The Halls of Medeia - Prologue

[steveflam]

George listens, face impassive. While he does appreciate there are rules, still has not appreciated being made look like a fool in front of the whole school. As for having an escort, he thinks nothing of it. Well, he thinks it is a terrible idea, but says nothing.

"I do appreciate not being punished, thank you. I do just want you to understand that me parents ave never needded to discipline meself an I've kept ter meself, to me books. I think ye unnerstand I am actually happy ter be here an get ter learn as ye've stated just now. Tis how I unnerstand it at any rate. I am unlike most children ere for many reasons, one of em bein poor an not unnerstandin the value of money. The other bein I wants ter be ere an learn."

He pauses, waiting then continuing.

"I fer one aintone ter hide me feelins. So I will abide by your ruling ter ave Mr Niles escort us aroun, though CHristine aint done anythin ter merit that. That doesnt mean I like it and thass that on that subject.

NOw I gots a question fer ya maybe ye kin elp me out even. I wants ter visit the town and if possible, even gets a job part time on tha weekends in a bookstore or library. Thass ow much I love books an knowledge. Like I said and you've deduced, I aint like other children."

[A G Thing]

Christine listens to both of the ladies as they speak. Miss Victoria for all her posturing of such does have a point about the way things are at a school and she can see her reasoning even if she did not agree with such methods. George really had no experience with the rules and yet his emotions did get the better of him it seemed though the whole thing bothered her. It was not right to embarrass anyone like that and while she did not like it she bit back her own response and was glad she did considering the unique situation they found themselves in.

At Miss Emily's suggested punishment for the two and how light it is she is pleased and relieved to hear that is the extent of it. Though only in part due to how that might complicate certain other activities they had been looking forward to as Father Niles was still part of the staff. Still, it was far better than she had expected at all. "Yes Miss Emily. That seems reasonable... Thank you both for such understanding." She meant it but did not exactly seem thrilled at the result. Still it would do little good for her to argue she reminded herself. That would just earn them further punishment she was certain. But she was grateful that they had such a compassionate headmistress and that Dean Victoria was willing to at least reign in on punishing them more severely this time. It was rare and a good thing to have in the staff of such a school.

But when George responds the first thing Christine makes note of is his words to protest her innocence in the matter. "Thank you George... But I left as well behind you. It stands to reason that I have to be punished as any other student would along with you. I did know the rules when I followed you. So if anything, I expected worse for us both to be honest, so I too am grateful that this is what our punishment is." Christine's tone is reassuring and confident but also honestly relieved. She was surprised to be certain at this turn of events and while the whole system seemed to be unfair to her sensibilities she had become used to it being far worse in her past.

George's question of getting a job makes her wonder a bit herself if that was possible. She was unsure of such being allowed but did not think it too extreme an idea. Still reputation was important to the school it would seem. If they would even allow it especially now was something she did not know. But she hoped George would be allowed the chance. She knew he would enjoy it a lot.

[Ail]

After Emily spoke, Victoria took the lead to answer George.
"You don't have to like everything, George, and if you keep that attitude I'm sure you'll find several things that you won't like. Beginning with the reactions you will incite in others. Perhaps you would do well to try and understand better the kind of people you have around you.
In any case, regarding your request. Students are allowed to leave the school on weekends, although they should be in groups and supervised by someone from the staff. There are no libraries around here, George. All the villages around the College are too small for that. There are a handful of bookshops, though. Anything larger can only be found farther afield, in Reading, Guildford or maybe even into London.
There is the College's library, of course, but we already have a librarian."

After this, Emily opens the door, and lets the children go if they wish.

Even if they don't, she bades them all good night and leaves the room.

Before retiring for the night, she passes by Niles's room and leaves a note under his door.

[steveflam]

After Emily spoke, Victoria took the lead to answer George.
"You don't have to like everything, George, and if you keep that attitude I'm sure you'll find several things that you won't like. Beginning with the reactions you will incite in others. Perhaps you would do well to try and understand better the kind of people you have around you.
In any case, regarding your request. Students are allowed to leave the school on weekends, although they should be in groups and supervised by someone from the staff. There are no libraries around here, George. All the villages around the College are too small for that. There are a handful of bookshops, though. Anything larger can only be found farther afield, in Reading, Guildford or maybe even into London.
There is the College's library, of course, but we already have a librarian."

After this, Emily opens the door, and lets the children go if they wish.

Even if they don't, she bades them all good night and leaves the room.

Before retiring for the night, she passes by Niles's room and leaves a note under his door.

" I don't care what others think of me, ma'am. That is their problem not mine. I just want ter learn. If I base my stay here on whether someone likes me or not, I think I will have failed meself an me benefactor, ma'am. G'night", he says as he is ushered out of the office.

[A G Thing]

Christine nods to both Emily and Victoria politely after George speaks. "Goodnight miss Fairfax..." Her voice is polite but seems restrained. She then follows George out as he departs.

It is late enough that when they emerge back into the hall she relights her lantern. After a moment of following him away she speaks up to him hesitantly with soft quiet voice. "George... I want to say that... I... I hope..." But she sounds as though she loses heart after a few words... Still her face goes back to being calm and a smile, her voice level. "Nevermind... Good night George... I will see you tomorrow."

Christine waits for a moment for George to respond. But if not she gives a weak smile and heads off toward the girls dormitory!

[steveflam]

George smiles and takes her hand, bowing slightly and grinning, then kisses it. "I'll be seein yer tomorrow milady.... um Christine. G'Night." He wanders off to his dorm.

[A G Thing]

Christine is slightly shocked but smiles gently with a small blush as George does such and watches as he walks off. "G'night..." She says as barely a surprised whisper to his back.

But after a moment when he had departed from view, she glances about distractedly and with some thought begins to walk slowly as she thinks about much of what is going through her head. The blush remains but her look though nervous for some reason is happy none the less as her hand is raised to distractedly rub the end of her braided hair between her fingers while she looked at the spot that had been kissed. She spends some time wandering before heading to bed as the inconsistent and turbulent night seemed to have brought itself to a close in another twist that set her to thinking. Still unless met by another person, in her current train of thought, only the fading of her lantern guides her faster to her bed a few hours later as she wanders the courtyard a bit distracted by thought.

[Ail]

It is late. Christine wander a while down the halls, lost in thought, until she sees a flickering lamp light coming from around a corner. It's probably one of the monitors checking that lights are out in the dorms.

George slips into his dorm apparently unnoticed. If any of the other guys are awake they don't say a word.

[A G Thing]

Christine noticing the light snaps slightly more back to attention and decides to head to bed but does not alter her course should she be headed that way to reach her room. It has been a long night and she decides that considering her previous encounter with both Miss Victoria and Miss Emily that she could not get in more trouble for being out of her room at present.

[Alastor]

When those students who had remained in the dining hall had retired to their rooms for the night, Niles had done the same.

Knowing that it would be impossible to fall directly to sleep after all of the intrigue and confrontation of the day, he lighted the candle beside his bed and attempted to study a volume of grammar, a task which usually had him nodding off within a few minutes.

Before his weary eyes traverse the first page, however, he hears the noise of footsteps in the hallway, and, looking over, sees a note slide under his door.

He retrieves and reads it.

[Ail]

Niles:

Surprised, Niles gets off the bed as soon as the note slips in, but the steps of its sender have vanished before he can reach the door. He reads the note:

Dear Father Niles,

I would like to speak to you, first thing in the morning.
Please, come to my office after breakfast.

Emilia Fairfax

==================================

Later on that night:

when Christine spies the light coming round a corner, her mind is quick to reason who it might be. Not wanting to get caught on that night, she hurries to her dorm before the owner of the light comes in view. She closes the door as silently as she can. In the dark, it seems nobody notices her.

==================================

On the following day:

Breakfast happens as usual in the dining hall, but it is a bit more tense, in a subdued way, than usual. Some of the students look a trifle more excited, contrasting with a certain sense of respect and discipline that hangs heavier today than usual.

Niles can see the headmistress glancing a few times in her direction, her eyes suggesting a question that is never formulated.

After breakfast, a tall boy comes to greet George. He recognizes him as being Leander Alford, of Wallington Hall, the apparent top student in George's and Christine's class for most of the subjects.

"Hello, George. Do you have time to talk with me a bit?"
He is tall, bright-eyed, a bit on the blondish side. His face looks pleasant, as he stretches his hand in a greeting.

[steveflam]

IN between mouthfuls of toast, "Sure, 'ave a seat," he offers his hand in return and waits for him to sit and speak what is on his mind.

[Ail]

"I will go directly to the chase, if I may. I noticed you are different, George. Please, don't take this in a bad sense. You are driven! You are eager. I was just wondering if you know what you want, what motivates you, and if maybe we have shared interests?"

[steveflam]

"I will go directly to the chase, if I may. I noticed you are different, George. Please, don't take this in a bad sense. You are driven! You are eager. I was just wondering if you know what you want, what motivates you, and if maybe we have shared interests?"

"I want ter be an archaeologist. Knowledge motivates me, as do languages. Especially knowledge about any ancient civilisations.
I also excel at chess. Me parents own a bookstore an this is me first school ter be honest. I bin taught by me parents mostly an meself."

He pauses then goes on a bit about his interests in detail. *George talks about Cryptology, some Forbidden Lore, Earth Sciences and of Ancient Greek and Sumerian languages as well as his knowledge of geography and history.

"So that pretty much sums it up."


*Didn't want to go into detail about the skills and languages. Just mostly to let him know what his ineterests are.

[Ail]

"Well, that is really an unusual set of skills, to be sure. I saw you yesterday in the Dining Hall. I imagine it must not have felt good, but hey, part of growing. Schools are like that, I'm afraid.

Of course, we will not go into details of Sumerian of Cryptology in our lessons, not in sixth form anyway. So what do you expect from school this year? I have seen you in class and out of it. You are always running for something. What do you look for?"