drawings into it while pulling out several clippings from past Headliner issues. “I went to the source, hoping to find a pattern that would help identify the article writer but unfortunately turned up very little. The previous issues of the Headliner actually hosted a couple articles attempting to support halfbreeds and promote actual understanding. They interviewed some of the halfbreed students and that dhampir professor. Also, the night Aurelia baited a dhampir? Stavrou actually called out her bad behaviour, though anonymously…” Kazuo showed the others the article with the small statement circled in red.
“But I didn’t find any other articles that attacked halfbreeds. Nor did I find any other articles matching the tone of T. Ruth’s, that kind of overly sensational language. It makes me wonder if they aren’t a newer member of the team? Or a newer writer?” Kazuo shrugged at this point. “If the Headliner staff close ranks to protect their own, it will be extremely hard to find out who T. Ruth is. Which makes me wonder how the rest of the writers feel about that article. No matter how you look at it, I have to wonder if the writer was connected to Aurelia. This article is clearly attacking Howard, speaking to the incident with specifics that presumably could only be gained through contact with the ‘victim’-” The way Kazuo spoke that word - victim - was heavy with disbelief. “And Aurelia’s character has been called into question. It’s been confirmed that she actively baited another dhampir which makes it very possible that she did so with Howard as well. It’s possible that Aurelia wanted that article written and released to discredit dhampirs.”
Kazuo let that theory hang, glancing at Howard with curiosity, wondering what his thoughts on Aurelia were, both when the attack happened and now that information was coming to light about it that he hadn’t been aware of when it happened. The situation truly was a puzzle with a hundred scattered, sharp-edged pieces and he wondered if the cuts they might cause to Howard would be worth the answers they would provide in the end. He hoped Howard would not like the other students who chose to turn a blind eye because it was easier.
@Howard White @Jackson Valentine @Ross Stephens
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.
7 Mar 2021, 21:54
The Perils of Self-betterment
@Jackson Valentine
@Kazuo Shimada
@Ross Stephens
Howard's eyes would snap up from the sketches when hags were mentioned, the red orbs bouncing between the small group that had gathered. By now it was no secret to the student body that their evil presence had infiltrated Hogwarts, but still it put him on edge whenever they were mentioned. The crones were surely capable of such a disguise and were always driven to spread their corruption, but he had not felt their presence that evening. It came to him from time to time, when their wickedness drew close he would get this terrible feeling. His stomach would churn and his spine would tingle as his body revolted against their very existence. "No." Howard agreed with Kaz. "I've..." He struggled for the right words. "Had run ins with the hags. This don't seem like them, all out in the open like that. Don't add up."
Howard would snap his fingers with one hand and prod Kaz's shoulder with the other. "Yeah, yeah! That might be it." The thought of someone using magical means to alter their appearance was something he hadn't thought of. The muggleborn part of his mind often put magic in the rearview. "Jackson said he camped out and never laid an eye on her. Probably cuz it was all a disguise. I wonder where they woulda got the Polyjuice from though? And I ain't no whiz in Transfiguration, but that'd be a hell of a chore to pull that off." He was sure Kaz was right, but it came with a nagging doubt about the capabilities of student their age. "Kinda...advanced, yeah?" The mention of metamorph would bring his friend Alan to mind. Howard had seen his transformations first hand, but never anything as solid as full transfiguration. Not to mention that through their discussions he had learnt that metamorphs abilities were often tied to their emotional state. It all seemed unlikely unless..."Might be they got someone helpin' 'em. Someone pullin' the strings."
Howard would nod in the affirmative when Kaz mentioned the past Headliner articles that tried to support halfbreeds. "Yeah. Things were lookin' alright when Professor Equinox was still here. No way he'd let this shit happen." The memory of Alaric brought a slight smile to Howard's lips. He regretted being distant towards the him, but would always be thankful for what he had done for the dhampir students. That smile wouldn't last long though as the mention of Aurelia would be more than sufficient in wiping it away. The thought of her being connected to the writer only made Howard angrier. "I wouldn't put it past her." He spoke with contempt and to think the two were just beginning to make amends. He still couldn't believe that she had intentionally baited another dhampir. The very thought that she could have done that to him was almost too much for him to process. The guilt he had carried, the constant fear of what he had done and what he might do in the future had all been such a burden. "If she's willin' to bait like that..." Howard would shake his head in disgust before refocusing on the article.
"Could be a newer writer, but that don't mean nothin'. Remember what it said at the start of that article. It was a forgotten piece, yeah? They could be lyin' but if not that means it was written just after my...accident." Howard would shift around uneasily for a moment. It was still hard to talk about it so casually, but he did his best to stay focused. "I'd empty all the galleons outta my bank to know who that witness was. Bet they are connected to Aurelia and whoever T. Ruth is." He ended on that note before turning to Ross. Howard didn't know the boy, but was still curious what his thoughts were or what he had dug up. "What's yer take on all this?"
8 Mar 2021, 02:06
The Perils of Self-betterment
As theories, thoughts, and concepts drifted around the hall. Ross felt his strong desire for questions needing of answered being fulfilled. Nothing added up and it was wonderful. In fact, it was thrilling. He felt he was present directly at a crime scene despite the conversations taking place long after the 'crime' itself had taken place. From the sketches provided and the articles, he truly felt like a gumshoe. He had his journal in hand, crammed with the newspaper Valentine had provided for the sake of aesthetic if anything else. After all, he could easily get his hands on an article any time he liked When Jackson had handed out the portraits, he had shoved his pair in there as well so he would not struggle with dropping them. From hags to transfiguration, Ross was fascinated. As much as he enjoyed being involved in a conversation, he felt as if he had been placed as a spectator in a thrilling mystery. He was more than happy to listen to their curiosities and theories as he took note of everything within his mind. Thoughts flooded his brain as he listened in to the chat of the three boys. He felt if he stepped in he would somehow ruin the timeline, or somehow disrupt the order. There were so many names he could not comprehend. Nothing rung a bell. It was like he was not even in the universe, like he did not even belong in the conversation.
As the older student inquired of his opinions on the matter, he passed it off as him talking to someone else. He continued to fidget with his sheep ring until he realized nobody else was responding to the question. He glanced up until it finally dawned upon him it was his turn to speak.
"Oh! Erm.." He instinctively stopped messing with his ring, instead moving his journal to be in both hands in hopes he would at least seem to be taking it all seriously. It was his first mystery, he refused to blow his shot. "Well I dunno, there's a ton o' ways girls can change their appearances. She coulda just been wearin' makeup and a wig. he paused, realizing how ridiculous he just sounded. I swear makeup is more effective than transfiguration!" he hastily clarified, praying that it was enough of a recovery to not be seen as a fool. After an uncomfortable pause, he decided to give in to the more obvious. "... Transfiguration does seem like the best theory though. I dunno how else it could have been done."
He paused for a long moment. Well, there were many ways it could have been done and he knew it. In a detective novel, the obvious answer could not be the actual answer. As of current, there was no obvious answer. He could take their word on hags. As the topic was brought up, Ross was reminded his only knowledge of hags was through his history lessons. He felt he had no place asking questions on who people were and what had happened. While normally he would have been thrilled to, people were not the mysteries as of current. There was something far more important on their hands. It was almost as if he had forgotten to do the homework the night prior and now he was in a class of far more knowledgeable students who had done the homework. It sounded like they were all traumatized by something, but Ross had not a clue on what. For all he knew, pigeons could have done it. His best guess was what he had read in the article about Damphirs.
"I dunno where she was standin' the night of either. I wasn't... there, really." he confessed anxiously, "But if she was standin' with her back to the wall isn't it possible someone was pullin' the strings? I dunno how of course, but there has aught to be a way. She could be a puppet of sorts or not even go 'ere." he explained to the best of his capabilities. "an invisibility cloak could be involved and all that as well. Maybe she just isn't sleepin' in the Slytherin common room? no no.. gimme a second."
He opened his journal and glanced at the portraits within it once more. "You said she was identified as a Slytherin when we first talked, right Valentine?" he inquired before going back to looking at the pictures. "It was because of her tie, right? She could've easily gotten 'em from someone else. I could've sworn I've seen Slytherin colors on muggle scarves. Anyways, nobody really knew her as a Slytherin, so who is to say she really is a Slytherin? Would explain why you didn't find her, but I guess not why nobody else found her familiar." he paused, seeing the flaws in his reasoning. "Weird how everyone let a girl who they didn't recognize be in the same area as them." he stated, but he supposed he would too. It was difficult to pay attention to everyone at once, after all. Considering how average the girl looked, he would likely not have noticed her as well.
He could easily debunk his own theories to the point he felt frustrated by it. Usually his creativity held no bounds, but as of the moment it felt caged. There were a lot of possibilities, but no explanations. It felt like he only needed one more clue, and then maybe he could figure out what to do. But as of the moment, there was nothing. He had no experience or knowledge to provide, only pages and pages of detective novels and hours of interrogating innocent students on their issues. If he had not just been lectured to stop treating people as mysteries and more of potential friends and if he were not terrified of upper classmen, he had a feeling he would be pressing Howard White on the events that had happened to him in order to get a better understanding of the situation. He hardly touched the newspaper in general, which is likely why he did not know a thing.
"Bet she could be a new or an old writer. If you've been writin' for quite some time, you know how to change your language. Especially if you don't wanna get caught. Either way, we might get somethin' from focusing on that! It's always the minor details." He added to his prior thoughts as he recalled the newspaper in general, but he was soon swept away by even more theories that had rushed through his mind. It was as if his self restraint was entirely cut short through the remark.
"She might just have special classes and not stay in the other dorms- isolated and all that, but I sorta think transfiguration makes more sense from all the stuff I know. Or she could quite literally not have a stomach like Valentine said! That'd be real fun to look into, in fact-" he cut himself off, realizing he would get far too off topic and dig himself in a hole if he were to continue. "But right now all I know is what Valentine told me 'bout." he attempted to recover his original statement.
If he had a spare quill he would be jotting down any new information he had gotten, but right now he was just hoping he could internalize everything. He focused his attention to his journal in order to notify the rest he was done speaking for the time being, rereading over the article again in hopes his theory on what the older student had gone through was in there.
Interacting with
@Jackson Valentine
@Howard White
@Kazuo Shimada
Stamina: 7 Evasion: 7 Strength: 5 Wisdom: 6 Arcane Power: 8 Accuracy: 7
8 Mar 2021, 13:03
The Perils of Self-betterment
@Kazuo Shimada @Howard White @Ross Stephens
"You've very eloquently described why hags are out of the picture, Kazuo. But Ross has a point, and it's not one that I like. If the girl is assuming a disguise, then who is to say that her uniform on the night wasn't a part of it?" he replied steadily. "We're discovering more questions than answers, but I suppose they had to be asked eventually."
While one mystery had been further opened up, five more matters revealed themselves. Each would have to be addressed at some point if they were going to find out who the root of the bigotry in the Headliner was.
"Polyjuice potion. That's not in the syllabus from the first to the fifth year if I remember correctly. If this was brewed by a student, they'd have to be prodigal. And even then, how did they come across the ingredients? We'd have to ask Professor Barlow."
"As for the possibility of transfiguration being used, I'm honestly not too familiar with the methods myself. Definitely not my strongest subject. Still, we shouldn't leave stones unturned if we can afford to. Do you guys have any ideas as to who we can approach to ask about such things?"Thread Prompt #1:
Seek out a Prodigal Potions student to inquire about the acquisition of the Polyjuice potion. Professor Barlow is busy enough, we'll handle this on our own.
Thread Prompt #2:
Seek out Professor Barlow to ask about the acquisition of the Polyjuice potion. Maybe an adult's help is needed in resolving this matter.
"I don't know many metamorphs. Correction- I don't know any metamorphs. Kazuo, you reckon they could undergo a full body transformation? Do you think we could find one to uh. . . Study? Crap, that sounds weird, but you get the idea."Thread prompt #3:
Professor Cypresse Lian has resigned from office for some time. Without her around, who can we consult to clarify our doubts when the stakes are so high?
"The Headliner could be a whole bag of cats. But they're the fastest way we can get this resolved, which is also why I think it's the least likely solution to our problems. Nonetheless, I'll try to talk to someone in the headliner, see if I can gauge their view on the matter, convince them to start censoring. Then, we won't even have to bother with the rest of this stuff anymore. But once again, I'm skeptical that it will work."Thread Prompt #4:
Find a metamorph for the group to study. Self-initiated learning is the future!
Thread Prompt #5:
Find someone who just happens to know a lot about metamorphs. Second-hand knowledge isn't too shabby either.
"That leaves Aurelia. All I know is that she's been missing for some time, is what the rumors say. Does anyone know where she's gone? I know you don't like the idea of confronting her, Howard, but she's also our best lead to figuring out who the witness was. And if Kazuo is right, it'll lead us straight to T.Ruth."Thread Prompt #6:
Approach someone from the Headliner to figure out their stance. Maybe we can nip the problem at its bud.
Taken by Jackson; Thread: To each, his own T.Ruth
"Thoughts, gentlemen?"Thread Prompt #7:
Find out what happened to Aurelia.
Discord: Valentine#6117
10 Mar 2021, 05:06
The Perils of Self-betterment
Watching Howard respond to Jackson’s suggestion of hags reaffirmed his gut feeling. Howard was one of the few students he knew personally who had been around long enough to have experience with the behaviours and methods of these particular hags. As Howard questioned his suggestions, he nodded agreement.
“I had thought of that as well. If the girl had help, that implies that she had planned to be in the Hall, in disguise, that day. I doubt Howard and Falentra told anyone what they were planning…” He glanced at Howard for confirmation. “This means they were in disguise for another reason altogether and Howard’s entrance disrupted whatever they were doing.”
Kazuo shook his head. “That kind of convergence of coincidence is unlikely. And it was clear from her immediate confrontation od Howard that she came for him.”
He paused his theory, considering Ross’s additions. “You’re right, Stephens. We assumed she was a snake because of her uniform but knowing what we do now, it stands to reason that she could be any house. I’m not sure it’s strange, though, that no one noticed her. There are so many students, it’s hard to keep track of them all and she has a very unassuming appearance. We may not have access to the girls dorms but I think I can safely say that this girl isn’t a Puff either. Valentine, can I assume you’ve never seen a girl like her hanging around the Gryff commons?”
He paused again, fishing in one of his pockets and handing Ross a fountain pen, twin to the one he had been absently flipping in his fingers. “Quills are so inconvenient.” He gave Ross a grin.
“Back to Miss Mouse. The theory that makes more sense to me but also adds significant complication is that she isn’t a student at all. Everything we have theoried so far points to a skill level in magic that only an adult is likely to have access to. What started as one mystery has turned into many and I’m not sure if or where they are tied together. Who is Miss Mouse? Why did she get involved in the Hall? Who really wrote the article? Miss Mouse? One of the Headliner staff? Aurelia herself? And Aurelia… what happened to her? Where did she go? When did she go missing? Over the summer? She obviously didn’t just transfer schools or go home, if Heinrich is to be believed. So why aren’t her parents demanding an explanation from the school?”
Kazuo tapped his pen against his lips as Valentine spelled out possible directions. All had potential, the question became which direction they wanted to go in. “I don’t know if Howard should look into Aurelia at this point. With Heinrich’s accusations and the revelation that he accidentally bit her, it doesn’t strike me as a good idea. I can try talking to Bezu, see what, if anything, he knows about his sister. As for transfiguration, I believe Finley-sensei, the librarian, has been assisting during the transition. Metamorphs… I do not know any personally. As I understand it, they can alter anything about themselves but it’s a skill that has to be practiced? Or controlled? I’m not really sure, though I am fascinated by them.”
Kaz will chat with Heinrich.@Howard White @Ross Stephens @Jackson Valentine
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.
14 Mar 2021, 03:54
The Perils of Self-betterment
@Jackson Valentine
@Kazuo Shimada
@Ross Stephens
Howard’s previous excitement would diminish as the conversation progressed. This gathering of minds had given him hope that they might be able to easily track down this mysterious writer and he could go to them face to face. He itched for some action. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate their effort and it was a godsend to finally feel like he had some support, but all of this talking and plotting made him feel stuck. This feeling would only heighten as Ross brought to their attention that the Slytherin outfit was most likely also a part of the disguise. Not only were they trying to track down someone who had most assuredly used some form of magic to change their appearance, but now this target could be of any house. Their one clue right down the drain.
Valentine’s suggestion of reaching out to a Professor was one that made Howard very uneasy. It was a growing paranoia of his as time went on. Outside of Hogwarts he didn’t have any other safe place to go. Well, calling the school safe was quite a stretch, but he would gladly risk death than to return to the Muggle world. A quick glance at his appearance would prove it to be impossible. However he feared that if any of the staff found out about his actions that he could possibly be expelled. He had somehow gotten away with his accidental biting, but interacting with the Hags was sure to be the last straw. “Nah. I don’t know enough ‘bout potions or transfiguration so I’ll leave it be. Don’t wanna bug the professors either.” He did his best to play it off.
At the mention of metamorphs, Howard’s brow would raise in interest. Right away he would think of his friend Alan. He had discussed his abilities with him before and Howard felt very comfortable with him. Perhaps he would be willing to talk with him again or at least shine some more light on the subject. “Hey, I gotta friend who is a metamorph. Lemme see if he can tell me more. I don’t think he’ll mind.” He offered.
“No. It just kinda happened.” Howard confirmed with Kaz that the demonstration in the Great Hall wasn’t discussed with anyone else. It wasn’t something he had even given any thought to, but now it seemed too unlikely to be coincidence. “I didn’t even think ‘bout that. You think they was already disguised before?” What could possibly have driven someone disguised for another reason to break their course to interfere with Howard? Had they been watching him? Spying on him until they saw the right moment to pounce? None of this would ease his paranoia. “Why would they come after me?” He wondered mostly to himself.
“No. I don’t want nothin’ to do with her right now.” Howard had no intentions of going around any of the Bezuidenhout’s anytime soon.
14 Mar 2021, 05:03
The Perils of Self-betterment
The fact Ross' idea was genuinely taken into consideration astonished him. Most times when he spoke he either got eyerolls or amused glances. Never once had one of his ideas been taken seriously. An unfamiliar sense of pride rose within him as he let it sink in. The fact they had not made fun of him for his prior assumptions brought him a sense of relief and safety. H felt as if he was at home despite the fact he had no idea who the people around him were. Being referred to by his last name, having so many people's minds changed by a simple statement- it was thrilling. Treating people as mysteries was fun, but so was treating people like friends. But solving mysteries while treating people like friends? It was an entire other level.
He had looked up from his journal when he had heard his last name stated, but when the same boy handed him a fountain pen he was caught off guard. Not many students brought muggle tools into Hogwarts, but it was a relief to have on hand. He took note that he should do the same
"Oh, erm.. thanks." he awkwardly remarked as he took the pen, clicking the tip a couple times before being satisfied that it worked. He gave the boy a smile before beginning to get to work in his journal.
First he scribbled down names, as he tended to be rather forgetful. His attempts at descriptions included sloppy handwriting and rushed thoughts, but they were important to him. He attempted his best to get the descriptions down as best he could. He remained concentrated, only listening to jot down more information. As people began to take up presented tasks, it dawned upon him he should likely do the same. He waited patiently, making sure he would not snag someone else's idea.
By the time people had stopped talking about important topics, he was satisfied with his work. He got the majority of what they had said down, allowing him to look back and point out details later. It was a fancy tool he learned from being entirely unsure when to take notes and when not to take notes when a teacher spoke. He had more than enough pages in his journal discussing entirely pointless rambles teachers had said.
He kept himself out of topics he did not understand, only scribbling down the limited information he had on it. He had not a clue who Aurelia was or what trauma Howard had gone through, but that information was not required for this mystery on his part.
Or was it his business?
As Howard inquired why people would come after him, Ross' recklessness jumped into action as it tended to frequently do. Not bothering to censor himself, he decided to go with what had been on his mind.
"Well, seems you got a lot o' thoughts on your mind and all that and you're not quiet 'bout it. In mystery novels, the guy who always dies had some weird forbidden knowledge they weren't supposed to know or somethin' or were too talkative about stuff the murderer didn't want known." he paused, attempting to recall what he had just said before it dawned upon him his recklessness had not dug him into a hole for once in his life. "I mean er.. it's sorta like that, y'know? Could be both. Or maybe ya got some weird enemy. Got any you can list off the top o' your head? They'd need investigating." he inquired.
Now that he had interrupted, he felt as if all eyes were on him. He decided for that to not be his only mark as it dawned upon him it was his turn to take up a task. He glanced down at his journal, looking at the statements he had jotted down. Valentine had said something about needing information about transfiguration, right?
"And erm... well, I could probably find someone who gets transfiguration. There's a student for everythin' here. I'm real good at charms, but my friend Flash is real good at potions and I only know that because I had to ask him for notes constantly." he paused, reminiscing on the reminder he had once been blackmailed by his own journal because he asked too many questions. He shook it off and jumped back into what he was saying. "Anyways, I betcha if I lingered in the transfiguration classroom long enough I'd find someone who knows what they're doin- or maybe I could check out that section of the library. I'm a master detective, I could find someone more than ready to do all that with a bit o' watching." he elaborated, not realizing how creepy it sounded that he watched people as a hobby.
As he had been informed- it was very creepy. It was only the cost a detective must pay to get perfect information from the source. He never wrote down anything wrong, no, simply observations on what they did. He wrote three pages on wanting to approach a girl who skipped lunch for reading books. Ross was prone to noticing any mildly off behavior, and usually people who were smart on subjects presented themselves as such when they were offered to present that skill. There were a million things he could do to catch their attention, in fact, he could not stop himself from scribbling down ideas on how to do so in his journal below his notes. Finally, one of his mysteries would actually pay off.
Interacting with
@Jackson Valentine
@Kazuo Shimada
@Howard White
Stamina: 7 Evasion: 7 Strength: 5 Wisdom: 6 Arcane Power: 8 Accuracy: 7