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DaniDiNardo · #1 (**permalink**) 12-15-2018, 09:10 AM

When not being used for some of your Defense lessons, the duelling arena is available for those who want to get in a bit of extra training. There are several dummies available for you to have a go at, as well as a bookshelf to the far corner filled with resources should you decide to get in a bit of extra study.

No need to worry about breaking the dummies, they can withstand most things and have been charmed to repair themselves as needed. If you've got more serious spells to practice, use it on them and not your schoolmates. The Healer has a lot of work to do without dealing with injuries that could easily be avoided and reckless behaviour that leads to serious injury will be met with severe consequence, even if your partner was foolhardy enough to agree to it in the first place.

The only thing I ask is that you return the room to its previous state. The dummies will take care of themselves but any other messes I expect you to clean before you go.

To ensure some level of accountability, you will be required to tap your wand against the open page of the log book on the way in and then again on your way out. It will make the necessary notes on who used the room and when.

Note you won't be able to enter the room unless you tap your wand against the book by the door and I don't suggest trying to tinker with the charms. It might hurt a little more than you were expecting it to and all so you can avoid a little clean up? Nah. Not worth it, trust me.

Felixir · 01-14-2021, 05:38 AM

That afternoon found Nem over at the Duelling Arena once again, and once again it was in order to meet with the Big Man, now displaying his (presumably) rightful face. A marked improvement, incidentally, but not the reason Nem had asked to see him.

Arriving no more than two minutes before the agreed-upon time, Nem let themselves into the Duelling Arena, drawing their wand and unconcernedly tapping it on the book at the entrance as they went, and letting the door fall shut behind them. Once inside, they stood silently and waited for the Big Man, hands behind their back, wand still held in their left. Silently, unblinkingly, Nem stared at one of the practice dummies, apparently deep in thought.

**Lucien Rosier** · 01-15-2021, 04:54 PM

Two minutes later, right on time, Lucien let himself into the duelling arena. Typically, the man grew agitated at the request for students to meet with him. They were frivolous creatures who seldom had a good reason. However, he was willing to make an exception for the only student in the entire castle worth the wood his wand was carved out of.

"Upstead." As much of a greeting as the student ever got as he tapped his wand once on the book himself.

Rosier moved further into the arena, sparing the dummies only the briefest glances. When he got within 5 steps of Upstead, he stopped.

Well?

Felixir · 01-16-2021, 04:41 AM

When the door opened again, Nem half-turned towards it and was satisfied to see the Big Man and his face enter. They hadn't expected he would show up late, but it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that he wouldn't show up at all. Busy man, and everything.

"Headmaster Rosier."

Fortunately, Nem saw no reason not to cut right to the chase. No need to discuss anything related to this revealed identity; the dynamic here had essentially remained the same, except now the pretences had been more or less dropped.

"I had intended to ask about more of those extra lessons, sir, but I figure you might be too busy these days." Hustling in the dawn of a new era, and all. Unless...? Nem wouldn't say no, you know? But that was not what they had arranged to come here and say. "Mostly, I was wondering if I could join you. The Neo-Alliance, I mean."

**Lucien Rosier** · 01-17-2021, 07:00 PM

...

.....

"Huh."

Lucien had always known this one was full of promise, but he never imagined Upstead would want to so freely take the leap. Many of the students were acting as if this was the worst thing that could ever happen to wizarding-kind. Of course, Upstead had never been like the other students.

It was a blessing.

Rather than a response, Lucien offered his own statement. "This is serious business." He fixed them with a proper look, trying to ensure they understood. "We're not playing at war, there may actually be one. It will require sacrifices. Things that may have you viewed in poor light among your peers."

Felixir · 01-19-2021, 03:06 AM

Oh yes, Nem thought they might have known from the start, just how serious this business was, which - judging by the first day or so of term - they could not say for most students here. But they didn't think they needed to remind the Big Man about that.

"I understand, sir. The way I see it, you said you hoped some of us would join you, so there doesn't seem to be much point in waiting if I'm already willing. What sacrifice would matter in the grand scheme of things? There's nothing I care enough about." Nem still hadn't moved from the way they had been standing when the Big Man entered, and when they did so now, it was only to shift their wait onto their other foot. "I did have an idea about how I could help, if you're willing to hear it, but the answer won't change anything for me."

**Lucien Rosier** · 01-20-2021, 07:14 PM

He smiled, not necessarily a wide one, or even an exuberant one, but it was a smile all the same. Upstead was saying the right things and Lucien found himself nodding. “Alright. I think you know enough to know how serious “serious” gets.” He had facilitated training for them just last term.

If they wanted to join, they meant it.

“You have my attention.” Better hurry before muggle eradication came calling.

Felixir · 01-21-2021, 01:15 AM

What was that? A rare smile from the Big Man. Small though it was, Nem saw it as all the necessary confirmation that they were on the right track. A good sign. With minimal effort too, no lies required, not that they expected that would have got them very far.

Nem only nodded to start with; there was no point digging any deeper into that, they were both on the same page. So then. "I just wondered if it would be of any use to you for me to listen out for any signs of... rebellion. I could try to convince others to join or just not resist, or I could sabotage. And if they suspect I'm with you, I could just say it's a bluff. Did it to stay safe, or get information. Plenty of options." But the Big Man, Rosier, he'd be the one to know the truth. He'd proven he could sniff out liars.

"I understand it's risky, though, all that uncertain allegiance stuff. Maybe unnecessary, I don't know." It was true that Nem was not privy to those plans, was currently operating on simple deductions and guesswork. "So, regardless, I want in."

**Lucien Rosier** · 01-24-2021, 11:28 PM

Lucien was silent a moment, weighing the option of having Upstead play turncoat. Kid wasn’t exactly “in” with their peers. Wasn’t known for comfort and was likely not the first they would run to with talks of rebellion. The Slytherin would need to exercise some of that cunning and get where they needed to be at all the right times.

“Both are acceptable.” He decided. “This isn’t a game. I intend to hold you to the offer.” When you chose to swim with the adults, you could not expect to keep your floatation device.

“I expect intel, I expect updates, I expect progress. I’m not the sort of man to be disappointed, nor am I the sort to wave off youthful zeal when incompetence rears its ugly head.”

He turned to face the student. “I’ll ask once more, are you sure?”

Felixir · 01-25-2021, 05:44 AM

Perhaps it was confidence in their abilities, perhaps it was arrogance, or perhaps those would always just be two sides of the same coin, but Nem was not worried about the possibility of failing. They held a similar principle to the one they'd already mentioned, about sacrifice. Nothing to lose, nothing they cared about. If Nem had even entertained the idea of failing, they still would not have believed any consequence could hurt them, or touch them. Maybe it would have been true, their greatest strength. Maybe it would have a catastrophic oversight, a fatal flaw.

But 'maybes' and 'would haves' were not important, and not relevant. Not to Nem. They did not think about failing, and so none of this entered their head in that moment.

They waited until he was done before speaking up again. "I'll hold to it, sir." The reply was firm, unambiguous. Intel, updates, progress. Nothing beyond Nem's capabilities there. "I won't be making excuses, because I won't fail. In fact... maybe if one of your Inquisitorial Hoods got me with a Crucio or something similar, in class, with witnesses, that could only help. If I was to provoke it and react just right, I could get people to trust me, and I can prove to you just how committed to this I am." It was not at all on brand for Nem to willingly volunteer for pain, and definitely not humiliation, such as that, which was what made it so perfect. "I could take it."

Speaking of, Nem straightened the few centimetres necessary to be standing at their full height.

"And my answer's the same. I'm sure."

**Lucien Rosier** · 01-26-2021, 01:26 AM

Again, the man fell silent. The cost was relatively low for the potential profit it was likely to provide.

"Alright."

Lucien turned, ready to get back to his day but was struck by an odd mood of endearment toward the Upstead child. Stiffly, he turned to face the Slytherin once more. He gave a firm but not abrasive pat to their cheek. "I enjoy you more than the others, don't make me have to kill you."

The man expected great things from this one. At the very least, he expected results and at the end of the day, that was all he really cared about. The alliance had big steps to take and roadblocks would not be welcome.

"I expect some update by the end of the week." Not a request, it was officially Upstead's job.

"Come sooner if needed."

And with that, the man turned to leave--unless there was any other business to be discussed.

Felixir · 01-26-2021, 05:09 AM

That one word. That 'alright', sparked a tiny thrill in Nem that was nevertheless stronger than any they had yet experienced. It flared, burned for a moment, then faded, but it was enough. A reminder of what it was they were constantly chasing.

No looking back. Not anymore. Not ever.

It hardly even mattered, all they'd had to say to get to this point, what they'd offered themselves up for.

Nem could only smile after that, a genuine smile which would more than likely have unnerved some of their peers. Not the Big Man, though. No, not him. They gave no sign of surprise elicited from that pat on the cheek, though it certainly hadn't been expected. "Wouldn't dream of it."

What a day this had turned out to be. Would that they were all like this.

"You'll get it. My top priority from here on in." Nem watched him go; they'd not shifted from that spot since before the Headmaster had entered, and they'd probably stay there a little longer still. As long as nobody else showed up, the Duelling Arena was just as good a place for thinking as it was for practice. They did just have one more thing to add, though.

"Have a good day, sir. Greater than good."

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