Closed Sardines PV Ruth & Achelous

𝕽uth Fairchild couldn’t sleep.

She had been lying in her hammock for sometime, listening to the subtle snores and mumbling from her fellow dorm mates while staring straight up at the ceiling showcasing bright stars sprinkled across the sky. It made her itch inside. Despite the nature of the dorm, it felt too artificial, too crowded.

All Ruth wanted was a breather. And although she wasn’t one to break rules (besides a punch or two) she had to leave. Thank goodness all that stood between her and the outside was a couple of barrels.

Sneaking out of the dorm room and clambering up the stairs, still dressed in her sleeping robes, Ruth’s mind raced with the possibilities and opportunities available to her at this time of hour. While not so dark due to the constant flickering candle-light, the contrast between a school filled with walking students at dinner time and a deserted hallway was easily seen. It freaked Ruth out, but excited her all the same.

Now, where should I head to… Hadn’t she thought that the dorms were too stuffy? Ruth needed a place that beckoned fresh air but wasn’t so cold. The astronomy tower felt like a good place to start, though Ruth had mixed feelings about breaking in. Either way, her feet somehow found themselves at the second floor corridors hurrying towards the tower’s direction.

Oblivious Ruth was, to the chances of getting caught. She was so used to the feeling of sneaking out (kudos to her sister, Rita) that she forgot the patrols that constantly occured at night. How could she? Darn that girl. Of course, it all came back to her the moment she heard something. Wait, was that a sneeze?

Ruth froze, her ears picking up the sound of conversation. It was then did all the overthinking thoughts wash over her. Oh, my goodness. Ohmygoodnessohmygoodnessohmygoodness— why had she done this to herself? How could she how could she! Ruth’s body screamed at her to dart back to her common room and so she did turn back.

Only to encounter a dilemma.

Footsteps, from the direction of the stairs, heading closer and closer. She was cornered. Gah, what have I done? If she got caught, she…Ruth didn’t know what to think. Turning back, Ruth spied herself a closet door, slightly diagonal to where the sneeze had come from, but far enough from the footsteps.

Let’s just make a run for it.Ruth breathed in. With the swiftness of a cat, she bolted, hand stretched out for the doorknob.Almost, ther—

Then crashed into something—no, someone.

’s Grace | Interacting with @Avis Greymond, @Achelous Gavia-Dalca

Outfit | RP with Ruth & Avis

Pitter, patter echoes through the quiet halls as Achelous makes her way toward a door at the end of the corridor, a relieved sigh exited her mouth as she successfully opens the door, hurrying inside. Once she had closed the door, she slumped against the cool wall, her eyes flutter closed as another sigh of relief exits her mouth. Achelous wasn't aware that being a social butterfly was so stressful, one moment she was doing great and speaking just fine, the next, she couldn't get a word out without hyperventilating or being bothered by the scratchy material of her uniform.

Her face turned ashen as she thought about what her fellow students must think of her after she so rudely left the Great Hall, in true childlike fashion, she slid down the wall to the floor, wanting it to swallow her whole. The sounds of water dripping and birds flying got progressively quieter and her hands stopped shaking, but she still felt her goosebumps rubbing against her once soft, now annoyingly scratchy uniform shirt, not 'itchy' scratchy, 'scratch her skin off' scratchy.

Perhaps she should owl her mother about sending her new blouses, she should be able to, Achelous heard that one Gryffindor student in the 90s once got sent an entire broom. Standing up straight and fixing her uniform, Achelous gripped the door knob before turning it and pulling....only to be denied the ability to exit. Once more, she pulled more forcefully than the first time, one to once more be unable to leave, Achelous's mind blanked, memories flooded her mind. Her mother's French perfume flooded her senses, her voice in her head telling her everything will be okay, a sob left Achelous's mouth as she shook her head.

The deceptive voice remained as she sobbed her heart out, the sickly sweet lies trying and failing to convince Achelous of her apparent safety, soon the voice and smell of her mother disappeared, in its place a memory Achelous tried so hard to forget. Achelous had been locked in her sister's closet when she was 5, she'd screamed and cried for what felt like hours, when her sister finally found her she had been just a few seconds from having a panic attack, since that faithful day she has never been a fan of dark, enclosed spaces.

Now at the age of 11, she seems to have found herself in a similar situation at Hogwarts. All she wanted to do was find a nice and quiet place to recharge her social battery before heading to her common room. Achelous dried her eyes and nose, imagining what she must look like.

Her silvery blonde hair must be a wavy messy as a result of her repeatedly gripping it tightly with her hands and her pale skin must have gotten paler, possibly even ashen, either from her cry session or worry of being lectured by her siblings for this honest mistake. And just like that, suddenly a dark closet possibly inhabited by spiders doesn't seem so bad compared to being lectured for something out of her control.

Her pity party was interrupting by what sounded like a sneeze, by the sound of it from a male, a very old male and a voice of what seems to be a first year. Achelous moved closer to the door, straining to hear more but letting out a sad huff when she hears nothing. Wanting to continue her pity party, she left her earlier spot by the door to a corner that looked less..spider-inhabited and sat down.

Achelous regretted her decision after hearing hurried footsteps coming toward the door, every bone in her body is telling her to tell for help but her mouth won't let her, What if it's a prefect, or worst, A Professor. She can't risk getting in trouble for something so frivolous. So she stayed quiet, for only a few seconds, only to be startled by a loud thud. "Căcat," the profanity left her mouth with ease before her hands rushed to cover her mouth, Bollocks. Maybe they didn't hear her.

Translation(s): Căcat: Shit

Mentions: @Avid Greymond & @Ruth Fairchild

"Oof!" Avis let out involuntarily as she crashed headlong into someone else. Toppling to the floor, she glanced over at whoever she'd accidentally tackled, rubbing her throbbing head. Through blurred vision, she managed to make out a girl her age. In fact, she recognized this girl.

"Ruth?" she croaked, suddenly realizing it was the Hufflepuff who'd graciously found her wand in the library only 2 days earlier. "What in the blazes are you-" she started, but immediately stopped when the continued shuffle of short footsteps echoed from down the hallway, getting closer each second the two girls wasted recovering on the floor. Avis stood carefully, wincing at the dizziness that overtook her as soon as she made her way off the cold stones, but she had no time to pull herself together.

Reaching out, Avis yanked on Ruth's arm and pointed her wand directly at the closet door in front of them. She whispered a quick "Aberto" and the door flung open. She dragged herself and Ruth inside, quickly shutting the door with a snap behind them.

Avis sagged against the door in relief, catching her breath as she pocketed her wand, only to let out a muffled shriek as her hand flew to her mouth. Standing in front of them was yet another girl, a Slytherin by the looks of it. Her intensely pale features almost made her glow in the darkness of the closet and Avis thought they'd encountered a ghost for two seconds before realizing she was another Hogwarts student, most definitely alive.

"What in Merlin's Beard are you doing in here?" she hissed, trying to keep her voice low. "Matter of fact," she said turning to Ruth as well, "What are any of us doing here and how do we get out of here without getting caught?"

@Ruth Fairchild | @Achelous Gavia-Dalca
WC: 315
Note:

Reducio

Light godmodding of Ruth with permission!

𝕽uth barely had the time to recollect herself when Avis yanked her by the arm, dragging her right through the closet door and shutting it just as the footsteps strutted closer. Ruth tensed, eyes facing the door, hoping.

Only for her to hear Avis shriek. Spinning around, Ruth jolted at the sight of another student she hadn't seen around at all. She looked to be of their age, but it was harder to tell because of the messy bundle of hair and tear-streaked cheeks, though they seemed far from fresh. As Avis questioned them, Ruth opened her mouth to speak.

The footsteps that had gotten closer seemed to pause, as if hesitating. Ruth muttered, "Shh, wait." as she positioned herself behind the door. Best chance was that she hid in case they were found out, then use Perciculum at whoever did before making a run with the rest of them. Or was it Verdimillous?

Gah she couldn't think straight. Fortunately, as she was distracted by her fretting, the footsteps faded off in the direction Ruth had heard conversation.

Now that I think about it, Ruth frowned, turning to face the other two. Who was that I heard? The questioned triggered Ruth, but now didn't feel like the best time to ask. She made a try for the door, but it barely budged, relenting as Ruth tugged on the doorknob.

What on earth? How had that happened? Her head was still doozy from the crash. Added on top of that it was late and night, and the uncomfortable feelings that she had at her dorm was still present. Now trapped in a closet with barely enough space for the three of them, Ruth couldn't breathe.

Still, in a calm mammer, she answered Avis, "I...wanted to go for a walk," she found herself saying. Gah. That didn't sound very bright of her. "And the two of you? To what do I owe such pleasure?"

The two of them, Ruth noticed, were still dressed in their school robes, which felt odd. Despite the late-night-thinking never truly working out for the young girl, she couldn't help but set off on an adventure of curiosity.

Interacting with @Avis Greymond and @Achelous Gavia-Dalca

Outfit | RP with Ruth & Avis

Achelous's hope that the voices wouldn't intrude her hiding place was unfound as a voice mutters a spell that caused the door to fly open, her eyes widen at the sudden act of magic and the intrusion of what seems to be two of her fellow first years.

One of the girls, has mid-length dark brown hair paired with either blue or green eyes, it's too dark to tell. Achelous can pinpoint that she is a Ravenclaw thanks to the color of her tie. She let out a soft huff as the girl let out a muffled scream as she laid her eyes on the blonde Slytherin and the other girl jolted after she beheld the sight of Achelous as well. Does she really look that bad? Her words of confusion regarded Achelous in the form of a hiss, "What in Merlin's Beard are you doing in here?" Achelous couldn't stop the remark that escaped her, "Isn't it obvious? I was hunting for dragons so that I could get a dragonhide purse. Why the hell do you think I'm in here?! I, my apologies, we, are trapped in here." She ran a hand through her thick blond hair, maybe her words were a bit rude, it wouldn't help them get out before someone with more authority found them.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't take my frustration out on you, we are in the same predicament after all." Achelous's lips quirked into a lopsided smile as the Ravenclaw asks what all of them are doing in the dingy closet and how they would get out without being caught. Achelous finds herself wondering the same thing.

Earlier annoyance and indignity aside, Achelous laid her eyes upon the other girl who seemed to be somewhat more mature than Achelous and the Ravenclaw. She has glossy black hair and striking eyes, Achelous can't pinpoint her house as she isn't wearing her uniform. Her words were calm but hesitant as she explains that she was on a leisurely stroll, at night, no doubt after curfew.

Her next words were more confident, "And the two of you? To what do I owe such pleasure?" Achelous smirks at the girl, it's not everyday people usually smoothly change the subject of conversation, this Ruth has certainly earned her approval. The Ravenclaw too, if she tells Achelous her name.

Achelous suddenly felt awkward, her story isn't as not embarrassing as Ruth's, maybe she should omit a little. No. She should tell the truth. " I'm Achelous, it's pleasure to make your acquaintance. I came here during lunch to be alone, I was socially overstimulated as you foreigners put it." Technically she's the foreigner but she doesn't want to dwell on that, she looks at the Ravenclaw intently, "Care to chime in? Why are you in this position?"

Translation(s):

Mentions: @Avid Greymond & @Ruth Fairchild

Avis crossed her arms at the sudden rude remark by the Slytherin in the closet. She squinted through the hazy darkness of their prison, narrowing her eyes as she tried to study the new girl they’d suddenly run into.

“Well, I’m sorry for not immediately knowing what you’re doing in a broom closet in the middle of the night. Seems to me the dragons are elsewhere, as we should be,” she huffed in response, her temper rising a bit as their situation looked quite hopeless.

Avis looked up in surprise as the Slytherin apologized with a lopsided smile and she sighed. “No you’re right. Let’s focus on getting out of here,” Avis replied, eyes shifting to Ruth as the girl answered her previous question.

Avis raised a dubious eyebrow at Ruth’s “leisurely midnight stroll” but kept any comments to herself. She wasn’t in any position to judge seeing as she had also found herself feeling through the darkness of a Hogwarts corridor far past curfew. She cleared her throat after Achelous introduced herself and explained her own situation. Foreigners? Avis pondered over this comment before Achelous shot a few questions in her direction.

“I… fell asleep in the library,” she replied to Ruth sheepishly. Her curiosity suddenly overtook her and she cocked her head in Achelous’ direction. “I’m Avis. Me and Ruth have already met but did you say foreigners? Where exactly are you from? And were you crying because you were… overstimulated?” Avis asked making a gesture towards the girl’s tear-stained cheeks as the questions flooded out of her.

𝕽uth stepped between the two girls before something wild escalated. That would he the death of them, really. She couldn't help but shudder at the thought of getting caught. Honestly! What had she been thinking?

"Questions later, brainstorming first." Ruth breathed, attempting to shush them before either continued talking. Straightening, she took a quick glance around.

There really wasn't much in the closet. For a space made for storing things, it was pretty bare and dusty. Ruth spied a spider crawling nearby despite the dimness. She turned to look at the other two. "Does anyone know the wand lighting charm? the more light source there is, the higher chance of maybe finding a latch, lever, any mechanism that could lead them out of the closet.

She told them as such, then began tracing crevices and cracks on the wall with her fingers, fumbling for even the slightest hollow bump for a magical entrance or something. Hogwarts was just that mysterious. Surely?

And if not? Panic began rising again. The stuffiness resurfaced and all the overwhelming, overthinking thoughts came to bite her with a headache. Calm down, she attempted to soothe herself, making the mistake of breathing in the musty air and dust. The particles travelled up her nose, making her cough and stumble back, bumping into Achelous due to the small space.

"Agh, pardon me," she wheezed, sneezing and coughing as she flailed a hand over her nose. Forget the other two girls sparking a loud argument, she was probably causing a racket that would get them all caught.

Interacting with @Avis Greymond and @Achelous Gavia-Dalca