An Air of Boredom (Keiara)

[narcisse]

The day had been somewhat well spent, going to lessons, eating this and that, chatting with a few people. But in the end, the young Narcisse had decided to come to the common room sooner than he might have normally. Though he was slightly angered when he had arrived, for he had heard that his mother had come to visit the Headmistress and she had not come to see him. He was rather disappointed about the fact, but he assumed she was busy and only made a quick little stop. Vanité had sensed his bad mood, and the haughty cat now simply lay beside him on the leather bound couch.

Narcisse had a book in his hands; it was titled in French, and seemed to be some fictional story. He did rather enjoy it at times; it was a historical fiction novel. Detailing how a wizard may or may not have had improper relations with Francois I, King of France. Of course, though it was something Narcisse would never do, for having any relation with muggles was beneath him. The plot of the book had engaged him, and in boredom he had decided to read it.

However, after a few moments he put the book down, and looked to his cat. With a cleverly elegant hand he reached out to pet his precious Vanité. Who had recovered from the curse that one of the three, Nina-Mallan-Sebastien, had lied about. Narcisse had never blamed him though, for Vanité never swiped at him before, so obviously he would not do so of his own free will.

“I’m so bored, Vanité; Hogwarts lacks the excitement of Beauxbatons. And even the Slytherin commons are dank and dreary. Where is the elegance and regality that we were told of? How dreadful.”

[Keaira O'Connell]

For Keaira O'Connell the days events were far from the relaxing day that Narcisse had endured. For any day that is spent training or recovering is hardly a day that can be considered relaxing.It seemed quite a lot more often than not Keaira O'Connell was found in the Room of Requirements, whether alone or not. There was far too much danger around her for her days to be spent laying about in complacency. Even this day, she had recently spent an hour of her free time brushing up on her more than lacking hand to hand combat skills. With Alessandro recently rescued, and D'rorah missing, there was now more of a reason to be in top physical shape.

With her training finished for the day Keaira had then traveled to the prefects bathroom to relax in what could only be described as the most luxurious bath tub in all of England. With all of the different fragrance bath bubbles to choose from, Keaira made a point to try a new one each day. Today happened to be an almost citrus scent layered with just a touch of something sweet, a fragrance that Keaira found most delectable.

After relaxing for quite some time Keaira choose to move on, finishing her bath, and dressing in her school attire, which she kept a clean set of within her book bag. Clean, dressed, and dry there was little left for her to do other than make her way down to the common room, to work on what might still remain at this point in the day. Generally though, Keaira took some of the free time she had in her classes to work on what ever homework she had yet to do. As such she rarely found that she had many school assignments by the end of the day. Which allowed her evenings to be more of her own time and less of the schools.

It was for those reasons that when Keaira made her way to the common room she found that her school work was finished for the day, her daily training was covered, and she had nothing important to do for the next few hours, except her daily meditation. Arriving in the common room, it came as no shock to Keaira that the room was practically empty. It seemed that many of her fellow house mates had other places to spend their time, and few of them seemed keen on sitting in the dungeons of a castle. However, there was always an exception to that rule.

Upon arriving to the common room Keaira noted that the area was occupied by a single male, whom she knew, being a prefect, had recently arrived at Hogwarts. Generally it fell to either herself or Zane to make sure that new arrivals were settling into their new homes at Hogwarts with out incident. A duty that Keaira was less than fond of. For some reason, it seemed to her that far too many of her fellows had been raised to believe that they were in fact special, or of some noble blood. An ideal that Keaira did not believe held any more value than a grain of sand. Keaira herself was from a pure blood family, who's lineage could be traced back to the fifth century, but she was raised to be accepting, and tolerant. So even if a person was muggleborn, or not she would not hold that against them. After all there are far more reason to wish ill on a person aside from their blood status.

With out much hesitation after spotting the single boy and his cat Keaira adjusted her path so that she was brought to a chair that was nearby the pair. As she moved closer to him she heard his comment on the lack of excitement at the school. A part of her wanted to laugh at how naive the boy must be. If he only opened his eyes and looked for it, excitement was just outside. Although, sometimes excitement can be a bit more than one is prepared for. As she sat down she crossed her legs, and leaned back diagonally, so that she could face the boy, with out having to turn her head. A polite smile made its way in to her features, a task that seemed natural, as she addressed the boy.

"Unfortunately many of your house mates share that sentiment. However, Hogwarts is still the best school in England, no matter how boring it may seem."

[narcisse]

Narcisse held a little in the purity of blood, more-so than one might think appropriate, but to him it was more that he came from one of the most ancient, influential and wealthy families in France. His air of nobility came from the fact that that is what he was raised to believe. Though there was no conventional nobility within the wizarding world, or at least , there had not been in several thousand years, the House of Eraclea like many of the old families liked to pursue their own version of aristocracy. Using their wealth and power to influence politics, policy, et cetera. For example: to say that Maximilien Eraclea, Narcisse’s grandfather, had a hand in the French Ministry of Magic would be an abysmal understatement.

Of course, there was also his own vanity, which led him to become even more prideful. It was hubris; though he was not always aware of it, to him it was simply natural. When one was treated as a prince all their life, that is how they would act, and that is exactly how Delphine had made sure her precious son was treated: like an Eraclean Prince. Such an attitude had made him childhood and school-mate enemies, but he either did not care or his hubris blinded him to even that. More or less, it was probably a mix of the two; for he did feel himself above emotions such as hurt or care for those who disliked him and his way.

Those grey eyes honed on the girl as she walked in, he had seen her around of course; and he also knew that she was a Prefect. The young teenager, however, had yet to speak to her since he began his career at the school. If for no other reason she had not presented herself or that he had never really thought about it. As was his way, he surveyed her and took superb note of her physical features. She was not an ugly girl, and her walk was not terrible either. Narcisse glanced back at his book, however, once he noticed that she might be headed his way. If there was anything he would dislike it would be that she thought herself alluring enough for him to stare at her so blatantly.

His book dropped, with his allowance, with his hand as he noted that she was speaking to him. Some people thought him a rude and arrogant individual. They would be supremely correct call him arrogant, but he was never blatantly rude; such behavior was beneath him; the way of trash. He would admit he was brusque at times, but only when he was offended or annoyed in greater capacity. Though there was a slight level of annoyance within him now, he had not been speaking to her but to Vanité, but since she chose to respond he listened to her perceptively.

“You are right,” Narcisse said with that haughtily aloof air, “Hogwarts is the best school, in England.”

Without really realizing it he had accentuated the word ‘England’, it was that pride for France and Beauxbatons coming out within him. The schools had always been pseudo-rivals when the Tri Wizard Tournament went on. Though it was not a table discussion, just an accepted fact in France that Beauxbatons was superior: However he would not tell her this flat out; it would have been dreadfully rude. The young Slytherin did wait upon her response however, without picking up his book, those chilling grey eyes engaged with her own.

[Keaira O'Connell]

With a casual movement Keaira brought her hands together and interlocked them loosely. It was a casual gesture, one that she did most often was attempting to relax. She rested them softly in her lap as she listened to the response that Narcisse gave to her comment. Having been home schooled for most of her life it was not unbelievable that Narcisse's thoughtless, and quite tactless comment barely phased her. In addition to that, being born and raised in Ireland also added it's own set of perceptions to her. England was not her home, country, nor her allegiance, merely her residence for the school months. As such his emphasis on the word 'England' only meant one thing to her. That perhaps, this boy held some sort of resentment about being brought to this school. Curious as she may be, Keaira held her tongue from asking why he was so against being with in these walls. Choosing to address his response in a different way, she let what was left of her polite smile fade away in to a look of apathy.

"I find it curious that you attend a school in which you find to be sub-par to your standards. Such a thing seems utterly illogical. Particularly considering that there are plenty of school in which to choose from. Why settle for something in which you find inadequate?"

Keaira was not one to put extra emphasis on her words, meaning them mostly as they were meant to be heard. Her voice held the slightest hint that she did honestly wish to know. However, only a person skilled in playing social games would be able to pick up on that hint of caring which lay underneath her show of apathy. As Keaira looked at the younger boy in front of her, his gray eyes holding no warmth, she mused over the fact that had she wished to know the answers to her questions more all she would need to do was open her mind up, and simply listen for his answers. Many people, reveal far to much than they should simply by thinking, a small tid-bit of information which she had gathered through years of experience.

[narcisse]

Narcisse listened to her tone, and there was a flash of annoyance within those lovely grey eyes. Of course, as he thought about it, it may have been his own fault that she had asked him that question after his obvious distaste, no matter how light it was. Though he measured what he might say before her actually responded. There was a somewhat darkened truth behind the reason his family had left France, and that was extremely privileged information; no she would not get that truth. Of course, he also measured that he did not need to alienate himself from people within his own House.

“Hogwarts is a superb school; it has a history of great academic excellency. However, so does the magnificent Beauxbatons, and that school is the greatest in my opinion. It is not only excellent, but also beautiful, something we French take into account.”

The English-French rivalry was always eminent in the air in almost every generation, in both muggle and wizard alike. Of course, from her accent, Narcisse knew that she was not from England, but to him that made little different. It was all the United Kingdom, now wasn’t it? With the exception of Muggle-Ireland.

[Keaira O'Connell]

A smirk made its way easily in to her features as she listened to his response. It was always amusing how people thought they could skirt around questions with out actually answering them. nodding politely toward the end, Keaira allowed herself to agree with the Narcisse. Although she had never personally seen Beauxbatons she had seen photograph of the school, and had formed her opinions of it based on them. The building was aesthetically pleasing, although Keaira her self was far more fond of the castle structure that Hogwarts had to offer. It was surely the architect of the school that Keaira found to be a reminder of her parents Ireland estate, and thus, home.

Keaira had wanted to address Narcisse's comment further, however something held her back. The thought that he might just take offense to what she planned on saying caused her to hold her tongue. There was a better way to get around the conversation than bringing up how vain the French seemed to be. The smirk that she had donned melded in to a warmer smile, hoping to melt away some of the iciness that Narcisse held in both his tone, and presence.

"Well, unfortunately, I guess the English failed to take in to account that people would have to live with the site they chose. However, as the case is, we are stuck here, so tell me,aside from the lack of excitement, and beauty within the school, how have you been adjusting? As it is my job to check on the new students to find out their progress on settling in I hope things have been fairly alright."

It occured to Keaira as she looked over into the grey eyes of the boy in across the way, that he was in fact like many of the boys in the house of Slytherin. The haught air that was so easily conveyed as arrogant, the bored look that always overcame their features, it was always the same with them. The longer she talked with him the more she was reminded of why she prefered the company of Ravenclaws over Slytherins. Dien, although onnce was a Slytherin, was a Ravenclaw, Alessandro, a Ravenclaw, and Dylan and D'rorah, Ravens as well. In fact out of her 5 years with in the house of Slytherin, there was only one student from her house in which she would call a friend, and that was only recently done through mere nesecesity.

Knowing that there was no need to form bad blood between herself and the new student Keaira was quite pleased with the way she switched the conversation. As when dealing with most guys, Keaira felt that by changing the topic to something which revolved around the boy she could get a more positive reaction from him. Either he would complain about how much he felt the school lacked in comparison to his beloved Beauxbatons, or he would mention a general easy transition. Either way, Keaira would soon find herself a way out of the conversation with out seeming rude.

[narcisse]

Narcisse met her gaze, she did not seem a bad sort, really, though he was not quite sure he would care for her company all the time. Though he had very few close friends to begin with, or what he considered close, though some at his old school had thought themselves to be friends, to Narcisse they were merely acquaintances. That was simply his way, he liked to have only a few that he could confide in, and even that took awhile before he was too trusting. Really though, that was much like his mother, though he doubted she confided in anyone, except Gisèle at the very least. It almost irked him at how often he was thinking of his mother while in these halls, and even more in the depths of the commons when he was alone. He had yet to meet a person he could confide in, really, for most he had met were only acquaintance material; and as he quickly judged, this girl was the same.

“I’m adjusted already,” he said, “I may miss the sparkling halls of Beauxbatons, but I know I will do fine here. I am meeting people, hourly it seems, and my classes are fine. I can even appreciate the gothic beauty that the castle holds, the mystique of its many mysteries. Trust you, you needn’t worry about me, I’m an Eraclea.”

He was not a dupe; she switched the trail of the conversation for one of two reasons. She was either fed up with his pseudo-whining, or she did not want to pursue that line of discussion just in case they might offend one another. Though he knew that there were times that he was difficult to talk to, especially in concern that he cared nothing for; no matter how official or obliging it was. It was often the case with haughty personages, those who felt themselves higher than all others.

Though he was almost certain that he held a uniqueness in the socially elitist air that seemed rampant within Slytherin. He cared little to pride himself in the purity of blood. He assumed that there was only one real thing to store pride in, and that was power. The House of Eraclea, though pure, was very powerful and wealthy –not to mention beautiful, that is why he was such a proud and haughty boy. He came from the highest among the wizard’s own brand of aristocracy.

[Keaira O'Connell]

Keaira found it a bit difficult to interact with people that had the disposition, and general composure that Narcisse Eraclea had. His type it seemed, left Keaira feeling drained, and empty after even a short amount of time dealing with them. There was nothing inherently wrong with him, or even morally askew with what she had gleamed from the short bit of interactions. However, Keaira knew she could not see herself pursuing a friendship with him.

So much about her world seemed to revolve around good and bad; evil, and benevolent. Such decisions like whether or not she could develop a friendship with the person that adorned the couch near her hardly ever came in to account. And yet here she was making a decision on the boy who she had just met, not based on his alignment with the forces that played in her life, but on his own character. Had she taken a moment to reflect on that thought she might have realized how little she had made decisions like this one in the time since she found herself thrust in to the world of shadow warriors, and elemental masters. However, Narcisse had responded to her query.

She nodded slowly as he began informing her that he was adjusting fine. The slightest hint that he felt as if there could be no other answer was evident in his voice. He truly longed for his previous alma mater however, such things were in his past. Although Keaira did not know why, nor was she likely to ask about it in any conversation that they may have again. She was in all glad that he had been adjusting well enough to his new home. It was always such a tedious task when the new people did not fare so well, and had to be walked through each step as if they were a child being taught how to eat. Competence was nice.

"I'm glad that you have found Hogwart's to be easy enough to navigate, even if it is not as beautiful as Beauxbatons. You classes should be easy enough to jump in to, nothing too advance, and of curse there are plenty of resources if there is something that you need to refresh your mind on. The Hogwarts library is quite extensive, and with the right professors help, there's even more to be found with in the restricted section of the library."