13 Oct 2020, 14:29
All is Aching
October had been a great deal more stressful than the month before it. What could he do but soldier on, since he continually insisted on taking on as much as he could? He had been bringing things together for the masquerade ball, with meetings, making decisions, giving orders… and that was on top of making sure he stayed on top of his studies, and continued to get straight O’s. That still wasn’t all, though, he was also investigating the strange occurrences from the last year still-- student disappearances, hags, and strange magical objects of great power. Alongside that, attending the many sports events and assorted errands that he needed to stay on top of. He couldn’t let his friends feel abandoned, nor could he let his house down when it came to points. If he let even one of these things drop, he would likely start descending sharply. Everything in his life always seemed to be balanced on a thin blade, waiting to cleave him if he made one step out of line.
The aggravation had been building more than ever that Tuesday, as he dragged a tower of books to the Study Room to try to avoid too much distraction as he buckled down to study the new curriculum. He had already mastered many of the spells that had been taught at the start of the year, he was determined to become a more confident spellcaster, or he was doomed to not be able to defend himself when push came to shove. Falentra had only encouraged him further by insisting that pretty words weren’t going to be the thing that saved him in a dangerous situation. Sometimes, not even close allies. He didn’t want to be caught alone and defenseless. He didn’t want to be killed.
With that, however, he made no real effort to appear any less harried than he was. He poured over his books looking fretful, aggravated, even hopeless. Sometimes he would quietly grumble or whine, rubbing his eyes painfully. He figured he would need some kind of stress relief later, but he couldn’t do anything until he got through his required reading.
@Adlai Rod
The aggravation had been building more than ever that Tuesday, as he dragged a tower of books to the Study Room to try to avoid too much distraction as he buckled down to study the new curriculum. He had already mastered many of the spells that had been taught at the start of the year, he was determined to become a more confident spellcaster, or he was doomed to not be able to defend himself when push came to shove. Falentra had only encouraged him further by insisting that pretty words weren’t going to be the thing that saved him in a dangerous situation. Sometimes, not even close allies. He didn’t want to be caught alone and defenseless. He didn’t want to be killed.
With that, however, he made no real effort to appear any less harried than he was. He poured over his books looking fretful, aggravated, even hopeless. Sometimes he would quietly grumble or whine, rubbing his eyes painfully. He figured he would need some kind of stress relief later, but he couldn’t do anything until he got through his required reading.
@Adlai Rod
Last edited by Flash Holmwood on 18 Oct 2020, 05:21, edited 1 time in total.
For we dreamed a lot//And we schemed a lot//And we tried to sing of love before the stage fell apart
Sta: 9 ★Eva: 5 ★Str: 7 ★Wis: 15 ★AP: 3 ★Acc: 15
13 Oct 2020, 15:00
All is Aching
Adlai was not one to study, that is unless she absolutely had to. She hated the idea of having to do school work outside of the classroom. It made no sense to her. And since she wasn’t at home there was really no one to force her to. Which didn’t reflect well on her grades.
She didn’t mind though, since no one really expected anything from her. Except for her great aunt, who wrote to her consistently about how terrible her grades were. But, being the person Adlai was, she ignored it. Instead in her free time she read the things she wanted to read, which included magazines and books her parents send her on occasion. She also liked to practice her tennis swings in the courtyard, and knit.
Knitting wasn’t a very common hobby amongst the youth but it was one of the only things she could really concentrate on. Besides she couldn’t draw or paint to save her life. However, thanks to her hobby she was able to make wonderfully personalized gifts for those she considered friends.
At the moment she didn’t have many due to the fact that the people she talked to last year trickled into their own social groups and haven’t really spoken to Adlai since. Half the time she didn’t mind it, she was always quick to make conversation with strangers after all.
Nonetheless, there were times where she grew lonely. And that’s when she would attempt seek out of the company of one familiar face, Flash Holmwood.
He was on of the only people she talked to on a regular basis as of late. and one of the few people who knew of her being a Parselmouth.
After asking around the school she was able to find out that Flash had hobbled himself into the study room. Which wasn’t surprising, he had much better grades than Adlai and there was really only one way to get them. By studying.
Once entered the study room she immediately saw Flash, hunched over a book with a tower of others next to him. He looked miserable from her point of view.
Carefully she crept up behind him before clasping her hands over his eyes. “Guess who?”
@Flash Holmwood
Adlai Winifred Rod
13 Oct 2020, 17:11
All is Aching
Rolling Sixth Sense
25% chance to notice someone entering the thread
1d100 [34] - failure
Entranced by the need to understand the passage he was reading, and numbed by the sound of other students milling about, Flash had no inclination of Adlai's arrival. When a pair of hands gently interrupted his vision, instead of playing along with the whimsical questions, Flash started brusquely, as if startled awake by a bucket of ice cold water. A short yelp and panicked scooching of his chair against the floor was likely more than enough to draw attention to himself from the people in the room trying to escape from wanton noise, so once he realized the situation, he was quick to collect himself and readjust his chair, looking up at 'who' sheepishly.
"Oh... ah... Ad-Adlai." There wasn't much he could do to recover from his over-reaction, his heart still struggling to slow down. "Forgive me... I suppose I'm a bit on edge."
No matter how often he was told to calm down, paranoia had found a place to grow inside him, and he felt ashamed whenever it had the chance to make itself public. Regardless of what kind of face he showed the world, real or not, he couldn't let people know how haphazardly strung together he was behind the scenes. Held together by cheap tape. He took it as a sign that taking a break and talking to a friend was an intelligent course of action. Taking breaks was something he was still working on implementing properly. He simply didn't see what was happening until it had gone too far. Thank goodness for other people, then.
"Please, take a seat. I think I could really use the company, actually." Flash gestured to the chair next to him, his jittery breath starting to even out. "What brings you here?"
@Adlai Rod
For we dreamed a lot//And we schemed a lot//And we tried to sing of love before the stage fell apart
Sta: 9 ★Eva: 5 ★Str: 7 ★Wis: 15 ★AP: 3 ★Acc: 15
13 Oct 2020, 18:49
All is Aching
Seeing how the boy reacted made Adlai step back a bit. She hadn’t meant to frighten him. But then again if she were engrossed into a book and suddenly had her vision blocked she would have probably reacted to the same.
“Oh...ah...ad-Adlai.” Said the startled boy. “Forgive me...I suppose I’m a bit on edge.”
“It’s ok. I shouldn’t have snuck up on you.” She said in a hushed tone as she noticed the few people in the study room look in their direction with little admiration or gratitude for the sudden pop of sound.
“Please take a seat. I think I could really use the company, actually.” Flash said as she gestured to the seat next to him, that of course Adlai took.
“What brings you here?”
With that question Adlai smiled as she turned to directly face Flash. “I have something for you.” She said. Pulling her book bag from behind her and setting it on her lap, Adlai reached inside and pulled out a small knitted Lockness monster stuffed animal.
Reducio
She held it out to Flash.
“I wasn’t sure if you were into this kind of stuff but I made you one as a way to say thank you, for being my friend.” She was truly thankful to Flash for continuing to talk to her and spend time with her. She was also thankful that he didn’t just care about her strange family past and her odd ability to talk to snakes.
@Flash Holmwood
Adlai Winifred Rod
13 Oct 2020, 20:13
All is Aching
Adlai admonished herself for sneaking up on him, though he never would have blamed her. His voice cracked to try to reverse the sentiment onto his own carelessness, but he decided it was better to let it go. There was such a thing as being too humble, after all. Besides, at his question about her purpose, it turned out she had been looking to give him something. Not looking for help, or looking to vent, but to... give him something. The idea was a bit jarring, he didn't know what to expect. Had he accidentally dropped something the last time they talked?
Feeling a bit timid as she ruffled through her bag, he felt he couldn't have possibly been prepared for what she produced out of it. Perched in her hand was some knitted green thing with big button eyes. It looked a bit like a dinosaur, or a sea monster, since it had little flippers. Though initially he could do little but look at it in wonder, he eventually looked back up to Adlai as though it would give him answers. Thankfully, she did answer. She made it for him.
"Oh!" Flash looked at the creature again. It really was... very cute. Flash had no idea what he would do with it... put it on his night stand? Keep it in his bag? He wasn't used to having... toys? "I can't believe you made this... oh, what I mean to say is, it's quite well done. Was it very difficult?"
Struggling to push through his awkwardness in receiving a gift, he gingerly plucked it out of her hand to examine it closer in his. It looked like knitting, a simple design with some hint of complexity. Though the surprise of getting it had taken precedent in his demeanor, he wasn't one to nay say any form of artistic expression. On the contrary, he found the pursuit of any artistic skill to be a meaningful endeavor. The more he looked at it, the more fond he became of it. What he really couldn't believe was that it was his.
"I... thank you." Flash was at a loss for words, looking into those dark button eyes soulfully as if they were dragging him in. "I'll treasure it."
@Adlai Rod
Feeling a bit timid as she ruffled through her bag, he felt he couldn't have possibly been prepared for what she produced out of it. Perched in her hand was some knitted green thing with big button eyes. It looked a bit like a dinosaur, or a sea monster, since it had little flippers. Though initially he could do little but look at it in wonder, he eventually looked back up to Adlai as though it would give him answers. Thankfully, she did answer. She made it for him.
"Oh!" Flash looked at the creature again. It really was... very cute. Flash had no idea what he would do with it... put it on his night stand? Keep it in his bag? He wasn't used to having... toys? "I can't believe you made this... oh, what I mean to say is, it's quite well done. Was it very difficult?"
Struggling to push through his awkwardness in receiving a gift, he gingerly plucked it out of her hand to examine it closer in his. It looked like knitting, a simple design with some hint of complexity. Though the surprise of getting it had taken precedent in his demeanor, he wasn't one to nay say any form of artistic expression. On the contrary, he found the pursuit of any artistic skill to be a meaningful endeavor. The more he looked at it, the more fond he became of it. What he really couldn't believe was that it was his.
"I... thank you." Flash was at a loss for words, looking into those dark button eyes soulfully as if they were dragging him in. "I'll treasure it."
@Adlai Rod
For we dreamed a lot//And we schemed a lot//And we tried to sing of love before the stage fell apart
Sta: 9 ★Eva: 5 ★Str: 7 ★Wis: 15 ★AP: 3 ★Acc: 15
13 Oct 2020, 21:03
All is Aching
“You’re welcome. It wasn’t all that hard to make since I made it small. If I had made it a lot bigger it would have taken me a lot longer and I would have need more yarn.” She said with a soft giggle.
“You’ve seemed a little stressed out lately too, and I wanted to do something for you.”
Flash was a hard worker, anyone could see that. In Adlais opinion sometimes he bit off more than he could chew when it came to collecting tasks not only from teachers but also fellow students and friends.
To Adlai, sometimes Flash didn’t seem like a kid, but instead a small adult. In her opinion he needed to be able to relax and have fun. He needed a chance to be like every other 12 year old boy. Though Adlai had no idea what 12 year old boys do.
From what Adlai has seen it’s the same with a majority of the kids at Hogwarts. They all seemed to have had to grow up too fast. She quite know why they had, perhaps it had to do with something beyond her control, but in anyway she could, she wanted to help. Even if I’m the end...she’d end up getting hurt.
Reducio@Flash Holmwood
Adlai Winifred Rod
16 Oct 2020, 14:32
All is Aching
Flash had to smile too when Adlai giggled, she was clearly trying to lighten the mood. He knew it was improper to be so shocked and unbelieving, and it was starting to wear off as she talked. Instead of placing it directly in his bag, Flash put the adorable monster on top of the pile of books, overseeing the Study Room from its lofty perch.
"Do I...?" Flash's eyes stayed on the cute creature, but he addressed the concern about his stress. He knew from last year that he couldn't just work himself to death, but he wasn't exactly sure how to not work himself to death. There were always things that needed to be done. "I suppose I am. Thanks for... snapping me out of it."
Looking back at his companion, he let out a long sigh. Willow had taught him briefly about meditation, he needed to remember to try to implement that more. Breathing, living in the moment, paying attention to his body. He cracked his neck a bit and stretched his shoulders.
"Planning for the ball has been taking up so much of my time, I've just been trying to cram everything in." Flash shook his head, knowing the folly of his words as he said them. "I don't know your thoughts on Halloween or Masquerades. Are you planning on attending by chance?"
Flash knitted his fingers together and rest his chin on them, ready to intently listen to her answer.
@Adlai Rod
"Do I...?" Flash's eyes stayed on the cute creature, but he addressed the concern about his stress. He knew from last year that he couldn't just work himself to death, but he wasn't exactly sure how to not work himself to death. There were always things that needed to be done. "I suppose I am. Thanks for... snapping me out of it."
Looking back at his companion, he let out a long sigh. Willow had taught him briefly about meditation, he needed to remember to try to implement that more. Breathing, living in the moment, paying attention to his body. He cracked his neck a bit and stretched his shoulders.
"Planning for the ball has been taking up so much of my time, I've just been trying to cram everything in." Flash shook his head, knowing the folly of his words as he said them. "I don't know your thoughts on Halloween or Masquerades. Are you planning on attending by chance?"
Flash knitted his fingers together and rest his chin on them, ready to intently listen to her answer.
@Adlai Rod
For we dreamed a lot//And we schemed a lot//And we tried to sing of love before the stage fell apart
Sta: 9 ★Eva: 5 ★Str: 7 ★Wis: 15 ★AP: 3 ★Acc: 15
16 Oct 2020, 15:02
All is Aching
“Do I..?” Flash seemed to ask unconsciously.
“Yes, at least to me. I could be completely wrong.”
She said before the boy began talking about all of the latest duties he had been working on. The fact that we was part of planning the ball was quite interesting to Adlai, she didn’t know that, that was something kids in her year could do.
“I think it would be fun to do again, though in a bit hesitant to since last time everything caught of fire.” She said recalling the events of last years October ball. She had just found her friend, Leah. when things got out of had, she wasn’t sure how the fire started but it did indeed scare her. Every one was shouting and running and She had inhaled so much smoke that night she had terrible coughing guys for a week.
It would be nice to give it another shot though, she had gotten all dressed up last time and didn’t get a chance to dance or really have fun, which in her opinion not having fun at a party is indeed a crime.
“You know what. I think I will go, what’s the worst that can happen? Besides I didn’t get a chance to dance last time.”
@Flash Holmwood
Adlai Winifred Rod
16 Oct 2020, 15:18
All is Aching
Flash had to laugh a bit, though there was some sadness to the chuckle. Balls in Hogwarts had a bad reputation, though for good reason. He couldn't pretend like he didn't leave the last ball with a broken nose and a bleeding hole in his arm. He did have the opportunity to dance, however, though not with who he wanted to.
"I... yes, I know why you might be concerned. I've been trying to fight that stigma these last two months..." Flash was an influential person for his age, but he at least seemed to convince most people that the ball would be safe. It wasn't just any ball after all, he was watching over it, which made all the difference. "I insist that this one will be quite harmless. Dare I say fun."
His smile returned, he was glad to hear that she was thinking of going. The whole idea was to give people a ball they could look back on fondly, one where things didn't go wrong and everyone had a good time. He hoped to be surrounded by smiling faces the whole night.
"Ah, do you enjoy dancing, then?" Flash's smile only seemed to grow as the conversation continued. "My date, Miss Anastasia, said that she was a practiced ballroom dancer, so I'm looking forward to that, since I am too, to a degree. It will be nice to cut loose and just flow with the music with someone who knows what they are doing."
"Is there someone you wanted to go with?"
@Adlai Rod
"I... yes, I know why you might be concerned. I've been trying to fight that stigma these last two months..." Flash was an influential person for his age, but he at least seemed to convince most people that the ball would be safe. It wasn't just any ball after all, he was watching over it, which made all the difference. "I insist that this one will be quite harmless. Dare I say fun."
His smile returned, he was glad to hear that she was thinking of going. The whole idea was to give people a ball they could look back on fondly, one where things didn't go wrong and everyone had a good time. He hoped to be surrounded by smiling faces the whole night.
"Ah, do you enjoy dancing, then?" Flash's smile only seemed to grow as the conversation continued. "My date, Miss Anastasia, said that she was a practiced ballroom dancer, so I'm looking forward to that, since I am too, to a degree. It will be nice to cut loose and just flow with the music with someone who knows what they are doing."
"Is there someone you wanted to go with?"
@Adlai Rod
For we dreamed a lot//And we schemed a lot//And we tried to sing of love before the stage fell apart
Sta: 9 ★Eva: 5 ★Str: 7 ★Wis: 15 ★AP: 3 ★Acc: 15
16 Oct 2020, 16:40
All is Aching
“I do enjoy dancing, though I don’t get to do it very often. It’s really just a fun away to get all of my energy out.” She said recalling all the times she had danced around the living room on the weekends with her father as they cleaned the house.
Her mother called them both bubbling buffoons before they had dragged her into their little party for the rest of the afternoon.
It was the sound of the word “date” that through Adlai’s rhythm off for a moment.
“Oh?” She unintentionally inquired.
She wasn’t sure why but something inside her felt like it had shattered into a million pieces. She kept smiling though, pushing that heart reaching feeling down into her stomach.
“Is there anyone you wanted to go with?” He asked her.
“No, aside from you I don’t really talk to anyone on a regular basis, so I’m probably just going to go alone and hang out with some acquaintances. That is if they’ll let me.” She said. The idea of going with someone to a dance was very appealing to her, she wondered if her parents had ever done anything like that.
“I hope you have fun. I’ve never meet an Anastasia but I’m sure she’s lovely!”
@Flash Holmwood
Adlai Winifred Rod