20 Mar 2020, 21:49
Hosts of the Air
Rafael not only offered to take Flash’s help, but he smiled too. Bright and wide, fully accepting. Flash was bashful to see it, he felt like he had been invited in. Rafael had become so familiar in an instant, it was very disarming. He wondered if the boy was so close with everyone, or if it really had been the singing all along. He could feel with that closeness just how important music was to him. It felt like the gap between them had closed before their eyes even met.
Because of that, he smiled back too. People rarely gave him the go-ahead to do anything, it was an admission that almost made Flash want to laugh in response. It was a very defenseless statement, he wasn’t used to hearing them. But he had resolved to not take advantage of Rafael’s kindness. He would do exactly as he had promised.
He unraveled the scarf on his neck and let it dangle from his shoulders instead. He reached out both of his hands. ”Here, give me your hands, this is the best method.” With having already been given the go ahead, Flash took Rafael’s bitterly cold hands and placed them on his neck, holding them in place with his own.
The shock of the cold gave him a momentary chill, but being prepared for it lessened the immediate pain. As long as he steeled his will, he couldn’t be made to shirk away from the minor discomfiture of biting cold-- he knew it would be very temporary. Soon Rafael’s hands would warm up, there really was no more efficient option.
The neck was one of the warmest parts of the body, that was why he dabbed his perfume there, it was a pulse point. Flash had learned plenty of emergency first aid from his sister as part of his personal learning courses. It was useful knowledge, he had already been helped by it more than once.
”Right? You’re already warming up.”
@Rafael D'Spacito
Because of that, he smiled back too. People rarely gave him the go-ahead to do anything, it was an admission that almost made Flash want to laugh in response. It was a very defenseless statement, he wasn’t used to hearing them. But he had resolved to not take advantage of Rafael’s kindness. He would do exactly as he had promised.
He unraveled the scarf on his neck and let it dangle from his shoulders instead. He reached out both of his hands. ”Here, give me your hands, this is the best method.” With having already been given the go ahead, Flash took Rafael’s bitterly cold hands and placed them on his neck, holding them in place with his own.
The shock of the cold gave him a momentary chill, but being prepared for it lessened the immediate pain. As long as he steeled his will, he couldn’t be made to shirk away from the minor discomfiture of biting cold-- he knew it would be very temporary. Soon Rafael’s hands would warm up, there really was no more efficient option.
The neck was one of the warmest parts of the body, that was why he dabbed his perfume there, it was a pulse point. Flash had learned plenty of emergency first aid from his sister as part of his personal learning courses. It was useful knowledge, he had already been helped by it more than once.
”Right? You’re already warming up.”
@Rafael D'Spacito
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
24 Mar 2020, 17:49
Hosts of the Air
@Flash Holmwood
[font=Segoe Print]Flash’s smile was warming in and of itself, the type of smile that shined brighter than the sun, unleashing its golden rays on the livelihood of the cold child in the most comforting way – at the very sight of such a radiant gaze, Rafael felt his own body temperature raise a notch, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint the cause. Perhaps such an expression would be worth recreating sometime, he’d thought absently. The rare expression reminded him of one of those sights he’d seen very few times, perhaps a waterfall, or a sunset, so magnificently profound, he couldn’t exactly be sure of what his eyes were seeing – if it were just a picture, a mere postcard, or the real thing, sincere and true at every angle. He couldn’t give a moment’s thought to the situation at hand, nor the boy’s words, or even his hands, clutching Rafael’s own, the very warmth sending a tingle into his cold, lifeless fingers. No, the only thing that he could focus his attention on, was the very face of the angel boy in question, his unreal, easy disposition...
[He was certainly a lovely creature, if there ever was such a thing.]
He hadn’t even registered Flash’s tactics until the Gryffindor’s hands had made contact with the boy’s neck, once shielded from the cold by a scarf – at the very feeling of warmth, the thunderbird had snapped out of his trance, his eyes brushing against his own hands. It was an oddly submissive move, he noticed absently, as the neck was where many fighters aimed for in their attempts to subdue their opponents. However, he could give little thought to this, as a warm feeling had suddenly struck his lifeless fingers, traveled like wildfire through his hands, the cold feeling being quickly traded for another, more confusing sense – the same feeling one gets upon running their freezing fingers under a warm faucet, a burning sort of chill that can be neither hot nor cold. Only pleasant. Though, perhaps his concept of the feeling was slightly jaded, for such a feeling was still quite unusual to the Hispanic Gryffindor. After all, he’d been raised in the midst of palm trees and beaches, with sand beneath his toes, and never a cold day in sight. Snow was strange, alien, as was such cold weather, the likes of which the boy had only seen through photographs and the windows of his own house.
The heat itself was so inviting, so mesmerizing to the touch… the boy unconsciously bowed his head closer to the other boy’s, basking in the glow of the Slytherin’s body heat. Perhaps such a movement would have seemed awkward, or out-of-place, in any other setting – however, he could do little to feel shameful about it, as his core temperature only grew colder as the moments wore on. “You’re rather warm,” he mumbled absently, shutting his eyes acutely as if such an action could trap the heat inside his being. There was not a single note of maliciousness to his tone, nor any indication that his movements were romantic in any sort of way – his voice was numb, impassive, void of any emotion, negative of positive. He couldn’t focus on emotion anymore, only the feeling in his hands slowly coming back to him. It was pleasant, consuming, as he could imagine a drop of water being to a withered, thirsty plant, desperate for anything to bring it back to life. His fingers were now pulsing, with the remnants of life, or something else – perhaps, repercussion to his terrible choice in outerwear? He would surely find out in the near future.
After a moment of allowing his fingers to come back to life, he’d opened his eyes, raising an eyebrow in a humorous sort of way towards the boy across from him. “Do this a lot, do you?” he barely got out, before biting his lips, in order to keep them from chapping. He retracted his hands in that moment, putting them on his cheeks to distribute the warmth, before cupping his hands and breathing more heat into them, then stuffing them in his pocket. “Well, I thank you. Really. Guess I owe you one. Another one, that is,” he added,wincing in remembrance of his favor of repaying the boy with his own voice. Then, his gaze shifting to the side, he cocked his head in thought. What does a Slytherin do with their favors? Would it be a good idea to even give such a thing to such a person?
[/font]
[font=Segoe Print]Flash’s smile was warming in and of itself, the type of smile that shined brighter than the sun, unleashing its golden rays on the livelihood of the cold child in the most comforting way – at the very sight of such a radiant gaze, Rafael felt his own body temperature raise a notch, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint the cause. Perhaps such an expression would be worth recreating sometime, he’d thought absently. The rare expression reminded him of one of those sights he’d seen very few times, perhaps a waterfall, or a sunset, so magnificently profound, he couldn’t exactly be sure of what his eyes were seeing – if it were just a picture, a mere postcard, or the real thing, sincere and true at every angle. He couldn’t give a moment’s thought to the situation at hand, nor the boy’s words, or even his hands, clutching Rafael’s own, the very warmth sending a tingle into his cold, lifeless fingers. No, the only thing that he could focus his attention on, was the very face of the angel boy in question, his unreal, easy disposition...
[He was certainly a lovely creature, if there ever was such a thing.]
He hadn’t even registered Flash’s tactics until the Gryffindor’s hands had made contact with the boy’s neck, once shielded from the cold by a scarf – at the very feeling of warmth, the thunderbird had snapped out of his trance, his eyes brushing against his own hands. It was an oddly submissive move, he noticed absently, as the neck was where many fighters aimed for in their attempts to subdue their opponents. However, he could give little thought to this, as a warm feeling had suddenly struck his lifeless fingers, traveled like wildfire through his hands, the cold feeling being quickly traded for another, more confusing sense – the same feeling one gets upon running their freezing fingers under a warm faucet, a burning sort of chill that can be neither hot nor cold. Only pleasant. Though, perhaps his concept of the feeling was slightly jaded, for such a feeling was still quite unusual to the Hispanic Gryffindor. After all, he’d been raised in the midst of palm trees and beaches, with sand beneath his toes, and never a cold day in sight. Snow was strange, alien, as was such cold weather, the likes of which the boy had only seen through photographs and the windows of his own house.
The heat itself was so inviting, so mesmerizing to the touch… the boy unconsciously bowed his head closer to the other boy’s, basking in the glow of the Slytherin’s body heat. Perhaps such a movement would have seemed awkward, or out-of-place, in any other setting – however, he could do little to feel shameful about it, as his core temperature only grew colder as the moments wore on. “You’re rather warm,” he mumbled absently, shutting his eyes acutely as if such an action could trap the heat inside his being. There was not a single note of maliciousness to his tone, nor any indication that his movements were romantic in any sort of way – his voice was numb, impassive, void of any emotion, negative of positive. He couldn’t focus on emotion anymore, only the feeling in his hands slowly coming back to him. It was pleasant, consuming, as he could imagine a drop of water being to a withered, thirsty plant, desperate for anything to bring it back to life. His fingers were now pulsing, with the remnants of life, or something else – perhaps, repercussion to his terrible choice in outerwear? He would surely find out in the near future.
After a moment of allowing his fingers to come back to life, he’d opened his eyes, raising an eyebrow in a humorous sort of way towards the boy across from him. “Do this a lot, do you?” he barely got out, before biting his lips, in order to keep them from chapping. He retracted his hands in that moment, putting them on his cheeks to distribute the warmth, before cupping his hands and breathing more heat into them, then stuffing them in his pocket. “Well, I thank you. Really. Guess I owe you one. Another one, that is,” he added,wincing in remembrance of his favor of repaying the boy with his own voice. Then, his gaze shifting to the side, he cocked his head in thought. What does a Slytherin do with their favors? Would it be a good idea to even give such a thing to such a person?
[/font]
I probably haven't collected my allowance yet.
25 Mar 2020, 15:49
Hosts of the Air
Flash wasn’t sure what to expect from Rafael’s response, but he was put off guard when he simply looked at his face. It wasn’t an easily decipherable expression, Flash could also not maintain eye contact without a welling feeling of timorousness inside him. Thankfully, the look didn’t last long as Rafael lowered his head, as if nodding off to sleep. The effect the warming had on Rafael seemed to be profound, Flash was thankful he simply accepted the help as he said he would instead of making a big deal out of it. A lot more people would do well to just listen to Flash and do as he said.
The act had done its job quickly and efficiently-- the point all along. It was no time at all before the blood in Rafael’s hands started recirculating like normal, having exchanged all of its collected cold into Flash instead. Rafael was out of commission, close to leaning his forehead against Flash’s, as if he needed the support to keep himself from tumbling over and falling asleep. Flash couldn’t help but think of how open Rafael was making himself, his eyes closed and his towering body relaxed, hovering over him. There wasn’t anything insidious that Flash wanted to do to him, but if he did, it would have been easy.
Rafael muttered something, proving he was still awake. Flash gave his hands a squeeze, trying to insulate the outside as well as the inside, but it seemed the work was done for the most part. Rafael transformed from a bundled, shivering mess to someone more awake and sanguine. He gave Flash a smarmy look, asking if he did such a thing often. The comment allowed Flash to laugh it off as Rafael returned his hands to himself.
”Hardly.” In the midst of his quiet chuckle, he covered most of his expression with his hand, not quite sure he had overcome the sheepishness from before.
The idea that Flash could ever find himself in a similar situation to this one was indeed humorous. Everything about the situation was quite unique, and had the two of them met some other way, they were unlikely to have done anything even remotely as trusting. Flash wasn’t completely unaware of how straightforward he was being, but he was happy whenever boundaries could be easily scaled. The closer he was to someone, the more he could get away with. So as far as he knew, there was no downside.
It was only emphasized by Rafael mentioning he owed him again. This time, the parameters weren’t set at all, it was like a blank check. Flash removed his hand from his features, instead motioning for them to continue down the stairs back to the castle before the reheating process could have time to relapse. He wrapped the scarf back into its place, snuggling it up to his now bone cold neck. His body would replace the heat quickly enough. He tucked the thought away, unsure of whether he could expect a favor from Rafael to pay off any time soon, but he had to reply somehow instead of silently dwelling in his own thoughts.
”It was nothing, I don’t need appreciation for being a warm body.” Flash tittered lightly again, finding amusement in his own words. ”I think by definition that’s the least a living person could be.”
Their journey back into the shielding protection of the castle walls wouldn’t be a terribly long one, the owlery and the west tower were an outcropping connected to the rest of the castle by the courtyard, so they only had to close the distance to the great hall after they descended the long stairwell. Flash was sure to watch for ice on the steps, though he hadn’t seen any on the way up. He realized he still didn’t know where Rafael was intended to take him along to, even though he had blindly agreed.
”Where exactly are we heading, by the way? I'll be cross with you if it turns out you're going to throw me down a well after this.” Flash's slight insecurities surfaced once again, somehow still convinced that this was all an elaborate ruse. He knew insecurities were not an attractive characteristic for someone to display, so he laughed off that comment as well.
@Rafael D'Spacito
The act had done its job quickly and efficiently-- the point all along. It was no time at all before the blood in Rafael’s hands started recirculating like normal, having exchanged all of its collected cold into Flash instead. Rafael was out of commission, close to leaning his forehead against Flash’s, as if he needed the support to keep himself from tumbling over and falling asleep. Flash couldn’t help but think of how open Rafael was making himself, his eyes closed and his towering body relaxed, hovering over him. There wasn’t anything insidious that Flash wanted to do to him, but if he did, it would have been easy.
Rafael muttered something, proving he was still awake. Flash gave his hands a squeeze, trying to insulate the outside as well as the inside, but it seemed the work was done for the most part. Rafael transformed from a bundled, shivering mess to someone more awake and sanguine. He gave Flash a smarmy look, asking if he did such a thing often. The comment allowed Flash to laugh it off as Rafael returned his hands to himself.
”Hardly.” In the midst of his quiet chuckle, he covered most of his expression with his hand, not quite sure he had overcome the sheepishness from before.
The idea that Flash could ever find himself in a similar situation to this one was indeed humorous. Everything about the situation was quite unique, and had the two of them met some other way, they were unlikely to have done anything even remotely as trusting. Flash wasn’t completely unaware of how straightforward he was being, but he was happy whenever boundaries could be easily scaled. The closer he was to someone, the more he could get away with. So as far as he knew, there was no downside.
It was only emphasized by Rafael mentioning he owed him again. This time, the parameters weren’t set at all, it was like a blank check. Flash removed his hand from his features, instead motioning for them to continue down the stairs back to the castle before the reheating process could have time to relapse. He wrapped the scarf back into its place, snuggling it up to his now bone cold neck. His body would replace the heat quickly enough. He tucked the thought away, unsure of whether he could expect a favor from Rafael to pay off any time soon, but he had to reply somehow instead of silently dwelling in his own thoughts.
”It was nothing, I don’t need appreciation for being a warm body.” Flash tittered lightly again, finding amusement in his own words. ”I think by definition that’s the least a living person could be.”
Their journey back into the shielding protection of the castle walls wouldn’t be a terribly long one, the owlery and the west tower were an outcropping connected to the rest of the castle by the courtyard, so they only had to close the distance to the great hall after they descended the long stairwell. Flash was sure to watch for ice on the steps, though he hadn’t seen any on the way up. He realized he still didn’t know where Rafael was intended to take him along to, even though he had blindly agreed.
”Where exactly are we heading, by the way? I'll be cross with you if it turns out you're going to throw me down a well after this.” Flash's slight insecurities surfaced once again, somehow still convinced that this was all an elaborate ruse. He knew insecurities were not an attractive characteristic for someone to display, so he laughed off that comment as well.
@Rafael D'Spacito
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
13 May 2020, 19:16
Hosts of the Air
╔══════════════☩══♛══☩══════════════╗Interacting With: @Flash Holmwood
Mentioning: N/A╚═══════════════☩══✦══☩══════════════╝
[font=Segoe Print][font=Segoe Print]“It was nothing, I don’t need appreciation for being a warm body.”
Flash had a good point, Rafael decided subconsciously as he basked in his newly regained warmth, clutching his elbows and puffing into the frosty air. Being warm wasn’t a particular talent, he supposed – however, it was strange, the submission the other boy had put forth in order to assist the young Gryffindor, his mannerisms kinder than any Slytherins’ he’d met thus far. A real question mark of a boy, Flash was, but then again, he supposed the whole lot of Slytherins couldn’t be rotten. Perhaps there was hope for the house yet. That being said, the young Captain wasn’t about to let the Slytherin boy get away with such an act of kindness without thanks. “I suppose,” he muttered loosely, his lips still a bit blue as he idly trod upon the stairs of the owlery. “But then again – you could’ve always left me cold. Guess that’s what makes you different from a good lot of your house.” Perhaps such a statement could be seen as an insult as much as a compliment, but then again, the young Gryffindor couldn’t bring himself to care that much. Perhaps all Slytherins were friends, perhaps they all thought each other to be family, much like the pride called the House of Gryffindor. The boy would hope not. Could Flash see the evil he presided in every time he walked into his common room?
The Gryffindor would have no time to ponder this further, as Flash ad quickly spoken once more, his words ushering in a new train of thought. Admittedly, Rafa had to stifle a laugh at the Slytherin’s strange choice of words, humor dancing across the Captain’s face as he turned, raising his eyebrow at the boy right behind him. “Throw you down a well? I look that ugly, now, do I?” It was an innocent prod, Flash would surely be able to realize, evident in the mischievous glint shining in the boy’s eye, the genuine smile flashing across his face – The Gryffindor was, more than obviously, very far from ugly, as was the boy he stared at. Though, he wasn’t about to tell Flash that. Rather, he turned once more, throwing the hood of his jacket over his head as to block out the whistling snow as he considered Flash’s question properly. “You know, that’s a great question. Where to go…”
It was then, that an idea occurred to him – he turned once more, a bright grin flashing on his face as he nodded towards his acquaintance. “I’ve got a right idea,” he expressed. “Why don’t you follow me, we’re not that far – “ his steps would increase in speed, his hands tucking into his pockets as he hurried down the steps. He would not look back to see if the Slytherin was backing him up, only hope that the boy was following him. Perhaps they would be able to catch up further, properly get to know each other, presiding in the safety of the warm castle… [/font]
[/font]Rafael leaves the thread
I probably haven't collected my allowance yet.
16 May 2020, 00:56
Hosts of the Air
Reassured with the stranger’s sweet smile, Flash felt his worries float away. It was something entirely foreign to him-- somehow, it seemed Rafael honestly wanted to remain in his company. It brought about a feeling he didn’t expect to have. It was a kind of bewildered surprise. He had only just recently started making a concerted effort to form connections to people in the school. Relationships where he took the information he could gather from them to string them along and get them to obey his orders. For the most part it worked well, all he had to do was give them all the attention they could ever want, and make them feel important. Strangely, Rafael seemed to be doing that for him instead.
Was it a tactic, no, he kept trying to find a way to make Rafael out to be scheming against him. He had to remember how his smile looked when he talked. Earnest, real. Flash could do little more than be curious, and try to allow himself to continue to trust his intentions. Perhaps he was being just as stupid as the cattle that he himself led around by the nose. Or, even more frightening, he had landed himself in the good graces of someone who was actually sweet and kind. He wasn’t sure how to interact with someone like that. It almost made him want to give him whatever he wanted.
Rafael derided the house Flash came from, which Flash couldn’t find it in himself to feel defensive about. They joked about being a warm body, but snakes were cold-blooded by nature. In order to feel warm, they had to bask in the sun, and when the heat grew too strong, they would have to slink back into the shadows. Even if it was an arbitrary comparison to the living, breathing students of the magical school, it did hold taut in Flash’s mind as an apt comparison. Flash didn’t find himself much different than other Slytherins in that case, but he wasn’t about to out himself for doing plenty of slinking around in his free time. The entire interaction itself, besides the heavy oppressive pressure of cold from every angle, felt like basking in the sun.
Then, picking up his pace, Rafael had a place in mind. Naturally, Flash had no intention of stopping his basking now, not while he was still wanted.
Was it a tactic, no, he kept trying to find a way to make Rafael out to be scheming against him. He had to remember how his smile looked when he talked. Earnest, real. Flash could do little more than be curious, and try to allow himself to continue to trust his intentions. Perhaps he was being just as stupid as the cattle that he himself led around by the nose. Or, even more frightening, he had landed himself in the good graces of someone who was actually sweet and kind. He wasn’t sure how to interact with someone like that. It almost made him want to give him whatever he wanted.
Rafael derided the house Flash came from, which Flash couldn’t find it in himself to feel defensive about. They joked about being a warm body, but snakes were cold-blooded by nature. In order to feel warm, they had to bask in the sun, and when the heat grew too strong, they would have to slink back into the shadows. Even if it was an arbitrary comparison to the living, breathing students of the magical school, it did hold taut in Flash’s mind as an apt comparison. Flash didn’t find himself much different than other Slytherins in that case, but he wasn’t about to out himself for doing plenty of slinking around in his free time. The entire interaction itself, besides the heavy oppressive pressure of cold from every angle, felt like basking in the sun.
Then, picking up his pace, Rafael had a place in mind. Naturally, Flash had no intention of stopping his basking now, not while he was still wanted.
@Rafael D'SpacitoThread 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