To arrive on time is to arrive unremarked. To arrive late is to be remembered.
It was a poetic and equally useful excuse for explaining why he had arrived late -- fashionably late, if you asked him -- to the Kolbeck Christmas party. Truth be told the Ravenclaw had been undecided about attending. He hadn't been feeling well the past few days and an extended trip for the holidays was a potentially exhausting proposition. Indeed, he would have remained at home if it was not for one complicating factor...
Opeila had owled him.
Even a socially inept Cassius knew better than to ignore an invitation like that. No doubt there would be other students there he was familiar with, perhaps even one Vladimir Athanatos who Cassius had been hoping to speak with for some time, but none quite as interesting to him as Opeila. For her he would make the effort.
And so he did. Though arriving late, Cassius made the expected introductions and exchanged pleasantries with adults he recognized in passing from other pureblood events. After some polite schmoozing, he managed to break away from the main body of guests. After some wrong turns and dead ends, he managed to find the person he was looking for.
The Ravenclaw sixth year stepped quietly out onto the balcony, the door closing behind him with the soft click of the latch closing. It was cold. Painfully cold. But he had no intention of turning back. He stepped forward.
"If you are attempting to impersonate Skaði, you are doing a fine job," the boy said, warmth in his voice cutting through the biting cold. The image of the mountain goddess was the first thing that came to mind seeing his classmate, hair nearly entirely white, standing on the balcony in defiance of the cold. The Poetic Edda had been required reading during his year of home study. Some might have discounted them as myths, but Cassius' tutor had been adamant that even in myth there could be truth.
"Here, take my cloak."
Without waiting for permission, he had unclasped the heavy fur cloak and draped it over her shoulders. It was still warm from the heat of the house and its wearer. Almost immediately the cold assaulted him but he shrugged it off. He could survive a bit of cold. For now.
Though not the best at reading someone, it was rare for a person to intentionally freeze themselves on a balcony during the party. A usual indicator that something was awry. However, Cassius did not pry. If there was something she wanted to share she would do so. If not, he could at least be a comfort. A small ray of warmth amongst the cold.
He gazed upwards, standing beside her.
"The sky is beautiful tonight. I sometimes forget how lucky some people are to see so many stars."
