RP - Ravenclaw Common room - Rube and Marcone

[sofergetit.livejournal.com]

He'd quickly set himself up in the Ravenclaw common room with a book and a drink. This wasn't a bad place, not really, and the people did seem to be a good sort. It'd be nice if George or Roxie were around, and he'd settle for Mason or Daisy or a half-dozen other folks, but that artist girl did remind him of George so that was comforting.

He frowned down at the book, licking a finger and turning the page. The good news -- he had an entire new lot of books to read, all nicely bound hardcovers and antiquated script, just how he liked it. The bad news -- he felt like a ten-year-old in a college course. He squinted down at the book with one eye, thoughtful. You could do that? To people? Really?

Comments

[gentlemanjohn.livejournal.com]

Judging from the books, there was apparently a thick cloud of whimsy to get through before you learned anything substantial - it made a bizarre amount of sense that the 'basics' of at least this kind of magic were ridiculous. The more ridiculous or useless a trick was, the less likely someone would be to perform it on accident.

It was still minimally annoying. He took a seat not far away from Rube, reasoning that as they were both newcomers, they were unlikely to have a great difference in skill or understanding levels. A sounding board could be useful on either side. "Turn the page," he advised at the Look. "It gets worse."

[sofergetit.livejournal.com]

Rube glanced up, blinked, and glanced down and turned the page.

Read it.

Paused, and snorted a laugh. "They're really not kidding, are they?" It was more of a statement than a question.

[gentlemanjohn.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't look like it." More's the pity, perhaps. "I begin to see why the 'studious' House is the one equipped with the alcohol."

[sofergetit.livejournal.com]

"And here I thought that it was because good literature and good liquor are inseparable brothers." He rubbed the side of his nose with his thumb and closed the book.

"On that note, I need a refill. Can I get you something while I'm up?"

[gentlemanjohn.livejournal.com]

"Only in a perfect world." Bad literature and any kind of alcohol, while not brothers, certainly had a decent working relationship. "Scotch, thank you."

[sofergetit.livejournal.com]

"Man after my own heart." He refills his glass and then pours a fresh one for Marcone. "I'd think a school is a pretty good microcosm of a perfect world. Everyone learning as they go, starting out on even footing."

[gentlemanjohn.livejournal.com]

"Mmm. Taken in a slightly different light, school is also a halfway-decent prison simulation. I don't think I'll be examining either metaphor too deeply." Wonder of wonders, it was mostly a sort of joke. Call it repayment for the Dickens crack during Rube's Sorting.

[sofergetit.livejournal.com]

Rube pauses again then gives him a half grin as he passes over the drink. "I'm really not much of a utopian scholar either."

[gentlemanjohn.livejournal.com]

Marcone accepted the glass with a nod. "I'd be hard-pressed to call myself anything other than a practical scholar. All things considered, there's not much time for anything else." Of course, 'practical' subjects were a lot broader than one would think, but it still left a few holes. One intended to go back and address them 'later', but 'later' ended up something of a fantasy.

[sofergetit.livejournal.com]

"I suppose that's true, when you're alive." It's not condescending or smug, just a vague acknowledgement of a memory. "I always have time to be a little esoteric."