Picnic by the Lake PV Kaegen Deathmote Closed

A prevailing sense of dread settled over the grounds by the lake like a dark cloud. The nice sun would suddenly seem a little less cheerful, the lazy little shadows would suddenly seem oppressive, filled with some palpable malice. It was as if a thin mask had been pulled over the face of an otherwise wonderful day. Some of the other students started to filter away, with whispers of a demon. They didn't really know what Kaegen was, so part demon would work for the rumor mill.

After all, Dhampirs were creepy, but they didn't cause shadows to dance, they didn't dim the lights or wear a cold draft like a bed sheet. Kaegen was scared, of this picnic. He didn't know what to expect, really, and he didn't like the feeling of fear that was rooted firmly in his core. So he masked it with hate, he transformed the trembling fragility of terror with the calm burning of a cold hate. And that hate exploded from him in waves that pounded against everything around him.

He saw the little Gryffindor, and he smelled the sandwiches. Moving closer, he sat down wordlessly, feeling incredibly awkward, and furiously repressing it with hate. More hate, just hate, hate to drown the fear, hate to drown the thought that this might be something nice. Hate to drown the fear of other worlds, and hate to help his heart stay calm. He hadn't slept. Again. It showed in the dark rings, in his hollow cheeks and the skin that looked like a terminally ill spring roll wrapper.

He looked down at his hands, at the shadows that whipped around him like agitated tendrils. She had helped him, saved him. This was a person who had helped him before, who had saved him when he lost his scarf. Sure, she hadn't gotten it back, but she hadn't had an obligation to. She had done more than her share.
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Interacting with @Kaegen Deathmote

Sensing an odd presence slowly approaching in her direction, she looked up and saw a gloomy-looking boy with dark hair walking towards her. It was no doubt the third year Ravenclaw she had encountered a few times. Griseldis, clueless as always not knowing what was going on the elder boy's head at this very moment, cheerfully, beaming with excitement, waving at him with a bright smile on her face, "Hi, Kaegen! You're finally here! Come and have a seat!"

The Ravenclaw senior didn't greet her back and just quietly sat on the red and white gingham picnic blanket. Griseldis assumed he was just shy or not used to start small talks but looking closely, she noticed he had dark rings underneath his eyes. Oh, he didn't sleep well last night? No wonder he looked so tired and not in a good mood, hope this picnic can cheer him up a litte. The lioness thought innocently to herself while the Ravenclaw still remained silent.

This was the first time they got the opportunity to meet in a more peaceful place without being disturbed like those encounters they once had. Not in an accident, not in a fight or in chaos. Just a nice place surrounded by nature with no other people but just them two. Griseldis kinda understood that he certainly not the type to begin a conversation so she would start it first. "So, I'm not sure what kind of sandwich you really like so I asked the kitchen elves to make all kinds of sandwiches, let's see...we have Ham Sandwiches, Pork Sandwiches, Tuna Sandwiches, Bacon Sandwiches, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, and Egg Sandwiches. Which one would you like to eat, first?", before Kaegen picked one of the Sandwiches or debating rather or not to eat one, Griseldis suddenly remembered something, "Oh! I almost forgot, I also brought some tea, do you like Green Tea or Oolong Tea?" She asked and pointed at the two vacuum flasks beside the basket.

He was thrown off balance by a few things. The first was how active his castle walls had suddenly become. The waves of fear and terror that seemed to warp the hearts of those around him, keeping them away, and keeping himself safe, were flaring far beyond what he usually tried to keep them at. He noticed all at once, prompting his eyes to flash open wide. This shock was doubled when he noticed that the girl in front of him wasn't affected at all. He startled back, catching himself with one arm before pushing himself back to a seated position. Right, she was immune. There were a few like that, although he couldn't possibly rationalize why that was.

She was describing sandwiches, although clearly, she thought him for a fool. His surprised eyes instantly narrowed with suspicion. Was she pulling a prank? Testing him? Was his reaction going to be gauged? It didn't matter, he would speak the truth, and make it clear that he wasn't someone you could simply toy with. He would be pulling the strings, if anyone at all.

"You can't turn chicken into a salad. Chicken is a kind of bird. Animalia. Salad is a plant. It's not even in the same kingdom."

The rest of them sounded delicious though, enough to soften his suspicious glare quickly, just by breathing in. The food was a mix of flavors and smells he vaguely recognized from the great hall. But it had been over a year since he had actually enjoyed any food. That simply wasn't what food was for, food was something you used to keep yourself alive, it was a tool. The tea question threw him off further, to the point that he was feeling flustered. Heat was starting to rise to his sallow cheeks, although they would only look more diseased, flushing a darker shade of ghastly grey.

There were a few smells he was pretty sure were from the girl. Feathers, spices, a roar and grass. Or maybe the grass was from the lawn he was sitting on. It was hard to tell, with smells, and it was often hard to describe as well, prompting him to think more in terms of the abstract when he had to, like with the roar. An odd smell, for such a funny looking girl.

"The green. I don't like long drinks."



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