31 Jan 2021, 23:21
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
Sunday 14th February 2021, 7PM
@Jack Burnett -- @Flash Holmwood -- @Opeila WintersToday was a special day, a chance for a bit of romance or platonic love. It was an opportunity to have a little bit of fun and make room for love in your heart, whether that was a new blossoming relationship or to help grow an old one. Love was a powerful emotion, capable of achieving great things. This event was the push that was required to help those in need to make that first step, to find a bond that they could treasure for the years to come. Maybe people will find their childhood sweethearts here or build the foundation of a bond that only grows.
Perhaps that was too optimistic. Nonetheless, this was a way to escape from the drama and angst, a chance to just have a little bit of fun and have a cute date. And what better location to spend with someone than under the stars?
Entering the Astronomy Tower, students would see the familiar staircase decorated with floating paper hearts that gently spun around in the sky. Following the trail of hearts up the staircase, they would enter into the Astronomy classroom at the top of the tower. The entrance to the classroom had a large arch made from paper flower roses in different shades of pink and red around it.
Walking through the arch, people will be greeted by a very different decor than they were likely used to seeing at the astronomy tower. Heart garlands were draped on the edge of the tables and paper hearts floating in the room randomly. There was a sign on the side, saying "please take one". In smaller text, it also said, "You may take up to one of each if you would like".
By the sign, people would see three main options. The first was a vase of pink roses. If anyone looked carefully, they would notice that the thorns had been cut off from the stems. Taking out a rose, they would notice a small label attached to the stem. The second choice was little bags of sweets. A transparent bag holding a small variety of heart-shaped chocolates or sweets. There was ribbon around the bag that tied it shut and a blank label on each bag. The third choice was an eggless cupcake, with glitter icing on it that looked like a rose. On the cupcake case, there was a blank sticker label here too.
When someone took one of the items (or multiple), the blank labels would start to change immediately. They would see words start to form on them. It would give them a number. That was it. A number.
Looking up, they would likely spot a room full of picnic blankets scattered around the area. There was also a foil heart-shaped balloon that came in white, pink or red. They had a small weight on the bottom of the strings to prevent them from flying away. On either side of the balloon itself, they would see a number.
It was clear that they were supposed to go to the respective number to meet their blind date.
On finding their matching balloon, they would look down to see there were two cushions on top of the picnic blanket, with a hamper in the middle. The hamper itself contained a variety of snacks: biscuits, chocolates, scones, cream, jam and cake. There were also some small sandwiches, in case anyone wanted something a little heavier. For drinks, there was a small teapot of hot water that was magically kept hot in the hamper. They would find a small selection of teas, as well as hot chocolate powder in the hamper too - with sugar and milk. For those who preferred a cold drink, there was also water and juice available.
It was definitely on the colder side up in the tower. Being wrapped up in a coat and some gloves would probably be ideal. Hats and scarves would be a decent idea too. After all, the sun had set and it was the middle of winter. However, the sheer number of people around as well as the fireplaces helped to add a bit of warmth to it that prevented it from being freezing. People would not need to wear snow boats as it was not freezing by any means. However, it was definitely suggested that people dressed up warm for the evening.
Sitting down and looking up, they would see the beautiful starry night sky showering over them. Anyone who was good at Astronomy might be able to name some of what they see.
There is something about ambition, how it not only propels you but also defines you.
1 Feb 2021, 00:54
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
Flash learned that he had been signed up for the Valentine dinner that people had been talking about. Valentines wasn't exactly a celebration he partook it historically, as he was 12-years-old... at least for a few more days. He hadn't given much thought to his encroaching birthday, since as always, it was just another day. Last year, he had nearly spent his birthday avoiding his family with Opeila, but instead avoided it with Burnett. Nowadays, it seemed the two were avoiding him.
The bond that he and Opeila shared was one mostly only linked to mutual grief. They had shared plenty of happy moments that could be mistaken for two children having innocent fun-- spreading flowers in the library, dressing up for Halloween-- yet underneath the veneer of a simple friendship was a pile of dark, somber secrets. Perhaps they had piled up too high, as he hardly knew if he could still see her through the trauma between them. Was she still the sweet girl who comforted him when he was anxious, who brought Slytherins together when they felt alone, and who wanted to do what was right? Last year, around this time, she had noticed Flash was out of sorts and tried to lift him out of the depths of his despair. Could he say he ever repaid the favor of her kindness? Hadn't he been avoiding her too, for friends that were less... complicated?
As for Burnett, their relationship had never found a single direction. If any relationship of his was complicated, it was that one. Expectations changed, points-of-view challenged, and actions... confusing. They had spent so much time together since that same day... his birthday last year. He gave Flash a birthday wish despite the fact that Flash was treating him like someone who was holding a gun to head. Since then, Flash saw him differently. Once they became more familiar, he started to figure out the paths through the labyrinths he would build. Intentional obfuscation. Earnest prodding at chinks in the armor. Though the fox could be an incredible headache, and delighted in Flash's discomfort, he worked under the constraints of logic. Not only that, but he could be incredibly magnanimous given the right circumstance. To the right people. Like Ruka.
He didn't want to think about Ruka on Valentines Day. For him, the 'love' this day stood for was meaningless. He was with Anastasia, for one, but they weren't in love. No one their age was in love. At the very least, that was what his mother taught him about the sentiment. Marriages were partnerships, love was the binding agent. He doubted he would find a suitable partner in his second year, even though Anastasia was a very promising option. She was wealthy, attractive, and had many of the same interests as him. Anyone could see the two of them made a handsome pair, that they got along well. Well... mostly well. Well enough.
He assumed she invited him. It wasn't exactly his scene-- he didn't like public displays of affection, crowds, candy... pretty much anything to do with such an endeavor. Still, if it was something that would bring her joy, he wanted to do it. She needed some happy, relaxing evenings, she was clearly under a lot of stress. He would do everything in his power to make the evening a delightful one despite his discomfort. His worries paled in comparison to hers anyway-- who was he to deny a girl a romantic evening in her element just because he preferred something quieter?
As he opened the way to the room, he saw he was the first person to arrive. Not unusual, he was early to everything. Seeing the options on display, he saw no reason to grab the sugary ones, picking up one of the thornless pink roses. Noting the number it took little deduction to realize how it worked. A magical sorting system so all the seating areas were accounted for-- he had seen similar charms used at Ministry gatherings. Sitting upon one of the cushions provided on the blanket, he clenched his coat closer to his body, inadvertently shivering from the wintery air that had filtered in.
Certainly the sight of his girlfriend's smile would make him forget the displeasure of the environment.
Reducio  |
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Last edited by Flash Holmwood on 15 Feb 2021, 22:21, 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
1 Feb 2021, 09:59
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
@Flash Holmwood @Jack Burnett
Opeila was already regretting signing up for this errand. She knew why she had done it, at that point she welcomed every distraction she could get, but the Slytherin had managed to put most pieces back together. Returned to her normal structure and routine, sealed the memories of the holidays back in some corner of her mind, forbidding herself to think about them. That was the only way she could still function, the only reason she could walk through Hogwarts without breaking apart in the first weeks after summer.
Well, it was too late for cold feet now, not to mention that it would be highly unfair towards whoever got paired up with her. So Opeila showed up in the Astronomy Tower on time.
Knowing the location of the event, she was wearing the coat Flash gave her for her last birthday and a big scarf. Hopefully it wouldn't be too cold, otherwise she also had gloves in her pocket.
The second year could still clearly remember last Valentine's day, which had been a complete disaster. Opeila ended up getting her toes broken and half carrying poor Ruka to the hospital wing, who puked over her shoes halfway. Still better than poor Evelynn Decipio, who had a cup of boiling water poured over her face. Hopefully this year would be more relaxed.
Walking up the stairs, Opeila was already greeted by the Valentine themed decoration. Paper hearts floating through the air and at the top an arch made of paper flowers. Not that Opeila minded hearts or flowers, but... Ugh. The decoration was not quite her taste.
But it was Valentine's day, what did she even expect, right?
Looking at the different gifts, Opeila chose the little bag with sweets and looked at the number that appeared on the label. That was something like a seating number, right? Not a bad idea at all. Opeila looked up again, her eyes scanning the area, the picnic blankets and the balloons with numbers on them. Once she spotted the one matching the number on the bag's label, she made her way over to the blanket- which was not free anymore.
A boy was already sitting on it and soon Opeila recognized the back of her best friend.
Maybe this evening wouldn't be too bad after all. "Hey.", she said, when she arrived. "I guess we've been paired.", the second year stated the obvious, holding up the label with the number on it, before she sat down on one of the cushions. How have you been was the first thing she wanted to ask, but she stopped herself. It would likely result in a question back, which she didn't want to answer. "Hopefully this is going to be less chaotic than last year.", she said instead, looking around to the other blankets.
4 Feb 2021, 10:41
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
This was all the mysterious note had said when sent to him by owl that morning. Jack wondered if perhaps others might have received the same message considering how vague it was, but didn't bother asking around. He thought he'd heard from the grapevine just what kind of event would be taking place at the mentioned time and location. Thing was, he hadn't signed himself up. In fact, he hadn't gone anywhere near the sign-up sheets.Go to the Astronomy tower tonight at 7PM. Wear something nice.
He supposed it served him right after the signing up he'd done for others in the past without their knowledge or permission. It seemed highly likely that one of his past victims might have been seeking revenge against him. Unfortunately, Jack was too curious to resist attending - even if only to try finding out who might have signed him up and why. Perhaps the mysterious prankster had known this and carried out their scheme with that knowledge in mind.
Aside from being told to wear something nice, the event's organizers had officially suggested wearing something warmer due to the nature of the tower's altitude and the time of year. Unsure of what might have been considered nice enough for the event, Jack eventually decided on a simple ensemble with layers, a scarf, and a hat.
In truth, he didn't intend to stay long anyway. If this was a trick, all he would need to do was explain as much to the poor soul unfortunate enough to have been paired with him. Perhaps then they could simply go their separate ways and he wouldn't have to waste any more of the person's time than had already been wasted.
But when Jack got there, he was immediately distracted from his numerous priorities, plans, and goals. It wasn't the trail of decorative floating paper hearts, the pink and red paper rose arch, the picnic baskets, heart garlands, heart-shaped balloons, nor even the various...party favors?...on display. No, what Jack hadn't counted on was that Flash would be there. And while that alone shouldn't have been all that surprising what with his having a supposed girlfriend, said girl was nowhere in sight.
It still didn't make any sense. His heart shouldn't have been pounding as fast as it was and his stomach had no reason to feel so suddenly unsettled. There was every chance that he was here to spend the evening with what's-her-name and she simply hadn't shown up yet. Jack had assumed the event was a matchmaking one for those who were seeking company rather than those who already had it, but he hadn't looked into the details, really. Perhaps pre-determined couples had also been welcome to attend together.
All at once eager for something else to occupy his mind with, the Welsh boy turned to the table with the sign that said 'please take one'. At first, he had simply assumed that it meant, 'please take one item if you would like' rather than 'please take one item in order to proceed with the event'. As he glanced about and regarded the blank labels on the items as well as the numbered balloons, he soon began to think that perhaps they had to write something on the labels - either the number of the table they meant to sit at or maybe the name of a person to gift it to. The fact that there were no quills, pens, nor utensils of any other kind with which to write on the labels cued him in that his first hypothesis must have been incorrect. Eventually, he sighed and resolved to examine the goods on offer.
The vase of pink roses caused him such vehement distress that he himself was surprised, taken aback by his involuntary reaction to flinch away from them. Images of Anastasia with Victor's bouquet of magic roses at the Blossom Ball the previous year stabbed through his thoughts unbidden. He shuddered as if hoping to shake them off, shut his eyes briefly to take deep breaths, and opened them again. Definitely no on the roses.
His eyes caught on the similar blooms glittering atop the cupcakes. Despite the fact that those flowers were sugary confections made of icing, their resemblance was enough to put him off and he hastily moved to snatch at the third and final option. Barely glancing over the contents of the transparent bag he picked up, Jack's gaze was immediately drawn to the bag's label. It instantly went from blank to the portrayal of a simple number.
This phenomenon, too, ended up reminding Jack of events past; specifically the previous summer during which he and his housemates had been branded like cattle with numbers that had magically appeared on them in much the same way they appeared on the labels. An irked frown tugged at the corner of his lips and his brow furrowed deeply. He sincerely hoped all the reminders were simply general enough to be coincidental and were not someone's idea of a cruel joke.
...Nah. The more he thought about it, the more he decided he was becoming paranoid. Like Selim. And Erin. And too many other people who had survived through too much during their crazy student careers at Hogwarts. He shook his head and attempted to refocus his full attention on his new task at hand.
Just as he'd finally thought he'd fully recomposed himself, two new surprises endeavored to throw him back off his mental balance. One was that when he finally looked back toward the various picnic baskets with their numbered heart balloons, a fresh newcomer - one familiar to him - had made herself known as she seated herself with Flash. It was another of his fellow second year Slytherin peers, Opeila. Maybe he hadn't been so wrong to start suspecting everything after all.
Jack quickly attempted to distract himself by jerking back to the number his candy bag had assigned him so he could seek it out among the numbered balloons. What he subsequently discovered almost made him want to try to put the bag back and maybe select a new one. Someone was definitely messing with him; he was sure of it now. It was only a matter of finding out who and why.
Was it possible some error had been made; some playful prank or careless mistake? Surely there weren't meant to be three people assigned to the same picnic basket. There were only two cushions atop each basket. Maybe there was some rational explanation, some clue he had missed, but he couldn't figure it out just now. His brain's store of rationality was dampened with a flustered fog of emotions. More than ever did he want to get to the bottom of this nonsense, but he was less capable than ever of doing so. Not in this state.
Hesitantly, Jack began to take steps toward the brown-haired pair. Who's fault was all of this? Both Opeila and Flash had been victims of his antics when he'd signed them up at the Hogwarts talent show last year. Jack had even paired the latter up with Rafa for a double act.
Aside from the notion of seeking revenge for the talent show sign-ups, he'd done plenty of other things to earn their ire as well. On Flash's birthday last year, for example, Jack had pretty much attempted to hijack Opeila's opportunity and efforts to keep the English boy company and cheer him up on his special day. There was plenty of reason for spite there, he knew, and that wasn't even the least of the things on the list.
For Flash, Jack had ended up tormenting his dorm mate in numerous and varying ways, both intentionally and unintentionally, since the moment they'd first met. The previous February had been concluded with the Welsh boy exposing the brunet to one of two very potent Valentine's Day cards scented with Amortentia - both of which had been purchased from Vladimir. Naturally, Flash hadn't taken kindly to that. And as if that hadn't been enough, there were the more...recent discoveries and resulting conclusions that had only widened the rift between the two dorm mates.
Both had reasons to be vindictive. However, Jack had assumed that, given how he'd largely kept out of their lives for most of their second year and they'd kept out of his, wounds from the past had scabbed over. Perhaps, he'd thought, they may have even been forgotten for the most part. Though it stung to think about, Jack realized he'd presumed that his presence in their lives had been minimized to the point that neither really thought of him much at all anymore, let alone entertained thoughts of petty revenge. The way they sat and casually addressed each other, too, didn't seem like either even expected any other company at all. Well, at least as far as he could tell since Opeila had only just sat down.
The culmination of a very passionate mix of emotions soon reached a climax and Jack could no longer refrain from taking action. Jaw set, he summoned a forced version of his usual, boyish grin to his face and marched over to the other two snakes.
"Hey," he'd just overheard Opeila tell Flash. "I guess we've been paired." And then, after revealing her numbered bag that had placed her there for the evening and a slightly awkward pause, "Hopefully this is going to be less chaotic than last year."
Another bag of heart-shaped candy with an identical number was tossed down before the Slytherins onto the spread blanket. "Too late," Jack told her, a muscle sliding in his tight jawline as he continued to display a grin of gritted teeth. "Someone is thoroughly enjoying themselves somewhere at our expense, I suspect, and I intend to find out who." He gave a tiny twitch of his shoulders that might have been a shrug if he weren't so tense. "But I don't suppose there was anything anywhere saying specifically that this event was meant as a dinner date for strictly two. Was there?"
Despite his overly cheery delivery of a greeting, his eyes were dark with foreboding as he - with a little too much enthusiasm to be genuine - plopped himself down next to his peers. He didn't need a cushion of his own. In fact, he decided he preferred to be without one in the mood he was in. It would have likely ended up in his hand as a ready projectile.
Well, he supposed all that was left to do was to salvage what he could of the situation and make the most of it if the others were willing to do the same. At the very least, he'd had something akin to experience with dinner picnics under the stars when he'd previously set one up for Erin.
Interacting with: @Flash Holmwood & @Opeila Winters
Wearing:Reducio
PC: Jack Burnett | iNPC: Ginyami Midorimori
5 Feb 2021, 18:21
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
Others started to filter in over time, each one adding to the cumulative noise and warmth in the room. It seemed the event was about as popular as he might expect-- many of the girls around school were erroneously looking for a boyfriend and seemed to want to talk of nothing else. A reflection of that kind of pointless excitement for something they didn't understand was in the faces of 11-year-olds squealing as they went to their blanket. At the very least, Anastasia and him did not have dull conversations or dwell too much on what their relationship meant.
In his idle waiting, he looked over the objects on the blanket. Who exactly had set this up? Was the caretaker asked to, the house elves? Was the food from the kitchens? He couldn't help but wonder if going to an event he was invited to was wise, especially after the way summer had turned out. He thought that would be harmless too, until they were asked to fight each other and someone died. This seemed like a normal Hogwarts event, like the Halloween event, so he tried to bury his niggling concerns.
When Opeila approached, he smiled, only realizing after she showed him the label on her bag that she wasn't just saying hello-- but actually paired with him. His smile faltered. Something was wrong. Flash quickly looked around at the other people around, looking for any sign of anything being off. Under tables, at the ceiling... really, everything was quite peaceful. Still, he would remain on high alert.
"I suppose so..." Spending time with Opeila was hardly objectionable. He would gladly do so, yet the discrepancy in expectation versus reality put him off.
He tried to erase the discomfort from his features, which took some effort. She sat, continuing to talk, but would not get far before another voice chimed in. With the throwing of another labeled bag onto the blanket, Burnett was at their side, a face like he had just swallowed some disgusting medicine. Looking at it, the number was clearly labeled as it had been for the two prior, there was really no mistaking the intention here. Flash's face now couldn't help but be knit in scrutiny. Burnett was asking questions, which Flash would take a deep breath before getting into.
"Yes, it looks like we were signed up by someone..." It would be nice if Burnett was telling the truth about finding out-- with how many people knew him, he found it difficult to imagine which of them would be moved into such a harmless prank. This was a lot less devastating than the one Burnett pulled on him, he though he might faint from fear before going on stage in front of his peers. Now, he was expected to share a meal with two people he liked. Perhaps their relationships were not in an ideal spot, but that wasn't an obstacle for him. Things like that could be worked on, smoothed over. He expected to be doing all the work, of course. "I'm not sure of the specifics, I hadn't really looked into the event at all besides what others had been saying the last few weeks. Still, it seems some others are getting more than two as well."
Was Anastasia still going to show up? It would seem he wouldn't know unless it happened, and resigned himself to a different evening than he was anticipating. Instead of a relaxing conversation with his girlfriend, possibly some hand holding and cuddles, he would be keeping these two from bickering at each other. That was his lot in life anyway, and the universe made sure of it. Now that the room was heating up, he removed his gloves and insulating coat. At the rate it was going, he would likely start to overheat. He already had three more layers underneath-- an undershirt, button up, and sweater-- which would do the job. Unlike some who had come dressed like they were going to a ball, Flash's idea of dressing up nice was not any different from what he would normally wear. All his clothes were nice.
As it would happen, he was wearing the white button-up that Burnett had embroidered birds upon the collar of. Most of his clothing was pretty standard-- they had all been picked out for him to approve of. There was little to no embellishments on anything, which made this shirt special. He didn't expect to be wearing it in front of Burnett, though it was hardly his first time wearing it. He was quite fond of it, actually. One of the little things that Burnett used to do during his first year that showed special care and attention-- had it been his fault for driving Burnett away? Now, even though they were living in the same room, their closeness had practically evaporated. Perhaps he had done too much, pushed too hard... or perhaps it was the fight they had at the start of the year. If it was really that, he felt conflicted. He didn't expect Burnett to be the type to avoid someone for questioning him. Perhaps he had a chance to discover the real reason... though that would be difficult in front of Opeila.
"For now, I have no quarrel with a dinner date for three. It's not exactly what I was envisioning, but that doesn't make it bad. In fact, I quite like the present company." Flash looked at the both of them with a warmer smile, having properly eased his own worry. He had learned a lot of ways to calm himself down over the winter. Hopefully it wouldn't be repeatedly tested.
Reducio   |
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Last edited by Flash Holmwood on 15 Feb 2021, 22:21, 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
8 Feb 2021, 15:13
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
@Flash Holmwood @Jack Burnett
Opeila had barely finished her sentence, when another bag of sweets was thrown onto the blanket. The voice that came with it, killed Opeila's hope instantly. If they were going to spend the evening with Burnett, the chance of it being a comfortable evening was already reduced by half at least. "Too late indeed...", she sighed.
Though what Burnett said next amused Opeila much more than she thought it would. "You have been signed up by someone?", she asked, turning to the redhead. "Finding out by whom shouldn't be too hard for you, right? I mean, there can only be... around thirty people, who have a reason to do such a thing to you."
She could barely bite back the mocking smile that was threatening to show on her face. Opeila would surely have had a reason to sign Jack Burnett up- she had not forgotten the talent show last year, that he had signed her up for, not even asking if she wanted to participate. But Opeila felt a bit tired of taking revenge on anyone for things that happened months ago.
It was time to move on from things, not to revive them.
"Both of you?" She turned back to Flash, more surprised now.
She nodded when Flash said that he enjoyed the current company. "As long as we aren't accompanied by pseudo-dangerous creatures later on... I'm fine with this too." She eyed Jack for a moment. If he took the blanket in a moment and told them it would eat them at night, she would make sure something else would attempt to eat him the next time he went to sleep...
9 Feb 2021, 06:44
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
"You have been signed up by someone?" Opeila asked, causing Jack to frown at her. It deepend into a scowl when she added, "Finding out by whom shouldn't be too hard for you, right? I mean, there can only be... around thirty people, who have a reason to do such a thing to you."
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Jack answered, waving away her amusement with a careless gesture even as he felt his face burn while looking away. "At least I'm not the only one."
"Yes, it looks like we were signed up by someone..." Flash confirmed.
"Both of you?" Opeila responded.
The Welsh boy jerked his head back to her with a look of open suspicion. You make it sound like you weren't, he almost wanted to say, but he thought better of it before doing so. Of course she wasn't. So many of the girls even at their age loved this sort of silly thing. Why wouldn't she sign herself up? However, it seemed even Opeila hadn't realized what she had been getting into at the time.
"I'm not sure of the specifics, I hadn't really looked into the event at all besides what others had been saying the last few weeks. Still, it seems some others are getting more than two as well."
The redheaded Slytherin scanned their surroundings about. His dorm mate was right. As more and more people gathered at the balloons and picnic baskets, it became evident they hadn't been the only targets of whatever shenanigans were being played out. This made Jack feel slightly better somehow, but fell short of easing his concerns completely.
Evidently not all of them had been surprised by the summons to the Astronomy tower, but it was quite clear the three-way dinner date hadn't been Opeila's idea. In that sense, at least, she seemed just as confused as they were. If she didn't like it, maybe there was still a chance to call off the whole thing and all three of them could go their separate ways.
"For now, I have no quarrel with a dinner date for three." the blue-eyed English boy commented. It's not exactly what I was envisioning, but that doesn't make it bad. In fact, I quite like the present company."
Jack's thudding heart both sank and beat faster as he processed the words. If Flash was fine with it, Jack would have bet Opeila was going to be, too. And if Opeila was fine with it...well. He couldn't just leave the pair to their own devices and let the two of them entertain each other for the remainder of the heart-filled evening, could he?
"As long as we aren't accompanied by pseudo-dangerous creatures later on... I'm fine with this too."
There go my plans to just pop in and out...
"Oh, please. You're the most dangerous creature here, Winters," he retorted with a roll of his eyes, feigning an easy smile. No one needed to know how on-edge he was. If only he could pin-point himself exactly why he felt so tense, perhaps his anxiety about the whole situation wouldn't have been half so bad.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he couldn't look directly at Flash just then. It was like trying to look into the sun. When he'd attempted to do so calmly and cooly after sitting down, his peer had been busy even more calmly removing his outer garments. While this action in itself wasn't remarkable on its own, it just so happened to reveal the dress shirt that Jack had once borrowed in order to embroider a pair of blackbirds on the collar.
If Jack hadn't had trouble keeping his composure before, he certainly did after that. The memory of having worked on and then left the present for Flash to find hit him hard when he'd laid eyes on it again. Half of him had expected Flash to have somehow missed his gift altogether, thrown the shirt away, or even just undone the amateuer embroiderey. To have seen him wearing it right in front of him and in public seemed unreal. Surely it hadn't been planned, right? It couldn't have been.
That didn't make it any easier to tolerate the other boy's presence. The muggle-born thought he was having almost as much difficult being around Flash now as he used to have being around Opeila. But why? If it wasn't just the shirt; wasn't just that sun-warm smile he didn't dare to bask in for fear of getting burned, what was it?
'Present company'. The words continued to play in his head as he stared off into the distance at another table of three. 'I quite like the present company.' That couldn't have included him. Not after what Erin must have told Flash about him. Not after what Flash must have concluded about Jack as a result.
Flash was lying. He had to be. And he was using that ridiculously disarming angellic smile of his to convince the world he wasn't.
Well, Jack refused to be fooled. His nostrils flared.
"Wouldn't you much rather be spending the evening with your girlfriend, Flash?" the redhead inquired, his tone affecting nonchalance as he continued to watch the far-off trio. "It is Valentine's Day, after all. Isn't it possible she might get the wrong idea if she discovers you shared such a romantic dinner with us instead of her?
"You didn't ask to be here." He glanced breifly at Opeila. "Winters might have, but I can keep her company. If this wasn't exactly what you were envisioning, why not go work on making that vision of yours into reality? There's still time for you to surprise your true valentine."
Interacting with: @Flash Holmwood & @Opeila Winters
Wearing:Reducio
PC: Jack Burnett | iNPC: Ginyami Midorimori
15 Feb 2021, 18:27
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
As it seemed Opeila was settling in, cracking small jokes, Flash presumed the next step would be to make some tea. It could be a nice evening, they were people he had spent a lot of time with, who he knew relatively well. The fact that they were together and that Burnett and him had been signed up against their wishes was slightly unnerving, but it wasn't a mystery he was dead set on uncovering. If anything, it seemed like it must have been as a harmless prank, as if there was any intention behind it, they couldn't have expected anything seriously bad to happen between the three of them. At worst, some hurt feelings. If anything, perhaps someone noticed the trio had once spent all their time together and something had changed. Could it have been Opeila?
A nice evening was seeming ever more unlikely though. More than anyone else there, Burnett seemed quite perturbed. In fact, his salty behavior only seemed to escalate the more the confusion calmed down. He snapped at Opeila sarcastically, avoided eye contact. Flash's smile would slowly descend into a frown, concern on his brow. The next words out of Burnett would seal the mood for the evening, most likely. He wasn't just going to sit down and enjoy himself. Why would he, he might accidentally have a good time. Perhaps he might have to even admit that there were people who liked him despite his best efforts to push everyone away.
"True valentine?" Flash repeated his words incredulously. "Do you honestly think--"
Flash felt the intense urge to reel back, throw his words back in his face, but he stopped with a huff. This was the problem, the thing he couldn't put his finger on since the fight they had at the start of the school year. Something had changed, but it was him, wasn't it? He was less patient, less curious, less desperate for attention. He felt more secure in his relationships overall, felt he was supported and cared for, yet this 'recovery' of his from his panic attacks and burnout had been a reassigning of so many elements of his life that there was no longer any balance. Before, everything was so obvious: just do what Valerius would do. Gain influence, come off looking good, help the collective, choose his allies carefully, delegate to them.
Now, every turn of the calendar brought about fresh confusion. It felt like trying to walk on water, every attempt to gain footing dropped him into a sea that threatened to drown him. What exactly was Burnett going through, even? Was the reason he was kept at arm's length really because of what he said? Had their closeness really been so fragile, or was the gravity of his words a weight he hadn't comprehended? As was usual lately, rather than piquing his curiosity, it only made Flash's head hurt. All of life seemed so constantly exhausting. He wouldn't simply sit down and not try, though, as tempting as it was.
"Burnett..." Flash watched him, exasperation in his tone. He looked briefly over to Opeila, as if to check that she was still calm herself, then back to Burnett. "I want to spend time with you two. I miss talking to you both. Aren't we all... hiding from each other?"
He barely knew what he was saying before he said it. He of course knew it was true, but it felt wrong to say it out loud. An elephant in the room. Something was wrong with Burnett and he wasn't talking about it, now that Ruka was gone he was actually alone. Opeila wasn't faring as well as she pretended to be, she had changed significantly over summer. Flash held a burdensome secret, and was handling it like a hot coal in his hands. They weren't relying on each other like they used to. Was it because they no longer could?
Reducio |
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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
19 Feb 2021, 18:32
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
@Jack Burnett @Flash Holmwood
"Oh, please. You're the most dangerous creature here, Winters"
Opeila rolled her eyes at her classmate. He had said something similar to her before, in their first year, about her being absolutely terrifying. "The joke is getting old, don't you think?", she commented, but Jack's next words hit her unprepared. Flash had a girlfriend? Who? Since when? How did she not know? ...No, right, of course she wouldn't know. After all she had mostly avoided talking to him.
Altogether Opeila simply found this situation quite funny. Especially Jack calling it a 'romantic dinner'. She heard people say all the time that it was girls who were all for the romance and that Valentine's dates also were something only girls would sign up for because they were romantic. And yet it was Jack who made it awkward by giving this a romantic title. Opeila wasn't here for a romantic evening, but because she missed socializing with people. Find new friends maybe or spend a nice evening with familiars.
"Wh- Excuse me?! I'm right here!", Opeila snapped at Jack, when he said that he could keep Opeila company and Flash could have a nice evening with his true valentine. "I mean, yeah, sure Flash, if you don't want to be here, don't let us stop you. All good, Burnett, no need for a noble sacrifice of your time, such as keeping me company.", she responded with a sarcastic tone, looking at Jack with slight fury in her eyes. That phrase had hit Opeila more than she expected or cared to admit. How dared he talk about her like a burden that needed to be given attention over her head, while she was sitting right next to him?
Flash was the one calming her down again, saying that he missed both of them and wanted to talk. His question if they weren't all hiding from one another turned her anger into guilt immediately. She couldn't stop herself from looking to Jack for a second. "I suppose so.", she answered. The second year had not missed that Flash had not excluded himself from the hiding. Why had Flash been hiding? Had they all been so caught up with their own misery, that no one noticed how the other felt? No. Flash had noticed that she was hiding. Opeila had been too busy hiding to realize that it was a two-way-road.
And Jack? Opeila didn't talk to him too often these days. What she had once hoped to turn into a friendship between them, she had now given up on. It still made her sad sometimes, but if Jack didn't want her around, she wouldn't force a thing. She had bigger problems than that.
Opeila knew that Jack had a tendency of pulling back and hiding when things got emotionally complicated, but she had never noticed that there was something going on with Flash and him.
The atmosphere had changed quickly and Opeila very much disliked the tension that had developed. She didn't know if it was only herself, who felt tense upon the sad truth that had been just spoken out loud, but she felt like she was going to get emotional and say things she would regret later, if nothing happened.
So the little Slytherin reached for the pot with hot water, poured it into a mug and added hot chocolate powder and milk. "Ok, so...", Opeila started and cleared her throat. "What have you two been up to lately?", she asked while stirring. It was a weak attempt to start a conversation for sure, but what was the alternative? Sitting in silence?
21 Feb 2021, 23:29
Jack B., Flash, & Opeila
"The joke is getting old, don't you think?" Opeila asked.
"Nope. Not when it's no less true than ever," Jack answered casually. When she snapped at him about his talking about her when she was sitting right next to them, he smirked at her and cheekily stuck out his tongue.
"What? Am I not good enough to keep you company on my own?" he asked with mock hurt but unable to keep the charade up for long. "No one said it would be a sacrifice."
"True valentine?" his dorm mate started up with emphasis. "Do you honestly think--"
Jack's head jerked toward him, his expression peaked and his features perked. Yes...? It seemed to say. "...Do I honestly think what, Holmwood?"
But Flash had already caught himself. He wasn't going to finish that sentence and they both knew it. Tch. When the other boy spoke again, it was to say something else.
"Burnett..." What was that exasperation in his voice for? Was it for himself? For Jack? For the situation they were in? Everything? "I want to spend time with you two. I miss talking to you both. Aren't we all... hiding from each other?"
Jack's chin tilted down and his eyes narrowed at that. "...Are we?" he asked slowly, a warning note in his own tone. "And why might we have reason to be doing that, Holmwood?"
"Ok, so..." Opeila spoke up, pouring herself some hot chocolate, "What have you two been up to lately?"
Jack rolled his eyes so hard, it hurt. "You're asking us, Winters?" he snarled. "If you're 'hiding' just as much as we are, what makes you think we'll tell you anything before you tell us something first? Why would you demand information from us before volunteering anything about yourself? Can't you see how insensitive that is? Not to mention pointless!"
He angrily sat back on his heels and threw out an arm to indicate Flash. "He NEVER talks about himself. Haven't you noticed that? He'll talk about people he's talked to and how they're doing, but not himself. It's like he thinks it's a sin to do it or something, so you won't be getting any answers out of him about that."
The Welsh boy cut his gaze to her with a dry look. "As for me, I would think you know me well enough by now to know I'm not likely to give information so freely without getting some in return first. If you want to have this conversation, you're going to have to be more forthcoming than that. Take the initiative and spill what you've got."
Interacting with: @Flash Holmwood & @Opeila Winters
Wearing:Reducio
PC: Jack Burnett | iNPC: Ginyami Midorimori