Arcade Area

[Felixir]

As you continue along the second-floor corridor, you will eventually stumble upon a bust of a medieval wizard who is quietly muttering to himself in Latin. But it is the antechamber near this statue that draws in a lot of students because over the years this spot has been designated as a popular hang-out area. More often than not, those who need a break from schoolwork come here to play an array of indoor wizarding games.

Scattered around this small room are chess boards, decks of Exploding Snap cards, areas for playing Gobstones, and other wizarding games ranging from Snitch Snatcher to Wizard Cracker Pop-It to Wizard Skittles. If none of these games interest you, there is a small table where Runok Ko and Rune Riddle books can be found. Otherwise, you can go check out the suit of armour that stands off to the side -- maybe you will figure out that it is guarding a passage to a secret storeroom -- or, if you feel there's more of the castle for you to explore, take the stairway that leads up to the third floor.

[Chelliephone]

The words 'ARCADE ROOM' had certainly given her a very different image than what Vera found when she strode in. She'd been thinking like... a muggle one, with skeeball and the giant dance machine and maybe even some car races! But that was NOT what she found, and she was a little bit disappointed. Especially as the first thing her eyes landed on was some of the more educational / brain teaser type games. Did anyone actually ENJOY those? They just made her head hurt.

BUT she couldn't just abandon the room, because she'd asked every person in the blue colored robes (and maybe some yellow and green too because she couldn't entirely remember Vasco's house colors) to have her brother meet her HERE. He thought she wouldn't be able to be as annoying from a distance? She certainly found her ways. Which included making potentially everyone try to speak to her brother.

At least the people who didn't ignore the small first year anyways.

Walking further into the room, V looked at a couple of wizards chess boards and a some exploding snaps. The gobstones drew her attention and she wondered if she could time it right to send one towards the door as her brother came in. It was worth a shot, as she sat down with one in her hand and aimed it towards the doorway. She wasn't sure if it would work since she technically wasn't winning a point buttttt... worth a shot.

Where were you, brother dearest?

[Kolyander]

His sister was more annoying than melted chocolate. The kind that was left in the sun somewhere way to long and was now all gross and stuck inside the wrapper. It was warm and messy and nearly impossible to eat but you tried anyway, simply because it was chocolate. That was Vera. On a good day.

He had gotten her message. A million times over he had gotten it. From older students and ones in his year, mostly from ones in his house colors but even from a few in other houses. How in Merlin's melted chocolate did they all even know who he was?! As a small little firstie shouldn't he be unknown to nearly everyone?

So in order to pay Vera back for being her usual annoying self, what did he do? Vasco took he sweet sweet time in making his way to this arcade room. And when he finally did get there... he was more than a little disappointed. She disrupted his peace and quiet for this?

Standing there in the doorway, arms folded across his chest, the eleven year old huffed in frustration to announce his arrival. Nothing more, nothing less. He wasn't at all pleased, Vera. At least not yet.

[Chelliephone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

His sister was more annoying than melted chocolate. The kind that was left in the sun somewhere way to long and was now all gross and stuck inside the wrapper. It was warm and messy and nearly impossible to eat but you tried anyway, simply because it was chocolate. That was Vera. On a good day.

He had gotten her message. A million times over he had gotten it. From older students and ones in his year, mostly from ones in his house colors but even from a few in other houses. How in Merlin's melted chocolate did they all even know who he was?! As a small little firstie shouldn't he be unknown to nearly everyone?

So in order to pay Vera back for being her usual annoying self, what did he do? Vasco took he sweet sweet time in making his way to this arcade room. And when he finally did get there... he was more than a little disappointed. She disrupted his peace and quiet for this?

Standing there in the doorway, arms folded across his chest, the eleven year old huffed in frustration to announce his arrival. Nothing more, nothing less. He wasn't at all pleased, Vera. At least not yet.

In truth, while Vasco SHOULD have been unknown as such a new student, what had certainly helped was the photo she had of him that she had showed to EVERYONE. It was probably hard to distinguish his features exactly underneath all the chocolate that had been on his face in it, but it should have still been enough to make him recognizable. Hopefully. She hadn't really considered no one being able to tell the similarities and then not get the message to him.

Except with how LONG it was taking for him to actually SHOW UP, she was beginning to wonder. Clearly she was the better looking and more memorable twin, but at least one person should have been able to find Birdbrain!

After what felt like EONS, FINALLY she could hear the door open, and the girl wiggled from her spot stretched across the ground with a gobstone lined up towards the doorway. She waited a minute until she could juuuust see him from under the table she'd established as her hide away, glad he was here when she was about to have given up because laying here was boring. "Hi Birdbrain!" She called out, just as she flicked the stone towards his direction.

She still didn't know if it would work, but how satisfying it would be if it did.

[Kolyander]

If Vas had known what Vera had done to ensure that those she had asked would know whom he was, he would have had a literal freak out. Luckily, the young boy, did not. He was completely unaware of most of his sisters antics.

Having his noise canceling headphones on as he normally did whenever he knew he would be around Vera, he simply rolled his eyes when the nickname reached his ears. It was almost as annoying as she was. Almost but not quite. When was she going to come up with something better?

Hazel eyes moved about the room to locate where she was hiding at the very same time he just so happened to take a step into the room. The same exact time that a gobstone came rolling straight into his path and under his foot. His foot went straight out in front of him and before he could even realize what was happening, he was flat on his back staring up at the ceiling. Yeah, he had gone down.. hard.

Vera was going to pay.

[Chelliephone]

It was probably the saving grace of Vasco's slim sliver of sanity that he did not know just how obnoxious all of his sister's actions were. He knew SHE was obnoxious, naturally, but at least there was some mystery in her actions themselves. The specifics, anyways.

Vera wasn't actually sure why Vasco tried wearing head phones, because truthfully they were just an invitation for her to try even HARDER to be loud. Which now that they were at boarding school full time, he really should have taken pity on those around them and let her annoy JUST him. Maybe she should figure out some type of vanishing spell to make the head phones go away every time she saw him. Now that certainly would have worked well to push his buttons quickly.

It might work even better than the wayward gobstone just had.

Vera had ... not anticipated the fall, and yet it was almost better than she expected. While the girl should have been somewhat remorseful, there wasn't a hint of that in her face as she rolled on the ground, guffawing at how silly her brother looked. "Could you get any clumsier, Vasco!?" She teased, before lowering her laugh to a chuckle as she army crawled from her hiding spot in order to go peer down at him. "I had been hoping it was going to spray in your face. But this might be better."

[Kolyander]

No attempts at all were made to get up off of the floor. None. At all. He was just going to lay right here on his back until the floor opened up and swallowed him whole. This was bloody ridiculous. And she wondered why he didn't want to show up when she sent people looking for him.. well this was why. Stupid things like this. Messing with one another this way was natural for them but this was different, this was where others could have seen. She had really stepped things up so now it was.. Game On.

"What do you want, Vera?" Vasco's voice was calm and steady when he finally did sit up slowly, eyeing her as she looked down at him. He was half tempted to tug her right down onto the floor with him but that would've been much too easy. Oh, no.. what she had coming to her was going to be so much better.

[Chelliephone]

Had she broken him?? It was noted that Vasco was making no movement to get up off the floor, so when she had gotten close enough and moved herself to a seated position on the ground, Vera poked at his arm. He was talking, so he was alive, but did she accidentally make him BREAK something? That would be unfortunate given she had no idea how to get him to a Healer. PLUS she loathed the idea of potentially getting a Howler from Papa SO early into the term.

The question of what did she want took her by surprise and she had to think for a minute trying to remember if there had been anything specific. Nothing was popping to mind though. "I think I just missed you. What's your house like? Do you like your common room? Are your dorm mates NICE?"

[Kolyander]

Oh, well if she was going to sit down...

Vasco returned to his laying position, only this time he placed his head on his sisters lap. If she was going to be annoying, then so was he. The fall hadn't hurt him at all but she didn't know that and if need be, he was going to use that to his advantage.

Wait. What was this, though? Slightly caught off guard by Vera's confession, Vas could only stare up at her and blink for a full minute. There were no words. She had missed him. Now that was something he didn't hear everyday. "Can I get that in writing? Proof that you don't always hate me?" He smirked at her teasingly before giving a shrug of his shoulders at her question. "I don't despise them all as of yet?" So that was somewhat of a plus, right?

[Chelliephone]

If he was laying back down maybe she HAD broken him!? Vera leaned over before smoooooooshing his cheeks with her hands and eyeing him. "Did you DIE?" She knew wizarding school was dangerous, but she hadn't meant to be the ACTUAL danger!!

He must have been fine he if was still teasing her and poking fun as well, so she just dramatically eyerolled. "I never put anything in writing ever!! It's too easy for evidence. That's why I don't keep a diary." Imagine the POWER such an item would give someone! "Also, who said I hate you ever?? You're my twin brother. I annoy you because it's my JOB and I love you." Duh. Was that not the most obvious thing in the world? Despite how annoying she aimed to be, she didn't want her brother to think there wasn't affection behind it! however, she DID want other people to think there wasn't. Who was opening about enjoying being around their siblings!? Gross. The fact he was teasing her had clearly gone unnoticed.

Didn't despise all of him? That was good, but one word was catching her attention in there and she wanted the TEA. "Wait, you said all. Is there some you DO despise?" She liked her dorm mates! But clearly Sia was her most favorite and Dot right behind.

[Kolyander]

Darn! There went a great missed opportunity to teach Vera a lesson. If it would've even worked. Girl was more stubborn than a mule. At her question there was only one thing Vasco could do. The Ravenclaw kept his eyes shut and stuck his tongue out the corner of his mouth. Yup, he was gonna act all pathetic and dramatic like. Kinda how she acted most of the time.

Ugh! See?! Stubborn and ridiculous. What evidence was he asking for? That she didn't completely hate him? So what. He would admit that to anyone. Without having to write it down. She on the other hand was being as childish as ever. "Sure, right. I'll be sure to keep that in mind whenever you want something." Not all twins acted like jerks to one another, he had seen proof of that already in just the short time they had been here. But he would let her continue thinking what she wanted, whatever helped her sleep at night.

Vasco lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. "Maybe, maybe not." Truth was he didn't even know them very well and it didn't even both him that he didn't.

[Chelliephone]

If only she had a canary cream or something to pop into his mouth with him leaving it partly open! She sighed at the miss opportunity, instead just continuing to poke his cheek with her index finger. "Is this a ploy to make me drag you aaaaaall the way up to the Hospital Wing? Because that sounds more uncomfortable for you than for me. Imagine all those stairs!" His head would go kathunk, kathunk, kathunk on each step. She didn't know wingardium leviosa well enough to take him that way.

She beamed at his response, giving a small giggle. The nice thing for her was they BOTH knew Vasco was the nicer twin. She wouldn't blame him (logically) if he withheld help, but she was also willing to bet on the fact that he probably wouldn't. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say!" Twins that were nice to each other were no FUN. A twin had to forgive you no matter what right?? So why not use them for prank practice! Besides, she saved the generally non-harmful ones for Vas. Generally. Today was clearly an off day.

Cue another sigh, louder and more dramatic this time. "Have you even TRIED to talk to your dorm mates?"

[Kolyander]

If he were no longer alive it wouldn't matter to him how she got him around the castle. However, he was very much alive and well. Slowly he opened his eyes to look up at her, swatting the offending hand away from his face. "Wouldn't it be easier to go and get someone than waste all that energy dragging me around?" Girl really needed to use her brain sometimes.

Vasco smirked at her. If she really thought he was going to forget about this, forget about everything she does to him, he wasn't. Just because they were twins it didn't mean he was her practicing pin cushion. It was okay though, payback was going to be sweet. She wasn't going to know what hit her.

"No, why would I do that? I plan on going all seven years without talking to a single guy in my dorm." Cue his turn to roll his eyes at her now.

[Chelliephone]

Oh good, he was fine. And clearly still had the energy to be a brat if he was swatting her hand away. She used her other hand to poke his stomach once for good measure, but exaggeratingly rolling her eyes at his question. "Well, obviously it would be easier to do so. But I can't just LEAVE you!" That would be an awful thing to do!

In truth, she loved when Vasco retaliated even if he was frustratingly better at it than her. The chaotic war between the two of them was fun, and besides her high levels of annoying were all done anyways with the intent of keeping him from having too much time to be sad. When mama died, it felt like Vasco remembered more - felt more. Vera's memory was similar to a gold fish, but she knew she didn't want her brother to be sad. Chaotic and annoyed with her was a far better mental state to live in.

Plus, this was so much fun for her.

The thing was..... she truly didn't think he was kidding. Vera's blinked at him. And blinked. And blinked some more. How was he the most antisocial person ever!? "I... what." Truly, she didn't even know what to say to this.

[Kolyander]

The stomach poke earned her a small glare and a swat. Cause now she was just being extra annoying and he knew it. Sisters! "Why not? If I'm dead it's not I would know or care. Be smart here with your answer dear sister. Cause if anything ever happened to this boy, he would be haunting you for all he was worth for all the rest of her days.

Vasco was totally unaware of what his sisters reasons were for why she did the things she did.. BUT maybe, just maybe.. If he did know, he would understand a little better. And sure he did get sad about their mum's passing but that was YEARS ago now. Years. He was okay now.

Score! The confusion he had just caused Vera was priceless and he was going to leave it that way. "Hm?"Not a grin or smirk on his face to give away anything.

[Chelliephone]

In Scooter's defense, Vera wasn't entirely sure the level of annoying she achieved on a daily was so much a 'sister' thing as it was a 'Vera' thing. Another eyerooooooll. "YOU might not care! But I would! And one of the first things going through my mind would be 'Wait until my father hears about this'! Should I tell him you were gone AND that I just ABANDONED you?"Um, she thought not, sir.

Telling him though would just require her getting mushy. And also showing how much she CARED. And the best offense was defense by making sure he and everyone thought she was incapable of being anything but energy. This was such a fun way to live too. 10/10 would recommend.

"Why... would you not want to talk to anyone? At ALL?" Especially when they all had to live together for seven whole years. That was like... a lot of time. That was only 4 years less than their entire LIFE.

[Kolyander]

If he had to be honest, he would have no trouble in saying that Vesper wasn't all that bad. Most of the time she wasn't annoying at all. In fact his youngest sister was rather adorable and he missed her a whole lot. Vera on the other hand.. maybe if she weren't so loud all of the time. Vasco scuffed at this answer. "Is that all you'd be worried about? What papa would think? Not how it would've been all your fault and how much you would miss me?" Who was smirking, most definitely not him right now.

"See now that's a very simple answer. So I don't have to deal with all of the dramatics and questions. If I don't talk to anyone then I don't get bothered." Not everyone was like her. Most people got the point that when someone wasn't talking back to them, that usually meant they didn't want to be bothered. This was all a lie though, a joke if you will. He did talk to his dorm mates and for the most part they were fairly decent. Not at all Logan but they were.. okay.

Could they move on to more important matters now? Like why he was even here in this room in the first place?

[Chelliephone]

Scoot WAS the cutest, and Vera would have agreed on missing her a whole lot. She'd have to wait aaaaall the way until winter break in order to actually get to see her little sister, and that was SAD. But most of the time, she tried to just not think about that. Or how much she missed Papa. And when she missed the rest of the Thanatos' a whole lot, at least there was still Vas. In order to be able to NOT admit how much she would in fact miss her brother, she chose instead to focus on the question of it being HER fault. That was much easier. "MY fault?? Why is it my fault??? I only assume responsibility if I didn't do everything I possibly could to get you to the hospital wing!" Otherwise, she was relieving herself of the burden entirely. You're welcome, self.

...... "But then wouldn't you be lonely?" Dramatics and being bothered could be FUN. Between herself and her dorm mates, there was essentially NEVER a quiet moment in the Gryffindor First year Girls Dorm. JUST the way she liked it, really!

Truthfully... she wouldn't have even remembered. Pretty sure though she had just missed him.

[Kolyander]

If it wasn't for Vera claiming she had done nothing at all wrong, Vasco may very well have crumbled just a little bit right then. Sometimes the weight of missing his family became too much to handle. Not that he was going to say anything about that. "Yes, you're fault. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have fallen in the first place." Therefore it was entirely her fault. She could try to work her way out of it all she wanted.

"No." Yes. "Have you never stopped for a second to consider that maybe that's what I want? To be alone. To have a moments of peace and quiet all to myself." He would bet anything that she never had because that was the Vera way. To just assume that everyone else was like her. Well they weren't dear sister. Not everyone like constant noise.