18 Mar 2020, 14:39
Friendly Faces
Interacting with @Alex DiBenedetto
The Hogwarts Library was a place Kayden Mae was finding herself increasingly comfortable in. She wasn't sure why that was - it wasn't like she was an avid reader. Her attention span was far too short for being able to read for pleasure (and, if she were to be honest with herself, it wasn't quite right for any sort of reading). Maybe the clusters of students reading in the nooks and at the tables reminded her of painting as her brother read. Maybe she just enjoyed the peace and quiet that was so hard to find anywhere else. Either way, on days like this, when it was too cold to go outside without trembling hands, she often wound up here on her free time.
Today, as usual, she had her bag over one shoulder, and inside, a water bottle, her sketching journal, and, of course, her gel pens. She glanced around, contemplating where she might find a place to settle in for a bit. She had begun floating towards a window overlooking the Forbidden Forest before she remembered, with a quiet gasp and a jerk of the head, the Chinese Fireball she'd had planned a little while ago, before she'd run into someone and gotten sidetracked. Beaming with excitement, she returned to the nook she'd picked the other day and settled herself in, dropping her bag carelessly on the floor and grabbing her journal and pens. She hoisted herself onto the wide window sill, laying her feet flat against the opposite side and laying her journal on her lap. She gazed out the window for a moment before grinning again, just as suddenly as before, and flipping to a new page.
Anyone paying attention to the pages that slipped by could see she was not very good. Her proportions were always off, which seemed to mean that they would never quite look realistic. It was the color that made them pop - every single sketch was done in vivid color, contrasting and blending at just the right moments. Most were done with her gel pens, as they were her favorite besides her paints and much more mobile, but some of the earlier ones were done in marker or paint. Not a single one had even a stroke of pencil - she preferred to work with her mistakes, rather than obsess over making a sketch perfect, and grey was a dull shade anyway - and few were done with black ink, and even that was used sparingly.
The thing about her sketchbook was that it was so personal - not in the sense that she minded if anyone saw her sketches or looked through her journal, although growing up with two playful brothers had made her possessive of her things. It was more that every drawing was a depiction of her personality, from the vivacity to the lack of care for perfection. So when she began drawing an outline of the dragon, and moved on quickly to a background of grey cobblestone, brown trees, and white snow, Kayden Mae relaxed with every stroke of her pen, even as her gaze focused with sharp intent. It wasn't until the sound of footsteps approaching reached her that she startled out of her trance, head jerking up.
One quick thing! I'd recommend turning the notifications on, because while I tagged you this time, I am ... very bad at tagging. 
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sta: 8 / eva: 6 / str: 5 / wis: 5 / arc: 5 / acc: 6
STA: 8 / EVA: 6 / STR: 5 / WIS: 5 / ARC: 5 / ACC: 6
STA: 8 / EVA: 7 / STR: 5 / WIS: 5 / ARC: 5 / ACC: 6
18 Mar 2020, 16:03
Friendly Faces
The library was a dream for Alex. The towering walls around her with books waiting to teach her everything she could possibly need to learn about this new world. Not to mention it was quiet. There were no voices ringing in her ears taking her wandering mind away from the precious words in her hands. It was a terrible reality, but a reality nonetheless, that this skill that she had used to get through the first years of elementary schoolβs loneliness was now a forced habit. However, the silence wasnβt what she was looking for today. She was looking for someone, she didnβt know who, just someone. Perhaps she could finally make a new start, maybe here she would finally live in the real world instead of the world on make-believe, goodness knew none of her daydreams were quite as strange as what was her world.
She wandered through the library, past her normal chair near the entrance. There were a variety of students, even if the vast majority were Ravenclaws. Most studied solo with a handful of students studying quietly together, peering over piles of books and looking over parchment after parchment. There was a table by the window peering over the Forbidden Forest with a few assorted Slytherin first years. She passed them quickly, she didn't need to come to the library if she intended to befriend a Slytherin. Each student she passed seemed to be fully engrossed one book or another or were hunched over rapidly scribbling notes or trying to do homework due much too soon. The longer she looked, the more she doubted that her theory would prevail, that she would in fact know who she was βlookingβ when she saw them.
And then she saw them.
There was a girl sitting in the window on the far side of the library, tucked away like a valuable book that someone had hidden away for safekeeping. Alex wasn't totally sure what it was about her, maybe it was the fact she wasn't sucked into a book, but rather a journal. Her pens flew across the page and she seemed like she was in another world. Alex took a deep breath, straightened her posture and briskly, as to make sure she didn't have enough time to fearfully turn around, walked over to her.
She glanced over the girl's shoulder and got a glimpse of her illustration, along with her red and gold tie. βI like your art, β she gave a small smile. βIβm Alex.β
@Kayden Mae Killian
She wandered through the library, past her normal chair near the entrance. There were a variety of students, even if the vast majority were Ravenclaws. Most studied solo with a handful of students studying quietly together, peering over piles of books and looking over parchment after parchment. There was a table by the window peering over the Forbidden Forest with a few assorted Slytherin first years. She passed them quickly, she didn't need to come to the library if she intended to befriend a Slytherin. Each student she passed seemed to be fully engrossed one book or another or were hunched over rapidly scribbling notes or trying to do homework due much too soon. The longer she looked, the more she doubted that her theory would prevail, that she would in fact know who she was βlookingβ when she saw them.
And then she saw them.
There was a girl sitting in the window on the far side of the library, tucked away like a valuable book that someone had hidden away for safekeeping. Alex wasn't totally sure what it was about her, maybe it was the fact she wasn't sucked into a book, but rather a journal. Her pens flew across the page and she seemed like she was in another world. Alex took a deep breath, straightened her posture and briskly, as to make sure she didn't have enough time to fearfully turn around, walked over to her.
She glanced over the girl's shoulder and got a glimpse of her illustration, along with her red and gold tie. βI like your art, β she gave a small smile. βIβm Alex.β
@Kayden Mae Killian
βA person isn't a bird. You can't cage a person.β
Stamina:4 // Evasion:6 // Strength:3 // Wisdom:7 // Arcane Power:6 // Accuracy:4
18 Mar 2020, 19:09
Friendly Faces
@Alex DiBenedetto
When the girl whose approach had drawn her attention headed straight for her, Kayden Mae blinked up at her. She was pretty sure she had never been bothered here before - most people came to the library to study, not make friends, after all - and while she didn't really care, it was a surprise. She noticed the way she walked first, quickly and with shoulders back, and then the green and silver tie. A Slytherin, then, and probably a first or second year.
At first, when she introduced herself, Kayden Mae just stared at for a moment or two, waiting on an explanation of what she was doing there or what she wanted from the Gryffindor, only to realize she was just introducing herself. Blushing a little, she held out a hand, offering a bright and apologetic smile. She was always ready to make friends, and while it struck her odd that this girl had just sort of ... approached her, she found herself readily relaxing.
"Thanks! I'm Kayden Mae. Uh, Kayden Mae Killian. I go by my first and middle name," she explained, glancing down at what she'd done so far. "I've been wanting to do this piece for awhile, but last time I tried, I was interrupted. It sucked a little." She looked back up at Alex, suddenly. "Not that I really minded! Then or - or now, I mean. My hand's cramping anyway, I probably need a break." She dropped her pen to her lap and shook her hand out to demonstrate, only realizing once she'd said so how true it was. She made a small note of exclamation when her hand started really cramping and started massaging it, laughing. After another moment, she scooted over, pressing herself tightly to the side, and reached over her knees to pat the windowsill in invitation. It was (maybe) large enough to fit two young girls facing each other if they pulled their legs in close, which was what Kayden Mae was in the middle of struggling to do. After a moment, she clipped her pen to the page she was on and snapped the journal shut, dropping it on top of her bag.
"So," she began, drawing out the 'o,' "are you a first year? How are you liking it so far? Have you grown up a witch, or are you Muggle-Born? My parents are both half-bloods, so, y'know, so am I. And my brothers, obviously. Do you have siblings?"
πππππ'π π ππππ π πππππππ ππ πππππππ πππ ππππ, πππ π'π πππππ π πππ ππ π ππππππ π’ππ ππππ ππ ππ πππ.
sta: 8 / eva: 6 / str: 5 / wis: 5 / arc: 5 / acc: 6
STA: 8 / EVA: 6 / STR: 5 / WIS: 5 / ARC: 5 / ACC: 6
STA: 8 / EVA: 7 / STR: 5 / WIS: 5 / ARC: 5 / ACC: 6
18 Mar 2020, 20:30
Friendly Faces
Alex watched the girl's reaction and immediately wished she had a time turner. The girl had given her the most peculiar look, a look of, βwhy are you talking to me?β or at least that's what Alex took it as. I should have known, she thought, thereβs a reason they booed, there's a reason they booed, there's a reason-. "Thanks! I'm Kayden Mae. Uh, Kayden Mae Killian. I go by my first and middle name," Alex was taken aback, she was smiling up at her and had her hand extended. Perhaps it wasn't annoyance in her eyes, just surprise. Alex slowly took her hand and hoped that she hadn't dropped her confidence act too much.
"I've been wanting to do this piece for a while, β Alex looked down again, now getting a clearer look at the drawing and smiled. It was obvious she had put time in it, time and thought in each brushstroke. βbut last time I tried, I was interrupted. It sucked a little." Alex felt her face drop. Her mind began racing with apologies, but before she could speak, Kayden Mae spoke again. "Not that I really minded! Then or - or now, I mean. My hand's cramping anyway, I probably need a break."
Alex looked down at the ground in embarrassment and felt her face redden. She sounded so genuine, but voices can be very deceiving and, anyway, how could she be? Alex had a painful realization that coming to the library to make a friend was likely one of her worst ideas. Her theory had been that if she could find someone just spending time in the library simply for the sake of being in the library, we'll, theyβd have at least something in common.
When Kayden Mae patted the spot next to her, Alex hesitated a moment too long to be unnoticeable. On one hand, it would be rude to interrupt her then ignore her invitation. On the other hand, besides the fact Alex couldn't stand being in close proximity to people, she wanted nothing more than to hide. She looked back up at the girl again and let out a breath. She slowly sat down, cramping herself into the seat and folding herself up to try to maintain at least an inch of space between them.
Kayden Mae wasted no time interrogating Alex, immediately spurting out rapid-fire questions. She seemed to talk very quickly and Alex wondered if it was anxiety or excitement. βWell uh...Iβm a first-year, I'm not quite sure yet, Slytherin is, well, β she thought back to some of the interesting characters sheβd met, βinteresting. And yeah, Iβm a muggle-born and only born,β she laughed quietly and ran her hand through her hair anxiously. βI just want to say sorry, I just thought, oh I don't know, I would try and introduce myself.β She let out a sigh and a sad laugh, βThis is the first school I've gone to where I'm not the strangest one.β
@ Kayden Mae Killian
"I've been wanting to do this piece for a while, β Alex looked down again, now getting a clearer look at the drawing and smiled. It was obvious she had put time in it, time and thought in each brushstroke. βbut last time I tried, I was interrupted. It sucked a little." Alex felt her face drop. Her mind began racing with apologies, but before she could speak, Kayden Mae spoke again. "Not that I really minded! Then or - or now, I mean. My hand's cramping anyway, I probably need a break."
Alex looked down at the ground in embarrassment and felt her face redden. She sounded so genuine, but voices can be very deceiving and, anyway, how could she be? Alex had a painful realization that coming to the library to make a friend was likely one of her worst ideas. Her theory had been that if she could find someone just spending time in the library simply for the sake of being in the library, we'll, theyβd have at least something in common.
When Kayden Mae patted the spot next to her, Alex hesitated a moment too long to be unnoticeable. On one hand, it would be rude to interrupt her then ignore her invitation. On the other hand, besides the fact Alex couldn't stand being in close proximity to people, she wanted nothing more than to hide. She looked back up at the girl again and let out a breath. She slowly sat down, cramping herself into the seat and folding herself up to try to maintain at least an inch of space between them.
Kayden Mae wasted no time interrogating Alex, immediately spurting out rapid-fire questions. She seemed to talk very quickly and Alex wondered if it was anxiety or excitement. βWell uh...Iβm a first-year, I'm not quite sure yet, Slytherin is, well, β she thought back to some of the interesting characters sheβd met, βinteresting. And yeah, Iβm a muggle-born and only born,β she laughed quietly and ran her hand through her hair anxiously. βI just want to say sorry, I just thought, oh I don't know, I would try and introduce myself.β She let out a sigh and a sad laugh, βThis is the first school I've gone to where I'm not the strangest one.β
@ Kayden Mae Killian
βA person isn't a bird. You can't cage a person.β
Stamina:4 // Evasion:6 // Strength:3 // Wisdom:7 // Arcane Power:6 // Accuracy:4
19 Mar 2020, 00:43
Friendly Faces
@Alex DiBenedetto
Kayden Mae watched her closely, eyes soft but keen, when she realized Alex was just a little bit nervous. When Alex took the seat, she adjusted herself quickly so that she had her legs tucked under her, sitting on her heels, giving the two another inch or so of space. She offered a gentle, playful smile, just a little crooked. The thing about Kayden Mae was that she was so genuine, overly genuine, even. Her heart and mind were on her sleeve, always, and she had been told that it didnβt take long for others to realize this.
(Of course, sheβd also been told that this was not a good thing, but thereβs no changing a tigerβs stripes.)
βOh, wow, youβre a muggle-born? This is all quite a shock, then, isnβt it? Granda - my grandfather, on my dadβs side - he was muggle-born, and he always told me stories about his first year. He says - said - he still canβt quite believe everything he saw here, sometimes.β She paused, glancing down again at Alexβs tie, and something clicked. βWait - youβre a muggle-born in Slytherin? I mean, obviously, thereβs nothing wrong with that, I couldnβt care less, but being in Slytherin and being a muggle-born must be kinda tough. I know it happens, and a lot more often than it used to - I mean, everythingβs better than it used to be, of course, before like ... the war.β She waved a hand, almost dismissively - sheβd grown up hearing about the Second Wizarding War, and while it certainly wasnβt anything sheβd like to dwell on, she wasnβt overly concerned about it. βNo oneβs given you trouble, have they?β She tilted her head, blue eyes earnest.
βOh, well, thereβs really nothing to be sorry for. Iβve enjoyed your introduction so far.β She offered a wonky, bright grin, but her eyes softened at Alexβs next words and the small laugh. For all that Kayden Mae could be brash and loud and annoying and incessantly talkative, she had a soft heart, and it always went out to people just like Alex. After all, chivalry sets Gryffindors apart. Her moral code was as strong as anything else about her, and a person in need, especially of a friend, had always called out to her as loudly as a scream for help. βHey, strange fits right in here. I mean, weβve got floating candles and - and books that talk.β She laughed as, somewhere a few feet away, someone squealed when a book began talking halfway through her sentence. βSee? Youβll be fine here.β
πππππ'π π ππππ π πππππππ ππ πππππππ πππ ππππ, πππ π'π πππππ π πππ ππ π ππππππ π’ππ ππππ ππ ππ πππ.
sta: 8 / eva: 6 / str: 5 / wis: 5 / arc: 5 / acc: 6
STA: 8 / EVA: 6 / STR: 5 / WIS: 5 / ARC: 5 / ACC: 6
STA: 8 / EVA: 7 / STR: 5 / WIS: 5 / ARC: 5 / ACC: 6
19 Mar 2020, 02:19
Friendly Faces
@ Kayden Mae Kilian
The genuine nature of this girl took Alex back. It was unusual for sure, not just in the sense of Slytherins, but of anyone sheβd met. There weren't the masks that people seemed to wear wherever she went. Kayden Maeβs voice was quick and hyperactive but there was something soothing. Alex thought that she ad certainly made the right choice of friends.
She smiled and nodded as the Gryffindor, her new friend she thought happily, told her about her grandfather, of his confusion and shock when he arrived. She couldn't help but laugh at the familiarity of the story. Then she noticed Alexβs tie, and it was her time to be confused.
βWait - youβre a muggle-born in Slytherin?β Kayden Mae didn't let her shock last too long. She tried to bury the said shock in a conversation of how it wasn't that strange anymore and how things must have changed since the βSecond Wizarding Warβ. The War. She brushed it off with such ease. It was still hard for Alex to think about how some people had simply grown up in this world, knowing this stuff. Alex knew it wasnβt too peculiar for her to talk somewhat casually of the past, but Alex was learning all this, this history, her history, all at once.
βNo oneβs given you trouble, have they?β She said with a tilted head and concerned eyes. Alex felt her face flush, although she wasnβt quite sure why. No one had ever seemed to give her such affection and genuine concern quite like the girl in front of her. Perhaps it was because she didn't have to be so kind that her kindness struck her. Alex shook her head. No one had given her any trouble... yet.
Alex smiled a genuine smile as Kayden began to talk about the peculiarities of the school, jumping slightly as a book being picked up roughly by Ravenclaw yelled out in disapproval, and let out a genuine laugh. She felt her posture relax for nearly the first time in months. β I do have to say, agree with your grandfather. This place is positively insane!β She looked out the window and saw someone flying around on their broom and Alex couldn't help but laugh and gesture outside, saying, βYou know, when I was five, I was a which for Halloween? If you had told me I was a witch? Well...β Her voice faded briefly as she remembered little things, things that felt like a dream or Deja Vu, that she now knew weren't dreamed at all. Things that her mother tried to bury that never seemed to disappear.
βA person isn't a bird. You can't cage a person.β
Stamina:4 // Evasion:6 // Strength:3 // Wisdom:7 // Arcane Power:6 // Accuracy:4