Shadow Event Log

[shnpc]

WHO: Everyone, affected and not
TONE: Ranging from paranoid to angry
RATING: PG to PG-13
WHEN: After the memorial on October 31st through November 2nd.
WHERE: Hogwarts
WHAT: Those who have passed too near to a certain goblet may find themselves haunted by whispers of their unconscious insecurities. From themselves.
STATUS: ONGOING
NOTE: Details for the event are here, feel free to use the log for the whole event

Comments

[edle_gestalt]

[Oh thank god he showed up, honestly. Thank. God. He flinches a bit at the touch of Arthur's hand, but ultimately it's a comfort.]

...Y-you see him. God. No one else is noticing -- he won't shut up. I've got no idea who he is, but look at him, he's -- [He directs his attention at his shadow.] ... Who the hell are you, and how did you get your hands on polyjuice potion? No one even knows this much about me, except maybe -- [He freezes for a moment, blood running cold, and he looks the shadow straight in the eye. Livid.] ... Elizaveta if that is you, so help me. This is not. Funny.

[The figure laughs.

How's this -- you never told anyone you still have that scar on your arse from when she stabbed you with a compass when you were toddlers, did you? Not even her. Is that proof enough? I'm you. But I'm still just a part of your mind - go on, touch me. I don't really exist.

Roderich hesitantly reaches out to poke the illusion in the shoulder, and his hands pass right through him. He shudders.

Though you must be close enough friends with Arthur here, if he can see me. That's nice. It's good to make lots, and lots of friends. They're handy to have around so that you can use them to your advantage if the need arises. Oh, no, it's not taking advantage, is it? No, never. Everyone's selfish. Might as well just admit that you are, too.

Roderich grits his teeth.] ...Get the hell away from me. No one invited you.

A-Arthur, you know you're my friend. I don't know what this thing is going on about.

[The look in his eyes is entirely sincere; he means it. Except that he does know, this projection of him is hitting on everything he's afraid of becoming.]

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur slowly sets his book down on the table as the other boy - which he recognises, strangely, as a heavily distorted mirror image of Roderich - speaks. He would have thought polyjuice potion, too, until he sees that the thing is quite incorporeal. A ghost, then? But no, even a ghost couldn't know that much about Roderich.

His eyes narrow slightly as he's referred to directly. He and the brunette have always had an odd kind of friendship, that's for sure, but they were most certainly friends. Slanting his gaze over, he nods once.]

I know I'm your friend.

[Lips pressed together, his mind slowly ticks over as he tries to think what might be causing this apparition. The castle playing tricks again? He wouldn't be surprised.

He picks up his book again, speaks quietly.]

Whatever it is, we shouldn't talk to it here or people might think we're going mad.

[edle_gestalt]

[Hah! They'd be right, at least.

Roderich takes a deep breath, at least slightly comforted that this isn't entirely in his own mind. Of course, that meant it was caused by something else, which... wasn't a comfort at all. He looks around at his surroundings, then resumes his feigned interest in his studies. He replies without lifting his gaze from the text, his speech as nonchalant as he can muster.]

Do you think we should tell a teacher... was just going to sleep it off but if you can see it too... makes me think I've been cursed.

[rule_britannia]

If you have, then so have I, and I don't know anyone who dislikes both of us that much.

[He keeps his own voice low, nonchalant, putting his back to the shadow and leaning against the edge of the table.]

But informing a professor doesn't sound like a terribly bad idea. The question is, who would be most likely to listen?

[edle_gestalt]

[Getting someone else to get you out of trouble -- how predictable.

Roderich rubs his temple.] Well for one, I've had a hell of a headache since last night, and I suspect it's related... wouldn't mind seeing the nurse...

[Again?! God, what is actually wrong with you? Most people can get through a day with something as minor as a headache.]

...I'd assume it's attached to me primarily, so if... you could maybe ask Professor Vantas if he's read about anything like this happening before? While I'm being taken care of.

[There you go again.]


...I'll ask Ms. Maryam, too, mind. Just -- be sure to mention that it knows everything about me. And... [The next bit is rather difficult to get out, and he frowns, looking away as he speaks under his breath.] ....knows what I'm afraid of.

[You forgot what you want. I know what you want.]

Oh, my God, just stop.

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur closes his eyes and pointedly doesn't listen to the whispering behind him, giving a small nod at each of the staff names mentioned. Professor Vantas, he knows, is something of a scatterbrain but he cares about the students and would want to help. As for Ms. Maryam.. the moment the nurse caught wind of anything like this happening she'd turn the school upside-down for a solution.

All in all, both good choices.]

Of course. I'd be happy to speak to Professor Vantas.

[He glances back over his shoulder. No, Arthur, don't talk to it, don't talk to it.]

... What do you mean? What does he want?

[edle_gestalt]

Thank you...

[Arthur, you don't have to hide your annoyance by saying you're happy to do that for him. All he does is order people around, and he knows it. Any stronger person would be perfectly capable of talking to both of them himself. It is his problem, after all, and he should take care of it himself. But he doesn't. You go ahead and let him be a child.

The shadow grins. Ah, you're curious?]

Stop it. Now.

[Well, we'll start gently. He's more interested in muggle music - you know how much he's gone on about how using magical aid for composing is cheating. At least he's held himself to that, but isn't it just an excuse for him to use for being slow? Ah, but that's besides the point. He wants to make his career there and is too cowardly to tell his mother because she's dead set on him staying in the wizarding world. That's one. The other thing he wants is Eliza. And the irony is that it's a setup from his mother anyway to restore blood purity from her mistake of having him! But look at him, you'd never know how often he thinks about getting under that girl's skirt...

Were he a Gryffindor, the color of his cheeks might match the red of his tie. Without much warning, there's Roderich's heavy book in the air, having been thrown out of instinctual anger, forgetting that the figure is insubstantial. The book passes through the shadow's head and flops to the ground, after barely missing Arthur's shoulder. And the figure only laughs.

Roderich looks at Arthur, eyes wide with fury and desperation, speaking through his teeth.] If you dare. Say a word of that. To anyone.

I swear to God I am not giving in to her plan on this, I'm not going to let her control my life--!

[rule_britannia]

[Apparently the shadow knows much less about him than it does about Roderich. He's not annoyed about being asked to help, despite knowing very well that his friend could speak to both members of staff himself, but more ground could be covered far more quickly with two people, and it would bring a quicker end to this if they worked together. Teamwork might not have been the first thing that people thought of when they thought of Slytherin but Arthur wasn't stupid, he knew such things had their benefits.

He listens silently as the shadow continues to speak. Some of what he hears he knows, some he doesn't, but very little of it comes as a surprise to him, save for the last of it. But then, Roderich was a teenager, so why shouldn't he feel that way towards a girl, even if he never spoke of it? It isn't something that Arthur is going to judge him on, in any case.

When the book goes sailing past him, he slants his gaze over to the other boy, one eyebrow faintly quirked.]

I do hope that wasn't a threat.

[He speaks softly, moving to pick up the book, giving a quick glance around for any irate librarians. Only when he's placed it down on the table does he speak again.]

Go and speak to Ms. Maryam. I will see Professor Vantas. In the meantime.. do try to ignore this.. thing. Throwing books across rooms doesn't suit you.

[edle_gestalt]

[Roderich is... relieved, at least, to see that Arthur isn't commenting on any of this.] ... I don't feel there needs to be a threat.

[There's sweat on his brow and he looks to be in dire need of rest.] I... I know it doesn't, I'm... sorry. I'm just -- terrified of who else can hear this. I don't want to parade it around for all to hear.

[Coward.]

...I'll go, I'll go.

[He gathers his books, on his way to find Ms. Maryam.

Quietly:] Thank you.

[rule_britannia]

[He might comment on it later, when everything is resolved, but not yet. Arthur nods once, and as Roderich passes him, grips the boy's shoulder, speaking quietly in response.]

You're welcome.

[A small smile.]

And don't panic. I have your back on this, Roderich. We're friends, alright?

[edle_gestalt]

[He pauses, nodding. The grip on his shoulder was a bit of a shock, with him being finally set on getting help. But the words that followed were a huge comfort to him, and really all he wanted to hear at the moment, even if he didn't realize it himself.

The shadow laughs. Such a sentimental little twerp, no matter how you try to hide it. Roderich rolls his eyes; it's the one comment from the thing that's almost made him laugh.]

I know we are.

[And with that, he heads off.]