Hogwarts Summer Camp Stargazing

Dee snorted and rolled her eyes at Ileen's antics, poking her side with pointy fingers, which probably didn't help her friend's laughing fit. "Don't choke to death on my lap, people might think I had something to do with it," she warned, but grinned. She enjoyed the quiet, peaceful atmosphere that seemed to blanket the whole scene, and she felt comfortable in the company she was in, both Ileen and Zykeal (and his slugs).

At Ileen's words, Dee shrugged and cast another look over at the remnants of their tent companions. "Maybe they're fighting over snacks," she suggested, then grinned, her eyes sparkling. "At least if guitar boy turns into a tree, he will have to stop glaring at me at every opportunity. It's hard to feel safe in a tent when you know there's someone who'd like to smother you with a pillow only a few meters from where you're sleeping." Despite the words, her tone was light and teasing. She wasn't actually worried about Percival hurting her - he hadn't seemed like the type so far - and she could handle the glaring. If nothing else, it made for easy entertainment.
Her mouth dropped open in indignation when Ileen stole her strawberry. "I wasn't going to do anything! Besides, he's the one who always starts it," she protested, then huffed and stuffed her last strawberry in her best friend's face, too, and started giggling. While she was aiming for the general direction of her mouth, she didn't really care all that much if it got smushed on her face instead, either.
Out of strawberries now, she took a bite out of the choco ball she'd snagged from the basket earlier, and dropped down onto her back next to Zyk to look at the stars herself.

While the moon was still rather bright, since the previous night had been a full moon, it was clear, and with the lack of artificial light around, there were still many stars visible even to the bare eye. She didn't bother trying to find any of the constellations they'd learned about in school, instead just taking in the picture as a whole, the vastness of the sky spread above them. She remembered a few nights spent with friends in similar ways, lying on the cliffs next to the sea near Whitehaven, and staring up at the stars.
She hadn't been prepared for the sudden rush of nostalgia - those friends were people she hadn't seen in almost a year now - but it didn't bother her. She was looking forward to being back home soon, though, and to showing Ileen around where she had grown up. There weren't many more plans for the break other than that and the trip to Aida's cave. Taking in a deep breath, Dee smiled up at the sky. She was looking forward to being home.

When the Gryffindor who had been rather quiet so far got up and told them he would be back later, Dee just gave him a distracted wave, still lost in the stars and her thoughts, but Ileen managed to pull her back to the present with only a single sentence.
Dee groaned, rolling onto her stomach to peer over to where Professor Kibitzer was sitting. There was a small line at this point, and the Professor seemed busy talking to students, but the look she'd been given earlier filled Dee's limbs with reluctance as heavy as lead.
"I don't want to," she whined, dropping her head so she could bury her face into the blanket. Her next words came out a little muffled as a consequence. "I mean - I want to know what she'd tell me too, but... She remembers me from the relay race, I know she does. I can't face her! I'd rather die." Rolling onto her side, she curled up like a shrimp and then peered up at her friend through the hair that was covering her face. "Just let me die," she said plaintively. "It's better than the humiliation."

Interactions | @Ileen Knight | @Zykeal Lane
Mentions | @Percival Rainwood | @Rosalind Kibitzer

"Now - what is your name?" said Kibitzer, beckoning.

Aida stirred from her dreaming and stood up. Her time had come, so a slight smile unfolded on the pale girl’s face. Approaching the professor, Aida bowed respectfully.

“My name is Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood. Just Aida or Ellwood is fine,” answered the young white witch earnestly. Her face was very serious.

“Professor,” said Aida, swallowing hard. “I … recently learned from Ministry records that my parents were sentenced to Azkaban Prison when I was a child. I would like to ask you if they are still alive.” Aida swallowed hard again. She was trying to be brief to respect the professor’s time. However, as a Ravenclaw the girl also was in the habit of being thorough. “Whether the hand or the bones, please use the method that would give me the most complete answer possible, please.”

The pale girl before Professor Kibitzer was quite thin and looked highly sleep-deprived– the product of ceaseless recurring nightmares, half of which regarded fearful speculations of her parents’ fate. The other half were retellings of recent near-death encounters and traumas, [1, 2, 3, 4] often involving beasts, that would bring to pass her greatest fear: accidentally causing the death of her best friend, Alexander Varellion. Aida went into this knowing that the professor’s answer might cause more strife, or even catastrophe, but that was just fine with her so long as she had something to work with. She desperately needed something that could get her out of this rut of not knowing, to Hades with the consequences.

Color code: #351C75
OOC Note: I have not decided the fate of Aida’s parents, so I humbly offer you full artistic license and the power to choose what happened to them to the extent that you might be interested. I welcome any length of reply you might have.
Interacting with: @Rosalind Kibitzer

Interacting with @Aisling Collins

This was his kind of person! Her smile mirrored his own, if not being even brighter. Aaron loved people who could smile effortlessly like this. It was usually a sign that they had a great personality. As she looked through the telescope lens, Aaron bounced on the heel of his feet, itching to see what she was seeing. He examined the starchart he had, wondering which one he should try to identify when it was his turn.

After mentioning the beach, the redhead withdrew from the lens to respond to his introduction. Aisling. "Nice to meet you, too," he agreed, tilting his head ever-so-slightly as she peered at him through her wild hair. Aisling seemed bothered by her mane, but he thought her hair was really cool. It reminded him of his muggle friend Lilian from primary school.

"Oh! So you're muggle-born, like me!" Aaron said, his dark eyes lighting up all over again at the topic. He knew exactly how she felt, having experienced the same shock when he went shopping in Diagon Alley for the first time. "Muggles being non-magical people," he quickly added, in case she didn't know the terminology yet. "But yeah, when I found out I was magic, it was a crazy time at home, too," he agreed, wanting her to know that he could definitely relate. "The craziest part being that my twin brother didn't get a letter - I thought maybe Hogwarts made a mistake, but apparently being identical doesn't guarantee we'll both have magical abilities," Aaron shared, rubbing the back of his neck.

He really missed his brother Avery. They were best friends, as thick as thieves, but since coming here and only being able to communicate through letters, Aaron felt like something had shifted. He was hopeful, though, that things would be back on track once he got home from camp.

Aaron took his spot at the telescope when Aisling offered him a turn. He had decided to just look for the brightest star in the sky, because there wouldn't be too much trouble finding it. As he moved the telescope to properly look at the star, his ears perked as his redheaded companion spoke again. He thought back on his first year at Hogwarts fondly, a smile playing at his lips. "It was... amazing," he said, unsure how else to put it. After a moment more of observing the star in the sky, he straightened back up to look at Aisling.

"I didn't really believe it when the upperclassmen were telling me it would be like a home away from home - but it really is! I made so many incredible friends, and we learned really cool magic and even how to fly brooms!" Aaron could go on for ages about everything that had happened in his first year. Meeting his best friend Lydia. Developing a love for Quidditch. Organizing the Secret Blossom Ball. Making it onto the Quidditch team. Becoming Co-Captain. And now this. Being here at summer camp, preparing to take on Durmstrang in his first official Quidditch match.

Aaron could've regaled her with these and a thousand other Hogwarts stories, but he figured he better hold off and not overwhelm her. He'd answer whatever she wanted to know, of course, but volunteering all his own experience might take away from her own future ones. "Have you heard about the houses? Any idea which one you want to be in?"

Interacting with @Aaron Jones
Open to other interactions

Aaron was right- Aisling's smile was, in fact, a good summary of her sparkling personality.

The comment of being muggle-born clearly confused her, and it showed. Pursing her lips together they twisted off to one side, and her brows came down heavy over her eyes to squish them into teeny tiny slits. "I'm sorry, a what? Does that mean...non-magical or something?" Context clues were great. Aaron was quick to explain and she let out of a soft "oh" in understanding before that wickedly bright smile returned in full force. "Then yes, that. I'm that exact thing."

Hearing that his twin brother hadn't received a letter her smile dwindled. "Neither did my brother." She paused for a moment before remembering to add, "Oh! But we're not twins or anything. He's two years older. But yeah, that is a tad strange that you're identical in, well, most ways but not this." Her face became scrunched up in thought as she wondered what a magical life with Devin would be like. He was just as rowdy as she was, if not more so, so perhaps it was a good thing that he wasn't going to be sporting a wand. Ever.

Once Aaron took his place behind the telescope she returned to staring at her star chart, quietly spreading it open to begin comparing the constellations above to the image contained in her hands.

"Was it," she asked with a touch of hope. Magic was cool and all, of course, but to hear that his first year had been amazing made Aisling less nervous about the upcoming school year. When he looked back at her she had lost track of the stars, adrift in a hazy daydream as she tried to sort through her overactive imagination. She wondered if she would be any good at it, or if it would be anything like the street magic she'd seen in Rye. However, the summer trip had already proven it would be vastly different from that. Still, it was a lot to wrap her mind around.

Her lashes fluttered as he drew her attention away from her thoughts. "Wait, you actually fly on brooms? Like witches during Halloween?" A surprised, belly deep laugh escaped her. "That's true?" Did that mean, perhaps, that other things she had known in her "muggle" life about magic were drawn from truth? Were they glimpses of the secret world that'd been passed down over generations and treated as fantasy?

Her surprise was overshadowed by curiosity as he inquired about her knowledge on the houses. "I have no idea," she admitted with a grin. "Do I get to choose? Does it even really matter? Wait, if there's houses, which one are you in? What are they?" Realizing that she was throwing question after question at the boy she hid her mouth behind her star chart and uttered a quick, "Sorry, Aaron. I have a billion questions."

She felt like vomiting. Not due to sickness, but excitement. It was as if the bubbling energy deep down in her core was being twisted and tugged on with every new revelation and question, building and expanding to a dangerous capacity that left her feeling winded. Needing a second to reel in her thoughts she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It did little to stem her enthusiasm, but it granted her enough clarity to carry on without overwhelming herself.

≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

@Zykeal Lane | @Charles Simmons | @Alaric Equinox
Open to interactions

Lizzie stared foreword as her 'ex' walked away. Her mouth hanging slightly open. She was lost for words. She obviously did not know how Zyk was feeling but she knew deep down inside it could have gone better. The whole conversation could have turned out completely differently. Fate had taken their lives into their hands and twisted the relationship until Lizzie finally snapped and ruined it all.

After the kiss had landed on her forehead, she had no idea what to do. Everything had fallen to bits. She knew it was only a bomb waiting to be set off but she didn't think it would have hit her that hard. Lizzie lifted her hand to her forehead and brushed the area where his lips had been. She did not want the feeling to end.

The girl brought her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on the kneecaps. It had meant to be a relationship that had no feelings. No attachments allowed. Just like what the Jedi Code said. 'There is no emotion, there is peace.'

"Zy-Zyk wait!" She said standing up quickly and reaching out. Except, it was to late. He had walked off into the darkness. They probably wouldn't see each other for a while and Lizzie did not know if they had left it on a good note or a bad one. She would not be able to sleep at night.

She sighed and sat down again, hugged her knees. There was no reason to just sit there but it felt as if a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders but then a heavier weight had been dropped upon her. Lizzie pushed some hair out of her face and looked to the floor. She did not want to cry. She could not cry.

The only thing stopping her was the masses of people around in the area. Lizzie did not want to cry in front of lots of people. That would be a public humiliation. Well, for Lizzie anyway. If she wanted to keep the reputation of a strong girl crying would not help that situation at all.

The girl stood up quickly and brushing away the feelings. It was meant to be a good night not a sad one. She looked around seeing if anyone could help cheer her up. Lizzie had yet to see anyone from her tent arrive which was a bummer since she was sure a few of them aid they were going.

Spotting the perfect person, Lizzie grabbed her small bag and ran off towards them without any notice of her surroundings. "Charles! I'ts lov-lovely to see you here." She said panting as she got to her Slytherin friend. The girl turned to the person he was talking to a put on a smile, "Professor. I- I didn't mean to interrupt."

She quickly pointed behind her and continued, "I- I can leave if you want." She sighed and then wiped her eyes quickly of the small droplets of water, "If it's anything important I am.. I am sorry."

Interacting| @Howard White

Howard had listened to her, so she showed him the same respect by listening to him. Santario’s eyes slid down to his scar when he revealed it and the back to his face, her expression unchanged. She had already surmised what he was, so it was not a big shocker when he further proved it, not that his physical features weren’t enough. It was clear that they lived two very different lives even before his transformation, but they did have something in common. They both wanted something to go back to how it used to be, an impossibility for them both.

“I can see your point. I still don’t agree with it, but I can see it and understand it from the perspective you’ve given me. I think knowing would hinder me. If I were to be told more than I needed or wanted to know, would that inadvertently change the course in me getting what I want? Or what if I was handed an ultimatum what if to get what I want I might have to do something I normally wouldn’t. This could cause me to overthink I’d rather figure out what kind of person I am in the snap than to think about it.” Her tone was thoughtful as if she was putting the thoughts together as they were coming out of her mouth. Still very well put together thoughts, but the fact that she wasn’t used to breaching a conversation so open could be notated by someone observant enough.

She glanced over at the professor as a couple of people left her presence. “What happens if you get an answer you don’t like? Do you give up, or do you work twice as hard to change that answer?” She looked back to the dhampir across from her questioningly. It spoke a lot about a person if they decided to just give up, and his answer would make or break her current opinion of him.

Outfit

The night was clear and beautiful. Looking upward, Marshal was astounded by the amount of stars that were visible, his view of them unhindered with the lack of artificial light that was always present in the city.
As he admired the brilliant, cloudless sky, he found himself letting out a sigh of relief.
He would be lying if he said that he wasn't fascinated and excited by the magic surrounding everything since he had left home, but that being said, he couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed at times. This new world he was experiencing was just so strange, so different from what he was used to.
So he was going to enjoy every moment of this night.
Sometimes, something as simple as sitting back and looking at the stars above is all you need to unwind and let go of all the stress that you've been holding within.
'Simple pleasures,' his father used to tell him on occasion. 'If you don't learn to appreciate the little things in life, then you're missing the point. Even the big things will never be enough. Pay attention to the details of your life, or it will be gone before you even realize what you had.'
Thoughts of home accompanied the memory, and Marshal smiled. He missed his family a lot. But of course, with new circumstances comes new opportunity, and he meant to take full advantage.
Going to Hogwarts was a chance to make new friends and have adventures that he could never have otherwise dreamed of. And those things were exactly what he was about.

Pulling his gaze from the heavens, he took a moment to survey his surroundings.
To his left, a group of students were already gathered around to hear Professor Lian's stories, and to his right, Professor Kibitzer was supposedly telling people's fortunes.
He had zero intentions of going anywhere near a fortune teller for as long as he could possibly avoid it. He preferred having his future unknown to him, full of possibilities; as far as he was concerned, he controlled his own fate, and he didn't hold any desire to have someone tell him otherwise.
For all he knew, Professor Kibitzer would tell him that he was destined to fall into a random hole, after which a conveniently placed tree would fall and cover the hole, leaving him to die alone in utter darkness.
He would much rather live his life without concern for every step he took, thank you very much.
As he had the thought, he started shifting his feet, then paused. Looking down, he lifted one foot and gingerly tested the area where he had been about to place it. Nothing felt off; it was just grass. He set his foot down and leaned his full weight on it. Nothing happened.
Suddenly recognizing the mind game that he had accidentally played on himself, he shook his head, stamped his foot firmly, and came to the conclusion that he was a loon.

Turning his attention back to Professor Lian's space, he considered going there.
He was interested to hear her stories, and the pillows did look awfully comfortable. And yet he decided against approaching her as well.
All he really wanted to do was gaze at the stars and maybe make some new friends. Simple pleasures and all that.
Glancing farther ahead, his attention was captured by the telescopes that had been so kindly set up. Getting a closer look at the stars seemed like a great option, so he set off in that direction, making sure to give Professor Kibitzer a wide berth as he passed by.

Inevitably, his tunnel vision was interrupted by one of the tables and the the picnic basket on top.
Always happy to provide his stomach with whatever it wanted, he peered inside the basket and was greeted by the mouth-watering sight of the contents inside.
Making a quick decision, he grabbed two chocolate frogs and a handful of pretzels before resuming his trip towards the telescopes.
The pretzels were basically gone by the time he reached his destination.
There were a couple other kids already here, both using one telescope and talking animatedly, big smiles on both of their faces.
Ah, young love, he thought dreamily.
Marshal enjoyed a good romance, so he figured that the two were best left alone.
Moving to the next telescope down, he assumed that all he had to do was look through the contraption, and he would be enjoying the stars in their full magnified glory without issue. Holding the chocolate frog packages in one hand, he leaned over and placed one eye against the lens, prepared to witness a stunning scene.
Frankly, he was underwhelmed. All he saw was a blurred mass of black.
Leaning back, he blinked hard and rubbed his eyes, then tried again, with the same depressing result.
He tapped the telescope with a finger and glanced around, as if expecting someone to come and fix the problem.
"I guess that one's broken," he muttered, only loud enough for him to hear.
Undeterred, he devised a quick solution and moved on to the next telescope.
Peering through the lens of the obviously superior telescope, he was met once again by a shapeless blur.
Scratching his head in confusion, he examined the contraption closer and noticed the various knobs and dials for the first time.
Oh, drat.

Dealing with unfamiliar gadgets and gizmos wasn't exactly one of Marshal's strong points. In less words, he had no idea what he was doing.
But despite the odds being powerfully stacked against him, he still remained steadfast in his pursuit to 'zoom in on the sky.'
Stooping down, he set his chocolate frogs on the ground beside him, then stood and went to work, fiddling with things he didn't understand, entirely certain that he could figure it out.
He was very wrong.

@Amara Dragamior

─────────❖─────────

INTERACTIONS @Zykeal Lane

MENTIONS Cypresse Lian︱Lizzie Verdine︱May Moonstar Opeila Seilun︱Rosalind Kibitzer

The dark night sky was unusually clear and full of twinkling stars, and as Ivy looked around, sizing up each table and picnic rug, she idly wondered if it was magic that enabled them to see the sky so clearly tonight - they were in the city of London, after all. She wasn't sure if her way of thinking was accurate, as she had spent most of her childhood in the vast countryside of Sussex, where there wasn't a village for miles 'round and the sky was almost always starry in the summer. It wasn't like she had many opportunities to "stargaze", though, nor had she ever even thought to, so she was rather interested in the activity that evening when the school offered it.

It was the perfect opportunity to socialise even more, but Ivy found herself walking away from the crowded areas - past Professor Kibitzer's fortune telling tent, past Professor Lian's storytelling circle, to the side where only a few people lingered. She wasn't entirely sure why, but she just didn't feel like meeting other people tonight - perhaps it was something to do with the calmness of the evening, or maybe the sadness that had suddenly snuck into her heart, which was something that happened far too often these days. One moment, she would be completely fine, even happy, and the next, all she wanted to do was leave.

Clutching the star map in her hands, Ivy's eyes flickered upwards to look at the sky every now and then as she looked for an acceptable bench to sit on. Not there... or there... or - oh. Her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of someone familiar, his figure visible even in the darkness, and she bit her lip, trying to ignore the twisting and turning of her stomach. Ivy and Zyk's relationship was... complicated. How was she supposed to explain it? Friends... then not friends... then... what were they now? Ivy had been debating whether or not she had a crush on Zyk for the past few days, ever since she had seen him and Lizzie at Opeila's party in June. Should I tell him now? But before she told him anything about that, she had to apologise first, didn't she? For abandoned him at the Ball for Ana, not giving him a second glance as she ran off... for not even knowing he was angry with her... it had been such a brief friendship, but it had felt like so much longer that she had known him.

Had he felt the same way? Or was Ivy just someone who had abandoned him, someone who had stepped on his pride momentarily? It appeared that way, seeing as he was together with Lizzie now. But where was Lizzie? She wasn't anywhere to be seen - maybe that was a good sign, because although Ivy liked her tentmate quite a lot now, it would have been rather awkward to have her there too... "Hi Zyk," she said, standing in front of him. Ivy was speaking in a low tone, as so not to attract attention, but rather quickly, tripping over her own words and stammering a little, so he couldn't interrupt her before she lost her nerve. "Before you say anything, just listen. I've been really wanting to talk to you for a while, ever since I saw you at Opeila's gathering last month with Lizzie - no, even longer than that, ever since our meeting down at the Lake. And I know you said I shouldn't bother talking to you again and that you don't need me and that we're different and all that," here she winced, the memories of that disastrous afternoon in May, "but I have to say this now, or I'll never say it."

"So here it is. I'm really, really sorry, and it's probably not enough, but I'm saying it anyway. I shouldn't have left you at the Ball alone when you were trying to help me, and I was a bad friend for not checking on you after and making sure you got out alive." Ivy's cheeks coloured slightly as she paused to take a breath. Where was all of her courage coming from? Why was it that she was saying it all now? "I should have told you all this at the Lake," she continued hurriedly, afraid that he would start talking, "But May was there and I was embarrassed and I couldn't bring myself to do it and that's really dumb, I know, but I didn't know how to apologise because I've never really apologised for anything before." Goodness, she really was rambling, wasn't she?

"A-and then I saw you at Opeila's party with Lizzie and I don't know what happened - wait, that's a lie, I know exactly what happened." Here it came. Here came the part that was really hard to say. "I like you, Zyk," Ivy said, in a voice that was even quieter. "Like, I have a crush on you. And I knew I had to apologise because you were - are right, and it's probably too late because you've got Lizzie but I knew I had to do it anyway because that's what you would do. She's pretty and smart and kind, and just overall great." Her voice cracked on the last word and a pang of jealousy rushed through her. "She's not messed up and weird like I am, and she would never ditch you at a Ball and leave you in mortal danger or do anything as stupid as that. She's really, really great and I'm sure you like her an awful lot, which I can get, but I just had to tell you that I like you too and... yeah." As quickly as the words had come, they left, and the Gryffindor found herself unable to speak, although that was probably something to do with the lump in her throat as well. Now all that was left to do was wait for his response, and Ivy watched the sky as she waited, becoming more and more anxious with each second.

─────────❖─────────

[font=times new roman]

Interacting with @Ivy Bellamy | Mentioning Lizzie Virdine | Dealla Prince | Ileen Knight

Those golden hues were downcast, staring at the ground as he walked slowly around the edge of the area where the stargazing was happening with his fellow classmates. The wand spun slowly within his fingers as he moved about, slowly along the edge of the woods, keeping to himself as he was deep in thought of the situation that had just occurred between himself and his now ex-girlfriend. For this reason, Zykeal hadn't noticed that someone else had approached him until their feet had obstructed his view of the ground and caused his movement to stop. It was with great hesitation and annoyance that he slowly lifted his head and gazed upon the person that wished to disturb his mental brooding at that moment. The wand slowly coming to a steady stop of its constant twirl to have its hilt rest within the palm of his hand in case it was necessary to rashly cast a spell to get out of any situation that he deemed needless.

Zykeals jaw locked in surprise as he beheld the small form of Ivy that stood in front of him at that moment, whispering a small, 'hey', to him as she peered up at him in that dimly lit portion of the events area. This night was going to turn from bad to worse in a quick moment and Zykeals' head was not ready for what was about to come his way, the swirling vortex of emotions that would build up almost to a breaking point that was impossible to escape. There wasn't a response to be formed for the girl, his former crush before she continued on talking with a studdering voice and emotional tone set her. The girl had told him to stay quiet, he would, he hadn't a thought in his head to be able to even say hello to the girl as he was already in a right state of uncertainty. Zyk wasn't aware of how unsettling this night was about to become and wished greatly that he had just continued enjoying the Jelly Slugs that he was sharing with Dealla.

An explanation of events that had unfolded during the school year was told to him by Ivy, her thoughts and feelings coming to the front in her words that she tripped over. The original plan of Lizzies and his own, of their fake relationship to make the ones that they had really wanted to go out with jealous was being confirmed to have worked, to get them to notice, even though Zyk had thought it had failed miserably. Zyks hands lowered to his sides, letting his wand tip fall to be pointed towards the ground for once, watching as Ivy explained herself and asked him to listen as she wanted to tell him how she had felt. Zykeal didn't know what to do with himself, the boy had just turned 12 and was reeling with emotions that he did his best to hide, considering the display of emotions to be a weakness, especially in front of those he cared about.

Ivy went on to apologize, she didn't need to, Zykeal still had somehow justified in his mind that Ivy, despite her actions, probably did what she thought was best in the situation at the Ball and even though he didn't agree with it, accepted it. Even though she told him not to speak, he couldn't help but mutter a few words of acceptance, "It's fine.." he whispered softly, not even sure if she would have heard him. When she brought up the name of the Hufflepuff girl that he detested, he couldn't help but forming a small sneer upon his features before letting it drop quickly in fear that she might be thinking it was in reference to her. Ivy continued though, that's when the biggest blow she'd speak was about to be dropped. Zyk could see it coming, this wasn't the right time for her to say it, but, there was nothing he could do about it. The timing was never good between the two of them.

"I like you, Zyk"

Those words registered within Zyk and it crushed him at that moment, the mixing of emotions nearly causing him to not hear anything else she had continued to say. Honestly, he didn't, the continued conversation she had was put into a mental block that he couldn't allow to be opened at that moment. Catching just a few words, 'Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie', all were the resounding words that stood out to him at that time, how could they not as they had just a few moments earlier had ended their faux relationship that resulted in this exact moment happening in front of him. The outpouring of emotional sentiments that Ivy displayed in her open confession to him brought out the sting of guilt at his original plot of manipulation towards the girl that stood before him, he resented himself for this moment and deserved every second of the heartbreaking feelings he was feeling at the time.

They were both too good for him.

Ivys' words had finally ceased and he couldn't help but just stare at her for the moment, trying to formulate a response that just wasn't coming to mind. It took him upwards of a minute to think of something to say and he knew he couldn't accept any sort of feelings she had towards him, he had manipulated the situation, they weren't real feelings. Shaking his head slowly after a moment, he sighed as he looked at her with those golden irises glinting in the moons bright light, "I'm sorry Ivy," he said quietly, "we can't" he finalized, it wouldn't be fair to her to continue this farse and he knew he had been an awful person, realizing it at this exact moment. Without another word, he'd turn away from the girl that stood before him, confessing her feelings for him, and he'd walk away, heading towards where the rest of his tentmates were upon the blanket he had been resting upon before.

Zykeal would rejoin the princess known as Dealla, her best friend Ileen, and he'd settle himself down upon the blanket without a word to the pair of them. Laying back down to gaze upon the stars above, taking on their meaning in a different light and wondering if the fates had cast this hardship down upon him for his juvenile actions. A promise would be made to himself not to venture into the realm of relationships in the near future, it'd be hard to stop his constant flirting, but, he'd try and control the feelings of attachment that he seemed to be so susceptible too. Tucking himself upon the blanket next to his friends, he felt awful and pulled the hood of his hoodie up over his head and hid his face from the sight of his friends, embarrassed of himself.

Interacting| @Charles Simmons | @Lizzie Verdine

Alaric retraced his hand, as the boy did not take it, he would clasp his hands in front of him now and listen. He remembered growing up thinking he was a monster, feeling like a monster. When you grew up in a small town, that was an easy thing to feel because even the slightest of differences in your appearance in a one-horse town got pointed out. “Please never apologize; you are not bothering me even in the slightest. You are still human, you are not a monster, even if people treat you like one. It’s what is in your heart that counts, not what is skin deep. Humans are a fickle thing; they fear what they do not know, and that same fear does not allow them to want to know. So they do the only thing they can think of… They shun us.”

A direction change in one of the other students caught his attention from the corner of his eyes. A young blonde of his house was making her way over to them. “I would be happy to have a meeting with your parents before the start of the next term if you think it would help.” He said just in time before the blonde greeted the young man in front of him. “Greetings Miss Verdine. Alaric greeted her with the smile she would be accustom to seeing on his face. He had no issue with her being here, but it would depend on Charles. Alaric figured that he could probably have a more productive conversation with the boy and possibly his parents over the summer.