internal d e b a t e (open)

[flint]

Stephen stood a comfortable distance away from the Whomping Willow, he was just out of reach out of the furious branches that were continually making swipes at him. If given voice, he felt that the tree would probably be screaming at him in frustration. But it was not the violent plant that Stephen was thinking about, no, it was the war that was bound to happen. He was reluctant to get terribly involved, although his father had been pressuring him to join the Death Eaters for quite some time. The last thing that Stephen wanted was to get involved in the wrong sort of thing, and he knew that if he commited there wouldn't be any turning back.

Stephen did not want to be in over his head. Besides, while they still had recruits like Darren Richter he wouldn't touch them with a fifteen-foot broomstick. Torturing was a useful instrument to get information, but he did nto agree with using women in the way that some of them did. Stephen frowned, not paying any mind to the sound of footsteps.

[daisies]

Rue was walking aimlessly, eyes on the ground. Her hands were holding a book, one that she had been reading. However, it had gotten far to loud in the Great Hall, and she was now looking for a better place to read. However, she ran into someone. Gasping and stumbling back, she found she had ran straight into Stephan Flint. "Oh, hello. I'm terribly sorry," Rue apologized quickly, her cheeks turning a bright pink.

[flint]

"Oh, it's okay," said Stephen with a nod, his face for the most part reamining emotionless. He had never been known to be terribly expressive, for the most part he usually appeared stoic, unless he was annoyed or angry. For once he actually welcomed a disruption to his train of thought, he would rather not have to dwell on all the things going through his head. "You're one of the Davies, Rue isn't it?" Stephen asked, hoping that they might get some conversation. In the back of his mind he thought that the girl was pretty, she looked almost like a porcelain doll.

[daisies]

Rue smiled, absently tucking her short black hair behind her ears. "Yes, that's me. And you're Stephen, right?" she asked, though she already knew what the answer would be. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was thinking how handsome he was. Being her mysterious self, she asked nothing else, only looking behind him, towards the Whomping Willow, who was still trying to swipe at Stephen.

[flint]

Stephen nodded, "Yes," said he, not correcting her using his full first name. He absolutely detested being called Steve, it drove him crazy. Something about the nickname grated on his soul, he did not like it in the slightest. Stephen followed Rue's gaze to the Whomping Willow, wondering vaguely what was going through her head. She was like a mystery to him, one that Stephen could not help but want to try and figure out. But not right away, he would bide his time for a while.

[daisies]

Rue smiled a bit, then placed her gaze upon Stephen. She stepped up beside him instead of speaking, watching the Willow further. She hummed a bit of a song to herself, seemingly forgetting Stephen was there. In truth, it was just her nature. Rue was quite aloof, and strange, but that didn't really bother her much. Hopefully, it didn't bother others either.

[flint]

Stephen wasn't sure what to make of the silence that had settled over the two of them, it could eaither become awkward or it could be simple, comforting even. Either way he welcomed her being there, even if they weren't speaking, just her presence pulled his mind away from topics that he would rather not think about, even if he didn't have a choice. "Not much of one for conversation, are you?" Stephen commented after a moment of silence.

[daisies]

Rue turned, smiling slightly. "Now, neither are you. See, you would have interrupted sooner, had you been one for conversation," she replied smartly, laughing a bit. Her eyes were aglow, as they often were, with quirkiness. Confusing people was her forte, and it was something she was good at, even if she didn't mean to. Rue smiled absently at Stephen. Once more, her subconscious was telling her how handsome he was. Still, she couldn't bring herself to say anything of the sort to him.

[flint]

Stephen smiled a bit, Rue certainly wasn't stupid. And the slight air of mystery surrounding her person made her all the more interesting. "Right you are," said Stephen. He had long known that he was not terribly good in the realm of conversation, often seeming awkward or aloof. Unless of course it switched to a topic that interested him, then he could sustain his end fairly well. Stephen observed Rue, his brain pelasantly challenged with trying to figure her out. People were like puzzles to the youth, he enjoyed seeing what made them tick, what their motives were, and other things.

[daisies]

Rue looked over her shoulder at him and then smiled mischieviously. She was a keeper, her instincts sharp and intuitive. With one, daring glance at Stephen, she stepped forward. The Whomping Willow now could reach her. Lazily at first, it swiped at her, a blow she dodged. Frustrated, it upped it's strength. With each, failed attempt, she grew closer to the stump. When she was close enough, she bent down, picking up a small stone. Aiming, she threw it, hitting the small knot at the base of the tree that made it grow still. Turning, Rue grinned at Stephen. "You coming?"

[flint]

Stephen watched as Rue dodged branches with the grace that one might compare to an elf, it didn't even look like she was trying. A small smile came to his lips as she threw the stone at the knot of the base of the tree, rendering it immobile. "Have I a choice?" Stephen responded, walking forward and following Rue down into the passage beneath the tree. It was colder there than above ground, and his nostrils were filled with the scent of damp earth, but he wasn't bothered. Stephen knew where this went to.

[daisies]

Rue gave him a wry smile, not answering. She ducked through the hole, Stephen on her tail. She came here often, it was quiet, solitary. Something she sought often. However, she enjoyed Stephen's company, more than she admit outloud. Rue turned, and, instead of going up the creaky stairs, she lead Stephen to an abandoned room. It was one of her favorite haunts. It was so eerily beautiful, with the old chandelier and the fancy furniture that looked so out of pace.

[flint]

Stephen smiled a bit as the entered the long abandoned parlour. The room seemed too nice to belong in the rest of the house, nothing was tarnished, if only a little dusty. There was just a dash of excitement about being here, it felt like they shouldn't be there, but there wasn' a specific rule about going into the Shreiking Shack, it was just that most people chose not to. "You are just full of surprises," Stephen commented, looking Rue up and down, as if she might do something else unexpected.

((OOC: I think it would be kind of fun if they got really intimate in this thread, since it's so unlike either of them. What do you think?))

[daisies]

Rue laughed a bit, eyes twinkling with amusement. His look was endearing, and she returned it with a soft smile of her own. She kicked off her boots, leaving her perfectly pedicured feet bare. She then shed her coat, revealing her soft blue sundress. Fluffing her hair a bit, she grinned at Stephen. There were strange electric currents pulsing through her, and it was confusing. Rue took Stephen by the hand, and the currents seemingly got stronger. Trying to hide her curious smile, she lead him around the room. "Beautiful," Rue breathed.

((OOC: Brilliant))

[flint]

Stephen watched Rue as she pulled back layers until she had reached a pretty blue dress, a small smile on his lips. To him she seemed almost too pretty to be real, as if she were just a wisp of fantasy. She made him think of graceful elves or angels. He was pleasantly surprised when she took him by the hand, but he did not reject her. Stephen smiled as they paced around the elegant room and then stopped. "Stunning," Stephen agreed. They were so close, he coulc have kissed her if he wanted to. His teenage mind was urging him to, but he didn't want to make Rue uncomfortable. Besides, they barely knew eachother.