20 Jan 2021, 20:38
Off To Magical Boarding School
A black sedan had pulled up to King’s Cross station, like so many other cars. This one had government plates, though it was likely to go unnoticed by most people. An embassy car driven by a London-born Japanese man who currently served the Shimada family while they lived and worked here. Today his passenger was not Ambassador Shimada or his lovely wife, though. Today it was the lone Shimada heir, Kazuo, a boy of only eleven.Intro thread for new students Zacharie Dubois and Hayden Reece - backdated to September
“Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you to the platform?” The driver asked in Japanese as Kazuo pushed open the car door.
“No thank you,” Kazuo replied politely, shaking his head. “I have my instructions.”
The driver sighed at the young boy’s response, perhaps thinking that the boy was too self-sufficient for his age. Something he had seen in the other embassy children from time to time. Children required to grow up a bit too fast. He helped Kazuo retrieve his luggage from the trunk then watched as the boy made his way into the station, dragging his wheeled suitcase behind him.
Platform 9-¾ was such an odd reference. He hadn’t taken the train much since coming to London, though he was more than familiar with the ways of the subway from his years growing up in Tokyo. Numbered platforms were logical enough but ¾? He wove his way through the crowds of people until he had located the right area, gazing up at the platform sign then down to what appeared to be a brick wall. His eyes narrowed in an expression that was somewhere between curiosity and irritation then managed a rather impressive sweeping roll. A wall that was not a wall. It felt like the sort of thing he could read about in his manga.
Not to be deterred by the prospect of potentially running face-first into a real wall, he simply adjusted his backpack, gripped the handle of his suitcase, and strode toward it, shivering a bit as he passed through to find himself in an entirely different sort of train station. The great beast of a train looked like it was from a different century. It probably was from a different century. These western wizards really loved their old-fashioned aesthetic. He took a moment to study the bustle of students around him, letting their actions guide him to his next step. Luggage was stowed and train cars were boarded. He had little in the way of luggage, a suitcase and a backpack, so he kept them both with him as he clambered up the steps with the help of a porter, being perhaps a bit too short for it to be an easy task. Once aboard, he wandered down the aisle of the car, peering into the compartments until he found an empty one. Stowing his suitcase, he flopped onto the seat in an uncharacteristically informal manner, pulling a book out of his backpack and settling in to read.
Reducio
Interacting with: @Zacharie Dubois @Hayden Reece
Mentioning:
Action: Reading manga
Stamina 5
Evasion 7
Strength 5
Wisdom 6
Arcane Power 6
Accuracy 6
Abilities
Perfectionist
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.
24 Jan 2021, 05:07
Off To Magical Boarding School
Today was probably one of the worst of his very short life. Would he look back on this moment and consider himself overly dramatic? Most likely, but right now he was busy clinging to his brother's hand and glaring at all of the people who walked too close. "Can't Father just hire some tutors?" He asked, not for the first time during the months leading up to this. "Can't you just teach me?"
Andre, who had been doing his best to guide his little brother through the crowd, brought them to a stop with a soft sigh. "Zacharie." He motioned the butler who had accompanied them onward to get the youngest Dubois' luggage taken care of before kneeling before Zacharie, taking both small hands into his own. "You know that I would if it were possible." Zacharie dropped his gaze to the ground, his lips pursing with displeasure and the slight wobble that hinted at tears. "...I don't want to go, Andre," he murmured, eagerly stepping into the hug that his older brother offered. "Oh, my sweet Zacharie. Time will pass quickly, you will see. You'll be home for holiday before you know it and then you can tell me all about your adventures." Zacharie did not believe it but he knew that pushing the subject would do nothing more than upset the both of them so he accepted the consoling with a nod and hugged his brother tightly.
Making their way to Platform 9-3/4 was uneventful, he couldn't even muster up a smile as they passed through like the rest of the children. It took most of his focus to keep himself from crying as he and Andre made their final farewells and he was helped up into the train. He felt...a bit in a daze as he wandered down the aisle, travel bag clutched protectively to his chest. Which was why he entered the first quiet compartment he came upon and crossed to the window, seeking out his brother's face in the crowd and releasing a shaky breath as he waved.
Andre, who had been doing his best to guide his little brother through the crowd, brought them to a stop with a soft sigh. "Zacharie." He motioned the butler who had accompanied them onward to get the youngest Dubois' luggage taken care of before kneeling before Zacharie, taking both small hands into his own. "You know that I would if it were possible." Zacharie dropped his gaze to the ground, his lips pursing with displeasure and the slight wobble that hinted at tears. "...I don't want to go, Andre," he murmured, eagerly stepping into the hug that his older brother offered. "Oh, my sweet Zacharie. Time will pass quickly, you will see. You'll be home for holiday before you know it and then you can tell me all about your adventures." Zacharie did not believe it but he knew that pushing the subject would do nothing more than upset the both of them so he accepted the consoling with a nod and hugged his brother tightly.
Making their way to Platform 9-3/4 was uneventful, he couldn't even muster up a smile as they passed through like the rest of the children. It took most of his focus to keep himself from crying as he and Andre made their final farewells and he was helped up into the train. He felt...a bit in a daze as he wandered down the aisle, travel bag clutched protectively to his chest. Which was why he entered the first quiet compartment he came upon and crossed to the window, seeking out his brother's face in the crowd and releasing a shaky breath as he waved.
Icon by @cor1879
30 Jan 2021, 18:42
Off To Magical Boarding School
It was.. Very confusing. All of this was very confusing. Hayden liked the rational things and all this didn't make much sense to him. Wizard school? A train platform called 9-3/4? Who on earth could belive that? But in the same time it felt all too real. Especially after his little adventure in his father's study when the book simply fell down without Hayden having to touch it. He had, to this day, tried to come to a more rational answer to the events but failed to find any.
Clutching the suit case in his hands, he stopped in front of the wall. Now what? Go through it? How? If humans could go through walls, life would have been different. However he wasnt want to give up so he could at least try. Who knew what kind of secrets the world held. He walked closer to the wall and touched it. It felt... Like a wall. What a surprise. Maybe he had to walk.. Okay. He took a deep breath and hurried through the wall. His eyes were shut in expectation of the hit against his face and probably make fun of himself. But when none of that happened he finally stopped on his track and opened his eyes.
Hayden gasped. Mouth open as he was taking in the new setting. It was magnifficent, it was new... It was so... Magical. He shook his head as he realized that he didnt have all day to stand there and stare. He didnt want to be late. Thus he looked around and made his way inside the train and one of the compartments. It wasnt really crowded and there were a lot of empty seats but Hayden didnt want to travel alone. Not to mention that he was curious about the other passangers. Perhaps they could guide him and clear things out for him. So the moment he saw a boy reading a book, he made sure to sit right next to him, having a friendly, almost too friendly, smile on his face. "Hi. Im Hayden. Its my first time traveling alone on a train. What are you reading?" he asked, glancing briefly at the book before looking around at the other passangers that occupied thr space.
Clutching the suit case in his hands, he stopped in front of the wall. Now what? Go through it? How? If humans could go through walls, life would have been different. However he wasnt want to give up so he could at least try. Who knew what kind of secrets the world held. He walked closer to the wall and touched it. It felt... Like a wall. What a surprise. Maybe he had to walk.. Okay. He took a deep breath and hurried through the wall. His eyes were shut in expectation of the hit against his face and probably make fun of himself. But when none of that happened he finally stopped on his track and opened his eyes.
Hayden gasped. Mouth open as he was taking in the new setting. It was magnifficent, it was new... It was so... Magical. He shook his head as he realized that he didnt have all day to stand there and stare. He didnt want to be late. Thus he looked around and made his way inside the train and one of the compartments. It wasnt really crowded and there were a lot of empty seats but Hayden didnt want to travel alone. Not to mention that he was curious about the other passangers. Perhaps they could guide him and clear things out for him. So the moment he saw a boy reading a book, he made sure to sit right next to him, having a friendly, almost too friendly, smile on his face. "Hi. Im Hayden. Its my first time traveling alone on a train. What are you reading?" he asked, glancing briefly at the book before looking around at the other passangers that occupied thr space.
1 Feb 2021, 06:36
Off To Magical Boarding School
He had never ridden an old-fashioned train quite like this before. The trains in Tokyo were designed for short rides and maximum capacity, not for long journeys. The trains that crossed the country, running north and south across the island, were more like this one in purpose yet much more refined. When travelling north to their estate with his parents, they had always had a private compartment. So he had assumed the same would be true here, an assumption that would prove false as another boy entered the compartment. In hindsight perhaps it had been arrogant of him to assume that he would be permitted to have an entire compartment to himself.
He watched as Zacharie moved straight to the window, waving to whoever had seen him off. Kazuo arched a brow, lips quirking up in amusement at the realization that the boy hadn’t even noticed him. He drew himself up and out of his slouch, intending to introduce himself to the other but before he could, his short-lived peace was interrupted a second time.
While Zacharie hadn’t noticed him, this second boy seemed to have chosen this compartment because there were others in it. Hayden sat down right next to him and gave him a bright smile, immediately introducing himself. Kazuo slow-blinked at the friendly boy.
“Ohayo,” Kazuo replied quietly, glancing down at the manga he had been attempting to read. “Just a manga. I am Shimada Kazuo, nice to meet you.” He glanced over at Zacharie. “What’s your name?”
Reducio
Interacting with: @Zacharie Dubois
@Hayden Reece
Mentioning:
Action: Introductions
Stamina 5
Evasion 7
Strength 5
Wisdom 6
Arcane Power 6
Accuracy 6
Abilities
Perfectionist
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.
8 Feb 2021, 06:52
Off To Magical Boarding School
He wouldn't have said that the train was particularly quiet, especially not when it was full of children, but the walled off compartment had certainly minimized the noise enough so that when someone else joined him it made him jump. He looked over his shoulder, scowl already firmly in place, to tell this Hayden to quiet down...only to blink owlishly when he noticed that there was a third person in the compartment with him. Had he been there this whole time? He hadn't noticed.
Zacharie considered ignoring them but a quick glance out the window told him that Andre had already slipped away. Likely to save him the torment of watching him disappear as the train left the station...but he couldn't help the way his shoulders sagged. "...Zacharie Dubois," he murmured half-heartedly as he dropped onto the cushioned seat across from the other two.
He was supposed to be making friends here or some other nonsense like that but he didn't feel much like conversing. He wanted to go home. The freckled boy sighed softly, tugging his bag into his lap to hug it close to his chest before he unconvincingly added, "it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances." Never let it be said that he didn't pay attention during his etiquette lessons.
Zacharie considered ignoring them but a quick glance out the window told him that Andre had already slipped away. Likely to save him the torment of watching him disappear as the train left the station...but he couldn't help the way his shoulders sagged. "...Zacharie Dubois," he murmured half-heartedly as he dropped onto the cushioned seat across from the other two.
He was supposed to be making friends here or some other nonsense like that but he didn't feel much like conversing. He wanted to go home. The freckled boy sighed softly, tugging his bag into his lap to hug it close to his chest before he unconvincingly added, "it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances." Never let it be said that he didn't pay attention during his etiquette lessons.
Icon by @cor1879
9 Feb 2021, 17:27
Off To Magical Boarding School
Ah, what joy. There was another kid there. A quiet and shy one but still someone to talk to. Hayden had no idea how long the ride would take so he didnt want to spend it in complete silence. Sure he had taken books to read with him but he... Didn't feel like reading. He would miss his parents ans had no idea when and how he would meet them again and those thoughts didn't make him feel any better. He focused on the two boys, who seemed to be around his age. This was good, perhaps he could make friends with them, even if in all honesty, he could live just as well without friends. "Pleasure to meet you both. So?.... Where are you two headed to? Did you receive that weird letter too? You know, about the wizards and stuff? Im actually a little nervous. And you two seem awfully quiet. Are you sad that you are going away from your parents? Me too. But dad said that sooner or later it would happen anyway so I should accept this as a training for the future. My dad is very smart. And I love traveling by train. And this one is very comfortable. Have you ever traveled by train before?"
Yes... Hayden barraged them both with questions which they probably couldn't answer all. But Hayden was nervous and a bit overly friendly and those two things didnt work well together. But his curiosity was mainly piqued by the book that Kazuo was reading. Manga, huh? He hadn't seen one before. It was like a comix and Hayden rarely had time to read those... Nor did he like them all that much. But this was kind of different. Well, he was definitely going to ask Kazuo to borrow it later. For now, he got comfortable on his seat, trying not unleash another wave of questions.
Yes... Hayden barraged them both with questions which they probably couldn't answer all. But Hayden was nervous and a bit overly friendly and those two things didnt work well together. But his curiosity was mainly piqued by the book that Kazuo was reading. Manga, huh? He hadn't seen one before. It was like a comix and Hayden rarely had time to read those... Nor did he like them all that much. But this was kind of different. Well, he was definitely going to ask Kazuo to borrow it later. For now, he got comfortable on his seat, trying not unleash another wave of questions.
10 Feb 2021, 01:18
Off To Magical Boarding School
The scowl Zacharie shot Hayden at his noisy entrance was something Kazuo could sympathize with. He wasn’t used to children his own age, having been tutored at home in Tokyo then thrown together with a wide range of children at the embassy. He gave Zacharie a sympathetic smile as the quiet boy introduced himself. “はじめまして (Hajimemashite)... Eh… Nice to meet you both.” He gave both boys a slight bow as Zacharie finally claimed a seat. He studied Zacharie quietly, noting the despondent way he seemed to react to everything. This was a boy who did not view Hogwarts as an adventure. This was a boy who did not seem to want to be going at all. A point of view he could very much relate to.
Hayden, on the other hand, was clearly an excitable type of child, babbling on without seeming to notice Zacharie’s withdrawn demeanour. He turned his attention to Hayden, a slight frown forming as he tried to follow the rapid-fire questions. “Where are we going? The same place as you, Hayden-kun. Hogwarts Gakuen. Every student gets a letter of acceptance if they are capable of magic. I suppose that means you aren’t from a magical family? A… what do you English call them? Muggles?” He puzzled over the word, still confused by it. The English certainly had chosen strange labels for onmyoji and regular people. “I am not sad. My parents are often away at work so I am used to travelling alone. The trains in Tokyo are not like this though. They are much more modern.”
He turned his gaze back to Zacharie. “What about you, Zacharie-kun? Are you from a muggle family or an onmyoji one? Ah-” He frowned again. “Pardon me, a wizard one.” He corrected himself, not yet accustomed to the English words. “My family are purebloods. We have always had magic in our clan.” He explained the last part, more for Hayden since he didn’t know if Zacharie was muggle-born as well. “I would be going to Mahoutokoro if my Father didn’t have to come to England for work.” Though he had meant to say it matter-of-factly, a bit of sullenness crept into his tone. Hogwarts. What kind of name was that for a school?
Reducio
Interacting with: @Hayden Reece @Zacharie Dubois
Mentioning:
Action: Talking
Stamina 5
Evasion 7
Strength 5
Wisdom 6
Arcane Power 6
Accuracy 6
Abilities
Perfectionist
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.
11 Feb 2021, 04:00
Off To Magical Boarding School
"...You talk too much," Zacharie said primly as he rummaged around in his bag until he found the book he was looking for. He didn't bother to answer any of Hayden's questions, they were far too personal and he was fairly certain that his nannies would say they were 'inappropriate for acquaintances'. Drawing his knees up towards his chest, he opened his book and settled in to spend the entirety of the trip reading and ignoring all attempts at conversation.
...After this. Kazuo wasn't so noisy or as nosy.
"...My family is a Wizarding one and boasts a very long line of pure-blooded or otherwise magically born individuals," he said, like it was a script he had memorized. Which it was. "My parents are Healers based in England but my brother and I were born in France." He didn't particularly care about where he was, it was all more or less the same to him since he didn't often leave his family's estates.
...After this. Kazuo wasn't so noisy or as nosy.
"...My family is a Wizarding one and boasts a very long line of pure-blooded or otherwise magically born individuals," he said, like it was a script he had memorized. Which it was. "My parents are Healers based in England but my brother and I were born in France." He didn't particularly care about where he was, it was all more or less the same to him since he didn't often leave his family's estates.
Icon by @cor1879
12 Feb 2021, 17:10
Off To Magical Boarding School
Hayden was fascinated with Kazuo. Maybe it was his heavy accent, his struggle with English words or perhaps the over all curiosity of meeting a foreigner but perhaps it was the fact that he was not trying to cut him off like Zacharie. But that didnt stop Hayden one bit. "Oh? My parents are not wizards. All this is unknown and new to me. So im a little too excited, sorry about that" he laughed, rubbing thr back of his neck while giving Zacharie an apologetic look. "My father is a doctor! A very well know one. I mean, not like super famous but a lot of people say good things about him. Is healer the same as being a doctor? If so.. I want to be a healer too! I bet my dad will be supper proud. Maybe I will be even more succesfull than him "
Hayden would have continued rambling but he began noticing how....reserved the other two seemed to be."You dont seem very happy about all this. Aren't you excited? We are going to wizard school! And there will be magic!" he tried to keep the conversation going but honestly, those children reminded him of this one time that Hayden followed his fsther on a trip to one mantion of a very rich person who had fallen ill. All his relatives, including his children, seemed to behave the same way... Cold, reserved and lacking joy. It made Hayden curious as to why rich people were like this, but the only answer his father gave him was, that this is just how they are. A terrible responce in his opinion.
"Have you traveled with this train before? I bet there are amazing things we will see" he jumped out of his seat and walked over to the window to observe in awe. It took him just a couple of seconds before he turned back at the other two "Come on, drop those books, we can read later." he would have walked over ans tried to drag them but they were still strangers and Hayden had some manners. "Oh oh, sicne your parents are wizards and magic has been part of your life.... Can you do magic???" Now this was a question that got him truly excited, watching the two boys with glee, hoping for a positive answer and maybe some trick or two.
@Kazuo Shimada
@Zacharie Dubois
Hayden would have continued rambling but he began noticing how....reserved the other two seemed to be."You dont seem very happy about all this. Aren't you excited? We are going to wizard school! And there will be magic!" he tried to keep the conversation going but honestly, those children reminded him of this one time that Hayden followed his fsther on a trip to one mantion of a very rich person who had fallen ill. All his relatives, including his children, seemed to behave the same way... Cold, reserved and lacking joy. It made Hayden curious as to why rich people were like this, but the only answer his father gave him was, that this is just how they are. A terrible responce in his opinion.
"Have you traveled with this train before? I bet there are amazing things we will see" he jumped out of his seat and walked over to the window to observe in awe. It took him just a couple of seconds before he turned back at the other two "Come on, drop those books, we can read later." he would have walked over ans tried to drag them but they were still strangers and Hayden had some manners. "Oh oh, sicne your parents are wizards and magic has been part of your life.... Can you do magic???" Now this was a question that got him truly excited, watching the two boys with glee, hoping for a positive answer and maybe some trick or two.
@Kazuo Shimada
@Zacharie Dubois
14 Feb 2021, 16:38
Off To Magical Boarding School
Kazuo’s smile widened a bit at Zacharie’s response to Hayden. The boy did seem to enjoy babbling out every thought that crossed his mind. His gaze shifted to the book Zacharie had retrieved from his bag, curious about what the boy might be reading. He glanced back down at the manga he was holding, realizing that with Hayden here, it was unlikely that he would be able to return to reading. He gave his attention to Zacharie, nodding at the brief yet informative answer.
“Ah, Healers, a very noble path to follow,” Kazuo replied with a nod. “It seems you and I are both foreigners, though I suppose France is much closer and your English certainly sounds better than mine.”
His gaze shifted to Hayden as he revealed his own background. “A doctor, interesting. Yes, healers are similar to doctors. As I understand it, magic can be used to treat all sorts of medical problems and injuries. I do not share such an interest but I am quite fascinated with psychology. I want to know if there are magical studies involving the human psyche.”
As Hayden changed topics, Kazuo shrugged in response. “I have always known that I would someday be trained in magic. I am looking forward to my studies but magic is not new to me as it is to you, Hayden-kun." He watched Hayden jump up and move to the window as the train had begun to move, making its way out of the station and into the countryside.
"Sometimes my mother and I would take a train from Tokyo to our estate in Niigata Prefecture. It's just countryside. Usually nothing worth watching. I don't imagine this ride will be any different. At least until we are closer to the school."
He glanced at Zacharie when Hayden asked if they could do anything magical, curious if the other pureblood had more experience. He'd only recently come into his power so his control was questionable. "Are we allowed to do magic on the train? My mother told me that they are very strict about what children are allowed to do here."
Reducio
Interacting with: @Hayden Reece @Zacharie Dubois
Mentioning:
Action: Talking
Stamina 5
Evasion 7
Strength 5
Wisdom 6
Arcane Power 6
Accuracy 6
Abilities
Perfectionist
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.