Ashley Coulson
17 Dec 2020, 19:28
You Don't Know What's Best For Me!
@Rhea Miller
Ashley ran out of the Great Hall, down the steps until she reached the Grounds. She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't. Not here. Not now. She angrily clenched her fists but made herself slow down and walk at a normal pace. Sighing, Ashley looked up at the clouds floating about the sky. Was she over-reacting? She probably was. Like usual. But still...How could they do this to her? Ashley re-played the scene in her head. She remembered every. Single. Detail.
She had gotten up. Like normal. The sun was shining and Ashley had slept well. She had swept her red hair into a sloppy bun walked down the stairs leading to Ravenclaw Tower, and then down more stairs until she got to the Great Hall for breakfast. She had sat down with her friends to eat. Like normal. She had received a couple letters. Also normal. But then she went to open them. Ashley had torn open the first letter, and her mum's handwriting had stared back at her. And that's where the normal had ended;
[font=comic sans ms] Dear Ash,
Hello, love! I hope you are doing well. From your letters, it seems like you love it at Hogwarts. I'm so glad you love the classes! Your father and I couldn't be more proud of you. We miss you, as does your little sister. Sybil talks about you every day. She's grown a lot. Can you believe she'll be six soon? She reminds me so much of you at that age. Now, I have something important to tell you about. Please don't freak out, as it is not determined yet. I just want to give you a heads up before we talk about this in person, sweetie. Your father and I have been thinking, and we think that, just for this year, you should spend Winter Break with your Grammie in London. I know that sounds different, scary, even, but we think it is for the best. We will be coming there for a few days, so you will still get to see us. It might be too much for you to travel back to Scotland, though, because you are still adjusting. Please don't be mad, Ash. We are doing this for you. We love you so, so, so much.
XOXO,
Mum[/font]
Ashley snapped back to the present, even more angry than before. They knew she didn't like Grammie. Dad's mum smelled overpoweringly of rose perfume and wore the brightest red lipstick Ashley had ever seen. She would go around pinching all of her grandchildren's cheeks and exclaiming about how much they had grown and then would go over to the adults and tell them their houses were looking shabby and then lecturing them on what color they should repaint their rooms and how last year their clothes were, shouldn't they update their wardrobes? And now her parents were making Ashley go stay with her for break? Wouldn't it be harder to adjust at a brand-new place instead of just going home? And her family hadn't seen her in months! Finally, Ashley let herself scream out in frustration. "THIS IS SO UNFAIR! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR ME!!!" she yelled. It didn't matter that they couldn't hear her (though that would've been good). All that mattered was that she had gotten it out of her system. Ashley sunk down onto the wet grass, letting the cold seep into her skin and numb her. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. Ashley's face turned red. Had someone heard her? Turning around, she saw a girl with short brown hair coming towards her. Ashley quickly composed herself. No sense in looking more like a wreck than she already did.
Ashley ran out of the Great Hall, down the steps until she reached the Grounds. She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't. Not here. Not now. She angrily clenched her fists but made herself slow down and walk at a normal pace. Sighing, Ashley looked up at the clouds floating about the sky. Was she over-reacting? She probably was. Like usual. But still...How could they do this to her? Ashley re-played the scene in her head. She remembered every. Single. Detail.
She had gotten up. Like normal. The sun was shining and Ashley had slept well. She had swept her red hair into a sloppy bun walked down the stairs leading to Ravenclaw Tower, and then down more stairs until she got to the Great Hall for breakfast. She had sat down with her friends to eat. Like normal. She had received a couple letters. Also normal. But then she went to open them. Ashley had torn open the first letter, and her mum's handwriting had stared back at her. And that's where the normal had ended;
[font=comic sans ms] Dear Ash,
Hello, love! I hope you are doing well. From your letters, it seems like you love it at Hogwarts. I'm so glad you love the classes! Your father and I couldn't be more proud of you. We miss you, as does your little sister. Sybil talks about you every day. She's grown a lot. Can you believe she'll be six soon? She reminds me so much of you at that age. Now, I have something important to tell you about. Please don't freak out, as it is not determined yet. I just want to give you a heads up before we talk about this in person, sweetie. Your father and I have been thinking, and we think that, just for this year, you should spend Winter Break with your Grammie in London. I know that sounds different, scary, even, but we think it is for the best. We will be coming there for a few days, so you will still get to see us. It might be too much for you to travel back to Scotland, though, because you are still adjusting. Please don't be mad, Ash. We are doing this for you. We love you so, so, so much.
XOXO,
Mum[/font]
Ashley snapped back to the present, even more angry than before. They knew she didn't like Grammie. Dad's mum smelled overpoweringly of rose perfume and wore the brightest red lipstick Ashley had ever seen. She would go around pinching all of her grandchildren's cheeks and exclaiming about how much they had grown and then would go over to the adults and tell them their houses were looking shabby and then lecturing them on what color they should repaint their rooms and how last year their clothes were, shouldn't they update their wardrobes? And now her parents were making Ashley go stay with her for break? Wouldn't it be harder to adjust at a brand-new place instead of just going home? And her family hadn't seen her in months! Finally, Ashley let herself scream out in frustration. "THIS IS SO UNFAIR! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR ME!!!" she yelled. It didn't matter that they couldn't hear her (though that would've been good). All that mattered was that she had gotten it out of her system. Ashley sunk down onto the wet grass, letting the cold seep into her skin and numb her. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. Ashley's face turned red. Had someone heard her? Turning around, she saw a girl with short brown hair coming towards her. Ashley quickly composed herself. No sense in looking more like a wreck than she already did.
18 Dec 2020, 19:45
You Don't Know What's Best For Me!
@Ashley Coulson
Surprisingly, Rhea's morning had been satisfactory.
She woke feeling refreshed, her night devoid of dreams, and changed quickly into her Hogwarts uniform. Down in the Great Hall, she selected and consumed a relatively healthy breakfast. There was a air of crispness and well-being at this hour. She relished the feeling of okayness, the lack of heaviness in her bones, the organization in her mind. She had triple-checked her class schedule and since it was still early, there was time to walk the grounds. That was a new hobby of hers. The chill in the breeze made her thankful to experience the warmth and even stuffiness of some of the classrooms.
She stepped outside in her boots, the biggest she owned, making absolute sure that no moisture from the ground could seep into them. She absolutely loathed it when that happened. She could just imagine peeling off her damp, filthy socks back in the the Girls Dormitory at the end of the day, and wrinkling her nose, decided firmly that she wanted to abstain from that.
She knew she was going to be hot in a few minutes. It didn't matter. She wanted to experience absolute comfort.
So, she stood in the doorway leading to the Grounds, and took a moment for self-reflection.
She wore a black cloak over a warm Gryffindor sweater and scarf, a pair of slacks, and of course the boots. Her bangs were growing out over her eyes and for some reason she couldn't seem to locate scissors anywhere, so she pinned them back with two silver barrettes. She probably looked angry, since that was kind of her resting face. She had been told it made her look older than an eleven-year-old (and certainly less approachable). She probably needed a bath too. It just hadn't been a top priority lately.
Okay, so that was her outer appearance. How was she feeling?
She supposed she was okay. There was the restlessness, brought on by her ever-present anxiety, but that was nothing unusual. Upon further introspection, she found sadness. She didn't know why it was there, or why it had come. She thought harder.
She should be in excellent spirits. She liked being here, enjoyed her classes, stayed in perfect health. She completed all of her assignments on time. Every day was a new adventure. She did have a friend, whom she saw occasionally, but their schedules were different and time for conversations was rather rare.
That was it. She was lonely.
Rhea inhaled deeply through her nose and bit the inside of her cheek. She was lonely. Honestly, she had always preferred to stay solo. People were difficult to decode and reason with, and the peers that she liked to be around were few and far-between. This was evidence that Hogwarts had changed her. She wanted new friends. She wanted to spend time with people. How absurd.
She had walked the length of the steps now, and she was meandering across the grounds, her eyes down. It didn't take long for her to be snapped back to reality, though. Someone's voice - a young girl, by the sound of it - echoed across the field. The words were difficult to make out, but it sounded like an anguished yell. She approached closer, and made out a head of bright red hair. It was, indeed, a girl; a First Year, by the looks of it. She wore Ravenclaw robes.
The girl seemed realize that she was not alone, and spun around to face Rhea. A look of humiliation twisted her features before she quickly composed herself. A tinge of scarlet still tinted her cheeks.
"Are you okay?" Rhea asked automatically. That seemed like a safe thing to say. No room for judgement, a customary confirmation that this person was not in pain.
"Yeah," the girl said. "I'm alright." An awkward silence followed.
"You were yelling." Rhea gestured vaguely across the Grounds. "I heard it. What's wrong?" That sounded nosy. She winced. "Obviously, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I just... talking helps?" The last part came out like a question. Why was it so difficult to communicate? It occured to Rhea that maybe she was the problem. That would explain a lot.
The Ravenclaw girl looked even more embarrassed now.
Surprisingly, Rhea's morning had been satisfactory.
She woke feeling refreshed, her night devoid of dreams, and changed quickly into her Hogwarts uniform. Down in the Great Hall, she selected and consumed a relatively healthy breakfast. There was a air of crispness and well-being at this hour. She relished the feeling of okayness, the lack of heaviness in her bones, the organization in her mind. She had triple-checked her class schedule and since it was still early, there was time to walk the grounds. That was a new hobby of hers. The chill in the breeze made her thankful to experience the warmth and even stuffiness of some of the classrooms.
She stepped outside in her boots, the biggest she owned, making absolute sure that no moisture from the ground could seep into them. She absolutely loathed it when that happened. She could just imagine peeling off her damp, filthy socks back in the the Girls Dormitory at the end of the day, and wrinkling her nose, decided firmly that she wanted to abstain from that.
She knew she was going to be hot in a few minutes. It didn't matter. She wanted to experience absolute comfort.
So, she stood in the doorway leading to the Grounds, and took a moment for self-reflection.
She wore a black cloak over a warm Gryffindor sweater and scarf, a pair of slacks, and of course the boots. Her bangs were growing out over her eyes and for some reason she couldn't seem to locate scissors anywhere, so she pinned them back with two silver barrettes. She probably looked angry, since that was kind of her resting face. She had been told it made her look older than an eleven-year-old (and certainly less approachable). She probably needed a bath too. It just hadn't been a top priority lately.
Okay, so that was her outer appearance. How was she feeling?
She supposed she was okay. There was the restlessness, brought on by her ever-present anxiety, but that was nothing unusual. Upon further introspection, she found sadness. She didn't know why it was there, or why it had come. She thought harder.
She should be in excellent spirits. She liked being here, enjoyed her classes, stayed in perfect health. She completed all of her assignments on time. Every day was a new adventure. She did have a friend, whom she saw occasionally, but their schedules were different and time for conversations was rather rare.
That was it. She was lonely.
Rhea inhaled deeply through her nose and bit the inside of her cheek. She was lonely. Honestly, she had always preferred to stay solo. People were difficult to decode and reason with, and the peers that she liked to be around were few and far-between. This was evidence that Hogwarts had changed her. She wanted new friends. She wanted to spend time with people. How absurd.
She had walked the length of the steps now, and she was meandering across the grounds, her eyes down. It didn't take long for her to be snapped back to reality, though. Someone's voice - a young girl, by the sound of it - echoed across the field. The words were difficult to make out, but it sounded like an anguished yell. She approached closer, and made out a head of bright red hair. It was, indeed, a girl; a First Year, by the looks of it. She wore Ravenclaw robes.
The girl seemed realize that she was not alone, and spun around to face Rhea. A look of humiliation twisted her features before she quickly composed herself. A tinge of scarlet still tinted her cheeks.
"Are you okay?" Rhea asked automatically. That seemed like a safe thing to say. No room for judgement, a customary confirmation that this person was not in pain.
"Yeah," the girl said. "I'm alright." An awkward silence followed.
"You were yelling." Rhea gestured vaguely across the Grounds. "I heard it. What's wrong?" That sounded nosy. She winced. "Obviously, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I just... talking helps?" The last part came out like a question. Why was it so difficult to communicate? It occured to Rhea that maybe she was the problem. That would explain a lot.
The Ravenclaw girl looked even more embarrassed now.
Reducio
Permission to god-mod given by @Ashley Coulson
It is often said that fortune favors the bold;
If only fortune determined how stories unfold.
Fearless | Sta 6 • Eva 6 • Str 4 • Wis 8 • ArcP 5 • Acc 6
If only fortune determined how stories unfold.
Fearless | Sta 6 • Eva 6 • Str 4 • Wis 8 • ArcP 5 • Acc 6
Ashley Coulson
19 Dec 2020, 16:48
You Don't Know What's Best For Me!
@Rhea Miller
Ashley looked up at the girl. She was from Gryffindor, by the looks of it, and she looked genuinely concerned. She also looked slightly embarrassed, as if she had done something wrong. Which she hadn't. All the girl had asked was is she was okay, and Ashley had been kinda rude about it. That was one of Ashley's more annoying traits. When she was having a cruddy day, she tended to take it out on others. Ashley looked up. The girl was still there. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She didn't want to wig out again.
"Sorry. I was having a...rough morning," she murmured, hiding her face behind her tangled red hair that had been neatly brushed before her meltdown. When the girl didn't stop her, she continued. "My parents are being kinda difficult and I just...I don't know...it's hard." Ashley paused. "I'm Ashley, by the way. You can call me Ash. If...if you want to."
The girl smiled. "I'm Rhea,"she responded.
"Nice to meet you," Ashley smiled too. They shook hands, and Ashley noticed that she was starting to relax and breathe. Slowly, she stood up. Her uniform was damp from the grass. Ugh. Gross. She would have to wash it later so she wouldn't smell like a farm animal.
"So..." Ashley started. "So you want to take a walk?"
"Sure," Rhea stood up with her, brushing grass off of her uniform as well. As they walked past the Great Lake, shimmering in the morning light, Ashley stopped.
"Do you ever feel like you just don't...belong anywhere?" she whispered, "Like everyone in the world has their own little place, their own little world, and you don't? She kept her head bent low so Rhea wouldn't see the tears glistening in the corners of her green eyes, fogging up her glasses. What her parents had done hurt. Ashley didn't think that she would be able to hide it.
Reducio
Permission to goddmod given by @Rhea Miller
Ashley looked up at the girl. She was from Gryffindor, by the looks of it, and she looked genuinely concerned. She also looked slightly embarrassed, as if she had done something wrong. Which she hadn't. All the girl had asked was is she was okay, and Ashley had been kinda rude about it. That was one of Ashley's more annoying traits. When she was having a cruddy day, she tended to take it out on others. Ashley looked up. The girl was still there. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She didn't want to wig out again.
"Sorry. I was having a...rough morning," she murmured, hiding her face behind her tangled red hair that had been neatly brushed before her meltdown. When the girl didn't stop her, she continued. "My parents are being kinda difficult and I just...I don't know...it's hard." Ashley paused. "I'm Ashley, by the way. You can call me Ash. If...if you want to."
The girl smiled. "I'm Rhea,"she responded.
"Nice to meet you," Ashley smiled too. They shook hands, and Ashley noticed that she was starting to relax and breathe. Slowly, she stood up. Her uniform was damp from the grass. Ugh. Gross. She would have to wash it later so she wouldn't smell like a farm animal.
"So..." Ashley started. "So you want to take a walk?"
"Sure," Rhea stood up with her, brushing grass off of her uniform as well. As they walked past the Great Lake, shimmering in the morning light, Ashley stopped.
"Do you ever feel like you just don't...belong anywhere?" she whispered, "Like everyone in the world has their own little place, their own little world, and you don't? She kept her head bent low so Rhea wouldn't see the tears glistening in the corners of her green eyes, fogging up her glasses. What her parents had done hurt. Ashley didn't think that she would be able to hide it.
20 Dec 2020, 01:38
You Don't Know What's Best For Me!
@Ashley Coulson
What an odd coincidence. Right after Rhea had realized she was lonely, she came across this girl. It was easier to talk now, luckily, as it usually became after a time.
They began to walk together.
"Do you ever feel like you just don't...belong anywhere?" Ashley said softly. "Like everyone in the world has their own little place, their own little world, and you don't?"
Okay, so they were diving right in. They had gone through the introduction, but they had downright abandoned the process of small talk. Rhea supposed that she was okay with that. Small talk was often boring and monotonous, and besides, it was quite apparent that Ash had a lot on her mind.
Rhea took a moment to consider Ashley's words. "Yes," she conceded. "I feel like I don't belong quite often. But, you know, I've always been okay with that. Until recently, that is." She thought some more. "I want more friends. I had one, when I was living in Queensbury, but... being without them, here, surrounded by all these people... it's a lonesome feeling." She paused, taking a moment to study Ash's expression. It was fragile, wilted, and there was something in her eyes that made it clear she was in pain. "Er, I'm sorry. Did something happen? You mentioned your parents-"
"I'm fine!" Ashley snapped defensively. She looked guilty immediately after. So there was something going on.
"Talking helps," Rhea repeated. "Trust me. I'm a licensed psychologist."
"Really?"
"No. But I'm right about this."
Ash laughed, and the vulnerability of that action made her eyes fill. She must have been holding back tears through the entire conversation. She swiped at her eyes vigorously, humiliation on every feature and crevice of her face, trying to hide it. Rhea felt an overwhelming sense of pity for this girl that she had barely met.
"Just tell me," she said, more gently than she knew she was capable of. Ashley swallowed.
"It's my parents," she burst out finally. "They won't let me spend the holidays with them. Instead they're sending me to stay with my Grammie! They know I don't like Grammie. She's so judgemental all the time, and her smell makes me sick, and she always pinches my cheeks. I couldn't wait to see them, and I..." her voice broke."I thought they wanted to see me, too."
"Oh..." Rhea whispered. Her chest tightened. She bit the inside of her cheek- that was becoming a nervous habit- and sucked in a painful breath. They weren't letting her stay with them? Her father could be a bit standoffish and reserved, but he wouldn't kick her out for the holidays. Not in a million years.
She registered that she was hurting inside, like someone had just punched her in the gut. Why was that? She wasn't the one suffering here. It was like, just by standing next to her, Ashley was infecting her with her pain. Magic? Probably not, that type of spell was far too advanced for a first-year.
A word came to mind: empathy. Something that Rhea had heard about but never truly experienced. The capacity to understand and share the feelings of another. She used the scientific side of herself to determine the cause and exact emotion of someone, but she had never really felt it, per se. Now, she had a new ability. Maybe a rather useless one, but a new ability nonetheless.
Yet somehow, it didn't really feel useless in that moment.
"I understand," Rhea said quietly. "It hurts." She regretted it immediately; with more time she certainly could've come up with a more eloquent way to express her statement. Ash didn't seem to mind, though, and smiled wryly. That was good.
What an odd coincidence. Right after Rhea had realized she was lonely, she came across this girl. It was easier to talk now, luckily, as it usually became after a time.
They began to walk together.
"Do you ever feel like you just don't...belong anywhere?" Ashley said softly. "Like everyone in the world has their own little place, their own little world, and you don't?"
Okay, so they were diving right in. They had gone through the introduction, but they had downright abandoned the process of small talk. Rhea supposed that she was okay with that. Small talk was often boring and monotonous, and besides, it was quite apparent that Ash had a lot on her mind.
Rhea took a moment to consider Ashley's words. "Yes," she conceded. "I feel like I don't belong quite often. But, you know, I've always been okay with that. Until recently, that is." She thought some more. "I want more friends. I had one, when I was living in Queensbury, but... being without them, here, surrounded by all these people... it's a lonesome feeling." She paused, taking a moment to study Ash's expression. It was fragile, wilted, and there was something in her eyes that made it clear she was in pain. "Er, I'm sorry. Did something happen? You mentioned your parents-"
"I'm fine!" Ashley snapped defensively. She looked guilty immediately after. So there was something going on.
"Talking helps," Rhea repeated. "Trust me. I'm a licensed psychologist."
"Really?"
"No. But I'm right about this."
Ash laughed, and the vulnerability of that action made her eyes fill. She must have been holding back tears through the entire conversation. She swiped at her eyes vigorously, humiliation on every feature and crevice of her face, trying to hide it. Rhea felt an overwhelming sense of pity for this girl that she had barely met.
"Just tell me," she said, more gently than she knew she was capable of. Ashley swallowed.
"It's my parents," she burst out finally. "They won't let me spend the holidays with them. Instead they're sending me to stay with my Grammie! They know I don't like Grammie. She's so judgemental all the time, and her smell makes me sick, and she always pinches my cheeks. I couldn't wait to see them, and I..." her voice broke."I thought they wanted to see me, too."
"Oh..." Rhea whispered. Her chest tightened. She bit the inside of her cheek- that was becoming a nervous habit- and sucked in a painful breath. They weren't letting her stay with them? Her father could be a bit standoffish and reserved, but he wouldn't kick her out for the holidays. Not in a million years.
She registered that she was hurting inside, like someone had just punched her in the gut. Why was that? She wasn't the one suffering here. It was like, just by standing next to her, Ashley was infecting her with her pain. Magic? Probably not, that type of spell was far too advanced for a first-year.
A word came to mind: empathy. Something that Rhea had heard about but never truly experienced. The capacity to understand and share the feelings of another. She used the scientific side of herself to determine the cause and exact emotion of someone, but she had never really felt it, per se. Now, she had a new ability. Maybe a rather useless one, but a new ability nonetheless.
Yet somehow, it didn't really feel useless in that moment.
"I understand," Rhea said quietly. "It hurts." She regretted it immediately; with more time she certainly could've come up with a more eloquent way to express her statement. Ash didn't seem to mind, though, and smiled wryly. That was good.
Reducio
Permission to goddmod given by @Ashley Coulson
It is often said that fortune favors the bold;
If only fortune determined how stories unfold.
Fearless | Sta 6 • Eva 6 • Str 4 • Wis 8 • ArcP 5 • Acc 6
If only fortune determined how stories unfold.
Fearless | Sta 6 • Eva 6 • Str 4 • Wis 8 • ArcP 5 • Acc 6
Ashley Coulson
21 Dec 2020, 18:18
You Don't Know What's Best For Me!
@Rhea Miller
"I understand. It hurts." Rhea said. Ashley looked at her. Usually, when someone said something like that, they didn't really mean it. It was like a reflex, almost. Something you just automatically said to the poor kid who was left behind. But Ashley could tell Rhea meant it. She didn't know how. Maybe it was the way she said it, or the look in her eyes. Whatever it was, Ashley appreciated it. "Thanks," she whispered, "That means a lot. Truly." She was starting to feel better. "The lake is so pretty in the morning," Ashley commented.
Rhea nodded. They stood there for a while, soaking it in. "I come here a lot. To the grounds. Especially the lake," Ashley continued. "I can almost hear the trees and the water whispering, sometimes. I know that sounds insane, but it's true. Can you hear it?"
They closed their eyes. A sense of calm rolled over Ashley like a gentle wave. Soothing. Comforting. Just being. And it was in that moment that she heard the echo of silence. Not in a bad way. In the best sort of way. The way that said nothing while saying everything. All the wonderful secrets of the world.
"Did you hear it?" Ashley asked. Did Rhea think she was weird? She probably did. She knotted her fingers in her lap. She should try acting normal for once, like everyone el-
"Yes. I hear it," Rhea said so softly that it could barely be heard. Ashley relaxed. "It's nice, isn't it?"
"It is."
"It helps you forget. Sometimes you need to forget." Ashley kept her eyes closed. She could still hear it. The beautiful silence.
After a few minutes, Ashley slowly opened her eyes and looked over at Rhea. Her eyes were still shut. "Do you like Gryffindor?" Ashley asked. She didn't know why she asked it. Her mother called her curious by nature. Which could be a good thing or a bad thing.
Reducio
Permission to goddmod given by @Rhea Miller
"I understand. It hurts." Rhea said. Ashley looked at her. Usually, when someone said something like that, they didn't really mean it. It was like a reflex, almost. Something you just automatically said to the poor kid who was left behind. But Ashley could tell Rhea meant it. She didn't know how. Maybe it was the way she said it, or the look in her eyes. Whatever it was, Ashley appreciated it. "Thanks," she whispered, "That means a lot. Truly." She was starting to feel better. "The lake is so pretty in the morning," Ashley commented.
Rhea nodded. They stood there for a while, soaking it in. "I come here a lot. To the grounds. Especially the lake," Ashley continued. "I can almost hear the trees and the water whispering, sometimes. I know that sounds insane, but it's true. Can you hear it?"
They closed their eyes. A sense of calm rolled over Ashley like a gentle wave. Soothing. Comforting. Just being. And it was in that moment that she heard the echo of silence. Not in a bad way. In the best sort of way. The way that said nothing while saying everything. All the wonderful secrets of the world.
"Did you hear it?" Ashley asked. Did Rhea think she was weird? She probably did. She knotted her fingers in her lap. She should try acting normal for once, like everyone el-
"Yes. I hear it," Rhea said so softly that it could barely be heard. Ashley relaxed. "It's nice, isn't it?"
"It is."
"It helps you forget. Sometimes you need to forget." Ashley kept her eyes closed. She could still hear it. The beautiful silence.
After a few minutes, Ashley slowly opened her eyes and looked over at Rhea. Her eyes were still shut. "Do you like Gryffindor?" Ashley asked. She didn't know why she asked it. Her mother called her curious by nature. Which could be a good thing or a bad thing.
30 Dec 2020, 19:06
You Don't Know What's Best For Me!
@Ashley Coulson
Did she like Gryffindor? What a peculiar question, especially because it had been on Rhea's mind so often lately. She was still listening to the sounds. It was an odd place to be in: still stuck in her brain, but it was like her brain was apart from the rest of her physical being. She was merely there in spirit, an explorer of the grounds, evidenced by her sharpened auditory perception. She repeated the question in her head, over and over, until she had finally comprehended what she was being asked.
"No," she replied. "I don't think it fits me. I was positive I'd be put in Slytherin. How do you feel about Ravenclaw?"
Ashley didn't even have to think about it. "I love it! It's become a second home for me." She seemed to be feeling better, now that she had talked about it. Rhea felt a bit proud of herself for that, though she wouldn't admit it in a million years. She probably couldn't take credit for it anyway. Feelings were unpredictable.
Rhea and Ash stretched and yawned respectively. It was at that moment that Rhea realized how tired she was. That was not an uncommon occurrence, but it did explain a lot. The world felt blurry, like water spilled on a painting. She looked at Ashley once more. Then, she plopped down on the grass.
It seeped, not just into her socks, but into her pants and skirt. She felt the cool moisture soaking her shirt and chilling her back. Resisting a shudder, she rolled over, embracing the unpleasant feeling, because laying down was so much more comfortable than standing up.
She was going to regret this. But, she wanted to live in the moment, since that was something the best people did. The Sorting Hat had said that she was going to change, right? Perhaps this was what it meant.
Maybe she was daft, but it was a bit fun, at least. She found herself grinning. "I'm such a fool," she said to Ashley. "Why did I do that? Rhetorical question, of course."
Ash didn't respond. Instead, she sat down right beside Rhea, looking surprised but not unhappy. "Is it comfortable down here?"
"No," Rhea said immediately, clearing her throat. She suddenly felt humiliated. What was she doing? Rolling in the grass like a baby? She might have been only eleven, but she still had dignity. Quickly, she started to straighten, before realizing that Ashley had laid down beside her.
Did she like Gryffindor? What a peculiar question, especially because it had been on Rhea's mind so often lately. She was still listening to the sounds. It was an odd place to be in: still stuck in her brain, but it was like her brain was apart from the rest of her physical being. She was merely there in spirit, an explorer of the grounds, evidenced by her sharpened auditory perception. She repeated the question in her head, over and over, until she had finally comprehended what she was being asked.
"No," she replied. "I don't think it fits me. I was positive I'd be put in Slytherin. How do you feel about Ravenclaw?"
Ashley didn't even have to think about it. "I love it! It's become a second home for me." She seemed to be feeling better, now that she had talked about it. Rhea felt a bit proud of herself for that, though she wouldn't admit it in a million years. She probably couldn't take credit for it anyway. Feelings were unpredictable.
Rhea and Ash stretched and yawned respectively. It was at that moment that Rhea realized how tired she was. That was not an uncommon occurrence, but it did explain a lot. The world felt blurry, like water spilled on a painting. She looked at Ashley once more. Then, she plopped down on the grass.
It seeped, not just into her socks, but into her pants and skirt. She felt the cool moisture soaking her shirt and chilling her back. Resisting a shudder, she rolled over, embracing the unpleasant feeling, because laying down was so much more comfortable than standing up.
She was going to regret this. But, she wanted to live in the moment, since that was something the best people did. The Sorting Hat had said that she was going to change, right? Perhaps this was what it meant.
Maybe she was daft, but it was a bit fun, at least. She found herself grinning. "I'm such a fool," she said to Ashley. "Why did I do that? Rhetorical question, of course."
Ash didn't respond. Instead, she sat down right beside Rhea, looking surprised but not unhappy. "Is it comfortable down here?"
"No," Rhea said immediately, clearing her throat. She suddenly felt humiliated. What was she doing? Rolling in the grass like a baby? She might have been only eleven, but she still had dignity. Quickly, she started to straighten, before realizing that Ashley had laid down beside her.
Reducio
Permission to goddmod given by @Ashley Coulson
It is often said that fortune favors the bold;
If only fortune determined how stories unfold.
Fearless | Sta 6 • Eva 6 • Str 4 • Wis 8 • ArcP 5 • Acc 6
If only fortune determined how stories unfold.
Fearless | Sta 6 • Eva 6 • Str 4 • Wis 8 • ArcP 5 • Acc 6
Ashley Coulson
6 Jan 2021, 17:17
You Don't Know What's Best For Me!
@Rhea Miller
Ashley let the wet grass soak into her clothes for the second time that morning. She was going to need a shower, but oh well. Ashley smiled and looked over at Rhea. There was something in her eyes -embarrassment, maybe?- that quickly disappeared when she saw that Ashley had joined her on the grass. Ashley didn't pry. She hated it when people were nosy, and she wasn't about to be a hypocrite. The slight breeze turned into a fierce wind, shaking the branches of the bare trees and causing ripples to cascade down the face of the once-still lake. Ashley and Rhea both flinched as a big gust blew right in their faces.
Ashley held her messy red hair back from her face and said loudly, "We should probably go back inside!"
"What?" Rhea shouted back at her.
"I said we should probably go back inside!" Ashley yelled. Storm clouds were now blowing quickly across the sky, dark and grey and ominous, and her glasses were fogging up.
Rhea, eyes squinted against the elements, nodded. "Good idea!"
They stood up, and out of the blue, Ashley started laughing. "Sorry," she gasped, "I don't know why this is funny!"
Rhea slowly smiled and started laughing along with her. If anyone saw them, they would be super confused. Two girls walking around the grounds, hair crazy from the wind, clothes wet from the grass, laughing hysterically at nothing.
But that was okay. Ashley was usually pretty self conscious, but no one was out here anyway. And if they were, who cared?
Reducio
Permission to goddmod given by @Rhea Miller
Ashley let the wet grass soak into her clothes for the second time that morning. She was going to need a shower, but oh well. Ashley smiled and looked over at Rhea. There was something in her eyes -embarrassment, maybe?- that quickly disappeared when she saw that Ashley had joined her on the grass. Ashley didn't pry. She hated it when people were nosy, and she wasn't about to be a hypocrite. The slight breeze turned into a fierce wind, shaking the branches of the bare trees and causing ripples to cascade down the face of the once-still lake. Ashley and Rhea both flinched as a big gust blew right in their faces.
Ashley held her messy red hair back from her face and said loudly, "We should probably go back inside!"
"What?" Rhea shouted back at her.
"I said we should probably go back inside!" Ashley yelled. Storm clouds were now blowing quickly across the sky, dark and grey and ominous, and her glasses were fogging up.
Rhea, eyes squinted against the elements, nodded. "Good idea!"
They stood up, and out of the blue, Ashley started laughing. "Sorry," she gasped, "I don't know why this is funny!"
Rhea slowly smiled and started laughing along with her. If anyone saw them, they would be super confused. Two girls walking around the grounds, hair crazy from the wind, clothes wet from the grass, laughing hysterically at nothing.
But that was okay. Ashley was usually pretty self conscious, but no one was out here anyway. And if they were, who cared?