The Snake and the Badger Pv Finished

After hearing everything Anderson said, Selim had fallen into a deep silence mulling over the info with a deep-set tension. His yellow eyes flashed up to the girl, studying her for a few moments. She was rather honest, it was mildly unnerving after being around his Housemates for so long, but he would almost claim that the honesty was refreshing, after a long life of dishonesty and being looked down on.

He spoke once more with a level tone, "That's rather suspicious, don't you think?", He closed the sketchbook, handing it back to Anderson, "Concerning indeed, this could possibly be all tied together, this school... it seems like there's something dark lurking underneath all the normality. Perhaps it's one of the reasons I've been so on edge since coming here."

Selim closed his eyes, deep in thought, going from what the girl said, the Hufflepuff head of house may have found this... 'Headmaster' Plott suspicious, perhaps knew something about him, enough to be rather on edge around him... either that or he was just very concerned about the students under his charge. The boy, Jake Morris, knew more about the suspicious visiting Headmaster, perhaps even knew him, or at least recognized him.

He'd have to ask the boy himself after the ball.

Selim's mind flashed back to the time he first met Lestrange, and the Fox's new girlfriend, Erin Ryan... the circumstances back then had been rather odd as well.

His fingers rapidly tapped his thigh, an erratic beat with no meaning reflecting how much the information was making him think... then, he spoke once more, almost absently, "I don't trust this school... it's security, location, it's hidden passages... His amber orbs flashed open as a thought popped into his head, "Hidden passages... what if there's something hiding inside the school using those passages? I would think there's many of them, along with abandoned rooms and the such..." His gaze narrowed as the idea formed in his head, making him tense again.

The theory brought many concerns, for everyone's health, the world he had been thrust into after living inside the compound was full of things that made him want to hole up and hide for the rest of his life, made him jump at every shadow, forced him to think outside the box.

At this rate, he'd never be able to sleep in the castle peacefully again.

Why had no one found these threats? The professors were wizards, were they not? Have they noticed how much danger their students were in? The threats circling the school like starving wolves ready to strike? Why was school still going?

Honestly, it seemed muggles had a better sense of self-preservation then the wizards did.

Perhaps it was an adaptation thing? Muggles didn't have magic to protect themselves, so they, naturally, had to adapt to protect themselves in other ways.

Wizards should take a page out of their books.

Interacting with @Selim Faust

Soft hands took the journal back from him and placed it on her lap, one hand placed protectively over the cover. Ever since Jack Warren had snuck up on her and took her journal she made sure never to leave it unattended. She had never really given much thought to the events at the school. There was assumption that had come into light that maybe this is just how wizard schools were? She barely even knew that other wizard schools existed, let alone what happened at them. Something in her wanted to run back home and never return. This world was becoming too dangerous for the sapling.

Her eyebrows furrowed together as she truly considered all of the circumstances and how this should be preventable by the professors of the school. Surely they wouldnt purposefully leave the children in danger. "I mean I guess... but wouldn't they shut Hogwarts down if that was truly a concern? Headmaster Lear would've surely sent us home if it was too dangerous to be here." The sickly scent and feeling of being covered in her housemate's blood passed over her for a moment with a shudder. Nothing about that basement had been safe. Even after the arrival of Professor Browne and Professor Jensen. The darkness was a sticky memory that refused to leave the back of her head.

As his voice broke her from her thoughts once again, her eyes flicked down to his nervous tapping. It was a habit of hers as well, one of her favorite grounding techniques but this seemed more erratic and stressed than what was expected for grounding. This whole topic was obviously stressful for him. She wanted to change it, or just somehow calm him. He wasn't speaking much but she knew there was probably a storm in his mind. Her hand slowly reached out in an attempt to cover the tapping hand. She watched him carefully for signs of needing to stop and retreat. Even if he did stop her advance, her voice would speak softly. "But at least we don't have to fight whatever it is alone. It seems like in both of our houses people were there for each other. Attempting to keep their housemates safe. If it wasn't for my housemates I would've never made it out of the basements." A convenient detail she left out of her initial story because she still didn't really know how to process it herself.

"At least we have this ball to look forward to. Although... after talking to you I feel like I should go in cautious more than ever. I suppose maybe the Professors cancelled it for a reason..." There was now an impending worry in the pit of her stomach about the ball on Saturday. Maybe someone should've told the professors, or maybe it would be fine? Who could predict what would happen anyway? Well, Professor Kibitzer, master of divination definitely could've. But then she would have seen the student ball coming, right? Her own thoughts were starting to swirl as her eyes became clouded with a certain sense of trepidation and overwhelming worry.

Selim eyed the girl as she tried to reassure him uncertainly that if it had truly been a concern that the school would've been shut down. Selim rose a brow, "And yet here we are, regaling each other of tales in which we've both have almost died." Perhaps his tone would seem sardonic, but his voice was still as flat as ever, "As for Headmaster Lear?" Selim paused, eyes narrowing, "Have you actually seen him since school started? Because I haven't."

Where was the Headmaster?

Was he missing? It would be a logical conclusion, given the situation.

He froze when the girl reached out to still his hand eyeing her sharply, coldly, and pulling away from her possible touch. He didn't want to be touched by a virtual stranger, his paranoia wouldn't allow it, the creature that continued to stalk him since that day had forever corrupted any sense of comfort through physical affection, even though it had already been a tainted idea since he was six.

Still, he listened to her meaningless words of comfort, watching her blankly, the last comment making him raise a brow. "Have you not heard the gossip? Many of our upperclassmen murmur about how every Blossom Ball they've gone to has ended in disaster and trauma." He turned away, "The professors canceled it for a reason, apparently those who have organized this 'secret' event decided to be selectively deaf to the blatant warnings around them."

He fell into silence, eyeing the area around him with dark eyes, thoughts ran through his mind, but he finally pushed them back. He had no time for this puzzle, he had to prepare for his Clan's initiation test. He had to prepare, physically, and mentally.

He needed to become the perfect soldier, the perfect weapon.

Or else he'd be discarded like trash.

Interacting with @Selim Faust

The more well placed points Selim seemed to place in Willow's thinly placed logic, the more she saw the rosy tinted fabric of the safe place she had always seen Hogwarts as being rip apart. There was that saying that red flags just look like flags with rose colored glasses, but Willow's had been smashed to the ground with this conversation. She could almost resent Selim for destroying the picture she had painted of Hogwarts, but she was the one that had approached him and that wouldn't be very fair. Still, she was a tad angry. Luckily, she was able to keep it settled in the pit of her stomach. "I-I mean no... but maybe he's just really busy. I mean he's the Headmaster after all?" There was obviously a mystery to his disappearance, but Willow didn't want to admit anymore. She didn't want to think about this anymore.

Seeing Selim's reaction to her hand approaching she quickly and steadily pulled it back at the first sign of coldness. She wasn't here to pick a fight or make someone that was pretty adept at fighting uncomfortable. This was a very interesting person she had come upon, one where she felt like she had to walk upon sharp eggshells that pierced the soles of her feet upon the first wrong move. For now she would keep her eyes gazing forward, and her hands politely folded in her lap. "I mean, I guess I have. Does that mean you're not going to go? I already asked someone to be my date... Ruka, if you know him. From Gryffindor? I thought it might prove to be a nice event to just have some fun with a friend. It might be a bit rude to cancel out of the blue now..." Her eyes were saddened, disappointed. She had so many hopes for this ball but they all seem to slowly disintegrating right in front of her.

@Willow Anderson

Selim shrugged as the girl tried to reason out why the Headmaster was missing, her logic was flawed in her response, but he saw no reason to point it out. He had already, metaphorically, given her the seed of doubt. Honestly, he was just venting his thoughts to the girl, but he at least hoped she'd be more cautious now that he had told her these things.

After he flinched away from her hand, the girl rested it back in her lap, and he eased once more.

Upon the Hufflepuff speaking again, he rose his brow at the mention of it being 'rude' to cancel it now. His face slipped into a deadpan. "I don't think rudeness matters at this point, seeing as how it was 'rude' to go behind the professors' backs when they were just trying to keep us safe."

He scanned what bits of the sky he could see through the fading mist and swaying willow branches. The sky was painted in pinks, oranges, and reds, as if on fire... it was getting close to supper.

"I'm going to the ball. I was invited by someone, who added an odd request into their letter. After I complete that request though, I'm leaving, I have better things to do other than dance and sing in the face of hidden danger. Perhaps nothing bad will happen, but I'd rather not risk my bodily health on that possibility."

He glanced back at the girl, looking into her blue eyes that were now tinged with disappointment. "If one truly just want to have an enjoyable time with people, I would've simply set up a small event with my house, perhaps in the common room, instead of going to a ball that breaks the rules set by our temporary guardians and teachers... Of course, unlike you, I'm not a fan of social gatherings, but this is just in the context of if I were in their position." He hummed lightly, fingers trailing the scars that were visible on his arms. "It's just... a safer option then what our peers have chosen."

Sometimes Selim simply didn't understand his fellow students' logic. He always wondered why they weren't as cautious as him... then he remembered that not everyone was trained by a clan of paranoid assassins, and they also hadn't had traumatizing events happen in their lives that left them as damaged as himself.

Honestly, other children often seemed like a completely different species then Selim. It was exhausting to deal with.

Stats & Abilities:

Reducio

____ ____ ____

/40

Stamina: 5
Evasion: 10
Strength: 5
Wisdom: 7
ArcPower: 3
Accuracy: 10

____ ____ ____

Interacting with @Selim Faust

The more she talked to Selim, the more and more she felt like she was talking to a full adult rather than someone that was presumably her age. He seemed to have a very intense thought process about everything, questioning every move of every decision rather than Willow who generally would just go for things. "I suppose you're right. I guess I could always just plan to do something else with him that night since I know that he's free, I don't know. He's not someone I would say no to. Hes kind of intimidating." One of the only people in this tall person school, scared her for some reason.Only enough to give her an interest in why rather than avoidance, but a fear nonetheless.

She giggled at his mention of an odd request, "How odd could a ball get where they have a specific request for you? You're quite perplexing Selim, I hope you know that. It seems like there is a lot to learn about you." Her nervousness about approaching him had all but vanished, he was just another student. Another student that didn't want to die, and after the Hufflepuff fire she could understand that. "Social gatherings are a great place to make friends or just meet people in general. And without the people I know in Hogwarts I wouldn't be so keen on staying in the first place. But they make me want to try and survive here without hightailing it out. I think that makes them pretty great in my books."

Willow stood up and wiped herself off even though there was not a ton of dirt stuck to her really. "I hope you stay safe then Selim, and get whatever request is asked of you done successfully. Perhaps I'll see you there depending on what I decide to do. Oh, and thanks for not being completely creeped out by me drawing you." A small blush of embarrassment bloomed on her cheeks before she gave a small wave and running away.

The only thing that was left where she had just sat was a black and green braided friendship bracelet.

Willow has left the thread.

@Willow Anderson

After the girl finished talking, which Selim listened to in silence, she stood up and said her goodbyes. Selim simply nodded slightly in his own quiet version of 'farewell'.

He then spotted what she left behind, and his brows furrowed in bafflement. There, on the grass was a black and green... bracelet?

When the bloody hell did she make that?

It definitely wasn't during their conversation.. was it?

Did she just have a store of bracelets hidden on her person, a few that were in that color?

Selim sighed, giving up on his line of mental questioning, and offhandedly picked it up, dropping it in his bookbag without much thought. He watched the fading silhouette of the Hufflepuff girl for a few moments, before turning away and gathering up his things, chewing silently on the information he learned as he walked away, leaving the courtyard as well and heading in the well-known direction of the dungeons, where the Slytherin house slumbered.

He decided to brainstorm, the memory of the Hufflepuff, willow Anderson, already filed away in the back of his mind to make room for more concerning subjects.

Subjects like the blossom ball.

Which would probably go down in a fiery blaze of chaos.

Honestly, if that did happen, Selim wouldn't be surprised, Hogwarts was hardly a normal place.

Stats & Abilities:

Reducio

____ ____ ____

/40

Stamina: 5
Evasion: 10
Strength: 5
Wisdom: 7
ArcPower: 3
Accuracy: 10

____ ____ ____

Selim Left the Thread.

Thread complete.