Acid Rain, Heart to Heart
@Saoirse Dwight
It had been raining outside for the past few days- something that would normally fascinate the witch and prompt to leave her dorm and explore the school. She loved the crisp scent of wet flora and the unceasing, melodic pitter-patter of raindrops on the library windowpanes. Delighted at how the world had changed in mere seconds, she’d slide down the stair banisters and chat with the paintings for hours, her tangled hair glinting auburn as it dripped water onto the stone floor.
Often she would make her way to the lake and dip her legs into the cold water, silently watching her own ripples collide with the tiny waves made by a million raindrops that melted into the lake with a hundred tiny splashes that collected into a cacophonous roar. She didn’t care if swimming was dangerous or against the rules - it was the one rule she was willing to break.
So, it certainly didn’t take a Seer to realize something was wrong with Jo. Her eyes, usually sharp and attentive, had lost their twinkle - her gaze was blank and lifeless.
The brunette’s prized hair, normally shiny and lustrous due to impeccable bath-time care, was matted and dry. Dark circles lined her hazel eyes, and her expression conveyed only a dull sense of worry.
She hadn’t left her dorm in a while - she brought home some breakfast and had been gnawing on it listlessly all day, not wanting to be seen unless it was necessary. She’d attended classes, of course - her eyes glossing over as she stared through the window, the raindrops’ reflections dancing upon her face as they streaked down the glass, projecting shadows that bore the uncanny likeness of tears.
Yet here she was, sitting on a bench near the very lake that always stirred her curiosity, waiting and waiting for a girl who probably wouldn’t come. She was about thirty minutes early - just sitting on a bench, staring off into space, just feeling “out of it”. She’d meant to be productive, but the basket of sesame pods at her side remained undisturbed.
After a few desperate attempts at making non-alcoholic Irish wassail had failed miserably, the girl had settled on spiced black tea, cauldron cakes and dried squid legs as a peace offering. She had forgotten (while she packed it, at least) that the savory snack was not a common sight in Europe. Oh, well - it was far too late to return now.
It had been raining outside for the past few days- something that would normally fascinate the witch and prompt to leave her dorm and explore the school. She loved the crisp scent of wet flora and the unceasing, melodic pitter-patter of raindrops on the library windowpanes. Delighted at how the world had changed in mere seconds, she’d slide down the stair banisters and chat with the paintings for hours, her tangled hair glinting auburn as it dripped water onto the stone floor.
Often she would make her way to the lake and dip her legs into the cold water, silently watching her own ripples collide with the tiny waves made by a million raindrops that melted into the lake with a hundred tiny splashes that collected into a cacophonous roar. She didn’t care if swimming was dangerous or against the rules - it was the one rule she was willing to break.
So, it certainly didn’t take a Seer to realize something was wrong with Jo. Her eyes, usually sharp and attentive, had lost their twinkle - her gaze was blank and lifeless.
The brunette’s prized hair, normally shiny and lustrous due to impeccable bath-time care, was matted and dry. Dark circles lined her hazel eyes, and her expression conveyed only a dull sense of worry.
She hadn’t left her dorm in a while - she brought home some breakfast and had been gnawing on it listlessly all day, not wanting to be seen unless it was necessary. She’d attended classes, of course - her eyes glossing over as she stared through the window, the raindrops’ reflections dancing upon her face as they streaked down the glass, projecting shadows that bore the uncanny likeness of tears.
Yet here she was, sitting on a bench near the very lake that always stirred her curiosity, waiting and waiting for a girl who probably wouldn’t come. She was about thirty minutes early - just sitting on a bench, staring off into space, just feeling “out of it”. She’d meant to be productive, but the basket of sesame pods at her side remained undisturbed.
After a few desperate attempts at making non-alcoholic Irish wassail had failed miserably, the girl had settled on spiced black tea, cauldron cakes and dried squid legs as a peace offering. She had forgotten (while she packed it, at least) that the savory snack was not a common sight in Europe. Oh, well - it was far too late to return now.
Last edited by Jo Morgan on 17 Dec 2019, 15:46, edited 1 time in total.
"Out here, the wild ones are taming the fear within me.
Scared to call them my friends and be broken again; Is this hope just a mystical dream?"
Acid Rain, Heart to Heart
Saoirse stumbled through the trees and the hills, her vision was foggy in this cold, dampened forest. She had prepped a basket earlier, with Apple Crumble, Bakewell tarts, Chelsea buns, a few strawberry and white chocolate scones, Soul cakes, along with a few cups and a pitcher of Irish Crème. The basket had was made of cedar wood with a gold outline and a maroon ribbon wrapped around the top.
She approached Jo, sitting by the lake with her solem appearance. The mood was drowsy, as Saoirse set down her basket and sat, they looked like walking messes. "Ní mór dom mé féin a tharraingt le chéile, ná mé?(I need to pull myself together, don't I?)" She sighed and looked over at Jo, "hey...how are you...?" She whispered. Holding up the basket, she noticed Jo had brought her own, "hey, do you wanna treat?" The redhead smiled at Jo, the girl with the tainted sparkle in her eyes. It was hard though, Jo looked gone, faded into the confines of nothing and nullen, like a stone thrown into a deep lake, possibly never to be seen again. It was painful, even more than her distorted arms wrapped in fresh, white bandages.
Honorable Mentions: @Jo Morgan
She approached Jo, sitting by the lake with her solem appearance. The mood was drowsy, as Saoirse set down her basket and sat, they looked like walking messes. "Ní mór dom mé féin a tharraingt le chéile, ná mé?(I need to pull myself together, don't I?)" She sighed and looked over at Jo, "hey...how are you...?" She whispered. Holding up the basket, she noticed Jo had brought her own, "hey, do you wanna treat?" The redhead smiled at Jo, the girl with the tainted sparkle in her eyes. It was hard though, Jo looked gone, faded into the confines of nothing and nullen, like a stone thrown into a deep lake, possibly never to be seen again. It was painful, even more than her distorted arms wrapped in fresh, white bandages.
Honorable Mentions: @Jo Morgan
Ever felt like your being watched, like everyday you're passing by the billboard that Dr. Eckleburg's Eyes rest upon.
Acid Rain, Heart to Heart
Jo looked up at Saoirse - the girl looked no better than herself.
Saoirse spoke in the beautiful, strange language she always did, but this time Jo chose to respond. Two could play the “outsider” game.
言葉はよくわからないんだけど、いろいろ大変なのはわかるよ。
(I may not understand your words, but I do know you’re going through a rough time.)
“I was thinking the same thing, actually.” She began to spread the snacks out everywhere between them on the bench. It seemed like Saoirse had brought a lot of different kinds of pastries as well as a brown drink that looked a lot like Chai tea. Was it Chai tea? She wasn’t sure, since the snacks themselves looked rather European.
“What’s that?” She murmered, pointing to the pitcher as she placing her own besides it.
After the snacks were settled, she drew a long breath, plucking some squid legs from her own pile. She played with the stiff legs in her hand as she opened her mouth to speak.
“A lot of people are worried. About you.” She bit her lip, gazing at the lake. “I wanted to hear what you had to say. I know something’s wrong and I can feel it. You’ve gotta tell somebody or else all of it’s gonna come out at the wrong time. Now is the right time. I’m the right person. I don’t care if you get mad at me, but will you at least tell me what you’re going through? I’m no metamorphmagus and I’m not here to give advice. I just want… to listen.”
This wasn’t what Jo was good at. She was always the judgmental one, frowning and fretting as she overanalyzed everyone and everything around her. Her mind was a machine, and she liked to force her heart to work the same way, as well. Machines didn’t feel pain or get hurt at slight things. They’d just stop working. But Jo’s heart didn’t stop working when she was yelled at or insulted- it just painfully reminded her that it was every bit as flesh as her body.
Honorable mentions: @Saoirse Dwight
Saoirse spoke in the beautiful, strange language she always did, but this time Jo chose to respond. Two could play the “outsider” game.
言葉はよくわからないんだけど、いろいろ大変なのはわかるよ。
(I may not understand your words, but I do know you’re going through a rough time.)
Jo didn’t answer, but she nodded to let Saoirse know she was alright. That seemed like enough right now - both needed time to heal.hey...how are you...?
She smiled as she picked up her own basket. It was the same smile she always flashed as a reassurance, but there was something unnervingly hollow about it today. It was the kind of smile people gave when you asked them if they were okay - a smile given as a courtesy, in which the lips formed more of a grimace and the eyes didn’t move an inch.hey, do you wanna treat?
“I was thinking the same thing, actually.” She began to spread the snacks out everywhere between them on the bench. It seemed like Saoirse had brought a lot of different kinds of pastries as well as a brown drink that looked a lot like Chai tea. Was it Chai tea? She wasn’t sure, since the snacks themselves looked rather European.
“What’s that?” She murmered, pointing to the pitcher as she placing her own besides it.
After the snacks were settled, she drew a long breath, plucking some squid legs from her own pile. She played with the stiff legs in her hand as she opened her mouth to speak.
“A lot of people are worried. About you.” She bit her lip, gazing at the lake. “I wanted to hear what you had to say. I know something’s wrong and I can feel it. You’ve gotta tell somebody or else all of it’s gonna come out at the wrong time. Now is the right time. I’m the right person. I don’t care if you get mad at me, but will you at least tell me what you’re going through? I’m no metamorphmagus and I’m not here to give advice. I just want… to listen.”
This wasn’t what Jo was good at. She was always the judgmental one, frowning and fretting as she overanalyzed everyone and everything around her. Her mind was a machine, and she liked to force her heart to work the same way, as well. Machines didn’t feel pain or get hurt at slight things. They’d just stop working. But Jo’s heart didn’t stop working when she was yelled at or insulted- it just painfully reminded her that it was every bit as flesh as her body.
Honorable mentions: @Saoirse Dwight
"Out here, the wild ones are taming the fear within me.
Scared to call them my friends and be broken again; Is this hope just a mystical dream?"
Acid Rain, Heart to Heart
Saoirse smiled when Jo spoke, it wasn't the sweetest foreign language she had ever heard. It seemed harsh, yet with Jo it was smooth coming out. She scooted over a bit so Jo could lay out the food, "well, since you're English. I brought a couple of traditional English foods, um...Apple Crumble, Bakewell Tarts, Chelsea buns, strawberry and white chocolate scones, soul cakes which um are Irish actually and then Irish Crème."
She held up the pitcher, "it's chocolate, eggnog, got a bit of almond and vanilla extract in there, and typically has vodka in it but thanks to my grandmother, I know how to make the majority of it alcohol-free. Trust me, it's just a pinch of bourbon to enhance the vanilla's flavor. Would you want some?" The redhead observed all the snacks Jo had brought, black tea, cauldron cakes, and...? Saoirse didn't know but it looked and smelled quite good, so maybe it wasn't a dish Jo was trying to poison her with.
Saoirse set out her snacks, before picking up a cauldron cake and taking a small bite. She stopped eating however as soon as Jo spoke, Jo was right she was the one Saoirse needed to talk to. "I don't know...it's just been hard ever since my mother died. I see things, I hear things, I'm angry then like a switch I'm sad and then like another switch I feel...fine. It's like being in a game of tug of war between black and white. An invisible enemy...I don't see why people are worried about me though...you guys don't have to worry. If I can't fight it, there's no way anybody else should attempt to."
She held up the pitcher, "it's chocolate, eggnog, got a bit of almond and vanilla extract in there, and typically has vodka in it but thanks to my grandmother, I know how to make the majority of it alcohol-free. Trust me, it's just a pinch of bourbon to enhance the vanilla's flavor. Would you want some?" The redhead observed all the snacks Jo had brought, black tea, cauldron cakes, and...? Saoirse didn't know but it looked and smelled quite good, so maybe it wasn't a dish Jo was trying to poison her with.
Saoirse set out her snacks, before picking up a cauldron cake and taking a small bite. She stopped eating however as soon as Jo spoke, Jo was right she was the one Saoirse needed to talk to. "I don't know...it's just been hard ever since my mother died. I see things, I hear things, I'm angry then like a switch I'm sad and then like another switch I feel...fine. It's like being in a game of tug of war between black and white. An invisible enemy...I don't see why people are worried about me though...you guys don't have to worry. If I can't fight it, there's no way anybody else should attempt to."
Ever felt like your being watched, like everyday you're passing by the billboard that Dr. Eckleburg's Eyes rest upon.
Acid Rain, Heart to Heart
@Saoirse Dwight
Jo smiled at Saoirse’s snack selection. The truth was that Jo was far from English and most of the snacks were entirely foreign to her. She was born in London, sure - but her ancestry was Scottish, and she’d spent most of her life in Japan before coming to England two years ago. Still, most of the tasty delights smelled delicious.
“Don’t mind if I do.” she joked, filling a cup with the light brown drink. It smelled heavenly-that was for sure.
Bipolarity, visual-aural hallucinations, an obvious hormonal imbalance... a thousand words and answers sprung to Jo’s mind, all gleaned from Lady Aithne’s lessons and letters and... Jo - stop. She had to remind herself that this wasn’t about answers. Saoirse, just like herself, was not a machine, and she didn’t deserve to be picked apart and analyzed like one. Saoirse needed a friend ... hell, she needed a friend."I don't know...it's just been hard ever since my mother died. I see things, I hear things, I'm angry then like a switch I'm sad and then like another switch I feel...fine. It's like being in a game of tug of war between black and white. An invisible enemy...I don't see why people are worried about me though...you guys don't have to worry.
The girl took a sip of her drink before answering, inhaling its warm, sweet scent."If I can't fight it, there's no way anybody else should attempt to."
“I don’t think that’s right. You’re going through a lot, and right now you’re trying to fight your fights alone. No one deserves to go through that kind of stuff alone. Um... It doesn’t matter what the fight is. A divorce, a toxic parent or friend, or a really bad fight with someone you used to love, you know? And yeah, when someone who was such a big part of your life is suddenly gone. And only a hole is left and you feel like your heart is just gone. When your world starts c...crashing down around you and you feel like...like everyone hates you and you hate the world for making you. Believe it or not, I really... I think that’s what friends are actually for. Um....We’re not here to solve your problems or fight your fights. We’re just here to listen and understand. Y...you know. Um... give you space when you need it, or hug you when you want to or need to cry. We’re here to welcome you with open arms when you’ve done something wrong and know it, and you feel like everyone is judging you even though they don’t know you. We’re here f...for advice because it may not seem like it, but we’re fighting our own fights too. Every one of us is, probably even Wren even though she’s smiling all the time. I can’t fight my fights alone just like you can’t fight yours. When you feel lost and like the world is against you and y...you’re alone, you can lean on us and we can fight this fight together.”
Her speech was long and full of stutters, but it was something both she and Saoirse needed to hear. She felt embarrassed now, and hid her face by pulling up her sweater?
“Do...do you want some squid?” Jo asked in a muffled voice.
"Out here, the wild ones are taming the fear within me.
Scared to call them my friends and be broken again; Is this hope just a mystical dream?"
Acid Rain, Heart to Heart
Saoirse listened, as Jo's throat bled out word after word. The few stutters here and there felt like bumps in the silk, nothing more. The only thing the Hufflepuff could hear was her friend's voice, and the Acid Rain. That's what it felt like at least, every time a drop hit her hand, it felt like a cooling burn. So frozen it felt like some sort of chemical pouring on her hand, but those last words healed it, it made it better, cooled and refined.
Saoirse nodded, tears streaking down her face. "Of course...I'm here for you too, Jo." She sighed, and took a sip of her drink. Jo's voice spoke up again, this time less about advice and more about food. The good eating, both girls had brought."When you feel lost and like the world is against you and y...you’re alone, you can lean on us and we can fight this fight together.”
Saoirse shrugged, "maybe in a little bit, I don't have much of an appetite, but I don't want your hard-work to go to waste." She took another deep sigh, "what about you, Jo...what's hurting you?" She looked over at her friend and mustered a trembling smile."Do...do you want some squid?"
Ever felt like your being watched, like everyday you're passing by the billboard that Dr. Eckleburg's Eyes rest upon.
Acid Rain, Heart to Heart
@Saoirse Dwight
Hesitating, Jo picked up one of Saoirse’s scones and took a small bite. The strawberry was surprisingly tart - contrasting in a perfect way with the sugary white chocolate.
”I’m not even sure how to begin. Uh, it’s my dad, really... I never got to meet him and it’s so frustrating that everyone keeps... hiding who he was and pretending that he doesn’t exist. I know he isn’t the best person and nobody likes to talk about people in Azkaban, but it’s like he just disappeared and now he’s forgotten. He’s just a bad memory to everyone, even though he’s still alive! And sometimes I can see other people -pureblood kids, always - pointing at me in the hallways and I just know they’re saying “Hey, look, did you know that’s Foxglove’s kid?” They made me take my mom’s last name to hide who I was, but I guess it didn’t work because I’m always going to be some dark wizard’s kid, to me and to everyone else who knows. Speaking of my mom... I don’t know anything about her, either. A lot of people say she died because the mother of one of my dad’s victims cursed her or something.” Jo took another bite of the scone, breathing deeply. ”Anyways, I... I still don’t know why she gave me up. Maybe because I was my dad’s kid she didn’t want anything to do with me.”
She wasn’t sure why since she had gone over this a thousand times in her mind already, but tears began to roll from her eyes. She had never trusted someone with information like this before - it made her feel weak for not “dealing with it” by herself.
“What do we do now? I don’t know how to keep going when I don’t even know who I am.“
Hesitating, Jo picked up one of Saoirse’s scones and took a small bite. The strawberry was surprisingly tart - contrasting in a perfect way with the sugary white chocolate.
The simple statement troubled the little girl much more than she had expected. Jo had never talked about things like this before. Despite the advice she had given the Hufflepuff, it was only now that she realized she had been bottling up her own feelings as well - trying to fight an uphill battle while pushing away all support."what about you, Jo...what's hurting you?"
”I’m not even sure how to begin. Uh, it’s my dad, really... I never got to meet him and it’s so frustrating that everyone keeps... hiding who he was and pretending that he doesn’t exist. I know he isn’t the best person and nobody likes to talk about people in Azkaban, but it’s like he just disappeared and now he’s forgotten. He’s just a bad memory to everyone, even though he’s still alive! And sometimes I can see other people -pureblood kids, always - pointing at me in the hallways and I just know they’re saying “Hey, look, did you know that’s Foxglove’s kid?” They made me take my mom’s last name to hide who I was, but I guess it didn’t work because I’m always going to be some dark wizard’s kid, to me and to everyone else who knows. Speaking of my mom... I don’t know anything about her, either. A lot of people say she died because the mother of one of my dad’s victims cursed her or something.” Jo took another bite of the scone, breathing deeply. ”Anyways, I... I still don’t know why she gave me up. Maybe because I was my dad’s kid she didn’t want anything to do with me.”
She wasn’t sure why since she had gone over this a thousand times in her mind already, but tears began to roll from her eyes. She had never trusted someone with information like this before - it made her feel weak for not “dealing with it” by herself.
“What do we do now? I don’t know how to keep going when I don’t even know who I am.“
"Out here, the wild ones are taming the fear within me.
Scared to call them my friends and be broken again; Is this hope just a mystical dream?"
Acid Rain, Heart to Heart
The girl was stopped in her tracks, 'do now'? What was there to 'do now'? Nothing...absolutely nothing. "I guess we pick ourselves up...I'm not sure on how to do that though. I feel horrible, but I guess we start with...not bottling up what feel and what we think for the sake of others, maybe that's a good start." Looking over at Jo she began to feel worse, imagine having that happen to you. Her story felt wimpy and bratty compared to that of Jo's, as though she didn't deserve to complain. The redhead didn't know how to think, her brain was fried, she had to help her friend in someway. "Well...you can always come to me though. Don't be afraid too."
She picked up a small cup, filling it up with black tea and taking a sip. The rain ran off her, like not even it wanted to be associated with her, it did nothing more to help her current state of mind, but she felt better. "And hey...look...you have to remember Jo that your parents actions do not define you...as a person. Just because your father was Foxglove and your mother abandoned you does not automatically make you a bad person, in fact it makes you stronger. If you were too, however, follow suit in their actions, the words of their taunts would manifest. But their not, Jo, you're a great person. You should never forget it."
Honorable Mentions: @Jo Morgan
She picked up a small cup, filling it up with black tea and taking a sip. The rain ran off her, like not even it wanted to be associated with her, it did nothing more to help her current state of mind, but she felt better. "And hey...look...you have to remember Jo that your parents actions do not define you...as a person. Just because your father was Foxglove and your mother abandoned you does not automatically make you a bad person, in fact it makes you stronger. If you were too, however, follow suit in their actions, the words of their taunts would manifest. But their not, Jo, you're a great person. You should never forget it."
Honorable Mentions: @Jo Morgan
Ever felt like your being watched, like everyday you're passing by the billboard that Dr. Eckleburg's Eyes rest upon.
Acid Rain, Heart to Heart
@Saoirse Dwight
“Thanks. I think I needed that.”Well...you can always come to me though. Don't be afraid too.
So this, then, was what it felt like to be understood. To not be mocked or quietly judged.
The roar of millions of droplets falling onto pine needles did nothing to cool her burning cheeks. Each droplet was equally important in creating the cacophonous symphony - a whole that threatened to drown out each individual droplet of water, and yet was nothing without the melodious sound of each singular falling droplet. The aqueous beads made ripples as they fell - did they ever realize the impact they made on the lake’s surface? If they were gone by the time the ripples spread across the water, what was the point?
The words began to spew forth, like she had taken a draught of Veritaserum or something. There was no stopping it.
“I can’t be like him. I won’t. It’s the Potter trial, really. This is gonna sound…like gibberish, really, but there was a secret message in one of the Headmaster’s letters Rafa and I found. It said, 'She was murdered by Finnley.' I know it wasn’t him, but I just got this sick feeling. Like… like he had come back or something. It wasn’t that, really, either… the worst thing was that I felt a bit of hope. Hope that I could see him. I don’t know if that makes me a bad person. I hope he never gets out of Azkaban, but then again… if he escaped to see me, what would I do? Should I be happy that someone finally cared about me? If I looked into the Mirror of Erised… would I see him here with me?”
She shook her head, utterly lost.
“I’ve got to find this 'Finnley.' I just have this weird feeling that if I can bring Ms. Umbridge’s murder to justice, I can bury my dad’s memory with him. Lock them away together forever.”
"Thanks. And you can always come to me, too, when you're feeling down. Noone deserves to face grief alone. I think I was lucky, in a way. I never had to meet my parents. I don't miss them, because I can't. I don't think I'll ever understand what it feels like to suddenly have such a wonderful, caring person suddenly taken away from you.""And hey...look...you have to remember Jo that your parents actions do not define you...as a person. Just because your father was Foxglove and your mother abandoned you does not automatically make you a bad person, in fact it makes you stronger. If you were too, however, follow suit in their actions, the words of their taunts would manifest. But their not, Jo, you're a great person. You should never forget it."
"Out here, the wild ones are taming the fear within me.
Scared to call them my friends and be broken again; Is this hope just a mystical dream?"