Sweet Release PV Siobhan McCarty Finished

Date: March 16th, 2024 Interacting/Mentioning: @Matthew Campbell

Speaking: #556b2f Thoughts: #99b39c Translations: Reducio Rudaí dána: Nasty things

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ "To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides" ⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Siobhan squeaked loudly as Matthew swept her up somewhat clumsily in a celebratory hug and her wand fell to the floor. She wasn't hugged often by people that she didn't know but it wasn't something that she was entirely objecting. It was cause for celebration because she had finally believed in herself enough that she was able to produce such a magic. And it felt... wonderful.

When Matthew let go of her and started off on his tangent, Siobhan looked down at her hands. She felt she could see the physical frequency of the magic and it's vibrations. Was this what everyone experienced when they first successfully accomplished a spell so miniscule as to flip a practice dummy?

Siobhan stumbled slightly and looked at the floor- Oh boy...

Was the floor shaking or was she just moving so slowly in time now that she could feel the very atoms of the world moving around her? She couldn't tell and neither did she want to know- What if she fell through the floor? The vague frequencies around her registered within her auditory nerves that Matthew was talking to her and she looked up if only to be polite. His mind seemed to be going a hundred miles a minute and that comforted her in some strange way. She was barely recognizing what her mind was feeling right now and for the other person in the vicinity to be displaying the exact opposite of what she exhibited.

Oh toast and now the world was spinning-

She placed her hands on the desk behind her and tried to recenter herself, and slowly but surely did she lose the feeling that she was going to fall to the floor. She noticed that he kept fiddling with something around the nape of his shirt. She cocked her head suspiciously when she saw his expression flash from elatement into a seemingly melancholy look. However his comment about his own insecurity with... how had he phrased it? Blood purity? She nodded along with him slightly as she felt their shared insecurity. It was almost comforting that if nothing had come out of this encounter- they could share their feelings about not being good enough for the magical world. Though she doubted that they were at this point in their friendship.

Well assuming he allowed her to be friends with him... He seemed like a nice boy and he was ever so upbeat in his . It was a nice change of pace from the typical state of whimsy that she experienced on the day to day. Oh- oh ok he was still talking and it was now turned into the reasons she should join Dueling with him. Oh! Perfect yes, she could absolutely talk to him about this. When he spoke of her affluence for spell work, she felt her face flush once again. How would she go about explaining that there needed to be some less admonishment of her accomplishments. She was simply overly flattered and an embarrassed blushing mess.

"Oh- Duelling yes... Yes I had- had planned to join duelling. I confess, brooms-" She wrinkled her nose at the word "Rudaí dána: I just don't like heights... I doubt I could even make it up to the stands..." Siobhan explained feeling somewhat stupid because of the excuse, twisting her index finger around each other as she spoke. However once Matthew made his impression of a professor, she found herself laughing along with him. He was right, practice would indeed make perfect-

"If you're willing to practice together- I'd really like that... It would be even more invigorating if we face off in a duel together." Siobhan smiled as she saw her eyes drift back to where he was fiddling with something.

"I-I'm so sorry but what is it that you're fiddling with? It seem to be... channeling something negative into your mind?" Siobhan asked softly as she looked at him with a concerned look on her face. Suddenly she realized that her question was invasive and rude especially after he had spent a great deal of time encouraging her and building her confidence up. And now here she was invading his personal space as a thank you?

No ma'am her ma had taught her better than that-

Beaming light practically poured from every inch of the young snake as she agreed to become his duelling partner. Having made a particularly bad impression with almost every student he had met in his first year it was refreshing to meet someone that didn't view him in such a light and truly wanted to hang out with him again. Most of the friends he had made that stuck around were made in his very first few days so Siobhan was a gleaming injection of positivity into the melancholy that had infected him.

Wholeheartedly agreeing with her comments about brooms he pictured himself flying high above the world on a broomstick and fear was the only emotion that came to mind. Even if the boy hadn't grown up muggle he scarcely could imagine he would have every enjoyed such a maniacal sport. Maybe others would see him crazy for wanting to place himself in the direct line of fire but at least in duelling your enemies were the only obstacle, falling to his death was not a goal he had in mind during his schooling.

Just as quickly as the warmth of her glow had brightened his being the following question stole that joy and twisted it into a red blush that flushed his cheeks to a shade of beetroot. Negative what could she possibly mean, the ring was his comfort, his safe haven no matter how far away he drifted it grounded him to reality. It couldn't be less negative. "It's a ring, my mother's wedding ring to be specific. It's not negative though it helps me calm down when I feel bad or when I have to do something hard."

His words were laced with a touch more defensiveness than he had meant and so swiftly he followed his words up with an apology levelling sorrowful eyes on the girl. How was it that every interaction he had always had to turn sour, "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. It just means a lot to me, but you couldn't have known that. I hope this doesn't change your mind about duelling."It was clear to see that despite the uplifting, mentor persona he had upheld for their conversation their was an insecurity about himself he couldn't help but suffer from. Still as he watched the gryffindor he hoped with all his heart that he had not entirely ruined another chance at friendship, for he was beginning to think he wasn't capable of such things.

Date: March 16th, 2024 Interacting/Mentioning: @Matthew Campbell

Speaking: #556b2f Thoughts: #99b39c

Siobhan shook her head quickly at Matthew's apology. He had no reason to apologize as it was her fault for asking in the first place. However it was quite sweet to know that others treasured their possessions just as deeply as she did. While she didn't have many, there were several books that she was partial too since they had been passed down to her from her Nana and her Oma; one full of her families history and the other, their old herbal almanacs. Those books of hers where so old that she rarely touched them and NEVER without gloves to prevent oils from ruining the old frayed pages.

"I understand. I apologize, I didn't mean to assume what it meant to you. I have certain objects that remind me of positivity like your mother's ring. It's quite beautiful- I'm sure it matched her own beauty." Siobhan said, as she tucked her wand away. She hoped that he wasn't upset with her for assuming what it meant to him. He had apologized but she could tell he was hoping that his apology fully resonated with her. And it did. Matthew had been such a help and she was feeling far more confident with her skills than she had been almost two hours ago. Everything he had told her, she had soaked up like a sponge. While she still had a ways to go, she was feeling more attached to her wand now, understanding that it was the conduit and she was the producer. Not the other way around like she had previously thought.

As she put her wand away, she noticed the way that the sun was peeking through the curtains of the Defense Agains the Dark Arts classroom. It was beginning to grow late and her stomach was beginning to riot over not having any food inside of it. Would it be rude to ask to leave? Or did Matthew want to go himself? She hoped it wouldn't be rude to ask if she could go appease the growing wave of hunger.

"I hate to be a second bother but, it is growing quite late and I had plans to sneak some food out of the Great Hall before I start my homework for the night. Though I really enjoyed your help and insight as to proper spell casting." Siobhan said with a polite smile, as she put her robe back on over her uniform. "Would it be too forward to ask about practicing more spells together sometime in the future? You're a wonderful teacher and I think I could benefit from practicing with a friend. If that's ok?"

had A shared apology had been a great foundation to solidify their relationship. Both had come into the classroom that day frustrated and exhausted from different pressures but with each other they had come to an understanding and if the girls words were to be believed perhaps even come to friendship. All hints of sadness that had been brought up from his mother had washed away at the word as his heart fluttered like the dancing sunlight through the curtains as it dimmed away leading to night.

Stumbling quickly over his words he spoke with perhaps a little too much excitement betraying his joy at her comradery, "Yes! No of course you should go eat, me too I suppose. I would like that very much, both the teaching and the friendship that is." God he was making an utter twat of himself as per usual but it wasn't very often someone at this school was willing to be friends with him and he couldn't stop the rush of excitement from flushing his face. Rather depressingly Matthew could quite literally count the number of friends he had on one hand and if he was honest with himself some of those so called friendships were acquaintances at best. Most being one off interactions that never led to much of anything. Somehow he still remained optimistic whenever someone offered him the opportunity and this was exactly that.

Having entered the room so full of rage and anguish it felt like sanctuary to be leaving it filled with a renewed sense of hope. The end of the year was nearing but for the first time Matthew wondered if pieces were finally falling into shape. Until the creeping insecurity of his past slipped in and he wondered if Siobhan would simply be another acquaintance lost to time. Refuting the idea he shook his head clear and spoke gently to the other with as true a smile he could manage, "I'm really glad you stumbled in today Sio, I don't know how much more that dummy could have taken had you not." Trying to play off the awkwardness with a laugh he bumped his elbow towards her in a brotherly way. "Now lets go get some scran, you've earned it after that professional spellmanship... spellwomanship, who knows?"

Laughter echoing through the halls as they walked away together. Having both come alone to the room expecting to practice their craft, they left with someone thing far more valuable. Something Matthew himself hoped would one day grow into something tangible. Yet only time would tell.