The Garden of Eden
Banner by Xiomara Torres
It seemed that just speaking put the other man at ease, which was an interesting reaction. It became clear why when the other referred to Marcus as a "fellow Aussie." It certainly wasn't the first time he had been mistaken for such - after all, his accent did lean into Australian pronunciation. Having grown up in Japan, and with a best friend whose mother was Australian, the accent had come with learning English. It was slightly masked by the UK English accent he'd been surrounded by for the past two decades, but an actual Australian was bound to hear it in his voice regardless.
Before correcting the man on that, he was distracted by the sudden discomfort presented by the introduction itself. Ah, right, he was pretty new to the Grand Seer role. Marcus remembered reading about the change in leadership recently. "Then you can just call me Marcus, Lawrence," he offered, nodding in understanding. It had taken him a while to adjust to Head of Ravenclaw back when he got the role - especially considering he had only been a caretaker before that. "And I'm sure you've heard this before, but it really does get easier with time," he added, with a sympathetic grin.
As his amber eyes scanned the children entering the garden area, he listened to the Australian man describe his visit as unexpected and mention a family reunion. It prompted the Blasian man to look at him again, an eyebrow raised in question. Had there been a family reunion he'd missed? He certainly didn't want to pry, but the question was probably evident in his look, so if the other man wanted to share, he could, but Marcus certainly wouldn't demand it.
Marcus grinned when a joke was made about the man's Seer abilities, and his eyes lingered on the man's hand tattoos when he tapped the side of his head. The imagery looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Oh, certainly not as impressive as Grand Seer," Marcus responded humbly, when the man mentioned his position as Head of Ravenclaw. His gaze was back on the students now, clocking the fact that the area was gaining a lot of foot traffic for being the "alternative" part of the festivities. It must be much more crowded in the Great Hall though, and just the thought had his warm skin feel even warmer. God damn, this fever felt especially intense right now. He retrieved his handkerchief and dabbed the sweat away again. He should probably go get a cool drink to help.
"But I do enjoy the role," he continued, a small smile on his lips. It certainly wasn't where he pictured himself if you asked him five years ago, but here he was. "And, uh, I'm not Australian, though I understand the confusion. I grew up in Japan and learned English from an Australian family, hence the accent," he explained, his eyes glancing over at the other and wondering if there would be evident disappointment. "I did a bit of traveling after finishing my education - through Africa, southwest Asia, mainland Europe. My funds dwindled by the time I found myself in the UK so I found some work, and one year turned to two, then to three, and eventually to two decades," he chuckled a bit at the oversimplification of his life after Japan.
"The weather definitely takes some getting used to, you've got me there. How is Australia this time of year?" he conceded with a grin. "And thank you, I have a very talented tailor that I get most of my suits from. I'd be happy to give you his information, though I'm not sure if he ships worldwide." As his eyes turned back to Lawrence, he took note of the other man's outfit and thought it was very on theme. "And you chose quite well," he complimented, as his eyes found the shoes that Lawrence said he had to buy for the occasion.
"My apologies... I did not see where I was going, sir." A young girl had suddenly bumped into Lawrence. Marcus did not recognize her as a Hogwarts student, but it's possible she was just in another house. The girl excused herself very quickly.
"I was hoping it would be less crowded out here, but I forget how the students multiply with all the visiting schools," Marcus said to Lawrence as the girl left. As he took in the building crowd of students, he felt warmer again. And a bit nauseous. "I could really do with a cold drink, so please excuse me for a bit. I'm sure we'll run into each other again, but if not, it was a pleasure talking with you."
"Wish me luck making it through the crowd," he added with a final parting grin, then leaving the Grand Seer behind so he could brave the crowds. He was hoping to find some iced ginger tea, or something with ginger, that could help with his nausea.
Action: N/A
Stats: STA: 15 | EVA: 7 | STR: 20 | WIS: 9 | ARCP: 4 | ACC: 15
Outfit: Navy blue three-piece suit, light blue pocket square, black dress shoes
Abilities: Werewolf Form (Rend, Bite, +10% damage) | Heightened Senses (tell familiar people by smell) | Track Hidden People (within 24 hours) | Wolf's Cry | Predatory Abilities (+25% chance to enter hidden, +2 stealth) | Intimidation (uneasiness, -1 acc, +1 crit fail to all around) | Obnoxiously Strong | Martial Artist | Binding Mark
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
The Garden of Eden
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
Date: 04/14/25 | Time: Early Evening | [b | CC: #992627
sta 6 | eva 8| str 7| STATS | wis 7 | arc 5 | acc 7|
Abilities: Healing Sage, Charmer
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He was trying to be nice and here she was wanting to continue the wallowing. It was all she had done for months when she was alone and even in public a couple times but she tried to contain it, to keep it underwraps and away from prying eyes. But how did you hide something like this forever? How did you hide it from your friends without exploding and shattering in a way that was irreversable? She was a hopeless case and she half expected Prat to give up on her and find someone else who wasn't letting something catasrophic get to them. She was miserable, confused and a little nauseous.
All she could do was look at him with her eyes. And hope that he wouldn't say anything while she tried to apologize.
Before she could open her mouth, Prat offered to take her away from the dance floor and with a muffled "Please-" she followed him, with a bit of a struggle since the spots in her vision were beginning to grow darker. It wouldn't be long before she would need to sit down and rest her eyes. She hoped to herself that Prat was catching on to this as he continued to lead her out of the main area of the garden.
It was quiet on the outside, from what she could hear- the blurriness in her eyes was taking a toll on her moreso than she thought, leading her to using her eears to guide her. She had been practicing with this echolocating technique but it was not something that the brain could rewire itself to rely on overnight. It was a skill she had begun to practice on her own, mostly in the safety of her dorm room. She had a vague idea of where everything was, had taken to placing her items in the same place everyday to make sure she knew for a fact where everything was. But even then she still felt like a failure when she missed something, or didn't brush her hair right, or spit on the floor instead of in the sink when she was brushing ehr teeth.
Prat asked if she wanted something to drink and suddenly her mouth went dry. In her haste and apprehension to get ready for the ball she hadn't had anything to eat or drink out of fear that she would get it all over her outfit or mess up the attempt at makeup she had done.
"Water would be helpful... But I think it's inside and I would like to rest a moment. I'm not feeling well." She explained as they took a seat in the grass around the Garden entrance. She sat in a way she was often scolded for, with her legs in a backwards W. But she ignored everything and just sat looking up at the sky. She hoped it was nice out, she could see some of the sunset but not all of it.
Prat returned and she could tell he was a bit miffed about having to leave the funtivities. She tried not to let it bother her until he lied straight through his teeth about being glad they weren't in the dancing area. She looked in the vague direction of where Prat was sitting.
"You can go back in. I'm not very good company at the moment. I can't see and I'm trying to not let it ruin my night... or yours, but I think I have." She spoke in a calm tone even though she wanted to be fussy and tell him to just leave her and stop lying to her face. If he wasn't even facing her he might not have been. She turned back to the sky and looked out with what she hoped was a convincing look of content on her face.
"How does the sky look at the moment? I can only see a couple colors- and I hope it's pink..." She asks as she gazes at the wide expanse over the Scottish Highlands. The silence remained however and she sighed before looking down and thumbing the grass with her fingers.
"Prat I'm... I'm going blind- I don't know when or where but it's going to happen one day and I'm not prepared. I'm always prepared but this is something I don't know how to prepare for. I'm sorry that I'm such a mess but even something as simple as dancing is throwing me for a loop." She explained with a melancholic tone. "You shouldn't have to sacrifice a night of joy to sit here in the grass with me."
It was a tough pill to swallow on her own, and while she had mentioned it to him before back at that Pajama event the whole school had gone to, she knew he didn't really understand why she was so upset as of late. Nobody did, not even-
Well she didn't know if Matthew knew anything. She hadn't seen him since the gardens of Beauxbatons over Valentine's day. That had been a rough ordeal. She knew somewhere deep down Matthew probably still felt ridiculously bad about what had happened and she hated that. She wanted him to know that it wasn't his fault but she was pretty sure that was just a surface level comment. She had hoped to maybe see him during the ball to see how he was doing after their little chat. But she hadn't seen him yet.
A familiar meow brought her gaze away from the sky as she heard it grow closer to her. Four chubby paws pounced in her lap which caused her to smile.
"Toaster- You aren't supposed to be here, you silly thing."
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| 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Prat Pass | 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: @ |
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
| 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Prat Pass | 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: @ |
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
sta 6 | eva 8| str 7| STATS | wis 7 | arc 5 | acc 7|
I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream- Sleeping Beauty
The Garden of Eden
Luce rushed to the Garden of Eden from the Great Hall, turning around here and there, and calling at her friend: "Hurry up, Dev! The last one is a potato!" As she got to the few stairs, she jumped down quickly, doing two stairs at once.
She was jumping from one stone to another, as a doe would, making her way through the garden, around the tables with food. She likely passed around the brown-haired girl and the boy with her too, and when she did so, she remained on them with her sight for a few secs longer.
Whoa, that girly doesn't look well. She must 'v danced a lot! Like my mum when she came from the ball on Valentine's last year! Well, I hope she'll be all right! The boy is gonna take care of 'er!
"He he, lovebirds!" Exclaimed the girl, running ahead.
Dressed in her sleeveless overall, one would ask if she wasn't cold. She either wasn't, as she was running all the way to the Garden of Eden and even when she got there, she just kept running around and jumping for a few minutes, waving her arms up and down, pretending that they're wings. She was probably trying to look like a bird, or something.
Hopefully not flying too far...
"Woohoo!" Exclaimed the girl, as she kept jumping and waving her arms.
"Can ya guess which bird I am, Dev?" To express the bird species with motion, Lucy made a two steps to each side, moved her head back and forth. She was repeating the gesture as long as needed.
Drops of sweat were slowly starting to cover her forehead and her cheeks flushed with the warmth of her body. But she didn't mind, nor did she mind the students around her!
Last but not least, she jumped up high above the ground, stretching her arms and legs to the sides. With her shining wig on, she might have looked like an actual star for a few seconds.
So much to not being hyperactive..
"Yay! So glad we're outside!"
Actions: Running into the Garden of Eden, thinking about and mentioning @Siobhan McCarty and @Prat Pass , doing a little gymnastics near the gazebo . Oh, and speaking to @Kaitlyn Connor as Dev, of course!
She was jumping from one stone to another, as a doe would, making her way through the garden, around the tables with food. She likely passed around the brown-haired girl and the boy with her too, and when she did so, she remained on them with her sight for a few secs longer.
Whoa, that girly doesn't look well. She must 'v danced a lot! Like my mum when she came from the ball on Valentine's last year! Well, I hope she'll be all right! The boy is gonna take care of 'er!
"He he, lovebirds!" Exclaimed the girl, running ahead.
Dressed in her sleeveless overall, one would ask if she wasn't cold. She either wasn't, as she was running all the way to the Garden of Eden and even when she got there, she just kept running around and jumping for a few minutes, waving her arms up and down, pretending that they're wings. She was probably trying to look like a bird, or something.
Hopefully not flying too far...
"Woohoo!" Exclaimed the girl, as she kept jumping and waving her arms.
"Can ya guess which bird I am, Dev?" To express the bird species with motion, Lucy made a two steps to each side, moved her head back and forth. She was repeating the gesture as long as needed.
Drops of sweat were slowly starting to cover her forehead and her cheeks flushed with the warmth of her body. But she didn't mind, nor did she mind the students around her!
Last but not least, she jumped up high above the ground, stretching her arms and legs to the sides. With her shining wig on, she might have looked like an actual star for a few seconds.
So much to not being hyperactive..
"Yay! So glad we're outside!"
Actions: Running into the Garden of Eden, thinking about and mentioning @Siobhan McCarty and @Prat Pass , doing a little gymnastics near the gazebo . Oh, and speaking to @Kaitlyn Connor as Dev, of course!
Stats: Stamina: 6 * Evasion: 5 * Strength: 6 * Wisdom: 5 * ArcPower: 7 * Accuracy: 6
Abilities: None
Last edited by Lucy Channing on 21 Apr 2025, 20:35, edited 2 times in total.
Stamina: 6 * Evasion: 5 * Strength: 6 * Wisdom: 5 * ArcPower: 7 * Accuracy: 6
Abilities: None so far!
The Garden of Eden
April 11th 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire
Mentioning @Scout Fu-Hai
"EEEEP!"
Emily had been fortunate enough to have known Colin for some time now, yet Emily still couldn't get used to keeping up with him and his gazelle legs when he would rush out of the room. Any faster and Emily would think he was literally about to take off. Or maybe even herself. Colin's case of the zoomies was so intense this time that she could've sworn her feet weren't even touching the ground anymore whilst he sped ahead, her hand welded into his.
Yet despite the painfully fast speed, it meant that it was over quickly. In no time flat, Colin and Emily had arrived at the Garden of Eden. It was as enchanting as Emily hoped it would be. Thankfully Colin had the foresight to slow down so she could get a good look at what laid beyond the entrance when they got there. When her feet finally felt like they were touching the ground again, she stood at the entrance enthralled.
"Whoa!"
This time Emily was the first to take off, her hand still firmly latched to Colin's. She pulled him past the entrance behind her but let go once her eyes fell onto the décor, the flowers more than anything.
"Oh Colin look! Look! It's so pretty here!" She zeroed in on some lilies off to the left, gesturing for Colin to follow her. "Look at these! They look so delicate... Like they're made of glass!"
Her attention then drew her to a collection of roses further down. "Oh wow! Look at these! Colin look!" She got down on her honkers and leaned close to them, her nose barely touching the petals to try and get a sniff. "Did you know it takes a thousand petals to make one rose? Think about how poofy they must be from the inside!"
The roses only held her attention for so long before Emily scampered to a pot of small purple-looking plants. "And these here! They look like fountain grass... They're quite an invasive species but apparently they can turn beige in the Autumn depending on the variety...!"
The ball was definitely in Emily's court now, with her pulling Colin every which way for a whistle stop tour of every type of plant the garden housed. Never mind the other guests present as Emily weaved in between them all so that she could show Colin how pretty the flowers were.
Eventually the fuel in Emily's tank began to filter out and she slowed down. The cheer was still plastered across her face as she sat down on a free bench to collect herself. "Phew... Heh!" She patted the spot next to her, inviting Colin to sit with her. "I'm definitely glad we came here. I hope I didn't tire you out back there," she laughed. "Scout always says I go into slightly long-winded tangents about plants when I get excited about them."
A fact Emily knew could never be disputed.
Emily felt the cool breeze tickle her between the strands of her hair. When she looked up, she fell into silent awe as she gazed at the moon above them. How lovely it looked in its near complete state. She smiled gently.
"It's almost a full moon..." she commented. That time of the month was fast approaching already. She spoke to Colin, her eyes remaining firmly fixed on the moon.
"When I was little, whenever I felt lonely... I'd lie on my bed back home where the moonlight would shine through. My room was perfect for that. Hardly any clouds obscured it, unless it was raining. I'd shuffle to the other end of my bed and rest my head there, letting the moon wash over me like a nightlight sent from the sky." Emily rubbed her hands dreamily as she pictured the moment in her head. "It was always a good feeling... It's funny. The moon is meant to be super cold but whenever I'd lie there, I'd always feel a warm, comforting fuzz in my body. It felt like I was resting against someone's lap... So every time I sleep in the moonlight, I always think that someone or something is watching over me..."
She turned to face Colin, her voice lowered. "I... I also have this secret hiding spot near the forest that I like to go to on full moon nights. Since the Hufflepuff dorms are buried in the cellar, I don't get the moon through my dorms. So, on nights where the moon is full, I sneak out so I can sit in my spot and watch it."
She brushed a hand excitedly over his. "I've shown it to Scout and Casey. I've been trying to get Simon and AngelFyre to come see it too, even if AF wouldn't really favour my sneaking out... But I think you'd really like it! I'd love to take you there one time..."
Emily gasped as an idea popped into her head. "We could go tomorrow! We could meet up tomorrow evening and I could show you...! Oh Colin, the moon is absolutely stunning when it's so clear in the sky... My spot is the perfect place! We can sit and watch it together...!"
It hadn't properly occurred to Emily what she was proposing. Realising how suggestive her words were, she went bright pink. Her smiled turned timid. "I mean-- Only if you want to... I just thought... You'd like that."
Emily giggled shyly. She wasn't sure why she was being so careful all of a sudden. It wasn't like she was trying to prove anything to Colin or to suggest anything. She was a friend. She liked it that way. She wanted to hang out with Colin because he was a sweetheart. She liked him for that.
"So... What do you think?" She smiled hopefully at him. "Would you like to join me...?"
Word Count: 946
Action: Entering and admiring the pwetty flowers!
Stats: Stamina: 7|Evasion: 7|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 8|Arcane Power: 7|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone
The Garden of Eden
Reducio+ Open to interactions from any Hogwarts students or iNPCs!
Reducio
ReducioSpeech: #8e19d7
Thoughts: italicsDevon ran after Luce, giggling. The heels of her sandals weren’t that high, and she still felt comfortable rushing after her friend. The skirt of her dress danced around her legs with her movement. “I guess I’ll be the potato then,” she giggled, not afraid to lose such a bet, if one could call that a bet, anyway.
Her green eyes grew wide at the sight of the garden. Another giggle escaped her lips, gently twirling as her feet touched the stones in the garden. Devon immediately stopped at a bunch of the pots, savoring the flowers picked for such an occasion. Beaming, she reached into one of the pots, gently plucking a pink peony from the collection. She placed it behind her ear, happy with her choice of flower.
The more she interacted with Lucy, Devon realized that her new friend must be very hyperactive … not that she minded, of course. It was nice to see someone with so much energy. Her energy tended to vary, but she rarely got as energetic as Luce was at that moment. It was still a fun sight, though. From what she could tell, Luce wasn’t acting differently than before in the Great Hall. It was likely that she wasn’t experiencing any impacts from the spiked drink from before. That was a relief!
Stepping over to Luce, Devon giggled as her friend. “Oh goodness, Luce. Asking me a question immediately,” she laughed, squinting slightly. “A pigeon?” She guessed with a laugh and a playful shake of her head. It was a strange sight, certainly, but she didn’t mind. Social events like this were meant to be fun. She glanced at her blank dance card dangling from her wrist. And dancing was meant to be fun, too. As a dancer herself, she had to agree.
Glancing around, Devon noticed a girl weaving flowers. Her eyes grew wide again. “A flower crown!” She exclaimed, surprised that wasn’t her first thought upon stepping outside. Wearing a friendly smile, she skipped toward the girl.Reducio
Note: 338 words
Action:
Entering the Garden of Eden from the main ball and talking to @Lucy Channing, picking a peony in the process. Sees Isadora Vilaca (@Aleksandra FairBairn) making a flower crown and heads over.Lovely Creature | Calming Presence
Stamina: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 6 | Wisdom: 7 | ArcPower: 7 | Accuracy: 6
The Garden of Eden
Lucy first stopped where Dev was standing and choosing her flower from the pot, even with her bird-like behaviour. Once she reached her, she giggled, as she took a daffodil with a pretty long scape from the pot, which she clenched in her palm at its bottom. She then lifted the daffodil high above the ground and made a ceremonial dubbing move, putting the daffodil on both of the girl's shoulders.
"There! I, Queen Lucy of... uhm... Caerphilly, dub thou, Devon of New York, my glorious potato! May thine power successfully lead you through all your quests." Lucy stated dramatically, in a deep tone of voice, however, the corners of her lips were twitching upwards, although she was trying to stop them. At the end, she pretended to lift her skirt and did a curtsy. Sadly, she failed in her attempts not to laugh. There was no point in trying to supress it, she just let it all out, starting to laugh.
"Oh, nice flower! The colour suits ya!" Claimed Lucy, pointing at the peony Dev chose and was putting behind her ear.
"Nope! Good guess, but try again!" Did the Ravie encourage her friend to take another guess. She changed her moves slightly, not doing the thing with her arms, as she folded them behind her back. She tried to stretch out her strides to the sides, making them larger, likely to point out that the bird also had long legs. Only the movement of her head remained - back and forth.
At the very end of her little gymnastics slash dramatic performance, Luce leaned to a side to did a cartwheel on the grass. It wasn't of much quality, apparently - she hadn't stretched her legs much, so it looked more like a weird, unsuccessful side salto. But Lucy seemed satisfied anyway. Her wig was glowing to all sides, based on which everyone could have figured how happy she was.
"Whoa... my head's spinning." Breathed out the girl when she stood up far too fast. Yet, there wasn't much to lean against around, so she just closed her eyes and leaned her palms on her thighs for a few seconds, as she tried to catch her breath.
Lucy Channing, what on earth? Why would you stand up so quickly? You know your head always spins when you do. You, young lady, are incorrigible.
Fortunately, it went away in several seconds, and Luce straightened her back and looked up in an attempt to find her American friend. She noticed Dev was heading to another girl and was originally about to head after her. But her eyes flicked to the tables with the food and she just couldn't resist the view.
Uhm... I should probably... nah, Dev is gonna be fine. I can check out the food! Sweets of all kinds, here I come!
And so she jogged to the food tables and started picking.
"There! I, Queen Lucy of... uhm... Caerphilly, dub thou, Devon of New York, my glorious potato! May thine power successfully lead you through all your quests." Lucy stated dramatically, in a deep tone of voice, however, the corners of her lips were twitching upwards, although she was trying to stop them. At the end, she pretended to lift her skirt and did a curtsy. Sadly, she failed in her attempts not to laugh. There was no point in trying to supress it, she just let it all out, starting to laugh.
"Oh, nice flower! The colour suits ya!" Claimed Lucy, pointing at the peony Dev chose and was putting behind her ear.
"Nope! Good guess, but try again!" Did the Ravie encourage her friend to take another guess. She changed her moves slightly, not doing the thing with her arms, as she folded them behind her back. She tried to stretch out her strides to the sides, making them larger, likely to point out that the bird also had long legs. Only the movement of her head remained - back and forth.
At the very end of her little gymnastics slash dramatic performance, Luce leaned to a side to did a cartwheel on the grass. It wasn't of much quality, apparently - she hadn't stretched her legs much, so it looked more like a weird, unsuccessful side salto. But Lucy seemed satisfied anyway. Her wig was glowing to all sides, based on which everyone could have figured how happy she was.
"Whoa... my head's spinning." Breathed out the girl when she stood up far too fast. Yet, there wasn't much to lean against around, so she just closed her eyes and leaned her palms on her thighs for a few seconds, as she tried to catch her breath.
Lucy Channing, what on earth? Why would you stand up so quickly? You know your head always spins when you do. You, young lady, are incorrigible.
Fortunately, it went away in several seconds, and Luce straightened her back and looked up in an attempt to find her American friend. She noticed Dev was heading to another girl and was originally about to head after her. But her eyes flicked to the tables with the food and she just couldn't resist the view.
Uhm... I should probably... nah, Dev is gonna be fine. I can check out the food! Sweets of all kinds, here I come!
And so she jogged to the food tables and started picking.
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Actions: Crowning Kaitlyn Connor (as Dev) her potato knight, up to some more gymnastics, heading over to food tables
Stats: Stamina: 6 * Evasion: 5 * Strength: 6 * Wisdom: 5 * ArcPower: 7 * Accuracy: 6
Abilities: None
Last edited by Lucy Channing on 22 Apr 2025, 07:30, edited 2 times in total.
Stamina: 6 * Evasion: 5 * Strength: 6 * Wisdom: 5 * ArcPower: 7 * Accuracy: 6
Abilities: None so far!
The Garden of Eden
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C I T R U S |
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감 귤 나 무 |
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 Reducio ACTIONS + MENTIONS @Gekko Phillips | @Hana Bakir | @Oliver Armani |
 Reducio OOC NOTES Sorry for how long it is, I already expect this to be quite the rollercoaster.... |
 Reducio STATS/OTHER STATS | stamina ◦ 9 | evasion ◦ 4 | strength ◦ 4 | wisdom ◦ 8 | arcane power ◦ 2 | accuracy ◦ 8 Currently wearing Fairy Tale Crown  "A crown enchanted with glamour magic. Wearing it causes one's teeth to shine extra white and look a little extra dashing. You may also find that animals are more prone to approach you." Also Possesses Two True Love Lockets  |
—cirrus nam
—Watermelon sugar high—
melor baskakova—
The Garden of Eden
1.
Colin skidded to a stop out in the gardens they'd set up for the ball. Whoa. It smelled like flowers! His hand was still firmly grasping Emily's which meant, hopefully, the rest of her was still attached! He turned to look at the girl. Her eyes were wide. Colin blinked. He was about to say how much he enjoyed the run out of the crowded space.
"Em! I --- YEEEP!"
Colin felt as if his arm were being desocketed from the rest of his body! Emily charged into the place, dragging him alongside like a dog on a short leash! "Oh Colin look! Look! It's so pretty here!" He found himself face to face with some flowers. What was it? Crumsanthemyths? Crimsonthemams? Something-a-mums! She said they were made of glass.
Colin leaned in to sniff delicately at the flowers. "I don't think they're actually glass, Em? I --- YOIKS!"
Emily dragged Colin away from the cremedementhes with a hard jerk on his arm. She crouched down, dragging Colin to the stone walkway. "Did you know it takes a thousand petals to make one rose?" Emmi was clearly in her element here! Colin reached out to pluck some rose petals. He munched the petals. A little sweet. A little tart.
"Gosh. A thousand? That's a whole packet of crisps, that! I--- EEEEP!"
Colin was hauled up by sheer Emmiforce and dragged over to another bunch of flowers! Colin was certain his arm would pop off any moment! He steadied himself on the edge of the display pot. "Fountain?" Colin's free hand shifted the tall grass aside. The long wispy blossoms tickled his face. "Where's the water come from, eh?" He tried one of the flowers, but spat it out. Twasn't very tasty!
"OIKS!"
Emily must have dragged Colin around to every pot of flowers and every bed of herbs in the place. Finally, after what seemed like hours and hours of sniffing millions of different flowers, Emily dragged him over to a bench and sat down, not far from a couple other boys who were talking about something or other. "Want some rose petals Em?" Colin asked as he crouched down onto the bench. He shifted closer to Emily and eventually ended up sort of sitting almost leaning against her. "I saved some for ye! They're sweet! Like you!" Colin blushed.
He popped one of the rose petals into his mouth and munched.
Colin smiled at Emily.
Emily seemed happy that they came down here, though. And really was much nicer than the crowded confines of the Great Hall. Especially on tonight of all nights! The almost full moon was up and Colin could feel his inexorable tug. "Scout always says I go into slightly long-winded tangents about plants when I get excited about them."
"Aye. She's got a point, Em," he said. He thought about Scout. He was certain that Emily's bestest friend absolutely hated him. As he thought about it more, he could find absolutely no reason why this should be the case! Emily seemed to have accumulated cool friends. Why Scout should hate him was beyond Colin, but that was the sense he got! "It's like the Muggles say: even a stopped clock is always right!"
Emily fell quiet. Colin turned to look at her in the moonlight. She was beautiful in the moonlight. He needed to ask her more about Auntie. And --- her parents. He wondered. He was almost too scared to ask. She was Muggleborn. Surely she would know... But would she even want to talk about it?
"It's almost a full moon..." she said thoughtfully. Colin tensed slightly. Did she know? Was she going to ask him? No. She didn't know. How could she? He would tell her. He reckoned she would probably be okay with it. But still --- there was always that fear that someone you trusted with your life could turn on you. Would Emmi turn on him? It was a risk, for those who kept secrets. He thought of Mey and Tes and even Liam.
His thoughts wandered to those glorious and precious few times he was allowed to run under the full moon out on the Highlands. Not being stuck in some shabby old house. She talked about how she loved lying in the bright moonlight. How it made her feel warm and fuzzy. Colin put his arm around Emily as she talked. If only tonight were a couple days hence. After the full moon, Colin wouldn't be nearly so tense and snarky. He realised that the way he'd replied to Emily's enthusiasm about flowers was a bit sharp.
She didn't seem put off by it though. Emmi really was a sweetheart.
She turned to him and began talking of a secret place. A secret place in the forest! This got Colin's attention. Didn't he and Liam have their secret place in the forest too? "A secret place? Really?" She said she liked to sneak out on full moon nights and go to the forest. Colin smiled. Eyes of Sky! And she thought she wasn't bold? Just sneaking out of her House after curfew could land her in detention! "Whoa, that's brilliant Emmi!" He smirked at the mention of AngelFyre's disapproval. He laughed softly. "I've never been able to get Fyre anywhere near the Forbidden Forest! And it's not for lack of trying! I mean. Just because she was a Prefect --- that's no excuse for not exploring the forest at night! Am I right?"
She took his other hand in hers. Colin could sense some excitement rising up in her. "We could go tomorrow! We could meet up tomorrow evening and I could show you...! Oh Colin, the moon is absolutely stunning when it's so clear in the sky... My spot is the perfect place! We can sit and watch it together...!"
Colin's body tensed. No. She didn't know. But she needed to. There was no way --- Professor Iwasaki would kill him for sure if he didn't show up. At the other place. Tomorrow night. For a long moment, Colin was silent. How tell her. It had been easy in first year. Telling his friends. Of course, most of them were gone now. Either left Hogwarts or -- disappeared.
The hand that had been resting on Emily's shoulder clenched momentarily into a fist. It would have to be now. He realised he hadn't actually told anyone about his --- curse --- since what. Second year? Some wolves just tried to cover it up. Others boldly proclaimed it. Colin would never cower. But he also knew he wasn't in a place to proclaim it. Not yet anyway. But now he would tell Emily.
He drew her closer and spoke softly.
He too looked up at the Moon. Knowing what it would soon do to him. What it was always doing to him. Not for the first time, he wished he could transform at will. He'd been researching. Even trying to make up spells. There had to be some way! But for now, he was stuck with a monthly transformation, and he couldn't even enjoy that with the girl he loved.
"Emily," he began. "I---" His voice faltered for a moment. "I can't. I--- I wasn't. I wasn't joking about us being like Beauty and the Beast." Colin shivered. The memory of last summer. Of him and Liam fighting the other wolf. Of teeth rending flesh. Blood flying. Fur and skin torn. Bits being torn off. He turned his face away from his girl. He didn't want her see, though he did want her to hear. "I am the Beast, Em. I--- I take me wolfsbane regular. I know you know what that is. Only. Tomorrow I'll be locked up in that old dump you can see out on the edge of Hogsmeade. The Shrieking Shack they call it. You can't go in there. And on full moon --- I can't leave. They lock us in. Like creatures. Like monsters."
"It's not as bad as it used to be." Indeed, this year there had been some improvements made to the Shack, including a nice spot in the cellar where they could run around if they wanted. "But it isn't like running free." Colin's face twisted with disgust. He knew Emily was all about magical creatures and so forth. And they'd all learned in History of Magic that the other countries were now admitting werewolves and dhampirs into their schools. "Everyone else gets to be themselves. But not us. We get to be locked away."
"That's why I never go to summer camp, Em. That's why I go home whenever I can. Just to be free that one or two days a month when the Moon is full. I--- I want to be with ye tomorrow. So badly, Em. You don't know how badly, and I'm not allowed to say." Colin's voice fell even quieter. "Any other time you can take me to your secret place. Just not on full moons. I'm a werewolf, and I can't go there with you."
Colin licked his lips. A thought came to his mind. Emily was excited to be with him on the full moon, right?
"But." He turned back and looked Emily in her beautiful hazel eyes, glimmering in the moonlight. "Promise me this? Come home with me some time? On the full moon? Run with me over the braes and glens? I won't be able to talk or anything! But --- I'd really love to be with you on the full moon."
Interactions: @Emily Shephard || Mentions: @Meyra Lancaster | @Jun Mayumi Mochizuki | @AngelFyre McCubbin | @Scout Fu-Hai || Mod: @Meiyu Xiang
Action: Admiring Emmi and talking wolfy things in the moonlight!
Werewolf Skills | Evasive Manoeuvres | Werewolf Skills
Stamina: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 4 | Wisdom: 12 | Arcane Power: 7 | Accuracy: 12
Colin is carrying his enchanted satchel which has his brooms, a number of potions and some other useful things.
Keep your mind in hell; and don't despair.
Cursa McCoire
Rigel McCoire
The Garden of Eden
April 11th 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire
Mentioning @Scout Fu-Hai
Emily watched Colin, finding entertainment in his behaviour. She thought it before and she'll think it again; Colin was a mad fellow. For starters, he never really sat down on a seat. He always tended to perch, like a cat. Lord knows why. And then there was that thing he did with flowers. You know, that thing. Emily had noticed him trying to nibble at a few of the plants she showed him as they raced around the garden earlier.
"Want some rose petals Em?"
"Wh--?"
Emily clamped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from unleashing a giggle fit as she witnessed Colin very casually pop a flower petal into his mouth. She punched his shoulder playfully. "Don't eat the petals, you silly goose! How else do flowers attract pollinators? You know what-- Just don't eat flowers!" She bapped his hand without much force, rolling her eyes amusingly.
"You're completely bonkers, McCoire!"
"I saved some for ye! They're sweet! Like you!"
Emily's cheeks glowed. Her giggles of laughter turned shy and her neck shrunk into her shoulders like a turtle. "Heh..." She took one but didn't eat it. Instead she simply held it in her hand, the silky surface of the petal satisfying to feel along her fingertip.
With or without his quirks, how was it that Colin was the only one to make Emily feel like a princess? What hidden power did he possess that made him be able to do that? Emily never felt like one on her own. Maybe a dainty poppet but never did she feel so... Pretty. Yet along came Colin making her feel all squishy inside.
They fell into a comfortable silence as they watched the moon together. She could feel Colin's arm gently snaking round the back of her shoulders and she subconsciously scooched closer to him. She felt relieved that Colin didn't seem too worn out by her ramblings over the moon - if his silence was anything to go by - although he was right in affirming her fondness for plant-based tangents.
"Aye. She's got a point, Em," he said, almost passively.
Emily laughed sheepishly. "You think so too...? Well, maybe you're not wrong. Though I suppose it's kind of a testament to how much I care, right? I mean... Some animals will band together like a pack in order to grow strength... Strength in numbers and all that. Hehe... I think by helping out the critters and the plants, I'm kind of helping my own kind. After all, I'm not really that spectacular..."
So having Colin be so open and seem genuinely enthusiastic in Emily's company was quite the accomplishment. She was still somewhat convinced he deserved a better "date" to this whole ball. But if he truly was happy, then she wouldn't take that away from him. Especially when she was just as happy to be with him in kind.
Speaking of. She still had yet to hear Colin's answer to her little proposal! He seemed thrilled with the idea. Her hopes were up! Even AngelFyre couldn't stop the two of them! Bless her with all her protective instincts... Truly the big sister that Emily saw her as.
Her eyes sparkled eagerly as she faced Colin, practically begging him to say yes.
But then Colin faced away from her with the hope in his face all but faded away. The excited glint in Emily's eyes disappeared and she grew nervous.
"Colin...? I-It's okay if you don't want to come! You don't have to if you don't--"
Then he clenched his fist. The same one that had been resting on her shoulder during the time they'd been sitting together. Emily swallowed. "Was it something I said...?" she asked tentatively.
"I am the Beast, Em," Colin finally said to her. "I--- I take me wolfsbane regular. I know you know what that is."
"Wolfsbane...?" Emily tried the word out a few times on her tongue in soft mutters. Then it hit her like a truck. Emily gasped and she stiffened.
"You're...?" Emily's jaw hung loose until she forced herself to laugh it off timidly. "Come now... Y-You're joking right...?"
Colin kept talking. There was mention of a shack in Hogsmeade, a place she supposedly couldn't go near. A place to lock up monsters, he said. He was calling himself a monster.
"Colin--".
This wasn't real. Colin was just playing with her like he normally would. He knew Emily loved all living creatures so he was taking an opportunity now to take the piss about it. That's what this was right? Right??
But Colin didn't have the cadence he'd put on for jokes in his voice. His tone was somber. Almost remorseful. He was talking experience. A battle he had no choice but to fight every month. Emily sat there, eyes sad and mouth empty for words.
"You're not joking..." she finally whispered. His mannerisms. His scars. It made sense but was still too good to be true. She had no choice but to accept it now. "You're..."
A werewolf. Colin McCoire was a werewolf.
"But... How? When...?" Emily was at a loss on what to say, her questions dying in her throat. And the thing was, she wasn't even mad at Colin. She never felt like she was lied to. He had to keep it to himself the same way Tesla did. The same way Scout had to conceal her vampirism.
Because society would struggle to see them past the one thing that made them different despite how justly human they were. Through eyes that weren't Emily's, they'd be monsters.
"Oh Colin... Oh... Oh my word, Colin!"
She knew she had to keep her voice down for the sake of Colin's business being potentially leaked to the rest of the guests nearby, but Colin being a werewolf... That was not only shocking but lonely. Scout could hide her fangs and suck on a blood pop without much fuss.
But Colin was a werewolf. A boy forced to drink something to keep a thread of his true self while the rest of him shed itself to make way for a whole new creature. And without it, there wouldn't be any Colin left.
The thought of her friend undergoing a painful transformation, losing his sense of identity, at risk of losing his mind if not for the wolfsbane... It was all enough for Emily to grab Colin's hand, holding it tightly as if he would disappear right then and there.
"My friend... You're so brave. Brave to tell me this... Brave to go through so much for one measly night of the month. All this pain for that...!"
Emily remembered all that Tesla told her. Students being locked away, packed in a rundown shack like sardines, dealing with lycanthropy on their own... It sounded as if society forgot that those were kids in there!
Emily held Colin tighter than ever, looking up at him when he turned back to face her. There was such fondness in his expression when he held her gaze. It made Emily's face go pink.
"Promise me this? Come home with me some time? On the full moon? Run with me over the braes and glens? I won't be able to talk or anything! But --- I'd really love to be with you on the full moon."
"Colin, I..." She wanted to cry but no tears came. Even when he had a condition as grave as lycanthropy hanging over him, he still pushed through with an upbeat attitude. Emily could only dream of having such strength. Or maybe Colin meant he wanted someone to share the burden with? What did it matter!
Emily stood up in front of him, curling her hand around his until their little fingers hooked around each other. She smiled softly.
"Pinky promise, my friend."
Emily pulled him close until she was hugging his head to her chest. She scritched his ear before running her hand gently through his locks, her cheek pressing into the top of his head.
"I feel honoured that you told me. And don't worry! Your secret is safe with me...!" she assured him through a soft whisper. "And I'll say it again, Colin. You're no beast... You're a boy. A boy first, werewolf second. And no matter what, I'd never see you any differently. You're remarkable! One of my greatest friends! And I hope you know that... I truly do."
She held his face and looked down at him full of Emi Love.
"To be with you and the moon would give me upmost pleasure."
Word Count: 1428
Action: Hugging my boy
Stats: Stamina: 7|Evasion: 7|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 8|Arcane Power: 7|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace
Last edited by Emily Shephard on 24 Apr 2025, 14:51, edited 1 time in total.
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone
The Garden of Eden
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Monday, 11th April; Grounds
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────Prat could not ignore the desperation he saw on Siobhan's face anymore. He'd noticed subtle signs of distress on her throughout the days leading upto the ball from the day they met together in that Pj Party. She had been trying to hide it throughout the days, but it was now clear how badly the girl needed a break for herself.
He offered to bring her away from the dance floor, hoping his gesture was going to be enough to convey the slight bit of concern he had, even with a lack of words. The music and chatter of the dance floor slowly grew distant as he gently guided her away from the swaying throng of partygoers, searching a quiet spot where they could both recover.
The vibrant colors of the garden lights seemingly blurred together as they moved away from the crowd and Siobhan's look of desperation remained much unchanged from Prat's perspective. He quickened his pace, knowing the longer they stayed in this place, the worse it might get for her to find solace.
Reaching a secluded corner, the hedges and the flowers in their backdrop offered them a semblance of privacy as the two kids sat on a nearby patch of grass. Prat's night had taken an unexpected turn, one that was far removed from the carefree festivities he had envision himself partaking it. Instead of their usual light-hearted banter and arguments that usually filled all of their moments spent together, he was now faced with the damsel in distress who was wallowing in her own sorrows with no explanations to him. He felt a pang of disappointment over the deviation Siobhan had caused in his night.
His disappointment however was overshadowed by the slight concern that he begun to fester within the confines of him mind.
"You can go back in. I'm not very good company at the moment. I can't see and I'm trying to not let it ruin my night... or yours, but I think I have."
He glanced over at her, his eyes still downcast as they sat on the grass, offering her a soft smile. "It's ok, this is nice, take all the time you need," He murmured softly, not feeling ready yet to step away from this pitiful figure.
From Prat's perspective, he could see the turmoil in Siobhan's figure as she spoke, her voice was a fragile thread barely holding on to it's composure. She attempted to release him from his perceived obligation, suggesting he go back to the dance floor and leave her to her solitude. But Prat was having none of it. To him it felt like she was putting on a brave face, a facade. A bad one that, he could see it crumbling with each passing moment as she kept going, asking him to leave her in the favour of more suitable endeavours. "Shut up" he began, "my night isn't ruined. In Fact, I'd much rather be here than on that crowded dance floor."
He paused, studying her profile as she gazed at the sky. "How does the sky look at the moment? I can only see a couple colors- and I hope it's pink..."
"The sky looks beautiful.." he lied, adding onto his pile of lies following the night, hoping to cox a smile out of her expressions. What he was sincere about however, were the words of reassurance he had given her. Her well-being was of more importance than to go out and mingle among the crowds.
"Prat I'm... I'm going blind- I don't know when or where but it's going to happen one day and I'm not prepared. I'm always prepared but this is something I don't know how to prepare for. I'm sorry that I'm such a mess but even something as simple as dancing is throwing me for a loop."
With all of Sio's lore dump, Prat felt his chest tighten at the weight of her words. He had suspected something was wrong, but the gravity of her situation was more than what he could have ever imagined. A lack of vision was a fate Prat would not wish upon his worst enemy, let alone someone as bright and vibrant as she was.
Her melancholic tone was like a shot to his guts, the boy found himself at a loss of words to convey his sympathy for her. Perhaps she wasn't even looking for sympathy or much worse, pity. This was one of the few moments in his life where he felt inadequate, unable to fix something. A moment of loss where all he could was to extend an ear towards her.
He swallowed hard, pushing aside his own worries and fear regarding the situation, putting on a brave face. "Sio.." he began, voice thick with emotion, "you don't have to apologize for it, none of this is your fault." He paused trying to find the right words to proceed in this rather unfortunate conversation they had embarked on.
"Have you tried a hospital on the wizarding side? Can't they fix your eyes with a spell?" He said hoping it wasn't an avenue she had yet explored, a new hope that might bring some of her usual self back.
He waited there, giving her enough time to absorb his words, to decide if she was ready to continue sharing. The silence between them was heavy, but it was soon broken by the sounds of a feline closely approaching them. Prat's gaze followed Siobhan's to the source of this meow. It was Sio's cat; Toaster. "It looks like someone missed you."
Prat stood up and took a step back from her, giving her a moment to compose herself as he scanned the area for any sign of refreshments. Spotting a table with some drinks, he brought one back to her. "Here," he offered, holding the cup in her air space. "Take a sip, it might help."
"Would you like to go somewhere else? Leave the ball now I mean." he asked, his voice a soft whisper. "Maybe one of these balconies in the castle? It's quieter there, and we could get some fresh air."
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────@Siobhan McCartyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXSiobhan
| Prat Pass - Slytherin | |
Sta: 7 | Eva: 10 | Str: 6 | Wis: 7 | Arc: 7 | Acc: 13 |
Sta: 9 | Eva: 15 | Str: 0 | Wis: 7 | Arc: 5 | Acc: 15 |