A Very Particular Set of Skills (Odette)

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Simon closed his book of lesson plans and sat back in his chair.  Taking a long, deep breath, Simon surveyed the room around him, taking in all the details, trying to become more acquainted with what had become his very own office.  He had his own private quarters, though he preferred to spend his time either around the school campus or his office with his own private library.  Like most scholarly positions, one had to keep their mind sharp and explore the depths of their field of study; and Simon was not about to let his new home down.  

The office itself was entirely comfortable.  He had a fireplace, numerous bookshelves that were perfect for his sizeable collection of books and notes, a massive dark-wood desk that he felt was just a tad over-sized, a red-leather bound swivel chair with a high-back, a round table of stone on which he could draw transmutation circles to focus alchemical magic, a few long tapestries portraying elemental symbols and of course, shelves that he had already begun to fill with alchemy ingredients and mixtures.

Simon slowly turned his chair about until he was facing the three windows behind his desk.  It was a quiet Saturday morning at Hogwarts.  The morning sun shone across the grounds that were finally starting to green up.  Simon smiled and nodded, reminded that he needed to visit the greenhouses to inquire about reserving a few planters for his own ingredient stores.  Hogwarts did not yet feel like home, but Simon knew it wouldn't be too long before he got settled in.  

'Merlin knows I still have a few boxes to unpack...' he thought to himself. '... but what shall I do today?'

From beyond the door of his office, came a knocking.  Immediately, Simon called out, "Come in!" and turned his chair around slowly. 

@odette

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Her task was simple. Odette was to travel to some ancient rune in the deserted parts of Indonesia, a rune that had been discovered by another one of her fellow Curse Breakers. But as fate would have it, the place was booby trapped. There was no getting in without, she was told, an expert on alchemical runes - as this particular set of runes had something to do with the elements, from what Odette could understand of it. It had been a while since she had dabbled in the art of alchemy, so she was rusty. That was why she had been assigned a partner - and not just any old partner, but a professor. One that currently taught at Hogwarts.

So Odette stood outside the gates to the school. She had not been to visit since she herself had graduated. She wasn't particularly fond of her years spent at the school. After all, what adult looked back fondly on their embarrassing adolescence? The Curse Breaker drew in a deep breath; she was here on business. The gates before her then opened and she began the trek through the chilly air and crisp ground to the front doors of the school.

After what felt like an eternity, Odette reached the doors. They opened once again and she found herself looking around the old Entrance Hall. It was quite the sight to take in after all these years. She straightened her posture and let out another breath, then she began to set off to where she believed the alchemey room used to be. It was like a trip down memory lane; memories of running around the school with Teddy and Victoire when they were young came flashing back to her. She missed them fondly quite often, and she didn't realize just how much until she was walking around the school. She found herself walking a little more slower than usual, just to have a little extra time to reminisce.

A few more minutes passed and Odette finally found herself in the correct hallway. She brought herself back to focus on her work and began to look at the doors to see if they would say anything that would point her in the right direction. It was then that she spotted a door with exactly the name she was looking for. Professor Callahan. Odette turned her nose up, gaining her composure and professionalism and then approached the door. She straightened herself up once more and then raised her fist to the door, giving it a light rapping. She was almost surprised at how quickly the professor granted her access. Perhaps her employer had informed him of her coming? She wasn't entirely certain, but she opened the door anyway. She looked down to find the man sitting in his chair, facing her. She nodded a 'hello.' "Hello, Professor. I am Odette Greyback. Curse Breaker for Gringotts." She began, closing the door behind her and approaching his desk. "I am here on business. To ask for your help, actually," she said, the corner of her mouth turning up in a slight smirk in spite of herself.

simon sixten svendsen

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Well now... wasn't this a surprise! Only a few weeks into the job and already something special. He wondered to himself, 'Is this normal around Hogwarts?' as the young woman introduced herself and stated her reason for being there. She was about his height, young, and very pretty.  Had she not identified herself as a Curse-Breaker, he might have mistaken her for a student.

"A pleasure, Miss Greyback!" he said, standing to his feet and extending a hand. "If you have a moment, do have a seat. You said, Gringotts? Good bank they are... they handled my account transfer quite well! Though of what assistance might I be?" he asked, now quite curious.

"Ah, forgive me." he said. "Is there anything I can get you? Something to drink, perhaps?" Simon motioned a hand to a pitcher of lemonade on a small table across the room. "Otherwise, I have cola if that be your preference." The truth was that he also had a bottle of fire-whiskey next to the cola in the bottom-most drawer of his desk, though he usually saved that for special occasions.  Still... he could help being entirely curious as to what Gringotts needed his help for.


@odette 

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Odette offered up a casual smile and accepted his hand to shake. He seemed to be quite a polite gentleman, which was refreshing - for he didn't look all too much older than herself. The brunette politely sat down at one of the chairs in front of his desk per his request. She nodded when he spoke of Gringotts, despite her being obligated to be amicable and professional in the name of the business. "They are quite the bank, that is for sure," she agreed. "Customers are first priority." It always felt so odd to Odette to speak in such fake, business-savy ways. She much preferred casual conversation over drinks. Which was why her eyebrows raised happily when the professor offered her a drink, albeit cola and lemonade.

"A cola, please." Odette nodded once. She straigtened up in her chair, so as to get down to business. "Professor, Gringotts has heard of your alchemy runes background through the grapevine of the school. Forgive the... straight forwardness of what I'm about to ask you," she looked up at the professor so as to catch his initial reaction. "But I have been sent to ask for your assistance on an expedition. One that... may be particularly dangerous alone." She cross her left leg over her right and folded her hands in her lap. "Your skill set is highly wanted for this certain expedition." She raised her eyebrows at the proposition, hoping that it appealed to his senses. It was just because she was one of the only few Curse Breakers that she was sent, but often times she was sent to seek help because of her being the only female on the team.

"So, basically..." She let in a small sigh. "We would like you to come out with us. Or, rather myself." She finished, watching the professor expectantly.

simon sixten svendsen

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'A cola... ah!' his thoughts engaged all of his attention on what he was about to hear. 

As soon as she mentioned his proficiency with runes, he grinned while grabbing both two bottles of cola from his desk and snagging a stick of chalk from a cup on his desk.  Listening intently and never breaking eye contact with his guest, Simon quickly drew out a symbol on each of the bottles and waited for Miss Greyback to finish.   

"Well now!  The more complex of the beverage choice, the more complex the situation for one reason or another."  He took his wand and tapped it upon the symbols, causing the glass to initially fog and then become just a little frosty. "My guess: probably frustration."  Simon passed one of the now-chilled bottles across his desk. 

He continued, "If a Curse Breaker couldn't crack whatever it is you are trying to get at, then it must be a real doozy.  An important one too if the bank is willing to offer contract work.  Danger likely, probably more than one defense put in place if they went through all the trouble of setting up Alchemical Runes, and with the notion of good company on the way... I am more than intrigued. Count me in." 
Simon stood and raised his chilly glass of cola, twisting off its cap triumphantly. 

"Just your luck, Miss Greyback, I have an entirely open weekend ahead of me and I've had a slow start to my day." he said, pulling his jacket off of his chair. "Would you like to discuss the particulars on the way there?  I would just have to grab a few things and I can be ready to go as soon as is necessary.   Mind you, I do have a class to attend to on Monday!" 

@odette

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Odette watched the professor as he grabbed both the colas and a piece of chalk. She had to admit, his ability of keeping eye contact with whom he was speaking to was impressive. Not many people kept eye contact with others these days. To Odette, that said a lot about his character. She had heard he was good at runes, but she had had no idea how intelligent he was going to be. It was clear she was dealing with a professor that deserved her utmost respect. She nodded at him as he slid a cola bottle toward her.

The Cursebreaker smiled professionally at the professor. "I must admit, I've yet to be briefed entirely on the expedition. I was just sent to first retrieve you. We should actually receive word by owl of our next location shortly, I believe." She took a sip of the cola and then set it back on the desk. Another casual smile spread across her lips. "I do look forward to seeing your much talked about skills in action, Professor," she said, nodding her head once at Simon.

Odette stood up from the chair. "I believe that would be the best," she agreed. "We will, as you know, need to get off Hogwarts grounds in order to apparate. I suggest if you would like to return by Monday, we should get going at the soonest convenience." Odette was quite interested to see why her employers had requested Professor Callahan's skills for this particular expedition. He must be a very talented wizard...

simon sixten svendsen

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(ooc: I am so sorry for how long this has taken me! *grovels*)

-Many Minutes Later : Yet to be specified location-

A chance to show off his skills? A probable weekend of activity? Being near a Curse-Breaker with a pretty smile? Of course Simon agreed.  For all of his more noble traits, Simon had his own transgressive streak.  That was for later, as they had yet to survive whatever was ahead of them.  Were it bad enough, Simon could foresee going back to his office to grab that bottle of Fire-whiskey in his desk.  His problem was defining what qualified as bad enough.

Odette had apparated them off to somewhere after a brief visit from a Ministry Owl, a moment or three to grab a few things from the office, and a broom-ride to the hills just beyond the Hogwarts Grounds.  Looking around him, Simon decided to not make an idiot of himself and try to guess at where they had gone off to. Better to ask instead. 

"So!" he said, turning about slowly to get an idea of his surroundings.  "Do I get to hear about that owl soon, or do we have to play the 'classified' game? I might ask, Where exactly are we, what is the objective, and what is keeping Gringotts away from said objective?" 

Simon was so very curious, perhaps about a great many things more than were necessary.  He thought for a moment that they might be doing some sort of tomb raiding because some debt might not have been paid, but it wasn't so grand as his imaginations. 

@odette

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Odette looked around the vast scenery surrounding them. Grassy hills on either side, a field of yellow flowers just behind them, and ahead of them: their objective. Odette pointed to a large man-made mound of grass, looking much more odd than one's run-of-the-mill hill. "That is our mission, she said, her eyes focused on the mound. "It's an old Scottish tomb, built thousands of years ago. It hasn't been opened in years, so we are to apparate inside of course... but upon further inspection, we found there are runes in there that we cannot translate." She walked slightly closer to the mound and tilted her head to the side, the very mystery of it all confounding her.

She turned back around to face Simon. "It is believed that after hundreds of years after closing up, Vikings broke into the tomb and inscribed runic graffiti all over the walls. Covering old runes, making it impossible to translate the Scottish ones... but we were not sure how to read Viking runes." Odette admitted a little sheepishly. Vikings had been one she had never really studied. "So, we need your help to decipher them," she gave a curt, professional nod.

"As for what we are trying to find... that is classified." The brunette couldn't help but smirk as she began to walk forward toward the door to the tomb.

simon sixten svendsen
ooc: IT'S SO LATE I'M SO SORRY