OPEN

[animalmagnetism]

Who: Peter Banks (animalmagnetism), Sybille Matteris (arachnoble), Murdoc Donoghue (wwhistful) and EVERYONE who'd like to encounter the cheering charm'd teacher and/or the culprits.
Tone: Cheerful! Maybe too cheerful
Rating: TBD
When: um...after Tavros's party sometime? idk Starts in the morning and lasts most of the day.
Where: First, the Great Hall, but then anywhere.
What: Peter and Sybille think Murdoc needs to relax and cheer up, so they "help" him with cheering charms and observe the result.

It was planned perfectly. Murdoc needed to relax. There was a log so far up his arse that it threatened to come out of his head. He needed to loosen up and learn to enjoy life. Peter was convinced drastic measures were necessary. So he'd gone to Sybille. A cheering charm wasn't too difficult to charm up, but best to defer to the expert. They only wanted him relaxed and cheerful, not rolling around on the floor laughing too hard to do anything else. It turned out it was a little more complicated than just a simple charm after all, but they'd worked it out. Now, this morning in the great hall they'd planned their attack.

The spells went off without a hitch under the table and Peter grinned at Sybille. Just waiting for them to take effect now.

((ooc: Peter, Sybille and Murdoc will all be available for threading with everyone! Just specify time of day, who, and where!))

Comments

[dou8letrou8le]

Vriska was just finishing up her breakfast, having been one of the first people to come into the hall to eat she surprisingly took her time. She sat near the end of the Slytherin table near the professors' with an open book under her hand.

When the spell went off Vriska noticed a small glimmer under the table out of the corner of her eye. She cast a look to Sybille, finding her amused expression mirroring Peter's curious. She didn't realize she was staring at the Charms professor (with a narrowed look to boot) until a few minutes had passed. Hmmmmmmmm.

[wwistful]

Murdoc may have sat at the table with a scowl, but he left it with a friendly bow and a wide grin. The grin seemed strange on his face, but it was genuine.

He strides away from the table, waving cheerfully at his fellow staff members. He notices Vriska at the end of her table and flashes her an even wider grin. It's so nice to see students sitting. Sitting in a nice hall on a lovely day.

"Good Morning, Miss Serket. How are you today?"

[animalmagnetism]

From his spot at the table Peter waves at her cheerily. He seems to have noticed her noticing so he presses his finger to his lips with a shhhh motion. And then he winks.

[arachnoble]

When Peter had approached her, asking for a cheering charm, Sybille had been wary. Of course, once he had told her his intended victim was and why she agreed without a second thought.

In all honesty the spell wasn't that difficult. But Peter was young, and Sybille doubted the abilities of anyone that wasn't herself. He probably could have done it himself, but she wouldn't let him take all of the glory. Where would the fun be in that?

[wwistful]

Murdoc was suspicious the moment his co-workers sat down beside him. Peter was always irritatingly cheerful, but Sybille seemed far too pleased with herself. He gave both of them a glance out of the corner of his eyes before returning his attention to his breakfast.

Funny. He swears he felt something. Maybe he wasn't being irrational after all. He turns to give Peter a suspicious look, but it melts into a happy smile. Peter is always so happy, it's lovely to see. It's lovely to have breakfast with his happy coworkers.

[animalmagnetism]

When Peter sees that smile he knows it works. He shoots a victory glance at Sybille and smiles back just as warmly. "You should smile more often. It really makes you look dashing! Isn't that right, Sybille?"

[arachnoble]

"It certainly makes him look younger." She leans forwards, resting her chin in her hand and waving her fork at Murdoc. "Maybe smiling more would help take care of your developing frownlines."

[wwistful]

[He shoots a confused look at both of them, neglecting the food on his fork for the moment.]

You really think so?

[That's so nice of them both, he's almost blushing.]

[psiignlanguage]

Cyrus just so happened to be on his way back from his first class of the day before he had that nice little chunk of time in the middle to relax and grade homework assignments. He'd get some tea--oh god, that endorphin tea that Rhys had given him that one time had become his life blood. He was drinking it everyday now. How stellar. So, oddly enough, Cyrus was in a bit of a rather cheerful mood as he settled down and got to work.

[wwistful]

Murdoc has been walking the halls with a spring in his step and a smile on his face. Students seem to be confused and a little scared by the enthusiasm of his greeting, especially considering how out of character it is for the professor.

When he happens upon Cyrus, he smiles warmly. Cyrus may be his ex, but there's no reason to hold grudges. They are co-workers in an amazing school on a lovely day. It's fantastic.

"Morning! Nice day for it."

[psiignlanguage]

Cyrus is just going to glance up from his work. He knows that voice. He really does. But good lord, is it ever chipper. And it's so uncharacteristically chipper that his blood chills for a moment. And when he looks up, and he sees Murdoc. Smiling. He nearly gasps. What on earth happened to him.

"Murdoc? Good heavens, are you alright?"

[wwistful]

Murdoc's smile falls for a moment and his blood chills, did he say something wrong? Has he got a horrible rash or something on his face? He didn't think he looked worried, his mouth was aching happily from smiling all day.

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for your concern."

[psiignlanguage]

"You're chipper."

And his expression is still that of absolute, total shock. What happened to the only man whom Cyrus considered to be more of a tight ass than he was? What did someone do to him.

"I'm not used to this side of you."

For Peter/Sybille, and Murdoc, at different times

[grandhighwizard]

It was hard to miss that conspiratorial grin exchanged in the Great Hall, so Rhys pulled his wand, ostensibly to summon the cream for his tea (which he never used). What he actually did was cast a little subtle magic that spelled out in both Peter and Sybille's breakfasts, WHAT DID YOU DO? naughty, naughty, with whatever food was still on their plates.




Later, the Potions professor just has to see what's been done to Murdoc, so he makes it his business to duck into the Dark Arts professor's classroom with a text tucked under one arm. "Donoghue?"

[wwistful]

Murdoc is at his desk, thoughtfully reading through one of many essays. He wonders why he set such a difficult task, but he's quite pleased with the results. Each essay has a small paragraph of purple print on it. Murdoc seems to have nothing but praise for his student. The top page reads Yet another interesting response. Your spelling is particularly imaginative! Good work.

When he hears the voice, he perks up and glances over. He's already smiling, but he begins to grin as he greets the other.

"Hello there!"

[grandhighwizard]

Oh, now this is interesting. Rhys smiles back, as usual looking as though he's thinking of a joke no one else would get. "Good morning, professor. You look in particularly good ... spirits. Did you get a good bag in the lucky dip? Expecting a baby?"

The taller man lets his eyes drop to Murdoc's stomach, then flick back up to his face with a look of polite expectation.

[wwistful]

Murdoc stares at Rhys for a moment, following his eyes to his own stomach and then back to the other man's face. He pauses for a moment before bursting into laughter. It certainly feels and sounds strange coming from the eternally grumpy man, but it feels fantastic.

He waves his hand in the air, dismissing the comment as a joke as he catches his breath.

"No, no! Not at all! That would be ridiculous. Silly man. It's just a nice day, isn't it?"

Murdoc smiles and tilts his head questioningly at Rhys. "How have you been?"

[grandhighwizard]

Rhys prowls towards the desk, intrigued by the laughter. He wonders if Murdoc ever manages that without the assistance of a spell. It's hard to imagine. "Oh, quite well. But then, I always am. But I'm curious - you don't usually find me very funny. I believe I've been accused of being nonsensical at times. What's the reason for the sudden good humor? or have you been drinking?"

[animalmagnetism]

Peter recognizes that charm. Clever one. He doesn't hesitate to use it right back, even if he feels a little...well. He hasn't forgotten what happened, even if it is pretty fuzzy. The bruises were proof enough. He will figure out a way to prove his worth to the older professor!

For the spell though, his answer is simple: It's for a good cause! We're saving him from the grumps!

[grandhighwizard]

The grumps. Who actually said that? Rhys looks amused - Peter is so young and ridiculously cheerful himself. It's an amusing contrast with the predatory side the Potions professor got to witness firsthand. He flicks his wand lightly, replying.

HOW NOBLE.
i'm sure he'll thank you later.

[animalmagnetism]

He laughs, not caring if people look at him funny for laughing at nothing visible to them.

He'll probably go apoplectic!
I wonder if I can threaten him with another round to get him to smile on his own?
Hmm! I'll need to investigate.

[doctorkishitani]

Shinra stays behind as Defense Against the Dark Arts draws to a close and his colleagues make their way out. He quickly moves to the front of the class as soon as the room is relatively clear and beams as he offers his professor a slight bow.

"Professor Donoghue! I had a question about the nature of the Aswang. I know that everything we've discussed in class and most of what I've read suggests that they're inherently evil, but I'm wondering if they may just be seen that way because they're usually signs of death. What are your thoughts on the matter, sir?"

[wwistful]

Murdoc greets Shinra with a nod of his head and an inviting smile. He gestures at a chair in front of his desk as he ponders the question. It's not often you find students who are willing to stay after class, particularly not with the intention of learning more.

"Ah, the Aswang. That's a fantastic question, Shinra. You are correct, of course. The Aswang is a creature that falls under the category of 'chaotic neutral'. Of course, in a society like ours, their behaviours are percieved as cruel and "wrong", but it is merely the life they have grown used to. Death, obviously, is unbiased. Aswangs, however, favour younger lives."

[doctorkishitani]

Shinra quickly takes the seat opposite Professor Donoghue and leans forward, eyes widening as he hangs on to his every word.

"So, it's something like a hybrid of a sentient being and a force of nature? I wondered if that was the case! And I have read that the Aswang usually favours the young, but I couldn't find out what it is about younger lives that appeals to them. Do you know? Do they need their victims to be at a specific hormonal state to obtain the right kind of sustenance?"

I keep reading it as Asswang and it's killing me

[wwistful]

Murdoc chuckles in amusement at the boy's enthusiasm, it's not often he gets a chance to ramble so freely to his students.

"There is a theory that it gives them an extended life span. Though it's possible it's just the flavour that they prefer, as disgusting as that sounds."