long time, no see PV

ℬrookline stepped out of the History Of Magic class, her hair -a complete rat’s nest- brushed against her face, and it was furiously irritating her. She sighed as remembered the lecture. The girl used to love History Of Magic. Now it just made her tired. She hitched her satchel up higher on her shoulder, feeling the papers and books shuffle inside. The Ravenclaw’s nose twitched as her dark combat heeled boots scuffed the castle floor, rather loud.

It was disappointing how low in the hole Brookline was going. It was almost like she didn’t know her own self.

The Welsh girl’s dull blue eyes were more ocean-like than ever, the black baggy eyes were getting darker, and her skin was pale. The bad pale, not the good pale. Her appearance were getting lower and lower everyday. She needed her father to come back. And the voices were still getting louder. Judging her, her appearance, her poorly chosen actions. She could feel the tears burning at her ocean eyes, but she squeezed them shut as she willed them not to drop headed towards the Ravenclaw tower.

She had Charms, History of Magic, Potions and many other subjects for homework. Even though it was lunch, she wasn’t feeling like coming for lunch, today, and Brookline just wanted a heads start on her homework. She shook her head as she passed through the corridors, the students were making their own way to lunch. By now, at Hogwarts, you knew there was more than one way to get somewhere. Brookline just wanted to go to her dorm. She didn’t ask for this.

Just as Brookline raised her hand to brush the annoying - not the same brunette color - hair out of her face, some student crashed into her at a ding dang hundred miles per hour, she stumbled and tripped over her satchel, sending papers and textbooks flying all over the place. The Welsh girl gasped, her itchy - more tangled than the usual curly - hair fell in front of her face as she planted two hands in front of her to cushion her fall.

“What the hell?” Her Welsh accent became more clearer as her voice raised a octave or two.

Once her hands made contact with the ground, Brookline winced, rolling over to sit. She flipped her palms over only to see the redness and the burning of scraped skin. Right over the dark mark. She gasped, and quickly hid it. She grabbed her satchel, and tried to gather most of her scattered books. She turned her attention to who had whammed into her.

“You idiot! You made all my schoolwork scatter and now I can’t tell which is which. Ugh, half-wits!” Brookline spat, her glare venomous, gathering her items. “You really should watch where you’re going... fool...” When she saw the boy’s face, she gasped.

“Merlin, Andy!”

Brookline quickly shoved everything in her satchel, wincing when the material caught her palm. The scrape burned, and she held pressure against it. She then realized what words had flew out of her mouth, and she felt bad. Her eyes grew duller and thoughts grew louder.

What did I tell you, huh? Just like your father, better watch your words, missy. Or you’ll end up just like him. One voice hissed cruelty in her ear.

Another whispered, softly, like a female’s low voice in the rain, Be careful with your words or you’ll loose friends. Oh wait. Ha! You’ve already lost your friends!

Why bother showing your face? They’re all going to hate you soon, just like you hate your father, One was loud, its voice like a rough kiss in her slightly off brunette hair.

Brookline slammed a pair of hands to her ears, and her palms burned. Once they ceased, she dropped her hands, and quickly dove a hand which had the black mark into her robe’s pocket. She risked a glance at Andy, who probably looked hurt. “Hey, Andy. I’m sorry for those hurtful words, I thought you were someone else.” She gave him a weak smile, her cheeks already burning with sheer powerful pain. She hoped he wouldn’t notice her unruly appearance.

inventory: Enchanted Satchel, wand, homework, books, parchment, and quills.

_{Mentions: @Brookline Quinn}

_{Time: 11:50 A.M.}

_{Day: march 31st}

_{Outfit: Below in the Reducio}

Reducio

It was very clear that Andy was not jogging, not running, but literally SPRINTING, so there was always a risk that you will bump into someone, or worse, injure her. That is exactly what happened to Andy's best friend Brookline. The boy slammed right into the girl causing her to fall over and make her books scatter all over the floor. Then, Brookline started saying a lot of stuff that a normal angry girl would say, but for some reasons those words did not hurt Andy. Maybe because Brookline apologized, maybe because of other reasons. As Andy was recovering himself from the fall, he noticed just a glance of a tattoo on Brookline. gosh I am so sorry Brookline! Let me help you pick your books up. As he picked all of the parchment and books up and handed them to Brookline, he said, Hey Brookline, if you don't mind me asking; what is that on your arm? Please don't tell me that it is... Andy became silient. No. It can't be. Was that tattoo on Brookline the Dark Mark? This can't be real... Thought Andy, thinking to run away. Brookline... Andy said very dully, is- is- that what I think it is? The- the- dark mark... Andy shivered in fear.

ℬrookline would start cleaning all her items, shoving them into her satchel when Andy dropped himself to the ground to helped her with all the books, and yellowed parchment. He had apologized, and she wondered why he was apologizing when she just called him a idiot and a half-wit. She felt bad It felt like she was calling the young Muggle-born wizard a swear or a slur. She took them from Andy, dropping then into the bag, wincing as her skinned palms rubbed against the satchel.

“Thanks, Andy.” Brookline thanked her friend, her reply blunt.

Then Andy asked a question. About the mark.

That’s when her boundaries crumbled, and tears pricked her eyes. Brookline almost considered bailing, and running out of the corridor, to flee from her friend. The pure-blood only sank her hand in her robe’s pocket in further.

She saw Andy shiver. “The- the- Dark Mark... ”

Don’t I rather wish this was the Dark Mark. No, unfortunately it isn’t. It is something much worst. And also, this isn’t one my arm! It’s on the finger, I pricked when I was tricked. By that bastard, Brookline thought, her explanation staying only on the tip of her tongue. She wasn’t quite ready to share what had happened to her over the winger holidays and that time in the Forbidden Forest. It almost felt forbidden to tell the Ravenclaw boy.

Instead Brookline only responded, coolly, her voice like ice, “What! The Dark Mark? Nooo... There is no mark on my finger. No way!” Her palms started to sweat as she fibbed. But there was also no way she would tell Andy what was going on.

No freaking way.

Anyway. He should get away from me in case, I accidentally bleed black... Brookline’s fear was only rising.

inventory: Enchanted Satchel, wand, homework, books, parchment, and quills.

_{Mentions: @Brookline Quinn}

_{Time: 11:50 A.M.}

_{Day: march 31st}

_{Outfit: Below in the Reducio}

Reducio

Andy was still scared and suprised but not all hopes where lost, because Brookline herself said that the thing on her finger was not a dark mark. Even though Andy believed his best friend, he knew something was not right. Back in Perth, Scotland, Andy's parents taught him how to read a persons face, and by looking at Brookline, Andy only sensed fear, for some reason... As if she is trying to hide something. Andy had a thought of asking the girl What in the heck that mark was, but it was really none of Andy's buisness, so he kept his mouth shut. Brookline, are you okay? Do you want to go to lunch together? The boy said in a soft tone. He slowly began walking to lunch, waiting to see if the girl will join him or not. Really though... why is Brookline some worried. If it is not the dark mark, how can it be worse? Just a silly little bruise... right? Andy's brain was racing, trying to possibly find a solution on why Brookline was worried. Since it is not a dark mark or anything special, Why was Brookline worried? Maybe it is way darker than anyone thought?

ℬrookline knew Andy had more questions, but she would not answer them. There was no way, why would she when she had no answers? The Ravenclaw focused on her skinned palms, not caring anymore if someone saw the mark or if Andy would ask another question about it. She didn’t care in general. All Brookline wanted to was to be alone, being known as the monster she thought she was.

Then Andy asked the worst thing Broooline could ever process. Are you okay? echoed throughout her mind, Andy’s soft voice earning her the heavy feeling of hard-core guilt. The Ravenclaw boy, himself, started his way down to the Great Hall, and waited for her.

“I - I - I. Erm.”

She stumbled over her words, her heart thumping wildly in her chest, making Brookline feel ill. The girl wondered if the air was toxic, and her lungs were taking in poisonous carbon dioxide. Although, that wouldn’t be the case. Ever.

Perhaps she could make up some really crazy excuse, and get her way back to her dorm, or she could try... to get the truth out?

No.

Anyway, how would she get the truth out? It was just as hard trying get the words she at least needed to speak to leave her lips.

Brookline took a deep breath, there was no sense in lying to Andy. He was just going to keep asking questions til she crumble. He’s persistent, just like Sage.

“Okay,” Brookline started, and took in a deep sigh. She was going to confess about her “not being okay” but she started out wrong. “I - I. Uhm. Y - Yes, I’m okay. I, uh, just gotta go to my dorm. I’m not eating lunch, today, sorry.”

You idiot. Why lie? That is what your father did countless times over. Oooo, so, you are becoming just like him... The whisper mocked her, it’s voice low and it sent shivers down Brookline’s spine.

Why was she lying?

inventory: Enchanted Satchel, wand, homework, books, parchment, and quills.

_{Mentions: @Brookline Quinn}

_{Time: 11:50 A.M.}

_{Day: march 31st}

_{Outfit: Below in the Reducio}

Reducio

As Andy started making his way to the great hall, he heard the girl stutter. What can Brookline possibly be hiding? At this point, asking more questions would sound rude. Then, Andy overheard the girl both stuttering and saying that she was okay, and by Brookline's voice Andy could clearly could tell that she is not. Then, the girl stuttered out that she had to go over to her dorm room, and at this point, Andy wasn't even hungry anymore, so he decided to go back to the common room with Brookline. Brookline, I am not that hungry anymore. Is it okay if I head over to the common room with you? Said Andy. And once again, sorry for running into you like that... The boy said innocently rubbing his head. For some reason, seeing Brookline so scared somehow made Andy scared himself, but he doesn't really know why. But there is one thing that Andy knows right now. Brookline is hiding something. She has to. But why won't she bother telling, nobody knows. Brookline, at this point, don't tell me. eep all of the details to yourself, it is none of my buisness anyway. But still, what IS she hiding?

The beating in her chest kept her grounded, her two feet on the tile floor. Brookline only wished that it was quieter, she swore that Andy could hear the loud base drum of her heart. He kept talking and he asked a question that made her heart thud more. She answered him, her words flying over her lips and tumbling over each other. If her words told him that she was fine, her body language wouldn’t. Brookline’s body betrayed her as her fingers were trembling and her chest was going up and down with shallow breaths.

The Welsh brunette took a deep breath and swore in her mind. Brookline wished that was something she could grab onto and hold on.

The Ravenclaw girl gripped the band of her satchel and twisted it as a wave of coldness dripped down her spine. She tried telling the voice to shut up but she couldn’t grasp at the thought. Brookline felt like she kept grabbing at things and her fingers could never quite keep a hold of it. It was almost as if it were covered in oil and every time her fingers let go, yellow-brown liquid covered her skin. She really did feel like grease was spattered all over her hands and she couldn’t walk to a sink to wash it off.

Then the other Ravenclaw informed her that he wasn’t hungry anymore and asked if he could walk to their Common room with her. At first, Brookline wanted to shake her head violently, and twist up some excuse. Even if she was being rude, she wanted to get out that situation quickly before she ended up bursting. She really didn’t feel good and wished she could die in a hole. Anything would be better than talking to a friend if she was really okay or not.

I suppose it has become harder to have simple conversations with people you could talk with all day. The voice whispered, This is how he started.... And it unapologetically sneered and spat in her pale face.

Brookline turned to face Andy, and shrugged. “I-if you want to, then sure. I don’t mind.” She did mind. At least she could make up a reason, though. “But I-I encourage you to get some food, you’ve got to be at least a bit hungry. I imagine racing in the corridors like that means that you’re starving, at least! It’ll bore you to tears, though, I’m just going to my dormitory, and perhaps reading a bit in the Common room, so I wouldn’t recommend you coming with me unless you mean to skip a meal.”

“Also, it’s completely fine!” Brookline exclaimed when Andy apologized again. Inside, it was not all completely fine. She just wanted to run. “It happens. Don’t even worry about it.” The Welsh girl spoke a bit too fast for her comfort, making her words a bit of a jumble.

At this point .... Andy started, his comment going slower in Brookline’s mind than it actually did in real life, almost slowing and breaking down like a broken tape.

... don’t tell me.

None of my business ...

Andy’s words echoed and echoed in her brain, imprinting an impressive hole in her skull. Going round and round akin to a hamster in its wheel, until all the words are taken, and all the letters are picked apart one by one. Brookline took a deep breath.

“It’s just a bruise. I swear to you, Andy, a-all is fine!” She answered the Muggle-born boy, her fingers reaching up to adjust the neckline on her robes. “Everything is fine,” she repeated and Brookline gave her friend a plastered smile, looking okay and bright, no matter how faux she felt inside.

She then shrugged and pointed the conversation back to Andy. “Anyways, if you’re still hungry, you should go to the Great Hall before lunch ends. I h— ... I’ll see you around, then?” Brookline asked and smiled before Andy could say anything. She was ready to spin around on her heel to head for the enchanted staircase when she realized she was being a little rude. She waited there for Andy to decide where he was going.

Brookline just hoped there was enough time to get to and from the Common room before she had to get back to class. She really wished Andy hadn’t crashed into her today.

She was hoping to keep long time, no see longer.

speaking with @andy loggins in the corridors // 740 words
march thirty-first, 2025 // occ i’m so sorry for the delay :(