The Baron leaves the sorting room (Open RP)

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

The Baron was exceptionally relieved to leave the sorting room, which had been getting rather cramped.  Although it had been a somewhat enlightening experience, he now found himself filled with a great deal of questions, such as where to find decent rooms, where that library was, and, how to find the Muggle Studies Department. The hat had left him with a burning need to watch something called "The Maury Povich Show". Not understanding things was troubling, and this needed to be remedied.

He recalled that A did say he'd show him around, and, didn't say when, so, he decided now was as good a time for any, and looked around for one of those weird little house elves. Unsure of just what to do, he barked out, "House elf! Come here, now!", feeling rather silly about this. He made sure to not act surprised when one did actually show up. "Go and tell A that I need to know where things are." It ran off, presumably to do so. They sure are ugly little things, he thought, but, at least they do take orders. And looked easy to kick if they did happen to disobey.

Adjusting his suspensors slightly, he straightened out his robes, and took up a good portion of the hallway while attempting to wait patiently. This wasn't one of his strong points, unless it involved being patient with long and convoluted plans within plans.

Comments

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A had been in his garden when the house elf came to find him and hadn't stopped to change; his brightly-colored kitten t-shirt and cargo pants were both liberally smeared with newly turned earth, and while he'd washed his hands, there was still dirt on his forearms.

It was spring, after all.

"You're sorted, then?" he said in greeting. "Has someone shown you to where you'll be staying?"

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

The Baron was a bit surprised to see A arrive covered with dirt (as this would have been unthinkable at home), but, he realized this must have meant he came quickly, and, this he appreciated. He smiled at A, and said, "It is good to see you, my dear boy- I'm supposed to find somewhere, apparently. I need to find a few places, in fact. The talking hat put me in the house called Slytherin." The way he says "talking hat" suggests that he's still not quite over holding a conversation with sentient headwear.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I have friends that are in Slytherin, but they don't stay there. Mello is, he, he's with Near, and Kurama is with Kusuriyuri, and they're in Ravenclaw. Kusuriyuri and Kurama are both professors now, anyway." This was a clear source of pride. "I know where it is more or less, but I've never been there."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

"I expect I'm likely to meet them, then." He considers A's remark a bit further, and asks, "Is there a reason they don't stay there? I did try and tell the hat that I needed adequate rooms and would prefer a good view, but, the hat was, hrm, eccentric. I've heard there's a bar."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Mello wanted to stay where Near was, and his friend Matt is in Ravenclaw too. I think Kurama was staying in Slytherin for a while, but he wanted to be with Kusuriyuri." He shrugged. "I haven't seen the rooms there but I'm sure they're fine. I don't think they will have much of a view, though, I'm pretty sure they're underground."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

"Underground?" He sighed and looked mildly annoyed. "Hrm. . . they'd better be damn nice, if underground. I'll need at least a bedroom, and a bath, and a sitting room." He realized could probably send the house elves around to try and find something more tolerable, if need be. "So this school. . .it's not very organized then? Who's in charge of it? And which way do we need to go?" He smiled at A, gesturing for him to lead on wherever he saw fit.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A looked around, trying to decide which corridor would lead them most directly to Slytherin.

"If it is like Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, there will be plenty of rooms you can, can look at, and choose from." Picking the one he eventually decided was best, he lead the Baron down the stone-lined hall. "It's not very organized, no. The Sorting Hat seems to be mostly in charge, although I know there is a headmistress as well."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

The Baron looked around at the corridor, examining the stones with some interest. Genuine, not plasteel imitations. "The. . .hat's in charge?" Considering a moment, he asked, "So, who's in charge of the hat then? This headmistress?" It was always good to have a clear understanding of who was supposedly in charge. Whoever or whatever it was, that hat knew a couple of names he was quite familiar with.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I think her name is Kahnooloo (http://community.livejournal.com/hogwarts_hocus/51040.html)," A told him. "She doesn't seem to intervene in the way things are run very often. I think the house elves are the ones who have the best knowledge of what's going on."

[sir-knits-a-lot.livejournal.com]

So, Gwendal has been hiding enough for now. His room threatens to overflow with knit creations that may or may not resemble what they are meant to. Usually not. He is a little pale from not having gone about much over the winter, but clean, presentable, walking with an air that suits a royal administrator. It is time to practice, to get the cobwebs out before they can overtake him.

A huge man floating in the middle of the hallway isn't the strangest thing he's seen, but there isn't much stranger, nothing he can think of at the moment. A giant skeleton of trash might take the cake for all time weirdest and otherwise superlative sights.

The way this man was dressed, though, there would probably have to be some kind of courtly manners displayed, much like the baring of teeth when two or more felines were first put into each other's company.

He bowed. "Excuse me," he said politely enough.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

The Baron was pleased to see a display of proper manners, at least. He shifted slightly in suspensors and looked over Gwendal, attempting to quickly assess this new stranger. A bit pale, but, rather pretty, he thought. But it does look like he's probably well-aware of it. At least he's not a talking hat.

Slipping on his best courtly smile, he nodded politely to Gwendal. "Greetings." He made no particular move to get out of Gwendal's way, being used to people finding their way around him.

[sir-knits-a-lot.livejournal.com]

Gwendal looked around. It was then he realized where he was. "You just arrived?" he asked. "I am Gwendal von Voltaire," he offered by way of introduction, not sure if he should hold out his hand or bow or any of a number of other absurd customs some countries had. He almost winced as he asked, "You haven't had the...pleasure of meeting someone named Yuri, have you?" He wanted to know if he should apologize now or not for his Lord's behavior.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

"Baron Vladimir Harkonnen." He inclined his head slightly, sensing he was dealing with someone who at least moved in noble circles, but failed to bow, as, no title had been mentioned. "A pleasure to meet you, Gwendal von Voltaire. I have just recently arrived- I suppose it is more obvious than I'd like it to be." A wry smile creased his lips, and he tried to think back to the sorting. "Unless Yuri was invisible, or that's the hat's name, I don't believe that I have."

[sir-knits-a-lot.livejournal.com]

"Yuri is the Maoh, the Demon King, of the Shin Makoku. He is supposed to be learning administration, but tends to employ his energy elsewhere," Gwendal said in the tone of voice reserved for the very put upon royal administrator. "It is time for his lessons and he has managed to vanish, again," he said dryly.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the title "Demon King" sounded a bit funny, but, he'd heard stranger one. This sounded like much more familiar territory than talking hats, which was a relief. "I believe it is possible that all nobles enter a rather difficult stage once they start to get the idea that they're in charge. Apparently, the realization that they have power makes them forget the need to learn how to use it effectively." He gives Gwendal a sardonic smirk, but, there's something empathetic about it. "Usually they tend to grow out of the phase, provided they don't do anything too stupid."

[sir-knits-a-lot.livejournal.com]

Gwendal frowned, his thumb running over his forefigner. "Yuri has always been in a 'difficult phase,'" he said wryly. "And, he does stupid things constantly, for which it falls to me to correct." The truth is, Gwendal was more the monarch than Yuri at this point. Or rather, Gwendal administrated and made Yuri look like a good monarch.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like my nephew Rabban. Always doing dumb things, and then I get to fix them- he's rather lucky that his military skills outweigh his all-too-frequent failings. At least, they have so far. I do hope he'll not learn the hard way." He smirked, knowing full well that the "hard way" in Imperial business typically means dead. "I suppose it is fortunate that half of governing is simply in the appearances. And it sounds like you are faced with an greater challenge, seeing as how you're the one stuck with making sure those appearances are kept up."

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

Jasper could certainly relate to the Baron's relief upon being freed from the Sorting Room, though likely for different reasons. Having so many delicious-smelling humans packed into a small space with a vampire possessing dubious self-control was just encouraging trouble of the most violent, messy sort.

He carefully made his way by the Baron—vampiric strength meant even bumping someone too hard could literally break fragile human bones—and quietly murmured, "Excuse me," so as not to startle the man. Jasper moved silently, and knew from experience it tended to startle humans if he didn't announce his presence in some manner.

As he passed, he was reading the man's mood. It was simply second nature by then, being an empath. He noted the Baron seemed expectant, and maybe a touch impatient about something, but couldn't guess the source. He paused and turned back to face the man. "Do you need help?" he asked with a trace of concern in his voice.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

The Baron bounced slightly in his suspensors, having not noticed Jasper's approach. He was typically rather alert, given the Imperial traditions involving daggers in the back, so somewhat discomfited by a stranger's sudden appearance. Looking over the man, he had to concede that there were far worse things he could be startled by, and regained his composure with the ease of many years of practice.

He smiled politely and replied, "It all depends on what you mean. I'm waiting on someone to show me around, but I expect I need a great deal of general assistance. I just finished speaking with a talking hat, and, have only a general idea of where or when I am. I do appreciate your asking." Really he did appreciate it. He was swiftly realizing his title didn't mean much here, and, there was no specific reason why this attractive young man should bother to inquire.

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

"That would be the Sorting Hat," he said and shook his head without elaborating. He still wasn't sure the Hat hadn't molested him, and assumed it might likely be some bizarre rite of passage for every Hogwarts student.

"This is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, located in Scotland. The year is 2009 A.D. Although if you're from another world," here he gave the Baron a cursory once-over with a genial smile, to hopefully lessen the impression of predatory appraisal, "none of that may matter very much to you. This is a boarding school of sorts, but from what I hear classes are rarely held. I've gone the independent study route, myself—the library is impressive." He held up the thick tome he was carrying as though to illustrate this.

"I'm happy to help however else I can until the person you're waiting for arrives," he offered with another pleasant smile. Assuming the desired form of 'help' didn't involve activities best abstained from when in the middle of a public hallway, of course.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

Vladimir returned Jasper's smile with a thankful one of his own, incredibly relieved to hear a clearly worded explanation of exactly where he was, from someone who appeared normal enough. This wasn't an easy place to believe, but, he'd already had indications that he was not only far away from his own world, but also his own time.

"You've already been exceptionally helpful. That's about the most thorough explanation of the facts I've heard so far. They're hard to believe, but, so's the rest of this situation." He rubbed at his forehead one-handedly, confessing, "It's all been a bit much, and, I can't figure out why I'm here. And to all appearances, stuck here- I believe that my home's in a distant galaxy, and doesn't exist yet. But things could be worse."

There were definitely far worse things than speaking to such a lovely man that he didn't own, who was offering assistance for no reason, and, was he even showing some vague sense of interest? He was certain that it was just a general curiosity, and not the incredibly unlikely sort of interest he'd prefer, but he'd enjoy the company at least. He smiled and asked, "I've been told the library is a worthwhile place. So you've found it helpful, then? Others have mentioned that the education here is rather, hrm, informal."

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

All too easy to mistake a vampire's interest as something other than what it really was—as something altogether more innocent. It wasn't as though Jasper even intended to cheat on his 'diet' and start dining on humans again, but the desire for human blood was still powerful enough he'd unconsciously been moving just that little bit closer to the Baron as they talked, as though he couldn't help himself.

Humans did have the most appealingly irresistible scent, to him...

"I only recently arrived here as well, but knew beforehand what to expect. I don't envy those of you coming in blind," he said, looking simultaneously sympathetic and vaguely amused. "From what I was told, nearly no one intends to come here anymore. And some apparently showed up right after dying. You're on the planet Earth right now, by the way, located in the Milky Way galaxy. You're not the only one from another planet to—get sent here, if that's the right term for it.

"The library is more than I'd hoped for," he admitted with a hint of genuine enthusiasm. Which was a compliment, considering the sheer number of colleges he'd already attended. He'd been perpetually in school for several decades now. "It seems only Divination and Herbology are offered with any regularity. If you'd like to learn other forms of magic, you're far better off researching it yourself, I'm afraid."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

Although he definitely didn't recall dying, he was beginning to think it a potential explanation, and that Hell was proving a far pleasanter place than he'd anticipated. He knew he had to be misinterpreting Jasper's apparent friendliness, but, he could not miss noticing that such a desirable man had moved closer, and without being given an order to. Without thinking about it, he too drifted a bit nearer to Jasper, noticing what lovely eyes he had, and silently cursing the fact that this situation might be more confusing than the Sorting Hat.

"I had no warnings at all. I didn't believe that magic actually existed until I came here. It appears I need to spend some time at this impressive library, which sounds as if you think very highly of it. If this is Earth, we must have forgotten about magic, as Earth was a legend from ancient times. I am, or. . .will be. . .the Siridar-Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, ruler of Giedi Prime and Lankiveil, and recently governor of Arrakis. Which I expect means very little to you." He gave Jasper his most charming smile, inwardly berating himself for his own behavior. He was 80 years old (although he didn't look much more than 50, thanks to spice treatments), and had spent most of his later years learning that slaves were the easiest option for a corpulent old tyrant. He knew better. But yet, here he was, trying out the full titles and lists of holdings, attempting to impress. "And whose acquaintance do I have the pleasure of making?"

Damnit! he thought. What the hell am I trying to do here? I should be working out the intricacies of this place, and not fishing for unlikely attention from this damnably tempting creature. Why the hell must he have such lovely eyes? Of course, had the Baron realized just what sort of creature Jasper was, he might have found him easier to resist. At the moment, he was just mildly annoyed that he didn't have much of anything to impress him with, and more annoyed with the fact that he was trying to, despite the futility.

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

"This is technically the wizarding world, where we are presently. It's hidden from regular, 'non-magically inclined' people. I think the story goes they would only see abandoned castle ruins here, not Hogwarts as you and I can see it.

"I do recognise a little—Baron, ruler, governor... all positions of power, on Earth as well. More than most people are able to achieve."

And indeed he looked suitably impressed by the extensive titles, thinking it was probably the reaction Vladimir had been hoping to inspire. That wasn't vampire guile at play, but simply who Jasper was; making people feel better about themselves was just something he did. People were, after all, far more pleasant to be around when they were feeling pleased and content, and particularly when they were comfortable with his presence.

One picked up peculiar habits when immersed in an inescapable climate of emotion every day.

"Jasper Hale. Like the quartz stone no one really likes," he said with a self-deprecating smile. He had the curious feeling he should bow, that the gesture might gain him the Baron's favour, but he refrained—too pretentious. He also didn't offer his hand, though not out of discourtesy. "No titles to speak of, unless you're familiar with military ones. I was a Major, a lifetime ago."

He paused and leant in, as though imparting a secret. "How do you prefer to be addressed?" he asked quietly. Making someone feel like they were the sole focus of his attention was a habit unrelated to his bloodlust, but, coincidentally, it was difficult not to notice how near he now was to what must be an exquisite artery, judging by the smell.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

Thus far, this meeting was proving the most enjoyable part of this new place, and was making up for most of the upsetting aspects of the situation. The Baron smiled curiously as he listened to Jasper, and was exceptionally pleased when he responded as he'd hoped to the titles. Distinctions between wizarding and non-wizarding worlds were interesting, but were difficult to focus on, as Jasper himself was far more intriguing. And a major, despite looking so young- this impressed him immensely, and he nodded his understanding and approval with a smile. The Baron took the comment about "a lifetime ago" to mean that Jasper was from the past. Vampires weren't even a popular element of folklore in his age, just some ancient, mostly-forgotten children's story, and, so they were a topic he'd never really thought about.

Either he's a brilliant actor and this is a masterful trap, or, magic really does exist. He didn't really care which one it was, as invisible people, house elves, and talking hats seemed only minorly magical compared to this experience. For this moment, he was perfectly content to be in an absurdly named school of wizardry where no one appeared to know who he was. A lifetime of working to advance his House's position meant that he'd upheld a lasting tradition of iron-fisted power with the usual tools of fear and cruelty. These insured longevity, as, it was important to be powerful and it was important to be respected, but, it was dangerous to become too popular. To have an entrancing young man appearing to take a genuine interest in him without any trace of fear or revulsion was the sort of thing he'd forgotten about long ago.

The sensibilities that usually ruled his thoughts kept screaming that he was behaving ridiculously, but, were choked silent as soon as Japser leaned in to him. Vladimir's blood coursed through him like it hadn't in years, and he had to take a breath to steady himself before he answered, ignoring the pathetic gasps of rationality, and immersing himself in the admitted pleasure of the situation. There was no way his strangled sensiblities could keep him from drifting that inch closer to Jasper as he replied with a slightly flushed smile. "It is entirely my pleasure to meet you, and, please, call me Vladimir. The title seems to have little meaning here, and, would only serve as a reminder of my forcibly-neglected duties." He felt that the fraudulent reasoning was rather weak; he just wanted to hear this beautiful young man call him by his actual name. "So which of these houses are you in, Japser? I have seen some splendid specimens of the stone you're called for from a world known as Hagal."

Damn it all, I know I'm being an absurd fool, it can't be what I think. I'm impressing impossible hopes upon my perception, but, I don't care. I'll try to enjoy it for whatever it is.