Day 2 Spectator 2023/24 Stage 3

Colours were flashing brilliant and fast in front of Aly, and then, suddenly, they weren't. The duel was over before it had even truly begun, and Aly's round face twisted into a disappointed frown as the referee stopped the match, declaring an Eagle forfeiture. "Well, that was... disheartening," she mumbled under her breath as the rest of the viewers all began to shuffle off to view other matchups, vacating the general area and leaving the space surrounding the now-empty piste equally unfilled. Turning to Evelynn, she quirked an eyebrow. "Well, your team won one, my team won one. 'Spose we'll have to wait to see how broom racing does next year to break the tie, eh?"

Now she could focus on what the redhead had said, something about honouraries and... ugh. "I didn't know that was Opeila's surname," she muttered, narrowly adding, And I didn't care, either. Yes, Aly was over her short-lived third-to-fourth-year relationship, but that didn't mean she had to like her ex's new girl. "And I don't know the other guy you mentioned, but... well, regardless of it all, I feel like that's just so formal. You're not a professor, you know, so if you need an official invite, let me give you one. You can just call me Aly - everyone does." She offered Evelynn a small smile, trying to not let the mention of Opeila get to her. They were both fifth-years, after all. Other people were bound to know her, even like her, and Aly was better than that. Above it all.

So she pushed forward to the other suggestion the Gryffindor had mentioned. "But anyway. Duelling in the lake?! Erm, I think not," Aly said, nearly laughing out loud at the ridiculousness of the idea. One good dunk in the lake and everything - her clothes, her makeup, her books - they'd all be ruined, and that was not something the young Ravenclaw fancied doing. "Have you seen this hair? I know I'd lose a duel, and I'd rather not get a Grindylow tangled up in it, thanks very much." Grinning at Evelynn, she proposed a different idea: "But what about one on dry land, sometime? You can take your revenge there, so long as you don't, like, burn off my eyebrows or something. I'm rather attached to those." To prove her point, she wiggled them - first one, then the other, and finally both together. Wiggle wiggle.

The duel over, Aly pushed herself to her feet and extended a hand downwards toward the lioness to help her up. "Well, looks like there's not much more to watch. We'd best get going," the eaglet suggested, her eyes raking over Evelynn's noble features and doll-like porcelain skin. She really was truly beautiful, glowing even when she wasn't dressed like the very sun itself, and was that a twinge of jealousy in Aly's heart? Yes, jealousy it must have been. Tamping it down, Aly continued, "That was all I really wanted to watch, so maybe I could walk you back to the Gryffindor dorms? I've been meaning to thank you for that book you gave me Thursday - I have so many questions about how you got your hands on Muggle literature, you know. I'd love if you'd tell me more."

⋖ 12/May/2024 | ENGLISH [#715380] | FRENCH [#b654a9] | OUTFIT ⋗
INTERACTIONS @Aly Salinger | MENTIONING n/a

Spectating: Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor — Match 2

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"A bit, yes..." Evelynn couldn't entirely disagree with the disappointment expressed by the Eagle beside her. Forfeitures were always an unfortunate conclusion to a match, expressed only when there was no hope of recovery or the spirit of the resigning team had been broken. She had been in that position. It could be disheartening. "Still, better a dignified conclusion than a display of obstinance in the face of certain defeat. They made the right decision."

"And I suppose so.." An airy chuckle expelled from her nose at the observation of the 1:1 win:loss ratio between the lions and the eagles for this particular round of sports games. Evelynn hadn't necessarily been planning to watch the race, though. As interesting as it was and as informative as it could be, it came down a lot to luck. The track was long and contestants passed through many areas that did not provide very good visual for audience members. It was difficult to appreciate the events in full if not involved in them directly.

At the call out of Evelynn's use of surnames, though, the lioness turned an expression of mild confusion upon the other. Every now and then, someone made a comment about her standard use of surnames to address others, but never quite to such a degree. Salinger bemoaned that it was just so formal, to which Evelynn felt compelled to softly counter, "It is polite." Then, when a pause had opened, added, "I was raised to address others by their family names. To do otherwise is a bit... familiar, do you not think? This is quite standard across most social and academic tiers. I am always surprised to learn of those who find it so unnatural."

As far as the declination to duel upon the lake, though, Evelynn simply shrugged a brow, smirking faintly. She hadn't initially taken Salinger to be so vane as to concern herself with a bit of water in the hair. It also spoke to the lack of confidence in her spellcasting skills. "Very well," Evelynn conceded. "Dry land it is. I promise not to employ any flaming spells. I do not find it to be particularly sportsman-like to use them, anyway." No reaction was given to the wiggling of brows. Not outwardly, anyway. Inwardly, though, Evelynn was repainting her impression of the girl. She was very.. odd. All the more-so when she offered an Evelynn a hand to rise from her chair as though the lioness were infirm. That did earn the Eagle a peculiar look, and a polite, "Thank you.. but I am quite alright." Needless-to-say, Evelynn did not take the offer.

Despite that, Evelynn was amenable enough for the company back to Gryffindor tower. "You do not have to thank me," she smiled, skirting out of the audience seating and into the corridors, "but I am glad it pleases you. It is one of my favourites. Have you finished reading it?"

There was no surprise in the question or doubt as though it was possible. She herself was accustomed to completing novels in a matter of days when absorbed. It has probably taken her that long the first time she'd read it. But if indeed that was the case, she would quite accidentally deflect the questions about how she had obtained the book, answering simply that she had had the cover commissioned, and turn the conversation around by inquiring upon Salinger her interpretations of the deeper lessons and metaphorical implications of the plot. Dissecting literature--and artistic mediums, in general--was something she had acquired from her mother.