Second Floor: Arcade Area

[Wilber Winterbottom]

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.

[Zoe]

Did the bust on the second-floor corridor make any sense? Not one bit. Did it make sense for Logan to be in this part of the castle right now? That also was a no. Would he rather be studying instead of enjoying the games that the antechamber had to offer? Absolutely not!

It probably would have been wise for him to be studying; however, the blond was not at all fussed about cracking open this year's textbooks and spending hours pouring over its contents. NEWTs were ages away. He had plenty of time to worry about those exams, which meant that the present time should be spent enjoying his final year. There were loads he had to explore and much mischief to get himself into still. Plus a couple games to preoccupy his time wouldn't do any harm. The schoolwork could wait.

"Mate, no one can understand you." The words were said over his shoulder, directed toward the muttering bust, as he grabbed a drawstring pouch containing Gobstones.

[Chelliephone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoe

Did the bust on the second-floor corridor make any sense? Not one bit. Did it make sense for Logan to be in this part of the castle right now? That also was a no. Would he rather be studying instead of enjoying the games that the antechamber had to offer? Absolutely not!

It probably would have been wise for him to be studying; however, the blond was not at all fussed about cracking open this year's textbooks and spending hours pouring over its contents. NEWTs were ages away. He had plenty of time to worry about those exams, which meant that the present time should be spent enjoying his final year. There were loads he had to explore and much mischief to get himself into still. Plus a couple games to preoccupy his time wouldn't do any harm. The schoolwork could wait.

"Mate, no one can understand you." The words were said over his shoulder, directed toward the muttering bust, as he grabbed a drawstring pouch containing Gobstones.

The arcade room had been one of her and Vasco's favorite spots in the castle in their first year, which was perhaps why when she'd left the duel training arena from practicing for a bit, Ve found her feet leading her towards the room on the second floor instead of going up back to the common room. Or perhaps it was just the subconscious draw of her favorite person, considering as she pushed open the door to enter the room she was pleasantly surprised by the familiar voice accompanying that of the gibberish (listen she never paid attention to Latin) of the bust.

Ve gave a small laugh at his admonishing the bust before patting it's head as she passed to work further in. "Chatter away, my friend. He's just probably hungry."

Because when wasn't he hungry?

Grinning at Logan, Ve made her way over towards her boyfriend, eying the selected game items in his hands. "Fancy a match?" She was missing Gobstones already, though she couldn't complain about how well her seasons had gone. She still hasn't fully given up on the idea of going pro, and she had had at least one positive conversation with a scout.... And yet.

At least that was tomorrow's problem. Or, more likely, months away problem.

[Zoe]

The small laugh and the commentary in response to his words toward the bust instantly captured his attention. Logan rolled his eyes before a playful grin grew on his face and he gazed upon his girlfriend. Was he hungry? Naturally, but he could wait... unless...

"Haven't any treats on you, no?" he asked, going along with what she had suggested to the bust, as she approached him. Again, he wasn't dying of hunger or anything, but a boy like him could always eat, anytime, anywhere. He could even indulge while playing a match of Gobstones, which, as it happened, now could be a proper game now that the room had the two of them occupying it.

"Only if you go easy on me," he replied, giving her his most adorable have-pity-on-me face. She was the one who could go pro if she wanted to, after all.

[Chelliephone]

At the question, Vera couldn't help but put her hands on her hips, eying him before giving her own exaggerated eye roll. "Do I have any treats. Do you even know me?" her words turned more playful as she dropped her hands in order to reach into her bag, rummaging around before coming up victorious with a wrapped chocolate. She threw it his way. "As a chocolatiers daughter and budding chocolatiers sister, 'fraid all I have is sweets."

Though eating and gobstoning was generally unadvisable in her book. An ill timed Gobstone explosion while one had an open mouth for a snack could ruin an entire day. But she'd let him learn that lesson for himself if he wanted to snack and play. That's what a good girlfriend would do, right?

Truly he WAS adorable and if she weren't so competitive, the face might have worked on her. But instead she just grinned back at him as she moved closer. "I suppose it depends how nice you are to me. I couldn't go easy on you for nothing." A professional career was something that shockingly could have been in her grasp, especially with how well the Firecrabs did in her time there. But... She still just wasn't sure yet if that would be her future. She had sometime still, and she'd be utilizing Raju's advice too for the competitive sports world and if it was right for her. Something, she reminded herself, to speak with him about over Christmas.

[Zoe]

The blond knew the answer to his initial question even before Vera spoke. Of course she would have chocolate in her possession. Access to it was one of the many perks that he had. But that wasn't going to stop him from joking around. It was more fun that way, to be so lighthearted.

"Who are you again?" he asked, allowing a dumbfounded look to appear on his face for a moment before the grin returned. Logan accepted the chocolate that had been thrown his way with glee. "No complaints here." The words were added with a wink as he fiddled with the wrapper. "But there's certainly loads more than just your sweets that I enjoy."

His mouth opened as if he were gasping. "When am I ever not nice to you?" the boy asked, feigning offense. And since his mouth was already opened, he popped a bit of chocolate inside his mouth. Mmm. "Would you like to make the first move?"

[Chelliephone]

She would have imagined he did know the answer already, and that the question was more of his polite way of asking if he could have any. Which of course, the answer was always yes. Papa was excellent about always including extras probably for the sole purpose of knowing she, and Vasco for that matter, would be sharing with Logan. A trait she appreciated, among many others, about her father.

At the teasing question, Vera feigned offense before heaving a dramatic sigh. "Unattached, apparently, if my existence has escaped your memory entirely. I suppose I'll have to charm you all over again." What had it been that worked before? Annoyance until he'd accepted it as attraction instead? Could that even be replicated? Moving closer towards him, Vera fished a few extras from her bag as well, offering them outwards towards him. There was no way only one snack would be satisfactory for him. At the hint of a compliment, her smile turned into more of a smirk as she fished further. "Oh? And what else is it that you enjoy about me?"

His look was so well done she couldn't help the slight giggle that escaped, though Vera quickly covered her mouth to stifle any others. "Any time we embark on a competitive endeavor, generally." Which was her preference - far more healthy for their relationship.

[Zoe]

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, come on now, you know you're unforgettable. I was just checking if you were paying attention." Clearly. The blond winked before more chocolate was offered to him, which he accepted with enthusiasm. "Thank you, mi'ady," he said with a flourish, pretending to bow. "And charm me all over again, you say? Well, I suppose I wouldn't mind being charmed by you on a daily basis."

When she asked what else he enjoyed about her, Logan's expression turned thoughtful. "Well, let's see... there's your wit, your smile, your citrus perfume, your competitive spirit. The way you can destroy me at Gobstones and still make me feel like a winner. But we all know that I'm only into you for the sweets." He gave her a playful nudge as he unwrapped another piece of chocolate.

With a mischievous glint, Logan took a moment to savor another bite of chocolate before gesturing towards the Gobstones set. "Shall we then?"

[Chelliephone]

The fake frown was immediately discarded, especially when he was truly being so sweet this particular occasion. "You have a good point there." Sometimes her 'unforgettable' was not complimentary for some people, but Vera Thanatos did tend to at least make an impression. "I'm always paying attention when it's you." Which was probably the truest statement she had said thus far in this interaction. She was, and had been for years, very aware of her favorite male Gryffindor. Speaking of charm, it seemed he was the one with some to spare of that this evening. The theatrics brought a giggle from the back of her throat, as she shook her head fondly. "You know, I don't think I would mind trying to charm you every day either. Though I realize I still don't know exactly what it was that managed to nab your attention the first time. Perhaps it's time you tell me the moment you realized you liked me? Just in case I ever have to coax you into doing so again."

Truthfully, she hadn't expected a genuine answer from him - so she was thoroughly taken aback when he appeared to be truly considering her question, before giving her an honest answer. Even the ending playfulness wasn't enough to compel dispel the fact he'd managed to make her rather soft. Sidling up a little closer to him, she looped her arm through his for a moment of physical affection (which might have interrupted his chocolate eating but she hadn't been considering that). "Well, I suppose with an answer like that you've fully met the requirements of being nice to me." Her face was a bit red too, but that didn't particularly bother her. "I'll make sure to not let it all go to my head though and continuing to supply chocolates, since it's the winning factor."

When he gestured towards the Gobstones set, she gave a nod before releasing the momentary hold on him and moving over to the gobstones ring. Picking one of the sets of 15 for herself, she grabbed a shooter gob, putting her knuckles down against the table and flicking the gobstone into the middle. Her shooter didn't knock anything out of the ring this turn, but she did manage to brush against one of her own which moved it slightly away from the others, which would make other shots easier later. Even if that one she'd moved was also in a bit of a sacrificial spot. "Your move, lov-Logan." She didn't often use terms of endearment, and the one that she'd almost let out left her a little red again in the face, though she busied herself with putting her hair up so as to not draw notice to it.

[Zoe]

Her genuine curiosity about their relationship's beginnings touched him. "Well, you see, it was a crisp autumn day, and you were wearing this ridiculous hat..." he began with a playful glint in his eye, intending to tease her a bit before giving a more genuine answer about the moments they shared that made him realise his feelings. "It wasn't one particular moment, you know? It was more like... a series of moments spent with you. So I guess you could say I've liked you for a long time."

Logan couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through him at Vera's words and her gesture of looping her arm through his. Her genuine curiosity about their relationship's beginnings touched him, and he found himself reminiscing for a moment before focusing on the present. He gladly welcomed the physical closeness, unable to resist a gentle squeeze, momentarily forgetting about the chocolate in his hand.

As she made her move in the Gobstones game, the blond watched intently, impressed by her technique. He had heard the term of endearment that almost had slipped out, which did cause a grin to play at his lips. To divert himself from pointing it out, he commended, "Not bad, not bad at all." Reaching for his shooter gob, he carefully assessed the board before making his move. With a flick of his wrist, he aimed for a strategic spot slightly off-centre, sending it spinning into the ring. His shot didn't have quite the finesse of Vera's, but it managed to scatter a few stones within the ring.