Work and play [Open RP, by the lake]

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

While Holy Roman Empire was very good at throwing himself into projects with zealous, single-minded focus, and he did find studying magic to be quite interesting, spending a great deal of time in the library fervently researching ways to combat Apos was getting just a tad boring, considering he hadn't actually seen him since the sorting room.

So for a change of pace, after wandering the grounds a bit, Holy Roman Empire was sitting on the grass near the lake. He'd borrowed several introductory books about the basics of divination from the library, one open on his lap and the rest stacked beside him. Meeting Kusuriyuri had interested him in the topic, and it made a nice break from all the other magic Holy Roman Empire had been studying. The subject matter aside, he could almost pretend that he was back home, reading to himself while Italy took a siesta somewhere nearby.

So maybe he was skimming and daydreaming and staring wistfully out over the lake more than he was actually looking busy with reading.

Comments

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

Turlough couldn't help feeling a soft spot for him. He could sympathize, having to put down pens for weapons.

"Well, there's time to practice now, I suppose. One thing I will say about here, at least it's more peaceful than where I had been. Aside from idiot mages that make it rain frogs."

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

Holy Roman Empire held the tablet out to Turlough and smiled. "You're right. Even though the person who was teaching me isn't here... I'll make her proud!" He nodded to himself, full of determination.

"Does it, um, rain frogs here often?" He hadn't been paying strict attention to the weather, but he'd thought that it seemed rather normal.

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"No. Like I said, it was that idiot mage that did it. Turned me into a girl, too." Turlough was still smarting about that, it was that incident that makes him so conflicted about Lezard. "Anyway, it was long ago, back when I was still groundskeeper."

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

"Who's this idiot mage? In case I don't want to meet him. He sounds troublesome, kind of like France." Holy Roman Empire frowned, fidgeting with the book under his arm.

"What do you do now, if you aren't the groundskeeper anymore?"

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"Lezard Valeth. Glasses, dark hair, and full-of-himself attitude." There. That was all the pens.

Turlough shrugged as he put them back. "Well, I gave my position to my husband, but I still help out with the duties. I did enjoy them, after all. And, well, you caught me working on my drawing."

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

Holy Roman Empire nodded, committing the description to memory. "I'll keep an eye out."

Marriage and a relatively peaceful place to indulge in hobbies... he smiled wistfully. "It sounds like you have a really great life here. Did your wife come with you, or did you meet her after you got here?" He actually had heard Turlough say husband, but since wife obviously made sense in the context, Holy Roman Empire assumed that was what he had said or meant to say.

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"Him. And no, that idiot Sorting Hat forced it upon us." Turlough glared at nothing. "He's a nice man, but I would rather had the choice."

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Um." Well, this was a nonsensical dream, wasn't it? There wouldn't be much point in arguing about it. He decided to tackle the more pressing problem, instead. "Why would the Sorting Hat do something like that? It isn't right--people shouldn't be forced. They should decide to be together because it helps both of them, or because they like each other." His plan to rebuild the Roman Empire, and therefore forcibly conquer other nations and make them join his house for the Greater Good, was somehow exempt from this logic.

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"Cause the Sorting Hat is a sadistic bastard that gets off on seeing us in stupid situations." Turlough was still glowering. "While I'm thinking of it, careful around food just sitting out. It's probably hexed."

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

He frowned. The Sorting Hat hadn't seemed so bad, although strange, when Holy Roman Empire had met it. But from Turlough's description, he thought he might start regarding the Hat with the same wary suspicion that he treated everyone on his list of people he didn't like. "I think I'll keep an eye out for that one, too."

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"You better. Cause if you're not careful you'll end up turning into a girl or a dog or something." Turlough shuddered. "Not completely fun."

Well, there were some fun parts, but he wasn't sharing that with the kid.

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

"It wouldn't be fun at all. I like the way I am now." Although Holy Roman Empire wouldn't mind being taller. "But... there's magic that can undo things like that, right? So you can still turn back to normal?"

He'd be too shy and embarrassed to enjoy parts like that anyway.

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"Well, the hexes I've been under lasted no longer than a few hours. Well, the ones that came about by food. That idiot's hex lasted much longer. And worse comes to worse, there would be professors to help you."

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

"So... aside from some of the people, and the sabotaged food, and the threat of getting turned into something unpleasant... this is a rather nice and peaceful place?" Well, apparently Holy Roman Empire had been quite lucky so far. Maybe he would stay lucky.

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"Yes. It is nice here. Just..." Turlough looked up at the sky. "I do miss my home sometimes."

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

Holy Roman Empire nodded. "And the people who are still there." He followed Turlough's gaze, although he wasn't sure what he was looking for. "But there are worse places to be than here."

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"That is true."

Ironic that in Turlough's case, he's talking about the same thing.

"But that is neither here nor there. Have I gathered all my papers?"

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

Holy Roman Empire looked around. "I think so. Are you going to go back to your drawing? I don't want to be a distraction."

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"Not this time. I don't know. I get the feeling someone's waiting for me..."

Little did he know that in the near future an old friend would be waiting in the Sorting Room. But that is another thread.

"I should probably check the popcorn and Sorting rooms."

[sincethe900s.livejournal.com]

He nodded. "I won't keep you, then. It was nice meeting you. And maybe the next time we see each other, I'll be able to show you some of my drawings in return."

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

Turlough couldn't help smiling. "I'd like that."