Friend or Foe PV with Arianna Swann/Archer Duncan Finished

[ september 26, 2023 ] ✦..outfit
@Matthew Campbell & @Archer Duncan

One couldn't exactly call Miss Swann a dark arts nerd, but it would be a lie to say that she had no care for the class. All throughout the lesson, Arianna's eyes kept flitting to the empty seat beside her. Her fingers twirled her quill absently as she stared unseeing towards the front of the classroom, eyes having glazed over, propping a cheek up with one hand.

This went on for the time being until a partner project was revealed. Like a particularly interested meerkat, she whipped her head about the space, an eager gaze finally landing on a brown-haired boy sitting quietly in the corner. Archer Duncan was a charmingly polite individual, a bit too kindhearted in Arianna's view, but easy to get along with nonetheless.

Letting out a breathy sigh, Arianna stood up out of her seat and began the short journey to the boy's desk. Her eyes scanned the Slytherin as she edged over, taking in his dark hazel eyes and bored demeanour. “What a coincidence.” she smirked, a honeyed voice coated with heavily dripping sarcasm. The Slytherin watched Archer's head turn to face her as she slipped into the seat beside her, and they made brief eye contact. She smiled genuinely, but that pleasant atmosphere didn't linger for long.

“Hello... I'm Matthew Campbell nice to meet you both! I believe I've seen you around the common room.”

Arianna raised an eyebrow mockingly. Mudblood... “...Yes. And you're intruding my personal space.” she said disdainfully, ignoring the fact that she was actually insulting a stranger.

“Well anyways, I thought seen as the two of you haven't gotten a group yet that I would join you. I'm still getting used to this whole magic thing so I hope you can help. A Slytherin dream-team of sorts!”

Her ebony eyes narrowed slightly at Campbell's disheveled state; did he just waltz in here like this was some sort of circus? Not to mention he was too enthusiastic to Arianna's liking, and the fact that the few other students were starting to stare at her way whilst whispering to one another, completely breaking the peaceful silence that she seriously needed to strike up a sophisticated conversation with Archer.

“Such an idiot...” she sighed wearily.

stamina 7 • evasion 8 • strength 0 • wisdom 9 • arcane 3 • accuracy 8..✦ [ stats ]

Thankfully, Defence Against the Dark Arts was a subject Archer never had the necessity to utilise in actual situations. He did not see the subject particularly fit for the age of him and his peers, nor did he find it a positive thought that it was being taught to them in the first place.

But it certainly wasn't a welcoming lesson.

Unsettlement rose in Archer further as the class was instructed to find a group of three. Pairs were troublesome enough already, groups often became nightmares, from the ever-existent topic to argue about to inconsistencies on ideas and constant blame on each other for even the slightest misstep, Archer had learnt in the past near month at Hogwarts. Twirling his quill in his fingers, he desperately tried not to be noticed by any flitting eyes.

They all have friends to seek, anyway.

His hopes had fluttered away like withering flowers as a white-haired girl of the same house edged her way over to his seat in the corner. Archer recognised her immediately, because, after all, Arianna Lilly Swann was a name scorched into the mind of anyone she has graced herself upon, no matter the degree of positivity. 'What a coincidence,' she said, her voice the same honeyed drawl as always.

As he turned to face her, Archer found himself locking his dark hazel eyes briefly with her scrutinising ebony ones. To his surprise, a genuine smile had touched the heiress's lips, a phenomenon so rarely occurring. Returning it with a smile that met his eyes, Archer said, 'I would hardly say that.' It was her who sought him out after all.

Rolling out a new length of parchment, the Slytherin was just about to begin his discussion when a nervously enthusiastic voice cut him from concentration. 'Hello... I'm Matthew Campbell. Nice to meet you both! I believe I've seen you around the common room.'

A brief frown flickered on Archer's brows as he realised it was directed at him, before quickly vanishing into a polite smile. 'Archer Theodore Duncan,' he said in response to his introduction, keeping his right hand on his quill instead of extending it like he would in the usual case. He had hoped to have this class to a discussion with Arianna, but Archer supposed an additional member wouldn't be apocalyptic.

His eyes shifted towards Arianna, only to find she had raised a mocking brow. This situation would only end glamourously for Matthew then. '...Yes. And you're intruding my personal space,' she said, obvious disdain smearing her insult. Of course, nothing less could have been expected from such a young lady. Archer's gaze hardened slightly at the Swann's malign tone, but he made no move yet, instead deciding on further analysing the situation more, like in most appropriate circumstances.

'Well anyways, I thought seen as the two of you haven't gotten a group yet that I would join you. I'm still getting used to this whole magic thing so I hope you can help. A Slytherin dream-team of sorts!' Archer found his eyes widening despite his accord when Matthew mentioned that he was still unfamiliar with magic, catching Archer completely off-guard. He had known, after some incidents, that muggle-borns could actually perform magic and truly existed in their midst at Hogwarts. However, he found that he wasn't experiencing any form of disgust, but rather a pure, childlike curiosity. He desperately wanted to seize this chance to expand his knowledge on a blood status he had before thought to be extinct. A blessing? Or a genetic mutation perhaps?

Before Archer could regain his composure, Arianna cut in, in a quite curtly Arianna fashion: 'Such an idiot...' she sighed.

Archer cocked his head slightly at such derogatory and unladylike behaviour, even if it was directed towards a muggle-born. There was no need for Matthew to take such an insult personally, but there was also no need to voice such words in front of Miss. Swann. 'Please excuse my friend here,' he said, taking a pointed look at the heiress at the word "friend", his lips slightly pursed with disapproval. 'I do not mean to purposefully exclude you,' Archer said, choosing his words delicately to create a hopefully polite turning down, 'But Miss Arianna Swann and I are hoping to save this time to discussions between ourselves.' Truthfully though, Archer did not see what a muggle-born could bring to an academic conversation between wizards, yet curiosity towards his blood status still pricked at him. 'Having been raised by muggles, is there any nuance that you could bring to the discussion though?' he asked, genuinely inquisitive, yet it could have came across as sarcastic to those who did not know him well, especially with a newly raised brow.

This would either be a wave of insults from Miss Swann or a chance to broaden his knowledge on muggle-borns.

It was more likely to be the former.

@Arianna Swann and @Matthew Campbell

[ september 26, 2023 ] ✦..outfit
@Matthew Campbell & @Archer Duncan

Her eyes narrowed perilously, Arianna's cunning smirk morphed into an unpleasant frown regarding the overbearing Slytherin's persistence. What was it going to take to keep this oppressive boy as faraway as possible? She could care less of anything of friendship; she didn't build these towering and unbreakable walls around herself for nothing.

Not only did Arianna's circumspection towards strangers was at a shockingly high degree, she also become incredibly cranky when she felt her personal space was being threatened, much more when it could hinder her from focusing solely on her goal. The young noble didn't have time for something as ridiculous as friendship, there were better things to dedicate her time to and it certainly wasn't reasoning with whoever this opposite alter ego in front of her was.

“Why, I do appreciate the compliment, Campbell. Truly, you pointed out the obvious,” Arianna twirled a piece of white hair nonchalantly. She wasn't a fool, she knew perfectly well that he had meant it as a scorn. But she had learnt from an early age that the best way to answer to mockery was with mockery itself. Her ebony orbs met Archer's, before turning to the muggleborn once again. “Arianna Lilly Swann, you don't have to applaud.”

“Well, for a starters my muggle nuance may help you two gain a grasp for basic mathematics. Professor Lécuyer said 3 to a group and last time I checked 1 + 1 is 2, that could just be my primitive muggle education talking though.”

She rolled her eyes. “Wow, can't believe I never knew that.” With a swish of white hair that purposefully flew into Campbell's face, Arianna smiled sweetly at the boys. “Good thing you know that, maybe your not as dimwitted as I thought.”

The Slytherin scoffed. It wasn't wise to draw this out lest it become a full-blown fight with several eyes one them. Arianna would never hear the end of it from her parents if she was caught wasting her breath on a childish, bold as brass nitwit, of all people. And she wasn't sure if she had enough patience to endure this simpleton's presence any longer. “Very well then.” she seethed, not bothering to extend a hand, “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

stamina 7 • evasion 8 • strength 0 • wisdom 9 • arcane 3 • accuracy 8..✦ [ stats ]

Archer politely smiled, despite the tense circumstances, at Matthew Campbell when he swung to his side of the table instead. Taking a mocking bow, he said, quite drolly, 'Apologies, princess won't happen again!' Archer nodded formally at that, despite knowing perfectly well his scornful intents. Meaningless humour, in most incidents, is unnecessary and meant to be ignored. However, when utilised with the perfect charm and wit, as Maman does, it could make for the best of words.

Archer cocked an eyebrow slightly as Arianna's eyes narrowed in a frown. It seemed as if they were going down the former route as Archer had expected. He could observe the obvious annoyance that graced the Swann heiress's face. 'Why, I do appreciate the compliment, Campbell. Truly, you pointed out the obvious,' she said drily. Archer bit his lip to keep back a smile, his eyes sparkling on their on accord. It was always amusing when the white-haired Slytherin lashed out in retaliation, despite his guilty pleasure when doing so. After all, Miss Arianna Swann was the queen of sarcasm. 'Arianna Lilly Swann, you don't have to applaud,' she continued.

Archer ignored Matthew as he continued with his derision, squandering the time allotted to complete the project. His face projected false confidence and a ridiculing sadness. It was clearly all an act to prove a worthless point, and should it be done, it shouldn't have been in the classroom. He automatically tuned the muggle-born out as his mind began to wander elsewhere, so that at least one member of their dysfunctional group could contribute to their grades. The instructions were simple enough: provide a detailed report on the appearance and behaviour of imps, referencing to the creatures supplied and common knowledge. The young Duncan's eyes flitted across the room to find two Gryffindor girls handing out caged imps, still at the middle of the classroom, painfully gradually making their way to Archer's table at the very back row. He sighed, then dipped his quill into the inkpot, pausing in thought before he wrote:

Imps

Description: Imps are commonly found in the British Isles, well known for their slapstick humour. However, they do not require much force to despatch, and a simple Knockback Jinx may be used to daze them.

Lifting his quill from the parchment, Archer glanced at the arguing Slytherins, hoping they would come to a resolution for productive behaviour. Archer could feel the prying eyes of strayed students on their backs. Obviously Arianna had too as she steadied her breath and managed out, 'Pleased to make your acquaintance.' Archer nodded in genuine relief at that. Perhaps truce was only temporary, as it always is, but as long as it could last for the duration of the lesson, it could be enough, even if it was forced to save face.

Archer nodded, a "thank you" slipping out of his lips, firm, yet quiet as not to disturb any other groups, as the Gryffindor with a cascade of strawberry blonde hair and a cocky smile handed him a cage with a wriggling imp within. Holding tightly onto its handle, he placed it on the table where the three of them were gathered. 'Pleasure to see that you have ceased your arguments,' he said, turning to face the other two group members, his gaze clearly pointed ever so slightly, for those who care to notice it despite his pleasant expression and tone. 'I am positive both of you understand that our time today is limited,' Archer straightened and continued formally, 'And petty sarcasm is the least of what we should be focusing on.' Pushing forward his roll of parchment so both Slytherins could see, 'As shown, I have already written the description, but as you pointed out, Mister Campbell-' he said, his gaze shifting to Matthew, 'this is a group project for three people, so I hope both of you could contribute your own ideas and observations to the report.' Nodding to the parchment yet to be filled, Archer's quill hovered atop it, prepared to dictate any findings or note down some of his own.

Archer Duncan had no time for Matthew Campbell and Arianna Swann's childish arguments. The classroom was a place to learn, after all.

@Arianna Swann @Matthew Campbell

Note: here is the official wiki article I referenced to for convenience

Maman had always told him that there were certain troubles in the world that simply could not be ceased: the boulders that tumble from the rocky mountains, the currents that churned in the white rivers, the lowering temperatures every winter night. They could not be halted by man and could not be, and all one could do was to evade them. However, as much as he would love to ignore the certain trouble known as Matthew Campbell, first year Slytherin, the Duncan trait of politeness was rigged into him, and there was no option of doing such without it being considered a faux pas. For certain, Maman's teachings could not be applied to every situation, especially that of society- a society he would rather trade for literature and nature.

It was evident that Matthew was blatantly ignoring Archer's remarks, despite his innocent motives of keeping their dysfunctional "Slytherin dream-team" on track in an obstacle course of toxic sarcasm. Truly, he did not see what was so difficult in just gritting his teeth and working through the brief remainder of the lesson. Yet, as he finally acknowledged his reply, all that graced him was a cunning, reptilian smile and, 'You're quite right Archie.' Archer, his head previously lowered, now glanced at Matthew, his gaze pointed at the nickname. Who was Campbell to address him as a name normally saved for the dearest of his family and friends? Such as small detail was petty, but for the first time in a semester he intended to come off as sophisticated, anger boiled in his chest cavity, threatening to spill over into his lungs and drowning his heart. 'Only that too must be a skill we muggles grasp before your lot, you see I'm quite capable of multi-tasking so you needn't worry.' As he continued, the Scottish wizard felt his hands grasping into fists around the quill, though his expression was still somehow kept placid. 'I am incredibly glad to hear that,' he said finally and swiftly, and although the remark might have come out as sarcastic as theirs, the brunet had only said it without any other response on hand and without desire to drop his diplomatic replies and relationship.

Yet as Matthew continued his retaliation, if you would, against Arianna, Archer could not help but flit his eyes away, for as hot tears pricked at the back of his eyes, he could not bear to let Matthew Campbell see them. He did not understand why there was so much hate in this world, whilst the creatures of nature seemed to coexist in harmony and perfect symbiosis. Even when disasters occur, they always somehow fit into a perfect cycle and eventually come full circle, while Matthew was now attacking him for no reason whatsoever. He was the game today, but he had never been born the prey. Despite his efforts to contain them with blinks, a sole tear slid out and he let it rest on his chin before dropping onto his robes to form a wet smear. Archer had never been described as sensitive but in his heart he knew it himself. The shell offering him bare protection was thin in the first place, and Matthew Campbell just happened to have a sharp needle to prick it. With his cheek now drier, he turned back to the duo, eyeing Arianna meaningfully, for even if her actions were not particularly ethical, she was the only person who could give him any defence. It felt almost pathetic, and Archer had not wanted Maman any more than he did today.

'In the spirit of education, I was wondering if either of you could actually answer me, why?' Matthew directed towards Arianna and although it was in no relation to him Archer turned his ears towards the conversation, if only due to his attention caught by the phrase "spirit of education". He could not comprehend whether Matthew was truly confused or if it was only for sarcastic effect. 'Why is it you people look down on muggle-born wizards?' He continued. 'Do you actually have a reason or did mummy and daddy just tell you that was right?' Yet before Arianna could reply, Archer cleared his throat, and if only in an attempt to clear his name, he said quickly without barely taking a breath. 'Personally, I have never known of Muggle-born’s existence before Hogwarts. I simply did not feel it was possible genetically. It is only natural to feel slightly cautionary towards a new entity, similar to a potions ingredient I do not yet know how to work with. Or perhaps one could take the example of two reactive elements when we regard the relationship between wixen and Muggles, both strong in their own regard, but possibly disastrous when put together.' He paused, looked around - though mostly at Arianna and her sharp ebony eyes - and took a step back.

Therefore, he was glad as Arianna interjected in her typical Arianna Swann drawl. 'If this is education, then I have no idea what we're doing with our time anymore.' Casting a downward glance at Matthew, she flicked her snow white hair and stood up in a fluid motion, pushing her chair in swiftly, she said, 'I'm sorry, but as young people who actually care for their studies, Archer and I are going to consult Professor Lécuyer instead.' Casting a glance towards Archer as she strode off, 'Right Archer?'

@Matthew Campbell

Note: this puts Archer at a little bit of a difficult situation rn so what Matthew says but have some effect on him. Permission to godmod Arianna has been given but please owl me @Ayla Woods if you want anything edited.

Archer's dark hazel eyes, so wide, so innocent, compared to those of Arianna's Stygian black or even Matthew's of the same shade, followed Swann's footsteps as she turned to leave, beckoning him to follow. Standing up and pushing in his chair, he stood in hesitation- hesitation which was soon broken as Matthew's attack (for lack of better words) ceased to falter. Grabbing his writing utensils and hurriedly stuffing them into their case and then his satchel, his eyes paused to catch that of his newfound acquaintance’s. Despite the rage in the fellow Slytherin’s voice, his eyes were not burning in anger but rather drowning in pain, a small detail, barely visible, for what was the true difference between the two emotions? Blinking and flitting his irises away, he willed to simply forget the interaction.

Yet his eyes caught as Matthew spoke out once more, though this time it was directed at his accomplice instead, 'Given you're the only one who didn't contribute anything to the project I'm doubtful of your care towards your studies. Then again "care" as you put it requires a heart so I'm not surprised of your incapacity for it.' Not responding to such remarks, Archer's eyes drifted to the snow-haired heiress instead as she stopped in her stride and turned back on her heel, her voice almost bordering on malicious as she smirked, 'Well, Matthew Campbell, you can stand around waiting here and see what I can do.' With that, she walked away, not even looking back once to check if her "prince", as the muggle-born would refer to him, was in her wake.

Casting an ambiguous glance at Matthew, Archer was faced with yet another of his retaliations, now without his friend, or at least positive acquaintance, by his side, 'I guess you better run after her. After all you wouldn't want to stick around, muggles and wixen may result in disaster, wasn't that what you said.' Not meeting his eyes and clearing his throat, Archer shouldered his satchel stiffly, hands moving on their own accord without him placing much thought into it. 'If you would kindly excuse me,’ he said, his signature politeness coming off as sarcastic as ever. 'Mr. Campbell,' he said, finally, voice cold even to himself.

And for the first time, Archer Theodore Duncan experienced bitterness, a seething emotion that raged against his sugared upbringing.

@Matthew Campbell

I know this is kind of short sorry godmodding permission given by @Ayla Woods

Archer leaves thread