Idle Lessons
Forward Dated - we are heading to Summer Camp, 2024
Do not trust a single one of them... Words that echoed in his head, a warning he had heard over and over again in anticipation of this day. A day that should be filled with excitement and awe, but rather it was filled with a sense of dread.
He was being sent away to school 'early' and as he stood there grasping his trunk he was not entirely certain he was ready. He wanted to return to the familiar and the known. To his admittedly imperfect family and to face the tribulations of familial dysfunction but father insisted. It would be good for him. It would make him into a man. He was already treated like a young man rather than a child of 11, his height made him seem older and therefore 'more mature.' People rarely look past a book's cover, even fewer still complete the first chapter.
"I am not going to know what to do," he admitted.
There was a reason why students came to Hogwarts on September 1 together rather than a month before.
"Or where to go," he added. "Can't we just ask mama if I can stay with her these few weeks leading up to school." It was a reasonable plea but he knew it would be denied. There was a clear pecking order in his family, Thaddeus was the head of the family and for that reason his word was law. After that would be his heir apparent, a position that was briefly put into question two winters ago when Vladimir had died. The eldest son of the scion of this pureblooded clan, he had the fortune of also being a legilimens. A rare trait that is favored by his family, this inherited skill meant power and assurances for the next generation.
Still, there was something strange about Vladimir.
He shook away those idle thoughts and hoped that his brother did not hear, but his insides trembled. He heard everything.
A forced smile was mustered. "I-I guess I am going to get going," he stammered as he pointed towards the locomotive. The Hogwarts Express was an impressive engine, a crisp red paintjob and a series of towering smokestacks that billowed a stream of smoke even when idling. It seemed like a lot of unnecessary effort, a journey to London just to board a train that would convey them to the Scottish highlands. It was more reasonable in his opinion to take a direct trip to Hogwarts and remove the middle-man entirely. He wondered why the fanfare in an dile thought as he tugged at his chest. How was it so darned heavy?
iNPC: Taylor Athanatos
Idle Lessons
They were half-siblings, they shared the same father but there was little else that they both shared beyond space. Vladimir was not particularly close to Aamon, being seven years his senior, they had little in common as the neophyte became a babbling toddler and then a needs-driven child. Simply put, there was no higher thought involved with the boy those early years, and therefore little reason for the former Ravenclaw to interface.
However, Aamon was getting older. He was entering Hogwarts this year. A milestone that was more a culture shock than a moment of celebration. Perhaps there was some impulse to protect his younger sibling that compelled him to say anything. Perhaps it was simply a manifestation of his own frustration and ultimate ire. Perhaps it was something else entirely. It did not matter -why- he did anything.
"I am not going to know what to do."
"I know," he admitted stoically. "It is how they get you." He remembered his first day, crossing paths with a student whom worked for his father. Daddy can't help you here echoed in his head. "Just remember the rules I gave you and you will be fine," he asserted. The rules were rather simple, despite the passage of seven years, he found there was only 5 immutable laws that needed to be followed.
"Or where to go."
"Just follow the crowds, the secret is -- nobody actually knows what they are doing."
"Can't we just ask mama if I can stay with her these few weeks leading up to school."
"No." She would not have him. Orders are orders, there was no use pleading and they both knew it. "It will be good for you, or something like that" Vladimir muttered the last part.
He looked past his brother, scanning the crowds to see if he saw any familiar faces. He did not want to, this was not a hopeful skim of the crowd. people were dangerou. The tings that they knew were dangerous. He was seen as a monster long before he ever became one.
Still, there was something strange about Vladimir.
He heard everything.
His hand would reach out and attempt to grip Aamon's shoulder. His icy touch, the sound of his joints popping and cracking as his fingers curled and attempted to grip the younger Athanatos. "I am the least of the terrors," he claimed to no avail.
"I-I guess I am going to get going."
His grip, strangely strong if he grabbed fast would be relinquished and he would release a breath he had been holding the last hour. He felt somewhat deflated. "Yeah," he agreed awkwardly. "Time to go, love you."
However, Aamon was getting older. He was entering Hogwarts this year. A milestone that was more a culture shock than a moment of celebration. Perhaps there was some impulse to protect his younger sibling that compelled him to say anything. Perhaps it was simply a manifestation of his own frustration and ultimate ire. Perhaps it was something else entirely. It did not matter -why- he did anything.
"I am not going to know what to do."
"I know," he admitted stoically. "It is how they get you." He remembered his first day, crossing paths with a student whom worked for his father. Daddy can't help you here echoed in his head. "Just remember the rules I gave you and you will be fine," he asserted. The rules were rather simple, despite the passage of seven years, he found there was only 5 immutable laws that needed to be followed.
"Or where to go."
"Just follow the crowds, the secret is -- nobody actually knows what they are doing."
"Can't we just ask mama if I can stay with her these few weeks leading up to school."
"No." She would not have him. Orders are orders, there was no use pleading and they both knew it. "It will be good for you, or something like that" Vladimir muttered the last part.
He looked past his brother, scanning the crowds to see if he saw any familiar faces. He did not want to, this was not a hopeful skim of the crowd. people were dangerou. The tings that they knew were dangerous. He was seen as a monster long before he ever became one.
Still, there was something strange about Vladimir.
He heard everything.
His hand would reach out and attempt to grip Aamon's shoulder. His icy touch, the sound of his joints popping and cracking as his fingers curled and attempted to grip the younger Athanatos. "I am the least of the terrors," he claimed to no avail.
"I-I guess I am going to get going."
His grip, strangely strong if he grabbed fast would be relinquished and he would release a breath he had been holding the last hour. He felt somewhat deflated. "Yeah," he agreed awkwardly. "Time to go, love you."
[Vladimir Leaves Topic]
Aamon
Idle Lessons
Relevant Information: Aamon suspects that there is something wrong with his older brother Vladimir. He reflects on the rules he was given by his elder brother, they seem odd and possibly lacking in context. He is afraid of his brother more than he fears the change that Hogwarts represents.
There was something diminishing about the experience. This alleged right of passage. A part of him knew that he was supposed to be excited and he was not prone to anxiety but every fiber of his being was telling him to turn around and walk away.
"I know... It is how they get you."
Vladimir's paranoia was not helping one bit with Aamon's festering anxiety.
"Just remember the rules I gave you and you will be fine."
Vladimir's rules made no sense. "I know... I know," he was dismissive of the madness was he was going to humor Vladmir for the time being.
The rules were simple enough, even if they were a bit strange.
He rattled off the orders one-by-one, but he felt that there was some context missing.
"Number one - the trees are always hungry when it is darkest.
Number two - never dig, but if you must hide what you find.
Number three - do not trust the food.
Number four - the ladies are always watching, even dead.
Number five - dark magic is only a matter of perspective."
He had tried to get Vladimir to elaborate on what he meant a few times, but truth to be told his elder brother was spirling. He was concerned that Vladimir might be misusing potions or that his near-death or temporary state of death had effected his mind. He had mixed sentiments about this, an addled mind meant that Vladimir was no longer of use to the family. That his claim to heir would pass onto someone else. That he had the chance to take this coveted position and he would be a liar if he claimed to lack such ambitions.
He preferred to stay home. To defer thoughts of being the next heir apparent, learning how to be a great and powerful wizard for another day. It would be good for him or something like that.
It was not until Vladimir reached out to his shoulder and clasped his hand on his shoulder. His hand felt heavy, strangely large and so very cold. He could feel the chill through his jacket, like a block of ice spiriting away his heat and perhaps a thread of his soul. His heart skipped a beat on contact and he felt his stomach flip thrice, bile crept up to the back of his throat.
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.
"I am the least of the terrors."
Vladimir lied.
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.
He just wanted to move, to run, to rush onto the train he was so terrified of.
"Yeah... Time to go, love you."
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.
We don't say that in this family. Vladimir did not say things like that. Hell, they hardly knew one another. "Yeah thanks, me too." A hard tug on the chest, Aamon would find that he could not get on the train fast enough.
iNPC: Taylor Athanatos
Idle Lessons
JUNE SELWYN
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
Date: July 15, 2024 | @Aamon Athanatos | Dialogue: X
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*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
Date: July 15, 2024 | @Aamon Athanatos | Dialogue: X
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[quote]The last time June went to summer camp, Maggie punched someone on her behalf. Not exactly her idea of a fun month of fond memory-making. But that was, goodness, 2 summers ago now. Last year's excursion to the muggle world was very far out of her idea of a relaxing summer, and with little to do at home, a month in the quidditch stadium didn't seem so bad. More time with her peers wouldn't be the end of the world, right?
Besides, summer camp would likely be a better place for her summer reading and research. June wasn't sure why she didn't want her father to know about her newfound investigation into curses. It was likely that she was 14 and your parents simply existing was almost embarrassing enough to cease to exist. Almost, though.
Platform 9 3/4 was busy, but less so than it usually was on the first day of school. It was for that reason that June had mostly made the trek there alone, a quick good-bye to her father done earlier in the day. She was a good enough flier that she could make her way out of any trouble with the broom slung around her back. Probably.
The blonde Slytherin was planning on rushing onto the train as quickly as possible and spending the entire ride reading through the books she had taken from her library. That was, until she saw the incoming first-year.
It wasn't his physicality that gave him away as an incoming first-year. He was practically as tall as June (though as we all know, the girl isn't particularly gifted in the hight category). No, it was The Look. You know. The Look. Eyes wide, excited yet terrified, scanning the crowd for any sense of familiarity, the awkward stance as you don't know where to go or what to do with your things. It was a dead giveaway every year.
June's fingers drummed on the cover of "Grim Enchantments: The Study of Curses". It would be so easy to ignore him. After all, so many like him would experience the same thing. A pang of empathy resounded in her chest. She couldn't stop it. Curses would have to wait for later. Time to be kind or whatever.
Sighing reluctantly, she made her way over to the struggling boy. "You alright there?" She pushed her hair back as she placed her book into her enchanted cross-body satchel, crossing her arms. "Merlin, that looks heavy. Pack all your supplies for the next seven years, did you?" She offered a smile, it was a jest. "Would you like a hand? I promise you, lugging trunks onto the train isn't half as bad as putting them above the seats."
Idle Lessons
X I O M A R A - M A R I S O L - T O R R E S
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Interacting with @Aamon Athanatos & @June Selwyn ♥ ♥ ♥♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Mentioning her mama [dnpc]
Metamorphmagus: Hair flashes orange ♥ ♥♥♥ ♥ Outfit: Denim jacket, blue t-shirt, jeans, sneakers and braided hair
♥♥♥ "Muuuum, you're embarrassing meeee, stop it," Xiomara whined as she tried to shoo her mama's hand away from her. Martina was seeing her off and it was the first time that the young girl was actually leaving her family to go on a trip by herself, so her mother was definitely worried. The pair had been standing there for at least fifteen minutes, with her mother fussing over every little thing about her - rather loudly! She had adjusted her clothes, asked her if she had everything, told her to make sure she ate properly, that she looked after herself, that she looked after fish, to be nice to everyone and... well the list went on. Martina had even tied Xiomara's shoelaces, in the middle of the platform, after deciding they weren't tied properly (even though Xiomara insisted they were fine)! Which was just so embarrassing.
Looking around, it seemed like everyone else did not have a overly protective mother around! She spotted random people around the platform but no one's mum was tying their shoelaces and treating them like a baby! It was a little embarrassing - what if she was the only one who brought her mother along? That would be so bad. But still, she knew all of the older woman's actions were out of love and care.
She watched her mama sigh, smile and shake her head before gently patting her and nodding. Martina muttered a 'okay, hurry along and be safe', before giving her daughter a quick forehead kiss. Xiomara grinned and nodded in return, as she grabbed the handle of her large backpack that looked a little big for her and the carry case in her hand as she made her way towards he train.
Xiomara could not believe she was heading to Summer Camp. She had spent every single day from the moment she received her letter looking forward to attending Hogwarts and now, it was finally time. Though the camp seemed to be set elsewhere at the moment, it was still organised by the school so it counted in her opinion. Either way, she was about to meet others who could do magic and that was very cool.
Carrying a case with a tiny fish in it was not as easy as she thought it would be. Perhaps she should not have brought the fish along but her mother said she needed to learn to look after it and this month would be a good practice run before she went to school with it. So, Nemo was coming with her. The rest of her stuff fit nicely into a backpack. It was a little big for her but she did not need too much stuff. Several outfits, a book, some fish food, her wand and that was kind of it.
In her excitement though, she practically ran to towards the train after saying bye to her mother - far too keen for camp. She was clearly a nerd in the making. In this excitement, she almost ran into two people and had to stop very suddenly before she ended up going flying over the trunk that one of them seemed to be lugging.
She heard a tall girl - well, a good few inches taller than her, anyway - say something about packing supplies for the next seven years. Xiomara blinked, was she meant to have done that? They were coming back right? This was just for a month, right? If not, she definitely needed to go get some textbooks and more clothes, such as her school uniform! Wait seven years? "Wait - are you first years too? Are you going to the summer camp now?" Xiomara suddenly asked the pair, chirping up at the thought of running into two students who were about to start their Hogwarts journey. Perhaps these would be her first two friends at the school! "Because me too!" She practically screamed the last part in excitement and her hair flashed orange [randomly rolled effect] as she grinned at her new friends, losing control of her metamorphmagus powers slightly for a moment.
"Oh wait, I can help! I have a free hand. I'm stronger than I look," She added suddenly, realising it was probably impolite to eavesdrop onto their conversation and not offer to help. She added the last part since she was small and looked very young with her long braided hair that her mama insisted on braiding this morning. She was quite strong, if she did say so herself - and she was happy to tell people that, even if they did not ask!
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.⋆✩•₊⁺∙°❀∘∙☽𝄞☾∙∘❀°∙⁺₊•✩⋆.
Idle Lessons
He needed to focus, to make the "right" impression. There was a critical difference between a good impression and a right impression—a lesson he had learned young. People didn't want perfection; they wanted the illusion of depth, normalcy, emotional range. Weakness without being weak. Strength without being too strong. Being excellent but never a threat.Relevant information: He has heard a lot of "bad"stories about Hogwarts and is attempting (struggling) to make the right impression. Half-breeds are a general concern of his because of how divisive their status is in the wizarding community.
Right now, he was a wide-eyed first-year. He needed to be charming and witty, but not arrogant. Vulnerable, but not weak. As he stood there, a pretty blonde girl approached him—"pretty" being, of course, a subjective assessment. He was tall for his age, and she was about his height, perhaps even slightly taller. She was probably older than him, or maybe she was a petite part-giant. It didn't change the fact that he thought she was pretty, or the fact that he tried to stand a bit taller, subtly lifting onto his toes.
"You alright there?"
Her voice was like a tinkling charm—pleasant, melodic, but strong enough to be heard over the din of wheeled cases and idle chatter. "Uh—" No filler words! "H-Hi," she was not looking for a greeting dumb ass. "I-I mean yes," he replied, perhaps too emphatically. She hadn't greeted him; she had asked him a question. "I mean no, yes," which was the right answer? He wasn't certain, and a welling panic squeezed his quivering heart.
"Merlin, that looks heavy. Pack all your supplies for the next seven years, did you?"
"Yes," he automatically agreed. "Wait, no." He let out a small, nervous laugh. "I'm so sorry, I'm trying to make a good first impression, and I am failing," he resigned himself to the shame of humility, sadly the most charming option that remained.
"Would you like a hand? I promise you, lugging trunks onto the train isn't half as bad as putting them above the seats."
Did he look weak? Should he be mad, offended, or embarrassed? "It," what was the right answer? What was he supposed to be? He glanced downward. The chest was a large, silver-limed chest with brass fixtures and a heavy, swinging lock. Large enough to carry a body, heavy enough too. "It is pretty heavy," he warned. He chose to accept her help; worst case, she would see him as "weak," but better weak than arrogant.
Yes, he was catching on.
"It might be too heavy for the both of us. I'm pretty sure I stuffed everything I owned in there." Humility, vulnerability, cooperative, friendly. Check-check-check.
Another pretty girl joined their conversation, lacking the social awkwardness or perhaps over-awareness he suffered from. "Wait—are you first years too? Are you going to the summer camp now?" It was quite possible he was attempting to lift one side of the heavy chest with the assistance of the older girl.
"Wait, what?" Had he gotten it all wrong? Was the blonde girl a petite part-giant after all? He was supposed to avoid those. An uneasiness entered the pit of his gut. Had he really stumbled onto a half-breed instead of a cute older girl? Father was going to have his head.
"Because me too!"
She was certainly excitable. He was just a ball of nerves. His brother's stories did him no favors as he tried to embrace this new experience. His face went slightly pale as the girl's hair changed, like some sort of chameleon if a giant tangerine was behind her. His jaw dropped slightly.
"Oh wait, I can help! I have a free hand. I'm stronger than I look."
He looked around, terrified more now than ever before. Maybe his dead half-brother could come back. He was (slightly) less worrisome than these two and the social ramifications of having a pair of ladies assist him with his luggage. Yes, it was a secret sense of machismo. He was supposed to be the strong one, the protector. He was supposed to be the tall one.
Was he really that weak?
Was he going to die on the train ride? Death to a pair of pretty girls was not the worst death, but he was too young to die!
"You know, that would be great." He smiled.
iNPC: Taylor Athanatos
Idle Lessons
astra - #136323
@Aamon Athanatos ∆ @June Selwyn ∆ @Xiomara Torres
@Aamon Athanatos ∆ @June Selwyn ∆ @Xiomara Torres
Astra didn't want to do it. She didn't want to go to camp. She didn't want to do anything ever again with Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, especially off-campus.
"Astra, love, I want you to go because you have to keep your promise," Hyperion said, squeezing her hand. Astra looked over her shoulder at Morella, who nodded sagely, not being helpful at all.
"What- what if something happens again?" she hissed, pleading midnight eyes searching Hyperion's.
He knelt down and cupped each of her trembling hands in his. "Nothing is going to happen. Not on my watch."
Morella slipped an arm around Astra's shoulder. "We're only an owl away, darling. We'll come pick you up if it gets to be too much," she assured.
Astra looked between her parents with a pained sort of gaze. "Courage, now. Let's have the best time we can, hm?" Uncle Ray's words from Yuletide washed over her consciousness like a cool stream, snuffing out the fires of anxiety as best they could. A shaky sigh, a nod of her head. Hyperion wrapped his little girl in a bear hug, and Morella a more conservative but just as loving embrace.
"You're going to have so much fun, Asa. And when you come back, Elliot and Helena will be home and we'll spend a whole week at the estate." Morella smiled brightly, stepping away.
Astra's mood lifted with the thought of Elliot's much missed presence back at the Lerian's Northumberland estate. Plus, finally being able to meet the Elusive and Wonderful Girlfriend everyone was doting on and gushing about (yes, even Jesse, isn't it strange?).
A final goodbye, and Astra boarded the train. This was it. This was now her path.
Hermes was, unfortunately, with Jesse and Maria. He remained a secret, a secret she was not keen to have missing at this time. He was an emotional support, sticking with her through everything that had happened (because she fed him and he loved her, of course).
She hauled her suitcase aboard the train, a smaller thing than her trunk with enough for the stay at camp, of course, via the help of reducio and all. Didn't make it any lighter, but Astra was a strong girl.
She tried to dip into the nearest compartment, but in her haste had not noticed the crowd amassing there.
She nicked someone in the ankle as she tried to walk by, "Oh, I'm sorry- Oh, hullo June," the snakelet said, greeting her Racing captain with a mixed sense of familiarity and formality. "I mean Captain... em... Selwyn."
Was it the train, or was she just extra awkward outside of a living space?
There was a tall boy and a small girl beside June, a small girl with- Astra blinked, and the orange hair was still there. Okay then. The tall boy was a brunet, and perhaps just a little lofty for his voice, which she perceived to be belonging to a preteen (though she did estimate him as an incoming second year, much like herself). The girls seemed to be assisting him with his huge trunk. Astra would wait for the commotion to clear before moving on, stepping back a pace. She would offer a hand, but it seemed the boy had more help than he could handle at the moment.
stats : sta 8 | eva 5 | str 7 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 7
abilities : prodigal charms learner, terrible presence
abilities : prodigal charms learner, terrible presence
Idle Lessons
X I O M A R A - M A R I S O L - T O R R E S
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Interacting with everyone ♥ ♥ ♥♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Mentioning no one
Metamorphmagus: Not Active ♥ ♥♥♥ ♥ Outfit: Denim jacket, blue t-shirt, jeans, sneakers and braided hair
♥♥♥ Xiomara blinked at the boy's response. He seemed surprised? Or perhaps confused? She wasn't sure but it seemed like he was not expecting to be asked if he was a first year. Hopefully he wasn't offended that she thought he was... She bit her lip awkwardly for a moment as she wondered if she had upset him somehow. Maybe he was actually a seventh year and was totally offended she thought he was eleven or something! Who knew! He seemed to be looking for someone - or maybe a way to escape from her, she could not tell.
But then he smiled and a sense of relief surged over her. Okay, maybe he was just a bit shy or something? In truth, Xiomara was just making assumptions in an attempt to try and get a read on the boy. She strongly believed in giving people a chance - until they gave her a reason not to. She did not forgive easily but she was certainly willing to try. "Great!" She replied with a toothy grin in return as she pulled her backpack off a shoulder and used the snap hook that she had on it to attach her carry case carefully before adjusting the straps on the backpack to keep it in place against her backpack - suddenly glad that the case was fully enclosed for this. Readjusting her backpack, she now had freed both hands.
She adjusted her sleeves, pulling them up to half way so she was ready, "On the count of three?" She asked as she readied herself, leaning down to one of the sides to grab a handle and attempt to lift it. She waited for at least one of the others to do the same before she would lift.
Hearing another voice, she realised that she had not introduced herself and that she had also very much misjudged people's ages. It seemed like the new arrival knew the girl who had been here before, addressing her as Captain Selwyn. Captain of what? She had no idea but she did realise that they knew each other beforehand... which likely made them not first years. "Oh- you're not first years? Sorry. I uh, am new so I just thought uhh that maybe you guys were too. Sorry," She continued, trying to explain her misunderstanding. Xiomara could not help but feel a little disappointed - she had been quite excited to potentially meet a new friend or two. No one wanted to hang out with a loser first year if they were older - at least, she wouldn't.
"I'm Xiomara, by the way," She introduced herself to the new trio, deciding that she should - at the very least - be polite! "I'm starting at Hogwarts this September so uh, I guess I don't have as much stuff as you guys," That must be why the boy had so much! He must have years of textbooks! Damn, maybe he really was a seventh year!
OOC: Not sure if there was a post order so apologies if I'm skipping ahead - I just wanted to keep the thread moving along!
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.⋆✩•₊⁺∙°❀∘∙☽𝄞☾∙∘❀°∙⁺₊•✩⋆.
Idle Lessons
OC: Not a problem; I was waiting for my turn, but I'm fine with moving this along.
Perhaps the muscular, older woman would be distracted by another student who called her "Captain." "Captain of what?" Aamon asked, a hint of hopefulness in his voice. His family were massive Quidditch fans. While Hogwarts Quidditch wasn't quite the same as a game at London Stadium, where his family had seasonal box seats, a game was a game in his opinion. "I love Quidditch," he offered eagerly, perhaps even before she could answer.
As the upperclassman June Selwyn was being potentially distracted by Astra Norrick, the other girl Xiomara Torres who was about his age, remained laser-focused. The girl was determined to help him lift his oversized trunk. The trunk was large, but its contents were even more than its dimensions suggested. He was, in many ways, the epitome of privilege, essentially bringing his bedroom from home, complete with a sitting area and stuffed full of furniture, in his trunk. Magic had its benefits, and while the true weight of his packed items would require a team of horses to pull, even with magical assistance, the trunk was still difficult to carry.
"On the count of three?" she suggested, keeping him on task.
"Oh, right," he nodded affirmatively, grabbing the other side of the trunk. As he attempted to lift his side, he felt the strain in his shoulders and the burn in his chest. He grunted with exertion through gritted teeth. The girl was probably stronger than he was, but he tried to put on a good show of competence and confidence.
She seemed to chat effortlessly, not as impacted by the physical effort. "Oh- you're not first years? Sorry. I uh, am new so I just thought uhh that maybe you guys were too. Sorry."
"No," he replied, trying to mask his effort. "I am starting my first year in September. I expect to be a Ravenclaw," though he would be in for a surprise during his sorting ceremony.
"I'm Xiomara, by the way."
"Aamon," he replied. He had been instructed not to use his last name unless necessary. His name carried a different legacy at Hogwarts, according to his brothers.
"I'm starting at Hogwarts this September so uh, I guess I don't have as much stuff as you guys."
Taking a deep breath, he said, "It's easier to have too much than too little." Regardless of his desires or what his experience would provide, he was going to be at Hogwarts. Having more than he needed or wanting for something wouldn't change that fact, but it could alter his experience. After hearing all the horror stories about Hogwarts, he felt the need to be prepared for anything. He would have taken the plumbing from his bathroom if he could figure out how to use a wrench.
iNPC: Taylor Athanatos
Idle Lessons
banner tbaThis whole Summer Camp idea had really been more of an impromptu thing.
Renelle had been content to simple lay back and relax for two months this summer, at a place that was actually devoid of strangers for once. One of the downsides of going to a boarding school, and it would’ve been a welcome change. Then one day she looked around at the all-too familiar surroundings, and suddenly realized she was in for a very boring time.
Which was how the soon-to-be second year ended up here, at Platform 9 3/4 once more. A few hurried goodbyes, and off she went, onto the train.
Her luggage was lighter than when it had been last she was here, though still of formidable weight. Renelle trudged down the corridors, feeling a bit regretful. Come on, had her dad really needed to make her bring along all those extra layers? It was summer camp, not an Arctic expedition.
The Ravenclaw really just wanted to set her things down and find somewhere to sit for the next few hours of her life, but it seemed fate had other plans. A small crowd appeared to had gathered ahead, revolving around a brunette boy and his extremely heavy looking luggage. Wow, talk about being too helpful.
To be honest, what Renelle probably would have done here, was shoulder her way through the people, regardless of what they were doing. It wasn’t any of her business, and she definitely did not intend to stop for them. But those plans were drawn up short, when she caught sight of a very welcome face.
“Hey, Astra!” All of a sudden, Renelle felt a lot more cheerful than five seconds ago. She quickly made her way to her friend’s side, grinning slightly despite herself. Gosh, they hadn’t seen each other in forever!
She paused, looking Astra over. “You’re as orange as ever. That’s good to see.”Interacting with @Aamon Athanatos @June Selwyn @Xiomara Torres @Astra Norrick
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes