The Dock By The Lake

[Lily Evans]

.

[Marlene McKinnon]

Marlene sits at the end of the dock, lit cigarette in one hand, wand in the other. She is vaguely practising wand movements for some of her favourite duelling moves. It might be the first week back, but she's spent a got lot of her summer on refining her style and she's not about to let that go to waste.

[Sirius Black]

Nikk, having finally finished unpacking his many possessions, decides to explore the grounds. He's rather enjoying the view of the lake, but the scenery is greatly improved by the dock, due the slender brunette sitting upon it. Finally. The first bit of fun available-- about time, and what luck. Sauntering over, he steps to the edge of the dock and calls out. "Room for another, miss?"

[Marlene McKinnon]

Marlene twists a little, turning just enough to see who is approaching. She doesn't recognise him, she thinks he must be foreign; his accent is polished a little too perfectly to be British. Marlene keeps her eye on the unknown entity. "It's a free country," she shrugs. She takes a drag of her cigarette, remaining cool and relaxed even while her hand tightens on her wand.

[Sirius Black]

His eyes flicker to her hand upon her wand-- he's been trained to be observant. He flashes her a smile and walks over, chuckling softly. "Relax, darling, no need for wands. I simply saw you from a distance and couldn't resist the urge to introduce myself. The name's Nikkolas Diogenes, a seventh year transfer. You may call me Nikk," he replies, extending his hand in polite greeting.

[Marlene McKinnon]

Marlene arches an eyebrow and looks him up and down. What's fair for him is fair for her, after all, and she'll be as obvious as she likes about checking him out. Alright, so his appearance improves with every step closer, that's good to know. Not good enough for him to get away with pet names, though. "Darling? I don't think so," she smirks. She transfers her wand to her left hand, fingertips still holding the cigarette in place, but does not put it away. Her handshake is firm, strong, without being overpowering. "Marlene McKinnon. Seventh year, Ravenclaw. You may call me Marlene," she adds, unable to resist.

[Sirius Black]

"I meant no offense, Marlene," Nikk answers, smirking at her obvious oggling. He eyes the cigarette with mild distaste, but says nothing of it. He doesn't allow his eyes to roam to her chest now that it would be painfully obvious, instead choosing to let his gaze wander up the curve of her neck. "Slytherin, myself, though I have yet to be acquainted with my housemates as of yet. At the risk of sounding terribly cliche while similarly being honestly curious, do you come out to this spot often? I've been scouting the grounds for areas I might frequent in the future, and I must attest to the fine view."

[Marlene McKinnon]

Marlene, who is too used to annoying Puff and Gryff prefects giving her hell over smoking, doesn't even blink as Nikk gives her smoke a distasteful look. His eyes seem more happily occupied anyway, so she lets it slide. "Yeah, a bit. It's alright out here. Especially in winter when everyone stays inside and you get get things done in peace - it's good for working on wandwork or whatever since there's nothing cool like a Duelling Club to go with."

[Sirius Black]

"No dueling club? That's preposterous. Surely there must be some sort of option for that sort of thing here," Nikk exclaims, looking thoroughly shocked and mildly abhorrent of the idea that there might not be a dueling club. "Really, though, is there nothing of the sort available? I must express my disappointment. It's something I had looked forward to, in attending a boarding school."

[Marlene McKinnon]

Marlene shrugs. "If there is, they don't advertise. Maybe some of the houses do their own thing or whatever, but my lot are more into the books than anything else. You're into duelling, then?" she says, faint approval stirring in her. Marlene thinks it's absolutely the most important skill for a wizard to know and she thinks it's complete and utter bullshit, to be frank, that Defence Against the Dark Arts isn't more practical in nature. She takes a final drag of her cigarette and then flicks the butt into the water, where she lazily vanishes it with a non-verbal spell.

[Sirius Black]

Nikk grins at that, nodding vigorously. "I've been on dueling teams in the past. It's excellent, really, and more useful than quidditch will ever be. Not that I have anything against the sport itself, it's just that I'd rather focus my energy into something more practical than flinging a ball about. But perhaps, due to the lack of a dueling club, we might try each other, some time. I wouldn't say no to a fresh opponent, and an eager one at that," Nikk replies, looking honestly excited.

[Marlene McKinnon]

"Wherever you went to school before, you shoulda stayed there." Marlene would jump at a properly organised duelling team, club, tournament, anything she could get her hands on. "Quidditch is alright. The sport itself isn't much, but there's usually a good party or two to be had from it and it's the best chance you ever get 'round here to blow off some steam." She eyes Nikk off, appraising him now, measuring him as a prospect for a duelling partner. "Alright, you're on. Always up for someone fresh and eager to go," she grins.

[Sirius Black]

"I've been to school in many places. I'm thinking the stability for my final year is a slight bit more of import than the lacking of an organized dueling club, so long as I am able to continue practice somehow. In fact, it might not be too difficult to have one begun this year, I think. I certainly have the resources at my disposal to make it happen, so long as there is a willing member of the administration to supervise and potentially instruct," Nikk suggests, smiling as she appraises him. "I think you'll find physical appearances to be deceiving, Miss Marlene, when it comes to a magical fight. Though I can hold my own just plenty in a muggle sense, should you know of anyone curious about such sparring. But yes. I am always fresh and eager to go, so long as I find the opponent appealing," he adds with a wink.

[Marlene McKinnon]

Marlene pulls a thoughtful face. "Solid logic. Ain't really sure I'd call Hogwarts 'stable' sometimes, but whatever. If you're gonna pick a school, it's the best there is." She shrugs, twirling her wand absently between her fingers, grinning at the prospect of a real, proper club and full of amusement at this new Slytherin. It's not often she finds someone she can stand to be around -or can stand to be around her, more likely- long enough to find a common ground. "If you make it happen, I'm in. Don't much know of anyone up for a muggle fight, though, unless you count some of the Gryffs. Then mostly it's just that if you piss them off enough, they'll start throwing punches - not like they're pro boxers or anything." She smirks, responding to his wink and casually leaning back against one hand to serve the dual purpose of relaxing, and emphasising the curve of her chest without thrusting them out there like a side-alley show. She leaves her stance on the 'appealing' nature of her current opponent unspoken; no need to state the obvious.

[Sirius Black]

"A pity-- I actually am a pro boxer. Well, not quite, but I have won competitions," he laughed, grinning down at her and letting his eyes flicker across her ample cleavage. If a woman's going to advertise, he isn't going to continue his gentlemanly demeanor. "So tell me, Marlene, what's the best thing about this pace, if it's such a good school? I can see a a perk or two, but so far remain severely unimpressed. Clearly I need to be introduced to the finer side of the school."

[Lily Evans]

-Marley-

Marlene snorts very lightly as Nikk talks himself up as a pro boxer in one breath, and has to retract it in the next. Typical male, she figures, but does not bother calling him out on it. People can say whatever they like, it's how they go in action that really counts. Say what you will about the power of words, but Marlene knows that between a bunch of pretty words, and an Avada Kedavra, there's a clear winner. "Oh yeah, I'm all about the perks," she says, dripping in irony. "Well the Defence Against the Dark Arts program leaves a lot to be desired for people who want to, you know, stay alive once they leave here, and the Library could do with some books less than a century old, but other than that it's the safest place in all Britain. And you learn from some of the best - you can't get better in Charms and Transfiguration and Slughorn may be a complete dick, but he knows his Potions, too." She pauses, thinking. She's never really had to put into words before, why Hogwarts is so great, it's an interesting exercise for someone who would rather look at the flaws of life. "And Dumbledore. Don't even need to explain there."

[Sirius Black]

Nikkolas is far more of the belief that while an Avada Kedavara will land you in Azkaban, sweet talking someone else into performing an Unforgivable for you is far more effective and clean. He's not a fan of being the in the center of the action so much as directing it, but let's be real, he has his fair amount of aggression and this can only result in a terrible ordeal when he remembers that real men punch stupid people, but for some reason other people object to stupid people being punched. It seems ridiculous really. "True enough," he replies, having already met the professor on numerous occasions. "I do believe I have a healthy respect for the man. Not necessarily sane, but certainly powerful and remarkable, and one with much wisdom. Speaking of Transfiguration, I've heard some choice things about the professor teaching it. What have you to say on the subject of a certain McGonagall?"

[Marlene McKinnon]

Marlene has grown up with the expectation that whether or not she wants to fight, it's going to come at her one way or another so she might as well get in first. She can't hold back a slight, throaty chuckle. 'Not necessarily sane' is such a lovely way to put it. Marls has heard the term 'batfuck insane' used to describe Dumbledore before, and she thinks it encompasses him pretty well. Despite this, the old wizard has all of her respect.
"McGonagall is wicked," she says at once. "She doesn't care who you are, she takes no prisoners and if you get on her bad side you're in for it. There's that whole last-century-stern-governess type thing going on, and she is totally like that on the outside, but whatever. If you pay attention and keep out of trouble, you learn a lot. Then there's the whole Animagus thing, too," she tacks on, an afterthought. Because to people who don't necessarily know that a group of fifteen year olds did it illegally, being one of only seven registered Animagi in a century is actually impressive.

[Demelza Robins]

Dem wanders down to the docks, slightly bouncing, due to the fact that this is the first real opportunity to get out and relax on the grounds at Hogwarts. She comes across to the dock, a familiar place from years past at the big, beautiful castle, and sits down and puts her bag behind her for something to lean on, but taking out her familiar sketchpad, with no idea why, she didn't need to draw or write anything down, but it was always handy if she had an idea or something of the sort. She finally makes herself comfortable, just appreciating all the beauty that Hogwarts really has, something that people really need to do more often.

[Lily Evans]

Lily wanders down to the dock. She is also intent on just taking in the scenery; she has a lot on her mind at the moment and always finds that a nice, tranquil spot on the grounds is always a good start when she wants to take a few moments and think things through. She spots another figure already sitting at the end of the dock and draws a little closer, trying to figure out who it is to decide whether she wants to stick around. When the back of the head becomes clearer to her, Lily smiles in recognition. Demelza is slightly younger than Lily herself, but her fellow Gryff is friendly and Lily always likes talking with her. "Mind if I join you?" she calls once she is in speaking distance.


[Sorry - nearly 2pm here so not exactly 'morning' for replies. Turns out I have a shit-ton of stuff to do. Blah.]

[Demelza Robins]

Dem is quite enjoying just appreciating Hogwarts when she hears a warm, sort of familiar voice. She turns around when she realises that the voice is talking to her, realising that it's Lily, somebody she isn't close to, but a lovely person that is nice company and a nice friend. "Oh, hi Lily!" She says with a smile spreading across her face, glad to be seeing a nice, familiar face around here, "Sure thing, take a seat!" She adds, moving over a little so Lily can sit don, even though the dock was big, so there was plenty of room for her, but it just seemed like a nice gesture.

[Don't worry dear, take your time. ]

[Lily Evans]

"Thanks," Lily said, dropping down onto the smooth wooden planks and swinging her feet over the edge. She glances over at the empty sketchpad Dem is holding. "Waiting for inspiration to strike, or just trying to look busy?" she wonders, smiling.

[Demelza Robins]

Dem looks down at her sketchpad and then smiles a little, "A bit of both really, but everything is just so beautiful and wonderful out here that I don't know if I could capture it properly on paper, you know?" She then proceeds to look around at all of these said things that she is talking about. Yeah, no way for sure she'd ever be able to capture all of the beauty.

[Lily Evans]

"Yeah, I get you," Lily agrees, her eyes moving over the deep blue water and the thick of the Forbidden Forest in the distance beyond the lake. "But then I can't draw to save my life anyway," she adds, chuckling. "I keep meaning to make a scrapbook of Hogwarts, before it's too late. Maybe when I go home for Christmas this year I'll actually remember to ask Mum if I can borrow the camera for a term. Fill up a roll of film or two. They'd probably like to see the pictures anyway, know where I disappear to every September," she shrugs.

[Demelza Robins]

"If you do end up making a scrapbook, you have to be sure to show me!" Dem insists. After all, scrapbooks are nice, pretty, classy, and neat. A lovely combination in Dem's eyes, so seeing a scrapbook of Hogwarts would just be quite nice. "Oh, and you have to take the most lovely pictures at Hogwarts, otherwise the scrapbook won't look as nice, but any pictures could look good I am sure." She nods very seriously.

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