2 May 2020, 18:47
While Everything Burns
When Alina mentioned abstract paintings, Flash could have shuddered in horror. Despite her trying to take back the thought, it was quite troubling. In a way, it was so horrifying as to return to comedy. Flash could only be upset about the nature of paintings for so long. Maybe he would understand when he was older, when he had a better grasp on magic and how it worked. It was better to just laugh at the absurdity for now.
There was a promising painting they looked at for a while, a natural lull in the flow of conversation leading to comfortable silence. While the time they had before classes was ticking away, the nature of their search was a lighthearted one to begin with, so there was no need for urgency. In fact, Flash could do with spending more time appreciating the castle’s art. There was so much of it that he was still seeing new ones from time to time. To think they all had habits and personalities as well was even a bit daunting. Some even had history, to a degree.
While they were waiting for the horse to finish its feeding and move on, Alina piped up again with another question about him. He wondered if he should have been filling the silence with asking about her instead, he hadn’t asked her much of anything besides her name.
”What do I busy myself with…” Flash repeated the question, unable to swiftly come up with an answer.
Wasn’t the truth that he spent his time snooping into peoples’ business, learning things about people so he could figure out how to get them to do exactly as he wanted? That wasn’t a very attractive answer, yet besides that all he did was study and exercise. His was a life devoted to a singular goal, he was very rarely busying himself with anything, there was never enough time in the day to accomplish all that he needed to do. He would have to change the subject.
”I spend most of my time buried in books, to be honest.” If he made it sound boring enough in one sentence, perhaps she wouldn’t ask further. He was sure to add a descending tone to imply it was not something worth talking about. ”I would like to hear more about you, though. You like art and literature, what else interests you? Do you perhaps do any art or writing of your own?”
Once the horse moved, they had no reason to keep an eye on the painting any longer. Flash wasn’t exactly enjoying looking at a bunch of pictures of horses. They didn’t even have any of the good attributes of horses, like the smell of their sun-soaked hair, or the way their ears scoped around to every hint of noise like a tractor beam. Even though he had outgrown Flash quickly, he wondered if he might ride his own horse when he returned home, instead of just caring for him like an obligation. He didn’t even know if the horse would trust him on his back, let alone if he even wanted to try. He wondered what Poppy would say if he asked her why she liked horses. Perhaps it was only because they were beautiful animals. Taking care of one let one see the less beautiful side. The stupid, dangerous, animal side.
Flash peeked subtly at his watch again. Even though he was enjoying his time with Aline, being late to class was out of the question. It seemed they had at least a good ten minutes of searching left. They wouldn’t be able to cover much ground in that time, but that wasn’t really the point to begin with. Alina had been lonely, and wanted someone to talk to. Flash knew the feeling well.
@Alina Rosier
There was a promising painting they looked at for a while, a natural lull in the flow of conversation leading to comfortable silence. While the time they had before classes was ticking away, the nature of their search was a lighthearted one to begin with, so there was no need for urgency. In fact, Flash could do with spending more time appreciating the castle’s art. There was so much of it that he was still seeing new ones from time to time. To think they all had habits and personalities as well was even a bit daunting. Some even had history, to a degree.
While they were waiting for the horse to finish its feeding and move on, Alina piped up again with another question about him. He wondered if he should have been filling the silence with asking about her instead, he hadn’t asked her much of anything besides her name.
”What do I busy myself with…” Flash repeated the question, unable to swiftly come up with an answer.
Wasn’t the truth that he spent his time snooping into peoples’ business, learning things about people so he could figure out how to get them to do exactly as he wanted? That wasn’t a very attractive answer, yet besides that all he did was study and exercise. His was a life devoted to a singular goal, he was very rarely busying himself with anything, there was never enough time in the day to accomplish all that he needed to do. He would have to change the subject.
”I spend most of my time buried in books, to be honest.” If he made it sound boring enough in one sentence, perhaps she wouldn’t ask further. He was sure to add a descending tone to imply it was not something worth talking about. ”I would like to hear more about you, though. You like art and literature, what else interests you? Do you perhaps do any art or writing of your own?”
Once the horse moved, they had no reason to keep an eye on the painting any longer. Flash wasn’t exactly enjoying looking at a bunch of pictures of horses. They didn’t even have any of the good attributes of horses, like the smell of their sun-soaked hair, or the way their ears scoped around to every hint of noise like a tractor beam. Even though he had outgrown Flash quickly, he wondered if he might ride his own horse when he returned home, instead of just caring for him like an obligation. He didn’t even know if the horse would trust him on his back, let alone if he even wanted to try. He wondered what Poppy would say if he asked her why she liked horses. Perhaps it was only because they were beautiful animals. Taking care of one let one see the less beautiful side. The stupid, dangerous, animal side.
Flash peeked subtly at his watch again. Even though he was enjoying his time with Aline, being late to class was out of the question. It seemed they had at least a good ten minutes of searching left. They wouldn’t be able to cover much ground in that time, but that wasn’t really the point to begin with. Alina had been lonely, and wanted someone to talk to. Flash knew the feeling well.
@Alina Rosier
For we dreamed a lot//And we schemed a lot//And we tried to sing of love before the stage fell apart
Sta: 9 ★Eva: 5 ★Str: 7 ★Wis: 15 ★AP: 3 ★Acc: 15
3 May 2020, 02:00
While Everything Burns
Interacting with @Flash Holmwood h
He was checking his watch and she knew exactly what that meant, or rather she figured she knew what it meant - she had wore out her welcome with the boy. "No," she answered his question, "I sketch a bit but only to remember some things I've seen, write but only to journal thoughts." It was a quick answer, a vague sort of an answer but had the feeling he really didn't care. She could probably change the subject entirely and answer something randomly and he wouldn't have noticed.
And it was then that they saw a painting of a field of wildflowers and she nudged him because Poppy could be seen picking some flowers and placing them in her basket. "Looks like you win, Mr. Holmwood, there she is," and she'd leave him to it. He was originally trying to see Poppy anyway and she interrupted him. "Oh, and by the way, if you do find out she has a different name, let me know if you see me around."
She did her little curtsy as she always did either when meeting someone for the first time or when she was making her exit and she left the boy be to admire the painting before classes began.
Let your confidence shine, pretty girl.
6 May 2020, 16:57
While Everything Burns
Alina began to describe an answer to his question, but her demeanor was deflated. The bounce in her step seemed to have vanished-- had something happened, something changed? Before Flash could continue to inquire about her art or journalling, she motioned to the distance where it seemed Poppy could be spotted. The girl gingerly picking flowers in a field seemed to have her dress and her hair, though it was hard to tell with her being so preoccupied in her task. Alina must have had a sharp eye for recognizing people.
He had no time to check or rejoice however, as Alina moved to immediately depart, not even staying to say hello to their mutual acquaintance. It was a striking difference, Flash wanted to stop her and ask what was wrong, but propriety forbade he ask something so personal. He assumed it was a dour tone he continued to affect even as they spoke of pleasant things. Surely she was tired of hearing him drone on about death and sorrow. How could she not be, she had been looking for a light diversion from her own troubles. He felt like he was a black hole, drawing people into his own pain just by existing around them. He used to have better control over it, but since February it had only grown.
He couldn’t allow himself to hurt her any more. She curtsied and turned to leave, picking a tear in his already damaged heart. He dipped his head in a small bow as well. He didn’t like to dwell on regrets, even recent ones, but his mind raced with all the things he should have said.
”Have a lovely evening, Miss Alina.”
There was one thing that was for certain, he would be saying something the next time he saw ‘Bella’. Nothing that gave his curiosity away, but he had the sneaking suspicion that perhaps they were different people. He would have had to know Bella better to know it for sure, but the signs were all there.
After he watched for a bit as Alina walked off to her classes, he was left with time to spare and no one to talk to. That was, he could still talk to Poppy. Perhaps he would ask her about Alina.
He had no time to check or rejoice however, as Alina moved to immediately depart, not even staying to say hello to their mutual acquaintance. It was a striking difference, Flash wanted to stop her and ask what was wrong, but propriety forbade he ask something so personal. He assumed it was a dour tone he continued to affect even as they spoke of pleasant things. Surely she was tired of hearing him drone on about death and sorrow. How could she not be, she had been looking for a light diversion from her own troubles. He felt like he was a black hole, drawing people into his own pain just by existing around them. He used to have better control over it, but since February it had only grown.
He couldn’t allow himself to hurt her any more. She curtsied and turned to leave, picking a tear in his already damaged heart. He dipped his head in a small bow as well. He didn’t like to dwell on regrets, even recent ones, but his mind raced with all the things he should have said.
”Have a lovely evening, Miss Alina.”
There was one thing that was for certain, he would be saying something the next time he saw ‘Bella’. Nothing that gave his curiosity away, but he had the sneaking suspicion that perhaps they were different people. He would have had to know Bella better to know it for sure, but the signs were all there.
After he watched for a bit as Alina walked off to her classes, he was left with time to spare and no one to talk to. That was, he could still talk to Poppy. Perhaps he would ask her about Alina.
@Alina RosierThread Closed
For we dreamed a lot//And we schemed a lot//And we tried to sing of love before the stage fell apart
Sta: 9 ★Eva: 5 ★Str: 7 ★Wis: 15 ★AP: 3 ★Acc: 15