30 Oct 2024, 01:08
Brave and Cunning
@Oliver Armani
Thoughts Speech
Brave, determined, courageous, daring. These words were all synonymous with Gryffindor. They were not, however, synonymous with Edwin Westbridge. What. a. joke. Edwin thought to himself, as he dragged himself across the courtyard in search of somewhere to sit down. After having finished a week of classes, there was nothing that Edwin desired more than to throw himself into his bed, and take a well deserved nap. Unfortunately, this was not possible, as there was homework to be done, much to Edwins horror. Thankfully, it didn't take for Edwin to find himself a free bench that was tucked away in the corner of the courtyard, and he immediately slumped down onto the bench with a relieved sigh, his bag quickly discarded at his feet. Despite the bustle, and constant activity that took place in the courtyard, Edwin was able to find himself a moment's peace in this corner, entirely undisturbed.
In this moment of peace, his mind was cast back to the night of his sorting. Gryffindor. All it had taken was that single word for his heart to sink. Westbridges are Slytherins. Always Slytherins. This message had been instilled in the boys mind for as long as he could remember, and now a Westbridge was a Gryffindor, the eternal rivals to the snake house. And yet, in the couple of weeks that had passed since his sorting, he hadn't heard anything from his parents about his sorting. Then again, Edwin Westbridge could do no wrong in his parents' eyes, so he likely never would hear a thing about it. He did dread to think how his parents may have reacted, had it been one of his siblings who had broken such a long standing tradition.
"Makes no sense." He quietly murmured to himself, reaching down to grab his bag. He could sit there for hours dwelling on his newfound home in Gryffindor, however, he could not be bothered with doing that. If he was going to force himself to think, he'd think about his homework, at least that was something that would actually be important. He grabbed at random a book from his bag, and spread himself across the bench, finding a position that he could comfortably lie in, and read his book. This decision to lie down was ultimately his undoing, his head beginning to nod forwards within moments, letting out a loud yawn. After a few minutes of nodding off, barley reading a dozen words, he eventually let his book fall the ground, ready to drift off in the courtyard.
30 Oct 2024, 02:19
Brave and Cunning
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It'd been a few weeks and Oliver was still seething with anger about the dreaded sorting. He hated that hat, how dare it place him in Slytherin. Ugh. Ew. Gross. Sliver and Green had never even crossed his mind of color's he would soon have to dawn. He was meant to be noble, brave, a lion. As a kid, everyone had thought Oliver would be a Gryffindor. The boy appeared to be fearless.
Not to mention, the most important part that was. Every, every Armani was in Gryffindor. Every. Single. One. Even those people that married into the family, they'd all been Gryffindor's to. So why, just why not him? His older brother was one, his parents, he was sure when his youngers siblings would start, they'd be Gryffindor. Unless Oliver was cursed, and ruined his family's luck. They would all be any house other then Gryffindor. All because that stupid hat had set him up for failure.
In a way, Oliver was almost in grief about his house. The five stages, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. He'd been through denial. That seemed to be almost done. And now, angry. Oh how he was angry. He was almost tempted to go and demand he be switched to Gryffindor. That was where he belonged. He thought though, maybe some fresh air would help him. Give him a small chance to clear his thoughts.
That was where he found himself now, in a decently empty courtyard. Of course, it was the courtyard. So it wouldn't be completely empty. Much to Oliver's dismay. Still, he was there now. And felt if he demanded that they all left him to be alone, he'd be laughed at. Ridiculed even. He had been quickly learning that Hogwarts, was not at all like his home. He didn't have the same power of simply being an Armani here as he did at home. Was it because people here simply didn't care, or if it was because he was some sort of joke now.
He went over to a tree, shaking his head. Unaware of the sleeping student behind it. "So unfair, stupid, old hat." He was grumbling under his breath. Was he pouting? Yes. His mother always told him not to do much of that, but he was rich. He could do what he wanted. And he had a good reason this time. He was sure his parents would also side with him, if and when he told him about the stupid house nonsense.
Oliver walked around the tree, into the little corner of the courtyard, and well look at that. He must be cursed. As a kid was sitting where he had wanted to sulk. Not even sitting, nope. Oliver wasn't that lucky, he was sleeping. He sighed and nudged him with his foot, "Hey, wake up." He said, possibly coming off as rude. Right now though, he didn't care all that much. "Sorry, but could I sit with you?" The courtyard seemed to be filling up now, and he didn't want to take his chances of wandering around looking like a fool trying to find a spot.
Wand.
Fearless - Oliver does not scare easily, not effected by terrible presence or unsettling aura
{ Stamina: 7 }{ Evasion: 5 }{ Strength: 10 }{ Wisdom: 3 }{ Arcane Power: 2 }{ Accuracy: 8 }Interacting : @Edwin Westbridge |||| @n/a : Mentioning
30 Oct 2024, 13:41
Brave and Cunning
@Oliver Armani
Thoughts Speech
Mere minutes after he had drifted off, Edwin felt himself being nudged, an unfamiliar voice saying something to him. Whilst he didn't move initially, he did mutter something into his sleeve that was incomprehensible, both due to him speaking into his sleeve, and letting out a loud yawn in the middle of his speech. After a moments pause, he eventually sat upright with a sigh, glancing around for a moment before his gaze fell onto Oliver. "Yeah, yeah, I'm up." He began, his tone initially grouchy as he reached down to grab his book again, resting it besides himself on the bench. "What's up?" He asked, rubbing his eyes, clearly not having fully adjusted to having been nudged awake.
"Yeah, go for it." He then nodded, gesturing to the space besides him, as well as shifting himself along the bench, ensuring that there was plenty of space for the two of them. A moment of silence hung between the two, whilst Edwin glanced back down at his book, but his page had been lost when he had dropped the book. He let out a loud sigh, looking like a defeated man, simply dropping the book back into his bag. First he had been woke from his nap, and then he hadn't made any progress with his book. A terrible day indeed. He had half a mind to start having a go at Oliver for waking him, especially in the manner he'd gone about it, but he looked to also be a first year, and he didn't want to start annoying people so early into the year.
"So, what's your name?" He looked over towards Oliver once again, the Gryffindor insignia on his robes now on full display to Oliver, much to Edwins dismay. He took no pride in the lion sewn into his robes, but it wasn't worth the effort it'd take to hide it. He extended his hand out to the other boy, continuing on to say. "Edwin Westbridge, nice to meet you." His voice was dripping with pride as he mentioned his surname, likely indicative of his blood status, as well as the kind of upbringing he likely had.
30 Oct 2024, 16:46
Brave and Cunning
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He heard some grumblings, and then, the kid woke up. Oliver may have not realized how deep into sleep he had been. Proof he had been deep in sleep, being the grumbling and rubbing of eyes. "Sorry again for waking you." He said as he took a seat next to him, He could admit that he'd been a tad rude in how he awoke him. It wasn't the boys fault, Oliver was just in a bad mood. He had been doing nothing but sleeping in a place Oliver wanted to. He took a deep breath so he wasn't rude much more.
He looked at the Gryffindor insignia, a symbol that the boy was in Gryffindor. Oliver felt a wave of jealousy wash over him, so many kids had been placed in his house. People called him brave and fearless all the time, so why wasn't he in the house of the brave? Such an annoyance. Oliver had been ready to introduced himself, but the boy, Edwin, beat him to it. Holding his hand out for a shake.
"Westbridge...?" Oliver repeated, taking his hand in a quick up and down shake before releasing. He'd heard of that name before hadn't he? He was sure his parents had been familiar with them, Like Oliver's own family, who'd been all Gryffindor, the Westbridge line had been a long line of Slytherin's. If his memory was proving itself correct. His mind was connecting the very few dots there where to connect. If he was right, then, Edwin had to be like him.
Oliver shook his head for a quick second, having been lost in thoughts. "Ah- Right. Oliver, Oliver Armani." He introduced himself. He looked at him a little closely, he just had to be right. His eyes went to the Gryffindor insignia, then back to Edwin. Eyes maybe narrowed in a glare, not in a rude way, he was just thinking. "Your-" He paused, biting his lip a bit thinking on how to word it. "I'm in the wrong house to."
That might not have been the best way, was it? He wasn't even sure if the kid thought that way. If his family was as 'must be the same house' as his was. He posed himself so he was facing Edwin a little more, the idea someone might know how he was feeling with the stupid hat, it was- comforting? He wasn't sure, Aaron, the only sibling he had at school, didn't understand. He'd been put in Gryffindor. Like he was supposed to. "I mean! That stupid hat put me in Slytherin!" He said Slytherin with much distaste, like the mere word was biter on his tongue. "I am not one of those! I need to be in Gryffindor!" Ok- random unwanted, un asked for rant over. Oliver crossed his arms and slumped back in were he was sitting. "can you believe it? Me? An Armani, A Slytherin?"
Wand.
Fearless - Oliver does not scare easily, not effected by terrible presence or unsettling aura
{ Stamina: 7 }{ Evasion: 5 }{ Strength: 10 }{ Wisdom: 3 }{ Arcane Power: 2 }{ Accuracy: 8 }Interacting : @Edwin Westbridge |||| @n/a : Mentioning
30 Oct 2024, 20:43
Brave and Cunning
@Oliver Armani
Thoughts Speech
"It's fine, don't worry." He waved his hand dismissively as the other boy apologies for waking him. Now that he had woke up enough, he realised it was probably quite useful actually, as who knows when he'd of woke up if he was left undisturbed.
"Westbridge." He reaffirmed as Oliver echo'd his surname, his hand moving back to rest on the bench, besides where he was sat. Probably doesn't believe me, because of.. He thought to himself, his own eyes momentarily drawn down onto his own robes. Even the sight of it annoyed him, a scowl plastered onto his face, as he stared at the lion that looked so proud, so brave.. Once again, Edwin found himself teetering on the edge of spiralling downwards, obsessing over what he believed to have been a mistake in his sorting. After all, how could he have ever been a Gryffindor? However, as Oliver introduced himself, he was pulled back to reality, focusing on what the boy said.
Armani.. Armani He echo'd the words around in his own head, a vague sense of recognition, likely one of his parents, or another family member had met at least one of his parents, be it at work, or some kind of social gathering. "I'm?" He questioned, his face entirely impassive as he stared back at the boy. This impassiveness broke within an instance, as Oliver mentioned being in the wrong house, a look of relief washing over Edwins face, who nodded in an uncharacteristically enthusiastic manner. "You too.."
"Yes, exactly." He continued to nod, his tone slightly excitable as the other boy badmouthed the sorting hat. This sort of excitability from Edwin was almost unheard of, but finding someone experiencing the same thing as he was, had bought him to life. "I mean, how is it even possible? That stupid hat looks into your brains, or something, and then somehow decided I fit Gryffindor?" He asked incredulously, before continuing on, practically ranting in sync with the should-be Gryffindor. "Must of mixed us up.. I mean, how.. I'm not a Gryffindor, never.. I should be in Slytherin. Never, and I mean never has a Westbridge been a Gryffindor.. Never even anything but a Slytherin." He continued, before pausing momentarily. "Maybe one Ravenclaw actually.." He glanced away for a moment, his expression one of confusion, desperately thinking back through his family tree. "Maybe a Ravenclaw, but never a Gryffindor!"
He took a deep breath, finding himself to have gotten surprisingly emotional over this whole matter. "I mean.. I'm no brave hero, or any of that stuff." That wasn't to say he was a coward or anything, he simply couldn't be bothered to actually perform any of the heroics he associates with Gryffindor. "How did your parents react?" He suddenly asked, before explaining. "I haven't even heard thing about it yet, but I don't know if it's that they're that angry.. Or just I'm still their favourite, so they don't care." He shrugged, very much aware that it was likely the latter scenario, but he was desperate to know how another families whose traditions had been broken had reacted.
7 Nov 2024, 00:36
Brave and Cunning
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Oliver's eyes almost lit up when Edwin agreed with him. The hat was basically full of shit. Oliver could easily say that he hated the dusty old thing. Now it seamed it was Ollie's turn to nod along. "Right!" He almost shouted in agreement, then he quickly seemed to compose himself somewhat. "I mean, your right." He said in a far more clam tone fit for someone of his status.
Well, of course Edwin would be right. He was a pure blood to after all. "It's so- creepy. That the hat looks into your mind, if a human did that. Azkaban." He said plainly. It was quite illegal he thought, to look into someone's mind like that. It was invasive, he'd known how it would have gone since he could understand his own name. Yet, that was so far off from what really happened. "There's no way that stupid old hat knows anything about us from one look!" It was just mental to try to think about it.
He nodded even harder when Edwin said the thing about mixing them up. "Yes! Your completely right there, It's complete bullshit that, I am in Slytherin." It was weird for him to even say that, Like admitting that he was really stuck there. Thought he felt he really was. Trapped in the wrong house. "And that you are Gryffindor!" Couldn't leave Edwin out in this insanity, not when they were one in the same here. To sides of the same coin.
He listened intently as Edwin gave a brief explanation to his family's situation. All Gryffindors, and maybe a Ravenclaw. A Ravenclaw, that could potentially be respectable. They were known for being smart, that was a least a good thing. Not Brave of course. But better then the other two, Hufflepuffs those pushovers, known for loyalty? How lame. And then Slytherin.. god damned Slytherin. Known not only for being cunning, but evil wizards. Oliver was far from evil.
"I am! I'm very brave, almost everyone says so." He couldn't help but say, he was the bravest person he knew. Yet still, it must not haven't been enough. Then- Edwin just had to ask that question. How his parents reacted. Oliver's face flushed with a tinge of embarrassment. "I haven't told mine." He admitted with a sigh. It was a bit of a sore subject right now.
He tried to talk to his brother to get advice, and got no help at all. "God, I sure hope they aren't mad." He shook his head as he said that, really he did. Less he got a howler for what was clearly a mistake from the hat. He smirked a little a the favorite line. Lucky. "I got four other siblings, So have a feeling I'm in dead last in the favorites race." At lease, after he told them. If he told them. He was still trying to figure something out.
Wand.
Fearless - Oliver does not scare easily, not effected by terrible presence or unsettling aura
{ Stamina: 7 }{ Evasion: 5 }{ Strength: 10 }{ Wisdom: 3 }{ Arcane Power: 2 }{ Accuracy: 8 }Interacting : @Edwin Westbridge |||| @n/a : Mentioning
7 Nov 2024, 23:03
Brave and Cunning
@Oliver Armani
Thoughts Speech
Edwin nodded once more at Olivers comment about the sorting hat. "It is creepy." He agreed, his tone one of disdain towards the hat. It is a stupid method, after all. "Must be a thousand years old at this point as well.. Maybe it's gone senile, that's why it placed us wrong." He said with a grin. In his mind, it honestly wasn't the worst theory ever. Enchantments did wear out after all, and he wasn't sure how exactly the hat's enchantments worked, but he was very much clutching at straws in trying to justify its decision.
"Yeah, it's impossible to understand someone in like what.. Five seconds?" He scoffed at the notion. His sorting hadn't even taken that long. A mere three seconds, and he'd been declared a Gryffindor. It hadn't even processed in his mind as he left the stool, initially walking towards the Slytherin table, before it had dawned on him.
"Maybe we're the wrong way around." He suggested unhelpfully. Even as a delusional cope, that was especially far fetched. But he was a Slytherin. Right? Even if others didn't know it, he was ambitious. He was proud. He was pureblooded. That was Slytherin. "If only there was like.. A resorting, or something." He muttered. "Give the hat a bit longer to think."
As Oliver spoke of his own bravery, Edwin tilted his head slightly, listening intently, and curiously. "There you go then.. You definitely should be Gryffindor" He muttered.Maybe it's the pride around his own bravery. Edwin mused to himself as Oliver spoke. Not that he'd say that out loud, the two had something in common, and he didn't want to be the one to ruin that. "You know though, you might of dodged a spell with Gryffindors.. Half of them are far too loud, or fancy themselves as some budding hero.. Exhausting to deal with, honestly."
"Maybe try keep it a secret then, if you haven't mentioned it.. Try think up some excuse in the mean time, maybe run with the senile hat theory a bit longer." He suggested with a smirk.
"Four?" He shook his head sympathetically. "I've got three, but they're all a lot older than I am.. But you know, proper Slytherins.. All did annoyingly well here as well, so getting placed in the wrong house isn't a good start for me measuring up with them." Not that he really needed to compare himself with them. Truthfully, he could get T's in every subject and he'd likely still be the favourite son. Not that he intended to, he wanted to do as well as his brothers.