Ilvermorny

Every half an hour, on the half hour, the Beetle Bus (as students have called it for years) pulls up outside the Pickled Hedgehog. The few no-majs who bother with visiting New Ashford give the vehicle an odd-look but rarely take a second glance, seemingly forgetting it existed once its out of their vision.

It's the same old bus that shows up every year, looking freshly polished like always. Barnaby Crasus, the middle-aged driver who's been here for as long as anyone can remember driving this same bus, looks resplendent - though out of place - in his clothes that look to be straight out of a black tie formal affair, his greasy hair and short stubbly beard carefully slicked back.

"All aboard, kids!" he shouts as the door clatters open. When the bus is full - his timing is always perfect to leave two or three empty seats on the bus and no one left behind - the door shuts with a clank. The bus has an odd smell that's impossible to place - though has the slightest hint of roast beef, this year with a heavy dash of pepper blended in. Barnaby turns the key and the engine clutters and backfires. A mumble of cursing in a variety of magical creature languages come from the front of the bus before the driver looks around discretely and sneaks a wand out from under his coat. There's a small spark of magical power and the bus comes to life. Barnaby grins widely, "Much better! All right, kids, next stop - Ilvermorny!"

And with that... the bus is off!

Mechanics
This is primarily a roleplaying thread for continued interaction between students. But, there's always a chance for students to show up or pull some pranks - before there's any house points to be lost! If you're interested in either showing off or pranking a fellow student (or maybe have another idea for some 'fun' on the bus), let us know in your personal forum...

What?

Layla stood there, staring at the...bus? Dumbfounded. She saw some kids getting on that were clearly going to the school, so it was the correct one...but nothing made sense.

"What...is...that?" She said quietly to herself. Not really thinking others might hear.

(Ooc open for interaction)

Uru began to pass alongside the new girl right as the other girl seemed to stop in her tracks. She stopped too as the two or three other kids with her all went on towards the bus without delay.

"That? That would be the illustrious carriage to the school. Not nearly as chic as the Hogwarts express, huh? Guess we still don't have the whole public transportation thing down right out here." She smiled a gentle smile and extended a hand out to her fellow witch.

"My name's Uru. Nice to meet you. If you'd like you can sit next to me on the bus. It's... a different experience." She said with a slight pause in her voice.

The voice beside Layla broke her out of her focus, and she looked at the girl with the unusual accent beside her.

"The Hogwarts express is an amazing mix of old and modern. A steam train with carriages. This...kinda looks like a hippie van fused with a coach."

Way to make a good first impression...

"Um...sorry" Layla looked away a little embarassed "I'm Layla. I'm kinda new, transferred this year. Nice to meet you...Ora? Sure, that would be nice" she turned back to the girl and gave a small smile "unless I'm taking you from your friends. Lead on."

Grace sat at the end of the bus, where all the cool kids were at. For now, she was content to just sit, and see who joined her. She fiddled with her wand, eagerly awaiting the chance to finally let loose once again with her awesome magical power...in a responsible setting, of course.

(OOC: Open for interaction )

She laughed warmly and said "Hippie van and a coach... Bit of old and.... older instead of old and modern huh?"

She shook her head at the suggestion of taking her away and replied, "Can't make new friends unless I talk to people when they show up to school from all the way out in England. I saw you back in the diner and was hoping for a chance to say hello. No point in turning it down when the chance comes, right?"

She smiled as they both found a seat on the bus. "So what brings you out here to America? Parents get a job out here?"

Phew!

Layla also laughed. "Have you ever seen the Hogwarts express? It's hard to beat that."

She took her seat next to Ora, trying to remember the excuse she gave before.

"Ah um...change of scene I guess? Fresh start and stuff. It's been a big change so far, and I haven't even seen the school yet. Um...can I ask where you are from. Your accent is different, I haven't heard it before."

Jay stretched as he approached the Beetle Bus he hopped on with an energy and nodded to those he passed by and shouted greetings to familiar faces. His smile was, as always, easy as he found a spot on the bus and eagerly awaited the beginning of the new year.

((OOC open to interaction))

The beetle bus was always quite the sight. Sylvain could swear the beast had a spirit of it's own.

Sitting near a widely open window near the back, the metis looked at the scenery as they rode on.

(Open for talks)

“My accent? Hmm... that’s a toughie. It’s probably a mix of stuff.” She said with a thoughtful glance at the roof of the bus.

“My parents have a home up in northern Minnesota and another down in southeastern Utah. Two ancestral homes of a sort. We speak a lot of... most white folks call it the Ottawa language... and some Ute in the home. It’s mostly my parents that speak it though... maybe I got it from them. Oh man, if I end up like them... that’d be... you guys say ‘ghastly’ or something, right?” She paused.

“It’s not a weird accent is it?”

Jerric Mason wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:45 pm

Jay stretched as he approached the Beetle Bus he hopped on with an energy and nodded to those he passed by and shouted greetings to familiar faces. His smile was, as always, easy as he found a spot on the bus and eagerly awaited the beginning of the new year.

((OOC open to interaction))

He was almost immediately poked in the shoulder by a small ball of Wampus energy as Mischa flopped into the seat next to him and bounced closer to look out the window across Jerric.

"How are you doing Big Guy?"

The accent was more pronounced than usual . . . probably from talking Russian to his family all holidays.

Uru Miskwa'a wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:02 pm

“My accent? Hmm... that’s a toughie. It’s probably a mix of stuff.” She said with a thoughtful glance at the roof of the bus.

“My parents have a home up in northern Minnesota and another down in southeastern Utah. Two ancestral homes of a sort. We speak a lot of... most white folks call it the Ottawa language... and some Ute in the home. It’s mostly my parents that speak it though... maybe I got it from them. Oh man, if I end up like them... that’d be... you guys say ‘ghastly’ or something, right?” She paused.

“It’s not a weird accent is it?”

"That's a lot of influences. Maybe it's normal here, but never heard it before. Most Americans I've met are from the usual big city places like Manhatten...think it's Manhatten. So it's different to that. It's nicer though" Layla quickly added the last part with a smile "I'm from London so I have a pretty common British accent, although most would say it's quite...upper class I guess" she shrugged "I'll have to get used to different accents."

There came the crows, one more human than the others. One was more like a she-scarecrow though, wearing a tribal edition of Jason Voorhees hockey style facial something, with stark colours. The other was just a black raven, sitting on her shoulder, shifting talons lazily while turning its anthracite eye on the bus.

The masked girl was playing with a hand-made yo-yo with some agility, brushing against various targets in the string's range, as she was approaching the beetle-bus.

[Oh ye who be students again, approach if ye fancy a talk!]

Sylvain non-chalantely waved a hand to the familiar new comer from his window seat

"Mornin' Ondine"

"Coucou, Sylvain."

Ondine said above her natural voice, though with amused nonchalance. She popped the bus with yo-yo door-frame and hopped in, the raven picking up immediately, somehow unwilling to be confined.

Layla Smith wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 05, 2019 8:06 pm

"That's a lot of influences. Maybe it's normal here, but never heard it before. Most Americans I've met are from the usual big city places like Manhatten...think it's Manhatten. So it's different to that. It's nicer though" Layla quickly added the last part with a smile "I'm from London so I have a pretty common British accent, although most would say it's quite...upper class I guess" she shrugged "I'll have to get used to different accents."

"America is nothing if not filled with all sorts of different people... that's like the most high key thing anyone can say about America though."

She laughed at herself for a moment before adding, "I hope you don't think I'm gassing you or something, but you're like... super cute and with that formal accent, I bet the boys think you're like the coolest thing after the first few days."

Uru Miskwa'a wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 05, 2019 8:49 pm

"America is nothing if not filled with all sorts of different people... that's like the most high key thing anyone can say about America though."

She laughed at herself for a moment before adding, "I hope you don't think I'm gassing you or something, but you're like... super cute and with that formal accent, I bet the boys think you're like the coolest thing after the first few days."

Layla blushed slightly, tucking a few stray strands of her white hair behind her ear.

"Oh...you think so? Thanks I guess. You've got Grace though, so I'm not really anything special compared to her."

I'm not sure how good attention is either she mentally added.

"Honestly I'm boring, I prefer the books to the attention, although I'll go if I'm invited. My bro...my friends liked that side more" she quickly corrected herself "transfer students are rare though, so I'll get some attention."

Arlington hated the bus. As large as it was, it still felt confining and suffocating to him. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. His rucksack sat on his lap, with Bullwinkle perched on top, watching everything and everyone.

She nodded, "For sure, I mean Grace got all sorts of attention last year. But she's the type that does so well around people though. She's so cool and collected. Not everyone can be the belle of the ball. If you need any help with things let me know, okay? I've got friends all around and if you'd like some peace you just let me know. School can be tough enough without all sorts of thirsty pests all up in your face."

She smiled and thought, "If you're into books maybe you'll get put into Horned Serpent! Were you a Ravenclaw back at Hogwarts?"

"Hopefully she can keep taking all the attention so I can hide" Layla laughed "that would be lovely. Thank you um.
.Ora. it's nice to meet some really helpful and lovely people like you."

She paused for a few moments before adding "oh and um...I hope you don't have to deal with all this as well. Thirsty people I mean. If I can help let me know."

At the question she shook her head. "I was in Slytherin, I think more because of blood and heritage than ability. It still happens. What house are you?"

She smiled, "Pukwudgie. I got picked by Wampus and Thunderbird but went with the one none of my brothers or parents had been in. My family has the whole... Heritage thing going for it too, but it's not as big here at Ilvermorny as I hear it is at Hogwarts. Oh, and it's pronounced OOH-ROO. But I don't mind what you call me as long as it's not to get a rise out of me."

Ondine Corbeau wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 05, 2019 8:39 pm

"Coucou, Sylvain."

Ondine said above her natural voice, though with amused nonchalance. She popped the bus with yo-yo door-frame and hopped in, the raven picking up immediately, somehow unwilling to be confined.

The boy tilted his head ever so slightly, looking at her yo-yo tricks until she finally came on board and her raven departed

''Funny thing...I am never sure if the yo-yo is a new thing or and old thing''

"It comes and goes." Arlington mumbled.

Mischa Primakov wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:07 pm

He was almost immediately poked in the shoulder by a small ball of Wampus energy as Mischa flopped into the seat next to him and bounced closer to look out the window across Jerric.

"How are you doing Big Guy?"

The accent was more pronounced than usual . . . probably from talking Russian to his family all holidays.

Jay smiled wide, his teeth a rather brilliant white when contrasted against his dark skin. A warm light in his eyes as he looked to his fellow Wumpus.

"Hey there Mischa!" He wrapped an arm around the shoulders of the smaller boy and delivered a rapid if not enthusiastic one armed hug. "I'm doing great, ready to get back at it though."

He said as he sat back after releasing Mischa still smiling "How about you? Good summer?"

The hug was returned.

"Oof have you been working out . . . . . err working out more?"

Before he could answer the blonde whirlwind was talking again.

"Great summer. Spent most of it at Aunt Primakova's place near the Falls. Couple of cousins came over from St Petersburg as well. Trying to tell me Durmstrang was better than here."