Boredom is never welcomed

[Adrienne Leveque]

Adrienne had been wandering around the school she had been going to for the past year, and had been thinking of what she would be doing after graduation. There were various options, she knew, but she never really full on thought about it until now. A sigh escaped her as she played with the hem of her dress and leaned against the counter.

She had found herself in the kitchen for no apparent reason other than that is where her feet have led her, and she didn't know what else there was to do. She wasn't all that hungry, and so didn't see any need to cook or look through the fridge. She yawned, and tapped her foot lightly, the beat of a song she had recently heard on the radio going through her head. She wished she had brought her guitar with her. At least then she would at least be able to do something mildly productive as she looked for other ways to cure her boredom.

"Someone to talk to would be nice," She told the empty room, wondering where everyone was.

[GuestGuest]

Storm had worked the morning shift at the local dry cleaners and was done for the day. Right now, they just had her on light hours till she learned the rest of the processes but so far, she seemed to be doing well. Oddly enough, she found she enjoyed using the big ironing machine that flat pressed slacks and such. Captain Jack wasn't too pleased with the heat that came out of it but he dealt with it quietly (not that pygmy puffs made all that much noise anyway) since Storm had informed him that if he complained, he'd have to stay at home in her dorm room. Since Doc was usually off with Oli, it would be no fun for the puff to be by himself.

Parking her car in one of the assigned areas for students, Storm realized she was kind of hungry and headed straight for the kitchen only to hear a voice asking for someone to talk to. "Be careful what you ask for," she retorted with a grin, "You might get it." Storm headed for the cabinet and took out the powdered milo to make herself a mug of it. "Want some?" she asked the other student who she recognized as another seventh year. Storm had been in and out so much, she had not had a chance to meet anyone beyond those she knew already. It seemed like that was going to change.

[Adrienne Leveque]

Adrienne turned at the sound of another female voice, and she blushed lightly at being caught talking alone before smiling at the other girl. She knew she had seen her before, and thought that they were probably in the same year if that was the case. "Well, I was actually hoping to get it," laughed Adrienne. "It's been terribly boring without anything to do, and I was hoping to find someone to at least talk to, since I've gotten pretty bored of my guitar."

"Oh, no thank you," said Adrienne with a shake of her head. With a curious tilt of her head, she leaned on the counter and asked, "You're a Seventh Year too, am I right?" She then smiled and extended her hand. "I'm Adrienne, by the way."

She was rather used to starting conversations with people she barely knew. After all, how could you befriend and get to know them without stepping up to the plate? Though she would be lying if she said that she never got nervous when meeting new people. It was always a new experience with every new person she met, noted Adrienne with a thoughtful smile.

[GuestGuest]

"Well, I guess you sort of found someone," Storm replied, still grinning. "Or maybe I found you." She went about making her mug of milo and nodded at Adrienne's question. "Yes, though I sort of find it hard to believe. Seems it took so long to get to seventh year and now suddenly it's here," Storm admitted before adding her own introduction to the conversation. "Nice to meet you Adrienne. I'm Storm Canavacciuolo, but don't worry if you can't remember the last name. " No, it wasn't one of your easier last names to attempt.

The mug of milo done and ready, Storm cupped both hands around the mug drawing on its warmth to her chilled fingers. It may have been sunny out but it was still winter and the air was definitely nippy. "Oh, and this is Captain Jack," she added after the pygmy puff on her shoulder nudged her neck several times to remind her to introduce him as well.

[Adrienne Leveque]

Nodding soberly at Storm's comment about Seventh Year, Adrienne added, "Do you know what you'll be doing after graduation?" She asked before she chuckled at the girl's comment on her own name. "It is rather different," agreed Adrienne, honestly finding the girl's name wonderfully unique and uncommon. It was nice, and Adrienne mentally promised that she would give her child (should she have any in the future) a unique name as well.

It was rather odd to be wearing a dress, Adrienne knew, but that didn't exactly mean she minded. It was just one of her quirks, and she didn't bother changing that part of her at all. She threw on what she wished, and didn't mind what other people thought of it, unless of course, her attire is entirely inappropriate for the time and place, which, for heaven's sake, has never happened before.

"Why hello there, Captain Jack." Adrienne greeted with a friendly smile. "Pygmy Puffs are just so cute," she commented with a laugh, moving to pet the puff with a finger.

[GuestGuest]

Storm smiled as Adrienne greeted Captain Jack, who loved attention almost as much as eating. She sometimes wondered if he and Doc did anything but eat when they were together. As the conversation turned to future choices, she nodded. "I want to go on to study Magical Law and Government." This was a subject that had become rather dear to Storm and took very little urging to discuss. "Mel's dad.. She's the Muggle Studies professor who just had a baby... Well, her dad spoke in the Magical Law class at the school I was at last year and, well, it was just so perfect sounding as something to study more of!" Enthusiasm, she had it for the subject. The only flaw in Storm's plan was, now she didn't know where she wanted to study. She had thought maybe Italy since her dad took over the school there but when she went to visit him during break, well, he seemed too busy so it sort of defeated the purpose. That was yet for her to decide at the moment.

"How about you? Any idea what you want to do after we graduate?" she asked Adrienne

[Adrienne Leveque]

Adrienne wasn't at all surprised to hear that Storm seemingly had it all planned out already, and she would be lying if she said she wasn't jealous. She barely knew what she wished to do, just that she wanted to continue studying until she was sure of where her life would go. She had always been fascinated with Potions and Healing, so Adrienne was a little pulled to become a Healer, but she still wasn't sure and knew that she had to think about it before making a final decision. "Healing and Potion-making is on top of my list, though I'm still quite torn between the two, honestly." She said, a faint blush on her cheeks.

"I'm looking at three possible future schools because of this," muttered Adrienne halfheartedly. She was quite excited at the prospect of going to new places and meeting new people, but she didn't like that she still had to choose where she would go. "Though I'm not exactly sure that I'd stay in Australia." She said. "It just seems to me that going elsewhere gives variety and brand new experiences."

"What are the schools you're looking at?" Adrienne asked Storm, genuinely wondering whether or not they had similar choice of schools.

[GuestGuest]

Storm had drifted for the longest time till that fateful day that Robert Ashton was the guest speaker in her Magical Law & Government class. It was funny how one little class made it all suddenly click for her and made her realize what field she really wanted to be in. "Well, I began to wonder if I'd ever know what I wanted to study or do after school. I think my dad kind of always assumed I'd just follow along with what he did and study DADA but, well, it just didn't interest me as something to really spend a lot of time in," she told Adrienne. "I mean it's useful and all but being involved with it every day? Not for me. Then last year, when Mr. A spoke to our class, well..." She trailed off, smiling. "You'll get to meet him if you get involved in Muggles United. He's really cool and his daughter teaches Muggle Studies here."

"Healing? Oh you should talk to Kat! She is really good at stuff like that," Storm told her. "Though both of those kind of go together," she observed. She frowned a bit at the question of schools. "Not sure. I think I kind of want to stay here but then, I look at stuff from OUSM in England and wonder if I should go there." No, Storm did not have it all worked out yet.

[Adrienne Leveque]

"Oh really? Why is that? What does your dad do for a living? Is he an Auror? Because mine's an Auror, but he doesn't really mind what I do, so long as I'm happy. And it just so happens that I've inherited my mother's knack for helping people out and her passion for potion-making as well. Though she took Healing as a course instead of Advanced Potion-Making." She said all in one breath, not at all caring that Storm probably couldn't care any less. She was just glad to have someone to talk to. And being the natural talker that she is, she jumped on the opportunity to speak, even if it was about her own life.

"Kat..?" Adrienne repeated curiously, before a look of realization dawned on her. "Oh yeah. She wants to be a Healer too?" She shrugged, "I know they come together, but there are times that I wonder what it would be like if I focused solely on becoming a Potioneer or something." She nodded in agreement at Storm's words regarding OUSM. "They have a variety of courses offered there, and have a rather great reputation, so I guess those are a couple of things that pull me to it." She explained. "But NMAT offers a great Advanced Potion-Making Course, so I'm stuck once more." She sighed, never once thinking that the day she had to decide her future school was no longer her future, but her present.

[GuestGuest]

Storm nodded and grimaced. "Yeah, really. No, he's not an auror, but he teaches it. Kind of not really exciting to me. Dad's not upset with the choice cause seems some of his family used to work for the ministry back home in Italy. Guess its kind of like a family business so he's okay about it." However, the fact that Adrienne's dad was an auror was interesting to Storm. "Your dad really is an auror? Does he like working for the ministry?"

Storm nodded affirmatively, again, only this time smiling. "Yeah, she does. Her family does a lot with WWB and all and she's really good at some stuff. She's pretty nice." Storm had not gotten to spend much time with Kat but enjoyed when they were in the same classes together, especially since that day at the old school when Kat showed up in otter form.

"I think that whatever we do, it should be something we like. After all, how can you want to do something that you don't enjoy for the rest of your life?" Which was exactly why it had taken so long for Storm to find her niche, to find what she wanted to study and develop a career in. Nothing excited her enough that she could see herself doing it forever (or at least for life). "I guess we'll figure out what school we want eventually. I may just wait to apply to OUSM for a couple of years and take courses here for now." For now, for Storm, being until Oli graduated as well.

[Adrienne Leveque]

"Oh I get what you mean." Adrienne said, remembering the stories her father told her about when he chose to be an auror despite her grandparents and aunts and uncles blatant dislike for the job. "My dad came from a family that were all teachers, usually of Potions or Charms, but there were some Transfiguration thrown in there as well. But basically, they were all either teachers, or learning to be one. And he was the first to change. He always told me that he just didn't feel right being in a room all day talking to a bunch of kids about something he wasn't passionate about. So he stood up and went on to be an Auror, even if most of his relatives wanted him disowned the moment they found out." She shrugged at the absurdity that was her family. "But my grandparents were really understanding people, and they knew that it was always best to follow one's heart."

"Maybe getting to know her sounds nice," she said offhandedly, making a mental note to actually do that at a later date. "And I completely agree with you," nodded Adrienne. "I can hardly imagine myself teaching, actually, seeing as I can't really be strict and I can barely follow the rules all the time, let alone get others to follow them." She said, laughing. "Well, if you do apply there, maybe we'll bump into each other there as well?"

[GuestGuest]

Storm had to laugh a bit at the reversal of their situations to some extent. "That's funny. You're family were all teachers till your dad went to work for the Ministry and mine was all Ministry till my dad became a teacher." Talk about opposite coincidences. Though Storm frowned when Adrienne told her about the reaction some of the relatives had to her father's decision. "It's a shame they did that. Not fair at all," she commented, feelings like that being a good portion of the reason she choose the course of study she had chosen. "At least your grandparents understand. They sound a bit like my Nonna."

"Rules? We're supposed to follow them?" Storm asked with a look of mock surprise on her face before laughing. "Well, I sorta follow them, unless they seem unfair to me then I argue them," she admitted. So far, at the new school, that had not been an issue. Fairness seemed to be the name of the game here. Storm saved her arguments for the future right now. "It would be nice to have some classes together," Storm agreed, "I think I will just apply here for now and transfer later. Maybe you could take a little of both courses at first till you make up your mind if you don't before then," she added.

[Adrienne Leveque]

"Nona...?" Adrienne repeated curiously. "Is she your grandmother or something?" She knew that there were some who called their grandparents by different pet names or what, seeing as she herself called her paternal grandparents Lolo (grandfather) and Lola (grandmother), staying true to her FIlipino heritage, and then her maternal grandparents Nanay (mother) and Tatay (Father).

"Well, they do say rules were meant to be broken," laughed Adrienne. "That's true." She nodded, agreeing with Storm's logic. "Thought it's nice that I had no problem here though." She mused, satisfied smile on her face. "Yeah, I might just try that." Adrienne nodded, her mind racing with all the possibilities.

"Well, future aside, what's a good thing to do right now?" She asked. "I left my guitar in my room, so I don't really know what else to do, since I'm rarely apart from my guitar."

[Alassima Sam Salkfeanor]

Sam had been enjoying quite a pleasant morning, walking though the bush she was humming a old song, her long ears tucked under a hand knitted beanie Rowan had made for her. Sam had been rather paranoid of her appearance ever since she'd wandered into a shop once and had a lady 'see' her. Sam was quite young for her people and didn't know all of the worlds wonders.. after all she was hardly two hundred years old! The cold weather was still quite strange to Sam but she was adapting and growing stronger for the good air and soil beneath her bare feet as she made her way across the fields, moving swiftly though the bushland like a wild thing towards the place she did call home. It was a good thing too for if Moria hadn't reminded her that she had a class to teach Sam might have been quite happy to remain wandering around the gardens and sunning herself amongst the long grass as she listened to the sound of the winds and felt the flow of water deep under the earth. Elves where often accused of being lazy or aloof to the affairs of others, prone to giggle and watch clouds rather then do a honest days work but it was all a matter of perspective. To Sam it made utterly no sense that humans always did rush about to be doing one thing or another.

Funny that it was a obligation to humans that had her rushing now, nimbly leaping over fallen logs and climbing over one of the many nasty fences that humans had built to divide up the land. It felt good to move again, to be part of the world even if she knew she didn't truly belong in it. Her kind where more reminiscent of a time before fences when the wilderness stretched as far as the eye could see and you could walk many days without coming across a human. Now of course it took all her efforts just to find a safe path away from humans. It might have seemed odd but Sam felt stronger the nearer she grew to the school, the white building on the hill marking the land that she had come to call home. It was a elven thing that while she barely spent any time inside the school she would always return there, home was a important landmark for her kind, and it was important too for without her own people she would be very lost indeed.

Sam had thought at first to climb into her treehouse to put away the 'treasures' she had collected on her journey and shoved into her bag. However her sensitive ears picked up the sound of students talking. Ohyes her class! Sam quickly glanced around then waved her hands at a pile of old terracotta pots that had been laying out awaiting a Herbology class to put them to good use, Sam's classes however where always more scatterbrained from whatever she found lying around.. which was much the case as she marched into the building with a bag over her shoulder and a pile of pots in her hands. "Vedui Storm and Adrienne.. you are here for class yes?" Looking around brightly with her wide golden-brown eyes. She never did feel at home inside, the tiles felt cold on her feet and there was too many..angles? Sam preferred to live outside or to retire to her tree when she wished to think or rest. It was a funny thing that Sam always felt awkward when it came to talking to students, her broken English tended to be a barrier but it was difficult to adjust from her mother tongue where the words flowed naturally into each other and their meanings where clear and precise. English was such a messy language, always there was new words to learn and often the meanings where more confusing then the words themselves. "It is very nice day yes..?" Chitchat was the worst, Sam was working hard to do better at it but it was clear she had a long way to go.

[GuestGuest]

Storm nodded, smiling at the thoughts of Nonna. "Uhhuh. My dad's momma and right now, she's traveling a bit. She used to live in Tuscany, that's where I was from and Dad too," she added the slightly obvious by that point. "Nonna's really cool, you'd like her if she ever visits." Storm was about to ask Adrienne if she had a class anytime soon when the room filled with the presence of one of the favorite professors there . Well, all right, most of them were favorites right now but Sam was special, in various assorted ways.

"Professor!" Storm almost squeed as she expressed happiness at seeing the diminutive elf back at the school. She had heard that Professor Sam had come to Gippsland to teach but had not seen the tiny elf woman yet. "Class, yes. Are you having one today?" she asked.

[Adrienne Leveque]

Adrienne listened to Storm's words with a smile, and she was about to speak and add some other stuff to the conversation when Professor Sam entered the room. Adrienne chuckled slightly upon seeing that Storm seemed to be beyond happy, and she guessed that Professor Sam maybe one of Storm's favorite professors.

" Hi Professor!" Adrienne greeted, lazily pushing herself off of the counter. She listened to the Professor's answer to Storm's question before nodding. "Yes, it is quite a nice day," said Adrienne. "In fact, it's great to be outside right now." She was actually planning on going out a little later on, though she wished she had her guitar right now more than anything.

[Alassima Sam Salkfeanor]

It had been quite a adjustment for Sam to find herself comfortable around humans again, her elfish instincts making her twitch as the one named Storm made a loud noise in her presence. Humans did grow so much as well. Sam had to turn her head back to converse with the much taller students. "Hello.." a nervous smile showing her pearly teeth as she glanced between the two girls. So far she had only been taking classes for the younger students. It had been Arwenamin's* idea to take things slowly, Sam didn't want to admit that she was a little unsure about teaching, before there had been so many students and so many of them where badly behaved that it seemed a wonder that she'd managed to teach them anything at all! Still she would try, Arwenamin had given her a home here and Sam wasn't about to risk losing it like she had with her own people.

"Yes.. Class..Amin was just going to begin.." Sam replied to Storm with a bit of a hurry in her voice, she'd been caught out and had probably been supposed to have started teaching much earlier, but Sam tended to live to the rhythms of nature and not the hours and days that others seemed to be bound to. It didn't make that much sense to Sam that humans would sleep when the sky was light and then all of a sudden their times would change and cause much confusion to the poor elven woman who'd never in her life had to deal with such things as daylight savings time and school holidays. Tapping her fingers on the pots she nodded that it was indeed a nice day before her expression brightened "Ah.. it is very good.. humans they do spend too much time in doors.. most bad for Corm it far better to be out in nice fresh wind.."

Sam of course didn't notice the little slip of language, mind you she didn't notice a lot of things. "We where to be learning of Corm today.. maybe you two would wish to join?" Sam asked, sure in her mind that the students would probably say no. After all she'd not had the best success with teaching before. It seemed that most humans just didn't wish to learn or where unable to focus their minds. No wonder really when human's worlds where so noisy and full of distractions, even now Sam could hear the sound of television coming from another room, someone upstairs playing music and beyond sound the scent of fruit and food in the kitchen. So many distractions that without a focus of mind she could be overloaded by all the sensation, it was near enough to drive one of her kind who to madness.

[GuestGuest]

Storm had not taken elemental magic for a while as she had been taking courses she had thought she would need. But now, that she had realized where she wanted to concentrate her studies, she did not need some of those courses and had room to take a few she just felt like. So to hear that the professor was ready to start a class made the seventh year happy. "Oh you are?" she asked, the happiness she felt at the idea quite evident in her voice. "Yes, I would love to join in," Storm told her. "I just want to change from my work outfit and will meet you outside in five minutes," she assured the professor before waving to her new friend and running to her room, taking the steps two at a time so as not to keep the professor waiting.

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