The Great Hall

Celeste became marginally more serious. "Something's coming, isn't it? I'm fairly certain. I can feel it. There's something brewing. What are you guys doing to protect yourselves? Are you even trying to? I'm worried for you all."

"Please, what could come that could beat us?"

Time for some grub... make chimmy and plump-full bastard...

The rogue took a seat and started to eat.

How long had it been since she'd really come here?

A long time.... Dumbledore had been kind enough to let her take such a long break without getting in trouble. But all the problems here at Hogwarts had been overwhelming... she'd needed a place to go, think out what she could do.
And the matter with Pitch had not changed. She needed a way to befriend him... change him. But the Nightmare King had not been present in a long while, even though the nightmares he so carefully bestowed upon her remained.

With a bag slung over her shoulder, the Slytherin stepped into the Great Hall and looked about the familiar place, her eyes growing soft with fondness.
Such memories had been made here.... it was great to be back.

"Well well... look what the dragon dragged in..." He slid next to Cynder, happy to see her, "Where have you gone ta?"

Cynder's head shot up at the familiar voice, her gaze instantly falling on the owner of such a familiar and welcome tone.

"Joachim!"

The girl gave a grin, her eyes wide and twinkling with joy.
"Oh, it's been so long~ I... I went off to take a little break from all of the madness around here for a while. TO heal up from some... things... But that's besides any matter~ How have you been?"

"Oh man things have been weird... so get this okay? So if Riv plays her cards right, Crouchy might get the boot from Head DE spot with Death takin' the crown! I mean how awesome is that, right?"

Cynder's eyes widened like saucers, her jaw dropping a bit.
She might not have been a gossiper, but this..! Now this was news!

"No way! Come on Joachim, you've gotta be shitting me... This- This isn't a joke? Holy... Holy hell..!"

"It ain't... hell, I'm the guy who GAVE Riv the idea..."

"See, Crouch doesn't pay me, and if Death wants my help to take control, he'll have to pay me..."

All that mattered at the end of the day was the satisfaction of Joachim's insurmountable greed.

Pay?
What on earth did he mean...?

".... pay? Are you.... working for them?"




Cynder felt a twinge of fear at this thought. That was risky... dangerous.... wrong..!

"No not officially... not until they pay me..."

"Unless the other side wants to pay more that is."

For once in her life, Cynder felt herself shy away from Joachim, the boy she saw as a brother.

".... Joa... that's..."
How could she put this? Wrong? Terrifying?

She could almost feel Pitch's breath against her hair as his fear tugged at her.
"For money? Joa.... that's... that's... dangerous...!"

"What? You never had a problem before when I worked for dough..."

"But Joa, these.... these are Death eaters we're talking about...! Crouch and Death...! They're... do you know how bad that is?"

"Hey, if Death gives me a nice sum, what difference does it make?"

With a coin everything is simple...

Could she not persuade him?

Cynder felt her heart sink, a feeling of dread creeping inside of her.
She was paying a price for allowing Pitch such control over her, now.....
Anxiety, worry, fear....


".... Be careful with it, Joa.... greed can turn even the best of men into monsters.."

"Hey, rule numero uno is survival. I'm not going to do anything that will hurt me bad in the long run..."

He pated his surrogate sister on the back.

A hesitation, Cynder pursed her lips, but gave a small smile of understanding.

"... yes.... I know you'll be all right. I'm just... scared."

"What's up?"

Cynda' never looked this shaken up.

(( going mobile for a bit ))


The girl scowled, looking away pointedly.
:nothing.." She lied, "Im all right....."

"When are ya goin' to get it through ya head you have a REALLY bad poker face?"

(( And the award of 'perfect reply to a lie' goes to-- ))


Cynder glanced up and sighed.

"Nightmares," She stated, simply, "I've.. been having a lot of nightmares..."

OOC -runs up and gets his award- 'Well first, I'd like to thank me for always being there for me!'

IC

"That's it?" He clearly had grasped the gravity of the situation with Pitch, or even met the demon.

(( omfg ))


The girl kept her gaze down, tracing circles in the table with her finger.
"He's always got me on edge.. and God.. he's so demanding, yet so civil... Joa, I don't know what to think of the man... I cannot stand the nightmares he sends me, and I know his intentions are cruel, but I...-"

Conflicted..
she was conflicted.

"Wait.. whoa whoa whoa whoa... slow down..." He held up his hand, "He?"