Helga was glad it seemed Godric and Rowena were also against the idea of using a blood contract on their staff. She herself had fought against using it when it came to the house elf staff so using it on the more human staff was just as wrong and unacceptable. It was a chain on the signer, locking them in place and not always of free will. That was her take on blood magic and it was one of the reasons she avoided using it at or as much as possible.
It was a little interesting to hear but also expected to hear Rowena had a project idea for the school or more so for the future generations. From what her fuzzy and slowly shutting down mind could understand, it would help find future students so they wouldn't have to go out in search of them themselves again. A good idea once they heard the rest of it like how the children would be notified once the ledger had their name down. It was also a subtle note that she hadn't been the only one with some last minute ideas to spring on the group every now and then. Just another connection linking the four of them together and made their friendship what it was over the years.
All her focus though seemed to fade when Salazar finally responded and even drunk she knew he wasn't thrilled about his idea being shot down. Helga looked at him, offering an apologetic look that seemed to go unnoticed. It wasn't easy when your idea was shot down and more often Salazar's ideas were the ones not quite agreeable to the rest of them. She felt bad not being able to support him when he offered the idea but she couldn't go against her own beliefs and opinion and unfortunately most of the time his ideas just didn't sit right with her. Things like blood magic or being more selective when it came to children they taught here, she could only imagine it was his mothers fault for some of the darker thoughts in his mind. If only she could have met him sooner, maybe she could have lightened up his life a little earlier with her food or something like she had done with Rowena and Godric.
When it seemed like he was going to take off for the night with a bit of a hurry to his pace, his mood down and any chance at getting in a good enough mood to celebrate Helga tugged herself out of her warm drunken buzz not wanting to let him leave in such a state. "Salazar w-wait.." she said and stood up quickly from her seat in an effort to stop him. A little too quickly and not quick enough as he still departed the room without a moments pause while she ended up now seated on the floor, her legs giving out on her the moment she tried to stand up faster than they were ready for her.
Helga exhaled a small soft groan, feeling a little like she was swimming in thick water for a moment while the room swayed in her vision. Her rear end hadn't appreciated her sudden drop either but the rest of her body was thankful for the somewhat cushiony landing. Turning slowly, she pulled herself back up to her feet slowly and sat back down in her chair. "I hate making him upset like that and not having a chance to make it up to him. Its not intentional honest but I guess its unavoidable with the four of us having different strong points in our minds" She said brushing past her fall to the floor a moment ago. She would feel it a bit tomorrow but it wasn't anything she wasn't used to either. "Wonder if I had one of his favorites prepared for part of the morning meal it would lift his mood a bit better?"
Godric had been trying to avoid looking at his friend, figuring there would be some agitation in the man when Rowena not only took their side but then went on to change the subject to something else she was thinking of inventing for the school. She was a beautiful woman; one of the smartest women he had ever known but just because she was intelligent did not mean she always had the most common sense.
It was a little surprising, however, when Salazar gave a back-handed assurance to the intelligent friend and then made his escape. While Helga tried desperately to stop him, she ended up on the floor. Godric had not been keeping track of how many goblets of wine she had drank (he was not her keeper, after all) but from the looks of things, the only one who had been celebrating was Helga. The rest had been too busy ironing out details that should have been nailed down before this so the night could have been about enjoyment instead of business.
It was his own fault really. He'd started it by discussing business. If they had just focused on the celebration...
Before he could get up and help Helga to her unsteady feet, she was sliding back into her chair - still looking a little worse for wear. Her head was going to ache something fierce tomorrow! There was no use going after Salazar at this point. A little space and time to nurse his bruised ego would do the man a world of good. Godric would like to say that he would learn from tonight and maybe side with his closest and dearest friend a little more often in the future.
However, it would be untrue. He would have to vote from his conscience and that so often didn't mesh with Salazar's own ideals. But the two could feed off of each other most of the time, bouncing from one idea to the other with a quickness that sometimes made Rowena's head spin. It just hadn't been happening lately because they were both so damn tired from all the preparations of the last ten years finally reaching culmination. All the traveling, schmoozing with parents, encouraging uncertain, possible students - it wore down on a person after a while. And no doubt, the girls were tired too after all their own efforts.
Maybe Salazar was right - they all needed some sleep. And maybe a long break. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen now that school had begun so they were just going to have to saddle up and feel their way through the fog to reach the other side to when they could take a real break. Maybe go back to Ireland...no, that would take the man to his mother and her poisonous thoughts. Normandy then. Or even all the way to Gaul. Just get away and relax.
Until then, they would just have to make do.
Realizing what Helga had said (he should have known what was coming as that was always Helga's solution - food), he shook his head. "No, I think our friend just need some time to accept his considerable losses this evening. I'm certain that tomorrow he will be right as rain, back to his old self." Godric wasn't so certain, actually, but he would do what he could to reassure the girls. If Salazar didn't break out of his mood in a few days, Godric would take him out to the dueling ring and PUT him in a different mood - one way or another.
"And the book is an interesting idea, Rowena." He assured her, not wanting it to seem like Salazar's snit meant that she was being dismissed. "I don't know if we can cover all of Europe. Maybe start with a smaller grouping - the isles for example. Who knows, maybe this endeavor here will inspire others? For now, we'll keep it all in mind and work on it separately and come together about it at a later date."
Ro looked a little sour as Salazar paid her what she thought might be a compliment and then hurried away before anyone could stop him. Just like him to run after not getting his way. He was more spoiled than she was as far as Rowena was concerned. Before she could make a snide comment of her own, Helga slipped from her chair which brought her partially out of her own in concern.
Though her best friend seemed to right herself rather quickly, she wondered just how many goblets she was in, echoing Godric's thoughts on the matter. Perhaps they had taken things on far too serious a spin for the first night. It was just difficult to rein in the ideas at times though she was reluctant to say so.
When Godric turned things back to her, acknowledging her idea as being a good one she preened a bit, offering him a confident smile. She took his words in though she slightly disagreed. If they were thinking of doing a venture this big, why not think globally? It's not like the known world was huge or anything. Why settle for teaching a handful of isles? But she relented for now. Perhaps there was some wisdom to starting small but expanding the venture later.
Reaching over to gently pat her dear friend's hand, her smile softened considerably. "Yes, he's right Helga dearest," she said in agreement with Godric. "Salazar is a big boy and he will be fine tomorrow. Alas, you will be hurting though I fear with as much wine as you've imbibed."
Rowena laughed lightly and rubbed the back of Helga's hand softly. "Come now, let us take our final sips before heading off to bed," she said, sounding more like the motherly figure that her friend was than herself. But let it not be said that Rowena was a force of will when she set that brilliant mind to it. "I'll stop off with our nurse for an elixir to alleviate some of the discomforts you'll be experiencing in a few hours. That way you too will be right as rain."
With that said, she rose gracefully and looked toward Godric. "Sir Gryffindor, would you do us the honor of escorting us to our chambers?" she asked politely, though her meaning was clear. She wasn't sure she would be enough to get the very drunk Hufflepuff founder safely to her rooms.
Helga wasn't really concerned that most of the time her solution to most problems was with something to do with food. She couldn't help it knowing that good food in the stomach made it hard to feel the negative effects of anger and sadness. It had been her outlet to finding herself after all, make something of herself to stand out from her siblings and family as more than just a good healer. Her charm work both with and without food was one of the strongest while her strong but warm heart had brought her to help others in different ways then with a potion or spell. It was just part of who she was as was not liking to see her friends unhappy whether or not she was a few drinks in and a few days short of sleep.
She was trying to grasp at what they had been discussing when Salazar had made his departure. Something about a book and where they could start getting future students right? Helga was finding it a little difficult to grasp at it, there was a fog forming in her mind again along with a small flood of what she could to cheer Salazar up. Godric was right in that maybe it was better to let their friend blow off some steam and he would be fine in the morning but it didn't stop her usual reaction to jump start even if she was in no position to act upon any of her ideas tonight. Nope tonight she was as useful as a paperweight but maybe that's what she needed to finally catch up on some sleep.
Helga looked at Rowena a little confused and concerned when she mentioned getting an elixir for her to be better tomorrow. Why was she going to need an elixir to feel better? And the way her best friend was rubbing her hand hinted something in the clouded part of her mind she was consoling her but why she hadn't a clue. She glanced at Godric then back at her bestie. "I don't know that we need to bother nurse Gudrun with making an elixir, I didn't hit the floor that hard. After so many days nonstop of working every time I sit I try to get up slowly so my tired legs don't give out on me but that time I was more focused on Salazar and stood up too fast. I'm alright, made of tougher stuff than I look" Helga said. She wasn't aware of how many goblets she had enjoyed during their meeting, the grip on her control gone at some point in the midst of one of the topics they had been discussing. Maybe it had been 5 not including the drinks at dinner or was it 6? It couldn't have been more than that though surely? Maybe?
Leaning forward slowly as the room shifted a little when she moved, Helga reached for her goblet with the hand not under her best friends consoling pats and brought it closer. It was empty but that didn't help with the puzzle of how much she had to drink. It couldn't have been much to make her feel drunk, she was just tired that's all. All that missing sleep just finally catching up to her so maybe it was better if they called things done for the night.
"To a good first day of our school and many more good days to come for us and the students coming to learn from us" She said with a small warm smile and gently raising her goblet up to a soft toast, her arm slightly swaying a little in the air. Though her goblet was empty and one important member already gone she still wanted them to finish the night on a good note.
When everything Rowena said seemed to go over Helga's head, Godric knew that he was definitely going to be serving his knightly duties this evening. Though it was rare for them to be spent in Helga's direction, he was pleased that at least one of them had had a celebration. They all should have been so lucky as to stumble out of here as she would do.
When his friend made a toast, he considered her goblet. "Hold on, my friend. You need something in there or it'll be bad luck." Old superstition but with everything riding on this endeavor, they needed all the luck they could get. While Rowena would probably not be amused by him adding to Helga's misery tomorrow, Godric could take what she could give out.
Grabbing the wineskin, he filled Helga's cup about a quarter of the way and then filled his own. Lastly he stood to cross the room, grabbed Rowena's empty goblet and put enough in there to cover the bottom. Then he offered it to her so that they would all be drinking to good health. "To our first day and many better ones to come!" He agreed with his own goblet held up. It was all up to Rowena now...
Rowena heaved a heavy sigh as her intent went straight over Helga's red head. She did however narrow her pale eyes at Godric as he put a little more alcohol into her friend's goblet, unlucky or not. Begrudgingly for Helga's sake, she raised her own partially refilled goblet and gave a stiff nod before knocking back the mouthful of wine. She set the goblet down firmly on the table making a thud.
"Alright, now we've toasted the day, let's get on to bed," she said, once again fussing at her best friend. The woman would be lucky if she passed out as soon as her head hit the pillow and didn't end up expelling the contents of her stomach. As it was, Rowena was starting to feel a little fuzzy around the edges herself. She tucked her arm around one of Helga's and looked over at Godric hoping he would escort them as she had asked considering he hadn't answered in kind.
The blue-eyed founder was planning on breaking off before they got to Helga's chambers to make a quick stop in at the infirmary to make good on her promise to retrieve a concoction that would ease any stomach upset or headache that would rear its head by morning. She was hoping that the going would be slow enough that she could do that and meet them at Helga's door before the Hufflepuff founder could pour herself into bed.
08-12-2022, 11:08 AM (This post was last modified: 08-12-2022, 11:08 AM by Godric Gryffindor.)
Godric was relieved that Rowena hadn't lost it when he refilled their goblets. He was almost certain he saw a look of annoyance on her face but if so, it was gone as quickly as it was there. Shrugging it off, he figured even if she did have something to say about the matter, she'd at least wait until Helga was safely bedded down for the night. And by the time that happened, Godric could be out of the castle and, at least temporarily, out of reach until morning.
When Rowena went to support her friend, he moved to the other side to take Helga's arm. While it wouldn't be the best look if any of the students came across them in the hallways...
Then again, if a student was out in the hallways after the specified hours, they would be having a bigger problem than just having one of them being found a little deep in their cups. Unfortunately, that would leave either Rowena or himself to deal with Helga while the other dealt with the errant student. He could only hope that none of the students would be brave enough to break the rules on the first night.
At least wait until the second day, he thought with amusement.
Gently, the two led Helga towards the door and out into the hallways. Godric clucked his tongue twice, indicating for Rhiannon to follow behind them instead of at his side as she usually would or, rarely, lead the way. The last thing he needed was for one of his friends to trip over her. Then he'd really hear about it!
Helga thought she heard Godric say something beside her but it was muffled but that all fell from her mind as her cup seemed to magically fill itself with just enough wine to properly toast the evening. She gave it little concern as she brought the cup closer to her mouth and drank it down in one gulp. It still tasted cold and a touch sweet, just as she liked her second goblet of the night to be or was this her seventh? Ah no matter surely she still had to be within her own limits and would be fine.
She reached out, nearly sliding out from her chair to set her goblet back down on the table once their toast seemed finished. Helga hadn't realized how heavy her limbs had begun to feel all of a sudden but thankfully Rowena appeared beside her through the fog surrounding most of her vision and seemed to catch her before she leaned too much farther forward. Her bestie took hold of one of her arms and a moment later Godric used the same ability to appear on her other side to take her arm there. She muffled a small chuckle as her friends helped her up on her feet. "You both suddenly appeared like magic at my side and my mind thought that was funny cause we can use magic so of course you could do something like move faster than the blink of an eye. Silly me" Helga joked with a smile as the three of them left the room.
The trek along the corridor was quiet, Helga for the most part was trying to rework her mind to functioning at least better and out of the tired fog trying to settle in her head. It wasn't until she was finally able to realize they were walking along the corridor did she seemed to grasp at some reality as she came to a stop. "W-wait I can't go to bed just yet!" she said glancing between the two with a hint of distress in her drunken state. "I still have to go say goodnight to Elain and Rhodri! They are waiting for me to tuck them in and kiss them goodnight." Helga turned to look around the corridor, searching for the one that would take her to her children's bedroom. It didn't occur to her mind at the moment that her children were not there and wouldn't be there no matter how much she searched. They were with her sister a few dozen or so miles away where they had been safe and sound for the last few months while she had been here during the final preparations of the school.
Rowena was already steering Helga toward the door when she suddenly protested on account of her children. Finding patience that was rare with anyone other than those close to her heart, she patted her best friend's hand. "Helga dear, they are safe and sound with your sister," she explained gently. "Try to remember. They are staying with her while we start this endeavor. Come now, it's time for bed dear heart."
Looking over her friend's head at Godric, she gave him a nod to proceed, hoping that Helga wouldn't put up more of a fight. She didn't want to have to force the woman into her chambers because that seemed cruel in some ways and also because wrangling a drunk person was incredibly difficult as she had learned growing up in the highlands.
Carefully she maneuvered her friend out the door of the staff room and down the hall on the way toward her chambers. It was slow going but Rowena was strangely thankful for that. It would give her time to break away to fetch the potion needed and return to her side before they got to their destination. In fact, about halfway there she gently released Helga's arm and kissed the other woman's cheek, promising to return swiftly before cutting down a different hallway to hit up the infirmary.
Godric watched Rowena kiss Helga's cheek and then tear off, likely to fetch something for Helga's head. He'd had enough nights with too much to drink that he was well acquainted with the pain their dear friend would be likely feeling in the morning. A little part of Godric had wished that she'd kissed his cheek too.
Just for luck, of course. Luck was important!
"Come along, my friend," He said jovially, strengthening his hold on her. The last thing he wanted was for her collapse like a puddle of goo. That would just lead to more bumps and scrapes to be embarrassed about in the morning when Helga realized what had happened. After all, there was nothing shameful about getting drunk. It was supposed to have been a party, after all. If only it hadn't been ruined for the other three by business.
Hopefully Helga had been convinced enough to keep moving. Strange that she would remember them now, as her children hadn't been at the school for a little while. Still, weird things came to a person when they were smashed that wouldn't otherwise. And alcohol had the tendency to revert to primal status; for Helga, of course it would be her more maternal attributes.
