Private The Plot-less Melodrama of an Uneventful Life

[G'raha Tia]

October 26, Y110
tag; @Merlin Ambrosius and @Wanda Maximoff​

The young Miqo'te hidden somewhere away within G'raha was looking forward to the festivities, a bout of whimsy having struck him the moment they entered the school and seen its festive decorations. They brought him all the way back -- way, way back -- to the seasonal festivals of his youth. And, of course, All Saints' Wake that had been growing increasingly more popular with each passing year in those last few he had before G'raha had bid the Crystal Tower sleep again, with himself sealed inside to act as its caretaker.

And so he was eager to let down his hair, figuratively speaking, and explore what the castle had to offer.

First, however, there was official business to take care of.

The Miqo'te was dressed in a warmer set of robes -- deep burgundy layered over black, complete with accents of gold and silver. He'd traded in his open-toed sandals for a pair of black traveling boots. Arm warmers laced up to his elbow, leaving his crystallized right arm visible both above and below, though his fingers did not appear to lack for any mobility. His tail curled down from the chair beside him, swaying gently. The warmer clothing was a blessing, for he was seated with the two Headmasters of Schola Praeditos on a balcony overlooking the school's courtyard, and G'raha was not used to the cooler turn of the season.

Asra, of course, had prepared costumes for them. But G'raha would save a wardrobe change for later.

Though the festivities were certainly making their way into the meeting.

"I must thank you both for your gracious --"

He paused, ears shifting. "You are a miserably insufferable lackey and a degenerate nostril-offending toll on the nerves of those with good taste and decency!"

G'raha cleared his throat, smile looking just a little strained at the edges. "-- gracious invitation. I've heard a great many wonderful things about your institution, and I must admit, I had been hoping to find the opportunity to..."

Another shriek, and his tail flicked against the leg of the chair. "You are an incalculably salacious dreck and a debauched grudge-festering plot-less melodrama of uneventful life!"

"...to visit myself." G'raha continued on, doing his best to ignore the insult-slinging slide that people were enjoying. A rather impossible feat, if the very noticeable flick and turn of his furry, cat-like ears with each new insult were anything to go by.​

 

[Wanda Maximoff]

When it came to holding up the literal and figurative fort that was Merlin's school, Wanda had gone from being a woefully inexperienced nervous wreck, to only moderately inexperienced and moderately nervous, to still (probably) inexperienced but at least ostensibly put-together and (mostly) cool as a cucumber about it all. Merlin actually being here took the remainder of the edge off, and while she would've been happy to hand back over the reigns in favor of pursuing old passions, like—she didn't know—cooking or music, there was just as much peace in helping him run the day-to-day.

There was no denying her attachment to Schola either, that well past burgeoning after walking its halls for so long. This was the best of both worlds. Merlin was back, which meant no more second guessing over whether he would approve of or wring his scarf over decisions that needed to be made. And more than any of that, her friend was here and sitting next to her again.

"Thanks for coming here, Mr. G'raha Tia." One leg crossed leisurely over the other beneath the table, she sat comfortably on her patio seat, a teacup clutched daintily between her fingertips. In honor of the festivities (really just not to be a drag) she was garbed (technically glamored) from head to toe in black and white monocolor. It was easy, it was practical, it didn't attract much attention beyond the average Halloween costume, and she had simply felt running with the last minute, spur of the moment whim as soon as it struck.

There was another distant squeal, followed by another booming insult. "You are a piteously contemptible sneak and a hopeless Internet-addicted drivel and malarkey!"

"Have you thought about trying the slide? So far it's been very well received." Her currently grey eyes glanced askance in Merlin's direction and crinkled with a mirthful smile.

 

[Merlin Ambrosius]

✦ ―past the wondering eyes of the ones that were left behind

---

It was hard to sit through the horrifically exaggerated burns that spewed from the metaphorical lips of the slide as they spoke. Excited as Merlin was for the prospect of what was about to happen, for the idea that partnership was once more a possibility between the Mages Guild and the school, each and every time they were interrupted by the tell-tale sound of students, guests, and faculty alike enjoying themselves as they took their turn down the slide, he felt himself wincing just a bit.

Well, at least they were having fun.

Truth be told, though, the distraction was nice. From everything, from how much his heart had been hurting since he had gotten back. To hear less than a single word from Ozpin since his return-- It didn't help. It hurt perhaps more than anything else, which was why he had found himself diving so very deep into his work, into putting together this little event with Wanda, into getting into contact with the Mages Guild in the first place, into focusing on anything and everything that wasn't the fact that Pandora had thoroughly shredded his heart into pieces.

The slide, though ...

"Internet-addicted--"

"You don't think it has a point with that one? Whose idea was the wi-fi?" he remarked, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he turned to meet Wanda's gaze at the immediate mention of said slide, which had by then more than grabbed G'raha's attention. Gods, what an impression that thing was making for them.

"You are a miserably execrable twit and a dastardly all-befouling spawn of a mad scientist and a disastrous test tube experiment."

Merlin pulled another face before turning back toward G'raha, a crooked smile at the corners of his lips. He cleared his throat, absently adjusting the brim of his perfectly stereotypical wizard hat that he had saved just for this occasion. It was even purple to match his robes and speckled with orange stars befitting of the season. He did love halloween, as silly as a thing it was to consider at his age.

"We're thrilled you could be here, although I ... promise the school isn't always like this," he admitted with a lopsided smile, seemingly thoroughly entertained by the thought process that was about to follow. "With a school filled with the sort of students we have, though, there seems to be no end to the mischief they come up with to keep themselves entertained. They are wonderful students, though, and a partnership with your fine guild would present opportunities for them that I'm certain they would be thrilled for."

---

<3​

 

[G'raha Tia]

Mr. G'raha Tia. The address drew a small, amused smile to his lips as he lifted a hand to dismiss the very notion. "Please, you may call me G'raha Tia or simply G'raha. 'Tis more than enough."

Ah, but his ears flicked with yet another distraction from the endlessly colorful slide. One that his hosts, at least, did not seem quite as intent at trying to ignore. Though truly, who could ignore it?

The Miqo'te blinked at the notion of trying the slide, ears pressing back just a touch. "Ah, no, I must confess, I had not considered it." But his lips quirked up after a moment, amusement dancing in his eyes. "I worry I don't have the courage to discover what insults it might sling my way."

But as much as the slide was a distraction, it certainly was telling of the school's creativity. And G'raha had never been one to shy away from thinking outside the box. His gaze shifted to Merlin as the gentleman praised his students, a clear and open fondness in his gaze. It only drew a like smile to G'raha's own lips.

"Of course, and I do believe we have plenty to offer. Though I do not wish to build a relationship on misunderstandings or false impressions," said gently, fingers resting lightly on his teacup. "The Mage's Guild is in its infancy at the moment. We are small and our membership is few. Despite that, however, I feel we could bring your students valuable field experience. I studied for many years in a classroom myself, and while it gives you so much valuable knowledge, you do not truly learn how to use that knowledge from a classroom setting alone."

G'raha gave them a moment for that to sink in as he raised the teacup to his lips, taking a small sip.

"And in turn, your students would give us the extra hands we need to help the communities of the Vales with the various tasks they commission us for."