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-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."

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

Gwendal shrugged. "It is a better option that allowing my uncle to be in control," he said. He was the regent when my mother was Maoh, and did a very poor job of it." Ah, the twisted family politics.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

The Baron adjusted a suspensor strap beneath his robes, asking thoughtfully, "So, what would you consider a poor job of it? Properly managing a nation's a great deal of work." It was certainly comforting to meet someone else familiar with the political arena, rather than sentient furniture or worse. But that didn't necessarily mean he had sensible political ideas. There were always those idealists, like the damned Atreides, who kept trying to do things "better". And usually making a mess of things.

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

Gwendal frowned. "He overstepped his authority, started a war, kidnapped the Maoh to gain power." All of theise could be considered heinous crimes against the kingdom.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

The Baron nodded. Even he could understand the trouble with starting open, prolonged conflicts, it was economically irritating. And in the end, it was all about wealth. Knives in the dark was usually a great deal less turbulent. "I can understand where that would be a potential problem. Open war's a nuisance. Any idea why you're here? It sounds as if you'd probably be more useful somewhere else, too. Seems damned irresponsible, being stuck here, but, apparently there's not much in the way of interstellar travel."

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

"I came unexpectedly, but the Maoh and my brother, his fiance, were here already. And, my brother's uncle has arrived as well." Gwendal thought a moment. "All that I need to do I can do here, and it's quieter here," he said. No sense in mentioning Annisina. There were myths about speaking of devils and their horns, after all. "My brother and his uncle are at home, taking care of duties." Or playing tourist.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

"You sound like you've preserved your sanity at least, and as if you don't mind it too much here." He smiled rather sardonically, both bemused and irritated by his new surroundings. "It's an interesting place, I'll give it that, but it probably takes some getting used to. I expect familiar faces might have helped somewhat." He wasn't so sure of that for himself- he knew far too many infuriating people, and apparently he couldn't kill any of them here. A few of his slaves wouldn't hurt. The lack of them was already grating on his nerves. "So which of these houses did the talking hat put you in?"

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

Gwendal gave the Baron a look that was meant to convey that, in his case, familiar faces weren't exactly helpful, given the tumultuous relationship Yuri and Wolfram had. "Ah, well," he said, moving on to his house, "at my brother's insistence, it would seem, I was placed in Hufflepuff with them."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

Years of political experience had left the Baron with a talent for reading people rather well. "It sounds as if you're not very pleased with this? I've heard tell these houses are less than formal alliances, and more of an organizational device, but I've yet to observe much of anything first-hand. I'd insist on any of my family who showed up being put into the same place as myself as well, for the politics of it. Your story suggests that there's more going on than meets the eye?" He was finding it impossible to believe that there wasn't some sort of hidden, complex order someplace. Even if he was forced to accept the existence of magic, seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn't comprehend what appeared to be chaos run by a hat.

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

Gwendal gave a wry grin. "I have not noticed much of a difference between the houses," he said blandly. "Most of those who spoke with me were of the opnion that Ravenclaw or Griffyndor would be suitable. But, I have heard the Hat places a great deal of emphasis on family values."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

"Hrm, yes, family values. . . I noticed." He smirked, recalling his rather painful conversation with the hat, and let out a sardonic sigh. "I suppose an order imposed by a possibly insane hat is better than none at all, but, I can't help but get the feeling that it decided to mark me as a potentially troublesome individual." He grinned slightly, adding, "If so, it would have been wrong." It wasn't potential, it was guaranteed.

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

Gwendal frowned. "There are those that are sent away. If you were allowed out of that room, then at some level, the Hat has deemed you fit to be here. Though, I also hear it is capricious. There is a rumor of a student whose room was filled with cheese just after his arrival."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

"Cheese?" The Baron shifted in his suspensors and frowned. He of course wasn't anti-cheese, but, he was firmly against cheese on any furniture that wasn't a dining table. "Well, good thing the hat seems to have sent me off to find something myself. Should avoid that possibility, at least. So. . ." He looked curiously at Gwendal, asking, "Any idea who tells the hat what to do? Someone's got to be actively in charge of things somewhere. Even if they're not located on the premises, it's got to be part of something. Schools don't just exist on their own, right? It has to serve a purpose somehow." This man seemed to be the intelligent and respectable type, and so his theories would probably be worth considering.

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

Gwendal considered the questions. "I have heard that there is a creature called a furby in charge of the school, but then, I have also heard those creatures are studied in the Care of Magical Creatures class, when it is offered." He frowned in disapproval. "The classes seem to be offered at the whim of the professors, and Divination and Herbology more than others." He looked at the floor a moment. "There seems to be little purpose than gathering those from diverse origins, though to what end, I have not divined."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

The Baron listened attentively, frowning thoughtfully at what seemed to be a strong confirmation that a general air of chaos presided here. "I appreciate your thoughts on the matter. As, those of us familiar with the intricacies of royal bureaucracy tend to have a well-honed sense of order. It sounds as if I probably don't even want to inquire as to what a "furby" is." He smirked, knowing that the various oddities coming to mind probably were nowhere close to the truth. The truth was probably a great deal more disturbing. The lack of order definitely was- he didn't much appreciate orders imposed on him, but, did like to make sure everything else ran like a well-oiled machine.

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

"I have heard it whispered that 'furbies' are considered toys by some. I have yet to actually see one, or the headmaster." He smiled wryly. "I consider this something of a break from having to deal with courtly politics, though." Except when those politics followed him here. He bowed slightly. "If you'll excuse me, I must make sure that Yuri is not trying to assault someone with friendship curry." A thought occurred to him. "It is unwise to partake of any untended food. There may be some magic placed upon it." He made a face, recalling his own behavior under the influence of it.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

"Toys? I sincerely hope that things aren't that unstable, but, I'd agree that considering it a break from the usual affairs is probably a wise approach." He wasn't sure that would be easy to do, but, it sounded like a sanity-preserving sort of suggestion. He nodded thankfully at the warning. "I appreciate the advice- I've heard tell that it's impossible to be killed here, but, I expect that some sorts of magic could prove worse." He smiled gratefully, and gave Gwendal a polite nod of his head. "It has been a pleasure to speak with you, and, I appreciate your explanations. Perhaps we'll meet again soon, and good luck with Yuri."

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

"From what I've heard, yes, it is impossible, but I do not have any direct experience with not being able to die, but the charms on untended food can make one almost wish that charm was not on them." Gwendal bowed. "Perhaps and thank you," he said, heading off to the Great Hall, deciding to check there first now that the horrors of tainted food was in his mind.