Idle Hands/Devil's Playthings (open)

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan gave Rystain a look as well, and then his eyes flicked to Lyra before coming back to rest on Sam.

"I think we're about equal, love," he told her, one eyebrow raised. "I hope you're not busy," he added. "I think I'll take Seth's offer and stay for a while. Join us, Sam."

[Samantha Montgomery]

She contemplated batting her eyelashes at him and there was an amused smile behind her nod. So the mighty Rabastan commandeth, let the women flock to do his bidding. She moved into their inner circle and sat where there was space. " There's no where I'd rather be." she stated convincingly.

[Rystain Quandry]

Rystain saw Samantha's inclusive glance when she commented about being popular with the ladies. Well well well... little mis popular though he was worthy of being called a ladies man. Rystain did not consider himself one at least not in that sense. He was no innocent and he would likely never be the faithful type, but he didn't always have a different girl on his arm like Rabastan did. Then again he didn't flaunt when he did, and when a female did come to him it was usually behind closed doors. He considered himself a gentleman who happened to appreciate women.

He'd have to set her straight on that one day he thought to himself. But tonight his eyes were on Lyra and he didn't give Sam any reaction as they both sat down to join them.

[Lyra Newbury]

"Oh but Sam, you do have to factor in age, as well. Rabastan is two years older than you, an official adult. So he's allotted some...leeway in his fun having. But you are only fifteen and have gathered just as much attention as Rabastan here." She paused to think, he hand thoughtfully on her chin. "I don't know who is better off here."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Well how about the main difference that Sam wasn't actually sleeping with any of the supposed guys she was popular with. Good Godric should any of them discover her rather pure state, not that it would be unexpected but with "how popular" she was it would probably be a surprise. Still Sam knew and followed propriety she didn't let any guy get too close, and after years of seducing members of the opposite sex to her will or her mother's will rather, she was quite sick of it.

"Rabastan, may your number of admirerers never cease to outdo mine." she said as if in a toast, but she nodded her head, " And that to any who wish to be so "popular". I value the friendships I have made." here she looked fondly at those around her and nodded in a direction once or twice, " And I would hope that I could endear myself just half as much as you all have endeared yourselves to me in so short a time"

[Lyra Newbury]

Sam was certainly laying it on thick, but Lyra had to admit she would make a good public speaker. She was very sincere sounding, even when spouting what would sound like BS from anyone else's mouth. Of course Lyra had no idea if Sam was being sincere in her words, just she nodded along, keeping a smile plastered on her face.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan nodded and smiled, as if toasting back, but he thought it was such a load of bull. Of course, growing up in the wealthy circles he did, he was used to this. But they were in the Slytherin common room. Here, if no where else, they were pretty damned equal.

"Enough with the speeches," he murmured. "We're not at a charity ball."

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra laughed at Rabastan's response to Sam's speech. He had said almost exactly what she was thinking. "Have your parents made you attend many of those? For charity, I mean." Lyra loved parties. She loved getting dressed up and making the circles around the room, schmoozing with anyone who was well connected. But charity ball were usually occupied by a different sort of crowd. Do gooders. They're sense of morality easily nauseated Lyra at times.

[Rystain Quandry]

Rystain had been thinking the same thing but only cracked a smile when Rabastan said what he'd been thinking. He was well familiar with public speaking events, he enjoyed the events but not the speaking. Mainly he loved to watch people at them, see who spoke to who openly and those who did so only when they thought no one noticed. It was an interesting game the social circles his family had grown up in, even in France it was the same way among the wealthy wizarding families.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam nodded to Rabastan. The difference between now and a charity event, school election, society function, or any other time where she had given speeches, she didn't have a glass of champagne to hide the brittle smile. What had been radient diminished after the set down, she did turn and smile at Seth with a little shrug.

People at Beauxbatons loved to hear her speak, she was "on air" anytime there was someone around her. She didn't have friends, she had admirers and they all wanted to hear something flowy. She had practiced her speech, her tone, her diction, her words even to carefully and accurately say what she wanted to get across to people, what she practiced most however was being convincing and she was convincing.

Now at Hogwarts it seemed they didn't want her speeches, which was fine, but for however strange it was she felt the words that she had spoken, perhaps there was a more casual way to say it, but Sam wasn't well educated in being casual. She sincerely wanted Rabastan's lovers and interests to always outnumber her own. Merlin look at what she did have to deal with concerning infatuated men, Rafe had followed her all the way from Beauxbatons and he was here and creepier than ever. She couldn't turn her head without some guy being there ready to make small talk to see if they could get into her pants.

Asside from that they had in their own ways endeared themselves to her, Seth...he had stuck up for her the night before, but he was so in love with Maxi she knew that he was simply helping a friend....friends she hardly knew the meaning of the word, and she knew Lyra probably talked about her behind her back, Lyra probably did many things that a real friend wouldn't do, but somewhere in there Lyra cared and it was so strange being cared about, sincerely cared about. Not like an idol that was worshiped, but something intimate.

So she had been sincere, at least with the sentiment behind her words, she simply expressed herself wrong, still, how could they understand her? It wasn't as if they knew they were the closest thing to friends that she had.

[Lyra Newbury]

Before Rabastan could answer, another question sprung into Lyra's head. "Oh," she said, looking between Samantha and Rystain. "What are the balls like in France? And for f*ck's sake, please speak English."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam's eyes widened, but she quickly skimmed over Lyra's language, she used foul language herself upon occasion but always behind closed doors, she just assumed that was how things were done, Lyra had no such obstacles and she nodded towards Rystain to explain what he thought of the balls in france.

[Rystain Quandry]

Rystain was taking a moment to be purposely obtuse and grinned at Sam "Why don't you tell us Sam? After all you were there last."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam shrugged, "I couldn't say, it's been so long since I've attended a ball in England...but I would imagine they're quite similar besides the language." she said diplomatically, she didn't want to say that Paris had a good hold on the decorating reigns as far as parties and balls went, France was so beautiful itself, really a charming place, while England...well England had it's rules and structure France didn't bother with such limitations.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan waited for her to give the painfully vagu answer before he glanced at Lyra. "Yes, in answer to your question. I've been to more than I can count."

He turned back to Sam, a bored look in his eyes. Her diplomacy was starting to irritate him.

"You could give a straightforward answer," Rabastan said, raising his eyebrows at her. "I'm sure, being the Slytherin champion, you must have actual opinions about something?"

[Samantha Montgomery]

Maybe because she had her wicked juices bubbling, maybe because Rabastan had pissed her off. She was doing good, playing nice, and that was two set downs in so short of time, she wondered if he was baiting her and oh how she'dve liked to respond, but she didn't do that sort of thing in public, her "setdowns" were much more subtle.

Opinions? Oh she was forming quite a few just now about him but she didn't voice that. She gathered that her diplomatic ways were probably annoying him and she toyed with the thought of answering even more diplomatically just to put him off, to play the vulnerable wounded act would be taking it too far, to show wit and fire...that might attract him yes, but did she want to attract him?

"I have many Rabastan." she answered finally, calmly though her smile curved more towards a smirk, she wasn't losing her cool, not for him, not for anyone, the spark of fire in her eyes was the only thing that hinted that there was more beneath the diplomacy, that there was a challenge and fire in her worthy of being Slytherin Champion...that she had much more character than she let them know.

"And as Slytherin Champion I will do my personal best not to let you down again."

[Charlotte Monroe]

Slytherin Champion? Oh yes, she remembered now. She had entered her name in the goblet for fun before she left for vacation, she thought she'd make a good candidate and hadn't realized she'd be gone when the champions were announced. No matter apparently the goblet had someone better in mind. Who was it?

Rabastan was talking to whoever it was, and she could hear the challenge in his voice it made her smile, she still had no clue who it was as she descended the stairs her view wasn't towards Sam she couldn't see, no not yet, but she could hear.

"I have many Rabastan."

It couldn't be...no fate was not that cruel...she swallowed standing where she was waiting to hear more...it just couldn't be Samantha.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

"Godric," Rabastan breathed, but he said no more. It must kill her a little to be so willing to please. How the hell had she been sorted into Slytherin? She'd never survive here, acting like that.

He remained quiet, letting Lyra or Rystain talk to her, since Merlin knew he'd never have a real conversation with her.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Samantha had to fight hard to bite the smile that wanted to form on her lips, she instead tilted her head at Rabastan almost asking if she had done something wrong. Oh but Godric, to listen to her, she understood Rabastan's irritation well.

She spoke well, she appeared innocent, but Rabastan was digging for "character" digging for what he expected from a Slytherin, she was going to disappoint...at least the search, but she was Slytherin through and through, her methods were just...subtle...lethal, and subtle.

[Charlotte Monroe]

Charlotte knew this only too well. You didn't know you were being taken down by Samantha until you were drowning and wondering where your boat went. Then you saw her sailing away under Sam's orders as Sam grinned maliciously back towards you.

It had happened before. Sam had ruined everthing for Charlotte, Sam had destroyed her mind body and soul and now Sam was here... and she was already Slytherin Champion...she was already friends with...well no Rabastan looked iritated but the rest of them...oh Merlin no, please no.

"S-Samantha?" Charlotte asked and hated the way her voice quivered as she came down the stairs.