Painting a New Friend pv Ruka Burnett-Tân Closed

"Well..." Winnie started, her cheeks blushing a soft pink, "They probably do... but... They don't talk about them to me." She admitted, her blue eyes flickering down to the paper again. "I... Um, don't really have a lot of friends. I guess my classmates think I'm a little 'weird'... Better to be interesting than boring, I suppose." She shrugged her shoulders, pretending it didn't bother her, but it was obvious she was not only bullied often, but disheartened about it. Still, she longed for friends of her own. "You have a brother?" Her eyes almost sparkled with the news, how exciting! "He must be so proud of you. He sounds interesting, I hope I get to meet him someday. Oh! It must be nice to have a sibling... I've always wanted one... They'd be like a build in friend." She sighed happily, daydreaming about a mini Winnie following her around everywhere.

"Oh?" She tilted her head to the side, both questioning the redhead and looking at his face from a different angle. "Perhaps he's just misunderstood? Everyone needs a hug now and then." Except grindylows, apparently. She could just imagine playing with the squid now, she wouldn't even care if he pulled her into the water, so long as he helped her out of it and kept any grindylows away from her.

"I've been around animals my entire life, and that makes sense. They're very good listeners and quite sweet too. Once one of our chickens lost all of her feathers, and she was very cold. I went outside that night to wrap a blanket around her, but when I entered the coop a few of the hens were surrounding her, shielding her from the cold with their wings. So I just wrapped them all up and we had a nice cuddle." She told Ruka with a smile at the memory. Chickens were such kind creatures... Her father had wanted to kill the hen to 'put it out of it's misery', but Winnie and her mother would not let him. "She regrew her feathers, and is doing great now."

Ruka was the strong silent type, Winnie didn't mind. She enjoyed talking and she enjoyed listening, an equal balance was always healthy, or so her mum always told her. "That's okay, Ruka. You don't have to tell me anything unless you want to. If you'd like to share a story with me some day, I'd be honoured. If you never want to tell me, I'd still be honoured just being in your company." Her eyes cast downward again at the mention of her Dad, "Ah, he did... He was in Gryffindor." He wasn't a very good Gryffindor. Her father had been a bit annoyed she'd been sorted into Ravenclaw; he said it showed how interested in magic Winnie was and he wasn't comfortable with her using too much of it. "My mum is a muggle, but I think she would have been a Hufflepuff, because she's very hardworking and kind." She wanted to ask Ruka about his family, but she had just finished saying she wouldn't push him for stories. If he offered it up to her, she would happily listen.

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"It's nice of you go attend for a friend, and I wouldn't discount that as bravery, a lot of students didn't attend because they were too embarrassed to fail. If we don't fail we don't succeed, so I don't really see their logic there." She chuckled, raising her hand to tuck her pencil behind her ear, before turning the easel to show Ruka her sketch. "This is it so far, does it look okay?"

@Winnie Harper

Ruka hummed quietly as Winnie talked. Her words sounded carefree but there was something to her voice and expression that betrayed that she didn't exactly appreciate the impression that her classmates seemed to have of her, or the way they treated her because of it. "Forget them," he said with a wave of his hand. "What's that saying? Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. Just keep being you, you'll find the people you belong with soon enough." He smiled encouragingly and offered her a little nod.

Taken aback for a moment at Winnie's assumption that his brother had to be proud of him, Ruka frowned, looking down at himself as if looking for something to be proud of. "Uh," he said warily, then looked back up at her with slight confusion on his face that turned to fondness the second Winnie commented on Jack sounding interesting. "Yeah," he agreed, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth for a moment. "Yeah, he's pretty fantastic." Snorting quietly at Winnie's impression of siblings being something like a built in friend, Ruka shook his head at her. "It's more than that," he decided after a moment. "And it's not always great. Probably easier to just stick to some casual friends." He shrugged and let his gaze drift across the lake again.

The surface was calm, the Squid seemed to have retreated for the moment, now that there was no new bread to grab at. "Everyone?" he asked curiously. "Even the Grindylow?" He smirked lightly before focusing his gaze back on Winnie, listening attentively to her story about the sick chicken that ended up regrowing her feathers.

"Animals are pretty spectacular," he decided fondly, imagining how Winnie might have wrapped the chickens up in a blanket to spend all night offering warmth and company. "I'm happy to hear she's doing well. Sounds like your company gave her enough strength to recover." He smiled and looked down as his fingers idly stroked at a blade of grass.

When Winnie reassured him that he didn't have to talk if he didn't want to, that she would enjoy his company regardless, Ruka frowned. It made no real sense to him that she would enjoy his company specifically if he never talked about himself. Would that not make him easily replaceable? A lifeless puppet to tell stories to, maybe. Was that how Flash felt when he was around his countless friends? Still, he didn't comment on it, just listened to her talking about her parents, her Gryffindor father and her Muggle mother who might have been a Hufflepuff if she had been magical. "You get along well with your mum, then?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. Winnie definitely sounded more fond of her mother than her father.

He laughed lightly at Winnie's observation that there were plenty of people who hadn't joined the errand at all. "Can't be sure they didn't join out of fear of failing," he pointed out with a shrug. "There are probably plenty of people who already knew how to ride a bike and just didn't enjoy it enough to be doing an errand about it. Some who maybe just wanted to spend their time differently. Some who probably just weren't interested." He shrugged lightly, then brightened when Winnie showed him her sketch. It looked much better than anything he could have possibly created on his best day, was obviously practiced. Winnie was clearly talented and seemed to be putting a lot of effort into furthering that.

"It's great," he said genuinely as he leaned forward to inspect it a little more closely. "You must've been drawing a long time, huh?" With a smile he leaned back again, steadied himself with the palms of his hands pressed to the ground. His eyes scanned the surroundings for a moment, searching for his bag to see if it was close by enough for him to grab it and store Winnie's drawing in once she was done.

He could spot his cloak, crumpled on the ground a little distance away, and he knew his bag was supposed to be there, but... His breath sped up for a moment as he watched his bag just inches away from the lake, being dragged by something greyish and wet wrapped around the belt. "HEY," he yelled as he scrambled back to his feet, eyes wide. With long strides he lunged at his bag, throwing himself on top of it with his whole weight.

The wet tentacle thing released his bag and moved back under the water surface with barely a sound. "There's nothing in there anyway!" he insisted, though the creature had vanished already, and as if to prove his point he emptied the contents of is bag on the grass, turned away from the lake. Hastily he let his gaze drift across everything to make sure the creature hadn't taken any of his belongings with it.

Everything seemed to be in order. There was his Burn Healing Paste, the lock picking knife he had gotten in Hogsmeade, a pack of Pepper Imps, his favourite Quill. A small notebook lay beneath the Chocolate Frog Card of Urg the Unclean. Ruka sighed in relief and quickly reached for the notebook to tuck it away in the pocket of his trousers. It made the fabric stretch uncomfortably. The rest of his belongings he stuffed back into his bag before slinging it across his shoulders and turning back to Winnie. If she hadn't followed him he would return to her painting station.

"Cheeky thing," he told Winnie with a shake of his head. "Almost dragged all my stuff under. As if there was anything worthwhile in there in the first place."

Ruka's little tune was almost soothing, or maybe it was just because she viewed him as her savior. She blinked in surprise at Ruka's comment about forgetting her bullies, a small smile forming on her lips. "I've never heard that before." She admitted, but she liked it. She would have to remember it in the future. No-- she would write it down in Ruka's page to remember his advice. "You're very smart. I hope I do. Maybe everyone feels this lost as a first year." Ruka was probably one of the people she belonged with!

Winnie hardly noticed the redhead's surprise, simply smiling still as her gaze flickered up from the page and then back again. Fantastic? If her hero thought he was fantastic, then he must be someone special. Her eyes almost sparkled as she leaned forward, peering around the easel as she spoke. "I'd like to meet the person you consider to be fantasic." Casual friends? She wanted someone to share all her secrets with. How could she do that with casual friends? Maybe the Gryffindor was like her and had trouble making friends. That was okay, she would be his friend.

She paused at that question, her face twisting a bit. "Hmm... Sure... But outside the water." She responded with a grin. The redhead almost had her there, he was clever, but that wasn't surprising. She nodded in agreement with Ruka's statement, "They are. They all have such distinct personalities too. I wish you could meet them." The farm animals would probably like him too, especially after she told them that he had saved her life.

The poor boy was definitely misunderstanding; Winnie would have loved to learn more about him, but she also didn't want to push him. She understood that not everyone was an open book like she was. Sometimes friendship could take time... At least, that's what she read in books. Besides, humans were animals, and the barnyard animals always took time to warm up to her. "... Yes, my mum is... She um... She just understands me better..." She sighed, casting her eyes downwards. Her mother had been writing her letters and sending them via owl even though she was muggle. She wondered if the parents of muggle-borns had to learn to do the same. "Hmm..." She thought for a moment about Ruka's reasoning with the bikes. She had just assumed wizard born children wouldn't know how to ride one. "I guess you're right, maybe they were busy studying." She still thought his determination was impressing.

At that compliment, Winnie felt her cheeks heat up. "N-Not too long..." A few years now. She still had a lot to learn but practice did make perfect. "I'm really glad you like it, Ruka! I just need to add some paint now--..." She turned the easel back around and reached down to rumage through her bag. She withdrew her palette, paint brushes, a cup, and a bottle of water. She carefully poured some of the water into the cup and set it down onto the ledge of her easel. She selected a medium sized brush and dipped the head into the water, before selecting a side of red and a shade of orange. She dabbed the colours with her brush and transferred them into the mixing pan, carefully swirling the colours together before starting to add a light layer to the Gryffindor's hair. She almost jumped at that shout, glancing up to see a stray tentacle trying to drag his bookbag into the water. "Oh!" She said in surprise. She had never seen a part of the squid before, it was so exciting. She stood onto her feet and watched as poor Ruka managed to save his belongings from the nosy creature. A grin broke out across her face as she watched him walking back towards her. "That was amazing! You know the squid? You didn't tell me that!" He had only hinted at it, but apparently she hadn't caught on.

@Winnie Harper

Ruka blinked in vague confusion at being called very smart. He hadn't really said much, had he? Barely worth commenting on for sure. He got the impression that Winnie maybe didn't exactly talk much to people because there were a lot around who said much smarter things on a much more frequent basis. "I'm sure it'll get better as you spend more time here and meet more people," he assured her gently, almost feeling tempted to reach out and pat the top of her head. The girl seemed like a lost puppy, all wide eyed and innocent. Ruka wasn't quite sure what to do with that.

He felt even more out of his element when she commented on wanting to meet Jack with what had to have been the weirdest way she could have possibly phrased it. "I'm..." not sure that's such a good idea, would have been the first thing he wanted to say, an irrational heat rising up in his throat at the thought. After all the mess Jack had attracted thus far, Ruka wasn't sure it was a good idea for him to meet anybody anymore. "I'm sure you'll see him around," he said instead, a little uncertainty to his voice. Not if he could help it, though.

As Winnie talked about animals and how even Grindylows deserved hugs as long as it was outside the water, Ruka's lips stretched into a small smirk. "Rude of you to make the poor creatures come out of their natural habitat just for some physical affection," he pointed out, then sighed dramatically. "Guess they're not good enough for your hugs, are they?" Chuckling, he shook the act with a shrug of his shoulders. He only acknowledged her comment about how she wished he could meet the farm animals with a small smile and a vague nod, unsure what else to say.

"It's nice that you at least have one parent you feel understood by," he pointed out lightly. "Some people aren't that lucky. If anything else fails you at least know you can go to her." With a thoughtful crease in his forehead he wondered, briefly, if he felt comfortable approaching the Burnetts with anything he may be struggling with. They had been nothing but kind to him, treated him like he really was their son, but there was still a level of distance there he hadn't managed to break through yet. Often he still felt like merely a guest in their house.

Disregarding the topic of the errand as he didn't think there was much left to discuss about it, Ruka hummed his acknowledgment when Winnie told him she only had to put the paint to the sketch she had made of him. He watched in genuine interest as she worked the colours, always fascinated by the way artists of all kinds worked. He didn't have much time, however, before he was distracted by the sneaky almost-theft of his bag. He was keeping it and his cloak on his lap when he sat back down, holding them against his chest as if scared someone would try to snatch them away again.

"We're acquainted," he told Winnie with a discontented grimace on his face. "I'm not exactly interested in furthering that relationship, really."

Interacting with: @Ruka Burnett-Tân

May 23rd, 2021 Outfit: Dress

───Ruka’s words of encouragement were just that; encouraging. The Ravenclaw seemed to wait on bated breath, thirsty for more of the older boy’s knowledge. Loneliness often gnawed on her soul, like a parasite feeding off its host. With her present company, she could slowly feel herself coming back to life. If Ruka found her to be peculiar and uninformed, he wasn’t alone in that judgement. "Is that how you felt after some time had passed?" It was difficult for Winnie to imagine the Gryffindor as unpopular as she seemed fated to be, especially when he went around saving people’s lives without a second thought. "Regardless, I hope our paths cross again in the future, Ruka." Even if it was in passing, Winnie knew the sight of the boy would lift her soul.

He was certain she would see him around? Did that mean the boy was likely to keep her around as well? A soft sound — much like a sigh — emitted from Winnie’s lips, and her gaze flickered once again to the boy’s form. A mixture of orange shades soon coloured her painting, forming the hero’s hair. Orange was a pleasant colour, but it wasn’t as simple as that. Under the rays of sunlight peeking through the clouds, Ruka’s hair was a composition of brilliant hues, and under the cover of a shadow, his low lights were composed of a rich umber and spice. It reminded Winnie of a dancing flame. Would the crackle and snap of dancing sparks whisper he was untamable and free? She liked it.

It would take Ruka's next words to anchor her back down to earth, her head descending from the clouds and daydream trap she so often found herself lost in. Rude? Winnie felt panic rising in her throat, her blue eyes widened with concern. Not that she cared if the grindylows found her to be rude, but she most certainly cared if Ruka did. "I... I doubt my hug would be very comforting." She paused, realizing in passing that the boy might have been pulling her leg. "Especially since I am afraid of them. I'm unsure if you've ever hugged someone who is afraid of you, but I don't think it would be a very pleasant experience." She noted thoughtfully, although in truth she was unsure what that would even feel like.

"Yes, that is a saving grace." Winnie agreed with Ruka’s words, her head nodding. She was uncertain what she would do without her mother’s support. The woman had practically been her entire world, after all. "I feel lucky to have her." It was a plain and simple statement, but it rang true. She wasn’t certain what sort of relationship the Gryffindor had with his parents, but the crease in his forehead caused her smile to fade.

Winnie’s elevated discovery did not distract her from her work for long. If anything, she had started to paint with more determination. Not only had this boy saved her life, but he also knew the school squid! How exciting. She was half tempted to paint a squid in the background, its slick tendrils that were its tentacles waving in the air. She discarded the thought at the boy’s next statement, however. As she stared over at the boy, her head tilted to the side, getting a better look at his face. She was adding his skin colour now, lighter layers building up slowly to build shadows and highlights. "I guess I wouldn’t like it if someone stole something from me without asking." Winnie sighed in agreement. She was still envious of the relationship between the two, but if Ruka was reluctant about it, she wouldn’t push him. She did, however, still want to learn more about him. "What’s your favourite animal, Ruka?"