Breakfast with.. Friends?
Location: Great Hall
Tag: PV @Robin Lockett, @Alexander Zolotov
Date: September 2nd, 2025
Time: 8:00am
When Alexander compares it to how one would read a book, Corrine nods with a smile. He wasn’t wrong, after all; that’s the core experience of how it worked. “They don’t always follow the book's lead,” she adds, her nose wrinkling slightly in what seems to be distaste. “There’s something called movie directors, who.. you know, direct how they want them to go. How the performers will act, how to say their lines, that sort of thing.. and they usually have good decision power of how it’ll turn out. This one turned out pretty well, but I’ve seen some.. fair share of movies that downgraded in quality when they didn’t follow the book’s lead.”
She had been so busy rambling that she didn’t see her friend frown and nudge a piece of toast closer to her plate. It’s only when he asked in a concerned manner about whether or not it was enough that she actually looked down, seeing what he had nudged closer.
A toast of bread.
Truth be told, Corrine loves to eat. However, in front of her two newfound friends, she’s worried of weirding them out by her obvious love for food. If she could, she’d be grabbing a bunch of other things: some sausages, some of that fried rice, some potatoes, and so on.. and she knows she’d still have space for dessert!
But she hadn’t grabbed anything else, and the two of them had noticed.
Corrine hesitates. Maybe a piece of toast is fine, she thinks. He did offer it..
And so, Corrine grabs the piece of toast and puts it on her plate, flashing Alexander a smile.. only to be once again interrupted by a louder grumble of her tummy.
"In every life, through every door. . . I hope to meet y0u again."
Breakfast with.. Friends?
Alexander blinked a bit and looked at Robin when he started explaining about it, he listened carefully as he spoke Robin has a very nice voice Alexander subconusly. His eyes followed Robin’s hand movements slightly his weird habit of watching people made him notice a few things other mess that was one of the things he likes about himself and let me tell you there wasnt a lot, anyway Robin´s hand movement seemed as if he was trying to visualize the idea of a moving camera tilting, shifting, capturing different angles.
“…So it’s not just one fixed view?,” he murmured under his breath.
That… actually sounded more complicated than he expected but interesting none the less.
When Robin mentioned only watching a few, Alexander glanced at him briefly, then nodded small, but acknowledging.
“…That makes sense,” he said quietly. “Books are… consistent.”
His fingers lightly traced the edge of his sleeve as he processed everything. He looked at Corrine then back at Robin, ¨i never asked what are you two´s blood status, its okay if your not comfortable sharing¨
@Robin Lockett @Corrine Aelina
“…So it’s not just one fixed view?,” he murmured under his breath.
That… actually sounded more complicated than he expected but interesting none the less.
When Robin mentioned only watching a few, Alexander glanced at him briefly, then nodded small, but acknowledging.
“…That makes sense,” he said quietly. “Books are… consistent.”
His fingers lightly traced the edge of his sleeve as he processed everything. He looked at Corrine then back at Robin, ¨i never asked what are you two´s blood status, its okay if your not comfortable sharing¨
@Robin Lockett @Corrine Aelina
Breakfast with.. Friends?
Location: Great Hall
Tag: PV @Robin Lockett, @Alexander Zolotov
Date: September 2nd, 2025
Time: 8:00am
Corrine is mortified. Can her tummy stop rumbling, please? With an embarrassed expression, she shrinks into her seat, content to stay quiet.
Why do I always end up embarrassing myself in front of friends? She frowns. First in front of Wolfe and Robin, now in front of Robin and Alexander.. I hope nobody heard it.
In order for the roaring hunger of her stomach to subside, the girl reaches for a fork, beginning to eat the eggs that she had put on her plate. Although she had been embarrassed, the moment her favorite sunny side up eggs got into her mouth, she couldn't help but perk up, obviously happy. Her eyes sparkle as she swallows, immediately using her fork to pick up another piece.
I should slow down since they might notice, Corrine hums thoughtfully, taking another bite. But it tastes so good.. I hope they don’t. Occasionally, the girl takes the toast she had been offered, taking a good bite out of it before placing it back down on her plate.
It’s only until Alexander asks about their blood statuses that she actually pauses her eating, putting aside her fork. Bringing out a white handkerchief to wipe a few crumbs off her mouth, she mumbles, “I’m a muggle-born. Didn’t even know I was a witch until I got my Hogwarts letter, which is why I know a decent amount about the Muggle world.”
"In every life, through every door. . . I hope to meet y0u again."
Breakfast with.. Friends?
Robin can't quite remember if he had shared his blood status or not, but it looks like he didn't, at least to Alexander. He saw Corrine wipe her mouth, so he waited till she finished talking about herself before speaking up.
"My dad's a muggle-born wizard, mum's a pure-blood witch. That's why my nan and pops on my dad's side watch so many movies and do a lot of muggle activities in general, since they're muggles. But I was raised by my parents in a wizarding neighborhood, that's why I had at least some degree of magical education." He doesn't have a strong opinion towards whether or not he's a pure-blood, so Alexander's question didn't offend him in the slightest. On the contrary, he likes explaining himself to prevent any misunderstandings, sometimes even over-explaining.
Robin noticed Alexander observing people when they were talking, he also did that a lot. Then he realized something that didn't register before, the fact that the boy's eyes were dark pink. They surely weren't pink yesterday . . . might just be a stylistic choice, but what if he didn't like his eye color for some deeper reason? Robin didn't want to risk it.
He hoped Alexander didn't notice his urge to ask a question and the subsequent hesitation, so he quickly thought of using a different topic as a cover-up: "You're pure-blood, right? How's that like growing up?" It was a relevant question, given they were discussing blood status. Then Robin thought of the possibility that his childhood was unhappy or something and that this question would be as bad as the one he had thought of previously.
He tried to dismiss the thought by reassuring himself that any question could lead to revealing some form of trauma, he literally had no chance of avoiding every one of them.
Well, I hope he had a satisfactory childhood at least . . .
"My dad's a muggle-born wizard, mum's a pure-blood witch. That's why my nan and pops on my dad's side watch so many movies and do a lot of muggle activities in general, since they're muggles. But I was raised by my parents in a wizarding neighborhood, that's why I had at least some degree of magical education." He doesn't have a strong opinion towards whether or not he's a pure-blood, so Alexander's question didn't offend him in the slightest. On the contrary, he likes explaining himself to prevent any misunderstandings, sometimes even over-explaining.
Robin noticed Alexander observing people when they were talking, he also did that a lot. Then he realized something that didn't register before, the fact that the boy's eyes were dark pink. They surely weren't pink yesterday . . . might just be a stylistic choice, but what if he didn't like his eye color for some deeper reason? Robin didn't want to risk it.
He hoped Alexander didn't notice his urge to ask a question and the subsequent hesitation, so he quickly thought of using a different topic as a cover-up: "You're pure-blood, right? How's that like growing up?" It was a relevant question, given they were discussing blood status. Then Robin thought of the possibility that his childhood was unhappy or something and that this question would be as bad as the one he had thought of previously.
He tried to dismiss the thought by reassuring himself that any question could lead to revealing some form of trauma, he literally had no chance of avoiding every one of them.
Well, I hope he had a satisfactory childhood at least . . .
Reducio
@Corrine Aelina @Alexander Zolotov
Breakfast with.. Friends?
@Corrine Aelina @Robin Lockett
Alexander went very still when the attention shifted to him.
His fingers, which had been lightly resting against the table, curled in slightly like he needed something to hold onto.
Robin’s question echoed in his head.
How’s that like growing up?
He stared down at the table for a moment, watching the grain of the wood instead of either of them. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to answer.
He just… didn’t know how to say it without making it sound
Strange.
“…It was… quiet,” he said finally, voice soft and even, but slower than usual carefully chosen words.
His gaze flickered briefly toward Robin then Corrine then back down.
“My parents are…very traditional,” he added, like that explained something. But it did! maybe to him though. “They didn’t really… like me going out much or seeing other people at all.”
A small pause.
His fingers tapped once against the table.
“…So I stayed home most of my life this is actually my first time talking to people my age or at all...”
He mentally face palmed he shouldnt have said that.
Another pause.
“I read a lot.”
That part came a little easier.
Safer. Because that was what he did most of his life he read.
His shoulders lifted slightly in a small shrug, like it wasn’t a big deal.
“…My brother was there,” he added, quieter now. “Sometimes.”
There was something faint in his voice something softer, fond like but it passed quickly.
“He’s older by 7 years so.... He went to school before me....”
He trailed off.
Didn’t finish that sentence.
Didn’t need to.
Alexander finally glanced up, just for a second, like he was checking their reactions but not long enough to actually read them.
“…It was fine,” he concluded, almost too quickly.
A beat of silence.
Then, as if realizing how that might have sounded, he added in a smaller voice
“…I liked the books.”
His fingers stilled after that, resting flat against the table, as if he’d said enough.
Maybe more than enough.
He just really didnt want to remember all those nights when he was younger and the only person he talked to was his brother before his brother stopped hanging out with him and he had no one and that led to his Underdeveloped people skills but he cant tell them that they will think his a freak...He started scratching his palm.
Alexander went very still when the attention shifted to him.
His fingers, which had been lightly resting against the table, curled in slightly like he needed something to hold onto.
Robin’s question echoed in his head.
How’s that like growing up?
He stared down at the table for a moment, watching the grain of the wood instead of either of them. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to answer.
He just… didn’t know how to say it without making it sound
Strange.
“…It was… quiet,” he said finally, voice soft and even, but slower than usual carefully chosen words.
His gaze flickered briefly toward Robin then Corrine then back down.
“My parents are…very traditional,” he added, like that explained something. But it did! maybe to him though. “They didn’t really… like me going out much or seeing other people at all.”
A small pause.
His fingers tapped once against the table.
“…So I stayed home most of my life this is actually my first time talking to people my age or at all...”
He mentally face palmed he shouldnt have said that.
Another pause.
“I read a lot.”
That part came a little easier.
Safer. Because that was what he did most of his life he read.
His shoulders lifted slightly in a small shrug, like it wasn’t a big deal.
“…My brother was there,” he added, quieter now. “Sometimes.”
There was something faint in his voice something softer, fond like but it passed quickly.
“He’s older by 7 years so.... He went to school before me....”
He trailed off.
Didn’t finish that sentence.
Didn’t need to.
Alexander finally glanced up, just for a second, like he was checking their reactions but not long enough to actually read them.
“…It was fine,” he concluded, almost too quickly.
A beat of silence.
Then, as if realizing how that might have sounded, he added in a smaller voice
“…I liked the books.”
His fingers stilled after that, resting flat against the table, as if he’d said enough.
Maybe more than enough.
He just really didnt want to remember all those nights when he was younger and the only person he talked to was his brother before his brother stopped hanging out with him and he had no one and that led to his Underdeveloped people skills but he cant tell them that they will think his a freak...He started scratching his palm.
Breakfast with.. Friends?
Location: Great Hall
Tag: PV @Robin Lockett, @Alexander Zolotov
Date: September 2nd, 2025
Time: 8:00am
Corrine, who had been content to listen quietly off to the side, senses the mood coming before it did. The moment Robin had asked the question, the girl could see the complex emotions washing over Alexander; his words are carefully chosen, and his eyes linger on them as if to watch their reactions.
When he speaks of tradition, revealing the way he had been alone for years due to his parents, the girl could feel her heart squeeze in sympathy. Even more so when Alexander mentions his brother, as fondness passes through his eyes for just a moment.
Loneliness.. Corrine could definitely understand that. She coped through books too, but.. at least she was blessed to have her grandparents taking care of her while her parents worked. And even then, her parents would come when they could.
It seems like Alexander only had himself, and that makes Corrine feel sad. The boy didn’t deserve that; she wanted to let him know that he’s no longer alone like how he used to, but she knows she’s horrible with her words.
So how does she help?
Hesitating, Corrine slides closer to Alexander’s side. She leans over just slightly, enough to bump shoulders with the boy and make him look up. When the boy does, all the girl does is flash him a small, meek smile.
One of understanding.
She doesn't speak. She knows her words wouldn't help, so she did the next best thing: to be present.
"In every life, through every door. . . I hope to meet y0u again."
Breakfast with.. Friends?
Shite. It didn't take a psychologist to decipher that Robin had gambled wrong. Maybe Alexander did have a fine childhood, but there was definitely something more.
"It was quiet." He might've been lonely. "My parents are very traditional." They might also be strict or suffocating, that's a common combination with traditional values, in stories he read, at least. " . . . stayed home . . . first time talking to . . . at all." Okay, he might be both lonely and psychologically suffocated. "I read a lot." Valid hobby but possibly deflecting the topic. "My brother was there, sometimes." Implying "not all the time". "It was fine, I liked the books." Again, possibly reassurance in the form of deflecting the topic to something lighter. Nothing he just thought is for certain, but that's what he thinks might at least in some realm of possibility be the case.
Robin thinks he is better at picking up subtext in words than reading the room or observing someone's actions to figure out what they're thinking. In his eyes, words are more vulnerable than actions. Some might disagree and say "it's the actions that matter", and they might be right, he's just more used to literary analysis.
Robin isn't sure what he should think or show right now. Despite stepping out of his comfort zone to form friendships, he still isn't familiar with the concept of expressing emotions. Hell, the two he's sitting with right now might've only seen "nervousness" and "interest", not even from his face but from the length of his dialogue.
He isn't sure what he should feel right now. Truth be told, all he's actually feeling is "hesitation", specifically uncertainty regarding the socially-acceptable response right now. He isn't feeling sympathy, exactly. He's feeling more like he wrote a wrong answer in a test. He isn't sure if he should dwell on his mistake and do something about it despite the answer already being submitted, or if he should shake it off and move on to the next pop quiz.
Should he at least try to feel sorry for triggering potential trauma and making Alexander obviously uncomfortable? Or would that "artificial sympathy" out of politeness only make him feel worse, and Robin should instead just act as he always had - keep up a straight face - and move on?
When Robin was debating his next action, he saw Corrine lean closer to Alexander. She smiled. She didn't say anything, so he couldn't analyze the meaning behind her words, but she's obviously trying to reduce the impact of his wrong answer.
Robin silently observed their interaction, then sighed out of the relief that something had been done. She's a good person, he genuinely thought. I'll just sit here and let her do her thing, I guess.
It's easier that way. Better, too. He would only make things worse.
"It was quiet." He might've been lonely. "My parents are very traditional." They might also be strict or suffocating, that's a common combination with traditional values, in stories he read, at least. " . . . stayed home . . . first time talking to . . . at all." Okay, he might be both lonely and psychologically suffocated. "I read a lot." Valid hobby but possibly deflecting the topic. "My brother was there, sometimes." Implying "not all the time". "It was fine, I liked the books." Again, possibly reassurance in the form of deflecting the topic to something lighter. Nothing he just thought is for certain, but that's what he thinks might at least in some realm of possibility be the case.
Robin thinks he is better at picking up subtext in words than reading the room or observing someone's actions to figure out what they're thinking. In his eyes, words are more vulnerable than actions. Some might disagree and say "it's the actions that matter", and they might be right, he's just more used to literary analysis.
Robin isn't sure what he should think or show right now. Despite stepping out of his comfort zone to form friendships, he still isn't familiar with the concept of expressing emotions. Hell, the two he's sitting with right now might've only seen "nervousness" and "interest", not even from his face but from the length of his dialogue.
He isn't sure what he should feel right now. Truth be told, all he's actually feeling is "hesitation", specifically uncertainty regarding the socially-acceptable response right now. He isn't feeling sympathy, exactly. He's feeling more like he wrote a wrong answer in a test. He isn't sure if he should dwell on his mistake and do something about it despite the answer already being submitted, or if he should shake it off and move on to the next pop quiz.
Should he at least try to feel sorry for triggering potential trauma and making Alexander obviously uncomfortable? Or would that "artificial sympathy" out of politeness only make him feel worse, and Robin should instead just act as he always had - keep up a straight face - and move on?
When Robin was debating his next action, he saw Corrine lean closer to Alexander. She smiled. She didn't say anything, so he couldn't analyze the meaning behind her words, but she's obviously trying to reduce the impact of his wrong answer.
Robin silently observed their interaction, then sighed out of the relief that something had been done. She's a good person, he genuinely thought. I'll just sit here and let her do her thing, I guess.
It's easier that way. Better, too. He would only make things worse.
Reducio
@Corrine Aelina @Alexander Zolotov
Breakfast with.. Friends?
Location: Great Hall
Tag: PV @Robin Lockett, @Alexander Zolotov
Date: September 2nd, 2025
Time: 8:00am
When Corrine glanced over, Robin had looked.. conflicted. As if he wasn’t sure what to do, or at the very least, he was on the fence about what exactly to do between whatever options he had.
Perhaps nobody here in this group knows how to handle comfort well, Corrine thinks to herself. I’m not in a much better place to talk, I suppose..
However, she did know that whatever may have happened, she didn’t want Robin to feel left out. And so, the girl flashes Robin a smile of reassurance, just to tell him that he’s done nothing wrong.
Instead, she begins poking at her food, deciding to take over the conversation quietly. “Already said that I’m a muggleborn,” she starts. “My Nana and my Pops raised me while my parents worked as a lawyer and as a doctor. They weren’t around often, but they got me plenty of books to keep me company too.” She giggles softly, not at all saddened by what it implied.
“We moved around a bit when I was born before we got to Tewkesbury, and I met a few kids I liked. They were nice, but I didn’t really find myself calling anybody my best friend or anything. Just maybe good acquaintances at most.”
After taking a bite out of her food, she continues, “Sometimes it got lonely.. but that’s okay. I’m with you guys now, aren’t I?” Corrine grins.
"In every life, through every door. . . I hope to meet y0u again."
Breakfast with.. Friends?
Suddenly Alexander froze the moment their shoulders touched. He couldnt hear anything else it was like his ears were ringing like really loud.
The touch wasn’t rough.
But it was sudden and made contact.
His right eye twitched slightly, and his whole body tensed. For a split second, he didn’t even breathe.
Then he stood up.
Maybe a little too fast.
“…I....sorry,” he said quickly, words stumbling over each other as he took a small step back from the table.
His fingers curled into the sleeves of his robe, gripping the fabric tightly.
“I just I’m not...”
He stopped.
Tried again.
“…can you not touch me” he managed, quieter now, eyes flickering briefly toward Corrine before dropping again. “It’s not....sigh¨ he felt like a jerk she was just trying to be nice. ¨you didn’t do anything wrong, I just…”
Overwhelmed.
He didn’t say it out loud, but it hung there anyway. He felt like so many eyes were on him but he forced his gaze on the two of them, a flicker of worry crossing his face.
“....Please dont feel like you did something wrong.”
He paused
He was always like this the only contact he can do is handshakes or anything to do with the hands not anywhere else.
“…I have class,” he said after a small pause, almost like he just remembered. “I should go.”
Another pause.
Then, “…I’ll see guys later.”
Not goodbye.
Not leaving.
Just… see you.
He hesitated for half a second longer, like he wanted to say something else but couldn’t find the words.
So instead, he gave a small, almost awkward nod…
…and turned, walking away a little quicker than necessary, shoulders slightly hunched.
Not running.
But definitely retreating. He was probably going to the bathroom to cry his eyes out.
@Robin Lockett @Corrine Aelina
The touch wasn’t rough.
But it was sudden and made contact.
His right eye twitched slightly, and his whole body tensed. For a split second, he didn’t even breathe.
Then he stood up.
Maybe a little too fast.
“…I....sorry,” he said quickly, words stumbling over each other as he took a small step back from the table.
His fingers curled into the sleeves of his robe, gripping the fabric tightly.
“I just I’m not...”
He stopped.
Tried again.
“…can you not touch me” he managed, quieter now, eyes flickering briefly toward Corrine before dropping again. “It’s not....sigh¨ he felt like a jerk she was just trying to be nice. ¨you didn’t do anything wrong, I just…”
Overwhelmed.
He didn’t say it out loud, but it hung there anyway. He felt like so many eyes were on him but he forced his gaze on the two of them, a flicker of worry crossing his face.
“....Please dont feel like you did something wrong.”
He paused
He was always like this the only contact he can do is handshakes or anything to do with the hands not anywhere else.
“…I have class,” he said after a small pause, almost like he just remembered. “I should go.”
Another pause.
Then, “…I’ll see guys later.”
Not goodbye.
Not leaving.
Just… see you.
He hesitated for half a second longer, like he wanted to say something else but couldn’t find the words.
So instead, he gave a small, almost awkward nod…
…and turned, walking away a little quicker than necessary, shoulders slightly hunched.
Not running.
But definitely retreating. He was probably going to the bathroom to cry his eyes out.
@Robin Lockett @Corrine Aelina
Breakfast with.. Friends?
Location: Great Hall
Tag: PV @Robin Lockett, @Alexander Zolotov
Date: September 2nd, 2025
Time: 8:00am
Corrine’s smile fades, feeling ashamed.
What was she thinking? That was a foolish move, she chided herself internally, watching with saddened eyes as the boy walked away. Who are you to think you can comfort somebody? Stupid, stupid!
Ignoring her thoughts, she looks down at her plate. "..Shouldn't have done that."
She no longer felt like she wanted to eat, considering what she’d done. Even if it was an accident, she should’ve minded her own business instead of trying to reach out. Maybe then it wouldn’t have gotten worse.
What if my stupid mistake leads to the loss of one friend? It’s only been a day. Her heart sinks, blinking to stop whatever tears came. She shakes her head, flashing Robin a weak smile. “Well.. I hope he feels better soon.. I didn’t mean to make it worse.”
Although it was a smile, it’s barely genuine. Not in the sense that she didn’t want to smile at Robin, but more so that she doesn’t know if she meant it or not. “Do you feel like going to class already?” She quietly asks, fidgeting in place. “I don’t think we share the class for the first period, but if you feel like going ahead, I don’t mind either. Whatever makes you more comfortable.”
She doesn’t dare suggest anything else. She’s decided strictly that whatever else happens has to be Robin’s choice, unless she messes it up with him too just like how she did with Alexander just now.
"In every life, through every door. . . I hope to meet y0u again."