23 Dec 2019, 18:35
By the Cover
Peri simply smiled on, unawares of the pensive path their conversation had incidentally sent his studymate down. He still harbored many a question for her, regarding her, but was doing an admirable job of biting most back for this initial introduction. Only time would tell which influenced the other more; it may prove to be a mutual matter, though the impressionable first-year seemed stricken by the opportunity for adventure which the more experienced third-year offered. Xailah's laughter was charming and her comment came across as harmlessly intrigued. Had she failed to contain another laugh then and there, he wouldn't have had a second thought about it.
"Mum always says 'an appreciation for music reinforces an appreciation for self'," Pericles recited with a small shrug, though a shade of homesickness softened his silvery stare. "When we sing, our voice is our instrument. The more we practice with it, the better we become at using it, whether singing or speaking or, even casting spells. Father plays the violoncello. I think he wanted to teach me how, but I'm happy just to sing for now. Do you play anything...?"
He had reached for Schrödinger as he asked, side-eyeing Xailah with clear curiosity. Though he hardly minded answering them, Pericles was ever reluctant to pester any person with too many questions at once, instead awaiting opportunities to sparingly slip them into conversation. Her feline friend would be given good scratches behind the ears and under the chin for good measure before they could part, an unspoken promise that more were to come when next they met. "We'll have our first meeting in just a few days," the boy answered. While his way of speaking was perpetually calm, there budded beneath this line the energy of enthusiasm. "I'll owl you the morn' after, if that's alright?"
"Mum always says 'an appreciation for music reinforces an appreciation for self'," Pericles recited with a small shrug, though a shade of homesickness softened his silvery stare. "When we sing, our voice is our instrument. The more we practice with it, the better we become at using it, whether singing or speaking or, even casting spells. Father plays the violoncello. I think he wanted to teach me how, but I'm happy just to sing for now. Do you play anything...?"
He had reached for Schrödinger as he asked, side-eyeing Xailah with clear curiosity. Though he hardly minded answering them, Pericles was ever reluctant to pester any person with too many questions at once, instead awaiting opportunities to sparingly slip them into conversation. Her feline friend would be given good scratches behind the ears and under the chin for good measure before they could part, an unspoken promise that more were to come when next they met. "We'll have our first meeting in just a few days," the boy answered. While his way of speaking was perpetually calm, there budded beneath this line the energy of enthusiasm. "I'll owl you the morn' after, if that's alright?"
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
24 Dec 2019, 15:51
By the Cover
"Your mother must be a very wise lady." She scribbled down something illegible. Her writing was rather distinct, the letters were small, but very formal-looking; crisp, and bold. One could tell that much pressure was applied to the quill. "I was being taught how to play the violin, before I arrived for my first year here." She thought for a moment, fidgeting with the quill in her gloved hand. "I used to play the piano." She wriggled her fingers in a familiar manner, as if she were tapping on the keys of an invisible piano.
"I haven't touched a piano in years. I can't remember why I ssstopped playing. I think I just...lost interest over time. I'm not quite sssure." She added, with a distant tone. Peering up at the boys silvery gaze, she revealed a distant smile. "If you keep that up, he might just leave me for you." She mumbled in reference to him petting Schrödinger. She lazily pointed a slender finger at the chubby feline; "And don't go getting any ideas mister." She narrowed her eyes at the mass of fat and fuzz.
She then poked at Schrödingers round, moon-like face; with the quill. The long black feathers tickled his grey, button-nose. "Ah I see- I think that would be fine." She paused for a moment, to think about her schedule. "-Yes, thats fine." She confirmed again. "I'll look for your owl. Hopefully it doesn't get lost." She added, before returning to the conversation about music."I think...I would like to get back to playing the piano- I feel that I haven't got the time though." Her eyes returned to the books that laid before her and her study partner. She had not yet realized that the two had been sent off track, by Peri's questions, and Xailahs willingness to answer some of them.
Before me, you rightly tremble. But, fear is not what you owe me. You owe me awe....
Stamina: 12 ~ Evasion: 17 ~ Strength: 2 ~ Wisdom: 16 ~ Arcane Power: 4 ~ Accuracy: 17
Student Account: Martyr Daeva-Lazarus
2 Jan 2020, 07:58
By the Cover
Pericles' curiously pale countenance managed to be marked with warmth at his mother's mention. "She is," he recalled quietly, glancing up as he tacked on a "thank you." He didn't dwell long on his homesickness, instead watching with care while Xailah explained her history with instruments. The bumped bridge of his nose would wrinkle once more when she played her phantom piano. Peri thought to ask which of the instruments she preferred, but when the attention "starved" cat was accused of potential mutiny, the boy tutted gently as though to comfort him. "You are too loyal for that, aren't you?" he asked of the feline. Evidently, he had relaxed enough to realize she was joking this time.
The answer would arrive without the need for a question after all, and after a moment of contemplation, Peri proposed: "Maybe when you aren't in class, or investigating the macabre-" one corner of his mouth twitched "-you might find the time. Surely they have instruments here which you might practice with." Spindly fingers adjusted his spectacles in an idle gesture, bumping them upwards. "I learned to play, but only the barest essentials. I wish I remembered more than Chopsticks...." Again the default smile faded, if only a little, replaced by something vaguely more grounded. With certainty he stated "I will owl you, and if I don't hear back, I'll send another owl in case the first was lost. I promise." He didn't seem to have caught the jest behind that comment, but at least the young wizard meant well. He even offered out his hand for a shake. "I'm glad to've met you, Xailah. I look forward to writing you soon."
The answer would arrive without the need for a question after all, and after a moment of contemplation, Peri proposed: "Maybe when you aren't in class, or investigating the macabre-" one corner of his mouth twitched "-you might find the time. Surely they have instruments here which you might practice with." Spindly fingers adjusted his spectacles in an idle gesture, bumping them upwards. "I learned to play, but only the barest essentials. I wish I remembered more than Chopsticks...." Again the default smile faded, if only a little, replaced by something vaguely more grounded. With certainty he stated "I will owl you, and if I don't hear back, I'll send another owl in case the first was lost. I promise." He didn't seem to have caught the jest behind that comment, but at least the young wizard meant well. He even offered out his hand for a shake. "I'm glad to've met you, Xailah. I look forward to writing you soon."
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
8 Jan 2020, 00:11
By the Cover
I am a sheet of paper. Well, a few sheets of paper.
Dark Misfit
A doll made of rags and string, the innards are filled with sawdust and a bit of hair. Three full pieces of hair, including the root. The first from the maker, the second from the child whom the doll is intended to take the likeness of and a third from a unicorn. The duality of the pure unicorn hair and the dark marker's hair is a powerful catalyst for magic. The doll is sentient, but not entirely alive. However, this doll has ambitions and its greatest want is to become the person whose hair they possess.
Dangerous magical constructs, these dolls appear inanimate and indistinguishable from normal dolls. While they are usually featureless, these dolls do make efforts to make themselves look like their intended victim slowly over the course of weeks or even months. Mobile, they are rarely seen moving. These dolls prefer to move at night. Incapable of casting magic spells and not particularly strong, these dolls are incredibly mischievous and their 'pranks' often prove deadly for their intended if they remain unchecked.
Soul Jar
A doll made of glass and light. Often featureless but humanoid in shape, some are adorned with the shell of an actual doll. These dolls are characterized by their glowing core. The glass vessel with a vaguely humanoid shape has a faint cool glow. The glass vessel itself has no means of filling.
Called a soul jar because this vaguely humanoid shaped bit of blown glass said to require dragon's breath to create houses a soul. Not to be confused with a horcrux or a phylactery which house a portion of someone's soul; while this is also dark magic, it is the whole soul that is placed within the vessel. This is considered to be an incredibly vile artifact, with the soul tethered the will of the person whose soul has been taken would be subject to the will of the holder.
Only three such vessels have ever been seen. The process to make and bind a soul to a soul jar is unknown.
Hag Doll
A doll made of straw and bits of found materials. The doll itself has often exaggerated features such as arms that are too long or eyes that are too wide, however despite these characteristics the doll maintains an uncanny resemblance to someone. Hag dolls do not posses magical items, the clothes that the doll dons and the hair that is situated on top of its head are unrelated to whomever the doll represents. The only congruence is how 'similar' the doll appears.
These dolls often festoon the area in great numbers near the lair of a hag. These dolls represent a macabre obsession that hags have with children. These dolls do not in fact look like anyone in particular, however these dolls take on the appearance of a child known by the viewer or at the very least seen by them. These dolls are considered magical but are in and of themselves harmless, it is the area around which they are located that is considered to be very dangerous.
Living Doll
A variant of the Hag Doll, these dolls are very similar to Dark Misfits in that these dolls are sentient and have murderous intentions. These dolls are made of straw and bits of found materials. There is no strands of hair making up the core, but these dolls are very much magical and very much aware.
These dolls are often made when an unsuspecting child picks up a Hag Doll and takes it home. Being in close proximity to the child, the doll becomes nourished by the presence and the spirit of the child. Over the course of months the doll would become aware.
It is believed that at first, the doll is simply aware but immobile. After several more weeks the doll would start to move. It would not be strong enough to move to a different location but the doll would be sitting in a slightly different pose than it was before. Often even those with the keenest of eyes overlook this. The first thing that most notice is laughter. It is unknown if they learned to laugh or run first, but this is when things become dangerous. With murderous intent and greater strength than a Dark Misfit this doll does not focus on the child that holds it in the same manner as a Dark Misfit. Dangerously mischievous, these dolls seek to ruin their holder and to kill those around them so that they - their holder and the Living Doll can play together undisturbed forever.
There is something about ambition, how it not only propels you but also defines you.
8 Jan 2020, 20:12
By the Cover
"Perhaps. I've heard that the rehearsal room has some instruments." She said with a shrug. "Guess I'll be checking it out sometime." In her three years at the school, Xailah surprisingly never bothered to go in the rehearsal room. "I'm sure if you sit down at the piano, and ssstart playing, you'll realize you actually remember more than just...Chopsticks." She said with a soft laugh. There was not particular reason for not exploring the rehearsal area, it was simply one of those places that could be easily forgotten. Instinctively, her eyes glossed over the books once more; as she listened to the boy make his statement. A promise. "Very well." She chuckled.
From her robe pocket, she would produce a pocket watch. It was golden, but was stained with the red color of rust, on the chain. The object was not hers originally. It was originally a lost object, she found it, and gave it a nice little home in her pocket; another student would later fix the watch, giving the object a heartbeat once again. Checking the time during conversations was a bad habit of hers. "Oh." Yellow eyes gravitated to the books once again. The inklings of a reminder were starting to form in her head. It would eventually come together and click. "Oh! I'm afraid we have gone off topic-" She exclaimed, shoving the watch back into the pocket in witch it came from. "And I have somewhere I need to be."
She took the boys pale hand, in hers. "I am very glad to have met you as well, Pericles. You have no idea how much help you have been. Thank you, really." She, then would scrambled to the books on the table, careful to not pick up any books that Pericles was previously reading. "Are you going to hang around here for a bit longer or..." With a wave of her hand, she would interrupt whatever though she had previously. "Actually never mind, I need to get going. Schrödinger." She clicked her tongue to get the cats attention. "Lets go, friend."
The cat would say goodbye to his new friend; leaving the boy with a sneeze. He would jump from the table and follow after his mistress. Xailah would turn on her heel, as if she had forgotten something. "Hey, take care." She called to the boy, from behind the stack of books in her arms. She would then exit the scene with her cat. She had all the information she needed. Or so she thought she did. There was one book that she had forgotten to grab. It was the one on the hags. And if Pericles noticed this, he would also see that there were two pages missing. The pages in question where about Dark Misfits, and Soul Jars. The removal of the pages, was simply a freak chance. They had gotten stuck underneath a particularly sticky book she was carrying, and had been ripped from their spines. So, Xailah had the pieces to the puzzle, just...not all of them. And it was very important to have all the pieces.
Reducio
Thread left.
Before me, you rightly tremble. But, fear is not what you owe me. You owe me awe....
Stamina: 12 ~ Evasion: 17 ~ Strength: 2 ~ Wisdom: 16 ~ Arcane Power: 4 ~ Accuracy: 17
Student Account: Martyr Daeva-Lazarus
13 Jan 2020, 06:50
By the Cover
Pericles seemed to see the timepiece as almost equally interesting to talk of music. In this case however, he only looked rather than prying with further conversation. He seemed like he was "zoning off" again with how steadily he stared at the thing. Was it an antique? An heirloom? What was its year? Where did it come from? Casual questions buzzed pleasantly in his head until the time to say farewell arrived.
Xailah's hand was given a short squeeze and firm shake. While she trailed off, he simply sat and stared with that ongoing smile, perhaps too polite to interject with an answer. More than likely, Pericles was clueless as to what could follow that "or". Once Xailah cut herself off however, he uttered a low "Oh," followed by a brighter but ungainly "alright!" It seemed a strange response, and any witnessing the two parting at that moment would have a right to be concerned. He even stood as she made to leave, as if in a loss for what to properly do, decided that was polite. Fortuitously, Xailah managed to clear some of the strangeness between them when she turned to offer a final farewell. Pericles smiled a warmer smile at that, something more relaxed and intentional than that habitual lip-curl. "Take care Xailah," he called contentedly, offering a short dip of his head before tacking on, "Schrödinger."
The answer was that he did indeed intend to hang about. But the things he had been aimlessly poring over previously now seemed lackluster, at least in the wake of having an actual reason to study beyond general information absorption. Peri now looked rather lost as he turned a page here or there, trying to skim for something significant, though his mind was still stuck on those dolls. After awhile he submitted to his state. Closing the books, he began pacing those mighty walls of shelving, dutifully replacing each title from whence it came. The young wizard was down to two last books by the time he spotted the forgotten papers. "You-" he blurted to no one, glancing up and around with a wide-eyed look. But she had been gone for quite some time. In a quick scramble, Pericles sought the book which these had been torn from, hoping to utilize his recently-learned Mending Charm. A glance to the top of a page revealed it belonged to a text he had sent her away with.
No further time was wasted. The boy returned the remaining books, gathered his things, and carefully collected the misplaced pages. He handled them- or the information upon them- as delicately as though they were printed on fragile sheets of gold. They would be hand-delivered when next they met.
Reducio
Scene left, thank you for writing with me!
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)