Gray Skies on Faire Days PV Gray Closed

Interacting with @Evelynn Decipio

Windermere... it had been a while since the last time he had visited this place. It was a small village situated along side the well known lake, a place where everyone knew each other, or so it seemed. A few pureblood families lived on the outskirts of the small village, away from the muggle population that outnumbered them 10 to 1. One of the pureblood residents was Percy's grandfather Victor, who first arrived in the village ten years ago after selling the Gray mansion estate to Percival's father Elias. Victor was a very private man, someone who was widely respected in the wizarding community for different reasons. Mainly down to his teachings. He was a private tutor for the wealthy and those who wished to learn different aspects of magic from a experienced teacher, and even quite regularly got students outside of the country.

Word was brought to them that he had finally returned after a few months teaching in Bulgaria, a place home to some of the most intimidating students in the world, somewhere which suited his grandfather perfectly. None the less, Percy had gotten used to his demeanour and grew fond of him over the years, and even adopted some of his own mannerisms that proved to be beneficial in some ways.

The Gray family, who arrived at the village through port key were making there way over to the mansion on a side path to the right of the village. They all dressed smartly in summer clothing to suit the hot weather that blessed them today, as well as for the big occasion that was ahead of them. Family meetings were always a big deal, no matter who it was or what it was about. However, Percy planned on doing some exploring of the area before he made his way to the mansion himself.

At a cross roads the group stopped and planned to go there separate ways "Now Percival, make sure you get to the mansion on time. You know how your grandfather is on time..." he said as he looked to Percy's mother, Primrose who was in the middle of making Percy look neat in his jumper "And remember, wear your mask and keep clear of any strangers, do I make myself clear?" she said sternly before stopping and looking him in the eyes. Percy slowly nodded to both of them and slipped on his black mask, that firmly covered his mouth and nose "I promise... you don't need to worry about me" the boy said back to them confidently. His mother gave him a hug before waving him off, leaving Percy to his own device as he went down the dirt path.

Percival walked into the centre of town and kept to himself, slowly making ground to the lake that he was so eager to visit. Although, something else would catch his eye through the ghostly streets, a fairground. His curiosity urged him to take a closer look and see what all the noise was about, and to see why muggle fairgrounds were so primitive. Percy looked into the site from close by and saw it was surprisingly busy, considering what the muggle world was going through right now. Darktimes needed some lights, and a fairground was perfect for that.

Hesitantly, he decided to go further into the fairground and stare at each amusement he walked past, almost shaking his head to the methods they used. All of them was machine built, meaning they only worked from a mixture of electricity and engines that forced it to work. Not a single scent of magic was found here. It was quite depressing really, but the muggles seemed to love it none the less. This was a prime example of why their lifestyles were worlds apart.

Coming up to the wheel he stood to the left of the line and looked up to the towering ride, which rather boringly went round and round with people sitting in little carts. What did they aim to get out of riding this thing? sleep? who knew what the muggles thought at this point. His blue eyes turned its attention to the line, where a few people were waiting to board the bore machine. And one customer was someone he expected to ride such a amusement. It was the girl who ruined his coat and made a scene in the great hall, someone of which he still wasn't on good terms with. He made a loud muffled sigh under his mask and walked around the line until he stood to the right of the girl, his gaze still looking in front of him "You know... after all this time you still haven't given me the respect to know your name" he said unexpectedly beside her while the line began to go forward.

The man at the gate waved them over and made them come through the gate, forcing Percy to go along with the flow and ride the snail like wheel for now. He showed them to their seats and closed the gate behind them, leaving the pair alone for now as the wheel began to turn. After a few seconds, Percy finally turned his face to the girl and stared at her calmly "I'm happy this so called "entertainment" is free because I wouldn't pay a single coin to ride this thing..." the boy remarked with a small shake of his head "What's up with you anyway, you look more grumpy than usual"

It really wasn't the same. Evelynn could recall how much she used to enjoy such simple delights. The fair had always been a right treat. A chance to get out and away from the house, to enter into the little bubble of its own festive world to spend some quality time with her mother. The Ferris Wheel in particular was always a highlight. Being able to be elevated to such a height and gaze out across the fairgrounds and look down at the people milling about below.. There wasn't quite anything like it. Or hadn't been, anyway. Since quidditch, however, she'd known even greater heights. Greater speeds and thrills. What fun was there in sitting boxed in within the confines of a little bench, stationary, when she'd torn around the pitch at top speeds on Woodward's Silver.

She was just contemplating leaving the line when a voice spoke up nearby. Too nearby. And not just any voice, but a voice that she would be able to immediately in a crowded room. Gray's words sent a shiver down Evelynn's spine and her skin to immediately erupt in gooseflesh. Perhaps in an unconscious bid to hope beyond hope that her mind was playing tricks on her, she continued to stare straight ahead for a few seconds. Or perhaps she was just in a state of momentary shock, like a rabbit catching the scent of a nearby predator.

"My.. What?" When no amount of fervent denial would cease his bored commentary. The man managing the line began to usher them forward. Evelynn found herself in a three-way battle. On the one hand, her mind reeled over the fact that she had been happened upon by someone familiar. "What are…" This was… this was Windermere. Not Hogwarts. This was her hometown. Her head snapped around from Gray to survey the others around them, perhaps half expecting this to be some sort of joke and realize that she wasn't actually at the fair at all, but had been fooled by an illusion. "How are you…"

But he was still there when she turned her attention back. Of all the people to stumble into her little oasis, why did it have to be him. How was it him? She couldn't even begin to puzzle that out properly, though, as the people behind her jostled into her, children eager to have their turn pressing their hands to her back to urge her forward towards the Ferris wheel and the man managing the line ushering her—and Gray—forward.

"Wait.." she tried to protest, making a very poor attempt to extricate herself from the line. "W-wait—"

Her throat was dry, confusion still evident on her features despite her mask, and the word seemed to lose itself, drowned by the surrounding chatter. Or perhaps the man simply didn't care. His job was simply to keep the line moving and the ride turning, not to cater to every little girl who had a second thought about a boring ride. Despite the panic rising within her, she found herself sheperded along and before she could mount a proper protest, the bar descended into place with an uncompromising Click!, and as though to guillotine any thought of escape, the carnie gave the bar a nice little rattle to show just how secure and safe the two would be in their little cell. Evelynn stared at the metal rigging of her imprisonment in silent horror. She had been sequestered to a confined space from which there would be no relief until she'd ridden this horrid ride to completion.

Gray turned to face her again where he sat. She couldn't see it, but she just knew. An obnoxious flush of embarrassment crept up her neck. If she was lucky, he would just sit there. Silent. And the two of them could suffer through this ordeal, part ways at the bottom, continue on their merry ways and pretend this had never happened. It was a foolish hope. Of course she wasn't lucky. Lucky would have meant that he wouldn't have come up to engage her in the first place. And yet, he had. And as he spoke up again, her irritation mounted.

"I wasn't aware that you've been monitoring my emotional appearance," Evelynn retorted dryly, her frown hidden behind her mask as she leaned back in the seat and crossed her arms over her chest. She still refused to look at him, and instead, elected to shift her position to sit as faaar to the edge and put as much distance between them as she could. "And why bother getting on the ride at all if its "so called entertainment" isn't to your taste? I'm sure there would have been others who would have taken your seat and actually enjoyed themselves," she sniffed, more than a little indignant to have been put into this position in the first place.


"And why would I give you my name?" she asked, rounding her sights on the boy. Evidently she'd given up or forgotten about her little eye-contact boycott. "You've never asked for it. Besides, if you really cared to know, you would have paid attention in class enough to have picked it up." But with that little show of defiance, she resorted to fixing her gaze on the lights and colours of the festival instead of him. "What is it that you want, Gray? Do you find yourself at an unfortunate loss of muggle-borns to torment and so you must direct your attention to me instead? What are you even doing here?"

[font=century gothic]INTERACTING WITH @Percival Gray[/font]

Interacting with @Evelynn Decipo

"It's quite hard not to notice..." he sighed back to her while leaning up against the chair, his arms slowly folding in unison with the girl. To say she wasn't happy in seeing him was an understatement, but it wasn't the first nor would it be the last. The fact she also wanted to sit as far away as possible proved her moral distaste of the boy, even if Percy had yet to put a foot out of place at this current time "Sometimes curiosity gets the better of me" Percy replied with a shrug as he looked into the distance, the wheel almost bring them to the top now.

He had to admit, the view was one to behold. You could see most of the town and the far reaches of the lake from where they were sitting. Although, Evelynn was more focused on getting answers rather than enjoying the view she got on for. She seemed to berate him for his lack of hearing during lessons, even though that wasn't the fact. Percy had known the girl's name for a while and didn't want to use it until he respectively introduced herself, something of which wasn't coming anytime soon "What if I say I did? maybe I'm waiting for the person to politely introduce herself without the attitude" he said with a small smirk behind the mask, his glare finally returning to the grumpy girl sat away from him

"What am I doing here? believe it or not, I'm here to visit my Nan and Grandad who I haven't seen for months" he answered, knowing she will be even more miserable that one of his family lives in the same town. Leaning forward from his seat, Percy glares at the muggle-born with a significant look, almost like he was serious with what he was about to say "You're wrong if you think I openly go after muggle-borns and even more of a fool if you think I have great pleasure in tormenting the poor souls" Percy said coldly, unafraid to look her in the eyes and say it to her face "Yes, I do treat you and the others differently but there's a good reason behind it." the boy said continued, while he chose to keep his eyes locked on Evelynn "The select few that have been introduced to the wizarding world, such as yourself lack the respect to make the most of the opportunity and treat it as a joke. So, what makes me think I should respect you like the rest of the Wizards or Purebloods?

Whatever she was expecting from him in reply, it decidedly was not the allusion that he had family in the area. The very idea that she lived in any amount of proximity to the family of someone for whom she held such great distaste sat well with her not at all. Perhaps it was a good thing that her gaze was fixed elsewhere and that her face was largely covered by a mask, otherwise he might have seen the hints of her displeasure at the revelation etched in the stiffening of her expression. Not that he hadn't come to the correct conclusion anyway. She could feel him grow nearer in proximity after his answer, skin crawling under the intensity of his gaze like an ant falling victim to a sun-refracting magnifying glass. And the words he spewed burned just as much.

"You're rather a narcissist, aren't you?" Evelynn replied coolly, her statement entirely rhetorical. She panned a lidded, unimpressed gaze upon her unwanted companion. "So you don't openly go after muggle-borns. No, instead, you'd rather do so when you think that nobody is looking. You don't take pleasure in tormenting them, and yet you do it anyway as though it is your right. You spout about having reason for acting the way you do, but then don't deign to explain yourself. Instead, you demand explanation from others. Why should you respect me? I don't recall asking you to respect me. I don't need to give you reasons, and frankly, I'm not certain I care to be respected by the likes of you whose priorities and values seem to be rather shallow and discriminatory.

"You've made assumptions about me based on whatever rationale it is that you've used, and yet, I'm as much a witch as you are a wizard. As are every other student at our school. If you think otherwise, that's your own problem. And that you seem to think that anyone, especially those of muggle rearing, have approached learning at Hogwarts as a joke, you're even more an imbecile than I previously thought. The ones who treat it as a joke are the ones who take it for granted. The ones, like yourself, who have been raised with certain expectations and know nothing else. Don't presume to know what I do or do not respect. The only thing here that I lack respect for is you."

This time, she did not turn away. Although arms remained folded across her chest and her posture remained leveled and rigid, her gaze held his unwaveringly. If it was a challenge that he wanted, it was a challenge that he'd get. More than a few knew that although she was not the sort to seek out a confrontation, rarely did she balk from one when presented. Especially when pride was on the line. And oh, how he had pricked at hers.

[font=century gothic]INTERACTING WITH @Percival Gray[/font]

Interacting with @Evelynn Decipo

The pureblood boy seemed to make himself comfy on the chair he was on, his body leaning forward slightly while his eyes continued to stare blankly at the girl ranting about his behavior. By no means was he a narcissist, far from it actually. Sometimes he expected more from the half bloods and muggle borns that attended Hogwarts. They weren't born in this world, so they equally had to earn their place and respect the opportunity they were given. The wizarding world didn't have time wasters or thugs, something which wasn't the same compared to the wild muggle world. In their bubble, those kinds of people were rampant.

When she finally finished her discretion, Percy slowly rolled his eyes and put a hand on his mask. The black cover carefully came off his mouth, revealing the well polished face of the boy as he put it in his coat pocket "Never saw a use for these anyway..." he mumbled while looking back to Evelynn, still looking unfazed by her harsh words "You can say what you want about me too, but I'm afraid I know too much of my own self worth to even consider those ramblings" he said truthfully, not allowing her sharp words to get into his head.

"You don't understand me do you?" he said with a tilt of his head, his eyes glaring into hers "It's customary to have respect in someone else's house, correct? wouldn't the same apply to this?" he questioned before taking a look into the far distance, their "cell" beginning to make a descent back down to the bottom "That's all I demand from you lot, as well as everyone else in the wizarding world. Personally, I don't give a damn if they don't respect me, not everyone will like me, like how you're feeling right now" he explained before returning his gaze back to the girl.

"And it seems you misunderstand me as a muggle bully, one that has similar features to elitist purebloods that thrive in making their lives a misery. I'm afraid you're wrong... partly" he said honestly with a scoff after thinking about a certain pair who hold onto those values. His Nan and Grandad were old school, coming from a time where muggle hate was the norm and widely accepted. They were both stubborn to the bone and held onto their ideals even to this day. Percy's mother and father were more lenient, yet cautious of them

"My grand parents still seem to hold the grudge... there's not really much we can do about that" he shrugged, knowing full well to not even convince them otherwise. The pair of them were well respected in the Wizarding community for their wisdom and approach to different aspects. Although, the same would be said for fear too. Many people sort to not mess with the Grays, especially after hearing the name Victor Gray. Even though he was regarded as one of the top private tutors, he also helped different families deal with various "problems" so to say. What he dealt with was none of his business, but sometimes rumors would float of shady business going about the area

"Victor and Iris are their names if you even care. Luckily, they are rarely at the manor these days. The last time I checked they were tutoring a group of wealthy families up in Russia, So I doubt you'll ever get the chance to meet them face to face anyway. Apart from these few weeks of course." the boy said with a small smile, curious as to what she found as family "Speaking of family, why don't you tell me about yours? maybe you've been raised by a pack of stray dogs in the woods. Come on, I'm curious..."

Disclaimer: Don't be a Percy, Wear a damn mask

It really wasn't fair just how easily he could rile her. Her words had not been spoken in vain. Each and every one of them carried her conviction, emblazoned with a belief that she was in the right and that he was wholly, utterly, egotistically and unfairly discriminatory. She'd spoken her truth. Put her belief on the line. And he rolled his eyes at her. Taking a step even beyond that, he discarded his mask, shoving it into a pocket without a care. Sure, the magical world hadn't the same level of concern, but they weren't in the magical world. They were in the realm of the muggles, and she didn't have access to healing here and could thus succumb to any simple malady over the summer. If she could have retreated any further, she would have. Instead, she scowled at him behind her own mask, reminding herself that she still retained the protection of that, at least.

"You don't understand me do you?"

"On that we can agree, at least…" she muttered, quite certain that she would never understand him. "Respect?!" she balked, however, when he'd had the audacity to suggest that his actions had been in any way in line with respect.

Hackles rose all over again with every seething word he spoke. It was… absolutely incorrigible. What floored her most was how he could possibly believe the dribble that slipped from his wormish lips. Her desire to rebuke his claims surged, but opportunity to interject was fleeting as the boy just carried on with his twisted notions. It was fascinating, in a sick way. The more he spoke, the more Evelynn's expression twisted into that of disgust, mercifully hidden behind her surgical mask. Honestly…even the way he couldn't even fully deny that his actions were, in fact, bullying was aggravating. Like he couldn't even make up his mind. He would dash down her claims against him one day, then state she was half-right the next, and all the while with an air of superiority that suggested he thought himself in the right regardless.

Could the car descend any more slowly? Evelynn just wanted off this ride. Out of this car, out of earshot. She'd scurry into the shadowed depths of a tent if she had to. Maybe back to the odd fortune teller. As he transitioned to talking about his grandparents, she could feel her stomach churning. Was it not enough that she had to suffer his presence on occasion at school? Now, she had to live knowing that his family manor—his family manor—that loomed over the small town. Why he was even telling her about them, she couldn't fathom. She wished she could shut it down. Tune him out, ignore his words. But they weaselled their way into her awareness, her mind latching onto the bits of information and stashing them neatly away as it was so accustomed to doing.

"What a pity," she snarked dryly, not at all upset that she wouldn’t have the chance to meet his family. Not that she could ever see herself agreeing to such a thing, anyway. Never mind the entire lack of purpose; the desire to do so was utterly lacking. And then he turned it around on her, and she found herself staring belligerently down upon the fairgrounds as though the individuals scurrying about were nothing more than little Percival ants that she wanted nothing more than to squish between her fingers. Annoyance was only the half of it, however. Through the projection of that irritation, the question had unsettled her somewhat. Until now, he'd only made assumptions about her living situation, but never shown an outright curiosity. It was hard for her to believe that had suddenly changed. The more likely motivation, she deduced, was a desire to uncover whatever information he could; that it might be used to affirm his assumptions, or dig at her later. She'd offer him no such satisfaction.

"Ah, yes, how astute of you.." The liquid tone of voice continued as she turned a steely gaze upon him. "You alone have seen through the fog and discerned the truth of my up-rearing." It felt like it had taken a year, but the car finally began to slow as their time on the ride drew to an end. Below and behind, the grate of steel sounded, marking the release of the passengers ahead of them. "I was raised by wolves, learned to forage with the bears, and taught to hunt with the lions." The wheel turned again and they moved backwards into the starting position. "A savage life with mongrel beasts, but even they have more compassion than you. It's a wonder I learned magic at all," she droned airily, tilting her nose up at him before dropping her little charade as the carnie stepped into view, reaching to release the clasp.

"You've no business asking about my family," Evelynn clipped, moving all at once to help the man out. He could not let her off the ride fast enough. "And I've no interest in sating your misplaced curiosity." Pushing the bar up, she ducked and moved to slip under and away with a final, "Good day."

Unless stopped, Evelynn will attempt to leave.

[font=century gothic]INTERACTING WITH @Percival Gray[/font]