Train Tact
Interacting with: @Clayton Lamont
"Clay." Gyle's shushed voice would call out towards his twin as they passed through the busy corridors of the train. Gyle was quite annoyed by the chaos they were currently pushing their way through. "Clay!" He would repeat again, just as soft, but with a little extra urgency added. The whole situation did not instill confidence that Hogwarts was going to be quite up to the standards he was used to, despite all the promises made from their tutor and nannies. The singular saving grace of the situation was that they were slowly clawing their way to a compartment that had been reserved for them. "Pst - Clayton." He would try once again in folly with something he knew would annoy his brother enough to get some sort of response.
But before he could get any sort of reaction out of Clay, a round, stout head out pop out from the next compartment and call out. "Oh Lamont boys!" It was attached to the newest member of their mother's staff, one Ms. Main. Gyle was not particularly found of her, she had a tendency to share her opinion of the boy's dress loudly, and despite the company present. It was embarrassing, lacked tact - just like this. He had told the staff that they should just wave to them. They didn't need to be coddled, they were 11 after all. Practically adults.
"Yes, yes, thank you Ms. Main, we see you." He would say as he shoved his way in front of Clay, trying his best to reign in the situation before it turned into a spectacle. He'd turn his head back to meet Clay's eyes and give him an annoyed eye roll before turning back to face the nanny and smile warmly. He'd enter the compartment as swiftly as possible and turn to face the eager nanny. He needed to be rid of her before he could relax. And before she said anything more embarrassing.
"Oh what a great compartment. Thank you for taking time to save it for us. Now, bye bye Ms. Main. We will miss you terribly, please tell the others we are already homesick. I think I heard the warning whistle, hurry so you don't get stuck on the train Ms. Bye bye!" He would say as he pat her shoulders, trying his best to urge her out into the corridor (and off the train).
"You did? Oh okay then, that would be quite an ordeal. Goodbye boys. Oh don't you two look so cute in your new robes. Make sure you behave." She would hug the two boys before departing. Gyle would let her wrap her arms around the boy as he hung there limp, moving his head slightly away, doing his best not to be too disgusted by her impudence. He had let Peggy hug him, but Ms. Main? The seven month tenured nanny? What made her think she could hug him. She was lucky mother had not come along today or he would have made sure she knew. Mother barely hugged him after all, why should Ms. Main be allowed? Maybe he'd need to owl mother once they settled at the castle.
Audacity of a maid nanny aside, his favorite spot was waiting for him. He'd plop himself down on the the window-side seat. Facing the direction of travel - of course - it was much more comfortable for an extended ride like this. Despite the fact that they had not needed to carry anything through the station, or aboard the train (they had people for that), Gyle found himself quite exhausted by the spectacle of it all. Taking a moment to breathe he'd take some deep breathes, center himself like he'd seen mother do when entertaining problematic guests. But as he inhaled a second time a scent would find him. An odor. Ms. Main's pungent, old lady perfume that smelled more at home in a funeral parlor than amongst the living. Her embarrassing nature had made him forget the other reason he disliked her.
He would turn a disgruntled face towards Clay. "Ough - open that window will you. How long was she waiting in here? Gross."
Train Tact
@Gyle Lamont
"Yes." He replied promptly to his brother. Though, his voice did not carry itself through the crowd. An older boy rushed past him, and he felt the instinct to wince in disgust towards the smelly teen. That denim jacket did little to cover up the boy's stained shirt. Clay's eyes tapped up and down and abhorred the rest of the students mingling about. They were already a horde, trapped in a wagon like cattle. How his brother and him managed to get themselves mixed up with this rabble, he blamed Ms. Bane for. Or was it Ms. Main? The point was, Gyle hated her, which in turn made sure that he could not help himself but partake in his brother's contempt towards the newest member of their mother's staff. It was how the world was meant to be. As the older and more responsible one, he always had to respect his brother's needs.
"Yes, Gyle. I'm right here." He would repeat himself, this time more firmly, though, still hushed. Had the floors of these compartments not been so deprived of a half-decent cleanse, he would have considered throwing down his jacket and making a fuss. Sadly, their current environment tamed his theatrics. A poorly directed scolding to the back of his brother's head would have to do. Clay winced once more at the sound of Ms. Main's giddy exclamation.
So embarrassing. And here Clay thought his brother had specifically asked for the members of staff to simply offer them a wave if they felt so inclined to offer their goodbyes. Ms. Main was so… tacky. Inelegant even. Clay theory behind her employment depended on the fact that their mother likes to shine as bright as the sun next to those of less inspirational callings. Ms. Main would certainly serve as the prefect counter mirror to their dear mother.
Clay simply stood by and listened as his brother dealt with the antics of courtesy. He smiled and nodded in affirmation, strengthening his brother's arguments where necessary. "Goodbye, Ms. Main." He said with a slightly sardonic smile, dragging his words to point out the pressing of time. The hug that followed threw him totally over board. Why was it they all felt such need for attachment? Fishing for love and affection, praise even. Clay winced for the third time. He prayed for the winds of magic to just whisk her away at this point. And her god-awful perfume with it. Adults were such a drag.
Speaking of drags. Just moments later, he realized he was about to be locked up with one for the next nine or so hours. As expected, Gyle barked out an order without missing a beat. Still, his brother had a point, as he usually did. Ms. Main's stench had a tendency to hang about, like an ill-guest who did not know when to quit the stage. Clay opened the window as requested and ambled towards the seat across from his brother. "At the very least, the compartment is ours." Clay spoke out optimistically.
What came next, he had not exactly prepared for. Were they meant to be playing games now? Reading? Discuss pointless topics such as the current weather predictions or which assortments of candy would be available when the trolley lady eventually would pass by? Clay adjusted the collar of his robe before brushing a hand through his hair. He left his elbow to rest on the window frame. Now that they were alone, he loosened his face. He felt the skin around his eyes sag back into their rounder frames, and allowed his hair to fall into loose curls as they caught the welcome breath of fresh air blowing through the window.
"Do you think Peggy was preoccupied?" Clay asked out of curiosity as soon as the question sparked into his own mind. "They know we would have preferred her… discretion in an event such as this." He managed to subdue a fourth wince at the thought of Ms. Main. Who he considered an elephant in a porcelain store. A wheelbarrow to ship off dirt, rather than the cushioned carriage they deserved.