22 Sep 2020, 06:33
Unstacking Defences
[font=century gothic]WHEN: [/font]Sept 19, 2020 | Late Morning
[font=century gothic]WHO: [/font]Evelynn and @Cassius Eden
[font=century gothic]WHAT: [/font]A crossing of paths of the academically inclined bent on pursuing a bit of weekend study.
The return to life at Hogwarts, for all the unease and uncertainty that had accompanied the notion, had been refreshingly normal. Or as normal as any magical education could be. Classes had begun in earnest on the first Monday of the term, lectures droning on with promises of boundless knowledge, and assignments piling high to the ceilings. There were no signs of hags but for the bedraggled professors. Only troublesome foxes - not half-giants - did any wrecking of havoc. Portraits seemed to be normal, at least insofar as they only moved and spoke as was expected of them. And the only mask to speak of was whatever one students discussed when attempting to put together their wardrobe for the upcoming masquerade.
Mundane. Anticipated. What one would expect in any castle overrun with overly energetic children with questionable access to special abilities. And with it, any final shreds of concern that Evelynn had held had faded to non-existence. In their place, she'd grasped readily at the renewed desire for success and learning. Education was, after all, the key to a life with magic, or so someone had once told her, anyway. Perhaps it was true, though. If she were to prevent a repeat instance of last year's spiral into the void, she would have to strengthen her resolve. Part of that meant equipping herself with every last advantage, including the mastery of as many spells, potions, and shreds of magical knowledge as she could. Thus, it had been into her studies that she had readily dived. Whenever she wasn't otherwise occupied with Quidditch or the activities of one club or another, she found herself bunkering down behind a stack of tomes in a corner of the library.
Today, being Saturday, the trek to the library had come earlier in the day than it otherwise might have. With no classes to occupy the daylight hours, Evelynn was free to venture to her safe haven among the stacks of tomes and parchment after breakfast. Even then, she had delayed the visit in favour of getting in a solid practice on her new broom. Something from which she never did, and likely never would, tire. But once the nip of the wind at those lofty elevations had frozen her fingers and coloured her cheeks uncomfortably rouge, she'd packed up in search of warmer and cozier interiors. She hadn't even bothered to trek all the way up Gryffindor tower. Instead, she'd steered straight for the library, which -- since it was still fairly early in the school year -- was sparsely occupied and offered ample choice for seating.
Naturally, Evelynn made a bee-line for her usual spot. Situated in a quiet corner with the light from a nearby window to bathe it in a soft ambience of natural luminescence and stacks of shelves serving to block most of the rest of the room from view, the habitual table made for the perfect little study nook. Her Silver Arrow was left to lean against the wall in the corner, her book bag tucked against a leg. So as not to be happened upon unexpectedly, she took the chair that backed against the wall, posture erect, shoulders squared, and feet crossed at the ankles to tuck primly beneath her seat. Only once comfortable did she crack open her text for the second year Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
In their last lecture, they had covered the topic of pixies; and at the end of the class, they'd been tasked with a related assignment. Always of a mind to tackle these things sooner rather than later, Evelynn set about rereading that particular chapter, one hand brushing fingertips across the page as she read, while those of the other combed absently to tame auburn tresses that had, windswept by her recent flight.
27 Sep 2020, 18:15
Unstacking Defences
September 19, 2020
Library, Hogwarts
Interactions: @Evelynn Decipio
Mentions: n/a
The summer had come to an end and Cassius was again walking the halls of the ancient school. It had been an eventful break with Cassius joining his classmates for the festivities surrounding the quidditch match between Hogwarts and Durmstrang. His intention and indeed his plan was to return home for the summer--to spend time with his family and perhaps join them abroad; but, he was glad he chose to remain for summer camp. He had made a new friend or two and even managed to participate in capturing the flag. Big steps for the otherwise shy and quiet boy who found more kinship with books than with others.
For as far as he improved with his sociability, he still found comfort amongst books. Amongst intellectual topics that challenged him to understand more than he could ever hope to understand. Though academically gifted he was still only twelve and his comprehension and ability to tackle the more complex tomes was limited. Still, his curiosity nudged to him to at least try. To maybe learn one new thing even if he did not understand it all or its context. It was that thirst for knowledge that so often drew him to the school library where bookcases upon bookcases held ancient knowledge and answers to some of his most pressing questions.
That and he had homework. A lot of homework. Certainly more than from his previous year now that he was moving away from the bare basics to more developed topics of study. The Ravenclaw common room, while comfortable, was a difficult place to study in. Frequent comings and goings of his fellow classmates would break his concentration and thus it was only in the library where silence was at least partially enforced that he could get his work done.
With a pile of books in hand, Cassius entered the school library and set about finding a table. It was Saturday and he had hoped most of his classmates would be out enjoying the mild weather, a hope that to his pleasure came to fruition. There was plenty of seating to choose from and Cassius quickly cast a gaze around the room at the other occupants, most of whom he did not recognize. He was bad with names, he knew that. Even within his own class he knew few people by name--a failing he intended to correct this year. A failing he could perhaps begin to correct today.
Nestled in a quiet corner of the library was a familiar face. A Gryffindor, he thought, though he could not place the girl's name even though they had been in some of the same classes. They were both second years, he knew, and she played on her house's quidditch team. That was a fact only made all the more evident by the presence of her Silver Arrow.
Cassius approached the table where the girl was studying and placed his books down as quietly as he could manage not looking to wholly disturb her studies. To his chagrin, however, he lost control of one of the heavier textbooks he carried causing it to land on the table with a thud that echoed more than he could have anticipated. His cheeks flushed red as he looked to the girl.
"Ah, sorry." He said as he reorganized his books on the table. Content that none of his note parchments had unceremoniously departed the sizeable tome, he took a seat at the table. Sneaking a glance to his side he was able to just see the jacket of the book the girl was reading, recognizing it immediately as one of the Defense Against the Dark Arts texts he, too, had been assigned. In fact, diving into its pages was his first task for the day's study session.
"Learn anything interesting about pixies yet? I am only just getting started," he asked, his cheeks again returning to their neutral paleness. "I'm Cassius, by the way. Cassius Eden," he said in introduction with a warm smile.
1 Oct 2020, 12:40
Unstacking Defences
She'd seen him coming. In a sense at least. There'd been the vague realisation that someone had eben approaching her table from ahead, but as she'd been rather enthralled within her studies and it was hardly all that uncommon to have to share a table or for someone to come and go and pass nearby, it wasn't something that had forced her to break her concentration. At least not until the rather loud thud of a heavy textbook dropping unceremoniously to the table had jolted her from her trance of informational osmosis.
Grey eyes shadowed by the creasing of irritated brows had snapped to the newcomer, a sharp rebuke already half-formed upon her tongue. Rather than the image of a student obnoxiously gloating over their little stunt, however, she was met with the clearly apologetic image of a blushing boy. Ravenclaw, by the looks of the crest on his robes; and if she wasn't mistaken, her year as well. Swallowing the words she might otherwise have shared with a crimp of her lips, she gave the impression to pull her gaze back to her book and continue her studies without acknowledging the interruption any more than she already had. The boys' inquiry interrupted that as well.
"I suppose that might depend on your definition of interesting," she replied calmly.
Evidently, this was to be the end of her solo studying. Taking that in stride, and using this as an opportunity to break, she adjusted her seating and shifted her weight, scooting herself further back into her chair and pulling her legs to cross indian-style on the seat.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Eden," she replied, allowing her gaze to wander over the boy in quiet scrutiny.
Ever since the ball, it had become a habit she'd endeavored to employ. To make note of the faces of those with whom she spoke, their style of dress, how they carried themselves, the trinkets and accessories they wore, and anything else that could be used to identify them in future or give her an indication of their character and intent. Clearly, he was observant. That much had already made itself apparent with how quickly he'd pegged out what it was that she was reading.
"I'm Decipio," she returned, finally allowing a smile to mirror the one he had delivered unto her as she pulled her gaze back to his. "Evelynn Decipio. You're second year as well, are you not? I suppose you're here to work on the Defense Against the Dark Arts work as well, then? I'm not all that far along either, really. Would you like to join me?"
[font=century gothic]INTERACTING WITH @Cassius Eden[/font]
Last edited by Evelynn Decipio on 23 Oct 2020, 10:45, edited 2 times in total.
7 Oct 2020, 20:15
Unstacking Defences
September 19, 2020
Library, Hogwarts
Interactions: @Evelynn Decipio
Mentions: n/a
What grace he lacked in being encumbered by stacks of books he made up for once unladen of that burden. He was a lanky boy even by the standards of boys his age, but he carried himself with an air of one born to high society. Everything from his proper posture, coached accent, and perfectly knotted tie pointed to him being someone whose upbringing was one of regiment and strict adherence to a means of conduct. Though, he was not perfect by any means. The bottom of his cloak clearly had specks of dried dirt--likely from an outdoors class earlier that day, and his hair was somewhat unkept.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Evelynn." The boy said, his own blueish-gray eyes now considering the girl closely. Shifting sideways towards the bag by his feet, Cassius began to withdraw some basic school supplies from a satchel--a quill, inkwell, and parchment and set it neatly upon the table. The inkwell, she might notice, was particularly ornate. More so at least than what most second year studies might possess. Next to these materials he placed his wand, an equally ornate looking thing made with a dark wood and grooved design that tapered off at the tip.
The warm smile that graced his features stayed constant through these motions and was maintained as he spoke with the girl. "I am, yes. We had some classes together but I never made the opportunity to speak with you until now," he said, the slightest hint of apology in his tone.
As if to answer her next question, he peeled open his Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook and placed it in front of his assortment of school supplies, turning the pages until reaching the first page of the chapter on pixies. "You are at least one step ahead I," he said with a soft laugh. "If you do not mind the intrusion I would enjoy the company."
The boy's appraising gaze shifted from the girl back to his textbook as a pointed finger identified the passage he was beginning on. "Most things I find to be interesting, or at least have relation to something of interest if one digs deep enough," he said in response to her earlier comment. "Even pixies. On their own I think they are... I would not say boring but underwhelming maybe; but, it is fascinating how they are able to communicate with each other. To move as one in a group without any verbal communication. Is it like a dance where they look for minute physical cues? Or is it telepathic? Maybe hormonal? I enjoy topics that make you think," he said as he seemingly multi-tasked and read on in the chapter.
23 Oct 2020, 11:49
Unstacking Defences
There was something about the boy that Evelynn couldn't quite place. It was as though an aura of reserved confidence had been elegantly draped over his shoulders. Calm deliberation seemed to guide his every movement, like every motion had been carefully practiced. In many ways, it reminded her of the more well-to-do girls at her previous boarding schools. Perhaps he was of a similar ilk, she wondered. Or perhaps he was among the pureblood of the school.
"Well, there are quite a number of us in our year.." she allowed with a dismissive shrug of a brow when his tone suggested a small note of apology for not having made proper introductions prior to now. Really, as much as she would have liked, one could hardly be expected to know everyone. She had a hard enough time keeping tabs on those who had crossed her radar. "And I could hardly turn you away now that you've set yourself up so nicely," she smirked, her gaze lingering just briefly over the possessions he'd pulled out from his satchel before turning back to her own work. Fingers worked to straighten the papers that had been shifted when she'd jumped at his arrival. "So long as you don't mind the subject."
Which, given the fact that he had already pulled out his Defence Against the Dark Arts text and jumped immediately thereafter into his thoughts on pixies, he obviously did not.
"Perhaps it's a combination of several?" she suggested, adjusting her seat for comfort. She was pleasantly surprised by the depth of thought that had gone into the boy's observation. The group dynamic of a pixie wasn't something they had covered in class, nor had it been asked of them on the assignment. Few of her peers ever seemed to have a care towards anything but the bare essentials for an assignment. It was refreshing to know there were those whose thirst for understanding and knowledge could be elevated above the herd.
"But they do communicate verbally," she corrected. She'd just finished reading that particular passage on communication not long before his arrival. "They make sort of squeaking sounds and are said to be able to communicate only with other pixies. And maybe there are other noises they can make that are beyond our range of hearing. I wonder why they're only able to communicate with each other, though. I would think, being so similar to doxies and fairies, that there might have been some sort of cross-species communication.."
"Have you ever seen a Pixie?" she wondered, planting her elbows on the table and lacing her fingers to hover above her open text. Anecdotal stories were always far more interesting to her than the boring descriptive accounts in textbooks. All the better if she could observe them for herself, but she had yet to lay eyes on them. "They seem so underwhelming at first glance. Very little, and not with the same venomous bite as a Doxie. It's difficult for me to picture them being classified as XXX by the ministry. Although I do find it amusing that they appear very similar to how muggles often describe aliens. I wonder if all of those extra-terrestrial abductions were actually at the hands of Pixies."
[font=century gothic]INTERACTING WITH @Cassius Eden [/font]