Bad Influences PV Alec Closed

Outfit || Wolf pin || Nail polish
Hex code:#A0A9B8 || @Gabriella Haworth

The Owlery, last year there had been rather inconsistent visits to the place. One random letter exclaiming his stress, and other than that one letter for every ten things the second year at the time was receiving from his little sister. Accidentally neglecting her constant need for attention from him. He'd had school to focus on, a life outside of her. Everything had been her before he arrived. There were bound to be some issues when he left even if he had nerves about the breaks from school and going home, it was important that no mattering everyone else he remembered she was there as well. The routine must have been much more different when he was gone. At least his grandparents seemed to be well at taking care of her and suiting her needs even if he wasn't pleased with them. His father certainly couldn't care for her during the middle of work, and Alec's mother, she hadn't well... It didn't matter, Alec's hand clutched the letter in his hand, now was not the time to get angry or-or upset.

The Gryffindor took in a deep breath as he made his way to the Owlery, the breath escaping his lips in the matter of a long sigh. The pressure was more real than he would have liked to expect. His family had always been in a high-pressure situation, but there had never been any problems. He got the grades that were expected of him. Minding the fact the usually he just barely got those grades, just barely an O in everything. He struggled to focus in classes and anything that wasn't hands-on or interactive was a problem. His mind seemed to fall apart by the fourth sentence of any lecture. He wanted to understand, but easily by that point his brain wasn't even computing the words. Most of the time he worried the professors took his inattention the wrong way, if they had, he didn't know even by now.

Getting the grades was the easy thing, the expectation of how one carries themselves however was something else entirely. He felt squished acting in the way he was expected of, it was why Hogwarts had been so freeing, nobody could know how loose he let himself from there. The problem with the duel losses, the almost barely O's, social pressure, and those tiny little mistakes. It built up, the people around him didn't like it. He expected to get a lecture from at least one of his parents but it was his grandparents who came down the hardest on him. There was more, but with his mind still feeling wishy-washy and messy he really couldn't think of anything else.

To focus on the task at hand as he entered the Owlery the third year cleared his throat. Flipping the letter around to his little sister in his as he did. When he turned to finally look up from staring down at his hands and that letter. Alec remembered other humans exist. Not that they hadn't, just that interacting in person with them was a thing. A person someone else was here, of course, other people went to the Owlery he just hadn't expected it to happen so soon... He hoped if he'd gotten there early enough after classes had ended that it'd be just him. He wanted to finish some additions to the envelope of the letter, a rendition of her stuffed animal tea parties sketched upon the envelope, he didn't feel like finishing up that part around those in his dormitory.

Alec tried to mask his surprise as quickly as he could, wishing he could turn into a chameleon and suddenly match patterns with the patterns of the cold wall. Maybe the distraction of the owl droppings and all the skeletons of the owls' prey was enough of a distraction for Alec to get in and out. The problem with the mission of getting directly in and out was the fact that he still had the envelope to sketch on, he was hoping to get a good look at the owls and figure out how to draw one as one of his sister's stuffy tea parties guests, but before he could even get engrossed in the mission of getting in and out. Alec noticed the person here was crying. He paused for a moment, his whole body going rigid, you shouldn't go after upset people, it was the lesson he'd learned from himself... But it didn't count as the following someone when he just walked upon them crying, and you know, as any normal human being does you ask if they're alright, yeah, okay, the perfect way to go about this. He reached to touch the wolf pin, pinned to the side of his pants he touched it over a random superstition he'd created about luck.

Alec's feet moved walking to follow the sounds as he still clutched the letter, finally happening upon the girl. His eyes watched her carefully as if searching for a reason. An explanation to the sudden outburst in the Owlery. A public place for such vulnerable reactions. He thought back, the most public outburst he'd had been one his dorm, it involved fire, of course, it was going to attract some attention when you set your journal on fire out of anger and not knowing what to do about it other than the obvious. It was either the journal or that purple scarf, he was glad he didn't go for the scarf. That would have hurt him more personally than anything. Besides, maybe the fire was therapeutic or something.

Was the girl hurt, the beak of an owl get her or its talons? It didn't look like it, he tilted his head to the side slightly, before he finally took in another breath of air and spoke. “Are you alright?” She was not alright, that was a good place to start though, at least until he had something to go off of. His eyebrows furrowed, he moved to stay closer to the girl. He tried to ignore the fact that this lead to a problem. Instinctively feeling protective over her. He couldn't help it. It was easier to take care of others and help others than it ever was to accept help himself when trying to work out his issues.“I didn't mean to walk in on you like that. If you're looking for space I can leave-” Even if the Owlery wasn't for private matters and if it hadn't been Alec it would have been someone else. “Just um, before I leave if you want me to leave I need to finish up a... Letter... After I finish it I should be able to send it out.” Alec said, he waved the envelope around slightly, rubbing the back of his neck semi-awkwardly as he spoke, suddenly looking a little shy about the manner.

outfit:[x][x][x][x]

Tuesday 7th September 2021, after classes

Gabriella was so inwardly focused at that moment that she didn't realise someone had walked in behind her. It wasn't like last time, where she had been howling and screaming in a heap on the floor, but had still noticed Atlas walking in - that time, she had decided, her senses had been overloaded and exposed, made more vulnerable by her state of torment. This time she was crying softly, and had drowned her senses out to the world. It wasn't until the person spoke that she realised they were there.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Gabriella started and turned round, gently rubbing her eyes. She let out a soft laugh.
"I'm fine," she smiled. "Sorry. I have a tendency to do that here."
"I didn't mean to walk in on you like that," continued the boy. He was a bit older than Gabby maybe, though not by much. "If you're looking for space or anything, I can leave."
"No, no," replied Gabriella hastily, "stay. Well, if you want to that is. And I'm assuming you do, because after all, you came in here, and you're holding a letter, so I guess you want to post it somewhere, as do I - in fact, I've just posted it - to my parents in Portsmouth - I'm sorry, I'm gabbling a little," she added, "anyway, don't worry at all. This isn't the first time this has happened, trust me. Although last time it was a little more dramatic."

Yes, dramatic was certainly the word, thought Gabriella, casting her mind back to when she had last been found crying in here. It seemed like an eternity ago - and in a way, it was a long time ago. Half a year ago, even. In March. Or April. Somewhere around that time. She hadn't actually seen Atlas yet this term, and that was something that needed to be rectified, she decided, making a mental note to speak to her friend as soon as possible.

"Sorry," Gabriella said. She noticed that the boy was looking a little shy, and she really didn't want to inconvenience anyone. "You don't need to feel awkward. I just get a little vulnerable sometimes while I'm up here, but it's been worse. At least I'm not having a whole existential crisis this time!" she laughed, silently proud of herself for having remembered the word existential. "Yeah, last time was pretty dramatic... me moaning and screaming on the floor, thinking about death and the inevitable destruction of the earth... today's different though. I'm just feeling a little homesick. So really, you've come in at a good time!"

Gabriella had no idea why she was telling the boy all about this. After all, she didn't even know who he was or if he could be trusted. Just because Atlas had turned out to be the most trustworthy and loyal person Gabby had ever met didn't mean that the same would be true of everyone who happened to stumble into her crying in the Owlery. This, however, did not occur to the Ravenclaw at that moment. There was just something about him that made Gabriella want to tell him everything, and she was in too vulnerable a state to resist the temptation.

"Sorry," she repeated. "I can tell I'm probably making you pretty uncomfortable with this personal information. I should shut up, probably. I swear I don't always talk this much, you just caught me a little by surprise. I'm Gabriella, by the way, call me Gabby. I'm in second year."

Word count: 605
~~@Alec Mason~~

Outfit || Wolf pin || Nail polish
Hex code:#A0A9B8 || @Gabriella Haworth

The head of this thirteen-year-old always seemed to be elsewhere from where it was supposed to be. There was never a time where Alec could ever sit still and be focused, yet he was here, somehow invested in the random life of a stranger. It didn't matter much he supposed, he was here, he had nothing much better to do, all he had was sending off that letter for his sister. Which he really should've been more quick about, he wasn't sure when he'd get a letter back from her so sooner was better then later. His eyes moved to focus back on the girl and his thoughts had begun to switch gear once more.

Alec seemed to loosen up a bit, by her reactions only. He was stuck a bit on how one was able too still once again be here the way they were but she seemed she brush over it rather quickly. As if it was a normal thing that happened often. Getting emotional in the owlery, that was an... Interesting new concept and idea. Though he nodded, as if he suddenly understood, he didn't but assumed it would make her feel better. Making her feel better was the more important thing then questioning her methods. Especially because of his own, he didn't pick the destined places to have his problems show out to the world either. It had caused him a lot of problems in his first year, but he was here now wasn't he? This had to mean he'd learned his lesson. Perhaps, or maybe after everything not. For what a more opportune place to end up arguing with your friend because of the frustrating things in your life that you can't control. Of course, the best place, the most public and open place, the corridors. Actually, you know, maybe the owlery wasn't the thing that should have been questioned, it may have actually been the better answer of the two.

“A little more dramatic?” He asked with a raised brow, he smiled slightly.“Yes, I do have a letter I was hoping to send out, it just needs a few additions before I send it out.” Alec said he moved to be more showy of the envelope he was carrying. “This is going to family as well. I figured they'd appreciate a little something of the owls.” Alec said reaching to set the letter to the side on a ledge so he would have two free hands. His face seemed to fall sightly as she rambled one, him clearing his throat once she'd finished, he rubbed the back of neck. “Just a bit yeah, I'm fine with all the talking I talk over five times as much as you do. I was just um, a bit surprised is all? Are you really sure your alright?” He asked, his forehead creased and his eyebrows furrowed. Again, he wasn't sure it was normal to have something like that going on if she was just fine. He was more worried for her than the excessive amount of personal information he'd heard. He'd met a girl who rambled more. Even his fast-paced mind couldn't keep up with that kind of rambling.

He was not unfamiliar with cases of homesickness though. He hadn't been really "home" for months. Home was a feeling, and Alec hadn't felt it. Hogwarts was home, and it was one of the major things that felt like it, but there was always a longing, there was always something he needed more of that wasn't there, no matter where home had to be there was never enough home for it. Summer camp seemed to exert something in Alec, the outdoors felt more like home then home could ever be, but it was hard to get out there at night like he was so used to doing. He stayed in his grandparents place over the summer. That felt the least like home, but he'd found ways to make it work. Now back at Hogwarts he felt slightly out of place. Homesick. He missed the excitement that came with going out a night, it was different with sneaking out a Hogwarts. For some reason at the school he had a conscience when it came to breaking the rules(though he'd done it a few times).

Alec managed a smile once more, “Nice to meet you, I'm Alec, Alec Mason, I don't have a nickname. Uh I think my name is kind of too short for it.” Alec said, not mentioning AJ he always confused that nickname with the AJ at school, his name was so long he needed a nickname. Alec on the other hand didn't, and maybe that was a good thing. He didn't think it would be all the best to be called a nickname all the time instead of your real one, it felt like it would get a little confusing.

Alec grabbed the first writing tool he could find and started sketching out the owls showing the girl. “I'm a gryffindor, third-year, you?” He asked, though he didn't look up, maybe this would get her mind off the homesickness? Or at least Alec's mind off of the reminder of his own.

outfit:[x][x][x][x]

Tuesday 7th September 2021, after classes

The other boy seemed to be tolerant enough of Gabriella's rambling - in fact, he seemed almost to welcome it, which was a prospect pretty much unheard of from Gabby's experience.
"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, after reassuring Gabriella that her rambling was ok.
"Yeah, I'm sure," replied Gabby, with a watery smile. She paused. The boy was nice, and, being the sociable soul she was, Gabriella could already see the potential for a friendship to emerge. "Just a mini meltdown. Who hasn't had one of them?" Dark humour, but also a way for Gabby to figure out what kind of person she was speaking to. How would the boy react? Would he take it seriously, and start talking about the multiple meltdowns he himself had had in the past (something Gabby secretly hoped he might do)? Would he laugh, appreciating the dark humour? Or would he start lecturing her on how, no, not everyone is like that, and Gabriella Haworth you need to get some help. I'm already getting help, don't come at me.

The boy introduced himself as Alec Mason. "I don't have a nickname," he said. "I think my name is rather too short for it."
"Not necessarily," replied Gabriella, brightly. "You could be an Al, if you wanted to."

Gabriella watched curiously as Alec took took the letter and began drawing pictures of owls on the envelope. "I'm a Gryffindor third-year," he said, conversationally. "You?"
"Ravenclaw second," replied Gabby, leaning over Alec's shoulder to see what he was drawing. He was a good artist, Gabriella thought. She herself hadn't practised drawing in a long time, which was a shame, really. If there was one thing the young Ravenclaw was good at, it was drawing and art: she could spend hours labouring over a sketchbook, creating the perfect image for any purpose. She had been drawing portrait of her best friend, Gia, which she intended to give her as a Christmas present - if she hurried up and finished it, that was. Life had suddenly become far too hectic in the past few months, or at least, her mind had become too hectic. In those brief moments where Gabby had nothing to do, her mind was whirring, her young brain straining to dismantle life's darkest truths and leaving her swimming in a black, cold pool of uncertainty and doubt. That, essentially, was why she had been seeing Julie, the Muggle therapist - who had helped a little bit, she supposed - and was the root cause of her current state, standing with a stranger in the Owlery, having just had yet another meltdown.

Gabriella wondered what would have happened if she hadn't had that meltdown. She would have posted the letter then left, maybe passing Alec in the corridors. She would have smiled at him, maybe, or raised her eyebrows in greeting. After that, she would never have given him a second thought. So, all told, maybe it was a good thing that Alec had walked in on her crying. After all, he seemed like a nice person, and Gabriella was really in need of some friendships outside her own year group. "It's a good drawing," she said. "Do you draw often? I do, but I haven't drawn in a while..." Gabby's voice trailed off: she remembered that she didn't like to be disturbed when drawing, and supposed that Alec probably didn't, either. It was a very solitary task, drawing, and although Gabriella loved being around other people, drawing was a great escape.

Maybe that was what she should be doing, then - instead of having an existential crisis in the library, she could be drawing. That would be slightly more productive.

632 words

hex code: 010e4b

mentioning: @alec mason

Outfit || Wolf pin || Nail polish
Hex code:#A0A9B8 || @Gabriella Haworth

The wanderer would always wander back to a place of sanctity and a place of safe no matter how far they wandered off. His dorm would be calling his name in eventual time. A warm bed with warm blankets to snuggle up in. Maybe some good sleep was long overdue. He'd had trouble with sleeping ever since summer camp. A full night's rest would have proved helpful if he was ever able to get any. He pushed it aside however, he was here not at his dorm. No matter the fact that a tidal wave of longing had washed over him. He was too busy too think about sleeping. He had things to go, things to get done. They certainly weren't going to get done this way.

Alec laughed and rubbed the back of his neck as Gabby seemed to be trying to make light of the situation. “Yes, I suppose.” Most of them do it when their toddlers. But he supposed neither her or him were "most of them" whatever that meant. Even the thought of segregation for something like that was so weird. He was avoiding it now. She was down-playing it though, either that or she had a thing for theatrics. It was hard to tell. He shook his head to clear the thought.

Alec face scrunched up and his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Gabby. “Al? Uh...” He laughed though this time it was more of an awkward one. He seemed to be cringing internally. “Yeah, no Al for me, It doesn't feel like it would fit. Good on you for trying though.” He was being easy on her. Yep. Never Al, never again. He never wanted to hear that again. He swore if someone even tried to refer to him like that, ever, he would not talk to them anymore. What place did anybody think they had calling him Al??? It was weirddddddd, and uncomfortable, and alec really really did not like it. A distinct hatred towards it now. Great. This was going to be in his head all day HE WAS TRYING TO THINK OF WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD CALL HIM, HIM, AL!!!

Though he was discomforted by the nickname thing, and it left him feeling off. He was aware he had to move on from it, at least for him. “Ah, cool so your a Ravenclaw. Nice. For some reason I haven't met very many.” He said with a nod. He had indifference on the fact that he hadn't met very many. But now he was starting to question that as well.

Alec's face flushed as she looked over too see the drawing. He hadn't given her an invitation too, and he was usually uncomfortable with anybody else but family seeing his drawings. He ran a hand through his hair. “Thanks, um not really. At least not during the school year. I usually don't really like doing it around other people.” He wanted to get the subject at least off of him. He didn't really want to speak about this. “You draw, alright, so what else? Any other hobbies? Do you do quidditch, or duelling or something of that sort?” He asked. “I know someone who likes gardening. They said the hufflepuff commons were perfect for it.” It was random but it worked to move the conversation over, or at least he believed so.