29 Mar 2020, 00:58
A Courtyard Performance
It was something Riona had wanted to do ever since she left Muggle London and caught her first glimpse of the school. Armed with her violin and several memorised compositions, she stood on the corner of the courtyard, head held high. There were quite a few students milling about, and she met the confused gazes of several of them. Maybe some of them knew exactly what it was she was holding, and perhaps others thought she held a weapon in her hands. The Gryffindor girl almost laughed at that thought. Yes, if some thought it was a weapon, she'd show them just how deadly it could be.
She raised her violin, admiring the flamed maple wood as she always did, and the passion between the reunited lovers of string and bow filled the air once more.
The song was Who You Really Are, played in the final episode of her favourite Muggle TV show, Sherlock Holmes. It started slow, solemn, and mellow, filling the air with rich and melancholy tones. Her eyes closed, her fingers weaving the story of the song in a pattern they had traced so many times before. And she listened closely to the story as she told it, losing herself in the music.
The music grew faster, more intense, leaving behind the slow and solemn for a crescendo of the melancholy. Her fingers moved more rapidly, the story building, the climax nearing, the air growing heavier with the notes and the words of the strings--
And then it slowed, and it calmed, and the song ended.
Only then did Riona open her eyes.
She raised her violin, admiring the flamed maple wood as she always did, and the passion between the reunited lovers of string and bow filled the air once more.
The song was Who You Really Are, played in the final episode of her favourite Muggle TV show, Sherlock Holmes. It started slow, solemn, and mellow, filling the air with rich and melancholy tones. Her eyes closed, her fingers weaving the story of the song in a pattern they had traced so many times before. And she listened closely to the story as she told it, losing herself in the music.
The music grew faster, more intense, leaving behind the slow and solemn for a crescendo of the melancholy. Her fingers moved more rapidly, the story building, the climax nearing, the air growing heavier with the notes and the words of the strings--
And then it slowed, and it calmed, and the song ended.
Only then did Riona open her eyes.
Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, will not be cake.
29 Mar 2020, 02:21
A Courtyard Performance
Who is screeching? Gienna was coming from Charms, where she had just finished speaking to the professor about some homework, nothing that important. What she really wanted to do was go relax in the dorms or perhaps in the study room, where she could possibly annoy the heck out of the poor students trying to focus. Wanting some fresh air, the young Slytherin had made her way to the courtyard, planning to rest on the stone ledges before she headed to the dungeons.
But then she heard singing. And it was really singing, too, it's just that Gienna had a habit for making things sound more miserable than they were. She didn't care much for strings but the violinist sounded decent, she was only annoyed because it came out of no one.
Gienna had stopped before she came into view of the courtyard, listening to the song until it was finished. She faintly recognized it—perhaps it was from a TV show? Gienna didn't care much for muggle television beyond cartoons so she honestly didn't know, or care.
She slowly came into view, clapping her hands accordingly. When she entered the courtyard she stopped a few feet away from the girl and said, "Decent, yet not encore-worthy—needs a bit of tuning, I'm afraid." Gienna was being one hundred percent sarcastic but perhaps the girl couldn't tell by the way she crossed her arms and kept a straight face, her eyes full of faux scrutiny.
But then she heard singing. And it was really singing, too, it's just that Gienna had a habit for making things sound more miserable than they were. She didn't care much for strings but the violinist sounded decent, she was only annoyed because it came out of no one.
Gienna had stopped before she came into view of the courtyard, listening to the song until it was finished. She faintly recognized it—perhaps it was from a TV show? Gienna didn't care much for muggle television beyond cartoons so she honestly didn't know, or care.
She slowly came into view, clapping her hands accordingly. When she entered the courtyard she stopped a few feet away from the girl and said, "Decent, yet not encore-worthy—needs a bit of tuning, I'm afraid." Gienna was being one hundred percent sarcastic but perhaps the girl couldn't tell by the way she crossed her arms and kept a straight face, her eyes full of faux scrutiny.
29 Mar 2020, 06:12
A Courtyard Performance
The final note faded from the air, and she lowered her violin, her mind still caught in that moment. The sound of slow clapping returned her senses to the present, and when she looked at its source, she saw a girl wearing the Slytherin colours. While she tried to consider everyone to be exempt of their house stereotypes, a small voice in her head said oh, what now, you snake? That voice proceeded to shut up, and she watched as the Slytherin approached her, still clapping slowly.
When the girl was a few feet away, she stopped and spoke.
She kept a cheerful smile on her face, trying to hide the prejudice battling for control in her mind.
When the girl was a few feet away, she stopped and spoke.
Riona's eyes narrowed, noting the girl's crossed arms and serious gaze. Was she serious? "Well, I'm glad someone here knows violins as well as I do," she replied, trying to make her voice sound friendly. "You know, given how you could tell it wasn't tuned enough. How silly of me, to forget how the song I know off by heart is supposed to sound like!" Stop, you're getting too worked up over this; if she was a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff or anything other than Slytherin you wouldn't care--"Decent, yet not encore-worthy—needs a bit of tuning, I'm afraid."
She kept a cheerful smile on her face, trying to hide the prejudice battling for control in her mind.
Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, will not be cake.
29 Mar 2020, 15:31
A Courtyard Performance
Gienna narrowed her eyes, ready to spit poison if things got nasty, but before she said something she might've regretted, her mouth twisted into a lopsided grin. She would've been really lying if she continued her joke saying that the girl was awful; the girl was far from it and she should probably let her know. But in a nonchalant way, of course.
"I was only jesting, of course," she said, swinging her legs back and forth as she studied the courtyard. "You're pretty good, but everyone has room for improvement. But that's just coming from me, a person who doesn't give a galleon about strings." She shrugged to emphasize her point.
The girl seemed to have been playing the song from heart rather than practice without those music sheets, so it wasn't that impressive. But then again Gienna was being arrogant alongside with not giving much of a care about violins, or this girl. And she noticed how she was flared up a bit at the sound of Gienna's words, which usually egged her on to keep pestering someone, but she wasn't really in the mood to go any further. Besides, she was here to relax, not bother anyway.
Gienna leaned against the wall, crossing her arms and gazing up at the sky. "So, how long have you've been playing? Let me guess, since you were two years old?"
"I was only jesting, of course," she said, swinging her legs back and forth as she studied the courtyard. "You're pretty good, but everyone has room for improvement. But that's just coming from me, a person who doesn't give a galleon about strings." She shrugged to emphasize her point.
The girl seemed to have been playing the song from heart rather than practice without those music sheets, so it wasn't that impressive. But then again Gienna was being arrogant alongside with not giving much of a care about violins, or this girl. And she noticed how she was flared up a bit at the sound of Gienna's words, which usually egged her on to keep pestering someone, but she wasn't really in the mood to go any further. Besides, she was here to relax, not bother anyway.
Gienna leaned against the wall, crossing her arms and gazing up at the sky. "So, how long have you've been playing? Let me guess, since you were two years old?"
30 Mar 2020, 05:37
A Courtyard Performance
Riona found her smile reflected on the face of the Slytherin girl, albeit with a wicked twist.
"Without the "old". Two years. I've been playing for two years." She smiled cheerfully, inflecting as much friendliness into her tone as she could. She probably had overdone it; she probably sounded sarcastic, but what the hell, she was trying. This girl could be a potential friend, if she ever stopped acting like that, and Riona could use more friends.
"There are only a few songs on this that I can play from memory. If you liked that one, do you want to hear another?" There, that was friendly enough, right? She held her violin tightly, already mentally going through the short list of songs she knew.
Ah, well, at least she had taken back her comment. Riona tried to relax; there was no need for hostilities here, just because their houses were enemies didn't mean that they had to be. "Well, thank you, then. Nice to know that Slytherins have a sense of humour too." Oh hell. What had she literally just told herself about being nice? Thankfully, she had said the last part quietly, hopefully too quiet for the Slytherin girl to hear at that distance."I was only jesting, of course. You're pretty good, but everyone has room for improvement. But that's just coming from me, a person who doesn't give a galleon about strings."
Based on the girl's words, she probably hadn't heard Riona's thinly veiled insult, but she couldn't tell. People were confusing. Either way, she would now, starting now, from now on, be nicer."So, how long have you've been playing? Let me guess, since you were two years old?"
"Without the "old". Two years. I've been playing for two years." She smiled cheerfully, inflecting as much friendliness into her tone as she could. She probably had overdone it; she probably sounded sarcastic, but what the hell, she was trying. This girl could be a potential friend, if she ever stopped acting like that, and Riona could use more friends.
"There are only a few songs on this that I can play from memory. If you liked that one, do you want to hear another?" There, that was friendly enough, right? She held her violin tightly, already mentally going through the short list of songs she knew.
Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, will not be cake.
30 Mar 2020, 11:53
A Courtyard Performance
Lydia thought she had gotten used to the weirdness and magical nature of her new school, but no; now there was music coming from the courtyard? She stopped almost dead in her tracks.
Suddenly she was back at home, messing around on her cello, trying to follow the melody her father was playing on his violin. The Ravenclaw clutched her textbooks tighter as she felt the homesickness creeping up on her, getting lost in the music and her memories.
As she felt the tune drawing to conclusion, Liddy snapped back to reality; she couldn't just stand here, she had to find the musician!
Almost tripping down the staircases leading to the courtyard, she rushed to see who was playing before they decided to leave. And, she was in luck - they were still there! In fact, Lydia was lucky enough to hear the tail end of the conversation between the two girls.
"Let me guess, since you were two years old?"
"Without the "old". Two years. I've been playing for two years."
"There are only a few songs on this that I can play from memory. If you liked that one, do you want to hear another?"
Still slightly panting from her little run, she did her best to look calm and put together as she made her way towards the two, trying and failing to make her mess of ginger hair appear less mane-like. First impressions and all that.
"Oh, please play some more!" Lydia called as she caught up to them. "I haven't heard music in so long. I've barely had time to practice myself." A cloud of pink crossed her cheeks - she hadn't realised how long ago she'd picked up her instrument, and her father would have a heart attack if he knew.
"Do you play as well?" the Ravenclaw asked the more stoic-looking Slytherin, trying not to concern herself with her scarily critical demeanour. She obviously knew enough about music to criticise her playing, so it wasn't too farfetched to think so! Maybe the three could even get some chamber music group going!
but to feel nothing as to not feel anything - what a waste
stamina 7 | evasion 6 | strength 5 | wisdom 6 | arcane power 4 | accuracy 7
30 Mar 2020, 16:16
A Courtyard Performance
Gienna nodded impressively; two years or training? That was two years more than the Slytherin, who hadn't ever played an instrument, unless you counted the piano and the sorry attempt at playing the alphabet. Gienna respected musicians and at this point she would've really been affable towards the girl but she sensed mildly that the violinist was holding back most of the offensiveness that came with confronting a Slytherin. It was a little amusing but Gienna decided to ignore it because she didn't care to be a bully for the moment.
The girl admitted that she only knew a few songs from memory and prompted her if she'd like to hear another. Gienna pretended to consider this, knowing fully well that she would, but didn't want to seem like she was been too friendly. She was about to say 'if you're able' but then another girl came about.
She was a redhead like the first girl but seemed more open and friendly, if not a little intimidated by seemingly Gienna's presence...not that she minded. But instead of snapping at her for nearly interrupting the blond merrily raised her brows, looking elsewhere until the second girl addressed her.
"I know the piano...," Gienna said, which was barely true. But the other girls couldn't know that. She was surprised at her impulse to say that but she guessed it stemmed from wanting to fit into the conversation. She would get irrelevant quickly if they'd realized she didn't know a smidge about music beyond a few piano keys. She found the girl with the violin and her precious two years of experience interesting.
"Mind an exchange of names, by the way? I'm Gienna...Koski," she said, stifling a yawn.
The girl admitted that she only knew a few songs from memory and prompted her if she'd like to hear another. Gienna pretended to consider this, knowing fully well that she would, but didn't want to seem like she was been too friendly. She was about to say 'if you're able' but then another girl came about.
She was a redhead like the first girl but seemed more open and friendly, if not a little intimidated by seemingly Gienna's presence...not that she minded. But instead of snapping at her for nearly interrupting the blond merrily raised her brows, looking elsewhere until the second girl addressed her.
"I know the piano...," Gienna said, which was barely true. But the other girls couldn't know that. She was surprised at her impulse to say that but she guessed it stemmed from wanting to fit into the conversation. She would get irrelevant quickly if they'd realized she didn't know a smidge about music beyond a few piano keys. She found the girl with the violin and her precious two years of experience interesting.
"Mind an exchange of names, by the way? I'm Gienna...Koski," she said, stifling a yawn.
31 Mar 2020, 00:51
A Courtyard Performance
The arrival of the ginger-haired girl snapped Riona out of her rumination. She looked curiously at the newcomer, smiling at the fervour with which she spoke. It was nice to see someone else as passionate about music as she was. And she would fulfil the stranger's request, as soon as her brain decided to remember a music score.
So she just smiled instead.
The question was directed at her Slytherin acquaintance. Damn, Riona hadn't thought to ask that. If she did play an instrument, then maybe they could start some form of band or ensemble. Did the school have one already? Mental note: figure out if there's a Hogwarts music group. If there is, join. If there isn't, make one."Do you play as well?"
"The piano?" Riona repeated, mildly surprised. For some reason, she'd pegged the Slytherin as more of a woodwind type. The image of that girl sitting down at a grand piano didn't come readily to mind, but no matter. She was a musician! Riona hadn't expected many people to be familiar with what she called "Muggle instruments", but apparently music was a lot more universal than she thought."I know the piano..."
"Riona Murphy," was her response. She had an impulse to extend her hand, but she had just introduced herself to two people. Was there some sort of order to shaking hands? Would whoever she shook hands with second be offended? Was it pretentious for an eleven-year-old to shake the hands of multiple people? Not to mention she was still holding the violin and its bow."Mind an exchange of names, by the way? I'm Gienna... Koski."
So she just smiled instead.
Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, will not be cake.
31 Mar 2020, 19:23
A Courtyard Performance
"I know the piano...,"
Now that she'd calmed down a bit, Lydia reigned in her smile to be a little more modest; judging from the Gryffindor girl's change in demeanor, there had clearly been some kind of tension in the air, and Liddy wasn't about to overstep some kind of line even further.
Maybe the best way to deal with all of this was just to will that hint prior awkwardness away? Maybe there hadn't been any trouble at all. She always did give her intuition more credit than it was due.
"The piano?"
"The piano! That's perfect! We could have a little piano trio going in no time." she replied, sticking her hands into her pockets contently. She could almost feel the thrum beneath her fingertips again, the cello pegs tucked behind her ear, the old resin gliding over her bow hairs. Ok, it was really time to pick up her instrument again. This was getting weird.
"Mind an exchange of names, by the way? I'm Gienna... Koski."
"Riona Murphy,"
"Lydia Hughes," came her own response, "Nice to meet you guys." She knew introductions were necessary, but Lydia was definitely getting bored of them - she wasn't used to meeting so many new people, and her name was starting to sound dry on her own lips.
"You're first years too, right? We should really find out if there's some kind of music club here... I know about the frog choir, but eh..."
but to feel nothing as to not feel anything - what a waste
stamina 7 | evasion 6 | strength 5 | wisdom 6 | arcane power 4 | accuracy 7
3 Apr 2020, 23:07
A Courtyard Performance
Music club? Piano...trio? Hell no, do I look like the type— "That actually sounds quite interesting. I can gather some of my old...music, perhaps." Gienna wanted to face palm. She was only deeping the pit of a bad lie, one that she could probably get away with if she actually took the time to learn the flipping piano. But the Slytherin wasn't musically acute, nevertheless with a piano. She would only make herself look a fool if she tried anything other than the Alphabet Song. She felt stupid, but that wasn't enough to stop her from nodding along, faking the entire thing. At least she was able to keep some layer of nonchalance.
So the girls were Riona and Lydia. Perfect, now she had friends, like her mother kept nagging her about. Gienna didn't care much for those but she also got bored with not having anyone to really talk to. It got too redundant having to tease and 'chit chat' with people who she barely cared about. These two didn't seem to bad, and Riona was especially interesting; Gienna could tell she had kind of riled her up; perhaps Lydia, if she were clever, noticed as well. This will be fun.
Just to save herself a little, Gienna said, "Just how big do you think these clubs are? I've heard of an orchestra club but I'm not really into groups. Or clubs." Or trios. Or instruments, she thought, but not aloud. She looked at the girls again, studying their clothing. "Gryffindor and...Ravenclaw, right? And you guys are fine with a Slytherin in your little trio?"
If anyone besides her had said that, Gienna would've went on about bigoted buffoons discriminating people for their labels—or should would've joined into the aggression—but maybe if they really didn't like Slytherins they'd subliminally express their discomfort so she could gladly but faux sadly leave and forget about them. Even though a small part of her want to be try at playing the piano; who knew?
So the girls were Riona and Lydia. Perfect, now she had friends, like her mother kept nagging her about. Gienna didn't care much for those but she also got bored with not having anyone to really talk to. It got too redundant having to tease and 'chit chat' with people who she barely cared about. These two didn't seem to bad, and Riona was especially interesting; Gienna could tell she had kind of riled her up; perhaps Lydia, if she were clever, noticed as well. This will be fun.
Just to save herself a little, Gienna said, "Just how big do you think these clubs are? I've heard of an orchestra club but I'm not really into groups. Or clubs." Or trios. Or instruments, she thought, but not aloud. She looked at the girls again, studying their clothing. "Gryffindor and...Ravenclaw, right? And you guys are fine with a Slytherin in your little trio?"
If anyone besides her had said that, Gienna would've went on about bigoted buffoons discriminating people for their labels—or should would've joined into the aggression—but maybe if they really didn't like Slytherins they'd subliminally express their discomfort so she could gladly but faux sadly leave and forget about them. Even though a small part of her want to be try at playing the piano; who knew?