8 May 2020, 20:47
Rain Check
Backdated: May 1st, 2020
Once Flash had heard there was another errand to take part in where he could earn house points, he arrived in the Great Hall with the full intention of taking advantage of the activity that Miss Nico pulled together. There wasn't all much to the activity itself, it was a matter of creating an origami figure by following instructions. As long as the instructions were clear, Flash was sure it would only be a short matter to complete however many origami figures as it would take to satisfy the requirement.
Knowing that beforehand, Flash had a mind to use the opportunity to catch up with his friend Sylvain. He knew where he would be, and so it was an easy task to arrive and invite him. Miss Nico had set up an area for the crafting activity that any student could come by and start using at their leisure, so Sylvain and him could feel free to find a spot and talk together. It was good to change one's surroundings every once in a while, so that you wouldn't start to get tunnel vision. In fact, it was the matter of 'change' that had been the reason for the invitation in the first place.
Slyvain had really been his first friend in school, even though technically speaking, neither of them were actually 'friends' until very recently. They had been friends by the nature of not being a nuisance to each other in the library, so it had really only felt like friendship upon retrospect, and because of how the two of them ended up getting along once the silence was broken. They hadn't really met properly, and still barely knew anything about each other, but there was a certain closeness as well. For at least six months of his Hogwarts career, he was the only person he had felt comfortable being around. They had always been together in the library during the major school events, even enjoying each others' company instead of attending.
But that had changed. Flash attended the secret Blossom Ball. At the time he had been so preoccupied with the Partners and Rafael and Ruka that he hadn't thought to tell Sylvain that he would not be joining him as he usually did. His time of dodging social events at school was over, for better or for worse. He was sure that Sylvain would be expecting him, he knew the boy to be one that found comfort in habits and routines. He could only hope that he could remedy his impolite mistake by trying to explain himself. Surely Sylvain could appreciate doing this while simultaneously earning a few sickles.
Having brought him with very little explanation, Flash sat down at the table, inviting Syl to sit beside him.
"I hope this is alright. I thought it might be fun." Flash picked up a cobalt blue piece of square paper, a lighter robin's egg blue on the flip side. "I wanted to apologize for not saying anything to you for a while. I fear I've been... terribly preoccupied."
Flash fumbled with the origami paper in his hands a bit, sliding the instruction paper nearby to sit neatly between them. He wouldn't be able to properly engage in a conversation until he knew Sylvain's thoughts, and where he stood with him. Once he had a frame of reference, he could address whatever concerns he might have had. After all, he had realized with his folly that Sylvain's opinion of him was one he was especially keen to keep positive.
@Sylvain IndarysWord count: 592/800
Last edited by Flash Holmwood on 2 Jun 2020, 14:55, edited 2 times in total.
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
12 May 2020, 04:14
Rain Check
“Yeah,” Sylvain said to Flash non-chalantly. “It seems pretty enjoyable.” Truth be told, Sylvain thought it was an incredibly simple task for the two to be doing. Before they’d finished speaking, he’d folded a couple of dragons according to the proper instructions. It was the chance to talk to Flash that had managed to keep him busy folding. Sylvain sat back in the chair, his dangly legs constantly tipping the front end of his chair upwards. Each time he finished a dragon, he’d pick up another piece the various colored papers, and give it a quick inspection before folding it.
He’d had so much to say only a week ago, on the day of the ball... but now, his stomach tensed into a knot. He wasn’t sure why he felt that way but he definitely needed to think about it before he spoke up. Instead, he decided to accept the apology and make a joke at Flash’s expense.
“No need to be sorry Flash,” Sylvain said while eyeballing the piece of robin blue paper the boy seemed fascinated with. “I think one of our strongest traits is not talking to each other for a long while.” He smiled a grimacing toothy grin across the table, before hiding his excitement to be with his chosen friend. He had found the source of his discomfort. Flash felt guilty for abandoning Sylvain, and Sylvain had felt abandoned, and even though he’d never told Flash he missed him, Flash knew he had. For a moment, that feeling flashed across his face again.
Sylvain scooted his chair in close to the table and tucked his hands into the sleeves of his sweater and did so all while watching Flash hopelessly fiddle with another piece of the origami materials. Flash’s concentrated focus was always a sight to behold. Feeling his nerves once again overwhelm him, Sylvain put his head in the sea of paper dragons he had folded to avoid his feelings, and wrapped his arms around them. He didn’t know how to say it at first but it sort of just came to him. “I just didn’t know you weren’t coming.” He didn’t cry, but he hoped Flash couldn’t tell he was trying not to.
He let a small sigh out, and brought his melancholic undertone slip away. With a tight lipped smile he brought his gaze up to Flash’s. He could tell his friend hadn’t meant any offense by it, and that he’d only gotten swept up in something else. Didn’t he say it was terrible? Sylvain’s original worry came back, he’d have to confess that to Flash too. “I was worried about you mostly. What even happened at that Spring Ball anyways?”
Sylvain let one of the other students take a dragon from his growing hoard.
@Flash HolmwoodWord Count 463/800
"Things are never so bad they can't be made worse." -Elim Garak
13 May 2020, 16:48
Rain Check
While Sylvain seemed to be happy enough to take part in the errand, the way he quickly made far more dragon origami figures than seemed even humanly possible in the time that he talked, it was apparent that he was using the folding as an excuse to occupy his nerves. His offhanded joke about how they didn’t talk also hit Flash in a spot of insecurity where he might have laughed at another time. He used to think communication was the one thing he had a real grasp on, the one thing he could control. After the ball, he wondered if anything he said was understood at all, or if his words were just another thing about him that everyone was free to misinterpret and ignore.
Sylvain made a quick, barely noticeable pained expression, Flash assumed he was right to worry that Sylvain wouldn’t take the unexplained absence well. He started to fidget with his clothing and his seat, even dunking his head into the papers in front of him. Flash had begun to follow suit and fold his paper neatly and carefully according to the instructions. The one next to the dragon, the unicorn, seemed fairly simple, and after only a few steps the paper creature was made. As he waited for the shy student to regain his composure, he took one of the more coherently finished dragons and set the two creatures side-by-side on the table. From the depths of the paper, Sylvain croaked out a weepy sentence of regret. He had hurt Sylvain’s feelings again, that much was obvious. In fact, it seemed to have hurt him even more than the outright verbal lashing he gave him in March. Ironically, saying nothing at all really was the problem.
Flash could do little else but stare off into the distance. He didn’t want to hurt him, but he had. It made no sense to waste time regretting it, or ply him with endless, effusive apologies. He would simply have to stand by his original one, and hope to have the opportunity to prove he could do better in the future. If this encounter proved anything, actions and words couldn’t stand isolated from each other. One needed to do both.
”The ball…” Flash’s staring gaze was unbroken, looking off into another world. ”If I tried to explain, it would take all day. In short, though, the students put it on without the professors’ permission, and in the end we were attacked by creatures from the Forbidden Forest.”
Flash rubbed his eyes, always made to feel tired when he remembered the back-breaking work he put into trying to be prepared for the worst case scenario, only to have everything inevitably fall apart in ways he couldn’t possibly have predicted. He hardly wanted to be reminded of it.
In an attempt to distract himself, he took the paper companions and handed them off to one of the house elves walking down the aisles of the Great Hall who had promised to do small enchantments on the figures for the students’ entertainment.
”You should feel glad you didn’t attend.”
Sylvain made a quick, barely noticeable pained expression, Flash assumed he was right to worry that Sylvain wouldn’t take the unexplained absence well. He started to fidget with his clothing and his seat, even dunking his head into the papers in front of him. Flash had begun to follow suit and fold his paper neatly and carefully according to the instructions. The one next to the dragon, the unicorn, seemed fairly simple, and after only a few steps the paper creature was made. As he waited for the shy student to regain his composure, he took one of the more coherently finished dragons and set the two creatures side-by-side on the table. From the depths of the paper, Sylvain croaked out a weepy sentence of regret. He had hurt Sylvain’s feelings again, that much was obvious. In fact, it seemed to have hurt him even more than the outright verbal lashing he gave him in March. Ironically, saying nothing at all really was the problem.
Flash could do little else but stare off into the distance. He didn’t want to hurt him, but he had. It made no sense to waste time regretting it, or ply him with endless, effusive apologies. He would simply have to stand by his original one, and hope to have the opportunity to prove he could do better in the future. If this encounter proved anything, actions and words couldn’t stand isolated from each other. One needed to do both.
”The ball…” Flash’s staring gaze was unbroken, looking off into another world. ”If I tried to explain, it would take all day. In short, though, the students put it on without the professors’ permission, and in the end we were attacked by creatures from the Forbidden Forest.”
Flash rubbed his eyes, always made to feel tired when he remembered the back-breaking work he put into trying to be prepared for the worst case scenario, only to have everything inevitably fall apart in ways he couldn’t possibly have predicted. He hardly wanted to be reminded of it.
In an attempt to distract himself, he took the paper companions and handed them off to one of the house elves walking down the aisles of the Great Hall who had promised to do small enchantments on the figures for the students’ entertainment.
”You should feel glad you didn’t attend.”
Word count: 1110/800
Errand finished, I'll stop counting words and continue the RP for story purposes
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
17 May 2020, 19:44
Rain Check
Sylvain’s head may have hung as he asked Flash about the ball, but when Flash mentioned beasts attacking the students Syl shot up from his slump. His heart no longer hurt from the absence of his friend, but rather it nearly broke to hear Flash's pained voice recounting offered up to him. Syl’s expression grew into serious concern with a distinct note of curiosity at what actually had happened at this secret ball. He had heard the ball was a failure from more than a handful of students, but not to the extent Flash felt and described. After all, some of the students came back having admitted to a good time.
Was it the case that Flash needed Sylvain at the ball, but Sylvain hadn’t been there for him? No, that thought was ridiculous and would cause more issues than it solved. Nobody *needed* Sylvain for anything, and it was foolish to assume any of the answers to his questions would lie down that line.
As Flash rubbed his eyes, seemingly tired from some unexplained source of exhaustion, Sylvain’s concern for his friend’s feelings grew even more. This whole time he had selfishly thought of what *He* needed from Flash, but had neglected to think for a single moment that Flash might have wanted his help and companionship but not known how to ask for it.
Syl decided he had been unapproachable, but only because he chose to distance himself. Zeitgeist had taught him this. “Not anymore,” Sylvain thought to himself. He needed to open up and stop beating around the bush when it came to their feelings. He needed to change his approach.
“Flash, I’ve no good way to tell you what I’m about to say. I hope you take my words as I mean them and not how they sound. I do regret not going to the ball, because I missed how it affected you, and despite my selfish whimpering, I do care about you. I…..” His voice trailed off as another student’s origami creature joined the forming stampede of animated construction paper miniatures. As the origami rushed past the two student’s work Sylvain could tell the house elves were trying to cheer the pair up.
Forgetting where he’d left off, Sylvain decided to take a different approach. “You said I should be glad I didn’t go, and there’s some honesty to your answer. I don’t fit into large crowds well, I get … Lost.” Syl frowned a little bit as he studied Flash’s expressions. The boy seemed a bit morose about whatever had happened to him while he was at the ball. “Plus, I’m certain you had a good reason you wanted to go right? Why’d you go anyways?”
@Flash HolmwoodWord Count 910/800 I’m also going to stop counting now.
"Things are never so bad they can't be made worse." -Elim Garak
20 May 2020, 18:03
Rain Check
Once Sylvain had started to reply to him, Flash was caught off guard by his sincerity. It wasn’t something he had not noticed before, in fact, it seemed to be quite an integral part to who Sylvain was at his core. He was someone who expressed his feelings very openly, and felt them very strongly. What caught him off guard was how many of his feelings were about Flash. While the two of them did have a connection that Flash cherished, he didn’t know what lengths he would go to in Sylvain’s stead. Even with their closeness, they had still barely talked, still barely knew anything about each other. He had heard more about him from others than he himself, and that was saying something, since others barely said anything about him either. Perhaps Sylvain didn’t know how to show restraint in relationships, perhaps he hadn’t had enough experience with them yet. That, at least, Flash could empathize with.
Though their conversation had notes of severity and seriousness, the atmosphere remained mostly light, thanks to the flapping around of cute paper creatures and the giggles of delight of the young students around them. It was good that Flash chose such a scene, it might have become a very somber conversation otherwise.
”You care about me, do you?” He wondered if Syl could sense incredulity in his voice, which he was trying to mask. It wasn’t so much that he doubted Sylvain cared at all, but that he didn’t know what capacity for caring he could possibly have for someone he didn’t know. ”You may want to give that up while you still can, I don’t imagine I’ll be becoming any less worrisome with time.”
It was a cheeky comment, made mostly in jest to lighten the mood, as Sylvain had no way of knowing how honest he was being. If he knew more about Flash, he might have realized he had lofty aspirations, the kind that demanded sacrifice and endless tribulations. He had his reasons for thinking it was worth it, but the people close to him rarely agreed. In complete earnestness, Flash considered it a kindness to keep people at a distance. He didn’t want a repeat of the kind of discomfort his actions had brought Burnett, and he certainly didn’t want to be told to stop.
Then, surprising him by a considerable metric, Sylvain asked him why he had gone. It seemed like an attempt at actually caring, but it also revealed how little Sylvain knew of Flash’s motivations and movements around the castle. Even though they had been around each other nearly all year, he had no idea how Flash was intimately involved in the construction of a plan to interrogate a suspicious student, nor that he had actually been invited to the ball by two people, and even danced with a third. The reasons he went were multitude, and because of who he was and who he knew, not going would have basically been an act of negligence. By the time it rolled around, it had felt like a job that he had to perform.
”Why did I go? It was an obligation-- that is, there was someone there who…” Flash had started talking, but realized quickly that he had no idea how to explain himself succinctly. He was also getting a bit tired of explaining the situation to everyone. It was fair, given that he mostly associated with first years his own age, but how could they all be so clueless about the things going on around the castle? No, he really had to stop himself from expecting people to be as involved as he was. After all, wasn’t not being involved the smarter option? ”Sylvain, to be completely honest, I don’t really want to talk about it. It was… very difficult for me. Even now, I’m so tired of everything that’s going on. Can’t we just… enjoy each others’ company for a while?”
Flash gave Sylvain a tired, pleading smile. Maybe someday he would explain. The reason he yelled at him before, the reason he went to the ball and had been so completely exhausted by it. For now though, he picked up Sylvain’s dragon by the wings, as it had started terrorizing the other origami with it’s puny yet spirited fire breath.
@Sylvain Indarys
Though their conversation had notes of severity and seriousness, the atmosphere remained mostly light, thanks to the flapping around of cute paper creatures and the giggles of delight of the young students around them. It was good that Flash chose such a scene, it might have become a very somber conversation otherwise.
”You care about me, do you?” He wondered if Syl could sense incredulity in his voice, which he was trying to mask. It wasn’t so much that he doubted Sylvain cared at all, but that he didn’t know what capacity for caring he could possibly have for someone he didn’t know. ”You may want to give that up while you still can, I don’t imagine I’ll be becoming any less worrisome with time.”
It was a cheeky comment, made mostly in jest to lighten the mood, as Sylvain had no way of knowing how honest he was being. If he knew more about Flash, he might have realized he had lofty aspirations, the kind that demanded sacrifice and endless tribulations. He had his reasons for thinking it was worth it, but the people close to him rarely agreed. In complete earnestness, Flash considered it a kindness to keep people at a distance. He didn’t want a repeat of the kind of discomfort his actions had brought Burnett, and he certainly didn’t want to be told to stop.
Then, surprising him by a considerable metric, Sylvain asked him why he had gone. It seemed like an attempt at actually caring, but it also revealed how little Sylvain knew of Flash’s motivations and movements around the castle. Even though they had been around each other nearly all year, he had no idea how Flash was intimately involved in the construction of a plan to interrogate a suspicious student, nor that he had actually been invited to the ball by two people, and even danced with a third. The reasons he went were multitude, and because of who he was and who he knew, not going would have basically been an act of negligence. By the time it rolled around, it had felt like a job that he had to perform.
”Why did I go? It was an obligation-- that is, there was someone there who…” Flash had started talking, but realized quickly that he had no idea how to explain himself succinctly. He was also getting a bit tired of explaining the situation to everyone. It was fair, given that he mostly associated with first years his own age, but how could they all be so clueless about the things going on around the castle? No, he really had to stop himself from expecting people to be as involved as he was. After all, wasn’t not being involved the smarter option? ”Sylvain, to be completely honest, I don’t really want to talk about it. It was… very difficult for me. Even now, I’m so tired of everything that’s going on. Can’t we just… enjoy each others’ company for a while?”
Flash gave Sylvain a tired, pleading smile. Maybe someday he would explain. The reason he yelled at him before, the reason he went to the ball and had been so completely exhausted by it. For now though, he picked up Sylvain’s dragon by the wings, as it had started terrorizing the other origami with it’s puny yet spirited fire breath.
@Sylvain Indarys
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
31 May 2020, 16:14
Rain Check
Hexcode= #507091
”You care about me, do you?”
Sylvain nodded his head in agreement. He wasn’t sure to what length he cared for Flash, but he was certain the desire to help him existed. Syl could tell Flash was special to him.
”You may want to give that up while you still can, I don’t imagine I’ll be becoming any less worrisome with time.”
Sylvain chuckled a little at Mr. Worrisome’s joke. Sylvain imagined that if Flash were in his place, he’d have to agree seeing the state the bruised jock was in after the ball. Equally as impressive, Flash was also humbly displaying his social adroitness. Sylvain’s initial hypothesis that the two could learn a great deal from one another had been confirmed in his eyes.
”Sylvain, to be completely honest, I don’t really want to talk about it. It was… very difficult for me. Even now, I’m so tired of everything that’s going on. Can’t we just… enjoy each others’ company for a while?”
No more than an eyebrow raise was offered. It seemed to be sensitive to say the least, let alone the implications of being obligated somehow turning the whole affair sour to the thought. It was best for both if they left that feeling for Flash to cook a little longer. Then he remembered he was asked a question.
“Of course! I’m enjoying this errand as well as talking to you, but it is almost time for me to go. Thank you so much for bringing me along just to talk to me. I think it’s really sweet of you to be so concerned for me and I hope to show you I feel the same way sometime soon.”
Before giggling awkwardly at Flash, Sylvain smiled a bit broadly while wrinkling his own nose in disgust at his own display of emotion.
“I uh, I’ve got to go see a wizard about some chocolate! It’s safe to say I’ll catch up with you in the library?” He asked quizzically as his eyes squinted to catch Flash’s response.
With that Sylvain was packed and standing, hand outstretched for Flash to shake. It seemed strange to him the two hadn’t shared a touch yet, but it was becoming ever more obvious to Sylvain that the two were by no means ordinary when they were together.
Reducio
Shaking hands and leaving thread unless stopped
@Flash Holmwood
"Things are never so bad they can't be made worse." -Elim Garak
2 Jun 2020, 14:55
Rain Check
Sylvain was courteous and let the subject go, but quickly started to excuse himself as well. Even though it seemed like he had been listening to Flash attentively, and even had words of great kindness in reply, Flash couldn’t help but feel let down. He didn’t blame Sylvain for having a busy schedule, they had completed the errand quickly, after all, and had no real reason to linger. He didn’t often ask for someone’s time and attention, so to be rebuffed so quickly came as a bit of a shock.
No, not shock. An affirmation of what he already thought about himself. He was gloomy company, not the kind of thing one would take time out of their day for. What did he really have to add to Sylvain’s life anyway, besides disappointment? It was better that he leave, to that end. Flash’s current mood would only dull the blade of their friendship. Sylvain giggled as he said he wanted an opportunity to show his concern in the future. Don’t bother. Flash thought it better to keep Sylvain away from his troubles, it would be too much for the fragile bird to handle.
Offering his hand, Flash shook it gladly, a confident fake smile on his face.
”Of course, I look forward to it.”
No, not shock. An affirmation of what he already thought about himself. He was gloomy company, not the kind of thing one would take time out of their day for. What did he really have to add to Sylvain’s life anyway, besides disappointment? It was better that he leave, to that end. Flash’s current mood would only dull the blade of their friendship. Sylvain giggled as he said he wanted an opportunity to show his concern in the future. Don’t bother. Flash thought it better to keep Sylvain away from his troubles, it would be too much for the fragile bird to handle.
Offering his hand, Flash shook it gladly, a confident fake smile on his face.
”Of course, I look forward to it.”
@Sylvain IndarysThread 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