From the Deep Durmstrang Arrival Closed

Interacting with @Reid Kovacs [Illya Yornikovych]

Back home in Finland, it was already starting to get colder by the day, but the Highlands of Scotland only reflected a cool breeze onto Sasha's skin as he stepped off the boat, hands shoved down the pockets of his pants, his posture atrocious. The breeze blew his slightly fluffy hair back, pushing it finally out of his eyes, and he was beginning to clearly take in his surroundings. Though he met the students, he had never been able to imagine what the school would actually look like.

He was looking for Illya, who had already managed to slip away. His sneaky and silent friend was always disappearing and then reappearing, and considering that Sasha was much heavier in the way that he moved about, he found it hard to keep up. Once he laid his eyes on him, however, he made his way right to him, deciding not to stop to try to find Elias, if he had even elected to go.

Slinging his arm around Illya, the Finnish boy let out a loud yawn, hoping to grab the attention of those around him. "So, this is Hogwarts," Sasha chirped, eyes casting up at the building before them. It was more like a castle than a building if he were being completely honest, but he only noticed that upon further investigation. "Any bets on how long it takes for us to get kicked out of this place? Because I fully intend on causing some chaos around here, don't you?" Sasha was only joking, of course. Unless...

The truth was, Sasha didn't have many friends outside of his small circle. Though he was a rather charming young man, and many people did attempt to get close to him, he tended to like it better when there weren't many people around. Less people to witness the tragedy that was his teenage years, anyway.

Sighing, he kept his eyes on the castle, wondering what the other students were like. The ones who he hadn't met yet, the ones who didn't play Quidditch, or the ones who were normal. He wondered what life was like here, mostly in comparison to Durmstrang. If there were friend groups like his (he was sure there were, but he couldn't know for a fact), if there were people here like he and Illya. He didn't often sit on these things, but he couldn't help but speculate the differences and what may lie ahead. Only time would tell, he decided.

Broom: Silver Arrow (+3 to all stats)
Stamina: 10
Evasion: 9
Strength:13
Wisdom: 4
ArcPower: 4
Accuracy:9

Abilities: Charmer, Statistically Relevant(x2)

Alexei was thrilled to get to go to Hogwarts. First and foremost, he had a chance to prove that he was superior to his schoolmates in his chosen sport. That alone was enough to put him in a good mood. However, there were also the lovely Hogwarts girls to anticipate as well as a ball. He could hardly wait.

He played along as he was told to be on best behavior and represent his school well. Oh, he would be the best... The best at broom racing, and hopefully, the best at wooing all of the lovely ladies who had not yet learned to be wary of his charms and attentions.

Alexei had quite the reputation at Durmstrang, a well earned one, considering how many hearts he had broken. However, that reputation was a bit of an impediment when it came to his romantic life. Somehow, when every girl was friends with or at least knew of someone he had burned, they were slightly less willing to fall for him. Not now though. He already knew for a fact that these Hogwarts girls were stunning and even better, he had heard that there were to be French girls as well. Alexei was going to be in heaven.

He joined a boat that contained a few of his classmates that he vaguely recognized. "A week at most," he laughed as he heard a boy joking about how long it would be until they got kicked out. Alexei didn't particularly want to be kicked out, but it honestly wouldn't surprise him at this point.

mentions @Anastasia Beckett as Alexei | @Alexx Séverin as Sasha | @Reid Kovacs as Illya
position slouched in a full boat, clammed up

The morning sun crested the horizon behind Hogwarts Castle, stealing Johannes' breath away from his lungs and igniting a scalding pot of bittersweet wonder from something deep within him. It was undeniable that the school of magic was quite beautiful like this, caught suspended in the sunrise silence in which not a student soul wandered about with the idle curiosity that Johannes knew all too well about.

The sun spilt liquid gold over dark stone and emerald green forests, gilding tower tops with glorious buttery yellow and turning the Great Lake that they sailed over into a crystal mirror from through the fog. The unfamiliar scenery and the morning hindered view made the castle look just as imposing and mysterious as their own castle, the first time Johan had stepped foot on Durmstrang territory- 10 years young and already estranged from his brother. Hell, he's the same age as Asriel was when he started first year. He isn't sure what he feels about that.

The entire boat rocked with movement as someone stepped on carefully, swaying in air. Mostly unfamiliar, he'd probably seen them in the halls- which was entirely plausible. After all, Johannes periodically looked for possible new additions with every younger year, unwilling to meddle with the affairs of their elders evoke the attention of his older brother. The oldest they had on the trip were 4th years anyways. In proper Durmstrang uniform, as expected. Dark hair, brown eyes. "-an I take this?" English, heavy accent. Well, that was just a bit too late, what else could he say except yes? The other was already in the boat anyway.

[IN RUSSIAN] "Yeah." [IN ENGLISH] "Sure." Russian was a common language in Durmstrang- hell, all of the lessons were taught in it-, but if the other was rusty or something, Johannes had nodded his head half-heartedly for a reason. Johannes wasn't fluent in it or anything- he knew enough to get by in class and learned more with everyday- but he truly felt bad for those who never picked it up even by ear. English was a second in widespread language, but it seemed that even that was not so universal as the staff had hoped. Now, English. Something Johannes was actually good at, though with that soft German accent that refused to go away no matter how hard he enunciated like in the movies. He'd be concerned if he wasn't, considering how long he's studied English in Muggle classes with frustrated teachers.

Two others stepped onto the boat, one of them immediately rattling on about Hogwarts and chaos and the other chiming in brightly. He only vaguely recognised the boy who had first stepped in and his companion- but how could he forget Alexei's name when that's all he heard the girls that his friends pass by talk about? A snarky comment was on the tip of his before he abandoned it, readjusting the fall of his coat as he settled for merely watching.

It wasn't as if he knew his boatmates well at all- the German had always kept and defended his own and was more than content to keep his disciplinary page darker than his mark on the straight-laced student body. Those who knew him only knew him at his peak, wild-eyed with mischief, always accompanied by another.

If he had his Hellhounds, perhaps he would have joined in more confidently. It seemed that their absence making him much quieter than his reputation of trouble claimed.

text colour #4d5c7f

Interacting with: @Erin Ryan

Yefim only speaks Russian and basic English. Russian will be in brackets.

Interacting: @Flash Holmwood @Erin Ryan

[font=PT Serif]INTERACTING: @Astrea Soleil Neptune (Johannes), @Alexx Séverin (Sasha), @Anastasia Beckett (Alexei) [/font]

Writing as Ella Forsberg

Open to interactions

Anyone at the shore that would like to

Can you imagine the glee that filled Galton's body when he heard some mystical horn blown this morning. Galton knew exactly why this horn had sounded. Not because of Durmstrang's arrival, no, Galton was not one to pay attention to details and event like some foreign school visit, so that was completely out of the question. It must have been because today was his fourteenth birthday.

As any good child should know, a birthday is one of the greatest days of the year. Presents, food and candy were assured to make appearances over the day. Whether an over-indulgence in food and candy were really that rare for the newly fourteen year old was up for debate, presents were more rare. And it seemed today had already presented it's first present. An adventure.

Called to the lake, caught up in the Horn's siren spell, a robe-and-party-hat-clad Galton made his way closer and closer to the shore of the lake. He was barely watching where he stepped, the giant ship was too surreal, all for his birthday? Probably not, but it was still a fun coincidence, and Galton really did like to believe it was because of his birthday. What was a small lie to oneself on their birthday?

Boats of students were beginning to make it to shore, ripe for a welcoming as his party guests. Even if they didn't know it, Galton would be having a birthday party later today, and who doesn't love more guests. There would be snacks and candy, and his cat Toad. It would be a wild.

Closer now, he thought he recognized a female Hogwarts student. They'd met at the lake for sure, probably, or maybe in the halls? He couldn't quite remember but she seemed to have done something to leave a lasting impression on young old Lansdale.

He made his way up near the blonde before addressing the arriving boats. "Did you guys do all this for me? Haha you shouldn't have! Welcome boat kids!" He half yelled half spoke to the new faces, armed with a party hat and smile.

[font=century gothic]OPEN TO INTERACTION[/font]

It was always surreal. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been. She had grown up in the world of magic, exposed to curiosities and strange creatures time and again. Even ships and sailing vessels were hardly a novelty to her with where her family called home near the bay. But this was different. The Durmstrang ship was unlike any other, and since they had taken portkeys to attend the summer camp, this would mark the first time that she would bear witness to its passage first-hand. While some of her peers and friends might have been able to pass the voyage in slumber, especially given that the sun had yet to rise at the time, Greta certainly could not. She was far too excited for sleep.

As the ship broke the surface of the lake and began its steep rise, she had been right up at the bow next to Ella. Lips pulled wide into a mirthful grin, deepened all the more as the spray of the water misted their faces and the lapping of choppy waves kissed the hull. It had been dark when they'd emerged, the only light given off by the single lantern hanging from the mast above to bath the decks in dim illumination. It didn't matter. No amount of darkness would veil the glee that Greta felt, nor that sense of serenity which had reflected upon Ella's own countenance.

Few words had been shared between them, the moment too raw for sentiments. Butterflies had erupted in Greta's belly the moment she had laid eyes upon the castle, becoming all the more violent as the sun began to rise and paint the landscape in a palette of subdued tones. In many ways, it seemed very similar to home. But here, there would be adventure once again. Broom racing. Dueling. Quidditch. A ball. And she'd be able to see the friend she had made again! The boy with whom she had exchanged a few letters since the camp. Her mind had swiveled deep into thought of all the possibilities, and all too soon the sun had risen and the boats were being lowered to the water.

She padded after Ella to join her in one of them. A pang of guilt had twinged briefly at the back of Greta's mind as she passed by some of her fellows—she offered a timid smile and wave to der Niffler—and she couldn't help but glance about for her brother and the rest of their crew. Something that she found herself doing less and less. The summer camp had done wonders to force the petite Norse out of her comfort zone and rely less upon her brother and the rest, and more upon herself. Or Ella as the case may be.

And Niche, she had to acknowledge, as he too joined them in the boat—the uncomfortably small boat. His arrival compelled her to force down a fresh wave of flutters. He'd become.. different somehow over the summer. Like his very presence commanded awareness. Granted, from early on in her friendship with Ella, Niche had been a prominent figure. As cold as he was to nearly everyone, he had a habit of hovering protectively in the vicinity of his sister. Like he expected that the moment he turned his back, she'd be served up on a silver platter for something horrible. Greta was only too acutely aware whenever he entered into the scene. This only magnified over the summer, and as they sat in the little boat as it cut slowly across the lake, her fingers coiled and uncoiled nervously in the fabric of her robes. Thankfully, a quiet murmur from next to Greta served as the perfect distraction. Threatening whiplash, she spun her head towards Ella, gaze following that of her friend's.

[In Swedish] "Shinny?" Greta asked, brows furrowing with confusion. "What is— is that the silly game played with sticks?"

It had been a curiosity to her when she'd first found out about her friend's apparent interest in the muggle activity. She'd seen the kids back home playing whenever it got cold to freezing. Even a small pond would be excuse enough to grab at some sticks to hit a rock or can or whatever object they could find to send it sailing across the icy surface. She never quite understood the appeal then, nevermind why a pureblood would find interest in it. But Ella had. Greta panned her gaze to across the lake trying to envision it.

[Still in Swedish] "I suppose so.." she murmured, somewhat unconvinced. "Isn't Quidditch more fun, though?"

It certainly was for Greta. With the emphasis on the was. Even thinking about it now left her shoulders sagging somewhat. Her parents had pushed for her withdrawal from the team, especially after Hanzo had made his shift to duelling. But after her impressive performance against Hogwarts at the summer camp—even if they had lost in the end—it was the last thing she had wanted to do. She'd so dearly enjoyed the sport..

[font=century gothic]INTERACTIONS: @Thomas Lestrange as Ella, @Alan Vanes as Niche | MENTIONING: @Opeila Winters as Theodore, @Rafael D'Spacito as Hanzo