Meeting More Like Me Finished

Not the first time on the Hogwarts Express, just the first time since...

Well, let's just say that last year, last summer in fact ended in "unpleasantness." And thus, a young man would make his way quietly onto the Hogwarts Express, the cars somewhat empty because of the summertide fun of the the summer camp hosted on Hogwarts grounds. The sort of event that conjures thoughts of rustic cabins and midnight smores, of snogging some cute girl under the light of a full moon. Of all of the things that Victor Moore had expected to do. To have friends and laughs, perhaps find a bit of mischief.

Rather, a pin thin boy would enter the train with a weary expression. He was average in height for his age. About five foot eight or so with a mop of dark hair but his features were hard to distinguish beneath a brimmed hat he wore as well as a scarf that was wrapped around his nose and jaw, yet his eyes appeared remarkable - a pale blue, almost teal. Striking really, but also a bit eerie.

His gait halting, an expression of uncertainty was masked beneath layers of cloth as he ambled in silence, unaccompanied down the narrow hall. He knew this place because he had been here before, a statement he had to mind himself of several times over. He felt as if he was going mad. Wearing a long, wool coat in the seasonable weather might seem to some as excessive as it was. The leather soles of his shoes would creak as he strode with nervous purpose he sought to obfuscate with an erect back and careful movements.

He would stop before the compartment that housed young "Rhys" (presumed NPC) and "Hydro" (presumed player).

Let me give you a brief hand in introductions. You might notice I am describing my character, my mood and my personality. I am giving queues for things that your character can notice and bring up in an attempt to initiate conversation. You do not want to close your character off to interactions by others by spending a majority of your post using NPC's because that leaves little space for others to interject. Things like introductions and names should be reserved for the people you wish to interact with.

He would peer through the glass of the compartment to see the duo and let himself in. The weight of his luggage, a large wheeled carrier made of a soft black, well-worn letter and silver fittings rattled behind him. There was a symbol dangling like a pendant from the zipper of the bag. It vaguely resembled an eye if someone looked too long and hard at it.

He would take a seat opposite of Hydro and rest his luggage alongside him. He would pull the wrapping off from around his face, one... two... three rotations to reveal a soft smile. A smile that did not quite meet the young man's eyes, but a gesture all the same. A gloved hand would extend towards Hydro Maniac. "Name is Victor Moore, I forget which year but that is hardly relevant," he stated in greeting. If Hydro accepted his hand, he would feel a strange chill - potentially the sort one feels in their bones but this was something more literal. He would feel cold, a blistering, frigid cold through a pair of gloves.

Let's keep this between you and I for a few posts and then have you carry onto the school so you can start your adventures. If you do not want me a quick hand in this format then I can leave, no harm, no foul.

Hydro looked at him`, "Slytherin, Perhaps?" Hydro looked at him, Rhys looked nervous and moved to the window, Rhys figure was quick to move from a Slytherin, Hufflepuff's will do that. "Victor, Huh?" Hydro glared at him, his grey eyes locking with Victor's, "I Am Hydro, Hydro Shiro-Maniac. That's Rhys" Hydro took Victor's hand, Hydro's eye grew slightly wide, Hydro hid the expression "Do not mind Rhys, he is like that." Hydro smiled, his hair softly at his left side of his face, "Im First Year, You Appear to be a fourth." Hydro swooped his hair to the right and crossed his arm's lightly, Hydro looked at Rhys and scoffed, turning back to Victor, he looked at Victors clothing, "Hydro- Don't talk to him! he's a Slytherin! I read they would kill you over anything!" Rhys begged, Hydro, once again, rolled his eyes and mumbled about the houses, "I Swear to the headmaster ILL kill you over anything if you keep going on, my whole family's Slytherin!, Apologies Victor, Rhys is, weird." "I'm not weird!" "Yes you are now hush-" Hydro got mad and grabbed his trunk and threatened to bash it into Rhys numb skull, "Woah woah woah! calm it down I'm sorry Hydro!" Hufflepuff's.

Ari felt ill. Not diseased, but nervously sick.
Nerves were never a concern for him. He rarely got stage fright, or jitters in general. It was a very strange feeling that sat just below his diaphragm, pressing against his ribs. He didn't like it at all.

It'll go away in a second. Just take a deep breath. You're okay.

He moved through the train, feeling it shift on the tracks beneath his feet, the rumble of the machine quiet from inside. Was he worried about his first year? Yeah, definitely. Was he more worried about talking to people than what the school would be like? Definitely.
Looking through the cars with students inside, he found one containing three boys. He decided to give it a chance. With a quick deep breath, he pushed open the door and walked in.

The train rocked on the tracks, and Ari felt his stomach lurch. First day jitters on top of a moving train made a perfect recipe for motion sickness. Certainly this day couldn't get any more nerve wracking....

Then again, this was the Wizarding World. It would most likely do just that.

"Good morning," Ari spoke in a low voice, sitting down next to the window but keeping his eyes forward. If he were to look outside, he'd get even more sick. "I'm sure at least one of us is a first year, judging by our appearances. Good to know I'm not the only one."

Breaking the ice was a lot harder than it looked.

"Greeting's, I am Hydro, The Hufflepuff is Rhys and this is Victor, A Slytherin" Hydro looked at Rhys, Rhys smiled at Ari and held out a hand, Hydro looked outside the window, not noticing anything else other then the outside world, "Hydro, Is um- 'Victor' like alive? he's not talking-" Rhys said nervously, Hydro rolled his eyes, Damn Hufflepuff's. "Rhys and i are First years, Victor I believe is a Fourth." Hydro stated, his grey eyes locking with Ari's, "Name?" He asked, he messed with his hair again and kept on I can never keep my hair neat, I hate this He thought, he leaned back and peaked at Ari once more, "You could say the ice is thick today." Hydro semi laughed at his own joke, "If you need know, I am a Ravanclaw." Rhys smiled bigger at the new person, "Are you like- a Gryffindor? Or a- A Ravanclaw?!" Rhys semi-yelled, "For the love of-" Hydro started, "OR- OR Are You a Hufflepuff!?" "RHYS FOR THE LOVE OF HOGWARTS STOP ASKING QUESTIONS I WILL BASH YOU INTO THE WALL!" If anyone couldn't tell, Hydro was Pissed at Rhys right now, you could almost see the hate for Hufflepuff's in his eyes,

A bit confusing but will attempt to decipher -- it is often problematic playing as two people simultaneously in a post (which is why you are supposed to roleplay as just your character). Aso be careful of metagame - knowing things like someone's house or year when there is no way of knowing. A moderator would normally ask you to change posts that have examples of metagame. But let's ignore it for now because actually my year marked does not correlate with my character's actual age.

Presumptuous the two of them. "Actually, I am a bit old for my year," he admitted. Alleged death gets to tank one's grade point average. The two would bicker back and forth leaving Victor little opportunity to say anything edge-wise. Not that what was said was necessarily 'wrong' even if it came from a place of prejudice. "Slytherin yes," he was able to interject, his words laced between the acknowledgement of his house being announced by one he had never met. A curious thing but perhaps fame or infamy allowed for such things.

"I find Hufflepuffs to be extraordinary," he claimed for reasons he would fail to elaborate. In fact they were, as people often overlook, works of incredible potential. People often contrive these notions of inability, softness and woeful incompetence to a population undeserving. "The only ones who can end the dark curse," he added offhandedly. Not that either of them would understand, not until they saw the living darkness themselves. There was a tragic flaw in the other houses, including his own. This want for glory, this foolhardy bravery and this pig-headed notion that they were wiser. Hufflepuff was 'loyal' and not in the sense that they were sidekicks, no they were comrades, peers, and partners. They worked together. More likely to create a human chain than run off on their own, damn the consequences and the needs of those right before them.

"Second years?" He would ask as an unknown (Ari) entered the compartment. It seemed a logical conclusion with the statement of houses as at least houses were declared -- Hufflepuff at the very least. The knowledge of him and his house when he wore not the colors of his house or suggestive regalia confounded and concerned him. Merely a long nondescript scarf that was no longer covering his face and a long woolen coat he had yet to unbutton. They must have heard of him, of the "late Victor Moore," it was the only rational explanation. One he would also be wrong about because they actually had no way of knowing despite the confident and accurate declarations. [This is why it is important to consider what your character knows.]

Hydro would again start his debate with his friend Rhys, the back and forth, their tussles dominating the opportunity for civil conversation. "Morning," he would mouth, the sound potentially lost in the pair's bickering as introductions were made, the reiteration of his house and the other boy's. He would not correct. There was an inquiry about Victor being 'alive' which was off-putting but added credence to his previous theory of being already known, but his lack of interaction was untrue [that would be godmodding please don't do that] because he was there trying to talk but had not had the opportunity to say much [because he was skipped in post order and while there is no enforced post order he needs to have at least a chance to interact or fail to] during a chaotic greeting.

"I am a..." he had to think for a moment, brow slightly furrowed. Time passed oddly for him. "A fourth year" he confirmed for Ari. "Looking forward to returning to Hogwarts," he admitted. He would extend the same gloved hand he had to the first pair to Ari. If taken Ari would feel the same unnatural, inhuman chill from him. "All of the students are quite nice," he lied. Yes, he very much lied. "And the classes really helped me feel more in control of my magic and the world around me," he added, this time speaking a truth. "I assume you have hopes for a house?" A question for Ari as the duo appeared otherwise engaged and seemed to have houses if he were to believe their statements at face value.

[apologies, I make things sound weird and un-real at times, Rhys the NPC was asking if you're character was 'Alive' because I imagined he 'zoned out'] Hydro kept arguing with Rhys and it kept going until wands where pulled, They kept on arguing and arguing about the most random things, "Slytherins are Evil! its all in the history books!" "My whole family Are Slytherins! Now Shut it up You Mud-blood!" Hydro said, pointing his wand at Rhys, Rhys gasped, "How dare you call me that!" Rhys held in his tears as Hydro spat the slur at him again "You Heard me, Mud-Blood!" Hydro let his 'Slytherin Side' go out, I mean his whole family are Slytherin's, So it would not be surprising that Hydro had a part of him like his family, Hydro glared at Rhys even more, his gaze almost seemed to break Rhys soul, "Its always the Pure-Bloods who are mean!" Rhys said, half angerly and half in tears. Oh Shit, I used that slur- should I apologize? No no no, I cant apologize, I'd look weak... Hydro thought for a moment, Hydro looked at Victor, but quickly back at Rhys, fire in his eyes, staring into Rhys Soul. Hydro Scoffed and grabbed his stuff, walking out of the place and into another compartment.

I was waiting to give Ari a chance to post but they must be otherwise occupied. But going to pop back in there. When roleplaying with someone else, you should try to interface with the other player(s) more than your NPCs. This is one of the things that separates us from independent writing or wattpad. I will pop into an intellectual discussion, maybe that will engage you.

The two of them would go back and forth, devolving to insults. Victor wondered if they were actually friends or just people that happened to know one another's names. The later uniting them only for the sake of being less alone because facing the unknown without someone, even an enemy at ones side turns the what-if's into terror. He let out a sigh when a slur escaped Hydro's lips. "You're embarrassing yourself," Victor announced, his hand on his forehead as if it would alleviate an ache he felt in his skull.

Victor did not have many friends but one of his best friends was a mud-blood. People truly did like to fulfil cliches, to ensure that their prejudice would perpetuate by filling the role themselves. The haughty, intolerant pureblood. That birth gave them something to lord over others when in truth all it did was made them sound like a petulant youth. "A Slytherin can see the use of a person as more than their breeding, more than what they were. But what they will be," he claimed. That being why likely Hydro would not be a Slytherin. Black and white facts' however right or disagreeable they might be is what made Vladimir weak as well. He depended so much on those books, on having an answer, on facts and derivatives. his knowledge and loyalty admirable and more importantly beneficial, it blinded him to potentials.

"There used to be a club" used to being the key word. he wondered if it was still a thing in Hogwarts, the name being somewhat 'offensive' he recalled. @Jack Burnett, a dormmate of his used to run it. He never asked if the boy who should be a second, not third year by now, if he was a muggleborn himself or if he was truly sympathetic to their plight. There was a difference in his mind. Not that he disliked people that were mudbloods for participating but he respected those that did not -need- to care but still did. It is easy to support a cause when that cause benefits you but another thing entirely when it potentially undermined your way of life and standard of living. "A club for mud-bloods, it was even in their name," something about taking back the word and earning power over it.

"Also, S.C.A.R. sympathizers," he added with a shrug. Known primarily as a terrorist organization, the truth was a bit more dynamic. "There is a movement to improve the standing of underserves, overlooked and oppressed wizard populations," he explained in the most basic of terms with his hands folded on his lap. The media portrayed members of S.C.A.R. as domestic terrorists but he saw them as everyday people that simply wanted to be seen, to be heard and to have the same opportunities as everyone else. They had their extremists, like any cause. Purebloods were just as bad, perhaps even worse because they felt socially justified. Because people simply let them get away with it.

"There are sentient creatures capable of magic that are denied wands based on the fact that they are inhuman, such as house elves or goblins," he continued. "We oppress because we fear, we fear being surpassed, that resources would lack if we all had a little something... but I disagree. We have coexisted for centuries, but there is a tide of animosity, of elitism and ethnocentrism that pervades our society and does not strengthen then wizarding world but rather puts it at risk." What if they take it? Take more than their share. Seek reparations. "We are better together, with the collaboration and consolidation of great minds and even better potentials."

Hydro was speaking to someone that felt a goblin should have a wand. What did that mean he felt a muggleborn wizard deserved? The same things he had. The same things purebloods had. To be allowed dignity and respect.

[ @Hydro Maniac • @Ari Gwild • @Victor Moore • mentioning @Alexa Mackenzie]

Lucia Fox wasn't doing great. Since... everything... she'd been a bit confused about what her place was supposed to be now. Well, it had been confusing enough already, hadn't it? What with being an old pureblood family which didn't actually have half the money it pretended to and then suddenly being practically cast out from that family... oh, Merlin. Lucia's head hurt just thinking about it. Maybe it was best not to.

The Hufflepuff was, if anything, a little nervous when she and her sister Briar parted ways at the train doors, sharing one last hug before Briar went off to find her friends and Lucia attempted to find hers. Well, namely, there was just one Lucia was really looking for - Alexa Mackenzie, her best friend. She wandered up and down for a solid ten minutes before she gave up and resolved to ask someone for help.

Annoyingly, the compartment she opened after a quick knock was full of boys, none of whom she recognised. One of them was saying something about... 'potentials'. Lucia waited for him to finish, and then- "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything," she blurted, leaning against the doorframe and pulling up her trunk next to her. "But have any of you seen Alexa Mackenzie? Um, she's Hufflepuff... second - wait, no, third - year... probably not wearing her robes though... red hair, green eyes, maybe a little taller than me?" Lucia paused, trying to think of anything else. "Possibly wearing a bracelet that looks like this one?" She held up an arm to show a small rose gold bangle reading THREE AMIGAS.

If they hadn't seen Alexa, Lucia was just about ready to give up. For one thing, she was hungry. Would the trolley lady be coming around soon? For the first time, Lucia had some money spare to spend on sweets, which was more exciting than it probably should have been in the circumstances.

assuming I can join since there's no PV tag, but if you just forgot to add one feel free to shove lucia out or tell her you saw alexa somewhere and I'll have her leave

Hydro Scoffed "I'm Leaving this is annoying and we're here, Mud-Bloods." Hydro walked out with all his things, he'd smirk looking at a short male with dyed hair of deep green, He was in Slytherin Robes, His Blue eyes pale, "Hello there" The Boy said, smirking, his eyes hiding lies of all things, "Pure-Blood?" He asked "Yes," He began, "I HAD to SIT with MUD-BLOOD'S" He Scoffed, "Mud Bloods." Both of them scoffed "I'm Mizu, Mizu Oncs-dark. You?" "Hydro, Hydro Shiro-Maniac" They Smiled, Both hiding secrets for the Damned, Mizu's Eyes held secrets greater then any chamber, Hydro's Thoughts counseled of a longing for acceptance, "So What House Do You Want To Be In?" Mizu Asked, "Ravenclaw Or Slytherin" "I'd Love to see you in the Slytherin Dorm's", Hydro Nodded, Glaring at the Boys/Girl's Walking by them, "Those are the 'Mud-Bloods" Mizu Nodded, His eyes Locking with Hydro's "By The Way, Im A Second year, We Are Not That Far Apart" Hydro Giggled, "Yeah, We are, I'll Um, Hope to see you in the dorms" They both smiled at one another, thinking the same thing, although, uncanny of this, They Both Hide thoughts, the both hide things, what did they both think you ask? They Thought: This Wil be A Amazing Year, Because Of Him