closed Mended Wings PV Winnie's Friends

@Winnie Harper

There weren't many things that had struck a cord in Percival this year, not many things did as a whole. However, upon hearing that Winnie had been taken to St Mungo's in a bad way, something inside the young Slytherin changed. He had been noticeably quiet for most of the week, his mind stuck in a shell of loathing that only thought of one person in particular...

Mathias

When speaking with the nurse, she stated that Winnie had fallen from the owlery. The girl may have been clumsy, but she wasn't that stupid enough to fall from a great height. There was more to this than originally stated, especially when a certain someone was seemingly glued to her side. He had something to do with this "accident", and one way or another Gray was going to find the truth. Right now though, Winnie needed all the support she could get in this stressful time.

Walking into the ward with fresh roses, his eyes soon saw the unmistakable face of Winnie snoozing in one of the beds. Percival lightly cleared his throat before slowly making his way over to her, he carefully placed the flowers at her bedside where she could easily smell them and pulled up a chair so he could sit beside her. For a moment, Gray hesitated to wake the sleepy Winnie, but it was probably best to let her know he had been to comfort her.

"Hey, sleepy head. That brain still working in there?"

Interacting: @Percival Gray

Outfit: Medical Gown

Mentioning: @

English | Irish

She stirred in her sleep when the sound of footsteps approached her bed, her head tilting towards the sound of the boy's voice. Blue eyes blinked open, her eyes unfocused as she pulling herself out of a dreamless sleep. Her eyes flickered up to the visitor clearing his throat above her.

There was a boy standing over her bed, holding a bouquet of roses. She tried to sit up again, but winced and quickly decided against it.

"Oh... Hello." Her voice was hoarse, coming out barely above a whisper, "You... You brought me flowers?" Her brows furrowed as she scanned the boy's features. There was something there, a blur of memories that was difficult to unravel. Music? Something about a maze...

Her brain hurt. Regardless, something told her she knew who this was. "I... I don't think it's working that great." She admitted, biting down on her lower lip nervously, "I can't remember a lot... The lady in the green said it was um... Post-traumatic amnesia? But it's confusing, because I know that she's wearing the colour green, for example, and that you brought me roses, but I can't... Remember your name."

"B-But I know you're someone important, a-and... You brought me flowers..." Her fingers fidgeted with the side of her blanket, a soft blush burning on her cheeks, "... S-So um... You must be my fiancé?"

Taylor Athanatos stepped gingerly into the room, her fur-lined boots tapping lightly against the polished floor. She was smartly dressed in a pale pink coat adorned with silver embroidery along the sleeves, over a simple white woolen dress. A pearl-studded headband held back her waves of blonde hair, and her gloves were trimmed with delicate lace. Taylor, a picture of icy elegance, seemed slightly out of place in this warm, bustling city, she was used to the isolated frigid fields of Norilsk since her father died. Some might have taken this move as a sort of exile but she felt otherwise, it was not that she was happy her father had passed away, leaving her an orphan. It was not that she particularly cared for the three strange women than served as caregivers for her in Russia. But rather, in her isolation she had been able to find time for herself. To like herself and to learn about what she might one day become. Her father's death had taught her a lesson, that time was limited and precious. That life needed to be worthwhile. She planned to travel, to move more than site. To live more than sleep.

She was visiting family, that was important. Cousins were the closest thing she had. Her cousin's fiance was in the hospital, so the family was in London.

Taylor had wandered away from the boardroom where the rest of her family was; Thaddeus was someone important to the administration of St. Mungos. Her cousins, darling as they were, were in some sort of squabble and a fight had broken out. She had wandered off before she got drawn in and how she was drawn by the faint murmur of voices and curiosity. She did not know Winnie Harper specifically, she was just in one of the nearest rooms. Weird really. Peeking into the room, she spotted the bedridden girl speaking to someone, and her bright blue eyes widened. "Flowers?" Taylor whispered to herself, her interest piqued. She stepped fully into the doorway, watching the exchange with an almost childlike fascination.

When the girl hesitated and referred to the boy as her fiancé, Taylor couldn’t hold back any longer. With an eager clap of her gloved hands, she stepped further into the room, her cheeks flushed from the cold outside and excitement.

"Fiancé? Oh! Is like dramatic romance story, yes?" she said, her words heavily accented, each syllable rolling thickly as she beamed at the pair. "You forgetting beautiful man because of… uh… tragic head injury?" She tilted her head curiously, her blonde curls bouncing.

Without waiting for an answer, she approached the bed with a mixture of grace and unintentional boldness. "I think very romantic," she continued, gesturing grandly, "but maybe not fiancé. Maybe secret admirer?" Her gaze darted to the boy, her sharp, inquisitive look softened by a teasing grin.

"But, oh!" she exclaimed suddenly, as though struck by a profound realization. "If you forget him, is it possible you forget me?!" Taylor gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "I am Taylor Athanatos—distant Russian cousin!" she declared, though she wasn’t entirely sure if the girl even had cousins from Russia.

Turning back to the boy, she added with a conspiratorial wink, "If she not remember, maybe perfect chance to make new impression. Bring chocolate next time. Always better than roses. Unless…" she leaned in slightly, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear, "she is allergic?"

Standing upright again, Taylor clasped her hands together, entirely oblivious to the awkward silence that might have settled. Her excitement had clearly gotten the better of her.

"Is good to meet you both!" she said brightly. "I will tell family I have solved mystery—she is either forgetting fiancé or finding new one." She would start to back out of the hospital room and peer into the hall, curious if Giddy was in pursuit of her yet. He never really let her get too far, but he did have Mathias in a headlock when she left then and Mathias was screaming something about cutting off his... well, something and she was not going to get into that.

"Is really, good... so good to meet both," she smiled. "My cousin use place, fiancé here too. Became sad and she fell. I come, happiness from friends. But the boys fight and how you say blood between brothers warmer, even when it seems like ice. I find soon, just bored."

Interacting: @Percival Gray | @Aamon Athanatos as Taylor Athanatos

Outfit: Medical Gown

Mentioning: @

English | Irish

The adorable starlet standing at the doorway caused her to stop short and stare. For someone like Winnie, bedridden and lost in the endless fog shrouding her memories, Taylor seemed almost surreal, like she had been plucked out of a snowglobe or from the pages of a fairytale book.

The blush that had been faintly dusting her features spread to her ears when her 'cousin' started to gush over the pair. The tiny blonde did not ask for permission to take up space, she filled it by crafting stories of romance and mystery with the same childlike wonder that Winnie had long since lost.

"I... I'm sorry, I don't remember you." Her brows knit together in a mixture of confusion and guilt, a frown pulling at her lips. She tried to force her brain to remember something, even a feeling of familiarity like it had for the curly haired boy.

"I kind of remember calling someone Taytay... Maybe that person was you?" She had no idea that it was not the adorable blonde standing in the doorway, but a silly nickname she and her mother used when listening to a certain muggle singer.

Her fingers played with her blanket as she struggled to piece together fractured memories, "I..." He wasn't her fiancé? If anyone would know who her fiancé was it would be her 'cousin', right? With how easily she had floated into the room without hesitation the two of them must have been close. "He brought me roses, those are... Romantic?" She asked, looking up at Taylor as if she would confirm.

There was something, like a ripple in still water, the cries of distress as a figure hovered over her. She had said a name, what was it? What... "... Mattie." She whispered, her fingers stalling their movement. "I... I remember... That name."

"Mattie is my fiance?" Winnie asked the girl, her voice trembling with hope. She did not know what he looked like or remember anything else, but she remembered a name and it must be important. She had a sense of whoever he was, he cared—and that was enough for her to hold on to for now.

"Wait!" Winnie called out to Taylor as she turned to walk out the door. She had been her only lifeline to the world she had forgotten and even 'helped' her spark something; she couldn't leave!

Tears stung the corners of her eyes as she tried to shift her broken body, struggling against her limitations, but only managed to cause a ripple of pain. "P-Please come back! My family is here? When will I see them?" Each word trembled with the edge of someone barely holding it together.

She took in a shuddering breath when Taylor paused at the doorway, "Fiancé here? He's here too? I want to see him, please... I'm... I'm scared and I don't remember much I just..." She trailed off as her voice broke.

"I... I'm sorry, I don't remember you," the girl murmured, her voice uncertain and tinged with regret.

Taylor blinked, tilting her head. “Well, of course not!” she began brightly, stepping further into the room, her hands clasped together. “We have never met before. But—”

Before Taylor could clarify, the girl began to fill in the blanks herself, spinning a tale that quickly left Taylor wide-eyed and struggling to follow.

"I kind of remember calling someone Taytay... Maybe that person was you?"

Taylor froze. “Taytay?” she repeated, frowning slightly as she rolled the nickname over in her mind. “Taytay… is… potato?” Her brow furrowed further. “No, no. Same length as Taylor. Why make nickname not shorter? Very strange.” She gave the girl an apologetic smile, as though this logic should help clear things up.

The girl pressed on, her gaze flicking to the roses.

"I... He brought me roses, those are... Romantic?"

Taylor glanced at the flowers and then at the man standing awkwardly nearby. “Yes, very romantic,” she said with an encouraging nod. “Handsome man—lover? Probably.” She waved a hand dismissively before adding, “I joke! I joke! I have no idea. I just come here to say hello. You seem like happy couple, so I say happy things for your happiness.” She gestured toward the flowers and gave an awkward shrug. “Besides, if he is fiancé and says so—he is beautiful. Why say no?” Taylor’s expression turned briefly dreamy. “Very romantic logic, no?”

Realizing the girl’s confusion might be escalating rather than easing, Taylor began to back away slowly. “I am very sorry,” she said with a small, uncertain laugh, nodding toward the man in what she hoped was a reassuring manner.

"... Mattie." The girl’s voice was soft, but the name caught Taylor’s attention. It sounded vaguely familiar but also… wrong. Weird name, sounded feminine. Sister maybe. "I... I remember... That name."

"Mattie is my fiance?"

Taylor blinked again, her confusion deepening. “I know no Mattie,” she declared with complete confidence. “Although, I am sure she is quite lovely.”

She gave a polite nod, ready to excuse herself when the girl suddenly called out, "wait!" Winnie called out to Taylor as she turned to walk out the door. "P-Please come back! My family is here? When will I see them?"

The panic in her voice made Taylor stop mid-step, her own face paling. “I-I am so sorry,” she stammered, her accent thickening as guilt washed over her. She fidgeted with her gloved hands, glancing helplessly at the girl.

The girl’s words tumbled out, growing more desperate. "Fiancé here? He's here too? I want to see him, please... I'm... I'm scared and I don't remember much I just..."

Taylor froze like a deer caught in headlights. With no better idea of how to handle the situation, she awkwardly raised her hand and pointed at the man by the bedside. “Uh… this… him?” she offered hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

The gesture seemed more like a question than an answer, her expression a mixture of helplessness and deep regret.

@Winnie Harper@Aamon Athanatos

"No, they're chocolate," Percy said sarcastically with a smirk, just before he sat silently to hear what happened. Nodding slowly, he sighed "Don't worry about my name just yet, you'll remember it in due time" Gray said reassuringly, his cheeks blushing slightly from the fact she thought he was her fiance. Thinking momentarily, his lips formed a small smile as he spoke "In another life..." the Slytherin mumbled to himself silently, knowing that their chances of being together were slim by now.

Either way, Gray was going to get her out of this mess once and for all.

Suddenly, a feminine voice was heard in the doorway. Percy turned his head to find a girl staring at them both, or you could say shipping them from what she was saying "Wait, who are you exactly?" Gray asked in a confused manner "It is a bit strange asking strangers such questions when we've only just met?" even though quite threatening, Gray made sure to put it across in the most polite way possible. However, when she finally said her name his expression changed entirely.

Of course, she was an Athanatos...

Gray slowly got out of his chair and stood up with his arms crossed, coldly staring at the girl who spewed out an annoying Russian accent that could have easily been fake "Well Taylor, there is always time for everything isn't there?" he said quite cryptically, making sure not to stress the confused Winnie even further. Thankfully, she seemed to get the message (or not) and began to leave. Gray nodded slowly and began to sit back down on the chair to relax himself.

Yet, when she was about to leave, she mentioned that someone else in her family was "sad" and fell from a great height "What did you mean by sad and falling from a great height if you don't mind me asking?" Gray asked curiously just before she decided to stop and listen to Winnies demands to stop.

Hearing the word Mattie, his head slowly looked back to Winnie as she was starting to piece things together. In a way, there was a silver lining to all this. She didn't remember a thing in the last few months, if he only fed her what she needed to know it could level the playing field a little bit "Sorry Taylor, just one moment" he said politely as he leaned over to Winnie and whispered "Mattie isn't your fiance, he's the horrible kid who gave you the forgetfulness potions. We spoke about it at the cottage after you invited me over to the cottage"

Turning back to Taylor, he warmly smiled and nodded slowly "Don't worry, I'll be able to keep her company. Her mother Saoirse will be coming soon, you have my word" Gray reassured them both, knowing that her mother would soon be arriving upon hearing that her daughter had almost broken every bone in her body "When she arrives we'll see what the next course of action is. Hopefully, they'll let her back home where she'll be able to recover her memory a bit better. Busy places will only make things worse I imagine, it certainly did with me when I did it in my younger years."

"I presume your own family will be wondering where you are?"

Taylor stood in the doorway of the hospital room, prepared to leave after she awkwardly worsened the girl's fragile mental state. In truth, she wasn’t sure what she had walked into, but she felt tension in the air the more she spoke and she did not understand why. She knew that the Athanatos name carried weight, but she was unaware of how much weight it carried in this room in particular. All she knew was that her cousins were nearby, likely arguing over who was right about something that probably didn’t matter. Athanatos squabbles were as predictable as snow in Russia.

When Percy addressed her, her smile brightened, though his words left her puzzled. “My family?” she repeated, her heavy accent wrapping warmly around the English words, giving them a melodic lilt. “Oh, they are very busy. Loud. Throwing words like spells at each other. Is... what you say? A hobby for Athanatos family. Is normal for them, da? I am thinking no one notice if I stay, or go, or turn into bird.”

Her gaze lingered on Winnie for a moment, taking in her fragile state. The girl looked like a broken doll, her pale face framed by disheveled hair, her eyes holding a mix of confusion and exhaustion. Taylor’s heart ached for her, though she was still piecing together the details of what had happened.

“You say her mother is coming, yes?” Taylor asked, glancing at Percy with a quirked brow. “Good. Family is like… warm soup. Always better for healing.” She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. “But you stay here too? Why? You are very kind for strange man. Are you, uh, what is word... her guardian angel?” She wiggled her fingers theatrically, as though mimicking magic. “Is very romantic!” She tilted her head, a teasing grin spreading across her lips.

Winnie’s expression wavered, and Taylor quickly softened her tone, careful not to upset her. “Ah, but I joke,” she said with a small laugh. “You both make very nice picture, though—like, uh… snowy owl and clever fox. Yes, very sweet.” She giggled at her own analogy, entirely unaware if it made sense in English. It was a bedtime story her nan used to tell her before they sent her away, her mind was as brittle as her scones sadly.

She glanced back toward the doorway, where the muffled sounds of arguing filtered through the hall. Her cousins were likely tearing each other apart in the boardroom, and she had little desire to dive into that chaos. She was pretty sure she just heard Aamon scream something about 'stop the bleeding' but honestly he was a bit dramatic so it could be a little cut on the head. She shook the sounds away, no need to listen in. They would be fine. They were always fine. Turning her attention back to Winnie, Taylor stepped further into the room and perched herself on the edge of a nearby chair, her movements graceful and deliberate.

“Maybe I stay little while,” she announced, folding her hands neatly in her lap. “Hospital is not fun place, and you look like you need friend. Family will not miss me—they are too busy arguing who is smartest or most dramatic. Probably both. Gideon will think I go bake something, Vladimir will think I am doing crime—this is normal day.”

She turned to Percy, her expression playful but firm. “And you, angel man, must keep promise. If Saoirse comes, I leave. But until then, I make sure no one throws train at her or starts, uh… how do you say… trouble?” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “No, chaos. Yes. Giddy always says ‘chaos.’ He likes it too much.”

Leaning back slightly, Taylor flashed a reassuring smile at Winnie. “You rest. We are good team—you, me, and angel man. He protects, I talk too much, and you heal. Perfect plan, da?”

Interacting: @Percival Gray | @Aamon Athanatos as Taylor Athanatos

Outfit: Medical Gown

Mentioning: @

English | Irish

Winnie's brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of everything. He really wasn't going to tell her his name? She felt a surge of anger at that, couldn't he be a bit nicer?! She had lost her memory! It was a good thing his blush was so cute, because she quickly forgot her annoyance. Her head tilted to the side, "in another life?" She echoed the 'stranger's' statement, "What does that mean?"

The interaction with the chipper girl was making her more confused than she had been before, but at least the snow princess had triggered a memory within her. She blinked up at the girl, "Wait... There are family members here I haven't even met?" Had she come all the way from Russia to meet her after her accident?

For a moment she sat there staring up at the blonde, until a breathless laugh bubbled from her throat, causing her to clench her fingers against the blanket to brace herself. "Oh, n-no, you're not a potato, it's not really about the length of a nickname, it is just a term of endearment. I can call you something else if you want."

Her eyes flickered back and forth between the Curly Haired Man and Taylor, she could practically cut the tension in the air with a knife. Taylor had at least admitted to being a stranger, but the man next to her would not even tell her his name. How did she know to trust him?

"T-This is confusing. He said he's not my fiancé, but you're calling him a lover? Wouldn't a lover be my fiancé?" Her confusion was deepending with each word. She felt like her brain was pounding against her skull.

"No... I don't think Mattie is a girl, I remember... Something... A boy was standing over me, a man, he was upset. I think that was his name... Matt... Mattie? I said it." Maybe she was just jumbling things up, maybe there was no Mattie and her brain was grasping at straws.

Blue eyes went wide when the stranger leaned in to whisper in her ear, his words slamming into, "N-No..." She whispered, her face going pale. Forgetfulness potion? He had erased her memories? "T-That... That can't be true..." Her hands started to shake again, her front teeth biting into her lower lip.

"I-Is that why I can't remember... W-Why would... Would someone do that...?" Her voice cracked, her eyes stinging with tears. She could hardly hear the boy's next words as he spoke to Taylor.

Mattie isn’t your fiancé… he’s the one who hurt you. His words from before swirled in her head. Mattie. Forgetfulness Potion. Cottage... Something else. A hug between the two of them. Tears. She had been so scared back then. She was terrified right now. Her voice broke as she whispered, "w-what if he comes to my room and hurts me again?" She asked the pair, her trembling form shrinking further into the bed as if the sheets could shield her.

When a loud screamed pierced the silence her eyes went back to flickering between the pair, "What was that?!" Her thoughts were starting to spiral, and she spilled out several questions, "I-Is that them? My family? Why are they arguing?" Why were they so loud and scary?

She wasn't sure why, but when Taylor mentioned the name 'Gideon' it sent a chill through her all over again, "Who are Gideon and Vladimir? Are they my cousins too? I have a mom named Saoirse?" It was a good thing Taylor liked to talk because Winnie had so many questions rattling around in her brain.

@Winnie Harper@Aamon Athanatos

Percival sat quietly and listened while the girl rambled on. Damn, if he had a bet on Winnie or Taylor rambling the most it would be a heck of a hard choice "Yes, her mother will be coming soon..." he said once more, his head tilting slightly to being called a good man. It was strange someone had called him that, most of the time only negatives were voiced in his direction "You could say I am her guardian angel, or simply just a good friend looking out for her" Gray replied with a thoughtful smile, his head slightly nodding to the suggestion they would be good in a picture.

When this mess was sorted, they'd have to have one done.

At the same time, Winnie was trying to wrap her around the whirlwind of information going around her poor mind. She was confused about who her family was and the revelation of Matt standing over her. It was clear things were starting to get too much, an indication that Gray was starting to get concerned about. Looking at the door, he saw that Taylor had sat herself down close to the door and insisted on staying close until her mother came. Nope, that wasn't happening. Whether she liked it or not, the yapper was going out of that door before she stressed Winnie further.

"I'm afraid our little team will have to wait another time, Taylor." Gray said rather bluntly as he got out of his dead and walked to where she was sitting "If you don't mind me and Winnie will need to have a private chat. I prefer that you go back to your family in the meantime" Percy said politely at first, however, if she yapped on or straight up refused his hands would shoot to her armpits and lift her off the floor a few inches "Steal some ingredients with your brothers and go help them bake. At least it will fill their mouths and stop them from shouting" the Slytherin grunted while carrying the girl just outside the doors.

Gently placing her down, he lightly patted her head and moved behind the doors "It was good meeting you Miss Taylor, I apologize for the swift exit!" and just when she could utter another word the door would shut with a loud echo. Hopefully, that was the last he'd see of her.

"Okay, I apologize for that firstly. Secondly, those people outside are not your family" Moving to her bedside once more, he sat down and gently held her hand as he spoke "They are Matt's family. Trust me, they are not good people. The Athantos clan are constantly at each other's throats and will only use you for their own game. Please, whatever you do not trust them, especially Gideon or Matt." Gray insisted to the girl, his face focused and expressionless as he spoke "As long as I'm still here they will not hurt you anymore, that's on my life Winnie"

"Your mom is called Saoirse, she's the one who drove us in that strange metal thing called a Cooper remember? She took us to go see your grandparents who gave me a bunch of books, one of them being Lord of the Rings" Secretly Gray had been reading it at home, for now he rather enjoyed it "You also took me to feed the chickens, one of them had a funny name like Feather Locklear?"