LOCKED The Lion and the Badger PV Simon Kincaid

Unfortunately Simon had an examination coming up the next day and it was going to test his knowledge of charms. That was one class he had to work at particularly more than others, as it made use of precise wand movements and exact incantations. He was determined that this examination would bring up his marks in the class, so he spent some of his free time that particular day dedicating himself to the subject.

If anyone knew Simon Kincaid, they would know that while he liked to obtain answers to all the random questions that popped into his head, studying wasn't really his thing. It wouldn't be like he would spend his free time doing so and only did when he felt his grades were in jeopardy. With Winter Holiday almost upon him, he wasn't going to risk lowering his marks any more than they were.

And it wasn't that Simon was unintelligent. He spent a good deal of his time at the Library, researching up a variety of topics within the wizarding world. Sometimes he'd go just to read for pleasure. But what Simon occupied his time and life to the most was music. Whether it was creating his own songs, jotting dots and lines upon the staffs or playing the guitar, playing the piano, or singing. That particular moment, he was on his way from studying in his dormitory and making his way to the Rehearsal Room on the Fourth Floor of the castle.

When he got there, the door was already slightly open but he shoved it some more, probably instantly letting someone know his presence since the doors were so heavy and wooden, they creaked to give alert that someone was coming. It was a single girl and she wasn't wearing her house uniform so he really couldn't place her, although he was pretty sure that she wasn't a fellow badger. He knew them.

He saw that her ballet shoes were off and she was taking in a drink of water. Maybe she was on her way out. "Hey, girl," he gave her a friendly smile. "You done with the space? I don't mean to intrude otherwise. Just came for that," he said and pointed over to the piano. "I can come back another time if you'd like."

If her teacher wasn’t so demanding, Shanelle won’t even be in the room right now. But just her luck, Madam Crutis is one of the strictest teacher ever, and that is why she have been staying in the rehearsal room for as long as she could remember.

With a sign, she screwed the cap onto her water bottle, just in time to see a boy walk into the room. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, she quickly fixed her hair, pulling it into a long braid. The young Gryffindor was only wearing a thin leotard and it felt chilling in the room. Everyone in her house probably haven’t seen her in weeks, and the first person she sees is this Hufflepuff?

“Uh, hi” She didn’t really like that he called her girl but since he doesn’t know her name, she’ll let it go just this once. “I probably won’t be leaving this room until next week.” She pointed to the bed roll, food, and books next to the mirror. “But sure, you can take that part of the room. I don’t mind. ” She pointed to the other side of the room, where the piano is.

While she intended to focus on practicing, she was sure that a little bit of music won’t hurt. “I look forward to hearing you play.” She said with a friendly smile, hoping to cover up the uncertainty she showed a few moments ago.

She awkwardly turned and put on her dancing shoes, almost forgetting something important. “Oh, I’m Shanelle Meza, Gryffindor.” The girl wasn’t super tall but she certainly looked more than a first year, which is why she decided to leave out her year in the introduction. “What’s your name?” She asked, tugging a strand of hair she missed behind her ear.

Interacting with: @Simon Kincaid

He watched as she laced up her ballet shoes and really hoped he wasn't interrupting or bothering her. That was never his intentions when he came to the Rehearsal Room and he knew others liked to use the space as well. Still, it seemed she at least was making an effort to share so he'd at least try out a song, then maybe make an excuse as to why he had to leave early to allow her to get back to her task at hand.

She introduced himself as he made his way across the large room and he smiled. Most people didn't introduce themselves to someone if they were bothered by them. "Pleasure to meet you, Shanelle," he said. "Simon Kincaid. Hufflepuff. I'll just do a song and then be on my way so you can practice with your music. Or if you need someone to help crank the music, I can do that too. I'm a pretty good helper," he flashed her a smile and then turned and headed to the piano.

Simon sat down and placed his hands on the familiar keys and began to play a melody. It was one that began slowly, and didn't start picking up until around forty seconds in. Then it blended and began to flow in a heartfelt tune. That was the sort of music that Simon wrote when it came to the piano - music that made one feel something. Music that made him as the musician get lost within the piece to where he was effortlessly gliding along the keys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jqi9BdEUbU

“Nice to meet you too, Simon.” She smiled as she watch him approach the piano like a good friend. “I would appreciate the music, it’s the key to dancing. But let’s see how well you can do.” She shouted as he began to play.

The soft, slow music began, warming the entire room, changing the icy cold atmosphere. She had originally wanted company, and she was glad to have someone there. Even better that he plays the piano well, she thought.

Shanelle just finished lacing up her shoes and she couldn’t wait to dance. It fitted surprisingly well with the songs she glided across the floor, her expression changing as her body moved. The dance was about a swan on a lake, from a muggle legend, and it wasn’t easy to recreate. But the girl could, and did, emotions showing in her movements as she bent her knees and turned. She was halfway through the dance, completely oblivious of her surroundings when the choreographed danced changed into something else. Something far more casual but with more grace.

Shanelle was dancing to the music. Her hands came up, round and above her heads. They then dropped into a circle positioned in her torso. The music brought feelings, heartfelt and inspiring. No dancer could ever deny a dance to this tune. Her head whipped around, her hair flying as she turned and leaped.

She let her muscles in her leg collect power and then leaped as high as she could. Her legs immediately split into a perfect split, her hands flying up as well. A light thump on the ground was all that was heard when she landed, one leg after another.

Sweat rolled down her neck and forehead and she was panting but she felt alive, more than ever. She looked over to where Simon was. “You’re good at this.”

@Simon Kincaid

Just over midway point through the song, he realized she was up and moving around to the music. She had been all along but he had been lost in the song until that realization. After that, he still gave his focus to the song but did glance to her now and again. It was obvious that ballet had been a big drive for her, whether out of passion or dedication. Slowly he brought the song to it's end and smiled, thankful for the compliment.

"Thanks. Music is kind of my thing. Is dancing yours?" he asked, getting up from the piano bench and coming over to where she was. "I don't know how you do the half of it. How does bending certain ways not throw off your center of gravity?" He could even do a backflip but he couldn't do some of what she was doing and while she had the spiffy dance shoes on, he was pretty sure it was in skill and not something the shoes were doing.

"Even just trying to do this," he said as he leaned forward and tried to stretch out one leg. He didn't know what sort of move it was, or technical term, but he'd try it any way. He got to a certain part and began to wobble but instead of coming back to his feat he pushed it more until he nearly fell, but only stumbled. He laughed. "And then I've been to the Nutcracker with my Aunt at Christmastime, where they do all those lifts up in the air and everything. It's all very impressive," he meant of ballet in general, including the Gryffindor's skill.

Simon's musical talent stemmed more on creativity but when it was time for his actual performance that just meant sitting on the piano bench. Hers was not only beautiful, but it was physically straining and draining as well. "Are you working on something for the show your talent errand or what's this for?" She seemed to be a little too determined to just be doing this just for enjoyment, although he could tell it was there as well.

As the song ended with one, last note, she dropped into a graceful but sad ending pose. She danced with raw emotion, completely ignoring everyone and everything else. It was like there was only her, the song and the dance was left.

She got up from the position, and sat on the floor, her breath ragged. It was one of the best dances in her life, even better than the precise choreography of Madam Curtis. Maybe she would consider asking Simon to play for her show?

”I have been dancing since I was 3, it’s what I do when I feel sad or angry. I assume that is what you do with music and piano?” She left out the part where her parents held shows and people actually came to watch her dance.

She watched in amusement as he stretched. It took her years of practice to perfect the balance when spinning. ”You have to practice for a long time before you can do it. But there is a trick. You just have to place your weight on the leg that is staying on the ground and, ta da!” She said, performing a perfect spin.

Just to show off, she did several cartwheels, handstands and ended with a split. ”Practice. It’s all about practice.”

She spent the next few minutes showing some moves. ”I danced the Nutcracker before, and it was one of my best shows.” She said, accidentally revealing one of her secrets.

”Can you play another song?” She wanted to listen to the song alone and not dance. Music and dancing brought her alive again, after many days of practice.

“I’m preparing for a show, my personal show. It’s in 5 days and I really need to practice.” She admitted. ”I haven’t danced in my free time for a while, I am always preparing for the next show.” Having rich parents and being sorta famous is not as good as you think it is.

"So you perform in shows?" he asked, finding that to be interesting. No wonder she seemed to be working so hard. He liked performing, but he rarely did so. It seemed she had a bit performance coming up soon. "You should invite me to this next show," he smiled to her. "I mean, I'm already a fan."

Simon walked over to the piano again after embarrassing himself in his lack of ballet ability, although he'd excel in other forms of dance. He could do a pretty perfected moon walk and that sort of thing.

"Sounds pretty demanding though. You ever get time to not practice?" maybe the two of them could even hang out sometime. He sat back down on the bench and found the keys before beginning to play something short, something uplifting. He didn't know if the Gryffindor would like it, especially since it wasn't totally complete. Still, it was one of the songs in mind right now.

"I mean, after the show. I'd never want you to risk getting hurt or anything before that," he added in once the song was over. Music was natural for him, and he could do the conversation, pick up one of his pieces, and go right back to the topic at hand. It was just a part of him like that and came to him effortlessly.

He wasn't quite sure if she would realize he was sort of making an offer here, but if she did, he was hoping she'd take him up on it. It was always nice to get to know new people.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiPqg6Mrjvw

@Simon Kincaid

Shanelle originally did not intend to reveal her ‘secret’. But at least Simon seemed fine with it. She nodded slowly, ”Yes, I perform. Ever since I was 7. I can get you a ticket, if you want.” She hoped he genuinely wanted to see the show and not saying that to be polite.

”My ballet teacher/Manager, Madam Curtis is a really pushy person, so I really need to practice hard so I don’t disappoint her.” While she hasn't had the passion for dancing in a while, she was doing the show to live up to the standards and expectations for her mentor.

When she watched Simon walk to the piano again, she tightened the braid her hair was tied into and tugged on her leotard. It was like magic, watching Simon play the piano. The girl could sing a bit and maybe tap to the beat but piano and all the fancy stuff was way out of her capabilities. And he was really good at it.

”I just got notified a week ago and I have been practicing non stop. Madam Curtis is the type to get things last minute. I only have two weeks to practice. She thought back, sorting old memories of her many performances. ”I remember one time, she told me I had a show three days later and I had to choreograph myself. Needless to say, it was my worst. She chuckled.

The thoughts were interrupted by the start of the music. It was unlike the last one, so she decided to go a different way. Instead of starting with a classical pose, she jumped around, leaped in the air and moved her body in the jazz way. Shanelle never learned Jazz before but dancing was easy for her, her body moved for her.

She jiggled around for a bit until the music stopped, it was a short piece. She wasn’t sweating or panting, this time she had a grin on her face. ”That was great, I did jazz.” She said to Simon once the music died down.

”Maybe after my show on Saturday, you can come over to the backstage and I can show you around?” She offered, hoping he’d say yes. He seemed like a nice guy and she really needed more friends. Dancing and all the homework occupied all her time.

"I'd like that," he said, speaking of both wanting to come to the performance and to also see all the backstage stuff. "And you know, if I can help in any way...I don't know, to provide the music or if you need someone to help keep your balance or do a lift or something, I don't mind." He meant in practice. He didn't have the experience or the skill to do half of what she did. He probably wouldn't be able to do anything that she could do when she first began doing it.

He didn't have a lot of information on it but he got the picture that this was something she dedicated most of her time to. This is something she had put a lot of years into. "Is it still enjoyable?" he asked, hoping he wasn't prying. "The dancing. The performing." He knew if he tried to write a song too long and it started to get frustrating, that pushing through would never work for his creative flow. Instead he needed to put the notebook down, take a break, and come back to it later. Sometimes it would hit him in the middle of doing something else, and sometimes it would come to him after having given his progress a fresh look.

It didn't really seem as if Shanelle had much of a choice or say in the matter, whether it was enjoyable or not. He could tell the skill was there and he could tell the passion was there - he just wasn't sure if it was there for the shows. "Madame Curtis sounds like a pretty hard woman. I hope she doesn't suck all the fun out of it for you. I guess, I don't mean judgement on your part or hers, I'm just trying to say if that is the case, maybe I can somehow help you find the spark again." He was musically inclined as was she. Maybe if the two got together more in the Rehearsal Room together, they could help one another.