15 Jan 2020, 20:43
An Evening Errand
Evelynn lofted a brow, not only at his explanation to the unusual gaps of his teeth, but also that he had deigned to answer at all. Was it really that reasonable? She supposed, in retrospect, that it likely wasn't unusual for him to receive that question, but to consider it reasonable? Perhaps it was better for him to have the question asked for understanding than to be made fun of for it. She could only imagine that he'd had his fair share of torment for being different in that regard. And for the first time, she regarded him with a hint of sympathy.
She could even feel a pang of guilt coiling in her belly. Had she become that which she despised? Was she immediately jumping to conclusions just because he happened to tick a few boxes similar to something she had been studying? Her lips crimped, an outward sign of her frustration as her mind waged its internal war and she struggled to decide where exactly she was going with this encounter.
Eventually, head reeling with the circling thoughts, what-ifs, and speculations, she sighed. A deep drawn out exhalation that took with it the last of her rigidity.
"Yea, it was the shirt," she admitted, glancing down to it briefly. Then shrugging, explained, "My mom has a couple of banners on either side of her computer station. One of them has that symbol on it. She says they're for the Horde and the Alliance, but I've never played the game that it's from. She doesn't play it anymore either."
She fell silent for a bit after answering his question, gaze studying him for a breath or two more before dropping to the floor nearby.
"Sorry…" She muttered, lifting her hands to tuck into the deep pockets of her robe, wand along with them. "You…Scared me a bit. I didn't know there was anyone else in here… And just… well… After what happened to Aurelia here, I thought maybe…"
She trailed off, chewing absently on the inside of her cheek. It all seemed really silly to her now. Well, sort of. There was still the annoying little voice that told her that he did have red eyes, and he did have gapped teeth, just like the accounts described. And he did hide from the light and looked pale…but…she might have retreated as well if it was her. And he could have attacked her when she first entered. Plus…he just didn't seem all that scary.
"Nevermind…" She uttered under her breath. "Anyway," she continued, lifting her gaze back to meet his, "I'm a muggle, too." She shrugged. "I don't really like to spread that around, though. Do you like games, then?"
She could even feel a pang of guilt coiling in her belly. Had she become that which she despised? Was she immediately jumping to conclusions just because he happened to tick a few boxes similar to something she had been studying? Her lips crimped, an outward sign of her frustration as her mind waged its internal war and she struggled to decide where exactly she was going with this encounter.
Eventually, head reeling with the circling thoughts, what-ifs, and speculations, she sighed. A deep drawn out exhalation that took with it the last of her rigidity.
"Yea, it was the shirt," she admitted, glancing down to it briefly. Then shrugging, explained, "My mom has a couple of banners on either side of her computer station. One of them has that symbol on it. She says they're for the Horde and the Alliance, but I've never played the game that it's from. She doesn't play it anymore either."
She fell silent for a bit after answering his question, gaze studying him for a breath or two more before dropping to the floor nearby.
"Sorry…" She muttered, lifting her hands to tuck into the deep pockets of her robe, wand along with them. "You…Scared me a bit. I didn't know there was anyone else in here… And just… well… After what happened to Aurelia here, I thought maybe…"
She trailed off, chewing absently on the inside of her cheek. It all seemed really silly to her now. Well, sort of. There was still the annoying little voice that told her that he did have red eyes, and he did have gapped teeth, just like the accounts described. And he did hide from the light and looked pale…but…she might have retreated as well if it was her. And he could have attacked her when she first entered. Plus…he just didn't seem all that scary.
"Nevermind…" She uttered under her breath. "Anyway," she continued, lifting her gaze back to meet his, "I'm a muggle, too." She shrugged. "I don't really like to spread that around, though. Do you like games, then?"
17 Jan 2020, 23:33
An Evening Errand
Aurelia. That must’ve been the person who was attacked, which was why she was initially so scared of him, or at least surprised. Maybe he should take care to be seen a little bit better so that that didn’t happen again. Wear a glowstick around his wrist or something. Could glowsticks even come to Hogwarts? Or would those be like phones? Maybe he’d just sit in a place that was slightly better lit, or maybe make more noise. He’d figure something out. He didn’t want to spook people.
The boy listened, admittedly a little disappointed that she didn’t play, because that would’ve been something they had in common. But she was muggle-born, and that, at least, was something they could relate over. Perhaps they could mend bridges a little. He wanted to at least be friendly acquaintances, even if they couldn’t be actual friends.
He shook his head at her apology, casting her a sideways smile. ”It-it’s okay. I shouldn’t be lurking so quietly in the shadows. I-I spooked people sometimes e-e-even back at home, where there weren’t w-w-weird things attacking people all the time or spontaneous ma-magic stuff.”
Hoping that this reassurance would calm her and ensure that she understood all was forgiven, he continued on, addressing the small talk instead. That seemed like a good place to start. ”Yeah, I g-g-gamed a lot at home. RPG’s, puzzle games, strategy games, m-mostly that sort of thing, but I-I-I made my way around.” Rather than having a social life. ”At home I-I basically just d-d-drew and gamed and went to school. I guess now I just d-draw and go to class and sit creepily in owleries.” It was a poor attempt at a joke, but the intentions and the humor were both there, and he managed another smile.
The boy listened, admittedly a little disappointed that she didn’t play, because that would’ve been something they had in common. But she was muggle-born, and that, at least, was something they could relate over. Perhaps they could mend bridges a little. He wanted to at least be friendly acquaintances, even if they couldn’t be actual friends.
He shook his head at her apology, casting her a sideways smile. ”It-it’s okay. I shouldn’t be lurking so quietly in the shadows. I-I spooked people sometimes e-e-even back at home, where there weren’t w-w-weird things attacking people all the time or spontaneous ma-magic stuff.”
Hoping that this reassurance would calm her and ensure that she understood all was forgiven, he continued on, addressing the small talk instead. That seemed like a good place to start. ”Yeah, I g-g-gamed a lot at home. RPG’s, puzzle games, strategy games, m-mostly that sort of thing, but I-I-I made my way around.” Rather than having a social life. ”At home I-I basically just d-d-drew and gamed and went to school. I guess now I just d-draw and go to class and sit creepily in owleries.” It was a poor attempt at a joke, but the intentions and the humor were both there, and he managed another smile.
Evasion 8 | Accuracy 8 | Strength 7 | Stamina 4 | Wisdom 2 | Arcane Power 1
"All that is gold does not glitter,/Not all those who wander are lost;/The old that is strong does not wither,/Deep roots are not reached by the frost." -J.R.R. Tolkien
19 Jan 2020, 13:33
An Evening Errand
@Mattathias Jermaine
Evelynn offered a weak smile at his dismissal of her apology, clearly able to picture him frightening a parent half to death if caught from the corner of an eye at night. As meek as he seemed now, he did hold a sort of air about him that dared you to underestimate him. Even still, she allowed her wand arm to fully relax, handle loosely held such that the tip hung to illuminate the floor immediately at her own feet. She even managed a laugh at his attempt at a joke.
"Well, I suppose the owlery is as good as any place to haunt," she offered with a genuine smile now.
For the first time since she had been made aware of his presence, she pulled her gaze from him to peer fondly up into the darkness that veiled what always seemed like hundreds of owl.
"It reminds me of home in a way," she admitted. "The owls, I mean. We have a pair of barn owls that lives in the loft of our stable. I liked to watch them roosted, or swoop in and out of the open rafters when I was lucky to catch it. Mom..." She caught herself just in time. She was about to tell him all about their strange bonding sessions over the crafting of mouse skeletons from half a dozen owl pellets. But that was definitely weird. Instead, she adjusted her sentence after only a brief pause. "...built be a bit of a fort up in the loft among the hay bales, and I'd go there sometimes to draw or read as well..."
She trailed off again with a sigh of reminiscing, the longing to go home for the holidays stronger than ever now.
"So...I get it..." She said, glancing back towards the boy. "And sort of funny you mention games..."
Her expression a definite shift from what it had been previously. No longer did it regard him with guarded disdain, but rather with tempered curiosity. Perhaps even reined enthusiasm. His interests had sparked a great level of sentimentality within her. Ironically, as much as she almost felt an instinctual desire to mistrust him, she found herself on the edge of jumping forward to bombard him with questions to dissect every aspect of his gaming interests. But that would be weird. So she did her best to hold herself back, rolling to bounce lightly on the balls of her feet to expel some of that excitement.
"Have you ever played dungeons and dragons?" She asked coyly.