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Post by scorpiusmalfoy on Dec 10, 2008 4:13:51 GMT 1
Scorpius felt a little surge of pride when the ghost laughed at his joke. He was fairly used to coming out with a stream of witty comments and getting dutiful laughs from his fellow Slytherins, but it was rare that he heard anything so, well, genuine. Sometimes august would laugh at the things he said, but he got the impression the Hufflepuff didn’t understand his humour a lot of the time. It was nice to find someone who was, he hoped, on his wavelength.
It was with honest interested that Scorpius cocked his head to one side, listening intently to what the other boy had to tell about himself. “My,” he breathed, a little taken aback by what he’d heard “You di- I mean- 1913? You must have seen a lot.” Scorpius refrained from biting his lip at what he’d nearly said. He didn’t know if this guy was sensitive about the fact he was dead or not - he was fairly sure he would be, and he didn’t want to upset or anger the boy, not with their tentative friendship beginning to sprout “You haven’t lived among civilised wizards?” He continued, still probing, but trying to move away from the possibly-sensitive subject “Have you been staying with the Notts? I hear they don’t even have a house elf - it’s positively barbaric” He smirked, hoping he’d lightened any dark mood that might have fallen on the conversation and, ever so slightly, in the corner of his mind, that he might make the boy laugh again.
It was a testimony to Scorpius’s strength of will that he managed not to blush when the ghost suggested he should become some sort of teacher. His pride probably wouldn’t be able to take much more of this before it exploded from the sheer size it was reaching “You’re in no way indebted to me” He replied evenly, waving it off, trying to assure the boy that it wasn’t necessary. Somehow, the phrase “it’s not as if I saved your life” didn’t seem wholly appropriate. “Honestly, having someone to talk to is more than enough”
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Post by thaniel on Dec 11, 2008 15:14:41 GMT 1
Thaniel laughed at Scorpius' joke about the Notts though he had no idea who they were. he was sure they were some pathetic family that Thaniel would look out for. But, truth be told, Thaniel's family never had house elves either. They tried when Thaniel was a little boy but his muggle mother was terrified of them. She said that they had the most awful bulgey eyes and it was horrible the way they ran around half naked and looked so beaten down and sorry they were ever born. Thaniel just thought they got a bad one. It would beat it's head on things and aplogise profusely whenever Thaniel's mom wanted to correct it in things like bringing the off-white linens when she wanted the eggshell. Thaniel had to agree, it was a horrid site.
"I can talk, I can promise you that." Thaniel assured him. There was so much to say but for now Thaniel still felt guarded. Maybe in time he could really tell Scorpius about himself but h'd only feel safe doing that if Scorpio went first. Thaniel didn't want to unload 100 plus years of his thoughts while isolated. Thaniel had gone a little weird during that time of loneliness and he couldn't , in conscious, dump it all on the boy.
"You may ask me anything you like." Thaniel smiled. "But only if I may ask questions of you also."
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Post by scorpiusmalfoy on Dec 12, 2008 19:25:37 GMT 1
Scorpius smiled warmly at the ghost, showing a fraction of his true self - whatever that might be - to someone he hardly knew, perhaps for the first time ever. But that was the way it worked in Slytherin - keep the façade up, play the game, and only show people what they want to see. Or, at least, what you want them to see. He hardly dared to hope that there was someone he might actually be able to let his guard down around, someone who might stand a chance of understanding how he felt.
He was letting his thoughts run away with him and he knew it - this boy probably had no interest in plumbing the depths of his soul, and who was to say he’d condone what he found there? But Scorpius couldn’t help but hope. After so many years of pretence, it was getting harder and harder to breathe.
“That’s good” Scorpius said in response to the ghost’s comment about his ability to talk, smiling again “Because listening is one of my keener skills” He meant it, too, for once. Unfortunately, most of the time that skill was put to use paying close attention to conversations his fellow Slytherins were having, and storing information for use at a later date, than perhaps for what he’d rather do with it. He was sure, though, that he’d more than enjoy listening to whatever this ghost had to tell him.
Scorpius lifted a hand to his face, drumming a finger thoughtfully across his cheek, as if considering the boy’s proposal. “That sounds like a fair deal” he said evenly, though with the hint of a smile in his voice “And in the interest of fairness, seeing as you already know my name - or the part of it that counts, at least - would you mind enlightening me as to yours?”
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Post by thaniel on Dec 26, 2008 17:09:59 GMT 1
Thaniel felt a little embarrassed he hadn't said it yet. He assumed everyone was talking about him but he ought to know better. Surely Scorpius Malfoy had larger concerns than some silly new ghost arriving in Hogwarts. He was sure a Malfoy had many weighty things on his mind that didn't involve a dead boy haunting the school.
"Thaniel Warren." He straigtened his collar. He wished he'd died in something less drab. In his mind he felt old fashioned and after existing with muggles for so long he felt downright barbaric next to an upperclass Slytherin. One of the more well-known Slytherins at that. Thaniel had little to be proud of but things were looking up.
In life, Thaniel could have been considered lower upper class bordering on upper middle depending on how well his father's books sold. His muggle mother was the wealthy one, not his father at all. Thaniel had seen his father still in the habit of darning his own socks or being yelled at for wearing rags in public by his mother. As far as school went, his small wealth barely kept his head above the figurative waters.
"We could get together over a card game, if you'd like. I mean, do you play? I've hda nothing but time on my side to learn a few games, though, I've had little practice. You'd have a fair chance at beating me." He said with a small grin. Thaniel, actually, was quite sure he'd win. He had nothing but time to strategize for every possibility in every card game he knew and he'd done this without a partner. That takes talent to be able to know what an invisible opponent may do since anything was possible.
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Post by scorpiusmalfoy on Jan 5, 2009 19:46:28 GMT 1
Thaniel Warren, of course, Scorpius though, as soon as he heard the boy’s name. He’d heard about the new ghost that was coming to live at the school - who hadn’t, and there’d been rumours about some elusive Thaniel Warren, but it hadn’t occurred to him to put two and two together and realise that this was the same person that people had been talking about. Scorpius felt decidedly embarrassed - clearly the ghost had expected him to know his name, and by rights, he should have. Now he just looked like a fool.
Still, he tried not to let it show on his face. Scorpius hadn’t blushed in years - he always had when he was younger, his pale skin showing up even the faintest flush, but even that trait had faded as he’d built up the façade he showed to the world. He kept his expression polite. “Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Thaniel Warren” He replied, hesitating momentarily as he’d almost reached out reflexively to shake the boy’s hand. It seemed impolite not to, but he was sure his hand would pass right through Thaniel’s if he tried, and he didn’t know if the ghost would be offended by that.
Scorpius smiled openly, almost honestly when Thaniel suggested they have a card game at some point, though he deftly rearranged it into a smirk a moment later. He was hardly ever given offers like that - to go to something private, something personal, rather than an orchestrated social event full of rules an hierarchy. But he couldn’t be too careful. If he went round accepting just anyone into his confidence, his life would be completely different, and not, he thought, in a good way. He worked hard to get to where he was, and he wasn’t about to let all that slip away.
“I play,” He said evenly, the smirk still twitching at the corner of his lips as he built up his performance “But tell me - is it true what I’ve heard, that some ghosts can develop telepathic fields? For if that is the case, Mr Warren, I do believe you are attempting to swindle me” It was a complete farce, of course, and Scorpius hardly meant a word he was saying, but the banter came naturally to him. It was strange, though, as if his vocabulary had changed to match the situation - anyone watching them would think they’d stepped right into a period drama. Scorpius was still in his school uniform, but even then he favoured a high-collared shirt, and Thaniel really was from another time. Maybe, then, taking the ghost into his confidence wasn’t outside the realms of possibility...
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Post by thaniel on Jan 8, 2009 15:32:01 GMT 1
"Telepathis fields?" Thaniel chuckled. He'd never heard that before. Maybe it was something he was supposed to know about didn't. His isolation have been so long and empty that it could be a possibility. He could have untapped talents. If Scorpius was correct, Thaniel would be incredibly embarassed.
"I must be completely devoid of any telepathic fields. I have... other gifts that make up for it, tenfold. No. Playing cards is just a hobby." One I perfected over 100 years, he thought. But he'd maybe let Scorpius win. He had to. Thaniel would do anything for a friend like this.
Starting over again was so hard. Thaniel's friendship with Lucas had come easily. Thaniel was a rich half blood and Lucas was a poor pure blood. They were both tarnished in the eyes of all the uperclass, pure blood Slytherins. Being so evenly matched, it was so easy to talk to one another.
Thaniel was pleased with the way things were going with Scorpius so far but it couldn't be this easy. Thaniel felt he'd have to make every move with precision the best he knew how. And his knowledge was awkward at best. "You can trust me. I'd be at a disadvantage anyway being so transparent... as it were."
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Post by scorpiusmalfoy on Jan 10, 2009 20:34:33 GMT 1
Scorpius felt ever so slightly embarrassed when Thaniel laughed at his suggestion that Ghosts had telepathic powers. Of course, he had just meant it as an aid to his witty banter, but even though Thaniel’s laughter wasn’t derisive in the slightest - no one would laugh at Scorpius Malfoy, not to his face at least - he couldn’t help but feel faintly foolish, and he didn’t want Thaniel to think he was a fool. “Ah, it must just have been a rumour, then” He said, keeping his tone light, despite his embarrassment “I must say I’m grateful - I could hardly enter into a game with someone who I knew for sure would win, and I was beginning to look forwards to playing cards with you” He smirked, the expression an automatic response to the words he was saying “Plus, I wouldn’t like to think what would happen if Moaning Myrtle knew what everyone really thinks about her.”
Thaniel’s mention of “other gifts” intrigues him, though, and Scorpius could help but lean in slightly, though he tried to keep exactly how interested he was hidden from his face. “Other gifts? Is that so? Is card playing one of them? Because I must confess, I am yet to see someone play a hand of cards in a way that would render telepathy inferior by tenfold” The smirk was back on his face as he gently teased the ghost, but Scorpius really was interested. There were plenty of rumours about what ghosts could and couldn’t do, the one about telepathy being one of the more popular ones, and Scorpius would be interested to find out which ones were true.
However, his mind was taken off the gifts that ghosts may or may not have and he was slightly taken aback when Thaniel uttered the word “trust”. Of course, the other boy was referring to cheating in card games, but Scorpius couldn’t quite suppress a little shudder of hope that there might be more to it than that - probably not that Thaniel knew it, but that at some point, once the two of them knew each other more, if Thaniel were to say it again, it would mean something more. He was getting ahead of himself, he knew, but glimmers of hope were few and far between in Scorpius’s life, and he tended to latch on to them whenever he got the chance. “Well, I’ll trust you to be a good sportsman, then.” He replied evenly, a slight smile on his lips, hoping he himself wasn’t as transparent as the ghost in front of it.
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Post by thaniel on Jan 14, 2009 15:54:23 GMT 1
"I am an excellent sport when it comes to cards." Thaniel smirked. He was having trouble hiding his thrill about having a friend to play cards with and to have a normal conservation with. Of course, he'd been with muggles so long that only traces of acting like a proper Slytherin appeared and he was unaware of how to treat Scorpius now. The manners of muggles were barbaric next to the manners of a wizard like Malfoy but as Thaniel became more excited about this, the more muggle he was acting. It was hard to shut off.
"My talents have nothing to do with cards anyhow. More suited to punishments and revenge. They have no place in a decent, respectable card game. I'm a gracious loser." Thaniel lied. He'd lose to the right person.
"Any particular game you like to play? I know them all. It's been a while for me. You may have to teach me the new rules." Thaniel was interested in knowing if wizards had come up with any new card games. There were so many things he wanted to learn from Scorpius. Thaniel was eager to get into the boy's head.
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Post by scorpiusmalfoy on Jan 22, 2009 21:36:55 GMT 1
Scorpius tried to keep the smile on his face as unreadable as possible He could tell that Thaniel was more excited about their proposed card game than he was letting on, but for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t storing the information for use to his advantage at a late date. It made him feel proud, and more than a little pleased that the ghost should be so enthused about spending time with him. Of course, Thaniel may just be an aficionado of card games, but he was beginning to hope that that wasn’t the only reason for the other boy’s interest.
He wasn’t, however, about to let any of his wit drop - sincerity was not something best used with other Slytherins, not even one’s he’d known for years. Especially one he’d known for years, in some cases. “You have talents suited to punishments and revenge, yet you expect me to believe you are a gracious loser?” He asked, mock incredulity in his tone and a smirk on his face. “My my, I better watch my back.”
A loud creek followed by a rush of voices made Scorpius turn round - a dozen or so students were entering through the common room door. “Ah,” He said, pulling out his silver pocket watch and checking the time “It would appear I’m late for my next lesson. I’m afraid we shall have to continue this discussion at a later date.” Scorpius moved to walk away from the ghost, scooping up his school back and discarded charms book - he never had done that homework. “I’m game for anything you want to play” He added, turning back to face Thaniel momentary as he headed for the door “I find playing poker with an exploding snap deck has some interesting effects.” And he gave the ghost one last smirk before heading out of the door.
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Post by thaniel on Jan 23, 2009 22:37:00 GMT 1
Exploding Snap Deck? His eyebrows raised. Thaniel didn't know much about that. Perhaps this game would be entertaining afterall. Maybe even a challenge? Thaniel couldn't wait to try it.
"Poker it is. It's a date, then." Thaniel said before realizing how awkward that sounded. For Merlin's sake! He was a 100 year old ghost and he was now all out of his element around the living because he just wanted a friend. He wanted Scorpius as his friend. Scorpius was like a Slytherin king and he was making time in his schedule for Thaniel. Thaniel couldn't screw it up by being a complete and utter dork.
He glanced around the room hoping no one heard that. "I mean, we'll set a date. And a place." He called out to Scorpius as he head out the door. "A private place. If that's what you want." Then Thaniel stopped talking in case there were eyes upon him wondering why he was acting like such a nerd.
Just to be on the safe side, he didn't even bother to glance around. The less he acknowledged any weird faux pas, the better. Thaniel cleared his throat, gathered the vampire book Scorpius suggested to him and left through the nearest wall.
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