001. action.

[oversees.livejournal.com]

[Percy is an intelligent person. Really. Given his family's antics, he should not be surprised by any sort of unexpected situation. Armed with a letter that clearly does not represent Hogwarts and a school seemingly not for magic, he's out of his comfort zone.

Again. There's a sense and requirement of composure really, but he's missing it entirely and in the back of his mind there's that sense of rationalizing the situation.

So unlucky passerby if you're in the lobby, you're his next victim.]

Excuse me? I seem to have misplaced my Portkey. This is the wrong school - [and he's just shy of hysterical at this point] - and definitely not my letter! My Head Boy duties, someone needs to inform the Headmaster I can't fulfill them.

[And you're the brilliant target. Percy shakes the letter in his hand, desperately losing his composure.]

Comments

[icesanguinewolf.livejournal.com]

Take a deep breath, all right?

[Kurt places his hands lightly on the other's shoulders, trying to speak gently.]

I know it's a bit of a shock, but calm down first.

[oversees.livejournal.com]

I can assure you I'm breathing quite naturally. [Nevertheless, the hyperventilating ceases. Barely.]

[Once that's out of the way, he's back to his pompous demeanor.] Your help is appreciated, but in all honestly, I need to return back to Hogwarts. There are pressing matters for me to attend to.

[gyrocopter.livejournal.com]

[Unlucky victim #2 is here. He seems to be relatively unfazed, though, by this kid's reaction. He should have expected to see some people acting this way.]

Hey, hey, kid. You oughta calm yourself down. Take it in stride. [He smirks.] You probably ain't leaving any time soon, though.

[icesanguinewolf.livejournal.com]

Let me start by saying this, then. You can't go home. Those who have managed to have all been "flukes," of a sort. No one knows how to get back.

[noble-pride.livejournal.com]

[Byakuya is wearing his captain uniform instead of his instructor attire or clothing more native to the area. While he generally complies with the standard dress code, he's finished teaching his classes for the day. He missed wearing the loose hakama pants, and the uniform serves as a reminder that while he has a place here, his true place will always be with the Gotei 13.

Of course, to a distressed teenage wizard, Byakuya's clothing might look very much like robes.]

Have you read the letter yet?

[deundeaded.livejournal.com]

[Frimelda is a little startled at being approached in such a manner, but she quickly composes herself.]

Please, young sir, do calm yourself. Outline your problem clearly, and I will do my best to assist you.

[oversees.livejournal.com]

[He responds in a shrill voice.] Then how do you expect me to send a letter of resignation?!

The headmaster's going to be so disappointed. I let him down. For the first time too!

[oversees.livejournal.com]

[Percy sobers up. Frustrated that someone is mocking him, yes. But really. He doesn't need it this time around.]

I'm not prepared for the consequences! I'm a peacemaker, not a milita whatever you call it. [and in a huff he responds.] There are pressing matters for me to attend to.

[oversees.livejournal.com]

[Percy recognizes authority when he sees it. The hysterics have vanished and he's back to his regular self, composed and determined.]

Several times in fact. But - [there's a pause] - the timing couldn't be worse.

[oversees.livejournal.com]

[Why is this so difficult to explain? It's a pointed response and he's as clear as it gets.]

I've been transferred to the wrong school. I'm not equipped for military school, I haven't learn any defense spells!

[icesanguinewolf.livejournal.com]

Relax.

You're here via "Time Compression." We're not sure how it works, but when you do go home, you'll go right to the time you left.

So as far as anyone at home is concerned, you'll have been gone for a few seconds at most.

[gyrocopter.livejournal.com]

Well, you're gonna have to settle into the military and like it, kid. There ain't much way to get out. I might've tried to if I could.

[Goose shook his head. That was only a 'maybe'. He did like something new and exciting, plus he was used to the military. He was really missing flying, though.]

So those pressing matters? Gonna have to wait.

[beginsoffstage.livejournal.com]

[Gabriella really isn't sure what to say to that. Really. So she gently pushes the letter aside for a moment.] Hey. Breathe. It's gonna be okay.

I don't know how to get you home, but hysteria never helped anyone.

[resilientfists.livejournal.com]

[Hysterical she can handle. Sher's handled a lot worse, trust me.

So here comes Tifa, hands clasped behind her back, tone as patient as always.]

No, you're in the right school. But you're probably not talking about the Headmaster here, are you?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[He's still not a pro at English, so when this kid comes up to him going on about portkeys and head boys, he gets a blank stare. Sorry, Percy, but this isn't a very sympathetic passerby you picked.] ...Huh?

[lionizations.livejournal.com]

[Ron was about to walk by the redhead without a second glance, completely oblivious to the fact that they share the same shade of ginger hair, but the second he hears the words 'Portkey' and 'Head Boy' and that voice, he stops and twists around.]

Bloody hell - Percy? How d'you get here? Maybe the others are here, like Mum and Dad? Have you seen them, then?

[Screw the fact that you turned your back on the family for that old fart, Perc, family is family in this tiny moment of surprise.]

[noble-pride.livejournal.com]

Understandable. Unfortunately, there is no known way to reverse the Time Compression.

I can explain things to the best of my ability, though. My name is Byakuya Kuchiki. I am the Instructor for the bladed weapons course.

[hotpinkwhirlwind]

[Aw, hysteria. On one hand, this kid sounds British, and Sharpay is half-inclined to blame all four countries in the British Isles for one London school girl's backstabbing her. On the other hand, she was probably more hysterical than this on arrival (not being one of her prouder moments, she's tried to block it out of her memory).

[And so when she approaches him, her tone is a lot more gentle than anyone who knows her from back home would expect.]

I'm so sorry, but we can't get you to your home school or contact your Headmaster. It's possible we won't need to and if you do end up returning home [she's been here two years; 'when' does nothing for her], you might be just in time to do your duties. But for the time being, what we can do for you is give you a place to stay, food, something to do.

[oversees.livejournal.com]

Ron?! You're here too?

[Composure, what's that? He's totally stammering and completely out of it.] I'm not quite sure exactly? There was a letter, but it wasn't from Professor Dumbledore and now I'm here and - Ron, Mum and Dad aren't here!

I can't miss this year! I'm Head Boy!

[oversees.livejournal.com]

Time Compression? [There's a look of confusion on his face]

You don't mean... dark arts, do you? This is not good in the slightest.

[oversees.livejournal.com]

There's no need for a military though! [Really. You-Know-Who was dead and they had been in relative security since then.]

I can assure you, I can't put these on hold.

[oversees.livejournal.com]

Bladed... weapons? The letter mentioned magic here, but weapons? [Clearly he's in over his head. This is completely out of it.]

[oversees.livejournal.com]

This is hardly hysterical! [Irony, Perce. Really.] There's still so many things to do, people to talk to - Mum and Dad, Professor Dumbledore.

I'm not equipped for a place like this!

[oversees.livejournal.com]

Professor Dumbledore is the Headmaster at Hogwarts. My school. [A slight pause though, reflecting.] Or, my former school.

This could be a necessary transfer maybe. [And now he's just talking out loud.] Perhaps he saw better things in me.

[oversees.livejournal.com]

[A kid?] I can't waste my time explaining. Either you understand and can help me out or you can't.