20 Apr 2020, 14:06
Bonding Over Books
@Aida Mòrsgor-Ama EllwoodWas it Aida who was warming up, or Ivy? The Gryffindor couldn’t really tell, but it didn’t matter, because the corners of her mouth tugged upwards - the ghost of a smile. “Highlands?” Ivy said, half to herself. That explains the accent. She dared not to say this, though, and continued, “I’ve never been anywhere outside of home.” Despite her mother being from France and her father from Wales, Ivy had never been to either country and rarely stepped foot out of the estate (with the exception of late night excursions to the theatre with her now-disowned older sister, Lillian, but that was another story entirely.)
At the question of where home was, Ivy hopped down from the windowsill to look outwards, as if she would find Bellamy Manor standing right outside. “The countryside - Sussex. That’s in England. It was very quiet, but very nice. My sisters...” She paused, catching her error. Five years after Lillian had eloped, she was still making the same mistake. “...my sister and I had a lot of fun,” Ivy corrected herself. She tried not to put too much emphasis on her correction so that Aida wouldn’t question it.
She quickly turned the subject away from siblings. “Do you miss home?” It was a question she came up with off the top of her head, one that was spoken a little too quickly, a little too rushed. Hopefully Aida wouldn’t notice. Ivy was going off chance for a lot of things at the moment.
october 2007 - august 2023.
i know the end
i know the end
21 Apr 2020, 04:17
Bonding Over Books
“Sister?” asked Aida, somewhat anxious from their slower pace of conversation. “You said sisters before; was the other one not very fun?” Since Aida had nothing else to distract her, her mind was like a steel trap as she analyzed every detail of what was said. The pale girl stood up and began to slowly pace in front of the window. She was beginning to feel a bit more claustrophobic although she still really wanted to learn more about Ivy. Then on hearing Ivy’s question about missing home, Aida began to increase the speed of her pacing.
“There are some things I miss. I miss the boundless hillsides and the loch. I miss the animals, especially the horses...” Aida stopped for a moment and crossed her arms, trying like hell to maintain an emotionless face. “Yes, I miss the land and its creatures. Yet, I must see the world. There are things I still must do. I can’t stay.” It was clear from Aida’s tone that she had previously tried to convince herself of these things, but she still didn’t quite seem to believe them. “I have things I must do here,” she stated a tad too forcefully. The words were twisting around strangely, like she was saying two conflicting things at the same time.
“Do you miss home?” Aida looked straight at Ivy, her iridescent blue-purple eyes burning a little despite her efforts to keep calm. I won't let @Morfran Griffith down, she thought. Even if it means I never express my emotions again, I will be a pillar. Aida felt a darkness overtaking her heart, but she used it to make herself calm. So very calm. Later she could go somewhere she wouldn't be found and scream about it, like she used to do in the gorge. No, right now she would become better, so much better at concealing herself. No one will ever have to know.
“There are some things I miss. I miss the boundless hillsides and the loch. I miss the animals, especially the horses...” Aida stopped for a moment and crossed her arms, trying like hell to maintain an emotionless face. “Yes, I miss the land and its creatures. Yet, I must see the world. There are things I still must do. I can’t stay.” It was clear from Aida’s tone that she had previously tried to convince herself of these things, but she still didn’t quite seem to believe them. “I have things I must do here,” she stated a tad too forcefully. The words were twisting around strangely, like she was saying two conflicting things at the same time.
“Do you miss home?” Aida looked straight at Ivy, her iridescent blue-purple eyes burning a little despite her efforts to keep calm. I won't let @Morfran Griffith down, she thought. Even if it means I never express my emotions again, I will be a pillar. Aida felt a darkness overtaking her heart, but she used it to make herself calm. So very calm. Later she could go somewhere she wouldn't be found and scream about it, like she used to do in the gorge. No, right now she would become better, so much better at concealing herself. No one will ever have to know.
Reducio
Interacting with @Ivy Bellamy
23 Apr 2020, 11:24
Bonding Over Books
@Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood
Ivy could only blink at the Ravenclaw's somewhat insensitive answer. Aida would have no way of knowing how a little stab of pain went to her heart at the casual question, masked by the ever-present indifferent on Ivy's face. "No," was the Gryffindor's short reply, not wanting to elaborate. She was glad when Aida changed the topic, although her eyebrows did shoot up alarmingly quickly when she began to pace back and forth in front of her. The girl was obviously trying to hide her emotions, and failing miserably. It was painful to watch, especially for someone like Ivy, who kept her feelings behind a mask of ice.
"I don't miss home, exactly," Ivy replied, a little unnerved when Aida turned to look her directly in the eyes. "I miss the peace and quiet that went with home. I expect you would know - there's no one around for ages." Perhaps Aida would have a village nearby and would therefore be a little more accustomed to noise, but in Ivy's case, the Bellamy estate was in the middle of the countryside of Sussex, surrounded by nothing but woodlands and grass. Apart from the occasional Muggle family passing by on a road trip, they were left to their own devices, really.
After observing Aida - who had gone very, very calm - for a few more moments, Ivy decided she liked the other Aida, the one who talked with no end in sight and wore her heart on her sleeve. This Aida was awkward and strange. She stopped walking and stared at her. "Oh, you know what, talk all you like. This is making me uncomfortable." She offered Aida a half-smile before moving to the bookshelf. "What's your favourite book?"
october 2007 - august 2023.
i know the end
i know the end
23 Apr 2020, 19:16
Bonding Over Books
Ivy’s curt answer about her sister was a clear signal that she didn’t want to talk about it, so Aida did not press the subject any further. “You say you miss the peace and quiet of your home, but things were not so simple for me. You’re right that when no people were around, it was very happy and peaceful… but the problem with houses is that they tend to have people in them.” Aida laughed weakly, hoping to dispel some of the tension that hung thick in the air.
On hearing that the conversation was making Ivy uncomfortable, Aida blushed and looked instantly apologetic. “Oh, I’m sorry… This is why I don’t have any human friends, I’m just not well-socialized.” The albino girl became confused at Ivy’s half-smile but she knew that she would now have to spew a lot of friendly banter to make up for accidentally having asked such an invasive question. “I’m not very good with people. Books are much harder to offend. I like all kinds of books. I like to read about history, philosophy, botany, chemistry… all the natural sciences. My favorite subject is zoology, now especially magizoology. My favorite book is Fantastic Beasts. I want to be a magizoologist!” Aida laughed again, slightly less awkwardly. “Even though I grew up working with animals, I don’t mind continuing to do that. I’m just glad there are so many more books here.” Aida had been looking away from Ivy to try to lessen the pressure she had been putting on her, but she returned to casually looking over at Ivy near the bookshelf with a dumb, friendly grin. “Do you know what you want for your future?”
On hearing that the conversation was making Ivy uncomfortable, Aida blushed and looked instantly apologetic. “Oh, I’m sorry… This is why I don’t have any human friends, I’m just not well-socialized.” The albino girl became confused at Ivy’s half-smile but she knew that she would now have to spew a lot of friendly banter to make up for accidentally having asked such an invasive question. “I’m not very good with people. Books are much harder to offend. I like all kinds of books. I like to read about history, philosophy, botany, chemistry… all the natural sciences. My favorite subject is zoology, now especially magizoology. My favorite book is Fantastic Beasts. I want to be a magizoologist!” Aida laughed again, slightly less awkwardly. “Even though I grew up working with animals, I don’t mind continuing to do that. I’m just glad there are so many more books here.” Aida had been looking away from Ivy to try to lessen the pressure she had been putting on her, but she returned to casually looking over at Ivy near the bookshelf with a dumb, friendly grin. “Do you know what you want for your future?”
24 Apr 2020, 04:21
Bonding Over Books
@Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood
Ivy laughed softly at Aida's statement that books were hard to offend. It was something that she could relate to, and she was beginning to think that they had a lot more in common than she originally presumed. "I don't think I would be a very good magizoologist," Ivy stated, smiling.
Her smile faded as she thought of something else. "My parents would want me settle down and have children or something mundane like that," she said quietly. "But I'd love to do something else. Haven't quite figured out what, but I don't want to follow my parents' plan."
She looked down at the watch on her wrist and nearly jumped. Ivy looked around and discovered that the library was mostly empty - because it was nearly dinnertime. "Wow, would you look at the time!" she laughed, showing Aida her watch. "We should head down to the Great Hall if we want to have anything for dinner. We can walk down together if you like." Ivy would begin to walk out of the library, checking to see if Aida was following. If she wasn't, she would laugh and take her by the arm. "Come on." They split off once they reached the Great Hall, heading to their respective tables, but Ivy would offer her a grin and say, "We ought to hang out some other time. It was nice meeting you!"
Ivy leaves the thread.
Aida, you can go ahead and finish up your turn and then I'll close the thread.
october 2007 - august 2023.
i know the end
i know the end
24 Apr 2020, 04:36
Bonding Over Books
Aida, like another certain magizoologically-inclined individual, was not one to be terribly fascinated with food. To be honest, eating was a chore. It was dull, repetitive, and she rarely learned anything by eating. Still, she did sometimes enjoy being around the rest of the student body because she could overhear conversations about what was going on around her. Furthermore, Aida wanted to learn a bit more about Ivy before they parted ways and so she willingly followed after her.
“Children, eh?” said Aida as they walked away. “I can’t understand why everybody has this big fascination with making more of themselves. I mean, kids are cute and all, but they’re a LOT of work and they can break your heart. In the end the kid is going to turn into what they will and parents don’t have godlike control over who they will turn out to be. Why do you figure the professors at Hogwarts spend so much of their lives working with children? How many of them have children – are we replacements for a lot of those people who can’t have children?” Anyone could tell that Aida had gone back to normal because the rapid-fire questions were streaming out again. The two made their way to the Great Hall until separating at their respective tables.
“Children, eh?” said Aida as they walked away. “I can’t understand why everybody has this big fascination with making more of themselves. I mean, kids are cute and all, but they’re a LOT of work and they can break your heart. In the end the kid is going to turn into what they will and parents don’t have godlike control over who they will turn out to be. Why do you figure the professors at Hogwarts spend so much of their lives working with children? How many of them have children – are we replacements for a lot of those people who can’t have children?” Anyone could tell that Aida had gone back to normal because the rapid-fire questions were streaming out again. The two made their way to the Great Hall until separating at their respective tables.
Reducio
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