DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I own many of the background
characters. Some of the characters (Taseia, Faellen, Kairn, and Seth in
particular) I am the creator and owner of. So hands off please. The rest
are copyright to J. K. Rowling.
Author's Note: FINALLY! I get to bring in my late addition. Yes, it was planned to join in a bit behind schedule. It's part of how the plot unfolds. SQUEEE! Read on, read on! I would say what it is here, but that'd be ruining it for you, now wouldn't it? Comments on what you think about this new {blank} would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Mystixnight
Chapter 3 A New Addition
"I'm sorry, child, but there is little we can do for you at the moment, with Head Master Dumbledore at a council meeting."
Luvenia stopped dead in her tracks, cleaning rags dropping to the floor with a rustle of cloth and a dull thud of a brush. She skittered closer to the wall, hugging the cool stones in an effort to hide herself. Bulbous eye shut tight with a squeak. And then. Nothing. One eye opened a mite, peering curiously backwards. Yes, nothing. With a sigh of relief the minute house elf skittered back to her belongings, picking them up with care. She turned to go but paused as another voice replied to the first.
"I would have come sooner, but it had started already by the time I was done."
Luvenia, blinked. She had known the first voice; Professor McGongal. She visited the kitchens every so often to sneak a few snacks, though all the little elves knew very well that they should tell no one. They were devoted creatures, loyal to the core. The thought of revealing their employers' midnight cravings had never even passed through their minds. But this new voice was that of a student. Luvenia clucked silently in reprimand. Students should be in bed by now. The cleaning squad should never be seen, never be heard. If children were out running amuck how would they ever manage that? He sounded young. Second year? Maybe first. He had a light Scottish accent. That meant he had traveled a fair distance to attend. Maybe that was why he was up so late.
"I know, child, I am aware of your conditions but for now you will simply have to find you a place to make your own. I believe that you could find a place in the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomfrey could use bed curtains to separate the room. It seems very impersonal, I know, but in truth you will have much more privacy in the Hospital Wing than in a Common Room. Not to mention peace and quiet."
Luvenia shrugged silently, tip-toeing a smidgen closer to the closed door, the candlelight seeping out with a faint glow to illuminate her tiny frame. It would be harder to get the Hospital Wing as clean with a student sleeping there, but they could manage. Her petit chest swelled with pride. Being a Hogwarts House Elf had definitely been the best employment she had had yet. She truly believed her squadron could handle anything that came along.
"Aye, then I'll stay there."
Luvenia squeaked again as the door swept open, nearly bowling her over. If she had looked back before running light-speed around the next corner she would have seen a very tired looking Professor McGonagall and an equally tired first-year make their way from the offices; a heavy trunk magicked into levitation behind them, so as to follow obediently. The boy blinked sluggishly, a hand raising to scratch behind his left ear, 'fore they turned into the spiral staircase that led to the Hospital Wing and were lost in the darkness there.
* * *
Taseia yawned, arms raising above her head, every limb on her lithe body stretched to it's maximum. She blinked sleepily, mind still lethargic, brushing a strand of her hair out of her azure orbs. She sat up, disentangling herself from the sheet, the comforter pushed down to the end of her bed. It was October, now. The days were getting colder and colder, but whilst other students piled more blankets on, Taseia kept just her singular sheet. She relished the cold, the bite of icy wind. Besides, even if she had been against the idea of waking up chilled, she would have just suffered through it. How did some of them manage with all those layers? She shuddered at the thought. It was too stifling under there. She needed freedom of movement and space.
With another yawn she swung her lengthy legs o'er the side of the four- poster bed, placing her feet with a smothered chirrup of delight on the frozen floor. She stood and walked to her trunk at the foot of the bed, sorting through the neatly organized piles until she found her winter robes.
Her gaze flittered to the window, smile curving her lips at the sight of the sun's rays beginning to peek over the horizon, stretching it's tendrils of light over Hogwarts. Good, it was still early then.
She removed her clothes, piling them neatly into the trunk, and slid just her winter robe over herself.
With nary the sound of a footstep she slid through the door. Within seconds she had scampered wraith-like down the spiral stairs and after a careful glance round the common room to insure that it was empty, she was up the next set of winding stairs and out into the eerily silent halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Her bare feet made not a sound upon the cobblestones as she made her way through corridor after corridor, slipping out of a large, oak doorway, intricately carved. They sure went all out building this place, she thought to herself whilst continuing on.
At last she was outside. She breathed in the crisp autumnal air, relishing in the sting of it as it whipped down to her lungs. Filled to the core with the chill and loving every minute of it, sliver-tinted skin took on an additional glow of pink as the blood was stimulated in the cold.
Her footsteps crackled on the frosted grass as she came to the sandy outer rim of the large lake that dwelled on Hogwarts ground. She squinted from the glare as she looked 'wards the sun. Still just barely risen. She had enough time, then.
Not a word passed her lips as she let her robe fall away to the ground and she slid into the calm, icy water.
Naught a ripple betrayed her descent into the lake. The only indication that she had ever been there was a crumpled winter robe, lying in wait upon the shores of the lake until it's wearer should emerge once more.
* * *
Seth woke up, blinking groggily. Maw stretched open wide, lips curling up as he did so. Sitting up his yawn ceased and he smacked his lips back together in a satisfied air. He flopped over onto his side again, burrowing into the sheets. It was the weekend. He should enjoy these extra moments while he could. Then it would be lessons. Lesson, after lesson, after lesson. He balked at the thought of it, but smothered the distaste by nestling into the blanket folds.
Very comfortable. He could get used to sleeping in a place like this. He flopped in a most undignified manner onto the floor, where he sat, back against the bedside and dug into his trunk with one arm. He rummaged round 'till he felt cloth 'neath his fingers, and pulled out what he had felt. A scarf. Nope. He tossed it onto the bed and continued his efforts. This time he was rewarded with a clean shirt. He pulled it over his head and then rummaged around some more.
And so it continued. By the time he was fully clothed his bed was littered with unneeded apparel. He pushed it all off the bed in the general direction of his trunk, though only a meager portion of the clothing actually landed in its destination. With a careless shrug, he stood and left the Hospital Wing. His stomach had alerted him he was due for breakfast.
* * *
The surface rippled, distorting the view of what lay beneath its surface. Slowly a head broke the mirroring waters, followed closely by shoulders, then a chest, then arms, and so on.
Taseia quickly pulled her robe about her, not too interested in the idea of being found unclothed and soaking wet by the lake in the early morning. A quick glance about assured her of her privacy though, so the slender femme sat cross-legged on the shore, waist-length hair dripping down her back.
She remained there for a long while, letting the sun's rays wash over her like the water itself and dry her slowly. It took a while, but she liked how the light felt when it played over her like that. It might have seemed uncomfortably warm had it not been for the lingering chill of the water and the cool winds that blew constantly. She was almost driven to sleep by the calm of it all.
She shook herself from the soothing, almost meditative, sense of peace and rose; making her way regretfully back to the common room. Once inside the halls of Hogwarts she almost jogged. She wasn't wearing her hat, nor did she have any shoes.
She made it back to the common room with no mishaps, sprinting down the winding staircase. Right into a crowd of RavenClaws.
"Ack!" She let out a small yelp, almost tumbling over backwards, though she caught herself on the banister.
Sienna Larson poked her head out from the crowd and grinned. "Taseia! I was wondering where you were. We couldn't find you when we woke up. You haven' gone and eaten without us have you?" Her expression changed from pleasant bewilderment to bordering hurt.
"No!" Taseia shot forward quickly, a little too much emphasis on her words. She took a deep breath and spoke again, careful to sound both calm and jovial. "I mean. Nah, I just had to go to the bathroom. I forgot I wasn't at home anymore and wandered out into the hallways. I was almost at the Transfiguration Rooms before I remembered where I was!" She laughed, hoping to whatever god there was that it didn't sound as fake to them as it did to her, but was relieved when they laughed too.
"Honestly," Sienna said through her laughter. "You're too much, Taseia!" She went to sling an arm around Taseia, but the other femme ducked out of it.
"Uh. And, er, oh ya! I still haven't been to he bathroom so, um. I have to go now, okay?" She jogged a few paces to the stairs, when she heard Sienna laugh again and say, "S'okay. We'll wait here."
Taseia whipped her head around, and waved a hand in a scoffing manner. "No, no. You guys go ahead! I'll meet you there, just save me a seat!"
Sienna nodded. "If you're sure! See you there." Taseia flashed a grin and bounded up the stairs.
Sienna turned to leave when she noticed that Taseia had left wet footprints on the stairs. She blinked, brow furrowed. Now that she thought about it, had she even been wearing shoes? Lips parted to call out a question to Taseia but it was never voiced as another RavenClaw second year pulled her up the stairs and out into the hallway.
* * *
Taseia smoothed down her silvern hair with one hand whilst walking briskly through the halls, biting her lip as she noted the dampness of it. She pulled her hat down on her head, hoping it would make it less obvious, as she rounded a corner.
Vision impaired for just a moment she collided head on with someone else.
"Gah!" This time she did fall over backwards. She could hear a sort of grunt of surprise, as she sat up with one arm, The other reached out to grasp the wall to help her up. She found a hand instead. She almost fell forward this time, unprepared for the force in which she was hoisted upwards.
She felt the figure in front of her stumble back a few steps as well.
"You're lighter than I expected." The words were muttered, tone blank.
Taseia laughed, pulling her hat above her eyes to find herself looking at Kairn. "I knew it was you. We seem to be developing a nasty habit of bumping into each other. Literally, that is."
Kairn neither laughed nor smiled, but he met he looked her in the face when he spoke now, instead of looking away in a both disinterested and anti- social manner. "So it does. Where are you off too.?"
Taseia tossed her hair over her shoulder. "To the great hall. For Breakfast." She added this last at the blank expression on Kairn's pallet, but as it changed not in the slightest, she decided that it wasn't misunderstanding. It was just Kairn...
"Want to come?" She inquired. Not only for politeness' sake, but also because she found him interesting. It was always in her best wishes to broaden her circle of companions. Kairn opened his mouth to reply, but the words halted even before they breached his maw. He was now looking past Taseia with a smirk that she couldn't tag an emotion to.
"What is it?" She blinked looking over her shoulder at the crowds of people that were now jostling into the Great Hall.
"Fresh meat. Come join the feeding frenzy if you like." With that he swerved past her. Taseia managed a lock her fingers around the back of his sweater to avoid losing sight of him as he shouldered his way through the other students. "What? Fresh meat? I'm not following, Kairn. Fill me in, here!"
She collided with him for the second time in the last half-hour as he lurched to a sudden halt in front of one of the tables. Taseia let go of his sweater, flexing her fingers to relieve the smarting pain that had insued when one of them was crushed between them.
She scowled slightly, looking around her. Above her the tapestries hanging from the ceiling depicted serpentine pictures of green and silver. "Why are we at the Slyth-" She halted her words quickly as she walked astride him and looked at his face. The smirk had deepened and his brow was raised to a height she hadn't thought physically possible. "Mind if I join you?" His tone dripped with sarcastic amusement. Amusement? She hadn't though emotions were in his range of capabilities. His gaze was locked on another.
She turned to find it returned by a snarl of animosity and aggravation from another. A petit girl with flaming hair. Literally flaming hair. She had no questions as to who this might be.
"Nice to meet you Faellen." The golden gaze locked on her on azure orbs first, then the outstretched hand that awaited her. Taseia smiled almost nervously at the still emanated face upon which she looked and silently hoped she hadn't gotten in way over her head.
* * *
Seth made his way into the Common Room slowly, feet dragging, not out of anxiety of sleepiness. Just laziness and an inability to see why not. As he reached the grand oak doors though, he cringed. So many people. And not a single face he knew. He took a look around, hand flickering up in a re- occurring habit to itch behind his ear.
He didn't have a house yet, so it wasn't like he had a designated table to sit at. So he could sit at any of them, he figured. But as he passed table after table, each one filled to the brim with students who only regarded him with unfamiliarity and he was therefore unwelcome at, he began to wonder if it meant he could sit at none of them.
He stopped completely, looking back and forth, unsure as to where to go. A low sound, almost a whining growl built in his vocals as his head swung to and fro. Dark chocolate occuls caught a pair of golden ones, seated on the opposite side of the room. He thought, or maybe just hoped, he saw a ghost of a smile cross the lips that went along with them, and with a replying grin he jogged towards the eyes.
He reached them to see that their owner, a sprightly little femme, was seated beside another. He grinned wider at how opposite they appeared. One was blazing, one was serene, and both were intriguing. And across from them was a lad, darkly clad and lithely built.
Hand rose again to scratch that designated area behind his ear, though no itch even resided there as he spoke, voice thick with his lilting accent. "'Lo. Name's Seth. Pleasure t'meet you."
He received three replies, all of the same words as he had used, "Pleasure to meet you," though one was distinctly less 'spirited', you might say. And I should think you know exactly which child voiced that reply.
Author's Note: FINALLY! I get to bring in my late addition. Yes, it was planned to join in a bit behind schedule. It's part of how the plot unfolds. SQUEEE! Read on, read on! I would say what it is here, but that'd be ruining it for you, now wouldn't it? Comments on what you think about this new {blank} would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Mystixnight
Chapter 3 A New Addition
"I'm sorry, child, but there is little we can do for you at the moment, with Head Master Dumbledore at a council meeting."
Luvenia stopped dead in her tracks, cleaning rags dropping to the floor with a rustle of cloth and a dull thud of a brush. She skittered closer to the wall, hugging the cool stones in an effort to hide herself. Bulbous eye shut tight with a squeak. And then. Nothing. One eye opened a mite, peering curiously backwards. Yes, nothing. With a sigh of relief the minute house elf skittered back to her belongings, picking them up with care. She turned to go but paused as another voice replied to the first.
"I would have come sooner, but it had started already by the time I was done."
Luvenia, blinked. She had known the first voice; Professor McGongal. She visited the kitchens every so often to sneak a few snacks, though all the little elves knew very well that they should tell no one. They were devoted creatures, loyal to the core. The thought of revealing their employers' midnight cravings had never even passed through their minds. But this new voice was that of a student. Luvenia clucked silently in reprimand. Students should be in bed by now. The cleaning squad should never be seen, never be heard. If children were out running amuck how would they ever manage that? He sounded young. Second year? Maybe first. He had a light Scottish accent. That meant he had traveled a fair distance to attend. Maybe that was why he was up so late.
"I know, child, I am aware of your conditions but for now you will simply have to find you a place to make your own. I believe that you could find a place in the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomfrey could use bed curtains to separate the room. It seems very impersonal, I know, but in truth you will have much more privacy in the Hospital Wing than in a Common Room. Not to mention peace and quiet."
Luvenia shrugged silently, tip-toeing a smidgen closer to the closed door, the candlelight seeping out with a faint glow to illuminate her tiny frame. It would be harder to get the Hospital Wing as clean with a student sleeping there, but they could manage. Her petit chest swelled with pride. Being a Hogwarts House Elf had definitely been the best employment she had had yet. She truly believed her squadron could handle anything that came along.
"Aye, then I'll stay there."
Luvenia squeaked again as the door swept open, nearly bowling her over. If she had looked back before running light-speed around the next corner she would have seen a very tired looking Professor McGonagall and an equally tired first-year make their way from the offices; a heavy trunk magicked into levitation behind them, so as to follow obediently. The boy blinked sluggishly, a hand raising to scratch behind his left ear, 'fore they turned into the spiral staircase that led to the Hospital Wing and were lost in the darkness there.
* * *
Taseia yawned, arms raising above her head, every limb on her lithe body stretched to it's maximum. She blinked sleepily, mind still lethargic, brushing a strand of her hair out of her azure orbs. She sat up, disentangling herself from the sheet, the comforter pushed down to the end of her bed. It was October, now. The days were getting colder and colder, but whilst other students piled more blankets on, Taseia kept just her singular sheet. She relished the cold, the bite of icy wind. Besides, even if she had been against the idea of waking up chilled, she would have just suffered through it. How did some of them manage with all those layers? She shuddered at the thought. It was too stifling under there. She needed freedom of movement and space.
With another yawn she swung her lengthy legs o'er the side of the four- poster bed, placing her feet with a smothered chirrup of delight on the frozen floor. She stood and walked to her trunk at the foot of the bed, sorting through the neatly organized piles until she found her winter robes.
Her gaze flittered to the window, smile curving her lips at the sight of the sun's rays beginning to peek over the horizon, stretching it's tendrils of light over Hogwarts. Good, it was still early then.
She removed her clothes, piling them neatly into the trunk, and slid just her winter robe over herself.
With nary the sound of a footstep she slid through the door. Within seconds she had scampered wraith-like down the spiral stairs and after a careful glance round the common room to insure that it was empty, she was up the next set of winding stairs and out into the eerily silent halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Her bare feet made not a sound upon the cobblestones as she made her way through corridor after corridor, slipping out of a large, oak doorway, intricately carved. They sure went all out building this place, she thought to herself whilst continuing on.
At last she was outside. She breathed in the crisp autumnal air, relishing in the sting of it as it whipped down to her lungs. Filled to the core with the chill and loving every minute of it, sliver-tinted skin took on an additional glow of pink as the blood was stimulated in the cold.
Her footsteps crackled on the frosted grass as she came to the sandy outer rim of the large lake that dwelled on Hogwarts ground. She squinted from the glare as she looked 'wards the sun. Still just barely risen. She had enough time, then.
Not a word passed her lips as she let her robe fall away to the ground and she slid into the calm, icy water.
Naught a ripple betrayed her descent into the lake. The only indication that she had ever been there was a crumpled winter robe, lying in wait upon the shores of the lake until it's wearer should emerge once more.
* * *
Seth woke up, blinking groggily. Maw stretched open wide, lips curling up as he did so. Sitting up his yawn ceased and he smacked his lips back together in a satisfied air. He flopped over onto his side again, burrowing into the sheets. It was the weekend. He should enjoy these extra moments while he could. Then it would be lessons. Lesson, after lesson, after lesson. He balked at the thought of it, but smothered the distaste by nestling into the blanket folds.
Very comfortable. He could get used to sleeping in a place like this. He flopped in a most undignified manner onto the floor, where he sat, back against the bedside and dug into his trunk with one arm. He rummaged round 'till he felt cloth 'neath his fingers, and pulled out what he had felt. A scarf. Nope. He tossed it onto the bed and continued his efforts. This time he was rewarded with a clean shirt. He pulled it over his head and then rummaged around some more.
And so it continued. By the time he was fully clothed his bed was littered with unneeded apparel. He pushed it all off the bed in the general direction of his trunk, though only a meager portion of the clothing actually landed in its destination. With a careless shrug, he stood and left the Hospital Wing. His stomach had alerted him he was due for breakfast.
* * *
The surface rippled, distorting the view of what lay beneath its surface. Slowly a head broke the mirroring waters, followed closely by shoulders, then a chest, then arms, and so on.
Taseia quickly pulled her robe about her, not too interested in the idea of being found unclothed and soaking wet by the lake in the early morning. A quick glance about assured her of her privacy though, so the slender femme sat cross-legged on the shore, waist-length hair dripping down her back.
She remained there for a long while, letting the sun's rays wash over her like the water itself and dry her slowly. It took a while, but she liked how the light felt when it played over her like that. It might have seemed uncomfortably warm had it not been for the lingering chill of the water and the cool winds that blew constantly. She was almost driven to sleep by the calm of it all.
She shook herself from the soothing, almost meditative, sense of peace and rose; making her way regretfully back to the common room. Once inside the halls of Hogwarts she almost jogged. She wasn't wearing her hat, nor did she have any shoes.
She made it back to the common room with no mishaps, sprinting down the winding staircase. Right into a crowd of RavenClaws.
"Ack!" She let out a small yelp, almost tumbling over backwards, though she caught herself on the banister.
Sienna Larson poked her head out from the crowd and grinned. "Taseia! I was wondering where you were. We couldn't find you when we woke up. You haven' gone and eaten without us have you?" Her expression changed from pleasant bewilderment to bordering hurt.
"No!" Taseia shot forward quickly, a little too much emphasis on her words. She took a deep breath and spoke again, careful to sound both calm and jovial. "I mean. Nah, I just had to go to the bathroom. I forgot I wasn't at home anymore and wandered out into the hallways. I was almost at the Transfiguration Rooms before I remembered where I was!" She laughed, hoping to whatever god there was that it didn't sound as fake to them as it did to her, but was relieved when they laughed too.
"Honestly," Sienna said through her laughter. "You're too much, Taseia!" She went to sling an arm around Taseia, but the other femme ducked out of it.
"Uh. And, er, oh ya! I still haven't been to he bathroom so, um. I have to go now, okay?" She jogged a few paces to the stairs, when she heard Sienna laugh again and say, "S'okay. We'll wait here."
Taseia whipped her head around, and waved a hand in a scoffing manner. "No, no. You guys go ahead! I'll meet you there, just save me a seat!"
Sienna nodded. "If you're sure! See you there." Taseia flashed a grin and bounded up the stairs.
Sienna turned to leave when she noticed that Taseia had left wet footprints on the stairs. She blinked, brow furrowed. Now that she thought about it, had she even been wearing shoes? Lips parted to call out a question to Taseia but it was never voiced as another RavenClaw second year pulled her up the stairs and out into the hallway.
* * *
Taseia smoothed down her silvern hair with one hand whilst walking briskly through the halls, biting her lip as she noted the dampness of it. She pulled her hat down on her head, hoping it would make it less obvious, as she rounded a corner.
Vision impaired for just a moment she collided head on with someone else.
"Gah!" This time she did fall over backwards. She could hear a sort of grunt of surprise, as she sat up with one arm, The other reached out to grasp the wall to help her up. She found a hand instead. She almost fell forward this time, unprepared for the force in which she was hoisted upwards.
She felt the figure in front of her stumble back a few steps as well.
"You're lighter than I expected." The words were muttered, tone blank.
Taseia laughed, pulling her hat above her eyes to find herself looking at Kairn. "I knew it was you. We seem to be developing a nasty habit of bumping into each other. Literally, that is."
Kairn neither laughed nor smiled, but he met he looked her in the face when he spoke now, instead of looking away in a both disinterested and anti- social manner. "So it does. Where are you off too.?"
Taseia tossed her hair over her shoulder. "To the great hall. For Breakfast." She added this last at the blank expression on Kairn's pallet, but as it changed not in the slightest, she decided that it wasn't misunderstanding. It was just Kairn...
"Want to come?" She inquired. Not only for politeness' sake, but also because she found him interesting. It was always in her best wishes to broaden her circle of companions. Kairn opened his mouth to reply, but the words halted even before they breached his maw. He was now looking past Taseia with a smirk that she couldn't tag an emotion to.
"What is it?" She blinked looking over her shoulder at the crowds of people that were now jostling into the Great Hall.
"Fresh meat. Come join the feeding frenzy if you like." With that he swerved past her. Taseia managed a lock her fingers around the back of his sweater to avoid losing sight of him as he shouldered his way through the other students. "What? Fresh meat? I'm not following, Kairn. Fill me in, here!"
She collided with him for the second time in the last half-hour as he lurched to a sudden halt in front of one of the tables. Taseia let go of his sweater, flexing her fingers to relieve the smarting pain that had insued when one of them was crushed between them.
She scowled slightly, looking around her. Above her the tapestries hanging from the ceiling depicted serpentine pictures of green and silver. "Why are we at the Slyth-" She halted her words quickly as she walked astride him and looked at his face. The smirk had deepened and his brow was raised to a height she hadn't thought physically possible. "Mind if I join you?" His tone dripped with sarcastic amusement. Amusement? She hadn't though emotions were in his range of capabilities. His gaze was locked on another.
She turned to find it returned by a snarl of animosity and aggravation from another. A petit girl with flaming hair. Literally flaming hair. She had no questions as to who this might be.
"Nice to meet you Faellen." The golden gaze locked on her on azure orbs first, then the outstretched hand that awaited her. Taseia smiled almost nervously at the still emanated face upon which she looked and silently hoped she hadn't gotten in way over her head.
* * *
Seth made his way into the Common Room slowly, feet dragging, not out of anxiety of sleepiness. Just laziness and an inability to see why not. As he reached the grand oak doors though, he cringed. So many people. And not a single face he knew. He took a look around, hand flickering up in a re- occurring habit to itch behind his ear.
He didn't have a house yet, so it wasn't like he had a designated table to sit at. So he could sit at any of them, he figured. But as he passed table after table, each one filled to the brim with students who only regarded him with unfamiliarity and he was therefore unwelcome at, he began to wonder if it meant he could sit at none of them.
He stopped completely, looking back and forth, unsure as to where to go. A low sound, almost a whining growl built in his vocals as his head swung to and fro. Dark chocolate occuls caught a pair of golden ones, seated on the opposite side of the room. He thought, or maybe just hoped, he saw a ghost of a smile cross the lips that went along with them, and with a replying grin he jogged towards the eyes.
He reached them to see that their owner, a sprightly little femme, was seated beside another. He grinned wider at how opposite they appeared. One was blazing, one was serene, and both were intriguing. And across from them was a lad, darkly clad and lithely built.
Hand rose again to scratch that designated area behind his ear, though no itch even resided there as he spoke, voice thick with his lilting accent. "'Lo. Name's Seth. Pleasure t'meet you."
He received three replies, all of the same words as he had used, "Pleasure to meet you," though one was distinctly less 'spirited', you might say. And I should think you know exactly which child voiced that reply.
