18 Nov 2019, 09:11
Glory-Bound
An odd family stood apart from the crowd churning through Platform 93/4.
There stood a terrifically tall hooded man with broad shoulders, a suit weighted with quality fabric, an immaculate beard and cutting cheekbones. He was regal and fierce in his bearing, height and build coupling with his harsh countenance to concoct an imposing figure. He stooped at the side of a woman, whose presence was prominent in an altogether opposite way. She was frankly radiant, with her tumbling white hair and silvery eyes that shone like stars. Her painted smile was gently warm. While on the small slide, she radiated a broad presence which was protrusive and mystical, draped in flowing fabrics that seemed to drift in the wake of every motion. They were a powerful pair. Yet before them, in frank contrast, stood a simple, somewhat scrawny, unassuming young lad.
The only significance to Pericles was that he was perhaps an inch or two taller than the average boy his age. He seemed somewhat on the frailer side, "stretched thin" so to speak, and had the same striking pallor as his parents. His hair was strange, snowy, and combed back blandly. His eyes were grey, presently shining with a wetness he struggled to blink away. The son sought to screw his mouth tight in the same stern fashion his father wore, yet in spite of best efforts, it wobbled precariously when his mother touched his cheek. The duo seemed to impart words of firm encouragement alongside tender wishes. In answer, the boy gave a hard nod and a short promise, then the lad stepped- literally and metaphorically- out from the couple's umbrella. Their hands clasped one another around its wooden handle, shoulders leaning lightly in mutual support while they watched their progeny set forth.
The Dralts were a punctual family. They had arrived early enough to board just as the train took on passengers, and so Pericles pointedly made his way to the furthest cart from the front. Empty. He secured his luggage (and emotions) before opening the window in spite of the rain clouds roiling overhead. When his parents spied him, they began to wave, which he reciprocated with a wide beam. He was intimidated, yes, and lonesome for his family already. Yet he was also elated, eager to embark on his trip to begin an education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
His mother's voice rang out like a clear musical bell above the din.
"Our hearts travel with you, Lamb!"
Pericles beamed sheepishly at the pet name.
Then there came his father's voice, deep and resonant like an iron church bell.
"Chin-up, boy! You are bound for greatness!"
This set a strange weight in his stomach. Greatness? He had not stopped to ponder the prospect. While Pericles knew well enough that his parents had been exceptional students, he had not paused and wondered whether or not he might "live up" to their old reputations. The thought sent him sinking into his seat. When the sweets trolly at last arrived and its kindly wheeler inquired to his tastes, the poor boy was left fumbling awkwardly with his wallet. With a lost expression he looked over the rows. There were classic boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, towering bowls of sherbet lemon, gooey bags of jelly slugs and tantalizing pumpkin pasties. The boy's mouth worked like that of a gawking fish before he managed to blurt an overwhelmed. "I... I'm sorry. I've no idea!"
There stood a terrifically tall hooded man with broad shoulders, a suit weighted with quality fabric, an immaculate beard and cutting cheekbones. He was regal and fierce in his bearing, height and build coupling with his harsh countenance to concoct an imposing figure. He stooped at the side of a woman, whose presence was prominent in an altogether opposite way. She was frankly radiant, with her tumbling white hair and silvery eyes that shone like stars. Her painted smile was gently warm. While on the small slide, she radiated a broad presence which was protrusive and mystical, draped in flowing fabrics that seemed to drift in the wake of every motion. They were a powerful pair. Yet before them, in frank contrast, stood a simple, somewhat scrawny, unassuming young lad.
The only significance to Pericles was that he was perhaps an inch or two taller than the average boy his age. He seemed somewhat on the frailer side, "stretched thin" so to speak, and had the same striking pallor as his parents. His hair was strange, snowy, and combed back blandly. His eyes were grey, presently shining with a wetness he struggled to blink away. The son sought to screw his mouth tight in the same stern fashion his father wore, yet in spite of best efforts, it wobbled precariously when his mother touched his cheek. The duo seemed to impart words of firm encouragement alongside tender wishes. In answer, the boy gave a hard nod and a short promise, then the lad stepped- literally and metaphorically- out from the couple's umbrella. Their hands clasped one another around its wooden handle, shoulders leaning lightly in mutual support while they watched their progeny set forth.
The Dralts were a punctual family. They had arrived early enough to board just as the train took on passengers, and so Pericles pointedly made his way to the furthest cart from the front. Empty. He secured his luggage (and emotions) before opening the window in spite of the rain clouds roiling overhead. When his parents spied him, they began to wave, which he reciprocated with a wide beam. He was intimidated, yes, and lonesome for his family already. Yet he was also elated, eager to embark on his trip to begin an education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
His mother's voice rang out like a clear musical bell above the din.
"Our hearts travel with you, Lamb!"
Pericles beamed sheepishly at the pet name.
Then there came his father's voice, deep and resonant like an iron church bell.
"Chin-up, boy! You are bound for greatness!"
This set a strange weight in his stomach. Greatness? He had not stopped to ponder the prospect. While Pericles knew well enough that his parents had been exceptional students, he had not paused and wondered whether or not he might "live up" to their old reputations. The thought sent him sinking into his seat. When the sweets trolly at last arrived and its kindly wheeler inquired to his tastes, the poor boy was left fumbling awkwardly with his wallet. With a lost expression he looked over the rows. There were classic boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, towering bowls of sherbet lemon, gooey bags of jelly slugs and tantalizing pumpkin pasties. The boy's mouth worked like that of a gawking fish before he managed to blurt an overwhelmed. "I... I'm sorry. I've no idea!"
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
18 Nov 2019, 12:21
Glory-Bound
Halston Wright's day had started off unfavorable but she was making the most of it. Her share of breakfast had been especially burnt, but she didn't complain. She didn't get to wash up until they were almost leaving, but she did so as quickly as possible. The Floo Powder had sent her to Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley, and when she got back, all of her family was gone. They hadn't even bothered to take her trunk.
But Halston just found her way to Platform 9¾, even going through the barrier by herself without causing a scene and now she was standing amidst the hundreds of families watching their children head off for the first day of school.
This brought a smile to Halston's face. She had been looking forward to this day ever since she could remember and it felt so real now that she actually going herself, instead of watching her siblings go. Halston had a day full of activities and this monumental moment was just the kick off.
Halston stood around her family, waiting for her turn to say goodbye. But that moment either passed or decided never to show up, because she waited there for quite an awkward while as her family exchanged goodbyes and last minute conversations with each other. Halston never knew what to talk about with them, and she was ready to get onto the train, so she gave her father a quick hug, said a farewell to anyone paying attention, and made her way onto the Hogwarts Express.
The train was quite full by now, so she had to make her way towards the back. It was more like forcing her way, since the students insisted on taking up both the compartments and the corridor. Halston avoided eye contact, focusing her attention on getting to the furthest empty compartment.
It was difficult but after a long walk Halston made it to the back of the train. She pushed her golden hair over her shoulders and took a deep breath: time to relax.
Halston walked slowly this time, taking a moment to look around. The train was not nearly as magnificent on the inside as the outside, but she still appreciate the decorations. She peeked into the compartments, just wondering whether the seats were comfortable, when she heard the Trolley Lady.
Halston turned around and headed over to the woman. Before she could even utter a word, the Trolley Lady said, “I think it's best if you get settled first, young lady.”
Halston blushed and nodded, muttering an apology. She quicklng turned to the nearest compartment, about to headed inside when she heard someone say, “I... I'm sorry. I've no idea!"
The young girl twisted back around, eyes darting around for the source of the voice; it was a young boy, blonde and quite thin. Halston eyed him, noticing how she was a little taller and perhaps older, but she didn't like to judge ages. At this time most of the students would be going through puberty, who knows what grade who was who in.
Halston watched as he struggled to make a decision. She herself was good at making choices when it came to sweets but she felt bad for him. Maybe he had never much occasions for candies, and it was hard for him to choose.
She sucked in her cheeks, beginning to get nervous. She didn't want to approach him, but she also really wanted some snacks to eat. Halston glanced down at her trunk and back at the cart.
The Trolley Lady caught her eye and winked. Halston's lips parted, and she looked at the boy for no longer than a second.
“I'll have a little bit of everything, please,” she said, her voice barely audible. But the Trolley Lady heard alright, probably because of the fact that Halston gave her a good amount of coins for her pickings.
Halston grabbed at least two of everything, avoiding looking at the boy for a moment. When she was finished she stood there for an awkward moment before whispering, “We can share...” Halston bit her lip and looked away.
But Halston just found her way to Platform 9¾, even going through the barrier by herself without causing a scene and now she was standing amidst the hundreds of families watching their children head off for the first day of school.
This brought a smile to Halston's face. She had been looking forward to this day ever since she could remember and it felt so real now that she actually going herself, instead of watching her siblings go. Halston had a day full of activities and this monumental moment was just the kick off.
Halston stood around her family, waiting for her turn to say goodbye. But that moment either passed or decided never to show up, because she waited there for quite an awkward while as her family exchanged goodbyes and last minute conversations with each other. Halston never knew what to talk about with them, and she was ready to get onto the train, so she gave her father a quick hug, said a farewell to anyone paying attention, and made her way onto the Hogwarts Express.
The train was quite full by now, so she had to make her way towards the back. It was more like forcing her way, since the students insisted on taking up both the compartments and the corridor. Halston avoided eye contact, focusing her attention on getting to the furthest empty compartment.
It was difficult but after a long walk Halston made it to the back of the train. She pushed her golden hair over her shoulders and took a deep breath: time to relax.
Halston walked slowly this time, taking a moment to look around. The train was not nearly as magnificent on the inside as the outside, but she still appreciate the decorations. She peeked into the compartments, just wondering whether the seats were comfortable, when she heard the Trolley Lady.
Halston turned around and headed over to the woman. Before she could even utter a word, the Trolley Lady said, “I think it's best if you get settled first, young lady.”
Halston blushed and nodded, muttering an apology. She quicklng turned to the nearest compartment, about to headed inside when she heard someone say, “I... I'm sorry. I've no idea!"
The young girl twisted back around, eyes darting around for the source of the voice; it was a young boy, blonde and quite thin. Halston eyed him, noticing how she was a little taller and perhaps older, but she didn't like to judge ages. At this time most of the students would be going through puberty, who knows what grade who was who in.
Halston watched as he struggled to make a decision. She herself was good at making choices when it came to sweets but she felt bad for him. Maybe he had never much occasions for candies, and it was hard for him to choose.
She sucked in her cheeks, beginning to get nervous. She didn't want to approach him, but she also really wanted some snacks to eat. Halston glanced down at her trunk and back at the cart.
The Trolley Lady caught her eye and winked. Halston's lips parted, and she looked at the boy for no longer than a second.
“I'll have a little bit of everything, please,” she said, her voice barely audible. But the Trolley Lady heard alright, probably because of the fact that Halston gave her a good amount of coins for her pickings.
Halston grabbed at least two of everything, avoiding looking at the boy for a moment. When she was finished she stood there for an awkward moment before whispering, “We can share...” Halston bit her lip and looked away.
Nefelibata
19 Nov 2019, 05:21
Glory-Bound
While stammering over sweets, the lad seemed to be undergoing some spectrum of existential crisis. The poor candy peddler hadn't any idea what state she had stumbled upon, yet evidently, she had presented a simple question while his mind was lost to one more convoluted. What did Greatness entail? Which treat should he buy? The abrupt cavalcade of uncertainty for his future was well represented by the chaos of color on her cart. Before she could spare herself the awkwardness, and him his embarrassment, another passenger joined the open box. Her arrival was a stark contrast to all the noise and sound bumping around in his own head. Glad for the distraction, young Pericles snapped back to the present. Then the staring began. He watched her with odd grey eyes, expression numbing save a slight widening of his gaze, though a tentative smile sprung into place when- for half a second- she glanced his way. The mute encouragement from the Trolley Lady was lost on him.
By the time she looked back again, Halston would find Pericles still steadily staring, only now his look of hesitant welcome had turned to mute awe. Two of everything? "You have eclectic tastes," the boy observed, emphasizing the word in a way which made it sound like a compliment; it was possible he had only recently learned its meaning, and was happy to employ it in his vernacular. But then she said she meant to share, and he was back to fumbling with his wallet. "Wait! We'll... why don't we split the charge?" It was brilliant! When one couldn't pick a sweet, sample them all! Why hadn't he thought of that...?
The prospect of sharing treats with a witch dispelled those nasty worries. Surely, he was a magic-user, too. But this was a fellow student! When the snack-peddler was paid and the newcomer's gear secured, he offered out a spindly hand, face settled into something of a neutral pleasantry. "My name is Pericles, by the way," he introduced with a polite chirp of a voice. "Pericles Dralt. You can call me Peri, if you like."
By the time she looked back again, Halston would find Pericles still steadily staring, only now his look of hesitant welcome had turned to mute awe. Two of everything? "You have eclectic tastes," the boy observed, emphasizing the word in a way which made it sound like a compliment; it was possible he had only recently learned its meaning, and was happy to employ it in his vernacular. But then she said she meant to share, and he was back to fumbling with his wallet. "Wait! We'll... why don't we split the charge?" It was brilliant! When one couldn't pick a sweet, sample them all! Why hadn't he thought of that...?
The prospect of sharing treats with a witch dispelled those nasty worries. Surely, he was a magic-user, too. But this was a fellow student! When the snack-peddler was paid and the newcomer's gear secured, he offered out a spindly hand, face settled into something of a neutral pleasantry. "My name is Pericles, by the way," he introduced with a polite chirp of a voice. "Pericles Dralt. You can call me Peri, if you like."
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
19 Nov 2019, 20:30
Glory-Bound
Halston was very surprised with herself, although one couldn't tell by how nervous she was. Her hands shook as she paid for her half of the items, watching as the boy did the same thing. She would've offered to pay for both of them, just to be nice, but she couldn't get the words out, and she feared spending half of her money in one go.
She had noticed his staring, which had increased her worry by a lot, but Halston just stood there, waiting. He had said that she had eclectic, with an emphasis. She wondered if that were true. Halston liked to try everything, since she didn't seem to be allergic to anything yet, but she thought most people were like that. After all, she had only wanted to share...
And then he confirmed that, after realizing her generosity. She nodded, eyes darting up to his. Her hazels gazed into his silver ones, studying him while blushing.
Then he introduced himself as Pericles, sticking his hand out for a handshake. Halston stepped back involuntarily, startled. No one paid attention to her, much less wanted to greet her with a formal handshake. She didn't know what to do, or more specifically, she was scared of what to do.
A tiny squeak came from Halston as she stared at his hand, then looked down at the floor. “U-um, I'm H-Halston...” She swallowed. He sounded so nice but she still so nervous. She glanced at the compartment where he had come from, wondering if she should sit down. Halston, overwhelmed, walked pass him and went in, sitting down on a seat, hugging her treats to herself.
She had noticed his staring, which had increased her worry by a lot, but Halston just stood there, waiting. He had said that she had eclectic, with an emphasis. She wondered if that were true. Halston liked to try everything, since she didn't seem to be allergic to anything yet, but she thought most people were like that. After all, she had only wanted to share...
And then he confirmed that, after realizing her generosity. She nodded, eyes darting up to his. Her hazels gazed into his silver ones, studying him while blushing.
Then he introduced himself as Pericles, sticking his hand out for a handshake. Halston stepped back involuntarily, startled. No one paid attention to her, much less wanted to greet her with a formal handshake. She didn't know what to do, or more specifically, she was scared of what to do.
A tiny squeak came from Halston as she stared at his hand, then looked down at the floor. “U-um, I'm H-Halston...” She swallowed. He sounded so nice but she still so nervous. She glanced at the compartment where he had come from, wondering if she should sit down. Halston, overwhelmed, walked pass him and went in, sitting down on a seat, hugging her treats to herself.
Nefelibata
19 Nov 2019, 23:25
Glory-Bound
The hand hovered expectantly, a kindly smile and excited eyes persisting along with it, though the expression flickered when the skittish witch flinched away. As she brushed by, Pericles managed to maintain a weakly cheery disposition. "That's alright," he assured gently, tucking his hand back against his side. "I've a cousin that won't shake hands with anyone a'tall without sanitizing first. But if you'd like to sit with me, I'm not sick, honest!" A determined optimism sprung into place. Then, he paid for his half of the sweets with a Thank You to the trolley woman, gathered the goodies into his arms, and situated himself just across from his new coachmate.
Coaxing out a name was all the encouragement the bookish boy needed. "Hullo Halston!" he chirped, twisting to arrange that sugary bounty across the little bolted-down table beneath the window. But silence set in. Occasionally, he sent more of those intrusively inquisitive looks her way, only to force himself to stop staring. Peri's mind ticked while he tried to concoct some method of breaching the girl's withdrawal. He looked from his candies to hers, to her face, to the window, to his tidily shined shoes. He listened to the churning of train wheels. As the distant howl of its old whistle reached them an idea sparked. Slowly, Pericles peered up again, airily venturing: "Did you know... the Hogwart's Express was built by muggles?" His head cocked, tone turning to that of a storyteller.
"The grounds have always been protected by anti-apparition charms, so when Hogwarts first opened, witches and wizards would travel there by any means they could." Her nervousness was contagious. Still, he prattled on all the same, casually continuing with a meager grin. "They flew brooms, took enchanted coaches, even rode in on the backs of beasts. But there were, well, so many muggle sightings with hundreds of witches and wizards traveling into Scotland every year. The International Statute of Secrecy was established in 1692, and after that, families tried to use portkeys, but everyone was getting portkey-sick. My father took me to a portkey, once. I lost my lunch."
At that, Peri paused, faltered, and plucked up a jelly slug to distract himself. He pinched it through the plastic wrapping, watching the colorful lump of gelatin slide around in its own goo. Distractedly he went on, "They got tired of the sickbay being filled with students at the start of every year. Then trains were invented in 1802, and the Minister for Magic at the time loved muggle inventions. There's no 'proven record' on how the Hogwarts Express was built. But my da works for the Ministry, and he said there 'might' be a secret record there that mentions a mass operation: over one-hundred and sixty memory charms and the largest ever mass Concealment Charm performed in Britain!" Though his volume hardly raised beyond a moderate murmur, it became more of an excited whisper now, something conspiratorial as he let her in on this "grand secret fact". "The morning after those illegal charms was the morn' that the Express appeared, on the railway that the villagers of Hogsmeade didn't know existed, and loads of Muggle railway workers spent the rest of the year stating that they all thought they'd misplaced something significant. 'Course, there were loads of pure-blood families that didn't like the idea of their heirs riding some muggle invention, but the Ministry said students either rode the train or didn't attend school. And, well... well here we are!" Peri looked up, eyebrows raised, smile spreading, waiting for some sort of reaction.
How does one convince a girl to talk to them?
Unload about a government conspiracy that resulted in the construction of a railway, of course.
Coaxing out a name was all the encouragement the bookish boy needed. "Hullo Halston!" he chirped, twisting to arrange that sugary bounty across the little bolted-down table beneath the window. But silence set in. Occasionally, he sent more of those intrusively inquisitive looks her way, only to force himself to stop staring. Peri's mind ticked while he tried to concoct some method of breaching the girl's withdrawal. He looked from his candies to hers, to her face, to the window, to his tidily shined shoes. He listened to the churning of train wheels. As the distant howl of its old whistle reached them an idea sparked. Slowly, Pericles peered up again, airily venturing: "Did you know... the Hogwart's Express was built by muggles?" His head cocked, tone turning to that of a storyteller.
"The grounds have always been protected by anti-apparition charms, so when Hogwarts first opened, witches and wizards would travel there by any means they could." Her nervousness was contagious. Still, he prattled on all the same, casually continuing with a meager grin. "They flew brooms, took enchanted coaches, even rode in on the backs of beasts. But there were, well, so many muggle sightings with hundreds of witches and wizards traveling into Scotland every year. The International Statute of Secrecy was established in 1692, and after that, families tried to use portkeys, but everyone was getting portkey-sick. My father took me to a portkey, once. I lost my lunch."
At that, Peri paused, faltered, and plucked up a jelly slug to distract himself. He pinched it through the plastic wrapping, watching the colorful lump of gelatin slide around in its own goo. Distractedly he went on, "They got tired of the sickbay being filled with students at the start of every year. Then trains were invented in 1802, and the Minister for Magic at the time loved muggle inventions. There's no 'proven record' on how the Hogwarts Express was built. But my da works for the Ministry, and he said there 'might' be a secret record there that mentions a mass operation: over one-hundred and sixty memory charms and the largest ever mass Concealment Charm performed in Britain!" Though his volume hardly raised beyond a moderate murmur, it became more of an excited whisper now, something conspiratorial as he let her in on this "grand secret fact". "The morning after those illegal charms was the morn' that the Express appeared, on the railway that the villagers of Hogsmeade didn't know existed, and loads of Muggle railway workers spent the rest of the year stating that they all thought they'd misplaced something significant. 'Course, there were loads of pure-blood families that didn't like the idea of their heirs riding some muggle invention, but the Ministry said students either rode the train or didn't attend school. And, well... well here we are!" Peri looked up, eyebrows raised, smile spreading, waiting for some sort of reaction.
How does one convince a girl to talk to them?
Unload about a government conspiracy that resulted in the construction of a railway, of course.
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
1 Dec 2019, 03:07
Glory-Bound
Halston stared down at her treats as she waited for him to sit down. She felt bad for declining his handshake but it was already too late. She was left sitting there in silence as Pericles attempted to speak to her. She watched him arrange the treats on the table and considered doing the same, but she worried between being a copy-cat and not getting her snacks mixed with his.
She smiled at him, opening her mouth to say something, but the beat her to it. He started talking about the origin of the train. Halston raised her eyebrows and listened curiously. She'd always thought that the train was built by wizards but it made sense, since muggles make all the new, innovative things these days.
Pericles stop after talking about throwing up after using a portkey. She pursed her lips as a makeshift smile and opened a chocolate frog. She got one titled Gondoline Oliphant and studied it. It was a picture of a woman who was famous for her study of trolls. Halston unwrapped her chocolate frog and bit into it. As always the taste of chocolate made her relax.
It was also easy to relax since Pericles was droning on and on about whatever he was talking about. When she finally listened in he was still talking about muggle inventions. Halston bit her lip and played with the chocolate frog box, her nerves coming back to her. Just in time for him to look up at her expectantly.
“Uh—um,” she stuttered, smoothing out the box. Her hands were shaking and so was her breath. Her brows furrowed and she tried hard not to look up. “T-that sounds cool.” She realized that sound a little vague and quickly added, “I mean it's really c-cool that you, um, know that stuff.”
Halston blushed and flicked her eyes up at him. He sounded really intelligent and she wondered if he thought she wasn't because of how she answered.
But Halston was curious about his knowledge. “W-hat do you...y-you know about...” She looked around for something to question him about. Her eyes fell on their treats. “W-what do you know about Honeyduke's candies?"
She smiled at him, opening her mouth to say something, but the beat her to it. He started talking about the origin of the train. Halston raised her eyebrows and listened curiously. She'd always thought that the train was built by wizards but it made sense, since muggles make all the new, innovative things these days.
Pericles stop after talking about throwing up after using a portkey. She pursed her lips as a makeshift smile and opened a chocolate frog. She got one titled Gondoline Oliphant and studied it. It was a picture of a woman who was famous for her study of trolls. Halston unwrapped her chocolate frog and bit into it. As always the taste of chocolate made her relax.
It was also easy to relax since Pericles was droning on and on about whatever he was talking about. When she finally listened in he was still talking about muggle inventions. Halston bit her lip and played with the chocolate frog box, her nerves coming back to her. Just in time for him to look up at her expectantly.
“Uh—um,” she stuttered, smoothing out the box. Her hands were shaking and so was her breath. Her brows furrowed and she tried hard not to look up. “T-that sounds cool.” She realized that sound a little vague and quickly added, “I mean it's really c-cool that you, um, know that stuff.”
Halston blushed and flicked her eyes up at him. He sounded really intelligent and she wondered if he thought she wasn't because of how she answered.
But Halston was curious about his knowledge. “W-hat do you...y-you know about...” She looked around for something to question him about. Her eyes fell on their treats. “W-what do you know about Honeyduke's candies?"
Nefelibata
1 Dec 2019, 07:30
Glory-Bound
In the midst of his miniature history lecture, Pericles noted his captive audience was in the process of opening her chocolate frog box. He decided to do the same, yet couldn't seem to bring himself to eat the enchanted treat, instead holding it in one hand while the other rifled about in search of the accompanying card. He paused in the midst of his speech upon realizing the grim prize: a card of Yardley Platt, serial goblin-killer. The lad set it aside, turning the now empty box over to trap the animated frog. He would get around to eating it once the thing stopped moving.
If Pericles was in any way disappointed by the response to his rant, he certainly did not express it. Rather, the boy beamed a little brighter, seeming satisfied that anything he had said could be considered cool. It wasn't the shortness of her answer which came to rouse concern in him. It was the redness of her cheeks, the unevenness of her voice. These were signs of overheating, or so he presumed; he was certain he had read of such symptoms before. Wearing a soft frown of budding worry, Pericles rifled through his half of the treats before pointing out a box. "You should try the ice mice," he insisted abruptly, "if you're feeling very warm, that is."
Halston had perhaps discerned the lad liked to share information with anyone he could corner. Typically, he would be glad for such a question, but he had no exceptionally interesting answers for this one. "Not a great deal," he admitted apologetically, lowering his gaze to his lap. "Father keeps books on 'practical' subjects, and candy was never really important in our house. My mum took me there once, though." That colorful memory sent Pericles' eyes up again, and with the return of his gaze came a warming smile. "The worst Bertie Bott's bean I've ever tasted was sulfur, and my favorite candies are sugar-spun quills! Here...." From the heap he produced a quill created from delicate threads of bright blue candy, their namesake printed in vibrant red on the plastic which wrapped around it. It was offered with an outstretched arm as he asked amiably, "What about you? Which are your favorite?"
If Pericles was in any way disappointed by the response to his rant, he certainly did not express it. Rather, the boy beamed a little brighter, seeming satisfied that anything he had said could be considered cool. It wasn't the shortness of her answer which came to rouse concern in him. It was the redness of her cheeks, the unevenness of her voice. These were signs of overheating, or so he presumed; he was certain he had read of such symptoms before. Wearing a soft frown of budding worry, Pericles rifled through his half of the treats before pointing out a box. "You should try the ice mice," he insisted abruptly, "if you're feeling very warm, that is."Halston had perhaps discerned the lad liked to share information with anyone he could corner. Typically, he would be glad for such a question, but he had no exceptionally interesting answers for this one. "Not a great deal," he admitted apologetically, lowering his gaze to his lap. "Father keeps books on 'practical' subjects, and candy was never really important in our house. My mum took me there once, though." That colorful memory sent Pericles' eyes up again, and with the return of his gaze came a warming smile. "The worst Bertie Bott's bean I've ever tasted was sulfur, and my favorite candies are sugar-spun quills! Here...." From the heap he produced a quill created from delicate threads of bright blue candy, their namesake printed in vibrant red on the plastic which wrapped around it. It was offered with an outstretched arm as he asked amiably, "What about you? Which are your favorite?"
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
1 Dec 2019, 08:40
Glory-Bound
Halston was definitely not going to admit that it was him that was making her...heat up, and not some ailment she had. That thought made her blush even harder, which she really hated. All she has done since stepping onto the train was shake and blush. He probably thinks I'm weird...I wouldn't blame him at all..., she thought.
She simply glanced at the box when he advised it for her. Halston was also not going to tell him that she hated ice mice, specifically because she wanted a pet rat and eating it's comrade didn't sound right to her. She just finished eating her chocolate and swallowed, eyeing the rest of her treats.
Halston had been to Honeyduke's plenty of times but usually she was only allowed one item. Usually she got something that was made of caramel, chocolate, or something sour. She found that the simple muggle candies she knew about what were good enough for her, like the Snickers, Hershey's, and the Skittles. Sometimes magical treats were a bit too much for her taste.
She thought about declining his offer. Hesitation was in her eyes, ready to ignore the hand, but at the last minute she took the sugar-spun quill daintily between two fingers and considered it. “I actually don't have a favorite...I just like candies for the sweetness...”
Was that stupid to say? I didn't have to lie, I kind of do have a favorite, but... Halston deflated a little. She didn't like this intense uneasiness she was feeling. She glanced at the doorway, feeling this sudden fight-or-flight feeling. Her body tensed up a little, waiting for that moment when she would bolt—
But she stayed put. Her hands were clenched around her treats, one still holding the candy quill . Halston used the free one to brush a strange of long, golden hair behind her ear. Her face has shifted to a lighter shade of red, more like a tint of pink, but she was still incredibly nervous. “Thank you.” She thought for a moment, frowning. “The worst been I've had tasted like...well, it smelled like...urine...”
Halston pursed her lips and turned her head, waiting for the laughter. But her own lips trembled, and it wasn't because she was about to cry. Just the opposite, it was almost as if she were going to laugh her self. She bit hard on the inside of her cheeks to drop herself, but a small titter escaped pass her lips.
She simply glanced at the box when he advised it for her. Halston was also not going to tell him that she hated ice mice, specifically because she wanted a pet rat and eating it's comrade didn't sound right to her. She just finished eating her chocolate and swallowed, eyeing the rest of her treats.
Halston had been to Honeyduke's plenty of times but usually she was only allowed one item. Usually she got something that was made of caramel, chocolate, or something sour. She found that the simple muggle candies she knew about what were good enough for her, like the Snickers, Hershey's, and the Skittles. Sometimes magical treats were a bit too much for her taste.
She thought about declining his offer. Hesitation was in her eyes, ready to ignore the hand, but at the last minute she took the sugar-spun quill daintily between two fingers and considered it. “I actually don't have a favorite...I just like candies for the sweetness...”
Was that stupid to say? I didn't have to lie, I kind of do have a favorite, but... Halston deflated a little. She didn't like this intense uneasiness she was feeling. She glanced at the doorway, feeling this sudden fight-or-flight feeling. Her body tensed up a little, waiting for that moment when she would bolt—
But she stayed put. Her hands were clenched around her treats, one still holding the candy quill . Halston used the free one to brush a strange of long, golden hair behind her ear. Her face has shifted to a lighter shade of red, more like a tint of pink, but she was still incredibly nervous. “Thank you.” She thought for a moment, frowning. “The worst been I've had tasted like...well, it smelled like...urine...”
Halston pursed her lips and turned her head, waiting for the laughter. But her own lips trembled, and it wasn't because she was about to cry. Just the opposite, it was almost as if she were going to laugh her self. She bit hard on the inside of her cheeks to drop herself, but a small titter escaped pass her lips.
Nefelibata
1 Dec 2019, 12:31
Glory-Bound
Pericles, conversely to Halston's internal fears, had begun to believe the girl was brilliant in her own fashion. Whereas he couldn't pick a treat from the cart given the overwhelming possibilities, she had settled for the simple act of sampling it all. When he spoke of having a favorite candy, she broadened her tastes rather than restrict them. As before, he looked as though she had brought him along to some manner of epiphany, what with the "o" shape his mouth took on and the "Huh!" which accompanied it. All the while, he remained blissfully oblivious of the poor girl's predicament. Where she was tense and embarrassed, he was relaxed and reclined, if still harboring a moderate edge of concern for fear that she was- in some way- ill. Pericles deduced it down to stress, coming close to the problem but unknowingly missing the mark: it was a trip to a new place, and perhaps Halston hadn't been on a train before. In an effort to reduce her stress, his posture remained informal while his voice refused to rise beyond that calm cadence.
When thanked, the boy nodded earnestly in answer. "If you like sweetness, I s'pose you'll like that. The quills are almost all sugar, and the blue ones taste like mint and berries." But then, Halston brought up an altogether different flavor, and Peri could not restrain an abrupt exclamation of "Eughhh!" Still he smiled as he did so, nose crinkling and eyes twinkling in amusement, bafflement clear as he probed "Really? I've never heard of that one! When they say 'every flavor', they mean it, don't they!" Her titter coaxed from him a dry scoff, a wheezing sort of laugh as if the sound didn't come too often for him. Shaking his head, smiling still, Peri warily regarded his own box of beans on the table. Sometimes, sampling them was a fun pastime all its own. Now it wasn't nearly so tempting.
For a moment, his mind was lost to the oddity of the Beans. The young wizard absentmindedly drew his wand from his coatpocket, and while he clearly had no intention of casting anything any time soon, he seemed to be content- for now- to turn it in his fingertips. The aspen wood was exceedingly smooth, its handle carved in a fashion similar to the base of an ivory chess piece. Distractedly, distantly, Peri posed aloud: "What do you s'pose the food will be like there? At Hogwarts, I mean."
When thanked, the boy nodded earnestly in answer. "If you like sweetness, I s'pose you'll like that. The quills are almost all sugar, and the blue ones taste like mint and berries." But then, Halston brought up an altogether different flavor, and Peri could not restrain an abrupt exclamation of "Eughhh!" Still he smiled as he did so, nose crinkling and eyes twinkling in amusement, bafflement clear as he probed "Really? I've never heard of that one! When they say 'every flavor', they mean it, don't they!" Her titter coaxed from him a dry scoff, a wheezing sort of laugh as if the sound didn't come too often for him. Shaking his head, smiling still, Peri warily regarded his own box of beans on the table. Sometimes, sampling them was a fun pastime all its own. Now it wasn't nearly so tempting.
For a moment, his mind was lost to the oddity of the Beans. The young wizard absentmindedly drew his wand from his coatpocket, and while he clearly had no intention of casting anything any time soon, he seemed to be content- for now- to turn it in his fingertips. The aspen wood was exceedingly smooth, its handle carved in a fashion similar to the base of an ivory chess piece. Distractedly, distantly, Peri posed aloud: "What do you s'pose the food will be like there? At Hogwarts, I mean."
@Halston Wright
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)