20 Jan 2020, 17:31
Of Fire and Ice?
Ruka hadn’t exactly expected Opeila to agree with him on Jack being a good lad, the way her smile had faltered at the mention of his name had suggested that she didn’t exactly think much of him, but maybe he had interpreted that wrongly.
However, the words that followed her agreement made him frown a little bit, unsure of what to make of them. Was that what Jack meant by saying it was easier to make people hate him? Was his way of making sure people didn‘t get too close to him hurting them to push them away?
Ruka decided not to say anything to it, didn‘t feel like he really knew Jack well enough to offer an educated comment.
Instead he listened to Opeila‘s thoughts on fighters and survivors and unfair treatments, nodding every once in a while to show he was listening. He understood what she was saying, but the concept made his head hurt a bit in concentration, so he only shrugged his shoulders a little bit at her question.
„I feel a bit like thinking about it really just makes things worse,“ he said thoughtfully, blinking a bit as he stared up at the grey skies above. „If anything, you need to do something about it, right? Nobody‘s just going to hand you fair treatment for sitting around and musing about what it would be like if the world was fair.“ He sighed and reached down to adjust the glove on his left foot, making sure all of its skin was properly covered.
When Opeila mentioned Jack again, Ruka looked up in faint surprise, not expecting her to talk about him again. „Get through to him?“ he asked curiously as he leaned back against the tree trunk behind him again, studying Opeila for a moment. „You mean through that great big Wall of China he‘s built up around him?“ Clearly Jack didn‘t make a secret of his need to keep people out, so he doubted he was saying anything Opeila hadn‘t thought before, and Ruka wasn‘t saying it like it was a bad thing. He was simply curious about what the girl meant exactly. „Because I got the feeling he was the kind of person to stack up twice as many bricks as you‘re trying to know down.“
However, the words that followed her agreement made him frown a little bit, unsure of what to make of them. Was that what Jack meant by saying it was easier to make people hate him? Was his way of making sure people didn‘t get too close to him hurting them to push them away?
Ruka decided not to say anything to it, didn‘t feel like he really knew Jack well enough to offer an educated comment.
Instead he listened to Opeila‘s thoughts on fighters and survivors and unfair treatments, nodding every once in a while to show he was listening. He understood what she was saying, but the concept made his head hurt a bit in concentration, so he only shrugged his shoulders a little bit at her question.
„I feel a bit like thinking about it really just makes things worse,“ he said thoughtfully, blinking a bit as he stared up at the grey skies above. „If anything, you need to do something about it, right? Nobody‘s just going to hand you fair treatment for sitting around and musing about what it would be like if the world was fair.“ He sighed and reached down to adjust the glove on his left foot, making sure all of its skin was properly covered.
When Opeila mentioned Jack again, Ruka looked up in faint surprise, not expecting her to talk about him again. „Get through to him?“ he asked curiously as he leaned back against the tree trunk behind him again, studying Opeila for a moment. „You mean through that great big Wall of China he‘s built up around him?“ Clearly Jack didn‘t make a secret of his need to keep people out, so he doubted he was saying anything Opeila hadn‘t thought before, and Ruka wasn‘t saying it like it was a bad thing. He was simply curious about what the girl meant exactly. „Because I got the feeling he was the kind of person to stack up twice as many bricks as you‘re trying to know down.“
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
20 Jan 2020, 18:14
Of Fire and Ice?
„I feel a bit like thinking about it really just makes things worse.“
Opeila looked at Ruka, wondering what would come next. Either he would start talking like a Gryffindor or he would surprise her.
„If anything, you need to do something about it, right? Nobody‘s just going to hand you fair treatment for sitting around and musing about what it would be like if the world was fair.“
The girl started to smile. Like she expected- Gryffindor talk. "There he talks, the lion. But it is not as easy as it sounds and I am surprised. I thought you would know. Honestly, do you think that I believe, that you forgot to bring your shoes and just decided not to go and get some when your feet turned blue? Did anyone ever give you clothes when you told them you were cold? I mean, what else could you do about it?" She didn't pity Ruka. She just tried to understand how this boy, who obviously lacked some thing that most people took for granted. Now she was sure of it. The Gryffindor had gone through things that she couldn't even imagine. And the same little voice that told her to trust Jack Burnett now told her to help this boy. Too bad, that she didn't trust that voice anymore.
„Get through to him? You mean through that great big Wall of China he‘s built up around him?“
The Slytherin laughed. "I haven't thought of a metaphor for his behaviour yet but I guess that is a great one.
It is a little different. He'd, uh... stepped out of that wall a little. And as soon as he noticed he jumped back and locked it all up. But he would still talk to me through the windows even though he didn't plan to." Opeila thought for a while. "I think, I like this metaphor."o
Opeila looked at Ruka, wondering what would come next. Either he would start talking like a Gryffindor or he would surprise her.
„If anything, you need to do something about it, right? Nobody‘s just going to hand you fair treatment for sitting around and musing about what it would be like if the world was fair.“
The girl started to smile. Like she expected- Gryffindor talk. "There he talks, the lion. But it is not as easy as it sounds and I am surprised. I thought you would know. Honestly, do you think that I believe, that you forgot to bring your shoes and just decided not to go and get some when your feet turned blue? Did anyone ever give you clothes when you told them you were cold? I mean, what else could you do about it?" She didn't pity Ruka. She just tried to understand how this boy, who obviously lacked some thing that most people took for granted. Now she was sure of it. The Gryffindor had gone through things that she couldn't even imagine. And the same little voice that told her to trust Jack Burnett now told her to help this boy. Too bad, that she didn't trust that voice anymore.
„Get through to him? You mean through that great big Wall of China he‘s built up around him?“
The Slytherin laughed. "I haven't thought of a metaphor for his behaviour yet but I guess that is a great one.
It is a little different. He'd, uh... stepped out of that wall a little. And as soon as he noticed he jumped back and locked it all up. But he would still talk to me through the windows even though he didn't plan to." Opeila thought for a while. "I think, I like this metaphor."o
Reducio
@Ruka Tân
20 Jan 2020, 20:22
Of Fire and Ice?
Ruka frowned a little at Opeila‘s words, thinking about them for a while before crafting a thoughtful reply.
„Well, like I said, nothing is gonna be made fair without doing something about it.“ He looked down at his glove-clad feet, not denying that he left his shoes in his dorm for another reason than just having forgotten them.
„I wouldn‘t expect anybody to just give me new shoes for nothing in return. But if I really wanted new shoes, well I guess I‘d just have to find a way to make some money and buy a pair.“ He hummed in thought, trying to find a way to explain himself properly. „I don‘t think about how it‘s unfair that I don‘t have a fitting pair of shoes, because that wouldn‘t change anything. I could earn myself the money to get new ones, but I‘m pretty used to having cold feet, so a pair of shoes isn‘t that high up on my list of priorities.“ He smiled a little, trying to make some light of the conversation.
„Every day‘s an uphill battle,“ he said. „And I believe you should try and help people get up there, but I wouldn‘t expect anybody to actually do it for me, and I wouldn‘t think of it as unfair if someone refused me the help I need either. We all have our own battles to fight.“
He sighed, shaking his head a little as he finished his thoughts. Maybe his thoughts on the matter were stupid, maybe he‘d been fighting his own battles by himself for too long to have any idea how the rest of the world thought about fairness, but he couldn‘t do anything except for talking from his own experience.
Ruka smiled as the girl laughed at his metaphor, feeling a little more at ease with the conversation. He listened intently to her story about Jack, nodding in thought. He could imagine the Slytherin boy retreating from a deeper connection like that, prickly like a hedgehog.
„He‘s definitely not comfortable letting people in, that‘s for sure,“ he agreed, gnawing on his bottom lip as he considered what to say. In his book there wasn‘t much wrong with Jack retreating if he‘d felt like he‘d let his guard down too much too fast, and he wasn‘t too sure what Opeila expected from a boy who clearly had issues with forming meaningful bonds.
She definitely wasn‘t going to be able to change him in a day, and really shouldn‘t try to either. „Seems to me like he‘s scared of getting hurt, I can‘t blame him from trying to spare himself the feeling...“ His smile faltered a little as he thought of his dad, of how much it hurt to lose him, no matter how aggravating those last three years had been.
He wouldn‘t want to go through that kind of pain again either, and he wasn‘t going to blame anybody who was trying to spare themselves from it either.
„Well, like I said, nothing is gonna be made fair without doing something about it.“ He looked down at his glove-clad feet, not denying that he left his shoes in his dorm for another reason than just having forgotten them.
„I wouldn‘t expect anybody to just give me new shoes for nothing in return. But if I really wanted new shoes, well I guess I‘d just have to find a way to make some money and buy a pair.“ He hummed in thought, trying to find a way to explain himself properly. „I don‘t think about how it‘s unfair that I don‘t have a fitting pair of shoes, because that wouldn‘t change anything. I could earn myself the money to get new ones, but I‘m pretty used to having cold feet, so a pair of shoes isn‘t that high up on my list of priorities.“ He smiled a little, trying to make some light of the conversation.
„Every day‘s an uphill battle,“ he said. „And I believe you should try and help people get up there, but I wouldn‘t expect anybody to actually do it for me, and I wouldn‘t think of it as unfair if someone refused me the help I need either. We all have our own battles to fight.“
He sighed, shaking his head a little as he finished his thoughts. Maybe his thoughts on the matter were stupid, maybe he‘d been fighting his own battles by himself for too long to have any idea how the rest of the world thought about fairness, but he couldn‘t do anything except for talking from his own experience.
Ruka smiled as the girl laughed at his metaphor, feeling a little more at ease with the conversation. He listened intently to her story about Jack, nodding in thought. He could imagine the Slytherin boy retreating from a deeper connection like that, prickly like a hedgehog.
„He‘s definitely not comfortable letting people in, that‘s for sure,“ he agreed, gnawing on his bottom lip as he considered what to say. In his book there wasn‘t much wrong with Jack retreating if he‘d felt like he‘d let his guard down too much too fast, and he wasn‘t too sure what Opeila expected from a boy who clearly had issues with forming meaningful bonds.
She definitely wasn‘t going to be able to change him in a day, and really shouldn‘t try to either. „Seems to me like he‘s scared of getting hurt, I can‘t blame him from trying to spare himself the feeling...“ His smile faltered a little as he thought of his dad, of how much it hurt to lose him, no matter how aggravating those last three years had been.
He wouldn‘t want to go through that kind of pain again either, and he wasn‘t going to blame anybody who was trying to spare themselves from it either.
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
20 Jan 2020, 20:57
Of Fire and Ice?
„Well, like I said, nothing is gonna be made fair without doing something about it.
I wouldn‘t expect anybody to just give me new shoes for nothing in return. But if I really wanted new shoes, well I guess I‘d just have to find a way to make some money and buy a pair. I don‘t think about how it‘s unfair that I don‘t have a fitting pair of shoes, because that wouldn‘t change anything. I could earn myself the money to get new ones, but I‘m pretty used to having cold feet, so a pair of shoes isn‘t that high up on my list of priorities.“
Opeila listened to Ruka, clearly having to think about what he was saying. If you turned it that way, he was definitely right, the Slytherin just hardly ever had to turn it that way. What she couldn't understand was, that he hadn't done anything about it yet. "Is it not? Then what is on the top of that list, if not keeping yourself alive and... well, intact, if I may ask?"
Ruka was a riddle to her but she didn't doubt that there was logic behind the boy's words. She just couldn't see it yet.
„Every day‘s an uphill battle. And I believe you should try and help people get up there, but I wouldn‘t expect anybody to actually do it for me, and I wouldn‘t think of it as unfair if someone refused me the help I need either. We all have our own battles to fight.“
"We do", Opeila agreed. "But if we all only fight our own battles, not supporting the others and not getting any support in return, we will all fall down that hill eventually. Nobody has an endless amount of energy.
Everyone needs someone. No one could stand alone forever, I don't believe it." She couldn't. Opeila would rather have an owl as her best friend than to stay alone. She was very aware that she was balancing on the edge of a cliff. She might seem strong and feisty to everyone else, but she knew, if one more of the strings that held her on that edge was cut off, she would fall. It scared the hell out of her, but she lived with it.
„He‘s definitely not comfortable letting people in, that‘s for sure“
Opeila smiled a little. "Definitely. Still I believe that he did let me in. Not on purpose, but he did. And now it scares the hell out of him."
„Seems to me like he‘s scared of getting hurt, I can‘t blame him from trying to spare himself the feeling...“
"Seems to me like you haven't quite figured him out yet. Not that I have, but... there is more to it. And neither can I blame him, but he is not sparing himself the feeling by not letting people come close. He is sparing himself by making enemies. I do care about him and I don't intend to let him mess up his time here, because that is what is going to happen."
Opeila knew the pain of losing someone. Or being hurt by someone. But she also knew, that it was a lot worse if there was no one there you could share that pain with. She didn't wish for anyone to have to go through something like that.
I wouldn‘t expect anybody to just give me new shoes for nothing in return. But if I really wanted new shoes, well I guess I‘d just have to find a way to make some money and buy a pair. I don‘t think about how it‘s unfair that I don‘t have a fitting pair of shoes, because that wouldn‘t change anything. I could earn myself the money to get new ones, but I‘m pretty used to having cold feet, so a pair of shoes isn‘t that high up on my list of priorities.“
Opeila listened to Ruka, clearly having to think about what he was saying. If you turned it that way, he was definitely right, the Slytherin just hardly ever had to turn it that way. What she couldn't understand was, that he hadn't done anything about it yet. "Is it not? Then what is on the top of that list, if not keeping yourself alive and... well, intact, if I may ask?"
Ruka was a riddle to her but she didn't doubt that there was logic behind the boy's words. She just couldn't see it yet.
„Every day‘s an uphill battle. And I believe you should try and help people get up there, but I wouldn‘t expect anybody to actually do it for me, and I wouldn‘t think of it as unfair if someone refused me the help I need either. We all have our own battles to fight.“
"We do", Opeila agreed. "But if we all only fight our own battles, not supporting the others and not getting any support in return, we will all fall down that hill eventually. Nobody has an endless amount of energy.
Everyone needs someone. No one could stand alone forever, I don't believe it." She couldn't. Opeila would rather have an owl as her best friend than to stay alone. She was very aware that she was balancing on the edge of a cliff. She might seem strong and feisty to everyone else, but she knew, if one more of the strings that held her on that edge was cut off, she would fall. It scared the hell out of her, but she lived with it.
„He‘s definitely not comfortable letting people in, that‘s for sure“
Opeila smiled a little. "Definitely. Still I believe that he did let me in. Not on purpose, but he did. And now it scares the hell out of him."
„Seems to me like he‘s scared of getting hurt, I can‘t blame him from trying to spare himself the feeling...“
"Seems to me like you haven't quite figured him out yet. Not that I have, but... there is more to it. And neither can I blame him, but he is not sparing himself the feeling by not letting people come close. He is sparing himself by making enemies. I do care about him and I don't intend to let him mess up his time here, because that is what is going to happen."
Opeila knew the pain of losing someone. Or being hurt by someone. But she also knew, that it was a lot worse if there was no one there you could share that pain with. She didn't wish for anyone to have to go through something like that.
Reducio
@Ruka Tân
20 Jan 2020, 21:30
Of Fire and Ice?
Ruka felt a wave of annoyance rush through him at Opeila‘s question about what was more important than keeping himself safe. She was prodding at topics he felt too sensitive about, but he was too impulsive to just deflect the question.
“My dad died last summer,“ he said heatedly, forehead scrunched in a frown as he avoided eye contact with the Slytherin girl. „And I buried him myself. Now it‘s just me, with no place to go during holidays, and nobody to take care of me. My main concern is figuring out where best to go so I can make some money performing on the streets so I can buy myself some food if not pay for some temporary lodging. Nobody left me any savings, and I‘m not expecting anybody to offer me a new home from the goodness of their hearts.“ He took a deep breath, rubbing at his burning eyes for a moment. „I‘ve gone through longer winters and colder nights without shoes, they‘re not necessary. Food is. So any money I can scrape together I would rather spend on something to eat than something to walk in.“
Ruka took a deep breath, wrapping his arms around himself. He felt judged and scrutinised, and suddenly it was almost too warm in his winter coat.
Silently gnawing on his bottom lip, Ruka listened to what Opeila had to say, her words not resonating well with his own view of the world.
“That doesn‘t mean we get to judge people who don‘t want help or don‘t want to help. We can‘t force people to help us, and we can‘t force our help on people who don‘t want it either. If anything, all we can do is ask and offer. Everything else is up to us. You‘re the only person you can really rely on; That‘s not unfair, it‘s just how people work.“ He shrugged lightly, closing his eyes for a moment.
he hadn‘t realised how exhausting conversation seemed after having had next to none in months. The only real conversation he‘d had in the recent past had been with Jack, and he had been surprisingly easy to talk to.
“It‘s easier to turn people against you on your own accord rather than have them turn against you when you don‘t expect them to,“ he pointed out, eyes drifting back open to look at the girl next to him. „Some people would rather go downhill from the start rather than fighting upwards just to drip and fall down again.“ He thought back on Jack‘s face when he‘d said he didn‘t usually play nice with people, that he found it easier to make them hate him rather than like him. „I guess you know him better than I do, so I don‘t feel like I‘m really in a position to help you get through to him.“
“My dad died last summer,“ he said heatedly, forehead scrunched in a frown as he avoided eye contact with the Slytherin girl. „And I buried him myself. Now it‘s just me, with no place to go during holidays, and nobody to take care of me. My main concern is figuring out where best to go so I can make some money performing on the streets so I can buy myself some food if not pay for some temporary lodging. Nobody left me any savings, and I‘m not expecting anybody to offer me a new home from the goodness of their hearts.“ He took a deep breath, rubbing at his burning eyes for a moment. „I‘ve gone through longer winters and colder nights without shoes, they‘re not necessary. Food is. So any money I can scrape together I would rather spend on something to eat than something to walk in.“
Ruka took a deep breath, wrapping his arms around himself. He felt judged and scrutinised, and suddenly it was almost too warm in his winter coat.
Silently gnawing on his bottom lip, Ruka listened to what Opeila had to say, her words not resonating well with his own view of the world.
“That doesn‘t mean we get to judge people who don‘t want help or don‘t want to help. We can‘t force people to help us, and we can‘t force our help on people who don‘t want it either. If anything, all we can do is ask and offer. Everything else is up to us. You‘re the only person you can really rely on; That‘s not unfair, it‘s just how people work.“ He shrugged lightly, closing his eyes for a moment.
he hadn‘t realised how exhausting conversation seemed after having had next to none in months. The only real conversation he‘d had in the recent past had been with Jack, and he had been surprisingly easy to talk to.
“It‘s easier to turn people against you on your own accord rather than have them turn against you when you don‘t expect them to,“ he pointed out, eyes drifting back open to look at the girl next to him. „Some people would rather go downhill from the start rather than fighting upwards just to drip and fall down again.“ He thought back on Jack‘s face when he‘d said he didn‘t usually play nice with people, that he found it easier to make them hate him rather than like him. „I guess you know him better than I do, so I don‘t feel like I‘m really in a position to help you get through to him.“
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
20 Jan 2020, 21:59
Of Fire and Ice?
“My dad died last summer. And I buried him myself. Now it‘s just me, with no place to go during holidays, and nobody to take care of me. My main concern is figuring out where best to go so I can make some money performing on the streets so I can buy myself some food if not pay for some temporary lodging. Nobody left me any savings, and I‘m not expecting anybody to offer me a new home from the goodness of their hearts.
I‘ve gone through longer winters and colder nights without shoes, they‘re not necessary. Food is. So any money I can scrape together I would rather spend on something to eat than something to walk in.“
Opeila didn't know what to say. For a while she just sat there, looking at the Gryffindor. She hadn't been thinking properly, she realized. She had assumed things and then recklessly gone on about things Ruka clearly felt uncofortable about.
"I shouldn't have said the things I have. I wasn't thinking.", she told him. "If an apology would make you feel better, I am sorry, but it doesn't, does it?" That was an exception. Opeila wasn't doing apologies, she was under the impression that all they would do were making herself feel better. That wouldn't help him. Nothing she could say would. "You have my respect for what you have gone through. Are going through. I can't even imagine it. You're right. You are a fighter, more than most people here, I am sure." She paused for a moment. "Can help you with anything?" She might be lacking a proper family bond, but she had enough to share at least some of it with Ruka, who probably needed it more than her. "I can't give you a home, but food. Or money. Shoes. And I know that there are a few hostels in Cambridge, close to where I live. I am sure my parents would help you." Why was she doing this? She didn't even really know this boy. All she knew, was that something made her want to help him. "Or if you don't want to take money, I am sure, my Dad could get you a job in the kitchen he works in. For the holidays. It is paid quite well. If that is what you want."
“That doesn‘t mean we get to judge people who don‘t want help or don‘t want to help. We can‘t force people to help us, and we can‘t force our help on people who don‘t want it either. If anything, all we can do is ask and offer. Everything else is up to us. You‘re the only person you can really rely on; That‘s not unfair, it‘s just how people work.“
"I didn't say we have the right to judge anyone, even though I believe, that we are secretly judging everyone for everything. I only mean, that no one will survive alone."
“It‘s easier to turn people against you on your own accord rather than have them turn against you when you don‘t expect them to. Some people would rather go downhill from the start rather than fighting upwards just to drip and fall down again.“
"If you have people turn against you, you didn't know them. That is the mistake I keep repeating. Trusting people I don't really know. But that is the decision everyone has to make. If he lets himself held down by the fear something could make him fall down again or if he is willing to fight for a chance."
„I guess you know him better than I do, so I don‘t feel like I‘m really in a position to help you get through to him.“
"I don't know if I do. All I am saying is, that there is more to his fears than just being afraid of caring. And I didn't expect you to help me. Actually, I'd like to stop talking about him at this point. I feel like some gossiping child." She smiled a little.
I‘ve gone through longer winters and colder nights without shoes, they‘re not necessary. Food is. So any money I can scrape together I would rather spend on something to eat than something to walk in.“
Opeila didn't know what to say. For a while she just sat there, looking at the Gryffindor. She hadn't been thinking properly, she realized. She had assumed things and then recklessly gone on about things Ruka clearly felt uncofortable about.
"I shouldn't have said the things I have. I wasn't thinking.", she told him. "If an apology would make you feel better, I am sorry, but it doesn't, does it?" That was an exception. Opeila wasn't doing apologies, she was under the impression that all they would do were making herself feel better. That wouldn't help him. Nothing she could say would. "You have my respect for what you have gone through. Are going through. I can't even imagine it. You're right. You are a fighter, more than most people here, I am sure." She paused for a moment. "Can help you with anything?" She might be lacking a proper family bond, but she had enough to share at least some of it with Ruka, who probably needed it more than her. "I can't give you a home, but food. Or money. Shoes. And I know that there are a few hostels in Cambridge, close to where I live. I am sure my parents would help you." Why was she doing this? She didn't even really know this boy. All she knew, was that something made her want to help him. "Or if you don't want to take money, I am sure, my Dad could get you a job in the kitchen he works in. For the holidays. It is paid quite well. If that is what you want."
“That doesn‘t mean we get to judge people who don‘t want help or don‘t want to help. We can‘t force people to help us, and we can‘t force our help on people who don‘t want it either. If anything, all we can do is ask and offer. Everything else is up to us. You‘re the only person you can really rely on; That‘s not unfair, it‘s just how people work.“
"I didn't say we have the right to judge anyone, even though I believe, that we are secretly judging everyone for everything. I only mean, that no one will survive alone."
“It‘s easier to turn people against you on your own accord rather than have them turn against you when you don‘t expect them to. Some people would rather go downhill from the start rather than fighting upwards just to drip and fall down again.“
"If you have people turn against you, you didn't know them. That is the mistake I keep repeating. Trusting people I don't really know. But that is the decision everyone has to make. If he lets himself held down by the fear something could make him fall down again or if he is willing to fight for a chance."
„I guess you know him better than I do, so I don‘t feel like I‘m really in a position to help you get through to him.“
"I don't know if I do. All I am saying is, that there is more to his fears than just being afraid of caring. And I didn't expect you to help me. Actually, I'd like to stop talking about him at this point. I feel like some gossiping child." She smiled a little.
Reducio
@Ruka Tân
20 Jan 2020, 22:33
Of Fire and Ice?
Ruka blinked a few tears back after having talked, eyes focused on Opelia‘s delicate features as she clearly struggled for something to say to his outburst.
The apology that followed wasn‘t something he had expected who had told him not long ago that apologies only made the person apologising feel better.
„It‘s fine,“ he said calmly, biting down on his bottom lip for a moment. „You couldn‘t have known, and I shouldn‘t have acted like you were supposed to know.“ He averted his eyes for a moment, sheepishly shrugging the topic away.
What followed afterwards was a heap of suggestions of how she was possibly able to help him - shoes, clothes, money, a job. It all sounded so good, but Ruka was more than too proud to take money from someone, least of all someone he barely knew, and as bad as it was, he wasn‘t ready yet to part from his dad‘s old clothes in favour of new ones.
„That‘s... really nice of you,“ he said quietly, a little smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Opeila didn‘t need to offer her help, he knew that, and he wanted her to know that he did appreciate everything she just said. „I just... I don‘t even know where I want to go over the summer yet, I just... I want to keep performing. My dad and I... we used to do street performances. It doesn‘t pay steady money but... I like doing it.“ He shrugged lightly, cheeks flushing red as he talked. He wondered if Opeila would enjoy his fire dance as much as Jack had enjoyed it or if she would consider it a stupid hobby instead. „But it‘s good to know that I could owl you should I find myself in Cambridge without enough money for food.“ He chuckled lightly and listened as she continued the topic of whether Jack was right in trying to make enemies rather than friends, but he didn‘t really have much to say to it in a way. He couldn’t blame Jack for what he was doing, even if Opeila seemed to take it quite personal. All he knew was that Jack had every right to refuse anybody‘s help if he didn‘t want it, and it was his own decision on how to deal with his insecurities and issues.
They were all just fighting their own uphill battle, right?
„That‘s fine by me,“ he agreed when Opeila suggested to drop the topic of their mutual... acquaintance? „Not much that makes me feel more like a bad person than talking about someone behind their back.“ He chuckled and leaned forward to slide his fingers under the gloves and feel out the damage to his skin.
He had definitely had worse; his skin was tingling under his fingertips and his heels were damp from the cold, but there were no blisters or purple bruises. „In fact, you might not be wrong about me being supposed to go back to my dorm and at least put on some socks.“ He laughed and shrugged lightly, mind wandering to the picture of his dad in his dorm room.
He missed it.
Maybe almost more than he missed his dad.
The apology that followed wasn‘t something he had expected who had told him not long ago that apologies only made the person apologising feel better.
„It‘s fine,“ he said calmly, biting down on his bottom lip for a moment. „You couldn‘t have known, and I shouldn‘t have acted like you were supposed to know.“ He averted his eyes for a moment, sheepishly shrugging the topic away.
What followed afterwards was a heap of suggestions of how she was possibly able to help him - shoes, clothes, money, a job. It all sounded so good, but Ruka was more than too proud to take money from someone, least of all someone he barely knew, and as bad as it was, he wasn‘t ready yet to part from his dad‘s old clothes in favour of new ones.
„That‘s... really nice of you,“ he said quietly, a little smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Opeila didn‘t need to offer her help, he knew that, and he wanted her to know that he did appreciate everything she just said. „I just... I don‘t even know where I want to go over the summer yet, I just... I want to keep performing. My dad and I... we used to do street performances. It doesn‘t pay steady money but... I like doing it.“ He shrugged lightly, cheeks flushing red as he talked. He wondered if Opeila would enjoy his fire dance as much as Jack had enjoyed it or if she would consider it a stupid hobby instead. „But it‘s good to know that I could owl you should I find myself in Cambridge without enough money for food.“ He chuckled lightly and listened as she continued the topic of whether Jack was right in trying to make enemies rather than friends, but he didn‘t really have much to say to it in a way. He couldn’t blame Jack for what he was doing, even if Opeila seemed to take it quite personal. All he knew was that Jack had every right to refuse anybody‘s help if he didn‘t want it, and it was his own decision on how to deal with his insecurities and issues.
They were all just fighting their own uphill battle, right?
„That‘s fine by me,“ he agreed when Opeila suggested to drop the topic of their mutual... acquaintance? „Not much that makes me feel more like a bad person than talking about someone behind their back.“ He chuckled and leaned forward to slide his fingers under the gloves and feel out the damage to his skin.
He had definitely had worse; his skin was tingling under his fingertips and his heels were damp from the cold, but there were no blisters or purple bruises. „In fact, you might not be wrong about me being supposed to go back to my dorm and at least put on some socks.“ He laughed and shrugged lightly, mind wandering to the picture of his dad in his dorm room.
He missed it.
Maybe almost more than he missed his dad.
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
21 Jan 2020, 17:34
Of Fire and Ice?
„It‘s fine. You couldn‘t have known, and I shouldn‘t have acted like you were supposed to know.“
Opeila nodded. "That's right. I couldn't. But I could- and should- have learned by now not to just make assumptions and thereby kinda walk into places others don't want to share." She hadn't really apologized, only offered one kn the end. It was only the confession of having done something wrong.
„That‘s... really nice of you“, Ruka said smiling. Opeila returned the smile.
„I just... I don‘t even know where I want to go over the summer yet, I just... I want to keep performing. My dad and I... we used to do street performances. It doesn‘t pay steady money but... I like doing it.“ Opeila listened interested. Ruka had lived through an unusual childhood, that was for sure. "You can do that. I don't know where you usually perform, but you would have a quite big audience in Cambridge, especially if you would perform around uni." She grinned. "Some of those muggle students
are only looking for a riddle that looks unsolvable to them. They will watch you many times in order to find some simple trick behind it." She wondered if she should ask. The Slytherin didn't want Ruka to feel uncomfortable again. "Would... would you show me your performance?"
„But it‘s good to know that I could owl you should I find myself in Cambridge without enough money for food.“
"Oh, you better do that. If I find out that you starved in Cambridge, I will find you and kill you again!", she said in a playful tone. "No seriously, if you need anything, owl me. My dad is a muggle so we'd have to get to you with the car, but we would. I don't mind a little distraction at home as well." She had noticed that Ruka didn't seem to want to take anything from others, that was why she added the last sentence. Partly at least, but she was also being honest. With her mother in a coma, only with her dad and an owl... she was scared of going back there already.
„That‘s fine by me. Not much that makes me feel more like a bad person than talking about someone behind their back.“
"Definitely. Unfortunately I still catch myself doing it far too often." She sighed.
„In fact, you might not be wrong about me being supposed to go back to my dorm and at least put on some socks.“
She smiled. "I was already afraid, you'd never say that. In the next few minutes I was going to check if they were still where they belonged. Please, do. Even if you have experienced worse... No need to risk anything, right?"
Opeila nodded. "That's right. I couldn't. But I could- and should- have learned by now not to just make assumptions and thereby kinda walk into places others don't want to share." She hadn't really apologized, only offered one kn the end. It was only the confession of having done something wrong.
„That‘s... really nice of you“, Ruka said smiling. Opeila returned the smile.
„I just... I don‘t even know where I want to go over the summer yet, I just... I want to keep performing. My dad and I... we used to do street performances. It doesn‘t pay steady money but... I like doing it.“ Opeila listened interested. Ruka had lived through an unusual childhood, that was for sure. "You can do that. I don't know where you usually perform, but you would have a quite big audience in Cambridge, especially if you would perform around uni." She grinned. "Some of those muggle students
are only looking for a riddle that looks unsolvable to them. They will watch you many times in order to find some simple trick behind it." She wondered if she should ask. The Slytherin didn't want Ruka to feel uncomfortable again. "Would... would you show me your performance?"
„But it‘s good to know that I could owl you should I find myself in Cambridge without enough money for food.“
"Oh, you better do that. If I find out that you starved in Cambridge, I will find you and kill you again!", she said in a playful tone. "No seriously, if you need anything, owl me. My dad is a muggle so we'd have to get to you with the car, but we would. I don't mind a little distraction at home as well." She had noticed that Ruka didn't seem to want to take anything from others, that was why she added the last sentence. Partly at least, but she was also being honest. With her mother in a coma, only with her dad and an owl... she was scared of going back there already.
„That‘s fine by me. Not much that makes me feel more like a bad person than talking about someone behind their back.“
"Definitely. Unfortunately I still catch myself doing it far too often." She sighed.
„In fact, you might not be wrong about me being supposed to go back to my dorm and at least put on some socks.“
She smiled. "I was already afraid, you'd never say that. In the next few minutes I was going to check if they were still where they belonged. Please, do. Even if you have experienced worse... No need to risk anything, right?"
Reducio
@Ruka Tân
22 Jan 2020, 18:16
Of Fire and Ice?
Ruka gave Opeila a small smile and a shrug to show that it really was fine. He hadn‘t really intended to blurt out his private business like that, but at the end of the day, what difference did it really make?
He perked up a little bit when Opeila asked to see his performance, nodding slowly as he looked around the field. „It involves fire, though,“ he explained as he looked back at Opeila again with a little frown on his forehead. „The wood around here is a bit too damp so I think I‘d better show you another time. I usually practice in the rehearsal room of you want to come see sometime.“ He smiled, nodding encouragingly to show that he really wouldn‘t mind her joining him for practice sometime. „Just check in with me to see when I‘ll be there. Anytime.“
Ruka laughed a little when Opeila threatened to kill him again should he starve to death in Cambridge, and he quickly shook his head. „Promise,“ he said sincerely, a small smile twinkling in his eyes as he watched Opeila‘s face intently when she talked about wanting some distraction at home as well. He could tell there was something on her mind. Something that didn‘t have anything to do with Jack, but he didn‘t want to press, didn‘t want to be that person he himself wouldn‘t want to talk to for being too nosy.
Instead he opted to offer Opeila an encouraging smile. „Should I go to Cambridge you‘ll be the first person who‘ll know,“ he said before turning his attention to his glove-covered feet and giving them a gentle rub to bring back some feeling to them.
Slowly he stood up, offering Opeila a hand to help her up as well should she want to. With a little sigh of annoyance he took the gloves off and stuffed them back into his winter coat. Walking with those things on his feet would have proven way too difficult.
„It was nice to meet you, Opeila,“ he said gently, waving awkwardly for lack of something else to do. „And let me know about seeing that performance. I‘m sure you‘d like it.“
He perked up a little bit when Opeila asked to see his performance, nodding slowly as he looked around the field. „It involves fire, though,“ he explained as he looked back at Opeila again with a little frown on his forehead. „The wood around here is a bit too damp so I think I‘d better show you another time. I usually practice in the rehearsal room of you want to come see sometime.“ He smiled, nodding encouragingly to show that he really wouldn‘t mind her joining him for practice sometime. „Just check in with me to see when I‘ll be there. Anytime.“
Ruka laughed a little when Opeila threatened to kill him again should he starve to death in Cambridge, and he quickly shook his head. „Promise,“ he said sincerely, a small smile twinkling in his eyes as he watched Opeila‘s face intently when she talked about wanting some distraction at home as well. He could tell there was something on her mind. Something that didn‘t have anything to do with Jack, but he didn‘t want to press, didn‘t want to be that person he himself wouldn‘t want to talk to for being too nosy.
Instead he opted to offer Opeila an encouraging smile. „Should I go to Cambridge you‘ll be the first person who‘ll know,“ he said before turning his attention to his glove-covered feet and giving them a gentle rub to bring back some feeling to them.
Slowly he stood up, offering Opeila a hand to help her up as well should she want to. With a little sigh of annoyance he took the gloves off and stuffed them back into his winter coat. Walking with those things on his feet would have proven way too difficult.
„It was nice to meet you, Opeila,“ he said gently, waving awkwardly for lack of something else to do. „And let me know about seeing that performance. I‘m sure you‘d like it.“
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
24 Jan 2020, 17:53
Of Fire and Ice?
Opeila laughed a little when he said that the wood was too damp. "How dry do you need it to be? Does your performance involve a forest fire?" she teased, glancing at the forbidden forest. When the sky got darker it looked a lot more dangerous, she thought. She wouldn't want to be lost in there this time of day or later.
"I hope you really meant that you want me to show up, because now that you told me the location...I definitely will." She grinned. Where did this good mood suddenly come from?
When he said he would tell her if he went to Cambridge, her smile turned more serious. "You should. You can always owl me if there is something you need. I feel bad to just let you live on the streets for weeks now that you told me." She did, although she felt quite unsure if she should tell her dad. What if he informed an orphanage about a twelve year old living on his own on the street?
It felt horrible not to know if she could trust him with something that now worried her.
Opeila took his hand and let him help her up. "Nice to meet you as well, Ruka. You are very different from most people I know. In a positive way.", she added quickly. "And I will come, I promise!"
"I hope you really meant that you want me to show up, because now that you told me the location...I definitely will." She grinned. Where did this good mood suddenly come from?
When he said he would tell her if he went to Cambridge, her smile turned more serious. "You should. You can always owl me if there is something you need. I feel bad to just let you live on the streets for weeks now that you told me." She did, although she felt quite unsure if she should tell her dad. What if he informed an orphanage about a twelve year old living on his own on the street?
It felt horrible not to know if she could trust him with something that now worried her.
Opeila took his hand and let him help her up. "Nice to meet you as well, Ruka. You are very different from most people I know. In a positive way.", she added quickly. "And I will come, I promise!"
Reducio
@Ruka Tân