.third.quarter.

[lumenrelegandus]

[a scream. The figure on the bed thrashes over-but this is not the bed the sleeping body knows; he falls right out of it. A wrenching thud as he hits the floor. A groan of awakening.

Then the groggy, embarrassed, woebegone voice. Even hushed, not nearly as ragged as it will be later:]

Sorry, I'm sorry…

[A hand reaching up from the floor. It

Comments

video;

[thenobledie]

And what would be so funny?

[ it is either a very good thing or a very bad thing she hasn't even started trolling yet. it's the injuries; it upsets her to see them so fresh. ]

video;

[lumenrelegandus]

[the wand snaps to aim at the forge.

To his credit, he seems to do so to direct the light, rather than threaten the machine. Indeed he snaps his free hand and points, and the forge levitates up from the floor, following his finger, to hover in front of him. He keeps the light of the wand partially obscuring his own face as he examines it.

If his next words are an answer, they're a very unhelpful one.]

Specialis revelio.

[the video quality goes wibbly for a moment. As if… perhaps… the forge were tickled.

Something happens on his end, because the young man frowns. For having woken screaming, he doesn't seem particularly upset or frightened. More as if he's trying to solve a bothersome puzzle.]

Potter, is this…?

[focus readjusts so his eyes flicker to meet Shirley's]

I'm sorry I'm not recognising you. Did James Potter put you up to this?

video;

[thenobledie]

[ an amused sort of sound. ]

He did not - nor Sirius Black.

video;

[lumenrelegandus]

[waits, a bit patiently, a bit abashedly. He manages to look simultaneously authoritative and apprehensive. Always in duality, this kid: either Moony or Remus, Marauder or Prefect, brilliant member of the most powerful clique in the school or reclusive deformed kid with no place among anyone at all.]

Then… can I help you?

video; ...lmfao, i love this so much. ' 3'

[thenobledie]

Perhaps you should help yourself first.

video; ^_^*!!

[lumenrelegandus]

[he squints toward the nightstand. He winces (his version of a scowl; no matter how much justification, he never does that) at the absence of the clock that should be there.

Most people probably wouldn't do what he did next, in this situation. Waking up in entirely new surroundings confronted by an utterly alien artefact. Who else would just look into the forge screen for a clock feature.

Either it's the kind of quick-thinking that's made him so useful to Black and Potter, or it's a kind he's developed from being useful to (and used by) them.

Finding the virtual clockface isn't triumphant.]

I have an exam in five hours. Can we reschedule whatever this is for tomorrow?

video;

[thenobledie]

[ no amount of smarts saves one from shirley, alas. though, she gestures her hand in a "if you want" motion. ]

Though if your decision is dependent upon that, there is no reason to.

video;

[lumenrelegandus]

[implausibly polite]

Pardon?

video;

[thenobledie]

Shall I excuse your observational skills on the day's time?

video;

[lumenrelegandus]

[his attention was on her, then it wasn't.

His eyes are on the wand in his hand.

Not his.

But it feels like his. Works like his. Why he hadn't noticed right away

(Mr Stupid-On-His-Feet)

that it simply isn't.

He turns half away, either forgetting the forge is there or not caring. He flicks the wand and murmurs,]

Priori Incantato.

[light bursts from the wand and out of frame. Moments after the glow stops emitting, it continues somewhere offscreen.

Whatever he sees makes his expression go blank.

He turns and looks back to Shirley through the viewscreen.

Conceding a point,]

We can do this now.

video;

[thenobledie]

I thought as much.

Re: video;

[lumenrelegandus]

[waits, in obvious expectation. Either for her to claim credit, or make a demand, or otherwise stick it to him further.]

video;

[thenobledie]

[ goodness, why would he expect such things of her! oh. right... let her make this impression worse: ]

The city is Anatole, and you may not leave.

video;

[lumenrelegandus]

[Blinks. When faced with the unknown, his default is to get even more polite and reasonable.]

I'm sorry. I… have to. I have class.

video;

[thenobledie]

The Door does not care for responsibilities.

video;

[lumenrelegandus]

[for all he knows she's being self-referential. The trick is usually to find the motive. Proceed from there. So skips the first question to-]

What does it care for?