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Tweak says, "Frandy!"

Veda Saraswati Patil (stargazer_veda) wrote in incanesco_rpg,
@ 2011-07-01 09:08:00

Entry tags:

declan samuels, veda patil

Who: Declan Samuels and Veda Patil
What: Post-Ancient Runes collision/awkward bonding
When: Thursday 30th September, afternoon [Backdated]
Where: The corridor outside of the Ancient Runes classroom
Rating: TBD but probably low
Status: Incomplete

After a quick but intensive grammar session, Professor Khetia had let their Ancient Runes lesson finish ten minutes early, but Veda was still amongst the last few lingering in the classroom. She felt a bit dazed after getting back their translation test from the previous class, because Veda was normally the kind of girl who did extra bits of translation for fun and yet this time she'd made one minor mistranslation, meaning that she had only got 98%. Admittedly it wasn't a terrible mark, but Veda was surprisingly competitive, and Runes had always been one of her best subjects.

Slowly making her way out of the classroom with a pile of books under one arm, Veda scanned her notes trying to see where she had gone wrong. Really, if she couldn't even get 110% on a translation test, then Veda didn't know why Lily thought she'd be a decent mentor to a younger pupil. Veda had only agreed because she'd conceded that her academic strengths might be helpful in tutoring someone younger, but clearly this notion was questionable. She'd have to tell Lily the next time she saw her, because anyone who still thought 'ehwaz' meant 'defence' at NEWT level was clearly in no state to--

"Oh!" The next thing Veda knew she had walked into something quite solid, and her books and pieces of parchment were suddenly strewn all over the floor along with someone else's. Immediately kneeling on the floor, Veda attempted to retrieve her things, glancing up apologetically and feeling her cheeks begin to heat up. "I'm so sorry, Declan! I'm afraid I really wasn't paying any attention to where I was going."

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freedomflight
2011-07-01 11:49 pm UTC (link)

Declan had been waiting for the rest of the class to exit as usual. He was always the last student to leave the room, his awkwardness preventing him from darting for the door as so many of his peers were inclined to do. He didn't mind being last; it meant that he had more time to pack away his things and go over the lesson in his mind before moving on. At that present moment, his eyes were skimming over a letter that he'd been drafting to the Head Girl as the rest of the class got up to leave. In it, he'd apologised for letting her and everybody else down, but explained that he simply didn't believe that he was the right sort of person for the job. It was polite and courteous as it ought to have been, since Dec had been pouring over it for days now. He simply didn't want to disappoint anybody but he still couldn't fathom why he'd been included in the first place.

It was no surprise that Declan was caught completely unaware as something bumped into him, his eyes still fixed on the letter. The items in his arms fell ungracefully to the floor and he instantly bent down to gather them up again without so much as a sound. Upon crouching, he came face to face with a fellow student and instantly he felt his own face darken at Veda's apology. "It's okay," he replied quietly, hurrying to pick up his things, "It was an accident."

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stargazer_veda
2011-07-03 03:28 am UTC (link)

Veda had always found Declan rather intriguing, if only because he was just as quiet as she tended to be, and she wondered if she ought to try starting a conversation with him in order to get to know him better. After all, she got along fairly well with the other Ravenclaws, but then something told her that circumstances like these weren't the best for instigating conversation.

"Well yes," she agreed sheepishly, "But it was still stupid of me not to be watching where I was going." Veda saw his hand going to a piece of parchment which she was almost certain was her Ancient Runes test, and panicking that Declan would judge her for it, she quickly grabbed it, hastily murmuring, "Sorry, I think that's mine!"

Only, a glance over it made it clear that it was not her sheet of translations, but rather a letter, the contents of which she took in without really meaning to. Frowning, Veda looked at Declan intently, because she knew very well that he was clever, and couldn't see why he would want to back out too. It then struck her how unacceptable and impolite it was that she had just read his personal letter, and she hurriedly handed it back to him, her head bowed as she began muttering in embarrassment, "Sorry, I thought it was-- I mean, I didn't mean to...it just looked like..." Veda wasn't sure if blushes really showed up on her complexion, but all the same she had a feeling her cheeks were probably rather red by now.

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freedomflight
2011-07-03 05:17 am UTC (link)

In being somebody who was so quiet, Declan often made a habit out of people watching. Therefore he knew of Veda and had observed her during class on numerous occasions (though not obviously, of course). He had always figured that should such a time come where he put himself forward enough to speak to somebody, that she would be the ideal sort. She seemed rather like him in a few ways, yet he knew that he would never have the nerve to approach her head-on. Which was rather curious, considering the pair of them were face to face right now.

Declan watched with slightly raised eyebrows as Veda snatched up the parchment. He rose again to his full height once everything else of his had been picked up, his eyes watching the Slytherin curiously as she began to ramble. Accepting the parchment from her and letting his eyes drop to it, he looked back up after a moment with a blush colouring his own cheeks. "You don't have to apologise," he said in a soft tone, "As I said before, it was an accident. As was this. I know you didn't mean to read it."

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stargazer_veda
2011-07-03 08:02 am UTC (link)

It was strange, really, that you could have lessons with a person for over six years and still not know them, and yet it was how Veda felt with most of her peers. That Declan genuinely didn't appear annoyed or upset made her feel somehow endeared to him, especially given that many people at Hogwarts would be inclined to think the worst when it came to Slytherins. As such, Veda felt motivated into attempting a chat with the Ravenclaw, especially now that she realised they had something in common.

She gathered up her last few bits and pieces before standing too, a tentative smile gracing her lips as she met the boy's gaze, absently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, well, um, thanks", Veda said in a similarly gentle tone, before blurting in what she immediately judged to be a misguided burst of intrusive confidence, "For the record, I was thinking of saying something along those lines to Lily too."

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freedomflight
2011-07-04 09:22 pm UTC (link)

Declan continued to fix his gaze on Veda, smiling ever so slightly as she spoke. Really, he had no problems at all with Slytherins. It was silly to stick everybody in the same category just because of a few individuals. Besides, he'd always been brought up to accept anybody who crossed his path and that most definitely included Slytherins. He'd never had a problem with Veda and so she was extended the same respect that Declan gave everybody.

"You're welcome," he returned, nodding shortly before turning to leave. There was a small part of him that thought he ought to have stayed and chatted, but they were blocking the doorway and he was unsure of whether Veda had another class. He himself had a free period but he would never want to be the reason for making another student late.

The next words out of Veda's mouth stopped him however. He was aware that the Slytherin had read his letter and vaguely recalled her name being included in Lily's journal entry, but he hadn't expected her to bring it up, let alone be thinking in a similar fashion. The subject matter made him blush a little the tops of his ears colouring scarlett as he slowly turned back to face her. "I know it isn't any of my business," he began, his tone cautionary as his eyes settled on her face, "But why don't you think you're suited? From what I know about you, which admittedly isn't a lot, you seem more than capable."

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stargazer_veda
2011-07-05 08:59 am UTC (link)

Students were beginning to file along the corridors, and as Declan too turned, Veda realised that she was probably running late for Herbology, but seeing as there was little to do with the plants these days what with all the recent rain, Veda decided that she could afford to be late.

Veda was never usually one to discuss her insecurities and problems with others, feeling it was inappropriate to burden others with her own worries. It had taken years of slowly growing friendship for her to feel comfortable in confiding just the smallest of issues with Reena and Xiang, and - much as she found that she enjoyed talking to him - Veda had not yet intentionally told Isaac about her insecurities. This was different though, because as the shy politeness, the reddened ears, and - obviously - the letter itself proved, Declan was having exactly the same issues.

"Seeing as I just read your letter and brought up the contents, I would say it was entirely within your rights to ask that", Veda replied with a wry smile, before chewing her lip as she considered his question, her dark eyes dropping to the floor. "It's very kind of you to say, although really I could say just the same about you.", she began, slowly, "I hate to sound conceited, but I do know that I'm reasonably clever. Aside from that, though, I really don't...", Veda looked up at him, with a small frown, "I don't have anything of use to offer a younger pupil beyond tutelage, and even then my academic prowess is bit questionable at the moment." Veda wondered about Declan's own reasons, but considered that it might be looked upon as prying to ask him. Instead she crossed her arms self-consciously, worrying she had revealed too much about herself and thus considering running away down to the greenhouses before the Ravenclaw had a chance to react.

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freedomflight
2011-07-06 01:35 am UTC (link)

"I don't think you sound conceited," Declan said once Veda was finished. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Why deny intelligence in order to be modest if it was a simple fact? He didn't respond to the returning complement with words, but he did send the Slytherin a small yet grateful smile. Her words most definitely resonated with him, since he believed himself to be at least moderately intelligent. He was extremely awkward when it came to social situations however, something that he believed was one of the biggest obstacles stopping him from ever being a successful mentor.

Nodding as he listened, he waited until the girl was finished before speaking. "I feel the same," he replied somewhat solemnly, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I can barely talk to people in our year who I've known for six years, let alone somebody new who is apparently supposed to turn to me for guidance." Hearing himself say it only validated it in his mind that he wasn't the right person for this task. "I'm not a good role model."

Once again looking up, he nodded towards the corridor. "Shall we walk?" he asked a moment later, becoming increasingly aware of the time, "Do you have a class?"

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stargazer_veda
2011-07-07 03:38 am UTC (link)

Veda had to laugh a little bit, such was her empathy with Declan's words. "I think it's probably quite telling for the both of us that this is the first time either of us has spoken to the other outside of classroom! But then", she mused, thoughtfully, "I suppose if you were to look upon mentoring as a purely selfish endeavour, it might be good for us to help out a younger pupil. And I don't know, I think you're a very good role model; I mean, when I was a first year I would have quite liked help from someone like you. I think if I'd had someone really brash and confident trying to talk to me I would've tried to run away!" It was true that Veda would probably have been glad back then to find some like-minded company. Well, disregarding the fact that first year Veda had very much thought it entirely improper to talk to males who weren't related to her.

"Oh, right! Yes we should probably start moving", Veda replied with a sheepish smile, eyeing the growing crowd in the corridor, "I do actually have Herbology now, and as I'm probably making you run late for something too, I should head off..." It was a shame really, as there was something quite nice about realising she wasn't the only one who had quite so much self-doubt when it came to things like this.

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freedomflight
2011-07-10 06:28 pm UTC (link)

Declan's face only got redder at Veda's words. He couldn't understand why exactly she believed that he'd be a good role model and, as much as he was curious to find out, he didn't ask. There was a small part of him that was anxious about what she would say. "I agree," he replied quietly, nodding ever so slightly, "Although I sometimes wonder if I'd be more willing to be open with people if someone had attempted to forcibly tug me from my shell." He figured that it was yet another question that he'd never know the answer to.

"I don't have anything else to do right now," he said calmly, "I could walk with you, if you'd like?" That was confident of him. So much so that it made him pause, his bottom lip clenched between his teeth. Unsure of why he was being so bold, he averted his eyes to the ground before his hand came to rub nervously at the back of his neck.

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stargazer_veda
2011-07-14 10:14 am UTC (link)

Veda considered the boy's words, wondering whether she too would've been more open with her peers had someone forced her into conversation, but given that she had been raised to be polite and proper she suspected that few people would have managed to change her manner. On the other hand, Veda thought of Isaac and how his chattiness seemed to bring her somewhat out of her shell "I think", she said slowly with a shy smile, "Once you actually start talking to someone, you sometimes come out of your shell without really realising you have, if that makes sense." She considered if the same thing might be true of herself and Declan at that moment, because now that first difficult hurdle of actually starting to talk to one another had at least been passed.

"Oh! That would be great, actually - thanks," Veda replied, feeling a little surprised at the Ravenclaw's offer, and yet at the same time pleased that he had suggested it (knowing full well that she would not have been bold enough herself). "So shall we, um--?" Veda gestured in the direction of the greenhouses with that same small smile, tilting her head slightly in an attempt to meet Declan's gaze.

As they began to walk, it occurred to Veda that there might be an awkward silence for the rest of their journey unless she said something and so she hurriedly asked, "So how are you finding seventh year so far?" It was really not the most sparkling conversation in the world, but it was something at least.

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