Winterlands Main Story December Winners PV Closed

Eve, Rafa, Jackson, Jacob & Ana

There was already an ongoing drama in one of the compartments long before Vladimir showed up [hopefully you are up to date, wanted to give you time]. Between @Evelyn Decipio and her compartment-mate @Jackson Valentine who were commiserating over their personal experiences. People are notoriously selfish and cruel, even those without magic to bolster their avarice and aggression. Evelyn and Rafael both had experienced cruelty or at the very least witnessed as much, a behavior that defies sportsmanship and camaraderie.

Unfortunately they were also overheard. While some might find it rude to talk behind someone else's back, regardless of the reason, others find offense in the being eavesdropped on. Their conversation was private, as indicated by the closed door and company that distinctly excluded both @Rafael D'Spacito and @Anastasia Beckett. Evelyn's egress from the compartment was blocked by the duo's intrusion.

For others, life would go on. Not everyone else was listening in on this teenage drama. A knock on their door, a muffled announcement would warn all five of them, yes five. @Jacob Harmon was there as well, not contributing to the devolving situation between this quartet. He was too busy being enamored by the ginger's (Eve's) awesome beauty. Only, it was more likely that Jackson had a better chance than Jacob and leagues better than the Quidditch House Captain. Indeed, between his good looks, his winning smile and his athletic position of prestige, he seemed like an obvious heartthrob but Jackson had in that small room defined himself as a young man. He was not cruel, he was brave even in the face of unfavorable odds. Self-advocacy, critical thought and autonomous, independent action. Admirable qualities that would make him favored in the coming years with the fairer gender, moreover will define him as a hero if he so chose to endeavor as a paragon of human intention rather than a conqueror.

Rafael was taking on the role of a conqueror. Might makes right. His power, his force of personality, his master of the spoken word and his appearance that made him better resemble a Calvin Klein model than an awkward teen. It was his will, his want that propelled him and dictated this intentions and actions. Whatever his sentiments were towards a girl that was like family to him, had led to rash actions. His bruised ego led to this altercation here. His musician ears.

Not that Eve was going to stand down or take a passive role. She was strong-willed, or perhaps 'stubborn' was another. She had earned the interests of friends, allies, suitors and even enemies during her tenure here at Hogwarts. Of course, was she completely innocent. She had a lot of pride as well. Like the others in the car who had their fingers itch near their wands, she had wielded her wand and used it. A deadly weapon trusted in the hands of mere children who could no, that was not true... would not respect that length of wood and precious core.

Ana would draw her wand. Her lack of control would remarkable in comparison to Evelyn and Rafael. It was easier to live with oneself by leveling blame on others, assigning your values to them and to believe yourself the exception. In truth she was not forging her own destiny, she was there for the ride. Navigating the intricacies of the adult word was by far more complex than the drama between teens and she was managing this with the grace of a drunkard on St. Patrick's Day. Of course when she was asked to leave, it went past words. A demand for action. Oh, I would positively love to see you make us.

The childish retort of make me. Followed by showing her wand in pure view. Sure, she did not point it at anyone, it was an implied threat after making the statement make me. She would tell herself that she should not try to provoke those in the compartment, but she was the only with an exposed weapon. Thus far, she had achieved to prove Evelyn's point. Rafael had not stopped her. She was the one pushing, all in response to a few words. What would be the response when there was more at stake. And you say that your words had no effect on our dignity? You've convinced this poor, feeble-minded first year that we're such terrifying figures that we necessitate hexes simply by virtue of entering a room. The answer is yes, but not by virtue of Eve's words but Ana's own. The coo in her voice, the disrespectful tone she used while demanding a respect she was not willing to give.

Well, Valentine was the only one involved in this tense conversation that had shown decorum and restraint. Who did not needlessly prod and push. Who simply told them to leave. “Fine. If you insist on staying, I’ll leave. After I teach you some manners.” That was until he decided he was going to fight them. Such high hopes, but when suitably antagonised and threatened by Ana, he would default to the same decisions the rest of the young wizards in Hogwarts did.

There were other events in progress, however this drama between these four plus a fifth wheel would cause them to miss something incredibly important that was goin on right behind them. Just outside the window. It would be Jackson when he placed those pitch black petals he had dramatically removed and placed on the sill that he would see it. Several men with wide brimmed hats on horseback attempting to keep pace with the train. There were four that were in sight

Jackson:





Opeila, Kat, Scarlet, Elena, Gris & Marshall

A knock on a door would bring him face to...well the space over @Opeila Winter's head. The curse of the bracelet had quite possibly summoned the Ravenclaw. No matter who, even if it was the girl who had lured him into a trap he fully expected. In fact, had she not, he would have earned a life-long friend. Trust was slow to be gained but a single instance of betrayal and trust would be instantly destroyed and it was not just a burden but more a impossibility to rebuild. No matter. Vladimir called out his warning all the same, there was no time for vendettas. They needed to move. They needed to get out. He did not dally after he told her and whoever shared her compartment the same thing: gtfo.

Opeila was not alone in this compartment. @Katrina Walker was sitting in the very same compartment. Kat had a coveted window seat and presently her wand in her hand. A bit twitchy, like sleeping with a gun under their pillow only every time someone knocked on a door, no need to hear gunshots, the weapon was drawn. A query to the Pei's rear -- who is he?” Meanwhile, another compartment-mate, @Scarlet Aden would also overreact and pull out her ever-bashing boomerang and her wand. Apparently knocks on the door compelled people to draw a weapon, or in Scarlet's case two.

No immediate answer at the very least. Opeila would follow Vladimir out into the hall. Some of the students in that compartment were not as anxious. Scarlet would fit back down. No need to draw a saber and wear battle armor yet. @Elena Jangleton mostly ignored the drama, enjoying a word search. The train wobbled a bit, those straight lines perhaps a bit skewed, she would let the rest of the lions run about the train in a maddened frenzy and make matters worse. She would be right here in this compartment..."Relax, he's probably just..uh..trainsick or something." She was not grabbing her trusty battleaxe or wand, she simply remained in the car like a reasonable person would. Back to her wordsearch. Her very normal, very muggle wordsearch with words some of her peers would likely find difficult to even spell. Nonplussed... Nonplussed indeed. She could guard the glaring girl Scarlet, Crystal the free owl and everyone's luggage.

Yeah, 'guard.'

There was something going on. Just Walker was looking the other way and Jangleton was looking down at that slip of paper and marking with a quill her found word. All that would be noticed by Walker was a brief change of the lighting, as if the natural light had dampened for a moment, then no longer.

The rocking of the carriage would make it needlessly difficult for Opeila to follow Vladimir. The rhythmic chugging of the locomotive caused the ground to continuously shift. Vladimir was not waiting for her, there was much to still do. Others to warn. Vlad had already started to move on to another cabin within the carriage. The melodic shrill bellowing cry of an ex would not halt his endeavor to warn them all.

Elena, looking down at her word search. Scarlet glaring. Cade, not paying attempting (rolled poorly). Elena and Scarlet would see a shift in the lighting but nothing more. They would not see what was happening outside of the train window.

"Athanatos!"

That was his name, surely it was about to be worn out. He did not turn around or address her. Of course might only fuel her tiny fury. Behind her, compartment-mate Walker would wobble out of the compartment into the hall.

"What is going on, what is wrong?"

Opeila would ask, a bit too close for the Ravenclaw's comfort, not that he made any attempts to shoo her away. He appeared to be on a half-frenzied mission. "Just move," he muttered out of the side of his mouth at the girl. "I don't have time for you to plan my mugging," he had not forgotten an eventuality he had expected. Another betrayal, another attack. yes, he held a grudge. Even if that past situation was one that he had in part manipulated and even urged. He did not make them do anything, he just dangled the possibility of vulnerability. Granted them an 'easy' target. Carried with him bags he did not need, filled with interesting baubles for the distinct purpose of piquing their curiosity. It was to make a point to his contemporaries and his comrades. A point that perhaps was better left unmade. Victor did not deserve the fate he suffered, his demise would endlessly long and in the end his mind and addled beyond repair.

"Why do we need to move?"

"Bad things coming. Got to go," he replied quickly, a thread of urgency in his voice.

Another redhead, there were a lot of them at Hogwarts, peered into the hall after Opeila and Kat had vacated the compartment in pursuit of Vladimir. The space buns she (presumably) wore were a dead give away of who she was really. He did not know the girl personally but he knew -of- her. @Griseldis Edelhardt, a Prefect from House Gryffindor. "You!" He pointed at Griseldis over Opeila's head with flourish. Finally, a use for Gryffindor bravery. "Get everyone out of the train!" He made a sweeping motion with his hand, "No, car!" He self-corrected. The train was unreasonable, but they could at the very least get out of the caboose.

Only six people fit into each of these compartments. Marshal [using post order for first come, first serve] would take the last seat. [Sorry Cade and Akari.] Hormones hit some kids young, and that would be the case for @Marshal Mozor, the only boy in a compartment full of girls. A nightmare for most boys his age, but for Marshall this was a taste of paradise. Well, that was until half the girls in his compartment started to suddenly attempt to depart his cozy passenger car. He could hear everything that was going on outside of the compartment, through the open door that Griseldis had filled. Wrong as in we're about to go flying off the tracks and suffer a fiery death unless we move now, or wrong as in the car was painted the wrong color?

Vladimir would not answer the boy's sarcastic comment. In fact, he did not even hear him. The aisle was getting congested as more students filed into the main aisle of the car, many taking their suitcases with them, clogging the hall.



Akari & Cade

@Akari Kato unfortunately could not squeeze herself into Griseldis' compartment unless she sat on Marshall's lap. While he might have been fine with this, we are far too young for that sort of content. She would be sharing this smaller compartment relegated for spare luggage that only had one long bench rather than two. It would be a quiet trip for Akari, her compartment-mate @Cade Darkbound was enjoying a semi-comfortable nap. Something to do with the gentle rocking of their car lulling the near teen into a slumber.

The sound of the commotion in the hall would perhaps awaken the Ravenclaw from his nap. No greeting for his neighbor, he would inexplicably be drawn towards the hall. The door opened, he would hear a bit more from those in the hall. How he was able to register what was going on when he was napping was unknown, but he would interject like many of the other students did.

This was most certainly Hogwarts in a nutshell. Back in their parents' day, a war was waged against a Dark Lord, secret passageways were discovered, students, Professors and varied staff members alike had routinely made their way to the front page of the Quibbler and Daily Prophet for both good and bad reasons. What does one expect when you give children that have a hard time managing basic daily functions the ability to conjure fire with a mere word and wave of their hand? Chaos obviously. While some would like to think that life was simple and safe at Hogwarts, they did not know their history. I reckon a flying train would get us to Hogwarts faster. A few scorch marks wouldn't hurt so bad. He must have heard Marshall a few compartments down.

Cade was looking in the wrong direction, his gaze into the hall rather than the window. Akari however (rolled better and was not distinctly at an impossible angle) would see something out of the corner of her eye. A small group of men wearing hues of brown and grey. There were several men riding horses, wearing brimmed hats and carrying... rifles? She might have to blink a few times for the reality of it to register.



Xailah & Meenauh

The noise had not attracted @Xailah Alptraum, she was on her way out of her compartment. Herself and @Meenauh Silmataurea were on their way to another car, a want to meet with fellow Prefect and friend, @Pericles Dralt. Fortune shone on the blonde this day, he would not be in the direct line of disaster. The same might be said if Xailah and Meenauh.

Xailah and Meenauh had made their contentious sentiments regarding the Ravenclaw rather clear. Meenauh had raised her wand at him at the last ball, Xailah had some sort of doll in her possession. What sort of deal had she forged and why? The two of them were dangerous and if he did not know better, he would think that the two of them might be to blame.

A small part of him thought that they indeed were complicit if not active participants in the impending disaster he was attempting to thwart.

"Why no one asks, dear Vladimir, why we should change cars, if the train is wrong?"

"Do you think I have the time to individually explain to each and every one of you egotists!" He shouted, yes he raised his voice at the girl. Not that she was the only one that asked, that demanded an answer, treating their fellow students irrelevant. He shook his head. He should not have bothered to come. He should not have bothered to say anything. He would lift his hands in frustration. They were clogging the halls, filling it full of luggage. They were more of a risk to themselves than a help in this and almost every case. The perfect victims really.

"Does it matter!" His voice raised as he responded incredulously. "Actually, you know what. Nevermind. Go back into your compartments and enjoy your very safe journey."

What did they think he was going to do? What awesome magic or devious act could he perform on a moving train? To go into other, just as crowded cars. To move up from the last. Some precious cargo he needed to steal. Some valued gem or magical artifact what... hidden among the undergarments and textbooks stowed away in the very luggage these students were towing away with them.



Alan & Raine

@Alan Vanes was in a compartment adjacent manspreading. He had occupied a window seat. His cat, Tiger across from him taking up the other window. It was potentially the comotion, Vladimir had not gotten to his door but there was enough noise in the hall immediately outside to draw the prefect out. Alan would make his way into the hall, clogging the escape route even more. Another Prefect, thank the horned god.

"Everything alright over here?"

The Prefect would ask the same thing as everyone else, the answers however would not be spoon fed. "And you too, making an addendum for Alan. "Get them out of here!" The students were gathering in the hall, doing the exact opposite of what they should be doing. They were not running or leaving, they were staying.

"I do not have the time to spoon feed this to you," he snapped. This in reference to not just Alan but the very people that Alan should be evacuating. The blood vessel in his neck throbbed and his complexion ruddy. "If you want to know, just sit here and wait for disaster to come for you," Vlad's words had a tinge of venom, he sounded vexed because ultimately he was. Hogwarts students, particularly Gryffindors, had an attachment to death he surmised.

Behind Alan stood @Raine Sage, third year Gryffindor. Her book abandoned on the seat she was standing behind her big strong meat shield. Alan was not known for his capacity to fight but he was incredibly durable, a deterrent for most bullies would would exhaust themselves beating Alan up if they tried. Raine was smart enough to not stay alone and furthermore to stand by someone that could endure whatever disaster Hogwarts attempts to hash out.

Raine was facing the wrong direction so she would not see... anything but the darkness, a shifting light would indicate to her that there was something that had blocked the lighting behind her for but a moment. There was no reason to look back behind her. The room was empty less the cat. Was it just Alan's cat? No, it really was not.



Everly, Starlee & Alec

@Everly Charlton would wander into the aisle from the previous car. The very car that Vladimir was demanding that these student evacuate to. She would find a congested hall here, perhaps it was better from whence she came.

Others would make their way into the hall. A den of confusion and skepticism. @Starlee Kennedy being among them. This had to be a prank. A joke. A situation that was so ridiculous because she had faith in the science and magic that was melded to make this train run. Yes, the very technology that would malfunction in the existence of magic was accepted as safe here. Enchantments. Trial and error.

Vladimir had no time to explain. To debate his point in the face of skeptics. If he had time to calmly and rationally explain and send a file explaining his concerns in triplicate, they never would have boarded this train in the first place. Yet @Piérre Marchonné would ask the same question that had been asked a few times anyways. W-why? ... I mean, I’m not one to complain... but... what’s going on?” He would take a few steps forward, stepping over Everly's luggage and presumably carrying some of his own. Making the path now a veritable obstacle course. Vladimir's face would redden when he saw the Quidditch player, he had edged Rafael out in terms of being 'most disliked.' [Sorry Eve and Jackson] It was the ball in both cases that had left a sour taste in his mouth. Rafa had come at him at the Blossom ball last spring, his battle cry being For Potter. A man that Rafael had likely never met and considering this blooming reputation as... well, let's not use crude terms here. He could handle himself against the pretty boy, Mary... not so much. Piérre could have killed her prematurely.



AJ & Alec

Of some importance, but possibly a bit less. A suitcase was moving. Indeed, a student was trapped inside. @Allister-Jameson MacAllister was trapped within a suitcase. The suitcase would rattle and wobble. There were a surprising number of students in the aisle. Perhaps this would be to Allister's benefit, or perhaps perennial embarrassment that he would likely be saved by one of his housemates or peers.



He only needed one to notice his need for saving, not all three. Sadly, more than the three would likely see his disgrace first hand as well as hear his awkward explanation.

Notes:
⦿Opeila: Left her original car. Luggage not documented as taken with her.
⦿Katrina: Drew wand. Left her belongings behind as she entered the hall.
⦿Scarlet: Pulled out boomerang. Pulled out wand. Stood up and then sat down. Still in original car. Saw a fleeting darkness but does not know nor did she see what it was.
⦿Gris: Peering out of the the door of the compartment.

• ⦾Crystal (Owl): Remains in the compartment, uncaged.

⦿Elena: Doing a word search. Remains in original compartment. Saw a fleeting darkness but does not know nor did she see what it was.
⦿Jackson: Starting an obviously skewed fight with a pair of upperclassmen that might result in his death. Saw cowboys outside of the train.
⦿Marshal: In the car, too happy to be right in the head. The numbers are to his advantage, he might find a date yet.
⦿Cade: Having a laugh. Was too full in his intended compartment to have him there. Failed to see anything in particular.
⦿Xailah: waiting for Vlad to leave the aisle. Luggage in hand.

• ⦾Schrodinger (Cat): Meow?

⦿Meenauh: behind Xailah. Luggage in hand. In hall.
⦿Alan: in the hall. Luggage not with him. Wearing his Prefect badge in case we forget.

• ⦾Tiger (Cat): Meow, in hall.

⦿Raine: stands behind Alan in her compartment, notices a shift in the lighting.
⦿Everly: In the aisle with her suitcases. Saw a suitcase move (contains AJ).
⦿Alec: Suggested chilling in their compartments. Saw suitcase move (contains AJ)
⦿Evelyn: Getting up to leave the compartment. She is in the midst of an argument between herself and Ana and Rafa. She does not notice anything outside of the train.
⦿Starlee: Stepped into the hall, does not have luggage.
⦿Jacob: Staring at Eve. Too distracted to help her with Rafa and Ana and too distracted to notice the impending disaster outside of the train.
⦿Pierre: Standing in front of the escape route, presumably with luggage. Saw a suitcase move (contains AJ).
⦿Akari: Remains in the compartment, due to interactions and mentions I guess she overheard it. Was too full in her intended compartment to have her there.

• ⦾Kenji (Cat): Meow?

⦿Anastasia: In compartment with Rafa, getting into a fight with Jackson and possibly Eve. Missed the cowboys but because she would be facing the right direction (sadly Jackson was in the way) some sort of movement around Jackson's periphery.
⦿Rafael: In compartment about to get into a fight. He would be behind too many people to see what was going on outside the window.
⦿Allister: In a suitcase, noticed by Everly, Pierre and Alec.

The murmuring behind the compartment door slowly pulled Hugh from his slumber. His arms folded together and hidden under the large blanket, he wrestled himself into a sitting position. The bright light cut open his green eyes making them flash bright for once rather than them having been obscured under his heavy brow. His hand instinctively reached out to scratch his jawline. Before Ana's ball, he had made an effort to rid his face of the loose threads of hair that seemed to slowly conquer his features. Now, weeks later they had already returned to darken the areas under his cheeks.

A low grumble escaped his breath s he slowly rose to his feet. Throwing the blanket aside, he found himself standing alone in his compartment. His hair a mess and his red jumper in need of adjusting, he stomped over to the door. Looking outside he saw a bunch of students blocking up the hallway. "Idiots." He grumbled to himself before stepping back and getting himself seated again.

Looking out the window he wondered if that was Vlad he saw out there. The boy had been popping up more recently. While on their first encounter he had seemed.... shifty. He now seemed to appear more in the open. And he sure had made a lot of enemies it seemed. Hugh recalled the ball he had found Vlad on, in an attempt to help, he had tried to separate the boy's date. Not that it all went according to plan. In those moments Hugh had forgotten how scary he looked in the eyes of the unknowing. His chest grew heavy again in knowing how different he looked to others his age. And now that he was forced to remain a second year, the difference became even more apparent.

Jacob finally got out of his daze of Evelynn's beauty and realized what had to happen, he had to stand up to Rafael. "Wait just a minute." He said to Rafael walking in his general direction. Now it was his turn to be brave. "If I recall, you were very skeptical about me being a good fit for the second string seeker position. But I proved my worth and so did Evelynn proved her worth when she became your co-Captain." He then said with determination etched along his face, still in love with Evelynn but needing to stand up to Rafael "I'm going to make this simple for you Captain. Either you apologize to Evelynn or you don't deserve to be her friend." He then said with a hint of sadness but with the determination still being prominent "Now let me tell you something Mister, I've been through a lot in my life over the summer, I went on a vacation with my family but when we got him, my father was killed by a Dark Wizard. Now that may be worse, but ending a friendship over a simple argument is something upsetting to me. Now apologize for your behavior." He didn't fully understand what was going on nor did he care. He just wanted some peace to be there for both Rafael and Evelynn

Interacting: @Rafael D'Spacito
Mentioning: @Evelynn Decipio

@Allister-Jameson MacAllister | Others in the aisle

Everly quirked her head ever so slightly. Backing slowly out of a full compartment, she stood in the aisle, surrounded by the suitcases. Really, people needed to pay more attention to the things that held their belongings. Her hand still rested on her own as she paused, still slightly unsure of herself. Quite confused of all the commotion and the things going on around her and the yelling and screaming, she stood up from her position, eyes scanning and darting from place to place. She had never seen so much going on at once, to be honest.

Everly started scooting slightly along the wall, bewilderment taking over. Her eyes caught on a slight bit of movement on the side of her vision. Was that suitcase... moving? It was twitching slightly, until it was moving so much that even Everly couldn’t have mistaken it for the train’s bumpiness making it move. Staring, her brows creased, she started backing away slowly, caught between the decision of backing away until the weird moving suitcase was out of sight or opening it. Her head immediately began to explode with questions. Was there a living thing inside it? A pet, maybe? Why would they be inside? How could someone have accidentally trapped themselves or another living being inside a suitcase, of all things? Were they suffocating, or claustrophobic? Or maybe there wasn’t a living being inside, but rather a bomb with the intent of blowing their fellow classmates to smithereens?

There couldn’t possibly be a bomb in there. Could there?

Whatever. This was Hogwarts. Anything could happen, right?

Chewing on her lip thoughtfully, Everly came up with a slightly rushed and probably ineffective list of all the ways she could dispose the suitcase if there was a bomb in it. Then, scrunching her face in thought, she took cautious steps forward and began to attempt to switch open the suitcase.

Action: Attempting to open the suitcase
STA 6 | EVA 7 | STR 0 | WIS 7 | ARC 4 | ACC 6
Abilities: Seer

Open to Interactions
Action: Going back into her compartment to read and bond with her new owl.

Sigh.

The boy really provided no clear answer, aside from 'hey we have to go now.' After the events from the notorious hunt last Halloween, Starlee wasn't going to blindly follow the crowd. No sirry. Plus, she also had her new feathered friend to think about. Sure, she was extremely happy to have gotten an owl over the holiday break, but it wasn't quite as maneuverable as a cat or a toad. Owl's had such big and bulky cages... but honestly, she couldn't let Borvo out of her sight since the moment she got him. She felt they had a real bond and she wanted his spot in the owlry to be set up perfectly.

With a quick turn of her heel, her blonde hair whipping around as she did so, she waltzed back into her compartment, closing the sliding door behind her, and sat down next to her owl. "Ugh, how stupid, ey Borvo?" she cooed at the owl, scratching his head right behind his cute little horn tufts, as she had realized he loved so much.

She smiled at him, pulled out that herbology book, and began to flip through the pages as she had done before that annoying interruption, trying to block out the loud commotion from the corridor. She wasn't going to fall for whatever that boy had planned up his sleeve.

Open to Interactions!
Mentions: @Katrina Walker

Vision blurred, Calanthe barely registered the landscape rushing past. The girl was zoned out, head leaned against the window and thoughts far away. The holidays went as expected, and her feelings of returning to Hogwarts were more conflicted than ever. Everyday, both at Hogwarts and at home, felt like there was nothing sturdy to stand on. Constant anxieties clouded her head, stemming directly from her odd family situation as well as from the most miniscule inconveniences. The preceding hours ensured that Calanthe’s head was full of these musings, allowing only muffled voices to enter her bubble. Knocking, loud chatter, and anything else of the sort could be explained away by the fact that she was in the lion’s den. It was expected.

She fiddled with a red and gold bracelet in her left palm, pulling the thing until it was tightly wound around her fingers. Her hands, usually bereft of any adornments, sought the accessory out just before departing to the station. It was a gift from an anonymous source, though Calanthe had no idea how to feel about it. The bracelet had not yet found its way onto her wrist. Disappointment from their unlucky duel or her unwillingness to feel like a part of a team; the young witch had no idea why, but her absentminded motions with the object added to her distraction from the goings-on of the rear car.

It was a shout that finally drew Calanthe from the confines of her mind. She caught the word egotists and rolled her eyes. One could always count on the lions to start riling each other up. Her attempt to defocus was interrupted by more commotion. The witch believed her nature to be far from curious, but time at Hogwarts was surely doing its best to change her. A cursed Blossom Ball and whispers of common room horrors spurred Calanthe off her arse and into the hallway, stepping over or pushing past any cabinmates in the way. The open space presented a gathering of students, one of whom could not stop yapping.

“What’s going on?” she directed the question to the first pair of eyes that met her own.

Action: None yet.
STA:10 | EVA:5 | STR:2 | WIS:7 | ARC:9 | ACC:9
Statistically Revelant (+2 Stamina) | Prodigal DADA

@Elena Jangleton @Marshal Mozor
banner by juniper yu

Scarlett thought Opeila and Kat would have a bit more sense, though Opeila did seem to have some sort of past with the interrupting boy, so Scarlett couldn't blame her. The Slytherin girl had exited with the boy and Kat had followed them into the hallway, leaving Scarlett in the compartment with an older Gryffindor girl and Marshal. She sat back down, shaking her head at the somehow convincing prank the boy was pulling. Scarlett knew a thing or two about pranks but this was just idiotic. She pushed her wand back into her robe pocket and began fiddling with the Ever-Bashing Boomerang with incredible care, something she didn't do so often. "Nutters, the lot of them. Trainsick my arse." she muttered, rolling her eyes, talking partly to herself and partly to the other girl. Kat's window seat was free but Scarlett didn't bother to take it. "Anyway, what's your name?"

"Oh, and hey Marshal," she would add, giving an acknowledging nod towards the Gryffindor boy, the odd flirty one she had met whilst attempting to study for Transfiguration.

Scarlett turned back to her boomerang but before she could give her full attention to it, the light outside the window of the train shifted...somehow. A fleeting darkness, you could call it. That was odd. Perhaps the boy had been right after all? Scarlett shook her head. But that would be impossible. The Hogwarts Express had never malfunctioned or crashed or anything of the sort. But nevertheless, Scarlett shuffled over to Kat's old seat and peered outside, just to reassure herself that nothing was wrong. Nothing at all.

action look out of the window
stats stamina 7 | evasion 6 | accuracy 7 | strength 6 | wisdom 6 | arcane power 9
abilities prodigal charms learner, fearless

────── ☆ ───────

There's such thing as intuition. Usually, Xailah's thing. But there's also such thing as observation and psychology. Thing Meenauh was training. The tone of Vladimir's voice and her own rational voice asked herself a question — whether it's possible to remember that @Vladimir Athanatos was only a tool, a kid, with no real evil plan prepared by himself. When this image returned brightly, she started to listen how he was talking instead of what he was talking about. Of course there were psychological tricks, which would trip someone into believing something is true after you think it's false. Could happen. But there — at that exact situation — she decided to believe. They were heading away anyway.

She blinked a couple of times at Vladimir's outrage and turning the wheels the other way (also a trick). And decided to comply.

"Okay, guys, you heard Vladimir — it's up to you whether to leave or not. No one can make you," she would announce out of nowhere in her prefect way, would take her trunk further and keep her wand in hand, just in case.

What could actually happen? Could the train go off the rails? If Vladimir knows about that in advance, he'd be considered a criminal. Not these kids should be saved, but the whole train. Could the train be raided? She gave that thought a second to settle. Could it? It was magical, it must have been protected. But, well, Hogwarts was protected too. And it has adults and professors. She never saw a single professor on the train. Was it really a train full of kids, sent across the country on their own?

With that dreadful thought, she headed towards the beginning of the car, ready to leave. Then she'd turn and address her friend (@Xailah Alptraum) as they were planning to search for Pericles: "Coming, Xai?"

Action: comply and attempt to move from the cursed car to the next one.

@Vladimir Athanatos & @Everly Charlton
Piérre actually don’t have any luggage in this car... it’s located further up. He’s just meandering from car to car like the idiot he is.

The car they were in was cursed? Was that what he was supposed to get from this? A lot of people around him seems to be thinking that, and certainly the risk seemed too large not to at least understand that there was a chance that this could all be true. Piérre didn’t know Vladimir well enough to have any suspicion about his motives or what he had done up to this point to have earned such a low reputation. All Piérre knew was that in the boy’s midst, disaster and misfortune seemed to come. Vladimir was as much a harbinger for danger and disaster as Piérre was a harbinger of chaos and the unexpected.

He seems to be the only thing separating the individuals of this car from being able to leave. Who was the Britalian to deny their leaving? Already, a few people were coming by, pushing their way past him and Figaro, leaving for the car just ahead. He was small, easy to push, and it wouldn’t be that difficult for people to pass. However... Piérre did notice a mysterious suitcase that appeared to be... jumping?

A girl seemed to have noticed it as well and was carefully starting to open it. Curiosity drowning out the better of his desire to disband the car at earliest convenience, the Britalian crouched beside her, gently putting the purring Figaro to his side, and poked at the case himself, knocking on the outside. ”Helloooo?” He called softly, trying to undo the latches that he could get to himself (without interrupting the girl, of course). If the suitcase was locked, Piérre would cast Alohomora.

Action: Help open AJ’s trunk, Cast Alohomora if it is needed.

Stats:
Stamina 3, Strength 3, Evasion 10
Wisdom 10, Accuracy 10, ArcPower 5

Keen Eye
25% chance to notice something

Calming Presence
Allies Unchosen yet...

One brow furrowed in frustration as that one boy's voice seemed to echo over the train car as he seemed more than adamant on heaving everyone out. It was really messing with her mind trying to finish up the last of the words she was hunting down on the piece of parchment and she debated for a second whether to give him a piece of her mind or not. The train wasn't on fire, they were still well on their way to Hogwarts and she could still hear Flutters, her owl shuffling around in the compartment above her with some very indignant hoots at being stuffed in there. It was probably for his own good, he did not get along well with other creatures, she had come to learn.

She smiled at the other girl nodding in agreement. "Don't blame ya." She said as her quill traced out another word. "Elena.Not usually this chaotic, huh?" She would ask jerking her head towards the gathering crowd outside their compartment. Some seemed to flock to the boy like ducks and she shook her head in silent disapproval. This was just perfect, she had herself and two other train buddies who seemed content of the fact that unless something was terribly wrong which she saw nothing that would be, they would be alright. She paused looking for a moment down at her parchment at the word she was hunting. That was impossible, there was no way that was a word. "Antidisestablishmentarianism.." She muttered to herself almost disbelieving of the fact.

Deciding that the activity had wracked her brain enough and having lost all fighting energy after seeing that particular word, she leant her head back up against the seat shooting a glance out the window to see where they were. You saw some funny things when passing through various destinations on the Express. A frown as the Gryffindor saw a break in the..was that something? She squinted peering through the window more intently not even noticing as her parchment containing her word search fluttered to the ground, the ink still fresh on it. "You all see something?" She'd ask of the group before deciding in the end, it was probably just a tree or something. That was all really you saw on the trip to the castle. Grass, trees and more trees. Occasionally, the average town but for the most train, the train opted for a rural route.

Action: Staring more intently out the window
Abilties: Advanced Casting | Lovely Creature | Evasive Maneuvers