16 Jul 2020, 10:32
A letter heading home
Mouse trudged up the stairs, the letter in her hand. She finally reached the owlery. The wind tousled with her hair, making her smile and close her eyes for a second as she relaxed. She loved the feeling of just her and the owls, with the wind playing with her hair. The only sound was of her feet stumbling across the owlery, until she stopped by the window, drinking in the view. Mouse let her thoughts drift off to the time just before she went to Hogwarts, and brimmed with happiness knowing that she was finally here. She had only seen her brother for a few, short moments, as they both were incredibly different people, with Mouse spending much more time in the library, and with him hating to read.
Slowly, the Ravenclaw detached herself from the window and walked up to the owls. They twittered at her, making her giggle. She held out her hand to one of the school owls, and gave her letter to him. The owl fluttered its wings and flew off, making a few feathers spiral towards the girls face. Waving the feathers away, the girl walked up to the window again, watching the owl get smaller and smaller. Carrying her first letter from Hogwarts. She sighed as she started heading towards the stairs again, smiling at the owls.
"Maybe I can stay a little bit longer here, the owls don't seem to mind," She thought, and she walked back towards the animals, reaching out to stroke the feathers.
Slowly, the Ravenclaw detached herself from the window and walked up to the owls. They twittered at her, making her giggle. She held out her hand to one of the school owls, and gave her letter to him. The owl fluttered its wings and flew off, making a few feathers spiral towards the girls face. Waving the feathers away, the girl walked up to the window again, watching the owl get smaller and smaller. Carrying her first letter from Hogwarts. She sighed as she started heading towards the stairs again, smiling at the owls.
"Maybe I can stay a little bit longer here, the owls don't seem to mind," She thought, and she walked back towards the animals, reaching out to stroke the feathers.
"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, a man who never reads lives only once"
-George R.R Martin
17 Jul 2020, 08:32
A letter heading home
Callista climbed up the stairs to the owlery, breathing heavily already, knowing she was only about halfway up. 32, 33, 34... she counted as she walked. 41, 42, 43, 44... 46... Finally, she heaved herself up to the owlery, pinwheeling her arms stupidly for a second before regaining her balance. She breathed a sigh of relief, tucking an awry strand of hair behind her ear, her two braids resting against her back. She looked up and froze, seeing another girl there as well. The girl had short black hair and was stroking some of the school owls. The girl seemed to hear her and turned around. Callista stared into the girl’s bright green eyes, a little surprised, but mostly embarrassed.
“I, um, was just... delivering a letter? To my friend, Robert? Um, maybe you know him? That is, he’s in Ravenclaw and, um, you look like you’re in Ravenclaw too?” Callista stammered, not knowing what to say. She shuffled to the side, feeling awkward.
Just go around her and attach the letter! one of her sterner inner voices told her.
That would be rude! another voice, her polite and shy voice, protested.
It doesn’t matter, you’re clearly terrible at talking to new people anyway! the first inner voice shot back.
I don’t want to ignore her, the second voice responded sorrowfully.
Alright fine, your call, the first voice said reproachfully.
Just stand there and you’ll be fine, another voice said encouragingly. Callista could always rely on this voice to give her all the pep talks she would ever need.
Callista sighed, putting a hand to her forehead. I bet no one else has voices in their head, she thought. She waited for the girl to say something.
“I, um, was just... delivering a letter? To my friend, Robert? Um, maybe you know him? That is, he’s in Ravenclaw and, um, you look like you’re in Ravenclaw too?” Callista stammered, not knowing what to say. She shuffled to the side, feeling awkward.
Just go around her and attach the letter! one of her sterner inner voices told her.
That would be rude! another voice, her polite and shy voice, protested.
It doesn’t matter, you’re clearly terrible at talking to new people anyway! the first inner voice shot back.
I don’t want to ignore her, the second voice responded sorrowfully.
Alright fine, your call, the first voice said reproachfully.
Just stand there and you’ll be fine, another voice said encouragingly. Callista could always rely on this voice to give her all the pep talks she would ever need.
Callista sighed, putting a hand to her forehead. I bet no one else has voices in their head, she thought. She waited for the girl to say something.
Last edited by Callista Lovis on 17 Jul 2020, 08:56, edited 1 time in total.
| ency • #5e638d she/they |
Sta: 6 • Eva: 11 • Str: 3 • Wis: 9 • Arc: 7 • Acc: 9 perfectionist | beast master |
17 Jul 2020, 08:51
A letter heading home
Mouse stood stock still with wide eyes, staring at the girl. She felt like she had been caught doing something bad, although surely stroking owls wasn't bad? Mouse realised it was completely silent, so she gathered up the courage she had and answered, "Yes, um, I am in Ravenclaw, and, you can go deliver the letter," She moved to the side, glancing at the owls for help. She could feel slight panic rise in her chest, as she hadn't expected anyone else to go to the owlery while she was there. It was silly, actually. She should have known that, with one owlery for all of the students in Hogwarts, surely she would've seen someone there. However, she had been too caught up with owls and the view and sending the letter.
As her eyes scanned the owls sitting patiently, she started getting lost in thought again. She did that a lot. Mouse would be doing something when suddenly she would find herself drifting off, not paying attention. One moment she was in the owlery, the other, at home.
"When I go to Hogwarts, I will have an owl! Lots of people are getting owls! You getting an owl, Mouse?"
"I'm not getting an owl," 5 year old Mouse's voice squeaked back, "I prefer cats, a black little kitten!"
Mouse blinked, realising she was drifting off again, and glanced at the girl again, feeling embarrassment overcome her.
As her eyes scanned the owls sitting patiently, she started getting lost in thought again. She did that a lot. Mouse would be doing something when suddenly she would find herself drifting off, not paying attention. One moment she was in the owlery, the other, at home.
"When I go to Hogwarts, I will have an owl! Lots of people are getting owls! You getting an owl, Mouse?"
"I'm not getting an owl," 5 year old Mouse's voice squeaked back, "I prefer cats, a black little kitten!"
Mouse blinked, realising she was drifting off again, and glanced at the girl again, feeling embarrassment overcome her.
"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, a man who never reads lives only once"
-George R.R Martin
17 Jul 2020, 09:14
A letter heading home
"Yes, um, I am in Ravenclaw, and, you can go deliver the letter," the girl said. Callista lifted her eyes and looked at the girl again. Curiously enough, she could see some panic in the girl’s eyes. It was nice to know that the other girl also felt uncomfortable, for some reason. Callista relaxed, not realizing her muscles were tensed up. The girl looked over to the owls, and Callista moved forward quietly. She held the letter in her hand gently, as if it were a precious document she didn’t want to lose. She looked at all the owls, and noticed a barn owl somewhere in the middle that was looking at her with intelligence in his gaze.
“Hey there,” Callista said softly to the owl. “Do you want to deliver this owl for me? It’s for my friend, Robert Toukmond.” The owl hooted softly, holding out his leg, and Callista smiled. She tied the letter firmly and gently on his leg. The owl nuzzled her hand, then lifted off. Callista grinned, watching the light brown owl fly away, knowing that, sometime later, Robert would get the letter.
The girl seemed to have been thinking about something, and blinked, glancing at Callista. The Asian girl smiled a little. Might as well introduce myself, she thought.
She cleared her throat and said, “Hi... um, my name is Callista. Um, what is yours? Your name, I mean.” Ah well, that wasn’t too bad. Better than my previous attempts anyway, she thought with a smile.
“Hey there,” Callista said softly to the owl. “Do you want to deliver this owl for me? It’s for my friend, Robert Toukmond.” The owl hooted softly, holding out his leg, and Callista smiled. She tied the letter firmly and gently on his leg. The owl nuzzled her hand, then lifted off. Callista grinned, watching the light brown owl fly away, knowing that, sometime later, Robert would get the letter.
The girl seemed to have been thinking about something, and blinked, glancing at Callista. The Asian girl smiled a little. Might as well introduce myself, she thought.
She cleared her throat and said, “Hi... um, my name is Callista. Um, what is yours? Your name, I mean.” Ah well, that wasn’t too bad. Better than my previous attempts anyway, she thought with a smile.
| ency • #5e638d she/they |
Sta: 6 • Eva: 11 • Str: 3 • Wis: 9 • Arc: 7 • Acc: 9 perfectionist | beast master |
17 Jul 2020, 09:34
A letter heading home
Mouse looked at the girl, curiosity setting in as she watched the girl send the letter. The girl turned to her, and Mouse scanned her eyes over her, searching for any clues of negative body language. However, she found none. The girl was more relaxed than before, and was smiling.
“Hi... um, my name is Callista," The girl told her," Um, what is yours? Your name, I mean.”
Mouse smiled slightly, trying to relax. She took a deep breath, and answered, "My name is Mouse," She touched her nose, something she sometimes did when she was nervous. Somehow, it kept the nervousness down a little bit. Mouse glanced at her watch, seeing she still had plenty of time to spare, and relaxed slightly, knowing she wasn't going to be late for anything.
"Um... do you like owls?" She suddenly blurted out, and froze. Where did that come from? Usually she planned what she was going to say, and here she was, asking random questions to a random stranger she met in the owlery. She touched her nose again, worried about what Callista would think of her. She glanced around the room, her eyes resting on the owls for barely a second before looking at the window again. The view clamed down her racing heart, letting her look at Callista again without panicking.
“Hi... um, my name is Callista," The girl told her," Um, what is yours? Your name, I mean.”
Mouse smiled slightly, trying to relax. She took a deep breath, and answered, "My name is Mouse," She touched her nose, something she sometimes did when she was nervous. Somehow, it kept the nervousness down a little bit. Mouse glanced at her watch, seeing she still had plenty of time to spare, and relaxed slightly, knowing she wasn't going to be late for anything.
"Um... do you like owls?" She suddenly blurted out, and froze. Where did that come from? Usually she planned what she was going to say, and here she was, asking random questions to a random stranger she met in the owlery. She touched her nose again, worried about what Callista would think of her. She glanced around the room, her eyes resting on the owls for barely a second before looking at the window again. The view clamed down her racing heart, letting her look at Callista again without panicking.
"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, a man who never reads lives only once"
-George R.R Martin
17 Jul 2020, 10:49
A letter heading home
The other girl seemed to scan her over, and then relaxed. Callista wondered what she had been looking for - signs of hostility, perhaps? The other girl took a deep breath and proceeded to intorduce herself as Mouse. Interesting name, Callista reflected curiously. I wonder if there’s a reason why her name is Mouse? The girl - Mouse - touched her nose. At first Callista was a little confused, wondering if it was some sort of secret signal, then she realized it was probably a nervous habit. It seemed to work, because Mouse seemed to relax.
“Um... do you like owls?” Mouse asked. She seemed surprised at her words, and touched her nose again. Callista noticed that Mouse seemed to take comfort from looking at the owls. Perhaps she is like me, she noted curiously. Don’t get to ahead of yourself, she reminded herself cautiously.
“I- I do,” Callista replied hesitantly. “Do you?” She really was curious. “I really want an owl for a pet, but I also really like cats, so... um... I can’t really decide...” Callista blushed, embarrassed at the sudden onset of words. She was usually really quiet. She knew that some people blurted out a lot of words when they were nervous, but she didn’t really do that. Callista looked out the window, watching a cloud drift by lazily before looking back at Mouse.
“Um... do you like owls?” Mouse asked. She seemed surprised at her words, and touched her nose again. Callista noticed that Mouse seemed to take comfort from looking at the owls. Perhaps she is like me, she noted curiously. Don’t get to ahead of yourself, she reminded herself cautiously.
“I- I do,” Callista replied hesitantly. “Do you?” She really was curious. “I really want an owl for a pet, but I also really like cats, so... um... I can’t really decide...” Callista blushed, embarrassed at the sudden onset of words. She was usually really quiet. She knew that some people blurted out a lot of words when they were nervous, but she didn’t really do that. Callista looked out the window, watching a cloud drift by lazily before looking back at Mouse.
| ency • #5e638d she/they |
Sta: 6 • Eva: 11 • Str: 3 • Wis: 9 • Arc: 7 • Acc: 9 perfectionist | beast master |
17 Jul 2020, 18:44
A letter heading home
Mouse stood there, frozen, her heat beating fast. Her hands were starting to get clammy, and her eyes were wide. Why did she have to ask that question? What will the girl think of her now? Why-
"I-I do,"
Mouse stopped her panicking, her eyes trained on the girl before her. Her heartbeat slowed, and her racing thoughts slowed to a stop, She looked curiously at the girl before her, as she continued talking. "Do you? I really want an owl for a pet, but I also really like cats, so... um... I can’t really decide...” Callista looked flustered, so Mouse quickly answered, "Um... yes, I also like owls. I... I like most animals... especially cats..." Mouse smiled to herself. An owl hooted loudly, making her giggle slightly. She was surprised she had actually got her guard down enough to laugh in front of a stranger, but then, life is strange, as she had experienced more than once in her life. Her hand went up to brush her short, black hair that was forever falling into her face, and she glanced at her watch, 'I guess I have some more time', she thought to herself, as she waited for the other girl to say something back.
"I-I do,"
Mouse stopped her panicking, her eyes trained on the girl before her. Her heartbeat slowed, and her racing thoughts slowed to a stop, She looked curiously at the girl before her, as she continued talking. "Do you? I really want an owl for a pet, but I also really like cats, so... um... I can’t really decide...” Callista looked flustered, so Mouse quickly answered, "Um... yes, I also like owls. I... I like most animals... especially cats..." Mouse smiled to herself. An owl hooted loudly, making her giggle slightly. She was surprised she had actually got her guard down enough to laugh in front of a stranger, but then, life is strange, as she had experienced more than once in her life. Her hand went up to brush her short, black hair that was forever falling into her face, and she glanced at her watch, 'I guess I have some more time', she thought to herself, as she waited for the other girl to say something back.
"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, a man who never reads lives only once"
-George R.R Martin
18 Jul 2020, 10:41
A letter heading home
"Um... yes, I also like owls. I... I like most animals... especially cats..." Mouse replied. Callista breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
“I do too,” Callista admitted. An owl from behind hooted loudly, startling her. Mouse giggled, making Callista giggle as well for some reason. She had heard that laughter was contagious - apparently it was true. The girl swept her black hair away from her eye, and Callista tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She giggled again, wondering why on Earth was she giggling? She tried to get it under control, straightening. “So... um... what else do you like to do? I love reading, and stargazing.”
Callista looked over her shoulder at the owls, noticing a shy one in the back. She glanced once at Mouse, then walked over to the owl. She checked her watch and saw that, thankfully, she still had plenty of time. She walked over to the little owl.
“Hello,” she said quietly. “Do you want some food?” The little owl shrank back at first, then leaned out, curious. “Here, let me get it,” Callista said softly. She reached into her bag and took out a small piece of bread from breakfast. She broke off a tiny bit and fed it to the little owl. The owl hooted and ate it happily. Callista continued feeding it, waiting for a response from the girl.
“I do too,” Callista admitted. An owl from behind hooted loudly, startling her. Mouse giggled, making Callista giggle as well for some reason. She had heard that laughter was contagious - apparently it was true. The girl swept her black hair away from her eye, and Callista tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She giggled again, wondering why on Earth was she giggling? She tried to get it under control, straightening. “So... um... what else do you like to do? I love reading, and stargazing.”
Callista looked over her shoulder at the owls, noticing a shy one in the back. She glanced once at Mouse, then walked over to the owl. She checked her watch and saw that, thankfully, she still had plenty of time. She walked over to the little owl.
“Hello,” she said quietly. “Do you want some food?” The little owl shrank back at first, then leaned out, curious. “Here, let me get it,” Callista said softly. She reached into her bag and took out a small piece of bread from breakfast. She broke off a tiny bit and fed it to the little owl. The owl hooted and ate it happily. Callista continued feeding it, waiting for a response from the girl.
| ency • #5e638d she/they |
Sta: 6 • Eva: 11 • Str: 3 • Wis: 9 • Arc: 7 • Acc: 9 perfectionist | beast master |
18 Jul 2020, 13:44
A letter heading home
“So... um... what else do you like to do? I love reading, and stargazing.” Callista asked, before moving towards one of the owls and feeding it. Mouse smiled as she watched the owl hoot quietly and nibble at the food. She walked quietly to a different owl and stroked it slowly, loving the feeling of small, soft feathers slipping in between her fingers.
Her mind wondered back to the question. What could she say? She knew she loved reading. Mouse made sure she visited the library at least once a day, not only to study but also to just read for hours, stuck in a fantasy world.
She also thought about other things she loved doing. Mouse remembered well lying in her bed, a pencil in her hand and a sketchpad in the other, while she relished the quiet moments while her brother wasn't home. Another memory pushed the other one out of the way, to the time she was in that muggle dance class, before she went off to Hogwarts... she also loved acting, as she remembered herding some of her younger cousins and playing with them as their mothers talked and sipped butterbeer in the back garden. Those were precious memories.
"I... guess I enjoy reading, drawing and acting... I also like writing," Added Mouse, before trying not to laugh as the owls wings brushed her neck, making it tickle.
Her mind wondered back to the question. What could she say? She knew she loved reading. Mouse made sure she visited the library at least once a day, not only to study but also to just read for hours, stuck in a fantasy world.
She also thought about other things she loved doing. Mouse remembered well lying in her bed, a pencil in her hand and a sketchpad in the other, while she relished the quiet moments while her brother wasn't home. Another memory pushed the other one out of the way, to the time she was in that muggle dance class, before she went off to Hogwarts... she also loved acting, as she remembered herding some of her younger cousins and playing with them as their mothers talked and sipped butterbeer in the back garden. Those were precious memories.
"I... guess I enjoy reading, drawing and acting... I also like writing," Added Mouse, before trying not to laugh as the owls wings brushed her neck, making it tickle.
"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, a man who never reads lives only once"
-George R.R Martin
30 Jul 2020, 10:31
A letter heading home
Callista heard Mouse’s reply, “I... guess I enjoy reading, drawing and acting... I also like writing.” Callista turned a little, a bit surprised. She also loved reading, drawing, and writing, although she wasn’t a big fan of acting. Well, I was kind of right... she thought. Mouse was similar to her, after all. She heard a quiet, smothered giggle and turned in time to see owls tickling Mouse with their wings. Callista giggled a little.
“I like drawing and writing as well,” Callista replied, a bit more confident now. “I’m not that great at acting, though...” It’s terrifying, she finished internally. All those people staring at you while you act, knowing what if you mess up everyone can see. Besides, it’s not like I’m athletically gifted... far from it, actually. Perhaps she’s not as similar to me as I thought.
Callista realized there was now a silence, and she asked a question that she had never thought would come out of her mouth: “So, um, w-what’s your, um, blood status?” She flushed deeply as soon as the words left her mouth. She had read that some people think that pure-bloods are somehow better than Muggle borns, and she didn’t want to seem like one of those people. However, she remembered a prefect asking the same question during summer camp, and it didn’t seem to be a big deal...
“I like drawing and writing as well,” Callista replied, a bit more confident now. “I’m not that great at acting, though...” It’s terrifying, she finished internally. All those people staring at you while you act, knowing what if you mess up everyone can see. Besides, it’s not like I’m athletically gifted... far from it, actually. Perhaps she’s not as similar to me as I thought.
Callista realized there was now a silence, and she asked a question that she had never thought would come out of her mouth: “So, um, w-what’s your, um, blood status?” She flushed deeply as soon as the words left her mouth. She had read that some people think that pure-bloods are somehow better than Muggle borns, and she didn’t want to seem like one of those people. However, she remembered a prefect asking the same question during summer camp, and it didn’t seem to be a big deal...
| ency • #5e638d she/they |
Sta: 6 • Eva: 11 • Str: 3 • Wis: 9 • Arc: 7 • Acc: 9 perfectionist | beast master |